UK Wildlife Sightings, August 2025

 Whilst my previous visit to East Anglia, in July (to Welney, Dersingham Bog and Snettisham), had been full of interest, birds, new dragonflies and butterflies, my next visit, to Walberswick on the 6th, was quite the opposite. Mind you, I had a single target in mind - Britain's 10th (I think) Zitting Cisticola (aka Fan-tailed Warbler). The bird had been present for some time when I visited, and there were only a handful of people waiting for it to appear. I sat down to wait, looking inland towards a marshy area with  a river channel running across about 200M ahead, for possibly the most boring three hours of my life. I heard the occasional 'zit' and, after a couple of hours, I saw the bird distantly in 'song flight' (I couldn't hear the song when others could, perhaps my hearing is not as good as I thought). Eventually, I did get a better view of the song flight and was able to properly 'tick' it off (my 371st UK bird species). What made the wait so boring was that there were hardly any other birds to see, at least until the last half hour (early evening), when the occasional egret flew by. The Cisticola is still present as I write on the 15th, so at least all UK bird watchers will have had the opportunity to see it.

July and August are 'dragonfly months' for me, when most of our UK species are on the wing at one time or another. I made a couple of trips in the first half of the month, looking to photograph particular species. First off was a visit to Santon Downham (Suffolk) on the 8th, my second of the summer, to have a go at photographing Banded Demoiselles. There were far fewer to see than on my first visit (see my June UK blog), but the ones that were present were somewhat easier to photograph, because they weren't being constantly disturbed by the flights of their neighbours! Good numbers of Ruddy Darters and Willow Emerald damselflies were also present along the banks of the river.

Male Banded Demoiselle, Santon Downham, 8 August

Male Ruddy Darter, Santon Downham, 8 August

I also made my annual visit to Paxton Pits (Cambridgeshire) to photograph the Common Darters there, in an area where there are usually 50+ on the wing at this time of the year. I came away with nearly 100 images, which were reduced to a dozen after editing. Here are a couple that I like.

Common Darter, Paxton Pits, 12 August

Common Darter, Paxton Pits, 12 August

On the 13th I chose my first visit of the year to Thursley Common in Surrey for a day out. It turned out to be a bad choice: the M25 western section was a nightmare in both directions, the road that I access to park at the Moat Pond was closed for roadworks, necessitating a 15 mile diversion and then there was a thunderstorm not long after I had arrived, cutting short my visit. Target dragonflies were Small Red Damselfly (which I did see) and Brilliant Emerald (which I didn't). Several Black Darters and Keeled Skimmers were also encountered before the rains came, as were some Stonechats close to the Moat Pond.

Male Black Darter, Thursley Common, 13 August

Small Red Damselfly, Thursley Common, 13 August

Juvenile Stonechat, Thursley Common, 13 August

UK Wildlife Sightings, July 2025

 I was away from Royston on three separate holidays from late June until mid July. The first holiday was a 'Naturetrek' holiday to North Macedonia, which I will write about in a separate blog post, when I have finally finished editing and sorting out over 200 images. I would have done this sooner, if I hadn't been on two further, shorter holidays to Wales and then Stockholm in July. From a wildlife point of view these were very low key - I'll deal with them briefly here.

Wales

My partner and I visited Aberystwyth in early July, as part of a family holiday (we met up with my brother and his family). Rock Pipits was seen around the castle ruins and I also saw Dipper and Red-breasted Merganser nearby. Aberystwyth is well known for its winter Starling murmurations around the pier, but of course we were six months too early (or late) to see these.

Young Rock Pipit, Aberystwyth, 8 July

Stockholm

For my 70th birthday my lovely partner booked a surprise four night holiday for us in Stockholm (I knew I was flying somewhere, but not to where). This beautiful Swedish city, situated on an island archipelago, held a few minor surprises. For one thing, the gulls threatening to steal your fish and chips were not Herring Gulls, but Common Gulls! Lesser Black-backed Gulls would then steal from the Common Gulls. A few Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were present, but these kept themselves to themselves. The only (feral) geese that I saw were Barnacle Geese (and lots of them). Other sightings included Common Terns and a single Common Redstart. Stockholm, and Sweden in general, is very expensive (not that it bothered me, because my partner was paying for everything!), but if you can afford it and don't mind missing out on the excitement of bird watching for a few days, it comes highly recommended. Most Swedes speak good English, too. Don't fly British Airways, though - they cancelled our return flight....

Back to the wildlife, and on my birthday itself we used public transport to Hammersmith and walked along the Thames to spend an afternoon at WWT Barnes, encountering a variety of hoverflies and a Jersey Tiger Moth on the way.

