Records Committee Decisions
10 November 2021 update
This year’s meeting took place on 15 August. The current line-up consists of myself (Dave Harris), Steve Chastell, Jeremy Gates, Shaun Peters, John Clark, Ed Stubbs and Wes Attridge. Sadly, Wes was unable to attend. A large number of records had already been circulated electronically (see 6 February 2021 update below), but there were still many to trawl through, the vast majority of which gained acceptance.
The results can be seen in the table below. Highlights included an exceptional influx of White-fronted Geese, the county’s first Alpine Swift since 2005, groups of three Tundra Bean Geese and Roseate Terns and two Hoopoes. Accepted BBRC records included Surrey’s first Bonaparte’s Gull and the Thursley Common Rustic Bunting.
Species | Finder(s) | Date found | Location | Decision |
Alpine Swift | Helena Finden-Brown / Wildlife Aid | 22 June 2021 | North Cheam | Accepted |
Great Northern Diver | Steve Spooner | 21 November 2020 | Island Barn Reservoir | Accepted |
Hoopoe | John Clark | 16 May 2021 | Farnham | Accepted |
Merlin | Joe Hobden | 23 September 2020 | Papercourt Water Meadows | Accepted |
Merlin | Arjun Dutta | 15 August 2020 | Little Woodcote | Accepted |
Merlin | Robin Stride | 5 October 2020 | Rowly | Accepted |
Merlin | Steve Gale | 28 March 2020 | Banstead | Accepted |
Quail | Sophie Dorman | 26 May 2020 | Dorking | Accepted |
Roseate Terns (3) | Dave Harris | 6 June 2021 | Chelsea & Lambeth Reservoirs | Accepted |
Tundra Bean Geese (3) | Kevin Duncan | 22 December 2020 | Thorpe | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (45) | Mark Davis | 30 November 2020 | Betchworth | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (19) | TJ Forster | 1 January 2021 | Millmore Common / Sutton Place / Westfield | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (2) | Phil Pentek | 4 December 2020 | Richmond Park | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Mark Davis | 9 March 2021 | Bury Hill Lakes | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Phil Pentek | 17 March 2021 | Richmond Park | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (3) | Ed Stubbs | 19 December 2020 | Unstead SF / Unstead Water Meadows | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (2) | Dave Brassington | 12 December 2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (11) | Joe Hobden | 12 December 2020 | Papercourt Water Meadows | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Trevor Walker | 30 November 2020 | Horley | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Gordon Hay / Ian Kehl | 5 December 2020 | Holmethorpe SP | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Sam Jones | 1 January 2021 | Broadwater Lake | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Ed Stubbs | 7 January 2021 | Shalford Water Meadows | Accepted |
White-fronted Goose | Dina Burford | 13 January 2021 | Tice’s Meadow | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (19) | Carey Lodge | 19 January 2021 | Papercourt GP | Accepted |
White-fronted Geese (2) | Ed Stubbs | 24 December 2021 | Snowdenham Mill Pond | Accepted |
Whooper Swan | Mark Stanley | 26 January 2021 | Banstead Woods | Accepted as wild swan species |
Wood Warbler | Joe Hobden | 15 August 2020 | Effingham Forest | Accepted |
Wood Warbler | Jon Bryant | 18 April 2021 | Newlands Corner | Accepted |
Wood Warbler | Sam Jones | 25 April 2021 | Puttenham Common | Accepted |
Wryneck | Phil Pentek | 10 September 2020 | Richmond Park | Accepted |
Yellow-browed Warbler | Nick Gardner | 31 October 2020 | Beddington Farmlands | Accepted |
Hoopoe | Jeremy Gates | 15 May 2020 | The Sands | Accepted |
Common Redpoll | Don Tyzack | 6 March 2019 | East Horsley | Accepted |
Great Egret | James Court | 6 December 2018 | Frensham Great Pond | Accepted |
Black Kite | 8 May 2020 | Richmond Park | Not proven | |
Hen Harrier | 2 May 2021 | Frensham Common | Not proven | |
Little Bunting | 5 October 2020 | Tice’s Meadow | Not proven | |
Olive-backed Pipit | 29 September 2020 | Chobham Common | Not proven | |
Richard’s Pipit | 13 October 2020 | Richmond Park | Not proven | |
Scaup | 29 November 2020 | Holmethorpe SP | Not proven | |
Red-footed Falcon | 28 September 2018 | Reigate | Not proven | |
Long-eared Owl | 31 October 2020 | Tice’s Meadow | Pending more details | |
BBRC decisions | ||||
Rustic Bunting | Dave Brassington | 27 November 2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Bonaparte’s Gull | Dave Harris | 16 June 2020 | Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir | Accepted |
6 February 2021 update
The below batch of records were assessed digitally in early 2021 by each member of the Surrey Bird Club Records Committee (see here). Highlights include the vice-county’s second Short-toed Lark (and first since 1966), the seventh record of Black-winged Stilt, two Little Buntings, Ring-necked Duck, Lapland Bunting, Hoopoe and Arctic Skua.
