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Sunday 17th May 2015

 * Hampstead Heath: Cuckoo E over Parliament Hill at 07:38, 3 Swallow, 2 Pochard [pair, uncommon here], 2 Greylag Goose over (Frank Nugent).
 * Roding Valley Park at Redbridge: ca25 Long-tailed Tit (a loose and very vocal flock, mostly juveniles with shorter tails), Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, Song Thrush (Malcolm Hibberd).

Saturday 16th May 2015

 * Brent Reservoir: Dunlin and 2 Little Ringed Plover on rafts most of morning, 22 Common Terns (18 on rafts), 50+ Swifts, 6 Swallows N, 6 House Martins feeding and at colony (Brent Birders)
 * Burnt Oak: Painted Lady at 12:00 (Deb Jackson).
 * Connaught Water: Buzzard, Canada Goose brood of two goslings, Great Crested Grebe adult with two chicks, Coot brood. (Matt Reed).
 * Fishers Green +Holyfield Farm: 4 Red-legged Partridge, 2-3 Buzzard, c4 Hobby, Peregrine on pylon, Oystercatcher, 12+ Common Tern,calling Cuckoo, Nightingale, m Yellowhammer, Hairy Dragonfly, Silver-Y (Neil Anderson/K. Bull)
 * Gallions Reach: 1 Sandwich Tern,5 Swallow,(Gary A James).
 * Hackney Marshes: Lesser Whitethroat singing in scrub by canal, across from Clapton Park Rec, at 07:15 (Alastair Dent)
 * Hall Marsh: Little Egret perched in nearby tree, Weasel across path (Neil Anderson/K. Bull)
 * KGV Reservoir: 3 Oystercatcher (Neville Smith).
 * London Wetland Centre: Cuckoo S side main lake 08.25, 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Common Tern (Martin Honey)
 * Redbridge Lakes: 2 Common Terns, Whitethroat, and heard a Cetti's Warbler - the first one I have ever come across in my local area (Alan Hobson).
 * Sewardstone Marsh: 1 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Garden warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Reed Bunting (Neville Smith).
 * South Ealing Road W5: Sparrowhawk over SW at 1830 (Richard Woolley).
 * Staines Moor: 3 Cetti's Warbler, Cuckoo, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Hobby, Little Egret. (Jim Sweetland)
 * Strawberry Hill Ponds: 5 adult Mandarin and two broods of just hatched chicks, Canada Goose on nest (Matt Reed).
 * Swanscombe Marsh: 2 Little Egrets, Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 17 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Raven; also Green Hairstreak & Wall (Andrew Self)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: Male Wheatear, 2 Buzzard, Red Kite close very low and quickly up through canopy, Little Egret, Reed Bunting, 2 Swift, Green Woodpecker, 3 maybe 4 Skylark (Dan Pinkham)
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: main GP, Osprey, heading south, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtail. (Steve Blake et al)
 * Wanstead Flats: Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 3 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: f Whinchat (Old Sewage Works - only my 2nd record here), Hobby, Kestrel, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 5 Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 40 + Swift, Swallow, several House Martin, plus Muntjac (my first record) being chased by a fox, Noctule, prob Duabenton's and Pipistrelle (Nick Croft)
 * Warren Pond: Coot brood. (Matt Reed).

Friday 15th May 2015

 * Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Osprey, over 15:55pm. (Jay Ward - Herts website)
 * Brent Reservoir (Neasden Rec.): 1 Ad Male RED-FOOTED FALCON circled low over Sailing Club-14.20-14.24. Dark Underparts and Red Flanks clearly seen, smaller size clear compared to nearby Swifts, Swallow & LBB Gull circling above it. Flew NW near Church Tower out of sight. Also, Garden Warbler, Pair Reed Warblers, 8+ Common Tern & 16+ Swifts (Davey Leach).
 * Edmonton (River Lea) - Peregrine Falcon (David Collins)
 * Ewell, Hogsmill Open Space: 1 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Common Swift, 1 male Sparrowhawk displaying (Neil Batten).
 * Harrow Recreation Ground(HA1): 3 Swift, 1 Female Blackcap (Shailesh Patel)
 * Hyde Park: Two broods of Egyptian Geese, Mallard brood, 5 Swift, 2 House Martin, very young looking Grey Heron possibly bred here (Matt Reed)
 * King George V Res: 2 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, large flock Swallows north, many Swifts (Tony Clancy)
 * Oakwood Park, N14: Willow Warbler song switching willow nr Conservation Pond (Robert Callf)
 * Redbridge IG4: Painted Lady feeding in garden for at least half an hour; first I've seen in a long while (Malcolm Hibberd)
 * Regent's Park: Two very young broods of Mandarin in SW section near Long Bridge, two broods of Egyptian Goose. Mallard brood, at least 6 Shelduck ducklings still surviving, 3 Stock Dove (Matt Reed).
 * St James's Park: Mute Swan with 8 cygnets, also broods of Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, Red-crested Pochard & Pintail (Andrew Self); 45 Carrion Crow (Matt Reed).
 * Staines reservoir. Single black tern, c. 10 sanderling, 1 turnstone, 6 dunlin between 6 and 7.30am (Paul Ward)
 * Stockers Lake, R.Colne: Cuckoo, up and down prospecting and seemingly unfazed by attendant Reed Warblers (Dan Pinkham)
 * Uxbridge - River Frays: 1 pr Mandarin in low hanging branches nr Cowley Mill Road. (Roger Dewey)
 * Valentines Park: Swallow, 5 Grey Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe and Hobby (Gideon Knight, Callum Church)
 * Walthamstow res (Lockwood): Hobby over S @17.30, 21 Common Tern, 2 Whitethroat, Peregrine (gas tower pair), min 30 pairs of Swifts, 20 Sand Martin, pr Linnet (Lol Bodini)

Thursday 14th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: 3 Little Egret north 0656, 2 House Martin 0700, 8+ House Martin & 6+ Swallow Wood Green Res 1730 (Bob Watts)
 * Holmethorpe Sand Pit: Red-rumped Swallow pm (RBA)
 * Lambeth: walking towards Waterloo Station after visiting the London Wildlife Trust offices I had a very unusual wildlife related sighting yesterday. I wason the South Bank of the River Thames which was at very low tide. At that point both sides of the Thames are bounded by strong retaining brick walls. I leaned over and was surprised to see a huge raptor, unfortunately dead and floating belly up. I was directly above itand It was only about 4 feet from the edge, and opposite the Houses of Parliament, of all places. Looking at it I would estimate it was about three or four times the bulk and weight of buzzard and had a whitish head and a white tail. The legs and the bill (quite a longish looking bill for a raptor) were yellow.My best guess is would be White-tailed Eagle. Sad to see such a magnificent beast dead but it's fascinating to try to understand how it got opposite the Houses of Parliament. As it was a very low tide it must've started off the day higher up the river.The nearest natural range according to my books is the Baltic States or Scandinavian countries. (Landbridge) (observer's name please). [Also, did observer manage to document it with a phone photo or similar, given that it was so close?]
 * London Wetland Centre: Common Sandpiper, 40+ Swift, 20+ Swallow, 50+ House Martin (J.Wilczur)
 * Staines Reservoirs: 11 Sanderling (10 on south basin), 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover (from 10.45), 4 Whimbrel (briefly mid-morning), 9 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plover (Andrew Moon, Ken Purdey)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, pr of Reed Bunting, Swift, 4 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Kestrel, m Pochard, Egyptian Goose, 5 Black-headed Gull (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge)
 * Wanstead Park: Lesser Whitethroat, 10 House Martin, 6 Swift, pr Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Tim Harris)
 * Thames Path North Bank near Southwark Bridge: grey wagtail foraging on the foreshore by Stew Lane, a second one was heard but not seen, also lesser black backed gulls and cormorant (Jeremy Soane)

