Trip reports

Coach Trip to Thursley Common

Sunday, 17 May 2009

Our most recent coach trip to Thursley Common on May 17th ran into mixed weather (there was a little sunshine in the morning, but it rained for most of the afternoon!), but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless and saw all the special birds (tree pipit, redstart, cuckoo, hobby and lots of woodlarks) bar one: Dartford warbler, which has (temporarily, we hope) deserted the area, due to a combination of lack of suitable habitat caused by a recent severe fire and the harsh winter weather. A few four-spotted chaser dragonflies were on the wing and we also saw common lizard, fallow deer and a sundew carnivorous plant. A mandarin duck was a surprise find on the Hammer Pond: we later encountered another bird as well as ring-necked parakeet and another Hobby at an extended comfort stop at Runnymede on the way home.