Tuesday 28 November 2017

Visitor Survey

We're surveying the opinions of visitors to Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve.

The feedback we receive will be used to plan our future priorities and support our applications for grants to fund future projects.

We'd be grateful if you could spend 5 minutes to let us have your views.

Saturday 25 November 2017

Monday November 6th to Saturday November 25th

Greggs Environmental Fund

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant for £1,750 to go towards the costs of our birdwatching shelter by the Greggs Environmental Fund.

Thank you Greggs!




Calendars

Tice's Meadow 2018 Calendars are now on sale. £8 each, £9.50 inc P&P.

All photos taken on site in 2017. Thanks to our amazing photographers.

Available in person from Mark Elsoffer or Richard Horton, or we can post to you.

Or, email ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk if you'd like us to post one to you upon receipt of payment.

Cash, cheques, PayPal and BACS transfers accepted.

All profits go towards the Tice's Meadow Bird Group's work at Tice's Meadow.



Pin Badges

Tice's Meadow Bird Group pin badges are now available.

25mm high quality, hard enamel pin badge with butterfly clutch fixing.

Strictly limited run of 100 badges. £4 each. £5 including postage & packing.

Available in person from Mark Elsoffer or Richard Horton.

Or, email ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk if you'd like us to post one to you upon receipt of payment.

Cash, cheques, PayPal and BACS transfers accepted.

All profits go towards the Tice's Meadow Bird Group's work at Tice's Meadow.








Traveller Incursion

Sometime on Wednesday 8th November, a large group of "Travellers" cut the locks off of the Plant Yard entrance gate and illegally set up camp on site. They replaced the lock with their own to control access. Over the next 6 days they illegally dumped tonnes of rubbish on site.

The site owners and the police (unwilling to do anything) were kept informed. Court proceedings were started and the Travellers left on Wednesday 15th, leaving behind an unbelievable amount of rubbish.

The clean up bill for Hanson is estimated in the tens of thousands of pounds!

A series of news stories with photos and videos can be seen here:
Get Surrey - 09/11/17
UKNIP247 - 09/11/17

Surrey & Hants News - 10/11/17

Get Surrey - 10/11/17
Get Surrey - 10/11/17
Get Surrey - 14/11/17

Get Surrey - 15/11/17
Get Surrey - 20/11/17

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Traveller Aftermath
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Traveller Aftermath
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Traveller Aftermath
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Traveller Aftermath


Monday November 6th

Lindsay Patterson reported a Firecrest (at Ray's Gap) this morning.

This is only the 3rd reported sighting of Firecrest on site.

Firecrest is the 141st species of bird reported on site this year.


Tuesday November 7th

No reports.


Wednesday November 8th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, 125 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 6 Teal, a Shoveler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Bullfinch, 2 Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit and a Kingfisher this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Common Sandpiper


Thursday November 9th

No reports.


Friday November 10th

Mark Elsoffer reported 97 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, a Teal, a Shoveler, 2 Common Gull, 2 Stonechat, 3 Coal Tit, 8 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, 7 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, a Pheasant, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Red Kite, a Peregrine and 4 Buzzard today.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Coal Tit
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Common Toad


Saturday November 11th

Dave Baker reported a Brambling this morning.

In addition, Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper this morning.

Brambling is the 142nd species of bird reported on site this year.

This is only the 9th reported sighting of Brambling on site.

Members of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group met on site this morning to wish a happy 71st birthday to our Patch Commander - Richard Horton. Cake and mulled wine went down well in the rain.

(c) Richard Seargent - The Birthday Boy
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Cake
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Make a Wish


Sunday November 12th

John Hunt reported a (probable) Jack Snipe, 8 Teal, 6 Shoveler, a Pochard, 2 Common Gull, 3 Stonechat, 12 Meadow Pipit, 8 Fieldfare, 20+ Linnet, a Lesser Redpoll, a Bullfinch, a Chiffchaff and a Kestrel this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Pochard


Monday November 13th

No reports.


Tuesday November 14th

Murray Nurse reported a Nuthatch, some Redwing and a couple of Fieldfare this morning.


Wednesday November 15th

No reports.


Thursday November 16th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, 140 Lapwing, 5 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 11 Egyptian Goose, 16 Greylag Goose, a Stonechat, 2 Coal Tit, 4 Bullfinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 10 Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, a Skylark, a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and 2 Buzzard today.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 50 Golden Plover this morning.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Greylag Geese
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Snipe


Friday November 17th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper and 2 Lesser Redpoll today.

Six volunteers met on site today, cutting and burning willow in our reed beds. Thank you guys!

Mark Elsoffer showed Bernard Baverstock (Surrey Bat Group) around the site today and identified the best areas to add new bat boxes to.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - A Well Deserved Cuppa
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party


Saturday November 18th

Richard Seargent reported 15 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, a Water Rail, an Egyptian Goose, a Common Gull, a Pheasant, 30+ Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Siskin, 3 Bullfinch, 7 Lesser Redpoll, a Chiffchaff, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Buzzard this morning.


Sunday November 19th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, a Water Rail, a Shoveler, 10 Meadow Pipit, a Stonechat and a Bullfinch this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 42 Lapwing, 13 Teal, a Common Gull, 3 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 3 Lesser Redpoll and 7 Siskin this morning.


Monday November 20th

No reports.


Tuesday November 21st

The Tice's Meadow Bird Group purchased a new bench for the site this morning, paid for with funds raised from donations and sales of our merchandise.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Our New Bench


Wednesday November 22nd

A work party was held on site today for members of staff from the Surrey County Council Planning Department, organised by Simon Elson. 30+ members of council staff, plus 2 rangers from the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership and 6 members of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group took part. A huge amount of willow was cleared from our reed bed.

