Tuesday March 14th - Monday March 27th

Reporting of Schedule 1 Breeding Birds

From March 19th no Schedule 1 species which may be breeding on site (or other species which we deem to be sensitive) shall be reported publicly. This is for the protection of the birds.

We will still be collecting and recording reports from observers, so if you have seen any please email us or let one of the regulars know in person.

We will still freely share information amongst visiting birders. It is the egg-collectors and the unproffessional photographers we are concerned about. So please do ask one of the regulars what's around when you visit.

More information about Schedule 1 birds can be read here. Guidance on photographing Schedule 1 birds can be read here.

Annual Report

The Tice's Meadow 2016 Annual Report can now be downloaded for free from this link:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuC9nX__kWIggSW-F4MUtWcsifGH

If you would like to buy a glossy, full colour, A4 hardcopy of the report for £15, please email us: ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk

All funds raised from the sale of our annual report are channelled back into projects on the nature reserve.

Spring BioBlitz

Our Spring BioBlitz will be held over the bank holiday weekend of Friday 28th April to Sunday 30th April.

Note: For those of you who bought one of our calendars, this is a week earlier than shown on the calendar.

Activities currently planned for the weekend include guided bird walks, moth trapping, guided bat walks and a weekend-long bird ringing demonstration (run by Roger Dickey).

Please keep an eye out for further announcements, including which other partner organisations will be attending this year.

Over 90 members of the public enjoyed last year's BioBlitz, with 86 species of bird recorded, and one well known birder called it "The highlight of the Surrey birding year". We hope to see you all at the 2017 event.

Tuesday March 14th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, 28 Shoveler, 34 Herring Gull, 2 Stonechat, and a Grey Wagtail this afternoon.

In addition, Murray Nurse reported 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Kestrel today.

The Site Management Liasion Committee met today. The committee consists of representatives of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group, Hanson, the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership and the Badshot Lea Community Association.

The meeting was extremely productive and our representatives (Richard Horton and Richard Seargent) left with a positive feeling that progress towards completion of site restoration is being made.

Key points from the meeting include:

• Hanson approved our plan to build a shelter on Horton's Mound made from a converted shipping container with a biodiverse roof (see this announcement for more info).
• Hanson indicated that they are keen to emulate our shelter design for a bird watching hide on one of the spits in the Workings.
• The designs and progress for the 2 new bridges over the River Blackwater were discussed and meet our requirements for disability access.
• Hanson kindly agreed to pay for a new cover for our marquee for use at the forthcoming BioBlitz.
• The official site opening has been moved back to April 2018, possibly in conjunction with the 2018 BioBlitz.

Wednesday March 15th

Andy Little reported a Green Sandpiper, a Redwing, a Fieldfare and 6 Reed Bunting today.

In addition, Andy reported 3 large bats and a small bat.

(c) Kevin Duncan - Coltsfoot

Thursday March 16th

Phil Hughes reported a Lapwing, 4 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 8 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler, 4 Redwing, a Chiffchaff and a Red Kite today.

Ian Exton kindly donated 2 Barn Owl boxes for use at Tice's Meadow today. Thank you Ian!

Friday March 17th

John Hunt reported 2 Lapwing, a Water Rail, a Wigeon, a Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Red Kite, 4 Buzzard and a Kestrel this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Teal

Saturday March 18th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 2 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, a Greylag Goose, a Redwing, 2 Red Kite, 3 Buzzard and a Kestrel today.

In addition, Trevor Birkett reported 3 Chiffchaff this afternoon.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Snipe this afternoon.

In addition, Andy Little reported a Water Rail and an Egyptian Goose today.

(c) Richard Seargent - Slow Worms

(c) Richard Seargent - Vole

Sunday March 19th

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail and 2 Chiffchaff this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 6 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Greylag Goose, 4 Raven and a Sparrowhawk this morning.

John also reported a Great Tit carrying nesting material to Nest Box #21.

Note: From today onwards, no possibly breeding Schedule 1 birds will be reported publicly.

Monday March 20th

Richard Horton reported a Shelduck today.

This is the first reported sighting of Shelduck on site since December 15th 2015.

Shelduck is the 91st species recorded on site this year.

Tuesday March 21st

No reports.

Wednesday March 22nd

No reports.

Thursday March 23rd

Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, a Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 8 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 15 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 2 Greylag Goose, a Chiffchaff, a Buzzard and a Kestrel this afternoon.

Friday March 24th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 9 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 2 Greylag Goose, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, 8 Buzzard and 3 Red Kite this morning.

Mark also reported a colour-ringed Cormorant today. The Cormorant was ringed on Puffin Island (Anglesey) on 25/06/16.

Today was a momentous day for the Tice's Meadow Bird Group with the delivery of the converted shipping container that we will be turning into a shelter on Horton's Mound - see this post for full details.

(c) Trevor Birkett - Song Thrush

(c) Trevor Birkett - Song Thrush

(c) Trevor Birkett - Blackbird

(c) Trevor Birkett - Robin

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Len Feeding the Cows

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Colour Ringed Cormorant

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Woodchips Kindly Donated by Advanced Tree Services

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Tawny Owl Box Kindly Built & Donated by Steve Minhinnick

Saturday March 25th

Dave Baker reported 2 Common Sandpiper and 3 Kestrel this morning.

In addition, John Hunt reported 5 Snipe this afternoon.

In addition, Mike Walker reported 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Buzzard and 3 Red Kite today.

In addition, Andy Little reported a Lapwing, a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine today.

Dave also reported the following butterflies: Peacock, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Comma and a possible female Orange-tip.

Dave also reported seeing Slow Worms, Common Lizards and a Common Shrew.

(c) Dave Baker - Horton's Herd

Sunday March 26th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, 3 Greylag Goose, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff and a Skylark this morning.

John also reported a Blue Tit visiting Nest Box #10.

Monday March 27th

Richard Seargent reported 2 Yellowhammer this afternoon.

In addition, Phil Hughes reported a Redshank and a Chiffchaff this evening.

This is the first reported sighting of Yellowhammer this year.

Yellowhammer is the 92nd species recorded on site this year.

(c) Phil Hughes - Chiffchaff

(c) Phil Hughes - Redshank