A rare foray into Surrey and Frensham Common saw really quite special views of the
Great Grey Shrike, showing well at close range for some time, and good looks at a
Woodlark and three
Dartford Warblers. A
Water Rail and a couple of
Little Grebes were heard, while a
Pochard and three
Great Crested Grebes were also among the birds at the Little Pond. Two
Treecreepers, a
Nuthatch, a singing
Mistle Thrush, four
Stonechats, a singing
Reed Bunting, a couple of
Siskins and, lordy, my first
redpoll for months (heard flying over), were also noted.
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| Great Grey Shrike at Frensham Common |
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| Woodlark at Frensham Common |
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| Dartford Warbler at Frensham Common |
By the time Pulborough Brooks was reached, the rain set in and it was quiet in general, though the floods were still quite full of wildfowl, including
Pintail. What was probably my first migrant
Chiffchaff of the year was singing, as was a
Bullfinch, a
Treecreeper and a cluster of 35
Redwings. A
Little Egret, a male
Kestrel, two
Reed Buntings and two
Stonechats were also logged.
A very quick stop at Goring Gap on the way back home delivered four
Mediterranean Gulls, five
Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 132
Common Gulls, c30
Dunlin and 11
Grey Plovers.
