LatestNews

From Croydon Birders

Contents 1 Croydon sightings for 2011 2 Croydon Bird Report 3 Avian Pox 4 November 2011 5 October 2011 6 Archived Records for 2011

Croydon sightings for 2011

Please note that records submitted to this website will be shared with the RSPB Croydon Local Group for use in their survey of birds in Croydon. We may get back to you for more info about records of scarcer species and records of other wildlife as records posted here may also be submitted to the London Natural History Society and the Surrey county bird recorder. Do not post records on this website unless you are happy for them to be shared with the other organisations mentioned here.

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 if you wish, but do not give the house number.

There is 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.

Croydon Bird Report

Copies of the 2010 Croydon Bird Report are now available by post from John Birkett, 24 Briton Hill Road, Sanderstead, CR2 0JL. Price £3.00 incl p&p (cheques payable to RSPB Croydon Local Group).**

Copies of the book "Two Centuries of Croydon Birds" are also available from John, price £11.50 by post.

Avian Pox

Information has been received by the RSPB Croydon Local Group of at least two incidents of avian pox in the Croydon area. One was in Upper Norwood and the other around Selsdon Woods. We are worried by this outbreak of avian pox. Anyone seeing birds, particularly great tits, with warty like growths up to 1cm in size should phone the RSPB 01767 69390 or e-mail wildlife@rspb.org.uk with details. This is so the extent of the outbreak can be monitored. It may be spread by insects, bird to bird contact or contact with contaminated surfaces or water. There is no cure; extreme cleanliness could reduce it spreading. It is only found in birds, so is not a threat to humans or animals. Google ‘RSPB Avian Pox’ to obtain more information.

November 2011

• 6th - Sanderstead (Briton Hill Road): 25+ Goldfinches in and over the garden (highest count ever) and 24 Starlings (highest count here for a long time), 1 Redpoll. (JB)
• 6th - South Norwood Country Park: 10 Shoveler, despite attentions of 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull 11 tiny Mallard young still surviving, 12 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Gull, Grey Wagtail (JAH)
• 5th - Fathering Down; 10+Carrion Crow,10+Woodpigeon,1 Yellowhammer,4 Field Fare,(D W)
• 5th - South Norwood Country Park: Short-eared Owl clutching prey and circling while being mobbed by crows between 8.36-8.43am. Drifted off vaguely south-west. (JAH + Phil Mott) 7+ Shoveler, 2 Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull (one with Mallard egg in beak coming away from the bank where Mallard brood were being guarded by parent birds), Fieldfare and Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 1/2 Bullfinch (JAH) (2/3 Reed Bunting seen by Phil Mott).
• 5th - Selsdon Wood (Kingfisher Gardens) 2 Tawny Owls calling from nearby (Ernie Thomason)
• 4th - South Norwood Country Park (11:30): 1 Kingfisher; single fem Mallard closely guarding twelve (12) brand new chicks! (Gavin Hawgood)
• 4th - South Norwood Country Park (11:05): 10-mins excellent views of Short-eared Owl ("attended" by several Carrion Crows), initially spiralling up from lake then flying fairly high W towards central Croydon (Gavin Hawgood)
• 3rd - Lloyd Park; am, 29sp, best of bunch:- 3 Common Gull, 24 Rose-ringed Parakeet, 9 Stock Dove, 3 Pied Wagtail, 38 Blackbird; 4 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 21 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 4 Siskin. (John Parish)
• 3rd - South Norwood Country Park: 14 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Gull, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Bullfinch (in rowans by Visitor Centre) (JAH)
• 2nd - Croydon area (viewed from top of Streatham Common) 7.10-7.50 am: 1330 Wood Pigeons over heading SW in flocks of 10 to 150. Also 9 ring-necked parakeets mobbing a sparrowhawk and a flock of c30 goldfinches on the common (London Bird Club wiki)
• 2nd - Sanderstead/South Croydon: 08.05 c150 Wodpigeons south over Purley Beeches. 08.20 c30 Redpolls and c30 Starlings over Purley Oaks station. (JB)
• 2nd - South Norwood Lake, Peregrine Falcon N/NE, Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe,15 Tufted Duck,1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,c20 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Nuthatch, c40 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch,8 Chaffinch, 4 Jay, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet,(John Watson)
• 2nd - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mistle Thrush, male Bullfinch in Scrub (JAH)
• 1st - Shirley Park Golf Course: early am (in the rain); 30 sp, best of bunch:- 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 60+ Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 1 Lesser B-B Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 3 Stock dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Mistle Thrush, 10 Redwing, 2 Coal Tit, 4 Jay. (John Parish)
• 1st - South Norwood Country Park: c15 Redpoll (JAH)
• 1st - South Norwood Lake: Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe,20 Tufted Duck, c40 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,1 Nuthatch, 6 Jay, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Coal Tit, c10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Collared Dove, c40 Goldfinch,6 Greenfinch,Chaffinch, (John Watson)

