Birdwatcher’s Diary No.331

Published on: 19 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 19 Jul, 2025

By Malcolm Fincham

A large ridged high pressure system stretching up from the Azores continued to dictate the weather during the first weeks of July, occasionally allowing incursions of low pressure systems from the west to bring cooler, thundery conditions to southern counties of the UK.

For the most part, however, precipitation in Surrey remained below average while temperatures continued to remain pleasantly warm.

With daytime temperatures rising to 30 degrees Celsius on occasions it reminded me to revisit a couple of non-indigenous critters, not previously mentioned in my reports, that have been living in a local pond for several years now.

More used to living in their native home in Florida where winter temperatures rarely fall much below 15 degrees Celsius. the yellow-bellied slider turtle as well as the red-eared slider were once a fashionable pet brought into the UK during the time when popularised by the craze and hype over Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo.

They were the four cartoon TV ninja turtle characters from the 1980s that later brought forth films and even video games.

Yellow-bellied slider turtle basking in the sunshine on a log at a local pond.

The real ones, originally bought as small, cute pets, soon outgrew aquariums, consequently being illegally released into several locally known village ponds. Surprisingly, they have since survived our colder UK winters.

Yellow-bellied slider turtle basking in the sunshine on a log at a local pond.

These species have been banned from sale, import, breeding or exchange since 2016. It is perfectly legal to own most species of turtles and terrapins in the UK if you already had them as an existing pet, and it is legal to take them to a registered rescue centre.

So far, it had been a good year for many of the 40 plus various species of butterflies that can be seen within the county of Surrey in a year with new ones still continuing to emerge.

July is the best month generally to spot the majority of the various species that can be found locally, and at most locations I visited it was a case of “rinse and repeat” in the context of the butterflies I managed to photograph.

The recent long spell of dry, sunny weather was certainly producing more individual than in previous recent years.

My first venture of the month was on July 3, and in the company of Dougal involving another trip to Chiddingfold Forest where I had recently viewed purple emperor butterflies with Bob, even having one that had settled on the ground.

A previous photo of a purple emperor butterfly, in Chiddingfold Forest.

On this occasion although only seeing one in flight, there continued to be an abundance of other butterflies on the wing.

Silver-washed fritillary butterfly, Chiddingfold Forest.

These included good numbers of silver-washed fritillaries.

White admiral butterfly, Chiddingfold Forest.

As well as white admiral butterflies as we walked the bridle path.

Large skipper butterfly, Chiddingfold Forest.

A few large skippers could still be found along the way.

Ringlet butterfly, Chiddingfold Forest.

And an abundance of ringlet butterflies were now on the wing.

Wood white butterfly, Chiddingfold Forest.

As well as adding several wood white butterflies to our day list.

Spotted flycatcher.

Also adding to our avian sightings was a family of spotted flycatchers.

Grayling butterfly, Thursley Common.

On our way home we visited Thursley Common. Here we were able to achieve our first sightings this year of at least a dozen newly emerged grayling butterflies.

Although they almost never opening their wings when settled, most of these at least had the kindness of showing their orangey forewings with its white dot, of which they often tuck away.

Silver-studded blue butterfly, Thursley Common.

Although now coming to the end of their reign, a few silver-studded blues could still be found, in reasonable condition, perched on the heather blossom.

Keeled skimmer dragonfly (female).

A female keeled skimmer dragonfly also perched up for long enough to allow itself a photo.

Gatekeeper butterfly.

As well as getting photos of several more newly emerging gatekeeper butterflies we had previously first noted earlier that day in Chiddingfold Forest.

Pewley Down.

Just a few days later on July 6 we visited Pewley Down. Here we were pleasantly surprised to see our first chalkhill blue butterflies of the year had already begun to emerge, counting a good couple of dozen or more on our transect across the hillside.

Chalkhill blue, Pewley Down.

This was most encouraging as it was possibly the earliest date I had seen them there, greatly exceeding last year’s ‘latest’ date, when my first sightings didn’t emerge until July 30 with low counts then and thereafter.

Burnet moth, Pewley Down.

Included in other sightings were several Burnet moths, common blue butterflies and several brown argus butterflies.

On a visit to Whitmoor Common as warm, dry conditions continued during the first weeks of the month, it wasn’t too long before I needed to focus my camera.

Purple hairstreak butterfly, in oak trees near the car park, at Whitmoor Common.

Checking the oak trees about the car park it was soon noticed that several purple hairsteaks were buzzing around the oak leaves.

Most quite high up in their canopies, although a few occasionally settled on lower leaves within good range of my camera.

Treecreeper in tree near the car park, Whitmoor Common.

While taking the photos I was distracted by the sound of a treecreeper nearby, eventually locating it as stealthy worked its way up a silver birch tree.

Green-eyed flower bee, Whitmoor Common.

Out on the heathland where the heather was now starting to blossom, I was, once again, able to find the small colony of green-eyed flower bees that I had only previously found in recent years.

They are polylectic, meaning they visit a wide variety of flowers for nectar and pollen, including brambles, but seemed to be especially attracted to the heather now flower.

Their olive-green eyes always make them aesthetically pleasing to view.

Silver-studded blue butterfly, (female) Whitmoor Common.

On my transect across the heathland I was able to still add a few rather worn-looking female silver-studded blue butterflies.

Emperor dragonfly, Whitmoor Common.

As well as a male emperor dragonfly that had perched up to sun itself.

Gatekeeper butterfly, Whitmoor Common.

Gatekeeper butterflies were now “the new kids on the block” around the Surrey countryside, seeing them at most places I visited, including Whitmoor.

Kestrel in flight, Whitmoor Common.

While adding a kestrel, in flight.

Sparrowhawk, Whitmoor Common.

And a sparrowhawk to my day list of birds.

Small copper butterfly, Whitmoor Common.

In the nearby old horse paddock adjacent to the common I was able to add several small copper butterflies.

Small skipper butterfly, Whitmoor Common.

A few small skippers could still be found.

Brown argus butterfly, Whitmoor Common.

Also adding brown argus butterflies to my photos.

St Mary’s church, Perry Hill, Worplesdon.

On July 7 I visited St Mary’s churchyard, Perry Hill, Worplesdon.

Although most of the areas around the gravestones had been recently strimmed, a small section had still been left where several species of butterfly could be found.

Brown argus butterfly, Worplesdon churchyard.

As at Whitmoor, another brown argus could be found, this one viewed with wings closed.

Common blue butterfly, (male) Worplesdon churchyard.

Common blue butterflies were also present.

Marbled white butterfly, Worplesdon churchyard.

And although now coming to the end of their reign, a few marbled whites could be noted.

Robberfly, Worplesdon churchyard.

I also managed to photograph a robberfly, a predatory critter that catches and consumes a wide variety of other insects, although not sure which of the 28 species that can apparently found in the UK?

Small copper butterfly, side view, Worplesdon churchyard.

Small copper butterflies seemed to be in good number this year, many of which attracted to ragwort, now in flower.

Ringlet butterfly nectaring on ragwort.

Also adding a ringlet butterfly nectaring on its flower.

Speckled wood butterfly, Worplesdon churchyard.

As at most locations, speckled wood butterflies seemed plentiful as they danced about in the dappled sunlight beneath the under-story of the trees.

Newly fledged wren, Worplesdon churchyard.

I also added one of a family of newly fledged wrens to my photos.

Although seeing them at most locations, copious amounts of the three most common ‘white’ butterflies could be viewed on my visit to the Riverside Nature Reserve, near Burpham.