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'''Please list sightings in alphabetical order by site. Do not post details of scarce breeding birds (those included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, amended 2000). Any such reports will be removed. Please report them instead to the appropriate London Natural History Society bird recorder.''' Note that records submitted here may be added to the LNHS database for use in the London Bird Report; by posting your news here you agree to have your records copied by the LNHS recorder.

Saturday 21st May 2011

 * Beddington: 11 Crossbill over pics and info, 1 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard (Peter Alfrey)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Heron, 5 adult Mallard + 13 Ducklings, 4 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 8 Woodpigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Wren, 4 Dunnock, 4 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 9 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 5 Starling, 1 Jay, 3 Magpie, 1 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam) + female Broad-bodied Chaser.
 * Brent Reservoir: drake Shelduck still present, also 3 Lapwings & a Hobby (Brent Birders)
 * East Barnet, Oakhilll Park: Buzzard sp heading north-east 13:15, mobbed by 10 corvids, shape didn't seem right for buteo with longer tail and small, protruding head, plumage colouration not seen well though seemed pale. Anyone else see it? (D Bates). LWT / RSPB were in Oak Hill Woods showing people Woodpeckers. Andy Bensted said he saw a bird being mobbed late morning over the wood but thougth they were all crows. Lots of Great Spotted Woodpecker activity at nest holes, No action at Nuthatch hole, Tree Creeper, singing Chiffchaff, singing Blabkcap. Bob Husband, NW London RSPB Group, Thanks for replying, Bob - will have to remain a maybe HB (D Bates)
 * Hemans Estate Community Garden: Robin still present first time as far as I can recall Robin being in this garden at this time of year, but not sure about nest progress, also Blue Tit feeding in nest box (Michael Mac).
 * Holyfield/Langridge: 2 Redshanks, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Cuckoos, pair of Yellowhammers, Buzzards & 5 Little Egrets. (Mike Oakland)
 * Muswell Hill golf course - from dirt track off Wetherhill Rd, 1 Spotted Flycatcher in large birch.(P.Angus).
 * 2 brief adult Mediterranean Gulls on Aveley Pools, female Marsh Harrier east, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and the regular leucistic Black-headed Gull in Aveley Bay. What happened to spring migration? (David Callahan)
 * Richmond Park: Wheatear male, probably Greenland race, on Pond Slade till mid am when flew off high E. (Tim Howard, Susanna Ramsey & FJM)
 * Sewardstone Marsh: 2 Shelduck, 3 CommmonTern, 2 Sparrowhawk. 40+ Sand Martin, 8 Swallow, 1 Cukoo 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 7 Common Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting. (N. Smith)
 * Tytttenhanger GPs: Peregrine Falcon, (landed on sand spit briefly) 2 Buzzard, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank. (Steve Blake/Rick Flesher)
 * Vauxhall BT: pr Peregrines (Michael Mac).
 * Walthamstow Marshes and Filter Beds: heron (flying), cormorant (flying), mallard, 6 pochard, 2 tufted duck, moorhen, coot, 1 whitethroat, 1 blackcap, robin, blackbird, 8 long-tailed tit, blue tit, chaffinch, magpie, swallow (Jon Agar)

Friday 20th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Another female Whinchat around cricket ditch until 09:00 at least (David Callahan).
 * Crossness: Sanderling on the Thames foreshore a.m. (Birdguides).
 * East Wickham Open Space (Bexley): Common Whitethroat singing (09:00 and again at 20:15), also 3 Mistle Thrush (Gus Wilson)
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Little Egret NW over Kenwood at 07:20, Lesser Whitethroat (Chris Bird)
 * Horsenden Hill: 1 Spotted Flycatcher. (Andy Culshaw & David Howdon).
 * London Wetland Centre: 5 Redshank, 16 Common Tern, 12 Swift, 7 House Martin, 2 Common Whitethroat (LWC website).
 * Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Little Grebe, Conservation Pond; 1 pr Tufted Duck, Conservation Pond; 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat (presumably the bird first seen and heard on 1st May 2011); 11(3 adults, 8 juveniles) Long-tailed Tit, (Juveniles, huddled together, before a marauding Jay dispersed them) (Robert Callf)
 * Richmond Park: 2 Red Kites flew low W at 18.48 over Cambrian Gate. Also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker flew into boundary trees nearby. 3 Common Terns hawking insects over Pen Ponds. (FJM) No sign of Whinchat above Lower Pen Pond late evng. (Justin Quail per FJM)
 * Rotherhithe: 4 House Martins and 1 Sand Martin (John Colmans)
 * Stratford Chanelsea Walk Chaffinch, Wren, Moor Hen. Painted Lady by Chanelsea, Common Blues, Brimstones all over. (Phil Laurie)
 * Tower Bridge: 6 sand martins upriver (James A)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: no sign Common Whitethroat since Wednesday when heard singing at both Scrapyard Meadow and allotments along Ackroyd Drive, also Painted Lady Linden Graves
 * Tower of London: Kestrel being mobbed by Crow (John Colmans)
 * Wednesday and Swift (Terry Lyle per Bob Watts).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Pair of Chiffchaffs - one with food, G S Woodpecker. on Little Scrubs (Charlie Farrell)
 * South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe (with 2 young) 15 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, c15 Common Swift, c10 Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Staines Moor: Very quiet! 1-2 Hobby, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Common Tern over and 1 Little Egret was about it. (Lee Dingain)

Thursday 19th May 2011

 * Battersea Park Lake: 1 egg on Little Grebe nest seen from bank, previous day I heard adult making very unusual call, I'd never heard before which attracted me to the then empty nest, which I wasn't even looking for- seems sometimes birds do some unpredictable things? (Michael Mac).
 * Blackheath: Vanbrugh Park area - Reed Warbler singing, late morning (presumably yesterday's "Dips" bird), this is strange as no water/reeds anywhere nearby (Joe Beale). Joe - interestingly, I had one singing in my (reed-free) garden in Blackheath village for two days mid-late May last year... (James Lowen) Note; about 11 years ago, during Spring migration, had a Reed Warbler singing from scrub/bushes on the northern side of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich (D.Jordan) Thanks for this information both of you, really interesting! (JB) On 16th May 2009 I made sound recordings of a Reed Warbler singing from a thicket in a large suburban garden in Grantham, Lincs. Some years back I heard one in the depths of Sidmouth Wood, Richmond Park - really odd, as that wasn't at migration time (Stefan Czapski). One singing at Pinner Park Farm today was the first for nearly ten years (JR).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 9 Mallard ( 6 adult+3 Ducklings) 4 Moorhen, 5 Coot ( 2 adult+3 chicks,) 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Ring-necked Parrakeet, 5 Wren, 3 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 2 Magpie, 1 Carrion Crow, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam).
 * Chiswick: 1 Reed Warbler singing on Chiswick Eyot, 2 Blackcap, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Common Tern upriver, 1 Sparrowhawk (m), 1 Peregrine (stooping over a residential area to the North!), 1 Hobby East. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * East India Dock Basin/Bow Creek Ecology Park: 7:30PM till Dusk, 3 Common Tern, House Martin, 4 Shelduck, Kestrel hunting over the Ecology Park, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Reed Warbler (a pair in the Dock basin and 2 singers in the Ecology Park). No sign of Spotted Flycatcher (Charlie Farrell)
 * East Wickham Open Space (Bexley): 9am Swallow west (Gus Wilson)
 * Greenwich: Macartney House (Crooms hill): Blue Tits nesting in roof (Joe Beale).
 * Greenwich Park: 1 House Martin over (pm), otherwise juvenile birds everywhere - 1 juvenile Blackbird, 6 juv Starlings being fed, juv Robin, juv Mistle Thrush, 6 half-grown juv Mallards and juv female Great Spotted Woodpecker (Joe Beale)
 * Kilburn: Common Buzzard came from South, past flat window, circled up higher over West Hampstead then drifted off North 17.05 (Andrew Verrall).
 * Leyton Flats: Hobby. 20 Common Swifts. (Gary A James).
 * Oak Hill Woods NR, East Barnet, Herts. EN4: Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile popping head out of nest hole, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 3 singing Blackcap, 2 (possibly 4) juvenile Ring-necked Parakeets, juv Jackdaws, Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch at plastered nesthole (R. A. (Bob) Husband, Andy Bensted, Andy Aiken & Kitt Jones).
 * Osterley Park: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1, Common Buzzard 1. No further sightings of Barn Owl (Keith Fisher)
 * Pinner Park Farm: singing Reed Warbler - (last record 30/05/2001), 2 Whitethroat, 1 Little Owl, 6 Swallow, just 2 Swift & 2 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: c15 Stock Doves feeding on Football pitches, Reed Bunting, c3 Linnets, c4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat (Charlie Farrell)
 * Potters Fields SE1: small gull with white-wingtips down-river at 13.20, likely an adult med gull but too distant to be sure and didn't feel right (James A)

Wednesday 18th May 2011

 * Bankside SE1: 2 Oystercatcher upriver 06:53 then back down river at 06.55 (Simon Fogg)
 * Barking Bay: Sanderling on the foreshore (Birdguides).
 * Blackheath: Reed Warbler singing in the "Dips" (Joe Beale)
 * Bushy Park (near Cobbler's Walk car park): several Skylark on ground and plenty in sky, lots of Swifts (Penelope Paxer)
 * Cockfosters, Trent Park, Middx: 2 singing Willow Warblers (also present yesterday per Pete Lowman), 3 singing Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Common Buzzard (R. A. (Bob) Husband & Pete Lowman)
 * Crossness: Little Tern flew east along the Thames 08:38 (Birdguides).
 * East Wickham Open Space (Bexley): Common Whitethroat seen in flight carrying food (looked like a caterpillar) (Gus Wilson).
 * Fulham Sands End: House Sparrow fledgling (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: Common Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c25 Herring Gull, c10 Swift, 2 Skylark, c15 Sand Martin, House Martin, 5 Reed Warbler, 13 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, c40 Starling, Bullfinch (HSP blog).
 * Horsenden Hill: Cuckoo calling for about 10 minutes around 7pm. (David Howdon & Andy Culshaw)
 * London Wetland Centre: 3 Shoveler, 3 Redshank, 4 Common Whitethroat (LWC website).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Swift, Starling feeding young at nest (first evidence of breeding here for me), m Great Spotted Woodpecker (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * New Cross Gate: male Grey Wagtail flying around rooftops in vicinity of White Hart Hotel, calling. (Kevin Roy)
 * Parsons Green (Fulham): 1 Mistle Thrush (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Queen Mother Res (permit access): 5 Sanderling on East Bank, Turnstone a.m. (Birdguides); Turnstone and 4 Sanderling still present p.m. (Birdguides).
 * South Norwood CP: 2 Greylag Goose, Stock Dove, 43 Swift, Pied Wagtail, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Linnet (Croydon Birders).
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 1pr Mandarin: singing Willow Warbler (1): singing Lesser Whitethroat (2), plus plenty of commoner warblers: 2mBullfinch: 2 Swallows: plenty of Swifts (John Colmans)

