BEDDINGTON, SURREY AND BEYOND

IF YOU DONT LIKE GULLS LOOK AWAY NOW

2012-01-25T12:40:00.000-08:00

No new Gulls today but the 1w Iceland came a bit closer. The light still poor but I had great views of all three birds with the Monk, T Bros and Batman.

The 1w bird showing the coarse markings on the mantle coverts and tertials and you can just make out some of the barred undertail coverts and dark eye.

The two 2w Iceland Gulls (above and below)

A brace of Iceland Gulls on the south lake

Scopes trained on an Iceland Gull

The Med Gulls head is getting darker

FOUR WHITE-WINGERS !

2012-01-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

Well, one of them was a Med ! The two 2w Iceland Gulls came close today but the light was poor. The 1w was about but stayed distant.

The 1w bird getting used to the facilities

Above, the 'darker of the two 2w Iceland Gulls, below, the 'whiter' bird. Shame the light wasn't better.

TRICELAND GULLS PART 2

2012-01-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

As we had the two 2w Iceland Gulls on Friday and Ninja had the 1w Kumlien's in the Friday roost at Walton and then a 1w Glauc was at Walton yesterday and an ad and 1w Iceland Gull were reported at Queen Mary Res roost yesterday, it was a safe bet that we'd have white-wingers again today. I scanned the Gulls with the Monk, Prof and Devil Birder. The second 2w Iceland Gull turned up first then a new bird, a first winter appeared. Finally the first 2w bird turned up and at one time, we had three Iceland Gulls on the main lake. Surely more white-wingers to come.

1st winter Iceland Gull. Note coarse markings to mantle, coverts and tertials and creamy white primaries

The two 2w birds. Better pics in previous blog

http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/2012/01/same-again.html

SAME AGAIN

2012-01-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

The two 2w Iceland Gulls were present again today and I managed to get a better pic of the two together on the south lake. Frustratingly, I couldn't find the Kumlien's which has been picked up by Ninja twice in the Walton roost this week. No Caspos, YLGs or Meds either but I know they're out there somewhere.

The two 2w Iceland Gulls on the south lake

'New kid on the block' above, 'Old whitey' below

NICELAND

2012-01-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

Over the farm with T Bros, Bulldog and Soixanteneuf today. It started of miserably with low cloud and rain. I picked up one of the 2w Iceland Gulls on the island on the main lake and while I was watching it, the second bird walked past ! Damn ! I've been wanting to get a picture of two birds together but the second one wouldn't stay close. It was raining heavily and the light was bad so I got a record shot with both birds in it. Later on, the whiter of the Iceland Gulls showed well on the south lake.

One of today's two 2w Iceland Gull. This is whiter than the other bird (http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/2012/01/ice-pic.html), with a paler iris and whiter primaries and coverts. I believe it is the same bird which has been present on and off since November. Like first winter birds, it abrades whiter during the course of the winter.

Yes, there are two 2w Iceland Gulls in this record shot. X marks the spots.

This Jack Snipe showed distantly in a dark corner on an island on the main lake.

The Water Rail continues to show well by the hide.

FROM 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' TO 'DUMDUM BULLETS' !

2012-01-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

It was myself and T Bros holding the fort at the farm today. One of the 2w Iceland Gulls was on the main lake, then later on on the south lake. Nothing new was found but we were going through the Gulls as usual talking about nothing in particular but testing each other on general knowledge in between discussing any interesting Gull we could find (which weren't many today).

Anyway, how did we get from 'The Biggest Loser' television programme to dumdum bullets ? Ok, It was first mentioned that The Biggest Loser seems to be about a load of obese people in a blubbing contest and from that we got onto the subject of diet and calories and then the health of people on rations in the second world war. The question was asked, were fish and chips available during the second world war? The answer is yes, amazingly fish was not rationed and potatoes must have been readily available. The attention was then turned to fish, do vegetarians eat fish? Well some do but some don't and we supposed that vegans don't as they don't consume animal products. Now from vegans not consuming animal products we got to wondering if they wore leather shoes etc? We didn't know but the discussion on animal products quite naturally moved to the Indian or Sepoy mutiny of 1857. Now this kicked of partly because of a rumour that the new cartridge for the latest British Enfield musket was coated in animal grease. This pissed off the Hindus who thought it might be cow fat, and the Muslims who thought it might be pig fat. Now the arsenal where the cartridges were distributed was at Dum Dum near Calcutta and later on a hollow nosed expanding bullet was produced at this arsenal and that's where the name for this type of bullet comes from !

So there you have it, from The Biggest Loser to dumdum bullets. What a centre of enlightenment Beddington SF is (as well as getting lots of good birds).

Iceland Gull on the south lake. Don't forget to check the south lake for Gulls and other stuff if you're visiting. It's held many good birds.

BRENT BRINGS JOY FOR POSH AND PROF

2012-01-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised when the easterlies brought an unusual gathering of Beddington birders to the farm today. I was joined by Kojak, Dodge, Prof, Brief, Posh, Vicarman, Devil Birder and guest birder Gordon 'Benny' Beck. This was good, it meant I could concentrate on scoping the Gulls without worrying about missing flyovers. There have been a few Geese about to our east for the past couple of days and it wasn't too long before I was disturbed from Gulling by cries of 'Brent!'. Nice, a Brent Goose circled over a couple of times before heading south.

Brent Geese are less than annual at Beddington and pretty scarce in January, It's been a while since we had a big flock over. This bird was a Beddington tick for Posh (who got his first Surrey bird at Walton last year), and Prof. The two 2w Iceland Gulls turned up, although one was distant on the tip, and the Cetti's gave a brief burst by the main lake, announcing that it was still present. I received a message from Martin 'North Ron' Gray that a rostrata/islandica Redpoll had been trapped in the Leith Hill area along with a hundred plus flammea. Quite what it is that is attracting these birds to this spot I don't know, I'll get down there some time, I can see them bagging an exilipes at some stage. We also had two RAF Puma Helicopters over (see below). A nice day.

An adult dark-bellied Brent Goose

One of two RAF Puma Helicopters that flew over

SATURDAY

2012-01-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

Nothing spesh today. One of the Iceland Gulls turned up on the south lake for a change.

Iceland Gull on south lake. If you're visiting Beddington, don't forget to check the Gulls on the south lake.

Our first Common Buzzard of the year says hello to some of our corvids

Gulls like standing on ice

Beddington folklore used to say that if you saw the cross in the sky, you wouldn't see a good bird that day. It's more likely Scottish airline pilots having a laugh.

SAME AS

2012-01-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

More of the same today, the Kumlien's showed on the main lake just before 8am and disappeared over the tip just after. I first saw the 'whiter' 2w Iceland Gull at 8:45am and it was around for about half an hour. It appeared again in the afternoon. A couple of Yellow-legged Gulls seen.

The Kumlien's showed early but distantly

The 'whiter' of the two 2w Iceland Gulls

A 4w or 'near adult' Yellow-legged Gull. It has some brown wash on the inner greater coverts and lower tertials and a black sub terminal mark on the bill

Vole killer ! I tried to make it drop the Vole but it legged it.

ICE PIC 2

2012-01-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

The first 2w Iceland Gull showed a bit closer today. It's whiter than the second bird with less brown spots and marks on the upperparts and no brown marks on the primaries.

This is a Gull version of 'Where's Wally'. Can you spot the 2w Iceland Gull ?

ICE PIC

2012-01-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

One of the two 2w Iceland Gulls showed well this afternoon

SUNDAY ICELAND

2012-01-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

One of the 2w Iceland Gulls put in an appearance today, flying over the mound and the lakes. I think it's the first one due to the contrast between the primaries and secondaries. It also appears larger than the second bird we had.

Above is the 2w Iceland Gull at Holmethorpe yesterday (pic by Graham 'H Bomber' James). It looks a lot like our second 2w Iceland Gull which turned up at Beddington the day before (below). Holmethorpe has had an Iceland Gull seen at Beddington before and Ninja regularly pics up white-wingers, seen at Beddington, at the Gull roost on the Walton Res's.

TRICELAND GULLS

2012-01-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Over the farm with Dodge and Bulldog today, the Kumlien's Gull appeared on the lake. We have a new, temporary assistant to Clippy the site Ecologist, Stuart 'Stewpot' Elsom, whom I've know for about thirty years and he was on site doing his first census so I alerted him and he was soon with us. Pyro also turned up, having not caught up with the Kumlien's yet, but alas it had buggered off.

While we were scanning for it I picked up the 2w bird so that was a bit of compensation. However, whilst we were watching it, I heard Stewpot exclaim 'another white-winger coming in'. I thought it was going to be the Kumlien's but, amazingly, it was another 2w Iceland Gull. We enjoyed this new bird and it eventually disappeared, with the other one, to be replaced again with the Kumlien's, much to Pyro and Stewpot's relief. This is the first time we've had three Iceland Gulls in one day and there's plenty of time for more. Later on, Canons Farm crew member Ian 'Eagle' Jones turned up and picked up one of the 2w birds for his Surrey list. A good day but no Caspos seen.

The Kumlien's digiscoped

The latest 2w Iceland Gull digiscoped. It has more browny patches on the mantle than the other, whiter, bird

The original 2w bird. Distant as usual, I was going to digiscope it when the second bird dropped in

I found this cheeky Wood Mouse in our seed bin this morning

CASPO AGAIN

2012-01-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

The two 1w Caspos, which were first seen on Tuesday http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/2012/01/brace-of-caspos.html, put in an appearance again today. I was able to get better pics of the darker bird yesterday and I managed to digiscope the paler bird today.

This bird has more washed out coverts than some and paler, browner, tertial centres

Note the usual head and bill shape, the whiter head and contrasting neck 'shawl'. Although the coverts are somewhat washed out, there is still some contrast with the greyer mantle and scapulars

The solid centres to the coverts and tertials can be seen here

HERE COME THE GULLS

2012-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Two Iceland Gulls, a Caspo, four Yellow-legged Gulls and a Med today. There seems to be a lot more Gulls since Christmas and at least 175 Greater Black-backed Gulls were present today.

