Birdwatcher’s Diary No.187

Published on: 19 May, 2019
Updated on: 19 May, 2019

By Malcolm Fincham

A cool start to the month of May brought with it a northerly breeze and rain showers.

Daytime temperatures at this time of the year, however, guaranteed some idyllic warmth while the sun shone.

May flower (hawthorn) in blossom. Click on pictures to enlarge in a new window.

The hawthorn was now in full blossom around the Surrey Hills. Its vibrant green leaves with many small bouquets of white blooms often tinged with pink was a pleasant addition to the landscape on my local patch at the Riverside Nature Reserve.

The newly growing foliage around the reserve wasn’t helping my ability to see and capture photos of the recently arrived birdlife there, let alone the resident species.

Fortunately, with some patience, a few couldn’t resist “giving themselves up”. Having not long arrived, many were it full song hoping to attract a mate. This makes them a little easier to locate. As before long and once breeding many will be less easy to locate. It does help recognising their songs.

Common whitethroat singing from a hawthorn in blossom.

One of many common whitethroats around the reserve could be heard by the boardwalk, eventually showing well among the May blossom.

Robin singing from its perch on the May blossom.

Resident birds seemed less obscured. A robin, perched, singing on hawthorn branch.

Grey heron by Stoke Lake.

While by the lake, a grey heron stood on the far bank, lit up by the may blossom.

Swifts over sewage works by Stoke Lock.

May 2 was my first sighting this year of swifts newly arrived from Africa. A count of more than 40 could be viewed among a gathering of swallows and house martins, hawking insects over the sewage works by Stoke Lock.

It wasn’t until May 4 that I saw at least 20 swifts over the gardens of Stoughton.

Common sandpiper on scrape by Stoke Lock.

Viewing across to the “scrape” from by Stoke Lock a common sandpiper could be seen, working its way around the now dwindling pool of water.

Egyptian gese with goslings by Stoke Lock.

Taking up residence by the lock-side were a family of Egyptian geese, the seven goslings, staying close to their parents.

House sparrow.

A constant twitter could be heard from the near by brambles just behind me – the sounds of house sparrows and a healthy number by the noise they were making!

The following day, in the company of good friend, Dougal, I returned to the “riverside”. This time we included a walk along the track that leads from the lock cottage to the recycle depot.

Garden warbler. Not easy to pick out among the flowering hawthorn.

Two garden warblers could be heard singing, having set up their territories in separate areas of the hawthorn and shrubs that lined the way.

Blackcaps, with a similar sounding song, had mostly quietened down, having already found their partners. It make the garden warbler song easier to distinguish. Usually quite “skulking” in their nature, one of the two garden warblers eventually perched out in full view as it continued its song.

A fox makes an appearance near the Slyfield Recycle depot.

A glance back as we headed toward Stoke Lock saw a fox appear. Fully aware of our presence, it stood and watched us, at least until we were out of its sight.

At Stoke Lake at least four reed warblers could now be heard singing around the lakeside.

Reed bunting at the Riverside Nature Reserve.

While numerous reed buntings could be heard singing from the boardwalk

Family of long-tailed tits, secluded together in the hedgerow.

Among the newly fledged resident birds, a cluster of long-tailed tits remained almost completely incognito, only recognised by their fidgeting and the movement of the foliage that surrounded them.

Blackbird fledgling.

A young blackbird hopped around by the lakeside

Canada geese with goslings, on Stoke Lake.

Other resident birds that had got a “head-start” included Canada geese with goslings on Stoke Lake.

Cute coot chicks on Stoke Lake.

While a small group of cute coot chicks eagerly followed one of their parents across the water, towards the island.

Grey wagtail feeds it young at Stoke Lake.

A grey wagtail could also be viewed. It was fly-catching insects over the water. On its return to the island I noted it was feeding one of its fledglings.

Common sandpiper on island at Stoke Lake.

On the island a common sandpiper could be seen feeding up, picking at insects, working its way around in a clockwise direction as it rested its wings for a while on its journey back to its breeding ground, further north.

