Ian Ellis

From Londonbirders

(Difference between revisions)
(→PatchList 2007 - records for Totteridge Valley / Totteridge Fields)
(→PatchList 2007 - records for Totteridge Valley / Highwood Hill)
 
(44 intermediate revisions not shown)
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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 2007 - records for Totteridge Valley / Totteridge Fields ==
+
== PatchList 2007 - records for Totteridge Valley / Highwood Hill ==
-
Summary at '''2nd January''':
+
Summary at '''30th September''':
-
No. '''visits  =  1'''
+
No. visits by ISE   =  '''27'''
-
'''2007 Species (ISE) = 48'''.......'''2007 Species (all observers) = 48'''
+
2007 Species (ISE) = '''84''' ...... 2007 Species (all observers) = '''87''' ...... 2007 as % of 2006 total (92) = '''94.6%'''
-
2007 as % of 2006 total (92) = '''52.2%'''
+
----
 +
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="30"|Status
!width="20"|Seen 2006
!width="20"|Seen 2006
-
!width="70"|First seen
+
!width="70"|Date first seen by ISE in 07
!width="380"|Notes
!width="380"|Notes
 +
|-
 +
|Little Grebe
 +
| s/2
 +
|
 +
|7th May
 +
|A pair at Moat Mount.
|-
|-
|Cormorant
|Cormorant
 +
| o/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|7th Mar
-
|Occasionally seen overhead.
+
|Singles over on 7/3 and 4/4.
|-
|-
|Grey Heron
|Grey Heron
 +
| r/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Non-breeding resident; regular along brooks and at Darlands Lake.
+
|
 +
|-
 +
|Mute Swan
 +
| r/2
 +
|
 +
|23rd Apr
 +
|One at Mote End Farm.
|-
|-
|Canada Goose
|Canada Goose
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Breeding resident; common at Long Pond and Sheepwash Pond.
+
|
|-
|-
|Mandarin Duck
|Mandarin Duck
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Breeding resident at Darlands Lake, sometimes seen elsewhere.
+
|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
 +
| w/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 50: Line 75:
|-
|-
|Mallard
|Mallard
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Breeding resident; present at most bodies of water.
+
|
|-
|-
|Shoveler
|Shoveler
 +
| w/1
|Y
|Y
|
|
-
|Winter visitor; scarce.
+
|
|-
|-
|Sparrowhawk
|Sparrowhawk
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Breeding resident; probably 3-4 pairs.
+
|Probably 3-4 pairs.
|-
|-
|Common Buzzard
|Common Buzzard
 +
| o/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|28th Apr
-
|Occasional visitor; scarce.
+
|One seen from Mote Mount on 28/4. ''2 over Totteridge Valley in August (JPC)''.
|-
|-
|Red Kite
|Red Kite
 +
| o/1
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|>>>
-
|Occasional visitor; rare.
+
|''One was seen in spring.''
|-
|-
|Kestrel
|Kestrel
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|3rd Feb
-
|Breeding resident; probably 3 pairs.
+
|Probably 3 pairs.
|-
|-
|Hobby
|Hobby
 +
|bs/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|28th Apr
-
|Summer visitor; scarce (mainly May-Sep).
+
|One seen from Mote Mount on 28/4; one at Totteridge Valley on 26/8.
|-
|-
|Pheasant
|Pheasant
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|18th Feb
-
|Breeding resident; probably 20-40 birds in the valley.
+
|Probably 20-40 birds in the valley.
|-
|-
|Red-legged Partridge
|Red-legged Partridge
 +
|br/2
|Y
|Y
 +
|7th Apr
 +
|Possibly a few pairs breed.
 +
|-
 +
|Water Rail
 +
| w/1
 +
|
 +
|
|
|
-
|Resident; possibly 1-2 pairs breed.
 
|-
|-
|Moorhen
|Moorhen
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Breeding resident; common near ponds and brooks.
+
|Common near water.
|-
|-
|Coot
|Coot
 +
|bs/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|23rd Apr
-
|Occasional visitor to Darlands Lake; scarce.
