 My interest in bird watching started as a young child staying with grandparents every summer. During breaks from picking fruit and vegetables with my grandad I would spend happy hours with my nanny on the wild open heath at the end of their road Corfe Mullen, Dorset. She shared the delights of tiger beetles, bumblebees, sand lizard, smooth snake and Dartford Warbler. So began a lifelong journey as a biologist and wildlife illustrator. In later years, as a countryside ranger, I used wildlife surveys to help me monitor the impact of our ecology and conservation work improving the habitats on our nature reserves. I was actively involved in butterfly transects and the Common Birds Census (CBC), a pioneering UK scheme coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology, using volunteer-based territory mapping to monitor breeding bird populations, particularly on farmland and nature reserves. After retirement, during the dark days of Covid 19, I found distraction and solace surveying the wild plants and animals found in our garden, which we have managed as a haven for wildlife since 2010. This was an opportunity to renew my interest in bird watching and started to record annually wild birds that I saw in and around our garden. This year a friend introduced me to the Merlin Bird ID app that I downloaded onto my smartphone and this simple tool has enhanced my ability to record local bird populations. New project In February 2026, I decided to start surveying local bird populations in a more consistent way. I wanted an approach that was sustainable in the context of my other commitments. A daily dog walk takes me through two different but linked habitats, farmland along the Greensand Way from our garden to the graveyard at Betchworth and small spinney next to the barns. Regular trips from our house to the Spar and Reading Room Café on Brockham Green offered a third, riparian habitat to include in surveys.   During these daily walking surveys, my visual observations are enhanced by using the Merlin app created by Cornell University, to record birds by songs and calls. This information complements daily sitting surveys in our garden, primarily at dawn and dusk. All in all this amounts to a substantial data base. I collate the bird sightings on a spreadsheet recording presence or absence for each week. My intention is to continue this survey for a complete annual cycle. A few weeks after I began my survey I am discovering interesting data about local bird populations I attach my survey so far. I am slowly learning bird songs and calls and I find the activity very relaxing as well as intellectually stimulating. Over the coming year I will be sharing some of my survey results through a 'bird of the week' post. 
1 Comment
March, April and May are the most dynamic and active period of the bird calendar — a lot is happening all at once, which makes observation especially rewarding. Peak migration - Millions of birds are on the move. Summer visitors — swallows, house martins, cuckoos, warblers, and flycatchers — are arriving from Africa, while winter visitors begin their journey home. It creates a brief, brilliant window in which you can encounter species that are simply passing through, here for only a matter of days before pressing on northward. Breeding season in full swing - Resident birds are in full breeding mode: singing loudly to defend territories, displaying to attract mates, and industriously building nests. This urgency makes them far more visible and vocal than at any other time of year. Behaviour you might wait weeks to observe in autumn can appear in minutes on a still April morning. The dawn chorus - The dawn chorus reaches its annual peak in late April and throughout May. Birds sing with particular intensity at first light — the air fills with a layered, almost overwhelming cascade of calls. International Dawn Chorus Day falls on the first Sunday of May, a recognition of just how extraordinary this seasonal spectacle truly is. Getting up early is richly rewarded. Bright plumage and easier identification - Males are wearing their finest breeding plumage. Great tits, blue tits, chaffinches, and many others are at their most colourful and distinctive — making identification simpler even for relative beginners. Field guides come into their own at this time of year. Bare trees and longer days- In April, foliage is only just emerging, meaning woodland birds are still relatively easy to spot before the canopy closes over. Longer daylight hours extend your observation window significantly, morning and evening both yielding good sightings. Over the next two months the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative will be undertaking a number of surveys and drawing on the observations and surveys of residents to enhance our knowledge of local bird popuations.  I have had little success in hunting for frog spawn this year and I wondered whether the general absence is something that has been observed elsewhere. According to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust 2026 has been unusual. https://www.arc-trust.org/
.In 2026, the breeding timing for frogs and toads has continued a long-term trend of starting earlier due to increasingly mild and wet winters. However, specific local patterns vary significantly across the UK based on regional weather fluctuations. Current Breeding Trends
