Mon 31 Oct 2011: (Lee Evans has kindly given permission to add a link to his excellent paper on The Separation of Lesser and Mealy Redpolls - click here. It has also been added to the Bird Identification links in the right-hand column of this blog.)
(Another of Dodge's superb videos - click here )
early p.m. 42 COMMON GULL (Spynes), 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, 7 WIGEON (M.West), 14 SHOVELER, 14 GADWALL, c14 TEAL, 5 POCHARD, 270 LAPWING. Gordon Hay
06.45hrs-10.35hrs. 1f or 1st/w STONECHAT (Moors), 5 MUTE SWAN, 57 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes), 2 GREYLAG GOOSE, 8 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5 WIGEON (M.West), 14 TEAL, 2 SHOVELER, 8 GADWALL, 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Spynes), 1 SPARROWHAWK (Moors), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), c300 JACKDAW (over M.West), 1 SISKIN (over). Also 2 winter-plumaged Great Crested Grebes on WC1 in courtship display. Graham James
STONECHAT (G. James)
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Sun 30 Oct 2011: (a.m.The Yellow-browed Warbler still at Newdigate and the Shore Lark still at QE2 Reservoir (permit only)). Birdguides
a.m. 1m STONECHAT (Moors), 19 GOLDCREST, 41 SISKIN, 14 REDPOLL sp., 7 WIGEON, 6 POCHARD, c20 TEAL, 17 GADWALL, 14 SHOVELER, 10 REDWING, c80 GOLDFINCH (inc. c60 Moors), 3 YELLOWHAMMER, 3 REED BUNTING, 1 CHIFFCHAFF (M.West), c2000 STARLING (WC1 roost), 10 PHEASANT (8 Chil.Farm, 2 M.Farm). Also 1 Roe Deer. Gordon Hay
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Sat 29 Oct 2011: early-mid p.m. 12 COMMON CROSSBILL (flew W over Spynes at 14.00hrs), 7 LESSER REDPOLL (no Commons among them), 3 SISKIN, 120 LINNET (M.Farm), 23 SKYLARK (M.Farm), 2 REED BUNTING, 2 SPARROWHAWK (ad.m & imm.f), 1 KESTREL (1st/w m), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (dark-phased), 17 GADWALL, 8 POCHARD, 15 TEAL, 1m WIGEON, 52 LITTLE GREBE (M.West), 279 LAPWING, 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, 11 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 100 HERRING GULL, 500 STARLING (through. Movement of 2500+ this morning), 1200 WOODPIGEON (flew W this morning), 70 FERAL PIGEON (M.Farm), 34 COLLARED DOVE (Chil.Farm), 2 COAL TIT, 1 TREECREEPER, 2 GOLDCREST (all M.CP car park), 15 LONG-TAILED TIT. Gordon Hay
Additional sightings to above: 11.45hrs-13.45hrs. 5 SHOVELER, 2 LITTLE GREBE (all WC1), 2 GREYLAG GOOSE, 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 11 CORMORANT, 5 COMMON GULL (all Spynes), 2 GREEN WOODPECKER (1 Spynes, 1 WC1). Also 2 Common Darter (path between Spynes & M.West). Kevin Duncan
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Fri 28 Oct 2011: (The Yellow-browed Warbler still showing at Newdigate.) Johnny Allan & Gordon Hay
(A Great White Egret flew east over Island Barn Reservoir.) message from Dave Harris via Johnny Allan
(A Firecrest at Beddington SF this morning.) Sutton Birding on Twitter
c09.50hrs. 1 SHORT-EARED OWL (high over Willow Wood by M.West, flew S - first for year & 5th site record, the last being Nov 15 1998). Gordon Hay
07.45hrs-12.20hrs. 3 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (flew E over Spynes), 7 WIGEON (M.West), 12 SHOVELER, 9 GADWALL, 10 TEAL, 4 POCHARD (M.West), 1 COMMON SNIPE (Spynes), 2 WATER RAIL (1 heard WC1, 1 seen Moors pool near railway), 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (M.West), 4 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, c150 HERRING GULL, 4 COMMON GULL, c250 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 2 LITTLE OWL (1 oaks S of Spynes, 1 sheep paddocks, M.Farm), 1m PHEASANT (M.Farm), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (WC2), c25 REDWING, 600+ STARLING (left roost WC1), 11 MEADOW PIPIT (over), 5 SKYKLARK, 3 GOLDCREST, c60 GOLDFINCH (Moors), 4 SISKIN, 3 BULLFINCH, 7 REDPOLL sp. (over), 2 REED BUNTING. Paul Kerry, Gordon Hay & Graham James (combined sightings)
