Running on empty

It’s been a slow week. After such a fantastic 2020 locally it’s safe to say I’m running on empty a bit, struggling for inspiration during this period of the year I particularly dislike. 11 months of thrashing your local area can definitely leave you jaded, especially when you’ve achieved your goal, have limited worthwhile options to chase and the weather is largely unenjoyable. Some time away would be just the ticket but that’s not happening any time soon. One last good local bird before 2021 – ideally a nice and easy twitch of something found by someone else – would cap the year off nicely.

Egyptian Geese over Thursley.

Wednesday 18th

Breezy but brighter than forecast and still quite mild. With eBird temporarily down it was back to the notebook on The Hurtwood this morning, though there was very little to go in it; two each of Crossbill and Lesser Redpoll were noted amid underwhelming finch numbers. It was interesting to hear a Dartford Warbler – after a pair bred here this summer it seems at least one has stuck around to winter. Woodpigeon numbers were still notable overhead, serving as a reminder that the year hasn’t quite let go of autumn’s coattails just yet.

On the way to Snowdenham Mill Pond, travelling with the window down paid off when I heard a Little Owl calling from within Thorncombe Park. The pair here were regular as clockwork on their roadside perch up until spring 2018, when they vanished, and I suspected they’d moved deeper into the private park. So, it was nice to know the species is indeed still present at this site. On the pond, as has been the case recently, the only wildfowl were Gadwall (10) and Mallard (27).

Thursday 19th

For a good half-hour or so in the morning attempts to work were not helped by a first-winter Mistle Thrush going berserk in the yew tree in the front garden. There seemed to be no good reason for its apparent deep concern, as it simultaneously wolfed down berries while kicking off.

Friday 20th

A clear night and a switch to a direct westerly meant it there was sharp frost overnight with the temperature just below zero when I headed out – just how winter should be! With the Little Bunting not seen for nine days I figured it’d be quiet enough to return there for the first time in a fortnight … a glorious sunrise above the frozen common was enjoyed as squealing Water Rails, honking geese and overhead finches made themselves known before dawn.

A frosty Thursley Common.

A bit of Woodpigeon movement was going on overhead while I walked Ockley. Birchy Pond held nothing, but upon rejoining the main footpath I soon heard that familiar ‘tick’. After a bit of a wait, I eventually located the Little Bunting in the usual spot, a month and a day after I first found it. Clearly it's finding plenty to eat, but today was the first time I saw it alone and it was more skittish than before. I suspect a few more cold snaps into December could move it along (especially considering it should be in South-East Asia now!) but we’ll see. It could easily winter.

The Little Bunting not enjoying the cold. 

There was plenty of finch action and I tallied nine species in all, including such Thursley scarcities as Greenfinch (only my second on the common this year!) and Bullfinch (my sixth there this year), as well as a Brambling and 22 Crossbills. The latter haul included a flock of 13 by Truxford. No Parrots, sadly ...

Crossbill tucking into breakfast.

Saturday 21st

Back to mild and breezy, and an early walk around Thursley was a parody of yesterday with very little of note. I didn’t look for the bunting but others reported no sign – the best I managed was a few Crossbills and a Tawny Owl, the latter being a handy addition to my ‘lockdown two patch challenge’ with David. 

On the way back, a look at Cutt Mill Ponds produced the first local Goosander of the winter – an adult drake. Numbers of this sawbill should build at this traditional locale in the coming weeks, especially if we get any cold weather. Also of note were a small flock of Siskins, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail.

The first local Goosander of the winter.

Sunday 22nd

A mid-afternoon walk around Shackleford was under pleasant blue skies but very quiet in terms of birds, though a Woodlark that flew over the main track was only my second here. With news that Shaun P had seen a Bittern at Frensham Little Pond earlier in the morning I staked out the site around dusk. It was mind-blowingly busy and I didn’t see any Bitterns, with the usual Water Rails, Kingfisher, Crossbills and Grey Wagtails of note.

Monday 23rd

An hour-and-a-half at Frensham Little Pond first thing ensured back-to-back Bittern dips were complete for the second week running. A Brambling flew over, along with four Crossbills, while the usual four Little Egrets and a couple of Water Rails were noted pre-dawn. Other bits included some 1,000 Starlings out of their reedbed roost, a male Sparrowhawk and two flyover Woodlarks.

Mute Swans at Frensham Little Pond.

Tuesday 24th

Mild and dull again. I walked around the Lammas Lands early morning, with the best bird easily a Jack Snipe in an area Sam had located two on Sunday. I also notched up 18 Common Snipe without covering the entirety of both meadows, so presumably there is a decent amount here. Four Reed Buntings included a singing male, and singles of Grey Wagtail, Kestrel and Siskin were also noted.

Snipe at the Lammas Lands.

I then visited The Ridge at Thorncombe Street – my old stomping ground – for the first time in months. Two Ravens cronked overhead and a few birds in the cover crops included five Reed Buntings and about double the number of Linnets. It seems it won't be a classic winter up there yet again, unlike 2015-16 and 2017-18 when heaps of finches and buntings used the area. A covey of six Red-legged Partridges were at Slades Farm and four Gadwall were on Snowdenham Mill Pond.