Sightings from 09/05/2017 and 13/05/2017
Thanks to volunteer Gary for his report and photos
Nice day at Pulborough Brooks but still that nagging cold wind, the hanger viewpoint was particularly chilly, and there was very little to see except the now regular Egyptian Geese and a few hirundines.
Nightingales still a bit reticent to burst into full song, but at least the one on Adder Alley was trying its best.Adder Alley was also the place for dragonflies, with a fresh female Broad-bodied Chaser on show.
Broad-bodied chaser
Plenty of warblers around the trail, including Blackcap, Garden, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge, Willow and Chiffchaff (including one of the ones with the dodgy call as reported by the BTO). 50+ Swifts drifting north over the South Brooks, where there was also a Peregrine and two Hobbys. From Winpenny a Snipe, two Redshank and two Wood Sandpipers (three this evening seen by another volunteer).
A short walk to the heathland produced a singing Redstart.
Snipe from Winpenny
I took a group out today (13 May) in search of warblers and, although the persistent wind meant there wasn't a chorus of birdsong, we were treated to lovely views of a singing willow warbler out in the open which gave us good opportunity to look at the pink legs and long wings. We had whitethroats across the reserve including one rather obliging individual near West Mead who showed of his song flight very nicely.
A trip down to the ditch-dipping platform was rewarded with wonderful displays and singing from a sedge warbler. While down at the platform, the swifts flew low above our heads screeching away, a hobby flew across the brooks seemingly in quite a hurry, and a male stonechat perched nicely for us on a distant fence post. Before we left, we spent some time watching a pair of long tailed tits dashing in and out of the brambles with their beaks stuffed full of flies and further along the trail, nearer to Hanger View, we were alerted to a a large group of chattering juveniles long-tails scattered throughout the oaks, the most I've ever seen at once. They were quite a sight and noisy too!