December 2012

From Croydon Birders

• 30th - Farthing Downs: Quiet for several weeks. The usual plus 1 kestrel, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 nuthatch, 1 treecreeper, 1 goldcrest, 1 goldfinch over, 1 singing song thrush, 1 yellowhammer. (David Hayes)
• 30th - Hilltop Rd, Whyteleafe: 13 House Sparrow, 11 Collared Doves, 6 R-N Parakeet in 2 gardens. (Gill Flinn)
• 29th - Sanderstead: Sparrowhawk mobbed by 20+ Ring-necked Parakeets over Briton Hill Road at 14:45. Also 10+ Herring Gulls over. (JB)
• 29th - Selsdon Park: Woodcock flushed, 1 Kestrel, Siskin heard, otherwise fairly quiet with no woodpeckers seen or heard. (JB)
• 29th - Sanderstead Plantation: 3 Great Spotted Wooodpeckers including 2 drumming.(JB)
• 29th - Pittville Gardens, South Norwood (3pm): Fleeting glimpse of male Sparrowhawk hunting low along rly embankment (GH)
• 29th - South Norwood Lake (am): 2 Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 13m 7f Shoveler, 12 Cormorant, c350 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 imm Herring Gull, 2 Collared Dove, pair Goldcrest, 1 Fieldfare, <20 Redwing (Gavin Hawgood)
• 27th - Cullesden Rd 5.00am 1 Tawny Owl.(Dave Warren)
• 27th - South Norwood Lake (late am): 40 species, incl 2 Mute Swan, 13m 5f Shoveler, 10 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Kestrel (heard), c100 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2/3 Jackdaw, 2 Goldcrest, Coal Tit (singing), Nuthatch, 2 Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch (heard) (Gavin Hawgood)
• 26th - Melville Avenue, S. Croydon: (c.11:00) Called to neighbours' house to watch male Sparrowhawk plucking and earing Feral Pigeon on back lawn. Amazing view at about 15 metres. The hawk apparently returned to the kill about an hour later to feed some more (AJP)
• 26th - South Norwood Country Park: (9:15 - 10:30) Grey Heron; cock Pheasant; 2 Goldcrest; 10+ Long Tailed Tit; 20+ Fieldfare; 30+ Black Headed Gulls; imm. Herring Gull; female Kestrel (BB)
• 26th - Waddon Ponds:(10.00-10.30)30+ Black-Headed Gull 1 Blackbird 1 Grey Heron 4 Starling 30+Mallard 10+Moorhen 40+ Coot 1 Carrion Crow 1 Collared Dove 4 Ring-Necked Parakeet 3 Mute Swan 40+ Canada Goose 1 Pochard 20+Tufted Duck 100+Feral Pigeon 3 Little Grebe (Dave Warren)
• 26th - Kings Wood, Sanderstead: 2 Marsh Tit (Gill Flinn)
• 26th - Buttermere Gdns, Purley: 4 Redpoll and 1 Blackcap (Gill Flinn)
• 26th - Park Hill Park: 3 Siskin (John Parish)
• 24th - South Norwood Lake (1pm): pair Mute Swan, 7m 6f Shoveler, pair Great Crested Grebe, <500 Black-headed Gull on lake (c300) & playing fields (c200), 6 Common Gull, 2 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 imm Herring Gull (GH)
• 24th - Waddon Ponds: (10.00-10.30) 2 Magpie 10 Goldfinch 3 Woodpigeon 4 Starling 30+ Mallard 6+Moorhen 30+Coot 4 Carrion Crow 2 Collared Dove 3 Mute Swan 1 juv. 43 Canada Goose 30+Tufted Duck 100+Feral Pigeon 2 Little Grebe 2 Herring Gull (Dave Warren)
• 22nd - Waddon Ponds: (01.00-02.00) 2 Robin 2 Magpie 10 Black-Headed Gull 1 Blackbird 2 Woodpigeon 20+ Mallard 6+ Moorhen 30+ Coot 4 Collared Dove 2 Mute Swan 6 Canada Goose 10+ Tufted Duck 2 Little Grebe 2 Herring Gull 1 Kingfisher(dave warren)
• 21st - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-10:00hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, single Little Grebe, c30 Tufted Duck, 4m 4f Shoveler, 10 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 4imm Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 21st - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 4 Teal (3m,1f), 6 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, 5 Snipe, 4 Common Gull, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 20+ Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw, 4 Siskin + mystery bird: approx 8 ins., bright red eyes, sharp thin black beak slightly down curved, inside of long thin pale tail had a black V, plain lightish brown back, pale underside with about five dark oval markings on chest, small pale speckles on flanks. Ideas anyone? (JAH) - Without knowing what "kind" of bird (wader, passerine etc) let me take a guess: could it have been an imm. water rail? (BB)
• 20th - Waddon Ponds; 2.30-3.00 56+ Mallards30+Tufted Duck 5 Canada Geese 5 Pochard 10 Moorhens 36+ Coot 11 Black-headed Gulls 2 Mute Swans 1 Common gulls 3 Little Grebes 4 Woodpigeons 1 Chaffinch 10 Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 17 Starling 2 Herring Gulls (dave Warren)
• 20th - Park Hill Park: The first 10 or so Redwings have arrived at the damp patch beneath the trees by the childrens' play area. A sizeable flock usually remains hereabouts until March/April, together with Chaffinches and the occasional Brambling (John Parish).
