Late summer sunshine

After the middle period of July began to hint at autumn's arrival, the last week of the month has seen us enjoy some long overdue sunshine, with generally warm temperatures and sunny skies. This has been most welcome – and the birding hasn't been too bad either.

Kestrel.

Thursday 25th

Towards the end of a grey, drizzly day, I had a short walk around Pudmore and surrounds. A small flock of hirundines contained – impressively for this site – all three species, the House Martins of which were my first of the year here. Neither martin species is easy at Thursley, especially over the common proper. A Swift was also in tow and a juvenile Sparrowhawk shot over Birchy Pond.

Pine Island and West Bog.

Friday 26th

After yesterday's miserable weather, this morning was bright and beautiful – a classic late July day, with autumn seeping through the summer surface. I headed to the Lammas Lands and had a fun hour and a half, noting 46 species and plenty of birds.

Overgone Meadow.

Reed Bunting action stood out and included a juvenile on Overgone Meadow and a male collecting grass seeds and taking them to noisy chicks on Catteshall Meadow. This species has had a good breeding season here. 

Reed Bunting.

Two Sedge Warblers – one on each meadow – including a juvenile that may well have been born on site, though we're now in the zone for greater distance post-breeding dispersal of passerines, so who knows.

Sedge Warbler.

Other bits and pieces included a male and juvenile Kestrel, a male Sparrrowhawk and a Bullfinch in the same area as my visit on 21st.

Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull and Moorhen.

Saturday 27th

No birding.

Sunday 28th

It was another fantastic morning, sunny and clear, and despite it being cool and dewy early on it soon warmed up. I headed to Shackleford where, like on 19th, I enjoyed a fun session, noting the same amount of species (45) in two hours.

Shackleford.

Again, Chiffchaffs were very conspicuous – indeed, the Lone Barn track up to Cuckoo Corner was heaving with passerines, as it often is at this time of year. This included my first three Reed Buntings of the autumn, and bang on cue they were too – in fact, 28 July is the average date I first see this species back at 'the shack' in the autumn.

Chiffchaff.

A Treecreeper was also notable amid the passerine action – never easy here. I felt like something better was lurking and, lo and behold, it came at Cuckoo Corner, where I put up a Grasshopper Warbler from the long grass. 

After an excellent spring for the species in Surrey, perhaps we'll have a good autumn for them too (to be fair autumn 2023 was very productive for this species as well). Late July seems to be a decent time to find this species locally, with this my third in the last four years during this time.

Two Lapwings high south-east were very notable as well. These birds are depressingly rare now and, amazingly, these were my first anywhere in south-west Surrey since February – and only the fifth date on which I've recorded any this year. Both adults, presumably they are failed breeders from somewhere ...

Lapwings.

Also noted during a fun morning visit were singles of Bullfinch and Sparrowhawk, two Red-legged Partridges and 33 Greylag Geese. I only saw one Stonechat, however, with no sign of the Dartford Warbler. 

Greylag Geese.

A casual late afternoon walk around the Eashing area, in perfect summer conditions, produced a Kingfisher downriver and two Ravens drifting lazily north over Peper Harow.

Peper Harow.

Monday 29th

No birding.

Tuesday 30th

I was up early this morning, ahead of the warmest day of the year. I headed to Thursley Common where I enjoyed a lively two and a half-hour session on site, notching up 50 species in the process. It was misty and cool early on, but soon warmed up.

Pudmore.

I began at Pudmore, which was productive. The highlight was a Whimbrel fairly low west, calling as it went. A site rarity, averaging one every three or four years, I didn't get great views in the mist but it was a welcome Thursley tick for me – and on a classic date for the species.

Not long after, a Lapwing arrived from the same direction and settled. My first record at Thursley this year, like the two at Shackleford on Sunday this was likely a post-breeding bird moving around. After a few minutes it noisily took off to the north.

Lapwing.

There were plenty of other bits at Pudmore, including two Water Rails, at least one Teal, a Kingfisher (rarely seen at Pudmore) and, on my return at the end of my session, a typically skittish Green Sandpiper flying around between here and South Bog.

Little Grebe and Green Sandpiper.

Things were steadier on the passerine front, though I logged a Spotted Flycatcher at Hammer Pond, a Bullfinch on Ockley Common and plenty of yaffling Green Woodpeckers, plus a mixed singing Chiffchaff – a bird first heard by Gerry in June. 

Stonechat, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Woodlark and Roe Deer.

Otherwise though it was quiet and, in fact, bar Dartford Warblers, many of the heathland specialists (Redstart, Tree Pipit) etc were somewhat conspicuous by their absence.

Wednesday 31st

After the hottest day of the year yesterday, it was warm and muggy this morning. I had a quick look at Snowdenham Mill Pond where the first Teal of the autumn was present – a fairly typical date, though this year I had a very odd mid-June record here.

Snowdenham Mill Pond.

Two Kingfishers – a species that I've seen less of than usual at this site in 2024 – were chasing each other around and a female Tufted Duck led five small ducklings around.