Chilly to cool

Following a chilly start to December, as the cold snap that began in late November continued, things have gradually slipped into more typical modern-day winter conditions during the last 10 days – in other words, plenty of rain, and breezy, cool winds from the south or west. Birding has slowed down simultaneously, but it's still been a relatively fun period.

Lesser Redpoll.

Friday 1st

Another bitterly cold morning, with a sharp frost and freezing fog in the hills. Such conditions called for a waterbody check first of all and I began at Frensham Great Pond where, after yesterday, numbers of wildfowl were back up. This included 25 Pochard, seven Shoveler and a single Teal – the latter uncommon here. 

Two Little Grebes were also of note, while three Little Egrets were seen in flight and the south-east reedbed held a squealing Water Rail.

I then visited Tuesley, where I was pleased to see 'Sheila' the female Scaup had made it into December – and Tufted Duck numbers had more than doubled compared with yesterday. 

Scaup.

As I was leaving, to my great surprise, a wader appeared overhead – and I got just enough on it to ID it as a Dunlin. My first-ever December encounter with the species in the local area, it likely rounds off the extraordinary year for Dunlin in south-west Surrey, with this my ninth record (out of 10 in total) and from an eighth different month. In 2021, there was only one all year!

With time on my hands this morning, I headed to the Weald for a long walk, and ended up having a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours, with the scenic landscapes decked in icy, Narnia-like winter shades.

The Hurtwood.

I started at The Hurtwood, where it was immediately obvious that excellent numbers of Lesser Redpolls were present in the young birch plantation at Holloways Heath. I estimated a minimum of 150 but, try as I might, there were no birds remotely resembling Mealy. 

Lesser Redpolls.

Two Crossbills flew over and there were better than usual numbers of Redwings and Chaffinches. It felt almost like I was in southern Scandinavia at times, such were the frosty trees, presence of winter finches and thrushes and blissful silence …

Normally I'd walk from The Hurtwood west to Hambledon church, but that route probably won't be a productive option anymore (see my last post). So, I headed down Breakneck Hill and onto the farmland that runs between Loxhill and Hambledon, and was pleasantly surprised by the liveliness. 

Best of all was a cover crop at Markwick Farm that held no fewer than 15 Yellowhammers – a very pleasing sight after the aforementioned recent developments at Feathercombe Farm. Some 100 or so Linnets were in the same crop, as well as a single Reed Bunting.

Yellowhammers and cover crop.

It was then on towards Burgate Farm, where a lovely, seasonal-feeling hike ended with a nice flock of 70 or more Skylarks in the cabbage fields. This is a notable gathering in south-west Surrey away from Shackleford.

Burgate Farm.

Saturday 2nd

The forecast for today was initially one of cold, crisp winter sunshine and I'd planned for another lengthy morning in the field. However, dense freezing fog had locked in overnight (and ended up barely shifting all day). This meant I was left scrambling for a plan B when I arrived at Tuesley first thing, where visibility was down to a couple of hundred metres.

Despite the murk, I could make out the continued presence of the female Scaup, plus the arrival of four female Pochard, making for an unheard of three-Aythya day. It was bitterly cold and a stakeout was proving to be both unconformable and fruitless. 

Scaup.

Then, news came through of a Lapland Bunting at Beddington – and it wasn't long before Dave B (who was at Thursley) and I hatched a plan, and we headed to south London. Visibility was a bit better here but, despite nearly two hours on site with Zach, Glenn and David, we failed to relocate the bird, which had only been seen briefly by Glenn.

There were a few things to see, though, including a vocal Water Pipit in South-East Corner, a few incongruous (and presumably frozen-out) Snipe, a flock of 22 Lapwings and a female Shelduck.

Beddington Farmlands.

On the way home, having thawed out in the car, we quickly checked the fields at Loseley, where 13 Lapwings were feeding – my highest count in south-west Surrey all year (grim).

Sunday 3rd

Another morning, another waterbody check, though the northerly wind had abated today and, though it wasn't exactly mild, it wasn't freezing, with a gentle southerly breeze bringing occasional light drizzle. 

Frensham Great Pond was up first and, as on Friday, wildfowl numbers were up, including 38 Pochard, 45 Tufted Duck and 14 Shoveler. 

Pochard.

Two Water Rails and singles of Firecrest, Little Egret and Kingfisher made for a complete Frensham winter visit bingo card, and a bonus Crossbill flew east, calling.

Next up was Tuesley where, lo and behold, the female Scaup was still present, amid the flock of Tufted Duck. She does like sleeping ...

Scaup.

For reasons that are unclear, and perhaps temporary, this site has changed in terms of its attraction to duck in the last 12 months. This was demonstrated in style when a Goosander appeared overhead and nearly took my head off before landing! 

