10/05/2017 Knepp Estate with the East Grinstead RSPB Group

Wednesday 10 May 2017
Knepp Estate
East Grinstead RSPB Group


10 of us enjoyed a smashing 3 hours this morning going round this most interesting estate. Starting from the car park in the village of Shipley we headed south before looping round to the east for the return leg.  In all  46 species were seen.

We were unsuccessful with our target species, Turtle Dove.  We didn't hear or see it, unlike a group of photographers who heard one and saw one earlier.

• Our second target species was Nightingale and here we were more successful in that we heard one singing away at the southern end of our route.  Despite our best efforts, however, we were unable to make a sighting.

On the plus side, we had a few surprises:-

• We had a sighting of a Barn Owl in the Lower Barn area.  It flew across the field in front of us enabling all present to get great views.
• A little further south, several members had equally good views of a Lesser Whitethroat.
• At least 3 Cuckoo's were present, again providing us with superb views.
• Not all present saw the Red Kite near the end of our walk.

• In addition, there were Old English Longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs and several stunning fallow and red deer.

A very satisfied group of people - even though we missed the star species for the second year running!