September snoozing

I often find early and mid-September to be one of the dullest birding periods locally. A lot can hinge on the weather, as it so often does inland, and sustained high pressure with subsequent clear skies and warm temperatures never helps. Throw in a prevailing westerly with little oomph, and you have a recipe for the quietest of times in Surrey. With this largely the weather during the past nine days, it’s been a bit of a snooze-fest. Save a couple of sessions, most have been quiet and I’ve limited my time in the field, preferring to save it for more exciting times ahead …

An Osprey at Thursley: a highlight of a quiet week.

Thursday 8th

I spent a couple of hours skywatching from Broomy Down, with better than expected results (Trektellen checklist here). The highlight of the watch was the marked southward passage of Siskin – really unusual for early September and no doubt tied to the bumper autumn that looks on the cards for this species. The biggest single flock was of 24. Most birds went straight down the Wey-Arun Gap but a few tracked the Thorncombe Valley ridge.

Also of note was a Yellow Wagtail, an adult and juvenile Hobby (born nearby), 60 Linnets on the crop and three Tawny Owls in the pre-dawn gloom. Mute Swan – always rare at Thorncombe Street away from Snowdenham Mill Pond – was logged with five tracked down the Wey-Arun Gap. They were seen by Kit at Shalford, further proving the ‘Shalford Split’ flyway theory.

A released White Stork.

Wednesday 9th

Easily the best session of the week, at Thursley Common, which commenced in style when an Osprey lumbered itself from (presumably) a roost near The Moat and over Pudmore before perching in a tree between Pine Island and Shrike Hill. The bird, a juvenile, was mobbed by Red Kite, Kestrel and Hobby, as well as a few Carrion Crows, but decided to linger for 15 or so minutes before departing north-east. Always great to see locally and a Thursley first for me.

Some more shots of the juvenile Osprey.

I finally caught up with ‘Barry’ the Barnacle Goose on Pudmore, having been gripped off by Dave far too often in recent weeks. It was with an impressive 315 Canadas and 53 Greylags. Two Teal were also here. Three Wheatears were on Shrike Hill and 20 odd Siskins flew over, but the best bird came at Parish Field.

Barnacle Goose and Wheatear from Thursley ...

First heard calling, eventually a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker revealed itself. A smart male, it fed in oaks and birches, apparently alone, before vanishing. I wonder where it came from? This species is virtually unheard of at Thursley these days so it was very welcome indeed.

... and a surprise Lesser Spot in Parish Field.

Thursday 10th

A brief mid-morning circuit of Bonhurst Farm produced a male Stonechat (only my seventh at Thorncombe Street!) and a Little Owl.

Stonechats are always good value at Thorncombe Street.

Friday 11th

I walked Frensham Little Pond and Common in heavy mist, which meant most birds were noted on call. This included a Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher and Water Rail in the south-east corner of the Little Pond. Heaps of Siskins were about – triple figures at least – with a single flock of 60 roving around. 

A few grounded Meadow Pipits were on King’s Ridge along with a female-type Redstart. I was surprised (given the conditions and time of year) but very happy to hear three Woodlarks singing here and at Tilhill Nurseries. A Firecrest was in holly by the Great Pond, where a few Sand Martins were overhead.

I met up with Janet later that morning to talk Unstead SF, where four Lapwings flew over the South Meadow.

Saturday 12th

Another Broomy Down skywatch, this time a little quieter. Some 96 House Martins moved south-west/west (including a flock of 60), with 69 Swallows doing the same. Curiously, four Yellow Wagtails flew low north-west (to Bonhurst?) and another moved high south. Three Grey Wagtails also flew south, while a Wheatear and Stonechat were on The Ridge. Two Ravens and a Yellowhammer were kicking about too.

Migrating House Martins.

Before a long football watching binge, I jaunted down to Thorney Island to obtain sub-par views of my second British Pallid Harrier. The bird showed briefly in flight and then distantly on the deck in the haze as it preened. Species noted while staking the harrier out included 18 Yellow Wags, Pintail, Cetti’s Warbler, Greenshank, Water Rail and an extremely tame Dunnock.

Sunday 13th

A lazy start, with the continuing uninspiring weather leading me to the coast again. A fine two and a half hour stroll of Pagham Harbour and Church Norton delivered 71 species, the best of which were two super showy juvenile Curlew Sandpipers in Ferry Channel. Some 13 other wader species included Avocet, three Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, six Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, 70 Dunlin, 150+ Redshank, 18 Curlews, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Lapwings, eight Grey Plovers, 30 Ringed Plovers and 21 Oystercatchers.

Two very smart juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.

Passerine action was headlined by a 30+ Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whinchats, Wheatear, Siskin (decent here) and, oddly, a singing Sedge Warbler. I also noted singles of Yellow-legged Gull (first-year) and Cattle Egret. 

Dunlin on Ferry Pool.

An evening walk of Shackleford produced a Whinchat and little else.

Whinchat in the Shackleford alfalfa.

Monday 14th

A hour’s walk at Shackleford in the morning was better than the night before, with three Whinchats, Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and Reed Bunting all clocked.

Grey Wagtail, Roe Deer and Whinchat at Shackleford.

Tuesday 15th

At Tuesley first thing, a winter-plumaged Common Tern was notable as none have been seen since 4th – presumably a bird from elsewhere. Some 13 Little Grebes was my highest count here.

A locally late Common Tern.

At Shackleford, it was a similar cast: two Whinchats, Yellow Wagtail and Reed Bunting, along with triple-figure finch flock counts (almost all Goldfinch and Linnet). Two Clouded Yellows were nice to see.

Some close-up Clouded Yellow action.

Wednesday 16th

As I ventured beyond south-west Surrey, a surprisingly productive two-hour Leith Hill tower watch with Matt and Wes delivered a decent rollcall of birds, far more in keeping with mid-October. These included a distant Ring Ouzel that dropped into Duke’s Warren, a Hawfinch moving south-west with Siskins (of which at least 110 were counted throughout), 38 Crossbills, six Lesser Redpolls and three Yellow Wagtails.

Grey Wagtail and Greenfinch were new tower birds for me. A Marsh Tit called from the woodland adjacent to the tower.

A couple of Crossbills at Leith Hill.

So, a quiet time really, but expected at this time of year. Hopefully the weather livens up as we head to the end of the month.