Tuesday 23 April 2019

Monday April 8th to Tuesday April 23rd

BioBlitz

Our annual BioBlitz is being held over the weekend of Friday May 3rd to Sunday May 5th.

This year sees this popular event increase in size, with new activities and more local wildlife groups attending. The BioBlitz is a great opportunity to explore the nature reserve, meet the volunteers, observe the wildlife on site and interact with experts from a variety of local wildlife and conservation groups.

The full schedule and further details here.



Farnham Walking Festival

On Wednesday May 29th, local historian Maurice Hewins is leading a walk entitled "Badshot Lea 1851 to the Present Day" as part of the Farnham Walking Festival. More information, and booking details, here.


Volunteer Work Parties

Our volunteer work party schedule for the next 3 months.

If you have some spare time, do come and help us make Tice's Meadow the best nature reserve in Surrey.




Monday April 8th

(c) Steve Guthrie - Blackbird
(c) Steve Guthrie - Great Tit
(c) Steve Guthrie - Long-tailed Tit
(c) Steve Guthrie - Robin
(c) Steve Guthrie - Roe Deer


Tuesday April 9th

Richard Seargent: Firecrest & Hobby.

Dave Smith: Common Tern & Little Gull.

Firecrest is the 105th species of bird recorded on site this year.
Little Gull is the 106th species of bird recorded on site this year.
Common Tern is the 107th species of bird recorded on site this year.

9th site record of Firecrest, last reported 13/03/18.
17th site record of Little Gull, last reported 10/05/18.


Wednesday April 10th

Richard Horton: 3 Common Tern, Arctic Tern & Yellow Wagtail.

Arctic Tern is the 108th species of bird recorded on site this year.

15th site record of Arctic Tern, last reported 10/05/17.


Thursday April 11th

Kevin Duncan: Whitethroat.

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Stonechat, 4 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Sand Martin, 12 House Martin & 6 Swallow.

Whitethroat is the 109th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Five volunteers cannibalised a mismatched marquee frame and roof, and some old panels from a 3rd marquee, that were all useless, and ended up with a 4m x 4m dining shelter for the BioBlitz. Richard also finished building a new Kestrel nest box.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Shelter Takes Shape


Friday April 12th

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Yellow Wagtail & Hobby.


Saturday April 13th

Richard Seargent: Lapwing, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 280+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat & 3 Red Kite.

Dave Baker: Wheatear.

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat, 2 Yellow Wagtail & 50+ Swallow.

Reed Warbler is the 110th species of bird recorded on site this year.
Garden Warbler is the 111th species of bird recorded on site this year.

Eleven volunteers met this morning for a work party. We cleaned the feeding station, sowed native wildflowers around site and put up 2 Tawny Owl boxes and a Kestrel box.

(c) Dina Burford - Blue Tit
(c) Dina Burford - Calf
(c) Dina Burford - Finches
(c) Dina Burford - Small Tortoiseshell
(c) Steve Guthrie - Song Thrush
(c) Steve Guthrie - Mallards
(c) Steve Guthrie - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) Steve Guthrie - Blue Tit
(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Cows Moove In
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Sowing Wild Flowers
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Well Earned Tea Break
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Dave Erects a Tawny Owl Box


Sunday April 14th

John Hunt: Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, Whitethroat & Wheatear.

Dave Baker reported a colour ringed Black-headed Gull "WN(29L9)" - ringed in the nest on 08/06/14 at Hosehill Lakes, Berks, by TG Ball. This is the first sighting since it was ringed.

(c) John Hunt - Grey Heron
(c) Alex Potts - Dunnock
(c) Alex Potts - Blackbird
(c) Alex Potts - Jay
(c) Alex Potts - Robin


Monday April 15th

Leonard Winchcombe: Shelduck.

 

Tuesday April 16th

Richard Horton: Brent Goose.

Peter Brown: 2 Mediterranean Gull & Reed Warbler.

John Clark: 375 Black-headed Gull, Whitethroat & 2 Willow Warbler.

Brent Goose is the 112th species of bird recorded on site this year.

7th site record of Brent Goose, first since 12/02/17.

The first mallard chicks have fledged - a female was reported with 11 young.

Ten pairs of Canada Geese are on nests.


Wednesday April 17th

Richard Horton: Ring Ouzel.

