Ian Ellis

From Londonbirders

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My best finds at Brent so far have been Alpine Swift and Long-tailed Duck, supported by Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose and Wood Sandpiper.  Luckily I was within a 2-minute jog to where Leo Batten found the Hume's Warbler on 1/5/04 and am now approaching 140 species for the site (still miles behind Messrs Batten, Beddard, Self and Verrall I should add).
My best finds at Brent so far have been Alpine Swift and Long-tailed Duck, supported by Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose and Wood Sandpiper.  Luckily I was within a 2-minute jog to where Leo Batten found the Hume's Warbler on 1/5/04 and am now approaching 140 species for the site (still miles behind Messrs Batten, Beddard, Self and Verrall I should add).
-
In August 2005 I moved to Woodside Park (North Finchley, N12) and now spend less time at Brent and more time on my new local patch of Totteridge Valley.  '''The Totteridge Valley PatchList is below'''.
+
In August 2005 I moved to Woodside Park (North Finchley, N12) and now spend less time at Brent and more time on my new local patch of Totteridge Valley.  Whilst not offering as many species as Brent there is a lot of decent habitat to cover.  My best finds so far have been Red Kite, Ring Ouzel, two Grasshopper Warblers and two Firecrests. '''The Totteridge Valley PatchList is below'''.
I haven't done much overseas birding but trips to Ecuador/Galapagos and Namibia/Botswana in 2003-4 were both awesome experiences: my best ever find has to be southern Africa's fourth Wilson's Phalarope, at Walvis Bay salt-pans in Namibia on 9/11/04: this led to some South African listers chartering a flight from Cape Town.  I must save up for another exotic overseas trip soon!
I haven't done much overseas birding but trips to Ecuador/Galapagos and Namibia/Botswana in 2003-4 were both awesome experiences: my best ever find has to be southern Africa's fourth Wilson's Phalarope, at Walvis Bay salt-pans in Namibia on 9/11/04: this led to some South African listers chartering a flight from Cape Town.  I must save up for another exotic overseas trip soon!
-
== PatchList 2006 - records for Totteridge Valley ==
+
== PatchList 2007 - records for Totteridge Valley / Highwood Hill ==
-
Summary at '''22nd October''':
+
Summary at '''30th September''':
-
No. '''visits  =  38''' (excluding garden viewing)
+
No. visits by ISE   =  '''27'''
-
'''Species (ISE) = 86'''.......'''Species (all observers) = 90'''
+
2007 Species (ISE) = '''84''' ...... 2007 Species (all observers) = '''87''' ...... 2007 as % of 2006 total (92) = '''94.6%'''
 +
 
 +
----
 +
Key to Status column:
 +
 
 +
B = breeds; b = possibly breeds / has bred.
 +
 
 +
r = resident all year; s = summer visitor; w = winter visitor; p = passage migrant in spring/autumn; o = occasional visitor at any time of year.
 +
 
