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.