Hoverfly Volucella zonaria, Barnes, 13 July

Jersey Tiger Moth, Barnes, 13 July

The reserve itself was pretty quiet - most of the wildfowl collection were moulting - but I did add three Odonata (Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly and, best of all, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly) to my year list. At least two Lesser Emperors were buzzing around the many pools, but sadly they never settled for me to take their photograph, so you will have to make do with the other two. Lesser Emperors are slowly establishing themselves in Southern England (climate change?), and can be distinguished in flight from the Emperor Dragonfly by their slightly smaller size, duller colouring and a pale band around the abdomen, close to the Thorax.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly, WWT Barnes, 13 July

Willow Emerald Damselfly, WWT Barnes, 13 July

On my return from Stockholm, my next significant sortie was to Aston Rowant on the 23rd, with my target being the rare Silver Spotted Skipper butterfly. On a very dull day the reserve was very quiet, with few butterflies on the wing, but I did manage to find at least one Silver-spotted Skipper (image below).

'Record Shot' of Silver-spotted Skipper, Aston Rowant NR, 23 July

On the 25th I treated myself to a day out in Norfolk, my first visit to the county for some time. My first stop was at WWT Welney. The Wood Sandpiper, reported the previous day, had gone but I did enjoy watching a Common Tern trying to feed a fish to its chicks, which totally ignored it although a nearby Ruff took an interest. I added Brown Hawker to my 2025 dragonfly list here. I travelled on to Dersingham Bog, which was predictably rather short of water, but I did see a single male Black Darter and a single male Keeled Skimmer here. Better still, after having failed to see any here for quite a few years, I also had a couple of sightings of Grayling butterflies in flight. Once disturbed, these butterflies head rapidly for the nearest tree and hide on the trunk, where they are very hard to find.

Immature Male Black Darter, Dersingham Bog, 25 July

Encouraged by these sightings, I headed on to Snettisham, which proved to be my final stop. I hoped to see Turtle Doves here, but had no joy searching for an hour in the Coastal Park, where I have seen them many times before. With the tide coming in, I decided to head south along the muddy beach towards the RSPB reserve. Ringed Plovers were much in evidence and, as I approached the reserve, some impressive wader murmurations were seen. A huge flock of (mainly) Sandwich Terns was resting on the beach, close enough to pick out individuals with my binoculars and camera, but not close enough to be certain about identifying some of the smaller terns that were sitting alongside the hundreds of Sandwich Terns. Quite a few Common Terns were present, as were one or two Little Terns. I'm pretty sure that a handful of Arctic Terns were present too, based on bill size, colour and shape, but I could not convince myself to put them on my year list.

Terns and a Black-heade Gull at Snettisham, 25 July. Is the nearest bird an Arctic Tern??

More Terns at Snettisham, 25 July, with another possible Arctic Tern centre front

As the tide came in further, things got even more interesting as hundreds of waders flew in closer and closer. These turned out to be mainly Dunlin and Sanderling (are Sanderling, like Knot, on The Wash all year round?). A single Curlew Sandpiper was amongst them: these birds were heading for the southernmost lake on the RSPB reserve, where a White-rumped Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper had been reported on the day (and, indeed, for the remainder of the month). On a hot day, I didn't have the energy to go further but a couple of surprises awaited me as I turned to go back. Firstly, I heard the unmistakable purring of a Turtle Dove, which eventually revealed itself after much searching. Then, I noticed a family of warblers moving about in a line of bushes and sometimes coming out on to the ground to feed - a family of Lesser Whitethroats! I've never had such good views of this species before - the birds looked quite tame. Of course I took some photos: I may never have such a good opportunity again. To complete the day, several Wall butterflies were flying about in the same area. This double brooded butterfly became extinct in Hertfordshire many years ago, and Snettisham is probably one of the closest places to home where they can still be reliably seen. What a day!

Adult and Juvenile Lesser Whitethroats, Snettisham, 25 July

Record Shot of a Wall Butterfly, RSPB Snettisham, 25 July

UK Wildlife Sightings June 2025

 On the 2nd I made my annual pilgrimage to Glapthorn Cow Pasture NR (near Oundle in Northamptonshire) to see Black Hairstreak butterflies. Impressive numbers were on the wing, indicating that this species, at least, has not been adversely affected by the poor weather in 2024. I also saw my first Large Skipper of the year here.

Black Hairstreak Butterfly, Glapthorn, 2 June

On the 4th I returned to Bempton Cliffs to spend time with my brother and his family, who were holidaying in the area, and introduce them to the wonders of this RSPB reserve. My brother is a keen and very good photographer, but rarely photographs wildlife. However, whilst we were there he took 900 (admittedly, bracketed) images whilst I took very few! Here are a couple of my images.

