Canons Farm - Mud Glorious Mud!

I had almost forgotten how dull and dreary winter is in England having travelled to the southern hemisphere to enjoy their summer while the folk of Inglaterra endure short daylight hours, cold or rain filled days! The good news is the daylight hours are getting longer by a few minutes each day and it is mild for the time of year!

The public footpaths around Canons Farm are still boggy with standing water on the aptly named Bog Field. This is where all the passerine activity is at the moment and who knows something unusual may drop in if only to freshen up before continuing its journey! 

Most of the Linnet and today the Chaffinch were in this area. A small group of Pied Wagtail dropped in on the pond late on. A few gulls and a flock of Starling, Fieldfare, Redwing and Skylark were also present. The latter come into roost near the Owl field. No Owls seen or heard today.

The only noticeable difference today was the relative lack of corvids but perhaps the gamekeeper has popped a few off pushing the main flocks back towards Banstead Woods!

I am keeping up my species average 32 today but I don’t expect great numbers but this venue is always worth a visit if only for the peace and quiet at this time of year!

Canons Farm - Bog of a Field!

I found bird of the day at Canons Farm almost immediately I got out the car having parked at Canons Farmhouse. It was a bright sunny day but the wind was howling over the open fields making the temperature a tad chilly. 

The Peregrine had at least caught lunch and was busy tearing it apart on the far side of the field. The crow could only wait in the feint hope that some scraps would be left at the end of the meal.

The Linnets were in two flocks today I clicked 173 whilst they were feeding but there could have been more in the area. Thrush watch at Lunch Wood was not very productive at all but it appears reasonable numbers were taking advantage of the now flooded Bog Field with Fieldfare 71, Redwing 12, a Song Thrush and a few Blackbird seen before dusk. A couple of Pied Wagtail a Meadow Pipit, Starling and a handful of gulls were also recorded.

Plenty of common passerines dotted about the trees and hedgerow but I did not bump into any Yellowhammer today! The water is not deep enough for ducks but maybe a passing shorebird might drop in before it dries up!

Thirty two species recorded which seems about average for the Farm. I do not generally cover Banstead Woods.

Canons Farm - Plenty of Passerines!

I have been keeping a casual eye on Canons Farm limiting my visits to a few hours. This gives me enough time to scour the fields for the Linnet c200 today and Chaffinch 66 birds. The former came together as one group during the latter part of the day. 

The Chaffinch was feeding at close quarters at the back of the watch point. Skylark was also seen in several small flocks today.

At around Mid-day I ventured past Lunch Wood and continued watching from the log. I have seen a regular passage of Fieldfare 159 today whom I can only surmise they are going to a feeding area as roughly an hour later they all return flying towards the L & G building. There was mixed flocks today including Redwing 46 and a few more Skylark making the total 31.

The L & G field had its usual array of regular passerines and a single Common Gull who was very keen to attract my attention. There were not many gulls on site Herring and Black Headed were seen passing overhead.

Yellowhammer was divided between Canons Farmhouse and the back of Lunch Wood. The biggest group was 7. A couple of Buzzard was being chased about by the corvids that still have a few Rook present.

Thirty two species recorded today on the Farm!

Canons Farm - Grubbing Around!

A day which can be best described as grim with regular showers during the afternoon. The sun did appear for about an hour giving the passerines enough time to escape cover and feed. 

A Buzzard had the same idea feeding on worms in Bog field. This is a pale bird which was commuting from a nearby tree giving short flight views.

There was a small movement of Fieldfare over Lunch Wood in the afternoon. The bushes lining L & G don’t have too many berries therefore not many Redwing around. Yellowhammer were seen at Lunch wood and the Watchpoint but apart from that not much around. I could not find the main Linnet flock today. I saw a couple of small groups buzzing around the fields by Canons Farm.

Canons Farm - A Glorious Day!

A perfect brisk sunny day with minimal wind had me take another short journey to Canons Farm. I saw Roy Weller at the parking area at the farm had a catch up and then travelled light to cover areas of woodland for passerines that would be taking full advantage of the sunshine.

As I was walking up the hill to Lunch Wood a low flying Red Kite honed into view. The bird completed a couple of circuits of the wood then continued E at 1245hrs. This species is common in Surrey but I never tire seeing this graceful scavenger.

Lunch Wood itself had a good mix of passerines including a dozen Yellowhammers that were using the trees as a viewpoint before dropping down onto the field. Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tit were busy feeding on the buds on the branches. Lower down Robin, Dunnock and Wren were keeping busy in the scrub.

