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

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