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Saturday 15 March

  • Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve: 2 Common Buzzard at mid-day, Little Ringed Plover at 07:00hrs, Sand Martin, 10 Chiffchaff (KOSNet).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Garganey, 5 Sand Martin, Northern Wheatear (Birdguides).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, Northern Wheatear (SBC).
  • Brent Reservoir: Common Buzzard over at 09.55, also Sand Martin at 07.10 (Andrew Self, Roy Beddard & Andrew Verrall).
  • Alexandra Park: Mealy Redpoll & Lesser Redpoll in trees near deer enclosure 0920, several Siskin (1 m Scrub, 1m, 1f trees near deer enclosure, 3m, 1f birches near pitch n putt hut inc courtship display-male feeding female seeds, & 2/3 overhead), 4 Mipits (Bob Watts, Dominic Mitchell); also, 2 Brambling deer enclosure & m Bullfinch (first for the year at 1040 flew from CP to wood); also, 2 Water Rail in fenced off area behind Conservation Pond (John Murray).
  • Nightingale Lane: Chiffchaff singing 0635 (Bob Watts).
  • Priory Park: Chiffchaff singing (Bob Watts).
  • Beechwood Avenue (Greenford): singing Chiffchaff (Neil Anderson).
  • Greenford CP: displaying Lapwing, c10 M'Pipit, 3 Redwing, 7 Linnet, Senegal Parrot (Neil Anderson).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Emperor Goose (esc), 2 Egyptian Goose, m Mandarin, 3 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, pr Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe, ad Yellow-legged Gull (Fisherman's Keep), 15 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl at day-roost, 2 Green Woodpecker, fem Stonechat showing well at the Pavillion Ornamental Gardens adjacent to tennis courts (south of Diana Memorial), Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush (inc bird at nest-site), 7 Chiffchaff (6 singing) inc a rather cold-toned 'milky-tea' coloured bird, 7 Goldcrest, at least 4 pairs of Long-tailed Tit constructing nests, 3 Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Jay, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, fem Siskin (Buck Hill alders) (Des McKenzie, Paul Bruty, Nick Tanner).
  • Rainham (6.15-7.45am): 2 Avocet, 14 Curlew, c250 Golden Plover, 3 Wheatear (my earliest ever), 2 Chiffchaff, R-N Parakeet (J Lethbridge & Paul Hawkins); also, 4 Bearded Tits (3f,1m),4+ Chiffchaff, 6+ Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, 7 Little Egret 2 Water Rail.(PH, Les Harrison, Dave Morrison); also, 2 LRP (Howard Vaughn).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Reed Bunting, 1 female Stonechat, c30 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare & 1 singing Chiffchaff (David Lindo).
  • Pitshanger Allot's & area: 1 Peregrine w, c30 Redwings, 1 m Wheatear (golf course), 2 Stonechats, 2 Chiffchaffs (Nick Senior).
  • Finsbury Park: Meadow Pipit NW, 4 Little Grebes on boating lake, singing Goldcrest cypress hedge bowling green, Green Woodpecker heard (Ian Bradshaw).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Brambling, 1 Chiffchaff (singing). Clissold Park: 1 Redwing. (TeRNS)
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 1 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Shelduck, 3 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, 1 Buzzard (Steve Blake).
  • Lee Valley (Cornmill Meadows): Lesser Spotted Woodpecker[1] and Cetti's Warbler, both by Wake Hide (Mike Oakland, Mike Benyon).
  • Lee Valley (Fishers Green Lane-Hall Marsh Scrape): Cetti's Warbler (not one above), 3 Singing Chiffchaff, 2 Pintail (Mike Benyon).
  • Regents Park: 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, Kingfisher (Tony Duckett).
  • Walthamstow Marshes: 1 Skylark, 4 Reed Buntings (2 singing males), 1 Goldcrest (singing), 6 Chiffchaff, 1 pr Linnet, 4 Meadow Pipits, 6 Shelduck (Coppermill) - Little Owl site destroyed by tree surgeons pollarding today (Paul Cook).
  • Walthamstow Res: 1 Redshank, 7 Goldeneye, 55 Shoveler, 29 Teal, 12 Shelduck, Kingfisher, 2 Green Sand (Paul Cook).
  • Riddlesdown: 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 7 Skylarks (5 singing), 2 Brimstones (Peter Newmark).

