Sunday 12 August 2018

Friday July 13th to Saturday August 11th

Quarry Life Awards

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


Reporting Schedule 1 Species

As the breeding season is now reaching it's end, the ban on reporting breeding Schedule 1 species on site has now been lifted. Thank you to everyone who sent in their reports privately - much appreciated. We are pleased to announce that at least 1 pair of Little Ringed Plovers bred on site this year. Once again, they chose an inaccessible & unobservable nesting spot, but were regularly seen to come and go from the nest. 2 juveniles were present on site at the end of July and observed for around 2 weeks.


Friday July 13th

Kevin Duncan reported a Greenshank today.


Saturday July 14th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, a Bar-headed Goose (escape), 2 Red Kite, 4 Buzzard and a Peregrine today.

Mark also reported a Silver-washed Fritillary on Horton's Mound - the 2nd record this Summer.

5 volunteers met this morning and put up the dragonflies and butterflies painted by the children of Badshot Lea Village Infant School. There are now 30 hidden along the section of our trail that runs through the woods. If you visit site with your kids or grandkids, challenge them to see how many they can find!

We also joined members of the Edwards family and their friends this morning to dedicate the bench they have kindly donated in memory of their daughter Lisa. Thank you once again to the Edwards family for their generosity in supporting the work we do on site.

(c) Richard Seargent - Brimstone
(c) Richard Seargent - Large White
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Enjoying the Edwards Family's Company
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Putting Up The School Kids Artwork


Sunday July 15th

No reports.


Monday July 16th

No reports.


Tuesday July 17th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, a Bar-headed Goose, 2 Red Kite, a Kestrel and 4 Buzzard today.

Over today and tomorrow, Roger Dickey and Mark Cutts held a 24 hour bird ringing session with nets set up in the woods and reed beds. 63 birds were ringed, including 10 re-traps.

Steve Minhinnick and Mark Elsoffer ran the moth trap this evening and trapped 89 moths of 44 species, with 10 new species for the site. This takes our moth list to 203, and our pan-species list to 1,176.



The Moth Trapping Results
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roger & Slasher Ringing
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roger & Slasher Ringing
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roger & Slasher Ringing
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Moth Trapping


Wednesday July 18th

Susan Renaud reported a Treecreeper today - and managed to take the first ever photo of one on site.

(c) Susan Renaud - Brown Argus
(c) Susan Renaud - Gatekeeper
(c) Susan Renaud - Large White
(c) Susan Renaud - Meadow Brown
(c) Susan Renaud - Ringlet
(c) Susan Renaud - Speckled Wood
(c) Susan Renaud - School Kids Artwork
(c) Susan Renaud - School Kids Artwork
(c) Susan Renaud - School Kids Artwork
(c) Susan Renaud - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) Susan Renaud - Nuthatch
(c) Susan Renaud - Treecreeper
(c) Susan Renaud - Treecreeper


Thursday July 19th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Egret, a Common Gull, 3 Buzzard and 2 Red Kite today.

(c) Dina Burford - Grey Heron
(c) Dina Burford - Nuthatch
(c) Dina Burford - Juvenile Robin


Friday July 20th

We were delighted to be able to give a guided tour of the nature reserve and our new Biodiversity Trail to some of the staff and residents from Bells Piece Farnham today.

Bells Piece is a residential care home and day centre for adults with learning difficulties, based in Farnham and run by Leonard Cheshire Disability.

We are now into the third year of our rewarding partnership with Bells Piece, with the resident's Wildflower & Grain Plot proving a huge success, and forming a key feature on our Quarry Life Award Biodiversity Trail.

The Bells Piece Wildflower Plot is a great example of our dual committment to benefit both local wildlife and local people, and is another example of working "beyond quarry borders" to engage the local community.

