Page 10 - Out Birding August 2022

We selected a nice viewpoint to have our lunch and, once refreshed, we set off again and had a nice view of a singing male Reed Bunting as we picked up the path around the pond once again. A Tree Pipit also sang and performed a ‘parachuting’ display flight.
We decided to pay a visit to nearby RSPB Farnham Heath as it was still early when we arrived back at the car park. This was a good move as when we reached it we were able to watch a pair of Garden Warblers nest building. We also saw the previously elusive Redstart and a Whitethroat, and a Hobby did a fly past. We could hear Woodlark singing but were unable to see them. In total we sawfive Dartford Warblers throughout the walk. Other birds heard but not seen during the day were Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Skylark. With the addition of common birds such as Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Magpie and Carrion Crow, our total list for the day was 30 seen, plus 6 heard but not seen. All in all, a very enjoyable birding walk!
Malcolm
Knepp Wildland 24/05/2022
Knepp Estate describes itself as a “biodiverse wilderness area in the Low Weald of Sussex”; over the past decade it has built an international reputation for ‘rewilding’. Carol led a group of 17 on a 4.5 km walk around this Estate, with GBC members from across the south and east. That there are no ‘public’ toilets caused a few pained looks but, as seasoned birders, we were able to be creative in our own ‘rewilding’.
We began the day watching grazing fallow deer, whilst surrounded by Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, their melodies audible throughout the day. Whilst listening, Yellowhammer, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kestrel were also sighted. Further on, over a multi-coloured wildflower meadow, flitted Orange Tip, Brimstone and Small White butterfly and numerous micro-moths in the sunshine.
From the café we had our first view of a White Stork sitting on the nest gently tending two chicks. As we watched the nest, the sitting bird was joined by its mate with much ‘beak clacking’ greeting; it was difficult not to think that one might be telling the other what the chicks had been up to in the nest. White Stork, although now relatively com- mon in southern Spain and France, were last wild in the UK during Henry V’s reign, 600 years ago. In April 2022, Knepp reported 37 eggs across 9 White Stork nests; the birds were in flight during much of our visit, with many chicks visible on the nests. Over coffee, we saw 6 circling, almost lazily, low above us as they picked up the rising thermals, an unforgettable experience. Dwarfed alongside were Buzzard, being mobbed by Carrion Crow, Red Kite and a pair of Canada Geese. On a smaller scale, but equally important, a butterfly-inspired wall had been given over to create a massive bug hotel which, in the sunshine, was a hive(!) of solitary bee activity.
As we walked further into the Estate, crossing a stream where banded demoiselles clung to the reeds, the cloudscape became increasingly dramatic, bringing with it a shower of rain followed by sunshine. The ‘teddy bear’ ears of two massive Tamworth pigs twitched as we passed close by; their thick ginger-brown coat now wet, looking like spun gold in the sunshine. Meanwhile, highland cattle and Exmoor ponies roamed casually in and out of view.
On the lake were nesting Great Crested Grebe and Coot whilst aerobatic Swifts were 10