Friday 11 January 2019

Tuesday December 18th to Friday January 11th

Randon's Ramblings

We are proud to have won "Patch of the Year" in Neil Randon's annual Randon's Ramblings Awards. Read all about the awards and all the winners on Neil's excellent blog.



Tuesday December 18th

No reports.


Wednesday December 19th

Richard Seargent: Green Sandpiper, 2 Chiffchaff & Peregrine.


Thursday December 20th

Mark Elsoffer: 4 Pochard, Little Grebe, 8 Bullfinch, 12 Meadow Pipit, 20 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard & Kestrel.

Leonard Winchcombe: 2 Red Kite.

Ray has once again been hard at work, this time cutting back the bramble around the Dragonfly Pond. The Community Payback team have also been clearing the river by Pea Bridge.

The pink marks you may see on trees in the woods are indicators for tree thinning that will be undertaken soon to allow a proper understory to develop in the woods.


(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Dragonfly Pond


Friday December 21st

No reports.


Saturday December 22nd

Mark Elsoffer: Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 98 Lapwing, Little Egret, Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Peregrine.

Roger Dickey: 21 Snipe.

Dave Baker: 6 Stonechat.

Richard Seargent: Chiffchaff.

Steve Minhinnick: 2 Siskin.

Today we held a social gathering to wish a Merry Christmas to all of our volunteers and supporters, and celebrate the official opening of our new shelter. We were delighted to have the shelter opened by Alan Wynde of Farnham Weyside Rotary Club, who have generously supported the project.

We also conducted the first official Snipe survey of the Meadow today. Transects were walked dragging a 25m long rope, with 21 Snipe counted, thanks to the help of Roger Dickey and Mark Cutts. This survey will be repeated monthly each winter and records submitted to the BTO.

(c) John Hunt - Bullfinch
(c) Carey Lodge - Hazel
(c) Carey Lodge - Hazel
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Snipe Survey
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Christmas Drinks
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Shelter Being Opened by Alan Wynde
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Christmas Drinks
(c) Rustam Khan - Chaffinch
(c) Rustam Khan - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) Rustam Khan - Long-tailed Tit
(c) Mark Cutts - Snipe Surveyors
(c) Mark Cutts - Snipe Surveyors
(c) Mark Cutts - Shelter Grand Opening
(c) Mark Cutts - The Shelter Being Opened by Alan Wynde


Sunday December 23rd

Some excellent aerial views of site thanks to Kyle Russell.

Please note: the flying of drones on site is not allowed, unless with the express permission of the landowner Hanson.

(c) Kyle Russell - The Workings
(c) Kyle Russell - The Workings
(c) Kyle Russell - The Eastern Silt Pond


Monday December 24th

Richard Seargent: Dunlin & Water Rail.


Tuesday December 25th

No reports.


Wednesday December 26th

No reports.


Thursday December 27th

Mark Elsoffer: Dunlin, 3 Green Sandpiper, Snipe, 62 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, 34 Pochard, Little Grebe, Stonechat, 32 Collared Dove, 12 Siskin, 2 Raven, 10 Fieldfare, Kestrel & 2 Buzzard.


Friday December 28th

No reports.


Saturday December 29th

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Green Sandpiper, Snipe, 350 Lapwing, Little Egret, 26 Pochard, Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin & Buzzard.

(c) Dina Burford - 2 of the New Calves
(c) Dina Burford - Hybrid Canada x Greylag Goose
(c) Dina Burford - Goldfinches
(c) Corrine Edwards - Misty Evening


Sunday December 30th

Richard Seargent: 169 Lapwing, 15 Mallard, 39 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 32 Wigeon, 27 Pochard, 67 Tufted Duck, 2 Chiffchaff & 2 Siskin.

John Hunt: Green Sandpiper.

(c) John Hunt - Bullfinch
(c) John Hunt - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) John Hunt - Siskin
(c) Craig Nobbs - Bullfinch
(c) Craig Nobbs - Coot
(c) Murray Nurse - Egpytian Goose


Monday December 31st

Jort Brough: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Little Egret & 4 Siskin.

We finished the year with a site list of 135 species. This is the lowest total since 2013 - initial thoughts are that this low count reflects national trends and is not indicative of the state of the habitats on site.


(c) Craig Nobbs - The Herd in the Meadow
(c) Craig Nobbs - Muddy Track
(c) Craig Nobbs - The Reed Beds


Tuesday January 1st

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 187 Lapwing, Little Egret, 7 Mallard, 35 Tufted Duck, 40 Teal, 61 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 22 Pochard, 27 Collared Dove, 5 Siskin, 28 Fieldfare, 2 Raven, 3 Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Buzzard & a Peregrine.

Peter Brown: Grey Wagtail.

(c) Steve Minhinnick - Raven
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Two-headed Canada Goose
(c) Anthony George - Nuthatch
(c) Anthony George - Long-tailed Tit
(c) Anthony George - Bullfinch & Great Tit
(c) Kev Campbell - Buzzard
(c) Kev Campbell - Dunnock
(c) Kev Campbell - Green Sandpiper
(c) Kev Campbell - Bullfinch


Wednesday January 2nd

No reports.


Thursday January 3rd

Visiting Birder: 2 Green Sandpiper & 9 Siskin.


Friday January 4th

No reports.


Saturday January 5th


Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, Water Rail, 10 Pochard, 8 Siskin, 27 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 30 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & 2 Red Kite.

Visting Birder: Red-crested Pochard (f).

If accepted, this would be only the 3rd recorded sighting of Red-crested Pochard on site.


Sunday January 6th

No reports.


Monday January 7th


(c) Dina Burford - Bullfinch
(c) Dina Burford - Siskins
(c) Dina Burford - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) Dina Burford - Mute Swan


Tuesday January 8th


(c) Susan Renaud - Blue Tit
(c) Susan Renaud - Bullfinch
(c) Susan Renaud - Bullfinch
(c) Susan Renaud - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) Susan Renaud - Nuthatch
(c) Paul Mannering - Bullfinch
(c) Paul Mannering - Great Spotted Woodpecker


Wednesday January 9th

Kyle Russell: Little Egret.

(c) Kyle Russell - Little Egret
(c) Kyle Russell - The Reed Beds
(c) Kyle Russell - The Workings


Thursday January 10th

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 9 Pochard, 46 Collared Dove, Goldcrest, 5 Fieldfare, Pheasant, Raven, Kestrel, Buzzard & Red Kite.

Peter Brown: Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff & 6 Siskin.

The count of 46 Collared Dove is a new site record.

Three different local residents reported hearing a lot of Tawny Owl calls coming from Lisa's Wood recently.

The Hampshire Community Payback team continue to do a great job clearing the River Blackwater near Pea Bridge. They plan to put some logs and other features back in when finished, and will litter pick the whole stretch.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Recently Cleared River


Friday January 11th

No reports.