Field Meeting Reports 2022
Tice’s Meadow Nature Reserve, Sunday 20th November 2022
On a bright but chilly morning, 13 birders met at the entrance to Tice’s Meadows, to be greeted by Mark Elsoffer, who kindly took us on a tour round this well-managed reserve. Having tracked various reports during the week, it was hoped that the pair of Dartford Warblers, the Great Egret and on or two Green Sandpipers would still be on site – we were not disappointed! Mark gave an opening introduction to the Reserve, it’s history and the new ownership giving the Reserve a certain future.
A feeding party of Long-tailed Tits was heard as we entered the Reserve, with a pair of Jays and Jackdaws calling and then seen as we made our way out to Ray’s Gap. Mark explained the Bird Group’s activities with the installation of Barn Owl and Swift boxes and their plans into 2023. Checking for the Dartford Warblers, we scanned The Meadow finding Stonechat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Kestrel.
We headed to Horton’s Mound, very kindly, a number of the volunteers had set up their scopes for us. With many pairs of eyes we were able to identify a host of birds – most importantly was the pair of Dartford Warblers – whilst elusive most of the Group managed to latch onto them – the clue was to find the Stonechats and the Dartfords were close by. Other sightings from the viewpoint included Common Snipe, Lapwing, Red Kite and Egyptian Goose. Goldfinch, Redwing and Greenfinch were all heard and then seen overhead.
Making our way down to Hanson’s Hide, we were able to take in a wealth of waterbirds with good numbers of Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Canada Geese and Mute Swans. A pair of Great Crested Grebes were also spotted in their winter plumage. One of the Group shouted out “Egret” and from over the A31, came a large white bird, which at first we thought ‘Little Egret’, but once it properly came into view, it was clear from its sheer size that it was a Great Egret. Landing on the far shore, its size compared to the resident Grey Herons was quite evident. Clearly not a welcome newcomer to the Reserve, the herons continually hassled it but it remained feeding along the far bank. Great to see a Great Egret in Surrey.
To the eastern bank of The Workings, a distant Green Sandpiper was found, and, with our scopes, everyone got some good views. A Common Buzzard spooked the Lapwings and the large number of gulls on the islands – Herring, Blackheaded and a single Lesser Black-backed were identified.
Mark concluded the tour by taking us to the Woodland Feeding Station, adding to our species list. We had very good views of Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird and a further Greenfinch.
A really enjoyable morning, with our thanks to Mark and his other colleagues for making us all so welcome. In total we saw or heard 47 species.
| Canada Goose | Collared Dove | Red Kite | Common Starling |
| Mute Swan | Common Moorhen | Common Buzzard | Redwing |
| Egyptian Goose | Eurasian Coot | Common Kestrel | Eurasian Blackbird |
| Northern Shoveler | Northern Lapwing | Eurasian Jay | European Robin |
| Gadwall | Common Snipe | Common Magpie | European Stonechat |
| Mallard | Green Sandpiper | Eurasian Jackdaw | House Sparrow |
| Eurasian Teal | Black-headed Gull | Carrion Crow | Pied Wagtail |
Andy Harding
Thursley Common – Saturday 11 June 2022
A beautiful warm and still evening greeted 13 SBC members at this iconic Surrey reserve – what it lacks in quantity of birds, it makes up with in quality; showcasing many of the classic heathland birds. Meeting at the the Moat Pond visit. We immediately saw Grey Wagtail (juvenile), Mallard and plenty of Swifts (which were seen all over the reserve). Before we reached the main path, one of our party spotted a female Redstart on the path, accompanied by two males. Superb views of this beautiful and charismatic bird were had by all
With the boardwalk out of action due to last year’s fire, we embarked on a 3 mile loop round the reserve heading for Shrike Hill, taking in part of the boardwalk to Pine Island and then back through pine, gorse and bog.
