Bird Sightings

November & December 2011

If possible please e-mail all sightings to reach fhe Recorder, Tony Quinn, before fhe end of each calendar month. Please ensure that all relevant information is given on the e-mail - arrange the records by date, then location, then species, sex and number and finally comments.
A recording template and guidelines for sending electronic records using a simple spreadsheet can be supplied on request. This enables your records to be entered in bulk and saves a great deal of time. If you are not familiar with the procedure, please contact Tony for more information.
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Compiled by Paul Tregenza based on information received by the Recorder.

The end of 2011 was generally mild especially compared to last year but we have still had migrants coming in from the north. Flocks of Crossbill were found in Epsom (over 20 on 1st November) and Esher Common (38 on 27th November). This site also had Siskin (10 on 27th November) and there were 4 in Home Park (12th December) and 28 at Molesey Heath (24th December). On the same date and site there were two Lesser Redpoll and another was found In Home Park (12th December). The Black Redstart is a bird common in the Mediterranean and we are on the northern edge of its range. Two appeared around County Hall Kingston during December - there seemed to be a male and a female or immature bird.

Other passerine winter migrants were Redwing with 20 in Surbiton on 13th November, two in Home Park (12th December) and some at Molesey Heath (11 on 27th November and 30 on 24th December) plus single Fieldfare at Home Park (12th December) and Molesey Heath (24th December). Other thrushes of interest were Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush. Mistles were seen in five different locations with one singing on Queen's Promenade on 14th December. Song thrushes were noted twice and interestingly there were seven on Molesey Heath on 24th December with birds singing all morning in different parts of the heath. Winter flocks of Goldcrest were discovered at Esher Common (6 birds on 27th November and 11 on 18th December) and five other sites had one or two birds. Molesey Heath had large numbers of Linnet (16 on 27th November and 47 on 24th December) and a single bird was in Home Park on l2th December.

This survey turned up ten species of duck including Shelduck, Goosander and Goldeneye. It also noted the only records of Water Rail and Redshank in our area. The survey found Common Snipe which in addition occurred at Berrylands (19th December) and Molesey Heath (24th December). Portsmouth Road Fi1ter Beds had two or three Green Sandpiper from mid-November to Christmas. Other water birds included a juvenile Brent Goose at Dinton Fields Kingston (15th November) and Kingfisher (Villiers Road Kingston 14th November, Home Park 12th December and Kempton Nature Reserve 24th December).

A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was present in Thames Ditton for several days around early November.

A Buzzard was seen at Esher Common (27th November) and Home Park (12th December). A Peregrine was seen in Clarendon Park Epsom (one on 12th November), County Hall Kingston (two on 4th & 10th December), Home Park (one on 12th December) and Portsmouth Road Filter Beds (one on 14th December). Our more common raptors, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, were seen in quite a few places. A Tawny Owl was heard calling in the part of Richmond Park in our area on the 4th November. The Home Park survey found two other species of owl: Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl.