The rescheduled walk at Oare Marshes attracted only four members, attendance being discouraged no doubt by the disruptive roadworks on the route and the biting north wind. The tide was low and few birds were on the mud near the causeway, just a handful of curlews and lapwings plus a ringed plover. The seawall though held a large flock of starling engaged in a feeding frenzy among the seaweed. A solitary wheatear bounced by jauntily and a single great crested grebe fed on the Swale. The creek held two shelducks while a greylag flew over, the only waterfowl seen during the walk. The wrecked boat afforded a roost to perhaps sixty redshanks but that sector otherwise offered little but some goldfinches and meadow pipits and the squeal of a water rail. Almost no birds could be seen on the East Flood until the hide allowed a view of a curlew sandpiper soon joined by two others. Despite hopes of a closer view the sandpipers could not be seen from the road though two dunlins offered opportunities for confusion between the two species. A final scan of the mud back at the causeway was productive only for the two sandwich terns that were feeding alone the Swale. The list of birds identified totalled 37.
Author: Tony Cummins
Pulborough Brooks 11 September 2022
Nine members began the walk on the heathland side of the reserve in rather unpromising mist and gloom. A Sparrowhawk flying over in the car park and Stonechat out in the meadow at the viewpoint were seen but the woods and heathland were otherwise quiet. The pond and fields by the Visitors Centre yielded a Buzzard perched in a dead tree and some Linnets flying around. The emergence of a warming sun soon increased activity and the feeders in the picnic area were quite busy with Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Greenfinch and Chaffinch.
The Zig Zag path held a flock of Goldfinch while a Bullfinch called but unfortunately did not show. In Fattengates Courtyard a very confiding Chiffchaff was picking flies off the lily pads in the pond. Nuthatches, House Sparrows, Dunnocks and a Bank Vole came to feed on the sunflower seeds left out on a couple of logs.
A clockwise walk round the wetland trail to West Mead hide provided good views of a Spotted Flycatcher perched on a dead tree making sorties out to pick off passing insects. A Blackcap was also seen briefly. A group of chats at a distance in the haze presented an identification challenge to distinguish a Winchat from Stonechats. West Mead hide was very quiet probably due to the lack of water in the scrapes.
The main draw at Redstart Corner was the Dragonflies and Damselflies around the pond. Through the day Brown Hawker, Common Darter, numerous Migrant Hawker and a couple of Willow Emerald Damselfly were seen. From Winpenny hide a very restless group of Teal was flying around along with a flock of Lapwing and, grazing in a more settled manner, were flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese.
Initially Little Hanger hide was quiet, but then a Marsh Harrier appeared and proceeded to fly close by giving great views. And then the alert was given to a large raptor that proved to be a White-Tailed Eagle. It flew around in a leisurely manner for several minutes creating panic amongst all the other birds, a treat for all.
From Hanger View Black Tailed Godwits and two Ruff could be picked out. A few Grey Herons stood like statues. Ducks were quite tricky to identify as they were in non-breeding plumage but seemed to be mainly Teal and Mallard with a few Shovelers, Pintails and Wigeon amongst them. A falcon shot by and then appeared overhead leading to the probable identification of a Hobby. Birds added to the day’s list subsequently were a Kingfisher and Reed Bunting.
In all 49 bird species were identified, while numerous butterflies including Small Heaths, Brown Hairstreaks, Clouded Yellows, Speckled Woods, and Green Veined Whites added to a packed day.
Sidlesham 3 September 2022
The eleven members who met at RSPB Pagham Harbour for the inaugural walk of the new season were soon given a baptism of water as they set off along the path towards Church Norton. A brief but heavy downpour quickly ensured that everyone was fully alert! Thereafter the weather was excellent – bright with a pleasant cooling breeze – and everyone soon dried out.
Unfortunately, the tide was stubbornly low for the duration of the walk, so many of the waders were roosting quite far out. However, a creditable total of 55 species was chalked up, not including the Sedge Warblers seen only by one member of the party.
Star sightings of the day were the Peregrine causing Lapwing panic at the Ferry Pool, the Whinchat in the field adjoining the path to the beach at Church Norton, and the summer-plumaged Grey Plovers on the harbour. The field behind the hide was also productive with a Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatchers showing well. Overall the new walks programme was off to a promising start.
