Leith Hill, last light and a lifer

After essentially a week of no birding, it’s been nice to get back in the field over the past few days. Despite the time of year, things have been (largely) quite lively, but I’ll try and squeeze everything in this post.

Hen Harrier, Shackleford farmland, 19 November 2019.

Saturday came and it was time to head east, to Leith Hill tower. Mole Valley stalwart David S is, sadly, heading to far better birding climes with a permanent move to Norfolk. As a result, almost all the tower aficionados gathered in a cold north-east wind, ready for an epic send-off.

As it happened the birds had other ideas, during what gets filed in the ‘connoisseurs watch’ folder. Despite being up there for nearly four hours, the best birds were heard-only Crossbills, a high-flying Yellowhammer and a ‘scoped covey of absolutely wild Red-legged Partridges. It’s safe to say the trip to the pub for lunch that followed was more entertaining.

After a meek and mild Allden’s Hill skywatch on Sunday (save a westward bound Mute Swan), the temptation of a Yank lifer less than 90 minutes from home (and the fact I was at my parents on the south coast that evening anyway) was too much to resist. So, I made my first-ever visit to Keyhaven Marshes in the far west of Hampshire, with Semipalmated Sandpiper on my mind.

Carrion Crow, Leith Hill, 16 November 2019.

The bird has caused a bit of furore on Saturday, with an orangey-looking bar on the scapulars hinting at the far rarer Western Sandpiper. I was more than happy with it being SemiP, however, with this probably one of four obvious tart’s ticks still evading my Western Palearctic list (my location within Britain being highlighted by the fact the others are Snowy Owl, Snow Goose and White-billed Diver!).

Annoyingly, in a bit of a rush I forgot to put my camera battery in when we left the car, so you’ll need to use your imagination a bit. Anyway, at a wonderful if cold site, 57 species were logged in an hour-and-a-half, including said Semipalmated Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank and hundreds of dabbling ducks including many Pintail.

With the job done with a bit of time to spare, we headed back east and called in at The Burgh, for another hearty stroll before dinner. It was fairly quiet, certainly on the raptor front (zero harriers), but a late Ring Ouzel, a Firecrest and several coveys of Grey Partridges – totalling at least 30 birds – were good value.

Grey Partridges, The Burgh, 17 November 2019.

On Monday it was back to patch, though a walk through Winkworth was steady to put it positively. Two each of Marsh Tit and Firecrest highlighted. I decided to do my first proper stomp around Unstead for several weeks afterwards, thinking that perhaps a Snipe could be on the cards.

There was no Snipe, but some decent bits included a Little Egret in Flooded Field, a Water Rail squealing from towards the North Meadow, eight Reed Buntings, two Chiffchaffs and a flyover Mute Swan. Next time I’ll wade a little further – there must be a few Snipe (and maybe even Jack Snipe) knocking about with the water levels at a good height at present.

Mute Swan, Unstead SF, 18 November 2019.

Meadow Pipits, Unstead SF, 18 November 2019.

With the sun out, we decided to walk the Shackleford farmland at dusk. This place is fast becoming my second patch, overtaking Unstead. The Monday night walk was perhaps the best yet. After a few Ring-necked Parakeets were clocked both in the village and over Hook Lane, and a drake Teal on Lydling Farm pond, we parked up by the model airfield.

The sound of a Lapwing led me to scan the fields towards Hurlands – I soon picked up one, then a small flock, and then another. A full sweep of the field in fact revealed many ‘peewit’ heads and I was amazed to tally no fewer than 86 – a seriously good count for this part of the world and my largest flock locally since Unstead in the halcyon days of the early 2000s!

Lapwings, Shackleford farmland, 18 November 2019.

There were plenty of finches and Skylarks feeding in the same field, while Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting flew over. Up the track towards the road, a pair of charming Stonechats performed nicely beneath the setting sun.

Stonechat, Shackleford farmland, 18 November 2019.

It had already been a relaxing and rewarding visit, but while we walked the loop up to the hay barn, the frequency of Pied Wagtails overhead caught my attention. A couple of pairs and trios had gone over north-west, but suddenly a single flock of 32 birds whizzed in the same direction.

Soon after another 29, then another 20, before a final large flock of 20 was followed by further dribs and drabs. It was quite amazing and clearly there was a roost nearby. Surely if I got there earlier the following night, I could beat my tally of 114?

Pied Wagtails, Shackleford farmland, 18 November 2019.

So, the following night, it was straight to the hay barn for half an hour before sundown. There was no sign of any Lapwings, though plenty more Redwings and Fieldfares were knocking about. It didn’t take long before the first two Pied Wagtails flew over. The area looks great for owls and I was constantly scanning west over the fields too.

I picked up a distant silhouette of a raptor which I presumed would be a Buzzard. As it banked, I noticed a long-looking tail … I dallied, telling myself it was a Common Buzzard, but I couldn’t shake the long tail and eventually a white rump shimmered in the low light – ringtail harrier!

Hen Harrier, Shackleford farmland, 19 November 2019.

Annoyingly my lax attitude meant I hadn’t papped it and it had now disappeared. A few minutes passed – Pied Wags now fully neglected – before it thankfully reappeared to the north over the airfield, being escorted south by a Carrion Crow. In wonderful light, the bird, a Hen Harrier, drifted south.

All manner of passerines flew up in alarm, including at least 22 Skylarks. The harrier eventually lowered itself into a winter cover crop where it presumably roosted. You can’t beat unexpected moments of local birding like that.

Hen Harrier, Shackleford farmland, 19 October 2019.

Back home, I excitedly reported the news to our local birders email group. I was most surprised when I saw Peter O’s reply saying he had presumably the same bird earlier that day! Despite probably being en route to a wintering site on the south coast somewhere, the harrier was still there today. Abel enjoyed grippingly close views, and Kit and Steve, among others, have scored.

What a dream it’d be if it spent the winter there. Whatever the case, Shackleford farmland is going to be checked that bit extra moving forward – I’ve had Marsh and Hen Harrier there in the last four months (not to mention the Monty’s nearby last week, making it the second year out of four I’ve seen all three British breeding harrier species in Surrey!).

Indeed, a scratch under the surface shows this little area of farmland actually has some pretty decent records to its name down the years. How many of these small patches of the Surrey countryside are secret birding hot-spots? Perhaps that’s a post for another day.