News October 2008

From Londonbirders

Friday 31st October

  • Staines Reservoirs: Great Northern Diver at binocular range on south basin; also 10+ Linnet, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting all feeding on causeway and 25 Fieldfare over to NW (Tom Smith).
  • Rainham Marshes: Still at least 2 Serins (north of dump, 1km west of RSPB visitor centre), plus ad Caspian Gull, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 2 drake Pintails, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Dunlin, 2 Grey Wagtails, Golden Plover, Cetti's Warbler, 17 Ringed Plover (Aveley Pools); Siskin west, 2 Water Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits (stone barges); also 2 Dartford Warblers reported (David Callahan).
  • Richmond Park: Vis Mig (0730-0830) c200 Redwing W, 55 Fieldfare NW, 2 Skylark W, 1 Redpoll NW also 2 Stonechat and 25 Meadow Pipit (Hugh Bradshaw); Hen Harrier ring-tail SW over Pond Slade @11.20 (M. Lewis per JW).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Mute Swan, 20 Tufted Duck, 9 Cormorants, 50 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Ring-necked Parakeets, 30 Goldfinches, 18 Chaffinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Goldcrests (John Watson).
  • Leyton viz mig 07:15-07:45: ~150 Woodpigeons in small flocks N, ~100 Fieldfare, ~100 Redwing and ~10 Blackbird all W, a few Chaffinches (Paul Whiteman).
  • Paddington Green: 83 Woodpigeon SW, 2 Skylark west, c40 Fieldfare west, 60+ Redwing west, c150 Starling (Des McKenzie).
  • Oxford St W1: 24 Redwing NW 14:10hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: Viz mig 0655-0710 c180 Redwing, c80 Fieldfare, c200 Starling all west (Bob Watts). Rook in tree above Scrub 0800 (Andrew Gardener).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Viz mig 0755-0835 13 Redwing, c80 Starling (Bob Watts).
  • Middlesex Filter Beds/Hackney Marshes: 1 Firecrest, 1 juv Peregrine, 1 Bullfinch, Kingfisher, 4 Teal. Vis Mig (0730-0800); 111 Redwing, 9 Fieldfare, 61 Woodpigeon, 2 Skylark, 95 Starling, 5 Blackbird, 11 Chaffinch, (all W or WNW) (Paul Cook).
  • Southgate, N14: 1 Common Crossbill, flew W, calling, 09:56 GMT (Robert Callf).
  • Banstead Downs Golf Course: 1 female Firecrest showing very well 09:05-10:17 at least (when I left) c480m along the wooded path + 1 Bullfinch, 2 Skylarks over, 4 Fieldfares + 7 Redwings over, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c10 Goldcrests (David Campbell)
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Common Buzzard; 1 Kestrel; 1 Tawny Owl, roosing in Ivy; 1 Skylark; 1 fem/imm Stonechat; c30 Redwing; 5 Mistle Thrush, on ploughed field (Robert Callf).
  • Leyton Flats: 1090 Redwing WSW between 0650 and 08.00, 103 Fieldfare, 330 Woodpigeon, Green Sandpiper (site tick), 1 Common Snipe, 1 Teal (rare here),1 Firecrest, 3 Skylark, Kingfisher (Gary A James).
  • London Wetland Centre to 1200hrs: drake Scaup/Tufted hybrid, m & F Peregrine, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull over, 46 Skylarks NNW, 33 Fieldfare NW, 452 Redwing NW, 3 Rock Pipits W & 2 on main lake, 4 Chiffchaffs, 15 Goldcrests, 8 Siskins, 1 Brambling south (NPS)
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, Water Rail, 20+ Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 5 Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Buzzard (Steve B).
  • Ruislip: male Brambling in my garden (Steve Pash).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Firecrests, c15 Goldcrests, Siskin (Tony Butler, Mark Pearson et al).
  • Clissold Park (vis mig 0700-0845): 208 Redwings, 18 Fieldfares, 14 Chaffinches; also Chiffchaff (Tony Butler per MJP).
  • Stoke Newington area - Abney Park: 4+ Goldcrest; Clissold Park: 4 Little Grebe. Reservoirs: 1 Kingfisher. 42 sp. recorded (TeRNS).

Thursday 30th October

  • London Wetland Centre: m Peregrine, 11 Skylark south, 5 Rock Pipit, 2 Water Pipit (Main Lake), Stonechat, 11 Fieldfare west, 140 Redwing SW, fem Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 2 Brambling west (LWC website).
  • South Norwood Lake: 20 Tufted Duck, 12 Cormorant, 50 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 9 Redwing, 25 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 30 Goldfinch, 18 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 3 Dunnock, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Goldcrest (John Watson).
  • Rainham Marshes: still 2 Serins, 2 Dartford Warblers, 1 Knot and 67 Ring-necked Parakeets (EssexBirers Yahoo group).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery (Viz mig 0755-0830): c40 Redwing W, c20 Fieldfare W, 2/3 Song Thrush, c20 Starling, Lesser Redpoll (Bob Watts).
  • Osterley Park: 55 sp. recorded: GS Woodpecker 3, Green Woodpecker 2, Reed Bunting 1, Stonechat 2, Sparrowhawk 2, Nuthatch 2, Shoveler 39, Little Grebe 2, GC Grebe 2, Cormorant 26, Gadwall 27, Teal 13 all males, Kingfisher 1, Siskin 4+. Viz-mig - Redwing c380, Woodpigeon c200 + small numbers of Skylark and Chaffinch all west (Keith Fisher).
  • Clissold Park (Stoke Newington): vis mig 0650-0900 - one (poss. two) Ring Ouzel (two sightings 30 mins apart, both in flight - prob same bird), 2 Lapwings (N), 530 Redwings, 779 Woodpigeons, 5 Redpolls, 20 Fieldfares, 410 Starlings, 79 Chaffinches (54 W, 25 down), 20 Jackdaws - almost all birds west, more counts on website. Also Brambling feeding in Rose Garden/Cafe area with c12 Chaffinches, showing well; 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Shovelers, 3 Little Grebes (Mark Pearson).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 3 Firecrests (1 by Church St entrance, 2 by Isaac Watts Memorial), c15 Goldcrests (Mark Pearson).
  • Brent Res: Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, drake Pintail, adult Med Gull, Cetti's Warbler singing, 12 Redwing (Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall, Andrew Haynes).
  • East India Dock NR: 2 Lapwing SE (site tick), 2 Redwing (tricky here), Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Gt Spotted Woodpecker (Gary A James).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, 4 Tree Sparrow, 8 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, Kingfisher, 5 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (Steve Blake).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 1 Sparrowhawk; 1 Common Buzzard, over Vicarage Farm; 1 Kestrel; 1 Woodcock, flushed, from Moat Wood, 11:30 GMT; 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm; 1 Fieldfare, at Dew Pond; 10+ Redwing; 7 Goldcrest; 1 Coal Tit; 4 Nuthatch; 2 Treecreeper (Robert Callf).
  • Lakeside, Oakwood, N14: 1 Grey Wagtail; 1 Nuthatch (Robert Callf).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Common Gull, 2 Egyptian Geese. 29 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Staines Res: Great Northern Diver still south basin (KLP).
  • Beddington SF:1 Little Egret, at least 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (+2+possibles), no sign of the Short-eared Owl (though Crows and Gulls very edgey indicating could still be around but hard to pick out) (David Campbell, Kevin McManus)

Wednesday 29th October

  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: still 5 Serin at west end of seawall, plus 5 Brambling around visitors centre (EssexBirders Yahoo group) and 3 Dartford Warblers just west of gorse, north of small car park, on road by tip (Birdguides).
  • Rotherhithe: 3w Caspian Gull again on barges 200yds east of Greenland Pier late a'noon plus Little Grebe on Greenland Dock (Richard Bonser).
  • Alexandra Park: viz mig 0650-0710: 32 Redwing W, 22 Fieldfare W, also m & f Gadwall Wood Green Res (Bob Watts). Also Siskin, 4 Skylarks (Stuart Harrington).
  • Barbican Centre EC1 lake: 1 Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Leyton: Viz mig 07:00-07:30 > 700 Wood Pigeons mostly SW, 30 Redwings and at least 1 Fieldfare W, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Meadow Pipit W. Later in the morning 1 Peregrine, a low wandering Rook (mega rare here) and a few Jackdaws in the area, the first I've seen land, all my previous sightings have been flyovers. Quite a few small flocks of Skylarks and Thrushes etc. moving WNW late a.m (but mostly too far away to i.d.) (Paul Whiteman).
  • Fulham (07:30-08:30): 2 Brambling flying past/over - first for patch, also Sparrowhawk 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Tufted Duck 1, plus usual gulls etc (Michael F).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 1w Little Gull early a.m. (SBC).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Egyptian Goose south, 3 Skylark west, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 3 Siskin in area 15:15hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • St James's Park: 4 Egyptian Geese & a Shoveler (Andrew Self).
  • London Wetland Centre: 3 Woodlark W @ 10:00, 9 Skylark W, 50 Fieldfare W (Dan Monk), 7 Common Snipe, 2 Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin: yesterday 2 Jack Snipe were at grazing marsh, 1 of which was predated by Sparrowhawk (LWC website).
  • Brent Res: Peregrine male 0905 flying North, Common Buzzard 1018 circling, then South, Pintail drake, Water Rail, Snipe, Kingfisher, Viz mig 0900-1000 Skylark, 83 Redwing, 24 Chaffinches all West, 6 Siskins South (Andrew Verrall).
  • Leyton Flats: 44 Fieldfare, 55 Redwing, Kingfisher, Stonechat, 4 Goldcrest (Gary A James).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Firecrests (same location as earlier in the month, see directions on website), 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldcrests, Sparrowhawk, c30 Blackbirds (Mark Pearson).
  • Beddington SF: Short-eared Owl south (SBC).
  • South Norwood Lake: 2 Cormorant, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Gull, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Pied Wagtail, 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Redwing over (John Watson).
  • Wandsworth Common: 15 Fieldfare SW (Neil Anderson).
  • Osterley Park: Fieldfare 150+ (Keith Fisher).
  • Vauxhall: c20 Fieldfare W at 07:01 (Nick Tanner).
  • River Wandle at Earlsfield: 7 Egyptian Geese SE at 07:12 (Nick Tanner).
  • Banstead Downs: c20 Fieldfares (settled), 1 Bullfinch, c5 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (David Campbell).
  • Staines Res: Great Northern Diver, south basin, late morning (KLP).
  • Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13: 2 male Shoveler; 1 Grey Wagtail; 6 Pied Wagtail (Robert Callf).
  • Enfield Grammar School Playing Field: 7 Song Thrush; 10 Redwing (Robert Callf).
  • Town Park, Enfield: 2 male Mandarin, Carr's Basin; 13 Tufted Duck, Carr's Basin; 3 Goldcrest (Robert Callf).

