27/03/2010

The first WILLOW WARBLER of the year was singing near 'The Mound' today also 3+ CHIFFCHAFFS in the area. 3+ BULLFINCHES, 1 GREEN WOODPECKER and 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were also present along with 3 SONG THRUSHES and 1+ MISTLE THRUSH.

A male BLACKCAP was singing in my Belmont garden early this morning.

I would give you details of the sightings over the last few days but I foolishly left my wallet, notebook and coat at school over the weekend.

no sign of Barn Owl

I have had one or two brief looks for the Barn Owl reported along Fir Tree road recently but have not found it, although this does not surprise me. There seems to be plenty of habitat nearby that the bird probably hunts if it sticks around and I think it was pure luck that the observer caught the bird hunting along such a suburban road that night. Will post it up here straight away if I do see it.

10/03/2010

1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
1 BULLFINCH
1 GREENFINCH

2 PIED WAGTAILS (male +female) showing well on field at Overton Park c.08.10am where 4 COMMON GULLS have been present with the good numbers of BLACK-HEADED GULLS recently.

08/03/2010

My first Banstead Downs SISKIN of the year flew north, calling this afternoon and appeared as if it could have landed in the northern wood between Sutton Lane and the railway line. Also 1 GOLDFINCH and 1 GREENFINCH.

At Hulverstone Close today, a BLACKCAP was calling in vegetation along the railway (one also called at Overton Grange School 04/03/2010)

05/03/2010

A singing GOLDCREST today was the highlight. Also present were at least 3, possibly 5+ BULLFINCHES, 1 REDPOLL south over, 20+ JACKDAWS, 1 GREEN WOODPECKER and 1 SONG THRUSH. Kevin McManus reported a GREY HERON flying over the northern part of the site while he was waiting for a bus.

Blast from the past . . . Banstead Downs, Banstead, Sutton and Belmont

I have been thoroughly scanning through the Birds of Surrey by J. Wheatley to find species to add to the Canon's Farm and Banstead Woods systematic list; while doing so, I have found some interesting records from Banstead Downs and the local area.

A Collared/Black-winged Pratincole (!!!) flew over Banstead Downs on 14/09/1971

A Lesser Grey Shrike (!!!) was at Banstead Downs on 21/05/1956

Birdcatchers reported that some Twite had been taken at Banstead Downs in 1895 and they were a regular winter visitor with Linnets

Stonechats bred at Banstead Downs in 1933

Nightingales, Wood Warblers and Grasshopper Warblers used to breed at Banstead Downs

A Wryneck was present about 8 years ago at Banstead Downs

Ring Ouzel recorded at Belmont Downs (no longer existant but next to Banstead Downs)

A Quail was at Belmont in 1938

Mediterranean Gull has been seen at Belmont

In 1907 a Quail was in a turnip field near Banstead

Ringed Plover, Whimbrel and Curlew have been recorded at Banstead

In 1933 and 1954, Barn Owls bred at Banstead

In 1948 and 2004 Merlins were seen at Banstead Downs

Cirl Buntings used to breed at Banstead

A Corn Bunting was seen at Banstead Downs by the train station in summer 1918

Short-eared Owls have been seen at Banstead and Sutton

A pair(s) of Red-backed Shrikes bred at Banstead between 1933 and 1934

A spring fall of 24 Red-backed Shrikes at Sutton on 20th May 1933 is the highest count for Surrey

Puffins were picked up in Banstead gardens 01/11/1909 and 20/11/1934

No good recent records but I hope to change that

Barn Owl alert

A BARN OWL was seen on the night of 2nd/3rd March near Banstead Downs along Fir Tree road between the A217 crossroad and The Driftbridge. This is the latest in a chain of recent reports in the Banstead area, with a bird reported along Holly Lane in late 2009 and another at Banstead Downs near the prisons in spring 2009.

This latest bird may well be be lingering in the area and could be feeding in the fields north of this road that does not look particularly attractive to Barn Owls at all. Considering this locality and the fact that the spring 2009 bird was seen as a car was driving along Freedown Lane (note that the prisons keep raptors and owls, one of their Eagle Owls ended up in my car park a few years ago!)

04/03/2010

At the Downs today, the first CHIFFCHAFF of the year was calling at the bike track (this must be a migrant fresh in, as I have not seen any there this winter), 3+ BULLFINCHES were present and a ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET flew over. Singles of GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKERS were present, singles of both GOLDFINCH and GREENFINCH flew over. 3+ JAYS were present and an unknown, but not very large, number of JACKDAWS flew over. 3 REDWINGS were at the bike track.


Nearby, at Belmont Park, a MISTLE THRUSH was present and 5 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over.

03/03/2010

A SPARROWHAWK and singles of both GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKERS today.

25/02/2010

Two FIRECRESTS in the south wood today along the wooded footpath that goes east to west through the wood and 4+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over.