May 2020

COVID-19: please continue to follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and exercising outdoors.

Sunday 31st

Rosy Starling, Horley (E Stubbs).
Rosy Starling, Horley (E Stubbs).

Churt Common: Crossbill by Axe Pond (R Douglas).

Horley: female Rosy Starling in private garden in afternoon then flew off; 14th Surrey record (C Muir).

Papercourt Water Meadows: possible female Red-backed Shrike at Broadmead at 17:00 (P Stevens).

Peaslake: 2 Crossbills (W Attridge).

Saturday 30th

Beddington Farmlands: Shelduck (K Guest).

Hydestile: 4 Crossbills at Hydon Hill (S Jones).

Friday 29th

London Wetland Centre: 2 Oystercatchers on Main Lake (WWT).

Thursley Common: Little Ringed Plover on Pudmore (E & P Hunter).

Thursday 28th

Great Egret, Molesey (D Spragg).
Great Egret, Molesey (D Spragg).

Effingham Forest: Hawfinch (M Davis).

Molesey: Great Egret (later seen at Richmond Park and West Molesey) in flight in morning (D Spragg).

Richmond Park: Great Egret flew into Upper Pen Pond at 10:40 then flew high west at 11:40 (J Wilczur).

Surbiton: 2 Oystercatchers at Seething Wells settling ponds early morning (E Halvorsen/S Vine).

Virgina Water: utterly unconfirmed report of White-tailed Eagle between Virginia Water and Lyne for second day (BirdGuides).

West Molesey: Great Egret flew west along Thames c.15:35 (D Harris).

Wednesday 27th

Denbies Hillside: 9 Crossbills (S Gale).

Hindhead Golf Club: Crossbill (E Stubbs).

Netley Heath: 48 Crossbills (G Lewis).

Tuesday 26th

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Shelduck (A Dutta).

Holmbury St Mary: 4 Crossbills flew over (J Michaels).

Richmond Park: female Wheatear (H Bradshaw).

Thursley Common: male Yellow Wagtail on Pudmore (J Hunt).

Monday 25th

Richmond Park: Whimbrel heard over Upper Pen Pond in morning (O Dewhurst).

The Hurtwood: Crossbill (K Britten).

Sunday 24th

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Shelduck (N Gardner/K Guest).

Snowdenham Mill Pond: female Red-crested Pochard (E Stubbs).

The Hurtwood: 8+ Crossbills (S Jones).

Saturday 23rd

Osprey, Milford (S Jones).
Osprey, Milford (S Jones).

Beare Green: Osprey flew west at 08:50 (W Attridge).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Shelduck (BFBG).

Berrylands: at least 3 Common Scoter flew east at 22:50 (N Tanner).

Capel: Common Sandpiper (W Attridge).

Leith Hill: 5 Crossbills (W Attridge).

Milford: Osprey (probably same as Capel) flew north-west at 12:50 (S Jones).

Snowdenham Mill Pond: female Red-crested Pochard (E Stubbs).

Tice’s Meadow: Spotted Flycatcher on island path between Pegasus and Arnhem bridges at 12:00 (A Brown).

Winterfold: 3 Crossbills (R Stride).

Friday 22nd

Spoonbill, Tice's Meadow (K Duncan).
Spoonbill, Tice’s Meadow (K Duncan).

Beddington Farmlands: Common Sandpiper and 4 Shelduck (K Guest).

London Wetland Centre: 2 Yellow Wagtails (WWT).

Tice’s Meadow: 2 Spoonbills (adult and immature; probably same as at Walthamstow Wetlands, London, on 21st) flew in and settled in The Meadow from c.08:05-08:45 and then departed (K Duncan).

Thursday 21st

Bookham Common: Hawfinch flew over in afternoon (A Prowse).

Richmond Park: Common Sandpiper and Wheatear (R Black/A Westenberger).

Snowdenham Mill Pond: female Red-crested Pochard (E Stubbs).

St Martha’s Hill: Wheatear mid-morning (E Garcia).

Thursley Common: 1st-summer female Red-footed Falcon again over Pudmore at 14:15 (Bob Knight).

Wednesday 20th

London Wetland Centre: Yellow Wagtail (WWT).

