Substandard September

September has come and gone, delivering little major excitement, despite continued patch effort. Although we've had a mixture of weather and wind directions during the past 13 days, evidence of migration has been rather minimal and I have to go back to mid-August for the last time things felt lively locally. It marks the second year in a row that September has been strangely disappointing.

Dunnock.

Sunday 15th

It was another bright, sunny and cold morning, although it soon warmed up – and it looks like a pleasant, Indian Summer-esque week is on the cards. I visited Shackleford, which has been the only reliably lively site locally this autumn, and it was another relatively fun visit, albeit without too many fireworks.

Shackleford.

Warbler action was a little diminished compared with my Wednesday visit, even though Chiffchaffs were still plentiful. A late Willow Warbler was among them too, sometimes softly subsinging – I won't see many more this year, I suspect.

Similarly, I doubt I'll log many more Redstarts, so I appreciated a first-winter female near the model airfield. This marked an impressive third of the autumn here. A Tree Pipit was also on the deck – it's been a fine autumn for them locally – along with a Whinchat and two Wheatears.

Whinchat, Redstart and Wheatear.

A steady southerly push of hirundines was detected in the skies, along with a trickle of Meadow Pipits and a flock of eight Cormorants west.

Cormorants.

Other bits included a Coal Tit along Chalk Lane – a genuine site scarcity, with this my second of the year! – a Bullfinch, six Stonechats and 20 odd Skylarks.

Stonechat and Dunnock.

I had a look at Snowdenham Mill Pond afterwards, where eight Shoveler and two Gadwall were present.

Shoveler and Gadwall.

Monday 16th

It was warmer this morning and brighter than forecast. I had a quick pre-work look at Tuesley where Tufted Duck numbers, which have fluctuated a bit this past week, were up to a year high count of 84. 

Two drake Pochard were among them, along with the first-winter Teal. It's very unusual for a 'visiting' duck to linger here, especially dabblers, which are often skittish, but this marked day number five for this individual.

Pochard and Teal.

Outdoing the Teal in longevity terms was the continuing Common Sandpiper – it's 19th day on site, which says a lot about wader turnover here this autumn!

Common Sandpiper.

Tuesday 17th

It was another beautiful day, cool early on, with some patchy mist greeting me at Thursley Common. It was a better visit than Saturday's dead-zone, but it wasn't spectacular, although the place looked wonderful in the autumn light.

Pudmore.

Pudmore held two Yellow Wagtails early on – presumably birds that roosted in the reedbed. Two each of Snipe and Water Rail were also noted along with a surprise Little Egret – rare at Pudmore and only my fifth site record of the year.

Little Egret and Canada Geese.

The skies were quiet but did produce a Tree Pipit south-west and a Raven high south, the latter being only my second at Thursley in 2024. 

Eight Teal, presumably disturbed from somewhere on site, were in flight with two Mallard over Ockley Common, where a late Willow Warbler was in a mixed flock. A Hobby called from Cricklestones, too.

Teal and Mallard.

Wednesday 18th

No birding.

Thursday 19th

A grey, hazy and mild morning came with the lingering north-easterly breeze, the strength of which doubtless contributed to my quietest Shackleford session of the autumn so far, which delivered a measly 36 species.

Shackleford.

Back when the autumn felt like it began, exactly two months ago on 19 July, I had a Dartford Warbler following Stonechats around here – and surely the same bird revealed itself again today, once more in the company of the chats but being a little showier. This allowed it to be aged, unsurprisingly, as a first-winter (and a female). I suspect it's been here the whole time …

Dartford Warbler.

A few pulses of Swallows flew east and there were still plenty of Chiffchaffs about, but migration evidence was almost non-existent. Seven Jays were a high count and a group of five could perhaps have been strung as migrants – indeed, I have noticed this species in subtly increased numbers locally in the last week or two.

I also noted a green-ringed male Kestrel, one of Jeremy's from somewhere in the local area, and two Red-legged Partridges. 

Stonechat and Kestrel.

Friday 20th

It was another dull, muggy morning, with the north-easterly still blowing, and I had a quiet pre-work birding hour at the Lammas Lands. 

