Author: Tony Cummins

Thursley Common 29 April & 1 May 2021

Posted on by

The Thursday walk took place on a chilly day with sunny periods. It was tinged with a little sadness as it was the first one at Thursley since the disastrous fire of late summer. The common had an unfamiliar look but in many places the first signs of regeneration were appearing. The walk to Parish Field produced a few sightings, a woodlark overflying us and a male stonechat giving an acrobatic demonstration of flycatching. As we approached the woods redstarts were in good voice but as elusive as the chiffchaffs we could also hear. In the field was an armchair lounge of two dozen photographers in which Colin the famous cuckoo was posing on his perch; after a while he took off but could be heard calling regularly during the rest of the morning. We then skirted Parish Field in search of tree pipits and caught glimpses of one or two performing their display flights. Willow warblers were also singing around us allowing occasional views. Out on the heath the Dartford warblers were sheltering from the chill and were more heard than seen but we managed a couple of sightings. Some of us  were fortunate also to see a female wheatear on the east side of Shrike Hill. As we skirted the hill we repeatedly heard a curlew’s call but failed to see it. We did however see a lapwing apparently defending its nest from a crow. Close to the dragonfly sculpture we saw two female crossbills offering great views as they fed in the pines. The walk produced some good quality birds with a species list totalling 34.

An overspill walk on the following Saturday enjoyed better conditions. As a consequence the six participants had more and better sightings of much the same species as two days previously. The cuckoo was again on its usual perch. A tree pipit parachuted for us several times and allowed us to find its perch. Redstarts were far more visible including a pair on the charred southern side of Shrike Hill. From there we also sighted a pair of woodlarks bringing food to a nest on the hillside. A hobby gave a flypast over the bog and obligingly perched for excellent viewing. The star birds though were a flock of 30-40 crossbills feeding on the south edge of Parish Field. The Saturday species count was 41. 

Pulborough Brooks 24 April 2021

Posted on by

The morning walk in separate groups took place in Spring sun that really enhanced the view from the visitor centre over the lovely Arun valley. The first sighting from that point was a real surprise, a fieldfare that had not realised that it had overstayed its welcome. At the top of the zigzag path came the unmistakeable notes of the first nightingale of the day though it remained well concealed. In the courtyard two more males were having a singing duel that began we were told at dawn and then one of them perched close to us in the open. With the sun behind making its tail seem ablaze the view was stunning. At the Hangar there was an unusually good variety of waders on the brooks. There we saw a spotted redshank, several redshanks and black-tailed godwits and four each of dunlins and little ringed plovers on the muddy edges. Most pleasing were two avocets giving rise to the hope that they would follow their first ever breeding success on the reserve last year. Over the water a few sand martins hawked for insects. The trees and brambles around the viewpoint were alive with birdsong especially from warblers, blackcap and chiffchaffs were prominent with an occasional common whitethroat putting in an appearance. A few members picked up phrases from a lesser whitethroat while along the path a garden warbler was in full voice. Other passerine sightings included a treecreeper, linnets, skylarks, a goldcrest and back at the visitors centre a wheatear. Finally reports filtered through that a great white egret was showing back at the Hangar seen by a couple of members who had lingered there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with 63 species identified including no less than five nightingales.The morning walk in separate groups took place in Spring sun that really enhanced the view from the visitor centre over the lovely Arun valley. The first sighting from that point was a real surprise, a fieldfare that had not realised that it had overstayed its welcome. At the top of the zigzag path came the unmistakeable notes of the first nightingale of the day though it remained well concealed. In the courtyard two more males were having a singing duel that began we were told at dawn and then one of them perched close to us in the open. With the sun behind making its tail seem ablaze the view was stunning. At the Hangar there was an unusually good variety of waders on the brooks. There we saw a spotted redshank, several redshanks and black-tailed godwits and four each of dunlins and little ringed plovers on the muddy edges. Most pleasing were two avocets giving rise to the hope that they would follow their first ever breeding success on the reserve last year. Over the water a few sand martins hawked for insects. The trees and brambles around the viewpoint were alive with birdsong especially from warblers, blackcap and chiffchaffs were prominent with an occasional common whitethroat putting in an appearance. A few members picked up phrases from a lesser whitethroat while along the path a garden warbler was in full voice. Other passerine sightings included a treecreeper, linnets, skylarks, a goldcrest and back at the visitors centre a wheatear. Finally reports filtered through that a great white egret was showing back at the Hangar seen by a couple of members who had lingered there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with 63 species identified including no less than five nightingales.The morning walk in separate groups took place in Spring sun that really enhanced the view from the visitor centre over the lovely Arun valley. The first sighting from that point was a real surprise, a fieldfare that had not realised that it had overstayed its welcome. At the top of the zigzag path came the unmistakeable notes of the first nightingale of the day though it remained well concealed. In the courtyard two more males were having a singing duel that began we were told at dawn and then one of them perched close to us in the open. With the sun behind making its tail seem ablaze the view was stunning. At the Hangar there was an unusually good variety of waders on the brooks. There we saw a spotted redshank, several redshanks and black-tailed godwits and four each of dunlins and little ringed plovers on the muddy edges. Most pleasing were two avocets giving rise to the hope that they would follow their first ever breeding success on the reserve last year. Over the water a few sand martins hawked for insects. The trees and brambles around the viewpoint were alive with birdsong especially from warblers, blackcap and chiffchaffs were prominent with an occasional common whitethroat putting in an appearance. A few members picked up phrases from a lesser whitethroat while along the path a garden warbler was in full voice. Other passerine sightings included a treecreeper, linnets, skylarks, a goldcrest and back at the visitors centre a wheatear. Finally reports filtered through that a great white egret was showing back at the Hangar seen by a couple of members who had lingered there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with 63 species identified including no less than five nightingales.

