8th April

Weather: Calm, then W to SW f1-2, sunny spells, much milder.

The year's first Common Redstart turned up in that favourite haunt of the species, The Slangs. It was feeding quite happily at the northern end of the footpath for at least a couple of hours. The Stock Dove flock has built to a notable 300+, finding much to feed on in Broadfield. The Common Buzzard numbers were again augmented by migrants.

Canons Farm: 1 MALLARD, 20 COMMON BUZZARD (including a group of six heading south) , 1 RED KITE (headed north), 1 SPARROWHAWK, 2 KESTREL, 3 PHEASANT, 3 LITTLE OWL (Stoney Knob, Bog Field and Ruffett's Wood), 5 GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 250 WOOD PIGEON, 300+ STOCK DOVE, 10 SKYLARK, 1 MEADOW PIPIT (Poultry Field), 2 SWALLOW, 1 COMMON REDSTART (♂ Slangs, early to mid-afternoon, 79th species of the year), 2 NUTHATCH, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 170 CARRION CROW, 4 ROOK, 40 JACKDAW, 6 GOLDFINCH, 80+ LINNET (Quail Field), 3 BULLFINCH (Slangs, Legal & General), 6 YELLOWHAMMER
♂ Common Redstart, Slangs, 08/04/16 (Steve Gale)
Banstead Woods: 1 GREY HERON, 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 1 RED KITE, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 7 LINNET (Woodpecker Meadow), 1 YELLOWHAMMER
Yellowhammer, Broadfield, 08/04/16 (Duncan Jennings)
Other wildlife: Mammals: Red Fox. Butterflies: 4 Small Tortoiseshell

Observers: Geoff Barter, Steve Gale, Duncan Jennings