29th November 2017

A Snipe flushed from Hither Field was a significant record this late in the autumn for the east side of the patch. Also in Hither Field was a Stonechat.

Graham Harris

28th November 2017

Three Yellowhammers were in the unusual location of Chipstead Meadow, where there were also six Redwings.

Paul Goodman

25th November 2017

This morning saw a Hawfinch fly south over Legal & General (SG), the first in the CF sector during this autumn's invasion, while a Lapwing in Horse Pasture was actually a scarcer sight this year. 12 Fieldfares, two Mistle Thrushes, 10 Yellowhammers, 25 Skylarks, six Rooks and 220 Carrion Crows were also noted.

Steve Gale and Paul Goodman

20th November 2017

The farm had a Rook, two Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, three Common Gulls, 12 Skylarks, 80 Redwings, 50 Fieldfares, a Mistle Thrush, a Kestrel, a Buzzard, 18 Linnets, two Greenfinches and 30 Goldfinches.

David Campbell

19th November 2017

Two Little Owls, five Skylarks, three Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, a Mistle Thrush, three Greenfinches, a Common Gull, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were noted at the farm.

Ian Ward

18th November 2017

Highlights in the CF sector included two Bramblings, a Grey Heron, 240 Fieldfares, 126 Redwings, a Meadow Pipit, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, five Skylarks, two Yellowhammers and five Greenfinches.

David Campbell

17th November 2017

Today we were treated to the rare sight of a migrant Short-eared Owl at a visible day roost (DKC), a safe enough distance from public footpaths to ensure it was left in peace. Several birders came along during the day to enjoy this fantastic bird which was very alert for the morning before eventually settling to sleep in the afternoon. It became more active and began to preen and stretch as dusk swept in before it took flight at around 16:45, circling the field and vanishing into the ether. The owl somewhat overshadowed a fly-over adult Great Black-backed Gull (DKC), our first in a while. A male Reed Bunting in Game Field (GB) added extra quality and other odds/sods at the farm included a Grey Heron, a Rook, 35 Skylarks, 34 Fieldfares, seven Redwings, 300 Starlings moving west, three Little Owls, a Tawny Owl, a Mistle Thrush, two Meadow Pipits, 19 Linnets and two Buzzards.

Short-eared Owl

Geoff Barter, David Campbell (photo), Darragh Culley, Steve Gale, Paul Goodman, Ian Jones, Ian Magness, Jamie McKenzie, Linda Mount, Robert Russell, Phil Wallace et al

16th November 2017

A Woodcock was seen at the farm.

Geoff Barter

12th November 2017

A female Stonechat was in Hither Field and other BW sector sightings included two Rooks, a Fieldfare, a Pied Wagtail, six Meadow Pipits in Hither Field, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard.

Ian Ward

11th November 2017

The only news for the day was of a Woodcock flying over Ruffett Meadow at 14:00, the first report of the autumn for the species.

Paul Goodman

10th November 2017

The pair of Red-legged Partridges were in Infront George East and other CF sightings included seven redpolls (including five confirmed Lessers), a Meadow Pipit, a Pied Wagtail, nine Fieldfares, 53 Redwings, 15 Skylarks, two Yellowhammers, 35 Linnets, a Greenfinch, 15 Chaffinches, three Buzzards, a Kestrel and two Common Gulls.

David Campbell, Paul Goodman and Linda Mount

9th November 2017

Four Little Owls and a Tawny Owl were vocal at CF at dusk, after which a few Redwings were heard as they progressed through the night sky. The two Red-legged Partridges (in Broadfield), Meadow Pipit, two Common Gulls and a Yellowhammer had been noted there earlier.

David Campbell and Ian Magness

7th November 2017

During a brief visit to the farm, five Lapwings flew south-east and a Brambling flew over. The former has been worryingly scarce this year! Other sightings in the CF sector included a redpoll, 59 Fieldfares, two Mistle Thrushes, 53 Redwings, a Pied Wagtail, three Meadow Pipits, a Grey Heron, 15 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Owl, two Buzzards, a Kestrel, 20 Skylarks, 260 Starlings and a Yellowhammer.

David Campbell

6th November 2017

Sightings at the farm included a flock of 42 Skylarks, four Meadow Pipits, 25 Linnets, the Tawny Owl in Lunch Wood, two Little Owls, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, three Buzzards, a Yellowhammer and 30 Starlings.

Three Red Admirals were also seen in the sector.

Geoff Barter

5th November 2017

The highlight of the day came when two Hawfinches landed in the scrub just south of Parsons Land (IPW). Hither Field held a pair of Stonechats and just one Meadow Pipit. Two Siskins and three Skylarks flew over the BW sector and other sightings there included a Pheasant, three Buzzards and a Kestrel.

Paul Goodman, Ian Magness and Ian Ward

3rd November 2017

This morning's Hither Field vigil didn't yield quite the volume of birds as some recent days but was livened up by a Firecrest moving through the hedgerow bordering Hillwood Field, as well as three Hawfinches and two Bramblings overhead. We're not yet getting blasé about the Hawfinches, having only had three records this century prior to this autumn's invasion! A flock of 19 Greylags flew south along the valley early doors, as did a Grey Heron later on, and two Stonechats were in Hither Field. Further migrating passerines seen from Hither Field included 17 redpolls, nine Siskins, two Pied Wagtails, 35 Chaffinches, 130 Redwings, 55 Fieldfares, two Mistle Thrushes, 18 Skylarks and 200 Woodpigeons, while more surprising movers included three Yellowhammers and eight Bullfinches flying high. Gull counts came out as four Common Gulls, 140 Black-headed Gulls and 300 Herring Gulls. Two Sparrowhawks and three Buzzards were also around Hither, plus four Greenfinches, seven Meadow Pipits and 10 Song Thrushes.

A Red Admiral basked on a post at Hither Field.

Firecrest

Greylags

David Campbell (photos), Duncan Jennings and Linda Mount

1st November 2017

News from the BW sector concerned a Peregrine, the lingering Red Kite, a redpoll, 15 Meadow Pipits, 200 Redwings, eight Fieldfares and singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard.

Ian Jones and Linda Mount