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From Londonbirders

Revision as of 13:18, 5 November 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. Please list rarest sightings at top rather than alphabetically. Note that records submitted here may be added to the LNHS database for use in the London Bird Report; by posting your news here you are agreeing to have your records copied by the LNHS recorders.

Thursday 5th November

• Staines Moor: 1w BROWN SHRIKE still present 11.15 a.m. (26th day) (Birdguides).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: excellent view of an Osprey moving due south over Serpentine, east of Island, 11:27hrs (c350-75ft up); 4 Egyptian Goose, 16 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 20 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Common Gull, Fieldfare, Linnet (h) (Des McKenzie).
• Alexandra Park: Viz mig 0700-0800: 14 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, c250 Woodpigeon, Mipit, Lesser Redpoll, 15 Chaffinch, also 2 Chiffchaff, pair Gadwall (Bob Watts, David Callahan).
• Beddington SF: Short-eared owl over (KJM200).
• Brent Res: Viz-mig: c4110 Woodpigeons, 158 Fieldfares, 6 Redwings & 12 Jackdaws; also adult Med Gull, Cetti's Warbler & 3 Red-crested Pochards (2 drakes, 1 female) (Andrew Self)
• Hertford: 3 Little Egrets this a.m. on south side of River Lea, near Horns Mill Pub (Birdguides).
• Paddington Green (07:00-09:00hrs): Egyptian Goose flew toward Hampstead, Ring-necked Parakeet, c2380 Woodpigeon south (some SE; also 72 north or NW), 12 Meadow Pipit south, 2 Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 30 Fieldfare SW, 19 Redwing WSW, 14 Magpie low south (probably local birds), 40+ Starling SW, 11 Chaffinch west, up to 10 Goldfinch in area, Siskin SW (Des McKenzie).
• Southfields (Girdwood Road 07.15): 6 Egyptian Geese flew over heading SE (probably to Wimbledon Park) calling (Martin Honey).
• Wormwood Scrubs: Water Pipit over a.m (site tick!) plus Ring Ouzel still present in the Chat Paddock but elusive (Birdguides).
• Tyttenhanger GP: Goldeneye (Steve B)