Friday 14 March

  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Sand Martin briefly c16.00 hrs (pics at (Hackney Wildlife), c75 Tufted Duck, c10 Pochard, 1 Reed Bunting, c100 BH Gull, c 10 LBB Gull, 3 Herring Gull. (Laurence Pitcher, Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Red Admiral (2nd of year - (pics at (Hackney Wildlife), 2 Redwings, Chiffchaff (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Laurence Pitcher)
  • Walthamstow Marshes: 2 Linnets, 4 Meadow Pipits, f Kestrel, 2 Greylags, 2 Reed Buntings (Mark Pearson)
  • Clissold Park: c12 Pochard, 8 Shoveler, Kestrel (Laurence Pitcher, Mark Pearson)
  • Kensal Green Cemetery: Female Firecrest still around plus c30 Linnet in the adjoining St Mary's Crematorium. (Dave Renham)
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: male Firecrest still singing, this time from West Grove until 1330 at least (Bob Watts), also male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Peregrine (Bernie, Roger).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: c4 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting heard, c27 Redwing, c6 Fieldfare, 1 singing Chiffchaff & c3 Jackdaw. Watched 8 Carrion Crows murder a Black-headed Gull and earlier a crow attacked a displaying Meadow Pipit. They must be hungry! (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • Beddington SF: 4 Greylag Goose, Little Ringed Plover (Dip or Glory).
  • East India Dock: 29 species seen including a site tick for me, 2 GC Grebe out on the Thames; also, 9 Canada Goose, 10 Teal still, 4 Grey Heron, Peregrine (Dome), Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, Goldfinch (J. Lethbridge).
  • Alexandra Park: Meadow Pipit NW at 0657, the first of the season at this site though I did think I heard one yesterday am (Bob Watts).
  • Ave Gardens (opp Alexandra Palace Station): 2 Siskin, 8 Redwing (wintering there), Mistle Thrush (Mike Benyon)
  • Dulwich Park: 2 Siskin feeding with Goldfinch flock, 4 Nuthatch, Kestrel, 2 singing Dunnocks, 3 singing Song Thrush (Dave Clark).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2 Egyptian Goose, pr Mandarin, 3 Gadwall, 14 Shoveler, fem Sparrowhawk, German-ringed adult-summer Mediterranean Gull showing well at west side of Round Pond to 10:50hrs at least (quite vocal), ad Yellow-legged Gull (Fisherman's Keep), 3 ad type Great Black-backed Gull south at 09:20hrs, 26 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl at day-roost, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, pr Pied Wagtail, heavily leucistic m Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 8 Mistle Thrush, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 9 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: c30 Herring Gull at local colony, 9 Magpie, 5 Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Trent Park Area: 4(2 prs) Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 2 Common Buzzard, distantly, North of Botany Bay; 1 female Kestrel, near Shaws Wood; 25 Stock Dove, together, at Vicarage Farm; 4 Green Woodpecker; 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 singing male Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; Fieldfare, small flock, Park Farm; 15+ Meadow Pipit, at Vicarage Farm; 1 male Pied Wagtail, at Parkside Farm - chased off 'female' - White Wag?; 1 Goldcrest; 3 Nuthatch; 6 Treecreeper; 4 Coal Tit; 2 prs Long-tailed Tit, nest-building; 4 Jay, together, Icehouse Wood; 1 Lsr Redpoll, Williams Wood; 5 Yellowhammer, at Vicarage Farm; 2(m,f) Reed Bunting, together, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • South Norwood Lake:1 Great Crested Grebe,12 Tufted Duck,5 Cormorant, 30 Black-headed Gull,5 Ring-necked Parakeet,3 Great Spotted Woodpecker,2 Nuthatch, 1 Song Thrush, 12 Redwing,1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 6 Goldfinch, 5 Chaffinch,4 Dunnock, 6 House Sparrow,(John Watson)
  • Regents Park: ad ringed Mediterranean Gull 8.40am - 9.20am before it returned to KG, ad Yellow-legged Gull, f Stonechat, m Reed Bunting (Tony Duckett).
  • Staines Res: Black-necked Grebe 9, Scaup 2, Kittiwake 1 adult (Ken Purdey).
  • Horsenden Hill (Paradise Fields): 4 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail (Andy Culshaw).

