randombirder

Another trip to Thursley Common because it is such a great place to visit.  The morning started off quite fresh but it didn't take too long for the temperature to rise.   The main draw today was the male Red-backed Shrike having presumably drifted across from the continent on the run of easterlies that have been a feature over the past few days.  It was always distant as the photo below testifies, but these birds are a joy to observe which after a sluggish start, became more active, flying low between vantage points, successfully predating an unfortunate beetle. There was a lot of activity today, at least six Common Redstart seen.  This male was briefly in song. A couple of juvenile birds were noted along the Heathland Trail. The rich cascading melody of a  Woodlark provided the perfect soundtrack to the heathland backdrop. I'd never seen so many Dartford Warbler .  Around a dozen at least, a lot of vocalising, a few still in song, plenty s

We have now hit the mid-June doldrums.  A week waylaid by tonsilitis and now the welcome start of the World Cup will make this month dominated by the sofa. It was great to head out today though and in the company of Dominic Mitchell, spent an enjoyable day at Oare Marshes. Highlights were this drake Garganey , that in between naps, spent most of its time dabbling close to one of the islands densely populated by around 300 summering Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit . 'Napoleon' has also returned, and a prolonged wait was finally rewarded with laughable views of the Bonaparte's Gull , seen hunkered low down on 'Godwit' island, mostly obscured by waders, but occasionally its jet black head and grey-ish upperparts did appear into view. Also of interest was a vocal Cuckoo seen perched on a dead tree, a single Yellow Wagtail flew through, Bearded Tit 'pinged' from the reeds by the channel, and a distant Red Kite tussled the breeze beyond the bridge. 

Just a short drive down to the other side of Esher where butterflies abound.  In the warm sunshine I headed down to Fairmile Common for it is here where one can find the Silver-studded Blue on the wing at this time of year.  This is a localised species confined to the south and south-west of the country. Fairmile Common is a small area of heathland wedged between the boisterous A3 on one side, and the more subdued A307 on the other.  There is a plentiful supply of Bell Heather. Despite the aural intrusion, butterflies were present in decent numbers.  At least 30 Silver-studded Blue were extremely active in the heat of the sun, rarely settling down but for brief interludes of cloud cover.  Meadow Brown and Ringlet were present here too. Relatively common amongst the grassland, Cinnabar Moth are always really nice to see.

A different trip this weekend, checking out the heathland of Frensham and Thursley with Graham.  It was a fun day. Early Saturday morning, all news related to scarcities were scattered around our English coastlines so we decided to make the relatively short trip south into the heart of Surrey. There was early success.  Frensham Common looked a fantastic site with at least three singing Tree Pipit there, and three Dartford Warbler seen scratching away within the gorse. A Cuckoo flew low through before settling on one of the many dead trees scattered around the reserve.  A male Common Redstart sang from the woodland, and a Woodlark was heard but not picked up from somewhere across the heathland.  Stonechat were seen regularly during our walk round, a couple of Red Kite soared overhead, and Common Buzzard were thermaling on the warm breeze. The highlight of the day for us both were the pair of Common Redstart breeding in the woodland just beyond the Moat Car