The heat is on

The past 10 days have been dominated by a heatwave, with Britain ominously breaking it's record temperature in several places on Tuesday this week. A sign of summers to come for sure. It doesn't seem like any prolonged rainfall is in the forecast so second and third broods may struggle a bit, though there's no doubt it's been a good breeding season for many species, especially compared with the wet summers of 2020 and 2021.

A Sand Martin with Swallows.

Tuesday 12th

At the end of a hot, muggy day I headed out for an evening session. Tuesley was up first and a nice surprise greeted me: a fresh juvenile Mediterranean Gull. On the early side, I wonder if this bird has continental origins. Interestingly Dave had two at Walton today as well. What a smart plumage this is …

Mediterranean Gull.

I then did an hour at Thursley, notching up a measly 16 species. However, the quality was good, with the best record a most unseasonal trio of female Shoveler on Pudmore. Rare at any time of year here this goes down as an odd occurrence indeed, and only my third at the common. 

Shoveler.

An eclipse drake Teal, a Lapwing and a flyover Hobby were also noted at Pudmore, while three young Redstarts were foraging around The Neck.

I wrapped things up at Witley Common – where it was 24°C at 10 pm – and was treated to excellent views of two pairs of Nightjar, including lots of display. A male Tawny Owl hooted away to the south as well.

Wednesday 13th

The juvenile Mediterranean Gull had indeed roosted at Tuesley but departed to the south early on this morning. An impressive number of Swallows (at least 70) were zipping around – it seems like they've had a good breeding season. A few Sand Martins were among them.

Sand Martin.

Thursday 14th

No birding.

Friday 15th

I walked along the river before work, noting an adult Marsh Tit and a juvenile Garden Warbler near Eashing Marsh.

Saturday 16th

No birding.

Sunday 17th

Sam and I headed to Sussex this morning, starting off at Chidham which has proven lucrative for me for Yellow-legged Gulls in recent summers. We had three adults in Cutmill Creek but not the hoped for juvenile. An impressive 380 Mediterranean Gulls were counted, with three Grey Partridges and two Whimbrel also noted.

(Mostly) Mediterranean Gulls.

We then birded Pagham, with Church Norton delivering three tern species (including 30 or more Littles), Greenshank and 53 Dunlin. On the Ferry Pool we scored two Common Sandpipers, three Little Ringed Plovers and 33 Black-tailed Godwits, as well as our desired juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

It was very hot by the time we reached the North Wall, where we were surprised to see an early juvenile Black-tailed Godwit – doubtless a limosa. The bird was colour-ringed but as of yet we've failed to locate the scheme ... some 11 Cattle Egrets were knocking around Owl Copse too.

Limosa Black-tailed Godwit.

Some niceties on the scenic route home included adult and recently fledged juvenile Spotted Flycatchers near Lurgashall Mill Pond and a female Goshawk.

Spotted Flycatchers and Goshawk.

Back in Surrey, we popped in at Tuesley and were rewarded with a Common Gull – a real rarity locally between April and September and my 'earliest' ever in south-west Surrey by two days.  

Common Gull.

Monday 18th

At the end of a roasting hot day I did a short walk around Thursley, which needless to say was very quiet. That said, one of the female Shoveler was still on Pudmore, along with four Teal.

Tuesday 19th

Another ridiculously hot day and another evening trip to Thursley, this time with Dave. A summer plumage Redshank was a lovely surprise at Pudmore, though it was typically skittish and didn’t hang around long. Only my second ever here, but both have been these month.

Redshank.

Wednesday 20th

Three Green Sandpipers – my first of the autumn – were at Tuesley this morning, which was refreshingly cooler after the last couple of days. At least 75 Swallows were noted as well.

Green Sandpipers.

Thursday 21st

The first Shackleford ringing session of the autumn took place this morning and there was some relative quality among the 40 species logged, not least three Crossbills that flew high east. A really unlikely record – not just because of the incongruous setting (it's not exactly an arable farmland species!) but the fact they've been so thin on the ground this year, with this only my fourth record of 2022. A sign of a good autumn and winter for them, perhaps?

A Lapwing over was also notable – sadly only my third record here this year, with Shackleford one of a shocking count of three sites at which I've recorded this rapidly declining species in 2022. Two Little Owls, five Red-legged Partridges and 25 Skylarks were observed as well. The nets were quiet, with two juvenile Chiffchaffs highlighting. 

Juvenile Chiffchaff.