Our volunteer John Underwood wrote this lovely report following his visit this morning - thanks John!
Who needs the Eurovision Song Contest? We have the Pulborough Brooks song contest. What a morning, shared with many visitors in the sunshine. Where better to enjoy the spring blossom, blue sky, birdsong and fresh air.
The Cuckoo greeted me as I got out of the car and I soon added Blackcap, Robin and Wren.
Wren by Graham Osborne
While surveying the brooks from the terrace I could hear Garden Warbler and Whitethroat in numbers. A scan showed two Cattle Egret picking their way through the grazing cattle, a large group of Mute Swan and the inevitable Canada and Egyptian Geese, many with goslings. A Hobby whizzed past low and fast not to be seen again although three or four were reported on the North Brooks. A Kestrel was half-hidden on a fence post at the bottom of the field, just taking the air.
The stroll down the zigzag produced the first of several Nightingales, not giving us the full blast but the warm-up burble and quiet song. Presumably these are the lone males living in hope. In competition was a Song Thrush and further along the first of two or three Cetti's Warblers vied with the Cuckoo for carrying power.
At Westmead a Little Ringed Plover posed close by but the Garganey had gone in to hiding at the back of the pool. A pair have been there for several days and had been seen mating . Will they stay? That would be good. They are such pretty ducks.
En route to Redstart Corner I heard the first Lesser Whitethroat and beyond two Goldfinch twittered and a Chaffinch sang briefly. A pair of Stonechat banged their pebbles together to warn me off and a Sedge Warbler softly sang from the hedge.
Winpenny has produced some good sightings recently and today didn't disappoint. At least four Redshank flitted and fed and a Greenshank strutted elegantly about. A Wood Sandpiper played hide-and-seek and then, to everyone's surprise, a male Garganey appeared and gave good views as it swam slowly about feeding.
Garganey by Chris Moore
I thought that I should check that this was a different Garganey so returned to Westmead to find the pair on the open water for all to see.
The raptor count was low - just one Red Kite and one Buzzard. An Eagle had been seen earlier, much earlier, about 6 am.
If there was a disappointment in amongst this banquet of birds it was the lack of hirundines. No Martins, no Swifts and only one Swallow.
This is such a joyful time of year with so much to see and hear. It was a privilege to be at my second home today.