August 2011

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Weds 31 Aug 2011: (The Barn Owl again at Nutfield Ridge at 20.30hrs.) Richard Bartlett

a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.Lake), 3 LAPWING (Spynes), 57 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes), 5 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (3 Spynes, 2 M.Lake), 3 TEAL (Spynes), 1m SPARROWHAWK (Spynes), c20 SWIFT, 15 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 BLACKCAP, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 GOLDCREST (N.Ridge), 1 COAL TIT (N.Ridge), c15 LINNET (M.Farm), 3 BULLFINCH. Graham James


EGYPTIAN GEESE (G. James) -----------------------------GREEN WOODPECKER (G. James)
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Tues 30 Aug 2011: (c20.20hrs. A BARN OWL hunting over a field at Nutfield Ridge.) Richard Bartlett
a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 4 TEAL (Spynes), 4 GADWALL (WC1), 6 SHOVELER (WC1), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (WC1), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), c50 SWIFT (WC), c6 SAND MARTIN (WC), 2 HOUSE MARTIN (WC), 1 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), 18 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 BLACKCAP, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 BULLFINCH. Graham James & Paul Kerry


LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (G. James)
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Mon 29 Aug 2011: 06.30-10.30hrs. 4 COMMON SANDPIPER (2 M.West, 2 WC1), 2 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 5 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 17 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 BLACKCAP, 19 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 10 GADWALL, 3 POCHARD (Spynes), 13 TEAL, 10 SHOVELER (WC1), 83 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 2 KESTREL, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 3 LITTLE OWL (2 M.Farm, 1 oaks S of Spynes), 1 KINGFISHER (Spynes), 11 SWALLOW, c60 SWIFT, c50 SAND MARTIN, c8 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 MEADOW PIPIT, c40 LINNET (M.Farm), 4 BULLFINCH, 1 YELLOWHAMMER. Gordon Hay & Graham James


LESSER WHITETHROAT (G. James) -------------------- COMMON SANDPIPER (G. James)


LITTLE OWL (G. James) --------------------------------GREEN WOODPECKER juv. (G. James)
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Sun 28 Aug 2011: No reported sightings.

(A Spotted Flycatcher at Nutfield Ridge this morning, though distant.) Richard Bartlett


SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (R. Bartlett)
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Sat 27 Aug 2011: 06.30hrs-09.45hrs. 1m PEREGRINE (flew low over Spynes overflow pond chasing Collared Dove, continued E), 1f SPARROWHAWK (by horse paddocks, M.Farm), 3 COMMON SANDPIPER (2 M.West, 1 WC1), 18 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (15 Spynes, 3 WC lagoons), c200 GREYLAG GOOSE (headed W over Spynes/M.West in 2 flocks), 80+ CANADA GOOSE (headed W over Spynes/M.West), 3 TEAL (1 M.West, 2 WC1), 2f SHOVELER (WC1), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), c60 SWIFT (WC), c10 HOUSE MARTIN (WC), c20 SAND MARTIN (WC), 4 SWALLOW (WC mound), GREY WAGTAIL (WC2), 23 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 WILLOW WARBLER, 3 BLACKCAP, 8 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 NUTHATCH (1 Spynes, 1 calling WC), 6 LINNET, 2 BULLFINCH. Graham James
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Fri 26 Aug 2011: evening. 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1m POCHARD, 5 TEAL, 157 CANADA GOOSE, 98 GREYLAG GOOSE (all Spynes/M.West), c25 STOCK DOVE. Gordon Hay

(p.m. A female Common Redstart at Nutfield Ridge.) Richard Bartlett

(early evening. A Little Stint and a Ruff at Beddington) Sutton Birding on Twitter

(11 Arctic Terns flew S over Beddington at c10.15hrs.) message from
Johnny Allan
(No sign of them over Holmethorpe air-space by 10.55hrs) Graham James


COMMON REDSTART (R. Bartlett)
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Thurs 25 Aug 2011: early p.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (WC2) c15 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound). Neil Randon
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Weds 24 Aug 2011: early p.m. 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1f BULLFINCH, 1 LITTLE OWL, 50+ SWIFT, 100 LAPWING. Also a female Brown Hairstreak on thistle, towards NE corner of Spynes. Matt Farmer

