Birdwatcher’s Diary No.112

Published on: 19 Jun, 2016
Updated on: 17 Jun, 2016

By Malcolm Fincham

With little time to spare before departing for my summer break (of which I hope to put together in another report shortly) I managed to take some rather admirable photos of birds seen at a number of local locations in west Surrey.

It was all about being in the right place at the right time.

For all of our lovers of nature, this is not the best time of the year for the feint-hearted.

Those of us with empathy sometimes find it hard to understand the ways of nature – due to our inbuilt tendency of anthropomorphising over the wildlife we see.

We routinely, by our own nature, attributed human emotions and behavioural traits to wild as well as domestic animals.

We also naturally select the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’ among the birds and animals we see.

Several particularly considered ‘bad guys’ at this time of year are jays, listening out for fledglings calling from their nests.

A magpie, not a popular sight for many. Click on all pictures to enlarge in a new window.

Magpies are also among the corvid families looking out for the chance to savage nests for eggs and baby birds.

Male greater spotted woodpecker.

Greater spotted woodpeckers will peck out a large hole in a nest-box or tree bark to feed on its contents, while stoats and weasels as well as other mammals, have been known to raid nests too.

Peregine in a chalk quarry in the Surrey Hills.

The much admired peregrine I was watching in a chalk quarry recently doesn’t have any conscience about taking adult birds that are feeding their young.

All this sounds a bit morbid, but it’s all part of the circle of life.

I took a trip to Frensham Great Pond on a sunny afternoon with my family and adorable grandson, soon to be a year old and hopefully as keen as me in years to come in wildlife watching. This took me away from my birdwatching exploits for a short while at least.

However, with the heat of the sun and the packed beach getting too much for me, I was allowed a walk within the more sheltered, surrounding woodland.

Male common redstart alert to its surroundings.

Not far from ‘the madding crowd’ I felt more at home, listening to the birds singing. I also found nature in its prime as I watched a male and female redstart collecting insects.

Female common redstart also attending its young. Females are like pale washed-out males, the tail is also orange-red as are the underparts.

Not wishing to disturb, I kept some distance from them.

Male common redstart collecting insects.

Watching from a nearby footpath, I could see they were naturally very hesitant, no doubt looking out for any predatory eyes.

Male common redstart now safe to take flight.

My ultimate concern was, although I was a reasonable distance from them, they may be disturbed by my presence. However, unaware (or unconcerned by it) they flew back and forth with mouths full of insects to feed their young.

Another heathland visit just a few days later gave me an even better encounter.

At an undisclosed location, while enjoying an afternoon walk, I was taken by surprise when, by chance, I caught sight of an unusual looking bird perched in a silver birch tree.

Nightjars are most active at dawn and dusk when they hunt for moths, beetles and crane flies.

Having been wildlife spotting for a good few years now, my peripheral vision has adapted quite well. Nightjars usually conceal themselves too well for our human eyes, remaining incognito, even a predator would find it hard to spot one.

This one had concealed itself less well than most, giving me the rare opportunity to snatch a few photos of it.

Their elusive and nocturnal habits have been the basis for many myths and legends. In many European countries the nightjar is known as a ‘goatsucker’ after its Latin name, as they were believed to feed from goats milk. This was due to the fact that they were often found in close proximity to livestock; we now know that the attraction is the invertebrates associated with livestock.

Kingfisher in flight.

Another sighting locally was the delightful view of a bird that I have had more than my fair share of in recent times, a kingfisher flying low across a lake.

Kingfisher.

Enlightened by its iridescent, blue sheen as it flew upstream, as I watched from my car, I was momentarily confused by a ‘peeping’ sound that came from some bushes overhanging the water’s edge close by.

Three kingfishers in one photo. Bottom left, middle and top right.

On closer inspection I noticed not just one, but three young kingfishers sheltered, partially out of sight. Another generation of newly fledged birds making their way into the ‘big bad world’, hesitant, of what they might find.

Young kingfisher begging a meal from an adult.

Eventually, one popped out of its hiding place, flew the short distance across the lake, landing on a post where one of the adults was perched.

Although having been fortunate enough to have witnessed such ‘delights’ before, in years gone by, it was a first for me to have a camera with me to record such a fantastic event.

Swifts over Stoughton.

Another first for me was while I was supposedly working in my garden. Taking what I decided was a well-earned rest, I sat a while to watch the swifts as they broke the silence, screaming over the gardens of Stoughton in small groups. I then caught sight of a bird high in the sky beyond them.