RSPB Pulborough Brooks

With not much about at this time of year, I decided to go to Pulborough to see if anything of interest could be found. 

After making some good connections on the trains, I managed to get to the reserve for 8:00, ready for a good few hours birding. Immediately visible was the water levels(or lack of it). Last time I had been here, in mid May, most of the place was covered in water, but this time there was hardly a drop to be seen!

En route to the West Mead hide, quite a few birds were singing, including Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, and a few Linnets. The West Mead Hide was looking a bit sorry for itself, with a few puddles of water here and there, the only water to be seen. A good few Lapwings were around, as was a Grey Heron. 

With not much about in the West Mead I decided to continue on round to Winpenny, where it seemed there was at least a bit more water. After a bit of scanning, a sandpiper right at the back caught my attention, with a bit of staring at it through the haze, it was clear that it was a Green Sandpiper, the main species I was hoping to see today. Although not very rare, this bird was a year tick. With this boost, I continued for a while longer at the Winpenny, uncovering another three Green Sands, along with another Grey Heron, a few Goldfinch, Reed Warblers, and a few Whitethroat.

With not much else showing, I thought it might be a good idea walking back to the visitor centre, and having a look around the heathland, where not much was seen other than a few Robin, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, and Stock Dove. 

Back at the Winpenny Hide, two Green Sandpipers were still showing distantly, and after about an hour or so, I saw that the White-tailed Eagles were flying around distantly. At least two were about, with a possible third also circling. After a few minutes of flying about, they headed off, so I decided to head off to the Little Hanger and Nettley's Hides. 

The Little Hanger produced nothing, and half an hour at Nettley's gave a few Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, and two Mute Swan. 

After another few hours skipping between hides, nothing else was found, and I realised that unless if I wanted to wait another two hours I had to leave to catch a train right away, so I walked back to the visitor center, unlocked my bike, and headed off to the station. 

Overall a very nice trip, with a great 7 hours spent at the reserve. The Green Sandpipers were great- always great to see a new species for the year list.