CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

HOLMETHORPE SAND PITS are situated between South Merstham and Nutfield, near Redhill in Surrey. Click HERE for location map. All the water bodies can be viewed from public footpaths. Please do not trespass as this does cause conflict with the various landowners and Surrey Wildlife Trust, who manage much of the area.




Below: More details and descriptions of the bird recording area:
Above: The Aqua Sports Centre at MERCERS COUNTRY PARK. The best spot to view Mercers Lake from. Can be crowded at weekends during the summer months when drinks and snacks can be purchased from inside the centre.


Above: MERCERS LAKE situated within Mercers Country Park. Especially good for wildfowl during the winter months. Common Terns may be seen occasionally during the summer. This lake has hosted Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Shag, Velvet Scoter, Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Smew, Goldeneye, Black Tern and Iceland Gull over the years and even a Nightjar was present along the north bank on one occasion.


Above: The car park at MERCERS COUNTRY PARK. Closed during the winter months, when it is best to park near the Water Colour Lagoons. Lesser Redpolls and Siskins (in the winter months) plus the occasional Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Coal Tit may be seen in this area.


Above: WATER COLOUR LAGOON 1. This is the name that the local birders know it by, but it is actually called Holmethorpe South Lagoon. An area that Kingfishers seem to favour. Has had Bar-tailed Godwit visit in the past and Holmethorpe's second Cetti's Warbler was found here in 2009. An Iceland Gull was found here in 2008.


Above: WATER COLOUR LAGOON 2 or Holmethorpe North Lagoon. The site of the former Holmethorpe Sand Quarry works. Has hosted Knot, Grey Plover, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Rock Pipit in recent years.


Above: The footpath between WATER COLOUR LAGOONS 1 and 2 with the viewing mound in the distance on the left. The lagoons are soon to be managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust.


Above: WATER COLOUR LAGOON 1 (on the right) and LAGOON 2 (on the left) as viewed from the top of the Water Colour mound. A good vantage point for raptor watching. The mound often hosts good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails and is often a favoured site for spring and autumn Wheatears early in the day before being disturbed by dog-walkers and joggers.


Above: THE MOORS NR (managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust) as viewed from the Water Colour mound. (Top: summer. Bottom: winter.) There is strictly no public access to the reserve but it can be viewed from a perimeter cycle path. Little Egrets are often seen here and Wheatears and Whinchats are occasionally seen on passage and this area has seen both Common and Black Redstarts stop off. It holds a good wintering population of Common Snipe and Dartford Warbler has overwintered here on two occasions. Stonechats are normally found here during the winter months in most years. Fly-over species have included Great White Egret, Osprey, Honey Buzzard and Marsh Harrier.


Above: THE MOORS NR near the railway line. This area regularly floods during the winter months. Water Rails may be heard squealing along the brook. Teal, Gadwall and Shovelers often gather here during the winter months.


Above: THE MOORS NR. The same area as above during the summer months.


Above: THE MOORS NR near the railway line. This area also regularly floods during the winter months and occasionally the path becomes impassable. In April 2010, a female Ferruginous Duck was found here and was well twitched.


Above: THE MOORS NR. The same area as above during the summer months.


Above: An enlarged view of the LANDFILL SITE as viewed from the Water Colour mound. During the winter, good numbers of gulls and corvids congregate here. Glaucous Gull has been found here in the past.


Above: MERCERS FARM viewed from near the sheep paddocks. A good area to scan in the spring for Wheatears and Whimbrel. Common Buzzards are regularly seen in this area and Skylarks and Yellowhammers are often found in good numbers, especially during the winter months. There are plans for sand extraction from this area in future years.


Above: The sheep paddocks at MERCERS FARM. A Little Owl is occasionally seen here and a Barn Owl spent the winter of 2008/2009 here. During the winter months, Fieldfares and Redwings favour the paddocks.


Above: The lane to the horse paddocks at MERCERS FARM. This is a private road - please respect the residents' privacy. House Sparrows are still found in good numbers along the hedgerow.


Above: The horse paddocks at MERCERS FARM. A good spot to look for Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears in the spring. Under no circumstances can you enter the paddocks - only view from the gate.


