October 2010

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Sun 31 Oct 2010: a.m. 2 SPARROWHAWK, 2 JACK SNIPE (Moors pools), 14 COMMON SNIPE, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER (WC lagoons), 1 BRAMBLING (heard Moors near railway line), c1400 STARLING (inc. c1200 that had presumably left WC roost), c12 FIELDFARE, c25 REDWING, 9 SISKIN (5 & 4), 4 LESSER REDPOLL, 70+ MEADOW PIPIT (60+ WC mound, 10 over), 25 SHOVELER (M.West), c30 TEAL, 27 GADWALL, 4 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapes/feral), 5 GOLDCREST, 1 TREECREEPER, 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 KINGFISHER, c50 STOCK DOVE, 3 GREY HERON, 140 CANADA GOOSE. Gordon

07.00hrs-10.20hrs. 25+ SHOVELER (M.West), 20+ TEAL, 1m PHEASANT (S of Spynes), 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks S of Spynes), 1 COMMON GULL (Spynes), 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 4 COMMON SNIPE (Spynes),
5+ REDWING, 3 WIGEON (M.West), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (M.West), 2+ GOLDCREST, 3+ FIELDFARE, 1 (poss. 2) SPARROWHAWK, 1 TREECREEPER (in mixed tit & finch flock by railway line at Moors), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (WC). Ian

(09.10hrs-09.25hrs. A male Sparrowhawk perched on roof at South Merstham in rain - more photos and videos - click
here ) Graham


SPARROWHAWK (Graham)
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Sat 30 Oct 2010: p.m. 2 COMMON BUZZARD, 3 SPARROWHAWK, 1 LITTLE OWL (heard), 7 SHOVELER, c30 TEAL, c250 HERRING GULL, c500 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 12 COMMON GULL, 5 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 15 SKYLARK, 8 FIELDFARE, 1 LINNET, 1 REDPOLL sp. (over), 75 GOLDFINCH (M.Farm), c30 HOUSE SPARROW (M.Farm), c200 STARLING, 1 YELLOWHAMMER. Gordon
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Fri 29 Oct 2010: No reported sightings.

(Visit to Dungeness yesterday - click here.) Paul & Graham
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Thurs 28 Oct 2010: No reported sightings.
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Weds 27 Oct 2010: early p.m. 30+ COMMON GULL, 2 COMMON SNIPE, 2 WIGEON (M.West), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West) also 1 probable Merlin low over M.Farm - not good enough view to be 100% sure. Gordon


a.m. 8 GADWALL, 1 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escape/feral), 20+ MEADOW PIPIT, 10 PIED WAGTAIL, 57+ COOT, 2 COMMON GULL, 1 GREENFINCH (all WC), 14 RING-NECKED PARAKEET (2 Spynes, 8 M.CP, 4 M.Farm), 1+ FIELDFARE, small flock LONG-TAILED TIT (all M.CP), 1 POCHARD, 3 LITTLE GREBE, c170 LAPWING (all Spynes), 1 GOLDFINCH, 4+ YELLOWHAMMER, c30 SKYLARK (over), 60+ FERAL PIGEON (all M.Farm). Ken Noble
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(Tues 26 Oct 2010: a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (WC), 1 GREEN SANDPIPER, 298 LAPWING, 30+ TEAL, 1 SHELDUCK. Gordon

07.45hrs-09.45hrs. 2 SISKIN (M.CP car park), 1 GOLDCREST (Spynes), 3 COMMON SNIPE (Spynes), 6 SKYLARK (over heading S), 120+ mixed FIELDFARE/STARLING (over in small flocks heading W), 1 SHELDUCK (Spynes). Paul
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Mon 25 Oct 2010: 14.30hrs. 2 MUTE SWAN, 5 COMMON SNIPE, 10 MALLARD, 3 TEAL, 8 FIELDFARE (heading S) (all Moors.) Simon Elson

early p.m. 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (flew over WC mound and landed out of sight by railway line), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (distantly soaring towards M23), 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 15 LONG-TAILED TIT, 9 MEADOW PIPIT, 1 GREY WAGTAIL (all seen from WC mound). Matt

a.m. 17 GADWALL, 9 TEAL, 4 WIGEON (1 WC1, 3 M.West), 1f POCHARD (M.Lake), 4 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escape/feral WC1), 10 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, c150 LAPWING, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), c15 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), 8 SKYLARK (inc. 4 heading N), 1 GOLDCREST (Spynes), c28 FIELDFARE (c25 headed N, 1 S side of Spynes, 1 Cormongers Lane), 1 YELLOWHAMMER, c100 HERRING GULL (Spynes/M.West), 1 COMMON GULL (Spynes). Paul & Graham


