Thursday 31 March 2016

Wednesday March 23rd to Wednesday March 30th

Annual Report

Our 2015 Annual Report is now back from the printers. Please see the attached for how you can order a full colour, glossy, A4 hardcopy.




Wednesday March 23rd

Tony Cummins reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, a Lapwing, 22 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 35 Teal, 2 Redwing, 48 Fieldfare, a Chiffchaff, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and 2 Goshawk today.

Goshawk is the 87th species recorded on site this year.


Thursday March 24th

Kevin Duncan reported a Swallow and a Mediterranean Gull (adult s/p) this morning.

Swallow is the 88th species recorded on site this year. The first Swallow of 2016 was reported 10 days earlier than in 2015.

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 70 Wigeon, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 30 Teal, 6 Shoveler, a Stonechat, 5 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 47 Magpie, a Raven, 4 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrel this morning.

Raven is the 89th species recorded on site this year.

The count of 47 Magpie is a new site record count.

Kevin also managed to read the metal ring on a Blackbird in the Woods (with the help of a little bird seed). The Blackbird was rung at Tice's Meadow by Roger Dickey on 25th/26th April 2015. This is only the 2nd recorded recovery of a bird rung at Tice's Meadow.


Friday March 25th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, 27 Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Skylark and 3 Chiffchaff this morning.

In addition, Dave Baker reported 4 Little Egret, 7 Sand Martin and 3 Swallow this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 3 Raven, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Red Kite, 8 Buzzard and 2 Goshawk this afternoon.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 9 Snipe, a Water Rail and a Water Pipit this afternoon.

Water Pipit is the 90th species recorded on site this year. None were recorded in 2015.

In other news, farmer Gibby has sold 4 of the cattle grazing on site, reducing the herd to 6. He assures us new cows will be arriving soon.

(c) John Hunt - Dunnock
(c) John Hunt - The Meadow
(c) John Hunt - Starling

On a slight tangent from our normal reports, Grim Styles found this fossil Echinoid (a Sea Urchin) (Micraster cortestudinariumon) on site today. This fossil is approximately 90 million years old, dating from just before when Richard Horton first visited Tice's Meadow!

(c) Grim Styles - Echinoid Fossil


Saturday March 26th

Richard Seargent reported 2 Little Ringed Plover and 30+ Sand Martin this morning.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Common Sandpiper, a Caspian Gull (3rd cy) and a Swallow this afternoon.

This is only the fourth ever site record for Caspian Gull, but the second this year - both found by Dave Baker.

Kevin Duncan reported that the first toad spawn was seen today.

Three illegal off-road motorcyclists were removed by the police from the Plant Yard today following good work by Dave Baker, Richard Horton and Richard Seargent - the main gate had been left open by Hanson's planting contractors. If you see any motorcyclists on site, please call the police on 101.


Sunday March 27th

Graham King reported a Redshank, 4 Snipe and a Caspian Gull (3rd cy) today.

Redshank is the 91st species recorded on site this year.


Monday March 28th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, a Caspian Gull (3rd cy), 30+ Sand Martin and a House Martin this morning.

House Martin is the 92nd species recorded on site this year. This is the earliest recorded House Martin on site by 7 days.


Tuesday March 29th

John Hunt reported 2 Avocet, a Caspian Gull (3rd cy) and 10+ Sand Martin this morning.

Avocet is the 93rd species recorded on site this year. There have been only 4 previous records of Avocet on site (totalling 5 birds), the last being on December 7th 2014.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 9 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, a Mediterranean Gull and 3 Swallow today.

Kevin Duncan reported that thousands of frog tadpoles have now hatched and so far seem to be having a better breeding season than toads.

(c) John Hunt - Avocets
(c) John Hunt - Avocets
(c) John Hunt - Caspian Gull
(c) John Hunt - Caspian Gull


Wednesday March 30th

Dave Carlsson reported a Wheatear this morning.

Wheatear is the 94th species recorded on site this year. The first Wheatear of 2016 was reported 10 days earlier than in 2015.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Little Ringed Plover this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 2 Blackcap today.

Note - although this is the first sighting of Blackcap this spring, an overwintering individual was reported in January.

(c) John Hunt - Wheatear
(c) John Hunt - Wheatear
(c) John Hunt - Wheatear
(c) Dave Carlsson - Wheatear



Tuesday 22 March 2016

Saturday March 12th to Tuesday March 22nd

Annual Report

Our 2015 Annual Report is now back from the printers. Please see the attached for how you can order a full colour, glossy, A4 hardcopy.




Late News

On February 9th, Keith Kerr found a new species for Tice's Meadow which he has spent the past 6 weeks dissecting and identifying: A Rove Beetle (Tachinus rufipes).

(c) Keith Kerr - Rove Beetle
(c) Keith Kerr - Rove Beetle


Saturday March 12th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 6 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, a Chiffchaff and a number of singing Redwing this morning.

A work party was held this morning with 10 volunteers spreading wood chippings on the muddy footpaths.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Working Hard
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Newly Laid Wood Chippings
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Newly Laid Wood Chippings

Sunday March 13th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 19 Snipe, a Water Rail, 2 Greylag Goose and a Siskin during visits this morning and afternoon. Richard reported 54 species today.

