We met Jennifer in the busy car park at 10am on a splendid, sunny day at Pulborough Brooks for our one-to-one Sussex Guided Bird Walk last Saturday.
It wasn't long before we heard our first Nightingale, some distance away beyond the car park. Further along the trail, another Nightingale was showing superbly out in the open as it sang - such a wonderful view!
We heard the 'rushed' song of a Garden Warbler and managed some good views of it after seeing some movement. This was a year-first for all of us. A Song Thrush was singing close-by. We paused by the pond at the path junction and enjoyed views of a Treecreeper while a distant Lesser Whitethroat rattled away.
Moving on, we headed straight for the Winpenny Hide. After watching an Adder by the path, we soon managed to see four Wood Sandpipers alongside a Greenshank, as well as a flock of four Ringed Plovers with three Dunlin, a Grey Plover and a few Redshanks. An amazing mix of waders!
Three Egyptian Geese and a few Shelducks and Teal were also out on the brooks, and a couple of Sedge Warblers were singing close by.
At the Westmead Hide, a couple of pairs of Avocets were on the islands and calling occasionally, while an immature White-tailed Eagle cruised overhead, unsettling the Canada Geese, before landing on a distant post.
One of the Lapwings was closely guarding two small chicks. A drake Shoveler slumbered while a handful of Tufted Ducks loafed around. Near the hide, a male Kestrel was circling overhead.
Back in the trees near the pond on the way back, we enjoyed superb views of a pair of Treecreepers this time, picking over he bark just above us. Before returning to the visitor centre, another Nightingale showed right out in the open.
We sat on a bench by the dipping pond as we had lunch, adding Hobby, Raven, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush and Sparrowhawk to the day list before a drake Mandarin Duck whizzed past, providing a surprise addition. A Red Kite was taking an interest in something in the field below us, like the Raven, so perhaps there was a carcass down there.
We bid farewell to Jennifer but as we walked back to the car in the overflow car park we caught the sound of the singing Wood Warbler that had been reported near Black Pond. It must have relocated some way. I fetched Jennifer and we headed a short way into the woods, soon getting amazing views of the bird as it gleaned insects from the canopy and gave its 'spinning penny' song. A perfect end to a truly awesome few hours of birding!
Comments