Moving into August, the brief spell of hot weather that ended July across the southern counties of the UK had dissipated.

Apart from a few heavy spells of rainfall, it remained mostly dry allowing a few warm sunny spells during the first weeks of August, culminating in another brief spike of hot weather as we approached the middle of the month.

On August 1 I visited Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth, in the company of a couple of old school-time friends David Rose and Simon Vine.

Although spending much of our time recalling and catching up on past ventures, mostly from our youth, I was able to point out a few species of birds they had rarely viewed.

Oystercatchers, Farlington Marshes.

These including several flocks of rather vocal oystercatchers.

Little egrets, Farlington Marshes.

A number of little egrets were also present, these being birds not seen in the UK during our youth.

Black-tailed godwits, Farlington Marshes.

A few black-tailed godwits had begun to return from their northerly breeding grounds.

Starlings, Farlington Marshes.

And a small murmuration of starlings had begun to gather with a flock of 50 or so descending on to the now ripening blackberries.

Our prize finding of the day was a family group of half a dozen or so bearded reedlings within the phragmites reeds near the information hut.

Female bearded reedling, Farlington Marshes.

Although not easy to focus on with my camera as they flitted about the reeds, eventually I did manage a photo of a female.

Previous of a male bearded reedling at Farlington Marshes.

Having to rely on a previous photo of a male to compare the difference.

A visit to Oare Marshes, Faversham, Kent in the company of Dougal just a few days later found a few post-breeding birds now moving south. These were ones we hadn’t already seen this year, and which were stopping off, some on passage to wintering grounds further south.

They included two curlew sandpipers, although reasonably viewed through a telescope, but were beyond the view of my camera lens.

Sleeping spoonbill at Oare Marshes.

I was, however, able to get record shots a distant spoonbill.

Golden plover among the gulls at Oare Marshes.

As well as part of a congregation of 43 or so golden plovers.

Ruff, Oare Marshes.

And a couple of distant ruff also present.

Recently harvested fields.

The fields nearby had been recently harvested, showing signs of the turning tide of summer.

Turtle dove, Oare Marshes.

Here we were able to view one of the reported migrator turtle doves.

We also had the fortune of picking out a Bonaparte’s gull.

In their homeland across the Atlantic they can be viewed in flocks. This one was a bit of a loner and had spent the last 12 summers visiting the areas in and around Oare Marshes.

Bonaparte’s gull, Oare Marshes.

Now molting from its summer plumage, apart from its black bill and slightly smaller size, it was now becoming less distinguishable from the black headed gulls there.

Brimstone butterfly, Pewley Down.

Early in the month on Pewley Down brimstone butterflies could be found in reasonable numbers.

Chalkhill blue, Pewley Down.

In fewer numbers than previous years were chalkhill blues, counting just 40 or so on my transit across the southern slopes of the downland.

Common blue, Pewley Down.

A few common blue butterflies had begun to emerge.

Holly blue, Pewley Down.

And a few holly blues could be seen, now on their second brood.

Small blue, Pewley Down.

Also adding a several second brood small blue butterflies.

Small copper, Pewley Down.

And a few small copper butterflies added to my day list.

Marbled white, Pewley Down.

Marbled white butterflies were now coming to the end of their reign with just two seen on the south-facing slopes on a return visit on August 13.

Gatekeeper, Pewley Down.

Gatekeeper butterflies continued to be the most prominent across the hillside.

Meadow brown, Pewley Down.

While the most common UK butterfly, the meadow brown, continued to be viewed.

Attempting to make up for the dearth of butterflies in previous months were a few fresh looking….

Comma butterfly.

Comma butterflies.

Peacock butterfly.

Peacock butterflies.

Large white butterfly, Pewley Down.

Large whites.

Small heath butterfly.

And several small heath butterflies.

Jersey tiger moth, Pewley Down.

Adding to this year’s sightings were a couple of Jersey tiger moths, as I traversed the hillside.

Pewley Down.

Looking across the valley between the downland and the Chantries to the south, several birds of prey could be seen.

Kestrel, Pewley Down.

These including kestrels hovering over the southern slopes.

Red kite over the Chantries viewed from Pewley Down.

With occasional red kites drifting through the valley.

Common buzzard, Pewley Down.

Also adding a common buzzard to my day’s sightings.

At Britten’s Pond during the first days of the month, the first reports in for a while from some of the anglers was that a kingfisher had been seen there.

Worryingly, it was a bird I hadn’t seen about the water since the latter days of May – the longest absence I recall since visiting the pond.

Kingfisher, Britten’s Pond.

On August 4 I was able to catch a photo of the reported bird as it momentarily perched up in the area of the silt pond beside the main water.

Juvenile common buzzard, Britten’s Pond.

A juvenile common buzzard flew over, calling.

Purple hairstreak, Britten’s Pond.

While in the oak trees by the car park a few purple hairstreak butterflies could still be viewed.

Nuthatch, Britten’s Pond.

At least two nuthatches showed well as they came down from the trees to feed on the seed that had been scattered near the entrance to the pond for the dozen or so geese still present.

Treecreeper, Britten’s Pond.

While a treecreeper could be viewed as it crept up one of the nearby trees.

Firecrest.

A visit to St Mary’s churchyard, Perry Hill, allowed me the opportunity of sighting at least one family of firecrests, even getting a few photos.

Green woodpecker, St Mary’s churchyard.

Also getting a photo of one of two green woodpeckers perched on one of the gravestones, also hearing a third one ‘yaffling’ just beyond the perimeter of the churchyard.

And a belated visit to the Knepp Estate in West Sussex on August 12, once again in the company of Bob and Dougal, found as many as 53 young white storks had recently been ringed during the continuing rewilding project.

White stork at Knepp.

Having already fledged their nest sites, some were still hanging about, seeing a few distant birds and one flying overhead during our walk.

Denbies Hillside.

Continuing our ventures on August 15, we visited Denbies Hillside, at Ranmore Common, near Dorking.

Kestrel hunting over the downs at Denbies Hillside.

Here we were immediately welcomed on to the site by a kestrel hunting over the hillside.

Common buzzard over Denbies Hillside.

As well as a common buzzard drifting overhead.

Chalkhill blues, Denbies Hillside.

Chalkhill blue butterflies had increased in numbers since our previous visit.

Chalkhill blue, (female), this one pictured at Pewley Down.

Although not in the sort of numbers we had seen in previous years, it was good to see a few females present.

Brown argus butterfly, Denbies Hillside.

Brown argus butteries were also present, looking rather smart in their appearance.

Adonis blue butterfly, Denbies Hillside.

Always rather special to find were several adonis blue butterflies, just out on their second brood of the year.

Slow worms, Denbies Hillside.

A group of slow worms could also be found, revealing how varied they can be in their colouration.

Silver-spotted skipper butterfly, Denbies Hillside.

Most importantly, our target species of the day, despite the breezy and mostly overcast conditions, were newly emerging silver-spotted skipper butterflies. One eventually revealed itself with much thanks to Bob for finding all three of our sightings!