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Fourteen of us met up for a summer walk around Medmerry on an initially cool day which warmed up considerably by the afternoon.  At the Earnley car park we soon encountered the first of many showy Yellowhammer of the day, quickly followed by a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker.  The wildflower margins of the fields were alive with butterflies-numerous pristine Painted Ladies, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Red Admirals and Common Blues surrounded us.  We also saw a single Small Tortoiseshell. The surrounding fields held large flocks of Stock Dove and Starling and Linnets flew around the gorse and sat on top of the bushes.  A Whitethroat was seen skulking around the scrubby vegetation.  Raptors were represented by the occasional Buzzard and a Kestrel.  We saw a small number of distant birds in a hedge which appeared to be Corn Buntings, although we were unable to identify for certain.

Approaching the Stilt Pools some of us were lucky enough to see a Clouded Yellow butterfly before it flew off, and the area had a continuous stream of Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins in flight, as well as the occasional Swift.  The pools themselves contained Mallard, Canada Goose, and Coot with some Avocet, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.  A couple of Mediterranean Gulls were picked out from the Black Headed Gulls, and eventually three Common Sandpiper, a lone Dunlin, a single Redshank and one Greenshank were observed.  We began to see Common Terns and Sandwich Terns flying across as we got nearer to the beach and meanwhile Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings gave fleeting glimpses flitting about in the reeds.

After a much-needed lunch stop on the beach we returned, but this time took the path along the top of the embankment looking over the marshland.  We were able to add Curlew, Shelduck, and Lesser Black Backed Gull to our growing list, and were delighted to see a Dartford Warbler at close range flying around the gorse near the path.  Along with common birds such as House Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit, Magpie and Woodpigeon, by the time we arrived back at the cars we had seen a total of 51 different species of bird.

Eleven of us met in the heat of a sweltering day for a walk around Sheepleas focusing on flowers and butterflies.

Just a few of the highlights in terms of the wild-flowers were as follows.  Three types of Campanula were seen:  Nettle leaved Bellflower, Clustered Bellflower, and Harebell.  We stopped to look at a patch of Hemp Agrimony which was quite a contrast to the smaller Agrimony with a yellow flower.  Further along the path there was some flowering Deadly Nightshade.  In places there were fragrant patches of wild herbs such as Marjoram, Wild Basil, Wild Thyme to be enjoyed.  We studied some Wild Clematis or ‘Traveller’s Joy.’  A total of 47 different plants and flowers were recorded in all-a full list is available from the ‘walks’ email.

Despite the heat and recent lack of rain, the flower meadows looked lush and were alive with butterflies.  We saw Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-Washed Fritillary, Green Veined White, Large White, Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Ringlet, Small Heath, and Common Blue.  The list was added to almost at the end of the walk when a single White Admiral flew very close to some of us in the group giving close range if fleeting views.

Birds as expected were few and far between, but we did see a circling buzzard in the sky, and a Kestrel perched and flying.  A Stock Dove could be seen on a tall tree and could be heard singing.  As we made our way around our circular route, we saw a Robin and, pausing to admire the butterflies on a Buddleia we also noticed a Chiffchaff.  At this point there were also numerous fledgling Great and Blue Tits in their ‘washed-out’ juvenile plumage.

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.

A group of thirteen of us set off from Newlands Corner Discovery Centre into a stiff breeze but a blue-skied horizon, descending to our first stop on the slope below. Standing beneath our first of many singing Chaffinch, we had immediate sightings of several Linnet, a perched Whitethroat and a Kestrel flypast. Garden Warblers & Blackcaps sang out either side of our further descent, including a smart male of the latter perched above the blackthorn scrub as we passed by. Two more Kestrels arrived, possibly a pair, so the first interloper was swiftly seen off to hunt elsewhere.

The normally cereal-filled field above New Barn Farm was a delight of sown wildflowers – Crimson Clover, Purple Vetch, Sow Thistle and Lacy Phacelia amongst others.  The flowers were busy with bees and butterflies including Green-Veined White and a rather washed out Painted Lady. Numerous Skylarks darted about, ascending in song, and two Buzzards circled low overhead as we progressed to the farmyard. The farmhouse & buildings were buzzing with House Sparrows and a couple of Dunnocks sang from the hedgerow, accompanied by a noisy, resident Cockerel. Turning right to ascend along a sandy bridleway, a distant Wood Lark was heard, two more Linnets sighted and a solitary Swallow darted above the long grass. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew between oak trees & one of three Green Woodpeckers heard in total yaffled nearby.

