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Revision as of 14:54, 11 January 2009

Please do not post details of scarce breeding birds (those included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, amended 2000). Any such reports will be removed.

Sunday 11th January

• Bittern Watchpoint (LVRP): Bittern showing well at 10:08hrs (Birdguides).
• Cuffley: Great Grey Shrike still present late morning but distant; TL306019; park in the car park at TL302022 (Birdguides). Still present at c12.30pm but further S along railway embankment, nearer Cattlegate Farm (TL307011) - also 1 Buzzard, 20+ Fieldfare (Nigel May).
• River Thames (Wandsworth Park): Pintail pair, gulls: Herring c50- including at least several argentatus, Lesser Black-back c10 & Greater Black-back x2 (J.Wilczur).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: redhead Smew (9.45am actively feeding by Serpentine Island until just after 10am when most wildfowl put up by boat passing round island in ice + emergency dog rescue opposite; seen again flying over Round Pond 11am with Tufties + Shoveler put up by remote control yachts there!), 80 Shoveler (5 Round Pond), 7 Gadwall, m Manadarin, m Red-crested Pochard (Round Pond), ad Med Gull (Round Pond) 5 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl (Neil Anderson); no sign of Smew early p.m; ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) still at Round Pond 13:20hrs, 56 Mute Swan, 5 Greylag x Canada Goose, 113 Coot, 2 Lapwing north over Pararde Ground 14:10hrs, c775 Black-headed Gull, 177 Common Gull, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 37 Herring Gull, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit (Hyde Park Meadows), 3 Coal Tit, Treecreeper, c350 Starling, 5 Chaffinch, Linnet (Buck Hill) (Des McKenzie).
• Alexandra Park: Snipe again feeding mainly along the drainage ditch by the tunnel res, also 40+ Redpoll over (John Murray); pair Egyptian Geese circled main res 0749 looking like landing but headed off north, 7 Fieldfare in groups of 2 and 5 headed south and SW at 0814 & 0835, 1 Lesser Redpoll east over Scrub (Bob Watts). 2 Lapwing N over res 1110, 75 Tufted Duck (1 Boating Lake, 51 Man Res, 23 Tunnel Res) 794 B h Gull (140 B. Lake, 654 Main Res.), 132 C Gull (6 B. Lake, 126 Main Res.), 5 L b b Gull, 1 H Gull, Chiffchaff (Gareth Richards).
• East India Dock area: Goldcrest, 2 drake Shoveler, 8 drake Shelduck (4 displaying), 220+ Teal, 6 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Sparrowhawk (David Callahan); early afternoon Linnet, Goldcrest (under DLR) (Paul Hyland).
• Beddington SF: 2 Woodcocks, Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe (KJM).
• South Norwood Lak: 2 Mute Swan, 20 Tufted Duck, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 1m Sparrowhawk,12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).

Saturday 10th January

• William Girling Res (no public access): 22 Black-necked Grebe, 1w Mediterranean Gull (Birdguides).
• Bittern Watchpoint (LVCP): 2 Bittern flew into reeds in front of the watchpoint 07:30hrs, one later flushed by a fox; also Water Rail (Birdguides).
• London Wetland Centre: 1+ Bittern, 1 1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull, 1 f Smew briefly, 342 Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 1 Kingfisher. Yesterday 3 Bittern, 4 Woodcock, 1 f Peregrine, 5 Yellow Legged Gull, 33 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 430 Teal, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpeker, 1 Water Pipit (DM, RK, AI, MA); 66 Wigeon, 39 Pochard, possible Goldeneye east early a.m., 7 Great Black-backed Gull, Water Pipit, fem Stonechat, Fieldfare, 21 Goldfinch, 17 Siskin (LWC website).
• Sidcup: at least 5 Woodlark still present in stubble field at end of Riverside Road this morning (Richard Green).
• Rainham Marshes: 2 Penduline Tit from northern boardwalk 13:10hrs having previously flown high NW; directions from visitor centre (Birdguides), also at 10:30 and 14:00, 5 Water Rail, 1 Pintail, 1 Water Pipit, 80 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, several Bearded Tit, 1 Skylark, 5 Snipe, 1 Song Thrush, 40 Goldfinch (J Palmer).
• Cuffley: Great Grey Shrike still present and showing well this a.m.; take BI56 south of Cuffley, turn left into car park before speed limit ends (TL302022), take the path alongside the north side of the car park and playing fields for about 1/4 mile, shrike spend most of its time on the railway embankment (TL306018) (HertsBirding).
• King George V Res: fem Red-breasted Merganser still (Birdguides).
• Bedfont Lakes CP: 07.50 Smew 1 male, 2 redheads (Keith Fisher).
• Crossness: Jack Snipe, 15+ Common Snipe, 99 Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, fem Wigeon, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 4 Stonechat (John Archer, Ian Miller, Kevin Jarvis)
• Walthamstow Res: m Smew by the island at # 3 at 13:30hrs (Birdguides).
• Ashford: c.48 Golden Plover and 86 Lapwing on stubble field east of Short Lane, just off A30 near Ashford Hospital (Adam Cheeseman).
• Wanstead Flats: Skylarks, Stonechat, Reed Bunting (J Lethbridge).
• Rotherhithe: Firecrest at north end of Russia Dock Woodland in pines by the green benches opposite Bywater Place mid a'noon; pair of Siskin & 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker also in Russia Dock Woodland. Drake Pochard and 184 Tufted Duck Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
• Sevenoaks WR: 77 Teal, Goosander, 2 Little Egret just north of the reserve (KosNet).
• Queen Mother Res (permit access only): 4 Scaup (1w drake and 3 1w fem) still; also ad Mediterranean Gull and Green Sandpiper (Birdguides).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) at Round Pond still but mobile; 402 Greylag Goose (record count), m Mandarin, fem Wigeon (Serpentine Island), 9 Gadwall, 71 Mallard, 77 Shoveler (probably a record count), 2 Sparrowhawk, ad Yellow-legged Gull (Serpentine), 57 Herring Gull Including 3 ad argentatus, Tawny Owl showing well at day-roost, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Redwing, 10 Mistle Thrush (species ringed: m Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, Coot, 2 Black-headed Gull) (Des McKenzie, Roy Sanderson).
• Stocker's Lake: 6 Red-crested Pochard, 4 Goldeneye, 2m Smew, 4 Goosander, Little Grebe, Water Rail, Lapwing, Ring-necked Parakeet, Song Thrush, 60+ Siskin (HertsBirding).
• Fulham Reach (Thames): 2 or 3 Common Snipe, 108 Teal, 71 Tufted Duck, 27 Gadwall, 68 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Moorhen (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Beddington SF: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Water Pipit (Birdguides).
• Alexandra Park: adult Yellow-legged Gull on Main Res ice until 8am when it flew west, 2 drake Teal until at least 0820 but not present 0905, c35 Lesser Redpoll in trees near Newland Road flew SE towards New River Village 0915, male Sparrowhawk near Top Field, c12 Redwing Boating Lake, 67 Tufted Duck Tunnel & Main Res (Bob Watts). Probable Woodcock flushed by dog flew SW low along perimeter fence of Pitch n Putt @ 0945 (Stuart Harrington).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Jack Snipe (new river path, 0820, TB per MJP), 2 Water Rails, 2 Reed Buntings, c75 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck and 12 Common Pochard on West Res (where also a large mixed gull flock are), plus the usuals (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
• East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park: 7 Shelduck, c235 Teal, 2 male Shoveler, Common Snipe, 12 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch (Nick Tanner).
• Ingrebourne Valley: Brambling, Woodcock, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Wigeon, 3 Golden Plover, Gadwall (Shaun Harvey, Martin Redfern).
• Hampstead Heath: 1 Redwing, 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker - while jogging! (Reuben Braddock).
• Bushy Park: 1 Woodcock flying over (Roger Unite).
• Osterley Park: Water Rail 1, Siskin c40, Shoveler c47, Pochard 9, Lapwing 2, Stonechat 2 (Keith Fisher).
• Pitshanger All'ts & Area: 2 Woodcock flushed, 1 ad YL Gull, 11 Redwing (NPS).
• South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 30+ Tufted Duck, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 20 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 30+ Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 4 Goldcrest, 2 House Sparrow, 2 Collared Dove (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
• Banstead Downs Golf Course: no sign of any Firecrests; 2 Redwings and a Coal Tit (David Campbell, Billy Dykes).
• Banstead Downs: 1+ Kestrel, 1 Coal Tit (David Campbell, Billy Dykes).
• Stoke Newington area: Reservoirs: 8 Little Grebe. Clissold Park: 1 Redwing. Abney Park: 3 Goldcrest, 1m GS Wood. (TeRNS).
• Holmethorpe Sand Pits: 1 Little Egret, 2 Water Rail, 2 Jack Snipe, 1ad plus 1 firstw Yellow-legged Gull (Steve Gale).
• Queen Mary Reservoir: 1 Peregrine, 1 Woodcock, lots of fog (Steve Chastell).
• Ealing Common: 1 Lapwing over (West) at c15:00 (Ian Ellis).
• Finsbury Park / Highbury area: outside Finsbury Park station - 1 Grey Wagtail; Emirates Stadium - 30+ Pied Wagtails flying around inside stadium and settling on pitch during 2nd half of Arsenal v Bolton! Presumably a winter roost site (Nigel May).

