The year took a quiet leave with no eleventh hour additions for the year list, which rather frustratingly sits on 99 species. More intense observer coverage should build a higher total in 2017. The fields at Canons Farm continued to hold good numbers Fieldfares and Redwings today, at 150 and 50 respectively, along with 30 Linnets and a few Chaffinches. A Mistle Thrush was noted in Pages Acre and there were still 10 Yellowhammers in Broadfield. One of the juvenile Common Buzzards was seen. In the Banstead Woods sector, seven Meadow Pipits were still in Hither Field.
Happy New Year!
Paul Goodman, Ian Magness and Ian Ward
30th December 2016
The approachable juvenile Common Buzzard, two Skylarks, two Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, a Bullfinch and a Yellowhammer were at the farm.
In the evening, a Tawny Owl was heard hooting near the Rambler's Rest.
David Campbell and Duncan Jennings
In the evening, a Tawny Owl was heard hooting near the Rambler's Rest.
David Campbell and Duncan Jennings
29th December 2016
A quiet day in Banstead Woods for birds but a couple of interesting insect observations, with a Buff-tailed Bumblebee seen and the second Brown Hairstreak egg to be found recently.
Duncan Jennings
Duncan Jennings
27th December 2016
Notables in the Banstead Woods sector were two redpolls and a Siskin. A Fieldfare, eight Redwings and seven Song Thrushes were also noted there, along with a Greenfinch, a fly-over Common Gull and the usual suite of woodland residents, including nine Bullfinches.
An evening walk at the farm produced a Woodcock, at least one Barn Owl along Reads Rest Lane, a ♂ Tawny Owl hooting around Lambert's Field and a Little Owl. In addition, a Meadow Pipit roosted again in Horse Pasture and a small number of Fieldfares and Redwings were around, while the popular juvenile Common Buzzard was still hanging around Reads Rest Cottages. Another ♂ Tawny Owl was heard in the middle of Banstead Woods.
David Campbell and Ian Jones
An evening walk at the farm produced a Woodcock, at least one Barn Owl along Reads Rest Lane, a ♂ Tawny Owl hooting around Lambert's Field and a Little Owl. In addition, a Meadow Pipit roosted again in Horse Pasture and a small number of Fieldfares and Redwings were around, while the popular juvenile Common Buzzard was still hanging around Reads Rest Cottages. Another ♂ Tawny Owl was heard in the middle of Banstead Woods.
David Campbell and Ian Jones
26th December 2016
Bird of the day was a Grey Wagtail heard high over Piddly Pond. Singles of Common Buzzard and Meadow Pipit and two Bullfinches were also in the Banstead Woods sector. 40 Skylarks, two Yellowhammers, two Common Buzzards and just 25 Linnets were at the farm, along with a few Fieldfares and Redwings. In the evening, the two Barn Owls spent a long time quartering Owl Meadow, where a Meadow Pipit roosted.
David Campbell, Ian Magness and Ian Ward
David Campbell, Ian Magness and Ian Ward
25th December 2016
Season's greetings! A semi-purposeful count of the over-flying gulls yielded the highlight of an adult Great Black-backed Gull flying south, along with 730 Herring Gulls by 10:15 and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Two Siskins flew over the Banstead Woods sector. Back at the farm, singles of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail flitted over. Other birds recorded at the farm included two of the wintering juvenile Common Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks, an adult ♂ Kestrel, six Common Gulls, 200 Fieldfares, 100 Redwings, two Rooks, 30+ Chaffinches, 200 Starlings, 200 Linnets, two Bullfinches, two Greenfinches and a Yellowhammer.
David Campbell, Ian Magness and Ian Ward
David Campbell, Ian Magness and Ian Ward
24th December 2016
Highlights at the farm this morning were an adult Great Black-backed Gull and a/the Red Kite overhead. In the evening, two Woodcocks flew over: one at Poultry Field and another by Piddly Pond. 66 Woodpigeons were obviously moving northeast and thrushes feeding in the fields included 300 Redwings and 80 Fieldfares. A Mistle Thrush was heard in Ruffett Wood and three Rooks foraged in Broadfield. 30 Skylarks and 200 Linnets were logged in the sector, as were two Common Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks, an adult ♂ Kestrel, three Bullfinches and two adult Common Gulls. Hither Field held five Meadow Pipits and two Bullfinches were in the Harholt Plantation.
We wish a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas to everybody.
David Campbell and Ian Ward
We wish a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas to everybody.
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| Red Kite (adult) |
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| Song Thrush (1cy) |
Another new map!
