Birdwatcher’s Diary No. 275

Published on: 18 Mar, 2023
Updated on: 18 Mar, 2023

By Malcolm Fincham

Cold weather was never too far away during the first weeks of March.

Yellow snow warnings had become a regular announcement by the Met Office mostly in northern regions of UK, giving me some concerns whenever I heard the mention.

Being of a certain age I couldn’t help recalling a 1976 Frank Zappa song lyrics whenever the weather forecast mentions such events.

“Watch out where the huskies go, And don’t you eat that yellow snow”.

By March 8 the cold white stuff had crossed the Surrey border overnight bringing our first snowfall of the year.

St Mary’s churchyard, Perry Hill, Worplesdon.

At St Mary’s churchyard at Perry Hill, Worplesdon, as the snow had already begun to turn to sleet, I was at least able to capture a few pictures as it began to thaw.

Firecrest, Worplesdon.

A firecrest continued to attempt to feed about the hollies there.

Redwings in the snow.

While several redwings snuffled about in the soft soil beneath the snow, seeking worms.

Kingfisher, Brittens Pond.

Still in the parish of Worplesdon, at Britten’s Pond, off Salt Box Road, on the same dull and overcast day the regular sighting of a male kingfisher continued.

Lesser black-backed gulls, Britten’s Pond.

On the pond among the half a dozen or so black-headed gulls still present a pair of lesser black-backed gulls had made an appearance.

Cormorant, Britten’s Pond.

A few cormorants on occasions continued to circle the pond, although put off from landing by sighting of anglers fishing the water.

Goldfinches, Britten’s Pond.

Still in a flock, a group of goldfinches briefly settled atop of a weeping willow on one of the islands.

Egyptian goose, Britten’s Pond.

A pair of Egyptian geese continued to make regular visits.

Canada geese.

While several pairs of Canada geese were actively chasing each other around the pond.

Long-tailed tit, with feather. And below a nest.

A pair of long-tailed tits I had been observing continued to fly back and forth with nesting material and had almost completed their nest building operation.

Female kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

My personal highlight, as always, was to get a few photos of the male kingfisher that had been wintering there. An added bonus was the delight to see and get a few photos of a female kingfisher that had arrived within a few days of the middle of the month, recognised by her orange lower mandible.

Regularly, they could be viewed as they skimmed like miniature Exocet missiles over the water, calling as they flew, showing another sign that spring had taken another step forward and their territories had merged, indicating the start of their breeding season.

Wigeon on the scrape, near Stoke Lock.

At the Riverside Nature Reserve near Burpham during the first weeks of the month, looking out to the scrape near Stoke Lock a small group of five wintering wigeon could still be viewed.

Gadwall on flooded scrape near Stoke Lock.

Unusually, none of the usual shoveler ducks were present, while as many as four gadwall could be viewed.

Grey wagtail singing by the river.

Along the river a pair of grey wagtails had made a return from their wintering hideouts.

Chiffchaff, Riverside Nature Reserve.

While on one of the warmer days, at least two chiffchaffs could be seen flitting back and forth over the river, catching insects.

Greenfinches, Riverside Nature Reserve.

Also adding to my sightings were at least three greenfinches, ‘wheezing’ from the trees along the river.

Treecreeper, Riverside Nature Reserve.

Treecreepers were now actively calling along the treeline between the river and the boardwalk area.

Wigeon, Burpham Court Farm.

Viewing out across the winter wetland area at Burpham Court Farm on the other side of the River Wey, a group of 50 or more wigeon could be seen in flight over a secluded flooded scrape, eventually relocating back on to the water.

Shoveler.

Adding to a group of teal and a few shoveler present.

Common buzzard, Burpham Court Farm.

Nearer to view, a common buzzard perched up in a dead oak tree in the field.

Skylark.

A visit to the farmlands at Shackleford was once again a therapeutic one, if only to listen to the skylarks singing.

Linnets and goldfinches, Shackleford.

Linnets and goldfinches continued to fly in loosely associating flocks, well in excess of a few hundred individuals.

Redwing, this one in a tree.

While groups of wintering redwings continued their presence.

With the addition of a few fieldfares.

Corn bunting, Shackleford.

I was also able to add a few more pictures of the elusive wintering corn buntings.

Little owl, Shackleford.

As well as getting another sighting of one of the little owls in an oak tree across the fields.

Red kite.

And several red kites continued to circle the landscape.

Goosander, Cutt Mill, Puttenham.

At Cutt Mill Pond, Puttenham, a few goosanders continued to winter, early in the month.

A visit by long-time friend Steve http://www.highlandwildlifesafaris.co.uk/ on a brief trip south from his home in Aviemore, Scotland, for his 60th birthday celebrations inspired us, in the company of Bob and Dougal, to visit Farlington Marshes in Hampshire. This helped to add a few more species sightings to Steve’s UK year listings.

For me it was also a good opportunity to snap a selection of photos of species I rarely have the opportunity to photograph within the Surrey borders.

Brent geese in flight.

Brent geese soon to make their 2,500 mile journey back to their Siberian breeding grounds were still present and in good number.

Short-eared owl, Farlington.

The short-eared owl I saw on my previous visit was still present.

Dartford warbler, Farlington Marshes.

Also still present was a Dartford warbler

Dunlin, Farlington.

A large ‘fling’ of dunlin were being pushed up on the rising tide.

Oystercatcher at Farlington.

While oystercatchers are always a favourite of mine to photo when in flight.

Mediterranean gull.

A new addition to my year’s sightings and always pleasant to see were several Mediterranean gulls.

Back in the Surrey Hills area, and on a last-ditch attempt to find Steve a marsh tit before his return to Scotland, we visited the bird-feeding station by the cafe at Newlands Corner.

Blue tits, Newlands Corner.

A healthy number of blue tits bustled about the feeders there.

Great tit, Newlands Corner.

And even a few great tits.

Marsh tit, Newlands Corner.

And after much patients… Yes! Even a marsh tit.

By March 15 a variety of summer migrant birds had already begun to arrive in the southern most counties of the UK.

In Surrey, sightings of wheatears, sand martinis and house martins were among the latest recordings.https://surreybirdclub.org.uk/#latestpost:sightings

And fingers crossed, I will add a few new species to my sightings in the coming days.

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