Monday 4 October 2021

Wednesday 1st September to Thursday 30th September

Site Sale Update

On 16th September, the Farnham Herald broke the news that a consortium of local councils are the preferred bidder for Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve.

We have been advised to make no comment beyond the following statement:

"The Tice's Meadow Bird Group understands that a consortium of local councils, led by Surrey County Council, are the preferred bidder for the nature reserve, but beyond that we have no knowledge of the bidding process. Should the bid be successful, we look forward to working closely with the new owners to build on the years of good work already undertaken, and to continue to provide a haven for wildlife and the local community."


(c) Farnham Herald

(c) Farnham Herald



Wednesday 1st September

John Hunt: 2 Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, Garganey, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat & 4 Sand Martin.

Peter Brown: Dunlin, Curlew & Peregrine.

Anon: 2 Yellow Wagtail.

(c) Dina Burford - Wheatear

(c) Dina Burford - Newly Installed Stepping Stones

(c) Trever Saunders - Lizard

(c) Theresa Spiers - Frog


Thursday 2nd September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 5 Snipe, 27 Lapwing, Little Egret, Garganey, 157 Greylag Goose, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat, 4 Yellow Wagtail & a Swift.

Anon: 2 Common Sandpiper.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Great Crested Grebes

(c) Trever Saunders - Common Darter


Friday 3rd September

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 6 Snipe, Little Egret, Garganey, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Swift, 2 Peregrine & a Hobby.

Trever Saunders: Brown Hairstreak.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Great Crested Grebes

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Migrant Hawkers

(c) Colin Varndell - Lord Len's Uber

(c) Dina Burford - Greenshanks

(c) Trever Saunders - Robin

(c) Gillian Bamford - Brown Hairstreak

(c) David Glew - Brown Hairstreak


Saturday 4th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshank (3rd for site, first since 08/09/13), Curlew Sandpiper (3rd for site, first since 07/09/14), 6 Snipe, 35 Lapwing, Garganey, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail & 2 Peregrine.

Andy Little: 5 Greenshank & Great White Egret (12th for site, 2nd this year).

Six volunteers held an impromptu work party this morning, moving and burning all of the willow that Len had cut.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Emperor

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers at Work

(c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret

(c) Andy Little - Great Crested Grebes


Sunday 5th September

Mark Elsoffer: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 3 Little Egret, Great White Egret, Wigeon, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, Stonechat, Yellow Wagtail & Peregrine.

Sean Foote: 14 Buzzard & Swift.

Dina Burford: 3 Arctic Terns (juveniles, 26th for site).

John Hunt: 5 Greenshank & Garganey.

Hilary MacBean: Black-tailed Godwit.

Richard Horton: Clouded Yellow - first of the year.

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Brown Hairstreak.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Common Darters

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Brown Hairstreak

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Common Darter

(c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret

(c) Paul Crook - Coot


Monday 6th September

Dave Baker: Green SandpiperDunlin, Great White Egret, 2 Yellow Wagtail & 3 Hobby.

Richard Horton: Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 3 Little Egret & Garganey.

Dave Baker: Lesser Emperor.

(c) Colin Varndell - Great White Egret

(c) Trever Saunders - Painted Lady

(c) Trever Saunders - Water Stick Insect


Tuesday 7th September

Richard Horton: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, Ruff (15th for site, 2nd this year), Great White Egret & Garganey.

Andy Little: 2 Kingfisher & Hobby.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

(c) Colin Varndell - Common Darter

(c) Colin Varndell - Southern Hawker

(c) Andy Little - Hobby

(c) Andy Little - Kingfishers

(c) Wail Sabbagh - Great Crested Grebes


Wednesday 8th September

John Hunt: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, Great White Egret & Garganey.

Dina Burford: Little Egret & Yellow Wagtail.

(c) John Hunt - Greenshank


Thursday 9th September

Richard Horton: 20 Greenshank (17 flew through, 3 regulars - new site record & highest Surrey count this century).

Andy Little: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret & Yellow Wagtail.

Paul Booker: Wheatear.

Colin Varndell: Peregrine.

Dina Burford: 3 Snipe & Colour ringed Lapwing - ringed as an almost fledged chick at East Tisted (Hants) on 02/06/21, as part of the Waders For Real project.

(c) Colin Varndell - Juvenile Peregrine Chasing Canada Goose

(c) Dina Burford - 17 Greenshanks

(c) Wail Sabbagh - Coot

(c) Paul Booker - Wheatear


Friday 10th September

Andy Little: Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, Kingfisher & Osprey (15th for site, 3rd this year).

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 6 Snipe, Little Egret, Black Tern (adult, 12th for site, first since 26/08/20), Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Raven & Hobby.

(c) Rups Limboo - Jay

(c) Alan David Taylor - Common Blue Damselfly



Saturday 11th September

Dave Baker: 2 Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshank, 4 Snipe, Garganey, Hobby & Peregrine.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

M Bradbury: Pintail (19th for site, first since 29/09/20) & Wheatear.

(c) Colin Varndell - Greenshank

(c) Dina Burford - Hobby

(c) Trever Saunders - Robin


Sunday 12th September

Mark Elsoffer: Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshank, 5 Snipe, Little Egret, 2 Wheatear & Osprey.

John Hunt: Common Sandpiper & Kingfisher.

Dina Burford: 2 Green Sandpiper.

We had the pleasure of showing 12 members of the public around site today as part of Farnham Heritage Open Days.

We supplied a crack team of volunteer marshals for the Farnham Pilgrim’s Marathon today.

(c) John Hunt - Great Crested Grebe with Pike

(c) Andy Little - Marathon Marshals

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Farnham Heritage Open Days Tour

(c) Trever Saunders - Small Copper

(c) Andy Glencross - Grass Snake

(c) Andy Glencross - Small Copper

(c) Jon Hawkins - Canada Geese

(c) Rups Limboo - Nuthatch


Monday 13th September

Richard Seargent: Snipe & Yellow Wagtail.