Hopefully this one is both easier on the eye and for understanding - if you have any comments, please email us
22nd December 2016
A routine mild and sunny winter day at the farm, with the most unusual sightings being just a fly-over Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Mallards. Seeing the winter thrushes feeding in the fields was a continued pleasure, with at least 200 Redwings and 70 Fieldfares counted. On the east side of Horse Pasture, one of the Little Owls made a brief appearance. A Rook, nine Yellowhammers, 33 Skylarks, two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, four Bullfinches, four Greenfinches, 60 Linnets, 12 Song Thrushes and a Pied Wagtail were among the other birds logged in the sector. A first-winter Common Gull was a reminder that we have seen very few of this age of the species so far this season.
David Campbell (photo), Duncan Jennings and Linda Mount
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| Redwings, Legal & General |
David Campbell (photo), Duncan Jennings and Linda Mount
21st December 2016
Highlights at Canons Farm included a Rook, 70 Fieldfares and 10 Yellowhammers.
Duncan Jennings
Duncan Jennings
20th December 2016
A decent day by December standards at the farm produced fly-overs of two Ravens, a 1st-calendar-year Mute Swan (the 100th species recorded this year) and a Red Kite. A modest but noticeable northeastward push of Woodpigeons was also evident, with around 450 counted by mid-morning. Having exhausted the supply of berries along Slangs, most of the thrushes were feeding in the crop fields surrounding Canons Farmhouse, with estimates of 250 Redwings and 150 Fieldfares, as well as 11 Song Thrushes. Hither Field retained its seven Meadow Pipits and eight redpolls flitted around the edge of the Harholt Plantation. It was encouraging to count 12 Yellowhammers back at the farm, while two Rooks were associating with the other corvids in Broadfield. The east side of Horse Pasture offered views of a Little Owl while two of both Common Buzzard and Kestrel were seen at the farm. Sixty Linnets buzzed around but there were only 10 Skylarks. Further sightings at the farm included three ♂ Pheasants, five Common Gulls, 19 Stock Doves, six Greenfinches and three Bullfinches.
David Campbell
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| 1cy Mute Swan |
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| Raven |
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| Red Kite |
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| Redwing |
David Campbell
18th December 2016
A flock of 45 redpolls in the birches by the northern entrance to the Harholt Plantation was the highlight of the day. Hopefully the birds will stick around for a while so that they can be properly scrutinised and perhaps even grow in number. Banstead Woods also held a Fieldfare, 18 Redwings, eight Bullfinches, a juvenile ♂ Sparrowhawk and a typical selection of other common species. Seven Meadow Pipits were in Hither Field and 60 Fieldfares were in Green Belt Field.
David Campbell (photo) and Ian Ward
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| Lesser Redpolls |
30th November-17th December 2016
Thank you for all the records over the last couple of weeks or so, they have all been safely stowed in the database. Here is a quick roundup of the most significant sightings; business as usual will hereafter be resumed:
A Red Kite flew east over the farm on 16th and the adult female Peregrine returned to Stoney Nob on 5th and it, or another, flew over Hither Field on 10th. The three wintering Stonechats in the Banstead Woods sector remained, with the pair in Hither Field being seen on 10th and the female in Holly Lane Meadow noted on 13th. A Woodcock was flushed from Banstead Woods on 3rd and seven Meadow Pipits gathered in Hither Field on 10th. A redpoll flew over the farm on 30th, as did a Lesser Black-backed Gull on 16th. Further records from worth mentioning from Canons Farm included peaks of 75 Fieldfares on 3rd, 40 Skylarks on 5th and 17th, three Mistle Thrushes on 10th, 60 Linnets on 16th and six Yellowhammers on 17th, as well as a lone Rook on 10th. 130 Redwings in the Harholt Plantation on 1st was the highest count received for the species.
Geoff Barter, Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings (photo 1), Ian Magness (photos 2-3) and Ian Ward
A Red Kite flew east over the farm on 16th and the adult female Peregrine returned to Stoney Nob on 5th and it, or another, flew over Hither Field on 10th. The three wintering Stonechats in the Banstead Woods sector remained, with the pair in Hither Field being seen on 10th and the female in Holly Lane Meadow noted on 13th. A Woodcock was flushed from Banstead Woods on 3rd and seven Meadow Pipits gathered in Hither Field on 10th. A redpoll flew over the farm on 30th, as did a Lesser Black-backed Gull on 16th. Further records from worth mentioning from Canons Farm included peaks of 75 Fieldfares on 3rd, 40 Skylarks on 5th and 17th, three Mistle Thrushes on 10th, 60 Linnets on 16th and six Yellowhammers on 17th, as well as a lone Rook on 10th. 130 Redwings in the Harholt Plantation on 1st was the highest count received for the species.
