Monday 27 February 2017

Tuesday February 14th - Monday February 27th

Annual Report

The Tice's Meadow 2016 Annual Report can now be downloaded for free from this link:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuC9nX__kWIggSW-F4MUtWcsifGH

If you would like to buy a glossy, full colour, A4 hardcopy of the report for £15, please email us: ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk

All funds raised from the sale of our annual report are channelled back into projects on the nature reserve.








Spring BioBlitz

Our Spring BioBlitz will be held over the bank holiday weekend of Friday 28th April to Sunday 30th April.

Note: For those of you who bought one of our calendars, this is a week earlier than shown on the calendar.

Activities currently planned for the weekend include guided bird walks, moth trapping, guided bat walks and a weekend-long bird ringing demonstration (run by Roger Dickey).

Please keep an eye out for further announcements, including which other partner organisations will be attending this year.

Over 90 members of the public enjoyed last year's BioBlitz, with 86 species of bird recorded, and one well known birder called it "The highlight of the Surrey birding year". We hope to see you all at the 2017 event.



Late News

A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen in the Workings on Monday February 13th by Richard Horton and Oli. Initially there was some confusion as Richard positively identified the bird and Oli took a photo. Subsequent viewing of the photo showed it contained a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, but it then transpired that in his haste Oli had photographed the wrong bird.

Glaucous Gull is a new species for Tice's Meadow - the 191st species of bird recorded on site and the 85th species recorded in 2017.


Tuesday February 14th

No reports.


Wednesday February 15th

No reports.


Thursday February 16th

Dave Carlsson reported a Green Sandpiper today.

Oli recorded 2 new species for Tice's Meadow today:
Orange Waxcap (Hygrocybe aurantiosplendens).
Witches Butter (Exidia glandulosa).

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Orange Waxcap - taken Feb 17th
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Orange Waxcap - taken Feb 17th
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Witches Butter - taken Feb 17th


Friday February 17th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 450 Lapwing, 58 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 6 Mallard, 36 Teal, 20 Tufted Duck, 29 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 2 Stonechat, 6 Siskin, 2 Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk today.

Mark also reported a Red Admiral butterfly on the wing.

Carey Lodge reported a new species for Tice's Meadow today: Peniophora quercina - a wood decay fungus.

Ray spent the day cutting and clearing the overgrown brambles from the Water Rail Ditch - stellar work as always Ray!

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peniophora quercina - taken Feb 18th
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peniophora quercina - taken Feb 18th
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peniophora quercina - taken Feb 18th
(c) Trevor Birkett - Greenfinch
(c) Richard Seargent - Afternoon Sun
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Morning on Horton's Mound


Saturday February 18th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Snipe, 250 Lapwing, 48 Shoveler, 12 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 24 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 14 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 2 Stonechat, a Goshawk (outside the recording area), c20 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 3 Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk today.

Richard, Oli, Dave & Jim spent the morning burning the piles of cleared brambles and litter picking along the Water Rail Ditch.

(c) Dave Baker - A Rare Sighting of Mickey Mouse Over Tice's Meadow
(c) Phil Hughes - Not Much Room on Horton's Mound Today


Sunday February 19th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper and a Water Rail this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported the welcome return, after an absence of a number of weeks, of a pair of Great Crested Grebe today.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a pair of Lapwing displaying over the Meadow.

In addition, Murray Nurse reported a Peregrine today.

Richard Seargent reported early evidence of courtship and nest building today - a pair of Reed Buntings holding territory and 2 pairs of Long-tailed Tits carrying nesting material.

Birders arriving on site early this morning had a suprise when they discovered an empty tent on the summit of Horton's Mound!

(c) Dave Baker - Abandoned Tent
(c) John Hunt - Reed Bunting
(c) Richard Seargent - Kestrel
(c) Richard Seargent - Long-tailed Tit
(c) Richard Seargent -Magpie
(c) Richard Seargent - Song Thrush
(c) Richard Seargent - Viva El Presidente


Monday February 20th

No reports.

Tuesday February 21st

No reports.

Wednesday February 22nd

Whilst litter-picking on site today, Oli lifted up an old car number plate and found 20+ Newts underneath.

(c) Oli - Newts

Thursday February 23rd

No reports.


Friday February 24th

(c) Kev Campbell - Meadow Pipit
(c) Kev Campbell - Stonechat
(c) Kev Campbell - Stonechat


Saturday February 25th

Around 30 people enjoyed a guided walk for the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership on site this morning. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. £155 was raised for the Tice's Meadow Bird Group through sales of our Annual Report and generous donations.

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, 12 Snipe, a Little Egret, 8 Lapwing, 18 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 25 Teal, 20 Tufted Duck, 2 Wigeon, 9 Pochard, 2 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk this morning.

In addition, Steve Minhinnick reported a Mediterranean Gull this morning.

In addition, Carey Lodge reported a Water Rail this morning.

Mediterranean Gull is the 86th species recorded on site this year.

Mark Elsoffer and Carey Lodge reported a new species for Tice's Meadow today: Split Gill fungus (Schizophyllum commune).

Oli reported a new species for Tice's Meadow today: Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus).

