Beeding Brooks

So, my first post!

An afternoon spent at Beeding Brooks looking for the four Tundra Bean Geese proved successful and rather eventful. Having logged only a few Reed Buntings and Goldfinches from a walk across the brooks to the Adur, we decided to walk along the river a way. This proved successful when we spotted the Bean Geese flying upriver and then across the brooks, and also the first of four Short-eared Owls seen, which was being mobbed by a female Kestrel; eventually having its prey snatched. We then flushed this fine looking Sparrowhawk which had a Starling in its clutches, and it very obligingly sat on the opposite bank and posed for me.

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) with prey (Starling)

Then, not long after I took this photo, another female Kestrel (possibly the same one) came and after a brief scuffle, stole this birds prey too. Unfortunately the Starling proved a little too large, and was dropped soon after the Kestrel flew off.

Our walk back along the river produced another three Short-eared Owls, as well as a pair of Peregrines in the same binocular view, quite a sight. As the light was fading and the cormorants were coming in to roost on the pylons, a flock of at least 40 Redwing and Fieldfare settled in a tree nearby, and this owl posed nicely, but only for a record shot.

 

 

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

We also logged two Grey Herons and two Little Egrets on the brooks. Then from Smugglers Lane we got another view of the Bean Geese with some Greylags and Canadas. A very pleasant afternoon birding.