So it is not surprising that by mid March there was little frog spawn left. If there had been any in a pond then the eggs would have hatched or been eaten.  Migrating with purpose We don't have wildebeests migrating across the Surrey grasslands but we do have frogs, toads and newts that make, the annual trek to a pond or other watery habitat to breed. Each year, often on the first damp nights of late winter, something remarkable happens across Britain. As temperatures rise above about 5°C and rain softens the ground, frogs, toads and newts begin ancient journeys back to water. Their destination: the ponds where they were born. For many of us involved in pond watching these movements feel almost magical — sudden, purposeful, and deeply rooted in instinct. But behind the wonder lies a growing body of ecological evidence explaining how and why these migrations occur. The Common Frog is often the first amphibian to move. In southern England, migrations can begin as early as February. They travel mostly at night, especially on warm, wet evenings and can travel between 100 metres to over 1 kilometre from overwintering sites. While toads may travel up to 2–3 kilometres to breeding ponds migrating en masse over a few nights, newts generally migrate over a few hundred metres. How do they do it? On a mild, wet evening in late winter, when the air smells of damp soil and the ground shines under streetlight or moonlight, something ancient is stirring. Frogs, toads and newts are on the move. But how do they know where the water is? Can they actually sense it? The short answer is: yes — but not in quite the way we might imagine. Amphibians use landscape structure to guide their movement. They have a preference for descending slopes - water collects in the lowest topographic areas and they tend to follow linear features (walls, hedges, field margins). Amphibians have extraordinarily sensitive skin. Unlike mammals, their skin is permeable and must stay moist. This makes them finely tuned to changes in humidity. They can detect subtle differences between damp and dry ground and are strongly drawn to cool, humid conditions. Water bodies create slightly cooler, more humid air and damp soil nearby. At short range — within a few tens of metres — amphibians can follow these moisture gradients. In effect, they move towards comfort: away from drying conditions and towards humidity. They also have a keen sense of smell. Research suggests that frogs and newts can recognise the chemical signature of their home pond. This helps explain why many individuals return year after year to the very same breeding site. It is less about “finding any water” and more about returning to known water. But what if an amphibian were placed in a completely new habitat? If suitable water lies nearby and the landscape is connected by hedgerows, rough grass, woodland edges or ditches, there is a good chance that an amphibian would eventually find water. Amphibians tend to follow natural linear features and often move downhill, where water is more likely to collect. However, they are not long-distance water detectors. Beyond a few hundred metres — especially across roads or dry open ground — their chances of successfully locating a new pond decrease sharply. This is why pond networks are so important. A cluster of ponds within a few hundred metres of one another allows amphibians to expand gradually and safely. Isolated ponds, by contrast, are much harder to discover and colonise. Young froglets and toadlets, which sometimes emerge in their hundreds on warm, wet days, disperse widely into surrounding habitat. They are not immediately searching for new ponds. Instead, they spend several years maturing on land before returning — often to the pond where they themselves began life. So yes, frogs, toads and newts can sense moisture. They can detect humidity and recognise familiar water chemistry. But their abilities evolved in landscapes rich in wetlands — marshes, meadows and pools scattered across the countryside. In such landscapes, water was rarely far away. When we create ponds — especially clusters of small, fish-free garden ponds — we are not simply adding water. We are restoring the subtle environmental signals that amphibians have evolved to follow. Visit our Amphibian webpage This amazing movie by wildlife photographer Robert Fuller is a glorious celebration of our humble frog. 4Bs Amphibian Survey & Talk Where are our frogs? Its a question we would like to answer. If you would like to contribute to our Amphibian Survey across the villages of Betchworth, Buckland, Brockham and Box Hill, please send your sightings, and photographs of frogs, toads or newts if you have them, to biodiversityinitiative1@gmail.com with location information. Local amphibian expert Rick Anstis is supporting our work. He is giving a talk to help us launch our survey. A recording of the talk will be posted here.  20 residents of the 4Bs contributed to the 2026 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and shared their observations in the Nature Group. These were collated to create this summary report. The RSPB Survey methodology reports the maximum number of birds of any species that lands on the patch being observed over a 1 hour period. 36 species of bird were reported by the 20 contributors to the survey (Table 1). 10 additional species compared to the 2025 count including: kingfisher, siskin, grey wagtail, redwing, goldcrest, sparrow hawk and several species of waterfowl. The three species with the largest aggregate counts in the 4Bs survey are 1 = Blue Tit (69), 2 = Wood Pigeon (45) and Sparrow (40). The same three birds topped our local chart in 2025. Long Tailed Tits, Robins, Crows and Magpies were also widely reported. 9 species had only one sighting. Some species that were observed in 2025 were not reported in 2026 – jay, marsh tit, pied wagtail, black cap and garden warbler. Early counts across the UK have highlighted high numbers of Goldfinch, Blue Tits, and Wood Pigeons but we will have to wait for the full results to be published. Table 1 Species reported in the 4Bs Big Garden Birdwatch Survey (20 contributors). The number column is not the number of birds counted in one hour but the aggregate of the maximum number of birds that land in a patch during a one hour period. New species reported this year are shown in red font.  For much of the year the River Mole is a quiet, sluggish, muddy, shallow waterway meandering through lush green fields or fields shady woods near Betchworth. But a few times a year it changes its form.
