The day started with a Sparrowhawk setting off the Starlings on the way around to the paper shop.
Then off to Pulborough; grateful to not being west-bound - another chronic morning's traffic due to an early morning accident towards J11 and subsequent barrier repairs.
Arrived at PB in time for a coffee spot on opening at 10:00 am; probably a mistake as the first coffee is never hot!!
A calling and visible Cuckoo was a nice start, dropping off the fence line to feed and then perching up whilst being dive-bombed by unhappy Meadow Pipits!!
The usual suspects later at Westmead with a very distant White Stork and both eagles being shadowed by diminutive looking kites. Two Snipe were playing hard to see but appreciated by many including a delightful family from Forest Row. Four Avocets and twenty odd Black'wits trailing a single Grey Plover and a heard-only LRP rounded out the waders.
Two Great Crested Grebes were displaying distantly.
Four Whitethroats and a single Willow Warbler were NfY and numerous Blackcapscand Chiffchaffs were calling.
The above Adder was in the usual spot and the Common lizard caught me out; I didn't notice the OOF grass stem which has given it a green face.
Sadly the new macro lens didn't make it out of the box.
Others had Orange Tip butterfly but it/they eluded me.
A late visit to WWT was thwarted by 'last entry 3:30 pm' but I managed to get in, out of the rain and have a coffee, rather better than this morning's. No Kingfisher action.
