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From Croydon Birders

Contents 1 Croydon sightings for 2009 2 September 3 August 4 July 5 June 6 Previous Months

Croydon sightings for 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. We would still like to know of such potential breeding records, so please e-mail them to us.

If posting records from a private garden include the street name, but do not give the house number.

We now have a separate page for recording sightings of species other than birds, eg mammals, dragonflies, butterflies, etc. Click on the link here to access Other Wildlife.

September

• 17th - South Norwood CP. Approx 500 Feral Pigeons flew north in flocks of up to 40 in a quarter of an hour around 08:00. 100+ Woodpigeons on site (approx 50% immature birds). 3 Shovelers, 1 Little Grebe, 4 young Cormorants, 1 Meadow Pipit, 20+ Long-tailed Tits, several Chiffchaffs. (John Birkett)
• 17th - MacDonalds,London Road, Thornton Heath-Grey wagtail (Mike N)
• 16th - South Norwood Lake - 2 Cormorant, 6 Black-headed Gull, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1f Kestrel, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, (John Watson)
• 15th - South Norwood Lake- 10:15am Common Buzzard being mobbed by 6 Carrion Crows, 30 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest,(John Watson)
• 15th - 19 Pied Wagtails Lloyd Park (Peter Phillips)
• 13th - Thornton Heath. 8 Swallows over NE (Mike Netherwood)
• 13th - three Redwings flew towards Sanderstead Plantation at 07:30. (John Birkett)
• 12th - Riddlesdown. Mixed flock of pigeons = 40+ Stock Doves, 50 Feral Pigeons, a few Woodpigeons. Flock of 30+ Long-tailed Tits, 25+ Blue Tits, 2+ Chiffchaffs. 40+ Jackdaws, 2 Pheasants, 1 female and 1 imm Kestrel, 5 Swallows heading north(!), 10+ Goldfinches, 3+ Bullfinches. Only one Skylark. (John Birkett)
• 12th - Sanderstead Rec. 12+ Pied Wagtails, a good local count. (John Birkett)
• 12th - South Norwood CP - 2 x Little Grebe (07.00am), small numbers of Blackcaps, Whitethroats
• 10th - Pollards Hill S.-Grey Heron flushed by crows from adjacent garden @ 06:30
• 9th - Sparrowhawk over Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead. (John Birkett)
• 8th - South Norwood Lake (12pm): 1 Little Grebe, 3 Swifts (GH per John Watson)
• 8th - South Norwood CP. One Hobby drifting over at 18:30, one Little Grebe, several Chiffchaffs with Long-tailed Tit flock, 4+ Stock Doves. (John Birkett)
• 7th - Pollards Hill. Flock 15 Goldfinch, 1 G.S.Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker,2 Jay all in garden a.m.
• 6th - South Norwood Lake area (12pm): 3 different Hobby sightings in 15 minutes period (Gavin Hawgood & John Watson)
• 6th - South Norwood CP - Little Grebe (09.15am), Sedge Warbler roaming with mixed flock, 2 x Common Gull, 1 Lesser BB Gull (Dave Thrussell)
• 5th - Immature Peregrine on Nestle at 17:45. (John Birkett)
• 1st - South Norwood Lake area (10am): Hobby hawking above tree-line (GH per John Watson)
• 1st - South Norwood CP. Female Sparrowhawk seen briefly as it dashed out of cover to chase a Long-tailed Tit. (John Birkett)

August

• 29th - South Norwood Lake (10am): 1 Sand Martin, 2 House Martins, 4 Swifts & 2 Swallows (juvs) over Lake at same time (Gavin Hawgood & John Watson)
• 29th - South Norwood CP - Kingfisher flyover on 2 occasions at pond (Dave Thrussell)
• 24th - Park Hill, pair of mistle thrushes feeding on primary school field (Romney Tansley)
• 23rd - South Norwood Country Park: 1 Hobby and 1 Willow Warbler (Michael Mac per London Birders)
• 22nd - South Norwood Lake/Beaulieu Heights area (12pm): Excellent views of Hobby (Gavin Hawgood & John Watson)
• 22nd - South Norwood Lake (10am): 1 Common Tern flying over (NNW) (Gavin Hawgood & John Watson)
• 20th - Amazing spectacle of Sparrowhawk and Hobby in aerial duel over Waddington Way Upper Norwood SE19 approx 4.30pm (Linda & Terry Osborn)
• 12th - South Norwood CP, Common Tern seen fishing in the lake (Romney Tansley)
• 11th - South Norwood CP. Kingfisher, family of Tufted Ducks, Reed Warbler, Cormorant, Kestrel. (John Birkett)
• 10th - Roundshaw Common/Croydon Airport/Purley Way - family group of 4 or 5 Meadow Pipits (Derek Lea)
• 9th - Whitehorse Meadow Nature Area, SE25 - late(ish) Swift (Gavin Hawgood)
• 9th - Flyover of at least 3 House Martins Virginia Road Thornton Heath plus up to 12 House Sparrows and 8 Long Tailed Tits regulary in the garden (Linda & Terry Osborn)
• 8th - Littleheath Woods - Juvenile Sparrowhawk. 4 Stock Doves (Ted Forsyth)
• 7th - Juvenile Sparrowhawks in both Selsdon Wood and Kingswood. Little Owl in Mossyhill Shaw (Ted Forsyth)
• 4th -South Norwood CP: Hobby chasing Swift (Steven Robinson - per London Birders)
• 3rd Riddlesdown. Several Skylarks, including two carrying food, also Whitethroat with food. Three Meadow Pipits (one singing), one Yellowhammer singing, four Stock Doves. (John Birkett)
• 2nd - South Norwood Lake (10am): 2 juvenile (female) Sparrowhawks "chasing" each other 50 feet above the Lake itself (Gavin Hawgood / John Watson)
• 2nd - Hutchinsons Bank - Peregrine circling high overhead at 10:30hrs (John Parish)

