LatestNews

'''Please do not post details of scarce breeding birds (those included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, amended 2000). Any such reports will be removed. Please list rarer sightings first.'''

Note that records submitted here may be added to the London Natural History Society database for use in the London Bird Report; by posting your news here you are agreeing to have your records copied by the LNHS recorder.

Sunday 2 January 2011

 * Alexandra Park : Firecrest in Conservation Area near wooden bridge, male Yellowhammer still, ranging between area of short willows by owl box side of reservoir and western perimeter of cricket pitch, 2 W Rail, 2 Skylark over (Gareth Richards, Andrew Gardener, Alan Gibson).
 * Archway, St Johns Way - Kestrel calling about 9am then flew NorthEast (DPainter)
 * Bentley Priory: Goldcrest (6); Chaffinch (30+);Grey Wagtail. Alan Lewis
 * Brent Reservoir: 7 Egyptian Geese over, 2 drake Wigeon & a Skylark (Andrew Self)
 * Bromley-by-Bow/Abbey Creek: Jack Snipe, single Waxwing over, 43 Common Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Shelduck North, c8 Skylark (landed on mud on 3 Mills Green), Fieldfare, 22+ Redwing, Meadow Pipit, 6 Stock Dove, 5 Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, c130 Teal, 42 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck etc (S Fisher)
 * Mill Hill NW7: At 10.30am, c250 Waxwing on trees and wires in Tennyson Road (NW7 2AS) and flying down to feed on berries in small tree at front of No 23, but Sparrowhawk flew in among them at 10.41am and they fled north-east; a few drifted back later but remained very mobile (Andrew Haynes -- thanks to Bob Husband for telling me they were there).

Saturday 1 January 2011
A Happy New Year to all London Birders


 * Alexandra Park: c.15 Skylark, mainly SW, W Rail, 17 Lesser Redpoll in birches at top of Grove (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards) Yellowhammer by Wood Green Res., feeding around short willows (Paul Rawlins).
 * Balham: 35 Waxwings in the High Street in front of Waitrose, later between Balham Grove and Ramsden Road (9.30) (Christine Carlill)
 * Barking Bay: 3 Bewick's Swans north @08:47, fem Scaup flew upriver @09:30, Red-breasted Merganser (drake) in the bay briefly before flying east, m Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, 5 Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Wigeon, 8 Pochard, 6 Rock Pipit. 52 species seen 0745-12 noon. (Paul Hawkins)
 * Bedfords Park LNR: Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, 2 Woodcock over at dusk, 4 species of gull over, 5 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Little Owl (h), 2 Green Woodpecker, 5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Skylark over, 4 Song Thrush, 20+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8-10 Goldcrest, 30+ Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 40 Rook pre-roost in Deer Park, 10 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting (42+ species; Colin Jupp 11.00 until dusk & Havering EWT group 11.00-13.00)
 * Brent Reservoir: Rook west at 09.30, also 8 Skylarks over and a female Goosander briefly; 57 species seen (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall & Derek Turner)
 * Crayford Marshes: 60 Pink-footed Goose north. Snow Bunting over calling, Woodlark over calling, Ruff, 2 Turnstone, Water Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 12 Grey Plover, Little Owl, Yellowhammer, Egyptian Goose. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 45 species seen PM. Woodcock flew over, also 30+ Linnet, 30+ Gadwall, 2 Jackdaw, 2+ Rook and 2 Goldcrest survived the freeze. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Debden: 160+ Waxwings in tree in Pyrles Green (IG10 2NP) early morning & smaller flock of 40+ early afternoon (J & B Anderson).
 * Eastcote (Field End Road): 6 Skylark over east (JR).
 * East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 13 Shelduck, 258 Teal, female Pintail, 4 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting (Gary A James, Nick Tanner).
 * Fairlop Waters: Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, GCGrebe, GWP, GSWP, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Goldcrest (London Birdwatching)
 * Harmondsworth: 18 Bewick's Swans, c100 Golden Plovers in field N of the A4 at 1145. (Ian Grant)
 * Isle of Dogs: Four Scaup still on Millwall Outer Dock this morning; the three 1w drakes on the narrow southern arm and the female near Glengall Bridge. Also the Red-legged Partridge still in the car park of the adjacent printing plant (Sean Huggins).
 * Lee Valley CP: Firecrest seen in bramble from railings at Holyfield weir, Seventy Acres lake; Bittern giving great views, seen eating a perch at one point, drake Smew, Water Rail, 70+ Lapwing, River leading down to Holyfield weir; single (m) & 3(f) Goosander, 2(f) Goldeneye, Grebe hide; single redhead Smew (J & B Anderson & J Anderson snr)
 * Leyton Waterworks NR area: 39 Gadwall, 11 Pochard, 14 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, Green Sandpiper over, Redpoll over, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Meadow Pipit, 6 Redwing, 17 Fieldfare, 4 Skylark over, Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and others (S Fisher).
 * London Wetland Centre: 6 (possibly 7) Bittern (photo) (LWC Website)
 * Little Britain Iver/ Cowley: 2 Goosanders m/f, Nuthatch, 2 Wigeon, 2 Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Greylag Geese, Kingfisher, Jay, Song Thrush, Little Grebe.(Sue Giddens)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1 Goldcrest, at least 21 Redwing, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mill Hill NW7: 200+ Waxwings, four separate sightings. (Steve Blake)
 * Molesey Heath: 1 Water Rail (larger reed-fringed lake), 18 Linnet, 10 Goldfinch, 50+ Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 60 Starling (43 + others), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Gadwall and 3 mute Swan on River Mole, No sign of Waxwings on Island Farm road as on Birdguides yesterday. (Richard Inch)
 * Northolt, Yeading Brook (Hillingdon side): 1 Little Egret, 28 Teal, 17 Snipe, 30 Lapwing, 6 Skylark over north-west, 1 Meadow Pipit & 2 Rook (JR).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 70 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 13 Jackdaw, 1 male Bullfinch & 9 Grey Heron. Also at Headstone Moat: 1 male Kingfisher (Jon Ridge).
 * RSPB Rainham Marshes: juvWhooper Swan north, rt Hen Harrier (HV, RB, Brian Churches), 3 ad Bewick's Swans west (SBa, Marco Johnson), Snow Bunting (HV, Brian Churches), Woodcock (HV, RB), 60 Pink-footed Geese north (Kev Jarvis, HV, RB, Brian Churches), 1st winter European White-fronted Goose (HV, CBa et al), Waxwing (RDu, Ken Foley), m Merlin (HV, MDD), Peregrine, 3 Barnacle Geese, 2 Bearded Tits, 14 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 25 Ring-necked Parakeets, Brambling, 4 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammer, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8 Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfisher, Avocet, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Grey Plover, 14 Golden Plover (RSPB) -- 96 species on day one
 * Ruislip Lido (90% ice)/Woods: 121 Mute Swans, 133 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 100+ Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 28 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, Heron, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 8 Great-spotted + 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Pied Wagtail,, 6 Redwing, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 12 Goldcrest, m Blackcap, c20 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Siskin, pr Bullfinch (Neil Anderson) You missed the Little Grebe along with approx one million pedestrians(RF)
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5m 2f Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Common Gull, C 20 Redwing, 1m Kestrel. 12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Mistle Thrush, c40 Goldfinch,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * South Ruislip (The Fairway): 1 Coal Tit & 1 Grey Wagtail (JR).
 * Springwell Lake: Goosander 2m 4f. Goldeneye 2m. (C Bessant)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: c15 Waxwings north, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, Cetti's Warbler showing well, 100+ Redwings, Skylark and c30 Fieldfares over (plus small numbers of Woodpigeons and Stock Doves), 2 Water Rails. Happy new year folks (Mark Pearson)
 * Teddington: 55 Waxwings in top of lime tree outside no. 41 Princes Road (IG10 2NP) 8.45-9.15am, feeding out of sight in back garden, before flying off. No other sightings in 90 min search of area including Wellington & Walpole Roads (J.Wilczur). Same site between 9.50 and 11.30 up to 40 Waxwings in tree and drinking from gutters, flying between tree and back gardens. 3 Goldfinches and 1 Siskin.. Left at 11.30 still 20-30 Waxwings in tree. (I R Watson)
 * Ten Acre Wood: Firecrest present 11.15 am. (Dick Middleton). Still showing well at 14.40. Little Owl in meadow west of wood and Little Egret on Yeading Brook (Steve Pash).
 * Thorney CP: 1 Bittern flying from one reed bed to another, 2 Great Crested Grebe, c6 Shoveler, c12 Gadwall, 2 Common Snipe, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common & Black-headed Gulls, 1 Treecreeper, flock of Long-tailed & Blue Tit. (Roger Dewey) 20+ Siskins, 2 Little Grebe. (Sue Giddens)
 * Watford: at least 69 Waxwing at the junction of St Alban's Road/Bruce Grove (WD24 4DZ) 11:30 attending Mountain Ash (Rowan), also Mistle Thrush (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb) - Cardiff Road (a.m.): 2 Skylark over, 2 singing Song Thrush, several Redwing over after midnight, Jay, 20+ Linnet over, Lesser Redpoll (DMc).
 * Wanstead Flats: 82 Redwing, 9 Fieldfare, 5 Mistle Thrush, m Wigeon (fairground, later on jubilee), 3 Gadwall, c. 10 Tufted Duck, c. 11 Shoveler, m Pochard, 4 Greylag Goose, 20 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 60+ Jackdaw, Snipe (SSSI), 3 Reed Bunting (J Lethbridge, N Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Water Rail, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose, Redwing, Fieldfare, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Skylark, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest (JL, NC, Tim Harris) Get oh so more on the new blog http://wansteadbirding.blogspot.com/
 * Woodford Green: 6 Waxwing at junction Inman Row/Monkhams Lane feeding midday (London BIrdwatching)

Friday 31 December

 * Dulwich Park: 30+ Siskin and also possible Redpoll (1:30pm) (Ernest Thomason & Tom Stone)
 * Alexandra Park: 10+ Skylark heading east, 3 W Rail, 8 Redwing (Gareth Richards).
 * Balham: 50 Waxwing flying around the high street nr the sorting office on Balham Grove (BirdGuides).
 * Beddington Farmlands: 8 White-fronted Geese ( 2 north west and 6 south), 1 Marsh Harrier (the first December record), 44 Wigeon east, 2 Pintail over, 2 Firecrest (PA) Pics here
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Waxwing circled 3 Mills twice early am, 55 Gadwall, Green Sandpiper, Water Rail, pr Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Collared Dove, 3 Stock Dove, 9 Tufted Duck, fem Pochard, 3 Linnet etc (Stuart Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Little Grebe, 1 Heron, 17 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 5 Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 1 Jay, 6 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 House Sparrow, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Buckhurst Hill: 19 Waxwing near junction of River Road with Rous Road at 0910. (David Bradnum)
 * Chiswell Green: 40 Waxwing feeding on berries outside 159 Watford Road (BirdGuides).
 * Crayford Marshes: Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 18 Grey Plover, 2 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, Little Owl, 51 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Skylark, 21 Ringed Plover (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dulwich Park: 15+ Waxwing by the Court Lane entrance (flew east at 09.35) (Steven Robinson).
 * Garston: 16 Waxwing on TV aerials on the Kingswood Estate 08:45, junction of Greenwood Drive and Meadow Road (BirdGuides).
 * Gidea Park Sports Ground: Gull flock p.m. - 1 ad Herring, 2 ad Lesser Black-backed, 57 Common, 25 Black-headed Gulls (Colin Jupp).
 * Harmondsworth : 19 Bewick's Swans still present at 2pm (Sue Giddens)
 * Headstone Moat: 1 Gadwall (female type), 18 Skylark over south-east in one flock, 60+ Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Jay, 1 Goldcrest & 4 Goldfinch (JR).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Barnacle Goose (still with Greylag flock), 33 Egyptian Goose, fem Gadwall, 24 Shoveler, c30 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl showing well, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Song Thrush, 5+ Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, singing Goldfinch (Des McKenzie); fem Wigeon present yesterday (RH per DMc).
 * Island Barn Res: Iceland Gull present mid-morning (the Beddington bird), photo here: http://www.sbclub.ukonline.co.uk/photographs.html (DMH).
 * Larkhall Park - Inner London: 70+ Starling making a lot of varying song that they don't always make - no Redwing this year so far were as last year present (Michael Mac).
 * Lea Valley Park - Cornmill Meadows (Waltham Abbey): 600 Siskin (one huge flock of c 500 on NW boundary of site with Gunpowder Mills alder plantation), Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 50 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, 6 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler (Nigel May).
 * Leyton Flats: Goosander (female Hollow Ponds), Teal, 32 Lesser Redpolls. No sign of Med Gull reported on Wed (Gary A James).
 * Limetrees Park Golf Course (Northolt): 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 7 Skylark feeding in rough, 6 Redwing (Neil Anderson).
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 58 Wigeon 472 Teal, 8 Pintail, 692 Tufted Duck, Bittern, ad argentatus Herring Gull, 3 Skylark west, 6 Siskin, redpoll sp. west (LWC website). 11 Eider flew over at 12.00 (Birdguides).
 * Osterley: 12 Waxwing present in Maple trees along A4 at junction of Wood Lane at 1250hrs (N.Smith).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 57 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 30+ Jackdaw, 35 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Goldcrest & 5 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Queen Mother Res: female/immature Velvet Scoter still (BirdGuides).
 * Staines Res: Bar-tailed Godwit flew round several times during 1510-1540hrs, also 18 Greylag Geese (Rob Innes, Ken Purdey).
 * Rainham Marshes: 10 Pintail, Water Rail, 15 Grey Plover, ad Little Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 3 Bearded Tit, pair Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting (Dominic Mitchell, Luke Tiller et al), Snow Bunting flew E (Ian Woodward, Roy Woodward), Waxwing in the woodland (per Howard Vaughan)
 * Regent's Park: pr Firecrests, Little Owl, 2 Water Rails, 2 Skylarks, 10 Redwings, 16 Goldfinches (Tony Duckett).
 * Ten Acre Wood: Red Kite over, Firecrest at 9:30 (G Westley).
 * Thorney Country Park: Kingfisher, Bittern still present, Little Grebe 3 Shovelers, 2 Great Black Backed Gulls, Green Woodpecker, 2 Ring Necked Parakeets.(Sue Giddens)
 * Totteridge Valley: 1 Woodcock flushed: 1 Skylark on field; c100 Redwings and c60 Fieldfares, all very mobile. Happy New Year and good birding one and all.(John Colmans)
 * Watford: 24 Waxwing at the junction of St. Alban's Road / Garston Drive 10:40 (Birdguides).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Woodlark in from the east & then headed north, c54 Skylark, c40 Meadow Pipit, c60 Common Gull & 1 Collared Dove. Merry New Year!! (The Scrubbers)
 * Yeading Brook Meadows: f Teal, Sparrowhawk, 139 Common Gull,, 16 Skylark over, 5 Pied Wagtail, I Fieldfare, c25 Redwing, Goldcrest (Neil Anderson).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5m 1f Shoveler, 30 Tufted Duck, 38 Coot, 75 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 9 Common Gull, 1 Kestrel, 1 Coal Tit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Song Thrush, c30 Goldfinch, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Dunnock, (John Watson)

Thursday 30 December

 * Alexandra Park: ad GBB Gull on WG Res, 14+ Skylark, 2 W Rail (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards, Alan Gibson).
 * Amwell GPs: Bittern (Birdguides).
 * Beddington SF: 1 Water Rail, 3 Wigeon, Iceland Gull, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, 3 Shelduck, 1 Firecrest, ringtail Hen Harrier flew south (Roger Browne); second-winter Caspian Gull (SBC).
 * Brent Reservoir: 09.45 drake Goosander on water patch took off and flew off East (Andrew Verrall); Later: 2 Water Rail, 31 Common Snipe, Kingfisher (Andrew Haynes).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 45 Common Snipe, Redshank, Water Rail, 34 Moorhen, 66 Coot, 3 Common Sandpiper, Shelduck, 11 Pochard, 13 Tufted Duck, 25+ Gadwall, 180 Teal, male Peregrine (chasing mobile flocks of Teal south of Three Mills), drake Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker (Abbey Mills), Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Chaffinch, 7 Stock Dove, 8 Fieldfare SW (Stuart Fisher).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Dabchick, 1 Heron, 14 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 9 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 5 Redwing, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Great Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 4 Starling, 2 Jay, 6 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 10+ Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Bushy Park (Teddington): Red-crested Pochard (male), 5 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Ducks in Diana Fountain pond and 2 Little Owls nr the Diana Fountain in Oaks to left entering through Lion Gate; also fem Blackcap in private garden on Wilcox Rd (Teddington) (J Millett and A Stewart).
 * Connaught Water (11:30am): 1 drake Smew, 1 drake Pintail, 110+ Black-Headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 30+ Mandarin, 4+ Shoveler, 24+ Teal, 10+ Tufted Duck, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, GS Woodpecker, Jay (James Hudson).
 * Crayford Marshes: ad Gannet west along Thames at 10:25., Raven south-east over Darent Creek at 11:40. 2 Bearded Tit calling from Yacht club reed bed, Little Owl, fem Peregrine, 9 Yellowhammer, 15 Grey Plover, Water Rail, Common Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: probable juv Iceland Gull off Thamesview Golf Centre briefly before flying west 13:20 (Birdguides).
 * Dagenham: male Blackbird singing briefly at 7.10 a.m. (spring is in the air!?) (V.H-F).
 * East India Dock Basin NR: 416 Teal, Pintail, Gt Crested Grebe, 7 Redshank (roost), 18 Shelduck. Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaff. (Gary A James)
 * Ewell Village: 9 Barnacle Goose of unknown origin (presumed escapes) flew low (c.200ft) NNE over BR Ewell West at 08.08 heading in direction of Richmond Park/Barnes (Neil Batten).
 * Finsbury Park (N4): 34 sp. incl. 9 Shoveler, 11 Pochard, 4 Redwing (TeRNS).
 * Harmondsworth: still 18 Bewick's Swan in field north of A4 and viewable from Harmondsworth Lane this a.m.; still present 11:53 (Birdguides). Still there at 15.00 (Roger Dewey).
 * Hertford: 50+ Waxwing still at Tanner's Crescent but flighty a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Highgate Wood: 1 Sparrowhawk perched near Gypsy Gate 09:45 hrs; 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 4 Redwing; 1 singing male Mistle Thrush; 5+ Goldcrest; 4 (2m,2f) Chaffinch (Robert Callf).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: Little Egret (SBC).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Bittern, 14 Waxwing over; also 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Water Rail, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Kingfisher, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch (ELBF).
 * Kent Gateway Fields: 10+ Stock Dove. 150+ Woodpigeon (Croydon Birders).
 * Kilburn (SW corner of W. Hampstead from flat): 22 Waxwing St. Cuthbert's Church garden feeding on berries, flying up to tree, from 08:35 to 08:40 when they flew south (Andrew Verrall).
 * Lee Valley (Bowyers Water): male Goldeneye, many Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pochard, Black Swan, 2 Bullfinch (Simon Papps).
 * Lee Valley (Hall Marsh): male Goosander (on river east of Hall Marsh), 6 Siskin (Simon Papps).
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 390 Teal, 350 Tufted Duck, 6 Pintail, 2 Bittern, 5 Skylark south, Lesser Redpoll west, Bullfinch south, 8 Siskin (LWC website).
 * Loughton (Pyrles Lane): 4 Waxwing (ELBF).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 31 Redwing, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (alarm calling), 1f Peregrine Falcon, 1 Chiffchaff (in nearby garden) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Miller's Pond: 24 Canada Goose, 30+ Mallard, Grey Heron, 60+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Herring Gull, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, Redwing (Croydon Birders).
 * Morden Hall Park (Wetland): Bittern (Cameron J).
 * Paddington Green: Egyptian Goose low south, Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
 * Park Hill Rec: Great Spotted Woodpecker, song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, singing Goldcrest, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 4 Nuthatch, 15+ Goldfinch (Croydon Birders).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Tawny Owl calling at 18:03 (Jon Ridge).
 * Queen Mother Res (permit access): fem / imm Velvet Scoter 12:44; still present mid-p.m. (Birdguides).
 * Rainham Marshes: Raven south over car park 12:20 (Birdguides); ad Gannet west (see Crayford Marshes), Avocet, 2 Curlew, third-year Caspian Gull, 10 Bearded Tit (ELBF).
 * Romford Golf Course: 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush (sub-singing), Goldcrest, 28 Long-tailed Tit (3 flocks), Great Tit giving full song, 6 Chaffinch (Colin Jupp).
 * Rye Meads RSPB: 2 Bittern (Birdguides).
 * South Norwood CP: pr Shoveler, Pochard, 3 Cormorant over, Pheasant, Water Rail, 10 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Wren, 18 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5m 3f Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, c150 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 1m Kestrel, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, c20 Goldfinch, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Collared Dove (John Watson).
 * Stanborough Lakes: Jack Snipe, 21 Waxwing over (Birdguides).
 * Stocker's Lake: pair of Goosander, 2 pairs of Goldeneye, 30+ Siskins (Lydia Willocks & A. Verrall).
 * Teddington: c45 Waxwing in trees along Wellington Road near the junction with Mays Road a.m.; 20 still on Wellington Road to 11:30 when they flew to Princes Road (Birdguides). 50 on large tree just south of Mays Road 13.45 - had flown up from pink-fruited Sorbus on opposite side of road. Then flew east. Possible glimpse of some later, heading west towards Fulwell Golf Course (Chris Rose)
 * Ten Acre Wood: pr Stock Dove, Kingfisher (over brook), 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Firecrest (showing incredibly well to below 2 metres hovering amongst wild rose under oaks at wood edge path), Treecreeper, small numbers Redwing, f Siskin (Neil Anderson / Kathryn Bull). Firecrest still showing well at 12.45 (thanks Neil); also, 2+ Goldcrest and Kestrel in wood, 14 Common Snipe and 3 Pheasant in meadows north of Wood, 3 Teal on Yeading Brook (Steve Pash & Dick Middleton).
 * Theydon Bois: 45 Waxwing south, Mealy Redpoll (Birdguides).
 * Wallington: 15 Waxwing briefly on Clifton Road then flew east 15:45 (Birdguides).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup still present (Birdguides); Goosander (SBC).
 * Watford: no sign of Waxwings this a.m. in Bruce Grove off St Albans Road - seemed worth a look on way to Asda! (Roger Dewey)
 * Yeading Brook Meadows: m Mandarin with Mallards, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, 130+ Redwing (mobile), 30+ Fieldfare, Weasel in woods at north end (Neil Anderson).

Wednesday 29 December

 * Balham: 10 Waxwing at junction of Tunley Road and Marius Road (SBC).Hanson Close, regular tree nearly stripped but other tree still full of berries - [|1 Waxwing apparently intoxicated and grounded till I guided it to fly up into more safe spot, see video here!] (Michael Mac).
 * Beddington SF: ad Mediterranean Gull, ad Yellow-legged Gull, third-winter Caspian Gull, Firecrest (SBC).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: at least 1 Firecrest along bridleway (near Nursery) late afternoon, 7+ Goldcrest, Woodcock, 13 Redwing (Colin Jupp).
 * Belhus Woods CP: 5 Goldcrest, 6 Siskin, 2 Marsh Tit, Nuthatch (ELBF).
 * Chiswell Green: 40 Waxwing on Watford Road 15:10 (Birdguides).
 * Clapham Common (Mount Pond): pr Pochard, pr Shoveler, pr Tufted Duck, pr Mute Swan, 4 Egyptian Geese, 1 Common Gull and Black-headed Gulls. Long Pond: pr Pied Wagtails (Michael Mac).
 * Connaught Water: m Pintail, m Smew (LBYG).
 * Crayford Marshes: 3 Scaup flew upriver 07:46, 20 Grey Plover, 8 Black-tailed Godwit (Kev Jarvis).
 * Fulham Reach (Thames, low tide): 1pr Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Redshank, 13 Coot (high count for here), 133 Tufted Duck, 75 Teal, 30 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 4 Pochard over, 2 Moorhen, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Common Gull, 165+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Robin on foreshore, 1 Mistle Thrush, 40+ House Sparrow (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hadley Wood: 2 Waxwing still in an apple tree at junction of Waggon Road and A111 mid-p.m. (Birdguides).
 * Harmondsworth/Sipson: 18 Bewick's Swans feeding in large arable field north of A4 and Heathrow Airport this afternoon, stll present at dusk; Best viewable from Harmondsworth Lane looking south (Dave Morris,Andrew Moon, Pete Naylor).
 * Harvington Woods (Beckenham): male Firecrest this afternoon, 3 Tawny Owls yesterday evening (David Mercer).
 * Hatch Forest (Woodford Green): Merlin, Little Egret, Coal Tit, 3 Goldcrest, Jay, 2 GS Woodpecker (London Birdwatching).
 * Hertford: 66 Waxwing along Tanner's Crescent 08:40 (Birdguides).
 * Hollow Ponds (Leytonstone): ad Mediterranean Gull (Birdguides).
 * Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: 252 Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose (with Greylag flock), 8 Egyptian Goose, 7 Gadwall, 23 Shoveler, 8 Herring Gull, 2 Tawny Owl showing well, 2 Pied Wagtail, c5 Redwing, 3 Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 3 Siskin (Des McKenzie).
 * Lee Valley (Gunpowder Park): 15-20 Waxwings along Sewardstone Road at 11.30am, 100 yards south of the entrance to Gunpowder Park (Simon Papps).
 * Lewisham (Ladywell / Brockley Cemeteries): 4 Goldcrest, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Coal Tits, 2 Jay, 15 Magpie, at least 3 groups of Long-tailed Tits, Wren, Robin, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird (Phil Laurie).
 * London Wetland Centre: 313 Teal, 353 Tufted Duck, 4 Bittern, Water Pipit, 7 Siskin (LWC website).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1 Goldcrest, 14 Redwing, 1pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Orpington: 3 Waxwing at Midfield Way / The Avenue junction (Birdguides).
 * Paddington Green: 9 Waxwing west 09:18 (in from north-east); also Peregrine Falcon in area a.m. and still present at food cache into p.m., 2 Grey Wagtail (DMc).
 * Pinner: Waxwing seen at Joel Street Farm (Observer?).
 * Pinner Park Farm: large arrival of 270+ Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 16 Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker & 10 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Purley (Buttermere Gardens): Pied Wagtail, 6 Fieldfare, Song Thrush, 11 Redwing, 2 Siskin, 15 Lesser Redpoll (Croydon Birders).
 * Putney: Waxwing at north end of Huntingfield Road 08:00 (Birdguides).
 * Rainham Marshes: Pink-footed Goose north, 3 Scaup west, fem Eider (Birdguides), Green Sandpiper, 20 Waxwings at c.1.45pm (Simon Papps, Ian Woodward); 3 Barnacle Goose, 8 Pintail, Avocet, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 36 Ring-necked Parakeet, m Blackcap, 3 Bearded Tit, 2 Yellowhammer (ELBF).
 * South Norwood CP: 2 Shoveler, Cormorant over, 2 Pheasant, Water Rail, Fieldfare, several singing Song Thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest, 7 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Wigeon, 5 Teal, a few winter thrushes, increase in aythya numbers, plus the usuals (MJP)
 * Teddington: 30+ Waxwing at Wellington Road (Birdguides).
 * Vicarage Farm (Enfield): 1 Curlew, feeding on field with large mixed flock of winter thrushes 15:25 hrs, flew off calling (Robert Callf).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup (SBC).
 * Watford: 60 Waxwing at St. Alban's Road / Bruce Grove junction 10:45 (Birdguides).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: fem Tufted Duck over (second record for 2010), c200 Black-headed Gull, c40 Common Gull, c6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c20 Herring Gull, fem Green Woodpecker, c5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, c6 Fieldfare, c10 Redwing (The Scrubbers).

