We were off again, out of the county in search of the (well for us) elusive White-tailed Eagle. After two attempts at the end of the summer we were trying the Amberley Brooks this time. However it was a gloomy day, mist hung over the downs and there was drizzle in the air, not ideal conditions for finding or seeing raptors.
We headed down the bridleway and out on to the Brooks. the first thing to catch our eyes were the sheer numbers of Fallow Deer, they appeared to be everywhere with many stages with impressive sets of Antlers patrolling among many hinds. But as always is the way there was a stag laying down in the grass watching us as we photographed it.
A little further along the track and there was a closer view.
Further on there were tree young deer on the path ahead of us.
The first bird of prey turned out to be a Kestrel hunting over the marsh.
The easy part of the track gave way to very wet and muddy conditions. We stopped as there was another stag with a group of hinds quite close to us.
Scanning across the marsh a very distant Buzzard sitting on a low bush. Pretty typical of raptor behaviour in these weather conditions.
The Fallow Deer stag was then up and moving.
A check around the area first.
Then a very stately walk through the bullrushes.
It did not appear to be concerned by us at all.
One final look at us before dropping down once more in the sedge grass.
We walked the path further north, reminiscing about the last time we were here and we came across a ringtail Hen Harrier. It wasn't going to happen to day though, so we decided to turn back. Once on the stable path some more scanning found another distant raptor, this time a Red Kite, it is believe me.
At the sluice there was a view of trees along a private path, here a Kestrel was sitting in the middle
We hung around, waiting to see if it would clear or a Bird of prey would brave the weather. A shoot on the other side of the river put up lots of Duck, Wigeon, Pintail and Teal flying overhead and a female type Marsh Harrier drifted across the marsh.
There was track that led out on to the bank of the river where there were Wigeon on the water. The Kestrel had moved from the tree to the bushes alongside the river.
A lone Parasol mushroom was present on the bank of the river.
The eagles were probably sitting in a tree somewhere around here, the weather not helpful to them at all. We decided it wasn't to be once again so taking into account the weather and the lack of birds locally we came to the decision of a trip to the Wildfowl and Wetland reserve at Arundel.
We headed to one of the wild areas of the reserve, the Ramsar hide. This apparently was the Kingfisher hide and there were a few long lenses poking out of the hide. Out on the water was a Great Egret and it came quite close to the hide.
Although it was actively fishing we never saw it catch anything.
The odd dance every so often as it moved around the water.
A Kingfisher did appear and flew straight past us. There were good numbers of Canada Geese and Greylag Gees on the water, continually calling. The duck were the usual suspects, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler. Of interest was this goose, much darker than the other Greylags and maybe smaller, however it has the pale wing feathers and the markings on the neck which is seen in the Greylag. It could possibly be a hybrid with a captive Pink Foot?
Of course there had to be a pair of Egyptian Geese.
In the next hide a Kingfisher did appear but made every effort to hide from us in the bush opposite.
We went for a walk around the captive pens, which I found to be very disappointing, very few variation and nowhere near the numbers I have seen here on previous visits. However it was nice to see Common Scoter up close, something you rarely get the chance to do in the wild. They are a very smart looking duck, all black with just some yellow on the bill for the male.
Earlier we had seen Cattle Egret on the fields away from the reserve. We decided to walk around to the river to find them. However we had to stop for the drake Tufted Duck on the castle lake, some nice dark water providing a lovely background.
We walked down the road towards the Town Centre, we thought we would have to walk around the river, but as we crossed the river we could see the Cattle Egret in the field with cattle close to the road.
There were seventeen egrets amongst the cattle. Earlier we had commented on the herds of Fallow Deer roaming across the marshes at Amberley and looking like the plains of Africa with antelope. Here it was also reminiscent of Africa with the Cattle Egret following the cattle.
Some idea of the scene we were watching.
One flying in to keep up with the cattle.
Some nice Cattle Egret shots.
And that was the end of a dreary dull day, albeit with some bright interludes.