(c) Kev Campbell - Juvenile Blackcap
(c) Richard Horton - Bells Piece Visitors
(c) Richard Horton - Bells Piece Visitors
(c) Richard Horton - Bells Piece Visitors


Saturday July 21st

Mark Elsoffer reported 3 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover (2 juveniles), a Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Red Kite, 8 Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Peregrine (juvenile) today.

In addition, Dave Baker reported 8 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Coal Tit this morning.

Mark also reported a newly emerged brood of 9 Tufted Duck this morning. This is only the 5th record of Tufted Duck breeding on site, but the 3rd this year.

Kevin Duncan reported the first Wasp Spider of the year.



(c) Mark Elsoffer - Grass Snake Swimming Around Tern Raft


Sunday July 22nd

John Hunt reported 2 Common Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit (not limpy) this morning.

In addition, Sean Foote reported a Mediterranean Gull (juvenile), a Garden Warbler, a Red Kite and a Peregrine this morning.

In addition, a visiting birder reported a Redshank today.

Sean reported a new species for site today:
Four-banded Flower Bee (Anthophora quadrimaculata)

Sean Foote lead a guided walk on site this morning for members of the RSPB Guildford & District Local Group.


Monday July 23rd

Murray Nurse reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, a Teal, 16 Common Tern, a Reed Warbler, a Buzzard, a Red Kite and a Hobby today.

In additon, Leonard Winchcombe reported a Green Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit (limpy) and a Snipe this morning.

Carey Lodge reported a new species for the site today:
Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata)

(c) Carey Lodge - Green-eyed Flower Bee
(c) Carey Lodge - Green-eyed Flower Bee
(c) Carey Lodge - Green-eyed Flower Bee
(c) Carey Lodge - Green-eyed Flower Bee


Tuesday July 24th

Leonard Winchcombe reported 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper this morning.


Wednesday July 25th

Leonard Winchcombe reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher this morning.

In addition, Peter Brown reported 3 Little Egret and 23 Common Tern today.

Peter also reported a Tufted Duck female with 3 young, and a new Coot family with 4 young.


Thursday July 26th

Leonard Winchcombe reported 4 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret this morning.

Len also reported a new brood of 8 Mallard ducklings this morning.

(c) Dina Burford - Greenfinch
(c) Dina Burford - Wildflowers
(c) Dina Burford - Wildflowers


Friday July 27th

Mark Elsoffer reported 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, a Common Gull, a Coal Tit, a Stonechat (juvenile), a Kestrel, 4 Buzzard and 2 Red Kite this afternoon.

Steve Langham found a wasp's nest today that had been raided, possibly by a Badger.

(c) Steve Langham - Raided Wasp's Nest
(c) Paul Mannering - Blackbird
(c) Paul Mannering - Green-veined Whites
(c) Paul Mannering - Juvenile Goldfinch
(c) Paul Mannering - Red Kite
(c) Kev Campbell - Long-tailed Tit
(c) Kev Campbell - Common Tern


Saturday July 28th

John Hunt reported 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Little Egret, a Stonechat and a Peregrine this morning.

Leonard Winchcombe reported a new species for site today: Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi).

(c) John Hunt - Bullfinch Female
(c) John Hunt - Greenfinch
(c) John Hunt - Bullfinch Juvenile
(c) John Hunt - Bullfinch Male
(c) John Hunt - Nuthatch
(c) John Hunt - Common Darter
(c) John Hunt - Fox Moth Caterpillar


Sunday July 29th

No reports.


Monday July 30th

Leonard Winchcombe reported 2 Peregrine (juveniles) this morning.

Kevin Duncan reported another new brood of Tufted Duck today (7 young).


Tuesday July 31st

No reports.


Wednesday August 1st

No reports.
(c) Murray Nurse - Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar
(c) David Glew - Wasp Spider
(c) Murray Nurse - Hornet Mimic Hoverfly
(c) Paul Mannering - Beautiful Demoiselle
(c) Paul Mannering - Common Blue Damselfly
(c) Paul Mannering - Common Darter
(c) Paul Mannering - Wasp Spider


Thursday August 2nd

Kevin Duncan reported a Little Egret, 3 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, a Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler today.

