Birdwatcher’s Diary No.30

Published on: 1 Mar, 2013
Updated on: 1 Mar, 2013

By Malcolm Fincham

A light dusting of snow once again on the Surrey Hills.

The month of February continued on wintery theme, with Monday 11th bringing with it another dusting of snow to the Surrey Hills.

One of five sows on Chinthurst Hill.

On Chinthurst Hill near Bramley the introduction of five sows to a sectioned area was a surprising sight. These have been introduced by Surrey Wildlife Trust, to help control the the growth of bramble and bracken on the hillside.

Waxwings ‘on tour’ visit Badger Close in Stoughton.

Cycling home up Stoughton Road just after 2pm that afternoon, I was alerted to a flock of birds flying across my view, just over the rooftops. About the same size, but far more than the usual small flock of starlings seen at this time of year in the area. Instantly, I recognised them as waxwings. Following their flight, I noticed them settle in a tree in Badgers Close.

Fortunately (and as usual) I happened to be carrying my small ‘bridge camera’ with me. I counted 42 birds and took a few pictures before they took flight in a northerly direction.

Waxwings in Stoughton Cemetery.

Later that afternoon I briefly relocated them in Stoughton Cemetery, before they split into two flocks. I once again located 25 of the original flock in Ladymead, before they headed south in the direction of Guildford town centre. I was especially pleased to see two fly over my house and add them as a first to my garden sighting list.

Waxwings in Ladymead.

On Friday, February 15, my obsession of wanting to get even better pictures of barn owls took me back to Bowers Lock. This desire continued over the weekend with little success, with only distant views and even no views at all of either barn owl on the Sunday.

However, on Tuesday, February 19, my patience finally paid off. Taking advantage of a pleasant sunny afternoon and a few spare hours I waited once again in hope.

A fox spots some movement in the long grass near Bowers Lock.

The first 30 minutes or so was spent watching a fox occasionally leaping in the air and pouncing on small mammals in the same field in which the owl usually hunts. Strangely enough, it was only after the fox moved out of sight that the barn owl appeared  – at first some distance away quartering the field and diving into the long grass. However, as I watched he moved closer and I was able to get a few distant shots of him catching and eating some prey.

Barn owl swallows a rodent whole.

It was soon after when I took my most pleasing pictures of him so far, as he flew by just 30 yards or so away from me. He later perched on a post about 100 yards away, where he stayed until I left him at dusk.

Barn owl on a tree stump.

Another pleasing sight to me wasn’t of the bird kind, but the progress that has been made in the re-construction of the new boardwalk at the riverside park at Stoke Meadows, with the addition of a walkway across the marsh to a small viewing platform, which will  hopefully be completed before the breeding season starts and the summer migrants arrive.

The new boardwalk at the riverside reserve at Stoke Meadows.

New viewing gallery – work in progress.

Occasional sightings of red kite continue to the north of Guildford, and on one occasion on February 17 I was extremely fortunate to capture a picture of one that flew unusually low and perched briefly in a tree.

A very rare sighting of a red kite, with a curious magpie to the left of him.

To the south of Guildford, in the village of Blackheath, I was pleased to notice lots of bird feeders in front gardens of houses all full of birds and food. I was especially pleased to take a few pictures of one particular feeder that was full of siskins with a flock in excess of 25 in a tree nearby, awaiting their turn.

Siskins on a feeder in Blackheath.

Although some of these birds are known to breed in England, they are more often seen in coniferous areas of Scotland throughout year, with some moving south, along with many this year arriving from Scandinavia. This winter has brought a large influx to the south of England, not just on feeders but throughout the countryside, as my pictures show.

Siskin.

A greenfinch, sometimes confused with the siskin.

Most noticeable to me in the last week or so is how active and vocal the families of corvids (from the genus corvus) have become. These birds include crows, rooks, magpies, jackdaws, and so on.

Carrion crow.

They are considered to be the most intelligent of our feathered friends, with the raven being at the top of the tree, so to speak, with intelligence on par to our our brightest mammals (including some humans maybe?).

Jackdaw.

Corvids tend to be some of the earliest breeding birds, and I have noticed jackdaws, especially, seeking out partners and nest sites in the last week or so. Much to the annoyance to many of us humans, many have learned that large sticks wedged down chimneys form a great base to build a nest!

Rook.

For those who have read my previous reports, I hope you heeded my warning of more cold weather in February. It’s certainly been a bit chilly in the last week, even by my reckoning; although in many ways I am pleased not to have had the snow I was expecting. Winter is certainly ‘dragging its heels’ this year, without creating too many concerns I hope, mainly about my sanity. A little bird told me that this winterly theme will continue well into March, with the possibility of more snow.

Barn owl, totally silent in flight.

And finally, some more rather pleasing pictures of that majestic barn owl. Next on my wish list is to upgrade my camera lens so I can take some even sharper shots.

Barn owl flies close by.

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