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Thursday 16th September 2010

 * Alexandra Park: Hobby over a.m., Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Birdguides).
 * Archway (St. John's Way): Tawny Owl calling in early hours (D. Painter).
 * Beddington SF: Pectoral Sandpiper this a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Brent Res: Whinchat. Spotted Flycatcher, Hobby, 3 Snipe (Andrew Verrall, Lydia W, John Gravatt).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 18 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 1 Kestrel, 7 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 4 Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 10 Woodpigeon, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Ring-necked Parrakeet, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Wren 1 Dunnock, 9 Robin, 9 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tit flock, 6 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Crossness: Short-eared Owl east early p.m., juv Little Gull, 14 Black Tern (Birdguides).
 * Hemans Estate Community Garden: 1 House Sparrow - seen here few times a year, 40 - 50 Feral Pigeons (Michael Mac).
 * Highgate Wood: 1 Rook, 1 Nuthatch (P. Angus).
 * Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: fem Wigeon, 4 Hobby comprising an ad west over Round Pond 08:14 and 3 highly vocal juvs in London Plane (all morning) between Hyde Park Meads and West Carriage Drive (afforded excellent and sustained views), fourth-winter argentatus Herring Gull (my earliest at this site), 4 Great Black-backed Gull south, c20 House Martin, 23 Meadow Pipit mainly west, 13 Mistle Thrush low west 08:28, 3 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Linnet over, 2 Reed Bunting over; also 17 Egyptian Goose, 5 Shoveler, 4 Red-crested Pochard, juv Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker, at least 10 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 3 Treecreeper, 5 Jay (Des McKenzie), ad Hobby at 11:00 and 12:15, 10-20 Sand Martin (Noel Lever per DMc).
 * Leyton Flats: Hobby, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Kingfisher, 1 Swallow, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap. (Gary A James)
 * London Wetland Centre: 11 Meadow Pipit W / SW, Northern Wheatear, 3 Cetti's Warbler (LWC website).
 * Mill Hill Sheepwash Pond, The Ridgeway, London, NW7: Rosybill juvenile still present for further ID? (Bob Husband & Fay Broom).
 * Paddington Green: Ring-necked Parakeet, 20-25 House Martin 07:00, Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, c30 Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit (DMc).
 * Parkside Farm (Enfield): 2 Whinchat; 6 Northern Wheatear, on ploughed field (Robert Callf).
 * Rainham Marshes: Knot, 10 Yellow-legged Gull in Aveley Bay (Birdguides).
 * South Lodge Farm (Enfield): 1 Northern Wheatear (Robert Callf).
 * Totteridge Valley: 2 Whinchat: 3 Yellow Wagtail N: 2 House Martin W : 2 Bullfinch: 7 Blackcaps: 2 Chiffchaff: 1 Grey Wagtail (John Colmans).
 * Trent Park: 1 fem/imm Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course', 10:19 - 10:27 hrs; 1 male Whinchat, 'Old Golf Course'; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, 'Old Golf Course' (Robert Callf).
 * Vicarage Farm (Enfield): 9 Meadow Pipit, flew S, 08:09 hrs; 1 Yellow Wagtail, flew W, calling, 11:26 hrs; 6 Whinchat; 1 Northern Wheatear; 2 Common Whitethroat; 1 Spotted Flycatcher; 5 Yellowhammer (Robert Callf).
 * Wanstead Flats (06:30-11:00): Wryneck sitting in Elder bush for about ten minutes after I got on to it, then flew from east end of Long Wood toward the south side mid-a.m. and is currently being searched for, Common Redstart, 4 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat (1 Alex scrub, 1 south end of broom field), 3 Spotted Flycatcher (E end of LW), Tree Pipit (over Alex), Yellow Wagtail (over broom field north end), Grey Wagtail, 25+ Meadow Pipit, 4+ Skylark, 7+ G Woodpecker, 4+ GS Woodpecker, 20+ Mistle Thrush, 12+ Chiffhcaff, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, 4 Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, Linnet, 2 Kestrel, 4 Sparrowhawk, 2 Heron, 9 Gadwall, 2 pair Shoveler, Common Gull, GBB Gull, LBB Gull, BH Gull, Herring Gull, 5 adult Mute Swan on Alex (ooh there be trouble!), 28 RN Parakeet and some other stuff which pales into insignificance (53 sp - a good day, Nick Croft/ Steve Thorpe). Nearly forgot yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy patch year/all time/site year/ London year and all time ticks a plenty, and might I say what a cracking little bird).
 * Waterlow Park: 2 Yellow Wagtails (P. Angus).

Wednesday 15th September 2010

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Spotted Flycatchers in cricket scrub (David Callahan) 1 Little Egret SE over cricket scrub at 5.30 p.m. (James Palmer).
 * Battersea Gas Works: 1 Peregrine again in same spot, seen from about 1 mile away, through binoculars while I was on a bus, this might be juvenile bird using the spot to develop it's hunting skills (Michael Mac)
 * Beddington SF: 2 Lapland Buntings this a.m. (Birdguides). 2 Lapland Buntings still late afternoon (David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marshes: Osprey south-east a.m. Manx Shearwater on the Thames, Hobby, 2 Wheatears, 2 Greenshanks, 130 House Martins west (Kev Jarvis, KJM, Steve Carter).
 * Fulham Reach: pr Peregrine Falcon all day (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Fulham Sands End (supermarket car park): c30 House Sparrow in bush (many juvs) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hampstead Heath: 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Hobby, 2 Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch (Chris Bird).
 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, view from the London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station (Nick Tanner).
 * Horsendon Hill: 2 Lapland Bunting south-east 09:15 (Birdguides).
 * London Wetland Centre: 16 Wigeon, 90+ Shoveler, 9 Common Snipe, 3 Collared Dove, 30+ House Martin, singing Cetti's Warbler (LWC website).
 * Mitcham Common: 3 Kestrel (2m, 1f), Sparrowhawk (f), Grey Heron at Bidder's Pond, 2 Jay, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 6 House Martin, Green Woodpecker (Stuart M).
 * Paddington Green: 6 Meadow Pipit over prior to 08:30 (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Wheatear (electric gate & disaster area), 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 1 Grey Wagtail & very little else (Jon Ridge).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: Ringed Plover, flock of 19 small waders west (probably Ringed Plover), 2 Yellow Wagtail (SBC).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Manx Shearwater past the visitor's centre at 10.44 am (Andy Tweed, Paul Whiteman) then in Aveley Bay (JL, Mike Dent, HV et al); again from Visitor's Centre 13:00 (Birdguides). Still present 1330 but Howard Vaughan noted it flew upriver shortly afterwards and no further sightings (Bob Watts).


 * Springfield Park (Hackney): Spotted Flycatcher in holly tree by the upper shelter 10.15 (frogandlisa).
 * Staines Moor: Cetti's Warbler (Nigel Sluman).
 * Staines Reservoir (before 9am): Kestrel, Hobby, two Black-necked Grebe, three Stock Dove, Little Gull, Black Tern, Northern Wheatear and several Yellow Wagtail visible on King George VI Reservoir (PFM).
 * Stocker's Lake: 1 Honey-buzzard (15.51-15.54) - watched from the west (Springwell) end. Flew pretty much north to south across the lake and lost from sight over Garretts Wood (photos to follow on the email group), 1 Hobby, 17 Ring-necked Parakeets, 200+ House Martins, 50+ Sand Martins (Andrew Moon).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Hobby, Siskin S (overdue first of autumn), c25 Meadow Pipits W/SW pre-1000, 10 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler; three (ie, one extra) presumed hybrid Ferruginous Duck x ? hybrids in from the west and straight into the reedbed this evening; 2 Kingfishers (MJP)
 * Trent Park: 1 Whinchat, 'Old Golf Course'; 1 fem/imm Stonechat, 'Old Golf Course' (First bird of the autumn); 1 Sedge Warbler, in Sallows, set-aside field N of Williams Wood (My first record of the year here!) (Robert Callf).
 * Wanstead Flats (06:30-11:30): f Common Redstart at east end of Long Wood, Northern Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher (East end of Long Wood), 22 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, 8 + Chiffchaff, 4 + C. Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, 8 Mistle Thrush, 5 House Martin (4 North), 1 Swallow, Kestrel, Sprrowhawk, 10 Herring Gull, 20 LBB Gull, 70+ BH Gull, 7 Cormorant, 3 RN Parakeet, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 2 Shoveler, Gadwall, Mute Swans (two cobs battling out on Alex, the interloper getting a right pasting, but still coming back for more - idiot!), G Woopecker, GS Woodpecker (48sp Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe).
 * Wildhill (near Hatfield): 4 Raven heading over Nine-acre Wood (TL279062), one persistently mobbing/pestering another member of the group from below (from Herts Bird Club website).
 * Woodlands Farm Trust: 1 Sparrowhawke (fem), Kestrel (fem), 1 Grey Heron, 2 Chiffchaff (many more calling), 5 Swallows feeding amongst sheep, 2 Green Woodpeckers,1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Moorhen, Goldfinch, flock of Greenfinch (Ron Turner).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: m Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Stock Dove, 23 House Martin north-west, 18 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Jackdaw, fem Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting (RA).

Tuesday 14 September 2010

 * Alexandra Park: 3 Spot Fly in Cricket Scrub, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 80 House Martins north in two seperate flocks (J.Murray).
 * Battersea Park: male Kestrel amongst the trees - 1st I seen in this park - believe it or not, 1 Green Woodpecker - 1st seen for several years. Lake - 2 Little Grebe juveniles practising flight, 3 Shoveler, Gadwall apocalypse this year, last year at this time was full of full grown broods this year none, 7 1/2 grown Mallards, brood of 3 1/2 grown Moorhen, 3 Grey Herons visible out of the lot that breed here, Cormorants drifting in to roost, pr Canada Geese type of hybrids with almost white heads, pf Mute Swans with 3 full size cygnets (Michael Mac).
 * Brent Res: Garganey juv, 8 Wigeon, Green Sand, 3 Snipe, 2ad, 1juv Common Tern (Andrew Verrall, Lydia W).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 3 Grey Wagtails over, 11 Meadow Pipit, Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, no hirundines seen early to mid afternoon (Colin Jupp).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Red-footed Falcon 11:45 (presumed juv male) soared over Three Mills before heading west, male Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Wags, 350 Starling, Stock Dove, Great Spotted WP, 2 Chiffchaff (S Fisher).


 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 2 Heron, 18 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 80+ House Martin flying west, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 7 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Chiffchaff, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit flock, 5 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 3 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).


