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England Surrey

Coal Tit Parus ater ŠNigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Surrey`s landscape is dominated in the north by the ever-encroaching borders of London so much so that 20% of the old vice county of Surrey is now taken by Suburbia. Yet amongst so much concrete many top birding spots can still be found mostly connected with the Water Industry - notably the reservoirs that straddle both sides of the Thames and the sewage farms such as Beddington. Away from city life the chalk North Downs cut Surrey in two as they run east west through the centre of the county with the highest point being found at Leith Hill (not part of the Downs itself); where the top of the tower is at 1000ft above sea level. Here the usually woodland species may be found, however the increased numbers of day trippers from London have, amongst other factors, brought about the decline of species such as Nightingale.

Along the western edge of the county many areas of heath land can be found most notably in the Frensham and Thursley area. Thursley also includes a large area of natural bog. Surrey, being a land-locked county, lacks the large variety of species that may be found in more coastal counties. This brings its own challenges and rewards, for the finding of passage migrants such as Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail can be as exciting as finding Red-backed Shrike or Wryneck at better coastal sites.

top sites

Barn Elms

Barnes WWT Reserve is now open. There are admission charges for those who are not WWT members (Ł6.75 for adults, Ł5.50 for senior citizens, Ł4.00 for children and Ł17.50 for a family of four as at Nov 2001). Access along Queen Elizabeth`s Walk off A306.

Beddington Sewage Farm

There is no public access to this site, but part of it (including the lake) can be viewed from the new public footpath from Beddington Park to Mitcham Common which passes along the western side of the sewage farm. It has hosted a number of national rarities, eg. Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Citrine Wagtail, Red-throated Pipits and Rustic Bunting.

Bookham Common

(TQ125558)This woodland is the best site in Surrey for Nightingale with up to 12 singing males present in recent years.

Devils Punch Bowl

(SU892358)This huge depression is covered by woods and is one of the best places in the county to catch up with Wood Warbler. Most other woodland species can be found here without too much effort, unless you have descended to the bottom and your car is at the top! Firecrest have often been found here as well.

East Horsley

(TQ104537)The woods at East Horsley, of which the Woodland Trust owns one, are very good for the elusive Hawfinches. Early mornings are by far the best time to see these birds which will also drink from pools on the gravel drives of the large houses bordering the woods.

Epsom Common

(TQ185607)excellent site for Mandarin

Frensham Ponds

(SU844403)The ponds are about a mile apart and are separated by the Kings ridge and area of heath land (see below). The ponds hold good numbers of waterfowl in the winter including Smew. Also at this time a Bittern might be found at either pond, in fact dusk may be the best time to see one as it changes pond and flies over the ridge.

Mercers Lake

(TQ300518)wildfowl and gulls

PaperCourt GPs

(TQ035563)wildfowl

Staines Reservoir

(TQ056733)The reservoir is split into two basins imaginatively called North and South. Access is from either end of the dividing causeway parking is easier at the east end with a small car park having been built. During winter large numbers of wildfowl can be seen and more often than not a Peregrine spends the winter in the area, check the many Pylons. Amongst the wintering species Surrey rarities such as Great Northern Diver, and Long-tailed Duck may be found. Both Red-necked and Black - necked Grebes should be present for some of the winter. A large gull roost also occurs at Staines as well as most of the other Thames Reservoirs. In summer especially after a storm Black Terns can be found, also Little Gulls may also be present. On top of this the basins are periodically drained exposing large areas of mud. These will then act as a magnet to waders, which will appear in large numbers, by Surrey standards. During such times rarer waders such as Wilson`s phalarope have been found.

Stoke Water Meadows

(TQ012526)Holds Water Rail, Snipe and Jack Snipe during winter though all are difficult to see. The Meadows are perhaps best known for their Water Pipits which peak in numbers during March with a maximum of 17 being recorded. In 1997 Stoke held Surrey`s first Red-rumped Swallow, which stayed for a week.

Thorpe Water Park

(TQ030681)A good site for winter wildfowl and Surrey`s most regular haunt for Smew since a flock has become established here. Park in layby on A320 near entrance. Pit on east side of road best in cold weather. Public footpath heads north-west through complex to Thorpe village.

Thursley Common

(SU900418)The heath land makes Thursley one of the most important site in the County with several waders breeding here and nowhere else in the county. The pine island in the centre of the bog is usually a good look out point for Hobby in the spring and summer with Redstart singing above. The heathland also holds good numbers of Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit and Woodlark, at night Nightjar can be heard chirring at surprisingly long distances. Ockley Common is part of the Thursley complex. Nearby Hankley, or Frensham commons, hold similar birds with the exception of the waders. During the winter it is not uncommon for one of these to hold one or two Great Grey Shrikes. In the spring of 1999 Thursley also had a Woodchat Shrike for several days.