• 19th - Waddon Ponds: 12.30-13.30 5 Pochard 50+ Black-Headed Gulls 5 Herring Gulls 12 Canada Goose 25 Tufted Ducks 30+ Mallards 2 Little Grebes 60+ Coot 6 Starling 15+ Moorhens 1 Blackbird 2 Egyptian Geese (one ringed BTO 1420768)(Dave Warren)
• 19th - Waddon Ponds: 11:30-12:20. 3 Mute Swans (2 adults, 1 immature) flew off at 11:40, 12 Canada Geese (including one with BTO ring 5181940 - previously seen here on19/4/11 & 10/12/11, ringed at Battersea Park on 3/7/1995), 41 Mallards,26 Tufted Ducks, 5 Pochard, 60 Coots, 18 Moorhens, 96 Black-headed Gulls (including colour ringed - 'VBA'), 2 Little Grebes, 6 Common Gulls, 4 Herring Guls, 136+ Feral Pigeons, 18 Woodpigeons, female Sparrowhawk at 12:05 spoooked everything and it was mobbed by the flock of 20+ Goldfinches. (JB)
• 19th - Wandle Park: Now partly open and can walk round pond and along the Wandle. 2 Egyptian geese, 31 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 2 imm Herring Gulls, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtails. (JB)
• 18th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-10:45hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 10 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 4imm Herring Gull, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 28 Tufted Duck, 4m 5f Shoveler, 2 Jackdaw, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Mistle Thrush, 10 Redwing, pair Bullfinch, c20 Goldfinch, Chaffinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 18th - South Norwood Country Park: Little Egret (JAH)
• 17th - Waddon Pond;20+Coot 33 Canada Goose 33 Black-Headed Gull 3 Collared Dove 1 Pochard 6 Ring-Necked Parakeet 2 Mute Swan 20+Tufted Duck 30+ Mallard 1 Common Gull 1 Carrion Crow 1 Blackbird 7 Starling 1Little Grebe 2 Woodpigon 1 Magpie( Dave Warren)
• 17th -Pollards Hill South-2 Grey wagtails in adjacent garden (MJN)
• 17th - South Norwood Country Park: Kingfisher, 3 Bullfinch (JAH)
• 16th - Kings Wood, Sanderstead: 1 Buzzard (perched near middle entrance from Kingswood Lane), 2 Treecreeper, 6 Goldcrest (Gill Flinn)
• 16th - South Norwood Lake (1.45pm): the Goosander & Shovelers have now flown, probably as a direct result of today's regular Sunday morning yachting activity (GH)
• 16th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-10:30hrs) 1fem Goosander still present, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, c130 Black-headed Gull, 2imm Herring Gull, 4 Common Gull, 6m + 5f Shoveler, 6 Jackdaws, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch 3 Greenfinch, C20 Goldfinch,(John Watson)
• 16th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 12 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Snipe, 9 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 6 Fieldfare, 3 Goldcrest, Jackdaw, 4 Siskin, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 15th - Waddon Pond; 58 Canada Goose 1 Mute Swan 47 Black Headed Gull 20+ Coot 10+ Moorhen 10+Tufted Duck 1 Great Tit 2 Little Grebe 1 Carrion Crow 2 Common Gull 4 Pochard 1 Woodpigeon 1 Herring Gull 2 Ring-Necked Parakeet (DAVE WARREN)
• 15th - South Norwood Lake (late am): ad female Goosander still present, plus pair Mute Swan, 16m 13f Shoveler, pair Great-crested Grebe, c130 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 3 imm Herring Gull, 1 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Jackdaws, 3 Mistle Thrush (Gavin Hawgood)
• 14th - South Norwood Lake:1f Goosander, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 6m 4f Shoveler, 48 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 1imm Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 20+ Goldfinch, Chaffinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 13th - Selsdon: c200 Lapwing over. Roy Weller per David Campbell)
• 13th - Waddon Pond: 12.30.01.30 40+Black-Headed Gull 4 Starling 40+Mallard 6 Moorhen 80+Coot 2 Mute Swan 8 Canada Goose 2 Egyptian Goose 6 Pochard 20+Tufted Duck 1 Cormorant 100+feral Pigeon 3 Herring Gull 2 Common Gull 1 Little Egret (Dave Warren)
• 13th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-11:00hrs) 1f Goosander (first ever sighting at this site), pair Great Crested Grebe, pair Mute Swan, 12m 9f Shoveler, 30 Tufted Duck, c140 Black-headed Gull, 8imm Herring Gull, 6 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 4 Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 13th - Russell Hill, Purley: Pair of bullfinches at the feeder (sunflower hearts) (Derek Lea)
