Birdwatcher’s Diary No.328

Published on: 3 Jun, 2025
Updated on: 3 Jun, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

The unusually lengthy spell of high pressure systems that had dominated the southern regions of the UK since the early weeks of March finally began to break down, giving way to Atlantic-driven low pressure systems, eventually breaking through during the later weeks of May. Then bringing unsettled blustery conditions with spells of rain.

Opportunities continued with the photos I was able to achieve as I continued my adventures about the Surrey countryside, as well as adding a few trips beyond.

On May 17, and in the company of my friends Bob and Dougal, we drove to the south coast and Titchfield Haven in Hampshire were a Hudsonian godwit had been reported.

It had been seen feeding with a group of Icelandic black-tailed godwits on a southern inland scrape there.

Hudsonian godwit, (adult female) at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire.

Hudsonian godwits are native to America and their name refers to Hudson Bay where their indigenous population arrive to breed.

They have one breeding population on the southern edge of Hudson Bay, while others breed further north in the arboreal regions of Canada.

Populations stop off there to prepare for migration, before making their lengthy trip to winter in the southernmost regions of South America.

Although Hudsonian Godwit’s extra-long bills looks solid and stiff, the tip is actually quite flexible. This allows them to bend their bill tip to grasp prey hiding deep in thick mud.

This bird therefore was indeed a rare vagrant to the UK and a first for me to photograph.

Avocet on nest, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire.

Also on show were avocets, once a rarity in my youth, but now breeding at many southern coastal reserves in the UK.

Marsh harrier, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire.

While another another rarity of my juvenile years, the marsh harrier, could be viewed hunting over the reedbeds.

Pewley Down.

With temperatures remaining in the high teens Celsius, I revisited Pewley Down, this time with Dougal, on May 18.

Green hairstreak butterfly, Pewley Down.

Once again getting sightings of several green hairstreak butterflies before they soon would be coming to the end of their single brood reign.

Common blue butterfly, Pewley Down.

A few more common blue butterflies could be seen about the hillside than on my previous visit just a week before.

Large white butterfly, Pewley Down.

Several large white butterflies were out on the wing, mostly feeding on what looked to be common sainfoin flowers.

Small blue, butterfly, Pewley Down.

Small blue butterflies continued to be present on the southern-facing slopes and on this occasion allowing me photo one with its wings open.

Small blue, butterfly, Pewley Down.

Also adding a small blue that decided to perch on my leg, with wings closed.

Our best sighting of the day had to be that of a painted lady butterfly.

Painted lady butterfly, Pewley Down.

Having not seen one at all last year, this one did look rather tatty and in need of a make-over. However, she remained a delight for me to see.

Little egret, Riverside Nature Reserve.

Highlights of a visit to the Riverside Nature Reserve near Burpham included a little egret arriving to visit the flooded scrape near Stoke Lock.

Pied wagtail feeding one of its young by Stoke Lock.

While at Stoke Lock a pied wagtail could be viewed feeding one of its young near the lock-gates, where a pair of grey wagtails had been seen on a previous visit.

Reed warbler, Stoke Lake.

At Stoke Lake at least three reed warblers could be heard still in song, and on this occasion one allowing just enough time for me to focus my camera to photograph it.

Red kites over the Slyfield recycling depot.

The only other thing noteworthy on this occasion were a count of up to a dozen red kites, viewed circling over the recycling centre.

A return to the reserve on May 29, allowed me to relocate the great crested grebes I had been following since their nest building featured in previous reports.

Three young humbug-like chicks had been tucked away with an adult under the cover of the trees that overhang the water on the island.

Great crested grebe with young on Stoke Lake.

The young now rapidly having grown since I had last observed them.

Great crested grebe with a fish for its young, on Stoke Lake.

The other adult could also be viewed as it busied itself catching sizeable fish (a perch, I believe on this occasion) to feed to its young.

Small tortoiseshells in flight, Riverside Nature Reserve.

While there I was also blessed by the delight of seeing and photographing two small tortoiseshell butterflies.

Small tortoiseshell on the boardwalk, Riverside Nature Reserve.

Quite a rarity in Surrey during the past few years. Having only seen fewer than a handful in the past year or two, but now adding to the one I had seen earlier this year on April 2 at the same reserve.

Egyptian geese, Stoke Lake.

