Tuesday 25th March 2025: Bluethroat at Brooklands

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I was sat at home when I became aware of a report of a Bluethroat  (white-spotted) at Brooklands Park in Lancing. Tim was in Brighton, so I decided to hot foot it along the beachside path to Brooklands, a walk of around three miles. Tim then messaged to say he was heading for the bus and keen to see the bird, so I said I'd meet him there.

There was a crowd of around fifteen when I arrived, to news that the bird had only been seen by the finder and one other birder, but had not been seen since. Disappointing, but it was good to bump into many familiar faces and chat, as we waited hopefully for an appearance. 

A Chiffchaff, Wren, Cetti's Warbler and pair of Dunoocks put in occasional appearances to set pulses racing, before enough of the bird was revealed to realise it was not what everyone was looking for. But eventually our patience was rewarded, when the bird suddenly appeared, moving furtively amongst the base of the reeds at the back of a small muddy pool. It fed here for some time, frequently moving into the open for short forays, giving some excellent views.

Bluethroat

This is a very rare bird for the Shoreham District recording area, with a single bird at Cissbury in April 2017 the only sighting this century, and the previous appearance at Standean Bottom in 1986. There have only been fourteen sightings in total since 1853(!)  so we felt privileged to enjoy sustained and close views of this rather lovely bird. 

Currently there is ongoing debate around the sex and age of the bird. I shall leave that to the experts, but it was certainly a cracking bird to watch, and only my third ever sighting, so it was a happy day 


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