 +
5 = abundant; 4 = common; 3 = fairly common; 2 = scarce; 1 = rare; 0 = vagrant.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1"
{| border="1" cellpadding="1"
-
!width="200"|Species
+
!width="180"|Species
-
!width="70"|First seen
+
!width="30"|Status
-
!width="400"|Notes
+
!width="20"|Seen 2006
 +
!width="70"|Date first seen by ISE in 07
 +
!width="380"|Notes
 +
|-
 +
|Little Grebe
 +
| s/2
 +
|
 +
|7th May
 +
|A pair at Moat Mount.
|-
|-
|Cormorant
|Cormorant
-
|2nd Jan
+
| o/2
-
|Fairly regular overhead
+
|Y
 +
|7th Mar
 +
|Singles over on 7/3 and 4/4.
|-
|-
|Grey Heron
|Grey Heron
-
|15th Jan
+
| r/3
-
|Regular along brooks and at Darlands Lake; 4 on 8/10.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|Mute Swan
 +
| r/2
 +
|
 +
|23rd Apr
 +
|One at Mote End Farm.
|-
|-
|Canada Goose
|Canada Goose
-
|4th Feb
+
|Br/3
-
|Regular at Long Pond and Sheepwash Pond.  Max. 32 on 28/8.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Mandarin Duck
|Mandarin Duck
-
|15th Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Resident at Darlands Lake, sometimes seen elsewhere. Max. 5m/1f on 21/1; 3m/3f on 11/2; 4m/2f + 2 broods (12+2 ducklings) on 13/5.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Breeding resident at Darlands Lake, sometimes seen elsewhere. 14 on 4/2; 4 ducklings on 20/5, (reduced by Herons to 2 on 23/5).
|-
|-
|Teal
|Teal
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/3
-
|Present at Darlands Lake between late August to May.  2006 maximun = 14 drakes & 5 females on 11/2.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Winter visitor to Darlands Lake (mainly Sep-Apr).
|-
|-
|Mallard
|Mallard
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Resident at Long Pond, Sheepwash Pond, Laurel Farm, Darlands Lake.  Max. 59 at Darlands early on 22/10.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Shoveler
|Shoveler
-
|11th Feb
+
| w/1
-
|A female at Darlands Lake on 11/2 is the only 2006 record.
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Sparrowhawk
|Sparrowhawk
-
|15th Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Resident
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Probably 3-4 pairs.
|-
|-
|Common Buzzard
|Common Buzzard
-
|1st May
+
| o/2
-
|One high over Totteridge at 11:30 on 1/5; ''one drifted south in early August [JPC]''; 2 together on 24/9.
+
|Y
 +
|28th Apr
 +
|One seen from Mote Mount on 28/4. ''2 over Totteridge Valley in August (JPC)''.
|-
|-
|Red Kite
|Red Kite
-
|8th Apr
+
| o/1
-
|One over Fairlawn on 8/4 was heavily mobbed by crows and departed north at 09:30.  ''3 drifted over at 09:05 on 28/5 [JPC].''
+
|Y
 +
|>>>
 +
|''One was seen in spring.''
|-
|-
|Kestrel
|Kestrel
-
|15th Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Resident.  At least 3 pairs present.
+
|Y
 +
|3rd Feb
 +
|Probably 3 pairs.
|-
|-
|Hobby
|Hobby
-
|11th May
+
|bs/2
-
|2 on 13/5. ''Other sightings have been made by other observers''.
+
|Y
 +
|28th Apr
 +
|One seen from Mote Mount on 28/4; one at Totteridge Valley on 26/8.
|-
|-
|Pheasant
|Pheasant
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Widespread resident, probably 20-40 birds in valley. Max count = 12 on 31/3.
+
|Y
 +
|18th Feb
 +
|Probably 20-40 birds in the valley.
|-
|-
|Red-legged Partridge
|Red-legged Partridge
-
|21st Jan
+
|br/2
-
|A pair on 21/1 and again on 31/3.
+
|Y
 +
|7th Apr
 +
|Possibly a few pairs breed.
 +
|-
 +
|Water Rail
 +
| w/1
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Moorhen
|Moorhen
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Common near ponds and brooks.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Common near water.
