Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

An early evening visit provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (3), Great Crested Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (1 over), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (pair), Canada Goose (1), Gadwall (22), Common Teal (6), Mallard (8), Common Pochard (12), Tufted Duck (8), Red Kite (1), Common Moorhen (5), Eurasian Coot (15), Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush (1), Cetti's Warbler (1), Blackcap (3), Common Chiffchaff (3), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, Common Bullfinch (male), Reed Bunting (1).
From the clubhouse hide I watched a  stunning male Bullfinch as it paid close attention to a female Common Chaffinch. If a male Chaffinch got too close it would chase it off. If these bird eventually breed it would be very interesting to see what the off spring would look like. 

   Bullfinch and Stock Dove at the clubhouse feeding station.

At Lynsters Farm the following species of interest were noted:-

Greylag Goose (7), Canada Goose (38), Egyptian Goose (10).

Staines Reservoir

A brief afternoon visit provided the following species of note:-
Black-necked Grebe (1), Common Goldeneye (2 male), Common Scoter (2 female), Little Gull (5), Common Tern (4). All present on the north basin.
Apparently up to 11 Little Gull were present although without a scope at hand I struggled to find any more.

                       A poor record shot of Black-necked Grebe and two female Common Scoter.

Stanwell Moor

A morning visit in overcast, mild conditions produced the following species:-
Great Cormorant, Little Egret (3), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Red Kite (1), Common Pheasant (2), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (5), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (2), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit (1), Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Fieldfare (10), Cetti's Warbler (1), Blackcap (5), Common Chiffchaff (8), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (6), Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch (5), European Goldfinch (6), Common Linnet (10), Common Reed Bunting (4).

                                                                        
                                                                          Little Egret

 

 

                                                                      Meadow Pipit

  

Broadwater Gravel Pit

A morning visit in sunny, mild conditions produced the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose (pair with single gosling), Gadwall, Common Teal (3), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (5), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (2), Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull (3), Herring Gull (11), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare (2), Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler (2 singing male), Blackcap (7singing male), Common Chiffchaff (11 singing male), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (2 singing male), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, Common Reed Bunting (1).
With it being a lovely spring day I noted the following species of Butterfly:-
Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone.
  

25-03-14 Stanwell Moor and Staines Reservoir

A morning visit produced the following species of note:-
Stanwell Moor
Little Egret (1), Brent Goose (1), Common Snipe (1), Common Redshank (3), Common Skylark (7), Meadow Pipit (13), Water Pipit (2), Cetti's Warbler (heard only), Common Linnet (1).

                                                                       Water Pipit

                                                         Brent Goose (dark-bellied)

Staines Reservoir
Common Shelduck (4), Common Scoter (2 female), Common Redshank (1) all on north basin.
On the west bank of the south basin 5 Little Ringed Plover showed well.

A couple of record shots of the Common Scoter below.

  

23-03-14 Frensham Common, Surrey

An afternoon visit that began with mild, spring weather turned very wintry in a matter of minutes with strong winds and rain. Things then settled after an hour or so with the wind dropping and the sun breaking through.
A full list of species observed as follows:-
Great Crested Grebe (pair), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (pair), Canada Goose (7 inc 3 pairs), Mallard (pair), Tufted Duck, Common Buzzard (1), Eurasian Coot, Woodpigeon, Wren (singing male), Dunnock (singing male), European Robin (singing male), Common Blackbird, Common Chiffchaff (singing male), Grey Wagtail (pair), Pied Wagtail (1), Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Western Jackdaw (2 over), Carrion Crow, Woodlark (1), Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet (3), European Goldfinch.  

                                                                       Woodlark

22-03-14 Croxley Common Moor

An afternoon visit in mild conditions provided the following species:-
Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (4 inc resident pair), Mallard (10), Common Moorhen (6), Eurasian Coot (3), Common Pheasant (1), Red Kite (1), Black-headed Gull (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (3 over), Feral Rock Dove (2 over), Woodpigeon (8), Collared Dove (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren (singing male), Dunnock (2 singing male), European Robin (3 singing male), Common Blackbird (singing male), Common Chiffchaff (8 singing male), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie (5), Carrion Crow (nest building), Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch (3), European Goldfinch (3).

While walking the moor I discovered this sorry looking Red Fox that only had one eye and was riddled with mange.

