Birdwatcher’s Diary No.332

Published on: 2 Aug, 2025
Updated on: 4 Aug, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

The latter weeks of July were once again showing its annual signs that the tide of summer was on the turn in many ways.

Waders were now being regularly recorded on their return from their Arctic breeding grounds throughout southern counties of the UK.

Greenshank.

Locally at Tice’s Meadow near Farnham as many as eight greenshanks dropped in to feed on July 20, while on various dates several black-tailed godwits and a few sandpipers were recorded stopping off both there and at a number locations within Surrey’s ‘vice-county’ borders.

By the last week of July all the local swifts had also dispersed from the skies over my garden.

Swift in flight.

Having completed their breeding season and with their young recently fledged, it appeared they had avoided the incoming inclement weather and had departed heading for their winter homes in Africa.

Blackbird singing.

Blackbirds had also stopped singing their summer chorus, hearing my last one in song at the Riverside Nature Reserve, near Burpham, on July 23, and not likely to hear my next until the new year.

Once again I was out on my travels about the local Surrey countryside in my attempts to capture a few photos along the way.

For most resident birds breeding season was now over, so I was pleased to capture a few photos of two peregrine falcons still residing in a chalk quarry within the Surrey Hills.

Peregrine Falcon.

One perched up on the cliff face.

Peregrine Falcon.

While another perched in a nearby tree.

Silver-studded blue.

A return visit to Thursley Common with Bob on July 20, we saw silver-studded blue butterflies still on the wing, although fewer to be found, with some still in reasonable condition.

Robin in freshly formed puddle on Thursley Common.

A robin could be viewed bathing in a freshly formed puddle made by the long awaited rainfall that had recently arrived in the southern counties.

Grayling butterfly, Thursley Common.

It also gave me the opportunity to find Bob a grayling butterfly to add to his sightings this year.

Hobby, Thursley Common.

While there also adding prolonged views of a hobby hunting over the heathland.

Hornet robberfly, Thursley Common.

As well as adding a hornet robberfly to my photos.

Chalkhill blue butterfly, Pewley Down.

A return to Pewley Down saw chalkhill blue butterflies still on the wing.

Although having first emerged much earlier this year. like last year disappointingly low in numbers.

Gatekeeper butterfly, Bookham Common.

As on Pewley Down, a visit to Bookham Common on July 28 in the company of Bob and Dougal we continued to see gatekeepers as the most dominant butterflies on display.

Small heath butterfly, Bookham Common.

Also including a small heath butterfly.

Brown argus butterfly.

With reasonable numbers of brown argus butterflies.

Common blue butterfly. (female).

As well as female common blues.

Common blue butterfly (male), Bookham Common.

And male common blues also seen.

Holly blue butterfly.

A few second brood holly blues could also be found.

Skipper butterfly, Bookham Common.

And some skipper butterflies were still on the wing.

Ringlet butterfly. wings open, Bookham Common.

Even finding one of a few ringlet butterflies now looking rather jaded as they came to the end of their year’s life cycle.

Brown hairstreak butterfly, Bookham Common.

The most rewarding sighting of the day, however, was my first this year of a brown hairstreak butterfly.

Although far from my best ever photograph of one, but hopefully to soon photograph better ones of this elusive species now starting to emerge in areas surrounded by blackthorn.