Friday 9th January

• Bedfont Lakes CP: 5 Smew (3m, 2f) and Bittern on North Lake this morning (James Herd per Adam Cheeseman).
• Lea Navigation: Bittern perched in treetop 70m north of Springfield Marina, first sighted 0945; still present and performing very well at 1400. Thanks to our friends on the boats for VIP access! (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Paul Cook et al. photos at Hackney Wildlife) (more photos at Hackneybirder)
• London Wetland Centre am: Bittern 2 (1 eastern end of reservoir lagoon, 1 in reed fringe adjacent to WWF hide), Pintail 3, Greylag 1 in from N.E., Snipe 18+, Jack Snipe 2 (main lake in front of Dulverton hide), Lapwing 17 east, Y.L. Gull 5 (1 ad, 1 3rd winter & 3 first-winters), Water Pipit 2, Stonechat 2 fem (NPS, DM); Shelduck, c250 Teal, c300 Tufted Duck (LWC website).
• Beddington SF: Dartford Warbler; 2 Green Sandpiper, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Water Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 4 Chiffchaff, Brambling (Dip or Glory); Woodcock (patchtick 196) (KJM).
• Cuffley (Cattlegate Farm): Great Grey Shrike seen from public footpath (no furtther details) (LondonBirders) - possibly the Crews Hill bird which was present to 2nd January.
• Island Barn Res: 5 Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser (SBC).
• Walton Res: Dunlin (SBC).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs (east): 21 Herring Gulls, 2 Water Rails, c80 Coot and 1 Common Pochard on small area of open water, 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Goldcrests (Mark Pearson)
• Thorndon CP: 150-200 redpolls this a.m. (EssexBirders).
• River Thames (Mortlake): Yellow-legged Gull 3rd-w with a Herring & a L B-b Gull (J.Wilczur).
• Rainham: Little Owl at junction of Launders Land and A1306 (EssexBirders).
• Chiswick (playing field by Thames): Yellow-legged Gull 3rd-w (different to above) with 4 Herrings & a L B-b Gull (J.Wilczur).
• Alexandra Park: adult Yellow-legged Gull along with 4 LBB Gulls & 1 Herring Gull, 98 Canada Geese, 57 Tufted Duck, 8 Pochard on main Res @ 0750 but no sign of drake Teal on 95% frozen Boating Lake @0810 (John Murray).
• Wanstead Park: pr Red-crested Pochard (site tick) + 6 Little Grebe, 43 Pochards, ~40 Tufties, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, 2 Chaffinch. Nuthatch also heard in Churchyard (thx Daniel!) (J Lethbridge).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) at Round Pond 15:00hrs at least; 23 Pochard, 96 Tufted Duck (Des McKenzie).
• Fairlop Waters: 120 Canada Geese, Greylag, 3 Little Grebe, 119 Coot, 28 Moorhen, 39 Mallard, 20 Pochard, 5 Tufted, 5 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 3 Cormorant, 50+ Common Gull, 100+ BHGull, 91 Lapwing, 82 Golden Plover, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker, 23 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Song Thrush, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldcrest, 1 fem Sparrowhawk, 2 male Kestrels, pr Pheasant (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Goose, 20 Tufted Duck, 5m 3f Shoveler, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redwing, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Coal Tit, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson).
• Aldenham CP: 14 Mandarin on res early afteroon (Birdguides).
• East India Dock: 3 Shoveler; 4 Shelduck; 1 GBB Gull; 1 LBB Gull; 9 Moorhen; 1 Goldfinch; 1 Little Grebe (Richard Harrison); afternoon visit: 4 Shoveler (3m, 1f), Gadwall (m), 4 Shelduck + 1 over, 6 Redshank (creek) (Paul Hyland).
• Trent Park Area: 1 Common Buzzard, at Park Farm; 1 female Kestrel, Shaws Wood; 16 Lapwing,(14 Park Farm, 2 Ferny Hill Farm); 1 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 8 Fieldfare, at Ferny Hill Farm; 4 Song Thrush; 3 Mistle Thrush,(2 Ferny Hill Farm; 1 Park Farm); 11 Goldcrest; 1 Nuthatch, Rough Lot; 5 Treecreeper; 1 Lesser Redpoll, Moat Wood; 4 Bullfinch,(2 females, together, at Park Farm, 2, male and female, together, near Water Grdn); 1 male Muntjac, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).
• Tyttenhanger GP's (still 99% frozen): 24 Golden Plover, Water Rail, Snipe, 250+ Lapwing, c20 Yellowhammer, 4 Tree Sparrow, 5 Siskin, 7 Redwing, Bullfinch (Steve B).
• Mayesbrook Park: Goosander (redhead), fem Wigeon (Paul Hawkins).
• Fleet Street EC4: Peregrine pair, fem with kill, flew over @08:40hrs(Paul Hawkins).
• Stoke Newington area: Reservoirs: 1 Snipe, c70 Gadwall, 26 sp. recorded. Clissold Park: 4 Redwing. (TeRNS).

