Tuesday 1st June to Saturday 31st July

Your Fund Surrey

We have registered with Surrey County Council's Your Fund Surrey scheme for a grant of between £250,000 and £1,000,000. If successful, we will use the funds to purchase Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve and place it in trust (or similar) for the benefit of the local community.

A detailed business case has to be submitted if we proceed to the next stage. In the meantime, we are asking all of our supporters to show their support by clicking the link below and "liking" our project:

https://yourfundsurreymap.commonplace.is/comments/5fb2e7df0f3933b6444863cb

 

Tuesday 1st June

Dina Burford: Little Gull.

Kevin Duncan: Black-headed Gull (EY81787) - ringed on 28/05/15 at Tice's Meadow.

(c) Dina Burford - Broad-bodied Chaser

(c) Dina Burford - Little Gull

(c) Colin Varndell - Mallards

(c) Trever Saunders - Roe Deer

Wednesday 2nd June

Mark Elsoffer: Little Egret & Little Gull.

(c) Dina Burford - Azure Damselflies

(c) Colin Varndell - Lapwing

(c) Colin Varndell - Reed Warbler

Thursday 3rd June

Mark Elsoffer: Little Ringed Plover & Hobby.

Colin Varndell: Canary (escaped).

Mark Elsoffer: Hairy Dragonfly - 3rd record for site.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Broad-bodied Chaser

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Four-spotted Chaser

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Hairy Dragonfly

(c) Dina Burford - Fox Cubs

Friday 4th June

Mark Elsoffer: Little Ringed Plover, Great Black-backed Gull (3rd summer) & Barn Owl.

(c) Dina Burford - Carp

Saturday 5th June

Mark Elsoffer: 3 Little Egret, Great Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher & Barn Owl.

Swifts were seen entering the Swift Tower today for the first time this year - they were seen entering the left hand side lower boxes on a number of occasions throughout the day, and seen to enter (and not leave) in the evening.

Roger, Slasher & Danielle ran a quick ringing session in the reed beds this evening and ringed c12 Reed Warblers.

(c) Paul Bamford - Mother Shipton Moth

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Reed Warbler

(c) Dina Burford - Swift Entering the Tower

(c) Colin Varndell - Grey Heron

(c) Jill Lamb - Azure Damselflies

Sunday 6th June

Kevin Duncan: Black-headed Gull (EY81787) - ringed on 28/05/15 at Tice's Meadow.

Swifts were seen entering the Swift Tower today - they were seen entering the left hand side lower boxes throughout the day.

Roger, Slasher & Danielle were bird ringing in the reed beds again this morning.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - House Sparrow

(c) Dina Burford - Swift Leaving the Tower

(c) Dina Burford - Puss Moth

(c) Trever Saunders - Red Admiral

Monday 7th June

Colin Varndell: Hobby.

(c) Dina Burford - Red-eyed Damselflies

(c) Dina Burford - Small Copper

Tuesday 8th June

Kevin Duncan: Black-headed Gull (EY81787) - ringed on 28/05/15 at Tice's Meadow.

(c) Dina Burford - Common Terns Nesting on Sand Martin Bank Roof

(c) Colin Varndell - Great Crested Grebe

Wednesday 9th June

Jill Lamb: Scarce Chaser. After our first sightings last year, it looks like this category 3 red list dragonfly may have bred on site. Restricted to 6 main locations in the UK, the species appears to be colonising the River Blackwater.

Swifts were seen entering the Swift Tower today - they were seen entering the right hand side lower boxes at 21:00, and not seen to re-emerge.

(c) Dina Burford - Frog

(c) Trever Saunders - Large Red Damselfly

(c) Jill Lamb - Scarce Chaser

(c) Jill Lamb - Painted Lady

(c) Gav Thane - Slow Worm

Thursday 10th June

A Swift was seen poking its head into the bottom right hand corner boxes of the Swift Tower twice this evening - possible food pass?

(c) Dina Burford - Speckled Wood

Friday 11th June

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Little Egret.

