January 2025

Thursday 2nd

Badshot Lea Pond: redhead Goosander (J Hunt).

Beddington Farmlands: Black-tailed Godwit; also 3 Water Pipits, 2 Shelduck and 8 Green Sandpipers (R Dennis/G Howgate/C Strudwick).

Box Hill: 150+ Hawfinches at Ashurst Rough (S Gale).

Cutt Mill Ponds: 3 Goosander (M Elsoffer).

Effingham Forest: 15 Hawfinches and 2 Bramblings at Dick Focks Common (G Robson).

Hedgecourt Lake: Goosander or Red-breasted Merganser over (K Noble).

Holmethorpe SP: 2 Green Sandpipers (G Hay).

Kingston upon Thames: 1st-winter Caspian Gull (BirdGuides).

Leatherhead: redhead Goosander on River Mole (J Snell).

London Wetland Centre: … Read more

Seasons Greetings

Robin (Jon Hawkins - Tices Meadow)

Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year to all members and Surrey birders.

Photo: Robin – “Who ate all the mince pies ?” (Jon Hawkins – Tices Meadow )

December 2024

*If you’ve any outstanding 2024 rarity records to submit please do so by the end of the year*

Tuesday 31st

Battersea: 1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull on River Thames (A Dutta).

Beddington Farmlands: Bearded Tit, Jack Snipe, 2 Water Pipits, 3 Shelduck and 2 Green Sandpipers (M Bravery/G Howgate/R Walker).

Holmethorpe SP: drake Pintail at Spynes Mere (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: Bittern on Main Lake; also Yellow-legged Gull (M Auger/A Salmon).

Send: 12 Bramblings and Yellowhammer at Prews Farm (M Fincham).

Tate Modern: Great Black-backed Gull (R Braddock).

Tooting Common: 1st-winter female Ferruginous … Read more

November 2024

Saturday 30th

Water Pipit, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).
Water Pipit, Holmethorpe SP (G Hay).

Beddington Farmlands: 3 Water Pipits; also female Shelduck and 2 Green Sandpipers (M Bravery/G Howgate/I Jones/J Pettit/A Ramesh).

Bletchingley: 2 Green Sandpipers over golf club (G Hay).

Earlswood Lakes: drake Goosander (A Baldock).

Holmethorpe SP: Water Pipit at Chilmead Farm (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: Avocet on Main Lake; also Bittern at Reservoir Lagoon and Great Black-backed Gull (S Alley/E Devlin/K Peacock/A Salmon).

Richmond Park: Avocet on Upper Pen Pond (D Brasier).

Tooting Common: 1st-winter female Ferruginous Duck on lake; origin suspect (BirdGuides).

Wandsworth: … 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