Trip reports
Devil's Punchbowl, Milford and Witley Common - by Frank Clark
Sunday, 26 April 2009
As I mentioned, the target species here were warblers but sadly they were no where to be seen or heard for that matter. We did finally track down a singing Wood Warbler but try as we might, we could not find it. Returning to the cars we moved on to Milford and Witley Commons. Parking in the Witley Centre Car park, Milford Common is on one side (back along the entrance road and out on to the common) and Witley Common is on the other side. What is very unclear is why the centre is only open during the week and closed at weekends, which is when the area is likely to be the busiest!!??
Milford Common is surrounded by woodland and has small clear grassy areas. This is ideal habitat for warblers and other woodland species. Several years ago it was a good place to see and hear Nightingale but they appear to have deserted this area recently. Looking around the common the first species we came across was a trio of Lesser Redpoll. A small winter finch this species is generally only seen in Surry between November and March and was unexpected this late on in the year. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were everywhere, unlike the Punchbowl and several Blackcaps could also be heard. Another surprise find was a very tired pair of Turtle Dove, which appeared to have just arrived following their long migration. What is worth noting is that this is an early record for this species.
Turtle Dove is not a common species in Surrey and in my opinion, this is the most beautiful species of dove we have in the UK. The views we got of the 2 birds were excellent and eventually they dropped to the ground and began feeding. Moving on, we arrived back at the Witley Centre where we decided to have a very early lunch - 10.45!!. By the time we were ready to start exploring Witley, our numbers had reached 15. Witley Common is much more open than Milford Common and there is considerably more Gorse and Heather present. As we moved out, we got our first views of Whitethroat, displaying Tree Pipit, a hunting Kestrel and a distant Buzzard. Unfortunately, we only got a few seconds on the Buzzard but with the down turned wing tips which were quickly pulled back as it dropped into a stoop, there was a good change that this was not a Common Buzzard but a Honey Buzzard - we will never know.
The next bird we saw was a stunning Hobby, which was hunting small insects just above the tree line. This is a really beautiful bird which likes to hunt and devour dragonflies and other flying insects. It will also hunt and catch other aerial birds such as Swallows and martins, which show just how agile this species can be. It hunted in the area for a good 15 minutes before it was lost to view.
We were hoping to see Dartford warbler whilst on Witley Common as the numbers here had increased dramatically in the last few years, particularly following the fires on nearby Thursley Common. However, we did not manage a single positive sighting and there is some concern that the cold winter may have decimated the population, as this species is particularly sensitive to the cold. Subsequent visits to this site will tell us if that has been the case. As we returned to the car park another distant Cuckoo was heard calling.
It was now only just after 13.00 and 10 of us decided to have an unscheduled stop over at Thursley Common. Arriving in an exceptionally busy car park, we actually had to wait for cars to leave so that we could get parked, I was concerned that the common would be to busy for us to see very much. However, setting out across the boardwalk, we had our second view of the day of Hobby. This time 2 birds were "hawking" over the bogs and making the most of what insects there were. Reaching Shrike Hill, I heard the call of our first target bird, a male Redstart. Finding it sitting half way up a nearby tree, we all managed good views of this spectacularly coloured summer migrant. Moving on, we kept our eyes and ears open for our next and final target bird - the Woodlark.
We finally came across a pair of Woodlark, as we reached the just over half-way through our circuit. The male was displaying nicely for us and his loud call, which is distinctive and easily recognisable "loo-i, loo-i, loo-i" rang loud in our ears. Part of the group spent some time looking at these birds and when they had finished, we set off back to the cars. Another calling Cuckoo caught our attention but again remained stubbornly hidden from view. Reaching the cars at 16.00, we finally headed for home.
Frank Clark