In addition, Susan Renaud reported 5 Bullfinch (4 juveniles and an adult male).

Susan also reported a Small Copper butterfly - the first of the year - laying eggs near the Dragonfly Pond.

(c) Susan Renaud - Juvenile Bullfinches
(c) Susan Renaud - Small Copper


Friday August 3rd

Mark Elsoffer reported 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, a Coal Tit (juvenile), 2 Nuthatch and 2 Buzzard today.

Mark also reported at least 6 Clouded Yellow butterflies in front of Horton's Mound today.

Mark reported 2 cygnets, 4 Great Crested Grebe chicks and 2 broods of Tufted Duck (4 & 4).

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported 5 Gadwall and 2 Common Tern (juveniles) this evening.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Nuthatch


Saturday August 4th

Dave Baker reported a Ringed Plover, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Peregrine (juvenile) this morning.

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported a Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret this evening.

In addition, Sarah Longes reported 3 Redstart today (an adult female and 2 juveniles).

This is only the 7th reported sighting of Redstart on site, but the 2nd this year. This is also a new record count for Redstart on site, with all previous sightings being of individual birds.

Sarah has blogged about her visit here.

(c) Richard Seargent - Wasp Spider
(c) Sarah Longes - Juvenile Redstart
(c) Anthony George - Grass Snake
(c) Anthony George - Painted Lady
(c) Anthony George - Painted Lady
(c) Anthony George - Wasp Spider


Sunday August 5th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Buzzard and a Red Kite today.

24 people enjoyed a Surrey Bird Club guided walk around site this morning lead by Richard Horton.

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


Monday August 6th

No reports.


Tuesday August 7th

No reports.


Wednesday August 8th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egret, 3 Gadwall, a Teal, 2 Coal Tit (1 juvenile), 2 Nuthatch, a Kestrel, 3 Buzzard and 2 Red Kite today.

After a number of frustrating delays (planning issues) today finally saw the erection of our Swift Tower. The tower will provide homes for up to 11 pairs of Swifts. Each box contains a feather-lined nesting cup all ready for use. A solar-powered calling device is ready to add next Spring.

The tower is an integral part of the Blackwater Valley Swifts project being run by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust - 130 new homes for Swifts in the valley, with lots more to come!

We can't say thank you enough to the team from SSEN who erected the tower for us (along with 2 Barn Owl box poles) and donated the pole in the first place.

Thanks to Dick Newell of Action for Swifts for supplying the plans for the nesting box.

Thanks to Trevor Birkett for donating and building the swift calling device.

Thanks also to everyone who worked on this project. A real success for our team.

Let's hope the Swifts like it!

(c) Dina Burford - Feeding Frenzy
(c) Dina Burford - Nuthatch
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Swift Nest Box on it's Final Journey
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The SSEN Convoy
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Digging the Hole
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Digging the Hole
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Manoeuvering the Nest Box
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Almost Up
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Almost Up
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Finished Tower & The SSEN Team


Thursday August 9th

Richard Horton reported 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin and 100s of Hirundines this morning.

In addition, Kevin Duncan reported 3 Ringed Plover this evening.


Friday August 10th

No reports.


Saturday August 11th


Dave Baker reported 7 Pochard and 2 Hobby this morning.

In addition, Mark Elsoffer reported 10 Teal, 3 Gadwall, a Pheasant, 40 House Martin, 12 Sand Martin, 40 Swift, 10 Swallow, 2 Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzard today.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Little Egret and a Hobby this evening.

11 volunteers who turned up for this mornings work party, including newcomers Ellie and Issie who are volunteering at Tice's as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. A new reptile hibernacula was built to the SE of Horton's Mound.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Building the Hibernacula
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Building the Hibernacula
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Building the Hibernacula
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Building the Hibernacula
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Finished Hibernacula

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