 * Crayford Marshes: Knot, Wheatear, 2 Greenshanks, Cetti's Warbler, c800 House Martins west, 2 Curlew, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 16 Dunlin, 27 Ringed Plovers (Kev Jarvis).
 * East Dulwich (from my garden): 60-80 House Martin SW and W in waves around 9.30am (Steven Robinson).
 * Headstone Moat: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff & Goldcrest (JR).
 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, view from the London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station; c.180 House Martin over NNW in one flock at 07:55hrs (Nick Tanner).
 * Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: Hobby over Round Pond and toward Holland Park, 30+ House Martin, 5 Meadow Pipit west, Common Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 15 Goldcrest (a distinct upturn in number); also 14 Egyptian Goose, 2 Shoveler, 2 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Little Grebe (1 juv), Grey Wagtail, 3 Treecreeper (1 singing) (Des McKenzie).
 * Leyton Flats: 50+ House Martins NW (in one flock), 70+ Swallows, Garden Warbler, Blackcap (Gary A. James).
 * London Wetland Centre: 19 Wigeon, 60+ Gadwall, 52 Teal, 5 Common Snipe, 4 Swallow, 70+ House Martin, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff (LWC website).
 * Paddington Green: 3 Grey Wagtail (1 juv) (DMc).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl & 5 Swallow over north-west (JR); Later: Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay & 7 Grey Heron (JR).
 * South Norwood CP: 4 Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 5 Pheasant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 311 House Martin (CroydonBirders).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 aythyas showing many characteristics of Ferruginous Duck briefly on East Res, at least one with apparent hybrid influence; Peregrine, 430+ House Martins (mainly 1000-1100, mainly west, including c250 over the West Res for 20 mins), 4 Grey Wagtails over, 8 Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 10 Meadow Pipits, small number of Swallows and Sand Martins (Mark Pearson & Paul Cook Hackney Wildlife)
 * Trent Park: 1 'eclipse' male Gadwall, Lower Lake; 1 male Whinchat, 'Old Golf Course' (Robert Callf & Robin White).
 * Wanstead Flats: Kestrel, 12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtails over, Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting (J Lethbridge) (06:00-11:00): Whinchat (Broom Fields), Wheatear (NE end of Long Wood), 6 Mistle Thrush, north-westward movement of House Martin this time c.500+ in groups of c.50 and one large group of over 300 with some Swallow (separately 1 flock of 19 and a trickle of others), as for the rest I see your Kestrel, raise you one Mipit, Whitethroat (Alex scrub, JL's LW or SSSI), 9+ Chiffchaff, Blackcap (Alex Scrub), Skylark, 3 Sparrowhawk, 5 Collared Dove, 2 Stock Dove, 8 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 1 f Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall (Alex), 1 Teal west, Little Grebe, 27 RN Parakeet (13 in one flock) (Nick Croft).
 * Wellington Barracks (Birdcage Walk): 1 Grey Wagtail (juv) at the pond next to the Guards Chapel (Richard Seargent).
 * Woodlands Farm Trust: 2 Nuthatch,1 Sparrowhawk (fem), 1 Kestrel (fem), 3 Meadow Pipit, 6 martins, 7 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron,1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker (Ron Turner).

Monday 13th September 2010

 * Woodlands Farm Trust: House Martins + Swallows flying over all afternoon, goldcrest [juv], Blackcap [male], Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Meadow Pipits 15+, Sparrowhawk [female], Moorhen, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Black-backed Gull [juv] [Ron Turner].
 * Amwell GPs: Osprey over this morning (Birdguides)
 * Crayford Marshes: Raven flew low south-east at 06:40. Also 2 Knots on the Thames foreshore, 6 Yellow wagtails, 3 Black-Tailed Godwits ,6 Yellow-Legged gulls, Kingfisher, 2 Lesser whitethroats, Greenshank, 16 Dunlin, 24 Ringed plover, c 50 Swallows. 6 Jackdaws. (Kev Jarvis, Ian Stewart).
 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, view from the London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station, Hobby flew south at 16:32hrs (Nick Tanner).


 * Alexandra Park: Whinchat flew to cricket perimeter from NE 0733, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 63 Mipits, c30 Swallows, c10 House Martins 0645-0745 (Bob Watts); Peregrine north distantly 12:35 (Ian Lycett, David Callahan). Spotted Flycather cricket scrub 1730 (Bob Watts).
 * Canons Farm: 8 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rooks, 2 Grey Herons on Big Field, 5+ Yellowhammers, 10+ Swallows, c.22 Linnets, 2 Green Woodpeckers (David Campbell).
 * East Dulwich: 20 Swallow over heading southwest (Tom Smith)
 * Leyton Flats: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Swallow, Garden Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipits. (Gary A James & Mike Messenger).
 * Maylands Golf Course: Brief evening visit - Hobby, Whinchat feeding actively at 19.15, Tawny Owl calling near weald brook 19.25 (Colin Jupp).
 * Mill Hill Sheepwash Pond, The Ridgeway, London, NW7: Rosybill Duck juvenile still present for anyone interested in checking the features first hand. In head on view the bill appears right for Rosybill and there is just a touch of pink showing on the tip. Gape may also be slightly pink. (Bob Husband, Fay Broom)
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon south 07:20 (carrying prey), 10 Meadow Pipit over prior to 08:15, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw south 08:16 (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Yellow Wagtail over west, 1 Grey Wagtail over, 2 Meadow Pipit over north & 2 Jay. Quiet (JR).
 * Rainham: 2 Knot on foreshore, 10 Dunlin, 5 Wheatear on sea-wall, 20+ Swallow, Mistle Thrush over cordite, Spotted Flycatcher cordite (J Lethbridge)
 * Richmond Park: 12.15-13.45 Overcast with brisk SW'ly. Small parties of Swallows heading thru every minute or so, just over the grass/bracken, mostly heading WNW, some SW. Fair-sized flocks of Martins (hundreds) feeding up at a higher level, direction of passage unclear. Whinchat and Wheatear in Lawn Field bracken. Only raptors seen were local Kestrels. (Stefan Czapski, Tim Howard)
 * South Harrow (Roxeth Rec): Wheatear dropped on to cricket field (1st of autumn), 4 x Meadow Pipit over (3s, 1w), 7 Pied Wagtail (4juvs), 3 LBB Gull (2imm), 2 Chiffchaff ( 1 singing) NB: steady passage of Swallows and Mipits in small groups over Roxeth allotments yesterday afternoon 2-6.30pm (Alex Massey).
 * Tylers Common: 14 Swallow, 43 Meadow Pipit, 10 Yellow Wagtail over at 18.25, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap (Colin Jupp).
 * Brent Res: Whinchat, Wheatear, 3 Snipe, 5 Wigeon, 30+ House Martins, Hobby (Andrew Verrall, Lydia, John Gravatt, Andrew Haynes).
 * Wanstead Flats: Short-eared Owl flushed from the grass south of Long Wood (c. 07:00) landed again then mobbed by a crow and two Bh Gulls circled up over Long Wood before slowly moving off over wanstead park (oh yeaghhhhhhhh patch year tick, site tick and london year and life tick and after all those early mornings and late evenings at Rainham, hah! 107/123/158), Little Owl, unidentified small falcon high north over broom fields calling funny, stooped on a probable Meadow Pipit north of long wood before disappearing over the park, sounded not too unlike the RF on my Bridguides DVD, hmmm!, 3 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel,.2 Whinchat (1 broom field, 1 alex scrub), 8 Mistle Thrush, 8 Yellow Wagtail (south), 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, c. 50+ Meadow Pipit, 10+ Skylark, 2 Spotted Flycatcher (at either end of Long Wood), Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (Alex scrub), Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (in trees east of Centre Road, N of Long Wood), 6 Green woodpecker, 5 GS Woodpecker, 4 House Martin, 7 Swallow (north), 7 RN Parakeet, Gadwall, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, f Reed Bunting (SSSI) and the supporting cast making a grand total of 59 species - a good morning (Nick Croft/Steve Thrope)
 * Walthamstow Marsh: 2 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtail in the horse paddock; Whinchat, 3 Swallows by the underpass. (frogandlisa)
 * Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 2 Heron, 26 Mallard, 1 Mandarin (drake coming out of eclipse) 8 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Ring-necked Parrakeet, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren 8 Robin, 9 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff feeding with Bue & Great Tit flock, 1 Jay, 5 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 2 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam)
 * Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross 2 Wheatear, 3 plus Yellow Wagtail (John Edwards)
 * Regent's Park: Hobby, 90 Meadow Pipits, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 24 Grey Wagtails, 5 Pied Wagtail, 110 Swallows, 28 House Martins, Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 19 Chiffchaffs (Tony Duckett).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: (am) 1 Whinchat, 67+ Meadow Pipit many pasing through, 44 diched in long grass at 0715, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Yellow Waglail over s/w, two dropped in. 1 Grey Wagtail over n/e, 30 Swallow moving through in small groups, 2 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff (2 singing), 2 Jackdaw, 1 (m) Sparrowhawk. (N.Smith)
 * Ingrebounre Valley: Red kite @ 3.20 (Dave mcgough per Shaun Harvey)
 * Battersea Gas Works: Peregrine same spot as few days ago - dived off, back on, "waited on" (in falconry means stay motionless in the air looking for prey) then dived into Battersea Park with intent and didn't come back (Michael Mac).

Sunday 12 September 2010

 * The Woodlands Farm Trust: Nuthatch, Kestrel, a charm of Goldfinches, 5+ Meadow Pipits, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, 6+ Green Woodpeckers. (Ron Turner)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: (0750-1715) RED-FOOTED FALCON west 1316, Pied Flycatcher (along New River), Spotted Flycatcher (ditto), Wheatear low and NW 0810 (first site record in 4 years), Common Buzzard SW 1432, male Wigeon, 167 Meadow Pipits over (many N & NW, peak between 1200-1330), 4 Reed Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs, trickle of hirundines throughout the day (Mark Pearson et al)
 * Amwell GP: Osprey over at 07.00 (Birdguides); also at 10:30, 12pm and 1pm. 3 separate birds, 7am and 10:30 am sightings possibly the same bird (JL - didn't see any of them!)
 * Alexandra Park: Pied Flycatcher still in Grove 815 at least. Also up to 7 Spot Fly and 5+ Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaffs around Park. Steady trickle of Swallows moving south west early pm and Mipits throughout day (APOG). 4 Meadow Pipits flew low over the cricket scrub at about 17:30. (Katy M.)
 * Banstead Woods: Osprey flew south at 12.28pm, Hobby, Common Buzzard, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, many Herring & Black-headed Gulls flying over (David Campbell, Paul Goodman, Phil Wallace et al).
 * Brent Reservoir: Ruff in east marsh until 08.33 when flew north, also Green Sand, 5 Snipe, Water Rail & Swift (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Bushy Park: Hobby hunting over Leg of Mutton Pond at 1.30pm. (Billy Dykes)
 * Crossness: 26+ Black Terns off golfcourse outfall early evening (Richard Bonser); also 2 Yellow wagtails, 2 Wheatears, Green Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, 4 Swallows. (Kev Jarvis). Reed Warbler showed well briefly in reedbed during late afternoon visit, plus pair of annoying children tearing up an down the Thames Path on a motorbike (Stuart Harrington).
 * East India Dock area: Sedge Warbler (east reedbed), 2 Meadow Pipits (flushed west from meadow), 1 + Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, 4 Chiffcchaffs (David Callahan). 1 Rook over east 11.05 (1st site record) 7 Common Terns. (Gary A James).
 * Sanderstead: Osprey drifted slowly south over Plantation at 9.05. (John Birkett)
 * Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Pied Flycatcher still feeding in Alders.(Conrad Ellam). Also Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat in scrub to south of Ecology Park (James Lowen).
 * Horsenden Hill: 1 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Sand Martin, 1+ Swallow. (David Howdon)
 * Richmond Park: 2 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, juv Hobby perched in tree on Lower Pen Pond island + occasionally flying low over Juncus for dragonflies, m Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, 4 Swallow, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat (both chats Holly Lodge general area), Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher (Isabella), Reed Bunting (Neil Anderson)


