I really feel like spring has arrived and that summer must only be around the corner when the first swallows are spotted here at Pulborough Brooks. So, along with the swallows, sand martins, chiff chaffs, skylarks and willow warblers have all been either seen or heard over the last week... summer here we come!
Out on the brooks, there are still plenty of ducks and waders to be seen; the most recently reported include a couple of gadwall, little-ringed plovers, redshanks, a little egret, several tufted ducks, little grebes and around 7 black-tailed godwits.
As always our hedgerows and woodland areas are hives of activity, with reports of treecreepers, goldcrests, bullfinches, nuthatches and blackcaps all flitting amongst the branches.
The Heath continues to offer regular sightings of crossbills and goldcrests, and a lesser spotted woodpecker has been seen near the pond at the bottom of the bridleway.
With the weather warming up, adders have become a usual feature, with ‘adder alley’ being the best place to spot one or two as they catch the morning sun. Common lizards are also starting to make an appearance – but this reptile requires a bit of luck if you want to see more than a tail whizzing into the grass!
If you haven’t the time to venture much further than the visitor centre on you next visit, Uppertons Barn has been the place to see skylarks, linnets, still a few fieldfares and if you are really lucky a barn owl or perhaps the red kite which has graced our skies several times over the past week or so...