June's Birds in Ashtead

8th June

 

The Lapwing

For one of the loveliest sights and sounds in nature you need go no further than the northern boundary of Ashtead Common overlooking the Rushett Farm fields where, if you're in luck, lapwings will be in flight as they were this morning. Years ago, you could see dozens of them breeding every spring. This year, only four of these spectacular birds are here, their numbers having been diminished (mainly because of intensive farming) to the point at which they - and the cuckoo, incidentally - have just been added to the Red List of our most endangered species.

 
22nd June

Skylarks are among the star turns of the dawn chorus at this time of year and their liquid, high pitched, rippling song is a daily delight. If you're a commuter, you can enjoy their beautiful singing whilst waiting for the early morning train to Waterloo - a glorious way to start the working day - since there are two families of skylarks on the upper Woodfield, just to the north of the 'up' line. Intensive farming caused skylark numbers to decline drastically but they seem to be recovering, as their presence here during the past six or seven years illustrates.