November 2024

Friday 15th

Mediterranean Gull, Island Barn Reservoir (D Harris).
Mediterranean Gull, Island Barn Reservoir (D Harris).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Water Pipits (J Pettit).

Holmethorpe SP: Bittern at Spynes Mere (G Hay).

Island Barn Reservoir (permit only): adult Mediterranean Gull (D Harris).

London Wetland Centre: Shelduck (A Salmon).

Richmond Park: Shelduck (B Munn).

Weybourne: female-type Black Redstart in gardens near Green Lane Meadows (BirdGuides).

Thursday 14th

Green Sandpiper, Beddington Farmlands (I Jones).
Green Sandpiper, Beddington Farmlands (I Jones).

Beddington Farmlands: 4 Goosander on North Lake; also 3 Water Pipits and 2 Green Sandpipers (N Gardner/I Jones/D Warren).

Capel: 2 Bramblings south-west and 65 Redpolls (W Attridge).… Read more

Elstead book sale

Book sale flyer

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.

October 2024

Thursday 31st

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Water Pipits and 2 Green Sandpipers (M Bravery/N Gardner).

Capel: 2 Hawfinches south-west (W Attridge).

Chipstead Downs: 4 Hawfinches at the Nuttery (BirdGuides).

Effingham Forest: 2 Hawfinches at Dick Focks Common (BirdGuides).

Puttenham Common: 5 Hawfinches south (BirdGuides).

Tulse Hill: Hawfinch south-west (S Patmore).

Winterfold Heath: 12 Hawfinches over (R Stride).

Wednesday 30th

Great Black-backed Gull, Island Barn Reservoir (D Harris).
Great Black-backed Gull, Island Barn Reservoir (D Harris).

Banstead: 7 Hawfinches west (S Gale).

Beddington Farmlands: Yellow-browed Warbler with mixed tit flock; also female-type Black Redstart by South Hide (S Thomas/G Walker).

Haslemere: … Read more

September 2024

Monday 30th

Island Barn Reservoir (permit only): Black Tern (D Harris).

Rotherhithe: 2 Great Black-backed Gulls at King’s Stairs (J Cadera).

Westcott: 2 Redwings at The Nower (C York).

Sunday 29th

Marsh Harrier, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).
Marsh Harrier, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).

Beddington Farmlands: Whinchat, Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpipers and Sand Martin (M Parker).

Charterhouse: Yellow Wagtail (S Allen).

Holmethorpe SP: female-type Marsh Harrier north-west; also c 553 House Martins south (G Hay/I Kehl).

London Wetland Centre: Whinchat at Wader Scrape (M Bowen/L Robinson/L Whittaker-Smith).

Priest Hill: 6 Redwings west (N Batten).

Thorpe Park: Common … Read more

Surrey Bird Report 2021

Surrey Bird Report 2021

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

August 2024

Saturday 31st

Alfold: 2 Whinchats and 3 Yellow Wagtails at Pallinghurst Farm (R Stride).

Beddington Farmlands: 2 Yellow Wagtails, adult Common Gull and 9 Green Sandpipers (N Gardner).

Holmethorpe SP: Wheatear at Mercers Farm; also 3 Green Sandpipers (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: 5 Black-tailed Godwits on Main Lake; also Wigeon, 3 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers (A Salmon).

Leg of Mutton LNR: Osprey (BirdGuides).

Richmond Park: Arctic Tern through Upper Pen Ponds; also 2 Whinchats, 13 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Tree Pipits (D Brasier/P Pentek).

South Norwood: 2 Arctic Terns north-east … Read more

Surrey Bioblitz

A ‘bioblitz’ aims to bring together the local community and wildlife experts in order to showcase our nature reserves, to learn about the local environment and to identify as many plant and animal species as possible. And there are 2 great bioblitz wildlife events in Surrey in one weekend.

On Saturday 20 July, Tice’s Meadow invites you to a fun and free family friendly event which includes a wide range of activities for all ages:

On Sunday 21st July, Hampton Estates are hosting the first Puttenham Common Bioblitz. Walks will be organised throughout the day to cover Botany, Birds, Meet … Read more

July 2024

Wednesday 31st

Caspian Gull, Kingston upon Thames (T Inns).
Caspian Gull, Kingston upon Thames (T Inns).

Beddington Farmlands: juvenile Marsh Harrier at North Lake (D Warren).

Godalming: Whimbrel over Brighton Road at 23:30 (N Willis).

Holmethorpe SP: 2 Green Sandpipers at The Moors (G Hay).

Kingston upon Thames: juvenile Caspian Gull at recycling centre (T Inns).

Leith Hill: 25 Whimbrels west; also 2 Tree Pipits east (W Attridge).

London Wetland Centre: 3 Green Sandpipers (J Reeves).

Tuesday 30th

Marsh Harrier, Beddington Farmlands (P Rogers).
Marsh Harrier, Beddington Farmlands (P Rogers).

Beddington Farmlands: juvenile Marsh Harrier at North Lake (C Owens/J Pettit/P Rogers).

Holmethorpe SP: Green … Read more

Surrey Bird Club Records Committee decisions

Grey Phalarope, Island Barn Reservoir (D Harris).

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.

June 2024

Sunday 30th

Common Scoter, Frensham Little Pond (E Stubbs).
Common Scoter, Frensham Little Pond (E Stubbs).

Beddington Farmlands: Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 24 Lapwings including 5 chicks, Shoveler and 7 Teal (D Bulling).

Frensham Little Pond: drake Common Scoter (S Peters).

London Wetland Centre: 3 Green Sandpipers; also Shoveler and Oystercatcher family (W Newnham/A Salmon).

Richmond Park: Redshank at Upper Pen Pond (D Brasier).

Tice’s Meadow: Redshank and Little Ringed Plover (R Seargent).

Saturday 29th

Tice’s Meadow: Redshank and Green Sandpiper (R Horton/G Tillin).

Friday 28th

Beddington Farmlands: female Shoveler, Green Sandpiper and 4 Teal (N Gardner).

Crooksbury Common… Read more