a.m. 1 SEDGE WARBLER (WC1), 4 REED WARBLER (1 Spynes, 3 WC1), 29 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER (WC1), 4 BLACKCAP, 9 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 12 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 2 POCHARD (pair Spynes), 5 SHOVELER (WC1), 5 TEAL (1 M.West, 4 Spynes), 2 GADWALL pair WC1), c30 RING-NECKED PARAKEET (Spynes), 6 SWIFT, 30+ SAND MARTIN, 1 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 2 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), 1 BULLFINCH (M.CP), 3 YELLOWHAMMER (M.Farm). Graham James
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Tues 23 Aug 2011: 60+ SAND MARTIN (over WC lagoons), 2 SWALLOW, 4 TEAL, 84 GREYLAG GOOSE, 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 10 COLLARED DOVE. Gordon Hay
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Mon 22 Aug 2011: (Belated news from Dave Kiddell: 'Beatrice', one of Roy Dennis's Ospreys passed over Richmond Park & Morden on the 17th and roosted in South Godstone.
Link -
http://www.roydennis.org/osprey/index.asp?id=242&sid=86 ) via Dave Harris at SBC

a.m. 1 TEAL (M.West), 1 SHOVELER (high W over Spynes), 2 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 3 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm sheep paddocks), 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 KESTREL, 1 SKYLARK (N.Ridge), 24 CHIFFCHAFF, 15 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 REED WARBLER, 1 BLACKCAP, 1 GOLDCREST (N.Ridge), 2 NUTHATCH (1 N. Churchyard, 1 N.Ridge), 1 COAL TIT (N.Churchyard), 7 JAY, 4 BULLFINCH. Graham James


KINGFISHER (G. James)
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Sun 21 Aug 2011: (No news of Hoopoe at Farthing Down today up to 19.20hrs.)

p.m. 1 SPARROWHAWK, 2 SWALLOW. Gordon Hay

p.m. 3 TEAL (Spynes), 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks S of Spynes).
Graham & Sue James

11.00hrs–12.30hrs. 1 KINGFISHER (boundary between WC lagoons and Moors), 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (by fisherman’s car park 11.00hrs) 1 GREEN WOODPECKER (same place at 12.30hrs), 2 REED BUNTING (pair Moors), LITTLE GREBE, GREAT CRESTED GREBE (plus 3 young), TUFTED DUCK (with ducklings), MALLARD, 2 GREY HERON, 5 CORMORANT, BLACK-HEADED GULL (all WC1) Also 1 Brown Hawker. Simon Elson
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Sat 20 Aug 2011: (The Hoopoe reported in the same area as previously at Farthing Down, Coulsdon to 15.55hrs at least.) (Phil Wallace's superb photos of this bird - click here)

p.m. c40 SWIFT (over high), 7 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), 5 TEAL (M.West), 1m GADWALL (M.West), 117 LAPWING, c15 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 BLACKCAP, 1 COMMON WHITETHROAT, c500 HERRING GULL. Gordon Hay
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Fri 19 Aug 2011: (A Grasshopper Warbler flushed twice from long grass at Park Ham NR (next to Quarry Hangars NR), off Springbottom Lane, between Merstham & Chaldon today.) Richard Bartlett

(The Hoopoe still at Farthing Downs, Coulsdon this morning, in same area.) Neil Randon (photos - click
here)

07.30hrs-09.00hrs. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (Spynes), 1 SWIFT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 BULLFINCH. Paul Kerry


a.m. 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (1 Spynes, 1 WC1), 19 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 3 TEAL (SWpynes), 1f SHOVELER (WC1), 2 GADWALL (pair WC1), 32 TUFTED DUCK (WC lagoons, inc. 2 young broods of 6 & 3), 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 4 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1f KESTREL, 2 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 8 SAND MARTIN, 5 SWIFT, 4 GREEN WOODPECKER, 21 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 WILLOW WARBLER, 8 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 6 BLACKCAP, 1 REED BUNTING. Graham James


COMMON SANDPIPER (G. James) --------------- KINGFISHERS (G. James)
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Thurs 18 Aug 2011: 1 COMMON BUZZARD (over M.Farm). Simon Elson

(The Hoopoe still present at Farthing Down, Coulsdon this morning.) Paul Kerry, Graham James, Neil Randon, Roy Dennis & Dave Long (For photos click here)
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Weds 17 Aug 2011: (The Hoopoe present again today at Farthing Down, Coulsdon (to 15.50hrs at least). Walk along middle path c500 yards north from car park at south end of Ditches Lane.) message from Johnny Allan (photos on Johnny's blog - click here )