Wednesday 13th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: first-summer Hobby circling over cricket scrub and then fast west from 08.30 to 08.35 (David Callahan). Whinchat female 0645 southern perimeter cricket pitch then flushed by yapping terrier (Bob Watts)
 * Blackwall Basin: Great Crested Grebe - pair with nest, Mute Swan - pair with nest, 2 Common Terns, Grey Wagtail - pair nesting dock entrance, 11 House Sparrows (N P Senior)
 * Brookmill Park: Little Egret, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Conrad Ellam)
 * Canary Wharf: 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch among Goldfinch flock. (Mark Wardman).
 * East India Dock Basin: Red Kite 1 high West, Shelduck 2, Little Ringed Plover 1 briefly, Common Sandpiper 1, Common Tern 10, Black-headed Gull 4, Common Gull 1 1st summer, Sand Martin 1, Blackcap 4, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 4, Linnet 2. (N P Senior)
 * Fishers Green: 3 Nightingale, Cuckoo, 6 Common Tern, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warblers, 8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff & 1 Willow Warbler. Also 2 ♂ Hairy Dragonflies, 1 ♂ Banded Demoiselle, 20+ Azure Damselflies & 40+ Large Red Damselflies (Simon West) (Hi, Simon - where did you see the nightingale & cuckoo?)
 * Greenhithe: 20 House Martin catching flies over Thames mud, Oystercatcher (Jon Agar)
 * Greenwich Park: Singing Reed Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and Swallow over (Joe Beale).
 * Hextable, Emersons ; Cuckoo, (first record for 3 years) Whitethroat (Andy Meaton)
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Reed Warbler singing in reed bed adjacent to Diana memorial (James Hudson)
 * Motspur Park: 2 Hobbies over gas holder wood (Bob Smith)
 * Richmond Park: 6 Great Crested Grebe - 2 pairs & a brood of 2+, 2 Hobby, 2 Buzzard, 6 Common Tern - 3 nesting pairs, m Pied Wagtail, f Whinchat, f Stonechat (J. Wilczur)
 * Roderick Road, NW3 just off Hampstead Heath: 3+ pairs House Sparrows very close to the heath but rarely seen actually on the heath (Michael Mac).
 * Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon: Osprey, male flew north at 1934 (Alan Harris - Herts website)
 * St James's Park: Eyebrow raising sight of Pintail pair from collection with brood of ducklings! (Matt Reed)
 * Swanscombe Marsh: 2 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 2 Raven (Jon Agar)
 * Tate Modern, Bankside SE1: Reed Warbler (in birches at western end), Grey Wagtail (Reuben Braddock, Simon Fogg)
 * Tottenham Marsh (East): 4 singing Whitethroat, 3 singing Song Thrush, 1 Common Buzzard drifting high NW, pr Peregrine, 2 Common Tern over; Lockwood res: f Wheatear late eve (Lol Bodini).
 * Totteridge Fields: 2 singing Garden Warbler, Kestrel (John Colmans)
 * Totteridge Valley: Red Kite drifting E over Northern Line just S of Woodside Park station, Cuckoo calling just E of Darlands Lake, Common Buzzard, 2 Lesser Whitethroat in song, Swallow, usual common warblers, also Muntjac (John Colmans)
 * Vanbrugh Pits (Blackheath): singing Reed Warbler (Joe Beale)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 singing Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 2 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 10 + Swift, Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Reed Bunting, Skylark (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 5 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 3 Gadwall, 3 Little Egret, singing Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, Swallow, 30+ Swift (Nick Croft)
 * Worcester Park: Mute Swan pr with 3 cygnets, 1 Reed Bunting m., 3+ Reed Warbler, all at Mayflower Park wetlands in the Hamptons (Simon Osborn)

Tuesday 12th May 2015

 * Amwell NR: Roseate Tern present on mud in front of viewpoint until 20.15 at least (Simon West)
 * Camley Street: 2 singing Blackcaps, 2 Long Tailed Tits, Coot on nest (Colin Brooks)
 * Grand Union Canal, near St Pancras Way: pair Grey Wagtails (Colin Brooks)
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Common Tern at Men's Pond, Common Buzzard high overhead (Men's Pond), Kingfisher fishing at Sanctuary Pond, 1 Great Crested Grebe on Hampstead no 1 Pond. (observer? Sorry!) (M.Hill for MBS)
 * Leytonstone: Great White Egret (BirdGuides) over Grove Green Road Leytonstone!!?! Heading towards Wanstead flats or maybe Olympic Park! (Twitter)
 * Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Lapwing over from West then turned North 7:10 am (2nd site record for me), Common Whitethroat, 2 Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret N, Great Crested Grebe (Stuart Fisher)
 * Minet CP, Hayes: 30 Whitethroat, 19 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 5 Swift, 3 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Bullfinch (Dave Bookless)
 * Rainham Marshes: Hobby 2 Wennington, Ringed Plover 9 tundrae types Target Pools, Black-tailed Godwit 1 limosa race, Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Thames south shore, Arctic Tern 1 with a flock of 15 Common Terns early morning, 12 Swifts (N P Senior).
 * Richmond Park: 6 Reed Buntings, 3 Swift, 2 Little Owl 7:45pm, Lower Pen Ponds/Lawn Field area (Tim Vine)
 * Salmons Brook at Enfield Road EN2: 3 Grey Wagtail pr and one recently fledged juv (Robert Callf)
 * Staines Reservoirs: Little Stint 10.00 (BirdGuides)
 * Sutcliffe Park: 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcap, Mute Swan (pr with 7 cygnets), cormorant, Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe (P Kite)
 * Tooting Common: 8 Blackcap (7m, 1f), 4 Chiffchaff, Swift, juvenile Stock Dove (James Hudson)
 * Tyttenhanger GP: Sanderling on Main Pit 15.49 (Steve Murray et al) Still present at 19.00 (Simon West)
 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 3 Little Egret NW 19:45 (Robert Callf)
 * Walthamstow Res (Lockwood): flock of c30 Swallow drifting N @ 17.45 (Lol Bodini)