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| Red Kite, Canons Farm, 16th December |
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| Common Buzzard, Reads Rest |
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| Song Thrush, Canons Farm |
Geoff Barter, Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings (photo 1), Ian Magness (photos 2-3) and Ian Ward
29th November 2016
The two Barn Owls were still at Canons Farm. A Woodcock was inadvertendly flushed from Harholt Plantation (The Scrub). The pair of Stonechats were again in Hither Field. A Bullfinch, two Fieldfares and two Redwings were also seen in the Banstead Woods sector. Two Yellowhammers were noted at the farm.
Geoff Barter and Duncan Jennings
Sorry, but there will be no updates till at least 14th December - please continue to submit your records and they'll be caught up on upon my return to the country - DKC
Geoff Barter and Duncan Jennings
Sorry, but there will be no updates till at least 14th December - please continue to submit your records and they'll be caught up on upon my return to the country - DKC
New map
A 'prototype' of a new map covering extra sub-sites and incorporating updated names (in light of discovering official/historical/local names as well as making an effort to be make other names more relevant to the local area) has now been uploaded to the Map page. It also plots public rights of way. This is very much a work in progress, so please let us know what you think via email.
Also please note that after tomorrow evening there will be no updates till at least 14th December unless any group members would like to volunteer to post updates during this period
Also please note that after tomorrow evening there will be no updates till at least 14th December unless any group members would like to volunteer to post updates during this period
28th November 2016
In the evening, both Barn Owls were seen again as they patrolled Harrier Field. A group of five redpolls were seen between Piddly Pond and The Scrub and a singleton flew over the farm. Five Siskins were showing well around the larches near the Reads Rest Lane entrance to Banstead Woods.
Other sightings from the Canons Farm sector included a Pheasant, three Common Buzzards, a Common Gull, 50 Skylarks, 50 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, a Mistle Thrush, two Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit, a Bullfinch, four Greenfinches, 100 Linnets, 40 Goldfinches and seven Yellowhammers. The Banstead Woods sector held a Common Buzzard, 10 Redwings and three Bullfinches among a typical assortment of woodland birds.
Geoff Barter, David Campbell (photos), Duncan Jennings and Phil Wallace
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| juvenile Common Buzzard, Reads Rest Cottages |
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| adult ♂ Yellowhammer, Infront George Field |
Other sightings from the Canons Farm sector included a Pheasant, three Common Buzzards, a Common Gull, 50 Skylarks, 50 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, a Mistle Thrush, two Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit, a Bullfinch, four Greenfinches, 100 Linnets, 40 Goldfinches and seven Yellowhammers. The Banstead Woods sector held a Common Buzzard, 10 Redwings and three Bullfinches among a typical assortment of woodland birds.
Geoff Barter, David Campbell (photos), Duncan Jennings and Phil Wallace
27th November 2016
A late (wintering?) Chiffchaff and a Lesser Redpoll were noted in Pages Acre and a Grey Wagtail flew over Wood Lane. Come the evening, the Barn Owl was seen in the usual area and two Little Owls were calling. In Banstead Woods, the female Stonechat was still in Holly Lane Meadow. A reasonable number of Fieldfares and Redwings were enjoying the ample supply of berries along Slangs and using Lunch Wood as a refuge, conservative totals for each being 75 and 60 respectively. Other sightings in the Canons Farm sector included a Pheasant, a Common Buzzard, two adult Common Gulls on the Legal & General sports field with 115 Black-headed Gulls, three Kestrels, 15 Jays, a Rook, 17 Goldcrests, just 16 Skylarks, 35 Long-tailed Tits, 13 Song Thrushes, two Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit, three Bullfinches, four Greenfinches, 200 Linnets, 60 Goldfinches and eight Yellowhammers. Further sightings over in the Banstead Woods half of the patch were two Common Buzzards, a Kestrel, 12 Fieldfares, 50 Redwings, five Bullfinches and a Greenfinch.