October 2011

• 31st - South Norwood Lake, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, 30 Tufted Duck, c40 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 6+ Jay, 3 Collared Dove, c30 Goldfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 31st - Green Woodpecker flushed by dog walker on Duppas Hill Park (SH)
• 30th - Farthing Downs: 4 crossbills over flying due west, a life tick for this site. Sparrowhawk, kestrel, a few fieldfares in adjacent fields, 8 redwings, 3 bullfinches, chaffinch, linnet and goldfinch. 3 goldcrests. A flock of 50+ starlings, 1 redpoll over, 6 common gulls in adjacent fields among c crows and jackdaws. 1 great spooted and 2 green woodpeckers. (David Hayes)
• 30th - South Noreood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, c20 Black-headed Gull,1m Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c10 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 4 Jay, 5 Lesser Redpoll, c20 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 30th - South Norwood Country Park: 11 Shoveler, 12 Cormorant, 101 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 6 Redwing, Jackdaw, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 30th - Park Hill - Possible Woodcock flushed only saw outline of bird.(Ernie Thomason)
• 30th - Addington Park - Possible Woodcock flushed (Ernie Thomason)
• 29th - Farthing Down: 4 Blue Tit.1 Robin,2 Jay,2 Chaffinch,5 Goldfinch,6 Woodpigeon,2 Dunnock,4 Carrion Crow,1 Great Tit,1 Song Thrush,2 Yellowhammer,1 Wheatear,15 Starling,( D.W.)
• 29th - South Norwood Country Park: Teal, 3 Shoveler, 21 Comorant (site record count), Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Goldcrest (JAH)
• 28th - Jackdaw in garden -a first -this am. (Linda & Terry Osborn)
• 27th - Roost of Pied Wagtails seen forming in trees at East Croydon Bus interchange (SH)
• 26th - Park Hill Park; am; 17sp, best of bunch:- 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 GS Woodpecker, 24 Blackbirds, 23 Goldfinch. (John Parish)
• 25th - Tram from Lebanon Road to New Addington: House Sparrows noisy at both tramstops. (John Parish)
• 25th - South Norwood Country Park: 4 Greylag Goose, 9 Shoveler, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Kingfisher, 3 Goldcrest (JAH)
• 24th - Sanderstead (Briton Hill Road): 6+ Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, 6+ Goldfinches. (JB)
• 24th - Riddlesdown: 07.50-08.30. c70 Redwings, 12 Fieldafres, 300+ Woodpigeons, 20+ Stock Doves, 4+ Skylarks, 2 Linnets, 1 Cormorant southwest. (JB)
• 24th - South Norwood Lake: 09:00-10:45hrs, Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 30 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, c70 Black-headed Gull, 1imm Common Gull, 2imm Herring Gull, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker,1 Nuthatch,3 Pied Wagtail,5 Jay,c40 Goldfinch,8 Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 12 Long-tailed Tit,15 Ring-necked Parakeet, (John Watson)
• 23rd - South Norwood Country Park: 9 Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe,10 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 82 Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, Goldcrest (JAH)
• 23rd - South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 50 Black-headed Gull, 25 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1m Kestrel, 4 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thruch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 5 Jay, c60 Goldfinch, Greenfinch Chaffinch(John Watson)
• 22nd - South Norwood CP: Bullfinch (London Bird Club wiki).
• 22nd - South Norwood Lake: Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 28 Black-headed Gull, 5 Cormorant, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, c20 Long-tailed Tit, c30 Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, (John Watson)
• 22nd - Addington Hills: am,19sp, best of bunch:- 8 Redwings, Fieldfare heard, 22 Robins, 14 Wrens, 4 Goldcrests, flock of 14 Magpies. (John Parish)
• 21st - South Norwood Lake area: Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 30 Black-headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Jay, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Long-tailed Titt, 20+ Goldfinch, Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, (John Watson)
