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(Thursday 7th May)
(Thursday 7th May)
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*Tyttenhanger GP's: 4 Northern Wheatear on grass field north of main pit (HertsBirding); also 2 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, 3+ Redshank, 3 Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck (our pet now)! 2 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, shed loads of Whitethroat, c50 Sand Martin, Swift, Swallow present (Steve B).
*Tyttenhanger GP's: 4 Northern Wheatear on grass field north of main pit (HertsBirding); also 2 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, 3+ Redshank, 3 Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck (our pet now)! 2 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, shed loads of Whitethroat, c50 Sand Martin, Swift, Swallow present (Steve B).
*Crownhill Road NW10: 23 House Sparrow (12 dust-bathing) (Des McKenzie).
*Crownhill Road NW10: 23 House Sparrow (12 dust-bathing) (Des McKenzie).
 +
*Fulham Sands End (Thames Path): House Sparrow at least 2 fledglings (Nathalie Mahieu).
*Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Sandpiper (West Res, 1st of year), pair of Shelduck (a.m.), 6 Common Terns (inc. pair 'defending' moored boat, West Res), 20 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, c80 Swifts, 4 pairs GC Grebe (two on each res), 8 Gadwall, 4 Common Pochard, drake Shoveler (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler [http://www.hackneywildlife.org.uk/hackney-wildlife-sightings.php Hackney Wildlife])
*Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Sandpiper (West Res, 1st of year), pair of Shelduck (a.m.), 6 Common Terns (inc. pair 'defending' moored boat, West Res), 20 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, c80 Swifts, 4 pairs GC Grebe (two on each res), 8 Gadwall, 4 Common Pochard, drake Shoveler (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler [http://www.hackneywildlife.org.uk/hackney-wildlife-sightings.php Hackney Wildlife])

Revision as of 16:16, 7 May 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 7th May

  • Rainham Marshes: still at least 1 ad Spoonbill present this a.m. (LondonBirders Yahoo group).
  • Seventy Acres Lake (Lee Valley): Savi's Warbler still singing early morning but not seen. Also 1 Little Egret (Roy Woodward).
  • Queen Mother Res: two Whimbrel on the bank south of the sailing club this morning (Birdguides)
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Common Tern present 7am (Bob Watts).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Peregrine, 6 Herring Gull, 7+ Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Linnet, Garden Warbler. (Adam Cheeseman)
  • Rotherhithe: 5 Common Terns (pair on Surrey Water, pair on Canada Water & one on the river), drake Pochard Globe Pond, 1 GS Woodpecker Russia Dock Wood & 29 Black-headed Gulls on the river (Richard Bonser).
  • East India Dock: 2 Whimbrel north @ 10am, 4 Common Sandpiper (west @9.45am, stopped on mud by dome), 6 Swift, 10+ Common Tern, 2 Wheatear (yard), 2 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 3 Shelduck, 4 Greylag, 9 Canada Geese (2 pairs with young, (1 in reserve, 1 on Thames)), 3 Shelduck (Paul Hyland, Gary A James).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Peregrine over Scrapyard Meadow, Willow Warbler Chestnut Glade (Bob Watts, Paul).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 4 Northern Wheatear on grass field north of main pit (HertsBirding); also 2 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, 3+ Redshank, 3 Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck (our pet now)! 2 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, shed loads of Whitethroat, c50 Sand Martin, Swift, Swallow present (Steve B).
  • Crownhill Road NW10: 23 House Sparrow (12 dust-bathing) (Des McKenzie).
  • Fulham Sands End (Thames Path): House Sparrow at least 2 fledglings (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Sandpiper (West Res, 1st of year), pair of Shelduck (a.m.), 6 Common Terns (inc. pair 'defending' moored boat, West Res), 20 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, c80 Swifts, 4 pairs GC Grebe (two on each res), 8 Gadwall, 4 Common Pochard, drake Shoveler (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife)

Wednesday 6th May

  • 70 Acres Lake (Lee Valley): Savi's Warbler still present and singing 06:00hrs but not viewable; also 4 Hobby - from Hooks Marsh car park walk to Post 24 on southwest side of lake to view (Birdguides). Singing until at least 21.00.
  • Rainham Marshes: 3 Spoonbills (2 ads, 1 imm) on Aveley Marshes at 13:00, also Marsh Harrier - reserve closes 17:00hrs but view from seawall (Birdguides); 2 adult Spoonbills by white fence still at 6:40pm & immature on target pools; adults flew towards silt lagoons at 6:50pm & immature flew around target pools twice at 7pm before settling on small pool at wennington marsh where it showed well, also Turtle Dove flew low over vistor centre (John Murray).
  • Staines Res (late evening): still three Kittiwakes (two 2CY and a 3CY), also single Arctic Tern, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper (Rob Innes).
  • London Wetland Centre: fem Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, Hobby, pr Lapwing with 2 young, 2 Common Snipe, 6 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-headed Gull, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 6 Common Tern, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 3 singing Common Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler (1 singing) (LWC website).
  • Queen Mother Res (permit access): Whimbrel on the bank south of the sailing club this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: Peregrine flew north and landed on transmitter 0703 but then lost to view, also Common tern Wood Green Res, Swallow north, Linnet west 0650-0710 (Bob Watts).
  • Beddington SF: Shelduck, Peregrine, 3 Common Sandpiper, Arctic Tern (Dip or Glory).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 3 Dunlin (SBC).
  • Walton Res: 16 Shelduck, feral m Pintail, Dunlin (SBC).
  • Wanstead Park: Sand Martin and 2 Swift over the basin at 9.30am (J Lethbridge).
  • East India Dock: House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 4 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Shelduck, 2 Canada Geese with 4 goslings, 4 Common Tern (Paul Hyland).
  • Brent Res: 2 Dunlin still, Common Sandpiper (Roy Beddard, Andrew Haynes, Andrew Verrall).
  • Queen Mother Resr: Whimbrel on the bank south of the sailing club this morning (Birdguides)
  • Hampstead Heath: singing Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat, 15+Swifts feeding and single Swallow W over P.Hill, Kingfisher too (Pete Mantle).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 6 Common Terns, c150 Common Swifts, 25 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 10 House Martins, etc (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Fairlop: 2 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, GCGrebe, LGrebe, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 3 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, GWP, Pheasant, pr Meadow Pipit, 4 Yellow Wagtail (including one with a dark head), Whitethroat (Daniel EHull) Fairlop Sightings.
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Shelduck, m Ruddy Duck, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, lots of Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler (HertsBirding).

Tuesday 5th May

  • Bedford's Park: Black Kite flew east 17:25hrs (Birdguides).
  • Valentine's Park: White Stork north-west over Gant's Hill at 1530 (Birdguides).
  • 70 Acres Lake (Lee Valley): Savi's Warbler still singing (but not showing) to 11:30hrs at least; from Fisher's Green car park walk to south-west side of lake and view by post 24 (Birdguides). Began singing again 20:57 but distant and not seen (Ian Ellis / Brian Demby).
  • Staines Res: 4 Kittiwake - south basin, 2 Wigeon (KLP,BW).
  • Regent's Park: Wood Warbler in sycamores by bandstand, drake Garganey still (RBA); 2 Herring Gull nests, pr Common Terns, Swifts, Sand Martin, 10 Swallows, 8 House Martins, Sedge Warbler, 4m Chifchaffs, 2 Reed Warblers (Tony Duckett).
  • Brent Res: 2 Dunlin, 2 Wood Sandpiper, Snipe, LRP, Lapwing (A. Self, A. Haynes, A. Verrall), 2 Wood Sandpiper still present at 1900hrs, also Stock Dove on mud (Nigel Biggs & Thom Shannon).
  • King George V Dock (North Woolwich): Black-necked Grebe (ELBF).
  • London Wetland Centre: fem Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, m Peregrine, 4pr Lapwing on nests (3 young still), Oystercatcher west, 6 Redshank, 7 Great Black-backed Gull (flew off north), 9 Common Tern, 10 Swift, 60 Sand Martin, 15 House Martin, 22 singing Reed Warbler, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 singing Common Whitethroat (LWC website).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo (Dip or Glory).
  • East India Dock: 2 Wheatear, 3 Reed Warbler, Blackcap, 4 Common Tern (Paul Hyland).
  • Copse Wood (Ruislip): Cuckoo, 2 Garden Warbler, male Bullfinch (Dick Middleton).
  • Deane Park Rec Ground (S. Ruislip): 1 Hobby late morning then another or same bird seen c40 minutes later hunting (including "hovering" before going into a steep dive), also 4+ Swift over N (Bill Haines).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Common Sandpiper, Garden Warbler, 21 Swift NW, 11 Sand Martin SE, pair of Shelduck.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 0900-1140 - Common Buzzard 0928 for 20 mins, drifted SE; Common Tern, 230+ Common Swifts, small numbers of all three hirundines, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife); 1600-1830 - at least 250 Common Swifts, c30 House Martins, c20 Swallows, c20 Sand Martins, 4 Common Terns (MJP)
  • Paddington Green: Peregrine west 14:00hrs, 2 Swift, 3 House Martin, singing Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
  • Thorney Park: 1 Sparrowhawk flew over, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Heron, 2Gt C Grebes, 3 Common Terns, 2 Swifts flew over (Sue Giddens).
  • Little Britain: 3 Egyptian Geese, 3 Wren, 2 Greylags, 1 Jay, 4 Cormorants, Canada Geese (Sue Giddens).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: m Pheasant. (Adam Cheeseman)

Monday 4th May

  • 70 Acres Lake (Lee Valley): Savi's Warbler still singing (but not showing) 07:00hrs - singing again at noon but elusive; from Fisher's Green car park walk to south-west side of lake and view by post 24 (Birdguides).
  • Weald Bridge: Black Kite north 08:45hrs (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: Osprey low north @ 0832, Hobby @ 0808 SE over Wood Green Res & New River Village, c30 Swallows north 0745-1040, 30+ Swift, 10+ House Martin, Common Tern SE 0745 (Bob Watts, Gaz Richards, Andrew Gardener, Alan Gibson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 0800-1040 - Red Kite low and north 0816-0819, 3 Lapwings in at 0820, remaining on mud, 2 Common Terns, c25 Swallows through, c70 Common Swifts, 4 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 2nd W GBB Gull, c10 Reed Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson & Jamie Partridge Hackney Wildlife); 1300-1700 - m & f Peregrine, c200 Common Swifts, c40 Swallows, smaller numbers of both Martins, 6+ Common Terns, Lapwings still present, 4 Blak-headed Gulls (Laurence Pitcher & Mark Pearson).
  • Twickenham: Red Kite over at 15:00hrs mobbed by Rook (Birdguides).
  • Holmethorpe SP's: Red Kite WNW 1630, Northern Wheatear (SBC).
  • Bookham Common: Red Kite south 12:20hrs (SurreyBirders).
  • Amwell GP's: Wood Sandpiper right of the main viewpoint and showing well p.m. but flew north-west at 17:16hrs (Birdguides).
  • Greenford CP: c10 Swift, 2 Swallow, 8 singing Whitethroat, 6 singing Blackcap, singing Willow Warbler, calling Chiffchaff, pr Linnet (Neil Anderson).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Lapwing, 9+ Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 6+ Blackcap, 5+ Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Greylag Goose, 4+ Skylarks, 4+ Linnet, 5 Common Tern, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Swift 20+, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow. (Adam Cheeseman + Martin Gray).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Hobby west c11:00hrs, 14 Swallow north, 8 House Martin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 7 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (warblers singing); also 7 Egyptian Goose (plus 6 goslings), 2m Gadwall, Mallard (2nd brood), m Shoveler, 2m Red-crested Pochard, brood of 3 Great Crested Grebe, fem Sparrowhawk, Lesser Black-backed Gull (killed a Feral Pigeon), 21 Herring Gull, 12 Stock Dove (4 singing), Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Mistle Thrush (inc a bird carrying food to nest), Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 4 Chaffinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Wheatear (f), Cuckoo, 2 Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Shelduck, 3 Common Tern, (Swift, Sand Martin, Swallow present in small numbers), Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler (Steve B).
  • Richmond Park: Cuckoo by Pen Ponds (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Greylag Goose, Hobby, 2 Common Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).
  • East India Dock NR: Ringed Plover (east down Thames 10.35), 1 Wheatear (m), 2 Swift (not easy here), 3 Swallow, Peregrine, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler (Gary A James); pm - Little Ringed Plover (in front of Dome), 5 Swallows (south), 2 Sand Martins, 2 Common Terns (no nests yet!), 9 GBB Gulls (David Callahan).
  • Wraysbury Res: Brent Goose in south-east corner this afternoon, Whimbrel (permit only) (Birdguides).
  • Regents Park: drake Garganey, 18 Stock Doves, 2 Swifts, 10 swallows, 7 House Martins, 3 recently fledged Mistle Thrushes, 4m Chiffchaffs, 14m Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers (Tony Duckett)

Sunday 3rd May

  • 70 Acres Lake (Lee Valley): Savi's Warbler still singing 06:00hrs but no further sign by 08:25hrs but singing again at 19:05hrs; from Fisher's Green car park walk to south-west side of lake and view by post 24 (Birdguides); continued singing till 9pm at least, also several Hobbys hunting in the area, 2 Cuckoos, Garden Warbler & Nightingale (J.murray & C.Freddi).
  • Staines Res (evening): Red Kite -> SW at 1925hrs, Oystercatcher two -> W at 1800hrs, Whimbrel N basin, Arctic Tern 3, Shelduck 11, Wigeon 2 (Rob Innes, Dave Morris, Ken Purdey).
  • Weald CP: probable Black Kite flew NW at 11.45 (Birdguides)
  • Rainham Marshes: Whimbrel on flood near the visitor centre; also a Common Sandpiper on the nearby Thames Foreshore (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, 2 Common Sandpiper, Raven east mobbed by gulls (Dip or Glory).
  • Richmond Park: Whimbrel NW 10.10, 2 Common Terns N, Cuckoo calling, 25+ Swift, m Whinchat, 2 Wheatear (ad male+ 1st year bird), 7 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 11 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, c15 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler (all warblers singing) (Neil Anderson)
  • Brent Res: 2 Greenshank over (at 08.12 & 9.25), also c100 Swifts (Andrew Self)
  • Crossness: Black-tailed Godwit, Hobby, Whinchat, Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Jackdaws (John Archer).
  • Holland Park (dawn chorus 05:30hrs-08:00hrs): 27 species including 2-3 Swift, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit (passerines singing); also c5 Ring-necked Parakeet and the ever present Blue Peafowl (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: Hobby low east 17:50hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • South Norwood Lake (dawn chorus 05:30-08:30): pair Great Crested Grebe, pair Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, Chiffchaff,Common Whitethroat, Ring-necked Parakeet, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Swift, 1 House Martin, House Sparrow,Collared Dove,Stock Dove, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: singing Sedge & Garden Warbler, 2 singing Willow Warbler, c3 singing Lesser Whitethroat, c11 Whitethroat - down on previous years, 3 Common Tern over, 1 Stock Dove, c5 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Jackdaw plus fledgling Blackbird and Long-tailed Tit seen (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
  • Alexandra Park: Tree Pipit north 0855, 2 Sand Martin north 0754, c25 Swallow, 5+ Swift, 12+ House Martin, 3/4 singing Whitethroat (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener), Sand Martin Wood Green Res early pm (Gaz Richards).
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs: pair Oystercatchers, Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, 200+ Swifts, c26 Shelduck, 56+ Common Terns, c30 Sand Martins, 3 Shoveler, 19+ Whitethroat, Pheasant, 14 Swallows, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 pairs Little Egret (David Callahan).
  • Hackney Marshes/Waterworks NR: 3 Common Tern, 5 Swallow, House Martin, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, many Whitethroats and Blackcaps (Gary A James).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: probable Sandwich Tern over Serpentine but flew away before clinched, c20 House Martin, at least 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, Common Tern(Bob Watts per DMc).
  • Wanstead Park: 7 Little Grebe, 3 GC Grebe, pr LBB, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 19 Swift, 2 House Martin, Swallow, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (all warblers singing), 5 Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 10+ Chaffinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jackdaw (J Lethbridge).
  • Wanstead Flats area am: Garden Warbler singing near Bush Wood, 2 Swift, 3 House Martin, 2 Swallow through, 2 Egyptian Geese (S Fisher)
  • Regents Park: Garganey drake, Red Kite 8.25 east, 6 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1m White Wagtail, 2 Greenland Wheatears, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler (Tony Duckett).
  • Osterley Park: 2 Wheatears (Tom Smith)

Saturday 2nd May

  • 70 Acres Lake: singing Savi's Warbler still present at 04:30hrs (David Darrell-Lambert per Nick Tanner), showed reasonable pre 6am (Bob Watts); heard again at c09:30 (by others) and still present and reeling at 11:30hrs (Birdguides), also distant Common Buzzard, m Kestrel, at least 4 Hobby (Des McKenzie et al).Savi's Warbler present to 18:50 hours at least reeling and showing continuously for last 15 minutes, also female Marsh Harrier from 18:25 to 18:40 when it drifted north (Nick Tanner); still singing at 20:45hrs (Birdguides). 7 Hobby in air simultaneously early pm with 10+ in area, Buzzard Galleyhill Wood (Bob Watts).
  • Harmondsworth: possible Great White Egret north over the M25/M4 junction this morning (Birdguides).
  • Walthamstow: possible Common Crane (or White Stork) flew north-west towards the reservoirs from Leyton 13:54hrs (Birdguides).
  • Ruislip: at 16.40 a Harrier (probably Montagu's) was circling high over my garden before heading NE. It was mobbed by a Sparrowhawk for a while (Steve Pash). Might be what I saw while waiting at Turnham Green station around 3pm, South, circling upwards (Nathalie Mahieu)
  • Brent Reservoir: Spring Birdcount - 69 species including pair Egyptian Geese, Hobby, 42 Common Terns, Yellow Wagtail & 89 singing warblers of 8 species (Brent Birders).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 0700-1000hrs - 8 Common Terns, 5+ Reed Warblers, 4 Common Pochard, 5 Gadwall, c30 Swifts, 5 House Martins (also successful first night moth-trapping, updates daily on the site for now onwards) (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife); 1400-1700 - Common Whitethroat, 8 Common Terns, c35 Swallows through, c50 Common Swifts, c10 Sand Martins, c5 House Martins (MJP, LP et al)
  • Scadbury Park: Nightingale singing and showing occasionally on edge of Spring Shaw this morning and afternoon up until 17:30 at least. TQ458707 (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: Shelduck, Common Buzzard, Peregrine, 2 Yellow Wagtail, m Whinchat (Dip or Glory).
  • Crossness: 1s Mediterranean Gull on Thames foreshore viewable from Thamesview Golf Centre (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, Hobby south, first 2 Lapwing broods (total of 6 young), 6 Redshank (though a couple of unseen birds may be incubating), 3 Common Tern, at least 15 singing Sedge Warbler, 3 singing Common Whitethroat.
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, pair Lesser Black-backed Gull, pair Common Tern, pair Grey Wagtail, 1 singing Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 male Whinchat, 13:42 - 14:00 BST; 2 Swift (Robert Callf).
  • Wanstead Flats: 1 Yellow Wagtail on northern playing field early am, 10 Swift 6 Swallow 4 House Martin through, 7 Whitethroat, 4 Little Grebe, c14 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit (2 displaying) (S. Fisher)
  • Regents Park: drake Garganey, pr Common Terns, 4 Swifts, 1 Swallow, 4 House Martins, 2 Common Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroats, Reed Warbler, 3m Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler (Tony Duckett).