|-
|-
|Coot
|Coot
-
|31st Mar
+
|bs/2
-
|2 at Darlands Lake from 31/3.
+
|Y
 +
|23rd Apr
 +
|Occasional visitor to Darlands Lake and Mote End Farm.
|-
|-
|Lapwing
|Lapwing
-
|19 Mar
+
|bp/2
-
|3 on 19/3 and 25/3.  A pair displaying from 25/3 into May.  2 pairs (5 birds in total) present in early May. One over on 8/10.
+
|Y
 +
|4th Mar
 +
|5 seen 4/3; 4 on 17/3 through to late April.
|-
|-
|Golden Plover
|Golden Plover
-
|22 Oct
+
| p/1
-
|Seven flew south over Highwood Hill at 09:30 on 22/10.
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Woodcock
|Woodcock
-
|15th Jan
+
| w/2
-
|''One was present on 15/1 and one over Totteridge LUL station on 7/10 [JPC]''.
+
|Y*
 +
|4th Feb
 +
|One near southern end of Darlands Lake on 4/2.
|-
|-
-
|Black-headed Gull
+
|Snipe
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/1
|
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|Black-headed Gull
 +
| w/4 - s/2
 +
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|c80 on 4/3; 6 on 7/4.
|-
|-
|Common Gull
|Common Gull
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/4
-
|Winter visitor. Max. c280 at Folly Farm on 19/3
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|450+ at Folly Farm on 4/3; c250 on 17/3; 2 on 7/4 then not until 30/9.
|-
|-
|Lesser Black-backed Gull
|Lesser Black-backed Gull
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/4 - s/3
-
|Regular with Common Gulls at Folly Farm.  Max. c15 on 19/3
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|  
|-
|-
|Herring Gull
|Herring Gull
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/3 - s/2
-
|Regular in small numbers between August and May.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Great Black-backed Gull
|Great Black-backed Gull
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/2
-
|1 over Folly Farm on 2/1
+
|Y
 +
|>>>
 +
|''An adult flew over Darlands on 21/1 [JPC].''
 +
|-
 +
|Common Tern
 +
| o/2
 +
|
 +
|20th May
 +
|One over Totteridge Fields on 20/5. ''Also two over Totteridge Valley on 6/5 [JPC].''
|-
|-
|Feral Rock Dove
|Feral Rock Dove
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Stock Dove
|Stock Dove
-
|15th Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Fairly common.  Max. 22 at Holecombe Dale on 4/2
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Woodpigeon
|Woodpigeon
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Abundant
+
|
|-
|-
|Collared Dove
|Collared Dove
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Fairly common.  Max. 10+ at Burtonhole Farm on 21/1
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Ring-necked Parakeet
|Ring-necked Parakeet
-
|19th Feb
+
| o/2
-
|Uncommon.  2 near Burtonhole Farm on 19/2; 1 at Darlands on 22/10.
+
|Y
 +
|3rd Feb
 +
|2 regularly visiting feeders in Westbury Road gardens during Feb/Mar.
|-
|-
|Cuckoo
|Cuckoo
-
|4th June
+
|bp/2
-
|A male was singing on 4/6.
+
|Y
 +
|14th Apr
 +
|One singing at Totteridge Fields from 14/4 till at least 20/4.
|-
|-
|Tawny Owl
|Tawny Owl
-
|5th Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Calling birds heard at Westbury Road, Darlands Lake and near Belmont racetrack.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Probably 4+ pairs.
|-
|-
|Little Owl
|Little Owl
-
|17th Apr
+
|Br/3
-
|A pair present near Folly Brook in mid-late April. 7 birds were encountered (3 seen + 4 heard) in 4 different locations on the morning of 28/8.
+
|Y
 +
|4th Apr
 +
|At least 3 pairs in the area.
|-
|-
|Swift
|Swift
-
|28th Apr
+
|bs/4
-
|2 over the upper valley on 28/4 were the first. Last seen on 28/8.
+
|Y
 +
|1st May
 +
|
|-
|-
|Kingfisher
