29th November 2025

A monthly round-up of bird sightings in and around Staple.

Birds in November: Winter visitors are arriving. On the 2nd, a Merlin zipped across a field at Summerfield searching for prey in the shape of Linnets and Meadow Pipits which are common here. The area around the stream at Great Pedding can be particularly interesting at this time of the year. A Kingfisher flew downstream here on the 5th. This is only the second time I’ve seen one here. They breed not far away on the Stour and tributaries but spread further afield in winter. A lovely bird to see. Marsh Harriers are occasionally seen quartering the fields around the stream and a male was present on the 25th. On the 8th, another unusual sighting was of a Black Redstart catching insects around farm buildings at Summerfield. These winter in small numbers around our coastline and occasionally venture further inland. They are particularly fond of foraging around walls and roofs. A diminutive Firecrest was in the alders along the footpath opposite Rowan Close on the 9th and another, with a couple of Goldcrests, in the holly by the church entrance on the 11th. A Peregrine Falcon spent much of last winter at Bushy Rough above Crixhall Court and one was back here on the 12th. From a dead tree on the hill crest, the falcon has a commanding view across the huge and open field down to Duffields Animal Feeds at Wingham. There are good concentrations of Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves and Feral Pigeons here-a Peregrine’s favoured prey. Last winter was the first time I’d seen Cattle Egrets in the area. These have recently arrived in southern England as climate change pushes them northwards from their more southerly origins. On the 14th, there were 6 of them mingling with the Sussex cattle at Beaute Farm by the Great Pedding stream. This number had increased to 15 by the 23rd. A Little Egret had joined them on the 22nd. These are quite regular here. At least one pair of Stonechats spend the winter at Great Pedding and these have been present each time I have visited this month. Corn Buntings are present all year round, but they can often be seen in small groups in the winter. There were 5 with at least 20 Meadow Pipits on the power lines crossing the Great Pedding stream on the 14th. A single Teal was on the stream on the 22nd with the usual 5 Mallards and later in the afternoon a Little Grebe was catching tiny fish there. This is the first time I have seen this species at Great Pedding. Ravens started appearing around the village a couple of years ago. They are now regularly sighted and may even have bred in the vicinity this year. One flew over Great Pedding on 22nd. Winter thrushes have been arriving in numbers over the last few weeks. Redwings were first and now Fieldfare numbers are increasing. The Miller Woodland Trust site in Chalkpit Lane is a good place to see them. They can be heard chattering away in the hedgerows as they forage berries. A Snipe was flushed from the turnip field on the way to Great Pedding on the 24th. Small birds are often seen in roving flocks at this time of the year. The trees bordering Church Orchard are an excellent spot to see mixed flocks containing Blue Tits, Great Tits and Long-tailed Tits as well as the occasional Goldcrest. In the fields there are Starling, Linnet and Meadow Pipit flocks with good numbers of Skylarks often included. The seed cover crop at the top of the hill crossing from Crixhall Court to Goodnestone is a magnet for small birds. There are currently large flocks of mostly Chaffinches there, but in the mix there are Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and other species as well. A stunning male Bullfinch was at Crixhall Court on the 28th.

This is by no means a definitive list of species seen this month but gives a flavour of what to expect in November.