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.