GREY WAGTAIL (G. James)
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Thurs 27 Oct 2011: p.m. 2 COMMON CROSSBILL (flew E over M.Farm at c14.55hrs - first for year), 17 SISKIN, 25 GOLDFINCH, 17 REDWING (M.Farm), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (Spynes), 1 GOLDCREST, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 7 WIGEON (M.west), 17 SHOVELER, 14 GADWALL, 15 TEAL, 2f POCHARD (Spynes), 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 220 LAPWING (Spynes), 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (M.Lake). Gordon Hay
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Weds 26 Oct 2011: (The Yellow-browed Warbler reported again today at Newdigate.) Birdguides
early p.m. 2 REDPOLL sp, 3 SISKIN, 20+ LINNET, 1m SHOVELER (all over), 1m BULLFINCH, 8 GOLDCREST, 2 TREECREEPER, 4 REDWING. Matt Farmer
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Tues 25 Oct 2011: (16.08hrs. 1f Peregrine flew NNE over South Merstham.) Graham James
p.m. 200+ LINNET, 21 SKYLARK, 70 STOCK DOVE, 1 REED BUNTING, 1 YELLOWHAMMER (all M.Farm(, 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 KESTREL. Gordon Hay
early p.m. 7+ WIGEON, 27 SHOVELER, 1 POCHARD, 12 GADWALL, 4 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, 12 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 110 HERRING GULL, 15 COMMON GULL, c400 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 25 LINNET. Gordon Hay
a.m. 1 GOLDCREST (M.CP), 1m BULLFINCH (M.CP), 1 COAL TIT, 1 SKYLARK (over WC mound), 1 MEADOW PIPIT (WC), c400 BLACK-HEADED GULL, c90 HERRING GULL, 9 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 2 COMMON GULL (all WC1). Also 2 Red Admirals, 2 Common Darters. Graham James & Paul Kerry
a.m. 1 COMMON BUZZARD (over Glebe Lake), 3 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Spynes), 4f PHEASANT (M.Farm), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (M.east), 4 GOLDCREST, 10 SHOVELER, 6 WIGEON, 10 TEAL. Paul Kerry
(Jerry & Thomas Blumire saw a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in their Redhill garden this morning)
COMMON DARTER (G. James)
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Mon 24 Oct 2011: (Newdigate: A Yellow-browed Warbler at TQ184422 with tit and Goldcrest flock in small conifer plantation, vocal, flock moved eastwards towards Newdigate village at 10.30hrs today. Probably also present on Sat 22nd Oct.) message from Johnny Allan
early p.m. 1 MISTLE THRUSH (over), 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, c170 LAPWING (all Spynes). Matt Farmer
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Sun 23 Oct 2011: a.m. 5 MEADOW PIPIT (grass field near WC entrance), 4 FIELDFARE (1 seen, 3 heard Moors), 1 KINGFISHER (flew S at Cormongers Lane conifers). Tom Cahalane
07.10hrs-09.50hrs. 1 LITTLE EGRET (landfill side of Moors, by wooden bridge - was visible from WC mound to 09.30hrs at least), 10+ EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5+ SHOVELER, 13+ TEAL, 3 POCHARD (Spynes), 6 WIGEON (3 pairs M.West), 10+ GADWALL, 1 GREY WAGTAIL (flew from WC ditch), 3 MEADOW PIPIT (over WC mound), 3+ COMMON GULL (WC1), 1 COMMON SNIPE (WC1). Ian Kehl
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Sat 22 Oct 2011: (A Glossy Ibis at N end of Wraysbury Res. - one to watch out for in Surrey.) message from Johnny Allan
(As there seems to have been a large influx of Common Redpolls into the country, it will be worth checking any feeding/perched birds. Over 50% of birds trapped and ringed at both Leith Hill (http://www.horshamringers.blogspot.com/) and Dungeness B.O. (http://ploddingbirder.blogspot.com/) over the past couple of days have proved to be Common/Mealy Redpolls.)
