A busy two months for bird-watchers and birds as it is migration time. We therefore have records of winter and summer visitors and those just passing through. The resident Cetti’s Warbler was regularly recorded in habitats by water but the warbler list was increased with a full complement of our summer visitors: many records of Chiffchaff (many singing males) and Blackcap, quite a few records of Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat and in April small numbers of the rarer warblers. These were a superb Wood Warbler (Home Park 1^st), a Willow Warbler (Molesey Heath 18^th), a Garden Warbler (Molesey Heath 19^th), a Sedge Warbler (Molesey Heath & Gravel Pit both 25^th) and a Reed Warbler (Molesey Heath 29^th).

On the other hand in March there were still winter thrush visitors: Fieldfare (three places) and Redwing (seven places). There were only small numbers of the former but large numbers of the latter (around 200 in Horton Country Park 4^th March). Other passerines more commonly seen in winter were well recorded such as Siskin (five places), Linnet (five places) and Mistle Thrush (also five places) but in each case there was evidence of breeding. A loneLesser Redpoll was still in Cobham on 3^rd March. The Prince’s Coverts Nightingale has returned (singing 26^th April). Stonechat were recorded twice (a nest with young on Esher Common in April and single male

at Hogsmill Sewage Works 25^th March). A Common Redstart seen three days running in late April on Molesey Heath. Wheatear (probably passing through) were seen twice (two males and a female at Rushett Farm 19^th April and two at Island Barn Reservoir 24^th April. This site produced a White Wagtail (the continental version of our Pied) on 3^rd April.

There have been a good number of hirundine records from late March into April. The first date for Swallow and House Martin was 28 March and the day before for Sand Martin. In some cases there were single birds but they were also seen in tens – some were seen in suitable nesting habitats but others were probably migrating through our square. The non-passerine Swift came later: one was seen on 18^th April at Island Barn Reservoir and more were seen there later in the month. There were about a hundred migrating through at Knight & Bessborough Reservoir, Walton on the 29^th.

Other non-passerine groups recorded were waders and gulls. Island Barn Reservoir had Oystercatcher (27^th April & 2^nd April), Greenshank (24^th-27^thApril) and Common Sandpiper (24^th & 26^th April). Common Snipe was recorded at Horton Country Park (4^th March) and Hogsmill Sewage Works (7^thMarch), Woodcock at Prince’s Coverts (20^th, 24^th & 26^th April), Green Sandpiper at Island Barn Reservoir (18^th March) and Stain Hill Reservoir (12^thMarch, 3^rd & 9^th April) and Redshank at Stain Hill (12^th March) Island Barn (22^nd March) Walton Reservoir (28^th March & 16^th April).Little Gull was seen at two reservoirs – Island Barn (in March) and Knight & Bessborough (in April) which also had Common Tern from mid-April.Mediterranean Gull was spotted at these two reservoirs and Cow Common in April. Nineteen Common Gulls were at Hogsmill Sewage Works on12^thMarch and on18^th March Island Barn Reservoir had a Yellow-legged Gull and an Iceland Gull. Ten duck species were recorded with some showing signs of breeding. The records included a single male Red-crested Pochard (River Thames 13^th April) and Goldeneye (Stain Hill Reservoir 12^th March and Walton Reservoir 28^th March). The common raptors Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were recorded around our square. Red Kite were recorded in four sites and Peregrine was seen around its two nesting sites (Horton Country Park and Kingston College). On 13^th March the winter visiting raptor, Merlin, was spotted in Home Park. Four owl species were discovered Little Owl (Horton Country Park), Tawny Owl (Norbiton), Barn Owl (Home Park) and Short-eared Owl (also Home Park).

Other non-passerines of note were Little Egret (Bushy Park 29^th March & Kempton Nature Reserve 7^th April) and Black-necked Grebe changing from partial (mid-March) to full summer plumage by the end of March at Island Barn Reservoir.

Many thanks to those who contributed to this report. They were: Abrahams D., Avison G., Boudreau K., Boulby M., Caine T., Chaffe M., Ford N., Gale J., Garbutt N., Gilry A., Hannam J., Jackman N., Kiddell D., Meier J., Peggs G., Quinn A., Shea A., Sherlock B., Sherlock C., Skotnicki A., Spencer P., Tregenza P., Tregenza V., Trim C., Turner C., White M. and Wilkinson C.