The 2017 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.
The report includes accounts of the 207 species seen in the county, a summary of ringing activity and an article detailing the irruption of Hawfinches in 2017.
The full content list and details of how to order are here.
COVID-19: please continue to follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and exercising outdoors.
Banstead: 2 Redwings flew north-west (S Gale).
Beddington Farmlands: Yellow-legged Gull, Red-crested Pochard, 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers (C Albanese).
Cranleigh: Whinchat at Cranleigh Nurseries (R Stride).
Leith Hill: 5 Ring Ouzels (2 north of Coldharbour cricket pitch and 3 south-west over tower); also 1,475 House Martins, Woodlark, Tree Pipit and 281 Meadow Pipits south and 100+ Crossbills about (W Attridge/E & P Hunter/P Mattos).
Little Woodcote: possible Merlin flew south … Read more
COVID-19: please continue to follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and exercising outdoors.
Badshot Lea: Great Egret at Badshot Lea Ponds (J Hunt).
Beddington Farmlands: Red-crested Pochard (I Jones).
Birtley Green: Whinchat at Bonhurst Farm (E Stubbs).
Cranleigh: 3 Whinchats at Holdhurst Farm; also 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Uttworth Manor and Redstart at Great Garson (R Stride).
Crooksbury Common: Spotted Flycatcher and 20+ Crossbills (P Bamford).
Dorking: Tree Pipit over Milton Court Farm (M Davis).
Holmethorpe SP: 2 Whinchats at The Moors; … Read more
The Committee has decided that, unfortunately, it is not practical to hold the AGM At East Horsley Village Hall on Friday 25th September. Instead of holding a virtual one, the Committee has decided to deal with the AGM by way of online voting (or paper forms for those members without an email address)m with members being asked to raise any issues by 12 pm on Friday 9th September with the Membership Secretary (via ku.gro.bulcdribyerrusnull@pihsrebmem).
If any member has not received a link to an online voting form or a postal voting form by 20th August 2020, please … Read more
2020 has been another successful year for the Woking Peregrines. The Woking Peregrines Project (WPP) has been running for 5 years and is hoping to raise sufficient interest/funds to enable the publication of a WPP book, documenting the first five years of the project. If you are interested in supporting the publication of the book (or indeed buying the book if published), please visit the WPP website: www.wokingperegrines.com/book/
COVID-19: please continue to follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and exercising outdoors.
Capel: 2+ Crossbills flew over (W Attridge).
Chelsea & Lambeth Reservoirs: 14 Green Sandpipers (C Turner).
Thursley Common: 16 Crossbills flew over (D Brassington).
Tice’s Meadow: Great Egret still; also Greenshank, Dunlin, 8 Green Sandpipers and Common Sandpiper (K Britten/J Hunt).
Weyburn Meadows: 5 Crossbills flew over (E Stubbs).
Leith Hill: 16 Crossbills over tower (M Davis/M Phelps).
We have scheduled meetings for August and September (subject to appropriate lifting of COVID-19 restrictions). You can find full details here.
Photo of Garganey by D Harris
Back issues of British Birds and all the Birding World magazines dating back to 1987 are available, with a donation to Surrey Bird Club suggested if anyone wants a lot of them.
If you are interested, then please contact Kevin Allen.
Photo of Ringed Plover by D Harris
COVID-19: please continue to follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and exercising outdoors.
Tice’s Meadow: Oystercatcher flew over and Redshank in The Workings (J Brough).
Beddington Farmlands: Redshank (A Wasley).
London Wetland Centre: 2 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers and Common Sandpiper (WWT).
Epsom Downs: juvenile Black Redstart (K Lelliott).
Thursley Common: 2 Crossbills (P Osborn).
Tice’s Meadow: 2 Redshanks and Common Sandpiper (J Brough).
The Hurtwood: 5 Crossbills (J Gates).
Tice’s Meadow: 2 Redshanks and Common Sandpiper … Read more
Spotted Flycatcher has undergone a wretched modern-day decline, with Breeding Bird Survey data showing a breeding population drop of 39% between 1995 and 2016. This is part of a staggering longer-term decline of 87 per cent since 1970, a trend that is recognisable in the steady drop in numbers in Surrey. The results of initial research indicate that more Spotted Flycatchers are dying during the first year of their lives and that this increased mortality is likely to be behind the population decline.
Despite this rather bleak outlook, and the fact there has been a steady decline in the county, … Read more