May 2013


Please note:  
Please report your sightings to Neil Randon at neil.randon@googlemail.com.
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Thurs 30 May, 2013: 1 HOBBY, c150 COMMON SWIFT, 2 GREAT CRESTED GREBE (pair with 2 young by railway pool), 1 REED WARBLER (mimicking bird still present, reeds WC1). Gordon Hay

Wed 29 May, 2013: 1 REED WARBLER (mimicking several species incl. Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Blackbird, Nightingale, Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting – in reeds by footpath on WC1), 2 SHOVELER, 2 GADWALL (WC1). Gordon Hay and Graham James


The mimicking REED WARBLER on WC1 (Graham James)
Tues 28 May, 2013: no reported sightings 

Mon 27 May, 2013: 1 PEREGRINE, 1 RED KITE (flew N), 1 LITTLE EGRET (flew E), 2 COMMON TERN (flew E), 14 SWALLOWS. Gordon Hay and Graham James

Sun 26 May, 2013: no reported sightings 

Sat 25 May, 2013: 16.50hrs: 1 f RED-FOOTED FALCON (adult flew N over WC. First site record125th new species for the year). Graham James

Female adult RED-FOOTED FALCON (Graham James)
2 SHELDUCK, 2 GADWALL, 1 PEREGRINE, 1 HOBBY, c250 COMMON SWIFT. Gordon Hay

Fri 24 May, 2013: 2 SHELDUCK, 2 GADWALL, 60 GREYLAG GOOSE, 44 CANADA GOOSE, c50 COMMON SWIFT, c60 SWALLOW, 45 HOUSE MARTIN, c1220 SAND MARTIN, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL. Gordon Hay 

12.30hrs-13.00hrs: 2 Brown Hare (M.Farm, field next to Canal Cottage). Neil Hadden 

Red-rumped Swallows at Beddington and Weir Wood Reservoir today 

Thurs 23 May, 2013: 1, poss 2, HOBBY, 2 SHELDUCK, 2 GADWALL, c300 COMMON SWIFT, 40 HOUSE MARTIN, c80 SWALLOW. Gordon Hay 

Wed 22 May, 2013: 1 CUCKOO (Moors), 3 GADWALL, 4 LAPWING. Gordon Hay 

Tues 21 May, 2013: 1 COMMON TERN (WC2, then flew off). Graham James 

REED WARBLER (Graham James)
COMMON TERN (Graham James)
CHIFFCHAFF (Graham James)
 Mon 20 May, 2013: late pm: 2 COMMON TERN (WC2 island then flew off at 19.45hrs), 1 SEDGE WARBLER (WC1), 1 GARDEN WARBLER (Spynes), 2 REED WARBLER (Spynes), 1 REED BUNTING (Spynes). Neil Randon

Sun 19 May, 2013: am: 1 AVOCET (Spynes Mere, until 08.30hrs at least), 1 WATER RAIL, c9 REED WARBLER, 2 GARDEN WARBLER, 3m GOLDCREST, 1 GREY WAGTAIL (WC), 6 MUTE SWAN (3 pairs on nests). Gordon Hay 

AVOCET on Spynes Mere (Graham James)
GREY HERON (Graham James)
Sat 18 May, 2013: no reported sightings

Fri 17 May, 2013: am: 1 GREENSHANK (WC2 island, departed 05.52hrs. First for the year - 123rd new species), c150 COMMON SWIFT, 45 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 GARDEN WARBLER. Gordon Hay 

Thurs 16 May, 2013: 1 TURNSTONE (WC2, reported on May 23. First for the year and first site record. 124th new species). Graham James
 
TURNSTONE over WC2 (Graham James)
COMMON WHITETHROAT (Graham James)
Wed 15 May, 2013: late pm: 2 COMMON TERN (flying N), c150 COMMON SWIFT, 40 HOUSE MARTIN. Gordon Hay 

06.15hrs: 1 MARSH HARRIER (f/imm flew N over M.Lake. First for the year - 122nd new species). Graham James