Crossing to the St Martha’s side, we heard our first singing Firecrest. Further along a noisy GS Woodpecker nestling demanded to be fed as its parent pipped nearby. Robin & Wren song accompanied us up the slope towards the church, as well as a clattering of Jackdaws in the treetops. After a short pit stop at the summit to take in the view & catch a breeze in the now warm heat of the full sun, we descended through flowering rhododendrons into the welcome shade of towering sequoias, pausing to enjoy the songs of several Firecrests & Goldcrests. A Chiffchaff was spotted alongside a busy Goldcrest parent with a beak full of goodies. Nearby a Raven, possibly a juvenile spotted on earlier walks, noisily cronked and a pair of Stock Doves cooed from above.

Leaving the shade of the conifers, we started our slow climb back towards Newlands Corner, out onto the chalk grassland slope & back into the woods ending at the Yew Project board walk. Along with the usual array of other woodland birds (& their fledged young), our tally of species seen and/or heard was a respectful thirty three.

Eleven of us had a glorious walk around RSPB Pulborough Brooks surrounded by birdsong on International Dawn Chorus Day (although we had started considerably later than dawn.) 

From the first viewpoint near the visitors centre we were able to see the first of many Whitethroat with it’s scratchy song sitting on top of a bramble.  Two Mistle Thrush were on the path and the fence.  We could already see some Avocet wading in the distant pools.  Pheasant and Magpie were in the fields, and a pair of Stonechat flitted from perch to perch in the rough grass.  Linnets could also be seen on top of nearby trees.

Walking down the Zig Zag path we could hear a Nightingale but were not able to see the bird.  A Chiffchaff was singing as was a Song Thrush and both posed well for us.  We detected the song of Garden Warbler, but again were not able to see one.  We watched a pair of Treecreeper and Great Tits attending a nest in a crevice in a tree trunk.  Our luck then changed as we approached Fattengates Courtyard – we spotted a Nightingale singing from a perch on a dead tree in full view. Everyone had extended views and we soon saw another clearly in the courtyard itself.  A Goldcrest was singing in the conifers behind us but could not be seen.  Meanwhile, in the pond, several dragonfly nymphs and a damselfly nymph were emerging from their exuvia and beginning to stretch their adult wings.  They seemed to be Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly and Large Red Damselfly.  Nearby an adult Female Broad Bodied Chaser was resting in the brambles in the sun.  We watched a large raptor soaring above us and the consensus was that this was a juvenile White-tailed Eagle!

West Mead hide was fairly quiet, with a few Canada Geese, some with goslings, Lapwing and their little chicks just about visible in the reeds.  There were two Avocet wading and feeding in the pool.  Moving on to Winpenny Hide there were at least eight Greenshank, a dozen or so Black Tailed Godwit, six Ringed Plover, together with Redhsank.  Eventually the reported Wood Sandpiper was located amongst the Godwit flock.  Ducks were represented by Mallard, Shelduck, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Shoveler.  Canada , Greylag and Egyptian Geese  were all present.  Whilst watching them, three Hobbies circled high above the Brooks.  On emerging from the hide the sun had come out and we were able to see a couple of adders basking on their favourite corner.  Further down the path most of the group had views (either perched or flying over,) of the Cuckoo that had been calling since our arrival.

At Hangar View we added Little Grebe, Little Egret, Coot, Moorhen, Wigeon, Teal to our growing list.  Some of the group decided to return to the Visitors Centre rather than carrying on to Nettley’s Hide, but those of us who continued were rewarded for our efforts by a showy Sedge Warbler outside the hide, and some little ‘humbug’ Shelduck ducklings with their parents.  There were also numerous Hirundines here, as far as we could tell mostly Sand Martins.  On our route back we noticed that the Dragonflies had all fully emerged leaving their empty skins behind in the reeds in the pond.  We had seen a respectable total of 60 species of bird and had a most enjoyable morning.

Eighteen members came to Frensham Little Pond on a warm spring morning. The walk started well with a foraging Mistle Thrush by the car park. We were surrounded by bird song – Blackbird, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin and Blackcap. The lake was fairly quiet with two Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks, Coot, a Grey Heron and a female Mallard with a single duckling. A Reed Warbler was heard. A Woodlark was singing high above us, eventually landing in view at the top of a fir tree. 

The heathland was also quiet apart from several busy pairs of  Linnets, a Stonchat and a displaying Skylark. A few people spotted a lone Swallow. Buzzard and Red Kite were both seen. As we returned to the lake there was a late burst of activity. A female Stonechat appeared, closely followed by a male Dartford Warbler which perched obligingly on a flowering gorse bush. A Cetti’s Warbler called. Somone saw a reddish bird fly and land on a distant fir tree. It was difficult to locate, but was identified as a male Crossbill and eventually everyone was able to get ‘scope views. A patch of reeds gave a brief glimpse of two more Reed Warblers. A Mute Swan and a Greylag goose brought the morning total to forty species.