Jack Barnes, David Campbell (photos 3-6), Nick Gardner, Ian Magness and Ian Ward (photos 1-2)
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| Herring Gulls squabbling, Banstead Woods |
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| ♀ Stonechat, Holly Lane Meadow |
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| Fieldfare, Slangs |
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| Kestrel, Canons Farm |
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| Kestrel, Canons Farm |
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| Common Gull, Legal & General |
Jack Barnes, David Campbell (photos 3-6), Nick Gardner, Ian Magness and Ian Ward (photos 1-2)
26th November 2016
Five Lapwings appeared in Infront George Field mid-afternoon; a treat considering the species' scarcity in our recording area so far this year. In the late afternoon, one of the Barn Owls quartered Harrier Field and a Woodcock was seen to drop in there; two Little Owls and a Tawny Owl were also heard at the farm in the twilight. Six Siskins were seen in Banstead Woods, including three still around the larches near the Reads Rest Lane entrance. Four Mistle Thrushes included two in each sector. Four Meadow Pipits were seen over Broadfield and two more flew over the Woods. Three Rooks included two over Fames Rough and one at the farm. As many as 150 Redwings busied themselves by gorging on berries and sub-singing in Banstead Woods.
Other sightings included a hen Pheasant, seven Bullfinches and a Greenfinch in the Banstead Woods sector and two Pheasants, a Common Buzzard, a Kestrel, 60 Skylarks, 50 Fieldfares, 40 Redwings, two Pied Wagtails, a Bullfinch, a Greenfinch, 75 Linnets, 50 Goldfinches and eight Yellowhammers at the farm.
David Campbell (Mistle Thrush and Treecreeper photos), Darragh Culley, Paul Goodman, Ian Magness (Lapwing photo) and Ian Ward
Other sightings included a hen Pheasant, seven Bullfinches and a Greenfinch in the Banstead Woods sector and two Pheasants, a Common Buzzard, a Kestrel, 60 Skylarks, 50 Fieldfares, 40 Redwings, two Pied Wagtails, a Bullfinch, a Greenfinch, 75 Linnets, 50 Goldfinches and eight Yellowhammers at the farm.
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| Lapwing, Infront George Field |
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| Mistle Thrush, Sheep Brow |
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| Treecreeper, Banstead Woods |
David Campbell (Mistle Thrush and Treecreeper photos), Darragh Culley, Paul Goodman, Ian Magness (Lapwing photo) and Ian Ward
25th November 2016
A decent day for finches in Banstead Woods was headlined by a female Brambling feeding busily with Chaffinches in an ash tree between Piddly Pond and The Scrub. Three Siskins had discovered a convenient tree hollow from which to drink by the larches near the Reads Rest Lane entrance and said larches drew in a Lesser Redpoll. Two Stonechats, a male and a female, looked at home in Hither Field and a pair of Mallards paraded around Piddly Pond. A Rook flew over the east side of the Woods and six Bullfinches were counted in the sector. Highlights at the farm were limited to a Meadow Pipit, five Rooks and six Common Gulls.
Other sightings included two Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 40 Skylarks, 12 Fieldfares, three Redwings, a Pied Wagtail, 150 Linnets and a Yellowhammer at the farm; additional sightings at Banstead Woods included a Pheasant, a Common Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, three Fieldfares, four Song Thrushes, three Redwings.
David Campbell (photos), Paul Goodman and Duncan Jennings
Please note there will be no updates from 30th November to 15th December, unless any group members are willing to take the reigns and post brief key updates for a couple of weeks..?
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| ♂ Siskin, Banstead Woods |
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| ♂ Chaffinch, Reads Rest Cottages |
Other sightings included two Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 40 Skylarks, 12 Fieldfares, three Redwings, a Pied Wagtail, 150 Linnets and a Yellowhammer at the farm; additional sightings at Banstead Woods included a Pheasant, a Common Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, three Fieldfares, four Song Thrushes, three Redwings.
David Campbell (photos), Paul Goodman and Duncan Jennings
Please note there will be no updates from 30th November to 15th December, unless any group members are willing to take the reigns and post brief key updates for a couple of weeks..?
24th November 2016
A blustery day, with a Siskin feeding in trees along the Short Route in Banstead Woods and a redpoll heard flying over there being the highlights. Two Rooks were feeding with the other corvids in Broadfield. Two Mallards flew over the farm, where a Meadow Pipit remained and three Pied Wagtails flew over. Thrushes included around 20 Fieldfares and 60 Redwings at the farm and 10 more of the latter in Banstead Woods. Three Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed overhead and Linnet numbers at the farm increased to around 500. The approachable juvenile Common Buzzard maintains its residence around Reads Rest Cottages and one of the Barn Owls was still on site, as were at least six Yellowhammers.
A late Comma was seen in Banstead Woods.
Please note there will be no updates from 30th November to 15th December, unless any group members are willing to take the reigns and post brief key updates for a couple of weeks (which would be appreciated)
Geoff Barter and David Campbell
A late Comma was seen in Banstead Woods.
Please note there will be no updates from 30th November to 15th December, unless any group members are willing to take the reigns and post brief key updates for a couple of weeks (which would be appreciated)
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| juvenile Common Buzzard |
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