Mon 13 May, 2013-Tues 14 May 2013: no reported sightings

Sun 12 May, 2013: pm: 1 HOBBY, c250 COMMON SWIFT, c50 SWALLOW, c25 HOUSE MARTIN, c150 SAND MARTIN, 2 COMMON TERN (WC2 island for more than an hour), 3 BLACK-HEADED GULL (The Moors), 1 SEDGE WARBLER (WC), 22 STOCK DOVE (Chilmead Farm), 2 GADWALL (Spynes). Gordon Hay

05.50hrs-10.00hrs: 1 m CUCKOO (calling from trees S of Spynes overflow pool), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (Moors pools nr railway line), 1 f KESTREL (Moors), c2 COMMON BUZZARD (over WC), c200 COMMON SWIFT (c100 M.West, c100 WC), c2 HOUSE MARTIN, c2 SWALLOW, c30 SAND MARTIN (majority M.West), 2 LITTLE OWL (1 in oaks S of Spynes, 1 M.Farm), 3 STOCK DOVE (2 adults & 1 juvenile in Ash tree by Willow Wood M.Park), 1 m GREY WAGTAIL (Moors pools nr railway line), 1 MISTLE THRUSH (field S of Spynes), c6 BLACKCAP, c5 REED WARBLER (c3 N of Spynes, 1 singing m pool by Cormongers Lane orchard, 1 singing m by wooden bridge Moors), c5 GARDEN WARBLER (Middle Pit/Spynes area). Ian Kehl and Gordon Hay

Sat 11 May 2013: 07.00hrs-07.30hrs: 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Middle Pit by footpath opposite Spynes), 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 WATER RAIL, c80 COMMON SWIFT, 1 REED WARBLER, 1 WHITETHROAT, 1 REED BUNTING (Spynes). Neil Randon

LESSER WHITETHROAT (Neil Randon)
Fri 10 May 2013: 12.30hrs-13.15hrs: 1 REED BUNTING, 1 REED WARBLER (wooden bridge far side of Moors), 1 HOBBY, 1 PHEASANT, c120 COMMON SWIFT (all Moors). Matt Farmer

Thurs 9 May, 2013: no reported sightings

Wed 8 May, 2013: 1 HOBBY, c50 COMMON SWIFT, c30 SWALLOW, 1 SEDGE WARBLER. Gordon Hay

Tues 7 May, 2013: 5 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1 WATER RAIL (Spynes). Also Fox with fully grown Grass Snake it its mouth. Gordon Hay
 
Mon 6 May, 2013: am: 1 ARCTIC TERN (flew E over M.Lake), 1 CUCKOO (around Spynes for an hour. First for the year - 121st new species), 2 WATER RAIL (presumed pair at Spynes), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER. Gordon Hay 

Sun 5 May, 2013: am: 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (circled WC then flew E at 06.05hrs), 1 LAPWING, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (Spynes), 4 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 SEDGE WARBLER. Gordon Hay 

Sat 4 May, 2013: am: 1 WHINCHAT (1m on path between Water Colour Lagoons at 05.30am - first for the year - 120th new species), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (WC1), 1 WATER RAIL (in bullrush pond of Spynes, first personal May record), 2 HOBBY, c50 COMMON SWIFT, c40 SWALLOW, c100 SAND MARTIN, 15 HOUSE MARTIN, 7 REED WARBLER, 2 SEDGE WARBLER, c40 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 GARDEN WARBLER, c35 BLACKCAP, 4 WILLOW WARBLER, c20 CHIFFCHAFF. 71 species in 6hrs. Gordon Hay

Thurs 2 May, 2013-Fri 3 May, 2013: no reported sightings
 
Wed 1 May, 2013: 2 HOBBY (catching insects over rubbish tip), 1 KESTREL, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 5 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SEDGE WARBLER (M.Lake), 2 BLACK-HEADED GULL. Gordon Hay 

Cuckoo South Merstham in the morning