Surreybirder's new patch

[Surreybirder]

I've just moved to Lingfield, Surrey, (almost the SE corner) and, after a lot of chaos, I'm back on-line (but only on dial-up:C )
Our new garden already had a bird table and feeders up. So I've topped up the supplies and have already had a great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and coal tit feeding right by the back of the house. Funnily enough, nuthatch was one of the last birds I had on my garden list at Hurst Green.
My wife and I heard a tawny owl calling at about 5 a.m. on Friday. So the area certainly has potential!
I hope to get ADSL before too long, and be able to post more!
Ken

I'm planning to keep my 5 x 5km patch list for 2004 on this first post (or else it will be too hard to find!). This is correct at 24.4.04

1. Little grebe
2. Great crested grebe
3. Cormorant
4. Grey heron
5. Mute swan
6. Canada goose
7. Greylag goose
8. Mallard
9. Pochard
10. Tufted duck
11. Garganey
12. Shoveler
13. Goosander
14. Sparrowhawk
15. Common buzzard
16. Kestrel
17. Pheasant
18. Moorhen
19. Coot
20. Water rail
21. Lapwing
22. Snipe
23. Little gull
24. Kittiwake
25. Black-headed gull
26. Lesser black-backed gull
27. Common gull
28. Herring gull
29. Great black-backed Gull
30. Common tern
31. Feral Rock dove
32. Stock dove
33. Woodpigeon
34. Collared Dove
35. Swift
36. Kingfisher
37. Green woodpecker
38. Great spotted woodpecker
39. Lesser spotted woodpecker
40. Little owl
41. Sand Martin
42. Barn Swallow
43. House Martin
44. Skylark
45. Meadow pipit
46. Grey wagtail
47. Pied wagtail
48. Bohemian waxwing
49. Wren
50. Dunnock
51. Robin
52. Blackbird
53. Fieldfare
54. Song thrush
55. Redwing
56. Mistle thrush
57. Reed warbler
58. Blackcap
59. Chiffchaff
60. Willow warbler
61. Goldcrest
62. Long-tailed tit
63. Marsh tit
64. Coal tit
65. Blue tit
66. Great tit
67. Nuthatch
68. Treecreeper
69. Jay
70. Magpie
71. Jackdaw
72. Rook
73. Carrion crow
74. Starling
75. House sparrow
76. Chaffinch
77. Greenfinch
78. Goldfinch
79. Siskin
80. Linnet
81. Lesser redpoll
82. Bullfinch
83. Yellowhammer
84. Reed bunting

Heard only:
Tawny owl

[Karl J]

A fine start I'd say.

Look forward to the updates ......

[Ruby]

Nice countryside around there Ken - done a fair bit of walking & cycling around Lingfield/Dormansland/Marsh Green area.

Look forward to hearing some reports....


Rgds... Ruby

[Charles Harper]

Let's have a Housewarming!

[Andrew]

Hope the new patch is even more bird filled than the last and that is saying a lot!!! I look forward to seeing your patch list explode before the stabilization.

[Nina P]

Welcome back Ken, been missed already, and as I have only dialup option, I can understand the frustration, but even my PC is faster than the training centres, so bear with it, I can't wait until they no longer use telephone lines. There is an experiment going on at the moment where the connection is over the electricty system, then maybe we'll all be cooking! Hope the trauma of the move wasn't too bad, but looks like we may well be getting some brilliant sights from you soon, especially with nuthatch one of the first visitors.
If you have a high clear topped perch you may well see the Tawny owl looking over your garden, just like I have, wonderful to see in the late evening, just before it gets dark. I hope you get the same opportunity, as it is really most wonderful. Nina.

[Surreybirder]

We had a visitor in the garden last night!

[Charles Harper]

High tide? Sea Urchin?

[Geraldine]

Nice one, Charles!
Glad you're back, Ken. I've missed your threads. Hope you're settling in well.

[Andrew]

Those things move surprisingly fast don't they. When you are there they sit tight and you think 'Ah, I'll get my camera" and when you come back you can't find him anywhere!

[Surreybirder]

Originally posted by Andrew
Those things move surprisingly fast don't they. When you are there they sit tight and you think 'Ah, I'll get my camera" and when you come back you can't find him anywhere!

You're right there, Andrew. I found him/her 'cos the dog was going berserk! I took a photo, took the dog in and then came out a bit later, by which time it had scarpered. But I'll try putting some food out tonight and see if I can get more than just prickles.

Not too much else to report yet. I'm about 20 mins walk away from a sizable pond (Wiremill), where there were lots of dragonflies at the weekend (common darters and migrant hawkers as far as I could tell). But the water-skiers were not good news from the wildlife p.o.v.

(BTW, on a boring note, I've now got an adsl modem but I haven't managed to get it working yet:h?:)

[Nina P]

Lovely little Prickles, I had one once that used to curl up under the fridge/freeze and come out when cat food was put out, it then came out and snuggled up with the cat and dog in front of the fire, but a neighbours dog killed it the following summer. Hope you manage to keep it as they're grgeat for keeping slugs and snails away, and have you seen how they attack and kill adders? amazing speed when on the scent of one of them !! Shame the badgers kill them out here. I have only seen one once in 8 years, and that was at 3.30am, when hubby called me to see, but I built a den for the hedgehogs to use if they should ever decide to take up residence.
Great to see you settling in, but sorry you have to use dial up, but I have to do the same, as broadband too far away and cable not reached here yet same as gas, no pipeline here. We all have our crosses to bear, so never mind, it isn't the end of the world, just seems that way. Nina.

[Surreybirder]

Thanks for your message, Nina.
We put out a bowl of milk for the hedgehog. It's only attracted slugs so far. But perhaps the slugs will attract the hedgehog!
I'm amazed that they can kill adders, obviously nippier than I thought!
I'll get BB working in the end!!!
Ken

[Surreybirder]

What with moving house and a late 'summer' holiday in Cornwall, I've not spent as long 'in the field' as I might have. There seem to be masses of pheasants around (Nina!) and I am sure they are reared for shooting (or should I say, to be shot) as there are loads of gunshots in the woodland at the moment.
The bird feeders are being emptied rapidly--sunflower seeds disappear within 24 hours. I can see a queues of tits and the odd nuthatch and several greenfinches most of the time.
This pm, in daylight, I saw a brown rat gobbling up the seeds that had fallen to the ground. I have slightly mixed feelings about it! I guess rats are unlikely to be a nuisance? Our dog, a miniature schnautzer, is supposed to have been bred as a 'ratter', but when I sent her into the garden she didn't even pick up the scent!
So I guess the rat is pretty safe as I'm certainly not in favour of poisons.
During the week we had temps approaching 18 deg C. I saw a butterfly (possibly a small tortoiseshell but am not sure) and some common darters--not bad for November.
I still haven't got my broadband connection working :-(
Ken

[Nina P]

I was surprised that Graham, my husband spotted a darter yesterday when he went outside for his smoke, and got buzzed by the large dragonfly, but I am used to them appearing late in the year, last year we had one laying its eggs in the plants around the pond after all the leaves had fallen, and I had a real struggle to stop the daughters cat from splatting it.
There are still a lot of roses flowering in all the gardens in spite of the fact we are in a frost pocket! The cyclamen are still flowering well under the ash tree, but now I have put the Christmas Lights out around the garden, it seems to have triggered the birds feeding, as they come in and swing on the wires, more like a birdy playpark! I put them up for the grand kids, especially the youngest as he has been nagging for a few weeks, after spotting the boxes of lights in my bedroom.. Aren't they cute, some days he wants nanny not mummy, and if I'm in bed he comes in to find me and he's even happier if grampy's there too!
I hope you can get your broadband connection, I doubt we will ever get it here, so I'm hoping that the experiment with the power lines works then I may get somewhere, unless it increases the power cut problems!
that may make it worse I suppose....
Nice to have your return, best regards, Nina

[Angie]

We put out nuts for the nightlife - deer, badgers, foxes and hedgehogs.
A hedgehog will feed with a badger and fox only about 6 feet away!

