12th April 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'...
... And remember to join us for our Spring Migration Tour on Saturday 29th April

Although it felt like we'd slid back a month or two with a very chilly start to the morning, it turned out to be a rather productive day. Best of all was the second Redstart of the year, another male and again along Slangs but a very elusive individual this time. Five Wheatears dropped in to the southwest corner of Broadfield East mid-morning and 10 Swallows had flown west by early afternoon, while a Siskin called overhead and 36 Meadow Pipits trickled through. Willow Warblers were singing along Slangs and in Pages Acre. In the evening, a Red Kite also headed into the wind. Broadfield's two Red-legged Partridges were still in-situ. Other sightings at the farm included four Mallards chasing each other, a Pied Wagtail in the Pages Acre horse paddock, the two Little Owls on the east side of Horse Pasture and a Mistle Thrush.

A short visit to the Banstead Woods sector revealed fly-bys from singles of Canada Goose, Grey Heron and Lesser Black-backed Gull, a further two Willow Warblers singing at the Harholt Plantation and an additional two Meadow Pipits moving. Across the patch, 11 Blackcaps and six Chiffchaffs were heard singing.

Butterflies at the farm included Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell.

♂ Wheatear

Red Kite

♂ Wheatear

Skylark

Red-legged Partridge

Bluebells

David Campbell (photos 1, 2, 5 and 6), Steve Gale, Paul Goodman, Paul Manville, Linda Mount, Ian Pratley, Janice Pratley, Paul Sell, Noreen Siba and Mark Stanley (photos 3-4)

11th April 2017

Our earliest-ever Garden Warbler was singing at the Harholt Plantation and two Mistle Thrushes were seen at the farm.

A good variety of butterflies were on the wing in the BW sector, with Brimstone, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and, best of all, three Green Hairstreaks.

Also notable was a Common Lizard.

Green Hairstreak

Duncan Jennings (photo), Natasha Preston and Woodchips

10th April 2017

A good day produced three Wheatears, two Lapwings, a Red Kite and seven Willow Warblers at the farm. A Little Owl was showing on the east side of Horse Pasture.

A Red Kite was also seen over Banstead Woods.

Two Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock were flying at the farm.

Geoff Barter, Duncan Jennings and Linda Mount

9th April 2017

A Peregrine high southeast over Hither Field and the two Red-legged Partridges still in Broadfield represent the day's headlines. Eight singing Blackcaps, seven Chiffchaffs and 12 Linnets were counted at the farm, where a Tawny Owl and a Little Owl were also seen.

A Green Hairstreak was seen at Fames Rough, while a Holly Blue, a Small Tortoiseshell and 12 Brimstones were also in the BW sector. CF had four Orange-tips, five Small Tortoiseshells, a Speckled Wood, a Comma, six Brimstones, three Holly Blues and five Peacocks were at the farm.

Green Hairstreak

Peacocks

Paul Goodman and Ian Ward (photos)

8th April 2017

The first two Swallows of the spring, bringing the year list to 73 species, were a welcome and slightly overdue sight as they flew through Canons Farm. A Rook flew over Fames Rough and warbler counts in the BW sector produced 10 Blackcaps and 17 Chiffchaffs, while six Pheasants was a good total for the sector. Back at the farm, a Grey Heron flew over and a Pied Wagtail was seen at Legal & General.

The butterflies provided much of the interest today, headlined by two Green Hairstreaks: one at Coneyboro Hill and the other at Fames Rough. Two Speckled Woods, a Large White and a Green-veined White in BW were also new for the year, while 20 Brimstones, seven Peacocks, seven Orange-tips, five Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma were also logged there.

Grey Heron

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Ian Magness (photos), Ian Pratley and Ian Ward

7th April 2017

After what has felt like an overlong wait for the first Willow Warbler of the year, one was trapped and ringed at the Harholt Plantation this morning, bringing the year list to 72 species. In fact, only three of the previous seven years logged an earlier arrival so we've actually done alright this year. Perhaps this sluggish occupation of territory is an indication that the habitat on offer is past its peak. A Blackcap was also ringed and four Chiffchaffs noted at Harholt, where a disagreement between five Jays provided an interesting behavioural observation.