I clicked 129 Fieldfare initially flying NW over the wood into the thin line of trees many returning SE later on in the afternoon. I returned to the watchpoint late afternoon to watch 42 Skylarks come in to roost. A couple of Little Owl was heard just after dusk. Gull numbers this afternoon were low despite the farmer ploughing bog field.

Thirty six species were recorded on what was a very pleasant day with my feathered friends!

Canons Farm - Garden watch and Guided Tour of the Farm!

My day involves a couple of hours on garden watch which has seen a number of passerines pass though my ivy clad apple tree at the end of the garden. The above was my second Blackcap in November photographed on the 27th. A female evaded the lens on the 20th (I was too slow!).

My watch of late has been made easier following some campaigning to canvas support to block proposed housing development on the garage area to the NW of my garden. My neighbours now know I conduct a daily count and pointing a camera at the apple tree from my upstairs window is not such an issue as it could have been prior to these events! I just have to be quick in securing phots as the birds don't remain in that area for long.

After my count I took another visit to Canons Farm which was back to normal almost devoid of gulls bar the odd fly over which included a Common and 1st winter Herring Gull. The Linnets were also scattered about the fields in tiny groups of fifteen to thirty birds. 

The regular passerines were busy feeding taking advantage of the sunny and wind free conditions.

A flock of Skylark 22 counted were feeding and moving across Doric field. I then took up position at the watchpoint to scan the skies and wait for any reaction from the corvids positioned in the taller trees. The result was a Kestrel a couple of Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk.

I was joined mid afternoon by Steve Gale who took me on a whistle-stop tour of the Farm. This was very useful as there were flight lines in areas I had not previously considered. As dusk rolled in we were both hopeful of seeing an Owl out on a hunt. But sadly not even a calling Little Owl could be added to the days tally. Fieldfare passing over and Skylark were noted coming into roost during our walk.

Canons Farm - More Gulls!

Canons Farm was very misty are dreary when I arrived mid morning. My plan was to follow the farmers tractor around and sift through the gulls that were taking advantage of the morsals that were churned up by the light plough en route.

Common 23 and Black Headed 162 numbers were up on yesterday with Herring 52 down by two thirds and not a Lesser Black Backed to be seen. Corvids were everywhere with Rook 3 seen today. The gamekeeper did shoot a Crow which emptied the fields of everything around lunch time! 

I changed tac locating the Linnet flock c200 and the mixed flock Chaffinch c100 and Linnet 124. The clicking was cut short on the Chaffinch as Mr Loud steamed through the field with his dogs sending both flocks skyward and into the far corner of the next field. I had reached 56 with many still to count!

I returned to the tractor mid afternoon where the majority of the Herring gull was unlike the few individuals in the morning! The farmer still has a few fields to do I wonder if the forecast of rain will drop something in!

Canons Farm - Gull Fest!

This afternoon I took another pm foray to Canons Farm to find the farmer was ploughing the fields near Canons Farmhouse. The result was a Gull, Corvid and Pigeon fest on the fields. I concentrated my efforts in this area as there was always a chance of something more interesting joining the masses!

The Gulls were represented by Herring 159, Black Headed 69, Common Gull 4 and Lesser Black Backed 4. I had a large gull fly over but the jury has returned a verdict of Lesser Black Backed. 

The bird did not join the food fest on the field but did a couple of laps from above before disappearing. The debate is always photos or scope views first! Photos can be scrutinized longer than scope views!

The Linnet flock dropped in close to my position on the hedge line. This allowed me to take a clicked head count which came to 122 birds. I did not see the mixed flock of Chaffinch and Linnet today.

I will no doubt get a Birdtrack message (Unexpected high count in London area!) in relation to Jackdaw but there were at least 300 with the Crows. Wood Pigeon and Stock Dove 76 were also well represented.

The wind was bitterly cold with face ache factor thrown in therefore I cut my losses and headed for home before dusk. 

Canons Farm - As High as a Kite! I Wish!

My birding adventures have been restricted of late having had a couple of wisdom teeth removed at St Georges Hospital Tooting. My face has looked like I had been involved in a fracas but of course everything was above board having signed the consent forms prior to the operation!

Short outings close to home are the order of the day leaving me within dashing distance of my home when my face starts aching! Canons Farm is about a ten minute drive and the fields have had plenty of passerines flitting about between the fields. 

