Category: Uncategorized

We had a lovely sunny morning for the foray and a group of 13 people. Because of the unusually hot and dry summer, there weren’t as many fungi around as usual. However, we managed to find a respectable number including the beautiful Magpie Inkcap, the Ivory Woodwax which has a faint smell of Mandarin oranges and the Cabbage Parachute which really does smell of cabbages. At the very end of the walk it was good to see the Golden Scalycap high up on the dead Beech tree where it has appeared for several years. A total of 33 different Fungi were recorded-full list available from walks@rspbguildford.org.uk

On Saturday, October 17^th, 18 group members gathered at RSPB Pulborough Brooks to walk the wetland trail. It was a bright but distinctly chilly day, with a northerly breeze.

The exceptionally hot summer has resulted in the wetland areas being unusually dry for this time of year. Although this means that many waders have yet to return, it has the benefit that the summer’s wetland improvement work has been able to continue well into autumn, enhancing the habitat for breeding waders such as Lapwing and Redshank.

Our first spot from the newly improved viewing area next to the visitor centre was a pair of Stock Doves, an unusual sight at the reserve. Despite the lack of water, there were plenty of raptors and in various locations, Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Marsh Harrier were seen. A Raven noisily joined other corvids.  Some of the group were lucky to get a brief view through telescopes of a perched Peregrine but it quickly flew off.

The North Brooks have some water, and winter ducks are gradually returning. Mallard, Wigeon and Teal were the most numerous, but Gadwall and Pintail were also spotted, the latter still in eclipse. Waders are yet to return in large numbers, but two Black-tailed Godwits were very visible, and a Dunlin put in a brief appearance. Nine Lapwings were seen from our final stop, West Mead hide. Canada Geese were present in large numbers but a few Greylag and Egyptian geese were spotted amongst them.  A few Grey Herons and two Mute Swans were also seen. 

Stonechats posed on vegetation on either side at Redstart Corner but the Redwings that had been reported earlier in the day had flown on. A White-tailed Eagle that had been seen over Pulborough village also failed to put in an appearance on the reserve whilst we were there.

A total of 37 bird species were seen, but there were still plenty of dragonflies in evidence, probably Migrant Hawkers. Butterflies including Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood and Small White, were still flying.

Whilst there is plenty of water in the South Brooks ditches, the lagoon directly in front of West Mead hide is not connected to the rest of the water system, and, being dependent on natural run-off, has yet to fill. When water levels have risen so that the newly created islands and muddy edges are visible, the habitat should promise much, and it will be time for a return visit.

Sixteen of us met in the car park on what turned out to be a lovely sunny and warm October day. Standing in the car park we could already see Little Egret flying over and a Marsh Harrier patrolling the fields.  

In the bushes on the walk to the sea wall we saw Robin, Chiffchaff, Stonechat and multiple Cetti’s Warblers singing but not showing.  Arriving at the reedbeds at the Little Deep, we could immediately hear Bearded Reedlings and after a while watching we had good sightings of a mobile flock of seven birds flying around.  We also heard the laughing calls of Little Grebes and whistles of Wigeon on the water.  Ascending to the top of the sea wall allowed us to see the birds on the water more clearly and Tufted Duck, Mallard, and Coot were added to the list, and we had good views of the Little Grebe and Wigeon.

Looking over to the channel to Emsworth various birds were spotted out on the mud such as Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, three Greenshank, three Black Tailed Godwit, Turnstone and Oystercatcher.  A couple of Cormorants were fishing in the main channel.  Mute Swans were seen flying up the channel.

Kestrels, Buzzards and Marsh Harriers were active over the marsh and grass on the inland side.  A large group of Greylag Geese were grazing the fields.  As we got closer to the Great Deep we watched a Kingfisher flying along the ditch and fishing, at first unsuccessfully, for it’s lunch.  Eventually it flew off with a prize fish.  There was a Grey Heron in the main lake and quite a few Little and Great White Egret.  There were a couple of Shelduck out on the water.  At one stage a Little Egret stood next to a Great White Egret allowing direct comparison of size and identifying features.  Two Raven could be heard ‘cronking’ to each-other and doing flight displays.

After retracing our steps and having lunch we walked out along the coast path where we could view the Prinsted Channel.   Out in this channel were two Great Crested Grebe.There were alsoHouse Sparrows around the houses and gardens.  After much searching out on the mud we added Ringed Plover and Grey Plover to the list.  A group of Ringed Plover flew by being pursued by what at first we thought was a Merlin.  However, it was later mobbed by a Kestrel and there did not seem much difference in size, so it may have been a Kestrel all along.  Three Sandwich Tern were observed diving for fish and at times perching on the buoys out in the water.

