Pulborough, 16th-17th February

Another good weekend on the patch which delivered two year ticks - one of them a new addition to my Pulborough list.

Saturday morning was a misty affair with not a great deal on offer on the Mid Brooks. The North Brooks appeared quiet too, at first glance, but before long I picked up a drake Goosander drifting about in front of Little Hanger hide. A hard species to catch up with at Pulborough, I've missed just one or two since we moved down here, so I was very pleased to finally get it on the patch list at last!

After a while of watching it from Little Hanger I moved on up to the Hanger from where the bird was still visible. At around 09:50 it took flight and did a lap of the North Brooks before heading northwest, and I assumed that was the last I'd see of it. However, it returned less than half an hour later and remained for most of the day - long enough for Paul to catch up with it (although he also said it flew off at one point before returning) and for me to get it on the attic list!

Other bits of note from Saturday were three Ruff, two Water Rail (heard only), 20 Shelduck, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, at least six Gadwall and two pairs of Tufted Duck. Also great to see was a confiding Weasel at the Hanger. With all the early migrants arriving on the southerly winds in previous days I'd been half hoping to find a Little Ringed Plover, but sadly no joy - although it wasn't a totally fantastical wish as one turned up in London that day!

The Brooks were bathed in glorious sunshine on Sunday morning and there seemed to be singing Reed Buntings and drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers all over the place. The regular two White-fronted Geese showed well on the Mid Brooks with a few Canada Geese. It was nice to clearly see the belly bars and white blazes rather than just squinting at goose-shaped specks in the distance.

On the North Brooks, highlights were the three Ruff again, a single Dunlin and at least a hundred Black-tailed Godwits. A Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier were keeping the Lapwings and ducks - and each other - on their toes; one making a few lunges for the other each time it went to ground.

I kept one eye on the sky from the Hanger in the hope that one of these ridiculously early Swallows might whizz past. No such luck but I did notice two gleaming white dots high overhead which proved to be my first two Mediterranean Gulls of the year. They circled briefly over the North Brooks before drifting south.