Well, what with my week away and various other bits and bobs it's been over three weeks since my last patch diary post.
Typically for the time of year things have now quietened down somewhat with the resident and migrant breeders all largely getting on with the task at hand. Aside from the usual common Tits and Mallards it's been good to confirm plenty of other species as breeding at Shalford, some more common than others. The first Mandarin ducklings were found by Kit Britten on the 13th while family groups or juveniles of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush have all been seen recently. The regular Stonechat pair, meanwhile, are apparently still feeding nestlings at St Catherine's Lock. Surely they should be fledging any day now.
Mandarins
Stonechats
Best of all though has been confirming Sand Martins breeding in the railway cutting on the east side of St Catherine's Hill, with three birds regularly seen going into a hole here recently. Like so many places in Surrey this was once a regular breeding site for this declining species but had apparently been abandoned for many years so it's great to see them back. I suspect the tree and scrub clearance carried out on the embankment has opened the area up enough to encourage them back.
Sand Martin
The only patch year tick since my last round-up came on the 27th when I stumbled across a pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the wet woodland on the west side of Shalford Park. This is a part of the patch I've not explored much previously and I went to investigate it on this day with this exact species in mind. Only my third patch record of this species following on from singles in spring and autumn last year, and particularly encouraging to see a pair. I do hope they stick around and breed. Spotted Flycatcher is the 103rd species recorded at Shalford this year and my 101st.
Onto warblers and there are now at least four Garden Warblers and two Sedge Warblers holding territory on the patch, one of the latter near St Catherine's Lock proving particularly showy on recent visits (see video below!). Reed Warblers have been rather scarce this spring with just singles on the 20th and 31st the only ones recorded since my previous patch round-up. The first juvenile Chiffchaffs of the year were seen in the Broadford area on the evening of the 30th.
Swift numbers have been really increasing in the last couple of weeks, with a conservative count of thirty noted on the 29th, at least some of these presumably local birds but others still clearly moving through. At least a couple of pairs have been dashing around over Shalford village with the House Martins recently; the latter were busy working on their nests on the 21st, I noticed, when a Hobby appeared low over the rooftops and sent them all into a panic! A regular sight over the village recently via Kit which is good news as I only had a handful of patch records of this species in 2016.
House Martins
A Kingfisher carrying a fish through Broadford on the 29th was, remarkably, only my second patch record of the year while a Water Rail alarm calling in Mill Mead Meadow early on the 31st was only my third record this year and my first ever breeding season record here. This species famously bred, or possibly still does breed, at Unstead SF and Sam Jones has recorded breeding at Firs Bridge down towards Godalming but this would seemingly be the closest breeding site to Guildford town centre on the south side at least.
The only other bits of note recently have all been flyovers with three Lapwings south-west on the 16th, a 3cy Great Black-backed Gull east and two Mute Swans south, both on the 25th. Also on the 25th a Skylark flew west over St Catherine's Lock, singing, while one flew east over the same area on the 29th. I would guess these are birds either breeding at Loseley and commuting to the arable fields south of the Chantries or vice versa.
Mute Swans
One last little nugget I thought I'd share: I mentioned in my previous patch diary about a Bullfinch plucking seedheads off Dandelions along the Railway Line Walk, well I saw another one doing the same on the edge of Shalford Park the other day. Presumably just feeding on the seeds but not behaviour I've seen before this year anyway.
Bullfinch
Away from the patch it was great to notch up my hoped for 90th species on my Chilworth garden list, with a Nightjar churring somewhere to the south towards Blackheath on the evening of the 21st. This was followed closely by two Curlews which flew east/north-east this morning. I'm working on a garden list special blog post which I'll post when we eventually move!
29th April
Just a brief Shalford visit this afternoon after a few hours at the Tice's Meadow BioBlitz earlier in the day. Highlights were two Sand Martins at St Catherine's Lock, three House Martins and the first juvenile Blackbird of the year near Dagley Lane allotments.
Blackbird (juvenile)
30th April
Two visits today produced a total of 55 species and two year ticks. The morning produced three Garden Warblers, five Swallows, three Sand Martins and at least four House Martins, plus one of the usual Stonechat pair at St Catherine's and the two Red-legged Partridges in Horse Field. Also of note were a Bullfinch collecting Dandelion seedheads - I'm not sure whether for food or nesting material or both? - and a female Mandarin investigating tree holes in Broom Meadow. Overhead there was a clear movement of Lesser Black-backed Gulls going on, also noted by Wes Attridge in Capel. I had a total of 33 over during my morning visit, mostly going north-east.
Stonechat (female) - Kit Britten
In the afternoon I did a little circuit of Broadford Marsh before setting up for a skywatch from the Horse Field which produced the first patch Swifts of the year, with three going south, hotly pursued by the first Hobby of the year.