Tuesday 28th October

  • Rainham Marshes: 2imm Serin (RSPB).
  • Wandsworth Common: 12.30 c40 Fieldfare SW, 14.00 40+ Redwing SW (Neil Anderson)
  • Alexandra Park: Viz mig 0655-0710 c300 Woodpigeon, Linnet (Bob Watts).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Viz mig 0755-0820 c20 Woodpigeon, 8 Starling, 4 Chaffinch, no sign of Continental Coal Tits today or yesterday (Bob Watts).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: m Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, ad type Great Black-backed Gull, Tawny Owl showing well at day-roost, Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie, Joan Thompson).
  • Raynes Park Station: c220 Wood Pigeon SW, c20 Chaffich NW between 07:15 and 07:25 (Nick Tanner).
  • Berrylands: c670 Wood Pigeon SW between 07:30 and 08:00 (Nick Tanner).
  • Streatham Common: c2600 Wood Pigeon W / SW between 7.15 and 8.00 (Peter Newmark)
  • Trent Park Area: 2 male Sparrowhawk,(including one perched by Lower Lake); 5 Common Buzzard, together, at Park Farm; 2 Kestrel; 2 Red-legged Partridge, at Ferny Hill Farm; 18 Stock Dove, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Tawny Owl, being mobbed by Blackbirds, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 3 Song Thrush; 8 Redwing, together, over South Lodge Farm; 1 Chiffchaff, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Goldcrest, at Park Farm; 5 Lesser Redpoll,(1 'Old Golf Course', 4 Vicarage Farm); 60+ Chaffinch, at Park Farm; 1 female Bullfinch, at Park Farm; 2 Yellowhammer, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Red Admiral (Robert Callf).

Monday 27th October

  • Richmond Park: 2 Ravens flew west over Thatched Lodge at 1.20pm (RBA).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Great Northern Diver close in along the north bank first thing. On Island Barn at lunchtime. Photo on SBC site (DMH).
  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: still 3 Serin and a Dartford Warbler this morning (EssexBirders Yahoo group). Still present at 2pm, also 1st-winter Caspian Gull, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls (Lee Gregory & Adrian Kettle). Immature Serin showing well around the visitor centre 16:00 to 16:30hrs (Paul Cook).
  • Chingford Plain: Dartford Warbler in bushes at NE end at 8.45am (RBA).
  • London Wetland Centre am: Egyptian Goose 8, Knot 1 main lake, Y.L.Gull 1 ad, 1 3rd winter, Herring Gull - 4 argentatus types on river, Woodpigeon 800+ S, Fieldfare 6 W, Redwing 18 W, Skylark 4 W, Rock Pipit 2, Water Pipit 1, Stonecat 2, Chiffchaff 4, Firecrest 2 -male entrance & duller individual Sheltered Lagoon, Goldcrest 14, Chaffinch 133w, Lesser Redpoll 4, Siskin 12. (NPS).
  • Canon's Farm, Banstead: 1750 Woodpigeon, 230 Chaffinch, 250 Linnet all feeding in fields (Steve Gale).
  • Enfield Chase: Jubilee Path Area: 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Skylark, 11 Grey Partridge, 2 Kestrel, 3 Mistle Thrush, 50+ Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch. ( Pete Lowman, Bob Husband).
  • Rotherhithe: Little Grebe on Canada Water plus 20 Tufted Ducks (Richard Bonser).
  • Alexandra Park: Flock of 9 Skylarks W (Stuart Harrington).

Sunday 26th October 2008

  • Rotherhithe: Caspian Gull (3rd calendar year) mid/late a'noon on groynes adjacent to Greenland Pier (Richard Bonser).
  • Rainham Marshes: 4 Serin (3imm, 1m) now present west of visitor centre at west end of inner sea wall; also 2 Twite amongst c580 Linnet, and 3 Dartford Warblers (2imm, 1m); 120 Greenfinch, 2 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 55 Chaffinch, 380 Goldfinch, 14 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 80 Meadow pipit, 33 Skylark, 30 Reed Bunting, 8 Stonechat, 121 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush, 9 Goldcrest, 2 Kingfisher, 6 Cetti's Warblers, f Sparrowhawk, 4 Grey Wagtail, 26 Pied Wagtail, 4000 Starling, 5 Little Egret, 31 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Curlew, 16 Snipe, 22 Ring-necked Parakeets (per Essexbirders yahoo group).
  • London Wetland Centre: 1 Little Egret, m Peregrine, 1 Merlin S , 1 2nd winter Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (ad/1w), 5 argentatus type Herring Gulls, 5 Rock Pipit, 29 Meadow Pipits W, 26 Song Thrushes inc. several continental types, 90 Blackbirds,1 f Stonechat, 5 Chiffchaffs (1 singing), 32 Goldcrests, 1 male Firecrest (near Explore), 1 Reed Warbler, c70 Chaffinches grounded, 1 Brambling. (NPS/LWC website). Also: 2 Water Pipit late morning (wader scrape); Firecrest entrance lake and car park 1300hrs (Jonathan Dean).
  • East India Dock Basin: Little Grebe, c. 170 Teal, Peregrine (millennium dome), Common Sandpiper (bow creek), 2 Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff, 2+ Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch (Nick Tanner).
  • Richmond Park: 1+ Dartford Warbler (200 yards south of Lower Pen Pond in the company of a pair of stonechats), 1 f Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Hugh Bradshaw)

Saturday 25th October 2008

  • Alexandra Park: viz mig 0750-0935 Brambling, Reed Bunting, 5 Redpoll, 12 Linnet, 6 Skylark,4 Redwing, 64 Woodpigeon, 5 Mipit, 32 Chaffinch, 3+ Siskin, Song Thrush, 2 R N Parakeet, also 5 Gadwall (3m 2f) Tunnel Res (Andrew Gardener, John Murray, Bob Watts).
  • Greenford CP: 2 Kestrel, 24 M'Pipit (12 over W), 8 Pied Wagtail, Skylark, 7 Redwing SW, m Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest (Neil Anderson).
  • Rainham Marshes: Dartford Warbler still present at the west end (Birdguides). Serin still 3.30 pm but mobile and elusive with mixed finch flock and no further sign by 5pm (P.Hawkins, D.Morrison, V.Halley-Frame).
  • Brent Res: Short-eared Owl over 08.50-08.55; also Cetti's Warbler from hide. Vis-mig: 15 Jackdaws, 3+ Bramblings, 12+ Skylarks, 20+ Siskins & 364 Woodpigeons (Brent Birders).
  • Middlesex Filter Beds NR: Firecrest 08:39hrs (Birdguides) and again at 0915. Vis-mig (0915-1015hrs): 17 Jackdaw (W), 1 Lesser Redpoll (W), 1 Meadow Pipit (W), 18 Skylarks (4W, 14NW), 4 Siskin, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, 3 Goldcrests. (Paul Cook).
  • East India Dock: Kingfisher, Jay, 2 Little Grebe, 140+ Teal, Chaffinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Stock Dove (Paul Hyland).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Chiffchaff, pr RC Pochard (origin unknown), 31 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Rembrandt Gardens (Little Venice): 2 Brambling west 14:05hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Dagenham Riverside: 5 Ring Necked Parakeets,Peregrine, 5 Goldcrests, 93 Redshank, 2 Curlew and 23 Black Tailed Godwits.(Dave Morrison)
  • Beddington SF: 1 Little Egret, 20+ Skylark, 6 Redwings (David Campbell, Roger Browne, Kevin McManus)
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs (N); 1 Little Egret, 6 Green Sandpipers, 1 imm Common(?) Tern, 1 thrush-size bird flying low over water in poor light - possible Merlin? (Quentin Given)
  • Trent Park: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Triangular Wood; 2(male & female) Great Spotted Woodpecker, together, Triangular Wood; 1 Grey Wagtail, flew over calling; 3 Goldcrest; 1 Treecreeper (Robert Callf).
  • Horsenden Hill: Adult Yellow-legged Gull bathing on main pond at Paradise Fields mid afternoon (Andy Culshaw), also 2 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 4 Siskin, 1 Little Owl, 11 Chaffinch over (AJC, David Howdon).

Friday 24th October 2008

  • Rainham Marshes: Grey Plover, Jack Snipe, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Water Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, Dartford Warbler, immature Serin reported briefly (ELBF).
  • Tottenham Cemetery: pr Mandarin and a Red-crested Pochard on the lake TQ329911 (Birdguides).
  • Osterley Park: Linnet 3, Stonechat 2, Reed Bunting 3, Meadow Pipit 6, Stock Dove 7, Snipe 1 (flew off W) (Tom Smith).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area 10:35hrs, 3 Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
  • Beddington SF: 27 Common Snipe, 9 Green Sandpiper, Water Pipit (Dip or Glory).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
  • London Wetland Centre: fem Sparrowhawk unsuccessfully hunting Common Snipe, m Peregrine hunting over playing fields opposite the reserve for 5 minutes, Kingfisher, at least 2 Rock Pipit, 8 Skylarks NW & 1 SE, 150 Redwing N, 1 fem Stonechat, 8 Chiffchaffs, 38 Goldcrests, Brambling in trees by Toilet Block plus 1 west with Chaffinches, 40 Goldfinch, 13 Siskin, 16 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website/NPS).
  • South Norwood Lake: 10 Tufted Duck, 9 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 9 Redwing over, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Goldcrest, 7 Jay, 18 Ring-necked Parakeet, 20 Goldfinch,2 Collard Dove, 2 Coal Tit, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, m Sparrowhawk (John Watson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Kingfisher, pr RC Pochard (origin unknown), 28 sp. recorded. (TeRNS).
  • South Lodge Farm and Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Kestrel; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; 3 Goldcrest (Robert Callf).

