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From Londonbirders

Revision as of 07:29, 9 March 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.

Sunday 8th March

• Alexandra Park: 10 Lesser Redpolls (9 Cricket Scrub, 1 Spinney, Grove), Jackdaw (h), Little Grebe still Boating Lake, c10 Redwing Ckt Scrub (Bob Watts, Stuart Harrington).
• Amwell GP: 2 Yellow-legged Gull (ad/1w) in roost (Birdguides).
• Beddington SF: Shelduck, Little Egret, 3 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Redpoll (Dip or Glory).
• Broadwater GP: Sand Martin over pit near sailing club mid-afternoon (Birdguides).
• Broadwater Lake: Common Scoter (drake) & Oystercatcher (Simon Buckingham).
• East India Dock Basin: Goldcrest (gardens), 123 Teal, Little Grebe, 8 Shelduck, 2 Redshank and 2 Common Sandpipers (Lea), 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Canada and 2 Greylags (David Callahan); c195 Teal, c300 Black-headed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail (Nick Tanner).
• Hendon: Red Kite over Central Station 10:05hrs (mobbed by corvids), moved off NE (Fraser Simpson per DMc).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Mediterranean Gull (Round Pond), Tawny Owl (3 owlets), 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Gadwall, 2 Ruddy Duck, 1 Goldcrest, 10+ Shoveler (James Arquette, 8:30am to 10:00am).
• Ingrebourne Valley: 4 Penduline Tits - use the large carpark off Squadrons Approach, then walk south for approx 500m (i.e along the west side of the valley) to view reedmace about 50m past the black bridge (LondonBirders Yahoo group). Any updates after 9:20am?
• Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull still at Round Pond mid-morning (Birdguides).
• King George V Res: Grey Phalarope still present in NE corner of south basin; also c30 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander (MJP et al); still at 12.15 plus RB Merganser in NE corner of north basin (Pete Langsdon).
• Lee Valley: Kestrel, Pintail, Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, many Shoveler, Wigeon & Gadwall, 2 Siskin (Hall Marsh Scrape), 4 Goldeneye (Friday Lake), Cettis Warbler, Goosander (behind Grebe Hide) (Mike Benyon).
• Limehouse Basin: male Pochard (Nick Tanner).
• London Wetland Centre: 15 Greylag Goose, 157 Cormorant, 1 Bittern (central reedbad channel), 14 Common Snipe, Woodcock, 460 Black-headed Gull, 24 Common Gull, 2 Water Pipit, 4 Siskin, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 30 Lesser Redpoll, Linnet - all seen by NPS and noted on (LWC website) and c.60 Herring Gulls inc. 6 argentatus types, 8 GBB Gulls (NPS).
• Mayesbrook Park: 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, Black Swan, 15 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 10 Pochard, 2 Jackdaw (Paul Hawkins).
• Regent's Park: 3 Tawny Owlets, 26 Redwings, 6+ Siskins (Tony Duckett).
• Sevenoaks WR: Mealy Redpoll showing well in alder by Grebe Hide early afternoon; also female Goosander on East Lake (Birdguides).
• South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail,1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Siskin (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
• Staines Res: 4 Scaup. 9 Black-necked Grebe (SBC).
• Stoke Newington: Abney Park: 1 ad Tawny Owl + 3 owlets; Reservoirs: 3 Little Grebe (EMc, GB, GJ. TeRNS).
• Tyttenhanger GP: 2 Shelduck, Oystercatcher, 2 Tree Sparrow (HertsBirding).
• Wanstead: 3 Sparrowhawks (J Lethbridge)
• West Thurrock Marshes: Turnstone, 84 Teal, Grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit, 36 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 150 Redshank, 400 Dunlin and Water Rail(Dave Morrison).
• Wormwood Scrubs: 1 singing Skylark - the first recorded singer here, c10 Meadow Pipit. c40 Redwing, 1 pair Green Woodpecker, c3 Linnet & 1 Jackdaw. (Mathew & Oliver Bournat, David Jeffreys & Roy Nuttall).

