Birdwatcher’s Diary No.323

Published on: 17 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 17 Mar, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

A much welcomed high pressure system continued to dominate the southern regions of the UK, although night-time frosts continued during the first week of March.

With daytime temperature rising into double figures Celsius there were some warm spells of sunshine.

Taking full advantage of the weather forecast in the days to come, the first of our outings to start the month was a trip to Bordon in Hampshire, once again in the company of Bob and Dougal.

This was to view a black-throated thrush that had been recently reported in a garden, a bird that’s a rare vagrant to the UK!

Their breeding range extends from the extreme east of Europe to western Siberia and north-west Mongolia.

Arriving, we met up with our friends Rossy and John from Kent. It was with full permission from the landowner (and a small donation to charity) that allowed us and a steady flow of keen observers to enter the garden.

Black-throated thrush, Bordon, Hampshire.

Unfortunately, it was not as stunning a view of the bird in question as I had thought, as it could only be viewed at distance across a river in what looked to be someone else’s garden. Good views could only be attained through binoculars and telescopes.

Photos were not so easy to take as we viewed it through the rising morning mist across the river.

Red admiral butterfly.

By the following day temperatures were starting to rise into the mid-teens Celsius. The added arrival of much welcomed sunshine was even tempting a few previously hibernating butterflies out on the wing. It allowed me several photographs of my first red admirals I had seen this year.

Brimstone butterfly.

Numerous brimstone butterflies could also be viewed, and like me, enjoying the long awaited warm sunshine.

Following up on a tip-off, on March 3 my wife kindly dropped me off at Newlands Corner, allowing me a walk across the North Downs in the direction of Pewley Down, and hoping she might remember to pick me up when my walk was completed.

The bird in question on this occasion was a barn owl that had regularly been sighted hunting over the downland in the late afternoon sunshine.

Barn owl, Pewley Down.

I eventually located it just prior to sunset on the north side of Pewley Down at about 5.30pm and although the light was fading, there was still enough remaining to accomplish a few reasonable photos.

Treecreeper, Britten’s Pond.

The following day, closer to home at Britten’s Pond, again in the late afternoon sunshine, I achieved a few pleasing shots of one of a pair of treecreepers feeding on insects on the tree-barks by the water’s edge on the eastern side of the pond.

Egyptian geese with their goslings, at Britten’s Pond.

The Egyptian geese still had their clutch of goslings, but their number had by now dwindled to just four.

Redwing, Britten’s Pond.

While the only other bird of note that afternoon was a lone redwing that perched up briefly by the pond.

I had visit from my friend Steve, originally from Guildford and who has now lived in Aviemore, Scotland for the past 20 years, or so. He runs his own wildlife safaris there. http://www.highlandwildlifesafaris.co.uk/

It set a challenge for the next four days to help him add a few species he doesn’t (or rarely) sees in Scotland.

Looking along the causeway at Staines Reservoir.

On March 7, and in the company of Bob and Dougal, we visited Staines Reservoir.

Black-necked grebes. One on right already showing signs of summer plumage.

We were able to add black-necked grebes to his sightings.

Goldeneye duck (drake), Staines Reservoir.

While adding to my personal photos was a drake goldeneye duck, soon to be heading to its northerly breeding grounds.

Pied wagtail.

Along the causeway pied wagtails were plentiful.

Meadow pipit. Staines Reservoir.

As well as meadow pipits.

Linnets on the causeway at Staines Reservoir.

And a small group linnets continued to be present.

Fieldfare.

Around the perimeters of the adjacent King George VI reservoir wintering fieldfares could still be viewed.

Common buzzard with nesting material at Staines Reservoir.

While a common buzzard was already collecting nesting material.

Water pipit on Staines Moor.

Staines Moor.

Further down the road on Staines Moor we were able to add a few water pipits to our year’s sightings.

Kestrel, Staines Moor.

Adding a kestrel to my day’s photos.

Ring-necked parakeets.

And those noisy ring-necked parakeets continued to be abundant.

Farlington Marshes.

On March 8 we visited Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth.

Brent geese, Farlington Marshes.

Wintering brent geese were still present, though soon to return to their summer breeding grounds in Siberia.

Wigeon, Farlington Marshes.

Also adding a few wintering wigeon.

Pintails at Farlington Marshes.

A few pintail ducks.

Teal at Farlington Marshes.

And several teal.

Shoveler, Farlington.

As well as shoveler ducks still present.

Mediterranean gull now in summer plumage at Farlington Marshes.

At the ‘deeps’ a dozen or so Mediterranean gulls had returned, now in their summer plumage, perhaps hoping to form a small colony on one of the shingled islands?

Oystercatcher at Farlington Marshes.

As well as several oystercatchers.

Avocets, Farlington Marshes.

A few avocets had begun their spring displays.

Gadwall ducks mating, Farlington Marshes.

While a pair of gadwall ducks could be seen already mating.

Lapwings, Farlington Marshes.