Wednesday 4th November

• Staines Moor: 1w BROWN SHRIKE still present late a.m. (25th day), also Barn Owl along Bonehead Ditch 6.20am (Bob Warden per FJM), Cettis Warbler heard only and Water Pipit (Birdguides).
• Fairlop: Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, 161 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 30 Gadwall, 44 Teal, 15 Pochard, 69 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 5 Little Grebe, 8 GCGrebe, 132 Coot, 41 Moorhen, 9 Cormorant, 7 Grey Heron, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, pr Stonechat, Skylark, 2 Mipit, c60 LTTit, Chiffchaff (calling), Reed Bunting (DEH).
• London Wetland Centre: two Jack Snipe on grazing marsh with Common Snipe and a Water Rail, also the Bittern still in reedbed this afternoon (Birdguides).
• Rainham Marshes RSPB: ringtail Hen Harrier low over Ferry Lane and towards silt lagoons at 10:00, Marsh Harrier over rubbish tip late morning, Merlin over stone barges and across river (poor photos of the harriers on Birdguides), also 2 Water Pipit, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and flock of 25 Linnet (John Murray & John Murray Snr), 180 Greylag Goose, 7 Pintail, 4 Kestrel, 2y Mediterranean Gull, ad Caspian Gull, 20 Fieldfare, 3 Water Pipits (ELBF).
• Aldwych: 50 Fieldfare west prior to 08:00hrs (Dave Morrison per DMc).
• Alexandra Park: Viz mig 0700-0810: c600 Woodpigeon, 2 Fieldfare, 22 Redwing, 3 Mipit, 2 Jackdaw, 15 Chaffinch, 8 Goldfinch, Skylark, Lesser Redpoll, also Chiffchaff Ckt Scrub, pair Gadwall WGRes (Stuart Harrington, Bob Watts).
• Bromley-by-Bow: 58 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Mistle Thrush, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (S Fisher).
• Clissold Park: VM (til leaf blowers stopped play): 390 Woodpigeons, 25 Redwings, 5 Fieldfares, 11 redpolls, 28 Chaffinches, 12 Mistle Thrushes, 32 Starlings, 1 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipits; large bunting west, possibly Lapland, didn't call .... also 4 Shoveler, 2 Common Pochard (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
• Crayford Marsh: Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Snipe, 17 Ringed Plover, c70 Lapwing, 8 Pied Wagtail, 7 Skylark, 12 Wigeon, male Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel, c40 Greylag Geese (Kev Jarvis).
• Hackney Downs: adult Mediterranean Gull low and circling over clapton Pond area 1400 before drifting over downs (possibly returning bird from previous years at Clapton Common) (Mark Pearson).
• Hampstead Heath: 4 Goldcrest, 5 Coal Tits, 2 Kestrels, 17 Shoveler (Highgate No1 Pond), Skylark over Parliament Hill Fields (patch tick) (Sash Tusa). Sanctuary Pond: 1 juvenile Cormorant. Hampstead No 1 Pond: still 9 Mute Swan cygnets with adults, 1 GC Grebe with 1 calling juvenile, 1 pr Gadwall (Michael Mac).
• Haringay: Red Kite over Mattison Road N4 at 09.00 (J. Sermet per AS).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (late a.m.): 6 Egyptain Goose, 8 Shoveler, 4 Red-crested Pochard (3m), imm m Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel (earthworming on Buck Hill, briefly mobbed by Sparrowhawk), 3 Little Grebe, 28 Cormorant, 6 Goldcrest, 3 Siskin west, redpoll sp west (Des McKenzie).
• Kenwood: 1 Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 250+ Carrion Crow (West Meadow area), Approx 600 - 1,000 Woodpigeon took to the air after some kind of military jet (after 1600) flew low over wood, prior to that not noticable, 4+ Jackdaw, 10+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Green Woodpecker (Michael Mac)
• King George V Res: 3 Goosander, 1 Rock Pipit (Tony Clancy).
• Minet CP: m Firecrest showing well in ivy-covered oaks south-west of Minet CP at 10:00hrs. Park at Springfield Road Car Park TQ114807 and walk southwest past pond, through gap in first hedgerow and follow path to gap in oaks near Pump Lane TQ112806 (Birdguides).
• Park Farm, Enfield: 7 Fieldfare (Robert Callf).
• Regent's Park: 1f Firecrest, 24 Fieldfares, 36 Redwings, 2 Water Rails (Tony Duckett).
• St James's Park: 1st-winter Med Gull at lunchtime & 3 Egyptian Geese (Andrew Self)
• Staines Res: Water Pipit showing well this a.m. (Birdguides).
• Totteridge Valley: 1 Woodcock over; 10 Fieldfares; 2 Skylarks, also 4 Meadow Pipits grounded (John Colmans).
• Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 1+ Firecrests still present (male definitively sighted) in predominately L T Tit flock Monument Glade 1230 (Bob Watts).
• Trent Park: 5 (3m, 2f) Mandarin Duck, Upper Lake; 3 (1m, 2f) Teal, Lower Lake; 1 male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, feeding in Rough Lot, 11:05-11:10 GMT; 2 (m&f) Firecrest, feeding in Holly, Rough Lot, 11:28-12:27 GMT; 3 Nuthatch; 3 Treeceeper; 1 Weasel, Camlet Moat; 1 Small Copper, (my latest record for eight years) (Robert Callf & Robin White).
• Valentines Park (Ilford): ad Mediterranean Gull, also 7 Mute Swan (family group), 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush (ELBF).
• Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Ring Ouzel still in Chats Paddock, plus c1,200 Woodpigeon, 2 Stonechat, c6 Redwing, c5 Fieldfare, 1 Redpoll, c30 Chaffinch, 2 Jackdaw & c10 Meadow Pipit (Rob Ayers, David Lindo & Anders Price).