The 1w Caspo with the pale culmen and bill tip, seen yesterday, showed closer today. It has a very prominent neck 'shawl' contrasting with the white head.

This bird behaved aggressively towards other Gulls.

The 2w Iceland Gull only showed distantly today but it stands out.

The ad Med has some yellow staining on the inner secondaries of it's right wing.

You can see the darker outer webs to the outer primaries on this Kumlien's Iceland Gull

One of the things to look for on Kumlien's is the outer primaries being darker than the inner wing, on glaucoides they're paler.

Kumlien's Gull over the tip.

An interesting Herring Gull. It was distant on the deck but had paleish primaries with paler fringes. In flight the wings had a uniform look. Is this indicative of a northern bird ?

A BRACE OF CASPOS

2012-01-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

Two 1st winter type Caspos today in wet and windy conditions that brought nothing special to our shores. The birds appeared to be different to our last 1st winter before the new year I think.

The first Caspo. Apart from the usual white headed contrasting against the 'shawl', pear shaped snouty look with longish narrow bill grey mantled with contrasting browner coverts etc etc, this bird had a pale culmen extending to the tip of the bill.

The second 1st winter Caspo. It had a paler, less contrasty look about it than the first bird. I thought it may be a retarded 2nd winter when I first saw it but it's not.

In flight note less of the pale 'window' on the inner primaries compared with Herring Gull.

Paleish underwings but not all Caspos have these. Note the 'snouty' look, which often reminds me of Slender-billed Gull, and the white head contrasting with the neck 'shawl'

Two of the three Little Egret on the south lake

TEAL OR NO TEAL

2012-01-02T13:25:00.001-08:00

Late afternoon on Sunday I heard that a possible Blue-winged Teal or hybrid had been seen down at Cutt Mill. Later that evening I received a video clip off the bird, which did not look like a Blue-winged Teal, but I decided to go and have a look at it the next day out of interest.

The bird was still present and four observers were on it when I arrived. The bird looked more BWTish in the flesh but was not quite right. It certainly had the pale blue upper forewings but only the top part of it's head looked right and it only had a bit of a facial crescent on a rufous face. It's mantle and flanks seemed to show a BWT pattern but were pretty rufous and the pale spot towards the stern was faint. It had yellow legs, a dark bill and was unringed.

Desperate for the possibility of a Surrey tick, I toyed with the idea of this being some kind of sub-adult plumage which I was unfamiliar with but the rufous tone to this bird, taken with the other anomalies, led me to think that Cinnamon Teal was involved. Later on when I got home, a quick google image search led me to be pretty sure that the bird is a Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal hybrid. A good image is here:
http://stubblefieldphoto.photoshelter.com/image/I00000ZjHbzJqcSQ

Unfortunately, the bird was distant in deep shade all of the time, didn't show really well so my pics are pretty bad but should give you some idea.

Two of the three Goosander which flew over Cutt Mill pond when I was there

Pyro had turned up at Cutt Mill and then we went to Thursley Common. Naturally, we did not see the Great Grey Shrike and it was irritating to see people flying a kite on Shrike Hill. Is the shape of things to come at our National Nature Reserves ?

A NEW SURREY YEAR LIST RECORD IN 2011

2012-01-02T13:14:00.000-08:00

My aim was to beat my 2010 record total and hopefully reach 200, having missed a few birds. Here is a brief account:

January

Started well with Whitefronts on the 1st, it took me 364.5 days in 2010, .5 days in 2011. Other notable birds included the Bewick's Swans at Cobham and the Eider at Bucklands. I also managed to slip out of Surrey for the Northern Harrier in Norfolk and the putative Slaty-backed Gull at Rainham. Year list 110

The putative Slaty-backed Gull on the right.

February

A few extra birds added, the Great Grey Shrike at Thursley took five attempts but best birds were Kittiwake at Walton and Grey Plover at Beddington. I also made my next foray out of Surrey to see an Oriental Turtle Dove, having previously seen Rufous Turtle Dove on Orkney in 2002. Year list 121

'Oriental' Turtle Dove in Oxon

March

Migrants started to come in by the end of this month by which time I'd had Common Scoter at Frensham plus Avocet at the London Wetland Centre having dipped two at Walton. Year list 136

April

Many more migrants this month, including difficult species such as Bar-tailed Godwit and Little Tern. Amazingly, I heard but didn't see two Common Cranes that flew over Beddington but saw one not long after. Year list 162

May

May is where the year ticks start to slow down but I added difficult species such as Turnstone, Sanderling, Arctic Tern and Raven. In normal years I could just go to suitable habo and find Dartfords but after two snow covered, cold, winters, I heard of a spot to see them on Chobham Common. Year list 166

June

Apart from an evening trip to see Nightjar and Woodcock, I picked up Turtle Dove, which is becoming more and more scarce in Surrey, plus Quail (second bird after only hearing the first), and Black-tailed Godwit. I also got to see the White-throated Robin in Hartlepool, one of the most amazing twitches i've been to and the White-winged Scoter in Scotland Year list 177

The White-throated Robin, Hartlepool headland

No barrier can keep a birder from his quarry

I was only trying to snap the Hough Gun Battery

The White-winged Scoter

July

A couple of quality birds this month in the shape of Surrey's fifth Red-rumped Swallow, found by Brian Milton at Unstead SF and, my Beddington dream bird, a Black Kite, Surrey's fourth and found by myself. It turned out to be my only Surrey life tick of the year. I rounded the month's year ticks off with a Whimbrel. Surrey year list 180

August

By this time off the year, you're looking for good birds and I managed to bag a couple in the shape of a Hoopoe, only my third in Surrey and a nice get back having been cheated out of one in 2010, and my third Surrey Wryneck. A Little Stint turned up at Beddington, which was a bonus for the month.

September

September is a month of waders and so it came to pass when I bagged Spot Red at the London Wetland Centre, Knot at Walton, a very welcome Grey Phalarope at Frensham plus I found a Curlew Sandpiper and my fourth Pec Sand at Beddington plus an Osprey to boot. I even got over to Weir Wood to see the Long-toed Squint on the day it's ID was confirmed. Surrey year list 189

Crippling views of the Long-toed Squint

October

The run of good birds continued when I picked up a Spotted Crake at Beddington then a Yellow-browed Warbler at Newdigate but the best day was on the 25th when I started off with a Short-eared Owl at Beddington, continued with two Hen Harrier at Thursley and finished off when Dave 'The Walton Ninja' Harris found Surrey's sixth record of Shorelark at Walton. Unfortunately, Shorelark wasn't a Surrey tick for me having seen the 85 Barn Elms bird. Sadly I dipped the Rufous-tailed Robin in Norfolk (but saw another Red-flanked Blutail), and the Cornish Tanager but I finished the month just two species away from a new Surrey year list record. Surrey year list 194

The Red-flanked Bluetail at Holme

November

November started well with two Brent Geese at Walton (followed by more at Beddington), just one to go for the record. I beat my old record when a superb male Snow Bunting turned up at Beddington (my third there in three years), 196 it was. There was just over seven weeks to go and many species possible to get me to 200. My next bird in November was Bearded Tit, which I caught up with at the London Wetland Centre. Surrey year list 197

December

It was a great start to December when I bagged a superb adult Glaucous Gull at Beddington on the 1st. 198 with over four weeks to go. Alas, that was it. The mild weather didn't help and the extra Divers, Grebes, Ducks etc I needed just didn't turn up. Maybe I'll have another go for 200 some time. It may just be possible.

As always, many thanks for all the help and encouragement received throughout the year. Special thanks, as always, goes to the patch watchers and I have to mention Dave 'The Walton Ninja' Harris, Gerry 'Gerrycola' Hinchon, Shaun 'Dunnockman' Peters, Graham 'H Bomber' James, Martin 'North Ron' Gray, David 'Devil Birder' Campbell, Gordon 'PP' Haye and Steve 'Captain Hurricane' Spooner, the Tice's Meadow Crew, the Holmethorpe Crew and not forgetting all of the Beddington massive and all Surrey birders I have missed out. See you all in Surrey soon.

TWO FOR THE ICE OF ONE

2011-12-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

The return to tipping after the bank holiday must have brought a bonus for the gulls who were out in force today after two lean days, there seems to be an increase in Greater Blacked-backs. The two Iceland Gulls which have been showing sporadically in recent times, one first winter Kumlien's type and one second winter, put in an appearance. They appear to be abrading whiter as the winter progresses. Also our first Red Kite for a long time flew over, but without lingering.

WHAT A RAIL

2011-12-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

The Water Rail which lives by the lake was showing well today.

GULLS ALOUD

2011-12-22T11:28:00.000-08:00

Usual hunt today, searching for a Lap bunt on the mound, looking through the Teal for a Green-winged and searching the bushes for a Long-eared Owl. No joy so back to the Gulls. A second winter Iceland Gull appeared on the lake, it's over five weeks since we had a second winter bird and I'm not sure if it's the same or different yet, where has it been ? More interesting is what I think is a good candidate for a 1st winter 'Viking Gull', that is a hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull.

Note the long primary projection and bi-coloured bill

Putative 'Viking Gull'. This bird was a whopper and bigger than the Herring Gulls. It reminded me of the adult Glauc we had the other week

It had the pink based, black tipped bill of a Glauc, quite pinky legs, paleish mantle, coverts and tertials but blackish primaries and tail band. If you took the head and stuck it on a pure Glauc, you wouldn't know the difference.