Friday 1st May

  • 70 Acres Lake (Lee Valley): singing Savi's Warbler for its second day, singing on and off all morning (Andrew Self); use Fishers Green car park, view from Post 24 on south-west side of lake; still singing intermittently at 1pm (RBA); present again 19:10hrs (Birdguides) Seen briefly perched near small grey post among reeds and shortly afterwards in dark green reeds singing,from viewpoint a little further round from post 24, also Peregrine at top of Pylon finishing off it's meal of a Common Tern that it had caught.(James Anderson); 8 Hobbies, Common Buzzard, Red Kite (LondonBirders Yahoo group); all this bar the kite, plus Garden Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warblers, Nightingale, 2 Cuckoos, 26+ Common Terns, 2 Swallows, 8+ Swifts, and Chinese Muntjac until 20:30 (DAvid Callahan).
  • Northolt, over A40: Hobby heading north at 07:00 (John Palmer).
  • Tyttenhager GP's: Whimbrel still in sheep field north of Main Pit early afternoon (Birdguides), plus 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3+ Redshank, Oystercatcher, 6 Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler (Steve B).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res (permit access): 1w Mediterranean Gull through, Sandwich Tern from 08:35hrs-09:00hrs (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre am: Hobby, 2 LRP's, 8 Redshank, 1 2nd cal year Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Swifts, 8 House Martins, c. 50 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 m Whinchat, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 18 singing Sedge Warblers, only 14 Singing Reed Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler (NPS).
  • Wanstead: Hobby over Bush Wood, 7 Swifts over my garden (J Lethbridge).
  • Alexandra Park: singing Song Thrush, Swallow, Common Swift, c15 House Martins, fem Sparrowhawk (David Callahan), 2 Whitethroat (Mike Benyon).
  • Bromley-by-Bow area: 2 Reed Warbler on territory, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Common Tern south down canal, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine, Long-tailed tit carrying food, 14 Sand Martin (S.Fisher).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Tern, 5 singing Blackcap, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker,, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 9 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Beddington SF: Common Tern (Dip or Glory).
  • Rainham Marshes: at least 1 Hobby hawking over field in centre of the reserve today (Birdguides).
  • Wimbledon Common: 2 Arctic Terns at Rushmere for 10 minutes this morning (David Wills).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: singing Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, c25 Common Swifts, small numbers of all three hirundines (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Camley Street Natural Park: 2 Blackcaps, Sparrowhawk (MJP)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: brief visit by my standards but male Wheatear, 2-3 Common Tern and Hobby ( V.Halley-Frame ).

Thursday 30th April

  • Rainham Marshes: m Garganey (ELBF).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: Red Kite drifted low west 0702-0708 (DMH).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Common Buzzard perched in reserve until mobbed by crows, 2 Garden Warbler. (Adam Cheeseman)
  • London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, fem Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, Hobby south, pr Great Crested Grebe on nest, Lapwing (new nest), Common Snipe, 9 Redshank, pr Black Headed Gull displaying on tern raft on the res lagoon, 6 Swift north, 60-70 Sand Martin, 20+ House Martin, pr Pied Wagtail feeding young in the nest, at least 16 singing Sedge Warbler, 10 singing Reed Warbler, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 5 singing Common Whitethroat, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 4 active Starling nests, 3 singing House Sparrow, 2 Linnet south (LWC website).
  • Ravenor Park (Greenford): Hobby low in pursuit of Starling (Neil Anderson).
  • East India Dock: f Wheatear (yard), 2 Linnet, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, Blackcap (Paul Hyland, Gary A James).
  • Brent Res: 22 Common Terns, 7 Shoveler, 1 Snipe, 40+ Swifts, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (Andrew Verrall).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Common Terns, 3rd winter Great Black-backed Gull, Sedge Warbler, 4+ Reed Warblers, c10 Swallows, 5 House Martins, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Beddington SF: Common Buzzard, Common Sandpiper (Dip or Glory).

Wednesday 29th April

  • Rainham Marshes: 2m Wigeon, m Garganey, m Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobby, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 3 Greenshank, Black Tern, 5 Common Tern, Cuckoo, 60 Swift, 30 Swallow, 140 Sand Martin, 15 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Northern Wheatear (ELBF).
  • Beddington SF: 7 Shelduck (2 plus 5 over), Red Kite drifted SE, 3 Common Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail, fem Northern Wheatear (Dip or Glory).
  • Greenhithe: still 2 Waxwing at Bluewater Shopping Centre by the House of Fraser sign late a.m. (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, Hobby north, Common Snipe, 8 Redshank, 15 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Tern, 20 Swift, 60+ Sand Martin, 15 House Martin north, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 4 singing Common Whitethroat, several singing Blackcap, singing Willow Warbler, 2 singing Chiffchaff - Brimstone, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small White, Orange Tip, Comma (LWC website).
  • Bromley-by-Bow: Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 1 Peregrine, 1 Common Tern over, 1 Wheatear, c10 Sand Martin (S.Fisher)
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2 Common Tern (apparently paired), Tawny Owl, Swallow, 3 House Martin, m Grey Wagtail, 6 Song Thrush, Redwing (Dell), Lesser Whitethroat (singing and showing well to south of Lido), 11 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, 2 Jackdaw east; also 9 Egyptian Goose (plus 6 goslings), 3m Mandarin, 2m Gadwall, 5 Red-crested Pochard (plus 6 ducklings) - Small White, Speckled Wood, 2 Holly Blue, first Harlequin Ladybird of the year (Des McKenzie).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Common Tern, Willow Warbler below west end pitch n putt (Bob Watts); 2 Swallows, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 House Martins, Song Thrush, 3 Whitethroats, Chiffchaff (David Callahan); Rook with Crows in Conservation Area (Stuart Harrington). 6 House Martins (Mike Benyon)
  • Hampstead Heath: 2+ Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (sub-song) in bushes below Parliament Hill, 2 Swallows (Sash Tusa).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: R N Parakeet pair still at large between Memorial and Chestnut Glades - an unwelcome addition to the local avifauna? (Bob Watts). 3 R N Parakeets (Ken Greenaway).
  • East India Dock: 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Sand Martin, 9 Swallow (my highest count here), 42 Tufted Duck, Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat (Paul Hyland).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1000-1530 - Hobby SE, 1020 (1st of year), 2 Common Terns E 1010, c20 Swallows through, c25 Common Swifts, 3 House Martins, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson & Jamie Partridge Hackney Wildlife).
  • Hornchurch: 25 Common Swifts over my garden@4.45 (Shaun Harvey).
  • Ruislip: Cuckoo (Copse Wood), Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 5+ Blackcap, Swallow (Poors Field), 5+ House Martin (Lido), 2 Hobby & 3 Swift over garden (Steve Pash).
  • Paddington Green: Peregrine in area 18:11hrs-18:34hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Hook Road Area, Chessington KT9: 2 Swift N at tree level mid morning and later 3 House Martin high over N (Bill Haines).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Hobby, 2 Common Tern, Kingfisher (V.halley-Frame).
  • Fairlop Waters Country Park: male Whinchat in evening (per RBA).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Red Kite; 2(m&f) Whinchat; 1 Weasel (Robin White per RMC)

Tuesday 28th April

  • South Norwood CP: Red Kite west 10:45hrs (SBC), Grasshopper Warbler (reeling in wet meadow), Lesser Whitethroat (singing briefly in and near children's play area), 2 Reed Warblers singing and House Martin (Steven Robinson).
  • Beddington SF: Red Kite east, Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail (Dip or Glory).
  • Canning Town: White Stork north-east 09:00hrs (Birdguides); probably the same bird seen at about 10.45am for two minutes just south of Hornchurch town centre from Steve Smith's back garden, it then flew towards Hornchurch Country Park (Steve Smith per V H-F).
  • Rainham Marshes: ad Spoonbill at Target Pools late a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Regent's Park: m Garganey again at the north end of the lake by the blue bridges, Ring Ouzel in north-west corner this morning before flying toward Primrose Hill (Birdguides).
  • Holyfield Viewpoint (13.15 to 15.00): Raven mobbing Common Buzzard at 13.40 and seen again circling high between Viewpoint and Galleyhill Wood at 14.25 before drifting N. 2 Arctic Terns over at 14.15. 2 Hobbies (Mike Oakland).
  • Walthamstow Res: 2 Sandwich Tern north over Lockwood 16:00hrs followed by 5 Arctic Tern north over same area (Birdguides).
  • Nazeing GP's: 2 Arctic Tern with 75 Common Tern this p.m. (Birdguides).
  • Walton Res: Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid, Yellow Wagtail over (SBC).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (brief visit): no sign of recent Garganey up to 08:50hrs (Round Pond not checked but see Regent's Park post) - pr Red-crested Pochard with at least 6 ducklings, first Great Crested Grebe brood, ad Yellow-legged Gull (flew off north just after 08:30hrs), Common Tern, 2 Swift, Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (Dell and Lido), 7 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (warblers singing) (Des McKenzie).
  • Upminster: Common Buzzard over early morning (per AS).
  • Hampstead Heath: 10+ singing Blackcaps, 2 f. 5 Chiffchaff singing. Garden Warbler in trees above Highgate Boating Pond, m Whitethroat displaying nr Parliament Hill. Goldcrest, Green & G-S Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Greenfinch (Sash Tusa).
  • East India Dock/Bow Creek: 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, Blackcap, 4 Shelduck, 6 passage Sand Martin (+ the usual residents), 1 unbelievably high Heron sp, small numbers of Common Terns (Paul Hyland).
  • London Wetland Centre am: 2 Hobbies over, 9 Redshank, 9 Common Terns, 16 Swifts, 7 Swallows NW, c. 30 House Martins, c. 50 Sand Martins, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 15 Singing Sedge Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Linnets (NPS)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Hobby, 2 Swift, Sand/House Martin/Swallow present in small numbers (Steve Blake).
  • Willows Farm Pool: Little Ringed Plover, 3 Shelduck, 2 Greylag Geese (Steve B).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: R N Parakeet pair again, seen several times recently (Bob Watts).
  • King George's Park, Wandsworth (lunchtime): highlights were 2 m. Blackcap singing and 2 Swift (Martin Honey).
  • Thorney Lake, south west of Uxbridge: 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Cuckoo (John Palmer)

Monday 27th April

  • Crossness: 1s Purple Heron still on Great Breach Lagoon to 14:00hrs when it flew east (Birdguides).
  • Regent's Park: m Garganey by the blue bridges at the north end of the lake from at least 7.00am until it departed at 12.40pm, photos on [1], 4 Jackdaws, 3 House Martin (Tony Duckett).
  • Alexandra Park: Grasshopper Warbler 8am scrub & pair Bullfinch (John Murray); Common Tern res 7am, 2 Swallows west 1815 (Bob Watts); 12+ House Martins, Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs lunchtime (David Callahan).
  • Holmethorpe SP's: Dunlin, Greenshank (SBC).
  • Albert Embankment, SE1: female Wheatear on grass area at rear of Tintagel House from 1230 -1600 (viewable from river path) (C. Barry per AS).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: no sign of recent Garganey (probably relocated to Regent's Park) - 2 Common Tern (Serpentine), 3 Sand Martin, at least 3 Swallow, 7 House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitehroat, 7-8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (all warblers singing); also 7 Egyptian Goose (plus 6 goslings), 2m Mandarin, 4 Red-crested Pochard (pr/2m), singing Goldcrest, Coal Tit carrying food (Des McKenzie); Garganey on Serpentine by Boat House 12:50hrs (Birdguides).
  • Tyttenhanger/Willows Farm Pool: Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, Ringed Plover, 2 Herring Gull, Garden Warbler, Sedge & Willow present (2 wet & cold 2 bother and count)!! (Steve B).
  • Little Britain: 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Gadwall, 8+ House Martins (Sue Giddens); 1 GC Grebe, 2 Gadwall, c.4 Swallow (Roger Dewey).
  • Walthamstow Res, viewed from Ferry Lane: c20 Common Tern, c60 Common Swift, both species over the Low and High Maynards, so extrapolated throughout site probably many more (Nick Tanner).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Common Terns, 50+ Common Swifts, c30 Sand Martins, c10 House Martins, c20 Swallows, Willow Warbler (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Cowley (Brunel University Bicentenary Gardens): Nightingale and Lesser Whitethroat singing at 15.30 (Roger Morton).
  • Beddington SF: Shelduck, m Peregrine, Hobby, Common Sandpiper, “Commic” Tern NE, 3 Yellow Wagtail (Dip or Glory).
  • KGV Res: Oystercatcher (South then back north just after 08.30), 3 Shelduck, male Mandarin, male Ruddy Duck, 2 Shoveler, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, c30 Common Terns, c200 Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail (R Woodward).
  • Ruislip Lido: Common Sandpiper, 2 LRP (Dick Middleton)

Sunday 26th April

  • Staines Reservoirs: first-summer Purple Heron flew northeast over Heathrow Airport viewed from the causeway this evening; also 3 Little Gull and Arctic Tern (Birdguides)
  • Broadwater Lake: 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 LRP, 12 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 7 Swift, 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest & 1 Reed Bunting (Simon Buckingham).
  • Alexandra Park: Greenland Wheatear (M) Showing well by cricket scrub, also Bullfinch (f) there, 25 Swift over filter beds and distant bop from obs, probably R.Kite (John Murray & Cris Freddi). Pair Greylag SW, Linnet 8-9am (Bob Watts).
  • Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve: Wood Sandpiper from the Tyler Hide mid-afternoon (Birdguides).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Swift first for the year, 2 Swallow, c3 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Jackdaw, 1 singing Sedge Warbler + usual suspects including c4 singing Lesser Whitethroat & c13 singing Blackcap (Rob Ayers, David Jeffreys, David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
  • Westbourne Grove W2: 2 Swift and 3 House Martin lingering overhead (David Lindo).
  • Hainault Forest CP: Common Buzzard (overhead), Lapwing, 6 Linnet, 4 Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 10+ Blackcap & Chiffchaff (James Anderson).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 LRP's, 3 Whimbrel NW, 8 Redshank, 5 Common Terns, 17 Swifts lingering + 53+ high NE in one flock, 7 House Martins, 15 Swallow NW, 2 Wheatears, 2 Garden Warblers, 9 Blackcaps, 3 Whitetroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Linnets, also 1 f Large Red Damselfly form melanotum (NPS).
  • East India Dock: 3 Little Ringed Plovers in front of Dome, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Common Terns, 2 Reed Warblers (David Callahan).
  • Bow Creek Ecology Park: 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats (David Callahan).
  • Limehouse: 2 House Martins (David Callahan).
  • Bow Church: Jay over DLR (David Callahan).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1200 - 1830 - Common Buzzard 1110, Red Kite 1415, 50+ Common Swifts, 2 GBB Gull, small numbers of all three hirundines, grey-morph Cockatiel (Laurence Pitcher, Mark Pearson & Jamie Partridge Hackney Wildlife).
  • Enfield Town: 1 Grey Wagtail singing from Church Street rooftop. Town Park: 3 Pochard (1m,2f), 1 Tufted Duck (m), 1 Mandarin (m) (Phil Rhodes).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Tree Pipit on Fels Field at 4.20pm showing very well (also seen am by Paul Hawkins ??), also male Wheatear F.F, Black Swan on the main lake and a pair of Greylag Geese with 7 goslings, 8 Common Swift over Slack/Stables area (V.Halley-Frame).
  • Paddington Green: pr Grey Wagtail (m singing) (Des McKenzie).
  • Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Osprey, flew W, early pm (Robin White per RMC).
  • Trent Park: 1 female Kestrel, calling & carrying prey; 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat, near Cockfoster's entrance; 2 singing male Common Whitethroat, near Oakwood entrance (Robert Callf).
  • Regents Park: Osprey SE at 10.20, Common Tern, Swallow, 9 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff nestbuilding (Tony Duckett).
  • Totteridge Valley: Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, 2 Rook, Tawny Owl, 25 Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff, 12 Whitethroat, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, zero Willow Warblers (Ian Ellis).

Saturday 25th April

  • London Wetland Centre: 4 Common Tern, Collared Dove, several Swallow, 1 Hobby, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat, 10+ Common Swift, m. Kestrel, m. Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail (Martin Honey) Grasshopper Warbler reeling late pm.
  • Holyfield Hall Farm Viewpoint: White Stork seen distantly south of Galleyhill Wood at 11.47, circled for a few minutes and gained height, drifting off NE. Also, Hobby, at least 11 Buzzards (6 west of the Lee Valey), Sparrowhawk, 4 Swifts, Little Owl, Egyptian Goose and Red-legged partridge (R. Woodward).
  • Richmond Park: Peregrine west; Cuckoo (silent), singing Lesser Whitethroat & 7 Whitethroat Conduit area; 4 Wheatear ( incl. 3 Riding Ring); c25 Swift (J.Wilczur) & probable Buzzard (FJM).
  • Crossness: 1st summer Purple Heron flew in from the west @ 0825 and showed intermittently in paddocks and on Great Breach Lagoon till 1530 when walked into reeds. Also Turtle Dove on Southern Marsh, Whimbrel, Curlew, Swift, 6+ Wheatears, 6 Sedge Warblers, c35 Common Terns ( John Archer et al).
  • Lee Valley (Fishers Green to Hall Marsh): Kingfisher, 8 Cettis Warbler, 2 Egyptian Geese, many Nightingale, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Kestrel, 2 Little Ringed Plover, many Common Tern (Mike Benyon)
  • Alexandra Park: Sandwich Tern flew over Wood Green Res SE @ 0835, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Swift, 5+ House Martin, 5+ Swallow, Rook on playing fields with Crows (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts, John Murray, Alan Gibson, Gerry Rawcliffe, Stuart Harrington, Gareth Richards, Mike).
  • East India Dock NR: 2 Grey Plover east along Thames 09.05(site record),2 Wheatear m,f (yard),Oystercatcher,Grey Wagtail.2 Whitethroats, Reed Warbler. (Gary A James).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 3 Northern Wheatear including a female, 1 male Whinchat & c50 Swallow. (Mathew & Oliver Bournat).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Sparrowhawk; 2 Common Buzzard, together; 2(m&f) Kestrel; 2 Red-legged Partridge, at Park Farm; 4 Green Woodpecker; 2 Cuckoo,(1 Trent Prk, 1 Parkside Farm); 7 Skylark,(5 Vicarage Farm, 1 singing male, Parkside Farm, 1 singing male, Ferny Hill Farm); 2(m&f) Pied Wagtail, Uni-lawns; 5 Swallow; 1 female Northern Wheatear, at Parkside Farm; 2 singing male Lesser Whitethroat; 11 Common Whitethroat; 1 singing male Garden Warbler, in bushes near Upper Lake - my first of the year! 2(m&f) Reed Bunting, at Parkside Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Wanstead Flats: 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 9 Swift, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge). 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 1 LRP through!, 2 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (S.Fisher)
  • Stockers Lake: 6 Swift, 3 Cuckoo, 1 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, 1 Common Tern (John Palmer)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 120+ Common Swifts, Yellow Wagtail and Common Tern through (both 1st of year), all three hirundines in small numbers, Common Buzzard east at 1320 (Laurence Pitcher & Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Shelduck, 2 Garden Warbler. (Steve B)
  • Hampstead Heath Extension: 2 Yellow Wagtails flew high east at 6.00, also 6 Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler. (Oliver Simms)
  • South Norwood CP: Wheatear (F), 2 Swallows, 16 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet and Reed Bunting (Steven Robinson).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 6+ Common Swift with House Martins + usual migrant warblers etc.( V.Halley-Frame )
  • Osterley Park: pr Wheatear, pr House Sparrow on West Paddocks (unusual) (Tom Smith)
  • Regents Park Canal: Male Mandarin on edge of canal adjacent to London Zoo (Bob Watts).

