It was an early start on a frosty morning. As I was scanning the many wildfowl on the water under the castle a single Bewick's Swan came gliding across the water into view. It was calling frequently, a short deep honk, a sound I haven't heard before. I was intrigued as to its origin because the only Bewick's in Sussex has been the ten seen regularly at Burpham. However, after about 15 minutes a formation on 9 Bewick's Swans came over my head from the Rackham direction. The lonesome swan took off and joined it's friends as they headed off in Burpham direction.
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| Bewick's Swan |
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| Bewick's Swan |
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| Bewick's Swan |
Up on the river bank huge numbers of ducks and geese could be seen on the northwest portion of the reserve. My optics were constantly fogging up today, but I noted one or two Pintail amongst the ducks. A cream-capped Marsh Harrier glided over making everything nervous, and a group of 10 Meadow Pipits were feeding along the river bank. A few Redwing and Fieldfare were conspicuous by their calls. Unsurprisingly, following all the rain, the Wey South Path is now flooded, and I didn't walk all the way to the wet wood. A Merlin was perched on a fence post near the abattoir again. Back through the wooded area Bullfinch calls could heard, and a female was spotted. A little further along a Goldcrest sang briefly. Under the castle now were c60 Common Gulls.
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| Merlin |
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| Stonechat |
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| Common Gulls |
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| Stonechat |
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