October 28th-November 1st 2014

November 1st 2014

Leith Hill

Pheasant	Present
Sparrowhawk	1
Buzzard	1
Herring Gull	12
Woodpigeon	Present
Tawny Owl	Present
Great Spotted Woodpecker	2
Kestrel	1
Magpie	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Raven	2
Goldcrest	Present
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	Present
Marsh Tit	1
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	1
Nuthatch	1
Treecreeper	1
Wren	Present
Starling	21
Blackbird	Present
Fieldfare	90
Song Thrush	Present
Redwing	Present
Mistle Thrush	1
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Grey Wagtail	2
Pied/White Wagtail	1
Meadow Pipit	15
Chaffinch	Present
Bullfinch	1
Greenfinch	Present
Linnet	Present
Lesser Redpoll	7
Common Crossbill	8
Goldfinch	Present
Siskin	Present

 
October 31st 2014

Brotton

Pheasant	Present
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Rook	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	Present
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Skylark	1
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Eastern Crowned Warbler	1
Yellow-browed Warbler	1
Chiffchaff	1
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	Present
Redwing	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
House Sparrow	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Chaffinch	Present
Bullfinch	2
Goldfinch	Present
Siskin	1

 

Eastern Crowned Warbler at Brotton

Commondale Valley

Red Grouse	3
Buzzard	2
Rough-legged Buzzard	1
Feral Pigeon	Present
Kestrel	1
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Siskin	6

 

Rough-legged Buzzard over Commondale Valley

October 30th 2014

Beddington Farm

Mute Swan	Present
Wigeon	17
Gadwall	Present
Teal	Present
Mallard	Present
Garganey	1
Shoveler	Present
Pochard	1
Tufted Duck	Present
Cormorant	3
Grey Heron	Present
Little Grebe	Present
Sparrowhawk	1
Water Rail	3
Moorhen	Present
Coot	Present
Lapwing	17
Green Sandpiper	1
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Great Black-backed Gull	1
Feral Pigeon	Present
Stock Dove	3
Woodpigeon	Present
Kingfisher	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Kestrel	1
Peregrine	1
Ring-necked Parakeet	Present
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Raven	2
Goldcrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Bearded Tit	2
Skylark	1
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	2
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	2
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
House Sparrow	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	6
Chaffinch	Present
Linnet	Present
Goldfinch	10
Reed Bunting	2

Bearded Tits at Beddington (finally nailed!)

Ravens at Beddington

October 29th 2014

Banstead Heath

Herring Gull	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Great Spotted Woodpecker	2
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	5
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	1
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	1
Treecreeper	1
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	3
Redwing	5
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Meadow Pipit	3
Chaffinch	Present
Bullfinch	7
Greenfinch	2
Linnet	3
Lesser Redpoll	1
Goldfinch	2

October 28th 2014

Islingword Road, Brighton

Skylark	1
Chiffchaff	1

Northbound twitch

For several days in succession now I've been wanting to get on the patch but something has thwarted my plans each time. Yesterday was no different, news of a mega from the east broke in Cleveland. The only previous British record was twenty one years ago on a Welsh island when no access was being permitted due to breeding birds. It was about as mega as they come.

Johnny Allan picked me up and we headed to Wraysbury where we jumped into Franko Maroevic's car, getting from Sutton to Franko's was a nightmare and quite stressful. The rest of the journey, however, was reasonably quick and efficient mianly thanks to Franko's savvy driving.

We knew we were near when we became surrounded my grim industrial surroundings and housing estates. The news on the pager was a bit confusing at times, with John's (Birdnet) and mine (RBA) telling slightly different stories, but we got the idea that the bird kept returning to the bowling green.

Upon arrival, at something like 2.30pm, we anxiously waited for the bird to show. After a while, there was movement amongst the people on the other side. I saw an appropriate-looking bird drop down and people started seeing it there but I couldn't get onto it on the deck until I got a fleeting glimpse of a small brown thrush-sized bird as it flew up, apparently this was the bird but I hardly got anything on it so wasn't happy. A couple of hours passed and the bird didn't return. The ringer who trapped the bird had a look in the doctor's garden but couldn't find it. The atmosphere became tense and people were getting a little concerned.



Then, a stampede ensued. I got the idea that somebody was seeing it from atop a van in the garden. A queuing system came into operation for the van and several ladders that Franko organised the loan of. This caused a bit of mayhem and some very amusing sights. I may put a video up at some point. I got a good position in the queue for the van but it seemed to take an age before my turn came around. I clambered up, scanned the flowerbed and smacked eyes upon the female WHITE-THROATED ROBIN - yes yes yes yes!!! At this time it was approximately 6.00pm and I was elated to know it was all worth it and I had my first good tick in a fair time under the belt. She was just sitting there, front-on, sunning herself. I spent about a minute up there, using some of that time to attempt to digi-bin a record shot. I did this by pointing and hoping and remarkably got one recognisable shot - I couldn't have asked for more in the end (other than a side-on view perhaps).

Then, a long journey back and I've just arrived. I thought I'd knock this out now to save me doing it tomorrow night. Off to bed now - I will have to have a lie-in this morning, it being 3.00am now, but I do hope that nothing hinders a visit to the patch late morning tomorrow.