Barn Owl at Canons Farm

The male BARN OWL above has been showing well at Canons Farm during the daytime recently. It was first seen on Dec 10th and was again present on the 15th and has now been seen for two days running, on the 20th and 21st. It's likely that when it hasn't been on view it has been in a different part of the barn.

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Staying SNOW BUNTING

Ian Ellis today identified a SNOW BUNTING that has been present just north of the enclosed lagoons at Beddington Farm - initially found but not named by a worker. There is no general access to this area of the site.

Snow Bunting at Beddington today

 Other highlights so far this November...

A flock of 39 Dark-bellied BRENT GEESE flew SW over Canons Farm on Sunday 6th with a single over Beddington on the same day when 5.RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS flew over and the first local Woodcock of the autumn was flushed. The male CETTI'S WARBLER present since October continues to sing in the SW corner of the Main Lake. Today (9th) a drake Mandarin moved from the South Lake to the Main Lake there.

24 of 39 Dark-bellied Brent Geese over Canons Farm on Sunday

A late OSPREY flew over Holmethorpe Sand Pits this afternoon and a female Goldeneye was found on Mercers West Pit this morning - remaining till PM at least - the first of the autumn at in the local area and at the only site in the area where they are not a mega rarity.

A Golden Plover flew over Beddington on Monday when 2.over Holmethorpe was only part of an excellent morning which also involved a 1st-winter LITTLE GULL and a SHORT-EARED OWL.

MEGA LOCAL HOOPOE

A HOOPOE has been present at near Coulsdon at Farthing Downs since Sunday, showing mainly just west of Ditches Lane along paths c550 yards north of the car park. This represents the first local bird in countless years. See Twitter feed on right hand side for regular updates.

Black Kite - first for Sutton area

On July 15th, Johnny Allan and Peter Alfrey photographed an adult BLACK KITE over Beddington Farm as it drifted over before heading north early in the afternoon.

3 WOOD SANDPIPERS dropped in at Beddington yesterday and there is one there today. An impressive passage of Black-tailed Godwits took place at the site between June 28th and July 13th.

A fem/imm.RUDDY DUCK was there on July 9th only. A WHIMBREL was there early in the morning of July 16th before flying SW. Returning passerines started to show up with a juvenile COMMON REDSTART on July 22nd-23rd and Yellow Wagtails on July 14th, 25th (2) and 30th. 3 GARGANEY were present on the south lake on July 23rd and another from July 30th-August 2nd.

Highlights at Canons Farm have been few and far between. A flock of 9 CROSSBILLS flew over on July 10th and a Yellow Wagtail was present July 12th-13th. A Whinchat stayed for the day on July 28th and was joined by a juvenile Stonechat (the latter species also being noted on the 19th). Meadow Pipits were recorded on July 12th, 13th, 18th and 26th.

Holmethorpe was graced by a drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD on July 2nd and Common Terns, Common Sandpipers and Green Sandpipers were recorded regularly over the last month. 5 Redshanks were there on the 12th. Hobbies were seen occasionally throughout July. Juvenile Stonechats were logged on July 16th, 19th, 25th (2) and 28th. 2 Dunlin were at Mercers West Pit on July 18th.

Little has come out of other sites, but an early Wheatear at Farthing Downs on July 29th was noteworthy.

Quail

A QUAIL was found today at Canons Farm in the grassy field just east of the derelict barn on Reads Rest Lane, at TQ 252 576. It was heard singing frequently throughout the day but occasionally would go more than an hour without vocalising. It was seen well by two lucky observers mid afternoon. A Whinchat was in the hedge at the north side of the field.

At Beddington today an outstanding flock (both in size and in time of year) of 11.CROSSBILLS flew SSW late morning.

Iceland Gull at Beddington & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker site

Another immature ICELAND GULL has been returning to Beddington Farm in recent days. It was still present today where 2.Black-tailed Godwits flew over. Other evidence of wader passage included 2.Dunlin at Spynes Mere, Holmethorpe Sand Pits all day. Yesterday the first 2.Willow Warblers of the year were singing at Headley Heath.

A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have been showing every day since last Friday at and just east of Aberdour School at Canons Farm. Early morning is the best time.

DIRECTIONS

Park at Canons Lane (NOT BEYOND CANONS FARMHOUSE) and go through gate just west of Canons Farmhouse, follow the path until you come to the big wheat field. Do not take the path across this field, instead turn left. You should now be able to see the school playing field. The birds have been seen at the edge of the wood at the west side of the field and also around the edge of the circular grassy field just east of the pitches.

Twitchable White-front and first summer migrants arrive

Graham James discovered a 1st-winter WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Holmethorpe Sands Pits this morning. It looks quite settled and favours the field just south of Spynes Mere but when disturbed or the fancy takes the flock as a whole it gets on Spynes Mere itself, too. It was associating with a mixed flock of Greylags and Canada Geese. Also at Holmethorpe, 3.Little Egrets were at The Moors SWT, a Green Sandpiper was seen at Mercers West Pit and Middle Pit and the pair of Shelduck were on both Spynes Mere and Mercers West Pit. A Mediterranean Gull was seen on Mercers Lake.

At Beddington Farm 2 very early migrants were found, a Little Ringed Plover and a Wheatear. An adult Mediterranean Gull was also present there.

At Canons Farm 3.Stonechats were frequenting the fence c.200.metres east of the derelict barn at the junction of Canons Lane/Reads Rest Lane.

First Red Kite of the year

The first local Red Kite of the year was seen flying over Canons Farm late this morning. Also 2 Common Buzzards there and a further 2 at Banstead Woods so raptors were up and around today, until the weather set in in the early afternoon!

Red-crested Pochard at Holmethorpe

A drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD was seen briefly this morning at Water Colour Lagoon 1 before it flew off east. 3 redhead SMEW were still at Mercers West Pit this morning and 2 Little Egrets were at The Moors SWT.

2011

So far nothing particularly exciting has happened. Probably the best bird is a first winter ICELAND GULL that has been seen intermittently at Beddington Farm. A couple of redhead SMEW remain at Holmethorpe along with small numbers of GOLDENEYE. 2 FIRECRESTS remain along the wooded footpath at the west side of Banstead Downs Golf Course accessible via Burdon Lane.