20th August

Two Whinchats had arrived in Hither Field and the Woods sector also held a Common Whitethroat and a Kestrel. A group of 14 House Martins passed over the farm, where three Bullfinches and singles of Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Kestrel were noted.

Whinchat in Hither Field

Ian Ward

17th August

A Great Black-backed Gull flew northwest over the farm, where three Swallows were seen. Also at the farm, a Treecreeper was in Pages Acre and a Common Whitethroat was present along with two each of Chiffchaff and Blackcap, plus four Common Buzzards, a Pheasant, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. 500+ Woodpigeons gathered in the stubble.

Two Holly Blues were the best of the butterflies.

Geoff Barter

16th August

The Woods held singles of Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Nuthatch and Bullfinch, while a Black-headed Gull flew over.

It was a great day for butterflies, headlined by a late Marbled White, two Silver-washed Fritillaries, eight Chalkhill Blues and 14 Brown Argus. Odonata included three Southern Hawkers and two Common Darters.

Duncan Jennings

15th August

A Peregrine flew northwest over Canons Farmhouse. A Willow Warbler and eight Swallows were also at the farm, along with a Pheasant, four Common Buzzards, two Kestrels, five Stock Doves, two Rooks, a Common Whitethroat, four Greenfinches, eight Goldfinches, five Linnets and two Bullfinches. At Banstead Woods, a Black-headed Gull flew over and two Green Woodpeckers, two Blackcaps and a Common Whitethroat were noted.

Among the butterfly sightings, two Holly Blues were seen at Canons Farm and three Speckled Woods were in Banstead Woods.

Geoff Barter

14th August

A Tree Pipit flew south over Valley Meadows at 17:07 and other birds in the Banstead Woods sector included a Pheasant, a Sparrowhawk, two Common Buzzards, a Kestrel, five Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, seven Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, a Common Whitethroat, a Song Thrush, three Nuthatches, seven Goldfinches and three Bullfinches.

Butterflies there included 10+ Chalkhill Blues, two Small Heaths, a Green-veined White, a Peacock and two Brown Argus.

Paul Goodman and Ian Ward

13th August

A Little Owl was noted by Poultry Field. Migrants over Banstead Woods comprised of a Common Swift and nine Swallows, while other birds there included a Pheasant, two Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Pied Wagtail, two Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps and three Bullfinches.

Among the butterflies in the Banstead Woods sector was a Painted Lady, two Brown Argus and a Small Copper. A Southern Hawker hunted along Woodpecker Meadow.

female Common Blue

Green-veined White

Brown Argus


Observations and photographs by Ian Ward

9th August

Birds at Canons Farm included a House Martin, nine Common Swifts, six Swallows, four Common Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Linnet. Another Kestrel was at Banstead Woods, where two Chiffchaffs and a Nuthatch were seen.

The Woods sector also had three Silver-washed Fritillaries, eight Chalkhill Blues, a Marbled White, two Small Coppers, a Brown Argus two Small Heaths among a healthy array of butterflies. Two Southern Hawkers patrolled Piddly Pond.

Duncan Jennings

8th August

Two Swallows, four Common Buzzards, two Yellowhammers, a Kestrel and a Little Owl represented the avian highlights at the farm.

Butterflies included three Red Admirals.

Observer: Geoff Barter

7th August

Three Willow Warblers were around Infront George Field and four Swallows flew south. A Little Owl was showing at Stoney Nob. Other birds at the farm included a Common Buzzard, three Chiffchaffs, two Yellowhammers and four Common Whitethroats.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Holly Lane Meadow, 24th July 2016 (Sophie Pettit)
Observer: Paul Goodman

6th August

There were seemingly two Cuckoos around Reads Bottom, an adult female and a juvenile, a Bullfinch was at Tattenham Meadow and four Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps were counted at the farm, as were two Yellowhammers.

Cuckoo, Reads Bottom, Ian Magness
Juvenile Cuckoo, Reads Bottom, Ian Ward

A Holly Blue and an Essex Skipper were the best of the butterflies noted.

Observers: Ian Magness and Ian Ward


5th August

A Cuckoo was found at Reads Bottom and Horse Pasture hosted a Garden Warbler. The first Northern Wheatear of the autumn was also at the farm, as were four Common Swifts and six Swallows.

Butterflies on show in Banstead Woods included three Silver-washed and one Dark Green Fritillary, 12 Chalkhill Blues, four Brown Argus, three Essex Skippers, a Small Skipper and a Marbled White.

