Birdwatcher’s Diary No.75

Published on: 2 Dec, 2014
Updated on: 2 Dec, 2014

By Malcolm Fincham

The inclement weather and reduced daylight hours restricted my birdwatching ventures during the last few weeks of November.

My family and I have also been deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of my brother Tony, who passed from this world after suffering from cancer and after a short spell in the Royal Surrey County Hospital on Friday November 14. This left me stunned and without inspiration for my wildlife passion.

However, with my wife forcing me out of my shell to take advantage of a few spare hours of reasonable weather and get away from funeral arrangements, she dropped me off at Thursley Common on November 20 insisting that she wouldn’t be returning to pick me up for at least two hours!

Fieldfares fly over Thursley Common.

My first notable sighting there was that of several flocks of 50 or so fieldfare, with a few redwing among them as they flew over.

Although I did not have have any luck seeking out the great grey shrike that has been reported on numerous occasions since it arrive back to winter there on October 20.

Dartford warbler on Thursley Common.

While walking the path on the eastern side of what’s locally known as ‘Shrike Hill’, I was delighted to hear the scratchy sound I have heard on several previous visits this year of a Dartford warbler.

Dartford warbler sings its scratchy call on Thursley Common.

And even more so however on this occasion as he flew out from some dense gorse and sat up in a small silver birch and continued to sing his scratchy song.

Although playing hard to get and not allowing me a clear opportunity for a photo, it was the first Dartford warbler I had actually seen at Thursley since the devastating heathland fire there in 2006.

Combined with successive cold winters since, not only had they disappeared from Thursley, but there has been a worrying decline and even demise of them from many of their other Surrey heathland habitats.

Quoting from a report I wrote in July last year: ”These birds have been living in Surrey on what is some of the most northerly points of their breeding range. They have enjoyed many years of successful breeding, and at one time even increasing in numbers in some areas, with even a few pairs resident on Whitmoor Common at Worplesdon. However, due to the combination of heathland fires destroying their habitats of dense gorse in which they can find insects to feed  during cold spells and several harsh winters recently.”

Little grebe, also known as a dabchick, at Shamley Green.

Choosing to pause and reflect for a few moments while looking out across a quiet backwater in Shamley Green on one of the few pleasant spells in the last week of the month, I noticed a dabchick pop up from fishing below the surface of the water and not too distant from my gaze.

Little grebe (dabchick) now in its winter plumage.

Probably better known as little grebes, these birds are well known for being able to stay under water for quite long periods – as with all grebes.

Another phone call from Dougal, a top local birdwatching pal with a manically keen passion for rare bird and wildlife sightings, took me on a trip to Kent on November 30 meeting up with his long time friend John, and then along to Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve to view an American white ibis that had been recently reported.

Juvenile American white ibis. No sign of leg tags.

Expecting to see a white bird, I was rather surprised to see it was far from being one. It was, in fact, a juvenile. I realised why as it sat at the water’s edge alongside a grey heron giving a good perspective of size.

Juvenile American white ibis alongside a grey heron.

Juvenile American white ibis shows how big a meal it can swallow.

Although this bird is only native to America and is very much thought to be an escape from a private collection, it does remain a mystery why it hasn’t been tagged in any form, and a slim possibility still remains that it may have been blown off course and on to our shores just as other vagrant birds are well known to do.

To watch a You Tube clip I have uploaded of the juvenile ibis click here.

Dodgy looking snow goose in Sevenoaks.

Another interesting sighting for me at the wildlife reserve was a rather dodgy looking snow goose, reminding me of a similar one I saw at Farlington Marsh near Portsmouth and reported on last December. 

Dodgy looking snow goose at Farlington, December 8, 2013.

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