I was wondering where to go today, a Night Heron at Southampton was tempting, but I've been hurt before by em, it's a long way and with the heat, standing around in a park all day was not an attractive proposition. Having seen some reports of Spotted Flycatcher, I decided an early morning jaunt to RSPB Pulborough Brooks was in order. I don't think I saw a Spot Fly at all last year so it was well overdue!
I arrived at 5.45 a sterling effort and headed down the Heathland Trail, no sight nor sound of any Flycatchers! Typical! Not much of anything but I did see a couple of White Storks from Hails Viewpoint!
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| Early morning Heath view |
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| Distant White Stork! |
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| Stock Dove saw quite a few, including a flock of 7 on the entrance track! |
I gave up and headed up to the reserve, there is very little water on the Brooks at the moment so the hides were pretty bird less! The trails were much better, quite a few youngsters about notably Common Whitethroats and Green Woodpeckers, saw at least five young Green Woodpeckers around the reserve!
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| House Sparrow on the Visitor Center roof |
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| Common Whitethroat |
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| Blackbird |
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| Common Whitethroat |
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| Green Woodpecker, posed very well so there are a quite a few pics! |
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| Young Stonechat |
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| Blackbird |
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| Common Whitethroat |
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| Song Thrush |
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| With the heat building plenty of insects about! |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| The Storks had moved around to the North Brooks, but were even further away! |
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| Blackcap, saw a few and Chiffchaffs but always on the move |
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| Silver-washed Fritillary I think! Though most orange Butterflies were Gatekeepers. Never seen so many Gatekeeper Butterflies must of seen 100s around the place! |
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| These were miles away and I didn't take my scope, but pretty sure two Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper |
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| Grey Heron |
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| White Stork |
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| House Sparrow |
Back to the car park, I couldn't resist another shot st the Spot Flys, I literally had gone through the gate to the Heathland Trail when I heard them calling!! Took a bit of winkling out, but a bit of patience and eventually they were landing on some very nice sticky out branches!!
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| First view not great, but at least it was doing what it is suppose to! |
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| A Blackcap turned up while I was waiting |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Lot of flies bit the dust while I was there! |
Pretty sure there was at least two as I could hear one calling behind me while watching another one!!
After about 30 minutes, I headed home at 9.20!!! Successfully avoiding the heat, very enjoyable morning!
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