An inconspicuous brown bird low in a pine tree was identified as a Woodlark, with another flying by showing its bat-like flying characteristics. Further along the path we heard and eventually found a singing Willow Warbler and some of the Group heard the rasping call of a Dartford Warbler.
Later from Shrike Hill, a few of the Group caught up with two Dartford Warblers, albeit only fleeting glimpses (there are good numbers to be seen during the day but perhaps not so evident as the evening draws in). Just before we got to the bottom of Shrike Hill, Ed Hilton spotted a bird that had landed in an isolated bush. With scopes we were able to identify it as a Tree Pipit, which then performed beautifully for us as it landed much closer in a pine tree and began to sing. At this point we also had Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Redstart, Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tits (a flock of 21!) all singing, which was an excellent opportunity to pick out the various calls. Over Shrike Hill and a distant calling Cuckoo was heard and then seen by some. Stonechats were feeding a young bird and a group of three Woodlark flew by and nestled onto the heathland floor.
With such a bright moon and a wonderful sunset, twilight seemed far off and certainly the Nightjars clearly felt the same, as apart from one churring bird at the base of Shrike Hill, overlooking the vast expanse of bog, there was little Nightjar activity. As we walked towards the existing boardwalk towards Pine Island, an eerie call emanated from the bog, which signalled that a Curlew was nearby. Scanning the bog we located two adults and two very young birds. Excellent views of this superb wader were seen by all and the fact that they had young added to both the excitement and the realisation that we were privileged to witness such a family group (in Surrey!).
Heading back round the loop, we at last heard Nightjars, albeit elusive in flight as the night came in. Just as we got to the end of the loop we heard a high-pitched, short explosive sound and looking up we all saw a Woodcock fly directly above our heads. A real highlight of the evening.
Nearing the car park. half the group were finally treated to a Nightjar fly-by as it headed from the Moat woodland onto the heath. A really enjoyable walk with great company and an impressive list of iconic Surrey heathland birds, 28 species (seen or heard):
| Mallard | Common Buzzard | Woodlark | Eurasian Blackbird |
| Common Woodpigeon | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Eurasian Skylark | Common Redstart |
| Common Cuckoo | Common Magpie | Willow Warbler | Eurasian Stonechat |
| Eurasian Nightjar | Eurasian Jackdaw | Common Chiffchaff | Grey Wagtail |
| Common Swift | Carrion Crow | Long-tailed Tit | Tree Pipit |
| Northern Lapwing | Coal Tit | Dartford Warbler | Common Linnet |
| Eurasian Curlew | Eurasian Blue Tit | Eurasian Wren | European Goldfinch |
Andy Harding
RSPB Pulborough Brooks – Sunday 22 May 2022
A beautiful morning greeted 14 SBC birders as we arrived at one of the most productive and beautiful of the RSPB reserves in the South. The target bird for the day was the Nightingale and no one was disappointed as we immediately heard two singing around the car park. A few early arrivals managed to get a glimpse of the birds but they were, as usual, very elusive. Throughout the morning we intermittently heard their song – in all 6 were heard.
Once all gathered, we stopped off at the viewpont by the pond and visitor centre. We had an amazing array of birds sighted by 14 pairs of eyes with shouts of Avocet, Mandarin Duck, Cuckoo, Mistle Thrush, Linnet and Greenfinch amongst others!
A circular walk was planned via the Zig-Zag path listening out for Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat and then taking the right route to Jupp’s View, stopping off at Fattengates Courtyard for a very active area of nesting and singing tits, Dunnocks and Greenfinches. On the way we did have a look over the field opposite Fattengates and most got excellent views of the calling male Cuckoo, before it was mobbed by Carrion Crows.