London Heathrow & Staines Reservoir, Surrey

Leaving work at dawn I heard the distinctive call of a male Black Redstart, my first of the year, that was present on the roof of Technical Block E. This species regularly breeds at this site and I have noted them annually since I started work here back in 1987. I have even observed overwintering birds before taking advantage of the warm hangars. I then drove the short distance to Staines Reservoir where I noted a single Great Northern Diver on the south basin and two Common Redshank.

                                 A rather distant Great Northern Diver at Staines Reservoir.

Woodoaks Farm

I conducted a mid afternoon visit in search of migrants as Wheatear and hirundines had arrived in other parts of the county throughout the day. From the cow sheds I followed the footpath along the perimeter of the old orchard into Ladywalk Wood. A male Chiffchaff sang from the canopy my first for the year at this location. I then crossed the bridge spanning the M25 motorway and headed up into the Heronsgate side of the farm. It was here that I discovered a gathering of some 72 European Golden Plover at rest on the winter wheat. I then followed the footpath back from Shepherds Lane passing Beechen Dell, a shadow of its former self with many of the mature Beeches felled by strong winds over the last couple of decades. Passing the manure pile I notched up a couple of Pied Wagtail before heading off home.

                                                                      European Golden Plover

 

                                                                         Pied Wagtail


  

16-03-14 Stockers & Bury Lakes

A morning visit to conduct WeBS counts produced the following result:-
Great Crested Grebe (10), Great Cormorant (14), Grey Heron (29 with at least 20 occupied nests observed), Little Egret (6 with at least 2 occupied nests observed), Mute Swan (30), Domestic Greylag Goose (1), Canada Goose (39), Egyptian Goose (1), Eurasian Wigeon (13 at Stockers Farm), Gadwall (13), Common Teal (8 at Stockers Farm), Mallard (39), Common Pochard (16), Tufted Duck (146), Red-crested Pochard (4), Common Goldeneye (3), Red Kite (1), Common Moorhen (11), Eurasian Coot (70), Northern Lapwing (1), Black-headed Gull (26 including several pairs), Common Gull (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (2), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (15 Stockers Farm), Pied Wagtail (2 Stockers Farm), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush (2), Cetti's Warbler (singing male), Common Chiffchaff (5 singing male), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch.

                                                         Common Goldeneye (female)

                                                        Red-crested Pochard (male)


   

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

A late afternoon visit in very mild, sunny conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (6), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (7 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (36 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (4 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (15), Common Teal (3), Mallard (13 inc copulating pair), Common Pochard (18), Tufted Duck (21), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (2 inc bird hunting Blue Tit), Common Buzzard (3 soaring overhead), Common Kestrel (male), Common Moorhen (5), Eurasian Coot (25), Black-headed Gull (several over), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (5 Lynsters Farm), Stock Dove (5 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon (calling male), Collared Dove (1), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (3 male including drumming bird), Wren (2 singing male), Dunnock (3 singing male), European Robin (8 singing male), Common Blackbird (3 singing male), Redwing (2), Mistle Thrush (1 Lynsters Farm), Cetti's Warbler (singing male), Common Chiffchaff (singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1 singing male), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch (1 singing male), Greenfinch (male), European Goldfinch (6 feeding on Teasel), Common Reed Bunting (4). 

                                                              Common Buzzard

                                          First quarter moon viewed from Long Hedge.

 

Rainham Marshes RSPB Nature Reserve

An early afternoon visit in very mild conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Common Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Eurasian Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing, Cetti's Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting.
 

Black-tailed Godwit at Stockers Farm

I headed off late morning after receiving news from Geoff Lapworth of his discovery of two Black-tailed Godwit on the flood at Stockers Farm. I arrived just before 11:00 and found the birds feeding on the far shoreline. They briefly flew showing their diagnostic white wing bar before landing in slightly deeper water to feed. Other species of note included 33 Eurasian Wigeon and five Northern Lapwing.

                                           One of two Black-tailed Godwit at Stockers Farm.

Andrew Moon later observed both birds leaving the flooded field at 11:47 when they flew off high to the south.

Woodoaks Farm

An afternoon visit in mild conditions provided the following species:-
Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Feral Rock Dove (4), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove (4), Green Woodpecker (2), Eurasian Skylark (3), Wren, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare (62), Redwing (1), Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (21), House Sparrow (8), Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch (1).