• 20th - South Norwood Country Park: Pochard, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Jackdaw, 20 Greenfinch, 7 Siskin (JAH)
• 19th - Ballater Rd, S.Croydon; 7.30am: 1 Siskin south and 1 Grey Wagtail over (AJP)
• 19th - Pollards Hill South a.m.1 Skylark over W.Grey wagtail over W.More Chaffinches every direction.1 Siskin over p.m. (MJN)
• 19th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Greylag Goose (over), 9 Shoveler, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove, Jackdaw (JAH)
• 18th - South Norwood Country Park: 9 Shoveler, Pochard, 4 Pheasant, 11 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 56 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher, 2 Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest (41 species) (JAH)
• 17th - South Croydon (Timberling Gardens): Red Kite over at c09.25 (Mike Earp)
• 17th - Brighton Road: PM. Tawny owl briefly accompanying me along the road! Almost fell off me bike I did. (David Hayes)
• 17th - Lloyd Park: am, 24 sp, best of bunch:- 1 f/imm Kestrel, 1 m Sparrowhawk, 4 Stock Doves, 1 Redwing over, 15 Jays, 4 Jackdaws. (John Parish)
• 16th - Purley Way: Black Redstart at Wyevale Garden Centre (by email)
• 16th - Farthing Downs: 1 sparrowhawk, 1 kestrel, 2 bullfinches, 2 siskins over, 5 redwing, 3 swallows over, 1 green woodpecker, flocks of goldfinches and linnets, 1 redpoll over, 7 starlings, 3 goldcrests. (David Hayes)
• 16th - South Norwood Lake:09:15 Little Egret, c 12 Black-headed Gull, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron,6 Cormorant, 14 Tufted Duck, 12 Redwing, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker,4 Nuthatch, 3 Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Greenfinch,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 16th - Goat House Bridge se25, 08:45hrs 2 Grey Wagtail, (John Watson)
• 16th - South Norwood Country Park: 15 Cormorant, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldcrest, Coal Tit (JAH)
• 15th - South Norwood Lake: Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, c20 Tufted Duck, 6 Cormorant, 2juv Kestrel, 4 Redwing, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, c30 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, c10 Greenfinch, 2 House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 15th - Croham Hurst: 07.15 - 08.30 for vis mig. Most movement SW except where shown. 2 Crossbills, c600 Redwings (including one flock of c500), 10 Fieldfares, 25+ Siskins (including a flock of 10), 1 redpoll sp, steady trickle of Chaffinches, 1 Skylark, 2 'Pied' Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, c45 Starlings, 4 Jackdaws, 1 Sparrowhawk south, 1 Song Thrush south and 1 north, 117 Feral Pigeons southeast. (JB)
• 14th - Auckland Road, SE19 (3pm): male Peregrine flying low SE (Gavin Hawgood)
• 14th - South Norwood Lake (11am): <40 Redwings flying low NE over playing fields (Gavin Hawgood)
• 14th - Sanderstead: 17 Redwings south over Briton Hill Road at 07:45, 7 Redwings south over Purley Beeches at 08:05, 3 Redwings southwest over Purley Oaks station at 08:12. Also 1 Kestrel and 1 Grey Wagtail over the station. (JB)
• 14th - Pollards Hill S.-Persistant overhead Chaffinches early a.m all W.2 Redwings over.1 Green Woodpecker -garden (MJN)
• 14th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Egyptian Goose, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Blackcap, 3 Jackdaw (JAH)
• 13th - Sanderstead, Briton Hill Road: Redwings heard passing overhead at 6am. (JB)
• 13th - South Norwood Country Park: 8 Shoveler, 10 Cormorant, 2 Common Gull, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 14 Greenfinch, Siskin (JAH)
• 13th - Pollards Hill S. 20+ Redpoll over SW @ 11.00 .2 Goldcrest.1 Grey Wagtail. (MJN)
• 12th - Goat House Bridge SE25 12:30hrs 4 Fieldfare over(John Watson)
• 12th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Egyptian Goose (took off @ 7.25), 6 Shoveler, 8 Cormorant, 2 Common Gull, Stock Dove, Swallow, Grey Wagtail, 6 Redwing, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Jackdaw (JAH) Presumably one of the Egyptian Geese was the female I heard calling well after dark last night - a site first for me. (JB)
