30th June 2017

In the BW sector was the Lesser Whitethroat at the Harholt Plantation. Among the usuals was a Buzzard, four Green Woodpeckers, two Goldcrests, three Coal Tits, four Long-tailed Tits, 10 Chiffchaffs, six Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, two Nuthatches and a Song Thrush.

Today's biggest news concerned two Hummingbird Hawkmoths at Fames Rough.

Butterflies included an Essex Skippers, 100 Marbled Whites, two Commas, a Red Admiral, two Speckled Woods, 80 Meadow Browns and 30 Ringlets.

A Southern Hawker and four Azure Damselflies were at Piddly Pond. A Vapourer moth was seen, along with Tree Bumblebee and a few Purple Helleborines.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Large Skipper

Essex Skipper

Marbled Whites

Creeping Thistle

Round-leaved Fluellen

Paul Goodman and Ian Magness (photos)

29th June 2017

A Red Kite flew over Steep Banks this afternoon and swirling around the farm were 12 Swallows and 30 Swifts. Five Yellowhammers were counted. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over and a Bullfinch was around Lunch Wood. Selected other sightings from CF include a Sparrowhawk, 104 Herring Gulls overhead, a Kestrel, six Skylarks, two Chiffchaffs, seven Whitethroats and six Blackcaps.

A Lesser Whitethroat was still singing in the BW sector, where a Whitethroat, four Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps and three Bullfinches were noted, along with a juvenile Song Thrush.

The weather wasn't ideal for butterflies but those recorded included an Essex Skipper, a Large Skipper and six Marbled Whites in BW and a further three Marbled Whites at CF.

It is worth noting that it has come to light that the White-letter Hairstreaks were first seen last year. The area to search for them is immediately west of the orchard by Park Farm.

Red Kite over Steep Banks

Swallow by Green Belt Field

David Campbell (photos) and Duncan Jennings

27th June 2017

Four Swallows were over the farm and a Little Owl was on the east side of Horse Pasture; a Buzzard and a Yellowhammer were also noted at the farm.

An incredible butterfly record involved three White-letter Hairstreaks in Banstead Woods, a first for the recording area as far as we are aware. A Purple Hairstreak showed well by Reads Rest Lane and two Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen in BW, where other butterflies on the wing included an Essex Skipper, four Small Skippers, three Large Skippers, 54 Marbled Whites, a Small White, three Large Whites, four Commas, a Red Admiral, a Small Tortoiseshell, three Speckled Woods, 60 Meadow Browns and 50 Ringlets.

Purple Hairstreak by Reads Rest Lane

Purple Hairstreak by Reads Rest Lan

Duncan Jennings, Stephen Ward (photos) and WoodChips Conservation Volunteers

26th June 2017

It's easy to fall into a state of birding lassitude at this time of year but unexpected encounters cannot be discounted, as demonstrated by a Redshank heard over Chipstead Downs at 11:20 (GB), representing the second patch record. Other news included the Lesser Whitethroat still singing by Hither Field and a Hobby hunting at the farm, where two Little Owls were calling, a Swallow mobbed a Sparrowhawk and 12 Swifts flew over.

A female Purple Emperor made for a thrilling encounter on the path near Piddly Pond while a Small Blue was showing on the Kidney Vetch in Barn Field. Other butterflies on the wing included Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Small Heath, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Large White, Ringlet and Meadow Brown. Piddly Pond sported a Southern Hawker.

♀ Purple Emperor near Piddly Pond

Small Blue in Barn Field

Geoff Barter (photo 1) and David Campbell (photo 2)

25th June 2017

The Systematic List has been tidied up and updated.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew past and a Little Owl called from the Infront George East copse while 12 Swifts and six Swallows flew around.

Four Marbled Whites, five Small Tortoiseshells, three Commas and good numbers of both Meadow Browns and Ringlets were also seen.

Comma at Stoney Nob

David Campbell

24th June 2017

Text-list: The grapevine system is out of order again - any urgent news will be posted via Twitter.

Bird sightings in the BW sector included singles of Hobby, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kestrel, Buzzard and Greenfinch, six Swifts, three Whitethroats, three Treecreepers and three Bullfinches.

A Small Blue was on the Barn Field patch of Kidney Vetch. A Silver-washed Fritillary was seen around Park Farm, along with a Green Hairstreak, while other sightings included a Small Skipper, 80 Marbled Whites, two Green-veined Whites, a Large White, two Commas, a Red Admiral, two Small Tortoiseshells, a Speckled Wood, 80 Meadow Browns, 35 Ringlets, two Small Heaths and two Common Blues.
 
The 'Aslan path' attracted a lone Southern Hawker.

Small Blue on the Kidney Vetch patch in Barn Field

Ian Ward

23rd June 2017

A juvenile Pied Wagtail was at Legal & General. Two Yellowhammers were at the farm. Sightings in the BW sector included a Lesser Whitethroat on the edge of Hither Field and a gathering of 23 Stock Doves there. Three Whitethroats were also noted.

