Seventeen members met in pleasantly cool conditions to begin with at the Tunnel Car Park for our walk around Bookham Common and, having struggled a little with the vagaries of the Just Park system we set off, noting that quite a few butterflies were already on the wing.  On dry, rutted paths, we headed down towards the back of the station and out onto the plains hearing plenty of Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Greenfinches and a posing Song Thrush.  We were pleased to find a few Common Orchids as we progressed, and we continued to enjoy plenty of birdsong, including that of a possible Lesser Whitethroat.  We had a good view of a Kestrel flying overhead and a more distant Buzzard soaring.

The sun had appeared and warmed us up, so we stopped for a brief but very welcome drinks stop at the Hundred Pound Bridge.  A late-singing Cuckoo thoughtfully serenaded us while we enjoyed our refreshments.  From there we climbed up to the well-known clearing where it is possible to see Purple Emperor butterflies displaying.  Unfortunately, we were probably a little too early in the year to see them.  However, as we followed the path, we saw lots of White Admirals, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, Common Blues and a Small Skipper.  Despite the lush bracken and sedge, it was nice to see a few Foxgloves here and close by, several Silver-washed Fritillaries.  

We headed for the pond with its bird-hide, negotiating a couple of fallen tree-trunks along the way!  High in the trees, there were Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Jays, Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, Stock Doves and a solitary Green Woodpecker.  We could hear Great Spotted Woodpecker calling but they proved elusive to see.  Arriving at the hide there were Coot, Mallard and Moorhen (all with chicks), and we were able to see plenty of Emperor Dragonflies hawking over the water.  The remaining lakes produced nothing new, and we returned to our cars pleased to have seen and heard such a variety of bird species (a total of 28 in all.)  An added bonus were the seven species of Butterfly.