For those with records still pending, the committee hopes to provide a new batch of decisions soon. Meanwhile, please submit details or photos of any rare birds found as soon as possible after the event, following the guidelines here.
Species | Finder(s) | Date found | Location | Decision |
White-fronted Geese (22) | Guy Norman | 8 December 2020 | Burpham Water Meadows | Accepted |
Whooper Swans (4) | Dave Harris | 27 September 2020 | Walton Reservoirs (Chelsea and Lambeth) | Accepted |
Ring-necked Duck | Gordon Hay | 15 December 2020 | Priory Park, Reigate | Accepted |
Black-winged Stilts (2) | Len Winchcombe | 9 June 2020 | Tice’s Meadow | Accepted |
Arctic Skua | Peter Alfrey | 2 October 2020 | Beddington Farmlands | Accepted |
Spoonbill | Kevin Duncan | 10 October 2020 | Longside Lake | Accepted |
Spoonbill (same as above) | James Lowther / Sarah Weingarten | 10 October 2020 | London Wetland Centre | Accepted |
Cattle Egrets (4) | Ed Sames | 5 October 2020 | Papercourt Water Meadows | Accepted |
Honey Buzzards (2) | Gerry Hinchon | 29 July 2019 | Undisclosed | Accepted |
Honey Buzzard | Ed Stubbs | 9 August 2020 | Unstead SF | Accepted |
Goshawk | Steve Gale | 18 September 2020 | Beddington Farmlands | Accepted |
Goshawk | Patrick Venables | 7 November 2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Hen Harrier | Dave Brassington | 8 October 2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Hoopoe | Margo Scott | 7 May 2020 | Woking | Accepted |
Wryneck | Robin Stride | 21 September 2020 | Winterfold | Accepted |
Merlin | Gareth James | 20 September 2020 | Lydling Farm, Shackleford | Accepted |
Short-toed Lark | Ed Stubbs | 19 September 2020 | Lydling Farm, Shackleford | Accepted |
Yellow-browed Warbler | Graham Croney | 5 October 2020 | Hogsmill Open Space | Accepted |
Yellow-browed Warbler | Richard Page-Jones | 10 October 2020 | Rotherhithe | Accepted |
Lapland Bunting | Matt Phelps | 12 October 2020 | Clandon Wood | Accepted |
Snow Bunting | Dave Harris | 28 November 2020 | Island Barn Reservoir | Accepted |
Little Bunting | Ed Stubbs | 19 October 2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Little Bunting | Matt Hall / Graham Robson | 24 December 2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
20 September 2020 update
The Surrey Bird Club Records Committee met on 20th September 2020 in Walton-on-Thames (in accordance with the COVID-19 rules in force on that date). Present were Dave Harris, David Campbell, Steve Chastell, John Clark and Shaun Peters.