Monday 11th May 2015

 * AlexNdra Park: Common Tern Wood Green Res 0700 (Bob Watts)
 * Cornmill Meadows: 6 Gadwall, Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, 2 Hobby, Water Rail, 7 Lapwing, Redshank, Cuckoo, Kingfisher, 8+ House Martin, 12+ Sedge Warbler, 8+ Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail - 63 species in less than 1 hour. Also 2 Hairy Dragonfly, 3 Banded Demoiselle (Simon Papps)
 * Gallions Reach: Kittiwake Adult (KJMcmanus)
 * Hampstead Heath: Whinchat at Hedge 2 at 07:00, Reed Warbler back at Highgate 1 Pond same date as last year, 2 Common Tern at Men's Pond, c50 Swift, some mating, 4 Swallow NW, 2 Hobby over Parliament Hill at 09:20, Common Buzzard with missing primaries drifted low NW from 10:50 (Frank Nugent).
 * Islington Green, N1: Grey Wagtail (female) on rooftop at 17:00 (T Harris)
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 9 Little Egrets, 4 + Hobbies (West end), 6 Oystercatchers, 7 tundrae  type Ringed Plovers, 5 Dunlin & 1 presumed Little Stint South Thames shore (distant), 3 Black-tailed Godwits through East, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit Aveley Bay, 2 Whimbrel Target Pools, 18 Common Terns, 2 Black Terns East along the river, 5+ Cuckoos, 3 Swifts, 6 House Martins, 20+ Swallows West, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 male leucorhoa Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 4 Garden warblers (N P Senior).
 * Staines Reservoirs: 1 Little Stint, 20 Ringed Plover, 9 Dunlin, 1 Redshank. N basin evng. (Franko J Maroevic
 * St James's Park: Greylag Geese now on third brood of the summer, Great Crested Grebe adult with two fair sized chicks, Red-Crested Pochard with first brood of the summer, Coot population now at least three broods (Matt Reed).
 * Trent Park: Garden Warbler singing male in hedgerow near Triangular Wood (Robert Callf)
 * Vauxhall: Peregrine chasing pigeons over the roundabout 08:30 (James Hudson)

Sunday 10th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: Hobby over Boating Lake (Henry Wyn-Jones)
 * Battersea: Five broods of Greylag in a very short stretch of the river, one opposite Chelsea Harbour with four broods on grass just North of Saint Mary's Church. 2 Gadwall nearby. (Matt Reed).
 * Bethnal Green Gardens: Hobby overhead at 5:30pm, 4 Swifts (Mark Wardman).
 * Brent Reservoir: Oystercatcher briefly, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper & Common Buzzard flew SE at 10.18 (Andrew Self, Roy Beddard & Leo Batten)
 * Cheshunt: 3 Nightingales on Fishers Green island, 10+ Common Tern, 3 Hobby, 5 Swift, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtail (1 adult feeding a juvenile). (Aaron Clements-Partridge)
 * Cranford CP nr Heathrow: 2 Hobbys, pr Gadwall (patch tick) with the male in partial eclipse, Kingfisher, 4 Stock Doves, c10 singing Common Whitethroat, c20 singing Blackcap, 5 Skylark, 8 Swift over, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, pr Mistle Thrush, pr Song Thrush (Wendy Marks)
 * Crossness: 2 Oystercatcher, 25 Gadwall, Swift and 4 Swallow west (Richard Bonser)
 * East Dulwich SE22: Red Kite - circled over my house a couple of times before drifting south (Steven Robinson)
 * East India Dock Basin: 1 Little Egret (Blackwall Beach); 16 Common Terns, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Reed Warblers (N P Senior).
 * Fisher's Green (0800): 7+ Nightingales, 8+ Garden Warbler (Francis Tusa)
 * Gallions Reach: 4 Oystercatcher, 5 Swallow, 1 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear. (Gary A James & Paul Davis).
 * Greenwich Peninsula: Oystercatcher 1, Chiffchaff, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 2, Swallow 6 . Ecology Park Red Kite going NE at 10:30, Common Tern 5 pairs on the tern rafts, Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail 2, Reed Warbler 4. (Richard Green)
 * Hackney Marshes: 1 Little Egret, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat (Tom Stuart)
 * Hampstead Heath: 4 Common Buzzard drifting over NW/W one from 10:40, two together from 11:10 and one  from 11:55  (Frank Nugent); return of nesting Swifts (Dave Porritt).
 * Heathrow: 1 Skylark (Shailesh Patel)
 * Kingston Bridge: 2 male Red Crested Pochard 16:30 - 17:00 at least (Neil Batten).
 * Ladywell Fields: Kingfisher (Tom Moulton)
 * London Wetland Centre: pr Teal, Hobby, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 4 small Lapwing chicks, 2nd sum Yellow legged Gull, 12 Swallow N (R.Kaye)
 * Osterley Park: Chiffchaff, Common Buzzard circled low and then headed W, 4 Egyptian Goose, 3 Great Crested Grebe (1 chick), 2 Grey Heron, 2 Hobby circled the park a couple of times then headed NW, 16+ Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Owl, 3 Mandarin, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pochard, 4+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 7 Stock Dove, Swallow (Richard Woolley).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: 2 Wheatears, 8 Hobbies (Silt Lagoons) Bar Tailed Godwit (Aveley Bay) Oystercatcher, Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper, 3 Whimbrels & 3 Wigeon (Aveley Flash/Purfleet Scrape) 23+ Lapwing chicks and 8+ Redshank chicks (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Ramney Marsh: 1 Cuckoo, 2 Grasshopper warblers reling 1000-1030 (Francis Tusa)
 * Richmond Park: Whinchat, Skylark, c8 Reed Bunting (Lawn Field) 5 Common Tern, 2+ singing Reed Warbler (UPP) (Steve Woolfenden)
 * Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gull just east of Greenland Pier in evening, 4 Swallows (2 over Greenland Dock 9am and 2 over Canada Water 5pm) (Richard Bonser)
 * Southall: Blackcap, Red Kite (over Lady Margret road area), 10 swift (Victoria Williamson/Gregory O'Regan).
 * Staines Reservoirs: Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 1 Swallow, 1 House Martin, Swift, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 White Wagtail, Pair of Wheatear, 3 Linnet, 3 Egyptian Goose. I noticed that the water on the right hand reservoir was drained, but there was still some water left. The part which was dry had grass growing. (Shailesh Patel)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: 3 Pheasant, Little Egret, Red Kite, up to 4 Hobby (1 flew towards Gutteridge + 3 together briefly over Ten Acre Wood), 4 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, c10 Stock Dove, 7 Swift, 2 Skylark, Swallow sitting by stable, Sedge Warbler (unusual here), 14 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Rook flying back + forth (rookery apparently moved from Ickenham), 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet (Neil Anderson/G. Westley)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: 1 Ringed Plover, 40 Common Tern, 1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby, 25 Swift, 1 Cetti’s Warbler.   (Stephen Harris)
 * Wanstead Flats: territory count: 5 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 55 Wren, 15 Dunnock, 21 Robin, 26 Blackbird, 10 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 21 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Common Whitethroat, 9 Chiffchaff, 24 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Goldfinch (T Harris)