Friday 24th April

  • Walthamstow Res: 1s Purple Heron still present at Walthamstow Reservoirs in reedbed on east side of West Warwick until at least 13:30 (Birdguides). Still at 15.30 (m.obs). Then 3 Swifts over entrance. 2 swifts over Leyton early evening (Paul Whiteman) Purple Heron seen flying off at 4.30pm (flew south east, right into the distance.) (DanielEHull) No sign early evening but Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 2 Ruddy Duck, c. 30 Common Terns (Oliver Simms)
  • Hyde Park: m Garganey near The Lido but flew to the north of the island 11:20hrs (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: m Garganey on South Scrape(GM). Little Tern briefly on lake then E 12:30 (MS) (diporglory BFBG)
  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull again on the River Thames foreshore viewable from Thamesview Golf Centre (Birdguides).
  • Brent Res: Sandwich Tern 2 calling over rafts 08.25 then off East, 22 Common Terns, Red Kite mobbed by 3 Crows over North Marsh 09.33, flew to Jubilee Pk Hill, circled to gain height, then drifted slowly South over playing fields towards Res to 09.45 (Andrew Verrall).
  • Scotch Common W13: 2 Red Kites drifted high west @ 16:22 (NPS)
  • Paddington Green: 32 Herring Gulls at local rooftop colony (1 collecting nest material) (Des McKenzie).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Whimbrel in ploughed field north of the main pit (Birdguides). Plus: Ruddy Shelduck, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 3 Redshank. (Steve B)
  • Hampstead Heath: 12+ singing Blackcaps across W.Heath, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, L-T Tit, Green & G-S Woodpecker, Egyptian Goose on Hampstead No2 Pond, flock of 80+ Starlings nr Highgate No1 Pond (Sash Tusa) 1 Nuthatch heard near Kenwood, 1 Swallow over, 1 Common Tern on Highgate Ponds, 5 Mandarin, 1 pr Blackcap collecting nest material, 4 Jackdaw seen, several more heard, 1 Jay (Reuben Braddock)
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: pair Collared Doves flew north over Scrapyard Meadow, 2 male Sparrowhawks (Bob Watts).
  • Alexandra Park: Linnet, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps. (David Callahan) 12+ Ring-necked Parakeets on slope c09:00 (Stuart Harrington).
  • Wanstead: Common Buzzard & 2 Sparrowhawks (J Lethbridge)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: total of 9 Common Swifts and 6 Swallows through during the day; Common Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers, pair GBB Gulls, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler & Jamie Partridge Hackney Wildlife).
  • Uxbridge (Hale Hamilton factory), R. Frays: 1 Grey Wagtail singing on roof (suitable breeding site used in previous years). (Roger Dewey)
  • Little Britain Lake: 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Common Tern (John Palmer)
  • East India Dock Basin: 4 Shelduck, pr. Teal, c.30 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine flying N across Thames from O2 Dome, 1 LBB Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Blackcap. My 1st visit to this surprising area. (Roger Dewey)
  • Bow Creek Ecology Park: 1 Reed Warbler singing, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler. Butterflies: Orange-tip, Brimstone, Speckled Wood. (Roger Dewey)

Thursday 23rd April

  • Fairlop: feel justified in going first today, as... Short Eared Owl!, and... Whimbrel!, also, 4 Grey Heron, 4LRP,4 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, pr Shoveler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, GCGebe (pair), 10 Linnet, 20 Stock Dove, 2 GWP, Swallow Daily Bird Sightings (observer?). (Daniel Erickson-Hull)
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs: Purple Heron 1st sum until 8.10 pm in the SE corner of West Warwick Res in reedbed then flew NE towards north end of No 1 & 2 Res (Pete Lambert per BW). Redshank SW from East Warwick, 11.25 am (Pete Lambert per MJP). Permits available at £1 per day. Also an incidental smattering of migrants including: Lesser Whitethroat, Common Tern, Swallow, Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warblers. (David Callahan)
  • Alexandra Park: Red Kite flew in low from east then lost behind trees @ 1803, also 2 House Martins, Lesser Redpoll north & then scrub 0650, 2 Common Tern west 0705, Jackdaw north 0715 (Bob Watts), Yellow Wagtail, 2 Linnet, 2 House Martin over scrub (John Murray); Speckled Wood (David Callahan).
  • Pymmes Brook (Edmonton): Grey Wagtail (Mike Benyon).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Willow Warbler, Collared Dove (both firsts for year. Skywatch 12noon-1pm: 4 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrel (Bob Watts).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 12 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Sparrowhawks (2m, f) together in tree near potential breeding site (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler & Jamie Partridge Hackney Wildlife).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1300-1850 - Common Swift for 10 mins, 1330 (2nd record of year, after 1st on the 10th), 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Great Black-backed Gull (briefly nest-building on tern raft before flying south), 4 Reed Warblers (Mark Pearson & Jamie Partridge)
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Garganey reported on Serpentine 07:30hrs (Birdguides) but not seen here after 09:00hrs (though Round Pond not checked); 6 House Martin, fem Common Redstart in Hyde Park Meadows area (and mobile toward birches along Albion Gate path), 8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler; also 7 Egyptian Goose (plus 6 goslings), 2m Mandarin, 5 Gadwall, fem Ruddy Duck (Des McKenzie). 2 Tawny Owls (showing well from the right angle despite the foliage) (Alan Hobson)
  • East India Dock: 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Common Tern, 3 Sand Martin, pr Teal, 2 Greylag, Chaffinch, 5 Shelduck (Paul Hyland).
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Redpoll sp. (presumed Lesser) N at 05.55 than it or another again overhead at 06.00 (Andy Culshaw).
  • London Wetland Centre am: 1 Hobby through, 6 Common Snipe, 2 LRP'S, 8 Redshanks, 1 Common Sand., 3 Common Terns, 3 Swallows, 55 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 f White Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit N, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs (NPS, Adam Salmon). Late pm: 1 Common Swift (1st for the year here?) (Martin Honey).
  • Rotherhithe: 1220-1400 skywatch produced a Kestrel, 7 House Martins and a Swallow north. 2 Common Terns displaying on the rafts on Canada Water and perhaps the same 2 over Rope Street mid a'noon (Richard Bonser).
  • Wanstead: Common Buzzard drifted NE over my garden at 1340 (J Lethbridge); also pr Garganey on Heronry this evening (thanks to Pete Davis via Howard Vaughan for the heads-up!)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR:Common Cuckoo heard early evening, male Wheatear by the slack. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Trent Park: 3 Common Buzzard, Goldfinch, Cuckoo, Tufted Duck ( pair), 3 Mandarin (2m,f), c12 Blackcap, c6 Chiffchaff. ( Pete Lowman)
  • Brent Res: Hobby N 08.15, Common Buzzard about N 11.20, Redshank in for half an hour, 2 Garden Warblers among 1st day of all 8 common warblers incl. 21 Blackcap(Roy Beddard, Andrew Haynes, Andrew Verrall).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 singing Blackcap, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 2 Song Thrush, 9 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Nuthatch (John Watson)
  • Totteridge Valley: 1 male Kestrel; 1 singing male Grasshopper Warbler, 20:25 BST onwards; 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat (Bob Husband, Fay Broom & Robert Callf et al).

Wednesday 22nd April

  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, pair Gadwall, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Herring Gull over, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Song Thrush, 5 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 8 House Sparrow, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Pied Wagtil (John Watson).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (06:30hrs-11:30hrs): m Garganey showing well on Serpentine to 11:30hrs at least (generally in Fisherman's Keep area - 5th site record and first since April 2005), Common Sandpiper at Fisherman's Keep flew toward Long Water, 6 Swallow north, 10 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail north, Garden Warbler (Long Water Sanctuary), 13 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler (all warblers singing); also 2pr Egyptian Goose (plus 6 well-grown goslings), m Gadwall, 2m Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe (Round Pond), 4 singing Treecreeper, singing Nuthatch; plus Dark Sword-grass, 2 Small White, Peacock, 3 Holly Blue (Des McKenzie); Garganey still present at 18:00hrs on Serpentine just east of The Lido (Peter Jones per DMc).
  • Rainham Marshes: Great White Egret flew south over Thames this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: male Bullfinch flew from Conservation Area to Pond, alighted briefly then flew 50 yds NE, alighting on tallest ash before heading purposefully NE @ 0700 (2nd site record for year), Linnet N over scrub (Bob Watts); Red Kite thermalling north between 12:50 to 12:54 when lost to view (David Callahan, Dominic Mitchell, Ian Lycett, Becky Armstrong). Cuckoo nearby over Hornsey station 1600 (John Murray).
  • Brent Res. Hobby 10.00am N, 14 singing Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow W. 2 Reed Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 C. Sandp., 3 Lapwing, 14 Common Tern (Roy Beddard)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 0930-1730 Red Kite E 1308, 12 Black-headed Gulls high west, 17 Swallows, all north (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Beddington SF: 'pale-winged' Gull spp still present; 6 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, Little Egret, Red Kite NW, c20 Common Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Northern Wheatear (2m/1f) (Dip or Glory).
  • Holyfield Viewpoint (12.00 to 15.00): distant male Goshawk over Galleyhill Wood, 2 Hobbies, 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Raven. (Mike Oakland)
  • Lee Valley: Osprey north over 70 Acre Lake viewable from the Bittern watchpoint early p.m. (Birdguides).
  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull again on the River Thames foreshore viewable from Thamesview Golf Centre before it flew off north (Birdguides).
  • Stockers Lake: Grasshopper Warbler reeling from riverside bushes this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Bookham Common: Nightingale, Lesser Whitethroat (SurreyBirders).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: White Wagtail, Northern Wheatear (SBC).
  • Lee Valley: reeling Grasshopper Warbler at Cornmill Meadows TL380011; also Cuckoo, Garden Warbler (Birdguides).
  • Mudchute Farm (Isle of Dogs) Singing Reed Warbler, Fieldfare, three Lesser Whitethroats (Sean Huggins)
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: singing Song Thrush (1st for year) (Bob Watts).
  • East India Dock: Reed Warbler (east bed), 2 Swallow, 6 Common Tern, 3 Sand Martin, Blackcap, 5 Shelduck, Oystercatcher, LTT (Paul Hyland).
  • Staines Res: Mediterranean Gull on South Basin this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel (m/f), Hobby NW, 5 Common Snipe, 8 Redshank, 2+ Yellow Wagtail, plenty of Reed and Sedge Warbler singing plus an increase in Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff overnight (LWC website).
  • Windmill Lane Sports Fields (Ealing): m Wheatear in Horse paddocks at N end (Bill Haines).
  • Stockley Park lake: 1 Common Tern a.m. - at last! (Roger Dewey).
  • Wanstead (my garden): Peregrine over ENE at c3.10pm, Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch (J Lethbridge).
  • Rotherhithe: skywatch from Stave Hill 15:45-18:00 produced 1 Peregrine distantly to the south, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 House Martin and 2 Swallows north (Richard Bonser).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 2 Common Tern, Common Buzzard (yawn) and paired ad Herring Gull with ring on right leg A3AY still. No comebacks from enquiries on this bird yet (V.Halley-Frame).
  • Fairlop: 4 GCGrebe, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Gadwall, pr Shoveler, 4 Grey Heron, 6 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 4 LRP, Snipe, 2 GWP, 3 Pied Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Skylark, 10 Stock Dove, 2 Kestrel, Short Eared Owl, 12 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 10 Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, 10+ Linnet, fReed Bunting. DanielEH
  • Claybury Park: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Jays, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper (Alan Hobson)
  • Ray Park and River Roding, Woodford: Little Egret, Kingfisher, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtails (Alan Hobson)

Tuesday 21st April

  • WWT London Wetland Centre: juv. Marsh Harrier hunting over reedbed at 19.55 before being mobbed by two crows, headed off high ENE (Martin Honey).
  • Bedfords Park: Little Grebe, Red Kite 19:05hrs, Cuckoo, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (ELBF).
  • Rotherhithe: Red Kite NW over Stave Hill @ 1440-1445; Peregrine high west 1450, Sparrowhawk and 8 Swallows north btwn 1430-1630, a drake Pochard on Globe Pond in Russia Dock Woodland (Richard Bonser).
  • Tower Bridge: Red Kite over @ 1450 (same as above bird) (John Archer).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1000-1800 Red Kite in from SSE at 1459, slowly drifted W (same bird as above?); three unID'ed waders south at c1505; also unID'ed large raptor v distant to the SW, 1515 (prob Common Buzzard, poss one of Des's below?); total of 49 Swallows, all north, between 0930 and 1800; 6 singing Reed Warblers (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Rainham Marshes: m Marsh Harrier 12:05hrs, fem Goshawk south 11:41hrs, 4 Common Buzzard (3 north 11:20hrs, 1 south 11:30hrs), 2 Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, 2ad Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grasshopper Warbler (ELBF).
  • Epsom: 1 Osprey north at 10:45 (RBA).
  • Beddington SF: 3 Red Kite, 9 Common Buzzard, 1w Glaucous-winged Gull or hybrid present on the landfill this afternoon; permit only but part of site can be viewed though boundary fence (Birdguides).
  • Queen Mother Res: 1w Glaucous-winged Gull or hybrid present at dusk yesterday (Birdguides).
  • Greenhithe: 19 Waxwing at Bluewater Shopping Centre by pond this evening (Birdguides).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Common Buzzard W/NW 15:25hrs, Common Tern west, 9 Swallow north (Des McKenzie).
  • Fishers Green Goosefield (Lee Valley): Whinchat (ELBF).
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Garden Warbler (presumably the same one as Andy Culshaw had last night) (David Howdon).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Shelduck, Shoveler, 3-5 Cuckoo, Kingfisher, Swallow, House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat (no hirundine or warbler counts), many Jays (EssexBirders); 3 Common Buzzard north 12:15hrs, Green Sandpiper, Little Owl, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Northern Wheatear, Siskin, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Ring Necked Parakeets (ELBF) .
  • London Wetland Centre: Shelduck high east, m Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel, m Peregrine, 4 Common Snipe, 9 Redshank, 44 Black-headed Gull west, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Common Tern, 12 Swallow NE/NW, singing Lesser Whitethroat, singing Common Whitethroat (LWC website).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7+ Blackcap, 3+ Willow Warbler, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, several Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, Common Buzzard NW at 12:45 (Adam Cheeseman).
  • Alexandra Park: Yellow Wagtail east over scrub 0805 (John Murray). Skywatch 1745-1900: f Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Terns (1st at site for year), 5 Swallow, 2 House Martin (Bob Watts).
  • Mayesbrook Park: no sign of Garganey pair this a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Hampstead Heath Extension: 7 singing male Blackcaps & 1 female, 1 singing Chiffchaff, 1pr Nuthatch carrying mud for nest hole, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Mallard, Green & G-S Woodpeckers (Sash Tusa)
  • Dulwich Park: Willow Warbler, 2 ChiffChaff, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Little Grebe (Dave Clark).
  • Tesco carpark (Ponders End): 1 Whitethroat singing and insect catching, as if it were in decent habitat (Phil Rhodes).
  • Ealing GC: 1 Common Snipe, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 m Wheatear, 6 Swallows through NE, 2 House Martins, 2 singing Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcaps (NPS).
  • Vault Hill Wood, Enfield Chase: 1 singing male Cuckoo (Robert Callf).
  • Holmesthorpe SP's: fem Pintail, Oystercatcher, Garden Warbler (SBC).
  • Totteridge Valley: Grasshopper Warbler still present this pm, otherwise much as yesterday (John Colmans).
  • Thorney Lake (1 mile south of Little Britain Lake): 1 Cuckoo 08:20 (John Palmer).
  • Old Slade Lake (Colnbrook): 4 Common Tern 08:40 (John Palmer).
  • Nursery Lane (Cowley): Lesser Whitethroat singing 10.30am (Roger Morton).
  • Mardyke Stifford-Davy Down: 14 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow warbler, Sedge Warbler, 3 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Bunting, 12 Chaffinch, 14 Wren, 5 Swallow, 9 Green Woodpecker, 4 Grest Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, pr Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 6 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, pr Gadwall, 17 Mallard (ELBF).

