Birdwatcher’s Diary No.284

Published on: 29 Jul, 2023
Updated on: 30 Jul, 2023

By Malcolm Fincham

While southern European countries bathed in equatorial heat, squeezed upon it by a meandering Jet Stream, the British Isles, to the north of it, continued to suffer from its consequence.

For the most parts, it brought an unsettled Atlantic westerly flow during the later weeks of July.

South-Eastern counties, including Surrey, as often, avoided the worst of the precipitation in the prevailing low pressure systems.

Temperatures  remained below seasonal average, but continued to be comfortably warm and dry enough, for the most part, to continue my ventures.

At Britten’s Pond purple hairstreak butterflies continued to be viewed about the oak trees. Some now having dispersed to various other locations around the pond.

Swallow, Britten’s Pond.

Across the pond, on occasions, swallows hawked over the water, visiting in small groups and skimming the surface for a drink.

Kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

Sightings of a kingfisher continued to increase, although mostly challenging to photograph as it flew low over the water, dissolving beyond sight into the foliage of the trees that overhung the pond.

Greylag geese, Britten’s Pond.

In excess of 50 greylag and Canada geese remained present, including a good number of their rapidly maturing goslings.

Grey heron, Britten’s Pond.

A grey heron continued to visit daily.

Moorhens, Britten’s Pond.

And moorhens continued to chase one another across the water.

Dartford warblers, Whitmoor Common.

On the heathlands a new generation of Dartford warblers had now evolved, mostly in the company of their parents.

Linnet (adult male) Whitmoor Common.

And lively twittering of linnets, now with young were of music to the ears.

Silver-studded blue (female).

While a few silver-studded blue butterflies could still be found.

Song thrush.

In the car park, a song thrush collected food, chancing its luck once again as it took flight across the busy Salt Box Road with a beak-full of food to feed its awaiting young.

Small blue, Pewley Down.

A brief visit to Pewley Down on a pleasant and dry July 20 saw small blue butterflies now ‘out on the wing’ on their second brood of the year.

Brown argus butterfly, Pewley Down.

While several brown argus butterflies could also be found.

Common blue butterfly.

And a few common blues were now mating.

Chalkhill blue butterfly, Pewley Down.

Chalkhill blue butterflies were also present, but not in such great number than I recalled seeing in recent years.

Surprisingly, an early first of the year for me, while walking the lower slopes. was a brown hairstreak butterfly.

Brown hairstreak butterfly, Pewley Down.

They can usually be found on blackthorn later in the year egg laying, although not that easy, even then.

This one was making the most of the nectar from the abundant wild flowers on display.

Sparrowhawk, Pewley Down.

In addition to the regular bird sightings there was a sparrowhawk circling overhead.

Marbled white butterfly.

Moving on to Clandon Wood Burial Ground, with sunny spells during the afternoon, as on my visit to Pewley Down earlier in the day, a few marbled whites were still present.

Burnet moth.

An abundance of day-time flying burnet moths had also just emerged.

Comma butterfly.

As well as catching photos of the more common species of commas and red admirals.

Common blue and peacock butterfly.

And a common blue alongside a peacock butterfly.

Skylark, Clandon Wood.

A few skylarks, still occasionally in song, attracted me to one seen overhead.

Common buzzard. (juvenile), Clandon Wood.

While the constant sounds of a juvenile common buzzard drew my attention to a large oak tree just beyond the burial ground.

Common buzzards. (juveniles), Clandon Wood.

Closer inspection saw two in fact, a little later that afternoon, perched up and still in another part of the same tree.

Common buzzard. Clandon Wood.

Meanwhile, their parents could be viewed circling at some distance, apparently completely ignoring their concerns.

Pheasants.

A few pheasants, probably originally released at the nearby Clandon Park estate, were finding the burial grounds a peaceful retreat, and a safer place to stay.

At Tice’s Meadow, near Farnham, a number of post-breeding waders were now being sighted as they began to make their journey southward.During my visits there during the last weeks of the month, the various species sighted included…

Previously taken photo of wood sandpiper.

A wood sandpiper, although too distant to photo.

Previously taken photo of a green sandpiper.

Several green sandpipers.

Little ringed plover, Tice’s Meadow.

A juvenile little ringed plover showed up in front of ‘Horton’s’ viewing mound.

Lapwings, Tice’s Meadow.

And a group of a dozen or so lapwings flew up and circled briefly from their grazing area across the meadow.

