March 2014

Keep an eye on the Twitter feed on the right hand side and here for live bird news updates throughout the day. All sightings are appreciated and will be useful in the writing of the annual bird reports, please email your sightings to canonsfarmbirds@hotmail.co.uk. When submitting sightings, please try to match the format of this page as much as possible to make transfer as efficient as possible. See Map for locations mentioned here (some are old local names, some we have made up). BOLD = rare for CFBW - BOLD & RED = first for CFBW.
* = bird flying past the recording area, viewed from it.

'C.Farm' is the general term for the area west of the marked red line on the Map, and 'B.Woods' is the general term for the area east of this line. More specific locations, also found on the map, are also included in these sightings.


Monday 31st
  • no reported sightings


Sunday 30th
  • (all B.Woods) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (dead-end path north of estate), ROOK (flew from Hither Field to The Scrub), 5+ LESSER REDPOLLS (alders near post 13 near R.R.Lane), LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew east (Holly Lane Meadow), 5 BLACKCAPS singing, 12 CHIFFCHAFFS singing, MISTLE THRUSH (near Scouts camp), 3 COMMON BUZZARDS (3 The Scrub, 1 Holly Lane Meadow), KESTREL (Sheep Brow), 4 PHEASANTS, 6 GOLDCRESTS - IPW
  • (all B.Woods) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (dead-end path north of estate), MARSH HARRIER flew NE at 09:23 (The Scrub), 1+ CANADA GOOSE flew over (The Scrub), 5 COMMON BUZZARDS, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew over, 3 STOCK DOVES, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, KESTREL (The Scrub), 2 GOLDCRESTS, 2 COAL TITS, c5 NUTHATCHES, 2+ TREECREEPERS, 2 SONG THRUSHES, REDWING, 1+ BULLFINCH, LINNET, 9+ LESSER REDPOLLS (incl. 4 trapped & ringed at The Scrub), 2 GOLDFINCHES - DKC/GBr/IJ/MSt/DR/CNR 
  • (all B.Woods between R.R.Lane entrance & Piddly Pond) SISKIN, 8+ LESSER REDPOLLS, COAL TIT, PHEASANT - PGo
  • (all C.Farm) MEADOW PIPIT (displaying), 7 SKYLARKS, 8 LINNETS, 2 COMMON BUZZARDS, 3 YELLOWHAMMERS (Butterflies: Orange Tip, 8 Peacocks, 5 Small Tortoiseshells, 15 Brimstones) - PGo  


Saturday 29th
  • (all C.Farm) BLACKCAP singing (Legal & General), YELLOWHAMMER (Poultry Field), 2 CHIFFCHAFFS (1 Tawny Wood, 1 Legal & General), COMMON BUZZARD (Broadfield), 2 KESTRELS (1 Railway Field, 1 Broadfield), PHEASANT (Poultry Field), 30+ LINNETS (Quail Field), MEADOW PIPIT (Green Belt Field), 2 GREENFINCHES, GOLDCREST (Legal & General) (Butterflies: 3 Peacocks (Green Belt Field), Small Tortoiseshell (Poultry Field)) - IPW
  • (all B.Woods) 4+ LESSER REDPOLLS (alders near post 13, near R.R.Lane), 3 MALLARDS flew over (estate), KESTREL (Hither Field), 7 CHIFFCHAFFS, 2 PHEASANTS, 2 BULLFINCHES (The Scrub), 4 LONG-TAILED TITS (3 Hither Field, 1 The Scrub), 4 GOLDCRESTS, LINNET (Hither Field) (Butterflies: 2 Peacocks (The Scrub), Small Tortoiseshell (Hither Field), Comma) - IPW 
  • (all C.Farm) 2 REDPOLLS flew over (Legal & General), 2 MALLARDS flew over, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS, 3+ STOCK DOVES, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, ♂ KESTREL, 10+ SKYLARKS, LONG-TAILED TIT, 3 CHIFFCHAFFS singing (1 Tawny Wood, 1 Ruffett Wood, 1 Aberdour School), BLACKCAP singing (Legal & General), 2 NUTHATCHES (1 by Pages Acre horse paddock, 1 by Poultry Field), 2 SONG THRUSHES, 5 MEADOW PIPITS, GREENFINCH, 5 LINNETS, 7 GOLDFINCHES, 3 YELLOWHAMMERS (C.Farmhouse, 1 R.R.Cottages, Slangs) - DKC


