News August 2009

From Londonbirders

Monday 31st August

  • Brent Res: 73 species including Black-necked Grebe, Nightingale, Little Egret, Dunlin, Ruff, 3 Green Sands, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Spot Flys, 40 Swallows south, 12+ Swift & 2 Hobbies (Brent Birders)
  • Limetree Park Golf Course, Northolt: Little Ringed Plover spooked by Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 5 Stock Dove, 3 Swallow south (Neil Anderson)
  • Wanstead Flats & Park: 6 Whinchat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 40+ Blue tit (2 large flocks), Pair Gadwall, 5 House Martin, 8 Blackcap, 8 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 15 Chiffchaff (S Fisher)
  • Alexandra Park: Fem/imm Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Garden Warbler, 15+ Blackcaps, c5 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs Cricket Scrub, Whinchat perimeter Cricket Pitch 0645-1000 (APOG). Red Kite low over cricket scrub at 19:45 & Redstart again at 19:30 briefly (J.Murray).
  • Richmond Park: 3 Whinchat (cattle enclosure), 2 Willow Warbler (Hugh Bradshaw, Jan Wilzcur).
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 f/imm Redstart, 15 Blackcap, 19 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat (Andy Culshaw).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area from at least 10:00hrs-14:00hrs, 6 Sand Martin and c50 House Martin south prior to 10:00hrs, Grey Wagtail, c25 Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Recreation Ground: 3 Swallow east, Spotted Flycatcher near ornamental gardens around noon (Des McKenzie)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Spotted Flycatcher (at last)! 7 Common Tern, 2 Little Grebe + 3 Juvs, 2 Buzzard (Steve B).
  • Willows Farm Pool: Little Ringed Plover, c30 Yellow Wagtail, 18+ Pied Wagtailm c30 Swallow (Steve B).
  • Park Farm, Enfield: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, together; 5 Mistle Thrush (Robert Callf).
  • Parkside House, Enfield: 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 1st-winter male Common Redstart, in bushes, 'Old Golf Course'; 1 Garden Warbler, feeding on elderberries; 1 Common Whitethroat; 3(male, 2 fem/imm) Blackcap (Robert Callf, Bob Husband & Pete Lowman).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 juv Little Owl; 3 Swift; 3 Whinchat, together, at 'Barracks'; 3+ Common Whitethroat; 1 Willow Warbler; 12 Linnet, together (Robert Callf).
  • Hillingdon: 2 Whinchat, 3 Hobby (2 juv & adult), Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Owl & 6+ Linnets at meadows adjacent to Ten Acre Wood (Steve Pash).
  • Ruislip: 4 Yellow Wagtails south over Breakspear Road late afternoon (Steve Pash).
  • Fairlop Waters: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Lapwings, 3 Kestrels, Swallows, House Martins, Jay, 50 Collared Doves [!] (Alan Hobson)
  • Southgate Road, Islington: Swift over Grand Union Canal 2pm (Bob Watts).

Sunday 30th August

  • Beddington SF 1 Osprey south (RBr) 1 Hobby 2 Peregrine 1 Common Buzzard 1 Wood Sandpiper 3 Greenshank 20 Green Sandpiper 5 Common Sandpiper 1 Dunlin 1 Snipe 1 Whinchat (FP/GP) 2 Wheatear (Beddington Farm Bird Group)
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Hobbies,Whinchat, 8 Yellow Wagtails over (mostly W or SW), Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Sand Martins East, Willow Warbler, 10+ Blackcaps, 3+ Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs Cricket Scrub (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts, Stuart Harrington, Dominic Mitchell, James Arquette, Andrew Lyburn, Paul Rawlins).
  • Richmond Park (Holly Lodge area): 2 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 3+ Blackcap (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park: 8 Teal, Sparrowhawk, c120 Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, Kingfisher, 5 Reed Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, House Sparrow (David Callahan, Nick Tanner).
  • Brent Res: Black-necked Grebe still and 2j Shelduck, Green Sand, 2 Common Sands and 2 Lapwings (Andrew Verrall). 2 Hobby and Little Egret 4pm (Michael F).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Pied Fly still + 4 Spotted Fly (at west end of railway lake, in willows) 2+ Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 6 Swift, 6 Linnet, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Gadwall, 3 Teal.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Crossness: Whinchat, 2 Wheatear (East Paddock), 2 Garganey (Lagoon), 50+ goldfinch, 50+ linnet, 500+ starlings giving a great show evading/mobbing sparrowhawk and kestrel (P. Grin). 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 ads, near-ad, juv) and 6 Black-tailed Godwits off Golf Centre, female Ruddy Shelduck Barking Bay (John Archer).
  • Trent Park: 1 Tree Pipit, flushed,'Old Golf Course', flew off calling, 12:31 BST; 1 Spotted Flycatcher; 2 Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).Also 4 Red Legged Partridge,2 Common Redstart " Old Golf Course" (1stWm &Juv.f)although elusive, 2 Spotted Flycatcher,Tree Pipit ( 11.55am ), Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Kestrel.( Pete Lowman).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 3 Whinchat, together, Hog Hill; 1 fem/imm Northern Wheatear, Hog Hill; 6 Common Whitethroat; 4(male, 3 fem/imm) Blackcap; 1 Little Owl; 2 Barn Swallow; 12 Linnet (Robert Callf).
  • Fairlop Waters Painters Lane GP:4 Green Sandpiper,1 Dunlin,1 Greenshank,40 Lapwing,18 LBB Gull,2 Herring Gull,12 Gadwall,7 Teal,3 Comorant,28 Goldfinch,60 Swallow,8 Sand Martin,1 Hobby,2 Kestrel,5 Grey Heron,Green Woodpecker 2 + 1 juv,Chiffchaff 10,Lesser Whitethroat 1,Blackcap 5(Steve Bacon)
  • Fulham Reach: Frank Banfield Park: 1 juv Pied Wagtail; Margravine Cemetery: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine (m); Thames Path: 100s Starling (many on Hammersmith Bridge), 100+ Black Headed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Egyptian Goose, 3 Mute Swan (pair+cycgnet), Cormorants fishing, Mallards, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Teal, 4 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull hunting pigeons, starlings and mallards, with at least 1 juv, 17 HG/LBBG juvs, House Sparrows, 2 Pied Wagtail (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Richmond Park/Pen Ponds: 1 Little Owl,5 Swallows over water then flew off, pair Great-crested Grebe 1 carrying young, 6 Egyptian Geese (brood), 3 broods Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel. Sheen Gate: Little Owl calling. (Michael Mac)

Saturday 29th August

  • Bedfont Lakes Country Park: Spotted Redshank 1 flew west over South Lake at 18:00 hrs. Site tick. (Martin Gray per Adam Cheeseman)
  • Trent Park Area: 3 Common Redstart (Old Golf Course), 1 Little Owl (Vicarage Farm) plus 1 Hobby, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Black Cap, 10+ Barn Swallow, 12+ Pied Wagtail and 1 Coal Tit. (James Arquette, 9:40am to 12:40pm).
  • Beddington Farmlands: 3 c buzzards 1 wood sand 3greenshank fem wheatear.Kjm Dkc.
  • Wanstead Flats: 2 Sand Martin, House Martin, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Redstart (2m 1f), 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 6-12 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 10+ Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (J Lethbridge, S Fisher, T Harris).
  • Paddington Green: Yellow Wagtail over c08:25hrs, Chiffchaff with tit-flock (Des McKenzie).
  • Tyttenhanger GPs: 10 Yellow Wagtail (Willows Farm), Whinchat (sheep field by Main Pit) (Birdguides). + 4 Wheatear, 3Hobby, 4 Buzzard, Ringed Plover. (Steve Blake)
  • Staines Moor: Whinchat (Jim fell)
  • Alexandra Park: fem/juv Redstart in Cricket Scrub area until 1150 at least. Wheatear, Spot Fly(2), Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail west @ 1122, Swallow (Andrew Gardener, Start Harrington, Bob Watts, Gareth Richards).
  • Brent Res: Black-necked Grebe still, elusive behind islands, 2j Shelduck, Green Sand, 2 Common Sands, Swallow, 20+ House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 6 Swifts (Patrick Hagglund, Andrew Verrall, John Gravatt).
  • Parkside House, Enfield: 1 Pied Flycatcher, feeding in Sycamores, 10:55 - 10:57 BST, also 1 Spotted Flycatcher here (Robert Callf).
  • Ash Wood, Enfield Chase: 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 1'1st-winter' male Common Redstart, in bushes, 'Old Golf Course'; 2 Spotted Flycatcher, together here also, 12:47 BST (Robert Callf & Pete Lowman).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Whinchat, together, 09:45 BST; 11 Swift; 1 Sand Martin; 10+ Barn Swallow (Robert Callf).
  • Ferny Hill Farm, Enfield: 2(ad male, fem/imm) Northern Wheatear, on bales, also 1 Whinchat here (Robert Callf).
  • Lake Farm CP: 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 5 Common Whitethroats, Williow Warbler and Blackcap (Pete Naylor).
  • Staines Res (mid-afternoon): Sandwich Tern on tern raft, Sanderling and 3 Dunlin (Dave Morris, Pete Naylor).
  • Thorney Park:1 Spotted Flycatcher,1 Gadwall,2 Gt S Woodpeckers,9 Pochards,1 Kestrel,6 Cormorants, small flock of L T Tits.Also have 20+ Goldfinch visiting my garden at regular intervals in West Drayton: (Sue Giddens)
  • Mayesbrook Park: Pied Fly, (site tick) 13:30-15:10 at least, 4 Spotted Fly, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 4 Swift, 8 Sand Martin, Little Egret.(Paul Hawkins, J Lethbridge)
  • Queen Mary Res: 2 Black Tern, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 465 Tufted Duck, 47 Pochard, 7 Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 2 Sand Martin (Steve Chastell)
  • Westminster: 2 Peregrine (1 hunting), 1 juv Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. (Nathalie Mahieu)
  • Fulham Reach: 2 Peregrine on hospital. (Nathalie Mahieu)
  • East India Dock Basin: 3 Teal, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpiper (Bow Creek), 2 Wheatear on building site, Chiffchaff (Nick Tanner).
  • Crossness: 2 Garganey (both fem/juv) on Great Breach Lagoon, 2 Whinchats in East Paddock, Female Ruddy Shelduck still in Barking Bay, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (ads) off Golf Centre, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Green Sand, 1 Common Sand, 2 Oystercatchers, 80 Lapwings, 2 Shovelers, 100+ Teal, only 8 Common Terns (John Archer & Kev Jarvis).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: fem/imm Common Redstart & Spotted Flycatcher. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Ruislip: Common Redstart(male), Lesser Whitethroat & Hobby on Poors Field. Common Tern at Lido.(Steve Pash)
  • Bushy Park: 3 Whinchat, 8+ Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff at eastern end. (Roger Unite)
  • Hampton Court Park: 4 Yellow Wagtail circled over Rick Pond, 27 Swallow, 13 Sand Martin, 1 Common Tern (Andrew Skotnicki).

