NewsFeb2003

February 28 Mealy Redpoll, probable at Richmond Park in Isabella Plantation (Franco Maroevic) Slavonian Grebe at King George V Res (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Staines Res, also Black-necked Grebe & Oystercatcher (Rob Innes) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, also 14 Water Pipits (Ken Purdey) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Kempton NR (Ken Purdey)

February 27 Red-throated Diver at Horton GP, just north of railway (Rob Innes) Smew, 6 at Wraysbury GP, also seven Goosander (Rob Innes) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res (Rob Innes)

February 26 Waxwing, 15 at Dartford, corner of Wilmot Road/Gainsborough Avenue (Birdguides) White-fronted Geese, 10 at Rainham Marshes RSPB, access via seawall from Purfleet, also Dartford Warbler with Stonechats (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, also Little Egret (Ken Purdey) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res (Ken Purdey) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park, Rough Lot Wood (Birdguides)

February 25 Common Buzzard over King George V Res, flew SE at 10.55 (Martin Shepherd) White-fronted Geese, 10 at Rainham Marshes RSPB, access via seawall from Purfleet (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury GP (Birdguides) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res (Birdguides) Waxwing, 3 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036 (Birdguides)

February 24 No sign of Lesser Scaup at Brent Res (Roy Beddard) Hen Harrier, ringtail NW over Hornchurch at 12.16 (Birdguides) Black-necked Grebe, 3 at Staines Res, also Smew & Green Sand (Ken Purdey, Birdguides) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, later on KGVI Res, also 3 Stonechat (Rob Innes) Water Pipit & 2 Green Sands at Stanwell Moor (Rob Innes) Firecrest at Trent Park, Rough Lot Wood (Birdguides)

February 23 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, also drake Scaup & Stonechat (Andrew Self & Roy Beddard) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, also 63+ Goldeneye & Green Sand (Peter Naylor & Ken Purdey) Goosander at Wraysbury Res (Peter Naylor) Green-winged Teal at Walthamstow Res (Birdguides) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, also 10+ Water Pipits (David Combes) Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP on village pit, also 10 Smew (Rob Innes) Smew, 5 at Lee Valley on Holyfield Lake, also 6 Goldeneye; 16 White-fronted Geese at Holyfield on Goose Fields & 8 Smew at Seventy Acres Lake (Stephen Harris) Smew at Barnes WWT, also Bittern & 3 Goldeneye (Martin Honey)

February 22 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res (Andrew Self) Marsh Harrier south over Broadwater Lake at 17.10, also there 5 Little Egrets, 4 Goosander & Yellow-legged Gull (Rob Innes) Merlin, female at Lee Valley, at Holyfield Lake, flew south at 11.30 (Birdguides) Green-winged Teal at Walthamstow Res, also female Scaup, 7 Goosander, Curlew over, 7 Common Sands, Green Sand & Redshank (David Darrell-Lambert & Stephen Harris) White-fronted Geese, 16 at Fishers Green on Goose Fields & 4 Goosander over, also Bittern at the Bittern Watchpoint & 5 Smew (David Darrell-Lambert) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Waxwing, 2 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036 (Birdguides) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, Green Sand & 8 Redshank (Peter Naylor) Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP on village pit, also visited Queen Mother Res (Peter Naylor) White-fronted Geese, 3 at King George VI Res (Peter Naylor) Red-necked Grebe at QE QE II Res (Steve Spooner) Common Sandpiper at Walton Res (Steve Spooner) Twite at Grays Town Wharf, also Kittiwake, 2 Turnstones, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Plovers & Common Sand between Grays and Purfleet (John Murray)

February 21 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, main res (Birdguides) Red-throated Diver at Queen Mother Res (Rob Innes) Smew, 4 at Wraysbury GP (Rob Innes) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res also Smew, Ringed Plover & 3 Green Sands (Rob Innes & Ken Purdey) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, also 10+ Water Pipits, Little Egret, 8 Stonechat & Green Sand (Ken Purdey & Mike Sheehan) Red-necked Grebe at QE II Res, also 2 Scaup (Steve Spooner) White-fronted Geese, 19 at Fishers Green on Goose Fields, also Bittern at the Bittern Watchpoint (Birdguides) Long-eared Owl at Hatfield Aerodrome/Beech Farm GP, also Barn Owl & 2 Short-eared Owls (John Murray). NB. Please do not enter private wood at this site. Smew at Walthamstow Res, also Goosander (Birdguides) Little Gull at Belvedere, on Thames by outfall & Common Sand (Birdguides)