A couple of flocks of Linnet and Chaffinch have been frequenting the fields near Canons Farmhouse so I spent some time looking through the flocks before moving over to the Viewpoint to start my sky vigil. I did not have to wait long before a Red Kite drifted into view heading towards Epsom Downs. A species that is now common in the county with several established breeding sites. 

As darkness descended I was joined by Steve Gale who had been on site from late afternoon. He picked up a couple of duck which were likely to be Mallard crossing the site. A Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were the only other raptors seen before we exited stage left and the warmth of our cars!

I wish I was as high as that Kite as face ache is not pleasant!

Shellness Isle of Sheppey - Birthday Birding Bonanza!

The mobile Observatory hit the road with Peter Alfrey at the helm and Steve Thomas (Tank) and I as the excited school kids in the back. The destination Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey a location that is proving to be ever popular with the inhabitants! A Northeasterly blow with the chance of showers added to the expectation levels in the van.

The day did not disappoint with geese passing overhead along with Brent Geese joining the shoreline as the tide went out. The identification of the above geese is still being discussed my pictures are not good enough to show the colour of the underbelly!

More Scoter passed though as the day progressed with over 100 birds seen throughout the day. Pete’s eagle eyes also picked out a group of Red Throated Diver which I could not lock onto. 

A couple of Razorbill, Kittiwake and numerous Gannet were also noted. A tight flock of distant small gulls were also picked up by Pete late in the afternoon reported as Little Gull by other sea-watchers.

We also took a walk around the fields and scrub in the Leysdown area spying a Woodcock which was passing high and likely to be a migrant. Short eared and Barn Owl, a male and female Hen Harrier were also added to the day total along with numerous ducks that were scattered by low flying Marsh Harriers!

Oystercatchers were everywhere with Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit adding to the mix of Grey Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Turnstone that were scattered along the beach.

Passerines were not as numerous around the caravan sites, Stonechat and a good mix of resident birds were seen including a couple of Red-legged Partridge.

The days total had some good species on it which with a traditional fish and chip lunch thrown in making it a perfect birthday celebration for me! Woo Hoo!

Canons Farm and Banstead Woods - Driven Back By Rain!

Today I took my first outing for some time. This was due to a combination of commitments and a bout of man flue! I took the short journey to Canons Farm to see if the Moorhen was still present at the small pond at the Banstead Woods car park end of the site. 

I travelled light starting at Canon’s Farm noting the flocks of Chaffinch and Linnet in the nearby fields. I planned to return at the end of the morning and sift through them using the telescope. 

I added a couple of new species to my Canon’s Farm tally both of which I was surprised I had not seen on the Farmlands before! The former Canada Goose I was certain I had not seen before, but Long Tailed Tit…Really!! The total now stands at 79 species which includes Blackcap seen in July and Sand Martin in September. 

Throughout the autumn period I have been logging my sightings on Birdtrack which has meant my wildlife recorder has not been kept up to date. Too much duplication of records the excuse!

I made it back to the car despite the driving rain but did not get a chance to sift through the flocks of passerines feeding in the fields opposite Canon’s Farmhouse!

Kent - Oare Marshes - Day Trip in the Mobile Observatory!

Today I took a road trip into Kent with Peter Alfrey. We spent the morning at Shellness searching the scrub for passerines and the afternoon at Oare Marshes searching for the American Golden Plover that had been reported earlier on in the day.

The search for passerines produced several Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Goldfinch and a couple of Tit flocks. After a fish and chip lunch we made our way to Oare to see what high tide would push onto the flood.

The Marshes were filling up with shorebirds with Marsh Harrier, Common and Sandwich Tern over The Swale. A Spoonbill spent most of the afternoon resting on an island before moving into deeper water and then flying off over The Swale.

As the afternoon progressed the light improved considerably with plenty of photo opportunities for shorebirds that were feeding on the muddy edges. A Little Stint was the first to venture within range.

A Curlew Sandpiper joined the Stint busily feeding as it made its way along the muddy edges.

There were a couple of Ruff a Greenshank, Ringed Plover amongst the numerous Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Avocet and Black Tailed Godwit. A couple of Bar Tailed Godwit was identified within the main flock.

The American Golden Plover was not re-located despite sifting through the Golden Plover that arrived on the flood in small flocks. 

There were good numbers of Brent Goose in the area indicating that Winter is not far away.

Question of the day: How long would it take to see this number of shorebirds by species at Beddington Farm?

Holmethorpe SP - Curlew on the Sand!