• 12th - Waddon Pond: 12.30-01.30 33 Black-Headed Gull 4 Starling 46 Mallard 6 Moorhen 85 Coot 4 Carrion Crow 1 Collared Dove 1 Ring-Necked Parakeet 2 Mute Swan 5 Canada Goose 2 Egyptian Goose 6 Pochard 17 Tufted Duck 2 Cormorant 100+Feral Pigeon 1 Herring Gull 2 Common Gull (Dave Warren)
• 12th - Ruskin Parade, Selsdon Road, South Croydon: Waxwing heard calling; somewhere overhead but not seen; 07.40hrs, (AJP)
• 11th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-11:hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 8m 5f Shoveler, 28 Tufted Duck, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2imm Herring Gull, c100 Black-headed Gull, 3 Collared Dove, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 2 House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, 2 Coal Tit, c12 Long-tailed Tit, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 11th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 4 male Teal, 5 Shoveler, 5 Pheasant (4 male, 1 female), Cormorant, 5 Water Rail (1 in Harrington stream, 1 in stream at Elmer's End entrance + 3 others calling around the lake), 8 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 10 Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw, 3 Siskin, 2 Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch (JAH)
• 10th - Waddon Pond: 1 Magpie 4 Blackbird 40+Ring-Necked Parakeet 5 Pochard 27 Canada Goose 30+ Coot 2 Egyptian Goose 20+Black-Headed Gull 10+Moorhen 20+Woodpigeon 5 Starling 67 Mallard 2 Mute Swan one Juv.30+Tufted Duck 5 Little Grebe 2 Carrion Crow 1 Dunnock 2 Collared Dove 1 Herring Gull 50+Feral Pigon. (David Warren)
• 10th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 8 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Little Egret, 6 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Snipe, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Fieldfare, 3 Goldcrest, Jackdaw (JAH)
• 9th - Farthing Downs: Quiet for a few weeks now, no linnet for at least a month, but 1 kestrel, 2 goldcrest, 3 bullfinch, 1 meadow pipit, 1 great spotted woodpecker. (David Hayes)
• 9th - Lloyd Park: Woodcock.(P Phillips)
• 9th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 5 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, 7 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, Jackdaw, Siskin, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 8th - South Norwood Lake (late am): 38 species incl 2 Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 18 Cormorant, 3m 3f Shoveler, c100 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail (Gavin Hawgood)
• 8th - South Norwood Country Park: 51 species: 2 Mute Swan, Teal, 11 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Water Rail, Lapwing (over), Snipe, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Jackdaw, 3 Siskin, 2 Linnet, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 7th - Kings Wood, Sanderstead: at least three Marsh Tits in north east corner wiith 10+ Long-tailed Tits. (JB)
• 7th - New Addington, Rowdown area (originally incorrectly posted as Riddlesdown, oops): 14 Lapwings north at 13:50, 2 Sparrowhawks. These were eclipsed when an immature Peregrine flew north at 14:15. Even better was the Merlin in a field that then flew north at 14:55! Also three Bullfinches, 1 Meadow Pipit, 30+ Chaffinches. (JB)
• 7th - Kent Gate Way: 50+ Jackdaws and 140+ Carrin Crows at dusk. ((JB)
• 7th - Russell Hill: 2 bramblings in bushes adjacent to road. (David Hayes)
• 6th - Waddon Pond;(12.30 01.30) 1 Mute Swan,20+ Black-Headed Gull,3 Blackbird,20+Mallard,1O+Moorhen,30+Coot,2 Collared Dove,27 Canada Goose,2 Egyptian Goose,3 Pochard,30+Tufted Duck,2 Little Grebe,2 Common Gull,1 Kingfisher,2 Herring Gull.(Dave Warren)