One night a hedgehog was in the middle of the lawn munching away when a badger appeared. It went all the way around the hedgehog about a foot away and the hedgehog didn't curl up in a ball but just froze with the occasional head turn to see where the badger was.

What amazes me is that the hedgehog happily dines with its mortal enemies, but runs away when I get within about 12 feet to try and take a photo.

[Nina P]

Isn't it typical, I have the same problem with the birds, I feed them but appear with a camera, and they all vanish!! Frustrating too!

[Surreybirder]

That's amazing, Angie!
I have a parallel situation with the RSPB garden bird survey, Nina. (Are you taking part?) I seem to manage to look at my feeders when the birds are away. So although the feeders are normally very well used, I'm only seeing blue tits about 30% of the time, great tits 10% of the time, and no other relevant sightings. Of course, it might change if the weather turned colder.
So far we've done fairly well on mammals in the garden... vole, brown rat, hedgehog and (next door) weasle, but no badgers!
Ken

[Nina P]

I haven't heard of one yet but I have been flying in and out of BF and trying to tie up all my pictures, and contacts all over the world, follow the Rugby and get more courses under my belt and job applications in, and I've sent off my design for disability aids asking for them to be built, so my design has now winged its way to Germany for technical viability studies. I have been very busy, and making Christmas cakes and Puds, I'm in the thick of things at the moment, so when is it?

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Nina - I'm wondering if Ken is referring to the new survey starting today - I posted it at:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=10227

It doesn't seem to have had much publicity, and I only received my mailing today, which is rather unfortunate. Of course the nuthatch that we usually see nearly every time we look out of the window has gone AWOL, but it has been very wet today - 31mm since midnight, and still raining. The survey continues until Nov 30th, but our local weather forecast looks pretty grim during that period.

[Surreybirder]

Nina - I'm wondering if Ken is referring to the new survey starting today - I posted it at:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=10227

It doesn't seem to have had much publicity, and I only received my mailing today, which is rather unfortunate. Of course the nuthatch that we usually see nearly every time we look out of the window has gone AWOL, but it has been very wet today - 31mm since midnight, and still raining. The survey continues until Nov 30th, but our local weather forecast looks pretty grim during that period.

That's the one, Elizabeth. I got my bumph a few days ago.... I think they sent it to people who took part in the last garden bird survey, judging by what is said in the covering letter. It's one of the easiest ones to do, as you just have to record which of six species are feeding on your feeders at a given instant.
It seems to me that it would have had more value if they had asked us to record weather and time of day as well, but then I guess it would have put a lot of people off taking part.
Nina, sounds like you are cooking on gas, as the Americans say! Good luck with the job hunting. Fantastic rugby!!
BTW we seem to have lots of fieldfares round here but very few redwings. Has anyone else noticed a similar bias?
Ken

[Nina P]

Thanks for that Elizabeth, I'll certainly have a go Ken and Elizabeth, but I went on the RSPB site and never saw a thing about it, must have been skimming too fast or something, as I have been having at least two Nuthatches on the front table several times a day, and the GSW is always on the nut feeder at the bottom of the back garden. I am now off to print off the sheets required for the survey, as today looks to be a good dry day if a bit cold!

[Surreybirder]

Happy viewing, Nina!
The odd thing is that, although coal tits are frequent on my seed feeder, I haven't yet 'scored' by seeing one at the moment of 'surveying' the feeders. (The coal tits usually make lightening fast raids, whilst the other tits often sit and peck at the seed whilst still on the feeder)
Ken

[Nina P]

Would you believe it today of all days, I have had three hits from one either marsh or willow tit, just as I started the survey, but now I'm having a job to distinguish all the tit family as the sun is so low and catching across the window, I know there are birds coming in as the stupid cat keeps getting in the way.
I have these nets that are shorter in the middle and the cat keeps blocking the way, I have to peer between her and the plants, really makes IDing awkward!! but the birds have been coming in fast and furiously, but having to mark only some is in some respects tricky as there have been bullfinches and greenfinches not to mention the starlings and chaffinches..
Good luck with your watching Ken and Elizabeth, and thank you for letting me know about this survey, I'll be bobbing up and down to the front and back feeders now for a few days.

[Surreybirder]

Yes, I often have greenfinches and starlings monopolising the feeders. Plus the odd goldfinch. The house sparrows seem rather reluctant to come to the feeders for some reason. (They weren't so shy at my previous house.) So often the tits are making quick dashes in between the other, more dominant, species.
Great to get a marsh/willow tit. Can you hear it call. The 'pitch--oo' call of marsh is one of the calls that even I can recognise! Willow tits sound as if they've got a nasty cold!
Ken

[Nina P]

I think that is what Graham heard at the dawn chorus this am. I had the Longtails arrive today, and haven't seen them for a couple of months, but the perrishing squirrell has been in many times today, and took a few flash pics but he wasn't deterred, so I had to open the window and shoo him away!! I wanted to photograph the long tails but the rain was too heavy on the window pain so spodges all over don't make nice Photo's!! I have a super gizmo on the camera, if you switch off the flash and zoom in on portrait mode the 3X optical give quite a good shot at the front table and feeders, but only works when the sun is not out and there aren't too many raindrops pouring down the doubleglazed windows. The biggest problem is the cats!! they sit along the back of the settee and jump up as a bird lands on the table, and jog my arm or push into the pathway, or they get in front of me and on the window sill, Posers, that is what they are!

[Surreybirder]

I have to admit, I'm not much of a cat (or grey squirrel) fan, Nina!
I finally managed to 'score' a coal tit on my feeder at the 'moment' of checking this morning.
Perhaps I'm taking the instructions for the RSPB survey too literally, but it seems to suggest that you are supposed to record one precise instant.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I have to admit, I'm not much of a cat (or grey squirrel) fan, Nina!
I finally managed to 'score' a coal tit on my feeder at the 'moment' of checking this morning.
Perhaps I'm taking the instructions for the RSPB survey too literally, but it seems to suggest that you are supposed to record one precise instant.


It's rather difficult to stick strictly to what I think they expect. If I glance out of the window, see nothing, and then see a bird just as I am about to list a "no show", I find it difficult to record it as a no show. It feels a bit like a competition - highest scorer per view wins! ;)

[Surreybirder]

It's rather difficult to stick strictly to what I think they expect. If I glance out of the window, see nothing, and then see a bird just as I am about to list a "no show", I find it difficult to record it as a no show. It feels a bit like a competition - highest scorer per view wins! ;)

My sentiments exactly! But I've been good so far!