Thursday 8th January

• Queen Mother Res: 4 Scaup (Birdguides)
• William Girling Reservoir (no access) Flood Relief Channel at Southern End: 1 Redshank, Green Sand, 3 Little Egret, 3 Lapwing. Reservoir; 18 Black-necked Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck (Paul Cook).
• London Wetland Centre: Bittern flew in from west end of main lake towards wildside; Shelduck, m Peregrine hunting along Thames, 10 vocal Water Rail, Jack Snipe in vegetation on the island on the right of Dulverton hide, 2 Water Pipit, fem Stonechat, 4 Siskin - late news for yesterday: 7 Bar-headed Goose flew in at dusk, Woodcock over Sheltered Lagoon at dusk, Green Sandpiper, 50 Black-headed Gull on Main Lake at dusk (gulls don't usually roost here) (LWC website); 5 Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides) - total of 3 Bittern (LWC website).
• Rainham Marshes: 1w Caspian Gull, 2 Penduline Tit mid-morning then flew off (Birdguides).
• Beddington SF: m Peregrine, 2 Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 2w Caspian Gull, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Brambling, 2 Redpoll (Dip or Glory).
• Riverside Road, Sidcup: 7 Woodlarks still present in stubble field by pumping station at 12:08pm (RBA).
• Crossness LNR: Jack Snipe flushed from ditch by West Paddock at 09:30, wild swan sp flew east at 09:45 (Ian Miller per JA).
• Wanstead Flats (0745-0815): Grey Heron over, 5 Canada over, ZERO ducks, 10 Common Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Skylark, 2 Mipit, Pied Wagtail (J Lethbridge); (0930-1000): 162 Canada Geese on Alexandra Lake with Mallard and 8 Shoveler; severel hundred gulls (mostly Common) (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Wanstead Park: on 'The Basin', 4 Little Grebe, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufteds, Grey Heron and Cormorant over, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, 15-20 Redwing and 2 Nuthatches in St. Marys Churchyard (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Hampstead Heath (Parliament Hill end) 0810-0900: 3 Grey Heron, 2 Egyptian Goose (in flight), 10 Shoveler, 1 GSW, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 1 f Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock, 2 Pied Wagtail on athletics track (Reuben Braddock)
• East India Dock NR: 2 Black Redstart, Shoveler, 2 Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper (Gary A James); 2 Shelduck, f Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge).
• Canary Wharf: Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 19 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, Moorhen, Robin, 2 Blue Tit, Magpie (J Lethbridge)
• Bow Creek Ecology Park: 110 Teal, Mallard, 2 Grey Heron, Moorhen, 2 Redshank, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Wren, Song Thrush (Daniel Erickson-Hull); Reed Bunting, Pied Wag (J Lethbridge).
• Tyttenhanger Farm: Merlin seen flying low toward copse in middle of field, c50 Red-legged Partridge in adjacent fields, at least 5 Tree Sparrow (HertsBirding).
• Burgess Park: 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull on ice at the eastern end of the lake 14:50hrs (Richard Bonser)
• Rotherhithe: 2 drake Shoveler Southwark Park and 180 Tufted Ducks on Canada Water late a'noon (Richard Bonser).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) at Round Pond flew SW with Black-headed and Common Gulls 15:20hrs, highly vocal Firecrest showed briefly in birches at NE corner of Serpentine Island in failing light at 16:05hrs; Greylag Goose (white DP3; rung at Sevenoaks WR in June 1998), m Mandarin, 10 Gadwall, 53 Shoveler, m Red-crested Pochard (Round Pond), ad type Great Black-backed Gull, Tawny Owl showed well at day-roost, Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtail, 12-15 Goldcrest (Des McKenzie).
• Alexandra Park: male Teal on boating pond (Gabriel Jamie, Dominic Mitchell, Andrew Gardener, still present 1755 (Bob Watts); also 6 Redwing on slope opposite animal enclosure, Chiffchaff by reservoir (Gabriel Jamie).
• Stocker's Lake: 37 Wigeon, 88+ Gadwall, 22 Teal, 164+ Shoveler, 36 Pochard, 45 Tufted Duck, 8 Goldeneye, 2m Smew, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 53 sinensis Cormorant, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Redwing (HertsBirding); 17 Red-crested Pochard (LondonBirders yahoo group).
• Holmethorpe SP's: Scaup-type Aythya hybrid, Goldeneye, m Smew, Little Egret (SBC).
• Queen Elizabeth II Res: Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Mediterranean Gull roosted (ad/1w) (SBC).
• Walton Res: 16 Goosander roosted (SBC).
• KGV Reservoir: 8 Goosander, 21 Goldeneye, 28 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 38 Ruddy Duck, 3 Lapwing. (Paul Cook).
• Sydenham Hill Wood: 5 Goldcrests, 6 Nuthatch, 3 Treecreepers, c20 RR Parakeets; Siskin at nearby Centre for Wildlife Gardening (Mark Pearson)
• Osterley Park: 4 Lapwing, c30 Redwing feeding with Starlings & Goldfinches, 3 Fieldfare, 2 GSW (1 drumming), juv Yellow-Legged Gull (Tom Smith).
• Overton Park 2 Mipits (David Campbell)