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

3rd August

10 Common Swifts flew south at the farm and 20+ Swallows were active around Canons Farmhouse.

Observer: Geoff Barter

30th July, Canons Farm/Banstead Woods

Sparrowhawk1 CF
Common Buzzard2+ BW
Common Swift10 BW
Green Woodpecker7 BW
Great Spotted Woodpecker2 BW
Chiffchaff6 BW, 1 CF
Common Whitethroat2 BW
Robin1 juv BW
Goldfinch2+ BW
Bullfinch1+ Tawny Wood, 3+ Pages Acre, 2 BW
Essex Skipper3 BW
Small Skipper1 BW
Large Skipper3 BW
Brimstone1 BW
Marbled White10+ BW
Green-veined White3+ BW
Small White4+ BW
Large White3+ BW
Comma1 BW
Peacock1 BW
Silver-washed Fritillary6 BW
Meadow BrownBW (common)
GatekeeperBW ( common)
Ringlet2 BW (scrub)
Common Blue1 BW
Chalkhill Blue3 BW
Brown Argus4 BW (Fames Rough_


Observer: Paul Goodman

31st July, Canons Farm

Sparrowhawk1
Kestrel2
Chiffchaff2
Common Whitethroat2
Yellowhammer1
Essex Skipper1
Small Skipper1
Small/Essex Skipper2
Green-veined White1+
Small White2
Large White1
Comma2
Red Admiral4
Small Tortoiseshell2
Speckled Wood3
Meadow Brown200+ (especially at L&G)
Gatekeeper60+ (especially at L&G)
Ringlet3


Observer: Paul Goodman

30th July, Canons Farm

Kestrel1
Common Swift1
Green Woodpecker1
Great Spotted Woodpecker2
Swallowc25 low over Broadfield/Harrier field & Horse Pasture
Chiffchaff1
Common WhitethroatAdult with juvs by Canons farmhouse
House Sparrow40+ in the Horse Pasture area
Yellowhammer2 singing birds, 1 North Horse Pasture, 1 Harrier field
Essex Skipper8
Small Skipper4
Small/Essex Skipper11
Marbled White1 in Circle field
Green-veined White1
Small White3
Large White5
Red Admiral2 by Canons farmhouse
Peacock100+ Caterpillars by Canons Farmhouse
Meadow Brown150+ along pathways only; Canons Farm>Circle field>Broadfield>Read Rest Cottages
Gatekeeperc35
Ringlet3
Observer: Ian Ward

28th July, Canons Farm/Banstead Woods

A Cuckoo was at Canons Farm. Other sightings:

Common Buzzard4 CF
Kestrel1 CF
Herring Gull8 CF
feral Rock Dove7 CF
Woodpigeon20 + CF
Green Woodpecker1 L&G
Magpie3 CF
Carrion Crow12 CF
Coal Tit1 BW
Skylark3 CF
Swallow1 CF
Chiffchaff4 BW
Blackcap1 BW
Starling3 CF
House Sparrow15+ RR Cottages
Goldfinch6 CF
Linnet2 CF


Brimstone2 BW
Large White5 CF
Comma2 CF
Red Admiral3 CF
Meadow Brown50+ CF/BW
Gatekeeper2 CF
Ringlet10 CF
 
Observer: Geoff Barter

22nd July

Observer name(s)Geoff Barter
Date22-07-2016
SectorCanons Farm/Banstead Woods
Pheasant1 Lunch wood
Kestrel1 Reads lane
Herring Gull80 plus
Stock Dove2 CF
Woodpigeon50 plus
Rose-ringed Parakeet1 CF
Green Woodpecker2 Scrub
Great Spotted Woodpecker2 BW
Magpie8
Jay4
Jackdaw2
Carrion Crow20 plus
Blue Tit1 BW
Skylark4 CF
Chiffchaff2 BW
Blackcap3 inc 1 juv
Garden Warbler1 scrub
Common Whitethroat3 inc 2 juvs
Nuthatch2 BW
Wren3 BW
Starling4 CF
Blackbird5
Song Thrush2 scrub
Robin3 BW
Dunnock4 inc 1 juv CF
House Sparrow10 CF
Chaffinch1 CF
Greenfinch1 CF
Goldfinch5 CF
Linnet10 CF
Yellowhammer2 CF
Painted Lady1
Red Admiral3
Small Tortoiseshell2
Peacock1
Speckled Wood2
Meadow Brown30 plus
Gatekeeper1
Ringlet10

