Minibus Trip to Pulborough Brooks RSPB (1 December 2024)
Well, that’s not what I call ‘light rain’! From our stop at Billingshurst services until after lunch it rained solidly, only holding off to steady drizzle occasionally. Undaunted, we pressed on with our first stop at RSPB Rackham Viewpoint overlooking Amberley Wildbrooks but visibility was poor. 4 people didn’t even leave the bus! The ducks and geese (Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pintail, Mallard, Greylag and Canada Geese) plus Lapwing didn’t mind the weather but they were hard to see and, as for picking out 2 White-fronted Geese among distant Greylags…no chance! Unlike on Monday, when I did my recce in glorious sunshine with raptors and Ravens soaring past the viewpoint, the only raptor we saw was a damp bird on a fallen tree which we eventually decided was a Sparrowhawk. Nevertheless, it is a magnificent view whatever the weather and always worth a look. Both the Rivers Stor and Adur had overtopped their banks, so Amberly Wildbrooks and the main reserve were well on their way to becoming inland seas and magnets for wildfowl.
Arriving at Pulborough Brooks RSPB we were disappointed to find that the café was shut, due to illness, however their wonderful staff laid on DIY teas and coffees in the classroom at the end of our visit – most welcome.
Undeterred by the murky weather we set off clockwise, spotting 12 Redwing overhead and a Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tits as we headed to Fattengates Courtyard. Seed was scattered on logs, and we kept dry under the picnic shelter watching Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Coal Tit and Robin etc coming down. A quick walk passing 3 Blackbirds brought us to the dry of West Mead hide and an early lunch. Luckily the birding here kept us occupied with 5 Snipe easy to see on a nearby island, one Little Grebe which has been around the area for a few weeks, 2 Song Thrush and Blackbirds along the nearby fence line, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank, 8 distant Dunlin, Linnets mixed with the odd Meadow Pipit and Skylark, lots of Lapwing and ducks enjoying the now very flooded main reserve.
Peter’s weather radar app showed the heavy rain passing over in 20 minutes and proved correct allowing us to move on to Winpenny Hide, spotting a pair of Stonechat on route. In Winpenny 2 volunteers added interesting information to our stop. Two families of Egyptian Geese bred on the reserve this year and the families could be seen in the distance, the juveniles still less boldly marked than their parents. The Tufted Ducks we’d noted earlier are unusual on South Brooks being diving ducks and needing the winter flooding to feed here, obvious when you think about it! A Peregrine with a full crop was reported from Hanger View so we moved on and indeed there it was perched on a bare tree, digesting its meal. On our way we passed Rooks in a field – no trip to Pulborough is complete without Rooks in my opinion. Ray was lucky enough to see 3 Bullfinch from the Hanger as he stood quietly by himself. A little more seed scattered on a railing for an expectant Robin also attracted a Marsh Tit.
To complete our tour, we took the diversion to Jupp’s view and Nettley’s hide. A Mistle Thrush gave its distinctive chacking call and flew down onto a marshy edge… and then the sun came out! What a difference that made to the view. The ducks’ plumage glowed, especially on half a dozen Pintail in the far corner. Two weird hybrid white geese with dark blotches, could be picked out amongst the distant flock of Canada Geese and a few Mute Swans below Pulborough village.
As we walked back to the visitor centre smaller birds appeared, taking the opportunity to feed in the sunshine. Redwing and Tits fed on the ivy-covered trees, flying away ahead of us. Another quick stop at Fattengates gave us more views of the aforementioned birds before we reached the centre and looked out from the terrace…or sheltered inside for hot drinks. The terrace gave views of a Red Kite devouring its prey, a small flock of Goldfinch and the sound of Greenfinch. So, the day wasn’t a complete washout. Looking on the bright side the rain stopped at lunchtime and by the end we had a bit of sunshine. Despite the weather we still saw 60+ different species between us, over the course of the day.
by Rebecca Dunne
Species: Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Coot, Cormorant, Dunlin, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Tit, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Red Kite, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Teal, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren (+ possible Siskin and Gadwall)