 * Rickmansworth Aquadrome LNR: c40 Mute Swan, 2 Meadow Pipit over, Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Grays: Wryneck near King Edward's Drive in SE corner of Hangman's wood. ( R.B.A ).
 * West Ham Park: Pied Flycatcher at 9.00am in ornamental gardens. ( R.B.A ).
 * Tyttenhanger GP's: Wryneck between main pit and farm. ( R.B.A ).
 * Totteridge Valley: 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: small numbers of House Martins N plus 3 Sand Martins: 2 Sparrowhawks (John Colmans)
 * Hampstead Heath: 3 Whinchats and Spotted Flycatcher around Parliament Hill -another Whinchat on West Heath, 75 House Martins, 50 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins( mostly W), 50 Meadow Pipits W, 2 Tree Pipits over, Whitethroat and L. Whitethroat (Hedge 2) Also at least 40 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcap and single Linnet (Pete Mantle/ Sash Tusa) 17:00 - 3 Whinchat around hedge 3, same area Redstart seen previously and lots of people trying to enjoy the last days of sunshine (Michael Mac).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Wheatear in the middle hedge was seen to regurgitate a tiny elliptical pellet - never seen that before, 11 Yellow Wagtail in cattle by the electric gate were thought to be yesterday's birds, 2 Hobby, 24 Swallow over & just 4 Meadow Pipit over north (Jon Ridge).
 * Ruislip: Common Buzzard over Lido @ 9.30, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap in Copse Wood, Whitethroat on Poors Field and Kingfisher in LNR (Steve Pash).
 * Wanstead Flats: 7 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 1 m Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, the White-cheeked Turaco appeared briefly, 3 Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit (SSSI), 2 Skylark, 3 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk (S Fisher, J Lethbridge)
 * Barking Bay: Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Wheatear, 20 Black Tern bay/crossness.(Paul Hawkins)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 3 Spotted Flycatchers together, 1 Whinchat and 2 Rook over. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Staines Moor: 1-2 Redstart, 30+ Yellow Wagtail, Hobby, Tree Pipit, steady trickle of Swallows SW from 15:00-17:00 (J Sweetland)
 * Trent Park: 1 fem type Redstart on edge of stubble field bordering Old Golf Course c.4:00 pm. Also 1 RN Parakeet flying over twice. 3 Spotted Flycatcher together in main scrub area on Old Golf Course. (Gareth Richards)
 * Chiswick, W4 (all seen whilst gardening): 2 Common Buzzard came in reasonably high, thermalled and departed W c11:00 + c13:30 very high, 3 Yellow Wagtails N 14:52 (garden airspace mega + tick!), 1 Sparrowhawk, c16 Swallow W/SW, 5 Meadow Pipit over N (garden tick!). (Louis Freeland-Haynes).
 * Duke's Meadows (c15:30-16:30): 13 Pied Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard sp. low on horizon very far away, 6 Meadow Pipits in 1 small group heading N quite high. (A good day locally. Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * Tottenham Court Road: Black Redstart seen from bus, flying at height of buildings, down centre of road then landed round Chenies Street area, most likely a juvenile (Michael Mac).


 * Kenwood: 1 Hobby (usual place, usual time), 14 Jackdaw. Thousand Pound Pond - 24 Mandarin's, 6 Egyptian Geese (Michael Mac).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: Common Buzzard W 13.30, steady trickle of Swallows west pm and 20+ House Martins high over early evening, 20+ Meadow Pipit NW, 3 Siskin N, 2 Whinchat, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, male Tufted Duck (Colin Jupp).
 * Lower Bedfords Road: 27 Meadow Pipit in field south side of road, Hobby and Sparrowhawk over (Colin Jupp).
 * Holyfield Farm: 2 Wheatears in the farmyard. Small flock of Yellow Wagtails (17+) in with the cattle near the Viewpoint. Several Hobbies overhead. (Mike Oakland)

Saturday 11th September

 * Crayford Marsh: 2 Black Tern, 2 Knot, 3 Greenshank, Redshank,2 Common Sandpiper, 20 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 280 Greylag Geese. (KJM),
 * Alexandra Park: Pied Flycatcher at Top Field briefly below Boating Lake c. 9.30 am. Also 2 Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler and c. 12 Chiffchaff there. Also Pied Flycatcher in pines in Grove briefly c.11.30. 3 Spot Fly cricket scrub. (APOG).
 * Brent Reservoir: 1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull, Green Sand, 5 Snipe & 5 Wigeon (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Crossness: 20 Black Terns off Golfcentre outfall, Wheatear, ad Yellow-legged gull, Kingfisher, 2 Green sandpipers,12 Redshanks.(Kev Jarvis, A.W ,S.Carter)
 * Dagnam Park LNR: pr Mandarin, juv Hobby, pr Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Sand Martin, 23 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 13 Meadow Pipit, 4 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Rook over with Jackdaws, 10 Goldfinch (Colin Jupp).
 * Limetrees Park Golf Course (Northolt): f Sparrowhawk (probably same bird seen on 3 occasions), 11 Collared Dove W. 9 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Jackdaw, 3 Linnet (Neil Anderson)
 * London Wetland Centre: 13 Wigeon, 2 Garganey, 10 Common Snipe, 3 Curlew east, 190 Sand Martin, 350 Swallow, 150 House Martin (all hirundines south-west), 3 Tree Pipit west, 8 Meadow Pipit west, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (LWC website).
 * Maylands Golf Course; Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat, 25 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel (Colin Jupp).
 * Paddington Green: imm fem Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon in area a.m. into afternoon, c120 Starling (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Egyptian Goose south-west at 10:06, 13 Yellow Wagtail (inc a small flock of ten which fell out of the sky into cattle at 08:43), 3 Hobby, 2 Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & just 12 Swallow over (Jon Ridge). Later: A rather placid immature Egyptian Goose was found around the main pond at 15:30. Also 9 Grey Heron (JR).
 * Pinner (Streamside Open Space): 1 Kingfisher along the Yeading Brook (JR).
 * Raynes PArk tennis courts - Female Sparrowhawk finishing off one of my very well fed sparrows. (S Haslem)
 * Riddlesdown: c40 Swallows west at 7.14, 1 Tree Pipit south at 7.43. (John Birkett)
 * Wanstead Flats (06:00-10:00): Merlin (east of Alex half-heartedly chasing Meadow Pipit before carrying on eastward, you know what's coming...yay! etc.), Hobby (north towards Reservoir Wood east of Centre Road), 3 Sparrowhawk, 7 Gadwall, Shoveler, Little Grebe, 18 Meadow Pipit (6 by Alex and east, 6 SSI, 6 broom fields), 4 Whinchat (broom field), 11 Mistle Thrush, 18 RN Parakeet, 2 House Martin, 4 G. Woodpecker, 5 Cormorant, 7 Chiffchaff, 2+ Blackcap, 30+ LBB Gull, 20+ Herring Gull (including 2 with very dark grey mantles and pinky legs), 3 Chaffinch, Greenfinch (Nick Croft)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Ruff still on the slack at 1.30pm, 1 Whinchat on travellers field, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Rook over. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * South Norwood Lake: Hobby, 1 Little Grebe,3 Mute Swan, 15 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, 2 Black-headed Gull, c12 Herring Gull (over) 9 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Chiffchaff, c4 Greenfinch, c10 Goldfinch, 10min vis-mig c50 House Martins, c12 Swallows (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Trent Park: 2 Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course' - one 1st-winter male and another heard calling only, 14:25 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Pied Flycatcher feeding in Alders. + at least 3 Chiffchaff & 1 Reed Warbler with tit flock. (Conrad Ellam)
 * Vauxhall: f Peregrine flying round the BT building at 14:45pm (Michael Mac).
 * Nine Elms Sainsbury's Car Park: 4 Black-headed Gulls (Michael Mac).
 * Totteridge Fields (LWT):- 2 Red Kites over at 15.00.W towards Hendonwood Lane. Also Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. (Not much else) Geoff Crabtree.


 * Ingrebourne Valley: Peregrine, Grey Wagtail,Yellow Wagtail @ 7.00am (Shaun Harvey)

Friday 10th September

 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Tree Pipit low over West Res, 1305; exceptional hirundine passage 0930-1300 with minimum counts of 650 Swallows, 130 House Martins and 20 Sand Martins (if memory serves the swallow count is the highest ever here), hybrid female Commmon Pochard x Tufted Duck, quite a clearout of warblers with just 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcaps and 1 Reed Warbler today, Spotted Flycatcher (gardens along southern flank) 2nd year Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Common Sandpiper (West Res) (Mark Pearson)
 * Crayford Marshes: Tree Pipit over calling, Ruff feeding on Thames foreshore at 06:30, 3 Yellow wagtails, 2 adult Yellow-Legged gulls, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, c500 Swallows, c100 House Martins, c40 Sand Martins. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: Short visit this evening - highlights; green sandpiper (3), yellow legged gull, chiffchaff, swallow (1! last of the days movement west?), wheatear, black tern (8), shoveller (6). (AW)
 * St Johns Way, Archway - large flock of long-tailed, coal, blue and great tits feeding in the small trees and bird feeders - 10.50am (DPainter)
 * Greenwich Park: several hundred Hirundines roughly West, especially late morning: 140+ between 10 and 11a.m., 170+ between 11.30 and 12.15, 160+ from 12.30 to 13.50 (and continuing steadily thereafter, also visible across a broad front and along the river in the distance). These were majority Swallows but House Martins were a close second in numbers. One or two Sand Martins were amongst them. Also Meadow Pipits in various directions, 18+ including a group of 5N. 1 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail W and a hunting Kestrel also seen (Joe Beale).
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Kestrel (mobbed by 7 Mistle Thrush), 6 Swallows SE, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker, Gr Sp Woodpecker (Chris B)


 * Harold Park: Hobby W 17.30, also Grey Wagtail over (Colin Jupp).
 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, view from London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station, 80+ Wood Pigeon over mainly south (Nick Tanner).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Ruff on the slack still at 9am, still present early evening with 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Common Snipe also on the slack. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Alexandra Park: Yellow Wagtail south over Nightingale Lane just south of park 0645, 3 Mipits SE, Sand Martin SE 0705 (Bob Watts).
 * Hyde Park: 2 x Hobby over Meadow/New Lodge area (frequent sightings this summer) (Dave Jordan); at least 3 Hobby between Meadow and Old Police House c14:25 (Simon Papps per DMc); a continual autumn presence here isn't unprecendented (DMc).
 * Leyton Flats: Hobby, 125 Swallows, 50 House Martins, 4 Sand Martins ( all hirundines NW), Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff. (Gary A James).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Sedge Warbler (site tick) flushed from Scrapyard Meadow and settled in hawthorn near pond (nice record Bob - DMc),, also probable Spotted Flycatcher flew into limes here and Swallow N (Bob Watts).
 * Wanstead Flats (06:00-11:30): 6 Whinchat (2 scrub by Alex, 4 broomfield), c.1000+ Swallow (North along a broad front cover the width of the flats, kicking off around 09:00 and still ongoing when I left, the number represents an estimate of those passing over where I walked, along the whole area this could easily be multiplied several times), 100+ House Martin (likewise with the Swallow mainly north some birds kettling), 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 40+ LBB Gull, 1 GBB Gull, 20+ Herring Gull, 100+ BH Gull (all the large interesting ones soon scarpered ones the dog walkers started to arrive - they're just big gull's blouses), 38 Meadow Pipit (4 south over Alex, 16 SSSI, 20 broom field), 3 Yellow Wagtail (south), Pied Wagatail, 6 Skylark, 16 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1+Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Green Woodpecker, 3 GS Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (on southern edge of flats by Golden Fleece), 15+ Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Collared Dove, 7 Cormorant, 10 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Mallarad, Mute Swan, C. Goose, 16 RN Parakeet, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, Hobby (not surprisingly chasing Swallow over Bush Wood), Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and the usuals (52 sp, Nick Croft)
 * Wormwood Scrubs:Viz mig of 60 Swallow passing over S/W throughout the morning (18 @ 0720, 21 @ 0735, 9 @ 0735, 7 @ 0900 and 5 @ 0950) 1 Yellow Wagtail through today (21 Yesterday), 3 Whinchat. (N.Smith)
 * Hemans Estate, Stockwell: 1 Grey Heron heading south to north east (Michael Mac).
 * South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 6 Cormorant, 15 Tufted Duck, 4 Chiffchaff (1 singing) 1 Blackcap, 2 House Martin (south) 4 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, c15 Goldfinch, 12 Greenfinch, 3 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
 * Avenue Road SE25 11:10hrs 2 Goldcrest (John Watson)
 * Trent Park: 1 female/immature Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course',09:59 - 10:16 hrs (new bird); 1 Common Whitethroat (Robert Callf).
 * Mitcham Common: 3 Kestrel (2m, 1f) again a m+f pair in tree in field behind Ecology Centre, 2+ Sparrowhawk, Cormorant (over heading SW), Grey Heron (Seven Islands), 2 Jay, 8 Greenfinch, 3 RN Parakeet, 7 Green Woodpecker, c30 House Martin plus usuals (Stuart M)
 * Paddington Green (skywatch): 130 Swallow, 30 House Martin, 4 Meadow Pipit and 2 Pied / White Wagtail through by 15:00 (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Wheatear by the electric gate, 1 Yellow Wagtail south-west, 3 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 16 Jackdaw & 47 Swallow (a poor count, I know) over mainly south-west - Flying visit (JR).
 * Trent Park: 2 Common Redstart, 2 Green Woodpecker, Swallow. ( Pete Lowman, Bob Husband).
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir LNR (Late PM visit): 3 Pochard, Tufted duck, Teal, c5 Swallow, large mixed tit flock of c35 birds of Great Tit, LTT, Blue Tit. 1 Grey Wagtail. Very quiet. (Louis Freeland-Haynes).