Saturday 7th March

• Abney Park Cemetery: 4 Tawny Owls (ad and three young), 3 Siskins, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 8 prs Stock Dove (Mark Pearson et al Hackney Wildlife).
• Alexandra Park: female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 0912 Boating Lake, male Blackcap Deer Enclosures, Fieldfare south over Cricket Scrub 0930, 16 Redwing NW from Scrub, 4 Lesser Redpoll (Bob Watts, Stuart Harrington, Gabriel Jamie).
• Bookham Common: 2 Hawfinch behind the station (David Howdon, Andy Culshaw)
• Greenford CP: 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Redwing, Goldcrest, singing Reed Bunting (Neil Anderson)
• King George V Res: Grey Phalarope on the South Basin in N.east corner this a.m; also Green sandpiper, 38 Goldeneye, 9 Ruddy duck & Chiffchaff (John Murray); also female Red-breasted Merganser, Peregrine and Little Egret (R Woodward + others).
• Highbury N5: Peregrine hunting for 20mins between Clissold park and Emirates Stadium (D. Holden).
• Ingrebourne Valley: 3 displaying Lapwings, 100 Golden Plover, 4 drumming Great Spots, Little Egret, 2 Water Rail and 40 Linnets.(Dave Morrison).
• Kew Gardens: 2 pr Dabchick, pr Greylag, 7 Egyptian Geese, 10 Gadwall, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 displaying Sparrowhawk, 2 Siskin (Neil Anderson)
• London Wetland Centre: 1 Bittern flew from middle channel of the main reedbed landing in the centre of the grazing marsh. It roosted in the middle channel last night. A second Bittern in the middle channel (seen at same time as one on the grazing marsh); also present today: 1 Woodcock, 14 Common Snipe, 1 f Peregrine, 4 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 8 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Water Pipit, 9 singing male Reed Bunting, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Siskin, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Redwing N, 1 Jack Snipe N. shore main lake (DM/Martin Honey)
• Paddington Green: 1-2 Sparrowhawk, newly fledged juv Blackbird (Des McKenzie).
• Pitshanger All'ts & area: 1 Common Buzzard W, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull W, 2 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper river Brent, c. 50 Redwings, 4 Meadow Pipits WNW, 2 Blackcaps (NPS).
• South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, c70 Black-headed Gull 2 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Jackdaw, 2 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Siskin, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Goldfinch,12 Ring-necked Parakeet,7 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit (John Watson Gavin Hawgood)
• Staines Reservoirs: drake Ferruginous Duck still (Birdguides) on North Basin; On South Basin 3 Scaup (2m 1f), 9 Black-necked Grebes (J Lethbridge)
• Staines Moor: Water Pipit (D Howdon and A Culshaw)
• Tyttenhanger GP's: 23 Snipe, Redshank, 4 Shellduck, 2 x 2nd Winter Herring Gull, 12 LBB Gull, 2 Buzzard (Steve B).
• William Girling Res: juv Great Northern Diver along East bank and two Black necked grebes (one in summer plumage), also Goosander and Chiffchaff (John Murray).

