August 2010

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Tues 31 Aug 2010: a.m. 4 SHOVELER (WC1), 4 GADWALL (Spynes), 4 BLACKCAP, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 1 GARDEN WARBLER, 2 SWALLOW, 3 YELLOWHAMMER, 2 REED BUNTING, 2 LITTLE OWL (1 heard M.Farm, 1 Nutfield Marsh), 2 TREECREEPER (M.CP). Paul & Graham


REED BUNTING (Graham)------------------------------------------LITTLE OWL (Graham)


TREECREEPER (Graham)
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Mon 30 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (over M.Farm nr. Glebe Lake), 167 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes), 4 SHOVELER (WC1), 1 REED WARBLER (Moors - low in crater copse by railway line), 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 BLACKCAP (m & f), c10 LONG-TAILED TIT (Moors), 4 SAND MARTIN, 2 juv. SWALLOW (on wires at Chilmead Farm), 1 BULLFINCH. Graham
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Sun 29 Aug 2010: a.m. 1m COMMON REDSTART (on fence to east of Glebe Lake), 2 WHINCHAT (M.Farm, between Canal Cottage & Glebe Lake), 2 SHOVELER (WC1), 128 GREYLAG GOOSE, 156 LAPWING, 1 SWIFT, 12 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 WILLOW WARBLER (M.Farm), 8 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 BLACKCAP, 15 YELLOWHAMMER (inc. several juveniles), 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL. Gordon
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Sat 28 Aug 2010: (17.30hrs. The female Common Redstart present again in the gardens behind our flat in South Merstham.) Graham & Sue

14.00hrs. 3 COMMON BUZZARD (together circling over M.CP, seen from South Merstham) Graham

(08.20hrs-08.45hrs at least. A female Common Redstart in gardens behind our flat in South Merstham - videos click here) Graham & Sue


COMMON REDSTART female South Merstham (Graham)
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Fri 27 Aug 2010: a.m. 2 COMMON TERN (ad. & juv. over Spynes, then M.Lake), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (1 M.West/Spynes, 1 WC1), 2 GREEN SANDPIPER (Moors, flew together from pool by info board), 60 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes), 4 GADWALL (Spynes), 4 SHOVELER (WC1), 134 LAPWING (Spynes), 4 SWALLOW, 2 SWIFT (over M.West), , c15 SAND MARTIN, c15 HOUSE MARTIN (over Spynes), 5 STOCK DOVE (field to S of Spynes), c15 GOLDFINCH (Moors), 1 MISTLE THRUSH (M.CP), 1 BULLFINCH (heard), 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Spynes), 1 BLACKCAP, 4 CHIFFCHAFF. Paul & Graham


ROE DEER print along path between Spynes & M.West
(another print seen along N path of Spynes at eastern end)
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Thurs 26 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 juv. COMMON TERN (briefly M.Lake - Paul), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 GARDEN WARBLER (Gordon), 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Gordon), 1 KINGFISHER (Gordon), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (Gordon), 4 SHOVELER (WC1) 1 m POCHARD (WC1, then Spynes), 3 TEAL (Spynes), 6 GADWALL (Spynes), 61 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 41 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (40 Spynes, 1 WC2 - new record count), 148 LAPWING (Spynes), 3 BULLFINCH, 4 SAND MARTIN, 3 SWALLOW, 1 HOUSE MARTIN. Paul, Gordon & Graham


EGYPTIAN GEESE (Graham)-------------------------------------------SHOVELER (Graham)
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Weds 25 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 REED WARBLER, 1 SEDGE WARBLER (both Spynes), 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 BLACKCAP (1m Middle Pit, 2m & 1f Cormongers orchard), 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Cormongers orchard), 2 NUTHATCH (1 M.CP, 1 Landfill/Cormongers orchard), 1 COMMON TERN (M.Lake), 7 COMMON BUZZARD (1 low over M.Lake, 2 groups of 3 birds over N.Downs, seen from N.Ridge), 23 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 46 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 3 GADWALL (Spynes), 3 REED BUNTING (1 Spynes, 2 horse paddocks), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake - Paul), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 2 MEADOW PIPIT (horse paddocks), 4 SAND MARTIN, 3 SWIFT. Paul & Graham


COMMON TERN (Graham)-----------------------------------------------NUTHATCH (Graham)
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Tues 24 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.Lake, later at M.West), 71 LAPWING (Spynes/M.West), 9 MUTE SWAN, 33 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes - new record count), 61 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes/M.West), 91 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 1f SPARROWHAWK (over M.Lake), 5 Jay, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 GOLDCREST (M.CP), 1 NUTHATCH (heard M.CP), 3 YELLOWHAMMER, 4 SWALLOW, 1 HOUSE MARTIN, 2 SAND MARTIN, 1 TEAL (M.West), 3 GADWALL (Spynes). (No sign of Whinchat at Moors.) Paul & Graham