Tuesday 3rd November

• Staines Moor: 1w BROWN SHRIKE still present a.m. (24th day). Please view only from south of the River Colne (RBA) Also 2 Little Egrets, 1 Water Pipit, Kingfisher chased Brown Shrike briefly at roosting bush. 4 Partridge sp seen briefly along Bonehead Ditch before flying into trees bordering KG VI Res early am. (FJM)
• Alexandra Park: Pair Gadwall WG Res, Chiffchaff singing from hedge opposite 0715 (Bob Watts); Kingfisher (David Callahan).
• Brent Res: Ad Med Gull, 27 Snipe, 2m 1f Red-crested Pochard, Cetti's Warbler singing, 3 Redwing, Skylark, Meadow Pipit (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall), plus 45+ Wigeon, 1 Green Sand (Roy Beddard)
• Bromley-by_Bow: 1 Pochard, 66 Mallard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Kingfisher, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff (singing), Linnet (S Fisher)
• Crossness: ad Mediterranean Gull on the Thames from Thamesmead Golf Centre (Birdguides).
• Hatch End Arts Centre: Little Egret present mid day by 'new'course of River Pinn (Tony Donetti)
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: pr Egyptian Goose, 3 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, pr Red-crested Pochard, imm m Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebe, still 7 semi-dependent juv Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant with remains of plastic bag around neck, Common Snipe (Hyde Park Meadows), Grey Wagtail, 2-3 Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, at least 90 Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting (heard from Long Water Sanctuary) (Des McKenzie).
• Little Britain Lake: Little Grebe, Cormorant, 2 Heron, pr Mute Swan & 4y, 2 Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, R-n Parakeet, GS Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Redwing over, Goldcrest, tit flocks, c20 Chaffinch in flock, Goldfinches (Roger Dewey).
• London Wetland Centre: 2 Jack Snipe, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Water Rail, 1 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 56 Lapwing, 24 Common Snipe (James Bray), 20 Wigeon - grazing marsh and channel (observer?).
• Margravine Cemetery: 1 Jackdaw, 1 f Peregrine, 2-3 Jay, ca 20 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Mudchute Farm (Isle of Dogs): flock of 24 Monk Parakeets, 3 Mistle Thrushes (Sean Huggins).
• Myddelton House Gardens (Bulls Cross): 1 Brambling; Siskin, small flock (Robert Callf).
• Rainham Marshes: 66 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Curlew, 140 Wigeon, 30 Dunlin, 7 Snipe, 80 Golden Plover, 3 Peregrine (2m, 1f) (ELBF).
• Regent's Park: 3 Little Grebes, 57 Egyptian Geese, flock of 45 Red-crested Pochards, 3 Water Rail, 12 Redwings, Tree Creeper, ?Meally Redpoll (Tony Duckett).
• South Norwood Lake: 12+ Cormorant, 8 Tufted Duck, c30 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch (John Watson).
• Stockers Lake: 2 Scaup (HertsBirding).
• Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 7 Wigeon, 1 Jackdaw, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson).
• Vauxhall: m Peregrine alighted on building briefly then flew towards Brixton 14:20 (Michael Mac).
• Wanstead Flats (9.30-10.30): no sign of Dartford Warbler; Stonechat, Skylark, Meadow Pipits, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Snipe (flushed) (P Fallan). Wanstead Flats pm: still no sign of Dartford Warbler, male Stonechat, 6 Meadow Pipits, 11 Skylark, 2 Fieldfares in Hawthorn, 10 Shoveler in Alexandra Pond (S Fisher)
• Weald Park: 50 Siskin, Grey Wagtail, 14 Mistle Thrush, 4 Fieldfare (ELBF).
• Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Red-legged Partridge flushed from Chats Paddock - 2nd site record plus 1 Stonechat, 3 Jackdaw & c13 Meadow Pipit (Roy Nuttall & Anders Price).

