Getting to know you

January has flown by. The month has been unusually dry, with plenty of bright, crisp winter days to boot, meaning time in the field has often been rather pleasant. Getting to know the new sites close to home and a few early signs of spring have added to the enjoyable flavour 2022 has so far conjured up.

Fieldfare and frost.

Monday 17th

The January fall moon shone spectacularly over Hambledon at first light, where a light frost was on the ground. A walk around the arable farmland east of the village produced a few good bits, including three Yellowhammers at Court Farm (perhaps the most reliable site for this species locally), two Reed Buntings, flyover Bramblings and Lesser Redpolls (two of each) and Bullfinch. Good numbers of Redwings were nervously moving from field to field, perhaps on edge due to the presence of a female Sparrowhawk.

January full moon.

From there I climbed up Hydon's Ball, where a Lesser Redpoll looked set to highlight until, close to the car park, I bumped into two Marsh Tits. I've never recorded this species here before and it's pleasing to unearth them at new sites, especially away from the Low Weald stronghold. The birds, perhaps a pair, included a singing male. I'm aware of only four other sites within a 4 km radius of Godalming that still supports this declining species.

As I was back in Farncombe today I decided to walk to the Lammas Lands at dusk. It was a beautiful evening and a Little Egret high south-west – presumably to roost somewhere – was good value. I got the thermal imager out when it got properly dark. A few Snipe were flying around but a mega reward came at 17:35 (70 minutes after sunset) when a Barn Owl ghosted through north-east, calling to boot. This is a truly enigmatic species locally and very hard to pin down – my last at the Lammas Lands was in April 2019.

Tuesday 18th 

I popped to Eashing Fields mid-morning, where a heavy frost was still coating the ground. Good numbers of birds in the top field included 45 Fieldfares and at least 10 Skylarks – the latter a very pleasing count. The Stonechat pair were still about, but perhaps unsurprisingly there was no sign of the Dartford Warbler from last week. The session was capped off by a surprise Little Egret heading south.

Little Egret and Stonechat.

Wednesday 19th

It was much milder as I walked along the river from Eashing this morning, which doubtless contributed to a decent 41 species being logged. Highlights included at least two Marsh Tits (one of which was a singing male), three Mandarin, a (the?) Woodcock flushed from the same ditch as on 12th, two flyover Ravens, some noisy Jays and a singing Red-legged Partridge.

Near the end of the walk, I heard a weird vocalisation – almost like a Marsh Tit mixed call / song. I wasn't overly surprised to find that the perpetrator was a Great Tit. It was a pretty good impression – just a touch more forceful and less drawn out than a Marsh Tit song, and too rapid-fire and loud for a quick series of calls. Some research led me to a paper (Aymi & Riera, 2019) that revealed that, from a sample of Great Tit mimicry cases, Marsh Tit was the second commonest species impersonated.

Thursday 20th

It was cold again this morning. The alfalfa at Shackleford held decent numbers of birds, including 30 or more Skylarks, some 100 winter thrushes and at least 50 Meadow Pipits, the latter count proving my highest local mipit tally of the winter. Four Stonechats were also present. Walking through Peper Harow on the way home produced Ring-necked Parakeet and an unexpected group of 30 Skylarks.

Friday 21st

The temperature dropped as low as -5°C overnight and it was no surprise that Frensham Great Pond was half frozen first thing. More unexpected was a roosting flock of some 82 Canada Geese – perhaps frozen out of a more usual haunt – with a lone Barnacle Goose among them. This is my first local encounter of a feral 'barnie' since September 2020. Five Shoveler and four Pochard were noted among lower than usual numbers of wildfowl, but it was otherwise quiet.

Saturday 22nd

It was a grey and cold winter's morning at Puttenham Common, the journey to which included a Red-legged Partridge running over Suffield Lane. Aside from dogwalkers the common was rather quiet, despite 41 species being noted. Highlights included a flyover Lesser Redpoll and a hooting Tawny Owl, with Cutt Mill holding a Shoveler pair on the house pond, a Kingfisher at The Tarn and 15 Goosander – my highest local count of the winter – across both. A drake of the latter species displayed briefly too.