p.m. 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1m SHOVELER, 2 TEAL, c120 HERRING GULL, c80 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 1 COMMON GULL, 1 GREY HERON, 2 SISKIN (over), several SKYLARKS (heard over). Thomas Blumire & Jerry Blumire
early a.m. c60 FIELDFARE (over), c100 REDWING (over), 11 SISKIN (over), 10 REDPOLL sp. (over), 2 BULLFINCH, c30 LINNET, c30 CHAFFINCH, 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 20 SHOVELER, 12 GADWALL. Gordon Hay
GREY HERON (T. Blumire)
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Fri 21 Oct 2011: p.m. 27 SHOVELER. Gordon Hay
11.00hrs-12.45hrs. 36 LAPWING (Spynes sandspit), 56 COOT (36 M.Lake, 20 Spynes), 12 JAY (around patch). Tom Cahalane
a.m. 1 PEREGRINE (flew E over M.Farm), 1 SPARROWHAWK (M.Farm), 1 KESTREL (Moors), 3 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 9 GADWALL, 17 TEAL, 5 WIGEON (M.West), 22 SHOVELER, 1f POCHARD (M.West), 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West), c150 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, c50 HERRING GULL, 5 COMMON GULL (all WC1), 1 LITTLE OWL (heard Chil.Farm), 2 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 4 SKYLARK, 6 MEADOW PIPIT, 1 GREY WAGTAIL (WC2), 2 FIELDFARE (1 M.east - GH, 1 Moors - GJ), 29 REDWING, 3 GOLDCREST (2 M.CP - GH, 1 Cormongers Lane - GJ), 1 TREECREEPER (Cormongers Lane - GJ), 1 COAL TIT (Cormongers Lane - GJ), 4 LESSER REDPOLL (over), c30 GOLDFINCH (Moors), c30 LINNET (Chil.Farm). (No sign of Pintail.) Graham James & Gordon Hay
FIELDFARE (G. James) ------------------------------ TREECREEPER (G. James)
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Thurs 20 Oct 2011: 16.15hrs. 1m PINTAIL (still at M.West). Neil Randon
p.m. 1m PINTAIL (still present M.West), 4 WIGEON, 1m SHOVELER, 121 LAPWING, 1m BLACKCAP, 2m BULLFINCH (all M.West), 1 POCHARD (Spynes), 44 LINNET (M.Farm), 2 COMMON BUZZARD (M.Farm). Matt Farmer
a.m. 1m PINTAIL (M.West - first for year), 4 WIGEON (M.West), 13 GADWALL, 11 SHOVELER, 17 TEAL, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1m PHEASANT (M.Farm), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), SKYLARK (flew W), 1 MEADOW PIPIT (flew S), 1 TREECREEPER (N side of M.CP), c80 LINNET (M.Farm), 3 SISKIN (over), 1 LESSER REDPOLL (M.CP car park), 3 BULLFINCH, 6 YELLOWHAMMER (M.Farm). Graham James
PINTAIL (G. James)
WIGEON (G. James) ----------------------------------LINNET (G. James)
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Weds 19 Oct 2011: a.m. 1m PEREGRINE (over M.Farm & M.CP carrying prey - GJ), 2 KESTREL, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 7 GREAT CRESTED GREBE, 5 SHOVELER, 7 GADWALL, 11 TEAL, 6 WIGEON (M.West), 2f POCHARD (M.West), 2 COMMON SNIPE (1 Spynes, 1 M.West), c200 BLACK-HEADED GULL, c80 HERRING GULL, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 5 COMMON GULL, 2 KINGFISHER (1 WC2, 1 M.Lake), 2 LITTLE OWL (1 calling Chil.Farm, 1 M.Farm), 5 PHEASANT (2m & 3f M.Farm - GH), 8 SKYLARK, 3 MEADOW PIPIT, 2 GREY WAGTAIL (over), 2 CHIFFCHAFF (M.east), 1f BLACKCAP (M.CP car park), 1 GOLDCREST, 1 LESSER REDPOLL (M.CP car park), 15+ SISKIN (over), 3 BULLFINCH, 1 YELLOWHAMMER. Graham James & Gordon Hay