[jayhunter]

Ken my feeders are monopolised by Blue Tit, Great Tits, House Sparrows, Starlings, Green finches, Coal Tits, and the odd Nuthatch also had an interloper tit like Nina not sure if he was a Marsh Tit or not pretty sure, but no suitable habitat around here for him. So could have been a Willow Tit but from all my guides and reference books still think Marsh the most likely.

[Surreybirder]

I don't know about marsh/willow tits in Cheshire, Bob, but in Surrey willow tit is quite a rarity. Unlike marsh tit which is reasonably distributed. (In fact I've only ever seen one willow tit in Surrey. On the other hand, I saw quite a few when I was in Newcastle upon Tyne in the summer.)

[Nina P]

At one time there was only thought to be the one species, but, there were some differences noted, but these are so slight, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference in a brief view, so hence the / between them. My list looks rather pathetic but I haven't been able to watch as often as I'd have liked. And the daily sightings of GSW has stopped! I can hear them but I must have missed the visits! I have to get these house plants ready for sale at the school today, so the watch is limited again! never mind better luck next time! I had a sparrow feed on the tube of seeds thursday, most unusual, normally table feeder!!

[Surreybirder]

That's interesting about the sparrow. In my old house they practically lived on the seed feeders, but in my new house they avoid them--unlike the greenfinches!
BTW, I've finally got my broadband connection back :D

[Nina P]

Now you'll be cooking on gas! we have a happy Ken at last! great news! I wonder how long we will be waiting, as gas never did make its way here! Only the bottled stuff for the camping stove, which is often required with the ammount of power cuts we get!

[Surreybirder]

Would you believe it today of all days, I have had three hits from one either marsh or willow tit, <snip>

Now that the weather has turned colder my feeders are very busy. Today I've seen a marsh tit on the sunflower seed feeder for the first time... a new garden 'tick'. It was perched immediately below a coal tit at one point. If only I'd had a camera in position (although the light was so poor it wouldn't have looked much!

[Ruby]

Well done Ken - that must have been great.

Never seen a Marsh (or Willow!) Tit anywhere, either feeder or otherwise....

[Mike D]

Hi Surreybirder and welcome back!
Sounds like your new patch has great potential. Good luck in the future and I look forward to exchanging more thoughts with you in the future.
Mike

[Nina P]

I have been surprised at how well the photographs come out without the flash in dull conditions through the window, I'll post you one if you are still on the same email addy, then you can see what I mean! You may decide to try then!

[Surreybirder]

I'm gradually getting to know my immediate area. Today I walked the bit between Wire Mill Lake (virtually devoid of birds) and Hedgecourt Lake (extreme SE Surrey). There was sailing on Hedgecourt, so nothing of note there. But I saw reed bunting and yellowhammer in the fields of Churchill Farm (according to the noticeboard, once owned by Sir Winston and an SSSI, "one of the most important wetland habitats in Surrey"). Quite a bit of the area is carr, and some of it has been turned into a fishery. It looks promising (and I certainly saw plenty of grey wags and reed buntings on a BTO survey there a few summers ago). This time I saw a deer (roe, I think) and also a bat flying around over a small pond (it was apparently drinking from the surface from time to time... body size not much bigger than a blue tit's, I'd say.) Still masses of wood pigeons everywhere.
Yesterday I saw 9 male blackbirds and 1 song thrush in quite a small horse paddock. I don't recall seeing quite such a high density of blackbirds before.

[Ruby]

Hi Ken,

Sounds like some quite promising things going on in your new area... I'll always read these with interest, since you're just down the road from me...

You may remember an earlier comment I made about a reported Lynx sighting - that is also just down the road from you!!

[Surreybirder]

Hi Ken,

Sounds like some quite promising things going on in your new area... I'll always read these with interest, since you're just down the road from me...

You may remember an earlier comment I made about a reported Lynx sighting - that is also just down the road from you!!

I'll keep my eyes open! A dog-walker I know in Hurst Green reckons he saw a 'big cat' there. I have to admit to being a bit sceptical!

[Surreybirder]

I haven't posted here for a while, mainly because I haven't seen much out of the ordinary. However, some of the members of Surreybirders yahoogroup have started a 2004 challenge to see who can see the most species (of birds) within a 5 x 5 km square of their own choosing. So I'm keeping a count for the square that centres on the 1 x 1 km square (on the OS maps) in which I live.
So far I've seen 55 species and heard one other (tawny owl).
It's fun keeping a list, and also getting to know my area better. There's a site mentioned in another thread called 'getamap', and I've discovered some aerial photos of my 'patch'. I think I'm allowed to post them on here without breaching copyright, so I may do so at some point.
I've mentioned previously that I'm near two lakes: Wire Mill and Hedgecourt. Unfortunately they are both subject to a lot of disturbance (fishing and waterskiing at WM and fishing and sailing at H). Also, when the weather turns cold they seem to freeze over very quickly, suggesting that they are both shallow: which is not surprising as they both have dams, suggesting that they owe a lot to man with shovel.
In between the two lakes is a rather atmospheric boggy area which looks as if it should hold some good birds (although I haven't had much success there yet).
I'll attach a photo just to give an idea.
On another thread (and in UKmoths yahoogroup) there's been a lot of discussion about how to attract moths..... so my wife has kindly brewed up an evil concoction which should do the job. If I have any success when we get some milder nights, I'll report back.
I'm keeping my garden feeders topped up as best I can so that I have some birds to report for the RSPB big garden birdwatch on 24 - 25 January.
Ken

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Hi Ken (Surreybirder) - I think Comets and Toppers sail at Hedgecourt, and their draught is 2'6" with the centreboard down - so I suppose this would fit your definition of shallow?

[Surreybirder]

That's shallow for a lake that's about .5 miles long. Interesting info, Elizabeth. It may also explain why there never seem to be many ducks there. Pochards seem to like it, and there was a ferruginous duck in 2000, but you rarely see anything else. My guess is that Wire Mill is a bit deeper (they couldn't water ski in less than four feet could they?) The only ducks I've seen there so far are tufted and mallard.

[Surreybirder]

Lovely crisp Saturday, following frost, so I spent most of the morning walking around my patch. Highlights were a kingfisher at Beaver Farm Fishery, and four yellowhammers and four reed buntings near the sewage works. I saw the odd siskin and several great crested grebes.
At the fishery, the bailiff was watching something through binocs. Turned out to be an otter. However, he told me that it was one that had escaped from the nearby British Wildlife Centre. He'd seen it swimming across the brook and had whistled and called 'Mini', whereupon it had approached him! (I didn't see it, though I had seen it before it escaped from BWC.)

[Nina P]

Hi Ken, over the Christmas break I heard from my friend who can identify the flora I am unable to, and I asked her if she would help if I got stuck, so she will be good for back up on awkward plants to ID.
Sorry I haven't been on BF for a while but I'm studying hard at the maths and IT skills so have no time to stand and stare, which is sad but essential, to put some cash in the coffers!
All queries will be dealt with as soon as possible but if you do have ID needs, you have my email addy, welcome to use it!