Thursday 13 March

  • Beddington SF: fem Scaup. Little Egret, Water Rail, Common Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, Water Pipit (Dip or Glory).
  • Kensal Green Cemetery: fem Firecrest at 13:00hrs, present for second day - frequenting Silver Birch on north side, c50m from Anglican chapel. Also, c4 Goldcrest, Coal Tit (site tick believe it or not) and Tawny Owl heard (site tick) (Dave Renham & David Lindo).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 singing Chiffchaff, c5 Fieldfare, c11 Redwing, c4 Jackdaw, c15 Linnet, c10 Meadow Pipit and a rude Jade Jagger! (David Lindo).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: m Firecrest still present in Millennium Glade area, also Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Blackcap (h) (Bob Watts).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 56 Mute Swan, 31 Greylag Goose, Emperor Goose (esc), pr Mandarin, Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 131 Tufted Duck, 14 Pochard, 113 Coot, German-ringed Mediterranean Gull showing down to 12ft at west side of Round Pond to 12:55hrs at least, 47 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Herring Gull, 7 Stock Dove, c15 Ring-necked Parakeet, Tawny Owl at day-roost, Green Woodpecker, 3 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit north 13:27hrs, 1-2 Pied Wagtail, heavily leucistic m Blackbird, 5 Mistle Thrush, 14 Goldcrest, c15 Long-tiled Tit, 2 Coal Tit, Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, Jay, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin north (Hudson Memorial) (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: male Reed Bunting singing from sole hawthorn at south end of cricket pitch 0657-0702, then flew to brambles backing onto gardens and not seen subsequently - 1st at site since Oct 2007 and personal site tick (Bob Watts); also, Skylark & 2 Fieldfare west over scrub, 2 singing male Siskin there, also one at Conservation pond plus Water Rail. Pair of Brambling by deer enclosure (John Murray).
  • London Wetland Centre: 1 Curlew (marsh), 1 Redshank, 1st yr Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Shelduck (main lake), male Garagney (sheltered lagoon), 2 Water Pipit (scrape), m Mandarin (collection), ad male Peregrine (also present yesterday + Saker x Peregrine hybrid), six Fieldfare and one Skylark SW (RK, DM).
  • Staines Res: 8 Black-necked Grebe, 10 Goldeneye, c50 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, c50 Shoveler, c30 Gadwall, 2 Teal (Roger Dewey).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant, 60+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, 30+Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Siskin, 8 Chaffinch, 4 Dunnock, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Goldfinch, 6 House Sparrow, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet (John Watson).
  • East India Dock: 2 Greylags on Thames mud (site tick), 1 Canada Goose, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swan, Grey and Pied Wags, 2 LT Tits, Goldfinch (Richard Harrison).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Redwing (Mark Pearson).
  • Regents Park: f Stonechat, m Reed Bunting, 2 Siskins, 12 Egyptian Geese (Tony Duckett).
  • South Norwood Country Park: 6 Stonechat (3m,3f) and around 10 Linnet, 20 Fieldfare and 10 Redwing (Steven Robinson).
  • Wanstead Flats: 2 Meadow Pipit, 11+ Skylark, m Reed Bunting (J Lethbridge).
  • Trent Park Area: 2 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 7 Green Woodpecker; 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 9 Song Thrush; 28 Redwing, at South Lodge Farm; 2 Fieldfare, at South Lodge Farm; 4 Mistle Thrush; 2 Goldcrest; 4 Nuthatch; 6 Treecreeper; 1 pr Long-tailed Tit, nest-building, in Gorse; c.25 Linnet, at Parkside Farm; 1 male Yellowhammer, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).

Wednesday 12 March

  • Kensal Green Cemetery: Firecrest discovered in tit flock that also contained c2 Goldcrest - possibly the Wormwood Scrubs bird (Dave Renham).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: male Firecrest still singing from holly 50 yards before Turning Circle, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing (Bob Watts).
  • Beddington SF: Little Egret, 3 Green Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • Walpole park Ealing: 1 Coal Tit, 1 Grey Heron (Jim Fell).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 2 Water Rail, 1 Little Egret (Paul Hawkins).
  • North Circular Road, Lea Valley Viaduct: Brent Goose overhead 8.40am (Mike Benyon).
  • Canary Wharf: 3 GC Grebe (J Lethbridge).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 20 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 5 Dunnock, 7 Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest, 5 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Wimbledon: 4 Egyptian Goose in park (Birdguides).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher (Steve Blake).
  • London Wetland Centre: 4 Shelduck, small flock of Redwing feeding on playing fields near site entrance; also, Water Voles attending feeding platforms near Dulverton Hide (LWC website).
  • Regents Park: female Stonechat present for its second day (Tony Duckett).
  • Iver (Huntsmoor Park): 1 Common Buzzard flying low over @ 17:10 (Roger Dewey).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 female Sparrowhawk; 2 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, (including one drumming); 3 Skylark; 30+ Fieldfare, at Vicarage Farm; 45+ Redwing, at South Lodge Farm; 4 Goldcrest,(including one singing male); 2 Nuthatch, together, Williams Wood; 2 Treecreeper, together, Icehouse Wood; 1 singing male Coal Tit; 2 Long-tailed Tit, Rough Lot; 22 Chaffinch, pre-roost gathering, Rough Lot; 2 Bullfinch, together, by Lower Lake; 7 Yellowhammer, together, at Vicarage Farm; 1 male Reed Bunting, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).

