Category: Walks

Eleven intrepid members braved intermittent showers, mud and flooded paths at Papercourt. At the start a Sparrowhawk, seen by a few, sped along the towpath ahead of us. There was a distant flock of Siskins feeding in the alders across the canal and a Kestrel was perched nearby. Black headed-gulls had abandoned the lake in favour of the flooded fields, joined by Canada, Greylag and Egyptian geese. A Little Owl suddenly flew in to the willows and perched long enough for views through telescopes. A male Reed Bunting sat on a bush. A Song Thrush serenaded us and a few Redwings were seen. The lake was quiet, but there were a few ducks including Tufted and Pochards plus Great and Little Grebes and a Grey Heron. Heavier rain forced us back to the cars, but 38 species was a good total given the conditions.

The light was beautiful on an icy cold but sunny January day as thirteen of us assembled in Leysdown on Sea on The Isle of Sheppey.  There were many waders in evidence along the shore with Turnstone, Redshank, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, and Sanderling busily flying to and fro.  There were Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, and Common Gull on the water and the posts, and five Great Crested Grebes and some Teal drifted along.  A group of Common Scoter flew in front of us at some distance.

We transferred to the entrance track to the Swale Nature Reserve and in the fields opposite the sea we began to notice the first of many Golden Plover and Marsh Harrier.  There were also huge flocks of distant geese which we thought were Brent Geese.  Reaching the car park for the marshland there were numerous Reed Bunting in the scrub, and a Kestrel hovering over the fields.  A lone Red-Legged Partridge was also spotted.  As the path out to the sea was under frozen water we opted to walk along the higher path at the rear of the marsh area.  After some time we turned back to return to the cars, adding Stonechat to our list along the way.

We then transferred to the RSPB Capel Fleet raptor viewpoint for our picnic lunches, pausing on the way to watch the flock of Corn Bunting by the road.  There were large numbers of swans present in the fields here, with Mute Swan, Bewick’s Swan and Whooper Swan all represented.  Hundreds of Lapwing were in the grass too and all of us marvelled about the sheer density in numbers of Marsh Harrier present, mostly flying but sometimes perched on the ground or in bushes.  A pair of Kestrels flew around the large stack of hay bales.  A Peregrine was briefly seen before flying off and in the nearby reed beds a Water Rail squealed and a Cetti’s Warbler sang explosively.

Some people called it a day at this point and headed for home or the nearby Elmley reserve, leaving a smaller group to head for the Church at Harty Ferry.  A short walk towards the sea here resulted in sightings of around 400 Brent Geese feeding in a field, 30 plus Fieldfare, and hundreds of Chaffinches in the hedgerows.

One final stop was the causeway at the Harty Ferry Inn overlooking the salt marsh to try for a Short Eared Owl (which unfortunately did not oblige.) However, in the process we added Great White Egret, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Avocet, Shelduck and Wigeon to the walk list for the day.  As the sun set over the sea, we had finished with a total of 52 species seen for the day.

28 people braved the suddenly cold conditions for the walk at Riverside to see in the New Year.  It was good to begin getting common birds such as Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Blackbird for our lists from the car park.  A female Chaffinch posed on top of one of the Alder trees by the canal and a few of us got a view of a lone Siskin.  A couple of Moorhen could be seen and groups of Long Tailed Tit moved through at intervals.

Cormorants flew by and a Heron was in one of the fields.  A distant Stonechat perched on some vegetation.  An Egyptian Goose perched in an unusual position high in a tree.  We had splendid views of a Buzzard perched up and a Red Kite soared overhead.  Groups of Mallard swam around.  A Kingfisher flashed across the water and a couple of Snipe flew in. Walking further along the canal we saw Grey Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called and did a characteristic undulating flight into a clump of trees.

The number of Gulls was impressive as we neared the Recycling Centre, with hundreds of Herring Gulls and Black Headed Gulls circling around.  The lake past Stoke Lock was fairly quiet and partly frozen but there was a Chiffchaff in the hedgerow and a couple of Teal were tucked up in fallen branches along the river here.

We saw a small group of Redwing as we negotiated the boardwalk along with Dunnock and Wren.  Arriving at the lake there were Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe and Coot.   We were also able to pick out a lone Common Gull and a couple of Lesser Black Backed Gull loafing around on the water.  Along with the ever-present Magpie and Carrion Crow, by the end of the walk we had seen a total of 38 species.

