Birdwatcher’s Diary No.108

Published on: 9 May, 2016
Updated on: 9 May, 2016

By Malcolm Fincham

During the last few weeks of April, the weather remained unseasonably cool, with Arctic air pushing down through the UK. In Surrey, although we weren’t getting the overnight snow some areas were getting, on occasions in the north, regular night-time frosts continued.

Canada geese with goslings. Click on all pictures to enlarge in a new window.

This however didn’t seem to be disrupting the resident species locally. A pair of Canada geese could be seen parading four gosling’s around Stoke lake.

Female mallard with chicks.

While a female mallard also proudly displayed her brood of nine young chicks.

Female kingfisher in flight.

A kingfisher continued to be busy, regularly flashing by, low across the water, as if on a mission.

Pike in Stoke Lake.

In the shallows of the lake I managed to catch sight of a pike, through the ripples in the water, possibly spawning, later than usual, due to the water still being quite cold.

Roe deer at Stoke Nature Reserve.

Close up of one of the roe deers.

Surprisingly, on one particular visit, three roe deer made an appearance, braving what was a quiet afternoon, in the way of dog walkers, to come down to the waters edge for a drink.

Common tern at Stoke Lake.

For me, April 23 welcomed the return of a common tern to the raft out on the lake.

Common tern awaits the return of its partner.

Spending much of its time fishing over the water, while awaiting the arrival of its partner.

Sedge warbler at Stoke Nature Reserve.

About the same time sedge warblers arrived and started letting their presence be known with their scratchy calls, with at least three heard by me so far around the reserve.

Reed warbler.

It wasn’t till a few days later that they were joined by the similar call of a reed warbler.

Swallows feeding over the sewage works.

The arrival of swallows continued to grow in number, with 50 or more seen feeding over the sewage works by Stoke Lock, where the flying insects were more abundant.

Swallow catching flying insects by Stoke Lock.

Although a few could be viewed over the lake and Stoke Lock.

Blackcap by Stoke Lake.

Blackcaps continued to be vocal all around the nature reserve. While chiffchaffs joined in with their repetitive call.

A visit to Staines Reservoir on April 24 added a few more ticks to the year list I was reluctantly keeping. Having agreed with Dougal to keeping one, it was actually quite fun to do in some ways, although I’m tempted to change it to just the ones I have photographed.

Little ringed plover at Staines Reservoir.

A little ringed plover was the first of my additions.

Grey Phalarope.

Attempting to pick out the grey phalarope that had been reported there wasn’t an easy task. Just a speck in the distance across the south basin. Only occasionally seen in the UK and usually out of summer plumage as they pass through on return from their breeding grounds in the Arctic. I Icould tell it was a phalarope as I watched through the scope. But as for it apparently coming into breeding plumage..? ‘Well…?’ Had to use my imagination for that one!

Drake scaup at Staines Reservoir.

Among the duck population in the north basin of the reservoir, a drake scaup could be seen, at a more appreciated distance.

Arctic terns at Staines Reservoir.

Soon after taking a few record shots of it, an impressive flock of over 60 Arctic terns appeared. Circling over the reservoir, a group of them took rest on one of the tern rafts, also among the flock we picked out three common terns and (briefly) a little gull.

With a cold breeze blowing, I was grateful when It was suggested to move on. And even more so to find I was still carrying a pair of gloves in one of the many pockets of my jacket.

Staines Moor is shaped by water.

Whinchat on Staines Moor.

Moving on just up the road to Staines Moor, we were able to add whinchat to this year’s sightings, with some good views of a male.

Female whinchat on Staines Moor.

As well as photos of the female too.

Lesser whitethroat on Staines Moor.

Listening to the abundant bird songs, we were able to pick out the sound of a lesser whitethroat.

Common whitethroat.

Although far less showy than its cousin, the common whitethroat, with much patience, one briefly appeared, just long enough to get a picture.

Green-veined white taking a liking to lichen.

By then a few sunny spells had warmed the air a little, just enough to bring a green-veined white butterfly out on the wing. Another first for the year!

Willow warbler on Whitmoor Common.

On April 25, I visited Whitmoor Common, I was welcomed there by a duet of sound from both willow warblers and chiffchaffs.

Chiffchaff on Whitmoor Common.

Although similar in looks they can easily be separated by song.

Linnet on Whitmoor Common.

Linnets were present and chattering among their selves in a reasonable sized flock, although unable to count the exact number, as they flew in and around the gorse bushes.

Greater-spotted woodpecker on Whitmoor Common.

In an area mixed with dead silver birch I was also able to stumble upon a greater-spotted woodpecker, as it watched down on me, as it wondered my next move.

Red kite with an inquisitive stare.

I was lining up a shot of a very obliging common whitethroat shortly after when I felt a presence of being watched, this time not by a woodpecker. Looking up, I couldn’t believe my eyes, circling low overhead, looking almost inquisitive in its nature was a red kite.

Meadow pipit on Whitmoor Common.

Although no sign or sound of the cuckoo there, as yet, across the heathland, one of their host species, the meadow pipit, were no doubt more pleased than I, of its absence.

Male stonechat takes a rest.

A delightful end to the day, for me, was that of a male stonechat as it posed nicely on a seat there, just long enough for a photograph.

I had heard reports that the nightingales had recently returned from Africa, on their summer vacation to Pulborough Brooks RSPB in West Sussex, with some reported to be showing exceptionally well. On April 28, Bob and I decided to pay a visit. Agreeing to go early seem to be the right choice, certainly on this occasion.

Short-eared owl. ‘What big eyes you have! All the better to see you with, my dear.’

Making a ‘bee line’ towards an area known there as ‘Adder Alley’ where they had been showing well, I was stopped in my tracks as Bob pointed out what he had seen. Sitting on a post, not more than a hundred yards away was a short-eared owl. Its eyes glistening in the bright early morning sunshine.

Having heard several nightingales already, though out of sight, deep within undergrowth. Fortune continued to shine our way on the reserve, when we arrived at ‘Adder Alley’.

Both sexes of nightingale are identical in appearance to the human eye.

Most males sing from dense cover where they are usually hard to see. Only occasionally will they sing from exposed perches.

Nightingale singing in ‘Adder Alley’ Pulborough Brooks.

This was far from the case with one particular male, who not only spent a while singing, in full view.

Europe’s nightingales all winter in sub-Saharan Africa as far east as Uganda.

But even decided it was OK to come out to spend sometime feeding in the grass around our feet. It felt disrespectful to walk away from it, having got more than our fair share of photos.

Little owls at Cobham.

Ending the month involved a short trip up the A3 to Cobham. This was acting on a tip-off about two little owls that often spend most of their day roosting in the cavity of an oak tree. Although at some distance from a public footpath, in a private field, with a pair of binoculars and a camera with a good zoom, I managed some reasonable pictures.

And even what I thought was a short, but amusing video, of one of them being nudged off its perch.

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