Tuesday 11 March

  • London Wetland Centre: ad m Peregrine, Peregrine x Saker Falcon hybrid, Jack Snipe, 3 Water Pipit (LWC website).
  • M25 J16 Watford: Red Kite north over motorway 11.30 am (Geoff Barter)
  • Mayesbrook Park (Dagenham): m Northern Wheatear during morning (Birdguides).
  • Rainham Marshes: 10 Shelduck, 20 Redshank, 2 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit (ELBF).
  • North Weald: Common Buzzard (ELBF).
  • Scotch Common/Pitshanger Allot's: 20 Redwings, 8 Meadow Pipits NW, 2 Stonechats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Bullfinches (pair) along River Brent (Nick Senior).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: At least 10 Stonechat in 1 loose flock on the path adjacent the embankment - site record; also, 2 female Reed Bunting, c12 Meadow Pipit, 1 Jackdaw, c2 Redwing & c8 Linnet - no sign of the Firecrest (David Lindo).
  • Wanstead Park: 31 species recorded, including 6 Little Grebe, 40 Gadwall, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 5 drumming GS Woodpeckers, 3 Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, Redwing, 4 Goldfinch (J Lethbridge).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Shellduck (all on nothing more than a big puddle next to Willows Farm car park)!!; also, 2 Redshank and 4 Snipe on main pit (Steve Blake).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 70 Black-headed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 50 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Siskin, 8 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Brambling. (TeRNS)
  • Alexandra Palace: c40 Redwing, c25 Chaffinch, (at least) 2 Brambling - all in the deer paddock, 1 singing Siskin in perimeter hedge of the cricket pitch (Mr Laurence Pitcher).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: 80 Golden Plover (Shaun Harvey).
  • Millfields Park South: 120 Common Gulls early (Mark Pearson)
  • Walthamstow Marshes: f Brambling with c15 Chaffinches, 61 Fieldfares, 47 Redwings, 10 Meadow Pipits, pr Linnets (Mark Pearson, Paul Cook)
  • Waterworks NR: 7 Common Snipe, 10 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 8 Pochard, singing Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest (Mark Pearson, Paul Cook)
  • Middx Filter Beds NR: 6 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, Reed Bunting, Redwing, Goldcrest (Paul Cook, Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: singing Blackcap, 2 Redwings (1 'sub-singing')(Mark Pearson)
  • Staines Res: Black-necked Grebe: 6, Scaup 2 (Ken Purdey).

Monday 10th March

  • Beddington SF: 4 Shelduck, 2 Yellow-billed Pintail (esc), 2 Little Egret, 5 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Water Pipit (Dip or Glory).
  • Alexandra Park: Chiffchaff singing in abysmal weather conditions from the perimeter of Conservation Pond at 0707 (Bob Watts).
  • London Wetland Centre: 6 Shelduck (LWC website), no sign of reported Lapland Bunting.
  • West Kensington: Peregrine, over Castletown Road heading west (Graeme Harper).
  • Barbican Centre EC1: Grey Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Wagtail, 21 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, Great-Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, pair of Teal.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Walpole Pk W5: 32 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrests, 28 Goldfinch (Nick Senior).