WIGEON & RED-CRESTED POCHARDS (Graham)----- FIELDFARE (Graham)
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Sun 24 Oct 2010: 07.20hrs-10.25hrs. 70+ MALLARD (inc 60+ that flew from Moors pools), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (1st-winter M.Lake on jetty by Aqua Sports centre), 1f POCHARD (M.Lake), 89+ GREYLAG GOOSE (M.Farm), 14+ TEAL (2 Spynes, 12+ M.West), 3 WIGEON (2m & 1f M.West), 1 COMMON GULL (Spynes), 1 SPARROWHAWK (low over WC), 1 probable COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West). Ian
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Sat 23 Oct 2010: No reported sightings.
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Fri 22 Oct 2010: early p.m. 1 SHELDUCK (Spynes sand-spit), 40 TEAL, 2 WIGEON (M.West), 1f SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 1 CHIFFCHAFF. Also 1 Hornet. Gordon

a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 GOLDCREST (Spynes). Paul
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Thurs 21 Oct 2010: early p.m. 1 SHELDUCK, 1m POCHARD, 18 GADWALL, 7 COMMON GULL, 5 TEAL (all Spynes). Matt

a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West). Paul


a.m. 11 GADWALL, 2m WIGEON (1 WC1, 1 M.West), 10 POCHARD, 2 SHOVELER (M.West), 12 TEAL, 4 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (1m & 3f escape/feral WC1), 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC2), c30 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), 21 SKYLARK (mainly heading W), 158 LAPWING (Spynes), 3 COMMON SNIPE (2 Spynes, 1 M.West), c120 FIELDFARE (in one flock heading NW over Spynes), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (hedge between M.CP & M.Farm), 2 COMMON GULL (WC1), 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (WC1), c170 BLACK-HEADED GULL (WC1), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm). Graham


LITTLE OWL (Graham)------------------------------ROE DEER Mercers Farm (Graham)
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Weds 20 Oct 2010: 08.00hrs-09.30hrs. 55+ SKYLARK (flew W), 1 GOLDCREST (M.CP car parik), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (flew around M.Lake calling, seen later at M.West), 1m BULLFINCH, 3 YELLOWHAMMER. Also 1 possible Curlew calling high overhead, but not seen. Paul
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Tues 19 Oct 2010:
229 TUFTED DUCK, 5 POCHARD, 30 GADWALL, 26 TEAL, 2 REDPOLL sp. (over). Gordon
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Mon 18 Oct 2010: No reported sightings.
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Sun 17 Oct 2010: a.m. 1m PINTAIL (over WC lagoons heading for M.West but not relocated - first for year), 5 BRAMBLING (2 over, 3 briefly by bridge at railway line rear of WC mound), c155 CHAFFINCH (over), c55 SISKIN (over), 17 FIELDFARE (first of the autumn), c80 REDWING, c20 LINNET, 1 REDPOLL sp. c800 STARLING (over), 46 TEAL, 25 GADWALL, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (Moors pools), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 4 COMMON SNIPE, 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 BLACKCAP (M.West), 2 COAL TIT, c10 GOLDCREST. Gordon

07.25hrs-10.50hrs. 6+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE (inc. 1 pair displaying), 200+ STARLING (6 flocks all heading W), 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks S of Spynes), 2m POCHARD (1 Spynes, 1 M.West), 43+ TEAL (3 Spynes, 40+ M.West), 3 WIGEON (1m & 2f M.West), 1 SHOVELER (M.West), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West - latest local autumn sighting, the previous latest being 30th Sep), 2 FIELDFARE (over M.CP), 1m PHEASANT (M.Farm), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (low over Willow Wood), 1 COAL TIT (conifers Cormongers Lane), 1 COMMON SNIPE (flew from WC mound), 5 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC2), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (WC2), 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapes/feral WC1), 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (heard Spynes). Ian
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Sat 16 Oct 2010: p.m. 2 SISKIN, 2 REDWING, 25 CHAFFINCH, 70+ PIED WAGTAIL, 1200 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 220 HERRING GULL, 3 COMMON GULL, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 11 TEAL. Gordon
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Fri 15 Oct 2010: 25 TEAL, 2 WIGEON, c300 RING-NECKED PARAKEET. Gordon