Wednesday 7th January

• London Wetland Centre: Yellow-legged Gull 1st-w, a heavily marked bird (J.Wilczur), Shelduck, Woodcock flushed from the overflow car park, flew towards the main lake, Water Pipit, 2 fem Stonechat (LWC website); 2 Bittern, 2 Jack Snipe, 15+ Common Snipe, 1 female Stonechat 10.00-12.30 (Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall).
• Rainham Marshes: still 2 Penduline Tit at far end of northern boardwalk, showing well 14:45hrs; Water Pipit (Birdguides).
• River Thames, Barnes: 2 Lapwing on shoreline (JW).
• Beddington SF: 2 Little Egret (SBC).
• Fulham Reach (Thames): Redshank, Shelduck, 49 Tufted Ducks, many Teals, Gadwalls, Mallards, Black-headed Gulls, juv Pied Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Holmethorpe SP: m Scaup-type aythya hybrid, Goldeneye, 2 Peregrine (SBC).
• M25 J8: Common Buzzard 8am (Chris Wilkinson).
• Claybury Park: 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, Redwing (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Osterley Park: male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at the Farm Shop, Stonechat 2, Linnet 2, Lapwing 1, Meadow Pipit 3, Nuthatch 3, Kestrel 3, Siskin c15 (Keith Fisher).
• Clapton Common: adult Mediterranean Gull back and coming to bread; also male Blackcap feeding on apples in garden at the western end, 15 Common Gulls, 20 Black-headed Gulls (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
• Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Firecrests, 1 Fieldfare (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
• Trent Park Area: 2 (ad male & female) Sparrowhawk; 1 fem Kestrel, Ride Wood; 1 Green Woodpecker; 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Fieldfare, Ferny Hill Farm; 3 Song Thrush; 15+ Goldcrest; 4 Nuthatch, (1 Shaws Wood, 3 Rough Lot); 10 Treecreeper; 6 Coal Tit; 5 Linnet, at Barracks; 1 Bullfinch, at Vicarage Farm; 1 male Muntjac (Robert Callf).
• Thames Barrier Park: 218 Teal, 8 Shelduck, 10 Cormorant, Grey Heron, 10 Redshank (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Canary Wharf: Peregrine circling over east part of estate at lunchtime, seen from Poplar DLR station (J Lethbridge).
• East India Dock: Grey Heron, m Shoveler, few Teal, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 4 Long-tailed Tits (J Lethbridge).
• Regents Park: 1 Little Grebe, 19 Egyptian Geese, 40 Mandarins, 19 Gadwall, 29 Shoveler, 1m Pintail, 3 Common Teal, 42 Red-crested Pochards, 2 Water Rails (showing well), 3 Lapwings NE at 11.25am, 1 Redwing, 14 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
• King George's Park, Wandsworth (south of Kimber Road): lunchtime; 13 Goldfinch, 42 Siskin feeding in Alders (Martin Honey).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: no sign of Chiffy today; 3+ Water Rails, Linnet over, 3 Reed Buntings, at least one ad. argentatus Herring Gull on East Res; 63 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck and 1 Common Pochard on West Res (duck numbers much reduced due to 80% ice coverage); Common Snipe in at dusk (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
• Ingrebourne Valley: Lesser Redpoll, 2 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, Little Egret, 3 Snipe, 2 Water Rail (Shaun Harvey).
• Waterworks NR: 1 Water Rail (showing well on the ice) - River Lea: 42 Teal (Paul Cook).
• Paddington Green: fem Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel, Grey Wagtail, 8 Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
• Little Venice: 15 Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
• Trent Park: 1 Water Rail, in ditch near Equestrian Centre (Robin White per RMC).

Tuesday 6th January

• London Wetland Centre: 3 Bittern; Shelduck, 2 Peregrine, Golden Plover over with Lapwing flock 08:30hrs, 40 Lapwing west, 4 Common Snipe, 1w Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker on the north side of the reservoir lagoon, Water Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 2 Fieldfare (LWC website), 2 Water Rail (Tom Smith)
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs (New River path): Siberian Chiffchaff still present and calling along New River public footpath between Lordship Road and Bethune Road, intermittently between 0930 and 1450; still present at 15:30hrs at eastern end of path near Bethune Road; also Fieldfare, Redwing and Common Snipe this morning, 3 (2m, 1f) Reed Buntings at the feeders, 4 Goldcrests, 15 Shovelers; 2 Common Snipe and 3 Water Rails at dusk (MJP, TB, DMc, NT, DDL et al Hackney Wildlife).
• Rainham Marshes: 2 Penduline Tit along new boardwalk 10:03hrs at least still (Birdguides)).
• Island Barn Res: Red-breasted Merganser (SBC).
• Clissold Park: 2 Little Grebe, c40 Moorhen, 20 Collared Dove at roost on island (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
• Bush Wood, Wanstead: 2 Sparrowhawk (1m, 1f) (J Lethbridge).
• Osterley Park: Little Owl 1, Lapwing 7, GBBGull 1, Meadow Pipit 3, Common Buzzard 1, Siskin 1 (Keith Fisher).
• East India Dock NR: 300 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper, 1 1w Black Redstart, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redwing, 5 Goldfinch (Gary A James).
• Walthamstow Reservoirs: 2 Goosander (males), 9 Goldeneye, 112 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 2 Lapwing (over North), 5 Shelduck, 3 GBBGull, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Jackdaw, Water Rail; also, 1 interesting aythya hybrid (photos at Hackneybirder) (Paul Cook). Lockwood: 2 Little Egret (over NE), 1 Greensand, 2 Rock Pipit. No. 5: 1 drake Goosander. (ADH, GJ)
• Trent Park Area: 1 Common Buzzard, at Vicarage Farm; 1 female Kestrel; 5 Lapwing, flew W, (4 at 12:08 GMT, 1 at 14:22 GMT); 58 Woodpigeon, at Ferny Hill Farm; 1 Woodcock, flushed, Williams Wood, 12:16 GMT, possibly a second bird flushed, 12:19 GMT; 1 Common Snipe, flew E, near Water Grdn., 13:00 GMT; 1 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, drumming, Shaws Wood; 4 Fieldfare, Ferny Hill Farm; 3 Song Thrush, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Mistle Thrush, Ferny Hill Farm; 9 Goldcrest; 3 Treecreeper; 2 Coal Tit; 17 Lesser Redpoll, feeding in Birches, Shaws Wood; 3 (1m,2f) Yellowhammer, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
• Wandsworth Park & river: 101 Tufted Duck, 2 Pintail, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, Common Gulls etc (Michael F).
• Beddington SF: Peregrine, 7 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
• Claybury Woods: Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, 78 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Long-Tailed Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 3 Siskins, Reed Bunting (Jason Moules).
• Tyttenhanger GP's: Water Rail, 2 Snipe, 2 Golden Plover, c300 Lapwing, 20+ Siskin, 14 Skylark, 10+ Fieldfare, Redwing, Wigeon, 9 Teal. (Steve B)
• Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, Dunlin (SBC).
• Trent Park: 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Shaws Wood; 1 Mealy Redpoll, with Lesser Redpoll flock, Shaws Wood (Robin White per RMC).
• Hampstead Cemetery: 2 R N Parakeet (Bob Watts).