Tuesday 17th May 2011

 * Barnes Cray - River Cray and Thames Wetland: Grey Heron, water rail, mute swan(pr), gadwall (pr), mallard (8), lapwing (2prs), redshank (3), moorhen (3+11y), coot (5+8y), black-headed gull (5), stock dove (2), woodpigeon (5),collared dove (5), r-nparakeet (3), skylark (3), wren (7), dunnock (3), robin, blackbird (7), song thrush (2), swift, swallow, reed warbler (17), blackcap (3), whitethroat (8), chiffchaff (4), long-tailed tit (2), blue tit, great tit, magpie (3), carrion crow (50+), starling (17), chaffinch, greenfinch (4), goldfinch (4), linnet (pr). (Ralph Todd)
 * Battersea Park Lake: 1 Goldcrest preening so still for a change, pr Grey Wagtail displaying, 2 singing Blackcap, 1 fledged Robin with little fear of humans, single male Red-crested Pochard suggests female on nest?, New Hybrid Goose - probably Grey-lag/Canada, new brood of 8 Grey-lags, single Great-crested and Little Grebes, 4 pr Gadwall (Michael Mac).
 * Brayside Farm Pond, Enfield: 1 singing male Willow Warbler (Robert Callf).
 * East India Dock Basin: Spotted Flycatcher still present (Stuart Fisher and Steve (sorry, forgot to get your second name)
 * Eltham: Hobby hunting over Oxleas woods next to the A2 this a.m. (AW)
 * Harmondsworth Moor: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 11 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 9 Chiffchaff.(Simon Cumming)
 * London Wetland Centre: Gargany (m) and Garden Warbler (Steven Robinson).
 * Osterley Park: 04.35 Barn Owl (Keith Fisher). Great record! Last saw Barn Owls there in the 1960's. (Roger Dewey) Yes - congratulations Keith! A well deserved find. (Tom Smith)
 * Regent's Park: c6 House Martins over Prince Albert Road around 11.30 (John Colmans)
 * River Lee Country Park: Langridge - Although the islands are overgrown, the water levels have recently dropped sufficiently to allow some muddy edges around the scrape, which is attracting waders; 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plover & several Lapwing, also Shelduck, Cetti’s Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat. Goosefield - Pink-footed Goose still there. Hall Marsh - 3 Little Egrets, Cuckoo, Cetti’s Warbler & Little Grebe with recently hatched young. Police Pit - Common Blue, Azure & Blue-tailed Damselflies in amongst the comfrey along the top path, take a macro lens and reading glasses. (Mike Oakland)
 * Ruislip Lido: 2 Oystercatcher on main raft from 19:45 - 20:00 when heard flying off. 3 + LRP, Garden, Willow and sedge warblers singing. (Joe Dickens).
 * Staines Res: Slavonian Grebe on North Basin 13:00 (Birdguides).
 * Uxbridge: Brunel University, 3 very recently fledged Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, pr Linnet, male Bullfinch in Bicentenary Garden. Swift & House Martin over campus (Steve Pash).
 * Walthamstow, Wild Marsh East: Grasshopper Warbler still this evening (Lol Bodini per Paul Whiteman) http://walthamstowwildlife.blogspot.com/
 * Wanstead Park: 4 Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the Dell (J Lethbridge)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Quail calling intermittently from the eastern side of the long grass (just west of the central copse) to 12:15 at least (Rob Ayers, D. McKenzie); still present mid p.m. (Birdguides).

Monday 16th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats singing cricket pitch perimeter plus many Swifts and House Martins (David Callahan).
 * Brent Reservoir: 2 Little Egrets circled over dam at 06.55 (Andrew Self). Both Egrets in willows near bridge 08.10 but soon left; no sign of Garganey (Andrew Verrall).
 * Bushy Park: 2 Cormorant on Diana fountain and several Swift overhead. (Penelope Paxer)
 * Clapton Garden: Hobby, late pm hunting swifts (Jamie PArtridge)
 * Hampstead Heath: 06:00 Lesser Whitethroat showing well; see 14/05/11 entry (Chris Bird)
 * Middlesex Filter beds: pm visit, Large female peregrine over, c15 swifts, 8 sand martins, 2 reed warbler,2 chiffchaff,4 blackcap (Jamie Partridge)
 * Oxleas Wood: Spotted Flycatcher 09.30 (John Reid / Frank White)
 * Highgate & Queens Woods: 15:00 5+ pairs Great Spotted Woodpecker breeding, 1 pair Stock Doves, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Chiffchaff calling, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush (Corli du Toit)
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl in the disaster area, male Kestrel, 3 Whitethroat, Swallow, 6 Swift, 10 Canada Goose with 6 goslings & 1 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * St James's Park: there for WeBs Count - 1 singing Reed Warbler though subdued, 10 Egyptian Geese, single Mute Swan appear not to have bred this year? Magpie chasing a Jay all the usuals (Michael Mac).
 * Staines Res: summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe again showing down to 30m on the N side of the causeway mid-afternoon. Otherwise just an Oystercatcher. Did not see the Great Northern Diver yesterday or today (Rob Innes).
 * Tower Bridge: Potters Field, Acrocephalus Warbler singing in the big hedge, lots of mimicry but probably a Reed. (Paul Whiteman)
 * Woodford Bridge: Little Egret on the river; at least 8 Swifts overhead (Alan Hobson).

Sunday 15th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Swifts c50, House Martin c 6, Swallow 4+ mostly over Wood Green Res (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts).
 * Barking Bay: Pheasant, Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler, Cuckoo, Wheatear.(Paul Hawkins)
 * Blackheath: Pied Wagtails nesting on rooftop in the village; in the "Dips": Chiffchaff singing and brief Garden Warbler, also singing male House Sparrow unusual in the Dips (Joe Beale)
 * Brent Reservoir: drake Garganey from Heron Hide (Brent Birders)
 * Broadwater: Red kite, Buzzard, Hobby, 2 Oystercatcher, LRP. A lot of showy garden warblers. (joe Dickens)
 * Cassiobury Park: Garden Warbler briefly in song (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Eastcote (Field End Road): 1 Grey Wagtail over (JR).
 * Hampstead Heath Extension: Little Egret flew up from small ponds (R Ulph).What time was that? (PeteM) About 5pm. It flew off in the direction of Brent Reservoir. ( R Ulph).Cheers
 * Kingston Upon Thames: Common Tern flew downriver past Kingston Bridge at 16.50 (Neil Batten)
 * Lonsdale road reservoir. singing nightingale, common sandpiper, common tern, tawny owl (Observer?) Any info on the Nightingale at all? (Louis Freeland-Haynes); nightingale was at ferry road end of reservoir, it was also there on saturday morning
 * Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Little Grebe, Conservation Pond; 1pr Great Tit, with fledged young (Robert Callf).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 LRP, Hobby.(Paul Hawkins)
 * South Norwood CP: Reed Bunting and 2 Swallow (Cuckoo reported earlier) (Steven Robinson).
 * Staines Reservoir: Slavonian Grebe (showing well, close into causeway bank, N.Basin) 17.00 (A.Luscombe)
 * Ten Acre Wood area: 2 Pheasant, 2 Kestrel, Lapwing, Stock Dove, c15 Swifts, 5 Swallows (pr by stables), 6 singing Whitethroat, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 7 singing Blackcap, singing Willow Warbler, 6 singing Chiffchaff, 11+ Jackdaw, Rooks heard from centre of wood (not visible), 2 male Reed Buntings, 3 Bullfinch, Linnet (Neil Anderson)
 * Barrnet Common: Cuckoo calling repeatedly towards Arkley; 3 Lapwings and 1 Skylark (hovering and singing) over the fields despite parched and barren conditions. Geoff Crabtree.

Saturday 14th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Hobby circled low over field south of cricket pitches 0934 then headed east, also Lesser Whitethroat still advertising himself from Cricket Scrub, 3+ Swallows, 2-3 House Martins, 40+ Swift (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts).
 * Bishops Park (Fulham): possible Cuckoo (but heard only 3 calls, &good mimics in area) (Nathalie Mahieu). Also a female Blackcap feeding fledged juveniles, Tawny Owl roosting in Ilex, a singing Stock Dove and a pair of Sparrowhawks (David Wills)
 * Brent Reservoir: Peregrine & pair of Shelduck (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Burgess Park: 4 Egyptian Geese and 20+ Swifts late evening (Richard Bonser).
 * Bushy Park: In morning (Diana Fountain) 1 Cormorant on statue, Mallard with several ducklings and the usuals. In the evening, 5:15, 2 Mandarin overhead then landed in canal, Grey Heron and Ring-Necked Parakeets. (Penelope Paxer)
 * Chorleywood Common: Spotted Flycatcher (D. McKenzie).
 * Crossness: 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Wheatear and 1 Grey wagtail with fledgling, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler and multiples of Swift, Swallow, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Common Tern (AW).
 * East India Dock Basin NR: Spotted Flycatcher (still at 07.40 in copse), 1 Common Swift, 4 House Martins,, Reed Bunting. (Gary A James).
 * Hampstead Heath: Lesser Whitethroat singing and holding territory (>1wk) on path up Parliament Hill from Cafe (Sash Tusa)
 * Horsenden Hill: 2 Common Buzzard NW 11.30 and another SW 15.55, 3 Swallow (Andy Culshaw). Rook SE about 20:30 (David Howdon)
 * Lea Valley - Netherhall / Glen Faba: 2 Little Egret in heronry (not apparently breeding), 2 Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Goose, 10 Gadwall, 1 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard, Stock Dove, 100+ Swift, 20 Swallow, c50 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Willow Warbler, 10 singing Chiffchaff, 15 singing Whitethroat, 2 singing Reed Warbler, 15 singing Sedge Warbler, 3 singing Garden Warbler, 4 singing Blackcap (Nigel May).
 * Rainham Marshes: fem-type Marsh Harrier east at 10 am, Red Kite south over seawall at 10.20, second-summer Yellow-legged Gull (Dump). (David Callahan)
 * Rotherhithe: 4 (presumably 2 pairs) Common Terns on purpose built islands on Surrey Water; 2 Sand Martins going in-and-out of nest hollow on bank of River Thames; Canada Geese and Mallards bred successfully in Southwark Park plus 6+ Ring-necked Parakeets; also 2nd calendar year Herring Gull Greenland Dock that was ringed at Rainham on 18/12/2010 (Richard Bonser).
 * Sainsbury's Nine Elms: female Kestrel at 8:20am - they seem to have abandoned sites used for last 17 years or more (Michael Mac).
 * Staines Res: in the morning, Slavonian Grebe in breeding plumage N basin (presumably the one seen earlier this spring); also Great Northern Diver on S basin and flying around early morning, Oystercatcher, single Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, four Dunlin, one Common Sandpiper (Rob Innes, Bob Warden). & Whitethroat, showing well, in parking layby on A3034, 06.45 and still at 08.40 (A.Luscombe). Little change in the evening, but the Slavonian Grebe was giving superb photo opportunities just off the N causeway bank about half-way along - could be worth a look tomorrow for DSLR fans (Rob Innes).
 * Totteridge Valley: 1 Cuckoo - according to dog walkers present since 9 May at least: six singing warblers; Garden Warbler (1): Willow Warbler (1): Lesser Whitethroat (1): double-figure scores for Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. Also 1 Swallow, 3 House Martins and several Swifts (John Colmans)
 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Black Kite, circled Hog Hill, flew off NE, 10:35 hrs (Robin White per RMC) (Observer has experience of species in Spain) - Interesting to read on Birdguides that one was reported over Hertford the same day!
 * Waterlow Park: GS Woodpecker predating Great tit fledgling, 14 or so Tufted Duck, Goldcrest singing, 1 Kestrel (P.Angus)
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: fem Marsh Harrier, 2 Red Kite, 4+ Buzzard, Kestrel, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 10+ Lapwing + 4 young, Cuckoo, Little Owl. (Steve Blake)
 * Upminster: singing Nightingale at N end of Hall Lane, present since 9th May (CRJ).

