Friday 13 July 2018

Tuesday June 19th to Thursday July 12th

2017 Annual Report

Our 2017 Annual Report is now available to buy for £15.

This premium, full colour, 145 page, A4, glossy report documents the year at Tice's Meadow and showcases some of the superb wildlife photographs taken on site. All proceeds go towards the work we do on site.

Please email ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk for more details.



Quarry Life Awards

You can follow our progress in the Quarry Life Awards on our dedicated blog.


Reporting Breeding Schedule 1 Species

As we now approach breeding season, please remember that it is a criminal offence to intentionally disturb potentially breeding Schedule 1 Species on or near the nest.

From March 22nd, no more potentially breeding Schedule 1 Species should be reported publicly.

PLEASE do still report privately to us via email, Facebook message or Twitter direct message, so we can collate the records.

Our updated Bird Reporting Policy can be seen here.

These rules are in place for the interests of the birds.





Farnham In Bloom Video

Farnham TV have produced this promotional video for Farnham In Bloom 2018, featuring footage shot at our recent BioBlitz.




Tuesday June 19th

Leonard Winchcombe reported 3 Redshank and an Oystercatcher this morning.

After a false start last week, the resident pair of Mute Swans have hatched their cygnets - 2 seen today. The 4th successful breeding attempt recorded on site, and the first since 2014.

Peter Brown also reported that the pair of Great Crested Grebes are still sitting on a nest and the Tufted Ducks continue to have 7 young.


Wednesday June 20th

Richard Horton reported a Common Sandpiper and a Little Grebe this morning.

In addition, Leonard Winchcombe reported a 3rd cygnet and 4 newly hatched Great Crested Grebe chicks today.


Thursday June 21st

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


Friday June 22nd

Leonard Winchcombe reported a Ringed Plover and a Redshank this morning.

(c) Paul Mannering - Broad-bodied Chaser
(c) Paul Mannering - Female Common Darter
(c) Paul Mannering - Female Common Darter
(c) Paul Mannering - Robin


Saturday June 23rd

Mark Elsoffer reported an Oystercatcher and 9 Grey Heron this morning.

Mark also reported a family of newly fledged Whitethroats on Horton's Mound this morning.

Eleven volunteers met this morning and installed Lisa's Bench, cut back vegetation along the paths and laid the final bags of bark chippings around the Dragonfly Pond.

(c) Steve Minhinnick - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Grey Herons
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Working Hard
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Lisa's Bench
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Taking a Well Earned Break


Sunday June 24th

No reports.

(c) Anthony George - Azure Damselflies
(c) Anthony George - Banded Demoiselle
(c) Anthony George - Broad-bodied Chaser
(c) Anthony George - Common Terns & Grey Heron
(c) Anthony George - Wildflowers
(c) Anthony George - Red Admiral
(c) Anthony George - Common Toad


Monday June 25th

Kevin Duncan reported a Bar-headed Goose (escape) today.

Kevin also reported that one of the cygnets has been lost, leaving 2 remaining.


Tuesday June 26th

Leonard Winchcombe reported a Bar-headed Goose (escape) this morning.

(c) Toby Coulson - Ruddy Darter
(c) Toby Coulson - Large Red Damselfly
(c) Toby Coulson - Common Blue Damselfly
(c) Toby Coulson - Blue-tailed Damselfly
(c) Toby Coulson - Brucie


Wednesday June 27th

Peter Brown reported 5 Great Crested Grebe (including 2 young), 4 Mute Swan (including 2 young), a Red Kite and 2 Buzzard today.

18 members of the Aldershot, Farnham and Fleet Camera Club enjoyed a guided tour and photography walk around site this evening.

(c) David Fisher - Teasel
(c) David Fisher -Starlings
(c) David Fisher - AFFCC Members
(c) David Fisher - The Workings
(c) Paul Mannering - AFFFC Members Visit
(c) Paul Mannering - Common Blue Damselfly
(c) Paul Mannering - Small Skipper


Thursday June 28th

No reports.


Friday June 29th

Richard Horton gave a talk entitled "Tice's Meadow; Past, Present & Future" to c40 people at the Surrey Bird Club AGM in East Horsley this evening.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Bird Club AGM
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Bird Club AGM


Saturday June 30th

Richard Seargent reported a Snipe this morning.

Richard also reported a Silver-washed Fritillary - the first reported on site since 2016.


Sunday July 1st

Richard Seargent reported a 2nd brood of Tufted Ducks - a female with 6 young on the Workings. This is only the 4th record of Tufted Duck breeding on site, but the 2nd this year.


Monday July 2nd

Peter Brown reported 5 Great Crested Grebe (including 3 young), a Kestrel and a Buzzard today.


Tuesday July 3rd

No reports.


Wednesday July 4th

No reports.

(c) Oli - Female Black-tailed Skimmer
(c) Oli - Old Lady


Thursday July 5th

Carey Lodge reported a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret and a Peregrine this morning.

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported 3 Common Sandpiper today.

(c) Carey Lodge - Small Skipper
(c) Susan Renaud - Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar
(c) Susan Renaud - Comma
(c) Susan Renaud - Cattle Herd
(c) Susan Renaud - Meadow Brown
(c) Susan Renaud - Nuthatch
(c) Susan Renaud - Ringlet


Friday July 6th

No reports.

(c) Kev Campbell - Common Tern
(c) Kev Campbell - Swift
(c) Kev Campbell - Whitethroat



Saturday July 7th

Richard Horton reported a Green Sandpiper, 13 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Egret this morning.

We attended the Badshot Lea Infants School Summer Fair today and spread the word about Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve.

(c) Oli - Richard & Len Manning our Stall


Sunday July 8th

John Hunt reported 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit this morning.

In addition, Mark Elsoffer reported a Ruff (post breeding male), a Little Egret, 2 Great Creste Grebe (juveniles), a Bar-headed Goose (escape), a Nuthatch, 2 Red Kite and 4 Buzzard this afternoon.

Ruff is the 128th species of bird recorded on site this year.

This is only the 10th recorded sighting of Ruff on site, the first since 2016.

9 volunteers met on site this morning and worked hard preparing for tomorrow's QLA judges visit. They litter picked, paths were cut back, hibernacula cleared & posters put up. All in 30° heat. Great work guys!

(c) John Hunt - Black-tailed Godwit
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Taking a Well Earned Break


Monday July 9th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Little Egret and a Bar-headed Goose (escape) this morning.

In addition, Steve Minhinnick reported a Black-tailed Godwit this morning.

We hosted the judge from the Quarry Life Awards this morning. They were Martin Crow and Andy Duncan from Hanson, Richard Grimmett from BirdLife International and Helen Barnard from RSPB Nature After Minerals.

Also present on site this morning were Roger Dickey and Andrew Bray from the Army Ornithological Society, who were ringing in the woods. The children from Badshot Lea Village Infants School also visited, and enjoyed the nature on their doorstep.

(c) Badshot Lea Infants School - Roger Ringing
(c) Badshot Lea Infants School - School Children Visiting Site
(c) Badshot Lea Infants School - School Children Visiting Site
(c) Badshot Lea Infants School - School Children Visiting Site
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Judges Meeting the School Children
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Judges Inspecting the River
(c) Kev Campbell - Stock Dove
(c) Kev Campbell - Common Tern
(c) Kev Campbell - Greenfinch
(c) Kev Campbell - Song Thrush
(c) Kev Campbell - Starlings


Tuesday July 10th

Kevin Duncan reported a Common Gull today.


Wednesday July 11th

No reports.


Thursday July 12th

Leonard Winchcome reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Oystercatcher this morning.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 3 Little Egret this afternoon.