Tice's Meadow and Tongham GP, Surrey (1 Viewer)

[RJSeargent]

High light of to day was 2 Wheatear late evening with Reed Warbler am .Meeting at the Kiln 10am to lunch HMS Tices tern raft.

Good luck with HMS Tice's and great to finally connect with some patch Wheatears last night; we've been expecting them.

 

[JonJordan]

First visit down for a while 6.30 -7.45 this morning, fairly quiet from the mound. No sign of yesterdays Wheatears but approx 20 Sand Martins with a single Swallow. Ducks mainly represented by Tufted and Mallard with a single Pochard, Gadwall and pair of Wigeon plus the Shelduck. A pair of Mallard had a brood of 11, hopefully they will keep a good percentage. Trip finished of with a nice male Blackcap on the way back through the woods.

Jon

 

[RJSeargent]

First visit down for a while 6.30 -7.45 this morning, fairly quiet from the mound. No sign of yesterdays Wheatears but approx 20 Sand Martins with a single Swallow. Ducks mainly represented by Tufted and Mallard with a single Pochard, Gadwall and pair of Wigeon plus the Shelduck. A pair of Mallard had a brood of 11, hopefully they will keep a good percentage. Trip finished of with a nice male Blackcap on the way back through the woods.

Jon

Jon,

bugger! I was hoping for a Whitethroat this afternoon. The Wheatears were in the ploughed strip left of the mound and adjacent to the newly re-routed River Blackwater.

 

[RTHORTON]

Tern Raft in place this morning with the great help for volunteers and Tony BWVP . This evening 5 BH Gull on it, result. Of not today 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 GBB Gull over, Shell Duck still here to. Tuesdays Volunteers hope to clear lower ditch boots will be needed 10am . Meeting bottom end of Tice s housing estate Whitchurch Close. Come and get involved

 

[RJSeargent]

Tern Raft in place this morning with the great help for volunteers and Tony BWVP . This evening 5 BH Gull on it, result. Of not today 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 GBB Gull over, Shell Duck still here to. Tuesdays Volunteers hope to clear lower ditch boots will be needed 10am . Meeting bottom end of Tice s housing estate Whitchurch Close. Come and get involved

The ditch now well and truly clear with a biblical torrent leaving the pipe and ending up in the Blackwater. Levels will now surely drop. Big round of applause to Rich H and the BVCT volunteers.:t:

 

[bbsbirder]

The ditch now well and truly clear with a biblical torrent leaving the pipe and ending up in the Blackwater. Levels will now surely drop. Big round of applause to Rich H and the BVCT volunteers.:t:

After a very rough estimate, means it could reduce the water level by 1cm every 10 hours or 50cm in 20 days. Any decrease in the water level would mean that a muddy margin would appear.

Kevin

 

[mattytheduke]

Nice little write-up of the ditch clearance on the BWVCP blog, including this rather smashing photo of Mr Horton: http://blackwatervalleycountryside....tices-wood-at-farnham-quarry/#jp-carousel-578

Matt

 

[RJSeargent]

Two adult Little Gulls through last night (16 Apr 14). Remained for a couple of hours before flying NE. Thanks to Dave B for letting me know. The Tern Raft appears to be occupied by 2 Common Terns which were defending it from visits by a pair of Black-headed Gulls which were the original tennants. Good news.

Dave B had 2 Whitethroats along the hedgerow; I found 1 singing male and it is pleasing to see that they are back. Sedge Warbler next surely?

Couldn't see the Chinese Goose yesterday - suspect it was scared away by the tree planters; hopefully it has gone to stop people ticking it, and the resident Aylesbury Duck.

 

[RJSeargent]

After a very rough estimate, means it could reduce the water level by 1cm every 10 hours or 50cm in 20 days. Any decrease in the water level would mean that a muddy margin would appear.

Kevin

Appears to be reducing already and the flow has not abated. Mud, mud, glorious mud and a few waders please; hopefully ready for the Tice's 24.

 

[RJSeargent]

Timely reminder.

#Tices24 bird survey again this weekend. RV at 1000hrs on Saturday 26th April finishing at 1000hrs on Sunday.

Camping out for the die hards (lighweights can come and go as they wish).

Bring:

Wellies
A collapsible chair.
Tarp, bivvy bag or small tent.
Warm Sleeping Bag.
Metal Mug.
Brew Kit.
A couple of beers.
Money for Fish and Chips and a Costa Coffee Replen.
A sense of humour.
Anything you think would make life comfortable.
Gas burner or similar*

* Army ration packs (boil in the bag) will be available for those staying for 24 hours.

 

[RTHORTON]

Big note of today Rich S found Nightingale in middle wood. 1st for Tices.27 Greylag 2 Little Egret Willow Warbler Whitethroat . Its looking good for Tices 24Hr .