+
|Occasional visitor to Darlands Lake and Mote End Farm.
|-
|-
|Lapwing
|Lapwing
 +
|bp/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|4th Mar
-
|
+
|5 seen 4/3; 4 on 17/3 through to late April.
|-
|-
|Golden Plover
|Golden Plover
 +
| p/1
|Y
|Y
|
|
Line 115: Line 159:
|-
|-
|Woodcock
|Woodcock
 +
| w/2
|Y*
|Y*
 +
|4th Feb
 +
|One near southern end of Darlands Lake on 4/2.
 +
|-
 +
|Snipe
 +
| w/1
 +
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|Black-headed Gull
|Black-headed Gull
 +
| w/4 - s/2
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|
+
|c80 on 4/3; 6 on 7/4.
|-
|-
|Common Gull
|Common Gull
 +
| w/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|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
 +
| w/4 - s/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 135: Line 189:
|-
|-
|Herring Gull
|Herring Gull
 +
| w/3 - s/2
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 140: Line 195:
|-
|-
|Great Black-backed Gull
|Great Black-backed Gull
 +
| w/2
|Y
|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
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 150: Line 213:
|-
|-
|Stock Dove
|Stock Dove
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|
+
|
|-
|-
|Woodpigeon
|Woodpigeon
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 160: Line 225:
|-
|-
|Collared Dove
|Collared Dove
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 165: Line 231:
|-
|-
|Ring-necked Parakeet
|Ring-necked Parakeet
 +
| o/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|3rd Feb
-
|  
+
|2 regularly visiting feeders in Westbury Road gardens during Feb/Mar.
|-
|-
|Cuckoo
|Cuckoo
 +
|bp/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|14th Apr
-
|
+
|One singing at Totteridge Fields from 14/4 till at least 20/4.
|-
|-
|Tawny Owl
|Tawny Owl
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 180: Line 249:
|-
|-
|Little Owl
|Little Owl
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|4th Apr
-
|Probably 2-3 pairs.
+
|At least 3 pairs in the area.
|-
|-
|Swift
|Swift
 +
|bs/4
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|1st May
|
|
|-
|-
|Kingfisher
|Kingfisher
 +
|br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Scarce but often present along brooks or at Darlands Lake between Sept and May.
+
|Scarcer between May and Sep.
|-
|-
|Green Woodpecker
|Green Woodpecker
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|
+
|Several pairs.
|-
|-
|Greater Spotted Woodpecker
|Greater Spotted Woodpecker
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|
+
|Common and widespread, probably well in excess of 10 pairs.
|-
|-
|Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
|Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
 +
|br/2
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Possibly 1-2 pairs present.  
+
|Possibly 1-2 pairs present. 1 drumming on 9/4.
|-
|-
|Swallow
|Swallow
 +
|Bs/4
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|4th Apr
|A few breeding pairs still at Burtonhole and Frith Manor Farms.
|A few breeding pairs still at Burtonhole and Frith Manor Farms.
|-
|-
|House Martin
|House Martin
 +
|bs/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|20th Apr
-
|
+
|Last seen 30/9.
|-
|-
|Sand Martin
|Sand Martin
 +
| p/2
|Y*
|Y*
|
|
Line 225: Line 303:
|-
|-
|Skylark
|Skylark
 +
| p/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|23rd Apr
-
|
+
|Heard singing at Mote Mount on 23/4. Passage birds on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Meadow Pipit
|Meadow Pipit
 +
| p/4 - w/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|7th Mar
-
|
+
|Common on passage in Mar/Apr and Sep/Oct. 40+ on 17/3; 1 on 20/4.
|-
|-
|Yellow Wagtail
|Yellow Wagtail
 +
| p/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|12th Aug
-
|
+
|One over at Totteridge Fields on 12/8 and 27/8.
|-
|-
|Grey Wagtail
|Grey Wagtail
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|10th Mar
-
|Present along water courses in small numbers.
