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

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

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

The Club is 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.

September 2021

Thursday 30th

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

Wednesday 29th

Burgh Heath: Whinchat at Canons Farm (I Magness).

Leith Hill: 4 Crossbills (W Attridge).

London Wetland Centre: juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on Main Lake (P Smallshire).

Tuesday 28th

Beddington Farmlands: Garganey and 2 Green Sandpipers (M Bravery/I Jones).

London Wetland Centre: juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on Main Lake; also Pintail (J Klavins).

Monday 27th

Chilworth: Osprey flew west along River Tillingbourne early afternoon (R Brewer).

London Wetland Centre: juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on Main Lake; also Garganey (J Klavins).

Tice’s Meadow: … Read more

Discounted book offer

WTWB Social Media Card

Hampshire Recorder Keith Betton has arranged a discount for SBC members for his new book, an updated version of the classic Where to Watch Birds in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The publication date is scheduled to be 28 October, but it is available for pre-orders now.

For 30% off Where to Watch Birds in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, use the discount code WTWB30 at www.bloomsbury.com.

August 2021

Tuesday 31st

Chobham Common: Wryneck along footpath north-east of Gracious Pond Road and north of Butt’s Hill though elusive; also Spotted Flycatcher (J Clark/E Sames/P Wallace).

Frensham Great Pond: juvenile Little Gull c.17:30-18:25 (S Peters).

London Wetland Centre: Garganey, Greenshank, 5 Yellow Wagtails and Green Sandpiper (N Anderson/J Klavins).

Richmond Park: 5 Whinchats and Redstart (R Dunne/S Read).

Tice’s Meadow: drake Garganey (BirdGuides).

Wisley Airfield: 2 Redstarts (A Bowes).

Wonersh: Osprey (A Attridge).

Monday 30th

Garganey, London Wetland Centre (J Klavins).
Garganey, London Wetland Centre (J Klavins).

Ash Ranges: 2 Whinchats and 6 Spotted Flycatchers (J Clark).

Beddington … Read more

Jeff Wheatley 1933-2021

We are sorry to announce the death of Jeff Wheatley, a Club Vice-President and huge contributor in so many respects. Jeff was not only County Recorder from 1983 to 2010, but was also the Surrey Bird Report Editor until 1994. In addition, Jeff prepared all of the maps for the Surrey Bird Atlas 2007-2012 and hosted and co-ordinated all Records Committee meetings for many years. As well as this, Jeff was also the author of the authoritative Birds of Surrey which was published by the Club in 2007. A full obituary will be published in the next issue of Birding Surrey. The Committee’s thoughts go … Read more

July 2021

COVID-19: please continue to follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and exercising outdoors.

Saturday 31st

Beddington Farmlands: 2nd-summer Caspian Gull; also Black-tailed Godwit, Wheatear and 18 Green Sandpipers (I Jones).

London Wetland Centre: Sanderling and Green Sandpiper (BirdGuides/WWT).

Shackleford: Grasshopper Warbler at Lydling Farm (P Osborn/E Stubbs).

Tice’s Meadow: Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers and 2 Little Ringed Plovers (M Nurse/R Seargent).

Friday 30th

Beddington Farmlands: Black-tailed Godwit on Wet Grassland (I Jones).

Clandon Wood: Wheatear (M Phelps).

Thursley Common: Green Sandpiper (D Brassington).

Tice’s Meadow: 3 … Read more