Monday 5th January

• LVRP Bittern Watchpoint: 2 Bittern (ELBF).
• London Wetland Centre: Bittern at far north side of main lake, opposite Observatory, perched high in reeds and far back from water's edge 10:10hrs; Jack Snipe, 6 Common Snipe, 2 Water Pipit, Stonechat 7 Fieldfare SW, 2 Chiffchaff (LWC website); also pair of Peregrines hunting low over the site for 2 hours late am, falcon landed on the ice showing a green colour ring with white lettering 19 on right leg - ringed as a chick in West Sussex 2007(NPS).
• Stapleford: Red Kite flew toward Hertford 14:30hrs (Birdguides) - may be outside the area.
• Isle of Dogs: Regular Ring-billed Gull present 200yds east of Glenaffric Av slipway on the low tide as usual, c. 12:45 today (J Lethbridge).
• Beddington SF: 1w Iceland Gull; Little Egret, Water Rail, 2 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Stonechat (Dip or Glory).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs, New River path: Siberian-type Chiffchaff still present for sixth day, responding to tristis Mp3 with clear tristis calls on multiple occasions; feeding in willows along the river, midway between Lordship Rd and Bethune Rd, often with Long-tailed Tits. Several photos on the website, more photos to follow later. Also 2 Water Rails, Reed Bunting, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing, 8 Goldcrests, 9 Mistle Thrushes (Mark Pearson & Paul Cook Hackney Wildlife).
• Rainham Marshes: 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, Ruff, 500 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 50 Redshank, ad Mediterranean Gull, 40 Stock Dove, 86 Rooks, 3 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 3 Fieldfare, 86 Rook (ELBF).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) at Round Pond briefly before flying north; 55 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Gadwall, fem Teal, 50 Shoveler, 28 Herring Gull (mainly 1w's), Grey Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, at least 3 Redwing, Coal Tit, Siskin with Goldfinches in alders near old Police Station (Des McKenzie).
• Regents Park: 3 Lapwings over at 11.40am, Water Rail, pr Common Teal, 14 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
• Harrow Lodge Park: 175 Mute Swan, 15 Greylag Goose, 14 Wigeon, 40 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker (ELBF).
• Richmond Park: Yellow-legged Gull 1st-w with 4 Herring Gulls Upper Pen Pond briefly, 5 Lapwing SW, Snipe (J.Wilczur); Peregrine over Roehampton Gate yesterday (per D. Monk).
• Friday Lake (LVRP): 3 Smew; Wigeon, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe (ELBF).
• Fairlop Waters: Woodcock; Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, Kestrel, 100 Lapwing (ELBF).
• Trent Park Area: 1 Little Egret, along Merryhills Brook, 11:06 - 11:15 GMT; 7(4m,3f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 1 male Sparrowhawk; 1 fem Kestrel; 1 Golden Plover, Ferny Hill Farm; 13 Lapwing,(2 flew E, Uni-lawns, 12:08 GMT, 11 Ferny Hill Farm); 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Song Thrush; 4 Redwing, Oakwood; 2 Mistle Thrush; 5 Goldcrest; 1 Nuthatch; 5 Treecreeper; (Robert Callf & Robin White).
• Ruislip: 2 Little Egrets & 1 m Lesser Spotted Woodpecker by the partially frozen River Pinn; 2 Snipe and 1 Woodcock in farmland west of Ruislip (Martin Sullivan)
• Wanstead Park: 31 species logged, inc Water Rail. Higher than usual numbers of Pochard on Heronry due to other waters 95-100% iced over (J Lethbridge).
• Canary Wharf: Highlight 11 Greenfinch at Westferry Roundabout, and a Robin nr the funny traffic-light "art" thing (J Lethbridge).
• Stockers Lake: 12 Red-crested Pochard (6m) (Birdguides).
• Barking (Ripple Road): Little Egret (ELBF).
• River Rom (Romford): Little Egret; Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (ELBF).
• Bowyers Water (LVRP): Black Swan, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pochard, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebe, Bullfinch (ELBF).
• Bedfords Park: Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Lapwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker (ELBF).
• Rise Park: Jay, Goldfinch (ELBF).
• Raphael's Park: 3 Mute Swan, 7 Cormorant, Mistle Thrush (ELBF).
• Bonnett's Wood (Upminster): 3 Grey Heron, 5 Pheasant, 25 Lapwing, 4 Common Snipe, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, 12 House Sparrow (ELBF).

