Birdwatcher’s Diary No.123

Published on: 20 Nov, 2016
Updated on: 20 Nov, 2016

By Malcolm Fincham

The clocks going back one hour at the end of October always gives me a stark realisation that we will rapidly start to descend into the deepest depths of winter. And the arrival of November brought with it a cold feel to the air to herald such thoughts.

Guildford Cathedral viewed as mist forms across the field at the southern end of Stoke Lake. Click on all pictures to enlarge in a new window.

Pleasant, but shorter hours of sunlight, turned to mist as daylight dwindled rapidly around Stoke Lake, on my local ‘patch’ at the Riverside Nature Reserve.

Cobwebs in the mist.

A damp daybreak on several mornings shrouded by mist and fog highlighted cobwebs on the grass and trees.

Although atmospheric, it was once again a period of the year, limited in time of daylight hours, to get out and about with my camera.

Stoke Lake.

Footbridge at Bowers Lock.

The old road bridge across the River Wey Navigation near Burpham.

Beautiful sunlit days, however, gave a good opportunity for taking scenic photos, as I patrolled the area between Stoke and Burpham Locks.

Tufted ducks on Stoke Lake.

Tufted ducks were now increasing in number on the lake, counting 25 on one occasion. A high count for early winter.

Shoveller on Stoke Lake.

I was also surprised to see a shoveller on the lake on one of my visits. Normally only seeing them on the ‘flooded field’ near Stoke Lock.

Black-headed gulls on Stoke Lake.

Black-headed gulls had also moved in on the water, making it their winter playground.

Kingfisher at Stoke Lake.

Now and again there was a flash of ‘halcyon blue’, skimming over the surface of the lake – a kingfisher. Occasionally perching to rest, in the sallows at the water’s edge.

A view of autumn in the Surrey Hills.

Spending the most part of the first two weeks of November within the comfort of the Surrey Hills allowed me a daily sight of leaves as they turned in colour.

Surprisingly to some, Surrey is Britain’s leafiest county according to a recent, first ever complete tree count in England and Wales.

Autumn descends on St Martha’s Hill.

And with leaves turning at independent paces on a wide variation of species, that adorn our local countryside, added to the various vibrant views as the days ebbed by.

Looks like it’s going to be a good winter to see fieldfares.

Closer to hand, looking for wildlife sightings, I have noted already more fieldfares this winter, than I saw during last winter, having arrived from their Scandinavian summer breeding grounds on recent easterly breezes.

A redwing in a yew tree.

Flocks of redwing could now be seen, often intermingled with with the fieldfare, raiding trees of their berries.

Blackbird.

Our resident robins and blackbirds have also been joined by ones that breed in eastern Europe, occasionally being challenged for territories to feed.

Long-tailed tit.

Long-tailed tits could be seen flocked together.

Blue tit.

Goldcrest.

Often they are joined by blue tits and goldcrests as they work their way though the hedgerows.

Firecrest – a stunning little bird.

These flocks are always worth close inspection, as they may sometimes be joined by a treecreeper, or even, if lucky a smart looking firecrest.

Goldfinch feeding on teasel.

In areas where teasel can be found, now shedding their seeds, an invasion of goldfinches and linnets can often be found, feeding on their ovule heads.

Chinthurst Hill near Bramley.

Spending a couple of days visiting a few of the villages on the southern side of Guildford, I was able to add some more autumnal views to my ‘scenic photo’ collection.

Top of my list of findings had to be spotting my first ever sighting of a brown long-eared bat, probably disturbed from its daytime roost. On first glimpsing it as it flew past a little way in front of me, I though it was a wren, flying awkwardly. Even when it settled on the side of a barn I wondered why it seemed to be twitching its tail?

The brown long-eared bat is the second most common bat in Great Britain after the pipistrelles. As the name suggests it has exceptionally long ears.

I soon realised my original guess was far from correct. I was in fact looking at things the wrong way up! The ‘penny dropped’. I was actually watching, its twitching ears!

Female goosander on a private lake in Wonersh.

A few days later a friend told me of a female goosander that had spent a third day fishing in his private lake in Wonersh. With much kindness the owner welcomed my visit and allowed me a few record shots.

Mute swan leading her cygnets.

In addition, an adult mute swan came over to greet me, showing off her juvenile cygnets.

On Sunday, November 13, I was back to an area close by, in Bramley, with two good pals Bob and Dougal. Having indirectly picked up on a report from ‘The Thorncombe Street birder’ http://godalmingareabirds.blogspot.co.uk/ of a female red-crested pochard. Unfortunately, on our arrival it had flown, possibly spooked by the sight of the anglers fishing there.

As a compromise, I took them to a private lake that I knew of in the village of Shamley Green. Invited in for closer views of their private collection of wildfowl.

Male and female red-crested pochards.

We were able to view red-crested pochards at close quarters.

Male and female pochards.

Along with common pochard.

Black swan.

Black swans.

Female smew.

Smew.

Eider ducks.

And even a small group of eider ducks.

A welcomed sight to end our outing was a cup of tea and a slice of cake at a neighbouring house, while pointing out where regular views of kingfishers can be seen.

Little egret at Albury Mill Pond.

And although the ‘wintering’ little egret, hadn’t been seen there yet this winter, I was enlightened by sighting one just a few days later in the nearby village of Albury, at the mill pond there.

Albury Mill Pond – you might just be able to spot the little egret.

My personal highlight to a pleasant day – and an enjoyable rustic, rural ramble – had to be watching a red kite as it hunted low across a field in Frog Grove Lane at back end of Wood Street Village.

Red kite over Wood Street Village.

It allowed me a selection of photo-shots, as it glided majestically, using its long forked tail like a rudder, twisting it, as it changed direction, flying low overhead.

The red kite’s call is a thin piping, similar to but less mewling than the common buzzard. At signs of danger, a mother red kite will signal the young who will ‘play dead’ to the extent that a fox will believe them to be dead and leave them, thinking it can return to eat them later.

The red kite is a welcome addition to our countryside.

Although quite ominous-looking, red kites mainly eat dead animals (carrion), being too weak-footed to kill prey much larger than a rabbit. They fly low over open country, using their forked tails to steer.

Red kite with its forked tail.

Although often taking live prey by surprise rather than speed, I have often observed them perusing magpies that have picked up carrion. Making fast twisting chases to snatch the magpies meal.

Common buzzard flies low over Stoke Lake.

And as a comparison, a photo of a common buzzard.

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