Friday 13th May 2011

 * Alexander Palace: Female Whinchat still on Cricket perimeter, Lesser Whitethroat in Cricket scrub. 7am (Davey Leach)
 * Amwell GPs: Spoonbill west past the viewpoint 10:07 (Birdguides).
 * Crayford Marshes: Red Kite drifted east 11:25. 2 Hobby, 2 Corn Bunting, Little Ringed Plover, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Whimbrel, 2 Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper. Green Hairstreak. (Kev Jarvis, Steve Carter, Phil Cliffe).
 * Greenwich Ecology Park: Little Grebe plus 2 chicks, 2 Common Tern, pr Whitethroat, 4-5 singing Reed Warbler, 2 Sand Martin. Plus 5 spp Odonata. (James Lowen)
 * Hampstead Heath: 5 Common Whitethroat, numerous Blackcap and Chiffchaff, 8+ Swifts, pr Treecreeper, pr Nuthatch, pr Great Crested Grebe with chick, pr Little Grebe, 2 Common Tern, Coal Tit, 3 Goldcrest, 4 GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel (Chris Bird)
 * Harrow-on-the-Hill: Nuthatch seen leaving nest hole in brickwork of house. Unusual nest location! (Alex Massey)
 * Kilburn: Red Kite flew from Kilburn, circled into West Hampstead over my window, headed off North over Mill Lane 11.45 (Andrew Verrall).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 3 Redshank, 12 Common Tern, 40+ Swift, Yellow Wagtail (Birdguides) Also drake Garganey. Photos (Louis Freeland-Haynes).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1pr Long-Tailed Tit with at least 11 chicks, 1m Great Spotted Woodpecker collecting food (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Oakhill Wood / Park (East Barnet): Golden Oriole heard (singing & cat like screeching) in top part of woodland (Mansfield Ave) from 06.35-06.45, but no sign since ('BH' on LondonBirds Twitter). Still no sign. Up dated by finder Bob Husband (with Andy Bensted & Kitt Jones) at Noon. Tawny Owl calling at 4.30 am. Lesser Whitethroat singing, Common Whitethroat singing, 2 Chiffchaff singing.
 * Osterley Park: Spotted Flycatcher 1, Hobby 1. (Keith Fisher)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Permit access, available through Berkshire Ornithological Club. Roseate Tern early am 06.00 then at Eton Wick Wier nearby till late pm at least. (per FJM)
 * Rotherhithe: 3 Ring-necked Parakeets over Greenland Dock 7am (Richard Bonser)
 * Sainsbury's Nine Elms: 1 Pied Wagtail on factory roof - Yesterday pr of Mandarins on [|factory chimney next to Sainsbury's then flew off] view video on this link (Michael Mac).
 * South Norwood CP: Little Grebe, 22 Swift, Pied Wagtail, 10 Reed Warbler (Croydon Birders).
 * Staines Reservoirs: 3 Sanderling flew over early am, also 1 Slavonian Grebe,1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Common Sandpiper. (Bob Warden per FJM).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Common Whitethroat still singing furiously from Scrapyard Meadow, also Broad-bodied Chaser male, and Emperor female laying in nearby pond, with my first-ever sighting of a Carrion Crow catching and devouring a frog; presume it noticed the movement when drinking, but after presumably enjoying the meal it was actively hunting for more! (Bob Watts).
 * Walthamstow res (Banbury): f Ringed Plover, pair Linnets, 1 Whitethroats plus usuals (err...Common Terns, Sand Martins, Coots, Gulls, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Pied Wagtails, Great Crested Grebes etc....Lol Bodini)
 * W2 (location withheld): singing Black Redstart a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe(with 2 young) 6 Common Swift, 2 House Martin, 1 Swallow, 2 singing Willow Warbler, 5 Blackap, 6 Chiffchaff, (John Watson)
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 2 Red-Legged Partridge, 2 Shelduck, Redshank, 5 Lapwing (Shaun Harvey)

Thursday 12th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Female Whinchat around perimeter of cricket pitch still (Bob Watts); Swallow, many Swifts, 3 Jackdaws, singing Lesser Whitethroat (David Callahan).
 * Barking Bay: Shelduck (lots of them), 2 Oystercatcher, 15 + Common Tern (Nick Croft/Keith Rayment)
 * Barking Creek: No waders whatsoever, none, some Shelduck (Nick Croft/Keith Rayment)
 * Battersea Park: pr Grey-lag Geese with 3 recently hatched goslings - when able to fly they always fly up to Hyde Park which I suppose is an element of their wild instincts, all the usuals, no swifts yet this year (Michael Mac).
 * Bushy Park: (Heron Pond) Lots of Red-Crested Pochards, Coots with chicks on nest, 2 sets of Egyptian Geese with 4 goslings + lots of Carp getting ready to spawn and the usuals! (The 2nd pond - behind Heron pond) Possible Reed Bunting in bracken along with several Skylarks,1 Wren and 2 Swifts. (Penelope Paxer)
 * Child's Hill: 2 Hobbys west and a Common Buzzard east over Finchley Rd/Hermitage Ln, 1940h (Fraser S Simpson).
 * Crayford: Thames Road Wetland - Great Spotted Woodpecker (site tick) climbing and probing Reedmace stems, 2 adult and 1 juvenile Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, 2 Mallard, 1 Dunnock, Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit, 13 Starlings (over), Magpie, Blackbird, Reed Warblers (heard). River Cray, By-way 105 - 2 adult Mute Swan, female Blackcap in Willow carr, another heard nearby (Chris Rose). ,
 * Crayford Marshes: 6 Sanderling, Corn Bunting, Willow Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, c80 Swift, Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 24 Swallow. Green Hairstreak. (Kev Jarvis).
 * East India Dock Basin: Spotted Flycatcher in copse (Stuart Fisher finder, per J Lethbridge) Spotted Flycatcher still present at 7 pm also silent but showy Garden Warbler (Nick Tanner).
 * East Wickham Open Space (Bexley): 3 singing Common Whitethroat, 80+ Starlings (Gus Wilson)
 * Leyton Flats: Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, 10+ Swifts (Red-breasted Goose and Barnacle Goose hanging about togethter). (Gary A James).
 * London, EC1: Pair of Black Redstarts (Andrew Birks).
 * M4 near Queen Mother Reservoir: Red Kite over (David Campbell & Colin Manville).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl back in the disaster area, 4 Swallow, 10 Swift, 2 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jackdaw, still 6 Canada Goose goslings & at least 5 Coot chicks after two weeks, first juvenile Robin noted & several Stock Dove (Jon Ridge).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Permit access, available through Berkshire Ornithological Club. Roseate Tern still present at 10.30. (Dave Daryl-Lambert per FJM) Later seen nearby at Eton but may return.
 * Rainham Marshes: 5 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher, Marsh Harrier (Nick Croft/Keith Rayment)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 2+ Sand Martin hawking over Cantrell Field, also Common Whitethroat still advertising for a mate Scrapyard Meadow (Bob Watts).
 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 House Martin, flew W, 10:30 hrs - my first of the year here! (Robert Callf).
 * Wanstead Flats: 7 Swallow (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 3 Little Egret, 5 Great Crested Grebe (2 nests), 3 Kingfisher, m Gadwall, Lesser Whitethroat (Nick Croft)
 * Waterlow Park: 07.30.1 Reed Warbler in Lower pond reedbed, singing intermittently, 1 Sparrowhawk over, 1 GS Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Tufted duck, 1 Coal tit, Nuthatch heard nr Cemetery, 5 + Swifts, 1 Chiff-chaff heard. (P.Angus)
 * Wyvil Estate (Stockwell): Starlings feeding young at 5 nests, 1 House Sparrow feeding young at nest, young dead grey squirrel must have fallen out of tree. I took this and put on out-house roof for the Magpies nesting, Magpie tried to eat it but it was taken away by a Carrion Crow which couldn't carry it and dropped it in Sainsbury's Petrol Station (Michael Mac).
 * South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe (with 2 young) 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, c10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Collared Dove, ( John Watson)
 * Uxbridge: Brunel University, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden warbler, 2 Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, pr Linnet in the Bicentenary Garden. Swift, Swallow, House Martin over, Kingfisher on River Pinn. 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blue butterfly (Steve Pash).

Wednesday 11th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Female Whinchat around perimeter of cricket patch from 1:40 to 2:15 pm at least, plus 2 Common Terns, pair Sparrowhawks displaying, c50 Swifts, 3 House Martins and many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs (David Callahan). Swallow north Wood Green Res 0650 (Bob Watts).
 * Clapham Common: 1 Reed Warbler singing in reeds on Mount Pond - patch tick for me and amazing after the pond was drained and small reed bed planted only two years ago! (Mark H)
 * Crayford Marshes: Whimbrel, Greenshank, male Corn Bunting, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, 2 Cetti's Warbler. (Kev Jarvis).Ealing (W13): Common Tern over SW at 09:25 - only the 2nd garden record (Bill Haines).
 * Crossness: 2 Sanderling with 1 Dunlin in Barking Bay early evening, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Wheatears (one male appeared a classic Greenland), Swallow N, House Martin (first of year for the site) (John Archer).
 * Edgware Road (near junction with Telford Road): loads of House Martins (Reuben Braddock)
 * Hogsmill SF, 2 Woodlark flew SW calling, 10+ Common Swift (Nick Tanner).
 * Harrow-on-the-Hill: Singing Stock Dove & Chiffchaff and 4 Swift over (Alex Massey)
 * Holmethorpe SPs: 52 Greylag Goose, 12 Canada Goose, 2 Shelduck, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Lapwing, Cuckoo, c20 Swift, Skylark, c20 Sand Martin, c8 House Martin, 3 Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Common Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Linnet, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer (HSP blog).
 * Kempton Park Reserve. Permit access. Garganey drake at dusk in front of W hide. Also Ringed Plover and 500 + Jackdaws in to roost. (FJM) Earlier in afternoon 4 Little Ringed Plovers and Redshank. (Colin Trim)
 * London EC4A: Black Redstart (Neil Batten)
 * London Wetland Centre: 17 Common Tern, c50 Swift, 5 Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat (LWC website).
 * Oakhill Woods NR, East Barnet: additional singing Lesser Whitethroat & Chiffchaff east of the wood. R. A. (Bob) Husband.
 * Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine Falcon 06:15 (D. McKenzie).
 * Streatham Common, Sainsbury's carpark: 5 swifts (R Bell).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir (permit access): Roseate Tern still present a.m. and still present on the pontoon by the sailing club to 12:30 when it flew and was lost (Birdguides).
 * Ruislip Lido: 4 Little Ringed Plover from the beer garden, 8 Swift, 2 House Martin, 1 Swallow - no sign of the Sanderling (JR).
 * South Norwood Country Park: pr Shelduck, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, 9 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 9 Swift, 2 Swallow, Pied Wagtail, 6 Reed Warbler, Jackdaw, Linnet, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
 * Sidcup (Longlands Road): Hobby over (John Archer).
 * Staines Reservoirs: Great Northern Diver still on S basin and Oystercatcher on W bank of N basin. (FJM)
 * Vauxhall BT: male Peregrine over the park (Michael Mac).
 * Tufnell Park (N7): 19:15 24+ Swifts and 1 Sparrowhawk, Tufnell Pk Rd / Huddlestone Rd (Chris Bird)
 * Wandsworth: Male Whitethroat singing Bell Lane Creek by Thames (opposite waste centre). Common Sandpiper flew East downriver. Grey Wagtails displaying aggressively here also. 1 Arctic Tern over the creek briefly. (Mark H)
 * Wanstead Flats: 0515-0700. 9 Greylag (2nd brood onAlex), 20 Mute Swan, Swallow, Willow Warbler (J Lethbridge) Hobby, m Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 100+ Swift,14+Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Chiffchaff, C. Whitethroat, Blackcap, Yellow Wagtail (over), Meadow Pipit, 4 Mistle Thrush, BH Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, f Reed Bunting, 3 Stock Dove, Little Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck, RR Parakeet (NC)
 * Wanstead Park:16 + Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, many Swift (over Heronry), 2 Swallow (OSW), Lesser Whitethroat, C Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker (nest hole with clamerous young), 4 Great crested Grebe (2 nests), Little Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, Heron (NC), Little Egret (on the Roding and then over the Plain) (ST)
 * Wardour Street (W1): male Grey Wagtail (D. McKenzie).
 * West Harrow: 2 swallows past my house at 8am (1st of year) (Alex Massey)