Gannet at Bempton Cliffs, 4 June

Immature Gannet in Flight at Bempton Cliffs, 4 June

On the 8th the final RSPB Local Group coach trip of the season took us to Snape Maltings (Suffolk), from where we explored both sides of the river Alde. I enjoyed close views of House Martins picking up mud from the river as the tide went out. Very few dragonflies were seen. Baby Lapwings and (I think) Redshanks were seen on the marshes to the north of the river, perhaps indicating a successful breeding season for these waders. A number of digger wasps (Colytes spp.) were photographed near the Maltings.

House Martin picking up mud for its nest, Snape Maltings, 8 June

Digger Wasp (Colytes sp.), Snape Maltings, 8 June

A gruelling day out bird watching on the 11th started with a visit to RSPB Titchwell Marsh. The freshmarsh was dominated by breeding Avocets and Black-headed Gulls, whilst numerous Sandwich and Common Terns were commuting to and from colonies on (presumably) Scolt Head Island. A single, distant Little Tern was also seen here. Sanderlings were still foraging along the beach, stopping off to feed before heading north to enjoy the brief Arctic summer. There can be very few weeks in the year when you don't see a Sanderling at Titchwell!

Baby Avocet, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 June

Avocet in Flight, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 June

Sanderling on the Beach at RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 June

On the way back from Titchwell I called in at Cavenham Heath and Mayday Farm to do a reconnaissance for an RSPB spring walk that I was leading on the 17th. Curlew, Hobby, lots of Stonechats and (eventually) a Stone Curlew (target species) were seen at Cavenham, but the best was saved to last. When I arrived at the viewing area at Mayday Farm I was surrounded by Nightjars, some of which landed close to me on the ground, allowing me to take a few very grainy (ISO 6400) photos. I reckon that I recorded eight different birds, but there could have been more. This was quite a thrill - possibly my best bird watching experience of the year to date.

More Stone Curlews, a Woodlark and Nightjars were seen on the 17th when the group walk (an impressive 17 members) was held, but this time the 'Nightjar experience' was more routine.

Curlew, Cavenham Heath, 11 June

Two Nightjars, Mayday Farm, 11 June

'Record Shot' of a Stone Curlew, Cavenham Heath, 17 June

Earlier in the day I visited Santon Downham, hoping to get some great photos of Dragonflies and other insects along the river. The dragonflies were dominated by Banded Demoiselles (about 99% of those seen) and, as usual, they proved difficult to photograph as they moved about and kept their distance on a hot day. One of my better efforts is below. Whilst the photography did not live up to hopes, I was lucky to see a family of Crossbills as they passed me on the river, uttering their distinctive 'chip chip' calls. A family of Mandarin Ducks was also seen here.

Female Banded Demoiselle, Santon Downham, 17 June

My partner and I spent a weekend in Hampshire on the 13-15th. A walk in the New Forest was notable for the presence of hundreds of Silver-studded Blues: the New Forest is obviously a stronghold for this butterfly, and we visited at just the right time as many individuals were in good condition, some recently hatched. I also added Small Skipper butterfly and Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly to my year list during the weekend.

Silver-studded Blue, The New Forest, Hampshire, 14 June

June is a very quiet month for birds, with very few new arrivals or departures, so on the 23rd I jumped at the chance to see a Collared Pratincole, a wader that breeds in Southern and Eastern Europe, that had turned up at RSPB Frampton Marsh, near Boston. Unusually, Collared Pratincoles catch their insect prey in flight, but this individual preferred to sit on a scrubby section of one of the islands, with its back to me. It made only one brief flight in over an hour, although it did occasionally walk around a bit, revealing its unusual markings. I have recently seen Collared Pratincoles on migration in Georgia and on their wintering grounds in The Gambia, but this was my first UK sighting for over ten years. I wandered around the reserve a little and found a Little Ringed Plover sitting on a nest (which appeared to be just a hole in the mud of a low-lying island). Every time it was threatened by larger birds walking nearby and coming dangerously close to walking on the nest (Avocets, Greylag Geese) it would get up and flap its wings vigorously to try to ward them off. Unfortunately, my photographs kept missing this 'decisive moment'. Eventually the bird was relieved of its nesting duties by its partner (image).

Little Ringed Plovers at the Nest Site, RSPB Frampton Marsh, 23 June

Most of the remainder of June was spent abroad: I'll post about this holiday in due course.

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.

Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 30 May

Kingfisher, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 30 May

Stonechat, Cavenham Heath (Suffolk), 30 May