Thursday 23rd October 2008

  • Amwell: Jack Snipe from view point; also 7 common snipe, 2 Goosander and Redpoll, sisken & Redwings over. Nearby just outside of recording area the Ferruginous Duck still showing well (J.Murray).
  • Beddington SF: fem Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides).
  • Brent Res: Cetti's Warbler by main hide, also Pintail; viz-mig: 137 Starlings, 60 Redwing, 2+ Siskin, 2 Redpoll, 16 Meadow Pipits & 2 Stock Doves (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall & Roy Beddard).
  • Richmond Park: Little Egret- Upper Pen Pond by reedbed (Tim Howard per JW).
  • Rainham Marshes: no sign of any Serins this a.m.; Dartford Warbler still present at west end of sea wall in gorse below rubbish tip mid-morning (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre: Skylark west, Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 6 Redwing west, Chiffchaff, 4 Siskin (LWC website).
  • Tower Bridge: ad Yellow-legged Gull between here and London Bridge 14:20hrs (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: Water Rail (h) Conservation Pond (Bob Watts).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 2+ Continental Coal Tits in with mixed tit flock though highly mobile between Monument & Chestnut Glades, also 8+ Goldcrest, 1 Mipit, 7 Redwing, 20+ Chaffinch (Bob Watts).
  • Rainham Village: 20 Redwing over at 8.05 (Richard Harrison).
  • Hampstead Heath: 50+ Redwing with a few Fieldfare (flew over in all directions), Egyptian Goose (injured with a broken foot), 7 Mandarin, Kestrel (Oliver Simms).
  • Barbican Centre EC1: 2 Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Trent Park Area: 4 Common Buzzard, (including very pale bird), at Park Farm; 1 Kestrel, at Vicarage Farm; 32 Stock Dove, on ploughed field, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 6 Skylark, together, at Vicarage Farm; 9 Meadow Pipit, at Parkside Farm; 1 Grey Wagtail, outflow, Lower Lake; 30 Pied Wagtail, at South Lodge Farm; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; Redwing, several; 5 Mistle Thrush, at South Lodge Farm; 4 Goldcrest; 76 Chaffinch, feeding on field, at Park Farm; 2 female Siskin, together, near Water Grdn (Robert Callf).
  • Leyton: 150 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare (west) 8.00-8.30 (Gary A James).
  • South Norwood Lake: 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant, 50 Black-headed Gull, 18 Ring-necked Parakeet, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, m Sparrowhawk, 20+ Goldfinch, 15 Chaffinch, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Collard Dove, 1 Pied Wagtail (John Watson).

Wednesday 22nd 0ctober 2008

  • Richmond Park: 4 Dartford Warbler- 2 together Lawn Field, 2 Middle Field (S.end & N.end). Possibly 6 birds in last few days (J. Wilczur, T.Howard, B. Marsh). is that near pen ponds??? Lawn Field is the large grassland/bracken area E of Lower Pen Pond, Middle Field is a similar area S of the Pond's car park.
  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: Richard's Pipit near visitor centre at 9.55am (per RBA), Dartford Warbler present a.m. but no further sign by 1.05pm, Rock Pipit (RBA/Birdguides), 3 Serin (1 male) still present at west end of seawall by rubbish tip at 3.05pm; 2 flew east at 12.20pm (Birdguides). 3 Serin till 16.50pm then flew high N/E.(P.Hawkins, M.Blow, J.Lethbridge), 340 Greylag Goose, 2 Pintail, fem Peregrine, 23 Ringed Plover, 340 Redshank, 10 Stock Dove, 22 Ring-necked Parakeet, Barn Owl, 3 Kingfisher, 60 Meadow Pipit, 12 Rock Pipit, 11 Stonechat, 39 Jackdaw, 11 Rook, 21 Chaffinch, 40 Greenfinch, 200 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, 480 Linnet, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 27 Reed Bunting (ELBF).
  • Gladstone Park: 3 Brambling flew SE 9.05am (Thom Shannon).
  • London Wetland Centre: Rock Pipit, Stonechat, 2 Brambling south, Redpoll SW (LWC website).
  • Woodford Bridge: Ring-necked Parakeet (ELBF).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Continental Coal Tit in with the mixed tit flock (primarily L T Tit) in Monument Glade until 1pm at least. First Coal Tit of any description I've seen at the site (Bob Watts)
  • South Norwood Lake: 20 Tufted Duck, 9 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 30 Black-headed Gull, 30+ Goldfinch, 6 Goldcrest, 4 Jay, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit, 25 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet (John Watson).
  • Paddington Green: Peregrine (prob imm fem) SW at 16:52hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Brent Reservoir: late Hobby flying South 10.10hrs, 4 Snipe, 3 Redwing, Cetti's Warbler singing, 2 Chiffchaffs, 36 Chaffinch West (Andrew Verrall).
  • Barbican Centre EC1: 2 Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Fairlop: Gadwall, 7 Teal, Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 14 Great Crested Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Heron, 9 Pheasant, 2 Golden Plover, Little Owl, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Meadow Pipit, 20 Redwing, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 20 Long Tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit, 20 Greenfinch, 20 Lesser Redpoll through (ELBF).
  • Trent Park Area: 2+ Common Buzzard, (including very pale bird perched on post); 1 Kestrel; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Skylark, together, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Grey Wagtail, at Park Farm; 2(male & fem/imm) Stonechat, together, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Song Thrush; 1 Goldcrest, Williams Wood; 2 Treecreeper; 1 female Siskin, Water Grdn; 1 fem/imm Reed Bunting, at Vicarage Farm; 1 female 'helice' Clouded Yellow, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Red Admiral (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 fem/imm Black Redstart (Robin White per RMC).
  • Trent Park: 2 Common Crossbill, flew over calling, Williams Wood (Robin White per RMC).

Tuesday 21st October 2008

  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: Glossy Ibis flew east at 2.30pm (RBA)
  • The Greenway E13: Chiffchaff calling (P Fallan)
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: vocal Firecrest showing well up to 09:15hrs at least at the SW corner of Hudson Memorial; 30 Goldcrest (site record); also, 4 Egyptian Goose, 10 Shoveler, imm m Sparrowhawk, c350 Black-headed Gull, ad Common Gull, 39 Herring Gull, 2 Grey Wagtail, 16 Robin (including a newly-fledged juv), Redwing, m Blackcap, 3-4 Chiffchaff (1 singer), 50+ Long-tailed Tit, 3 Coal Tit, 3 Treecreeper, 4 Jay, 2 Siskin SW (Des McKenzie).
  • London Wetland Centre: Firecrest - entrance area 07.30, 24 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Redwings over, 22 Lesser Redpolls (NPS).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Lesser Redpoll SW @ 0820 - 52nd species for year and patch tick, Siskin (h), 11 Goldcrest (but only small section surveyed - unprecedented numbers) (Bob Watts).
  • Beddington SF: Peregrine, 3w Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (ad/2w), 2 Rock Pipit (Dip or Glory).
  • South Norwood Lake: 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 23 Black-headed Gull, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Goldcrest, 15 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail (John Watson).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Egyptian Goose south, m Peregrine in area at 11:55hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 imm male Sparrowhawk, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Common Buzzard, at Park Farm (including one very pale bird); 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 4 Red-legged Partidge, at Park Farm; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 (male & fem/imm) Stonechat, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm; 3 Goldcrest; 50+ Chaffinch, together, on ploughed field, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Barbican Centre EC1 Lake: 2 Grey Wagtails, 25 BHG (Paul Bruty).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Sparrowhawk, pr RC Pochard (origin unknown), (TeRNS).

Monday 20th October 2008

  • Golden Square, Soho W1: 6 Egyptian Geese flew low heading north at 6pm. (David Lindo)
  • Barking: Little Egret over Ripple Road in direction of Eastbury Manor House at 07:50 (Richard Harrison).
  • Bush Wood, Leytonstone: 8 Goldcrests (J Lethbridge).
  • Osterley Park: Jackdaw 104, Stock Dove 38, Reed Bunting 2, Mipit 4, Redwing 14 W, Rook 2, Shoveler 10, Sparrowhawk 1, Gadwall 19, GCGrebe 3 (Keith Fisher).
  • Crossness: possible Roseate Tern at outfall by Thamesview Golf Centre, then flew west at 13:05 Also 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (Ian Miller per JA).
  • South Norwood Lake: 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Cormorant, 30+ Redwing S/SW, 70 Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull (2juv), 25 Ring-necked Parakeet, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Wodpecker, 18 Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 House Sparrow, 2 Collard Dove (John Watson).
  • London Wetland Centre (to 1300hrs): 3 Snipe, 3 House Martins W, 4 Rock Pipits main lake + 1 SW, 3 Stonechats, 11 Redwings W, 2 Fieldfare W, 1 Chiffcaff, 14 Goldcrests, 73 LT Tits, 32 Jackdaws, 390 Chaffinches W, 116 Siskins W, 14 Lesser Redpolls W + 12 wildside, 9 Linnets W (NPS).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in the area btween 14:10hrs and c15:00hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 14+ Redwing, 2 Kingfisher, 22 Common Gull, 4 LBB Gull (Steve Blake).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, Rock Pipit (SBC).
  • West Hyde: 1 adult female Peregrine, 4 Common Buzzard (Andrew Moon).
  • Staines Res: 508 Chaffinches and 27 Siskin flew west between 11.00 and 12.30 (Andrew Moon).
  • Trent Park Area: 8(4m,4f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 1 Sparrowhawk, over Williams Wood; 1 Common Buzzard, at Park Farm; 1 Kestrel, at Vicarage Farm; 4 Red-legged Partidge, at Park Farm; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 30 Stock Dove, Cuckolds Hill, Parkside Farm; 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 4 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Grey Wagtail, at Park Farm; 25 Pied Wagtail, at South Lodge Farm; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm; 2 Fieldfare, together, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Song Thrush; 100+ Chaffinch, together, on ploughed field, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).