COMMON SANDPIPER (Graham)
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Mon 23 Aug 2010: early p.m. 1 WHINCHAT (still at Moors at 14.15hrs), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (Spynes). Gordon

a.m. 1 RINGED PLOVER (M.West up to c08.00hrs, could not be relocated after that time - Paul), 1 WHINCHAT (Moors - Graham - first for year), 13 SAND MARTIN, 3 COMMON SANDPIPER (1 WC2, 2 M.West), 3 TEAL (M.West), 4 GADWALL (Spynes), 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 COAL TIT (M.CP), 1 TREECREEPER (M.CP), c15 GOLDFINCH (Moors). Paul & Graham


-----------------------------------------WHINCHAT (Graham)
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Sun 22 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 OYSTERCATCHER (in bay behind spit M.West, flew off high to SW at c08.15hrs), 1 juv. SHELDUCK, 1 SWIFT, 8 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BLACKCAP, 1 new brood of 3 young TUFTED DUCK (WC), 3 GREY WAGTAIL. Gordon
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Sat 21 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.
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Fri 20 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 84 LAPWING (Spynes), 3 GADWALL (Spynes), 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks to S of Spynes), 3 SWIFT, c15 SAND MARTIN, c10 HOUSE MARTIN, 3 SWALLOW, 8 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 SPARROWHAWK (f Glebe Lake, m WC1), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (M.Farm), (1 unidentified raptor heading N over M.Farm near Mill Cottage), 2 BULLFINCH, c200 JACKDAW (M.Farm), c100 CARRION CROW (M.Farm), 12 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes/WC2). Graham


COMMON BUZZARD (Graham) -----------------------------------------Unidentified raptor (Graham)
00000000000000000000000000000000000oooo-------------o oo0 (possible juvenile Marsh Harrier)


LITTLE OWL (Graham)-----------------------------------------LITTLE GREBE juv. (Graham)
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Thurs 19 Aug 2010: mid-a.m. 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 27 CANADA GOOSE, 92 GREYLAG GOOSE, 5 CORMORANT, 1 KESTREL, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 1 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 5 SAND MARTIN, 1 SWALLOW (all Spynes), 1 BULLFINCH (M.West), 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 COMMON GULL (M.Lake), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (WC1). Graham
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Weds 18 Aug 2010: a.m. 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 HOBBY (over M.Lake), 1 SPARROWHAWK (Moors), 1 NUTHATCH (heard W end of M.CP), 52 LAPWING (Spynes), 2 TEAL (Spynes), 10 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 REED WARBLER (brook by cycle path between M.Farm and M.West), 8 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1m BLACKCAP, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 BULLFINCH (M.CP), 3 SWIFT, 2 SWALLOW, 6 SAND MARTIN, 1 HOUSE MARTIN. Paul & Graham

(Visit to Dungeness on Mon 16 Aug - Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Black Tern, Pied Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, etc. - click here. Paul
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Tues 17 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 RINGED PLOVER (WC2, on bank behind island), 1 KINGFISHER (Moors), 2 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West, then Spynes), 30 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes - new site record count), 1 GADWALL (Spynes), 51 LAPWING (Spynes), 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West - Paul), 1 LITTLE GREBE with 3 small young (Spynes), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (WC1), 17 RING-NECKED PARAKEET, c160 JACKDAW (M.Farm), 3 SAND MARTIN, 1 SWALLOW, 1 SWIFT (Paul), 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Middle Pit). Paul & Graham


RINGED PLOVER (Graham)------------------------------------RINGED PLOVER (Graham)
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Mon 16 Aug 2010: a.m. 1 WOOD SANDPIPER (Spynes flew off S at 09.53hrs). Jerry

a.m. 1 WOOD SANDPIPER, 1f SPARROWHAWK, 4 SWALLOW. Matt

a.m. 1 WOOD SANDPIPER, 2 TEAL, 3 COMMON SNIPE. Gordon

early a.m. 1 WOOD SANDPIPER (Spynes sandspit 06.50hrs-09.53hrs, when it flew off S - 7th site record, the last being 9th-10th June 2007), 1 RINGED PLOVER (WC2 island from 11.20hrs at least), 13 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 2 GADWALL (Spynes), c10 SAND MARTIN, 1 SWALLOW, 3 HOUSE MARTIN, 6 RING-NECKED PARAKEET, 1m KESTREL, 1f SPARROWHAWK, 3 COMMON SNIPE (flew W Spynes0, c80 JACKDAW, c100 CARRION CROW, 1 ROOK (all M.Farm), 1 COMMON GULL (Spynes). Graham

(More photos and video clips - click here)


WOOD SANDPIPER (Graham)----------------------------WOOD SANDPIPER (Graham)


WOOD SANDPIPER (Graham)-------------------------------RINGED PLOVER (Graham)
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Sun 15 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.