Sunday 4th January

• Island Barn Res: Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser & Dunlin (SBC).
• Trent Park Area: 1 Little Egret (flyover), 15 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, 12+ Lesser Redpoll (Rough Lot), Yellowhammer + Goldfinch (mixed flock at Vicarage Farm), 1 Woodcock (Rough Lot), 1 Mandarin Duck (m), 1 Grey Heron, 2 Bullfinch (m,f), 2 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5+ Goldcrest (James Arquette).
• London Wetland Centre (am): Bittern 1 reedbed, Whooper Swan 2 first-winters SE @ 11.48 also, Golden Plover 1 main lake before departing, Jack Snipe 2, Snipe 16, Caspian Gull 1 first-winter on river, Y.L. Gull 1 first-winter, Water Pipit 2, Chiffchaff 1 abietinus type, Siskin 17 (NPS, RK et al). also 1 ad Whooper Swan over at 1400hrs (R Green)
• Bedfont Lakes CP: Bittern on North Lake at 3pm, m,f Goldeneye, Herring Gull with white leg ring A5GU on right leg (Adam Cheeseman).
• Osterley Park: Long-Eared Owl 2, of which 1 gave very clear views; also f Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 4 Redwing (Keith Fisher & Tom Smith); additionally - male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen drumming, at The Masons Cottage c10.20, Meadow Pipit 7, Siskin c12, Little Grebe 6, Teal 1, Shoveler 40, Gadwall 6, GBBGull 1 (Keith Fisher).
• Beddington SF: Waxwing flew west; Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe, Woodcock, 2 Green Sandpiper, Water Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
• Richmond Park: 43 Shoveler (personal record count here), 10 Pochard, 52 Manadarin (Isabella), Little Owl, m Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, 3prs Stonechat, 2 Dartford Warbler (1 seen + 2nd bird calling nearby), 7 Goldcrest (Neil Anderson/Jovita Kaunang) and 6 Lapwing (low west), 23 Common Gulls (Pen Ponds)and 18 Meadow Pipit (feeding flock) (Hugh Bradshaw).
• Queen Elizabeth II Res: 1w Mediterranean Gull in roost (SBC).
• Brent Res: 1 Firecrest by hide at 09.15, Reed Bunting (Andrew Haynes).
• East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park: Little Grebe, 7 Shelduck, c230 Teal, male Shoveler, male Pochard (Bow Creek), Common Snipe (flushed from main stream BCEP), 3 Redshank, Song Thrush, Goldcrest. Afternoon visit: 5 Canada Goose, c80 Mallard, Water Rail (back in western reedbed this afternoon), c10 Greenfinch (Nick Tanner).
• Alexandra Park: 5 Lesser Redpoll west over filter beds @ 1035 (John Murray); 6 Siskin mobbing female Kestrel west of Pitch n Putt 1115, 6+ Redwing slope opposite Deer Enclosures (Bob Watts).
• Trent Park Area (Jubilee Path): Common Buzzard, 18 Fieldfare, 6 Common Gull, c100 Golden Plover, 28 Lapwing (Pete Lowman).
• Ingrebourne Valley: Snipe, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Stock dove, 30 Skylark (Shaun Harvey).
• Barking Outfall: 185 Shoveler, 63 Gadwall, 158 Tufted, 137 Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, 61 Redshank, 3 Great Crested Grebes, Curlew, 500 Teal and a Rock Pipit (Dave Morrison).
• South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 6m 4f Shoveler, 1 m Pochard, 30+ Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 9 Common Gull, 30+ Herring Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Collard Dove, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit, 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 3 Nuthatch, 3 Siskin (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
• Canon's Farm (Banstead): 7 Lapwing, 85 Skylark, 60 Brambling, 400 Chaffinch (Steve Gale) .
• Dagenham Chase LNR: In a small ice free corner of the main pit were 140 Tufted Duck, 20 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe and 1 Great Crested Grebe; elsewhere 22 Golden Plover flew over then 12 on playing fields, 1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 3+ Snipe, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2+ Chiffchaff and just 1 Redwing (Vince Halley-Frame).
• Holmethorps SP's: drake Scaup still on Mersers Lake, Barn Owl (SBC).
• Staines Res: 5 Smew on the south basin (SBC).
• Walton Res: Dunlin & Common Sandpiper (SBC).
• Groveland Park, Southgate, N14: 44(28 males, 16 females) Mandarin Duck; 10(6m,4f) Shoveler; 2 Ring-necked Parakeet; 3 Stock Dove; 1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Redwing; 2 Nuthatch; 10+ Long-tailed Tit; c30 Siskin; 1 male Muntjac (Robert Callf).
• Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Goldcrest (Robert Callf).
• Trent Park Area: 1 Little Egret, at Vicarage Farm; 15 Lesser Redpoll, Shaws Wood (Robin White per RMC).

Saturday 3rd January

• Mudchute Farm, Isle of Dogs: Woodcock, Chiffchaff, four Redwings (Sean Huggins).
• Rainham Marshes: no sign of Penduline Tits, Serin reported by the visitor centre a.m. and pair of Bearded Tits (Birdguides); Brent Goose on Thames foreshore, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Stonechat and 1 Ruff on the reserve today (J.Murray).
• East India Dock: Water Rail (in front of Eastern reed bed), Goldcrest, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Shelduck (2 flew off subsequently), m Shoveler, Grey Wagtail (Paul Hyland); Late afternoon: c240 Teal, 25 Redshank, Common Sandpiper (waders in Bow Creek high tide roost), 4 Pied Wagtail, singing Song Thrush (Nick Tanner).
• South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 30+ Tufted Duck, 9m 4f Shoveler, 1m Pochard, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 14 Cormorant, 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 3 House Sparrow (John Watson).
• London Wetland Centre: 2 Common Snipe, Water Pipit (LWC website), 26 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Stonechat & 1 Water Rail pm (Martin Sullivan).
• Fulham Reach (Thames Path): Kingfisher, 100s Black-headed Gull, 81 Teal, 59+ Mallard, 21 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck, Pied Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 2 Great Black-Backed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Moorhen (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Mayesbrook Park: 2 Little Egret, Water Rail, 5 Meadow Pipit, Green woodpecker, Great Spot (Paul Hawkins).
• Dagenham Chase: 4 Water Rail, 5 Snipe, 2 Fiedfare, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Crested Grebe (Paul Hawkins).
• Ingrebourne Valley: Firecrest, Chiffchaff, 4 Bullfinch (Shaun Harvey).
• Trent Park Area: 2 (m&f) Teal, Lower Lake; 1 Ad male Sparrowhawk, carrying prey, perched, Icehouse Wood; 88+ Golden Plover, (11 Ferny Hill Farm, 77+ Park Farm); 79 Lapwing,(35 Ferny Hill Farm, 44 Park Farm); 1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 female Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Song Thrush; 6 Redwing, (4 Park Farm, 2 Parkside Farm); 2 Mistle Thrush; 10 Goldcrest; 4 Nuthatch, (2 together, near Equestrian Centre, 1 Shaws Wood, 1 Moat Wood); 4 Treecreeper, Rough Lot; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Lesser Redpoll; 2 Bullfinch, (female, Park Farm, male, Vicarage Farm); 8 Yellowhammer, together, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
• Tytenhanger GP's: Shelduck, 4 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, 600+ Lapwing, 310 BH Gull, 35 Common Gull, Red Kite, Buzzard, Little Owl (Steve B).
• Osterley Park: Common Buzzard, 2 Stonechat, ~10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrel, Great Spotted & Green Woodpeckers (Tom Smith); Long-eared Owl, 2 flushed from roost (unidentified owl from 26/12/08 now confirmed as Long-eared) (Keith Fisher).
• Bedfont CP: 10.00 Bittern 1 (Keith Fisher).
• Holmethorpe Sand Pits: 1 Little Egret, 1 first-winter drake Scaup, 1 Peregrine, 1 Barn Owl (Steve Gale).
• West Thurrock: 45 Avocet (site record), Jack Snipe, 7 Common Snipe, 3000 Dunlin, 400 Redshank, Grey Plover, Curlew, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipits, 2 Stonechat and Yellow Legged Gull (Dave Morrison).
• Dagenham Riverside: 246 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaff and 85 Stock Doves (Dave Morrison).
• Queen Mary Reservoir: 1 Peregrine, 33 Shoveler, 250+ Cormorant (Steve Chastell).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Snipe, 1 ad. GBB Gull, 68 Gadwall. 29 sp. recorded.(TeRNS).