At least four Stonechats were now on Catteshall Meadow, up from last week, along with a handful of Reed Buntings. A drake Mandarin flew downriver, a Kingfisher called and a Sparrowhawk was loitering, too.

Sparrowhawk.

Saturday 21st

After a night of dramatic thunderstorms, Thursley Common was hazy and mild this morning, but visibility was OK during my two-hour session. It wasn't vintage but was an improvement on my previous few visits here.

Spur Wood.

Pick of the bunch was a Grasshopper Warbler that flushed up from long grass beside a sandy track between South Bog and Truxford Corner. A mightily impressive third of 2024 for me at this site (and an exceptional fifth of the year locally), I had brief views that were good enough to age it as a first-winter before it disappeared into the heather, not to be seen again.

Aside this, migration evidence was limited. A Tree Pipit flew south and there was a notable increase in Meadow Pipits, while a dribble of easterly-bound hirundines also detected. 

Ultimately though it was steady. Other bits included Hobby, a heard-only Raven, two Sparrowhawks and, at Pudmore, two Water Rails, Snipe and Kingfisher.

Sparrowhawk.

Sunday 22nd

A damp, murky morning with the wind still in the east. After a quick look at Tuesley which, bar two drake Pochard, continued to be desperately quiet, I headed down to Frensham Great Pond.

Frensham Great Pond.

It wasn't loads livelier here, though a pair of Shoveler were of note. Generally, though, wildfowl numbers were low. 

That said, I counted 250 Coot, a figure down slightly on my total here last weekend. Other bits included two Kingfishers, Little Egret and Little Grebe.

Mute Swan and Coots.

I walked Eashing Fields late afternoon, when it was still dank and grey. I real surprise was a first-winter Yellowhammer skulking along the hedgerow between Top Field and The Meadow – only my third here and a sadly very notable beast anywhere in the Godalming area these days.

Yellowhammer.

A juvenile Hobby flew south, too, and a Wheatear – only my second of the year here – was flicking around in The Meadow. 

In theory, these three species should mark an excellent visit, but they were all overshadowed by scarcely believable scrub clearance, including the big stand of gorse (home to breeding Stonechats etc). This is the third autumn in a row the Surrey Wildlife Trust have employed contractors who've fucked up majorly like this – and the third autumn in a row I penned a livid email to them.

Monday 23rd

No birding.

Tuesday 24th

A damp, dreary morning, with the wind now back in the south-west. I headed to Shackleford, where the weather and quiet birding made the warm days of early August, when the site was teeming with birds and optimism, seem rather distant.

Shackleford.

Still, it's always a delight visiting the Shack, one of my favourite local spots. The highlight today – if you can call it that! – was three Egyptian Geese south, curiously a first for me here this year, where to be fair it is somewhat scarce.

Egyptian Geese.

It was otherwise very quiet. Three Swallows flew west and there were a few more Meadow Pipits around, while I counted eight Stonechats (but couldn't detect the Dartford Warbler). A female Blackcap was present, too, along with a Little Grebe on the farm pond.

Stonechat.

Wednesday 25th

The rain forecast for this morning didn't materialise and it was dry but cloudy when I arrived at Snowdenham Mill Pond. 

Wildfowl numbers were on the low side, with eight Shoveler, three Mandarin and a single drake Gadwall of note. The female Red-crested Pochard x Mallard was also present, along with a Kingfisher.

Shoveler and Tufted Duck.

I headed to the Lammas Lands afterwards, for a quiet 40-minute walk on Catteshall Meadow before work. There was little to report – a light trickle of Meadow Pipits and a small flock of House Martins flew west, with three Reed Buntings on the deck. A calling Treecreeper was only my third of the year here.

Catteshall Meadow.

Thursday 26th

It was bright and fresh this morning, with a breezy south-westerly that was strong enough to encourage me to undertake my first proper vis-mig of the autumn. 

I thus headed to Thursley Common and Shrike Hill, over which a decent south/south-easterly push of House Martins was detected in little more than an hour and a half. In total I logged 620 birds (including, pleasingly, many youngsters) and at times the push of birds was impressive. Fun stuff, especially after a September devoid of migration action.

