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

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.

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.

MEGA twitchable local COMMON CRANE

At Beddington Farm today a juvenile COMMON CRANE flew in at 10.30am and stayed on the lake till early afternoon at least. The bird was well-twitched (being the first local twitchable bird and one of a very few if any twitchable genuine birds in London and Surrey) and was a stunner. The fifth local MEGA to be found in as many days. A Water Pipit was seen on the lake in the morning and a Little Egret was seen at the south side. Also on the lake while the Crane was showing was a 1st winter drake Wigeon, an Egyptian Goose and 2.Shelduck while 2+Reed Buntings flitted around the edge.

Hat trick achieved

For the third day in a row a new local MEGA has been found. Today it came in the form of a SNOW BUNTING feeding at Beddington with 2.Reed Buntings, 3.Yellowhammers (site rarity) and 80+Linnets. A nice supporting cast to go with it, too (see Twitter feed).

At Holmethorpe one of the redhead SMEW remained on Mercers Lake and the duck GOLDENEYE also remained on Mercers West Pit. This site also had a good supporting cast (see Twitter feed).

Also, 2.WAXWINGS flew west over Priest Hill, Ewell today.

Another day of good movement

Another local MEGA today was found in the snow: 4.PINK-FOOTED GEESE at Holmethorpe Sand Pits for 1.5 hours then flew SW. Unfortunately, the observer did not have his mobile with him at the time so could not release the news.

Beddington got a bit of excitement today with a GREY PLOVER, 2.CURLEWS and 3.Ruffs on the lake today with a good supporting cast (see Twitter feed).

Cold weather causes MEGA local movement

Local MEGAS have been plentiful today following the freak weather conditions for the time of year. Top of the bill goes to the flock of 14.BEAN GEESE that flew over Beddington Farm this morning. This is the first record for the Sutton area in a very long time. Also at Beddington today were two significant local birds: 3.GREY PLOVERS and 2.GOOSANDERS (drake and redhead). This was backed up by a supporting cast of moving birds which included 3.Dunlin, 60+Northern Lapwings, 100+Fieldfares and 50+Skylarks.

Holmethorpe Sand Pits notched up an impressive tally today with wildfowl again taking precedence. 3.redhead SMEW were seen today on Mercers Lake at the NE end. A female GOLDENEYE was at Mercers West Pit and a flock of 14.PINTAIL were seen to fly west while 3.GOLDEN PLOVERS flew SW.

Canons Farm was disappointing with the only noticeable movement being a single Northern Lapwing that flew east. Also there today was a Common Buzzard, a Little Owl and a Grey Heron.

Recent highlights

Common (Mealy) Redpoll (bottom right) with Lesser Redpolls

At Headley Heath, a huge flock of c.400.Lesser Redpolls was discovered on Sunday containing several COMMON (MEALY) REDPOLLS, today double figures of Mealies were present with the huge Redpoll flock. Also 1.Bullfinch there today.

DIRECTIONS:

Park at the car park near the village, opposite the cricket pitch and walk SW, you will pass a clear stony area and today the birds were flocking in the area that you will reach if you continue on, bearing left at the clear stony area.

Waxwings

Near Epsom Downs, off Tattenham Crescent, at Shawley Crescent a small flock of 5.WAXWINGS were discovered on Friday. On Saturday morning the flock swelled to 11. and all birds were still present this morning. Park at Shawley Crescent and there is an obvious green area on a slope. There is a rowan tree with a mistletoe in it and this is the tree that the birds favour. They can also get in the taller trees surrounding so make sure you check all these too.


At Banstead Downs recently the Firecrests have been seen to return for the winter at the golf course west of the A217. Park at Banstead Downs Golf Club and walk along the wooded footpath at the west side of the site bordering the gardens of The Drive. The birds are normally somewhere around half way but can be found pretty much anywhere along that path.


At Canons Farm recent highlights have included a male HEN HARRIER, a SHORT-EARED OWL and a CORN BUNTING but all have been quite brief.


Sites not covered here in detail unless a significant local rarity turns up there are as follows:
Beddington Farm - plenty of info on www.diporglory.co.uk
Canons Farm and Banstead Woods - plenty of info on canonsfarm.wikia.com
Holmethorpe Sand Pits - plenty of info on holmethorpe.blogspot.com