Thursday 9 September 2010

 * Alexandra Park: Tree Pipit (1st of year) in cricket scrub 0715-0725 but no further sign by 0830, also 3 Mipits SE (Bob Watts), plus 10+ Chiffchaffs, 2+ Whitethroats, 5+ Blackcaps, as well as 2 Whinchats cricket field perimeter (David Callahan).


 * Hampstead Heath: Hobby, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Gr Sp Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 5 Jay, Grey Heron (Chris B); Pied Flycatcher at the Conservation Pond 08:30, Wheatear by the fenced area north of running track, 15 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 7 Swallow SE. Yellow Wagtail over, 4 Shoveler and 46 Tufted Duck on Highgate 1 pond (Pete Mantle); Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Common Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat (all hedge 2), 3 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat in and around fenced area (Dave Porritt).


 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, view from the London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station (Nick Tanner).


 * Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens: 6 Shoveler, 4 Red-crested Pochard, Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon circled south, 3 Little Grebe (2 ad, juv), juv Great Black-backed Gull (Round Pond), Swallow north, 4 House Martin, Tree Pipit south 08:20 (first of the year), 11 Meadow Pipit (mainly south and west), 2 Yellow Wagtail (1 south and 1 flushed off Parade Ground), Whinchat (trees on east side of Buck Hill but mobile), Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, 5 Treecreeper (1 singing), 5 Jackdaw west, Linnet flushed from Buck Hill, 10+ Goldfinch; also Peacock Butterfly, 3 Speckled Wood, annoying dog owner with bad attitude and a monstrous St. Bernard, plus 2 dubious blokes in shorts at Hyde Park Meads (Des McKenzie); prob Marsh Harrier over Round Pond 12:05 when lost against the sun (Noel Lever per DMc).


 * Lake Farm CP: 146 Swallows and 39 House Martins flew mostly S during 2 hour watch around midday, some very high, also 15 Meadow Pipits, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Jays, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Jackdaws; also 4 Whinchats, 1 Wheatear, 2 Common Whitethroats, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Reed Bunting on the ground (Pete Naylor).


 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 1 Common Sandpiper (southern bank), Little Grebe family, plus the usuals (Rich Petley)


 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Garganey (BirdGuides).


 * Mill Hill, Sheepwash Pond (north-west of St Paul's, The Ridgeway, NW7) ( map): Unusual duck on this small pond (first seen by Bob Husband, Fay Broom, Ken Brook, Mike Roberts) is now considered by a German duck expert to be a juvenile Rosybill Pochard (escapee) rather than a Ferruginous Duck as first suggested (Bob Husband reports). ?Frujyduck-4.JPG?Frujyduck-3.JPG?Frujyduck-2.JPG?Frujyduck-1.JPGs for uploading the images. Not sure what this duck is, but I think the head shape isn't pointy-crowned enough for Ferruginous Duck, and the broken whitish eye-ring doesn't seem right either. I hope to take another look at the pics, though. Thanks again, Rob Innes. What my photographs don't show is the bird's distinctive white under tail-coverts, which I saw clearly, or the long white wing-bar seen by Bob Husband et al (Andrew Haynes). Hi Andrew - sounds as though it must have some Ferruginous Duck in it, but as well as the points I mentioned, the bill looks too broad. I think it must be a hybrid, perhaps with Pochard, though not sure. Will happily discuss further on the Yahoo group if anyone's interested. All best, Rob. I am not happy with the Rosybill identification. Internet sources suggest that the Rosybill feeds by dabbling, upending and grazing rather than diving. But when I watched the Mill Hill bird it frequently dived (nicely showing its white under tail-coverts as it submerged). And the head and bill shape (see my rubbish photos) do not seem to match images of Rosybill on the internet. I agree with Rob that it is probably a hybrid (Andrew). Afterthought: right behind the Sheepwash Pond is Belmont Children's Farm, which may well keep some freaky ducks among its smorgasbord of exotica such as quails, budgies, storks and owls (Andrew);' I only know this sp from captivity but would agree with the Rosybill identification. Rosybills do dive though not commonly (but if it's diving constantly it might have some Aythya mix in it). Both sexes show white utcs. A similar individual lacking white in the face was in the Wensum Valley in 2007 (DMc).


 * Regent's Park: Tree Pipit, 14 Yellow Wagtail, 90 Swallows, Whinchat, Greenland Wheatear, 2 Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Common Whitethroats, Garden Warbler, 16 Willow Warblers, 24 Chiffchaffs in enclosure at north-east end of the lake all day this (Tony Duckett) & (Birdguides).


 * Richmond Park: 2 Common Redstarts still in Hawthorn clump just west of Holly Lodge enclosure though elusive; Buzzard sp. glided high across centre of park heading SW @ 1305; Common Buzzard low NW @ 1235 mobbed by juv male Peregrine; Hobby; Wheatear (Bog) (J. Wilczur).


 * Beddington SF: 2 Shelduck, Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Common Snipe, Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 48 Swallow through (Dip or Glory).
 * Brent Reservoir: 5 Wigeon, 2 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Tern (2 ad, 1 juv), Sand Martin, Swallow, several House Martin, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff (Brent Birders).


 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 19 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 9 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 2 Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 10 Robin, 7 Blackbird, 4 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Jay, 4 Magpie, 1 Carrion Crow, 4 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).


 * Crayford Marshes: Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Greenshanks, Stonechat, 20 Ringed Plovers, 20 Dunlin, 2 Redshanks, Willow Warbler (Kev Jarvis & S.Carter).


 * Dagenham Chase: 1.00 - 6.45pm, Ruff on The Slack 1.40- 4.55pm, 8 Yellow Wagtails south at 3.45pm plus another over low at 6.20 pm.1 Fem Common Redstart at 5.45pm, 1 Whinchat at 6.20pm, 20+ Teal, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Common Whitethroat. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Dagnam Park LNR: Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 12 Swallow, 9 Meadow Pipit NW (my first of the autumn); no sign of the 2 Common Redstarts (Colin Jupp).


 * East India Dock Basin NR: 70 Teal, Kingfisher, 2 Common Sandpipers, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (Gary A James).


 * Greenwich Park (11.20-12.20): 1 Spotted Flycatcher busy feeding, 5 Yellow Wagtails over together (south), 1 Meadow Pipit south, also 1 Siskin S/SW (my first for the autumn); also Common Blue, Speckled Wood (Joe Beale).


 * Paddington Green: fem Peregrine Falcon in area p.m., briefly fed on cached prey item before unsuccessfully attacking a pigeon (from a flock of c130) (DMc).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Whinchat along the main bridleway, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Buzzard over, 2 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Owl, 77 Swallow over (42sw & 35w), 1 Sand Martin, 1 Meadow Pipit over (first of the autumn), 8 Grey Heron & Chiffchaff (Jon Ridge).


 * South Harrow (Roxeth Rec): Little Owl (Mega - for me anyway! - patch tick) mobbed by Great Spotted Woodpecker and Magpie. Also: 7 Pied Wagtails, Green Woodpecker, 4+ Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, 24 BHG, Sparrowhawk (0820-0845) (Alex Massey)


 * South Norwood CP: Wood Duck - had a look at the bird reported in the area since August 31st. Good for Wood Duck with clean unstreaked head and glossy sheen to cap, ragged white tear-drop eye ring, black nail, clean neat white throat and dark flanks. Lack of extensive white on inner secondaries also. Good article on female Wood Duck ID in May 2010 edition of Birding World. Origin obviously suspect but a nice bird anyway and worth seeing if in the area. Seems to favour the vegetation in the north-west corner of the lake disappearing behind the submerged fence for periods (Martin Birch); Mute Swan, 4 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, Kingfisher, 2 Stonechat, Mistle Thrush (CroydonBirders).


 * South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 4 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, c15 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c8 Chiffchaff (3 singing), 1 Collared Dove, c25 Goldfinch, 6 Jay, 4 House Sparrow (John Watson).


 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Common Buzzards soaring and then south 1115 - 1119hrs, Garden Warbler (often singing), 20 Chiffchaffs, 8 Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroat (reedbed), 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, male Wigeon (Mark Pearson)
 * Stoke Newington station: juvenile Hobby, dog-fighting with Carrion Crow, 1400 (MJP)


 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Chiffchaff High / Cherry Glades (Bob Watts).


 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 2 Yellow Wagtail, flew S, (06:42 and 07:07 hrs); 3 Grey Wagtail, flew W, calling, 07:13 hrs; 8 Whinchat, 11:57 hrs, highest count of the autumn, so far (five together, hedgerow along track and at least three 'Barracks'); 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 4 Common Whitethroat - access restricted at this site (Robert Callf).


 * Wanstead: 2 Hobby over (Birdguides).


 * Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard east (over Little Wormwood Scrubs), Hobby, 2 Collared Dove, Swift, 8+ Swallow, 15+ Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, juv Northern Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher (DL per DMc).
 * Battersea Park Lake: from 18:15 - male Peregrine on gas works dived over lake and retured to gas tower, then taking dives off but not catching anything so perhaps holding territory as drove off a crow, 3 pr Shoveler and 3 females - 1st of season, 1 drake Gadwall well down on numbers, 2 juv Little Grebe, pr Great-crested Grebe and 2 dependent juveniles + 1 single adult over other side, 3 Cygnets + adults, 1 Chaffinch making winter call, 1 Dunnock, 4 Black-headed Gulls, all the usuals, except no Egyptian Geese and never seen a Mandarin here (Michael Mac).