|Kingfisher
-
|7th Jan
+
|br/3
-
|Scarce but sometimes present along brooks or at Darlands Lake.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Scarcer between May and Sep.
|-
|-
|Green Woodpecker
|Green Woodpecker
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Common
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Several pairs.
|-
|-
|Greater Spotted Woodpecker
|Greater Spotted Woodpecker
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Common
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Common and widespread, probably well in excess of 10 pairs.
|-
|-
|Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
|Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
-
|2nd Jan
+
|br/2
-
|1 on 2/1 and singles fairly regular from 19/3.  Drumming birds could be heard between late April - early June. Possibly 2 pairs present.  
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Possibly 1-2 pairs present. 1 drumming on 9/4.
|-
|-
|Swallow
|Swallow
-
|3rd Apr
+
|Bs/4
-
|1 over The Warren on 3/4 was the first of spring.  A few breeding pairs still at Burtonhole and Frith Manor Farms. 30+ present on 28/8 Aug and 23/9 including many juvs. 6 on 9/10.
+
|Y
 +
|4th Apr
 +
|A few breeding pairs still at Burtonhole and Frith Manor Farms.
|-
|-
|House Martin
|House Martin
-
|12th Apr
+
|bs/3
-
|4 heading north over Highwood Hill on 12/4 were the first arrivals. 60+ on 28/8 including many juvs; 40+ on 23/9; 11 on 24/9; 1 on 8/10.
+
|Y
 +
|20th Apr
 +
|Last seen 30/9.
 +
|-
 +
|Sand Martin
 +
| p/2
 +
|Y*
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Skylark
|Skylark
-
|21st Jan
+
| p/2
-
|1 over Folly Farm on 21/1 and 1-2 over on 9/4 and 17/4. ''2-3 on 8/10 and 22/10 [JPC].''
+
|Y
 +
|23rd Apr
 +
|Heard singing at Mote Mount on 23/4. Passage birds on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Meadow Pipit
|Meadow Pipit
-
|21st Jan
+
| p/4 - w/2
-
|Usually present September to April. 60+ at Folly Farm on 12/3; 60+ at Fairlawn on 18/3; 67 flew north on 14/4; small numbers passing through on 23-24/9 and 8-9/10.
+
|Y
 +
|7th Mar
 +
|Common on passage in Mar/Apr and Sep/Oct. 40+ on 17/3; 1 on 20/4.
|-
|-
|Yellow Wagtail
|Yellow Wagtail
-
|28th Aug
+
| p/2
-
|2 over heading south on 28/8.
+
|Y
 +
|12th Aug
 +
|One over at Totteridge Fields on 12/8 and 27/8.
|-
|-
|Grey Wagtail
|Grey Wagtail
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Present along water courses in small numbers.
+
|Y
 +
|10th Mar
 +
|Present along water courses in small numbers, more frequent in summer.
|-
|-
|Pied Wagtail
|Pied Wagtail
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Fairly common.  Max. c15 near Burtonhole Farm on 12/3.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|70+ present on ploughed field in mid-Jan.
|-
|-
|Wren
|Wren
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Dunnock
|Dunnock
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Robin
|Robin
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Redstart
|Redstart
-
|24th Sep
+
| p/2
-
|One at Highwood Hill on 24/9.
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Whinchat
|Whinchat
-
|3rd May
+
| p/2
-
|A pair at the rough grassland area at 07:45 on 3/5; one just south of the lake on 23-24/9.
+
|Y
 +
|>>>
 +
|''A female in the valley on 13/5 [JPC].''
|-
|-
|Stonechat
|Stonechat
-
|8th Oct
+
| p/2
-
|''2 on 8/10 [JPC]''
+
|Y*
 +
|30th Sep
 +
|4 at Totteridge Valley and 2 at Totteridge Fields on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Wheatear
|Wheatear
-
|31st Mar
+
| p/2
-
|Folly Farm: 6 on 31/3, 7 on 1/4; 8 on 2/4; 3 on 3/4; ''1 on 17/4 [BW].''