Friday 28th
  • Morning: SAND MARTIN flew north (Watchpoint) - AD


Thursday 27th
  • no reported sightings


Wednesday 26th
  • no reported sightings


Tuesday 25th
  • no reported sightings


Monday 24th
  • no reported sightings


Sunday 23rd
  • (all C.Farm) RAVEN flew over at 11:30 (Broadfield), 4 CHIFFCHAFFS - GB
  • (all C.Farm) SWALLOW flew NNE at 11:13 (Quail Field), BLACKCAP (Legal & General (singing)), 130+ LINNETS (Quail Field), 6 MALLARDS (4) flew over (Heathside Field), COLLARED DOVE (over Heathside Field), 13 MEADOW PIPITS (7 Broadfield, 1 Heathside Field, 5 Pipit Meadow), 3 REDWINGS (2 Bog Field, 1 Railway Field), 3 MISTLE THRUSHES (2 Chipstead Meadow, 1 Green Belt Field), 2 KESTRELS (1 Harrier Field, 1 Chipstead Meadow), 2 GOLDCRESTS (1 Tawny Wood, 1 Heathside Field), GREENFINCH (Heathside Field (singing)), 4 STOCK DOVES (Stoney Nob) - IPW
  • (all C.Farm) BLACKCAP singing (Legal & General), LITTLE OWL (Legal & General), CHIFFCHAFF singing (Tawny Wood), 3 COMMON BUZZARDS (over Ruffett Wood) - IJ
  • (all C.Farm) 3 CHIFFCHAFFS (Tawny Wood (singing)), 6 LONG-TAILED TITS, 3 NUTHATCHES, 12 STOCK DOVES - PGo 


Saturday 22nd
  • (all C.Farm) 2 WHEATEARS (Reads Bottom area) (♂+) (IJ/DW), BLACKCAP (Legal & General), 2+ MALLARDS flew over, COMMON BUZZARD, adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew over, 4 STOCK DOVES, 2 LITTLE OWLS (1 Legal & General, 1 east side of Horse Pasture), 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 3 KESTRELS together (over Lunch Wood), 3+ SKYLARKS, CHIFFCHAFF (Infront George Field (singing)), 45+ FIELDFARES, 3 SONG THRUSHES, REDWING, 4+ MEADOW PIPITS, 3 LINNETS, 2 YELLOWHAMMERS - IJ/DKC/MSt/DW 
  • (all B.Woods) 2 MALLARDS (♂+) (Piddly Pond), PHEASANT, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS, 3 STOCK DOVES, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, 2 LONG-TAILED TITS, CHIFFCHAFF, 2 NUTHATCHES, TREECREEPER, GOLDFINCH - DKC/IJ/MSt/PGo


Friday 21st
  • 07:20-08:20: (all C.Farm) RED KITE flew south (Heathside Field), 2 CHIFFCHAFFS (Legal & General/Infront George Field), 2 LITTLE OWLS (east side of Horse Pasture), 2 BULLFINCHES, 2 REDWINGS, c50 FIELDFARES, COMMON GULL flew over - AD


Thursday 20th
  • (all C.Farm) CHIFFCHAFF singing briefly (Harrier Field), 25+ FIELDFARES, YELLOWHAMMER (Watchpoint area), 4 MEADOW PIPITS, 2 COMMON BUZZARDS (Butterflies: Small Tortoiseshell (Skylark Field)) - IPW
  • (all B.Woods) 2 MALLARDS (♂+) (Piddly Pond), 6 CHIFFCHAFFS, 2 BULLFINCHES (The Scrub), 1st-winter COMMON GULL flew over (Valley Meadows), 6 REDWINGS (The Scrub), 7 STOCK DOVES - IPW  


Wednesday 19th
  • no reported sightings


Tuesday 18th
  • no reported sightings


Monday 17th
  • no reported sightings


Sunday 16th
  • (all B.Woods) SISKIN (sub-singing), 9 CHIFFCHAFFS singing, 2 BULLFINCHES, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS, MEADOW PIPIT (Hither Field), PHEASANT, 3 REDWINGS (Butterflies: good numbers of Brimstones; also 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Peacocks, 2 Commas and Red Admiral) - IPW
  • (all B.Woods) 2 PHEASANTS, 6 CHIFFCHAFFS, 9 NUTHATCHES, TREECREEPER (Butterflies: 30+ Brimstones) - PGo   