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Nina. Good luck with the brainwork!

[jayhunter]

Hi Ken, The boggy shots look interesting I take it the strange stake things, are the boles of past small trees that have had their root systems waterlogged and drowned. They reminded me of the funny black top trees in Western Australia that look as if they have been consumed by fire , but are in fact ancient forms of tree ferns.

[Surreybirder]

I had a bit of excitement today. Some Surrey birders (about 10) are having a patch list challenge during 2004, to see who can see the highest no. of species of birds on their 5 x 5 km square.
I've been going very slowly since an early burst although I was lucky to catch sight of six lesser redpolls drinking from a small pool in a local wood at the weekend. And a lesser spotted woodpecker seen whilst walking the dog was a nice bonus.
Today I decided that I'd walk in a different direction from usual. There's a low-lying area along the south side of Lingfield, which looks boggy so I thought there might be a chance of a snipe there. I drew a blank but I found myself overlooking Lingfield race course. There were about 40 lapwings and 200+ fieldfares and redwings and then I noticed an egret. It was at least a quarter of a mile away, and I only had bins with me, so I couldn't be absolutely certain that it was a little egret -- but it almost certainly was (snowy and great both seem very unlikely and I don't think it was the right shape for cattle). It hardly moved and was sitting in the hunched-up posture that idle herons adopt. I've never seen an egret of any description in Surrey before. If I can find the time I'll go back there at the weekend with a 'scope and try and get a better look. (Trouble is, I think there's racing this weekend and I may not be allowed within range :C )

[Ruby]

Hi Ken,

Sounds quite exciting....I wasn't aware that egrets were rare/unknown in Surrey - there's plenty not very far away in Kent for instance.

Do let us know if you get a chance to see it again.


All the best.... Ruby

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Ruby.
Little egrets are not major rarities in Surrey but I've not seen one yet. The most recent Surrey Bird Report (2000) lists six sightings for the year. It is described as 'rare but increasing visitor'.
My guess is that they'll be common in a few years' time.
Ken

[Ruby]

Hi, Ruby.

My guess is that they'll be common in a few years' time.
Ken

Hi Ken,

Yep, reckon you're right, assuming that things carry on the way they have for these birds.....

I've never seen anything other than a Little Egret though - look forward to the day of seeing something else....

[Surreybirder]

I've never seen anything other than a Little Egret though - look forward to the day of seeing something else....

Ah, so you've seen little egret in Surrey? Can't say I have seen any other egrets either, in Surrey... but I've seen quite a few of the heron family on my travels. Once twitched a flock of cattle egrets in Herts but it all seems a bit pointless when they are so common in other countries.
There is, as you probably know, not only great white, cattle and snowy egret to eliminate when identifying little egret but a very outside chance of intermediate egret and white-phase reef heron. Then there's squacco heron, Indian pond heron and others to consider!
Ken

[Nina P]

Well Ken, I'm very pleased to hear you are also having trouble ID ing white heron types, I caught a glimpse of one solitary white water bird and was wondering what it could have been, unfortunately I was driving at the time so didn't get much of a look, I did wonder if it could have been a spoonbill but I never saw it face on, just taking off and going away, I will say it was larger than the little egret, but after that I wouldn't like to make a guess! Stork? Spoonbill? or any other heron type is the best I could make a remote guess at. I do feel that there are more of the exotic birds appearing in the southern half of this country, and all appearing within the last five years.
Good luck with the bird count, and I do hope you win!

[Surreybirder]

Good luck with the bird count, and I do hope you win!

Thanks, Nina, you're very kind. But I don't stand a chance! It's not just that some people are real experts, it's also that some live near reservoirs and sewage lagoons with far more ducks, waders etc than I will see. But I enjoy taking part!
Hope the computer course continues to go well!
Ken

[Surreybirder]

I'm having "nearly week". Having failed to clinch the identity of the (almost certain little) egret (which has now disappeared) on Thursday, I thought I'd try and find a snipe today. I checked out various flooded fields and eventually walked through one off Crowhurst Road at TQ 389452. I unintentionally flushed c25 snipes but when I got home and checked the OS map, I realised that I was about 200m outside my patch.
There was also a butterfly there... red admiral, I think, but I couldn't get a decent view.

[Surreybirder]

Am I the only birder who keeps seeing potentially interesting birds without being able to clinch the ID? Yesterday I saw a flock of woodpigeons take off in two subflocks and a few seconds later a large raptor flew through the gap. It was a robust falcon... almost certainly a peregrine, but it was in silhouette and I couldn't make out any plumage details at all.
Then today, I noticed a large raptor with a rather flappy flight going past our conservatory, only about 300 yards away. By the time I'd found my bins I could just see it disappearing into the distance. It was chunky and it was gliding with it's wings in a definite dihedral (is that how you spell it). Clearly a buzzard but impossible to rule out the incredibly unlikely rough-legged or the possibly more likely red-tailed hawk. (The latter has occurred in Surrey and I've seen Harris's hawk flying free.)
Ah well, that's birding for you (or at least for me)!

[Nina P]

Hi there Ken, Been reading your latest, I'm also missing out on ID's, the Diver on the marshes in Devon, might have been a little grebe or lesser scaup, but wouldn't know a lesser scaup if it bit me, as all the books of birds I have didn't have any pictures of them so ID was impossible. I had a strange meeting on Monday, My former GP is now with my friend who I said I could call on for botanical ID's I have found out that she got her Doctorate in Botany when visiting the DSS Dr's.
I have finished the maths coursework now and sit the english exam mid March, the Maths is likely to be in May, so here we go, just working my way through the CDs on PC skills.

[Surreybirder]

Good luck with the English, Nina.
I had a good garden 'tick' (well actually it was next door) on Monday. See attached (very poor) digiscoped photos.
Ken

[Nina P]

Georgeous bird, lucky devil! I have yet to really see one in the feather! in spite of having the cotoneaster berries for them too feed on! Beautiful bird, even if the picture is a bit fluffy, looks like you could do with a bit more optical Zoom there Ken! They would be really great if you could get a closer shot.

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Nina.
The problem wasn't so much the zoom power as the fact that I was dashing out to work; and the light was directly behind the bird. If I'd had more time I could have gone down the garden and taken a shot from a better angle. Such is life!

[Ruby]

Very Good Ken - dearly like to see one of those guys....

[Nina P]

I'm still waiting but at least you have them nearby, I haven't heard of any hereabouts! try going closer to Kens, maybe you would be Lucky!

[Surreybirder]

There were three song thrushes in the geulder rose bush today, eating the berries that had attracted the waxwing.
It's quite amusing to watch them stretching to get at the berries on the very end of the twigs.
There was also a redwing in the bush/tree. Very poor image attached.

[Surreybirder]

I tried 'sugaring' (i.e. spreading some evil smelling sugary mix of treacle, ale and molasis on garden fence posts) for moths. And it worked. So far I've only identified the Satellite (below) but I may get more before the night is out.

[Nina P]

I'd never heard of that before but it certainly seems to be very effective, if that is the result of the first attempt. I must admit is looks like it is enjoying the nectar you have put out for it. Very interesting Ken, thank you for showing us.