A Swift was filmed poking its head into the bottom right hand corner box of the Swift Tower this evening - possible food pass?

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Large Red Damselfly & Banded Demoiselle

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Nesting Gulls & Terns on Sand Martin Bank Roof

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Small Heath

(c) Trever Saunders - Black-tailed Skimmer (female)

Saturday 12th June

Dave Baker: Garganey (male, 10th for site).

Trever Saunders: Great White Egret (first of year, 11th for site).

Mark Elsoffer: 3 Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Garden Warbler, Nuthatch & Hobby.

Six Swifts spent 90 minutes this morning flying in formation around the Swift Tower, with occasional brief landings to stick their heads in the lower right hand side boxes.

Huge thanks to the 20 volunteers who worked so hard at today's work party - our first since March 2020 due to COVID-19. Tawny Owl box put up, noticeboard erected, a hibernaculum built, & the shelter roof maintained. Great work everyone.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Hibernaculum

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Noticeboard

(c) Dina Burford - Shelter Roof

(c) Trever Saunders - Great White Egret

(c) Trever Saunders - Swift Entering Tower

Sunday 13th June

Mark Elsoffer: Curlew.

Marsh Frogs are now regularly heard calling from in front of Horton's Mound in the flooded meadow.

(c) Martin Angel - Stag Beetle

(c) Trever Saunders - Beautiful Demoiselle

(c) Gav Thane - Fox

Monday 14th June

(c) Dina Burford - Great Crested Grebe

(c) Colin Varndell - Common Tern vs Black-headed Gull

Tuesday 15th June

(c) Dina Burford - Emperor Dragonfly

(c) Dina Burford - Speckled Wood

Wednesday 16th June

Dina Burford: Little Ringed Plover & 2 Little Egret.

Our bird ringers, led by Roger Dickey, ringed our young Kestrels and Barn Owls at the Kiln this morning. All of the information gathered will contribute to the national scientific effort for each species.

(c) Dina Burford - Large Skipper

(c) Dina Burford - Black-head Gull Chick on Sand Martin Bank Roof

Thursday 17th June

(c) Dina Burford - Bruce, such a good boy

(c) Colin Varndell - Nesting Black-headed Gulls on Raft

Friday 18th June

Colin Varndell: Little Egret.

(c) Colin Varndell - Nesting Black-headed Gulls on Raft

(c) Jon Hawkins - Juvenile Coot

(c) Jon Hawkins - Roe Deer

Saturday 19th June

Richard Seargent: 2 Redshank & 3 Little Ringed Plover.

Our first young Kestrel fledged this evening, 32 days after hatching.

(c) Dina Burford - Little Ringed Plover

(c) Dina Burford - Redshank

Sunday 20th June

Richard Seargent: Redshank & juvenile Nuthatch.

Dina Burford: Little Egret & Grey Wagtail.

Our second young Kestrel fledged this morning.

After the eldest Barn Owlet flew off at 19:30 last night, a check revealed they hadn’t got very far & were sat in the open directly under the nest box. Following advice from the Barn Owl Trust & Bird of Prey Hospital, Oli intervened - took it home, fed it & returned to the box this morning.

Monday 21st June

Don Lemmon: Curlew.

Tuesday 22nd June

Our third young Kestrel fledged this evening, after a false start yesterday when it got soaked in the rain and grounded soon after fledging. Oli rescued it and placed it back in the box to dry off.

(c) Dina Burford - Black-headed Gull Chicks on Raft

Wednesday 23rd June

(c) Dina Burford - Beautiful Demoiselle

(c) Dina Burford - Large Red Damselfly

Thursday 24th June

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 19 Lapwing, Little Egret, 3 Teal, Pochard & Nuthatch.

Our sixth, and final, young Kestrel fledged this morning. It's been a pleasure to watch them grow up.

(c) Dina Burford - Black-headed Gull Chick on Hide Roof

(c) Dina Burford - Black-headed Gull Chicks on Raft

(c) Colin Varndell - Black-headed Gull Parent & Young

Friday 25th June

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Egret, 3 Teal, 5 Pochard & 23 Gadwall.