Tuesday 10th May 2011

 * Bankside SE1: Reed Warbler in birches in front of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg)
 * Crayford: 25 Swifts over north end of Station Rd (junction with Crayford Rd). (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford Marshes: fem Whinchat, Hobby, Whimbrel, Male Corn Bunting, 2 Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Swallow. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dulwich, Gunsite Allotments: Whitethroat (Steven Robinson).
 * Ealing (W13): Swallow north over garden at 20:10 (only get two or three garden records per year). Also at least 5 Swift (Bill Haines).
 * East India Dock Basin: 2 Shelduck, 29 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Terns, c6 singing Reed Warblers, 1+ Sand Martin (John Archer).
 * Enfield: Hobby circling low over Southbury Avenue at 13.05. (J Birkett)
 * Hampstead Heath: 4 Little Grebe and lots of trilling on Wood Pond, Kenwood (CB)
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Temmincks Stint at the viewing area this evening (Dick Jeffree,Shaun Harvey,Dave Morrison,Paul Hawkins)
 * Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens: F Mandarin with brood of 6 v.young ducklings; Egyptian Goose pair with 11 goslings; F Mallard with 3 ducklings. (Matt Reed)
 * Lower Sydenham (Bell Green - Ladywell Fields) 05:00am- 8:30am; Lesser Whitetroat (singing), Pently of Whitethroats, Blackcaps, 1 - 2 Chiffchaff, Stock Dove (overhead), 3 Swifts, 1 Mistle Thrush (singing) (Ernie Thomason)
 * Miles Street, Vauxhall SW8: Herring Gull sitting on nest - site used last year and Woodpigen with 2 young in same site as last year - pretty predictable really (Michael Mac).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 3 male Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Swallow, 4 Swift, 1 Cormorant, Green Woodpecker & 1 Grey Heron (JR). Little Owl at dusk (Charlie Farrell)
 * Potters Field, London Bridge: 1 (possibly 2) Whitethroats (Paul Whiteman per JA).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Roseate Tern still at 07:08, still present at 11.59 (RBA). No sign 12:00 - 13:30 at least, just 2 Common Terns; 2 common sandpipier. Red Kite, Sparrow-hawk & hobby over rubbish dump from East bank (J.Murray).
 * Rotherhithe: 2 Collared Doves, Common Tern and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets Greenland Dock (Richard Bonser).
 * Ruislip Lido: Sanderling (partial summer) and 3 Little Ringed Plover (Bill Shepherd, Tim Clarke, John Edwards & Steve Pash).
 * South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, c30 Common Swift, 5 Song thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Staines: 1 or 2 House Martin, seen from train window (Robert Callf).
 * Staines Reservoir: Roseate Tern flying over N basin then landed on King George VI pier viewable from W end of Staines causeway. (Bob Warden per FJM). Still showing from Staines at 10.30 (Andrew Self) Not seen after 11.10. to at least 12.30 (per Ken Purdey). In the evening, no Roseate Tern, but 2CY Mediterranean Gull N basin around rafts, Red Kite -> W over Ashford, plus four Dunlin through and a Ringed Plover. Great Northern Diver still S basin (Rob Innes, Chris Jones, Ken Purdey).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Common Whitethroat still holding territory Scrapyard Meadow, House Martin west, male Goldcrest bathed in High Glade pond then sang nearby (Bob Watts).
 * Totteridge Fields NR, Hendon Wood Lane, NW7: 2 singing Garden Warblers, 4 singing Blackcaps, 4 singing Common Whitethroats, calling & seen Nuthatch, singing Willow Warbler. R. A. (Bob) Husband
 * Totteridge Long Pond, N 20: pair of Common Terns fishing & perched on "No Fishing" notice at approx. 2.00pm. 2 pair Canada Geese with 4 & 3 goslings, Mallard dead in the road. Path south of Long Pond: 30 Swift to the east, Common Whitethroats feeding young, Little Owl calling R. A. (Bob) Husband
 * Upper College Farm Bexley 0730-0900 Kestrel (pair), Stock dove, skylark (4), wren (7), dunnock (3), robin (3), blackbird (11), song thrush, mistle thrush, blackcap (6), garden warbler, lesser whitethroat, common whitethroat (17), chiffchaff (6), chaffinch, greenfinch (3), goldfinch (2), swift (6). (Ralph Todd).
 * Wimbledon Common: 5+ Whitethroats. 1 Swift overhead.
 * Wyvil Estate (Stockwell): Starling feeding young at least 3 nests, House Sparrow feeding young at nest also (Michael Mac).

Monday 9th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Common Terns WG Res, Lesser Whitethroat singing Cricket Scrub (David Callahan).
 * Barnehurst: 4 Swifts over top end of Thirlmere Rd, early evening. First of year.
 * Blackheath Dips: Common Whitethroats singing, Lesser Whitethroat singing (1st of year here, very late!) (Joe Beale)
 * Broadwater Lake, Harefield: Hobby, 2 Buzzard, at least 3 Common Tern, Garganey, several pairs Tufted Ducks, several pairs GC Grebe, possible pair Greylag with 1 gosling but cant be sure, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler (heard but not seen Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler) (W.Marks)
 * Burgess Park: (From along New Church Road) Pair of Blackcap, 3 Common Whitethroat, singing Song Thrush, 2 Swift, 2 Swallow north + good number of Greenfinch. Singing Whitethroat + Chiffchaff round the corner in the Elmington estate. (Ian Cater)
 * Clapham Common: 2 pair Swift back around their usual breeding haunt in Clapham Old Town (Mark H).
 * Crayford Marshes: 2 Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail, Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Whitethroat, male Corn Bunting, Little Owl, 12 House Martin, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin. also a Green Hairstreak. (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter)
 * Ealing Broadway: Grey Wagail singing on Ealing Broadway Station mid evening (Bill Haines).
 * East India Dock Basin: 41 Tufted Ducks (including 2 Portuguese nasal-saddled birds), Shelduck, 4 Common Terns, 4+ singing Reed Warblers, singing Blackcap (John Archer).
 * East Wickham Open Space, Bexley: 3 common Whitethroat singing (Gus WIlson)
 * Greenwich Park: juvenile Greenfinch seen, Starling bringing food to nest, and 2 Egyptian Geese again. Quiet recently. (Joe Beale)
 * Harefield: priv address St Marys Rd area, Red Kite, Buzzard, large roose House Sparrows, Pied Wagtail, c15 RN Parakeets, c15 Jackdaws, Swifts, Housemartins, plus usual garden birds inc juv Blackbird (all seen from Mums back garden - W.Marks)
 * Hermitage Basin: c30 Sand Martins, 2+ House Martins (John Archer).
 * Mile End: 2 Swifts north opposite tube station (Bob Watts).
 * Muswell Hill- Sydney Rd : 4 Swifts, 7 House Martins flying north. (P.Angus)
 * Olivers Ait: Common sandpiper, 8 pairs of canada goose breeding plus numerous abandoned eggs, wren and long tailed tit breeding. (Tony Wileman)
 * Oakdale Road, Streatham: swift (heard) (first of the year). R Bell.
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Roseate Tern on raft early morning; flew off at 12.40 (Birdguides).
 * Shadwell Basin: pair of Egyptian Geese nesting on raft, pair of Common Terns on raft, 6+ Sand Martins, 2 singing Blackcaps (John Archer).
 * Stratford Channelsea Walk: Male Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit. Green-veined White, Brimstone. (Phil Laurie)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Common Whitethroat still singing Scrapyard Meadow =- Outdoor Classroom, Common Blue Cantrell Field (Bob Watts).
 * Wandsworth Common: Common Tern over the ponds (Neil Anderson)
 * Waterlow Park: Singing Goldcrest, 17 Tufted Duck, male Blackcap, Canada geese with goslings, 2 Swifts,(P.Angus),

Sunday 8th May 2011

 * Belair Park: male Sparrowhawk hi-up, 2 singing Blackcap, 1 drake Mandarin - female probably on nest, 2 broods Canada Geese, Blue Tit young in box (Michael Mac).
 * Barking Bay: 1st summer Med Gull, Whimbrel, Garden Warbler.(Paul Hawkins)
 * Brent Reservoir: Lapwing, c11 Great Crested Grebe, c11 Common Tern, 3+ Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, 10+ Common Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker. 2+ House Martin and 30+ Swift (Charlie Farrell).
 * Brixton: pr Swifts at 9:25am seen from bus (Michael Mac).
 * Broadwater: 1 sp Dunlin on Korda lake, Cuckoo, 2 Oystercatcher, Hobby, 2 Buzzard. (Joe Dickens)
 * Brockwell Park: Singing Whitethroat at top pond and Collared Dove flying through, both patch ticks, pr Swifts, 3 broods Coot, 1 brood Canada Geese 1 on a nest (Michael Mac). Where were the pair of Swift? (Charlie Kitchen) They were over the house but not for long (Michael Mac).
 * Cassiobury Park: female Mandarin Duck, Kingfisher, 5 Song Thrush, 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Crossness: female Common Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher trapped & ringed, 3 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears (looked Greenland-ish), 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull (John Archer, Ian Miller, Andy Wardell, Roger Taylor).
 * Crystal Palace Park: pr Peregrines landed on the TV transmitter then flew approximatly west at midday. Lake - pr Great-crested Grebe on nest, Nuthatch, Blue and Great tit feeding young in nests, Grey Heron's fledged, 1 chirping House Sparrow (first time), Canada Geese with 6 young, pr Greylag ferals, 2 Mallard broods (Michael Mac).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Red Kite just after 5pm, Hobby, Nightingale, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, Common Snipe, Sedge Warbler and a few Lesser Whitethroat ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: male Whinchat (BCEP briefly at 07:00); EIDB: Little Ringed Plover, 5 Common Terns; singing Lesser Whitethroat, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper all from 'Spunk Point' [surely Spurn Point? Ed] [you obviously haven't been there then! - DC]; drake Teal (River Lea); overall: 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Shelduck, 7 Sand Martins, 16 Reed Warblers (inc. one imitating Bearded Tit call as part of song, and another singing on the roundabout). (David Callahan).
 * Fishers Green: 7am, Nightingale, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Swift, 4 Swallows, Red-legged Partridge (G Sawtell).
 * Hampstead Heath (0800-1200, incl Heath Hampstead Soc Bird Walk): Lesser Whitethroat singing briefly on Parliament Hill, 4x House Sparrows (first I have seen here for c.15 years), 2x Swallow, House Martins, 3x Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest (Sash Tusa)
 * Kew Gardens: pr Mute Swan (female on 7 eggs), 43 Canada Geese+ 4 broods (6/3/3/4), 10 Greylag + 1 gosling, 7 Egyptian Geese, 43 Mallard + new brood of 10, 17 Tufted Duck, pr Pochard, 2pr Dabchick, pr Hobbies, Common Tern over, 5 Stock Doves, 10+ Swift, House Martin, 8 singing Blackcap, 2 singing Chiffchaff (Neil Anderson)
 * Kew Green pond: pr Mute Swans + 5 cygnets, 9 Tufted Duck, pr Pochard (Neil Anderson)
 * Lee Valley CP: 3-4 hour trip produced 68 species, with a White Fronted Goose still present in one of the fields at Holyfield. Also Common Sandpiper, Sand Martin, Swallow and a single LPR on Langridge, 5 Yellowhammers around farm area, 2 calling Cuckoo, 2 Swift from Holyfield Viewpoint, along with 2 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Nightingales, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Garden Warbler, plus the commoner migrants around Fisher's Green Island area. (J Anderson). Black-tailed Godwit and two Pink-footed Geese on the Goosefield (S.E. Herts RSPB)
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: quiet tonight, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Jay, the usuals (Rich Petley). Any Tawny Owls bred this year? As I didn't see any earlier on this year? (Michael Mac).
 * Oxleas Woods: 2 Hobbies, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, c 30 swifts over & 2 Swallows (John Reid)
 * Perivale Wood: 2+ Tawny Owls calling around 04:30 on dawn chorus event. The first records of this species for this site for 2011 which is unusual given how much time after dark is spent 'mothing' down there by the recorders. (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon and a bunch of Sellborne Society members).
 * Pinner Park Farm: female Whinchat in the middle hedge, 17 Swift, 4 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Jay & 4 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: Peregrine, 6 Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, 4 Greenshank, 5 Common Sandpipers, 1s Yellow-legged Gull, 1s Common Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtails, male Northern Wheatear, reeling Grasshopper Warbler (Dominic Mitchell)
 * Ruislip : 2 Common Tern and dozens of Swift at Lido. 2 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Hobby at Poors Field. Cuckoo, Red Kite and Common Buzzard in fields next to Bayhurst Wood (Steve Pash).
 * Shrewsbury Park Plumstead: 2 Swallow (north), stock dove, 10+ swifts, 2 Common Whitethroat, Blackcap (singing, heard not seen) (Gus Wilson)
 * South Ealing Station: 1 Swallow west (Neil Anderson)
 * South Norwood CP: Swallow, Lesser Whitethroat, 26 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 11 Swift, 2 Linnet, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel (Steven Robinson).
 * Staines Reservoir: 1 Great Northern Diver still on S basin. 1 Redshank N basin.(Bob Warden, FJM et al); in the evening three Whimbrel through (Rob Innes, Ken Purdey).
 * South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe ( with 2 young), c20 Tufted Duck, 1f Sparrowhawk, 1 Collared Dove, c30 Common Swifts, 2 Swallows, 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 6 singing Blackcap, 6 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (+1male at nest feeding young), Long-tailed Tit, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, Chaffinch Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Totteridge Valley (Folly Brook), N. London: Common Buzzard, Kestrel, singing Willow Warbler, 4 singing Chiffchaff, singing Blackcaps & Common Whitethroats, pair Mandarin Ducks with 4 ducklings plus another pair & 2 further males on Darlands Lake. Mallard with ducklings on Darlands Lake & Totteridge Duck Pond (behind Orange Tree PH), Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, Nuthatch calling. R. A. (Bob) Husband.
 * White City: Green Woodpecker over Wood Lane heading towards the Blue Peter Garden (Charlie Farrell)

