If you have news you would like to be included on this page, please contact dave.harris23@ntlworld.com
SURREY BIRD CLUB RECORDS COMMITTEE
The Surrey Bird Club records committee met late last year. Click here to find which records were acceptedWe now have a new fast track system. A 'work in progress' page will be added shortly. So if you are fortunate enough to find a good bird in the County, please submit a description to either Jeff Wheatley or Dave Harris via the web-site. This will be one way to help us to get back on track with the backlog of bird reports.BIRDS OF SURREY
Please note
Click here for more information and an Order Form.
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VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Surrey Bird Club plays a critical role in the recording and conservation of Surrey’s birds and we are looking for volunteers to join our diverse and enthusiastic committee. Many of our volunteers already lead incredibly busy lives, yet still manage to squeeze in time to help Surrey Bird Club. So, whether you are a keen birder or a new bird enthusiast, why not give us a try? Simply e-mail (dave.harris23@ntlworld.com) and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Field Meetings Officer
Field meetings are an important aspect of the Bird Club’s work. Field trips allow new birdwatchers a chance to develop their identification skills and members a chance to catch up with friends whilst doing the activity they love best – birding! The field meetings officer would take responsibility for organising and leading the annual programme of trips. Experience of bird identification would be an advantage, but not always needed as the field group will often work together to sort out those tricky-to-identify species. Past trips have included warm summer evenings at Thursley Common in search of Nightjars to the windswept causeway of Staines Reservoir in search of winter ducks and grebes. But future programmes will be up to you! You will be supported by the committee and fellow members and they will be able to lead some trips when needed.
Bird Report Editor
The Bird Report Editor is responsible not only for editing the annual bird report with the Assistant Editor and compilers , but is also a member of the Records Committee.
Bird Atlas 2007-2011
Click here to find out moreBTO MATTERS
Are you able to help? 10km Square Stewards
The BTO Surrey Region is made up of 16 x 10km squares. Four of these are currently without a Square Steward.
The role consists of acting as 'the man/woman on the spot', with a local knowledge of the area's birds and its habitats.
You would be provided with a list of BTO members and other regular surveyors who have been involved in the recent past.
Filling these positions is becoming increasingly important as Bird Atlas 2007-2011 progresses (see www.birdatlas.net).
If you are interested, feel you might be able to help and live in/near any of these squares, do please contact me via the
SBC Webmaster:-
SUBMISSION OF RECORDS TO THE SURREY BIRD RECORDER
Jeff Wheatley has set out new details of the best methods of sending in records to the Surrey Bird Recorder.
Please go to our new page on Recording by clicking here
SURREY BIRD CLUB RECORDING AREA
The recording area of the Surrey Bird Club is the vice-county of Surrey. The borders of the vice-county are those of Surrey in the late 19th century. This is approximately the same as the border before 1965, when the northeast was lost to Greater London, the Gatwick area was lost to Sussex, and Spelthorne (Staines north of the Thames) was gained from Middlesex. It is thus the current Administrative County of Surrey minus all the territory north of the Thames and plus the greater London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon, Kingston, Richmond and Sutton and plus the Gatwick area. There is a map of the recording area in every edition of the Surrey Bird Report. The county list is currently being overhauled as part of the preparation of the new Birds of Surrey and full details are not yet available for publication. The number of species on the draft list was published as 325 in the Birdwatchers Yearbook for 2004. Recent splits and additions have brought it up 329.
FARNHAM HEATH RSPB RESERVE
Current state: The first phase of the work has been completed for the removal of pine trees by contractors. About 10% of the total has now been felled. Already Woodlarks and Nightjars have moved in. Over a period of 10 years, approx 335 acres will be removed to create a much more open heathland site with small plantations of deciduous and pine trees. This will maintain the habitat for birds such as Crossbill, Nuthatch and Treecreeper, whilst additionally attracting heathland species such as Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Stonechat and Nightjar.
WILDFOWL COUNTERS WANTED FOR SURREY
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust organises wildfowl counts to monitor population levels and advise on conservation measures. Regular counting is an enjoyable way of watching a wetland site and counters are currently wanted for the following waters:
- SU888515 Ash Vale GP
- -------------Bay Pond, Godstone
- TQ335798 Burgess Park Lake
- TQ275737 Central Pond (Wandsworth Common)
- TQ048681 Chertsey Reservoir
- TQ037693 Disabled Angling GP
- TQ028698 Egham Hythe Pond
- TQ185605 Epsom Common Ponds
- TQ018695 Elmbridge Model Club GP
- TQ031696 Feltham Piscatorial
- TQ128671 Fieldcommon GP
- TQ037695 Genets Marine GP
- TQ34-50- Godstone Village Pond
- SU983590 Goldsworth Park Lake, Woking
- SU895533 Greatbottom Flash
- TQ128663 Hersham GP
- TQ143673 Hurst Park
- ---------------Leigh Place Waters
- TQ292750 Long Pond, Clapham Common
- TQ286747 Mount Pond, Clapham Common
- SU894543 Mytchett GP
- TQ19-72- Pen Ponds, Richmond Park, lower & upper
- TQ042688 Penton Hook Marina
- --------------- Reigate Priory Lake
- TQ364522 Rook's Nest Pond
- --------------- Thames, Battersea Bridge - Vauxhall Bridge
- TQ170733 Thames, Richmond - Teddington
- SU92-39- Thursley Lake
- TQ035675 Twynersh Fishing Complex
- TQ30-65- Waddon Ponds
Counts are made once a month. The 2008 dates are as follows:
January 13th, February 10th, March 9th, April 6th, May 18th, June 22nd, July 20th, August 17th, September 14th, October 19th, November 16th and December 14th. Would anyone interested in helping with the counts please contact the Surrey organiser, who is: Jeff Wheatley, 9 Copse Edge, Elstead, Surrey GU8 6DJ. Tel: 01252 702450.SURREY WEBSITES
SurreyBirders are a discussion group to which anyone interested in Surrey's birds can belong. For details of how to join, have a look at their website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SurreyBirders.
Johnny Allan's website is all about Surrey listing, and in addition, tells you everything that you could ever want to know about Beddington. Both these sites, and many others, are featured on our "Useful Links" page.