Sunday 1st January 2023: Pulborough Brooks, New Year Birding

 Another year, another list, and what better way to start than with our traditional visit to Pulborough with Sue Miles. We arrived at 8 o’clock and were immediately struck by how much water there was on the brooks, following the recent extensive rains.

We began the walk down through the reserve, noting many common species along the way, including Jay and Green Woodpecker, which yaffled away from the grassland into the trees as we approached. An overhead Red Kite was noteworthy, and we reflected on the increasing abundance of this species in the local area. No need to travel on the M40 to find this bird anymore! 

Pausing at Fattengates courtyard, there were plentiful birds, including a Song Thrush singing evocatively, and a lovely Nuthatch adding a splash of joyful colour, alongside tits, finches, Dunnock and Blackbird.

On our arrival at Westmead hide, the vast expanse of water stretching across the brooks was teeming with wildfowl. Despite, or maybe because of, the low morning light, I was struck by how beautiful and colourful our winter ducks are. A graceful Pintail swam just feet away from us, displaying a slim, chocolate-brown head with narrow white stripe and distinctive needlepoint tail - a truly elegant and magnificent bird. There were plenty of Teal , busily swimming and showing off their own impressive markings; ‘go faster’ white stripes, chestnut and green heads and buff undertail, boldly framed with black.

Pintail

Teal

Not to be outdone were yellow-crowned Wigeon, whistling constantly and colourful Shoveler with rufous sides, gleaming white bellies, dark green head and of course that ludicrous over-sized bill. All stunningly attractive in their own individual ways, with incredible detailed patterning when viewed through the scope.

Wigeon

Shoveler

A few grassy islands of higher ground were visible, and these held good numbers of Lapwing, a few stripey Snipe and a single Dunlin with an unusually long bill.

It was a good morning for raptors too, with several Marsh Harriers interacting over the brooks, before settling to feed on narrow strips of exposed marsh above the waterline. A Peregrine perched on a grassy island and a Common Buzzard and Red Kite also landed. Unfortunately there was evidence of bird flu, with a number of dead birds seen, and we wondered about the impact up the food chain on these powerful raptors using the brooks as a food source.

We continued around the reserve, encountering a Stonechat and Kestrel en route to the next hide. At a picnic area a mixed tit flock brought in a few other species, and we added Treecreeper, Greenfinch and a single Fieldfare which posed briefly at the very top of the tallest tree. 

After some lunch and shopping at the visitor centre, we drove round to nearby Waltham Brooks. This was also heavily flooded, with much of the reserve impassable due to the sheer volume of water. The only addition here was Tufted Duck! We walked over the bridge and along the track to the sewage works, hoping for Firecrest, which Andy had spotted here on a previous New Year walk. No luck today though, but we did find several Goldcrest and Chiffchaffs. On the filter beds a couple of Pied Wagtail were chasing insects, but sadly no Grey Wagtail appeared. We continued across the meadows and were delighted to stumble upon a group of three fiery red Bullfinches calling softly. Such beautiful birds.

As we returned a flock of Linnets landed in the trees ahead of us. We arrived back in the nick of time, as the drizzle began to fall. With a total of 55 species seen, it had been a wonderful and uplifting day… a great start to a new birding year