30th April

Weather: WSW f2-3, sunny spells, showers.

Canons Farm: 2 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 2 KESTREL, 6 PHEASANT, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Slangs - Lunch Wood), 1 BLACKCAP, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 TREECREEPER, 5 JAY, 6 LINNET, 6 GOLDFINCH, 3 YELLOWHAMMER

Banstead Woods: 2 MALLARD (both female), 5 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 RED KITE (Holly Lane Meadow), 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 1 PHEASANT, 7 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 COLLARED DOVE, c9 STOCK DOVE, 1 CUCKOO (singing on northern side of estate, 09.43hrs), 1 GREY WAGTAIL (low north-east over Holly Lane Meadow, 10.31hrs), c19 BLACKCAP, c18 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT

Goldilocks Buttercup, The Slangs, 30/04/16 (Ian Magness)

Other wildlife: Butterfly species recorded - Orange-tip, Small White, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood. Goldilocks Buttercup is starting to come into flower at The Slangs.

Observers: Ian Magness, Ian Ward

29th April

Weather: SW f3-4, sunny spells, squally winters showers.

The year's first Whinchat arrived with a small fall of Northern Wheatear.

Canons Farm: 2 COMMON BUZZARD, 3 PHEASANT, 1 LITTLE OWL (Bog Field), 2 COMMON SWIFT, 1 PIED WAGTAIL, 5 NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Infront George Field), 1 WHINCHAT (Infront George Field, 91st species this year), 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (Slangs), 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 1 BLACKCAP, 1 BULLFINCH, 2 YELLOWHAMMER

Banstead Woods: 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 COMMON SWIFT, 2 SWALLOW, 1 WHITETHROAT, 2 BLACKCAP, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BULLFINCH

Observers: Duncan Jennings, Ian Magness

28th April

Weather: WNW f2 then SW f3-5, sunny, dry and continuing cool

With the wind and weather still being influenced from north of the UK, it is a struggle to find migrants, but, as this morning proves, they are still coming through. The year's first Common Swift and Lesser Whitethroat were logged, and a further Common Redstart continues a good spring at canons Farm for this species.

Canons Farm: 5 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 1 STOCK DOVE, 1 COMMON SWIFT (north over Canons Farmhouse, 89th species this year), 5 SKYLARK, 1 SWALLOW, 1 COMMON REDSTART ( a female along hedgerow along eastern side of Harrier Field), 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (in song, Stoney Knob,then L&G, 90th species this year - UPDATE: a late record of this species has been received at Hither Field on 23/04), 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 8 LINNET, 2 YELLOWHAMMER

Bush Vetch, Reeds Rest Bottom (Steve Gale)

Banstead Woods: 1 MALLARD (drake on Piddly Pond), 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT (all singing along Valley Meadows), 11 BLACKCAP, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 LINNET (The Scrub)

Observers: Steve Gale

27th April

Weather: NW 2-3, sunny spells, dry, cool out of sun

Canons Farm: 1 GREY HERON, 1 MALLARD, 5 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 5 SKYLARK, 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 5 YELLOWHAMMER

Observers: Steve Gale, Ian Magness

26th April

No reported sightings

25th April

No reported sightings

24th April

Weather: NW f2-3, mainly overcast with sunny spells, isolated light showers, feeling cold.

The conditions remained decidedly chilly, but a trickle of migrants still battled through, including the year's first Tree Pipit and House Martin, a further Yellow Wagtail, and at least 8 Northern Wheatear in fields at the western end of the recording area (that appear to have all moved on by early evening).

Canons Farm: 2 CORMORANT (west at 09.00hrs), 3 CANADA GOOSE (east at 08.45hrs), 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 3 SPARROWHAWK, 6 PHEASANT, 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 6 STOCK DOVE, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL (north over Bunting Field at 10.00hrs), 1 TREE PIPIT (north over Bunting Field at 10.10hrs - 87th species this year), 2 SWALLOW, 1 HOUSE MARTIN (88th species this year), 15+ SKYLARK, 8 NORTHERN WHEATEAR four Infront George Field, two Quail Field, singles Bunting Field and Tart's Field), 1 COMMON WHITETHROAT (Slangs), 1 BLACKCAP, 12 LINNET, 5 YELLOWHAMMER

Other wildlife: Bush Vetch starting to flower between Reed's Rest Bottom and Lunch Wood.

Observers: Steve Gale, Tasha Preston

23rd April

Weather: NE f2-3, sunny spells, isolated light showers, chilly.

Winter seems to have come back to us, with an anti-social north-east wind, that, when the sun goes in, is rather cold. However, good coverage yielded the year's first Yellow Wagtail, plus a female Common Redstart.

