Volunteer Phil reports on his progress with bird song identification...
"Two weeks ago I wrote about trying to identify the arrival of nightingales while being very aware of several blackcaps singing on the reserve. Now however I’m very clear in my own mind that its impossible to confuse the 2 songs. Blackcaps are still singing prominently but the nightingales seem to be in full voice too so there is plenty of opportunity to compare the song. Nightingale song is distinctly louder, has more sequences of repeated notes and a way of seeming to suddently start up from silence. Blackcap song tends to blend much more into the chorus of other birdsong.
All the textbooks say that nightingale song is usually to be heard with the bird skulking in a bush but the Pulborough birds seem to like to emerge and perch prominently. I and several visitors were treated to a performance lasting several minutes just by the gate near Little Hanger Hide with the bird perching prominently just a few yards away (as attached). This is perhaps the top spot on the reserve but there are nightingales also at the path junction by Fattengates Courtyard and near the top of the zig zag path
There are now swallows and martins of both sorts to be seen on the reserve. Nettley’s Hide provided the best views on 24th. Also from there could be seen greenshank and green sandpiper on the edge of the main pool. Several little ringed plovers were also to be seen from there, possibly including the ones that had been prominent at West Mead last week. Previously the female lapwing nesting on the island in front of West Mead hide had been occasionallly leaving the nest to chase away the plovers. Maybe they had taken the hint and moved elsewhere.
Happily the lapwing nest seems to be still occupied with both female and male to be seen. The female has been doing most of the incubating but on one brief occasion the male with his much more prominent crest was to be seen sitting on the eggs. The nest has been in use for about 3 weeks now so there is some possibilty that by the time of my next visit the eggs will have hatched. However as for all ground nesting birds there is a heightened risk of predation.
The approach path to West Mead appears to be a good place to see whitethroat with at least 2 birds singing in the area, however this species can be seen in several other places around the reserve. Also a lesser whitethroat with its darker legs and cheeks was seen yesterday by a collague near the foot of the zig zag path.
The cooler less sunny weather kept butterflies under cover but this meant that it was a good day to notice that the first speckled woods of the year had emerged, these butterflies being happy in shade. The speckled pattern makes this species one of the more attractive of the brown butterflies (photo attached) and like many butterflies they like to rest on the bare ground of the paths. I also saw a my first red admiral of the year on the path between Hanger View and Nettley’s Hide.
Finally on a slightly sad note the wonderful white blossom that was characteristic of last week’s visit has already faded proving once again how ephemeral nature can be."