Monday 20th April

  • Staines Res: 4 Common Scoter, Great Northern Diver, 30+ Little Gull, 11 Arctic Tern (SBC).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, Red Kite NW, 15-20 Common Buzzard generally north, m Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, 1w Iceland Gull, 47 Swallow, Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 6 Northern Wheatear (5m/1f), 3 Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler (Dip or Glory).
  • Rainham Marshes: Hobby, 1w/1s Iceland Gull, Ring-necked Parakeet, Grasshopper Warbler, Hobby, several Reed Warblers and Common Whitethroats (EssexBirders).
  • Holmethorpe SP's: Pintail, Oystercatcher (SBC).
  • Walton Res: 2 Goldeneye, Oystercatcher (SBC).
  • Mayesbrook Park: pair of Garganey (site tick) till 7pm at least.(Paul Hawkins)
  • South Norwood Lake: 12 Tufted Duck, 2 broods of Coot, 4 Swallow, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Blackcap (5 singing), 4 singing Chiffchaff, 3 Nuthatch (John Watson).
  • Crossness: Avocet off golf centre 0755-0815, Greenshank, Sandwich Tern, 3 Whimbrel (Kev Jarvis per JA).
  • London Wetland Centre (am): 1 m Peregrine, Hobby through, Common Buzzard NE, 10 Redshanks, pr LRP's, 4 Common Terns W, 7 Yellow Wag N/NW, 17 Swallows W/NW, 10 House Martins, c.50 Sand Martins, 4 Wheatears, 1 m Whinchat, 16 singing Sedge Warblers, 11+ Reed Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Linnets (NPS).
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Sand Martin (David Howdon), 1 Garden Warbler (Andy Culshaw).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: pair Greylag flew over c0815 - 1st for site, Swallow nth 1258 (Bob Watts).
  • Richmond Park: 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 m Whitethroat on territory - first for the year, 1 Swallow (perhaps return of breeding pair) (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • Covent Garden, WC2; 1 Swallow heading north (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • Replingham Road, SW18: 1 Swallow flying NW at 09.40 (Martin Honey).
  • East India Dock: 3 Swallow (n), 4 Sand Martin, 3 Blackcap (2m, 1f), pr Teal (late), 6+ Common Tern, 4 Linnet, f GSWP (Paul Hyland).
  • Brent Res: Little Gull 1 sub-ad all morning landed on rafts twice, 8 Common Terns, 1 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, 5 Lapwings, pair of Wheatears on mud, another fem an hour later (Andrew Haynes, Andrew Verrall).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: first brood of Mallard (4), 3 Red-crested Pochard, pr Ruddy Duck, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Swallow north, fem Northern Wheatear (Hyde Park Meadows area), Reed Warbler, 10 Blackcap (8m), 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Linnet north; Small White (Des McKenzie).
  • Totteridge Valley: 1 singing Grasshopper Warbler (also seen): 5 singing Lesser Whitethroat: 3 singing Whitethroat: 5 Swallow N: 1 Meadow Pipit NE: 1 Jay SW very high appeared to be migrating: good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps: 1 Kingfisher along Dollis Brook (John Colmans).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Greylag Goose, Lower Lake; 2 male Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 1 Common Buzzard; 2 Red-legged Partridge, at Parkside Farm; 2 Cuckoo, including a singing male, at Parkside Farm; 5 Stock Dove,(2 Vicaarage Farm, 3 Cuckolds Hill); 3 Green Woodpecker; 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 singing male Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Swallow, flew N, at Parkside Farm; 1 Meadow Pipit, over Hog Hill; 1 male Northern Wheatear, at Parkside Farm; 5 Song Thrush; 2 Mistle Thrush; 4 singing male Lesser Whitethroat,(1 Vicarage Farm, 1 Parkside Farm, 1 Park Farm, 1 Trent Prk); 5 singing male Common Whitethroat; 1 singing male Coal Tit; 3 Nuthatch; 3 Treecreeper; 4 Linnet, at Park Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Regents Park: 2 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzards, 4p Little Grebes, Yellow Wagtail, 4 Swallows, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7m Blackcaps (Tony Duckett). (Tony, I'd be grateful if you could let me know the times and directions of your raptors today - Mark Pearson)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1500-1815 - at least 3 (prob 4) Red Kites (one high and south 1650, three kite sp. together in a thermal SW of reservoirs 1700-1703, at least two of which were Reds - third bird not conclusively ID'ed); one Common Buzzard, SW 1645; unID'ed, very large, dark falcon with either jesses or prey, west c1600; female Peregrine hunting several times (presumably same bird over Clissold Park earlier); also Sedge Warbler (1st of year), 2 Reed Warblers, Blackcap, 12 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 23 Tufted Duck, 5 GC Grebe, pair Little Grebe (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Clissold Park: 1300-1445 - Common Buzzard west, 1430; female Peregrine (MJP)
  • M25, western stretches: 1 Common Buzzard over J10, 2 Common Buzzards north of J12 (Andy Culshaw).
  • Alexandra Park: Lesser Whitethroat heard from along railway line near Filter Beds (Dominic Mitchell).

Sunday 19th April

  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Nightingale, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Skylark, Blackcap, Willow Warbler (S.O'M per James Herd)
  • Walthamstow Res: An Oystercatcher on the island on the East Warwick. On the Lockwood an un-ringed Barnacle Goose in with some Canada Geese and 4 displaying Sparrowhawks. Later a.m. in Leyton a Peregrine flew South carrying a white Dove. At 15:40 also Leyton a Common Buzzard came in high from the West attended by Lesser Black-backed Gulls, gained height and went off towards the North. (Paul Whiteman)
  • South Norwood Lake:pair Great Crested Grebe +1, 5 Cormorant,24 Tufted Duck, 1 Gey Heron, 8 Blackcap (4singing) 3 singing Chiffchaff, 14 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green woodpecker. 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Swallow, 3 Nuthatch,2 Long-tailed Tit, 6 House Sparrow,(John Watson)
  • Broadwater Lake: 1 Little Gull, also 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Red Kite, 12 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Sedge Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff & 2 Reed Bunting (Simon Buckigham).
  • East India Dock: {early a.m.} 2 Ring-necked Parakeets (W), 12 Common Terns, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (BCEP), 2 Whitethroat (BCEP), Reed Warbler (BCEP), 3 Blackcaps, 3 Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, 3 Sand Martins, Long-tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel [also brief snatch of inconclusive possible Nightingale song from scrub around blue bridge substation] (David Callahan); noon 2 Lesser Whitethroat (1 under DLR, the other near East India DLR), Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 3 Sand Martin (Paul Hyland).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery (pm): singers - Garden Warbler, 12+ Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs; butterflies - 10+ Brimstones, Peacock, 3 Small Whites, Holly Blue (David Callahan).
  • Mile End Park (18:00): Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap (David Callahan).
  • Stepping Stones Farm, Stepney Green (18:40): Lesser Whitethroat (David Callahan).
  • Alexandra Park: 34 R N Parakeets Lower Slopes - a new record (unwanted?) count, 5 Jackdaws, 5 Swallows, House Martin (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener, Dominic Mitchell, Stuart Harrington, Alan Gibson).
  • Hornsey: Probable Hobby flying E just after midday, observed from Ally Pally (Stuart Harrington).
  • Cross Ness: juvenile Iceland Gull off the golf centre this morning; an Arctic Tern flew west at c.10am, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 House Martins, 1 Wheatear plus the usuals (John Archer, Richard Bonser).
  • KGV Res: 11 Little Gulls late morning (BirdGuides).
  • Wanstead: male Ring Ouzel on the northern playing field 06:00-08:15 at least; also Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap (Jonathan Lethbridge).
  • Brent Res: Jack Snipe main hide, 5 Common Snipe, Lapwing, LRP, Common Sand, 3 Common Terns (one was first one to land on raft), 20+ Swallows, pair of Great Black-backed Gulls (seen mating on a raft yesterday) (Brent Birders). 29 Brent Birders seen in main hide late morning - a possible record count for a flock of adults (Andrew Haynes).
  • Twickenham: Red Kite drifting over W at 16:15, followed by Common Buzzard also W at 16:30 (Peter Gray).
  • Clissold Park: Common Buzzard north, 1315; also adult Tawny Owl in Abney Park Cemetery (Mark Pearson et al Hackney Wildlife).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: WeBS: pair Gadwall, pair Shoveler, 1m Ruddy. Also 2 singing Reed Warblers, 1m Reed Bunting. (TeRNS)
  • Rainham Marshes RSPB:male Ring Ouzel in woodland round cordite store area also on reserve Garganey ,Peregrine,8 Wheatear 2 Greenshank.(Steve Bacon) 3 Arctic Tern feeding on the river, then flew west mid morning (D Bradnum, J Lethbridge)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR:Another quiet day, usual migrants, Common Buzzard, pr Teal and pr Gadwall. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • West Thurrock Marshes:2 hour watch on the river - Whimbrel, Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcaps, 14 Teal, 6 Curlew, 5 Swallow and a group of 9 Oystercatchers( quite a racket).Not a single Tern as yet.(Dave Morrison)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Garden Warbler, c3 Willow Warbler, 1 singing Sedge Warbler, c4 Lesser Whitethroat, c5 Whitethroat, c5 Swallow, c3 Jackdaw, 2 Collared Dove, c8 Meadow Pipit, c2 Skylark & 1 Bar-headed Goose overhead. (Mathew Bournat, Kim Dixon, David Jeffreys, David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • Paddington Green: Peregrine (prob fem) south 11:45hrs, singing Grey Wagtail, 6 Jay (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
  • WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes: Whinchat (1 m, turned up yesterday pm), Wheatear (2), LRP (2), Redshank (9), C Snipe, Wigeon (2), Lesser Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Sand Martins occupying most of the nesting holes in artificial bank, House Martins and Swallow through, Kestrel. (Angus Innes)
  • Ruislip Woods: 1 Cuckoo, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Buzzard. (Andy Culshaw and David Howdon)
  • Limehouse Basin: 2 Sand Martins c 3pm (Bob Watts).

Saturday 18th April

  • WWT London Wetland Centre (am): Lesser Whitethroat (several), Chiffchaffs, Willow, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, 2 Yellow Wagtail, f. Sparrowhawk, m. Kestrel, several Swallow feeding over reedbed, Whitethroat, 2 LRP, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper. 1 Hobby reported over at 11.45 (Martin Honey).
  • Leyton 09:25 Little Egret flew South-east. Waterworks N.R: Singing Cetti's Warbler, 2 willow Warbler, Sedge, Reed, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, ~20 Sand Martin. Walthamstow Marsh: f Wheatear, 1+ Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Little Owl, many Warblers. Fishers Green: 2 Common Tern, 2 Nightingale, Cuckoo, Cetti's Warbler. Lippit's Hill 2+ Grasshopper Warbler, Tree Pipit, Buzzard & Tawny Owl. Lea Valley Area: Barn Owl. (Paul Whiteman)
  • Lee Valley: 82 Species seen in the day, Highlights being a Turtle Dove purring by Cheshunt train station late pm, Raven mobbed by crow from Holyfield farm view point, Grasshopper Warbler reeling at 7:45am by field end of Bowyers water, 4 Nightingale singing by electrical plant, Grey Partridge at view point near Cornmill meadows, Green Sandpiper & Cetti's Warbler on Hall marsh, pair of Ruddy duck on Seventy Acres, Other spring migrants included 6 Cuckoos, 4 L.r.plovers, 4 Common Terns, 2 Yellow wagtails, 2 Lesser whitethroat & 1Garden warbler. Plus the now commoner spring migrants (John Murray & J.Murray Snr).
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs: 1 Oystercatcher (East Warwick), 2 Common Sandpiper on Lockwood, Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Little Egrets also (J.Murray).
  • QE2 Reservoir: 3 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Wheatear, 2 Common Sands and a White Wagtail (Geoff Barter).
  • Crossness: juvenile Iceland Gull still, adult summer Black Tern 1215-1400 at least but gone by evening, Sandwich Tern west @ 1330, Grasshopper Warbler reeling by Thamesview golf course 0755-0815, 2 Common Scoter east @ 1215, Tree Pipit 1205, Yellow Wagtail over, 11 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 13 Dunlin, 3 Wheatear, 3+ Reed Warbler, 5+ Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Egret (John Archer, Richard Bonser, Ian Miller & Kevin Jarvis).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe + 1, 3 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Nuthatch, 4 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Swallow, 1 Song Thrush, House Sparrow, (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood).
  • Brent Res: Lesser Whitethroat, pr Egyptian Goose (Thom Shannon & Nigel Biggs); Jack Snipe, Hobby, fem Goldeneye (Roy Beddard per BW).
  • KGV Res: 3 Little Gull, 29 Common Tern, 3 White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Whitethroat, 4 Common Sandpiper, 3 Shoveler, pr Linnet (D Bradnum).
  • Osterley Park: 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Swallow, 1 Little Owl; 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap; 7M 3F Mandarin, 3 Greylag, pr Egyptian Goose with 4 goslings (Tom Smith) + 4 Whitethroats, 5 Swallow, 6 Gadwall, 8 Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Comma, Holly Blue, Peacock and Small Tortoishell (Keith Fisher).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler (earliest record by 2 days), pair Shelduck, Red Kite low over at 8.17am north, Common Buzzard south at 8.55am, Red-legged Partridge calling, Cuckoo, many Sedge and Reed Warblers along with Common Whitethroats; also 3 Speckled Woods, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White and 4 Peacock Butterflies (Dave Morrison).
  • Alexandra Park: Whitethroat singing 8am from mound at south end playing fields (1st for year), Sand Martin, 12+ Swallows, 7 House Martin, 2 Mipits, 2 R N Parakeet, Rook NE 0808 & another landed in trees on lower slopes but harassed by Crows at 1005 (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener, Stuart Harrington).
  • Lee Valley: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff (Hall Marsh Scrape), Cuckoo, Swift (Bowyer's Water), 4-5 Nightingales (Fisher's Green Island), pr Egyptian Goose (Goose Fields), Common Tern (Seventy Acre's), Buzzard over farm area (James Anderson).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 pr Egyptian Goose, Lower Lake, (male bearing metal ring No. 14206 & female with only one foot) - My first record for the site! 2 male Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 2 Sparrowhawk; 3 Common Buzzard; 2 Kestrel; 1 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 singing male Skylark; 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat, at Vicarage Farm; 5 singing male Common Whitethroat,(2 Vicarage Farm, 2 Park Farm, 1 Trent Prk., by Lower Lake); 9 singing male Blackcap; 3 Song Thrush; 2 Yellowhammer,(1 Vicarage Farm, 1 male, Parkside Farm) (Robert Callf & Robin White); Hi Robert/Robin, you may have missed off a couple of digits (?), Egyptian Goose 1420606 was rung as first-year at Richmond Park on July 28th 2007 and was subsequently at Kensington Gardens on Nov 26th 2008 (and possibly a few more dates) - they certainly get around (Des McKenzie).
  • Queen Mary Reservoir: singing Nightingale, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Shoveler, 1 Kingfisher (Steve Chastell).
  • Staines Res:1 Arctic Tern,4 Common Scoters,2 Common Sandpipers,plenty Common Terns.(Sue Giddens)
  • Totteridge Valley: 2 Skylarks, Lesser Whitethroat. (Ian Ellis)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR:Osprey picked up by Carrion Crow harassment, circled over Fels Field at 1.30pm, then flew towards Becontree Heath.Not much else though.( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Whitethroat, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Swallows, 2 Reed Warblers, 10 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall (Mark Pearson, Jamie Partridge and Amity Dunn Hackney Wildlife).
  • Wanstead Flats: Yellow Wag over, 2 Whitethroat, Stonechat male briefly, 2 Wheatear, 15 Skylark, 9 Meadow Pipit, incl 3 over, 3 male Reed Bunting (Stuart Fisher)

Friday 17th April

  • London Wetland Centre: m Ring Ouzel (Birdguides); m Peregrine, Ruff, Whimbrel, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 8 Little Gull before departing west, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull (both 1st-sum) opposite WWF hide, large numbers of Herring Gull, Lesser Whitethroat (LWC website); also 2 Dunlin, 110 Swallows through & 30 lingering, probable Garden Warbler (glimpsed), 14+ Blackcaps, 10 Sedge Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers (NPS).
  • Beddington SF: juv Iceland Gull still; Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 9 Little Gull, 14 Whimbrel, 2 Ring Ouzel (1m), Peregrine, 20+ Yellow Wagtail (Birdguides).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Grasshopper Warbler singing by railway line early morning and again at 16:20, and Yellow Wagtail over (Martin Gray and Adam Cheeseman).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Swallows hawking over Wood Green Res in rain 0705 at least (Bob Watts).
  • Crouch End: C. Buzzard flew south low over Ridge Road from Ally Pally, pursued by Crows, at 19.35 (Gareth Richards).
  • Rainham Marshes RSPB: Grasshopper Warbler reeling near Tilda Factory, Reed Warbler, 4 Common Scoter on River Thames upriver from Aveley Bay, 4 Barwits on mud opposite reserve centre, Whimbrel (Dominic Mitchell per BW); 6 Common Scoter on Thames at Aveley Bay at 11:35 (JL); also Swallow, 2 m Wheatear, 2+ Whitethroat on sea wall, and 2 Oystercatcher, 5+ Curlew on south side of river (J Lethbridge)
  • Rotherhithe: Skylark west at midday over Greenland Pier; also 3 Common Terns mid morning and 6 Swallows north (3@3.15pm, 3@4.35pm) over Rope Street (Richard Bonser).
  • East India Dock: Great Crested Grebe (w), Little Egret (n), 2 Common Tern, Chiffchaff, 2 Sand Martin, Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, Shelduck, Chaffinch (pr) (Paul Hyland); (pm) Arctic Tern (N), 11 Common Terns (W & N), 2 Oystercatchers (Dome), Swallow (N), Sand Martin, Lesser Whitethroat (blue bridge substation), Whitethroat (BCEP), 4 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Common Sandpiper (Lea), 3 Linnets, 6 Shelduck, 4 Greylags (1 in yard), 10 Common Gulls, 9 GBB Gulls (David Callahan).
  • Limehouse Basin: 3 Sand Martin (PH).
  • Brent Res: Goldeneye fem, Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Gull ads, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 18 Swallows, Wheatear (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall).
  • Alexandra Grove (N4): Garden Warbler (D Holden).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Reed Warblers, Blackcap, 6 Shoveler (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: First Mipit and Lesser Redpoll for the year north and east at midday. Also 2 singing Chiffchaffs & c5 Blackcaps (Bob Watts).
  • Paddington Green: Woodcock watched flying low over junction of Edgware Road/Crompton Street W2 and toward St Mary's Churchyard 13:23hrs (Des McKenzie).
  • Trent Park Area: 6 Stock Dove; 1 singing male Cuckoo; 1 Kingfisher; 1 Green Woodpecker; 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, singing & drumming; 4 Skylark,(1 singing male, Park Farm, 3 Vicarage Farm); 1 Meadow Pipit, at Parkside Farm; 4 Pied Wagtail,(1 pr Park Farm, 1 pr Parkside Farm); 3(2m,1f) Northern Wheatear, at Parkside Farm; 9 Fieldfare, at Park Farm; 9 Song Thrush,(including six singing males); 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat, by Lower Lake; 1 ad male Common Whitethroat, at Vicarage Farm; 10 singing male Blackcap; 1 Nuthatch; 4 Treecreeper; 4+ Linnet; 2 Bullfinch, at Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Kennington Lane: female Peregrine. 4 swallows flying down South Lambeth Road in the rain. (Michael Mac).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe,20 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtail,1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Herring Gull(over), 8 Blackcap (4singing) 3singing Chiffchaff, 2 Nuthatch, 13 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 3 House Martin, 1 Swallow, 8 House Sparrow,(John Watson)
  • Wanstead Flats: 15 Swallow, f Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Whitethroat (J Lethbridge)
  • Wanstead Park: 2m Pochard (J Lethbridge)
  • Staines Res: Great Northern Diver, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye, 36 Little Gull, 18 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 3 Whimbrel, 17 Dunlin, Turnstone, Wheatear (Staines birders).