1st May
The day started with a tower watch up Leith Hill. There didn't seem to be anything much at all on the move - or not that we could see anyway through the low cloud - but a last gasp Hawfinch flying past picked up by David Campbell was nice to see, although I got on it very late. Interesting time of year for one there, perhaps they are breeding locally?
Anyway, as the rain set in at around 9 I decided to head to Shalford to see what might be grounded. The rain had abated as I arrived but there were plenty of threatening black clouds around so I decided to set up camp at the edge of Broadford Marsh in the hope of a wader dropping in. A Little Egret dropped in very briefly before flying off. Another was seen later and after receiving a message from Kit Britten telling me he'd seen a pair together, the two then flew straight over Broadford heading south.
Little Egrets - Kit Britten
Just before noon the blackest cloud of the day unleashed a proper downpour. I hunkered down in the bushes, keeping my eyes on the window of sky I could see above the marsh. Suddenly I noticed two birds flying in low and purposefully from the south. I initially thought they were small gulls or terns through bins but then quickly realised from their flight action these were large waders. The general greyish colour, lack of trailing legs or wing bars pointed me to the ever tricky combo of Whimbrel/Bar-tailed Godwit, and with the birds rapidly disappearing over the trees, rain spattered bins and no scope, I knew I wasn't going to be able to clinch the ID. Frustrating, but so exciting to see the rain deliver so fast!
Within minutes another bird appeared in the same window of sky: a Hobby powering its way north through the rain. I messaged Kit who'd just left the patch to fill him in and, as I struggled to write something coherent on my rain-drenched phone screen a familiar call alerted me to a very handsome male Yellow Wagtail which had just dropped down on the marsh right in front of me. After a few minutes the rain stopped and the bird took flight again, although I thought I'd heard at least one other bird call overhead just before it did so. Kit arrived on patch just in time to connect with two other Yellow Wags - possibly the ones I'd heard - flying north along the river. Yellow Wagtail is the 100th species recorded at Shalford this year and my 98th.
A day to get the pulse racing and a reminder that the right conditions can deliver the goods.
2nd May
Just a brief visit to Broadford after work, following on from the Crane excitement earlier in the day, proved very quiet despite the showery conditions. Aside from the usual bits and bobs around and about a single Herring Gull east seemed to be the only mover. 3rd May
A pre-work visit today produced 47 species including two each of Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler, at least nine Whitethroats and two Mandarins. Overhead movement including three Swifts (seemingly local), two Swallows north, four Herring Gulls east, one Black-headed Gull north-east and a single Lapwing east. Greylag Goose is the least frequently seen of the common geese species here so it was notable to see four flying west, one going south and a sixth bird which flew up from Broadford. Breeding evidence today included the first juvenile Robin of the year, Blackbirds carrying food and a vocal pair of Sparrowhawks.
Greylags
Robin (juvenile)
4th May
John Austin visited this morning and reported a Little Egret and a singing Lesser Whitethroat near St Catherine's Lock - I species I'd hoped to get on patch this spring after only autumn records last year.
I paid a quick visit to part of the Broadford area after work (had I known earlier about the Lesser Whitethroat I would have headed further north!) and had a flyover Red Kite, two Swifts, a Garden Warbler, two drake Mandarins and a rather unseasonal lone female Teal.
Teal
5th May
Another early visit before work and from fairly early on it was clear that Swifts were moving through in good numbers; unsurprising after the big arrivals on the south coast the previous day. The first two groups were of six and seven followed by smaller numbers, all powering through quite low. Pretty much the first bird I saw/heard was a Yellow Wagtail flying north low over Mill Mead Meadow. Garden Warblers and Sedge Warblers were again vocal with at least four and two of each singing, respectively. The usual Stonechat pair were at St Catherine's Lock while there was a single Little Egret on St Catherine's Pool. Other than the Swifts, overhead action included two Sand Martins north and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls south.
6th May
52 species in 3.5 hours this morning included confirmed breeding of Long-tailed Tit and Mistle Thrushwith both species seen feeding newly-fledged young. Of note on the migrant front were four singing Garden Warblers, 20+ Swifts, 15+ Swallows and a couple of House Martins. Sedge Warbler numbers continue to increase with at least four singing today. There'd also clearly been a mini arrival of Reed Warblers with two singing - one up near the waterworks and one near the Riff Raff weir. It was good also to find a probable Sparrowhawk nest in an area of the patch where I'd suspected they'd bred last year. The usual Stonechat pair were at St Catherine's Lock while there was a single Little Egret on Broadford Marsh.