Friday 28th August

  • London Wetland Centre: 72 Gadwall, 80 Teal, 2 Garganey, 84 Shoveler, 50 Lapwing, 10 Common Snipe, 2 Common Tern, 20 Swift, 48 Sand Martin, Swallow, 14 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler (LWC website).
  • Beddington SF: Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, 21 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 8 Linnet, c12 Chiffchaff, c6 Whitethroat, c2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Meadow Pipit, & c 70 Goldfinch (Rob Ayers).
  • Alexandra Park: Yellow Wagtail 0715 over Cricket Pitch, 2 Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat, 5+ Blackcaps Scrub, juv Cuckoo SE corner Pitch n Putt 0800, Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps Top Field (Bob Watts); Spotted Flycatcher Grove (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener); Reed Warbler Conservation Area Pond, Jackdaw Cricket Pitch (Gaz Richards); Swift SW 10:15 and 2 Swallows 12:10 (David Callahan).
  • Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Pied Flycatcher, in trees around tennis courts, 08:48 BST, 1 '1st-winter' Spotted Flycatcher; 2 Blackcap; 2 Chiffchaff; 3+ Willow Warbler; 1 ad Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 juv Song Thrush; 3(ad fem, 2 juv) Blackbird; 1 Nuthatch (Robert Callf).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Whinchat, Little Egret, 3 Snipe, Green Sandpiper (Shaun Harvey).
  • Brent Res:: still 2j Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Lapwing, 2 Common Sands, 17 Swifts, 40+ Common Terns (Andrew Verrall).
  • Dartford Marshes: Pheasant, 8 Common Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 3 Northern Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher (Jim Spooner).
  • Little Venice: 3 Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
  • Willows Farm Area: 2 Greenshank, 16 Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear (Steve Blake).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Hobby, Buzzard, 5 Common Tern (Steve B).
  • Trent Park: Common Redstart (m) (Old Golf Course), Lesser Whitethroat, Common Buzzard (Pete Lowman).
  • Fulham Reach: Peregrine pair on hospital (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Little Britain Lake: c30 House Martin, c3 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, L-t Tit flock (Roger Dewey).
  • Fairlop Waters Painters Lane Gravel workings:1 Greenshank,6 Green Sandpiper,4 Common Sandpiper,1 Common Snipe,25 Shoveler,2 Teal,4 Stock Dove.(Steve Bacon)
  • Iver: Hobby flew over 15.10 (Sue Giddens)

Thursday 27th August

  • Rainham Marshes: 2 juv Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Kingfisher, 2 Whimbrel, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 1,000 Starling (ELBF).
  • Bedfords Park: Common Redstart (ELBF).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Spotted Flycatcher (ELBF).
  • Fairlop: Greenshank, 7 Green Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, Swift (ELBF).
  • Brent Res: fem/imm Common Redstart on dump, also Black-necked Grebe, Black Tern, 2 juv Shelduck & Green Sand (Andrew Self & Andrew Haynes)
  • Rye Meads: Garganey, Ruff, 3 Common Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper, Cetti's Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff (HertsBirding).
  • London Wetland Centre: 51 Gadwall, 31 Teal, 39 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk south, Hobby west, Oystercatcher over, 21 Snipe, Kingfisher, 11 Swift (LWC website).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Whinchat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat & Blackcap. (Roy Nuttall). PM 1 flighty Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit flushed from the grassland, c6 Whitethroat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Sparrowhawk & 1 Weasel briefly, being mobbed by crow - 2nd live site record (David Lindo).
  • Alexandra Park: Whinchat again Cricket perimeter 08:55 (Stuart Harrington); also Spotted Flycatcher cricket scrub 09:00 - sorry Stuart, you had vanished (James Palmer), Willow Warbler, 8+ Chiffchaffs, 5+ Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroat Cricket Scrub 0700-0720, 2 Chiffchaffs W G Res, juv Jackdaw fraternising with the Crows SE cricket pitches (Bob Watts); Whinchat still until 13:30 at least, plus 9 House Martins, Sparrowhawk, 3 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 2 singing Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats (David Callahan). Kestrel, Herring Gull (Mike Benyon), 11 House Martins 1815 (Bob Watts).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Coal Tits (Mark Pearson).
  • Paddington Green: Spotted Flycatcher - probably same bird since 24th (Des McKenzie).
  • Lake Farm CP: Whinchat, also over 120 House Sparrows in two flocks in hedgerows (Peter Naylor).
  • East India Dock basin: adult Yellow-legged Gull, 6 Teal, Blackcap, 3 Reed Warblers (David Callahan).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Spotted Flycatcher along New River opp. LWT garden, Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs (Mark Pearson)
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Spotted Flycatcher in flight to horse chestnut @ 1215 (Bob Watts).
  • Finsbury Park: 2 Hobbies over Finsbury Park station at 8.30am (Ian Bradshaw)
  • Trent Park: 1 Common Redstart, in bushes near Upper Lake, seen in flight only, 14:15 BST (Probably same 1st-winter male as yesterday) (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Little Owl, together, in Oak, 11:10 - 11:15 BST; 12+ Swift; 8 Swallow; 4 Whinchat, together, on stubble field, Hog Hill, 10:25 - 10:40 BST and still present, 15:30 BST; 1 fem/imm Northern Wheatear, on stubble field with Whinchats, 15:30 BST; 4 Lesser Whitethroat; 12 Common Whitethroat; 3 Blackcap; 11 Linnet; 1 male Yellowhammer (Robert Callf).
  • Crossness: 1 Cuckoo, 9 Lapwings, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 2 Kestrel, 7 Linnet and a tonne of Teal. (Michael Mac)

Wednesday 26th August

  • Queen Mary Reservoir: Wryneck trapped and ringed yesterday (bird news services)
  • Rye Meads RSPB: 4 Garganey, Ruff (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Hobby, Peregrine, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 3-4 Wood Sandpiper, 26 Green Sandpiper 6 Common Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • Rainham Marshes: 32 Teal, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, 7 Little Egret, 34 Lapwing, 7 Common Snipe, 34 Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 14 Yellow-legged Gull (6ad/8juv), 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 11 Common Tern, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff (ELBF).
  • London Wetland Centre: 42 Gadwall, 2 Garganey (m/f), 39 Shoveler, m Sparrowhawk, 5 Common Snipe, 46 Common Tern flew SE down the Thames, 3 Arctic Tern flew SE down the Thames, 12 Swift, 5 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (LWC website).
  • Brent Res: Black-necked Grebe still present, also 5 Egyptian Geese, 2 juv Shelduck, Black Tern, & Arctic Tern flew SW at 07.35 (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall); plus 1 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper (Andrew Haynes).
  • Alexandra Park: 14 Sandwich Tern south over Cricket Pitch @ 07:07hrs (Bob Watts); Jackdaw Cricket Pitch, Whinchat S perimeter of Cricket Pitch 09:18; suspected Garden Warbler flushed from bushes E side of Cricket Pitch opposite res (Stuart Harrington); juv Cuckoo still near top Animal Enclosure 8:45 (Gareth Richards).
  • Paddington Green: pr Peregrine (m/f) in area from at least 13:00hrs, Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff and Spotted Flycatcher loosely associating with mobile tit-flock at St. Mary's Churchyard, c100 Starling (Des McKenzie).
  • Wanstead Flats: Grey Heron, Kestrel, 6 Mipit, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat (J Lethbridge). PM: Tree Pipit, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackcap (S Fisher)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Tree Pipit flushed from the grassland, 1 Common Tern south - our latest ever, usual warblers & 1 Stock Dove (David Lindo).
  • Lake Farm CP (early a.m.): Whinchat, Rook amongst 52 Crows, 6 Stock Doves with 300 Feral Pigeons, 150 Starlings (on newly-cut hay meadow), Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, 11 Herring Gulls (Peter Naylor).
  • Margravine Cemetery: 2 House Martin, 14 Woodpigeons inc 4 juvs (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Trent Park: 1 '1st-winter' male Common Redstart, in bushes near Upper Lake, 10:49 BST onwards, also 1 Spotted Flycatcher here; 4 Nuthatch, together, Moat Wood (Robert Callf & Bill Mill).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 20+ Swift; 1 Barn Swallow; 2 Common Whitethroat (Robert Callf).
  • Bushy Park (east side): 3 Hobby at 13.30, 1 Common Tern, 2 Willow Warblers, but very few migrants.
  • Mayesbrook Park: Swift, Sand Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 2 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler (Paul Hawkins).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: little new but for a build up of Gadwall (c20 today); Spotted Flycatcher in Abney at lunchtime (MJP, RM, TB).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Hobby over at 7.27 pm, also 5 Green Sandpiper on the slack (V.Halley-Frame).

Tuesday 25th August

  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: male Montagu's Harrier still at 08.55 over Wennington and Aveley Marsh (Birdguides); flew off high SE at 10:15 (RBA); Sanderling, 3 ad Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre: 72 Gadwall, 60 Teal, 2 Garganey, 65 Shoveler, 64 Lapwing, 7 Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 20 Swift, 30 House Martin, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler (LWC website).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Greenshank, 23 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper; also Yellow-billed Pintail (Dip or Glory).
  • Wanstead Flats: male Common Redstart in Hawthorns along Lake House Road between junctions of Belgrave Rd & Richmond Way, 6:40am - 7:10am (J Lethbridge).
  • Alexandra Park: Tree Pipt WNW 0712 with another probable 0650, Willow Warbler Cricket Scrub (Gareth Richards, Bob Watts), Whinchat SW permiter Cricket Pitch 1815, 2 Spotted Flycatchers in flight over Top Field 1900 & juv Cuckoo (Bob Watts).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 3 Lesser Whitethroat, c18 Whitethroat, c10 Chiffchaff & c5 Blackcap (David Lindo).
  • Paddington Green: m Peregrine in area, Swift over 08:00hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, Coal Tit, c40 Long-tailed Tits (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
  • Springfield Park (Hackney): Firecrest (1230-1250, with large passerine flock in NW corner of park), Spotted Flycatcher (by old bandstand), 8 Coal Tits, 7 Goldcrests, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, 45 Chaffinch, total of 75 House Martins through, all SW; 8 RR Parakeets 7 Sand Martins (Mark Pearson).
  • Walthamstow Marshes (briefly): juvenile Hobby, juvenile Kestrel at nest site, c300 Starlings, Reed Warbler, 3 Reed Buntings, Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Common Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler (Mark Pearson).
  • Hackney Marshes / River Lea: 2 Tawny Owls (both calling, one in flight, 1800ish), 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 30 Mallard (Mark Pearson).
  • Middlesex Filter Beds: 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Blackcaps (Mark Pearson).
  • Leyton Flats: 1 Hobby, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff (Gary A James).
  • Brent Res: Hobby perched and flying, Black-necked Grebe juv, 1 juv Ruff, 4 Common Sands, 2 juv Shelduck, 22 Swifts (Andrew Haynes, Andrew Verrall); also Little Egret on rafts at 3pm (Andrew Self).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 2 juv Wood Sandpiper on the slack 4.40-7.05 pm when they flew off south-west, also 1 Green Sandpiper there, Common Buzzard over at 3.32 pm, 4+ Lesser Whitethroat (V.Halley-Frame).
  • Staines Res: 5 Black Terns (1 ad, 4 juv) till 5.15pm; 1 Hobby (Roger Unite).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 5 Whinchat, together, in bean field, 18:15 - 18:30 BST (Robert Callf).

