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.

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.

***MEGA-ALERT*** local male RED-BACKED SHRIKE showing well

photos by Mark Stanley

I received a text message from Johnny Allan late afternoon informing me that at Woodmansterne/Banstead a male RED-BACKED SHRIKE had been reported west of Lakers Rise.

I made a few phone calls to cancel dinner and arrange a very short lift over there with Phil Wallace, we were quickly joined by Mark Stanley and the three of us split up to search the site. After Phil left to go to a rehearsal, Mark and I re-checked the area that Mark had already briefly searched. I noticed a wire fence and thought it would be worth checking for the bird. Leaning over to view the other side of the fence/hedgerow I saw a smallish bird fly up from the ground and perch in a bush along the fence. It was in bad light and the bird was obscured but I could make out a dark mask. We waited for the bird to change position; it flew again to the ground, catching a beetle or something and revealed itself to be the Shrike.

We crawled under the fence and got better views of the bird. Keeping low and slowly approaching it, the views got better and better, especially as it came closer to us on its own accord. Johnny Allan soon arrived and got good views of the bird too. At 8.21pm we all went home happy.

Also present was a singing male LESSER WHITETHROAT which at some points was mobbing and alarm calling at the Shrike, a PEREGRINE (Mark) and a male BULLFINCH. 2 RED KITES were reported over Chipstead on the Surrey Bird Club website.

Mark got some good photos which he said he would let me use so I will put them up here when I recieve them. The bird really was a stunner and showed very well; definitely worth going up there.

DIRECTIONS

Park at Lakers Rise off Chipstead Way and walk west parallel to the south edge of Scratch Wood. You will hit a wire fence, this is the fence that the bird was showing on. Best views were achieved by ducking under the fence and viewing the west side of it. I'd be happy to provide more help/directions if you get lost if you text/ring 07928764818.