Thursley Common: no sign of 1st-summer female Red-footed Falcon though Honey Buzzard flew west over south end at 17:00 (J Hodge/many observers).

West Clandon: Grey Partridge again at Clandon Wood NR in car park briefly early morning though elusive (S Ferguson).

Tuesday 19th

Mediterranean Gull, Beddington Farmlands (A Dutta).
Mediterranean Gull, Beddington Farmlands (A Dutta).

Beddington Farmlands: Mediterranean Gull and 4 Shelduck (A Dutta/K Guest).

Colley Hill: Crossbill flew east mid-morning (S Gale).

Crooksbury Common: 5 Crossbills (J Gates).

Richmond Park: Wheatear (P Pentek).

Thursley Common: 1st-summer female Red-footed Falcon still, seen in flight on several occasions though highly mobile and probably feeding aerially at great height and spending time at other commons in the area; also 2 Crossbills (many observers).

West Clandon: Grey Partridge at Clandon Wood NR in car park early morning (M Phelps).

Monday 18th

Red-footed Falcon, Thursley Common (J Sellen).
Red-footed Falcon, Thursley Common (J Sellen).

Bookham Common: Wheatear (J Barkham).

Holmethorpe SP: Oystercatcher on Spyne’s Mere (G Hay/R Perry).

Thursley Common: 1st-summer female Red-footed Falcon over Pudmore from at least 15:00-c.16:30 then flew east with two Hobbies and no further sign by dusk; 10th Surrey record and 2nd for Thursley (of a fully wild bird), the last of which was on 13 May 1961 (D Brassington/BirdGuides/P Carr/J Hobden/E Stubbs/S Jones/J Sellen et al).

Richmond Park: female Wheatear (A Westenberger).

Sunday 17th

Caspian Gull, Rotherhithe (R Bonser).
Caspian Gull, Rotherhithe (R Bonser).

Addlestone: Common Sandpiper and Wheatear at gravel pits (M McLoughlin).

Ewell: possible Black Kite flew north at 17:15 (S Thomas).

Ockham Common: male and female Whinchat (M Wright).

Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Caspian Gull at Greenland Dock (R Bonser).

Saturday 16th

Beddington Farmlands: Common Sandpiper (BFBG).

Burpham Water Meadows: drake Shelduck (J Sellen).

Dorking: Whimbrel sound recorded at 00:25 (M Davis).

Ewell: Oystercatcher sound recorded at 00:12 (S Thomas).

Frensham Common: male Hen or Montagu’s Harrier flew through at 07:30 (I Finch).

Hankley Common: Black Kite reportedly present late morning then flew west (BirdGuides).

Friday 15th

Addlestone: Common Sandpiper and 2 Wheatears at gravel pits (M McLoughlin).

Chipstead: Spotted Flycatcher at Chiphouse Wood (S Gale).

Dorking: Curlew sound recorded at 01:00 (M Davis).

Holmethorpe SP: Common Sandpiper (G Hay).

Papercourt Water Meadows: Common Sandpiper (E Sames).

Priest Hill: Wheatear (J Simpson).

The Sands: Hoopoe flew low north at 06:35 (J Gates).

Virginia Water: drake Common Scoter with Tufted Duck (T Donegan).

Thursday 14th

Crossbill, The Hurtwood (E Stubbs).
Crossbill, The Hurtwood (E Stubbs).

Brixton: 3 Fieldfares in garden (LNHS).

Leatherhead: probable Black Kite flew over near recycling centre in evening (BirdGuides).

Papercourt Water Meadows: Common Sandpiper on River Wey (C Lodge).

The Hurtwood: 2 Crossbills (E Stubbs).

Wednesday 13th

Shelduck, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).
Shelduck, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Shelduck (BFBG).

Hindhead Common: 2 probable Great Egrets flew north-west at 10:36; also 4 Crossbills (J Hodge).

Holmethorpe SP: drake Shelduck at Spyne’s Mere (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: Grasshopper Warbler reeling on south shore of Main Lake (WWT).

Tuesday 12th

Hindhead Common: 6 Crossbills at Gibbet Hill (J Hodge).

South Norwood CP: Common Sandpiper (M Wingrove).

