Thursday 2nd January 2025: Pulborough Brooks

 After yesterday’s grim weather, we met Sue at Pulborough at 8AM for our traditional New Year bird walk. As we drove from Shoreham, the river valley was cloaked in mist, with the higher hills bursting above to the bright skies. Away from the river there was no lingering fog, but it certainly felt very cold when we arrived, and as we passed through the Zigzags, birdlife was very limited. Reaching Fattengates, the sun was just beginning to reach the treetops, and we found good numbers of Blue Tits and Robins, together with a smattering of Dunnock and a showy Nuthatch. 

Robin

Blue Tit

At Westmead Hide, the ducks were looking stunning in the sunshine. Wigeon were plentiful, chestnut heads glowing in the sun, while  around half a dozen pristine Pintail swam elegantly across the pool, pausing occasionally to‘bottom up’! Shovelers gleamed white and rufous, and coppery-headed Teal shone in the glorious morning light. Around the islands, several Snipe bathed in the warmth, and Lapwing rested motionless on the damp grassland, the sun catching the iridescent rainbow on their backs. Black-tailed Godwits foraged in the grass, probing with their long bills, but the star wader was a spangled Ruff, busily feeding in a grassy puddle.

Wigeon

Pintail

Lapwing

In a distant tree, Tim spotted a White-tailed Eagle, and as we watched, its mate flew in and landed next to it on the branch, white tails clearly visible. Other raptors seen here were Red Kite, and at Winpenny Hide, both Buzzard and a hawking creamy-headed Marsh Harrier.

White-tailed Eagles

From Little Hangar hide we encountered a small group of Dunlin, scurrying about in front of some grazing Wigeon. A few Cormorants loitered on a bank behind the flooded brooks too.

After some soup at the RSPB cafe, we drove a short distance round to Waltham Brooks.Taking the path to the sewage treatment works, we found a Greenfinch at the top of a tree, and were serenaded by a beautiful Song Thrush. The hedgerow was alive with birds, and we added Long-tailed Tit, then Chiffchaff, which were numerous and very mobile. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew to a tall tree, instantly recognisable by its distinctive undulating flight, black and white plumage and flash of red underparts.At the filtration beds, a single Grey Wagtail posed briefly on the wall. Our last two birds here were the best though, with a stunning Firecrest, orange crest burning brightly in the brilliant sunshine and a furtive Treecreeper, which quietly worked its way up some high branches. Tim was very frustrated to find that both his camera batteries had run out of power!

Finally, we moved to the river bank, where a muddy walk gave us excellent views of a Great Egret as it flew up from the reeds, plus small flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares. Our final tally for the day was a respectable 57 species.