RSPB Otmoor 22 April 2021

Posted on by

Ten members in two separately led groups visited this stunning wet meadow and reedbed reserve near Oxford in sunny conditions with an easterly breeze in exposed parts. The car park was typically resounding with birdsong with chiffchaffs, blackcaps and willow warblers all in fine voice with a supporting choir of chaffinches and dunnocks while Cetti’s warblers regularly intervened with their discordant notes. A green woodpecker yaffled nearby while early arrivals heard a distant cuckoo. Early sightings on the walk included a whitethroat, numerous lapwings that were clearly in the early stages of breeding and a few redshanks. Curlew cries were heard though they offered only distant views. In the hedgerows most were able to enjoy the rare treat of brief glimpses of Cettis. Once we reached the main dyke reed warblers were scratching out their song in large numbers and eventually three of them came up on brief display flights. A single sedge warbler perched cooperatively for good views. By now raptors were appearing, red kites in good numbers, a kestrel and a few common buzzards. Then three marsh harriers paraded in the middle distance to delight us. A single swallow, the only one of the day, slipped by us and then a hobby appeared over the meadow and perched to allow distant views. As we approached the main junction a bittern rose from the reeds and offered a distant view. As we progressed a pair appeared much closer to us providing a rare view of them flying clear against the sky. As we approached the hide we found a sizeable mixed flock of reed bunting and linnets with a single yellowhammer feeding on the path ahead.

As we lunched close to the hide we were able to see a distant group of brown hares lounging on the meadow while closer the bitterns took to the air again and two hobbies were seen together. There were family groups of mallards with ducklings and coots with juveniles. We also saw two oystercatchers. Refreshed we headed for the reedbeds with a brief diversion to scan Big Otmoor where a barnacle goose was the reward. At one point a grasshopper warbler seemed to reel briefly but stubbornly stayed out of sight and otherwise remained quiet. From the first viewpoint over the reeds we picked up numerous ducks, many shovelers and gadwall, some tufted ducks and a few teal and pochard. There was also a one great crested grebe. In the blackthorn hedgerow a garden warbler sang though there was much discussion about its identification before agreement on it. At the second viewpoint a single male pintail was one of the few birds on the water but the appearance of two marsh harriers over the reeds was excellent recompense. As we retraced our steps we kept up regular scans but nothing new was noted until by the reserve feeders a great spotted woodpecker posed briefly for us and a willow warbler came briefly into view. As we looked over the final meadow an eagle-eye spotted a large dark bird and kept it in view to allow the others to see a glossy ibis albeit at a great distance. It was a real treat that rounded off an excellent day in which we identified 59 species.

