Knepp Estate for Nightingales and White Stork

Wednesday 12th May 2021

Knepp Estate

I organised a guided visit to the Knepp Estate for our East Grinstead Local RSPB Group.  As the Covid rules still applied we were only allowed 2 groups of 5 members.  I knew the area really well and, since there was a waiting list of 12,  I decided not to take up a place.  After making sure everything was in place at the start at 09.30, Patrick and I made our way from the group to take to the public footpaths around the site.  The weather was spot on with good visibility, sunshine and a light breeze.

• Even while we were all congregating  at the start we caught sight of a couple of White Storks flying majestically above us.  This was to be the forerunner of many we would see over the period of our visit, including several that were sitting on nests.  What superb wallpaper for any visit - well done Charlie and Isabella, the owners of the estate.

courtesy of Alastair Gray and Twitter

courtesy of Tony Juniper and Twitter

courtesy of Tony Juniper and Twitter

• It wasn't long before we were in among the Nightingales enjoying their opera-like singing. We must have found around 7 or 8 territories as we made our way around. If the White Storks provided the glamour the Nightingales gave us the sensational background music. 
• There were all kinds of passerines including Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers etc.
• The only target species to elude us was Turtle Dove - we neither saw or heard any even though we knew they were present.

The main group saw all the target birds, with some excellent views, and came away well satisfied with their mornings experience.  It's obviously about to become a fixture on the birding calendar of the group.

Patrick and I have arranged to go back on Sunday, weather permitting, with a much earlier start to maximise our chances of seeing/hearing Turtle Dove.

Wonderful Knepp - it gets better every year