Birdwatcher’s Diary No.302

Published on: 18 Apr, 2024
Updated on: 18 Apr, 2024

By Malcolm Fincham

The weather began to improve slightly as we entered the first week of April in the southern counties of the UK.

Although overcast for the most part, more settled, warmer air was attempting to push up from the Continent bringing temperatures up into the mid to high teens centigrade.

Reports of a few more species of summer visiting birds arriving on our shores added to the reassurance that spring had at last arrived. Giving me some enthusiasm to get out and find a few.

Blackbird in song.

Locally, the fluty sounds of blackbirds could still be heard singing about the countryside.

Song thrush singing at the Riverside Nature Reserve.

Now joined by the more repetitive sounds of the song thrush.

Orange-tip butterfly (male) Riverside Nature Reserve.

On April 2 at the Riverside Nature reserve near Burpham, I was able to view and photograph my first few male orange- tip butterflies of the year that had just begun to emerge.

Green-veined white butterfly (female) Riverside Nature Reserve.

Also adding several green-veined white butterflies that were now on the wing.

At first sight, and from a distance, I thought them to be female orange-tips, but closer inspection showed their veined markings on their underwings.

A variety of other winged insects could also be noted. Although many too far beyond my knowledge to put names to.

Common banded hoverfly on a cuckoo flower, Riverside Nature Reserve.

I could be quietly (though not totally) confident that one I photographed was a common banded hoverfly. If correct, it can be seen in many habitats from gardens to woodlands.

Although it must be said that “many hoverflies are very difficult to identify, requiring a microscope to look at tiny characters, such as the shape of the veins in the wings”.

Alder leaf beetle.

Another ‘critter’ that took my attention was what I believe to be an alder leaf beetle. The alder leaf beetle was considered extinct in Britain with almost no records of it between 1946 and 2003.

Blackcap (male) Riverside Nature Reserve.

Sticking to what I know best, at least for the time being, several blackcaps could now be heard in song along the riverside.

Cetti’s warbler, Riverside Nature Reserve.

Often interrupted by the abrupt sound of one of several Cettis warblers calling from within a dense thickets.

Reed bunting (male) Riverside Nature Reserve.

Along the boardwalk a male reed bunting could occasionally be heard in song.

Jay, Riverside Nature Reserve.

While those crafty jays, having already built their nests, were already looking out for others vulnerable enough to raid so as to feed their young.

Kestrel.

A kestrel continued to be seen hunting over the reserve.

Sparrowhawk, Riverside Nature Reserve.

And a sparrowhawk could to be regularly viewed.

Trees and shrubs had suddenly begun to sprout into leaf at their individual swiftness, as we progressed though the first weeks of the month, adding a fresh green hue to parts of the countryside. Even the hawthorns, already in leaf, had begun to show signs of blossom as the weeks advanced.

Greater stitchwort.

Along the towpath greater stitchwort could now be seen flowering.

Little egret by the River Wey.

In a flooded area across the River Wey, two little egrets could be regularly viewed during the first weeks of the month.

Cormorant, River Wey.

And several cormorants continued to visit the river to fish.

Orange-tip butterfly (female) Riverside Nature Reserve.

Adding to my butterfly sightings there on April 11 was a female orange-tip butterfly.

Small white butterfly, Riverside Nature Reserve.

Also adding a small white butterfly to this year’s sightings.

Red kites over the recycling centre at Slyfield.

While on the same day as many as seven red kites could be viewed hunting among the gulls and corvids near the Slyfield recycling centre.

Swallow, Stoke Lock.

A few swallows could be seen hawking insects over the sewage works by Stoke Lock.

Mandarin duck flying over Stoke Lake.

A female mandarin duck was seen flying over Stoke Lake.

Common buzzard.

While several common buzzards continued to be observed over the reserve.

Nuthatches, Whitmoor Common.

On a visit to Whitmoor Common on April 5, in the woodland areas nuthatches could be heard constantly calling, even getting a rare photo, for me, of two together perched on individual branches on one of the surrounding trees.

Great spotted Woodpecker, Whitmoor Common.

And great spotted woodpeckers continued to be active about the canopies.

Common whitethroat, Whitmoor Common.

Out on the heathland just a few days later, I managed to see and photograph my first common whitethroat of the year.

