Incessantly westerly

In a year that's shaping up to be defined by strange, contrasting periods of weather, July 2023 will likely be remembered for an incessant westerly airflow. While rainfall hasn't been especially heavy, most of the last 11 days have included some periods of showers and virtually all have featured breezy winds. Such weather is usually good for waders and Swift movement at this time of year – and that's been the case of late, with a pleasant little run of both in south-west Surrey – but they aren't particularly inspiring conditions for much else.

Dunlin.

Tuesday 11th

Ray B had a Great Egret on the deck at Broadwater Lake on Sunday, a fine and thoroughly gripping record, and despite there being no sign yesterday per others, I had a quick look this morning. Of course, it wasn't there, but two Common Terns marked a site tick for me and a decent count of 11 Great Crested Grebes included four young juveniles.

The day was blustery and grey, with the odd passing shower. I checked Tuesley after work and was rewarded with two smart Dunlin, still largely in breeding attire. Always a fine bird to see in south-west Surrey, I haven't had any actually on the deck since May 2021.

Dunlin.

My first Common Sandpiper of the autumn was present too, for good measure. 

Wednesday 12th

No birding.

Thursday 13th

Again it was a breezy, rather grey day, so I undertook a sky-watch at Eashing Fields around midday. Swifts were on the move – 168 south-west in total, with noticeable pushes of birds ahead of the lowest and darkest bands of clouds. A few hirundines were heading the same way, with 27 House Martins and six Sand Martins tallied up. It's been a great year for the latter species in the 1-km and I suspect these birds were on a genuine migration leg today.

Swift.

A Hobby also shot through, flying right over my head as six Red Arrows performed their display flights to the east, in a brief, brilliant moment of simultaneous aerodynamics.

Friday 14th

No birding.

Saturday 15th

A light and silent southern passage of Swifts moved over the garden at the end of an incredibly windy, squally day, with a Lesser Black-backed Gull heading the opposite way.

Sunday 16th

Yesterday's breezy westerly was still in situ this morning, but it was bright. Three sleepy Redshank at Tuesley were a lovely sight – my highest count locally. It was great to see that one of them was a juvenile, presumably with its two parents. As with many birds that pass through south-west Surrey, I'd love to know what journey they were on … four Common Sandpipers were also present.

Redshank and Common Sandpipers.

I visited Winkworth Arboretum next, one of my old stomping grounds, for my first visit of the year. It was a seriously quiet session, not least due to the noticeable lack of waterbirds on Rowe's Flashe. I can only presume the removal of an area of buoys, which used to hold nesting Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and Coot, is why …

Rowe's Flashe, Winkworth Arboretum.

A check of Snowdenham Mill Pond afterwards produced the female Mallard x Red-crested Pochard hybrid, 18 Mandarin and a male Sparrowhawk.

The strong winds encouraged me to check Tuesley again late afternoon. To my surprise, the three Redshank were still there, hunkering down, along with no fewer than eight Common Sandpipers – my highest count in Surrey.

Monday 17th

No birding.

Tuesday 18th

Another Redshank was at Tuesley this morning, which was the stillest it's been for days. A sprightly summer-plumage adult, it was accompanied by two Common Sandpipers. A flyover Little Ringed Plover was also heard.

Best of all, though, was a cracking adult Mediterranean Gull in full breeding attire. Sat on a buoy, it somehow disappeared into thin air before I could get a photo … four new juvenile Common Terns were also present, likely from the second nest at adjacent Enton Lakes. Not a bad little session.

Common Terns.

Wednesday 19th

It was overcast this morning and Thursley Common was inevitably quiet. That said, two smart juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were on Pudmore, continuing the run of local records of the species. Dave had three here last night and we think they're wandering over from Tice's Meadow …

Little Ringed Plovers.

Other bits included three juvenile Teal and nice views of a male Redstart, which I made sure to enjoy, as it won't be long until birds looking this smart are gone for another year.

Later in the morning and impressive post-breeding flock of 21 Mistle Thrushes flew over Lower Eashing.

Thursday 20th

The Devil's Punch Bowl was cool and dewy this morning, with a heavy sense of post-breeding quiet. I saw little of note, though four Cormorants south-west were a site first for me, according to eBird.

Devil's Punch Bowl.

Tuesley was lively again this evening, with an emergence of flying ants drawing in more than 100 Black-headed Gulls. A fetching juvenile Mediterranean Gull was among them – one of the best Larid plumages for sure.

Mediterranean Gull.

Another Dunlin was present, too, associating with a juvenile Common Sandpiper. Generally, encounters with this species are far more enjoyable in the autumn, when they actually pause for a little while ...

Dunlin and Common Sandpiper.

No fewer than 12 Common Terns were tallied up as well, a result of the excellent breeding season at next-door Enton Lakes.

Friday 21st

There was no sign of the Dunlin or Mediterranean Gull at Tuesley first thing during a quick check, though a juvenile Sedge Warbler in the perimeter ditch was significant – my first 'proper' passerine migrant record of the autumn and only my fifth here.

A steady morning session on the Lammas Lands then followed, and was livened up by the appearance of a Hobby over Catteshall Meadow. It seemingly had all of Farncombe's Swift population in the air – more than 100 birds, pleasingly, although this was minus one individual when it was taken by the falcon. 

Hobby.

Bar a singing male and a female on Overgone Meadow, Reed Buntings were conspicuous by their absence – presumably most have now dispersed post-breeding.

Saturday 22nd

A peaceful walk around The Hurtwood this morning, under patchy cloud with a light breeze blowing, was quiet, though it did produce two Siskins and singles of Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest and Willow Warbler. A Muntjac showed well too.

Before heading home I walked Eashing Fields, where a juvenile Reed Bunting was skulking along the hedgerow between The Meadow and Top Field. This was my first here since 24 January and reaffirmed my thoughts yesterday about this species.

Reed Bunting.

Sunday 23rd

An afternoon and evening of rain and a stiff south-westerly had made it through to this morning. I checked Pudmore first thing, but there was no shorebird to be found on the mud, which is diminishing slightly on the back of all the recent precipitation. Singles of Teal and Water Rail were logged. Pleasingly, the male Curlew was still present, acting agitated on West Bog. I could hear at least one juvenile too. It would be truly fantastic if all three youngsters fully fledge.

I then headed to Tuesley, for an hour-long watch in squally conditions more reminiscent of the Hebrides in September than Surrey in July. Remarkably for the time of year I was sporting my puffer jacket, which kept me warm during a quiet session. 

Tuesley.

A juvenile Common Sandpiper was kicking it with the wagtails, the Common Tern count reached an impressive 16 (with all nine juveniles still present) and a group of gulls that dropped in to dodge one of the showers included my first juvenile large gull of the year, a Herring. A couple of Sand Martins were in with the increasing mass of local Swallows, too.

Common Sandpiper.

Monday 24th

No birding.