July

• 31st - Pittville Gardens, SE25 (3pm): Hobby "hawking" & drifting ESE (Gavin Hawgood)
• 30th - South Norwood Lake (11am): Common Buzzard drifting high (ESE) (Gavin Hawgood / John Watson)
• 28th - South Norwood CP. One Kestrel, female Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Herons (2 adults and 4 juveniles) on lake at same time, several juvenile Black-headed Gulls with adults. (John Birkett)
• 26th - South Norwood CP: Hobby hunting over site - narrowly missed catching an LBJ over the lake (Steven Robinson per London Birders)
• 25th - Croydon town centre. Two Grey Wagtails (one young). (John Birkett)
• 23rd - Park Hill. 10:30 hrs. Most unexpectedly, a Cuckoo was seen to fly across the lower section of Park Hill Rise before disappearing into thick foliage beyond. (John Parish)
• 21st - South Norwood CP. Hobby over visitor centre and Croydon Arena at 19:10. Singing Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting. (John Birkett)
• 19th - Chapel Bank - A Red Kite flew low from north to south along the reserve at 12:20 (not actually seen within Croydon borough boundary but must have been there a couple of minutes earlier). Also three Swallows hawking insects low over the grass in the set-aside field - just like old times! (John Parish)
• 19th - Farthing Downs - Family of spotted flycatcher, estimate 3 heard though only one adult seen amidst foliage in spite of lengthy looking! Brilliant. Also families of whitethroat, linnet and starlings, and one male house sparrow. Yellowhammer and skylark singing. 1 meadow pipit calling. Sparrowhawk over Coulsdon. (David Hayes)
• 18th - Sparrowhawk over Briton Hill Road. (John Birkett)
• 4th - c.25 Mistle Thrushes together in a loose flock, north over Melville Avenue around 6pm (Alan Pearson and Jonathan East)
• 3rd - Pollards Hill-3 juv.Nuthatch on nut feeder. 2adult 1 juv.Great spot.1 Kestrel over.1 Jackdaw over (Mike Netherwood)