The Kidney Vetch path in Barn Field held a Small Blue, while other butterfly sightings included a Dark Green Fritillary, 100 Marbled Whites, three Red Admirals, four Commas, 10 Small Heaths, a Small Tortoiseshell, six Speckled Woods, 100 Meadow Browns, 20 Ringlets and five Small/Essex Skippers.

Paul Goodman and Ian Pratley

22nd June 2017 - Banstead Woods Nature Reserve opening

We were pleased to attend the opening of the new Banstead Woods nature reserve and Narnia-themed nature trail, adorned with wood carvings inspired by the C. S. Lewis classic. Sightings in the sector included a Swift overhead, a couple of Treecreepers, a Bullfinch and a Whitethroat, with headline butterfly news of two Small Blues showing on the Barn Field Kidney Vetch patch and the first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year around Stagbury Field. Further butterflies included 21 Marbled Whites, three Small Skippers, a Brimstone, three Commas, three Red Admirals, two Speckled Woods, two Small Heaths, two Common Blues, 23 Meadow Browns and four Ringlets.

CFBWBG's Mark Stanley and Linda Mount returning from their trip through the magical wardrobe!

Here is a local news piece about the opening:
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/nature-trail-inspired-chronicles-narnia-13220046

21st June 2017

Two Swallows and five Swifts were over the farm in the evening, while two Yellowhammers were around Canons Farmyard.

Several Small Tortoiseshells and Meadow Browns were on the wing.

singing ♂ Yellowhammer in Canons Farmyard

Song Thrush by Canons Farmhouse

a Carrion Crow fledgling with its parent in Owl Meadow

David Campbell

20th June 2017

A Hobby flew over BW but as far as birds go it was generally another quiet summer day on the patch produced the usuals, such as Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Whitethroat, Goldcrests, Nuthatches, Green Woodpecker and Song Thrushes.

 In another productive day for butterflies, BW sightings included four Small Blues showing on the Kidney Vetch patch in Barn Field, two Dark Green Fritillaries, a Green Hairstreak, 60 Marbled Whites, six Large Skippers, 11 Small Skippers, five Commas, two Red Admirals, two Small Tortoiseshells, three Speckled Woods, 20 Ringlets, 80 Meadow Browns, eight Small Heaths and six Common Blues.

Duncan Jennings, Ian Pratley and Woodchips

13-18th June 2017

There have been few avian highlights since the last update, but a Red Kite did call in and check out Owl Meadow on 17th. Singing Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler around Legal & General on 13th were unexpected, but regular Garden Warblers were still singing by the caravan site on 13th and at Harholt (two) to 15th. One of the established Lesser Whitethroats was rattling at Harholt on 16th. Three Lesser Black-backed Gulls over the farm on 16th and three Pied Wagtails, including a juvenile, at Legal & General on 18th are the pick of the other bird sightings. Family groups of Whitethroats are now appearing, the first being at Stagbury Field on 15th, while a juvenile Blackcap was caught (along with a male Whitethroat) at Harholt on 15th. Fledgling Jackdaws were noted around The Knoll on 15th.

The patch has been alive with butterflies, as we enter the peak few weeks for our specialist species. The biggest news was a sighting of two Small Blues in the Banstead Woods sector on 15th, a testament to the conservation work of the Woodchips group. Other news from the sector includes the first Dark Green Fritillary on 18th, with the first Marbled White being seen on 13th and counts of this stunning species rising to 50 on 18th. The first four Essex Skippers of the year were logged on 18th, three days after the first Small Skippers. Singles of both Dingy and Essex Skippers were noted on 18th and two Green Hairstreaks were seen on 15th. Four Large Skippers were counted on 15th. A lone Small Copper is down for 18th. Counts of commoner species in the BW sector include nine Ringlets on 18th (after the first five on 15th), 63 Meadow Browns on 15th, and two Commas on 18th; five Red Admirals on 18th, and eight Small Heaths and nine Speckled Woods on 15th.

Butterfly news in the CF sector includes the earliest date this year for Ringlet on the patch, pipping BW by a day with two on 14th, this species rising to 30 on 17th (when 40 Meadow Browns were counted). 14 Small Tortoiseshells was a stong total on 17th, when three Speckled Woods and three Commas were seen.

After a sighting of our first Southern Hawker of the summer on 13th, another busy session for odonata on 18th saw four Broad-bodied Chasers, 15 Azure Damselflies and five Large Red Damselflies, all being seen around Piddly Pond but for one of the chasers, which was at Park Farm.