Thursday 16th April

  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: still 3 Slavonian Grebe (SBC).
  • Rainham Marshes: Osprey east along River Thames at 15:00hrs (Birdguides).
  • Beddington SF: 1st-wint Iceland Gull; 3 Greylag Goose, 4 Shelduck, Common Buzzard, 3 Green Sandpiper, 10 Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Northern Wheatear (m/f), Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 'Redpoll' (Dip or Glory).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 House Martin, Swallow, 2 Shelduck (Shaun Harvey).
  • Alexandra Grove (N4): Rook pm, flew low south - my first here, 2 Swallows N (D Holden).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Nightingale singing, m Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, pair of Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Paul Hawkins).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe + 2, 3 Cormorant, 20 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Blackcap (5 singing) 4 singing Chiffchaff, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Swallow, 4 House Martin (John Watson).
  • Tower of London: singing Sedge Warbler (also present Tuesday at least); walk South from Tower Hill Station under the underpass, as you hit the North moat of the Tower the bird is 10m to the East in the hedgerow behind you (Paul Whiteman).
  • Osterley Park: Whinchat, 3 Swallow, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Keith Fisher & Tom Smith).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Shelduck in at 0800, 3 Sand Martins, Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, African Grey Parrot (in from west 0920, tail-less...); c20 Swallows and 10 House Martins in with showers 1400 (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler & Laurence Pitcher Hackney Wildlife).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, Peregrine, Ruff, 10 Redshank, 10 Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, 9 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (LWC website).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Swallow N 09:10 (Stuart Harrington), Lesser Whitethroat singing along railway line behind filter beds (Dominic Mitchell). 3 Swallows N 18:30 from scrub (J.Murray). Swallow N over Filter Lagoons towards Wood Green Res 1825, 3 NE over Blandford Hall 1712, 9 House Martins 1800-1815 then west over Newland Road (Bob Watts).
  • East India Dock: Whitethroat, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Common Tern (e), 1 Arctic Tern (e), 4 'Commic' (e), Chiffchaff, 2 Oystercatcher (dome), Collared Dove, singing Chaffinch (Paul Hyland, Gary A James)
  • Brent Res: Little Gull 2 adults 09.55 until at least mid-day, 3 Common Terns, Common Buzzard 1 over 08.35, Yellow Wagtail male on mud for few minutes then off North, 3 Swallows, Chinese Goose 1 in and off (Roy Beddard, Andrew Haynes, Andrew Verrall); no sign of Little Gulls at 6pm but Arctic Tern & Reed Warbler (Andrew Self). 1 (probably 2) Artic Tern present at 16:00 (only got a really good view of 1 of them including it perched), also, 1 LRP, 1 Common Sand, 1 Common Snipe, Sand Martin and 1+ House Martin (Bill Haines).
  • Kensington Gardens (brief visit): 2 possible ad Kittiwake NE over Round Pond 13:05hrs (not clinched), m Kestrel, 16 Goldfinch low SW (Des McKenzie).
  • Wanstead Flats: 2 Heron, 2 Egyptian Geese, Mistle Thrush, 3 Swallow, Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap (J Lethbridge).
  • Cross Ness: no sign of juv Iceland Gull late a'noon but 10 Common Terns (Richard Bonser).
  • Rotherhithe: 1 Common Tern Greenland Dock 5.15pm til dusk (hopefully back to breed again on Canada Water); 2 Mistle Thrushes, a GS Woodpecker and a Rn Parakeet Southwark Park (Richard Bonser).
  • Bookham Common: Nightingale p.m., Lesser Whitethroat a.m. (SurreyBirders).
  • Regents Park: Ringed Plover 2.10pm west, 2 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Redpolls (Tony Duckett).

Wednesday 15th April.

  • Staines Res: 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Little Gull, 10 Common Tern, 12 Arctic Tern (KLP, REI).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 3 Slavonian Grebe still present (SBC).
  • Beddington SF: 1st-wint Iceland Gull, possible Alpine Swift flew west at c6pm; also 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, Little Egret, Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Common Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper, Common Tern, 20 Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 'Redpoll' (Dip or Glory/Beddington Farm Bird Group).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Common Tern (first of the year), Sand Martin over, Sedge Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Skylark (James Herd per Martin Gray)
  • London Wetland Centre: Marsh Harrier west 12:30hrs, Peregrine west, Ruff, 8 Common Snipe, 9 Redshank, ad Mediterranean Gull west with 48 Black-headed Gull, 2 1st-sum Yellow-legged Gull, 1st-sum Caspian Gull, 2 Common Tern west, Arctic Tern NW, 50 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow north, 10 House Martin, Tree Pipit NW, 4 Meadow Pipit NW, Water Pipit, reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 8 singing Sedge Warbler, 11+ singing Reed Warbler, 9 singing Blackcap, 6 singing Chiffchaff, 4 singing Willow Warbler (LWC website).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1245-1800 Marsh Harrier low and south-east 1640, Arctic Tern east 1430, 10 Swallows, 2 Reed Warblers, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull still off golf centre plus Arctic Tern (Ian Miller per JA).
  • Lee Valley: Bowyers Water/Hall Marsh area - Green Sandpiper, 6 House Martins, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler. Holyfield Viewpoint - Raven flying NE over Broxbourne at 14.40, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellowhammers. Fisher’s Green Island - 3 Nightingales along substation access road. North Met Pit - Reed Warbler (Mike Oakland)
  • Rotherhithe: 2 Arctic Terns off Durand's Wharf 9.55-10.00am then flew NE; 8 Swallows north over Stave Hill (6@1.40pm, 2@2.05pm) and c.4 singing Willow Warblers, female Sparrowhawk there. Drake Pochard still with 20 Tufted Ducks on Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
  • King George V Res (permit access): Arctic Tern late morning (Birdguides).
  • Amwell GP: Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit this a.m. (HertsBirding).
  • Bromley-by-Bow: male Ring Ouzel, also Whitethroat (S. Fisher per AS)
  • Alexandra Park: Egyptian Goose low SW from Wood Green Res 09:01 (Stuart Harrington).
  • Richmond Park: 1 m Wheatear (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs: South side 15:00 to 17:00 pm - 2 Oystercatchers (East Warwick), 2 Wheatears, Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Shelduck, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 3 Swallows, House Martin, drake Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, drake Ruddy Duck, pr Egyptian Geese, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Blackcaps (David Callahan).
  • East India Dock: Swallow, Collared Dove (in copse for 10 mins), 10+ Common Terns east, 5 Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, 2 Oystercatcher (dome), Sparrowhawk, 2 Linnet, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 Shelduck (Paul Hyland)
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe + 1, 2 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 5 singing Blackcap, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 7 singing Chaffinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Swallow, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Totteridge Valley: 1 Lesser Whitethroat in song, 1 Whitethroat (ditto), usual numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap, plus year's first Speckled Wood (John Colmans)
  • Brent Res: Whitethroat display New Pond, Wheatear f, Common Sand NBank, 2 Common Terns (Andrew Verrall).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Common Tern east over Serpentine, 3 Swallow north, 3 House Martin, m Stonechat 12:18hrs at least, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap (7 singing), 2 singing Chiffchaff; also Emperor Goose (esc), pr Egyptian Goose (with 6 goslings), pr Mandarin (copulating), 4 Red-crested Pochard (3m), pr Ruddy Duck, fem Sparrowhawk, 8 Stock Dove, ad Tawny Owl (difficult to see), 15 singing Robin, singing Goldcrest, 2 singing Coal Tit, singing Treecreeper, 21 Magpie, m Chaffinch displaying to fem, Linnet north, Holly Blue (Des McKenzie).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: male Garganey on the slack 1.10-4.45pm at least, no sign of yesterday's Grasshopper Warbler.( V.Halley-Frame & A.Bell ).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ruddy Shelduck (near Willows Farm pool), 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Oystercatcher, Common Snipe, 2 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Tern, poss Wheatear flushed from fence, 2 Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 3+ Willow Warbler; also 6 species of butterfly inc Orange-tip (HertsBirding).
  • Fishers Green (Lee Valley): 2 Nightingale (LondonBirders Yahoo Group).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat, c6 Common Whitethroat, 3 Swallow, 1 singing Willow Warbler + the usuals (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
  • Trent Park Area: 3 (2m,1f) Tufted Duck, Lower Lake; 1 Red Kite, flew S over Williams Wood, 11:00 BST, and N over Rough Lot, 12:24 BST; 2 Red-legged Patridge, at Park Farm; 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 singing male Skylark, (1 Vicarage Farm, 1 Park Farm); 1 Swallow, flew N, Hog Hill, 10:36 BST; 2 Meadow Pipit, (1 Parkside Frm, 1 Park Farm); 5 Fieldfare, Duncan's Wood; 1 Song Thrush; 2 singing male Common Whitethroat, at Vicarage Farm; 8 singing male Blackcap; 1 pr Robin, courtship feeding, at Park Farm; 4 singing male Coal Tit, (1 Moat Wood, 3 Williams Wood); 2 male Yellowhammer, (1 Vicarage Farm, 1 Parkside Farm) (Robert Callf & Robin White).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Hobby in top paddock (Shaun Harvey).
  • Victoria Embankment Gardens, Charing Cross; 1 singing Chiffchaff, 1 singing Blackcap (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • Clissold Park: 5 Bramblings still, 2 Blackcaps, Swallow (MJP, TB)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 8+ Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, ad. and 2 young Tawny Owls (MJP, LP, TB)
  • Ealing, W13: 2 Common Buzzard over garden @ 17:05; drifted in from W before flying strongly S. 1 Meadow pipit over N this morning (Bill Haines).
  • Holmethorpe SP's: fem Pintail, Common Sandpiper (SBC).
  • Walton Res: 5 Goldeneye, m Peregrine hunting (SBC).
  • Hampstead Heath: 1 Common Buzzard persued by calling Herring Gulls - flew NW at 16:45, 1 male Kestrel, 2 pairs Great Crested Grebe, 1 male Mandarin, 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 GSWP, 5 singing Blackcap. Kenwood: pair of Egyptian Geese, male Kestrel then pair Kestrels displaying. Vale of Health: 2 pairs of Mandarins displaying (Michael Mac & Ron Vester).
  • Fairlop/Painters Lane GP: 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 4 Lapwing, 3 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 1 Wheatear, 2 Sand Martin (Steve Bacon).
  • Horsenden Hill: 3+ Linnet, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, a plethora of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, 2 Sand Martin (intriguingly close to the, never occupied so far, Sand Martin bank), 2 Swallow, 2 Mute Swan. (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon, Martin Smith).

Tuesday 14th April

  • Wanstead Flats: male Ring Ouzel on north side in evening (S. Fisher per AS)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 3 Slavonian Grebes still present (DMH).
  • Rainham Marshes: Great White Egret east 14:58hrs, Greenshank (Birdguides).
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Marsh Harrier over this a.m. investigated by a Sparrowhawk + Wheatear & many warblers. (J-P Elmes).
  • Beddington SF: Little Egret, m Marsh Harrier north-west, Common Buzzard, Whimbrel, 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Tern, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull again from Thamesmead Golf Centre this a.m., showing well (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Grove (N4): Turnstone early am, flew low south (D Holden).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Hobby over high south. (Martin Gray per Adam Cheeseman)
  • Haggerston Park E2: 2 Blackcap, 10 House Sparrows (at N boundary of park. Other sparrow populations in E2: 9 at Dunloe St, 7 at Weavers Field). 4 Jays by Queensbridge Rd (E8), just N of canal (D Holden).
  • Osterley Park: male Common Redstart, male Blackcap (Tom Smith).
  • Bexleyheath: Hawfinch over Latham Road early a.m. (Birdguides).
  • Mudchute Farm (Isle of Dogs): Ring Ouzel in playing field by nursery 9.50am. (Sean Huggins).
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Common Tern, Water Pipit, singing Lesser Whitethroat (LWC website).
  • Bush Wood (Wanstead): fem GSWP, Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 3 Common Tern, no sign of either Ruddy Shelduck or Avocet (HertsBirding).
  • Richmond Park: 1f Wheatear, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Whitethroat (our 1st this spring), 1 male Northern Wheatear, c6 Jackdaw plus usual Blackcap, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
  • Horsenden Hill (Paradise Fields): 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Pheasant, Blackcap, Chiffchaff; also 1 Water Vole (Andy Culshaw).
  • East India Dock NR: Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper, 6 Oystercatcher (Dome mud), 6 Common Tern, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Gary A James).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: singing Common Whitethroat (1st of year), 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, female Brambling near feeders 1215; also 4 Bramblings in Clissold Park inc. singing male (in treetops by water fountain, still present 1230 per TB) (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery: RN Parakeet pair (a patch tick for me here and from anecdotal conversations not aware it has ever been seen here before) looking pretty settled, and also indulging in hole prospecting! (Bob Watts).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Egyptian Goose over, unsexed Peregrine west 13:15hrs, singing Grey Wagtail, 2 singing Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Tate Modern (1430): 1 Chiffchaff (Reuben Braddock).
  • Rainham Marshes: m Brambling on feeders near Woodland Education Zone (Birdguides).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 male Mandarin Duck, flew over, Park Farm; 3(2m,1f) Tufted Duck, Lower Lake; 1 female Sparrowhawk; 2(m&f) Kestrel; 2 Lapwing, at Parkside Farm; 1 singing male Cuckoo; 2 Green Woodpecker; 4+ Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Wheatear, at Hog Hill; 5 Song Thrush; 4 Mistle Thrush; 1 singing, ad male Common Whitethroat, Hog Hill (First of the year); 7 singing male Blackcap; 1 Siskin, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn; 2(m&f) Bullfinch, Park Farm; 2(m&f) Yellowhammer, Hog Hill; 1 Reed Bunting, at Parkside Farm (Robert Callf & Robin White).
  • Holyfield Viewpoint : Red Kite drifting east to west at 14.00, joined by Common Buzzard. 2nd Red Kite, again east to west at 14.45. Also from viewpoint, Green Sandpiper, Yellowhammer, 6 Linnets, 3 Swallows. Fishers Green Island - 2 Nightingales. (Mike Oakland)
  • Regents Park: Oystercatcher 7.30am, 7 Little Grebes, 1f Peregrine 10.30 & 12.40pm, 2 GBB Gulls, 1 Jackdaw, 3 House Martins, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1m Norhern Wheatear, 6 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Linnets, 14 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: Reeling Grasshopper Warbler briefly on Fels Field at 5.20pm but not seen and heard again by 6.40pm,( a bit windy and many kids about ), also male Wheatear there at 5.40pm, 2 poss 3 singing Lesser Whitethroats, Shelduck,2 pair of Teal, pair of Shoveler, Common Snipe,Little Egret, 2 Common Whitethroat, 4+ singing Willow Warbler. ( V.Halley-Frame )

Monday 13th April

  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Snipe, Peregrine, 5 Pochard (3 drake, 2 females) (James Herd).
  • Rainham Marshes: White-fronted Goose flew east along Thames, 2 Grasshopper Warbler (west end and another at the east end) (Birdguides); 2m Wheatear on sea wall 7pm (J Lethbridge)
  • Staines Res: 5 Velvet Scoter (2 drake & 3 females), 2 sp Black-necked Grebes, 1 Common Tern, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Swallows on South Basin; Great Northern Diver, 5 Little Gull, 1 Arctic Tern on North Basin (John Murray); 8 Little Gull (Birdguides).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 0815-1600 - Black Kite south 1424-1427, in fairly low and chased by crows, gained height and circled several times, heading due south towards the city; Water Pipit (0956, first site record, presumably same bird still present 1120 and 1300), Red-legged Partridge (0900-1000, feeding on bank by Lordship Road, first site record), Common Buzzard (dark phase, missing primary in right wing) SW 1540, Peregrine, 8 Swallows, c20 House Martins, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Reed Warblers, 11 Redwings along New River early a.m. (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
  • Crossness: Cetti's Warbler trapped & ringed, juv Sandwich Tern flew upriver, juv Iceland Gull again from Thamesview Golf Centre, Whimbrel, Tree Pipit, Fieldfare, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaffs, 4 Wheatears, Sand Martin, 17 Swallows, 16+ Common Terns (John Archer).
  • Beddington SF: 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, Red Kite NE, 6-7 Common Buzzard, Hobby, 4 Golden Plover SW, Grey Plover SE, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit north, Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1st-wint Iceland Gull, Cuckoo, 46 Meadow Pipit through, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
  • Fishers Green (Lea Valley): 2 Nightingales, Garden Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers, Cuckoo, Green Sand, Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher, Ruddy Duck, 2 Egyptian Geese (Sean Huggins).
  • Lee Valley (Cornmill Meadows): 2 Little Ringed Plover (30 yards from road), 2 Redshank, 4 Reed Bunting, 3 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 10 Lapwing (Mike Benyon).
  • Staines Moor: 1 singing Tree Pipit, 2 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Willow Warbler (John Murray).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ruddy Shelduck, Avocet at Main Pit still late afternoon, 8 Redshank, Common Tern, Northern Wheatear (Birdguides/HertsBirding).
  • Wanstead Park: 2 Egyptian Geese, m&f Blackcaps (J-P Elmes).
  • Roding Valley Park: Little Egret Daniel E-Hull
  • Sevenoaks WR: Grey Plover from Tyler Hide (Birdguides).
  • Mayesbrook Park: m Wheatear still, 4 Shelduck, Siskin (Paul Hawkins).
  • Paddington Green: singing Mistle Thrush (unusual) (Des McKenzie).
  • Banstead Heath: Common Crossbill calling over horse stables 10:55hrs (Birdguides).
  • Selsdon Wood: 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, 3 singing Blackacp, 6 singing Chiffchaff, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 3 singing Blackcap, 1 Skylark (CroydonBirders).
  • Waterworks NR: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, 1 Snipe (Paul Cook).
  • Brent Res: Avocet on mud at East Marsh opposite the hide, also 2 Yellow Wagtails & 2 Egyptian Geese (Brent Birders).
  • Hackney Marshes: 1 Wheatear, 2 Siskin, Willow Warbler (Paul Cook).
  • Richmond Park: 4 drake Common Scoter on Upper Pen Pond found by Mike Lewis (Hugh Bradshaw); High Buzzard 11.50, drumming fem. Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Neil Anderson)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 site ticks - a Kingfisher (!?!) flew low east & Red-legged Partridge flushed from Chats Paddock. Also, singing Reed Warbler, c15 Blackcap, c12 Chiffchaff, c5 singing Willow Warbler, 1 female Northern Wheatear, 3 Jackdaw, 3 Swallow & c12 Meadow Pipit (David Lindo). 5pm - 2 Northern Wheatear (Alison Carter & David Lindo).
  • London Wetland Centre: two pair Wigeon, 1 m Peregrine, 9 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 LRP, 9 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 1st w YL Gull, 1 Common Tern, c. 50 Sand Martins, 40 House Martins, c. 20 Swallows, 2 Rock Pipits east, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Northern Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wags N + 3 on site, 1 m White Wagtail, 7 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffcaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 26 Reed Buntings, 6 Linnet (NPS + Martin Honey).
  • Fairlop: Shelduck, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, 4 LRP, 6 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, LBBGs, 4 Wheatear, f Yellow Wagtail, 12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow, c30 Linnet, c20 Goldfinch, c10 Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Reed Bunting, 4 GWP, Dunnock, 5 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap (DEH, JMak, SB, AT, TL).
  • East India Dock NR: Green Woodpecker (rare here), Jackdaw, 4 Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, 3 Blackcap, Willow Warbler (Gary A James).
  • Ruislip: 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Snipe, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 1 Reed Bunting and 3 Linnet in the Crow's Nest Farm area; pair of Grey Wagtails on the River Pinn; female Garganey (approachable but no rings), 1 Wigeon and 2 LRP at Ruislip Lido (Martin Sullivan).
  • Regents Park: Common Buzzard SE 3.05pm, Red Kite W 4.20pm, 2 Peregrines, 2 Sparrowhawks, Yellow Wagtail, 11 Meadow Pipits Swallow, House Martin, 8 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps (Tony Duckett).
  • Lee Valley: (Hall Marsh Scrape) Oystercatcher,(Landed briefly, then flew high Northwards from the viewpoint), Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 2 LPR, 4 Teal, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Pheasant, Cetti's Warbler (giving good views) 2 Common Whitethroat in bushes near Bowyer's water. Lee Valley Farms: Little Owl, Yellowhammer, 4 Skylarks, also an almost all dark blue (m) Pheasant apart from white tail feathers, and an all dark female. (James Anderson)
  • Alexandra Park: Oystercatcher low over res, cricket pitch then NE 1008, 2 Rook SE 1005, Sedge Warbler, 4 Mipit, 10+ House Martin, Swallow (Andrew Gardener, Alan Gibson, Gareth Richards, Bob Watts).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR:Green Sanpiper heard calling but not seen, Lesser Whitethroat singing from inside chemical works but also unseen. 1 Lesser Redpoll. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Trent Park Area: 6(5m,1f) Mandarin Duck,(5 Lower Lake, 1 male, Dew Pond); 2(m&f) Pochard, Lower Lake; 2 Sparrowhawk; 1 singing male Cuckoo, at Parkside Farm; 2 Green Woodpecker; 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 singing male Skylark,(1 Park Farm, 2 Vicarage Farm); 4 Swallow; 14+ Fieldfare, at Duncan's Wood; 2 Song Thrush; 3 Mistle Thrush; 1 Wheatear, at Hog Hill; 15 Meadow Pipit; 1 Yellow Wagtail, flew over calling, at Vicarage Farm (First of the year!); 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat, at Vicarage Farm (Earliest record by 2 days!); 10(9m,1f) Blackcap; 1 singing male Willow Warbler, along Jubilee Path at Park Farm; 1 Nuthatch; 5 Treecreeper,(including two together, at Parkside Farm); (Robert Callf & Robin White).

