A Jekyll and Hyde June half

The first half of June has itself been defined by two halves. The opening nine days were frankly bizarre: cool or even chilly mornings with a breezy north-easterly wind made most early sessions in the field feel like April. This atypical summer weather was in keeping with an unusual late run of wader migration, too. However, during the weekend of 10-11th warm, settled conditions finally rumbled in, bringing with it the hottest days of the year so far – and it now finally seems like birding 'High Summer' is here.

Oystercatcher.

Thursday 1st

No birding.

Friday 2nd

With a chilly north-easterly breeze and leaden grey skies, it really didn't feel like June at Unstead SF this morning. The presence of a Common Sandpiper and the moulting drake Gadwall added to the unseasonal vibe – both species I have rarely recorded locally in June down the years, especially the former.

Cetti's and Reed Warblers and five eclipse drake Mandarin were also present.

Canada Geese.

I then walked the Eashing stretch of the Wey, where Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Garden Warbler and Red-legged Partridge were noted, along with recently fledged juveniles of nine species, including four Mandarin ducklings that were swimming upriver with mother in tow.

Red-legged Partridge and Mandarin.

Later in the day I joined Jeremy to ring one of the Goshawk nests in south-west Surrey. A healthy brood of four chicks – two males and two females – were banded, which was a pleasing result after we found the other nest to have failed last week.

Saturday 3rd

Another grey and breezy morning, this time at Tuesley, where I was pleased to encounter a flyover Oystercatcher. The noisy individual arrived from the south, circled low once then headed off north. Despite the crazy late wader northbound passage underway nationally at present, it's tempting to think this bird was a failed breeder already heading south … migration never stops!

Oystercatcher.

Sunday 4th

No birding.

Monday 5th

No birding.

Tuesday 6th

Yet another cloudy, cool morning. I popped to Tuesley and was surprised to log another Oystercatcher, this one taking flight immediately and disappearing south. Adrian S had one at Unstead SF first bells and I suspect this was the same individual. 

A Common Sandpiper was present too – two species highlighting the bizarre marriage of spring and autumn that seems to be the theme of 'summer' 2023 so far.

Wednesday 7th

My first visit to Thursley for nearly a month was fairly decent, despite the continuing grey skies and really quite chilly north-easterly wind. The highlight was a Greenshank high north over Pudmore, calling as it went. An overdue site tick for me, in any other spring this would seem freakishly late … the male Curlew (taking food out to Ockley), the Teal pair, 10 Tufted Duck and a Water Rail were also at Pudmore.

Curlew and Teal.

Other bits of note among 49 species included Hobby, both Dartford and Willow Warblers taking food to nests, a Woodlark family party, a scattering of juvenile Stonechats and a male Redstart carrying food.

Stonechat.

Thursday 8th

After a long gap between my previous two Thursley visits, I wasn't expecting to be back as soon as this morning, but when Dave called with news of a male Red-backed Shrike I was quickly on my way! Despite missing his initial calls and messages I was still able to get there in good time and, for a short period, was alone with the bird as it roved around distantly in the Ladies Pool area north of South Bog.

Red-backed Shrike.

Eventually a few people turned up and soon a small crowd was assembled. The bird stayed far away but good views were still to be had. A lovely find indeed by Dave – Mr Thursley – it represents the first south-west Surrey record since 2018 (which was also at Thursley, and in exactly the same part of the site!). It's only the eighth SWS record since the species ceased breeding in the region in the late 1960s, too …

Other bits noted during a warm and breezy hour included two Hobbies and Whitethroat and Reed Bunting carrying food. 

Hobby.

Friday 9th

Once more it was grey, cool and breezy this morning – and again a wader species made it on to my local year list, this time a male Little Ringed Plover at Tuesley. A most unseasonal record, it continues this bizarre start to June that has felt more like late April. Perhaps this bird was a failed or non-breeder …

Little Ringed Plover.

In Tuesley terms, a partial eclipse drake Gadwall was far rarer – only the second site record! A Lesser Black-backed Gull was also about.

I then headed to Snowdenham Mill Pond, where I was pleased to see the Mute Swan pair had hatched five cygnets. A Kingfisher darted over the north end too.

Afterwards I walked the Lammas Lands. Despite the uncomfortable wind there was plenty of signs of breeding, including a Sedge Warbler carrying food and a Reed Bunting pair feeding young. A Little Egret flew downriver, plenty of Swifts swirled overhead (will they ever get down to breeding?) and some smart Ragged Robin was noted among the wildflowers.

Lesser Stitchwort.

It was warm and sunny by late morning, when a Hobby drifted north over the village.

Saturday 10th

Finally, a warm and sunny morning, and a fine one to amble around Chiddingfold Forest. Turtle Doves eluded me today, though I did record one Spotted Flycatcher, two each of Siskin, Marsh Tit and Firecrest, six Garden Warblers (including an adult feeding juveniles) and a croaking Nightingale.

A surprising observation in the evening was a Cuckoo flying south-west over a Milford garden.

Sunday 11th

I walked Shackleford this morning, which again was sunny and warm. The Stonechat pair were joined by four juveniles today, confirming successful breeding. Other bits during a quiet stroll included a Little Owl and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls north. 

Stonechat, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail and Little Owl.

A pair of Gadwall and a female Mandarin with six small ducklings were noted at Snowdenham Mill Pond late afternoon.

Monday 12th

No birding.

Tuesday 13th

I walked the Wey between Shalford and Farncombe this sunny and warm morning, starting at Shalford Water Meadows. Some 41 species was OK going, and included two Sedge and one Reed Warblers, two Little Egrets on St Catherine's Pool, a singing Stonechat and a displaying Sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk and Little Egret.

The Peasmarsh stretch was quiet, though yielded a singing Firecrest at Unstead Lock. It was then on to Unstead Water Meadows, where an impressive four Sedge Warblers included three singing males and a silent bird carrying food. What a great year for this species in south-west Surrey. A Garden Warbler was also in song.

In the evening, a Little Egret flew over the garden.

Wednesday 14th

It was another fine, sunny morning, with a cooling northerly breeze. An hour and a quarter walking around the Devil's Punch Bowl featured typical fare, with two Siskins, Willow Warbler, two Garden Warblers and Firecrest included.

I don't think I can remember a report of a bird feeling as much like a bolt from the blue than that of a WhatsApp message stating that there was a Citrine Wagtail at the London Wetland Centre at lunchtime. A ridiculous inland bird and a species with one previous Surrey record that many thought would be a lifetime blocker, I simply had to get to Barnes – and thankfully was able to.

In the baking sunshine, a scramble to the Peacock Tower soon yielded an excited gathering of birders – and brief views of the Citrine Wagtail, a simply sumptuous male, with a dazzling yellow head and ash-grey mantle. During the next hour and a half it was very mobile, but thankfully some of us were treated to awesome – albeit brief – views from WWF hide. It was heard to call a few times too.

Citrine Wagtail.

Other bits noted a warm session included Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, 20 or so Lapwings and a Reed Warbler carrying food. It was good to catch up with various people too.

What a sensational bird the wagtail was. And a major hat's off to finder Wendy Newnham. Without doubt one of the best birds I've ever seen in the vice-county, it was also a British lifer, having only previously seen the species on breeding grounds in eastern Poland. 

Citrine Wagtail.

Thursday 15th

At lunchtime I walked Eashing Fields. Save the Whitethroat pair feeding two juveniles, the session was quiet and wouldn't usually merit a mention on this blog, but it was a landmark of sorts – my 5,000th complete checklist submitted to eBird.