blog move

Seeing as content on this blog has shifted more and more to general local birding rather than just Banstead Downs, I thought it best to change the theme of the whole blog a bit here because it doesn't really work currently.

New site: suttonbirding.blogspot.com

MEGA local COMMON (MEALY) REDPOLLS

Common (Mealy) Redpoll (bottom right) with Lesser Redpolls

At Headley Heath, currently associating with c.400 LESSER REDPOLLS are double figures of COMMON (MEALY) REDPOLLS. Park at the car park opposite the cricket pitch and walk directly outwards beyond the open stony area. You will hear the birds calling so they will be easy to locate. Thankfully, there are quite a few Mealies and they are easy to pick out. Yesterday I also saw 15+ MEADOW PIPITS there.

MEGA local WAXWINGS

A flock of 5 WAXWINGS were discovered on Friday at Shawley Crescent, off Tattenham Way, Epsom Downs by Grant Prater. I got there early on Saturday morning to find an additional 6 birds making the flock total 11. The birds were still present yesterday though disappeared for a while after a SPARROWHAWK flew through.

They were reported to still be present this morning though it is rumoured this was only briefly.

Yesterday at least 2 LESSER REDPOLLS and at least 1 SISKIN also flew over the site.

Firecrest still present on Saturday

Just heard that someone was up at Banstead Downs Golf Course on Saturday and managed to find that one of the FIRECRESTS was still present then.

recent highlights

Since August the local area has been fairly quiet until recently when some local MEGAs have appeared, mainly at Canons Farm. On Saturday 6th November a CORN BUNTING was at Canons Farm but proved elusive, there were also 2 BLACK REDSTARTS there on that date. A couple of days later on Monday 8th November a stunning male HEN HARRIER roosted there and was seen to depart the roost and fly strongly east the next morning. On Wednesday 10th a SHORT-EARED OWL was found hunting at Canons Farm with a BARN OWL (which was out for its third consecutive night), a BLACK REDSTART was also seen a short while before dusk that afternoon.

Two of the FIRECRESTS were seen again at Banstead Downs Golf Course along the wooded footpath at the west side of the site on Saturday 6th November. There has been more habitat destruction at the site, but we'll go into that again later.

LOCAL MEGA COMMON QUAIL Canons Farm Sat +Sunday singing in field south of Canons Farmhouse though VERY elusive

Big flock of CROSSBILLS at Banstead Downs 30/07/2010

On Friday a flock of 19 COMMON CROSSBILLS flew west to the golf course at Banstead Downs at 6.05pm. This represents the third record of the species in the local area this summer.They could not be relocated but a HOBBY flew NE and 16 HOUSE MARTINS, 90-100 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS, 2 adult BLACK-HEADED GULLS flew over. Also a LINNET, a COMMON WHITETHROAT, 3+ GREEN WOODPECKERS and 5 juvenile CHIFFCHAFFS.

01/08/2010

At Epsom Downs today a juvenile GREEN WOODPECKER showing well as well as a male KESTREL performing well in flight. Also about ten or so BLACK-HEADED GULLS, mostly moulting adults, around the kiosk. Also BARN SWALLOW, BLACKCAP heard and 2 juv CHIFFCHAFFS heard.

24/07/2010

GREEN WOODPECKER flew from Banstead Downs to Downs Road then to Pelton Avenue/The Belmont early morning, probably a juvenile. Also from my Belmont window: imm ROBIN, lots of JAYS.

In Sutton at least one PEREGRINE around the Reed building.

15/07/2010

At Banstead Downs:

2 CHIFFCHAFFS
c.17 HERRING GULLS over
GREEN WOODPECKER
GREENFINCH over
COMMON SWIFTS

06/07/2010

COAL TIT heard by the entrance to Kingswood Drive near Shanklin, Sutton/Belmont.

01/07/2010

Belmont Pastures MEGA: 2 COAL TITS (1 singing male) 10.50am-1.09pm.

COMMON WHITETHROAT still Banstead Downs by Belmont bus station.

27/06/2010

Secret local site: 1 singing male EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR and c.4 WOODLARKS also male TAWNY OWL, YELLOWHAMMER, fem SWALLOW, HERRING GULL etc. All around dusk.

26/06/2010

Garratts Lane, Banstead: COAL TIT

My garden, Belmont: BLACKCAP heard singing

24/06/2010

singing male COMMON WHITETHROAT still Banstead Downs by the Belmont bus station.

At the golf course and horse stables at the top of Fairlawn Road, Belmont:

9+ HOUSE MARTINS
JACKDAW
COMMON SWIFT
GOLDFINCH
PIED WAGTAIL
BLACKBIRD
BLACKCAP - 1 heard then male seen with food
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
2 CHIFFCHAFFS
3+ GREENFINCHES
2 STOCK DOVES
SONG THRUSH
DUNNOCK
GREEN WOODPECKER
JAY
COMMON WHITETHROAT
WREN

23/06/2010

The usual COMMON WHITETHROAT at Banstead Downs singing again (heard from my bedroom window) in the early morning by the bus station at Belmont

21/06/2010

3+ PEREGRINES still behind Sutton Station.

20/06/2010

4+ PEREGRINES still on buildings behind Sutton Station.

CROSSBILLS at Canons Farm

Yesterday 6 COMMON CROSSBILLS flew over, calling, at Ruffett Wood at Canons Farm near Banstead at 5.02pm. There was nothing else out of the ordinary present but the expected, and pleasant, supporting cast included a NUTHATCH, a TREECREEPER, 2 juv SWALLOWS and 5 YELLOWHAMMERS including 3 males. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL flying overheard was also noteworthy. There was a large flock of STARLINGS moulting from juvenile to 1st winter plumage near the derelict barns.

Today a GREEN WOODPECKER flew from Banstead Downs to Downs Road then to Pelton Avenue; not the sort of bird that usually strays that far into Belmont. Also 1+ PEREGRINE was present on the Reed building near Sutton Station.

CROSSBILL over Belmont

Today at 3.08pm on the way back home from popping into school to do some coursework I saw and heard a COMMON CROSSBILL flying SW over Chiddingstone Close, Belmont Heights. More local news from recent weeks to come soon.