Sunday 12th April

  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Honey Buzzard over PM, at least 3 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, numerous Willow Warblers and Blackcaps (Martin Gray).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe,4 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 singing blackcap, 4 singing Chiffchaff,f Sparrowhawk, c 6Swallow, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Jay,3 House Sparrow,
  • Staines Reservoirs: Great Northern Diver still on North Basin at mid-day; also Black-necked Grebe, 7 Little Gull and 2 Arctic Tern on South Basin (Birdguides)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 3 sp Slavonian Grebes off the north bank & Grey Plover present 1030-1040 (DMH).
  • Rainham Marshes: Greenshank, 39 Redshank, 13 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 30 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 20 House Martin, 10 Sand martin, 12 Swallow, Whitethroat, m Ring Ouzel at 11am in seawall (ELBF)
  • Greenford CP: f Kestrel, Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, pr Linnet, pr Reed Bunting (Neil Anderson)
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 1st-sum Yellow-legged Gull, 1st-sum Caspian Gull this a.m., Water Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (Birdguides) + 2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers, m Wheatear, 1 Common Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 11 Blackcaps (NPS); plus 1 Jack Snipe, 1f Wheatear (Martin Honey).
  • Crossness: 2 Whimbrel east, juv Iceland Gull still viewable from Thamesview Golf Centre this morning (Birdguides).
  • East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park: 4 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Sand Martin, 2+ Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (Nick Tanner).
  • Alexandra Park: no sign of Common Scoters @ 0610 (John Murray), Pair of Egyptian Geese flew in from south and landed on main res 0912, RN Parakeet heard (Bob Watts).
  • Rotherhithe: 3 Willow Warblers (1 Southwark Park, 2 Stave Hill), 3 Ring-necked Parakeets and 2 Mistle Thrushes (Richard Bonser).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Wheatear, c.8 Willow Warblers, c.16 Chiffchaffs, c.12 Blackcap and c.10 Meadow Pipits (David Lindo).
  • Paddington Green: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1-2 House Martin heard, singing Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Brambling, Wheatear, 3+ Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Beddington SF: greenshank whimbrel(heard)white wagtail.IBB. [2]
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 2 sterna Tern species flew high over at 1.27pm but did not call, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3-4 Common Whitethroat,4+ Willow Warbler, Drake Shelduck, 1 LRP,3 Teal 2m 1f,1 Drake Gadwall. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Cowley (Green Lane allotments): 1 Common Snipe flying from Brunel University, p.m. (R. Pinn) (Roger Dewey)
  • Ruislip Lido: 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 LRP, several Swallows and a female Garganey (this bird was first seen about a week ago by Dick Middleton. It is quite tame so must be of dubious origin but no leg ring). Willow warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap present on Poors Field (Steve Pash).
  • Margaret Ness/Tripcock Point nr Thamesmead: 5 Common Terns over Thames mid a'noon; also a female Sparrowhawk and 8 Shelduck North Greenwich the highlights of a cycle ride from Rotherhithe to Thamesmead today (Richard Bonser).
  • Osterley Park: Buzzard circling, Chiffchaff singing (Tom Smith - 3pm)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Arctic Tern West Res 1300 (2nd site record), plus the usuals (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler & Amity Dunn - film at northern rustic).
  • Grovelands Park, Southgate: 2 singing male Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).

Saturday 11th April

  • Chiswick:Common Scoter male and female on the River Thames off Chiswick Eyot mid-afternoon
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Sedge Warbler, singing PM. (Martin Gray per Adam Cheeseman)
  • Brent Res: Curlew over at 10.50, also 30 Swallows, 10 House Martins, Sand Martin, 2 Common Terns, 8 Willow Warblers & 14 Blackcaps (Brent Birders)
  • Mayesbrook Park: 2 Dunlin (summ plum) on jetty 07:00-07:10, Reed Warbler, Shelduck, fem Teal, 3 pr Gadwall, 2 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 House Martin, 22 Herring Gull, 2 LBB Gull.(Paul Hawkins) Mid-day m Wheatear, m Reed Bunting, 3+ Blackcap, 15 Sand martin, 4 House martin, 5 Swallow, Stock dove, Goldfinch.(PH)
  • Isle of Dogs: Singing Lesser Whitethroat NW corner of Millwall Park; singing Sedge Warbler Undine Ave nr Mudchute Station; three Swallows Millwall Docks. (Sean Huggins)
  • Wanstead Flats: Snipe, Song Thrush, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap (J Lethbridge)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Egyptian Geese over (Mark Pearson & Laurence Pitcher)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: early - 12 Swallows, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 5 House Martins (TB per MJP); 1015-1415 - 8 Siskins, c30 Swallows, c40 Sand Martins, c30 House Martins, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, Chiffchaff (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher Hackney Wildlife).
  • Wimbledon Common: a singing Common Whitethroat (David Wills).
  • Alexandra Park: 5 Common Scoter (3 male 2 female)on Wood Green Res until 10am at least (Andrew Gardener et al). Also 3 House Martins, male Wheatear, RN Parakeet (Apog). Scoters still until 3pm at least and male Wheatear (J.murray).
  • South Park, Ilford: Willow Warbler (gd views, inc. singing), Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Mistle Thrushes, several Pochard, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Long-tailed Tit (Alan Hobson)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: 5 Common Scoter (& 2 Dunlin thro') (DMH).
  • Walton Res: 4 Common Scoter (DMH).
  • Island Barn Res: 1st/w Little Gull (DMH).
  • Ealing GC: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers (NPS)
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Cuckoo,2 Reed Warbler,male Wheatear,Snipe,5 Wigeon (Shaun Harvey)
  • East India Dock: 2 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 3 Sand Martin, 4 Linnet, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Kestrel, Jay, 2 Shelduck, Greylag (Paul Hyland).
  • Cross Ness: juvenile Iceland Gull still on River Thames also an Avocet, a Sandwich Tern, an Arctic Tern and 10+ Common Terns through this morning. Jack Snipe from viewing screen at Cross Ness LNR plus a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat and a Reed Warbler (JA, Andrew Lawson & James Hunter per RHB).
  • Rotherhithe: Common Sandpiper on jetty at Greenland Dock 10:30am; 4 singing Willow Warblers (1 Canada Water, 3 Stave Hill/Russia Dock Woodland) (Richard Bonser).
  • Rainham Rspb: 22 Common Scoter on Thames (Birdguides).
  • Thames @ Limehouse: Oystercatcher east at 16:00 (Paul Hyland).
  • Wetland Centre: Black-tailed Godwit, Lesser Whitethroat, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 4 Sedge, 2 Reed Warbler (LWC website). PM: 1 Jack Snipe by boxes, 1+ Yellow Wagtail (grazing marsh), 2 Wheatear grazing marsh, c10 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, loads of Sand Martin and c20 of each Swallow and House Martin, 1 Meadow Pipit north, 1 Water Pipit, c10 Redshank, 2 Green Woodpecker, Jay, leucistic Coot (Jonathan Dean).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: singing Sedge Warbler,2 Yellow Wagtail over, 4 Common Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 12 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin,2+ Swallow,1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, male Common Pheasant calling. ( V.Halley-Frame )
  • Staines Res: three Arctic Terns pm, adult Kittiwake (late eve), also three Common Terns, five-plus Little Gulls, Little Egret and Curlew through, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Great Northern Diver still, two Black-necked Grebes, Wheatear (Rob Innes, Ken Purdey).
  • KGVI Res: five Common Scoters (three drakes), Jack Snipe, Great Northern Diver, six Little Ringed Plovers, Yellow Wag, three White Wags, Wheatear (Rob Innes, Ken Purdey).
  • Regents Canal (Islington): Willow Warbler heard c 445pm (Bob Watts).

Friday 10th April

  • South Norwood CP: Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap (all male) and Sparrowhawk (female) unsuccessfully attacking blackbird mid-flight (Steven Robinson).
  • Mayesbrook Park: Sedge Warbler, White Wagtail, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 House Martin, 12 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, Linnet, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Mistle thrush, 2 GSWP, 2 GWP, Shoveler.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Greenford CP:fem. Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, fem Pheasant (3rd site record), Snipe, singing Willow Warbler, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 5 singing Blackcap, singing Sedge Warbler, 4 Linnet (Neil Anderson)
  • Paradise Fields, Greenford:copulating pr Great-spotted Woodpeckers,5 singing Blackcap, singing Chiffchaff (Neil Anderson)
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crestesd Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant,pair Grey Wagtail, 4singing Blackcap, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,2 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 1 Song Thrush,1 m Sparrowhawk, 10+ Long-tailed Tit, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull,(John Watson Gavin Hawegood)
  • Crossness: 2 juv Iceland Gull again on the Thames foreshore from Thamesview Golf Centre late morning; also Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat (Birdguides).
  • Brent Res: 2 Common Terns, Common Sand, House Martin, Swallow, Sedge Warbler (Brent Birders).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: m Ring Ouzel flew from south side of Kensington Gardens Leaf Yard and into white horse chestnut near Queen Caroline's Temple 08:20hrs (last seen flying toward Temple Gate a couple of minutes later); 4 House Martin, Reed Warbler (Rabbit Paddock), 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler (all warblers singing); also Emperor Goose (esc), pr Egyptian Goose with 6 goslings, 5 Mandarin (pr/3m pursued by a Ring-necked Parakeet!), 4 Red-crested Pochard (pr/2m), pr Ruddy Duck, 2 Tawny Owl (ad seen/owlet heard), 15-20 Stock Dove, 6 Green Woodpecker (3 fighting), Grey Wagtail, 2-3 Pied Wagtail, 8 Song Thrush (6 singing), 2 singing Goldcrest, 3 singing Treecreeper (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: singing Grey Wagtail p.m. (Des McKenzie).
  • Rainham Marshes: m Ring Ouzel 0.5 miles west of Visitor Centre along the seawall a.m., Grasshopper Warbler (Birdguides).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Kestrel, m Peregrine, 3 calling Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 9+ Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 40+ Sand Martin, 2 Swallow NE, m Northern Wheatear, 4 singing Sedge Warbler, 4 singing Reed Warbler, 6 singing Blackcap, 7 singing Chiffchaff, 4 singing Willow Warbler, Jay very high NE (LWC website); PM UPDATE 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, pair Water Pipit (breeding colour),1 Common Tern flew through, still one pair Wigeon, small flocks Swallow and House Martin through all day (Angus Innes).
  • Fulham Reach: 3 Housemartins (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: a.m.- 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff(Laurence Pitcher); 1220-1630 - Common Swift, 1330 for 10 mins (first of year), Common Buzzard north 1300, 2 Reed Warblers singing, 4 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, c12 Swallows, c30 Sand Martins, c20 House Martins (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher and Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • East India Dock NR: 3 Arctic Tern NE at 08.45, 1 Common Tern, 4 Greylags, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Blackcap (Gary A James).
  • Lee Valley: 2 Cuckoo's (Hall Marsh Scrape & Bowyer's Water), single singing Sedge Warbler (at Bowyer's Water), 5 Cetti's Warbler's (cracking views of one of them by small bridge between Hall Marsh Scrape & Friday Lake), 4-5 Willow Warblers, 10+ Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs, pr Shelduck (on water at Goose Fields), 2 LRP's, 7 Green Woodpecker, 5 GSW's, 4 Teal, 2 Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail, m Bullfinch, 5-6 Siskin, (James Anderson).
  • beddington sf 2 whitethroats siskin c buzzard DKC KJM. A new website for beddington sf > www.theibbsite.webs.com
  • Regents Park: 1m Firecrest, 7 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Little Owl, Tawny Owl family (Tony Duckett).
  • Ealing GC: 2 Common Terns west, 1 F Stonechat, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Linnets (NPS)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Fieldfare east, c4 Willow Warbler, c20 Chiffchaff, c14 Blackcap, 1 possible Reed Warbler in brief song, c5 Collared Dove, 1 Stock Dove, c10 Meadow Pipit, c18 Linnet & singing Skylark. (David Lindo)
  • Claybury Park: Blackcap (gd views, inc. singing), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Mistle Thrush, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Jays (Alan Hobson)

Thursday 9th April

  • Rainham Marshes: juv Iceland Gull on Target Pools 14:55hrs, 4 Whimbrel south over the river shortly afterwards, plus Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sand Martin, Swallow, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 singing Cetti's Warbler, 3+ LRPlover. HV saw a further flock of 19 Whimbrel shortly after I left. (David Bradnum).
  • Kimber Road (Southfields): 1 male Red Kite at 08.50 quite low (just above the height of a nearby crane) first seen heading SW, then veered to due W (i.e. north of Wimbledon Village) (Martin Honey).
  • Bedfont Lakes CP: Reed Warbler singing near Info Centre and Common Whitethroat along railway line scrub. (Adam Cheeseman)
  • Rotherhithe: 3 singing Willow Warblers and a Song Thrush Russia Dock Woodland/Stave Hill early morning; drake Pochard still on Surrey Water, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets and 2 Mistle Thrush Southwark Park (Richard Bonser).
  • East India Dock: 2 LRP, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Sand Martin, 2 singing Willow Warblers 3 Shelduck (Paul Hyland).
  • London Wetland Centre: 1 LRP, 9 + Redshank, 1 YL Gull (first-winter) on river, 1 Common Tern, 7 Swallows through, c.40 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs (NPS); 23 Whimbrel flew down the River Thames this afternoon; also Grasshopper Warbler early morning (Birdguides).
  • Alexandra Park: Willow Warbler singing near Platform 2 adjacent to Wood Green Res (Bob Watts). 5 Willow Warblers (Andrew Gardener). 2 Egyptian Geese (John Murray).
  • Dulwich Park: Siskin and Swallow (W) (Steven Robinson).
  • Brent Res: Common Tern flying over rafts calling, then off N, 2 LRP, 4 Lapwing (Andrew Verrall).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, Swallow, 12 House Martins, 3 Sand Martins; male Great Crested Newt in LWT garden pond (Mark Pearson (Hackney Wildlife).
  • Totteridge Valley: 12 Blackcaps: 8 Chiffchaffs: 2 Willow Warblers: 3 Swallows: at least 6 Mandarin , and 3 Teal on Darland's Lake (John Colmans).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2pr Egyptian Goose (1pr still with 6 goslings), 3 Mandarin (pr and m), 3pr Gadwall, 7 Red-crested Pochard (6m), 9 Pochard, pr Ruddy Duck, 4 active Great Crested Grebe nests, 15 Herring Gull, ad Tawny Owl, 6 Stock Dove, c40 Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Sand Martin, 5 House Martin, m Grey Wagtail, 4 singing Song Thrush, 5 Mistle Thrush (3 singing), 2 singing Blackcap, singing Willow Warbler, 2 Treecreeper (1 singing), 5 Jay, 6 singing Greenfinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Paddington Green: 2 singing Dunnock, singing Grey Wagtail p.m. (Des McKenzie).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Ruddy Duck, 2 Oystercatcher still at Fishing Lakes, 6+ Redshank (Main and Fishing Lakes/Willows Farm Pond), c10 Sand Martin, c5 Swallow, Yellow Wagtail by Willows Farm pond a.m., singing Blackcap (HertsBirding).
  • Ingrebourne Valley, late afternoon: Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Water Rail and a pair of Shelduck.(Dave Morrison)
  • Fairlop Gravel Pits: 5 Little Ringed Plovers (showing very well), 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Shelduck, 4 Redshank (Alan Hobson/Daniel Erickson-Hull/Jonathan Makengo)

