March 2018

For the time being we'll switch back to the old format of a single blog post for each month, updated as regularly as the webmaster can manage... Please continue to submit records by the usual method. Also bear in mind the text messaging system has been discontinued. Current news is now sent via our Twitter feed.

30th:
Canons Farm: male Wheatear in Infront George West, Yellowhammer, 25 Linnets, 18 Redwings, male Kestrel, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Buzzard PGo
Banstead Woods: Hawfinch near Piddly Pond IGM (Weasel ran across Holly Lane IPW)

29th:
Canons Farm: Barn Owl IGM 

27th:  
Canons Farm: 40 Stock Doves, 65 Fieldfares, 200 Starlings, 100 Linnets, 4 Yellowhammers SG/GB Barn Owl IGM


26th:  
Canons Farm: Red Kite, Barn Owl, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, 12 Yellowhammers, Kestrel, 6 Skylarks, 5 Small Tortoiseshells GB

25th:  
Canons Farm: Grey Heron, Buzzard, Tawny owl, 6 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Skylark, 1 Goldcrest, 20 Fieldfares, 100 Starlings, 1 Nuthatch, c80 Redwing, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Yellowhammer, 5 Skylarks PGo
Banstead Woods: Hawfinch at Coneyboro Hill. 2 Siskins at Perrotts Larches. Woodcock, 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Treecreepers, Tawny Owl IPW/PGo

Hawfinch at Coneyboro Hill IPW

24th:  
Canons Farm: Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, Black-headed Gull, 3 Little Owls, 7 Skylarks, 60 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, Mistle Thrush, 2 Meadow Pipits, 80 Linnets, Yellowhammer IPW


23rd:  
Canons Farm: Red Kite, Barn Owl, Kestrel, 15 Linnets, 25 Fieldfares PGo/IGM
Banstead Woods: 2 Red Kites, Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzards, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff singing, 3 Nuthatches, 2 Treecreepers, Bullfinch DJ/GH
 
22nd:
Canons Farm: Barn Owl IGM
Banstead Woods: Red Kite over Hither Field GH. 2 Mallards on Piddly Pond IGM

21st March 2018

Two Hawfinches were at Fames Rough, where a Red Kite flew over. Two Barn Owls were showing on either side of Slangs. 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed over.

Geoff Barter and Ian Magness

20th March 2018

One of the Barn Owls was showing well at Lunch Banks in the evening.

Barn Owl

Ian Magness

19th March 2018

Broadfield attracted 16 Meadow Pipits and a Skylark. A small mixed flock of Redwings and Fieldfares were in Poultry Field and a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were seen in the sector.

Ian Magness

18th March 2018

BW delivered a couple of quality sightings today with an adult Mediterranean Gull north over Hither Field (IPW) and two Hawfinches seen near the Holly Lane car park (SG). A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over and singles of Kestrel and Buzzard were also noted.

adult Mediterranean Gull

Steve Gale and Ian Ward (photo)

17th March 2018

A lone Golden Plover called it as flew over Canons Farmhouse during the morning. A flock of 200 Linnets was feeding nearby, a Mistle Thrush sang from near Aberdour School and a Kestrel was hunting at Owl Meadow. Two Canada Geese, a Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over, as did 14 Black-headed Gulls. A Redwing, a Skylark and 14 Stock Doves were also in the CF sector.

David Campbell

16th March 2018

A Red Kite flew over CF.

Geoff Barter

15th March 2018

CF had a Barn Owl, a Peregrine, a Tawny Owl and 40 Fieldfares.

Geoff Barter

14th March 2018

Highlights at CF were two Mallards and 35 Skylarks.

Two Brimstones were at the Harholt Plantation.

Geoff Barter

13th March 2018

Four Canada Geese flew over Tart's Field and other CF sightings included a Redwing and three Yellowhammers (one singing).

Ian Magness

11th March 2018

BW sightings included a female Stonechat in Hither Field, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels, three Buzzards, a Pheasant and three Redwings. Three Treecreepers were in song and three Bullfinches logged.

Ian Ward

10th March 2018

A dusk visit to CF produced a Tawny Owl in Ruffett Wood, a Little Owl, a Mistle Thrush, five Fieldfares and 10 Redwings.

Paul Goodman

9th March 2018

Just the male Stonechat remained at Reads Bottom.

Ian Magness

8th March 2018

Two Stonechats - a male and a female - were at Reads Bottom and BW sightings included a Lesser Black-backed Gull overhead.

Duncan Jennings and Ian Magness

7th March 2018

The Lapwing was again in Infront George East and a Red Kite flew over. Theee Buzzards were seen over Broadfield.

Check back to the post on 5th for some significant late news.

Lapwing

Ian Magness

6th March 2018

Two Yellowhammers were at CF, while two Kestrels, a Buzzard were at BW.

Geoff Barter and Duncan Jennings

5th March 2018

A great day, with a male Black Redstart found along Reads Rest Lane (SS) being the clear highlight. Other notable sightings included a female Peregrine roaming CF and a Red Kite which flew southeast over Broadfield, as well as a Lapwing in Infront George East and the first spring migrant Stonechat of the year was at Reads Bottom. One of the Barn Owls was seen and three Little Owls and a Tawny Owl were also noted at the farm. 40 Skylarks, 150 Fieldfares and 30 Redwings were counted in the sector, along with three fly-over Pied Wagtails, two Yellowhammers, a Meadow Pipit, three Buzzards (including a near-white bird), a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and 20 Goldfinches. Common Gulls increased to 16.

Lapwing

Geoff Barter, Ian Magness, Simon Suter and Ian Ward

3rd March 2018

Highlights in the CF sector included two Yellowhammers with a flock of 80 Linnets in Bog Field, two Meadow Pipits, five Fieldfares, three Redwings, a Common Gull and a Kestrel.

Paul Goodman

28th February 2018

The most spectacular cold weather movement witnessed in recent times at CFBW took place today, with a 4-hour vigil at CF producing an astonishing 170 Golden Plovers (in 11 groups, including a flock of 52) and 617 Lapwings (in 42 groups, including a flock of 74) along with 166 Fieldfares, two Meadow Pipits, 37 Skylarks and five Redwings. It will be interesting to see what any further coverage over the new few days produces...



Steve Gale

25th February 2018

The wintering female Stonechat was still in Hither Field and other BW sector sightings included a Tawny Owl, three Rooks, two Redwings, a Kestrel and two Buzzards.

Ian Ward

23rd February 2018

Two Buzzards and three Nuthatches were among the regular birds seen at BW.

Duncan Jennings and Graham Harris

22nd February 2018

The only sighting of any note was of three Bullfinches along Slangs.

Bullfinch

Ian Magness

21st February 2018

A visit to the Reads Bottom area late in the day revealed one of the Barn Owls, a Tawny Owl, a Little Owl and two fly-over Canada Geese.

Ian Magness