SPORADIC GULL

2011-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

The Kumlien's type Iceland Gull put in it's fourth appearance in three weeks and it's never shown for more than a few minutes, at most, each time. The light was strong and the bird came closer but would not pose at a good angle with the light to show off all of it's features. Does it go anywhere else ? It's been seen once at the Walton roost (on the same evening as an adult Iceland Gull which we've not had a sniff of). More pics here:
http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/2011/11/gulls-gulls-gulls.html

WILLOW THE WISP

2011-12-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

Following the sighting of Willow Tit by Donkey Green at Box Hill at the end of last week, I went over this morning to have a look. Marsh Tits were easy to find but, alas, no sight or sound of a Willow in the three hours I was there.

I was wondering how much longer to give it when the Monk phoned to tell me that the Kumlien's type Gull was showing again at Beddington. I needed no further excuse and returned to base. Unfortunately the bird had disappeared onto the tip and, despite searching, we could not re-locate it. I'd like to get more pics of this interesting bird.

BEDDINGTON THE GULL HEAVEN THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

2011-12-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

Over the farm today and the Gull hunt continued. This time of year the Gull numbers are in their thousands and unusual birds are regularly turned up if you have the patience to go through them. The first winter Iceland Gull which shows features of Kumlien's appeared on the lake briefly and T Bros also managed to see it before it disappeared again, just before Prof arrived.

A period of time passed, trying to re-locate the bird and anything else that might be in the flock. After a while, Prof indicated that he had a white-winger at the back of the lake. I looked to the spot he described, expecting to see the Iceland Gull, but instead saw an adult Gull with white primaries. It quickly disappeared behind an island but we discerned that it was large and pale and resembled an adult Glaucous Gull. After a further wait the bird flew to the tip but didn't come close. I'd taken pics and it was either a Glauc or a leucistic bird. We have had Herring Gulls with white primaries and other birds with various amounts of white before so I'm always wary of a bird which I haven't had a good look at. The bird had little or no streaking on the head and adult Glaucous Gulls are not common inland, we've had many Glaucs at Beddington, but all first winters. It did look promising though.

More time passed and no further sign. I stayed by the main lake and Prof went down to the south lake. After a while he phoned to say he had the bird again. I made my way down and was just arriving when the bird took off, the only one out of all the gulls there to do so. I'd had a quick look just as it took off and it was genuinely a large bird and had reddish pink legs, I also took more pics as it headed back to the tip. It was definitely an adult Glaucous Gull, the first adult recorded at Beddington.

What a week for Gulls, we've had three different Caspos, a possible Kumlien's and an adult Glauc plus a couple of Meds and the odd Yellow-legged Gull.
NEW SURREY YEAR LIST RECORD 198

Our first view of the Glauc, you can see it's a large bird and not particularly long winged. Couldn't see the legs at this stage

Taking off from the south lake. The leg colour is useful

The bird was still growing some secondaries

Heading back to the tip

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER CASPO

2011-11-29T13:03:00.000-08:00

This time a third winter bird.

Apart from the standard head shape, bill shape, beady eye, mantle colour which makes this bird a Caspo, note the reduced, fine neck 'shawl', the brownish rear end and the washed out bill colour with black sub-terminal band.

You can just make out the mirrors on P10 and some black at the tip of the tail.

GULLS GULLS GULLS

2011-11-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

An interesting first winter Iceland Gull

The outer primaries look contrastingly darker

Quite a strong tail bar

Are these dark outer primaries, rather solid tail band and overall coarse markings indicative of Kumlien's Gull ?

The adult Caspo flies in with a full crop

The first winter Caspo never came close today

SUNDAY

2011-11-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

Peregrine and Water Pipit today.

BEARDED TIT POPS UP

2011-11-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

I was at Walton watching the Grey Phal yesterday when Ninja sent me a message that Bearded Tits had been sighted at the London Wetland Centre. It was too late to go at that time but, as they are becoming almost annual visitiors there now and the habo's good enough to hold them (we've had them winter at Beddington before in more restricted habo), I decided that I must go today.

First, over to Beddington this morning, just in case something had dropped in overnight. Nothing to report so off to the Wetland Centre. I'd spent the best part of a day looking for Bearded Tit there last year http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/2010/11/double-dip-depression.html without luck (was then lucky to have two sightings at Beddington), and knew from long experience how elusive these birds can be in their reedbed habo.

I arrived as the Centre was opening and strolled round to the Wildside, which seemed like a good spot to start. I crossed the bridge to the Wildside hide and had a quick scan but decided outside was better. As I crossed back across the bridge, I heard the distinctive calls which immediately focused my attention on the reeds adjacent the bridge. A superb male Bearded Tit popped up for about three seconds, just enough time for me to rattle off a couple of shots, then flew across the water to the opposite patch of reeds, followed by three more. Fantastic ! My luck was in, i'd only been there about twenty mins. I could hear the birds frequently calling as they made their way through the reeds.

I put the news out and made my around to the Peacock Tower to look for other stuff. Posh phoned to say he was on his way for what, for him, would be a Surrey tick. When he arrived I made my way back to the Wildside and staked it for two hours, together with Ian 'Creamy' Bryce. No luck this time and we laughed as the pagers informed us that a Long-eared Owl had flown over the Wetland Centre going south west. Surely a Short-eared Owl at best but we didn't see anything or note anything being flushed when it went over. Later on, Creamy and I had distant views of the Bittern and the usual Cetti's and Water Rail were present. A good day.
NEW SURREY YEAR LIST RECORD = 197

The Bittern showed on the other side of the main lake

These Egyptian Geese had a big disagreement

PHAL KEEPS IT'S DISTANCE

2011-11-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

Not much happening at the farm this morning when I got a message from the Ninja, 'Grey Phal on QE2 in the middle'. Not a year tick, as I saw the Frensham bird but the distant views in the early evening meant only crap pics. Would this bird come closer ? I've had Grey Phals at my feet on res's before.

I checked for Long-eared Owls and checked for Glaucs at the farm but there was not much of anything so I made my way over to Walton. I met Kojak. Posh and Captain Hurricane had been earlier and had the Phal about a hundred yards out but the Phal was back in the middle again when I got there. It was pretty flighty and being disturbed by gulls and came reasonably close at one stage but sadly not for pics.

Teal at Beddington, they pair up on their wintering grounds.

CETTI'S

2011-11-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

The Cetti's Warbler, only our third record, continues it's stay. It sings and calls occasionally and shows now and then. I haven't managed to get it right out in the open yet but it's not too difficult to see.

CASPO DELUXE

2011-11-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

An adult Caspian Gull on the lake today. This couldn't be more of a Caspo than if it learnt to speak and sat on your shoulder, repeating "I'm a Caspo!, I'm a Caspo!" over and over. Check out the 'pear shaped' head the beady 'bullet hole' eye set against a white head, the long gape line, the darker (cp argenteus Herring Gull), mantle and the ridiculously long and parrallel sided bill. This is a large bird and, looking at the fairly prominent gonys, likely to be a male.

You didn't need to see much more on this bird sat on the water but here is more anyway. Note the long spindly legs and the classic adult wing pattern. P10, the outermost primary, is not quite fully grown but you can see it's white tip and the large white mirror on P9. The long pale 'tongues', eating into the black, can be seen well.

Another view of the primary pattern and again note the 'snouty', 'Slender-billed Gull' look of the head.

The Brent Goose circled and landed amongst the Canada Geese on the mound. The Canada Geese didn't like it and it flew off east.

DOOOOWN TO MARGATE

2011-11-13T11:26:00.000-08:00

The weather looked too good to leave Beddington yesterday but today it was blue sky so I took the chance to go on one of my infrequent trips out of Surrey this year. This time for a putative Eastern Black Redstart on the beach at Margate. It's been a long time since I've been down to Margate and this is the first time for a bird.

Margate is easy to get to from Surrey and parking along the sea front was a doddle. A short walk down to the beach and I was enjoying this smart looking bird which was feeding on the beach and showing well as they say. It certainly looks like an Eastern Black Redstart and I'm thinking pics will confirm this. Amazingly, samples of it's droppings were collected for DNA analysis. To finish off, there's a Caff just by the beach where you can have a full English, solid !

GOOD BIRDS

2011-11-12T11:11:00.000-08:00

A few interesting birds at the farm today. Even if I wasn't looking for more Surrey year ticks, I'd be going through the Gulls, waders, finches etc looking for something special amongst them. I picked up a first winter Caspian Gull and Pyro spotted the Crows having a go at a Short-eared Owl.

A first winter Caspo. Once you get you're eye in, Caspos usually stand out. Note the whiteish 'pear shaped' head, contrasting nape 'shawl, longish, blackish parallel sided bill, dark centered tertials with white tips, long tibia'd long spindly looking legs and 'four coloured' look (black, white, grey and brown)

Caspos can looked very long necked.

In flight, Caspos can have a 'Slender-billed Gull look' about the head.

Large raptors are always given a warm welcome by the Beddington Corvids.

If you're visiting Beddington, watch out for the Crows or Gulls going up as it could indicate a large raptor going over.

SEARCHING

2011-11-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

Still searching for new year ticks at Beddington, I'm looking for Glaucous Gull and Long-eared Owl or any other species I haven't seen this year. There are thousands of Gulls now and the Iceland Gull put in a brief appearence again today. The Cetti's continue's it's stay.

A second winter Yellow-legged Gull

The Cetti's shows now and then. It was churring and making some other atypical calls today.

A NEW SURREY YEAR LIST RECORD !

2011-11-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

Having spent a couple of hours with no luck at Vann Lakes, Ockley, on Sunday, following the sighting of Willow Tits, I started the day off there today. Again, it was easy to to locate Marsh Tit but, four hours later, there was no sight or sound of a Willow Tit. I did have a couple of Crossbill and a possible Goshawk which caused a Woodpigeon to drop into the lake.

