Winding down for Christmas

The last fortnight has been pretty average in local birding terms. I've not exactly been smashing the hours in the field, but even if I had, I doubt I'd have seen much more than I have, as modern-day winter conditions have settled in: mild, wet and dull. It's been a decent 2023 though, and it's nice to have some patch rest at the end of the year.

Bewick's Swan.

Monday 11th

After yesterday's unexpected thrush movement I opted for a 40-minute vis-mig at Eashing Fields before work. It was bright and mild and, again, Redwings were moving south-west, with 245 tallied. Some 30 Fieldfares were also logged.

Fieldfares.

Otherwise, unsurprisingly given the date, it was quiet in the skies, though a couple of Lesser Redpolls bounding west were of note.

Eashing Fields.

It was unseasonably mild by late afternoon, when a stroll along the Wey produced two Ravens, five Mandarin, a few groups of Siskins and Redwings, a Red-legged Partridge and a Marsh Tit, plus a high count of five Grey Wagtails.

Siskins.

Tuesday 12th

No birding.

Wednesday 13th

It was still mild this morning, but a cool north-westerly was blowing through and it felt a little wintrier. I checked Frensham Great Pond first thing, where the strong start to winter for Pochard continued – some 42 (possibly more) were tallied up, which was my highest count here since February 2021.

Pochard.

Otherwise it was fairly routine, with singles of Little Egret and Water Rail noted.

I then headed to Tuesley for a quick butcher's before work. Sheila, the Scaup, was still present – day 16 on site! I'm still not sure she'll overwinter, and Tufted Duck numbers continue to be much lower than a few weeks ago (16 counted today).

Scaup.

A drake Pochard was also present (this species is becoming a little more occasional here now) and two Fieldfares chuckled east (uncommon at Tuesley).

Pochard, Fieldfare, Tufted Duck and Little Grebe.

Thursday 14th

No birding.

Friday 15th

After spending some time in Bristol (where a Peregrine flew over the city centre this morning) and with the day off, I headed to Slimbridge WWT. I try to visit most winters – Bewick's Swans are among my absolute favourite species, and although the winter herd here is diminishing, I still enjoyed mega views of around 80 individuals. Special birds.

Bewick's Swans.

Other bits from a stroll around (mostly admiring the captive collections!) included a Spotted Redshank on Rushy Pen, several Ruff and Avocet among the hundreds of Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlins (and thousands of Golden Plovers), a female Goldeneye (plus hundreds of dabbling duck, including 80 or so Pintail), Great Egret, Peregrine, Water Rail and a herd of Barnacle Geese. A world away from south-west Surrey!

Pintail, Pochard, Ruff, Shelduck, Spotted Redshank and Dunlin.

On exiting the site and passing through the hamlet of Shepherd's Patch, I spotted a Cattle Egret in with a flock of Little Egrets feeding in a field.

Saturday 16th

A dull, mild morning that felt both unwintry and 'meh'. I checked Tuesley first, where the female Scaup continued, among 15 or so Tufted Duck.

Scaup.

Without much of a plan I opted for a walk of the far less visited lower part of Puttenham Common, hoping that perhaps the extensive silver birch would allow me to indulge my redpoll fetish. Alas, I encountered very few, but plenty of Fieldfares and Redwings were about – more than 100 of each, continuing their strong showing this past week or so. A Firecrest was heard too.

I had a quick look at Cutt Mill Ponds while I was there, noting a decent count of 15 Goosander (only two drakes) on The Tarn and Warren Pond, plus 12 Shoveler and 10 Mandarin on the house pond.

Lower Puttenham Common.

Sunday 17th

Another dull, mild morning, but with a decidedly fresh breeze. I walked Shackleford early on, which was pleasant as ever, though unsurprisingly rather quiet. The highlight was probably three Lesser Black-backed Gulls which are scarce locally in the depths of winter (these were my first records this month). A Raven north and a couple of Teal back on the reedy pond were also notable.