The farm had two of both Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Butterflies across the patch included two Orange-tips, a Comma, six Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock.

Willow Warbler, a short-winged, presumably ♀, bird

♂ Blackcap

2cy Coal Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Paul Goodman and Mark Stanley (photos)

6th April 2017

A Pied Wagtail at Legal & General, two Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps were the only news from the farm. BW sector sightings included a Mistle Thrush, plus singles of Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

The first Holly Blue and Orange-tip of the year were flying at BW, as was a Small Tortoiseshell and two Brimstones.

Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings, Ian Pratley and Woodchips

5th April 2017

There was little change today. One of the Red-legged Partridges was still showing in Broadfield and the Blackcap was still singing in Lunch Wood. The BW sector held a Tawny Owl, two Pheasants, 11 Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps.

Duncan Jennings, Ian Magness, Ian Pratley and Woodchips

4th April 2017

One of the Red-legged Partridges cropped up again in Broadfield, while two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two Mallards flew over. Three Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff were also logged at the farm, as were three Kestrels of note.

Andy Downing

3rd April 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'

Our earliest spring arrival date for the species, and our first 'quality' passage migrant this spring, a stonking male Redstart was found along Slangs (of course!) late morning and was still showing mid-afternoon, bringing the year list to 71. Two over-flying Greylags represented the second record of the year. Other notables included five Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and three Mallards, while the Horse Pasture pair of Little Owls was on show. Three Pheasants, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were seen, too. Hopefully more is to come over the next few weeks, giving the year list a much-needed boost.

male Common Redstart

 Duncan Jennings

2nd April 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'

The two Red-legged Partridges flew seen again in Broadfield before they flew to Reads Bottom. Two Mistle Thrushes were near Round Meadow, two Pied Wagtails were at Legal & General, five Blackcaps and three Chiffchaffs were singing and a Rook was in Broadfield. A Tawny Owl was hooting near Slangs.

Butterflies included six Small Tortoiseshells, a Comma, a Peacock and two Brimstones.

Ian Ward

Recent images of Wood Sorrell  and a beefly by Ian Magness:

1st April 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'

Well, we missed out on a March Wheatear! Hopefully one will arrive soon. We still only have the two early-arriving warblers for our spring migrant roll call. CFBW often drags its heels when it comes to migrant arrival dates but over coming days we can surely expect the arrival of Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Swallow, with more species to come in their wake. More of a patch scarcity than routine arrival is Sand Martin, but keeping eyes to the skies should secure a decent spring date.

Now for today's significant news. Two Fieldfares were seen in Poultry Field while two Blackcaps and four Chiffchaffs were singing at CF A Collared Dove was singing in Holly Wood and 80 Stock Doves were feeding in Green Belt Field. In the BW sector, a Rook flew over Outwood Lane and 15 Chiffchaffs and eight Blackcaps were in song. Three Treecreepers and four Bullfinches were among the resident birds on offer.

Butterflies, all in BW, included two Commas, a Small Tortoiseshell and three Peacocks.

Ian Ward

31st March 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'

A pair of Mallards paid a visit to Piddly Pond and 10 Chiffchaffs were singing in the BW sector, where there were three Pheasants.

Three Blackcaps were in song at the farm, with one at Lunch Wood and two at Round Meadow. Two Mistle Thrushes were again seen at Chipstead Meadow and two Pied Wagtails were in Green Belt Field and 40 Linnets were in Poultry Field. A Little Owl was still showing on the edge of Horse Pasture.

Paul Goodman 

30th March 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'

Raptors over the Harholt Plantation included two Peregrines, 10 Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel. Eight Chiffchaffs and two Linnets were also at Harholt.

A Brimstone was also seen in the BW sector.