Saturday 7th May 2011
2 Blackcaps, Linnet, 3 Greenfinches (Alan Hobson).
 * Alexandra Park: Turtle Dove low NE over cricket scrub 0815 (2nd this century), also 4 Common Terns Wood Green Res, c35 Swifts, Swallow, Lesser Whitethroat (Bob Watts, Gareth Richards).
 * Barnes Common: pair of Sparrowhawks on nest (M Ruscoe).
 * Battersea Park Lake: calling Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker at 3:30pm otherwise very quiet - Red-crested Pochard seem to have gone? Just shows how a new species can make a big difference to a habitat regardless if they are feral or not, also singing Song Thrush and Blackcap (Michael Mac).
 * Bentley Priory: 4+ Garden Warblers, Hobby, Buzzard, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, pair of Gadwall, 2 Kite sp high west. Also 2 common blue butterflies. (Joe Dickens).
 * Blackheath village: 1 Hobby over my garden 1530-1540 (James Lowen).
 * Brent Reservoir: pair of Shelduck, 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing (Brent Birders).
 * Camden Town: Common Whitethroat singing by Camden Road Overground station this morning (Peter Gray)
 * Cannon Lane (Pinner): Hobby and 3 swifts.(Joe Dickens)
 * Crossness: escaped Red-breasted Goose (with yellow ring) in paddocks, drake Mandarin flew upriver at 10:25, Barwit off Golf Centre, 16 Ringed Plovers and 2 Dunlin in Barking Bay, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1st year male Wheatear (looked like a Greenland), 1+ Yellow Wagtail, c15 Swifts, 2 Swallows (John Archer & Rich Bonser).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Peregrine, 2 Hobby, 2 Kestrel, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, Common Snipe. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 3 Shelduck, 2 male Common Teal, 31 Tufted Duck including the two nasal saddled birds fronm Portugal, Common Buzzard north, Little Ringed Plover, 7 Common Tern, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Sand Martin, 10+ Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat (Nick Tanner).
 * Hainault Farm: 3 Yellow Wagtails [one showing very well], up to 10 Skylarks, Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, 2 Swallows (Alan Hobson).
 * Hillingdon Cycle Circuit 2 Common Whitethroats, Meadow Pippets, Sky Larks, Green Finches
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Male Whinchat in top paddock also 2 Redshank (Shaun Harvey). Nightingale singing 6.20 S Hacton Drive (Steve Bacon)
 * Kensal Green Cemetery and St Mary’s Cemetery: 2 Singing Chiffchaff, GS Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker. Common Blue butterfly (Charlie Farrell)
 * Pinner Park Farm: 4 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 4 Swallow, 3 Swift, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw & Thursdays much sought after Kestrel again (Jon Ridge, Joe Dickens).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Grey Plover Flew E prior to 08.00 Also 5 Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover. 1 Little Tern flew SE @ 08.30. (Mike Mckee per FJM)
 * Rainham Marshes: 4 Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper (Target Pools), 13 Grey Plover (Aveley Bay); Hobby (Tip); 1 Whinchat (fence near Dragonfly Pool), 1 Wheatear (Seawall); c20 Common Tern down river. Huge numbers of Whitethroat + other common summer warblers. (Tom Smith)
 * Rainham, Thames Averley Bay: 1 Wheatear (m), 5 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Cormorant, 20 Shelduck + seen on Kent foreshore 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 2 Grey Plover (Steve Bacon).
 * River Lee Country Park: Nightingale in scrub behind Cheshunt Station (Hertfordshire bird, for the benefit of county listers); 2 Hobbies over Seventy Acre; several Buzzards, Yellowhammer, Yellow Wagtail from Holyfield Viewpoint; Redshank, Shelduck, Nightingale, Cetti’s Warbler, Cuckoo at Langridge. (Mike Oakland)
 * Roding Valley Park: Exotic looking Quail [presumed escape; not the normal British quail], 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Whitethroats, Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Chiffchaffs, Cormorant,
 * Rotherhithe: Common Terns back on Surrey Water (later arrival than usual); 2+ Sand Martins Old Salt Quay (Richard Bonser).
 * South Norwood Lake: Hobby, 1m Kestrel, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe with 2 young + 1 adult, 12 Tufted Duck, c20 Common Swift, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 singing Blackcap, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 5 singing Chiffchaff, 3 Song Thrush, family of Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, 2 Stock Dove, c10 Goldfinch, 4 House Sparrow,, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver (South Basin), Common Sandpiper, Redshank (North Basin), 11 Shelduck and on KG VI, Common Tern, 3 Black Tern, 1 Little Tern (North Basin 8.45-9.00), Whimbrel flew N @11.20 and Ringed Plover over @ 12.25. Yellow Wagtail on W bank of S basin late am. (FJM) Greenshank (over N.Basin), Little Gull (A.Luscombe). Also in the evening a first-summer Mediterranean Gull and three 2CY Little Gulls (Rob Innes).
 * Stapleford Tawney: Spotted Flycatcher, Mistle Thrush, Whitethroat, 2 Swallows, half a dozen Goldfinches, Pheasant (Alan Hobson).
 * Swiss Cottage: 18 Swifts flew over the main junction at about 14.00. (Aaron C-Partridge)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs, south side: 8am, 10+ Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper, Reed and Sedge Warbler, plenty of Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Swift, 1 Sand Martin (G Sawtell). Lockwood (pm): 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear. North of East Warwick: Garden Warbler (h), 3+ Hobby over, 4 Common Sandpiper. West Warwick: single Black Tern with group of Commons. No.5: 2 Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose family still with 7 young (Paul Whiteman, Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 Reed Warbler (singing on Alex), 2 Common Sandpiper (Alex) (J Lethbridge) 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Sandpiper (extremely tame cracking bird) still at 14:00, Egyptian Goose, 5 Swift (Nick Croft) PS Can the humourous person on here please stop fucking about with what we put in. For someone presumably an adult it's pathetic - JL)
 * Wanstead Park: Egyptian Goose pr with no chicks, 5 Great Crested Grebe - pair #2 copulating on nest midway up Heronry, Little Grebe, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Little Egret, 2 Heron, 2 Kingfisher (reported by pump house), Sand Martin, 6 Swift, Reed Warbler, Hobby, Long-tailed Tit (with very cute young - SoM) (Nick Croft, J Lethbridge).

Friday 6th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Hobby (1st of year) 1352-1356 circled over cricket scrub then west, also c10 Swift, Lesser Whitethroat Cricket Scrub (Bob Watts).
 * Bankside SE1: Garden Warbler in birches at west end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg)
 * Blackheath 'Dips': 2 male Whitethroats singing and displaying, numerous Swifts (Joe Beale).
 * Botany Bay Farm, Enfield Chase: 1 singing male Garden Warbler, along Salmons Brook (Robert Callf).
 * Brent Reservoir: 1m1f Shelduck, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 1m1f Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1m Reed Bunting (Andrew Haynes).
 * Crayford Marshes: Little Tern fishing on the Thames then flew east at 08:45, 3 Arctic Tern, 8 Common Tern, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Hobby, Avocet, 3 Whimbrel, 6 Greenshank, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Little Owl, Cuckoo, 8 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, 3 Lesser Whitethroat. (Kev Jarvis & Ian Stewart).
 * Crossness: Common Buzzard SW at 17:45, 2 Yellow Wagtails in paddocks this evening (John Archer).
 * Crouch End to Finsbury Park: 7.30-8.15am, 10+ singing Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Swift, Canada Goose with 15 chicks (George Sawtell)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Nightingale, Common Sandpiper, Hobby, 4 House Martin. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Ealing (W13): Kestrel over garden late afternoon (surprisingly a garden"tick") and 6+ Swift. (Bill Haines),
 * East India Dock Basin area: 4 Common Terns, 4 Oystercatchers, Lesser Whitethroat (Bow Creek), House Sparrow (BEP), 7 singing Reed Warblers, Common Seal (Gary A James).
 * East Wickham Open Space: 2 Common Whitethroat (singing), 50+ Starling (Gus Wilson)
 * Fulham Reach: 2 Housemartin (collecting mud), 1 Great Black-Backed Gull (Nathalie Mahieu)
 * Fulham: Bishops Park: 4 Swift over allotments, 2-3 singing Song Thrush (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Greenwich Park: 2 Peregrines circling and flying around, 6+ Swallows W ish, all late afternoon (Joe Beale)
 * Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens: 4 Mandarin Duck including 3 Drakes, Pair of Lesser Black Backed Gull and at least 1 Common Sandpiper. (Charlie Kitchen)
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Nightingale singing this evening (Shaun Harvey,DJ,SS,DM)
 * London W1: pr Black Redstarts (James A).
 * London Eye: 2 Common Sandpiper (Steve Chastell)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 2 Swift (screaming ) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Oakhill Woods NR, East Barnet, Herts. EN4: Ring-necked Parkeet female in nest hole, Jackdaws taking food to nest hole, singing Common Whitethroat, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 8 singing Wren, 3 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Song Thrush, 3 singing Chaffinch, 4 singing Blackbird, 8 singing Robin, singing Dunnock, singing Green Woodpecker, singing Stock Dove, Nuthach singing near nest hole, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker. 11 Swift over East Barnet Village R. A. (Bob) Husband, Andy Bensted & KJ
 * Plumstead (Griffin Rd): 10+ Swift (Gus Wilson)
 * Rainham Marshes: 2 Little Stint (HV) - Kent side of river, Wood Sandpiper (target pools), 4 + Common Sandpiper, 10 + Greenshank (target pools), 5 + Whimbrel, 5+ Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Avocet, Curlew, Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatcher, Redshank, Snipe (Rainham Havering LNR), 6 Common Tern, 1 Little Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler (Rainham Havering LNR), 2 f Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift, Cuckoo, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 6 Teal and some other stuff (NC et al)
 * Rainham Village: 3 House Martin, 2 Swift, Cetti's Warbler, 3 singing Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, pair Long-tailed Tit, Rook, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Richard Harrison).
 * Ruislip Lido: 2 Common Sandpiper & 2 Little Ringed Plover on the main raft, 2 Swallow, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & 2 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Staines Res: in the evening, two Little Terns till 1940hrs, when flew off S; also Great Northern Diver S basin still, plus Dunlin and Common Sandpiper (Rob Innes).
 * Trent Country Park, Cockfosters: Mandarin Ducks with 4 ducklings & 9 ducklings. Canada Goose & White Farmyard Goose with 5 goslings (6 goslings yesterday?). Slow Worm (KJ) on saved "set aside" field containing 4 Whiethroat territories. R. A. (Bob) Husband & KJ
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 2+ Little Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Garden Warbler. (Steve Blake/Simon West)
 * Whetstone (N 20) : Red Kite east over Boots car park also 2 Swifts (T.Clancy)
 * Winchmore Hill, N21: 3 Swifts over Eaton Park Road at around 15:40. (Katy M)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Garden Warbler, c60 Swift, 2 Jackdaws, Green Woodpecker & 2/3 Common Whitethroat in grassland, Sparrowhawk (Anders Price) c5 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Swift on Little Scrubs (Charlie Farrell)

