Adventures in Surrey

Another week, another lockdown, which on the plus side means more time to focus on nature. Between work, volunteering and organising a house move I really haven't had a chance lately, and the blog has definitely fallen by the wayside!

Met up with a mate and all round wildlife guru, Ruby, down in Surrey for a catch up and a tour of a couple of reserves down that way. First up was Tice's Meadow, which always seems to turn something up if Twitter is anything to go by! 

First up was a huge bank of feeders. I wouldn't want to imagine the cost of keeping them filled, but the finches and tits seemed happy! It was nice to see a couple of Greenfinches, they seem to be getting less and less common these days, and all the dropped seed meant easy pickings for the rats running round the area. Although not everyone's favourite animal, seeing them in a natural setting certainly cast them in a better light, they certainly looked a lot prettier than the scabby overweight monsters you get in the towns!

The main viewpoint at Tice's was relatively quiet, all the usual suspects including Egyptian Geese, Coots and Tufted Ducks, but a female Roe Deer charging across the field definitely made up for it, sending the wildfowl scattering every which way, save for possibly the world's bravest Magpie!

Next up was Farlington Marshes down by Portsmouth. Quite possibly the windiest place on earth, this large grassland is flanked by Langstone Harbour and is dotted with waterways and pools. As you'd expect at this time of year, the ducks are really piling on, with plenty of Teal and Wigeon, along with a couple of Shovellers and Gadwall.

The waders were out in force today, with huge numbers of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plover, supported by Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Avocet, Redshank and Curlew. Ruby also picked out 5 Snipe hidden in the reeds, which I never would've spotted in a million years!

It was also a good day for Passerines, with plenty of Stonechats and Meadow Pipits scurrying around. Surprisingly given the amount of prey, predators were very thin on the ground, with only a Buzzard and Kestrel spotted from the car. 

Last up was a quick stroll round Normandy on the lookout for owls. Plenty of abandoned barns and the surrounding woodland meant ideal habitat, but we had no luck, although we did hear a Little Owl. This species is starting to frustrate, it's the only one I need to complete the set for the year, but I can't seem to clap eyes on one for love nor money!

A great day with great company, and I will no doubt have a local update soon, until the next one!