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Friday 4th August 2017

 * Putney Common: 1 Kestral sitting on tree fence and then flying around the common (Sam Bittan)
 * Alexandra Park: 1w male Pied Flycatcher still 0715 at least in silver birches SW corner of Pitch n Putt, also 2+ Willow Warbler (Bob Watts). Still present and very showy using low perches at times 0905 (Gareth Richards per Bob Watts). Showing well at 1108 (Bruce Carson) & still present 1730 (per Bob Watts). Kingfisher, Little Egret, House Martin at Wood Green Res (Tony Jakeman)
 * Brentford: 3 Peregrine Falcons over Great West Road (Michael Robinson)
 * Brookmill Park: Blackcap, Goldcrest (Conrad Ellam)
 * Bunhill Fields: Whitethroat juv (Nick Senior)
 * Joydens and Chalk Woods: Common Buzzard with 1-2 begging juv. 2 Kestrels calling, swooping and locking talons together (not seen this behavior from this species, possibly juvs). Sparrowhawks juv calling from tree thicket. 1 Hobby. Several Barn Swallow families swooping over pastureland (Patrick English)
 * Kingston Bridge: 54 Mute Swans (Tony Leppard)
 * Leatherhead, Randalls Way: 34 Common Swift drifting SW over. 1 Kestrel hunting near to M25, 1 Sparrowhawk (Neil Batten)
 * London Wetland Centre: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Goldcrest & 2 juv Shelduck (S.Patel)
 * North Finchley: Hobby S over house at 08.10, also 3 Swifts half an hour later (John Colmans)
 * Pinner (HA5): 7 Swift south, Coal Tit, Green Woodpecker & 2 Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
 * Primrose Hill: f/juv Teal (autumn-1st) S toward Regent's Pk L 0650, 7 Swift (incl 2 S 0545), 2 Swallow (autumn-1st) S 0645 - vismig 05:20-07:20 (Twitter)
 * Purfleet: 1 Sanderling, 1 Oystercatcher, 12 Yellow-legged Gull (Fraser Simpson)
 * Regent's Park: 2 Kestrel f w/ juv, juv Little Grebe, pr Great Crested Grebe w/ 3yg, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat (Twitter)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: As below, the LWT and Waltham Forest Council are applying for an Alcohol/late music license that will cause extensive disruption to birds and wildlife at Walthamstow Res. However, the Waltham Forest licensing team will only consider objections on grounds of public safety/disorder/public nuisance, not environmental ones. Please send your objections on these grounds (+ wildlife ones) by 14th August. Documentation attached here. Many thanks (Walthamstow Birders) Why do London Wildlife Trust want to encourage late night drinking here and ruin the peace? Because the council will be the ones making money from corporate events etc. Another definition to the term 'wetland' (Michael Mac)
 * Woodberry Wetlands: Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 2 Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper, 8 House Martin, c20 Swift (Chris Farthing)

