LatestNews

By posting news here you agree that your reports may be added to the LNHS database for use in the London Bird Report. A scalable map of the London recording area can be found here.

Please list sightings alphabetically by site, following our standard format to assist automatic compilation of records into the database. Only report sightings of wide interest rather than listing all common birds but DO NOT post details of nesting by scarce breeding birds (those included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended). Any such reports will be removed; please submit them instead to the appropriate LNHS bird recorder.

More London bird news can be found on Twitter by searching for sightings from many different observers using the #londonbirds hashtag or by visiting the London Bird Club page (no Twitter account is necessary for either)

To join the London Bird Club and support our work please visit the LNHS website. The 2011 London Bird Report is now out - to get a copy please click here.

Please record the insect as 'Peacock butterfly'. If you want to record the bird, use 'Peafowl'.

Saturday 24th May 2014

 * Brent Reservoir: Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 2 Shelduck & Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Self)
 * London Wetland Centre: 1,100 large Gulls- mainly Herring- passing SE until 11.00, some dropping in. These included 1st-summer Yellow-legged, 1st-summer Caspian hybrid, 2 intermedius Lesser Black-backed & 2 1st-summer argentatus Herring Gulls, Bar-tailed Godwit still, Ringed Plover "northern" race, 18 pairs Lapwing & 2 broods of 4 young still, 4 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 7 nesting pairs Common Tern including a pair on a shingle island, 22 nesting pairs Black-headed Gull with 2 broods of 5 young, Shoveler male, male Peregrine swooped low over lake- later with Starling prey, Kingfisher, Skylark landed on marsh, 300 Swift (J.Wilczur, R.Kaye & H.Bradshaw).

Bromley Common: A message to Skinna- You tried to contact me some time ago. My e-mail address is Judith.cliffe@ntlworld.com (Philip Cliffe)

Friday 23rd May 2014

 * Brixton: 10 Swift (5 x 2 pairs) over St. Saviours / Lambert Road; singing Chiffchaff, Blenheim Gardens Estate (Tony Stones)
 * Brookmill Park: 2 Mute Swan, Mandarin, Sparrowhawk, 4 Swift, at least 5 Blackcap; 3 singing m, 1 f & 1 fledgeling (Conrad Ellam)
 * Bushy Park: Quail 6.50am - 7.10am SE corner in Skylark protection zone (Tony Duckett).
 * Fishers Green: 2 Nightingale, 2 Garden Warbler (James Palmer)
 * Crossness: Cuckoo male singing in nature reserve - first for over 2 years (Mike Robinson & Karen Sutton per JA)
 * East India Dock Basin: 19 Common Tern on rafts, 2 Shelduck 8 Tufted Duck (John Archer)
 * Forty Hall Park: f Mandarin with 4 ducklings on Forty Brook (James Palmer)
 * Hall Marsh: 5 Little Egret (James Palmer)
 * London Wetland Centre: Baltic type Gull,1st summer, Caspian Gull 1st summer, Yellow legged Gull 1st summer, Bar tailed Godwit.(R.Kaye)
 * Margravine Cemetery: Coal Tit fledgelings (my first record of Coal Tits nesting here), 2 Swift (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Richmond Park: 4th nesting pair Grey Heron, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 3 nesting pairs Common Tern, Kingfisher- all Upper Pen Pond, 200 Swift, 2 juv Stonechat, 300 Starling- a flock Lawn Field (J.Wilczur).
 * Springwell Lake: the female Goldeneye and now just one duckling remains; there was some suggestion that the female had a colour ring on one leg. This was incorrect: good views today, as it was hauled out on an island, revealed that it has one metal ring on its left leg and no ring on the right leg - I have posted a picture on the Yahoo website. I could see no numbering or wording on the ring (about 40% of the ring was visible) so it probably doesn't throw much light on its origins, but may not necessarily suggest a captive origin (Andrew Moon).
 * St James's Park: 1 Swift (Andrew Self); c15 House Martin, 3 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail, Peregrine over W, m Kestrel N before alighting on a Plane tree, all between 1400-1445 as the cloud thickened (Frank Nugent).
 * Trent Park: f Mandarin Duck and a brood of 4 ducklings upper lake (down from seven ducklings on 21st) (Robert Callf).
 * Walthamstow Res: Common Sandpiper, 1+ Peregrine, 4+ Grey Wagtail, in excess of 22 large young Little Egrets, including 3-4 sets of triplets. (Paul Whiteman, Mike Messenger)
 * Wandsworth Common: m and f Pochard (Matt Palmer)
 * Waterworks NR: Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher (Bed 15). (Susan Huckle)

Thursday 22nd May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 30+ Swift, 5 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 2 Jackdaws the same seen yesterday (Bob Watts, Henry Wyn-Jones).
 * Beddington SF: 2 Spoonbill circled north lake at 15:25, Red Kite (BFBG via Twitter)
 * Brent Reservoir: 2 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, Pair Shelduck, 7 Common Tern only, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Roy Beddard, Patrick Hagglund, Andrew Verrall)
 * East India Dock Basin: Kestrel m, 2 Stock Dove, 14+ Common Tern, 2 Shelduck, 14+ Common Tern (John Archer)
 * Ewell (Hogsmill Open Space): 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 House Martin nw, 19 Common Swift, 3 Herring Gull (Neil Batten).
 * Greenwich Park: Reed Warbler singing but hidden (1st of year) away from water, also singing Whitethroat, 2 Nuthatch nests and 2 Great-Spotted Woodpecker nests (Joe Beale).
 * London Wetland Centre: Steady passage of c500 Large Gulls, predominantly Herring, SE all morning. 2 Yellow Legged Gull dropped in and out,1, 1st summer, 1, 2nd summer.(R.Kaye)
 * Richmond Park: Cuckoo again- calling from area beside East Sheen Common (per J.Wilczur). Lesser spotted Woodpecker by Pen Ponds, 3p Common Terns, ?4p Grey Herons (Tony Duckett).
 * St James's Park: 2 House Martins feeding over lake at lunchtime (Andrew Self)
 * Swanley Park: 4 Moorhen babies dropped from tree nest first breeding for many years (Andy Meaton)
 * Tower Bridge: Egyptian Goose flew East under bridge at c.16:10 (Paul Whiteman)
 * Tyttenhanger GP: 2 Temminck's Stint, 3+ Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher (Steve Blake)
 * Tyttenhanger GPs and Willows Farm Thats great, thanks (SB)
 * Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster: Common Sandpiper on a ledge of the River wall next to Houses of Parliament then W at 0840 (Frank Nugent).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: 2 male Red-crested Pochard on island on East Warwick at 11.20 (Pete Lambert per Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: 100+ Swift, 1 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, Garden Warbler, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Reed Warbler still singing Shoulder of Mutton, 2 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 30+ Swift, House Martin, Swallow (Nick Croft)

Wednesday 21st May 2014

 * Deptford High Street: 1 Little Egret flying north 1845 (Mike Paice)
 * Finsbury Park: Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Grey Wagtail all holding territory (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Gallions Reach: Red Kite (KJMcmanus)
 * Limehouse E14: 3 Common Sandpiper heard then seen landing riverside at the David Lean House 15.55 (Paul Hyland)
 * Limehouse Basin: 3 Red-crested Pochard drakes (John Archer).
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 1 Common Tern, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Gadwall, 20 House Martin, 10 Swift (Rich Petley)
 * Olympic Park: greenway - Little Ringed Plover, 2 Peregrine. main park - 2 Sedge Warblers (JW Davies)
 * Richmond Park: Cuckoo calling Sheen Gate area 14.10 (W.Munro per J.Wilczur).
 * Saffron Avenue Pond E14: 2 House Sparrow - very scarce here, first record this year (John Archer)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 1 Male Bullfinch w, 5 Herring Gull n.e, 3 Stock Dove, 5 Common Swift (07.00 - 07.45) (Neil Batten)
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 6 Lapwing, 5 Swift, Swallow, 3 Mandarin, good numbers of Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap (John Colmans)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Blackcap (Singing), 1+ Great Spotted Woodpecker (Charlie Farrell)
 * Trent Park: 10 Mandarin Duck 2m f  brood of 7 ducklings, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 ad 2 juv, 4 Nuthatch 3 ad 1 juv, 7 Blue Tit 2 ad 5 juv (Robert Callf)
 * Trent Park: 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Mandarin (m,m), 15 Common Swift., Common Buzzard, Great Crested Grebe, 2 R N Parakeet, Coot with 3 young, Canada Goose with 4 young. ( Pete Lowman).
 * Tyttenhanger GP: 2 Temminck's Stints still on main pit at 1.45 p.m. also 4 Little Ringed Plovers (Simon West)
 * Wanstead Flats: Garden Warbler, Swallow, 4 House Martin, 30 + Swift, 2 m Pochard, Egyptian Goose, Kestrel, Linnet (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: singing Reed Warbler, 2 Common Tern (Dan Hennessy), Great Crested Grebe with 2 chicks, second acro, probably Reed Warbler in Old Sewage Works, Kestrel, 50 + Swift, 6 House Martin (Nick Croft)

Tuesday 20th May 2014

 * Brent Reservoir: 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Cetti's Warbler (Brent Birders)
 * Mayflower Park: Greylag Goose flew over, 6 Reed Warbler territories(Bob Smith)
 * Springwell Lake: female Goldeneye has a blue ring on its leg - fence hopper?...you decide...(JR).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Shelduck on East Reservoir, 2 singing Reed Buntings and 2 singing Reed Warblers (Chris Bird)
 * Tyttenhanger GP 2 Temminck's Stint, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover (Steve Blake et al) - also seen there yesterday pm
 * Wanstead Park: singing Reed Warbler (Dan Hennessy)

