Birdwatcher’s Diary No.195

Published on: 24 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 24 Sep, 2019

By Malcolm Fincham

A continuation of fine, sunny and dry weather in the south-eastern quarter of the country during the first weeks of September allowed me ample opportunities of getting out and about around the Surrey Hills with my camera.

In spite of the warm days, the signs of autumn were already beginning to show. With the evenings rapidly closing in, my available time for photography was lessening.

Whinchat at Papercourt water meadows. Click on pictures to enlarge in a new window.

My month began at Papercourt water meadows, near Send, again viewing one of the whinchats I had seen there just a few days previously. This time, however, with the addition of friends, Bob and Dougal, who both still needed to see one for their year lists.

Whinchat on Whitmoor Common.

On visiting Whitmoor Common, just to the north of Guildford, a few days later I was pleasantly surprised to spot another whinchat as it perched on top of a pine sapling, stopping off for a rest on its migratory route back to Africa.

Stonechat on flowering heather on Whitmoor Common.

Stonechats were still plentiful there, with males, females and young, all viewable.

Dartford warbler.

Dartford warblers had also done well this year.

Roe deer on Whitmoor Common.

A roe deer poked its head up from an area of long grass.

Red kite on Whitmoor Common.

Soon after a red kite flew low across the heath.

Sparrowhawk on Whitmoor Common.

Distracted by its observations of a possible victim, a sparrowhawk gazed out from a silver birch tree, unaware of my presence.

Nuthatch.

Walking under a covering of oak trees that lined the heath, several nuthatches could be heard in conversation with each other, allowing me a few photos of one as it worked its way along a branch.

Common buzzard.

While through a gap in the canopy a juvenile common buzzard continued to mew loudly as it briefly came into my vision, overhead.

Chiffchaff.

At Britten’s Pond, near Whitmoor Common, long-tailed tits, chiffchaffs and goldcrests could be seen feeding on insects in the trees and bushes around the water’s edge.

Finding one of several benches, at intermittent intervals, I decided it was time to relax a while and sat down to watch as the lowering evening sunlight glistened across the lake.

I was half-hoping to spot one of the kingfishers I photographed as it sat on a fishing rod and published in my previous report. I didn’t leave disappointed. Although not getting the photos I achieved on my previous visit, I didn’t need to wait long before I spotted both kingfishers on the far side of the pond.

Kingfisher at Britten’s Pond.

Eventually my patience paid off as one of them worked its way around the margins in my direction. Flying low across the water, like a bullet from a gun, it finally flew across in front of me allowing a few shots as it “zipped” past.

Red kite flying low across Pudmore Pond at Thursley Common.

A couple of visits to Thursley Common during the first weeks of September allowed me consecutive sightings of red kites. On the first occasion I managed to photograph one as it flew low across Pudmore Pond, as I walked along the longest of the boardwalks there.

Red kite at Thursley Common.

As I continued to admire its majestic flight, it made the decision to perch up in a dead tree across the marsh, much to the disgust of a corvid perched in the same tree.

Red kites over ‘Shrike Hill’, Thursley Common.

A few days later two could be seen together at Thursley, as they glided slowly over “Shrike Hill”.

Hobby over ‘Shrike Hill’, Thursley Common.

In addition, a hobby was also viewed from the same area, occasionally diving low over the heath at pace, attempting to catch dragonflies.

Black darter on Thursley Common.

Of the variety of dragonflies seen there, a black darter was seen on the boardwalk.

I was alerted to the news that a rare traveller had made a visit to Farlington Marshes in Hampshire. It was an eastern olivaceous warbler, a small passerine bird with drab plumage tones. For the most part it breeds in the northern Afro-tropics and winters in south-eastern Europe, the Middle East.

Eastern Olivaceous warbler at Farlington Marshes.

Southerly winds had possibly confused its migration route, making it now, I believe, a “first” for Hampshire! Certainly a first for me.

Gathering of a growing clan of birdwatchers hoping to spot the the eastern olivaceous warbler at Farlington.

Although only infrequently “showing-well”, I was fortunate to arrive while it was willing to make its presence known in the warmth of the sunshine to a group of delighted observers.

Osprey perched in dead trees on North Binnes Island, viewed from Farlington Marshes.

An addition to my “year-list”, while there were two ospreys. These could be seen from the seawall, perched in some dead trees, as one looked eastward toward North Binnes Island.

Osprey circling over Langstone Harbour at Farlington.

For a spell, one of them could be seen from a distance circling the waters around Langstone Harbour, occasionally diving into the sea in hope of catching a fish.

Murmurating starlings at Farlington.

Other delights taking my interest that day were the growing number of murmurating starlings. Occasionally a group 30 or more could be seen, breaking from the pack, descending together into a thicket of brambles to gouge on its blackberries.

Lesser whitethroat at Farlington.

Adding to my photos that day was a lesser whitethroat.

Wheatear at Farlington Marshes.

At least three wheatears could also be viewed.

Wheatear showing why in pre-Victorian times it was commonly known as a white-arse.

One even showed off why it was once better known by less cultured, pre-Victorians as a white-arse.

Whinchat at Farlington Marshes.

Several whinchats could likewise be seen, also readying themselves for migration.

Yellow wagtails at Farlington Marshes.

Yellow wagtails, seen feeding among the cattle, were also preparing to what was becoming a mass exodus of our summer visitors.

A weasel or a young stoat at Farlington?

A bonus sighting was a small critter that poked its head out from a grassy verge. Small in size, I was almost certain it was a weasel. Without seeing a distinctive black tip on the tail, I had wondered whether it was a stoat.

Highlights of the first weeks of September at the Riverside Nature Reserve near Burtpham included a verity of species of dragonfly around the area of Stoke Lake.

Male migrant hawker dragonfly at Stoke Lake.

Migrant hawker dragonflies were in good number, hovering around the margins of the lakeside. A few males and females could be seen mating, linked together in what appeared to be quite an awkward flight pattern.

Brown hawker at Stoke Lake.

A brown hawker dragonfly could be seen perched on a log at the water’s edge laying her eggs in the mud below.

Small red-eyed Damselfly (male).

While what I believe to be a red-eyed damselfly perched on a reed that poked out of the water.

Grey wagtail by Stoke Lake.

Around the lakeside, a grey wagtail flitted back and forth, occasionally fly-catching over the water.

Grey heron at Stoke Lake.

A surprise sighting was a grey heron that landed on the water on a deep part of the lake. Floating like a duck is a habit I don’t recall having seen before.

Grey heron takes flight.

It wasn’t long before it felt out of its comfort zone and took flight once more to a shallower part of the lake.

Roe deer at the Riverside Nature Reserve.

Across the field a roe deer skipped with ease along the hedgerow.

Kingfisher at Stoke Lake.

The highlight of my visits there were the continued sighting of two kingfishers around the lake.

Kingfisher on a “No fishing” sign at Stoke Lake.

I was especially pleased to be in the right place at the right time when one of them decided to perch for just a few seconds on one of the “no fishing” signs.