Just under a year ago the National Nature Reserve at Thursday in Surrey suffered an horrific fire. The blaze started on the 30th May and took four days to bring under control. The fire burned through about a third of the overall area of the reserve. It also destroyed many parts of the board walk that stretched out across the bog and provided access to the many pools.
This was my first visit to the reserve since then and also my first trip outside of Hampshire for over six months, a sign of the times we currently live in. Walking from the car park at the Moat you were immediately faced with the continuing impact of the fire.
These were areas of gorse and heather that would ring around the Moat Pond, more specifically the "Triangle" area which was always good for the heath specialties, Nightjar and Dartford Warbler.
Around 200 to 300 species are thought to have been impacted by the fire. From rare mosses and ferns to dragonflies and reptiles. Fortunately the fire wasn't in the prime reptile area and those that were would probably been able to find holes in which to shelter. But although the fire was devastating there is the hope that natural regeneration will return the heath to something like it's former self, maybe enhance the habitats in places
But I wasn't here to see the impact of the fire, I was here to hopefully see the latest Thursley specialty, Colin. As I walked south from the car park the Moat Pond looked superb i the morning sunshine. It was a cold morning with the last effects of a Frost and some gorgeous blue sky and sunshine
I was heading for a location known as Parish Field, it isn't shown o any OS map, but with a little research I had managed to find the spot and was making my way there along the footpaths.
A Willow Warbler singing stopped my progress, this was my first of the year and the bird was quite close. With a short search I managed to find it singing from a small Birch tree.
Early arrivals always look at their best, with lemonish green upper parts and a pale yellow wash on the under parts. The Willow Warbler has longer wings and pale legs that distinguish it from itsd close cousin the Chiffchaff that has dark legs.
I left the Willow Warbler and walked on. So who is this Colin I had come to see? Well Colin is in fact a Cuckoo that has been coming to this location for seven years now. It is a very confiding male bird that frequents the trees around Parish Field. It soon became clear that I had found the right place as I walked up to a field with several photographers already in place.
Colin the Cuckoo's fame has spread far and wide and now birders, photographers and the general public are all aware of him and many come from far and wide to experience the opportunity of a close encounter with a bird that is usually secretive and difficult to see in the open, normally giving their presence away by their familiar song.
As I found my place facing the tree stump and branch positioned in the field, the mumblings were that so far he had not shown and that maybe he ate too much yesterday. Behind me a male Redstart sang from the very top of a Silver Birch. A couple of photographers announced that they were going off to photograph Redstarts that were dotted around the field. As they walked away a stunning male flew into the stump.
Apparently this is how all this started, locals were putting meal worms out to attract the Redstarts and some how Colin became aware and the rest is history. The Redstart stood on the stump watching all around his red tail shivering in classic Redstart fashion. Without young to feed at this time of the year he fed quickly before flying back to the trees on the perimeter of the field.
I had arrived at the Moat just after 8:00 am, it was now approaching 10:00 am with no sign of the Cuckoo, still I was in this for the long run. A Red Kite caught the attention of the photographers as it drifted over, for me the angle was all wrong. A pair of Mistle Thrush were mobbing a Magpie behind me, and one flying across the field had me thinking the Cuckoo had arrived, they look so similar at first in flight. yA Buzzard a little later went over my head.
A ripple of conversation went up amongst the photographers, a Cuckoo had just appeared in the trees on the perimeter of the field, directions were given and I managed to pick the bird out on the edge of the branches.
Suddenly there was an air of anticipation as we were all focused on the cuckoo. Eventually the Cuckoo flew from the tree and came across the filed low and up into a birch close to the assemble. It then announced its arrival with a series of "cuckoos".
Finally it flew to the taller post, its arrival accompanied by the sound of camera drives.
There are those that are very dismissive of these contrived situations. I have struggled with this since I first heard of Colin, but finally decided that if I can feed the birds in my garden, and encourage them to come close, even feed from my hand why can I complain about others using similar tactics. The Cuckoo is free to do what it wants, it has just learned to exploit the humans in the same way that others consider the Cuckoo is being exploited.
From a pure birder's point of view and despite the fact that I enjoy taking photographs of the birds, this is what I consider myself to be, it provides a wonderful opportunity to get close to a special bird, whose numbers are declining in the United Kingdom. Without this opportunity I would have to be satisfied with a fleeting glimpse as a Cuckoo flies through the trees or just the frustrating sound of its song as you search for a view.
He sat there with that expressionless sulphur yellow eye taking in the surroundings, ensuring all was well before taking the next step.
Happy that all was well he flew to the stump, which was where the meal worms were.
In al the photographs I have seen of juvenile Cuckoos being fed by there foster parents I am always taking by the striking orange red gape. I always thought this was a feature of the juvenile bird to encourage feeding, I never considered that te adult bird had the same colour gape, but they do.
From the stump it then dropped to the ground where it started to pick up some of the escaping meal worms, but also was attracted by a photographer who was throwing meal worms towards him.
I had moved from my original position as the Cuckoo moved across the grass. A male Redstart flew into the post and offered a brief distraction.
But it was back to the main attraction who was coming ever closer. The photographer's stash of meal worms had run out, but I had the foresight to bring some of the many meal worms I have, so it was now down to me to provide some interest.