I'm always wary of leaving Beddington for any length of time because of it's record of attracting good birds at any time, I've missed the three sightings of Merlin there this year when I've been looking for birds elsewhere. Half way through my visit to Vann Lakes, news of a male Mandarin on the south lake came through, quite a rare bird at Beddington and one which even some of the older members needed. Fortunately, it wasn't a Beddington tick for me so I passed the news on and continued my search. I did four hours, returned to the Badgemobile and was just driving off when a message from Ian 'Nelly' Ellis came through, 'Snow Bunt north end of enclosed lagoons' ! Shitttttt !!!

I engaged Warp Factor 7 and thankfully the traffic wasn't too bad. On arrival, I got the re-assuring news that the bird was still there and had probably been seen by a couple of the site workers since monday as they'd told Nelly they'd seen a 'small chick with lots of white on it' where the bird was for the past couple of days. I still legged it almost the length of the farm to get to the bird quicker and the superb male Snow Bunting was showing well on arrival, my third at Beddington in three years. Treble yesss!!! with strawberries and cream on top !!! This was my 196th species of the year and a new Surrey year list record !

It has been a brilliant year so far and there's still several weeks to go and plenty of possibilities and the odd surprise to go. My target now is to crack the 200 mark.
NEW SURREY YEAR LIST RECORD = 196

Marsh Tit at Vann's Lake. Again the pale spot at the base of the upper mandible can be seen. Willow Tit has an all black bill. Apart from the call and song, this is the most reliable way of separating the two species.

GULL PUZZLE BUT IT'S A 2nd WINTER ICELAND

2011-11-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, whilst scanning the Gulls at Beddington, I picked up a white-winger at the back of the lake. It was pale greyish off white overall, had contrasting whiteish primaries, was not especially large compared to the Herring Gulls around it, was round headed and had a small bill which was pale with a black tip. I immediately thought it was an Iceland Gull and instead of really grilling it, rushed to get some pics. I took a couple of pics and the bird moved out of view behind an island. I had distant shots on my camera (see below) but they looked ok so I put the news out of an Iceland Gull on the lake.

I didn't see the bird again until I picked it up in flight at the back of the lake when it flew to the tip and disappeared. I did not see it again today. I looked at the pics and this bird was unusual. I'll discuss it more below.

Here is my first view, a white winger at the back of the lake. Next views were in flight.

From my flight shots, it's apparent that the bird's primaries stand out as whiter than the rest of it. It's got a whiter head, contrasting with the underparts.

Compared to the Herring Gull above, the bill is shorter and narrower with a more unobtrusive gonys and less 'blob ended'. The head appears smaller and 'gentler' The hand looks like it's been 'dipped in bleach'. The light was poor so I was on a high ISO so can't zoom in too much but I can make out faint barring on the tail and upper tails/rump.

But is this an Iceland Gull ? I've never seen this contrast on an Iceland Gull before so could this be some sort of leucistic Herring Gull (presumably a female) ? I'm thinking this isn't a first winter bird but aberrant gulls can show all sorts of anomalies. However, over the years, I have seen many leucistic Gulls, including an adult Herring Gull which was Herring Gull apart from all white primaries (mistaken, at distance, elsewhere for an Iceland Gull) and they've always looked like leucistic Herring Gulls. If this is a leucistic Herring Gull, it would be the first that has caught me out (for a while) and like other leucistic birds we've had, this bird will be seen as an Iceland Gull at other sites, especially distantly on a res or tip.

Could this Gull be a second winter Iceland Gull ? I have no experience of second winter birds in recent years. It certainly seems too pale and faintly barred for a first winter on this date, Iceland Gulls abraid or fade over their first winter and can be pretty white by April or May. See at the bottom of the page here :

http://www.diporglory.co.uk/page23.html

The bill is, also, atypical for a first winter Iceland Gull at this time of year but Gulls are so bloody variable. Having studied the pics, I'm thinking this may just be a leucistic bird (watch out for it elsewhere) but I'd like to be proved wrong. I hope it stays around so I can study it for longer.

All comments welcome.

As a postscript, three people are of the opinion that this is a 2nd winter Iceland Gull and having read up more on moult timing, I think my first impression was correct. This would be the first record of a bird of this age at Beddington.

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER BRENT

2011-11-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

North easterlies continue and we finally had one Brent Goose over Beddington today, our first for two years. The winds continue tomorrow so something else may occur. Just after midday, I received news of a reliable sighting of Willow Tit (along with Marsh Tits in the area), at Vann Lake, near Ockley. I decided to go straight away. The traffic was horrendous getting down to the M25 but I eventually arrived. It continued to be overcast and dull but I was able to easily locate Marsh Tit but unfortunately no sight or sound of a Willow Tit. I will try again when I can get down in the morning. This spot is not far away from Forest Green where Willow Tit has been reported now and then.

Marsh Tit. You can just make out the pale mark at the base of the upper mandible

WILD GOOSE CHASE

2011-11-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was heading for Beddington on a misty morning when a message came through from Surrey birding legend Dave 'The Walton Ninja' Harris. "Fire up the beast" ! I had already done a U-turn when the second part of the message came through "2 Brents centre of QE2". Of course the Geese could fly off at any time but I was hoping the mist would keep them down for long enough, we've had em on the deck at Beddington in similar conditions.

The early morning traffic was light and I was soon on site. Scanning across the res I could see two dots in the centre and as I walked along the north bank, I was able to confirm that the dots were the two Brent Goose. yes ! Posh was on his way so I kept an eye on them, then they suddenly took off. It was still really misty and I thought that they wouldn't leave. They circled for ages, even crossing over to Knight/Bessborough res but kept up in the air. At this point I got a call from Franko 'The Fury' Maroevic. They'd had a Swift sp west over Richmond park, now what could that be ? I'd lost the Geese whilst answering the phone but on scanning the res, found them back on the water.

Posh was still on his way when I received another call from Franko telling me the Swift sp had appeared over Richmond Park again so it was time to leave.

Unfortunately the Swift disappeared again and did not return. I spent some time there watching the sky but no luck. The Red Deer rut has been in progress and the boss Deer continually bellowed his cow-like call, warning other males to keep away from his harem. Younger males jousted with each other, practising for battles in years to come.
SURREY YEAR LIST 195 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 181)

FRIDAY

2011-11-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

Water Pipits are regular at Beddington from October to April

Red Admirals still about. This one's a bit worn

Bullfinch are scarce winter visitors to Beddington

Wintering Teal, Green Sand and Lapwing

SHORT-EARED OWL

2011-11-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

Another Short-eared Owl appeared today. If you're ever birding at Beddington, keep an eye on the sky. If you see the Crows going up or mobbing something, it's often a large bird of prey. The Gulls also react if the raptor goes near the lakes or landfill.

MED GULL

2011-10-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

Our first Med Gull on the south lake for a while today, we should see more now but i'm sure there are less records this year, after a continual rise over many years, yet there seems to be more than ever on the south coast. Why this may be, I don't know.

SECOND HELPING

2011-10-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

Over the farm this morning and no sign of any Great White Egret there or anywhere else. Some Redpoll were feeding in the Birch on the bridge, all Lessers. A couple of Blackcaps showed early on and the Cetti's remains. It was a sunny day so I decided to nip back over to Walton where the Shorelark was still present. The rush to see this bird was over and it was still feeding amongst the moss on the south bank, out of the wind.

GREAT WHITE LARK

2011-10-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Over the farm to begin with today, A Firecrest had been seen briefly by the hide but I couldn't re-locate it. The Cetti's still singing sporadically and a Little Egret on the south lake.

It was blue sky and not a lot was occurring so I decided to go back to Newdigate to try and get a pic of the Yellow-browed Warbler which was still present. Just after arrival I bumped into Surrey and Holmethorpe birding legend, Gordon 'PP' Haye. I was surprised when he told me that he'd had his first ever Holmethorpe Short-eared Owl over this morning.

We searched for the Yellow-browed but could not hear or see it. Finally, the birds finder, Martin 'North Ron' Grey turned up and, literally, seconds later the Yellow-browed Warbler started calling from the canopy in front of us. We moved round to get a view but, although the bird stayed in our vicinity for quite a while, feeding in the top of an Oak, it only gave brief views and proved impossible to photograph once again. Gordon was happy as it was a Surrey tick for him. The bird went quiet and easily slipped away. I met with some other Surrey regulars who were looking for the bird but then came the killer phonecall !

It was that other Surrey and Walton birding legend and Shorelark finder, Dave 'The Walton Ninja' Harris'. "Where are you ?", he said, "Newdigate", I replied, thinking that he had something at Walton, he did.... "I've got a Great White Egret with a Little Egret, they've just gone east over QE2 and I'm watching them going over Island Barn !"...... Shiiiiit !!! That was a course for Beddington !

All I could do was head for the car, putting out the news as I went. Ninja phoned again to say that he could still see the birds, south of the Tolworth Tower, heading east. Everyone had left Beddington where they might have had a good chance of picking up these birds. All I could do was head back there, which took an hour in friday afternoon traffic, but there was no sign of any Egrets after a search. This is a shame as I was on North Ron for the Cretzchmar's Bunting when Beddington's first GWE turned up so one today would've been a prized Beddington tick as well as a very good Surrey year tick.

So where is it now ? Did it go over or was it viewable from Beddington ? I'll never know for sure. My only hope is that it's put down somewhere in Surrey and will be pinned down tomorrow, fingers crossed.

MEGA DAY !!!

2011-10-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Started off at the farm with T Bros and Dodge today. The weather looked good and the odd Thrush and Finch was going over. I'd just heard that the Yellow-browed Warbler was still near Newdigate and was putting the news out when I heard heard T Bros shout, I looked up and there was a Short-eared Owl coming over the lake, excellent. This was Beddington's first of the year and a year tick for me too. A good start to the day.

We were pontificating as to what else we could get when I received a call from Surrey birding legend Gerry 'Gerrycola' Hinchon. He informed me that the ringtail Hen Harrier, seen yesterday after 4pm, was still present at Thursley. The sun was coming out but I knew there would be showers later so I left for Thursley straight away.