At Jupp’s View, we spent half an hour scanning the Arun Valley for hirundines, wildfowl, raptors and waders. There was a lot to see with the highlight being 3 waders skimming over the water and finally settling to reveal that they were 3 Little-Ringed Plovers. Other waders were 2 Redshanks and displaying Lapwings with a good array of wildfowl – a large flock of grazing Egyptian Geese, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard and a single Shelduck. Excellent close-to views of Linnets in breeding plumage was a real bonus. Moving along the ridge, a few were lucky to get a fleeting view of a Hobby, but everyone had good views of a few Common Buzzards and a very distant Red Kite. At Winpenny Hide we had a very close-up hovering Kestrel but were disappointed to hear we had missed two very distant White-tailed Eagles (apparently having been seen regularly in the Arun Valley – part of the reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight).
Continued birdsong from tits, finches and warblers on the way back to the visitor centre gave everyone some birdsong identification challenges. It was good to finish off with some good views of a pair of Stonechats.
In total 55 species were seen or heard:
| Canada Goose | Pied Avocet | Common Magpie | Common Starling |
| Mute Swan | Northern Lapwing | Eurasian Jackdaw | Mistle Thrush |
| Eqyptian Goose | Little Ringed Plover | Rook | Eurasian Blackbird |
| Common Shelduck | Common Redshank | Carrion Crow | European Robin |
| Mandarin Duck | Black-headed Gull | Eurasian Blue Tit | Common Nightingale |
| Gadwall | Great Cormorant | Great Tit | European Stonechat |
| Eurasian Wigeon | Grey Heron | Eurasian Skylark | Dunnock |
| Mallard | Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Barn Swallow | House Sparrow |
| Eurasian Teal | Red Kite | Common Chiffchaff | Pied Wagtail |
| Common Pheasant | Common Buzzard | Cetti’s Warbler | Eurasian Bullfinch |
| Feral Pigeon | Green Woodpecker | Long-tailed Tit | European Greenfinch |
| Common Woodpigeon | Common Kestrel | Eurasian Blackcap | Common Linnet |
| Common Cuckoo | Eurasian Hobby | Common Whitethroat | European Goldfinch |
| Common Moorhen | Eurasian Jay | Eurasian Wren |
Andy Harding
Staines Moor and Reservoirs – 24 April 2022
A chilly but bright spring morning, saw 22 enthusiastic birders heading off on a two venue morning to seek spring migrants at the Moor and new gull and tern arrivals at the Reservoirs.
The walk towards the Moor was full of birdsong allowing the opportunity to distinguish the songs of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat – with only a few of the Group managing to get fleeting sightings of the latter two. Dunnock, Cetti’s, Wren and Song Thrush songs all added to the identification challenge.
Overhead we had glimpses through the tree canopy of Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Ring-necked Parakeets.
Once on the Moor, there was a complete transition of bird species, with those characteristic of open lowland being identified. There were displaying Skylarks, Sedge Warblers and Linnets calling from tops of the scrub, a male Stonechat making its characteristic clicking call and a beautiful Reed Bunting spied within the reeds on the edge of the River Colne. Overhead we identified 3 Kestrels, 2 Red Kites, a distant Common Buzzard and 2 Common Terns working their way along the river. Overall we had 47 species.
Half the group headed over to the Reservoir, for an hour’s scan over the vast expanse of water of the North and South basins. Despite the biting wind, we managed to identify up to 13 Little Gulls (adults in full summer plumage with some juveniles lacking the black hoods). Views through the scopes enabled everyone to see the tern-like flight with some adults showing a pink flush to their underparts.
Of equal interest were the 4 summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebes, who were much closer and everyone was able to appreciate the fantastic black and brown plumage with the distinctive ear tufts and red eyes. Disappointingly there were no waders evident, but good numbers of wildfowl were about – Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Coot and Great-crested Grebe. We also had good views of Common Terns overhead: We had 17 species here.
