Early winter bird surveys 2016 (Part 2)

North West Zone grasslands

The survey start-off was signaled by a group of 9 Pied Wagtail, which must have just emerged from their communal roost. Plenty of Reed Bunting and Wren were calling around the River Mole reed beds, and the occasional Song Thrush giving a high-pitched 'tseep'.

Snipe explosion / spontaneous combustion

After yesterday's survey Snipe joys, this ominous pile of Common Snipe feathers is a bit of a sorrowful sight. Still, there is a good population around at the moment and the Sparrowhawk (presumably the culprit) has got to feed too.

We stopped in our tracks as we got closer to the reed beds, scratching our heads over this one call...

For a moment there we couldn't put our finger on it. However, later on and further downstream, we heard the more familiar, squealing cry...

Water Rail is the weirdest thing you will hear along the River Mole (except maybe for Tom Forward's imitation of a Water Rail).

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus). RSPB

A pair of Common Buzzard called to each other, one gliding towards the woodland with a Carrion Crow in wing-flapping pursuit. On the far side of the river, along the woodland strip, we scanned the gorse and bramble scrub for any movement...
   Luke then spotted a new species for the Gatwick surveys!

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) male. RSPB

Stonechats are a stunning little bird, slightly smaller than a Robin. Its name comes from the call which sounds a bit like two pebbles being bashed together. The pair we saw are probably temporary winter visitors to our sites.

A scatological interlude to look at some mystery poop...

Too small for Fox, but containing lots of fur... A Stoat or a Mink perhaps?

The tell-tale cigarette ash poo of Green Woodpecker

Mistle Thrush made their machine-gun calls as they shot past overhead. Fieldfare were the loudest though; I love how they sound on the verge of hysteria.

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) RSPB

In the north of Brockley Wood, Chaffinches were calling loudly; it makes a nice change as we are usually a bit light on finches here. A flock of Redwing were busy in the understory and a Coal Tit called from the canopy.

As we rounded the bend on the river, two Roe Deer stood motionless only meters away. Just a little further along, the gang caught a view of a top predator - Sparrowhawk! Unfortunately, I was too busy predating on rich tea biscuits and missed it.

Towards the end of the transect we were closer to the tree line; Ring-necked Parakeets started up their cry, disturbing another Common Buzzard. A lonely Little Egret took off downstream in lumbering flight. Although we didn't find Katherine a promised birthday Kingfisher, we did get a lovely Grey Wagtail zip along the river and land up next to us. 

   We start with wagtail, we finish with wagtail.

Winter shrubs: Bramble, Field Rose, Gorse and Spindle

Our species list from the day; 37 is a new record I think! Our total species recorded on our timed transects at Gatwick since 2012 stands at 79.

1	Blackbird	Turdus merula
2	Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus
3	Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula
4	Buzzard	Buteo buteo
5	Carrion Crow	Corvus corone
6	Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
7	Coal Tit	Periparus ater
8	Dunnock	Prunella modularis
9	Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris
10	Goldcrest	Regulus regulus
11	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos major
12	Great Tit	Parus major
13	Green Woodpecker	Picus viridis
14	Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
15	Jackdaw	Corvus monedula
16	Jay	Garrulus glandarius
17	Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
18	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
19	Long-tailed Tit	Aegithalos caudatus
20	Magpie	Pica pica
21	Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis
22	Mistle Thrush	Turdus viscivorus
23	Pied Wagtail	Motacilla alba subsp. yarrellii
24	Redwing	Turdus iliacus
25	Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus
26	Ring-necked Parakeet	Psittacula krameri
27	Robin	Erithacus rubecula
28	Rock Dove	Columba livia
29	Roe Deer	Capreolus capreolus
30	Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos
31	Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
32	Stock Dove	Columba oenas
33	Stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
34	Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris
35	Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus
36	Woodpigeon	Columba palumbus
37	Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes

Common Snipe (feathers)