Ebernoe Common

Posted on by

Our first walk following the relaxation of the winter Covid restrictions took place at the lovely reserve of Ebernoe Common NNR – albeit in socially distanced groups of six, each separately led. Birds were singing all around the car park of the picturesque church with robins and blackcaps especially prominent. We set off first for Furnace Meadow, with its beautiful hillside habitat of gorse and blackthorn. Immediately we could hear skylarks performing above but the cold wind and constant passage of cloud in front of the sun seemed to be subduing other birds. So for a while we had to content ourselves with corvids and a green woodpecker yaffling in the distance plus some odd flypasts from mallards and pairs of Canada and Egyptian geese. Soon though a single nightingale began to sing but with uncharacteristic hesitancy. As we progressed a second joined in with a little more confidence but still intermittently. It was delightful though to hear the first nightingales of spring. We then proceeded into the woods where an eagle-eyed member spotted a marsh tit foraging in the foliage. On the ground an array of woodland flowers was appearing including the beginnings of numerous bluebells. Birdsong began to pick up and we heard song thrushes, wrens and stock doves. Early warblers too were in good voice though they stubbornly refused to show themselves. After inspection of the old brick kilns we found an open area where chiffchaffs and a treecreeper put in brief appearances. Then we had glimpses of a pair of bullfinches at the top of a tree. Finally at Furnace Lake we encountered nuthatches. 28 species were identified during a pleasantly spent morning.

Moor Green Lakes

Posted on by

In chilly weather compensated by excellent light that enhanced the lovely scenery of the site six members embarked on the first Covid-era walk since the last one in March, also at Moor Green Lakes. The car park feeders were full of great and blue tits with the odd chaffinch barely having a look-in. Nuthatches were calling and a couple of wrens sang. Two Egyptian geese were the sole occupants of the paddocks. As we approached the lake a goldcrest flitted across the path while scanning of the water produced sightings of tufted ducks, coots and the first of the 150+ wigeons that we were to see. A handful of lapwings on the island were joined by another thirty as we watched. Distant gadwall, shovelers and a single pochard were spotted and then we were able to admire a female goldeneye quite close as she dived. From the viewpoint six wintering goosanders including two drakes came into view while a red kite sailed above us and soon seemed omnipresent throughout the morning. At the junction we first headed east along the river and quickly picked up some great crested grebes, mute swans, grey herons and a little egret by the water while four fieldfares flew over us. A few siskins appeared briefly in willows and we finally spotted some goldfinches.

Heading back on the west path we heard some long-tailed tits well before we could spot them. Then we found a large feeding flock of lesser redpolls on alders with a single redwing overflying them. A stonechat was a surprise sighting while a little grebe seemed asleep in the reeds. It was a splendid morning of birding that produced a final sightings count of a satisfying fifty species topped off by a roe deer.

South Downs

Posted on by

Five apprehensive members assembled in the Kithurst Hill car park in very windy conditions. Our fears were justified as twice squally showers swept over but happily only when we were in the shelter of one of the sparse woodlands on top of the Downs.

Unsurprisingly sightings were few at first but a raven cronked nearby and a sizeable finch flock, exclusively linnets as far as we could judge, moved restlessly around the hillside. Soon we were seeing skylarks whose song held the promise of spring. The gamebird feeders were attracting great, blue and coal tits. Finally in the shelter of a hedgerow we saw an assemblage that included song thrushes, a mistle thrush and blackbirds. A yellowhammer flew closer and displayed its finery while colourful cock pheasants and red-legged partridges loitered at the field edges.

In view of the conditions we decided against the usual descent into the valley towards the dew ponds and took a byway leading back to the South Downs Way. Our reward was the sight of a ringtail hen harrier sweeping low past us showing its pale rump, an excellent addition to our other raptor sightings of two buzzards and a kestrel. We lunched in shelter with an excellent view of the extensive flooding stretching north as far as Pulborough Brooks where we were soon to repair for further refreshment.

Our species list of 23 reflected the prevalent weather conditions.

Moor Green Lakes

Posted on by

Thirteen members met in the car park on Lower Sandhurst Road.  Fortunately the weather was good following the recent storms and we quickly began spotting Blue and Great Tits, Goldfinch, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.  There were one or two Redwing in the Horse Paddock

Out on Colebrook lake there were large numbers of Gadwall, Mallard and Coot along with Moorhen, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Shelduck.  Tern Island had the usual Cormorants and Black Headed Gulls resting.  A quick check of the East Fen from the footpath and the first hide revealed nothing of additional interest but a bonus on the bird feeders was a very obliging Reed Bunting which gave very good views.

Reaching the River Blackwater, which was flowing very high, we walked all the way round to the second hide on Grove Lake.   The path by the river was very quiet for birds, apart from a few Long Tailed Tits and a couple of Goldcrests.  Out on the lakes there were some Shoveler, Pochard and the hoped for Goosander, by this time looking rather resplendent in the sunshine.  Reaching the hide, we were able to watch a Buzzard and a Kestrel enjoying the wind and air currents.

