Saturday April 16th to Monday April 25th

Annual Report

Our 2015 Annual Report is now back from the printers. Please see the attached for how you can order a full colour, glossy, A4 hardcopy.

BioBlitz

A reminder that our BioBlitz is this coming weekend, Friday April 29th to Sunday May 1st. Please come along and join in the fun.

Saturday April 16th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Snipe, a Little Egret, 14 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 20 Teal, 2 Common Tern, 4 Blackcap, a Bullfinch, 24 Sand Martin, 30 House Martin, 8 Swallow, a Red Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel this morning.

In addition, Steve Minhinnick reported 6 Yellow Wagtail this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Willow Warbler and 3 Buzzard this morning.

In addition, Jon Jordan reported a Raven today.

A Mallard with 10 young was seen in the Works this morning. Another, or perhaps the same, Mallard with 8 young was reported in the vegetation behind the Bike Pool today.

21 people braved the inclement weather this morning for a Surrey Bird Club walk lead by Richard Horton. 59 species were seen during the walk, and thankfully the weather improved near the end of the morning.

Unfortunately, a large band of "travellers" broke into the Plant Yard and set up camp on site overnight. The police were informed and attended site. Thankfully they were gone by the evening, leaving behind their rubbish for us to clear up. If you see anyone trespassing on site or committing unlawful activities, please call the police and let us know asap.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Bird Club Walk

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Bird Club Walk

(c) Carey Lodge - Yellow-brain Fungus

Sunday April 17th

Richard Seargent reported 2 Little Ringed Plover, 24+ Teal, 50+ Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 7 Greylag Goose, 5 Yellow Wagtail, a Nightingale, a Lesser Redpoll, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Sparrowhawk this morning.

In addition, John Hunt reported 2 Willow Warbler this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported a Garden Warbler this morning.

In addition, Dave Carlsson reported 2 Green Sandpiper this morning.

Sean Foote lead a walk on site today for the RSPB Guildford Local Group. Sean reported a Swift.

In addition, Andy Little reported 3 Common Tern and a Grasshopper Warbler (in the Woods) this afternoon.

Nightingale is the 112th species recorded on site this year. The first Nightingale of 2016 was reported 6 days later than in 2015.

Swift is the 113th species recorded on site this year. The first Swift of 2016 was reported on the same day as 2015 - a joint record earliest ever date.

Grasshopper Warbler is the 114th species recorded on site this year. This is only the 2nd recorded sighting on site, the first being on April 25th 2010.

(c) Murrary Nurse - Lesser Whitethroat

(c) Murrary Nurse - Guildford RSPB Walk

Monday April 18th

Carey Lodge reported 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Swift and 21 Mediterranean Gull (4 landed, 17 over) this morning.

The count of 21 Mediterranean Gull is a new site record count. It is also a new Vice County record, beating the previous record count of 10 - jointly held by Tice's Meadow and Beddington Farm.

Ian Exton reported seeing the first Blackbird young of 2016.

(c) Carey Lodge - Mediterranean Gulls

Tuesday April 19th

Mark Elsoffer spent 10 hours on site today and reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, a Dunlin, a Little Egret, 3 Lapwing, 16 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 32 Teal, a Little Grebe, 6 Common Tern, 6 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, a Stonechat, a Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail (4 on ground, 2 over), 80 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin, 7 Swallow, 5 Swift, 23 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. Mark recorded 67 species today.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Whitethroat this afternoon.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 3 Red Kite this afternoon.

In addition, Andy Little reported 3 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Stonechat this afternoon.

Whimbrel is the 115th species recorded on site this year. This is only the 7th recorded sighting on site. Most have only stayed for one day or less. Usually seen during the peak Spring movement between the 18th and 25th of April.

The count of 23 Buzzard is a new site record count. Conditions were ideal for sky watching and Buzzards were seen moving through Tice's airspace all day.

4 more cattle were added to Horton's Herd today, with a new Bull/Bullock who's been christened McGregor and who livened things up in the herd straight away.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Whimbrel

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Whimbrel

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Whimbrel

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Buzzard

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Wheatear

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Duelling Cattle

(c) Mark Elsoffer - McGregor

Wednesday April 20th

Dave Baker reported 2 Whimbrel, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Tern, a Stonechat, 3 Swift and 3 Buzzard this morning.