The warmer weather had enticed several lapwings to display, with a few pairs chasing one another about the inland marshes.

Peregrine falcon, Farlington.

With Langstone Harbour being at low tide, not much could be seen close enough to photograph on the mudflats. Although a distant peregrine falcon could just about be picked out by my camera lens.

Kestrel, Farlington Marshes.

Along the seawall one of the resident kestrels posed briefly for a photo.

Little egret in flight, Farlington.

While several little egrets could be observed about the reserve.

Cattle egrets at Warblington.

A short stop on the way back home involved a visit to Warblington, not far from Farlington, adding a total of 10 cattle egrets to this year’s sightings.

On March 9 we visited Thursley Common. Here we were able to add another three sightings for  Steve’s listings this year, and adding a few more photos to mine.

Woodlark, Thursley Common.

Among the various birds now in song were some woodlarks, drawing me in and pointing out to one in song within view of my camera lens.

Dartford warbler, Thursley Common.

Abundant about the heathland were the ‘scratchy’ calls of Dartford warblers, again finding one close by.

Firecrest, Thursley Common.

The third we were able to add, and one I had already photographed on several occasions this year, was a firecrest.

Comma butterfly, Thursley Common.

Adding to my 2025 tally of butterflies while there was a comma.

On our return journey we also visited Lydling Farm, Shackleford.

Little owl at Lydling Farm.

We spotted a little owl for Steve’s list, and a few more distant shots for me too.

Red kites at Lydling Farm.

Red kites were now pairing up and displaying.

Skylark at Lydling Farm.

While several skylarks were up and singing over the fields.

Common buzzard at Lydling Farm.

And common buzzards continued their presence.

Continuing to take advantage of the dry weather, on March 10 we visited the Pagham / Selsey peninsular in West Sussex.

Long-eared owl, Selsey.

To our delight at least two of the long-eared owls that we had seen on our recent visits were still present, although now roosting in the hedgerow further along the track and more obscured to view. Nonetheless another year tick for Steve!

Brent geese, Church Norton.

As at Farlington, brent geese continued to be present.

Marsh harrier, North Wall, Selsey.

At Pagham’s North Wall, a pair of marsh harriers could also be viewed over the reed beds.

Mistle thrush, Church Norton.

While a short drive down to Church Norton added a few more sightings. A pair of mistle thrushes could be viewed perched up in the trees about the car park.

Leucistic blackbird, Church Norton.

In a nearby paddock a leucistic blackbird was still present (seen on my previous visit) feeding on the grass.

Curlew, Church Norton.

And while viewing out to the distant waders (including knot and grey plovers) closer to reach with my camera was a curlew.

Whimbrel, Church Norton.

And for us all, our first sighting of a whimbrel this year.

By the time of the last of our expeditions on March 11, the high pressure system over us had retrogressed to the north-west of the UK. With its cyclonic motion it was now bringing in winds from the north-east, lowering temperatures back into single figures, and with the return of a few night-time frosts.

Staying within Surrey for the day, in the company of Bob and Steve, we first visited Unstead Sewage Farm, near Godalming, enabling us to add a water rail to Steve’s year list.

Water rail, Unstead Sewage Farm.

And for me, getting some of my best photos of one in a while.

Follow that, we drove out to Papercourt water meadows in Send.

Jackdaws, Prews Farm.

Visiting the adjacent Prews Farm, where the now wilting sunflower seed heads were still drawing in large bird flocks.

Stock doves, Prews Farm.

Although the flocks had lessened a little since our previous visits. both jackdaws, as well as stock doves, had increased in number.

Linnets, Prews Farm.

Linnets could be viewed in flocks across the fields.

Chaffinches, Prews Farm.

While chaffinches mostly remained within their own groups.

Brambling, Prews Farm.

Checking through the chaffinches as they perched up in the trees alongside the fields a few wintering bramblings could still be picked out, counting at least four.

Male reed bunting, Prews Farm.

Also adding to the day list several reed buntings.

Yellowhammer, Prews Farm.

And at least two yellowhammers.

Nuthatch, Effingham Forest.

Our final visit was to Effingham Forest, where I was surprisingly able to add a nuthatch to Steve’s year list- a bird apparently not seen as far north as Aviemore.

Treecreeper, Effingham Forest.

Also finding Bob a treecreeper, a bird that had eluded him so far this year.

Siskin, (previously taken photo).

Small flocks of siskins could be heard and seen flitting about in the tops of the pines, although too distant for me to photograph.

Goshawk, Effingham Forest.

At the viewpoint, a pair of goshawks flew over, although record shots were the best I could accomplish.

Hawfinch, Effingham Forest.

Also getting a photo record of one of a half dozen hawfinches seen that afternoon.

Previously taken photo of a female common crossbill.

And finally, although too distant for my camera, but through a telescope at last viewing my first two common crossbills this year, a male and a female.

Previously taken photo of a confiding male common crossbill.

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