Ian Ellis

I moved to London in 1997 and then in October 1998 bought a flat near the Brent Res, a few doors down from Andrew Self (whom I didn't know at the time). Brent Res has been my local patch ever since, though I only started doing it regularly in 2001 and shamefully never saw the 1999 Purple Heron there despite living so close!

My best finds at Brent so far have been Alpine Swift and Long-tailed Duck, supported by Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose, Red Kite and Wood Sandpiper. Luckily I was within a 2-minute jog to where Leo Batten found the Hume's Warbler on 1/5/04, and am now approaching 140 species for the site (thought still miles behind Messrs Batten, Beddard, Self and Verrall I should add). My London list isn't much higher than my Brent list: I've deliberately avoided paying attention to that as I've enough things to distract me already!

I moved in August 2005 and now live in Woodside Park, North Finchley (N12), and have begun dividing my time between Brent Res and the Totteridge Valley/ Dollis Brook corridor, to see if I can find anything of note in my new area. You can check on my success (or indeed lack of it) by referring to my PatchList 2006 listing below.

I haven't done much overseas birding but trips to Ecuador/Galapagos and Namibia/Botswana in 2003-4 were both awesome experiences: my best ever find has to be southern Africa's 4th Wilson's Phalarope, at Walvis Bay salt-pans in Namibia on 9/11/04: this led to some South African listers chartering a flight from Cape Town.

PatchList 2006 - records for Totteridge Valley
Summary at 4th June:

No. visits  =  30 (excluding garden viewing)