Friday 6th March

• Alexandra Park: Chiffchaff (trees along Newland Rd), pair Shoveler & Little Grebe Boating Lake, 4 Redwing (Bob Watts).
• Claybury Park: Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, male Sparrowhawk, 2 Song thrush, pr Dunnock, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tit invasion, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch. (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Dulwich Park: 5 x Little Grebe, one pair nesting (Dave Clark).
• King George V Res: Grey Phalarope on the North Basin this a.m.; still present p.m. in SE corner of basin (Birdguides).
• London Wetland Centre: m Pintail, Bittern, Common Snipe, Woodcock, fem Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel, m Peregrine, Skylark east, 10 Redwing north, 14 Siskin, 7 Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll (LWC website).
• Millwall Park / Mudchute Farm: Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 2 Long Tailed Tit, 4+ Monk Parakeet (Richard Harrison).
• Regent's Park: redhead Smew still on Main Lake (Birdguides)plus ad Yellow-legged Gull, Jackdaw, 5 Redwings, pr Blackcaps, 6 Siskins, 45 Goldfinches (Tony Duckett).
• South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, c70 Black-headed Gull, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Pied Wagtail (John Watson).
• Staines Reservoir: Still 8 Black-necked Grebe and 4 Scaup (2M & 2F) on South Basin, but no sign of the Ferruginous Duck; also, Common Sandpiper on N Basin (Bill Haines).
• Theobalds Park : 40 Golden Plover in field opposite the Cheshunt Travelodge and 7 Buzzards, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Yellowhammer from Old Park Ride, the new Cheshunt to Cuffley bridleway. (Mike Oakland)
• Thornbury Road (Osterley): 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - not a bad garden record (Tom Smith).
• Tyttenhanger GP's: 3 Ringed Plover,(Willows Farm Pool).3 Water Rail, 2 Oystercatchers, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 8+ Snipe, 3 Shellduck, 2 Tree Sparrow, Buzzard. (Steve B)
• Walthamstow Reservoirs: 3m8f+ Goldeneye, pair Goosander, 7 Shelduck (Nik Borrow)
• Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Greylag over, c350 Black-headed Gull, c40 Common Gull, 2 female Stonechat, c6 Redwing, c20 Meadow Pipit incl. 1 singer & 3 Skylark. (David Lindo).
• Wanstead Park: French-ringed Tufted Duck still present, f Sparrowhawk (J Lethbridge)

Thursday 5th March

• Abney Park Cemetery: adult Tawny Owl and three owlets (both ads present at dusk yesterday) - photos on site. no sign of redpoll flock this a.m. (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
• Beddington SF: 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Peregrine, 11 Common Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull (ad/2w), ad Yellow-legged Gull (Dip or Glory).
• Belhus Woods CP: Sand Martin; 10 Mute Swan, 64 Greylag Goose, 41 Canada Goose, 6 Wigeon, 17 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 19 Mallard, 21 Pochard, 53 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Cormorant, Common Buzzard, 9 Moorhen, 60 Coot, 7 Lapwing, 27 Common Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 10 Wren, 5 Dunnock, 19 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, 13 Long-tailed Tit, 30 Blue Tit, 18 Great Tit, 52 Siskin, 6 Linnet, 13 Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, 9 Reed Bunting (ELBF).
• Belmont: 1 male 1 female Blackcap at Belmont Park + Redwings and Goldcrests etc (David Campbell)
• Burgess Park: 2s Mediterranean Gull still showing well on the lake this morning; park on Cobourg Road (Richard Bonser).
• Fulham Reach: Chiffchaff singing and feeding around neighbour's ivy (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Hainault Forest: Tawny Owl, Woodcock, Nuthatch, GSWP, GWP, Goldcrest (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• Island Barn Res (permit access): fem Red-breasted Merganser (Birdguides).
• London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 37 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 2 Pintail, 73 Cormorant, 33 Lapwing, 12 Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Stonechat, 22 Redwing NW, 7 Siskin (LWC website).
• Osterley Park: 5 Mandarin (3m, 2f) (Tom Smith).
• Rainham Marshes: 1y Iceland Gull (new bird); Dark-bellied Brent Goose, fem Sparrowhawk, 12 Common Snipe, pr ad Mediterranean Gull (ELBF).
• Southwark Park: 1 Oystercatcher on the grass near the running track in NE corner of park this a'noon (Richard Bonser).
• Staines Reservoirs: drake Ferruginous Duck showing well on South Basin this afternoon; also 8+ Black-necked Grebe and 4 Scaup (Birdguides); Note: the Ferruginous Duck MAY be the escape which has frequented the Jubilee River and other waterbodies in the vicinity (per SurreyBirders).
• Thames @ Limehouse: 65 Cormorant on river. Numbers build at this time of the year (Paul Hyland).
• Trent Park Area: 2(m&f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 2(m&f) Goosander, Lower Lake; 1 Common Buzzard, perched in Oak, at Vicarage Farm, 14:55 GMT; 1 fem Kestrel, perched, Ride Wood; 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, Enfield Rd; 5 Stock Dove, Hog Hill; 3 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, heard singing and seen in flight, Icehouse Wood, 14:00 and 14:13 GMT; 2 Skylark, Hog Hill; 1 singing male Song Thrush, near Firing Range; 6 Redwing,(5 Vicarage Farm, 1 by Lower Lake); 3 Mistle Thrush, over Ride Wood; 1 Goldcrest, Camlet Moat; 6+ Long-tailed Tit,(1 pr collecting lichen and nest-building, 4 Rough Lot); 1 singing male Coal Tit, Moat Wood; 4 Treecreeper,(including two singing males); 100+ Chaffinch, on ploughed field E of Water Grdn; 3 Siskin; 17 Linnet, together, Hog Hill; 3 Lesser Redpoll, feeding in Birches, Camlet Moat (Robert Callf).
• Tyttenhanger GP's: Oystercatcher, Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Water Rail, 5 Snipe, 2 Shelduck, 2 Buzzard (Steve Blake).
• Uxbridge: 1 fem Wood Duck on R Frays - escaped from somewhere (Roger Dewey).
• West Drayton: 2 Siskin west over rail station (Des McKenzie).
• Wormwood Scrubs: 4 Stonechat, 4 Jackdaw, c300 Black-headed Gull, c50 Common Gull and c3 Meadow Pipit (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).