• 11th - Waddon Ponds: 3 Gadwall (2m, 1f), 7+ Little Grebes (3 adults & 4 young - 2 separate broods of 2), 2 Grey wagtails, 76 Canada Geese, 50+ Parakeets over, 60+ Coots, 40+ Starlings. Kingfisher on River Wandle nearby. (JB)
• 11th - Pittville Gardens SE25 (3pm): single Redwing flying over (Gavin Hawgood)
• 11th - Cuthbert Gardens, Ross Road SE25 (11am): <20 House Sparrows in elder bush (Gavin Hawgood)
• 10th - Sanderstead, Briton Hill Road: 2 Siskins east at 8am. (JB)
• 9th - Croham Hurst Golf Course: large flock (~50) of Redwing flying across mid-morning (Derek Lea)
• 9th - Sanderstead, Briton Hill Road: Single Fieldfare and Redwing this morning. Then 30+ Redwings at 1pm. (JB)
• 9th - South Norwood Country Park: Teal, 7 Shoveler, 11 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, 34 Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 juv. Herring Gull, 2 Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Jackdaw (JAH)
• 8th - South Norwood CP: Teal, Meadow Pipit and Grey Wagtail (London Bird Club wiki)
• 8th - South Norwood Country Park: Teal, Lesser Black-backed gull, Common Gull, Grey Wagtail, 3 Skylark (JAH)
• 7th - South Norwood Lake area: Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe +3juv, 8 Tufted Duck, 45 Coot, 2 Cormorant, 8 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Jackdaw(over) 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Nuthatch, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Jay, 1 Pied Wagtail,c12 Long-tailed Tit, c40 Goldfinch, 10 Greenfinch, Chaffinch. (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 7th - South Norwood Country Park: 19 Greylag Goose, Teal, 11 Shoveler, 6 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, 4 Chiffchaff (JAH)
• 6th - Farthing downs; 2 Stonechat,2 House Martin,20+Linnet,5+ Goldfinch, (D W)
• 6th - South Norwood Lake area: pair Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe +2 juv, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 12 Black-headed Gull, 1m Sparrowhawk, 2 House Martin, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Jay, 3 Chiffchaff, c15 Greenfinch, c20 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, (John Watson Gavin Hawgood)
• 5th - Central Croydon: male Peregrine perched on office block (AJP)
• 5th - South Croydon: Red-legged Partridge (originally reported to me as a Quail) feeding on suburban roadside verges and gardens in Croham Valley Road for second day. (JB)
• 5th - South Norwood Country Park: Teal, 7 Shoveler, 6 Cormorant, Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail (JAH)
• 4th - South Norwood Country Park: 104 Mallard, 6+ Shoveler, 4 Cormorant, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Coal Tit (JAH). At dusk Water Rail heard squealing by lake, se 2 juv, veral dozen Mallards flew in. (JB)
• 3rd - Selsdon, Old Farleigh Road: 70+ Jackdaws over, Sparrowhawk (MJN)
• 3rd - near Purley Oaks station: 2 Redwings, 3 Swallows. (JB)
• 3rd - Shirley Park Golf Course (early am): 21sp; best of bunch:- 6 Meadow Pipits over, 1 Treecreeper, 5 Redwing (John Parish)
• 2nd - Farthing Downs: 1 wheatear, 2 stonechats still present. 2 or 3 siskins heard calling but not located. Still flocks of linnet and goldfinch present. A flock of 19 skylarks over. Possible pied flycatcher in bushes to the left of the road as you are approaching the carpark, approx 100yards back from the wooden fence. Frustratingly, it was too far away (even with bins) and vanished before I could confirm my initial ID. (David Hayes)
• 2nd - South Norwood Country Park: Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Whinchat, Jackdaw (JAH)
• 1st - South Norwood Lake area: 10:45hrs 1m Northern Wheatear, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, c6 Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spottted Woodpecker, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Jay, Chaffinch, c20 Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 2 House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)

Archived Records for 2011

January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September -