Tuesday 28 December

 * Ashford/Staines: 26 Waxwings by the A30 dual carriageway immediately south of Staines Reservoirs. Flock was moving between a tree in the garden of the Same Day Service Station (signed "355 London Road") on the N side of the A30, and the berry-bearing hedge by the gate of the gravel works opposite, on the S side of the A30. Present mid-afternoon at least, when Staines Res fog-bound with few birds visible (Rob Innes).
 * Barking: Common Buzzard flew over mobbed by crows and gulls@ 09:52 (Paul Hawkins).
 * Barnet: 20+ Waxwings in a tree at the junction of Mays Lane and Nupton Drive. A flock of 60+ then flew across Whitings Road and sat in a tree outside the school at about 2.30pm (Andrew Peel).
 * Beddington SF: 3 Caspian Gull (ad and 2 second-winter), first-winter Iceland Gull, Bearded Tit south-west (SBC).
 * Bookham Common: Hawfinch (SBC).
 * Brentwood: 22 Waxwing on Ongar Road (Robin Hood and Little John public house) (ELBF).
 * Crayford Marshes: 2 Turnstone on saltings, 16 Grey Plover, male Yellowhammer, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 16 Ringed Plover, 5 Curlew, 8 Pintail, 34 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
 * East India Dock: Blackcap (m), 4 Reed Bunting, Jay (Paul Hyland).
 * Fairlop Waters CP: 22 Wigeon, 10 Waxwing (ELBF).
 * Fulham Reach (Thames): 198 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 119 Teal, 7 Gadwall, 26 Mallard, 3 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtail, 175+ Black-headed Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black Back Gull, 2 Greater Black Backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Cormorant, 1 singing Dunnock, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3+ House Sparrow (Abbey Gardens) 31+ House Sparrow (Margravine Cemetery) drumming m Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Redwing, 1pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Greenwich: 3 Waxwings (finally!) headed W, calling, at approx 14:35 over Blackheath/Greenwich Park. Didn't look like they'd stop (Joe Beale).
 * Hadley Wood: about a dozen Waxwings again today at 09.45 (their 5th day) busily eating apples on the tree at the east end of Waggon Road near the red pillar box (Geoff Crabtree).
 * Hainault Farm: Kestrel (London Birdwatching).
 * Harold Hill (Gooshays Drive): 25 Redwing (ELBF).
 * Harold Hill (Petersfield Avenue): 4 Blackbird, 15 Redwing, 8 Long-tailed Tit (ELBF).
 * Harold Hill (Settle Road): Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, Nuthatch, 3 Chaffinch, 14 Goldfinch (ELBF).
 * Hertford: 51 Waxwing still on Tanner's Crescent early a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: Little Egret (SBC).
 * Horsenden Hill: Woodcock flushed in Perivale Wood, 1 Shoveler Paradise Fields (Andy Culshaw).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Barnacle Goose (with Greylag Goose flock), 2 pr Egyptian Goose prospecting trees, fem Mandarin Duck, 27 Shoveler, 2 singing Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit flushed, c20 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 singing Coal Tit, Treecreeper, 6-7 Jay (Des McKenzie); there is at least 1 free-flying Barnacle Goose in Regent's Park (Michael Mac); it's not the only one (DMc).
 * Isle of Dogs: the three 1w drake Scaup again Millwall Outer Dock 1pm, also 44 Tufted Duck and two Gadwall; Skylark west over Thames, Meadow Pipit at Mudchute Farm (Sean Huggins).
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 300+ Teal, 4 Pintail, Sparrowhawk, Bittern, 10 Redwing north (LWC website).
 * Loughton: 20 Waxwing at Pyrles Lane (ELBF).
 * Mill Hill NW7: 12 Waxwing outside 11 Uphill Road (Steve Blake).
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon feeding at kill a.m. (DMc).
 * Rainham Marshes: 12 Canada Goose, still 3 Barnacle Goose, 700 Wigeon, 32 Gadwall, 87 Mallard, 12 Pintail, 12 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Scaup, Bittern over the car park 16:40, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Ringed Plover, 22 Grey Plover, 800 Dunlin, Ruff, 32 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, 11 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 37 Great Black-backed Gull, 64 Ring-necked Parakeet, 120 House Sparrow (ELBF / Birdguides).
 * Seventy Acres Lake: Water Rail, Kingfisher (ELBF).
 * South Park (Ilford): c100 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 2 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Green Woodpecker, 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Greenfinch (London Birdwatching).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup (SBC).
 * Watford: 46 Waxwing at St. Alban's Road / Bruce Grove junction mid-a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Wimbledon Common: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1st of the year). Jack Snipe at Rushmere (Simon Rocksborough-Smith, David Wills).
 * Woodford Green (private garden): 40 Fieldfare, Redwing, 3 GS Woodpecker, 5 Siskin, Coal Tit (London Birdwatching).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Kestrel, Greenfinch, c13 Goldfinch, Redwing, 1000+ Parakeets at roost (Charlie Farrell)

Monday 27 December

 * Abbey Wood: Brambling (AW).
 * Balham (Hanson Close): 3 Waxwings in berry trees at 10.05am joined by a further 20-30 from 10.15 to 10.20 (other birders on site reported a flock of 80+ that flew low over the trees earlier and 15 were feeding in the berry trees before that) (D Benton).
 * Barnet: Waxwings moved slightly today - I counted about 50 at junction of Mays Lane and Nupton Drive. In tree and hedge just west and on rooftops, chimneys, aerials and wires! (Geoff Crabtree).
 * Barnet/ Cockfosters Rd ( A111) 33 Waxwings in tree opposite the Hardware Shop in Heddons Court Parade (just north of Cat Hill Roundabout) at about 14.50 pm. ( Pete Lowman with thanks to Bob Husband..the finder??).
 * Beddington SF: juv Iceland Gull again (RBA).
 * Brent Reservoir: 85 Fieldfare & 90 Redwing over, also 10 Siskin in McDonalds car park (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall).
 * Borehamwood: 70 Waxwing on Manor Way 15:10 (Birdguides).
 * Crayford Marshes: Black-necked Grebe on the Thames. 2 Waxwing flew south calling at 08:55, Avocet, Turnstone, 12 Pintail, 2 Yellowhammer, 12 Grey Plover, 7 Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 3 Barnacle Goose north .(Kev Jarvis).
 * Crayford: Thames Road Wetland - 2 Snipe, Marshes - 3 Grey Plover, several Teal. Viridor works - 3 Pied Wagtail. By town centre - 10 Long-tailed Tit. (Chris Rose)
 * Crossness: Black-necked Grebe drifted west on Thames (Birdguides).
 * Dagenham: 4 Waxwing in trees on south side of New Road (A1306), opposite Oval Road South. 1 Green sandpiper and 1 Snipe in Goresbrook Park (I. Woodward).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 4-5 Golden Plover and 14 Gadwall on Eastbrook School Playing Fields, also 21 Pochard on pit by Dagenham Road and 17 Shoveler on Bardag pit. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Fairlop Gravel Works: Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 2 G Woodpecker, 38 Snipe, c50 Lapwing, 40 Fieldfare, few Redwing, Dunnock, Grey Heron, 6 Moorhen (London Birdwatching).
 * Fairlop Waters: 400 BH Gull, 150 Common Gull, 22 LBB Gull, 1 adult GBB Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 250 Canada Goose, 24 Greylag Goose, 6 Pochard, 22 Gadwall, 2 male Teal, 21 Wigeon, 60 Coot, 10 Tufted Duck, 7 Golden Plover, few Lapwing, 50 Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Pied Wagtail, Mipit, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Reed Bunting (London Birdwatching).
 * Fulham: 5 Waxwing over North End Road 15:00 (Birdguides).
 * Hadley (Barnet/Enfield): 14 Waxwing still present in Waggon Road today at 15.00pm feeding on apples on the tree in the garden by the postbox (EN4 0HL); also Redwing and Song Thrush.( Pete Lowman).
 * Hatfield: 25-30 Waxwing by the A1(M) northbound, just before Junction 4 (Birdguides).
 * Hounslow East LUL carpark: Waxwing, left N c11.00 (Keith Fisher).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 2 Bittern, Snipe, Kestrel (Shaun Harvey).
 * Leatherhead: Common Meadows (River Mole) 9 Goosanders, (2 drakes, 7 red-heads, easily viewed, not easily approached!) 2 Kingfishers, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Wagtails, 6 Teal, small numbers of Redwing & Fieldfare, a Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard that flew low into the wood at the end of the meadow. (Kev Hazelgrove)
 * Lee Valley - Seventy Acres Lake: Eight Smew, including four adult males (Simon Papps)
 * Leyton: 7 Waxwings flew low over Marsh Lane at c13:00 (Paul Whiteman)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Fieldfare, 24 Redwing east and south-west, 6 Siskin (LWC website).
 * Muswell Hill: 26 Waxwings again on Cranbourne Road N10 2BT nr Rosebery Road junction briefly from 08:50-08:53 then flew off (Dominic Mitchell)
 * Paddington Green: m Peregrine Falcon in area p.m. (Des McKenzie).
 * Rainham Marshes: Black-necked Grebe on river off visitor centre at noon (per Howard Vaughan), plus Red-breasted Merganser flew downriver and 3 Barnacle Geese reported still present (RBA).
 * Rickmansworth: 3 m Smew at Bury Lake (Birdguides).
 * Selsdon Park GC: 1 Firecrest with mixed flock including 3+ Goldcrests, 20+ Long-tailed Tits, 3+ Coal Tits, c10 Goldfinches, 1 Nuthatch. (John Birkett)
 * Sutton: 17 Waxwing at the south end of Collingwood Road (SBC).
 * Ten Acres/Gutteridge Woods: m Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Lapwing over, Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, 40 + Fieldfare, 80+ Redwing, 3 Goldcrests with Long-tailed Tit flocks, 1 low circling Rook (Neil Anderson).
 * Thorney Country Park: Bittern still there, Little Egret, Red Crested Pochard, Treecreeper, Song Thrush, 7 Little Grebes, Green Woodpecker,14+ Gadwall, 300+ Black Headed Gulls, Grey Heron. (Sue Giddens).
 * Totteridge Valley: 1 Little Owl: c60 Siskin in two separate flocks: 30 Fieldfare: 15 Redwing: Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along Dollis Brook (John Colmans).
 * Trent Park: 12 Siskin, 2 Mandarin (m,f). ( Pete Lowman).
 * Tylers Common (8-10.30am): 8 Waxwings north, Woodcock (though footprints in the snow indicate at least 3 birds present), Brambling, 4 Bullfinches, 20+ Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, 5+ Ring-necked Parakeet; also leucistic Herring Gull, no ring seen but maybe the famous "SH1T" on its wanderings? (David Callahan).
 * Walton Res: Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid, first-winter m Scaup, 2 Black-necked Grebe (SBC).
 * Wanstead Flats: 66+ Fieldfare (se), 6 Redwing, 24 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 30+ Jackdaw, 2 Pied Wagtail, 14 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, Goldcrest etc. (Tim Harris/Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: m Goshawk (west through Res Wood - NC), Sparrowhawk, 5 L Redpoll, 30+ Siskin, 18 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 2 Snipe, 8 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Teal (1 on R Roding - TH, 1 the Dell - NC), Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck (1 on the R Roding - unusual!), 3 Egyptian Goose (juvenile getting the brush off from the resident pair), Pochard, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, Water Rail and a cast of many more (45sp [51 in all] - NC/TH) are Goshawk now regular in wanstead?? With records from Ilford, the Lee Valley and other sites round NE London it would suggest that there could be a pair somewhere in the vicinity, i.e. Epping Forest. I've spoken to the park wardens (obviously they were non-commital regarding breeding) and a former groundsman who have seen birds during the year. My sightings have been from September onwards, post breeeding movement or an increasing population (hopefully) - NC, All the sightings on Goshawk in the borough in 2009 and 2010 (London Birdwatching)
 * Watford: at least 1 vocal Waxwing calling from allotment area adajcent to Vicarage Road football ground a.m. but not since, Redwing over (Des McKenzie).
 * William Girling Reservoir: 3 imm Eider present at north end until about 8.30 when they flew south, only 4 Black-necked Grebe seen, c7 Goldeneye (Stuart Fisher).
 * Yeading Brook Meadows: Stock Dove, 40+ Fieldfare, 30+ Redwing (Neil Anderson).

Sunday 26 December

 * Mill Hill East, NW7: 6+ Waxwings in trees behind the tube station 11.45am
 * Balham: 60+ Waxwings in Hanson Close from 8.00-9.00 am. feeding in trees and on ground, small numbers returning thereafter. Also 15 Blackbirds, 1 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, several House Sparrow, 2 Chaffinch, Blue and Great tits. Also 35 Fieldfare over. (Rosie Green)
 * Barnet: About 30 Waxwings in old trees by Greenland Road/Whitings Hill (off Quinta Drive) at 14.30 and on house roof of nos 3/5 (EN5 2AL). On my own home patch - Hooray! Also flock of 10 Ring-necked Parakeets over at 15.30.(Geoff Crabtree + daughter Justina).
 * Battersea Park - Inner London: 1 Woodcock (pt) good views over tennis court then in woods by Queenstown Road at 2:55pm, 10+ Long-tailed tit. + on lake (mainly frozen over) 21 Shoveler, pr Mute Swan, only Black-headed Gulls, 120+ Coots about 100 Cormorants in the roost (Michael Mac)
 * Brent Reservoir: Peregrine on top of goalposts on playing fields, also 20 Siskin (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 4 Shelduck in River Lea, 50 Gadwall, 250 Teal, 150 Mallard, 24 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 4 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 29 Snipe, Water Rail, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 58 Fieldfare over, 2 Redwing, female Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Linnet (S Fisher)
 * Broxbourne Woods, Danemead: Hawfinch alighted briefly at 10.15 (Martin Shepherd).
 * Cassiobury Park: Green Woodpecker, several Siskin and Lesser Redpoll with Alder feeding Goldfinch flock (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Debden House: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Jay, pr Jackdaw (London Birdwatching).
 * Epping Forest, Connaught Water: 6 Shoveler (4m), 1 m Gadwall, c45 Mandarin, 80+ Teal, 160+ Mallard, 4 Tufted duck (Ian Woodward).
 * Fairlop Waters: 4 Wigeon, Water Rail, 20 Waxwing (London Birdwatching).
 * Hadley Wood: only one Waxwing remaining in the apple tree near junction of A111 and Waggon Road. But thanks for the great direction below (Phil Rhodes). There were 21 at around 13:30 and then 2 in the apple tree at about 14:40. They seem to be going into the back gardens on Waggon Road. (Katy M.). C25-30 Waxwing present at 15.20 pm feeding on the apple tree. (Pete Lowman).
 * Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens: Little Owl (showing well c10.30 flying from oak by boathouse to nearby horse chestnut for at least 30 minutes), also 28 Mute Swan, 183 Greylag, 5 hybrid geese, 79 Canada + 8 Egyptian Geese, 90 Mallard, 11 Shoveler, 65 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Heron, c250 Coot (all waterbirds from Serpentine; Long Water frozen + didn't visit Round Pond), Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Fieldfare W, 3 Redwing, Treecreeper + Goldcrest with c15 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Coal Tits, 3 Jays, 8+ Siskin with c15 Goldfinch + 15+ Chaffinch in alders (Neil Anderson)
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Bittern, Common Buzzard, 70 Fieldfare, 3 Goldcrest, Redpoll,Snipe, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel.(Shaun Harvey)
 * Isle of Dogs: Female Scaup on Millwall Outer Dock nr Glengall Bridge 2pm; Red-legged Partridge on wall of printing plant (Sean Huggins).
 * Islington, Gillespie Park: 1 male Blackcap, 2 Redwing, 20+ Great Tit, 15+ Blue Tit (Alastair Rae)
 * Lee Valley - Cornmill Meadows: 50+ Siskin, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Brambling (Simon Papps)
 * London Wetland Centre: 20 Waxwings by entrance at 11:35 but mobile (Rare Bird Alert), 4 Bittern (Angus Innes);
 * Mayesbrook Park: c70 Fieldfare east, Littte egret, Snipe (Paul Hawkins)
 * Mill Hill NW7: c20 Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail. (Steve B)
 * North Hillingdon: 24 Waxwing alog slip road of A40 (G Westley)
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Barnacle Geese with 25 Canada Geese still viewable from sea wall (Dominic Mitchell), Avocet and Grey Plover in Aveley Bay (Dominic Mitchell, Les Harrison) Brambling with chaffinch flock on mound (JA)
 * Regent's Park: 3 Waxwings flew low over my garden at 3.05pm (Tony Duckett).
 * Sidcup, York Avenue: Red Kite North-east at 10:40, male Blackcap, 3 Redwing, Pied Wagtail, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Jackdaw,12 Goldfinch. (Ian Stewart).
 * South Norwood Lake: 1 Common Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jackdaw, 1m Kestrel, 1m Sparrowhawk, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Tufted Duck, c200 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Collared Dove, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Ten Acres Wood. 1 Barn Owl in field north of woods. 10:15am. (G Westley)
 * Valentines Park, Ilford: Snipe, flock Goldfinches/Siskin (London Birdwatching)
 * Wanstead Park: 1 Common Snipe (Nik Borrow)
 * West Ealing (Garden): male Blackcap briefly before being chased off by local Robin, male House Sparrow and 3 Fieldfare flew N this morning (Bill Haines).

Saturday 25 December

 * Battersea PS: 1 Peregrine on chimney (Michael Mac).
 * Beckenham: 3 Waxwing at Beckenham Junction Station car park this a.m. but go missing for long periods (Birdguides).
 * Brent Reservoir: Cetti's Warbler from main hide, also 2 Fieldfares over (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Balham (Hanson Close): 8.30am 15ish Waxwings flew off - 5 returned to feed (Steve Woolfenden)
 * Cheshunt: c25 Waxwing by roundabout on housing estate at Thomas Rochard Way (Birdguides).
 * Crayford: River Cray - Kingfisher flew upriver under Thames Rd bridge, male Pochard on river by bridge with a few Mallard. 1 or 2 Bearded Tit calling from reed bed Dartford side of Crayford Creek at dusk. Couple of Teal here. Three groups of Starlings, largest 37 birds. Thames Rd Wetland - 1 Lapwing, Wren, Dunnock, 2 Goldfinch. Maiden Lane - 2 Redwing. St. Paulinus/Manor Rd field - 12 Lapwing, 40 Starlings, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Jay. (Chris Rose)
 * Crossness: Jack Snipe, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, Water Pipit (Birdguides).
 * Erith: Red Kite (Birdguides).
 * Fairlop, Painters Rd: 25 Waxwing (London Birdwatching)
 * Hadley Wood: about 2 dozen Waxwings again today beside A111 road (thanks to Thomas and Blanca for yesterday's report) in oak tree and hedge just north of the speed limit/boundary sign happily mixing with Fieldfares and Redwings.Same flock also devouring apples still on tree in garden by the pillar box at junction with Waggon Road.(Geoff Crabtree and son Lewis).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 78 Mute Swan, c450 Greylag Goose (inc colour-ringed white 3VU and with 4 Greylag x Canada Goose hybrids and a Barnacle Goose), 15 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 19 Shoveler, Tawny Owl showing well, Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, 5+ Redwing, Treecreeper, 3 Jay, 120-130 Goldfinch (an enormous number for this site) (Des McKenzie).
 * Island Barn Res: Black-tailed Godwit, Brambling (SBC).
 * Lea Valley CP: Drake Goosander, male and female Pintail, six Goldeneye, two Marsh Tits and 50 Siskins at Amwell GP; four Smew (two drakes) at Seventy Acres Lake; five Bullfinches and 25 Siskins at Bowyer's Water; Cetti's Warbler and two Water Rails showing well at Hall Marsh. Day total of c seven Redwings and six Fieldfares (Sean Huggins).
 * Mawbey Street (Stockwell): flock 40+ House Sparrow (flock formed from all the birds that breed at sites in about 500+sq metres) in bushes in backgarden with feeders, 1 Blackbird singing nearby at 1pm (Michael Mac).
 * Muswell Hill: c20 Waxwings again in private garden by Rosebery Road and Cranbourne Road junction briefly mid-p.m., plus Fieldfare and 3 Redwings (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Northolt + Greenford CP: Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, 38 Common Gull, 28 Fieldfare circled, c18 Redwing (Neil Anderson).
 * Paddington Green: m Peregrine Falcon in area a.m. (DMc).
 * Pinner (Private Garden): 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, Long-tailed Tit & Jay (the Ridge clan).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: Dunlin (SBC).
 * Rainham Marshes: 2 Goosander flew upriver, Avocet, ad Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides).
 * Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup (3m, 1f) at Greenland Dock a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Sanderstead: 20+ Siskins landed in Alder at Briton Hill Road 11:00 (Croydon Birders).
 * Stone Ness/West Thurrock Marshes: 71 Avocet, 4 Grey Plover, 5 Ringed Plover, c150 Black-tailed Godwits, 2000+ Dunlin, 1 Water rail, 4 Woodcock, 2 Yellowhammer (Ian Woodward).
 * Thorney Country Park: Bittern at 1pm came out of reeds flew a little way along and stood still for about a minute then disappeared back in reeds.(Sue Giddens)
 * Upminster: 4 Waxwing still at The Optomist Tavern car park a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup still present (SBC).
 * Wanstead Flats:15 L Redpoll (north), 7 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 6 Reed Bunting, 25 Fieldfare (west), 6 Robin, 12 Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 4 Collared Dove, 4 Green Woodpecker, 4 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 2 parties of Long-tailed Tit, 10 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, House Sparrow, Sparrowhawk and something going "hmp" repeatedly, in a very low register in a thicket (your Christmas quiz. NC). (Nick, I would advice you not to investigate 'hmp' noises coming from thickets on Wanstead Flats),
 * Wanstead Park: 2 Common Snipe, 11 Linnet (Nik Borrow)

Friday 24 December

 * Rainham Marshes: c10 Waxwing north-west across the A13 at c08.30. Female Merlin, male Peregrine, 3 Whooper Swans briefly on Averly Pools before carrying on west early afternoon. Probable Snow/Lapland Bunting calling from tip ("chu" type calls only) (R & I Woodward).
 * Davy Down/North Stifford area: Firecrest in Brannetts Wood, 3 Sparrowhawks, Tawny Owl heard, c15 Ring-necked Parakeets (R Woodward). Apologies for late posting of this + Rainham news.
 * Alexandra Park: Brambling and Woodcock (Bob Watts); Jackdaw with crow flock (David Callahan).