June

• 29th - Hobby over Coulsdon Common, causing consternation amongst Housemartins. (Alan Pearson)
• 29th - (7.30pm) Pittville Gardens, SE25: almost directly above garden, a male (probably) Peregrine circling for at least a minute at approx 300ft, then “hoofing” it (no wing beats whatsoever!) mighty fast towards Central Croydon (Gavin Hawgood)
• 27th - Riddlesdown. 4 singing Yellowhammers, 8+ Skylarks singing, plus a probable family party seen, 3 displaying Meadow Pipits, 1 Garden Warbler singing, good numbers of Whitethroat and Blackcap, Willow Warbler singing near Atwood School. (John Birkett)
• 26th - Jackdaw over Duppas Hill Park (Simon Harris)
• 24th - Park Hill Park: The same young Green Woodpecker as yesterday (or its sibling) still calling repeatedly from the nest hole; then, about 300 metres away, a more advanced juvenile was clinging to the brickwork of the Water Tower, also calling repeatedly but more loudly - probably originated from a second nest. (John Parish)
• 23rd - Riddlesdown: 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Chiffchaff all singing in scrub near quarry. 5 Swifts over car park. (Gill Flinn)
• 23rd - Park Hill Park: A fledgling Green Woodpecker, head protruding from a nest hole, giving repeated, rather Jackdaw-like calls - only 250 metres from Fairfield Halls! (John Parish)
• 23rd - South Norwood CP. At least one adult and three juvenile Kestrels, 1 singing Reed Bunting, 2+ Reed Warblers. (John Birkett)
• 21st - Farthing Downs - 07.00hrs - 1 little owl, the most recent of a number of sporadic sightings over the last couple of years, family of bullfinches, 2 juveniles. (David Hayes)
• 21st - South Norwood Lake - 10-00hrs 12-00hrs - 1 Great Crested Grebe, c40 Swift, 1 Singing Garden Warbler,4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch 4 House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 20th - South Norwood Lake. 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, c20 Swift, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood per London Birders)
• 19th - South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck. 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Song Thrush, 1adult 2juv Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff,4 Swift, 5 House Sparrow,(John Watson per London Birders)
• 18th - Hutchinson's Bank - 6.30pm - 24 Swifts flying north (Ted Forsyth)
• 18th - South Norwood Lake - 10:00am 1 Great Crested Grebe,3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap,4 Great Spotted Woodpecker,1 Pied Wagtail, 4 House Sparrow,11:05am 1m Kestrel over Goathouse Bridge then flew West towards South Norwood High Street,(John Watson)
• 16th - Coulsdon. 6.00pm. Approx 100 swifts in a loose but definite group, flying south (in leisurely fashion), away from a thunderstorm. Never seen anything like it, pretty certain the group included birds from some distance. House martins seem to have given up on Coulsdon. Chiffchaff and whitethroat singing from nearby railway embankment for several days now. Family group of goldfinchs using the feeder for several days. 1 reed warbler singing it's heart out from reeds, St James's Park, C London. (David Hayes)
• 14th - Atlas work in New Addington. Several singing Skylarks. Good number of Starlings and House Sparrows. (John Birkett)
• 13th - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Tit in Selsdon Park during BTO survey. House Martins finally seen back at the second nest site in Sanderstead. (John Birkett)
• 13th - South Norwood Lake (10:00-12:00) pair Great Crested Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck,(11:00hrs)Common Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, c6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Swift, 3 Nuthatch, 3 Song Thrush, c12 Long-tailed Tit,(John Watson Gavin Hawgood)
• 12th - South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet,2juv Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff,6 House Sparrow (John Watson per London Birders)
• 12th 9 p.m. Sanderstead pond; there was a grey heron standing on the central growth of reeds, etc. (Piers Hubbard)
• 11th - South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull,14 Ring-necked Parakeet, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker + 2juv, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Swift, 2 House Martin,8 House Sparrow,(John Watson per London Birders)
• 10th - South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe,15 Tufted Duck, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker + 2juv, c30 Swift, 2 House Martin,1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 7 House Sparrow,(John Watson per London Birders)
• 10th - South Norwood Country Park. 10 - 20 swifts overhead by lake and Elmers End Road.(Ernest Thomason)
• 10th - Millers Pond. 4- 6 Swifts overhead, 1 Grey Heron feeding, Canada Geese with 17 goslings, and another with 12 goslings, making over 40 Canada geese for this small lake.(Ernest Thomason)
• 9th & 10th - North End. A Goldfinch singing persistenly on both mornings from the highest point of the facade above McDonalds. (John Parish)
• 8th - South Norwood Lake:pair Great Crested Grebe,12 Tufted Duck,2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Jay, c30 Swift, 2 House Martin, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 House Sparrow, 2 Nuthatch,(John Watson per London Birders)
• 8th - Pollards Hill. Pair of G.S.Woodpecker with 1 Juv + R.N.Parakeet feeding young.(Mnetherwood)
• 5th - South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe,12 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron,1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker (4juv)c12 Swift, 3singing Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, c15 Long-tailed Tit (London Birders = John Watson)
• 5th - Central Croydon - Swift over Fairfield Halls. (John Birkett)
• 4th - Pollards Hill. 2 G.s.Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch (first for year) all in garden at the same time. Also singing Blackcap,family party of 12 L.t.tit & House Sparrow family (at last!)Mike Netherwood
• 4th - South Norwood CP. 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mute Swan, singing Reed Warbler, singing Reed Bunting, Kestrel. (John Birkett)
• 3rd - South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 1m Hobby, m f Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker (3juv), 2 Nuthatch, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Swifts. (per London Birders = John Watson)
• 2nd - South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck,12 Ring-necked Parakeet,7 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker (4Juv)1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Swift,(London Birders = John Watson)
• 2nd - First House Martins of year at one of the Sanderstead breeding locations, but none seen at one of the others (where scaffolding was being erected in a neighbouring house). (John Birkett)
• 1st - Park Hill, Kestrel over Chepstow Rise at 05:30 was our first garden record of the species since March 2003 (John Parish)
• 1st - Park Hill, male house sparrow seen singing on Alpine Close; kestrel seen on Minster Drive and 4 swifts overhead (Romney Tansley)

Previous Months

Because of the great effort put in by our local recorders, this page was getting rather long. It has therefore been decided by the site administrators that this page will now only contain sightings for the current and previous months. All other sightings for this year can be found by clicking on the relevant month links below -

January 2009 - February 2009 - March 2009 - April 2009 - May 2009