January 2022

Monday 17th

White-fronted Goose, Dorking (S Dorman).
White-fronted Goose, Dorking (S Dorman).

Leatherhead: 2 drake Goosander on River Mole at Common Meadow (M White).

London Wetland Centre: 2 Water Pipits, 2 Jack Snipe, Brambling and Pintail (WWT).

Sheepleas: 80+ Bramblings (N Jones).

Westcott: juvenile White-fronted Goose with Greylags at Milton Court Farm (S Dorman).

Sunday 16th

Bittern, Hedgecourt Lake (I Jones).
Bittern, Hedgecourt Lake (I Jones).

Beddington Farmlands: 1st- and 2nd-winter Caspian Gulls on Wet Grassland; also 2 drake Shelduck and Green Sandpiper (N Gardner/A Ramesh).

Cutt Mill Ponds: drake and redhead Goosander (M Scott).

Hedgecourt Lake: Bittern showing well mid-afternoon, though not … Read more

Surrey Hills AONB

Surrey Hills AONB

28/12/21

It may be of interest to Surrey Bird Club members that Natural England is conducting a formal boundary review for the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There has been a desire locally for many years for a review to decide whether additional areas adjacent to the existing AONB boundary should also be designated. They are asking for public contributions to assist the decision-making process.

Since AONBs are designated solely for their outstanding natural beauty, any decision about an extension to the Surrey Hills AONB boundary will be based on assessments of factors that relate directly to … Read more

Merry Christmas

Robin, London Wetland Centre, 24/04/17 (J Drewett)

22/12/21

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

Photo: Robin, London Wetland Centre, 24/04/17 (J Drewett)

Tice’s Meadow Secure

Aerial view of Tice's Meadow (Kyle Russell)

18/12/21

A partnership of six councils has come together to support the purchase of the nature reserve and protect it as open space for the community. Surrey County Council, supported by funding from Hampshire County Council, Guildford Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Farnham Town Council, has bought Tice’s Meadow near Badshot Lea – on the outskirts of Farnham.

The land is 55 hectares (137 acres) of former quarry which is now fully restored as a nature reserve. It has been acquired from Hanson UK, and will become part of the Surrey County Council countryside estate. The … Read more

SBC Holmethorpe field trip 12/12/2021

Ring-necked Duck, Reigate (C Turner).

The next SBC field trip at Holmethorpe SP is going ahead on Sunday [12 December] despite being omitted from the latest edition of Birding Surrey. Here are more details and we hope to see you there. At the last field trip at Holmethorpe, the long-staying Ring-necked Duck was present there. Will it be this time? It’s currently nearby in Reigate, so fingers crossed!

Photo of Ring-Necked Duck at Reigate by C Turner

December 2021

Friday 31st

Smew, Thorpe Park (E Stubbs).
Smew, Thorpe Park (E Stubbs).

Beddington Farmlands: Shelduck (D Warren).

Hurst Green: Brambling at Whitegates Farm (K Puttock).

Leatherhead: 3 drake and 1 female Goosander on River Mole (R Iredale).

London Wetland Centre: Oystercatcher, Bittern, 2 Water Pipits, 3 Jack Snipe, Goldeneye and 2 Pintail (A Salmon).

Pennymead Lake: 3 Goosander (S Chastell).

Richmond Park: Dartford Warbler on slope from car park to Pen Ponds (P Spencer).

Thorpe Park: 1st-winter drake Smew on fishing lake at Abbey Mead; also female Scaup on Abbey and Manor Lakes and 3 drake Goldeneye on … Read more

Changes to rarity list

Ruddy Duck (Heather Paul).

From 1/1/2022

Changes have been made to the list of species deemed vice-county rarities, outlined below. For the species added to the list, a full description is now required (written, photos and / or sound recording). These new additions are:

  • Ruddy Duck
  • Smew
  • Arctic Tern (outer Surrey only)
  • Long-eared Owl
  • Rock Pipit (outer Surrey only)
  • Water Pipit (away from Beddington Farmlands and the London Wetland Centre)

Meanwhile, Short-eared Owl no longer requires a full description in outer Surrey.

The changes are relevant as from 1 January 2022. You can download a rarity description form here. The latest batch of … Read more

November 2021

Tuesday 30th

Goldeneye, Longside Lake (J Snell).
Goldeneye, Longside Lake (J Snell).

Beddington Farmlands: Caspian Gull and Shelduck on North Lake (D Warren).

London Wetland Centre: Bittern, Goldeneye, 2 Pintail and 2 Shelduck (WWT).

Longside Lake: drake Goldeneye and redhead Goosander (J Snell).

Netley Heath: 4 Hawfinches, 8+ Bramblings and 2 Crossbills (A Wilson).

Sheepleas: 20+ Bramblings in top corner of Shere Road car park (R Dunne).

Tulse Hill: Brambling (S Patmore).

Monday 29th

Bury Hill Fisheries: 2 Bramblings (M Davis).

Headley Heath: 2 Hawfinches (S Gale).

London Wetland Centre: Bittern, Goldeneye and 2 Shelduck on … Read more

October 2021

Sunday 31st

Tice’s Meadow: 3 Green Sandpipers (S Brownhill).

Saturday 30th

Beddington Farmlands: Snow Bunting briefly in morning; also 4 Green Sandpipers (BirdGuides/A Harding).

Brockwell Park: 3 Bramblings (S Patmore).

Hersham GP: Cattle Egret (T Kennedy).

Leith Hill: 5 Bramblings and 3 Crossbills (A Harding).

London Wetland Centre: Water Pipit on Grazing Marsh; also Bittern and Brambling (WWT).

Reigate: female Ring-necked Duck on Priory Pond (BirdGuides).

Friday 29th

London Wetland Centre: Bittern (BirdGuides).

Lords Hill Common: Hawfinch (J Gates).

Reigate: female Ring-necked Duck on Priory Pond (G Hay).

Thursday 28th

… Read more

2021 AGM

Black Redstart, Weybourne (J Hunt).

The 2021 Annual General Meeting took place on Friday 10 September at East Horsley village hall.

The Club was pleased to present a talk from Adrian Thomas titled ‘an evening of birdsong’ the talk commencing after the AGM. Adrian has been with the RSPB for 21 years and writes for the organisation about wildlife gardening.

The meet time is 7.45 pm, with the AGM starting from 8 pm. The full address is East Horsley village hall, Kingston Avenue, East Horsley, Surrey KT24 6QT.