Monday 11th

Holmethorpe SP: Common Sandpiper at Spyne’s Mere (G Hay).

Newchapel: 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Shawlands Farm (K Noble).

Sunday 10th

Addlestone: Black Kite flew north-east over gravel pits at 09:40; eighth Surrey record (third this spring!) providing all are accepted (M McLoughlin).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Shelduck (P Carr).

Berrylands SF: Shelduck (J Gale).

Godalming: Little Ringed Plover on Lammas Lands at Catteshall Meadow (S Jones).

Hindhead Common: 10 Crossbills (D Burges).

Holmethorpe SP: Common Sandpiper on Glebe Lake (G Hay).

Island Barn Reservoir (no access): 2 Oystercatchers (C Turner).

Morden Hall Park: Spotted Flycatcher early morning (S Patmore).

Shackleford: Wheatear (P Osborn).

Thursley Common: 2 Hawfinches flew north-west at 08:30 (E Stubbs).

Saturday 9th

Honey Buzzard, Capel (W Attridge).
Honey Buzzard, Capel (W Attridge).

Beddington Farmlands: Shelduck (BFBG).

Binscombe: Osprey flew south-east mid-morning (R Brown).

Capel: female Honey Buzzard flew east at 15:05 (W Attridge).

Holmethorpe SP: 10 Garden Warblers (Holmethorpe record count); it seems to be a very good year for this species in Surrey (G Hay).

Morden Hall Park: Spotted Flycatcher early morning (S Patmore).

Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gull at Greenland Dock (R Bonser).

Shackleford: Wheatear (A Barker).

Stoke Lake: Common Sandpiper (M Kettell).

Unstead SF: Yellow Wagtail flew north early morning (E Stubbs).

Friday 8th

Black-necked Grebes, Beddington Farmlands (P Alfrey).
Black-necked Grebes, Beddington Farmlands (P Alfrey).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Black-necked Grebes; also 3 Oystercatchers, Common Sandpiper and 2 Shelduck; view only from public footpath and do not enter hides (P Alfrey/BFBG).

Chilworth: Wheatear (E Garcia).

Epsom Downs: 2 Wheatears (K Guest).

Ewell: Dunlin sound recorded at 22:56 and Oystercatcher at 22:32 (S Thomas).

Yellow-legged Gull, Rotherhithe (R Bonser).
Yellow-legged Gull, Rotherhithe (R Bonser).

Frensham Great Pond: Common Sandpiper (S Jones).

Holmethorpe SP: Little Ringed Plover and 5 Common Sandpipers (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: 2 Yellow Wagtails and Common Sandpiper (WWT).

Richmond Park: Oystercatcher flew over Pen Ponds; also Wheatear and possible Black Kite reported at 10:20 (H Bradshaw/A Westenberger).

Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gull at Greenland Dock; also 3 Common Sandpipers (R Bonser).

South Norwood CP: Common Sandpiper (J Hughes).

West Molesey: Osprey flew east in afternoon (R Hill).

Thursday 7th

Wheatear, West Clandon (M Phelps).
Wheatear, West Clandon (M Phelps).

Beddington Farmlands: Common Sandpiper and Shelduck (A Dutta/B Shimmers).

Capel: Yellow Wagtail flew over (W Attridge).

Chobham: male Wheatear at Chobham Park Farm (E Sames).

Godalming: Oystercatcher on Lammas Lands at Catteshall Meadow mid-morning; also Little Ringed Plover (K Britten/S Jones/K Lightfoot/P Osborn/E Stubbs).

Morden Hall Park: Yellow Wagtail early morning (S Patmore).

Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gull at Greenland Dock; also 3 Common Sandpipers (R Bonser).

Shackleford: Wheatear (P Osborn).

Stoke Lake: Common Sandpiper (M Kettell).

Tice’s Meadow: Common Sandpiper (R Seargent).

West Clandon: male Wheatear collided with window but recovered (M Phelps).

Wednesday 6th

Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover, Frensham Great Pond (E Stubbs).
Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover, Frensham Great Pond (E Stubbs).

Ashtead Common: Spotted Flycatcher early morning (S Ferguson).

Beddington Farmlands: Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper and 4 Shelduck (P Alfrey/P Carr/K Guest).