BLACKCAP (G. James)
LITTLE OWL (G. James)
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Tues 18 Oct 2011: 10.35hrs–12.50hrs. 24 CORMORANT (4 WC2, 1 WC1, 19 M.West), 5 GREAT CRESTED GREBE (2 WC2, 1 WC1, 2 M.Lake), 33 LITTLE GREBE (1 WC1, 1 Spynes, 31 M.West), 5 MUTE SWAN (3 Spynes, 2 M.West), 10 CANADA GOOSE (M.West), 1 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 74 TUFTED DUCK (13 WC2, 8 WC1, 19 M.Lake, 6 Spynes, 28 M.West), 16 SHOVELER (1m WC2, 1m M.Lake, 14 M.West), 36 MALLARD (11 WC2, 7 WC1, 12 M.Lake, 6 Spynes), 7 WIGEON (M.West), 4 POCHARD (Spynes), 25 TEAL (M.West), 24 GADWALL (M.West), 1 COMMON SNIPE (Moors), 64 LAPWING (63 Spynes, 1 M.West), 243 BLACK-HEADED GULL (139 WC1, 4 M.Lake, 100 M.West), 5 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (4 WC1, 1 M.West), 69 HERRING GULL (67 WC1, 2 M.West), (23 HERRING/LBB GULL immatures - WC1), 1 COMMON GULL (M.West), 161 COOT (7 WC2, 20 WC1, 27 M.Lake, 43 Spynes, 64 M.West), 16 MOORHEN (3 WC2, 1 WC1, 2 Moors, 1 M.Lake, 3 Spynes, 6 M.West). Simon Elson (WEBS count)
a.m. 5 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5 WIGEON (M.West), 13 TEAL, 19 SHOVELER, 8 GADWALL, 2 POCHARD, 3+ SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 1 KINGFISHER, 1m PHEASANT, c450 RING-NECKED PARAKEET, 6 SKYLARK, 5 MEADOW PIPIT, 2 CHIFFCHAFF (1 WC1, 1 M.east), 3 GOLDCREST, 2 COAL TIT, 3 TREECREEPER, 8 SISKIN (over), 6 LESSER REDPOLL (over), c120 LINNET (M.Farm), 3 BULLFINCH. Gordon Hay, Paul Kerry & Graham James
SHOVELER (G. James)
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Mon 17 Oct 2011: a.m. 3 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5 WIGEON (2 Spynes, 3 M.West), 18 GADWALL, 22 SHOVELER, 11 TEAL, 1f POCHARD (M.West), 200+ LAPWING, 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West), 212 HERRING GULL (WC1), 90+ BLACK-HEADED GULL, 5 COMMON GULL, 2 (poss 3) SPARROWHAWK, 2 COMMON BUZZARD (perched M.Farm), 1 KESTREL, 1m PHEASANT (heard M.Farm), 1 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 48 COLLARED DOVE (GH - new record count), 12 SKYLARK, c8 MEADOW PIPIT, 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks S of Spynes), 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 31 REDWING (over), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (Spynes), 1 ROOK (over), 10+ SISKIN (over), c80 LINNET (M.Farm), 8 BULLFINCH, 4 YELLOWHAMMER, 2 REED BUNTING. Graham James & Gordon Hay
COMMON GULL 1st-winter (G. James)
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Sun 16 Oct 2011: 15.15hrs-16.50hrs. 12 SHOVELER, 6 TEAL, 5 POCHARD (Spynes), c160 HERRING GULL (inc. c130 on M.Lake), 2 COMMON GULL, c90 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 1 KESTREL, 2 LITTLE OWL (1 calling Chil. Farm, 1 calling W end M.CP), 1 BULLFINCH (M.CP). (No sign of Yellow-legged Gull.) Graham & Sue James