Saturday 15th
  • (all C.Farm) LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew north, 14 COMMON GULLS (Legal & General), YELLOWHAMMER (R.R.Cottages), MEADOW PIPIT (Harrier Field), PHEASANT (Lunch Wood), KESTREL (caravan site), 50+ FIELDFARES (Death Pit), 20+ REDWINGS, 3 MISTLE THRUSHES (2 Perrotts by Wood, 1 Ruffett Wood), 4 SONG THRUSHES, 8 SKYLARKS, 6 STOCK DOVES, 2 COAL TITS, 8 LONG-TAILED TITS, 11 GOLDFINCHES, GREENFINCH, 5 GOLDCRESTS (2 Circle Field, 1 Tawny Wood, 1 Pages Acre, 1 Ruffett Wood), 2 NUTHATCHES (1 Tawny Wood, 1 Circle Field), 2 TREECREEPERS (1 Circle Field, 1 Ruffett Wood), 4 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 5 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 7 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS (Butterflies: 6 Small Tortoiseshells (mainly around Poultry Field)) - IPW
  • 10+ LESSER REDPOLLS (near R.R.Lane), 2 CHIFFCHAFFS singing (1 near R.R.Lane, 1 The Scrub), KESTREL (Rambler's Rest), PHEASANT (The Nuttery), 3 BULLFINCHES (incl. 2 The Scrub), 4 GOLDFINCHES, GREENFINCH (Fames Rough (singing)), 3 GOLDCRESTS, 2 LONG-TAILED TITS, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 3 STOCK DOVES, 10 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS (Butterflies: Comma (The Scrub), 6 Small Tortoiseshell. Mammals: Red Fox (Rambler's Rest)) - IPW       


Friday 14th
  • 08:10-08:50/17:25-18:10: (all C.Farm) RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (Skylark Field), GREY HERON (Bog Field),6+ MEADOW PIPITS, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS, 145+ FIELDFARES, 28+ REDWINGS, 8 COMMON GULLS, YELLOWHAMMER, SONG THRUSH - AD
  • (all C.Farm) 2 COMMON BUZZARDS, 1st-winter BLACK-HEADED GULL flew over, 5 COMMON GULLS (4 adults & 1st-winter) (Legal & General), 2 STOCK DOVES, 2 LITTLE OWLS (east side of Horse Pasture), 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 7 SKYLARKS, PIED WAGTAIL, GOLDFINCH, 2 LINNETS, 2 YELLOWHAMMERS - DKC


Thursday 13th
  • (all C.Farm) 8 MEADOW PIPITS, 6 SKYLARKS, PIED WAGTAIL, 2 REDWINGS, 2 SONG THRUSHES, 2 LONG-TAILED TITS, 3 GOLDFINCHES, 10+ LINNETS, 20+ FIELDFARES - IJ


Wednesday 12th
  • (all C.Farm) YELLOWHAMMER, 2 LITTLE OWLS, 6 SKYLARKS, 20+ FIELDFARES, COMMON BUZZARD, SONG THRUSH - IJ


Tuesday 11th
  • (all C.Farm) KESTREL, LITTLE OWL, YELLOWHAMMER (singing), FIELDFARE, 25+ LINNETS, 5 REDWINGS, 2 SKYLARKS, 4 MEADOW PIPITS, 2 SONG THRUSHES, MISTLE THRUSH, LONG-TAILED TIT - IJ


Monday 10th
  • 2 MALLARDS (♂+) (Piddly Pond)
  • (all C.Farm) KESTREL, PIED WAGTAIL, SKYLARK, MISTLE THRUSH, SONG THRUSH, 20+ REDWINGS, LINNET, 8 FIELDFARES, GREEN WOODPECKER, 5+ GOLDCRESTS - IJ