(c) Mark Elsoffer - BVCT Guided Walk
(c) Mark Elsoffer - BVCT Guided Walk
(c) Mark Elsoffer - BVCT Guided Walk
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Oyster Mushroom
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Little Egret
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Split Gill


Sunday February 26th

John Hunt reported a Snipe, a Water Rail, a Little Egret, 50 Shoveler, a 1st-winter Great Black-backed Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Stonechat and a Kestrel this morning.

(c) John Hunt - The Meadow
(c) John Hunt - Stonechat
(c) John Hunt - Stonechat
(c) John Hunt - Stonechat


Monday February 27th

No reports.



Monday 20 February 2017

2016 Annual Report

The Tice's Meadow 2016 Annual Report can now be downloaded for free from this link:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuC9nX__kWIggSW-F4MUtWcsifGH

If you would like to buy a glossy, full colour, A4 hardcopy of the report for £15, please email us: ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk

All funds raised from the sale of our annual report are channelled back into projects on the nature reserve.

A massive thank you to everyone who has contributed to the report this year, especially the photographers and everyone who makes the effort to record and report their sightings.









Monday 13 February 2017

Sunday January 29th to Monday February 13th

Upcoming Walks 

The following guided walks are currently scheduled for the next few months:
  • Saturday 25th February - Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust walk. Meet at Pea Bridge at 10am. Non-members welcome. More details here.
  • Sunday 9th April - Guildford & District Local RSPB Group walk. Lead by Sean Foote. Meet in Aldershot Park at 9.30am. Non-members welcome. More details here


Late News

Saturday January 28th
Graham King reported a Water Rail, a Bullfinch, 8 Siskin, 2 Goshawk, 2 Peregrine, 2 Buzzard and a Kestrel today.


Sunday January 29th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, 45 Lapwing,  a Water Rail, a Little Egret, 80+ Teal, 24 Wigeon, 44 Shoveler, 4 Pochard and a Buzzard this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Water Rail


Monday January 30th

No reports.


Tuesday January 31st

No reports.

 

Wednesday February 1st

Reports were received today of a trespasser on site shooting at wildlife. If you see anyone with a gun on site, please call 999 immediately.


Thursday February 2nd

No reports.


Friday February 3rd

No reports.


Saturday February 4th

Dave Baker reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 200+ Lapwing, 2 Stonechat, a singing Skylark and "lots" of Pipits this morning.

In addition, "Eddie" reported a Water Rail, 100 Lapwing, 2 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 30 Mallard, 10 Shoveler, 2 Greylag Goose, 8 Siskin, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Bullfinch, 10 Song Thrush, 20 Robin and a Red Kite today.

This is the first reported sighting of Skylark on site this year. Skylark is the 83rd species recorded in 2017.

The count of 20 Robin is a new site record count.

Some members of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group helped put up bird boxes at the neighbouring Badshot Lea Village Pond today as part of a community volunteer work party. See here for more details.

(c) Dave Baker - Grey Heron
(c) Dave Baker - The View from Horton's Mound


Sunday February 5th

No reports.


Monday February 6th

Richard Horton reported a Woodcock this morning - the bird was flushed from the island between the old and new river channels, and flew into the Plant Yard.

This is only the 6th reported sighting of Woodcock on site - after none since June 2015, we've now had 3 sightings in the past fortnight.


Tuesday February 7th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, c1000 Lapwing today, 8 Wigeon, 52 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 20 Teal, 26 Mallard, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Stonechat, 2 Bullfinch, 24 Linnet, a Pheasant, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Red Kite today.

This is the first reported sighting of Linnet on site this year. Linnet is the 84th species recorded in 2017.

The count of c1000 Lapwing is a new site record count.

A work party was held today clearing willow from the Reedbeds. 2 Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership Rangers and 17 volunteers (a mixture of the Blackwater Valley Tuesday Group and the Tice's Meadow Bird Group) cut and burnt predigious amounts of willow. With the BVCP's chainsaws, brushcutter and weedkiller we were able to clear a large area of willow, which will help the reeds spread and provide more excellent habitat for nesting Sedge & Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings etc... Thank you to all who attended.

A short write-up of the work party by the BVCP can be found here.

Hanson's fencing contractors were on site today erecting a pallisade fence infront of the land owned by one of our neighbours who has been trespassing, fly-grazing and committing various acts of petty vandalism on site for a number of years now.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Clearing Willow
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Clearing Willow
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Clearing Willow
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Clearing Willow


Wednesday February 8th

No reports.


Thursday February 9th

No reports.


Friday February 10th

No reports.


Saturday February 11th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret and a Water Rail this morning.

In addition, Grim Styles reported 2 Bullfinch today.

In addition, Richard Horton reported a Goshawk today - within the site boundary.

A work party was held this morning, with 4 brave souls turning up in the snow to help clear the River Blackwater of brambles, cut around the Yew tree and clear along the top path.

(c) Dave Baker - Summer Plumage Black-headed Gull


Sunday February 12th

Richard Horton reported 3 Brent Goose (over) this morning.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret and 3 Red Kite this morning.

This is only the 6th reported sighting of Brent Goose on site, and the 2nd this year.


Monday February 13th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 200 Lapwing, a Little Egret, a Water Rail, a Stonechat, a Red Kite, 3 Buzzard and a Kestrel this morning.