Wednesday 4th March

• Abney Park Cemetery: Minimum of 24 Lesser Redpoll with, at least, one bird showing features of Common. Flock very restless and high in tree tops making accurate assessment difficult this morning (Laurence Pitcher); 3 Tawny Owls (ad, and two young - first sighting of owlets this year, well found Brian!), Firecrest (MJP, LP, TB, BL et al)
• Alexandra Park: 1 male Brambling in a private garden (A.G), 1 Treecreeper & Blackcap in the Grove, 1 Blackcap by deer enclosure (J.Murray).
• Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, 2 Peregrine, 14 Common Snipe, ad Mediterranean Gull, ad Yellow-legged Gull (Dip or Glory).
• Bedfont: Short-eared Owl as per Monday (Tom Smith)
• Bookham Common: 5 Hawfinch behind the station (SBC).
• Cowley: 1 Little Egret flying over A408 at 08.30 (probably from River Pinn to Little Britain area) (Roger Dewey).
• Dagenham Chase LNR: 1 Siskin calling and alighting in a tree briefly, not much else though. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
• East India Dock / Bow Creek: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 2 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Redshank (Paul Hyland).
• Fairlop: 40 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, Grey Heron, 6 Pheasant, 15 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 8 Long-tailed Tit, Jay, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Song Thrush, Jay (ELBF).
• Grays: 10 Waxwing at Southend Road; 2pr Blackcap (ELBF).
• Hampstead Heath: 3 Nuthatch (1 at bird feeders), 15 Jackdaw, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Dunnock, 3 GSWP, 3 Green WP, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Kestrel (1m, 1f), 1 Grey Heron over, 10 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Mandarin (Reuben Braddock).
• Mardyke Stifford-Davy Down: 7 Teal, 16 Mallard, 2m Kestrel, 22 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 6 Stock Dove, 5 Collared Dove, 13 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Wren, 9 Dunnock, 15 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 8 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 33 Blue Tit, 24 Great Tit, 13 Magpie, 18 Jackdaw, 5 Chaffinch, 11 Greenfinch, 38 Goldfinch, 13 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting (ELBF).
• Margravine Cemetery: Great Spotted Woodpecker male drumming (on tree this time) and female calling, Long-tailed Tit 2 still nest building (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Oakwood Park,N14: 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 singing male Song Thrush; 10+ Redwing (Robert Callf).
• Queen Elizabeth II Res: Red-breasted Merganser, Peregrine, ad Mediterranean Gull at roost (SBC).
• Rainham Marshes: m Marsh Harrier; 4 Greylag Goose, 4 Canada Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 7 Pintail, 21 Pochard, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Little Egret, 140 Golden Plover, 120 Lapwing, Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 6 Cetti's Warblers, m Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, pr Long-tailed Tit, 55 Chaffinch (ELBF).
• Rainham: Bittern flew over my house at 07:10 heading directly towards Rainham Marshes. Easily my best 'garden' bird in 30+ years (Richard Harrison).
• Regents Park: Smew redhead still on main lake, 2 Blackcaps at feeding station, 8 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Peregrine (Laurence Pitcher)
• Walthamstow Reservoirs (south side): 1 Little Egret, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Shelduck (brief work visit so no chance for real birding!) (Mark Pearson).
• Wormwood Scrubs: c400 Black-headed Gull, c40 Common Gull, c25 Herring Gull, c6 Lesser Black-back, 4 Greylag over, c57 Redwing, 3 female Stonechat, c300 Carrion Crow & c10 Meadow Pipit (David Lindo).