Canons Farm: 2 CANADA GOOSE (west at 06.42hrs), 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 KESTREL, 4 PHEASANT, 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 LITTLE OWL (Bog Field), 6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 5 STOCK DOVE, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL (north over Broadfield at 08.55hrs - 86th species this year), 1 MEADOW PIPIT (Stoney Nob), 1 SWALLOW, 6 SKYLARK, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT (Slangs), 9 BLACKCAP, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 4 COAL TIT, 4 LONG-TAILED TIT, 2 TREECREEPER, 6 LINNET, 9 GOLDFINCH, 1 BULLFINCH, 4 YELLOWHAMMER

Banstead Woods: 4 MALLARD (Piddly Pond), 2 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 KESTREL, 1 PHEASANT, 1 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1 COLLARED DOVE, 3 SWALLOW, 1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR (male in Hither Field), 1 COMMON REDSTART (female in Hither Field), 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 3 BLACKCAP, 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 2 BULLFINCH (Scrub)

Observers: Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings, Ian Magness, Ian Pratley, Ian Ward

22nd April

Weather: NE f3-4, overcast, dry, chilly.

Canons Farm: 1 CORMORANT, 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 10 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 8 SKYLARK, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT (Reeds Rest Bottom), 2 CHIFFCHAFF (Tawny Wood), 2 LONG-TAILED TIT, 80 CARRION CROW, 8+ LINNET, 3 YELLOWHAMMER (five in Broadfield, one at Slangs)

Banstead Woods: 1 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 TAWNY OWL (owlets found at base of tree, one dead, the other in good condition and released safely),  2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 4 BLACKCAP, 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER

Observers: Geoff Barter, Andy Downing, Steve Gale, Paul Goodman

21st April

Weather: NE f3-4, bright, dry, fairly warm.

The year's first Common Whitethroat was an overdue, but welcome, addition to the year.

Canons Farm: 1 GREY HERON, 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 3 PHEASANT, 1 LBB GULL, 30 HERRING GULL, 111 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER,  ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 23 STOCK DOVE, 7 SKYLARK, 1 SWALLOW, 3 NUTHATCH, 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 COMMON WHITETHROAT (singing in hedgerow alongside Chipstead Meadow, 85th species of the year), 2 LONG-TAILED TIT, 2 COAL TIT, 120 CARRION CROW, 3 GOLDFINCH, 12+ LINNET, 6 YELLOWHAMMER (five in Broadfield, one at Slangs)

Banstead Woods: 1 COMMON BUZZARD, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 3 CHIFFCHAFF (Fames Rough)

Observers: Andy Downing, Steve Gale, Paul Goodman, Ian Pratley

20th April

Weather: E f2-4, sunny, dry and warm.

Two Cuckoos were calling (from the woods above Fame's Rough and at Death Pit). The Red-legged Partridge remains elusive, but did pop up again in Tart's Field.

Canons Farm: 1 GREY HERON (over Tart's Field), 2 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 KESTREL, 1 RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (Tart's Field), 1 CUCKOO (Death Pit), 4 SKYLARK, 1 WHEATEAR (male, Broadfield), 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 6 LINNET, 2 YELLOWHAMMER

Banstead Woods: 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 CUCKOO (singing in woods above Fame's Rough), 4 BLACKCAP, 6 CHIFFCHAFF

Moschatel (also known as Town-hall Clock), The Slangs, 20/04/16 (Ian Magness)

Other wildlife: Moschatel (also known as Town-hall Clock) in flower at Slangs. Butterflies included 4 Small White, and single Orange-tip and Speckled Wood.

Observers: Geoff Barter, Paul Goodman, Ian Magness

19th April

Weather: Sunny, dry, mild.

Canons Farm: 1 CUCKOO (calling, heard from Perrotts By Wood, 84th species recorded this year)

Observers: Amanda Crenol

18th April

No reported sightings

17th April

Again, apologies for lack of formatting

Canons farm
1 Swallow over Green Belt field
2 Bullfinches; Tawny Wd
1 Chiffchaff; Tawny Wd
1 Blackcap; Ruffett Wd
1 Pheasant; Ruffett Wd

Banstead Woods
2 Swallows N
c14 Chiffchaffs
c7 Blackcaps; (all singing - 2 BWds, 1 Summer route path, 1 The Scrub, 1 Piddly area, 1 Hither, 1 HLM)
4 Mallards; 3 males, 1 female Piddly
1 Grey Heron flew N 10:26 over Hither
3 Common Buzzards; 1 BWds, 1 Hither, 1 Valley Mdws
1 Sparrowhawk; female over BWds
1 Mistle Thrush; singing Estate
1 Skylark; singing Hither
3 Pheasants; 2 Hither, 1 Estate
6 Stock Doves- all singing
c10 Nuthatches
2 Treecreepers
c9 Coal Tits
5 Long tailed Tits; 4 The Scrub, 1 VMdws
1 Bullfinch, The Scrub

2 Jays
3 GSWoodpecker
c7 Green Woodpeckers

Observer: Ian Ward

16th April

Please excuse lack of formatting, but I am away from a computer at the moment.

