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Birdwatcher’s Diary No.320

Published on: 2 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 2 Feb, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

Weather conditions remained mostly gloomy and overcast as we moved into the latter weeks of January, with temperatures in mid to low single figures in southeastern counties of the UK, although remaining dry enough for a few local outings.

Mandarin duck (drake), Britten’s Pond.

An unexpected sighting for me on Britten’s Pond on January 16 was a drake Mandarin duck. Although not a rare duck within Surrey, surprisingly, it was a first for me on this local pond.

Mute swans in flight, Britten’s Pond.

The regular sighting of the resident mute swans getting their daily exercise traversing the pond in flight was, as always, some entertainment to me.

Egyptian goose, Britten’s Pond.

The resident pair of Egyptian geese continued to visit the pond then returning to the fields beyond to graze.

While the female kingfisher continued to make sporadic appearances about water when least expected.

Having met up with a couple of old school-time friends, David Rose and Chris Burchell, individually while on my travels over the years, all of us have continued our own interests in wildlife, nature as well as history, spawned from our teenage years.

Pulborough Brooks.

It was of good fortune, or a moment of serendipity that stars aliened for us, to meet on January 17 for a visit further afield to Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve in West Sussex.

It was a great opportunity to catch up with some of the stories in our lives over the past 50 years, and some!

Wigeon, Pulborough Brooks.

Arriving at a viewpoint overlooking the Arun valley, the sounds and sight of large flocks of ‘whistling’ wigeon out on the brooks was our first warm welcome on what was a rather chilly day.

Wigeon in-flight at Pulborough Brooks.

Even more impressive was to see them taking flight in unison.

Black-tailed godwits at Pulborough Brooks.

Simultaneously, they were joined by a pantheon of black-tailed godwits, in excess of 250 individuals ascending skyward in a large cluster.

Lapwings at Pulborough Brooks.

As well as a deceit of as many as 500 lapwings, their shapes moving and morphing constantly as they synchronised their collective flight.

Peregrine, Pulborough Brooks.

On closer view, and as expected, a peregrine falcon had made an appearance and could be seen hunting over the brooks putting the large flocks of wildfowl in disarray.

Common snipe, Pulborough Brooks.

A few well camouflaged common snipe could be picked out feeding within the long grass and stubble, no doubt with many more that remained incognito hoping their disguise would not be noted by the falcon as it flew past.

Pintail ducks at Pulborough Brooks.

From the Winpenny Hide looking out on south brooks. A few of the many pintail ducks seen that afternoon could be viewed a close quarters.

Wigeon duck at Pulborough Brooks.

And a few closer views of some of the wigeon.

Previous photo of a white-tailed eagle at Pulborough Brooks.

Recent reports suggested it was worth looking out for the white-tailed eagles that had been reported there, having seen one there myself and written about during a previous visit in early October 2023.

White-tailed eagles, Pulborough Brooks.

And to our luck, although quite distant to view, two (an adult and a juvenile) could be viewed perched up in a small cluster of trees across the valley.

Male bullfinch at Pulborough Brooks.

Adding to this year’s sightings and a pleasant addition to our day lists were a pair of bullfinches.

Barn owl, Pulborough Brooks.

And a real bonus for us to end our day’s outing, and a first seen and photographed by me for well over a year was a barn owl.

Barn owl, Pulborough Brooks.

It had made its presence just as we had arrived back at the visitors’ centre after our walk around the reserve.

Barn owl, Pulborough Brooks.

Although hunting a good few hundred yards away with daylight starting to fade, it still made for some photos I could be pleased with.

Goosander, (drake) Cutt Mill Pond, Puttenham.

A walk around Cutt Mill Ponds, in Puttenham on January 18, this time in the company of Bob and Dougal, saw two goosanders, a drake and a female out on the Tarn Pond.

Goosander, (female) Cutt Mill Pond, Puttenham.

On the House Pond just the other side of Suffield Lane another four could be viewed, with just one red-head female within the group.

Mandarin ducks, Cutt Mill Pond, Puttenham.

Interestingly to me, although distant to view on the far side of the water were at least 20 Mandarin ducks both male and female.

A break in the weather brought a brief spell of sunshine on January 21 and an opportunity for a trip further afield to the Selsey Peninsular/ Pagham Harbour, in West Sussex, in the company of Bob.

Large skeins of more than 1,000 Brent geese.

At the North Wall, large skeins amounting to over a 1,000 Brent geese were in-flight across the Selsey Peninsular.

Marsh harrier.

