The morning walk in separate groups took place in Spring sun that really enhanced the view from the visitor centre over the lovely Arun valley. The first sighting from that point was a real surprise, a fieldfare that had not realised that it had overstayed its welcome. At the top of the zigzag path came the unmistakeable notes of the first nightingale of the day though it remained well concealed. In the courtyard two more males were having a singing duel that began we were told at dawn and then one of them perched close to us in the open. With the sun behind making its tail seem ablaze the view was stunning. At the Hangar there was an unusually good variety of waders on the brooks. There we saw a spotted redshank, several redshanks and black-tailed godwits and four each of dunlins and little ringed plovers on the muddy edges. Most pleasing were two avocets giving rise to the hope that they would follow their first ever breeding success on the reserve last year. Over the water a few sand martins hawked for insects. The trees and brambles around the viewpoint were alive with birdsong especially from warblers, blackcap and chiffchaffs were prominent with an occasional common whitethroat putting in an appearance. A few members picked up phrases from a lesser whitethroat while along the path a garden warbler was in full voice. Other passerine sightings included a treecreeper, linnets, skylarks, a goldcrest and back at the visitors centre a wheatear. Finally reports filtered through that a great white egret was showing back at the Hangar seen by a couple of members who had lingered there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with 63 species identified including no less than five nightingales.The morning walk in separate groups took place in Spring sun that really enhanced the view from the visitor centre over the lovely Arun valley. The first sighting from that point was a real surprise, a fieldfare that had not realised that it had overstayed its welcome. At the top of the zigzag path came the unmistakeable notes of the first nightingale of the day though it remained well concealed. In the courtyard two more males were having a singing duel that began we were told at dawn and then one of them perched close to us in the open. With the sun behind making its tail seem ablaze the view was stunning. At the Hangar there was an unusually good variety of waders on the brooks. There we saw a spotted redshank, several redshanks and black-tailed godwits and four each of dunlins and little ringed plovers on the muddy edges. Most pleasing were two avocets giving rise to the hope that they would follow their first ever breeding success on the reserve last year. Over the water a few sand martins hawked for insects. The trees and brambles around the viewpoint were alive with birdsong especially from warblers, blackcap and chiffchaffs were prominent with an occasional common whitethroat putting in an appearance. A few members picked up phrases from a lesser whitethroat while along the path a garden warbler was in full voice. Other passerine sightings included a treecreeper, linnets, skylarks, a goldcrest and back at the visitors centre a wheatear. Finally reports filtered through that a great white egret was showing back at the Hangar seen by a couple of members who had lingered there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with 63 species identified including no less than five nightingales.The morning walk in separate groups took place in Spring sun that really enhanced the view from the visitor centre over the lovely Arun valley. The first sighting from that point was a real surprise, a fieldfare that had not realised that it had overstayed its welcome. At the top of the zigzag path came the unmistakeable notes of the first nightingale of the day though it remained well concealed. In the courtyard two more males were having a singing duel that began we were told at dawn and then one of them perched close to us in the open. With the sun behind making its tail seem ablaze the view was stunning. At the Hangar there was an unusually good variety of waders on the brooks. There we saw a spotted redshank, several redshanks and black-tailed godwits and four each of dunlins and little ringed plovers on the muddy edges. Most pleasing were two avocets giving rise to the hope that they would follow their first ever breeding success on the reserve last year. Over the water a few sand martins hawked for insects. The trees and brambles around the viewpoint were alive with birdsong especially from warblers, blackcap and chiffchaffs were prominent with an occasional common whitethroat putting in an appearance. A few members picked up phrases from a lesser whitethroat while along the path a garden warbler was in full voice. Other passerine sightings included a treecreeper, linnets, skylarks, a goldcrest and back at the visitors centre a wheatear. Finally reports filtered through that a great white egret was showing back at the Hangar seen by a couple of members who had lingered there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with 63 species identified including no less than five nightingales.