Saturday 9th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: 30+ Swift, 8+ Swallow, 4+ House Martin Wood Green Res also 6+ Swallow north, 2 Common Whitethroat (Bob Watts)
 * Brent Reservoir: 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 100 Swift & Willow Warbler (Brent Birders)
 * Canary Wharf: Mute Swan - pair with 4 cygnets outer Millwall Dock, 2 Common Terns South Dock, 1 Garden Warbler Canada Place Park (N P Senior)
 * Crayford Marshes: Whinchat f, to the south of Thames Road (Conrad Ellam & Andrew Lawson)
 * Dartford Marshes: 2 Little Egret, Hobby, 6 Common Tern upriver, 100+Swift, 20 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, female Wheatear, Corn Bunting (Conrad Ellam)
 * Eltham: Hobby: low over Avet Hill Road, New Eltham 09:45 (Gus Wilson)
 * Ewell Village: 3 Common Swift, 1 hybrid Greylag x Canada Goose at Bourne Hall (Neil Batten)
 * Hampstead Heath: Wheatear on a tree near Parliament Hill at 08:40, Common Buzzard over, mobbed by Crows at 08:50, Common Whitethroat at top end of Cohen's Field, 2 Common Tern,  15 Swift, 20+ Swallow NW, Kingfisher at Sanctuary Pond  (Frank Nugent).
 * Kilburn: first screaming Swifts back on Fordwych Road. (Matt Reed).
 * Kingston Bridge: 3 Sand Martin (Neil Batten)
 * London Wetland Centre: a.m. Bittern flew into reeds on S side of main lake W of WWF hide, 8 Common Tern, Lapwing pair plus 4 chicks still on wader scrape, 2 Common Snipe, 3 Swallow, 1 Shelduck, 1 LRP (Martin Honey, R. Kaye) p.m. 2 more LRP, 1 Dunlin, 1 tundrae Ringed Plover, Sparrowhawk high, Peregrine low over main lake and wader scrape (Martin Honey, S. Fogg, B. Whiskin)
 * Mudchute Park: 17 Swifts, 3 Swallows NW, 1 male leucorhoa Wheatear, Mistle Thrush feeding 2 young, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler singing in a Hawthorne, 2 Chiffchaffs, 16 House Sparrows (N P Senior).
 * Plumstead: Hobby. Two low over houses at Kirkham St, nr Winns Common SE18 (08:30). One missing outermost one or two secondaries on both wings. (Gus Wilson)
 * Richmond Park: Spring Bird Count total 72 species included Shelduck over, Gadwall, Little Egret, Hobby, 2+ Peregrine, Buzzard, Water Rail, Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Tern, Kingfisher, 3 Meadow Pipit, m Whinchat, f Stonechat, 2 Garden Warbler (Richmond Park Bird Recording Group)
 * Roding Valley Park at Redbridge: Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, 7 House Sparrow (5m 2f; there is usually a pair along the river here, but this many is I believe unusual) (Malcolm Hibberd)
 * Staines Reservoirs: 1 Little Stint, 1 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel flew E 20.00, 41 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Black Tern, 20 Common Tern. 2 Northern Wheatear, N basin in evng. 2 Arctic Tern 1 Black-necked Grebe, S basin. (Franko J Maroevic)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 8 Common Swift (Neil Batten)
 * Streatham Hill: 4 Swift circling over Criffel Ave. & Thornton Ave. junction (Nick Granger-Taylor)
 * Tooting Commons: 3 Swift heading W (Nick Granger-Taylor)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Dunnock, 8 Blackcap, House Martin flew over - my first sighting of the year. (Mark Wardman)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (Lockwood): 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 21+ Common Terns, 'numerous' Swifts, 1 Swallow (Lol Bodini)

Friday 8th May 2015

 * Brent Reservoir: 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 18 Common Tern, 50+ Swift, 5 Swallow, Sand Martin, 5 Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler (Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall).
 * Canary Wharf: Great Crested Grebe - 2 pairs nesting Millwall Inner Dock & South Dock, 6 Common Terns South Dock 2 prospecting the raft, 8 Swifts (N P Senior)
 * Denham: adjacent to M40 J1A two Buzzards circling low at 4.49pm (Kish Woolmore)
 * Hackney/Islington, N1: First swift of year over Baring Street (Michael Rank).
 * Hampstead: 2 Swallow N past the 8th floor of the Royal Free Hospital, seen from my bed in Ward 8E (Andrew Haynes).
 * London Wetland Centre: drake Garganey on marsh, 2 Mandarin, 2 Teal, Bittern south side lake, Little Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank, 2 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 8 Common Tern, 27 Stock Dove, 2 Swallow N, 3 Whinchat, Greenland Wheatear, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail N (R.Kaye, M.Honey) Mid afternoon the Bittern flew from the main lake to the grazing marsh, walked across the marsh to the sluice bridge channel (videoed) where it 'boomed' at least twice, then flew to the west side of the causeway before flying to the NE corner of the reservoir lagoon. Drake Garganey still present at 17.30 and showing well at times on the marsh. One brood of 4 Lapwing chicks and 1 drop-in Little Egret (Martin Honey)
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Knot on MDZ at 5pm (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Richmond Park: Cuckoo, Red Kite (RPBRG)
 * Southgate (Dalrymple Close, N14): Little Egret SE 17:28 hrs - my first in the immediate vicinity (Robert Callf)
 * Staines Reservoirs: 1 Little Stint, 1 Sanderling, 63 Ringed Plover, 9 Dunlin. 2 Little Ringed Plover, N basin; 1 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 250+ Swallow, 10 Sand Martin in evening, S basin (Ken Purdey, Rob Innes, Kevin Duncan, Franko J Maroevic).
 * Totteridge Valley: Garden Warbler singing, 3 Swift, 5 Swallow, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Treecreeper, pair Bullfinch, 3 Lapwing, 2 Kestrel, usual common warblers (John Colmans)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Hobby north 1250- my 2nd site record in 10 years (Bob Watts)
 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 13 Barn Swallow N between 11:00 - 11:35 incl flock of eight (Robert Callf)
 * Wanstead Flats: 50+ Swallow west, 6 House Martin, 3-6 Sand Martin, 10+ Swift, Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, pr of Reed Bunting, 2 Egyptian Goose, Kestrel, 5 Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, 4 Skylark (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
 * Wanstead Park: 2 Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Swallow through, House Martin, 10+ Swift, singing Goldcrest, Goldfinch/Linnet hybrid (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)

