After a series of events cancelled due to storms, it was a relief to have calm weather for December’s walk at Frensham Great Pond, and eighteen Guildford members came to take advantage of our final outing of 2024. The birding was fairly quiet but with some pleasant sightings nonetheless. 

From the car park we had a small flock of Chaffinches, together with a Goldcrest and Blue and Great Tits, soon followed by an active group of Long-tailed Tits.  Moving along the lake shore we located four drake Goosanders and one female on the far shore – the only views of the day, probably due to the sailing activity later in the morning. As we watched a Kingfisher shot past, seen by a few. Opposite the hotel there were several Tufted Ducks, a few Mallards, and a nice view of fifteen male Pochards.

At the outfall we were watched by two Grey Herons perched high in the trees. Further along the lower path a Little Egret also moved to perch high up. Blue, Great and Coal Tits were seen or heard, and there were good numbers of Blackbirds, but otherwise the lower path was not that busy with bird life.  A flurry of activity as we approached the hotel added a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a distant Mistle Thrush, and two or three Tree Creepers.

The walk through the conifers along the south shore of the lake was peaceful if somewhat slow from a birding point of view. Two Great-crested Grebes were close by, but were disturbed by several noisy Egyptian Geese flying in.

The return to the carpark was pleasant in the sunshine, and we finally encountered some winter thrushes – a mobile flock of Redwings, the first of the winter for several members.  A Red Kite, a passing Grey Wagtail and a (heard) Green Woodpecker added to a final bird count of 32.