Wednesday December 16th - Wednesday December 23rd

Daniel Cook sent us these excellent photos he shot at Tice's Meadow over the past 2 years. If you have taken any photos on site and would like to share them with us, please get in touch.

(c) Daniel Cook - 2014 Winter Floods

(c) Daniel Cook -Mute Swan

(c) Daniel Cook - Sunset

(c) Daniel Cook - Sunset

Wednesday December 16th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 140 Lapwing, 90 Teal, 31 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 8 Wigeon, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 8 Siskin, a Kestrel and a Peregrine this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Peregrine

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

Thursday December 17th

No reports.

Friday December 18th

Richard Horton reported 30+ Golden Plover and a Peregrine (which flushed them over the Hog's Back) this morning.

(c) Richard Seargent - Shaggy Ink Cap

Saturday December 19th

Dave Baker reported 8 Green Sandpiper in the Plant Yard this morning.

Grim Styles found a new species for Tice's Meadow today: Purple Jellydisc (Ascocoryne sarcoides). This is the 956th species to be recorded on site.

(c) Grim Styles - Purple Jellydisc

Sunday December 20th

Ed Stubbs reported a Common Sandpiper, 8 Green Sandpiper, 100 Lapwing, a Snipe, 24 Wigeon, 26 Shoveler, 80 Teal, 20 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (adult & juvenile), 8 Common Gull, 40 Herring Gull, 50 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat and a Kestrel this morning.
 
In addition, John Hunt reported 6 Pochard and a few Lesser Redpoll this morning.

Monday December 21st

Kevin Duncan reported a Little Egret, 23 Gadwall, 26 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 19 Mute Swan, 29 Common Gull and 4 Bullfinch today.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 8 Green Sandpiper (Plant Yard) and a Stonechat this morning.

(c) Richard Seargent - Stonechat

Tuesday December 22nd

No reports.

Wednesday December 23rd

Dave Carlsson reported a Common Sandpiper and 7 Green Sandpiper (Plant Yard) this morning.

A Brambling was reported today by an unknown observer.

(c) Dave Carlsson - Green Sandpipers

The Tice's Meadow Bird Group wishes you all a very Merry Christmas and hopes to see you all on site at Tice's Meadow again in the New Year.

Tuesday December 8th to Tuesday December 15th

Tuesday December 8th

No reports.

Wednesday December 9th

No reports.

Thursday December 10th

No reports.

Friday December 11th

No reports.

Saturday December 12th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 98 Lapwing, 18 Gadwall, 100+ Teal, 32 Wigeon, 14 Mute Swan, 2 Stonechat and a Brambling (male) this morning.

This is only the 5th record of Brambling on site, but the 2nd sighting this year after one was reported in April.

Sunday December 13th

Kevin Duncan reported a Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 112 Lapwing, a Great-crested Grebe, a Little Grebe, 23 Gadwall, 28 Shoveler, 27 Wigeon, 146 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 19 Mute Swan today.

In addition, John Hunt reported a Snipe, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Brambling (female) this morning.

The count of 19 Mute Swan is a new record count for the site.

(c) John Hunt - Brambling

Monday December 14th

Richard Horton reported a Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, a Curlew, 180 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, 42 Cormorant, 58 Wigeon, 61 Shoveler, 2 Brambling, 4+ Goldcrest, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and a Peregrine today.

The count of 2 Brambling is a new record count for the site.

Tuesday December 15th

Richard Seargent reported 5 Green Sandpiper, 102 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 19 Shoveler, 9 Pochard, 13 Gadwall, 100+ Teal, 70+ Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 21 Mute Swan, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and 3 Stonechat this morning.

The count of 21 Mute Swan is a new record count for the site.

This is only the 5th sighting of Shelduck this year and the first of the 2015/16 winter.

Saturday November 28th to Monday December 7th

Late News

Mark Elsoffer identified a new species for Tice's Meadow, initially found on Thursday November 26th: Turkey Tail fungus (Trametes versicolor).

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Turkey Tail Fungus

Saturday November 28th

Richard Horton reported 3 Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 2 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk today.

Sunday November 29th

Richard Seargent reported 3 Green Sandpiper in the Works this morning.

Monday November 30th

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, 40+ Lapwing, a Little Egret, 22 Pochard, 21 Shoveler, 17 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 50+ Teal, a Kestrel and a Red Kite this morning.

Tuesday December 1st

Richard Horton reported 2 Little Egret, 38 Shoveler, 78 Teal, 26 Gadwall, 3 Kestrel and a Red Kite this morning.

In addition, Murray Nurse reported a Green Sandpiper, a female Goldeneye, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Lesser Redpoll today.

This is only the 2nd record of Goldeneye on site. Goldeneye is the 144th species of bird recorded on site this year.

