Warming up

July is often a fun time on patch, with plenty of breeding activity still taking place while the first real cogs of autumn migration begin to move. That mixture has been in evidence during this initial period of the month this year, which has largely been dominated by hot weather as a heatwave begins.

A food-carrying Reed Warbler.

Friday 1st

For the third year in a row, July began with a Redshank at Tuesley. The very end of June and first 10 days of this month is absolutely the peak time for passage in south-west Surrey, it seems. It's always a joy to see one, especially when they are in summer dress as this individual was.

Redshank.

I walked Enton Lakes afterwards. A mystery sleeping duck on Johnson's eventually revealed itself: a female Red-crested Pochard. A local rarity on the face of it, but this bird felt more than iffy, not least due to the apparent lack of wings (!) and slightly off plumage (I suspect some Mallard genes in there). Perhaps it was tired because it had recently undertaken an escape from Busbridge Lakes … 

Dodgy Red-crested Pochard.

Common Tern and Reed Warbler were also seen.

Saturday 2nd

My first free weekend in a while presented an opportunity for an away-day, which proved fruitful. Britain's eighth Red-tailed Shrike – and only the second since the species' split from Isabelline Shrike – proved most cooperative at Bempton Cliffs, foraging along a hedgerow.

 

Red-tailed Shrike.

A nice lifer, but this was eclipsed by mega views of the returning summering Black-browed Albatross – far better views than last year. The manic seabird colony and resident Tree Sparrows were great value too.

Black-browed Albatross.

On the way home, a short diversion to the impressive new Idle Washlands wetland in Nottinghamshire produced a hulk of a Caspian Tern, which has been present for some days now. A family of Mediterranean Gulls and two Ringed Plovers were also seen.

Caspian Tern.

Sunday 3rd

Two Redshank were at Tuesley this morning. The window for this species in the local area may be small, but it's certainly reliable. A Kingfisher sat on the rubber shoreline was an unusual sight to behold.

Monday 4th

One of the joys of local birding is the constant learning process. This morning, after a low-key walk around the Lammas Lands, I was most surprised to find a pair of Reed Warblers carrying food to noisy youngsters around an overgrown pool at the Phillips Memorial Park. 

There are no known breeding records of this species at this part of the Wey, where it's generally considered a rare migrant. It just shows what can go undetected right under our noses … one of the adults was bearing a metal ring, too.

Reed Warbler.

Tuesday 5th

A walk around Shalford Water Meadows this morning was quiet, with singles of Garden and Sedge Warbler in song, along with two Reed Buntings.

Wednesday 6th

An eerie post-breeding silence was in the air at Thursley Common this morning. A small group of Sand Martins over Pudmore was notable and Snipe and Water Rail were heard, but it was a slow and steady visit today.

Thursday 7th

I visited Frensham this morning, which was grey and breezy. I counted 103 Coots on the Great Pond, where three Muscovy Ducks graced the western end. The Little Pond held a Little Egret, three Common Terns and a Slowworm.

Friday 8th

A stroll at Winkworth Arboretum was enjoyable in the early morning sun, with a singing Marsh Tit in Bluebell Wood highlighting. A Kingfisher and lots of family parties of waterbirds were at Rowe's Flashe, and I found an empty Sparrowhawk nest in Wetland Walk.

Egyptian Goose and Mandarin.

After a failed breeding attempt earlier in the season, it was pleasing to see the Snowdenham Mill Pond Mute Swan pair with two young cygnets afterwards.

Saturday 9th

No birding.

Sunday 10th

A family party of Spotted Flycatchers were a welcome sight near Thorncombe Street this morning, with two adults busy feeding at least one juvenile before the heat of the day set in.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Monday 11th

A warm morning, with the temperature nearly 20°C by the time I finished my walk around the Lammas Lands. It was looking to be a quiet visit, with no sign of any Acros. I was wrapping things up on Catteshall Meadow when I heard the familiar call of an Oystercatcher overhead. I eventually got on the bird, which was bombing west along the Wey.

High-flying Oystercatcher.

It's always cool to see migration in action like this and Oyc is good value locally, averaging around two or three records a year. It was certainly a site first for me – the only previous records at the Lammas Lands were in 2020 and 1845!

Other bits of note included four Reed Buntings, a family of Whitethroats and a Kingfisher.

Reed Bunting.