Monday 24th August

  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: male Montagu's Harrier until at least 5.10 pm on the ground. View from seawall after 5 pm. (R.B.A); still over Aveley at 17.50 (GJ, RM); Honey Buzzard am (LondonBirders yahoo group); 13 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, 7 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 36 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Greenshank, Wigeon, Pintail, 6 Pochard, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 80 Swallow, 85 Common Tern, 2 Hobbies, juv Med Gull, Water Rail with 2 young,6 Yellow-legged Gulls, juv Marsh Harrier, 3 Egyptian Geese south at 0800 (ELBF).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 1 Willow Warbler, c15 Whitethroat, c6 Blackcap, c10 Chiffchaff, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Jackdaw & c50 House Sparrow leaving their roost in Central Copse. (David Lindo).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine (m/f) from 12:55hrs (fem flew north 14:05hrs), 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, c10 House Martin, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, c30 Long-tailed Tit, c20 Blue Tit, Coal Tit, c25 Goldfinch (inc several juvs) (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: 7 Swifts (David Callahan); juvenile Cuckoo still present near the deer enclosure at 8 a.m. (James Palmer).
  • Crossness: juv Garganey still by the outfall 100m west of the incinerator this a.m.; also the Ruddy Shelduck viewable from Thamesmead Golf Club (Birdguides).
  • Brent Res: Black Tern 1 juv flying length of res for an hour, then landed on a raft, 2 juv Ruff, 2 juv Shelduck, 6 Common Sands, 3 Lapwing, 14 Swallows (Andrew Verrall). 1 Common Buzzard high N at 11.30hrs (Barrie Hicks per Roy Beddard). Little Egret seen on rafts at 7pm (Thom Shannon & Nigel Biggs Comic Terns)
  • Beddington SF: 3 Wood Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • East India Dock Basin NR: 1 Yellow wagtail over, 37 Common Tern west, Reed Warbler (Gary A James).
  • Wanstead Flats: Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Little Owl, juv Green WP, 2 GS WP, 24 Swallows south, 4 House Martin, 2 Mistle Thrush, 7 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 30+ Jackdaw (J Lethbridge).
  • Little Britain: Hobby flew over about 11am (Sue Giddens). 2 Hobbies flying over @ 15.30. (Roger Dewey).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 13 Black Tern until 1645 when they flew high NW, also 2 Peregrine & Yellow Wagtail (SBC).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Dunlin, Common Sandpiper (Steve B).
  • Willows Farm: C100 Swallows (Steve B).
  • London Wetland Centre: 112 Gadwall, 25 Teal, 38 Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwit (LWC website).
  • Park Farm, Enfield: 1 fem/imm Northern Wheatear, on shed roof, 09:50 BST; 1 Spotted Flycatcher, in Oaks, near Duncan's Wood; 1 juv Sparrowhawk, perched (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 1 fem/imm Common Redstart, in bushes, 'Old Golf Course', 10:48 - 11:16 BST; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Common Whitethroat; 5(2m,3 fem/imm) Blackcap (Robert Callf).Also Reed Warbler and 4 Goldfinch ( Pete Lowman).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Sparrowhawk; 1 Hobby; 1 Kestrel; 1 Little Owl; 10+ Swift; 3 Lesser Whithroat; 8+ Common Whitethroat; 2 Blackcap; 2 (including ad male) Bullfinch (Robert Callf).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Pied Flycatcher still lowfield marsh @14:00, also Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 50 House Martin, 3 swift.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 1 Yellow Wagtail on the slack briefly at 12.55 pm then flew off south east. Good numbers of Lesser & Common Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers. Small Grass Snake with a squealing mouse/shrew in its jaws ! ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Mickleham: 1 Red Kite drifted east over A24 west of the village at TQ165535 (location is 0.22 miles inside LNHS boundary) (Andy Culshaw).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 41 Shovelers, 134 Common Pochards, 102 Tufted Ducks, 270 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Gadwall (Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Hobby east, 1752 (MJP)

Sunday 23rd August

  • Tyttenhanger GP:s: Marsh Harrier, Dunlin, 2 Common Tern (SB/RF).
  • London Wetland Centre: 78 Gadwall, 22 Teal, 2 Garganey, 35 Shoveler, Marsh Harrier over high, 2 Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard west, 2 Hobby, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 51 Lapwing, 17 Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 2nd-summer Caspian Gull, 15 Swift, Kingfisher, 7 Sand Martin SE, White Wagtail, 6 Swallow SE, 2 Sedge Warbler, 16 Reed Warbler, juv Common Whitethroat, 31 Blackcap, 23 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler (LWC website).
  • Lee Valley: Goshawk flying across the valley from Broxbourne; a trickle of Sand Martins and Swallows went down the valley. On the ground, a Spotted Redshank at Holyfield Marsh, with a Greenshank, 4 Green Sandp and a Common sandp, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warblers. At Rye Meads, the Ruff still present and a Garganey. At Amwell, 2 Common Sandpiper (Graham White via Yahoo! Group).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Common Buzzard, Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, 24 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Swallow through, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit SE (Dip or Glory).
  • Kew Gardens: juv Hobby over lake, Kestrel, c30 Ring-necked Parakeets mobbing flying Cormorant, 6 House Martin (Neil Anderson).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstarts, 4 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper (Shaun Harvey, Les Harrison).
  • Wanstead Flats: 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff (S Fisher).
  • Brent Res: 2 Black Tern, Little Egret over 08:45, 2 Ruff, 2 juv Shelduck & 3 Egyptian Geese (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall).
  • Alexandra Park: 3 Yellow Wagtail; 1 SE 0650, 2 W 0655, 2 juv Hobbies, 2 Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Swallow Cricket Scrub/Pitches, Common Sand Filter Beds, Willow Warbler (h) W G Res, juv Cuckoo Deer Enclosures, 2 Buzzard, 2 Swift (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener, Gerry Rawcliffe, Gareth Richards, Alan Gibson, Stuart Harrington).
  • Walthamstow Marsh: 3 Wheatear behind Riding School 09:20, 6 Sand Martins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap (frogandlisa).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Mistle Thrush, 3 Swallow, 2 House Martin + smaller numbers of the usuals (Rob Ayers, Kim Dixon, David Jeffreys & David Lindo).
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs: 1 Black Tern on Upper Maynard, and 1 on Lockwood (Quentin Given via Pete Lambert).
  • Brockwell Park Ponds: 1 Grey Wagtail and 6 House Sparrows of mixed sexes has small local colony (Michael Mac).
  • South Norwood Country Park: 1 Hobby and 1 Willow Warbler (Michael Mac).
  • Staines Res (evening): adult Knot N basin W bank, juv Mediterranean Gull S basin, also Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and two Greenshank (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic).
  • Ealing back Garden: single Swift over at 17:00, 12 Goldfinch (Michael F).
  • Beddington SF: Spotted Redshank, Wood Sand, 4 Greenshank (KJM).
  • Park Farm, Enfield: 1 Yellow Wagtail, flew SE, calling, 09:18 BST (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 '1st-winter' male Common Redstart, in bean field, 08:03 BST; 2 Yelow Wagtail, flew over calling, 07:48 and 08:08 BST; 2 Lesser Whitethroat; 11+ Common Whitethroat; 1 Little Owl (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 1 juv Bullfinch, near Water Grdn (Robert Callf).

Saturday 22nd August

  • Brent Res: Marsh Harrier & Common Buzzard circled together then flew south at 10.20; also juv Black-necked Grebe, 2 juv Ruff, 3 Egyptian Geese & 2 juv Shelduck and a Little Egret feeding behind the dam in the afternoon (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall & Andrew Haynes).
  • Greenwich Old Naval College (Thames): Ring-billed Gull adult at 3pm near piers, 28 Common Tern together flying up the Thames at 2.30pm (Stuart Darbyshire).
  • Staines Res: juvenile Caspian Gull on E pier of KGVI Res late evening with other large gulls. Otherwise Little Ringed Plover juv, Greenshank three (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic). FJM had eight Black-tailed Godwits N over Staines Moor at about 1830hrs.
  • Dartford Marshes: Little Egret, 8 Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Ringed Plover, 2 Stonechat, Ring-necked Parakeet, Yellow Wagtail (Jim Spooner)
  • Rainham Marshes: 4 Common Buzzards, Hobby, Whinchat, 5 Stonechat, Northern Wheatear (ELBF).
  • Crossness: juv Garganey still by the outfall near the incinerator this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: 6 Yellow Wagtail over this a.m. (2 New River Village 0640, 3 SW over Ckt Scrub 0710, 1 E Top Field 0800 (John Murray, Bob Watts), Reed Warbler Top Field 11am (Andrew Gardener), Lesser Whitethroat Ckt Scrub, Kingfisher Tunnel Res (Gaz Richards).
  • Park Farm, Enfield: 1 '1st-winter' male Common Redstart, 09:44 - 09:48 BST; 3 Spotted Flycatcher, together, 09:55 - 10:00 BST; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 2 Common Whitethroat; 2 Willow Warbler; 2 Kestrel (Robert Callf).
  • Parkside Farm, Enfield: 1 Reed Warbler, along Salmons Brook, 09:06 BST (My first record locally this year!); 1 Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 2 fem/imm Common Redstart, together, in bushes, 'Old Golf Course', 10:26 - 10:32 BST (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Yellow Wagtail, flew over calling, 08:08 and 08:13 BST; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 11+ Common Whitethroat; 1 Willow Warbler; c25 Linnet; 2(ad female, juv) Bullfinch, together, Sidhil's Field (My first juv of the year!); 1 Kestrel (Robert Callf).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: pr Egyptian Goose with single gosling, fem Mandarin, 5 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 4 Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe, 2 juv Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 15-20 House Martin, juv Pied Wagtail, 4 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper (Des McKenzie, Mark Pearson).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Little Egret, 12 Swift, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff (Paul Hawkins).
  • Wetland Centre: 2 Garganey main lake, flew to reedbed 1505hrs; Black-tailed Godwit wader scrape; 30 Chiffchaff; 4 Willow Warbler; 1 Blackcap; 2 Reed Warbler (with mixed warbler/tit flock); Kingfisher wildside; ad Hobby grazing marsh; Sparrowhawk; Water Vole near Demoiselle Crane enclosure; 4 Snipe (Jonathan Dean).
  • Regent's Park: Spotted Flycatcher in the wetlands area this p.m. (Birdguides).
  • Lake Farm CP: Wheatear, 5 Whitethroats, Willow Warbler, 23 Swifts and a Swallow over (Pete Naylor).
  • Barking Bay: Ruddy Shelduck still 4.45pm, 3 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper (Paul Hawkins).
  • Holyfield/Cheshunt (Lee Valley): 9 Egyptian Goose (Essex side), 9 Cormorant high south, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Common Tern, Swift, 8 Yellow Wagtail through, Whinchat (HertsBirding).
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Yellow Wagtail over Perivale Wood, 260+ Ring-necked Parakeet east early AM, 1 Tawny Owl, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap. Also 10+ Small Red-eyed Damselflies and a Brown Argus (Andy Culshaw).
  • Town Park, Enfield: 1 Kingfisher, perched (Robert Callf).