(Visit to East Sussex today - Pallas's Warbler & Ring Ouzels - click here ) Paul & Graham
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Thurs 14 Oct 2010: a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1f SPARROWHAWK. Paul

(16.00hrs. 2 SWALLOW flew low NE over South Merstham.) Graham

(Yesterday's visit to Reculver & Oare - click here
) Paul & Graham
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Weds 13 Oct 2010: p.m. 80+ SKYLARK (M.Farm), 5 YELLOWHAMMER, 2 REED BUNTING, c300 WOODPIGEON, 11 POCHARD, 2 WIGEON (M.West), 4 SHOVELER, 25+ TEAL, 32+ GADWALL, 3 COMMON SNIPE (2 M.West, 1 over), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1f/juv SPARROWHAWK, 15 MEADOW PIPIT. Gordon
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Tues 12 Oct 2010: 14.00hrs. GADWALL, MALLARD, COOT, MOORHEN, LITTLE GREBE, CORMORANT, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GREY HERON, 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapaes/feral) (all WC1), MUTE SWAN, CORMORANT,2 GREAT CRESTED GREBE (WC2). Simon Elson

11.00hrs-12.30hrs. MUTE SWAN family, 5 TEAL, 6 POCHARD, MALLARD, GADWALL, TUFTED DUCK, LITTLE GREBE, 2 JACK SNIPE (on western island Spynes – clearly not Common Snipe, size, bill & colouration), LAPWING, BLACK-HEADED GULL, 1 COMMON GULL, COOT, MOORHEN, CORMORANT, GREY HERON (all Spynes). Simon Elson

07.40hrs-10.30hrs. 6 REDWING (over heading N), 7 SKYLARK (over heading N), 1 COMMON SNIPE (Spynes), 2 GOLDCREST (M.CP car park), 1 COAL TIT (M.CP car park), 1 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound). Paul
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Mon 11 Oct 2010:
a.m. 24 SKYLARK (9 M.Farm, 15 flew mainly N), c35 REDWING (heading N), 16 GADWALL, 27 TEAL, 3m WIGEON (Spynes), 3m POCHARD (Spynes), 5 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapes/feral WC1), 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC2), 12 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), c300 STARLING (left roost WC1), 1 ROOK (Chilmead Farm), 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 3 CHIFFCHAFF. (3 possible Woodlark flew N calling over WC mound - call, size and shape (short-tailed) seemed right but all three birds appeared to have black tail-band.) Graham
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Sun 10 Oct 2010: c08.00hrs. 1 ROCK PIPIT (WC2, on island - 7th site record), 1 WHEATEAR (WC), c40 MEADOW PIPIT (c30 WC mound, 10 over), 2 GREY WAGTAIL, 2 KINGFISHER, 21 GADWALL, 2m WIGEON, 4 SISKIN (over), 1 REDPOLL sp. (over), c110 REDWING (mainly heading W), 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 PHEASANT (heard). Gordon

07.25hrs-10.25hrs. 30+ LONG-TAILED TITS, 1 (poss. 2) juv. SPARROWHAWK, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 20+ SKYLARK (many heading N), 2m WIGEON (M.West), 2 SHOVELER (M.West), 8+ TEAL (2 Spynes, 6+ M.West), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (M.West), 1 WHEATEAR (WC2, then at WC1-found by Gordon), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (WC2), 50+ LINNET (WC), 4 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapes/feral WC1). Ian
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Sat 9 Oct 2010: 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 205 LAPWING, 3 POCHARD, 30+ TEAL, 47 SKYLARK, 4 CHIFFCHAFF (still Swallows movinbg through Godstone). Gordon
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Fri 8 Oct 2010: 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1 POCHARD, 184 CANADA GOOSE, 105 GREYLAG GOOSE, 1 WIGEON. Gordon