p.m. 1 ad. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (c14.40hrs Spynes sandspit - first for year), 5 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 12 COMMON GULL, 235 LAPWING, 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West), 4 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 5 WIGEON, 22 TEAL, 12 SHOVELER, 6 GADWALL, 6 POCHARD, c160 TUFTED DUCK, c300 STARLING, c20 ROBIN, 6 SISKIN, 2 LESSER REDPOLL, 2 GREY WAGTAIL. Gordon Hay
11.45hrs-14.00hrs. 5 COMMON BUZZARD (1 S over WC, 4 N of Spynes), 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC2), 1 LINNET (M.Farm), 2 SKYLARK (flew E over Middle Pit), 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West). Also 1 Small Copper at WC. Neil Hadden
07.10hrs-10.15hrs. 130+ LAPWING (Spynes), 1m PHEASANT (grass field S of Spynes), 5+ EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 1m TEAL (Spynes), 2 GADWALL (pair Spynes), 21+ MALLARD (flew from Moors pool by wooden bridge on landfill side), 1 FIELDFARE (in bush on S side of WC mound - first for autumn), 1 SWALLOW (low over Moors heading S), 3+ MEADOW PIPIT (over WC mound), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (singing E side WC1). Ian Kehl
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Sat 15 Oct 2011: No reported sightings.
(12.35hrs. An egret sp, high over Redhill heading SE, then turned E and descended towards Holmethorpe.) Neil Hadden
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Fri 14 Oct 2011: a.m.- early p.m. 4 WIGEON (1m & 3f circling over M.east), 3 SHOVELER (1 WC2, 2 M.West), 6 GADWALL (M.West), 10 TEAL (8 M.West, 2 WC1), 3 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (M.Lake), up to 10 COMMON BUZZARD (over N.Downs, seen from WC mound) 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 2 COMMON GULL, 1 KINGFISHER (flew to M.Lake from Fordbridge), 8 SKYLARK (over), 3 MEADOW PIPIT, c12 REDWING (over), 1 GOLDCREST (Cormongers Lane conifers), c40 LINNET (M.Farm), 1m BULLFINCH (M.CP), 1 REED BUNTING (WC1). Paul Kerry & Graham James
SPARROWHAWK (G. James)
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Thurs 13 Oct 2011: p.m. 1f SPARROWHAWK (M.Farm), 1 KESTREL, c20 SKYLARK, c120 LINNET, 2 LESSER REDPOLL (over), 3 YELLOWHAMMER. Gordon Hay
early p.m. 2 KINGFISHER, 1 REDWING, 4 GOLDCREST, 1 CHIFFCHAFF (all M.CP), 600+ LINNET (over M.Farm). Matt Farmer
lunchtime: 1f SPARROWHAWK (caught small bird Moors), 1m SHOVELER (over WC), 1 KINGFISHER Moors). Simon Elson
07.00hrs-12.20hrs. 4 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 2m WIGEON (M.West), 4 SHOVELER, 9 TEAL, 2 GADWALL, 1 POCHARD (Spynes), 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West), 3 COMMON GULL, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks to S of Spynes), 5 SKYLARK (flew W), 2f PHEASANT (Chil.Farm), c90 RING-NECKED PARAKEET, 9 MISTLE THRUSH (over M.CP), 1 MEADOW PIPIT, 2 GOLDCREST, 1 COAL TIT (Cormongers Lane), 1 BULLFINCH (heard), 2 REED BUNTING (WC). Also one unidentified small raptor low over M.Lake, dark brown upperparts, undulating flight on fast shallow wingbeats. Same bird was also seen yesterday by Paul. Paul Kerry & Graham James