John Hunt: Green Sandpiper, Brent Goose, 2 Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat & Yellow Wagtail.

Visiting Birder: Barnacle Goose (presumed escape).

Ring Ouzel is the 113th species of bird recorded on site this year.
Lesser Whitethroat is the 114th species of bird recorded on site this year.

5th site record of Ring Ouzel, first since 23/09/17.

(c) John Hunt - Mute Swan


Thursday April 18th

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Brent Goose, Barnacle Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 8 Blackcap & 2 Whitethroat.

Richard Seargent: Arctic Tern.

16th site record of Arctic Tern, last reported 10/04/19.

The mallard family are down to 8 young.

Massive thanks to PC Landscapes for lending us Anthony George and a rotavator to rotavate the Bells Piece Wildflower Meadow - great support from a local company.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Brent Goose
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Barnacle Goose
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Yellow Wagtail
(c) Mark Elsoffer - PC Landscapes Moove In
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Rotavating the Bells Piece Meadow
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Rotavating the Bells Piece Meadow


Friday April 19th

Richard Seargent: Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, Brent Goose, Barnacle Goose, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Tern, 2 Willow Warbler,  9+ Whitethroat, 2+ Reed Warbler & 2 Yellow Wagtail.

(c) Dina Burford - Greenfinch
(c) Gillian Stokes - Wren
(c) Hilary MacBean - Lord Len Fortifies the Obs
(c) Andrew Price - Bullfinch
(c) Andrew Price - Chaffinch
(c) Andrew Price - Greenfinch
(c) Andrew Price - Great Spotted Woodpecker
(c) Andrew Price - Jay


Saturday April 20th

Richard Seargent: Brent Goose, 370+ Black-headed Gull, Garden Warbler & 2 Sedge Warbler.

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 8 Common Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 10 Swallow, 8 House Martin & 6 Sand Martin.

Sedge Warbler is the 115th species of bird recorded on site this year.

(c) Richard Seargent - Misty Morning
(c) Dina Burford - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Yellow Wagtail
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Yellow Wagtail
(c) Susan Renaud - Peacock
(c) Susan Renaud - Reed Bunting
(c) Susan Renaud - Speckled Wood
(c) Shaun Ferguson - Brent Goose
(c) Shaun Ferguson - Great Tit
(c) Shaun Ferguson - Blackcap


Sunday April 21st

Kevin Duncan: Greenshank.

John Hunt: Common Sandpiper, Brent Goose, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Warbler & 2 Peregrine.

Mark Elsoffer: Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Lapwing, Snipe, Little Egret, 2nd Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whitethroat & 6 Swallow.

Steve Minhinnick: 7 Mediterranean Gull & 8 Common Tern.

Whimbrel is the 116th species of bird recorded on site this year.

14th site record of Whimbrel, first since 02/05/18.

Roger Dickey surveyed our nest boxes this morning. 3 adult Great Tits ringed, 3 retraps, all on eggs. Plus 3 other clutches, & 1 recently hatched. Plenty more nests in progress. Thanks Roger!

(c) John Hunt - View from Horton's Mound
(c) John Hunt - Whitethroat
(c) Malcolm Fincham - Whitethroat
(c) Malcolm Fincham - Buzzard
(c) Kev Campbell - Whitethroats
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Mediterranean Gull
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Stonechat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Minhinnick - Whitethroat
(c) Steve Langham - Hedgehog
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roger Ringing a Blue Tit
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Roger Checking a Nest Box
(c) Mark Elsoffer - A Colourful Nest
(c) Mark Elsoffer - Peter with Water for the Hops


Monday April 22nd

The first Coot chicks hatched today.

(c) Gillian Stokes - Speckled Wood
(c) Gillian Stokes - Whitethroat
(c) Kev Campbell - Starling
(c) Kev Campbell - Whitethroat
(c) Anthony George - Bullfinch
(c) Anthony George - House Sparrow
(c) Anthony George - Large Red Damselfly
(c) Anthony George - Peacock
(c) Anthony George - Whitethroat


Tuesday April 23rd

Richard Horton: Brent Goose & Barnacle Goose.

Kevin Duncan: 2 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Bar-tailed Godwit is the 117th species of bird recorded on site this year.

8th site record of Bar-tailed Godwit, first since 02/05/17.