Frensham Little Pond 7 July 2022
Eight members met in initially unpromising weather with a chill in the air and some light drizzle. We were soon spotting mixed flocks of tits in the car park including blue, great, long-tailed and coal tits while a nuthatch was heard. By the cafe and Warden’s cottage there was much bird activity allowing the addition of great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, stock dove and treecreeper to the list. We also spent some time trying to get a clear sighting of a possible spotted flycatcher but without luck. The reed beds around the pond were quiet, but out on the water common terns were fishing in the company of a pair of great crested grebes with an almost fully grown youngster. A brief moment of excitement came as a kingfisher flew low over the water while all around chiffchaffs were singing and at one point a lesser black-backed gull flew over. On the heathland areas were the first of a few stonechats. We were also soon enjoying the antics of a family group of six Dartford warblers as they flew in and out of the heather and gorse; in all we saw ten, an impressive number. Other sighting included linnet, goldfinch and whitethroat. Back at the pond we had extended views of a reed warbler which at one point was uncharacteristically sitting in the open in a pine. A group of six swallows flew over supplementing the occasional swifts on the wing in small numbers. By the end we had a list of 33 and the realisation that the conclusion of the walk was much warmer than the start.
Bookham Common 25 June 2022
Sixteen members set off in overcast and slightly breezy conditions hoping that, even if bird sightings were to be relatively rare, we might come across some interesting butterflies.
We crossed the Central Plain first, where we saw several Common Whitethroats, plus Gold- and Greenfinches and the odd Robin. A couple of tall Common Spotted Orchids also caught our attention. Once past the Plains Car Park, we followed the road towards Manor Cottage, briefly entertained by an overflying Grey Heron. A rain shower didn’t hold us up for long, and we made our way to the Hundred Pound Bridge. On the way, a few Swallows and Swifts were spotted, and then a Cuckoo flew over, the bird of the day.
As the sun came out and the temperature rose, our attention turned increasingly to butterflies: we saw Speckled Wood, Comma, Red Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and, pleasingly, several White Admirals. We paused for a while at the well-known Purple Emperor hotspot but sadly were not rewarded with a view of this rare treasure. Nevertheless, we enjoyed wandering along the recently-widened woodland rides, where Large and Small Skippers were added to our butterfly list, as well as a newly-emerged Emperor Dragonfly.
As we headed south along a less-frequented path through the wood, we heard plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs plus both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. The odd Buzzard also mewed overhead. The bird hide produced no water-birds at all on this occasion but we did see a couple of Stock Doves and Woodpigeons in the surrounding trees. Despite the slightly disappointing weather conditions the outing was enjoyable with the total number of bird species recorded 21.
Chobham Common 16 June 2022
Six members and three visitors assembled at the Jubilee Mount car park in an evening search for nightjars. The night was sultry and the air full of the perfume of cooling vegetation. A short way along the roadside path was a colony of silver-studded blue butterflies with the odd common blue among them, mainly perched offering excellent photo opportunities. During the descent to the heath a roebuck galloped beside the path and a female stonechat perched on the gorse. An occasional chiffchaff sang but the common was generally quiet. The concentration was accordingly more on non-avian species, at least until dusk. First came a pair of beautiful early marsh orchids and then in small ponds a dozen or so newts identified as palmate by the webbing on their feet. In mid-heath a couple of Dartford warblers called distantly and a peregrine streaked overhead. At the main pond the sparse bird list was increased by singles of mallard, moorhen, whitethroat and song thrush. By the crossroads on the main track the action finally began. First came churring from several directions; then two nightjars were seen to the south, calling and wing clapping as they flew. Two more circled the group near the crossroads giving excellent views. More were heard churring on the return path and when approached took to the air providing further entertainment. Despite a list of only sixteen birds identified the evening proved to be an outstanding nightjar experience.
Whitmoor Common 5 June 2022
A forecast of rain all day and a dank, dismal morning limited the gathering at the Jolly Farmer to six foolhardy souls. It seemed though that the rain had passed through quicker than expected and we had to contend with no more than damp conditions. We ventured first behind the pub and saw an agitated great spotted woodpecker disturbed no doubt about our proximity to its nest. Moving rapidly on we checked the area with feeders to find they had been removed. As a result sightings were confined to a dunnock, robins, a jay and a collared dove. Moving on to the woods we encountered a group of newly fledged great tits and heard chiffchaffs singing. Along the boardwalk we noted how overgrown the heath was becoming. Soon though we heard the scratchy song of a Dartford warbler and then saw a second conveniently perched in a pine. A few linnets flew around and a single stonechat was silhouetted at the top of a tree. A noisy squawk then alerted us to a crow mobbing a kestrel. Crossing the railway bridge we heard a blackcap and a couple of assertive wrens while from the heather came the songs of two whitethroats. The return across the heath gave us further sightings of Dartford warblers, some of them recently fledged. The bird of the walk though was the great spotted woodpecker; over the morning we counted eight of them pipping away right across the reserve. In the conditions a species list of 27 was perhaps better than might have been expected.
