Rackham

 The idea was to run down to Arundel this morning, with a stop off at the Rackham Viewpoint looking over the Amberley Wildbrooks in the hope that Margie and I  would connect with the Common Cranes that have been visiting over the last few days. In the end we spent so long here that we didn't have time to visit Arundel, though we did stop off at the Coldwaltham sewage works in search of Chiffchaffs! 

We saw our first Snowdrops of the year as we walked through the woods to the viewpoint 

Looking across the Brooks from the lower viewpoint, Margie's pic

Another of Margie's pics

Egyptian Goose 

Buzzard with a castle in the background

Fallow Deer

Lots of Lapwings and Wildfowl, 3 or 4 Red Kites and a couple of Buzzards, but everything was miles away, so we decided to head up to the high viewpoint, the walk through the woods was interesting with a flock of Siskins high in the trees, a few Goldcrests and plenty of Blue and Great Tits.

Siskin

We reached the viewpoint, after about twenty minutes the Cranes arrived, Hurrah!!! Though they stayed distant, we could tell it was two adults and a youngster, probably a family group! 

Common Cranes

More Fallow Deer

We also had a closer view of a Red Kite and a distant Marsh Harrier

Common Buzzard

Swimming Deer

Marsh Harrier

Red Kite

Eventually they relocated even further away

Pintail 

We headed off to the Sewage Works, Margie likes a Sewage Works😂So do Chiffchaffs, it was carnage with at least 40 present, the second bird I got the bins on was very grey and I'm pretty sure it was the Siberian Chiffchaff that had been reported but I couldn't get a shot!! They flitted around in the bushes never in the same place for more than 3 seconds!😲 A Grey Wagtail, a few Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Bullfinch and  another birder said his Merlin app had registered a Hawfinch, but I didn't see it!! It was coming onto rain so we gave up and headed home!

Chiffchaff

Everything a bit distant from the viewpoint and everything a bit quick at the sewage works, add in a lack of sunshine and it was a bit frustrating from a photography point of view, but great to see Common Cranes fairly local!!!