Chats & Thrushes - Bird Blog 5

This blog has been a long time coming, apologies for the suspense, and I haven't seen the Whinchat illustrated above, but I have seen regularly on my travels across Hastings Country Park since lockdown began, a number of birds from this family, notably the thrushes. Indeed, a couple of our most familiar birds, and often seen in gardens too, are the Robin and the Blackbird. These are mostly ground-dwelling birds that find the majority of their food on the ground, and who hasn't heard and seen Blackbirds regularly foraging in undergrowth?!?

Male Stonechat

The Stonechat is the only non-thrush of this group that I have seen during this period as far as I am aware (who knows what I may miss among the fast flights across my path and in the distance?), and I have quite taken to the Stonechat too, once I knew what I was observing. Their orange-red breast, and the male's black head and white half-collar, made them stand out for me at first. They like heath and grasslands, and particularly the gorse that grows at Firehills, openly perching and taking off from the gorse and other vegetation there. Stonechats eat insects and worms, and have a distinctive 'chak-chak' call with an added whistle (YouTube).

Song Thrush

The Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush have been enchanting to see and hear, the Mistle Thrush being the slightly larger of the two. Both eat berries, worms and insects, and the Song Thrush also eats snails, and they both visit gardens as well as living in heaths, fields and woodland. I observed them more in the earlier months during the lockdown, and was delighted to see and hear a Song Thrush singing loudly from on high (YouTube) during a specific visit to the old disused Sand Quarry at Fairlight, what a beautiful sound!

Juvenile Robin

The Blackbird, another wonderful singer, and the Robin, are well known to us all, with songs written about them, and they are both great singers too, perhaps the Blackbird's song being the best known as it sings so loudly and clearly (YouTube). The habitat of both is widespread, and the Robin eats mostly insects, whilst the Blackbird also eats worms and berries. I have included an image of a juvenile Robin because I saw one a few days ago, and it took me a while to realize just what I had seen.

That's enough today for this chapter of my bird observations, and the next chapter of the book* is called Larks, Swallows, Wagtails, Wrens, Dippers, Accentors and Allies, consequently, the Birds Part VI blog will be called similar, although probably a shorter title, but please do watch out for it, and many thanks for reading the blog.

* John Gooders The Complete Birdwatcher's Guide.

All 3 photographs of individual birds are with many thanks to the RSPB, and specifically for the image of the Song Thrush singing with thanks to Chris Gomersall, and of the young Robin to Andy Bright.

John Gooders used to live in East Sussex before he died 10 years ago, sadly, and had previously been Chair of Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and the Mayor of Winchelsea.

Hastings Museum reopens today.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery reopens today (blog from earlier this year in more 'normal' circumstances), although, as we expect in these health crisis times, with 'mitigations' due to Covid-19, eg shorter opening times, restricted numbers allowed to visit, one-way system, face masks to be worn, and free tickets must be booked in advanced. For further details and to book a ticket go to their website.

inBloom Video (website) video regarding guidelines and procedures (YouTube).

Covid-19 and have people, pubs and bars lost it?!?

I wrote about the latest Government advice about drinking and eating in pubs, bars and restaurants in a blog at the beginning of July, and it appeared pretty clear what licensees were meant to ensure was carried out on their premises if they wanted to reopen and stay open. The first 2 weekends, 4th/5th and 10th/12th of July saw a not unexpected heavy police and licensing authority presence touring the licensed premises of Hastings, indeed, bars were closed down and/or had their opening hours curtailed.

Added to lighten the blog

However! It appears that many licensees have forgotten they could, and probably should, be closed down because it appears they are now being totally disrespectful of the rules, disrespectful of their staff, and disrespectful of their customers and the general population. What is not to understand?!?

