Ian and I decided to visit the RSPB at Pulborough Brooks once again, the early autumn is a good time to visit and there is always the chance of a White-tailed Eagle now that two juveniles fledged this year.
We met early morning, just before 7.30 after driving through a rising sun and mist over the brooks at Waltham and Amberley. Looking out from the visitor centre it was quite a spectacular view.
The mist over the River Arun.
We walked to the West Dean hide where there were Jays foraging on the acorns in the oak trees to the right of the hide.
Out on the South Brooks there were at least five Cattle Egret amongst the cattle.
The Jays were eating the acorns in the trees but also flying off with them to cache them somewhere away from the hide. They had two feeding methods, one, swallowing the acorn whole.
The other method holding the acorn on the branch with their feet then smashing it open.
There were huge numbers of Canada Geese on the brooks and others were flying in with the air full of honking geese.
We walked on after leaving the hide and followed the path around the reserve. I was hoping for a little bit more activity in the hedges but it was quiet except for calls of Chiffchaff.
This Blue Tit though was close to the path and enjoying the sunshine.
And a Wren enjoying the sun too.
We walked past Redstart Corner and onwards towards the Winpenny Hide. A male Stonechat was sat in the middle of the meadow to our right.
Around the hide there were Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.
The sun was warming things up and the butterflies were about, plenty of Large and Samll Whites and in the shaded spots Speckled Wood.
We walked around the Dragonfly Discovery zone where there were no Dragonflies, there was though a Sedge Warbler in the bushes.
A tractor was cutting the grass and overhead there were plenty of Swallows hawking for insects.
No dragonflies along the discovery zone, but there were hawkers and these Common Darters on the bushes.
We walked to the the hides overlooking the north brooks where there were a few wildfowl on the small pool. All the ducks were in eclipse, but it was possible to pick out a small group of Wigeon.
And a few Pintail.
In front of the hide there was a small pool and a Green Sandpiper fed amongst the reeds and vegetation.
Leaving the hide there were more butterflies, this was a nice Green-veined White.
We made our way back to the cafe where we sat outside and enjoyed a coffee while being watched by the resident House Sparrows. Not a bird I usually photograph, but you have to appreciate the plumage detail.
Out in the fields below the cafe we were picking out birds of prey, both distant and close in. This Red Kite seemingly picking up a snake of slow worm, much to the annoyance of the local Magpies and crows.
A Kestrel was also hunting over the field.
We decided to walk around the reserve once more, stopping at the bottom of the trail for this Grey Wagtail.
We headed back to the Winpenny Hide, going in this time to watch the the geese on the brooks. There was a report of a Red-breasted Goose amongst the Canada and Greylag. Apparently it had a small orange ring, but was definitely not one from the Wildfowl Trust close by at Arundel. It wasn't easy to find though, there must have been at least 500 plus geese with ditches and banks where they could hide.
There was a couple of Marsh Harriers around and at the back of the brooks two Raven. It was while watching the Ravens a White-tailed Eagle was found. Very distant and this is an awful photograph, but unmistakeably a White-tailed Eagle.
I finally found the Red-breasted Goose, distant and with a heat haze but a slightly more acceptable photograph than the eagle.
The view out of the hide.
Walking back to the cars in the sunshine a slightly damaged Small Copper.
Earlier an Emperor Dragonfly frustrated opportunity to photograph it. But as we walked past this time the light was better and I nailed it!
A lovely day in the sunshine, at last an eagle, but I want one a little closer, it will have to Amberley in the winter.
No comments:
Post a Comment