Richard Seargent: Shoveler (male).

Richard Seargent: Silver Washed Fritillary - 8th record for site.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Painted Lady

(c) Dina Burford - Roe Deer with Fawn

(c) Trever Saunders - Emperor Moth Caterpillar

Saturday 26th June

Mark Elsoffer: Mediterranean Gull.

There was an emergence of Marbled Whites today, with 20+ seen in the reed beds and meadow.

Robert Brooks: Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) - new for site.

Trever Saunders: White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) - new for site. The 31st butterfly species recorded on site.

Roger & Slasher were bird ringing in the reed bed this morning.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Reed Bunting

(c) Clare Dell - Marbled White

(c) Trever Saunders - White Admiral

(c) Jules Stenning - Emperor Dragonfly

Sunday 27th June

Kevin Duncan: Black-headed Gull (EY81787) - ringed on 28/05/15 at Tice's Meadow.

One of our 2 eldest Barn Owlets went on an adventure today. Around 5am he fell off the ledge and ended up grounded. He then flew back up to roost for the day under the Kestrel nest box. Thankfully, he flew back to the Owl box this evening.

A crack team of TMBG volunteers attended the Hampton Estate Open Farm Sunday today. We camped overnight, trapping moths and enjoying the wonderful woodlands. Roger Dickey lead a bird ringing session throughout the day, which proved very popular with the c1,000 members of the public who attended the event. We also showed off the moths caught the night before and spread the word about Tice's Meadow.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Hampton Estate Farm Open Day

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Hampton Estate Farm Open Day

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Hampton Estate Farm Open Day

(c) Richard Seargent - Bee Orchid

Monday 28th June

Colin Varndell: Little Egret & Skylark - worryingly, the first sighting of the year on site.

One of the eldest 2 Barn Owlets roosted outside the nest box again today.

(c) Dina Burford - Bee Orchid

(c) Dina Burford - Large Red Damselflies

(c) Dina Burford - Pyramidal Orchid

(c) Paul Wilkinson - Marbled White

Tuesday 29th June

Dina Burford: 2 Little Egret & Hobby.

Dina Burford found a second Bee Orchid today.

27 cubs & leaders from 5th Farnborough Cub Scouts enjoyed a guided walk around site this evening led by Richard Seargent.

(c) Richard Seargent - 5th Farnborough Cubs

(c) Dina Burford - Bee Orchid

Wednesday 30th June

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Dina Burford found a third Bee Orchid today, and 3 Pyramidal Orchids.

Thursday 1st July

S Brownhill: Green Sandpiper.

Dina Burford: Little Egret & Hobby.

Kevin Duncan: Black-headed Gull (EY81787) - ringed on 28/05/15 at Tice's Meadow.

The eldest owlet went on another adventure today - we can tell she’s the same one Oli rescued before by the ring number. She fell off the ledge following an altercation around 5am and ended up being found around the front of the Kiln by Kay from Leapfrogs Pre-school. Oli then put her back in the box just after 10am with help from Russell and his forklift - well done everyone. 

(c) Dina Burford - Black-tailed Skimmer

(c) Dina Burford - Buff-tip Moths

(c) Jill Lamb - Bee Orchid

Friday 2nd July

Mark Elsoffer: 4 Little Ringed Plover & Little Egret.

Kevin Duncan: Great Crested Grebe with 2 young.

Mark Elsoffer: 3 Lesser Emperor - first recorded this year.

One of the eldest 2 Barn Owlets roosted away from the nest box today.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Bee Orchid

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Pyramidal Orchid

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Four-spotted Chaser

(c) Colin Varndell - Coot with Young

Saturday 3rd July

E Hein: Redshank.

Dina Burford: 2 Little Egret.

Kevin Duncan: Black-headed Gull (EY81787) - ringed on 28/05/15 at Tice's Meadow.

We had a great time at the Badshot Lea Village Fete today. Great to see so many people and hear about what their community nature reserve means to them.