 * Balham (Hanson Close): 100-120 Waxwings present again (8-9am) in their favourite trees. Commuting between berries and the tall trees at corner of Alderbrook. Also present 6 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6+ Blackbirds, Collared Dove over. (Mark H)
 * Beddington: Iceland Gull (P Alfrey)
 * Brent Reservoir: 22 Siskin, 1 Skylark & 40+ Redwing over (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Shelduck, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing (River Lea), 4 Redshank, Jack Snipe, 36+ Common Snipe, Water Rail, 220 Teal, 47 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 23 Tufted Duck (Abbey Creek and River), Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 12 Fieldfare and the usual Scrooge (S Fisher)
 * Bushy Park (Canal Plantation): 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Redwing, 10+ Fieldfare, 2 Treecreeper with mixed tit flock, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas. (Billy Dykes)
 * Clapham Common: 6 Siskin over, 2 Pochard + 1 Shoveler (m) Mount Pound, 2 Shoveler (pair) Eagle Pond, Sparrowhawk, 2 Waxwings over. (Mark H)
 * Crayford Marshes: Sanderling, ad Mediterranean Gull, 2 Turnstone, 10 Pintail, 14 Grey Plover, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, c230 Skylark, 6 Curlew. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Danson Park (Bexleyheath/Welling): 52 Shoveler, 40 Coot (in the small, remaining ice-free part of the lake), 52 Carrion Crow (attracted by duck-feeding kids), 14+ Moorhen, 14 Canada Geese, large number of Black-headed Gulls, several Mallard, several Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Chris Rose)
 * Fairlop Waters: Kestrel, 20 Redwing, 40 Fieldfare, Green Woodpekcer, Great Spotted Woodpckler, 32 Greylag Goose, 20 Gadwall, 12 Tufted, 3 Wigeon, 2 m Pochard, juv Great Black-backed Gull (London Birdwatching)
 * Finchley: 2 Waxwing still opposite entrance road to Vue Cinema complex at c.11.00 am (Bob Watts and Gareth Rchards).
 * Gants Hill: 2 Redwing (private garden) (London Birdwatching)
 * Greenwich Peninsula: 4 Chiffchaffs along Thames path by Ecology Park, including 3 together; 19 Teal on shoreline there, Redwing flock 15 -20 birds near Odeon/B & Q (Joe Beale).
 * Hadley Wood, off A111 just north of first speed limit for London on way to M25. c. 30 Waxwings visible from main road, with many Fieldfares also present, rather mobile (Thomas Donegan / Blanca Huertas).
 * Hampstead Heath: 90 Fieldfares E in four flocks also 5 Redwing E. Drake Teal on Highgate No.1. ( Pete M)
 * Isle of Dogs: Three 1w drake Scaup Millwall Outer Dock again mid-afternoon, now on the main section of the dock near the Docklands Sailing Centre on Westferry Road. No sign of yesterday's female. Also 50 Tufted, two Pochard, one Gadwall. (Sean Huggins)
 * Muswell Hill: c20 Waxwings briefly at 8.45am from observer's garden near junction of Rosebery Road and Cranbourne Road N10, then flew west; at 9.07am 10+ birds again (perhaps different?) flew N without stopping. Also Fieldfare feeding on berries in same garden (Dominic Mitchell)
 * Paddington Green: 4 Mistle Thrush north-east 12:10 (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Snipe around burst water pipe, 2 Meadow Pipit & 13 Fieldfare (Jon Ridge).
 * Regent's Park: Woodcock, 2 Water Rails, 5 Fieldfares, 2 Redwing, pr Firecrests, Siskin (Tony Duckett).
 * Romford, Havering Road: 23 Waxwing in a tree (London Birdwatching)
 * Royal Albert Dock: Peregrine6 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mistle Thrush 5 Lapwing (via London Birdwatching)
 * Ruislip: Common Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 3 Teal, Grey Wagtail on River Pinn and 14 Siskin over (Steve Pash).
 * Sidcup: 10-15 Waxwing by Halfway Street/Hurst road junction.Briefly,very vocal but flew east. (Ian Stewart).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2m Shoveler, 56 Coot, 32 Moorhen,28 Tufted Duck, 10 Fieldfare (over) 2 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c100 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, c20 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Jay, 3 Collared Dove, (John Watson)
 * Stepney: Red Kite flew north over The Highway at 10:20hrs (Richard Green).
 * Upminster: 4 Waxwings in Optimist pub car park (Shaun Harvey, Paul Hawkins)
 * Victoria Park: 4 Gadwall on open water on main lake (Millicent Harper)
 * Walthamstow Res No.5: c1000 Tufted Duck, handful Pochard, few Wigeon, drk Pintail, some Teal, 20+ Gadwall 2 redhead Goosander. Common Sandpiper, 12 Fieldfare, 8 Lapwing on the Filter Beds. (Paul Whiteman)
 * West Ealing: c20 Waxwing flew S over garden at 11:45. Also 5 redwing low E and 2 high W (Bill Haines).
 * Wanstead Flats: 28 Redwing (mainly north), 19 Fieldfare, 3 Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush etc. 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 L Redpoll, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Pochard (east), 7 Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Heron, GBB Gull (NC)
 * Wanstead Park: Woodcock (north of allotments R Roding), Snipe, Kingfisher, 3 Teal, 60+ Gadwall, 40 + Pochard, 20 + Tufted Duck, 30 + Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, Gry Heron, 2 Linnet, Fieldfare, Redwing, steady stream of Lesser Black-backed Gull going north up the Roding, 2 Linnet, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, 0 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit (combined sp tally of 54 NC)
 * Thames Chase, Harold Court: 8 Fieldfares but not much else in a brief visit (CRJ).

Thursday 23 December

 * Alexandra Park: Firecrest and 4+ Goldcrests with Long-tailed Tits along racetrack, plus Fieldfare north (David Callahan) 43 Tufted Duck, 24 Mallard, 15 Pochard, 2 Aythya hybrids all on Tunnel Res. 2+ Water Rail on flood north of Conservation Pond (Gareth Richards).
 * Balham: 60+ Waxwing still this a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Beckton: c40 Fieldfare low and east along Tollgate Road (London Birdwatching).
 * Brent Reservoir: 5 Lapwings on ice, 50+ Fieldfare, 28 Redwings, but no Bittern (5 Brent Birders).
 * Beddington: 50+ Waxwing flew south, 200+ Fieldfare over, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 ad Caspian Gull Caspian Gull photos here
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 2 Curlew West (2nd site record), 33 Snipe, 4 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Water Rail (Abbey Creek), 42 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare plus the usual suspects (Stuart Fisher)
 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: Waxwing just east of Canons Wood 8.45am-8.50am then flew NE, 6 Curlew flew low east at 9.05am, 20 Northern Lapwings flew over, 230+ Fieldfares over mainly SE, c.9 Bullfinches, 1+ Siskin, 30+ Lesser Redpolls, 1+ Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Skylark, c.5 Redwings, Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatches, Coal Tit, Green Woodpecker, 1+ Great Spotted Woodpecker (David Campbell).
 * Central Park (Harold Hill): 2 Common Snipe along Paines Brook (CRJ).
 * Crayford Marshes: fem Merlin around landfill site area. 2 Turnstone, 5 Yellow-Legged Gull, 2 Peregrine, 16 Grey Plover, 2 Rock Pipit, 10 Curlew. (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter)
 * Dulwich Park: 10+ Lesser Redpoll (Steven Robinson).
 * Earlsfield: 25 Waxwing over Kimber Road (Birdguides).
 * Finchley: 50 Waxwing In trees along high road opposite the finchley vue cinema
 * Fairlop: c50 Redwing feeding on the hedgerow along Painters Road (London Birdwatching)
 * Hampstead Heath: 20 Fieldfare SE, 2 prob Greylag Geese S over Parliament Hill (08.15), 12 Redwing N, 30 Siskin, 12 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Coal Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, ~104 sp reported for the site during 2010 - good work peeps! (CB). Also Water Rail in tiny patch of reeds of model boat lake(J-P Elmes). Make that 105!
 * Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): Grey Wagtail in my garden am then flew to neighbour's house roof. Also, yesterday: Green Woodpecker on back lawn feeding where snow had thawed (Colin Jupp).
 * Hertford: 14 Waxwing at 24 Tanners Crescent (SG13 8DS) early a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Isle of Dogs: Four Scaup (presumed same as Rotherhithe, below) mid-afternoon at S end of Millwall Outer Dock. Ninety-one Tufted Duck there this morning and three Gadwall (480 tufties here on Sunday). Two Grey Wagtails on the Thames shore (Sean Huggins).
 * Kennington/Elias Place: 7+ House Sparrows in ivy about 2:30pm - very noisy (Michael Mac).
 * KGV Reservoir: f. Red-breasted Merganser on south basin (Martin Shepherd).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Waxwing over at 08:45 (Birdguides).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 5 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 1 Meadow Pipit, 16 Jackdaw & 2 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Pinner (Private Garden): 1 Common Buzzard over south at 09:50 (JR).
 * Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup (3 drakes and female) on Greenland Dock this morning (still present 1.30pm) among 500 Tufted Duck and 2 Pochard; best viewed from Brunswick Quay, north side of dock. Also 3 (2 drakes) Shoveler and 2 Pochard Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, c130 Black-headed Gull, 18 Common Gull, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpwcker, 1 Pied Wagtail (over) 3 Dunnock, c30 Goldfinch, 2 Collared Dove, (John Watson)
 * Streatham Common: 13:00 Woodcock circled, landed and stayed for a few minutes (Peter Newmark).
 * Wanstead Flats: 34 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 4 GReenfinch, 1 Reed Bunting, 4 Shoveler, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal (north), Grey Heron, 3 Meadow Pipit, 4 Redwing (s), 2 Fieldfare, Kestrel (NC)
 * Wanstead Park: Water Rail, Snipe, 4 Teal, 29 Shoveler, 35 Pochard, 66 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, 10 Little Grebe, 6 Redwing, 15 Skylark (south), 12 Linnet, 30 + Siskin, Sparrowhawk and theMink eyeing up a duck dinner on Heronry (NC)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Skylark, c36 Redwing, Jackdaw (The Scrubbers).

Wednesday 22 December

 * Alexandra Park: Firecrest still, on north edge of woods, north of conservation pond; bird was seen giving a constant call somewhat like a high-pitched Dunnock, different to the usual call; lunchtime: Jack Snipe flushed from flood to just over concrete fence, where it couldn't be refound unsurprisingly, plus Common Snipe on overspill pond and 2 Water Rails, 3 Goldcrests (David Callahan).
 * Archway: 3 Lapwing south over Windermere Road 11:05 (Des McKenzie).
 * Balham (Hanson Close): up to 70 Waxwing appeared in several small groups at 7:53. Very flighty. After a couple of brief feeds on berries moved to top of tallest tree at corner of Alderbrook Rd & Balham Hill. There to at least 8:20. Also at Hanson Close; 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 4+ Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow, 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet over north (James Hudson). 75 Waxwing (possibly a few more hidden at top of plane tree on Alderbrook Rd ) c10.30, also 2 Redwing + Grey Wagtail over (Neil Anderson)
 * Barking (Jenkins Lane): female Merlin (via London Birdwatching).
 * Beckton Alps: Kestrel (London Birdwatching).
 * Beddington SF: probable AMERICAN HERRING GULL or 'Nelson's' Gull-type hybrid on lake, then flying onto tip; bird was photographed (Johnny Allan et al, via LondonBirds Twitter). Photos at: http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/
 * Brent Reservoir: Bittern, Common Snipe, Sparrowhawk (Steve Blake). Lapwing, 6 Snipe (Andrew Verrall).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 3 Waxwing South at 09.45, 20+ Snipe (Abbey Creek), c250 Teal, 52 Tufted Duck in Abbey River until mid morning when most flew north west, 5 Pochard, 35+ Gadwall, Kestrel, 3 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit and the usual herd of Caribou (S Fisher) (?)
 * Burgess Park: Kestrel (Richard Bonser).
 * Bury Lake (Rickmansworth): 8 Red-crested Pochard, 2 m Smew (Birdguides).
 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: 1+ Mealy Redpoll with c.150 Lesser Redpolls and 1+ Siskin in Banstead Woods at TQ262579. Also c.30 Redwings, Pied Wagtail, 2+ Fieldfares, 2+ Bullfinches, 3 Treecreepers, 4 Nuthatches, 5 Goldcrests, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Kestrel, c.5 Rose-ringed Parakeets (David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marshes: fem Merlin hunting around landfill site area, 14 Grey Plover, Turnstone, 5 Yellowhammer, male Peregrine, 16 Pintail, 7 Curlew (Kev Jarvis & A.W).
 * East India Dock Basin NR: 20 Shelduck, Common Snipe, Meadow Pipit (Gary A James).
 * Finchley: 30+ Waxwing feeding on berries on High Road opposite Finchley Vue Cinema (Birdguides).
 * Hainault Forest: Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (London Birdwatching)
 * Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve: 4 Goldcrest, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Redwing, Kestrel. (London Birdwatching)
 * Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn & 12 Fieldfare over north (JR).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: 2 red-head Smew (SBC).
 * Hornchurch: fem Blackcap (ELBF).
 * Hornsey: 4 Waxwing low and North over train station towards New River Village at 12:45 (J. Murray).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Bittern (Birdguides); fem Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, 8 Common Snipe, 10 Waxwing, 14 Siskin, 35 Linnet, Bullfinch (ELBF).
 * Lloyd Park (Croydon): ad Gannet picked up p.m. and taken to Beddington Wildlife Hospital (per Johnny Allan).
 * London Wetland Centre: c80 White-fronted Goose west 14:25, Water Pipit (Birdguides); 5 Bittern, Grey Plover on Scrape 11:45, Woodcock west 12:00; also Pintail, Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 15 Siskin, 4 Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warbler (LWC website).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 21 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 pr Peregrine Falcon, cooing Woodpigeons (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mayesbrook Park: Lapwing (first in over 15 years), Green Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 15 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, Goldfinch, 4 Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipit (Paul Hawkins).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Common Buzzard over, 1 Lapwing, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Jackdaw & 8 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge); also at Headstone Moat: 1 Kingfisher & 2 Coot (JR).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: Brent Goose 11:00-11:20 at least (SBC).
 * Rainham Marshes: 19 Bewick's Swans west at 13.35, and drake Goldeneye Aveley Bay most of the day. Pale-bellied Brent Goose briefly this morning also Avelely Bay (HV et al); 15-20 Waxwings briefly visitor centre then flew east (BC, JL, PS et al); 3 Barnacle Goose, 32 Pheasant, 4 Ringed Plover, 30 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 550 Lapwing, 500 Dunlin, 30 Common Snipe, Woodcock. 2 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 4 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 32 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush, 80 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 70 Goldfinch, 450 Linnet, 7 Corn Bunting (ELBF).
 * Rotherhithe: drake Teal downriver at 8.15am; also 6 Pochard and 1 Tufted Duck on River Thames; 300+ Tufted Duck flew south over Greenland Pier at 8.30am settling on Greenland Dock/Canada Water. Also 2 drake Shoveler Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
 * Royal Albert Dock: Peregrine being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, 18 Lapwing on City Airport Runway, Great Crested Grebe in the dock (London Birdwatching).
 * Ruislip: Red Kite E over Sharps Lane at 10.30 (Steve Pash).
 * South Norwood CP: Shoveler, 3 Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 19 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 1 m Kestrel, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 f Pochard, 1m Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, c40 Goldfinch, 1 Collared Dove, 7 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Cole Tit (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * St Albans: c40 Waxwing in trees behind Church Crescent (Birdguides).
 * Stocker's Lake: unknown geese over at just after 10.00am heading north, possibly the Uxbridge 30+, male Smew on Bury Lake (Richard Francis).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: single Waxwing low and north, Bittern still, Yellow-legged Gull on the ice, 3 Water Rails (Mark Pearson)
 * Teddington: 25 Waxwing in Princess Road mid-p.m. (Birdguides).
 * Uxbrige 30+ White-fronted Goose over at 10am (G Westley).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup (SBC).
 * Wanstead Flats: c100 White-fronted Goose north-east 14:55 (just as I had given up, cold, wet, bored and longing for a cuppa and having decided not go and flush Snipe from Reservoir Wood, as I stepped on to the flats on the way home ... awesome, bloody magical: so much so I stayed out for another hour and got wet, cold and bored again!), 4 Greylag, 5 Tufted Duck, pr Pochard, 14 Shoveler, Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk and 8 Goldfinch (NC/Birdguides).
 * Wanstead Park: 50+ Lesser Black-backed Gull moving up the Roding valley in small groups all afternoon, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose, Little Grebe, 50+ Siskin, 10 Linnet (old sewage works), 6+ Goldcrest (NC)
 * William Girling Res: no sign of any Eiders; but 30+ Black-necked Grebes, 1 Goosander and 2 Green Sandpipers of note (J. Murray).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 drake Goosander west at 11.40, 1 male Sparrowhawk, c4 Skylark, c16 Meadow Pipit, c6 Chaffinch & c8 Greenfinch (David Lindo).

Tuesday 21 December

 * Balham: around 11.00 am 65 Waxwings, 1 Woodcock (over), 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Pied Wagtail (over), four Blackbirds, 6 Redwing, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (over) all at Hanson Close (Rob Bell, Peter Newmark); around 2pm up to 70 Waxwing feeding on berries, [|flew one flew into a window and died - Mark H gave me the corpse, see video here,] House Sparrow chirping on house (Michael Mac).
 * Barking Riverside: 1st winter med gull, 120 white-fronted geese (over NW @ 11:50), grey plover, 20 black-tailed godwit, 9 curlew, 600 dunlin, 112 redshank. (David W. Smith).
 * Barnes Pond: 1 Shoveler, 2 Mandarin, 2 Egyptian Geese (M Bourne)
 * Beddington: 1 Firecrest, second-winter Caspian Gull, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Golden Plover, 1 Med Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 110+ Shoveler, 1 Woodcock pics here (Observer?).
 * Brent Reservoir: Bittern from smaller hide (see photos), Sparrowhawk (Jon Martindale).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Jack Snipe, 15 Common Snipe, 49 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 39 Gadwall, drake Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great-crested Grebe, c100 Teal, Grey Heron, 65 Coot, 26 Moorhen, 4 Pied Wag and 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, G S Woodpecker, Kestrel, 13 Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, Chiffchaff and the usual fairy changelings (S Fisher).
 * Cavendish Road SW12: 1 House Sparrow (Michael Mac).
 * Clapham Common: 3 Waxwings briefly around tube station before flying south (Mark H).
 * Crayford Marshes: 12 Bean Goose, 8 Pink-Footed Goose (in large Greylag flock, flew east), c28 White-Fronted goose north over Thames, 13 Waxwing in hawthorns along the creek, fem Merlin feeding on a fence post near landfill site, Turnstone, Yellowhammer, Little Owl, 10 Pintail, 16 Grey Plover (Kev Jarvis).
 * East Ham (Central Park): Woodcock 11am (Pete Fallan)..
 * Fairlop: 4+ Waxwing along Hainault Rd, east of Sailing Club entrance (London Birdwatching).
 * Hammersmith Bridge - Barnes Bridge (Thames foreshore): 9 Lapwing (unusual here), Grey Wagtail, 2 Red-Crested Pochard, no Waxwings (M Bourne) (Lapwing common though at nearby LWC-Neil Anderson).
 * Hatfield: 30 Waxwing in Hillfield at noon (Birdguides).
 * Hertford: 22 Waxwing in Tanner's Crescent 10:45 (Birdguides).
 * Horsenden Hill: 1 Firecrest (Perivale Wood), 1 Jack Snipe, 4+ Snipe, 1 Nuthatch, 7 Goldcrest, increased numbers of Blackbirds (42+), Coots seem to have moved out but Moorhens remain (35+), also Weasel carrying small rodent prey item (Andy Culshaw).
 * Ingestre Place (W1): m Kestrel feeding (no idea what the prey item was) in middle of the road, nearly hit by a motorcycle (Des McKenzie).
 * London WWT: Bittern, Water Rail, Peregrine, Cetti's Warbler (M Bourne); 22 Wigeon, 2 Bittern, Pintail, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Skylark over (LWC website). 2 Bittern, Grey Plover at 3pm, nearly taken by Peregrine Falcon! (O Dewhurst)
 * Maple Cross: Waxwing in bushes nr playground on Chalfont Road 13:00 (Birdguides).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 2 Fieldfare, 3 Greenfinch (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Paddington Green: 4 White-fronted Goose north-east 09:11 (DMc).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn, Skylark over, 2 Bullfinch, 13 Jackdaw & 4 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge); also at Headstone Moat: 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail & Skylark over (JR).
 * Plough Lane SW19: 17 Waxwing in trees next to Shell garage - flew off 1pm (Steve Woolfenden)
 * Rainham Marshes: still 3 Barnacle Goose, red-head Smew on Thames nr Visitor's Centre, ad Gannet on Thames, drifted downriver past Visitor's Centre 15:15 (Birdguides).
 * Royal Albert Dock: Great Crested Grebe (unusual here) (London Birdwatching).
 * South Norwood CP: 4 Canada Goose, Water Rail, Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail, 5 Great Tit (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 1 Common Snipe, 1m Kestrel, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 56 Coot, 20 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant (over), c130 Black-headed Gull, 14 Common Gull, c30 Goldfinch, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Collared Dove (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: (all day, from Lincoln Court roof, res perimeter and Obs platform) - moulting male Common Eider south down the valley, 0950; 31 Greater White-fronted Geese east parallel with the Thames then veered north-east and lost in the mist, 0914-0916; 4 Egyptian Geese west; c20 Common Pochard east in several groups; Cetti's Warbler and Great Black-backed Gull East Res; female Merlin west, mobbed by Carrion Crows, 1400; Bittern, East Res; Yellow-legged Gull on the ice with hundreds of congeners pre-dusk; Common Snipe at dusk (Mark Pearson).
 * Teddington: 10 Waxwing in Princess Road (Birdguides).
 * Wanstead Flats: 9 Mute Swan, 19 Mallard, 3 Coot, 31 Canada Goose (Jub), 2 Reed Bunting, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest (SSSI), Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler (Alex) (J Lethbridge), Fieldfare, 2 Cormorant, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit (NC).
 * Wanstead Park: 1 Woodcock (over Dell wood NE), 2 Snipe (1 Res Wood - JL, 1 Dell - NC), 41 Pochard, 55 + Gadwall, 22 Shoveler, 21 Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose (doing it!), 3 Teal (1f Res Wood - JL, 2 R Roding - NC), 3 Wigeon (2m, R Roding just below footbridge), Water Rail (top of Perch showing nicely and earlier calling/screaming whatever!), 11 Little Grebe (6 Heronry, 4 Roding and 1 Ornamental Waters), possibly up to 60+ Siskin (2 or 3 flocks buzzing round the park), lots of Chaffinch, Bullfinch (OSW), 10 Redwing, Song Thrush, Coal Tit and the other usuals, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk (49 sp NC/JL).
 * West Ham Park: Waxwing at noon (Birdguides).
 * Woodford Green: 25 Siskin in a private garden (London Birdwatching).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: c37 White-fronted Goose east at 9am, 1 Egyptian Goose (our 97th species for the year!), 2 Snipe, c5 Skylark, c4 Meadow Pipit & c25 Redwing (The Scrubbers).

Monday 20 December

 * Balham / Clapham South: c25 Waxwing at Hanson Close. Very flighty but settled in berry bushes briefly. Also 3 Woodpigeon, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Blackbirds working through the fruit (Mark H); 30 Waxwing late morning. Flightiness probably due to the pair of Sparrowhawks in the area. At one point the male flew in, but was unsuccessful. However, the Waxwings did return several times to feed. There are 4 trees with berries and as two are Sorbus with plenty of berries still on them, they should be around for a while.100+ were reported yesterday; also 5 Lapwing over (S) (Steven Robinson); of note, Skylark on Clapham Common briefly before flying North (Mark H); also Redwing, 2 Common Gull, LBB Gull at Mount Pond.
 * Beddington: 30+ Waxwing, Iceland Gull, 4 Jack Snipe, 220+ Skylark pics and more here
 * Belhus Woods CP: Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 2 Lesser Redpoll (via London Birdwatching)
 * Cheshunt: 9 Waxwing briefly in trees opposite Co-op (High Street), early afternoon (R Woodward).
 * Crayford Marshes: 3 Barnacle Goose north-east over Erith Yacht Clu, Woodcock, Yellowhammer, 4 Rock Pipit, 16 Grey Plover, 18 Ringed Plover, 5 Yellow-Legged Gull (Kev Jarvis).
 * Mill Hill (NW7), Burtonhole Lane: 1 Woodcock, 50+ Jackdaw, 25 Canada Geese, Goldcrest with tit flocks. (Rob Ayers).
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Barnacle Geese in middle of reserve with Canadas (HV, JL, PS, DS), also Ring Ouzel still by Stone Barges on Coldharbour Lane near security hut (R Burgess, JL) NB Reserve still closed but sea wall accessible.
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Bittern in the East Res reedbed (close-up shots to follow on the site this eve), 64 Tufted Ducks, 15 Gadwall, 35 Common Pochards, 8 Shovelers, 9 Little Grebes and 100+ Coot crammed onto a tiny area of unfrozen water, 4 Water Rails; Bittern still tarting around all p.m.; 65 Lapwing west in one flock; 100+ White-fronted Geese west, calling at 1600 (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife).
 * William Girling Res: At least 5 Eider still present + a possible female Scaup (viewed from Mansfield Park) (Harry Lacey, via Roy Woodward); late afternoon (from Mansfield Park): 6 Eider, 2 Scaup (female + 1st winter), Red-breasted Merganser (female, which had been on the KGV earlier in the afternoon), 24 Black-necked Grebes (R & I Woodward, J Lethbridge).
 * Wimbledon (SW19): 17 Waxwings in trees by Shell garage in Plough Lane 1pm, very nervous (SW).


 * Alexandra Park: 13 Redwing north, 2 Fieldfare north, 2 Greylag, 1 C Snipe (Gareth Richards).
 * Beckton Park: 18 Long-tailed Tit (way more than usual) (London Birdwatching).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 13 Mallard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Wren, 5 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 6 Starling, 8 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 10+ Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam)
 * Bunhill Fields (Old Street, EC1): 2 Redwing (Gareth Richards).
 * Crossness: Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Jack Snipe, Yellow-legged Gull, 15 Redwing (AW).
 * Crystal Palace: Stuck my head out the front door at 21:00 to check on the snow and 10+ grey geese flew SW over the top of the hill at roof top height. From a quick google the call sounded closest to White-front but couldn't swear to it (Andy Holden)
 * Ham House, Richmond: Water Rail in ditch by board walk leading from Ham House to river Thames (RS)
 * Roding Valley Park: Water Rail, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Linnets, Redwing, Grey Heron, 2 Song Thrushes, 5 Greenfinches, Tufted Duck (very rare on this stretch of the river), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, at least 3 Common Gulls (Alan Hobson).
 * Royal Albert Dock: Peregrine over Newham Dockside then low over dock, landing somewhere on city airport runway (London Birdwatching).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6m 2f Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, c150 Black-headed Gull, 13 Common Gull, 2 Redwing, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, c30 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Jay (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * Theobalds: 38 Golden Plover and 14 Skylark at Oyler’s Farm. A variety of wildfowl on the ice-free New River, including 10 Mandarin (4♂ 6♀) and a Shelduck (Mike Oakland)
 * Thorney Country Park: Kestrel, Common Snipe by wooden bridge, 30+ Shoveler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 300+ Black-headed Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 20+ Gadwall, 2 Treecreepers, 9 Siskins (Sue Giddens).
 * Wanstead Flats: 4 Woodlark (north along centre road and then on over SSSI c.09:00), 16 Skylark (west, bar 1 on Jub), 41 Lapwing (south c. 15:32), Snipe flew on to Alex, 7 Reed Bunting (SSSI), 6 Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 6 Fieldfare (n), 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush (s), Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant. Jubilee still virtually all frozen but still accommodating 9 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard, 20 Canadas, 3 Coot and attending Common and BH Gull. Bit more of a squeeze at Alex where 100+ geese, 50+ Coot, 15 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 15 + Moorhen and Gulls are playing sardines (36sp NC oh! and patch tick tick)
 * Wanstead Park: 5 Snipe (2 R Roding, 2 Dell, 1 Res Wood), 13 Little Grebe (6 Roding, 6 Heronry, 1 Ornamental Water), 1 Water Rail (Roding), 5 Teal (4 Roding, 1 Dell), 20 Tufted Duck (Heronry), 23 Shoveler (8 Heronry, 15 OW), 170+ Mallard (100 + Heronry, 60+ Roding, 10 + OW), 39 Pochard (Heronry), 32 Gadwall (28 H, 4 OW), 2 Egyptian Goose, 10 C Goose, 9 Mute Swan, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Cormorant, pr Bullfinch (old allotments east of Roding), 30 + Siskin, 2 Coal Tit, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Pied Wagtail, 6 Redwing (45 sp 53 in all NC). + Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (London Birdwatching)
 * Wimbledon Common: 8 Golden Plover SW over the Windmill 11:30 (Adrian Podmore) - our 100th species of the year.
 * Woodlands Farm: a pair of Yellow Hammers, female Phesant in greenwaste site, 2 Snipe, 1 female Kestrel, 38 Lapwing flew over Arena field.
 * Wormwood Scrubs (0900-1100): 3 Snipe, 7 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit (incl one feeding on pavements along Old Oak Comm. Lane), 31 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, 1 Lapwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 15 Linnet, 12 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 10 Cormorant, 3 Canada Geese, 65 Woodpigeon north (Rob Ayers).
 * St James's Park: 8 Mute Swans one of which [|one trying to eat 3 Coots in succession (lol), well that's what it looked like!] 1 Grey Heron, 2 or so Cormorants, Shoveler, Great spotted Woodpecker and all the usuals. Aborted WeBs count as arrived a bit late and too cold (Michael Mac).

