MEGA: Trip of DOTTERELS

Yesterday a trip of 15 DOTTERELS pitched down in Heathside Field at Canons Farm - the first for the local area and the first for Surrey since 1884 this was a true local MEGA and these birds were truly jaw-dropping. Sadly no sign today...

Local megas this spring (so far): Pied Fly and Bittern

One of the highlights of the spring was the male Pied Flycatcher at Pages Acre at Canons Farm on April 21st, but there was an under two hour window between it being found and it last being seen in which to rush over and see the bird so many were disappointed. This was the first (almost) twitchable local area bird for nearly ten years.

Also popular and even more of a local mega was the Bittern at Beddington Farm on March 28th, showing well on an island on the main lake for much of the day

GREAT WHITE EGRET at Beddington

On Monday this GREAT WHITE EGRET made a relatively brief appearance at Beddington Farm, and a first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL showed on the same day (after being missing for over a week), as well as 3 ICELAND GULLS and 3 CURLEWS (these have been around since the cold snap).

GREAT WHITE EGRET

GLAUCOUS GULL

Kingswood Grey Wagtail 11/02/2012

A scarce bird for this part of the local area, and just outside of the CFBW recording area

Recent highlights - 2012 so far

Note that the area we cover has changed - it's now a 12.5km radius around south Sutton.

Beddington: CETTI'S WARBLER still around; a BRENT GOOSE over on the 16th and three ICELAND GULLS wintering. Also Jack Snipe, Water Pipit, Caspian Gull, Little Egret, Shelduck, Med Gull and Yellow-legged Gull have been on site.

Canons Farm: 2 MEALY REDPOLLS on the 1st; BARN OWL showing intermittently. Also 2 Bramblings early in the month

Holmethorpe: SMEW today; GARGANEY early on; SNOW BUNTING briefly; GOLDENEYE wintering; ICELAND GULL showed twice. Also Jack Snipe, Little Egret, Shelduck, Med Gull etc present.

Other sites: 1-2 FIRECRESTS at Banstead Downs; Caspian Gull reported at Wimbledon Park; Little Egret in Ewell. No reported sightings of Sutton Peregrines yet.