Following a tip off from local birder Peter Callis who had heard one, if not two Turtle Doves near Honer Farm yesterday I set off to Pagham Wall at 7.30am and it wasn't long before I had located the 'purring' of a Turtle Dove in the designated copse.
I approached and located the bird on a very exposed branch, watched it for about 20 seconds in full view when it flew off to a hawthorn in the adjacent field. These birds are becoming increasingly rare but 20 years ago they were a common sight and sound around the area. For the past few years I have noted a pair in this same area and its good to know they are still returning albeit in far smaller numbers.
Apart from this, the Reed and Sedge warblers were in good voice and I watched a pair of Reed Buntings collecting nesting material and returning time and again to a tussock of grass at the foot of the reed bed.
A distant Cuckoo called and the peace and quiet of the morning was shared with just two other 'early' birders.....
Incidentally, I nipped up to Pulborough Brooks yesterday to see the much photographed Nightingales that featured so strongly on the S.O.S. web site whilst I was away. Click on 'My Photostream on Flickr' on the right to see this little beauty!
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