Friday 21st August

  • Rainham Ferry Lane: 1 Ruff flew east (S Fisher)
  • Beddington SF: fem/imm Marsh Harrier south, 3 Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, 18 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper (Dip or Glory / Beddington Farm Bird Group).
  • Beddington SF: 1 Wood Sandpiper still also 5 Greenshank, 1 Common Buzzard and 2 calling Hobbies (KJM/DKC).
  • Stocker's Lake: Osprey in trees opposite the Tern Hide (Jim Spooner).
  • Isle of Dogs: adult Ring-billed Gull on Thames shore, off Saunders Ness Road 5.35pm (J.Murray).
  • Trent Park: 1 fem/imm Common Redstart, in bushes, 'Old Golf Course', 10:23 - 10:30 BST - showing well; 3 Nuthatch,(1 Water Grdn, 2 together, near Equestrian Centre) (Robert Callf); Common Redstart still early afternoon (John Murray).
  • West Ham: Pied Flycatcher in the flower garden (Birdguides) (West Ham where???). West Ham Park presumably, east of Stratford, there's a flower garden there (Jonathan Dean).
  • Cheshunt GPs: Pied Flycatcher in the old sailing base area of the North Met; newly fledged brood of Gadwall, 3 broods of Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, several Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, some good flocks of tits etc (HertsBirding).
  • Queen Mother Res: Turnstone (Birdguides); still present early evening (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Hobbies SE @ 0720, Willow Warbler & 5+ Chiffchaffs in tit flock 2nd platform, Kingfisher west side of W G Res from 2nd platform 0700, 2+ Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat Cricket Scrub (Bob Watts); Cuckoo still, Hobby & Swallow over scrub & 12 Mistle thrush west (J.Murray).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1+ Yellow Wagtail, heard calling only; 1 '1st-winter' Spotted Flycatcher; 3 Common Whitethroat; 8 Blackcap; 1 Willow Warbler; 8 Linnet (Robert Callf).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (very brief visit): fem Mandarin, 3m Gadwall, 3 Red-crested Pochard, 123 Coot (dedicated to Thing), 21 House Martin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Des McKenzie).
  • M.I.6./Vauxhall: 1 female Peregrine flew south (Michael Mac).
  • Regent's Park: 1 male Sparrowhawk, 25 House Martins, 18 free flying Egyptian Geese, including a pair both with one missing foot [1] (Michael Mac).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 10 Swift, Sand Martin, 3 Chiichaff, Reed Warbler, Kingfisher.(Paul Hawkins).
  • Rye Meads: juv Ruff (Birdguides).
  • Fairlop Painters Lane G.P 1 Greenshank,4 Green Sandpiper,1 LRP (Steve Bacon)
  • Woodford Bridge: up to a dozen Swifts (these are not our locally breeding Swifts, which left around 5 August, but presumably juveniles or late-leaving adults passing through on way south) (Alan Hobson)

Thursday 20th August

  • London Wetland Centre WWT: second-summer Caspian Gull reported on River Thames this morning; also a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Tree Pipit and a Whinchat (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: Wood Sandpiper still plus 4 Greenshank (Kjm Dkc et al.)
  • Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Swift; 2 Song Thrush(1 juv); 2 fem/imm Blackcap; 3 Chiffchaff; 1 Willow Warbler, sub-singing; 1 singing male Goldcrest (Robert Callf).
  • Brent Res: 2 juv Ruff for 3rd day, 6 Common Sands, 3 Lapwings, 2 juv Shelduck (Andrew Verrall).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 2 Hobby (Steve Blake).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Grey Wagtail, Rook north (ish) 13:08hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Trent Park: 1 fem/imm Common Redstart, in bushes, 'Old Golf Course', 13:53 - 14:21 BST (First bird of the autumn!); 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 fem/imm Blackcap; 1 Sparrowhawk, Camlet Hill (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Kestrel; 1 juv Little Owl; 21 Swift, Hog Hill, 1 Yellowhammer (Robert Callf).
  • Park Street, Southwark: 20+ House Sparrows - good little stronghold in the housing estate here (Reuben Braddock)
  • Southwark Bridge: Peregrine (male) flew overhead (Reuben Braddock)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: juvenile Hobby low and SW 1645, Swift S 1630, 32 Shovelers (Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Coal Tits (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher, Tony Butler)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Hobby over at 5.26 pm, Common Sandpiper on the slack.1-2 Willow Warbler & 2+ Lesser Whitethroat. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 2 Yellow Wagtail over south @06:10am, 7 Swift, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe with 3 young on board!(Paul Hawkins)
  • Alexandra Park: Juv Cuckoo again showing 1800-1845 around Deer Enclosures (John Murray, Bob Watts, Gaz Richards), Kingfisher Tunnel Res @ 1840 (Gaz Richards).

Wednesday 19th August

  • Rainham Thames Path, Ferry Lane: 5 Yellow legged Gulls, 1 Northern Wheatear, Common Tern, 5 Common Gulls (S Fisher)
  • Stocker's Lake: Osprey over at 10:45 (Birdguides)
  • Woodford Green: Osprey over being mobbed by 3 gulls (Peter Warne).
  • Little Venice: Red Kite drifting high south 13:10hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Rainham Marshes: Marsh Harrier this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Isle of Dogs: Ring-billed Gull adult on Thames foreshore just east of Glen Affric slipway 5.30-5.40pm then flew SW over the maritime museum at Greenwich; also 2 Common Gulls (adult & 1st-summer) (Richard Bonser).
  • Kensington Gardens: Northern Wheatear (Noel Lever per DMc).
  • Rye Meads RSPB: two Garganey still; also 3 Green Sandpipers and Ruff (Birdguides)
  • Alexandra Park: 10 R N Parakeet south over Cricket Pitch 0720, Kingfisher flew from Tunnel Res to Main Res 0700, 2+ Whitethroats, 3+ Blackcap, 1 Phyllosc Cricket Scrub (Bob Watts) Spot Fly and Willow Warbler in the Grove 9.30-10.00 (Gareth Richards). Common Sandpiper WG Reservoir 12.50pm (Mike Benyon) Juv Cuckoo again by crossroads between two Deer enclosures in trees on tarnmac path to funfair up slope @ 1840 (Bob Watts) and still present 2000 (Stuart Harrington).
  • Rotherhithe: Black Swan again on Greenland Dock this morning (Karen Richardson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Hobby (1035), Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Swift; increase in wildfowl inc. 20 Gadwall, 35 Shoveler (Mark Pearson et al)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Dunlin on the slack still at 5.18 pm for 4th day, also 1 Common Sandpiper, 42 Lapwing , 1 Common Tern , 9 Teal & 3 Shoveler.Passerines: 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 male Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler & 1 Chiffchaff. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Little Egret (high east), 5 Gadwall, 2 Teal (both first for autumn) 7 Swift, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Juv Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 2 Buzzard. (Steve B)
  • Richmond Bridge: 2 Wigeon (Eurasian) on Thames at 06:30 (Peter Gray)
  • Wanstead Flats 5.30am: Teal, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 House Martin, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge).
  • Pymmes Park, Edmonton: 1 pr Little Grebe; 1 Chiffchaff; 2 Goldcrest (Robert Callf).

Tuesday 18th August

  • Isle of Dogs: The adult Ring-billed Gull on Thames shore 100yds E of slipway off Saunders Ness Road 5.45-6.02pm when it again flew to Greenwich Park. (Sean Huggins)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Hobby, 2 Swift, c28 Whitethroat, c15 Blackcaps -fledglings still being fed, c2 Willow Warbler, c8 Chiffchaff, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove & c100 Goldfinch. (David Lindo)
  • Alexandra Park: Common Sand west bank WG Res @0845 (John Murray). 4 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 3+ Blackcap Cricket Scrub 0700-0720, no sign Treecreeper Grove by 0805 (Bob Watts); Swift, 2 Sparrowhawks c09:30 (Dominic Mitchell, David Callahan). Kingfisher along New River (J.Murray).
  • Crossness: juv Garganey still off Incinerator, Yellow Wagtail over, juv Stonechat, 4 Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Redshank, 12 Common Sandpipers, 4 Oystercvatchers, 66 Lapwings, 85 Teal (John Archer).
  • Brent Res: 2 Ruff, male and female size difference 09.00-at least 10.45, 2 Greenshank circled calling 3 times, then off 08.50, also 6 Common Sands, 3 Lapwing (Patrick Hagglund, Andrew Verrall). 2 Ruff still present at 12.30, also 1 juv Shelduck (Andrew Self)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Dunlin still on the slack at 1.32 pm, also 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Teal & 33+ Lapwing on the slack. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Rainham: Ring Necked Parakeet over at 06:35 calling constantly (Richard Harrison).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 5 House Martin north (Bob Watts).
  • Frays Island & Mabeys Meadow (West Drayton) 2 Goldcrest,2 Wren, Treecreeper, Dunnock, Heron, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff,1 pr Swans 3 Cygnets, plenty Blue Tits & Gt Tits.(Sue Giddens)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Dunlin, Snipe, 8 Common Tern, Hobby. (Steve Blake)
  • Brent Res, 2pm, 2 Juv Ruff, 2 Common Sands, 2 Juv Shelduck. (Thanks for puting the news out). (Steve Blake)
  • Regent's Park: 1 Little Grebe with week old chick, Tree Pipit, 2 Swallows, 6 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs (Tony Duckett)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2000-2230 - Kingfisher, c200 Black-headed Gulls east to roost, Willow Warbler; also Soprano & Common Pips, & Serotine (Mark Pearson et al)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Tawny Owls (Tony Butler per MJP)
  • Wimbledon Common/Queensmere: 8 full grown Mute Swans + adults. Richmond Park/Lower Pen Pond: 1 Little Owl, Pair of Egyptian Geese, Great Crested Grebe on nest. (Michael Mac)

Monday 17th August

  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Nightjar. Male resting on log pile by Fishing Lake in morning. New species for the site (Chris Slack per Adam Cheeseman).
  • Clissold Park: skywatch 1145 - 1715 - Hobby - four sightings of at least two, likely three birds (SW, 1210; W, 1347; NW, 1641; NW, 1646), 21 Swallows (SW in one loose flock, 1456), 3 House Martins, total of 11 Swifts (mainly SW), Willow Warbler (Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Swift, Hobby (N, 1718), Purple Hairstreak, Coal Tit (Mark Pearson & Fyfe Hutchins)
  • Isle of Dogs: The returning adult Ring-billed Gull on Thames shore 100yds E of slipway off Saunders Ness Road 5.25-5.40pm when it flew to Greenwich Park. (Sean Huggins)
  • Beddington SF: Wood Sandpiper still present (DKC) also 6 Greenshank (JA), 7 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 imm f Peregrine (Beddington Farm Bird Group)Wood sand still present at 07:30pm, also Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Green Sanpiper & Lapwing. Large raptor hybrid also seen; Lanner x something and 2 Peregrines over. Tree Sparrow & Linnit also (John Murray).
  • William Girling Res (from Mansfield Park): 22 Black-necked Grebes, 18 Teal, 8 Common Tern. Flood Relief Channel (off Russell Rd.); 14 Little Egret, 19 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank (Paul Cook).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 distant Hobby, 1 Whinchat - 1st autumn bird, c10 Willow Warbler, c6 Chiffchaff, c18 Whitethroat, c10 Blackcap, 1 Stock Dove & c100 Goldfinch. (David Lindo)
  • Crossness: juvenile Garganey still at the outfall this evening; also a juvenile Mediterranean Gull at the outfall this morning, 2 Little Egrets flew west @ 0945, Greenshank flew west @ 1730, female Ruddy Shelduck still in Barking Bay, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (ad + near-ad), 1 Dunlin, 11 Common Sandpipers, Kingfisher, Swallow (John Archer)
  • Alexandra Park: 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4+ Whitethroat, c5 Blackcaps Cricket Scrub 0700-0720 (Bob Watts); Nuthatch, Treecreeper (at about 9.15 a.m. in the stand of conifers on the green opposite the cafe in the Grove, basically by itself but with some interaction with a few Great Tits) (James Palmer).
  • Trent Park: 1 adult Spotted Flycatcher, 'Old Golf Course'(my first of the year!); 1 Common Tern, Lower Lake (Robert Callf).
  • Parkside Farm, Enfield: 1 Garden Warbler; 2 Common Whitethroat; 1 fem/imm Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 juv Kestrel; 1 Little Owl; 3 Lesser Whitethroat; 7 Common Whitethroat; 4(male, 3 fem/imm) Blackcap, Allots; 1 Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).
  • Roxeth Rec., South Harrow: Mixed flock of 40+ Long-Tailed Tits, 10+ Blue Tits and 1 Willow Warbler (largest mixed flock I have seen here); 2 more Willow Warblers, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Black-Headed Gulls, 1 Cormorant over (patch tick). (Alex Massey)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Hobby (1 Juv), 2 Sparrowhawk (m+f), Buzzard, 2 Sand Martin, c50 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff. (Steve Blake)
  • Lake Farm CP:11 Whitethroats, 4 Willow Warblers, single Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Garden Warbler, 2 Stock Doves, many roaming tit flocks, mostly Blue and Long-tailed (Pete Naylor).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Dunlin still on the slack until at least 6.12 pm, also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Gull and 2 Common Tern. Spotted Flycatcher at 5.25 pm, called a couple of times in hawthorn scrub south of the slack.Whinchat at 6.25 pm on field by travellers site.Several warbler species inc 1 Willow Warbler 2-3 Lesser Whitethroat. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • RSPB Rainham Marshes: 4 Whinchat, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Hobby, 2 Swallow and Sand Martin (all seen from Thames path). Green Sandpiper on reserve (Steven Robinson).

