It's been a particularly good week at Pulborough Brooks for sightings of owls and raptors with both barn owls and short eared owls out hunting in the late afternoon.
Yesterday, Winpenny Hide was the best place to be with a barn owl quartering on the South Brooks and a short eared owl sitting on a fence post close in to the hide before flying off onto the river bank - lovely.
Barn owl photo taken by volunteer Graham Osborne
Whilst the barn owls bred here on the reserve this year - we had two pairs who fledged 7 youngsters between them - the short eared owl is likely to be a recent arrival from Scandinavia, Russia or Iceland. With the cold northerly winds that we've had over the last week or so there have been an influx of migratory birds arriving in the UK, including short eared owls. Once the summer breeding season is over the owls tend to leave upland areas and are found mostly in marshes and coastal grasslands where they'll be hunting for small mammals - especially field voles. Although largely nocturnal (or crepuscular - active at dusk and dawn) short eared owls are perhaps the most active of our owl species during the daytime, so time your visit for mid afternoon to watch this stunning bird hunting as the light levels drop and the sun starts to set.
Short eared owl photo from volunteer Gary Trew.
The third owl that has been sighted here during the last week is the little owl - perhaps my favourite of all owing to his unique combination of cuteness and grumpiness! Although, technically, the little owl was not on the nature reserve itself as it was seen in a tree on the other side of the river bank. This tree (viewed from Winpenny hide) was a regular haunt for the little owl earlier in the year so it is always worth taking a look.
The marsh harriers continue to seen on a daily basis, usually hunting low over the ditches. Volunteer Graham took these fantastic photos last weekend:
In addition to the marsh harriers we have had sightings of two hen harriers, two peregrines and regular reports of red kite, buzzard, sparrowhawk and kestrel. We've even had a quick fly-by sighting of a merlin. So it seems to be a great time to come along and see how many you can find.
The influx of migratory birds is not limited to raptors and owls though...the number of wintering wildfowl is starting to build up (although the site is still pretty dry, especially on the southern part of the brooks) and we're starting to see more winter thrushes with redwing and fieldfare enjoying the plentiful supply of hawthorn berries around the hedgerows.
We've also had sightings of firecrest (on the zig zags and at Fattengates courtyard) and of woodcock. The best place for the latter is to base yourself in the car park around dusk (after you've seen the owls perhaps) and look for a long-beaked silhouette flying over your head as the bird flies out of the woodland where it hides during the day and onto the wetland to feed.
No doubt there will have been an influx of goldrest too. These tiny birds are reputed to hitch a lift on the back of a woodcock to make the North Sea crossing, hence one of their common names 'the woodcock pilot!'.
Goldcrest photo by Chris Prince