Sunday 9th March

  • Richmond Park: Red Kite at 13:30hrs (SBC).
  • Harefield GP's: 2 Sand Martin north at 14:10hrs (Birdguides).
  • Waterworks NR: 6 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Water Rail - Walthamstow Marsh: 2 Meadow Pipits, 37 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing (Paul Whiteman).
  • Thames - Putney-Barnes Bridges (WeBS count): drake Garganey with Teal at mouth of Beverly Brook, 35 Cormorant, 4 GC Grebe, 1 Egyptian Goose, pr Shelduck, 247 Teal, 62 Gadwall, 82 Tufted Duck (Neil Anderson).
  • Staines Res: 8 Black-necked Grebe (several going into summer plumage), 2 imm drake Scaup on north basin, 1 pair Smew on south basin by far bank (Jim Fell); also, Common Sandpiper on north basin (Birdguides).
  • Rainham: 58 species including, 1 Little Egret, 8 Pintail, 7 Oystercatcher, 25 Dunlin, Snipe, male Sparrowhawk, 1 Water Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 3 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit (J Lethbridge); also, Little Ringed Plover (Andy Tweed).
  • Holmethorpe SP: Little Egret flew north 07:00hrs (SBC).
  • London Wetland Centre: Lapland Bunting over south at 09:50 appeared to land but not seen subsequently; also, 1 2nd-winter Caspian Gull, 7 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, 6 Stonechats, 3 Chiffchaffs (Nick Senior); also, 2+ Water Pipit, 2 Redshank, Bittern, 2 Sparrowhawk, 10 Siskin, 5+ Pintail, 10 Siskin, 2 Water Vole at feeder (Jonathan Dean).
  • Lee Valley (Cornmill Meadows - Fishers Green): Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Shelduck, 8 Reed Bunting, Snipe, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 8+ Skylark, Water Rail (Mike Benyon).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 11 Great Crested Grebe (4 on Round Pond), 17 Shoveler, 2pr Mandarin, Tawny Owl, 7 Redwing, 7 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Goldcrest (Paul Bruty).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Cetti's Warbler, good numbers of Redwing (Vince Halley-Frame).
  • Richmond Park: Red Kite seen flying towards Ham/Kingston from road between Richmond Gate & Holly Lodge at 13.30hrs (Y.Simmonds, M.Howes).
  • Stanwell Moor: Red Kite one over heading south, mid-morning (Ken Purdey).
  • Hampstead Heath: 1 fem Stonechat near Parliament Hill (Gabriel Jamie).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Brambling (m & f) in plane trees near deer enclosure south of boating lake, male Siskin in Cricket scrub perched and before flying off, 80+ Redwing, 1 Jackdaw, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull north 1015 (Bob Watts, John Murray, Alan Gibson).
  • Whitewebbs Wood, Enfield: 22(13m,9f) Mandarin Duck; 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Nuthatch; 3 Treecreeper; 1 Marsh Tit; 2 Long-tailed Tit, carrying feathers (Robert Callf, Phil Rhodes).
  • Town Park, Enfield: 1 Bar-headed Goose and 2(m,f) Mandarin Duck, Carr's Basin (Robert Callf).

Saturday 8th March

  • London Wetland Centre: 8 Pintial (SBC).
  • Beddington SF: Jack Snipe, 2 Water Pipit (SBC).
  • Greenford CP: 45 Redwing, c10 M'Pipit, 4 Pied + 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Linnet (Neil Anderson).
  • Lonsdale Road Res (Leg of Mutton Pond): m Garganey (the London Wetland Centre bird) (SBC).
  • Staines Res: 8 Black-necked Grebe (south basin), Scaup 2 imm drakes (north basin), 3 Smew (south basin, flew off SE at 2.40pm) (Ken Purdey).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 singing Chiffchaff (our first for the year), c10 Meadow Pipit including c4 singers, 1 Stock Dove, c8 Linnet & 7 Redwing (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall); also, Firecrest @ 4.30pm in the eastern edge of the 'Back Passage' it's the bit of woodland between Chats Paddock and Scrubs Lane (Mathew Bournat).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe (2 pr displaying), 3 Grey Heron, 5 Egyptian Goose, pr Red-crested Pochard, 23 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Pied Wagtail (Paul Bruty).
  • Rainham Stone Barges: 1 Short-eared owl, Peregrine, Caspian Gull (3w), 1 Curlew, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher, 30+ Redshank, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Corn Bunting, 4+ Stonechat, singing Chiffchaff, 10 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 2 Little Egret (Paul Hawkins,Les Harrison).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine, Curlew (SBC).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res;1 Kestrel, Cuckolds Hill; 2 Greylag Goose, circled lakes, 13.20 GMT ( year tick - March is usually a good month to see this species locally ); 2 Green Woodpecker; 9 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Skylark; 7 Pied Wagtail, together, at South Lodge Farm; 3 Song Thrush, at Park Farm; 2 Mistle Thrush, at Parkside Farm; Redwing & Fieldfare, flock at Park Farm; 5 Goldcrest, (4 together in Moat Wood); 1 Nuthatch; 4 Treecreeper; 1 Coal Tit; 20+ Linnet, at Parkside Farm; 1 female Bullfinch, at Park Farm; 1 male Yellowhammer, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 4 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Partridge, 25+ Red-legged Partridge, 1 Snipe, 5 Fieldfare (Steve Blake).
  • Trent Park: Stonechat (f), 20 Fieldfare, 2 Tufted Duck (pair) (Pete Lowman).
  • Island Barn Res: 2 Curlew (SBC).