Sunday 16th August

  • Clissold Park: Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Coal Tits, 5 Goldcrests, 2 Shoveler, 8 Common Pochard inc. 5 well grown young, Swift, Little Grebes at nest, 3 Song Thrush, 24 Mistle Thrush (Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Tawny Owls (Mark Pearson)
  • Wanstead Flats: 1 Green Sand, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Meadow Pipit, 14 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff (S. Fisher)
  • Brent Res: juv Black-necked Grebe from main hide, also 2 juv Shelduck, Little Egret in flight briefly along south bank & Green Sand in north marsh (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
  • East India Dock: Juv Little Egret (basin then north), Willow Warbler, Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Terns, male Sparrowhawk, fem Teal (David Callahan). Common Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Stock Dove (Nick Tanner).
  • Rainham Stone Barges: 2 Wheatear, 4 Stonechat inc 2 juv, 6 Common Tern, ad Yellow legged gull, 4 Common Sandpiper.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Dunlin on the slack until 5.45pm at least, also 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Teal & 1 Common Tern on the slack. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Dagenham: Red Kite over Alan Shearman's garden at 5.58pm. ( per V H-F ).
  • Lake Farm CP (early a.m.): 13 Whitethroats (mostly in just one bush), Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins flew west, 2 Sparrowhawks (Pete Naylor).
  • Alexandra Park: Kingfisher from Tunnel Res to New River @ 1545 (Bob Watts).
  • Hornsey: 2 Swift south from Nightingale Lane (Bob Watts).
  • Cross Ness: juvenile Garganey with Teal by the outfall just east of the incinerator early a'noon; also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and c.10 Common Sandpipers (Richard Bonser).
  • Regent's Park: drake Garganey flew in to north end of the lake, Treecreeper, 2 Common Whitehroats, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs (Tony Duckett).
  • Osterley Park: Peregrine unsuccessfully attacking Woodpigeons (Tom Smith)
  • Barking Bay: 22 Common Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin, 6 Oystercatcher, 40+ Common Tern.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Ten Acre Wood, Hillingdon: 3 Hobby, 2 Little Owl, Wheatear, 8 Linnets, 5 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Reed Bunting in meadows adjacent to wood (Steve Pash)
  • Ruislip Golf Course: 2 Spotted Fycatcher (18.30) and Common Buzzard over (Steve Pash)

Rainham Riverside:Whinchat 1 300M N of Riverpath on wires between target pool and tip 4pm(Steve Bacon)

  • Kentish Town: 2 Red Kites drifted W over Kentish Town Road at 1255 (Pete Mantle)

Saturday 15th August.

  • Rainham Marshes: 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (foreshore between barges and reserve), Ring-necked Parakeet (barges), 4 Common Sandpipers, Whimbrel (foreshore), Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2 Swallows (Aveley Pools), Willow Warbler (cordite store), 20+ Sand Martins, Whinchat, Wheatear (centre of reserve), Cuckoo, Cetti's Warbler (Coldharbour Lane wasteground); Garganey and Hobby also reported (David Callahan).
  • Greenford CP:Hobby hunting (6.30, same or another nearby 8.20); Senegal Parrot (just outside park), c10 Chiffchaff, 60+ Goldfinch (nearly all juv), 8 Linnet, fem. Bullfinch (Neil Anderson)
  • Beddington SF: Wood Sand (Birdguides)
  • Amwell GP: Black-tailed Godwit & 5 Little Egret (Birdguides)
  • Leyton: A couple of Redpolls (Lessers, no doubt) flew East this morning (Paul Whiteman)
  • Brent Res: Little Egret still in north marsh, also Green Sand, c8 Common Sands, 3 Lapwings & a Hobby flew south (Brent Birders)
  • Barking Outfall: 57 Common Terns up river early a.m, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Teal, 3 Grey Wagtail and 72 Cormorant.(Dave Morrison)
  • Barking Bay: 60+ Common Terns, 3 Dunlin, 7 Oystercatchers, 8 Black Tailed Godwits, Common Gull, 8 Common Sandpipers and 36 Shelduck.(Dave Morrison)
  • Regent's Park: pr Sparrowhawks, 6 Swifts, 2 Common Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs (Tony Duckett)
  • Tytenhanger GP's: Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper. (Steve Blake)
  • Westminster: Peregrine. (Nathalie Mahieu)
  • Fulham Reach: Hammersmith Bridge, 150+ Starlings mostly juvs, 1 Pied Wagtail, ca 12 Goldfinch, 4 Egyptian Goose; Margravine Cemetery, 8 Woodpigeons inc 3 juvs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. (Nathalie Mahieu)
  • Kentish Town: Whimbrel flew W over Arctic Street at 1255 (Pete Mantle)
  • Dartford Marshes: 150+ House Martin, 30 Greenfinch, 17 Common Sandpiper, 15 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat and Northern Wheatear (Jim Spooner)
  • Rotherhithe: adult Yellow-legged Gull on barges off Greenland Pier late evening (Richard Bonser).
  • Alexandra Park: juv Cuckoo again in deer enclosure in same sycamore as originally found in @ 0920 (James Arquette & Alan Gibson).
  • Hornsey: Hobby south @ 1503, 2 Swift east at 1530 (Bob Watts).

Friday 14th August.

  • Beddington SF: 1 Wood Sandpiper (DKC) 5 Greenshank (JA)18 Green Sandpiper 5 Common Sandpiper 1 Cuckoo 3 Wheatear 1 Common Buzzard 1 imm f Peregrine 1 Little Egret 3 Little Owl 1 Clouded Yellow Butterfly (Beddington Farm Bird Group)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Hobby unsuccessfully hunting Goldfinches on the grassland, 2 Garden Warbler - 1 briefly sang, c15 Whitethroat, c8 Blackcap, c6 Willow Warbler, c4 Chiffchaff, c200 Goldfinch & 2 Stock Dove. (David Lindo)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Tawny Owls, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Jamie Partridge)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Peregrine, Kingfisher, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 22 Shoveler; Coal Tit in nearby Allens Gardens (TB, JP, MJP)
  • Mayesbrook Park: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Shoveler, 6 Swift, Grey Wagtail.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Rickmansworth, Osprey flew SE over my house heading towards Stocker's Lake mobbed constantly by a LBB Gull, 18.22 to 18.27 (Andrew Moon)

Thursday 13th August.

  • Clissold Park: skywatch 1410-1930 - Hobby (hunting overhead twice between 1800-1900), Yellow Wagtail E, total of 23 Swifts (all moving straight through, most SW), Swallow SW, Linnet E; also Willow Warbler, 6 fully-grown Common Pochard young, pair Little Grebe at nest (Mark Pearson)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Buzzard low and SE 1240, Kingfisher, Willow Warbler (Jamie Partridge per MJP)
  • Crossness: juvenile Garganey on the Thames foreshore c.300 metres east of Thamesview Golf Centre this afternoon; also 2 adult Sanderlings, 2 juvenile Black Terns still off the Golf Centre outfall, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, moulting juv Med Gull, 12 Black-tailed Godwits flew east (John Archer)
  • Creekmouth: adult female Ruddy Shelduck still in Barking Bay (and viewable from the south side of the river from the red lighthouse at Cross Ness); also a Green Sandpiper (John Archer)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Yellow Wagtail over, c3 Sedge Warbler, c6 Willow Warbler, c3 Garden Warbler, c5 Lesser Whitethroat, c30 Whitethroat, c100 Goldfinch, 1 Collared Dove & c900 Rose-ringed Parakeet left their roost at 6.15am. (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Coal Tits, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Tawny Owls (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Laurence Pitcher)
  • Kensington Gardens: Peregrine high east 07:00hrs, 2 Willow Warbler, still at least 2 Spotted Flycatcher (south side of Leafyard) (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warblers Grove @ 1900, 18 Mistle Thrushes Pitch n Putt, several Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers & 5+ Blackcaps W G Res, Scrub, Top Field, RN Parakeet over bottom field (Bob Watts).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's. 2 Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper. (Steve B)
  • East India Dock Basin NR: Gt Crested Grebe,3 Teal, 2 Willow Warblers,Whitethroat. (Gary A James)
  • Trent Park: 3 Common Buzzard, Whinchat,5 Chiffchaff, Blackcap,3 Common Whitethroat, 20 Goldfinch. ( Pete Lowman)
  • Fulham Reach: m Peregrine on hospital for a few hours after meal. (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Fulham Sands Ends (Thames Path): dustbathing dozen House Sparrow inc. 1 at least 4 yo colour-ringed female, Greylag pair+4 juvs (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Lake Farm CP: first Lesser Whitethroat of the autumn, 7 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, tame juvenile Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and 40 Goldfinches on thistles (Pete Naylor).
  • Staines Res (evening): seven Greenshanks from 2000hrs; also six Dunlin through 1900hrs, unsuccessfully attacked by Peregrine. One or two Peregrines seen. About 30 Yellow-legged Gulls on the E pier at KGVI Res late on (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic, Oliver Metcalf).
  • Rotherhithe: Black Swan on Greenland Dock late evening - the first notable thing (if that's what you call it!) here for a while (Richard Bonser).
  • KGV Res: Greenshank,Dunlin,2 Green Sands, about 20 Common Sands, Wheatear.(Pete Langsdon)

Wednesday 12th August.

