There’s been a flurry of activity on the reserve lately. Cuckoos have been cuckoo-ing on the heath and around Winpenny, and volunteer Neil called in a particularly close sighting of one from Hanger View on Sunday. Hearing a cuckoo for the first time each year is my favourite part of spring, particularly as it’s becoming less and less likely to hear one. I didn't even have to go outside to hear my first of 2017; I was at home brushing my teeth in the bathroom and got very excited!
Our lapwing chicks are still being frequently sighted, with reports of six chicks at West Mead and four at Winpenny. They are quite mobile but easy enough to see through binoculars when you locate them, although you’ll have to be quick to keep up with them! They’ve been popular with our visitors who’ve enjoyed watching them dash up and down the shorelines.
The lapwing chicks aren’t the only babies on the reserve. Our visitors and volunteers have reported seeing a litter of 3 fox cubs playing between the Adder Alley and Winpenny throughout the week, and volunteer Graham took this lovely photo of a juvenile treecreeper on Sunday.
There are several active long-tailed tit nests dotted around the nature trail too, one being located at the entrance to Fattengates Courtyard. While you stop to listen out for the nightingale’s song here, you may be treated to the sight of the adult long-tails busily to-ing and fro-ing in the brambles, their beaks stuffed with tiny caterpillars and other invertebrates.
Speaking of nightingales, one of our males at Fattengates has been performing quite nicely from the other side of the public footpath. The past couple of weeks have been a warm up for these songsters but now that we’re experiencing milder temperatures and more southerly winds, they finally have a reason to start singing—the females are on their way!
There’s also been a good number of waders across the Brooks. A grey plover has been present on the South Brooks, alongside ringed and little ringed plovers, dunlin, redshank and greenshank, and common sandpiper, while five ruff were seen on the North Brooks on Sunday.
Common Sandpiper at West Mead (Graham Osborne)
To finish, I’d like to mention the spectacular display of bluebells in Black Wood. Volunteer Stuart, who sent us these beautiful photos, says “the display at Pulborough Brooks is the best I’ve seen in West Sussex this year”.