Pulborough Brooks has been loooking beautiful in the sunshine this week, between the heavy downpours and the dramatic clouds that have been rolling in from the downs.
The recent visiting spoonbill has left us now, but we have had reports of significant numbers of little ringed plovers and ringed plovers, dunlin, redshank and a male gargany. Some birds already have families, with shelduck and lapwings now supporting a number of sizable offspring.
Bird song is really at it's height this month, although when they all sing at once even some of the experts take a moment to work out who's who! You can experience the birdwong from the hedgrows around the wetlands trail, or head out onto the woodland/heathland trail; the bluebells have almost finished but the woods are green and lively! Tits and finches provide the back ground soundtrack to blackcaps, willow warbler, chiffchaff, garden warbler, and whitethroat. Green woodpeckers have been making their voices heard, and a few of our nightingales are still singing at Fattengates Courtyard and Adder Alley.
If the 'little brown jobs' in the hedgerows evade you, keep an eye on the skies. Birds of prey have been putting on a good show, with peregrine, sparrowhawk, buzzard and red kite all seen this week. The fabulous arerobatic hobby have also arrived, following the flocks of martins, swallows and swifts, in time for the first emerging dragonflies.
I was watching a pair of large red damselfly egg laying in one of our ponds this lunch time, and hear from our wardens that four-spotted chasers and hairy dragonfly are on the wing from the ditches, particularly visible at Black Pond on our heathland trail.
The weather forcast is looking fabulous for the next few days and into the weekend, nothing but good news for butterflies and dragonflies, and a welcome relief from the rain for the chicks and busy parents. Why not come on down to the reserve and enjoy this fine weather, dare I suggest the start of summer? We look forward to seeing you!
One final note, we have had a number of calls this week from people with concerns about chicks or nests. Although we are always more than happy to advice on wildlife quiries, this is just a gentle reminder that we have no facilities at the reserve for expert care of injured or distressed wildlife. Your best option is a local wildlife rescue service for example WADARS (Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service) which serves Worthing, Shoreham, Lancing, Storrington Pulborough &Ashington areas. Your local telephone directory should have phone numbers for places closest to where you live. If you are out and about or gardening for example during this weekends fine weather, and you discover a baby bird, the best advice is to leave well alone. Most young birds look, to our eyes, too young when they leave the nest, but fear not, the parents will be close by, often waiting for you to go so they can come in and feed the chick, and they really do know best!