Sunday 19 December

 * Alexandra Park: 3 Waxwing south over Conservation Area at c.10:00, then heard briefly but not seen by Newland Road (Gareth Richards). Later c.50 Waxwing south-east over Conservation Pond towards New River Village at 14:45 (Bob Watts). Also Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe and 2 + Water Rail on flood north of Conservation Pond, the same or another C Snipe on Balancing Pool, 2 Aythya hybrids and a single Greylag on Tunnel Res (still 90% ice free), 6 Skylark (2 heard only) over WG Res + one on cricket pitch in front of scrub 3pm, 4 Fieldfare, 6-7 Redwing, 1 Treecreeper with Tit flock on slopes, 3 Shoveler on Boating Lake, pair Gadwall New River (Gareth Richards, Dominic Mitchell, Bob Watts). Green Sandpiper seen briefly again around 15:30 on the Tunnel Res (landing right in front of the viewing platform!) before flying south. (Rob Wallace)
 * Beddington: 15 Yellowhammer, 350+ Skylark (heading S and on the mounds), 1 Lapwing Yellowhammer and other pics here
 * Beckenham - eight Blue-crowned Parakeets roosting at corner of Kelsey Park Avenue and Wickham Road this morning. Coming to your British list soon! (Martin Birch)
 * Beverley Brook (at Palewell Common, SW14): 3 Snipe just downstream from the bridge leading to Bank Lane; another Snipe ~300 yards upstream, near Richmond Park boundary wall - this individual persistently harried by Moorhens, not allowed to settle.
 * Brent Reservoir: 6 Waxwings briefly at 09.12, also 22+ Skylark, 32 Lapwing on ice and another 50 flew west (Andrew Self & Andrew Haynes)
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Green Sandpiper, 10+ Snipe, Water Rail, 5 Skylark over, 5+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Redshank, 2 Kestrel, 10 Tufted Duck and the usuals (Stuart Fisher).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Great Crested Grebe (patch tick) 1 Heron, 12 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 10 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 7 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 20+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 3 Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam)
 * Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: Common (Mealy) Redpoll at Lunch Wood with c.170 Lesser Redpolls briefly early afternoon (David Campbell). Also 5 Northern Lapwings flew west at 10.28am, 20+ Skylarks, 4+ Bullfinches, 2 Kestrels, c.10 Fieldfares, c.10 Redwings, 2 Treecreepers, Coal Tit, 4 Goldcrests, 7 Nuthatches, 2+ Great Spotted Woodpeckers (1 drumming), 2+ Green Woodpeckers (Roy Weller, Ian Jones & David Campbell). Grey Wagtail on pond in Canons Lane garden (resident). 10 Skylarks flew south, 25 Goldfinches (Steve Gale via David Campbell).
 * Chiswick House and Grounds: 5 Skylark SE, 1 Meadow Pipit S, 1 Lapwing SW, c8 Redwing, charm of c30 Goldfinch over, c18 Long Tailed Tit, 3 Great Tit, c50 constantly flying Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * Crayford Marshes: 3 red-head Smew on Thames, then flew west at 09:38. fem Merlin landfill site, Bar-tailed Godwit, Brambling, 16 Pintail, 18 Grey Plover, Green Sandpiper. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness/Belvedere: c16 probable Bean Geese east @ 1405 (14 Tundra Beans seen over Rainham shortly afterwards), 2 Scaup west @ 1250, 3 redhead Smew briefly just east of incinerator late morning then flew E, Short-eared Owl north over Belvedere then flew to Rainham @ 1300, Waxwing north over lighthouse @ 1030, Jack Snipe, pair of Pintail, 3 Ruff, 3+ Grey Plover, 2 Green Sands, Common Sand, Grey Seal (John Archer & Ian MIller).
 * Dartmouth Park - Chetwynd Road NW5: 13 Waxwing 9.30-10.30 (Chris Bird)
 * East India Dock Basin area: Jack Snipe (Bow Creek), 11 Common Snipe, 6 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Pintail (f), Black Redstart, Chiffchaff, 5 Meadow Pipits, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Peregrines. (Gary A James).
 * Ewell Village: Common Buzzard low NNW over village at 12.25 being mobbed by Carrion Crows. Female Bullfinch in bushes on Hogsmill Open Space at 14.30. Very large numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing around the village. (Neil Batten)
 * Finsbury Park: 14 Shovelers (10M 4f) in small ice-free area of boating lake (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Greenwich: Small numbers of Redwings, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks variously seen and heard overhead (Joe Beale)
 * Hampstead Heath: 40+ Lapwing S over Parliament Hill at 0930. 10 Shoveler, Mixed Pond. 25 LBB Gull over mostly E. ( Pete M)
 * Horsenden Hill: 2 Jack Snipe, 5+ Snipe, 13 Skylark NE, 1 Rook NE, 1 Meadow Pipit (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon)
 * Isle of Dogs: 17 Wigeon, 480 Tufted Ducks and five Pochard on Millwall Outer Dock. R. Thames: first-winter Mediterranean Gull and second-winter Yellow-legged Gull. (Sean Huggins)
 * Leyton (Orient Way area): 49 Skylark (10 West, 39 North), 2 Snipe, 2 Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, 3 Lapwing West, 25 Goldfinch, 3 Grey Heron, 120+ Herring Gull, Mistle Thrush (Stuart Fisher)
 * Kensal_Green_Cemetery: 1 G S Woodpecker, c12 long Tailed Tit with 3 Blue Tit and 1 Great Tit. 2 Chaffinch. 2 or 3 Moorhen displaced from the frozen canal and not much else (Charlie Farrell)
 * London Wetland Centre: Water Rail, Chiffchaff (1), Skylark (2+3) overhead south, Goldcrest (2), Snipe (M Bourne) also reported 3 Bittern, Pintail, Water Pipit, Siskin, Cetti's Warbler (LWC website) 1 Barnacle Goose 1001hrs briefly on man lake.10 Greylag Goose over at 1030hrs two hung about on the res lagoon, 3 Pintail (2 drakes) on the res lagoon, c85 Skylark over in several small parties n/e 15 skated on the ice briefly (main lagoon), 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Peregrine on the hospital, 1 (m) Sparrowhawk, 1 kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff. (N.Smith).
 * Oakwood Park, N14: 75+ Waxwing, 09:30 - 09:40 hrs (Robert Callf and several dog-walkers).
 * Rainham: 3 redhead Smew Aveley Bay at 14:30 then flew east and appeared to land near Visitor Centre but lost to view, Brambling, large numbers of Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting, Water Rail, Golden Plover, Grey Plover (D Bradnum, N Croft, J Lethbridge), Ring Ouzel still on Stone Barges approach road at 15:30 (N Croft)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 11 Waxwing in from NW and dropped into private garden just south of East Res; Bittern, twice around reedbed; 4 Water Rails (2 in combat); wildfowl including one freshly dead Gadwall; Bittern still mid p.m. watched playing cat and mouse with the local foxes from the roof of Lincoln Court; Lapwing on East Res ice; partially albinistic/leucistic adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (Mark Pearson & Amity Dunn)
 * Thames (Putney-Barnes Bridges) WeBS count:5 Mute Swan, 133 Canada Geese, 35 Greylag low over, pr Shelduck, 680 Mallard, 20 Gadwall, 419 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 409 Tufted Duck, f Pochard, 19 Cormorant, 9 Heron, 48 Coot, 34 Moorhen, 5 Snipe (3 on Chiswick Eyot), 2 Lapwing, c1300 Black-headed, 46 Common, 53 Herring, 22 Lesser BB + 4 Great BB Gull; also Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey + 2 Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (Neil Anderson)
 * Thames (between Woolwich Ferry and Thames Barrier): ad Mediterranean Gull (Des McKenzie).
 * Thorney Country Park: 40+ Shovelers, 2 Wigeon, 8 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 50+ Gadwall, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Crested Grebe, (Sue Giddens)
 * Totteridge Valley: 1 Woodcock; c30 Redwing; 15 Fieldfare; 1 Sparrowhawk; 1 Grey Wagtail (John Colmans)
 * Valentines Park, Ilford: 40 Siskin (London Birdwatching)
 * West Thurrock: 2 f Scaup, Pochard, 59 Avocet, (site, poss London record - anyone?,115 Blackwit, 1 Barwit, 5 Grey Plover, 25 Curlew, 220 Redshank, 850 Dunlin, GSWP, Sparrowhawk (D Bradnum, N Croft, J Lethbridge)
 * William Girling Res: Eider (Birdguides). 8 in total (probably 3 females and 5 1st year males - can be viewed from Mansfield Park). Also Egyptian Goose, 3 Goosander, Black-necked Grebes + redhead Smew and Redshank in flood relief channel (R Woodward & D Hutley).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Rock Pipit calling overhead, c8 Meadow Pipit, c145 Skylark including c70 in one flock briefly feeding on the snowy football pitches, 2 Linnet, c30 Redwing, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Jay, c100 Common Gull, c250 Black-headed Gull, c55 Herring Gull, c30 Lesser Black-back & 1 Great Black-back. (The Scrubbers)
 * Battersea Rise Cemetery: 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay - nowt much else (Michael Mac).
 * Bollinbroke Stock Pond: solo male Shoveler in 7 sq metre area of water, with Coot, Moorhen, Mallard and several Black-headed Gulls (Michael Mac).
 * Wandsworth Common Ponds: 4 m Shoveler, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese and other common waterbirds except for Tufted Duck - in tiny area of unfrozen water, 1 Sparrowhawk circling nearby (Michael Mac).
 * Nightingale Lane: 7 Woodpigeon flushed from the only bush containing berries on this road, so wonder if this was the place Waxwing seen yesterday? (Michael Mac).
 * Clapham Common: Mount Pond - 3 adult Common Gull, 1 1st Winter Common Gull, 1 Lesser black backed Gull, 18 Egyptian Geese, 3 Cormorant flew off, 3 R N Para's, pr Mute Swan, 30 Canada Geese, 42 grazing Grey-lag - including 2 hybrids. Eagle Pond: pr Shoveler, pr Egyptian Geese, 15 Canada Geese (Michael Mac).
 * Wanstead Flats: A brief sniff round the SSSI and west of Centre Road, 4 Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 9 Mute Swan, 3 Mallard, 2 Coot, 2 Skylark, Cormorant over (NC)
 * Claybury Park: Woodcock [landed on the path around 30-40 yards ahead of me and then calmly strolled into the undergrowth], up to 4 Lapwings [a one then a 3; only the second time I've ever seen them over Claybury], Treecreeper [v.gd views], at least 4 Goldcrests, Sparrowhawk [2 sightings, one with prey; presumably the same bird as a male in adjacent parts of the park], Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Jay, flock of Long-tailed Tits, Common Gull, up to 4 LBB Gulls, Cormorant, 2 Greenfinches (Alan Hobson).

Saturday 18 December

 * Alexandra Park: Green Sandpiper on flood just north of Conservation Pond briefly at 9:45 before flying towards tunnel at 9:50. Fifth Park record and first since 1985. Also 2 Water Rail on flood. WG Res completely iced up but Tunnel Res ice free. (Gareth Richards)
 * Brent Reservoir: Bittern showing very well in open from main hide, also female Goosander (Brent Birders)
 * Bromley (BR2): 6 Cormorant in River Ravensbourne Mill pond at 9.30am together with lots of Mallards, Moorhens, 6 Canada Geese, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grey Wagtail and 60+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Waxwing over Ravens Close at 11am (Barry Wooding).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Little Grebe, 1 Heron, 10 Mallard, 12 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Wren, 4 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 4 Starling, 2 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch. (Conrad Ellam).
 * Cheshunt: c 230+ Waxwing at dawn in trees along the A10, slowly drifting off in small flocks, 150 Waxwing then in trees opposite Co-op, down to around 50 late morning (J.murray & J murray Snr).
 * Clapham: 50 Waxwing on Nightingale Lane briefly this a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Clapham Common - Mount Pond: 2 Mute Swan - 1 adult, 1 still with grey plumage but not raised on this water, 12 Egyptian Geese, Greylag and Canada's too dark to see anything else (Michael Mac).
 * Crayford Marshes: Snow Bunting by Erith Yacht Club late a.m. Turnstone. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Epping Forest (Connaught Water): 1 Barnacle Goose, 2 f Pintail, 1 m Shoveler, 40 Teal, 17 Mandarin (Ian Woodward).
 * Hertford: 27 Waxwing on Tanner's Crescent 10:25 (Birdguides).
 * Horsenden Hill and Perivale Wood: 4+ Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Woodcock, several Sky Lark over, Sparrowhawk, brief view of a falcon -probably Peregrine (David Howdon & Andy Culshaw)
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (95% frozen water bodies): 27 vocal Waxwing showed well in trees on Buck Hill at 11:40 but flew toward The Magazine (may still be in the area); the first record since 7 birds on 30th January 1954; also 14 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 14 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Common Snipe, ad intermedius type Lesser Black backed Gull, at least 2 Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail (Des Mckenzie, Nick Tanner)
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Bittern, Woodcock, Brambling, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Jackdaw, 3 Water Rail, 2 Snipe, Fieldfare. (Shaun Harvey)
 * London Wetland Centre: 1 Golden Plover circled main lake, 13 Snipe, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1+ Skylark, 4 Bar-headed Goose and a Lesser Whitefronted Goose hybrid flew in during snow and then departed, 2 Water Rail, 2 Bittern (4 reported) 2 Peregrine, 2 Shelduck (Hugh Bradshaw)
 * Mayesbrook Park: 24 Waxwings flew low east at 08:45, 2 Little egret, 2 Grey Wagtail.(Paul Hawkins)
 * Mill Hill (NW7): c30 Waxwing as yesterday at Bunns Lane (NW7 2EX) - thanks to Andrew Haynes; mobile between the birch trees & a roadside berry tree in the snow from 1045 to 1115 before all off east (Marcus Hunt). Photo here.
 * Paddington Green: 6 Greylag Goose south, c35 Redwing south (moving p.m.), Peregrine Falcon north-east 14:30 plus another bird (male) pursuing a pigeon shortly after, 17 Long-tailed Tit (DMc, NT).
 * Rainham Marshes: 2 Little Gull west 13:20, Snow Bunting flew from cycle track toward tip mid-a.m., (Birdguides).Snow Bunting at 9.15am calling overhead, last seen going over Tip, also Brent Goose feeding on short grass by Stone Barges.(Dave Morrison and Paul Hawkins) One Ruff in Aveley Bay 13:00 (S. McAvoy)
 * Roding Valley Park: Woodcock, Grey Heron, up to 2 Redwings, up to 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, up to 5 Song Thrushes, flock of Long-tailed Tits, 8 Goldfinches, around 4 Common Gulls (Alan Hobson).
 * Ruislip: 5 Common Snipe, Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher on the River Pinn and 18 Fieldfare at Pinn Fields (Steve Pash).
 * St Margarets, Middlesex: Waxwing, lone bird checking out berry (and snow) covered exotic tree in private back garden, occupied by one Redwing and numerous Wood Pigeons (Angus Innes).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Red Kite in low from north, circled to the east and then returned north, 10:18 - 10:20 (thanks to Pete L for the heads-up), 2 Common Snipe, 3 Water Rails, wildfowl numbers up despite both res 95% frozen (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
 * Streatham: 150 Waxwing on Queensville Road before flying off; 30 at the junction of Thornton and Telford Avenues - nothing there at 2:40pm - Michael Mac (Birdguides).
 * Tooting Bec Common Lake: pr Mute Swan, 11 Shoveler (2 female), 4 Egyptian Geese, 1 Redwing, 1 Nuthatch in woods, no Waxwing (Michael Mac).
 * Wanstead Flats: 4 Reed Bunting (SSSI), 1 Coot (jub the rest have gone probably to Alex), 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark (east), 4 Redwing (north), 3 Fieldfare (n), Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush (JL), 2 Cormorant, 5 Gadwall, 27 Shoveler, hoards of Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Geese and gulls on a patch of water no bigger than a tennis court, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and others before the white-out and then not a lot (NC/J Lethbridge)
 * Wanstead Park:2 m Wigeon (R Roding), 6 Teal (Roding and 1 Reservoir Wood), 60 + Tufted Duck (including a flock of 18 trying to find water), c. 40 Gadwall, 34 + Pochard, c. 6+ Shoveler, 6 Little Grebe (2 on the Roding), 3 Snipe (Reservoir Wood's little drainage stream), Grey Heron, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Great and Green Woodpecker, Lesser Redpoll, 13 Siskin (NC/JL)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Woodcock, 1 Skylark & c11 Redwing post snowfall & pre-snow 2 Peregrines dogfighting overhead, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, c12 Redwing & c6 Meadow Pipit. (The Scrubbers)

Friday 17 December

 * Alexandra Park: Firecrest again this a.m. (Alan Gibson via Birdwatch office); Woodcock flew over Tunnel Res. at 3.25 p.m. (James Palmer).
 * Beddington SF: Short-eared Owl over a.m., Peregrine, 7 Snipe
 * Bedfords Park LNR: Firecrest, 8 Goldcrest, Woodcock, Little Owl, 8 Redwing (Colin Jupp).
 * Berwick Ponds: water rail, 2 great spotted woodpeckers, 1 green woodpecker, Marsh Harrier (male), Bittern flying west over reedbed,about 40ft high, 47 linnets, 3 siskin, 2 redwing (London Birdwatching)
 * Bromley: Waxwing in Queensmead Park opposite 29 Queensmead Road mid-a.m. (Birdguides). Finally caught up with these birds with 4 Waxwings in Ravens Close, off Glassmill Lane in the morning - but the larger flock continues to evade me (Martin Birch).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Jack Snipe, 26 Common Snipe, Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 37 Gadwall, c150 Teal (S Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Little Grebe, 2 Heron, 23 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 50+Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 10+Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Wren, 5 Robin, 20+Blackbird, 10+Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 5 Magpie, 1 Carrion Crow, 10+Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch.(Conrad Ellam)
 * Boxer's Lake, Enfield: 10(4 adult male, 1 immature male, 5 females) Shoveler; 14 Siskin, feeding in Alders (Robert Callf).
 * Cheshunt: c200 Waxwing in Hawthorns on the A10 between Church Road and the B198 this a.m. until 08:10 at least (David Callahan). 50-60 near Cadmore lane at 08.05, but only small groups after that (Roy Woodward).
 * Crayford Marshes: Avocet, 48 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Ringed Plover, 18 Grey Plover, 2 Rock Pipit, 5 Pintail, Water Rail (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crayford Marshes.1 Bearded Tit (male), L.B.Bexley bank of Cray by landfill area at 15.45. 3 Reed Bunting Dartford side. Wigeon near Erith Yacht Club. Redwings in two locations. Green Woodpecker by Darent industrial estate. Couple of large flocks of Chaffinches. (Chris Rose)
 * Grovelands Park, Southgate: 2 (male and female) Firecrest, feeding in Holly and Rhododendrons, 13:28 - 14:28 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * East India Dock Basin area: Pintail (f) (Bow Creek), Black Redstart, 430 Teal, 9 Redshank, Common Sandpiper. (Gary A James).
 * Hatfield: c60 Waxwing still at Hillfield mid-a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Hertford: c25 Waxwing still at Tanner's Crescent a.m.Waxwing Pics from Tanners Cres (Birdguides).
 * Hornchurch: 20 ish Waxwings near Hornchurch Tube Station going low west @2.50pm.(Dave Morrison)
 * Islington: 15+ Waxwing on Theberton Street early p.m. (Birdguides).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 38 Wigeon, 220 Teal, 92 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 5 Bittern , 59 Lapwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Siskin (LWC website, O Dewhurst).
 * Lower Bedfords Road (Romford): 2 Reed Bunting & 2 Meadow Pipit in setaside field adjacent to underground res., 2 male Bullfinch in hedge (Colin Jupp).
 * Mill Hill (NW7): c50 Waxwing in birch trees outside Farmhouse Court, Bunns Lane (NW7 2EX) in heavy snow at 12:15 (Andrew Haynes). Thanks Andrew - 8 Waxwing still in same trees at 3pm (Mike Johnson)
 * North Hillingdon 1 Waxwing along sliproad of A40 (G. Westley).
 * Osterley Park: 1 (f) Goosander very approchable, 23 Shoverler, 4 Tufted Duck all on the Middle lake. 1 drake Teal and 2 Common Snipe on the small lake. 1 Little Owl sitting in oak tree by the paddocks. A flock of 21 Goldfinch and 5 Siskin feeding together in Alders by the Middle Lake. 2 Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, 1 Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail in the paddocks, 1 Stock Dove. (N.Smith).
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Waxwings flew past RSPB visitor centre at 09:38, with 4 Waxwings in the woodland and then north at 10:35; also adult Caspian Gull on tip from 13.55 and second-winter briefly at c 14:25, plus 3 Yellow-legged Gulls on tip (and 2 on foreshore); and imm Marsh Harrier over the reserve, 14+ Pintail (including eight on the river), possible hybrid Eurasian Wigeon (with extensive green blaze behind eye), 15+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Eurasian Curlew, Yellowhammer over woodland, 9 Corn Buntings on the saltings (Dominic Mitchell, Luke Tiller); and Snow Bunting flew west over Silt Lagoons and appeared to land but could not be refound (Luke Tiller).
 * Roding Valley Park (snowing the whole time): 5 Song Thrushes, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldfinches, small flock of Long-tailed Tits, flock of just over a dozen Common Gulls, LBB Gull (Alan Hobson); nearby on Snakes Lane East: Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtails (Alan Hobson).
 * Rotherhithe: drake Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Pochard, 356 Tufted Duck Canada Water; 75 Cormorants Greenland Dock (record site count) (Richard Bonser).
 * Royal Albert Dock E16: Peregrine (London Birdwatching)
 * South Norwood CP: fem Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 4 Water Rail, 6 Common Gull, Goldcrest, 4 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 26 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, 6 Redwing over, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Jay, 2 Greenfinch, c30 Goldfinch (Croydon Birders).
 * St Mary's Church (Harrow on the Hill): 2 Nuthatch (Alex Massey)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Bittern in low from the south and into reedbed just after snowstorm, 1309 (Mark Pearson).
 * Streatham Hill: 20 Waxwing around the junction of Telford Avenue and Thornton Avenue a.m. (Birdguides). Flock was up to about 70 birds about 12.30am but flew off when the snow got heavy(Steve Woolfenden) ? can anyone confirm if these birds are still present 18/12 please? cheers
 * Uxbridge, Brunel University: 54 Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, Bullfinch and Kestrel in Bicentenary Garden (Steve Pash).
 * Waltham Abbey (church gardens): Raven south at 08.27, 53 Fieldfare and a few other thrushes feeding on fallen apples (Martin Shepherd).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: c20 Redwing, c5 Fieldfare, 1 Reed Bunting & c1,200 parakeets (The Scrubbers). 1 Kestrel, 3 G S Woodpecker, 2 Dunnock, c20 Redwing (over), 2 Mute Swan (over), 3 Greenfinch, small numbers of tits, parakeets and pigeons. 2 Common Gull on the football pitches, Pied Wagtail and Blackcap in Erconwald Street (Charlie Farrell)

Thursday 16 December

 * Beddington SF: 2 second-winter Caspian Gull but no sign of Iceland Gull (SBC).
 * Bexley Woods: 3 Waxwing on Old Bexley in park at south-west end of Parkhurst Road (Birdguides).
 * Brent Res: Bittern (seen twice in flight ~ 11.15 opposite main hide), 19+ Snipe (Roy Beddard & Thames 21 walkers).
 * Bromley: 45 Waxwings in trees on Queensmead Recreation Ground at 10am (Barry Wooding via Birdgudies).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Little Grebe (patch tick), 1 Heron, 30 Mallard, 9 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Robin, 20+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 2 Goldfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Cheshunt: 200 Waxwings opposite Co-op store just north of Church Lane roundabout. The flock built up on trees along adjacent stretch of A10 from 8am, when they reached about 100 ca 08.30 they flew off to the Co-op and started feeding on berries opposite store, gradually building up to 200+ (Quentin Given). Which Co-op store.? The one in the High St or the one in Church Lane? The Co-op in the High Street between Church Lane and Cadmore Lane - but they flock is mobile and frequently splits up so you are likely to see Waxwings anywhere in the area, eg. c130 at the Half Hide Lane allotments at 11.10, and several individuals and small groups around. c170 back at the High Street Coop at 11.50ish (Roy Woodward).
 * Crayford Marshes: 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Grey Plover, Little Owl, c1500 Dunlin, Little Egret, 7 Curlew, 17 Ringed Plover (Kev Jarvis).
 * Finsbury Park: 15 Waxwing just south of A103 / A503 crossroads off Mayton Street on Pakeman Street 12:10 (Birdguides).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: Little Egret (SBC).
 * Ingrebourne Valley, Berwick Ponds: 3 Cettis Warbler, 3 linnets, 8 long tailed tits, 3 green woodpeckers, 1 great spotted woodpecker, Water Rail (London Birdwatching)
 * Island Barn Res: ad Mediterranean Gull in pre-roost gathering (SBC).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 200+ Teal, 60+ Shoveler, 2 Bittern, second-winter Caspian Gull (LWC website / SBC).
 * Osterley Park: female Goosander 3pm on Main Lake (Les Mccallum).
 * Parklands, Havering: Parklands: Grey Heron, 24 ring neck parakeets, 2 great spotted woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 15 linnets & 28 lapwing, 35 black headed gulls, Firecrest, male brambling (London Birdwatching).
 * Queen Mary Res: 3 red-head Goosander a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Romford Golf Course: 2 Firecrests in tall scrub on northern boundary near A12 late afternoon. Also Sparrowhawk low over and 3 Mandarin over Heath Drive (on W side) at dusk (Colin Jupp).
 * Royal Albert Dock E16: Peregrine (London Birdwatching)
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 15m 11f Shoveler, 1m 1f Pochard, c30 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 6 Redwing (over), 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c30 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Jay (John Watson).
 * St. Alban's: 40 Waxwing in trees around Jersey Farm shopping precinct p.m. (Birdguides).
 * Sunbury: 6 Waxwings still in trading estate next to Tescos but mobile (Tony Sweetland).
 * Wanstead Flats: Woodcock, Snipe (flushed from the same patch of ground in the SSSI just north of the fairground), 7 Skylark (fairground), 4m Pochard (2 jub/2 Alex), 20 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 4 Greylag Goose, 2 Heron, 6 Redwing (south-east), Song Thrush, 10 + Mistle Thrush, 2 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 40 + Jackdaw, L Redpoll, 7 + Goldfinch, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest (NC).
 * Wanstead Park: Water Rail (top end of Perch), pr Wigeon (maybe 2 pairs - 1 R. River Roding, 2nd pair ornamental waters), 57 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 27+ Pochard, 42 Tufted Duck (including one caught by fishing line on the ornamental waters, reported to the City Corp. - a dead duck I fear), 4 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Linnet (Old Sewage Works), Siskin, L Redpoll, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Kestrel, 2 Cormorants fighting over eels on the ornamental waters. 1 eel escaped while the one Cormorant probably wished it hadn't tried swallowing the other. It looked eye-wateringly uncomfortable as it tried to get the wretched eel down its throat (NC).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup, 5 Goosander (SBC).
 * Watford: 130+ Waxwing in St. John's Road opposite the Escort Arms Public House plus 26 at Bushey Arches retail park by B&Q but mobile (Birdguides); still 130 in St. John's Road area late a.m. but very mobile (Birdguides).

