Waiting for warmth

Another rather cool, cloudy May week has gone by, as the month draws to an end. Warm spring and summer days have been lacking in 2024 and still seem a little while off, even though May's average temperatures have actually been above average this year. However, it's been a decent past seven days on patch, with some late spring goodies. In total, according to eBird, I've recorded 114 species this May – my best-ever total for the month and a sign that, despite the lack of sunshine, it's been decent.

House Martin.

Saturday 25th

It was a beautiful, sunny morning, though cool early on. I'd just arrived at Shackleford when Hilary M posted news of a Thursley Red-backed Shrike in the Surrey WhatsApp group. I ummed and arred – I'm not year listing in 2024 and I've seen a couple before at Thursley – but eventually the thought of a male on one of my patches was too much to resist, so I hot-footed it over.

I met Hilary, who'd lost the bird having found it at South Bog. A lengthy game of cat and mouse ensued but, eventually, I got on it– a cracking, bright male. Views were always distant but it was still great to see, as it became more settled with its hunting perches as the day warmed up and insect activity rose.

Red-backed Shrike.

It's safe to say this was always going to draw a crowd and it did, as the day developed into a lovely one. Amazingly, this is the fifth Thursley record in the last decade – but also the fifth in the last 50 years! I wonder if it's the same individual that Dave found here in June last year … 

After much socialising with various people I peeled away and birded the west of the site with Kit. Pick of the bunch was a female Redstart gathering nest material near the Moat, with three Hobbies on the wing too, as well as a female Whitethroat taking food into a nest near The Neck.

Redstart, Tufted Duck and Feral Pigeons.

However, as support acts they were rivalled by an eye-catching Red-breasted Goose! The bird, ringed doubtless an escape, moved between West Bog and Moat Pond ...

Red-breasted Goose.

Sunday 26th

In start contrast to yesterday, this morning was drizzly, murky and fresh. I headed to Tuesley, where a real treat was to be found: two Sanderling and a tundrae Ringed Plover on the near shore! 

Sanderling and Ringed Plover.

The birds were foraging away contentedly and had presumably arrived together, en route to the High Arctic to breed. Tuesley is becoming quite the hot-spot for Sanderling, with this my fourth record in as many years. One of the birds was a beautiful burned red in largely full breeding plumage – an absolute stunner. It's been a great spring at this site.

Sanderling and Ringed Plover.

I staked it out a bit but there was little sign of movement. Again, large numbers of Herring Gulls were present – around 70 in all plus five Lesser Black-backed. The Firecrest was singing nearby, too, and a family party of Pied Wagtails pottered about.

I had a look at Snowdenham Mill Pond afterwards which was quiet, with the female Mute Swan still sitting and a Kingfisher over the north end.

It brightened up during the morning and I plumped for a Honey Buzzard watch. I enjoyed a nice encounter with 'Benny Blanco', a male with a distinctive white blotch at the tail base which I've seen every summer since 2021. It's been a decent start to the HB season so far, which began with my earliest ever British bird a few weeks ago. Here's hoping for that oh so elusive Surrey nest this year …

Honey Buzzard.

In the evening, a casual stroll around the village produced a drake Mandarin upriver and a vocal female Kestrel carrying food, presumably to some nearby chicks.

Monday 27th

Like Saturday, it was sunny and cool early on and, also as on Saturday, I was headed to Shackleford, though today I wasn't distracted by a shrike and was able to undertake an hour and a half session. Ultimately it was very quiet, with this site in high summer mode more or less, though the abundance of life made for a pleasant visit.

Plenty of recently fledged Starlings were at large along with a few juvenile Linnets – nice to see, as always. A female Whitethroat carried a juicy-looking caterpillar to a presumed nest site as well. I also espied a Stoat.

For the most part though it was steady. A Tufted Duck pair were on the farm pond and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull dropped in, while a few Red Kites gathered around the recently cut fields.

Red Kites and Carrion Crow.

Tuesday 28th

It was a miserable grey, drizzly day and, after work, I had a look at Tuesley. As has been a theme here recently masses of presumably very late hirundines and Swifts were zooming around, mainly House Martins, with at least 65 estimated. A single Sand Martin was among them.

House Martins, Swallow and Pied Wagtail.

I wasn't sure whether to relish the exceptional views the conditions were contributing to, or bemoan the largely grim spring that has seen so many hirundines arrive late …

Wednesday 29th

It was brighter today, but still a bit cloudy and with an increasing westerly breeze. With the remarkable appearance of three territorial Wood Warblers at Leith Hill this month I figured I should check out the former stronghold at the Devil's Punch Bowl, where the species still bred a couple of decades ago.

