One-dimensional

After the long, wet summer of 2021, the long, hot summer of 2022 rumbles on, with a warm and sunny first 10 days of August. And that's before mentioning the upcoming extreme heatwave, which will be the second of the year. It feels like it's been bright and pleasant pretty much non-stop since March. Lovely in terms of simply being outside, but often producing rather one-dimensional birding. And that's a fair way to sum up the start to August: enjoyable for sure, but lacking major excitement.   

Male Dartford Warbler at Witley Common.

Monday 1st

After going the whole of July without a local Common Sandpiper, it was somewhat predictable that one was foraging along the shoreline at Tuesley this morning, which was dull, grey and rather muggy.

The Lammas Lands were quiet afterwards, with four Stonechats, three Reed Buntings and a Kingfisher highlighting.

Tuesday 2nd

Another clammy sort of morning, this time with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover at Tuesley early on. I suspect this is the bird from 31 July.

I then visited Thursley, where a familiar roll call of species was noted, including singles of Lapwing, Snipe and Water Rail, three Teal, a flock of eight Woodlark and a Tree Pipit.

I walked back via Bagmoor and Royal Commons, where I ran into a wonderful mixed flock numbering some 13 different species. This included a Garden Warbler and, best of all, a Marsh Tit; here and the Wey at Eashing seem to be the only places within a 3 km radius of my house that still hold populations of the latter.

Wednesday 3rd

No birding.

Thursday 4th

It was refreshingly cooler today as the wind swung round to the north overnight. I walked Shackleford early on and, while 36 species wasn't a bad tally – with Little Owl, four young Kestrels and four Stonechats noted – the highlight was my first Clouded Yellow of the year.

Kestrel, Little Owl and Ring-necked Parakeet.

I suspect it's going to be a quiet autumn at this site. Angus the farmer is undertaking some exciting agri-environmental schemes but, in doing so, he's had to clear the current margins and set aside. As a result it's a somewhat barren place at present, not helped by the drought and recent cutting of the alfalfa.

I walked home along the river, noting a juvenile Sparrowhawk over Milton Wood. At Eashing Marsh a mixed flock contained a juvenile Willow Warbler and juvenile Whitehroat. A Garden Warbler fed on elderberries nearby and two Marsh Tits were carrying food around – tending to a late brood perhaps?

Whitethroat, Marsh Tit, Willow Warbler and Sparrowhawk.

Friday 5th

No birding.

Saturday 6th

It was 9°C when I got to Thursley early on – the coolest it's been for months. It was a fine morning to be out on the common and 47 species was a good innings for early August, but ultimately it was quiet. The highlight was a Marsh Tit along Thursley Road – a site first for this year, I think.

Spotted Flycatchers were at Francis Copse (two) and Cricklestones (one) and Pudmore held singles of Teal, Lapwing and Water Rail. Tree Pipits were a bit more conspicuous than of late with four counted.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Sunday 7th

I walked the 'Twin Peaks' this morning – The Hurtwood and Hascombe Hill, which are the two highest points in the eastern Greensand Ridge in south-west Surrey. A few bits were at The Hurtwood, including a Firecrest in a dense stand of holly on the north-east slope and two Willow Warblers.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker.

Best of all, however, was a flyover Hawfinch that bombed through north-east. This species is a real enigma in south-west Surrey – it's presumed to be a very low-level resident in the Low Weald but exactly where is unclear. Generally, my observations are sporadic – this was only my second record of the year and, I think, only the third at all in the region in 2022. Interestingly my only previous sighting at The Hurtwood came in August 2020 …

Hascombe Hill was a little quieter, though Spotted Flycatcher, Siskin, Willow Warbler and Sparrowhawk were good value. 

I then descended to the Painshill Farm area, which was bone dry and rather birdless. However, my first Wheatear of the autumn was nice to see near the stables. A Red-legged Partridge was spotted as well.

Wheatear.

A quick look at Snowdenham Mill Pond on the way home confirmed that the Mute Swan pair did in fact still have their two cygnets, contrary to my observations on 30 July. The Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid and a juvenile Sparrowhawk were about as well.

Monday 8th

No birding.

Tuesday 9th

It was a fresh, sunny morning at Witley Common, where I was pleased to locate four Dartford Warblers in two different parts of the increasingly fragmented patches of heathland at this site. This count included two juveniles. Plenty of mixed tit flocks were about with a few juvenile Willow Warblers among them.

Dartford Warbler.

In contrast to the poorly managed Witley, Milford Common is a success story, with superb conservation management bringing back Nightingales in recent years and heathland restoration likely to attract other species in time. It was quiet today, save plenty more roving tit squadrons and three Bullfinches.

Wednesday 10th

It was already hot by the time I did a short walk of Eashing Fields mid-morning. Predictably it was quiet, though two Ravens sailing east were only a second record for me here.