Suspected Sparrowhawk nest
7th May
Another day away from the patch for me as I'd been asked to again lead the NT dawn chorus walk at Leith Hill. A crowd of 20 people turned out and we were treated to the best the site has to offer: 3 Garden Warblers, 3 Cuckoo (2 male/1 female) plus my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year characteristically flitting about in a tree halfway up the footpath from the Rhododendron Wood. After a much needed breakfast at the tower I decided to check out Duke's Warren, not fancying a tower watch in the drizzle and blasting north-easterly. On the path down to the heath I ran into Paul Stevenson and we had a good stroll around connecting with first a Woodcock which flew up from the vegetation just by the path, then on the heath itself we found two Tree Pipits, a Woodlark and three Redstarts. A brief tower watch to end the morning proved unproductive aside from a male Cuckoo which flew up from near the tower then powered its way south until it was no longer visible - perhaps it had had enough of this weather too?!
Kit Britten put in a session at Shalford this morning and reported 50 species including confirmed Grey Wagtails breeding and the first Mandarin ducklings of the year near the Riff Raff weir. As I drove through Shalford village en route to Godalming later in the day it was good to see the local Swifts back and screaming low over the village green.
Grey Wagtail
8th May
A very enjoyable three hours on the patch this morning in blustery conditions. The Swifts didn't mind though, with at least 20 through during my visit, plus a couple of Sand Martins and Swallows. Seven species of Warbler were singing including my first Lesser Whitethroat rattling away in the Broadford/Horse Field area, at one point in the same Blackthorn bush as a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a Reed Warbler. The latter were particularly in evidence today with at least four singing around the patch. There were also at least four Sedge Warblers and five Garden Warblers singing, the latter my highest count of this species this year so clearly there are still new birds coming in.
The Lesser Whitethroat took my patch year list to 99. No sooner had I begun to ponder whether I'd hit 100 today and what species would bring up the century I picked up a Common Tern flying north along the river - strangely the very same species that took me to a hundred in 2016 as well! The total Shalford year list now stands at 102.
Also of note this morning were Kestrel and Hobby hunting over Broadford Marsh, 11 Mallard ducklings, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls north and a pair of Grey Wagtails at St Catherine's.
After a non-birding trip down into West Sussex in the afternoon the lure of the Turtle Dove found by Rich Ford in Haslemere proved too tempting and I made a little diversion on the way home to see it. It was wonderful to find it in a tree in the garden of Imbhams Farm, and hear it singing occasionally. Of note here were also a Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler. Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher in the same field of view in Surrey - not something you see every day! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me though so you'll just have to use your imagination...
No more Surrey birding for me for a few days now as I'm off to Sardinia in the morning with my girlfriend. Expect lots of photos and a blog about that trip soon!
May's been a busy old month for me, so whilst there's been no Lammergeier or Dalmatian Pelican, there's still a fair amount to report from the local patch in the past three weeks or so. The spring migrants have continued to flood in, with most of the expected species arriving more or less on cue although I've still not caught up with Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat and a few others, on the patch at least. The first Garden Warbler was bubbling away in Broom Meadow early on the 4th though and by the third week of the month there were at least four around the recording area.
On the 9th, meanwhile, the first Reed Warbler of the year was singing near St Catherine's Pool, with again further arrivals in subsequent days including one singing in a clump of bamboo by the Riff Raff weir on the 12th! On the evening of the 11th it was delightful to stumble across a Spotted Flycatcher living up to its name in trees along the navigation towards Broadford Bridge, I heard it again the following morning but have seen no sign of it since so suspect it may have moved on.
Spotted Flycatcher
Other migrant species are seemingly still moving through, particularly Swifts which have increased greatly in the last week or so, although there are clearly still Swallows and House Martins coming through too. It's been wonderful to watch these aerial aces skimming low over the water at St Catherine's Lock. Sedge Warbler numbers still seem rather erratic, peaking so far on the 12th when there were at least six present.
Swift at St Catherine's Lock
Sedge Warbler in Bog Meadow
Two species I'd anticipated adding to the patch list without too much difficulty were Kingfisher and Common Tern so I was pleased to catch up with both recently. The latter were my 100th species at Shalford this year, with two flying south early on the 18th. Kingfishers meanwhile were heard near Riff Raff weir on the 14th and then seen in the same area again on the 23rd. In other news, I've noticed a slight increase in gulls flying over in the past week or so, with quite a few Herring and Lesser Black-backeds on the move, particularly on the 18th. Other recent flyovers of note have included single Little Egrets north and south-west on the 7th and 12th, respectively, a single Egyptian Goose north-east on the 18th and, most surprisingly, two Great Crested Grebes high south-west early on the 9th with a Mandarin in tow!
Chiffchaff
Great Spotted Woodpecker
There's been lots of evidence this month of birds breeding around the water meadows, with both Treecreeper and Starling seen carrying food to trees in Broom Meadow, Grey Wagtail young calling under Broadford Bridge, and a family group of Mistle Thrushes in the horse field near Broadford Marsh.
Away from the patch, on the 12th I made my first visit of 2016 to nearby Blackheath hoping for Nightjar and sure enough heard at least three churring males, along with two singing Cuckoos and a bonus singing Redstart - my first record for this site since I've lived locally.