Friday 2nd January

• Cheshunt/Fishers Green: 2 Little Egret over, pr Egyptian Geese, ad m, 2 redhead Smew (Friday Lake), 2 male,3 redhead Goosander (Holyfield), 5 Goldeneye, Buzzard (Bowyers Water), 3 Water Rail (Bittern Hide), c20 Fieldfare, c10 Redwing, Chiffchaff, c40 Siskin (Neil Anderson)
• London Wetland Centre: Bittern, 2 Water Rail, 2 Water Pipit, fem Stonechat (Birdguides).
• Isle of Dogs: regular ad Ring-billed Gull again on Thames foreshore 200m east of Glenaffric Ave slipway off Saunders Ness Road at noon (Sean Huggins).
• Beddington SF: 3 Shelduck, m Peregrine, 2 Common Snipe, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 2ad Caspian Gull, juv/1w Iceland Gull, Stonechat, Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
• Cheshunt: Great Grey Shrike at Crews Hill yesterday for third day (on private land) (Birdguides).
• Rainham Marshes: still 2 Penduline Tit present; directions from visitor centre (but no sign this p.m.), Serin by visitor centre a.m., Little Egret, 2 Ruff, 2 Stonechat (Birdguides).
• Brent Res: 2 Firecrests by hide at 09.20 (Andrew Self).
• Banstead Downs GC: 1 Firecrest (Steve Gale).
• Osterley Park: Meadow Pipit 4, Stonechat 1, Fieldfare 12, Redwing 25, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming, Nuthatch 4, Coal Tit 1, Mandarin 10, Egyptian Goose 5, Gadwall 4, Siskin 20+, Shoveler 37, Skylark 1 (Keith Fisher).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Water Rail showing well at Temple Gate reedbed 08:25hrs, 2 Common Snipe flushed from Hyde Park Meadows 09:15hrs, ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) at Round Pond to 10:45hrs at least (twice flew toward Long Water); also, 2 Egyptian Goose, m Mandarin, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit on Parade Ground (Des McKenzie).
• Wormwood Scrubs: 1 pair Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, a pair of Mistle Thrush & 1 Goldcrest (Kim Dixon, David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 'eastern-type' Chiffchaff still present in willows along New River footpath (eastern side), 102 Gadwall (v high count), 17 Shovelers, presumed female Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid, 8 Goldcrests, 3 Water Rails, f Reed Bunting at feeders (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
• Mayesbrook Park: 2 Little Egret, Snipe, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker (Paul Hawkins).
• Walthamstow Reservoirs (Maynards and Lockwood): 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Shelduck, 1 F Goldeneye, 1 F Goosander, 7 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Mipit, large nos Little Grebe, GC Grebe, Shovelers, Pochard, Teal, Tufted Ducks etc (Quentin Given).
• South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 30 Tufted Duck, 2m 2f Shoveler, 12 Cormorant, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30+ Goldfinch, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail (John Watson).
• Regents Park: 2 GBB Gulls, 2 Water Rails, 14 Siskins, 18 Goldfinches (Tony Duckett).
• Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Firecrests, c10 Goldcrests (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Russell Miller).
• Trent Park Area: 4 (2m,2f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 1 female Kestrel; 15 Moorhen, Lower Lake; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 37 Fieldfare, (21 Ferny Hill Farm, 16 Vicarage Farm); 4 Song Thrush; 6 Redwing, (4 South Lodge Farm, 2 Ferny Hill Farm); 2 Mistle Thrush; 5 Goldcrest; 3 Coal Tit; 1 Siskin; 35 Magpie, pre-roost gathering, at Vicarage Farm, 15:36 GMT; 11 Yellowhammer, together, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
• Ingrebourne Valley: Tawny Owl, 11 Water Rail, 16 Yellowhammer, 200+ Linnet feeding on game crop, Chiffchaff, 2 Wigeon, Green Sandpiper and Bullfinch (Dave Morrison).
• Bramley Road, Oakwood, N14: 2 Goldcrest, together (Robert Callf).
• East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park; late afternoon visit: Little Grebe, c320 Teal, male Shoveler, 47 Redshank in high tide roost, Common Sandpiper (heard), Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, singing Song Thrush, Goldcrest, 5 Reed Bunting in north-western reedbed, Bow Creek, at dusk (Nick Tanner).
• Alexandra Park: ad Yellow-legged Gull on cricket pitches east of Pavillion to 13:30hrs only (Dominic Mitchell).
• Wandsworth Common: 3 GS Woodpecker, Redwing, 14 Mistle Thrush, 5+ Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 5-6 House Sparrow, Brambling (in trees between the two ponds), 25-30 Siskin in a single flock plus another flock heard out of sight, 8-9 Lesser Redpoll (Matthew Palmer)

