It's been a bit slow on the spring migration front - so far I've only seen a few Chiffchaff - but it's that time of year when some birds are planning to head south or east after a winter holiday and others are heading this way towards their summer breeding grounds.
There have been a few Wheatear sightings plus a handful of Sand Martin locally but not when I've been out and about. This weekend will hopefully be more successful.
It's also the time of year to look upwards at the sky in the hope of spotting an Osprey flying over. It's never happened to me in Surrey, but I live in hope. One has been seen at Frensham Ponds this past week - it appears to have roosted there - but it has probably moved on now.
While seeing birds on migration is high on the agenda, the chance to see a bird not normally associated with an inland county is always worth a trip out.
The morning after my Saturday visit to Staines Moor, a Brent Goose was seen on the flooded area in the south-west corner of the Moor. It was still there on Wednesday evening, so I took the opportunity of seeing a Surrey lifer at first light on Thursday morning.
A quick dash up the M25 and sure enough, the Brent Goose was still there. A smart bird, the Brent Goose. It's probably still around this weekend.
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| A handsome Brent Goose enjoying its stay inland on Staines Moor |
At the time of writing, more Wheatears have arrived. It's the beauty of Twitter that other birders post up-to-the-minute sightings every hour of every day. Saves a lot of leg work.
What would be really nice to find this weekend though is a Ring Ouzel. One dropped in at Canons Farm this time last year, so look out for sightings at Canons Farm, Leith Hill, Beddington, Staines Moor, Clandon Park or Nore Hill near Woldingham.
As a local birder, thought you might be interested to know I saw a red kite over earlswood common this afternoon! First sighting in surrey for me, pleased to see they are making their way over from Oxford
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