Friday May 11th to Thursday June 7th

2017 Annual Report

Our 2017 Annual Report is now available to buy for £15.

This premium, full colour, 145 page, A4, glossy report documents the year at Tice's Meadow and showcases some of the superb wildlife photographs taken on site. All proceeds go towards the work we do on site.

Please email ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

Quarry Life Awards

You can follow our progress in the Quarry Life Awards on our dedicated blog.

Reporting Breeding Schedule 1 Species

As we now approach breeding season, please remember that it is a criminal offence to intentionally disturb potentially breeding Schedule 1 Species on or near the nest.

From March 22nd, no more potentially breeding Schedule 1 Species should be reported publicly.

PLEASE do still report privately to us via email, Facebook message or Twitter direct message, so we can collate the records.

Our updated Bird Reporting Policy can be seen here.

These rules are in place for the interests of the birds.

Friday May 11th

No reports.

Saturday May 12th

Phil Hughes reported a Hobby this afternoon.

8 volunteers met this morning and put in a new path to the Dragonfly Pond, prepared the site for Lisa's bench, cleaned the feeders, filled some ruts, put up the woodland birds interpretation panel & did a few other jobs. A productive morning!

(c) Anthony George - Blackcap

(c) Anthony George - Red Kite

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Widening the Path to Lisa's Bench

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Checking the View at Lisa's Bench

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Filling Ruts

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The New Interpretation Panel

Sunday May 13th

John Hunt reported a Hobby this morning.

(c) Richard Seargent - Dragonfly Pond

(c) John Hunt - Reed Warbler

(c) Kev Campbell - Common Tern

(c) Kev Campbell - House Sparrow

(c) Kev Campbell - Red Kite

(c) Kev Campbell - Starling

(c) Kev Campbell - Whitethroat

(c) Anthony George - House Sparrow

(c) Anthony George - Song Thrush

(c) Anthony George - Speckled Wood

Monday May 14th

No reports.

Tuesday May 15th

No reports.

Wednesday May 16th

Peter Brown reported 10 Common Tern, 2 Coal Tit and 2 Red Kite today.

Kevin Duncan reported that the first Black-headed Gull chicks have hatched and that the 3rd breeding pair of Canada Geese have hatched 5 goslings.

Thursday May 17th

Mark Elsoffer reported 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Greylag Goose, 10 Common Tern, a Raven (outside), 2 Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and 8 Buzzard today.

Mark also reported 3 broods of Canada Geese (3, 4 & 5) and 2 broods of Mallards (4 & 5) in the Workings.

Friday May 18th

No reports.

(c) Murray Nurse - Fox at Dragonfly Pond

Saturday May 19th

No reports.

(c) Anthony George - Azure Damselfly

(c) Anthony George - Common Blue Damselfly

(c) Anthony George - House Sparrow

(c) Anthony George - Speckled Wood

Sunday May 20th

Jort Brough reported a Ringed Plover today.

Ringed Plover is the 124th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Roger Dickey, assisted by Richard Horton and Richard Seargent, checked all of the nest boxes in the nest box recording scheme this morning. Roger ringed the following birds:
- 20 Great Tit young.
- 1 Great Tit adult.
- 21 Blue Tit young.

Note - Roger is a licensed bird ringer. Only Roger and his team are allowed to inspect the nest boxes on site. We suspect that someone else has been looking in the nest boxes - if we catch them we will publicly name and shame them and report them to the police.

(c) Richard Seargent - Blue Tit Nest

(c) Richard Seargent - Ringing Team

(c) Richard Seargent - Roger Ringing

(c) Richard Seargent - Psychedelic Great Tit Nest

(c) David Glew - Grass Snake

Monday May 21st

Kevin Duncan reported that the first Black-headed Gull chicks have been lost, presumed predated.

There was a fire today in the reed beds - we suspect it was started deliberately. If anyone has any information, please get in touch. If you see a suspicious fire (i.e. not an obvious work party) on site please call 999.

If you see anyone in the reed beds, and you feel safe to do so, please challenge them. Nobody is allowed in the reed beds unless on official TMBG business, this includes birders.

Tuesday May 22nd

No reports.

Wednesday May 23rd

Kevin Duncan reported a Greylag x Canada Goose hybrid today.

Thursday May 24th

Richard, Oli and Len gave a guided tour to the teachers and staff from Badshot Lea Village Infant School this evening. We hope to work more closely with the local schools and provide opportunities for outdoor educational activities on site.