Thursday 7th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Spotted Flycatcher Top Field 1810 at least, Peregrine north (Alan Gibson, Bob Watts et al), Little Egret south over Wood Green Res 1716 (Dominic Mitchell), also 30+ Swift, 2 House Martin here am & 3 Swallows, House Martin north, Linnet, 2 Common Whitethroat (APOG)
 * Crayford Marshes: pair Egyptian Geese, 3 Gadwall, pair Shoveler, male Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2+ Common Tern, 60+ Swift, 2+ Sand Martin,10+ Swallow, 2+ House Martin, 5 Grey Wagtail, Wheatear, 7 Blackcap, 26 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitehroat, Sedge Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 18 Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Corn Bunting (Ian Stewart)
 * East India Dock Basin: 2 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 6 Common Tern, 4 Shelduck (Paul Hyland)
 * EC2: Swallow WNW over Guildhall at 2.55pm + Common Whitethroat, (Ken Murray & Charles Fentiman).
 * Ewell Village: 1 Common Buzzard, 1 House Martin, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest (Neil Batten)
 * Cranford park : 2 Hobbies (Jim fell)
 * Fishers Green 'Island': 5 Buzzard, Oystercatcher, 30+ Common Tern, 30+ Swift, Cuckoo, 3 Nightingale, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 10+ Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 15+ Common Whitethroat, 6-7 Garden Warbler (small fall?), 20+ Blackcap, 2 Willow Warber, 8+ Chiffchaff, 6 Linnet (Simon Papps)
 * Hilly Fields Park: 4 Long-tailed Tit 2 adults, 2 juvs, male Bullfinch (Robert Callf)
 * King George V Res; 2 Hobby hawking insects, 1 male Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 3 Arctic Tern, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (Tony Clancy)
 * Larkhall Park/Stockwell: 3 Swallows through 17:45, 4 House Sparrows at nests (Michael Mac)
 * Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Common Buzzard, 50+ Swift through, 13+ Swallow through, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler (Stuart Fisher) Hobby (Mike Messenger)
 * London Wetland Centre: Caspian Gull 2cy, c280 Herring Gull, Little Egret, Lapwing brood of 4 on scrape (J.Wilczur) Bittern (Birdguides NB 5th May record but just posted today!)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 13 Long-tailed Tit (first fledglings, 11, + parents), singing Mistle Thrush (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Minet CP: 30+ Whitethroat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 16 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Goldcrest, 1 LIttle Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Linnet, 15 Goldfinch, 3 Skylark, 1 Little Egret, 5 Swallow, 2 Swift, 5 Jays (Dave Bookless)
 * North Wembley: 3 Swift N (Neil Anderson)
 * Rainham Marshes: 1 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 1 Hobby, 5 LRP's, 4 tundrae type Ringed Plovers, 4 Whimbrel 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits in Aveley Bay early on until pushed, 2 Common Snipe, 3 Common Sandpipers, 31 Common Terns, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 m Cuckoo, 161 Swift West + c.40 lingering, 54 Swallows West, 9 House Martins West, 4 Wheatears (1 m) all large Leucorhoa types, 43 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 m Bearded Reedling (north boardwalk) (N P Senior)
 * Richmond Park: 4 Reed Bunting, 1 male Whinchat (Lawn Field) 1 Red Kite, mobbed by crows over the Pen Ponds. (Roger Kennedy)
 * St James's Park: 4 Swallow N at 14:30 and 2 Grey Wagtail (Frank Nugent). Egyptian Geese now on 4th brood of the summer, and Greylag Geese with a just hatched 2nd brood (Matt Reed).
 * Staines Reservoirs: Curlew Sandpiper (Birdguides)
 * Southwark Park: Grey Wagtail on boating lake (John Cadera)
 * Tooting Common: 12 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Swift, Sparrowhawk (James Hudson) Pheasant (fem), Lesser Whitethroat (Twitter)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 4 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock calling from inside a hedge, 1 Chiffchaff singing, a Sparrowhawk performing a roller-coaster display flight overhead. (Mark Wardman)
 * Trent Park; Northern Wheatear,Common Buzzard, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Mandarin, 3 Stock Dove, Kestrel. ( Pete Lowman )

Wednesday 6th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: Whinchat mobile around cricket pitch perimeter 8:40-8:50, 1 Sand Martin, c.5 House Martin, c.10 Swallow and 20+ Swift around Wood Green Reservoir had moved on by 10:00, 1 Whitehroat at balancing pond (Gareth Richards). 35+ Swift, 6 House Martin 2000(Bob Watts)
 * Blackheath: Vanbrugh Pits/Dips: Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler all singing, the first three are local breeders. 1 Wheatear briefly on Blackheath proper and 2 Swallows west (Joe Beale).
 * Chelsea Bridge Wharf: Peregrine over, pr Grey Wagtail by railway (Neil Anderson)
 * Cowley (Pield Heath): 1 Swift. (Roger Dewey)
 * Foots Cray Meadows: Kestrel, Kingfisher, Swallow, Grey Wagtail, 10 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, c20 Long-tailed Tit inc 8+ juv, Jay, male Bullfinch (Ian Stewart)
 * Little Britain Lake, Cowley: 1 Common Tern, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Mallard families: 8y, 2y, 5y. 2 Blackcap, 1 Mistle Thrush. (Roger Dewey)
 * Minet Country Park, Hayes: c10 Whitethroat singing on territories, 1 Sparrowhawk, c20 Linnet. (Roger Dewey)
 * St James's Park: Lesser Whitethroat singing and showing well too in shrubs on N side of Lake just W of Blue Bridge at 08:15 & Reed Warbler in small reedbed between Horse Guards Parade and Cafe (Frank Nugent). Single Swift overhead (Will Rose) Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on lake but no sign of Lesser Whitethroat at 13:25 (James Hudson)
 * Orpington (Blenheim School Polling Station) 4 Swifts (Jo East)
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 2 Lesser Whitethroat in song, 4 Swallow, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk male, Kestrel, 2 Lapwing, usual common warblers (John Colmans)
 * Twickenham Station: pr Red-crested Pochard on adjacent River Crane + 3 Grey Wagtail (Neil Anderson)
 * Wanstead Flats: 20 + Swift, 5 Swallow, 2-3 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, 3 singing Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: singing Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Nuthatch, Kingfisher, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 10 + Swift (Nick Croft)
 * Whitings Hill/Arkley South Fields 4.30-5.30pm: 1 male Whinchat rapeseed field, 1 male and 1 female Wheatear sports field inactive lying low to sit out the gale! Garden Warbler singing in woods, Green Woodpecker flushed from grass field, 2 Whitethroat,1 Chiffchaff. (David Martens)
 * Woodford Green: A dark Red Kite over Woodford Green at 9.20am. (Ken Murray)

