Vince Halley-Frame

From Londonbirders

I started birding at Dagenham Chase in my early teens, and i started making notes from 1988 onwards which was also the year that i started out on the twitching scene.In my early patchwork days i was introduced to the late Ken Barrett with whom i shared many great times and info with, the place will never be the same without him. The best birds that i have found over the years include, Slavonian Grebe (displaying pair ),3 immature Whooper Swans(circled the site together ),Drake Ferruginous Duck on 7th-8th April 2007 ,3 Honey Buzzards,7 Red Kites, Juvenile Kittiwake, 2 Quail, Summer Plumage Water Pipit, several Ring Ouzels, Marsh Warblers ( breeding ),and Juvenile Red-backed Shrike. My worst omission is Oystercatcher, in 2005 i missed one by 2 minutes ! I have also seen the only two official rarities recorded at Dagenham Chase, Great Snipe and Pine Bunting, with a third ( Drake Ferruginous Duck )pending. My current London list is 215 species,Eurasian Spoonbill at Rainham Marshes RSPB on the 5th May 2007 being the latest addition.My British list is currently 470 species,the latest addition being Scops Owl on the 18th June 2006. My foreign birding is limited to just three trips, Canada (Pelee ), Lesbos and USA (Arizona ).PATCHLIST 2007:Highlights away from the predictable species, 23rd Jan 2 Common Buzzards displaying,28th Jan Male Firecrest,31st Jan Red Kite,11th Feb Fem Mandarin and Ad Med Gull,14th Feb Peregrine, 30th March Marsh Harrier, 7th April Ferruginous Duck [P], 8th May Whimbrel.APRIL LATEST: Willow Warbler 6th, Swallow and Ferruginous Duck[P] 7th,Lesser Whitethroat 12th( earliest by 8 days),Common Redstart 13th,Common Whitethroat 16th,House Martin 17th,Common Swift 20th,Ring Ouzel 22nd, Reed Warbler,Whinchat,Hobby 23rd,Garden Warbler 24th, Common Sandpiper, Wheatear 25th,Cuckoo 27th, Common Tern 30th. MAY LATEST: Yellow Wagtail 1st, Whimbrel 8th, Egyptian Goose 9th. Total = 98 inclusive of Feral Pigeon with Ferruginous Duck pending .