Wednesday 8th April

  • Crossness: Iceland Gull juv still on Thames off golf centre 3.55-4.10pm (per RBA).
  • Hampstead: Red Kite (Pete Jones, 15:00)
  • Haverstock Hill (north of Primrose Hill): 2 Red Kites flew SW at 2pm (per RBA).
  • Queen Mother Resr: Whimbrel northwest over at 07:45 (Birdguides)
  • Bedfont Lakes: Common Whitethroat singing along railway line scrub. Also 1 Swallow and pr Egyptian Geese with 4 young -new site breeding record. (Adam Cheeseman)
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 3 singing Willow Warbler, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 4 Singing Blackcap, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit,1 Song Thrush 4 House Sparrow,(John Watson)
  • K.G.V Res (London): 4 Sandwich Terns drifted South at 11.10am and headed towards W.Girling; also 4 Little gulls (2 1st summers & 2 2nd summers), on South basin. Also 1 House Martin, 15 Sand martin, Yellow wagtail & pair of Mandarin this morning (John Murray).
  • Wanstead Flats: Buzzard over at 7.50am, being mobbed by Carrion Crows and Jackdaws, pair of Little Grebe on Alexandra Lake, Skylark, Greenfinch, Linnet. (Daniel Erickson-Hull);also Little Owl, Swallow, Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge).
  • Finsbury Park: 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 singing Blackcaps and 1 Willow Warbler (possibly all FP breeders) 4 singing Song Thrushes along railway embankment,1 Long Tailed Tit, small flock of 8+ Goldfinches, usual plastic waterfowl and Little Grebes on boating lake (Ian Bradshaw)
  • Osterley Park: 1 m Wheatear (Tom Smith)
  • Dulwich Park: GSW, 4 Nuthatch (2 nest building) 4 Little Grebe, 2 singing Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff (Dave Clark)
  • Leyton Flats: Common Buzzard over at 10.00am flying north, 1 Little Egret,2 Egyptian Goose, ! Swallow, 4 Willow Warbler,2 Blackcap,2 Chiffchaff. (Gary A James).
  • Victoria Park: 1 Willow Warbler, drake Ruddy Duck and c.10 Sand Martins (Bob Watts).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Reed Warbler singing in front of LWT platform, 1245 - 1630; Woodcock (flew low along river twice, pitched down on north bank of East Res, flushed by Magpie, ditched down near West Res, 1325); 2 Swallows, c12 House Martins, c35 Sand Martins, 3 Willow Warblers, unID'ed large raptor distant and east, 1240; Jackdaw west (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Common Tern 2 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow, 8 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers. (S Blake)
  • Willows Farm Pool: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Shelduck. (Steve B)
  • beddington sf yellow wag male wheatear red kite c.buzzard green sand shelduck etc ([3]).
  • Lambeth Bridge: adult Yellow Legged Gull on the north shore of the River Thames (Linturn Hopkins per AS)
  • Ingrebourne Valley: Whitethroat singing,2 House Martin(Shaun Harvey)Evening 2 Little Ringed Plover,Swallow,Barn Owl(Shaun Harvey,Dick Jeffies)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 1 Common Whitethroat singing,1 Reed Warbler still singing,1 Lesser Redpoll 1 LRP,4 Common Snipe, 1 Fieldfare,2 Grey Wagtail. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Alexandra Park: House Martin NE @ 1812 (Bob Watts).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 male Northern Wheatear, c2 Swallow, singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap, plus c12 Meadow Pipit, c3 Jackdaw & 1 Weasel - a site tick! (Kim Dixon & David Lindo)
  • Ruislip: 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff & 10+ Male Blackcap at Copse Wood & Poors Field (Steve Pash)

Tuesday 7th April

  • Isleworth: Osprey flew north over station at 08.00 (per FJM)
  • Beddington SF: Osprey flew west this morning at 07:30 (KJM)
  • Isle of Dogs: Ring Ouzel Millwall Park, Merlin just S of Canary Wharf towers, three Willow Warblers Mudchute Park. No sign of odd chiff in brief search of Spindrift Ave area. Sean Huggins.
  • Ealing GC: m Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs (NPS)
  • Crossness: 2 juv Iceland Gulls still on Thames off Thamesview Golf Centre (per RBA).
  • Rotherhithe: 2+ singing Willow Warblers at Stave Hill Ecological Park (Richard Bonser)
  • East India Dock: 2 Common Terns (e), 2 LRP, 2 Sand Martin, 2+ Willow Warbler, 2+ Chiffchaff, GSWP, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, 2 Greylag (Paul Hyland, Gary A James), Blackcap (Gary A James)

Bedfont Lakes CP: 2 Greylag Geese over. (Adam Cheeseman)

  • Scrubland and Redbridge Lakes, off Roding Lane North, Woodford Bridge: Blackcap (very good views of it singing in the open), Chiff-chaff, Willow Warbler, Sparrowhawk, 2 Cormorants, 2 Song Thrushes, Common Pheasant, Common Gull (Alan Hobson)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 6 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Meadow Pipit N (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 singing Willow Warbler, 4 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Chiffchaff, pair Grey Wagtail, 1 Coal Tit,2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1f Siskin (John Watson)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 2 Oystercatcher, 8 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap,Willow Warbler, 10+ Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, House Martin, 5 Buzzards. (Steve B)
  • Willows Farm Pool: Little Ringed Plover. (Steve B)
  • Bankside: Chiffchaff calling by Tate Modern 12.50. (Alan Lewis)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR:Red Kite between 12.40-12.47 pm mobbed by a Carrion Crow then flew high towards Hornchurch CP,Common Buzzard over just before the Kite sighting. 1 Yellow Wagtail calling at 4.22pm and seen briefly in flight, Reed Warbler still singing but again unseen, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin,5+ singing Willow Warbler. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: c5 Swallow, c5 Blackcap, c8 Chiffchaff, c3 Willow Warbler, 1 'WillowChiff' singing, 1 Greylag, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove - scarce here, c8 Meadow Pipit & Skylark. (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: male Siskin, singing Redwing, 4 Blackcaps (3m 1f), 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 House Martins (Mark Pearson)
  • Walthamstow Res, North side 5.30 to6.50pm: Oystercatcher on raft on Lockwood, also 2 LRP, Yellow Wagtail, Little Egret, pair Teal, 24 Shelduck. Greenshank and 4 Green Sands on channel between Lockwood and Banbury (Pete Langsdon).
  • London Wetland Centre (late pm): apart from the usual birds there were 2 Wheatear on the edge of the grazing marsh/wader scrape, 2 Little Ringed Plover in front of WWF hide and a ♀ Sparrowhawk hunting across the main lake (Martin Honey).
  • Trent Park: 1 Swallow; 1 Willow Warbler; 80+ Chaffinch, on ploughed field E of Water Grdn (Robert Callf & Pete Lowman).

Monday 6th April

  • KGV Reservoir: 22 Little Gulls (2x1st summer, 1x2nd summer,19 adults), 2 Common Tern, 3 Goldeneye (Paul Cook HackneyBirder).
  • Bankside: 1320 - 1 Firecrest - killer views, in birches at west front end of Tate Modern, also 1 Chiffchaff (Reuben Braddock, also seen by Simon Fogg, Alan Lewis). 1400 - Willow warbler in subsong (Reuben Braddock only). Firecrest and Chiffchaff still there at 1740 (RB)
  • Brent Reservoir: 1 Greylag, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 15 Snipe, 1 Fieldfare (Andrew Haynes).
  • Ruislip Woods: escaped Bald Eagle watched for 30 mins from 10.30, sitting in tree after being pursued by Rooks (per AS)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: Short-eared Owl at 7.15am watched for around 5 minutes as it circled overhead before heading SW - 6th record in 17 years. Also, singing Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, c8 Meadow Pipit and Skylark. (David Lindo)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Short-eared Owl low and east at 0838-0842hrs, circled several times and headed towards Walthamstow Marsh (2nd ever record); adult Little Gull coming into summer plumage, from south at East Res at 0915-1530 (our 1st record); 3 Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff; adult Great Black-backed Gull on rafts 1450, 2 Siskins north, 6 Sand Martins . lousy photos of gull and owl on site later. (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Stamford Hill, N16: female Peregrine low and circling, 1845 (MJP, IB)
  • Osterley Park: 3 Greylags, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Mandarin, 4 Pochard, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Little Owl. (Tom Smith)
  • Hyde Park: sing Willow Warbler just south of Hudson Memorial (David Jeffreys per DMc).
  • Finsbury Park : singing Willow Warbler and Blackcap (railway embankment), Green Woodpecker and 2 pairs of Little Grebes (Ian Bradshaw); 5 Egyptian Geese west over tube station at 09.00hrs (Laurence Pitcher).
  • Crossness: Iceland Gull juv off golf centre @ 15:30, plus male Redstart in riverside brambles(Richard Bonser per JA), male Redstart near nature reserve protected area (Ian Miller per JA)
  • Rainham RSPB: 2 pairs of Garganey on Target Pools, Sedge Warbler, Yellow Wagtail (Dave Darrell-Lambert per JA);5 Great Crested Grebe, 2+ Little Gull on Aveley Pools, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Cetti's, 4 Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge)
  • Bush Wood, Wanstead: Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge)
  • East India Dock: m Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Sand Martin, Peregrine (Paul Hyland).
  • Rotherhithe: 2 Willow Warblers - one at north end of Russia Dock Woodland, 1 Stave Hill Ecological Park. 2 Sparrowhawk Old Salt Quay, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet Southwark Park, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush and lots of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps (Richard Bonser)
  • Thorney Lake, 1 mile south of Little Britain: 2 Kingfisher wheeling overhead again and again (John Palmer) 1 Male Blackcap singing in tree, 2 Chiff Chaff,17 Cormorants, 1 Jay [Sue Giddens].
  • Island Barn Reservoir: 12 Little Gulls, 5 Common Terns (per RBA)
  • Staines Res, 1 Common Tern,1 Little Ringed Plover,1 Northern Diver,2 Black Necked Grebes,1 Little Gull, 1 Ruddy Duck [Sue Giddens]. Little Gull 21 in the evening (KLP).
  • Spindrift Avenue, Mudchute (E14): Singing Willow Warbler, 3 singing Blackcap, one singing nominate Chiffchaff & 6 Monk Parakeet this morning. Also an "odd" chiff. Very grey, only green-tinged bits I could see were on the alula, prominent pale supercilium, no wingbars and looked big & long for normal Chiff. It also had an odd song - slow & drawn out "churr-iff churr-aff" & some Willow Warbler like notes. Probably nothing unusual, but might be worth checking out if someone lives in that area. Last seen at N end of Taeping Street by the big block of flats at TQ377789 @ 10:20 (Bill Haines).
  • Trent Park Area: 2(m&f) Mandarin Duck, Upper Lake; 1 Common Buzzard; 1 Kestrel; 7 Green Woodpecker,(including three together, 'Three-bridges'); 2 singing male Skylark; 15+ Redwing, Water Grdn; 1 singing male Mistle Thrush; 1 Meadow Pipit, heard calling; 3 singing male Blackcap; 5 singing male Chiffchaff; 4 Nuthatch; 2 singing Treecreeper; 1 Siskin; 2 Linnet, at Vicarage Farm; 2(m&f) Bullfinch, together, near Shaws Wood (Robert Callf & Robin White).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Wheatear(m), 2 Oystercatcher, 8 Redshank, 6+Snipe, Water Rail, Ruddy Shelduck, 3 Shelduck, 2 Chiffchaff. (Steve B)
  • Regents Park: Peregrine(m)1.05pm, 5 Sparrowhawks(3 migrants), Woodcock, White Wagtail, 8 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Linnet. Yesterday Woodcock, Hawfinch 6.40am, 2 Willow Warblers (Tony Duckett)
  • Walthamstow Reservoirs, north side: 2 Little Egret, 3 LRP, 80+ Sand Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, m Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff (J Lethbridge).
  • Banstead Downs: 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1+ Siskin, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap (David K Campbell)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 7 hr patchwatch produced 63 species, ( 4 heard only ).1 Reed Warbler singing from the Slack reedbed but not seen, ( earliest by about 9 days),1 Swallow, 1 House Martin,5+ Sand Martin, male Wheatear on a small hawthorn for at least half an hour,1 Common Buzzard,1 Little Egret, 2 Common Snipe, pair of Shelduck, 5 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Willow Warbler and ad Herring Gull ringed with A3AY. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Fairlop: Kestrel, Pheasant, 3 Shelduck, Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 4 Lil Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark, 3 Swallow, Little Owl, GWP, 3 Linnet, 30+ Pied Wagtail. (Daniel Erickson-Hull)
  • London Wetland Centre (late pm): ♂ Ring Ouzel main lake on headland below Peacock hide but elusive, 'leucistic' Greylag goose on Reservoir Lagoon (Martin Honey).

Sunday 5th April

  • Hampstead Heath: BOP, probable marsh harrier (no bins to ID positively). Seen flying c. 80m high, brown body and clearly visible creamy head. Right size, shape, jizz and time of year. (Pete Jones)
  • Bedfont Lakes CP LNR: Pair of Mandarin Ducks, Peregrine, Tawny Owl, 5+ singing Blackcaps, 7+ singing Chiffchaffs, 5 Skylark (James Herd)
  • Staines Res: Great Northern Diver (north basin), Shelduck, c10 Goldeneye, Little Gull, Common Tern, 2 Redshank (Neil Anderson)
  • Ilford: Great White Egret flew over Ilford Golf Course from the northwest soaring high over Ilford town centre this morning (Birdguides)
  • South norwood Lake:pair Great Crested Grebe, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Blackcap, 1female Siskin,1male Sparrowhawk, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Nuthatch, 2 House Sparrow,(John Watson Gavin Hawgood)
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 4 singing Willow Warblers (1st of year, at last), 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Shoveler (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife). 1200hrs - 1600hrs, 3 Common Buzzard, all west, 1 Red Kite drifted east at 13.30hrs, 1 Peregine, 1 Goshawk south 12.45hrs (this bird was too high to see jesses, possibly the same escaped individual seen here a few weeks back), 1 Little Ringed Plover flew in at 14.35hrs - first since 2003!, c10 Sand Martin, 62 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall (Laurence Pitcher, Tony Butler) Little Ringed Plover still present at dusk (ta chaps) (MJP)
  • Brent Res: Black-Necked Grebe still present (photo: [4]), singing Willow Warbler by main hide, 2 Greylag, 3 Lapwing, 1 Bullfinch, many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs (Thom Shannon & Nigel Biggs); also 2 LRPs, 5 Lapwing & 2 Sand Martins (Brent Birders)
  • Totteridge Valley: 9 singing Chiffchaffs: 8 singing Blackcaps: 12 Redwing (in tree): 3 Mipits, plus single Comma and Peacock (John Colmans)
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Black Cap (m,f), 7 Yellowhammer, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Sky Lark, 1 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Song Thrush (James Arquette, 8:00am to 12:00pm)
  • Dagenham Chase: 4 Willow Warbler, 8+ Chiffchaff, 8+ Blackcap, Sand martin, Jackdaw, m Bullfinch, Redwing, Shelduck, 3 pr Teal, Snipe.(Paul Hawkins), also 5 Fieldfare and ad Herring Gull ringed A3AY.No new migrants in the last few days. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Rainham stone barges: Yellow Wagtail, Cetti's Warber, 2 Oystercatcher.(Paul Hawkins)
  • Bush Wood, Wanstead: Stock Dove, 2 GSWP, Willow Warbler, m Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Jay (J Lethbridge)
  • Ingrebourne Valley: House Martin,3 Singing Blackcaps,Jackdaw,2 Great Spot.(Shaun Harvey)Also Common Buzzard and Swallow.(Dave Morrison)
  • Beddington SF: C Buzzard, 2 Redshank, 6 Green Sands (KJM).
  • Stockwell: 1 male Peregrine, 2 Swallows (1st in the area09) Mistle Thrush with 2 fledglings. Clapham Common: 5 Egyptian Geese, 2 Pied Wagtail. Wandsworth Common: 5 Egyptian Geese(2 young) 1 GSWP, 1 Stock Dove.(Michael Mac)
  • Battersea Power Station: calling Yellow Wagtail west at 7.53am, 3 Linnet and 3 Grey Wagtail.(Dave Morrison)
  • Barking Outfall:very pale Common Buzzard, 24 Gadwall and Grey Wagtail.(Dave Morrison)
  • Rotherhithe: drake Pochard on Canada Water with c.25 Tufted Ducks (Richard Bonser)
  • Alexandra Park: Female Brambling Grove until 0830 at least, 2 Willow Warblers (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts).
  • Grovelands Park, Southgate: 1 Little Grebe; 3 Great Crested Grebe,(including pr displaying & copulating); 3 male Mandarin Duck; 2(m&f) Pochard; 3 Stock Dove; 2 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, drumming; 1 Song Thrush; 1 singing male Blackcap; 4 singing male Chiffchaff; 2 singing male Coal Tit; 4(3m,1f) Nuthatch,(including male collecting bark from tree); 3 Treecreeper,(including one singing); 1 male Holly Blue; 3 Peacock; 1 Comma (Robert Callf).