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (G. James)
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Weds 12 Oct 2011: (15.25hrs. A RAVEN flew SW over Canon's Farm.) Sutton Birding on Twitter
06.45hrs-11.40hrs. 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE (M.Lake - 6th local record), 8 TEAL, 1m WIGEON (Spynes), 28 GADWALL, 2 SHOVELER (1m WC2; 1f over Spynes), 4 POCHARD (Spynes), 11 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 37 LITTLE GREBE (M.West), 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 3 KESTREL, 12 MOORHEN, 87 COOT (M.West), 3 KINGFISHER (M.Lake), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (over), c25 SKYLARK, 20 MEADOW PIPIT (over), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 70+ STOCK DOVE (M.Farm), 71 REDWING (over), 1000+ LINNET (M.Farm - new record count), 1 LESSER REDPOLL (over), 10 SISKIN (over), 600+ STARLING (left WC1 roost), 1 BLACKCAP (heard M.CP), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (heard WC1), 1 TREECREEPER (M.CP), 1 GOLDCREST (M.CP), 1 BULLFINCH (heard M.CP), 2 YELLOWHAMMER (M.Farm). Graham James, Gordon Hay & Paul Kerry
More record shots & videos - click here
BLACK-NECKED GREBE (G. James)
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Tues 11 Oct 2011: 1 BLACKCAP (Peyton Cottages, Nutfield Marsh Rd.). Gordon Hay
early p.m. 1m SHOVELER, 2 COMMON GULL, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 MEADOW PIPIT, 10 LINNET, 1 CHIFFCHAFF (all WC lagoons). Matt Farmer
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Mon 10 Oct 2011: early p.m. 2 HOUSE MARTIN, 2 COMMON BUZZARD, 1m KESTREL, 1m SHOVELER (M.West), c20 GADWALL, 1m POCHARD, c200 TUFTED DUCK, 18 TEAL (M.West), 1 SISKIN (over), c80 LINNET (M.Farm), 2 COAL TIT (M.CP car park). Also 1 Hornet. Gordon Hay
06.50hrs-11.00hrs. 1 GREEN SANDPIPER (Spynes), 110 LAPWING (Spynes), 8 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 47 GREYLAG GOOSE (Spynes), 9 CANADA GOOSE (Spynes), 13 TEAL, 1 WIGEON (M.West), 17 GADWALL, 2m SHOVELER (1 M.West, 1 WC2), 3 COMMON GULL (2 Spynes, 1 WC1), 1 COMMON BUZZARD (low over Spynes), 1f SPARROWHAWK (Chil. Lane), 1f KESTREL (Middle Pit), 1 KINGFISHER (Moors), 8 SKYLARK (flew W), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (over WC mound), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (Spynes), 2 SISKINS (over), 3 BULLFINCH (Spynes). Also 1 Emperor dragonfly, 1 Common Darter, 1 Speckled Wood. Graham James
LAPWING (G. James) ------------------------------------COMMON GULL (G. James)
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Sun 9 Oct 2011: (A Buff-bellied Pipit reported at Newhaven, East Sussex.) Birdguides (Although reported asbeing a B-b Pipit, it would seem that the finder is not certain of this being the case and its ID is under discussion on Birdforum.)
