Staines Moor (16 March 2023)
Twelve members of our group had a bracing walk on Staines Moor but at least it didn’t rain as much
as forecast! Despite the blustery weather we had 47 species between us. Highlights included 3
Wheatears (2m 1f), 2 Water Pipits scuttling along the river bank, a large female Sparrowhawk
swoping through our binocular views when we were searching for Wheatear, a pair of Red Kites, 2
silent Blackcap, singing Chiffchaffs and 2 bickering male Reed Buntings. Keeping our telescopes
steady in the 15-39mph SW wind was a bit of a challenge however!
We’d had a dozen species including Blackbird, Red Kite, Chaffinch, Collared Dove and Redwing
before leaving our cars. Dan Davis added House Sparrows as he made his way down Hithermoor
Road from the 442 bus stop. It was pretty muddy along the entrance track but was a good route for
small passerines; Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest,
Blackcap etc. The views across the pools are pretty much obscured by brambles nowadays but we
could just about see Teal, Mallard, a pair of Shoveler, Moorhen, Cormorant and Canada Geese.
Out on the Moor Diana helped us distinguish between the song flights of Meadow Pipit and Skylark,
especially the descending bit! Cetti’s Warblers sang from the depths of bushes but the blowy
conditions did not deter Linnets from feeding out on the grassland. We’d given up on finding
Wheatear, despite them being one of our target birds, when they were spotted in the distance as we
headed back. Was it 3 or 4? Hard to say especially when dogs disturbed them and they flew out of
sight. Three of us went to Staines Reservoir on the way home where it was even windier! Lots of
Pied Wagtails, including a possible White Wagtail, a few Goldeneye and another Water Pipit. We left
just before rain set in in earnest.
Other species on Staines Moor: Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Coot, Dunnock, Feral
Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser
Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.
by Rebecca Dunne