Notable birds included two Bee-eaters, Red-footed Falcon, Roseate Tern, Richard’s and Red-throated Pipits, a Rose-coloured Starling, and perhaps the most amazing of all the first wild White-tailed Eagle in the County since 1906!
All those considered appear in the table below. An increasing number of submissions these days are backed up by photos, making the task for the committee far more straightforward. Please submit details of any rare birds found as soon as possible after the event, following the guidelines here.
Species | Observer(s) | Date | Location | Decision |
Bee-eater | John Birkett | 31/05/2020 | Sanderstead | Accepted |
Bee-eater | Steve Gale | 01/06/2020 | Howell Hill, Ewell | Accepted |
Black Kite | Wes Attridge | 10/04/2019 | Capel | Accepted |
Cattle Egret (6) | David Warren | 17/08/2020 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Cattle Egret (2) | Kevin Duncan | 07/07/2020 | Tice’s Meadow | Accepted |
Ferruginous Duck | Jeremy Gates et al | 11/11/2019 | Papercourt GP | Accepted |
Gannet | Ed Stubbs | 26/03/2019 | Unstead SF | Accepted |
Glossy Ibis | Andy Little | 17/09/2020 | Tice’s Meadow | Accepted |
Golden Oriole | P Marshall | 26/05/2019 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Goshawk | Sam Jones | 08/05/2020 | Frensham Common | Accepted |
Great Grey Shrike | Trevor Synman | 21/09/2019 | Chobham Common | Accepted |
Great Grey Shrike | Trevor Walker | 28/10/2019 | Horley | Accepted |
Great Northern Diver | Dudley Cox | 01/12/2018 | Frensham Great Pond | Accepted |
Great Skua | Wes Attridge | 24/09/2018 | Leith Hill | Accepted |
Great White Egret | Martin Kettle | 01/11/2017 | Stoke Lake | Accepted |
Great White Egret | Martin Kettle | 20/10/2018 | Stoke Lake | Accepted |
Great White Egret | Dave Harris | 06/05/2019 | Walton Res (Chelsea/Lambeth) | Accepted |
Great White Egret | Steve Spooner | 06/01/2019 | Woking | Accepted |
Great White Egret | John Cadera | 24/08/2020 | Southwark | Accepted |
Great White Egret | Zach Pannifer | 29/08/2020 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Hen Harrier | Glenn Jones | 24/03/2019 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Hen Harrier | Ed Stubbs | 19/11/2019 | Lydling Farm, Shackleford | Accepted |
Hen Harrier (ringtail, juv male) | Simon Hammond | 24/07/2020 | Canon’s Farm | Accepted |
Honey Buzzard | Shaun Ferguson | 01/09/2019 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Honey Buzzard | Wes Attridge | 09/05/2020 | Capel | Accepted |
Honey Buzzard | Shaun Ferguson | 29/07/2020 | Canon’s Farm | Accepted |
Hoopoe | Pete Alfrey | 15/04/2018 | Beddingon SF | Accepted |
Hoopoe | C & S Paine | 28/04/2020 | Epsom & Walton Downs | Accepted |
Hoopoe | Kevin Guest | 30/04/2020 | Epsom & Walton Downs | Accepted |
Hoopoe | Keith Barton | 10/05/2020 | Chobham | Accepted |
Hoopoe | N Allen | 04/09/2020 | Reigate | Accepted |
Hoopoe | Wes Attridge | 03/05/2020 | Capel | Accepted |
Manx Shearwater | D Woodruff | 12/09/2020 | Woking | Accepted |
Ortolan Bunting | Ed Stubbs | 01/09/2018 | Alldens Hill, Thorncombe Street | Accepted |