Walton Reservoirs

(TQ120678)The complex of reservoirs do not hold such large quantities of birds as Staines but they do turn up interesting records such as Leach`s Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Pied-billed Grebe and Squacco Heron all of these in the last couple of years. A permit from Thames Water is needed before access can be gained, however after gravel extraction has finished a new nature reserve will be created on the site of the northern reservoirs. Knight and Bessborough Reservoirs to the south of the A3050 will still require a permit. Walton reservoirs was situated between the two largest roosts of Ring-necked Parakeet in Britain. During the winter months up to 4000 parakeets used to roost in poplars at either Esher Rugby Club (TQ 123 659) off Molesey Road or Walton Leisure Centre (TQ 105 677). The trees fell or were felled as they were rotting - some people blame the parrots!

Woking Sewage Farm

(TQ030575)for waders

contributor

Shaun Peters
Additional Material
recbirds@yahoo.co.uk

Gary Honey
gjh@tearfund.dircon.co.uk

county recorder

Jeff Wheatley
9 Copse Edge, Elstead, Godalming, Surrey. GU8 6DJ
01252 702450
j.j.wheatley@btinternet.com

useful reading

Birds Around Surrey

Written & published by Derek Belsey 2002
ISBN: 0953073432
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birds of Surrey

Jeffery Wheatley - Surrey Bird Club - due November 2007
ISBN: 160569
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Surrey Bird Report 1998

?6 (inc P&P - payable to: SBC) J Gates, 90 The Street, Wrecclesham, Farnham Surrey GU10 4QR

Where to watch birds in Kent, Surrey and Sussex

Don Taylor, Jeffrey Wheatley and David Burges - Series: WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN BRITAIN AND EUROPE: HELM SERIES 304 pages, 35 line illus, 54 maps. Christopher Helm 2003
ISBN: 0713664207
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

Annual Report on Croydon`s Birds

An annual report about Croydon`s birds can be obtained from John Birkett at the address below, price Ł2.00 incl post and packing. (cheques to Croydon RSPB Members Group). They currently still have copies of the 1999 and 2000 reports available.

Proact

Coordinator: none (why not apply?)
see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: 3
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team

clubs

Dartford Ringing Group

http://www.dartford-ringing.co.uk/
We are a group of amateur ornithologists, ringing (banding) wild birds in the counties of Kent and Surrey in the southeast of the United Kingdom. The Dartford Ringing Group was formed in 1968...

RSPB - Croydon Members Group

http://www.croydon-rspb.org.uk
We have put together a list of some places in Croydon where you might like to go bird watching. The list is by no means exhaustive and good birds can turn up anywhere. If you have a site that you would like to tell us about, please e-mail us. As well as monitoring birds through our Garden Bird Survey the Croydon RSPB Group is trying to discover what birds are found in the various open spaces. If you visit one of the sites listed here or any other park, wood, golf course, etc in the borough please send us a record of the birds seen (you can use the same form as for the garden survey).

RSPB - East Surrey Members Group

http://www.mouseline.demon.co.uk/EastSurreyRSPB.html
The RSPB`s local group in East Surrey had its first meeting in January 1984 and 20 years later we are still celebrating...

RSPB - North West Surrey Members Group

http://www.nwsurreyrspb.org.uk/
The North West Surrey Local Group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is one of an extensive network of similar groups throughout the United Kingdom providing opportunities for people to learn about birds and the environment at the local level and become involved in nature conservation work and fund raising activities...

RSPB - Epsom & Ewell Members Group

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/epsom
This is the Home Page of the: Epsom and Ewell RSPB local group...

Surbiton & District Birdwatching Society

http://www.sdbws.ndo.co.uk/
Norman Ford, 25 Canada Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BB 01932 863475 birds@sdbws.ndo.co.uk - The Surbiton and District Bird Watching Society was formed in 1954. Over the years, it has grown to become one of the foremost ornithological societies in the South East of England, located about 25 miles to the South West of London.

Surrey Wildlife Trust

http://www.surreywildlifetrust.co.uk/
Surrey Wildlife Trust was formed in 1959. We work to protect wildlife for the future as one of 47 independent trusts and more than 100 urban wildlife groups across the country. Our strength comes from a combination of working nationally plus our local expertise...

Surrey Bird Club

http://www.sbclub.ukonline.co.uk/
Secretary - Charlotte Gray; 24 Nursery Hill, Shamley Green, Guildford, GU5 0UN. Tel 01483 894144. emailcharlotte@btinternet.com - Surrey Bird Club was founded in 1957, and registered as a charity in 1967. Members include professional ornithologists, amateurs of every stature, and others who care about the future of bird life in the county. The Club is affiliated to the British Trust for Ornithology, and is open to anyone interested in the birds of the county and in sympathy with its aims.

reserves

Swan Sanctuary

http://www.egham.co.uk/groups/swan.html
Henry the swan owes his life to the Egham Swan Sanctuary and a member of the public who spotted him in agony by Staines Bridge on Saturday (26th October 1996). He had fishing line coming from his month, over his back and wrapped around his legs. He also had a fishing hook, swivel and large weight lodged in the throat and had been shot by an air pistol. Henry was looked after by volunteers at the sanctuary, who calmed him before his operation on Monday evening. Volunteer, Sheils Pettengell said Hopefully, he will be alright. They come round quickly from operations but it takes a couple of weeks to heal. We hope to return him to the river.