 

[RTHORTON]

Sedge Warbler by mound today Nightingale still in middle wood. Tern raft has had visits from BH Gull Common Tern and Egp Goose today. Water levels receding. Tree planting continues far side.

 

[RJSeargent]

An afternoon with Rich H produced 44 species. Of note was an Oystercatcher briefly, a Hobby flying west towards Farnham and the singing Nightingale which only made an appearance in the sun in the afternoon.

 

[RJSeargent]

#Tice's24 - 26-27 Apr 14

It’s on – unless we have torrential rain over the weekend.

What you’ll need.

Wellies
Overnight kit (tarp/tent and sleeping bag, sleeping mat etc)
Money for Fish and Chips
Beer.
Birding kit.
Gas Burner or similar – we should have enough if you forget
Metal Mug or similar
Chair. (for the viewing mound and around the campfire in the evening).
Gas Lamp – Lynne, can you bring yours.

RV.
Meet on the mound for 0930hrs. Survey starts at 1000hrs.

Feeding.

Fish and Chips during the evening
Lunch – hopefully army rations (if not trip to local garage).
Brew Kit – will be available throughout the day but we’ll have regular trips to the local Costa.
Breakfast – ration packs
Beer – bring your own supply. Rich H will bring along Sloe Gin and I’ll produce a bottle of 16 YO Jura.

Outline of Events.

We are surveying to give the contractor a full season by season species list.

Saturday

1000hrs – baseline count of all species on the lake/within the reserve. Basically wildfowl and any passerines.

Throughout – roving surveys around the scrub and reserve to see what’s about. 2 people conducting non stop (you’ll need a break occasionally from the mound).

1600hrs - baseline count of all species on the lake/within the reserve.

1800hrs – survey ends.

Moth traps out in the evening. Sean Foote is running this – don’t forget your moth books!

Evening – talking shit around the fire, drinking beer and eating Fish and Chips.

Sunday

0600hrs – Reveille, followed by drinks and breakfast (self service)

0700hrs – baseline count of all species on the lake/within the reserve.

Throughout – roving surveys around the scrub and reserve to see what’s about.

1000hrs – survey ends followed by call-over.

Birds

Expect.

Nightingale
Wildfowl
Gulls
Waders – anything can drop in
Raptors – Buzzard, Red Kite, Hobby, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk
Passerines – warblers and perhaps Yellow Wagtail.

Hope to see you there.

 

[RTHORTON]

Thanks to all for joining The Tices Crew and support over the weekend.We got 66 species .Of note Swift,3 ArticTern, Common Sandpiper, LRP, 5 Raptor species, Shell Duck,2 Garden Warble, Nightingale and many nesting birds. I m sure they will be in Sean s report next year .The next Tices volunteer work party will be this Sat 3rd May litter pick along river. Meet 10 am Pea Bridge Lowerfarnham Road .Then 5th July River management to new diversion, Meet Pea Bridge . All very welcome and tea truck on site to. Get involved .

 

[RJSeargent]

Red-rumped Swallow for 10 minutes yesterday. The Patch Commander was the lucky overserver; it had flown by the time Dave B and myself had arrived. Good to see Bob Warden on site and a number of other local birders - it's a shame that the latter only turn up when something good appears.

 

[RTHORTON]

Another first for Tices last evening with a Red-Rumped Swallow resting on barbed wire by bike pool / reed bed then around lake for half an hour . With hundreds Swallow, House Martin, Of note today 2 Artic Tern.

 

[JohnnyH]

This morning I paid my first visit to Tices this year, I'm in awe of the magnificent work that you guys have done, the place is looking great. It was nice to meet up with Rich H who gave the full lowdown on all that's been occurring & also very kindly furnished me with a copy of the Tices report fot 2013. My compliments to Sean & anyone else involved in putting this together, a very comprehensive piece of work very professionally compiled & presented. Anyway on to birds, after Rich left, I continued scanning the meadow & was amazed to see a stunning drake Garganey swim into view. I phoned Rich who hurried back to also enjoy this little beauty. Also present this morning the Greenshank, 2 summer plumaged Dunlin, & 2 Common Sandpipers in addition to the usual suspects. Hopefully I will be back soon......

John.

 

[JonJordan]

couple of hours this morning from 6.30 onwards produced 40 species. The Greenshank and Garganey were still present. The Garganey was giving good views to the right of the mound and looked superb in the morning sun. Also a LR Plover. Otherwise as to be expected Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiff Chaff through the woods. Plenty of of Sand Martins and Swallows with a few house martins over the workings plus about 20 Swifts by 8.00.

 

[RTHORTON]

Just great to see John H yesterday on the patch again who put me onto Garganey male its still there with Greenshank Dunlin today. Sean F has RSPB walk from Aldershot Park 9 30 or 10 45 on the mound. Aways an intresting walk .I m sure he wont mind who join him .