Dartford warbler, Whitmoor Common.

Also getting a photo of a Dartford warbler on one of the many gorse bushes now in flower.

Chiffchaff, Whitmoor Common.

As well a chiffchaff flitting about the gorse.

Linnet on utility wires, Whitmoor Common.

Linnets could now be seen  in small groups, now colouring up into their summer plumages.

Holly blue, Whitmoor Common.

Also finally adding of photo of my first holly blue butterfly on April 12, having seen them flitting by at previous locations during earlier days of the month. And thus already bringing my count of photographed butterfly species to 10 for this year.

Egyptian geese with goslings, Britten’s Pond.

At Britten’s Pond on April 2, I saw my first Egyptian geese parading seven goslings across the water.

Willow warbler, Britten’s Pond.

I also heard my first willow warbler in song there on April 6, continuing to see it for several days thereafter, before it moved on.

Long-tailed tit, Britten’s Pond.

Long-tailed tits, now mostly paired up, could still be observed around the pond.

Blackcap (female) Britten’s Pond.

While several of the blackcaps there had already paired up too, recognising the females by their copper-coloured head caps.

Coot on it’s nest, Britten’s Pond.

A pair of coots had already built their nest and the female had nestled herself upon it.

Chiffchaff.

A few chiffchaffs continued to be heard, but their once continuos calls had lessened.

Comma butterfly, Britten’s Pond.

I also got my first photo of a comma butterfly of this year while there.

Speckled wood butterfly.

As well as adding a first of the year of a speckled wood butterfly.

A couple of visits to Thursley Common in the company of Bob and Dougal during the first weeks of April added a some bonus sightings to our year lists, and even a life sighting to our lepidopterist list on our visit on April 6.

It was a surprise to us all to see our first ever emperor moth while traversing the heathland.

Emperor moth, Thursley Common.

It was also the more colourful and smaller male of the species. It appeared to be taken by something about the fleece jacket Bob was wearing?

Emperor moth, Thursley Common.

Allowing me a few photos as it briefly settled before disappearing back into the surrounding heather. A rare and very magical moment indeed!

We could only assume there was something about the odour Bob that was expressing?! Female moth pheromones perhaps? attracting this male emperor moth to his clothing?

Tawny mining bee, Thursley Common.

Also that day we added a tawny mining bee just as it was about to disappear into its hole in the sand.

While the sound of a recently arrived common redstart could be occasionally heard singing near the Parish Field.

Common redstart, Thursley Common.

It wasn’t until our second visit there on April 14, that I was able to get a photo of one of several male common redstarts that could be heard singing.

Skylark, Thursley Common.

As well as skylarks singing over and about the heathland. Photographing a lazier one that decided to sing from a post.

Woodlark, Thursley Common.

Also woodlarks that we had heard during our previous visit. Getting a photo of one that appeared now to be already collecting food for its young,

Wheatear, Thursley Common.

At the area locally known as ‘shrike hill’ at least four wheatears could be viewed.

A previous year’s photo of a cuckoo in flight.

While earlier that day the first calling cuckoo of the year had been heard.

Common lizard, Thursley Common.

A few common lizards had begun to make an appearance along the boardwalks to bask in the warmth of the day.

Nightingale.

On a common nearby to Thursley at least two newly arrived nightingales could now be heard in song, (although a challenge to photo!), having also ventured from their winter in Africa.

Hankley Common.

On the nearby Hankley Common, devastated by a heathland fire two summers ago, fauna and flora was slowly starting to make its return.

Common redstart, Hankley Common.

A common redstart could be heard, in song near the car park.

In an area only partially affected by the fire, a tree pipit had recently arrived and could be viewed and heard in song.

Tree pipit, Hankley Common.

I must say, these birds have always been a delight for me to observe.

Watching it as it sang enthusiastically from the tree it was perched in.

Tree pipit parachuting stiff winged, Hankley Common.

Then launching into the air still singing in flight, letting out its buzzing chain of trills, then descending in scales of notes as it parachuted back down on stiff wings into the top branches of a tree and sounding rather like it had only returned because it’s battery was going flat.

Personally, a true sign of summers arrivals and hopefully one of many iconic sights and sounds to be observed in the weeks of the month to come.

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