Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve: October 2021

Site Sale Update

On 16th September, the Farnham Herald broke the news that a consortium of local councils are the preferred bidder for Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve.

We have been advised to make no comment beyond the following statement:

"The Tice's Meadow Bird Group understands that a consortium of local councils, led by Surrey County Council, are the preferred bidder for the nature reserve, but beyond that we have no knowledge of the bidding process. Should the bid be successful, we look forward to working closely with the new owners to build on the years of good work already undertaken, and to continue to provide a haven for wildlife and the local community."

Wednesday 1st September

John Hunt: 2 Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, Garganey, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat & 4 Sand Martin.

Peter Brown: Dunlin, Curlew & Peregrine.

Anon: 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Thursday 2nd September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 5 Snipe, 27 Lapwing, Little Egret, Garganey, 157 Greylag Goose, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat, 4 Yellow Wagtail & a Swift.

Anon: 2 Common Sandpiper.

Friday 3rd September

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 6 Snipe, Little Egret, Garganey, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Swift, 2 Peregrine & a Hobby.

Trever Saunders: Brown Hairstreak.

Saturday 4th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshank (3rd for site, first since 08/09/13), Curlew Sandpiper (3rd for site, first since 07/09/14), 6 Snipe, 35 Lapwing, Garganey, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail & 2 Peregrine.

Andy Little: 5 Greenshank & Great White Egret (12th for site, 2nd this year).

Six volunteers held an impromptu work party this morning, moving and burning all of the willow that Len had cut.

Sunday 5th September

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 3 Little Egret, Great White Egret, Wigeon, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, Stonechat, Yellow Wagtail & Peregrine.

Sean Foote: 14 Buzzard & Swift.

Dina Burford: 3 Arctic Terns (juveniles, 26th for site).

John Hunt: 5 Greenshank & Garganey.

Hilary MacBean: Black-tailed Godwit.

Richard Horton: Clouded Yellow - first of the year.

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Brown Hairstreak.

Monday 6th September

Dave Baker: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Great White Egret, 2 Yellow Wagtail & 3 Hobby.

Richard Horton: Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 3 Little Egret & Garganey.

Dave Baker: Lesser Emperor.

Tuesday 7th September

Richard Horton: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, Ruff (15th for site, 2nd this year), Great White Egret & Garganey.

Andy Little: 2 Kingfisher & Hobby.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Wednesday 8th September

John Hunt: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, Great White Egret & Garganey.

Dina Burford: Little Egret & Yellow Wagtail.

Thursday 9th September

Richard Horton: 20 Greenshank (17 flew through, 3 regulars - new site record & highest Surrey count this century).

Andy Little: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret & Yellow Wagtail.

Paul Booker: Wheatear.

Colin Varndell: Peregrine.

Dina Burford: 3 Snipe & Colour ringed Lapwing - ringed as an almost fledged chick at East Tisted (Hants) on 02/06/21, as part of the Waders For Real project.

Friday 10th September

Andy Little: Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, Kingfisher & Osprey (15th for site, 3rd this year).

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 6 Snipe, Little Egret, Black Tern (adult, 12th for site, first since 26/08/20), Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Raven & Hobby.

Saturday 11th September

Dave Baker: 2 Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshank, 4 Snipe, Garganey, Hobby & Peregrine.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

M Bradbury: Pintail (19th for site, first since 29/09/20) & Wheatear.

Sunday 12th September

Mark Elsoffer: Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshank, 5 Snipe, Little Egret, 2 Wheatear & Osprey.

John Hunt: Common Sandpiper & Kingfisher.

Dina Burford: 2 Green Sandpiper.

We had the pleasure of showing 12 members of the public around site today as part of Farnham Heritage Open Days.

We supplied a crack team of volunteer marshals for the Farnham Pilgrim’s Marathon today.

Monday 13th September

Richard Seargent: Snipe & Yellow Wagtail.

Richard Horton: Common Sandpiper, Dunlin & Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Tuesday 14th September

Colin Varndell: Little Stint (7th for site, first since 04/08/20), 8 Ringed Plover & Peregrine.

Wednesday 15th September

Leonard Winchcombe: Little Stint & 2 Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: Greenshank, Snipe, Little Egret & Kingfisher.

Mark Elsoffer: Tawny Owl & Barn Owl.

Richard Seargent: Marsh Harrier (female type, 8th for site, first since 30/08/20).

Thursday 16th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 8 Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Raven, 2 Hobby & Peregrine.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Mark Elsoffer: Brown Hairstreak.

We were delighted to show another group of 10 members of the public around site today as part of Farnham Heritage Open Days.

Friday 17th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 6 Snipe, Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, Whinchat, Raven, 2 Barn Owl & Peregrine.

It was our pleasure to host 3 BTEC Countryside Management pupils & 2 teachers from More House School Frensham today. We hope this will be the beginning of another mutually beneficial & rewarding relationship with another local school.

Saturday 18th September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 5 Snipe, Kingfisher & 4 Swallow.

A massive thank you to the 28 volunteers who attended our work party today. Ranging in age from 5 to 80, and travelling from as far as Somerset! We cleared a huge amount of willow from the reed beds. Well done everyone.

Sunday 19th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 8 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 4 Wigeon, Kingfisher & 3 Stonechat.

We had the great pleasure of giving a guided tour to 16 members of the Surrey Bird Club this morning. As always, they brought the rain with them, but it did brighten up as they left.

Monday 20th September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 8 Snipe, Little Egret, 4 Wigeon, Kingfisher, Wheatear, 6 Stonechat & 9 Swallow.

Dina Burford: Brown Hairstreak.

Tuesday 21st September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, Little Egret, Wheatear, 6 Stonechat, 3 Swallow, Tawny Owl & Peregrine.

A huge “well done” to Oli who found a Tawny Owl on the road nearby Friday night. It was unconscious so he brought it home, and following advice from the local raptor hospital, he kept it under observation and fed it mice when it regained consciousness. He was able to release it tonight at the Kiln, again following advice from the raptor hospital. After hanging upside for a minute, it flew off deep into the woods.

Wednesday 22nd September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, Little Egret, 6 Wigeon, Kingfisher, Wheatear & Yellow Wagtail.

After finding the first Brown Hairstreak butterfly on site in July 2020, Dina Burford has now found the first Brown Hairstreak eggs. The pin-head sized eggs are laid on young Blackthorn shoots, and will remain over winter, before caterpillars hatch in May. This is proof (if we needed it after all the sightings of adults this year), that Brown Hairstreaks are breeding on site.