A recent sightings update from volunteer Gary
Surprisingly I didn't get wet at Pulborough Brooks today. On the north brooks, wigeon numbers have increased dramatically from last week and will soon be the most numerous duck present although teal are giving them a run for their money.
Mallard, pintail, gadwall and shoveler making up the also rans. Six snipe, one dunlin and perhaps 200 lapwing the only waders on visible. From Nettleys, two pairs of stonechat and my first yellowhammer for some time on the reserve, and still lots of swallows with one or two sand and house martins mixed in. Behind the hide a chiffchaff was singing halfheartedly.
From Winpenny raptors were again a feature with buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawk and a hobby that put on a display of its aerial skills. A probable peregrine put in an all too brief appearance. On the walk to West Mead, meadow pipits were in the same place as last week with 28 sitting on the deer proof fence at the same time. There were at least the same number in the long grass as well.
At West Mead as we were watching the many hundreds of canada and greylag geese, I noticed a smaller goose with some canada's flying in to join the others. At first I thought it may be a brent goose but once it landed it was clearly a small race of canada goose (cackling?) With almost square head and tiny bill – interesting but probable escape. The photo shows how small it was compared with the others.