(c) Oli - Teachers' Visit

(c) Oli - Teachers' Visit

Friday May 25th

Mark Elsoffer reported 2 Lapwing, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 6 Great Crested Grebe, a Greylag x Canada Goose hybrid, 16 Greylag Goose, 16 Common Tern, a Coal Tit, a Red Kite and a Buzzard today.

In addition, John Eglington reported an Osprey flying over his house in Badshot Lea this evening, having first flown over Tice's Meadow.

Mark also reported 3 pairs of Great Crested Grebes building nests in the Workings, 3 broods of Black-headed Gulls (3, 3 & 1), a brood of 4 Coot, a brood of 3 Moorhen and 2 broods of Canada Geese (4 & 2).

Osprey is the 125th species of bird recorded on site this year.

This is only the 7th recorded sighting of Osprey on site, but the 5th in the past 2 years.

A close inspection of the recently burnt area of reed bed showed a number of burnt eggs - fortunately is early enough in the breeding season for the affected birds to try nesting again. Circa 1.2 acres of reed bed was lost, approximately one fifth of the total area on site.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Extent of the Burnt Area of Reed Bed

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Contrast Between Burnt & Unburnt Reed Bed

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Nest Building Great Crested Grebes

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Black-headed Gull Chicks

Saturday May 26th

Mark Elsoffer reported 4 Lapwing, 3 Tufted Duck, 6 Great Crested Grebe, a Greylag Goose, 14 Common Tern, c100 Swift, 2 Red Kite and 3 Buzzard today.

Mark also reported 1 pair of Great Crested Grebes on a nest (the other 2 have had their nests raided for material by the Coots), a brood of 3 Coots, a brood of 2 Black-headed Gulls (the broods reported yesterday appear to have disappeared), c100 young Starlings and 2 Long-tailed Tit families.

Six volunteers met on site this morning and installed a new bench (built by Leonard Winchcombe), and cleared willow from around the Silt Ponds.

(c) Murray Nurse - Water Lilies

(c) Murray Nurse - Rose Chafer

(c) Murray Nurse - Longhorn Beetle

(c) Jort Brough - An Expert at Work

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Moving Len's New Bench

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Moving Len's New Bench

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Removing Willow

(c) Mark Elsoffer - A Well Earned Tea Break

Sunday May 27th

Simon Monk reported the first Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Banded Demoiselles of the year today.

(c) Simon Monk - Azure Damselfly

(c) Simon Monk - Banded Demoiselle

(c) Simon Monk - Peacock

(c) Simon Monk - Red-eyed Damselfly

Monday May 28th

Mark Elsoffer reported 4 Lapwing, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Greylag Goose, a Greylag x Canada Goose hybrid, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Common Tern, 2 Pheasant and a Hobby today.

In addition, John Hunt reported a Dunlin this morning.

In addition, Susan Renaud reported a Cuckoo (near the Dragonfly Pond) today.

Cuckoo is the 126th species of bird recorded on site this year.

This is only the 22nd recorded sighting of Cuckoo on site.

Mark also reported a pair of Great Crested Grebes on a nest, a pair of Mute Swans on a nest, a newly hatched Canada Goose brood and a newly hatched brood of 4 Moorhens.

Susan Renaud reported the following 3 new species for the site today:
- A Picture-winged Fly (Melieria crassipennis).
- Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticomis).
- Common Tubic (Alabonia geoffrella).

Susan Renaud reported a Brown Argus today - the first of the year.

Richard Seargent reported the following Odonata today:
- Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly & Four Spotted Chaser.

(c) John Hunt - Panorama from Horton's Mound

(c) John Hunt - Reed Warbler

(c) Rachel Coombes - The Workings

(c) Richard Seargent - Beautiful Demoiselle

(c) Richard Seargent - Jay

(c) Susan Renaud - Brown Argus

(c) Susan Renaud - Red-headed Cardinal Beetle

(c) Susan Renaud - A Picture-winged Fly

(c) Susan Renaud - Common Tubic

(c) Susan Renaud - Song Thrush

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Collared Dove

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Bullfinch

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Greenfinches

Tuesday May 29th

Seventeen members of the Farnham U3A Birdwatching Group were shown around site today by Richard Horton. If you belong to a group who would like a free guided tour, please do get in touch.

Wednesday May 30th

No reports.