Tuesday 5th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: 5+ Swift, 2 Swallow 1900 (Bob Watts)
 * Barking Creekmouth: 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Dunlin through East, 11 Common Terns, 1 adult Little Gull, 61 Swifts through West, 120+ Swallows and c.40 House Martins through North-West. (N P Senior)
 * Battersea Park: 3 Swallow straight through, pr Red-crested Pochard, Great-crested Grebe and Coot on nests about 2 metres apart, 6 Starling (Michael Mac).
 * Crossness: Common Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, Hobby, 2 Marsh Harriers (Imm m and female), 5 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Swallow, House Martin, steady passage of Swift (60+), 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, (Ralph Todd)
 * Finsbury Park: the local swifts returned today (G Sawtell)
 * Hampstead Heath: 1 Swift, a few individual Swallows and House Martins, pair Blackcap. (MBS)
 * Larkhall Park/Stockwell: 2 Swallow straight through, 2 Swifts both personal first in Inner London this year (Michael Mac).
 * Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Red Kite (12:38), Hobby East, 280 Swift through SW (most in afternoon), c40 Swallow N, 2 Sand Martin, 14 House Martin, Kestrel, Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, 2 singing Willow Warbler, 4 Black-headed Gull over, also early am: Fox carring dead cock Pheasant (Stuart Fisher)
 * Bittern LWC 5.v.2015 small.jpg London Wetland Centre: Bittern (see photo) flew from marsh to north shore of lake at 10.55 (J. Wilczur, M. R. Honey), 2 Teal - pair, 4 smallish waders flew W duing heavy shower 07.45, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank, c90 Black-headed Gull including c30 nests, c410 Herring Gull, c20 Swift, 1m Wheatear (J.Wilczur), plus 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Common Snipe and a Peregrine low over entrance (Martin Honey); 1 Little Egret escorted down to grazing marsh by several crows 17:10 (Sue Barry)
 * Pinner Park Farm: female Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow north-west, Kestrel, 19 Stock Dove & 45 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Rammey Marsh: Grasshopper Warbler reeling, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (Tony Clancy)
 * St James's Park: 3 Swift and a Grey Wagtail (Frank Nugent).
 * Streatham: 5 Swift back above annual nest colony (T B)
 * Tate Modern, Bankside SE1 (eastern end near river): 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grey Wagtail (Simon Fogg, Reuben Braddock)
 * Thorpe Park: 2 Wigeon, 36 Common Tern and a Dunlin (Kevin Duncan)
 * Tooting Common: One Swallow over Triangle field. Blackcap,Green Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk on nest in Bedford woods (Will Rose)
 * Tottenham Hale. Kingfisher on River Lea opposite my flat at 18.00. Taking refuge from the wind I reckon. (Quentin Given)
 * Tufnell Park N19: 3 Swifts mid-morning (Francis Tusa)
 * Upper Norwood SE19 : Red Kite over and around 9.30am Queen Mary Road -mobbed by crows and flew SE.(L Leadbeater)
 * West Harrow (Pinner Road): Hobby over at 10:30 (Jon Ridge).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 24 Swift this morning (Iolo Williams)

Monday 4th May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: 3 Swift including one partially albino, 4 House Martin, Sand martin, Common Buzzard Boating Lake (Henry Wyn-Jones)
 * Barnehurst (over railway line/station area): Approx 20 Swift (Chris Rose)
 * Brent Reservoir: Hobby 2 N, male Peregrine, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, 17 Common Tern, 50+ Swift, 30+ Swallow N, Yellow Wagtail over calling (Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall)
 * Brookmill Park: Swallow w, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Charing Cross Hospital: 2 Swift (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Cowley, Uxbridge: Red Kite over garden near Brunel University 14.05 (Alex Randall)
 * Crayford Marshes: Male Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, Peregrine, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 8+ Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, 5 Whimbrel, 4+ Common Tern, 10-20 Swift, 3 Sand Martin, 16+ Swallow, 2+ House Martin, 4 Grey Wagtail, Wheatear, 5 Blackcap, 23 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 13 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Corn Bunting (Ian Stewart)
 * Crossness: Marsh Harrier (usual bird) and Little Egret in the paddocks, 35 Gadwall and Oystercatcher at the outfall, 5 Swallows west along river, 3 Lapwings north and 4 1st-summer Common Gulls (Richard Bonser)
 * Dalston: 3 Swift  Dalston swift arrival dates: 4 May (2015), 5 May (2014), 7 May (2013), 6 May (2012). (Jon Agar)
 * East India Dock Basin: 3 Shelduck on basin + 7 in from the east and north along the Lea Valley, 1 Common Buzzard SW, 1 male Kestrel displaying,1 Hobby high NW, pair of Little Ringed Plovers, 132 Herring Gulls, 1 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, 12 GBB Gulls, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - gulls mostly on Blackwall Beach, 12 Common Terns, 4 House Martins East, 2 Barn Swallows East, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay, 4 linnets, 1 1st summer male Reed Bunting (N P Senior).
 * Eltham SE9: Sky watching from garden 11.00 - 14.00 3 Buzzard high SW. 1 Peregrine N, 1 Sparrowhawk SE. 1 Kestrel N. Little Egret, Grey Heron, 2 Swallow, 5 Swift over. (Rich Jones).
 * Fairlop Waters:2 Common Terns,Little Owl,2 Little Ringed Plovers,Buzzard,Egyptian Goose,3+Sedge Warblers,Reed Warbler (Alan Bell)
 * Farthings Down, Coulsdon, Croydon: 1 m Yellowhammer singing, 1 Whitethroat singing, at least 2 Skylarks singing. (Roger Dewey)
 * Fisher's Green, Lee Valley: Nightingale (showing v. well), Hobby, 2 Reed Warblers (Alan Hobson). 7 Nightingale, 2 Garden Warbler, 50+ Swift, 1 Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Rook,. Peacock Butterfly, Holly Blue, Brimstone, Orange Tip. Hairy Dragonfly first for this year. (Shailesh Patel, Bob Husband and RSPB NW London Group)
 * Frays Farm Meadows: Grasshopper Warbler (Michael Robinson)
 * Gallions Reach: Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Common Sandpiper, 17 Swallow, 3 Wheatear; 2 Green Hairstreak (Gary A James & Paul Davis).
 * Hackney Marshes: male Stonechat at 09:00 in trees at N end of mown area of main marsh, near the easternmost set of wooden blocks. ~30 Swift over Millfields at 11:00 (Alastair Dent)
 * Hanwell W7: 2 Swift W & flocks of up to 20+ hawking o'head on & off during day (my first for the yr), 2 Swallow N, 2 Sparrowhawk 1 low 2nd hi amongst Swift, Hobby N, 2 House Sparrow m & f (not a common sight from my garden but have become so recently) (Rob Mills)
 * Hampstead Heath: Red Kite NW at 10:45, Hobby hunting over Parliament Hill at 15:00 &15:40, Common Buzzard drifted W from 12:15, the same or another E from 13:20, at least 100 Common Swift includes c75 over Cohen's Field,  22 Swallow, 6 House Martin, singing Willow Warbler in Cohen's Field, 3 Common Tern, 4 House Sparrow in hedge near bandstand, 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Linnet S (Frank Nugent).
 * Ickenham Marsh; Little Egret, pr Grey Wagtail, 5 Whitehroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, pr Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, 2 House Martin, 4 Swallow, 15 Swift (Nigel Dodd)
 * KGV Reservoir: 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 male Ring Ouzel, 2 Northern Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail (Neville Smith).
 * Kemnal Woods, Chislehurst: Tawny Owl chased from roost by Jay, 3 Swallows flying south (Conrad Ellam)
 * Lewisham: 2 Swift @ 8.15 (Conrad Ellam)
 * Little Britain, Uxbridge: 2 Common Tern 1 Hobby (Alex Randall)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Buzzard, 5 Redshank, Snipe, Jack Snipe, 32 Stock Dove, 8 Common Tern, 25 Swift, 2 Whinchat, Grey Wagtail NE, Yellow Wagtail NW, 2 Skylark SW...one of which was singing, Whitethroat, 11 Swallow N, Hairy Dragonfly (R.Kaye) Plus 1m Wheatear (Martin Honey)
 * Minet CP: 3 Swift (first here this year), 6 Swallow, 2 Sedge Warbler, 30 Whitethroat, 22 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kestrel, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Bullfinch, 9 Linnet, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Reed Bunting (Dave Bookless)
 * Osterley Park: Chiffchaff, 2 Common Tern, Cormorant, 5 Egyptian Goose, 2 Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebe (1 chick & 1 on nest), Grey Heron, Herring Gull, 21+ Jackdaw, 2 Jay, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Mandarin, 4 Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, 8+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 7 Stock Dove (Richard Woolley).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Little Owl, 8 Swift, 6 Swallow north-west, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 22 Stock Dove, 3 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldfinch & 32 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Rammey Marsh: male Common Redstart at 1700 (Martin Shepherd)
 * Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Common Gull from Greenland Pier, 4 Common Terns including one on rafts at Surrey Water, 3 Black-headed Gulls east and 1st Swift of the year over Surrey Water (Richard Bonser)
 * Sidcup DA15 (York Avenue): Buzzard S, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, 5 Swift (Ian Stewart)
 * Staines Moor: Cuckoo, 4+ Swifts, 3+ Martin, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, 4 Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Mistle & Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Skylark (display flight), Reed Bunting, Red Kite - hovering low over Stanwell Moor village (J & B Francik)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 6 Common Swift (returning breeders) (Neil Batten).
 * Stratford Olympic Park: Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Common Whitethroat, 8 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Reed Bunting, 7+ Swift through, 19 Swallow North, 5+ Sand Martin, 2 House Martin, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Peregrine, male Kestrel (Stuart Fisher)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: 3 Pheasant, 1 possibly 2 Buzzard, 2 Red Kite (1 with wing moult), Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 2+ Little Ringed Plover, 5 Lapwing, 6 Swift, pr Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 14 Swallow, 13 Blackcap, Garden Warbler (unusual here), 10 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, c7 Rook (birds going to + fro), 2m Reed Bunting, Linnet, 2 Bullfinch calling (Neil Anderson/G. Westley/Nigel Dodd) Also Cuckoo seen/heard by another observer.
 * Tottenham Marshes: Pied Flycatcher, 10.15am near car park (Jean-patrick Elmes)
 * Totteridge Valley: Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Whitethroat, 19 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, Swift, 3 Lapwing, Common Buzzard. (Ian Ellis)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Great-spotter woodpecker, 5 Blackcaps, Wrens in full voice (Mark Wardman)
 * walthamstow Reservoirs: Dunlin, 2/3 common sandpipers on lockwood, Spotted Flycatcher in willows between maynards, Hobby hunting and perched on and around number 3., 100's swifts over warricks early am( Paul Whiteman, Jamie Partridge)
 * Wanstead Flats: 30 + Swift, 20 + Swallow, 3 House Martin, Sand Martin, Garden Warbler with nesting material, Willow Warbler still, 5-6 singing Lesser Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Bob Vaughan)
 * Wanstead Park: 20 + Swift,10+ Swallow, 3 House Martin, 2 Hobby, 3 Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, singing Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
 * Yeading Brook meadows: Little Egret, 2 Buzzard (local bird + very high bird passing over), 2 Kestrel, 16 Swift, pr Skylark, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, teneral Broad-bodied Chaser (Neil Anderson/K. Bull)