A cold but sunny day at Frensham Great Pond was a welcome contrast to the recent rain.  Fourteen of us were treated to Robin and Chaffinch in the car park.  As the mist rose from the pond, we could make out Great Crested Grebe (one pair even displaying to each other).   There were a pair of Little Grebe, and rafts of sleeping Tufted Duck and Pochard further out.  One or two Gadwall and Wigeon gave variety to the ducks and Black Headed Gull were dotted around and a Lesser Black Backed Gull flew over.

In the holly bushes along the path there was a large group of Redwing chattering to each other, only giving brief views as the flew restlessly in to feed on the berries before flying away again.  We continued to see Redwing throughout the walk.  One or two Blackbirds and Goldfinch were also seen.

Walking around the outflow stream we saw Goldcrests, one at very close range displaying, and a Treecreeper.  Two Egyptian Geese were very vocal.  A Kingfisher flashed across the water at one point, and another perched up briefly.  As we continued near the Hotel, we saw some Siskin and mixed Tit flocks comprising Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits.  Three of the group had sightings of Firecrest but they were largely staying out of view for most of us.  Meanwhile the previously distant Pochard were now closer and looked glorious in the sunshine.

Unfortunately, there were no heathland birds to be seen as we approached the car park again, but 36 species were seen in all during the morning, and it had been a pleasant way to bring the walks programme to an end for 2025.

Fourteen of us braved the rather forbidding rain first thing in the morning to travel to West Wittering.  However, the weather brightened up considerably during the day, and even from the car park we began to see groups of Avocet and skeins of Brent Geese flying overhead.  The adjacent fields held Lapwing and the car park Robin and Pied Wagtail came to say hello.

Walking out onto the exposed salt marsh on the west side of Snowhill Creek there were Curlew and Redshank and lots of small passerines such as Stonechat, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet were active in the low vegetation.  Further out still we took in the different waders in front of us-a large group of Avocet again, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, more Redshank, one or two Golden Plover were joined by more reinforcements.  Grey Plover and both Black Tailed and Bar Tailed Godwits were in evidence.  A pair of Red Breasted Merganser worked the shoreline and gave good views and a couple of Sandwich Terns flew around, diving for food in spectacular fashion.  Once around the headland eventually we saw four Great Northern Divers at some distance and watched them battling against the wind and tide.  On a distant spit of land we could just make out the shape of a Peregrine perched on the ground surveying the goings on.  We also saw one or two Red Throated Divers flying low over the water here.  Walking back along the beach a lovely party of Sanderling ran about in front of us.

We had some lunch back at the car park after which we walked along the other side of the creek to view the freshwater pools, adding Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard and Moorhen to our list in the process.  A lone Greenshank was picked out.  We heard the explosive song of a Cetti’s Warbler and in the distance suddenly a Grey heron, Buzzard and Kestrel were all in the air together.  We puzzled over the identification of some large Gulls which on reflection were probably immature Great Black Backed Gulls.  The tide was still high although falling and a couple of the Great Northern Divers had ventured nearer to us giving splendid views.

By the time we arrived back at the cars, together with ever present common birds such as Black headed Gulls, Cormorants and Blackbirds, we had amassed a grand total of 53 species in all for the day.

Fifteen of us enjoyed a dry, mild, slightly overcast excursion to the WWT London Wetland Centre where we encountered large numbers (probably forty-five upwards) of Redwing taking advantage of the bumper crop of red berries.  As ever, Parakeets were very much in evidence.  However, the reported Bitterns, Snipe and Water Pipit failed to appear for most of us.  The hides provided excellent views of good numbers of waterbirds including Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Grey Heron, and Canada, Greylag and Egyptian Geese.  A pair of Great Crested Grebes performed a mating dance which perhaps was rather unusual for mid-November?  Numerous Gulls loafed and preened on the lagoons, accompanied by a few Lapwings, Starlings, Crows and Jackdaws.  Keen-eyed observers added lots more sightings to our list, including Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Siskin, Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff-even a Kingfisher!  A certain keen photographer in the group returned to one of the hides and proved that there was a Bittern present all along by getting a series of marvellous shots of it.  Our final total for the day was 55 species.

Ten members met at Kingley Vale car park on the 6th of November under heavy clouds. 

From the car park we got our first Kestrel, Robin, and Pigeon. Along the path to the Yew tree woods we saw Blackbirds which I understand from the group have become quite a rare sight in Surrey recently. There were about 4 males and 1 female in Kingley. The group did not have to wait long before spotting Red-legged Partridges. Once in the woods we were lucky to have 20 Redwings fly over our heads and then land, which gave us a chance to study them.

