Birdwatcher’s Diary No.319

Published on: 17 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 17 Jan, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

Another gloomy day at Britten’s Pond, only brightened by another robin perched on my camera.

Another foggy blanket of gloom, similar to that of the first weeks of November, returned and remained with us in Surrey and for the most part of the UK over the Christmas period, giving little in the way of enthusiasm for me to get out and about with my camera.

My first opportunity was to revisit Prews Farm, near Papercourt at Send on New Year’s Eve, when a brief window of opportunity revealed the first few glimpses of the sun that we hadn’t seen for well over a fortnight.

This in the added company of Bob, as well as Steve on his seasonal visit from his home in Scotland.

Flocks of finches, Prews Farm.

As on previous recent visits there the fields of sunflower seed-heads continued to be attracting large flocks of finches.

Reed bunting, Prews Farm.

Also among the flocks a few reed buntings could be noted.

Yellowhammer, Prews Farm.

And even a distantly viewed yellowhammer on this occasion.

Linnets, Prews Farm.

The largest of the flocks were mostly linnets.

Chaffinch, Prews Farm.

Although flocks of chaffinches also continued to be present within the finch flocks.

Bramblings, Prews Farm.

Among the chaffinches a few wintering bramblings, picked out perched up along the tree-lines bordering the fields. On this occasion counting over a dozen.

Can you spot the brambling and chaffinch feeding on the sunflower seed heads at Prews Farm?

While a few could be seen feeding on the seed-heads.

Red kite, Prews Farm.

A red kite made an appearance allowing a photo opportunity as it glided low across the fields.

Wood pigeons, Prews Farm.

And large flocks of wood pigeons continued to be viewed there.

Sparrowhawk, Prews Farm.

A male sparrowhawk also made an appearance late in the afternoon looking for prey as it perched up briefly among the sunflower heads.

Ring-necked parakeets feeding on sunflower heads at Prews Farm.

Parakeets continued to be of some entertainment to watch feeding on the sunflower heads. In recent years have moved progressively south across the Surrey borders.

London Wetland Centre.

Having abandoned my usual New Year’s Day bird-watching venture, due to inclement weather, I took the opportunity on January 2 to visit the London Wetland Centre in the company of Bob and Dougal as well as Steve.

Ring-necked parakeet, London Wetland Centre.

The surrounding areas of the wetland centre are the homeland of the aforementioned ring-necked parakeets.

Ring-necked parakeets, London Wetland Centre.

The origin of this non-native species continue to be of speculation, but a few of the urban myths about them have been ruled out.

While there I added some of our native birds to a newly started year’s photo list. These included…

Green woodpecker, London Wetland Centre.

A green woodpecker feeding out on a section of grassland.

Male reed bunting, London Wetland Centre.

A few photos of reed buntings, both male and female.

Lesser redpoll, London Wetland Centre.

Although less abundant so far this winter, a few lesser redpolls.

Siskin, London Wetland Centre.

As well as half a dozen or so siskins feeding in some alders.

Dunnock, London Wetland Centre.

A few reasonable photos of a dunnock.

Chiffchaff, London Wetland Centre.

And several overwintering chiffchaffs picked out.

Pochards, with moorhen, London Wetland Centre.

Out on the water a few pochard could be viewed.

Gadwall, London Wetland Centre.

Also adding a few gadwall ducks.

Great crested grebe already showing signs of developing spring plumage, London Wetland Centre.

A surprising sight was of some great crested grebes already showing signs of coming into spring plumage.

Great crested grebes, displaying their renown spring ritual dance, London Wetland Centre.

One pair even briefly displaying their renown spring ritual dance.

Great crested grebe still in winter plumage, London Wetland Centre.

Others, however, still in winter plumage.

Greylag geese, London Wetland Centre.

A pair of greylag geese allowed an opportunistic photo as they flew out across the water.

Lapwings, London Wetland Centre.

While a flock 50 or so displaying lapwings flew about the skyline with a backdrop of buildings in view across the River Thames.

Kestrel, London Wetland Centre.

A kestrel conveniently perched up on one of the buildings at the centre.

Bittern previously viewed at London Wetland Centre.

And the only disappointment that day was not to achieve a photo of one of the two bitterns that had been reported to have been seen there in recent weeks.

Weather conditions remained rather cool during the first weeks of January with daytime temperatures decreasing into low single figures with continuing night-time frosts.

Dabchick (little grebe) with fish, Britten’s Pond.

At Britten’s Pond early in the month the recently arrived dabchick continued to be seen on the water fishing.

Kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

And the kingfisher, although continuing to be elusive, allowed me a few more record photos.

Lesser black-backed gull, Britten’s Pond.

Included in the more common birds that winter there were the regular annual seasonal visits of two lesser black-backed gulls out on the water.

A small clamour of rooks in flight at Britten’s Pond.

A small clamour of rooks could be viewed in flight at the back of the pond.

Rooks at Britten’s Pond.

A few of these early breeding members of the corvid species already appearing to be prospecting the nest site they had used in previous years.

By January 10 the weather had become cold enough to put a thin sheen of ice across most of the water.

Black-headed gulls on ice at Britten’s Pond.

Black-headed gulls could be regularly viewed perched up on the ice.

Unusual looking hybrid goose on the ice at Britten’s Pond.

Along with an unusual hybrid goose.

Egyptian geese over the ice at Britten’s Pond.

While the regular sighting of the pair of Egyptian geese continued to be seen visiting the pond.

My most recent visit on January 14 saw temperatures starting to rise to high single figures, and more importantly to me, the return of some sunshine to aid me with my photos.

A thin layer of ice still covered parts of the pond, but was rapidly thawing.

Mallard on ice at Britten’s Pond.

The sunlight on the ice allowed me a few reflective photos of a mallard standing on the ice.

Black-headed gull on ice at Britten’s Pond.

One of the dozen or so black-headed gulls standing out on the ice.

Moorhen sliding across the ice.

And a moorhen gingerly walking then sliding across its surface.

Kingfishers at Britten’s Pond.

Having only had one brief view and photo of a kingfisher there since the start of the month, it was good to see two had returned and could be viewed about the pond.

Cormorant at Britten’s Pond.

A cormorant, the first I had seen this year, which was already coming into spring plumage, flew over the pond.

Blue tit at Britten’s Pond.

While about the pond it was nice to hear a few of the smaller birds in song, some even checking out possible nesting holes.

Nuthatch, Britten’s Pond.

Also adding a nuthatch to my day’s photos.

My first opportunity of the new year to visit Farlington marshes, near Portsmouth, was on January 11, in the company of Dougal, and in the hope of adding photos and a few new year ticks to my sightings.

The main lake at Farlington Marshes.

It turned out to be a pleasantly sunny and dry afternoon.

Brent geese, Farlington Marshes.

Brent geese are regular winter visitors there with hundreds coming to the reserve every winter, having made their long journey from their summer breeding grounds in Siberia.

Dunlin, Farlington Marshes.

Dunlin were another wintering addition to our sightings with good numbers seen and and more than 2,000 having been reported there in recent weeks.

Common redshank, Farlington Marshes.

While common redshanks could also be viewed.

Oystercatchers, Farlington Marshes.

Oystercatchers continued to be seen about the reserve as well as in flight as the tide began to recede.

The sluice between the seawall and the inland lake had at long last been repaired, and waders had once again returned to its now lower water levels.

The only remaining scars visibly showing were what were now just strands of the once flourishing phragmites reedbeds that had been decimated by the inflow of seawater below the viewing area.