Bird Flu

Following a meeting of more than 100 experts, a report into the continuing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or ‘bird flu’) outbreak has been published by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

HPAI has caused mass mortalities in the UK’s internationally important wild waterbirds and seabirds since the current outbreak began in October 2021. Across the UK, more than 60 species have been affected, and data collected by the governments’ conservation bodies, other organisations and volunteers indicates that many more than 20,000 wild birds have died. Especially badly affected species include wintering Barnacle Geese … Read more

March 2023

Friday 31st

Shelduck, Hogsmill SF (J Snell).
Shelduck, Hogsmill SF (J Snell).

Beddington Farmlands: 4 Ruff on Phase 3 Wet Grassland; also 4 Willow Warblers, Green Sandpiper, Swallow and 3 Little Ringed Plovers (G Jones/Z Pannifer).

Bisley: Willow Warbler (A Clifford).

Burpham: Shelduck pair at Burpham Court Farm (S Chastell).

Hogsmill SF: Shelduck pair (J Snell).

Island Barn Reservoir (permit only): Common Tern and Willow Warbler (A Harding/D Harris).

London Wetland Centre: White Wagtail on Main Lake; also 4 Willow Warblers, Goldeneye and 2 Swallows (A Wilkinson).

Shackleford: female Wheatear (P Osborn).

Southwark Park: Willow Warbler (J … Read more

February 2023

Tuesday 28th

Beddington Farmlands: Mediterranean Gull, Water Pipit and 12 Shelduck (Z Pannifer/D Warren).

Holmethorpe SP: adult Yellow-legged Gull on Water Colour Lagoon 1 (G Hay).

London Wetland Centre: Goldeneye and 2 Oystercatchers (A Salmon).

Unstead Water Meadows: Golden Plover late afternoon then flew north (N Willis).

Monday 27th

Beddington Farmlands: 7 Water Pipits, 3 Green Sandpipers and 11 Shelduck (Z Pannifer).

Churt: ringtail Hen Harrier flew north over Jumps Lane at 15:10 (R Douglas).

London Wetland Centre: adult Iceland Gull briefly on Main Lake mid-afternoon then flew upriver; also Water Pipit, Goldeneye, … Read more

SOS webinars

sussex ornithological society logo

Sussex Ornithological Society has arranged a series of free online webinars for the winter months and Surrey Bird Club members are welcome to attend. The next one of these is entitled :

Raptor persecution and its impact: RSPB Wildlife Crime Unit

Tuesday 21 February 2023, 7 pm

The RSPB team are keen to reach out to birders on how to act and what to do if they come across something ‘suspicious’ in the field. Case studies will be mentioned from Southern England during the presentation.

Further details can be found at:

Sussex Ornithological Society’s online webinars | Eventbrite

29/01/2023

Montreal COP15

Montreal COP15 biodiversity logo

Biodiversity is hard to measure, poorly understood, mobile, mostly invisible and inherently complex. The last COP9 agreement, from 2010, was an abject failure, where not a single target was reached. A key focus of the recent Montreal global biodiversity conference, COP15 (held jointly with Kunming, China), was ‘30×30’: protecting at least 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Just before Christmas, the meeting secured an historic global framework (The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030.  This was apparently forced through by the Chinese president, ignoring objections from some African states who wanted … Read more

Security

Surrey Bird Club would like to remind birders of the dangers of the theft of birding equipment from cars and even the risk of mugging. Unlike most other personal possessions, our equipment is easily visible to casual observers and valuable items become an obvious target for the ruthless who are out to make quick and easy money, regardless of the impact on others. The well-known bird watching sites and car parks, often quite remote, are a convenient focus for these activities.

There are a number of recommendations which it is worth considering at the start of a new year.

  • Watch
… Read more

January 2023

Tuesday 31st

Jack Snipe, Beddington Farmlands (I Jones).
Jack Snipe, Beddington Farmlands (I Jones).

Beddington Farmlands: Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper and 4 Shelduck (I Jones/A Wilkinson).

Bisley: male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (A Clifford).

Effingham Forest: 7 Hawfinches at Dick Focks Common (BirdGuides).

Holmethorpe SP: Mediterranean Gull on Water Colour Lagoon 2 (N Hadden).

London Wetland Centre: Bittern, Water Pipit, female Goldeneye and 2 Shelduck (M Bravery/C Dewhurst/A Wilkinson).

Monday 30th

Cutt Mill Ponds: 2 drake and 2 redhead Goosander (D Smith).

Effingham Forest: 4+ Hawfinches at Dick Focks Common (M White).

Frimley: Hawfinch briefly by community centre on … Read more

Patchwork Challenge

Patchwork Challenge Logo

The birding fraternity has seen a shift in attitudes recently, with many birders turning their attention from twitching to more intensive study of a local patch. The advantages of watching a local patch are obvious. Low fuel costs, environmental benefits and travel time aside, great pleasure can be derived from getting to learn a place inside out, adding detailed information to the bird databases and getting value from common species that otherwise wouldn’t get a second glance. The Patchwork Challenge adds a structure and a little friendly competition to patch birding.

The score each bird earns will be related to … Read more

Season’s greetings

Winter 22 Tices (Colin Varndell )

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

21/12/2022 (Photo: Colin Varndell at Tice’s Meadow)

December 2022

Saturday 31st

London Wetland Centre: Bittern on Main Lake; also Jack Snipe and 2 Shelduck (A Salmon).

Friday 30th

London Wetland Centre: 2 Bitterns on Main Lake; also Water Pipit, Jack Snipe, Pintail, Goldeneye, Brambling and Dartford Warbler (R Dunne/A Salmon).

Sutton Place: 3 Jack Snipe at Triggs Lock (C Badenhorst).

Thursday 29th

Mediterranean Gull, Papercourt GPs (R Clark).
Mediterranean Gull, Papercourt GPs (R Clark).

Beddington Farmlands: Water Pipit and drake Shelduck (Z Pannifer).

Chessington: Jack Snipe at Rushett Farm (A Quinn).

Effingham Forest: 4 Hawfinches at Dick Focks Common (S Portugal/C Smith).

Leatherhead: drake and redhead Goosander on … Read more