While at least two marsh harriers could be viewed drifting over the reedbeds.

Grey plover.

At Church Norton I was able to add a grey plover to my photos.

Curlew.

As well as a curlew.

Greenshank.

A greenshank.

Common redshank, at Church Norton.

And a common redshank.

Green sandpiper, Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

While at Sidlesham Ferry Pool I added a green sandpiper to this year’s sightings.

The highlight of the day on the Selsey Peninsular was to manage to photograph one of at least three long-eared owls that could be seen there.

Long eared owl Selsey Peninsula.

Of the three, this one showed the best, only partially viewing some glimpses of movement as they preened themselves in the hedgerow of blackthorn.

Meanwhile, across the pond in the United States an enhanced temperature gradience was occurring as cold air moved down through North America hitting tropical air powering up the jet stream, sending strong winds and low pressure systems across the Atlantic in the direction of the UK. Thus bringing a conveyor-belt of wet weather and a few named storms to the southern counties.

A respite in the deluge allowed us the opportunity to once again visit Prews Farm, near Papercourt water-meadows, Send, before the month was out.

Part of large flock of linnets, feeding on the sunflower seeds at Prews Farm.

We were greeted on our arrival of a cacophony of bird sounds. These were mostly made up of vast numbers of linnets, perched up in some of the tall trees surrounding the fields.

Stock doves and wood pigeon, at Prews Farm.

Many flocks continued to take turns to feed on the sunflower crops. Wood pigeons and stock doves were also present in large flocks.

Brambling on sunflower seed heads, Prews Farm.

And a few overwintering bramblings from Scandinavia continued to be present.

Brambling, Prews Farm.

Some of the wintering male bramblings were already developing their spring breeding plumages, with distinctive orange breast and shoulders, contrasting sharply with their black heads already developing. Their white rumps and bellies standing out in flight, with their backs of mottled brown and black.

Little bunting. A previous photo.

Frustratingly, I was unable to get any photos of the little bunting that had loosely associated itself with the bramblings and was showing intermittently while we were there.

Previously taken photo of corn bunting.

And neither did I achieve any photos of the corn bunting that had been recorded there in recent days.

Reed bunting, Prews Farm.

Numerous reed bunting, both male and female, could also be viewed in small groups along the hedgerows.

Yellowhammer, Prews Farm.

A yellowhammer seen from distance on a previous visit, however, allowed me a better photo opportunity.

Sparrowhawk, Prews Farm.

And having photographed a male sparrowhawk perched on a sunflower head on a previous visit, it was the turn of a female sparrowhawk to be seen perched up in another part of the fields.

Ending the month, I heard the distant but plaintive sound of a blackbird singing for the first time this year while out locally walking my daughter’s dog.

Blackbird in song.

Having not heard a blackbird’s fluty sound since they fell silent from song in the latter days of July last year, hearing this one added some optimism for the lighter evenings ahead, just as a robin nearby continued to sing its mournful, though restful, winter chorus.

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Responses to Birdwatcher’s Diary No.320

  1. John Morris Reply

    February 3, 2025 at 10:32 am

    Have had one good sighting so far this year of two flocks of jackdaws flying eastwards over Sheepfold Road and Shepherds Lane at dusk late last week (on their way to roost I have always presumed).

    I counted up to about 68 birds in the first flock and it looked as though there was a similar number in the second, a few minutes later. I’m always amazed to see (and hear) them.

  2. Susan Smith Reply

    February 4, 2025 at 8:13 pm

    Some lovely photographs in this report. Well done Malcolm Fincham. Your work is appreciated 👏🏼

  3. Malcolm Fincham Reply

    February 4, 2025 at 8:33 pm

    Interesting to hear of John Morris’ observation of the jackdaws, quite probably the same flocks I view flying over my property every evening at dusk.

    They join up with the many other flocks returning to their roosting site in Slyfield Green from their daytime feeding grounds around the Guildford area. Where, in excess of 4,000 individuals have been recorded roosting when counted in recent years.

    Editor’s response: We are so lucky to have your reports Malcolm, which are laid out and edited by David Rose.

    We have quite a few jackdaws here in St Catherine’s. They enjoy skiping around our Victorian chimneys. Unfortunately they occasionally fall down the chimneys. On one occasion I managed to extricate one through a vent hole by luring it into a backlit cardboard box. Flushed with success, I peered into the black hole from which it had emerged only to be shocked by the bright blue eye of a second bird staring back at me! Fortunately, it followed the example of the first and I was able to release both.

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