Wednesday 15 December

 * Alexandra Park: Woodcock (Cricket Scrub), 2 drake Shoveler, Snipe (over Wood Green Res), Goldcrest, Blackcap (h), Water Rail (Conservation Pond) (David Callahan).
 * Beddington SF: juv Iceland Gull mid-p.m. (Birdguides).
 * Belmont: 27 Waxwing still at Chiddingstone Close (David Campbell).
 * Brent Reservoir: Cetti's Warbler in front of main hide 07:40 (Andrew Haynes). Immature Peregrine hunting opposite main hide East Marsh 1450-1520 at least but no sign Bittern (Bob Watts).
 * Bromley BR2: 6 Cormorant in Ravensbourne Mill Pond and surrounding trees at 10am - no sign of yesterdays Waxwings (Barry Wooding).
 * Cassiobury Park: 7 Waxwing east 08:10 (Birdguides).
 * Cheshunt: still 170+ Waxwing along Great Cambridge Road nr Church Lane photos (Birdguides).
 * Claybury Park: 2 Bullfinch, 3 Goldcrest, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker (London Birdwatching) Snipe, Coal Tit, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jay, Redwing, Common Gull, 5 Fieldfares (Alan Hobson).
 * Crayford Marshes: Lapland Bunting north-east calling. 2 Bearded Tit calling from reedbed near Erith Yacht Club, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, 4 Green Sandpiper, male Yellowhammer, Common Sandpiper, Water Rail, 13 Grey Plover, Little Owl, 4 Pintail, fem Peregrine (Kev Jarvis).
 * Finsbury Park: Mistle Thrush in full song (Ian Bradshaw).
 * Grays: Grey Phalarope still c500m west of The Wharf public house at c9am but soon disappeared; also 2 Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, 60+ Redshank, 4 Turnstone (David Darrell-Lambert); 12 Common Eider on the Thames, phalarope reappeared at 11:20 (and still present 12:05 and just before dusk 15:30 when it flew out into the middle of the River and settled - NC/ST/TJ), plus 1 Eurasian Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 94 Dunlin and c80 Redshank (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Hatfield: c50 Waxwing at Hillfield 12:10 (Birdguides).
 * Hampstead Heath: flock of c50 Siskin in trees near Stock Pond (CB).
 * Hertford: 27 Waxwing in trees along Tanner's Crescent 08:20 (Birdguides).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: 2 red-head Smew (SBC).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 81 Mute Swan, 13 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 93 Common Gull, Tawny Owl showed well, fem Peregrine Falcon north-east (probably a bird of the year but light not good), 3 Pied Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
 * Larkhall Park: 70 Starling feeding on the grass, handful of Black-headed Gulls - highest count I've seen in last couple of years at least (Michael Mac).
 * Lea Valley Country Park: Pair of Smew on Friday Lake; Male Smew on Seventy Acre Lake just north of Bittern Hide; Two Bitterns from hide at 14-30 (David Bradshaw).
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 51 Wigeon, 221 Teal, 5 Pintail, 71 Shoveler, Peregrine Falcon, 10 Common Snipe (LWC website).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 3 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mill Hill (NW7): c100 Waxwing mid-morning in trees either side of Grahame Park Way, viewable from footbridge over M1. (Roy Beddard via AH).
 * Osterley Park: 1 (f) Goosander still on the middle lake, 1 drake Teal on the small lake. 5 Goldcrest, 3 Gr Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Coal Tit, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 (m) Kestrel (N. Smith).
 * Rainham Marshes: Waxwing briefly in Car Park 09:30 (Birdguides).
 * South Norwood CP: 2 Pheasant, 4 Water Rail, 18+ Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 27m 14f Shoveler, 2f 1m Pochard, c20 Tufted Duck, c70 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Redwing, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c12 Long-tailed Titt, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 Greenfinch, 20+ Goldfinch, 3 Jay (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * St Albans: at least 2 Waxwing in the Jersey Farm / Woodland Park area (Birdguides).
 * Sunbury: 10 Waxwing late morning at trading estate next to Tesco (KLP)
 * Valentines Park: Mediterranean Gull, 2 Redwing, Siskin flock (London Birdwatching)
 * Walton Res: no sign of Red-breasted or Barnacle Geese, first-winter m Scaup (SBC).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: No sign of the juv Shag at 10:30-11:45, but numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, hundreds of Tufties, 10 + Little Grebe, 10 + Great Crested Grebe, Sparrowhawk (NC/ST)
 * Wanstead Flats: 8 Shoveler (7m), pr Gadwall, 2m Pochard, 5+ Tufted Duck, 4 Greylag Goose, Heron, 3 Redwing (w), Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Snipe (broom fields), L. Redpoll, 7 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin (Steve Thorpe), Sparrowhawk (ST), 3 Meadow Pipit (Capel Point) (NC/ST)
 * Wanstead Park: Water Rail (top end of Perch), Goldcrest, 40 + Siskin, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Heron (NC/ST)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: ad-wint Mediterranean Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit, c8 Redwing and a couple of Chaffinch (The Scrubbers).

Tuesday 14 December

 * Alexandra Park: Water Rail (Conservation Pond) (David Callahan).
 * Belmont: c.30 Waxwings at Chiddingstone Close at 1.15pm, showing well. c.60 reported earlier on by resident (David Campbell).
 * Brent Reservoir: Bittern in east marsh viewable from main hide at 11.45, appeared without warning at reed edges right of willow island, then walked along edges into the channel, followed by a Crow; also 31 Snipe (Roy Beddard, Leo Batten, Pete Lowman, Andrew Verrall).
 * Bromley: 5 Cormorants feeding in the Ravensbourne at the bottom of Churchill Gardens nr Bromley Town center at 7.45am. Not seen here before (Observer?).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Heron, 13 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 20+Black-headed Gull, 15+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 30+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 3 Starling, 2 Jay, 8 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 10+Goldfinch, 4 Greenfich, 10+ Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Cowley (Uxbridge): at least 10 Blackcaps (7 males) in the garden this morning. Usually I only get one or two each winter and not until late December, at the earliest. They started arriving before the cold weather and are feeding on berries that have usually been consumed by the end of October (Roger Morton).
 * Cheshunt: 200 Waxwing opposite the Co-op (Birdguides); again flew north-east to roost just before 15.30. The berries here will only last for a couple more days (Roy Woodward). Which Co-op?? There are two..Church Lane or High Street..and where in relation to the store?..Thanks.
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, 18 Grey Plover, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 3 Rock Pipit, 3 Goldcrest, 17 Ringed Plover, 8 Curlew (Kev Jarvis).
 * Epping Town Centre: 35 Waxwing (ELBF).
 * Gidea Park Sports Ground: 4 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail over (CRJ)
 * Grays: Grey Phalarope still on the foreshore opposite the marina, 300m east of the Wharf pub (Birdguides); no sign at 12:20 (Birdguides); Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon (ELBF).
 * Hertford: 19 Waxwing in tall trees behind 24 Tanner's Crescent 11:20 (Birdguides).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: fouth-winter argentatus-type Herring Gull, Tawny Owl showing well, fem Blackcap, 2 Lesser Redpoll; also colour-tagged Mute Swan (fluorescent pink on right 0691), 17 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, 200+ Coot, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 20+ Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
 * Lee Valley CP: pair of Smew on Friday Lake also pair of Goldeneye present (J Anderson & J Anderson snr); Seventy Acres Lake: 2 Egyptian Goose, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Bittern, Water Rail, Common Snipe, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest (ELBF).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 242+ Teal, 7 Pintail, 200+ Tufted Duck, Peregrine Falcon, 42 Lapwing, Jack Snipe, 2 Meadow Pipit, 11 Siskin (LWC website).
 * Mardyke (Stifford-Davy Down): 28 Canada Goose, 3 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 25 Mallard, Little Grebe, m Kestrel, 2 Moorhen, Water Rail, 4 Stock Dove, 140 Woodpigeon, 30 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Wren, Goldcrest, 16 Long-tailed Tit, 28 Blue Tit, 14 Great Tit, 36 Jackdaw, 12 Goldfinch (ELBF).
 * Mill Hill: 76 Waxwing by 15-19 Grahame Park Way (Steve Blake).
 * Mitcham / Streatham: 30 Waxwing on Longthornton Road (SBC).
 * Nine Elms (Sainsbury's car park): female Sparrowhawk flew in low and circled to pin size toward south- east direction 13:00 (Michael Mac).
 * Osterley Park: 1 (f) Goosander, 16 Shoveler on the middle lake and 1 Common Snipe feeding at waters edge, 16 Siskin and 17 Goldfinch in Alders around lake, a pair of Gadwall on the small lake, 1 Little owl, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mistle Thrush (N.Smith).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 23 Fieldfare, Jackdaw & 3 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Purley: 6 Waxwing in private garden (SBC).
 * Queensmead Recreation Ground (Bromley BR2): 50+ Waxwings in trees, 2 Gt Spotted woodpeckers, 5 Cormorants high in tree nearby (Barry Wooding).
 * Redhill: 19 Waxwing by the railway by Euro Car Parts on Holmethorpe Industrial Estate; park at Water Colours housing estate, off Nutfield Road, South Merstham and walk past Water Colour Lagoons to railway line, under bridge and stand at the end of the path to view. Do not park on the industrial estate (Birdguides).
 * Rickmansworth: 15 Waxwing at Mill End at the Shepherd's Lane / Chiltern Drive junction (Birdguides); 21 Waxwing now at junc. Chiltern Drive and Shepherd's Lane, Mill End 13.00 (J. Edwards, C. Besant).
 * Roding Valley Park: 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Song Thrushes, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Common Gull, Cormorant (Alan Hobson).
 * Royal Albert Dock: Great Crested Grebe (ELBF).
 * Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve: Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe (Birdguides).
 * Snaresbrook (primary school): 8 Waxwing again this morning (London Birdwatching).
 * South Norwood CP: Pheasant, 3 Water Rail, Common Snipe, 5 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 5 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 17m 11f Shoveler, 2f 1m Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, c150 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, c15 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Buzzard 1153-1205 low overhead (first Dec record - now recorded in all months of the year); odd 'Yellow-legged' Gull, photos to follow; 3 Water Rails, plus the usuals; Jack Snipe east between tower blocks at c10 metres height 12:30 (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
 * Sunbury: 9 Waxwing still in the trading estate next to Tescos (Tony Sweetland).
 * Sutton: 50 Waxwing in Cheam by the junction of Sommerville Avenue and Cheam Road (Birdguides).
 * Walthamstow Filter Beds: Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Grey Wagtails (D Barrett).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: first-winter Shag still on East Warwick reservoir from the hide 9.05 (Birdguides); still present at 11am, viewed from hide (David Callahan, Dominic Mitchell).
 * Walton Res: Red-breasted Goose with 40 Barnacle Goose mid-a.m., first-winter m Scaup (SBC).
 * Wanstead Flats: 14 Shoveler (5m), 2m Pochard, pr Gadwall, m Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 10 Greylag Goose (all Alex), 2 Reed Bunting (SSSI), 2 Linnet, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark (Jub), Fieldfare, Heron, 2 Cormorant, 2 Goldcrest, House Sparrow (groups at Capel Pt., Jub, north of SSSI), Kestrel (first for over a month) (NC).
 * Wanstead Park: pr Wigeon (R Roding), Teal (male SoM, 2 females still in the Dell), 45 Tufted Duck, 44 Pochard, 69 Gadwall, 2 Egyptian Goose, 9 Shoveler, 6 Little Grebe, 4 Heron, Siskin (flocks of 10+ and 20+), Redwing, 2 Coal Tit, 6 + Goldcrest, Skylark (over north) et les autres (NC).
 * Woodlands Farm: 4 Moorhen, 4 Common Snipe flushed from middle of Old Coals field, 12+ Red Poll in bushes on greenwaste site, 1 Meadow Pipet in Old Coals field.

Monday 13 December

 * Alexandra Park: Water Rail (conservation pond) plus Aythya hybrid still present on tunnel reservoir (David Callahan).
 * Banstead Downs Golf Course: 2 Firecrests along wooded footpath at west side by post 1, access from Burdon Lane (David Campbell).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 30 Redpolls in birches near Damselfly Pond, flushed by male Sparrowhawk (3 Mealy Redpolls here on 9/12). Also Brambling over, Siskin, several Goldcrests, 2 Redwing, Song Thrush, 35 Long-tailed Tit (3 flocks), 3 Dunnock under feeders near Visitor Centre (Colin Jupp, Roy & Marion Wyatt).
 * Belhus Woods CP: 47 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 29 Shoveler, 30 Lapwing, 9 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, Marsh Tit, 26 Siskin, 2 Linnet, 53 Lesser Redpoll (ELBF).
 * Bexleyheath: 14 Waxwing in park at the end of Parkhurst Gardens mid-a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Biggin Hill: 30 Waxwing in large conifer by main road opposite Barclays Bank (Birdguides).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 13 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 1 Snipe, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 15+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Wren, 6 Robin, 20+ Blackbird, 20+ Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Starling, 4 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 10+Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 10+ Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Cheshunt: Waxwings - large mobile flock of between 50 to 60 birds, centred around Cheshunt High Street/Church Lane junction. Often congregating in tall bare tree 100metres behind Co-Op Supermarket. (Mike Oakland); 99 birds at 15.00 hrs - flew NE to roost at 15.29 (17 yesterday flew NE to roost at 15.26)(Roy Woodward).
 * Crayford Marshes: 2 Bearded Tit in reedbed near landfill site, Coal Tit, 2 Yellowhammer, Little Owl, 6 Pintail, 5 Grey Plover, Green Sandpiper, 15 Ringed Plover (Kev Jarvis).
 * Croydon: c20 Waxwing at Forestdale, over Kent Gate Way by Gravel Hill Roundabout (roughly opposite BP garage) 08:25 (Birdguides).
 * Dartford: 30 Waxwings at Leigh Technology College (Chris Wilkinson).
 * Epping Town Centre: 13 Waxwing (ELBF).
 * Ewell: 20 Waxwing in tree next to A24 Ewell Bypass at the crossroads with London Road (Neil Randon).
 * Fairlop Waters: m Merlin hunting, pr Teal, 25 Gadwall, m Shoveler, 10 Pochard, c10 Tufted Duck, Cormorant, c50 Common Gull, c20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 100s of Black-headed Gulls, 20 Herring Gull, 8 Little Grebe, Greylag Goose, 220 Lapwing, 17 Golden Plover, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30+ Redwing, 30+ Fieldfare, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit (2 parties), Goldcrest, 27 Goldfinch (London Birdwatching).
 * Gabriel's Wharf (SE1): 40+ House Sparrows in public garden next to this place, very noisey and very well hidden in bushes (Michael Mac).
 * Grays (The Wharf PH): Grey Phalarope (ELBF).
 * Grovelands Park (Southgate): 4 Stock Dove including a singing male; 1 male Kingfisher, perched; 3 (2m,1f) Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 female Firecrest feeding in Holly 12:17-12:20 and 13:22-13:25 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Hatch End: Little Egret over station (Birdguides).
 * Hatfield: 50+ Waxwing at Longmead / Hillfield Junction (Birdguides).
 * Hertford: 6 Waxwing in Tanner's Crescent this a.m. (Birdguides).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (water still mainly frozen over): Firecrest in Alders nr Ranger's Lodge 11:30 (almost certainly the same bird as that in the Hudson Memorial area on 25/11 and 03/12); also 12 Egyptian Goose, 3 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, ad-type Great Black-backed Gull west, m Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, Redwing, 9 Mistle Thrush, 2 Coal Tit, c40 Great Tit, 2 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, c200 Starling, 10+ Goldfinch in Alders (Des McKenzie).
 * Lambeth Bridge: possible Shag (very small cormorant type bird with black face flying and perched round this area mid-day (Michael Mac).
 * London Wetland Centre: 45 Greylag Goose, 35 Wigeon, 230+ Teal, Pintail, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Bittern, 4 Common Snipe, Water Pipit, Cetti's Warbler (LWC website / Birdguides).
 * Margravine Cemetery: pr Great Spotted Woodpecker (feeding together), 3 Jay, 3 Redwing, numerous Blackbird, c40 Woodpigeon (1 missing tail, most odd looking in flight), pr Peregrine Falcon (separately) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mill Hill NW7: 40+ Waxwing at Pentavia Retail Park (A1/A41 north of Fiveways junction) at 14:50 (Steve Blake).
 * Oakwood Park (N14): 6 Lesser Redpoll, including two males, feeding in Birch 14:00 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Osterley Park: 1 (f) Goosander on the middle lake, 4 Egyptian Goose, 1 Little Owl, 1 (f) Sparrowhawk, 1 (m) Kestrel, 6 Goldcrest, 2+ Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Siskin over, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail. (N.Smith).
 * Queen Elizabeth II Res: ad Mediterranean Gull in roost (SBC).
 * Rainham Marshes: fem Marsh Harrier, first-winter Ring Ouzel, Bearded Tit (ELBF).
 * Snaresbrook, Primary School: 5 Waxwing again this morning (London Birdwatching)
 * South Norwood CP: Water Rail, 5 Snipe and Skylark in wet meadow, 4 Fieldfare, 10+ Redwing, Sparrowhawk chasing Blackbird, Goldcrest and 5 Common Gull (Steven Robinson).
 * South Woodford: Waxwing in private garden (London Birdwatching)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Snipe, ad Great Black-backed Gull, Chiffchaff, plus the usuals (MJP)
 * Sunbury: 9 Waxwing briefly in trading estate by Tescos until 16:00 then flew towards M3 (Tony Sweetland).
 * Sutton: Waxwing south west over Hulverstone Close at 8.09am (David Campbell).
 * Tate Modern (Bankside): 1 Peregrine Falcon on tower, 1 Great Black-backed Gull (in the river) - 10:30am on way back from hospital (Michael Mac).
 * Teddington: 38 Waxwing beside railway 200yds north of High Street railway bridge 12.45 (Roger Unite).
 * Thorpe Park: 2 Smew (m and red-head) on Manor Lake (SBC).
 * Tooting: 3 Waxwing south over Abbotsbury Road (Birdguides).
 * Vauxhall BT: 1 Peregrine Falcon at 8:55am (Michael Mac).
 * Waltham Cross: c50 Waxwings at c13.30 (D Hutley via R Woodward).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: juv Shag on East Warwick at 15.30 around tern raft/island. Also 12 Lapwing, Common Snipe & 2 f Goldeneye on Lockwood (L Bodini).
 * Walton Res: Shelduck, first-winter m Scaup, m Smew, Curlew (SBC).
 * Wanstead Flats: 6 Reed Bunting (SSSI), 11 + Goldfinch, Snipe (Jub), 3 Meadow Pipit (by Capel pt foraging on the verges), 11 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, SKylark, 6 Mistle Thrush (1 singing), Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk (NC)
 * Wanstead Park: Water Rail (perch), 45 + Tufted Duck, 54 + Gadwall, 30 + Pochard, 6 Shoveler, 5 Teal (3 River Roding, 2 the Dell), 5 Little Grebe, 30 + Siskin (west of Perch in alders), 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Heron (NC)

Sunday 12 December

 * Bedfords Park LNR: 2 Firecrest & 6 Goldcrest in EWT car park and Bridleway / Nursery area late afternoon (Colin Jupp, John Millar).
 * Bexley Village: 50 Waxwing until 3:30pm when they flew south in general direction of Joydens Wood. Originally reported on pager. Thanks to J Archer for text (AW).
 * Brent Reservoir: 30+ Common Snipe, 4 Water Rail, male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, 4 Siskins on alders (Roy Beddard + RSPB walk).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 12 Snipe, c150 Teal, 20+ Gadwall, female Shoveler, 2 Water Rail, Reed Bunting, 14 Chaffinch, Skylark (on the deck at 3 Mills Mud before heading north west), 14 Cormorant, 45 Coot, Little Grebe 2 Stock Dove, Chiffchaff, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Redwings and the usual dark matter (Stuart Fisher)
 * Canon's Farm: 1+ Waxwing clearly heard 3-4 times amongst flushed Starlings and thrushes near Lunch Wood at 9.24am; all birds scattered and bird not relocated - probably involved in the 6 seen nearby at Epsom (David Campbell).
 * Chafford Hundred: 12 Waxwing in Rushdon Close (ELBF).
 * Claybury Park: Woodcock, Little Egret, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Gull, 3 Jays, 3 Stock Doves, flock of Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, 5 Fieldfares, 2 Song Thrushes (Alan Hobson).
 * Connaught Water: many Mandarin, Shovler, Teal, Pochard (London Birdwatching).
 * Crayford Marshes: 2 Turnstone, Avocet, 2 Little Owl, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 Rock Pipit, 6 Grey Plover, 4 Pintail, 6 Curlew (Kev Jarvis); Merlin flew over landfill site at 12.20 (Conrad Ellam).
 * Dartford Marshes: Marsh Harrier (female) south of University Way 14.00 (Conrad Ellam).
 * East India Dock Basin area: Black Redstart, Blackcap, 3 Great Crested Grebes (2 on dock), 390 Teal, 4 Redshank, 2 Reed Buntings (Gary A James); 6 Shelduck, c430 Teal (personal best count), 2 Chiffchaff (Nick Tanner).
 * Epsom: 6 Waxwings along Tattenham Way, c.200 yards from junction with A217 (R.B.A.).
 * Fairlop Waters CP: f Goosander still (London Birdwatching).
 * Grays (The Wharf PH): Grey Phalarope 15:30 (ELBF).
 * Greenwich Park: 7 Fieldfare, 1 Meadow Pipit, 10 Nuthatch (in a single group), 15 Goldcrest (James Lowen).
 * Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Grounds: 26 species; regulars including c6 Black-Headed Gull, 4 Common Gull (on fields), Herring Gull, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker interacted with a GS Woodpecker, Coal Tit (heard), 3 male House Sparrow, c20 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (not regular for site) 1240-1350 (Marcus Hunt).
 * Hampstead Heath: 2 House Sparrows (patch tick for me! - Chris Bird).
 * Hatch End (New River Pinn): 1 Little Egret in trees along the River Pinn, 1 Green Woodpecker & several Siskin in the Alders (JR).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: 10 Waxwing but elusive (SBC).
 * Ingatestone Gardens Centre: 50 Waxwing (ELBF).
 * Lea Valley Park (Fishers Green Bittern Info Centre): 2 Bittern comprising 1 at 10.30 for 15 minutes, another at 12.00 (a third reported as flying over to reeds at back earlier); also 20+ Siskin, 2 Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal (Nigel May); male Smew on Friday Lake (Geoff Crabtree); 2 Goldeneye near Teal Hide (Mike Benyon).
 * London Wetland Centre: 36 Wigeon, 330+ Teal, 50 Shoveler, Bittern, 14 Common Snipe, 350+ Black-headed Gull, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff (LWC website).
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir (very quiet on the water, with plenty of ice still): mostly just Black-headed Gulls and Grey Herons on and around the water; large mixed tit flock but no crests again; not much else (Rich Petley).
 * Loughton: 75 Waxwing on main road by Loughton Golf Course this afternoon (Birdguides).
 * Margravine Cemetery (8am): groups (c15+2+8) of thrushes flyover N, 6+ Redwing (1 calling), 1 Fieldfare, 3+ singing Robin, Blackbirds everywhere (13 in one ground sweep, at least as many in bushes and other parts), the 1 Starling roosting in a tree singing at its hole (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mill Hill (NW7), Bunns Lane: 1 Waxwing 12:15 (garden tick - seen through my bedroom window while ill in bed and feeling sorry for myself!) (Andrew Haynes).
 * Osterley Park: 1 (f) Goosander, 2 Little Grebe, 22 Shoveler all on the middle lake, also a Common Snipe on the island. 1 Gadwall on the small lake, 1 Little Owl, 4 Siskin, 6 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3+ Stock Dove (N.Smith).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 5 Fieldfare, 18 Jackdaw, 12 Greenfinch & 6 Grey Heron (JR).
 * Rainham Marshes: 600 Wigeon, 7 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, fem Marsh Harrier, fem Peregrine Falcon, Avocet, 3 Grey Plover, 5 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 sub-ad Caspian Gull, 16 Ring-necked Parakeet, 55 Redwing, Chiffchaff, 4 Bearded Tit, Brambling (ELBF).
 * Rainham Stone Barges: pair of Yellowhammer along approach rd (Paul Hawkins).
 * Richmond Park: 6 Egyptian Geese, 50+ Mandarin, 11 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 10 Pochard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, f Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (surprisingly not a single Great Spot in over 4 hours!), 8 Green Woodpecker, 8 Redwing + 1 Fieldfare E, m Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest, 15 Siskin, 4 Lesser Redpoll + amazingly 2 Pipistrelle sp flying just after midday (Neil Anderson). Neil - whereabouts was the LSW? Will try for one this week if I can (Rich Petley). Rich- she was in Ham Cross Plantation- have seen a pair here before.
 * Roding Valley Park: Grey Heron, 5 Jays, flock of Long-tailed Tits, 5 Common Gulls (Alan Hobson).
 * South Norwood CP: 2 Kestrel, 2 m Pheasant, 4 Water Rail, 3 Common Snipe, 11 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 2 Grey Wagtail, 5 Fieldfare, 25+ Redwing, Goldcrest, 5 Siskin, 20+ Linnet (Croydon Birders).
 * Stanwell Moor: 6 Goosander, Jack Snipe (SBC).
 * Teddington: 38 Waxwing commuting between Blackmores Grove and Field Lane midday (Roger Unite)
 * Valentines Park (Ilford): Mediterranean Gull, 4 Egyptian Geese, 13 Pochard, 2 Goldcrest (LondonBirdwatching).
 * Waltham Cross (round-about E of town centre): 11 Waxwing (Nigel May).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (just before dusk): juvenile Shag on West Warwick then appeared to go to roost on tern raft on East Warwick, plus two probable immature Scaup on West Warwick with Tufted Ducks (news from Pete Lambert).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup, Velvet Scoter still (SBC).
 * Waterworks NR: Bittern seen briefly out on the ice, in first reedbed on the right, the bird then flew in the direction of Walthamstow Res' only to return to the reserve again. Seen flying once more at 11.33 out over River Lea and into Hackney boundries then returning to Waterworks (Jamie Partridge, Richard, David, Zack et al) appologies for lack of surnames.
 * Wimbledon Common: Jack Snipe (Dave Wills).
 * Wyvil Estate (Inner London): 2+ Common Gull scavenging with Black-headed gulls while I was waiting for a bus (Michael Mac).

