Hants, Berks and Surrey Borders (1 Viewer)

[RJSeargent]

Rich,

I tried to google Unstead, where abouts is it near Godalming?

Edit: Is it Unstead lane?

Thanks,

Bren

Bren,

Head to Godalming through Puttenham and Compton. At the main roundabout after Compton turn right and then the next left (Trunley Heath Road) Follow this road over two bridges (one with traffic lights) and follow the road as it naturally turns left. The Sewage farm entrance is on the right. Park by the main gate and then walk back on yourself towards the entrance. Before you hit the entrance there is a gate on your right. Walk through the small gate and follow the path down to the hide. At the gate there is a nature reserve sign but this is on the floor and easy to miss. Good luck. Local birders have rather helpfully kept the hide open but expect it to be locked by 1900hrs daily.

 

[bren-escape]

Bren,

Head to Godalming through Puttenham and Compton. At the main roundabout after Compton turn right and then the next left (Trunley Heath Road) Follow this road over two bridges (one with traffic lights) and follow the road as it naturally turns left. The Sewage farm entrance is on the right. Park by the main gate and then walk back on yourself towards the entrance. Before you hit the entrance there is a gate on your right. Walk through the small gate and follow the path down to the hide. At the gate there is a nature reserve sign but this is on the floor and easy to miss. Good luck. Local birders have rather helpfully kept the hide open but expect it to be locked by 1900hrs daily.

Thanks, an extended lunch break maybe called for:t:

 

[bren-escape]

Thanks Rich, a well spent lunch time. Arrived to be told people had waited 3 hrs and saw it 5 minutes ago in a break between the rain. When it started to rain again everyone left except me. 15 minutes later it came out and wandered all the way along the far bankB

 

[bren-escape]

A record shot from yesterday, fair bit of cropping:


spotted crake by Dirtywater2009, on Flickr

 

[RJSeargent]

Thanks Rich, a well spent lunch time. Arrived to be told people had waited 3 hrs and saw it 5 minutes ago in a break between the rain. When it started to rain again everyone left except me. 15 minutes later it came out and wandered all the way along the far bankB

Bren,

glad you connected with it. I'll be there again tomorrow I suspect should the weather not bring anything down at Tice's.

Rich

 

[JohnnyH]

Tices early morning - Green Sandpiper, 6 Lapwing, 7 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, Great Black Backed Gull, Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff.

John.

 

[RJSeargent]

Tices early morning - Green Sandpiper, 6 Lapwing, 7 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, Great Black Backed Gull, Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff.

John.

Also joined by a drake Wigeon, 6 Teal, 1 Buzzard and hirundines strangely heading north.

 

[RJSeargent]

Tice's this morning again produced the usual suspects with the addition of 4 Dunlin (which didn't land) and an overflying Yellow Wagtail. 47 species in 2 days but missing that 'something special'.

Surrey Year 152 (latest Spotted Crake)
British Life 317 (latest White-tailed Plover)
World Life 1155 (latest Red-headed Bunting)

 

[JohnnyH]

Add to that a briefly seen 1w / Female Wheatear on the workings & first of the returning winter Stonechats.

John.

 

[RJSeargent]

Juv Pectoral Sandpiper at Tice's Meadow this evening for 10 minutes at 1730ish. Bird seen with Rich Horton. Bonus!!!

Surrey Year 152 (latest Spotted Crake)
British Life 317 (latest White-tailed Plover)
World Life 1155 (latest Red-headed Bunting)

 

[JohnnyH]

Nice one Rich, looks like you found that something special eh!

Cheers,

John.:t:

 

[RJSeargent]

Add to that a briefly seen 1w / Female Wheatear on the workings & first of the returning winter Stonechats.

John.

Lets see if the Mandarins at the Surrey Bird Club accept the Pectoral Sandpiper! Rich and I are both confident of the identification and it will remain on my list.

 

[JohnnyH]

8 Ruff on the workings at Tices today found by Richard Horton & twitched by yours truely at lunchtime!

John.

 

[RJSeargent]

Lets see if the Mandarins at the Surrey Bird Club accept the Pectoral Sandpiper! Rich and I are both confident of the identification and it will remain on my list.

Someone else saw the Pec Sand up to 1905hrs last night according to birdguides. Any takers?

 

[RJSeargent]

8 Ruff on the workings at Tices today found by Richard Horton & twitched by yours truely at lunchtime!

John.

Only one there by the time I got to Tice's. Surrey Tick though.o

Surrey Year 153 (Latest Ruff)
Tice's Life 113 (Latest Ruff)
British Life 317 (latest White-tailed Plover)
World Life 1156(latest Red-headed Bunting)

 

[bbsbirder]

The single Ruff remained at Tice's Meadow along with 2 Dunlin that flew in at 4pm until dusk at least.
A record was broken today with 26 Gadwall in the workings beating the previous record of just 9.
Also today 11 other birders seen during the day the second highest total after the Crag Martin twitch.

Kevin

 

[RJSeargent]

The single Ruff remained at Tice's Meadow along with 2 Dunlin that flew in at 4pm until dusk at least.
A record was broken today with 26 Gadwall in the workings beating the previous record of just 9.
Also today 11 other birders seen during the day the second highest total after the Crag Martin twitch.

Kevin

Good news although one Surrey committee member is adamant that the Pec Sand he saw was a Ruff; this was despite him publishing on BirdGuides that a Pec Sand was showing well. I stand by my sighting!

Surrey Year 153 (Latest Ruff)
Tice's Life 113 (Latest Ruff)
British Life 317 (latest White-tailed Plover)
World Life 1156 (latest Red-headed Bunting)

 

[JohnnyH]

Still 1 juv Ruff present at Tices this evening along with 3 Dunlin.

John.

 

[bbsbirder]

Today at a very wet Tices Meadow! Amongst the feeding House Martins and Swallows was a late Sand Martin. Another late migrant, a Wheatear was seen a few times during the day along the western edge of the workings.

Kevin.

 

[JohnnyH]

This morning at a very foggy Tices, 35 Lapwing, Snipe, 9 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 13 Teal & Skylark.

John.