Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve: Tuesday October 6th

Late News

A brief report of the NW Surrey RSPB Local Group walk from September 27th is now online.

Kevin Duncan reported a new species for Tice's Meadow seen in mid-September: Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).

Tuesday October 6th

No reports.

Wednesday October 7th

No reports.

Thursday October 8th

No reports.

Friday October 9th

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 70+ Wigeon, a Kingfisher, a Yellow-legged Gull (adult), 2 Goldcrest, 4 Stonechat, 10+ Meadow Pipit and a Skylark this morning.

Saturday October 10th

The Tice's Meadow Volunteers met for the monthly work party on site this morning. Invasive willow was cleared from the reed-bed and burnt.

Richard Seargent reported 5 Snipe, 10 Egyptian Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 49 Wigeon, 9 Gadwall, a Yellow-legged Gull (adult) and 2 Stonechat this morning.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Green Sandpiper, 2 Raven (outside site boundary), a Mediterranean Gull (1st winter), a Coal Tit, 2 Swallow, 2 Redwing (over), 2+ Lesser Redpoll and 2+ Siskin this morning.

This is the first recorded sighting of Redwing this Autumn.

In addition, Mark Elvin reported a Kingfisher and a Kestrel today.

Dave Baker reported a new species for Tice's Meadow: Brick (Agrochola circellaris).

Andy Little reported 2 or 3 Bearded Tit dropping into the reed-bed and pinging this afternoon.

Bearded Tit is a new species for Tice's Meadow - the 186th species of bird recorded on site and the 137th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Sunday October 11th

Richard Seargent reported 27 Wigeon, 287 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20+ Herring Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gull (adults), a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, 5 Goldcrest, a Blackcap and 12 Redwing (over) this morning.

This is the first recorded sighting of Water Rail this Autumn.

Richard also reported a few Common Darter and Migrant Hawker dragonflies along the eastern path.

In addition, John Hunt reported 3 Green Sandpiper, 12 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 20+ Teal, 2 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, a Lesser Redpoll, a Meadow Pipit and a Skylark this morning.

John also reported 4 Roe Deer in the Meadow.

Monday October 12th

No reports.

Tuesday October 13th

No reports.

Wednesday October 14th

Richard Horton reported 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 12 Shoveler, 70 Wigeon,3 Yellow-legged Gull and 3 Common Gull today.

This is the first reported sighting of Common Gull this Autumn.

Thursday October 15th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 40 Wigeon, 20+ Teal, 10 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, a Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, a Skylark, a Meadow Pipit, 20+ Linnet, a Kestrel and a Red Kite this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 3 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Gull today.

Friday October 16th

Richard Horton reported a Stonechat and 3 Yellow-legged Gull this morning.

Richard also managed to relocate the 3 Bearded Tit, flying over the path between the reed-beds, first reported by Andy Little last Saturday and not seen since.

In addition, a visiting birder reported a Kingfisher and a number of Redwing (over) this morning.

Mark Elsoffer and Steve Minhinnick spent the afternoon and evening on site and reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 40 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 12 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 40+ Teal, 34 Wigeon, a Pochard, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Common Gull, 3 Bearded Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Pheasant, 40+ Linnet, 2 Lesser Redpoll, a Stonechat, 40+ Fieldfare (over), 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Buzzard, a Kestrel and 2 Peregrine.

This is the first recorded sighting of Fieldfare this Autumn.

Around 15:00 Richard, Mark and Steve then watched in awe as a Short-eared Owl dropped into Tice's airspace from a great height, mobbed by Corvids, flew briefly around the Meadow and disappeared into the undergrowth. Later that evening the owl put on a spectacular performance hunting throughout the meadow, passing within feet of the observers on Horton's Mound in the fading light.

This is only the 3rd record of Short-eared Owl on site, and the 138th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Mark Elsoffer shot this video of the Short-eared Owl.

Saturday October 17th

Richard Seargent reported 50 Wigeon, a Water Rail, 30+ Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, 8 Reed Bunting and 3 Bearded Tit (1 male, 2 female) this morning.

In addition, Dave Baker reported 4 Green Sandpiper, a Dartford Warbler (male), 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Swallow, 2 Lesser Redpoll, "lots" of Reed Bunting and 20+ Fieldfare this morning.

This is only the 2nd record of Dartford Warbler on site, and the 139th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Shaun Ferguson photographed a Dunnock with a metal ring on its leg. Only a partial number was read "484".

Andy Little reported a Coal Tit on his garden feeders today (his garden borders Tice's Meadow and the bird was seen flying in from the site) that from the description sounded like a continental bird - there has recently been a well documented nationwide influx of continental Coal Tits.

Phil Hughes and Dave Baker reported that the Short-eared Owl was showing well in the Meadow this evening.

Shaun Ferguson took this short video of the Bearded Tits.