Nought to sixty

Birding is a funny hobby. This year, spring has been seriously slow in coming, with winter dragging on. That was the case for much of the past week as well – frosts and northerlies dominated, until Wednesday. Then, it seemed, the tap was turned on. With suitable departure conditions on the Continent a large arrival (for mid-March at least) of migrants took place across southern England. This unexpected and early pulse of spring action caught many off-guard – and it's these unpredictable moments that make it such a fun pastime.

Reed Bunting.

Saturday 11th

Another wintry morning with a hard frost began at Eashing Farm, where a quick check of the reservoir produced the three Little Grebes and a hefty juvenile Peregrine sat on the perimeter fence.

Peregrine.

I then headed to Shackleford, where a two-hour session featuring some 49 species was really enjoyable, even if signs of spring were somewhat limited. The highlight was finally getting good, prolonged views of the Corn Buntings, which have been here for nearly two months now. One bird even started singing for a short while – amazing!

A Yellowhammer pair nearby were a very welcome sight – perhaps they will stick around and breed. One can hope … some 25 Reed Buntings, 45 Skylarks, 80 or more Linnets and 35 Meadow Pipits were also noted, along with a heard-only Little Owl. Nine Stonechats and a Chiffchaff hinted at spring. 

Reed Buntings and Linnets.

The morning was capped off by a Water Rail scampering along a frozen puddle near the farm pond – a Shackleford first no less!

Sunday 12th

The first spring-like morning since I got back from Mexico was most welcome as I walked along the Wey. The Lammas Lands held the typical fare, with the added bonus of a Jack Snipe which I flushed twice on Catteshall Meadow. I often find March to be a good month to connect with this species, which has had a poor winter locally.

Other bits and pieces included 12 Snipe, a singing Stonechat, some territorial Reed Buntings and a Little Egret.

Stonechat.

The Eashing stretch was entertaining too, with 44 species amassed. Three Teal on floods by Milton Pool were only my third 1-km record of the year, with two Mute Swans on the river by Rush Corner only my second. A Ruddy Shelduck upriver with two Egyptian Geese was a whacky sight and a Marsh Tit was singing in an alder copse near Eashing Bridge – my closest record to the village to date.

Mute Swan and Egyptian Goose with Ruddy Shelduck.

Monday 13th

No birding.

Tuesday 14th

A biting, breezy north-westerly wind was blowing through Eashing Fields this morning, where signs of spring life included a light northerly passage of Meadow Pipits (my first notable push of the year), three Stonechats in The Meadow and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls north. A Red-legged Partridge and two Greylag Geese (rare here) were also noted.

A singing Firecrest was a notable village record later in the morning.

After another busy day working on the finishing touches to our book, Matt fancied trying for the Corn Buntings – a species he needed for his vice-county list. To our surprise, the trio were immediately located upon arrival, hanging out with a group of 80 or more Linnets and seemingly getting ready for roost. A high, north-eastbound flock of 70 Starlings caught the eye as well.

Corn Buntings.

Wednesday 15th

Winter's extension was very much in evidence at Thursley Common this morning, with a hard frost cloaking the ground. Despite this, one of the most enjoyable local signs of spring was around Pudmore first thing: a pair of Curlews. The male arrived back last week but this was my first encounter of the year, as both birds foraged in the wider area, occasionally performing territorial loops. Splendid.

Curlews.

Some 44 species were noted in all – a decent total for mid-March – but things still felt quiet out there. A few more Meadow Pipits were knocking about, a light northerly passage of Stock Doves was underway and a Mandarin pair were flying around.

Back home and working on the book, with Matt having not long arrived, it was clear through the various WhatsApp pings and BirdGuides app alerts that things were kicking off in the South-East. Then, Beddington main man Zach called: Stone-curlew. It didn't take long before Matt and I were out the door and heading to the outskirts of London, with a vice-county tick on our minds.

Stone-curlew is notoriously hard to twitch in Surrey, so we were pleased when we clapped eyes on the bird at the end of our mad dash. It was distant and rather motionless on Phase 3 Wet Grassland, but a wonderful sight nonetheless – and quite a quirky first spring migrant of the year! Not many people will have seen Curlew and Stone-curlew on the same day in Surrey before ...

Stone-curlew.

We said our thanks and headed back south. The reports and alerts kept coming through, though, and at around 4.30 pm Abel messaged with news of a probable Merlin at Shackleford. This was enough to pique my interest and, with a day working on the book essentially in tatters anywhere, I was out the house again.

Sadly (but predictably) there was no further sign of the Merlin, though glorious compensation came via my first Wheatear of the year – of course a spanking male, and my earliest in Surrey to boot. After today, it's safe to say spring has sprung!

Wheatear.

Thursday 16th

Some 48 species was a new personal best along the Wey at Eashing this morning, which was grey and mild. My first 1-km Chiffchaff of the year was in song near Eashing Marsh – the same locale as my first in 2022, though six days later.

Other bits included an adult Mute Swan low south over Eashing Bridge, 17 Mandarin, eight Greenfinches and a Red-legged Partridge.

I popped up to Eashing Fields around midday, by which time a breezy, mild southerly was in play. A huge flock of Starlings powered north-east – I estimated a minimum of 250, which were later followed by a smaller group of 20 or so. During the last two days I've noticed a few high, north-eastbound groups of Starlings, so presumably some return continental movement is underway at the moment. 

Starlings.

Friday 17th

It was mild and grey at Frensham Great Pond this morning, where I was pleased to see my first hirundines of 2023 – three Sand Martins zipping about over the water. The Cetti's Warbler was in voice in the eastern reedbed – my first record here this year – and a Chiffchaff was singing too. Marsh Tit, Kingfisher and Little Egret were also present, but notably I had no Pochard here for the first time since 23 October.