Spring at Amberley Wildbrooks

On a fine spring day at Amberley Wildbrooks we were treated to some memorable sightings.

Around mid-morning a large bird flying low across the brooks caught our attention, we were delighted to see that it was a white-tailed eagle. As the eagle slowly gained height it attracted an entourage consisting of a red kite and 5 common buzzards.

Buzzard and White-tailed Eagle. Photo by Gordon Monument.

White-tailed Eagle and Red Kite. Photo by Gordon Monument.

The buzzards in particular were unhappy with the eagle's presence. On several occasions a buzzard got too close for comfort and the eagle flipped upside down, talons raised, to fend off its assailant.

White-tailed Eagle fending off one of the Buzzards. Photo by Gordon Monument.

White-tailed Eagle and Buzzard engaged in an aerial tussle. Photo by Gordon Monument.

In the final photograph a satellite tag is visible on the eagle, as this bird is part of the exciting re-introduction scheme on the Isle of Wight, undertaken by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. To learn more about this project visit the foundation's website: https://www.roydennis.org/

There was plenty to see and hear aside from the large raptors, on the smaller raptor front a sparrowhawk and kestrel were also seen. Warblers sang from the bushes, these included willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, whitethroat, sedge and Cetti's warblers.

Another highlight was a male cuckoo perched nicely on a post out in the brooks - the first one of the year for me. Usually you hear a cuckoo before seeing it, but on this occasion it was the reverse, we didn't hear it for another 20 minutes or so. As is typical it was being mobbed by small birds that are host species to the cuckoo, and in this case it was mostly meadow pipits trying to see the cuckoo off.

Cuckoo (left centre post) with an alarmed potential host (on the angled post).

Near the end of the walk a damselfly took flight, and linnets were collecting material to build a nest.

- Hugh Baggaley