Co-Op Local Community Fund
We are delighted to have been chosen to be part of the Co-op Local Community Fund. We're raising money to buy more tools and equipment for our volunteer work parties.
If you are a Co-Op member, please click the link below and choose us as your cause. 1% of everything you spend on selected Co-Op branded goods and services between today and 21st October 2023 will be donated to our cause:
https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/66193
Volunteer Work Parties
Our volunteer work party schedule for the next few months. Please do come and join us if you're free - a great way to spend a morning, helping nature, working with the local community, and having some fun at the same time.
Tuesday 1st November
Peter Brown: 4 Green Sandpiper.
Colin Varndell: Great White Egret.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Kestrel |
Wednesday 2nd November
Richard Horton: Caspian Gull (probably same bird as 30th October. 136th bird species for 2022).
Peter Brown: 3 Green Sandpiper.
Colin Varndell: Great White Egret.
Thursday 3rd November
Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper & Little Egret.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Sparrowhawk |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Sparrowhawk |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - River Blackwater |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - View from the far side of the Workings |
Friday 4th November
John Hunt: 2 Green Sandpiper, Dartford Warbler & Wheatear (new latest record for site by 6 days).
Mark Elsoffer: Little Egret, Cett's Warbeler & Brambling (19th record for site).
Colin Varndell: Redwing.
Our Friday Irregulars joined forces with the Growth Team from Surrey Choices today to finish the opening-up of the Low Lane path, and make a start on the next section. Great to see all 18 volunteers working together as one effective team.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Choices Work Party |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Choices Work Party |
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| (c) Jon Hawkins - Lapwing |
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| (c) Jon Hawkins - Mute Swan |
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| (c) Jon Hawkins - Woodland Track |
Saturday 5th November
Richard Horton: Great White Egret.
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| (c) Wild Cam - Reed Bunting |
Sunday 6th November
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| (c) Colin Varndell - River in Flood |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Flooded Meadow |
Monday 7th November
Murray Nurse: Redwing.
Tuesday 8th November
Stuart Brownhill: Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe & Little Egret.
Wednesday 9th November
John Hunt: Green Sandpiper & Great White Egret.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Carrion Crow |
Thursday 10th November
Mark Elsoffer: Snipe, Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, 356 Herring Gull (new site record) & Cetti's Warbler.
Colin Varndell: Fieldfare.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Fieldfare |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Gadwall |
Friday 11th November
Colin Varndell: Merlin (18th record for site. Last recorded 25/09/20. 137th bird species for 2022).
Mark Elsoffer: Great White Egret.
Dina Burford: Green Sandpiper.
Anon: Firecrest (14th record for site. Last recorded 28/02/21. 138th bird species for 2022).
Andrew Platt: Egg-shell Slime Mould (Leocarpus fragilis) - new species for site.
James Wade: Eiffel-tower Bracket (Inonotus dryadeus) - new species for site.
We had the pleasure of hosting 13 A-Level Geography students from All Hallows School this morning for a field trip - the subject was flooding and river management. The students measured the velocity of the river in different spots, conducted soil infiltration tests across the site, and constructed flow deflectors and baffles in the river. We hope this is the beginning of a mutualy benefical relationship between the school and the nature reserve - we're keen to be their outdoor classroom within walking distance of the school.
Thanks to the 12 members of the Surrey Choices Growth Team who worked hard clearing under the powerlines today (alongside our Friday Irregulars), making it ready for hedge planting next weekend.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Field Trip |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Field Trip |
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| (c) Andrew Platt - Badhamia utricularis |
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| (c) Andrew Platt - Egg-shell Slime Mould |
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| (c) Dina Burford - Great White Egret |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Kestrel |
Saturday 12th November
Peter Brown: Great White Egret.
Dina Burford: Green Sandpiper.
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| (c) Steve Walsh - Cormorant |
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| (c) Steve Walsh - Greenfinch |
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| (c) Wild Cam - Pheasant |
Sunday 13th November
Richard Horton: Great White Egret.
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| (c) Sara C Badger - Berries |
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| (c) Wild Cam - Gadwall |
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| (c) Wild Cam - Long-tailed Tit |
Monday 14th November
Colin Varndell: Great White Egret.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret |
Tuesday 15th November
No reports.
Wednesday 16th November
No reports.
Thursday 17th November
John Hunt: 2 Green Sandpiper, Great White Egret, 4 Shelduck & Peregrine.
Mark Elsoffer: Dunlin, Snipe, 126 Lapwing, 6 Stonechat, 20 Fieldfare & 2 Pheasant.
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| (c) Dina Burford - Dunlin |
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| (c) Dina Burford - Shelduck |
Friday 18th November
Mark Elsoffer: Dartford Warbler.
Colin Varndell: Great White Egret.
Colin Varndell: Red Admiral.
Mark Elsoffer: 2 Common Darter.
Thanks to the 7 Friday Irregulars who spent 3 hours today scrub clearing and dead-hedging, getting ready for tomorrow's hedge planting.
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| (c) Gillian Bamford - Fungi |
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| (c) Gillian Bamford - River |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Greenfinch |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Red Admiral |
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| (c) Dina Burford - Work Party |
Saturday 19th November
Dina Burford: Green Sandpiper & Great White Egret.
Big thanks to the 34 volunteers who planted 420 trees to form c80m of hedgerow at our work party today. These "wild harvest" hedges will form a barrier to keep people & dogs out, and provide cover & food for the birds. Thanks to the Woodland Trust for the free trees.
Roger and Anya were ringing birds around the feeding station this morning.
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| (c) Gillian Bamford - Work Party |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party |
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| (c) Wildcam - Shoveler |
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| (c) Dina Burford - NBN Award Winners |
Sunday 20th November
Mark Elsoffer: Curlew, Snipe, Great White Egret, & 2 Coal Tit.
Kevin Duncan: Golden Plover (Last recorded 21/01/21. 139th bird species for 2022) & 2 Pintail (Drakes. 21st record for site. Last recorded 30/12/21. 140th bird species for 2022).
Colin Varndell: 2 Green Sandpiper.
Anon: 2 Dartford Warbler.
Sheila Skay: 3 Snipe.
15 members of the Surrey Bird Club enjoyed a guided walk around site this morning.
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| (c) Wildcam - Mallard |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Gadwall |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Green Sandpipers |
Monday 21st November
No reports.
Tuesday 22nd November
Malcolm Fincham: Great White Egret.
Anon: 2 Dartford Warbler.
Roger Dickey: Snipe & Tawny Owl.
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| (c) Malcolm Fincham - Great White Egret |
Wednesday 23rd November
Colin Varndell: Little Egret.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Goldfinch |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Song Thrush |
Thursday 24th November
Leonard Winchcombe: Great White Egret.
A big thanks to Matt and Nathan from the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership for mowing and strimming the Bat Field today - looks great!
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Kestrel |
Friday 25th November
John Hunt: Green Sandpiper & Dartford Warbler.
Mark Elsoffer: Great White Egret.
We had the pleasure of leading three guided walks and scavenger hunts for 90 pupils from St Michael’s Junior School today.
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| (c) Jon Hawkins - Mute Swan |
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| (c) Jon Hawkins - Mute Swan |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Robin |
Saturday 26th November
No reports.
Sunday 27th November
No reports.
Monday 28th November
Colin Varndell: Green Sandpiper & Cetti's Warbler.
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Green Sandpiper |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Reed Bunting |
Tuesday 29th November
No reports.
Wednesday 30th November
John Hunt: Great White Egret.
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| (c) John Hunt - Great White Egret |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret |
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| (c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret & Grey Heron |
