28/09/2009- the one that just about got away

After the usual walk around the Downs, on my way back I spotted a large and bulky, pale Warbler with faint barring across some of its body. I am fairly confident it may have been a BARRED WARBLER but it crept into the bush all to quickly for me to go over the features 'officially' in my head if you know what I mean. It was getting dark and cold and the bird wouldn't show again so I had to give up but I'm back at first light tomorrow and will let positive news out immediately.

Other birds included 2 PHEASANTS (male and female flushed at Bikers', the male had a short tail), 1 TREECREEPER, 2 BULLFINCHES, 1 GOLDCREST, 1 MEADOW PIPIT, 3 COAL TITS (one still at Bikers' and two at the Merlin Pasture), 3 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS, 3 BLACKCAPS, 3+ CHIFFCHAFFS, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, 1 GOLDFINCH over, 1 SONG THRUSH.

Also seen:

2+ BLACKBIRDS, 10+ HERRING GULLS, 3 WREN, 6+ CHAFFINCHES, 1 DUNNOCK, 5 FERAL PIGEONS over, 7+ JACKDAWS, several WOODPIGEONS and CARRION CROWS, 7+ BLUE TITS, c.7 ROBINS, c.10 GREAT TITS, 5+ JAYS, c.20 LONG-TAILED TITS and 4 MAGPIES.

27/09/2009

A female REED BUNTING which showed well briefly mid morning in the Central Enclosure was definitely the highlight and a patch tick for me (71, and 67 for the year).

Other highlights included TREECREEPER (Bikers'), COAL TIT (North Wood/Merlin Pasture), 2 GREY HERONS (together, then one north and one north east over Central Enclosure), 1 PIED WAGTAIL flew over, 1 SWALLOW low south through Bikers', c.2 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS, 1 SPARROWHAWK (immature, low over Bikers'), 1 singing CHIFFCHAFF + 2 or so others, 2 BLACKCAPS etc.

A CHIFFCHAFF and a COAL TIT were in my Gran's garden.

25/09/2009

A Small Copper butterfly was the star on this dull day bird-wise.

1 GREY WAGTAIL over, 1 MEADOW PIPIT and 2+ BULLFINCH were the highlights.

Species counts:

8 MAGPIE 11 ROBIN 16 GREAT TIT 3 WREN 4 CHAFFINCHc.5 JAY 2 LINNET 4 CHIFFCHAFFS 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS 2+ BLACKCAPS 20+ LONG-TAILED TITS many WOODPIGEONS and CARRION CROWS 1+ GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 3 FERAL PIGEONS over 3 STARLINGS over 2 DUNNOCK 1-2 SPARROWHAWKS 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL over 1 STOCK DOVE sse 10+ BLUE TITS 2 BLACK-HEADED GULLS over 2 COAL TITS (1 at East Enclosure and 1 still at Bikers'), 2 JACKDAW 5 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS 4 SONG THRUSH 1 HERRING GULL over 1 WILLOW WARBLER

24/09/2009

2+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS over today + 7+ CHIFFCHAFFS, 6+ JAY, 3 BLACKCAPS, 1 COAL TIT still at Bikers', 1 LINNET, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL over, 1 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1+ GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 GREY HERON flew east north east over the east wood.

22/09/2009

Within the first few minutes of my visit I could tell it wasn't going to be as good as yesterday, but still, it wasn't bad with some alright counts and patch scarcities that keep you going down the Downs.

One of the highlights of the day was a decent movement of hirundines with c.48 SWALLOWS and c.45 HOUSE MARTINS counted during the c.2 hours I was on site.

The award of bird of the day goes to a female PHEASANT that flew up briefly at the area that I have dubbed 'South Dartford' which is near 'Chiffy Oaks' :-). This is my second record here and a Banstead Downs year tick (66). This species is quite a challenge to find here (though I don't know if they are easier in the East Wood or breed there or what as I hardly ever go there).

2 BULLFINCHES were noted today, after a period of low counts/absence in my logbook. JAYS are getting busy and angry for the autumn with at least 4 birds present, though probably 2 or so more; it's hard to estimate numbers. 1 or 2 COAL TITS are still present around Bikers' (I will try to explain the different parts of the site and the names I've given them in a later post) and 1 possible TREECREEPER was heard briefly there where 5 or so CHIFFCHAFFS were feeding. 5 LINNETS flew up from the south end of the central footpath.2 GREEN and 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS.

