Pulborough, 8th April: an unexpected double

After the disappointment of missing the Long-eared Owl at Pulborough on Friday I arrived at the Brooks this morning after a couple of days away, full of optimism despite the rather inclement weather. The murky, drizzly conditions prompted me to check the Hanger first - I usually tend to end up there after checking West Mead and Winpenny - hopeful for a Little Gull, a Tern or just a nice lot of hirundines. In the event I found none of these but, with more or less my first scan with the scope, was amazed to find myself looking at a drake Common Scoter. Clearly it wasn't the only one brought down by the weather as various large water bodies across the south-east found themselves hosting one or more of these today. Still a pretty remarkable record for Pulborough, and evidence of how high the water levels have got here with all the recent rain.

Common Scoter (and Little Egret)

I quickly put the news out before a further scan revealed a Spoonbill busy feeding in the distance. Two patch lifers in as many minutes - that doesn't happen every day! The Spoonbill was still present in the evening but there was no further sign of the Scoter after about 08:00, unfortunately for Pete Hughes who arrived just after I'd last seen it. Whether it had flown when I was looking elsewhere or just drifted into vegetation and gone to sleep, we may never know! It was nice to hear the first Nightingale of the year singing near The Hanger though while we tried to relocate it.

Photos and video all very grainy unfortunately - clearly the murky conditions that brought down the Scoter are also not conducive to great photography!

 

Spoonbill

Other bits of note from my visit this morning were three Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, three Tufted Ducks (two drakes/one female), five Sand Martins, one Swallow, a heard only Water Rail, at least two Redshank and two Fieldfare. Warbler numbers continue to creep up with at least ten Chiffchaffs, eight Blackcaps and two Willow Warblers around.