Monday 19th May 2014

 * Brent Reservoir: 2 Black Terns flew around rafts/mud/res 8.30-8.50 then off east, 21 Common Terns, 8 Common Sandpipers, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwings, Cetti's Warbler singing (Andrew Verrall).
 * Bow Creek Ecology Park: c6 Reed Warbler (4+ singers), 4 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Shelduck (Charlie Farrell)
 * East India Dock Basin NR: c5 Reed Warbler (3 singers), 11 Common Tern, 1 Shelduck (Charlie Farrell)
 * Northolt A40: Red Kite circling low over perimeter of Northolt Airport 8.20am (Birderman)
 * Greenway adjacent to Olympic Park : Little ringed Plover (Harry Harrison)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Temminck's Stint  flew off north at 07.55 after repeated disturbance by Crows, 42 Black-headed Gull- 21 nesting pairs, 8 Common Tern- 4 nesting pairs, 3 Little Ringed Plover- including pair scrape displaying, 5 Redshank, Lapwing- 2 broods of 2 young each on scrape,  male Peregrine swooped low over scrape at Lapwing family, Shelduck  (J.Wilczur).
 * Richmond Park: (observed vicinity Pen Ponds) Hobby, 2 Kestrel, Common Buzzard (direction of Roehampton Gate), Sparrowhawk, 4 Grey Heron, 6 Common Tern, 2pr Mute Swan + 7 cygnets, 3 Stonechat -2 juvs, 2 Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mandarin (thanks Stefan), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Swallow, 6 Swift, Pr Egyptian Goose + 7 young towards Robin Hood Gate (James Massey); Honey Buzzard soaring over the Pen Ponds/Sidmouth Wood area from 12.54 - mostly high enough to escape attention of corvids, but chased off N after about 10 mins. by Crows. Last seen heading N over Sawpits Plantation (S.Czapski)
 * Staines Reservoirs: 2 Black Terns Early am. (Bob Warden per FJM)
 * Tufnell Park N7: Hobby hurtling down Tufnell Park Road at 19:30 (Chris Bird)
 * Wanstead Flats: Garden Warbler, 30 + Swift, Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 6 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, Linnet (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Hobby (Bush Wood) (Bob Vaughan)

Sunday 18th May 2014

 * Brent Reservoir: 5 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwing, Little Egret over, 2 Egyptian Geese, Shelduck, Cetti's Warbler (Brent Birders)
 * Broadwater GP: Common Terns, Cuckoo calling, Grey Wagtail, Garden Warbler at 10.00 (Alex Randall)
 * Brookmill Park: Drake Mandarin, singing Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Crossness: juvenile Stonechat in paddocks on green fence adjacent to Norman Road early a'noon; also Sand Martin over (Richard Bonser)
 * Fishers Green: Cuckoo, Calling and flying around (Phil Rhodes)
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Hobby soaring over Kenwood from 0930 (Frank Nugent).
 * Kingston Bridge: 1 Peregrine, 11 Sand Martin, 51 Herring Gull - 16.30 to 17.15 (Neil Batten)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Mandarin, 249 Tufted Duck, Kestrel, 5 Lapwing chicks, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Common Tern (WWT website)
 * Osterley Park: Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Cormorant, 6 Egyptian Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 chicks, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, 15+ Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Drake Mandarin, Nuthatch, Pochard, 7+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Swift (Osterley Park birding group).
 * Pinner Park Farm: Hobby, 2 Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Jackdaw, 4 Stock Dove (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes, RSPB: 3 Ruff (1 male not quite in his breeding best), possible Wood Sandpiper flew east over Purfleet, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, 2-3 m Cuckoo, Kingfisher, Grasshopper Warbler, 5 + Swallow through, 20+ Swift, 5 Common Tern (RSPB/Nick Croft), Whimbrel, Greenshank, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Hobbies, pair of Wigeon, Shoveler brood of 9 on MDZ pools, 5+ broods of Redshanks, 6+ broods of Lapwings and many more of both unseen, Willow Warbler singing with occasional snatches of Chiffchaff song (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Richmond Park: Red Kite 2cy over at 7.45 (J.Wilczur); 3rd Grey Heron nest, 6 Common Tern - 3 pair, 3 Kingfisher- including at least a juv, all Upper Pen pond (P. Penteck per JW).
 * Saffron Meadow Galley Lane Barnet : 2 Cuckoo Calling (David Martens)
 * Springwell Lake: female Goldeneye just 3 ducklings left at 08:55 (big fish = bad news) (Shaun Ferguson) - (Large Gulls in my experience, Richard Francis). The culprit appears to be a rather large Pike (Esox lucius) - I saw it try & take down a Coot chick yesterday evening at about 19:35..(Jon Ridge) - Update: now the female mother has vanished, leaving the three remaining ducklings....(Herts Website). Female Goldeneye still on the Lake but she didn't return to the ducklings during the afternoon (Frank Nugent). FURTHER UPDATE female located at far end of Springwell Lake; she hauled up briefly on an island to reveal a light blue band/ring; I think this is a collection bird (DT per Herts website per Mike and Rose Collard)
 * Swanley Park: 5 mallard broods - surviving numbers 8 9 3 1 & 6. All 4 Canada Goose nests failed/predated Brown Rat plague ! (Andy Meaton)
 * Thames by Tate Modern: 2 Egyptian Geese flew up-river about 17.30 with one flying back downriver about ten minutes later (Colin Brooks)
 * Totteridge Fields: Buzzard (pale individual) in aerial combat with a Carrion Crow and a female Kestrel, pair of Mistle Thrushes, Common Whitethroat, family of Greenfinches, pair of Bullfinches, several Brimstone and Small Copper Butterflies (Deb Jackson).
 * Cowley, Uxbridge: Red Kite over High Road 11.15 (Alex Randall)
 * Walthamstow: Lockwood - Red Kite (Lol Cumming).
 * Wanstead Flats: f Wheatear, possible f Whinchat, Garden Warbler; 8 Green Hairstreak butterflies (Bob Vaughan/Tim Harris)
 * Warren - Bexleyheath: Nuthatch, chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sparrowhawk (Ralph Todd).

Saturday 17th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Common Whitethroat, Swallow (Bob Watts, Henry Wyn-Jones).
 * Brent Reservoir: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwing, 19 Common Tern, dozens of large gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, not much else of note (Brent Birders).
 * Broadwater GP: Buzzard, Oystercatcher and Wood Warbler (heard only, not a frequent singer, and not since 10.30am) (C. Lamsdell). Also: 2 Red Kite, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Kingfisher, at least one singing Cetti's Warbler, singing Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, 5 Swift, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Egyptian Goose, 5 Greylag Goose, drake Pochard, 11 Common Tern, 115 Black-headed Gull (Jon Ridge).
 * Clapham Common: 8 Swifts, 4 House Sparrow, numerous fledged Starlings, pr Egyptian Geese 6 young, pr Coot just hatched young - since renovations & removal of closed fishing season marked reductions in breeding water birds mainly coots - probably intentional to discourage geese from flocking along banks (Michael Mac).
 * Crossness: Stonechat juv, 2 Swallow W, Peregrine (John Archer).
 * Grand Union Canal (Black Jacks Lock): 2 Grey Wagtail (Jon Ridge).
 * Hooks Marsh, Lea Valley: 1st-summer male Red-footed falcon reported twice between 09.00 & 12.15, with Hobbies (Birdguides) - No sign from at least 14.30 - 16.00hrs. (Nigel May)
 * Lea Valley - Netherhall / Glen Faba:  Grasshopper Warbler reeling in brief bursts at c12.30 from area SW of Glen Faba pit beneath the twin power lines, Nightingale singing from area by small stream N of Glen Faba pit (first time I have heard this species here in 18 years of WeBS counts), 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Lapwing, 2 m Cuckoo, 7 singing Cetti's Warbler (2 seen), 2 m Lesser Whitethroat, c20 m Whitethroat, 8 m Garden Warbler, 2 m Willow Warbler, 15 m Chiffchaff, c 15 m Sedge Warbler, 7 m Reed Warbler, 1 m Reed Bunting, 3 singing Skylark, Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker,  GS Woodpecker, 2 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Goose (plus brood of 5), 20 Gadwall, Pochard (NIgel May). Barn owl, Grasshopper warbler at between Bowyers & white water rafting centre, Raven over galley hill wood and 4 hobbies by Cheshunt station (R.stead).
 * London Wetland Centre: Little Egret, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover (WWT website)
 * Mortlake SW14: Hobby over Priest's Bridge/ Upper Richmond Road area at 4pm, catching insects (S.Czapski)
 * Monken Hadley Common: 6 ad Nuthatch, 4 ad Treecreeper incl two singing & a pair together (Robert Callf).
 * Newyears Green: Green Woodpecker, singing Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff (Jon Ridge).
 * Park Lodge Farm: 7 Red Kite, (all in the air together), 3 Common Buzzard, female Kestrel, 2 Pheasant, 2 Skylark, 9 singing Whitethroat, 10 Long-tailed Tit, Swallow, 30 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Richmond: Red Kite flew north over garden 20.30hrs (Hugh Bradshaw)
 * Richmond Park: Spotted Flycatcher- c100m N of Ham Gate Pond (J.Wilczur).
 * Rotherhithe: 2 Common Terns Surrey Water (Richard Bonser).
 * Springwell Lake: female Goldeneye with just 4 ducklings now at 19:45 - many thanks for this, Common Buzzard over at 19:30 (Jon Ridge).
 * Springwell Reedbed: Red Kite over, male Reed Bunting, 2 Swallow, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler (Jon Ridge).
 * Staines Moor: 1 Grasshopper Warbler showing well and reeling, 2-3 Hobby, 1 Cetti's warbler, 7 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Common Tern, 1 Swift N, 3+ Swallow, 4 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Gadwall, 28 Starling (mainly juveniles) (Lee Dingain).
 * Stocker's Farm: 2 Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Little Egret over, 6 Swallow (Jon Ridge).
 * Swanscombe Marsh: 4 Ravens (pair with 2 newly fledged young), Marsh Harrier, 2 Grey Plover, Curlew, Cuckoo, 3 Little Egrets & 6 Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Self)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: 2 Pheasant, Little Egret, Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Lapwing, 11 Stock Dove, 4 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail (unusual here), pr Pied Wagtail + 2 juvs, 5 Swallow, 6 Rook, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Linnet (Neil Anderson/G. Westley)
 * Trent Park: Garden Warbler (James Palmer)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Hobby (Tony Brown)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Spotted Flycatcher - in NW corner, 2 Swift, 5+ singing Chiffchaff, 6+ singing Whitethroat, 10+ Blackcap, 5 Meadow Pipit, 20+ newly fledged Starlings, Pied Wagtail (Charlie Farrell)

