Holmethorpe SPs, Surrey … Tuesday 21st December – Sunday 26th December 2010

The 21st produced a female or first-winter male GOLDENEYE on Mercers Lake along with two pairs of Wigeon, 2 Kingfishers and an impressive count of five Water Rails.


KINGFISHER (Graham)


WATER RAIL (Graham)

On the 22nd there were at least two (and possibly three) female SMEW on Mercers Lake, their flightiness and ability to disappear into overhanging bankside branches making it difficult to be certain just how many birds were involved. A Kingfisher and a couple of Siskins were the best of the rest.
No reports came in on the 23rd and 24th (all too busy Christmas shopping!).


SMEW (Graham)

Christmas Day saw Gordon out at the pits where he had a very good morning, noting 12 WAXWINGS by the railway line at the Holmethorpe Industrial Estate, the flock perching for ten minutes before flying off over the railway line towards the Holmethorpe patch. He also saw one female SMEW on Mercers Lake, one female GOLDENEYE on Mercers West Pit, a LITTLE EGRET , 15 Common Snipe, a Common Buzzard, five Siskins and two Lesser Redpolls amongst the commoner species. A large flock of about 180 Goldfinches at The Moors NR was also notable.
Paul had a couple of hours at the pits on Boxing Day and logged two female SMEW and a female GOLDENEYE on Mercers Lake, six Siskins and a Common Buzzard.



GOLDENEYE (Paul)


SMEW (Paul)

With good numbers of Bitterns and White-fronted Geese in the south-east, the race is on to add these species to the 2010 Holmethorpe year list during the next few days.

Holmethorpe Sand Pits, Surrey … Wednesday 15th to Monday 20th December 2010

Female SMEW

On the 15th, two female SMEW were on Mercers Lake.
The 16th produced a LITTLE EGRET at The Moors and a wintering Chiffchaff.
The 17th was a quiet day but things picked up a bit on the 18th when Gordon Hay found at least 3 female SMEW (possibly 4) at Mercers Lake along with an adult female GOLDENEYE, two Water Rails and another wintering Chiffchaff.
By the 19th, the 3 female SMEW were still around and 3 GOLDENEYE were in the area along with 4 Kingfishers and 4 Wigeon. A decent-sized flock of about 20 Lesser Redpolls were at Mercers Country Park as was the wintering Chiffchaff.
On the 20th, I could only find 2 female SMEW and one first-winter male GOLDENEYE at Mercers Lake but the Wigeon numbers had risen to 17 birds.


Female SMEW

Two Kingfishers, 3 Snipe, a Water Rail and 12 Lesser Redpolls made up the best of the rest.
The pits are icing over and Mercers Lake, at present, is the only water body with any substantial area of water that is free of ice. The majority of the waterfowl are gathered at the eastern end of the lake.


LESSER REDPOLL

Graham

Amberley Wild Brooks, West Sussex ... Sunday 12th December 2010

Paul made the trip to Amberley Wild Brooks in West Sussex on Sunday hoping to connect with the juvenile WHITE-TAILED EAGLE.

Fortunately, this magnificent bird was still present and he managed to add it to his life list.
The bird was later reported to have flown off south-south-west and was seen over Arundel, Southsea, Fareham and Titchfield Haven NR before continuing west.

It is presumed that this was a continental bird, forced to move west by the freezing conditions over parts of Europe.





WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (Paul)

Waxwings put in another appearance, Holmethorpe, Surrey ... Tuesday 14th December 2010

They’re back…………….

9.43 a.m. 19 WAXWINGS flew to a silver birch by the railway line.

9.52 a.m. 19 WAXWINGS perched briefly in a tree by Euro Car Parts unit on the Holmethorpe Industrial Estate.

10.04. Four WAXWINGS perched briefly in the same tree.


A totally out-of-focus shot!

Graham

For visiting birders looking for the Waxwings: It is best to approach from the Water Colours housing estate, off Nutfield Road, South Merstham, and take the path between the lagoons and head for the railway line. (It is not advisable to park at the industrial estate.) If the birds are not visible from the Water Colour side of the railway embankment (they have been seen perched in the tall trees on a few occasions), walk through the tunnel under the railway line and along the path to the road. View from the end of the path. Euro Car Parts unit is opposite. The birds have been seen feeding in hawthorns or perched in the tall tree by the railway line near this unit. They are very mobile and it may require patience to see them. Please be aware that this is a busy industrial estate and that many cars pull into and turn round at Euro Car Parts throughout working hours.