I didn't end up staying long at Goring Gap first thing, but noted three
Yellow Wagtails, two
Ringed Plovers, four
Sanderlings, a
Common Gull, a
Skylark and eight each of
Gannet,
Little Egret and
Oystercatcher.
Having only had a fleeting look at the
Red-necked Phalarope at Pulborough Brooks RSPB in the spring, news of a juvenile on the North Brooks had me heading over to the reserve. It was of course distant, but this smart bird could be enjoyed for much longer than the last one, as it span crazily on the nearer pool. A juvenile
Little Ringed Plover, two
Black-tailed Godwits, two
Green Sandpipers, a
Common Sandpiper, two
Dunlin, 15
Lapwings and three
Snipe shared the pools. A
Marsh Harrier quartered and singles of
Whinchat and
Wheatear added to the scene. Over 200
House Martins streamed through in the time I was there, with the odd
Sand Martin and
Swallow thrown in. A flock of 10
Pintail was an unexpected sight and
Teal numbered 160, though a
Mandarin and two
Shoveler were just about the only other ducks. A
Grey Wagtail flew over and other birds noted included two
Nuthatches, two
Treecreepers, a
Goldcrest, two
Green Woodpeckers and a
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
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| juvenile Red-necked Phalarope at Pulborough Brooks RSPB |
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| Pintail flock at Pulborough Brooks RSPB |