I met Gerry on the Tumulus and it wasn't long before the Hen Harrier popped up and started majestically quartering the marsh, distantly, but obviously easy to follow. After a while, I picked up another bird, a superb male, which joined the ringtail before they both seemed to fly off south west. A good day so far and the Great Grey Shrike was also showing, ironic considering the number of visits and hours I put in to see one earlier this year. We also had two or three Crossbills over. An even better day now.

I had arrived home but it wasn't too long before I received a message from Ninja 'MEGA SHORELARK QE2' ! Truly a Surrey mega but, alas, not a Surrey tick for me as I saw the 85 Barn Elms bird, but a damn good year tick. To the Badgemobile !

No problem with traffic and I was soon with Ninja and Captain Hurricane enjoying the Shorelark which was feeding along the bank of the reservoir, amazing. This was truly a mega day.
SURREY YEAR LIST 194

WELCOME WARBLER

2011-10-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Over to the farm today where I joined Prof, T Bros and the Monk. The Cetti's is still present and I'm hoping it'll winter and maybe even attract a mate. The only other bird of note was a Dunlin on the lake which flew off south.

Sometime after eleven, I received a text from Franko that a Yellow-browed Warbler, heard only on Saturday, had been seen today near Newdigate. I exited Beddington and headed down, picking up my partner, Lyn, who has the week off, on the way. Soon we were in Newdigate and worked out roughly where the sighting was, from the directions given.

There was the odd Tit flock but we couldn't see or hear our quarry. I managed to contact the bird's finder Martin 'North Ron' Gray, an Orcadian currently residing in Surrey and finder of many a good bird in the past. He was soon with us and took us to the exact spot where the bird had been seen. A Tit flock with some Crests was present but tricky to follow up in the canopy, Martin thought he had a glimpse of the bird and then, a short while later, so did I but it was mobile. Finally Martin picked the Yellow-browed Warbler up again and it stayed in view for a while, flicking through the canopy, and we all were able to get reasonably good views although it proved impossible to photograph, darting around high amongst the leaves and branches. A morning visit may be better for this.
SURREY YEAR LIST 191 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 181)

The small conifer plantation borders the Ibstock Brickworks TQ184422. If you're going to look for this bird, from the A24, get onto Newdigate Road. Just before a red Post Box next to a house called 'The Croft' on the right hand side, there is a small 'pull in' on the left by a 'Public Footpath' sign. Park sensibly here and walk in on the footpath for about a hundred yards until you get to an area with deciduous trees which borders conifers and is next to some gardens and cottages. The Tit and Crest flock with the Yellow-browed Warbler were in this area but mobile. Good luck.

Many thanks to Martin for finding this bird and for kindly inviting us to his cottage for tea and coffee. Martin creates all kinds of unique and individual nest boxes from re-cycled material so if you're looking for some and advice on them. Please give him a call.

CORNWALL AND BACK

2011-10-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

I'd heard about the Scarlet Tanager near St Levan church in Cornwall on thursday evening but it was intitially a report, only seen for a short while and not from 2:30pm til dusk so I didn't go straight away, knowing that locals and birders staying in Cornwall would check it out, early friday and thought that, if it stayed, it would settle down for all to see.

I went to the farm first and the Cetti's Warbler showed really well for a while, giving probably the best views I've had of one.

The pager went off just after ten 'Scarlet Tanager still present'. OK, I thought, it'll be pinned down now so off I went. After a five hour plus drive without stopping, the bird had shown well for three minutes, then once briefly in flight, in the morning and that was it, no further sign til dusk ! Where it disappeared to was a mystery, there was the odd Sparrowhawk about but I decided to stay overnight, in Penzance, in case it was just a case of patience.

No sign the next morning and then on my pager 'Scarlet Tanager on St Mary's, Scilly', aaaargh ! This message must have been especially disconcerting for some birders who'd jumped off Scilly for the St Levan bird. I tried to get on a plane or chopper but they were all fully booked. No sign of it after 1:50pm so I wouldn't have got it anyway and no sign today. Ironically, Pyro, Gripper and Devil Birder turned up at St Levan early morning, just in case, before getting the Scillonian over to Scilly. What a surprise they must have got !

The largest congregation at St Levan's church for many years. More birders were inside praying that the Tanager would show again.

Grey Gables and it's garden. The Tanager chose not to show well here.

CETTI'S GIVES ITSELF UP

2011-10-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

A burst of instantly recognisable song yesterday, alerted me to Beddington's third record of Cetti's Warbler, I'm always surprised we haven't had more. I only had a brief flight view of it yesterday so I was pleased when it popped out for a few seconds today.

CASPOLA

2011-10-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a second winter Caspian Gull and a Common Buzzard with Corvid escort.

NORFOLK INTERLUDE

2011-10-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

To be honest, although we had hope, very few birders were surprised that yesterday's Rufous-tailed Robin at Warham in Norfolk was gone today. It was a clear night last night and after about two hours thorough searching from 7am, it was apparent that the bird had moved on. That's a one-dayer on Fair Isle, a dead-un on Orkney and now this bird. With three recent records there should be more ?

I was with Franko and Devil Birder, we weren't about to leave the area but there were other spots along the coast to check. We heard that a Red-flanked Bluetail had been trapped at Holme but decided to give it time to settle down and went to have a look at Wells Wood next.

There were Yellow-browed Warblers there but only managed to hear one call, we moved on to Holme and were told on arrival that the bird was flighty and difficult to see. It favoured an area around the pines in the dunes but would not stay put at first. In two hours i'd only had a couple of flight views, as it was moved from cover by disapproving Robins. Fortunately it later settled down and gave good views to those still present. The light wasn't great amongst the Pines but I got a couple of pics. This was a tick for Devil Birder so all was not lost for him but it was an enjoyable day accompanied by the frequent calls of Pink-footed Geese.

VERY LITTLE GULLS

2011-10-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

Easterlies at last and news from the east coast and on the Thames gave myself and T Bros hope for something special. There was a bit of movement of Thrushes and Finches but not large numbers. Mid afternoon and I was looking up hoping for Skuas. 'Those Gulls look small' I thought to myself, doh ! they were a couple of Little Gulls, circling high above the lake. I got some crippling shots (after discovering I hadn't re-focussed my camera after looking at previous images, which prevented me locking on to the birds at first), they didn't come down but drifted off west. Weather could produce something tomorrow.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL

2011-10-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

An adult or near adult, still growing it's new primaries.

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN !

2011-10-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

After my gutwrenching Sandwich Tern dip last week (get there early for weeks in suitable weather conditions and none, delay visit on a still, clear blue sky morning to watch England v Scotland rugby, three go through, back to early mornings in good weather again, nothing), I needed something to get me going again.

It's easy to be on the farm and miss something go over when you're not in the right place, usually near the lakes with a bit of height, but you have to search for birds on the deck, which can turn up anywhere. Today I was doing my usual rounds, checking the lakes and beds and making sure to scan the edges for one particular bird for which Beddington has the best records in Surrey and London. I had a Water Rail in the north west corner of the south lake a couple of weeks ago but today, when checking the edges of the beds on 100 Acre, I spotted a small dumpy bird creeping along which I immediately recognised as a Spotted Crake, yes !!

I put the news out and the guys on site and others were able to enjoy this superb little juvenile feeding along the edge of a reedy scrape. We average one Spot Crake every four or five years, our last being in 2006. This brings my year list to 190, now in sight of my previous record.
SURREY YEAR LIST 190 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 180)

RED KITE

2011-10-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

At last the crap weather has ended and cooler, cloudy, windier, rainier weather has returned. A couple of Wheatear were new in today and we had our first Red Kite since May.

GUTTED !

2011-10-01T01:26:00.000-07:00

No matter how good a birder you are, luck is everything in birding. All September I've been waiting every morning for a Sandwich Tern. I had Common Terns, I had Arctic Terns but no Sandwich, whilst they popped up regularly elsewhere. This morning I delayed my visit to watch England give a crap performance against Scotland in the rugby world cup and...... 3 Sandwich Terns go through !!! All you can do is grit your teeth and carry on but it's gonna be tough getting Sandwich Tern now. Wish I'd gone for the late afternoon Frensham bird which I thought was gonna be in and out but ended up sitting on a bouy......

Another Dewick's Plusia Moth trapped by Pinpoint last night

PINTAILS POP IN

2011-09-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Another blazing hot day which goes to show that British weather is incredibly unpredictable from year to year. This is not what I want unless one of the many Pallid Harriers, which seem to be all over the place, drifts over. There was one surprise though when I found a pair of Pintail on the lake first thing. Pintail are not common at Beddington and these are our first of the year. Wildfowl numbers have built up, and we recently had our first Wigeon of the autumn, but they look out of place in this weather.

A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly

MOTH WEDNESDAY

2011-09-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Nothing new at the farm today and it was a blazing hot day. I was scanning the sky whilst T Bros had his nose in the grass, looking for bugs. After a while he said "come and look at this". I went over and he had what looked like a Dewick's Plusia Moth.

Dewick's Plusia is a vagrant to Britain with not that many records http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=2436 . However, Pinpoint, whose flat overlooks the farm, has caught a few lately http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2011/09/dewicks-plusia-mystery.html
As luck would have it, only yesterday, T Bros and I had been looking at pics of Dewick's in case we came across one and we agreed that the Moth T Bros had found looked like one. To be sure, I took a pic and emailed it to one of our Moth enthusiasts, Phantom, who phoned back to confirm it was a Dewick's.

Now one has been found actually flying around on the farm, it's looking like they are resident here and this would make us the only site in Britain where they are. Such is the fantastic habitat that is Beddington SF.

Posh came over to have a look and for good measure, we went to check our Herald Moths. Eleven were present. Beddington has great bio-diversity.

