2.5 hours here this morning, at Westmead and Winpenny hides found seven Cattle Egrets, six Tufted Duck, a few Gadwall, three Garganey, two pairs of Shoveler, a pair of Shelduck, Avocets, Redshanks, Lapwings ( a few chicks), 13 Ringed Plover, three Greenshank, Herons, about 15 Egyptian Geese and a lot of Canada Geese ( adults and goslings). Noticeable this year is the amount of retained surface water, maintained, I’m told, by the RSPB, thereby attracting so many breeding Redshank and the ducks etc. This requires daily maintenance which may cause brief upsets to the birds.

A Turtle Dove has been calling (only on sunny days) from the thick hedges around our property since 3 May. I have recorded his call on several occasions; our neighbour has photographed and visually identified him. Not a protected bird in England, so I'm sharing this here; have recorded it on Bird Track.

A Quail heard along Cradle Valley this afternoon, probably coming from the vineyard.
This is the first one I've heard along the valley since 2022.

Yesterday here I watched through telescope from the sailing club and from about 11.20 to midday the Red-footed Falcon was visible, flying to and fro over the north shore, evidently catching mayflies, it picked out from the Hobbys by its paler plumage, particularly its white head. There was a pair of Common Tern along that shore too and a single, adult Great Black-backed Gull, while later, at the west end, there were seven Common Terns about their rafts and a sitting Black-headed Gull. Thanks to David Williams for picking up the RFF.

Two Red Kite were riding the wind, not too high, over the area where the sty/gate splits the lagoons along the main path.

Viewed from our house and garden for 15 min at 18:05 we watched an adult White-tailed Eagle circling low over Waltham Brooks gaining height and then drifting south but twice it glided back and eventually flew over our house and disappeared to the north. Though often seen in the valley, a long awaited first sighting from our home.

When I arrived at the Hanger viewpoint this morning I was surprised and very pleased to see a Black Stork feeding in the middle of the brooks. It was feeding and preening for about half an hour, visible from there and Jupps view before flying off at about 08:50.
Earlier there were two male Garganey on the south brooks from Winpenny Hide and later a pair from West Mead Hide. Also on the south brooks were 4 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin and 3 distant Hobbies.

A beautiful May morning for a walk on the very dried out water meadows by the river Arun. The air was full of birdsong and the forecast thunderous showers never materialised.
As the twelve participants gathered to start the walk, our attention was drawn to Rooks in a small noisy rookery in Coldwaltham and to the wheezing of Greenfinches in the large trees by the reserve entrance. Long-tailed Tits were busy in willow bushes. As we walked, there were lively discussions comparing the songs of Sedge Warbler with Reed Warbler, and Blackcap with Garden Warbler, all of which were seen well. Whitethroats were more easily identified and after some searching for the elusive and very vocal Cetti’s Warbler, it obliged us all by a quick low-level fly-by.
Just a few Mallard were on the river. A dozen Egyptian Geese and two families of Canada Geese with goslings lazed on the riverbank.
The lack of hirundines was surprising but we kept our eyes peeled for raptors and were rewarded with several Red Kites, a Kestrel, a Hobby and a Buzzard. Tall vegetation around the small lake gave limited viewing of the water but Great White Egret, Little Egret and Grey Heron were good to see. A Reed Bunting was seen well and after hearing a distant Cuckoo a few times, this, our star bird, flew in and landed briefly on a bare tree close by.
It was an outing of good company enjoyed by all.

A bit of action in the morning: a Black-throated Diver and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits E, c60 Common Scoters to and fro. A Peregrine past later.

A surprise singing Sedge Warbler seen early afternoon, belting out all of its manic mimicry from the brambles and cow parsley to the north east of the site, as well as - just like the many Whitethroats there - performing song flights.