Friday 7th March

  • Beddington SF: 2 Little Egret, 2 ad Mediterranean Gull (SBC).
  • Walton Res: 7 Goosander (SBC).
  • Wanstead Flats: 30 species recorded, including 8 Skylark, singing Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Mistle Thrush, and about 35 Shoveler, mostly males (J Lethbridge).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2 pr Mandarin (Paul Bruty).
  • Paddington Green: Common Buzzard SW at 13:00hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Shellduck, 2 Wigeon, 2 Siskin, 2 Buzzard, 10 M/Pipit, 6 Skylark, 3 GS Woodpecker, 1 Grn Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush (Steve Blake).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: male Firecrest still singing in West Grove at 12:45pm, 1-2 Chiffchaff (Bob Watts).
  • Walthamstow Marshes: pr Linnets, 6 Meadow Pipits, 7 Stock Doves, 1 Fieldfare, 40+ Common Gulls (Mark Pearson).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Red Admiral, displaying male Sparrowhawk, 3 Redwings, 5 GS & 2 Green Woodpeckers (Mark Pearson).
  • Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Stock Dove; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Song Thrush; 38 Redwing, on Pitch & Putt Course (Robert Callf).
  • London Wetland Centre: male Garganey, 1 Dunlin, 1 Water Pipit, 4 Pintail & 2 Shelduck (Y.Simmonds).

Thursday 6th March

  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: juv Iceland Gull at Wennington Marsh late morning, viewable from public footpath (Birdguides); also, 2 Short-eared Owls over silt lagoons mid-late afternoon, 1 m Goosander flew south over reserve near dusk (Paul Whiteman, Andy Tweed).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 52 Mute Swan, Emperor Goose, pr Mandarin, 7 Gadwall, 32 Shoveler, m Red-crested Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, imm Peregrine (probable m) flew at gulls on moored boats at Serpentine at 14:17hrs before moving off in direction of Round Pond, 85 Common Gull, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, c20 Ring-necked Parakeet (inc 3prs at potential nest-holes), Tawny Owl at day-roost, 4 Green Woodpecker, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Song Thrush, Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, 2 Treecreeper (1 singing), 3 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch (1 singing), Siskin (Long Water alders), Linnet over Serpentine 14:38hrs (Des McKenzie, Paul Bruty).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Garganey still on Grazing Marsh, Bittern still present (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: 3 Shelduck, m Mandarin, Little Egret, 3 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, ad Mediterranean Gull, Water Pipit (Dip or Glory).
  • East India Dock / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 12 Redshank, 17 Shelduck, m Linnet, m Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Grey Wagtails (David Callahan).
  • Staines Res: 8 Black-necked Grebe - south basin, Scaup 2 imm drakes - north basin (Ken Purdey).
  • Hackney Marshes: 3 Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe (Waterworks NR), 6 Pochard, 10 Gadwall (Gary A James).
  • Whitewebbs Wood: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (& Green + GS's), 1+ Marsh Tit, Siskin, 5+ Bramblings with c40 Chaffinches, c10 Mandarins, 2 Goldcrests, c7 Nuthatches (Paul Cook, Laurence Pitcher, Mark Pearson).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 20+ Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Goldfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 1 Oystercatcher (HertsBirding).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Little Grebe; 3(2m,1f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 1 female Sparrowhawk; 1 Kestrel; 3 Green Woodpecker; 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Rough Lot; 5+ Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 78 Redwing, at South Lodge Farm; 4 Mistle Thrush; 4 Nuthatch; 4 Treecreeper; 1 Chiffchaff, near Water Grdn; 5 Goldcrest; 2 singing male Coal Tit, Williams Wood; 9+ Siskin, Williams Wood (Robert Callf).
  • Barking Outfall: Curlew, 41 Redshank, Grey Wagtail and 93 Shelduck (Dave Morrison).
  • West Thurrock Marshes: 16 Curlew, 18 Avocet, 4 Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, 211 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers and 800 Dunlin (Dave Morrison).
  • Thames nr City Hall (mid morning): 1 adult YL Gull, 1 adult Caspian Gull (Nick Senior).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 2 Little Egret, pr of Teal, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Herring Gull, 1 Cormorant (Paul Hawkins).

