One of the pleasures of bird watching is discovering and exploring new sites in our varied and beautiful countryside. One I recently read about was Thursley Common in Surrey which is an area of heathland, bog and bounded by mixed woodland. Various websites and birding blogs suggested the promise of a rewarding day's birding.
So with the forecast for New Years day suggesting a break from the pluvial inundation that has gripped 2012, I set off early. The day indeed dawned bright and I was granted a clear, if crisp, bright morning with very little wind; fine conditions for winter birding.
The common is a tranquil and picturesque spot and a sad reminder of how much of this crucial habitat has been lost in lowland England. The trees surrounding the car park were already alive with goldcrests, and assorted tits; and the adjacent moat held a number of Canada geese and a pair each of mallards and tufted duck.
A short walk along the boardwalk to the east brought quite a number of stonechats dressed in their winter plumage, but still delightfully brilliant, illuminated by the morning light.
Turning south, I happened across a small clump of pines from the top of which floated the mellifluous song of a smallish, brown, streaked bird, clearly visible at the peak of one tree, and intent on performing for all to hear. Now, I will freely admit (and repeatedly so) that certain groups of birds cause much confusion in the novice bird watcher. Families such as the gulls, the green & yellow warblers and winter-apparelled waders seem, to me, to contain many species who closely resemble each other. Separating them requires a keen eye and a broad knowledge of their idiosyncrasies to establish exactly which species is which. Included in these are the ubiquitous brown birds containing pipits, larks, and the like. However, on this occasion, the dulcet ballad of this bird left me in no doubt it was a woodlark. I had not seen one before and knew of it only from books, but what a minstrel, and one I would gladly travel to hear again and again.
From there I carried on to skirt round what I am given to understand is 'Shrike Hill'. I had recently read of reports of a Great Grey Shrike being seen at Thursley but I did not burden myself with expectations of, what for me, would be an exquisite and exotic find. But within five minutes of taking my leave of the lark, there, not thirty yards away, was the distinctive grey, black and white plumed 'butcher bird'. He stood out well against the sharp winter backdrop, and afforded glorious views by flitting from various perches in his territory. I was soon joined by a fellow watcher who too had never seen one before, and we observed for some time this intriguing winter visitor. I am fascinated by the origin of place names, and I would be keen to learn from anyone who may read my blog, whether the epithet of this mound is an ancient name reflecting a historical record of this bird's presence through the ages, or a more recent title given by bird watchers.
Eventually, as the shrike moved on, I did likewise and came upon a group of birders and photographers, many of who were looking for the bird I had just watched. By now I was in a small area of gorse and soon heard the scratchy call of a Dartford Warbler; a warbler that has the good grace to be of a distinctive and recognisable plumage. After a short search and a bit of patience two individuals came out to perch and show themselves well. A few of us enjoyed the show as they flitted and darted from bush to perch and back again.
So all in all a truly rewarding day and a delightful introduction to a place I would highly recommend. A superb start to my new year's birding.
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