[Surreybirder]

I visited Hedgecourt Lake at 5 pm and saw two little gulls in the strong wind (and dull light)--one was an adult in winter plumage and the other seemed to be a first winter.
Then, an hour later, I finally managed to catch up with my first little owl in my new patch! I was staring at a hole in a tree trying to convince myself that I could see an owl when I suddenly noticed one perching in full view on a branch!!
So my 'patch list' for the year is now up to 69.
Ken

[Nina P]

How great Ken, Well done and congratulations!

I did the English Exam today, and feel positive about it too! I did well in the practice test and got told that I would have got an "A" grade pass with the practise test, and I never felt as good about that one as I do about this one!

I have two thrushes lurking under the arch every day lately, and I spotted one duck under the covers of the garden table, and appear with a snail in it's beak! I did like that!

[Surreybirder]

Well, I seem to be having something of a good run. Following my last report there was a little gull (1st winter ---> 1st summer) last Friday. I got far closer views of this one. They are lovely birds with a small black wedge-shape on the tip of the tail and a well defined 'M' marking across the wings. This one had already got several black head feathers, too.
Then yesterday, 21st, I saw another unexpected gull--a kittiwake, standing on a newly sown field. It took me a while to figure out what it was as I've never seen one in Surrey before. At first glance it looked like a common gull but it had a 'gentle' expression with a beady black eye in a snow-white round head. The mantle was quite dark (appearing darker than common gull) and the pale green bill was more strongly down-curved than a c. gull's which to me always looks rather parallel sided. When it flew there was no white in the wing-tips and a suggestion of a pale area between the dark grey feathers and the black wing-tips.
So two new Surrey 'ticks' within about a week!
I also saw my first chiffchaff of the year.
So I'm up to 72 within my 'patch' for 2004. (The leader is a guy who seems to visit Beddington Sewage Farm virtually every day and is up to 101.)

Thanks for your comment, Nina. Hope your exam results are A**
Did you mean that you had a duck under your table ;) ?

[Nina P]

LOL Ken,
Thrushes are getting bolder, under the plastic cover is my table and chairs but this rustled so badly I am truly stunned they even consider getting under the cover, but there are plenty of overwintering snails, so they go there and feed well! This week they are coming onto the patio even when there are people about nearby, but they are quite brave as they can see me just about three feet away but in the house, while they are outside. I think I have plenty of slug and snail activity close to the house and they have safe food as I refuse to put any form of slug and snail poison down. I have finally worked out they are Song Thrushes, and I have more than one pair around!
Love the thought of Kittiwakes in Surrey, well done there Ken, and as you don't stand much chance of winning without the sewerage farm to boost the birds, if you get a goodly number without it then you are deserving the main prize, in my books as anyone can get a life list at a sewerage works, the birds flock there to see what the others are making such a noise about!!

[pduxon]

Georgeous bird, lucky devil! I have yet to really see one in the feather! in spite of having the cotoneaster berries for them too feed on! Beautiful bird, even if the picture is a bit fluffy, looks like you could do with a bit more optical Zoom there Ken! They would be really great if you could get a closer shot.

10 of them sitting in a tree as I filled up with petrol on Saturday !!

[Nina P]

OK Pete, where was that then, still over the east of GB then? London area or even further away?

[pduxon]

OK Pete, where was that then, still over the east of GB then? London area or even further away?

They were sitting in a a tree by Tesco car park in Harlow. They were reported in the BF rare bird alert so as I needed petrol..........

Ooh my first "Twitch"

[Nina P]

Sorry I'm unable to "Twitch!" I can barely travel more than 1 hour any direction, so again too far awway!! Oh Bother! Tell me when they get within reach and I'll maybe get a look in! That is my biggest downside, less than an hour is my best chance of seeing them!
Tell you what, take a picture for me then! "Twitcher Pete!" LOL!

[Surreybirder]

It's funny how waxwings like Tesco's! The (in)famous golden-winged warbler twitch was at a Tesco and, according to a friend who twitched it, there were waxwings there, too. Obviously Tesco have a good planting policy!

[Nina P]

Ken, have you decided not to show any of the wild flowers you have around your patch this time? or are they not doing very much just yet? last year you really got me working on them now nothing? I have the wild arum lillies showing strong growth at present but I have heard there are plenty of wild violets about in the Surry area, is this true?

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Nina!
I haven't actually noticed many wildflowers yet, apart from some really common ones. This area is more manicured than my previous patch but I'm sure I'll start seeing flowers before long.
I'll certainly post some challenges for you when I've found them!
Meanwhile, the moth trapping is proving absorbing. I'm getting new species nearly every time I run the UV light trap.... first early thorn last night and several I've not yet got IDed.
Ken

[Bluetail]

It's funny how waxwings like Tesco's! The (in)famous golden-winged warbler twitch was at a Tesco and, according to a friend who twitched it, there were waxwings there, too. Obviously Tesco have a good planting policy!Only one, but it was most obliging. Had to back off in order to focus my Leitz bins on it.

Jason

[Surreybirder]

We seem to be in that quiet period that always comes just before migration really gets going. The only summer visitors I've seen so far have been chiffchaffs. I visited Hedgecourt Lake on Wed., hoping for some sand martins or other migrants but saw none. However, two female goosanders were a nice surprise (and a patch tick).
Butterflies were beginning to emerge. I saw small tortoiseshell, a white, brimstone, comma and peacock.
My moth trap is providing plenty of interest. In my garden so far this year I've identified:
The Satellite
Oak Beauty
Common quaker
Small quaker
Hebrew character
Early grey
Clouded drab
Brindled pug
Engrailed
Red chestnut
March moth
Twin-spotted quaker
Diurnea fagella

[Surreybirder]

There are lots of wild flowers coming out in the Surrey Wildlife Reserve at Hedgecourt Lake now. I've photoed some. I think one may be water forget-me-not, and one is a form of Rununculus, and possibly a sort of violet? And maybe a dwarf Euphorbia. Any ID help would be appreciated. (I'll have to do this as two posts 'cos you are limited to five per go.)

[Surreybirder]

And the others (I think two may be the same species).

[Adey Baker]

Lesser Celandine
-
Wood Anemone
Cuckoo Flower (Lady's Smock)
Ditto
-
Periwinkle?

[Surreybirder]

I'm still struggling with wildflowers. More photos taken today (14.4.04)
At least I'm sure that the last one is a primrose, even though the yellow colour has been a bit knocked out in this shot. I think the fourth is a dead nettle as the stem was square.

[Nina P]

Dear Ken,
Just to give you the benefit of my botanical education, I am about to name post 81 group as:-
1/ Background plant, Arrowhead Sagattaria Sagitifolia
2/Marsh Speedwell Veronica Scutellata
3/Alternate-leaved Saxifrage Chrysosplenium Alternatifolium
4/Lesser Perriwinkle Vinca Minor

From the post 83 the answers are:-
1/Wood Anemone Anemone Nemerosa
2/Greater Stitchwort Stellata Holostea
3/Barren Strawberry Potentilla Sterilis
4/Red Deadnettle Lamium Purpureum
5/ Wild Primrose Primula Vulgaris

Hope that gives you what you seek, but I may have missed the previous postings in the previous page, where I am about to look right now! Thanks for the fun Ken I generally know the common name but the challenge is in the latin!

