10 out of 10

It's been a brilliant opening 10 days of September, with the month picking up where August left off. The first few days saw an exciting run of easterlies; when the wind is blowing from that direction, the South-East birder knows it's time to get in the field as much as possible. It went westerly and wet after that, but the entertainment only ceased a little. As a result this is a long post with plenty of photos …

A wonderful Wood Sandpiper at Pudmore, Thursley Common.

Thursday 1st

A breezy easterly blew under grey skies this morning and it felt both autumnal and birdy from the off at Thursley, where a light southwards passage of Yellow Wagtails was underway. Pudmore initially seemed quiet, save a few Water Rails, Teal and Snipe, but then a juvenile Sparrowhawk shot through and put up a medium-sized wader – to my great surprise it was a Ruff!

The bird, a peachy juvenile, flew around West Bog but then returned, only to vanish. However, after five or so minutes it reappeared on the far shore and I was able to soak up distant but pleasing views of this wonderful wader. The habitat at Pudmore is identical to the places where this species breeds in northern Scandinavia and it was quite evocative seeing this bird potter around here.

Juvenile Ruff.

Needless to say Ruff is a great rarity locally, with this just the third record in south-west Surrey since the Millenium. It's also a Thursley mega – only three previous occurrences, thus rarer then Wryneck! – so Dave was quick to twitch. He got brief views before it appeared to fly off …

By this point I was now racing to get home for work, but two Whinchats, a Tree Pipit, three Redstarts and my first Meadow Pipit of the autumn were noted nonetheless.

Whinchat.

There were a few distractions during my hoped for hasty journey through Eashing Fields on the way back. Best of all was a Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge between Bottom Field and The Meadow – a real local goodie. In fact, only the fourth I've ever seen on passage in south-west Surrey. A quality 1 km bird … 

At least five Whinchats (but possibly as many as seven) were in The Meadow and a Tree Pipit flew south. Phew. A thunderous start to September!

I couldn't resist a quick walk along the river at lunchtime – and it proved worthwhile. One of the first birds I saw at Greenways Farm was a juvenile Cuckoo. Easily my latest-ever British record (and first in the month of September), the bird was tame and performed superbly as it flew around and foraged on the ground. Not a 1 km tick I'd have predicted for September that's for sure.

Juvenile Cuckoo.

A Spotted Flycatcher was flitting around further along the path towards Eashing Marsh. It too showed nicely.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Friday 2nd

It was rather damp and dreary at the Lammas Lands this morning, where a Whinchat was on Catteshall Meadow, getting a bit of grief off the Stonechats. It was otherwise very quiet.

Whinchat.

I popped up to Eashing Fields at lunch where quite the spectacle greeted me in The Meadow – a group of nine Whinchats. I've never seen so many in Surrey before and to watch them zipping around a small area together was remarkable.

Whinchat.

Two Stonechats were with them, while a Hobby shot through south and a Yellow Wagtail flew over during a lively visit.

Saturday 3rd

With the easterlies still blowing, today always felt like it'd be good – and it was. After a foggy start I got to Lower Barrihurst Farm, near Dunsfold, later than usual. The sun was out and there were heaps of birds around – I counted a minimum 35 Blackcaps, with plenty of Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats present as well.

Three Willow Warblers were also noted, although two Lesser Whitethroats may well have been local, as this is the only breeding location in south-west Surrey.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Best of all came near the old sewage works, when a Grasshopper Warbler flushed up from some long grass. It landed in a thicket, where I was surprised to see it joined by another! It was quite strange watching these two skulkers hop around a hedge for a while, but very cool nonetheless.

Grasshopper Warbler. Both birds can be seen in two of the photos.

It really felt like 'the big one' would pop out at any moment but it wasn't to be. Other bits from this brilliant, Knepp-like site (see my post from 24 April) included a Spotted Flycatcher, three Ravens and, sadly, the remains of a Barn Owl.

Barn Owl feathers.

I was contemplating my next move when Doug and Penny messaged with news of a Wood Sandpiper at Pudmore – one of my most wanted species locally! Thankfully the bird, a smart juvenile, was very settled and I was treated to brilliant views as it probed around Pudmore.

Wood Sandpiper.

Thursley is traditionally a good site for this south-west Surrey rarity but there hasn't been a record since June 2019. A monumental downpour (including some hail) added to the atmospheric experience. To boot, this was 150 for my south-west Surrey year list – a lovely way to hit that figure.

Four Whinchats dropped in during the rain, with a Wheatear, three Snipe and two Meadow Pipits also about. A Raven flew over too. What a great couple of weeks it's been for Thursley …

A short walk along the river before dinner was quiet although, to my surprise, the juvenile Cuckoo was still knocking about at Greenways Farm.