February 20 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, main res (Birdguides) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res & Green Sand (J Sweetland) Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP (Birdguides) Firecrest at Trent Park, NE corner of Rough Lot Wood (Martin Shepherd) Goldeneye, 5 at Amwell Quarry NR (P Smith)

February 19 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, also Scaup & drake Smew (Ken Purdey & Andy Taylor) Green-winged Teal at Walthamstow Res (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe, 3 at Staines Res, also Black-necked Grebe, drake Scaup & Green Sand (Ken Purdey & Rob Innes) Scaup, drake at St James's Park (Andrew Self) Brent Geese, 6 at William Girling Res (Steve Connor) Kittiwake at Northfleet, also 6 Black-tailed Godwits & 5 Curlews (Steve Connor) Knot, 2 at Tilbury Docks, also Grey Plover, Turnstone & Black Redstart (Steve Connor) Cetti's Warbler at Greenwich Ecology Park, in reeds near boardwalk (Birdguides) Goosander at Queen Mary Res (Rob Innes) Smew, 5 at Bedfont Lakes CP (Rob Innes) Smew at Barnes WWT (Mike Sheehan) Smew at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park in Rough Lot Wood (Martin Shepherd)

February 18 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res (Roy Beddard) Green-winged Teal at Walthamstow Res (Birdguides) White-fronted Geese, 20 at Fishers Green on Goose Fields (Phil Vines) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, also Slavonian Grebe & Green Sand (Ken Purdey & Rob Innes) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor (Ken Purdey) Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP, on village pit, also 13 Smew & Small Tortoiseshell (Rob Innes) Firecrest at Trent Park, also Brambling & 3 Mandarin - See Photo (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Stocker's Lake, also Goosander (Birdguides) Goosander, 10 at King George V Res, also 40+ Goldeneye & Common Sand (Martin Shepherd) Woodcock, 4 at Sewardstone Marsh at dusk (Martin Shepherd)

February 17 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, also Scaup (Birdguides) Green-winged Teal at Walthamstow Res (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe, 4 at King George VI Res (Ken Purdey) Long-eared Owl at Hatfield Aerodrome/Beech Farm GP, also Barn Owl, 3 Short-eared Owls & Jack Snipe (Steve Connor & Adam Wilson). NB. Please do not enter private wood at this site. Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res (Ken Purdey) White-fronted Geese, 20 at Holyfield on Goose Fields (Alan Harris) Waxwing, 4 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036 (Dave Messenger) Smew, 8 at Belhus Woods CP (Birdguides) Firecrest, 3 at Trent Park (Birdguides) Jack Snipe at Sewardstone Marsh (Birdguides) Goosander, 8 at King George V Res, also 2 Common Sands (Birdguides)

February 16 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, also Scaup & Firecrest (Andrew Self) Green-winged Teal at Walthamstow Res, also 2 adult Med Gulls, 5 Goosander, 21 Goldeneye & 3 Common Sands (David Darrell-Lambert & Stephen Harris) White-fronted Geese, 18 at Lee Valley, Holyfield 'Goose Field' (Phil Vines) Firecrest at Trent Park, also 10 Mandarin, & Goosander (Andrew Self) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, also 670 Ruddy Duck & Green Sand (Rob Innes) Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP, on village pit, also 4 Smew (Tony Sweetland, Rob Innes) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, also 14 Water Pipits, Little Egret & 5 Stonechat (Tony Sweetland, Andy Culshaw) Pintail, 81 at Rainham Marsh, also 2 Black-tailed Godwits & 2 Grey Plovers (Howard Vaughan) Red-necked Grebe at QE II Res, also Pintail (Steve Spooner)