Dark Green Fritillary at Fames Rough on 18th

♂ Green Woodpecker at Chipstead Downs on 13th

♂ Whitethroat at Harholt on 15th

juvenile Blackcap at Harholt on 15th

juvenile Blue Tit at Harholt on 15th

Broad-bodied Chaser in BW on 18th

Greater Yellow Rattle at Fames Rough on 16th

Yellow Bird's Nest in BW on 15th

David Campbell (photo 2), Josh Burch, Paul Goodman (photo 8), Duncan Jennings, Ian Magness (photo 7), Mark Stanley (photos 3-5), Ian Pratley, Ian Ward (photos 1 and 6) and Woodchips

11th June 2017

Seven Swifts were over BW and the Lesser Whitethroat at the Harholt Plantation was still singing.

Ian Pratley

Eds: We have updated the submission form to include dedicated fields for odonata.

10th June 2017

A quiet day for birds, the only significant news being the continued presence of a Lesser Whitethroat in The Knoll, a Greenfinch singing along Outwood Lane and a lone Swift over the farm.

We did enjoy a patch first, though, with a stunning male Beautiful Demoiselle seen along the edge of Banstead Woods at Perrotts-by-Wood (IGM). Piddly Pond provided further odonata interest, with no fewer than three Broad-bodied Chasers seen alongside five Azure Damselflies, three Large Red Damselflies and a Common Blue Damselfly.

Butterflies in the BW sector included a Dingy Skipper, two Large Skippers, two Green Hairstreaks, three Speckled Woods, three Small Heaths, four Common Blues, a Small Tortoiseshell, four Red Admirals, eight Brimstones and 30 Meadow Browns. Over in the CF sector, a Painted Lady and a Small Tortoiseshell were seen.

♂ Beautiful Demoiselle along the edge of Perrotts-by-Wood

Large Red Damselfly at Piddly Pond

Ian Magness (photo 1), Natasha Preston and Ian Ward (photo 2)

9th June 2017

Avian highlights at the farm included three Mallards, 25 Swifts, a Swallow and two Pied Wagtails. A further 18 Swifts were seen over BW and a Lesser Whitethroat was still singing at the Harholt Plantation.

A Painted Lady made an appearance at Stoney Nob, while two Small Tortoiseshells and five Meadow Browns were seen across the patch.

Painted Lady at Stoney Nob

David Campbell (photo), Paul Goodman and Ian Pratley

8th July 2017

Another quiet summer day on the patch, with a few resident birds seen in the BW sector, along with a Brown Argus of note.

Duncan Jennings and Woodchips

7th July 2017

Eight Swifts were seen over the BW sector and residents going about their business included a singing Yellowhammer at Lunch Wood.

Ian Pratley

5th June 2017

A Hobby flew over Perrotts Farm and two Lesser Whitethroats were singing in the Harholt Plantation this morning while a few Swifts moved overhead.

Geoff Barter

4th June 2017

A remarkable morning for raptors saw six Red Kites share the sky at the same time over CF. Also rather unexpected was a pair of Peregrines engaged in a food pass. A walk along Chipstead Downs revealed a Rook, a Greenfinch and seven Swifts, while a local male Kestrel was showing well.

It was probably a little drafty for most butterflies' liking but singles of Comma and Common Blue were noted, along with three Meadow Browns.

adult ♂ Kestrel at Chipstead Downs

David Campbell (photo) and Ian Jones

3rd June 2017

A Red Kite flew low over the A217 in the evening and two Mallards graced Piddly Pond. The Harholt Plantation again resounded with the rattling of a Lesser Whitethroat and two Swifts flew over the BW sector. The first fledgling Great Tits of the year were noted.

Odonata around Piddly Pond included four Azure Damselflies and singles of Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies. Butterflies in the sector were represented by a Dingy Skipper, three Large Skippers, an Orange-tip, a Green Hairstreak, six Small Heaths, 17 Common Blues, 12 Meadow Browns, three Speckled Woods, two Green-veined Whites, three Large Whites, two Small Whites, five Red Admirals and six Brimstones. A Cinnabar moth was also seen.

♀ Mallard on Piddly Pond

Large Skipper

 Ian Magness and Ian Ward (photos)

1-2nd June 2017

Sightings in the BW sector on 1st included a Hobby and the Lesser Whitethroat still singing at The Knoll, as well as two Mistle Thrushes. Nothing unusual, apart perhaps from two Mallards, was noted at CF on 2nd but breeding Yellowhammers and Whitethroats were in evidence.

It's worth mentioning that we have been quietly logging first juveniles and should really have been reporting them here. So far, we've recorded young Robins, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Goldfinches and Nuthatches, while young Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been heard in the nest.

Butterflies in BW on 1st included three Large Skippers and five Meadow Browns (both new for the year), three Dingy Skippers, a Holly Blue, 13 Common Blues, a Brown Argus, four Green Hairstreaks, four Small Heaths, four Speckled Woods, a Peacock and a Red Admiral.

There was late news of a flock of 22 Canada Geese over the east side of BW on Monday.

David Campbell, Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings, Mark Stanley and Woodchips