House Martins.

A few Swallows were moving as well, along with Meadow Pipits, of which I counted 60. A late Tree Pipit flew south too – likely the last of the year that I'll record. Five very high Black-headed Gulls – all first-winters – were also on the move.

Black-headed Gulls.

It was quiet on the deck. Kingfisher and Mute Swan were at Hammer Pond and a flock of 15 Mistle Thrushes around Shrike Hill was notable, given it's an uncommon bird at Thursley, especially in any numbers.

Kestrel and Grey Heron.

Friday 27th

No birding.

Slow start to September: part II

The past seven days have been similar to the first week of September, and indeed the end of August: quiet. There have been a few nice bits and pieces, but generally birding has been slow – and severely lacking in notable records. However, that's the ups and downs of local birding!

Chiffchaff.

Sunday 8th

The forecast was way off it this morning, with relatively bright, misty conditions instead of the predicted rain. As a result, I headed to Thursley – which was unusually an island of moderate visibility within wider murk – instead of a waterbody check.

Pudmore.

It was yet another quiet morning, though, with little to report. A Snipe, three Teal and a Water Rail were at Pudmore and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew high south. There was next to no passerine action, with a single Redstart of some note and perhaps the last I'll see on the common this year.

Moorhen, Little Grebe and Stonechat.

I had a look at Frensham Great Pond afterwards. It too was quiet, although quite a few hirundines (all three species) were over the water, with three surprise Swifts among them — my latest-ever Surrey date and second latest in Britain.

Swift.

Monday 9th

No birding.

Tuesday 10th

A grey, breezy morning saw me visit Tuesley briefly before work. Hirundines had gathered over the water and included all three species, mainly House Martins, of which 50 or so were present. 

House Martin.

The Common Sandpiper was still around, marking nearly two weeks on site, and the drake Pochard was back among 57 Tufted Duck.

Pochard.

A late afternoon walk around Eashing Fields felt most autumnal, under grey skies with a fresh westerly breeze bringing light rain. 

This feeling was typified by five Meadow Pipits south – my first migrant party of the autumn – with another flushed from the deck. A light southbound trickle of House Martins was also noted.

Eashing Fields.

Wednesday 11th

There were more autumnal vibes this morning, which was the coldest for months with clear skies and a fresh westerly in situ. My only decent September session so far was at Shackleford a week ago and I was here again today – and again I enjoyed a fairly lively visit.

Shackleford.

The most striking theme of the session was hirundine passage – nothing ground-breaking, but enough to catch the eye. I estimated 150 or so House Martins south-west/west, with 80 or so Swallows on the move too. Perhaps unsurprisingly thus a Hobby was noted, with an adult dashing in the same direction – an impressive fourth of the year here.

House Martins and Swallow.

Meadow Pipits were also moving, albeit in lesser numbers, though the odd small flock was detected heading south. Two Yellow Wagtails and a single Grey Wagtail added to the vis-miggy feel.

Meadow Pipit.

Things weren't bad on the deck wither. The Lone Barn track once again held loads of Chiffchaffs, which have been a consistent presence here this autumn. For the first visit since 14 April, I noted no Whitethroats, however …

Chiffchaff.

A single Willow Warbler was among the chiffs, along with a Lesser Whitethroat (an excellent third of the autumn at the Shack) and juvenile Sedge Warbler (fifth of the autumn, unless it was the same as last week). 

Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.

Better still was a brief Spotted Flycatcher near Chalk Lane – a properly scarce bird here, with this my first for three years. It shared a hedgerow with a first-winter female Redstart, which too is a good Shackleford bird (albeit not as rare as spotfly). 

Redstart.

Not bad, and a fun session, though again no Wheatear or Whinchat – or indeed that showstopper rare that felt like it may have been lurking.

Kestrel.

With the breeze getting up during the day, I headed out late morning to try and observe some more hirundine passage. I opted for Eashing Farm, which proved a good choice – on the way I flushed a raptor from the footpath by Eashing Bridge which piqued my interest, though it vanished before I could get a good view.