While at the lakeside a surprise sighting of a squadron of 10 adult Egyptian geese flew overhead and landed out on the water.

Red kite.

And walking back across the boardwalk, one of the many red kites previously seen circling over the recycling centre, drifted across the river onto the reserve.

Common tern, Britten’s Pond.

At Britten’s Pond, the only things worthy of photographing were the pair of common terns that continued to fish during the last week of the month.

Grey heron in the silt pond, Britten’s Pond.

And a grey heron that spent much of its time fishing in the adjacent silt pond.

Thursley Common.

On May 23 I took the opportunity to traverse Thursley Common, dissecting on my walk more than 300 hectares of heathland.

Boardwalk at Thursley Common.

This with much thanks to my wife dropping me off at the A3 side of the heathland. And even more gratitude to her for remembering to pick me up several hours later at the Moat car park!

Silver-studded blue butterfly, Thursley Common.

A surprise start to my walk was my first sighting of a silver-studded blue butterfly this year.

Although just the one male could be found, but with the first few sprigs of heather noticeably starting to show signs of blossom, many more should soon start to emerge.

Green lacewing, Thursley Common.

A few green lacewings, considered beneficial insects because they eat aphids and other pests, could be seen flying about the heather.

Garden warbler.

Nearby, a garden warbler could heard singing within some dense tree foliage.

Dartford warbler.

Dartford warblers could also be still be heard and seen flitting about the gorse and heather that bordered the sandy, firebreak width track.

Stonechat, Thursley Common.

While several stonechats showed prominently.

Common redstart, Thursley Common.

Arriving along the lower section of the heathland near to the ‘parish field’ I was able to pick out and photo one of several common redstarts seen that day.

Tree pipit, Thursley Common.

Also picking out a tree pipit still briefly in song.

Mistle thrush, Thursley Common.

And a mistle that had been rummaging through the dead leaves in the understory of the trees.

Woodlark, Thursley Common.

Skirting around the base of ‘shrike hill’ I was able to add a woodlark.

Skylark, Thursley Common.

As well as a singing skylark to my day list.

Lapwings, Thursley Common.

Adding to my sightings as I walked the boardwalk across the wetland section about the area of Pudmore Pond I caught sight, albeit briefly, of as many as six lapwings in the air calling and displaying.

Not known to be breeding there, eventually they dispersed.

Tufted duck, Thursley Common.

Out on the pond a small group of tufted ducks could be viewed.

Hobby, Thursley Common.

A few dragonflies could now be seen hovering over the water, thus attracting at least two hobbies while I was there.

Curlew, Thursley Common.

The most fascinating sights and sounds, for me, was that of a curlew.

Curlew, Thursley Common.

Greatly in decline throughout the UK, they continue to be a welcomed sight when seen and heard on Surrey’s heathlands.

Locally, many of our resident birds had already produced their first brood of fledglings.

Some not easy to identify at first glance, but with many still in the guidance of their parents the mystery could soon be solved.

Adult male great spotted woodpecker feeding one of its young.

High in a canopy of trees a great spotted woodpecker fed its young.

Stonechat fledgling.

Out on the heathland a family of stonechat fledglings could be viewed.

Blackbird fledgling.

And a young blackbird was also observed.

Viewing out across the Sussex countryside towards the South Downs.

Back in the company of Dougal I also found time to visit a viewpoint just across the Surrey border in Sussex. Looking out in the direction of South Downs revealed some panoramic views.

From this viewpoint, if fortunate, it’s said, one might get distant views of honey buzzards. They tend to be the very last of our summer visitors to arrive in the UK from Africa.

The name “honey buzzard” is apparently a misnomer. They undoubtedly ingest some honey when they raid a bee’s nest, but consuming the sweet substance isn’t their main objective. Unlike other birds of prey, honey buzzards are primarily insectivores.

Though their staple foods are wasp and bee larvae, they are also said to consume young birds and frogs.

After enduring a long wait, but at the same time enjoying distant views of a common buzzard, a peregrine, a red kite and a hobby, the scintillating views across to the South Downs was only spoilt by being an overcast cool and breezy day.

After much patience a honey buzzard made an appearance.

Honey buzzard, (female) West Sussex.

At first flying low through the valley, eventually it rose skyward and in our direction allowing me, despite the light conditions, several reasonable photos and identifying it to be a female.