(9 Wasp Spiders in NW area of Spynes today.) Richard Bartlett

early p.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (Spynes), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (over M23), 1 COAL TIT (in conifer by buildings at M.Farm), 2 LITTLE OWL, 1m SPARROWHAWK, 230+ SWIFT, 14+ HOUSE MARTIN (all M.Farm). Matt Farmer

a.m. 11 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 3 POCHARD (Spynes), 1 TEAL (M.West), 1f TUFTED DUCK with 6 young (new brood, WC1), 2 GREY HERON, 1 COMMON BUZZARD (headed N over M.Farm/Spynes), 2 LITTLE OWL (1 M.Farm, 1 Chil.Farm), 1 SWALLOW, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 6 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 BLACKCAP, 1 GARDEN WARBLER (Middle Pit), 3 REED WARBLER (2 ad & 1 juv), 23 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 NUTHATCH (Middle Pit), c30 GOLDFINCH (Chil.Farm), 5 BULLFINCH. Paul Kerry & Graham James
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Tues 16 Aug 2011: 06.30hrs-10.25hrs. 1 1st-w SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (S path of Spynes, to 07.30hrs at least (appears to be a different bird) - Graham), 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West - Paul), 5 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (M.West), 4 TEAL (M.West), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (N. Ridge), 1f SPARROWHAWK (Cormongers Lane), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake - Paul), 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 SWALLOW, c15 SWIFT (Paul), c10 SAND MARTIN, 15 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 WILLOW WARBLER, 4 BLACKCAP, 6 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 REED WARBLER, 2 NUTHATCH (1 heard N of M.West, 1 heard Chil. Ponds), 3 BULLFINCH.Graham James & Paul Kerry


SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (G. James)
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Mon 15 Aug 2011:
(A Hoopoe was reported at Farthing Down yesterday.) message from Johnny Allan

a.m. 1 WHEATEAR (flew from sheep paddocks, relocated at horse paddocks, M.Farm - found by Paul), 9 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (7 M.West, 2 WC2), 2 TEAL (Spynes), 1m KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (oaks S of Spynes), 1 KESTREL (Moors), 2 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 5 SWIFT, 1 SWALLOW, 12 CHIFFCHAFF, 12 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2m BLACKCAP, 2 REED WARBLER (ad. feeding juv. Spynes reedbed), 1 LINNET, 2 juv. BULLFINCH (Spynes). Also 1m Roe Deer in field S of Spynes. Paul Kerry & Graham James

More photos & videos - click here


WHEATEAR (P. Kerry) ----------------------------COMMON BUZZARD (P. Kerry)


KINGFISHER (P. Kerry)
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Sun 14 Aug 2011: No reported sightings.
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Sat 13 Aug 2011:
p.m. 1 PEREGRINE (over WC lagoons), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (WC2), 2 SWIFT, 2 HOUSE MARTIN, 5 SAND MARTIN, 77 HERRING GULL, 2 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 2 GREY WAGTAIL (all WC). Thomas Blumire & Jerry Blumire


PEREGRINE (Nick Harvey)
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Fri 12 Aug 2011: p.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (No sign of Spotted Flycatcher). Also 3 Wasp Spiders (Spynes) and a Brown Argus (SW corner of Spynes). Richard Bartlett

p.m. (No sign of Spotted Flycatcher.) Neil Randon

early p.m. 1 1st-w SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (seen briefly twice at SE area of Spynes), 1 juv. SHELDUCK (Spynes), at least 400 SWIFT (high over Spynes, then headed over M.Lake), 4 COMMON BUZZARD, 1f SPARROWHAWK, 15 STOCK DOVE, 4 LINNET, 3 SWALLOW, 2 LITTLE OWL. Matt Farmer


a.m. additional sightings: 2 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 1 REED WARBLER. Also 1 Grey Squirrel swam across Spynes - photo below). Paul Kerry

06.30hrs-10.10hrs. 1 1st-w SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (S path of Spynes, towards M23 end), 1 juv. SHELDUCK (Spynes), 3 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (WC1), 2 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, c20 SWIFT, 10 SAND MARTIN, 14 RING-NECKED PARAKEET, 15 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 BLACKCAP, 10 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 JAY, 2 LINNET, 5 BULLFINCH, 2 YELLOWHAMMER. Graham James


SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (G. James)------------------SHELDUCK (G. James)


