False hope


Here in Surrey, as promised, the snow arrived overnight, with only about an inch covering the higher ground in the Banstead area. I foolishly arrived at Canons Farm before dawn in the hope that the weather would have stirred up a few birds, but after three hours I conceded defeat - there was absolutely nothing on the move. The wintering Barn Owl was out hunting until 07.40hrs before it safely went to roost, and up to 40 Fieldfare were loafing around gardens on the edge of the farm.


A check on Burgh Heath pond (frozen) could only muster up a Grey Heron. I regularly check this small waterbody in the hope of a Water Rail, but it is usually down to a handful of Moorhens and the odd Coot to give me my rail fix.

Comments

Stewart said…
When I saw you looking for a hard weather movement I thought you would be disappointed. For you to get that, you need hard weather up north and we had it better than you! No need for birds to move. As it happens today we have snow cover and freezing temps so keep watching you might get some movement over the next few days...
1 February 2019 at 19:11
Steve Gale said…
I was hoping for just a little bit Stewart and didn't expect too much - however, the south Devon and Dorset coast had a tremendous day!
1 February 2019 at 21:05
Arjun Dutta said…
It's hard to know what good birding is at the moment as I've never really experienced regular good birding periods as such - was I born after a good time (was it better pre 2000s?)
1 February 2019 at 22:30
Steve Gale said…
As much as old duffers like me go on about 'the good times' Arjun, the fact is that the numbers that I remember from the 1970s and 1980s were but shadows of those from 20-30 years befor then.
2 February 2019 at 06:56
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