Cuckoo.

Sunday 4th

I was back in the Dunsfold area this morning, this time at Painshill Farm, but with the wind switching direction overnight it didn't feel so birdy. In fact I didn't detect a single migrant, though a monstrous juvenile Goshawk flying low north was a surprise. 

Two Yellowhammers, five Red-legged Partridges and a Raven were also present, while a single flock of 22 Collared Doves were sat together in a tree.

Male Yellowhammer.

Monday 5th

You have to enjoy a rare bird when it visits your patch, so this morning I decided to head out to Pudmore for some quality time with the juvenile Wood Sandpiper. I was surprised, however, that the first bird I saw out there was the juvenile Ruff. 

Ruff.

Doubtless lurking here since 1st, I suspect the raised water levels have forced it out of its favoured haunts and it was thus more obvious today. It was still skittish and generally elusive, though.

On the other hand, the Wood Sandpiper was super showy, and for the next hour-and-a-half I simply sat back and enjoyed the views. Wood Sand is one of my favourite species and this bird was so confiding. I make no apologies for the number of photos below – it was a truly special encounter.

Wood Sandpiper.

Other bits included three Whinchats, two Yellow Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit, two Tree Pipits and a Spotted Flycatcher, but it was all about the waders today …

Tuesday 6th

It's been a seriously sluggish start to autumn at Shackleford with chat passage especially poor – such is the cyclical nature of arable farmland birding. After a night of thundery showers the quiet run continued this morning, with a Willow Warbler the only migrant of note. 

Two Sparrowhawks and Reed Bunting were also present, while the highlight was a bold Stoat.

Stoat and Grey Heron.

Wednesday 7th

A damp early morning walk of Unstead Water Meadows and the Lammas Lands was very quiet. At the latter site two Whinchats were on Catteshall Meadow, amid an increase of Stonechats (six).

Whinchat.

After a busy day at work I'd just settled down to watch Ajax-Rangers when Shaun P called with news from Frensham: a Black Tern at the Great Pond! For some time this species has been my obvious 'tart's tick' not just locally, but in Surrey as a whole, not least due to my refusal to twitch any outside of south-west Surrey.

Needless to say I was down there in a flash and there it was – a cracking juvenile working the northern side, fluttering down to the surface to pick off the prey with regularity. Thanks a lot to Shaun (as ever), though I'm hopeful he still has another goodie under his belt this year. It was also nice to see Jonathan H on site.

Juvenile Black Tern.

Black Tern brings me to 230 for the vice-county of Surrey. I'd like to hit 250 one day. It's only my second tick of the year (after Lesser Yellowlegs) and, unfortunately, I've done better for dips in 2021 (three in total, plus a suppressed Icterine Warbler).

In south-west Surrey terms it puts me on 189, following this amazing first week of September which has seen me bag three local lifers. Perhaps the magic 200 will fall in the next few years … 

Thursday 8th

No birding.

Friday 9th

Days of heavy rain meant the water levels were way up at Pudmore this morning. The Wood Sandpiper was still around (it's eighth day on site), though I can't expect it'll hang around much longer. Indeed I suspect a bird that turned up at Tice's Meadow later today was the Thursley individual. There was no sign of the Ruff (also seemingly relocated to Tice's), though 17 Teal included a tight flock of 12 I guessed to be passage birds. 

Wood Sandpiper.

Four Whinchats, three Yellow Wagtails, Sand Martin, Water Rail and Snipe were also noted. 

I then explored Hankley Common, a site I barely visit. A fire here in late July has given the landscape a Lord of the Rings feel. Six Wheatears foraged together on the burned ground, with other bits of note including Firecrest, Redstart, Willow Warbler, two Meadow Pipits and a flock of 10 Woodlarks.

Wheatear.

I finished off at Frensham Great Pond, where the Black Tern was still present and continuing to favour the north-east corner.

Lots of hirundines had collected over Eashing Fields by mid-afternoon. Five Whinchats and four Meadow Pipits were in The Meadow and a few Skylarks were back in Top Field.

Saturday 10th

The first clear night for a few days meant it was relatively lively at Shackleford this morning in autumnal conditions. A light but consistent southerly passage of Meadow Pipits and hirundines was noted, while the highlight on the deck was a Reed Warbler – bizarrely my third record here. Two Wheatears and singles of Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler and Whinchat rounded off the migrant list.

Wheatear.

A covey of nine Red-legged Partridges and a Little Owl were noted as well.

I met up with David late morning and we walked a birdy feeling Painshill Farm, noting two Whinchats, three Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear, as well as two Yellowhammers.