23 people met at Heather Farm on 20th March, the first day of astronomical spring and fittingly the warmest day of spring so far.
We set off along the river meadows of the Heather Farm ‘SANG’ following the river Bourne. Pleasingly 3 or 4 pairs of lapwings were displaying in the damp fields opposite the carpark, hopefully settling to breed for a third consecutive year. The further fields held Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Geese together with Mallards and a pair of distant Mandarins. Several circling Red Kites and a couple of Buzzards were above, with a single perched Kestrel
We saw and/or heard a good selection of resident passerines in the bordering hedgerows and trees. In addition small groups of Redwings were still present. Of the summer migrants the Chiff Chaffs had arrived in force, and a single Blackcap was heard.
On the heathland Stonechats were displaying and a few Dartford Warblers were seen by most of the group, together with several pairs of Long-tailed Tits in the birches. A detour onto the McLaren fields gave us singing Skylarks and parachuting Meadow Pipits, and as we headed back to the heathland via the pine woods the highlight of the walk had to be excellent views of two Firecrests showing in close quarters in the sunlight.
Little Grebe, Coots, Cormorants and a Moorhen on the wetland brought the morning’s total to 55 species.