Thursday 5th May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: singing Firecrest in oaks at east end of deer enclosure from 07:55 to 08:15 at least, plus calling Nuthatch nearby, and 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats; 30 mixed Swifts, Swallows, Sand and House Martins over cricket pitch, briefly dispersed west by a male Peregrine; also 10 Pochard new in (WG Res) and many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs (David Callahah).
 * Bankside (SE1): Ad Kittiwake over river then flew north at 11.50 (Simon Fogg)
 * Barons Court: screaming Swifts at rooftop level (M Ruscoe).
 * Blackheath 'Dips': Whitethroat still display-flighting, juvenile Robin, juvenile blackbird, Chiffchaff sing, 1 Swallow over, also first real numbers of Swifts (12+) (Joe Beale)
 * Brent Reservoir: 7 Lapwing, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 50+ Swift (0700), 15+ Swallow, Subadult Peregrine hawking in E Marsh flushed all Common Terns from rafts (0945) (Roy Beddard); pr Shelduck flew in at 1950h (F. Simpson).
 * Claybury Park: Garden Warbler [then either the same one or a second], 2 Chiffchaffs, around 4 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Jays (Alan Hobson).
 * Cranford Park: at dusk, lost count of Ring-necked Parakeets, pair of Kestrels still showing well (reared 5 young last year), 9 Jays, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeceker, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, Little Owl flying low over open park, 2 Buzzard flying over ancient woods. (WM)
 * Crayford Marshes: male Common Scoter drifting east on the Thames at 06:55. 3 Arctic Tern west, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Greenshank, 4 Whimbrel, fem Wheatear, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 11 Swift, 4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, Little Owl, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dalston: swifts are back, around St Marks church (Jon Agar).
 * East India Dock Basin: 44 Tufted Duck (including the 2 Portuguese nasal-saddled birds), Shelduck, 4 Common Terns, 3 singing Reed Warblers, singing Blackcap, Sand Martin (John Archer).
 * Eltham: Black Redstart, Elibank Road 6.30pm, also there this morning. Mrs C Strevens et al
 * Fairlop Gravel Works: 3 Shelduck, 4 male Little Grebe, 4 Gadwall, 20 Herring Gull, 8 Lapwing (4 pairs), 10 Little Ringed Plover (5 pairs i think), 4 Common Sandpiper feeding together, Pheasant, Green Woodpecker, 7 Stock Dove, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 male Wheatear, 4 Linnet, 10 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 30+ Swift, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 male Reed Bunting, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat (Redbridge Birdwatching)
 * Fairlop Waters: Sedge Warbler, up to 10 Whitethroats, up to 9 Reed Buntings, 2 Green Woodpeckers, Linnet, Chiffchaff, 2 Gadwall, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, large numbers of Swifts, Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins, 2 Great Crested Grebes (Alan Hobson). 4 Yellow Wagtail, Hobby hunting over the lake, Common Sandpiper (Redbridge Birdwatching)
 * Finsbury Park, Tollington Park: the Finsbury Park swifts were back this morning! (George Sawtell)
 * Greenwich Park: 2 Red Kites over (1 @ 16.01 and 1 @ 17.07, both W-ish), my first here, surprisingly, plus 7 Swallows W (Joe Beale).
 * Hackney Marshes: Grasshopper Warbler, 50m from where one was seen in early April (around 100m south-ish from where the Lea Navigation (near the golf course) meets the River Lea, along the path but the other side of the river, in a willow -- if you reach a bird hide you've gone too far), reeling on and off, excellent views! 18 Whitethroats, Reed Warbler along river, 2 Shelduck over N, 12 Swift, lots of Blackcap and Chiffchaff. no Willow Warbler (Jamie Partridge).
 * Hainault Farm: 9 Pheasant, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 32 Skylark, 11 Yellow Wagtail, 29 Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 4 Stock Dove, 2 male Yellowhammer, 4 Linnet (Redbridge Birdwatching)
 * Hatch Forest, Woodford Green: 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, singing Whitethroat, singing Lesser Whitethroat, singing Garden Warbler, Nuthatch, c10 Song Thrush singing, 7 Jackdaw (Redbridge Birdwatching).
 * Hyde Park: 2 Sandpiper sp. (probably Commons but didn't have my bins at the time) on the island.(D.Jordan)
 * Kew Gardens: pr Egyptian geese with three goslings; female missing right foot - is history known? (William Marshall)
 * King George V, 2 Black Terns, 1 imm Little Gull, 5+ Arctic Terns (Ian Lycett)
 * King George VI Reservoir: 1 Whimbrel (K.P.Duncan).
 * London W1: 2 male Black Redstarts, one present and noisy all morning; very distracting indeed (James A). One singing in W1 not far from Oxford Circus at 7.30pm. (R. Gowrley)
 * Margravine Cemetery: Fledgling Mistle Thrush. Juvenile Robin already starting to show some breast colour (M Ruscoe) The Mistle Thrush fledged yesterday, saw 3 this morning (1 not fully developed & grounded) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Middlesex Filter Beds NR: Common Tern over, 5 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 8 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff, (Jamie Partridge)
 * Oakwood (Sheringham Ave., N14): 3 Swift, together, 09:00 hrs - at last, late this year! (Robert Callf).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Hobby & finally 1 male Kestrel (after 93 visits this year), 1 Little Owl, 2 Swallow, 3 Whitethroat, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Jackdaw & 1 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Potters Field, London Bridge: Reed Warbler singing (Paul Whiteman per JA).
 * Richmond Park: Ortolan Bunting male in large gorse enclosure near Holly Lodge prior to 08.00 only. Not relocated and 2 Wheatears and 1 Whinchat (Hugh Bradshaw & Jan Wilczur per FJM). 2 Crossbills low south past Lodge (JW); 2 Egyptian Goose, 5 Mandarin Duck (4 male), Little Owl showing well, male Northern Wheatear; also 2 Essex Skipper and plenty of St. Mark's Fly (D. McKenzie, Alan Miller).
 * Rotherhithe: Stock Dove east over Greenland Dock (Richard Bonser)
 * Ruislip Lido: 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover and Drake Mandarin (Steve Pash).
 * Staines Moor: Hobby (2) & Wheatear
 * Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver still on the South basin, 14 Black Tern, 2 Little Gull, 3 Redshank. (K.P.Duncan).
 * Streatham, Natal Road: 1 Cormorant (over) R Bell.
 * Tower 42: 1 Kittiwake seen under the Millennium Bridge (probably the Bankside bird), 2 Swift north & a couple Peregrine. (T42BSG).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Common Whitethroat still Scrapyard Meadow (Bob Watts).
 * Uxbridge: 2 Lesser Whitethroat and Red Kite at Brunel University Bicentenary Garden (Steve Pash)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (Lockwood): 4 Whimbrel came in from North around 15.15 & stayed for an hour or so before being spooked by Peregrine & flying off East. Also 1 Common Buzzard NE, 3 Wheatear. On Walthamstow marsh this evening: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, several Whitethroat & Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Linnet & Song Thrush all in song + another Peregrine on pylon (L Bodini/D Barrett/George).
 * Wanstead Flats: Reed Warbler (singing on Alex), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, YEllow Wagtail (heard over), Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 2 Egyptian Goose, Linnet, 3 singing Reed Bunting, 2 Common Gull, LBB Gull, Herring Gull, Swallow, 2 Sparrowhawk (1 "mistle thrushing" across fairground, appears to work as the crows ignored it), Kestrel, Heron, 5 Stock Dove, Little Grebe, 11 Rose ringed Parakeet (51 sp NC)
 * Wanstead Park: Egyptian Goose pr with only 2 ducklings this morning (NB), possible Pied Flycatcher (flew into an Ash tree on the golf course, just a brief glimpse), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher (heard calling, then singing on the Roding), Nuthatch (heard briefly on ornamental waters), 2 Gadwall, 2 Greylag Goose (over west), Little Egret, 2 G Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and others (44 sp NC)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 2 singing Common Whitethroat, 1 briefly singing Lesser Whitethroat and very little else on Little Scrubs (Charlie Farrell). 0600: 1 singing Willow Warbler, c2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, c8 Common Whitethroat & 1 Stock Dove. (David Lindo)