Thursday May 31st

Four volunteers met on site today and dry-fitted the swift nest box to the telegraph pole in preparation for imminent erection by SSE. Bolt holes were drilled and a timber brace constructed.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Swift Tower Nest Box Onboard the New Tice's Wagon

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Fitting the Swift Tower Nest Box to the Pole

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Fitting the Swift Tower Nest Box to the Pole

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Fitting the Swift Tower Nest Box to the Pole

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Fitting the Swift Tower Nest Box to the Pole

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Fitting the Swift Tower Nest Box to the Pole

Friday June 1st

Mark Elsoffer reported 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, a Greylag x Canada Goose hybrid, 6 Greylag Goose, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Common Tern, a Kestrel (outside), 2 Red Kite and 3 Buzzard today.

Mark also reported 2 recently fledged Wrens, 2 young Blackbirds, 4 young Greenfinches, c20 young Starlings, 4 young Wood Pigeons, 3 broods of Canada Geese (2, 4 & 3), a brood of 4 Coots, a brood of 3 very young Moorhens and broods of 6 & 2 Black-headed Gulls on the rafts.

Murray Nurse reported the first Painted Lady butterfly of the year today.

Murray also reported the following odonata today:
- Common Blue Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser

(c) Murray Nurse - Common Blue Damselfly

(c) Murray Nurse - Female Emerald Damselfly

(c) Murray Nurse - Burnet Companion

Saturday June 2nd

Leonard Winchcombe reported an Oystercatcher this evening - 2 were then reported flying west over Oli's neighbouring garden.

Richard Seargent undertook the first of our new dragonfly survey transects this morning. The same transect will be walked once a month and any odonata seen recorded. The data will be reported to the British Dragonfly Society. Species seen:
- Beautiful Demoiselle (3).
- Banded Demoiselle (4).
- Large Red Damselfly (1).
- Emerald Damselfly (3).
- Common Blue Damselfly (70+).
- Azure Damselfly (10).
- Red-eyed Damselfly (6).
- Blue-tailed Damselfly (3).

Sunday June 3rd

Mark Elsoffer reported 4 Lapwing, 2 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Greylag Goose, 20 Common Tern, a Redstart (female), a Raven (outside), a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzard today.

In addition, John Hunt reported 3 Nuthatch (2 adults feeding a fledgling) this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Garden Warbler (feeding young) this morning.

Redstart is the 127th species of bird recorded on site this year.

This is only the 6th recorded sighting of Redstart on site.

Mark also reported 8 young Blue Tits, 2 young Great Tits, 2 young Blackbirds, 20 young Starlings, 2 young Greenfinches, 2 young Woodpigeons, a young Blackcap, 3 broods of Canada Geese (3, 2 & 4), a brood of 3 young Mallards and a brood of 4 young Coots.

Richard Seargent and Lindsay Patterson reported 3 Painted Lady butterflies today, with Lindsay also reporting a Brown Argus.

Richard Seargent reported the following odonata today:
- Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser & Four-Spotted Chaser.

Lindsay Patterson reported a new species for the site today:
- Crested Dog's-tail Grass (Cynosurus cristatus).

(c) John Hunt - Black-headed Gull Chicks

(c) John Hunt - Whitethroar

(c) Richard Seargent - White Ermine

(c) Richard Seargent - Broad-bodied Chaser

(c) Richard Seargent - Reed Warbler

(c) Shaun Ferguson - Beautiful Demoiselle

(c) Shaun Ferguson - Banded Demoiselle

(c) Shaun Ferguson - Chiffchaff

(c) Shaun Ferguson - Stickleback

(c) Shaun Ferguson - Toad

(c) Shaun Ferguson - Whitethroat

Monday June 4th

No reports.

Tuesday June 5th

No reports.

Wednesday June 6th

Leonard Winchcombe reported that the first 2 Common Tern chicks hatched today.

Thursday June 7th

Mark Elsoffer reported 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Lapwing, a Shoveler, 2 Gadwall this morning.

Mark also reported 4 young Blue Tits, 2 young Great Tits, a young Robin, a young Dunnock, 3 young Blackbirds, a flock of 50 young Starlings, 2 young Greenfinches, 2 young Woodpigeons, a brood of 3 young Mallards, a brood of 4 young Coots, 4 broods of Canada Geese (6, 3, 2 & 4), 2 broods of Black-headed Gulls (2 & 6) and a brood of 2 Common Terns.