Tern on a fence post.

Earlier in the week I paid a visit to Tices Meadows, a site that has grown in popularity over the past few years for many Surrey birders due to the increasing number of species being recorded there. This obviously has a lot to do with the overall management of the water levels and the diverse habitats.

Walking into the site through the copse I noted numerous pairs of Speckled Wood performing their dancing courtship flights and one perched for a side view only. Other species logged included Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Peacock, Large White, Large Skipper and a very fresh, second brooded, Common Blue.

This is not a location where it is particularly easy to get close views of the birds without a scope or exceptionally large lens but the fence posts way out in the water offered an opportunity to snap two species.

An adult Black-headed Gull (nearest the camera on the right) and a noisy offspring on the furthest post.

Other species logged around the site included Canada Geese (82), Egyptian Geese (2), Mute Swan (2 plus 2 cygnets), Mallard, Tufted Duck with youngsters, Coot (too numerous to count), Moorhen, Great-Crested Grebe (3), Little Grebe, Little Egret, Lapwing, Grey Heron (7), Starling, Crow, Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail.

I watched an adult Common Tern fly in with a catch, presumably for its youngster.

The two parents looked slightly bemused ... "Where has our child gone now!"

"Hey ... I'm up here".    Juvenile Common Tern on another post.

As I failed to find any waders that had been recorded on previous days I drove over to Thursley Common and spent some time photographing a very small Darter (Sympetrum danae) that will feature in a forthcoming post but you can get a sneak preview by clicking here.  FAB.

Linking to GOOD FENCES hosted by TexWisGirl.