p.m. 2 PHEASANT, 25 CHAFFINCH (all Chil.Farm), c160 LINNET (c70 Chil.Farm, c90 M.Farm), 2 YELLOWHAMMER (M.Farm), 155 LAPWING (Spynes, c70 HERRING GULL, 108 GREYLAG GOOSE (all Spynes), 110 CANADA GOOSE (M.West), 32 COLLARED DOVE (Chil.Farm - new record count), c60 STOCK DOVE, c30 FERAL PIGEON, c300 WOODPIGEON (all M.Farm). Gordon Hay
6 REDWING (over Moors). Simon Elson
a.m. 60+ REDWING (over), 8 REED BUNTING (WC mound), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (WC), 15 MEADOW PIPIT, 3 TEAL, 2 SHOVELER, 2 COAL TIT (Cormongers Lane), 2 GOLDCREST (Cormongers Lane), 20+ BLACKBIRD. Gordon Hay
06.30hrs-11.50hrs. 13 TEAL, 10+ GADWALL, 1m POCHARD (Spynes), 5 SHOVELER, 16 CORMORANT, 2 COMMON GULL (Spynes), 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 2 LITTLE OWL (1 M.Farm, 1 calling from oaks S of Spynes), 6+ SKYLARK (over), 3 MEADOW PIPIT. Ian Kehl
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Sat 8 Oct 2011: p.m. 1m WIGEON (M.West), 12 GADWALL, 16 TEAL, 1m POCHARD, 2 GREY WAGTAIL. Gordon Hay
(15 Redwings over Godstone this morning.) Gordon Hay
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Fri 7 Oct 2011: No reported sightings.
(c11.45hrs. A SPOTTED CRAKE at Beddington SF.) message from Johnny Allan (Still present at 16.30hrs) Birdguides
(The Bonaparte's Gull reported at Weirwood Reservoir again this afternoon.) Birdgudes
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Thurs 6 Oct 2011: p.m. 1m SHOVELER, 1 GADWALL, 1 COMMON GULL (all WC lagoons). Gordon Hay
early p.m. 130+ LINNET, 24 HOUSE MARTIN, 12 SWALLOW, 2 STOCK DOVE, 3 YELLOWHAMMER, 1 SKYLARK (all M.Farm), 5 SHOVELER, 1f POCHARD, 9 TEAL, 132 LAPWING, 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 BULLFINCH (all Spynes area). Matt Farmer
06.45hrs-09.20hrs. c15 HOUSE MARTIN (over Chil.Farm), c500 LINNET (Chil.Farm - new site record count), 9 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 14 GADWALL, 12 TEAL, 1m SHOVELER (WC2), 1f KESTREL (landfill), 2 KINGFISHER (1 M.Lake, 1 Moors), 2 SKYLARK (heading N over Moors), 5 MEADOW PIPIT (WC/Moors), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (Moors), 1 BULLFINCH (heard M.CP). Graham James
LINNETS - part of the flock at Chilmead Farm (G. James)
(436 birds in the first photo)
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Weds 5 Oct 2011: (A Red Kite flew S over Beddington at c08.30hrs.) message from Johnny Allan (unfortunately, text message not received until 18.20hrs - thanks o2!)
a.m. 23 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 2 GADWALL, 8 SHOVELER, 10 TEAL, 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 COMMON GULL (WC1), 1 COMMON SNIPE (Moors), 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1f PHEASANT (Spynes), 2 SKYLARK (flew S over M.CP), c8 MEADOW PIPIT (WC), 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 GOLDCREST (1 M.CP car park, 1 by landfill at Moors). Also 1 Water Shrew (dead) at The Moors. Graham James & Paul Kerry
WATER SHREW (G. James) -----------------------COMMON GULL (G. James)
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Tues 4 Oct 2011: 06.45hrs-09.50hrs. 24 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Spynes), 1m POCHARD (WC1), 9 GADWALL, 5 SHOVELER, 7 TEAL, 2 MEADOW PIPIT (WC mound), 20+ BLACKBIRD, 7 CHIFFCHAFF, c30 LINNET (M.Farm), c200 STARLING (over Moors). Graham James
Believed to be a WATER SHREW.