WASP SPIDER (R. Bartlett) --------------------------GREY SQUIRREL (P. Kerry)
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Thurs 11 Aug 2011: 07.30hrs-09.30hrs. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 HOBBY (WC), 1 KESTREL, 45+ SWIFT, 30+ SAND MARTIN. Paul Kerry
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Weds 10 Aug 2011:
a.m. 1 juv. GREENSHANK (06.45hrs Spynes, flew calling towards M.West at 06.50hrs, not relocated - Graham), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 11 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC2), 105 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, c25 SWIFT, 5 SWALLOW, c10 SAND MARTIN. 9 RING-NECKED PARAKEET (M.Farm), 3 LITTLE OWL (sheep paddocks, M.Farm), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake - Paul), 2 NUTHATCH (hedge by cycle path N of Spynes), 6 MEADOW PIPIT (by WC mound), 10 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 13 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 REED WARBLER (1 in tree by Spynes reedbed - Graham, 1 by stile between M.CP & M.Farm - Paul), 3 f/juv BLACKCAP, 1 GOLDCREST (NE corner Spynes), 1 juv. BULLFINCH, c12 HOUSE SPARROW (by horse paddocks, M.Farm), 1 1st-w REED BUNTING, 2 YELLOWHAMMER. Paul Kerry & Graham James


GREENSHANK (G. James) -------------------------- NUTHATCH (G. James)
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Tues 9 Aug 2011:
a.m. 1 1st-winter SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (about halfway along S path of Spynes, flew towards overflow pond, not relocated but possibly still in that area - found by Paul - first for year), 11 CHIFFCHAFF, 7 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Spynes overflow pond), 1m BLACKCAP, 9 SWALLOW, c15 SAND MARTIN, 1 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 NUTHATCH (N of Middle Pit), 2 BULLFINCH, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (WC2), 2 MEADOW PIPIT (WC2), 3 LITTLE OWL (sheep paddocks, M.Farm), 4 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 91 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 1 KESTREL, 4 YELLOWHAMMER. Paul Kerry & Graham James

More photos & videos - click
here



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (G. James)


SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (P. Kerry)
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Mon 8 Aug 2011: No reported sightings.
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Sun 7 Aug 2011: (09.24hrs. 1 Common Buzzard circling and drifting N over South Merstham.) Graham James
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Sat 6 Aug 2011: (12.42hrs. Large female Sparrowhawk low over South Merstham, flew from Mercers CP.) Graham James

06.10hrs-09.15hrs. 1 SEDGE WARBLER (in bush by railway embankment near 'grassy' area of Moors), 86+ GREYLAG GOOSE, 20+ CORMORANT (inc. 14 M.West), 3 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1m YELLOWHAMER (hedge N of M.east), 20+ SAND MARTIN, 15+ SWIFT, 4+ HOUSE MARTIN (WC). Ian Kehl
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Fri 5 Aug 2011: (15.40hrs. A Hobby circling high over South Merstham.) Graham James

06.30hrs-09.15hrs. 1 NUTHATCH (oak N bank Spynes), 3 LITTLE OWL (ad. & 2 juv. sheep paddocks, M.Farm), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Spynes), 76 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 69 CANADA GOOSE (M.Farm), c20 SWIFT (over M.Farm), c15 SAND MARTIN, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 8 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1m BLACKCAP, 1 REED WARBLER (in bushes S path Spynes), 12 GOLDFINCH (M.CP), 1 COAL TIT (M.CP), 2 BULLFINCH (M.CP), 1m YELLOWHAMMER (M.Farm). Also 1 Purple Hairstreak (top of oak by Spynes overflow pond). Graham James
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Thurs 4 Aug 2011: (3 Wood Sandpipers and 1 Greenshank at Beddington today.) Dip or Glory

p.m. 1 COMMON TERN (M.Lake), 2 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 10 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 95+ GREYLAG GOOSE, c55 CANADA GOOSE, new brood of 2 young TUFTED DUCK (M.West). Gordon Hay

07.30hrs-09.00hrs. 1 COMMON TERN (M.Lake), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West). Also a pair of Roe Deer (field S of Spynes). Paul Kerry

(Paul's video of Common Tern - click
here )


COMMON TERN (P. Kerry)
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Weds 3 Aug 2011: (3 Wood Sandpipers found by Roger Browne at Beddington today.) Dip or Glory

a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (WC1), 1 KINGFISHER (wooded pool at W end of M. Lake), 1m KESTREL (Moors), 8 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1 WILLOW WARBLER (Spynes), 7 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BLACKCAP, 5 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 SWIFT, c15 SAND MARTIN, 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1 BULLFINCH, 1 YELLOWHAMMER. Paul Kerry & Graham James
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Tues 2 Aug 2011: early a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 NUTHATCH (oak on N bank Spynes), 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 BLACKCAP, 2 BULLFINCH. Graham James
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Mon 1 Aug 2011: a.m. Very brief visit. 1 NUTHATCH (oak to SE of Spynes), 10 EGPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes). Graham James
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