The first true 'summer' migrant of the year turned up today, albeit a little on the late side - a Chiffchaff in full song. Let the flood gates open!
Canons Farm: 7 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 2 KESTREL, 20+ BLACK-HEADED GULL, 200+ HERRING GULL (mainly heading north in high flocks), 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 5 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 10 STOCK DOVE, 100+ WOOD PIGEON, 8 SKYLARK, 1 STONECHAT (male, Bog Field), 1 RAVEN (in from the north over Tattenham Meadow), 50+ LINNET (Quail Field), 50+ CHAFFINCH, 10 YELLOWHAMMER.
Banstead Woods: 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1 CHIFFCHAFF (70th species to be recorded this year), 2 COAL TIT, 4 LONG-TAILED TIT, 4 JAY.
Other wildlife: A medium-sized bat was active around the trees and hedgerows south of Canons Farmhouse for several minutes during mid-morning. Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells were out in moderate numbers.
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| Wood Spurge can be seen most easily along the upper woodland edge at Fame's Rough. Plenty is now starting to show, and can also be found in Banstead Woods in discrete colonies. (Duncan Jennings) |
Observers: Geoff Barter, Christian Cogley, Steve Gale, Jamie McKenzie
