3rd March

Weather: Wind SW to WSW f2-4, sunny and dry, cloudier pm, milder (5-6°C)
Male Stonechat, Hither Field, 03/03/16 (Steve Gale)

That harbinger of Spring - the Stonechat - arrived today, with three birds on site. A single Red Kite performed during the afternoon for an observant dog-walker.

Canons Farm: 2 CORMORANT, 4 PHEASANT, 1 RED KITE, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 4 COMMON BUZZARD, 60+ STOCK DOVE (Bog Field, with a pair at L&G nest box), 5 LITTLE OWLS (2 east side of Horse Pasture, 1 Bog Field, 1 Stoney Nob, 1 near Canons Farmhouse), ♂ TAWNY OWL (hooting from Stoney Nob), GREEN WOODPECKER, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 5+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS, 3 JAYS, 4 ROOKS, 150 CARRION CROWS, 4 SKYLARKS, 2 MEADOW PIPIT (Slangs), LONG-TAILED TIT, 200 FIELDFARES, 4 SONG THRUSHES, 75 REDWINGS, MISTLE THRUSH, ♂ STONECHAT (Reads Bottom), 3 BULLFINCH (♂ Legal & General, pair Circle Field), 2 GREENFINCHES, 10+ LINNETS, 13 GOLDFINCHES, 20+ YELLOWHAMMERS

Banstead Woods: SPARROWHAWK, 7+ COMMON BUZZARDS, 14 STOCK DOVES (2 same as CF), 1 COLLARED DOVE (Hither Field) 4 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 4 JAYS, 7 GOLDCRESTS, 5 COAL TITS, 7 LONG-TAILED TITS, 7 NUTHATCHES, 6 TREECREEPERS, 2 SONG THRUSHES, 20 REDWINGS, 2 STONECHATS (♂+♀) (Hither Field), 7 BULLFINCHES, 12 GOLDFINCHES, 4 SISKINS (pair showing well by estate access road, 2 flew over).

Siskin, Banstead Woods, 03/03/16 (David Campbell)

Other wildlife: BARREN STRAWBERRY, plenty in flower on grassy bank by Lunch Wood.

Barren Strawberry, Lunch Wood, 03/03/16 (Steve Gale)

Observers: Geoff Barter, David Campbell, Andy Downing, Steve Gale, Duncan Jennings