Thursday 3rd August 2017

 * Alexandra Park: 3 Blackcap, Common Tern, 3 Green Woodpecker (2 adult +juv), 2 Grey Heron, 8 House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher (silver birches, SW corner Pitch n' Putt 0915 to 0930 at least), Willow Warbler (Bruce Carson) 10+ House Martin, 2 Swift. Wood Green Res 1730 but no sign Pied Fly (Bob Watts)
 * Brent Reservoir:Little Ringed Plover,3 Common Sandpiper,Lapwing,Cetti's Warbler (Francis O'Sullivan)
 * Crayford Marshes: Teal, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egret, Kestrel, Hobby, Oystercatcher, 12 Lapwing, 6 Common Sandpiper, Curlew (Aveley Bay), Whimbrel (saltings), c50 Yellow-legged Gull, c70 Common Tern, Swift W, 3+ Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, Whitethroat, 3+ Reed Warbler, c10 Linnet (Ian Stewart)
 * Crossness: 2 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 6 Shelduck, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Swift, 20 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 5 Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler (Conrad Ellam)
 * Gallions Reach: Sanderling, 20+ Common Tern (KJM)
 * Greenwich Ecology Park: Little Egret, Kingfisher, Sand Martin, (John Bushell)
 * Leatherhead, Randalls Way: 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Common Swift low sw, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (Neil Batten)
 * Purfleet: 52 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 1 Oystercatcher (Fraser Simpson)
 * Ruxley GPs: 4 Mute Swan, c20 Gadwall, f Pochard, 50+ Tufted Duck, 10+ Swift, 2+ Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, 2+ Swallow, c20 House Martin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Ian Stewart)
 * Sidcup: 2 juv f Sparrowhawks pestered by Crows in Longlands Recreation Ground. (Patrick English)
 * Thornbury Park: Swift 1 - 8-9pm swinging between the parks and the water works in the late evening sunshine. (K Beddow)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: According to the Walthamstow Wetlands website "The story of London Wildlife Trust is one of volunteers, staff, and local people working tirelessly to protect the capital’s special natural spaces from development and mismanagement." Unfortunately, the LWT and Waltham Forest Council are applying for an Alcohol/late music license that will cause extensive disruption to birds and wildlife at Walthamstow Res. However, the Waltham Forest licensing team will only consider objections on grounds of public safety/disorder/public nuisance, not environmental ones. Please send your objections on these grounds (+ wildlife ones) by 14th August. Documentation attached here. Many thanks (Walthamstow Birders) The gentrification of London rolls on. Much the same as Barnes WWT has a zoo licence, birds full of clipped wings & more interest in cash from weddings etc than bird & environment protection. Barn Elms res was a better set up! PLEASE ALL OBJECT, We don't want a repeat situation here!!

Wednesday 2nd August 2017

 * Alexandra Park: 21 Black-headed Gulls (16 on filter bed 1), 7 House Martins wood Green Res (Gareth Richards, Bob Watts). 3 Swift hawking in heavy cloud NE, 1830 (Bruce Carson).
 * Armoury Road, Lewisham: 2 House Martin feeding over the Ravensbourne (Conrad Ellam)
 * Clissold Park: 40+ Swifts making slow progress SW at midday, 5 House Martins too (Pete Mantle)
 * Cornmill Meadows: 75 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper (James Palmer)
 * Greenwich Ecology Park: Little Egret, 4 Common Tern, Sand Martin, 2 Reed Warbler (John Bushell)
 * Grovelands Park, Southgate, N14: eclipse drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid (Robert Callf)
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 11 Swifts s, 1 Yellow Wagtail S, 2 Barn Swallows, 25 House Martins, 11 Sand Martins, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Redpolls SW (Nick Senior)
 * Lamorbey Park: 10 Egyptian Geese, Peregrine, 4 Black-headed Gull, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6+ Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, Jay (Ian Stewart)
 * Ponders End: Jersey Tiger Moth seen in tree-work yard this morning by Michael Barker (Martin Shepherd); I saw two Jersey tiger moths last Sunday just outside Rainham RSPB Reserve (Terence Baker).
 * Purfleet: 3 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel, 14 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper (Fraser Simpson)
 * Rainham Marshes: 1 Little Stint adult, 3 Sanderling, 25+ Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 1 Hobby, 25+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Whinchat (Dante Shepherd)
 * Ruxley GPs (permit only): 20 Gadwall, f Pochard, c50 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Egret, Hobby, Water Rail, c20 Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, 2 Sand Martin, c20 Swallow, House Martin, Blackcap, Cetti's Warbler, 7+ Reed Warbler, 4+ Chiffchaff, Jay (Ian Stewart)
 * Shrewsbury Park, SE18: 2 Nuthatch, 3 Swift, 2 Green Woodpecker, Kestrel 07:00 (Tim Rymer).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (S): Hundreds of Swifts feeding over reservoirs and filter beds this morning. (Quentin Given)

