There's been more non-starting in regard to anticipated migration during the past 2 days, with only a few signs of movement. A few hours sky-watching yesterday afternoon was notable for a small gull passage, including 8 Herring Gulls south and a trickle of Meadow Pipits north, but aside from a couple of singing Chiffchaffs there was nothing else to report. Today, I met up with Sam Jones just after midday, and with an Osprey having departed Enton Lakes not long before (the second local bird in 3 days) and a Swallow over Shalford at a similar time, we went out hopeful that Storm Katie had blown some birds our way.
There was still a fairly strong breeze as we set out, and the usual fare were noted quite quickly, though not in particularly high numbers. The mixed flock on the Ridge has dropped down significantly now, with no Yellowhammers hanging around anymore. We did, however, pick up at least 5 Bramblings, hunkering down in the bushes. A walk to Bonhurst hinted at spring, a singing Blackcap briefly uttering it's attractive song from somewhere in the orchard next to Birtley House track. This was a year tick, and Sam later had another at Juniper Valley, near Hydon's Ball, suggesting a migrant fall rather than stirred wintering birds. 2 Chiffchaffs were singing in Furze Field but, all in all, it was fairly quiet.
 |
| Grey Wagtails at Mill Pond |
Godalming area
As previously mentioned, a couple of Ospreys have been passing through over the Easter weekend. One flew north over Tuesley Farm at 09:05 on Friday, before a bird turned up at Enton lakes today, where it fished from about 10:45 until 11:20, when it flew off. Another was seen by Matt Phelps flying north over his Chilworth garden this afternoon. A Swallow went west over Shalford water meadows today, and there were Great Grey Shrikes at both Thursley and Frensham Commons on Friday.