• 6th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-11:00hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 2m Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, 7m 5f Shoveler, 6 Cormorant, c80 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Jackdaw (over), 2 Fieldfare, 4 Jay, 2 Collared Dove, 6 Goldcrest, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, group of 2m 2f Bullfinch, Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, c30 Goldfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 6th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 4 Shoveler, Water Rail, 5 Snipe, 7 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 6 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 6 Redwing, Goldcrest, Jackdaw, Siskin, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 5th -Waddon Pond:(1230-1.30) 2 Mute Swan 20+Black-Headed Gull 3 Blackbird 1 Wren 1 Goldfinch 10+Mallard 10+ Moorhen 30+Coot 1 Carrion Crow 3 Collared Dove 27 Canada Goose 2 Egyptian Goose 1 Pochard 30+Tufted Duck 50+Feral Pigeon 2 Little Grebe 2 Common Gull 1 Kingfisher (Dave Warren)
• 5th -South Norwood Lake:(09:00-10-40hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, c80 Black-headed Gull, 12 Cormorant, 5 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1m Shoveler, 28 Tufted Duck, 1m 1f Sparrowhawk, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, c5 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Jackdaw, 1 Coal Tit, c12 Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch Goldfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 5th - Pollards Hill S. a.m.: Repeated visits by Green Woodpecker to area cleared of snow.2 Redwing.5 Goldfinch.Grey wag on local Tesco roof. (MJN)
• 4th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-11:00hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 32 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 12 Cormorant, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 1 Coal Tit, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, pair Bullfinch, Chaffinch, 30+ Goldfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 4th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 6 Shoveler, 5 Pheasant, Little Grebe, Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, Water Rail calling, Snipe, 3 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 9 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw, 5 Siskin, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 3rd - Fryston Ave.2 Redpoll Siskin Goldcrest 10Goldfinch Coal Tit (P Phillips)
• 3rd - South Norwood Lake: (09:00-11:00hrs) pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, c120 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 8 Cormorant, 1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 50+ Starlings, 2 Jay, c12 Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, 40+ Goldfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 2nd - Shirley : no sign of any waxwings between 8.40am - 11am Fieldfare 2, Mistle Thrush 1 and Redwing (D Benton)
• 2nd - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 8 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, 2 Water Rail, Snipe, 120+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult + 2 imm. Herring Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 8 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 3 Jackdaw, 5 Siskin, 11 Linnet, Bullfinch (JAH)
• 1st - South Norwood Lake (late am): 35 species, incl pair Mute Swan, 8 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 4 Collared Dove, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Pied Wagtail (Gavin Hawgood)
• 1st - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Mute Swan, 8 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Water Rail, 3 Common Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 6 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 4 Redwing, Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw, Siskin (JAH). c10 Redpoll, 5 Pochard, 2 Goldcrest and a Blackbird narrowly avoiding predation by a Sparrowhawk (Steven Robinson).
• 1st - Shirley: 29 Waxwings still feeding in Myrtle Road at 10:00, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, RN Parakeet, Chaffinch, Starling, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, BH Gull (Dave Thrussell). 34 Waxwings junction of Broom Road and Myrtle Road, Shirley (Birdguides), plus c10 more over, calling. Also in the Rowan was a Fieldfare and Redwing. Hardly any berries left so likely to be the last day on this tree (Steven Robinson).