The patch was not covered till late in the day but observations then kicked off with a Red Kite over Banstead Woods and a season-first was delivered when four Fieldfares dropped into a tree by Owl Meadow. 395 Black-headed Gulls, 63 Herring Gulls and a Common Gull flew towards their roost sites late on. The two Red-legged Partridges were located in the southwest corner of Broadfield East and a female Stonechat was feeding near Canons Farmyard. Also at the farm, four Pied Wagtails flew over, 42 Linnets bumbled around, a Mistle Thrush was in Lunch Wood and 15 Meadow Pipits, three Skylarks, three Yellowhammers, two Little Owls, 58 Rose-ringed Parakeets, four Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Bullfinch were logged. Fames Rough attracted another Mistle Thrush. A frustrating sighting involved a would-be late departure date for either Swallow or House Martin as two silhouetted hirundines were seen motoring high and distantly south from behind and couldn't be confidently assigned to species.
Two Red Admirals were seen at the farm.
David Campbell and Ian Magness