Unsurprisingly there was not a Wood Warbler to be found, but I did enjoy a thoroughly serene stroll through the beautiful ancient beech woodland, with the damp, misty conditions contribution to some light rainforest vibes!

Devil's Punch Bowl.

A male Redstart was in song, along with four Firecrests, a Willow Warbler and two Garden Warblers. A Siskin flew over the car park, too, and a Marsh Tit was calling near Smallbrook Stream. Two Great Spotted Woodpecker chicks noisily called from a nest hole in a dead oak, as well.

Thursday 30th

I had a quick look at the Lammas Lands, namely Catteshall Meadow, while in town this morning, which was grey and cool. The Garden Warbler was still in situ – Neil heard it here yesterday as well – and giving out its odd Blackcap-esque song. A female Whitethroat was seen carrying nest material, and a male Reed Bunting took food into a presumed nest area.

Friday 31st

It didn't feel like the end of May at Thursley this morning, with a breezy north-westerly blowing and largely cloudy skies.

Thursley Common.

That said, there was plenty of breeding activity to be noted among a decent 52 species, including a Tree Pipit carrying food near Pudmore. A further four males were singing.

Tree Pipit.

Juvenile Whitethroats and Linnets were also seen and a Great Spotted Woodpecker chick called from a nest hole. A Mute Swan was at Hammer Pond, two drake Teal were at Pudmore (it seems like a decent start to the breeding season here for this species) and a Spotted Flycatcher was near Crossbill Corner. 

Dartford Warbler and Teal.

Grey May week

The week since my return from Corsica has been pretty quiet locally, with mostly uninspiring weather and a run of grey, cloudy days. In general, there's been a feeling that things are quietly slipping into high summer mode, albeit with the odd surprise here and there.

Tundrae Ringed Plover.

Saturday 18th

After landing at Gatwick early afternoon, it was more or less straight to Frensham Great Pond. Shaun P had called me on Wednesday evening with stunning news of a female Ruddy Duck – a bird virtually extinct in Britain following the cull and not seen in Surrey for years. Given this status, I tentatively suggested that it may be a Maccoa Duck, with an escaped female at large in London and East Sussex in recent months!

The bird had been elusive and Shaun still wasn't sure, so I was keen to check it out, especially as he was leaning towards Ruddy this morning. It took a good hour plus after I arrived before I located it on the east side. As soon as I saw it, I disappointingly felt it was a/the Maccoa Duck, with a swollen bill base and strong facial markings … my photos confirmed as much.

So, it was no Ruddy return to the UK for me, but I did also note a single Common Tern, a Cuckoo, four Reed Warblers and the singing Cetti's Warbler in muggy, cloudy conditions.

Sunday 19th

This morning was grey and cool, with a light north-easterly breeze contributing to a feeling that it wasn't the second half of May. I headed to Shackleford which, unsurprisingly given the weather, felt quiet, and I only amassed 35 species during a session that felt end of season-y.

Highlights were limited to a Little Owl, which showed well, plus three Swifts and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls north, a Tufted Duck on the farm pond and three Red-legged Partridges. Interestingly a flock of Linnets were roving around the margins, around 35 birds – hopefully an amalgamation of family groups as opposed to failed breeders.

Little Owl and Skylark.

I checked Snowdenham Mill Pond afterwards. A moulting drake Gadwall roosting on the east side was a surprise and my first locally since 10 March, no less. The female Mute Swan was still sitting and the female Mandarin was continued to lead her ducklings around.

Before heading home I popped into Tuesley. The grey clouds and swirling masses of hirundines made it feel more like 19 April – or even 19 August – and I counted at least 40 Swallows, plus a couple of House Martins and a sole Sand Martin (plus 10 Swifts).

Sand Martin.

The poor spring for hirundines has been well-discussed among birders this year, ranging from a crap March for Sand Martin arrivals, through a dire April for Swallows and lack of breeding House Martins in May. These birds today felt like newly arrived migrants, I must say, which is a bit nuts for 19 May …

Swallows.

Otherwise it was quiet, save a Lesser Black-backed Gull, an unseasonal count of 13 Tufted Duck and a local Common Tern.