Richard also reported a Small Tortoiseshell on the wing behind Horton's Mound - the first reported butterfly of the Spring.

In addition, John Hunt reported 3 Green Sandpiper, 45 Wigeon, 80+ Teal, 7 Shoveler and 2 Chiffchaff this morning.

John noted that one of the Little Egrets present this morning was the ringed bird "B, K". This bird was rung as a nestling in North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on June 10th 2013. The sightings we are aware of are shown below:

Date Location Notes
10/06/13 North Cotes, Lincolnshire Rung as nestling
15/08/13 Ironbridge, Shropshire
31/08/13 Venus Pool, Shropshire
06/10/13 Durleigh, Bridgewater, Somerset
20/10/13 Ludford Bridge, Ludlow, Shropshire
01/12/13 Tice's Meadow KPD
09/12/13 Tice's Meadow KPD
19/03/14 Moor Green Lakes, Berkshire
24/03/14 Tice's Meadow DB
30/12/14 Tice's Meadow KC
31/12/14 Tice's Meadow ME
18/01/15 Tice's Meadow KPD
13/03/16 Tice's Meadow JH


(c) John Hunt - Little Egret
(c) John Hunt - Little Egret
(c) Richard Seargent - Grey Heron
(c) Richard Seargent - Chiffchaff
(c) Richard Seargent - Fox


Monday March 14th

No reports.

Tuesday March 15th

No reports.
(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff


Wednesday March 16th

No reports.


Thursday March 17th

Frank Boxell reported 4 Little Egret, a Water Rail and a Buzzard today.

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff
(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff
(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff


Friday March 18th

Mark Elsoffer spent 8 hours on site today and reported 2 Little Egret, 2 Lapwing, 9 Grey Heron, 14 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 148 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Skylark, 2 Bullfinch, 50 Redwing, 120 Fieldfare, a Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard.

The count of 148 Wigeon is a new site record.

In addition, John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper this morning.

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff
(c) Alex Potts - Long-tailed Tit


Saturday March 19th

Graham King reported a Green Sandpiper, a Dunlin, 4 Chiffchaff and 3 Stonechat today.

Dunlin is the 83rd species recorded on site this year.


Sunday March 20th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 0 Lapwing, 18 Shoveler, 24 Wigeon, 60+ Teal, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Skylark, and 3 Chiffchaff this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 19 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat and 2 Grey Wagtail this morning.


Monday March 21st

John Hunt reported a Little Egret, 4 Lapwing, 78 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 28 Stock Dove, a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzard this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Green Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover and an adult Yellow-legged Gull this afternoon.

Little Ringed Plover is the 84th species recorded on site this year.


Tuesday March 22nd

Andy Little made 2 visits to Tice's today and reported a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, 10 Greylag Goose, a Kingfisher, a Sand Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, 42 Fieldfare, a Red Kite and 2 Buzzard.

Sand Martin is the 85th species recorded on site this year.

As Andy was about to leave Horton's Mound at 17:52 he spotted a Common Crane! It flew from west to east, circled the site twice, and then disappeared off to the east.

This is the first recorded sighting of Common Crane on site - the 187th species of bird recorded at Tice's Meadow and the 86th species recorded on site this year.

In addition, Carey Lodge reported 2 Mediterranean Gull this morning.


Butterflies
Today's welcome sunny weather heralded the first multiple butterfly sightings of the year.

Lindsay Patterson, our Butterfly Recorder, walked his first transect of the year and reported 5 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Red Admiral.

Carey Lodge also reported 2 Brimstone and several Small Tortoiseshell.
Richard Horton also reported Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell.

(c) Andy Little - Mute Swan
(c) Kevin Duncan - Common Toad

Saturday 12 March 2016

Wednesday February 24th to Friday March 11th

Annual Report

Our 2015 Annual Report is now at the printers. Please see the attached for how you can order a full colour, glossy, A4 hardcopy.



Wednesday February 24th

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 120+ Lapwing, 100+ Teal, 50+ Wigeon, 11 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, a Reed Bunting and 3 Stonechat this morning.

John also reported 2 Field Voles and a Common Shrew under the tin refugia.

(c) John Hunt - Little Egret
(c) John Hunt - Stonechat


Thursday February 25th

Tony Cummins reported a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 150 Lapwing, 80 Teal, 40 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Stonechat, 2 Siskin and a Kestrel today.


Friday February 26th

Richard Horton reported a Jack Snipe and a Water Rail in the Reedbeds this morning.

Water Rail is the 80th species to be recorded on site this year.

In addition, Andy Little reported 2 Little Egret and 3 Buzzard today. Andy also reported the first sightings of frog spawn on site this year.

Richard, Andy and Jim did sterling work today cutting ringing rides in the Reedbeds in preparation for the forthcoming BioBlitz.


Saturday February 27th

Dave Baker reported a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Egret this morning.


Sunday February 28th

Richard Seargent reported 3 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret and a Red Kite this morning. Richard recorded 48 species in less than an hour on site.