Saturday 11 December

 * Watford: 23 Waxwing north over Cardiff Road private gardens 08:20, Siskin over (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Barking A13: Little Egret over (London Birdwatching)
 * Brent Reservoir: 3 Siskin over (Andrew Self)
 * Broadwater Lake: 2 Egyptian Geese, 8 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 1 Grey Wagtail, 70+ Siskin, 3 Bullfinch & 5 Chiffchaff (Simon Buckingham).
 * Chiswick Eyot: 1 Sparrowhawk being mobbed by 12 Goldfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 GBB Gull and the usuals. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * Creekmouth: Waxwing (birdguides)
 * Crossness: Bearded Tit (birdguides)
 * East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 16 Shelduck, c370 Teal, female Pintail (my first record since January 22nd 2006), 2 Little Grebe, 3 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit west, 1st-winter type Black Redstart, 2 Redwing, Chiffchaff (Nick Tanner).
 * Fulham Reach (8am-tide going down): 100 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 31 Mallard, 26 Tufted Duck (being the ones staying predominantly in the middle of the Thames they kept on being disturbed by the boats), 1f Pochard, 120+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull,1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 1 Cormorant, 2 Moorhen, 2 Coots, 1 Grey Heron, 1 juv Mute Swan, 2 Dunnock, ? House Sparrow in bush by Crabtree Wharf + 10+ at nests in side streets + 8+ at nests/bushes in Abbey Gardens + 10 in a tree off Margravine Rd (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Greenwich Ecology Park: 1 Snipe, 3rd-w Yellow-legged Gull on Thames off yacht club (James Lowen) Also Meadow Pipit over, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaffs nearby along Thames path, Siskins (heard over and seen in Ecology Park), Teal on River, 3 Lapwing on foreshore (Joe Beale, John Bushel, Conrad Ellam, Yu-Hsuan Lin)
 * Horsenden Hill and Perivale Wood: Sky Lark, Little Owl, Teal, Firecrest (Andy Culshaw and David Howdon)
 * Ilford: Sparrowhawk attempting to take out a Great Spotted Woodpecker (London Birdwatching)
 * Margravine Cemetary: 15 Redwing, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (female), 1 Peregrine, Greenfinch, Long Tailed Tits (M Ruscoe) pr Peregrine Falcon (female most of day, male at times) (Nathalie Mahieu)
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Golden Plover in fields, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Jackdaw & 11 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: 2 Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Curlew, pr Stonechat, Water Rail, Skylark, 2f Reed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 Shelduck, 3m Pintail, pr Bearded Tits, Yellow Legged Gull, Avocet, Grey Plover, Redshank (London Birdwatching)
 * Rickmansworth: 6 Waxwing in the garden for 10 minutes at 10.05am, then flew off south (Andrew Moon)
 * Roding Valley Park: Snipe, Jay, 2 Mute Swans, 20 Common Gulls (Alan Hobson).
 * Ruislip Lido/Woods:drake Smew, 116 Mute Swan, 95 Canada Geese, 137 Mallard, f Teal, 57 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 28 Tufted Duck, Little Egret (along stream on golf course), c450 Coot, 43 Moorhen, Sparrowhawk, c310 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, Grey + 6 Pied Wagtail, 7 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, 3 Goldcrest, 8 Jackdaw, c30 Siskin (Neil Anderson)
 * Roding Valley Park: Snipe, 20 Common Gull, Long Tailed Tits, Jay (London Birdwatching)
 * Valentines Park, Ilford: 20 Siskin with the Goldfinch flock in the alder corridor (London Birdwatching)
 * Waltham Cross - round-a-bout E of town centre (Eleanor Cross Road): 4 Waxwing at 13.35hr (Nigel May) shortly flushed thereafter, then 24 Waxwing south over KFC heading south. J.Murray & C.freddi.
 * Wanstead, my garden: Teal over ENE (JL)
 * Wanstead Flats: 5 Pochard (jub), 9 Tufted Duck (2 jub, 7 Alex), 9 Shoveler, 5 Greylag Goose (west), Barnacle Goose (really wary allowed me to within 2 feet, which I think is the norm), Yellow-Legged Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 20 + Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Snipe (SSSI), 7 Skylark (east), Collared Dove, 9 Stock Dove (north), Goldcrest etc. (46sp NC)
 * Wanstead Park: 2 Water Rail (Ornamental Waters - Tim Harris, 1 Perch), 44 Pochard, 34 Tufted Duck, 9 Shoveler, 54 Gadwall, 4 Teal (including JL's garden tick), 2 Egyptian Goose, 7 Little Grebe, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 28 + Siskin, 15-20 Redwing (north), Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, 4 Grey Heron, Coal Tit, 10 + Goldcrest, Chiffchaff (46 sp [57 sp in total] TH/NC).
 * Woodford Station: Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Greenfinch (Alan Hobson).
 * Teddington: 22 Waxwing at 3.15pm in Blackmores Grove. Flew off at 3.30 but undoubtedly still in area. (Roger Unite)
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Bittern, Little Egret, 23 Wigeon, 80+ Siskin, Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Buzzard, Red Kite. (Steve B)
 * Lee Valley C P :1 Bittern and Water Rail at 70 Acres Lake bittern watchpoint, 2 drake Smews and 4 Goldeneyes (3drakes) at Friday Lake, 16 Egyptian Geese on Goose Fields with other "plastic" waterfowl and at least 2 Cettis Warblers calling/singing (Ian Bradshaw)
 * WWT LWC: 3 Bittern visible late am, Main Lake - 1 north side, 1 south side, 1 Sheltered Lagoon. 5 sighted on Friday (Angus Innes).

Friday 10 December

 * Bonnetts Wood (Upminster): 2 Woodcock, 3 Snipe, Kingfisher, 14 Linnets, 18 Redwing, 16 Fieldfare (London Birdwatching)
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 2 Jack Snipe, 15 Common Snipe (Abbey Creek), 2 Common Sandpiper (3 Mills), 28 Moorhen, 56 Coot, 300+ Black-headed Gull (several feeding on mud during work to create new Green), 8 Common Gull, 200+ Mallard, 120+ Teal, 36 Gadwall, female Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, 12 Long-tailed Tit and the usual weird things (S Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Heron, 21 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 8 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 2 Snipe, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 6 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 8 Robin, 30+ Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, 6 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 6 Great Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 5 Starling, 2 Jay, 6 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 20+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 10+ Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Crayford Marshes: m Dartford Warbler flew from scrub and along creek a.m. 2 Bearded Tit pair in reed bed near landfill site, Avocet, Turnstone, 4 Green Sandpiper, 8 Pintail, 12 Grey Plover, 5 Yellow-legged Gull. (Kev Jarvis & Ian Stewart)
 * Crossness: 4 Grey Plover, Sanderling (Birdguides).
 * Fulham Reach (Thames): 1 Redshank & the usual (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hertford: 22+ Waxwing on Davies Street 08:20; also 36 Waxwing at 24 Tanner's Crescent 09:15 but no further sign of the Davies Street birds; 2 still on Davies Street but south at 10:00 (BirdGuides).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: no sign of recent red-head Goosander but first-winter Yellow-legged Gull and Tawny Owl showing well; also 73 Mute Swan, 20 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 95+ Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 3 Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch at feeders (Des McKenzie).
 * London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, Bittern, 2 Fieldfare north, 36 Redwing west, 2 Siskin, 7 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
 * Osterley Park: 1145-1250hrs, 38 Lapwing on horse paddocks plus 3 Meadpw Pipit, 1 Little Owl, 1 (f) Sparrowhawk, 4 Siskin, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Stock Dove. (N.Smith)
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon in area 09:10, flock of 15 Fieldfare west (Des McKenzie).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 15 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 13 Jackdaw & 6 Grey Heron (JR).
 * Rainham Marshes: Snow Bunting still present and on river wall 10:15 photo(Birdguides); otherwise, the dullest day for weeks, with just a Grey Plover and an Avocet of note (David Callahan); ~250 Blackwit on mud on south side, 8+ Rock Pipit foreshore, 3 Water Pipit stone barges, Brambling on edge of Silts where pipes cross 'valley' (JL)
 * Regent's Park: female Wigeon, 55 Shovelers, 24 Gadwall, 88 Red-crested Pochards, 82 Mandarins rearing pond at 7.30am, a very nervous drake Carolina main lake 8.05am, Water Rail, Tawny Owl (Tony Duckett).
 * Roding Valley Park: Redwing, Song Thrush, flock of Long-tailed Tits, 5 Common Gulls, Cormorant (Alan Hobson).
 * Romford Golf Course: Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk over, 35+ Magpies in pre-roost gathering (Colin Jupp).
 * Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve: Red-necked Grebe still on East Lake; also Black-necked Grebe (BirdGuides).
 * South Woodford: Sparrowhawk carrying House Sparrow, Blue Tit investigating titbox (London Birdwatching)
 * Wanstead Flats: 20 + Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll, 3 Meadow Pipit, 6 Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, 10 Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit etc. 2 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, (Snipe seen by the Central London RSPB group) (NC).
 * Wanstead Park: 10 Lesser Redpoll, 16 Siskin, 13 + Goldcrest, 6 Rewing, 2 Song Thrush, 3 f Teal, 15 Shoveler, 49 Tufted Duck, 53 Gadwall, 49 Pochard, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtail, Coal Tit, 2 Cormorant, m Sparrowhawk (NC).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Lapwing, Mediterranean Gull, c3 Skylark, c7 Meadow Pipit, c110 Fieldfare, c70 Redwing, 2 Linnet (The Scrubbers).

Thursday 9 December

 * Aldenham CP: 12 Mandarin Duck, 2 red-head Smew (Birdguides).
 * Amwell GPs: fem Red-crested Pochard, pr Smew (Birdguides).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 3 Mealy Redpoll, 20 Lesser Redpoll - good comparison of the Mealies with several Lessers (preening in bushes under birches near Damselfly Pond). Also Little Owl, Skylark over, 12 Redwing, 8 Goldcrest, 25 Long-tailed Tit (single flock), Treecreeper, Coal Tit and Nuthatch (Colin Jupp).
 * Brent Reservoir: 9 Lapwings flew in from east and landed on playing fields to feed, 16 Snipe, Water Rail in the open on ice, 50+ Fieldfare west, 20+ Redwing west (John Gravatt, Andrew Verrall).
 * Broadwater GP (Hillingdon): drake Smew in NW corner by the sailing club, but no sign of the Velvet Scoter today. Also seen, Woodcock flew over the fishermans car park, 1 Little Egret, c5 Chiffchaff on River at N end behind the sailing club, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 GBB Gull, Water Rail (heard along the river), c40 Siskin, 12+ Goldeneye and a colour-ringed "argenteus"-type Herring Gull - further details awaited (Bill Haines).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Water Rail (Abbey Creek), Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, c120 Teal, 40 Gadwall, female Shoveler, Linnet over, 5 Mistle Thrush, Canada Goose, 65 Coot, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtails, 13 Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff and others (Stuart Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 10 Mallard, 8 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 2 Snipe, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagatil, 3 Wren, 5 Robin, 16 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 10+ Mistle Thrush, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 3 starling, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 15+ Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Cheshunt: 9 Waxwings over Cadmore Lane/High Street junction at 15.20 (R Woodward).
 * Claybury Park: Coal Tit, 2 Redwings, 2 Common Gulls, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits and one lone one, Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, LBB Gull (Alan Hobson).
 * Crayford Marshes: 4 Bearded Tit in reed bed near landfill site, Water Pipit, Turnstone, Little Owl, 2 Yellowhammer, Green Sandpiper, 14 Grey Plover, 11 Pintail, Peregrine (Kev Jarvis & Philip Cliffe).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 1 Kestrel being chased by Magpie on Fels Field, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Redwing on Fels and approx another 8 in hedge near Millennium Centre, around 50 Pochard, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Greylags and numerous Coots, Mallards and Canada Geese all on front lake; 2 Goldfinch near Hooks Hall, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 Blue Tit. Also 3 Lapwing on playing fields of Central Park (D. Allen).
 * East India Dock Basin area: Curlew (on mud) (1st site record), Dunlin (both Bow Creek), Shoveler (Dock), Mistle Thrush, 300+ Teal (Gary A James).
 * Euston area: over railway tracks 1 Peregrine (Michael Mac).
 * Foots Cray Meadows: fem Goosander, Jack Snipe, m Wigeon, 2 Snipe, 2 fem Teal, 6 Shoveler, c 60 Gadwall, 9+ Little Grebe, Little Egret, Grey Heron,Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, Cormorant (Ian Stewart).
 * Hainault Farm: 100+ Lapwing, 2 f Kestrel (London Birdwatching).
 * Hampstead Heath: 15 Shoveler, 2 Common Gull, 2 Dunnock, 10 Mute Swan, 1 Kestrel (Michael Mac, Ron Vester).
 * Hatfield (Hertfordshire): Red Kite crossed Southway (A1001) from Welwyn Hatfield District Cemetery at 14:10 (Andrew Haynes).
 * Hertford: 45 Waxwing in town centre in large tree behind the outdoor garden section of Focus (Birdguides).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: Little Egret, 5 Curlew south, 30 Waxwing (SBC).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: pr Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, red-head Goosander showing well at Serpentine Island, 2 Little Grebe, Tawny Owl showing well, mixed thrush flock on Buck Hill (primarily Blackbird and Mistle Thrush) (Des McKenzie, Ralph Hancock).
 * Lee Valley CP: 5 Goldcrest, 4 Siskin, Bullfinch (f), 2 Treecreepers, c24 Redwing & 11 Fieldfare, 2 Water Rail, 11 Lapwing, plus all the usuals (majority of all the lakes still frozen over), also 3 Muntjac deer seen (J Anderson).
 * London Wetland Centre: 5 Pintail on river, 4 Bittern, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, 2 Woodcock, 5 Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, 3 Fieldfare north-west, 60 Redwing W/NW, 5 Siskin, Bullfinch (Birdguides); Waxwing (Birdguides). 15 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Goldcrest (AJS)
 * Lower Bedfords Road (Romford): Woodcock flushed from setaside field, 18 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare (CRJ).
 * New Malden: fem Ring Ouzel in private garden (SBC).
 * Orsett Fen: 4 Common Buzzard, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 250 Stock Dove, 1500 Woodpigeon, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, 2 Skylark, 53 Fieldfare, Song Thrush, 20 Redwing, 300 Jackdaw, 150 Rook, 70 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 16 Goldfinch, 4 Yellowhammer
 * Rainham Marshes: Snow Bunting still present and commuting between river wall - showing down to just a few feet away here at 14:00 (JR) and visitor centre feeders (Birdguides). 7 Waxwing briefly, ring-tail Hen Harrier east (Birdguides); also on & along the River Thames: 640 Dunlin mainly in groups flying west, 120 Black-tailed Godwit on the stone barges, 16 Redshank, 15 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Curlew, 1 Water Pipit, 42 Shelduck, 90 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Pheasant (Jon Ridge); 9 Fieldfare, 6 Rock Pipt, 6 Song Thrush, 8 Corn Bunting (ELBF).
 * South Norwood CP: Common Snipe, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, Grey Wagtail, 5 Long-tailed Tit (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 15m 11f Shoveler, 1m Pochard, c30 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Common Gull, c30 Redwing, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), c20 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Jay, c40 Goldfinch, 8 Greenfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 House Sparrow (John Watson).
 * Stapleford Tawney: m Kestrel, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 100 Rook (Daniel Erickson-Hull).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull on the ice of East Res, 2 Water Rails, c25 Lesser Redpolls in trees of neighbouring school, c210 Redwings north, plus a few Fieldfares and plenty of Starlings over; very low numbers of wildfowl (MJP).
 * Thorpe Park: red-head Smew on Manor Lake (SBC).
 * Upminster: Buzzard (London Birdwatching)
 * Waltham Cross: 11 Waxwing at 09.35 commuting between tree perch on roundabout near the KFC and the white berry bush which is rapidly being stripped (Martin Shepherd).
 * Walton Res: 43 Barnacle Goose (as per last winter-period), first-winter m Scaup, Velvet Scoter, 5 Curlew roosted (SBC).
 * Wanstead Village: Waxwing flew NNW over Ashbourne Avenue at approx 10.30am (J Lethbridge).
 * Watford: Waxwing flew over Vicarage Road Cemetery 09:40 (Birdguides); several Redwing over nearby Cardiff Road during early hours of morning (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
 * Woodlands Farm: 1 Woodcock, 5 Meadow Pipit, 5 Lapwing, Goldfinch, Chafinch, a female Sparrowhawk, 4 Moorhen. (Ron Turner)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 2 seperate Common Buzzard east, 4 Lapwing, 2 Common Snipe, c10 Meadow Pipit, c120 Fieldfare, c60 Redwing, Jackdaw, c25 Linnet, m Reed Bunting (The Scrubbers); 1 leucistic Linnet with a flock of 10 (Baybrook St side of grassland area), 2 Peregrine on a building east of the Scrubs, 1 (f) Sparrowhawk drifting east n/e of the Scrub, 1 Goldcrest by Old Oak Common Road, 1 Skylark over east, 1 Siskin over (N.Smith).

Wednesday 8 December 2010

 * Osterley Park: 2 Jack Snipe (seen since Monday 6th Dec), 16 Shoveler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Little Owl, 1 Tree Creeper (Dennis Berry)
 * Aldenham CP: 2 red-head Smew (showing well), red-head Goosander. Mandarin. (Steve Blake)
 * Bonnetts Wood, Upminster: 12 redwing, 4 snipe, Kingfisher, 3 fieldfare, 2 bullfinch, 7 linnets, Pheasant, Red legged partridge, 17 pied wagtail, 2 grey heron, Mistle thrush, 4 Jay, Kestrel (London Birdwatching)
 * Bushy Park (Heron Pond): 1 male Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Red-crested Pochard (Penelope Paxer)
 * Bromley-by-Bow: 35+ Snipe on island on Abbey Creek (high tide), Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 3 Lapwing South-west, c300 Teal, 47 Gadwall, c150 Mallard, fem Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 62 Coot, Little Grebe, Water Rail, female Great-spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, c350 Black-headed Gulls, Jay, 9 Cormorant, 7 Common Gull and stuff (S Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 17 Mallard, 8 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Wren, 7 Robin, 16 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Great Tit, 10 Blue Tit, 6 Starling, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Crayford Marshes: fem Merlin perched on a fencepost near landfill site. 4 Bearded Tit in reed bed near landfill site, Marsh Harrier east 10:55, 2 Avocet, Turnstone, m Peregrine, 3 Water Rail, 3 Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, 14 Grey Plover, 7 Pintail, Common Sandpiper. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Fulham Sands End: 1 Tufted Duck, 56 Mallard, c110 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull (1 is 2W A6LK from East Sussex), 57 Cormorant on Battersea Reach side +1 fishing (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hampstead Heath: Lapwing on ice High No. 1 pond, 6 Common Gull, 4+ Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, Treecreeper, large N's of tits and finches throughout (Chris B)
 * Harold Hill: Curlew over, heard calling at 18.35hrs (Colin Jupp).
 * Hertford: 15 Waxwing near 24 Tanners Crescent 08:30 before flying off (BirdGuides).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (water 90% frozen): wildfowl and gulls much reduced but a red-head Goosander showed well at north side of Serpentine Island to 08:30 at least (probably still there), Water Rail, Curlew very low north 08:18; 13 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Little Grebe, fourth-winter argentatus-type Herring Gull, 7 Redwing, 17 Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin north-west (Des McKenzie).Goosander still present at 4pm on un-frozen part of lake (suspiciously tame individual, viewable to within 10 feet) (D.Jordan). Go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/londonbirders for a discussion on this duck's credentials.
 * London Wetland Centre: 40 Greylag Goose, Shelduck, 61 Wigeon, Bittern, 48 Lapwing, Water Pipit (LWC website).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Common Buzzard over, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Jackdaw & 7 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: Snow Bunting still at feeders near visitor's centre 10:10, then 200m west of visitor centre until dusk (DCa, JL, ATw, PSt et al); Yellowhammer along sea wall (JL); Snow Bunting again on sea wall near new hide building site next to visitor centre until 15:30 at least, plus second-winter Caspian Gull foreshore, several Yellow-legged Gulls, 4 Yellowhammers, Water Pipit, 3 Avocets, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Corn Buntings, 30+ Snipe, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit (David Callahan).
 * Snaresbrook: 14 Waxwing in a Cherry tree at Snaresbrook School, Meadow Walk (do not enter school grounds) (3 have now flown into the school window and died instantly!) (London Birdwatching). putting deterrents on the windows, e.g. cut-out shapes of hawks, would seem like a good idea as a matter of urgency. (MJP) - MJP, after the firs casualty the spotter got to it right away, cutting out silhouettes, but by the time they were affixed there were 2 more casulties, no more since however!)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: brief visit a.m. - three Water Rails, Common Snipe; Red-crested Pochards and plenty of other wildfowl departed overnight. 4 Siskins over SN station 15:00 (MJP)
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Bittern flew across the scrape 10:15. 19 Wigeon. (Steve B)
 * Uxbridge: Brunel University Bicentenary Garden c30 Redpoll, 2 Siskin, 1 Fieldfare, Lots of Redwing and Goldfinch and Kestrel (Steve Pash).
 * Waltham Cross: single Waxwing in trees by No.40 Eleanor Cross Road at around 8.30 this morning (J Anderson & J Anderson snr); eight in trees opposite KFC at 12.55 (BirdGuides)
 * Wanstead Flats:4 Lapwing (north), Snipe (SSSI), 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Lesser Repoll, Reed Bunting, Pochard (jub), 9 Shoveler (1 jub), 11 Mute Swan (8 jub), Stock Dove (NC)
 * Wanstead Park: 2m Wigeon (R Roding), 4 Teal (m on Roding + 3 f The Dell), 52 Pochard, 32 Tufted Duck, 14 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 8 Mute Swan, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Siskin, 4 L Redpoll, 4 + Goldcrest, 3 Fieldfare, 4 + Redwing (NC)
 * Woodford Green: 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit in the garden (via London Birdwatching)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Woodcock 08:40 at least (The Scrubbers).
 * Nine Elms Sainsbury's Car Park - Inner London: 3 Common Gull with Black-headed Gulls (Michael Mac).