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Reserve - Barnes Reserve

http://www.wwt.org.uk/
Twenty-five minutes from Westminster in the heart of London, the Wetland Centre is unique in being the first created wetland habitat (105 acres) to have been developed in any capital city throughout the world.

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

Old Malt House

http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/a12824.html
Bagshot Road, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 3PT. Double /Twin Bed and Breakfast from Ł32.00 to Ł34.00 per room.

Tekels Park Guest House

http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/a12761.html
Tekels Park in Camberley, Surrey is situated in 50 acres of wild life reserve park, owned by the Theosophical Society in England.

mailing lists

SurreyBirders

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Surreybirders/
To post to list:SurreyBirders@yahoogroups.com
List contact:SurreyBirders-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:SurreyBirders-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For anyone interested in wild birds and birding in Surrey, England. Membership is not limited to Surrey-based birders but messages should be of some relevance to birders active in Surrey. Views and questions welcome! All bird sightings welcome, especially scarce or unusual species and information on population levels and migratory movements. Also notes on bird behaviour. Also, any matters relating to the conservation and protection of birds.

Aviornis UK

http://www.coldarbor.demon.co.uk/
Aviornis UK was officially formed on the 4th August 1991 in the grounds of a prominent and beautiful collection of waterfowl, pheasants and cranes, at Busbridge Lakes, Godalming, Surrey.

Bird Nest Building Pictures [Broad Street Guildford Webcam]

http://www.eryptick.net/bird/
Our primary birdbox has been cleaned out over the summer. We have disinfected it with boiling water, and we have cleaned and adjusted the infra-red video camera, reducing the reflections from the perspex cover, and resetting the field of view. We have also made the inbuilt microphone work again after last year`s problems.

Birdworld

http://www.birdworld.co.uk/
Not my cup-of-tea... but some people like looking at exotics in captivity when contemplating a foreign trip.

BLOG - Tricias Tales

http://belfiebird.blogspot.com/
Birding and Wildlife - accounts and pictures My blog is mostly about wildlife, particularly birds, walking, days out, plants and anything else that comes to mind...

Hurst Green`s Wildlife

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kenneth.noble1/intro2.htm
My local patch is an ill-defined area around our home in Hurst Green, immediately south of Oxted. Within a mile there is a good variety of habitats. Our house (since March 1993) overlooks Coltsford Mill Pond (grid ref. TQ 398507); which contains a small island. (The pond is on private land but can be viewed from a public footpath which passes to the south of it, accessible from Mill Lane.)

Johnny Allan`s Website

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/johnnyallan/
Incorporating bird sightings from Beddington Sewage Farm plus other Surrey related birding topics and news...

Mayford Bluetits

http://www.biggonline.co.uk/
In February 2001 we installed our first bluetit nest box )in a garden in Mayfield, Surrey) containing a video camera. Last year our diary gave details of the progress that our bluetits made with their nesting activities. We watched them nest building, egg laying, hatching and finally fledging. These details can be found by clicking on the 2001 link alongside. A new year sees a second nest box and this year we intend to monitor nesting progress in both. Hopefully, by summer time we shall have two broods of chicks to show you and details can be reached in the 2002 Diary alongside...

Nesting Bluetits of Surrey

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/D.Jefferies/bird/birdsite.html
These narrative illustrated files are listed with the most recent at the top, then in sequence going back in time...

Nick Bonds Birding-Site

http://www.freewebs.com/nicksmission/links.htm
Hi, welcome to my website which keeps you up-to-date with my birding experiences. Having spent the summer of 2005 in sunny Cyprus I am now back for the winter in the U.K...

Surrey Biodiversity Action Plan

http://www.ukbap.org.uk/lbap.aspx?ID=456
Conservation partners and plans...

Surrey Birders

http://www.birders-online.co.uk/
Surrey Birders is a web site created for the bird watchers of Surrey. This site is aimed at bird watchers of all skills and experience...

artists

Bird Photographer - Derek Belsey

Derek has been taking wildlife photographs, particularly birds, for many years and has published four full colour books of his work. These books concentrate on birdlife in the area around Shepperton in Middlesex and Surrey, where Derek lives and works, but also include photos taken during trips to other parts of Surrey and the rest of the UK including Sussex, Wales and into both France and the USA...

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