Sunday 9th
  • 11:55-13:15 at least: FIRECREST (just north of Piddly Pond) - PGo et al
  • (all B.Woods) MARSH TIT heard still at 09:18 (by post 16), SISKIN and 3 LESSER REDPOLLS at 11:40 (alders by post 13, near R.R.Lane entrance), CHIFFCHAFF still (The Scrub), PHEASANT (The Scrub), MEADOW PIPIT (Woodpecker Meadow), 3 COMMON BUZZARDS (2 Holly Lane Meadow, 1 Hither Field), 2 SPARROWHAWKS (1 The Scrub, 1 estate side), 2 KESTRELS (♂ Hither Field, ♀ Valley Meadows), 3+ BULLFINCHES (2+ The Scrub, 1 Valley Meadows), 2 GREENFINCHES (1 Rambler's Rest, 1 Valley Meadows), 3 GOLDFINCHES, 5 LONG-TAILED TITS, 8 COAL TITS, 5 GOLDCRESTS, 4 NUTHATCHES, 6 TREECREEPERS, 7 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 9 SONG THRUSHES, 20+ REDWINGS, 4 STOCK DOVES, 5 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS (Butterflies: Peacock (near Piddly Pond), Red Admiral (estate side), good numbers of Brimstones) - IPW/PGo
  • LITTLE OWL (Legal & General) (Butterflies: Brimstone (Legal & General)) - IGM


Saturday 8th
  • (all C.Farm) YELLOWHAMMER (Horse Pasture), LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew south at 13:16 (Pipit Meadow), 9 MEADOW PIPITS (Harrier Field), 150+ FIELDFARES (Skylark Field), 100+ REDWINGS (mainly Death Pit), 100+ LINNETS (Quail Field/Heathside Field), 12 SKYLARKS, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS (1 Steep Banks, 2 north side of Green Belt Field), 2 KESTRELS (1 Poultry Field, 1 Circle Field), 2 COMMON GULLS (Legal & General), LONG-TAILED TIT (Ruffett Wood), COLLARED DOVE (Heathside Field), 4 STOCK DOVES, 14 GOLDFINCHES, 6 GREENFINCHES, 8 SONG THRUSHES, 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS (1 C.Wood, 1 Railway Field), 8 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS - IPW
  • (all B.Woods) CHIFFCHAFF singing (The Scrub), BULLFINCH (The Scrub), TREECREEPER, 5 NUTHATCHES, 4 LONG-TAILED TITS (2 pairs, 1 collecting nesting material), 2 COMMON BUZZARDS (1 displaying) (Butterflies: 7 Brimstones) - PGo
  • (all B.Woods) 3+ BULLFINCHES (The Scrub), SPARROWHAWK (The Scrub), COMMON BUZZARD (The Scrub), 4 TREECREEPERS, 2 STOCK DOVES, 4 COAL TITS, 2 GOLDFINCHES, GREENFINCH, GOLDCREST, GREEN WOODPECKER, 4 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS (Butterflies: 5 Brimstones (The Scrub)) - IPW 


Friday 7th
  • (all C.Farm) 3 LITTLE OWLS (2 east side of Horse Pasture, 1 Stoney Nob), 70+ FIELDFARES, 30+ REDWINGS, 67+ LINNETS, COMMON BUZZARD, adult COMMON GULL (Legal & General), PIED WAGTAIL flew over, SONG THRUSH, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 5 GOLDFINCHES - AD


Thursday 6th
  • 16:30-17:30: (all C.Farm) 2 SPARROWHAWKS, 2 YELLOWHAMMERS, MISTLE THRUSH, 2 REDWINGS, PHEASANT, 5 STOCK DOVES, GOLDCREST, 2 SONG THRUSHES, 5 LONG-TAILED TITS - IJ


Wednesday 5th
  • (all C.Farm) STONECHAT (Horse Pasture), 3 GREY HERONS flew over at 08:12, COMMON BUZZARD (same as BW), STOCK DOVE, 2 LITTLE OWLS (1 east side of Horse Pasture, 1 Stoney Nob), 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 7 SKYLARKS, 1+ LONG-TAILED TIT, TREECREEPER (by Tawny Wood (singing)), 22+ FIELDFARES, 2 SONG THRUSHES, 6+ REDWINGS, 3+ MEADOW PIPITS, 8 GOLDFINCHES, LINNETS, 3+ YELLOWHAMMERS - DKC 
  • (all B.Woods) MEADOW PIPIT flew over, SPARROWHAWK, COMMON BUZZARD (same as CF), KESTREL, STOCK DOVE, 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 2 GOLDCRESTS, COAL TIT, 4 LONG-TAILED TITS (2 near Piddly Pond, 2 Woodpecker Meadow), 4 NUTHATCHES, 2 TREECREEPERS, 4 SONG THRUSHES, GOLDFINCH, BULLFINCH - DKC