Tuesday 7 December 2010

 * Aldenham CP: m Mandarin Duck, red-head Goosander, 2 red-head Smew mid-p.m. at least
 * Beckton Alps: Lapwing (north) (London Birdwatching).
 * Beddington Farmlands: juvenile Common Crane present again up to 13:50 at least - many thanks to JA. Also: 1 Curlew over at 13:40 (JR).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 15 Waxwing flew N over Visitor Centre at 11.15 (Colin Jupp).
 * Bookham Common: Hawfinch (SBC).
 * Borehamwood: 10 Waxwing (BirdGuides).
 * Brent Reservoir: 21 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, Chiffchaff, res 90% iced up (Andrew Verrall).
 * Bromley-by-Bow: Common Sandpiper (Bow Locks), Green Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 12 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, c220 Teal, 80+ Mallard, 20 Gadwall, fem Shoveler, fem Tufted Duck, Buzzard (landed on island late morning mobbed by 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls), 51 Coot, 16+ Moorhen, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Goldfinch, 21 Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, fem Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese and things (S Fisher).
 * Chiswick, Private Garden: Flock of 2 Coal Tits, 12 Long-Tailed Tits, 8 Blue Tit, 7 Great Tit, 1 Fem. Blackcap. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
 * Claybury Park: Treecreeper, mixed flock of around 20 Siskins and Redpolls, 3 Coal Tits, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove (first one I've seen here for months), and an extraordinary parliament of around 350 Carrion Crows around the new play area (Alan Hobson).
 * Crayford Marshes: 4 Waxwing east, Turnstone, Avocet, 2 Brambling, Common Buzzard, 6 Yellowhammer, Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, 2 Water Rail, 14 Grey Plover (Kev Jarvis).
 * Enfield: 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker with 'pinkish' forehead patch - a woodpecker with gender issues? 13:45-13:50 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Fulham Reach (Thames at very high tide, 3-3:30pm): 75 Mallard on boat pier, very noisy House Sparrows well inside their bush, 19 Tufted Duck, 1 Teal, 1m+1f Pochard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 4 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 3 Cormorant, 50+ Black-headed Gull (Nathalie Mahieu)
 * Gants Hill: Coal Tit starting 10th week in garden today, (London Birdwatching)
 * Greenwich Peninsula (by O2 Arena 10.00-10.30): 1 female Pochard west, 80+ Teal on Thames, 1 Rock Pipit on foreshore. Ecology Park 11.00-11.30: 1 Little Egret south, 3 Lapwing on shingle bank, flew south @ 11.20, 1 female Brambling in willows by feeders, 1 Chiffchaff etc (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel).
 * Hampstead Way, NW11: Flock of 25 Cormorant north at 11.30am - largest I've seen over London. Plus 1 redpoll sp. (Rob Ayers)
 * Harold Hill (Dewsbury Gardens): 1 male Blackcap feeding on berries in gardens, 1 Goldcrest (Millicent Harper).
 * Hertford: 35 Waxwing by 24 Tanners Crescent but flew south 15:30 (BirdGuides).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 3 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Water Rail, 5 Redwing, Sparrowhawk. (London Birdwatching)
 * London City Airport: 7 Lapwing still, 6 Coot on Royal Albert Dock (unsusual) (London Birdwatching).
 * London Wetland Centre: Goosander on main lake, 2 Bittern, 14 Common Snipe, 7 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Siskin (LWC website).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Swan sp. over south at 09:50 (Mute Swan still on Headstone Moat), 1 Lapwing, 1 Little Owl, 4 Jackdaw, 1 Jay & 2 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: female Merlin perched near target pools, then hunting before flying east (Jonathan Lethbridge, Dominic Mitchell, Howard Vaughan via Twitter), plus 4+ Caspian Gulls at tip, inc. one with colour rings, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls; Snow Bunting near visitor centre and Mardyke Bridge at 15:00 (Keith Rayment, HV et al); 2 Jack Snipe, Ring Ouzel still by Stone Barges (BirdGuides). 2 Bearded Tit photos(via London Birdwatching)
 * Redhill: 19 Waxwing p.m. on west side of Holmethorpe Lagoons LNR, in trees by railway line (BirdGuides).
 * Regent's Park: 2 Lapwings, 70+ Mandarins feeding together, drake Wigeon, 5 Teal, 45 Shovelers, 24 Gadwall (Tony Duckett).
 * South Norwood Lake: Peregrine, Kestrel, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 15m 11f Shoveler, 2f 1m Pochard, 2 Cormorant, c50 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Collared Dove, 2 Jackdaw (over), c30 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, c40 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * Stockwell (Hemans Estate Community Garden): 1 Dunnock - not seen throughout year after council cut back all the bushes (bred in 2009), 2 Great Tit on feeder (Michael Mac).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Red-crested Pochards, Chiffchaff, 5 Lapwing west, plus the usuals; also 5 Lesser Redpoll, female aythya hybrid (presumably TD x CP but not one of the previous female individuals of that combination here, or the bird at Ally Pally the other day), 2 Teal (male and female) on the ice of West Res (Mark Pearson)
 * Sutcliffe Park (Kidbrooke) 8.00-8.30: 1 Little Egret, 10+ Snipe,1 male Pochard, 1 female Wigeon (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel). What time was the Green Sandpiper seen on Sunday?
 * Valentines Park, Ilford: Mediterranean Gull still present, Egyptian Geese, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, 5 Mistle Thrush (London Birdwatching)
 * Waltham Cross: 5 Waxwings until early afternoon at least (at end of Abbey Road, near the KFC) (R. Woodward).
 * Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup, Velvet Scoter (SBC).
 * Wanstead Flats: 13 Waxwing (west), 11 Lapwing (south), 6 Shoveler, 2 Duck sp (north), 2 Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, 7+ Goldfinch, 2 L Redpoll, 5 Goldcrest, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush etc (NC).


 * Wanstead Park: Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail (Steve Thorpe), 13 + Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 2 Coal Tit, 30 + Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, 4 Bullfinch, 3 Skylark (1 north, 2 south), 3 Stock Dove, 17 Ring-necked Parakeet, 51 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler, 43 Gadwall, 54 Pochard, 20+ Teal (R Roding), 4 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk (NC).
 * Woodlands Farm Trust: 4 Cormorant flew over, Goldfinch, Kestrel, 2 Lapwing in Old Coals field
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 07.30-0900. 2770+ Rose-ringed Parakeet leaving Central Copse roost. 1 Snipe, 1 Skylark, 1 male Reed Bunting, 9 Meadow Pipit. (Rob Ayers)

Monday 6 December 2010

 * Beddington Farmlands: juvenile Common Crane on south lake from 08.45 onwards; can be viewed by entrance gate or on footbridge at Hackbridge station (Andrew Self, JA & Beddington Birders); moved to main lake mid-morning, where present until at least midday (J Lethbridge).
 * Broadwater Lake: Velvet Scoter still; 100+ Siskins ; 10+ Goldeneye (David Bradshaw)
 * Bromley-by-Bow/Channelsea/Abbey Creek: Dunlin (site record), Redshank, 9 Snipe, 120 Teal, Lapwing, Water Rail, 24 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, f Pochard, Kestrel, Peregrine N in afternoon (S Fisher)
 * Crayford Marshes: fem Merlin north over landfill site, fem Marsh Harrier hunting east along the creek, Brambling, 3 Yellowhammer, Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Grey Plover, 8 Pintail. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Rainham 'Serin' Mound: Large finch flock still present, including at least 2 each of Brambling and Yellowhammer. Aborted early due to blizzard reducing visibility to next to nothing (James A).
 * Rainham Marshes: 12.20 to 12.40 - male Merlin hunting over Wennington Marshes, first flushed from pathside fencepost then landing on ground on the rough grass halfway to the A13; Ring Ouzel in gorse scrub to the north of the barges, also pair Yellowhammers with the Reed Bunting flock there; third-winter Caspian Gull on Thames (different bird than previous), 2 Water Rails, 2 Water Pipits, 2 Chiffchaffs feeding on seawall, Green Sandpiper on dump away from water, 3 Grey Plovers, Jack Snipe, c30 Snipe, 7+ Yellow-legged Gulls (David Callahan); Waxwing opposite New Tank Hill Road/A1306 junction at 2.30pm-ish (JL, HV); m Marsh Harrier on Silts, 150+ Linnet from Serin Mound (JL)
 * Waltham Cross: 2 Waxwings by the main roundabout near the bus station, feeding on shrub with white berries, 12:30 (Ian Woodward per MJP)
 * Ealing Broadway: Peregrine Falcon on the spire of Christ the Saviour church at 9am. First sighting in over a week.(Andrew Birks) (saw it there twice & on another building on Saturday - Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Fulham Reach: 15 Linnet, 1 Mistle Thrush on yew by Crabtree, numerous Teals & Tufted Ducks, a few Gadwalls, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hatch End (New River Pinn): 2 Snipe flushed along the River Pinn & 25+ Siskin in Alders behind the supermarket (JR).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Snipe (probably the Hatch End birds seen earlier - the only thing that separates the two sites is the railway line), 2 Fieldfare, 4 Jackdaw & 9 Ring-necked Parakeet (Jon Ridge).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Bittern (flushed by fox, then back into reedbed) 10:45, Cetti's Warbler, 3 Red-crested Pochard still, waterbirds concentrated onto small area of unfrozen water (5% of surface) (Mark Pearson)
 * Thorney C P: 1 Common Snipe, 3 Treecreepers, 1 Chiffchaff, 7+ Siskins, Gt Spotted Woodpecker,2 L B B Gulls, Little Grebe, 8 Shovelers, Green Woodpecker. 6 Gadwall, 20+ Pochards, 1 Chaffinch. (Sue Giddens)
 * Wanstead Park: Woodcock, Water Rail, Kingfisher (London Birdwatching)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 5 Waxwing north along Scrubs Lane 07.55. Found again briefly at 08.55 in NE corner but then flew north. 3 Skylark, 2 Jackdaw, 5 Mallard, 6 Meadow Pipit, 38 Redwing mainly west, 5 Fieldfare, 3 Canada Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jay, 4 Goldfinch. (Scrubbers)
 * Leyton Flats: 10 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 32 Lesser Redpolls. (Gary A James).
 * London City Airport: 7 Lapwing on the grass by the runway (London Birdwatching)
 * Roding Valley Park: Snipe (first one I've ever seen here), 2 Song Thrushes (Alan Hobson).
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 2 Heron, 34 Mallard, 12 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 50+Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Wren, 7 Robin, 13 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Starling, 4 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 1 chaffinch (Conrad Ellam)
 * Lee Valley CP: single (m) Goosander on Friday Lake, single (m) Goldeneye on Bowyers water, 6 Goldcrest seen, c15 Siskin, 30+ Lapwing in field just before Hooks Marsh car park. 4 Green & 3 Great spotted Woodpeckers, (J Anderson)
 * Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield: 1 Woodcock, flushed from Res banking, 14:59 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Woodcock, flushed, 15:44 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Tyttenhanger GP's: Goosander (f) 11 Wigeon, Kingfisher. (Steve B)
 * South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 17m 11f Shoveler, 2f 1m Pochard, c100 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 2 LesserBlack-backed Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming) mixed party of c40 Long-tailed Tit & Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)

Sunday 5 December 2010
1 Common Snipe, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch. Greenfinch, Chafinch, 2 Sparrowhawks (male and female), 1 Redwing, 1 female Phesant (Ron Turner)
 * Beddington Farmlands: Common Crane on lake from 10.30 onwards (per JA). Still present and looking settled at 15.45. Thanks Johnny. (JA, GJ.) Crane video http://vimeo.com/17497303
 * Broadwater Lake: Imm male Velvet Scoter; also 1 Little Egret, 3 Egyptian Geese, 20 Goldeneye, 6 Chiffchaff, 60+ Siskin and 3 Bullfinch (Simon Buckingham).
 * Burgess Park: adult Mediterranean Gull on lake still 10.05am (Richard Bonser).
 * Crayford Marshes: 6 Bearded Tit four near Landfill site,Two near Yacht Club, Woodcock, 9 Yellowhammer, 2 Corn Bunting, Little Owl, 14 Grey Plover, Kingfisher, 10 Pintail, c 2000 Dunlin, c 400 Linnet. (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
 * East India Dock Basin area: Merlin (male) upriver then over west at 09.40. 2 Common Snipe (roost), 2 Common Sandpipers, Gt Spotted Woodpecker. (Gary A James). Late afternoon visit: 9 Shelduck, c280 Teal, 4 Little Grebe, Lapwing NE, Common Snipe N, Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff (Nick Tanner).
 * Fairlop Waters: 8 Waxwing, f Goosander, 12 Golden Plover, Shoveler, Gadwall, 200 Fieldfare, Kestrel, (London Birdwatching)
 * Crossness: 3 Grey Plovers off Golf Centre early morning, then 14 flew high E @ 10.20am (not sure if these included the 3), also 2 Ruff (one by Outfall, one in paddocks) (John Archer).
 * Lower Chingford: Several Goosander flying to and fro, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, mixed flock of Goldfinch and Linnet (James Palmer).
 * Brent Res Cetti's Warbler, 4 Wigeon, 80+ Pochard, 300+ Tufted Duck, 25 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, 3 Water Rail (Brent Birders)
 * Tyttenhanger GP's: Bittern. in small reedbed NE of main pit. (Steve Blake)
 * Alexandra Park: 0740-0845, 18 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing north, Water Rail conservation pond, drake Gadwall briefly Wood Green Res (Bob Watts).
 * Gants Hill: Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit (London Birdwatching)
 * Greenwich Park: 4+ Goldcrests and at least 1 Firecrest (f) present late morning. Good to see after the cold weather. Also Meadow Pipit heard going over (Joe Beale).
 * Isle of Dogs: Second-winter Yellow-legged Gull on Thames at high tide (Sean Huggins).
 * Hampstead Heath: Adult Mediterranean Gull on south side of Parliament Hill 0915 and later on High' No.1 pond. 10 Siskins (S) and 10 Meadow Pipits over ( Pete Mantle) Also Kingfisher between High No.1 and Boating Pond 14.00, 12 Shoveler on No.1, 10+ Jackdaw. No sign of Med gull. (Rob Ayers)
 * Horsenden Hill: Peregrine in hunting flight around lower fields 10.50am disappeared N over summit, 3+ Snipe, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 19 Linnet flew W, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Owl, 1+ Water Rail, 2 Teal, 4 Meadow Pipit over, 1 Chiffchaff Paradise Fields (Andy Culshaw & David Howdon)
 * Limetrees Park Golf Course (Northolt): Low Buzzard mobbed by Crows + pr Ring-necked Parakeets- dropped to ground in vertical dive + stayed put for c15 minutes before headed south followed by corvids c11.15, Kestrel (Neil Anderson)
 * Margravine Cemetery: 2 Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker chasing each other (Nathalie Mahieu),
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl in the usual tree, 2 Meadow Pipit, 13 Jackdaw, 1 Jay & 4 Grey Heron. Also: 1 Kingfisher at Headstone Moat (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Ferry Lane area: male Ring Ouzel in scrub along promenade north west of Tilda rice factory, then flew into industrial estate (09:45), Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, c80 Redshank, fem Yellowhammer, 20 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 17 Shelduck, male Stonechat, 60+ Gadwall 5 Wigeon, c2 Water Pipit (Stone Barges) with c8 Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit, 6 Snipe, 5 Song Thrush, plus Chiffchaff at Rainham Station (S Fisher)
 * Roding Valley Park (Woodford Bridge): Kestrel (London Birdwatching)
 * Roding Valley Park (South Woodford): Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker (London Birdwatching)
 * Rotherhithe: 2nd-winter Y-l Gull on Greenland Dock mid a'noon. Meadow Pipit west over Greenland Pier 09.30am; 4 Pochard and 178 Tufted Duck Canada Water; 28 Tufted Duck Norway Dock; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 Goldcrest Russia Dock Woodland (Richard Bonser).
 * Ruislip Lido: 2 Smew (drake & redhead), Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, 6 Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel (Steve Pash)
 * Valentines Park (Ilford): 4 Egyptian Geese, Pochard, Shoveler, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Siskin (London Birdwatching)
 * Walthamstow Marsh: 2 Stonechat (pr) 3 Snipe, Woodcock flushed from Horseshoe Thicket, 6 Linnet and a small flock of Chaffinch in Horse Field, Little Owl in usual tree, 1 Fieldfare. (Paul Whiteman)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (Lockwood and Maynards). Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 16 Lapwing, 4+ Fem Goldeneye, 5 Gadwall, 100s of Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, plus 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Weasel (Tott Marshes)
 * Walthamstow Village: 1 ad winter Mediterranean Gull flew low over the village at c1500hrs. (Penny Hayhurst & David Lindo)
 * Wanstead Park: 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Ring Necked Parakeet (London Birdwatching)
 * Rainham Marshes sea wall : Jack Snipe, 2 Grey Plover, 5 Snipe, 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Green Sandpiper,Ruff, 6 Corn Bunting,Brambling over.(Shaun Harvey)
 * Yeading Brook: Sparrowhawk, c50 Redwing, 13 Fieldfare, 11 Jackdaw, pr Bullfinch (Neil Anderson)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Woodcock flushed, 3 Golden Plover on Eastbrook playing field, 27 Pochard, 25 Shoveler, 3 Goldcrest. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail over (CRJ).
 * Romford Golf Course: 3 Redwing, Song Thrush, Treecreeper, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit (CRJ).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Goldcrest with 1 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker + 1/2 Great Spotted Wooodpecker, 1 Meadow Pippit, 8 Greenfinch (on Little scrubs) + large numbers of Magpies (30+) (Charlie Farrell)
 * Woodland's Farm: 1 female Pheasant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Goldcrest. (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel)
 * Grovelands Park, Southgate: 13(8 males, 5 females) Mandarin Duck; 4(1m,3f) Pochard; 3, probably 4 Firecrest, feeding in Holly, 13:20 - 16:00 hrs (Robert Callf).

Saturday 4 December 2010

 * Alexandra Park: Woodcock flew from cricket scrub up slopes; Common Snipe flew from balancing pool; Jackdaw east; Treecreeper on slopes with tit flock; 2 Water Rail in fenced area to north of conservation pond; 2 Greylag seemingly resident on WG Res, Mipit west, 7 Shoveler Boating Lake - Alan Gibson reported a recent record 16 present about 2 weeks ago (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards, Bob Watts). 3 Water Rail seen, 1 Chiffchaff near Garden Centre, Common Snipe first flushed from ditch south of cricket field (James Palmer).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 2 Firecrests, including cracking male, in evergreens along bridleway near Nursery late afternoon, also several Goldcrests; drake Shoveler circled lake (still completely iced-over) at dusk (Colin Jupp).
 * Brent Reservoir: 2 Little Egrets, 6 Snipe, 90+ Pochard, 350+ Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rail, 4 Wigeon, Cetti's Warbler, drake Goldeneye & pair of Goosander which flew off southeast at 09.17 (Brent Birders)
 * Bromley-by-Bow/Abbey Creek: 7 Snipe, 8 Redshank, 2 Woodcock (1 near industrial estate), 150 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 15 Cormorant (3 Mills lock), 9 Linnet, 4 Meadow Pipit, 17 Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, female Sparrowhawk, male Kestrel (S Fisher)
 * Burgess Park: adult Mediterranean Gull still on the lake 8.40am; also 2 Egyptian Geese (Richard Bonser)
 * Crayford Marshes: Lapland Bunting feeding on the landfill site. 4 Bearded Tit in reed bed near landfill site, Woodcock flushed early a.m. 2 Yellowhammer, Green Sandpiper, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Little Owl,c 300 Linnet, 14 Grey Plover, 11 Pintail, Kingfisher (Kev Jarvis).
 * Cummings Hall Farm, Noak Hill (private site): 3(2m,1f) Mandarin, 153 Mallard, 50 Canada Geese, 16 Moorhen, Coot, 21 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Common Snipe all farm res; also Woodcock, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 7 Pheasant, 38 Fieldfare SW, 2 Redwing, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Goldcrest with mixed tit flock, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Colin Jupp).
 * Ealing Broadway: 1 juv Peregrine (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * East India Dock Basin area: Black Redstart, 6 Lapwing, 1 Common Snipe, 3 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redhank (Roost), 410 Teal, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet. (Gary A James)
 * Fairlop Gravel Works: 2 Jack Snipe, 70 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 16 Golden Plover, Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, Linnet, Little Egret, 200 Redwing/Fieldfare (London Birdwatching)
 * Fairlop Waters: 2 Goosander, 6 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, Skylark, Snipe, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, (London Birdwatching)
 * Five Oaks Lane, Chigwell: Sparrowhawk, 4 Little Egret, 4 Snipe, 2 Yellowhammer, 50 Redwing, Fieldfare, 10 Meadow Pipit, 12 Skylark, Bullfinch (London Birdwatching)
 * Fulham Reach: 5 Skylark, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldcrest with 15-20 tit flock in Queen Caroline Estate + 1 in Margravine Cemetery, 2 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Goosander over SE @ 10.20, Common Buzzard W at 12.50, 1 Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, 10 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 19 Mallard, 10 Goldfinch, f Chaffinch, 40+ Black-h Gulls, 2 Lapwings showing well, 10 Snipe some showing well, 1st-w Common Gull, Teal on Thames nearby, Reed Bunting (Conrad Ellam, John Bushel, Joe Beale, Yu-Hsuan Lin).
 * Greenwich Park: Skylark over @ noon, 10 Redwings W/around (Joe Beale, Yu-Hsuan Lin)
 * Hampton Court Park: 3 fem/juv Goodander NE, 15 Wigeon, 13 Lapwing (6 N-NE), 23 Redwing (18 E), 1 Snipe E, 2 Skylark (1 S), 1 Siskin N (Andrew Skotnicki).
 * Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn & later sitting up in trees (JR).
 * Hertford: 16 Waxwings on Merchant Drive, Mead Lane Ind Est early morning (in LNHS Area) before moving to Kings Meads north of river near A10 viaduct (outside of Area) (BirdGuides)
 * Holyfield Lake: c20 Goosander, Chiffchaff with tit flock (Mike Oakland)
 * Horsenden Hill: 1 Jack Snipe in brook on west side of Berkeley Fields with 4 Snipe - flushed by Fox and flew E. Also 3 Lapwing over, 6 Skylark inc. 4 down, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Grey Wagtail (Andy Culshaw).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 8 Egyptian Goose, 15 Shoveler, pr Gadwall, 2 Water Rail, 4 Great Black-backed Gull west, Tawny Owl showing well, 2 Meadow Pipit (Buck Hill), Song Thrush, 15 Mistle Thrush, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, redpoll sp heard (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 2 Bittern, Little Owl, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Snipe, 30 Redpoll sp, 4 Water rail .(Shaun Harvey)
 * KGVI Res: Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter still present, 1 Great Northern Diver, 13 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 2 Redshank, single Green and Common Sandpipers (Peter Naylor).
 * Paddington Green: Common Snipe deftly spotted by Mr. Tanner underneath my kitchen window, c20 metres from the Edgware Road 11:37, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet flew toward Regent's Park (DMc, NT).
 * Pages Wood, Harold Wood: 2 Yellowhammer, 1 male Pheasant, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldfinch, 10 Long Tailed Tit (Millicent Harper)
 * Pinner Park Farm: 3 Snipe, 2 Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 2+ Redwing, 10 Jackdaw, 1 Jay, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Common Gull, 4 Herring Gull & 3 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Pyrgo Park, Havering-atte-Bower: 1 Mealy Redpoll with 30 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, Common Buzzard, 2 Common Snipe, calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (south park plantation), 4 Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, 2 Stock Dove, 50-60 Chaffinch in maize crop (Colin Jupp).
 * Rainham Marshes: imm drake Eider flew west past along Thames at 14.45 (BirdGuides); first-winter Lapland Bunting briefly on the ground with mixed flock of Linnets, Reed Buntings, etc, 11.22 am, plus pair Yellowhammer, Bar-tailed Godwit (Kent shore), 12 Pintail, Water Rail (David Callahan, Dominic Mitchell); Barn Owl West Marsh 07.40, 7 Corn Buntings, 10 Rock Pipits (saltings), 4+ Grey Plover, leucistic Black-headed Gull, third-winter Caspian Gull, 5+ Yellow-legged Gulls (dump), 2 Black-tailed Godwits (DCn); 5 Goosander (2f and 1m west, pr east) at about 08:20 (P Hawkins, J Lethbridge, D Morrison)
 * Rotherhithe: 10 Pochard and 306 Tufted Ducks (241 Canada Water, 65 Surrey Water); 3 Shovelers Southwark Park (Richard Bonser)
 * Staines Reservoir: redhead Smew on N basin (Peter Naylor)
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Cetti's Warbler, 3 Red-crested Pochards, 120+ Tufted Ducks, 50+ Common Pochards, 40+ Gadwall, 19 Shovelers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (2nd winter and adult), 4 Water Rails, 4 Reed Buntings, 5 Fieldfares, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
 * Sutcliffe Park: 8-10 Common Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redwing (James Lowen)
 * Teddington: 19 Waxwings in large berry bush along Park Lane (off Park Road), opposite the Police Station. Seen 12:30 according to BirdGuides, but apparently disturbed by passing Sparrowhawk and not seen whilst I was there (14:15-15:00pm). Large number of berries still on bush so hopefully they'll be back in the morning when I'll try again! (Billy Dykes)
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Bittern, Water Rail, 2 Snipe, Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Goose, Goldeneye, 33 Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, Woodcock. (Steve Blake)
 * Wanstead Flats: 2 Egytian Goose (west @7:30), 13 Shoveler (6m, Alex), 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail (Forest Gate - yup desperation!), 4 Mistle Thrush, 12 Redwing (north), 20+ Blackbird, Fieldfare (north), 2 Skylark (s), Siskin, 4 Chaffinch, 10+ Goldfinch, 20 L Redpoll (east), Reed Bunting, 2 Cormorant, 150+ Wood Pigeon (south), Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (NC)
 * Wanstead Park: 43 + Pochard, 44 Tufted Duck, 46 + Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 6 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 7+ Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 20 + Redwing, Song Thrush, Siskin, Goldfinch, Snipe (south), Green and Great Spot Woopecker, 10+ RN Parakeet, 2 Sparrowhawk (NC)
 * Woodford Green: Lapwing (London Birdwatching)
 * Woodlands Farm Trust: 2 Nuthatch, 1 Jacksnipe, a charm of Goldfinches, 1 Tree creeper, Kestrel, Peregrine hunting over golf course.
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Female Bullfinch in Southern Copse, 14 Skylark on short grassland, 1 Common Snipe into long grassland, 2 Reed Bunting, 9 Lapwing south, 14 Meadow Pipit, 22 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 30+ House Sparrow, 65+ Woodpigeon NE (Rob Ayers). Missed all of that but did see juv m Kestrel perched in trees on Lester's embankment, m Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail over + 4 unidentified geese/swans over (Charlie Farrell)
 * Wraysbury Res: Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, 2 Great Northern Divers, 5 Goosanders and a Green Sandpiper; also 238 Great Crested Grebes (Dave Morris, Pete Naylor).
 * York Avenue (Sidcup): Woodcock west, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 8+ Redwings, 3 Long-tailed Tits, Wren, pr Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, Herring Gull west, Skylark north-east, Sparrowhawk. (Ian Stewart).