Along the way we had picked up Goldfinch, Linnet and Reed Bunting, and common birds such as Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Woodpigeon, and Blackbird.  Gulls were represented by Black headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, and Herring Gull.  At the end of the day we had seen a total of 48 species and three heard, with an inconclusive identification on the small falcon chasing waders. 

Fifteen members joined the walk to Puttenham Common, and although the weather was fine, with no wind, many expected birds were lacking. While waiting at the start, Canada geese were heard but not seen. At Cutt Mill, there were fortunate views for some of a Kingfisher and for others of a male Mandarin Duck. Three Great-Crested Grebes were out on the water (one adult and two juveniles), plus six Mallard and a Cormorant. Towards the southern end, there were 3 good specimens of Brown Birch Bolete Leccinum scabrum – near to a birch tree, helping to confirm the ID!

Walking along the road back to The Tarn, the group was treated to good, close views of a Buzzard flying along the road away from us but below the tree branches. They are impressive birds when seen close to. The Tarn provided two Grey Herons, two Black-Headed Gulls, and a blackbird for our list.  A large Beefsteak Fungus Fistulina hepatica was also seen in prime condition, bizarrely almost on the ground, but definitely attached to a tree.  Warren Pond then gave us sightings of Moorhen and Coot and a male Teal briefly visited The General’s Pond.

Various Tits were seen and heard on the pines as we walked up to the Hill Camp, but foliage stopped proper views.  Jackdaws were seen and a Raven heard cronking (along with numerous Nuthatches making their presence known), as we climbed the hill. A brief drink stop sitting on the WW2 excavations showed how important these are for Aculeate Hymenoptera (solitary bees and wasps) which were flying in and out of lots of holes in the south facing slopes of the lumps and bumps – maybe Ivy Bees Colletes hederae?  Swallows were also seen swooping over the Hill Fort. 

Continuing the walk, a Carrion Crow was seen, along with an unidentified single thrush high up in a tree on Hill Brow – most likely a Song Thrush, but the light was difficult.  We then made a surprising discovery of an uncommon Wild Service tree Sorbus torminalis. The final part of the walk across the gorse and heather-dominated area gave us a good view of a Great-Spotted Woodpecker working a silver birch, plus very good views of two Woodlark.  Curiously, no Stonechats or Dartford Warblers were seen here.

Although overall species numbers were low at eighteen species seen and six heard, we had some good sightings of birds with some bonus Fungi.

On a sunny Sunday morning, eleven of us met at RSPB Pagham Harbour for the walk out to Church Norton.  Whilst waiting for everyone to arrive, we saw a large flock of Goldfinches and Lapwings above the car park, as well as a number of House Martins overhead.

Once at the Ferry Pool hide, the only birds visible were three young Shelducks and a couple of Teal, but the feeders gave us sightings of Blackcap, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, and Dunnock.  In the channel opposite the Ferry Pool there was a Black Tailed Godwit along with the first of many Redshank, some assorted Mallard and Wigeon.

On the way to the bench along the long pool, we sighted Buzzard, Kestrel, and a Sparrowhawk. Some of us saw a Snipe and a Cetti’s Warbler that perched in full view for us, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting and Linnets.  Once at the bench we were rewarded with a wonderful sighting of an Osprey, plus a lone Knot, Cattle Egret and Grey Herons.  We then made our way a little further on to find Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Little Egrets.  From the high path to the hide, three of the group had a good view of a Whimbrel, then a Curlew flew in which gave us a great comparison of the differences in size and bill length, between the two species.

At the Church Norton hide we were fortunate to find two Spotted Flycatchers, a Green Woodpecker, Blackcap, and what was most probably a Willow Warbler.  Out in the harbour looking out to Tern Island there was a Bar Tailed Godwit, a Grey Plover, and some Turnstone.

Once on the beach, we observed an Arctic Skua flying low and fast over the water, and a very large flock of distant gulls which contained Gannets diving for fish. A Great Crested Grebe was also sighted from the beach.

On the way back to the Visitors Centre, the Snipe was seen again, this time by the whole group. An Avocet was the last bird to be seen, which brought our count for the day to 70 species.