Sunday 3rd May 2015

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallows (Gareth Richards, Bob Watts)
 * Bow Creek Ecology Park: 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 female Grey Wagtail, 2 singing Song Thrushes, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers. (N P Senior)
 * Brent Reservoir: Common Snipe, Dunlin [1 on mud & 1 north], 2 Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, c50 Swift, 5 Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, 3 Little Egrets in 11.25, then E (Brent Birders)
 * Canons Park (HA8): 1 Swift, 1 Blackcap (Shailesh Patel, Bob Husband and RSPB NW London Group)
 * Clapton (E5): Swallow over house (David Collins)
 * Crayford Marsh: Hobby, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 2 Cetti's Warbler (James Palmer)
 * Crossness: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sand martin NW, 1 SWallow NW (John Archer)
 * East India Dock Basin: 3 Shelduck, 17 Tufted, 1 male Kestrel, 1 male Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Terns on rafts with a further 7 in and out, 21 GBB Gulls, 48 Herring Gulls, 12 LBB Gulls mostly on Blackwall Beach, 1 Sand martin east, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warblers (3 singing). (N P Senior)
 * Foots Cray Meadows: 14 Tufted Duck, 42 Herring Gull, 2 Swift, Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 19 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 1-2 Treecreeper, 2 Bullfinch (Ian Stewart)
 * Fulham: Red Kite over Fulham Palace Road around 4pm seen from allotments (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Gallions Reach: adult Kittiwake upriver 11.03, 13 Arctic Terns, Dunlin. (Gary A James & Paul Davis).
 * Greenwich Peninsula: Wheatear m, 2 Stock Dove in Meantime Nursery, 5 Reed Warbler, 4 in Ecology Park & 1 in reed terrace, Ciffchaff in Ecology Park, Whitethroat, 4 Linnet in Southern Park (Conrad Ellam)
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Common Swift, 2 Common Tern at the Boating Pond, 2 Kingfisher at Sanctuary Pond and 3 Swallow NW (Frank Nugent).
 * Headstone Moat: Swift, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff & 2 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * KGV Reservoir: 1 Black-necked Grebe South basin, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (Neville Smith,Tony Clancy & Andrew Middleton).
 * London Wetland Centre: Bittern showing well from Peacock Tower, Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 4 Common Tern, male Peregrine with prey (Starling?) flew to Hospital, 11 Swift, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat singing (R.Kaye, J.Wilczur, S.Fogg)
 * Northolt + Greenford CP: Sparrowhawk, 3 singing Reed Warbler, 3 singing Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap (Neil Anderson/K. Bull)
 * Pinner Park Farm: Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Linnet over, 9 Goldfinch, Green Woodpecker, 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Grey Heron, 17 Stock Dove & 74 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Rye Meads: 8 Black Tern, 2 Greenshank, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail (Vicky Buckel - Herts website)
 * Rainham Marshes: Raven, 2 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, Cuckoo, 3 Hobby (Twitter - Shaun Harvey) 2 Whimbrels, Kestrel, 2 - 3 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Skylarks (Alan Hobson).
 * Staines Moor: Whinchat (Michael Robinson)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Cuckoo singing 1st site record since possibly 1990 (Graham Cox, Paul Barham)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: Lockwood - 2 Common Sands, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Yellow Wagtail north; East Warwick: 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtails (Adam Winstanley, Stuart Fisher, David Bradshaw) 15 Arctic Terns north over West Warwick @ 11am, 2 Hobby (SF per Stephen Harris)

