David Lindo

From Londonbirders

I’ve been birding since the devil was a boy – basically, for as long as I can remember. I cut my teeth initially in the back garden of my family home in Wembley, graduating to the nearby Monks Park (between the North Circular and the Harrow Road). I used to watch wintering flocks of Tree Sparrow here in the 70’s almost taking them for granted!

By 1976 I was a Brent Res regular until the mid 90’s. I also had other patches during the 80’s including Beddington and the old Barn Elms where I used to bird with the late Rupert Hastings. I lived in Thetford, Norfolk when I was the Head of Membership at the BTO for a couple of years from 1997.

I’ve been watching the Scrubs since 1991. At first glance it is not the most appealing of sites and perhaps even a potentially dangerous place as dusk approaches. But there is a certain magic about the place.

Over the years I have found Woodlark, Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Wryneck, Ring Ouzel and Dartford Warbler here amongst other interesting migrants and accidentals. My proudest moments were when I found Britain’s first ever wintering Common Redstart in December 2004 and an Ortolan in September 2003.

Most of my birding is at the Scrubs these days as I travel abroad a lot with work. My twitching instinct is diminishing – I must admit!

Check out my website: www.theurbanbirder.com

2006 Wormwood Scrubs Year List – 89 species

Notables: Great Crested Grebe (2nd & 3rd), Little Egret (1st), Egyptian Goose (1st & 2nd), Shelduck (1st & 2nd), Tufted Duck (2nd), Peregrine (2nd & 3rd), Hobby (3 records this year including a 3 day stay), Greenshank (1st), Whimbrel (1st), Mediterranean Gull (3rd & 4th), Cuckoo (3 & 1st since 1992), Nightingale (3rd & 4th), Common Redstart (c5 biggest day count), Northern Wheatear (c42 in spring), Ring Ouzel (3rd & 1st male), Spotted Flycatcher (11 biggest day count) , Pied Flycatcher (1st spring male), Rook (2nd, 3rd & 4th) and Yellowhammer (1st)

2007 Wormwood Scrubs Year List – 87 species

Notables: Little Egret (2nd & 3rd), Egyptian Goose (3rd), Peregrine (4th), Hobby (3 records), Grey Plover (1st), Curlew (3rd & 4th) , Whimbrel (2nd), Woodcock (1st), Mediterranean Gull (5th & 1st mid-summer record), Cuckoo (3rd), Woodlark (2nd & 1st since early 90's), Richard's Pipit (2nd), Black Redstart (2nd & 3rd), Ring Ouzel (4th), Dartford Warbler (4th) and Rook (5th).

2007 Kensal Green Cemetery Year List -52 species

Notables: Buzzard (1st), Peregrine (1st), Snipe (1st), Rook (1st), Linnet (c45 in winter flock).

2008 Wormwood Scrubs Year List – Cormorant, Canada Goose, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Little Bunting 40 species thus far