Tuesday 3rd March

• Aldborough Hatch Stables: 40 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 100+ Starling, Pheasant, Grey Heron and Cormorant (over), 1 Meadow Pipit, 13 Greylag Geese. (Daniel Erickson-Hull)
• Beddington SF: 2 Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Peregrine, Little Egret, 5 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, ad Mediterranean Gull (Dip or Glory).
• East India Dock / Bow Creek: Little Egret (briefly in reserve @ 09.35), then circled before heading off NW, 2 Redwing (copse), up to 4 Shelduck, Little Grebe (Paul Hyland, Gary A James).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: ad Mediterranean Gull (German-ringed) showed well at Round Pond to 12:00hrs at least, 5 Tawny Owl (both ads, 3 owlets) showed well; 65 Shoveler, 2pr Mandarin, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Ruddy Duck (2m), 2 Little Grebe (1 trilling), m Sparrowhawk, 10 Stock Dove (2 singing), Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush (3 singing) (Des McKenzie, Sue Cowie et al).
• Knighton Wood, Epping Forest (Woodford): 11 Mandarin (10m/1f) GSWP drumming, 2 Nuthatch, Jay (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
• London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 2 Sparrowhawk (m/f), Bittern, 2 Common Snipe, Fieldfare north, 2 Song Thrush high SE, 4 Redwing, at least 10 Siskin, 'several' Lesser Redpoll (LWC website); 2 Water Pipit (SBC).
• Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
• Rainham Marshes: 2 Caspian Gull (ad and a new 2w - 4 in last 2 days); 300 Wigeon, 11 Pintail, 14 Little Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Little Egret, Avocet, 140 Golden Plover, Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Cetti's Warbler, pr Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (ELBF).
• Regent's Park: fem Smew on main lake by island this a.m. (Birdguides).
• River Roding [near footbridge], Woodford Bridge: Kingfisher (Alan Hobson).
• Russell Square: Peregrine through 2.45 pm (Tom Smith).
• St James's Park: Goshawk circling just north of the park at 12:15 (Birdguides).
• Stoke Newington: Abney Park: 1 Firecrest; Clissold Park: 2 Redwing. (TeRNS).
• Tottenham Marshes: Woodlark on the south marsh (closest to Tottenham Lock and Ferry Lane N17) - early morning only (LondonBirders).
• Woodford Green: Goshawk flew low and south over Whitehall Plain, Epping Forest at 11:25 (Birdguides).

