Birdwatcher’s Diary No.40

Published on: 4 Jul, 2013
Updated on: 5 Jul, 2013

By Malcolm Fincham

On returning from my whirlwind tour of Scotland, with fond memories of the wildlife sightings still lingering, and feeling I needed another holiday to recover fully, I decided to ease myself back into things and to bring June to a close with a short report of a few visits to Guildford’s Riverside Nature Reserve to see what changes had taken place in my absence.

A warm welcome back from a reed bunting at Riverside Nature `reserve.

Walking across the boardwalk and taken by surprise by the amount the vegetation had grown, I was welcomed back by a male reed bunting. It was probably the same one singing in the same small sallow that I saw him in before I left for Scotland.

Sedge and reed warblers could both be seen (and occasionally heard) as they flitted back and forth with food for their young; and a chiffchaff could be heard singing his repetitive song from high up in an oak tree.

Moorhen still sitting on chicks.

A moorhen and three chicks scurried from their nest situated close to the boardwalk only to return for a photo shortly after.

The Stoke Nature Reserve.

Weather wise the last week of June ended pretty much as it began, on a dry note and with plenty of pleasant sunshine. Although not many unusual sightings have been reported in the Surrey area to tempt me elsewhere, it gave me plenty of opportunity to try to improve my camera skills and a few relaxing hours on several sunny evenings by Stoke Lake.

View across Stoke Lake.

One of the common tern chicks.

The most pleasing sight for me to was to see for the first time this year the pair of common terns at Stoke Lake now busy feeding their young. Almost certainly just two this year, but both now looking quite robust. In fact, as the pictures show, in their downey fluff, looking as big as their parents!

The raft at Stoke lake.

Once again (last year they successfully raised three chicks) the construction of the raft with its wire surround and tile shelters seems to have done its bit in helping to protect the chicks from predators.

Much credit must given to those who spend time creating such artificial havens. The conservation of these common terns, as with many species of birds, are invaluable. They are now amber listed by the RSPB because of their decline in numbers.

A very demanding young tern calls out for more fish.

Common tern takes another plunge into Stoke Lake in hope of catching a fish.

Adult common tern with a fish.

While enjoying ‘the moment’ watching these birds twist and turn with amazing and effortless agility, occasionally diving into the water to catch an unsuspecting fish, I was alerted to some movement in the reed bed at edge of the lake a few feet away. It was an adult reed warbler collecting small damsel flies and various other insects.

A reed warbler collecting food allows me another photo opportunity.

It revealed itself just long enough for me to take a few snap shots before disappearing deep into the reeds to feed its young.

Long-tailed tit.

Also by the lake side, a small family of long-tailed tits arrived for a brief visit before continuing their jouney along the hedgerow.

Egyptian geese have been a regular sight in recent days at Stoke Lake.

On view out on the lake was a small group of Egyptian geese – non-indigenous as the name suggests, but as with Canada geese they are now becoming quite a common sight on lakes locally.

To round the evening off, just as the sun was starting to fade as I was preparing to call it a day and indeed to end another month of reports, I was taken by surprise seeing a fox just yards away from me, looking rather hungry and undaunted by my presence.