A recent sightings report from volunteer Gary.
At a beautiful sunny Pulborough Brooks today (Tuesday) – from West Mead hide, two stonechat, two chiffchaff and one blackcap along with teal and close views of glossy green lapwing in the sunshine. The trees at Redstart Corner held my first two fieldfare of the Autumn and another chiffchaff. The fence line near Winpenny was still holding a female redstart and by its frequent forays still finding plenty to eat. Nearby were two male and one female bullfinches.
From Winpenny itself, another stonechat and a male marsh harrier drifting slowly along the ditches landing frequently but always on the wrong side of some vegetation to get a clear view. A very distant peregrine looked to be feeding on something as it was in the same spot for ages. Two kestrels were also in constant view but thankfully sat in sight on fence posts..
Once again this week even though it was sunny, there was a nagging cold breeze at the Hanger so a quick look yielded just one snipe among the hundreds of geese. High above the picnic site a pair of peregrines seemed to be having fun diving at each other and then lazily spiralling together into the distance. A sparrowhawk also put in a brief appearance. At Jupps View, two black-tailed godwits and another snipe were added to the list, and the marsh harrier put in another appearance until a rather persistent crow made it climb higher and higher to get out of its way, only to be pursued by a local buzzard. You would think that one raptor would give another one some peace and quiet for once!
The Ivy flowers in a sheltered warm Fattengates were alive with flies, bees and huge hornets as well as some pristine comma butterflies and common darter dragonflies. To say it was buzzing would be an understatement.