After seeing reports of 2 Bean Geese seen this weekend at Arundel WWT, I thought there would be a good chance of seeing them in the Arun Valley today, a good vantage point is up at Burpham Church and as the birds have been observed associating with Greylag Geese and roosting in the WWT itself. In murky conditions, I found the geese flock miles off but just making out the 2 Bean Geese! Not the views you want, but confirmation that they are still here and at least viewable from here if nowhere else! I drove around to the Black Rabbit pub and was going to attempt to try and see them from here but plenty of roadworks etc going on so decided to move inland where a singing Woodlark showed well with another bird further in the distance! The paths have really dried out here since my last visit, although my daughter Robyn found one of the few puddles to fall in which meant a hasty retreat and not much else was seen or heard!!
There has been some debate about the Bean Geese at Arundel, with the general concensus that they are the 'Tundra' race by observers who had better views than I had!
A quick check at Patching Pond produced a second returning Great-crested Grebe so the pair is again re-united, and a drake Pochard, a bird I have not seen yet on this pond in my short time in checking it out...I'm hoping for something good here one day, looks good for Little Bittern or Night Heron!!