I am not a 'going out in the evening' regularly person, getting older changes your habits, but I have heard from 2 separate sources from the Saturday evening just gone (22nd of August) that most of the pubs and bars in George Street were, frankly, completely disrespectful of the rest of Hastings population! I shan't name and shame particular pubs/bars, but it appears that few had 'track & trace' facilities being carried out, 'social distancing' rules were completely ignored, people were standing up drinking rather than sitting at tables, indeed tables were not being cleaned/sanitized, toilets were dirty/not sanitized and up to 6 people were seen in a pub/bar toilet at a time, entrance and exit door policy was ignored by many, and there was insufficient staff on duty to ensure that safe rules to ensure the Government expected 'mitigations' were in force.

Don't be surprised when pubs and bars get closed down again...

Walk to Firehills, Sloes, and a Recipe for Sloe Gin - plus!

View from Firehills Earlier

I own up, I've been walking over to Firehills, and usually beyond to Pett Level/Pett Village/Winchelsea/Icklesham/Rye (whichever), for years, but since the Covid-10 lockdown began, I walked across Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve for my daily exercise (eg see blog from March), and still do more days than I don't, and taken more notice. So, lovely, and not too hot this morning, with a decent breeze, and, okay, I've noticed them lots before, and I've already picked berries and placed a couple of bags of them in my freezer. Anyway, SLOE BERRIES! There are so many about, and so early in the year to be ready to pick, indeed, they've even been dropping free already.

Sloe Berries at Firehills Earlier

So what do I suggest? For a start, if you like sloe gin (and other sloe-based recipes, eg sloe port and sloe brandy), hurry up and pick your sloes before it's too late. Then wash the berries, leave to dry, and place into freezer bag/s to be frozen; this helps them to develop better, and to crack them when they are later placed into gin whilst frozen, helping the flavour and colour to come out. Otherwise, if using the berries straight away, then comes the laborious task of pricking every berry with a sharp knife! I strongly recommend freezing them before using them. 😉

SLOE GIN EASY RECIPE: There are many sloe gin recipes about on the internet and in books, this is my basic recipe, I tend to add a little less sugar (personal preference) and, depending on how many berries I've picked, usually a few more berries, especially as I use the berries again a few months later.

Place 500 grams of frozen/pricked berries into a litre of gin in a larger sealable container, stir in 250 grams of caster sugar. Then shake every day for at least a week (I tend to shake every now and then after the first week, you gradually see the colour going red), and leave for 2-3 months. Again, I'm impatient and tend to not last the 3 months, and I've never been disappointed. Then pour off the berries into sterile bottle/s. I wash the bottle/s (unless it still contains a wee bit of gin, which I make sure a 75ml bottle does), and use 2 or 3 of those smaller glass-sized wine bottles which have been washed, then had gin swirled around inside them to sterilize.

Here's one I made earlier!

Drink when you like, but better to leave for a little while to mature, if you can remain patient enough! Then, what do I do with the berries? Use them again, that's what! Years ago I had a book with recipes in it (no idea where that went, I think I may have sold it with other books when I was short of money) which had a recipe for sloe brandy, which is very good (a bit like brandy with ameretto, so I discovered - if you don't like almonds, give them a miss!), and I found recently a recipe for sloe port on the internet.

SLOE BRANDY: To the sloe berries, following the gin being poured off, add up to 200 grams of caster sugar (amount can be personal choice), a bottle of brandy and some crushed almonds (I may try almond essence next time, just to see if it works, and I don't see why not). Shake for 2 months, leave for another month, then drain off into sterile bottle/s. Leave for a month or so, your choice, and drink!

SLOE PORT: Similar to sloe brandy, only add to the used gin-soaked sloe berries 100 grams of caster sugar, 200mls of brandy, and a bottle of red wine (I used a reasonably cheap 14% full-bodied red from the New World). Shake daily, if you remember, for 6-8 weeks, leave for a month or so, and drain the sloe port off the berries, 'tis good!

Or you can look up other recipes on the internet, enjoy!

Wee Weekend & Weather Blog

I do like an alliteration! 😉

The weather has certainly already effected the weekend and things to do, for example, Live & Unlocked on Hastings Pier was postponed yesterday (facebook) thanks to the rain and strong winds (and little chance of setting up due to the weather); I don't believe there is any live music today, but it is still worth a visit these days, great views, and more businesses getting on board regularly. Tomorrow (Sunday 23rd) there will be DJs and Pier Pressure from 13.00 to 18.00 (facebook), it looks to be a wee bit windy still, with sunshine and maybe showers (Met Office), so be prepared! By the way, the Pier now opens from 08.00 to 23.00 (way to run a pier - are you watching Mr G?!?).

