Birdwatcher’s Diary No.59

Published on: 16 Apr, 2014
Updated on: 18 Apr, 2014

By Malcolm Fincham

In contrast to last year, the first weeks of April began with a rapid transformation around our Surrey countryside with hedgerows and trees coming into leaf and flower almost too quickly for me to keep up with.  

A blue tit feeds among the spring the blossom.

With the addition of the clocks going forward, it has allowed me more time with longer daylight hours. Some long awaited settled weather, and the expected arrival of our first summer migrant birds locally, has added to my enthusiasm.

A view from the footbridge on the towpath to Triggs Lock.

A cycle along the towpath from Stoke Lock to Triggs Lock on April 1 turned out to be quite a productive, giving me my first sighting of a grass snake this year as it slithered out of the undergrowth before me into a reed bed. But it soon  disappeared before my eyes eluding my chance of a photo.

Common buzzard wth the usual sight of a corvid in pursuit.

It was shortly after my arrival a Triggs Lock that I was able to capture a shot of a common buzzard being harassed by a crow as they flew quite low past me.

Blackcaps now in full voice – This one pictured at Pulborough Brooks.

I also heard my first blackcap singing, which added to the incessant sound of chiff chaffing from what seemed like every direction of chiffchaffs. A sure sign to me that spring had arrived.

Common buzzards pairing up.

On my return as I approached Bowers Lock in Burpham, I spotted  another common buzzard. This one appeared  to be making a very awkward landing high in a distant oak tree. On closer inspection as I watched though my binoculars, I realised it was pairing up with another buzzard and was now sitting next to it looking quite content.

April 2 involved a trip to Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve in West Sussex; a nature reserve my regular readers will be familiar with.

A male bullfinch at Pulborough Brooks.

Although no sign still of any of our long distant migrants, I was pleased to capture my first picture of the year of one of the many blackcaps now singing there, as well as the delightful sight of a pair of bullfinch that can often be seen around the reserve.

Primrose at Pulborough.

It was also pleasing to see the primroses that were now out in flower.

A robin points the way at Pulborough.

Gadwall.

Looking out over the ‘brooks’ from the viewing hides a few teal and gadwall were still present. However, most of the wintering wildfowl had dispersed having migrated to their more northern breeding grounds.

A pair of greylag geese.

A pair of greylag geese, not considered as true wild geese in southern regions of the UK with most resident here all year, could also be viewed.

Moorhen already sits on its nest at Pulborough.

It was another encouraging sign of spring to see and get a picture of a moorhen now brooding on its nest.

Swallow.

On April 3 at Stoke Lake I spotted my first swallow of the year  and eight days earlier than last year, but only just long enough to get a record shot before it moved on.

A ‘brick red’ male and the more green-yellow female (below) high in a pine tree.

On Friday April 4 I was invited on a trip out to Thursley Common by Mark, a long time friend, who having read my previous report set me on a quest of finding him some crossbills,.

Being such an irruptive species, moving great distances to areas where there is a food source (availability of pine cones), I knew  this challenge was to be one more of luck than judgement.

Woodlark seen on Thursley Common.

Having got a few distant views of two curlew calling as they circled  over the heathland and a few good close views of woodlark as they sang that wondrous song of theirs (mentioned in my last report), we made our way to the tall pines at the southern end of  ‘Shrike Hill’ were I had last seen them on March 23.

As much to my surprise as his (although pretending not to be surprised at all), as we approached a small group of common crossbill flew over our heads.

These were soon joined by another group that flew high into the pines meeting up with some already feeding there. We counted more than 30 of both sexes, with some occasionally flying down to perch on a dead tree making for some pleasing pictures, including one showing a close view of how they get the name crossbill.

Ring-necked parakeet. Now often seen in areas around Guildford.

On our return we stopped off at his house in Normandy with the hope of viewing as many as six ring-necked parakeets that frequently visit his garden feeders.

A female blackbird already collecting food for its young.

Typically they didn’t show up in the hour or so I waited, but it was still good to see the wide variety of birds that did visit and to watch a female blackbird as she collected worms to take back to her young.

A view across Whitmoor Common.

Visiting Worplesdon’s Whitmoor Common Later that day, I heard my first willow warbler of the year, singing in a large clump of silver birch trees having made its epic journey back from Africa.

Unfortunately for me, possibly because it had only just arrived, it was too mobile and sang too sporadically for me to track down close enough to photograph.

A linnet – one of a small group regularly seen on Whitmoor Common.

Being such a pleasant  evening, I was able to take a few scenic shots and even took a few shots of one of a small group of linnets and meadow pipits that reside there.

Meadow pipit perches on small pine on Whitmoor Common.

Another evening cycle was on the evening of April 5  to Triggs Lock. I was taken by surprise by alarge bird of prey flying over the river close to the footbridge in view of Send Church.

A red kite flies over the river near Send Church persued by a corvid and a parakeet.

It was a red kite, being pursued by a corvid and several ring-necked parakeets that are now often seen locally and definitely seem to be growing in numbers. I was also get a photo of one as it perched in a tree across the river.

Fox cub – possibly its first venture in daylight.

Fox cubs are normally born in March. By three to four weeks old they are renown to wander from their den even during daylight hours, as with the one I’ve shown in the picture I was lucky to capture on April 8 in Shamley Green.

The mother was unlikely to be far away, but they will stay out of sight all the time a human is present, so it’s always advised to enjoy the moment and then leave them be.

On Chinthurst Hill in Wonersh  a small group of five sows can once again be seen. These have arrived over a month later than last year. They haven’t migrated here of course (although they do say ‘pigs may fly’) they have been introduced to the bracken, brambles and acorns in the surrounding area.

April 12 and bluebells are starting to flower.

On April 10 reports came through that there had been a ‘fall’ of nightingale in southern regions of the UK. This included four heard singing at Pulborough Brooks, putting the venue high on my list of places to visit in the next week or so, and also a good  time to visit some bluebell woodlands now they are starting to come into flower.

Orange tip butterfly.

With the sun still shining, orange tip butterflies could now be seen emerging, joining in with the brimstone butterflies we started to see last month.

Brimstone butterfly.

On Saturday April 12 I took one last trip to take a photo of Stoke Lake before writing this report.

Tufted duck seen at Stoke Lake.

Although a small group of tufted duck could still be seen on the lake, eight swallows and two sand martins could be seen over the sewage works.

Grey wagtails now seen collecting food for their young.

There was also a grey wagtail there collecting food for its young, and with a sighting of a hobby too, summer now only seems a breath away.

Share This Post