  • Beddington SF: 5 Black-tailed Godwit flew NE (FP) 4 Greenshank 21 Green Sandpiper 5 Common Sandpiper 1 Snipe 1 imm f Peregrine 1 Clouded Yellow Butterfly (Beddington Farm Bird Group)
  • Alexandra Park: Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4+ Blackcap, 3+ Whitethroat Cricket Scrub but clearout of willow warblers, also 2 Chiffchaff W G Res (Bob Watts), Whitethroat Top Field plus possible Common Crossbill into trees behind Deer Enclosure 8 am (Dominic Mitchell), 15 House Martins over The Grove and 1 Willow Warbler in sizeable Tit flock (Gareth Richards); Hobby (NE) at 15:50 (Dominic Mitchell, David Callahan). 5+ Willow Warblers, 10+ Chiffchaffs, Spotted Flycatcher with tit flock (whole flock 75+) W G Res 1800 (David Callahan); Hobby again c18:00 (DM); Common Sand sth end W G Res 1900 (Bob Watts).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 63 Mute Swan (inc 4 well-grown cygnets), pr Egyptian Goose with single gosling, 2 Gadwall, fem Shoveler, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 2m Ruddy Duck, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 103 Black-headed Gull, 7 Stock Dove (1 singing), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, 15-20 House Martin, 7 Mistle Thrush (attending rowan), 4 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatcher (Kensington Gardens), 5 Treecreeper (1 singing), c300 Starling (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: c30 House Martin south (Des McKenzie).
  • Brent Res: Little Egret 5th day (N Marsh first then E Marsh at noon), Snipe, 11 Common Sands, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Lapwing, 10 Swifts (Patrick Hagglund, Andrew Verrall, Roy Beddard),
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 5 Black-tailed Godwits on the slack 1.35-3.48 pm, when they flew off. Also 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: Marsh Harrier, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Whimbrels, Hobby, 2 Water Rails, 3 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, 24 Common Terns, Whinchat, Yellow-legged Gull, Garden Warbler, 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 34 Whitethroats, 21 Reed Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 13 Long-tailed Tits, 28 Blue Tits, 9 Great Tits, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 13 Grey Herons, 3 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 40 House Martins, 25 Sand Martins (ELBF website).
  • Crossness: 2 juv Black Terns off the outfall, juv Med Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (ad, near-ad & juv), fem Ruddy Shelduck, 3 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers, 14+ Common Sands, 1 Redshank, 40+ Lapwings, c85 Common Terns, 56 Teal, 5 Gadwall, 33 Shelduck (John Archer, Richard Bonser).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's 2 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper. (Steve B)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Kingfisher, 15 Shoveler, 15 Swifts, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
  • Fulham Reach (Thames path at low tide 1pm): 250+ Starling on Hammersmith Bridge, 4+ Lesser Black-Backed Gull inc. 1 eating a pigeon, ca 250 Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6+ House Sparrow (Nathalie Mahieu).

Tuesday 11th August.

  • Island Barn Res: fm/imm Marsh Harrier drifted low west 1352-1355 (DMH).
  • Amwell GPs: 13 Black-tailed Godwits this evening (Birdguides)
  • Wanstead Flats: Wood Sandpiper flushed from south side of Alexandra Lake at 5:50am, flew low east but could not be refound anywhere on the margins. Patch tick for me (basically any wader is a patch tick), well pleased. Also Kestrel, calling Tawny Owl, 24 Jackdaws, 5 Jays (J Lethbridge).
  • Bush Wood, Wanstead: m Hobby calling (J Lethbridge).
  • Alexandra Park: Juvenile Cuckoo (still with some down on hindneck) in sycamore and on ground Deer Enclosure towards Blanford near 'Do Not Feed Deer' sign until 0855, Spotted Flycatcher & Garden Warbler, Ring-necked Parakeet, several phylloscs Top Field but no sign of yesterday's Wood Warbler (Gaz Richards, David Callahan); Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroats, R N Parakeet Cricket Scrub, Willow Warbler south end Cricket Pitch, Chiffchaff W G Res (Bob Watts); Cuckoo seen again in area between enclosure and rose garden at 8.55 (John Murray per Gaz Richards); Cuckoo again flushed from ground in clearing at Blandford Hall 1210 (Bob Watts).
  • Brent Res: Little Egret 09.15 & 11.30 North Marsh (hiding in river channel), Snipe, Green Sand, 12 Common Sands, 3 Lapwings, Male Banded Demoiselle by hide (Leo Batten, Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall). Little Egret still present at 16.00 (Andrew Self)
  • Trent Park: 1 Kingfisher, perched, Lower Lake (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Little Owl; 1 Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).
  • Cross Ness: 4 Black Terns (2 adults, 2 juvs) off Thamesview Golf Centre mid-morning; also a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, near-adult Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Dunlin, several Common Sandpipers (Richard Bonser).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, 12 LBB Gulls, 5 Herring Gull (inc 3 juv), 3 Buzzard. (Steve B).
  • RSPB Rainham Marshes: Marsh Harrier (Steven Robinson); also Ruff, female Redstart & 3 Spotted Flycatchers (Birdguides).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 6 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Tawny Owls, c25 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Sparrowhawks (family, together near nest), 5 Coal Tits (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher, Tony Butler)
  • Clissold Park: skywatch - 45 House Martins SW, 25 Swifts SW and 15 loitering; 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Little Grebes (MJP)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs (west): Common Sandpiper, 8 Common Terns, singing Chiffchaff (MJP)
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Wheatear around 'The Plough' 6.45-7.15pm at least (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon).

Monday 10th August.

  • William Girling Res. (from Mansfield Park): 14 Black Terns (flock dropped in at 1900 after rain), 21 Black-necked Grebes. Flood Relief Channel (Russell Rd): 22 Green Sandpipers, 10 Little Egret, 9 Grey Heron. (Paul Cook)
  • Brent Res: 1 Little Egret ((still present N Marsh), 3 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandp, 9 Common Sand, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, 50+ House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 1 male Banded Demoiselle (scarce at this site), (Roy Beddard).
  • Alexandra Park: Wood Warbler NW corner of old football pitch just south of Boating Lake, also Willow Warbler & Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs nearby (John Murray). Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 5+ Blackcaps Cricket Scrub (Bob Watts, John Murray), 4 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs by Wood Green Res (Bob Watts, John Murray), 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, Chiffchaff Grove, 2 Swallows over Obs (John Murray). Wood Warbler again by the deer enclosure late morning (R. Steed); no sign lunchtime, but several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Sparrowhawk, Common Tern (David Callahan). Wood Warbler again at 3pm by dear enclosure & then elusive (Birdguides). 2 Lesser Whitethroat late evening in the scrub (Bob Watts). Common Sand FB (Alan Gibson).
  • Rye Meads RSPB: two Garganey still present (Birdguides)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Tawny Owls, 3 Coal Tits, c25 LT Tits, 7 Goldcrests (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher & Tony Butler)
  • Beddington Farm: Greenshank, Common Buzzard and Snipe (+2 ad. Common Gull) (KJM)
  • Paddington Green: m Kestrel, local Herring Gull colony with 6 juvs (probably from 2 broods), Grey Wagtail, Willow Warbler with small Long-tailed Tit flock (c15), 10 Goldfinch (inc 6 juv); 5 Painted Lady, 15 Small White, Vapourer Moth - nearby a count of c25 Painted Lady on Buddlieh in the Little Venice area (Des McKenzie).
  • Trent Park: Spotted Flycatcher(juv), 25 Goldfinch, 3 Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Ring Necked Parakeet, 4 Chiffchaff plus Small White, Large White, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, G V White, Painted Lady, Gatekeeper. ( Pete Lowman)
  • Wanstead Flats: 5 Litte Grebe (3 ad, 2 juv), 161 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 20+ Mallard, Cormorant over SE, 2 Herring Gull (1 juv + parent), 4 LBB, ~40 BH Gull, 4 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 4 Green Woodpecker (2 juv), 1 Great Spot, Stock Dove, juv Sparrowhawk heard, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap (1m 1f), 3 Chiffchaff, Robin, Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 Blackbird, 4 Wren, 8 Mipit, 9 Skylark, Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 25 Long-tailed Tits in 2 flocks, Blue Tits & Great Tits, 10+ Jackdaw, 6 Jay, 100+ Crow (J Lethbridge).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Jersey Tiger (first record) (Mark Pearson)
  • Heathrow: 60+Swifts feeding over a field next to A4 opposite Heathrow (DC)
  • East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park: eclipse drake Gadwall, female Teal, Common Sandpiper, adult Yellow-legged Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Red Underwing (Nick Tanner).
  • Mayesbrook Park: 2 Common Sandpiper, 20 Swift, 12 Sand Martin, 3 Williow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, 3 juv Green Woodpecker, 2 Painted Lady.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Staines Res (late afternoon/evening): Turnstone flew S 16.15, 2 Black-tailed Godwits SE at18.20, 11 Common Sandpipers, Greenshank, 3 Dunlin over, juv Black Tern on N basin, 2 juv Arctic Terns on S, B-n Grebe seen by REI on N basin and 2 Hobbys hunting swifts late afternoon. (Dave Morris, Pete Naylor).

Sunday 9th August.

  • Wanstead Flats am: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 12 Whitethroat, 2 Little Owl, 1 Green Sandpiper flew off from edge of Alexandra Lake, 2 juv Crossbill south, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 juv Swallow west, 12 Swift South east (S. Fisher)
  • Clissold Park: Common Buzzard north around midday, c40 Swifts moving through (Laurence Pitcher per MJP)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, c10 Swift, Silver-washed Fritillary (Laurence Pitcher & Tony Butler per MJP)
  • Stoke Newington West Reservoir (new river path): Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcaps (Tony Butler per MJP)
  • Hampstead: 6-8 Swifts feeding high to W of Heath at 1830 (Sash Tusa)
  • Chiswick Eyot:2 Common Sandpiper along this stretch of river (Neil Anderson/Kathryn Bull)
  • Alexandra Park: Pied Flycatcher next to the racecourse behind the cricket scrub, Common Sandpiper (James Palmer). No sign of pied flycatcher or Common Sandpiper by 11am, but Garden warbler and Chiffchaff behind Cricket Scrub (J.Murray & A.Gardener).
  • Brent Res: Little Egret still in north marsh, also 10 Common Sands & 2 Green Sands (Brent Birders)
  • East India Dock: 17 Common Terns (west), Kingfisher, ad Yellow-legged Gull, fem Teal, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Linnet, 2 Common Sandpipers, 7 GBB Gulls, 7 Common Gulls, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blackcaps (David Callahan).
  • Blackheath (private garden): Jersey Tiger Moth on Buddliea + 7 Painted Ladies + 8 volucella zonaria. Also Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and 1 Swallow S. (many obs)
  • Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Pied Flycatcher, seen briefly in Oak, 10:08 BST and again in Ash, 10:32 - 10:35 BST (My first record for this site!); 1 Tawny Owl, calling, in evening; 5 Ring-necked Parakeet; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 4(3 males, 1 fem/imm) Blackcap; 2 Willow Warbler; 3 Coal Tit (Robert Callf).
  • Crossness: Pied Flycatcher trapped and ringed this morning + 5 Garden Warblers (Roger Taylor et al per JA). Adult Black Tern and juv Med Gull off golf centre (RBA). Evening, 25 Gadwall, 25 Teal on Great Breach Lagoon. 1 Kestrel. 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Grey Herons, 15 Cormorants, 30+ Mallard, 10 Teal, 30+ Common Terns Thames Rivershore.(Patrick English).
  • Barking Outfall: Oystercatcher, 7 Common Sandpipers, 6 Common Terns, Yellow Wagtail over, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret and a family of Kestrels.(Dave Morrison)
  • Broadwater: Peregrine over 12.15, 5 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and 77 Great Crested Grebe (Martin Sullivan).
  • Ruislip: Spotted Flycatcher with big tit and Phyllosc flock at Poor's Field (Martin Sullivan).
  • City of London Cemetery: 3 Sparrowhawk, inc 1 juv (J Lethbridge)
  • Staines Res: Ruff, three flew SW at 1912hrs, then two more arrived S basin at 2015hrs; also Shoveler 80, Common Scoter female still S basin, Ringed Plover through, Turnstone adult late morning, Little Gull 2CY through, Black Tern adult (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic, Ken Purdey).