[Nina P]

Sorry missed the main plant in the picture 1 of post 81
the commonly known ladies smock or cuckoo flower, latin name Cardamine Praetensia

[Nina P]

Hi Ken found the others on the previous page, and here are the answers for your post 80.
1/Lesser Celandine Ranunculus Ficaria
2/ Marsh Marigold Caltha Palustris
3/ White Cinquefoil Potentilla Alba.
Just to get me going eh? great fun Ken and thanks! I'll get up to speed soon, just sorry to have been absent earlier!

[Surreybirder]

Many thanks, Nina!!
I'll slowly learn them. I should have some more soon. You have been warned!
Best wishes,
Ken

[Surreybirder]

My moth trap was almost empty last night... just one Hebrew character but there was a strange (to me) bug near the trap. It was about 1" long. Sorry it's a poor photo but I wonder if anyone can recognise it?

[Nina P]

Not really my forte Ken but it does look like a kind of lacewing, and they do fly at night, I believe this would be an elder as the more mature the darker they become, when young they are green but brown with maturity, ( bit like us old crotchetty beings!) LOL. not meant to insult, just to admit to the age thing!

[Surreybirder]

The Surrey lacewing recorder says it's a parasitic wasp.
There were quite a few new migrants today. I visited Hedgecourt Lake between the rainy spells and saw my first house martins (c20), first swift, sand martin and common tern. There were also about 10 swallows, three blackcaps and the odd chiffchaff. Summer is definitely on its way.

[Nina P]

Oh well done Ken, I may have sent you out to one expert to get the recognition but well at least I hope I have helped even if on a backhanded fashion. I think you may be right on Adey's ditto, after having another look, but it is quite a way behind the other one. It may have been better if you got the lower foliage but never mind, at least I regard it as some fun trying to answerw questions.

[Surreybirder]

My patchlist for the year is now up to 84 with a fine male garganey on Hedgecourt Lake Surrey Wildlife Trust reserve this morning and also the first reed warbler I've seen. Swallows and house martins are becoming more regular sights now. Lots of blackcaps but I've still not seen a whitethroat or less whitethroat.
I also had a garden moth tick last night with what I'm pretty confident is a purple thorn--since verified by CJW, who also renamed my 'oak beauty' as a brindled beauty, another lifer!

[Nina P]

Super Ken,
Have you heard the cuckoo yet? I had one calling like crazy last tuesday, but not heard it since. I had a very special morning yesterday with two Goldfinches on the sunflower hearts, not interested in the nijer seed, but the hearts went down very well thank you! Just passed nine years in this house and that's the reward! Ya Hay! I liked that!
You really are getting into the moths this year, now putting me to shame! Still good luck to you.

[pduxon]

My patchlist for the year is now up to 84 with a fine male garganey on Hedgecourt Lake Surrey Wildlife Trust reserve this morning and also the first reed warbler I've seen. Swallows and house martins are becoming more regular sights now. Lots of blackcaps but I've still not seen a whitethroat or less whitethroat.
I also had a garden moth tick last night with what I'm pretty confident is a purple thorn--since verified by CJW, who also renamed my 'oak beauty' as a brindled beauty, another lifer!

Never seen a Lesser Whitethroat. It was getting irritating on Sunday all these Whitethroats perching and singing there hearts out - and me thinking come on just one Lesser please. The Reed Warbler made me work very hard for a glimpse - satifying though when I found him.

[Surreybirder]

I managed to get most of today off work, so I walked round Hedgecourt Lake. I thought I was going to come away with no new birds but then a hobby flew out of a tree ahead of me. It flushed again a bit further on. My guess is that it was a tired migrant that is frustrated by the cold weather and the lack of dragonflies/hirundines round here at the moment. Other birds seen included: marsh tit, garden warbler, blackcap. There was also a nice red campion in bloom.
I then went to a small common called Blindley Heath and, at about midday, heard a nightingale. As I followed up the sound, I eventually spotted it in a fairly straggly bush. I couldn't see much colour on it in the shade and it looked remarkably like a plump garden warbler (of which there was also at least one present). Apart from a couple of willow warblers and two singing reed buntings I didn't see much else there. But my patch list is now up to 87 for the year.
(There was a green-veined white and and orange-tip butterfly.)

[Surreybirder]

Never seen a Lesser Whitethroat. It was getting irritating on Sunday all these Whitethroats perching and singing there hearts out - and me thinking come on just one Lesser please. The Reed Warbler made me work very hard for a glimpse - satifying though when I found him.
Lesser whitethroats, around my area at any rate, seem to like really thick straggly hedges, often with the odd tree in them. Although I have seen them in the same bush as a whitethroat. Listen for that monotonous 'rattle' that they end their song with. The alarm note is not disimilar to whitethroat. I once saw a warbler that seemed to be a hybrid, alternating whitethroat song with a rather jazzy version of lesser whitethroat!

[Nina P]

Ken,
Can you say that if you caught a mere glimpse of the Hobby, would it look like a brown large swallow? I was driving through the village earlier when this bird, looking like that description, swooped low over the car as I was driving, but it was so fast I can only describe the impression I got to you.
The swallows have been here since the 14th April, and I heard the cuckoo the following week, but our housemartins arrived only on Saturday, late in the evening, and looked at the old nest site early sunday morning, I got Hubby to put up the nest boxes during the day and by the evening they were safely ensconced in the nearest box to the pipe, closest to the old nest.I was rather impressed at that.

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Nina.
Lucky you, having house martins nesting. We used to have them at our old house and loved watching the various broods maturing.
I wouldn't like to say whether or not you saw a hobby. To me they look like a rather dapper kestrel with a shorter tail and a generally more energetic style. The one I saw looked dark grey from behind (i.e. its upperparts). And of course the white cheeks are quite distinctive if you see them. Sometimes you hear house martins giving a sharp warning call, and I've heard it just before seeing a hobby.
Here's a flower that I'm sure you know--I think it's red campion but it was in a position where I couldn't get much of a pic.
Ken

[Nina P]

Definately Ken!
How's the pond getting on? If you can get some Ragged Robin planted around the overflow area that really looks stunning and it is clump forming, so each year it geets bigger, but is never invasive, just so very dainty and pretty.
The bird I saw was only from underneath, so the brownish showing was so quick and the flight was swift, smaller than the Kestrel, but a little bigger than the Swift! I just wish I hadn't been driving over the brow of a hill at the time!

[Surreybirder]

You wouldn't believe how many 'nearly' birds I see, Nina!
The pond is going great. We've planted quite a few primulas, rushes, sedges, arum lily, water lily, water forget-me-not etc. We'll have to see what flourishes. I want to try hemp-agrimony (for insects) but I'm waiting till the woman at the garden centre has got some to germinate!
I've now found the photo I meant to upload originally. I looks like red campion but the leaves are different.
Ken

[Nina P]

The cranesbill you are showing is one I have been pulling out as fast as I can as it is everywhere, abd your pink campion is the waterside version, sometimes calle pink bladder campion, but still from the same initial genus! I would have forgiven you the fact it does seem slightly different, but you were right. Do give yourself a pat on the back!
The Cranesbill or in some books storkbill, is a member of the geranium family, so as there are so many subspecies lets not be pedantic and accept like the campions so the geranium family have too many to put into a pocket sized book!