Peregrine, Tice’s Meadow.

On one occasion a peregrine showed up, and circled over the mound.

House martin, Tice’s Meadow.

House martins and swallows could be viewed feeding over the water.

Swift, Tice’s Meadow.

While a few swifts were already stopping off to feed as they travelled through.

Fox, Tice’s Meadow.

A fox made a brief appearance, soon realising it was being observed. Then slinking away, back into the reedbeds.

Waterside hide, Tice’s Meadow.

At the other end of the reserve the water levels were still too high for viewing from the waterside hide.

Common tern chick learning how its wings work on sand martin hide, Tice’s Meadow.

But a neatly cut gap in the sallows allowed me a few photos of a common tern and chick on the sand martin hide.

Thursley Common.

On July 21, I visited Thursley Common and was grateful to find and photo my first grayling butterflies of the year.

Grayling butterfly, Thursley Common.

Having recalled reading that the males often perch on the barks of trees awaiting a female to pass, I instantly recognised one as it did so.

European bee-wolf, Thursley Common.

Along the sandy pathways of the heathland lots of small holes in the ground could be noted, a few with the occasional tiny head poking out. These of course are of a species of solitary wasp known as the European bee-wolf.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bees-and-wasps/bee-wolf

European bee-wolf, Thursley Common.

They are a predatory species that live on lowland heathlands, with the females digging hole in the substrate to lay their eggs.

Red-banded sand wasp, Thursley Common.

Another species of solitary wasp I found was a red banded sand wasp. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/red-banded-sand-wasp

Gatekeeper butterfly.

At all the sites I visited during the last weeks of July, gatekeeper butterflies appeared to be plentiful.

Small copper butterfly.

While small copper butterflies were more abundant than I can recall having seen in recent years.

Holly blue, Britten’s Pond.

And holly blue butterflies seemed to be also having a good second brood.

Elsewhere I spent a while checking up on one of several red kites that have now made west Surrey their home. Perhaps an article for a future report? Maybe a sequel to the one I wrote last year?

https://guildford-dragon.com/birdwatchers-diary-no-261-close-encounters-of-the-red-kite-kind/ )

Red kite soon to fledge.

Although the red kites at this site raised just one chick this year, by now it was looking almost ready to fledge.

While taking a few photos, the deep guttural sounds of a raven could be heard, not far away and just beyond the woodland.

Raven.

At first I chose to ignore its call but eventually the temptation got too great. Following the sound of its constant ‘cronking’ and quite expecting it to take flight before I got the chance to set sight on it, I was pleasantly surprised to find it still perched atop of tall pine and still very vocal.

Always of a concern to me is when my daughter arrives home with a cardboard box. Especially as on this occasion and hearing a response from my wife: “I told you! No more indoor pets!”

All of us, at heart, being lovers of animals, sheepishly I felt I ought to investigate and perhaps diplomatically defend her corner.

Feral pigeon, water-logged and bedraggled.

On this occasion, with the help of some passers by, she had rescued a feral pigeon she had spotted stressed and drowning in the River Wey, during her walk to town.

A brief assessment saw that apart from its feathers being totally waterlogged, hence unable to fly, it seemed to be quite a healthy bird.

Feral pigeon.

Indeed, it wasn’t too long before it was greedily consuming the seed we had provided for it.

Feral pigeon ready to fly.

The following day, having entirely dried out, it had returned to its spirited state of mind. Eager to be released, we allowed it its wish. And having spent a brief spell on our garden hedge regaining its bearings, it was once again free flying.

Conveyor belts of low pressure systems swept across the country during the latter days of the month. It did, however, allow a brief window of opportunity of a dry spell on July 26 for Bob and I to visit Bookham Common. This in the hope of finding Bob a brown hairstreak butterfly to add to his year’s tally.

Gatekeeper butterflies.

Once again, as at other locations recently visited, gatekeeper butterflies were abundant, with some now mating.

Silver-washed fritillary.

A silver-washed fritillary butterfly also made a brief appearance.

Purple hairstreak, Bookham Common.

Even getting another photo of a purple hairstreak.

As on so many occasions when having pretty much given up the quest of finding our ‘target’ species and returning to the car park, one showed up.

Brown hairstreak, Bookham Common.

This one was nectaring on the now flowering water mint growing beside the path, along with several other species of butterfly.

From past experience, it seems to be one of their favoured go-to plants copiously growing in the area.

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