Birdwatcher’s Diary No.47

Published on: 15 Oct, 2013
Updated on: 15 Oct, 2013

By Malcolm Fincham

Although I was still holding on to some late summer warmth and sunshine in our Surrey countryside during the first few days of October, I decided on a mid morning walk on Sunday 6th along the towpath that leads from Woking Road to Stoke Lock.

Horse chestnut leaves affected by leaf minor larvae.

Although most trees were still green in leaf, some were beginning to show signs of change – none more so than the horse chestnut. However, this was not just down to a seasonal change.

Horse chestnut rapidly losing leaves due to leaf minor larvae.

Affected by leaf minor, a small moth larvae which mines through the leaves of trees (specifically the horse chestnut) causing them to turn brown and die earlier than they should. Click here for more details.

While taking a few pictures of a chestnut tree which stands alongside the opposite bank to the towpath, a flash of halcyon blue passed by me low along the river. Halcyon being the ancient name for the kingfisher, of which in ancient times was thought to nest out at sea and able to calm the waters – hence halcyon days! Click for more details.

These birds are very territorial throughout the year, and with their breeding season over the male and female take up separate territories.

I have often seen this one recently along this stretch of river as well as by Stoke Mill. With the addition of young about at the moment, who haven’t had to endure the coming winter, it’s probably the best time of the year to get the chance to see a kingfisher.

Another lucky shot of a male kingfisher, this time in Shamley Green.

And just a few days later on October 8, while visiting some backwaters in Shamley Green, and while taking a few moments out to eat an apple, I heard the distant kingfisher call and caught sight of it at the far end of the lake.

With a short spell of patience, I watched as it flew in my direction perching on both a post and a branch overhanging the water close by.

Having already put my jacket over my head in anticipation for disguise, I slowly raised my small bridge camera (that I always have with me) and had the great fortune of snatching a few pictures of this male kingfisher, distinguishable by its pure black bill.

Click here for a short video clip.

Orange mandible on the beak of a female kingfisher.

Continuing my Sunday stroll along the to path past Stoke Lock cottage and out along the boardwalk toward Stoke Lake, I met up with a fellow photographer and keen wildlife observer, James Sellen, a member of The Surrey Bird Club. He is known for the quality pictures he submits to the club’s magazine.

Grass snake pictured by James Sellen.

James had just seen and taken a few pictures of a grass snake as it swam from under the walkway out into the small pond. He was kind enough to point it out to me as it swam between the reeds at the far bank.

Another view of the grass snake. Picture by James Sellen.

While observing it, and taking a few pictures for my own records, between us we managed to pick out at least another two grass snakes within the same area of water.
I am grateful for his original observations and for the pictures seen here.

Click here for more information on grass snakes in Surrey.

Comma butterfly near Stoke Lake.

Also seen that day within the same location were at least four species of butterfly. I counted  peacock, comma, speckled wood and even a brimstone enjoying the warm sunshine; while three types of birds of prey enjoyed displaying in the thermals overhead.

A sparrowhawk flies over.

These included common buzzard. as well as the regular sighting of the kestrel and the sparrowhawk.

Looks like a male common darter dragonfly.

A small variety of dragonfly could also still be seen along the borders of both river and lake.

By October 9 the weather had turned much cooler. As a stiff breeze started to blow from the north, it heralded the first official Surrey influx of redwing from Scandinavia.

Sightings of the autumn arrival were reported with 880 redwings counted flying over Richmond Park late morning on October 10, with some birdwatchers in neighbouring counties of Hampshire and Bedfordshire reporting numbers in excess of 2,000.

Personally, I was quite content with the 30 or more I saw flying over as I drove through Shalford the following morning.

View across Stoke Lake on October 6 with most trees still green.

A week later on October 12 and leaves now starting to change colour at Stoke Lake.

With the continued drop in temperatures and rain arriving seemingly at my only available times of getting out, I was limited to a short walk around Stoke Lake on Saturday, October 12, to see the difference a week makes.

And finally, probably the most noticeable signs of our on-coming winter is the changing attire of our strangest and most peculiar species of critters -the postman.

Possibly a dying race with the oncoming tide of privatisation, with sadly an expectant eventual demise of daily sightings especially in our rural areas in this cut-throat age. But nonetheless, many posties are now noticeably changing from shorts into their winter plumage of long trousers – no doubt a far more acceptable sight for many an onlooker!

Unusual feather pigmentation on a carrion crow seen by Stoke Lock Cottage.

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