Wednesday 5th March

  • Alexandra Park: 4 Brambling (dark headed male and female along stream in wood behind conservation pond & light headed male and bright female around deer enclosures) (J.Murray): Bramblings still present behind conservation pond at 1.30pm (Mike Benyon).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: singing Firecrest still, ranging from Turning Circle over to Lockhart Street favouring rhododendrons and ivy, until 0945 at least; also, male Blackcap, singing Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spots, Green WP (David Callahan).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 5 Egyptian Goose, 10 Gadwall, pr Mandarin, pr Sparrowhawk, 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, singing Song Thrush, 2 singing Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldfinch (Paul Bruty).
  • Rainham Stone Barges: Ad Iceland Gull flew from river towards tip at c08:15am; also, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 38 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Water Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 40 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 1 Short-eared Owl over silts at 07:15 (Paul Hawkins).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 1 Little Egret, 4 Great-crested Grebe (Paul Hawkins).
  • St. John's Wood: pr of Sparrowhawk displaying at 16:30hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 20 Tufted Duck, 1m pochard, 60 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 20 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Siskin, 8 Chaffinch (4 singing), 3 Dunnock, 6 Goldfinch, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Trent Park Area: 3 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 3(2 ads, 1 '1st-winter') Mute Swan, at Parkside Res; 1 male Kestrel; 13 Stock Dove, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Green Woodpecker; 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 singing male Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 6 Song Thrush; 30+ Redwing, Icehouse Wood; 1 Chiffchaff, by Lower Lake; 1 Goldcrest; 3 Nuthatch; 6 Treecreeper; 5 Coal Tit, (including 4 singing males); 3 Bullfinch, together, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Water Rail, 2 Wigeon, 1 Snipe, 4 M/Pipit, 4 Skylark (Steve Blake).
  • Wanstead Park: 31 species sighted, including at least 6 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Redwing (rare here), and Meadow Pipit (J Lethbridge).
  • East India Dock: 8 Mute Swan (including mating pair) My previous site max was 3 (Richard Harrison).
  • London Wetland Centre:Bittern showing in the open on Grazing Marsh,Dunlin,Sparrowhawk, Yellow legged Gull& Perigrene(YSimmonds)
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Woodcock flushed near paddock/green bridge 3 Snipe (Shaun Harvey)

Tuesday 4th March.

  • Beddington SF: Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, Dunlin, 8 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: singing male Firecrest at 09:00, vocal but difficult to see well, just west of the turning circle; also, a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Green Woodpecker (Paul Whiteman).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
  • Walpole Park (Ealing): Goldcrest, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 20+ Redwing (Jim Fell).
  • London Wetland Centre: Garganey, Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Water Pipit (SBC).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Bramblings (1m, 1f) still in tall trees by deer enclosure, later flew off into flowering trees nearby. Plus lots of Chaffinches, Redwings and 1 GS Woodpecker (Reuben Braddock).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 80 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 20+ Redwing, 6 Siskin, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 8 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch, 3 Dunnock, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Valentines Park: 3 Siskin, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Wag, 8 Jackdaw.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 2 Shelduck. 2 Wigeon. 3 Snipe 1 Ringed Plover. (Steve Blake)
  • Walthamstow Marshes: Little Owl, 1 Jackdaw west, 4 Common Snipe, 1 Siskin over, c60 Fieldfares, c30 Redwings, 6 Meadow Pipits (Mark Pearson)
  • Trent Park: Chiffchaff (apparently the earliest ever Park record?), 5 Redwing, 3 Goosander (2m,f),Cormorant, GS Woodpecker.( Pete Lowman).
  • Stocker's Lake/Farm: 1 Sand Martin, 1 Little Egret. (Richard Francis).
  • Trent Park: 3(2m,1f) Goosander; 1 male Kestrel; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; c100 Redwing; 3 Goldcrest 1 Nuthatch; 5 Treecreeper; 3 Coal Tit; 14 Long-tailed Tit,(2's and 3's); 1 '1st-winter' male Brambling, edge of Moat Wood, 17:15 - 17:30 GMT (Robert Callf).

