Thurs 30 Jun 2011: early p.m. 10 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1m POCHARD, 43 LAPWING, 1 GARDEN WARBLER, 1 SKYLARK, 2 YELLOWHAMMER, 2 LITTLE OWL (inc 1 juv). (Also 13 species of butterfly inc. Large Skipper, Small Skipper and my first Essex Skipper at the patch; at least one in the rough grass around Spynes. However, best of all was a male Purple Hairstreak which landed right in front of me on the bushes bordering the cycle patch between the Middle Pit and Spynes, on the Middle Pit side. Also saw for the first time, a female Southern Hawker take a blue damselfly in mid-air, land with it and then suck it dry). Matt Farmer(The SBC records committee met on 27 Mar 2011 and amongst their decisions, the following Holmethorpe records were accepted: 1st/w White–fronted Goose on 9 Mar 2010 & Great White Egret on 6 Sep 2010.
The following records were not proven: Honey Buzzard on 7 Sep 2010 & Hen Harrier on 21 Mar 2011. The local records have been amended in line with theses decisions.)_____________________________________________________
Weds 29 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
(Dave Long's photos at Holmethorpe today - click here )______________________________________________________
Tues 28 Jun 2011: 1 LINNET (with nesting material, M.east), 1 LITTLE OWL. Dave Long
early p.m. 28 LAPWING. Gordon Hay
LINNET (D. Long) ------------------------------------LITTLE OWL (D. Long)______________________________________________________Mon 27 Jun 2011: p.m. 16 LAPWING, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER. Gordon Hayearly a.m. 1 NUTHATCH (calling N of M.West), 12 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1m SHOVELER (WC1), 8 LAPWING, 5 REED WARBLER, 1f KESTREL, 1 SPARROWHAWK (carrying prey), 1m REED BUNTING, 2 YELLOWHAMMER, 1 BULLFINCH, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 8 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1m BLACKCAP. Graham James______________________________________________________
Sun 26 Jun 2011: 05.50hrs-09.30hrs. 7+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE (inc. 2 half-grown young at WC1), 5+ MUTE SWAN (inc. pair with 1 small cygnet), 50+ COOT (inc 25+ young), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 13 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (11 Spynes, 2 WC2), 2 LAPWING (1 Spynes, 1 M.West), 8+ LITTLE GREBE (inc. pair with 2 half-grown young, plus an adult with one small chick at Spynes), 34 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 2 GARDEN WARBLER (Middle Pit), 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (over), 4 GREY HERON (inc. 1 juv. at WC2), 5+ HOUSE MARTIN (W.C), 3+ SAND MARTIN (WC2), , 2 juv. SWALLOW (over WC2), 3+ SWIFT (WC), 1m SHOVELER (WC2), 6+ REED WARBLER (inc. 3 at WC1), 5+ BLACKCAP. Ian Kehl______________________________________________________
Sat 25 Jun 2011: (10.20hrs. A Red Kite flew low, heading W, over Godstone.) Gordon Hay
(Three Curlews flew S over Horne this morning.) Ken Noble______________________________________________________Fri 24 Jun 2011: a.m. 1 NUTHATCH (in oak SE corner of Spynes), 9 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 2 LAPWING (Spynes), 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 4 REED WARBLER (Spynes), 10 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1m BLACKCAP, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (W end of M.CP), 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL (Spynes), 2 YELLOWHAMMER (M.Farm). Graham James______________________________________________________
Thurs 23 Jun 2011: early p.m. 1 GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 SHELDUCK, 4 LAPWING, 2 LINNET, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 SKYLARK, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 YELLOWHAMMER. Also 1 Southern Hawker, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer. Matt Farmera.m. 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 BULLFINCH (all M.CP). Also 1 Grass Snake (M.CP). Graham James_____________________________________________________
Weds 22 Jun 2011: 12 LAPWING (Spynes), 6 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 3 YELLOWHAMMER (inc. 1 fledgling), 4 REED WARBLER (inc. 2 fledglings), 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 100+ SAND MARTIN. Neil Randon
REED WARBLER (N. Randon)-____--------------------YELLOWHAMMER (N.Randon)______________________________________________________Tues 21 Jun 2011: p.m. 1m POCHARD, 1m SHOVELER, 3 LAPWING, 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5 REED WARBLER, 140+ SAND MARTIN, 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL. Gordon Hay______________________________________________________
Mon 20 Jun 2011: a.m. 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 4 REED WARBLER (1 Spynes, 1 Moors, 2 WC1), 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 5 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 SKYLARK, 1 KESTREL, 1 BULLFINCH, 2 COAL TIT (1 N of Spynes, 1 M.CP car park), 2 YELLOWHAMMER. Paul Kerry______________________________________________________
Sun 19 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
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Sat 18 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
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Fri 17 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
(A Roe Deer at N. Ridge in the rain this morning.) Richard Bartlett