Chiffchaff

Long-tailed Tit

Blue Tit

Chiffchaff

Duncan Jennings and Mark Stanley (photos)

28th March 2017

See Publications for details of how to get a copy of our new book 'The Birds of Canons Farm & Banstead Woods 2012-16'

Another Red Kite drifted west but there was little else on offer. Both of the Horse Pasture Little Owls were on view and six Meadow Pipits flew through, but it was another disappointing lack of migrants (mind you, coverage was very limited). A Bullfinch and a Common Buzzard were in the Banstead Woods sector.

Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Brimstone were flying at the farm. A Comma and another Red Admiral were at Banstead Woods.

David Campbell, Duncan Jennings, Linda Mount, Ian Pratley et al

DKC, Eds: I am away in Edinburgh for a couple of weeks so updates may be a little more sporadic than usual. It's a prime time for a number of expected freshly arriving migrants such as Wheatear, redstarts (both species!), Ring Ouzel, Willow Warbler, etc, along with the chance of something better. Do get out and keep the coverage up (and keep the sightings coming). Thanks!

27th March 2017

After a classic Canons Farm foggy morning, a fly-over Red Kite and the two Red-legged Partridges, seen again in Broadfield, represented the day's highlights. Two Canada Geese and a Siskin overhead provided second-billing while five Pied Wagtails were in the Legal & General car park and eight Meadow Pipits flew through. A Chiffchaff was singing. A Little Owl was showing on the east side of Horse Pasture.

David Campbell and Duncan Jennings

26th March 2017

The two Red-legged Partridges reappeared as they trotted along the south-east side of Broadfield. Other sightings at the farm included a Chiffchaff, two Treecreepers, a Kestrel, two Buzzards, two Pheasants, eight Linnets and four Yellowhammers. Banstead Woods had eight Lesser Redpolls, six Chiffchaffs, eight Nuthatches, six Bullfinches, a Kestrel and a Common Buzzard of note.

Butterflies on the wing included two Peacocks and a Comma at the farm and five Brimstones across the patch.

Red-legged Partridges

Carrion Crow

Peacock

beefly sp and Primrose

Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings, Ian Magness (photo 2 & 4), Ian Ward (photos 1 & 3) and Woodchips

25th March 2017

Sightings at Banstead Woods included 10 fly-over Black-headed Gulls, a Pheasant, two Mistle Thrushes, two Common Buzzards, two Kestrels, two Linnets, seven Bullfinches and seven Chiffchaffs. The farm had 100 Herring Gulls taking an interest in work at Green Belt Field and two Common Buzzards.

Butterflies across the recording area included six Small Tortoiseshells, a Comma and 13 Brimstones.

Chiffchaff

♀ Bullfinch

♂ Bullfinch

Dunnock

Mark Stanley (photos) and Ian Ward

24th March 2017

Another horrid morning, feeling like spring has been rewound. Things brightened up in the afternoon, though, tempting the year's first Blackcap into song in Lunch Wood. A Red-legged Partridge was still in Broadfield, where two restless Canada Geese settled for a short while. In addition to the Blackcap, migrants at the farm were limited to two Meadow Pipits and a Chiffchaff, plus seven Pied Wagtails in the Legal & General car park. Stock Doves were present in good numbers, with some 200 counted, and five Mallards flew over.

The north side of Banstead Woods had two of both Siskin and redpoll flying over, plus six Treecreepers.

Canada Geese

Pied Wagtails

♂ Yellowhammer

David Campbell (photo 1), Andy Downing, Paul Goodman, Duncan Jennings (photos 2-3) and Ian Magness

23rd March 2017

Highlights at the farm included 20 Lesser Redpolls in Pages Acre, three Canada Geese and four Mallards over, four Meadow Pipits, two Mistle Thrushes, 35 Redwings, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Common Gulls, a Grey Heron, four Pheasants, two Common Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.

Banstead Woods had two more Canada Geese overhead, two Chiffchaffs, a Pheasant, a Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard, two Kestrels and two Bullfinches.

♂ Yellowhammer

David Campbell (photo), Duncan Jennings, Paul Manville and Woodchips