In addition, Graham King reported a Greenshank this morning.

Greenshank is the 116th species recorded on site this year.

(c) Dave Carlsson - Whimbrel

Thursday April 21st

Murray Nurse reported 2 Whimbrel, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Whitethroat, a Wheatear, a Peregrine, a Buzzard, a Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk this morning.

In addition, Dudley Cox reported 2 Green Sandpiper and 4 Yellow Wagtail this morning.

(c) Richard Seargent - Horton's Herd

Friday April 22nd

John Hunt reported 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, a Nightingale, 2 Yellow Wagtail, and a Whitethroat this morning.

In addition, Andy Little reported a Little Egret, 3 Whimbrel, a Whinchat, 4 Swift and 2 Buzzard this morning.

In addition, Murrary Nurse reported a Snipe this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported a Nuthatch today.

Whinchat is the 117th species recorded on site this year. The first Whinchat of 2016 was reported 23 days earlier than in 2015.

Nuthatch is the 118th species recorded on site this year.

Kevin Duncan reported that the resident pair of Mute Swans are building a nest. A Mallard was seen with a single duckling and 4 pairs of Canada Geese are currently sitting on nests.

(c) John Rowland - Sand Martin

Saturday April 23rd

Mark Elsoffer spent 10 hours on site today and reported a Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Little Egret, 24 Mallard, 9 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 4 Common Tern, a Kingfisher, 2 Nightingale, 3 Bullfinch, a Garden Warbler, 8 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, a Stonechat, 100 Sand Martin, 30 House Martin, 30 Swallow, 6 Swift, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, a Red Kite and 2 Sparrowhawk. Mark recorded 69 species today.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Hobby this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Snipe and a Peregrine this morning.

Hobby is the 119th species recorded on site this year. The first Hobby of 2016 was reported 5 days earlier than in 2015.

The count of 8 Willow Warbler is a new site record count.

Note - no Wigeon, Pochard, Shoveler or Tufted Duck were reported today.

A Mallard was seen with a single duckling.

A Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) was found by Richard Horton in the "Water Rail Ditch".

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Garden Warbler

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Bullfinch

(c) Kev Campbell - Sand Martin

(c) Kev Campbell - Sand Martin

(c) Kev Campbell - Sparrowhawk

Sunday April 24th

Richard Seargent reported 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Tufted Duck, a Shoveler, 4 Raven, a Cuckoo, a Reed Warbler, 2 Stonechat and 20 Yellow Wagtail this morning.

In addition, Andy Little reported 2 Bullfinch and a Whitethroat this morning.

In addition, a visiting birder reported a 2 Common Sandpiper this afternoon.

In addition, Mike Walker reported 2 Red Kite today.

Cuckoo is the 120th species recorded on site this year. The first Cuckoo of 2016 was reported 2 days earlier than in 2015.

Reed Warbler is the 121st species recorded on site this year. The first Reed Warbler of 2016 was reported 7 days later than in 2015.

The count of 4 Raven is a new site record count.

The count of 20 Yellow Wagtail is a new site record count.

(c) Kev Campbell - Bullfinch

(c) Kev Campbell - Goldfinch

(c) Kev Campbell - Greenfinch

(c) Kev Campbell - Greenfinch

(c) Kev Campbell - Great Spotted Woodpecker

(c) Kev Campbell - Starling

(c) Kev Campbell - Chiffchaff

(c) Trevor Birkett - Yellow Wagtail

(c) Trevor Birkett - Yellow Wagtail

Monday April 25th

Richard Horton reported 2 Whimbrel, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Reed Warbler and a Sedge Warbler this morning.

In addition, John Hunt reported 2 Yellow Wagtail this morning.

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported a Little Gull (winter plumage) this afternoon.

Kevin Duncan reported that the 2 Whimbrel, present on site since Tuesday April 19th, departed the site flying east at 18:30.

Kevin also reported that the pair of Canada Geese nesting in the Works have hatched 4 goslings today. Kevin also saw Starling, Long-tailed Tit and Robin young being fed in their nests, and fledged Song Thrush young.

Today's Little Gull is only the 13th recorded sighting on site.