Ice, Isha and back to an indifferent winter

The cold spell that arrived in the middle of January, featuring in much of my last blog post, soon fizzled out and, following Storm Isha's arrival on 21st, the winter weather has reverted to type: mild, middling conditions with similarly steady birding. Like many birders, I'm already dreaming of spring days that lie not too far away …

Firecrest.

Thursday 18th

The big freeze was still firmly grasping the landscape this morning and even Tuesley had frozen over a little bit. Tufted Duck numbers had shot up since my last visit, to 54, and two Pochard – a pair – were among them.

I then had a look at the Loseley farmland. Here, 24 Lapwings were huddled down at Brickfields Farm, though goose numbers weren't especially high. Unsettling work has been taking place here during the last two weeks, including hedgerow removal …. It seems another quiet spot of local farmland is set to change for the worse.

Lapwings.

I didn't record a single Lapwing in the Eashing area during 2023, so a flock of 24 heading west over Eashing Fields late afternoon was most welcome. Normally I'd assume they were cold weather related, but given the number involved I guess it was the group from Loseley, heading to roost somewhere.

Friday 19th

It was a cool -6°C when I set off for Shackleford this morning, as the bitterly cold weather continued. It was a glorious, bright day, though, and after yesterday's Lapwings at Eashing Fields it was perhaps no surprise that some were to be found here this morning.

Shackleford.

In fact, I managed no fewer than 73 – a decent modern-day count and my highest at Shackleford for nearly three years. The main flock of 72 was flighty in the northern fields and I probably missed a few. A lone bird flew over later on.

Lapwings.

Things were relatively steady otherwise, though Fieldfare numbers remained high (it's proving a great winter for this species), and I also noted six Stonechats, 30 Skylarks, 50 Linnets, seven Siskins (uncommon here) and two Teal.

Fieldfare, Red Kite and Stonechats.

I checked Loseley on the way home. Lapwing numbers were in fact down here, to 17, and three adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were arguably more of note, given the time of year.

Saturday 20th

The wind had shifted to the south today but, while it felt notably milder, the breeze was still cold and plenty of frost and ice remained in situ. This included at Tuesley, where only about 20% of the water was unfrozen. Collected on it this morning were 56 Tufted Duck – a high count – and a drake Pochard.

Pochard.

Even more notable was a female Shoveler – a bird clearly frozen out of a more typical haunt. The first-ever site record only occurred in August last year (and involved two flyovers).

Shoveler.

I then headed to Thursley, for my first proper walk of the site in over a month. It was fairly bright for the most part, but clouded over as the two-hour session went on, and things were quiet. Indeed, this is a site that has seen its winter avian cast change during the last decade or so – gone are the regular wintering Great Grey Shrikes, Merlins and Hen Harriers, with even Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings becoming thin on the ground.

Thursley Common.

The highlight today was probably three Crossbills – my first of the year – which flew over South Bog. Also noted were 40 or so Lesser Redpolls, a Little Egret over West Bog and four Dartford Warblers, plus flyover Greenfinch and Starling (both relative oddities out on the common). A Sparrowhawk pair displayed over the south end of the site, too.

Sparrowhawk and Little Egret.

Sunday 21st

It was dramatically milder today, with a moderate breeze blowing from the south-west under grey skies. The ice had all disappeared at Tuesley, where I was astonished to count no fewer than 30 Pochard – my highest-ever count in south-west Surrey away from Frensham! Where had they all come from?

Pochard.

I then headed to Unstead Water Meadows. One of my plans for this year is to try and target south-west Surrey lifers – even unlikely ones – and Bearded Tit was on my mind today. It's been a decent winter for the species in Surrey, with birds at two sites, and the Tannachie reedbed is the biggest in the local area away from Frensham. There is a historical record from here, too, but of course none were found today …

Unstead Water Meadows.

Indeed, it was quiet, with 17 Snipe and two Water Rails the best I could muster out on the meadows. A Firecrest showed nicely along the footpath near Upper Unstead Farm, too. 

On the way home I checked Broadwater Lake. While out on the meadows I'd noticed four smaller duck appear to drop in here and, lo and behold, four Shoveler were sat on the remaining ice – a rare Broadwater bird. Three Great Crested Grebes were also present.

Shoveler and Great Crested Grebes.

On the way to visiting family in the afternoon, a quick stop at Burpham, West Sussex, produced the wintering herd of Bewick's Swans – 10 in total, all adults. A pair of adult Peregrines flew over while I watched.