[Surreybirder]

I've been neglecting this thread (but have been busy on the moths).
The trouble is I'm finding almost too many things. Sooner or later I'll post some lists!
Recent highlights were first grey wagtail in the garden; emperor dragonfly (empress?) laying eggs in our garden pond; lots of white-legged damselflies in the area; elephant hawkmoth in the garden.
Today I came across an unfamiliar flower. It must be quite common as there was lots of it, near a fishing pool. Anyone know what it is? (Nina?)

[Mike D]

From the pic I thought it might be one of the Vetches, but can't find it in my books.

I've got some moth pics which I'll check and post later if they are suitable. Again, beyound my books!

[Surreybirder]

From the pic I thought it might be one of the Vetches, but can't find it in my books.

I've got some moth pics which I'll check and post later if they are suitable. Again, beyound my books!

It was a tall plant, Mike. Almost foxglove height.
Look forward to the moth pix!
Ken

[Nina P]

Ken, can you show me what the inside of the flower is like and the true leaf shape, as it could be one of several species but until I can do the process of elimination can't give a proper ID, so far it is one of three possibles, a marsh form of eye bright, hence need to see inside of flower, or bog rattle, or asphodel? so more info would be very helpful!

[Nina P]

I think I have finally cracked it, I looked in on a website that I had listed in my favourites and found what I believe is the right name, see if you agree:-
www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/M-Flowers/Melilot%20White.htm (http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/M-Flowers/Melilot%20White.htm)
This has been very entertaining trying to work out what was here, Thank you Ken for the mental workout!

[Surreybirder]

I looked at the site, Nina. It looks like a purple version of ribbed melilot to me. It's apparently an introduced species that has gone wild. (Food plant of clouded yellow butterfly, apparently.)

[Nina P]

I just heard from J. somerville at that site and he thinks it is Goats Rue, so take your pick, can he have the use of your picture for his site? how's that for interest?

[Nina P]

Well done Ken,
Nice to see you get the credit for the picture too! I saw my friend today and she confirmed it for me! I had no pictures of it anywhere, so I couldn't have given you any better than I did, so good on you, hope you like the accreditation, you certainly deserve it!:clap:

[Surreybirder]

One mystery solved!

[Surreybirder]

I've lost a lot of posts from this thread but just to report that the cold weather has brought a few good birds in by local standards. In the last few days I've had
goldeneye
wigeon
goosander
and perhaps best of all, I flushed a woodcock from next to a footpath today. It was in a scrubby area of a small wood.
Ken

[Nina P]

Did the Woodcock startle you as much as my local pheasant does to me when I go out and refill the feeders? I have come rather close to having a heart attack recently with this crazy bird, take off shrieking, it must expect me to go out and put the food out for him and all the other birds, so why set up with such an unholy din?
I have noticed that many threads have lost loads of replies too, I had heard that there was a server problem last week somtime, probably just after I had answered some posts then, as I don't seem to have been on since about Christmas by most of the threads!

[Surreybirder]

Did the Woodcock startle you as much as my local pheasant does to me when I go out and refill the feeders? I have come rather close to having a heart attack recently with this crazy bird, take off shrieking, it must expect me to go out and put the food out for him and all the other birds, so why set up with such an unholy din?
I have noticed that many threads have lost loads of replies too, I had heard that there was a server problem last week somtime, probably just after I had answered some posts then, as I don't seem to have been on since about Christmas by most of the threads!
Hi, Nina, nice to hear from you again!
I wasn't particularly startled, Nina. It didn't make much noise... just took off. At first glance I thought it might be a pheasant as it was quite plump. But then I saw the long bill, the sharp-pointed wings, angled back and an impression of orange at the rear. It was gone in a few seconds.
I think it's only about my 4th ever sighting in daylight.
On the question of the 'lost posts', the server crashed and the back-up for the site went up at the same time (as it was too close). So the last saved version of the site was sometime in December. About two months of postings were lost; and quite a few new members became ex-members! Some good threads were lost but no one died (AFAIK)!
I'm still missing some 'obvious' birds on my patch for this year: siskin, redpoll, water rail, great black backed gull (although I'm pretty sure some have flown over). The biggest change since last year it the increasing no. of buzzard sightings. I saw three together the other day whereas it was well into the year before I saw one in 2004. Buzzard is probably my most frequent raptor sighting this year. I know that wouldn't be remarkable in Dorset but I lived in Surrey for quite a few years before I saw even one.
ATB
Ken

[Nina P]

I totally agree as the buzzard is now the most common sight here to, in fact the Kestrel seems to be more scarce nowadays. I have noticed there seems to be fewer birds here lately, not so many nuthatches, but the starlings and sparrows are well on the increase.
My last meeting with the Woodcock was several years ago when I was living in a smaller village a little further north and I often saw them as I was on my way to work, but as I no longer go that way at the same time I don't know if they are still there.
Have you noticed an increase in Lapwings lately? I have seen several in places where I used to only see about four there are now flocks appearing, much to my delight, as I have sorely missed them for so many years, now they are starting to increase, horay!
Nice to hear from you again, keep the Surry sector birding, and I'll try and do the same for Dorset!

[Surreybirder]

I lost a lot of records during the Great Crash. So I'm attaching my garden moth list for 2004 as a separate file this time, just for the record.
Ken

[Surreybirder]

The set-aside at Hedgecourt Lake (immediately north of the lake) is continuing to provide interest. There were about 25 lesser redpolls and a few linnets plus a reed bunting there this a.m.
We're occasionally getting a redpoll and a few siskins in our garden but mostly goldfinches. The redpoll and goldfinches quite often land in our wildflower 'meadow' (it's a bit small to call it a meadow--about 6 x 2 metres!). The goldfinches seem to like the evening primrose in particular. I'm not sure exactly what the redpoll is eating.
Has anyone noticed a decrease in bullfinches on their patch? I've had very few 'contacts' since the summer. There was a female in our neighbour's guelder rose this a.m. but they seem to be thin on the ground.
The tawny owls are very vocal at the moment but I've still not managed to record one whilst doing the BTO 20 mins per week.
Ken

[Nina P]

I haven't seen our regular Bullfinch at any time this year, only seen them in my friends garden when I have been there, but even she reckons there are not so many sightings either. I had wondered where they were going, but put it down to just not looking at the right times! Now I wonder?
The Tawny Owls here are right noisy most of the night, I have them constantly hooting nearly all night, but they are finally beginning to hoot the proper tawny toowhit toowhoo, after the late summer early autumn Kweek kwoo strangled hoot calling.
I haven't seen the siskins yet, but when the weather turns and comes from the east is when I can expect to see them, along with the fieldfares and Redwings, I must confess to smelling snow today over the Shaftesbury high points, but then I shoud be expecting that to be in the offing at this time of year!

[Surreybirder]

As so often happens, since posting the above I've seen several bullfinches, including c5 yesterday!

