December 2009

From Croydon Birders

Archived sightings for 2009 [NB. This page can only be edited by the site administators]

December

• 31st - Rowdown Field (by Kent Gate Way). 2 Lapwings (a very low count for the usual wintering flock at this location), 50+ Woodpigeons, 10+ Stock Doves, 35+ Crows, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-back Gull. (JB)
• 30th - Purley Way shopping areas - many Redwings all around shrubberies (cotoneaster, sorbus etc)(MN)
• 30th - South Norwood CP - 40+ Fieldfare, Redwings, Siskins, Goldfinchs, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Common Gulls, BH Gulls, Shoveler, Tufted, Cormorants, Grey Heron (Dave Thrussell)
• 29th - South Norwood Lake: 30+Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, c20 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Goldfinch, c50 Starling, 4 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
• 28th - South Norwood CP. 1 Little Egret. (John Bedford)
• 28th - Whitehorse Meadows (12pm): 2 Goldcrests, 5 Redwings, 1 Nuthatch & 1 Green Woodpecker (Gavin Hawgood),
• 28th - South Norwood Lake: c70 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Cormorant, 1 Goldcrest, 20+ Tufted Duck, c40 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, c5 Dunnock (1singing)1 Song Thrush, 8+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1drumming) 2 Pied Wagtail, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 28th - Farthing Downs/Happy Valley. Female Sparrowhawk, 14+ Long-tailed Tits, 40+ Magpies (roost starting to form about 16:00). (JB)
• 28th - Coulsdon. c15 Jackdaws mobbing a Sparrowhawk over Mead Way, 1 Goldcrest singing. (JB)
• 28th - Purley Beeches. 43 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Stock Doves, 1 Heron over. (JB)
• 28th - Pollards Hill S.-11.30 a.m. 16 Redwing in garden treetops.flew off N (MN)
• 27th - Selsdon Park. 10 Redwings, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Treecreeper. (JB)
• 27th - 2 redpolls over Briton Hill Road, Sanderstead (JB)
• 27th - South Norwood Lake - 1 Mute Swan, 20 Tufted Duck, 9 Cormorant, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 20+ redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1m Siskin, 1 Coal Tit, 1 green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 26th - South Norwood CP. 1 Water Rail in stream near Harrington Road tramstop and 1 Little Grebe. (Nigel Harris)
• 25th - Happy Christmas, everyone. No Turkey records today, please! Geese, ducks, pheasants and partridges (not in pear trees) may be acceptable. Any Turtle Doves, calling birds and French hens will need to be accompanied by full descriptions. I would hope swans would be a-swimming, but the geese shouldn't be a-laying. (The Management)
• 25th - Kings Road SE25 c20 Redwing (John Watson)
• 24th - Pollards Hill-8 House Sparrow, 2 Jay,6 Goldfinch,1 GS woodpecker,2 Magpie 4 Greenfinch-feeding in garden a.m (MN)
• 24th - Park Hill, pair of House Sparrows (M&F) seen in Alpine Close (Romney Tansley)
• 23rd - Coombe Lodge Playing Field, 3pm; for the second time today heard what I swear was a Rook (first time was about 1.30pm in Melville Avenue). Also Tawny Owl hooting (well before dusk) c8 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 19 Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Alan Pearson)
• 23rd - East Croydon, Pied Wagtail roost down to only a 'few dozen' birds in rain this evening. (JB & SH)
• 22nd - South Norwood CP. 1 Jack Snipe. (John Bedford)
• 22nd - South Norwood Lake: 50+ Black-headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 25+ Tufted Duck, f Sparrowhawk, 40+ Redwing, 20+ Fieldfare, 1 singing Dunnock,1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 20+ Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 22nd - Coulsdon. Buzzard again in Wilhelmina Avenue perched on garden fence, before being attacked by Crowns and Magpies. (G McBeath)
• 22nd - Pittville Gardens (3pm): male Sparrowhawk in garden (Gavin Hawgood)
• 21st - 2 pairs Lesser Redpoll in a garden in Mithchley Hill, Sanderstead. (JS)
• 21st - Coulsdon. Buzzard in Wilhemina Avenue in snow. (G McBeath)
• 21st - Lloyd Park Woodcock (peter phillips)
• 21st - Penge Road SE25 14:30 C70 Redwing (in three separate groupes) N/NW (John Watson)
• 21st - South Norwood Lake - 1 Lapwing' W/NW,2M 2F Shoveler, 1m Pochard, 20+ Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 40+ Redwing, 30+Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker(1 drumming) 2 singing Dunnock, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit, 6+ Long-tailed Tit,8+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 20th _ 2 Lesser Redpolls in a garden in Mithchley Hill, Sanderstead. (JS)
• 20th - South Norwood CP: Water Rail, 2 Snipe and 11 Fieldfares (Steven Robinson per London Bird Club))
• 20th - Kings Wood. 2 Lapwings flying west. (Ray Baker per JB)