10+ CHAFFINCHES were logged, mainly around Bikers'. 10 ROBINS were heard. 23 HERRING GULLS, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and 16 BLACK-HEADED GULLS flew over. 1 BLACKCAP. 1 probable Willow Warbler. 4 STARLINGS and 2 FERAL PIGEONS over. 1 GREENFINCH. 30+ JACKDAWS. 20+ CARRION CROWS and a similar count of WOODPIGEONS, 9+ MAGPIES noted. 5+ GREAT TIS (2 singing). 9+ BLUE TITS. 2 DUNNOCKS.

21/09/2009- a good day

Yeah, at last a very enjoyable and rewarding day with much evidence of migration! . . .

As I was walking to the North Wood through the Merlin Pasture I picked up a large raptor heading low south and said to myself, 'here we go . . .', preparing myself for a Honey-buzzard but alas it turned out to be a COMMON BUZZARD. Still, an alright bird for the Downs, I haven't seen that many here before and a good sign of things to come. Next thing I knew 2 SWALLOWS flew SW right above me. I had a feeling it was going to be a good day.

Getting the dross over with first . . .

TIT numbers were good with 1 COAL, c.15 GREAT, c.20 LONG-TAILED and 7+ BLUE. 1 male GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER showed well in the north wood. 6+ JAYS were present. A decent site count of 12 STARLINGS passed over. c.10 HERRING and 2+ BLACK-HEADED GULLS flew over. c.25 JACKDAWS were noted. 4+ CHAFFINCHES noted. 1 and 2 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over. 2 GREENFINCHES flew over. 8 FERAL PIGEONS over.

Onto the better stuff . . .

1 MEADOW PIPIT called at what I call the 'Mega Patch' where a presumably migrant MISTLE THRUSH showed well with a CHAFFINCH closely following it. WARBLERS today consisted of 4+ CHIFFCHAFFS, 1 WILLOW WARBLER and 2+ BLACKCAPS.

A further 4 SWALLOWS flew north and 7+ HOUSE MARTINS flew south. 2+ LINNETS were noted. 1 female SPARROWHAWK was observed by both myself and the angry Crows.

A single probable SONG THRUSH/possible REDWING flew ENE.

On the way back, at the north end of the central path I heard a BRAMBLING fly over, making its more Chaffinch-like call and then relocated it, making its short nasal call at the south end of the north enclosure, by the patch of heather/gorse there. This was a local patch tick for me and I believe it is the first of the winter for both Surrey and London, that's from the information available to me anyway. A nice way to end the day.

30 species recorded in 2 hours 49 minutes.

My Banstead Downs list is now on 70 and it is now on 65 for 2009.

At 07:47 this morning I saw and heard a YELLOW WAGTAIL fly ENE over Belmont Pastures, on my way to school. Very near to Banstead Downs and a would be patch tick, nice to see anyway.

At c.08.05 I recorded a single MEADOW PIPIT at Overton Park just before I entered school. This is an uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant there.

17/09/2009

Slightly better . . . 1 SONG THRUSH, 1 MEADOW PIPIT, 1+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET over, 1 LINNET north, 1 male BLACKCAP flycatching, 8+ CHIFFCHAFFS, 3+ JAYS, 2+ GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 1 female SPARROWHAWK mobbed by a single C. Crow over the Divider Scrub. 3+ GREENFINCHES over and 3 CHAFFINCHES. 8+ JACKDAWS. c.5 HERRING GULLS over.

15/09/2009

A below average day because of terrible conditions, very wet. 3+ CHIFFCHAFFS, 1 STOCK DOVE SW, 2-3 SONG THRUSHES at Bikers', 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 1 GREEN WOODPECKER. A handful of JACKDAWS and a trickle of GULL passage.

11/09/2009

Little of note today. Highlights were 2 WILLOW WARBLERS, 1 male KESTREL showing well, 5+ GREEN WOODPECKERS, c.9 CHIFFCHAFFS, 1 BULLFINCH, 15 and 1+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS over. 2+ GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS. The usual GULL passage. 2 JAYS. 7+ CHAFFINCHES. etc etc

10/09/2009- finally . . .