+
|Present along water courses in small numbers, more frequent in summer.
|-
|-
|Pied Wagtail
|Pied Wagtail
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|
+
|70+ present on ploughed field in mid-Jan.
|-
|-
|Wren
|Wren
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 255: Line 339:
|-
|-
|Dunnock
|Dunnock
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 260: Line 345:
|-
|-
|Robin
|Robin
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 265: Line 351:
|-
|-
|Redstart
|Redstart
 +
| p/2
|Y
|Y
|
|
Line 270: Line 357:
|-
|-
|Whinchat
|Whinchat
 +
| p/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|>>>
-
|
+
|''A female in the valley on 13/5 [JPC].''
|-
|-
|Stonechat
|Stonechat
 +
| p/2
|Y*
|Y*
-
|
+
|30th Sep
-
|
+
|4 at Totteridge Valley and 2 at Totteridge Fields on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Wheatear
|Wheatear
 +
| p/2
|Y
|Y
|
|
-
|
+
|Mostly encountered as a spring migrant.
|-
|-
|Blackbird
|Blackbird
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
|
|
 +
|-
 +
|Ring Ouzel
 +
| p/1
 +
|
 +
|15th Apr
 +
|A female just south of Totteridge Long Pond on 15/4.
|-
|-
|Fieldfare
|Fieldfare
 +
| w/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|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
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 300: Line 399:
|-
|-
|Redwing
|Redwing
 +
| w/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|
+
|c110 on 18th Feb, c180 on 4/3; 8+ on 4/4; 1 on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Mistle Thrush
|Mistle Thrush
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
Line 310: Line 411:
|-
|-
|Lesser Whitethroat
|Lesser Whitethroat
 +
|Bs/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|14th Apr
-
|Probably 7-8 pairs in Totteridge Valley.
+
|Probably 7-8 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
|-
|-
|Whitethroat
|Whitethroat
 +
|Bs/4
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|20th Apr
-
|Probably 13 pairs in Totteridge Valley.
+
|Probably 13 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
|-
|-
|Garden Warbler
|Garden Warbler
 +
|bs/2
|Y
|Y
 +
|7th May
|
|
-
|One singing near Folly Brook in the lower valley on 11/5.  Two on 13/5; One on 23/9.
 
|-
|-
|Blackcap
|Blackcap
 +
|Bs/4 - w/2
|Y
|Y
 +
|29th Mar
|
|
-
|A female on 4/3; first summer migrants arrived 2/4; 20+ males singing by mid-April. A male in Westbury Road from 22/10.
 
|-
|-
|Grasshopper Warbler
|Grasshopper Warbler
 +
|Bs/1
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|14th Apr
-
|A bird reeling from 17/4 through to 5/5 near the Folly Brook.
+
|One reeling from 14/4 till at least 20/4.
|-
|-
|Willow Warbler
|Willow Warbler
 +
|Bs/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|14th Apr
-
|1 on 31/3 was the first arrival; 5 singing on 16/4 but only 2 in early May.
+
|Probably 3 pairs in Totteridge Valley in 2006.
|-
|-
|Chiffchaff
|Chiffchaff
 +
|Bs/4 - w/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|11th Mar
-
|One calling on 15/1, 11+ singing 13/5.
+
|8 on 17/3; 22 on 8/4.
|-
|-
|Wood Warbler
|Wood Warbler
 +
| p/2
|Y*
|Y*
|
|
-
|''one was present at Darlands Lake on 20/4 [DW]''
+
|
 +
|-
 +
|Sedge Warbler
 +
| p/2
 +
|
 +
|23rd May
 +
|One singing at Darlands Lake on 23/5.
|-
|-
|Reed Warbler
|Reed Warbler
 +
| p/2
|Y*
|Y*
|
|
-
|''One seen in early summer [JPC]''
+
|
|-
|-
|Goldcrest
|Goldcrest
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Fairly common.  7+ singing on 13/5.  Several juvs seen on 28/8.
+
|Probably 4+ pairs in 2006.
|-
|-
|Firecrest
|Firecrest
 +
| p/1 - w/1
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|4th Apr
-
|2 at Oakfields in tit flock on 16/12.
+
|One singing at Totteridge Fields on 4/4; ''another or same singing in Totteridge Valley in April (TC)''.
|-
|-
|Spotted Flycatcher
|Spotted Flycatcher
 +
| p/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|26th Aug
-
|2 seen on 4/6. 10 present on 28/8 including at least 3 juvs; 1 on 23/9.
+
|2 at Totteridge Fields on 26/8.
|-
|-
|Long-tailed Tit
|Long-tailed Tit
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Blue Tit
|Blue Tit
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Abundant
+
|
|-
|-
|Great Tit
|Great Tit
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Coal Tit
|Coal Tit
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Fairly common
+
|
|-
|-
|Nuthatch
|Nuthatch
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Several pairs present: St Paul's wood, Mill Hill; probably also Highwood Hill and Darlands Lake.
+
|Probably 4+ pairs.
|-
|-
|Treecreeper
|Treecreeper
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Several pairs present, most obvious around Darlands Lake.
+
|Probably 4+ pairs.
|-
|-
|Jay
|Jay
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common.  20+ in valley on 21/1
+
|
|-
|-
|Magpie
|Magpie
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Abundant
+
|
|-
|-
|Jackdaw
|Jackdaw
 +
|br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common.  Max. 95 near Folly Farm on 11/2 (+ four elsewhere)
+
|Max. 180+ at Folly Farm on 1/1.
|-
|-
|Rook
|Rook
 +
| w/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common in the winter around Folly Farm.  Max. 31 on 11/2.
+
|Max. 25 at Folly Farm on 1/1.
|-
|-
|Carrion Crow
|Carrion Crow
 +
|Br/5
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common
+
|
|-
|-
|Starling
|Starling
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common.  Max. 140+ on 19/2
+
|400+ on 4/3, incl 300 near Finchley Nurseries.
|-
|-
|House Sparrow
|House Sparrow
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|2nd Jan
|2nd Jan
-
|Fairly common in residential areas.
+
|Still fairly common in residential areas.
|-
|-
|Tree Sparrow
|Tree Sparrow
 +
| o/1
|Y
|Y
|
|
-
|Irregular.  1-2 calling at Folly Farm on 31/3.
+
|
|-
|-
|Chaffinch
|Chaffinch
 +
|Br/4
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Common.  Max. 80+ at Holecombe Dale on 4/2
+
|
|-
|-
|Brambling
|Brambling
 +
|w/2
|Y
|Y
|
|
-
|A male at Highwood Hill on 2/4 then another nr Finchley Nurseries on 9/4.
+
|
|-
|-
|Greenfinch
|Greenfinch
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Fairly common
+
|
|-
|-
|Goldfinch
|Goldfinch
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Fairly common. 30+ on 28/8 near cricket club.
+
|
|-
|-
|Linnet
|Linnet
 +
|bs/2
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|20th Apr
-
|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
+
|2 at TV and 2 at TF on 20/4. ''[First sighting was one singing on 11/4 [JPC]]''
|-
|-
|Siskin
|Siskin
 +
| w/3
|Y
|Y
-
|
+
|30th Sep
-
|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.
+
|At least 2 heard over Totteridge Fields on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Lesser Redpoll
|Lesser Redpoll
 +
| w/2
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Scarce winter visitor: 3 on 15/1; 6 on 5/3; ''5 on 20/4 [DW]''.
+
|1 on 1/1; 3 on 21/1; 1 on 30/9.
|-
|-
|Bullfinch
|Bullfinch
 +
|Br/3
|Y
|Y
|1st Jan
|1st Jan
-
|Uncommon resident
+
|
 +
|-
 +
|Yellowhammer
 +
| o/2
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
|-
|-
|Reed Bunting
|Reed Bunting
 +
| o/2
|Y
|Y
|
|
-
|A female at Totteridge Fields on 9/10.
+
|
|-}
|-}
[[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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