Friday 16th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: Reed Warbler singing Cricket Scrub 7am, Little Egret W 0655(Bob Watts). 3 Willow Warblers Top Field (Henry Wyn-Jones).
 * Barbican Centre: 2 pairs nesting coots. One bird part albino(Bob Smith).
 * Barnet Gate Wilderness:- Garden Warbler, ChiffChaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Buzzard, Jay. Little Grebe on nearby garden lake. (Mr. Crabtree.)
 * Bushy Park: pr Shelduck, Hobby, Cuckoo, 3m Reed Warblers, 8m Whitethroats, Garden Warbler, 5m Chiffchaffs (Tony Duckett).
 * Crossness LNR: 2 (pair) Continental Black-tailed Godwits by the outfall 8.30pm (earlier in Barking Bay), 8 Ringed Plovers (Richard Bonser). The 2 Continental Black-tailed Godwits also seen 8.30pm east of the outfall (but no other birders?) also 1 Wheatear, 6 singing Whitethroats, 8 singing Reed Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 (pair) Skylark, 4 Gadwall on river, earlier (Mike Paice). 2 Wheatear and female Whinchat 9am, Marsh Harrier (ad male) over 10am (Ralph Todd), Red Kite over 09:45 (John Archer).
 * Ewell (Hogsmill Open Space): 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Common Swift, 1 Coal Tit, 5 Large Red Damselfly (Neil Batten).
 * Greenwich Peninsula: Oystercatcher, 2 Swift, Sand Martin, Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler (Conrad Ellam)
 * Hanwell W7 (River Brent/Grand Union Canal): Swallow W, 2 Swift, 6 Tufted Duck last nights pair x3 tonight, Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Tern (Rob Mills)
 * Lakeside,EN2: 4 Nutatch 2ad 2juv - early fledging date (Robert Callf).
 * Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Red Kite N at 13:20, pr Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, singing Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, Coal Tit (family party) (Stuart Fisher)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Peregrine, 3 pairs Lapwing chicks, 2 Redshank, earlier report of Wheatear, large Terrapin (Nick S)
 * Osterley Park: Birdwatching group will be meeting on Sunday 18th May for a walk around the park. Meet in the car park at 7:00am (Birderman)
 * Richmond Park:1 Wheatear fem middle road. 3 Stonechat fem and 2 juvs. Upper Pen Pond near fishing swim. 2 Kingfisher. Lower Pen Pond  evening. (Susanna Ramsey & Franko J  Maroevic)
 * Springwell Lake: Goldeneye and 7 ducklings still present - these were first found yesterday by Richard Tomlin and represent the first breeding record for London and only the 3rd or 4th for England. I have posted some images on the Yahoo website (Andrew Moon)I also found it at the same time,he was the otherside of Springwell,I reported in immediately.S Topham.
 * Totteridge Valley/Totteridge Fields: 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, singing Garden Warbler at Totteridge Fields, 2 Swallow,also pair Coot plus 5 young on Sheepwash Pond (plus Terrapin sunning itself) (John Colmans)
 * Trent Park: Garden Warbler,4 Blackcap,8 Chiffs,3 Common Whitethroat,Green Woodpecker,2 Mandarin (mm),Great Crested Grebe ( unusual here -4th day), 2 Canada Goose ( minus 4 goslings),3 Song Thrush, Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Common Swift, Small Heath. ( Pete Lowman).
 * Unigate Wood, Streatham: Cuckoo calling early am - first site record? (T. Brangwyn)
 * Walthamstow Res, Lockwood: Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, East Warwick: Hobby, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow over. (Paul Whiteman)
 * Waterworks NR: Sparrowhawk, green woodpeckers, Reed Warblers, female pheasant. (Susan Huckle)

Thursday 15th May 2014

 * Blackheath: 2 Linnets, 120+ Carrion Crows and 1 Rook (scarce here) (Joe Beale)
 * Bow Creek: 5 Reed Warbler (including 4 singing males), 2 Whitethroat singing, 2+ Blackcap singing, Chiffchaff singing, 2 Common Tern, Jay carrying food (John Archer).
 * Greenwich Park: 1 Wheatear briefly, pr Coot with 3 young (Joe Beale)
 * Herne Hill: 2 Swift over the station (Charlie Farrell)
 * Hanwell W7: Coal Tit nesting in the eaves of my neighbours roof & Blue Tit doing similar in another neighbours roof, Swift last years regular pair are 3 this year (Rob Mills)
 * Hanwell W7: (River Brent/Grand Union canal): 2 Swallow E, House Martin N, 5 Swift, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Kestrel, Whinchat f, Pochard m & f very occasional here, Tufted Duck m & f unusual for this time of year (Rob Mills)
 * Staines Reservoirs: 12 Shelduck S basin. 5 Ringed Plover &1 Dunlin causeway N basin. 1 Oystercatcher landed on S basin after circling. 1 Black-necked Grebe E end S basin. (Franko J Maroevic)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 singing Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck, pr of Pochard, 30 + Swift, 2 Sand Martin, Swallow, 5 House Martin, Hobby, Black-headed Gull, 65 larids in the gull creche on Jubilee, f Reed Bunting (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
 * Wanstead Park: Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 3 Swallow, 20 + Swift, 2 Little Egret, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (Nick Croft)
 * Wimbledon Common: male Whinchat- SE corner of the Plain (J.Wilczur).

Wednesday 14th May 2014

 * Brent Reservoir: (evening) 3 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Common Tern (Andrew Haynes).
 * Belsize Park: Osprey circling high over Belsize Park Gardens at 1920hrs mobbed by 3 or 4 Herring Gulls left NW ( Pete Mantle)
 * Bow Creek Ecology Park: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3+ Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat (Charlie Farrell)
 * Brixton: 2 Swallow, Brixton Hill 09.30 (Tony Stones)
 * Charing Cross Hospital (public site): young m Peregrine Falcon ringed (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * East India Dock Basin NR: 9 Common Tern, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Shelduck, 2 Grey Wagtail (Charlie Farrell)
 * Elephant & Castle: at least 8 House Sparrows (including 4 males) Lamlash Street (SE11) & adjacent allotment gardens (Tony Stones)
 * Ewell (Hogsmill Open Space): 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Swallow, 5 Common Swift, 1 Beautiful Demoiselle (Neil Batten)
 * Fulham Riverside: 2 House Sparrow (mating) (Nathalie Mahieu)
 * Greenwich Park: 2 Willow Warblers singing, Tawny Owl (uncommon here), Whitethroat singing, juv Long-tailed tit, Coal Tit nest (Joe Beale).
 * Hackney Marshes: 2 Jackdaw (JW Davies)
 * Limehouse Basin: 6 Swallow north at midday (Paul Hyland)
 * London Wetland Centre: 5 Red Kite flew in a loose group SE over Fulham around 9:25 a.m., Common Buzzard (WWT website); also Little Egret, Wheatear, Whinchat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Little-ringed Plover (Oscar Dewhurst).
 * Oxleas Woods: Red Kite 20.30hrs heading S being mobbed by numerous Crows & showing talons to closest corvids (John Reid)
 * Pinner: Hobby calling overhead 12:15 (Richard Francis).
 * Pinner High Street: Little Egret over at 18:50 (Jon Ridge).
 * Pinner Park Farm: Little Owl, 2 singing Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 14 Jackdaw, 2 Stock Dove (Jon Ridge).
 * Richmond Park: 2 Common Sandpiper - Pen Ponds 07.00 (S.Read); 2 Common Sandpiper still present 13.00, 2 Hobby, 2 Buzzard, 36 Swallow NW- light passage, 15 House Martin thru, 10 Mute Swan - 2 pairs with 3 young each, 4 Common Tern 2 pairs, fem Wheatear (J.Wilczur); Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Kestrel with prey (Dave Clark)
 * St James's Park & Green Park: 2 Common Sandpiper preening at the base of the bare tree behind the fountain in Birdcage Walk side and Grey Wagtail just along from them at 1415 & all still there when I left at 1500 (Frank Nugent).
 * Tottenham Marshes/Tottenham Hale: 1 Turtle Dove flew from Lockwood Reservoir over Canal then S towards Tottenham Hale Station (13.05), 9 Common Tern, 4 Little Egret, 2 Swallow, 2 Swift, 3 Sedge Warbler singing, Fem Peregrine Hunting. (Davey Leach)
 * Town Park, Enfield: pr Mute Swan + 6 cygnets on New River (Robert Callf).
 * Trent Park: 19 Swallow, 3 House Martin in half an hour skywatching (Robert Callf/Robin White).
 * Trent Park: Common Buzzard, 2 Garden Warbler,5 Chiffs,8 Blackcap, 2 Canada Goose with 4 Goslings,2 Mandarin (m,f), Great Crested Grebe, Swallow.( Pete Lowman).
 * Mayflower Park: Small passage of Swallows - 12 north in fifteen minutes, 4 resident Reed Warblers (Bob Smith)
 * Wanstead Flats: Yellow Wagtail, male Wheatear, singing Reed Bunting (Dan Hennessy/Bob Vaughan). 14 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 30+ Swallow, f Wheatear, 2 Linnet, 2 singing Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)
 * Walthamstow Marshes: 6 Sedge Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, many Common Whitethroat, 3 Sand Martin, 15+ Linnet. (ASmith)
 * Wimbledon Common: Red Kite SW at 09.18 (J.Wilczur).