I have seen 96 species so far this year on my 5 x 5 km patch. My target is 100 which is, in theory, still do-able as I'm missing a few obvious ones (water rail; great black backed gull; red-legged partridge; lesser spotted woodpecker for example) but I'll need a bit of luck!

In case it's of interest, so far this year I've seen (or, in the case of tawny owl, heard):
1. Great crested grebe
2. Little Grebe
3. Cormorant
4. Little egret
5. Grey heron
6. Mute swan
7. Canada goose
8. Greylag
9. Mallard
10. Gadwall
11. Pochard
12. Tufted duck
13. Wigeon
14. Teal
15. Shoveler
16. Goldeneye
17. Mandarin
18. Goosander
19. Buzzard
20. Sparrowhawk
21. Hobby
22. Kestrel
23. Moorhen
24. Coot
25. Black-headed gull
26. Lesser black-backed gull
27. Common gull
28. Herring gull
29. Common tern
30. Lapwing
31. Common sandpiper
32. Woodcock
33. Snipe
34. Pheasant
35. Woodpigeon
36. Feral pigeon (rock dove)
37. Collared Dove
38. Stock dove
39. Kingfisher
40. Tawny owl
41. Little owl
42. Cuckoo
43. Swift
44. Great spotted woodpecker
45. Green woodpecker
46. Pied wagtail
47. Grey wagtail
48. Meadow pipit
49. Skylark
50. House martin
51. Sand martin
52. Swallow
53. Wren
54. Dunnock
55. Robin
56. Stonechat
57. Whinchat
58. Nightingale
59. Blackbird
60. Fieldfare
61. Redwing
62. Mistle thrush
63. Reed warbler
64. Chiffchaff
65. Willow warbler
66. Blackcap
67. Garden warbler
68. Whitethroat
69. Lesser whitethroat
70. Goldcrest
71. Spotted flycatcher
72. Pied flycatcher
73. Long-tailed tit
74. Coal tit
75. Blue tit
76. Great tit
77. Marsh tit
78. Nuthatch
79. Treecreeper
80. Jay
81. Magpie
82. Jackdaw
83. Rook
84. Carrion crow
85. Starling
86. House sparrow
87. Chaffinch
88. Brambling
89. Greenfinch
90. Goldfinch
91. Siskin
92. Linnet
93. Lesser redpoll
94. Bullfinch
95. Yellowhammer
96. Reed bunting

[Surreybirder]

I've been seeing other birders on my patch lately (pretty unusual). This is due in part to an article in "Birdwatching" magazine (Feb 2006) covering Wire Mill and Hedgecourt Lakes. Fame at last!
The article isn't bad, although it does give the impression that you just have to turn up, point your scope in the right direction and watch the bittern.
My patch list for the year so far is below (I'm also keeping garden lists). The best bird so far is a tawny owl which I've seen three times in daylight. Now that I know its roost site I hope to see it more regularly! Ken

1. Great crested grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Grey heron (Garden)
4. Mute swan
5. Canada goose (Garden)
6. Mandarin
7. Shoveller
8. Gadwall
9. Mallard
10. Pochard
11. Buzzard
12. Sparrowhawk
13. Kestrel (Garden)
14. Pheasant (Garden)
15. Moorhen (Garden)
16. Coot
17. Black-headed gull (Garden)
18. Common gull
19. Herring gull (Garden)
20. Snipe
21. Stock dove
22. Woodpigeon (in Garden)
23. Feral pigeon (rock dove) (Garden)
24. Collared Dove (in Garden)
25. Tawny Owl (Garden)
26. Kingfisher
27. Great spotted woodpecker (in Garden)
28. Green woodpecker
29. Skylark
30. Meadow pipit
31. Pied wagtail (in Garden)
32. Grey wagtail (in Garden)
33. Wren (in Garden)
34. Dunnock (in Garden)
35. Robin (in Garden)
36. Blackbird (in Garden)
37. Fieldfare (Garden)
38. Song thrush (in Garden)
39. Redwing (in Garden)
40. Mistle thrush (in Garden)
41. Goldcrest
42. Long-tailed tit
43. Coal tit (in Garden)
44. Blue tit (in Garden)
45. Great tit (in Garden)
46. Marsh tit
47. Nuthatch
48. Treecreeper
49. Jay (in Garden)
50. Magpie (Garden)
51. Jackdaw (in Garden)
52. Rook
53. Carrion crow (Garden)
54. Starling (in Garden)
55. House sparrow (in Garden)
56. Chaffinch (in Garden)
57. Greenfinch (in Garden)
58. Goldfinch (in Garden)
59. Linnet
60. Siskin (in Garden)
61. Lesser redpoll
62. Bullfinch (Garden)
63. Reed bunting

[Surreybirder]

I had an email from Surreybirders yahoo group reporting a bittern at Hedgecourt Lake this morning, so I went there at about 3.30 pm and peered through the pouring rain at the reed beds at the far end of the lake (i.e. the west end). I could just about make out a grey heron through my rather ancient 25x scope but I wasn't very optimistic of finding a bittern. After a few minutes I decided I might as well scan the nearer clumps of reeds. And almost at once I spotted a 'shape' that wasn't reed perched on a reed that was sloping at about 45 degs. It was only about 250 yards away, in full view, but it was hard to make out much detail. I'm certain it was a bittern but whether my description will convince the Surrey rarities committee remains to be seen. It was preening, facing towards me but occasionally it turned its head sideways to show its head prfile. It wasn't an American bittern because the top of its head was black. The bold black malar stripes were visible. It was still present in the same position when I left at 4.10 pm.
There was also a tufted duck, bringing me up to 65 sp. for my patch in 2006.
Not a bad day!
Ken
(Perhaps I under-rated the article in "Birdwatching"!)

[florall]

Ken, it was me who went and saw the bittern yesterday morning (I posted my experience to the Surrey birders Yahoo list). I'm interested to see that you have redpoll on your patch. This is one of those common birds that I have always struggled to see - I've often been over to a particular site on Ashdown Forest where they are supposed to be guaranteed but not been successful. Whereabouts on your patch can they be seen? Any tips for viewing them? I did see some alders just beyond the car parking space yesterday, and I did scan them, but there were no birds about.

[florall]

Ignore my earlier post, Ken. Reading your thread, I see that the redpolls are in set aside north of Hedgecourt Lake. I'll give it a go fairly soon, and I'll let you know if I'm successful.

[Ruby]

Hi Guys,

I paid one of my not-very-regular visits to Hedgecourt yesterday - had a very nice walk around between about 3:00pm and 5:00....

Managed to see quite a few Redpoll just by the set-aside and managed to get some photographs (the subject of an id query, in point of fact) it was very good that the birds came nice and close, just a shame that the light was so gloomy.

Had a last look around in the twilight and found the Bittern quite close - took a few pics, more in hope than expectation, and managed to get one that is just about recognisable as a bird.....


All the best.... Ruby

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Ruby and 'Florall'
I'm glad a few people are seeing the bittern. I hope you are all sending notes to the county recorder ;)
The lesser redpolls are often hidden in the set-aside crop. I find that the best ploy (if they are not obvious) is to walk alongside the set-aside on the side away from the lake--i.e. the north side. Watch out for reed bunting, too, and I've had a brambling in there plus linnets.
Ken