Birdwatcher’s Diary No.223

Published on: 14 Jan, 2021
Updated on: 14 Jan, 2021

By Malcolm Fincham

On Christmas Eve there was an attempt of a return to warmer westerlies to break though. This was in the form of storm Bella, bringing with it more rain and gusts of winds in excess of 80mph across parts of the UK.

A change in the weather was upon us. By Sunday, December 27, a strong blocking high to the north of the UK was pushing a north-easterly breeze though the country. Temperatures had dropped to not much above freezing for the first time this winter, bringing a few overnight frosts to the southern counties.

For me, in Surrey, it was my first chance in a while to properly chill-out for a few days and recharge my batteries. Chill was the operative word as the temperatures had made a significant plunge down to low single figures.

A redwing in a tree in my neighbour’s garden. Click on all pictures to enlarge in a new window.

The colder weather had to my surprise brought a redwing to perch up in one of my neighbour’s trees. I could see it was eyeing up my holly tree, still full of berries, although too timid while I watched to come any closer.

Redwing feeding on berries.

Elsewhere, these winter visitors could still be seen feeding on berries. Their most coveted ones were diminishing by the day in rural districts, as they were joined by numerous other wintering thrushes feasting on their favourites.

As in recent months, on December 28, Britten’s Pond, off Salt Box Road, was one of my favoured choices for my daily exercise. There I could also relax for a spell and tune into the nature about me, while taking in the winter smell of petrichor from the decaying vegetation about me.

Attuned to recognising the sound of a kingfisher, it was not long before I was able to spot a resident wintering bird.

Kingfisher at Britten’s Pond.

Although suspecting there might be two in the area due to its ability of appearing in several areas of the lake in such a short space of time, the one I managed to photograph was most certainly a male, due to its black lower mandible. I was especially pleased to be able to point it out to several interested passers-by as it perched up in a tree at the water’s edge, on the far side of the pond.

Kingfisher at Britten’s Pond.

My best pictures of him, however, were the ones I took in the outlet pond there.

Cormorant (left) and a grey heron on the small island at Britten’s Pond.

Out on the small island there sat a grey heron and a cormorant. The cormorant could be seen, wings open, drying them off, having just spent a while in the water fishing.

Making the most of my break from work, I also took the advantage of the dry spell of weather by visiting Priory Pond, Reigate. This was to see and photograph a North American female ring-necked duck.

Ring-necked duck (directly below the black and white tufted duck) with wigeon to its lower left, on Priory Pond, Reigate.

It was looking quite settled there among the variety of species on show.

Shoveller on Priory Pond, Reigate.

These included seasonal shoveller and tufted ducks. As well as a number of wintering wigeon.

On my return, stopping off at Betchworth to view, though distantly, 45 wintering Russian white-fronted geese, that had also been recently reported. Eventually managing to pick them out beyond the groups of Canada and greylags present there across the River Mole.

Lone barnacle goose in Betchworth among Canada geese.

Also, picking out and much closer to view, a lone barnacle goose among some Canada geese. To my thoughts, it was quite possibly of feral origin.

One of the wartime pillboxes along the valley of the River Mole.

Following the meandering line of the river, wartime pillboxes could be viewed along the northern side of its bank, at equidistant as far as the eye could see.

Looking across the valley of the River Mole at Betchworth towards the North Downs.

There are fewer than 6,000 defensive pillboxes left out of 28,000 that were built in the Second World War in case of an invasion by the Nazis. And with every pillbox being unique to me, it makes preservation of them important as they represent one of the largest defensive strategies to have been successfully implemented in the British Isles.

A pair of mute swans fly in to settle by the River Mole.

A pair of mute swans circled the valley, lowering in altitude as they flew, eventually settling among the geese on the far side of the river.

Ring-necked parakeet. This one photographed at Priory Pond, Reigate.

The constant chattering and squawking sounds of ring-necked parakeets sounded about me. Among many species not indigenous to the UK, their habitats continue to expand into Surrey. It was still sad to hear recent talk of a cull of this species.

A few days later and closer to home, I was able to get some much more satisfying views of a much smaller group of “white-fronts”.

Apprehensive at the thought, on December 30 I took a nostalgic visit to Unstead Sewage Farm. Once again tentatively expecting to be saddened, as on my previous visit, by its now run-down state.

