Canons Farm and Banstead Woods

I led one of the two subgroups for the CFBW Bird Group's Winter Tour today, a welcome chance to get back on the old patch and to simply get beyond the confines of the garden! The best the farm had to offer were 40 Meadow Pipits, 25 Redwings, six Fieldfares and a couple of Buzzards. In Banstead Woods, we enjoyed having a female Sparrowhawk, an adult male Kestrel and a Buzzard over our heads simultaneously, while one of the paths offered good views of Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker for the participants. A redpoll flew over.

Canons Farm and Belmont

A Tawny Owl woke me up in the early hours outside the window at my parents' when I stopped over. In the early afternoon, once the rain had cleared, I headed to Canons Farm for a short walk which produced a female Stonechat, three Chiffchaffs, a male Kestrel, two Buzzards, a Yellowhammer, seven Meadow Pipits and a Fieldfare.

Canons Farm, Banstead Woods and Beddington Farmlands

Leading the CFBW Bird Group's Autumn Migration Tour was a challenge in the cold northerlies, but we found two Wheatears, 20 Swallows and three Meadow Pipits at Canons Farm, while Banstead Woods offered a Siskin and a Willow Warbler. A small flock of Goldfinches picking at the mortar on the carport - as they do here - included two birds with rings.



An evening walk at Beddington was disappointing. The water levels on the lakes were high and the 'wet grassland' still had not a blade more grass than when it was first dug. Chiffchaffs outnumbered Willow Warblers, with 15 and three respectively, while two Cetti's Warblers sang and a Sand Martin, 10 Swifts and three Swallows hawked over the North Lake. I heard a Green Sandpiper, and wildfowl included seven Shovelers and four Egyptian Geese.

Banstead Woods

An outdoors meet with some of the CFBW folk late in the day at Banstead Woods was quiet for both birds and butterflies but refreshing nonetheless. Over 40 Swifts were overhead, three Buzzards flew over and a couple of Goldcrests were singing - among the birds noted.

Buckland Sand Pits and Canons Farm

Ian Magness and I were greeted by thick fog initially at our occasional Buckland Sand Pits walk-round but thankfully it burned off soon enough. We recorded 47 species in a couple of hours, including 30+ Siskins, two Reed Buntings, three Redwings, a Grey Wagtail, 11 Egyptian Geese, nine Wigeon, six Tufted Ducks, four Gadwall, six Little Grebes, a Grey Heron, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Nuthatch, two Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Reed Bunting at Buckland Sand Pits

Sparrowhawk at Buckland Sand Pits

Egyptian Geese at Buckland Sand Pits

A quick dusk walk along the lane at Canons Farm produced c40 Rooks, 45 Fieldfares, two Redwings, nine Yellowhammers, five Skylarks and a Buzzard.

Banstead Woods, Canons Farm, Banstead and Belmont

I caught up with Ian Magness for a couple of hours this morning. Initially we had a quick look at the 'new lagoon' at Banstead Woods, where a Grey Wagtail flew over, followed by a walk around Canons Farm. There, we couldn't find a Brambling among the mixed flock of Chaffinches and Greenfinches (150+ and 15 respectively) but I did hear one fly over near the farmhouse. Remarkably, another Grey Wagtail flew over Broadfield (this is a rather scarce bird for CFBW). Other highlights included a Cormorant, a big female Sparrowhawk, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, five Rooks, four Meadow Pipits, six Yellowhammers, a Bullfinch, a flock of around 100 Linnets, a Pied Wagtail, 25 Skylarks, 35 Fieldfares and small numbers of Redwings. Three Buzzards and 30 Stock Doves were also noted.

1cy Buzzard at Canons Farm

Other locally notable stuff included a Grey Heron over the A217 at Banstead and a Green Woodpecker audible from my parents' flat in Belmont.

Banstead Woods

I'd arranged with Darragh for a vismig session from Hither Field but as I drove to the site I realised it was a no-hoper with such thick fog. Nonetheless, it was a good chance to catch up. We did log a Mistle Thrush, 37 Redwings and four Bullfinches. A singing Song Thrush was the first I'd heard in voice for some time.

Steep Down, Canons Farm, Banstead Woods and Oare Marshes KWT

The day started at Steep Down, with three Wheatears, an adult male Peregrine, a Willow Warbler, six Chiffchaffs, six Swallows, a Goldcrest, four Meadow Pipits and a Sparrowhawk the best on offer.

It was then up to my homelands to lead the annual Autumn Migration Tour for the Canons Farm & Banstead Woods Bird Group. Given the weather, it was yet another particularly challenging walk, though the participants seemed to enjoy it well enough. The best bird, a Hobby, was unfortunately too fast for most people to get a view of, and a Yellow Wagtail was merely heard as it flew over. Other stuff included four Yellowhammers, 35 Swallows, a Meadow Pipit and two Kestrels. A Sparrowhawk tussled with two of the five Buzzards seen.