Bewick's Swans and Peregrine.

Monday 22nd

No birding.

Tuesday 23rd

No birding.

Wednesday 24th

No birding.

Thursday 25th

It was a grey, damp and mild morning, and I headed to Frensham Great Pond for a pre-work look. It's been a good winter for Pochard locally and this was demonstrated by a decent count of 48 along the south side, 28 of which were drakes. The Common Pochard x Tufted Duck was knocking about too.

Pochard and Black-headed Gull.

Also of note was a calling Chiffchaff (a year first), a flyover Greenfinch (uncommon here; I saw none in 2023) and a Kingfisher.

I had a quick look at The Tarn at Cutt Mill Ponds on the way home, where 10 Goosander included two territorial drakes chasing each other around. I don't think it's impossible that this increasing species could try and breed locally one year (indeed it may have happened in 2023 …). A Kingfisher was noted, too.

Goosander.

Friday 26th

I walked the Lammas Lands before work, on a bright, fresh morning with a gentle breeze from the west, as the January 'Wolf Moon' lit up proceedings early on. 

'Wolf Moon'.

Among 43 species, the highlight was a Skylark over Catteshall Meadow – a bird less than annual here these days. It's crazy to think they were still breeding at the Lammas Lands (or trying to) less than a decade ago … 

Overgone Meadow.

Other bits included my first Lammas Lands Coot for nearly three years on the Wey at Overgone Meadow (likely the same bird found first by Neil on 13th), with 'Mark' the iconic Godalming Tufted Duck nearby (also seen back for the first time this winter by Neil), plus four Lesser Redpolls, a Reed Bunting and nine Snipe.

Tufted Duck and Coot.

Two Stonechats were at Eashing Fields late afternoon – a species that seems to be wintering in lesser numbers in the Godalming area this winter.

Saturday 27th

I met up with David and Jake early afternoon for a bit of Sussex birding in the Cuckmere and Ouse Valleys. The weather was bright, mild and pleasant, and our first session was at Rodmell Brooks. It was fairly quiet, though a cream cap Marsh Harrier was nice, three Chiffchaffs were around the small sewage works and plenty of Lapwings and winter thrushes were present.

We then headed to Cuckmere Haven for a big wander. Unlike my last visit here on 28 December, we managed to score the wintering Long-billed Dowitcher today, in a creek west over the Cuckmere River. It was mobile and vocal, allowing us to enjoy flight views and get to grips with the call.

Long-billed Dowitcher.

Much gull scanning failed to produce any Casps, but we did note an two adult Yellow-legged Gulls. Other bits included Spotted Redshank, Cattle Egret, Barnacle Goose, plus plenty of common wildfowl and waders.

Cattle Egret, Great Black-backed Gulls, Barnacle Goose and Wigeon.

Sunday 28th

It was another bright, fresh morning, with a touch of frost. I met up with Kit for a walk of his Shalford Water Meadows patch. This stretch of the Wey really is good and, in a south-west Surrey sense, offers some of the most untapped potential in my eyes (Kit has visited with less regularity in recent years).

Anyway, the highlight today was the simply mega numbers of Snipe. A proper stomp of the two main marshes produced a minimum of 85 – by far the biggest haul I've ever had in Surrey! This included 50+ on the marsh north of St Catherine's Pool, with the rest on Broadford Marsh, and a couple in St Catherine's Meadow.

Among them were two Jack Snipe. One was found with the thermal imager and the other, after taking flight, was relocated with the naked eye! Both showed superbly. Seeing this species up close really is cool…

Jack Snipe.

A Woodcock in some willow scrub on Broadford Marsh completed the set. A brilliant effort and well worth the wet feet.

Other bits from a fun session included a decent count of four Water Rails, five Shoveler, four Teal, three Lesser Redpolls, four Reed Buntings, a Stonechat pair, a male Sparrowhawk that tried to take a Feral Pigeon and my first display-flighting Blue Tits of the season.

Monday 29th

No birding.

Tuesday 30th

No birding

Wednesday 31st

It was an overcast and cool morning as I walked Frensham Little Pond before work. All told it was a quiet session, with the highlights some brief song from the Cetti's Warbler in the western reedbed, singles of Crossbill and Water Rail and seven Pochard.

My first singing Chaffinches of the year were pleasing to hear. Woodlark was also in song, with a few Reed Buntings feeding on Phragmites heads and a handful of Lesser Redpolls zipping about (though no sign of my probable Mealy from 20 December).