Monday 20th

I hadn't planned on birding this morning but I was up early, so I headed to Tuesley for a quick look. It was bright but the north-easterly wind was still blowing, perhaps accounting for a flyover Dunlin that called as it zoomed north – on the late side for around here.

A gathering of large gulls included a Lesser Black-backed, a second-year Mute Swan dropped in and there were still a few Swallows and Swifts around, too.

Mute Swan.

I walked through Eashing Fields on the way home. Three Skylarks in song was my highest count of singing birds here this year – perhaps they were celebrating their new signage. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew east and a handful of Swifts went north as well.

Eashing Fields.

Tuesday 21st

It was a grey, overcast morning, cool with a light breeze. I did a two-hour walk at Thursley Common before work and despite the conditions it wasn't too bad a session, with 46 species noted.

Pusilla Place, Thursley Common.

A Lesser Redpoll over Shrike Hill was the most unexpected of these. After a bumper winter for the species, I had wondered if some birds may stay and breed on some of the heaths – this is my latest local redpoll record since 2000!

The Curlew pair were still around but rather mobile – hopefully she'll be sitting on eggs soon. A Spotted Flycatcher was singing at Will Reeds too, with a Water Rail showing at Pudmore also notable, all to a backdrop of rather muted birdsong – probably partially due to the weather, and also the date, as spring slowly ebbs into summer … that said, two Swallows powerfully north over Pudmore were probably exceptionally late migrants!

Tree Pipit and Kestrel.

Wednesday 22nd

Another cloudy day with intermittent rain called for a waterbody check in the morning. I began at a lively Tuesley, where large numbers of Herring Gulls had gathered (with a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls among them). This has been a theme in recent days here, probably due to the wind direction, though it is remarkable to cast one's mind back to when large gulls were scarce on the deck in south-west Surrey prior to the Beddington tip refuge area being closed a few years ago …

Herring Gulls.

A tundrae Ringed Plover on the shoreline was a fine sight, looking bright and fresh. These Arctic breeding birds move through much later than British ones and generally are tamer, as this individual was.

Ringed Plover.

A bird definitely on the late side was a female Yellow Wagtail, a fairly vocal bird rather comically hanging around with the Grey Wagtail family. In fact, this is my latest spring record in Surrey (by seven days). On 8 May I speculated that a flyover at Shackleford would be rounding off an excellent spring for the species locally, but I was wrong …

Yellow Wagtail.

Other bits included a Mute Swan and decent numbers of Swallows and Swifts (again, presumably late migrants), plus, surprisingly, a singing Skylark – only my fifth here in the last decade.

I headed to Frensham Great Pond afterwards. The female Maccoa Duck was still at large, diving often in the centre of the pond. It was quiet, though, with a few Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler in song, plus 50 or so Sand Martins, 30 Swallows and a few Great Crested Grebe pairs with chicks.

Great Crested Grebes, Maccoa Duck and Sand Martins.

Thursday 23rd

It was a little brighter this morning but still cool, with a breezy westerly in place. A pre-work amble around the 1-km was predictably quiet, though a light westerly passage of Swifts was detected over Peper Harow, with two House Martins going the same way and three Skylarks in song.

There was little doing along the river and at the western end of Eashing Farm, though I counted at least four singing Whitethroats.

A pleasant early evening saw me venture to Thursley. Three Curlew were noted at Pudmore – the pair and another male, which I last saw on 18 April and suspect is one of last year's young. Two Teal were also there. A Hobby hawked over South Bog, too, and a family party of Woodlarks were on High Ground.

Friday 24th

After the run of cloudy mornings, it was beautiful and sunny today, though rather cool and dewy at the Lammas Lands early on where a fun session produced a decent 45 species.

Pick of the bunch was a veritable Lammas Lands mega – a Garden Warbler, which was singing in the south-west corner of Catteshall Meadow by the towpath. A tame bird, it was incorporating a few fluty Blackcap notes into its song … certainly a first for me here, the only other record seems to be one on Overgone that Rich F had a few years ago.

Garden Warbler.

There was plenty of breeding activity, including a Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting carrying food and, on Overgone, one of the Coot pair with the chick. Interestingly a Little Grebe was also on the pool – my first detection of the species here since 23 April. Maybe a female is sitting quietly out of view?

Other bits and pieces included a Kingfisher, both Greylag Goose and Lesser Black-backed Gull over and a decent count of eight singing male Whitethroats across both meadows (plus Almshouse).

Catteshall Meadow.

I had a quick look at the southern section of Unstead Water Meadows afterwards, where Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting were in song.