Tuesday 13th May 2014

 * Blackheath Dips: (Vanbrugh Park): 2 singing Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 10 Swift (Mike Paice)
 * Brent Reservoir: 2 Lapwing (both male), 7 Common Tern, 1 Cetti's Warbler (by main hide), 1 Garden Warbler (behind main hide) (Andrew Haynes).
 * Brookmill Park: 2 Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Brixton: 4-5 pairs of House Sparrow along Porden Road; at least 7 Swift prospecting houses along St. Saviour's Road / Lambert Road (Tony Stones).
 * Centre for Wildlife Gardening, LWT, Peckham: 1 male Willow Warbler singing in mature birch, 09:30 (Daniel Greenwood).
 * Charing Cross Station: Grey Wagtail over (Charlie Farrell)
 * East India Dock Basin: Red Kite NW @ 12.05, Arctic Tern, 49 Swift, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow. (Gary A James).
 * Grovelands Park: pr Great Crested Grebe + three young, imm Cormorant, pr Mute Swan + three cygnets, pr Egyptian Goose, 6 Mandarin Duck 5m 1f, 6 Tufted Duck 3m 3f, male Great Spotted Woodpecker at nest hole with young calling, 2 Blackcap singing, 2 Chiffchaff singing, Willow Warbler singing, Nuthatch carrying food, 5 Long-tailed Tit 2ad 3juvs, 26 Starling (Robert Callf).
 * Hampstead Heath: Cuckoo  in South Wood (heard from South Meadow) 11.15 (MBS), later heard at Mixed Pond. Still calling regularly at 1900 -1940 audible from 'bird bridge' near Viaduct and environs (Frank Nugent).
 * Heathrow Airport: singing Cetti's Warbler. (Adam Cheeseman)
 * Hoxton: Sedge warbler feeding on edge of Regent's Canal, just west of De Beauvoir Road (Matthew Cunningham)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Black-necked Grebe on main lake, 2 Little Ringed Plover,  (via Lee Smith) Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Yellow legged Gull 2nd summer, Whinchat (R.Kaye) 2 singing Garden Warbler, Shelduck (Matt Palmer).
 * Richmond Park: Cuckoo calling Dann's Valley 7.00 (S.Read).
 * Ruislip Lido: 2pr. Mute swans on nests, 1 with 3 eggs, 4 Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, 2 Egyptian geese (Martin Smith)
 * Russell Square: Harrier sp. drifted very high to the west, attended briefly by a Swift, at 1655 (Colin Brooks)
 * St James's Park: m Grey Wagtail by the fountain, Birdcage Walk side at 1420 (Frank Nugent).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Shelduck, Whinchat (fem) (TeRNS)
 * Sutcliffe Park: 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, Sedge Warbler, Grey Wagtail, 30+ Swifts, Grey heron. (P Kite)
 * Tooting Commons: 9 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Swift, 3 Nuthatch (2 feeding young), 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5+ Stock Dove (James Hudson)
 * Tottenham Marshes (Northern Part) Swallow, House Martin, 2 Singing Sedge Warbler, 2 Singing Lesser Whitethroat, Pr. Garden Warbler, 1 Singing Reed Warbler by River, Lots of Whitethroats displaying, 4 Singing Chiffchaff & lots of Blackcaps. (Davey Leach)
 * Wanstead Flats: Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 100+ SWift, 5 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pochard, Linnet, 2 Shelduck over (Nick Croft et al)

Monday 12th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: Song Thrush (in trees near reservoir), Chiffchaff (heard), Little Grebe (in boating pond), 3 Mistle Thrush inc one young, approx 40 Swift, 30+ Starling (Michael Rank). Still 25+ House Martins 0700, just 4+ by 1800 Wood Green Res (Bob Watts).
 * Archway: 6+ Swifts and at least one of these nesting under eaves of building (Dawn Painter)
 * Beddington SF: Spotted Flycatcher (BFBG via Twitter) pic
 * Brookmill Park: Mandarin, Great Spotted Woodpecker Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Bushy Park: Hobby, Kingfisher carrying faecal sac, 60+ Swifts, 2p Sand Martins, 11m Skylarks, pr Meadow Pipits, 8m C Whitethroats, 1m Reed Warbler, 3m Chiffchaffs, pr Linnets (Tony Duckett).
 * East India Dock Basin: 6 Common Tern, 2 Blackcap, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 singing Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Swallow, Kestrel, 4 Shelduck (Paul Hyland)
 * Greenwich Peninsula: near Ecology Park 2 Wheatear, 4 singing Whitethroat, 1 singing Meadow Pipit, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Linnet, 2 Mistle Thrush (Mike Paice)
 * Harrow-on-the-Hill: Nuthatch removing faecal sac from nest hole in house wall. (Alex Massey)
 * Heathrow Airport: Spotted Flycatcher (Adam Cheeseman)
 * Kensington Gardens: Female Tawny Owl, thought to have died is alive & was seen with three owlets. (Ralph Hancock) Directions to place on my blog.
 * Limehouse Basin: 5 Red-crested Pochard (Paul Hyland)
 * London Wetland Centre: 6 Mute Swan cygnets, Mandarin, Kestrel, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing chicks on scrape, 3 Swallow (WWT website)
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 1 Great Crested Grebe (scarce here), 3 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 3 House Martin (Rich Petley) - apologies for belated posting
 * Mile End: Lesser Whitethroat singing 1315 close to Regents Canal behind Climbing Frame and adjacent to railway, Common Whitethroat still on territory Arts Pavilion (Bob Watts).
 * Mitcham Common: 2 Egyptian Geese with 6 young (Seven Islands Pond) (James Massey)
 * Pinner Park Farm: Little Owl, singing Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 14 Swift, Swallow NW, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 10 Jackdaw, 4 Stock Dove (Jon Ridge).
 * Pymmes Park, Edmonton: Greylag Goose, male Mandarin Duck, 13 Tufted Duck 10m 3f, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Swift, Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtail pr carrying food, Blackcap singing, Chiffchaff singing, Goldcrest singing, Nuthatch, 4 Great Tit ad & 3 juvs (Robert Callf).
 * St James's Park: singing Reed Warbler showing well in small reedbed between Horse Guards Parade & Cafe at 0830. Also drake Ruddy Duck in situ. And a Kestrel over E stopped to hover over the north bank of the lake near the bridge at 1450 (Frank Nugent).
 * Osterley Park, nearby back garden: Mistle Thrush 7.30am chasing Jay after several attempts the thrush flew off & left the Jay in the garden trying to get nuts out of the feeder for several minutes before giving up (Birderman).
 * Victoria Park: 2 Sand Martin, 8+ Swift, 2m Red-crested Pochard (Bob Watts).
 * Walthamstow Marshes: Red Kite low over north marsh. patch tick. (Marcus Mitchell)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2-3 Garden Warbler, 30+ House Martin through in one tight flock, 2 Swallow, 100+ Swift, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 30+ Swift, Little Egret (Nick Croft/Keith Rayment)
 * West Harrow: 2 Swift shrieking down the road at head-height. Happy days! (Alex Massey)

