Birdwatcher’s Diary No.341

Published on: 24 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 24 Dec, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

A cold blast of Arctic air pushing down through North America, hitting on to the warmth of the Mexican Gulf had fired up the jet stream.

Thus promoting relentless low pressure systems pushing up across the Atlantic from as far south as Cuba bringing average to above average temperatures to the UK during the first weeks of December.

This included a named storm Bram that only glanced south-eastern regions of England, but bringing strong gusts of wind and heavy rainfall to western coastal areas.

Although slightly more sheltered within the more south-eastern regions of the UK, weather conditions remained mostly unfavourable for my photo opportunities while staying local to my surroundings.

On the few occasions available, I ventured out to visit some of my local haunts such as Britten’s Pond where I attempted to challenge myself on getting photos of the resident, but very elusive kingfisher that continued to make irregular appearances there.

Kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

Unfortunately, most sightings of the kingfisher remained distant, often only viewed on the opposing side of the pond, and only because of the lack of leaves now on the trees.

Kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

With some patience, however, I was able to snatch a few opportunistic photos as it flew, bullet-like, low across the water.

Cormorant Britten’s Pond.

Cormorants continued to be regular visitors, often seen circling the pond and occasionally seen taking up their fishing rights on the water.

Grey heron, Britten’s Pond.

As well as the grey heron.

Red kite, Britten’s Pond.

While a red kite, returning to roost mid afternoon as light already began to fade, flew over the pond.

Redpolls, Britten’s Pond.

A group of a couple of dozen redpolls seen in recent weeks there continued to visit the clump of tall silver birch trees to the rear of the pond and to feed on their seed cones.

Nuthatch, Britten’s Pond.

Walks around the pond added photo opportunities of nuthatches.

Treecreeper, Britten’s Pond.

Also adding a treecreeper.

Long-tailed tit.

Small groups of long-tailed tits circling the pond.

Great spotted woodpecker, Britten’s Pond.

And a great spotted woodpecker that alerted me with its contact calls.

Robin, Britten’s Pond.

Always a pleasant sight there were several robins, opportunistically looking out for one of the kind anglers that might be kind enough to discard a few crumbs.

Redwing, Britten’s Pond.

A surprise sighting, with so few having been seen by me so far this winter, were several redwings feeding on holly berries in trees at the back of the pond.

Goldcrest, Britten’s Pond.

Also adding a goldcrest within the holly bushes.

Inclement weather continued to restrict my birdwatching. However, a pre-Christmas walk in the company of Bob and Dougal on one of the few dry days during the first weeks of the month allowed us a nine mile-walk along the River Wey towpath from Woking Road to Triggs Lock and back.

Teal on flooded scrape near Stoke Lock.

At Stoke Lock, looking out across the flooded scrape, a good number of wintering teal could be viewed, counting more than 50 on the water.

Teal in flight at the flooded scrape near Stoke Lock.

And adding several seen in flight among the grassy tussocks beyond.

Shoveler ducks, on flooded scrape, near Stoke Lock.

Also on the water at least five shoveler ducks could be counted.

Tufted ducks, (drakes) on Stoke Lake.

At Stoke Lake good numbers of mostly male tufted ducks could be viewed.

Great crested grebe, Stoke Lake.

While at least one great crested grebe in winter plumage was also present.

Great spotted woodpecker, Stoke Lake, Riverside Nature Reserve.

A great spotted woodpecker could also be viewed from near the boardwalk.

Cetti’s warbler, at Riverside Nature Reserve.

Briefly distracted by Dougal’s latest amusing ‘Shakespearian-like’ poems (with there ‘iambic perimeters’) of the present state of the country, but then refocused by the sound of a Cetti warbler’s abrupt call, one that has been resident here in recent years.

Grey wagtail in flight along the River Wey.

Along the towpath several grey wagtails could be viewed.

Bowers Lock, Burpham.

Cormorant, Bower’s Lock.

On our arrival at Bowers Lock a cormorant, one of several seen that day, could be viewed perched up in a distant tree.

Egyptian geese.

While further along the river a pair of Egyptian geese perched up together, like statues on the bridge that borders Sutton Place.

Fieldfare.

In the fields across the River Wey we had our largest flock of fieldfares seen so far this winter.

Fieldfares in flight.

Counting at least 15, when seen in flight.

Common buzzard.

Also adding a common buzzard to our day list.

Jackdaws gathering pre-roost along the River Wey, near the Slyfield recycling centre.

By the time of our return to Stoke Lock daylight was already fading. Having not been in the area at dusk for several years it was quite impressive to still see the sight and sounds of what must have been well over 3,000 jackdaws still returning to roost in the area backing on to the recycling centre.

My only other notable venture in the weeks leading up to Christmas was to Cutt Mill Ponds at Puttenham.

Tufted ducks on Tarn Pond, Cutt Mill.

A circular walk around the Tarn Pond saw a small raft of tufted ducks, mostly females, out on the water.

Great crested grebe, Cutt Mill Pond, Puttenham.

A few mallards and a lone great crested grebe were the only other sightings that day, while just a couple of anglers fished the water.

Redwing, Cutt Mill Pond, Puttenham.

Also adding the ‘seep-seep’ calls of a few small groups of redwings as they discreetly fed on the berries of the holly bushes about the water’s edge.

A walk along the edge of the ‘House Pond’ just the other side of Suffield Lane, saw my first sightings of the recent arrival of the annual visiting goosanders.