Banstead Woods offered a Bullfinch, a Treecreeper, and a few Nuthatches and Goldcrests.

In the afternoon, I took my old friends from school, Panos and Francis, who wanted to get a taste of some birding, to Oare Marshes KWT. Happily, this resulted in me finding an adult American Golden Plover among the Golden Plovers on the East Flood! A very elegant and beautifully marked bird, it was still in about 75% breeding plumage and had attitude, occasionally charging at its European companions! It conveniently stayed mostly at the front edge of the flock and wasn't too distant, providing a great opportunity to study just my third individual in Britain. This bird represents the eighth record all-time for Kent. Two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a few Ruff, Knot and Avocet, and a couple of Snipe were some of the other waders present. Water Rail, Yellow Wagtail and Cetti's Warbler were heard.

adult American Golden Plover (centre) with Golden Plovers at Oare Marshes KWT

Cissbury Ring and Banstead Woods

Catches during the morning's ringing included young individuals of Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler. We caught a good number of Blackcaps (a noticeable arrival), along with a few Willow Warblers and Whitethroats. Three Tree Pipits and a Yellow Wagtail flew over. What was presumably the same Marsh Tit could be heard calling first thing. Other birds included six Swallows, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, three Bullfinches, a House Martin, a Treecreeper, a Yellowhammer and a Buzzard.

juvenile Sedge Warbler at Cissbury Ring

juvenile Bullfinch at Cissbury Ring

juvenile Goldfinch at Cissbury Ring

Just before a meeting in the Rambler's Rest in the evening, I joined Linda in a short walk around the east flank of Banstead Woods, though we didn't get much other than a Nuthatch, a Goldcrest, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Linnet.

Canons Farm, Banstead Woods, Ashdown Forest and Litlington

Another day, another tour. It was harder work though. We located the Little Owl again distantly on the east side of Horse Pasture at Canons, and enjoyed small numbers of Swallows and Yellowhammers, while Banstead Woods added a Mallard on Piddly Pond, a couple of extra Buzzards and nice views of Nuthatch but little else.

I met up with Christian at the Long car park in Ashdown Forest for a quick catch up. Here we had nice views of singing Redstart, Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler, while Stonechats were busily feeding young and a few Siskins and Willow Warblers were around.

Tree Pipit at Ashdown Forest

An evening twitch saw me join Dan and Mike at Litlington, where the Red-rumped Swallow showed nicely in the evening light amid a flurry of Swallows, Sand Martins, House Martins and Swifts. Reed Warbler and Cetti's Warbler sang.

Canons Farm and Banstead Woods

Leading a tour round the old patch, the farm had good site records of two Sand Martins and a singing Lesser Whitethroat, while other highlights included Little Owl, four Mallards and five Whitethroats. In Banstead Woods a late flock of 16 Black-headed Gulls flew over and we noted singing Treecreeper.

Canons Farm

A walk around my old patch this morning produced a female Wheatear, a pair of Little Owls, a flyover Siskin, 37 Fieldfares, five Redwings, 20 Linnets, a Buzzard, three Green Woodpeckers and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

female Wheatear

Canons Farm

After dropping Adrian and Jerry off in Leatherhead last night, I stopped off at my parents' so a visit to Canons Farm was in order. It was a fine day and all the better for catching up with Geoff. Birds were few and far between though, with a flyover Siskin, two Yellowhammers, six Meadow Pipits, two Treecreepers, an adult male Kestrel, two of both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and six Buzzards of note. Small Tortoiseshells and Brimstones were on the wing.

Canons Farm, Banstead Woods and Pulborough Brooks RSPB

This morning I led the CFBWBG's Winter Tour. We started at the Canons Farm where highlights included Barn Owl, a few Fieldfares and Redwings, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and five fly-over Mallards. Spending a fair bit of time in Banstead Woods, we enjoyed prolonged views of a flock of seven Siskins gleaning from tree trunks, while a Mallard was on Piddly Pond and a nice set of woodland birds included Treecreeper in song, Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch, plus 30 more Redwings and a fly-over Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Siskins in Banstead Woods

On the way home I stopped at Pulborough Brooks RSPB in the hope of seeing the White-rumped Sandpiper found by Matt earlier in the day but it was a dip in miserable weather - with a Dunlin being the closest we got and the best entertainment being the numbers of Pintail and Wigeon present. Good to see Louis F-H in the hide though.

Canons Farm and Worthing

A casual stroll around Canons with Geoff - more for a catch-up than anything (the farm felt decidedly uninspiring), produced 15 Meadow Pipits, 40 Linnets, two Yellowhammers, a Pied Wagtail, a Common Gull, 10 Fieldfares, 16 Redwings, six Skylarks and a Treecreeper among other expected species.