Sunday 11th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 80+ Swifts, 35+ House Martins, 2 Swallows Wood Green Res (Bob Watts). All still present (except Swallows) 19:00; also singing Whitethroat by first platform (Gareth Richards).
 * Brent Reservoir: 4 Little Egrets briefly but flew off 09.30, 5 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 12 Common Terns, Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Self); 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Swallow, 15+ House Martin, c50 Swifts, Grey Wagtail,  2 fem. Wheatear (West Hendon Playing Fields), Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff all singing (Roy Beddard)
 * Brookmill Park: Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, 3 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Crossness: Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, Swallow, 2 House Martin, Common Gull 1st summ (John Archer & Richard Bonser)
 * Finchley: Hobby, Grey Wagtail, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Jackdaw all over Finchley Bowling Club at Etchingham Park Road this afternoon (Ian Ellis).
 * Gallions Reach: 3 Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, 20+ Swift, 3 Swallow, 4 Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, Sedge warbler, Lesser Whitethroat. (Gary A James & Paul Davis).
 * Gutteridge Wood, 3 Swallow, Pair Mandarin on the brook (Nigel Dodd)
 * Hampstead Heath: Whinchat in Pryors Field 10:00 but flew off, Reed Warbler new in at Highgate 1 Pond where also 2 Common Tern and a Kingfisher fishing and Collared Dove calling (Frank Nugent).
 * King George Reservoir: 3 Arctic Tern, 100s Swifts, many House Martins (Tony Clancy)
 * Leyton Flats/Eagle Pond: Little Owl (P Betts)
 * London Wetland Centre: Tundra Ringed Plover (R.Kaye); 2 Spotted Flycatcher in wildside pm (Martin Parker). 2 Mandarin, Peregrine low, Common Sandpiper, 3 Swallow (WWT website)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 5 House Sparrow (inc 1 young), Coal Tit (collecting food, 1st record of breeding here) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Petts Wood, Willet Rec: Hobby  (Andy Meaton)
 * Osterley Park: Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, 6 Egyptian Goose, 3 Great Crested Grebe with 3 chicks, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, 10+ Jackdaw, Little Owl, Drake Mandarin, 6 Mistle Thrush, 5+ Ring-necked Parakeet (Richard Woolley).
 * Richmond Park: Whinchat, 2 Reed Bunting, Skylark south of Lower Pen Pond, Kingfisher, 2 Common Tern Upper Pen Pond, plus Little Ring Plover low over Pen Ponds & then high north 10am (Steve Woolfenden)
 * Southmere Lake, Thamesmead: Red-rumped Swallow  9:45 till 12:50 when flew off and no further sign by 15:00 (Richard Bonser); also Hobby over at 12:20 (Paul Moss per JA)
 * Three Mills Newham E3 3DU; 2 Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, 4 Sand Martins, 5+ House Sparrow (S Enright and M van Ooststroom)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Swift, Reed Bunting, Linnet, 4 Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Kingfisher, Little Egret, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, 2 Skylark (Nigel Dodd)
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake:  1 Buzzard, 7 Swift, 11 singing Whitethroat, 10 singing Chiffchaff, 9 singing Blackcap, drake Mandarin (John Colmans)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs, Lockwood: Arctic Tern flew towards southern reservoirs, 12+ Common Tern, c500 Swift, 12 Sand Martin, 35 House Martin, 17 Swallow, Sedge Warbler (Stuart Fisher). Another Arctic Tern N 20.05 (Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: 100+ Common Swift 12:00-14:00, female Whinchat, 3 Garden Warblers including 2 singing birds, singing Lesser Whitethroat, Hobby (Tim Harris, Dan Hennessey, Marco)
 * West Drayton UB7: Spotted Flycatcher in my back garden (Sue Giddens)
 * Wanstead Park: singing Willow Warbler Bush Wood (T Harris)
 * Willesden Green: Siskin calling in private garden (Charlie Farrell)

Saturday 10th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 25+ Swift, 3 House Martin, 2 Swallow, Common Whitethroat singing between platform 1 and Balancing Pond (Bob Watts).
 * Blackheath: 2 Egyptian Goose: causing traffic jam as they walked across the road... (James Lowen)
 * Brent Reservoir: 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 5 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, Egyptian Goose & 50+ Swift (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall); first brood Great Crested Grebe, 5 Swallow, five species of warbler singing near main hide, Reed, Garden, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff (Roy Beddard)
 * Brookmill Park: Little Egret, Swift, 4 House Martin, 2 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Crossness: 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 1st-summer Common Gulls, Norwegian-ringed Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Swallow west, 1 House Martin, c.150 Swifts (Richard Bonser)
 * Ewell: 51 Common Swift and 1 Sand Martin w. over Banstead Road between 13.30 and 15.30. Also 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Whitethroat and 2 Linnet there (Neil Batten)
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Common Tern, 2 Greylag Goose, 6 House Martin, 4 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 60+ Swift over Heath & environs (Frank Nugent).
 * King George V Res: 1 Arctic Tern, 26 Common Tern, several hundred Swift including aberrant bird with dark head and throat, pure white belly and vent, white outer tail feathers and heavily streaked back (I Lycett)
 * Lloyds Park: 2 Grey Wagtail, 25 Swift, 60 Starling (Daniel Whitelegg)
 * London Wetland Centre: 1 summer plumage Dunlin, 1 Grreenshank, 2 Littel Egret landed briefly, several Peregrine over nearby buildings across the river, 1 pair of Lapwing with 1 chick, singing Whitethroat, Garden, Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers, 8 Common Tern, 8 Redshank including one nesting bird, numerous nesting Black-headed Gull, lots of Common Swift, some House Martin and a few lingering Swallow. 1 Whinchat seen by others (Martin Honey)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1 Swift, 4 House Martins (over NE), 1 Coal Tit, also Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and House Sparrow in same area for 1st time (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mayflower Park: Kingfisher, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 House Martins, 50 Swifts (Bob Smith)
 * Pinner (Lloyd Court): 2 Grey Wagtail along the River Pinn (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: 4 Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Reed Buntings, 4 Shelduck, 3 Swallows, around 50 Swifts (Alan Hobson).
 * Richmond Park: m Whinchat, m Wheatear, 4 Skylark, 6 Reed Bunting south of Lower Pen Pond (Steve Woolfenden)
 * River Lea Navigation, Millfields Park North: 2 Red-crested Pochard, m and f (Jon Agar)
 * Rotherhithe: Common Sandpiper Surrey Water late morning; 2 Swallows upriver past Greenland Pier,2 1st-summer Black-headed Gulls Canada Water (Richard Bonser)
 * Ruislip (Park Avenue): Little Egret over (Jon Ridge).
 * Ruislip Lido: pair of Egyptian Goose, Common Tern, 25 Swift, 18 House Martin, 3 Swallow, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Mute Swan (Jon Ridge).
 * Staines Reservoirs: 1 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel landed on W side of N basin mid am briefly. 1 Sanderling flew over. 40 Common Tern. (Bob Warden, Rob Innes, Franko J Maroevic et al)
 * Sutcliffe Park: 1 Grey Heron, 3 Swift, 1 Reed Warbler (James Lowen)
 * Walthamstow Marshes: 30 Swift, 40 House Martin, Kestrel (Jon Agar)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs : 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Pheasant at Lockwood (David Bradshaw)
 * Wanstead Flats: Tree Pipit west over Long Wood, Hobby (Dan Hennessy); Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 100 Swift, passage of 15 Swallow and 15 House Martin (Tim Harris), Spotted Flycatcher (Jono Lethbridge)
 * Whitings Hill Barnet: 6 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, c10 Swallow feeding, 3 Chiffchaff singing, 3 Blackcap Singing, 2 GSW , Pheasant, pair Great Tits nesting & feeding young. (David Martens)

Friday 9th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 60+ Swifts, 10 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 3+ Sand Martins 0830 Wood Green Res (Dave Callahan per Bob Watts).
 * Bromley (Common): Hi, I'm looking to get in touch with a birder called Phillip Cliff, can anyone help and could the administrator help facilitate? (Skinna) If you are looking for Phil Cliffe his email address is: judith.cliffe@ntlworld.com
 * Brookmill Park: Swift n, 2 singing Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Bury Lake (Rickmansworth): 1 Tawny Owlet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 4+ Common Tern, 50+ Swift, 6 House Martin, 2 Treecreeper & 4 Egyptian Geese (Simon West)
 * Coppetts Wood: 1 Red Kite, 10 Swift, 1 Swallow (Tony Clancy)
 * Crossness & Ridgeway: Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Common Tern, 50+Swift, 10 Swallow, Sand Martin, Tree Pipit, 7 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam
 * East India Dock Basin: Little Ringed Plover, 6 Common Terns, 3 Shelduck, 17 Tufted Duck, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Reed Bunting m (John Archer).
 * Ewell (Hogsmill Open Space): 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cormorant w. over, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Stock Dove (Neil Batten)
 * Hampstead Heath: 3 singing whitethroat in field above Hampstead Ponds, 2 hobby soaring low over Highgate 1 Pond (Jo Edwards)
 * Hyde Park: Swifts, House & Sand Martins feeding at the east end of the Serpentine (James Hudson)
 * Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: singing male Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 8+ Blackcap, 2 Stock Dove, 8+ Swift, 2 Little Egret east (Stuart Fisher)
 * London Wetland Centre: 4 Common Tern, Dunlin, Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 50 Swift, Garden Warbler (WWT website) White Wagtail, Red Kite low over at c1320 then circled site for 5 mins, also a Bill Oddie (patch tick for me) (Matt Palmer)
 * Mile End: Common Whitethroat still singing in front of Arts Pavilion along Regents Canal (Bob Watts).
 * Pinner (HA5): single Grey Wagtails along the River Pinn & over Sainsbury's supermarket (Jon Ridge).
 * Pinner, Lloyd Court: Resisdent back garden Stock Dove flock grown to 8 (Richard Francis).
 * Rammey Marsh: Spotted Flycatcher (James Palmer)
 * Sewardstone Marsh: Peregrine, Cuckoo (James Palmer)
 * Southwark: singing Willow Warbler in a couple of isolated trees on County Street/Theobald Street early morning (Richard Bonser)
 * Vicarage Farm: 20+ Swift, 2 House Martin 13:30 (Robert Callf).
 * Victoria Park: 15+ Swift, 10+ House Martin, 6+ Sand Martin West Lake 1230 (Bob Watts).
 * Walthamstow Res: 3-400 Swift on N.Side and probably 200+ on S.side. At least 4 young Little Egret. (Paul Whiteman)
 * Wanstead Flats: 50 + Swift, 4 Swallow, House Martin, Garden Warbler, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, m Pochard, Kestrel, possible Yellow Wagtail (Nick Croft) Common Redstart (Dan Hennessy)
 * Wanstead Park: 2 Garden Warbler (OSW), Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Little Egret, m Pochard, 30 + Swift, Swallow (Nick Croft) Willow Warbler (Tim Harris)
 * Whipps Cross Roundabout:  Red Kite bring mobbed a crow @ 08:30. (Susan Huckle)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Swift, 4 Stock Dove (Charlie Farrell)