However, once I was up at Farmhouse Valley, I soon picked up the bird in question – and to my great surprise it was a Goshawk. The bird, a juvenile (and presumably a female on size), had a very full crop and I must have disturbed her from some post-snack rest. After a bit of thermalling, she lazily flew off towards Godalming.

Goshawk.

A very cool record so close to home, any encounter with a Goshawk is memorable. I've always thought them exclusive to the remoter parts of my south-west Surrey recording area but it seems they are smashing through the glass ceiling a bit and I wonder if, like this, I will start seeing them closer to home.

Hirundines were indeed moving, albeit at a slower rate than at Shackleford. Still, another in-tow Hobby was detected – an adult – which dashed south, after a House Martin or Swallow snack. A few Meadow Pipits also went over and a Firecrest called from the copse flanking the Wey.

Hobby.

Perhaps the same Firecrest was calling in the garden in the late afternoon – maybe a sign that one will spend the autumn here, as one did last year.

Thursday 12th

It was even chiller this morning – little more than 4°C when I stepped outside, with the puffer coat required for the first time this autumn. It was however sunny and beautiful and I headed to Tuesley first, where an unexpected first-winter Teal was foraging in the corner. This species is scarce here. 

Teal.

Tufted Duck numbers had again increased – I counted 79 – and the female Pochard was back among them. The Common Sandpiper was still present, marking 15 days on site. An adult Mute Swan was notable, and a Yellow Wagtail dropped in, too.

Yellow Wagtail.

I then headed to Thursley, which looked resplendent in the sunshine. My two-hour session felt fairly quiet, in keeping with September so far, but there were a few bits of quality.

Ockley Common.

Pick of the bunch was an elusive Sedge Warbler along the end of the boardwalk near Moat Pond. It was vocal, but very skulking. This species isn't easy here and this was only my second site record. A Spotted Flycatcher dropped in nearby, too, but didn't hang around long.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Otherwise, migrant action was limited. Meadow Pipits trickled south, unsurprisingly in the fresh north-westerly breeze, and a single Yellow Wagtail went the same way.

Other bits and pieces included an adult and juvenile Hobby near the Cricklestones nest area, a Kingfisher at Hammer Pond, a Water Rail at Pudmore and a Bullfinch at High Ground. A Whitethroat was noted, but I didn't record Redstart, Tree Pipit or Willow Warbler.

Roe Deer and Tufted Duck.

At the end of an evening run, a Marsh Tit was knocking about the Royal Common car park – and I was even able to get a crap phone recording.

Friday 13th

This morning was colder still than the last two days – indeed, there was a most unusual September frost lightly covering the ground at the Lammas Lands upon my arrival. It was glorious and sunny, though, and I noted 41 species in an hour in late October-like conditions.

Overgone Meadow.

Easily the highlight was a smart Whinchat on Catteshall Meadow – only my second site record and welcome in a poor autumn for the species. The bird was surely the same as found here by Andrew L on Wednesday and was associating with three Stonechats, which were my first on the Lammas Lands since March.

Whinchat.

An adult Hobby dashed south, too, a species that didn't seem to suit the cold morning. A trickle of Meadow Pipits headed the same way but it was generally a quiet session.

Kestrel and Hobby.

I walked Eashing Fields in the evening, which was bright and pleasant. A Whinchat was a nice bonus, though it was mobile and elusive in the company of three Stonechats. I also recorded my first Reed Bunting of the autumn here.

Eashing Fields.

Saturday 14th

I was in the field later this morning but it was still unseasonably cold – though very beautiful in the sunshine – by the time I arrived at Thursley Common. The aesthetically pleasing landscape masked a desperately quiet session, the highlight of which was a presumed migrant Tree Pipit (I've not had any here since 3rd). 

Small numbers of Meadow Pipits and House Martins flew south – a flock of the latter species curiously carrying a vocal Snipe with them! – and a Woodlark belied the date by bursting into song on Shrike Hill. A Hobby was heard, too.

I had a look at Frensham Great Pond afterwards. It was similarly quiet, though I estimated at least 350 Coot – a high count here.