Appearing from below one of the many rabbit holes.
How often do you get the chance to take a portrait view of a wild Cuckoo?
From the grass it then hopped onto another strategically positioned set of posts. Here he remained quite still, as if taking the time to settle the meal he had just had. This is probably what Cuckoos do in normal circumstances
As time went on the head shape changed as the feathers on the forehead relaxed
Then he was off, flying across the field back towards the trees from which he came. He had been present for about twenty minutes and I had to pinch myself that here in this unassuming field I had just witnessed a truly remarkable experience. The photographers present all relaxed and is almost always the case when a few have shared an experience such as this we started to talk, all in agreement that it was amazing and assuring each other that despite the contrived situation it is still very worth while the effort to see.
I had a decision to make, should I stay or should I go. The Redstart were still singing around the outside of the field and I would like to get some more photos of the males, so I decided to walk around the field. Earlier as I waited for the Cuckoo I had seen and heard Woodlark and a very distant Tree Pipit, it would seem that this particular part of Thursley had a fair bit to offer.
Walking down around the perimeter I stopped for a strange singing Blackcap, but it was a Blackcap. At the far end of the field movement in the grass turned out to be a very smart male Wheatear. I was able to lay on the ground as it moved around the Rabbit holes and ant hills.
Next, I came across a pair of Woodlark that allowed me to approach quite closely.
Finally having decided to leave the field and explore some more of the reserve I had to turn back to pursue a singing male Redstart. It gave me a bit of a run around but I managed to catch it as it sat on a lower branch of one of the trees on the perimeter.
My want to get some shots of the Redstart satisfied I left the field with a Willow Warbler singing from the highest point of a Silver Birch. Coming out on to the heath I could hear the scratchy song of Dartford Warblers. The time of year and sunshine meant they were much easier to locate and showed very well on top of the gorse bushes.
I was heading towards Ockley Common. In preparation for this visit i had checked whether the Little and Rustic Buntings that had been present through out the winter had been recently reported, the last report on Bird Guides had been the 29th March, so I had assumed they had gone. However chatter at Parish Field had revealed that there were still two Little Buntings around.
Crossing Ockley Common I was taken by how much it reminded me of the savanna of the Serengeti and Masai Mara.
On reaching what is known as "Bunting Corner" I was informed that the Little Buntings had been seen recently and that they were singing. Apparently the reports had been suppressed as it was considered they may breed.
The area is of bushes and scrub surrounded by burnt out gorse and open mud. Another strategically positioned branch has been placed in front of a bare patch of ground that was attracting Reed Buntings, Goldfinch and a cock pheasant. Here yet another contrived situation, seed has been put out over the winter, but not for the last few days.
Little Bunting is a lifer for me and I have no idea why I haven't made the effort to come earlier in the year, probably because it meant leaving the confines of Hampshire, not sure. Any way I was here today.
Several others were present and we managed a brief view of one in the scrub.
While I could identify it I wanted a better view. Those present had either seen it earlier in the day or consistently over the winter, shortly they moved away and left me on my own. I could hear song but couldn't make out where it was coming from. I moved to one side and noticed a small bird singing while sitting in the middle of a small tree, surely it couldn't be? But it was.
Exposure was the problem here and I tried several different over exposures until it was about right, the other difficulty was the branches and I kept moving to try and get a clear view.
The first Little Bunting appeared the middle of October and was followed by a second just before Christmas. I was a little surprised about the possible breeding claim as from the books I have read it is not detailed how to distinguish male and female. I only saw one at a time and quite possibly could have been the same bird, but I did think I heard two birds singing.
Little buntings have a large range. They breed from far
north-east Europe to the far east of Russia in coniferous woodland. It winters
in northern India, southern China, northern south-east Asia where it is
typically found on farmland. It is a rare autumn visitor to these shores, with 30 to 50 being seen from September to March.
On the first view the Little Bunting appeared like a Dunnock creeping through the bushes, but when I caught up with the singing bird the main features were clear. The main confusion can be in winter with a female Reed Bunting. Paying attention to the head the main differences are the lores and eye coverts are distinctively chestnut in tone, but this can vary, here in spring this bird has bright coverts. Next the eye ring which is obvious in the Little, a clear buff eye ring. A black eye stripe encircles the the rear of the ear coverts, there is also a pale spot at the rear of the eye coverts. The supercilium is a pale buff and has a square end, in the case of this bird it is a little more chestnut or orangy.. Finally the crown is more defined than the Reed Bunting with brown lateral stripes and chestnut central stripe.
A behavioral difference is the habit the Reed Bunting has of flicking open its tail sideways revealing white outer tail feathers.
I was pleased to find that when I reviewed the photos at home I did manage to get a really good one despite the exposure and branches.
With these views I decided it was going to be hard to get any better so opted to walking back to the Moat car park and heading home. A lifer and incredible views of Cuckoo and Redstart, what a day
POST SCRIPT
I did manage to get out earlier in the week, and on the 8th April walked around Alresford where I managed to find this Green Sandpiper on one of the streams, not always an easy bird to find in Hampshire, I felt the sighting should have a record.
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