After a long and frustrating delay, we were greeted with the welcome sight of 10 cattle grazing in the Meadow today. The cattle are a mixture of Herefords and Dexters from farmer Gibby's herd. The cattle's grazing should help control the sward length, contribute to the biodiversity of the meadow, maintain the muddy margins to the Workings and hopefully attract more invertebrates, and hence birds, to the site.

Please can all visitors keep an eye on the cattle as they settle in to their new home and contact one of the Tice's regulars if anything seems amiss.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Ginger Baker

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Smutties

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Patch Cowmander

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Major

Mark Elsoffer produced a run of 25 Tice's Meadow 2016 Calendars, featuring some of the best photographs of birds seen on site over the past 2 years. The whole print run sold out in a few hours, with all profits going to the Tice's Meadow Bird Group.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Tice's 2016 Calendars

Wednesday December 2nd

Carey Lodge reported a Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret and 7 Lesser Redpoll this afternoon.

Thursday December 3rd

Graham King reported 42 Greylag Goose, 2 Stonechat and a Red Kite today.

Friday December 4th

Mark Elsoffer spent 8 1/2 hours on site today and recorded 58 species, including: a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 35 Lapwing, 43 Greylag Goose, 20 Shoveler, 7 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 70 Teal, 12 Pochard, 23 Tufted Duck, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Redpoll, a Bullfinch, 6 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, a Peregrine and a Red Kite.

Also seen in the Meadow were 2 Roe Deer and a Fox.

Richard Horton, Andy Little & Jim Dunaway again spent the morning removing and burning invasive willow in the Reedbeds - sterling work gentlemen!

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Teal

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Red Kite

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Lesser Redpoll

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Green Sandpiper

Saturday December 5th

Richard Seargent reported 2 Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, 35 Greylag Goose, 3 Egyptian Goose, 2 Little Grebe, 80+ Teal, 23 Shoveler, 42 Wigeon, 28 Gadwall and 9 Pochard this morning.

Sunday December 6th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 41 Greylag Geese, a Little Grebe, 22 Shoveler, 7 Pochard, 13 Wigeon, 19 Gadwall, 2 Stonechat, a Chiffchaff, a Red Kite, a Kestrel and a Peregrine this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Grey Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit and 3 Goldcrest this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Peregrine

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

Monday December 7th

Richard Horton reported a Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 58+ Wigeon, a Kingfisher, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Stonechat, 6 Coal Tit, 4 Bullfinch, 2 Kestrel and a Red Kite this morning.

The count of 6 Coal Tit is a new record count for the site.

Friday November 20th to Friday November 27th

Friday November 20th

No reports.

Saturday November 21st

Richard Seargent reported a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail, a Stonechat, a Coal Tit and a large Long-tailed Tit flock this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 160 Teal.

The count of 160 Teal is a new record count for the site.

Sunday November 22nd

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, 20 Lapwing, a Snipe, 50+ Teal, 3 Gadwall, 10+ Pochard, 2 Stonechat and 2 Reed Bunting this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 48 Wigeon and 18 Shoveler  this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Frosty Morning

(c) John Hunt - Reed Bunting

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

Monday November 23rd

Carey Lodge reported a Yellowhammer, 2 Bullfinch, a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff this morning.

Tuesday November 24th

No reports.

Wednesday November 25th

Richard Horton reported a Little Egret, 16 Pochard, a Kingfisher, 3 Chiffchaff and a Peregrine this morning.

Thursday November 26th

Mark Elsoffer spent 8 1/2 hours on site today and recorded 61 species, including: a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 46 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, 44 Tufted Duck, 9 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, c120 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 21 Pochard, a Crossbill (over), a Raven (over), 7 Redwing, 26 Lesser Redpoll (over), a Bullfinch, 2 Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Dunnock, 16 Greenfinch, 32 Magpie, a Peregrine and a Kestrel.

What appeared to be a dead young Mute Swan was being devoured by corvids on the far side of the Workings.

An adult Peregrine spent most of the morning eating a kill, and then loafing, on one of the grassy islands in the Workings.

Also seen in the Meadow were 5 Roe Deer and a Fox (with a limp).

This is the first recorded sighting of Crossbill on site this year - the 143rd species recorded on site in 2015.

The Common Sandpiper is the latest ever recorded, beating the previous record by 41 days.

The count of 8 Dunnock is a new record count for the site.

The count of 16 Greenfinch is a new record count for the site.

The count of 32 Magpie is a new record count for the site.

Once again, Ray was working single-handedly cutting invasive willow in the Reedbed despite the cold and wet weather.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roe Deer

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Goldfinch

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Hanson's New River Crossing

Friday November 27th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 60+ Lapwing, a Little Egret, 16 Pochard, 17 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 50+ Teal, 2 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Siskin, a Bullfinch, a Red Kite and a Kestrel this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported that the record-breaking Common Sandpiper was still present this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Little Egret

(c) John Hunt - Long-tailed Tit

(c) John Hunt - Pied Wagtail

(c) John Hunt - Red Kite

Tuesday November 3rd to Thursday November 19th

Tuesday November 3rd

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 21 Golden Plover, 50+ Teal, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 40+ Linnet, 20+ Siskin, 2 Stonechat, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 3 Skylark this morning.