Farnham Heath 22 May 2022
Fourteen members met for the group’s first visit to the RSPB Farnham Heath reserve for three years on a warm and sunny Spring morning. Immediately the call of a cuckoo was heard and repeated intermittently throughout the walk while a buzzard soared overhead. At the entrance we had a brief view of a spotted flycatcher and a greenfinch while the songs of chiffchaffs and blackcaps rang out around us. Out on the heath we enjoyed the first Dartford warbler of the day; we were to see nine in total, a remarkable number for a bird that was absent from the reserve only a few years ago. Naturally there was a similar number of stonechats in close proximity including a newly fledged juvenile. A tree pipit provided extended entertainment with its parachuting and tuneful display flights. A redstart was distantly glimpsed while those at the front of the group saw a couple of woodlarks before they concealed themselves in the heather. Whitethroats scratched out their songs around the reserve while in the wooded areas willow warblers fluted and a garden warbler demonstrated why its song is sometimes described as a blackcap’s on steroids. The pool held so little water that it might be called a puddle but around it a few broad-bodied chasers and azure damselflies were in flight. Soon after we saw a pristine four-spotted chaser perched in close proximity. It was though a Dartford warbler that provided a finale circling us in a distraction flight as we inadvertently strayed too close to its nest. It was a productive morning with birds of excellent quality in a species list of 33.
Newlands Corner 12 May 2022
A party of nineteen assembled near the Newlands Corner visitor centre on a bright sunny morning, eagerly anticipating a walk in a location new for the group. Wrens, chaffinches, song thrushes and blackbirds were in good voice while a blue tit enjoyed the feeders in the revamped wild life garden. We began with a descent of Albury Down through thickets that were alive with singing whitethroats a couple of which gave fleeting views. A kestrel hovered in front of us while two buzzards could be seen circling high above. Two swifts swooped past closely followed by a house martin and some swallows. Chiffchaffs and blackcaps started to make their presence felt. The farm at the bottom of the Down was the home of some house sparrows. There we were alerted to the presence of a sparrowhawk by the shrill alarm call of two passing swallows. As we turned west a stock dove cooed out of sight and a green woodpecker mocked our inability to see it. By now we were hearing the repeated calls of a cuckoo (or possibly two). At the foot of St Martha’s Hill we could hear both goldcrests and firecrests but could not spot them among the leaf cover. After a refreshing climb to the church we rested to the song of a greenfinch on top of the weather vane. Towards the foot of the hill on the downwards path more firecrests were singing and one allowed a brief view as it flitted about. Back on the open meadow a skylark at last ascended pouring out its sweet song. Finally in the woods we heard the songs of a coal tit and a nuthatch followed by an unusual call from within a large yew; a bird dropped to the grounds and astonishingly was identified as a hawfinch, certainly the bird of the day. As a last hurrah two nuthatches appeared on the path ahead and could be seen gathering food for nestlings. We enjoyed a most productive day with a species list of 38.
Thursley Common 5 May 2022
Seventeen met in the Moat car park to be greeted by the call of a nearby cuckoo to confirm the arrival of Spring. The morning was though somewhat cool in the northerly breeze and few birds were singing. A brief scan of the pond yielded only a couple of mallards while song on our circuit of the south bog was confined to a whitethroat and a chiffchaff. Finally as we progressed a great spotted wood drummed for us and the liquid notes of a willow warbler, the first of eight that we encountered, could be heard. Stonechats perched for us and a Dartford warbler afforded us a glimpse. Then out of the blue a hobby appeared and proceeded to give a close display of its aerial prowess, the highlight of the walk. Things went quieter as we followed the path around the exterior of Parish Field. A redstart appeared briefly drinking from a muddy pool, our only view during the morning which was disappointing for a species that can usually be sighting in good numbers in the vicinity. We next headed uphill to the song of woodlarks from hidden perches and occasional displays. Another Dartford shot by and more stonechats appeared, some taking food to nests. We made the long walk back, much lengthened by the absence of boardwalks, accompanied by the distant calls of lapwings on Pudmore. Finally not one but three hobbies appeared and provided another aerial display. An increasingly enjoyable morning produced a list of 31 species.