Monday 2nd November

• Staines Moor: 1w BROWN SHRIKE still present 15:00 (23rd day). Please view only from south of the River Colne (Birdguides)
• London Wetland Centre: Jack Snipe, 31 Common Snipe, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website). Bittern 14:15 showing well on island opposite from Dulverton Hide then flew over water into reeds right of hide then disappeared, 17 Wigeon grazing on meadow, GBB Gull adult and 1st winter juvenile, Snipe zipping about, odd Barnacle Goose type Hybrid with yellow legs, feral or escapee? (Wildside hide), 3 Egyptian Geese went from main lake to wildfowl enclosures, 1 Green Woodpecker (Michael Mac); recent tame Barnacle Goose intermittently at Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens but not a hybrid (DMc). Looking at this page it could be Barnacle and Grey Lag Hybrid [1](Michael Mac).
• Bromley-by-Bow: 6 Cormorant, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Teal, c100 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Meadow Pipit, 6 Redwing over, 1 Fieldfare west, Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wags, 7 Goldfinch (S Fisher)
• Rainham Marshes: Little Stint, Jack Snipe, (Dark-bellied) Brent Goose, 2 Bearded Tit (Birdguides).
• Staines Res: 5 Goldeneye, Black-necked Grebe still on South Basin late p.m. (FJM).
• Trent CP: 4 Firecrest, (a pair feeding in Holly, Rough Lot, 11:10 - 11:38 GMT, another pair feeding in Holly, Williams Wood, 12:28 - 12:32 GMT); 2 Goldcrest (including one singing male); 1 Kingfisher, perched, Lower Lake, 12:05 GMT; 4 Small Copper (Robert Callf).
• Wanstead Flats: Dartford Warbler, still in same area seemed to be associating with Stonechats this am 8.15 am - see image on Surfbirds at http://tinyurl.com/sxi4 (JP Elmes).
• Wormwood Scrubs: flighty female Ring Ouzel at Chats Paddock 08:00 plus c400 Woodpigeon over, c30 Redwing, c20 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, c4 Skylark, c8 Jackdaw & 1 winter male Reed Bunting (David Lindo, Roy Nuttall & Anders Price).
• Alexandra Park; 2 Chiffchaffs, one singing (WG res) (David Callahan). Viz mig 0715-0755: 366 Woodpigeon, 7 Jackdaw, 6 Mipit, 26 Redwing, 2 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 15 Chaffinch, drake Gadwall WGres (Bob Watts).
• Barnes Sports Field: 2 Pied Wagtail - adult and juvenile, 1 Grey Wagtail (in brook), 67 Feral Pigeons flocking on running track (Michael Mac).
• Beddington SF: 3 ad Yellow-legged Gull, c350 Woodpigeon, 1350 Ring-necked Parakeet, 36 Redwing, 3 Siskin (Beddington Farm Bird Group).
• Bedfont Lakes CP: 34 Gadwall, Kingfisher, Redwing (Adam Cheeseman).
• Brent Res., 25+ Common Snipe, 36 Wigeon, 3 R-C Pochard (2m, 1f), Cetti's Warbler singing on S bank, 12 Redwings E. Marsh, 1 v late Common Darter (Roy Beddard).
• Crossness: ad Mediterranean Gull on the Thames (Birdguides).
• Fairlop: 10 Teal, 100+ Lapwing, 15 Snipe, Woodcock, Water Rail, Little Owl, 3 Kestrels (DEH).
• Hampstead Heath: 1 Kingfisher, 2 slightly odd looking Pochard (possible hybrids? Worth having a look if anyone is in the area), 6 Shoveler (all on Highgate no.1 pond), 1 Coal tit (Tumulus) (Reuben Braddock); also pair of Gadwall here. I saw the Pochard one has not completed moult (Pete Mantle).
• Hogsmill SF: female Peregrine 08:06hrs, 7 Redwing S, c70 Wood Pigeon SW early morning (Nick Tanner).
• Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 8 Egyptian Goose, 5 Shoveler, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Little Grebe (1 trilling), 25 Cormorant, c550 Black-headed Gull, 15 Herring Gull, Tawny Owl showing well at roost, 6 Redwing west, Jackdaw calling nr Kensington Palace, 7 Goldfinch (2 singing) (Des McKenzie).
• Kings Road SE25 (09:20hrs): 1 Jackdaw over S/SW (John Watson).
• Limehouse (07.25): 700+ Wood Pigeons (S) (Paul Hyland).
• Margravine Cemetery: 1 f Peregrine perched on hospital mobbed by Crow and standing her ground, 2 Jay (Nathalie Mahieu).
• Osterley Park: Buzzard, drake Teal, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch (Tom Smith).
• South Norwood Lake: 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant, 65 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Blacked-backed Gull, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Pied Wagtail, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker,2 Collared Dove, 2 Nuthatch, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson).
• St. James's Park: 1w Mediterranean Gull at west end late afternoon (Birdguides).
• Tyttenhanger GPs: Stonechat, (m) Bullfinch (m) Goldeneye, (m) Wigeon, (f) Green Sandpiper, 6 Little Grebe, Buzzard (Steve B).
• Vauxhall: fem Peregrine perched on building 7:15 then flew north 15 mins latter (Michael Mac).
• Wanstead Park: In Reservoir Wood - 2 GS Woodpecker, Treecreeper, 40+ LT Tits, 20 Blue Tit, 30+ Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 8 Jays (J Lethbridge), 20 Little Grebe (16 on The Basin), 4 Great Crested Grebe (The Basin), 24 Gadwall, 12 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 1 Kingfisher over Shoulder of Mutton pond, 96 Coot (S. Fisher)
• Totteridge Valley: Common Buzzard high in sky being chased by large flock of Jackdaws and Crows,Darlands Lake: Common Darter (Tony Clancy)