Monday 2nd March

• Abney Park Cemetery: Merlin circled several times, pursued by Carrion Crow, 1402hrs; at least one Mealy (Common) Redpoll with c18 Lesser Redpoll (confiding when not flighty and usually returning within a few minutes) in birches and alders around the Watts memorial; 2 Firecrests, Chiffchaff, Tawny Owl (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
• Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, Little Egret, 2 ad Mediterranean Gull, 5 Common Snipe, 3 Green Sandpipe (Dip or Glory).
• Bedfont: Short-eared Owl favouring scrub land at rear of Bedfont Sports football ground; access off Hatton Road (present since last Wednesday) (Birdguides).
• Bookham Common: 11 Buzzards together in the air at one time, pair of Sparrowhawk, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin but no sign of any Hawfinches today (Nik Borrow).
• Brent Res: 5 Greylag Geese flew in (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall).
• East India Dock: Little Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 2 Long-tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk (Paul Hyland).
• Great Warley: 2 Firecrest; 4 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 12 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin (ELBF).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 5 Tawny Owl (both ads, 3 owlets) showing well; White-fronted x Bar-headed Goose (St James's Park bird), 6 Greylag x Canada Goose, Emperor Goose (SJP origin), 2pr Mandarin, 10 Gadwall, 52 Shoveler, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Ruddy Duck, 2 Little Grebe (1 trilling), 2pr Great Crested Grebe displaying, 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper, 3 singing Goldfinch (Des McKenzie, Phil Stephens).
• Ingrebourne Valley: 3 White-fronted Geese still @5.00pm, Chiffchaff, Little Egret, Snipe (Shaun Harvey).
• Ladywell Fields: at least 5 Redwing in trees (35-40 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare last Thursday before I registered), 1 Mistle Thrush, pair Grey Wagtail, 1 adult male Mandarin duck sticking close to a female Mallard and protecting her from attention of male Mallards (Philip Lowden - new member, hello everybody!).
• London Wetland Centre: 2 Bittern, 2 Jack Snipe, Water Pipit, Mealy Redpoll (Birdguides); 40 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, Jack Snipe, 9 Common Snipe, Wheatear present a.m., 8 Siskin, 30 redpoll spp. (Wildside, in one large flock) (LWC website).
• Middlesex Filter Beds: 1 Firecrest, Chiffchaff (Paul Cook).
• Muswell Hill: at least 1 Continental Coal Tit this a.m. (Birdguides).
• Paddington Green: typically-marked Common Buzzard soaring over local Herring Gull colony 10:35hrs; drifted toward Regent's Park (Des McKenzie).
• Queen Elizabeth II Res: fem Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Peregrine (SBC).
• Rainham Marshes: 11 Litttle Egret, Common Buzzard, 2 Caspian Gull (1w/2w) (ELBF).
• Roding Valley NR (EWT): 1 m Stonechat, 1 Little Egret, many LT Tit, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Green Woodpecker (Peter Warne).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Kingfisher, 17 Shoveler, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 pairs Goldcrest on territory, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
• Trent Park Area: 3 Mandarin Duck,(1 male, Lower Lake, 2, male and female, Seedfield Spinney); 3(2m,1f) Tufted Duck, Upper Lake; 2+ Common Buzzard,(1 perched in Oak, Vicarage Farm, 1 Ferny Hill Farm, 1 Trent Park); 4 Stock Dove, at Vicarage Farm; 3 Green Woodpecker; 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Meadow Pipit, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Song Thrush; 3 Redwing; 5 Goldcrest,(including two singing males); 6 Long-tailed Tit,(3 near Rough Lot, 3 by Lower Lake); 5 Coal Tit; 4 Nuthatch,(1 Moat Wood, 1 Shaws Wood, 2, male and female, near Merryhills Brook); 8 Treecreeper,(including three singing); 2+ Siskin,(1 male, Vicarage Farm, 1 male, Trent Prk); 1 Linnet, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Lesser Redpoll, Rough Lot (Robert Callf).
• Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Ringed Plover on Willows Farm Puddle, 2 Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 8+ Snipe, 4 Tree Sparrows (Steve Blake).
• Wanstead Flats: 16 singing Skylarks, 2 Shoveler, 15 Goldfinch (J Lethbridge).
• Wanstead Park: 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Ring-necked Parakeet (prospecting), f Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch heard singing (J Lethbridge).