Above: The footpath, heading east across MERCERS FARM, from Canal Cottage. This path leads towards Glebe Lake and Mill Cottage. A good area for Skylarks.


Above: Looking north to GLEBE LAKE. The lake is a private fishery and there is limited access and viewing but this once productive area no longer seems to attract many birds.


Above: The sand-spit on the north side of SPYNES MERE NR (managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust). A likely location to find a scarce wader and Lapwings, Common Snipe and gulls gather here in reasonable numbers during the winter months. Shelduck are often seen at this site. A footpath encircles Spynes Mere but there is strictly no access onto the reserve. Spynes Mere has had visits from Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Scaup, Smew, Goldeneye, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Ringed Plover amongst others over the years.


Above: The MIDDLE PIT and MERCERS WEST PIT viewed from the cycle path by Spynes Mere. This area is to be managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust in the near future. Mercers West Pit was the last pit to be excavated before the Holmethorpe Sand Quarry closed. Due to high water levels over the past few years, the two pits have merged into one, but the local birders still refer to the nearer area of water as the Middle Pit and the farthest area as Mercers West Pit as, if the water level drops in the future, it may revert to being two separate pits again. An excellent site for warblers in the scrubby areas, including Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, and waders occasionally drop in along the shoreline, with winter duck in good numbers (including one or two Goldeneye and Smew in recent years). Mercers West Pit is favoured by Green and Common Sandpipers and species such as Goosander, Pintail, Whimbrel, Curlew, Avocet, Wood Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank, Oystercatcher and Pink-footed Goose have put in an appearance here over the past few years.


Above: MERCERS WEST PIT (viewed from the metal gate) at times a very productive area.


Above: MERCERS WEST PIT (the metal gate that gives the best view across the pit.) A confusing area, as Spynes Mere, the Middle Pit and Mercers West Pit are collectively known as Mercers east! Along the path to this gate, a Wood Warbler was found a few years ago.


Above: The footpath from MERCERS WEST PIT to BLETCHINGLEY ROAD to the north.


Above: The hedge along the path to the north of the MIDDLE PIT at Mercers east. This path runs from the northern end of the cycle path at Spynes Mere to the metal gate at Mercers West Pit. A good spot for warblers and has produced Spotted Flycatcher in the past.


Above: The row of oaks in the hedge to the north of the MIDDLE PIT at Mercers east. Occasionally holds Treecreeper and Nuthatch.


Above: The row of OAKS TO THE SOUTH OF SPYNES MERE. Little Owls are sometimes seen here.


Above: The view across MERCERS FARM from the southern side of Spynes Mere. Nutfield Ridge is in the distance. Raptors are often seen over the ridge in the distance and over the farm and have included Peregrine, Red Kite, Honey Buzzard and, on one occasion, Goshawk. Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawks are often seen.


Above: NUTFIELD MARSH. Nutfield Marsh Road runs through the middle of the area. Not that productive for birds but can hold good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares in the winter months.


Above: The cricket pitch at NUTFIELD MARSH, with the Inn on the Pond public house in the background. Mistle Thrushes are often seen on the cricket pitch.


Above: The footpath between CHILMEAD PONDS that leads to Nutfield Ridge. There is strictly no public access to, or clear views of, the ponds but, as the ponds are of little avian interest, this overgrown path is just a means of reaching the Ridge.


Above: Parkwood, at the top of NUTFIELD RIDGE, is a mixture of broadleaf trees and conifers. A good area for Coal Tits, Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.


Above: The view from NUTFIELD RIDGE (looking over the Landfill Site towards Reigate Hill and the North Downs) and NUTFIELD RIDGE POOLS. A good spot for raptor watching. Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels are regular, with Hobbys in the summer and the occasional Red Kite and Peregrine seen from here. Corvids roost here, with large numbers of Carrion Crows and Jackdaws and a few Rooks may be also be found amongst them. During the winter months, gulls often roost in good numbers and an Iceland Gull was found amongst the commoner species on one occasion. The pools rarely attract birds, but a Curlew visited on one occasion.
As sheep are grazed in this area, it is important to stick to the footpaths to prevent disturbance.


Above: NUTFIELD CHURCH and CHURCHYARD. Usually holds Goldcrests, Coal Tits and Nuthatches.
A peaceful area with benches, ideal for a lunch-break and a rest.