Author Archives: wildgroombridge

Meadow pipits ( or mipits as some birders call them) are quite common in the UK generally – around 2 million pairs – but they are amber listed (index of birds of conservation concern) as numbers are declining. We haven’t seen many around Groombridge in recent years so I was surprised to come across aContinue reading “Meadow Pipits”

There’s always a buzz when people spot a hornet – they’re so much bigger than bees and wasps, and to be honest, they look a little bit scary if you don’t know anything about them. But we’ve had hornets in our garden for years and they really aren’t aggressive, even when they wander into theContinue reading “Love your local hornets!”

Andy Daw is a lifelong naturalist and an RSPB site manager with responsibility for several reserves in the south of England, including the 181 ha (448 acre) Broadwater Warren reserve on the edge of Groombridge. Wild Groombridge’s Phil Sumner talked to him about the history and development of the reserve. PS: How did the BroadwaterContinue reading “RSPB Broadwater Warren”

“Butterflies are a beautiful and important part of the UK’s wildlife” Butterfly Conservation Butterflies are indicator species, highlighting the health of the environment and playing a crucial role in the food chain and plant pollination. The UK has 57 species plus two regular migrants ( Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow). Sadly many species have sufferedContinue reading “Big Butterfly Count”

We were delighted this week to come across a pair of spotted flycatchers nesting in Groombridge . Initially picked up on the Merlin birdsong recognition app, these migrants from tropical Africa are one of the last summer visitors to arrive in late May or June. They may only stay a couple of months, just longContinue reading “Spotted Flycatchers”

If you’re loving all the birdsong around us at the moment but wonder what you’re hearing, here’s a free beginner’s course from Sussex Wildlife Trust. We’ve heard great things about it so let us know what you think. (It’s by email so you can learn at home in your own time.) This is peak birdsongContinue reading “Bird song – free course”

We’ve been watching the newly arrived summer migrants, chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps and whitethroats who have joined the swallows, house martins and swifts in Groombridge. They should be with us until the autumn although as a result of climate change increasing numbers are spending the winter in the UK. This is the time of yearContinue reading “More summer visitors”