Survey cancelled

Photo: Nightingale, Shaun Ferguson

Following the earlier decision to cancel the first part of the planned survey of Chiddingfold Forest this spring, a survey of Nightingales, the Club and the Sussex Ornithological Society have decided that the second part of the survey, a survey of Turtle Doves, should also be cancelled.  The intention is to carry out the whole of the survey next year. 

Our thanks to all who volunteered, and we hope you that you will take part next year.  

Photo of Nightingale by Shaun Ferguson

2016 Surrey Bird Report out now

The 2016 Surrey Bird Report is available now and has been posted to all members.

Non-members can purchase a copy for £10 plus £1.50 p&p. Details of how to order are here.

2020 AGM postponed

Yellow Wagtail, Shackleford (E Stubbs).

In view of the likelihood that some restrictions due to the Coronavirus are likely to remain in place for several months, the General Committee has decided to postpone the AGM set for 26 June. You can find further information here.

Photo of Yellow wagtail by Ed Stubbs

Wild White-tailed Eagle in Surrey

The first wild White-tailed Eagle to be seen in Surrey for 114 years was photographed yesterday [Monday 13 April] by Isaiah Rowe as it flew high south over his Worcester Park garden at 2.30 pm.

White-tailed Eagle, Worcester Park (I Rowe).
White-tailed Eagle, Worcester Park (I Rowe).

The extraordinary record comes following a reintroduction scheme on the Isle of Wight and this individual, an immature, was initially thought to be one of these birds – two have already flown through Surrey since 23 March, according to the data from their satellite tags. However, Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation – the organisation behind the project – have since … Read more

Chiddingfold Forest survey

Photo: Nightingale, Shaun Ferguson

Following the further restrictions announced by the government on Monday 23 March, Surrey Bird Club and Sussex Ornithological Society have decided that the first part of the survey of the Chiddingfold Forest planned for this spring (a survey of Nightingales in late April and early May) will have to be postponed until next year.  It may still be possible to carry out the Turtle Dove part of the survey in mid-May to mid-July, but this will depend on the new restrictions on movement being relaxed.  If they are not, the Turtle Dove part of the survey will also be postponed until … Read more

Woking Peregrines

Peregrine, Woking, 19/03/20 (C Denford)

The popular Peregrine Falcons of Woking town centre have been successfully breeding since 2016. They now have four eggs and you can watch the live webcam here.

Photo supplied by Craig Denford

Field trips cancelled

In view of the latest government advice over the coronavirus / COVID-19 outbreak, all the field meetings up until the end of April have been cancelled. We anticipate that it may well be necessary to cancel subsequent field meetings but we will update this website to confirm the situation by the middle of April.

Photo Yellow Wagtail by Dave Harris

Changes to the website

Photo: Nightingale, Shaun Ferguson

We have made a few changes to the website. Sites and Sightings are now two separate menus. We will be adding suggested walks to the Sites Menu and we have moved the page Where to find Nightingales to that menu too. If you have bookmarked any pages, such as Recent Sightings, you might have to update that bookmark. We apologise if inconvenience is caused but the reason is to provide better content for users of this website.

Photo Nightingale by Shaun Ferguson

Tice’s Meadow under threat


Thanks to the hard work of the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group (TMBG) and other local organisations, Tice’s Meadow is now one of the premier birding sites in Surrey. 

All that hard work could be undone following a decision by Hansons, the gravel extraction company, to sell the site.  Although Tice’s has to be maintained as a nature reserve for a fixed period, there is no stipulation about how the site should be managed.  Hansons have told TMBG that they will make no test of the new owner’s suitability for managing a nature reserve, the new owner will be under no … Read more

2019 Records Committee decisions

Great Egret, Richmond Park (D Muthalib).

The Surrey Bird Club Records Committee held their annual meeting in March, when many excellent records were considered, including two county firsts. You can find full details here.

Great Egret photo supplied by D Muthalib