Ortolan Bunting | Ed Stubbs | 02/09/2018 | Alldens Hill, Thorncombe Street | Accepted |
Ortolan Bunting | Ed Stubbs | 03/09/2018 | Alldens Hill, Thorncombe Street | Accepted |
Ortolan Bunting | Ed Stubbs | 25/08/2019 | Alldens Hill, Thorncombe Street | Accepted |
Ortolan Bunting | Ed Stubbs | 26/08/2019 | Alldens Hill, Thorncombe Street | Accepted |
Ortolan Bunting | Arjun Dutta | 10/09/2020 | Wallington | Accepted |
Pink-footed Goose | Steve Chastell | 09/02/2019 | Burpham Water Meadows | Accepted |
Quail | Ed Stubbs | 14/06/2020 | Shackleford | Accepted |
Red-footed Falcon | James Sellen | 18/05/2020 | Thursley Common | Accepted |
Red-throated Diver | Dave Harris et al | 18/03/2019 | QE2 & Island Barn Res | Accepted |
Red-throated Pipit | Ed Stubbs | 15/10/2019 | Hascombe | Accepted (also Accepted by BBRC) |
Richards Pipit | Pete Alfrey et al | 29/10/2018 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Ring-necked Duck | Shaun Peters | 23/03/2019 | Frensham Great/Little Ponds | Accepted |
Roseate Tern | Dave Harris | 22/06/2020 | Queen Elizabeth II Res | Accepted |
Rose-coloured Starling | Christine Muir | 31/05/2020 | Horley | Accepted |
Shag | A Stotnicki | 06/09/2020 | Kingston Bridge | Accepted |
Siberian Chiffchaff | Ed Stubbs & Abel Barker | 04/12/2019 | Unstead SF | Accepted |
Spoonbill | Pete Alfrey | 16/04/2020 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Spoonbill (2) | Roger Browne | 01/10/2019 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Spoonbill (2) | Kevin Duncan | 22/05/2020 | Tice’s Meadow | Accepted |
Spoonbills (4) | Dave Warren | 17/10/2019 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Spotted Crake | Kit Britten | 10/04/2019 | Shalford Water Meadows | Accepted |
Stone Curlew | Nick Gardner | 31/03/2019 | Beddington SF | Accepted |
Stone Curlew | Ed Stubbs | 04/08/2019 | Alldens Hill, Thorncombe Street | Accepted |
Storm Petrel | Steve White | 25/04/2019 | Beaver Farm Fishery, Lingfield | Accepted |
White Stork | Alison Gilry | 31/08/2020 | Colley Hill | Accepted |
White-tailed Eagle | Isaiah Rowe | 14/04/2020 | Worcester Park | Accepted |
Whooper Swan | Steve Read | 02/12/2019 | Richmond Park | Accepted |
Wryneck | WWT | 05/09/2019 | LWC | Accepted |
Wryneck | Graham Harris | 15/09/2019 | Dungeon Hill, Woodmanstern | Accepted |
Wryneck | P Pentek | 06/09/2020 | Richmond Park | Accepted |
Wryneck | Ed Stubbs | 02/09/2020 | Shackleford | Accepted |
Yellow-browed Warbler | Richard Page-Jones | 18/12/2019 | Rotherhithe | Accepted |
Not Proven | ||||
Bee-eater | 02/08/2019 | South Nutfield | ||
Black Kite | 08/04/2020 | Warlingham | ||
Black Kite | 03/05/2020 | Stoneleigh Broadway, Epsom | ||
Black Kite | 10/05/2020 | Addlestone | ||
Cattle Egret (2) | 09/09/2019 | Tice’s Meadow | ||
Common Crane | 19/11/2019 | Runnymede | ||
Common Crane (2) | 24/09/2018 | Tice’s Meadow | ||
Great White Egret | 04/06/2019 | Salfords | ||
Little Stint | 01/08/2020 | Tice’s Meadow | ||
Rose-coloured Starling | 18/05/2019 | Mitcham Common | ||
Spoonbill (2) | 22/08/2019 | Beddington SF |