Wednesday 8 September 2010

 * Alexandra Palace: Garden Warbler and 4 Willow Warblers with tit flock by first viewing platform early evening (J. Murray). Hobby 1350 (Ian Lycett); Little Egret north 1810 directly over cricket pitch - 5th record this year (Bob Watts).
 * Beddington SF: 5 Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, Little Egret, 3 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Ruff east, 3 Common Snipe, Curlew north-west, 4 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, first-winter Caspian Gull, 4 Swift, 7 Yellow Wagtail (Dip or Glory).
 * Brent Res: 5 Wigeon, 4 Snipe, Green Sand, 6 Lapwing, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff (Andrew Verrall, Lydia W).
 * Broadwater: Green Sandpiper on Harefield lake, 5 Egyptian Geese (Martin Sullivan).
 * Bromley-By-Bow: 3 Common Sandpiper, 64 Mallard, female Teal, 2 Mute Swan, 11 Canada Geese, 2 Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush, Yellow Wagtail over, House Martin over (above cloud in morning) (S Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 15 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 8 Robin, 8 Blackbird, 4 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 4 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Canons Farm: Little Owl, 3 Yellowhammers, c.98 Linnets, Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, Stock Dove, Nuthatch, many Black-headed Gulls including 46 on Legal & General (David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marsh: 30 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, Blk t Godwit, Redshank, Greenshank, 6 Gadwall, Little Grebe (juv), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush (KJM).
 * Crossness: 13 Black Terns at outfall, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Green Sandpipers, 18 Redshank, c280 Teal (Kev Jarvis).


 * Dagnam Park: Common Redstart, Firecrest near car park late a.m. (Birdguides); no further sign of Firecrest pm (my earliest ever local autumn record), 2(1st-w m&fem) Common Redstart, Buzzard W 13.20, 1 Swift S, 10 House Martin, 18 Swallow S, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, 16 Blackcap (lots of 'tac' calls around the park), 10 Chiffchaff and 3 Willow Warbler (Colin Jupp).
 * Fairlop Waters: Black-necked Grebe again this eve (Birdguides).
 * Fulham Reach (Thames): 1pr Egyptian Goose with 4 goslings (little one still with lump under beak but catching up), 1 poss Common Sandpiper on other side of Thames, pr Peregrine Falcon in area (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Hobbies, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kingfisher (Chris B).


 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, showing well between 16:35 & 17:00 hrs, 16 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe; view from London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station (Nick Tanner).


 * Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: 2 Little Egret low south-east over Parade Ground 11:10 (third site record for 2010), 6 House Martin, 2 Whinchat (flushed from Buck Hill grassland and into a Lime 09:05 at least), Northern Wheatear (concert fencing at Parade Ground), 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher (Buck Hill and near owl trees); also 17 Egyptian Goose, 9 Shoveler, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 15 Stock Dove (1 singing), c50 Ring-necked Parakeet, Tawny Owl calling 10:06, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Mistle Thrush attending Mountain Ash then south-west, 6 Goldcrest (2 singing), 3 Coal Tit (1 singing), 400+ Starling (Des McKenzie).
 * Island Barn Res: Whinchat (SBC).
 * London Bridge: 2 Black Terns east towards Tower Bridge at 09.10 (RBA).


 * London Wetland Centre: Garganey, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Kingfisher, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat (LWC website); plus 1 Black Tern at 09:45, 1 Tree Pipit (calling) at 09:10 (Peter Gray).
 * Oxted: Osprey perched c30m back from road on circular concrete landfill vent c3ft above ground level by M25, c5km west of Clacket Lane services 08:04; possibly injured? (Birdguides / SurreyBirdersYahooGroup).
 * Pinner Park Farm: Osprey (thought to be an adult) over to the north at 16:28 - presumably to avoid the showers, 1 Tree Pipit over calling, 1 male Common Redstart along the bridleway, 5 Yellow Wagtail northeast, 3 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & 3 Swallow south (Jon Ridge).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: Knot, Greenshank, 10 Yellow Wagtail (SBC).
 * Rotherhithe: adult Yellow-legged Gull on River Thames east of Greenland Pier 7pm (Richard Bonser).
 * Ruislip: Yellow Wagtail over this evening (Martin Sullivan).
 * South Norwood CP: 4 Mute Swan, poss Wood Duck, 54 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 11 Tufted Duck, 4 Pheasant, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, pr Kestrel, 6 Chiffchaff (CroydonBirders).
 * Staines Reservoir (early a.m.): 5 Yellow Wagtail, Sparrowhawk (Nigel Sluman); 4 Sandwich Terns intermittently 09.06 to 09.55, Hobby 3+, Little Gull 1 juvenile, 7 Swift, 3 Common Tern (Andrew Moon)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Pied Flycatcher with warbler flock along New River, just east of Lordship Road (a different bird to yesterday's on plumage), Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail east, Garden Warbler (often in song), c20 House Martins and 5 Sand Martins, drake Wigeon (first of autumn) (MJP).
 * Trent Park: 3 Common Redstart; 2 Whinchat; 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Whitethroat, 'Old Golf Course' (Robert Callf). please cld you give directions to Old golf course, is it near the new one? thanks M.Turner. Ha-ha, I had this problem last week; go to the first pond and it is the area of shrubs and grass sort of half way between the pond and the woods towards the obelisk, nowhere near the golf course (M. Mac); 2 Common Redstart, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff(s), Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldcrest (Pete Lowman).
 * Walthamstow Marsh: 4 Yellow Wagtails in the Horse Paddock, 2 Whinchats by the Boardwalk early pm (frogandlisa).
 * Wanstead Flats (05:30-10:30): 3 Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 7+ Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3+ Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, Blackbird, 2 Mistle Thrush, Robin, Great, Blue, Long-Tailed Tit, 7+ G Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, 2 House Martin, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, C Crow, 15 RN Parakeet, Wren, Dunnock, H SParrow, 15+ LBB Gull, 5 Herring Gull, BH Gull, 3 Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Moorhen, 10 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, Mallard, MuteSwan, Canada Goose, Little Grebe, Greenfinch, 6 Cormorant (Nick Croft).
 * Wood Green: Hobby south towards Stoke Newington 13:45 (Ian Lycett)

Tuesday 7 September 2010

 * Alexandra Park: 2 Nuthatches, Willow Warbler (both Top Field), Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Swallows (cricket scrub) (David Callahan). Hobby 1702 (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Brent Reservoir: 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2+ Common Tern (David Howdon).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 16 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 2 Black-headed Gull, 10 Woodpigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 10 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Starling, 3 Jay, 6 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 5 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Coppetts Wood: 2 Bullfinch (1 male and 1 juvenile) (James Palmer).


 * Crossness: Grey Plover east along Thames, Avocet on Thames foreshore by golf centre, 11 Black Tern at golf centre outfall, Garden Warbler, Curlew, Kingfisher (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dagnam Park LNR: 1st-w male Common Redstart (new bird - different to 1st-3rd); an increase of Sylvia warblers: 15+ Blackcap (some sub-singing), 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat. Also Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest with large mixed tit flock Lily Pond and Round Pond area, Sparrowhawk, 60 Jackdaw, several R-n Parakeet, plus Weasel seen (Colin Jupp).
 * East Acton (Old Oak Road): 1 Grey Wagtail over (JR).
 * East India Dock NR (pm): Common Sandpiper on Lea, 45 Teal on island, 2 juv Common Terns on Thames (David Callahan).
 * Hammersmith Bridge: 5 Egyptian Goose (inc young) (JR).
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 Hobby, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Nuthatch, 50+ mixed Great Tit / Blue Tit / Coal Tit / L-T Tit (Chris B).
 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper, til 5:50pm at least, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing, 10+ Teal; view from London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station (Nick Tanner).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: Honey-buzzard ESE 10:06 (SBC).
 * Horsenden Hill, Perivale: Hobby drifted SW late afternoon. Apart from that very quiet with only c3 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap (last 2 species heard only) and the usual residents (Bill Haines).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 23 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, 40 House Martin, Common Redstart, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff (Dave Morrison).
 * London Wetland Centre: 13 Wigeon, 112 Shoveler, Peregrine Falcon, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, still 7 Ruff, Kingfisher (LWC website). Also Cetti's Warbler & Snipe (JR).
 * Mitcham Common: 2 Kestrel (m + f) together in field behind Ecology Centre - lovely barred hen feather on ground, House Martin (over Bidder's heading S), Ring-Necked Parakeet, 2 Jay plus usuals before deluge (Stuart M).
 * Mudchute Farm (Isle of Dogs): 20 Monk Parakeet (LondonBirdersYahooGroup).
 * Maylands Golf Course: 3 Whinchat, 20 Long-tailed Tit, 7 Green Woodpecker, 30 Swallow over at 19.10, Little Owl (Colin Jupp).
 * Paddington Green: 4 Sparrowhawk (imm fem in area all morning and 3 north), 2 Hobby south-east (13:40 and 13:57; the latter dropping and skimming rooftops), Peregrine Falcon (prob m) low south 14:30, 4 Collared Dove east 08:35, 3 House Martin, juv Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, singing Coal Tit (unusual), Jay, 12-15 Goldfinch (1 singing); also Lancaster Bomber and Spitfire north 12:35 (en route to Coningsby) (Des McKenzie).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: juv Knot, 2 Dunlin, 9 Yellow Wagtail (SBC).
 * Rainham Marshes: 66 species inc Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Black Tern in Aveley Bay a.m., 12 Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, 3-4 Lesser Whitethroat (J Lethbridge).
 * River Wandle (Plough Lane, SW19): 17:20 Grey Heron (over W), probably same bird landing on river by road bridge an hour later (Stuart M)
 * Staines Reservoirs: 2 Black Terns (ad & juv) 1 Little Gull (1st W) 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Dabchick. (Pete Naylor & FJM)
 * Staines Moor: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Whinchats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs all in hawthorns near bend in River Colne at N end of moor late pm. Also 1 Little Egret, 8 Meadow Pipits, 5 Skylarks, Cettis Warbler singing at gravel pit along track by 5 bar gate. (FJM)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: fresh in Pied Flycatcher & Common Redstart (both along southern perimeter, Garden Warbler (LWT garden), 13 Chiffchaffs, 8+ Willow Warblers (Mark Pearson et al Hackney Wildlife).
 * South Norwood CP: 5 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe, 28 Goldfinch (CroydonBirders). Also Sparrowhawk trying (and failing) to catch a bat - believed to be noctule - at 19:38. (J Birkett)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 1st winter Spotted Flycatcher still Chestnut Glade, Willow Warbler still in large mixed tit flock High Glade, also male Balckcap (Bob Watts).
 * Trent Park: at least one 1st-winter male Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course', 09:39 - 10:09 hrs; 2 Common Whitethroat (Robert Callf). Two Common Redstarts present early afternoon including the adult male. (R.A. (Bob) Husband & D. (Pete) Lowman.
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Common Snipe, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 30+ Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 110+ Starling (Steve B).
 * Wanstead Flats (05:30-09:30): Tree Pipit (SSSI - Steve Thorpe/Nick Croft), 8+ Meadow Pipits also west of Centre Road (1 Alex, 1 Long Wood), Whinchat (Alex scrub still), Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, 10+ Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher (S of Long Wood in Hawthorn again), 11+ Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 7+ Blackcap, Chaffinch (becoming more regular), 8+ Greenfinch, Goldfinch, c.30 RN Parakeet (mostly north), 8+ Gadwall, 2 Shoveler (Alex), 4 Mute Swan adults (+4 Cygnets), Little Grebe, c.20 LBB Gull + 5-10 Herring Gull (morning roost west of Alex), BH Gull, 2 GBB Gull, Common Gull, Collared Dove, White-cheeked Turaco (Long Wood), 6+ G Woodpecker, 4 GS Woodpecker, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Great, Blue and LT Tit, Heron (Nick Croft). PM: 2 Hobby over SSSI (NC)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: ad-wint Mediterranean Gull east, Swallow, c4 Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Common Redstart in shrubs along Baybrook Street 11:50 (N.Smith), 4 Whinchat, c3 Lesser Whitethroat, c5 Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, c5 Jay, c3 Reed Bunting (Birdguides).
 * Trent Park: 2 Common Redstart (Ad.m and 1stWm), Old Golf Course, Also in the area 4 Whinchat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap on Vicarage Farm barracks area 4 Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, 4 Mistle Thrush, Common Buzzard(Juv) from Parkside Farm PYO. ( Pete Lowman, Bob Husband)

