The Hobbies of Pulborough

 We decided to go to RSPB Pulborough Brooks today, mainly due to getting up late!! This turned out to be a masterstroke, didn't start like that we'd gotten to Fattengates courtyard and I hadn't taken a single picture!! Margie had taken a few though!!

Only saw one Newt in the pond, last visit there were loads.

The view across the Brooks

So we were looking in the pond in Fattengates, when looking up I spotted a White-tailed Eagle flying over!! Not something you would have expected in Sussex a few years ago!

White-tailed Eagle being harassed by a Black-headed Gull

The Gull may have bitten off more than it can chew!!

10 out of 10 for persistence though!

Well that was a nice bit of excitement, also of interest my Merlin which had been running while the Eagle action occurred had come up with Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker!!😲 We gave the nearby trees a good grilling but no luck, possibly a fly over?? People say Merlin is unreliable, but I've found it to be pretty good and certainly not impossible for the area!!!

Few other bits and bobs about, several Swifts over head, a very tame possibly injured Pheasant,a Dunnock and a Chiffchaff all that was on view. 

Dunnock

Chiffchaff

Swift

Pheasant

Margie, reckons her picture of the Dunnock is cuter than mine because of the blue flower!

The Fattengates Pond

We then headed down to West Mead Hide, where things really took off, we were royally entertained by 3 Hobbies doing what they do IE flying around like nutters catching Dragonflies, right in front of the hide, highly enjoyable, but blooming difficult to get pictures of!! The cluttered back ground, the speed of the birds, excuses, I've got a million of em!! But it basically  it boils down to incompetence!😂I done me best! A few pics below! (you might want to skip them if you are fond of Dragonflies, it was carnage!)

Started off quite distant

But soon came closer

Amazing watching them despatching the Dragonflies

Don't like the wings though!

Another one bites the dust!

My favourite pic, sums up the session, zipping right past the hide, so difficult to get a focus, especially from the cramped hide 

There goes another Dragonfly

Looking out for the Eagle!

Oh come on, you know me by now it was never going to be a few!!😂

A few other pics from the hide below!

Whitethroat

Swan with Eagle food, or Cygnets as Margie prefers to call them!

Grey Heron

Gadwall

The view from the hide by Margie

Margie's take on the Eagle food

And again

We walked around to the Winpenny Hide, halfway there the Eagle or possibly another one reappeared! If it was the same one it had managed to lose the Gull!! Though it was harrassed by a couple of Red Kites but I missed that shot!!

Kestrel

WTE

They are such impressive birds!!  From the hide the bird was sitting on a post but miles away!! Few Avocets from the hide as well as Lapwings, Egyptian Geese , Redshanks and Swans! 

Not another blooming gull!

Bog Off!

Avocet

That was about it really, the Hanger was quiet, as was the rest of the circuit, with only the usual suspects on show, things livened up when a Highland Cow tried to burst through the fence to get me, though Margie reckoned it was just having a scratch on the barbed wire!!

Highland Cows

Doing what they do

Some Foxgloves

A tranquil scene

Suddenly the beast unleashed

I'm coming for you Evans

Where's Evans at!! Margie reckoned it was just have a scratch!!! Unbelievable!!

Obviously Margie took those pics I was a 100 yards away!!😂

The lily flowers have opened up back at the center

A great morning, I always enjoy watching Hobbies. like to have one session like that every summer, wasn't expecting it today, but very pleased it was!!!