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|Mostly encountered as a spring migrant.
|-
|-
|Blackbird
|Blackbird
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
 +
|-
 +
|Ring Ouzel
 +
| p/1
 +
|
 +
|15th Apr
 +
|A female just south of Totteridge Long Pond on 15/4.
|-
|-
|Fieldfare
|Fieldfare
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/4
-
|Common winter visitor.  Max. c220 on 19/2; 40+ on 25/3; 1 on 16/4.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|33+ on 3/2; c40 on 4/3; 10 on 17/3; 1 on 9/4 and 14/4.
|-
|-
|Song Thrush
|Song Thrush
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Fairly common.  15-25 pairs.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Redwing
|Redwing
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/4
-
|Common winter visitor.  Max. c260 on 19/2; 1 singing on 12/3; 80+ on 25/3; 24 on 1/4; 7 on 2/4.  2 over on 9/10 were the first of autumn.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|c110 on 18th Feb, c180 on 4/3; 8+ on 4/4; 1 on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Mistle Thrush
|Mistle Thrush
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Fairly common
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Lesser Whitethroat
|Lesser Whitethroat
-
|23rd Apr
+
|Bs/3
-
|7-8 singing in early May.
+
|Y
 +
|14th Apr
 +
|Probably 7-8 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
|-
|-
|Whitethroat
|Whitethroat
-
|21st Apr
+
|Bs/4
-
|13+ singing on 13/5. One on 24/9.
+
|Y
 +
|20th Apr
 +
|Probably 13 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
|-
|-
|Garden Warbler
|Garden Warbler
-
|11th May
+
|bs/2
-
|One singing near Folly Brook in the lower valley on 11/5.  Two on 13/5; One on 23/9.
+
|Y
 +
|7th May
 +
|
|-
|-
|Blackcap
|Blackcap
-
|4th Mar
+
|Bs/4 - w/2
-
|A female on 4/3; first summer migrants arrived 2/4; 20+ males singing by mid-April. 1 on 22/10.
+
|Y
 +
|29th Mar
 +
|
|-
|-
|Grasshopper Warbler
|Grasshopper Warbler
-
|17th Apr
+
|Bs/1
-
|A bird reeling from 17/4 through to 5/5 near the Folly Brook.
+
|Y
 +
|14th Apr
 +
|One reeling from 14/4 till at least 20/4.
|-
|-
|Willow Warbler
|Willow Warbler
-
|31st Mar
+
|Bs/3
-
|1 on 31/3 was the first arrival; 5 singing on 16/4 but only 2 in early May.
+
|Y
 +
|14th Apr
 +
|Probably 3 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
|-
|-
|Chiffchaff
|Chiffchaff
-
|15th Jan
+
|Bs/4 - w/2
-
|One calling on 15/1, 11+ singing 13/5.
+
|Y
 +
|11th Mar
 +
|8 on 17/3; 22 on 8/4.
|-
|-
|Wood Warbler
|Wood Warbler
-
|20th Apr
+
| p/2
-
|''one was present at Darlands Lake on 20/4 [DW]''
+
|Y*
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|Sedge Warbler
 +
| p/2
 +
|
 +
|23rd May
 +
|One singing at Darlands Lake on 23/5.
|-
|-
|Reed Warbler
|Reed Warbler
-
|?? May
+
| p/2
-
|''One seen in early summer [JPC]''
+
|Y*
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Goldcrest
|Goldcrest
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Fairly common.  7+ singing on 13/5.  Several juvs seen on 28/8.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Probably 4+ pairs in 2006.
 +
|-
 +
|Firecrest
 +
| p/1 - w/1
 +
|Y
 +
|4th Apr
 +
|One singing at Totteridge Fields on 4/4; ''another or same singing in Totteridge Valley in April (TC)''.
|-
|-
|Spotted Flycatcher
|Spotted Flycatcher
-
|4th June
+
| p/3
-
|2 seen on 4/6. 10 present on 28/8 including at least 3 juvs; 1 on 23/9.
+
|Y
 +
|26th Aug
 +
|2 at Totteridge Fields on 26/8.
|-
|-
|Long-tailed Tit
|Long-tailed Tit
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Blue Tit
|Blue Tit
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Abundant
+
|
|-
|-
|Great Tit
|Great Tit