Sunday 1st November

• Staines Moor: 1w BROWN SHRIKE still present 14:45 (22nd day). Please view only from south of the River Colne (Birdguides).
• Brent Reservoir: 2 Jack Snipe from heron hide, also female Red-crested Pochard & Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Self).
• East India Dock: Yellow-legged Gull (the regular bird), 2 Little Grebes, Common Sandpiper (David Callahan).
• Hogsmill SF: ad fem Peregrine NE mobbed by Jackdaws c13:20hrs (only 2nd site record in 13 years) (Nick Tanner per DMc).
• Wanstead Flats: Dartford Warbler still east of Centre road c15:20, m Stonechat in same area. Also 2 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 50+ Common Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 10+ LBB Gull, 1 adult GBB Gull (rare here and a year tick), 2 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wag, 8 Mipit, Song Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker, 27 RN Parakeet over heading north, 2 Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 500+ Starling, 3 Jay, 2 Jackdaw (J Lethbridge).
• Wanstead Park pm: Firecrest calling with large flock of (mainly) Long-tailed tits from Reservoir wood towards dusk, also Goldcrest, Coal tit amongst them. 11 Pochard, 14 Tufted Ducks, 8 Gadwall (S Fisher)
• South Norwood Lake: 8 Tufted Duck, 8+ Cormorant, c30 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Pied Wagtail, c12 Long-tailed Tit, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
• Fairlop: 10 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 3 GBBGulls (adult), Rook, 5 Mipit, 2 Skylark, 17 Linnet, 12 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 70+ Lapwing (DEH)
• Queen Mary Res. pm: G.C. Grebe 142, Goosander pr circling at dusk, Peregerine 1 f, Common Buzzard 1, Caspian Gull 1 first-winter, Y.L.Gull 5 (2 ads, 3 first-winters), Herring Gull 6 argentatus types Common Gull c.350 at roost, Rock Pipit 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2 (NPS)
• London Wetland Centre WWT: 2 Jack Snipe,(Wader Scrape) 11 Common Snipe, 21 Lapwing, Water Pipit, Peregrine Falcon, ad f hunting over early pm. Chiffchaff with Long-tailed Tits Sheltered Lagoon. (Mike Lewis & FJM.)
• Fulham. 25 Pied Wagtail flew over at dusk. (Michael F)
• Horsenden Hill. Water rail still on Canal Ponds. 1 Little Grebe on canal. (Andy Culshaw and David Howdon)

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