Birdwatcher’s Diary No.80

Published on: 1 Feb, 2015
Updated on: 1 Feb, 2015

By Malcolm Fincham

Taking advantage of a dry spell of weather, I spent some time enjoying a few pleasant days of sunshine during the last weeks of January around the Surrey countryside.

Winter view across Thursley Common.

January 22 was certainly one of those days to be able to take in the wonder of the countryside on Thursley Common and its atmospheric delights with the feeling that any birds I might see would be a bonus on such a chilly but sunny afternoon.

The inhospitable looking winter heathland can often be quite sparse of wildlife activity at this time of year, but this certainly wasn’t the case on this occasion, in spite of a recent cold spell of weather and some sharp overnight frosts. I was also delighted to see so much gorse already in flower giving colour to what can be quite a bleak looking landscape.

Gorse in flower as a male and female stonechat perch on top at Thursley Common.

Gorse is an opportunist plant that often takes the risk at this time of the year of breaking into flower in the hope of insect will arrive and help to pollinate it.

Dartford warbler on Thursley Common.

Having got some rather pleasing pictures of Dartford warblers there on December 10, I was pleased to add them once again to this year’s list of sightings.

And on getting a few more up-to-date photos, I wished them best of luck with the hope that they will survive the rest of the winter as they looked for food in and around the gorse at the several locations which I was able to locate them.

Dartford warbler looking for insects on Thursley Common.

Living on the northern edge of their breeding habitat on our Surrey heathland, they are susceptible to cold winters as they are dependant on insects to survive on, unlike some birds that are able to change their diets during winter months.

Male stonechat on Thursley Common.

Other birds seen there in surprisingly good numbers included a flock of 25 or more meadow pipits, feeding in the heather on ‘shrike hill’ as well as a good number of stonechats.

Female stonechat on Thursley Common.

Lesser redpoll also seen on Thursley Common.

And even my first sighting of the year of three lesser redpoll feeding in some young silver birch on ‘shrike hill’.

Green woodpecker on Thursley Common.

As well as both greater spotted and green woodpecker.

With the great grey shrike renown to have been very mobile this winter, appearing only briefly on Thursley Common (as well as other heathland commons around Surrey), it was no surprise to me it wasn’t present that day.

This minor disappoint was more than made up for as I walked the footpath from ‘shrike hill’ towards the tumulus mound. From over a section of trees a bird of prey appeared scattering a group of small birds as it came into sight.

A hen harrier flies by.

On realising it was a hen harrier, I scrambled for my camera and although not being able to focus it as well as I would have liked and only getting a few record shots as it flew by, it was certainly a rare sight and quite a special bird to add to my year list.

Hen harrier with a glimpse of its white ringtail.

And a first ever sighting for me in Surrey!

The adult male and female are dimorphic with the adult male being noticeably paler in appearance than the female and immature bird.

Still thought to be persecuted by some gamekeepers on shooting estates, especially those managed for red grouse shooting, and with fewer habitats in which to breed, sightings of such a graceful predator will remain a rare one throughout the UK.

I would almost certainly guess this one had drifted over from Eastern Europe to winter in the UK.

Stoke Lake lightly frozen after an overnight frost.

During the afternoon of the following day, after an overnight frost, I made the most of the sunshine by taking a walk around Stoke Nature Reserve in the hope to glean a few more photos with more rather pleasing results.

Bullfinch near the Stoke recycling depot.

My first was an encounter was with a group of four or so skittish (as always) bullfinches, just managing a picture of a male before it took flight to join the others.

With just a small corner of the lake by the island not frozen over, it gave me the chance to get a few close up pictures of waterfowl.

Gadwall on Stoke Lake.

Gadwall shows off its beautiful plumage.

A gadwall was among the few ducks on show, allowing me some good views of its beautiful plumage.

Dabchick (little grebe) seen at Stoke Lake.

A dabchick (little grebe) fishing by some reeds could be viewed quite close by.

Swans on the River Wey during a pleasant winter’s day.

Swans on the river.

While walking the towpath out to Bowers Lock, a pair of swans could be viewed as they gracefully swam the river between Stoke and Bowers Locks.

Common buzzard near Bowers Court Farm.

Looking out across the river to Bowers Court Farm, I spent a while watching a common buzzard that had taken up a regular position of late, perched in one of its favourite trees.

The buzzard takes flight.

Occasionally gliding down to the ground with seemingly effortless grace to catch an unsuspecting small mammal.

Swooping down for a meal.

Common buzzard in the field.

Redwing.

While a few redwing could be seen feeding nearby in the field.

Kestrel near Chinthurst Hill.

With kestrel numbers thought to be on great decline throughout the UK, it was pleasing for me to continue to get sightings of them in various locations around the Guildford area.

Have you seen a ring-necked parakeet on your bird feeders in your garden?

Last of all, but worth a mention, I have had a lot of reports locally of bright green parrot-like birds on feeders in gardens. (I hope you are keeping yours topped up during this cold spell of weather).

These are ring-necked parakeets that have colonised some northern parts of Surrey. 

Have you seen one on your feeders lately? I would be interested to know. Please leave a reply in the box below.

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