Epsom Downs: late news of Hoopoe still present on Friday but no sign since (BirdGuides).

Frensham Great Pond: Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper early morning (E Stubbs).

Guildford: Yellow Wagtail flew over (C Burchell).

Holmethorpe SP: Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: male Ring Ouzel, Oystercatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Wheatears (WWT).

Green Sandpiper, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).
Green Sandpiper, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).

Papercourt GP: Common Sandpiper (A Wilson).

Richmond Park: Common Sandpiper at Upper Pen Pond (H Bradshaw/M Bravery).

Shackleford: Wheatear (P Osborn).

Tice’s Meadow: Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper (R Horton).

West Clandon: 2 Yellow Wagtails flew north (M Phelps).

Tuesday 5th

Broadwater Lake: Common Sandpiper (K Lightfoot).

Holmethorpe SP: Little Ringed Plover at Spynes Mere (G Hay).

Horton CP: Tree Pipit (B Smith).

Priest Hill: 4 Wheatears (S Thomas).

Richmond Park: 2 Whinchats and 4 Wheatears (A Westenberger).

Rotherhithe: Common Sandpiper at Surrey Water (R Page-Jones).

Monday 4th

Ashtead Common: Wheatear (E & P Hunter).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Dunlin and 2 Shelduck (BFBG/P Carr).

Richmond Park: 2 Whinchat and female Wheatear (H Bradshaw).

Shackleford: Wheatear (S Jones).

Sunday 3rd

Wheatear, Thursley Common (E Stubbs).
Wheatear, Thursley Common (E Stubbs).

Ash Ranges: Crossbill (R Seargent).

Berrylands SF: Shelduck (J Gale).

Capel: Hoopoe flew high north-east over Old Stores Meadows Reserve at 07:47 (W Attridge).

Epsom: Black Kite flew east over Stonleigh Broadway at 16:45; seventh Surrey record pending acceptance (N Batten).

Epsom Downs: Whinchat and 3 Wheatears (K Guest).

Ewell: Redshank sound recorded at 22:22 (S Thomas).

Frensham Great Pond: Common Sandpiper (eBird).

Holmethorpe SP: 2 Common Sandpipers (G Hay).

Langley Vale: unconfirmed report of Wood Warbler in flight (BirdGuides).

Richmond Park: Whinchat and 11 Wheatears (A Bayly/A Boylan/H Bradshaw/A Westenberger).

Shackleford: Whinchat (P Osborn).

Stoke Lake: Red-crested Pochard reported in afternoon (H Childs).

Thursley Common: Wheatear at Pudmore (E Stubbs).

Unstead Water Meadows: Spotted Flycatcher near Perry Bridge (S Jones).

Wisley Airfield: Wheatear (A Bowes).

Worcester Park: Wood Warbler singing at Sir Joseph Hood Park (C Northwood).

Saturday 2nd

Wheatear, Shackleford (E Stubbs).
Wheatear, Shackleford (E Stubbs).

Beddington Farmlands: 3rd-summer Caspian Gull, Common Sandpiper and 4 Shelduck (P Carr).

Epsom Downs: Fieldfare (K Guest).

Ewell: Whimbrel sound recorded overnight (S Thomas).

Farncombe: Oystercatcher sound recorded at 22:32 (E Stubbs).

Holmethorpe SP: Common Sandpiper (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: Whinchat, Mediterranean Gull, Common Sandpiper and 2 Yellow Wagtails (WWT).

Morden Hall Park: Tree Pipit flew north at 06:21 (S Patmore).

Papercourt GPs: 2 Common Sandpipers (R Clark).

Richmond Park: Red-crested Pochard and and Wheatear (A Westenberger/P Pentek).

Shackleford: Wheatear (E Stubbs).

Wisley Airfield: Wheatear (A Bowes).

Friday 1st

Holmethorpe SP: 4 Common Sandpipers (G Hay).

Richmond Park: Common Sandpiper (P Pentek).

Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gull at Greenland Dock; also 3 Shelduck flew east in morning (R Bonser).

Tice’s Meadow: 4 Green Sandpipers (L Winchcombe).

Wimbledon Common: Wheatear (J Reeves).