With the Ashdown Bird Group at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Sunday 10^th September 2023

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Ashdown Bird Group

(5 members present)

 

We had a low turnout today; holidays and injury had taken their toll.  After the recent sweltering heat, conditions today were hot but significantly milder than the last couple of days.

 

It was difficult to set targets today because of the abnormally hot weather of late.

 

Large birds were the stand-out species today. 

• ·   Right at the start we picked out a great white egret, several little egrets, a couple of herons and a raven from the viewing point outside the Visitor Centre.
• ·         At West Mead Hide we saw our first marsh harrier, gliding gracefully over the reeds.  Soon afterwards we saw a red kite - the first of at least 4 we would find today.  This was followed by good sightings of a peregrine and a buzzard.  A hobby flew in and landed on a post and the bird remained in sight throughout our visit. 

record shot of hobby courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• ·         From Whinpenny Hide we saw a white-tailed eagle flying in the distance and immediately afterwards we picked out a white stork flying in the same area.       
• ·         Incredibly we had to wait until 11.27 before we saw our first kestrel – nearly 2 hours into our visit.

 

There was a huge lack of water in the lower brooks because of the high temperatures so we had to wait until we reached the pools at the Little Hangar viewing point before we saw any small waders.  From there through to Netley’s we came across a few.

• ·         At least 10 snipe were seen – 5 were out on the mud feeding then at least another 5 flew from the foliage when they were all flushed by a predator.
• ·         We saw several ruff.
• ·         A greenshank was our favourite.
• ·         A lone redshank was present.
• ·         At least 5 black-tailed godwits looked immaculate as they fed in the shallow water.

 

 

There were hirundines around.

• ·         They were mainly house martins interspersed with a few swallows.

There were many passerines – mainly the usual suspects.

• ·         A nuthatch was perhaps the pick of the bunch.

 

Rackham Viewing Point

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon session in Rackham Woods, visiting the higher and lower viewing areas.

• ·         We had continuous views of one white-tailed eagle in its favourite tree.  It had its back to us and held this pose throughout.

Record shot courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

• ·         Later on a second eagle appeared in the field close to the favoured tree but the bird soon disappeared in the long foliage.  It did finally surface and subsequently gave us some excellent views.

Record shot courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Kevin best summed up our afternoon session – “It’s still hard to believe we were stood on a hill in Sussex watching sea eagles.”

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Martin for a pleasurable and interesting trip

Today’s species list

Name:	Count
Black-headed Gull	1
Black-tailed Godwit	2
Blue Tit	3
Buzzard	4
Canada Goose	5
Chiffchaff	6
Dunnock	7
Great Spotted Woodpecker	8
Great Tit	9
Great White Egret	10
Greenshank	11
Grey Heron	12
Greylag Goose	13
Hobby	14
House Martin	15
House Sparrow	16
Jackdaw	17
Kestrel	18
Lapwing	19
Little Egret	20
Magpie	21
Mallard	22
Marsh Harrier	23
Moorhen	24
Mute Swan	25
Nuthatch	26
Peregrine	27
Pheasant	28
Raven	29
Red Kite	30
Redshank	31
Robin	32
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon	33
Ruff	34
Snipe	35
Starling	36
Stock Dove	37
Swallow	38
Teal	39
White Stork	40
White-tailed Eagle	41
Woodpigeon	42
Wren	43

 

Species count = 43