Went to Bookham Common today for a bird I had never seen before - a hawfinch. This is a large, colourful, shy finch which has been in the area for a while. On arrival I checked directions with my friend David Campbell who saw the bird yesterday. Almost immediately on arrival I saw some birds fly into the top of some distant trees, about 200m away. One was a jackdaw and the other a handsome male hawfinch. Took a few photos before it flew away. I met up with Kevin from Beddington Farm who arrived a few minutes after me. We had to wait about half an hour to see the hawfinch again even more distant but unmistakable. Kevin was pleased as it was a Surrey tick for him. We went off in search of other hawfinches and bullfinches which were reported. Saw neither, but did see kestrel, sparrowhawk, and other assorted tits and the like. My 2008 year list stands at 197. It would be nice to reach 200. Will it be possible...
The picture is just a record shot.
