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From Londonbirders

Revision as of 11:40, 8 January 2009

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

Thursday 8th January

• London Wetland Centre: Bittern flew in from west end of main lake towards wildside; Shelduck, m Peregrine hunting along Thames, 10 vocal Water Rail, Jack Snipe in vegetation on the island on the right of Dulverton hide, 2 Water Pipit, fem Stonechat, 4 Siskin - late news for yesterday: 7 Bar-headed Goose flew in at dusk, Woodcock over Sheltered Lagoon at dusk, Green Sandpiper, 50 Black-headed Gull on Main Lake at dusk (gulls don't usually roost here) (LWC website).
• Rainham Marshes: 1w Caspian Gull, 2 Penduline Tit mid-morning then flew off (Birdguides).
• Crossness LNR: Jack Snipe flushed from ditch by West Paddock this morning (Ian Miller per JA).
• Wanstead Flats (0745-0815): Grey Heron over, 5 Canada over, ZERO ducks, 10 Common Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Skylark, 2 Mipit, Pied Wagtail (J Lethbridge); (0930-1000): 162 Canada Geese on Alexandra Lake with Mallard and 8 Shoveler; severel hundred gulls (mostly Common) (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Wanstead Park: around 'The Basin' 4 Little Grebe, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufteds, Grey Heron and Cormorant over, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, 15-20 Redwing and 2 Nuthatches in St. Marys Churchyard (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Hampstead Heath (Parliament Hill end) 0810-0900: 3 Grey Heron, 2 Egyptian Goose (in flight), 10 Shoveler, 1 GSW, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 1 f Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock, 2 Pied Wagtail on athletics track (Reuben Braddock)

Wednesday 7th January

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

Tuesday 6th January

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

Monday 5th January

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

Sunday 4th January

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

Saturday 3rd January

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

Friday 2nd January

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

Thursday 1st January

Happy New Year to all London Birders

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

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