Wednesday November 4th

No reports.

Thursday November 5th

Richard Horton reported 90+ Golden Plover and 5 Green Sandpiper this morning.

Friday November 6th

No reports.

Saturday November 7th

14 hardy volunteers from the Tice's Meadow Bird Group braved the relentless strong wind and rain for an end-of-year BBQ today, which served as a thank you to the volunteers for all their hard work throughout the year. The BBQ was also an opportunity to thank Tony Anderson, the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership Ranger, who is retiring at the end of the year and has been a great friend of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group.

It was great to see 3 generations of one local family come to help us out, all of whom insisted on clearing ragwort from the River Blackwater whilst the burgers were being cooked!

After the BBQ, Jim Dunaway and Andy Little continued to clear and burn invasive willow in the Reedbeds.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Tice's Volunteers' BBQ

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Jim "Firestarter" Dunaway

Sunday November 8th

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, c80 Lapwing, c20 Fieldfare, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, a Skylark, a Kestrel and a large overhead eastward movement of Woodpigeon (c3-4000).

The count of c3-4000 Wood Pigeon is a new record count for the site.

Monday November 9th

Richard Horton reported that 2 Chinese Geese flew into the Meadow with 38 Greylag Geese this morning. The Chinese Geese were ringed with small yellow rings and had been reported at Tongham Gravel Pit recently.

Tuesday November 10th

Carey Lodge reported 6 Gadwall, 8 Wigeon, a Pochard (female), 2 Chinese Goose, c400 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Peregrine and a Red Kite this morning.

The count of c400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls is a new record count for the site.

Wednesday November 11th

No reports.

Thursday November 12th

Mark Elsoffer spent 8.5 hours on site today and reported a Green Sandpiper, a Curlew (over), 6 Lapwing, 14 Shoveler, c90 Teal, 3 Pochard, 10 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck, 14 Mute Swan, 33 Greylag Goose, 4 Egyptian Goose, 2 Little Grebe, 425 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Kingfisher, 3 Stonechat, 3 Mistle Thrush, 12 Fieldfare, a Redwing, 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and a juvenile Peregrine.

The count of 425 Lesser Black-backed Gulls is a new record count for the site.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peregrine

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peregrine

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peregrine

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peregrine

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peregrine

Friday November 13th

No reports.

Saturday November 14th

Grim Styles reported a female Black Redstart briefly sitting on his front garden fence (which faces Tice's Meadow), before flying off into the site boundary. This is only the 3rd record of Black Redstart for the site.

Sunday November 15th

Dave Baker reported c20 Herring Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull and at least 323 Lesser Black-backed Gull this afternoon.

In addition, Graham King reported 2 Stonechat, a Kestrel and 33 Greylag Goose.

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 19 Shoveler and 21 Wigeon.

Monday November 16th

Carey Lodge reported a Green Sandpiper, 20 Gadwall, 477 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Red Kite and a Peregrine this morning.

The count of 477 Lesser Black-backed Gulls is a new record count for the site.

Tuesday November 17th

Eric Soden (the Surrey County Bird Recorder) and Richard Horton lead a visit by Eric's U3A birdwatching group on site today. Birds seen included a Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull, 100s of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Red Kite, 3 Kestrels and a Peregrine.

Wednesday November 18th

No reports.

Thursday November 19th

No reports.

Monday October 26th to Monday November 2nd

Monday October 26th

Richard Horton reported 10 Golden Plover, 4 Bullfinch, 11 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Kestrel and 3 Buzzard today.

Tuesday October 27th

No reports.

Wednesday October 28th

No reports.

After a long delay, Hanson's contractors started work around the lake in the old Plant Yard today. Work to be conducted includes smoothing out the heavily rutted areas, creating a tractor crossing in the River Blackwater, trimming the reptile basking cliff face, levelling the riverside track, tweaking the Works outfall and a minor extension to the western drain north of the Kiln.

Thursday October 29th

No reports.

Friday October 30th

Richard Horton reported 70+ Golden Plover, 140+ Lapwing, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, 14 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe and 2 Grey Wagtail this morning.

The count of 14 Mute Swan is a new record count for the site.

Saturday October 31st

Richard Horton reported 2 Egyptian Goose, 65 Greylag Goose, 250+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 10 Common Gull, 2 Stonechat and 3 Skylark this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 40 Golden Plover, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and 17 Mute Swan this morning.

The count of 65 Greylag Geese is a new record count for the site.

