RSPB talk for SBC members

The reformed RSPB Crawley & Horsham Local Group invites Surrey Bird Club to attend a free Zoom meeting:

Saving special places

by Dr Andre Farrar, Protected Area Campaigner, the RSPB

Wednesday, 23 November 2022: 7.30 pm

To take part in this event, please email: 

We will send you the link to join the Zoom meeting a few days before the event.

Imagine the confusion as a bird returns to the place that a few months previously had provided for all its needs. But now the landscape has changed, nesting scrub has gone to be replaced by roads and houses, … Read more

November 2022

Wednesday 30th

Brent Goose, Beddington Farmlands (D Warren).
Brent Goose, Beddington Farmlands (D Warren).

Beddington Farmlands: Brent Goose on North Lake; also Shelduck (S Thomas/D Warren).

London Wetland Centre: Dartford Warbler on Wader Scrape; also female Goldeneye (M Wheeler/A Wilkinson).

Papercourt Water Meadows: Water Pipit in fields off Tannery Lane (J Hobden).

Worcester Park: Little Bunting briefly near stables at Lower Morden Equestrian Centre at 12:00 but no further sign by 13:10; 10th Surrey record pending acceptance (C Northwood).

Tuesday 29th

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

Cutt Mill Ponds: 7 Goosander (5 drakes and 1 redhead on … Read more

SBCRC decisions

The latest batch of decisions from the Surrey Bird Club Records Committee can be read here.

Tice’s Meadow handover

Tices Meadow Handover- Group 2 (SCC)

Last week saw the official handover of Tice’s Meadow Nature Reserve to Surrey County Council. This wildlife haven on the outskirts of Farnham saw its long-term future safeguarded when a partnership of six councils came together in December 2021 to purchase the site and protect it as a natural space. 

Surrey County Council acquired the site from Hanson UK with funding support from Hampshire County Council, Guildford Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Farnham Town Council.  The 55 hectare former quarry site which is fully restored as a nature reserve now forms part of the Surrey County … Read more

BBRC decisions: Oct 2022

The remaining 2021 BBRC decisions for Surrey have been published.

The Thorpe Park Ferruginous Duck, found by J Snell on 25 November 2021 and present until 31 January 2022, has been accepted. This marks the 38th record for the vice-county.

The other two accepted 2021 records were published earlier this year, namely the Crooksbury Common Two-barred Crossbill and Thursley Common Black Stork (see here).

The remaining three 2021 BBRC records were deemed non-proven.

October 2022

Monday 31st

Holmethorpe SP: 2 Green Sandpipers at Spyne’s Mere (G Hay).

Tice’s Meadow: 2 Dartford Warblers in meadow (BirdGuides).

Wimbledon Common: Dartford Warbler (J Reeves).

Sunday 30th

Great Egret, Tice's Meadow (M Fincham).
Great Egret, Tice’s Meadow (M Fincham).

Beddington Farmlands: 1st-winter Ring Ouzel in south-east corner of North Lake; also 4 Water Pipits, Pintail and 7 Green Sandpipers (N Gardner/J Pettit).

Hook: Swallow over (G Barter).

London Wetland Centre: 6 Black-tailed Godwits over; also Jack Snipe, Dartford Warbler and Pintail (M Fowles).

Thursley Common: 4 Crossbills (J Hobden).

Tice’s Meadow: 2 Great Egrets and Green Sandpiper (J Cooper/M Fincham/R … Read more

RSPB campaign

RSPB England has issued a Twitter thread in order to highlight the dangers of the proposals to relax the controls which protects UK wildlife. It says:

“This Government has today launched an attack on nature. We don’t use the words that follow lightly. We are entering uncharted territory.

What the Government has proposed in today’s mini-budget on top of yesterday’s announcements potentially tears up the most fundamental legal protections our remaining wildlife has.

“The government has agreement in principle with 38 areas to establish tax-cutting Investment Zones which will drive growth & unlock housing development.” says the Treasury.

And it … Read more

September 2022

Friday 30th

Addlestone GPs: Green Sandpiper (J Snell).

Beddington Farmlands: Ruff flew south-mid morning; also Brambling south, Water Pipit, Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Pintail on North Lake, 7 Green Sandpipers and Common Sandpiper (A Dutta).

Box Hill: Redstart (S Gale).

Frensham Outlet Pond: Great Egret mid-morning then flew south-west at 09:58; 6th Frensham record (S Peters).

Holmethorpe SP: Common Sandpiper at Spyne’s Mere (G Hay).

Island Barn Reservoir: 180 Barnacle Geese and 2 Wheatears (T Quinn).

Wimbledon Common: Wheatear (Jon Reeves).

Thursday 29th

Cranleigh: Curlew flew over Vachery Lane at 11:25 (D McKenzie).… Read more

2019 Surrey Bird Report

SBR 2019 front cover

The 2019 Surrey Bird Report is now available. The report contains accounts of the 209 species recorded in the county in 2019. This is in the form of a monthly summary of the weather conditions and brief bird highlights; followed by an analysis for each species  by month, location and number. There were two new county longevity records but no new county records. Also included is a summary of the ringing activity for the 20,000 birds ringed, and an article on the breeding of blackcaps in Surrey and Co. Armagh in 2019.

This is an invaluable resource to all in … Read more

Young birders walk

A walk for young birders, organised by the BTO, is taking place at Beddington Farmlands on Wednesday 24 August – and there are still spaces available.

Arjun Dutta will lead the walk which starts 9.30 am, finishing at 3 pm. The event is open to under 25-year-olds only, with a focus on 11–24-year-olds. Participants under 18 will need to fill in a consent form with their parent(s)/carer(s) and send this to BTO before the event.

Come prepared for any weather in appropriate clothing (no shorts – it’s tick season!) and footwear, and bring some water and lunch. Don’t forget a … Read more