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Coal Tit
|Coal Tit
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Fairly common
+
|
|-
|-
|Nuthatch
|Nuthatch
-
|4th Feb
+
|Br/3
-
|Several pairs present: St Paul's wood, Mill Hill; probably also Highwood Hill and Darlands Lake.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Probably 4+ pairs.
|-
|-
|Treecreeper
|Treecreeper
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Several pairs present, most obvious around Darlands Lake.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Probably 4+ pairs.
|-
|-
|Jay
|Jay
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Common.  20+ in valley on 21/1
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Magpie
|Magpie
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Abundant
+
|
|-
|-
|Jackdaw
|Jackdaw
-
|2nd Jan
+
|br/4
-
|Common.  Max. 95 near Folly Farm on 11/2 (+ four elsewhere)
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Max. 180+ at Folly Farm on 1/1.
|-
|-
|Rook
|Rook
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/3
-
|Common in the winter around Folly Farm.  Max. 31 on 11/2.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|Max. 25 at Folly Farm on 1/1.
|-
|-
|Carrion Crow
|Carrion Crow
 +
|Br/5
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Starling
|Starling
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/4
-
|Common.  Max. 140+ on 19/2
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|400+ on 4/3, incl 300 near Finchley Nurseries.
|-
|-
|House Sparrow
|House Sparrow
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|2nd Jan
|2nd Jan
-
|Fairly common in residential areas.
+
|Still fairly common in residential areas.
|-
|-
|Tree Sparrow
|Tree Sparrow
-
|31st Mar
+
| o/1
-
|Irregular.  1-2 calling at Folly Farm on 31/3.
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Chaffinch
|Chaffinch
 +
|Br/4
 +
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common.  Max. 80+ at Holecombe Dale on 4/2
+
|
|-
|-
|Brambling
|Brambling
-
|2nd Apr
+
|w/2
-
|A male at Highwood Hill on 2/4 then another nr Finchley Nurseries on 9/4.
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Greenfinch
|Greenfinch
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Fairly common
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Goldfinch
|Goldfinch
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Fairly common. 30+ on 28/8 near cricket club.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
|-
|-
|Linnet
|Linnet
-
|9th Apr
+
|bs/2
-
|1 at the rough grassland area on 9/4 and 16/4; 3 on 17/4; 2 on 4/6; 1 on 23/9 and 8/10. 2 on 9/10
+
|Y
 +
|20th Apr
 +
|2 at TV and 2 at TF on 20/4. ''[First sighting was one singing on 11/4 [JPC]]''
|-
|-
|Siskin
|Siskin
-
|2nd Jan
+
| w/3
-
|Fairly common winter visitor.  Max. 51 at Darlands Lake on 15/1.  5 at Darlands Lake on 14/4. 1 over Woodside Park on 7/10.
+
|Y
 +
|30th Sep
 +
|At least 2 heard over Totteridge Fields on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Lesser Redpoll
|Lesser Redpoll
-
|15th Jan
+
| w/2
-
|Scarce winter visitor: 3 on 15/1; 6 on 5/3; ''5 on 20/4 [DW]''.
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|1 on 1/1; 3 on 21/1; 1 on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Bullfinch
|Bullfinch
-
|2nd Jan
+
|Br/3
-
|Uncommon resident
+
|Y
 +
|1st Jan
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|Yellowhammer
 +
| o/2
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Reed Bunting
|Reed Bunting
-
|9th Oct
+
| o/2
-
|A female at Totteridge Fields on 9/10.
+
|Y
 +
|
 +
|
|-}
|-}
[[Category:BirdersProfiles]]
[[Category:BirdersProfiles]]