Thursday 8th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 50+ Swifts, 4+ House Martins 1800 (Bob Watts).
 * Beddington SF: Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 200+ Swift, 30+ Swallow, 15+ House Martin, Little Egret (BFBG via Twitter, Peter Alfrey ) pics
 * Limehouse Cut/Cotall St:  m Red Crested Pochard on the Canal 11.15 (Nick S)
 * London Wetland Centre: Bar- Headed Goose W, Shelduck, Mandarin, pr Shoveler, Red Kite flushed from Sheep Field 06.45 off W, Little Egret, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, 5 Commom Tern, 110 Swift, White Wagtail in song, Yellow Wagtail, 32 Swallow, 30 House Martin also 2 Whinchat found by others (R.Kaye), Whitethroat, Redshank
 * North Circular/Green Lanes junction, Palmers Green: Little Egret west 11.45 (Ben Epstein)
 * Rotherhithe: 3 Swifts Greenland Dock early evng (Richard Bonser)
 * St James's Park: drake Ruddy Duck still present (Andrew Self)
 * Wanstead Flats: Red Kite south, Garden Warber, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Egyptian Goose, Pochard, 2 Swallow, 20 + Swift, Pied Wagtail, 50 + larids mainly Herring Gull and some Lesser Black-backed Gull (Nick Croft) m Wheatear, 2nd Red Kite, 50 swift and m Sparrowhawk Alex (dry Bob Vaughan)
 * Wanstead Park: 3 Little Egret, Hobby heard, Sparrowhawk, Lesser Whitethroat (Nick Croft) Common Sandpiper Heronry (dry Bob Vaughan)
 * Wimbledon Common: Cuckoo calling in wood just east of windmill (J.Wilczur).

Wednesday 7th May 2014

 * Brent Reservoir:1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 27 Common Tern, 50+ Swifts, 15+ House Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler (singing behind hide), (Roy Beddard)
 * East India Dock Basin: Sedge Warbler singing, 8+ Common Terns on rafts, Reed Warbler singing, Blackcap singing, Shelduck, 11 Tufted Duck, Swift, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush singing (John Archer).
 * Ewell By-Pass: 1 Hobby low west over London Rd junction 12.20 (Neil Batten)
 * Greenwich Park: juv Song Thrush, Red Kite west 13:30, 4 Swallows through, plenty of Swifts (20+) (Joe Beale).
 * London Wetland Centre: Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Tern, 60+ Swift, 2 Whitethroat (WWT website)
 * Richmond Park: Whinchat male- the Bog (M.Lewis).
 * Ruislip Lido/Poor's Field: Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, pair of Egyptian Goose, 3 Common Tern, drake Gadwall, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, 3 Swift, 2 Swallow, 16 House Martin, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 8 Jackdaw, 2 Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker & 2 Green Woodpecker (Jon Ridge).
 * Walthamstow Marshes - Lee Valley Riding Centre and surrounds: 4 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Egyptian Geese feeding in paddock, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 35+ Stock Dove, Kestrel (David Collins)
 * Wanstead Flats: Hobby, 50 + Swift, 34 Swallow through, 2 House Martin through (plus 2 resident birds), 4 Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, Kestrel (Nick Croft) Common Sandpiper (Bob Vaughan)
 * Wanstead Park: Common Sandpiper (present yesterday - Steve Thorpe), 30 + Swift, House MArtin, Little Egret, Bullfinch, Lesser Whitethroat (Nick Croft) Willow Warbler (Tim Harris)

Tuesday 6th May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: Lesser Redpoll over Boating Lake (Henry Wyn-Jones per Bob Watts).
 * Beddington SF: Red Kite, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 5 Shelduck, Peregrine, 2 Shoveler, 64 Swallow, 120 Swift, 5 House Martin, Yellow Wagtail (BFBG via Twitter)
 * Blackheath Dips: 1 Red Kite W around 15:00, m Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs sining, 2 Blackcaps singing, 12 Swifts over (Joe Beale and Yu-Hsuan Lin). Cuckoo calling 19h00 (James Lowen)
 * Crayford Marshes: 3 Knot, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Little-ringed Plover, Greenshank, c80 Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, 10 Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, c20 Whitethroat 6 Swift, 12 House Martin, c28 Swallow. (Kev Jarvis & Ian Stewart)
 * Ealing (W13): 2 Swift over garden early afternoon (Bill Haines).
 * East India Dock Basin: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 8 Common Tern (James Palmer) Hi James, whereabouts and what time was the Green Sand? Surprisingly, it's the first record for the site, so we'd be interested in more detail for the Birding Lower Lea Valley blog. Thanks, John Archer - It was on the north side of the basin, alongside the reeds where there was a muddy margin about one foot in width; it flew in and wandered about a bit and then went into the reeds; I viewed it from the eastern side; it was at about 12:30 (James Palmer) Thanks James - an excellent record and a long-expected addition to the patch list. I must have missed it by less than half an hour! JA
 * Gallion's Reach: Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Sand Martin, Swallow (James Palmer)
 * Greenford (Ruislip Rd allotments): 4 Swift (Neil Anderson)
 * Greenwich Peninsula: 1 Common Sandpiper on new planted intertidal reeds just south of Dawdock road slipway (Mike Paice)
 * Hackney Downs/Amhurst Rd 20+ Swifts 2:00 (Sue Barry)
 * Harrow (Brook Drive): Grey Wagtail over (Jon Ridge).
 * Harrow on the Hill: Sparrowhawk thermalling high overhead, 3 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff singing (Alex Massey)
 * Headstone Moat: singing Whitethroat, Chiffchaff & Blackcap, 7 Swift & 3 Swallow through (Jon Ridge).
 * Heathrow: 5 Wheatear. (Adam Cheeseman)
 * London Wetland Centre: Wood Sandpiper flew N from marsh 09.05, Red Kite W (R.Kaye); Greenshank, 2 Little-ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 5 Common Tern (Oscar Dewhurst).
 * Pinner Park Farm: Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Skylark, 6 Swallow & 4 Swift over, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 28 Jackdaw, 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker & 6 Stock Dove (Jon Ridge).
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: pr Shelduck & 11 newly-hatched yg Bandstand Is area 7 (RPBirders)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 13 Common Swift (Neil Batten).
 * Swanscombe Marsh: Cuckoo calling, Wheatear, Whimbrel & 2 Common Sandpipers on foreshore (Andrew Self) Raven chasing crow, Red Kite (very low over scrub), 2 Buzzard, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Oystercatcher, Singing Cuckoo, 6 Swallows, 4 Skylark (1 singing), 5 Pheasant.  Botany Marsh:  3 Little Egret, 5 Shelduck, Lapwing.  Big Grass snake on path and Weasel ( or Stoat) carrying dead mouse (Michael Mac).
 *  Tooting Commons : (quick visit) 4 Blackcap, 3 Swallow (west), 7+ Stock Dove, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jackdaw, Robin fledgling (James Hudson)
 * Walthamstow: Lockwood, 2 Wheatear on South tower, still a few Swallows moving through, some idiot has placed a plastic Owl bird scarer in the North-east corner, like we need to discourage Waders! No.4, Turtle Dove flew over heading East across Walthamstow. (Paul Whiteman)
 * Wanstead Flats: f Wheatear, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, pr Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, 50 + Swift, 20 Swallow, 3 House Martin, m Pochard, Little Grebe with young (Nick Croft/Keith Rayment/Christian Moss) + 4 Green Hairstreak
 * Wanstead Park: Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret on the Roding (Christian Moss)
 * Wimbledon Common: Whinchat male (see photos) & 2 fem Greenland Wheatear- The Plain, 3 Sand Martin N (J.Wilczur).

