A different July

Every year is different in birding. Last July saw record-breaking temperatures and drought; July 2023 has been defined by temperamental westerlies, often bringing light showers, cloud and cool nights. These conditions have been the theme of the final week of the month, too, meaning that, while field sessions have been by no means dull, there has been a continued steadiness to proceedings.

Marsh Tit.

Tuesday 25th

I started at Tuesley, which was shrouded in mist, and the juvenile Common Sandpiper was still about, along with a Kingfisher – a rare bird here with this my first record since September. The Black-headed Gulls have all but shut up shop here now, but two small chicks remain – hopefully they fledge soon.

Still and clear mornings have been rare this month, but today such conditions combined to leave a light mist hanging in the air, with heavy dew underfoot. They were lovely early autumn conditions for a walk along the Wey, which began on the Lammas Lands. It was quiet, save a pair of Reed Buntings (going for a late brood?) on Overgone Meadow, a few juvenile Whitethroats dotted about and a flock of 25 Stock Doves north-east.

Overgone Meadow.

Along the Eashing stretch, a Raven cronking overhead was my first in the 1-km since April, a juvenile Garden Warbler was welcome confirmation of breeding success, four Bullfinches were counted and 21 Herring Gulls lumbered south-east.

After work, I joined Jeremy to ring a Spotted Flycatcher nest on private land near Elstead. A pair had nested in a garage and had three young inside, all of which were ringed. It's reassuring to know that there are still sites like this where Spotted Flycatchers can nest close to human habitation, like they have done for years …

Four Greylag Geese over the garden at dusk were notable, with the species uncommon in the Eashing area and, like Raven earlier today, not recorded since April.

Wednesday 26th

Another still and clear morning, this time with the wind from the south-west, made for an enjoyable few hours in the field before work – one of those late July days where it feels good, but expectancy levels aren't high. I walked Shackleford for the first time in a couple of weeks and it was bustling with birds; 46 species in all, a great total for the time of year. 

The pick of the bunch was a juvenile Sedge Warbler that proved rather mobile, though did show well intermittently. A sure sign of changing seasons. Seed eaters were already flocked up, too, with four Reed Buntings among 50 or so each of Linnet and Goldfinch. The Stonechat family (two adults and a juvenile) were still on site, along with excellent numbers of Whitethroat (at least 16). 

Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Stonechat, Reed Bunting and Linnet.

Other bits included Little Owl, Red-legged Partridge and Raven, and the walk ended with an early Tree Pipit bombing south-west, boosting the sense that autumn was properly up and running now. A thoroughly pleasing session.

Raven.

Buoyed by this liveliness, I popped into Eashing Fields on the way home. This proved a good move as, in the north-west corner of The Meadow, a bird flushed from an area of long grass and thistles – and gave off more than a faint whiff of gropper.

I staked it out and, eventually, some half an hour later, I'd managed three or four brief views – but enough to confirm the bird as a Grasshopper Warbler. A yellowish-buff tone to the underparts suggested it was a first-year individual. Tidy.

The gropper area.

Only my second Eashing area tick of the year (number 114), this was a site first, but it's a bird that's been on my Eashing Fields radar since I started watching the site – I'm sure gropper moves through here annually as the habitat is perfect. The last record in the 1-km was long before my time, in May 1986 along the Wey!

Thursday 27th

After a rainy night, it was grey and breezy this morning, with some occasional light showers. A short stakeout at Tuesley was quiet – 50 Swifts south included a flock of 27 and the two Common Sandpipers were still about. 

Afterwards I checked Frensham Great Pond, where the highlight was some 80 Sand Martins swirling around in the drizzle.

I walked Eashing Fields late morning. A high count of 23 Mistle Thrushes included a single flock of 14 and a curious southerly passage of Starlings – presumably on a local level – involved more than 70 birds.

Friday 28th

It was cloudy but still today, creating a rather muggy feeling to my visit to Thursley Common. Pleasingly the Curlew family were present and correct on West Bog, with the chicks looking well-developed and one even performing a short flight. It won't be long until the fledge and, I dare say, they look safe from predators now.

Juvenile Curlew.

Otherwise it was quiet, with a juvenile Teal and a Water Rail at Pudmore and family parties of Redstart and Tree Pipit noted.

Later in the morning I wandered along the river in Eashing, encountering my first proper mixed flock of the autumn. Among them were at least two Marsh Tits – an adult and a juvenile. It's fantastic that this species still breeds so close to Godalming, though it's rather an isolated population …

Marsh Tit.

A Garden Warbler was also espied in the busy group, which was briefly up in arms when a male Sparrowhawk ghosted through.

Saturday 29th

I had another quick look at Pudmore this morning, where a flighty Green Sandpiper broke up the recent repetition here. The Curlew family were still audible too out on West Bog.

Sunday 30th

A bright, fresh morning with an increasing south-westerly breeze began at the southern end of my old Thorncombe Street patch, around the New Barn area – a particularly favoured former haunt. 

New Barn.

Things were generally quiet, but a mobile feeding flock included nearly 20 Chiffchaffs and a single Garden Warbler. Firecrest and Marsh Tit were heard in Scotsland Brook and two noisy juvenile Buzzards were at Nore Hanger, too.

When looking through my notes later I realised that, curiously, my last visit to the New Barn area was on 30 July 2022. A strange coincidence given I so rarely bird here these days; presumably there were some subconscious workings that led me to the site at this time of year …

I checked Snowdenham Mill Pond on the way home. I was pleased to see a female Tufted Duck with six small ducklings – I'd been wondering if the species wouldn't breed here this year. Two pairs of Gadwall, 14 Mandarin, the Mallard x Red-crested Pochard hybrid and the Mute Swan family were noted as well.

Gadwall.

Monday 31st

The month ended as it began – grey and breezy, with light squally showers. What an odd July this has been … The southerly wind was really quite strong at Tuesley Farm, which seemed quiet, with virtually all the Black-headed Gulls having cleared out. The two Common Sandpipers were still in situ and a very light trickle of southbound Sand Martins was detectable.

A moment of migration magic lit up proceedings not long after 6.30 am – a wonderful flock of 13 Whimbrel heading high south. The birds clearly had no intention of stopping on what was presumably a mammoth migration leg, as they flew silently and determinedly into the wind.

Whimbrel.

Local birding doesn't get much better than catching snatches of migration like this. Only my fourth autumn record of Whimbrel in south-west Surrey, it comes on a similar date to the only larger count I've had, which was 20 over Thorncombe Street on 2 August 2017 …