A massive thank you to everyone who took part!

(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party
(c) Andy Little - Work Party


Thursday November 23rd

No reports.


Friday November 24th

John Hunt reported a Common Sandpiper, 55 Lapwing, 9 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 3 Stonechat, a Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, a Bullfinch, a Kestrel, 2 Buzzard and a Red Kite this morning.

Mark Elsoffer, Steve Minhinnick and Richard Horton picked up our new bench and some timber today, and then with the help of Len Winchcombe salvaged some more timber for use on site from the traveller's dump.

(c) John Hunt - Stonechat
(c) John Hunt - Kestrel
(c) John Hunt - Stonechat


Saturday November 25th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 56 Lapwing, 23 Snipe, a Pintail (female), 5 Egyptian Goose, 36 Greylag Goose, a Common Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Mistle Thrush, 2 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard and a Tawny Owl today.

Pintail is the 143rd species of bird reported on site this year.

This is only the 14th reported sighting of Pintail on site.

This is only the 12th reported sighting of Tawny Owl on site, but the 4th this year.

Sunday 5 November 2017

Wednesday October 18th - Sunday November 5th

Aviva Community Fund

We are pleased to announce that we were one of the first projects to receive 1,000 votes in the 2017 Aviva Community Fund competition. This means, subject to due diligence, we automatcally receive the £1,000 grant. A massive thank you to everyone who voted for us.


Pin Badges

Tice's Meadow Bird Group pin badges are now available.

25mm high quality, hard enamel pin badge with butterfly clutch fixing.

Strictly limited run of 100 badges. £4 each. £5 including postage & packing.

Available in person from Mark Elsoffer or Richard Horton.

Or, email ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk if you'd like us to post one to you upon receipt of payment.

Cash, cheques, PayPal and BACS transfers accepted.

All profits go towards the Tice's Meadow Bird Group's work at Tice's Meadow.




Wednesday October 18th

No reports.


Thursday October 19th

No reports.


Friday October 20th

John Hunt reported 48 Lapwing, 13 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 5 Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Red Kite, 3 Kestrel and 2 Buzzard this afternoon.


Saturday October 21st

Dave Baker reported a Common Gull this morning.

(c) Dave Baker - Common Gull


Sunday October 22nd

Dave Baker reported a Yellowhammer this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 9 Gadwall, 9 Wigeon and a Chiffchaff this morning.


Monday October 23rd

No reports.


Tuesday October 24th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinch, a Stonechat, 4 Kestrel and a Buzzard today.

24 volunteers, including members of the Blackwater Valley Tuesday Volunteers and the Blackwater Countryside Partnership's Rangers, met on site today for a work party. A large amount of willow was cut and burnt in the reed beds. Great work everyone!

(c) Murray Nurse - Work Party
(c) Murray Nurse - Work Party
(c) Murray Nurse - Work Party
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Dog Sick Slime Mold (Mucilago crustacea)


Wednesday October 25th

No reports.


Thursday October 26th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Jack Snipe, 2 Snipe, 10 Lapwing, 4 Teal, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Stonechat, 7 Skylark, 4 Redwing, a Kestrel, a Buzzard and a Peregrine today.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Richard & Len Working
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Richard & Len Not Working


Friday October 27th

Richard Horton reported a Jack Snipe and 60+ Fieldfare this morning.

In addition, visiting birders reported 3 Barnacle Goose (over, presumed feral) this morning.

Barnacle Goose is the 139th species recorded on site this year.

(c) Susan Renaud - Stonechat
(c) Susan Renaud - Red Kite
(c) Susan Renaud - Common Darter
(c) Susan Renaud - Berries
(c) Susan Renaud - The Woods


Saturday October 28th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, 21 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 2 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 11 Stonechat, 150+ Redwing, 300+ Fieldfare, 21 Skylark, 4 Siskin, 14 Lesser Redpoll, a Kingfisher, a Raven, 3 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Red Kite this morning.

In addition, Dave Baker reported a Tufted Duck, a Dartford Warbler and a Chiffchaff this morning.

This is only the 6th recorded sighting of Dartford Warbler on site.

Dartford Warbler is the 140th species recorded on site this year.

The counts of 11 Stonechat, 300+ Fieldfare and 150+ Redwing are new site records.


Sunday October 29th

Dave Baker reported a Little Egret, 2 Common Gull, 12 Lesser Redpoll, 12 Redwing and a Chiffchaff this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Roe Deer
(c) John Hunt - Roe Deer


Monday October 30th

No reports.


Tuesday October 31st

John Hunt reported 2 Little Egret, 2 Shoveler, 30+ Linnet, 10+ Meadow Pipit, a Stonechat, 200 Redwing, 40 Fieldfare, a Red Kite, 3 Buzzard and a Kestrel this morning.


Wednesday November 1st

No reports.


Thursday November 2nd

No reports.


Friday November 3rd

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, 85 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 3 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 2 Bullfinch, 12 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 3 Pheasant, 2 Raven, 2 Kestrel and 2 Red Kite today.

7 volunteers met on site this morning to cut and burn willow in our reed beds. Thank you everyone for your hard work.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Work Party
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Snipe


Saturday November 4th

No reports.


Sunday November 5th

Richard Seargent reported a Wigeon, 4 Teal, 3 Stonechat, a Kingfisher, a Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk this morning.

(c) Tony George - Goldfinch
(c) Tony George - Siskin
(c) Tony George - Song Thrush
(c) Tony George - Sparrowhawk