Royston Wildlife Blog: UK Wildlife Sightings, May 2025

Temperatures in London reached 28C on the 1st, when my partner and I visited Chelsea Physic Garden. The two small ponds there hosted a Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly and Large Red and Azure Damselflies, the first Odonata that I have seen this year.

Large Red Damselfly, Chelsea Physic Garden, 1 May

News of a Spotted Sandpiper (the American equivalent of our Common Sandpiper and a rare visitor to the UK) on the dam at Grafham Water encouraged me to visit on the 2nd. This very spotty specimen (see image) showed well on the dam. Nearby, a female Wheatear and a Little Ringed Plover also showed well, although I missed seeing the reported Whinchat.

Spotted Sandpiper, Grafham Water, 2 May

Little Ringed Plover, Grafham Water, 2 May

Wheatear, Grafham Water, 2 May

On a much cooler day on the 5th I made my first visit of the year to RSPB Frampton Marsh, in Lincolnshire. My key target was Temminck's Stint, a wader that migrates northwards through the UK in very small numbers in the spring but is even scarcer on return migration in the autumn. I was lucky to see both the Temminck's Stint and a somewhat commoner Little Stint. It is hard to get close enough to these tiny waders to get decent photographs, and those of the Temminck's Stint are not worthy of inclusion here. Also seen were Common Sandpiper, around a dozen Ruffs including a male in breeding plumage, my first Swifts of the year and a lonely Whooper Swan with a badly damaged wing, which unfortunately will have to spend the summer here.

Little Stint, RSPB Frampton Marsh, 5 May

Male Ruff in Breeding Plumage, RSPB Frampton Marsh, 5 May

Injured Whooper Swan, RSPB Frampton Marsh, 5 May

It was my turn to lead an RSPB trip to Frensham Common (Surrey) on the 18th. This area of Surrey heathland is, like the nearby Thursley Common, a haven for rare spring breeding birds (Woodlark, Redstart, Tree Pipit etc.) and invertebrates. A reconnaissance trip on the 9th produced sightings of all the expected bird species except for Woodlark. A surprising number of dragonflies were on the wing, presumably encouraged to leave the ponds early by the warm weather. These included Beautiful Demoiselle, Hairy Dragonfly and Downy Emerald (on Frensham Little Pond).

Female Beautiful Demoiselle, Frensham, 9 May

Common Tern, Frensham Little Pond, 9 May

Male Common Redstart, Frensham Common, 9 May

Everything went well on the 18th and additional sightings included Woodlark (which I saw), Whinchat and a juvenile Tawny Owl (which I didn't). Scarce Chaser dragonflies were added to the list of Odonata.

Woodlark, Frensham Common, 18 May

Painted Lady, Frensham Common, 18 May

Scarce Chaser (Immature Male), Frensham Common, 18 May

The continuing sunny, warm, spring weather led to me spending far too much time 'in the field' at the expense of arguably more pressing matters. On the 13th I made a trip to Whipsnade Downs, looking for butterflies that don't occur on my local patch. Lots of Duke of Burgundy, Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak butterflies were seen, but I could only (after a lot of searching) find one Grizzled Skipper, presumably because this species, which normally flies until late May, was reaching the end of its season early due to the continuing warm, fine weather. Lots of Brown Argus and Common Blue butterflies were also seen here.

Dingy Skipper, Whipsnade Downs (Bison Hill), 13 May

Duke of Burgundy, Whipsnade Downs, 13 May

Green Hairstreak, Whipsnade Downs, 13 May

I drove to RSPB Lakenheath Fen on the 14th, adding a rather distant male Garganey on the washland to my year list. Several Cuckoos were seen, but a strong, coolish breeze kept insects down as I made my way to the far west of the reserve (Joist Fen). On the way back through the reserve, the sun came out and, in areas sheltered from the wind, huge numbers of dragonflies and damselflies were on the wing. Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies reached almost epidemic numbers - I must have seen at least 100. Several Hairy and Scarce Chaser dragonflies were also on the wing, as were a few species of damselfly including the uncommon Variable Damselfly.

Male Hairy Dragonfly with Mayfly Meal, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 14 May

Female Scarce Chaser Dragonfly, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 14 May

Variable Damselfly, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 14 May

The nesting pair of Ospreys were seen at Rutland Water (Lyndon reserve), when I made a brief visit on the 15th. As work, gardening and administration piled up at home I made a final 'annual' long distance spring trip to the Peak District (Ladybower and Cutthroat Bridge) on the 20th. Despite very good, warm, weather (very unusual here in May) my walk on to Derwent Edge, although as enjoyable as always, was let down by a paucity of birds. I failed to see a single Red Grouse (had they all been shot on this grouse moor?) and, down in the Ladybower Nature Reserve, I could neither hear nor see any Pied Flycatchers, although a few Spotted Flycatchers were seen. Could the Pied Flycatchers already have finished nesting, or had they simply not returned? I saw several nest boxes, but none were occupied - very sad. I did have good views of Ring Ouzels and heard Redstarts, Cuckoos and Tree Pipits, but this was a disappointing day for bird watching.

Grey Wagtail, Cutthroat Bridge, 20 May

Male Ring Ouzel, Derwent Edge, 20 May

Green Tiger Beetle, Derwent Edge, 20 May

Swallowtail butterflies were on the wing early this year (first seen on 2 May), so I made a visit to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen on the 30th, hoping to see them and also photograph damselflies and dragonflies. Unfortunately, my only Swallowtail sighting was of an individual that flew rapidly past me, giving me no chance to photograph it. Territorial male Scarce Chaser dragonflies were, however, much in evidence, as were Banded Demoiselles and several species of damselfly. Bird sightings included Kingfisher (seen from both sides of the reserve), Marsh Harrier and Cetti's Warbler. On the way back I stopped off at Icklingham, to do a reconnaissance visit for a walk that I was due to lead to Cavenham Heath in June. At least three pairs of Stonechats and two Curlews (which breed here) were seen on the heath, but I couldn't see any members of the target species, Stone Curlew.