MARSH HARRIER

2011-09-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

The dull and cloudy weather produced a Marsh Harrier today. The light was so bad that I couldn't get a decent pic. The bird circled then flew south and was picked up, half an hour later, over Mercer's Lake, Holmethorpe.

Ruff

2011-09-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

The male and female Ruff showed a bit closer to day, flying onto the south lake. Lots of spots around the farm for waders at the moment.

CURLEWS CALLING

2011-09-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

Nothing spesh today but three Curlew over were unexpected.

VERY DISTINT

2011-09-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Following on from the 'probable' Red-necked Stint at Weir Wood which turned out to be an adult Little Stint, when I saw report's of a Temminck's there over several days, I thought that they'd been more cautious and careful with this bird in identifying it. However, last night, a Beddington colleague who now resides in Sussex contacted me to say there was some doubt on the identity of this bird and that it was thought to be a Least Sandpiper or Long-toed Stint. I'd not seen the only British record of Long-toed Stint in 1982 so was hoping it would turn out to be the latter but from the 'Red-necked' Stint episode, I wondered if a distant bird there could be sorted out.

The weather looked good this morning so I headed over the farm but, apart from some more Wheatear and the same Caspo from yesterday, there was disappointingly little about and it seems the Pec has gone.

The Weir Wood Stint had been reported again and I later heard from posh who was watching it. He seemed to favour Long-toed Stint but the bird was distant. I headed over to Weir Wood which is less than thirty miles from the farm, just outside Surrey (curses).

The bird was on view but several hundred yards away. Although distant and at sixty times mag, it was relatively straight forward to rule out Temminck's, the mantle having mantle and scapular 'Vs' and the breast lacking a 'Temminck's type' gorget, but how to separate Least and Long-toed at this distance ?

It had pale, ochre legs in good light. I took notes and swayed between Least or Long-toed as the sun came out or went in, giving the bird a slightly different look. I thought it had Least type supers in the light but wasn't so sure in the shade. The bird had a pale face with a smudge or mark behind the eye and a short straight pointy bill, it had a slight breast band (all this qualified by the fact that this was noted at long range). One thing I did note was that, when alert, the bird appeared long-legged and long necked and it did seem to show a lot of tibia.

I'd heard that some locals had gone in much closer than we could at the car park and news started to filter back that it was looking good for Long-toed Stint. Fifteen minutes later, it came out on my pager 'MEGA Long-toed Stint Weir Wood Res'. Yes !!

So if you're going tomorrow, don't expect crippling views. Although it could come closer than I had it, it will still be distant if you don't have access into the Res. Good luck and don't forget to take your Questar :-)

The view from the car park

WAITING FOR THE STARTING GUN

2011-09-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

Nationally, rare birds continue to pop all over the place, especially on Scilly. Nothing I've needed yet but I'm ready to go. If nothing occurs, I'd love another good bird at Beddington. A Buf-breasted perhaps.

A first winter Caspian Gull. Note the long, spindly legs showing a lot of tibia and the elongated 'pear shaped' 'white looking' head profile.

In flight, the head profile is distinct, with the white head contrasting against the darker 'shawl'.

Two of yesterday's Ruff were still around. The male bigger than the female.

c600 Starling. Only part of the big flock.

Our first Wigeon of the autumn remains.

Pec still present

PEC PICS

2011-09-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Only the three Ruff remained on the main lake today, we searched the farm and finally re-located the Pec Sand on 100 Acre. The bird showed well on the sludge beds there.

PICK UP A PEC

2011-09-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

It was tour day at Beddington and whilst Pinpoint was taking the punters round, other Beddington birders were doing the rounds as usual plus scouting for interesting birds for the tour to see.

I'd gone up onto the mound with Pyro and we'd checked the south lake where a Wigeon was a new bird in and our first of the Autumn. We'd tried in vain to get the tour group onto a Kingfisher and seen the remaining Ringed Plover so headed over the mound and checked the enclosed lagoon, nothing to see. We came back over the mound looking for Pipits, Wheatear etc and pitched up overlooking the main lake, scanning to see if we could pick something up.

I was checking the eastern side of the main island on the lake when I picked up four waders together, which immediately looked interesting. There was two largish birds, a smaller bird and an even smaller bird. I directed Pyro onto the group, the largest birds were not Godwit so I was not surprised that they turned out to be Ruff and then a Reeve but the smaller bird ? We were still distant but from the size and colouration, the smaller was most likely one of three possibilities, Buff-b, Sharpie or Pec. Out of those three it was likely that it would be a Pec and sure enough, when we got closer it was a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, the fourth I have found at the farm and following on from another bird I had last year (on September 16th). This is our eleventh record and Beddington is the best site in London and Surrey for Pecs.

I put the news out and the tour group all got to see the bird, as well as many others throughout the day. Funnily enough, the tour group in September last year also got to see a Pec. With huge amounts of North American waders turning up in Britain and Ireland, surely there's a good chance of us bagging another for the site list ?

SURREY YEAR LIST = 189 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 176)

TODAY AND BEFORE

2011-09-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Ruff are not so common at Beddington as they used to be so our third record this year was most welcome

These Dunlin and Ringed Plover flew over today, they circled around but didn't land

Common Lizards are not that commonly seen at Beddington, but they are around

One of yesterday's Arctic Terns

This female Brown Hairstreak on wednesday was a first for BeddingtonSF and may be the closest ever to the centre of London

FRENSHAM FOR A PHAL

2011-09-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

After the strong winds earlier this week, I'd been hoping for something special in Surrey as a result. Up until today, nothing at the farm and a Knot at Walton was all I had to show, whilst all sorts of goodies turned up in other counties. A stake out at Beddington with Dodge, Prof and Parklife produced some migrants today but nothing out of the usual.

I was back at home and it was ten to six when I got a call from Surrey birding legend, Shaun 'Dunnockman' Peters, informing me that he'd just picked up a Phalarope sp on the other side of Frensham Great Pond. To the Badgemobile bloody quick, the days are getting shorter and at that time, I estimated an arrival time of around seven pm.

First the struggle to get to the A3, then the bottleneck of Guildford, the sun was getting lower but I was on target. Shaun had texted me enroute to let me know that he'd got closer to confirm the identity of the bird and when I arrived, he directed me to where I could see the bird before joining me, it's not easy running on sand I can tell you. I looked across from a sandy gap in the reeds and the Grey Phalarope was on view, but fairly distantly, spinning around in front of the reeds in the north east corner. Yes ! What a relief. I tried getting a digi pic but the light was going so I had to make do with record shots with my DSLR. Grey Phals can be tame but this bird was not closely accessible. If it's there tomorrow, there should be much better shots. Will there be any other good sightings as birds, displaced by the gales, re-orientate ?
SURREY YEAR LIST 188

KNOT AGAIN

2011-09-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Another blustery day at Beddington which produced nothing special, surely these winds will bring something else for us. I was back home when, just before 5pm, I received a message from Ninja of a Knot at Walton, I departed straight away.

The traffic was surprisingly light for the hour and I made it over in about thirty five mins. The bird had been at one end of Bessborough Res but I could not see it when it should've been obvious. I checked with Ninja and I was looking in the right place but no Knot. I scanned all round the Res but only a Common Sand and a lot of Pied Wags could be seen, damn it.

I cocentrated hard along the edge where the bird had been seen, there was a group of Shoveler in one corner and as I scanned over them and noticed a grey 'hump' on one of the birds, the juvenile Knot was tucked in amongst them. Hooray ! Eventually the bird came into the open more but was mostly asleep whilst I was watching it.

I scanned the rest of the Res's on view but, alas, no Sabs, Grey Phal or Leach's. Only a matter of time before one or more of these appears in Surrey (I hope).
SURREY YEAR LIST = 187 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 175)

WIND UP

2011-09-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

A windy day but it didn't produce, maybe tomorrow. Five Crossbill which flew south were a tick for T Bros.

This Wheatear preceded me along a path from which it would not deviate so I had to take a pic.

SUNDAY

2011-09-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

Still a good selection of waders present today. The Curlew Sand spent some time on the main lake as there are fewer Gulls there on a Sunday.

Ringed Plovers and Common Sand on the south lake

Wheatear on the mound. There were fewer today.

FRIDAY

2011-09-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Curlew Sandpiper accompanied by a Greenshank on the south lake

Grey Heron and Sharks fin

A Migrant Hawker on the main lake

ANOTHER GOOD DAY BUT I'M NOT HAPPY (WELL, SLIGHTLY)

2011-09-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

Some of the waders remained today and moved from the enclosed lagoons to the south lake which can be viewed from the adjacent footpath which runs north from Beddington Park (details of sightings here). Still plenty of Wheatears around and I did the rounds and headed back to the lake in anticipation of something good dropping in.

I was joined by Czech 'Matey' Conroy and after a while, the Cockatiel, which had been around yesterday, dropped in nearby, by the feeders. I was taking pics of this bird when Matey said that he had a Tern. I looked out to see a Tern over the lake, it was an adult Arctic Tern. I raised my camera to take some pics when I noticed a second bird, another adult Arctic Tern. These birds proceeded to feed by picking up insects from the surface of the lake in the same fashion as Little Gull, they were not in a hurry to go anywhere and Pyro was soon over to have a look.

Later on Bulldog and Soixanteneuf arrived and the Terns continued to show well, sometimes commuting back and forth from the main and south lake. My camera battery had read half full last night but I was taking lots of shots of the Terns and I ran it down, this was ominous but at least I had my Coolpix.

Mid afternoon about and suddenly there was an explosion of gulls and corvids from on and around the lake with accompanying alarm calls, it had to be something big to do this. We scanned through the Gull filled sky and I picked up a large raptor with white underparts above us, Osprey ! A long awaited Surrey year tick but the reason I'm a bit unhappy is that I could have got some kind of record shot with my Coolpix but I haven't used it for flight shots since I got the Canon and had it on the wrong settings so ended up with blurs. This annoys me so much, I like to get pics of good birds when I can grrrr.