A member of the UK Mammal Society has identified it as such on the iSpot website.
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Mon 3 Oct 2011: (An adult Bonaparte's Gull at Weirwood Reservoir to 11.00hrs, when flushed. Seen again there at 11.34hrs, then flew over dam towards fields with Black-headed Gulls. It was reported again at Weirwood Reservoir at 18.15hrs.) message from Johnny Allan & news from Birdguides
06.40hrs- 11.05hrs. 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West), 87 LAPWING (Spynes/M.West), 13 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (11 Spynes, 2 WC2), 83 TUFTED DUCK (M.Lake), 5 TEAL, 8 GADWALL, 10 SHOVELER (M.West), 1m PHEASANT (M.Farm), 17 COLLARED DOVE (M.CP), 1 LITTLE OWL (M.Farm), 2 SKYLARK (1 M.Farm, 1 over Moors), 6 MEADOW PIPIT (WC), 2 MISTLE THRUSH (over Spynes), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (bushes by WC mound), c60 LINNET (M.Farm). Graham James
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Sun 2 Oct 2011: late p.m. 1f/imm WHEATEAR (Moors), 1 SISKIN (over), 1m POCHARD (WC1), 15 SHOVELER, 12 GADWALL, 14 TEAL, 2 EGYPTIAN GOOSE (WC), 1 COMMON SNIPE (M.West), 4 MEADOW PIPIT, 1 CHIFFCHAFF (Moors, by railway line). Gordon Hay
17.30hrs-18.00hrs. 1 SKYLARK (W over M.Farm), 13 LINNET (M.Farm), 40 LAPWING(Spynes). Neil Hadden
11.00hrs-13.00hrs. 6 COMMON BUZZARD (inc. 3 together over Moors), 2 KESTREL, 1 TREECREEPER (Cormongers Lane), 1m POCHARD (WC1), 1m SHOVELER (WC2). (Also 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth in front garden of Fordbridge Cottage - flew off to WC entrance. Jerry also had one in his garden in Redhill at lunchtiime). Graham & Sue James
06.55hrs-10.20hrs. 1 (poss 2) KINGFISHER (M.Lake, then it or another pool/orchard area Cormongers Lane), 1 REED BUNTING (M.Farm), 26+ LINNET (M.Farm), 1m PHEASANT (cycle path N of M.Farm), 1 LITTLE OWL (oaks S of Spynes), 11 GADWALL, 5 TEAL, 11+ SHOVELER, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (M.West), 8+ SISKIN (4 in tree near sewage works, 4+ over), 1 TREECREEPER (in trees NW corner of M.Lake), 3 MEADOW PIT (WC mound). Ian Kehl
HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH (G. James)
COMMON BUZZARD (G. James)
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Sat 1 Oct 2011: (Beddington SF: 3 SANDWICH TERNS flew SE this morning.) Dip or Glory
p.m. 1m PHEASANT (Middle Pit), 1 SPARROWHAWK. Gordon Hay
06.50hrs-08.25hrs. 2 COAL TIT, 2 GOLDCREST (all conifers Cormongers Lane), 1 SISKIN (over Chil. Farm), 1 SWALLOW (WC2), 3 GADWALL, 4 SHOVELER, 1m POCHARD, 1 KINGFISHER (all WC1). (Also 3 Yellow-necked Mice collecting acorns and taking them down hole under conifers Cormongers Lane.) Graham James
(Video of mouse - click here)
YELLOW-NECKED MOUSE (G. James)
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