Monday 6 September 2010

 * Hogsmill SF: Wood Sandpiper til 3pm at least, Lapwing, 4 Teal; view western end of lagoon from London-bound platform of Berrylands railway station (Nick Tanner).
 * London WC1. Black Redstart, f/juv, feeding in trees/rooftops in Bedford Avenue, north side (Simon Bradley).
 * Holmethorpe SP's: Great White Egret circled The Moors at this morning at 0940 mobbed by Gulls, seen by Graham James - DMH).
 * Walthamstow Filter Beds: m Merlin through at 8.53 am (Dan Barrett).
 * Walton Res: Garganey (SBC).
 * Crossness: c8 Black Terns off Golfcentre. Avocet and Greenshank in Barking Bay, Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Green Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis & I.Miller).
 * Alexandra Park: Spotted Flycatcher cricket scrub, 2 Whitethroats, 10+ Chiffchaffs 0650-0730 (Bob Watts).
 * Brent Reservoir: Green Sandpiper behind dam & 3 Swifts (Andrew Self).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 14 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 8 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 10 Woodpigeon, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 5 Blackbird, 5 Great Tit, 10 Blue Tit, 1 Starling, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: Spotted Flycatcher at Lunch Wood 9.16am, 3 Hobbies, 2 Meadow Pipits, up to 3 Sparrowhawks, c.73 Jackdaws, Treecreeper, 5+ Goldcrests, 5 Nuthatches, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, 5+ Chiffchaffs (1 singing), c.20 Stock Doves, 2 Yellowhammers, 40+ Linnets, Swallow, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Rose-ringed Parakeets. 2+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c.3 Herring Gulls and 50-60+ Black-headed Gulls in stubble flax fields (David Campbell).
 * Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens (a.m.): 2 fem Teal, 6 Shoveler, c35 House Martin through, 2 Grey Wagtail, 5 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, 8 Goldcrest (2 singing); also 289 Greylag Goose, 18 Egyptian Goose, m Gadwall, 3 Red-crested Pochard, ad fem Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebe (ad and juv), 4 Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker (Des McKenzie).
 * Island Barn Res: Black-necked Grebe (SBC).
 * Leyton Flats: Little Egret, 1 Whinchat, 7 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (Gary A James).
 * London Wetland Centre: 13 Wigeon, 3 Garganey, 112 Shoveler, Peregrine Falcon, 7 Ruff, 10 Common Snipe, Common Whitethroat, 8+ Chiffchaff (LWC website).
 * Rainham Marshes: 8 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Willow Warbler, 13 Swallow (reserve); 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 1 ad Yellow-Legged Gull (shore); 3 Reed Warbler (west marshes) - (Tom Smith).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2+ Hobby, Little Owl, 8 Jackdaw. Also 23 Swallow & 1 House Martin mainly southwest (Jon Ridge).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: 3 Dunlin (SBC).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Spotted Flycatcher Chestnut Glade (1st for year), also Willow warbler in mixed tit flock Cherry Glade but extremely elusive (Bob Watts).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: (am) 2 Whinchat, 1 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Whitethroat and a flock of 30+ Goldfinch all in the long grass, 2 Yellow Wagtail (one over west and one south). 4 Swallow through south. 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 (m) Sparrowhawk (N. Smith).
 * Trent Park: 2 (ad male and 1st-winter male) Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course', 10:00 - 10:11 BST (Robert Callf): also Enfield, somewhere: Wryneck
 * Sewardstone: Hobby, Common Tern, 30 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 7 Sand Martin, Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper on relief channel basin, 30 Teal flew onto KGV reservoir from the north, good numbers of common warblers (Martin Shepherd).
 * South Norwood CP: Mute Swan, Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe (CroydonBirders).

Sunday 5 September 2010

 * Beddington Farmlands: 25+ Chiffchaff, 10+ Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 10+ Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 4 Swift, a passage of 90+ Swallow, 10+ Sand Martin, 15+ House Martin, 4 Greenshank, 4-5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Buzzard , 2 Hobby , 3 Kestrel, 3 Sparrowhawk and 1 Goldcrest. Photos and more info here
 * Barnes WWT: Osprey 07.24 - possibly the Regent's Park bird, headed south. 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, 5 Swift, all day passage of Sand and House Martin (some lingering) with a few Swallows, Cetti's warbler, Garganey, 2 Lesser Whitethroat also seen (Martin Honey). Also juv Black Tern (Mike Wheeler)
 * Brent Reservoir: Tree Pipit in shrike field, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker behind dam; also 5 Wigeon & 7 Swift (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall).
 * Lower Chingford (footpath off Russell Road): 10 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 1-2 Sand Martin, 1 Kingfisher (James Palmer)
 * Kingston Sewage Farm: Wood Sandpiper still present on settling pond from western end of London-bound platform at Berrylands Station this afternoon. Also 3 Teal (Bill Haines).
 * Alexandra Park: Little Egret SE over New River Village 0818, c50 Swallows south or SE, Spotted Flycatcher & Lesser Whitethroat cricket scrub, Hobby chasing passerine, Mipit SW, Commic Tern Wood Green Res 0915 (Bob Watts, Gareth Richards, Andrew Gardener).
 * East India Dock Basin NR: 1 Black Tern off dock 09.45-10.15, 25 Common Terns. Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks. (Gary A James).
 * Wanstead Flats (05:30-11:00): Green Sandpiper (heard over the SSSI - year patch tick, and year site tick, yay! 105/121 - watch out Rainham we're on a roll!), Common Sandpiper on Alex (from 06:30-9:00), 60+ Swallow (mainly south, some east), 1 Sand Martin (east), 4 House Martin (happy to stay put for the moment), 4 + Whinchat (1 Alex scrub, 3+ on broom field), Song Thrush, Robinsssssss, Blackbird, 8 Mistle Thrush, 4 + Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail (and I only saw the last PW, and that was through the scope, makes me wonder why I lug all this baggage around with me!), 1 Spotted Flaycatcher (Long Wood), 8 Chiffchaff, 6 C. Whitethroat, L. Whitethroat, Blackcap, 1 Linnet (over Alex), Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 4 GS Woodpecker, 7 Green Woodpecker, LBB, Gull, 2 GBB Gull, BH Gull, Herring Gull, 7 Cormorant, 3 Kestrel, 5+ Sparrowhawk, 3 Meadow Pipit, 7 Gadwall, 1 Greylag Goose (over east), Little Grebe, 2 Heron (1 on Jub at 06:00), 45 RN Parakeet (55 sp, Nick Croft)
 * Trent Park: 2(ad male and 1st-winter male) Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course', 10:21 - 10:45 BST (Robert Callf). 2 male Common Redstart summer plumage, active from 15:15 to 15:45pm - in two different bushes apart, Hobby, flock of 30 Black-headed Gulls over. 1 Kestrel over Hadley Road fields also a Little Owl feather (but no sign of rest of the bird), Ring-necked Parakeets up the Cockfosters end but I've never seen/heard one up the North East area for some reason (Michael Mac).
 * Rainham RSPB: 2 Sandwich Tern up river @07:20, 6 Black Tern out @ 10:30, 4 Knot, 40+ Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover, Blackwit, 4 Common Sand, Green Sand, 2 Greenshank, 20+ Yellow Wag, 3+ Lesser Whirtethroat, Whinchat.(P Hawkins, J Lethbridge) Pintail, 7 Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, 2 Water Rail, c90 Lapwing, 3 Cetti's Warbler (Nick Tanner). 4 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, Garden Warbler (Mike Benyon)
 * Pinner Park Farm: 4 Hobbies continue to terrorise the area, often giving spectacular views - on the down side, everything else seems to have been scared off from this site (Jon Ridge). Also Little Owl & just 1 Chiffchaff (JR).
 * Ruislip Lido/Woods: 99 Mute Swan, 107 Canada Geese, 120 Mallard, 25 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 28 Tufted Duck, 20 Pochard, 4 broods Great-crested Grebe ( 15 juv), Dabchick, 2 Cormorant, 4 Heron, 2 Hobby ( 1 swiftly over tree tops Poor's Field, other catching hawker in wide ride Park Wood, then calling briefly mobbed by Magpie), 3 Stock Dove, 2 Green + 5 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 6+ Sand + c15 House Martin, 4 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest. 7 Nuthatch (Neil Anderson)
 * Regent's Park: Osprey 7.05am, Hobby 9.00am, 12 Grey Herons in a line, 6 GBB Gulls, 2 Swallows, 2 Common Whitethroats, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs (Tony Duckett).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Redstart,Wheatear,7 Yellow Wagtail,7 R n parakeets,Ringed Plover,Snipe, Green Sandpiper, R L Partridge(Shaun Harvey)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 2 Whinchat on bramble patch in travellers field, 2+ Willow Warbler, several Chiffchaff and 2 Bullfinch briefly. ( V.Halley-Frame )


 * Maylands Golf Course: Whinchat but no other migrants, 2 Green Woodpeckers (Colin Jupp).
 * Queen Mary Res (permit only): fair amount of tern passage during the day - Black Tern two late morning, then up to 31 late afternoon; Common Tern flock of 31 thru late morning, then eight thru later plus flocks of c8 and c12 probables; Arctic Tern juv. Also seven Dunlin thru, Greenshank, Little Gull juv, two Yellow Wagtails, three Whinchats, two Wheatears, etc (Rob Innes, Andrew Moon).
 * Crouch End, N8: Swift low around houses at north end of Ferme Park Road for second time in a week (a traditional nesting area - v. late brood?) (Gareth Richards).