It was going roughly in the direction of Canons Farm where I knew Devil Birder was laying in wait, I put the news out and about twenty minutes later he picked it up from the watchpoint there, his hundredth bird of the year at Canons, a new Canons year listing record, well done DB.

That's Common Terns yesterday, Arctic Terns today, still need Sandwich for the year. Weather continuing to look good for more good birds.
SURREY YEAR LIST = 186

WADER SELECTION

2011-09-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

A good slection of waders again today as the Curlew Sand and Little Stint remained. Whilst there was no Ruff or Dunlin today, they were replaced by a Greenshank and a Redshank. The wet and windy weather is set to continue so more good birds are eagerly awaited. You will find updates of birds at Beddington, and sometimes elsewhere in Surrey, during the day on the home page here: http://www.diporglory.co.uk/

THE WEATHER IS GREAT, WISH YOU WERE HERE

2011-09-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

The weather forecast for today looked tasty and it didn't disappoint. Strong winds overnight and drizzly rain meant migrants. I should have got there at first light but on arrival at 7am, seven Ringed Plover went over. This was a sign. I rushed over to the enclosed lagoons, Wheatear scattering along the path as I went, and found three more Ringed Plover. Dodge had arrived as I was going over and had another two Ringed Plover and a Ruff over the lake. G Bros arrived and we scanned for more waders as many hirundines came and went.

We'd had another Ringed Plover, Dunlin and a bonus of a Caspian Gull when around mid day, I picked up a smallish wader coming low across the lake. As it approached us I could see a long, slightly decurved, bill and wingbars like a big Dunlin and, best of all, as it passed us, a white rump, Curlew Sandpiper ! Yes ! Another Surrey year tick.

The bird continued low south so we went and checked the South Lake and the juvenile Curlew Sand was there with three Ringed Plover. I put the news out and it was twitched by a few, including Kojak, Posh and Steve 'Tank' Thomas. Unfortunately the bird had disappeared by the time Tank had arrived so he went to check the enclosed lagoons and there it was, accompanied by two juvenile Little Stint and six Ringed Plover. A nice end to the day and who knows what tomorrow may bring ?
SURREY YEAR LIST 185 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 175)

SPOT THE RED

2011-09-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

So September begins, a month which can produce some interesting or even outstanding birds at Beddington, Surrey and elsewhere. I wasn't disappointed at the farm today when three Ruff appeared on the enclosed lagoons, a juvenile male and two juvenile females. The males always much bigger than the reeves. Later on I had a Greenshank fly over and drop in on the South Lake, I noted from the pics that this bird has a broken lower mandible so, sadly, it probably won't last long. Swan drama ! The pair from the south lake that started nesting but didn't breed, invaded the main lake two days ago and after a big fight (see last post), ousted the resident male which is now on the south lake. The female stayed with it's three cygnets which are not quite ready to fly yet but the invaders relently pursue them round the lake and attack them when they can. I suppose this'll continue until the young can get away or the usurpers hormones abate.

I settled down by the lake for a stake out and noted several Common Buzzards over but alas no Honey Buzzard or Osprey which I still need for the year. Mid afternoon the message came over my pager, 'London Wetland Centre, Spotted Redshank on the main lake. Once more unto the Badgemobile !

The roadworks at Angel Hill Sutton, stood between me and the A3 like 300 Spartans blocking my way but I side-tracked them and made it to the Wetland Centre in forty mins. The chap at the entrance greeted me with 'it's on the wader scrape from the Peacock hide', as if he'd been expecting me. I made my way to the Peacock hide where the juvenile Spotted Redshank was showing well, loosely associating with a male juvenile Ruff. Yes ! Spot Reds are no longer reliable at Beddington and it's a couple of years since our last, I saw a spring adult at Walton last year. A leggy, more elegant bird compared to Redshank with a longer thinner bill and no white on the wings.
SURREY YEAR LIST 184 (SURREY YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 175)

TUESDAY

2011-08-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Fight !

Nothing spesh today, still a couple of Whinchat and a Wheatear plus the Garganey still but no sign of the Blackwit.

ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR DAY

2011-08-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

Today the Beddington Farm Bird Group had a stall at the Carshalton Environmental Fair, which takes place every August Bank Holiday in Carshalton Park. The idea was to promote our objective of establishing a major urban nature reserve at Beddington to protect the large variety of nationally, regionally and other important species of birds and other fauna to be found there. It was a great success and attracted a lot of interest in our objectives.

I would recommend the Environmental Fair to anyone really, it has something for everyone. Website here:

http://www.envfair.org.uk/

Whilst some of the group were setting up the stall this morning, others of us were over the farm, relaying bird news to be put on a 'Sightings Board' at the Stall. Nothing new really but plenty of migrants to report.

SUNDAY

2011-08-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

Nothing extra today, tried to get closer to the Garganey but the light didn't help.

WORTH THE WAIT FOR A WRYNECK

2011-08-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

No sign of yesterday's Little Stint or Ruff at the farm today but the Garganey remained, still showing distantly. It was the afternoon and I was considering calling it a day when I received the news on my pager of a Wryneck at Ranmore Common. Thinking of the Red-footed Falcon fiasco at Ranmore earlier this year, I hesitated, for all of half a second, before heading out to the Badgemobile.

I arrived at the car park at Ranmore at the same time as my Beddington colleagues, Dodge and Tony Blair, the directions were 'In garden just east of main carpark' It always worries me when I get scant information via the pager and not a Surrey contact and again I ask anyone phoning in news of a bird, with a view of sharing their find with others, to give as much info on the location as possible. We were wondering if it was the first garden, was it front or back, had it shown on the deck or perched etc ?

We made our way round to the backs of the gardens but couldn't see into them, there were some trees and bushes and hedgerow around them but this seemed the best bet. More birders were turning up and Dodge and TB went round to talk to one owner who kindly gave them access. Whilst they were in there, the chap who'd found the bird came back and showed us where he'd seen it. Five minutes later two observers got a glimpse of the bird but it quickly disappeared again. A wait of around two hours followed and then we had a bird fly over the adjacent garden which looked like our quarry. Again, Dodge and Tony Blair persuaded another kind owner to let them in and, as they stepped onto the lawn, the Wryneck flew up into a Hawthorn where it showed well from inside and outside the back of the garden. Yes ! This is only my third Surrey Wryneck, the last twitchable bird was at Wishmore Bottom years ago.

There were about fifteen very happy birders present, including some well known Surrey faces. It was a Surrey tick for Captain Hurricane, Dodge, Tony Blair, Factor and Devil Birder and many others. Will it be there tomorrow ?
SURREY YEAR LIST 183 (SURREY YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 174)

MORE GOOD BIRDS

2011-08-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

The weather looked good today as I joined Dodge for a prolonged stake out. Our longest ever Blackwit remained (i'll miss it when it's gone), and we were full of of hope as news of interesting birds from other sites came in.

Mid morning and Posh turned up, five minutes later a flock of Terns appeared, Arctic Terns. I'd already had Arctic Tern for the year in Surrey but had missed the only spring record whilst looking at a Ring Ousel on a different part of the farm. Posh was more happy as this was a Beddington and Surrey tick for him !

Time passed with little else until I picked up a small duck on the lake. It had a head pattern and, having recently dipped one in Surrey, toyed with the idea of it being a Blue-winged Teal. Alas, no joy, it was a Garganey, our first juvenile of the year and most welcome to see.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and I was home when I got a call from Pyro, "did you know there was a Ruff and a Little Stint on the enclosed lagoon ?".....What ?! twice I'd tried to get over to this particular spot today and twice it had started to rain heavily which stopped me. A quick change and twenty mins later I arrived at the farm. A yomp across wet clay later, I was at the enclosed lagoon. I couldn't see anything at first and my bins were steaming up but after a while, I located the juvenile Little Stint in the middle of the lagoon. The Ruff, our first this year, was nowhere to be seen but it was Little Stint that I needed for the year so I was very happy and extremely grateful that it was not raining and had brightened up a bit. Hopefully more good birds will be winging their way to Surrey in the next few weeks.
SURREY YEAR LIST 182 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 173)

ANOTHER DAY

2011-08-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

More migrants and the Black-tailed Godwit has chalked up a two week stay.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

2011-08-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

The faithfull gathered at Beddington today, hoping that the weather would produce something special. Shifts of up to ten and a half hours were put in by myself, Dodge, Brief, Pinpoint, Batman, T Bros, G Bros and Pyro.

It started well with a couple of Dunlin through and a movement of hirundines ensued with Yellow Wags dropping in. A flock of Tern flew over and some Greenshank came down but alas there were no major highlights to speak of. However, it was a good day with top birders and interesting to see what we did and interesting to hear the reports from other London/Surrey sites.

RETURN TO HOOPOE

2011-08-19T13:21:00.000-07:00

Back again for second helpings of Hoopoe, it flies off when the dog walkers come but comes back to feed by the grassy paths. A Kestrel also had a go at it today.

GREY DAY

2011-08-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

The interesting overcast and drizzly weather, coupled with north easterlies, brought a Curlew to the farm today but not much else of note bar a Grey Cockatiel. Glad to hear that some of my other Surrey colleagues caught up with the Farthing Down Hoopoe today.

BLUE-WINGED TRIAL, HOOPOE TRIUMPH

2011-08-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Whilst it was cloudy this morning with light easterlies, I found little at Beddington when I first arrived. No sign of the Blackwit and I was checking the lake with T Bros when a message came through from Franko 'The Fury' Maroevic, 'Blue-winged Teal at Thursley' ! I quickly departed with T Bros and we bumped into Dodge on the way out who joined us, we picked up Devil Birder but then found out the bird had flown off west or north west !

Our first trip through the new Hindhead Tunnel

We had to go and check but it had not returned to Thursley when we arrived. We staked it for a while and then went off to check Frensham Little and Great Pond but no luck, Cutt Mill had also been checked so we headed back. There was nothing to be seen so I headed home.

