A Day Out in Surrey

                                      1st May 2021  :  Puttenham Common  

                                                                  

Wood Warbler

A day trip was planned in Surrey on the 1st May, starting off at Puttenham Common, i had never been to this site before and i was really trying to get lucky with the Wood Warbler that had set up a territory within the Common.

Silvery white underparts .

I have not seen a Wood Warbler since 2019 and the views were not that great even then , i made my way around to the area it had set up territory and i could hear it singing as i approached.

Wood Warbler in full voice.

I spent nearly 3 hours here watching this delightful Warbler , listening to it singing & calling was as enjoyable as watching it flit about the branches.

Wood Warbler.

From here i headed to Thursley Common.

Thursley  Common

I really enjoyed birding here, we just don't have this type of habitat in Kent , Dartford Warblers were very vocal from the gorse bushes and even dared to show themselves on occasion.

Dartford Warbler.

A couple of Stonechats were seen, a single Wheatear appeared briefly, several Lesser Redpoll flew overhead , then i heard the unmistakable song of a Tree Pipit.

Display flight

Singing away

Tree Pipit.

They have such an amazing display flight & song, cracking birds to see. 

I decided to have a look to see if  'Colin' the Cuckoo  was preforming today as i have never made the trip to see him before, i believe it's his 7th or 8th year returning to Thursley Common which is remarkable considering what he has to go through on each migration route !!!

I was not disappointed as 'Colin' did put in an appearance.

'Colin' the Cuckoo

I also took several digi scoped photos :

'Colin' the Cuckoo.

I have to say i am not a fan of having staging put up for wild birds to pose on however the local resident birds were certainly making use of the meal worms that some had left to attract the Cuckoo.

There were plenty of Chaffinch & Goldfinch coming down to feed plus Blackbird & Mistle Thrush didn't turn their noses up to some free grub.

Mistle Thrush.

A Woodlark came down for a feed and a male Common Redstart posed for the camera to.

Common Redstart.

A really great days birding in Surrey with pretty much all target birds seen and seen well to, i am looking forward to next years visit already.

Hoopoe at Stelling Minnis

Hoopoe in the rain.

A short journey over to Stelling Minnis on Friday afternoon on the 30th April to see the glorious looking Hoopoe was very successful.

On arrival i had missed it by approx 15 mins but at least it was still in the area somewhere, anyhow another 45 mins went by with no sign and it had started to rain so things were looking a little grim.

Then the shout went up and the Hoopoe gave it's self up to it's admiring audience, here are a selection of digi scoped photos i took.

Hoopoe.

 

Barcombe & Warnham LNR

                                               9th & 13th  April :  Barcombe

                                                                 

White Throated Sparrow.

2 trips to Barcombe to see the superb looking White Throated Sparrow were taken in April and both times the bird was quite elusive, however with a bit of patience the WTS eventually showed really well on the 9th.

White throated Sparrow.

The WTS was alot more elusive on the 13th but was heard singing most of the time, some great views were obtained on the ground and i also saw it briefly on the picnic table.

White Throated Sparrow.

13th April  :  Warnham LNR

After enjoying the White throated Sparrow on the 13th i decided to head to Warnham LNR to hopefully see the long staying Little Bunting, and i was not disappointed.

Digi scoped Little Bunting

Little Bunting

I think these birds are really great looking Buntings and to see this bird so close was a real treat.

Little Bunting.

Other birds coming to the bird feeders included a smart ♂ Siskin and a  Marsh Tit.

Marsh Tit.

It was also very good to see a Wood Mouse & a Bank Vole.

Wood Mouse.

Bank Vole.

 

Some Local Birding.........

                                          April 7th  2021 :  Ashford Community Wood

      

                                                               

Pied Flycatcher.

A first time visit to Ashford Community Wood on the 7th April was rewarded with superb views of a ♂ Pied Flycatcher in stunning summer plumage, I only normally see them in their autumn plumage which is not quite as stunning.

Pied Flycatcher.

11th April 2021  :  Graveney Marshes

Grasshopper Warbler

News of a fresh in Grasshopper Warbler just down the road from where I live last Sunday morning was a welcome treat, Chidders had heard then saw the bird and put news out (good find mate) , on arrival it didn't take long for the Grasshopper Warbler to start 'Reeling' and eventually it showed well in front of it's favoured bramble bush.

Grasshopper Warbler.

There was also 2 Wheatear & 1 Common Whitethroat seen on the sea wall, plus several Sedge Warbler could be heard and seen in the nearby reed bed, a single Yellow Wagtail flew overhead and a female Merlin was briefly seen dashing over the seawall .

Wheatear.

 

Northern Mockingbird & American Herring Gull

                                     Iona Avenue, Exmouth Devon 

                   

                                                      

Northern Mockingbird

I finally gave into temptation and travelled down to Exmouth to see the long staying Northern Mockingbird , I didn't stay long, just long enough to see the bird and take a couple of photo's then left the site , the bird was in the Holly tree and showed very well.

Northern Mockingbird.

Newlyn Harbour  Cornwall

So after the Northern Mockingbird i carried on my trip to Cornwall to see what would hopefully be my 2nd Lifer of the trip American Herring Gull.

Thankfully this proved successful and very good views were obtained, here are a selection of photo's i took :

Blends in well with background.

Long Billed.

Long primaries

Black tail band & secondaries

Bulky bird.

Dusky underwing.

American Herring Gull.