Goosander.

I walked home via Shackleford, where I inadvertently racked up 45 species, meaning my morning stroll ended on a nice round 60 in total. The best bits here included a calling Little Owl and a female Brambling that showed well – albeit briefly – in a flock of Chaffinches. Singles of Raven and Kestrel, 10 Teal and two Ring-necked Parakeets were also noted.

Sunday 23rd

Enton Lakes was quiet first thing, with Kingfisher and Lesser Redpoll highlighting. I then walked the woodland south of Hambledon, where an excellent number of Marsh Tits were located – at least seven around Hambledon Hurst but possibly double-figures. There wasn't much else to report, save a handful of Lesser Redpolls. Some 220 Common Gulls at Milford were of note on the way home, representing my biggest local flock since 2017.

Monday 24th

A Shalford Snipe-stomp failed to deliver, with only six birds seen and no hint of any Jacks. However, four Wigeon on St Catherine's Pool were very notable – my first for the site, which scores this local scarcity once or twice a year. Five Shoveler and two Water Rails were also about.

Wigeon.

Tuesday 25th

A very quiet morning of ringing at Shackleford was livened up by the presence of two first-winter Redwings in the nets. Other bits of note included a singing Red-legged Partridge, 17 Linnets and a Reed Bunting.

Redwing.

Wednesday 26th

I walked from the Lammas Lands (Overgone Meadow) to Eashing before work, notching up 46 species. Overgone was very quiet (and dry), with zero Snipe present. Five Reed Buntings – including a singing male – and a female Kestrel were the best bits there.

Things were livelier along the Eashing stretch, with the clear highlight a male Brambling amid a flock of Chaffinches in alders at Weir Marsh – very much a bonus 1 km from home bird. A calling Water Rail here was also good value. Other bits included a Marsh Tit pair, five Bullfinches, 90 or so Siskins, singles of Grey Wagtail and Linnet, 14 Mandarin and 70 Redwings.

Marsh Tit.

Thursday 27th

Despite 41 species seen it felt quiet during a two-hour session at Thursley Common this morning, where Woodcock (flushed near Pine Island), 10 Woodlarks (including four in song), two Lesser Redpolls and nine Egyptian Geese stood out as the best bits. 

Later in the day, two Ravens cruising west over Eashing marked a garden tick, with singles of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also seen.

Kestrel.

Friday 28th

No birding today.

Saturday 29th

A windy but wonderful wander in the Weald this morning, with the mild conditions and eventual blue skies giving off more than a faint whiff of spring. I was seeking raptors and no fewer than six species were on the wing, which included a superb Goshawk encounter. A pair went berserk upon the arrival in their airspace of an immature female – seemingly a 'first adult' (third-year) – with intense display and aerial dogfighting taking place for several minutes before the adult female drove the youngster away.

Goshawk action.

No matter how many times I see this species, which is an absolute favourite of mine, the excitement of being in their presence never wanes. Truly special birds. A juvenile Peregrine was also of significance. While always scarce in south-west Surrey, this was my first record locally since 5 September – and only my second since April!

Peregrine.

Other bits from a quality session included two Bramblings, Yellowhammer, three Marsh Tits, an interacting pair of Ravens, two Kestrels and a male Sparrowhawk. The morning was capped off by my first butterfly of the year: a Red Admiral.

Later on, an impressive flock of 100 or so Linnets were flying around Eashing Farm. At night, a female Tawny Owl was calling in the garden.

Sunday 30th

I walked some of the 'lesser' local commons this morning, which was frosty and bright. I started at Royal Common where seven Goosander were a bit of a surprise on the small pond. Five of them were drakes, with a couple engaging in display while vocalising – the first time I've heard this odd, guttural call. Stonechat, Bullfinch and Linnet were also noted.

Rodborough and Milford Commons were quiet, though Witley Common was a little better despite the woeful lack of habitat management at this site over the last few years. The species of the morning occurred here as well: a pair of Crossbills heading east. These chaps are super thin on the ground this winter after bumper numbers last season, and this was my first sighting locally since November (and only my fourth since July). Three Lesser Redpolls also flew over.

Monday 31st

No birding today.