Sixteen of us assembled in the car park of the Museum of Rural Life for the walk at RSPB Farnham Heath.  Those first to arrive were treated to a pair of Crossbill which were perched in the hedge in the car park and then flew down to forage along the bottom of the hedge.  The male was in his resplendent red colours and the female in green attire.  Quite unexpected, and spectacular to see them at such close range!  It was just a shame that they did not stay long enough for all the group to see.  The first of a couple of Red Kite flew overhead as we waited to start the walk.

Moving into the woodland, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock and Chaffinch were very busy.  On the more open heathland there was a Chiffchaff singing perched high in a birch tree, and the start of a Willow Warbler’s song was heard.  The next birds to be seen were a small flock of mixed Siskin and Redpoll.  Linnet pairs were singing, flying, and feeding near the heather patches along the path, joined by additional Siskins.   We could hear more Redpoll, and they were eventually located in a nearby pine tree.  Dartford Warblers were singing occasionally but keeping a low profile until one did a remarkable flight high up in the air and ‘parachuted’ back down to the ground only to disappear. The occasional Stonechat perched in usual style on top of small trees.

We paused at a drinking trough known for attracting Crossbills in addition to watering the cattle.  Alas, no Crossbills were there so we moved on.  We soon had good views of a couple of Treecreeper and a pair of Coal Tit.  The distinctive drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker could be heard, and a Goldcrest was working it’s way through the branches of a Larch sapling.  Blackbird, Song Thrush and Jay were added to the list.

As we neared the cars park again a Sparrowhawk flew over causing some excitement, and also a lone female Mallard did a flypast.  The morning had remained surprisingly cold with a chilly wind at times and perhaps this had put off some of the hoped for migrants and more specialist heathland birds from appearing-however, we finished the morning with a respectable total of over 30 species before making our way home or warming up with a coffee in the museum café.