Saturday 8th August.

  • over Hampstead 1930-2010hrs: a large very pale falcon circling with a crow. Its body was the same size as the crow, and appeared very heavy, and the wingspan appeared slightly less, with the wings pointed and very deep at the root. Against a dark cloud the bird appeared almost pure white underneath, with the upper wing and body cream, with some pale brown dashes. It was slightly darker under the relatively short, thick tail, but had no visible barring. The head appeared white, with no falcon "moustache", but a small black eye patch. The bird circled high in the area for at least 40 minutes, with relatively short rapid wing beats, and while being mobbed ineffectively by the crow. Any suggestions, anyone? (Sash Tusa)- what direction did it fly? Eventually lost sight to the South. [We've had this bird over Brent Res twice - it's an escape hybrid falcon. AS]
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 6 Egyptian Goose (West res.), 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Jay (East res.) (James Palmer) 4 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, c7 Reed Warblers, 18 Shoveler, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher)
  • Rainham RSPB: Juv Marsh Harrier (Birdguides).
  • Brent Res: Little Egret in north marsh, also 4 Green Sands, 4 Common Sands, 3 Lapwing, 13 Blackcaps, 9 Common Whitethroats, 9 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat (Brent Birders)
  • Tottenham Marshes: 5 Sedge warbler, 3 Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaffs early morning (J.Murray).
  • Crossness: female Ruddy Shelduck still in Barking Bay, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls (one off Thamesview Golf Centre, less advanced bird off outfall), Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Common Sandpipers (John Archer).
  • East India Dock: Garden Warbler, 8+ Reed Warblers (inc brood of 4), Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Common Sandpipers, House Sparrow, Common Gull, 5 GBB Gulls (David Callahan)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Tawny Owls, 2 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Sparrowhawks around breeding site, Coal Tit, Purple Hairstreak, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson, Nick Tanner, Pete Lambert et al)
  • Stoke Newington Station: Coal Tit (MJP)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 2 Greenshank on the slack briefly at 2.10pm, then flew off east. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Kingfisher - 2nd ever record, 20+ Whitethroat & Willow Warbler. (Mathew Bournat)
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 3 juv Kestrel, together; 1 Little Owl; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 8 Common Whitethroat; 2 Garden Warbler; 4+ Blackcap; 1 Willow Warbler; 2 Bullfinch; 1 dead Weasel (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 3(ad, 2'1st-winter') Lesser Whitethroat; 3 Common Whitethroat (Robert Callf).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Red Kte, Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose, Buzzard, 3 juv Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher. (Steve Blake)
  • Kenwood: 1 Lesser-spotted woodpecker, 4 Green woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Hobby (very high) heading north, possibly to Brent Reservoir? 1 Chiffchaff, Moorhen on eggs. (Michael Mac)
  • Malden Rushett (near Epsom), meadow next to Chessington World of Adventures: Clouded Yellow butterfly, many common butterlies, Whitethroat, Hornet (Philip Lowden).
  • Catford: Kestrel perched on top of Catford Library, 2 Hobbies seen here also on Wednesday this week (Philip Lowden).

Friday 7th August.

  • Staines Res: White-winged Black Tern on north basin with Black Terns (via FJM). WWBT still present at midday. It is an adult (Ken Purdey per Rob Innes). WWBT still present 1330hrs, also 23 Black Terns, juv Arctic Tern, Black-necked Grebe (Pete Naylor per REI). WWBT, perhaps most likely a 3CY, till 1945hrs then flew very high out of sight with all 17 Black Terns present. Also juv B-n Grebe N basin, Common Scoter female S basin, two Dunlin -> S, juv Mediterranean Gull S basin late on (Staines birders).
  • Crossness: female Marsh Harrier at bottom of Great Breach Lagoon at 09:30, also 4 Black Terns off the Thamesview Golf Centre this morning (Birdguides)
  • Walthamstow Res, Lockwood 08:00-09:30: 15+ Common Sandpipers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 6+ Little Egrets (Paul Whiteman); Black Tern on High and Low Maynard late afternoon (found by MJP) (David Callahan).
  • Alexandra Park: No sign Pied Fly Grove by 0735. Garden Warbler, 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff Cricket Scrub; Spotted Flycatcher & Willow warbler near 2nd platform W G Res (John Murray & Bob Watts); 2 Kingfishers lunchtime (David Callahan) and at 6 p.m. (James Palmer).
  • East India Dock: eclipse drake Gadwall, 2 ad Yellow-legged Gulls (inc Indiana), 2 Oystercatchers, 8 Common Terns (SE) (David Callahan).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Coal Tits (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler)
  • Oakwood Park, N14: 6 Ring-necked Parakeet; 7 Mistle Thrush, on Pitch & Putt Course (Robert Callf).
  • Brent Res: Hobby 10.10 caused 8 Swifts, 20+ House Martins to fly up high, 4 Common Sands (Andrew Verrall).
  • Westminster: 6 Common Terns flew west past House of Parliament at 12.50 and two more flew east at 13.03 (Andrew Self)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, c10 Reed Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Coal Tits, c30 Long-tailed Tits, 21 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall (Mark Pearson)
  • Allens Gardens, N16: Willow Warbler (MJP)
  • Beddington SF: 2 Whimbrel over, 1 Common Tern west, 2-5 Greenshanks, 1 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 18+ Green Sandpipers, c.10 Common Sandpipers, 1 Hobby, 7 Snipe (JA, FP, GP, KG etc)- 3 large raptors over yesterday together, mobbed by Peregrine, probably Marsh Harrier (RDW)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Sanderling, Black Tern, Little Tern, Mediterranean Gull (Juv), Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, White cheeked Pintail (esc). (Steve Blake)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Stock Dove and the usuals this am. (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs (north side): juvenile Black Tern on High Maynard (film on site), 11 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, c30 Common Terns (inc many juvs), 3 Kingfishers, 6+ Little Egrets (Mark Pearson & Ian Woodward)
  • Hampstead Heath Extension: Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 3 young Garden Warblers.
  • Fairlop: 7 Green Sandpiper on gravel workings,1 Common Sandpiper,1 Common Tern main boating lake (Steve Bacon)

Thursday 6th August.

  • Alexandra Park: Pied Flycatcher at the Grove this pm, also 3 Lapwing over low North, Swift, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch (John Murray & David Callahan). And again @ 1905 though elusive (Bob Watts).
  • Queen Mother Res: 54 Black Terns late morning and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew SE (Birdguides)
  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: Redstart 8am in woodland (HV).
  • Staines Res: 24 Black Terns (per FJM) still present late afternoon, also Common Scoter still on south res. (PN).
  • Queen Elizabeth Res: 8 Black Terns (per FJM).
  • Crossness: Black Tern, Med Gull (per RBA).
  • Highgate Wood: Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, juvenile Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Magpies and a Jay (James Palmer).
  • Hornsey: Common gull with about 30 Black headed gulls on the cricket pitches (James Palmer)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: adult Cuckoo - 2nd autumn record in 18 years & 1st ever autumn adult, Hobby, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, c25 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, c12 Blackcap, c10 Meadow Pipit, c120 Goldfinch & c6 Linnet. (David Lindo)
  • Alexandra Park: Willow warbler singing Cricket scrub, also 3 Chiffchaffs with mixed tit flock between platforms edge of W G Res (Bob Watts); lunchtime - juv Yellow Wagtail flushed from Wood Green Res verge to warehouse roof by Thames Water worker, but disappeared after a few minutes, plus juv Grey Wagtail, 140+ Black-headed Gulls, Common Gull, 2 Common Terns (David Callahan).
  • East India Dock: ad Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Common Terns (David Callahan).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers (2 singers), c8 Reed Warblers (all in trees/scrub), 2 Blackcaps, 13 Shovelers (MJP)
  • Mayesbrook Park: 5+ Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 Common Gull, first morning with no swifts.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Sparrowhawk; 3(Ad., 2 juvs) Little Owl; 2(ad., juv) Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Song Thrush, together, Allot; 1 Sedge Warbler, 'Barracks'(First of the year); 5+ Common Whitethroat (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 3 Common Whitethroat (Robert Callf).
  • beddington sf greenshank 1 also green sands and common DKC KJM.
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Greenshank, Metiterranean Gull (juv), Marsh Harrier (f juv), 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper. Steve Blake/Steve Murray)
  • Wanstead Park (5-6.30am): Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Sparrowhawk (2 juv), 2 Kingfisher (J Lethbridge).
  • Horsenden Hill: 2 Little Owl, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 15 Whitethroat, 12 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 80+ Goldfinch (Andy Culshaw).
  • Hampstead Heath (5pm to 6pm) 2 Hobby, 1 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Egyptian Geese with 3 juveniles + Great-crested Grebe on nest. (Michael Mac).
  • Hainault Lodge NR 1 Little Owl (Steve Bacon)

Wednesday 5th August.

  • Alexandra Park: Hobby, Sparrowhawk (James Palmer)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Hobby briefly hunting over the grassland, c30 Swift, c20 Whitethroat, c10 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, c6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Collared Dove & c120 Goldfinch. (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • Staines Res: Curlew Sandpiper (per FJM), partial summer-plumaged adult on west side of North Basin reported still present 12 noon (John Murray per Bob Watts); still present on E bank of N basin (Stanwell end) 1500hrs (John Gates, Ken Purdey, per Rob Innes). Common Scoter still south basin 15.40hrs (KLP).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: Tawny Owl (first sighting in a couple of months), Coal Tit, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Purple Hairstreaks (Mark Pearson & Laurence Pitcher).
  • East India Dock: eclipse drake Gadwall, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Oystercatchers (Dome), ad ("Indiana") and 2 x 1cy Yellow-legged Gulls (youngsters in front of the Dome), Common Sandpiper, 2 Reed Warblers, 8 House Sparrows (visible flycatching and squabbling above a Dome doorway from across the Thames!) - no terns at all this morning (David Callahan).
  • Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Sparrowhawk; 1 Ring-necked Parakeet; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Song Thrush; 2 Common Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 5+ Blackcap; 1 Nuthatch; 2 Coal Tit; 4 Purple Hairstreak (Robert Callf).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 80+ Swift just due west of this site with 50+ B H Gulls hawking ants over site (Bob Watts).
  • Fulham/Thames. Greenshank flew over approx 8am. (Michael F)
  • Lake Farm CP, Hayes:12 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff, 12 Swifts overhead with 40 Black-headed Gulls (flying ants); butterflies - 58 small/green-veined whites, 4 large whites, 8 Common Blues, 2 Peacocks, 12 Painted Ladies,39 Meadow Browns, 12 Gatekeepers and 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies. (Peter Naylor).
  • Crossness: female Ruddy Shelduck, moulting juv Med Gull and near-ad Yellow-legged Gull all still off Golf Centre. 4 Willow Warblers around site (John Archer).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat (both first of autumn), Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, c10 Reed Warblers, 11 Goldcrests (2 families), 10 Shoveler; c70 Black-headed Gulls and 30 Starlings hawking ants, c40 Swifts, Purple Hairstreak and many Painted Ladys amongst a large number of butterflies (Mark Pearson)
  • Wanstead Park: 2 Little Egret on Heronry, plus Hobby over my garden (J Lethbridge).
  • Wanstead Flats: Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 12 LTTits, 4 Jackdaw (J Lethbridge)
  • Tyttenhanger Gp's: 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, Buzzard. (Steve B)
  • Epping Forest/Copped Hall Green: Hobby, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, Grey Heron, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, flock of Long-tailed Tits, Kestrel, House Martins, Swallows, and female Fallow Deer (Alan Hobson)
  • Trent Park: 1 Kingfisher, perched, near Merryhills Brook (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 juv Little Owl (Robert Callf). *Fairlop:2 Common Sanpiper main boating lake,1 CommonTern,1 Common Sandpiper,1 Kingfisher small fishing lake(Steve Bacon)

Tuesday 4 August.