The clearing which was a planned stop at to give us a chance of finding the Hawfinches was roped off but luckily enough we found a way around this and were rewarded instead with views of a distant Sparrowhawk. Also we observed Kites, Buzzard and Ravens. Once back on the main track some of the group saw a Marsh tit and a Hawfinch. Both Green and Spotted Woodpeckers were seen along with 3 Goldcrests. For some reason the group had other ideas about climbing to the top to view the Devil Jumps! With the gold, yellows, and reds of the autumn leaves, the family of 4 Sika deer, and the total of 31 species of birds, a successful return to Kingley Vale for Guildford RSPB after many years absence from the programme.

Lunch was had in the carpark along with freshly brewed coffee. There is always a man in a van that sells coffee here to the local dog walkers. After lunch we all made it back to the Bulls head pub. Highlights at Fishbourne Creek were soggy feet, good numbers of Redshanks, Grey Plovers , Curlews, Black Headed Gulls, 1 Yellow Legged Gull, Turnstones, many Wigeon, and a couple of Teal making some welcome additions to the list.

Fourteen of us met in the car park at Moor Green Lakes.  The first sighting was what turned out to be a Mistle Thrush sitting on top of a tree in The Paddock.

Taking the recently opened path around the New Workings, we quickly saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker and could hear a Nuthatch calling.   Several Redwing flew over and one sat more obligingly in a tree.  Canada and Greylag Geese flew noisily overhead at intervals and Jays were very active. We came to a pond which held Mallard, Teal, and Gadwall and as we watched them a Water Rail could be heard calling.  Two Stonechat flitted around in the grass and on the path.  A bridge over a ditch was our next stop and in a small dead tree numerous passerines were landing and taking to the skies again.  On closer inspection the birds were a selection of Meadow Pipits, Goldfinch and Redpoll.  There was also a large flock of Redpoll (estimated to be about 100 birds) in a nearby birch tree which also contained a single Siskin and a single Brambling. Unsurprisingly, a Sparrowhawk was seen chasing some of the finches at one stage. A Kestrel also gave some good views at various stages throughout our walk.

We heard a Goldcrest and saw a flock of Long Tailed Tits as we walked further around the path. The circular route took us back to our more usual view over the water and here we could make out a Great White Egret and a surprise lone male Pintail.  Two Egyptian Geese flew in as we watched and two Little Egret flew overhead.  Some of the group picked out a Snipe which unfortunately disappeared before everyone had a chance to see it.  There was a brief sound of a Skylark singing although no sighting of one. The usual collection of Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull and Cormorants were out on the water. A group of Shoveler worked their way down one of the channels.  We joined the path by the river Blackwater from here and continued to the viewpoint along Grove lake where large numbers of Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Coot could be seen along with one or two Great Crested Grebe.

Unfortunately the Tawny Owl was not in it’s usual tree nearby and so we returned to the car park stopping briefly at the Colebrook Lake hide which added Lapwing and Little Grebe to the list taking us to a total of 55 species in all.

16 members met at RSPB Pulborough Brooks a day earlier than the scheduled walk due to forecast adverse weather.  Fortunately we had dry and calm conditions all morning. From the visitors centre we were able to see two Stock Dove in a dead tree and a Stonechat in the nearby grass.  As we set off along the zig zag path a few Redwing flew over.

We opted to walk to the West Mead hide first and were met with the sight of no water in the scrapes here!  As a consequence there were few birds.  The biggest attraction were some distant Marsh Harriers flying low above the marshes and a Buzzard circling in the sky.  At the Winpenny Hide there were large numbers of Lapwing and groups of Wigeon and Teal.  One or two Shoveler were also present.  A Merlin shot by in a flash and some of the group had fleeting views of it.

At Hangar View we eventually picked out a White Tailed Eagle sitting on the ground in a distant field.  It sat here for some time before flying off, giving some great views through telescopes.  There were Greylag, Canada and Egyptian Geese.  After a while we made out three Ruff out in the margins of the water, and a small Pipit was confirmed to be a Water Pipit after some observation.

Making our way back to the starting point we stayed a while in Fattengates Courtyard enjoying the Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches and House Sparrows around the feeders.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker put in an appearance on a nearby tree.  It had been a very pleasant walk and by the end we had seen 32 species in all.