After yesterday’s dreadful weather, it was a must to venture out today and I headed to Arundel, completing a circular walk taking in Swanbourne Lake, Hiorne Tower, Mill Stream and Flood Meadows (see route below).
Swanbourne Lake held four Mandarin (three drakes and a female), 68 Gadwall, 57 Tufted Duck, two Little Grebes, two Mute Swans, a Great Black-backed Gull and 14 Common Gulls. Surprisingly there was just one Pochard (drake) on the lake and two Shoveler passed overhead. The woodland and scrub surrounding the lake was quiet and the clear highlight was a Firecrest. Also noted were three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Stock Doves, three Bullfinches, a Coal Tit and ca.10 Goldcrests.
I climbed the very steep bank up towards the Hiorne Tower at the northern end of the lake but it was very quiet for birds. Not helped by a very loud shoot going on. Noted however was a Kestrel, a Mistle Thrush, two Song Thrush and a Redwing.
Next stop was the Mill Stream where I found two Firecrests, two Nuthatches and a Bullfinch. The flood meadows to the south held a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, ca.150 Starlings and flock of ca.50 Fieldfares. Walking back north along the river bank towards the Black Rabbit I found two Buzzards, two Stonechats, three Reed Buntings, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail.
The best was yet to come and I found 35+ Russian White-fronted Geese to the south of the pub with ca.100 Greylag Geese. An enjoyable walk recording 52 species in total.
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| Route followed around Arundel |
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