I was chilling when I got an urgent call from Devil Birder, his Canons Farm colleague Dave 'Hoopoe' Hayes had re-located the Hoopoe which had been reported on Monday as having been at Farthing Down on Sunday ! To the Badgemobile !

I picked up Devil Birder on route and we met Dodge in the car park. After a search we found Dave and the Hoopoe showed well, feeding by a grassy path, occasionally flushed by dog walkers. Yes !!! After last years debacle I was very pleased to see one in Surrey (only my third), this year. The bird's been there since Sunday and I think it may stay longer. Now where's that Teal ?
SURREY YEAR LIST 181 (YEAR LIST ON THIS DATE 2010 = 173)

MORE OF THE SAME PLUS

2011-08-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Another day with similar species, the noise of Police and News Choppers over the east side of the farm, which is in Croydon was ever present. A second Greenshank has appeared and the Wood Sands have completed a week in residence although one is now residing at the north end of the farm. The Garganey remains, an adult female by the look of it and the fourth brood of T Duck has appeared on the main lake. Funny how they always appear in late July or early August, must be availability of food or something like that. I found a couple of Wasp Spiders which must be the most attractive of British Spiders ? We have had them for a few years now and they are only recent colonists in Britain.

MIGRANTS ARRIVING

2011-08-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our first Wheatear and Tree Pipit of the Autumn passage today and another Garganey. Three Wood Sands still but hoping for something special soon.

SEARCHING

2011-08-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

Spent a lot of time searching for new arrivals today without success. A Wood Sand remains on th South Lake which is picking up the odd wader now the water level is a bit lower. It can be easily viewed from the adjacent footpath. The Greenshank was there too but, surprisingly, more elusive than the Wood Sand.

Late News: For the second day running there has been only one Wood Sand on the South Lake during the day but all three seen in the evening. There are so many small pools about the farm, I wonder where the other two are hiding ?

WOOD SANDS WADE IN

2011-08-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Over the farm with Dodge on a very hot day today. I'd searched the farm but come up with nothing special and settled down by the lake for a stake out and to sift through the Gulls.

Dodge noticed three waders come down on the lake to our right, just out of view. I stood up, expecting to see Common Sands, but to my surprise saw three juvenile Wood Sandpipers. They didn't stay long on the main lake but flew over onto the south lake where they remained. Hoping for a rarer wader soon.

ANOTHER GARGANEY

2011-07-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

A new bird in today was another Garganey, looked like an adult female. Greenshank still and had close views of the Little Grebe chicks.

GREBES HAVING A GO

2011-07-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

A pair of Little Grebe with two young, took exception at another adult which came too close.

A Greenshank dropped in. Are those feet orangey ? :-)

USUAL FARE

2011-07-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Nothing spesh today but more Warblers appearing including a lot of moulting adult Chiffys which look pretty tatty at this time of year, also a juvenile Willow Warbler looking smarter but not as bright as some I've seen. Could only find a single Yellow-legged Gull.

GARGANEY GATHERING

2011-07-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

A welcome addition to the Beddington year list today when three Garganey dropped in. From the white bellies and the broad white edges to the secondaries, all three were adult, and from the forewings, at least one was male and one female. We may get the odd juv later on.

GULLS AND PEGS

2011-07-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

More Gulls and juvenile Peregrine today. The female Peg is so much bigger than the male.

SOME GULLS

2011-07-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

Yellow-legged Gulls today

WELCOME WHIMBREL

2011-07-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

I knew the weather looked interesting for today but wasn't going to get over to the farm too early after the excitment of yesterday, or so I thought.

The phone went at 5:56am and I was still in bed, it was G Bros, 'Whimbrel on the lake' ! I don't know if you've seen those magic acts where people change clothes in an instant, well, it was a bit like that for me except I started off naked. Fifteen minutes later I was standing next to G Bros admiring the Whimbrel which must have dropped in during the cloudy, rainy weather. This was a welcome addition to my year list having just missed a flyover at Beddington previously this year and dipped a bird on the deck at Walton which flew off before I got there.

The bird flew off about ten minutes after I arrived, calling as it went, so I was lucky this time. We didn't get much else dropping during the rest of the day, other than nine Shelduck but birds are on the move. More weather like today, preferably with easterlies, would be welcome over the coming weeks.
SURREY YEAR LIST 180 (YEAR LIST THIS DAY IN 2010 = 169)

BLACK IS THE NEW KITE !

2011-07-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Forget about 'lists of lists', the birding 'Police' pretending they knew a Greater Legs was a Greenshank all along, and all that cobblers, this is what birding's all about:

I'd slogged Beddington for a lot of the morning but it was a hot day, the sort of day when not much is occurring. I'd only found thirteen Green Sands and one Common Sand and had been looking for a possible hippo Warbler, seen by Pinpoint yesterday evening, without success. I came back to the lake for a stakeout as I have done thousands of times before. I settled down and started to sort the Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull stood out amongst them.

It was hot with a bit of cloud, and other times of the year, a good day for large raptors. At Beddington, we have a distinct spring and autumn passage, mostly of Common Buzzard, we haven't got to the autumn raptor passage just yet and the odd Common Buzzard is seen now and then (as you can judge by the sightings page on Dip or Glory). I wasn't expecting much in the way of large raptors and hadn't even seen Peg or Hobby today.

Early afternoon and the Gulls and Corvids lifted off with one big call. This was an unmistakeable sign of a big raptor approach and the birds were moving west which meant the bird was coming from the east. I scanned through a sky full of Gulls and Corvids, trying to pick up what it was, surely not a false alarm, the Crows haven't had much to do lately. I was beginning to think it was something like a dust devil, whipping up debris from the landfill, which can disturb the birds, when I picked up a large raptor circling high over the east side of the farm (I was on the west side).

My first impression was of a harrier but I couldn't make out plumage details, it just looked dark, long-winged and long-tailed. I'd been sitting down so my tripod wasn't fully extended so I daren't mess about with it and use the scope so concentrated on bins and taking a few pics of the bird. As I did so I started to make out a slightly concave tip to the tail and began to think Red Kite but it wasn't quite right. The bird continued to circle high and out of range of the Crows at first but it did start drifting towards me. I couldn't make out much plumage detail on it's underparts, it looked very dark underneath but I noted two whiteish 'windows. As it banked I noticed two other things, it had the pale panels on it's upper wings like a Red Kite but didn't look at all rufous and when it's spread it's tail, it made a triangle shape, not like Red Kite but like a BLACK KITE !!!

Could this be what I'd dreamed of seeing on my patch, was I imagining it ? was it something else ? The bird came closer and slightly lower, I couldn't turn it into anything else. My hands were shaking as I phoned Pinpoint. Would he be at home in his flat overlooking the farm ? He was. 'You'd better have a look at this Kite above the lake mate, and let me know if you think what I think it is'. I left him to rush to his window, the bird had shaken of it's corvid escort and was lower and above the lake. It could be nothing other than a Black Kite and I took some more pics when it was at it's closest. Two minutes later, a phone call from Pinpoint, 'There's a f*cking Black Kite over my garden' ! I was so glad that someone else had seen the bird.

I put the news out as the bird drifted north and out of sight it was over the west side of the farm so could have gone off north west. Will it be seen elsewhere in London or Surrey ?

This is a first record for Beddington and fourth for Surrey, a great Surrey tick for me. Someone will tell me how many accepted records there are for London. I'm not aware of any other Black Kites that have been photographed in Surrey or London. Roll on our first Monty's !
SURREY YEAR LIST 179

GULLS AND WADERS

2011-07-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Different Gulls and Waders today and a Peregrine said hello to a Hobby. The Hobby was not amused.

RARE DUCK

2011-07-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ruddy Duck is a rarity at Beddington now, we had one sighting in 2009 and none in 2010 so we thought that was it until one appeared today. Also our first juvenile Med Gull of the year.

SURREY'S FIFTH RED-RUMPED SWALLOW !

2011-07-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

It had been a reasonable day at the farm with more Blackwits coming through and I returned home, thinking that I was one day closer to the next good Surrey bird. It transpired that I was closer than one day.

It was just before 6pm and I was thinking of dinner when the pager went off 'Red-rumped Swallow Unstead SF'. How is it the pager gets it first ? Reminding me of the recent Red-footed Falcon, I checked to see who found it. It was Unstead SF birding legend, Brian 'Mr Unstead' Milton and fellow Unstead man, Eric 'Recorder' Soden, the new Surrey County Recorder who had put the news out so off I went, passing on the info to other Surrey birders who may not have been aware. Unstead is fairly easy to get to and, as usual, getting to the A3 at that time was the most difficult part. I arrived at just before 7 to meet Brian (who now has my number again), and the Red-rumped Swallow flew over our heads just after, yes ! This is the fifth record for Surrey, ironically and frustratingly, I have missed both of the records at Beddington, the first being a fly through when I was elsewhere on the farm, the second being a twitchable bird (but I was in Lesvos !). Still hoping for another.

Brian Milton is the ultimate patch watcher, I'm known to spend a bit of time at Beddington but Brian is coming up to his 2500th CONSECUTIVE visit to Unstead ! Respect for that and consequently he has found many a good bird there.

The bird showed well, hawking insects over the Sewage Works and adjacent area with a host of House Martin, Swift, some Swallow and the odd Sand Martin. Quite a few faces turned up including Devil Birder and Eagle from Canons Farm, 'Farnborough John' Dixon, Captain Hurricane and Franko 'The Fury' Maroevic, Factor from Holmethorpe, Gerrycola from the Thursley area and others I recognised. Nice to see the happy faces and a nice bird showing well.

SURREY YEAR LIST 178 (THIS TIME 2010 = 169)

EVEN MORE WADERS

2011-07-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

The showery weather brought Blackwits to the farm today.

MORE WADERS

2011-07-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

July wader passage continues