Wednesday 4th May 2011

 * Brent Reservoir: Ringed Plover still present (Andrew Self).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: singing Black Redstart on private site, Common Sandpiper, Common Buzzard south at 12:59, 4 singing Reed Warblers (2 on territory and 2 along Channelsea Path), 5 singing Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Sand Martin, fem Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, 2 Stock Dove (Stuart Fisher).
 * Bushy Park: 1 Lapwing landed briefly along path through ferns near Heron Pond car park at 10.30, before circling over Pond, and flying towards Teddington - a site first for me! 5 Skylarks and 3 singing Reed Buntings also in the grassland near Heron Pond (Billy Dykes).
 * Bickerton Road/Dartmouth Park - Archway: small House Sparrow colony (Michael Mac).
 * Crayford Marshes: Curlew Sandpiper briefly on Thames foreshore near the Creek Barrier at 07:00. 2 Whinchat (pair), 6 Black Tern, 5 Arctic Tern, 12 Common Tern (all east along the Thames). 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 fem Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Little Owl, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Little Egret (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: 2 Sandwich Tern east past golf club 10:15 (Birdguides).
 * Danson Park: Common Sandpiper, Reed Warbler (Peter Newmark).
 * Ealing (W13): First Swifts of the year over the garden this evening though I did see one a couple of streets away on the 30th & have seen plenty more at "watery" sites in the last week or so (Bill Haines).
 * East Dulwich (Adys Road/Goose Green): 3 Swifts over mid-AM (Peter Beckenham).
 * Embankment (Cleopatra's Needle): Common Sandpiper flying west along Thames (Hugh Bradshaw).
 * Enfield Town: 1 Sparrowhawk, flew past Library, 15:35 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Common Terns, pr Treecreepers, 3 Whitethroat, many Chiffchaff and Blackcap, 2+ House Sparrows, 6 Cormorants and 4 Herons over but otherwise quiet (Chris Bird).
 * Fairlop Waters:17.30-18.30 4 Yellow Wagtail,1 Wheatear,1 Little Owl,1 Sedge Warbler (Steve Bacon)
 * Gants Hill: Osprey over, 10 Swifts (Redbridge Birdwatching).
 * Highgate Wood: 1 Hobby high over. 1 Kestrel and 3 Swifts. 07.30 (P. Angus).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper(Shaun Harvey,Dave Morrison)
 * Kempton Park: Pair of common Buzzard over racecourse 1030am (Les Mccallum).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, Common Sandpiper, 10 Common Tern, c40 Swift, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap (LWC website).
 * North Ockendon: Great White Egret flew low along Mardyke Valley toward Orsett, 15 Waxwing (Birdguides).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 9 Swift north-west, 2 Swallow, 3 Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, 2 Grey Heron, still 7 Coot chicks & 6 Canada Goose goslings after one week (Jon Ridge).
 * Oakhill Woods LWT NR. East Barnet, Herts. EN4: 3 singing Blackcap, 2 singing chiffchaff, 2 singing Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tits collecting caterpillars, singing Stock Dove. R. A. (Bob) Husband.
 * Queen Mother Reservoir (permit access): 2 Black Tern east a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Arctic Tern, 2 Ring Ouzel (Birdguides).
 * Richmond Park: 1 Ring Ouzel Holly Lodge nature trail early pm. (Ron Herbert per John Herbert) Also nearby 3 Wheatears (2f 1m) (Hugh Bradshaw).
 * Roding Valley Park: Little Egret, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroats, Mistle Thrush, Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, up to 2 Goldfinches, up to 2 Long-tailed Tits, Song Thrush, 3 Blackcaps [2 m, 1 f] [so 4 species of warbler in all], Herring Gull, Cormorant (Alan Hobson).
 * Ruislip Lido: 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Little Ringed Plover (Dick Middleton). 3 LRP, 2 Common Sandpiper, 20+ Swift and Reed Warbler present at 19.30 (Steve Pash).
 * Scadbury Park, Chislehurst 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing (reeling) provided good but rather fleeting views. (Charlie Carpenter)
 * Staines Reservoir: 1 Knot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank (all on North Basin), 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebes and 1 Great Northern Diver (all on South Basin); also 6 Black Terns and 1 Whimbrel over by 09.00 (Bob Warden per FJM and PFM); 5 Little Tern briefly at 12.20, Turnstone (mo), 8 Arctic Terns through 12.40. 2 Little Gull (K.P.Duncan). Hi, would I be likely to see any of these birds on an evening visit to the reservoirs e.g. after 6:15? Thanks Yes you should see some. if you take a telescope it would help. Other people would let you look through theirs if you don't have one. (FJM) 
 * Trent Park: Pair Canada Goose x Domestic Greylag Goose with six hybrid gooslings ( three with dark bill and legs, three with pale bill and legs - clearly showing sibling birds can show diverse traits - I think this applies to humans also!? Lower Lake; 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat, 'Old Golf Course'; 3 singing male Garden Warbler (Robert Callf & Robin White).
 * Trent Park and Area: c15-20 Waxwing west over Vicarage Farm / Williams Wood at 12:45 pm, 3 Garden Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, many Blackcap and Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Lesser Whitethroat in the "Clump" ( Pete Lowman).
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, Snipe, 10+ Common Tern, Red Kite, Buzzard, Little Owl, 3 Skylark, Little Grebe, Herring Gull (Steve B).
 * Uxbridge: Brunel University, 3 Lesser Whitethroat (one in adjoining horse field), 2 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet in Bicentenary Garden. Swift, Rook & Common Buzzard over (Steve Pash)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: 2 Black Tern late morning over Higher and Lower Maynard; also 1st summer male Wheatear and C.Sandpiper on Lockwood (J.Murray & C.Freddi). Terns there til 18.30 at least. Also 6 Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Sedge Warbler, min 100+ Swifts, min 30+ Common Terns, 6 House Martins no.1 res (Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: 3 possible Turtle Dove (west - getting closer!!), 7 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, m Wheatear, 9 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 1 Swift, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Green Woodpecker, 2 Linnet, 1 singing Reed Bunting, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail (over), Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 28 Cormorant (over), 2 juv Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull etc. (47 sp NC).
 * Wanstead Park: the Egyptian Geese in the park have had 6 young, so apologies for calling them jaffas (observer? - got a text from Natalia will go and check it out tomorrow - NC).
 * Wimbledon Park Lake: 85 Swifts at 19.00; 2 Common Terns, 36 Tufted Duck, 3 broods (6, 6 and 4) of Greylag Goose (Martin Daniel)
 * Woolwich Arsenal train station: 1 Swallow heading East (Gus Wilson)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Hobby, 1 Northern Wheatear, 2 Shelduck west, c2 Swallow, 1 Swift east, 1 singing Sedge Warbler, c13 Jackdaw, 1 Stock Dove, 1 female Kestrel, 1 female Sparrowhawk hunting sparrows utilising a weird undulating flight pattern, plus the usuals, maybe that Sparrowhawks can mimic other bird flight patterns to aid hunting? (The Scrubbers).

Tuesday 3rd May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Common Sandpipers south end Wood Green Res 7am, still present 1755 (Bob Watts).
 * Archway Road (N19 - tall trees next to bridge): around 30 Waxwings 08.30 (P. Angus).
 * Biggin Hill/Tatsfield border - 1 Sedge Warbler in full song 07.00. Unusual here, 650 feet asl. on the Chalk of the North Downs. There is virtually no surface water, nor any suitable habitat. (Charlie Carpenter)
 * Brent Reservoir: Whimbrel on rafts but flew off 07.43, also Ringed Plover & 2 Common Sandpipers (Andrew Self). 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Lapwing, pr Shelduck (Roy Beddard 10.00am)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Ringed Plover still on the slack, White Wagtail, Cuckoo, 2 Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, 2 Shelduck (V.Halley-Frame).
 * Central London: Possible 2nd year Glaucous Gull at 18.30 seen flying around River Thames (opposite National Theatre and Waterloo Bridge) with juvenile Great Black-Backed Gull (Hugh Bradshaw).
 * Chiswick Pier 20:00: 1 Peregrine low East, 1 Hobby hunting 2 small Passerines low over footpath, 1 Grey Wagtail. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * Crayford Marshes: 3 Arctic Tern east, 2 Greenshank, fem Wheatear, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, Little Owl, 4 House Martin, 10 Swallow, 4 Swift, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis).
 * East Dulwich Station: Swallow over heading north (Tom Smith)
 * Holmethorpe Sand Pits: Egyptian Goose, 4 Shelduck, Pheasant, Lapwing, Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, Stock Dove, c30 Swift, 2 Skylark, c40 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, House Martin, 2 Northern Wheatear, 3 Reed Warbler, 15 Common Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting (HSP blog).
 * Hyde Park: 6 swifts over at 7.30pm (Neil Millar)
 * Leyton Flats: Wheatear, 11 Swallow, House Martin, 20 Swift, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Willow Warbler (Gary A James).
 * London W1: singing male Black Redstart (James A).
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Ruff, 8 Curlew above Thames bank, Greenshank, Black Tern (08:20), 3 Common Sandpiper, 12 Common Tern, 40 Swift, 10 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat (LWC website).
 * Middlesex Filter Beds NR (Hackney E5): 30 spp incl 8 Swift, 2 displaying C Whitethroat. Also 1f Broad-bodied Chaser (TeRNS).
 * Osterley Park: Yellow Wagtail 1 NE - a long overdue first here, Pheasant 1, Swift 1, Linnet 1, Swallow 6, Whinchat 1, Common Tern 2 (K. Fisher).
 * Potters Field, London Bridge: Blackcap singing (Paul Whiteman per JA).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, Swallow, Green Woodpecker & 1 Grey Heron (JR).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir (permit only): 10 Black Terns at 06.40; also Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel over (Dave Harris per FJM).
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Ring Ouzel (2 male), at west end of river wall, 4 Grey Plover, 4 Sanderling, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 9 Black Tern, 4 Arctic Tern (all waders at the Thames) (Birdguides).
 * Regent's Park: 3 Arctic Terns, 3 Common Terns, 4 Common Gulls, Common Sandpiper, Swift, 4 Swallows (Tony Duckett).
 * Richmond Park: 5 Wheatears near Holly Lodge (Hugh Bradshaw & Mike Lewis).
 * Ruislip Lido: 2 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and a male Yellow Wagtail (Dick Middleton / Tim Clarke).
 * Scadbury Park, Chislehurst. 12 singing Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Tree Pipit (not regular here) recorded during the long circular walk am. Also Sparrowhawk (pair), Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Charlie Carpenter)
 * Shirley Park GC: 21 Robin, 29 Blackbird, Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 9 Blackcap, Garden Warbler (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood CP: Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Pheasant, 2 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Swift, Swallow, 3 Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (Croydon Birders).
 * Staines Reservoir: 17 Black Terns by late a.m, 2 Arctic Terns, 11 Little Gulls on S basin, also 8 Arctic Terns and 2 Whimbrel over early a.m., 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver still on S basin, 2 Black-necked Grebes N basin (Bob Warden per FJM); Oystercatcher, Turnstone (North Basin), at least 21 Black Tern, c15 Arctic Tern p.m., diver and grebes (breeding plumage) still present to 14:00 at least, 100+ Swift (D. McKenzie, Dave Morris, Pete Naylor); 18:30-20.00 - 22 Black Terns, 4 Arctic Tern, 4 Little Gulls, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 20+ Swift (Neil Randon).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Black Tern early a.m. over west res chased off by 2 Common Tern at 09.10 (Tony Butler).
 * Sutcliffe Park: 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 singing Reed Warbler (James Lowen).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: male Whitethroat still on territory Scrapyard Meadow (Bob Watts).
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: 1 Black Tern low over east, 5 Common Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 1 Red Kite (0920-0945) was hunting west of Main Pit, sat on pylon for 10 mins then drifted off south, 1 Common Buzzard, 120+ Sand Martin, 3 Swift, 20+ Swallow (N.Smith).
 * Walthamstow Filter Beds: 3 Waxwings, somewhat incongruous with Sand Martins gliding around; also, 3 Common Terns, Kingfisher, pr Grey Wagtails (Dan Barrett).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (Lockwood): Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Sands, Lesser Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher (Dan Barrett).
 * Wanstead Flats: Common Sandpiper (feeding on the larger of the islands on Alex), possible Turtle Dove (north), 8 unidentified Geese (north - not Canada's but dark, only got the rear end view), 50+ Swallow (through central part of flats going NW), 1 Sand Martin, 5 Swift, 2 Hobby displaying over Bush Wood, m Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Little Egret (flew around Alex), 2 G Heron, 2 Linnet, Reed Bunting (52 sp / NC).
 * Wanstead Park: Reed Warbler, 4 Garden Warbler (SoM), 2 Sand Martin, 3 Mistle Thrush (NC).
 * Welling: 2 Swallows north at 09:00 (Gus Wilson)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow & 2 Jackdaw. Probable male 'Greenland' Northern Wheatear present on the cut grass between Central Copse and Chats Paddock at 1645. (The Scrubbers)

