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Surrey Birding (2 Viewers)

I went looking for the crest on three occaisons over the period 29/30. Big thanks to David for taking the time out to help me. The birds showed best on the morning over the 29th, but it was too dark for good pictures although the views were outstanding. After the initial 5 minutes of great views the bird never responded to the calls on subsequent visits although with perseverence it could be found easiest in the slightly cleared area presumably because this is the narrowest section in the strip for birds feeding in a circuit.

Thanks for the help, especially Devil Birder!
 
Great Grey Shrike today on Ash Ranges approx 200m up track from Bridge Hill entrance SU913543. I believe the flags are down until the 11th
 
The Shrike was showing well at Ash Ranges this morning in the same area as yesterday. Also at least 3 Dartfords & a male Stonechat.

John.
 
Waxwings in Caterham?

Heard a rumour from another birder at Bough Beech today that a small flock of waxwings were in a residential garden in Caterham just yesterday. Anyone heard this too or able to verify?

Thanks,

David
 
David S. said:
Heard a rumour from another birder at Bough Beech today that a small flock of waxwings were in a residential garden in Caterham just yesterday. Anyone heard this too or able to verify?

Thanks,

David
Click to expand...

I connected with what I suspect could have been these same birds in Warlingham this morning. Magical birds and lifers for me. An experience I'll never forget.

David
 
Would it be possible to link Multimap or similar pages as to where these places are... The Ash Ranges amd Bough beech are double dutch to me..

Thanks

Stu
 
I did a casual walk through four tetrads in Mercer's Country Park (also known as Holmethorpe sandpits and/or Spyne's Mere) today. TQ25V, W, TQ35A, B.
It was pretty productive - a lot more so than my 'local patch'. I added 11 species to my year list (I haven't been out of Surrey so far in 2009).
Highlights included: little egret, rose-ringed parakeet, shelduck, barn owl, little owl, greylag geese, goldeneye, gadwall, teal, ruddy duck (well I like them!), pochard, little grebe, skylark... I didn't count the total no. of species but it was probably c50 - with the emphasis on non-passerines.
The best bird for me was the barn owl as I've only ever seen one in Surrey before. I was actually looking for a little owl as some years ago I saw (on more than one occasion) a little owl roosting in a crack in an oak tree. I pointed my bins in the right direction and was really surprised to see a barn owl in exactly the same place. I was almost as surprised when, having phoned my wife to share this news, I then saw a little owl in the same tree!
A very satisfying morning in calm, sunny weather (at least 5deg C)!
Back home my wife spotted a circling sparrowhawk - another year tick!
Ken
 
Mal92 said:
Hi
I've recently posted the Surrey Checklist on my free, non-commercial website www.printablebirdchecklists.homestead.com

If anyone would like to take a look and let me know if there are any omissions, discrepancies or errors, I would be most grateful.

Regards

Mal
Click to expand...

Hi Mal,

a fantastic job but you've included birds from Middlesex (Spelthorne). The area covered by the Surrey Bird Club is the Watsonian Vice County. Details here:

http://www.diporglory.co.uk/page7.html

And here:

http://www.sbclub.ukonline.co.uk/index.html

Boundaries of counties change, and much of Surrey is now actually Greater London, but the Vice Counties remain constant. Vice Counties were created for, and are essential to, continuity in recording flora and fauna.

Keep up the good work.

Kind regards

Johnny Allan
__________________
www.diporglory.co.uk

ps what source are you using ?
 
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Bonaparte's Gull, Jan 29th 1983 and Desert Wheatear, Apr 13th and 14th 1989, both from Barn Elms Res (now the Wetlands Centre), the DW was well twitched but the gull was a seen by a single observer

Nick
 
4 Black Necked Grebes showing well on the South Basin at Staines this morning & Bittern giving amazing views from the Peacock Tower at Barnes this afternoon.

John.
 
I go away for a few days and something good turns up on my doorstep. I did see the Knaphill Waxwings this morning at about 8:00 but they flew off literally as I was getting out of the car, so no photos. If anyone wants to have a look for them, take Sparvell Road off the A322 just north of the Sainsbury's/Homebase junction, go right to the end and they were in the big tree directly in front of you. The grid reference from Sunday puts them a bit further down the footpath so they must move around a bit.
 
No posts on here for a while so to get things going again, went for the White Winged Tern at Staines this evening. What a stunning bird! showing down to 30ft ish on the North Basin, feeding enthusiastically & getting bullied occasionally by the Black headed Gulls. Cracking tick for me!

John.

PS just realised this is my 500th post, yay me!
 
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I went also, Wed eve. Great to compare it with the dozen or so black terns there (Both species lifers for me). The biggest rarity for me at Staines to spot would be the sun however; no matter what time of year, it's always gloomy and cold when I go!

Worth it for these birds though...

Kev
 
I went for the Tern on monday, to the anger of my parents when they found out I'd been sneaking off to Staines on my own. Stunning bird. Nice London tick although it's not in Surrey.
 
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