A visit to Staines Moor with Dougal on May 5, enabled us to add lesser whitethroat to this year’s list of sightings. It was its distinctive song that gave it away, though it was less willing to give itself up to view, giving just brief glimpses as it skulked through the hawthorn hedgerow.

Wheatears on Staines Moor.

A walk across the moor gave us views of at least six wheatears, five of them were females.

Wheatear on Staines Moor.

As we approached the area they took flight, showing their “white arses”, from which their less vulgar and more modern name, wheatear, derives. Several could also be observed perched up on the surrounding bushes.

Lapwing on Staines Moor.

Among the highlights of the many birds seen there were several lapwings constantly flying around the moor.

Little egret on Staines Moor.

A little egret flew in, settling on the banks of the River Colne that meanders through.

Common buzzard on Staines Moor.

While a common buzzard, briefly, flew overhead.

Our best views of the day had to be that of a hobby. Putting on some of its renown, dynamic aerial displays.

Hobby on Staines Moor.

Seen overhead, at first, then taking a sharp dive flying at speed inches above the ground, in hope no doubt of spooking up a small bird for its lunch.

Hobby on Staines Moor.

Although appearing to be unsuccessful in its pursuit, to our delight it settled on a hillock not far from us, allowing me to get a few portrait shots.

Staines Reservoir was like a millpond on our visit, just a week later on May 12.

Black-necked grebe in summer plumage at Staines Reservoir.

Just one of the black-necked grebes (video clip) we had seen on our previous visits still remained there. To my delight, it wasn’t too distant for a few photographs either. Although backlit in the sun, it was looking quite stunning in its summer plumage.

Common terns at Staines Reservoir.

Common terns were abundant, many perched by the water’s edge along the causeway.

Common tern at Staines Reservoir.

Occasionally one would fly out across the reservoir, displaying its acute acrobatic abilities. In its dive it skimmed across the water plucking out a small fish along the way.

Common terns at Staines Reservoir.

On returning to the shore, one in particular looked as though it was celebrating its catch? It wasn’t looking so happy, however, when one of its so-called mates tried to steal it from him.

I felt most sorry for the fish!

Cormorant at Staines Reservoir.

A cormorant flying across the north basin was a nice addition to my day’s photos.

First photo this year of a small copper butterfly.

While on our return to the car we spotted our first small copper butterfly of the year.

House martins make their return.

Elsewhere on my travels, house martins had returned to their breeding grounds, reconstructing, refurbishing and rebuilding their nests for another summer.

An evening visit to the Riverside Nature Reserve and along the track where the garden warblers had been heard, I “picked up” on another familiar sound, heard on Staines Moor, on May 5. “Lesser whitethroat!” I mumbled to myself, in surprise!

Having only got glimpsed views, and with daylight fading, I returned the following afternoon. This time, in the company of friends, Bob and Dougal.

Lesser whitethroat on wasteland near the Slyfield recycle depot.

On this occasion the warmth of the sunshine had not only awoken it in song. It also briefly showed, allowing me a few photos before returning back into the undergrowth.

These birds are no only more elusive than the common whitethroat, but quite a rare bird to the area.

Beautiful demoiselle.

A continuing theme of cool weather continued, though remaining dry, with enough pleasant warmth to bring out on the wing my first sighting of a beautiful demoiselle this year.

Blue tit at the Riverside Nature Reserve.

A blue tit also added the colour theme as it flew by.

Holly blue butterfly.

A holly blue butterfly was also on the wing.

Green-veined white butterfly.

Adding to the butterfly sightings that afternoon was a green-veined white.

Peacock butterfly.

As well as a peacock butterfly.

One of the two garden warblers could still be heard, though views were less confiding.

A few of the many gulls at over the Slyfield recycle depot.

At the area of the recycle centre, I was surprised to see the volume of gulls present. Although confessing not to be a connoisseur of the many variations and seasonal plumages, I was unable to pick out any rarities among them.

Red kite over the Slyfield recycle depot.

I must admit, I was more impressed with the red kite as it circled overhead.

Occasionally it would glide majestically, close to the reprocessing centre, spooking the gulls up en-mass. Sending them “wheeling and spinning” in different directions.