26th March 2019 - Brooklands Pleasure Park and The Downs

A walk around Brooklands late morning with Max produced 7 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers around the bushes. The lake held 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Teal and a handful of Coot, Moorhen plus a Mute Swan. Moving onto the beach the Black Redstart was still present flitting from groyne to groyne along with 6 Turnstone on the tideline whilst offshore there was a lone Great Crested Grebe. Still around the northern end of the stream there was 100+ Chub and also a Yellow-bellied Slider which are native to the USA, which is surely a throwout. 

Black Redstart, Brooklands Pleasure Park Beach, West Sussex

Yellow-bellied Slider, Brooklands Pleasure Park, West Sussex

Later, I went up onto The Downs where again a ringtail Hen Harrier showed nicely. Other notables included a Common Buzzard, 6 Red-legged Partridge and 2 Tawny Owls were heard calling. Also 2 Hares.

Ringtail Hen Harrier, The Downs