This morning I visited the Newhaven / Seaford area to see the Great Bustard that has been reported in a kale field the past few days. I had some
indications of where to go from the Sussex Ornithological Society’s sightings page
and found a parking place where I thought the right track led up the hill. I found
the kale field but couldn’t see anyone else around and had walked the length of
the field and back before I saw other birders arrive. I met someone who had
seen it the past 2 days so knew what he was looking for. Then he spotted it at
the bottom of the hill. In spite of its large size as the heaviest flying bird (males
8-16Kg, females 3.5-5kg), it was small in the distance and looked like a female
(height 75-85cm). A knowledgeable birder advised its ring number
had been seen and that it was imported as an egg from Spain for the Great Bustard Group breeding program on Salisbury Plain and was 6 months old. I was
able to see a close up of it through the same person’s scope. It spent some time
preening itself in one spot.
As I had parked on Bishopstone Road and had a good view of
the church from the hill I decided to visit it. St. Andrew’s Church is a
wonderful Saxon church whose origin is thought to be between the early 8th
century to late 10th century. The informative booklet advises that
Bishopstone is probably derived from old English ‘Biscop’ + ‘tun’ (Bishop’s
estate), owned by the Bishops of Chichester. There is a Saxon sundial over the
door with +EADRIC carved on it. The Bell Tower is Norman 12th C. built
in Saxon style with 4 receding stages. The Nave is Saxon, the north aisle and chancel added in the 12th
C. The font is 12th C. square
bowl type. A fabulous church, open Wednesday and Saturday mornings so I was
lucky to see the inside.
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| Great Bustard, Otis tarda, female |
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| kale field |
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| Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus |
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| Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus |
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| view of St. Andrew's Church |
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| St. Andrew's Church |
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| Norman Tower |
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| Saxon sundial +EADRIC |
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| Tower window |
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| entrance to chancel |
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| chancel |
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| chancel |
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| 12th C. coffin slab |
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| tower |
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| Saxon grave marker |
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| 1675 Tower window |
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| 12th C. font |
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| 1897 pulpit - St. Michael slaying the poor old dragon |
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| Nave roof restored 1885 |
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| 12th C. North Aisle |
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| Tower |