Monday 2nd May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: Common Sandpiper (1st for year), 4 Swifts, 2 Swallows, 2+ House Martin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards, Bob Watts).
 * Amwell GP: Bar-tailed Godwit (Birdguides).
 * Barking Bay: m Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, 8 Whimbrel, 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 20 Common Tern (Paul Hawkins). Hobby pm (PH)
 * Barking Outfall: 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Yellow Wagtail and 3 Common Terns (Dave Morrison).
 * Beddington SF: 3 Arctic Tern, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Wood Sandpiper pics
 * Brent Reservoir: Waxwing heard flying over at 06.30 and 10:20; Whimbrel heard over at 06.50 then 2 seen over NE at 11:15; Ringed Plover (first of year) on mud, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwing, Kingfisher, 4 Garden Warbler, leucistic Swift, Jackdaw, Bullfinch (Brent Birders). Waxwing and Swift on the same day in the London area. Remarkable! What were the odds on that?
 * Broadwater: Red kite, Buzzard, 2 Hobby, garden, sedge and reed warblers, 100 + swift. LRP on Korda Lake. (Joe Dickens)
 * Cassiobury Park: male Mandarin Duck, Common Tern along adjacent canal, 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Claybury Park : f Sparrowhawk with prey, (Brandon Anderson).
 * Crystal Palace ridge: Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 House Martin, 2 Swift, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap (Solomigers: Jason Cunningham, Ernie Thomason and Dave Clark)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Ringed Plover on the slack at 11.40am until at least early evening, White Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, 2 Hobby, Buzzard, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, Sedge Warbler and a few Swifts. (V.Halley-Frame, Martin Blow, Stan Brown + 1 other birder, 4 observers by the slack is very rare!).
 * Dagenham: Spotted Redshank on foreshore, east of Ford Works. Viewable from Belvedere Incinerator (where that?) (BirdGuides). Also 4 Bar-tailed Godwit and 6 Ringed Plover (Dave Morrison).
 * Dartford marshes (University way): 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sand, 1 Swift (James Lowen)
 * Fishers Green (0745-0900)) at least 2 singing Nightingales, a Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 6+ Swifts (Sash Tusa)
 * Fishers Green (scrape by goose field) (8.45 - 11.00) 2 greenshanks, 1 green sandpiper (R & L Sinden).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Bar-tailed Godwit at the viewing area till12.20 at least (Shaun Harvey, Dave Morrison, Dick Jeffree) Also Greenshank @ 3.45 (Shaun Harvey)
 * Innes Lake nr Harefield. 10 Common Tern, 50 + Swift. Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap,(Chris Bessant).
 * London Wetland Centre: 3 Ruff, 4 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Common Tern, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 2 Hobby, 20 Sand Martin, 5 House Martin, Swallow, 10 Swift, 4 singing Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Reed & Sedge Warbler (Jon Ridge). The same or fewer of those already listed except: 1 male Ruddy Duck & 2 Common Tern (F Symons)
 * Osterley Park: Swift and Whinchat, both firsts for the year + Common Buzzard over Hounslow East tube station 10.30 (K.Fisher)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir (permit access): Black Tern 06:20 (Birdguides).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: 6 Avocet, 4 Greenshank, 4 Hobbies, 5 Common Sandpipers, 25 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Plover, 20+ Swift, 20+ Sand Martins, pair Wigeon, pair Teal (David Callahan). Late Afternoon C4 House Martin, 20+ Sand Martin, 1 Little Ringed Plover - all around Aveley Flash from the Northern Boardwalk. Earlier 3 Kestrel at the same time over the Landfill site, 1 Wheatear along the Riverside Path (Charlie Farrell). Ring Ouzel (2 reported) on riverside path, Male Garganey, 3 Dunlin. (Bob Husband, NW London RSPB Group visit)
 * Ruislip Lido/Poor's Field: 81 Mute Swan, 3 Greylag, 23 Herring + 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpiper + 2 Little Ringed Plovers on raft, Yellow Wagtail, 13+ Swift, 4 House Martin, Swallow, 2 singing Garden Warbler, 2 singing Willow Warbler (Neil Anderson/Steve Pash) 3 LRPs, Common Sandpiper and Hobby at 17:50. (Joe Dickens)
 * South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe (with 2 young) 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 House Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Walthamstow: Lockwood, 2 Common Sandpipers, LRP, Pheasant, Many Common Terns, 100+ Swift. N of East Warwick, singing Garden Warbler. Marsh, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Wheatear, Linnets back paddock, many Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps. Grasshopper Warbler Eastern end of the boardwalk. Waterworks N.R. Green Sandpiper, Snipe. (69 spp) http://walthamstowwildlife.blogspot.com/ (Paul Whiteman, Mike Messenger)
 * Wanstead Flats: Yellow Wagtail (over), Meadow Pipit, Skylark, C. Whitethroat, L Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 juv Common Gull, Heron, 5 Pochard (4m), 3 Swift, 6 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 brood of 7 C Goose goslings (the eggs escaping the paraffin wax), 2 Greylag goslings (45sp NC/SF/MJ/ST)
 * Wanstead Park: pair of Reed Warbler (SoM), L Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 5 Swift, 10 + Sand Martin, 4 + House Martin, Swallow, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 3 Little Egret (communal fishing), 3 Grey Heron, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Egyptian Goose, 3 Great Crested Grebe (pair #1 with 2 eggs), Little Grebe, Black-headed Gull, LBB Gull, Kingfisher heard, 3 Mistle Thrush (47 sp, NC)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: (07.00-09.30) 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Swift N.E., 17 Swallow N.E., 7 Stock Dove on pitches plus 1 over, 6 Lesser Whitethroat (4 singers), 8+ Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaff, 11 singing Blackcap, 1 Reed Bunting, 7 Meadow Pipit (2 singers), 7+ Linnet, 1 Jackdaw, 2 Sparrowhawk. (Scrubbers).
 * Fairlop Waters(:17.30-18.30 ) 4 Yellow Wagtail,1 Wheatear,1 Sedge Warbler,1 Little Owl

Sunday 1st May 2011

 * Alexandra Park: 9 Swifts, 3 Sand Martins, 2 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 2 Linnet, Common Tern (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts).
 * Barking Bay: on the rising tide, 2 Little Stint, 3 Turnstone, 3 Grey Plover, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 1st summer Med Gull (Dave Morrison, Paul Hawkins, David Bradnum)
 * Barnet Lane, Barnet, Herts EN5: 06.45 2 Whimbrel flew low east along the Dollis Brook, they appeared to be pitching down on Barnet Playing Fields but we could not relocate. "Tittering" flight call subsequently heard but birds not seen again. 4 Chiffchaff singing, Common Whitethroat singing, 5 Blackcap singing. (R. A. (Bob) Husband, Dawn Chorus Walk, NW London RSPB Group).
 * Beddington: 1 White-fronted Goose (?), 1 Wood Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank, 1 Buzzard, pics
 * Blackheath: Linnet heard, Willow Warbler singing nearby, on the "Dips" Song Thrush singing and Common Whitethroat still display-flighting, but the arson attacks are getting worse, depressingly, I almost hope the Whitethroats don't stay (Joe Beale).
 * Broadwater Lake nr Harefield: 3 Hobbies flying high (Chris Bessant).
 * Brent Reservoir: 15 Waxwings north at 09.45, also Greenshank through & 2 Egyptian Geese (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall); Yellow Wagtail (Derek Turner). Also leucistic Common Swift with white rump & belly and paler brown on wings (Andrew Self).
 * Brickett Wood: Red Kite over 13:18 (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 14 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 6 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 8 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 4 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 4 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Bushy Park: Usual Birds, eg. Red-crested Pochards, Parakeets, Egyptian Geese - 2 Broods, one very young brood of 4 ... and another fairly well developed brood of 4. Also seen was 2 Reed Bunting and 1 Willow Warbler was heard.
 * Camden Town - Regents Park Canal - Oval Road: 1 House Martin near a nest and Pied Wagtail on roof (Michael Mac).
 * Cheshunt, Brookfield Park: 1 Hobby over 'Tesco Extra' car park at 15.00hrs (Nigel May).
 * Cranford Park: 3 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Jay, pair of Kestrels, 3 Buzzard over, 2 Mistle Thrush, lost count of the Robins (WM)
 * East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 3 Shelduck, Gadwall,. 30+ Tufted Duck including male & female with red nasal saddles (photos on blog http://eastindiadockbasin.blogspot.com/ ), Sparrowhawk, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Common Sandpiper east along Thames in one flock, 4 Sand Martin, Swallow north, 2 House Martin, Wheatear, singing Chaffinch ( Gary A James, Nick Tanner).
 * Enfield (A10): female Kestrel hunting over junction with Bullsmoor Lane (Katy M).
 * Epping Forest, Lippitts Hill: 2 Nightingale this evening (David Bradnum)
 * Greenwich Park: Lesser Bb Gull, 1 Egyptian Goose (where's its mate?) juvenile Mistle Thrush (Joe Beale).
 * Hampstead Heath (1045-1245): Whitethroats in Pryor's Field, Goldcrest, up to 3 Hobbies high over Kenwood / Highgate (Sash Tusa).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Peregrine, 24 Swift, Hobby, 3 Snipe, Green Sandpiper (Shaun Harvey)
 * Kenwood House Grounds/Wood Pond: pr Little Grebe trilling as far as I know first since records began? Well at least for about 6 years or so, also 2 Mallard broods (Michael Mac).
 * Kew Gardens (14:00-16:00): 3 Hobby, 2 Swift, Stock Dove (Gus Wilson)
 * Kingston (river) 25 Sand Martins, several House Martins, 1 Swallow and 1 Swift. (J. Dickerson)
 * King George V Reservoir (permit only): 3 Black Tern on South Basin late morning; also 6 Little Gulls, Arctic Tern and Greenshank (Birdguides)
 * London Wetland Centre: Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Ruff still present, Wood Sandpiper new in, 4-5 Common Sand, female RIng Ouzel on East Bank, 35-40 Swift, 7-8 House Martins, Wheatear (Grazing Marsh), at least 2 Hobby (Matt Palmer)
 * Muswell Hill: 2 Buzzards circling high towards Friern Barnet, Blackcap nesting in neighbours garden.(P.Angus)
 * Oakwood Park,N14: 1 singing male Lesser Whitethroat (Robert Callf).
 * Osterley Park: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1, Common Tern 2, Ring-necked Parakeet flock of c150 (K.Fisher).
 * Pinner Park Farm: female Wheatear by the main entrance, Swallow, 3 male Whitethroat, 3 Jackdaw, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull & 2 Green Woodpecker (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: 1 Whimbrel and 4 Common Sandpipers at Stone Barges, flock of 50+ Bar Tailed Godwits flew along Thames with a breakaway party trying to land for about 15 mins on Aveley Marsh, 2 Greenshanks and 6 Avocets - Target Pools, 15 Swifts and 5 Hobbies over Wennington Marsh, 4 Teal and pair of Wigeons - Aveley Marsh, 7 Bar Tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrels - Purfleet scrape, singing Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warbler - Cordite plus usuals (eg garden/woodland birds before anyone asks) (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Regent's Park: Hanover Bridge area - Swift over (1st of year for me) singing Reed Warbler. Wildfowl Enclosure - 3 broods of Red-crested Pochard a 3, 6, 10, 1 of 3 Mallard also male Kestrel (Michael Mac). also seen 2 Arctic Terns, pr Common Terns, Common Sandpiper, pr Wheatears, Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, 4 Jackdaws (Tony Duckett).
 * Sewardstone Marsh: Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroats, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler [so 6 species of warbler, and heard two more], Sand Martins, Goldfinch (Alan Hobson).
 * South Norwood Lake: Hobby, 1 Common Swift, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Greylag Goose, 2 House Martin, 4 Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 singing Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Ciommon Whitethroat, 1 Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, c6 House Sparrow, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, (John Watson,Gavin Hawgood & Ernie Thomason)
 * Springwell Lake nr Harefield: Hobby, 20 plus Swift, Garden Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 3 Common Terns.
 * Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver, 11 Little Gull, Marsh Harrier > north, Common Buzzard, Greenshank, Turnstone, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail; also an aberrant Swift with lots of white on belly and upperparts, maybe a bird seen in previous years (REI,KLP). In the evening, three flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits flew E or NE - c35, 17 and c30 (plus two Grey Plovers); also Slavonian Grebe still present plus two Oystercatchers (Rob Innes). Also Wheatear and Common Sand (Matt Palmer)
 * Surbiton: possible Red-rumped Swallow north at 10.30 (MG per A Self)
 * Ten Acre Wood / Sharvel Lane: 2 Pheasant, 2 Hobby, m Kestrel, 3 Lapwing, 6 Stock Doves, 2 Swift, 2 Pied Wagtail, 7 Swallow (breeding pr at stables), 3 Sand Martins, (possible Greenland-bulky looking) Wheatear on earth mound, 11 Blackcap, 13 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, pr Jay, 12+ Jackdaw, several Rooks in / out of wood (c8 birds), 3 male Reed Bunting on territory, Linnet (Neil Anderson).
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Raven over 11:48; also Red-legged Partridge, Greenshank, 4 Common Tern, good numbers of hirundines, seven species of warbler including 2 singing Garden Warbler and 3 singing Willow Warbler, 2 Tree Sparrow - many thanks to Joan Thompson (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Wanstead Park: pair of Reed Warbler (SoM), 4 Swift east, drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near the Dell, 2 singing Willow Warbler, singing Coal Tit, 5 Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Swallow NW (S Fisher).
 * Wanstead Flats: Yellow Wagtail on football pitch then off NE, singing Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Swift east, 5 Swallow (2 NW, 1 SE and 2 West), 2 male Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler and erm the usuals (though don't tell anyone I wrote that!) (S Fisher).



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