Birdwatch

WINTER definitely feels as though it has arrived now. Heavy rain, strong winds and biting cold hhave played their part over the past couple of weeks.

Our first Bewick's swans of the winter have appeared, and now that there is lots of extra floodwater on the brooks, large numbers of pintail are currently mingling with the flocks of wigeon, teal, shoveler and lapwing.

Flocks of redwing,fieldfares, blackbirds and song thrushes are busy hoovering up the berries in the hedgerows and there has been the occasional sighting of that typical winter visitor to these parts, the hen harrier.

We have seen another, rather scarce winter bird of prey that we are hoping will stay around for the coming months.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette December 12