Saturday 4 September 2010

 * Beddington Farmlands: 1 Whinchat, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Common Tern, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wigeon (first birds of the autumn), 10-15 Chiffchaff, 3-4 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat['|//peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/]'Photos here
 * Crayford Marsh: 3 Knot, Black Tailed Godwit, 30 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 10+ Redshank, Lesser Whitethroat. (KJM).
 * East India Dock Basin NR: Red Kite NE 10.35, Common Buzzard E 10.00, 42 Teal, 1 House Martin, 1 Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat. (Gary A James).
 * Alexandra Park: adult Whinchat SW corner cricket pitches 0920 at least, Lesser Whitethroat & Spotted Flycatcher cricket scrub, 10+ Chiffchaffs, 8+ Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroat, 7+ House Martins, Spotted Flycatcher Grove (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards).
 * Brent Reservoir: Garganey in east marsh, also Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit over, 4 Swifts, 2 Spot Flys, 3 Wigeon, 4 Green Sands, 3 Snipe, 7 Lapwing & Common Sand (Brent Birders)
 * Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 1 Heron, 13 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 4 Black-headed Gull, 10 Woodpigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Wren, 10 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, Blue & Great Tit flock, 3 Starling, 4 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam.)
 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: Northern Wheatear, Hobby, 3 distant Common Buzzards, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3+ Yellowhammers, up to 150 Linnets, Rook, 3 Bullfinches, 4+ Goldcrests, c.4 Treecreepers, 6 Nuthatches, 4 Coal Tits, Common Gull & Herring Gull with c.45 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3+ Blackcaps, Common Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Green Woodpeckers, c.15 Rose-ringed Parakeets, 3+ Pied Wagtails, distant Kestrel (David Campbell).
 * Crossness: 15 Black Terns off golf centre, 2 Yellow wagtails, 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (3 ads + juv), Kingfisher, Little Egret, 4 Common Sandpipers, 12 Redshank. (Kev Jarvis, S.Carter, John Archer, I.Stewart).
 * Fairlop CP: Black-necked grebe still on main boating lake at 2pm, yellow wag over.(Paul Hawkins)
 * Fulham Palace Meadow Allotments, 18.15: 2 big flocks of Starlings (1000+ then 500+) low over trees & roofs, from North to South, probably to Wandsworth Bridge roost. (more Starlings seen on Craven Cottage floodlights c18.30) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Fulham Reach, Thames: 5 Housemartin, 66 Mallard, 2 Teal, 9 Tufted Duck (inc 2 juv almost adult size), 22 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtail (1 juv), 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Mute Swan, 5+ House Sparrow, at least 88 Black-headed Gull including 1 Dutch (returning visitor, red A1) & 1 Finnish (new one, white CC1H) - pr Peregrine Falcon in area, pm (Nathalie Mahieu)
 * Kensington Olympia: 1 Pied Wagtail over the road (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mudchute Farm: 8+ Monk Parakeets (David Callahan).
 * Muswell Hill: 8 Lapwing over SE. (P.Angus)
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon in area a.m., juv Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
 * Richmond Park: one Common Buzzard ->S over Pond Slade/Isabella Plantation at 13.10 (active flight, not high). One Hobby over Upper Pen Pond (Stefan Czapski) also Buzzard 8.00am Cambrian Gate flying into trees, 2 male common redstarts in hawthorns just west of Holly Lodge (Hugh Bradshaw)
 * River Wandle (Garratt Lane, SW19): 18:00 Kestrel f in frantic aerial combat with several corvids for over 15 minutes (Stuart M)
 * RSPB Rainham (along Thames path to mound): Hobby, Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Lapwing, Redshank, 3 Sand Martin and 8 House Martin (Steven Robinson). Curlew Sandpiper flew thru Ave bay at 07:20 also 3 Knot, 2 Ringed plover, c30 Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, ad Yellow Legged Gull, probable Honey Buzzard south (didnt pic it up till late!) Bearded tit by new turnstile, Tree Pipit over + 12 Yellow Wagtail.(P Hawkins, J lethbridge, D Morrison)


 * South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 8 Cormorant, c12 Tufted Duck, 1 juv Black-headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c7 Chiffchaff (2singing) 2 Jay, 3 Dunnock, c10 Goldfinch, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, c10 Long-tailed Tit, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)


 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 1 Common Redstart, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Willow warblers and 3 Common Sandpipers early evening (J.murray).
 * Trent Park: 1 juv/1st-w Turtle Dove, flew from stubble field and alighted in Oak, edge of Ride Wood, 08:30 - 08:40 BST, observed thro'scope - my first record locally for six years! 2(ad male and 1st-w male) Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course', 10:20 - 11:00 BST (Robert Callf). Also Whinchat, Sparrowhawk, 4 Chiffchaff. ( Pete Lowman)
 * Wanstead Flats: Common Buzzard (Bobwv)
 * Wanstead Flats (05:30-11:00): Golden Plover (circled twice calling over Alex before before heading east at@09:00, yay! patch tick, year patch tick, year site tick; 104/107/120) Little Owl (Coronation copse), 1 Whinchat (east of Alex in burnt scrub), Mistle Thrush (flock of 17 on footba pitch east of long Wood), 5 + Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robins singing and chasing each other everywhere), Pochard, 2 Teal, 6 Gadwall, Mallard, Mute Swan (residents plus 3 adults that flew SW), Canada Goose, 1 Greylag Goose, 6 Grey Heron, 8 Cormorant, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Blue tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, 30+ LBB Gull, 3 GBB Gull, 50+ BH Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 5 Common Gull, Carrion Crow, +20 Jays (one which appeared to have a Dunnock in its gob), Magpie, Jackdaw, Starling (including pre roost flock around 200 on playing fields), 3 Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 8 + Chiffchaff, 7+ C. Whitethroat, 5+ Lesser Whitethroat, 7+ Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (south of Long Wood in hawthorn), 3 Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, 2 House Martin, 10+ G Woodpecker, 7 GS Woodpecker, 32 RN Parakeet (52sp Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park (11:00-17:00): 10 Yellow Wagtail (east - old sewage works), 3 + Hobby (Bush Wood, Reservoir Wood, SoM, Heronry, OSW), 6 Swallow (south, Bush Wood), 2-3 Coal Tit (in roving tit flocks in Bush Wood, south of Perch and south of Heronry), 4 Greylag (North over Reservoir Wood), 8 Tufted Duck, f Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 1 Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, more Jays, C. Whitethroat, L. Whitethroat, Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Song Thrush and many many Robin (42 sp Nick Croft) Kingfisher on Perch (Tim Harris)
 * Bedfords Park LNR: Two large mixed flocks Round Pond area and near the Visitor Centre: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Coal tit, 2 Goldcrest with lots of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits. 1(calling) Tree Pipit and 1 Whitethroat in the Wildflower Meadow. 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff at SE corner of Lake. A light hirundine passage, 20+ Swallow south. Single flock of 26 Cormorants soaring high over at 11.15 continued W in 'v' formation. Also 2 Hobby, 2 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk over. (Colin Jupp, Sid Petts).

Friday 3 September 2010

 * The Wetland Centre WWT: Ringtail Montagu's Harrier flew through NE at 11:00, plus 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Garganey (RBA). 1 Hobby showing well catching dragonflies 15.00-15.30. 6 Snipe. (S Haslem)
 * Duke's Meadows, Chiswick (Skywatch 13:00-16:00): 3 Buzzards (2 together SW, 1 W), 2 Peregrine, 1 Hobby, 3 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 3 Swift W, 6 Swallow W, 1 Heron thermalling very high. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: Yellow Wagtail, juv Hobby, 5+ Common Buzzards, 6+ Rooks, 5+ Yellowhammers, 10+ Chiffchaffs (3 singing), 3 Common Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 11+ Goldcrests, 4+ Bullfinches, 1+ Treecreeper, 4 Coal Tits, 5+ Nuthatches, Pheasant, 5+ Swallows, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Green Woodpeckers, 5 Stock Doves, several Linnets, 16 Black-headed Gulls on Legal & General, Rose-ringed Parakeet (David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marshes: 3 Knot, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Buzzard, 6 Greenshanks, 3 Yellow wagtails, Little Owl, Wheatear, Hobby, Peregrine. (Kev Jarvis & KJM).
 * Crossness: 2 Black Tern, Spotted Flycatcher, Green Sandpiper (AW)
 * Rainham Marshes: 2 Marsh Harriers, 2+ Hobbies, 2 Knot (Aveley Bay), 5 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, Whinchat, 47+ Yellow Wagtails (inc one flock of 44+ west), Hobby (Dominic Mitchell via Twitter).
 * Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon p.m. (fem feeding on cached kill), 2 House Martin, Garden Warbler and 2 Willow Warbler with roving tit-flock (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 4 Hobby all up in the air together, Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat & Whitethroat (JR).
 * Leyton Flats: 1 Teal (unusual here), Whinchat, 5 Swallows, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap. (Gary A James).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: juvenile Knot still present (DMH).
 * Richmond Park: a single Swift ->S past Thatched House Lodge at 14.00, soon feeding over Kingston. There can't be many more. One Hobby over Pen Ponds, another around Ham Clump. (Stefan Czapski)
 * Brookmill Park, Lewisham; 1 Heron, 21 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 2 Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Wren, 10 Robin, 7 Blackbird, Blue & Great Tit flock, 5 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam.)
 * Fairlop Waters: Black Necked Grebe 7.15pm (redbridgebirdwatching)
 * Five Oaks Lane, Chigwell: 2 Bullfinch, 2 m Yellowhammer, 7 Mipit, 100 Swallow (Redbridgebirdwaching)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Willow Warbler in largely L T Tit flock (Bob Watts).
 * Alexandra Park: Lesser Whitethroat cricket scrub also 30+ Greenfinch (a very good breeding season). Hobby drifted east from 'obs' 1800 (Bob Watts).
 * Wanstead Flats (06:00-11:00): Tree Pipit (SSSI), 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Goldcrest (in scrub east of Alex, then flew south), 10 + Chiffchaff, 8+ C. Whitethroat, 2+ Lesser Whitethroat, 4+ Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler (east end of Long Wood), Buzzard (heard mewing NW of Long Wood), 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Whinchat, Song Thrush, Blackbird, numerous Robin, Mistle Thrush, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (south of Long Wood in hawthorn), 2 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 6 Skylark (J. Lethbridge), Blue Tit, Great Tit, 7+ Green Woodpecker, 3 GS Woodpecker, Starling, Wren, Dunnock, 4 Swallow (3 east, 1 south), 4 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail (over), 2 Pied Wagtail, 20+ House Sparrow (manily on Jub), 3 Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Jacdaw, 10+ Jay, 20+ Magpie, c.100 BH Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 10 LBB Gull, 3 RN Parakeet, Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, Coot, Moorhen, 2 Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard, 4 adult Mute Swan (Alex + cygnets), Canada Goose (c.50sp Nick Croft, Jonathan Lethbridge).
 * Brent Res: Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 7 Lapwing, 3 Wigeon (Andrew Verrall, John Gravatt, Lynda W).
 * South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 5 Cormorant, 12 TuftedDuck, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c9 Chiffchaff (3singing) 1 Blackcap, c10 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Collared Dove, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 House Sparrow, (JohnWatson)
 * Woolwich Ferry: 1 Black Tern & 4 Common Terns at 2.30 (Conrad Ellam)
 * Vauxhall BT Building: 1 Peregrine at 16:20 (Michael Mac).
 * Totteridge Fields: 3 Common Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Buzzard (Tony Clancy)
 * Trent Park: 4 Common Redstart ( Adult m, 2x 1st Wm,1 x f ) all Old Golf Course, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Hobby, 2 Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Sand Martin. ( Pete Lowman, Bob Husband, Robert Callf).
 * Dagnam Park LNR: 1st-w m Common Redstart, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, several Blackcap, large hirundine flock of 100+ (mainly Swallows) and patrolling Hobby (Colin Jupp).