Monday 3rd March

  • Barnes Bridge: seal sp. reported (BBC Radio London).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: highly vocal male Firecrest still present in Monument Glade feeding in privet @ 1250; also, Chiffchaff, 10+ Chaffinches, Goldfinch (Bob Watts).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, 5 Common Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • Mayesbrook Park: m Peregrine hunting at 10am, 2 Little Egrets, 21 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail (Paul Hawkins).
  • South Norwood Lake: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Redwing, 4 Dunnock, Goldfinch, Chafinch, 3 Siskin, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Peregrine (SBC).
  • Green Park: 1 Siskin over at 08.00 (Andrew Self)
  • Staines Res: Great Northern Diver 1, Black-necked Grebe 4, Scaup 2, Peregrine 1 (Ken Purdey).
  • Trent Park: 3 Goosander (2m,1f),2 Tufted Duck (m),Cormorant ,5 Fieldfare,Green Woodpecker.( Pete Lowman).
  • London Wetland Centre: Bittern ,Garganey,Chiffchaff& Sand Martin (Y.Simmonds)

Sunday 2nd March

  • Island Barn Res: Great Northern Diver (SBC).
  • Wandsworth Park: 1w Caspian Gull on Thames (SBC).
  • Staines Res: 2 Scaup, 3 Black-necked Grebe (SBC).
  • Beddington SF: 4 Little Egret, 4 Common Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Water Pipit (Dip or Glory).
  • Alexandra Park: 3 Brambling inc 2 males by deer enclosure, 2 singing Blackcap in birch wood beyond rose garden (thanks Bob), 6 Siskin over farmers market (John Murray, Bob Watts).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 7 Egyptian Goose, 8 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Water Rail (again in SW reedbed at Longwater at 07:30hrs), Tawny Owl at day-roost, Green Woodpecker, 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, singing Dunnock, Goldcrest, 4 Coal Tit, pr Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 2 Jay (Des McKenzie, Paul Bruty).
  • London Wetland Centre: 1 m Garganey (scrape), 4 Shelduck, 6 Pintail, 2 Caspian Gulls (2nd wtrs), 2 YL Gulls, 1 Kittiwake west, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Water Pipit, 1 littoralis Rock Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Siskin (DM,SF,NPS); also, 3 Stonechat (grazing marsh), Bittern (in reeds at western end of Sheltered Lagoon) and Peregrine perched on distant flats (Martin Honey).
  • Lee Valley (Fishers Green-Hall Marsh Scrape): Cetti's Warbler, 2 Pintail, Shelduck, 100+Gadwall, 40 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 60+ Shoveler (Mike Benyon).
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs (North side): 2 Kingfishers, 4 Goldeneye (1 adult m), 30 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 1 Kestrel - (South side: No 1 and East Warwick): 1 Little Egret on island No1, 4 Gadwall (Quentin Given).
  • Stockers Lake: 3 Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 2 Goldeneye, 30 Wigeon, 10 Pochard, 40 Lapwing, at least 10 pairs Grey Heron (John Palmer).
  • Horsenden Hill: 4 Fieldfare over, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Sparrowhawk (Andy Culshaw).

Saturday 1st March

  • Hampton Court Park: 68 Wigeon, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 60 Pochard, 58 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall (Andrew Skotnicki).
  • Alexandra Park: 1 male Brambling with Chaffinch around deer enclosure (J.Murray).
  • Kew Gardens:Pr Egyptian Geese, 40+ Redwing, c10 Siskin, 30+ Chaffinch (Neil Anderson)
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Red Kite in from the west at 09:50hrs (c100ft over Round Pond) before gaining height and moving off north - last seen at 09:57hrs, 40 Herring Gull, 18 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Mistle Thrush (2 singing), singing Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, Nuthatch, 2 Treeceeper, singing Goldfinch (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner); also, 2 Little Grebe (male trilling briefly), Water Rail flushed by fox in SW Longwater reed bed, showed well for 20 minutes (11:45-12:05) (Paul Bruty).
  • London Wetland Centre, Barnes: 1 Sand Martin (08.50 but present all morning), 2 Shelduck, 4 Pintail, 4 Common Snipe, 4 Siskin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1♂ Sparrowhawk (Martin Honey). Also: 2 Water Pipit from WWF Hide, 50 Herring Gulls on main lake mid afternoon (Jonathan Dean).
  • Lake Side, Oakwood, N14: 1 male Blackcap, sub-singing, in Holly 16:00 GMT (Robert Callf).
  • Park Farm and Parkside Farm, Enfield: 4 Bullfinch ( a pair at each site ) (Robert Callf).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Pair of Shelduck, 1 singing Cetti's Warbler and 1 singing Chiffchaff. ( Vince Halley-Frame ).
  • Amwell GP: Sand Martin (Birdguides)
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Little Owl, 1 Stonechat, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Tawny Owl (Perivale Wood), 2 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawk (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon).


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