Leith Hill Tower Watch

What to do on a day in lieu? Why, go and watch some wildlife of course! 

Visible migration of Wood Pigeon, travelling South-West of Leith Hill Tower

Not everything is worth leaving the house at 5.30am for, but this was an opportunity not to be missed. Sam Bayley is the lead ranger for the National Trust at Leith Hill, Surrey. He is also a licensed bird ringer and records migrating birds passing by Leith Hill Tower throughout the spring and autumn.

Matt, Sam and Robin are keen birders and record all species passing by on visible migration

Not all the birds are even visible, but their calls carry far up here...

Matt focusing his scope north towards Box Hill

The tower is 19.5 metres (64 ft) high, and probably the best view you will ever get of 13 different counties! Look north and you can see London skyscrapers, look south and you can see the South Downs and even just about make out boats on the English Channel.

Sam points eastward towards the airport

We could also see Gatwick from here, so I'm keeping an eye on things... Hey wait a sec, is that a Short-eared Owl you've seen there, Sam?!

It was a thrilling viewpoint to see birds from, with things winging incredibly close to the tower at eye level, below us, and just overhead. The numbers of birds were quite remarkable, although we didn't come anywhere near Sam's previous record of around 11,310 Wood Pigeon on one morning!

An unexpected flurry of light snow reminding us of how high up we are

Here's the final list (in rough order of occurrence):

1. Woodcock

2. Tawny Owl

3. Redpoll

4. Redwing

5. Blackbird

6. Dunnock

7. Wren

8. Song Thrush

9. Siskin

10. Chaffinch

11. Carrion Crow

12. Pheasant

13. Starling

14. Stock Dove

15. Herring Gull

16. Wood Pigeon

17. Goldfinch

18. Mistle Thrush

19. Sparrow Hawk

20. Linnet

21. Fieldfare

22. Robin

23. Nuthatch

24. Goldcrest

25. Green Woodpecker

26. Lesser Black-backed Gull

27. Blue Tit

28. Feral Pigeon

29. Crossbill

30. Long-tailed Tit

31. Meadow Pipit

32. Jackdaw

33. Bullfinch

34. Hawfinch