Thursday 1st January

Happy New Year to all London Birders

• London Wetland Centre: Greylag Goose NW, 116 Wigeon, m Mandarin, 2 Water Rail, 15 Common Snipe, 2 Stonechat (m/f); (late p.m.): no sign of Bitterns; Peregrine female landed on Marsh; Woodcock; Yellow-legged Gull 1st-w (only large gull on site) (J.Wilczur), Peregrine had spent rest of day perched on nearby building; also 3 Jack Snipe, 2 Water Pipit, Stonechat, 16 Siskin, 2 Chiffchaff, >20 Common Snipe, Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 1 hybrid Tufted/Ring-necked duck, 3 Pintail, 1 Shelduck, 5 Egyptian Geese, plus 4 Bar-headed Geese to roost at dusk (Martin Honey).
• Trent Park Area: 9 Yellowhammer, 20+ Siskin, 43 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Kestrel, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Gull, 1 Shoveler, 2 Mandarin Duck, 60+ Jackdaw (James Arquette).
• Bedfont Lakes CP: 3 Smew (1m, 2f), 3 Water Rail (Adam Cheeeman).
• South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 8 Cormorant, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 15 Tufted Duck, 5m 1 f Shoveler, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Siskin, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 20+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, Goldfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
• Queen Mother Res (permit access): 4 Scaup, Great Northern Diver, ad Caspian Gull (Birdguides).
• Isle of Dogs: regular ad Ring-billed Gull again on Thames foreshore 200m east of Glenaffric Ave slipway off Saunders Ness Road till 12.45 at least (Sean Huggins).
• Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, Wigeon, Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1w Iceland Gull (later seen at Holmethorpe), 4 Water Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff, Brambling (Dip or Glory).
• Holmethorpe SP: 1w Iceland Gull earl afternoon (same bird as at Beddington SF) before relocating to Watercolour Pit (Birdguides).
• Wraysbury GP: Red Kite over the new excavations at 12:15hrs (Birdguides).
• Rainham Marshes: 2 Penduline Tit stll present by Aveley Pool; directions from visitor centre; also a probable Caspian Gull (Birdguides), Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, c.18 Pintail, pr Peregrine, 12 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Yellow-legged Gull (2 ads and third-winter), 7 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Short-eared Owl, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 7 Cetti's Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2 Bearded Tit, Coal Tit, 4 Corn Bunting (ELBF, Dominic Mitchell).
• Thorndon CP: 'some 'grey and white' Mealy Redpoll as well as a few Lessers amongst a flock of some 80 birds in the thicker woodland west of the enclosure i.e. nearer to the first car-park (EssexBirders).
• Bookham Common: Hawfinch from The Plains Car Park 10:10hrs (Birdguides).
• Brent Res: Firecrest behind hide at 08.30 (Andrew Self).
• Amwell GP: 2 drake & 1 female Smew, also Bittern (but outside LNHS Area) (Andrew Self).
• East India Dock Basin/Bow Creek Ecology Park: Little Grebe, 6 Shelduck, pair Gadwall (Thames), c280 Teal, female Peregrine (Millennium Dome), female or immature Black Redstart, Goldcrest, 3 Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, 8+ Greenfinch. Afternoon visit: 49 Redshank, Common Sandpiper (waders in Bow Creek high tide roost), 2 Pied Wagtail, singing Song Thrush, Goldfinch (Nick Tanner).
• Ten Acre Wood (Hillingdon): 5 low-flying, calling Golden Plover E, Spr'awk, sev. RN Parakeet, 4 Lesser Redpoll feeding on willowherb seeds, pr Bullfinch (Neil Anderson).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) showing well at Round Pond to 12:00hrs at least; 352 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, m Mandarin, 3 Gadwall, 43 Shoveler, Little Grebe, fem Sparrowhawk, 170+ Common Gull, 2 Stock Dove (1 singing), c30 Ring-necked Parakeet, Tawny Owl showing well at day-roost, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, singing Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, c5 Goldcrest, 35+ Long-tailed Tit, 3 Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 6 Jay, 31 Magpie, Jackdaw south over Round Pond 11:55hrs, 5 Chaffinch, c10 Goldfinch (52 species in total) (Des McKenzie).
• Paddington Green: 30 Herring Gull on local rooftops (Des McKenzie).
• Crossness: 2 Peregrine, 2 Barn Owl, 135 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 345 Lapwing, 30 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 120 Dunlin, 2ad Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Wigeon, 122 Shoveler, 161 Gadwall, 750 Teal, 206 Shelduck, 3 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 7 Stonechat, 21 Redwing, 40 Linnet (66 species in total) (John Archer).
• Black Park: Firecrest with tit-flock 300m north of main car park 11:00hrs (Birdguides).
• Dagenham Chase LNR (7.50am-4.25pm): 64 species recorded inclusive of Feral Rock Dove, highlights include male Firecrest, 40 Golden Plover over then 6 on playing fields, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Owl, 3+ Water Rail (one seen well), 3+ Bullfinch, 5+ Chiffchaff, 10 Greylag Geese, several Rook and lots of Goldcrest (Vince Halley-Frame and Paul Hawkins). Full New Years Day list click here > Dagenham Chase LNR.
• Cowley: male Blackcap in Hamilton Road this a.m. (Roger Morton).
• Fairlop: Goldeneye, Water Rail, Woodcock, Stonechat (ELBF).
• Seventy Acres Lake: Pintail, Water Rail (ELBF).
• Abney Park Cemetery: Firecrest, Redwing (Mark Pearson)
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: yesterday's potentially interesting Chiffchaff still present along New River path (TB per MJP)
• Trent Park Area: 1 female Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 2 Common Buzzard, together, at Vicarage Farm; 1 fem Kestrel, at Park Farm - caught an earthworm; 45 Golden Plover, at Park Farm; 59 Lapwing, at Park Farm; 1 Woodcock, flushed, Williams Wood, 13:40 GMT; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 fem Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; 34 Fieldfare,(9 Park Farm, 25 Ferny Hill Farm); 6 Song Thrush,(2 Vicarage Farm, 4 Parkside Farm); 4 Redwing, Parkside Farm; 6+ Goldcrest; 2 Treecreeper; 5 Coal Tit; 4 Bullfinch,(1 female, at Vicarage Farm, 2 females, together, at Park Farm, 1 Seedfield Spinney); 11 Yellowhammer, together, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf & Robin White).
• Alexandra Park: Common Snipe in Cricket Scrub - a species not recorded here in 2008 (Gareth Richards, Gabriel Jamie, Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts) 22 Siskin (Bob Watts).

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