Birds and Wildlife of Thursley Heath

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Duration

4 hours

Overview

Thursley Heath 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 woods, there is the possibility of that gorgeous sprite, the Firecrest and 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 in the pines. Spring also sees the first butterflies on the wing and we should see the stunning little Green Hairstreak. Later in the year the heath specialist the Silver-studded Blue and the cryptic Grayling will be on the wing. These heaths are nationally important for their rare and scarce dragonflies and with luck, we will see the Keeled Skimmer, the beautiful Downy Emerald and the rarer, iridescent Brilliant Emerald. Commoner species will also be present such as Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly.