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Thursley Common (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR321A day observing the abundant wildlife at one of Surrey's most famous heathland sites.
£60
Highlights
Summary
Thursley Common comes to life in the spring. Resident breeding birds such as Woodlark and Dartford Warbler are joined by migrants returning from Africa and Southern Europe, which include Tree Pipit, Cuckoo and Common Redstart. In the wooded margins there is the possibility of that gorgeous sprite, the Firecrest, and possibly the declining Curlew may be on territory. Later in the spring, the dashing Hobby will be hawking dragonflies over the wetter areas with the possibility of Crossbills and Spotted Flycatchers in the pines. Spring also sees the first butterflies on the wing and the heaths offer the chance to see the Green Hairstreak, followed later in the year by Silver-studded Blue and the Grayling. These heaths are nationally important for their rare and scarce dragonflies and with luck, we will see these from the boardwalks. Possibilities are the Keeled Skimmer, the Black Darter the beautiful Downy Emerald, and the rarer, iridescent, Brilliant Emerald. Small Red Damselflies and Willow Emerald are also present. Commoner species will also be in evidence such as Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly. Early and Southern Marsh Orchids are also present as are all six of the UK’s reptile species!
Start time will be 8am and expect to walk no more than 5 miles during the course of the day.
- Hobby, Dartford Warbler and Woodlark
- Displaying Tree Pipits and hopefully a Cuckoo
- From June, Odonata in abundance with Brilliant Emerald a possibility
- Grayling and Silver-studded Blue in July
- Prolong your stay (un-guided) for Nightjar
- All six reptile species
- Early Marsh (incarnata form) and Southern Marsh Orchid in June
Day Trip Location
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Jonathan Mycock
Jonathan is a professional conservationist with over 30 years' experience in nature conservation and environmental management. Much of this has been working in protected areas, including the Shropshire Hills & Sussex Downs AONBs and the Peak District, New Forest and South Downs National Parks. He gained a BSc Hons in Applied Biology from Liverpool John Moore's University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Countryside Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, during the 1980s. His last position was Environmental Project Manager with the Environment Agency in Worthing, from which he retired in October 2023.
Jonathan has been a keen naturalist from a very young age. He honed his birding skills on the moors, dales and reservoirs of the Peak District during his teenage years, together with regular stays at Spurn Bird Observatory. During this period Jonathan gained a detailed knowledge of the songs and calls of British birds which has stood him in good stead when undertaking bird surveys and leading guided walks.
Jonathan has travelled extensively in Europe, Turkey, North Africa and the Middle East, The Gambia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, California, Costa Rica and Ecuador in search of birds and other wildlife. Since retiring he spent 3 weeks birding in Madagascar and a week in Taiwan, together with 2 weeks in the Canaries (El Hierro and Lanzarote).
Jonathan has led tours for Naturetrek in the Dordogne, France; the Sorrento Peninsula, Italy; Sicily; the Carpathian Mountains and Danube Delta in Romania; and Finland and Arctic Norway. He has also led various UK tours, including in Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and the Forest of Dean, as well as local day trips to Pagham Harbour and the Sussex Downs and Heaths. In his ‘spare time’, Jonathan is a voluntary warden at RSPB Pulborough Brooks and undertakes local surveys for the BTO and Sussex Ornithological Society.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
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