The last 2 weeks have gone by quickly, and with work catching up on me I haven't been out much. As Beddington Park is being managed/redone it hasn't been worth going there.
Walking in the morning has been fairly productive - 20 Fieldfare over Wilson's school on the 13th November was one thing of note, while other common species have also been seen/heard coming over. Redwings have just started to build in numbers, while the Hawfinches are still coming through.
Last week there were more gulls at Wilson's, with a 1cy Great-Black Backed Gull being the 5th gull species to be seen there.
In the evenings, I've frequently been able to hear Redwing calling as they fly over as well.
Having had a cold this weekend, I only managed to reach the garden; it wasn't a bad thing, as I was rewarded with a Hawfinch garden tick - quite ridiculous - as 2 individuals flew over calling SW. 3 Lesser Redpoll also whistled over, and as Beddington Farmlands is so close I get the added bonus of gull species over the house on a daily basis, with about 100 over in the half an hour I was outside this morning.
However, I'm hoping to get something good over the next month or two. The Short-eared Owl passage is in full flow, with one snoozing in a field at Canon's Farm on Friday, and others flying over various London sites. Staines Reservoirs have been quieter than about a month ago, until today when a Shorelark was seen on the causeway, and 10 Whooper Swans appeared on the lakes.
On that note, there are 4 areas I would like to spend a bit more time at.
1) Richmond Park - the habitat here is great for meadow birds, and it's probably the best place for me to get that Dartford warbler.
2) Canons Farm/Banstead Woods - over the last year I've got to know this place better, and have seen some good stuff here already. It's only about 15 mins drive away, making it a good candidate for a new 'patch' in the future if Beddington Farmlands is never helped.
3) Headley Heath/Box Hill - I used to go to Box Hill a lot when I was a little younger, while Headley Heath - where most of the Hawfinches have been seen recently - is also looking quite good for birds.
4) Woodcote fields area - this is a place so close to home, and having spoken to Peter Alfrey, who recommended it as a place worth watching, I think it would be good to keep an eye on it.
This is a petition to save Beddington Farmlands from being destroyed, and it's doing quite well - but in order to get the attention it needs the number of signatures needed still needs to be more. It would be great if anyone reading this post signs it (if you haven't already done so!)
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