And why the photograph looking down on the local fishing industry quarter early doors? First of all, I was sure I'd written a blog about the history of the local fishing industry in the past, but looking back I don't seem to have, although I have written quite often about the contemporary local fishing industry, eg the blog about when Greenpeace came to town. Hmmm, must have written about it somewhere else! 

Anyway, I know it was the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe when I started writing my blogs (many thanks to Jimmy Toller - R.I.P. - for information I was given many years ago now), but, since I started writing my blogs it looks like there are about 10 fewer boats actively going out to fish from the beach (and thanks to Jack for information here too, cheers!). Which is why the photograph is published above as it was taken by me a couple of days ago when the weather meant the working boats were not launched that morning, so I counted the numbers, about 15 still working/licensed to fish.

But back to this weekend and, whatever you do, please do still be careful, and enjoy yourself! (Cue music) 👍

I'm back & walking across Hastings Country Park again!

Warren Glen

Yes, I am back, after visiting family following my looking after their cats and house whilst they enjoyed themselves across the country in Cornwall... Hadn't seen my sister-in-law and youngest niece since February, my brother since just before the 'lockdown' in March, and still haven't seen his eldest daughter since last year... It was well worth the visit though, and I nearly feel like a normal human being again, and this morning I walked out to Fairlight and back, slightly happier...

Apologies for not writing recently...

Sorry for not writing for a while, but I've been 'out in the cold' metaphorically, with little internet access, but it should be sorted out soon, and I should be back to whatever 'normal' is these days, please bear with me, cheers!

Police Incident Early Doors

This was before 06.00 yesterday (wet at the same time today!), 2 police cars, and later a van (presumably to assist the removal of an individual who was shouting and screaming), the man was making a racket and disturbing people locally...

The officers involved appeared to handle the situation very professionally, nice one!

Musicians and Coastal Currents, and LIVE MUSIC!

I'm a wee bit behind the times (only just saw this on facebook), but:  

Sussex musicians, Coastal Currents want to pay you! They "know times are tough with performances being cancelled and the creative economy struggling. But Coastal Currents raised money from the Arts Council England to be able to give you a space online to stream your live gigs! We support you during COVID and plan to continue supporting you. SO - If you want an hour of live streaming for you, your band, an experiment, to launch a track... to build an online audience - our online stream, gets around 3k watches - get in touch at info@coastalcurrents.org.uk and we can arrange a time for your live stream AND PAY YOU FOR IT! We can also facilitate it to stream to your page too!"  

I hope this information can help local musicians, and, by the way, live music is available on Hastings Pier at weekends, as I mentioned in my blog last week, and a small cover charge of £4 to see the music on the second half of the pier was brought in yesterday for LIVE & UNLOCKED (facebook); the front half of the Pier remained free to enter. Apparently there will NOT be a charge for Saturdays and Sundays (I have just read), but if you want to check on this weekend and future gigs, and see film of previous gigs, please go to the Hastings Flyer facebook page. By the way, tomorrow's music includes Kingsize Slim + Rufus Stone, and Dr Savage, have fun!

OK, Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (website) this year has mostly been a 'virtual' event, but I thought I'd include a photograph from 2 years ago, the last year the lifeboat could take part in the Carnival Parade (blog), sadly no parade this year... 😥

I have missed opportunities to walk along the middle of the road as well 😉

Covid-19 & Face Covering Update

From today, Saturday the 8th of August 2020, more indoor public spaces where face coverings must be worn in law have been added to those I mentioned in a blog I posted in July. The new places include museums, galleries, aquariums, cinemas, funeral homes and places of worship (BBC).

Failure to comply with the law could see culprits fined up to £100, and the Prime Minister has promised more police officers "out and about... more active in their role enforcing these Covid-19 rules." - You have been warned by Johnson!

Old Town Hall & Mental Health Initiative

 

I have written about Hastings Old Town Hall (and Museum) many times, eg blog about its history and it closing down, sadly, as a museum, but the latest initiative comes from Eggtooth (website), with their plan to reopen the building as a community hub, The Nest. The Nest will be home to Eggtooth's mental health and well-being service, focussing on the whole community, a creative event space and venue, provide training for younger people with barriers to employment, and with an alcohol-free bar.

Eggtooth remind us that Hastings is ranked the 13th most deprived local authority area in England, with high unemployment, particularly among younger people, and with limited employment opportunities for those younger people. Another purpose of The Nest will be to help change this, providing training opportunities, personal mentoring and fully funded therapeutic sessions.

There is currently a Crowdfunder online to help fund this worthy project, should you wish to support this, please go to Crowdfunder and donate or share, many thanks.

Sunday Ramble, and revised public loos opening times...

As I mentioned an update about the public toilets opening times I thought I'd get it out of the way first, meaning you don't have to read through my rambling to get there. On my way back from my daily exercise/walk I met up with Judy who informed me that the public toilets at the Stade and those at the Pelham Beach car park, are now open from 9.00 am to 10.00 pm daily, or from 09.00 to 22.00 in 24 hour-clock-speak.

Above is the wee stream that descends Warren Glen, this morning at about 06.35, now I think it's quite cute, and the lighting wasn't too bad, considering, however... 

Before I reached Warren Glen I had a very quiet start to the morning, I saw a couple of lads from a distance in the town centre soon after leaving home, I think they were either acting suspiciously at 05.20 in the morning, or they feel the cold! They both had hoods up, it looked like from jackets, but they were a way away, so they could have had hoodies up plus jackets on top, anyway folks, was this suspicious, do you think, or are modern day youths just that soft? I'm wearing a polo shirt at the time... 😉 

Oh, and I didn't see anyone else until I got up to Barley Lane, when I think it was Neil and his wife walking along in front of me, at pretty much the same speed as me, so I didn't catch up with them before I turned off right, and down into Fairlight Glen, where I actually met someone for the first time. It was about 8 someones actually, all aged somewhere between nappies and 18, probably about 15/16 years of age, give or take, but acting closer to 12. I was nice and friendly, as I always am, said 'hello' and smiled, all I got back was some strange animal noises from one or two of them, giggles, and a shouted "BALDY!" Now, they'd probably been out all night, I couldn't smell alcohol, so I'm guessing they'd been sniffing gas (which I have mentioned in a blog before), seems to be the drug of choice for youngsters these days, and the only reason I can imagine for 8 young lads to be spending the night 'out in the country' together...

This (above photograph of pony and Warren Glen) is after I had passed the posse, and walked back over into Warren Glen, took the photograph of the stream, carried on up to Firehills and the far eastern edge of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, then walked back to above Warren Glen, where I had a wee chat, more sensible discourse this time, with the 6 ponies (the other 5 are to our left/the east of the photograph). 

But I had been walking along, musing about my own teens, and how I had never taken drugs (a big NO NO for my parents, and for me, fortunately), but had enjoyed the similar benefits of testosterone and adrenaline, played football most of the time, or watched football, or tried to 'get off' with girls, sometimes did, sometimes got into fights (another big NO NO for my parents was carrying a knife, so I never did, fortunately, my mum always said that if you carry a weapon and get in a fix, you'd use it, she was most likely correct there, indeed, my brothers and I weren't even allowed one of those wee little penknives!). Oh yes, and we used to go to clubs to meet girls, drinking in a pub beforehand, or to parties with alcohol (usually a large bottle of cider or a Party Seven), and like all youngsters, we knew which pubs we could get away with drinking in whilst underage... But where did those 50 years go?!?

Thank you for bearing with my rambling, it was pretty quiet for birds this morning, but I shall be writing my latest 'Bird Blog' very soon, anyway, cheers folks and be careful!

And I didn't even mention Led Zeppelin (youtube) 😉