Fourteen of us met up for a summer walk around Medmerry on an initially cool day which warmed up considerably by the afternoon.  At the Earnley car park we soon encountered the first of many showy Yellowhammer of the day, quickly followed by a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker.  The wildflower margins of the fields were alive with butterflies-numerous pristine Painted Ladies, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Red Admirals and Common Blues surrounded us.  We also saw a single Small Tortoiseshell. The surrounding fields held large flocks of Stock Dove and Starling and Linnets flew around the gorse and sat on top of the bushes.  A Whitethroat was seen skulking around the scrubby vegetation.  Raptors were represented by the occasional Buzzard and a Kestrel.  We saw a small number of distant birds in a hedge which appeared to be Corn Buntings, although we were unable to identify for certain.

Approaching the Stilt Pools some of us were lucky enough to see a Clouded Yellow butterfly before it flew off, and the area had a continuous stream of Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins in flight, as well as the occasional Swift.  The pools themselves contained Mallard, Canada Goose, and Coot with some Avocet, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.  A couple of Mediterranean Gulls were picked out from the Black Headed Gulls, and eventually three Common Sandpiper, a lone Dunlin, a single Redshank and one Greenshank were observed.  We began to see Common Terns and Sandwich Terns flying across as we got nearer to the beach and meanwhile Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings gave fleeting glimpses flitting about in the reeds.

After a much-needed lunch stop on the beach we returned, but this time took the path along the top of the embankment looking over the marshland.  We were able to add Curlew, Shelduck, and Lesser Black Backed Gull to our growing list, and were delighted to see a Dartford Warbler at close range flying around the gorse near the path.  Along with common birds such as House Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit, Magpie and Woodpigeon, by the time we arrived back at the cars we had seen a total of 51 different species of bird.

Eleven of us met in the heat of a sweltering day for a walk around Sheepleas focusing on flowers and butterflies.

Just a few of the highlights in terms of the wild-flowers were as follows.  Three types of Campanula were seen:  Nettle leaved Bellflower, Clustered Bellflower, and Harebell.  We stopped to look at a patch of Hemp Agrimony which was quite a contrast to the smaller Agrimony with a yellow flower.  Further along the path there was some flowering Deadly Nightshade.  In places there were fragrant patches of wild herbs such as Marjoram, Wild Basil, Wild Thyme to be enjoyed.  We studied some Wild Clematis or ‘Traveller’s Joy.’  A total of 47 different plants and flowers were recorded in all-a full list is available from the ‘walks’ email.

Despite the heat and recent lack of rain, the flower meadows looked lush and were alive with butterflies.  We saw Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-Washed Fritillary, Green Veined White, Large White, Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Ringlet, Small Heath, and Common Blue.  The list was added to almost at the end of the walk when a single White Admiral flew very close to some of us in the group giving close range if fleeting views.

Birds as expected were few and far between, but we did see a circling buzzard in the sky, and a Kestrel perched and flying.  A Stock Dove could be seen on a tall tree and could be heard singing.  As we made our way around our circular route, we saw a Robin and, pausing to admire the butterflies on a Buddleia we also noticed a Chiffchaff.  At this point there were also numerous fledgling Great and Blue Tits in their ‘washed-out’ juvenile plumage.

Seventeen members met in pleasantly cool conditions to begin with at the Tunnel Car Park for our walk around Bookham Common and, having struggled a little with the vagaries of the Just Park system we set off, noting that quite a few butterflies were already on the wing.  On dry, rutted paths, we headed down towards the back of the station and out onto the plains hearing plenty of Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Greenfinches and a posing Song Thrush.  We were pleased to find a few Common Orchids as we progressed, and we continued to enjoy plenty of birdsong, including that of a possible Lesser Whitethroat.  We had a good view of a Kestrel flying overhead and a more distant Buzzard soaring.

The sun had appeared and warmed us up, so we stopped for a brief but very welcome drinks stop at the Hundred Pound Bridge.  A late-singing Cuckoo thoughtfully serenaded us while we enjoyed our refreshments.  From there we climbed up to the well-known clearing where it is possible to see Purple Emperor butterflies displaying.  Unfortunately, we were probably a little too early in the year to see them.  However, as we followed the path, we saw lots of White Admirals, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, Common Blues and a Small Skipper.  Despite the lush bracken and sedge, it was nice to see a few Foxgloves here and close by, several Silver-washed Fritillaries.  

We headed for the pond with its bird-hide, negotiating a couple of fallen tree-trunks along the way!  High in the trees, there were Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Jays, Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, Stock Doves and a solitary Green Woodpecker.  We could hear Great Spotted Woodpecker calling but they proved elusive to see.  Arriving at the hide there were Coot, Mallard and Moorhen (all with chicks), and we were able to see plenty of Emperor Dragonflies hawking over the water.  The remaining lakes produced nothing new, and we returned to our cars pleased to have seen and heard such a variety of bird species (a total of 28 in all.)  An added bonus were the seven species of Butterfly.