Thanks to volunteer John for his article following our 'monthly meander' event on Thursday.
"The grey morning didn't deter the six subscribers to our Monthly Meander nor the birding group from Wiltshire, a school party, the Gay Birders club and many others from coming on a Nightingale hunt.
No-one had to wait long. On the edge of the car park a Nightingale sang loudly all morning and as we went round we heard about six more. There could well be eleven or even more singers this year. Well done to RSPB Pulborough Brooks for enticing them in.
The amount of bird song all around the reserve was very noticeable which was as well as the visibility was poor. The first of many Common Whitethroat was heard and seen on the zigzag. There seem to be more than usual this year, their song outnumbering the Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Despite the gloom and green foliage we managed to spot several Blackcap including a pair at the Hanger.
Two Cetti's Warblers blasted out their welcome, one at the top of the zigzag beating a surprisingly modest Song Thrush in volume. Cetti's are certainly becoming more common, moving up the Arun valley. The first of two Cuckoos called its name from afar.
Cuckoo by Dan Sayers
Our visitors were enchanted by a pair of Stonechat fence-hopping just past the Pipe Pond and a Chaffinch sang from atop a tree leading to a discussion about how to describe the song - fast bowler's run-up or someone falling downstairs.
The view from Westmead was limited by the gloom but we could easily see Mallard, a Gadwall, Shelduck, a Coot, Canada Geese and Lapwing with the strident accompaniment of the ever-increasing number of Black-headed Gulls. In the distance a white blob proved to be a Great White Egret, a lifer for some of our visitors, and two Egyptian Geese flaunted their white wing patches as they flew across. Other black and white blobs turned into Avocet, too far away to be appreciated but three more on the North Brooks were obligingly nearer.
We listened for Lesser Whitethroat but failed. Near Little Hanger one was briefly seen by one or two of us but when we reached the Hanger our patience was rewarded with the song of two birds sounding like soft machine-gun fire. One of our number whispered that she had never heard one before. The distant burble of a Sedge Warbler was also a first for some as was the sight of a pair of Linnet posing in front of us. A Kestrel glided across, the only raptor seen all morning.
We added Greenfinch and Goldfinch but the predominant colours of the day were black and white with the sounds of Whitethroat and Blackcap vying with the Nightingales in a brilliant spring festival of birds."