Richard Horton: Common SandpiperDunlin & Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

(c) Alan David Taylor - Grey Heron


Tuesday 14th September

Colin Varndell: Little Stint (7th for site, first since 04/08/20), 8 Ringed Plover & Peregrine.

(c) Colin Varndell - Common Darters

(c) Colin Varndell - Little Stint & Ringed Plovers


Wednesday 15th September

Leonard Winchcombe: Little Stint & 2 Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: Greenshank, Snipe, Little Egret & Kingfisher.

Mark Elsoffer: Tawny Owl & Barn Owl.

Richard Seargent: Marsh Harrier (female type, 8th for site, first since 30/08/20).

(c) Dina Burford - Kingfisher


Thursday 16th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 8 Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Raven, 2 Hobby & Peregrine.

Dina Burford: Little Egret.

Mark Elsoffer: Brown Hairstreak.

We were delighted to show another group of 10 members of the public around site today as part of Farnham Heritage Open Days.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Migrant Hawker

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Farnham Heritage Open Days Tour

(c) Colin Varndell - Coots

(c) Dina Burford - Dog Vomit Slime Mould

(c) Bert Fish - Wasp Spider


Friday 17th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 6 Snipe, Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, Whinchat, Raven, 2 Barn Owl & Peregrine.

It was our pleasure to host 3 BTEC Countryside Management pupils & 2 teachers from More House School Frensham today. We hope this will be the beginning of another mutually beneficial & rewarding relationship with another local school.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - More House School Visit

(c) Trever Saunders - Common Darter


Saturday 18th September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 5 Snipe, Kingfisher & 4 Swallow.

A massive thank you to the 28 volunteers who attended our work party today. Ranging in age from 5 to 80, and travelling from as far as Somerset! We cleared a huge amount of willow from the reed beds. Well done everyone.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteer Work Party

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteer Work Party

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteer Work Party


Sunday 19th September

Mark Elsoffer: 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 8 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 4 Wigeon, Kingfisher & 3 Stonechat.

We had the great pleasure of giving a guided tour to 16 members of the Surrey Bird Club this morning. As always, they brought the rain with them, but it did brighten up as they left.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey Bird Club Tour

(c) Dina Burford - Kingfisher

(c) Tom Hamilton - Sunset from the Hide

(c) Melanie Nicholls - Common Darter


Monday 20th September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 8 Snipe, Little Egret, 4 Wigeon, Kingfisher, Wheatear, 6 Stonechat & 9 Swallow.

Dina Burford: Brown Hairstreak.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Great Crested Grebes

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Tufted Duck

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Tufted Duck

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Kingfisher

(c) Colin Varndell - Chiffchaff & Stonechat

(c) Gemma MacLennan - Migrant Hawker


Tuesday 21st September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, Little Egret, Wheatear, 6 Stonechat, 3 Swallow, Tawny Owl & Peregrine.

A huge “well done” to Oli who found a Tawny Owl on the road nearby Friday night. It was unconscious so he brought it home, and following advice from the local raptor hospital, he kept it under observation and fed it mice when it regained consciousness. He was able to release it tonight at the Kiln, again following advice from the raptor hospital. After hanging upside for a minute, it flew off deep into the woods. 

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Migrant Hawker

(c) Alec MacIntyre - Common Darters

(c) Colin MacIntyre - Migrant Hawkers

(c) Oli - Tawny Owl

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Tawny Owl

(c) Trever Saunders - Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar


Wednesday 22nd September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, Little Egret, 6 Wigeon, Kingfisher, Wheatear & Yellow Wagtail.

After finding the first Brown Hairstreak butterfly on site in July 2020, Dina Burford has now found the first Brown Hairstreak eggs. The pin-head sized eggs are laid on young Blackthorn shoots, and will remain over winter, before caterpillars hatch in May. This is proof (if we needed it after all the sightings of adults this year), that Brown Hairstreaks are breeding on site.

(c) Dina Burford - Brown Hairstreak Eggs

(c) Trever Saunders - Hawthorn Shield Bug


Thursday 23rd September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, Little Egret & 3 Yellow Wagtail.

We had the pleasure of showing 11 members of Horley U3A Bird Watching Group around site today.

Circa 25 beaver scouts from Hale were on site this evening.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Horley U3A Visit

(c) Colin Varndell - Tufted Duck

(c) Jo Hawkes - Great Crested Grebes


Friday 24th September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, 8 Wigeon, Common Gull, 2 Kingfisher, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 15 House Martin, 4 Kestrel & Peregrine.

Sean Foote: 5 Skylark & Sand Martin.

(c) Badshot Lea Infants School - School Visit


Saturday 25th September

Colin Varndell: Kingfisher.

11 cyclists visited site today as part of Friends of the Earth Blackwater Valley's Big Green Bike Ride.

(c) Colin Varndell - Kingfisher

(c) Colin Varndell - Red Kite


Sunday 26th September


(c) Colin Varndell - Kestrels


Monday 27th September

John Hunt: Kingfisher.

Anon: Green Sandpiper.


Tuesday 28th September

Don Lemmon: 50-60 House Martin & 2 Swallow.

Dina Burford: Snipe & Little Egret.

(c) Dina Burford - Spindle


Wednesday 29th September

Dina Burford: Snipe & 2 Little Grebe.

(c) Colin Varndell - Fox

(c) Paul Booker - Cormorant


Thursday 30th September

Mark Elsoffer: Green Sandpiper & 15 Snipe.

(c) Colin Varndell - View from Horton's Mound

(c) Dina Burford - Snipe