The soccer season is well under way which means my time is limited particularly at the weekend. With rain sweeping across the country something was bound to turn up in SVC17. The “Law of Sod” was at its best as I received a message from ardent Holmethorpe SP patch watcher Gordon that there was a Curlew Sandpiper on Spynes Mere!

The bird has remained for four days taking advantage of the sandy and mud islands which have been created by the transfer of water by pipeline to Mercers West. I arrived in the middle of a shower which turned into a monsoon like downpour during my brief stay. The bird was happily feeding away with a Common Sandpiper on the closest and largest of the islands.

This is my second SVC17 Curlew Sandpiper. The first was at Beddington Farm on September 6th 2011.

Thanks Gordon for the early heads up it was a shame I had to wait so long to get there!

Holmethorpe SP - Having a Barnie!

After a weekend of sport it was time to focus on my September challenge so I took to the road with the aim of covering some local sites before the rain came in! I checked in at Canons Farm to find the fields by Canon’s Farmhouse had been harvested. This area had recently held Whinchat and Stonechat.  I had a wander around for a couple of hours sifting through the masses of hirundines that were quartering the fields before heading off to Holmethorpe.

The cloud was closing in fast so I travelled light so I could cover the key areas. The water level on Spynes Mere had dropped considerably since my last visit creating several sandy islands that waterfowl and Lapwing were taking full advantage of! In amongst the masses of geese (over 200 Canada’s) were a couple of Barnacle Geese that looked very smart resting on one of the sand islands. 

The birds did not have rings but were likely to be from feral stock. Wild birds tend to arrive for winter and spend time in the North of England and Scotland. The birds had been present for about a week viz Gordon.

The biggest flock of fifty birds I saw at QE2 reservoir with Dave Harris and John Allan back in January 2010. There has since been a regular winter flock that spends its time in the Walton area.

Nothing too exciting today but this is a species that I have not seen at Holmethorpe before. Will the storm work its magic!

Beddington Farm - Back to the Farm!

I was up and out at the crack of dawn heading to Beddington Farm to catch up on some species to add to my September challenge. The site is far from what it used to be and the new access and site “crystal maze” obstacle course does not appeal to my patch watching senses like it used to! The wet grassland area is still being dug with the few Tree Sparrows that are left ducking and diving between feeding as the machinery bypasses the feeder stations! 

Once complete the area will have to be drained for three years to allow seeding and growth before the area can be flooded and become “operational”. 100 Acre also seems to be out of bounds with no route through to this area! If you are on site dressed in your PPE hi-viz gear you cannot access the hides and visa versa making full site coverage tricky to say the least!

The areas to and on to the mound are now lined with fencing which has allowed the scrub to grow providing a useful migrant trap. Several Whinchat was seen in this area with a Stonechat, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and other common passerines.

The North Lake held a variety of waterfowl including a female Pintail which has been present for a few days.

Whilst checking through the Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Pochard a Wigeon was spied. This species does not appear in any great numbers on the Farm and therefore was a welcome addition to the day list.

Most of the gulls were frequenting the area for the proposed wet grassland so I spent some time looking through a reasonable number of Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Black Headed, Greater Black Backed and a few odd looking gulls.

Whilst doing this Dodge messaged me with news of a Spotted Flycatcher behind the hide! I debated whether to trek back having had one yesterday at Canons Farm but joined Dodge, Tank and Glen on the Sand Martin bank.

Other migrants seen during the morning Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Buzzard.

I recorded 54 species during my morning visit back to Epsom Downs for Geese watch later!

Canons Farm - Spot the Flycatcher!

This morning’s garden watch produced a flurry of Swallow over my house which had me polish off breakfast and head out to Canons Farm in search of migrants. I parked up opposite Canons Farmhouse got out the car and looked up. The sky above my head was littered with House Martin and Swallow this could be interesting! I sifted through the masses and took counts before venturing into the fields in this area. A flock of Linnet and Meadow Pipit were present in the fields along with other common birds.

Bird of the morning a Spotted Flycatcher was found hawking insects on the corner of George East and the Legal & General Sports Field. There were a few Chaffinch and Chiffchaff also in this area that was full of flying insects.

A few Yellowhammer were seen on my travels this one was photographed by Canons Farmhouse.

A juvenile male Reed Bunting was seen flitting in and out of a hedge along the track.

The Swallows took advantage of the wires too rest upon giving me good opportunity to have a second look through them. There were more on the wires further down the track. 

Buzzard were regularly being chased by corvids three were seen together mid morning!

Thirty two species were recorded which is not bad considering I did not make it up to Banstead Woods!