Monday 5th May 2014

 * Amwell: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Lapwing, 1 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 30+ Common Tern, 2 singing m Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler (Nigel May).
 * Blackheath: 6-7 Swifts, 1 Swallow, 1 f Whinchat, Linnet low over (Joe Beale) f Wheatear with Whinchat 10.30 (Conrad Ellam); 10 Swift over village 18h00 and Whinchat still present 2010 (James Lowen)
 * Brent Reservoir: Turtle Dove north 09.40, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 30 Swifts, Peregrine & 2 Egyptian Geese (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall); 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper p.m.(Frank Nugent).
 * Crossness: 2 Bar-tailed Godwits on Thames foreshore off golf centre 10.30-11.00, 2 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover Barking Bay (Richard Bonser)
 * Dalston: 4 Swift, resident swifts are back (Jon Agar)3 resident Swifts 19:30: (S.Barry)
 * Deptford: 3 Swift, 10 chirping House Sparrows Watson's Street - like the old days (Mike Paice)
 * Finsbury Park: resident swifts have returned (day earlier than last year and again same as the Dalston birds) (G Sawtell)
 * Gallions Reach: Marsh Harrier male @ 14.25, Red Kite @ 14.45, 1 Black Tern, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Swift, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat. (Gary A James & Paul Davis).
 * Hampstead Heath: Yellow Wagtail N at 08.30, 6 Swallow NW, 2 House Martin NW, 2 Linnet NW, 12 Swift, 2 Common Tern at Men's Pond, 2 House Sparrow, 5 singing Whitethroat (Frank Nugent).
 * Hanwell W7: 3 Swallow NW, Sparrowhawk, 13+ Swift including 7 hawking high over my back garden early evening, lots of Robin, Starling, Blue & Great Tit nest feeding activity (Rob Mills)
 * Hounslow Heath: Red Kite circled over golf course end at 4 pm befor e drifting west (Tony Leppard)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Bar-tailed Godwit on the wader scrape (Mike Caiden) Hobby, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Common Tern, 3 Little Tern SE 11.30, Rook SE, Swallow holding territory Peacock Tower. (R.Kaye M.Honey)
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus 2 Swifts over Barnes village this evening (Rich Petley)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 3 fledged Goldfinch, 2 House Sparrow (at nest),  intruding m Peregrine Falcon over hospital (public site) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Osterley Park: Chiffchaff singing, Common Whitethroat singing, Cormorant, 4 Egyptian Goose, 2 Gadwall, 5 Great Crested Grebe including 3 chicks, Grey Heron, 4 Herring Gull, 17+ Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Mistle Thrush, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet (Richard Woolley).
 * Pinner Park Farm: Hobby, Little Owl, female Wheatear, Linnet W, 2 Swallow NW, pair of Grey Wagtail over, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Grey Heron, 27 Jackdaw, 8 Stock Dove, 2 singing Blackcap, 5 Coot chicks & a juvenile Robin (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Little Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher, Stonechat, Wheatear, 4+ Hobby, Marsh Harrier (RSPB)
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: escaped Cackling_Goose arr'd 0645 fr E then feeding Holme Grn area 11 till 0900 at least - unringed but tame, 3 single Buzzard (high NW 1125 & low NW 1140 & high W 1300), Hobby E 0810, Peregrine W 0950, 4+ Swift - returning locals, 5 Swallow N 1350-1355 (RPBirders)
 * Richmond Park: 2 Whinchat- Bog, Lesser Whitethroat- Hawthorn Valley (J.Wilczur et al). Hi, can you give more details on the location of the Whinchat? Thanks
 * Rotherhithe: Honey Buzzard ENE over Greenland Pier/Rope Street, circled south end of Isle of Dogs before heading off NE 16.02-16.06 (Richard Bonser)
 * Ruislip Lido/Poors Field: pr Egyptian Geese, 3 Red Kite (1 low over field almost landing twice on ground but mobbed by Crow, then 2nd kite swooped at first kite + disappeared into trees; these 2 kites then played in air getting higher with third bird high in distance, Hour later a kite seen low over trees of Park Wood), 3 Buzzard together + later 1 Buzzard on its own, high Hobby, Little Ringed Plover briefly on raft, pr Black-headed Gull prospecting on raft, 2 pr Common Tern, 5 Swift, Swallow, 15+ House Martins (visiting nests in Reservoir Rd), 5 singing Garden Warbler, 3 Whitehroat, Willow Warbler, 3 Grass Snake, Mother Shipton (Neil Anderson)
 * South Ealing W5: 2 Swift over at 1805 (Richard Woolley).
 * Staines Reservoir: 3 Black Tern, 20+ Common Tern, Hobby, Whimbrel, ( Jim Sweetland)
 * Stanborough GP (TL214107): 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover, 1 LRP, 1 Red Kite, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Kestrel still present at 1.30 p.m. (Simon West)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 3 Common Swift, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot, 1 Grey Heron over (The Herons appear to be commuting between Horton Country Park and Beddington Sewage Farm - also observed flying over North Cheam towards and from St Helier Hospital direction) (Neil Batten)
 * Sutcliffe Park: 2 Reed Warblers, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail. (P Kite)
 * Tufnell Park (N7): 8 Swift circling at 19:00. Also singing Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker a little earlier in tiny park on Dalmeny Road (Chris Bird)
 * Walthamstow: Lockwood - 2 Sandwich Tern, Little Gull (KJMcmanus).
 * Walthamstow Marshes: rear paddock: Whinchat (JW Davies)
 * Wanstead Flats: Whinchat (male) still present 10.20 - 10.40. Also half a dozen Skylarks and Mistle Thrush (Alan Hobson). 2 Shelduck, Garden Warbler, pr of Linnet, 4 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, House Martin, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Wanstead Birders)
 * Wanstead Park: Hobby (Dan Hennessy)
 * West Harrow: 3 Swifts present from 7.30pm to dusk - hopefully first local residents back again (Alex Massey)

Sunday 4th May 2014

 * Lee Valley: 5 Hobbies and one singing Cuckoo. (Jean-Patrick Elmes)
 * Alexandra Park: 7 Swallows, 5+House Martins, Swift, 2 Greylag (Bob Watts)
 * Brent Reservoir: Turtle Dove north at 08.40, c50 Swifts, 15 Swallows, 2 Common Sandpipers & Little Ringed Plover (Brent Birders)
 * Brookmill Park: Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpeker, 2 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Greenwich Park: 1 Red Kite initially mobbed by crow, at Vanbrugh Park flew west across Greenwich Park at 1900 (Mike Paice).
 * Greenwich Peninsula: 2 Oystercarcher, 4 Common Tern, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting (Conrad Ellam)
 * Ealing (W13): Yellow Wagtail NE over Garden at 07:15 - garden tick (Bill Haines).
 * Hampstead Heath: Red Kite very low over Parliament Hill Fields at 06.55 then away NW (Frank Nugent).
 * King George V Res: 1 Arctic Tern, 8 Common Tern,1 Common Sandpiper, Sand Matrins, Swallows, 1 Common Buzzard (Tony Clancy)
 * Lloyd Park, Walthamstow: Blackcap, c10 House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush, Little Egret W at 0740 (Peter Beckenham -TCV dawn chorus walk)
 * London Wetland Centre: Red Kite (landed in sheep field 1150 then gained height over reserve), 6 Common Tern, 16 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Whitethroat (Adam Salmon). 2 Shelduck, Mandarin, 5 Sparrowhawk, Goshawk flew S 11.15, 3 Buzzard, 3 Red Kite in total, Peregrine with starling prey, Marsh Harrier cream crown, NW 13.15, Snipe, 40 Swift,16 Swallow, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow m flew towards Fulham, Hairy Dragonfly. (R.Kaye, S.Fogg)
 * Mayflower Park: Peregrine flying over carrying prey, Kingfisher(Bob Smith)
 * Pinner Park Farm: Little Owl, Cormorant over, 3 Blackcap (inc pair building), 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, 22 Jackdaw, 10 Stock Dove & 4 visible Coot chicks (Jon Ridge).
 * Priest Hill, Ewell: 1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby, 5 Common Swift, 2 Northern Wheatear (Steve Gale, Steve Thomas)
 * Rainham: 2 Swift - 1st returning local birds (Richard Harrison).
 * Richmond Park: Little Egret SW, Red Kite at 12.55, 2 Hobby, Buzzard, 9 Common Tern on & around rafts, Pied Wagtail with food (J.Wilczur).Also c25 Swift, 8 Swallow, 3 House Martin + 6 Sand Martin (Neil Anderson) Were the Hobbies over Pen ponds? I saw 1 over Pen Ponds NA
 * Rammey Marsh: 1 Cuckoo, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 singing Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (Neville Smith).
 * Rotherhithe: 2 singing Reed Warblers Canada Warbler; 30 Tufted Ducks Surrey Water/Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
 * Staines Moor: Spotted Flycatcher, Hobby, Cuckoo, Northern Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler (A. Luscombe). Grasshopper Warbler SE corner, Cuckoo NE corner, Lapwing, Little Egret, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethoat, Common Tern, Redshank, (Shaun Ferguson)
 * Stoneleigh: Red Kite west at 0645 during BTO Breeding Bird Survey(Bob Smith)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: 3 Pheasant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk together, 2 Hobby,m Kestrel, 4 Lapwing, 3 possibly 4 Little Ringed Plover, 12 Stock Dove, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit,, 21 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Rook, 2 Reed Bunting, Linnet (Neil Anderson/G. Westley)
 * Totteridge Valley: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret, pr Tufted Duck over, 7 Mandarin (6m, 1f, tried unsuccessfully to prevent the last duckling of a brood being taken by a Grey Heron), 6 Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, c15 Common Whitethroat (Ian Ellis).
 * Walthamstow: Low Maynard Little Gull. (KJMcmanus).
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 m Whinchat, Red Kite, 3 Common Buzzrd, Hobby, 20 + Swift, 10 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin, 3 Linnet, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, possible Cuckoo heard briefly (Wanstead Birders/Gideon Knight)
 * Wanstead Park: Reed Warbler singing in gorse bush Heronry, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Common Buzzard, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2-3 Little Egret, 2 Swallow, House Martin (Paul Davis/Nick Croft)
 * Uxbridge, Little Britain lake: male Mandarin Duck 09.45. (Alex Randall)