Canons Farm
1 Red-legged Partridge; flew from Broadfield into Horse Pasture 11:44
2 Common Buzzards; 1 Tattenham Mdws, 1 Stoney Nob
1 Sparrowhawk; female over Tawny Wd
1 Kestrel; male over GBF into Ruffett Wd
1 Little Owl; North Horse Pasture
3 Pheasants; 1 Circle field, 1 Lunch Wood, 1 Stoney Nob
5 Yellowhammers; 2 Reads Rest Cottages, 2 Harrier field, 1 North Horse Pasture
5 Bullfinches; 4 The Slangs, 1 Ruffett Wood
2 Coal Tits; both singing - 1 Pages Acre, 1 nearby in Ruffett Wood
1 Long tailed Tit; Tawny Wood
70+ Stock Doves; Broadfield
4 Chiffchaffs; 2 Tawny Wd, 2 The Slangs
3 Blackcaps; all singing, 2 Tawny Wd, 1 Chipstead Meadows

Observer: Ian Ward

15th April

Weather: SW1-3, overcast, rain, cool.

No reported sightings.

14th April

Weather: mostly calm, sunny spells, largely dry, warm.

1 PHEASANT, 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, 4 SKYLARK, 1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Broadfield), 9 LINNET, 4 YELLOWHAMMER

Observers: Andy Downing, Paul Goodman

13th April

Weather: SW f1-2, mostly overcast, dry and warm.

A calling and drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (heard from the Slangs) maintained this species status at the farm as 'just about annual'.

Canons Farm: 2 CORMORANT, 1 MALLARD, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 2 KESTREL, 3 PHEASANT, ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (heard from the bottom of Slangs, also seen in neighbouring Chiphouse Wood, 83rd species recorded this year),  LITTLE OWL (Bog Field), 10 STOCK DOVE, 5 SKYLARK, 3 ROOK, LONG-TAILED TIT, 4 NUTHATCH, 3 BLACKCAP, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 GOLDFINCH, 5 LINNET, YELLOWHAMMER

Spot the Little Owls - there are two of them! 13/04/16 (Duncan Jennings)

Banstead Woods: 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 PHEASANT, BLACKCAP

Other wildlife: The first Small White of the year was on the wing.

Small White 13/04/16 (Duncan Jennings)

Observers: Duncan Jennings, Ian Magness

12th April

Weather: S to SW f1-3, sunny, dry, warm.

Late-morning, a female Goshawk was briefly picked up flying northwards, quite low over Bunting and Bog Fields, by Steve Gale and Geoff Barter, but it was soon lost behind trees. This constitutes the third site record (after singles in 2005 and 2010). Rather intriguingly, a large accipiter was seen in the area last week (GB), so could suggest that a Goshawk is using the area. A small, but colourful arrival took place, with the year's first Willow Warblers, 5 Wheatears, 2-3 Common Redstarts and at least 6 Swallows north.

Canons Farm: 3 CORMORANT (flying NE), 1 GREY HERON, 14 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 GOSHAWK (♀ seen flying low, moving north, above Bunting/Bog Field, 81st species recorded this year), 2 SPARROWHAWK, 3 KESTREL, 3 PHEASANT, 7 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 4 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 LITTLE OWL (Bog Field), 100 STOCK DOVE, 250 WOODPIGEON, 12+ SKYLARK, 6 SWALLOW (singles north), 200 CARRION CROW,  3 ROOK, 75 JACKDAW, 2-3 COMMON REDSTART (1 or 2 ♂♂ around back of Reeds Rest Cottages, a ♀ in bushes alongside Harrier Field),  5 NORTHERN WHEATEAR (4 in Infront George/Skylark Fields, 1 Bog Field), 1 COAL TIT (Page's Acre), 4 LONG-TAILED TIT, 4 NUTHATCH, 4 BLACKCAP (Ruffett Wood, Circle Field), 2 WILLOW WARBLER (Lunch Wood, 82nd species recorded this year), 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 30 LINNET, 6 GOLDFINCH, 7 YELLOWHAMMER

Female Sparrowhawk, Pages Acre, 12/04/16 (Duncan Jennings)

Banstead Woods: 2 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 2 BLACKCAP, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BULLFINCH

Other wildlife: Butterflies: 12+ Brimstone, 16+ Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock

Observers: Geoff Barter, Steve Gale, Duncan Jennings

11th April

Weather: SE f1-2, a bright morning and late afternoon sandwiched persistent rain. Mild.

Canons Farm: 4 PHEASANT, 4 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 250 STOCK DOVE, 450 WOODPIGEON, 2 SKYLARK, 250 CARRION CROW,  7 JAY,  LONG-TAILED TIT, 4 NUTHATCH, 3 CHIFFCHAFF 4 LINNET, 2 YELLOWHAMMER

Banstead Woods: 1 PHEASANT, 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 STOCK DOVE, 3 NUTHATCH, 3 CHIFFCHAFF

Observers: Steve Gale