Saturday 2nd May 2015

 * Kensington Gardens: Little Owl in usual sweet chestnut, near Peter Pan (Jean-Patrick Elmes)


 * Alexandra Park: 2SwLlow, Sand Martin,House Martin 0935 Wood Green Res (Gareth Richards)
 * Brent Reservoir: Annual Spring Bird Count today — 68 species: Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, 7 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Common Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 32 Blackcap & 12 Chiffchaff (Brent Birders)
 * Cheshunt: 3 Hobby, 3 Swift, 7 Common Tern, 2 Swallow (Aaron Clements-Partridge)
 * Crayford Marshes: 60+ Mallard inc broods of 14,13, 8+, pair Gadwall, Little Egret, 1-2 Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Swift, 10+ Swallow, 30+ Pied Wagtail, 3-4 Grey Wagtail, Wheatear, 2+ Blackcap, 10+ Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 3-4 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Corn Bunting (Ian Stewart)
 * Fir & Pond Woods nr Potters Bar: Willow Warbler singing male, 2 Treecreeper (Robert Callf)
 * East India Dock Basin: 4 Shelduck, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (2 males squabbling vigorously), 7 Common Terns + 6 downstream, 2 first-summer Common Gulls, 2 Swifts, 1 Barn Swallow, 1 male Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail north, 2 Blackcaps, 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers. (N P Senior)
 * E3: singing Black Redstart early am (Stuart Fisher)
 * Ewell, Banstead Road: 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pheasant, at least 20 Stock Dove in the grounds of LA Fitness (Neil Batten).
 * Hampstead Heath: 1 Common Swift, 1 Common Tern at Men's Pond briefly, 1 Grey Wagtail at Highgate 1 Pond, 2 Greylag Goose (uncommon here), 2 House Sparrow (also uncommon here) still using hedge near bandstand, 4 Collared Dove (2 pair), Common Buzzard over NE at 11:45 (Frank Nugent).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, m Pochard x Tufted hybrid, Oystercatcher, 3 Snipe, Jack Snipe, 3 Swift, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, 2 House Sparrow in Fulham! (R.Kaye) 2 Garden Warbler, 5 more Swift and late pm one Bittern (S side of main lake), which has apparently been around for a few days (Martin Honey)
 * Pinner Park Farm: Little Egret over east, 2 Little Owl, Common Buzzard, 2 singing Blackcap, 2 Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Stock Dove & 51 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Greenshank, 5 Whimbrel, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Hobby, Cuckoo, 2 Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, House Martin, 25+ Swift, Bearded Tit (heard and seen by others), 2 Oystercatcher (Oliver Simms).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon, Cetti’s Warbler, singing Whitethroat, 2 Grey Wagtail, m Reed Bunting (TeRNS)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 1 Red Kite w over 20:00 pursued by Carrion Crow (Neil Batten).
 * Sutcliffe Park: 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcap, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe. (P Kite)

Friday 1st May 2015

 * Brent Reservoir: pair Shelduck, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 16 Common Tern (4 on rafts), 31 roosting Cormorants, 30+20 Swift, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler nr hide (Andrew Verrall)
 * Broadwater Lake: Cuckoo m riverside, 9 Common Terns, Gadwall, 30+ Swift, 3 Swallow, 20+ House Martin, 3 + Cetti’s Warbler, 3 + Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Buntings m + f, Reed Warbler, Blackcaps, Red Kite, Buzzard x 2 (Dan Pinkham)
 * East India Dock Basin: 2 Reed Warbler singing, 3 Blackcap singing, 3 Common Tern, 2 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Song Thrush singing, Canada Goose pair nesting on pier (John Archer)
 * Ewell, Hogsmill Open Space: 1 singing Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Jays nest building (Neil Batten)
 * Ewell, Priest Hill: 1 Common Swift, 1 Garden Warbler (Steve Gale)
 * Gallions Reach: 2 Hobby, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 2 Swallow. (Gary A James).
 * Margravine Cemetery: intruding Peregrine Falcon at 11:30am chased E by resident tiercel (public site), Sparrowhawk, Common Whitethroat (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Oakwood Park, N14: Willow Warbler song switching (Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler songs) still present in trees nr Conservation Pond 08:35 (Robert Callf)
 * Pinner Park Farm: male Whinchat, 2 Hobby, 2 Common Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Little Owl, 3 Linnet over, Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 3 Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit, 12 Stock Dove, 2 Jay & 57 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Quill Street, Alperton W5: Red Kite soaring overhead at 10:05 pursued by Carrion Crows, singing Blackcap (Stuart Fisher)
 * Rainham Marshes: Marsh Harrier, Pectoral Sandpiper from 12:50-13:30 at least on Target Pools from viewing platform, 20 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, 9 Common Terns, 10+ Common Swifts, male Whinchat, 3 Northern Wheatears (Dominic Mitchell et al); Cuckoo in the woodlands & 2 Peregrine (Alan Shearman).
 * Rotherhithe: 1st-summer Common Gull Greenland Dock (Richard Bonser).
 * St James's Park: Reed Warbler singing in main reed-bed (Andrew Self); Peregrine soaring over the Park, a single Black-headed Gull N and Grey Wagtail on the Lake (Frank Nugent).
 * Tottenham Marsh: 2 Sedge Warbler (South Marsh), 7+ singing Common Whitethroat, singing Lesser Whitethroat (Wild marsh east), Common Tern over Lockwood (Stuart Fisher).
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, 3 Kestrel, 3 Lapwing, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, Cormorant over, good numbers of singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat (John Colmans).
 * Walthamstow Marshes: Lesser Whitethroat still singing in the bushes between the Flood Relief Channel and the railway line, opposite the paddocks, at 09:00, plus 1 Common Tern flying north up the canal (Alastair Dent).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: 4 Common Sandpipers on Lockwood and a singing Cetti's Warbler on No 3 (David Bradshaw).
 * Wanstead Flats: Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Swallow, House Martin, Swift, 5-6 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, pr of Reed Bunting, singing Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 3 Egyptian Goose (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan).
 * Wanstead Park: 25+ singing Blackcap (OSW), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Gadwall, fledged Long-tailed Tit (Nick Croft/Tim Harris).
 * Whitings Hill / Arkley Fields:- 2 male Whinchats on rapeseed plantation with 2 Wheatears. Skylark (ascending with song), Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Buzzards and 2 Stock Doves. (Geoff Crabtree and Tony Clancy).

Archived News
LONDON BIRDING NEWS FROM ALMOST EVERY PREVIOUS MONTH SINCE JULY 2002 {C}