Thursley Common 17 May 2024

Twelve members met on an overcast morning with heavy rain forecast. The first part our walk produced only a few birds: Mallards and (unusually) a Mute Swan on the Moat, a Whitethroat at the beginning of the boardwalk, and the first of several Stonechats. Pudmore Ponds had a Tufted Duck, an Egyptian Goose and several Canada Geese. The area around Shrike Hill became more interesting with a Tree Pipit performing parachute display flights. Our walk south from the dragonfly sculpture allowed us to see two Dartford Warblers, brief glimpses of two Woodlarks and a good view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker perched on a bare tree. At the far end of that path were singing Willow Warblers. The only raptor seen during the morning was a Kestrel. Until this point, Redstarts had proved elusive but we then found two singing in trees alongside Parish Field. Unfortunately, they stayed high within the tree and we could not get a good view. A Blackcap sang nearby. At that point the rain began and brought proceedings to a close. Total species identified came to 29

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