Current revision as of 11:37, 30 September 2007

I moved to London in 1997 and then in October 1998 bought a flat near the Brent Res, a few doors down from Andrew Self (whom I didn't know at the time). Brent Res has been one of my local patches ever since, although I only started doing it regularly in 2001 and shamefully never saw the 1999 Purple Heron there despite living so close!

My best finds at Brent so far have been Alpine Swift and Long-tailed Duck, supported by Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose and Wood Sandpiper. Luckily I was within a 2-minute jog to where Leo Batten found the Hume's Warbler on 1/5/04 and am now approaching 140 species for the site (still miles behind Messrs Batten, Beddard, Self and Verrall I should add).

In August 2005 I moved to Woodside Park (North Finchley, N12) and now spend less time at Brent and more time on my new local patch of Totteridge Valley. Whilst not offering as many species as Brent there is a lot of decent habitat to cover. My best finds so far have been Red Kite, Ring Ouzel, two Grasshopper Warblers and two Firecrests. The Totteridge Valley PatchList is below.

I haven't done much overseas birding but trips to Ecuador/Galapagos and Namibia/Botswana in 2003-4 were both awesome experiences: my best ever find has to be southern Africa's fourth Wilson's Phalarope, at Walvis Bay salt-pans in Namibia on 9/11/04: this led to some South African listers chartering a flight from Cape Town. I must save up for another exotic overseas trip soon!