  • Brent Res: Whimbrel flew over dam at 12.15, also Hobby chasing Swift (Andrew Self), from hide 4 Common Sand, 2 Lapwing,60+ Swifts.2 Green Sandp. N.Marsh (Andrew Verrall, Roy Beddard)
  • Crossness: 2 Sandwich Terns flew down the River Thames at 08:15, Med Gull (juv moulting to 1st winter), female Ruddy Shelduck, Yellow-legged Full (near-ad), 14 Common Sandpipers, 2 Curlew, 80 nLapwings, 12 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 130+ Common Terns, 50 Teal, 17 Gadwall, 49 Shelduck, juv Stonechat, 50 Goldfinches, Sparrowhawk (John Archer).
  • Alexandra Park: no sign of Wood Warbler up till 09:10 am, but Garden Warbler by ramp 1, plus Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, and 3 Chiffchaffs loosely associating with tit flocks, with 3 Common Terns and 37 Tufted Duck on the reservoir; Kingfisher reported by another observer (David Callahan).
  • Little Britain: (Cowley)1 Kingfisher,26 Canada Geese,100+ House Martins,2 Swallows,1 Heron,1 Common Gull flew over,7 Tufted Ducks,(Sue Giddens).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Common Sandpiper on the slack at 1.35pm. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Spotted Flycatcher (with passerine flock along New River, just north of LWT garden, 1330), Coal Tit, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Shovelers, c12 Reed Warblers, c25 Long-tailed Tits, c30 Swifts (Mark Pearson)
  • South Norwood CP: Hobby chasing Swift (Steven Robinson).
  • Walthamstow Res: 3 Dunlin, 6 Common Sandpiper, 6 Little Egret, 5 juvenile Shellduck, Male Sparrowhawk. (Michael Mac)
  • Brent Res.: c50+ Swifts & c50+ House Martins, c12 Gadwall, Common Terns, LBB & BH Gulls, Great Crested Grebe, inc. at least on on nest, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel. (Roger Dewey)
  • Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield: 1 Green Sandpiper, flushed, 13:09 BST (Robert Callf).
  • Park Farm, Enfield: 1 Whimbrel, heard calling only as it flew over, 13:37 BST (Robert Callf).
  • Trent Park: 3 Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Little Owl; 2 juv Green Woodpecker, together; 1 Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).
  • Limehouse: 7.30pm 10-20 Swift moving south (Paul Hyland), then 100+ between 8 and 8.04pm - definite big movement(PH)
  • Clissold Park: 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Little Grebes, 7 RR Parakeets, c20 Swifts (Mark Pearson)
  • Staines Res (evening): 20 Whimbrel flew SSW at 1955hrs, also Greenshank, 10+ Common Sandpipers, three Hobbies and 20+ Shoveler (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic, Oliver Metcalf).

Monday 3 August.

  • Alexandra Park: Wood Warbler near 2nd platform by Wood Green Reservoir at 18:05 in willows with tit flock and showing well (Bob Watts). No further sign of Wood Warbler at 18:40 but Spotted Flycatcher (Bob Watts, Gaz Richards). Wood Warbler again 19:12 in oak with Long-tailed Tits briefly between 2nd and 3rd platforms by Wood Green Reservoir (John Murray).Also Lesser Whitethroat Cricket Scrub (John Murray) and 2 Willow Warbler & 2 Chiffchaff in with tit flock.
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Hobby, 1 Tree Pipit over, 6 Sand Martin, 1 Sedge Warbler, c4 Willow Warbler, 1 Collared Dove (scarce here), 1 Stock Dove, 1 Jackdaw, c30 Whitethroat, c18 Blackcap, c10 Chiffchaff, c8 Meadow Pipit, c250 Goldfinch, c300 Starling & c 5 Linnet. (David Lindo)
  • Vicarage Road, Woodford Bridge: family of Green Woodpeckers, juvenile safely fledged (Alan Hobson)
  • East India Dock Basin NR: 3 Arctic Terns west at 08.40, then high over Canary Wharf,Little Egret (over), Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, 3 Swift, 2 Garden Warbler (copse). (Gary A James).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Kestrel, together; 2 Little Owl; 1 Skylark; 11+ Common Whitethroat; 2 Willow Warbler, together (Robert Callf & Robin White).
  • Fulham (Thames) 7:50am. Yellow Legged Gull, Kingfisher flying upstream. (Michael F)
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Female Kestrel, 2 Swifts, Green Woodpecker heard (sounded like a juvenile) (Bob Watts).
  • Clissold Park: 2 Garden Warblers (both feeding on elderberries on Runtsmere island), 5 Willow Warblers (most with passerine flock in NW corner), Reed Warbler (in scrub by one o'clock club), 3 Goldcrests, Little Grebe, c30 Swifts (Mark Pearson)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Blackcaps (Mark Pearson)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Sandpiper (West Res), 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Shovelers (East Res) (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler, Paul Cook)
  • Kew Bridge. Hobby over and heading downstream at 5:45pm. (Michael F)
  • Thorney Park: 1 Greenfinch,6 Common Terns 1Juv,3 Pochards,1 Scaup,2 Gt C Grebes 1Juv.(Sue Giddens)

Sunday 2 August.

  • West Molesey: 3 (at least) Common Sandpiper flew west over my house into the Molesey Reservoirs complex at 22:00. (Adam Cheeseman)
  • Brent Res: 4 Common Sands, 2 LRP, 3 Lapwing, 7 Willow Warblers & juv Water Rail (Brent Birders)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler,5 Sand Martin + c22 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat & c250 Goldfinch. (David Lindo)
  • Hampstead Heath: Cuckoo at Parliament Hill@ 0740, Common Sand on raft at Highgate Ponds,50+ Swifts over fishing lake, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffs, Hobby ( Pete Mantle)
  • East India Dock Basin NR; 1 Sandwich Tern (1w) west at 09.25,Little Egret, 1 Garden Warbler feeding on elderberries (copse), 3 Common Sandpiper(dock), Yellow-legged Gull, Sand Martin, Blackcap. (Gary A James); GW and YLG stll present 17:00 to 18:30, plus another YL Gull and an Oystercatcher in front of Dome, 2 adult sum Sandwich Terns and 12 Common Terns west, and a very conservative estimate of 580 Black-headed Gulls and an adult Common Gull around the area at low tide, mostly distributed on the River Lea mud in many stages of moult (David Callahan).
  • Crossness: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpipers, 10 Lapwings, 40 Common Terns, 27 Teal, 5 Shelduck, 1 juv. Mediterranean Gull. (Patrick English)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Willow Warblers, Reed Warbler (unusual, 2nd or 3rd site record), 2 Coal Tits, 4 Blackcaps (Mark Pearson & Laurence Pitcher)
  • Clissold Park: skywatch 1145-1400 - ad Common Gull north, 7 Sand Martins west, 2 House Martins, c20 Swifts; also several well-grown Common Pochard young on Beckmere (MJP, LP)
  • Regent's Park: drake Garganey still present, 3 Crossbills W at 6.25am, 4 Garden Warblers, 1 C Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1f Sparrowhawk, 18 Goldfinches of interest 5 Tree Lichen Beauties yesterday and 1 Migrant Hawker today (Tony Duckett).
  • Alexandra Park: 4+ Willow Warblers (2+ Cricket Scrub, 1 opp Conservation Pond, 1 in tit flock along edge W G Res), pair Greylag on far bank W G Res found earlier by Andrew Gardener, 1 Swift (Bob Watts).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: 5 Black Tailed Godwits on the viewing area @5.20(Shaun Harvey)
  • Rainham Marshes: 5 Whimbrel, 3 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sand, 2 Common Sand, 4 Sandwich Terns West, 1 Oystercatcher + usuals. Also 2 Clouded Yellow (Stuart Darbyshire)
  • Staines Res: Marsh Harrier drifted W at 1845-1855hrs. Also Common Scoter female still S basin, seven Black-tailed Godwits 1815-1835hrs. KGVI Res: Caspian Gull, near-adult again seen, this time on SW bank with up to 55 Yellow-legged Gulls. Also drake Scaup still (flightless, in full wing moult), Goldeneye, six Dunlin, Turnstone two flew S at 1040hrs (Rob Innes, Dave Morris, Ken Purdey).
  • London Wetland Centre, Barnes (pm): At least 3 Common Sand present, juv. Hobby on grazing marsh (again), 1 Black-tailed Godwit dropped in at 15.35 but flew off NNE at 15.42 (Martin Honey).

Saturday 1 August.

  • Barnes Wetland Centre: Purple Heron on grazing marsh (Birdguides), also 3 Wood Sands (via FJM) juvenile Purple Heron still present to 3.00 pm, also 1+ Garganey, 2 juv Hobbies (NPS & many other observers); Heron, Wood Sands and 2 Garganey all showing from Peacock Tower to 1730hrs at least (Jonathan Dean), & AM - 2 Common Sands, 1 Green Sand, pr Goldcrest, Sedge and Reed Warblers (Martin Honey/Angus Innes)and (per Terry Wright) Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Also 3 Green Sands flew south over site, calling, at 06.47 (Martin Honey).
  • Brent Res: Wood Sandpiper from main hide, also 2 LRP, 3 Lapwing & 3 Common Sands, plus Green Sand in north marsh (Brent Birders)
  • Willows Farm Pool: 4 Green Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose (juv), 19 Greylag Geese. (Steve B)
  • Hainault forest CP: Yellow Wagtail on verge by entrance track @11am.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Staines Moor: Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Hobby & Peregrine. Nearby Oystercatcher & 8 Lapwing at Staines Res, with Common Scoter reported by others (J.Murray & J.Murray Snr).
  • Vauxhall Thames Path: 1 Common Sand (Stuart Darbyshire)
  • Wandsworth Common Ponds: 1 female Tufted Duck with 22 (medium ducklings) 2 female Tufted Duck with 17 (small ducklngs) joint brood. + Pair Egyptians with 3 full size juveniles (Michael Mac)
  • Crossness: female Ruddy Shelduck again in Barking Bay this morning, moulting juv Med Gull off Golf Centre, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (ad + near-ad), 140 Common Terns, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 14 Common Sandpipers, Redshank, 50 Lapwings, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 70 Shelduck, Stonechat, Little Egret (John Archer, Kev Jarvis).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Garden Warbler, 3/4 Willow Warblers (one in song), Common Sandpiper (West Res) - all firsts for autumn; 1 Shoveler, c50 Swifts, eve (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler)
  • Priory Green estate, Kings Cross: 2 Willow Warblers (Mark Pearson)
  • Osterley Park: 1 Buzzard, 3 Gadwall (Keith Fisher)
  • East Creekmouth/Dagenham Dock: Ruddy Shelduck (presumably after it was in Barking Bay, above), 5 Common Sandpipers, 4 Oystercatchers, Common Terns, 5 Grey Herons, dozens of Shelducks (including juveniles), 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (Alan Hobson)
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