Sunday 19th October 2008

  • 70 Acres Lake (Lee Valley CP): 2 (m/f) Red-crested Pochard by bridge at the southern end of lake (Birdguides).
  • Hillfield Park Res: Peregrine on a pylon at the southern end of Hilfield Lane North TQ154958 (Birdguides).
  • Brent Res.: 1 Green Sandp., 9 Snipe, 1 drake Pintail, Cetti's Warbler (found yesterday and still present) (Roy Beddard).
  • King George V Res: Wheatear (probably Greenland race), 2 Rock Pipits, Little Egret, Kingfisher, 5 Shoveler, c20 Wigeon, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper (R Woodward, E Wilton).
  • William Girling Res (viewed from Mansfield Park): 19 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Goldeneye, c50 Teal (R Woodward, E Wilton).
  • Seventy Acres Lake: Water Rail at Bittern Information point (+ pair of Red-crested Pochard reported near southern end) (R Woodward).
  • Richmond Park: Dartford Warbler - Sawyer's Hill (W of Holly Lodge) 5th bird at 3 locations in 3 days; vis mig 715-845 when it petered out Redwing 320, Fieldfare 45, Chaffinch 240, Starling 200 all NW-SW; Goldfinch 19 S, Greenfinch 5 S, Linnet 6 & Redpoll over (J. Wilczur).
  • Thames (Putney-Barnes Bridges - WeBS counts) : 2 Gt.c. Grebe, 82 Cormorant, 14 Heron, 5 Mute Swan, 373 Mallard, 83 Teal, 39 Tufted Duck, c930 Black-headed, 3 Common, 29 Herring, 29 LBB + 7 GtBB Gulls, 6 Grey + 2 Pied Wagtails, 40+ Redwing W, 10+ Goldcrest, Jackdaw N (Neil Anderson).
  • Acton Park: Firecrest in ornamental trees near the pond TQ207801; flighty but vocal (Fiona Barclay per DMc).
  • Rainham Marshes: Water Pipit, 4 Rock Pipits, Mistle Thrush (barges/foreshore); 120+ Linnet, 25+ Skylarks, 2000+ Starlings (dump); Curlew, 5 YL Gulls (foreshore); Cetti's, 31+ Golden Plover, 2 Little Egrets, 90+ Wigeon, 4 Redwing, Goldcrest (reserve); also reports of escaped Harris's Hawk, 4 Whinchats, 5 Pintail (David Callahan).
  • Lancaster Gate W2 (visible migration between dawn and 11:00hrs; overlooking Kensington Gardens): Peregrine west 07:20hrs, 88 Woodpigeon south, 7 Skylark west, 15 Meadow Pipit W/NW, 159 Redwing W/NW, 15 Fieldfare west, Jackdaw east, 155 Chaffinch W/NW, 11 Greenfinch N/NW, 3 Goldfinch north, 2 Siskin heard; also 2 Egyptian Goose, 37 Cormorant mainly south, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1-2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush (Des McKenzie, David Lindo, Kim Dixon, Malka Holmes).
  • Beddington SF: m Peregrine, 12 Common Snipe, 6 Green Sandpiper, 7 Skylark, 672 Redwing, 40 Fieldfare, 107 Chaffinch west, Brambling, 3 Siskin, 5 Redpoll (Dip or Glory).
  • Mayesbrook Park (viz-mig): 110 Redwing, 20 Chaffinch, 10 Siskin, 2 Meadow Pipit, 50 Woodpigeon, 2 Jackdaw, 3 Grey Wagtail, also Kingfisher, Little Egret, 10 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebe, Water Rail (Paul Hawkins).
  • London Wetland Centre: Mandarin, 26 Wigeon, 87 Gadwall, 76 Shoveler, Common Snipe chased by Sparrowhawk, 2 Skylark west, 12 Meadow Pipit SW, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, Fieldfare west, 11 Redwing SE, 5 Chiffchaff (LWC website).
  • Alexandra Park: 3 Little Egrets NW @ 0825, 36 Redwing, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 48 Chaffinch, 4 Mipit, Siskin, 10 R N Parakeet, 9 Linnet, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, alba Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff Scrub, Water Rail (h) Conservation Pond, m Shoveler Boating Lake (Bob Watts, Stuart Harrington, Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards, Alan Gibson).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Goldeneye (m), 9 Snipe (Steve B).
  • East India Dock: 3 Goldcrest (rear hedge), 3 Fieldfare south @ 11:20 (site tick), 100+ Teal, 2 Kingfisher, Chaffinch, Yellow-legged Gull (Paul Hyland).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: 4 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 34 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, 1 Bullfinch, Water Rail, 22 Teal (Shaun Harvey).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs (WeBS): 38 Gadwall, pr RC Pochard (origin unknown), (TeRNS).
  • West Hyde: 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Red Kite (Andrew Moon).
  • Vicarage Farm, Parkside Farm and Park Farm, Enfield: 1 Sparrowhawk, at Park Farm; 2 Common Buzzard, together, Park Farm; 1 Little Owl, at Park Farm; 2 Stonechat,(1 fem/imm., at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 1 male, at Park Farm); 1 Song Thrush, Duncan's Wood; 15 Mistle Thrush, at Parkside Farm; 1 imm Dartford Warbler, at Park Farm - in rough vegetation, in loose association with male Stonechat (my second record locally, after the first in Oct 2000); 3 Goldcrest,(1 Park Farm, 2 together, Duncan's Wood); 1 Nuthatch, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).

Saturday 18th October 2008

  • Greenford CP (7.20-8.30): 3 Pied Wagtail, c30 M Pipit (15 on ground), 100+ Redwing W (+2 on ground), 10 Song Thrush, 5 Mistle Thrush, 5 Goldcrest, 45+ Chaffinch W, 3 Siskin W, 8 Linnet (Neil Anderson).
  • Queens Promanade, R. Thames (Kingston): 1 Common Buzzard N at 1040, 43 Redwing W (Andrew Skotnicki).
  • Hampermill Lake: 1 Osprey flew over heading towards Stocker's Lake at 11.25 (Joan Thompson per AM).
  • Fairlop Waters: Yellow-browed Warbler behind NR pit by golf driving range briefly at 11:10hrs (Roy Woodward, Martin Shepherd). Again briefly 13.30 with mixed flock (GJ); 5 Stonechats and c20 Redpolls, 50 Fieldfare, 80 Redwing + small numbers of Skylark, Chaffinch and M'ipit overhead (most heading west), plus Red-crested Pochard drake on main lake (RW, MS, Andy Reed, Adrian Pearson, Dennis Ellisdon). Also Egyptian Goose nr main lake (JL)
  • Richmond Park (organised walk): Dartford Warbler - Pond Slade (different area to yesterday's birds, also yesterday 1-2 birds in gorse enclosures by Holly Lodge, i.e. possibly up to 5 birds seen in two days), Snipe - briefly, casual obs of overhead migrants noted c320 Fieldfare W/SW, 20 Skylark SW (J.Wilczur et al).
  • Dartford Marshes: 2w Mediterranean Gull, 11 Yellow-legged Gull on foreshore (Birdguides).
  • Brompton Cemetery: probable Lapland Bunting overhead 08:33hrs (called once but not definate due to background noise) (Des McKenzie).
  • Beddington SF: Wigeon, Common Buzzard, Peregrine, 1w Yellow-legged Gull, 9 Skylark west, Swallow, 2 Stonechat, Fieldfare west, 338 Redwing west, 212 Chaffinch west (Dip or Glory).
  • Regent's Park: Water Pipit west 9.20am, 7 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, 28 Goldcrests, 1 Brambling, 40 Chaffinches, 4 Lesser Redpolls, 12 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
  • Alexandra Park (viz-mig 0800-0930): Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, 95 Redwing, 82 Fieldfare, Swallow, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Linnet, 11 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin, 102 Woodpigeon, 3 Jackdaw, 47 Chaffinch, 8 Mipit, 3 Lesser Redpoll (Bob Watts, Stuart Harrington, Andrew Gardener, Alan Gibson).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area between 10:08hrs and 17:14hrs, 9 Redwing west, 2 Fieldfare west, 10 Chaffinch west (Des McKenzie).
  • Barking (viz-mig): 100+ Redwing, 25+ Fieldfare, 40 Chaffinch all flying NW over home + Chiffchaff, Goldcrest in garden (Paul Hawkins).
  • London Wetland Centre (viz-mig 0800-1300): 815 Fieldfare W/NW, 564 Redwing W/NW, 24 Song Thrush W, 29 Skylark W, 1055 Chaffinch W/NW, 100 Golfinch (50 S), 2 Brambling W, 43 Linnet S, 93 Siskin SW/NW, 10 Lesser Redpoll SW, 51 Greenfinch W, 19 Mipit SW, 1 Water Pipit W, 3 Rock Pipit W, 24 alba Wagtail S/SW, 310 Woodpigeon S, 150 Starling W, 1 Rook flew in from N landed main lake, 1 male Peregrine hunting (RK,DM).
  • Colley Hill (Reigate): 3 Common Buzzard, 60 Redwing, 2 Marsh Tit (Steve Gale).
  • Banstead: 40 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing (Steve Gale).
  • Colne Valley: 3 Common Buzzard over Broadwater Lake at 12.20, 2 others further north over Troy Mill Lake; 4 Common Buzzards together on ground in fields above West Hyde late afternoon (could have involved same birds?) (Andrew Moon).
  • West London Shooting Grounds (Northolt): SE Owl in field SW of shooting ground and Common Buzzard over, 3 Kestrel, 20+ Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit and 13 Linnets (Steve Pash).
  • Ten Acre Wood (Hillingdon): 100+ Fieldfare west, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff in Meadows west of wood (Steve Pash).
  • Berrylands: 7 Fieldfare W prior to 07:45 (Nick Tanner).
  • Stoke Newington: Abney Park: 4 Goldcrest. SN Reservoirs: pr RC Pochard (origin unknown) (EMc, GJ TeRNS).