Observer name(s)PAUL Goodman
Date22-07-2016
SectorCanons Farm/Banstead Woods
Common Buzzard1 CF
Little Owl1 CF
Green Woodpecker1 CF, 2 BW
Great Spotted Woodpecker2 CF
Skylark1 CF
Chiffchaff2 CF, 4 BW
Blackcap1 BW
Common Whitethroat5 CF
Nuthatch1 BW
House Sparrow20+ CF
Goldfinch9 CF, 1 BW
Linnet3 CF
Bullfinch2 BW (Sheep Brow)
Yellowhammer3 CF
Essex Skipper1+ CF
Small Skipper1+ CF
Marbled White4 CF, 6+ BW
Small White2+ CF
Large White1+ CF
Comma1 BW
Small Tortoiseshell1 CF
Peacock1 BW
Meadow Brown20+ CF, 20+ BW
Gatekeeper4+ CF, 2+ BW
Ringlet4+ CF, 2+ BW
Tiny froglet hopping across path next to Piddly Pond






19th July

Observer name(s)Linda mount
Date07-19-2016
SectorCanons Farm
KestrelOn telegraph pole along Cannons Lane 6pm
Rose-ringed Parakeetflying over Broadfield
Skylarksinging in Front George Field
Swallow16 perched on telephone wires in Front George Field
Common Whitethroatsinging hedgerow Quailfield/ Skylark Field
Starling4 perched on Telephone wire In Front George Field
Goldfinch2 perched on telephone wire In Front George Field
Yellowhammerone singing by Horse Pasture another singing nr Canons Farm
Large Whiteone by hedge Quail Field
Red Admiral2 Harrier Field
Meadow BrownClouds along Hedgerows from Watch Point to Broad Field

16th July

Observer name(s)Ian Ward
Date07-16-2016
SectorBanstead Woods
Common Swift3
Green Woodpecker3
Chiffchaff5
Blackcap10
Common Whitethroat1
Nuthatch2
Treecreeper1
Bullfinch3; 2 The Scrub, 1 Piddly Pond area
Essex Skipper4
Small Skipper3
Small/Essex Skipper20+
Large Skipper8
Brimstone2
Marbled White120+
Small White2
Large White5
Comma3
Red Admiral1
Silver-washed Fritillary2; 1 near Jean Sweeney bench, 1 Sheep Brow


Dark Green Fritillary1 Fames Rough
Speckled Wood2
Meadow Brown150+
Gatekeeper5
Ringlet20+
Small Heath1 Sheep Brow
1 SilverY moth Fames Rough.
2 Southern Hawkers, 2 Azure Damselflies, 1 Large Red Damselfly, 2 Common Darters all on Piddly Pond


Observer name(s)Ian Ward
Date07-16-2016
SectorCanons Farm
Comma1 GBF
Red Admiral1 GBF
Small Tortoiseshell3 Poultry field
Silver-washed Fritillary1 Perrotts by Wood on brambles

15th July

Observer name(s)DUNCAN JENNINGS
Date07-15-2016
SectorCanons Farm
Common Buzzard2
Herring Gull10+
Stock Dove1
Woodpigeon1+
Common Swift3
Magpie1+
Jay1
Carrion Crow10+
Skylark3
Swallow12 (inc 6 Juv's)
Chiffchaff1
Blackcap3 (inc 2 Circle field)
Common Whitethroat1
Wren3
Starling12+
Blackbird3
Song Thrush1
Dunnock2
House Sparrow10+
Goldfinch3
Yellowhammer1 (singing)
Essex Skipper2
Small Skipper2+
Large Skipper4
Marbled White13+
Small White3+
Large White2
Comma3
Red Admiral2
Small Tortoiseshell4
Meadow Brown19+
Gatekeeper2
Ringlet9+
Small Heath1

ALSO :

Observer name(s)Paul Goodman
Date07-15-2016
SectorBanstead Woods
Sparrowhawk1 in Piddly Pond
Chiffchaff4
Blackcap3
Common Whitethroat1
Nuthatch2
Small Skipper1
Marbled White10+
Small White1
Large White1
Meadow Brown20+
Ringlet20+
Small Heath1
Purple Hairstreak1, Piddly Pond
Other butterfly 1Comma