Febuary's Birds in Ashtead

Should you have an hour or so to spare one morning this month, take a stroll across Ashtead Common to its northernmost boundary with Rushett Farm and you may be fortunate enough to see lapwings displaying above one of the farm fields. It’s one of the most heartwarming sights in nature as the male birds perform a breathtaking series of aerobatics, swerving, tumbling, ascending and diving on their broad, rounded, black-and-white wings, ‘pee-witting’ loudly the whole time. There are fewer of them these days, alas. Thirty years ago we used to see several dozen. In recent springs, numbers seldom get into double figures. However many there are, they’re wonderful to watch – and if you miss them, well, at least you’ll have had a lovely walk ….

update:

NB Wellington boots and binoculars essential.

I walked over there yesterday and some of the paths and bridleways are very muddy indeed.