Saturday 4th April

  • Greenford CP:2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Snipe, 2 singing Chiffchaff, singing Blackcap, pr Reed Bunting, 2m Brimstone, Large, Small + GV Whites, 8 Peacock, 2 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood (Neil Anderson)
  • Walton Reservoir: Short-eared Owl briefly at 14:25 (Birdguides)
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 2 singing Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow (both species first for the year) & 1 male Wheatear. (David Jeffreys, David Lindo,Roy Nuttall et al)
  • Alexandra Grove (N4): Marsh Harrier flew low north over Green Lanes, also distant Peregrine (D Holden).
  • Crossness: juvenile Iceland Gull off Golf Centre 10am-1pm then flew to Ford Works, Red Kite flew upriver @ 11.25 am, Common Buzzard, Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Swallows (John Archer & Kev Jarvis).
  • Brent Res: summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe on main res until early PM at least, Rock Pipit on rafts early morning only, Oystercatcher flew in at 12.00, LRP, Lapwing, female Wheatear on playing fields in early PM, 12 singing Chiffchaffs, 8 singing Blackcaps, 2 Sand Martins & Swallow; also Orange Tip, Comma & G-V White (Brent Birders)
  • Staines Res: 2 Great Northern Divers on North basin, 1 Little gull on South basin (Jim Fell)+ 1 black-necked grebe (sum plumage) South Basin (am) (Mike Wheeler)
  • London Wetland Centre: 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 12 Redshank, many (c. 40) Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 13 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret (Martin Honey). Also 4 Rook circled for 10 minutes then off high SW @ 1240, 1 Common Buzzard circling to the south, 1 m Peregrine over, 5 Common Snipe, 1 House Martin, 16 Linnet N, 19 Meadow Pipit NW (Dan Monk).
  • Broadwater Lake: 1 Willow Warber, 1 Brambling (female), also 2 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest & 3 Reed Bunting (Simon Buckingham).
  • Chafford Hundred: 30 Waxwing in Rainbow Road at 10:25hrs but mobile, 3 Willow Warbler at Warren Gorge (Birdguides).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: early a.m. - House Martin, 4 Egyptian Geese, Chiffchaff (MJP, LP, TB, PC Hackney Wildlife).
  • Island Barn Res: 1st Common Tern of the year & vocal ad/s Med Gull dropped in mid-morning (DMH)
  • Rainham RSPB: early a.m, 4 House Martins west, 4 Avocet on Target Pools, 7 Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff.(Dave Morrison)
  • Rotherhithe: 30+ House Sparrows on Quebec Way in the evening; also 2 Blackcaps and c.5 Chiffchaffs Stave Hill Ecological Park (Richard Bonser)
  • West Thurrock Marshes: Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Siskin, Chiffchaff and Curlew.(Dave Morrison)
  • Maple Cross: 1st-winter male Black Redstart still at Woodoaks Farm (Birdguides)
  • East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Eco Park: 4 Shelduck, 15 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher, Sand Martin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (Nick Tanner).
  • Lee Valley: Bowyers Water - 4 Willow Warblers. Hall Marsh - 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Little Egret and still a few of Wigeon hanging about. (Mike Oakland) 2 Kingfishers close to weir (Mike Benyon)
  • Horsenden Hill: 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 11 Blackcap, 1 Siskin east; also 1 Red Admiral, 1 Orange Tip, 1 Small White, several Peacock, Comma, Brimstone (Andy Culshaw).
  • Stamford Hill, N16: Peregrine (prob male) over Morrisons (MJP)
  • Ruislip: 5 Buzzard over Copse Wood @ 11.00, 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard calling (Steve Pash).
  • Alexandra Park: 2 Rooks west & NW @ 0945 (Andrew Gardener, Alan Gibson & Bob Watts).

Friday 3rd April

  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull (pale bird from Sunday) flew east past incinerator at 10.00 (Ian MIller per JA).
  • Hampstead Heath: 2 Blackcap (nr Viaduct Pond), 5+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Collared Dove (flyover), 1 Tawny Owl (heard at 0555), 2 Stock Dove, 3 Green WP, 5 GSWP, 1 Pied Wagtail (tennis courts), 1 f Kestrel, 2 Shoveler, 2 Mandarin (Reuben Braddock).
  • Alexandra Grove (N4): m White Wagtail (D Holden).
  • Osterley Park: m Blackcap singing, f Sparrowhawk over, 6 Skylarks (Tom Smith).
  • Richmond Park: 2 Wheatear (m+f) Riding Ring (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • Victoria Embankment Gardens (Charing Cross) Pair of Long-tailed Tits nest building (Hugh Bradshaw).
  • West Molesey: Willow Warbler singing in garden in Hurst Road (Adam Cheeseman).
  • Brent Res: Wheatear male, LRP, Lapwing, 16 Snipe, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps (Andrew Verrall).
  • East India Dock: Willow Warbler, Collared Dove (hard to get here), 2 Jay, 2 Peregrine, 6 Shelduck, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 LRP (Paul Hyland).
  • Little Britain: 1 Gt sp Woodpecker, 4 Jays all in 1 tree, 3 Swallows flew over, 18 Redwings, 1 Red Kite being chased by a crow (Sue Giddens).
  • Denham: 2 Red Kite Flying near Aerodrome at 3.20pm.[Sue Giddens].
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: a.m. - 3 Sand Martins, 16 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, c20 Common Pochard, c40 Tufted Duck, Mallard with brood of seven (3 'normal', 4 bright yellow ducklings); p.m. - Chiffchaff, c35 Shoveler, 3 Egyptian Geese (Mark Pearson, Tony Butler et al Hackney Wildlife).
  • Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 2pr Egyptian Goose (1 pair with 6 goslings), 2pr Mandarin, 2m Gadwall, 2pr Shoveler, 4 Red-crested Pocahrd (1pr and 2m), 127 Tufted Duck, pr Ruddy Duck, typically-marked Common Buzzard circling over Speaker's Corner around mid-day, 5 Tawny Owl (both ads/3 owlets; elusive), fem Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow NE, Dunnock carrying food, 3 singing Song Thrush, 2 singing Mistle Thrush, singing Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap comprising 3 singing and a fem, 6 rain-singing Chaffinch (Des and Holly McKenzie); I'd agree about the owls as I could unfortunately only find 1 adult, 1 Treecreeper was a nice addition (Martin Honey); Hi Martin, only found an ad initially, tucked up against horse chesnut trunk (first line of them in from Lancaster Walk). Other ad and 3 young were in second line of horse chestnuts in from path (near a beech) but on opposite side of tree (facing Round Pond) and difficult to discern due to leaf-growth (DMc).
  • London Wetland Centre: Peregrine, m Kestrel, m Sparrowhawk, 12 Redshank, 8 Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, 80 Herring Gull, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Water Pipit, 10 singing Chiffchaff, 4 singing Blackcap, singing Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 8 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin north, Redwing NE, c35 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow north, House Martin; 2 Comma, 3 Peacock, 1 Brimstone (LWC website). Also 1f Brambling (Wildside at noon) (Peter Gray)
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: 4 Shelduck, 3 Chiffchaff, Blackcap (at last); 5+ Snipe, 4 Redshank, 4 Swallow (Steve B).
  • Willows Farm: Ruddy Shelduck, 2 Redshank; 2 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Swallow, 5 Linnet, Kingfisher (Steve B).
  • Trent Park Area: 1 Sparrowhawk, over 'Old Golf Course'; 1 female Kestrel; 1 Lapwing, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Ring-necked Parakeet; 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, singing & drumming, chased off by Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 4 Song Thrush; 5 singing male Blackcap; 8 singing male Chiffchaff; 1 Nuthatch; 1 singing Treecreeper; 1 Siskin, 'Three-bridges'; 1 Bullfinch, at Vicarage Farm; 1 singing male Yellowhammer, Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (Robert Callf).
  • Lee Valley: Cornmill Meadows - 5 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 4 Siskin, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 9 Fieldfare. Holyfield Hall Farm & Viewpoint - pair Yellowhammer, 2 Buzzards, 2 Little Owl. (Mike Oakland)
  • Banstead Downs: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Siskin, 8+ Chiffchaffs, 2+ Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers (David K Campbell)
  • KG Res (Chingford): Spring birding resulted in 43 Goldeneye! 2 Little Ringed Plover & many Sand martins, also Common Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck and a pair of Mandarin on Sth basin (J.Murray).
  • Dagenham Chase LNR: 4 Lesser Redpoll feeding on blossom,2 singing Willow Warbler, numerous Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing, 2 Common Snipe and a Herring Gull with a white ring and black lettering on its right leg A 3 A Y,and a small silver ring on its left leg. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Rotherhithe: drake Pochard Surrey Water and a Mute Swan on a nest with 5 eggs there; 2 Blackcaps Stave Hill (Richard Bonser)

Thursday 2nd April

  • Fairlop Waters: Spotted Crake (Details), 2 Grey Heron, 4 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 8 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank, Pheasant, 2 Sand Martin, 4 Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit, male Reed Bunting, GWP, GSWP, Pied Wagtail. (Daniel Erickson-Hull)
  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull (the darker bird from Sunday) again 09:15-10:00 on Thames by Thamesview golf centre then flew to Ford Works (John Archer).
  • Finchley: 2 House Martin over Hampstead Garden Suburb market place mid-morning (Birdguides).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 20 Tufted Duck, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, pair Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spottwd Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 3 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Redshank (West Res), 6 Sand Martins, Water Rail, Chiffchaff, 21 Shoveler, 18 Common Pochard (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher and Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife).
  • Clissold Park (skywatch 1230-1500): 5 House Martins east (first of year) (MJP, LP)
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 5 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, ad Tawny Owl (MJP)
  • Roding Valley Park (Woodford Bridge-Luxborough Lane): Little Egret, pr Stock Dove, Pheasant, GSWP, pr Jay, 3 Jackdaw, pr Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, 3 prs Dunnock, many Robins and Wrens, 2 m Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, male Bullfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Linnet (including one singing male), Greenfinches, male Reed Bunting. (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
  • Fulham Reach: partially albino Starling on my balcony, also Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming on aerial nearby (Nathalie Mahieu).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ruddy Shelduck again at Willow Farm this a.m. before flying off (Birdguides).
  • Totteridge Valley: Red Kite moving SW c10.15, 10 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Mipit, 3 Lapwing, 1pr Mandarin (John Colmans).
  • Waterworks NR: 1 Willow Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin, 28 Teal, 10+ Snipe (Paul Cook).
  • Brent Res: 3 LRPs flew in 10.05 and stayed, Lapwing, 15 Snipe, Pheasant, male Peregrine, 2 Fieldfares, 5 Sand Martins N, 8 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps (Brent Birders).
  • Trent Park Area: 4 Little Grebe, at Parkside Res; 2 Sparrowhawk,(1 ad male, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn, 1 Hog Hill); 3 Common Buzzard, at Parkside Farm; 4 Green Woodpecker; 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, drumming, 11:50 BST; 1 singing male Skylark, at Vicarage Farm; 9 Meadow Pipit,(3 flew N, Hog Hill, 6 Ferny Hill Farm); 2 singing male Song Thrush; 2 singing male Mistle Thrush; 2 singing male Blackcap; 2 singing male Chiffchaff; 2 Goldcrest,(including one singing male), Uni-lawns; 2 Nuthatch; 1 singing Treecreeper; 1 fem Bullfinch, at Parkside Farm; 1 male Reed Bunting, at Parkside Farm (Robert Callf & Robin White).
  • Little Britain Lake, Cowley: 1 GC Grebe, Cormorant, 8 Grey Heron nests occupied (1 with 2 young visible - chattering heard in others - part of Heronry Census), Mute Swan on nest, 1 Egyptian Goose, pr. Gadwall, 1 Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, several Blackcap and Chiffchaff, (Roger Dewey)
  • Inner London (5 to 5:45pm) - New Covent Garden Market: 1 Peregrine circling. Battersea Park: 6 pairs Gadwall, 2 pair Pochard, 30+ Tufties,1 female Sparrowhawk - circling, 1 singing male Blackcap, 12+ occupied Heron nests. 6 Rose-ringed Parakeets. (Michael Mac)
  • Lee Valley: Holyfield Viewpoint - 2 Little Owl, 5 Buzzards, 2 Swallows, 1 House Martin. Hall Marsh - 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, 1 Little Egret. Norman's Pond - Blackcap, 3 Great Crested Newts. (Mike Oakland)
  • Dagenham Chase LNR:5 singing Blackcap, 2 singing Willow Warbler,several Chiffchaff singing, 2 Sand Martin, pair of Shelduck, 1 Little Egret and 2 Common Snipe. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
  • Greek Street, Soho: Kestrel S along rooftops, 19:26 (Stuart Harrington).
  • Denham Country Park: Buzzard (John Palmer)
  • London Wetland Centre: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 sum. plum. Water Pipit, 12 Wigeon, 11 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Redshank, 30 Sand Martin (Martin Honey).
  • Alexandra Park: Rook south over playing fields then New River Village 1847 (John Murray).

Wednesday 1st April

  • Ingrebourne Valley: still 3 White-fronted Goose this p.m. still associating with Greylags; cross over the Black bridge heading for Berwick and they are on the immediate left hand marsh; also dark and pale Common Buzzards, Lesser Redpoll, 7 Common Snipe, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, male Peregrine north @ 12.52 (possibly a migrant), 4 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, 15 Peacock Butterflies and 7 Comma's (Dave Morrison).
  • Bedfords Park: fem Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel (ELBF).
  • Clissold Park (0630-0715): drake Mandarin, Peregrine south at 0715, 6 Meadow Pipits east, Siskin, 8 Common Pochard, 4 Little Grebe (Mark Pearson, Laurence Pitcher and Tony Butler Hackney Wildlife). skywatch 1230-1530: Osprey high and northwest 1320hrs; Goshawk (no visible jesses) in from northwest, 1405, circled several times before divebombing pigeons and lost behind tower blocks; Common Buzzard, dark phase, in conflict with female Peregrine before both drifted west, 1420-1430; several Kestrels and 3+ Sparrowhawks, one high and west, 1310 (six raptor spp. in 2 hours); Egyptian Goose, northwest, 1245; photos on site (Mark Pearson & Tony Butler).
  • Lea Valley (9:30am-18:00pm) (79 species seen) highlights: female Goshawk low Nrth West over Holyfield at 15:10 mobbed by Rook, also 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 20+ Feildfare, 15+ Redwing and 2 Yellowhammer; 1 Mealy Redpoll with white rump, 1 Little Egret, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank & Cetti's Warbler at Hall Marsh. Also Osprey reported by others over the Bittern Watchpoint at 14:10 (John Murray).
  • Crossness: juv Iceland Gull off Thamesview Golf Centre at 7.50am (Ian Miller); no further sign by 11:30hrs (Birdguides). Also Marsh Harrier through (Paul Moss per JA).
  • Broadwater Lake: 2 Shelduck, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Sand Martin (Simon Buckingham).
  • Rainham Marshes: 8 Greylag Goose, 230 Wigeon, 132 Shoveler, 16 Little Egret, 4 Common Buzzard south 11:00hrs, Grey Plover north, 27 Curlew, 5 Sand Martin, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff (ELBF).
  • Eagle Pond (Leytonstone): pr Grey Wagtail (ELBF).
  • South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 20 Tufted Duck, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, pair Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).
  • St Andrews Rd (Coulsdon): small flock of c5 Siskin over (CroydonBirders).
  • Pittville Gardens SE25 (07.00hrs): male Blackcap (probably in situ since since 30th March) (CroydonBirders).
  • London Wetland Centre: m Peregrine, 8 Redshank, 20 Sand Martin, Swallow, Northern Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (LWC website).
  • Beddington SF: 4 Shelduck, Common Buzzard, fem Peregrine, Common Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, m Northern Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
  • Queen Elizabeth II Res: m Aythya hybrid, imm male Red-breasted Merganser (SBC).
  • Tyttenhanger GP's: Ruddy Shelduck again at Willows Farm to 09:05hrs (Birdguides); 2 Oystercatcher, 4+ Redshank, 5 Snipe, Water Rail, 2 Shelduck, Little Egret, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, Red Kite, 5 Buzzard (Steve B).
  • Wormwood Scrubs: 1 female Reed Bunting, 2 Collared Dove (1st for the year) 4 Jackdaw, 5 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Chiffchaff, c12 Meadow Pipit & singing Skylark (David Lindo).
  • Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Snipe, c12 Shoveler (MJP, LP).
  • Abney Park Cemetery: 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Redpoll (MJP, LP).
  • East India Dock: 3 Sand Martin, 2 Jay, 44 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, m Linnet (Paul Hyland). Sparrowhawk,Peregrine,2 Oystercatcher, Mistle Thrush (Bow Creek).(Gary A James). late afternoon: 2 Little Grebe, 5 Shelduck, 52 Teal, singing Chiffchaff (Bow Creek Eco Park) (Nick Tanner).
  • Osterley Park: Peregrine NNW 09.24 (Keith Fisher).
  • Paddington Green: fem Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel, Peregrine west 12:08hrs, singing Grey Wagtail, 9 Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
  • Finsbury Park: Green Woodpecker, 3 Little Grebes, no sign of any Blackcaps yet (Ian Bradshaw).
  • Little Britain: 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Greylag, 2 Gadwall, 1 Scaup, 4 Heron (Sue Giddens).
  • Thorney Lake, 1 mile South of Little Britain: 2 Bullfinch (John Palmer)
  • Southwark Bridge (12:30pm): 1 near-adult Yellow-legged Gull briefly on shore on west side of Southwark bridge before heading down river (Reuben Braddock).
  • Brent Res: 2 Lapwings, 16 Snipe, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs (Andrew Verrall).
  • Purley Beeches (Sanderstead): fem Kestrel, 5 Lesser Redpolls feeding in larches (CroydonBirders).
  • Trent Park Area: 4(2m,2f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 1 Common Buzzard, over Williams Wood; 1 Lapwing, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, flew over Bramley Rd; 17 Stock Dove, on ploughed ffield E of Water Grdn; 1 fem Green Woodpecker, Icehouse Wood; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2(m&f) Grey Wagtail, flew from water outlet, Lower Lake and perched on overhanging branches; 2 Redwing, Water Grdn; 2 Mistle Thrush; 3 singing male Blackcap; 4 Chiffchaff; 1 male Brambling, acquiring summer-plumage, with flock of 43 Chaffinch, on ploughed field E of Water Grdn; 4(1m,3f) Siskin, feeding in Alders, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges' (Robert Callf).
  • Holyfield Viewpoint: 12 Fieldfare, 3 Buzzards, 1 Little Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow, 1 Yellowhammer (Mike Oakland).
  • Bentley Priory: Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Canada Geese. Butterflies included: Peacock (10); Brimstone (2), Comma (2); Finally, dead rat by Boot Pond and dead female fox full of mange by farm (Alan Lewis).
  • King George V Res (east banks only; 4.45 to 6.30pm): Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Swallow, lots of Sand Martins, 2 Green Sands, 8 Meadow Pipits, Goldeneyes (Pete Langsdon).
  • Mayesbrook Park: fem Bullfinch (site tick), Lesser Redpoll (Paul Hawkins).
  • Romford: Siskin (ELBF)
  • Gidea Park: Siskin (ELBF).
  • Warren Gorge: m Blackcap, 2m Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, 5 Blackbird, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 8 Robin, 7 Wren, 5 Dunnock, 14 Great Tit, 10 Blue Tit, 6 LT Tit, 50 Greylags, 14 Canada Goose, 28 Coot, 10 Moorhen, GC Grebe, 8 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Stock Dove (ELBF).
  • Lion Gorge: 2m Blackcap, 3m Chiffchaff, 2m Song Thrush, 9 Robin, 9 Wren, 6 Dunnock, GS Woodpecker, 7 Blue Tit, 9 Great Tit, 4 Shelduck, 5 Coot (ELBF).
  • Grays Chalk Pit: m Blackcap, 3m Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 8 Blackbird, pr GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 6 Jay, 22 Blue Tit, 13 Great Tit, 4 LT Tit, 2 Stock Dove, 14 Robin, 10 Wren (ELBF).
  • Fairlop Waters: 3 Shelduck, Grey Heron, Cormorant, 4 Lapwing, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 3 Lil Ringed Plover, Skylark, Mipit, 4 Linnet, 40+ Pied Wagtail, Pheasant (Daniel Erickson-Hull) Sand Martin (AAB); 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 6 Snipe, Grey Heron, Teal 7, Gadwall 5, Shoveler 4, Shelduck 3 (Steve Bacon).

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