Saturday 3rd May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Swifts, 3 House Martin (Bob Watts, Henry Wyn-Jones).
 * Beddington: 15+ Common Buzzard, 1-3 Red Kite, 1 Greenshank, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear (BFBG, Peter Alfrey) pics
 * Blackheath: 1 Red Kite north 1820 (James Lowen)
 * Brent Res: Black Tern still (Andrew Verrell per Bob Watts). Two Summer Adult Mediterranean Gulls present for 8-10min at 11.20, 21 Common Terns, 2 Common Sandpiper, Cetti's Warbler(Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall). Also Egyptian Goose, Swallow, Little Egret east from dam end (Bob Watts, Henry Wyn-Jones). Black Tern still at 16.15 (Frank Nugent).
 * Brookmill Park: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
 * Hampstead Heath: 3 Swift, 3 Swallow, 1 Linnet, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Common Tern at Men's Pond, Collared Dove over (Frank Nugent).
 * Lee Valley (Hall Marsh): Little Egret, Cuckoo,Cetti's Warbler (Neil Anderson)
 * Lee Valley (Fishers Green): Little Egret, up to 4 Buzzard (2 together), 6 Hobby together 15.00, 2 Common Tern, Cukoo,2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 singing Nightingale, 2 Bullfinch, f Muntjac, 2 Hairy Dragonfly, several Banded Demoiselle (Neil Anderson). Also Garden Warbler, Oystercatcher (Alan Hobson)
 * Lee Valley (Holyfield Farm): Red Kite, Cuckoo, 11 Swift through, 4 Swallow, Raven calling over heading E at noon, 2 Yellowhammer, 8 Linnet (Neil Anderson)
 * Lee Valley (Holyfield Lake): 2 Buzzard over, 15+ Common Tern (Neil Anderson)
 * London Wetland Centre: 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 23 Swift, 8 Swallow and several House Martin through, 5 Common Tern, 2 singing Garden Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, several Blackcap, 2 Hobby, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, singing Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers (Martin Honey); pr Red-crested Pochard, 1 Green Sandpiper p.m. (Adam Salmon).
 * Pinner Park Farm: Little Owl, 2 Swift, 4 singing Blackcap, 2 Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, 9 Stock Dove & 10 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Whinchat,  14+ Wheatear, m Stonechat, 2 Avocet, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, 5 + Hobby, 4-8 Common Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harrier, m Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Raven, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, and singing Cetti's, Sedge, Reed and Common Whitethroat everywhere, 100 + Swift, 3 Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, 40+ Common Tern, Kingfisher, pr Bearded Tit, 2 Cuckoo (Dominic Mitchell/Nick Croft/RSPB)
 * Richmond Park: Lapwing SE, Hobby, 2 Buzzard, 4 Common Tern, 4 Swift, 9 Swallow thru, Stonechat family still, Reed Warbler singing, 3 singing Garden Warbler (J.Wilczur).
 * Rotherhithe: 2nd-summer Yellow-legged Gull on barges east of Greenland Pier in evening (Richard Bonser).
 * Staines Moor: 6+ Lapwing, 3 Little Egret, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Common Whitethoat, Little Owl, 2 Common Tern, 4 Shelduck over, 1 Redshank, Banded Demoiselle (Catherine Beazley & Spike Nicholls)
 * Stoneleigh Broadway KT17: 1 Common Swift, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Neil Batten)
 * Swanscombe Marsh: 5 Common Buzzards over, Whimbrel up river, 2 Little Egrets, 25 Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Geese, Common Sandpiper, 37 singing Common Whitethroat & 9 Cetti's Warbler; also 2 Wall butterflies (Andrew Self)
 * Tottenham (Broadwater Farm): Red Kite a.m. (James Palmer)
 * Tyttenhanger GP: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 1st Swift, 2 Red Kite (one carrying large fish)! (Steve Blake)
 * Waltham Abbey: Red Kite, Hobby, 30+ Swift (Simon Papps)
 * Walthamstow: 2nd Annual Patchwatch. 75 species all told (61 breeders & 14 migrants/summerers) Gadwall, Red-crested Pochard, Red Kite, Buzzard, Hobby, Common Sandpiper, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodcock (1st for year), Little Gull (1st for year), Swift, Swallow, Cetti's Warbler, Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail. (Paul Whiteman et al.)
 * Walthamstow Marsh: 5 Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin, Little Egret, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 3 Mistle Thrush; Orange-tip butterfly (Michael Rank) Lee Valley Riding Centre and surrounds: 1 Swift, 1 Common Buzzard (high south-east), 1 Yellow-Wagtail, 3 Whitethroat, Stock Dove, 2 Little Egret, 2 Red-crested Pochard (M&F on River Lee near Leyton Marsh), 1 Kestrel (David Collins)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Swift, 3 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, 3 Egyptian Goose, Green Hairstreak (Dan Hennessy/BobVaughan/Jonathan Lethbridge)
 * WaterWorks NR: 1 singing Cetti's Warbler, 4+ Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat (David Collins)
 * Woodlands Farm: Common Buzzard n, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff (Conrad Ellam)

Friday 2nd May 2014

 * Alexandra Park: 5 Swift, 5 House Martin, 3 Swallow 1800 Wood green Res (Bob Watts). Egyptian Goose Boating Lake (Henry Wyn-Jones).
 * Brent Reservoir: Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpiper, Dunlin summer plumage, Black Tern feeding by dam, 6 + 7 Arctic Tern through, 15 Common Tern feeding by dam, 16 Swifts over, 2 White Wagtails on mud, Cetti's Warbler singing (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall).
 * Dollis Brook (N3): Cormorant fishing in the brook, Little Egret flew over 19.00 by Waverley Grove bridge (Ben Epstein).
 * Grovelands Park: Willow Warbler (James Palmer)
 * Lee Valley, Holyfield Lake and Goose Field: 200+ Canada Goose, 120+ Greylag Goose, 4 Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Yellow-legged Gull, 15+ Arctic Tern, 40+ Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 250+ Swift, 100+ Swallow, 30+ House Martin, 300+ Jackdaw, Nightingale, Linnet (Simon Papps)
 * Limehouse Basin: 6 Red-crested Pochard (5m1f) (Paul Hyland)
 * London E1: Singing Black Redstart (Neil Batten).
 * London Wetland Centre: 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 3 Snipe, 7 Swallow, 2 Garden Warbler, 4 Common Tern, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank (Adam Salmon).
 * Mile End: Common Whitethroat singing Ecology Pavilion along Regents Canal (Bob Watts).
 * Parkside Farm, Enfield: male Wheatear (Robert Callf).
 * Richmond Park: 5 Stonechat- pair & 3 recently fledged young (M.Lewis).
 * Rotherhithe: Reed Warbler singing Canada Water, Egyptian Goose Greenland Dock (Richard Bonser)
 * Rosebery Avenue/Sadlers Wells N1: Grey Wagtail collecting food (ian bradshaw)
 * Staines Reservoirs: Black Terns (BirdGuides). 1 Black Tern still and 9+ Arctic Terns 6-7pm (Matt Palmer)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Great Black-backed Gull, Arctic Tern until 16.05 at least, Common Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 House Sparrow (TeRNS)
 * Vicarage Farm: male Whinchat (Robin White/Robert Callf).
 * Victoria Park: 2 Sand Martin, 2m f Red-crested Pochard West Lake (Bob Watts).
 * Wanstead Flats: f Wheatear, Garden Warbler, 3 singing Lesser Whitethroat, Kestrel, 3 House Martin (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy)
 * Wanstead Park: 6 Common Pochard (Dan Hennessy)

Thursday 1st May 2014

 * Beddington SF: 2 Great White Egret flew over (11:20), 10 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, Hobby, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 3 Common Tern, 'Commic' Tern, 3 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 20+ Swift, 50+ Sand Martin, 70+ Swallow  (BFBG via Twitter).pics
 * Brent Reservoir: Common Sandpiper, pair Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, 9 Common Terns, Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Verrall).
 * Ewell (Hogsmill Open Space): 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Song Thrush. Also unidentified warbler sp. skulking deep in Blackthorn bushes and mimicking a large range of bird song (5/6 plus species) (Neil Batten)
 * Limehouse Basin: 6 Red-crested Pochard (John Archer)
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 2 Mandarin, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin - 5 circled and off NW one dropped in, 11 Whimbrel - 9 flew W 11.55 and two others dropped in and out, Arctic Tern circled off NW 11.25, 11 Swift, 20 Swallow, Yellow Wagtail.(R.Kaye); 1 Wheatear, 8 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 16 Swift, 1 Green Sandpiper p.m.(Adam Salmon).
 * King George V Res: 1 Black Tern, 24 Arctic Tern, 16 Common Tern, 30+ Swift 14.30 (I Lycett)
 * New Cross Gate Cutting NR: 1 Swift over NW 1230 (Peter Beckenham)
 * Rainham RSPB: 2 Great White Egret Wennington Marsh from mound 1.48-2pm then flew N (Rare Bird Alert)
 * South Norwood Lake (08:20hrs) 1 Common Sandpiper (John Watson)
 * Staines Moor: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 15 swift. 2 Cuckoo, 1f Northern Wheatear, 3+ Common Tern, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1+ House Martin, 7+ Barn Swallow, 3+ Redshank, 1 Shelduck W, 2 Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher (Lee Dingain - cuckoo pics here )
 * Staines Res:  Late morning - 1 Black Tern, Summer Plumage Great Northern Diver, 9 Dunlin, 40+ Common Swift, 2+ Swallow, 2 House Martin, 20+ Common Tern (Bill Haines).
 * Sydenham Hill Wood: Cuckoo reported calling from Beech Grove area 1330 (Julian Snowdon et al)
 * Tyttenhanger GP: Little Tern (through S/SE), 4 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 4+ Common Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler (Simon West/Steve Blake)
 * Wanstead Flats: Garden Warbler (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 2 Common Tern, Swift, Swallow, 3 Little Egret, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (Dan Hennessy/Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)

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