February 15 Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res, also Scaup & Caspian Gull (Andrew Self) Red-necked Grebe at QE II Res (Dave Harris) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) White-fronted Goose at William Girling Res (Phil Vines) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, also 2 Redshank & 30+ Goldeneye (Ray Kilminster, Andrew Moon) Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP, on village pit, also 2 Smew & 24 Goldeneye (Andrew Moon) Bittern, 3 at the Lee Valley Bittern Watchpoint, also 6 Smew on Seventy Acres GP & 4 Smew on Hooks Marsh Lake & Smew at Bowyers GP (Birdguides) White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor (Andrew Moon) Smew at Beddington SF, also 3 1st winter Med Gulls (Johnny Allan) Dartford Warbler at Yeading Meadows, park by old recreation ground along Charville Lane and walk North towards A40. Follow footpath North and bird is in second field on left associating with male Stonechat around large bramble bush in middle of field. Note: this field is strictly PRIVATE (Birdguides) Smew, 7 at Belhus Woods CP Little Egret, 6 at Broadwater Lake Smew, 8 at Stocker's Lake, also Red-crested Pochard & Buzzard Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park in Rough Lot Wood Waxwing, 4 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station at Turnford Brook car park

February 14 White-fronted Geese, 3 at Staines Moor, also Little Egret & 6 Stonechat (Rob Innes) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, also Green Sand & 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Rob Innes) Lesser Scaup, drake at Brent Res (Andrew Self) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park in Rough Lot Wood (Pete Lowman) Smew, 3 at Stocker's Lake, also Red-crested Pochard & Goosander (Birdguides) Little Gull, 2 at Greenhithe White-fronted Goose, 2 at William Girling Res Red-throated Diver at Wraysbury GP, also 9 Smew & Caspian Gull

February 13 Waxwing, 5 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station between Turnford Brook car park and Lee navigation, also 2 Smew & 2 Goosander at Holyfield Lake and 2 Bitterns at the Bittern Watchpoint (Ronald Stevenson) White-fronted Goose at Barnes WWT, also Smew (Birdguides) Black-necked Grebe at Staines Res, also 2 Green Sands (Rob Innes, Birdguides) Smew at Bedfont Lakes CP (Rob Innes) Jackdaw at rugby pitch SE of Kempton Park NR had small conspicuous whitish- grey patches at the sides of the neck, possibly a continental migrant? (Rob Innes) Siskin, 150+ at Cornmill Meadows (Jeff Butcher) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park in Rough Lot Wood (Birdguides) Woodcock, 4 at Sewardstone Marsh at dusk (Martin Shepherd)

February 12 Glaucous Gull, 1st winter at Island Barn Res, flew off at 11.30, also Med Gull, 110 Fieldfare & 5 Redshank (Steve Spooner) Waxwing, 4 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036 Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Steve Davis) Bittern, 3 at Lee Valley, Pochard Hide (Alan Harris) Smew, 6 at Stocker's Lake, also 9 Goosander (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, See Photos, also Common Scoter & 2 Green Sands (Rob Innes) Orange-winged Parrot at Osterley Park! (Rob Innes) Bearded Tit, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR, also 2 Pintail (Birdguides) Bittern at Sevenoaks NR, also 3 Smew, 3 Goldeneye, 160 Siskin & 12 Lesser Redpoll (Birdguides) Golden Plover, 2 over Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

February 11 White-fronted Geese, 5 over Beddington SF, also 2 adult Med Gulls (Garry Messenbird) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides)

February 10 Iceland Gull roosted at Wm Girling Res showed characteristics of Kumlien's Gull (Steve Connor) White-fronted Goose flew down Thames past Tate Modern (David Darrell-Lambert) Little Egret at Walton-on-Thames, in ditch by Molesey Road by QE2 Res (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin also 51 Goldeneye & 634 Ruddy Duck (record London Count) (Ken Purdey) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also Goosander, 350+ Fieldfare, 9 Water Pipit & 8 Stonechat (Ken Purdey) Smew at Stocker's Lake, also 8 Goosander & 20 Siskin (Birdguides) Firecrest, 1+ at Trent Park in Rough Lot Wood (Pete Lowman)

February 9 Little Egret, 5 at Rainham Marsh, also 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits & Ruff (Dominic Funnell) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin (Birdguides) Waxwing, 2 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036 until 11.15 only (Birdguides) Bittern at Lee Valley CP, at Bittern Watchpoint, also Smew (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Little Egret at Staines Moor (Birdguides) Red-throated Diver at Aldenham Res (Birdguides)