Three species of clearwing moth found on site today: Red-tipped (Rebecca Haskell), Six-belted and Yellow-legged (Richard Seargent, new for site).

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Badshot Lea Village Fete

(c) Colin Varndell - Great Crested Grebe

Sunday 4th July

Richard Horton: Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover & a ringed juvenile Kestrel.

Kevin Duncan: 4 Little Ringed Plover.

The pair of Great Crested Grebes in the Eastern Silt Pond have hatched 3 young.

(c) Dina Burford - Marbled White

(c) Dina Burford - Young Great Crested Grebes

Monday 5th July

Richard Seargent: 6 Little Ringed Plover & Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Both of the eldest 2 Barn Owlets roosted away from the nest box today.

(c) Dina Burford - Mallard Ducklings

(c) Dina Burford - Four-spotted Chaser

(c) Colin Varndell - Black-tailed Skimmer

Tuesday 6th July

Dina Burford: Grey Wagtail.

For the first time in almost 3 months there were no prey deliveries caught on camera in the Barn Owl Box last night.  All 4 owlets were being fed outside the box, and all 4 roosted in the box today. 

(c) Dina Burford - Grey Wagtail

Wednesday 7th July

Richard Horton: 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 9 Ringed Plover & Little Ringed Plover.

(c) Dina Burford - Grass Snake & Slow Worm

(c) Trever Saunders - Ruddy Darter (immature)

Thursday 8th July

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

(c) Karen McCormack - Flooded Hide

(c) Jon Hawkins - Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle

Friday 9th July

Richard Seargent: 4 Ringed Plover & Great Black-backed Gull.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Both of the eldest 2 Barn Owlets roosted away from the nest box today.

A moth trapping demo was run this evening as part of National Moth Night. c40 species of moth were trapped.

(c) Dina Burford - Four-spotted Chaser

(c) Dina Burford - Lesser Emperors

(c) Clare Dell - Ruddy Darter (female)

Saturday 10th July

Richard Seargent: Green Sandpiper & 5 Little Ringed Plover.

Just 1 Barn Owlet roosted in the box today.

Swifts were seen entering and leaving the Swift Tower this evening.

(c) Colin Varndell - Grey Heron

(c) Richard Seargent - Elephant Hawk Moths

(c) Richard Seargent - Lunar Hornet Moth

Sunday 11th July

Dina Burford: 2 Little Egret.

(c) David Glew - Common Darter

(c) David Glew - Ringlet

Monday 12th July

Anon: Common Sandpiper & Green Sandpiper.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

(c) Dina Burford - Song Thrush

Tuesday 13th July

Dina Burford: 4 Little Egret.

(c) Colin Varndell - Little Egret

(c) Colin Varndell - Swift

(c) Toby Coulson - Common Blue Damselfly

(c) Toby Coulson - Green-veined White

Wednesday 14th July

Mark Elsoffer: Barn Owl.

Dina Burford: Little Ringed Plover.

Colin Varndell: Nuthatch.

(c) Dina Burford - Common Darter

(c) Trever Saunders - Speckled Bush-cricket

Thursday 15th July

Colin Varndell: 19 Black-tailed Godwit.

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Common Sandpiper & Little Egret.

We attended the Badshot Lea Village Pond this morning to meet the Farnham in Bloom judges.

(c) Colin Varndell - Carrion Crow

(c) Colin Varndell - Black-tailed Godwits

(c) Jon Hawkins - Common Blue Damselflies

(c) Jon Hawkins - Juvenile Reed Warblers

Friday 16th July

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret & brood of 5 Tufted Duck (first brood of year).

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Emperor Dragonfly

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Common Blue Damselflies

(c) David Glew - Ringlet

Saturday 17th July

Mark Elsoffer: Mediterranean Gull & Barn Owl.

Dina Burford: Common Sandpiper & 2 Little Egret.