Again, there were excellent numbers of winter thrushes – three-figures of both species including a minimum of 250 Fieldfares. It helped provide at least some wintry feeling. Other bits included OK numbers of Linnets and Goldfinches and a somewhat high count of eight Buzzards.

Fieldfares.

I checked Loseley before heading home. Here, two Peregrines were again sat on one of the fields – likely the same duo as on 23 November. A few hundred geese were also present, while two Little Egrets were at Mellersh Farm.

Monday 18th

No birding.

Tuesday 19th

A wet, gloomy morning. I checked Frensham Great Pond early on, where four Goosander – including three fetching drakes – lit up the dull landscape. Some 26 Pochard were also counted, and I'd say that both species are enjoying decent winters locally. A Kingfisher was heard, too.

Goosander and Pochard.

Before heading home I stuck my headed in at Tuesley, where Sheila the Scaup was still present – three weeks to the day after she first arrived.

Scaup.

Wednesday 20th

I was back in the Frensham area this morning, this time at the Little Pond, where I was giving Bittern one last roll of the 2023 local year list dice. This has got to be the trickiest regularly occurring species in south-west Surrey and, suffice to say, I didn't score today. Maybe next year …

A fairly bright and breezy walk was enjoyable though, and fairly dynamic, with 47 species tallied up. This included my first Cetti's Warbler for the Little Pond (this species seems to have colonised the Frensham area now) plus a strong candidate Mealy Redpoll in a brilliant flock of 120 or more Lesser Redpolls near the café. Unfortunately, as I raised my camera to the bird, it flew, and I couldn't relocate it. Typical!

Other notable bits included singles of Raven, Kingfisher and Woodlark, two each of Crossbill and Water Rail and 15 Pochard.

Frensham Little Pond.

Thursday 21st

No birding.

Friday 22nd

This winter it's been quiet at Snowdenham Mill Pond, a favourite place of mine, in keeping with a trend of declining numbers of wintering wildfowl at the site. A visit this morning did little to shrug this sense, though two each of Shoveler, Teal and Mandarin was an improved showing on recent visits.

Snowdenham Mill Pond.

On the drive home, a flock of six Little Egrets were in the fields at Mellersh Farm, Compton. 

Saturday 23rd

A mid-morning check of Tuesley in mild, blustery conditions produced the sad news that Sheila the Scaup was no longer in situ. That she stayed more than a day was extraordinary, but to do 24 days on site was crazy – and did give some hope she could stay all winter. However, Tufted Duck numbers have been dropping here for a couple of weeks now and 'proper' wintering grounds were likely calling her name.

I did check Enton Lakes afterwards, in case she'd relocated there (Dave has reported a steady increase in tufties here in the past fortnight), but there was no sign. What a joy this bird was, though. It could be a long time until the next south-west Surrey Scaup …

Sunday 24th

Yesterday afternoon, when I was otherwise engaged, news broke of Waxwings in south-west Surrey – in Godalming and at Milford Common – as this year's invasion finally reached the local area. Thankfully, and kindly, the homeowner who reported the birds in Godalming (Busbridge, technically, and it matters if you're from round here!) was happy for me to take a look this morning – and to my astonishment, upon my arrival, a flock of 20 or more flew in!

Waxwings.

The birds were vocal and mobile, favouring a particularly berry-laden rowan, allowing mega views. The dull light and blustery conditions meant photos weren't great, but who cares – these are special birds and it's been nearly 12 years since a flock like this occurred in the local area. I made sure to appreciate them.

Waxwings.

Unfortunately, but understandably, the homeowner wanted the location kept private – and having been to the garden I can understand why, especially at Christmas. I'm very lucky to have seen them and hope more will turn up for others to enjoy.

The Waxwings made for a super Christmas present, as well as becoming a sensational 163rd species for my south-west Surrey year list, which had seemed to have run out of gas. Waxwing is also the 170th species for the 2023 south-west Surrey total, which is also a record …

Waxwings.