• 20th - South Norwood lake - 12 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Cormorant, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming) 1 Nuthatch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 20th - Farthing Downs - 1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull over, 5 redwing, 2 fieldfare, 2 great spotted woodpecker,nuthatch, 3 stock dove over, greenfinch and goldfinch, numerous blackbirds in evidence, blue, great and long-taied tits, only one ring necked para! (David Hayes)
• 20th - Penge Road SE25 09:00 c20 Redwing, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet,(John Watson)
• 19th - South Norwood Lake - 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin, 8 Cormorant, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, c8 Redwing,2 Pied Wagtail, 20+ Goldfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 6+ Long-tailed Tit,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 19th - 2 Lesser Redpolls in a garden in Mithchley Hill, Sanderstead. (JS per JB)
• 19th - South Norwood CP. Lake heavily frozen but 12 Shoveler on free area and 1 Snipe on bank. 2 Cormorants 15 Stock Doves, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pheasants, Redwing, Fieldfare and Siskin. 15+ Long-tailed Tits. (JB)
• 19th - Heavers Meadow. Skylark flew over, 30+ Goldfinch, 25+ Greenfinch, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 30+ Crows. 3 Ring-necked Parakeets flew ovwer towards South Norwood Rec. (JB)
• 19th - Chepstow Rise - Male Blackcap, unpopular with the Blue Tits. (John Parish)
• 18th - 2 Lesser Redpolls in a garden in Mithchley Hill, Sanderstead. (JS)
• 18th - Chepstow Rise - Female Blackcap, first garden record of this species, summer or winter, since December 2006! (John Parish)
• 17th - South Norwood Lake: 15 Redwing, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 10 Cormorant, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail (John Watson).
• 15th - South Norwood CP: Siskin feeding with Goldfinches in alders, Reed Bunting and several Redwings and Fieldfares (Steven Robinson).
• 15th - Waddon Ponds - 3-4 Little Grebe, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, 1 Grey Heron, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Large flock of Starlings, 2 Male Pochard, 1 Poss Female Kingfisher,, 1 Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Chiffchaff. (Ernie Thomason)
• 14th - South Norwood Lake: 4 Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Cormorant, 20 Black-headed Gull, 16 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 1 Nuthatch, 10+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson).
• 13th - South Norwood Lake: 2 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 6+ Cormorant, 1 Common Gull, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Woodpecker,3 Great Spotted Woodpecker,6+ Long-tailed Tit, 4 Pied Wagtail,10+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 10 Collared Dove, House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 12th - Croydon Airport/Roundshaw Common - pair of stonechats (Derek Lea)
• 12th - South Norwood Lake - 8+ Cormorant, 24 Tufted Duck, 3 Common Gull, c20 Redwing, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming) 2 Coal Tit, 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood) plus Great Tit imitating Nuthatch song to perfection (GH)
• 11th - South Norwood Lake - 9 Cormorant, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• 10th Park Hill Park (10:30 hrs) - Two Sparrowhawks circling over this year's nest site. (John Parish)
• 10th - Park Hill. At least 3 Great Tits heard singing in Alpine Close (Romney Tansley)
• 9th - Waddon Ponds - Black Headed Gull, 2 Juv Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 1 Mistle Thrush, Large flock of Starlings, Little Gerbe, Mallard, Coot, 2 Male Pochard, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow (Ernie Thomason)
• 8th - Kings Wood. 2 Marsh Tits. (Gill Flinn)
• 8th - Pollards Hill-(garden a.m.)- pr. Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker,4 Jay, 2 Mistle Thrush,6 Goldfinch + 11 Redwing over SE (MN)
• 7th - East Croydon Bus Interchange (22:15hrs) Pied Wagtail roost occupied by c100 birds again. This late in the day the birds are near the tops of the trees, immobile and silent, therefore very inconspicuous. (John Parish)
• 5th - Kings Wood. 4+ Marsh Tits, 5 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Kestrel, 19 Fieldfares, 43 Redwings, 1 Pheasant. (R Baker)
• 5th - Sanderstead. Female Peregrine flew south over Church Way (towards Riddlesdown?) at 12.17. Also 20+ Redwings south over Sanderstead Plantation later in day. (JB)
• 4th - East Croydon. Pied Wagtail roost estimated at c100 birds. (JB)
• 3rd - South Norwood Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 16 Cormorant, 130 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.(John Watson)
• 2nd - Virginia Road, Thornton Heath - c200+ Carrion Crows wheeling around and performing aerobatics at dusk before going into roost at Biggin Wood SE19 (Terry Osborn)
• 1st - East Croydon. Pied Wagtails in roost at 8pm, but numbers seem well down on last week. (JB)
• 1st - Sanderstead. 1 Redpoll sp over Briton Hill Road early am. Also Fieldfare and Redwing heard. (JB)