In Worthing later, a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail flew over the shops.

Banstead Woods and Canons Farm

Despite the bright conditions, a 2.5-hour vismig session on the 'old patch' from Hither Field with Darragh and Adrian was rewarding enough, with a Brambling, 90 Fieldfares (both my first of the autumn), some 1,100 Redwings, four Blackbirds, 23 Siskins, eight Skylarks, 13 Meadow Pipits, a Grey Heron, three Pied/White Wagtails, 15 Mallards, 230 Woodpigeons, four Linnets and 31 Chaffinches. Starlings also moved through in small numbers. Five Song Thrushes, a Bullfinch and a couple of Goldcrests and Coal Tits were around the viewpoint, while three Buzzards were in the distance.

Moving on to Canons Farm - where we encounter Roy and Ian M - another three Siskins flew over and three Stonechats were in Reads Bottom. Two late Chiffchaffs were between Canons Farmhouse and Reads Rest Cottages. A Fieldfare, 60 Redwings, three Meadow Pipits and a Pied/White Wagtail flew over. Four Yellowhammers, a Sparrowhawk and eight Buzzards were also logged.

Yellowhammer at Canons Farm

Canons Farm and Banstead Woods

I was back up to Surrey for the third time this week to lead the CFBWBG's Autumn Migration Tour. It was quieter than we might have hoped, but a showy Whinchat at Reads Bottom and an overhead push of House Martins and the odd Swallow saved the day and made it an enjoyable outing for the 14 participants. A couple of Meadow Pipits flew over the farm and in Banstead Woods we enjoyed the sounds of Nuthatches, Coal Tits, Goldcrests, Treecreepers and Bullfinch but none played ball and showed for the crowd!

Whinchat at Reads Bottom, Canons Farm

West Worthing and Banstead Woods

Another garden vigil in the morning produced seven Yellow Wagtails, 33 Swallows, four Meadow Pipits, 32 House Martins and three Grey Wagtails overhead. A Chiffchaff visited the garden and a Goldcrest called next door.

After work I drove up to Chipstead for a CFBWBG meeting and had a very quick walk around part of Banstead Woods with Paul and Linda beforehand, the highlight of which was four Bullfinches. A couple of Chiffchaffs were calling.

Canons Farm, Banstead Woods and Holmwood

A quick visit back home gave me an excuse to visit the old patch. It was much quieter than I hoped for but a Yellow Wagtail over Canons Farmhouse was something. Other bits at the farm included three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three migrant Chiffchaffs, three Swallows, a Whitethroat, four Yellowhammers and a Sparrowhawk. Teaming up with Ian Magness to check a portion of Banstead Woods produced a further three Chiffchaffs, six Nuthatches, four Treecreepers and seven Coal Tits.

Driving back to Worthing in the evening - but in good daylight - a Tawny Owl gave a nice view as it cross the A24 near Holmwood.

Oare Marshes, Bough Beech Reservoir, Leith Hill and Canons Farm

A long and enjoyable day in the field with Bob, over from Kansas. We started at Oare Marshes, arriving shortly after high tide. The adult Red-necked Phalarope was immediately visible on the East Flood, where we also tracked down a Spotted Redshank and a Little Stint. Other waders present included a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpipere, a couple of Greenshanks and Whimbrel, a few Ruff and Snipe, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and the usual hordes of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks. Adding to the set of waders were the usual Avocets, Oystercatchers and Curlews. Caldrids were in short supply, with only a couple of Dunlin noted in addition to the stint. At least two Turtle Doves were showing nicely in the scrub near the cottages and we enjoyed nice views of Bearded Reedlings, Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers by the road. A Clouded Yellow was my first this year.

adult Red-necked Phalarope at Oare Marshes

Turtle Dove at Oare Marshes

At Bough Beech Reservoir we had two Garganey on the North Lake, along with three Mandarins and a scattering of Teal.  Four Green Sandpipers were at the back. There were good numbers of Egyptian Geese and Little Egrets around the margins, as well as many Great Crested Grebes on the water. A short walk in the woodland revealed a couple of Bullfinches and Nuthatches.

two Garganey at Bough Beech Reservoir, with a Mallard

Next we parked up for a short while at the foot of Leith Hill in Coldharbour and enjoyed nice views of a couple of Siskins around the village - a bird that Bob had never seen before. A number of Swallows nesting in the adjacent stables were very active and vocal. By now it was really getting quite hot! We ventured up onto Duke's Warren, hearing a Redstart but otherwise there was only a Willow Warbler of any note.

A walk along Reads Rest Lane at Canons Farm soon produced Bob's desired Yellowhammers, as well as a bonus lifer for him in the form of a Wheatear - the site's first of the autumn.

Wheatear at Canons Farm