Two Short-eared and One Barn Owl on Bramber Brooks

A late afternoon walk across Bramber Brooks and there was a Barn Owl and two Short-eared Owls busy hunting, flying back and forth and clashing a little when they got too close - although no actual contact.  At one point the Barn Owl disturbed a bird among some rushes which flew straight up to a height of about 2 metres and dropped back down again.  Longish legs, big feet and a longish beak - Water Rail?  It was such a brief glimpse that I could not be sure.

I got a better view of a Sparrowhawk. It cruised towards me very low along the side of a hedge as I stood on the riverbank, diverted to cross the pond and then flipped over the river to disappear below the bank.  Good views also of a Kestrel, but a flock of small birds was more problematic.  At least three Reed Buntings, eight others were more difficult to identify with any certainty.  Altogether 25 species.