Late November happenings

It was good to get back out on the patch this weekend, after what seemed like a long week. Sadly, lack of daylight has well and truly put a stop to any proper birding during the week now. Working outdoors does have its perks though, as I had two Hawfinches west over the car park in Clandon first thing on Tuesday morning. This was followed by a rather out of context Merlin flying over the road near Abinger Hammer on my drive home later the same day.

Back to Pulborough, and it was Arctic as forecast on Saturday, as the biting north-westerly of Storm Arwen was already in full swing as I arrived at the Brooks just after 07:30. It was unbearably cold at the Hanger, so I was pleased to quickly pick out the Spotted Redshank which has been around all week, feeding in the shallows on the back of the main front pool. Among the Lapwings on the back pool were four Dunlin and seven Ruff, including what I presume to be the returning leucistic individual that wintered locally last year. Both last winter and this winter it's also been seen down at Amberley occasionally.

Round on the Mid/South Brooks it was a bit of a raptor-fest with the now regular Peregrine causing havoc, chasing a couple of cream cap Marsh Harriers around, at times forcing the harriers into some pretty sharp evasive manoeuvres! A Red Kite was loitering around over towards Greatham, but best of all was the ringtail Hen Harrier which appeared as I was leaving, briefly perched on the river bank, then quartered over the South Brooks for a while before I lost sight of it behind trees.

I didn't have as long for this morning's visit so just headed to the far southern edge of the reserve for a bit of a scan from Hail's View and a check of Black Wood, which has played host to a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker since I was last down that way. I sadly wasn't able to find it but did have seven flyover Bramblings. Highlights out on the South Brooks were the Spotted Redshank again (which was flushed by a Marsh Harrier and flew off towards the North Brooks), the Peregrine, two flyover Ravens and a Great White Egret which flew off towards Coldwaltham just after 08:00.

The patch year list remains on 155 with just over a month to go...

Looking west from the top of the heath at Pulborough Brooks