Records Committee Decisions

The Surrey Bird Club Records Committee met on 4th February 2018 in Walton-on-Thames. Present were Dave Harris, Eric Soden, David Campbell, Jeff Wheatley and Steve Chastell, whilst John Clark had sent written notes of his assessment of the records.  Records for which no firm decision could be made at the time were circulated to the committee members who could not make the meeting, Jeremy Gates and Shaun Peters, for their input. The threshold for acceptance of a record is 80% of committee members voting. If a record is considered “Not Proven” this is because insufficient evidence has been provided to confirm the identification as the species claimed and eliminate other possibilities A small number of records of sensitive breeding species are not published here.

Some records of nationally rare species are considered by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) and decisions relating to Surrey are also noted below.

Species Observers First Date Location Decision
White-fronted Goose (9) E. Stubbs, M. Phelps 04/12/2015 Thorncombe Street Accepted
White-fronted Goose (4) A. Goddard 10/11/2016 Send (Tannery Lane) Accepted
Spoonbill C. Manville 26/11/2016 Cobham (A3) Accepted
Cattle Egret S. Gale 02/12/2016 Priest Hill, Ewell Accepted
Cattle Egret (2) E. Stubbs 09/04/2017 Thorncombe Street Accepted
Cattle Egret P.J. Casselton et al 14/08/2017 Beddington SF Accepted
Great White Egret M. Phelps 30/10/2016 Chilworth Accepted
Great White Egret K. Guest 27/10/2017 Beddington SF Accepted
Great White Egret K. Guest 30/10/2017 Beddington SF Accepted
Honey Buzzard R. Seargent et al 30/08/2016 Tice’s Meadow, Badshot Lea Accepted
Honey Buzzard G. Barter 06/09/2016 Canons Farm, Banstead Accepted
Honey Buzzard R. Browne 17/09/2016 Beddington SF Accepted
Honey Buzzard M. Phelps 29/05/2017 Leith Hill Accepted
Honey Buzzard E. Stubbs 26/08/2017 Thorncombe Street Accepted
Honey Buzzard D.K. Campbell, I. Jones 08/09/2017 Canons Farm, Banstead Accepted
Goshawk R. Browne 02/04/2017 Beddington SF Accepted
Hen Harrier G. Jones 13/02/2016 Beddington SF Accepted
Hen Harrier K. Guest 13/11/2016 Beddington SF Accepted
Hen Harrier E. Stubbs 16/12/2017 Thorncombe Street Accepted
Montagu’s Harrier D. Knight 16/05/2016 Thursley Common Accepted
Common Crane (4) M. Jones 07/11/2016 Wisley Airfield Accepted
Common Crane N. Wyatt 11/03/2017 Stoke Water Meadows Accepted
Common Crane (2) M. Phelps 02/05/2017 Chilworth Accepted
Stone Curlew G. Jones 21/04/2015 Beddington SF Accepted
Temminck’s Stint D.M. Harris 28/04/2017 Walton Reservoirs Accepted
Temminck’s Stint K. Guest 30/04/2017 Beddington SF Accepted
Pectoral Sandpiper G. Jones 30/08/2015 Beddington SF Accepted
Pectoral Sandpiper D. Brassington 16/09/2017 Thursley Common Accepted
Grey Phalarope D.M. Harris 13/09/2017 Walton Res Accepted
Phalarope Species R. Browne 11/10/2016 Beddington SF Accepted
Sabine’s Gull R. Browne, D. Stanbridge 13/09/2016 Beddington SF Accepted
Glaucous Gull R. Horton 13/02/2017 Tice’s Meadow, Badshot Lea Accepted
Iceland Gull A. Pearson, J. East 25/12/2017 Croydon (Coombe Rd) Accepted
Guillemot P. Thrush 15/10/2016 Ham Accepted
Merlin E. Stubbs, M. Phelps 13/02/2015 Thursley Common Accepted
Merlin M. Phelps 10/01/2017 West Clandon Accepted
Red-backed Shrike J. Lawrence 24/06/2017 Thursley Common Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler W. Attridge 10/10/2016 Capel Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler R. Baker 10/10/2016 Holmethorpe SP Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler R. Browne et al 10/10/2016 Beddington SF Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler K. Britten 11/10/2016 Guildford (London Road) Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler R. Weller et al 14/10/2016 Forestdale Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler W. Attridge 18/10/2016 Capel Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler R. Seargent, R. Horton 21/10/2016 Tice’s Meadow, Badshot Lea Accepted
Yellow-browed Warbler W. Attridge 28/10/2016 Capel Accepted
Red-rumped Swallow D.M. Harris 27/04/2017 Island Barn Reservoir Accepted
Twite D.K. Campbell et al 22/11/2017 Beddington SF Accepted
Serin P.R. Alfrey et al 15/11/2015 Beddington SF Accepted
Snow Bunting R. Seargent et al. 01/12/2013 Tice’s Meadow, Badshot Lea Accepted
BBRC decisions noted and agreed        
Little Bittern M. Parker et al 29/05/2016 London Wetland Centre Accepted
Black Stork   28/04/2016 Duke’s Warren Not Proven
Spanish Wagtail   03/05/2017 Walton Reservoirs Not Proven
Pended for further information or consideration      
Whooper Swan (2)   08/11/2016 Tice’s Meadow, Badshot Lea
Montagu’s Harrier   07/05/2016 Thorncombe Street
Not Proven      
Great White Egret   27/02/2017 Limpsfield
Honey Buzzard   27/05/2017 South Croydon
Rough-legged Buzzard   02/10/2016 McLaren Park, Woking
Skua Species   30/04/2016 Bletchingly
Alpine Swift   06/05/2016 Heath End
Merlin   13/04/2017 Holmethorpe SP
Red-backed Shrike   01/05/2017 Richmond Park
Golden Oriole   26/06/2016 Elstead
Lapland Bunting   22/10/2016 Beddington SF