Thursday 2 September 2010

 * Rainham Marshes: female Hen Harrier on silt lagoons at 09:30 (no public access), male Marsh Harrier over Wennington, 3 juvenile Ruddy Shelduck on Aveley Pools from the new hide at 12:00, but flew at 12:04 (Londonbirders Twitter).
 * Crayford Marsh: 2 Knot and 3 Avocets on Foreshore, Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Black Terns, Cetti's Warbler, Little Owl, Hobby, 6 Greenshanks. (KJM & Kev Jarvis).
 * Alexandra Park: Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Swallow Cricket Scrub 7am (Bob Watts); Spot Fly still, plus Coal Tit with huge mixed flock feeding on scale insects (racetrack) (David Callahan).
 * Canons Farm: Common Redstart and 2 Whinchats near farmhouse, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1+ Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard, 3 Sparrowhawks, Kestrel, Rook, 7 Yellowhammers, c.70 Linnets, singing Goldcrest, singing Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, House Martin, c.3 Swallows, Chiffchaff, 4+ Common Whitethroats, 1+ Stock Dove, 2 Rose-ringed Parakeets, 7+ Pied Wagtails, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Green Woodpeckers, Greenfinch (David Campbell).
 * Crossness: 5 Black Tern, Green Sand, Kingfisher (O Bourne)
 * Dagnam Park LNR (Harold Hill): 1st-w male Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 6m Blackcap, pair Bullfinch (Colin Jupp).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 3 Spotted Flycatcher between Deer Park and Visitor Centre, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff. At 19.00 3 Mandarin flew over plus 25 Swallow south and 1 Yellow Wagtail (Colin Jupp).
 * Fairlop Waters: Black-necked Grebe (redbridgebirdwatching)
 * Fairlop Gravel Works: 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 80 Lapwing, 38 Teal, 30 Gadwall, 4 Stock Dove, 50 House Martin (Redbridgebirdwatching)
 * Five Oaks Lane, Chigwell: Kestrel, Little Owl, Tree Pipit, 100 Swallow, 2 Linnet (Redbridgebirdwatching)
 * Hammersmith Bridge: 1 Grey Wagtail, 1pr Egyptian Goose + 4 goslings, 8 House Sparrow by Riverside Studio & 7 House Martin over Barnes (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Paddington Green: 3 Swift south (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 4 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Owl & 2 Swallow - very quiet again (JR).
 * South Harrow (Roxeth Rec): male Bullfinch briefly, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, lots of juvenile Greenfinches - this species seems to have done well here this year (Alex Massey).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Common Redstarts, Pied Flycatcher, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Hobby, lots of phylloscs, etc; Little Egret east, 1155 (Mark Pearson et al); Pied Fly, Redstart, at least 2 Spot Flys still present 1415 (J Lethbridge, MJP); all the cast still present 1510 (MJP); 4 Spotted Flycatchers, roughly together, 1600; Tree Pipit low over Behune Road, 1650 (MJP et al)
 * Potters Field: Chaffinch flew East (1st I have seen in over a year of (poorly) watching the area) Kestrel flew towards Tower of London. (Paul Whiteman)
 * Tower 42 (City of London) 06:00-10:00: Grey Heron high south, Buzzard sp (flew behind building pursued by crows and didn't emerge from the other side, identification not resolved), Great Black-backed Gull south, up to 5 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Swift, c50 Swallow, House Martin (Swifts and hirundines south) (T42BSG).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Common Buzzard (dark individual) flew east 1215 (from direction of Tower 42), also House Martin and Sand Martin (Bob Watts).
 * Brent Res: Dunlin (long-billed northern type), 2 Green Sands, 2 Snipe, 7 Lapwing (Andrew Verrall, Lydia W).
 * South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 15 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, 6 Chiffchaff (3singing) 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 9 Ring-necked Parakeet, c8 Long-tailed Tit, 1singing Coal Tit, 8 Jay, 4 Herring Gull (over) c20 Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow (John Watson).
 * Ten Acre Wood (Hillingdon): Hobby, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk. 3 Stock Dove, Swallow, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, m Bullfinch (Neil Anderson)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 3 Common Buzzard, c5 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Peregrine, c10 Swift, c6 Meadow Pipit, c23 Swallow, 2 Whinchat, c4 Reed Bunting (DL, AP, RN).
 * Trent Park: 3(ad male, 2'1st-w' males) Common Redstart, 'Old Golf Course', 10:41 - 11:06 BST; 1'1st-winter' Spotted Flycatcher, feeding on Elderberries, 'Old Golf Course'; 3 Common Whitethroat (RMCallf).
 * Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 1 Heron, 12 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Wren, 5 Robin, 3 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Starling, 5 Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam)
 * Totteridge Valley: c60 - 70 House Martins, 25 Swallows and at least 1 Sand Martin generally ESE this pm, accounting for continued presence of a Hobby: also 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 whitethroat and 1 Grey Wagtail (John Colmans)
 * Regent's Park: 7 Common Buzzards, Peregrine, 3 Hobby's, 2 Kestrels, 5 Sparrowhawks, 3 Yellow Wagtails(interesting photo at www.regentsparkbirds.blogspot.com), Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers (Tony Duckett)

Wednesday 1 September 2010

 * Brent Reservoir: Little Stint in east marsh from main hide at 09.55 (AGV per AS); Little Stint still present late morning, plus Garganey for second day, 3 Wigeon, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 8 Lapwings (5 observers); also Whinchat on Dam & 2 Little Egrets over in evening (Andrew Self).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Marsh Tit on woodland feeders, first for the reserve. ( ELBF & LBYG ). Observer Tony Coombs.


 * Crayford Marshes: 3 Avocet and 3 Knot on Thames foreshore, Little Owl, 2 Hobbies, 2 Wheatears, 24 Ringed Plover, 8 Redshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshanks, 20 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis & KJM).


 * Dagnam Park LNR: imm male Common Redstart, 1 Whinchat; good hirundine passage pm with 100+ Swallow and 20+ House Martin. Also 6+ Ring-necked Parakeets (Colin Jupp).


 * Fairlop Waters: Black Necked Grebe, juv Hobby, Common Sandpiper (Redbridgebirdwatching)


 * Fairlop Gravel Works: 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper (Redbridge Birdwatching)


 * Five Oaks Lane, Chigwell: 100+ Swallow, 3 Whinchat, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit (Redbridgebirdwatching)


 * Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens: very vocal juv Hobby circling c40ft above Hudson Memorial (possibly one of the birds seen by SP on 26/08; this sp has been known to roost at Buckingham Palace Gardens previously and hang about Hyde Park), 6 House Martin, fem / imm Common Redstart (Kensington Gardens Flower Walk, constantly chased by Robins to 07:48 at least. Probably the same bird as present on 26/08), Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler (2 singing), Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher (occasionally showing well in trees north of Serpentine Island and toward Old Police House to 10:00 at least), Reed Bunting; also 62 Mute Swan, 18 Egyptian Goose, ecl m Mandarin Duck, 3 Shoveler, 10 Red-crested Pochard, juv Little Grebe, ad fem Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon carrying prey low north-east over Buck Hill, 4 Stock Dove (1 singing), 4 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 30-35 Robin, Song Thrush, 5 Mistle Thrush, 6 Goldcrest, 5 Coal Tit (3 singing), Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, Jay, 3 Goldfinch (1 juv) (Des McKenzie).


 * London Wetland Centre: Garganey still on the scrape, Snipe, Cetti's Warbler, etc (M. Bourne); 96 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 7 Common Snipe, 3 Cetti's Warbler (LWC website).


 * Regent's Park: Whimbrel 7.10am SW, Hobby, 3 Swifts, 2 Sand Martins, 45 House Martins, Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Common Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers (Tony Duckett).


 * Richmond Park: 1 Common Redstart in Holly/Bog Lodge Enclosure (Hugh Bradshaw). A Wheatear late am. (Steve Reed & Tim Howard) Spotted Flycatcher Thatched House Lodge.


 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 (female / immature and moulting male) Common Redstarts associating with Pied Flycatcher in LWT garden and New River trees 1040 - 1340 at least; 10 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Terns, Spotted Flycatcher (TB) plus the usuals (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife); Pied Fly still present 16:30, also 2 Sandwich Terns over (second ever site record) (Dominic Mitchell per MJP, the latter now in tears at missing the terns)


 * Alexandra Park: 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Linnet (poss 2), 7 Chiffchaffs (10+ overall) in cricket scrub (David Callahan). Hobby with prey (larger than martin sp) flew west 1800 (Bob Watts).


 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 16 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 6 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Woodpigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 4 Wren, 6 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 3 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).


 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: 2 Whinchats, 8 Meadow Pipits, Hobby, 3 Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, 30+ Linnets, 13 Swallows, 4+ Goldcrests (1 singing), Bullfinch, 7+ Nuthatches, 2+ Coal Tits, 8 Chiffchaffs (1 singing), 3 Common Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 2+ Stock Doves, 2 Pied Wagtails & 26 Black-headed Gulls on Legal & General, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Green Woodpeckers, 7+ Rose-ringed Parakeets (David Campbell).


 * Crossness: juv Black Tern still at the Golf Centre Outfall late p.m., 2 Whinchat in Paddocks (Birdguides).


 * Hounslow Heath: 3 Buzzard sp. presumably Common, thermalling high over the site. (Ian Peirce per Adam Cheeseman).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Spotted Flycatcher (Shaun Harvey).


 * KGV Reservoir: Whimbrel, Common Snipe, 15 Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Wheatear, 4 Little Egret, Hobby, Sparrowhawk (Martin Shepherd).


 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 1 male Wigeon in eclipse (patch tick!), 1 Kingfisher at eastern end-flew off east, 1 Sedge Warbler at eastern end, 1 Common Sandpiper at western end, 1 Grey Wagtail flyover N onto Thames, juv Little Grebe (indicative of breeding?) (I've been seeing at least 2 Little grebes present regularly over summer, L. F-H), 40+ Teal, 15+ Gadwall, 10+ Pochard (M Bourne).


 * Mitcham Common: 3+ Kestrel (female perch and hover hunting at close quarters for hour around Bidder's Pond; juv male and female in tree with me underneath near old factory site; another? two seen distant over One Island pond then SW direction Beddington plus two other distant single bird sightings), Sparrowhawk(fem) near Seven Islands (Stuart M)


 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon (probable m) in area early a.m. and still present late p.m., Stock Dove high south, 1-2 Grey Wagtail (DMc).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 3 Hobby, 2 Little Owl, 2 Chiffchaff & not a single Swallow in sight (JR).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Marsh Tit on woodland feeder am (Londonbirders Twitter).


 * Sewardstone: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Buzzard (Martin Shepherd).


 * South Harrow (Roxeth Allotments) solitary Swift feeding over our plot just before 8pm - 1st here for 3 weeks (and latest ever seen here) (Alex Massey)


 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 5 Cormorant, f Shoveler, Little Grebe, 17 Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Herring Gull, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Ring-necked Parakeet, c16 Goldfinch (John Watson).


 * Staines Moor: 9.30am. 2 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear (Neil Randon). 26 Yellow Wagtails around feeding cattle at N end, at dusk. Also Wheatear, 2 juvenile Hobbies, Little Egret, 5 Common Snipe. (FJM)


 * Staines Reservoir (06:30-08:30): 5 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, Kingfisher (Nigel Sluman); 8.30am: Peregrine Falcon (sitting on top of pylon between Staines and KGVI reservoirs), 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtail (on bank of KGVI reservoir), 1 Common Tern (Neil Randon)


 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Sand Martin hawking and Collared Dove calling opposite Soanes Centre (Bob Watts).


 * Trent Park, Cockfosters, Enfield: 6 Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Swallow, 2 Common Buzzard. (Pete Lowman, Bob Husband (RAH).


 * Tyttenhanger GPs: 2 Hobby, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warblers and Chiffs still, 3 Common Tern, 16 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 Teal (Steve B).


 * Wanstead Flats (06:00-10:00): Hobby (north over Alex), 4 Sparrowhawk (inc. 3 together over Wanstead Park), Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail over, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (mid way down Long Wood on the south side), 8+ Chiffchaff, 7+ C. Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2+ Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler (east of Alex), numerous Robin making their presence known, 3 Song Thrush (in the same tree), 4 + Blackbird, no sign Whinchat or Wheatear, Dunnock, Wren, very few Starling (the flocks and associated Mistle Thrush absent), Blue Tit, Great Tit (both very numerous), 13 + Jay, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, 7 GS Woodpecker, 7+ G Woodpecker, Swallow heard, 2 House Martin, Skylark, 10+ Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 2 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, Mallard, Mute Swan (4 adults again and three others flying over, + cygnets of resident pair), Canada Goose, Little Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 26 RN Parakeet, 2 Heron, 40 + BH Gull, 8 Herring Gull (6 Juv), 10+ LBB Gull, 8 Cormorant (Nick Croft).


 * Wanstead Park pm: Spotted Flycatcher at old sewage works, 12 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow south (S Fisher)


 * Willows Farm: Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, 50+ Swallow (Steve B).


 * Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, c10 Swift, c12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, c10 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler