Thursley Common, Surrey (1 Viewer)

[dr_david_king]

Went to Thursley Common last night in the vague hope of seeing a Dartford Warbler and some woodlarks, both of which I believe to be there this year, in spite of the devastating fire last year.

I met someone who doesn't think that there have been any Dartford Warblers there for some years.

Is there anyone out there who has seen / heard a DW this year or in recent years? Also, has anyone seen a Hobby at the common this year? Dragonfly numbers are right down on previous years...

cheers,
Dave.

 

[paulwfromtheden]

Went to Thursley Common last night in the vague hope of seeing a Dartford Warbler and some woodlarks, both of which I believe to be there this year, in spite of the devastating fire last year.

I met someone who doesn't think that there have been any Dartford Warblers there for some years.

Is there anyone out there who has seen / heard a DW this year or in recent years? Also, has anyone seen a Hobby at the common this year? Dragonfly numbers are right down on previous years...

cheers,
Dave.

Hi Dave,
I saw 3 DW's and about 10+ Woodlarks at Thursley in May.
Paul

 

[Clive Watson]

I've not been there for a while and I can't comment on the effects of the fire but I'm pretty sure there have been Dartfords at Thursley every year in the recent past. Not always easy to see though, normally people look in the spring when males are singing. There are almost certainly Hobbies there too, but that doesn't mean you'll definitely see one. Thursley is a big place and a lot of it can seem pretty birdless at times.

 

[PaulK]

I went a couple of weeks back and got talking with one of the English Nature Volunteers there. He told me that there were at least 15 pairs of Dartford Warbler (down on last year) and the number of Woodlarks is up on last year ( cant remember the exact number). I dont think the fire had a huge effect on them because they are still managing to survive in the unaffected heather.

When I was there I heard Dartford Warbler and also saw Hobby. Drangonfly numbers did appear to be down but I was told there are some species out in particularly good numbers ie Keeled Skimmer.

 

[Ruby]

I was there a few weeks ago and there were quite a few Dartfords in the localised area that I checked out (just N of the moat pond) - probably 6-8 within a couple of hundred yards....

I have found the trick with this species is to find a suitable bit of ground and stay put - they will then usually show themselves, but duck into deep cover if they are disturbed by people wandering about.

 

[paulwfromtheden]

I was there a few weeks ago and there were quite a few Dartfords in the localised area that I checked out (just N of the moat pond) - probably 6-8 within a couple of hundred yards....

I have found the trick with this species is to find a suitable bit of ground and stay put - they will then usually show themselves, but duck into deep cover if they are disturbed by people wandering about.

Their song is a real give away as well...

 

[dr_david_king]

Great. Moat Pond is very convenient for the car park as well, and I think I know where you mean.

The copse at the end of the boardwalks is a pretty good place to see things - I haven't heard a DW at that location, but have had several sightings of the Curlews that seem to nest at the far side of the copse...

Thanks all for the help...

 

[Farnboro John]

The right hand boardwalk that goes across to Shrike Hill (don't know if that is an official name or a birders' one, every birder I've ever met uses it) usually has DWs at each end, and along to the right at the Shrike Hill end is good for some distance.

John

 

[dr_david_king]

John - re: "the right hand boardwalk", do you mean the boardwalk from pine copse that goes south easterly to the hill - which then comes to a junction? If so, that's the one which has a little lay-by on the north side which is good for all sorts of viewings - have seen meadow pipit, curlew, hobby from that point. There are frequently gatherings of birders there when I've been in the past.

Have to say, that I discovered Thursley only a couple of years ago and I think it is a great place - when bored of the birds (did I say that?!), there's always the dragonflies and damselflies.

I've also started to visit Riverside Park in Guildford which seems to have a wide variety of species - counted 25 over the weekend....

 

[HH75]

My only visit to this site was in July 2001, and I was rewarded with the best views that I've had to date of Dartford Warbler: an adult male was being followed by his fledged young, and they were so close that I could identify the prey item in his bill as a Small Red Damselfly on account of it having red legs...
Also had 2 Hobbies there: despite the weather being cool and few larger dragonflies being apparent, they seemed to be finding plenty to eat by hawking around.