The count of 17 Mute Swan is a new record count for the site.

Richard Seargent also found a new species for Tice's Meadow today: November Moth (Epirrita dilutata).

Grim Styles found a new species for Tice's Meadow today: Jew's Ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae).

(c) Grim Styles - Jew's Ear fungus

(c) Grim Styles - Jew's Ear fungus

(c) Grim Styles - Jew's Ear fungus

Sunday November 1st

A foggy day at Tice's Meadow was not condusive to birding. However, the bad weather did not stop Jim from clearing and burning invasive willow in the reedbeds!

(c) Richard Seargent - A Foggy Morning

(c) Richard Seargent - Reed Bunting

(c) Grim Styles - A Foggy Morning

Monday November 2nd

No reports.

Sunday October 18th to Sunday October 25th

Sunday October 18th

Richard Horton reported that Bearded Tit numbers were up to 4 today - a new site record count.

John Hunt reported 81 Wigeon, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (adults), 100+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Kingfisher, a Kestrel, 4 Skylark, 2 Stonechat and a Swallow this morning.

In addition, Tony Cummins reported a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, 16 Gadwall, 14 Teal, a Little Grebe and a Peregrine today.

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported 14 Shoveler and a Buzzard today.

In addition, Andy Little reported 12 Swallow and a Coal Tit today.

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat

Monday October 19th

Richard Horton built and erected three grit trays and millet feeding stations for the Bearded Tits in the reedbed today, proving once again why he is a true "local hero".

The Bearded Tits were reported as being seen again today.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Horton's Tit Table

Tuesday October 20th

Richard Horton reported 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Bearded Tit and 3 Yellow-legged Gull today.

In addition, Jon Jordan reported a Kingfisher in the Silt Pond.

Grim Styles found a new species for the site: Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica). This is the 950th species to be recorded at Tice's Meadow.

(c) Grim Styles - Russian Vine

(c) Dave Carlsson - Buzzard

(c) Dave Carlsson - Buzzard

(c) Dave Carlsson - Buzzard

Wednesday October 21st

Dave Baker reported a Coal Tit (in Lisa's Wood) and a Yellow-legged Gull (adult) this afternoon.

In addition, Jeremy Gates reported a Goosander (female) today.

This is only the 7th recorded sighting of Goosander on site. Goosander is the 140th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Richard Horton met with Gibby (the farmer) and representatives from Hansons on site today to try and speed-up the introduction of Gibby's cattle into the Meadow.

(c) Dave Baker - Not a Scene from Emmerdale!

Thursday October 22nd

No reports.

Friday October 23rd

Mark Elsoffer spent 10 hours on site today and reported 3 Green Sandpiper, 98 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, a Little Grebe, 2 Egyptian Goose, 17 Gadwall, 35 Teal, 70 Wigeon, a Tufted Duck, 18 Shoveler, 273 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Great Black-backed Gull, a Common Gull,  a Kingfisher, 5 Stonechat, 9 Reed Bunting, 2 Redwing (over), a Kestrel and a Peregrine.

In addition, John Hunt reported a Lesser Redpoll and a Yellow-legged Gull (adult) this morning.

John Hunt spotted 2 large bats flying around the site in broad daylight this morning. The bats were present throughout the day, with Mark Elsoffer reporting them still present at dusk. They have been tentatively identified as Noctule Bats (Nyctalus noctula).

(c) John Hunt - Probable Noctule Bat

(c) John Hunt - Lesser Redpoll

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Stonechat

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peregrine

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roe Deer

Saturday October 24th

Mark Elvin reported two flocks of Golden Plover on site this morning. A flock of 26 flew off at 09:45, heading towards Farnham. A second flock of 48 later circled the site without landing, and then flew north along the Blackwater Valley.

This is the first reported sighting of Golden Plover this Autumn/Winter.

Mark Elvin also reported 50 Lapwing, 5 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 2 Egyptian Goose, a Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Stonechat, a Rook and a Sparrowhawk this morning.

This is only the 3rd reported sighting of Rook this year - a locally scarce species for the site.

An unconfirmed report of a Merlin was received today from an unknown source.

Sunday October 25th

John Hunt reported 18 Golden Plover (in the Workings), a Green Sandpiper, 59 Wigeon and a Kingfisher this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported a Common Gull and 2 Stonechat this morning.

Richard Horton reported a Short-eared Owl in the Meadow this evening.

This is only the 4th record of Short-eared Owl on site, but the 2nd record in 9 days. This could possibly be the same bird as seen on the 16th & 17th, although there has been a reported movement of Short-eared Owls through the local area over the past fortnight.

Grim Styles found a new species for the site: Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinqefolia).

(c) John Hunt - Golden Plover

(c) John Hunt - Grey Wagtail

(c) John Hunt - Meadow Pipit