In total 56 species were seen or heard.
| Mute Swan | Black-necked Grebe | Eurasian Jay | Common Whitethroat |
| Northern Shoveler | Black-headed Gull | Common Magpie | Eurasian Wren |
| Gadwall | Little Gull | Eurasian Jackdaw | Common Starling |
| Mallard | Great Black-backed Gull | Carrion Crow | Song Thrush |
| Tufted Duck | Common Tern | Eurasian Blue Tit | Eurasian Blackbird |
| Great-crested Grebe | Great Cormorant | Great Tit | European Robin |
| Black-necked Grebe | Grey Heron | Eurasian Skylark | European Stonechat |
| Common Pheasant | Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Sedge Warbler | Dunnock |
| Feral Pigeon | Red Kite | Common Chiffchaff | House Sparrow |
| Stock Dove | Common Buzzard | Cetti’s Warbler | Pied Wagtail |
| Common Woodpigeon | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Long-tailed Tit | European Greenfinch |
| Common Moorhen | Eurasian Green Woodpecker | Eurasian Blackcap | Common Linnet |
| Eurasian Coot | Common Kestrel | Garden Warbler | European Greenfinch |
| Great Crested Grebe | Ring-necked Parakeet | Lesser Whitethroat | Common Reed Bunting |
Andy Harding
Warnham Nature Reserve, Horsham – Sunday 20th March 2022
It was a really good turnout for the first field trip to this site. Although not in Surrey, the site is close to the Surrey border and the lack of Surrey Birds did not put off the number of participants. In all some 15 people joined me on this field trip. It may have been the weather forecast , which was for sunshine, and it did feel very spring like although there was a bit of chill in the wind. There was a good mix of both experienced birders and some novices who wanted to learn more which made for a very effective field trip.
In the first hide (adjoining the entrance) we entered, we had a lovely view over the lake. As this site is known for its heronry one of the challenges was seeing how many herons could be seen in one go. As far as I am aware the maximum number seen was five. Some cormorants were present too and we were treated to a couple of grey wagtails close to the hide as well.
One small duck which was dabbling proved a slight challenge but in the end it was decided that it was likely to be a female Pochard. Pochard of course being known for its diving rather than its dabbling but it definitely was an Aythya species. We then left the hide and walked along to the first set of bird feeders. A Chiffchaff started singing which was the first Chiffchaff a number of participants had heard this year. The bird feeders were not very active, at that point, so we moved onto the next set of bird feeders where there were good views of Reed Bunting and Greenfinch. There was also a rat and a grey squirrel enjoying some of the food too!
We then made our way around the site stopping at various hides. Some participants stayed outside one of the hides and were treated to a pair of Treecreepers chasing each other around. Further on in the wood a bird started singing. It sounded as though it was from the Tit family but the song was slightly challenging. On finding the bird in the trees we realised it was an unusual song for a Marsh Tit. It was a lovely walk through the woods but not too many species made themselves known.
It was mainly a circular walk but, when we re-joined the main path, we stopped at the birdfeeders on the return trip and at the first set were treated to great views of a Marsh Tit as well as Nuthatch. At the second set of feeders we did even better with a close-up views of a Redwing on the ground plus a male Redpoll and a female Brambling.
The morning had flown by and we had been very lucky with the weather. A couple of participants were lucky enough to get a fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher and a Little Egret too and in all some 30 species were seen by everyone.
| Pheasant | Herring Gull | Goldcrest |
| Greylag Goose | Cormorant | Wren |
| Canada Goose | Grey Heron | Blackbird |
| Mute Swan | Little Egret | Redwing |
| Egyptian Goose | Red Kite | Song Thrush |
| Mallard | Buzzard | Robin |
| Teal | Kingfisher* | House Sparrow |
| Pochard | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dunnock |
| Tufted Duck | Magpie | Grey Wagtail |
| Feral Pigeon | Carrion Crow | Chaffinch |
| Woodpigeon | Marsh Tit | Greenfinch |
| Moorhen | Blue Tit | Lesser Redpoll |
| Coot | Great Tit | Goldfinch |
| Great Crested Grebe | Long-tailed Tit | Siskin |
| Black-headed Gull | Chiffchaff | Reed Bunting |
Penny Williams