Friday 17th October 2008

  • Richmond Park: 3 Dartford Warblers in bracken surrounding grassland c300m S of Pen Ponds car park (J.Wilczur).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area (feeding on a kill) between 12:10hrs at 14:36hrs; back in the area 15:45hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Mealy Redpoll with c20 Lesser Redpoll in Asian Wetlands area - feeding in silver birches +6 Lessers SW; also m Peregrine, 489 Woodpigeon S/SW, 1 Swallow south, 11 ' Alba' Wagtails SW, light passage of Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Water Pipit high SW, 4 Stonechat, light passage of Goldfinch, 44 Chaffinches W/NW, 1 Brambling west, 19 Siskin on site + 8 SW; also 2 Water Vole, several Common Darter and Migrant Hawker, small numbers of Common Lizard still basking on Dulverton Hide especially (NPS/LWC website).
  • Crossness: Grey Plover on the River Thames by the Thamesview Golf Centre at c.TQ481814 this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Amwell GP's: fem Mallard with 9 newly-hatched ducklings, 3 Common Buzzard, colour-ringed Cormorant (blue/ white lettering PP; first seen here on July 2004), Little Egret, Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap (sung briefly), 30+ Siskin, 12 Lesser Redpoll (HertsBirding).
  • Rotherhite: still 1 Egyptian Goose in channel between Greenland and South Docks 07:25hrs (Richard Bonser).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: still 1 Whinchat on site, c3 Stonechat, c50 Meadow Pipit, c3 Stock Dove overhead with a movement of c300 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove (very scarce here), c35 Chaffinch, c10 Linnet, c50 Meadow Pipit, 1 female Reed Bunting & c45 Jackdaw. (David Lindo).
  • Thames Barrier Park: 2 Kingfishers, 2 Goldcrests, 130+ Teal, 17+ Shelduck, 5 argentatus-type H Gulls (David Callahan).
  • East India Dock: Little Grebe, 1-2 Chiffchaffs, 2-3 Goldcrests, Yellow-legged Gull, 100+ Teal (David Callahan).
  • Alexandra Park: Skylark (h), Water Rail (h), 3+ Siskin and Bullfinch at Conservation Pond (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards) AG also had some Redpoll over.
  • Tottenham Cemetery: 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 Coal Tit; 4 Goldcrest; 2 Red Admiral, on Ivy flowers, also 2 at Bruce Castle Park (Robert Callf).
  • Wanstead Flats: 6 Cormorant west, 3 LBB Gull, 2 GS Woodpecker, 6 Skylark, 2 Dunnock, 2 Stonechat, 2 Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 20+ Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 2 Pied Wagtail (J Lethbridge)

Thursday 16th October 2008

  • Brent Res: Ad-winter Med Gull 11-12 am, male Pintail (N. Marsh), 5 Snipe, singing Chiffchaff (Roy Beddard, Andrew Haynes, Andrew Verrall).
  • London Wetland Centre: Merlin over, Peregrine, Skylark SW, 20 Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 101 Goldfinch (80 south and 21 on site), 2 Lesser Redpoll west (LWC website).
  • Osterley Park: Wheatear 1, Stonechat 3, Rook 3, Skylark 1, Mipit c12, Nuthatch 2, Shoveler 14, Gadwall 12, Grey Wagtail 1, Red Admiral 1 (Keith Fisher).
  • South Norwood Lake: 17 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Cormorant, 30 Black-headed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 20+ Goldfinch, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Ring-necked Parakeet, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail (John Watson).
  • Trent Park Area: 6 Common Buzzard, together, over Park Farm, 12:00 BST; 2 Kestrel; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 3 Green Woodpecker; 2 Swallow, together, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; 2 Goldcrest; 2 Nuthatch, Williams Wood (Robert Callf).
  • Gladstone Park: 1 fem Mandarin 16:00hrs (Thom Shannon).
  • Regents Park: Little Owl showing well at daytime roost, 2m Tawny Owls calling 6.45am, 4 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpoll (Tony Duckett).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Grey Wagtail mid-afternoon (Des McKenzie).
  • Beddington SF: Peregrine, 1w Yellow-legged Gull (Dip or Glory).
  • Stoke Newington reservoirs: 1 GBB Gull, pr RC Pochard (origin unknown) 26 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: c10 Goldcrest (Bob Watts).

Wednesday 15th October 2008

  • Queen Mother Res: ad m Lesser Scaup again this afternoon, m Marsh Harrier SE, 3 Rock Pipit beyond gate east of Sailing Club (Birdguides).
  • Rotherhithe: 5 Egyptian Geese (2 adults & 3 juveniles) on Greenland Dock 5.40pm at least. 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull on the jetty there 1.15pm (Richard Bonser).
  • Middlesex Filter Beds: at least 1 Firecrest with Goldcrests at TQ358864; turn right after entering from northern gate, on canal near Lea Bridge Road and birds are in the scrub to the left after 50m (Birdguides).
  • Gladstone Park: c15 Redpoll 09:45hrs (Thom Shannon).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 90+ Golden Plover (landed briefly, then flew south), 7 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, 2 Yellowhammer, 5 Skylark, Tree Sparrow. (Steve B).
  • Island Barn Res: ad Hobby (SBC).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area from at least 13:40hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Hyde Park: 14 Pied Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll 16:36hrs (Nannies Lawn) (Des McKenzie).
  • Tottenham Cemetery: 4+ Green Woodpecker; 2+ Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 1 Redwing; 2 Mistle Thrush; 1 Chiffchaff; 8 Goldcrest (Robert Callf).
  • London Wetland Centre: 42 Wigeon, 80 Gadwall, 104 Teal, 109 Shoveler, 10 Pochard, 77 Tufted Duck, Peregrine 09:15hrs (LWC website).

Tuesday 14th October 2008

  • White City: c30 Redwing NW in 3 small groups calling 7.15 (Neil Anderson).
  • Queen Mother Res (permit access only): m Lesser Scaup still present (southern end), Rock Pipit by pontoon (Birdguides).
  • Osterley Park: At least 5 Rooks in large mixed corvid flock on the newly sown barley fields; also, 2 Stonechat, 4 Redwing, 1 Reed Bunting + steady movement of Skylark and Mipit SSW (Keith Fisher).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Common Snipe, 6 Green Sandpiper, 6 Yellow-legged Gull (5ad/1w), 3 Redpoll (Dip or Glory).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Firecrest calling (not seen) from Hudson Memorial 08:40hrs; 2 Egyptian Goose, 12 Shoveler, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Cormorant, 2 Common Gull, Tawny Owl showing well at day-roost, 8 Stock Dove, at least 50 Ring-necked Parakeet (mainly attending sweet chestnuts), 29 Meadow Pipit (28 mainly west, 1 on site), 9 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 35-40 Blackbird (an obvious influx), 7 Song Thrush, 7 Mistle Thrush, c40 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 4 Treecreeper (2 singing), 8 Jay, 10-12 Chaffinch, Linnet west (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in the area between 14:15hrs at 17:25hrs at least (Des McKenzie).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Pintail, m Peregrine hunting along River, 5 Common Snipe, Redshank, Kingfisher, Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 8 Siskin SW, 5 Lesser Redpoll SW (LWC website).
  • Kensal Green Cemetery: Peregrine (on Gasometer along canal from 11.30 to 12.30 at least), 6 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 10 Goldcrest (Dave Renham).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, Rock Pipit (SBC).
  • Island Barn Res: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (ad/3w) (SBC).
  • Hampstead Heath (Parliament Hill area): 8 Shoveler (4m, 4f), 3 Treecreeper, 14 Jackdaw (flying towards Primrose Hill), 5+ Goldcrest, 2 Kestrel (1m, 1f) (Reuben Braddock).
  • South Norwood Lake: 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 15 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Jay, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Jackdaw over S/SE, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Leyton Flats: 85 Jackdaws SW, 17 Siskin, Stonechat, 1 Swallow, 2 Goldcrest (Gary A James and Mike Messenger).
  • Trent Park Area: 12 Stock Dove, at Park Farm; 5 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 16 Skylark, together, stubble field, Vicarage Farm; 22+ Meadow Pipit, together, at Parkside Farm; 1 Grey Wagtail, flew over calling, Icehouse Wood; 3 (male & 2 fem/imm) Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; 3 Redwing, flew W, at Park Farm; 1 Chiffchaff, at Vicarage Farm; 6 Goldcrest; 1 Nuthatch; 1 Treecreeper; 1 Lesser Redpoll, flew over calling, at Park Farm; 9 Yellowhammer, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Queens Park area NW6 (garden): Peregrine male NW 07.40 (garden tick) (A. Verrall).
  • Overton Park (Sutton): 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 2+ Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail (David Campbell).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: c60 Golden Plover, Stonechat, Tree Sparrow (Steve B).
  • Uxbridge (R. Colne): 1 Little Egret (by Oxford Road bridge) (Roger Dewey).
  • Brent Reservoir: 3 Chiffchaff (Thom Shannon).

Monday 13th October 2008

  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Whinchat still, 2 Stonechat, 3 House Martin & c30 Meadow Pipit (Mathew Bournat & Roy Nuttall).
  • Southwark Bridge: Woodlark west (vocal) over Southwark Bridge Road with alba wagtail 10:25hrs (Birdguides).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area between 10:25hrs (at least) and 18:28hrs when flew west (Des McKenzie).
  • Potters Bar: Ring-necked Parakeet over the Furzefield Leisure Centre in Mutton Lane a.m. (Birdguides), 7 Crossbills (Obs?).
  • Wanstead Flats: 2 Green WP, 2 GS WP, 6 Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark, 5 Goldcrest, 6 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 9 Jackdaw over S (J Lethbridge).
  • Brent Reservoir: Med Gull ad-winter, Pintail m ecl, Snipe 5, Jackdaw 42 W, Redwing 5, Swallow 1 S, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch 32 W (Andrew Verrall).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 60+ Siskin. (Colney Heath) Stonechat, 2 Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammer, 7 Wigeon, 9 Skylark, 11 M/Pipit, Buzzard (Steve B).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Wigeon, 15 Common Snipe, 6 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 1w Mediterranean Gull, 7 Yellow-legged Gull (4 ad/2 2w/1 1w), Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 2 Redwing, Brambling, 5 Siskin, 6 Redpoll (Dip or Glory).
  • Regents Park: 1 Little Egret north at 16.15pm, 3 Tawny Owl males calling, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Fieldfares, 14 Redwings, 1 Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 7 Crossbills, 60 Chaffinches, 10 Lesser Redpolls, 4 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
  • Leyton Flats: Merlin north at 11.10, Stonechat, 9 Siskin, 450+ Chaffinch north 10.30-12.00, Redwing, 1 Coal Tit (hard to get here), 9 Linnet (Gary A James & Mike Messenger).
  • South Norwood Lake: 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Goldcrest, 4 Jay, 1 Coal Tit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Nuthatch (John Watson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Wigeon, pr RC Pochard (origin unknown) 27 sp. recorded.(TeRNS).