Having spent many hours birdwatching there in years gone by when the area was in its prime, I found myself humming the lyrics of Rod Stewart’s song Love Lived Here as I parked up.

My sombre thoughts were soon enlightened. It appeared that long overdue maintenance work was now in the progress. Many of the willows that had been choking the lagoons had been cut back. And a regeneration of the area appeared to be in development.

A blue tit and a great tit on feeders at Unstead Sewage Farm.

There was now even the return of a feeding station, close to a now refurbished hide (although presently still locked).

Nuthatch at Unstead Sewage Farm.

During the brief time I spent watching the various birds taking their turns to feed on the seed available to them, a nuthatch appeared. Although not a rarity to the area, always a delight for me to see.

Tentatively, it made its way down the tree where one of the feeders hung, although well aware of my presence, building up enough courage to help itself to some of its contents.

Russian white-fronted geese at Trunley Heath, Unstead.

Although the main reason for my visit was to see the three Russian white-fronted geese that had been reported there, it was nice to reminisce.

Green woodpecker at Trunley Heath, Unstead.

While looking out across the flooded field on the other side of Trunley Heath Road, a green woodpecker could be seen perched high up in a distant alder tree.

Little egret in the flooded field near Unstead Sewage Farm.

As recalling from a previous times there, a little egret could be viewed probing for food in the muddy soil.

Egyptian goose flies in over the flooded field near Unstead Sewage Farm.

An Egyptian goose flew in to settle on waterlogged field, where a small group of black-headed gulls were bathing. But it was ushered away noisily, by a pair of Egyptian geese already occupying the area.

Redwing at Unstead Sewage Farm.

Groups of redwings also gathered in the area, feeding on invertebrates in the surrounding muddy fields. While others perched up in leafless branches.

A small group of lesser redpolls could also be seen in the region, feeding on seeds from the cones of the alders.

Chiffchaff at Unstead Sewage Farm.

Chifchaffs had taken to an area near the sewage farm.

Goldcrest at Unstead Sewage Farm.

While a good number of goldcrests could be picked out within the tit flocks.

Within the fenced-off area where rotating biological contactors could be viewed, a large flock of pied wagtails could be seen. Among them were a few of their grey wagtail cousins

A crisp and frosty New Year’s Eve drew me off on a brief venture to Thursley Common. Meeting up at at the Moat car park with long time friend and Guildford Dragon News writer David Rose, for a casual walk across the heathland.

Heading it the direction of the Ockley Common area of Thursley, it wasn’t long before the chilled heathland air could be felt under our feet.

Winter colours of Thursley Common.

Although overcast, there was an atmospheric feel to its vista, with subtle colours revealed within its illumination.

Stonechat on Thursley Common.

A stonechat stood out well as it perched up in a nearby bush, in the contrasting colours of reed-grass and the still charred reminders of last summer’s fire.

With such a variety of little brown birds to be identified in the area at this time of the year, it needs a keen eye to establish one species from another as my friend David can confirm.

Meadow pipit on Thursley Common.

A group of meadow pipits were among the first of our sightings.

While several reed buntings, both male and female, could be viewed, perched up, awaiting a photograph.

Male reed bunting on Thursley Common.

Wading through the shallow surface water, still holding in a what was now a heightened water table now spreading out across the footpaths from previous weeks of rainfall, eventually we arrived in the area where both the recent sightings of the rustic bunting, as well as the now two little buntings had last been seen.

Little bunting on Thursley Common.

We were not left disappointed either. Although only noting one of the two little buntings that had recently been reported there.

Rustic bunting on Thursley Common.

While we were also able to add the rustic bunting to the day’s list.

Having once again succeeded in seeing more than 200 species of birds in a single year, most of which I had managed to capture on camera and still available to view in my archives of these reports, as well as photographing more than 40 species of butterfly, mostly within the Surrey borders.

Below average temperatures continued into the new year. Although hoping and wishing for a happy new year for all in 2021, having so far weathered the conditions that a Covid pandemic had brought with it.

Although reluctantly following its rules in respect of others, from my stance I was becoming ever more concerned. And not just for my state of mind and the restrictions to visit the countryside that I adore, but about the financial issues and metal stabilities of so many others, now struggling just to survive in such draconian times.

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