Goosander.

The bird, a juvenile, came as quite a surprise – needless to say a Tuesley first – but soon settled and began 'snorkelling'! A veritable wildfowl feast for the eyes was underway, but it didn't last too long, as the Goosander eventually took off high, and disappeared towards Enton Lakes.

This called for a check of Enton and, as anticipated, the Goosander was relocated on Johnson's Lake, where it seemed a lot more settled. Goosander is a decent local bird away from the regular local handful of sites, so it felt like a satisfying prize.

Goosander.

Otherwise, though, things were quiet at Enton, save a slight increase in Tufted Duck.

Monday 4th

A wet, dreary and miserable December morning. A quick check of Tuesley before work saw four Pochard – two pairs – new-in, as well as the continued presence of the female Scaup.

Scaup and Pochard.

Tuesday 5th

A repeat of yesterday – a grim, damp morning, and a short visit to Tuesley where, despite notably reduced numbers of Tufted Duck (12), the female Scaup had made it a full week of residence.

Scaup.

Wednesday 6th

Forecast mist failed to materialise today and instead we were gifted a bright, cold morning. This prompted me to walk Shackleford which, despite a respectable 42 species noted, still felt rather quiet, as it did for most of November.

The highlight was two Lapwings that were in the main field, before being disturbed by something unseen and flying off north. It's been nice to have birds here and at Loseley in recent days – two traditional winter haunts – even if local numbers are still miserably low these days.

Lapwings.

Other bits of note included three Red-legged Partridges, 40 or more Skylarks, three Stonechats, decent numbers of Goldfinch and Linnet and a Little Grebe on the farm pond.

Shackleford.

I checked Tuesley before heading home. Tufted Duck numbers were up a fraction to 18 – and Sheila was still present as well.

Scaup.

It was still bright and chilly during a late afternoon stroll along the Wey at Eashing, where 35 Siskins and singles of Mandarin, Sparrowhawk and Red-legged Partridge highlighted.

Thursday 7th

No birding.

Friday 8th

A lovely, bright morning. It began with a light touch of frost but quickly warmed up, and by the time I'd finished at Thursley Common it was up to 8°C, as a mild south-westerly blew through. It was a fairly quiet session, but 43 species was a decent December total and I enjoyed my walk.

Without doubt, the highlight was a long-awaited Thursley tick for me: Mute Swan, with a juvenile lumbering south-west over Ockley Common finally bringing this species' bogey bird status at Thursley to a close for me. In true London bus fashion, a second flew south-west minutes later!

Mute Swan.

The skies were relatively lively to be fair and a couple of thrush flocks – including a group of 35 Fieldfares – made me wonder if an odd, late arrival was underway. There wasn't much else doing, though, with a only a scattering of Meadow Pipits, Lesser Redpolls and Reed Buntings. I didn't record Woodlark – a sign of the midwinter times.

Lesser Redpoll.

Saturday 9th

I had a quick look at the fields at Loseley mid-morning, on what was a wet, miserable winter's day. Seriously impressive numbers of Pied Wagtails were present – a minimum of 150, including 100 in one field. Several hundred geese were also knocking about, but there were no Lawpings.

Stakescorner Road, Loseley.

Sunday 10th

A rather typical modern winter's day, with the temperature pushing 10°C at first light coupled with a breezy, mild south-westerly wind, grey skies and wet conditions underfoot. I walked along the Wey, which had burst its banks in places and the Lammas Lands – my first port of call – were flooded in parts.

On the deck things were fairly quiet, but a most notable – and late – south-westerly passage of winter thrushes was underway, to my surprise. In total, over both Overgone and Catteshall Meadows, I tallied no fewer than 770 Redwings, plus 100 Fieldfares. Quite remarkable mid-December numbers.

Redwings.

Some groups were low and may have been moving out of nearby roosts, but several flocks were very high and it seems likely it was all part of a broader push due to continuing cold weather in northern England and the continent, which would tie in with my thoughts at Thursley on Friday. Furthermore, passage was noted elsewhere in south-west Surrey and in Sussex this morning ...

Other bits included two Little Egrets (one of which was briefly mobbed by a Kestrel!), four Snipe, two Lesser Redpolls and three Reed Buntings.

Overgone Meadow.

I continued onto Unstead Water Meadows, where the floods at Upper Unstead Farm weren't as high as I'd expected. In fact, there were virtually no wildfowl present (the geese certainly seem to prefer Loseley at the moment), but a Cetti's Warbler rattled away from one of the reedy ditches and a male Peregrine – only my third of the second half of the year – show east before stooping down over Farley Hill. 

A few thrushes were moving south here, too, but the movement had greatly receded by now.