In addition, John Hunt reported 50 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, a Stonechat, 20 Linnet, a Buzzard and a Kestrel this morning.

(c) Richard Seargent - Song Thrush
(c) Dave Baker - Little Egret
(c) John Hunt - Teal


Monday February 29th

Murray Nurse reported an adult Mediterranean Gull this morning.

Mediterranean Gull is the 81st species to be recorded on site this year.


Tuesday March 1st

No reports.


Wednesday March 2nd

Graham King reported a Green Sandpiper, a Little Grebe, 3 Redwing, 6 Siskin and 2 Bullfinch today.


Thursday March 3rd

No reports.


Friday March 4th

Graham King reported a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 4 Snipe, 10 Siskin, a Bullfinch, a Red Kite and a Kestrel today.


Saturday March 5th

Richard Seargent reported 3 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 50 Linnet, a Chiffchaff and a Stonechat this morning.


Sunday March 6th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 69 Lapwing, 70+ Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 100 Teal, 50 Linnet, a Chiffchaff, a Meadow Pipit, a Skylark, a few Redwing and a Kestrel this morning.

(c) John Hunt - The Meadow


Monday March 7th

Kevin Duncan reported a Common Sandpiper this morning.


Tuesday March 8th

A Common Sandpiper was reported via Bird Guides this morning.


Wednesday March 9th

No reports.


Thursday March 10th

John Hunt reported 3 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Stonechat and 3 Chiffchaff this afternoon.

John also found 3 Field Voles under the tin refugia.

In addition, Mark Elsoffer reported 90 Lapwing, an Egyptian Goose, 6 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 100 Teal, 140 Wigeon, 3 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 18 Mallard, a Great Crested Grebe, 3 Bullfinch, 40 Linnet and 18 Stock Dove this afternoon.

In addition, Richard Horton reported a Great Black-backed Gull and 2 Brambling this morning.

Brambling is the 82nd species to be recorded on site this year.

Steve Minhinnick found a new species for Tice's Meadow: Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica).

(c) Steve Minhinnick - Yellow Brain Fungus
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Yellow Brain Fungus
(c) John Hunt - Chiffchaff
(c) John Hunt - Stonechat
(c) John Hunt - Wren


Friday March 11th

Tony Cummins reported 73 Lapwing, 6 Redwing and a Stonechat today.

In addition, Andy Little reported 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Chiffchaff today.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 2 Water Rail in the Reedbeds today.


Tuesday 1 March 2016

Tice's Meadow Spring BioBlitz - An Update

A reminder that the Tice's Meadow Bird Group are holding our annual Spring BioBlitz over the weekend of April 29th to May 1st.

Some of the regulars will be camping on site all weekend. A programme of birdwatching walks, bat detecting, small mammal trapping, moth trapping and bird-ringing demonstrations has been scheduled for the weekend. All are welcome to join us.

Since the initial announcement, we are delighted to confirm that the following organisations will be in attendance:

Surrey Bird Club

The Surrey Bird Club is a society of people interested in wild birds in the county of Surrey, England. Members include professional ornithologists, amateurs of every stature, bird watchers and others who care about the future of birdlife in the county. The club was founded in 1957 and became a registered charity in 1967.

The Surrey Bird Club has generously offered to contribute financially to the costs of running the BioBlitz.

http://www.surreybirdclub.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/SurreyBirdClub
http://twitter.com/SurreyBirdNews


Surrey BTO Rep

Penny Williams is the British Trust for Ornithology representative for Surrey. The BTO is an independent charitable research institute combining professional and citizen science aimed at using evidence of change in wildlife populations, particularly birds, to inform the public, opinion-formers and environmental policy- and decision-makers. 

Please check out Penny's latest newsletter which features Tice's Meadow.

http://www.surreybtorep.co.uk/
http://twitter.com/surreybtorep


Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership

Work in the Blackwater Valley is co-ordinated by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership on behalf of the local authorities that border the Valley.

 Our general aims for the Valley are as follows:
  • Maintenance of the Valley as an open gap with enhanced landscape
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Improved quality of the River Blackwater
  • Recreation and access as the major use of the Valley
  • Co-ordination of recreation and conservation initiatives
  • Use of the Valley for sustainable transport links 

http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/
http://blackwatervalleycountryside.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/blackwater.valley


Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust

The BVCT is a registered charity working for the conservation, protection and improvement of the Blackwater Valley. It aims to enhance the environment for both people and wildlife by:
  • Promoting public access to the countryside by means of a programme of events, including walks and talks
  • Identifying improvement projects and raising funds to progress them
  • Encouraging volunteers to assist with projects

http://www.bvct.org.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/BVCTrust
http://twitter.com/bvcteditor


Army Ornithological Society

Roger Dickey, Chairman of the Army Ornithological Society, BTO licensed bird ringer and valued friend of Tice's Meadow, will be trapping and ringing birds on site all weekend. Roger's ringing demonstrations last year were the highlight for many of the visitors. An excellent opportunity to see birds in the hand and learn about the intricacies of ageing and sexing them.

http://www.armybirding.org.uk/






Please see the attached images for further details. We hope to see you there!