Mark Davis

Birder & patch-watcher, exploring the wilder, less trampled parts of Mole Valley.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

First Common Blue of the year in our wild front garden.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Just enough light left to pick out some colour on 1 of the 2 churring Nightjars seen on Leith Hill tonight, along with 6 Woodcock and 2 Cuckoos.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

@BirdingGardener Surely more like 107th or 108th Wes? You’ve seen or heard my 101 MV species this year plus at least Gropper, Nightingale, Reed Warbler, LSW, Green Sand, Woodcock or Osprey so far.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

@surreywallcreep @Crane_Spotter Or Glyphosate perhaps?
That was a local farmer’s admission to me a couple of years ago when much of the valley west of Dorking turned a sickly yellow. ‘But not the bad sort’, I remember him saying.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

A circuit of Westcott & the lower slopes of Leith Hill produced 2 Teal, a flock of 20 Crossbill, 3 Brambling, 2 Muntjack, an inquisitive Weasel and a dozen singing but otherwise placid Firecrests.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

First sighting of a Cetti’s Warbler in Mole Valley this afternoon (after hearing one of the Capel birds in 2021), calling loudly along the damp path at Fetcham Reed bed.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Waxwings feeding on mistletoe in Ashtead this morning, with berries occasionally being passed between individuals.
Thanks to Andy Holden for the report.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

#BigGardenBirdWatch finished. 13 Species in our modest patch of garden, including Redwing & female Blackcap.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

@WWTArundel 2 Bittern there today. While attention was on one bird across the ice at the Scrape hide, another flew over and dropped into reeds near the Reedbed hide.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Now 2 male & 1 female Blackcaps in the regular spots - back garden holly and the ivy across the road.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

A male Blackcap enjoying the neighbours’ figs.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

1st Common Gull of the autumn on the flooded Mole at Betchworth

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Green Sandpiper at Holmwood Sewage Works.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Ring Ouzels on the move during today’s tower watch.

[wes @BirdingGardener]

Todays Tower watch here. https://t.co/cdoth61x9O

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

@Crane_Spotter Thanks. Had a few Yellowhammers too adding to the yellow theme. I’ll take the ups and downs of patch birding and moments like these any day of the week though.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Yellow Wagtail at Chadhurst Farm this morning.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

2 Yellow Wagtails and separate flocks of c.50 House Martins & 30 Swallows at Chadhurst Farm this morning.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

A 1st for my local patch - Sedge Warbler skulking in the hedgerow bordering Chadhurst Farm.

[Mark Davis @NowerBirder]

Today’s Hobby - perched on the Nower for half an hour in the drizzle. A bit distant perhaps at c.800m, but a nice distraction from work.