With thanks to volunteer Graham for his report and photos.
It was mostly dry but windy at Pulborough Brooks on Sunday.
By the zigzag path I spotted a pair of Sphaerophoria hoverflies mating in mid-air.
Near the bottom of the slope a Small Copper butterfly was basking in the sunlight.
I took the turn towards Fattengates Courtyard, and I soon came across a Painted Lady in very nice condition.
Near the raised pond I found a Chrysotoxum festivum hoverfly.
There was little bird action to be seen from Winpenny Hide, so I soon moved on towards the ditch dipping ponds. A Small White butterfly perched conveniently by the turning to the ponds.
At the ditch dipping ponds I found a Willow Emerald Damselfly, a Brown Hawker and a Southern Hawker. Also present was a 10-spot Ladybird.
It was getting very windy when I reached Hanger View, so I did not stay there for very long. Hairstreak Corner was more sheltered, and the Common Fleabane provided an attraction for a variety of insects, including a Brown Hairstreak, and a female Sphaerophoria hoverfly.
Fellow Hides & Trails Volunteer Martin called to let me know that a White-tailed Eagle had landed on the North Brooks, so I quickly made my way to join him at Jupp’s View. The Eagle had flown off before I got there, but after a while it returned, and I was able to share some good views of it through my scope with some visitors before returning to the Visitor Centre.
I decided to spend a bit of time on the heathland before heading home. There I found some small creatures to photograph, including a Common Groundhopper and a Field Cricket nymph.