Birdwatcher’s Diary No.343

Published on: 26 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 26 Jan, 2026

By Malcolm Fincham

This report follows on from my previous one, still on our quests to add more sightings to our new year’s lists while attempting photographs, at best, of some of the species while the sun continued to shine.

South Basin, Staines Reservoir.

Making the best of chilly but dry weather while it prevailed, on January 4 we visited Staines Reservoir.

Causeway at Staines Reservoir.

Looking out from the causeway onto the north and south basins vast numbers of wintering wildfowl could be viewed across the two large stretches of water.

Great northern diver on the far side of the north basin, Staines Reservoir.

For some of the most distant species, such as the two great northern divers (known as common loons in Canada), it was essential to have a ‘scope’ to view as they spent their time on the far reaches of the north basin.

Black-necked grebes, Staines Reservoir.

Also continuing to be present were at least three black-necked grebes, still in their winter plumage.

Lesser scaup, Staines Reservoir.

Although unable to improve on my previous photos of the lesser scaup, still present, that we had viewed there on December 14.

Greater scaup, Staines Reservoir.

A bonus to our sightings was a drake greater scaup that we had been unable to locate on our previous visit.

Goldeneye (female), Staines Reservoir.

A few wintering goldeneye ducks continued to be viewed out on the water.

Wigeon, Staines Reservoir.

While large numbers of wigeon continued to be present.

Tufted ducks, Staines Reservoir.

As well as large rafts of tufted ducks also wintering there.

Lapwing, Staines Reservoir.

Also adding a lone lapwing seen just beyond the fencing along the causeway.

Lydling Farm, Shackleford.

Before our return home, and making the most of the crisp afternoon sunshine, we visited Lydling Farm at Shackleford, near Godalming.

Linnets, Lydling Farm.

Large flocks of in excess of 100 linnets could be viewed perched in the trees and feeding within the fields.

Chaffinch, Lydling Farm.

As well as good numbers of chaffinches within the flocks.

Little owl, Lydling Farm.

A fairly reliable sighting for us, although not always guaranteed there, was a little owl perched discreetly in a mature oak in one of the fields.

Common buzzard, Lydling Farm.

A common buzzard perched up on one of the utility pylons.

Lapwing, Lydling Farm.

In many areas overnight frosts had begun to freeze some of the local marshland areas, causing a displacement of lapwings (as well as other birds) to areas where they don’t usually feed. A few dozen or more could be counted about the grassland.

Red-legged partridges, Lydling Farm.

Across the fields we were also able to add our first red-legged partridges to this year’s sightings.

Kestrel, Lydling Farm.

And a kestrel among the lines of plastic covering the fields.

Redwing.

Local outings saw a few additional redwings that seemed to have arrived locally in recent days, but not in the numbers usually seen around the fields at Shackleford.

My visits to Britten’s Pond on January 5 to 7 saw ice continuing to form on the water as daytime temperatures started to struggled to rise above freezing.

Britten’s Pond with a light dusting of snow on the ice.

On my second visit a fine dusting of overnight snow had turned the surface to white.

Lesser black-backed gulls among the black headed gulls, Britten’s Pond.

Among the various gulls standing out on the ice a pair of lesser black-backed gulls could be viewed.

Common gull, Britten’s Pond.

And a couple of common gulls occasionally came to visit.

Egyptian geese on ice, Britten’s Pond.

The resident pair of Egyptian geese continued to endure the circumstances as they gingerly trod the surface.

Mute swans on ice, Britten’s Pond.

While the resident mute swans took advantage of the last patch of water before that too froze over.

Treecreeper, Britten’s Pond.

Taking advantage of the sunshine while walking around the pond, in the area backing onto the railway embankment I was able to pick out a treecreeper.

Nuthatch, Britten’s Pond.

A nuthatch could also be viewed.

Great spotted woodpecker, Britten’s Pond.

And a great spotted woodpecker.

Goldcrest, Britten’s Pond.

In the hollies to the rear of the pond I was able to add a goldcrest.

Firecrest, Britten’s Pond.

As well as a firecrest.

Long-tailed tit, Britten’s Pond.

In other areas around the pond small groups of long-tailed tits passed through.

Redwing, Britten’s Pond.

A small group of redwings also made an appearance.

Grey wagtail, Britten’s Pond.

And a pair of grey wagtails continued to winter there.

On January 10, back in the company of Bob and Dougal, we visited Dick Fock’s Common near East Horsley.

Hawfinch, Dick Fock’s Common.

There, although distant to view, we were able to add four hawfinches to this year’s sightings.

Common crossbills, Effingham Forest.

Also adding our second sighting this year of at least two common crossbills at Effingham Forest.

On January 11 we visited Cutt Mill Ponds, Puttenham, where surface water had now begun to thaw. Four goosanders had made a return and could be viewed together out on the Tarn Pond.

Goosanders, Cutt Mill Pond.

These included two red heads (females) and two drakes.

By the time of my return to Britten’s Pond on January 14 the iced-over water had completely thawed, and temperatures began to rise to mid to high single figures Celsius.

Unfortunately, the weather had become rather inclement for the most part, but there were a few limited dry spells and even moments of sunshine to attempt to take a few more photos.

Kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

The kingfisher was once again regularly flashing back and forth across the pond, but for me it continued to remain a challenge to photo.

Cormorant, Britten’s Pond.

And the return of a few ‘anglers’ to the pond also saw several cormorants arriving to do their share of fishing the water.

Grey heron, Britten’s Pond.

Even the habitant grey heron had made a return.

Tufted ducks, Britten’s Pond.

A pair of tufted ducks had arrived on the pond and decided to make it their home for a while.

Greylag geese, Britten’s Pond.

Also seen were resident pair of greylag geese.

Egyptian geese, Britten’s Pond.

As well as the Egyptian geese, that seemed happier to have their pond free of ice once more.

Song thrush in song, Britten’s Pond.

Adding to this was the sounds of robins in song around the pond, while a song thrush could be now regularly heard.

Goldcrest.

Adjacent to the pond, a short walk about Whitmoor Common, saw a small group of goldcrests feeding amongst the gorse bushes.

Stonechat, Whitmoor Common.

A few stonechats continued to be present.

Dartford warbler, Whitmoor Common.

And most importantly a pair of Dartford warblers, having endured the recent cold snap, still remained steadfast to their territory, and at time adding some song to their contact calls.