Brian's birding blog

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Catching up

Just realised I haven't written a diary post on the blog since 18th May so here's a little catch up post....

A busy day on 19th meant I didn't get any time for birding but a trip to drop the grandchildren to school on 20th gave an opportunity for an hour at Rainham whilst letting the traffic die down a little. The walk from the top car park to the visitor centre and back gave up 52 species without highlight.

The 21st saw me back over the George for a couple of hours and a count of 54 species with the highlight being 3 Sanderling found by Ian L before I arrived. The birds lingered until the contractors took the mower on to the causeway and flushed them. Also present was the a single Common Sandpiper and 3 Raven with one showing on the footpath and two up on the pilons.

Raven

Mowing the causeway

On the 22nd I headed down to Thursley Common with Dad and Jim arriving around 6am we walked out to find the common alive with bird song. We had good views of multiple Wood Lark. Tree Pipit and Dartford Warbler and managed a short view of a female Common Redstart before we headed back to the car for the 15mile journey to our chosen Honey Buzzard watchpoint. Again we were hearing Wood Lark, Tree Pipit and Yellowhammers as we watched the regular Red Kites and Buzzards. Eventually we had good views of a couple of Honey Buzzard, a Goshawk and a Sparrowhawk but all remained distant and having left my camera battery at home I was quite pleased I hadn't missed too many opportunities today although the Dartfords did show really well at Thursley.

The 23rd saw me walk the George again finding a single Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatcher for my trouble. A single Raven was seen but it appears the youngsters have moved on to better feeding grounds now.

Whimbrel

Common Sandpiper

Sand Martin (or Bank Swallow if you like)

I didn't get any birding on 24th but was back on the George first thing on 25th. I found 2 Little ringed Plover on the causeway and a Whimbrel still lingering with 3 Common Sandpipers. On south basin I found both Oystercatchers resting and managed a picture which isn't easy as they're usually very flighty.

Oystercatchers

Great crested Grebe

South basin

Mallard

Yesterday (the 26th May) I headed up to Wallington and enjoyed a nice walk around the local fields. I enjoyed a brief view of a single Spotted Flycatcher for a year tick and then had a brief view of a Little Owl which was lost to view (and on private land) before I could get the camera on it. Red Kites flew around me and a walk further down the road delivered great views of numerous Corn Bunting and Skylarks but proved a tad early to pick up any calling Quail. I enjoyed watching the local Hares too.

Spotted Flycatcher

Red Kite

Corn Bunting

Skylark

Corn Bunting

Meadow pipit

Today I walked the reservoir again but it was very quiet with no waders and no Raven but I still logged 55 species on my quick visit.

Hybrids with the Canadas

Gadwall

Barn Owl

Coot

So that's a full catch up and I'll try not to leave it so long between updates going forward.

Monday, 18 May 2026

Time with the Ravens

Another early start today and another walk around the reservoir. I like the early starts for several reasons, one I'm a poor sleeper and always have been, two it allows me to get back in time to sort Suzannes breakfast etc and three it's just great being out as the day starts to go about it's business. The birds are in full song as the sun rises and the light itself on a good day is nice too and of course there's less people about.

This morning I was on the reservoir around 5.30am, it was cold and pretty quiet. I set about counting what I saw and heard as I walked down to the causeway. I checked that yesterdays Badger hadn't got stuck again and with no sign I carried on down to the magic corner and around to the sluice. I could see Ravens on the bank as I approached and crept closer and closer until I had to stop when they started to be aware of my approach. They settled down again and allowed me to take a few pictures. I've seen four birds regularly and assumed it was two young and two adults but today there was four birds but three appear to be young fledglings, displaying that red gape I associate with the young birds so perhaps If I get lucky and find both parents with the three young I'll be able to make a new high count of five. I do enjoy watching them on my visits and they help justify the long walk out to the north west corner which is about 2miles from the car park. I counted 54 species again today with the best birds being the Raven, a drake Wigeon and an Oystercatcher. Lot's of Swifts and hirundines about again, Swan numbers are building as are the Starling now the young are appearing. The Great crested Grebes remain, some are still displaying but it just seems strange to see them loafing about on the reservoir with no interest in moving to breeding habitat.

That time of year again

Every year I look forward to seeing the fresh fledglings in the garden and this week has seen the start of the action with first the pair of Parakeets bringing two young to the feeder and then the Robins have brought in two fresh young too. The Sparrows, Starlings, Goldfinches and Tits won't be far behind. Hope they survive and do well in their short lives.

Sunday, 17 May 2026

KGV BADGER

I completed this years farm surveys yesterday and enjoyed my grandsons party in the afternoon. This morning I woke early so decided I'd walk the reservoir and get home in time to sort Suzannes breakfast.

I arrived at 5.30 and took a slow walk along the south basin counting Grebes etc as I do. I had a Whimbrel and two Osytercatchers on the banks but otherwise it was pretty quiet. I scanned the south side of the causeway but found nothing of interest so moved to scan the north side and as I got to the far end I noticed something unusual and needed a second look before I believed my own eyes. A Badger was seemingly trying to climb the bank on the far side. I walked around to it and it seemed healthy as it walked around in the corner and stood on its hind legs etc before it settled down for a rest. I let a couple of locals know hoping for a bit of advice which didn't come so contemplated the animals fate if left down the bank on the waters edge. I called Thames Water but they didn't offer any advise save to recommend trying to contact the RSPCA which I set about doing only to find they didn't answer the phone until 8AM so I had over an hour to kill before I could ring them. I spent that hour counting birds and photographing the Ravens again.

The RSPCA were helpful and said they would send somebody out and within a few minutes the guy coming had called to say he'd be there about 9.30am so I had another 90minutes to wait now. I checked again with Thames Water about access etc for the RSPCA and the guy was happy for them to attend.

Meeting him at the gates we drove slowly around to the Badger and then the games began as the creature proved just how fit and well it was by giving us the slip for about 40 minutes until it eventually the inspector had pushed it far enough around the causeway for it to climb the steps and make its own exit. A happy ending which cost me 4 hours more than I wanted to give the reservoir today but Suzanne was understanding when I got home thankfully.

On the bird front I had two Whimbrel, two Oystercatchers and seven Dunlin along with the Ravens which I do enjoy watching on my visits.

As I like to say "if you get out there, you might just see something"