The TMBG exec team had the pleasure of a guided tour of Unstead Wetland Nature Reserve today as part of their Open Weekend. The team have done a great job in the past year reinvigorating this superb reserve, & lots going on - bird ringing, pond dipping etc. Well worth a visit, and check out their website.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Fox & Magpies

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Banded Demoiselle

(c) Colin Varndell - Fox

(c) Melanie Nicholls - Black-tailed Skimmer

(c) Melanie Nicholls - Common Darter

(c) Melanie Nicholls - Ruddy Darter

Sunday 18th July

Mark Elsoffer: 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egret & Raven.

Dina Burford: Golden-ringed Dragonfly. A local vagrant that inhabits heathland streams. The 8th record for site.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roe Deer

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Four-spotted Chaser

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Emperor Dragonfly

(c) Colin Varndell - Black-tailed Godwits

(c) Kelly Wright - Black-tailed Skimmers

Monday 19th July

John Hunt: 2 Common Sandpiper, 20 Lapwing & Little Egret.

Murray Nurse: Nightjar (2nd for site, first since 30/08/16).

(c) Colin Varndell - Black-tailed Skimmer

(c) Colin Varndell - Common Terns

(c) Jon Hawkins - Common Blue Damselfly

Tuesday 20th July

Richard Horton: 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper & Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret & Nuthatch.

Leonard Winchcombe: Wood Sandpiper (26th for site, 3rd this year).

(c) Trever Saunders - Gatekeeper

Wednesday 21st July

Colin Varndell: 2 Black-tailed Godwit & Stonechat.

Dina Burford: 3 Little Egret.

(c) Colin Varndell - Black-tailed Godwits

(c) Trever Saunders - Common Blue Damselfly

(c) Graham Sharples - Emperor Dragonfly

Thursday 22nd July

Colin Varndell: Cetti's Warbler (5th for site).

Leonard Winchcombe: Brood of 6 Tufted Duck (2nd brood of year).

Richard Horton: Green Sandpiper & 3 Little Egret.

Dina Burford: 2 Little Egret & Nuthatch.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Banded Demoiselle

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Emperor Dragonfly

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Black-tailed Skimmer

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Migrant Hawker

(c) Paul Habgood - Common Darter

(c) Paul Habgood - Ruddy Darter

Friday 23rd July

Richard Horton: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper & Wood Sandpiper (27th for site, 4th this year).

Murray Nurse: 3 Little Egret.

Dina Burford: Nuthatch.

(c) Colin Varndell - Greylag Geese

(c) Colin Varndell - Reed Warbler

(c) Melanie Nicholls - Blue-tailed Damselfly (rufescens form)

Saturday 24th July

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Little Egret, 3 Pochard & 2 Peregrine.

Huge thanks to the 19 volunteers who braved the weather forecast & attended the work party this morning. We planted the plants salvaged from Bells Piece, cut back along the paths, litter picked & did some odd jobs. Great work everyone.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roof Gardening

(c) Dina Burford - Tea Break

Sunday 25th July

M Scott: 3 Little Egret.

Monday 26th July

Murray Nurse: Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret & 15 Greylag Goose.

Tuesday 27th July

John Hunt: 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin & 2 Little Egret.

Dina Burford: Green Sandpiper.

(c) John Hunt - Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers

(c) Dina Burford - Green Sandpiper

(c) Colin Varndell - Blackcap (female)

Wednesday 28th July

Dina Burford: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper & 2 Little Ringed Plover.

(c) Dina Burford - Fox

(c) Colin Varndell - Flooded Meadow

Thursday 29th July

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, 3 Little Egret & a new brood of 4 Great Crested Grebes (the 3rd brood this year).

Leonard Winchcombe: Wheatear.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Small Red-eyed Damselflies

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Black-tailed Skimmer

Friday 30th July

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egret & Nuthatch.

Richard Seargent: 2 Arctic Tern (25th for site, first for year).

(c) Colin Varndell - Save Tice's Meadow

Saturday 31st July

Peter Brown: Dunlin & Ringed Plover.

Richard Seargent: 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper & 39 Lapwing.

Kevin Duncan: 3 Little Ringed Plover.