The BTO is running a Heathland Bird Survey this year concentrating on Woodlarks, Dartford Warblers and Nightjars. However it is not just heathland that needs covering and survey squares include forestry plantation, other woodland/scrub habitat and some farmland.   The BTO has selected a  considerable number of 1 km squares in Surrey and these need to be visited 2 or 3 times between February and June. Please help if you can. What the visit requires is walking through any suitable habitat, in the square, whilst looking and listening for the species (and a few others as mentioned below). Squares need visiting … Read more

Results from the latest Surrey Bird Club Records Committee meeting can be viewed on the Records Committee Decisions page, with highlights including Common Rosefinch, Woodchat Shrike and Long-tailed Skua.

The former Surrey County Recorder, Jeff Wheatley, died a couple of years ago and, sadly, his wife Jean died last year. Together they had a large collection of books which included books on birds both from the UK and around the world.  They also had other natural history books.  There are volumes of antiquity as well as newer volumes

A sale of these books is taking place this Saturday 2 November at Elstead United Reform Church. The proceeds will go to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and Elstead URC.

The 2021 Surrey Bird Report (SBR) is out and will be arriving with members.

This, the 69th edition of the SBR, features a review of the year and the full systematic list of birds seen in the vice-county in 2021, as well as the annual ringing report, early and late dates of migrants, nest record totals, and a range of colour photos. Also included are papers on “A Survey of Population Changes in the Birds of Richmond Park 2012 to 2021” and the “Wintering Rustic and Little Buntings at Thursley Common, 2020-21”.

Non-members may purchase a copy at a price … Read more

The latest records committee meeting took place on 5 June 2024.

The aim was to get through all 2023 records and a single remaining 2022 record. In total, nearly 100 records were assessed – more than 75% of these were accepted.

Among the standout birds were the vice county’s second-ever record of Citrine Wagtail, and the first twitchable Marsh Warbler since 2001.

The full list of records are on the Records Committee Decisions page.

Surrey Bird Club wants to see more wetland habitats restored and created. As such, we were excited to hear about a major project to create a new Surrey wetland on the outskirts of London. It will form part of the existing Hogsmill Local Nature Reserve (LNR), and provide new habitat for birds, plants, and insects.

The Hogsmill River is a chalk stream, which starts from a spring in Ewell and travels through Ewell, Old Malden, and Berrylands, before reaching the Thames.  Chalk streams are globally rare, and the new wetland will improve the water quality in the Hogsmill River by … Read more

The new and updated Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex book, out in early 2024, is available for pre-order here. Surrey Bird Club members are entitled to a special 30% off that applies to pre-orders. This discount can be obtained by entering the code SURREYBIRDS30.

( 1964 – 2023)

We were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Steve Chastell last week, at the age of only 59. Steve was our county bird recorder, former chair of Surrey Bird Club, and a well-known figure to many in the worlds of birding and nature, both in Surrey and beyond.

Steve was a dedicated local patch watcher, spending many hours in the field, usually on his bike. The Stoke area was his main focus, along with other sites in the Guildford area. He was also an experienced ringer, ringing with the group at Queen Mary … Read more