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!

2006 Wormwood Scrubs Year List – thus far

Great Crested Grebe Cormorant Grey Heron Little Egret Mute Swan Greylag Canada Goose Egyptian Goose Shelduck Mallard Tufted Duck Sparrowhawk Peregrine Kestrel Hobby Lapwing Greenshank Whimbrel Snipe Black-headed Gull Common Gull Mediterranean Gull Great Black-back Lesser Black-back Herring Gull Common Tern Feral Pigeon Stock Dove Woodpigeon Collared Dove Rose-ringed Parakeet Cuckoo Swift Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Skylark Sand Martin House Martin Swallow Meadow Pipit Tree Pipit Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Yellow Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Nightingale Common Redstart Whinchat Stonechat Northern Wheatear Song Thrush Redwing Mistle Thrush Fieldfare Blackbird Ring Ouzel Garden Warbler Blackcap Common Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Goldcrest Spotted Flycatcher Pied Flycatcher Great Tit Blue Tit Long-tailed Tit Magpie Jay Carrion Crow Rook Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Bullfinch Linnet Goldfinch Greenfinch

84 Species