February 8 Waxwing at Enfield Lock, off Ordnance Rd, by 20 Salisbury Rd at 9.45, TQ368986 (Birdguides) Waxwing, 2 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036, also Common Buzzard over (Birdguides) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also 29 Snipe & 23 Lapwing over (Andrew Self) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also Red-throated Diver - later on KGVI Res See Photos (Andrew Moon, Pete Naylor & Ken Purdey) Little Egret, 12 roosted at Broadwater Lake, also 2 Smew, Goosander, 16+ Goldeneye & 130+ Siskin (Andrew Moon) Bittern at Sevenoaks NR, also 2 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Lee Valley CP, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 4 Smew (Birdguides) Woodcock, 2 at Sewardstone Marsh at 17.30 (Martin Shepherd) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Smew at Barnes WWT, also Redshank (Birdguides) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 4 Water Pipits, 8 Stonechat & c200 Fieldfare (Andy Culshaw) Firecrest at Trent Park, also Goosander & 23 Mandarins (Birdguides)

February 7 Waxwing, 2 at Cheshunt, 3/4 of a mile north of railway station in Turnford Brook car park TL366036 (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin (Ken Purdey) Smew, 7 at Wraysbury GP, also 2 Goosander, 21 Goldeneye & Scaup (Birdguides) Little Egret at Walton-on-Thames, in ditch by Molesey Road by QE2 Res (Birdguides) Firecrest at Trent Park (Pete Lowman) Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter at Amwell Quarry NR (Birdguides) Marsh Tit, 2 at Theydon Bois, on western edge of golf course (Martin Shepherd)

February 6 Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Smew, 7 at Wraysbury GP, just north of Douglas Lane (Birdguides) Little Egret at QE2 Res, on river (Steve Spooner)

February 5 Iceland Gull at William Girling Res, also Med Gull (Steve Connor) Smew, 2 at Bedfont Lakes CP, also 4 Lesser Redpoll (Rob Innes) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also Green Sand & 11 Redshank (Ken Purdey & Rob Innes) Little Egret at Walton-on-Thames, in ditch by Molesey Road opposite Total garage (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Sevenoaks NR, also 2 Smew & 5 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Smew, 3 at Stocker's Lake, also 5 Goosander (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Valentine's Park, Ilford (Birdguides) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park (Birdguides)

February 4 Kittiwake, 4 at Northfleet, also 45 Black-tailed Godwits & 2 Grey Plovers (Steve Connor) Slavonian Grebe at Isle of Dogs, on dock west of blue drawbridge (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin (Birdguides) Greenshank at Tyttenhanger GP, also 2 Green Sands (Birdguides) Little Egret, 12 roosted at Broadwater Lake, also 2 Goosander (Rob Innes) Smew at Korda Lake, also 6 Goosander on River Colne (Rob Innes) Crossbill, 3 at Broxbourne Woods (Andrew Middleton)

February 3 Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park TQ284977 (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbots GP, also Smew (Phil Vines)

February 2 Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also Firecrest in churchyard (Andrew Self) Firecrest at Regent's Park, also Little Owl (Birdguides) Peregrine, 2 at Walthamstow Res, also Rock Pipit, Common Sand & 187 Fieldfare (Stephen Harris) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Smew at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbots GP (Birdguides) Bearded Tit, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR, also 2 Smew (Birdguides)

February 1 Iceland Gull roosted at Queen Mother Res, see photo also 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls (Andrew Moon) Bittern at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbots GP, also 2 Smew & Goldeneye (Birdguides) Jack Snipe, 3 between Purfleet and West Thurrock, also Black Redstart, 91 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Grey Plovers & 2 Turnstones (Stephen Harris) Bearded Tit, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR, also Smew (Birdguides) Firecrest at Trent Park, also Goosander (Birdguides) Little Egret at Stanwell Moor (Rob Innes) Smew, 10 at Wraysbury GP, also 8 Goosander (Rob Innes) Little Egret, 15 at Broadwater Lake, also 3 Scaup (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, adult roosted at Queen Mary Res (Birdguides) Red-breasted Merganser at William Girling Res (Steve Connor)