6th October 2026
Updated: Oct 8
Bird sightings in and around Staple village for August and September:
A Little Owl or two has been regularly vocal along the boundary between Rowan Close and Animal Farm. I'm sure there must be a breeding site in the near vicinity as birds have been heard here for several years now. A Barn Owl flew out of the barn at Crixhall Court on 11/09 signalling a possible return to its winter roost. Autumn migration is under way in August and Reed and Sedge Warblers were rather visible in the vegetation along the stream at Great Pedding 03/08. On 21/08 a Hobby was the first of several sightings over several days at Great Pedding. An adult Hobby passing food to a juvenile on 26/08 was interesting to watch and they stayed around for 3-4 days with another individual seen at Crixhall Court. A male Marsh Harrier was over fields towards Hammill on 22/08 and a female near Goodnestone on 27/08. My first Whinchat of the autumn was on fence wires at Great Pedding on 26/08 with daily sightings until 06/09 and a high count of 3 on 30/08. My first Wheatear was present at the same location earlier on 10/08 with only a couple more sightings since then. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps have been regularly seen in various locations around the village and 4 Common Whitethroats at Crixhall on 07/09. A superb, fresh Willow Warbler feeding at the base of vegetation near the stream was a welcome record on 08/09 and Cetti's Warblers have been heard on a couple of occasions in the same area. Swallows and House Martins have been moving through throughout September with some quite large groups collecting on overhead wires on occasions. Sadly though, numbers of these seem a lot lower than in previous years. Two Stonechats at Great Pedding on 26/09 were the first of the regular wintering birds here returning, with 4 on 29/09. Common Snipe also winter around the stream and the first was seen here on 31/08 and 2 on 30/09. Gulls have been gathering to feed behind the cultivator as fields are prepared for winter sowing. A 200+ strong flock, comprised mostly of Common and Black-headed Gulls, was around Great Pedding on 30/08 but it also contained a single Lesser Black-backed Gull and several Mediterranean Gulls. Winter feeding flocks of smaller birds like Linnets and Goldfinches have begun to build up, particularly on the cover crops around Crixhall Court. At least 30 Skylarks were on stubble at Summerfield on 04/10. Mixed flocks of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits are often evident in the trees and hedgerows around the village. A group of 5 Pied Wagtails were feeding on flies around the huge muck heap currently next to the old hop shed at Great Pedding on 30/09. There were also 2 Corn Buntings here perched on wires. Always a welcome sight. The Yellowhammers locally are a success story, probably helped considerably by the cover crops around Crixhall Court. Sightings of these delightful birds can pretty much be guaranteed along the hedgelines here. Grey Partridge is another species that seems to be making a welcome return to the largely nature-friendly farming methods here. Three were seen at Summerfield on 29/08. Ravens, rare visitors here as recently as 5-6 years ago, are now sighted regularly in the area. Great-spotted and Green woodpeckers have been both vocal and visible in recent weeks and 2, probably female, Sparrowhawks were chasing each other over Bushy Rough on 03/09. A Kingfisher at the Great Pedding stream is a rare occurrence, so one on 02/09 was a welcome record.
This is by no means a definitive list of sightings but has been collated to give an overview of what can be seen locally at this time.
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