Tuesday 4th
  • no reported sightings


Monday 3rd
  • no reported sightings


Sunday 2nd
  • (all C.Farm) YELLOWHAMMER (singing), c200 FIELDFARES, c120 REDWINGS, KESTREL, c50 LINNETS, 6+ SKYLARKS - PGo
  • (all C.Farm) STONECHAT (Reads Bottom), LITTLE OWL (in tree near R.R.Cottages), KESTREL, up to 20 STOCK DOVES, FIELDFARES - DJ
  • (all The Scrub) 2 REDWINGS (The Scrub), SPARROWHAWK (The Scrub), GREEN WOODPECKER (The Scrub) - DJ

Saturday 1st
  • (all C.Farm) STONECHAT (flew from Horse Pasture to Watchpoint), 2 MALLARDS (♂+) flew over at 08:55 (Tawny Wood), GREY HERON flew south at 09:13 (Pipit Meadow), 200+ FIELDFARES flew NW (Broadfield), 80+ REDWINGS (50+ flew NW over Broadfield, 30+ around Pages Acre), COMMON BUZZARD (Railway Field), COLLARED DOVE (Tawny Wood (singing)), MISTLE THRUSH (Circle Field), 7 SKYLARKS, 15 GOLDFINCHES, 5 GREENFINCHES, 25 STOCK DOVES, 3 COAL TITS (2 Pages Acre, 1 Tawny Wood), COMMON GULL (Legal & General), 3 TREECREEPERS (Tawny Wood), 4 NUTHATCHES (2 Tawny Wood, Circle Field, 1 Tattenham Meadow), 3 GOLDCRESTS (2 Tawny Wood, 1 Pages Acre), 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS (1 Tawny Wood, 1 C.Wood, 1 Stoney Nob), 6 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS (2 Pages Acre (1 drumming), 1 Ruffett Wood (drumming), 2 Tawny Wood (1 drumming), 1 Chipstead Meadow (drumming)), 5 SONG THRUSHES (3 Tawny Wood, 1 Watchpoint, 1 Railway Field), 6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS - IPW
  • (all B.Woods) COMMON SNIPE at 13:22 (flushed from open bracken area between post 11 and caravan site), 2 MALLARDS (♂+) (Piddly Pond), TAWNY OWL (estate side), SPARROWHAWK (estate side), COMMON BUZZARD, 7 BULLFINCHES (inc. 5 The Scrub), 2 GOLDCRESTS (inc. 1 The Scrub), GOLDFINCH (The Scrub), GREEN WOODPECKER (The Scrub), LONG-TAILED TIT (by Perrotts by Wood) (Mammals: Red Fox (near Piddly Pond)) - IPW
  • (all C.Farm) STONECHAT (Watchpoint), CORMORANT flew south at 11:10, COMMON BUZZARD flew west (C.Farmhouse), LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Bog Field), 26+ STOCK DOVES (Bog Field),  LITTLE OWL (east side of Horse Pasture), 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 4 GOLDCRESTS (2 Tawny Wood, 2 Ruffett Wood), 2+ SKYLARKS, NUTHATCH, 100+ FIELDFARES, 6 SONG THRUSHES, 25+ REDWINGS, MISTLE THRUSH (by Pages Acre horse paddock), PIED WAGTAIL, 7 MEADOW PIPITS (Poultry Field), 5 GOLDFINCHES, 5 LINNETS, 2 YELLOWHAMMERS (1 Perrotts by Wood, 1 Slangs (singing)) - IJ/DKC
  • (all B.Woods) 2 MALLARDS (♂+) (Piddly Pond), 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 2 COAL TITS, GOLDCREST (singing), c3 NUTHATCHES, TREECREEPER, 2 SONG THRUSHES, GOLDFINCH, BULLFINCH (The Scrub) - IJ/DKC