Sunday 12th October 2008

  • Richmond Park: Woodlark showing well by + in riding ring by Holly Lodge 10.00- 12.30 at least (also seen by Mike Lewis, Jan Wilczur et al) , pr Red-crested Pochard, Kingfisher 8+ Stonechat (Neil Anderson).
  • Brent Res: Ad. winter Med. Gull, eclipse drake Pintail, 7 Snipe, Little Egret, Chiffchaff, 3 House Martins, Brambling W (Roy Beddard, Mike Hoctor, Stuart Fisher).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Whinchat still, 3 Stonechat, 1 Swallow, 1 male Blackcap & c30 Meadow Pipit (Kim Dixon, David Jeffreys, David Lindo, Roy Nuttall & Jon Osbourne).
  • London Wetland Centre: Marsh Harrier SW, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, m Peregrine, 5 Common Snipe, Redshank, 2 Stonechat, 12 migrant Red Admiral butterflies SW (LWC website).
  • Hatfield: at least 1 Short-eared Owl in the disused aerodrome area to late afternoon (Birdguides).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area from at least 11:00hrs to c15:30hrs, 2 Swallow south 08:12hrs, 9 Meadow Pipit S/SW, m Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Chaffinch SW; also esc Cockatiel (Des McKenzie).
  • Stockers Farm & Stockers Lake: Stonechat 1m at Farm; Gadwall c12, loads of Coot and not much else, except Kingfisher 1 at R. Colne (Roger Dewey).
  • Stoke Newington area: Clissold Park: 1 Woodcock (flushed, S). Abney Park: 1 Firecrest. Reservoirs: 34 Gadwall, pr. RC Pochard (origin unknown) (EMc, GJ et al TeRNS).
  • Beddington SF: 16 Common Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Swallow, 2 Redwing, 2 Siskin (Dip or Glory).
  • Epsom Common: 10 male 2 female Mandarins, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Teal, 2 Nuthatches, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 20 Jackdaws, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (David Campbell)
  • Alexandra Park: Pale falcon hybrid S over reservoir towards New River Village 15:34, pursued by a crow (Stuart Harrington).
  • Vicarage Farm and Parkside Farm and Park, Enfield: 1 Kestrel; 4 Red-legged Partridge, at Vicarage Farm; 12 Stock Dove, at Park Farm; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, at Parkside Farm;1 Song Thrush; 11 Mistle Thrush, on ploughed field, at Park Farm; 1 Chiffchaff, Allotments; 3 Goldcrest, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Horsenden Hill: 9 Siskin, 4 Redpoll, 2 Skylark, 1 Mistle Thrush over, mainly west or southwest, with moderate Chaffinch passage. 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler and 1 Teal on site - about as good as it gets for ducks here! (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon).

Saturday 11th October 2008

  • Greenford CP: Kestrel, 6 RN Parakeet, 10 Pied Wagtail (7 SW), 14 M'Pipit, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 45+ Chaffinch W, 3 Jay, Jackdaw (Neil Anderson)
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: 3+ Siskin, 2 Redwing, Sparrowhawk. (Adam Cheeseman)
  • Amwell GP's: m Scaup on the main lake from the viewpoint this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: m & f Red-crested Pochard, 5 Chiffchaffs, 33 Jackdaws (W in single flock), 6 Siskins, 9 Redwings, Kingfisher (Tony Butler per MJP). 1m RC Pochard (origin unknown) 25 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Abney Park cemetery: 1 Firecrest. (ADH, EMc, GJ TeRNS).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in the area from 17:45hrs at least (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (Stuart Harrington).
  • Beddington SF: Little Egret, ad Yellow-legged Gull (Dip or Glory).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Woodlark W, 1 Brambling SW, 418 Chaffinch SW/NW, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 14 alba Wagtail SW, 2 Rock Pipit SW, 1 Swallow S, 2 Skylark W (RK,DM,JA), Peregrine perched on nearby hospital, 8 Common Snipe, 4 Grey Wagtail, 4 Stonechat, 55 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin (LWC website); Common Buzzard - drifting north pm, Egyptian Geese (6)(Angus Innes).
  • East India Dock: 2 Goldcrest (yes!), 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Jay, Kestrel, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail (Paul Hyland).
  • Kensal Green Cemetery: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Nr Harrow rd entrance, harried by G.Spotted then flew West along canal, 1st record for twenty years!) (Dave Renham)
  • Brent Reservoir: Little Egret around until 10.00 flew South, Pintail 1 fem, 7 Snipe, 21 Redwings W, Chaffinch 34 W, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaffs. (Andrew Verrall).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Sparrowhawk, at Park Farm; 2 Common Buzzard; 1 Kingfisher, perched, Upper Lake; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 16 Meadow Pipit, on overhead wires, at Parkside Farm; 4 fem/imm Stonechat,(1 at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 3 together, at Parkside Farm); 2 Song Thrush; 6 Mistle Thrush, at Park Farm; 1 Chiffchaff, at Parkside Farm; 3 Goldcrest; 1 Firecrest, in Hawthorn, near Firing Range, at Vicarage Farm, 08:42 BST, flew off into Allotments; 1 Coal Tit, at Park Farm; 1 Nuthatch, Moat Wood; 2 Treecreeper, Moat Wood; 3 Siskin,(1 Hog Hill, 2 'Old Golf Course'); 1 male Bullfinch, 'Old Golf Course' (Robert Callf).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Little Owl,2 Stonechat, c40 Siskins, 6 Swallow(S), 2 Little Grebe, Green Sandpiper, 19 Greylag, 2 Barnacle Geese, Kingfisher, 2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammer, Buzzard, (Steve B)
  • Trent Park: 2 Common Crossbill, 14 Siskin,2 Mandarin(f). (Fay Broom, Mike Cawthorn, Bob Husband, Pete Lowman).
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Brambling west among larger numbers of Chaffinches. Also 1 Skylark, 1 Redwing, 1 Siskin, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Little Owl on or over site (Andy Culshaw).

Friday 10th October 2008

  • Rainham Marshes: Yellow-browed Warbler present to 09:00hrs at least (Birdguides). No sign 1500-1630. (GJ + sev. obs).
  • Barbican Centre EC1 (lake): escape m Wood Duck, 24 Mallard, juv Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area from c11:00hrs to 15:00hrs at least (Des McKenzie).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 4-5 Firecrest present to 1440 at least - 3/4 still together in same area (see directions on website), one with Goldcrests 20m north of Church St. entrance (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: m & f Red-crested Pochard, 6 Wigeon, 11 Redwings, 56 Jackdaws, 1 Brambling, 4 Chiffchaffs, 12 Mistle Thrushes, 5 House Martins, many unIDed finches, some in sizeable flocks, SW (Tony Butler per MJP). 2 RC Pochard (origin unknown) 29 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • London Wetland Centre to 12:30: 4 Egyptian Geese, 1 CC Marsh Harrier S, 6 Snipe, 1 first-winter Caspian Gull (on river), 25 Song Thrush W, 3 Redwing W, 26 Chiffchaffs, 4 Stonechats, 8 Swallows S, 13 House martins S, 2 Sand Martin S, 96 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Rock Pipit W, 7 alba Wagtails W, 1,557 Chaffinches W/NW, 8 Bramblings W, 97 Greenfinches W, 31 Lesser Redpolls SW + 14 on site, 1 Mealy Redpoll in wildside alders then off SW, 22 Siskins West + 13 on site (NPS/DM).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Stonechats, Green Sandpiper, 2 Wigeon (Steve B).
  • Trent Park: 2 Common Crossbill, 3 Common Buzzard, 20 Siskin, Kestrel. ( Pete Lowman)
  • Regents Park: Ring Ouzel fem/juv 7.50am, Hobby 7.40am, 10 Redwings, 220 Chaffinches, 12 Bramblings, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 8 siskins, 1 House Martin, 4 M Pipits and 2 Chiffchaffs(Tony Duckett).
  • Alexandra Park: 1 Swallow S (Stuart Harrington).
  • Berrylands: Light passage of Lesser Redpoll, 21+ in three groups of 7, 11+ and 3 through before 07:45hrs (Nick Tanner).

Thursday 9th October 2008

  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Whinchat, c3 Stonechat, at least 1 Redpoll, c10 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, c45 Meadow Pipit & c14 Jackdaw (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • St John's Wood High St: c3 Swallow south. (David Lindo)
  • Stamford Hill, N16: Short-eared Owl fairly low and east, heading towards Walthamstow, 0715hrs (Mark Pearson)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Stonechat (new site sp.), 7 Chiffchaffs, 5 Wigeon, 36 Shoveler. vis mig 0720-0930: 95 Jackdaws (inc flocks of 48 and 20), 14 Meadow Pipits, 18 Redwings, 1 Brambling, 11 Redpolls, 6 Siskins, 3 Song Thrushes, 16 Mistle Thrushes, 31 Chaffinches (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 5 Firecrests still; Coal Tit (showing characteristics of nominate race P. a. ater) with 'crest & tit flocks, 1 Siskin, 2 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, c20 Goldcrests (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler)
  • Bow Creek Ecology Park: Firecrest (elusive but briefly singing in alders and elders by main pond), 3 Redshanks (usual winter roost site on River Lea opposite Esso garage) (David Callahan).
  • East India Dock: Goldcrest (David Callahan).
  • Osterley Park: Stonechat, 20 Goldfinches, 5 Skylarks, Gadwall & Shoveler, GS Woodpecker (Tom Smith).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: no sign of yesterday's Firecrest; Egyptian Goose, m Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 11 Wigeon SW 07:40hrs, m Sparrowhawk, possible Oystercatcher over at 10:10hrs (heard only once), Collared Dove north, 3 Green Woodpecker, Swallow SW, 2 House Martin south, 11 Meadow Pipit (mainly NW), 11 Pied Wagtail, 6 Song Thrush, 14 Redwing (12 SW, 2 on site), Lesser Whitethroat (Leafyard), m Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff (1 singer), 10 Goldcrest, c33 Chaffinch (c20 on site, remainder west), Linnet NW, 8 Lesser Redpoll (birches at Holocaust Gardens/Nannies Lawn 08:25hrs; previously with a further 5 small unidentified finches), Reed Bunting (Long Water Sanctuary) (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area from 11:15hrs (at least) to c15:15hrs, 5 Meadow Pipit west (Des McKenzie).
  • London Wetland Centre: 6 Common Snipe, 9 House Martin SW, 9 Swallow SW, Rock Pipit W, 12 Song Thrush SW, 21 Siskin mostly SW, 8 Lesser Redpoll SW, 16 alba Wagtail S, 344 Chaffinch W/NW (passage starting in afternoon), 55 Goldfinch on the reserve - news from yesterday: Hobby east, 12 Common Snipe. (Rupert Kaye, Dan Monk)
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Sparrowhawk, at Park Farm; 1 Common Buzzard, at Park Farm; 5 Kestrel; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Green Woodpecker; 7 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 2 fem/imm Stonechat,(1 Parkside Farm, 1 at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm); 2 Song Thrush; 1 Nuthatch; 1 Bullfinch (Robert Callf).