We then re-traced our steps along the river and walked to view the new workings.  Unfortunately the lakes on this side were not viewable due to the re-shaping of the sand and gravel and the removal of the bridge which used to serve as a vantage point, but we did add Little Grebe to the list for the day.  All in all a very enjoyable walk with 41 species seen in total.

[For more information and how to join the Moor Green Lakes group and access the hides at only £10 per annum visit the website https://www.mglg.org.uk/index.html]

Frensham Great Pond

Posted on by

Eleven members braved flooded roads and an indifferent weather forecast to walk around Frensham Great Pond.

A red kite soaring over the car park was a good start while the water held the usual array of tufted ducks, pochards, mallards and great crested grebes. There was a regular smattering of tits and robins accompanying our progress. A drake goosander was a cheering surprise on the outlet pond which was otherwise quiet. The highlight was a firecrest flitting close to us for a couple of minutes and clearly displaying its white supercilium and fiery crest in the gloom.

We should then have quit while we were ahead and headed for the cars. Instead we completed the circuit in increasingly heavy rain adding only a great spotted woodpecker to our sightings. Our spirits though remained buoyed by the firecrest.

Birds identified totalled 29.

Isle of Sheppey

Posted on by

The imminent arrival of Storm Ciara necessitated the late decision to bring forward this walk by a day. As a result only seven members were able to participate despite excellent weather conditions.

We started at the Swale NNR car park and were immediately startled by a small raptor swooping back and forth over the dyke. Despite finding its perch we were unable to decide whether it was a male sparrowhawk or merlin. There was no such doubt about a peregrine perched out on the marsh. We then walked to the point but found a dearth of birds on the shore apart from a roost of some hundreds of oystercatchers. As we walked to the blockhouse small numbers of turnstones and ringed plovers appeared together with a few sanderlings and one grey plover. Beyond we found many shelducks and perhaps a hundred curlews lurking in the reeds. Marsh harriers patrolled and displayed behind them while at greater distance we could see large flocks in the air, some obviously of Brent geese and one very large one of golden plovers. On the sea great crested grebes were numerous with a Slavonian grebe keeping them company. Singles of red-throated diver and shag both landed on the water at a distance that allowed reasonable views.

We next proceeded to the raptor viewpoint, opportunistically scanning as we went. Particularly exciting was the sudden appearance of a female merlin determinedly chasing a small bird and then perching in view. Also enjoyable was the sight of well over thirty corn bunting on roadside brambles, part of a mixed flock which included pipits and starlings. At the viewpoint at least six marsh harriers could be identified as well as the red-legged partridges being disturbed by them. Two brown hares were seen running across the fields and as we left two more merlins flew sedately close by.

We finally headed for Elmley. The road to the farm held many hundreds of lapwings, a sprinkling of curlews and two ruffs. From the packed car park a sleeping long-eared owl could be viewed with relatively little difficulty, its camouflage resplendent in the setting sun. A walk to the ruined schoolhouse was eventually rewarded with views of the eyes and beak of the resident little owl peeking through a gap in the wall. The final course of our birding feast was two short-eared owls hunting in the sunlight.

The list for an excellent day totalled sixty one.

Staines Moor and Reservoir

Posted on by

Bird sounds at the Moor Lane starting point were dominated by noisy parakeets while a red kite flew quietly nearby. 

A hardy group of twelve then walked along the Colne across Staines Moor. There were relatively few birds, perhaps because the river was exceptionally high and the weather was windy and showery. Little grebes (at least three) were beginning to acquire summer plumage. Other birds seen included a green woodpecker, a grey wagtail, a kestrel, moorhens, stonechats, and a single little egret. On three occasions separate small birds took to the air from the water’s edge and flew a long way; they were probably water pipits although they moved too far and too fast for clear identification.

Most birds at the Reservoir were on the south basin with diving birds featuring very strongly. Most numerous were tufted ducks but the group was very pleased to see in the southwest section the long-tailed duck that has lingered there for several weeks. Two black-necked grebes and five goldeneye were also showing. The south basin, its sides and the causeway also held pochards, wigeon, shovelers, great crested grebes, coots, linnets, meadow pipits and several pied wagtails. Most surprising (in every sense) was the red kite which flew up from the reservoir side a few yards away. Initially the only birds of note on the north basin were a common gull, gadwalls and two grey herons.

A few who stayed and kept watch were later delighted by the sight of seven or eight more black-necked grebes diving and popping up in a line.