Stale September

A quiet week of birding has gone by, with reduced time in the field. I go away tomorrow, too, ending an underwhelming September – it's been dead in Surrey (and indeed most of the South-East), continuing an up and down feeling this year. A funny statistic has emerged, too: for the first September since I started keeping local year lists following my return from university in 2015, the month has not produced a single year tick!

Raven.

Friday 15th

No birding.

Saturday 16th

At Tuesley this morning, a female Pochard and a Common Sandpiper were new in – the Pochard continuing the unexpected run of records here since the first for the site just last September.

I then walked Shackleford, where a few Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits flew over, along with a Siskin, and the Dartford Warbler was still in its favoured field.

Shackleford.

I heard a Kingfisher calling along the Wey from the garden late morning.

Sunday 17th

It was a grey, hazy morning. I staked out Tuesley for a little while – a juvenile Sedge Warbler in the channel was a surprise and my latest ever Surrey record. The Common Sandpiper was still about, while the dull skies overhead produced a Siskin, a couple of Yellow Wagtails and a few Meadow Pipits moving south.

I checked Snowdenham Mill Pond afterwards. Here, four Shoveler, five Teal, eight Gadwall and two Mandarin were present, along with my first Greenfinch for the site since July 2022.

Snowdenham Mill Pond.

In heavy rain mid-afternoon, a female Pochard was asleep at Frensham Great Pond.

Monday 18th

No birding.

Tuesday 19th

Today was grey and breezy following yesterday's dramatic transition to autumnal westerlies. A short 1-km wander late morning produced a few small groups of House Martins heading west into the wind and a Raven over Greenways.

Wednesday 20th

An even windier and grey morning today began at Tuesley, where two Pochard were present. I wonder if this recent run relates to different passage birds, or individuals back at Enton for the winter that are yet to settle? The Common Sandpiper was still present as well, making it my latest-ever local record.

I then checked Frensham Great Pond, where a large feeding flock of some 300 House Martins was nice to see. Three Swallows and a late Sand Martin were among them, with five Shoveler, two each of Siskin and Kingfisher and a calling Firecrest other bits of note.

Frensham Great Pond.

Thursday 21st

After yesterday's horrendous rain and wind, it was bright and misty this morning. I did a short walk around the Pudmore boardwalk at Thursley Common and it was very quiet, with a Water Rail and a Kingfisher of note. A Woodlark singing away towards West Bog was a pleasant and unusual sound for the time of year.

The rest of the day was spent hiking to Pembrokeshire and back, to see Britain's third Magnolia Warbler. The bird was elusive, but it, and the location, were a perfect tonic.