Monday September 5th to Monday September 12th

Annual Report

Our 2015 Annual Report has now sold out. Thank you to everyone who bought a hardcopy. The funds raised through selling the report are all channelled back into the upkeep and activities on the nature reserve and your support is greatly appreciated.

Lost & Found

An Aukey lens case with lenses was found recently on site. If it's yours, please get in touch.

Late News

Sunday September 4th - Richard Horton reported 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe and a Wheatear.

Monday September 5th

No reports.

Tuesday September 6th

No reports.

Wednesday September 7th

No reports.

Thursday September 8th

Kevin Duncan reported a Pectoral Sandpiper (juvenile) in the Workings this evening, 2 years to the day since the last recorded sighting on site!

Pectoral Sandpiper is the 142nd species recorded on site this year. This is only the 3rd recorded sighting of Pectoral Sandpiper on site. The first (on 26/09/10, staying for 1 day) was not accepted by the Surrey Bird Club Rarities Committee, despite being seen by a number of very experienced birders. The 2nd was found on 08/09/14 and stayed for 15 days.

In addition, Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, 8 Snipe, 28 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, a Black-necked Grebe, 4 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 24 Swallow, a Hobby, 4 Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Red Kite today.

This is only the 16th recorded sighting of Black-necked Grebe on site.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 3 Common Sandpiper today.

Grim Styles harvested some of the bumper crop of hops today, a nice nod to the site's history as a hop farm.

(c) Grim Styles - Hop Harvesting

(c) Grim Styles - The Hop Harvest

Friday September 9th

Mark Elsoffer reported 2 Common Sandpiper, 15 Snipe, 22 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 3 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Sedge Warbler, 18 Swallow, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzard this morning.

There was no further sign of yesterday's Pectoral Sandpiper.

Saturday September 10th

A volunteer work party met on site this morning and worked hard on cutting and burning invasive willow in the Reedbeds. A big thank you to the 9 volunteers who gave up their time to do this important work. Thanks also to the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership for providing the tools and refreshments.

Andy Little reported 2 Swallow and 40 House Martin this morning.

Sunday September 11th

John Hunt reported 3 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 16 Snipe, a Black-necked Grebe and 4 Whinchat this afternoon.

In addition, Andy Little reported 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Tern, 2 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sand Martin and 2 Buzzard today.

Monday September 12th

Richard Horton reported a Wigeon, a Black-necked Grebe and 2 Whinchat today.

This is the first sighting of a returning Wigeon this Autumn.