Wednesday
At Pulborough the number of House Martins rose rapidly over the morning as more and more showed interest in the playback. PS, responsible for this set up, was there and like us was hoping it would encourage some of these juveniles to return and breed in the years ahead. Easily the most HMs I've seen this year and quite a spectacle for visitors through the reception's picture window.
A catch up with PW, regaling me with Spanish tales of southbound raptors, Sperm Whale plus good food, weather and company; sounded like a nice trip.
Whilst never close it was good to see all three eagles with this year's juvenile visible from the tea terrace even with the naked eye despite being on the othe side of the river!! An adult was perched up on the single bush left of Rook Wood, again across the river, and was harried by a Red Kite and a couple of Magpies. The third bird circled around and was eventually lost to view.
Three Ruff were easy enough to pick out but thankfully Warren, single-handed today, had his scope on the distant Curlew Sandpiper. One or two Hobbies were still showing well and, when disturbed by a staff vehicle, the sheer number of flushed duck of the usual four species was a nice sight even if it made locating the few flying waders a challenge.
Highlight of the day was finding my first Ectophasia crassipennis, a male, near Westmead. I'd hoped for a 'reserve first' but sadly it had been previously recorded in 2021 according to the Rob King list forwarded to me by CL. Click here for Falk's Flickr site for this species.
Saturday
A stroll to Ocean Park had a soundscape of overflying Meadow Pipits plus the odd Siskin. On site a couple of noisy Grey Wagtails were unhappy sharing the roof of Subway with a couple of Herring Gulls!!
On the pond the Tufted Ducks are slowly increasing and the first (single) Shoveler was typically going round in circles. A few Chiffchaffs were calling and a Cetti's Warbler dived into cover.
It was warm enough for a couple of Migrant Hawkers but a single Common Darter, whilst dirt common elsewhere, was a bit of a surprise here; not a species I've seen here much over the years.
Monday
Today, a pre-health-check visit to the park found the carpark noisy with a tit flock of the usual five species plus the odd Goldcrest. Further round, cracking views of an irate male Firecrest and a couple of hundred yards further on a second less obliging individual. Finally, a look along the top access path flushed a very smart male Roe Buck followed by a glimpse of a second individual.
Wednesday
And lastly, a brief return to Pulborough where one adult eagle was on show delighting the crowds but little else whilst later at Arundel a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier and a couple of heard-only flyover Lesser Redpolls were the 'best of the bunch'. The ubiquitous group of Cattle Egrets along Mill Road numbered ten in a very brief stop taking advantage of a dozen or so cattle.