Sunday 1st March

• Alexandra Park: Egyptian Goose Boating Lake until 10am at least but missing right foot! (Bob Watts, Stuart Harrington). Did it therefore "Walk like an Eygptian"? "Pegleg" seen early pm, also R N Parakeet over (John Murray).
• Abney Cemetery: c25 Lesser Redpoll, in alders 20m south of monument (1 looked good for Common, but flock quickly dispersed north 10.45). Also roosting Tawny Owl (Laurence Pitcher). 1 Firecrest, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker and 9 Lesser Redpoll (James Arquette - 11:00am to 12:00pm)
• Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, Little Egret, 9 Common Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
• Bedfont Lakes CP: 3 Egyptian Geese, 18 Common Gull (Adam Cheeseman).
• Bookham Common: 2 Hawfinch still present this a.m. (Birdguides).
• East India Dock Basin: male Wheatear, site tick and my earliest London record (Nick Tanner); dipped on the Wheatear at 10:15am, but Oystercatcher in front of Dome at 10:30 (David Callahan).
• Greenford CP: Brief visit but fem/imm Merlin through at 14.40, came down + chased small passerine before flying NW towards Northolt (very fast; small, indistinct moustachial stripe seen as it flew over me, small size + noticeably narrow, pointed wings + flight actions typical Merlin); also Sparrowhawk sparring with 2 Herring Gulls, Goldcrest (Neil Anderson).
• London Wetland Centre: Peregrine flew upriver, Bittern, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Water Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 3 Siskin, 26 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
• Margravine Cemetery: Great Spotted Woodpecker male drumming on mobile phone aerial and female singing (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Queen Mother Res (permit access only): Brent Goose, 5 Scaup (Birdguides).
• Rainham RSPB: 12 Little Egret, 14 Pintail, 60 Golden Plover, Curlew, Short-eared Owl, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, fem Bearded Tit, 3 Stonechat (Paul Hawkins).
• Rainham Thames (foreshore): Water Pipit 3, Rock Pipit 5, Curlew 1, Dunlin 96, Redshank 74, Teal 40, Shelduck 25, Reed Bunting 12, Stonechat 4; RSPB Reserve: Golden Plover 90, Common Snipe 24, Pintail 2, Wigeon 215, Teal 165, Shoveler 25, Gadwall 33, Pochard 35, Tufted Duck 55, Water Rail 1, Little Egret 4, GC Grebe 6, Cetti's Warbler 3 + esc Harris's Hawk (Steve Bacon)
• South Norwood Lake: female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Nuthatch, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Cormorant, 2 Common Gull, 1 Mistle Thrush, 7 Goldcrset, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, Greenfinch, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
• Staines Res: 4 Scaup, Avocet on North Basin this a.m. (Birdguides).
• Thamesmead/Crossness: 1w Mediterranean Gull at Southmere Lake early p.m., 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gull at Thames off golf course, Little Egret, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 25 Snipe, 250 Dunlin, 8 Oystercatcher, 80 Redshank, 11 Wigeon, 27 Shoveler, 60 Gadwall, 143 Shelduck, Stonechat, 3 Fieldfare (John Archer).
• William Girling Res: Great Northern Diver still present; distantly viewable from Silverthorn Gardens (Birdguides).

Archived News

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