Tuesday 1st August 2017

 * Alexandra Park: Little Egret flew over cricket scrub from NW at 0705 heading towards Wood Green Res, Sand Martin, 2 Swift, Small Tortoiseshell 1815, also Tufted Ducks females with one young each Boating Lake (Bob Watts)
 * Brent Reservoir: Little Egret flew E 07:10 (Andrew Self)
 * Brookmill Park: Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap, Coal Tit (Conrad Ellam)
 * Crayford Marshes (evening visit): 9 Shelduck, 5 Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, 30 Common Sandpiper (19 at Darent mouth, 9 on barrier, 2 flew along creek towards barrier at high tide. I may have missed a couple too), 6 Dunlin, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel flew upriver, 10+ Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern upriver, 5+ Swift, Green Woodpecker, 5 Sand Martin S, 6+ Swallow, 5+ House Martin, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 3+ Reed Warbler, 6+ Jackdaw, 10 Linnet (Ian Stewart)
 * Creekmouth: 4 Oystercatcher, 8 Common Sandpiper (James Palmer)
 * Eltham Park north: 1+ Nuthatch (Ian Stewart)
 * Fryent Country Park: Red Kite, Hobby, Reed Bunting (Joe Taylor)
 * Lambeth Bridge 17.50: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls both juv/1cy upriver (Nick Senior)
 * Leatherhead: 16 Common Swift hawking insects above the station 18:20 (Neil Batten)
 * London Wetland Centre: 1 Peregrine, 2 Little Egret W, 1 Common Tern, 2 Chiffchaff, brood of 10 Gadwall, brood of 3 Pochard, brood of two Little Grebe (WWT Website) 2 large juv Shelduck, from the brood on site? Sadly not- all eight ducklings disappeared shortly after hatching. Actually, the entire family (2 adults & 6 ducklings) disappeared so their fate was not known. Presumably the young were predated, perhaps the adults as well. Either that or the adults just flew away, Common Sandpiper, 2 juv Yellow-legged Gull, Kestrel, Hobby, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Red Kite, Goshawk flew SW 11.45. (R.Kaye)
 *  Mitcham Common: all on Mill Hill Hobby low heading west, Lesser Whitethroat, male Reed Bunting 17:30. later on at Croydon end pr Linnet perched, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat, 5 Swift, 19:45 Hobby high up (Michael Mac)
 * North Finchley: 5 Swift over house (John Colmans)
 * Oxleas Wood: Pair Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby (RT), 6+ Stock Dove, 3 Swift, 6+ Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, c20 Goldcrest inc several juvs, 10+ Coal Tit, 4+ Nuthatch, 3+ Treecreeper, 2 Jay, 2 Jackdaw over (Ian Stewart, Ron Turner)
 * Pinner (HA5): Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit, 2 Goldfinch & a single Swift (Jon Ridge)
 * Plumstead SE18: 11 Swift 08:20 (Tim Rymer)
 * Primrose Hill: c15 Swift [incl 3 S 05:25-05:30] (Twitter)
 * Purfleet: 20 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Common Tern, 12 Swift, 1 Harbour Porpoise (Fraser Simpson)
 * Rammey Marsh: Oystercatcher flew over lake (seen and heard from my living room) and headed SWW towards KGV Reservoir, also Garden Warbler still singing (Neville Smith).
 * Regent's Park: m Kestrel in heavy moult, Hobby through 1020, 4 Swift, 4 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat incl local moulting m, Reed Warbler (Twitter)
 * Stoneleigh KT17: 5 Common Swift lingering over the Broadway early evening (Neil Batten)
 * Streatham Hill, SW2: 3 Swift circling above junction of Thornton Ave amd Telford Ave, 8.45pm (N. Granger-Taylor)
 * Teddington: Sparrowhawk in Bushy Park, east Woodland Garden at 1230 (Mike Foster)
 * Thornbury Park: Sparrowhawk f, Swift 2 - late afternoon (K Beddow)
 * Tooting Bec Common, north end: 2 Long-Eared Bats feeding c 20ft above green alongside Emmanuel Rd, 9pm (N. Granger-Taylor)
 * West Harrow: Willow Warbler through the garden this morning; also Green Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit (Alex Massey)
 * Woodberry Wetlands: Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, 5 Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, 4 House Martin, c40 Swift (Chris Farthing)

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