Friday 3 December 2010

 * Alexandra Park: 7 Bewick's Swans (3 ads and 4 juvs) circled calling and landed upon Wood Green Res at 06:50 (Bob Watts), still present until 08:13 at least (Gareth Richards, Dominic Mitchell, David Callahan et al), plus ad argentatus Herring Gull, Pochard x Tufted-type Aythya hybrid, Little Grebe but no sign of yesterday's Common Goldeneye. Also 2 Egyptian Geese west (DCn) and Skylarks and Fieldfares on the move.; all 7 Bewick's Swans flew north at 10:28 following much head-bobbing and calling, also Jackdaw over (heard) (Des McKenzie); Firecrest stlll, showing well by 3rd viewing platform at Wood Green Res in ivy-clad trees on right hand side (DCn).
 * Amwell GPs: 2 Smew, Bittern ,Ruff, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (BirdGuides).
 * Barking Outfall: Black Redstart, Grey Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 18 Snipe, 182 Redshank, 4 Black Tailed Godwits, 514 Tufted Duck, 26 Pochard, 409 Shoveler, 304 Gadwall, 116 Shelduck and 700 Teal.(Dave Morrison)
 * Beddington: 1 first winter female Snow Bunting Photos here
 * Brent Reservoir: 1 male Goldeneye, 2 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 2 Skylark, 8 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Mistle Thrush, 8 Jackdaw. Other counts incl: 11 Little Grebe, 14 Great Crested Grebe, 80+ Gadwall, 55 Pochard, 89 Teal, 44 Shoveler, 3 Ruddy Duck, 38 Mute Swan. (Rob Ayers).
 * Bromley-by-Bow and Abbey Creek: 12 Egyptian Geese on edge of creek (site record), 10 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, m Lapwing, Water Rail, 12 Gadwall, Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 10 Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, 25 Chaffinch, Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 90 Teal (S Fisher)
 * Bookham Common: 2 Hawfinch in hotel car-park mid-p.m. (BirdGuides).
 * Brunel University Bicentenary Gardens: Woodcock over at 14.10 and appeared to land in the university campus, near the river. Also 25+ Redpolls, including one slightly larger bird with longer primary projection, other features not seen (Roger Morton).
 * Crayford Marshes: Fem Eider west along Thames mid-a.m., 27 Bewick Swan ,fem Goosander east along Thames a.m., 2 Marsh Harrier fem and imm male, 2 Little Gull (ad and 1st winter), Short-eared Owl, 2 Yellowhammer, Water Pipit, 12 Grey Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Pintail, Water Rail (Kev Jarvis & A.W).
 * Ewell: 2 Waxwing west over Priest Hill (BirdGuides).
 * Fairlop Waters: 17 Bewick's Swans NW at 12.30, pr Goosander still, yesterdays Scaup is still present 1.15 but may indeed be a Scaup/Tufted hybrid (Steve Bacon) (via London Birdwatching)
 * Grange Waters:Red Head Smew, 70 Redwing, 120 Fieldfare feeding on Hawthornes, Marsh Tit in treeline by Scuba Diving Lake, 161 Tufted Duck, 94 Pochard, Woodcock walked up, 2 Water Rail, 4 Siskins, Redshank, Drake Gooseander overhead and 47 Teal.Also Muntjac flushed from feet(dont know who jumped higher, him or me) Dave Morrison.
 * Greenwich Peninsula: 1 Lapwing & 12 Wigeon flying west, 6 Reed Bunting in reed terraces, 1 Peregrine flying north. 1 Redshank, 2 Dunlin & 1 Sanderling feeding on foreshore by Beckham Academy. All seen between 13.00 & 14.00 (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel)
 * Banstead Downs: Siskin (David Campbell).
 * Hampstead Heath: 7 Golden Plover flew S over P. Hill at 1335. Reed Bunting flushed flew W ( Pete Mantle)
 * Hatch End (New River Pinn): 1 Little Egret sitting up in trees along the River Pinn by the railway embankment (JR).
 * Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 male Kestrel sitting up in trees next to the A410 (JR).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (p.m.): 2 Peregrine Falcon circled over Longwater then west, 2 Lapwing (1 on Buck Hill and another which flew a few feet above our heads at Serpentine), Woodcock flushed off Buck Hill and flew across Longwater 14:12, Skylark, Firecrest still in Hudson Memorial area, 3 Siskin in Alders with five Goldfinch; also at least 450 Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose reduced to 4, pr Gadwall, 32 Shoveler, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Redwing, Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper (DMc, Noel Lever).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 15 Bewick's Swan north-west 08:30 (BirdGuides).
 * Isle of Dogs: one Dunlin on the mud at Saunders Ness till 3.15pm at least (my first for IoD). Also three Gadwall, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (Sean Huggins).
 * London Bridge Station: 2 Reed Buntings flew up from weedy ground between rail tracks, approx half mile south of station (Dave de Silva)
 * London Wetland Centre: Bar-headed Goose (esc), 46 Wigeon, Pintail, 95 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 2 Bittern, 3 Meadow Pipit, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff (LWC website).
 * Lonsdale Road Res: mostly frozen, 5 Shovelers in small pool of unfrozen water, 2 large flocks of tits but no sign of any Goldcrests, otherwise the usuals (Rich Petley).
 * Lordship Recreation Ground: 3 Jack Snipe in stream gully east of footbridge near logs 11:30-12 circling and resettling (Jeremy Richardson).
 * Mapledale Avenue (Croydon): Common Snipe (Croydon Birders).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 2 Redwing, pr Peregrine Falcon, 11 Long-tailed Tit flock, calling f Great Spotted Woodpecker (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Minet CP: Jack Snipe in flood relief channel a.m. (BirdGuides).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Snipe flew off from the main pond (98% frozen over), 1 Little Owl back in the disaster area, 10 Fieldfare (9 over north), 9 Jackdaw & 6 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes: 27 Bewick's Swan in Aveley Bay to 12:15 when they flew off, fem Eider in Aveley Bay to 12:15 at least.; Note: the reserve is closed today so view from seawall or cycle track (BirdGuides).fem Eider is a imm drake bird! (Paul Hawkins, pics here on blog http://www.hawkysbirdingblog.blogspot.com/); fem Goosander, imm m Marsh Harrier, Grey Plover, 5 Corn Bunting (ELBF).
 * Roding Valley Park: RN Parakeet, 2 Jay, GS Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, LT Tits, Chaffinches, 12 Common Gull (London Birdwatching) Woodcock, Green Woodpecker (Alan Hobson).
 * Ruislip: Dunlin on shore of Lido in front of Water's Edge pub. Also, Common Snipe, 60+ Wigeon, 80+ Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard and 50+ Common Gull. 100+ Redpoll in Birch on Willow lawn and 8 Bullfinch feeding in Bramble scrub. 2 Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher and Teal on R.Pinn near Ruislip GC. (Steve Pash).
 * South Norwood CP: Sparrowhawk, 4 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail, 8 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: immature Goldeneye (presumably yesterday's Ally Pally bird; second here in three days, fourth this decade); 3 Red-crested Pochards still, 2 Egyptian Geese, wildfowl numbers slightly down and both Res half frozen; 4 Common Snipe, 3 Meadow Pipits (one down); v.m. from Lincoln Court roof - nothing of note (Mark Pearson)
 * Totteridge Valley: 1 Woodcock: c25 Redwing: 7 Fieldfare: 2 Bullfinch, plus Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along the brooks (John Colmans)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 2 Firecrests SE of Monument Glade 1pm, 5+ Goldcrests, Redwing (h) (Luke Tiller, Bob Watts).
 * Town Park (Enfield): 2 (male and female) Shoveler, Carr's Basin; 1 imm Grey Heron; 1 adult male Sparrowhawk, perched, with full crop, Carr's Basin, 15:42 hrs; 10 Moorhen; 13 Coot; 17 Long-tailed Tit, flock (Robert Callf).
 * Vauxhall BT: 1 Peregrine plucking prey at 9:25am seen from distance, 1st time for over 1 month (Michael Mac).
 * Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 Common Snipe, flew low W, 15:15 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (11:00-15:00): 1+ Curlew (Lockwood and Banbury), 1+ Redshank (Lockwood and overflow channel), 18 Golden Plover flew West, 2 Green Sandpiper overflow channel West of Banbury, 22+ Snipe on West Warwick plus at least 12 more around the site. 6-8 Lapwing. 5 Goosander Banbury/Lockwood. 12 Egyptian Geese, 10 Shelduck. Generally Duck numbers down. 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipits, 1 ‘scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 2 Reed Buntings, Chiffchaff. 5 Waxwings flew East towards Walthamstow. 62 species in all (Paul Whiteman, Lol Bodini)
 * Wanstead Park: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (London Birders Yahoo Group).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Snipe, 1 male Reed Bunting, c5 Meadow Pipit, 5 Fieldfare plus 2 Great Black-back, c3 Lesser Black-back, c300 Herring Gull, c150 Common Gull, c400 Black-headed Gull - all part of a movement from the north-west (The Scrubbers).

Thursday 2 December 2010

 * Alexandra Park: juvenile/first-winter (bird still had black rear neck markings) Kittiwake circled over Wood Green Res, then headed north over Blandford at 08.25; also Little Grebe on res; lunchtime - first-winter Goldeneye on WGR, Pochard x Tufty-type Aythya hybrid, 3 Little Grebes (David Callahan). Peregrine Falcon heading West over cricket pitch 1.15pm (Mike Benyon)
 * Avenue Road (SE25): Kestrel (Croydon Birders).
 * Barnes Common: 2 Lapwing ->SW at ~250 feet, 14.40 (Stefan Czapski)
 * Beddington Farmlands: 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ruff, 5+ Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 10+ Snipe, 1 Little Egret, 450+ Woodpigeon Shorebird photos here, Jack Snipe, 2 Curlew, 5 Redshank (SBC).
 * Boxer's Lake (Enfield): 8 (5 adults, 3 '1st-winter') Mute Swan; 6 (3 males, 3 females) Shoveler; 4 (2m, 2f) Pochard; 1 female Kingfisher; 1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Pied Wagtail; 1 female Blackbird, feeding on sloes; 1 Fieldfare, flew over calling; 1 male Nuthatch; 1 male Siskin, feeding in Alders; 6 Goldfinch (Robert Callf).
 * Bromley-by-Bow and Channelsea: Lapwing still, 4 Redshank, 10 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck plus usuals (S Fisher)
 * Burgess Park: adult Mediterranean Gull still on lake 12.15pm; no sign of Ferruginous Duck despite lake being ice free (Richard Bonser).
 * Crayford Marshes: imm m Eider drifting east on the Thames, Spotted Redshank flew west calling, 2 drake Goldeneye, 4 Pintail, Chiffchaff, Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, c 1400 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: 6 Brent Goose west 12:03, red-head Red-breasted Merganser west 14:35, Grey Plover, Turnstone, 2 ad Little Gulls west, ad Mediterranean Gull west (Ian Miller per JA).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 2 Mistle Thrush nr Sanoffi aventis, 10 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Snipe (2 flying over The Slack and one over Black Poplar Wood), 60 Lapwing and 9 Grey Heron on The Slack, Water Rail in reeds at Hooks Hall Pond (D Allen).
 * East India Dock area: 4 Common Snipe (1 in roost), 7 Redshank (Roost), Gt Crested Grebe, 40+ Common Gulls (influx of this species), 200 Teal. (Gary A James).
 * Fairlop Waters: fem Scaup, pr Goosander (via London Birdwatching).
 * Fulham Reach: 1 Redshank, good numbers Teal & Tufted Duck, 1f Pochard, 1 Shelduck (south), c30 House Sparrow (in usual bush by Crabtree Wharf), pr Peregrine Falcon - Margravine Cemetery: 1 Mistle Thrush (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Grovelands Park (Southgate): 12 (6 males, 6 females) Pochard; 4 (1m, 3f) Tufted Duck; 1 Common Snipe, flew around and landed at waters edge, 14:37 hrs (very few records for this site!); 8+ Moorhen; 17 Ring-necked Parakeet; 1 Redwing; 3 Goldcrest; 2 (m&f) Firecrest, feeding in Holly, 15:01-15:30 hrs; 6 Long-tailed Tit (Robert Callf).
 * Hampstead Heath: 150 Woodpigeons N at 0930, 20 Common Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 300+ Black heads, 3 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, Pochard, Lapwing on ice, Highgate No.1, 2 GC Grebes,15 Cormorants (Pete M).
 * Holmethorpe Sand Pits: 4 Pink-footed Goose for 1.5hrs before flying south-west (SBC).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (brief visit): Common Snipe flushed off Buck Hill and over West Carriage Drive; also 2 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, 3 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe numbers down, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, 10+ Mistle Thrush attending Mountain Ash with a similar number of Blackbird, 4-5 Jay, 5 Goldfinch in Alders (Des McKenzie).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Kestrel, 2 Woodcock, 15 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, Siskin (ELBF).
 * Isle of Dogs: Peregrine south then north over Thames at Saunders Ness. No sign of a hard-weather influx of ducks on Millwall Docks, West India Docks, or Blackwall Basin. (Sean Huggins).
 * King George V Res. (14.00-15.00): 2 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 7 Ruddy Duck, 2 Pochard, 2 Teal, 38 Wigeon, 36 Canada Geese, 40+ Meadow Pipit, 20+ Lapwing, 8 Mute Swan, 4 Green Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest with large tit flock (Rob Ayers).
 * Lesnes Abbey Woods: 1 Sparrrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 3 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, Song Thrush, 6+ Goldcrest with mixed tit flocks including good numbers of Long-tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Nuthatch (AW).
 * Lewisham: Woodcock flew low south at 8.30 (John Archer).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Bittern, Water Pipit, 6 Waxwing west, Lapland Bunting west (BirdGuides); Shelduck, 190 Teal, Pintail, Peregrine Falcon, 13 Common Snipe, Redshank, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Redpoll south (LWC website).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 1 Woodcock roaming the River Pinn area, disappeared into a private garden (Hatch End side), 2 Snipe in a ditch, 1 Little Egret along the river, 1 Reed Bunting over the rubbish tip (heard only), 1 Little Owl, 5 Redwing over, 7 Jackdaw, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Canada Goose & 6 Grey Heron. Also: 1 Kingfisher at Headstone Moat (Jon Ridge).
 * Purley (Buttermere Gardens): Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Woodpigeon, Robin, 3 Blackbird, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, 10 Starling, 7 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 12 Goldfinch (Croydon Birders).
 * Regent's Park: 4 Common Snipe, 103 Mandarin Ducks, 57 Red crested Pochards, 16 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 240 Pochards, 185 Tufted Ducks (Tony Duckett).
 * Rainham Marshes: imm m Eider on Thames by flood barrier a.m. (BirdGuides); still present 13.30, but drifting downstream with the tide (Dominic Mitchell et al); 6 (Dark-bellied) Brent Goose, m Goldeneye, 5 Grey Plover, Turnstone, 3 Little Gull (ELBF).
 * Rotherhithe: pair of Gadwall Canada Water plus 1 Little Grebe, 7 (5 drake, 2 female) Pochard and 238 Tufted Ducks (Richard Bonser).
 * South Norwood CP: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Water Rail, Common Snipe, 14 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Collared Dove, 4 Redwing, 3 Jay, 11 Siskin; Pied Wagtail (Love Lane) (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 8 Mute Swan, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 14m 9f Shoveler, pair Pochard, 25 Tufted Duck, 10 Cormorant, c60 Black-headed Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c30 Goldfinch (John Watson).
 * Stockwell (Hemans Estate Community Garden): 6 Greenfinch in bird-feeder tree (Michael Mac).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs (both reservoirs and v.m. session from Lincoln Court roof): Curlew over (personal first at site), total of 16 Common Snipe (1 East Res, 1 west, 7 north, 6 north and one watched landing in very small garden off Dunsmure Rd), c200 Woodpigeons, a few dozen Redwings and Fieldfares, 3 Meadow Pipits on the deck, 3 Red-crested Pochards still; more wildfowl on East Res, but no sign of Wigeon flock or Goldeneye today (interestingly the latter not the bird at Ally Pally today - yesterday's was an adult female); distant flock of c150 ducks, including c10 larger birds, far to the north, heading north-east and just out of ID range at 12:01 (Mark Pearson)
 * Thorney CP: Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Goosanders, 1 Wigeon, 15+ Pochards, 2 Redwings, 2 LBB Gulls, Stock Dove flew over, 3 flocks of Long-tailed Tits (Sue Giddens).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 2 Firecrest still south end Sanctuary Wood 8am, also 5+ Goldcrest dotted around, Redwing (h) (Bob Watts).
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: Goosander (f) (Steve Blake).
 * Valentines Park (Ilford): 2 Egyptian Geese, Pochard, 10 Shoveler, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 2 Siskin (via London Birdwatching)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: 5 Scaup (2m, 3f)), 37 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, c100+ Teal, 3 Goldeneye (fs), pr Egyptian Geese, 1 Redshank, 5 Snipe, 3 Green Sands, 2 Lapwing, Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipits (+ another pipit sp. poss Rock/Water) & 2 Buntings sp (most stuff on Lockwood 11-14.00 - Lol Bodini).
 * Walton Reservoirs: Velvet Scoter still present (SBC).
 * West Molesey: 2 Waxwing opposite 52 Pool Road (SBC).
 * William Girling Res (13.00-14.00): 1 ad fem Velvet Scoter, 1 male eclipse Scaup, 6 Black-Necked Grebe, 12+ Great Crested Grebe, 4 Goldeneye, 1 Dunlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 45 Lapwing, 5 Medow Pipit. (Rob Ayers).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Snipe heading west, c16 Fieldfare, c4 Redwing, 1 Linnet, 4 Chaffinch, 100 Woodpigeon east & c1,000 Rose-ringed Parakeets (The Scrubbers).
 * York Avenue (Sidcup): 2 Goosander (1 west with 20 Mallard), Woodcock, 8 Snipe, 40+ Lapwings south, 7 Golden Plover, 4 Greylag Goose north-east, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 15+ Redwing, m Blackcap, 30+ Goldfinch, 3 Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk, Wren (Ian Stewart).

Wednesday 1 December 2010

 * Alexandra Park: c10 Waxwing low east over filter beds (Dominic Mitchell) and then past Birdwatch office window (David Callahan, Ian Lycett); also c100 Lapwing west over radio mast (Gareth Richards); plus 3 Skylarks, 2 Reed Buntings, Fieldfare, 8 Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, first-winter Aythya hybrid (Tunnel Res) (DMi).
 * Beddington SF: 14 Bean Goose flew east this morning (BirdGuides).
 * Bromley-by-Bow/Channelsea: 6 Snipe, Redshank, Lapwing on river edge, Chiffchaff, fem Goldcrest (S Fisher)
 * Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 8 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 3 Robin, 8 Blackbird, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 5 Starling, 1 Jay, 3 Magpie, 7 Carrion Crow, 20+ Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam).
 * Brunel University Bicentenary Gardens: 30+ Redpolls, 5 Bullfinches, many Goldfinches and Redwings. Also, nearby in my Cowley Garden, at least 6 different Blackcaps (4 males, one with a metal ring) in the last week, four (3 males) were present together today, feeding on berries (Roger Morton).
 * Crayford Marshes: juv Pomarine Skua west along Thames at 12:30. 14 Grey Plover, c2000 Dunlin, 2 Rock Pipit, 4 Curlew, 176 Black-tailed Godwit (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dagenham (Peartree Gardens): 3 Chaffinch (ELBF).
 * East India Dock Basin area: Woodcock (copse) 1st record for site, 13 Redshank (roost), 3 Common Snipe (1 in roost), 225 Teal, 5 Meadow Pipit (Gary A James).
 * Fairlop Waters: 3 female Goosander,1 fem Red-breasted Merganser at 1pm on main lake (Steve Bacon).
 * Fulham Reach (rising tide): 7 Gadwall, 78 Teal (+46 South of Crabtree Wharf), 1f Pochard, 38 Tufted Duck, 41 Mallard, 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, c200 Black-headed Gull (and hovering/going round military helicopters) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Hampstead Heath: 5 Lapwing over (NW), 2 Wigeon (m,f) and 13 Shoveler Highgate No. 1 pond, c50 Redpolls and 4 Siskin in single flock near Stock pond (CB) + 2 juv. Pomarine Skuas W over Parliament Hill at 1230 (Pete Mantle)
 * Highgate Woods: 1 Waxwing nr Rangers cottage, mobile and calling 08.00 (P. Angus).
 * Holmethorpe SPs: 3 red-head Smew (BirdGuides).
 * Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens (water bodies c40% frozen): m Goosander low west along Serpentine and toward Longwater 10:03 but not refound either there or at Round Pond (the first since February 1988), 5 Lapwing west, 2 Meadow Pipit flushed from Parade Ground, fem Blackcap, 7 redpoll sp west; also 317 Greylag Goose, 36 Egyptian Goose (new site-record), 3 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, Little Grebe, m Kestrel, good number of Common Gull (though no count made), Green Woodpecker, 3 Pied Wagtail, 5 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper (Des McKenzie).
 * King's Meads: 17 Waxwing at Tansy Mead a.m. (BirdGuides). (surely not in London? between Hertford and Ware so within recording area).
 * KGV Reservoir: Black-necked Grebe, 2 Egyptian Goose, 25 Goosander south towards the Girling, Shelduck, c30 Meadow Pipit (Martin Shepherd).
 * Little Britain: 2 Little Grebe, 3 Lapwing in field, 25+ Gadwall, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch, Song Thrush (Sue Giddens).
 * London Wetland Centre: 16 Eider north-west (BirdGuides); Shelduck, 62 Wigeon, 177 Teal, 2 Peregrine Falcon nearby, Fieldfare, Rook west (Goosander and Woodcock yesterday) (LWC website).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 3 poss Curlew over at 11:15 going E, pr Peregrine Falcon (stuffed) in area (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * New Covent Garden Market (Inner London): 8 - 10 Waxwing heading north east at 9:05am (Michael Mac).
 * Pinner Park Farm: 2 Golden Plover, 3 Snipe, 1 Lapwing, 19 Jackdaw, 1 Canada Goose & 8 Grey Heron. Also at Headstone Moat: 1 Kingfisher, 1 Mute Swan, 73 Mallard & 2 Coot (Jon Ridge).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: 14 Tundra Bean Goose north 10:00 (see Beddington report), 42 Shelduck, 21 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, 18 Cormorant, 7 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 800 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 250 Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, 112 Common Snipe, Woodcock, 82 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, leucistic Black-headed Gull, 3 ad Yellow-legged Gull, juvenile Iceland Gull flew from River Thames to rubbish tip at 12:50, 3 juv Pomarine Skua comprising 2 west past Coldharbour Point 11:40 and another west 12:30 (still 2 lingering in Aveley Bay 15:18; see Crayford Marshes / Hampstead Heath reports), 16 Skylark, 8 Rock Pipit, 2 Water Pipit, 18 Fieldfare, 22 Redwing, 2 Waxwing briefly at the car park then flew west 08:55, 2000 Starling, 80 House Sparrow, 85 Chaffinch, 40 Greenfinch, 50 Goldfinch; Note: the reserve car park is closed today but footpath access still available along seawall (ELBF / BirdGuides).
 * Regent's Park: Jack Snipe flushed 8.15am, 3 Common Snipe down (park record), 51 Lapwings west 8.45am, Water Rail (Tony Duckett).
 * South Norwood CP: 9 Canada Goose, 11 Coot, 5 Common Gull, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Robin (Croydon Birders).
 * South Norwood Lake: 1 Dunlin (G H) 8 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 10m 8f Shoveler, pair Pochard, 5 Cormorant, c70 Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, c15 Goldfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * Stocker's Lake: 2 Smew (1 drake) mid-morning (BirdGuides).
 * Stockley Park: 3 Lapwing on grass near lake (Roger Dewey).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Greenshank south, 1158; 11 Common Snipe in from NW, 1156; 3 Red-crested Pochards still; Linnet, Siskin, several Skylarks and small Redwing numbers over; Jack Snipe low and west 12:57 (presumably flushed by works staff); female Goldeneye fresh-in on East Res 13:00; Rock Pipit (almost trodden on) along southern flank of East Res, 14:45; 7 Wigeon, fresh in, 14:40 (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
 * Trent Park: 1 Woodcock, flushed, Williams Wood, 12:43 hrs; 1 Teal, Lower Lake (Robert Callf).
 * Tyttenhanger GP: 4 Curlew briefly 11:20 before flying off north (Herts Birding).
 * Valentines Park (Ilford): 4 Egyptian Geese, 4 Pochard, Grey Wagtail, 6 Siskin (via London BIrdwatching).
 * Walton Res (permit access): Velvet Scoter still present (BirdGuides).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 8 Goosander west (1st ever record), c50 Lapwing in 2 flocks heading SW, 1 Golden Plover with Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk high heading west, c20 Skylark, c25 Fieldfare, c8 Redwing, c3 Linnet, 1 Pied Wagtail & c1,000 Rose-ringed Parakeet leaving the roost. (The Scrubbers).
 * York Avenue (Sidcup): 8 Goosander west (5 males), 50+ Lapwing south/south-west, 2 Snipe west, 2 fem Siskin, male Blackcap, 30+ Goldfinch, 6+ Chaffinch (Ian Stewart).