I am pleased to report that the north easterly winds did me a bit of a favour today, bringing one (better than none . . . ) more interesting passerine migrant in the form of a TREE PIPIT that flew over, calling. A patch tick for me, bring me up to 68, and 63 for the year.

Also today, at least 7 SWALLOWS flew south west, there were probably many others, as it seemed I got onto some every time I scanned the sky for more than a few seconds, of course, I couldn't be bothered to constantly scan the sky and I still would have missed many.

Also a handful of PHYLLOSCOPUS WARBLERS, a single COMMON WHITETHROAT, at least 2 or 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS, a single GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, a west-orientated flock of nine ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS was followed by a group of 3 heading in the same direction and a single north west bound bird.

A single BULLFINCH and at least ten CHAFFINCHES were noted. Also at least two GREENFINCHES flew over. There were around 4 JAYS which were causing a commotion.

LONG-TAILED, BLUE and GREAT TITS were much in evidence. That about sums today up . . .

Other Belmont news, yesterday a pair of SPARROWHAWKS flew over Belmont Pastures where there was a pair of SONG THRUSHES and there were at least 14 GOLDFINCHES in my gran's garden this morning with 2 HOUSE SPARROWS. BLACK-HEADED and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS have, like I, come back to school for the winter (though they've been there on and off since late June/early July).

08/09/2009- slightly better . . .

Today was a slight improvement. I popped over to the golf course this afternoon following school where the highlight was a single HOBBY, a patch year tick, bringing me up to 62, I'm glad I got this back, I didn't think I'd get this species this year.

Otherwise, it was quiet, a couple of COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS called, 3 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over and, well, that was about it really I guess. A Robin was chasing some chat-like bird which had a different jizz, we'll never know if it was something interesting.

10 or so BLACK-HEADED GULLS were hawking over the south end and some HERRING GULLS flew over.

A single juvenile GREEN WOODPECKER showed well, did they breed on the golf course too or has one of the core offspring moved here?

A bit of Belmont Pastures news; a GREY HERON flew over there yesterday and there was a female ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET in the big bare tree and 3 others flew over.

I'm still waiting to get a west country passerine anywhere locally though . . .

05/09/2009 - how much longer can this go on for!!!

Birding, and life in general is not going too well for me at the moment. After a less than fruitful summer holiday birding-wise, my mother is very ill and as well as this being very concerning it has brought around other burdons such as I can't really go birding much! I've missed untold lifers and year ticks because of this not least Alpine Swift and/or Glossy Ibis today (06/09/2009).

Because of me being pretty much grounded to the local area, I've done more patch watching than usual, both at the Downs and at Beddington, yet it has been TOTALLY fruitless.



Anyway, I'll go ahead and give you some of the ever so slightly interesting sightings I painfully scraped off the bottom of the bucket yesterday (05/09/2009):



A rather unexciting and overdue patch tick (67) came in the form of an adult/subadult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL which flew NE at roughly 17:12. Even at the long range, the size and wing colour gave it away.

Three LINNETS were noted with two SE AT 18:31 and a singleton heard over ' Bikers' ' at 17:59.

Raptors were respresented by 1 female SPARROWHAWK flying low over the west enclosure and a male KESTREL over the 'North Dartford Scrub'.

GREEN WOODPECKERS were much in evidence with at least 5, of which at least 3 were juveniles. Two GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were noted.

Warblers were represented just by 2 WILLOW WARBLERS and at least 4 COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS. A single STOCK DOVE circled the central enclosure for a short while before heading NNW and possibly landing by the A217 roundabout at Belmont. 1, 6 and 3 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over.

A single BULLFINCH was heard and up to 9 CHAFFINCHES were seen.

Perhaps up to 50 WOODPIGEONS were noted and 2 FERAL PIGEONS flew north east.

2 possible, distant Common Gulls flew over as well as at least 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, there were probably many more that I didn't pick up amongst the Herrings. Up to 70 HERRING GULLS passed over, in the time I had my eye on the sky, on their way to roost. 1, probably 2 or 3 SONG THRUSHES were flushed in the North Wood.

Fairly good numbers of LONG-TAILED, BLUE and GREAT TITS were noted but no Coals were picked out, or, needless to say, anything better. 10-20 CARRION CROWS, 7 MAGPIES and 3 JAYS were the only corvids recorded.

Summary: another failure to find anything good