A New Project.

Views over the fields where I have recently agreed to carry out a series of farmland bird surveys over the next few years as part of a small team of BTO volunteers covering a number of farms forming part of a large estate in Surrey. The survey results will assist the tenant farmer and the land owners to monitor and evaluate their ongoing efforts to improve the farmed environment for wild pollinators, farmland birds and other wildlife under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. 

The first of two fields forming my survey area is already showing signs of its flower rich status.

During my first early am visit this week I recorded 19 bird species mostly seen, heard or flying around the field boundaries; including Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Stock Dove, Common Whitethroat and Woodpigeon that constitute five of the 19 target species included in the scheme aims. It will be interesting to see what other species are noted during future visits throughout the year.

  Above are Common Whitethroat, Magpie, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush.

Looking into a piece of woodland bordering the lower field there was still a decent show of Bluebells and some Early Purple Orchids.

The inhabitants of an adjoining field were typically curious about the unexpected wanderer on the other side of the hedgerow as was the Robin below.

Linking to:
Saturday's Critters

Run out to Waltham Brooks.

Well I think I have tamed the 'poltergeist' (thanks Warren). Battery recharged yesterday and then reconnected this morning. After resetting the clock and date I took A's vehicle for a short drive but during this journey the radio which had been switched off again restarted automatically and the display said "No CD" so when I got home I inserted a music CD and everything worked AND the radio has stayed off when the car was put to sleep....Success at last, I hope.

At A's suggestion we decided to take the car for a much longer run this afternoon and headed south into West Sussex. We eventually stopped at Coldwaltham and navigated a very wet and muddy circular walk around Waltham Brooks starting and finishing near Greatham Bridge. I was hopeful of showing A a Barn Owl but perhaps we were a little early. We did however see a few perched Stonechats, Blackbird and Wren; a Snipe being closely followed by what looked like a Crow!; on the flooded marsh next to the River Arun were Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveller, Gadwall and Tufted Duck; and along the roadside a party of Goldfinches.  Below are a few pics taken in very poor light. (You can click to enlarge if you wish).

We should have packed the 'wellies'!

Mallards in hiding.

Mute Swan

One of the many grazing Cows.

  View southwards over Waltham Brooks.

We hit the forcated rain on the way home and finished off with a local take away fish and chips.  FAB

Weekend stroll - Stoke Lake (Part 1)

The past week or so has been very topsy turvy at work so on Saturday we decided to take a stroll at Stoke Lake. We headed for the River Wey which was fairly busy with barges moving up and down plus canoeists and other walkers.

Very little wildlife on the water except lots and lots of Water Boatmen.

We scanned the wet pastures (now extremely dry) on the opposite side of the river but the only signs of life were a group of horses including this youngster closely chaperoned by a parent.

A few moments later a 'pterodactyl' flypast from the local Cormorants.

We followed the short boardwalk through a small area of damp woodland with the twittering calls of Blue Tits in the overhead canopy, a single Chiffchaff calling plus the warning sounds from a Wren. We then entered an open grassy area only to be surprised to find a group of cows quietly grazing. This youngster gave us a quick look before continuing to munch away at the grass.

Leaving the cows behind we headed to the lake. As you can see, not a lot of apparent activity. The 'tern' raft now abandoned by the Common Terns that visit each year is now seriously overgrown with weeds.

The only obvious inhabitants were Coot and Moorhens. For the next half an hour or so I watched Dragonflies and Darters urgently flitting back and forth along the reed fringed waters edge but never settling anywhere for a portrait photo! Part 2 will follow soon and include some of the other water users. FAB

Mobile Bird Scarers.

During a recent visit to Oare Marshes I witnessed these cows crossing the East Flood and the resulting effect on the various waders that were quietly feeding or sleeping until their space was invaded!

I will post my other sightings and a few pics when I can find some time away from other issues that are needing my attention at this time. FAB

Out & About last week.

A few days rest at home last week, mainly catching up on the odd chore, but we were able to get out for a couple of walks at the end of the week.

A coastal visit to Cuckmere Haven in Sussex. Clear sky but quite windy with lots of school parties walking the meanders to the beach. Not a great dearth of sightings but plenty of Little Egrets flying around.

At the beach I caught up with Fulmars floating high above the cliffs and 12 Whimbrel briefly on the muddy river margin before being spooked by other walkers. A few Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Cetti's Warbler (heard) and Skylarks singing everywhere. Not sure what happened to this guys other horn but he seemed happy enough!

On the recommendation of a friend we also paid a midday visit to Old Lodge Nature Reserve in Ashdown Forest. Another chilly day and unfortunately not very many avian sightings but the walk was very pleasant.

A group of horses appeared from nowhere and offered a photo opportunity as they partook of the fresh green growth.We heard and saw Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Kestrel, but the star was a displaying Tree Pipit and I just managed one half decent in flight shot.

On one of the tiny pools I took this photo and didn't realise until it was 'cropped' that there was some 'hanky panky' going on!
Finally, I managed to capture this female Broad Bodied libellula when it finally perched.