Rivers like the River Mole have always flooded. Long before roads, houses, and flood defenses, winter rain spread across the valley floor, eroding the land and creating the fertile soils of the Mole Valley. When a river floods, it can look dramatic — even alarming — to us. Fields disappear, paths and even roads may vanish, and familiar landscapes seem suddenly out of control. And, it can be very damaging if it spills into properties. In January 2026, after several days of heavy rain, the River Mole flooded onto the fields and woodlands near Betchworth and Brockham. It seemed like a disaster for the wildlife but many of the plants and animals that live here have evolved with this natural cycle — and some animals depend on it. Fish are often the first to respond. As water spills out of the main channel, it creates temporary side pools and flooded meadows. These calm, shallow waters are rich in food and safer from predators. Fish move into them to feed, rest, and sometimes to spawn. Amphibians — frogs, toads, and newts — thrive at this moment. Floodwater connects ponds, ditches, and streams that are usually separate. This gives amphibians new routes to move, breed, and spread their populations across the landscape. Invertebrates respond in their thousands. Worms, insects, and larvae are lifted from soils and leaf litter and carried into new places. When the water recedes, they leave behind a rich food source — especially important for birds. Birdlife changes quickly during floods. Waders and water birds arrive to probe the soft mud for invertebrates. Ducks and swans feed on flooded grasses. Kingfishers and herons take advantage of fish in shrinking pools. Mammals adjust too. Water voles retreat to higher ground but return quickly once levels drop. Foxes and deer follow the water’s edge, feeding where floodwaters uncover fresh vegetation. Even bats benefit, as floods trigger bursts of insect life once waters begin to fall. When a field floods, the most important changes happen out of sight, beneath the surface. As water fills the soil, it pushes out the air held in tiny spaces between soil particles. Oxygen quickly disappears, and the soil becomes waterlogged. This sounds dramatic, but it is a condition soils have experienced for millennia. Soil life does not stop — it adapts. Microbes that need oxygen slow down, while others take over, quietly breaking down organic matter in different ways. Nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus are released and reshuffled, changing the soil’s chemistry for a time. Most soil animals sense flooding early. Earthworms, insects, and larvae move upward, sideways, or into temporary shelter. They are not wiped out — they wait. When the water drains away, oxygen returns, microbes surge back into activity, and plants respond with fresh growth. Flooded soils are not damaged soils. They are soils resetting — part of a living system that knows how to recover. As water spreads and slows, it drops fine sediments — natural fertiliser — across meadows and floodplains. This is why river valleys are often so rich in wildflowers, grasses, and insects. To us, floods can feel like nature misbehaving. But ecologically, they are moments of renewal. They reconnect habitats, redistribute life, and reset the system. .So when the river rises, it is a wonderful manifestation of the Earth interacting with itself shaping the landscape and rejuvenating life along the river corridor. The RSPB draws our attention to our wild birds in January through its annual Big Garden Birdwatch UK-wide survey. Its a a good time to spot our birds, as the lack of leaves on the trees can make them easier to see. It's also much easier to attract them to our bird feeders as natural food sources are scarce. Here are some birds to watch out for. Treecreepers with their speckly brown colouring are well camouflaged as they hop up the side of a tree looking for invertebrates to eat. It’s the movement that is likely to catch your eye as these are very active birds. They start near the bottom of a tree spiralling round as they go up, using their curved bills to find their food.  The Great Spotted Woodpecker is flashier woodland character to look out for is. At this time of year, listen out for a distinctive ‘drrrrrr’ as the birds drum on the bark of trees. Both males and females drum as a way of communicating to each other and to mark out their territories. It’s not, as you might expect, to drill a nest hole or to winkle out grubs to eat. Great Spotted Woodpeckers favour hard, dead trees as these ring with a sound that carries furthest. They’ve also been known to drum on telegraph poles and even drainpipes.  Robins are one of only a few birds in the UK that sing throughout the year. Take a walk in the countryside, head to your local park or into your garden and see if you can hear one. Fluffed up against the cold and singing its heart out, a Robin can raise a smile on even the darkest of winter days. But don’t be fooled by their cute and fluffy exterior. Robins are fiercely territorial and theirs is a song to warn other Robins away.  Redwings are a type of thrush that flock to the UK in winter from Iceland, Russia and Scandinavia. They come in search of berries to eat and to seek shelter in our relatively milder climate. They can be mistaken for Song Thrushes or Mistle Thrushes and will frequently form flocks with other thrushes as they roam through the countryside looking for food. But keep an eye out for the orangey-red tinge under their wings – it’s this that gives Redwings their name. This red colouring is visible both when the birds fly and when they perch.  Fieldfares – is another winter thrush to look for. This is the largest thrush seen in the UK and is distinguished from others by its grey head and yellow bill. Like Redwings, these birds are also seeking food and shelter in a warmer climate, flying in from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and Eastern Europe to spend the winter here. They have a fast-paced ‘chack, chack, chack’ call which is likened to chuckling. Should cold weather persist and berries dwindle, Fieldfares may be tempted into gardens with pieces of apple and other fruit.  Article adapted from RSPB Blog