(Visit to Dungeness (Black-throated Diver) & Scotney GPs (Buff-breasted Sandpipers) - click here) Paul & Graham
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Thurs 7 Oct 2010: p.m. 136 CANADA GOOSE, 106 GREYLAG GOOSE, 21 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 40 TEAL (38 M.West, 2 Spynes), 2 COMMON SNIPE (Spynes). Gordon

a.m. 1 NUTHATCH (west end of M.CP), 1 TREECREEPER (M.West), 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (5 Spynes, 2 WC2), 10 GADWALL (6 Spynes, 2 M.West, 2 WC1), 8 TEAL (M.West), 1m WIGEON (M.West), 2 SHOVELER (M.West), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (over M.Lake), 1 REED BUNTING (Spynes), 2 YELLOWHAMMER (Spynes), 9 SKYLARK (M.Farm), up to 16 JAY, 1 CHIFFCHAFF(Moors), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (over N.Downs), 23 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), c30 HOUSE SPARROW (M.Farm), c450 WOODPIGEON (on stubble M.Farm), c20 LONG-TAILED TIT (Spynes), c40 BLUE TIT (hedge to N of Middle Pit), c25 LINNET (WC mound), 1 SWALLOW. Graham
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Weds 6 Oct 2010: No reported sightings.
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Tues 5 Oct 2010: a.m. 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West). Paul

a.m. 93 CANADA GOOSE, 130+ GREYLAG GOOSE, 109 LAPWING (inc. the bird with aberrant plumage), 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BULLFINCH, 2 GADWALL, 2m POCHARD (all Spynes). Graham


GREYLAG GEESE (Graham)-----------------------LAPWING (with white feathering) (Graham)
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Mon 4 Oct 2010: a.m. 4 WIGEON (M.West), 9 TEAL, 10 GADWALL, 4 SHOVELER, c80 HOUSE MARTIN (flew S), c20 SWALLOW (Paul), 4 SKYLARK (over Spynes), 1 GOLDCREST (Paul). Paul & Graham
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Sun 3 Oct 2010: a.m. c350 HOUSE MARTIN, 5 SWALLOW, 25 MEADOW PIPIT, 35 SKYLARK (M.Farm), 67 CANADA GOOSE (M.Farm), 23 TEAL (M.West), 4 WIGEON (M.West), 1m POCHARD (Spynes), 90 MALLARD, 12 GADWALL, 5 SHOVELER, 5 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapes/feral WC1), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 2 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 COAL TIT, 1 GOLDCREST, 3 SPARROWHAWK, c700 WOODPIGEON, c30 STOCK DOVE. Gordon

07.15hrs-10.35hrs. 1 (poss. 2) SPARROWHAWK, 1f KESTREL, 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 16+ HOUSE SPARROW (Headge M.Farm), 15+ GADWALL, 11+ TEAL, 1m POCHARD (Spynes), 4 WIGEON (M.West), 7 SHOVELER (2 M.West, 5 WC1), 150+ HOUSE MARTIN (inc. flock of c100 heading S), 1 SWALLOW, 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks S of Spynes), 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (flew from Spynes sandspit), 3 COMMON GULL (2ad. & 1 1st-winter Spynes), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 STOCK DOVE. Ian
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Sat 2 Oct 2010: p.m. 4 WIGEON (3m & 1f WC - probably the same birds as at M.West a.m.), 17 GADWALL (14 WC, 3 Spynes), 5 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (escapes/feral WC1), 2 GREY WAGTAIL (WC), 13 MEADOW PIPIT, c250 HERRING GULL, c6 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, c120 HOUSE MARTIN, 3 SWALLOW, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 pair MALLARD (displaying and then mating), 128 GREYLAG GOOSE, 1m POCHARD (Spynes), 1 KINGFISHER (WC), 1f SPARROWHAWK. Gordon


a.m. 1 BRAMBLING (over Nutfield Churchyard - Steve - first for year), 1 WATER RAIL (heard Spynes), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (over WC mound, landed brook Moors), 10 SKYLARK (Steve), 6 CHIFFCHAFF (Steve), 1 BLACKCAP (sub-song heard M.West), 4 WIGEON (M.West), 3 SHOVELER, 10 TEAL, 6 GADWALL, 3 COMMON SNIPE (Spynes), 1 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC2), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (over N.Downs). (1 Lapwing on Spynes with extensive white feathering on wings.) Steve & Graham
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Fri 1 Oct 2010: 15.50hrs-16.15hrs. 1 BLACK TERN (still present at Spynes). Graham

approx. 15.00hrs. 1 BLACK TERN (Spynes - 9th site record and 134th species for the year, equalling the 2009 total of species). Gordon


BLACK TERN (Graham)
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