Wednesday 8th October

  • Queen Mother Res (permit access only): m Lesser Scaup present to 15:20hrs at least (Birdguides).
  • Rainham RSPB: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers this morning comprising singles in woodland on reserve (still present 10.40am) and along approach road to Stone Barges off Coldharbour Lane; also juv Shag at barges; 5 Pintail, 104 Shoveler, 3 Common Buzzard, 4 Ruff, 64 Common Snipe, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, female Common Redstart, Ring Ouzel, 8 Song Thrush, 12 Redwing, Whinchat, 3 Northern Wheatear, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest (ELBF).
  • Beddington SF: 1w Caspian Gull (Dip or Glory).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 5+ Firecrests present 1245-1300 (group of four feeding 40 metres west of Isaac Watts memorial, and one to three elsewhere in cemetery), also Brambling, c18 Goldcrests and 3 Chiffchaffs (Mark Pearson); 5+ Firecrests still present to at least 1550 (MJP, TB et al)
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Firecrest showed well (but briefly) in Magnolia tree with roving tit-flock near Hudson Memorial 09:00hrs; 223 Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, m Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 3 Common Gull, c40 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Meadow Pipit (3 NW and 3 on ground), Grey Wagtail, 13 Pied Wagtail, Swallow SW, 8 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 9 Chiffchaff (1 singer), 9 Goldcrest, at least 40 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Treecreeper, 10 Jay, 26 Magpie, 15-20 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin NW (Des McKenzie).
  • Thames Barrier Park: 5+ Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 60+ Shelduck, 11 Common Gulls (David Callahan).
  • East India Dock: 2 Goldcrests (site megas still present!), singing Chiffchaff, Jay, c80 Teal (David Callahan).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Whinchat still, c4 Stonechat, 1 female Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 female Reed Bunting & c60 Meadow Pipit (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area between 10:55hrs and c16:00hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: 1 f Stonechat still on cricket perimeter, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet SW (Stuart Harrington).
  • London Wetland Centre: 6 Egyptian Geese, m Mandarin, 9 Common Snipe, 15 House Martin, 2 Stonechat, 6 Goldcrest (LWC website).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Wheatear, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, 3 Wigeon, 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Pied Wagtail, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 10+ Skylark, 3 Reed Buntings, Buzzard, Kingfisher. (Steve B)
  • South Norwood Lake: 3 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 20 Black-headed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, female Sparrowhawk, 12 Goldfinch, 20+ Long-tailed tit, 1 Coal Tit, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Jay, 2 Collard Dove (John Watson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 12 Egyptian Geese (briefly on East Res - rare here!) 5 Chiffchaffs, 9 Jackdaws, c5 Goldcrests, 30 House Martins (Tony Butler per MJP)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: fm/imm Merlin through 1604-1608. Came in from Walton, perched up, had a pop at some Pied Wags & belted off SW(DMH).
  • Barbican EC1: 27 Mallard, juv Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Trent Park Area: 2 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 3 Common Buzzard; 4 Red-legged Partridge, Cuckolds Hill; 1 Kingfisher, perched, Lower Lake; 2 Green Woodpecker; 7 Swallow, at Camlet Hill; 4 Stonechat,(3, male & 2 fem/imm., together, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 1 fem/imm., at Parkside Farm); 2 Song Thrush; 5 Chiffchaff; 4 Goldcrest; 30+ Siskin, at Camlet Hill (Robert Callf).
  • Lakeside, Oakwood, N14: 1 Kingfisher, perched; 1 Grey Wagtail (Robert Callf).

Tuesday 7th October

  • Richmond Park: 2 Dartford Warblers (yesterday's bird & one Lawn Field), 7 additional Stonechats at two locations (J.Wilczur).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 Redwing over and c65 Meadow Pipit including 1 extremely grey, black and white individual feeding in the mown grass areas that seemed not streaked enough to be a Red-throat. It didn't call (David Lindo).
  • Bowyer's Water (LVCP): 170+ Wigeon, fem Red-crested Pochard (Birdguides).
  • Barbican Centre EC1: 10 BHG, 2 Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • London Wetland Centre: 28 Wigeon, 3 Common Snipe, 29 Meadow Pipit SW (plus 4 on site), 20 Redwing SW, 9 Goldcrest, 31 Lesser Redpoll SW, Yellowhammer SW (LWC website).
  • South Norwood Lake: 12 Tufted Duck, 2f Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant, 15 Black-headed Gull, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 House Martin, 2 Dunnock, 4 Jay, 12 Herring Gull over (John Watson).
  • Trent Park Area: 81 Canada Goose, on stubble field, at Vicarage Farm; 3+ Common Buzzard, (including one very pale individual - whitish base to tail, extensively white underparts and whitish upperwing coverts); 1 Kestrel; 24 Skylark,(19 together, at Vicarage Farm, 5 Parkside Farm); 1 Swallow, at Vicarage Farm; 1 House Martin, flew E, at Parkside Farm; 30+ Meadow Pipit, at Cuckolds Hill, Parkside Farm; 10 Pied Wagtail, at South Lodge Farm; 5 Stonechat,(3, 1 male & 2 fem/imm., at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 2 fem/imm., together, at Parkside Farm); 20 Redwing,(14 flew W, at Parkside Farm, 11:17 BST, 6 flew SW, at Duncan's Wood, 11:49 BST); 1 Chiffchaff, singing, by Lower Lake, Trent Park; 5 Goldcrest; 2 male Muntjac, barking, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 13 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff (Mark Pearson); also 3 Chiffchaffs and 5 Goldcrests in Clissold Park (Tony Butler per MJP).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ringed Plover, 2 Wheatear, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Barnacle Goose, 315 Canada Geese, 8 Teal, 10+ M/Pipit, 6+ Skylark, 7 Pied Wagtail, Buzzard (Steve B).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area from 17:17hrs to c18:00hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Trent Park: 2 Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel,4 House Martin, 2 Swallow. ( Pete Lowman).
  • Gladstone Park: 14 Redwing over 10.40am (Thom Shannon).
  • Stoke Newington reservoirs: c25 House Martin. 27 sp. recorded (TeRNS).

Monday 6th October

  • Rainham Marshes: 2 Common Buzzard, Arctic Skua (ELBF).
  • Beddington SF: 3 Green Sandpiper, 1w Caspian Gull, 2 1w Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail (Dip or Glory).
  • Richmond Park: Dartford Warbler with Stonechats in open area c300m S of Pen Ponds Car Park (per T Howard), also in Park 40 Stonechat, 2 Whinchat (White Ash & Lawn Field), c80 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Bunting, 25 Greenfinch (Haw valley), Linnet over (J.Wilczur).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, 2 Northern Wheatear (Surrey Bird Club).
  • London Wetland Centre: 28 Wigeon, Pintail, 3 Skylark SW, 6 Swallow south, 46 House Martin south, 12 Meadow Pipit south, 3 Stonechat, 11 Song Thrush SW, 5 Redwing SW, 30 Chaffinch SW, 16 redpoll SW (also 4 at Waterlife) (LWC website). also 18 Chiffchaffs, c. 80 Goldfinches,8 Siskin S + 12 on Sheltered Lagoon alders, 1 fem/juv Yellowhammer SW (NPS)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: vis mig 0715-1000 - 32 Redwings (inc. flock of 31), 1 Siskin, 37 Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Buntings, 14 Chaffinches, 8 Goldfinches, 9 Greenfinches, 6 Pied Wagtails; also 75 House Martins, 5 Chiffchaffs, 7 Goldcrests, 4 Grey Wagtails (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler). 73 Pochard. 23 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Alexandra Park: 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Brambling, Redpoll 6 & 3, 12 Mipit all South & 4 Redwing West all between 7:10-07:50am. Stonechat on perimeter and drake Gadwall on res. R.B was 106th Sp for the year (John Murray), 1 Ring-necked Parakeet SW, 1 Yellow Wagtail W (Stuart Harrington).
  • Canary Wharf: Peregrine over at 11.45am, circled over Thames/Surrey Quays and then flew north (JL).
  • Brent Reservoir: 3 Water Rails, 2 Snipe, Swallow, 2 Chiffchaffs, fem Blackcap. Early am over Queens Park Garden NW6 Brambling flying South. (Andrew Verrall).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ringed Plover, 2 Wheatear, 10+ M/Pipit, 5 Skylark, 8 House Martins, 2 Swallow, 4 poss 6 Buzzard, 2 Kingfisher, Chiffchaff Blackcap (Steve B).
  • South Norwood Lake: 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Jay, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 15 Black-headed Gull, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 House Martin (John Watson).
  • Brunel University, Uxbridge: Blackcap, Chiffchaff and 2 Redwing (Steve Pash)

Sunday 5th October

  • possible Serin north over Golf Course 07:50hrs (Birdguides).
  • Rainham RSPB: 4 Snipe, Sparrowhawk, f Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Jay (J Lethbridge)
  • South Norwood Lake: 5 f Pochard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Tufted Duck, 15 Black-headed Gull, 20+Herring Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Jay, 1 Collard Dove, 4 House Martin, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet (John Watson).