ROE DEER (R. Bartlett)______________________________________________________
Thurs 16 Jun 2011: p.m. 40+ SAND MARTIN (WC lagoons), 1m SHOVELER, 2 GADWALL, 3 REED WARBLER (1 WC1, 2 Spynes), 6 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 10 LAPWING, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (N of M.West), 1 HOBBY, 1 SPARROWHAWK, c300 WOODPIGEON (M.Farm). Gordon Hay______________________________________________________
Weds 15 Jun 2011: early p.m. 1 REED WARBLER, 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 2 HOUSE MARTIN, c70 SANS MARTIN 1 GREY WAGTAIL (all WC lagoons). Also 1 Large Skipper. Matt Farmerc12.45hrs. 1 RED KITE (flew W over N.Ridge). Richard Bartlett07.25hrs-09.15hrs. 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 4 LAPWING, 3 LITTLE OWL, 1 REED WARBLER, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 MISTLE THRUSH (over), 1 KESTREL. Paul Kerry(Visit to Old Lodge NR, Ashdown Forest for Nightjars & Woodcocks yesterday evening - click here ) Paul Kerry, Gordon Hay & Graham James
______________________________________________________Tues 14 Jun 2011: p.m. 2 SHELDUCK, 7 EGYPTIAN GOOSE. Gordon Hay
07.25hrs-08.45hrs. 1 COMMON TERN (flew N over Spynes at 08.15hrs), 5 LAPWING (Spynes), 6 CHIFFCHAFF (inc. family of 4 N of M.West), 4 MISTLE THRUSH (flew N). Paul Kerry
(Visit to Old Lodge NR, Ashdown Forest today (Restarts & Turtle Dove) - click here ) Graham & Sue James______________________________________________________
Mon 13 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
(11.35hrs. A Red Kite over Sainsburys, Redhill.) Richard Bartlett______________________________________________________Sun 12 Jun 2011: a.m. 1m SHOVELER (WC2), 1 SHELDUCK (Spynes), 1 MISTLE THRUSH ( M.CP). Also new brood of 4 young Little Grebe, new brood of Greylag Geese and 4-5 pairs of House Martins nesting at Water Colour estate. Gordon Hay______________________________________________________
Sat 11 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
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Fri 10 Jun 2011: 07.20hrs-09.00hrs. 1 COMMON TERN (M.Lake, briefly at 08.45hrs before heading E), 1m GREY WAGTAIL (M.West), 2 SWALLOW, 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 REED WARBLER. Paul Kerry
COMMON TERN (P. Kerry)
(Video - click HERE)______________________________________________________
Thurs 9 Jun 2011: (A Red-footed Falcon reported at Ranmore Common today. Also a Quail at Dockenfield this morning.) Johnny Allanearly p.m. 1 LITTLE OWL, 1 STOCK DOVE, 3 LAPWING, 1m POCHARD, 1 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1 REED WARBLER, 1f SPARROWHAWK. Matt Farmer______________________________________________________
Weds 8 Jun 2011: a.m. 1m POCHARD (Spynes), 3 GADWALL, 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 MISTLE THRUSH over M.east), 2 GREAT CRESTED GREBE (with 2 young WC1). Gordon Hay
07.10hrs-08.45hrs. 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (M.West), 1 SWALLOW, 1 GOLDCREST (bushes near Aqua Sports centre), 2 REED WARBLER, 1 WILLOW WARBLER (mixed Willow/Chiffchaff song). Paul Kerry_____________________________________________________
Tues 7 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.(A Hobby flew N over South Merstham at 16.15hrs.) Sue James
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Mon 6 Jun 2011: 09.00hrs. 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (singing to N of M.West). (No sign of Redshanks). Paul Kerry______________________________________________________Sun 5 Jun 2011: late p.m. 3 REDSHANK (still present M.West), 1m POCHARD (Spynes), 1m SHOVELER (M.West), c200 SAND MARTIN. Gordon Hayc16.10hrs. 3 REDSHANK (M.West). Neil Randon
c16.00hrs. 2 LITTLE OWL (sheep paddocks, M.Farm). Simon Elson
1 of the 3 REDSHANK (N. Randon)(The site record is of 4 birds on Sep 9 1991)______________________________________________________
Sat 4 Jun 2011: No reported sightings.
(20.44hrs. A Hobby circling over South Merstham.) Sue James______________________________________________________
Fri 3 Jun 2011: (Paul's photos & videos of Lesser Whitethroat & Roe Deer from Weds & Thurs - click here )
evening. 2 SHOVELER (pair Spynes), 2 GADWALL (pair Spynes), 1 SHELDUCK (Spynes), 9 LAPWING, 69 GREYLAG GOOSE, 59 CANADA GOOSE, 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), c200 WOODPIGEON (M.Farm). Gordon Hay
(07.48hrs. A Hobby circling low over South Merstham eating prey on the wing.) Graham James______________________________________________________
Thurs 2 Jun 2011: (18.20hrs. A Common Buzzard circling over South Merstham.) Graham James
a.m. 3 LAPWING (M.Farm), 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (hedge by cycle path to N of Spynes), 11 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 3 REED WARBLER (2 Spynes, 1 Moors), 1 GOLDCREST (M.CP), 3 BULLFINCH, 2 REED BUNTING, 1 YELLOWHAMMER. Paul Kerry
ROE DEER (P. Kerry)______________________________________________________Weds 1 Jun 2011: (07.30hrs. A Cuckoo calling at N. Ridge.) Richard Bartlett
c08.05hrs. 1 OYSTERCATCHER (heard and then seen flying over N side of M.West), 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (opposite Mercers CP main entrance gate), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 2 GARDEN WARBLER, 2 REED WARBLER, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 BULLFINCH (pair with nesting material), 2 SWALLOW. Paul Kerry
LESSER WHITETHROAT (P. Kerry)
ROE DEER (P. Kerry)_______________________________________________________