PatchList 2007 - records for Totteridge Valley / Highwood Hill

Summary at 30th September:

No. visits by ISE = 27

2007 Species (ISE) = 84 ...... 2007 Species (all observers) = 87 ...... 2007 as % of 2006 total (92) = 94.6%

Key to Status column:

B = breeds; b = possibly breeds / has bred.

r = resident all year; s = summer visitor; w = winter visitor; p = passage migrant in spring/autumn; o = occasional visitor at any time of year.

5 = abundant; 4 = common; 3 = fairly common; 2 = scarce; 1 = rare; 0 = vagrant.

Species Status Seen 2006 Date first seen by ISE in 07 Notes
Little Grebe s/2 7th May A pair at Moat Mount.
Cormorant o/2 Y 7th Mar Singles over on 7/3 and 4/4.
Grey Heron r/3 Y 1st Jan
Mute Swan r/2 23rd Apr One at Mote End Farm.
Canada Goose Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Mandarin Duck Br/3 Y 1st Jan Breeding resident at Darlands Lake, sometimes seen elsewhere. 14 on 4/2; 4 ducklings on 20/5, (reduced by Herons to 2 on 23/5).
Teal w/3 Y 1st Jan Winter visitor to Darlands Lake (mainly Sep-Apr).
Mallard Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Shoveler w/1 Y
Sparrowhawk Br/3 Y 1st Jan Probably 3-4 pairs.
Common Buzzard o/2 Y 28th Apr One seen from Mote Mount on 28/4. 2 over Totteridge Valley in August (JPC).
Red Kite o/1 Y >>> One was seen in spring.
Kestrel Br/3 Y 3rd Feb Probably 3 pairs.
Hobby bs/2 Y 28th Apr One seen from Mote Mount on 28/4; one at Totteridge Valley on 26/8.
Pheasant Br/3 Y 18th Feb Probably 20-40 birds in the valley.
Red-legged Partridge br/2 Y 7th Apr Possibly a few pairs breed.
Water Rail w/1
Moorhen Br/4 Y 1st Jan Common near water.
Coot bs/2 Y 23rd Apr Occasional visitor to Darlands Lake and Mote End Farm.
Lapwing bp/2 Y 4th Mar 5 seen 4/3; 4 on 17/3 through to late April.
Golden Plover p/1 Y
Woodcock w/2 Y* 4th Feb One near southern end of Darlands Lake on 4/2.
Snipe w/1
Black-headed Gull w/4 - s/2 Y 1st Jan c80 on 4/3; 6 on 7/4.
Common Gull w/4 Y 1st Jan 450+ at Folly Farm on 4/3; c250 on 17/3; 2 on 7/4 then not until 30/9.
Lesser Black-backed Gull w/4 - s/3 Y 1st Jan
Herring Gull w/3 - s/2 Y 1st Jan
Great Black-backed Gull w/2 Y >>> An adult flew over Darlands on 21/1 [JPC].
Common Tern o/2 20th May One over Totteridge Fields on 20/5. Also two over Totteridge Valley on 6/5 [JPC].
Feral Rock Dove Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Stock Dove Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Woodpigeon Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Collared Dove Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Ring-necked Parakeet o/2 Y 3rd Feb 2 regularly visiting feeders in Westbury Road gardens during Feb/Mar.
Cuckoo bp/2 Y 14th Apr One singing at Totteridge Fields from 14/4 till at least 20/4.
Tawny Owl Br/3 Y 1st Jan Probably 4+ pairs.
Little Owl Br/3 Y 4th Apr At least 3 pairs in the area.
Swift bs/4 Y 1st May
Kingfisher br/3 Y 1st Jan Scarcer between May and Sep.
Green Woodpecker Br/3 Y 1st Jan Several pairs.
Greater Spotted Woodpecker Br/4 Y 1st Jan Common and widespread, probably well in excess of 10 pairs.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker br/2 Y 1st Jan Possibly 1-2 pairs present. 1 drumming on 9/4.
Swallow Bs/4 Y 4th Apr A few breeding pairs still at Burtonhole and Frith Manor Farms.
House Martin bs/3 Y 20th Apr Last seen 30/9.
Sand Martin p/2 Y*
Skylark p/2 Y 23rd Apr Heard singing at Mote Mount on 23/4. Passage birds on 30/9.
Meadow Pipit p/4 - w/2 Y 7th Mar Common on passage in Mar/Apr and Sep/Oct. 40+ on 17/3; 1 on 20/4.
Yellow Wagtail p/2 Y 12th Aug One over at Totteridge Fields on 12/8 and 27/8.
Grey Wagtail Br/3 Y 10th Mar Present along water courses in small numbers, more frequent in summer.
Pied Wagtail Br/4 Y 1st Jan 70+ present on ploughed field in mid-Jan.
Wren Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Dunnock Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Robin Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Redstart p/2 Y
Whinchat p/2 Y >>> A female in the valley on 13/5 [JPC].
Stonechat p/2 Y* 30th Sep 4 at Totteridge Valley and 2 at Totteridge Fields on 30/9.
Wheatear p/2 Y Mostly encountered as a spring migrant.
Blackbird Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Ring Ouzel p/1 15th Apr A female just south of Totteridge Long Pond on 15/4.
Fieldfare w/4 Y 1st Jan 33+ on 3/2; c40 on 4/3; 10 on 17/3; 1 on 9/4 and 14/4.
Song Thrush Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Redwing w/4 Y 1st Jan c110 on 18th Feb, c180 on 4/3; 8+ on 4/4; 1 on 30/9.
Mistle Thrush Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Lesser Whitethroat Bs/3 Y 14th Apr Probably 7-8 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
Whitethroat Bs/4 Y 20th Apr Probably 13 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
Garden Warbler bs/2 Y 7th May
Blackcap Bs/4 - w/2 Y 29th Mar
Grasshopper Warbler Bs/1 Y 14th Apr One reeling from 14/4 till at least 20/4.
Willow Warbler Bs/3 Y 14th Apr Probably 3 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
Chiffchaff Bs/4 - w/2 Y 11th Mar 8 on 17/3; 22 on 8/4.
Wood Warbler p/2 Y*
Sedge Warbler p/2 23rd May One singing at Darlands Lake on 23/5.
Reed Warbler p/2 Y*
Goldcrest Br/4 Y 1st Jan Probably 4+ pairs in 2006.
Firecrest p/1 - w/1 Y 4th Apr One singing at Totteridge Fields on 4/4; another or same singing in Totteridge Valley in April (TC).
Spotted Flycatcher p/3 Y 26th Aug 2 at Totteridge Fields on 26/8.
Long-tailed Tit Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Blue Tit Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Great Tit Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Coal Tit Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Nuthatch Br/3 Y 1st Jan Probably 4+ pairs.
Treecreeper Br/3 Y 1st Jan Probably 4+ pairs.
Jay Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Magpie Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Jackdaw br/4 Y 1st Jan Max. 180+ at Folly Farm on 1/1.
Rook w/3 Y 1st Jan Max. 25 at Folly Farm on 1/1.
Carrion Crow Br/5 Y 1st Jan
Starling Br/4 Y 1st Jan 400+ on 4/3, incl 300 near Finchley Nurseries.
House Sparrow Br/4 Y 2nd Jan Still fairly common in residential areas.
Tree Sparrow o/1 Y
Chaffinch Br/4 Y 1st Jan
Brambling w/2 Y
Greenfinch Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Goldfinch Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Linnet bs/2 Y 20th Apr 2 at TV and 2 at TF on 20/4. [First sighting was one singing on 11/4 [JPC]]
Siskin w/3 Y 30th Sep At least 2 heard over Totteridge Fields on 30/9.
Lesser Redpoll w/2 Y 1st Jan 1 on 1/1; 3 on 21/1; 1 on 30/9.
Bullfinch Br/3 Y 1st Jan
Yellowhammer o/2
Reed Bunting o/2 Y
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