Saturday 4th October

  • Rainham Marshes: 5 Pintail, Peregrine, Ruff, 2 Curlew, 3 Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 5 Stonechat, 2 Northern Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, Treecreeper, 60 Greeninch, 4 Siskin, 5 Lesser Redpoll (ELBF).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Skylark SW, 3 Fieldfare SW, 10 Redwing SW, 10 Mistle Thrush south, Brambling west, c70 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin south, Lesser Redpoll south, 2 Reed Bunting SW (LWC website).
  • Brent Reservoir: no sign of shrike; Green Sand behind dam, also 10 Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 23 Meadow Pipits, Jackdaw 7 Reed Bunting over (Andrew Self).
  • Beddington SF: 9 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (1w/3w), Rock Pipit, Siskin (Dip or Glory).
  • Vale of Hampstead Heath (8-9am) vis migs: 20 Siskin, 1 Grey Wag, 1 Song Thrush (Pete Jones).
  • Alexandra Park: f Stonechat at SE end of cricket perimeter c09:45, 2 Mipit in ditch by cricket scrub briefly, small numbers of Mistle Thrush over (Stuart Harrington).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: 8 Redwing, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 Sparrowhawk, 9 Lesser Redpolls, Brambling calling over, 3 Goldcrest, 4 Bullfinch, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Snipe, 5 Water Rail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 50 House Martins feeding over Reservoir and 9 Yellowhammers (Dave Morrison).
  • Pitsanger Allt's & area: 1m Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 11 Goldcrests, 4 Siskins over (NPS).
  • Wanstead Park: Wigeon still (J Lethbridge).
  • Stoke Newington reservoirs: 40+ House Martin, 1 Sparrowhawk. 24 sp. recorded (TeRNS).

Friday 3rd October

  • Hounslow Heath LNR: Dartford Warbler in heather pen still. (Chris Slack per Adam Cheeseman)
  • Wanstead Flats (7-8.15am): 6 Mute Swan, 8 Cormorant, 3 Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit, Ring Ouzel, Stonechat, Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, Greenfinch (J Lethbridge).
  • Wanstead Park (6.30-7pm): 2 Mute Swan, 15 Cormorant over, Grey Heron, 50+ Gadwall, m Wigeon, 6 Pochard, 20+Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler, 4 Teal (J Lethbridge).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Redwings (N), 3 redpolls (N), 3 Song Thrushes (W), 7 Mistle Thrushes (W), 110 House Martins, c6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Meadow Pipit (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler). c30 House Martin. 26 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Wigeon, fem Peregrine, ad Yellow-legged Gull (Dip or Glory).
  • London Wetland Centre: 1 Pintail, 53 Lapwings, c. 60 Herring Gulls (river), 3 Common Snipe, 7 Stonechats, 7 Redwings NW, 15 Meadow Pipits SW, 14 Goldcrests, 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Warblers, 35 Goldfinches, 2 Reed Buntings SW + 8 on site (NPS/DM).
  • Trent Park Area: 2 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 13 Mandarin Duck, flew over; 1 Kestrel, at Park Farm; 1 Green Woodpecker, Hog Hill; 1 Skylark, at Parkside Farm; 1 Swallow, at Parkside Farm; c20 Meadow Pipit, at Parkside Farm; 9 Pied Wagtail, at South Lodge Farm; 2(male & fem/imm) Stonechat, at Vicarage Farm; 1 fem/imm Northern Wheatear, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm; 1 Song Thrush; 3 Mistle Thrush, at Park Farm; 3 Goldcrest, Rough Lot (Robert Callf).
  • Holland Park: 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Nuthatch (David Jeffreys).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Common Redstart (Tree Sparrow hedge, Tytt Farm), Ringed Plover, Stonechat, 5 Swallow, 11 M/Pipit, Skylark, 2 Wigeon Little Grebe (Steve B).
  • Osterley Park (11-11.30am): Kestrel, 2 Stonechat (pair on Brentford FC fence), 13 M. Pipit. Brentford pitches mostly occupied by footballers - I think they thought I was some kind of spy! (Tom Smith).
  • Brent Reservoir: No luck finding the Great Grey Shrike 11:40 - 13:30 (David Howdon).

Thursday 2nd October

  • Brent Reservoir: Great Grey Shrike still present at 15.30 in usual place on north bank at the dam end; access from end of Birchen Grove NW9 & follow tarmac path towards reservoir, see photo (Andrew Self).
  • Harold Hill: Redwing (ELBF).
  • Rainham Marshes: Peregrine, 14 Ringed Plover, 5 Common Snipe, Curlew, 21 Redshank, Common Sandppiper, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, Kingfisher, 2 Whinchat, 3 Goldcrest, 46 Greenfinch, 3 Siskin (ELBF).
  • Fairlop: Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Grey Partridge, 2 Pheasant, 35 Lapwing, Short Eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Swallow, Meadow Pipit (ELBF).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Siskin (50th species for site this year), 5 Mistle Thrushes 0800-0830 (Bob Watts).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Wigeon, 2 Peregrine, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: c8 Stonechat, at least 2 Whinchat remain & c70 Meadow Pipit (David Lindo).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, Northern Wheatear (SBC).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 100+ House Martins, 5 Swallows, 1 Reed Warbler, 2+ Jackdaws, c15 Chiffchaffs, 9 Meadow Pipits over (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Laurence Pitcher). 1 Kingfisher. 28 sp. recorded (TeRNS).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ringed Plover, 2 Stonechat, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 6 M/pipit, 3 Skylark, Little Grebe, 3 Common Gull + usual low numbers of ducks, shed-loads of Canadas (Steve B).
  • Trent Park: 7 Common Crossbill (inc 1 male) (any directions?...yes..go to the car park at Hadley Road,follow the one-way signs and park in the furthest car park,enter the Park on to the path and the wood immediately ahead is Moat Wood, position yourself at the southern edge of Moat Wood and view the Western hemlock on the woodland edge. The best time seems to be between 4.30 pm and 6.00pm).Present today: (Roy Beddard, Robert Callf, Bob Husband plus others anon},also c10 Siskin, 3 Meadow Pipit, 10 Mandarin (7m,3f), Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, 2 G.S Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (Pete Lowman).
  • Bedfords Park: 12 Goldcrest, 8 Song Thrush, House Martin (ELBF).
  • South Weald Cricket Pitch: Spotted Flycatcher (ELBF).
  • Barbican Centre EC1: escape Wood Duck, 2 Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 4 Common Buzzard, at Plumridge Farm; 2 Kestrel; 1 Little Owl, at Vicarage Farm; 3 Green Woodpecker; 5 Chiffchaff,(4 Trent Park, 1 Park Farm); 5 Goldcrest; 1 Treecreeper; 2 Lesser Redpoll, feeding in Silver Birches, by tube-line, near Cockfosters entrance; 3 Siskin; 7+ Common Crossbill, Camlet Hill; 1 female Bullfinch (Robert Callf).

Wednesday 1st October

  • Hounslow Heath LNR: Dartford Warbler and 2 Stonechats - possibly yesterdays birds at Osterley (Chris Slack per Adam Cheeseman)
  • Kensal Green Cemetery: Common Redstart, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Meadow pipit, 6 Coal Tit (Dave Renham).
  • Paddington W2: Manx Shearwater picked up in a communal bin-shed at Pembroke House, Hallfield Estate by council workers and moved to cover under nearby bushes early p.m.; recovered just after 15:00hrs and taken into care at Paddington Green; appears to be in good health (Des McKenzie); released at the Thames at Greenland Pier, Rotherhithe, 1911hrs and drifted downriver (photo at http://tinyurl.com/4fd42j (Bob Watts, Richard Bonser, Nick Tanner, David Bradnum et al), 9 Tufted Ducks appeared on Greenland Dock this a'noon (Richard Bonser).
  • Brent Reservoir: Great Grey Shrike present at 10.15 in usual place on north bank at the dam end; see photo (Roy Beddard per AS). Still 13:30 at least & showing well in the sunshine (J.Murray); until flushed by selfish birder at 17.30 (JL)
  • London Wetland Centre: 31 Wigeon, 7 Common Snipe, 10 House Martin SW, 10 Meadow Pipit, 7 Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Redwing NE (LWC website).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
  • Walpole park (Ealing): 2 Grey Wagtail (Jim Fell).
  • Upney Station: 11 House Martin over heading North towards Mayesbrook Park at 08.15 (Richard Harrison).
  • Battersea Power Station: Peregrine mobbed by 2 crows and perching on new apartment buildings at Battersea/Wandsworth border 08:00hrs (Birdguides).
  • Arnos Park, N11: 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 Chiffchaff; 2 Goldcrest, together (Robert Callf).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Peregrine, Reed Warbler, 60+ House Martins, 1 Sand Martin, 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Goldcrests, 51 Shovelers (inc. many in from W), c30 Gadwall, 10 Meadow Pipits over (two down), c200 Black-headed Gulls, Reed Bunting, 4 Grey Wagtails (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Firecrest with Goldcrests, SE quarter, 1200 (Tony Butler per MJP); no sign 1300-1500, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrests (MJP)
  • Osterley Park: no sign of yesterday's Dartford Warbler, Yellow-legged Gull ad on Brentford FC training pitches, Common Buzzard 1, Sparrowhawk m/f, Grey Wagtail 1, Chiffchaff 2, Nuthatch 1, Gadwall 5, Cormorant 21, Pied Wagtail 61, Mipit 10, House Martin 8 SW, Kingfisher 1 (Keith Fisher).
  • Trent Park: 7 Common Crossbill ( inc 2 males), 2 Siskin, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Mandarin, 2 Mistle Thrush. ( Fay Broom, Robert Callf, Bob Husband, Pete Lowman, Robin Morden).
  • Banstead Downs: 1 Bullfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, c3 Goldcrests, 2 Grey Herons over, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over, 17 Jackdaws over, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Jays (David Campbell).
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