Winter is a tough season for our insects. Food is scarce, temperatures are low, and most creatures that flutter through our gardens in summer are now quietly tucked away, waiting for spring. Beneath piles of fallen leaves lie hundreds of tiny lives. Some caterpillars and pupae hide deep in the leaf litter, sheltered from frost and hungry predators. All these hidden lives mean that what looks like a dull heap of leaves or a lifeless twig may actually be the next generation of butterflies and moths that bring colour and joy to summer. The good news? Giving our insects a helping hand is wonderfully simple — it mostly involves doing less, than more. A perfectly tidy garden is often a poor home for wildlife. These are some things we can do to help sustain our insects through the winter. Go easy with hedge pruning - Trim hedges, but leave some sections untouched for a year or two on a rotation. This keeps the hedge tidy while protecting the insects living within it. Leave the leaves - Clear them off the lawn but pile them in quiet corners or spread them over beds. They suppress weeds, enrich the soil, shelter caterpillars, and provide cosy foraging for birds and hedgehogs. Create habitat piles - A simple heap of twigs, branches and leaves becomes a winter refuge for insects that don’t travel far from their food plants. Let some areas go wild - Choose small corners — under trees, behind sheds, along boundaries — to leave untouched. January is also tough for our birds with short days, long cold nights and very little natural food. A few simple actions can provide them with a winter lifeline. Feed for energy – Offer fat balls (no nets), suet, sunflower hearts and peanuts. Top up little and often to keep food fresh. Keep water ice-free – Break ice each morning or add a splash of warm water so birds can drink and preen. Provide shelter – Evergreens, dense hedges or even a small twig pile provide vital cover. Nest boxes double as night-time roosts. Keep feeders clean – Wash feeders and bird baths weekly to prevent disease. Most importantly, be consistent, keep supplies coming, and you’ll help birds get through the harshest month of the year — while bringing life, movement, sound and colour to your winter garden. January is the month for stunning sunrises and sunsets.   Less water 2025 has been unusual in so far as it has been warmer and drier than recent years. Our local rainfall chart (Figure 1) shows that we only met or exceeded the average rainfall in 5 of the last 12 months. Figure 1 2025 rainfall chart for Redhill produced by SES water company. More Ponds We have all noticed the effect of this water shortage on our gardens, woodlands, cultivated fields and watery habitats and it is one of the reasons we chose to focus attention on ponds in the autumn through our Ponds for Nature Campaign. In this issue of our Magazine we report on our Ponds for Nature Campaign ably led by Simon Fellows. We also describe the history of our local pond-scape and share our photographic record on ponds, and we will celebrate the members of our Nature Group who have created their own wildlife ponds. Download a free copy of our Nature Magazine 
Winter arrives quietly. Not with the drama of storms or frostbite winds, but with a slow exhale that softens the landscape. By December, nature has settled into its annual pause — a season of rest that is far more purposeful than it first appears. Across woodlands and fields, life draws inward. Trees stand bare, yet far from lifeless; they simply conserve energy, sending resources down into their roots where the frost cannot touch them. Beneath the fallen leaves, fungi stay busy recycling what autumn left behind, slowly feeding the soil for the coming spring. Wildlife follows its own winter rhythm. Hedgehogs curl into deep hibernation, their breathing slowed to a whisper. Bats cluster in cold, dark roosts where their body temperature falls to match the air around them. Even creatures that don’t truly sleep — robins, deer, foxes — move with a gentler pace, conserving energy when daylight is short and food is scarce.  Yet winter is not an empty season. Look closely and you’ll find quiet industry everywhere. In ponds, frogs drift into the muddy depths, while newts tuck into crevices where water stays just above freezing. Lichens glow all the brighter on bare branches, thriving in crisp air that would challenge other forms of life. Winter thrushes arrive from the north, feasting on berries left behind by summer’s growth.
This period of rest is not a retreat but a strategy — a reminder that growth depends on stillness as much as activity. Nature knows how to wait, to conserve, to trust in cycles older than memory. As the year draws to a close, December invites us to do the same: to slow down, breathe deeply, and recognise the quiet renewal happening all around us. Because in these resting months, life is not absent. It is simply gathering strength: a necessary condition for sustaining life. |
4Bs Nature Group BlogThis blog is maintained by the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative Team. Its purpose is to provide brief updates of activities and encourage the sharing of experiences and learning. We welcome guests and contributions from members of the 4Bs WhatsApp Nature Group and wider community. To contribute a post please email the editor at biodiversityinititiative1 @gmail.com PagesArchives
June 2026
Categories |
||
RSS Feed