It’s a Hoot at RSPB Pulborough Brooks.

If you can brave the weather you could be in for a treat at RSPB Pulborough Brooks nature reserve this winter.
 
Over the last few weeks lucky visitors have been treated to amazing views of a short-eared owl which has been hunting over the brooks. These medium sized owls are commonly seen during the day, flying low over the ground hunting for voles and other small mammals that make up their diet.
 
In the summer, these birds are only found in northern England and Scotland, but in winter, many birds come over from Scandinavia, Russia or Iceland, and spend their time on coastal marshes and wetlands in southern England.
 
Barn owls have also been putting in a regular appearance as dusk falls across the reserve, and one has been roosting in the nestbox above the visitor centre – where barn owls successfully bred this summer.
 
Another usually very secretive bird that moves out into the open when the temperature falls is the water rail. Visitors to the reserve should keep an eye out for a rare glimpse of this elusive bird scuttling amongst the ditches along the nature trail looking for snails and insects to eat.
 
Samantha Stokes, RSPB Visitor Officer, said: “It’s always delightful to see barn owls on the reserve, but to have a short-eared owl as well is wonderful.
 “With the current freezing conditions all our bird species have to find more food, but this increase in activity sometimes gives us more chances to see these beautiful creatures.”
The reserve, which is open daily, is located off the A283 between Pulborough and Storrington. For further information please contact the visitor centre on 01798 875851 or go to: www.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

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