(10.50hrs. A Hobby flew W over Sth. Merstham, one headed SE towards patch at 14.50hrs and a male Sparrowhawk circled over Sth. Merstham at 15.00hrs.) Graham & Sue
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Sat 14 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.
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Fri 13 Aug 2010: 08.00hrs-09.45hrs. 1 COMMON TERN (M.Lake), 40+ SAND MARTIN, 1 HOUSE MARTIN, 3 SWALLOW, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 STOCK DOVE, 1 YELLOWHAMMER, 1 ROOK (on recently ploughed field S of Spynes), mixed flock of 100+ CARRION CROW/JACKDAW (on recently ploughed field S of Spynes), 1 TEAL, 1f KESTREL. Paul
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Thurs 12 Aug 2010: No reported sightings. ________________________________________________________________

Weds 11 Aug 2010: a.m. 3 TEAL, 17 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (all Spynes), 2 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 6 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 YELLOWHAMMER, 3 LINNET, 8 SWIFT, 2 HOUSE MARTIN, 14 SAND MARTIN. Matt

early a.m. 1 COMMON TERN (M.Lake), 3 LINNET, 12+ COMMON WHITETHROAT (inc. many juvs.), 2 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 3 TEAL (Spynes), 1 YELLOWHAMMER, 1 SAND MARTIN, 1 SWALLOW. Also an unusually-plumaged CHIFFCHAFF (greyish head, olive-ish upperparts and buffy/grey flanks). Paul

(Visit to Cuckmere Valley & Hope Gap today, click here ) Graham & Sue
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Tues 10 Aug 2010: a.m. 2 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 TEAL (Spynes). Paul & Graham
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Mon 9 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.

(Visit to Oare Marshes NR today, click here) Paul & Graham
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Sun 8 Aug 2010: 06.05hrs-08.35hrs. 12+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE (inc. 1 ad.with 4 young & 1 ad.with 2 young at M.Lake; 1 ad with 1 young WC2), 2 LITTLE OWL (1 M.Farm, 1 oaks S of Spynes), 10+ SWIFT (over M.west), 3+ CHIFFCHAFF, 1m YELLOWHAMMER (to S of Spynes), 3+ SAND MARTIN, 20+ TUFTED DUCK (inc. 1f with 8 young WC1), 6+ LITTLE GREBE (inc. 1 ad, with 1 young Spynes & 1 ad. on nest Moors), 3 GADWALL (Spynes), 1 TEAL (Spynes), 5 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes, with poss. same or 5 more at WC2), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Spynes), 5+ COMMON WHITETHROAT. Ian
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Sat 7 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.
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Fri 6 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.
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Thurs 5 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.

(Visit to Dungeness today (photos of Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, etc) - click here. Paul & Graham
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Weds 4 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.
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Tues 3 Aug 2010: a.m. 2f COMMON CROSSBILL (flew SW over Spynes calling - 3rd site record), 2 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 COMMON SNIPE (WC1), 92 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 27 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes), 4 BLACKCAP, 2 LESSER WHITETHROAT (S path of Spynes), 6 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 TREECREEPER (hedge N of Middle Pit, M.east), 2 LINNET, 2 BULLFINCH, 1 YELLOWHAMMER, 2 SAND MARTIN. 8 SWALLOW, 25 HOUSE MARTIN (WC), 1 SWIFT, 1 COMMON GULL (WC1), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Spynes), 1 ROOK (N.Ridge), 3 (poss.4) COMMON BUZZARD, 1 KESTREL, 1f SPARROWHAWK (M.West), 1 juv. LITTLE OWL (M.Farm). Paul & Graham


LESSER WHITETHROAT (Graham)- ----------- ---------COMMON GULL (Graham)


COMMON BUZZARD (Graham) --------------- ----------LITTLE OWL (Graham)
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Mon 2 Aug 2010: early a.m. 4 GREEN SANDPIPER, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER (M.West), 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1f BLACKCAP, 12 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 5 SAND MARTIN, 3 HOUSE MARTIN, 5 SWALLOW, 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm, heard), 1 COAL TIT (M.CP car park, heard), 1 unidentified gull at WC1 - click here for more photos and video - comments welcomed). Paul & Graham


Unidentified gull (Graham)
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Sun 1 Aug 2010: No reported sightings.
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