Species = 82

{| border="1" cellpadding="1" !width="200"|Species !width="70"|First seen !width="400"|Notes
 * Cormorant
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly regular overhead
 * Grey Heron
 * 15th Jan
 * Regular along brooks.
 * Canada Goose
 * 4th Feb
 * Regular at Long Pond and Sheepwash Pond. Max. 17 on 18/3
 * Mandarin Duck
 * 15th Jan
 * Resident at Darlands Lake, sometimes seen elsewhere. Max. 5m/1f on 21/1; 3m/3f on 11/2; 4m/2f + 2 broods (12+2 ducklings) on 13/5.
 * Teal
 * 2nd Jan
 * Max. 14 drakes & 5 females at Darlands Lake on 11/2
 * Mallard
 * 2nd Jan
 * Resident at Long Pond, Sheepwash Pond, Laurel Farm, Darlands Lake.
 * Shoveler
 * 11th Feb
 * A female at Darlands Lake on 11/2 is the only 2006 record.
 * Sparrowhawk
 * 15th Jan
 * Resident
 * Common Buzzard
 * 1st May
 * One high over Totteridge at 11:30 on 1/5.
 * Red Kite
 * 8th Apr
 * One watched for 35 mins over Fairlawn on 8/4 was heavily mobbed and departed north at 09:30. [3 over at 09:05 on 28/5 (JPC)].
 * Kestrel
 * 15th Jan
 * Resident. At least 3 pairs present.
 * Hobby
 * 11th May
 * 2 on 13/5.
 * Pheasant
 * 2nd Jan
 * Widespread resident, probably 20-40 birds in valley. Max count = 12 on 31/3.
 * Red-legged Partridge
 * 21st Jan
 * A pair on 21/1 and again on 31/3.
 * Water Rail
 * Moorhen
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common near ponds and brooks.
 * Coot
 * 31st Mar
 * 2 at Darlands Lake from 31/3.
 * Lapwing
 * 19 Mar
 * 3 on 19/3 and 25/3. A pair displaying from 25/3 into mid-April.  2 pairs on 1/5.
 * Woodcock
 * [one was present 15/1 (JPC)]
 * Black-headed Gull
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common Gull
 * 2nd Jan
 * Winter visitor. Max. c280 at Folly Farm on 19/3
 * Lesser Black-backed Gull
 * 2nd Jan
 * Regular with Common Gulls at Folly Farm. Max. c15 on 19/3
 * Herring Gull
 * 2nd Jan
 * Occasionally with Common Gulls at Folly Farm.
 * Great Black-backed Gull
 * 2nd Jan
 * 1 over Folly Farm on 2/1
 * Feral Rock Dove
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Stock Dove
 * 15th Jan
 * Fairly common. Max. 22 at Holecombe Dale on 4/2
 * Woodpigeon
 * 1st Jan
 * Abundant
 * Collared Dove
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common. Max. 10+ at Burtonhole Farm on 21/1
 * Ring-necked Parakeet
 * 19th Feb
 * Uncommon. 2 near Burtonhole Farm on 19/2.
 * Cuckoo
 * 4th June
 * A male was singing on 4/6.
 * Tawny Owl
 * 5th Jan
 * Calling birds heard at Westbury Road, Darlands Lake and near Belmont racetrack.
 * Little Owl
 * 17th Apr
 * A pair in the rough grassland near Folly Brook at dusk in mid-late April.
 * Swift
 * 28th Apr
 * 2 over the upper valley on 28/4 were the first.
 * Kingfisher
 * 7th Jan
 * Scarce but sometimes present along brooks or at Darlands Lake.
 * Green Woodpecker
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common
 * Greater Spotted Woodpecker
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common
 * Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
 * 2nd Jan
 * 1 on 2/1 and singles fairly regular from 19/3. Drumming birds could be heard between late April - early June. Possibly 2 pairs present.
 * Swallow
 * 3rd Apr
 * 1 over The Warren on 3/4 was the first migrant of spring. Probably a few breeding pairs still at Burtonhole and Frith Manor Farms.
 * House Martin
 * 12th Apr
 * 4 heading north over Highwood Hill on 12/4 were the first arrivals.
 * Sand Martin
 * Skylark
 * 21st Jan
 * 1 over Folly Farm on 21/1 and 1-2 over on 9/4 and 17/4.
 * Meadow Pipit
 * 21st Jan
 * 60+ at Folly Farm on 12/3; 60+ at Fairlawn on 18/3; 67 flew north on 14/4.
 * Yellow Wagtail
 * Grey Wagtail
 * 2nd Jan
 * Present along water courses in small numbers.
 * Pied Wagtail
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common. Max. c15 near Burtonhole Farm on 12/3.
 * Wren
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Dunnock
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Robin
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Redstart
 * Whinchat
 * 3rd May
 * A pair at the rough grassland area at 07:45 on 3/5.
 * Stonechat
 * Wheatear
 * 31st Mar
 * Folly Farm: 6 on 31/3, 7 on 1/4; 8 on 2/4; 3 on 3/4; 1 on 17/4 (BW).
 * Blackbird
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Fieldfare
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common winter visitor. Max. c220 on 19/2; 40+ on 25/3; 1 on 16/4.
 * Song Thrush
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common. 15-25 pairs.
 * Redwing
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common winter visitor. Max. c260 on 19/2; 1 singing on 12/3; 80+ on 25/3; 24 on 1/4; 7 on 2/4.
 * Mistle Thrush
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Lesser Whitethroat
 * 23rd Apr
 * 7-8 singing in early May.
 * Whitethroat
 * 21st Apr
 * 13+ singing on 13/5.
 * Garden Warbler
 * 11th May
 * One singing near Folly Brook in the lower valley on 11/5. 2 on 13/5.
 * Blackcap
 * 4th Mar
 * A female on 4/3; first summer migrants arrived 2/4; 20+ males singing by mid-April.
 * Grasshopper Warbler
 * 17th Apr
 * A bird reeling from 17/4 through to 5/5 near the Folly Brook.
 * Willow Warbler
 * 31st Mar
 * 1 on 31/3 was the first arrival; 5 singing on 16/4 but only 2 in early May.
 * Chiffchaff
 * 15th Jan
 * One calling on 15/1, 11+ singing 13/5.
 * Wood Warbler
 * [one was present at Darlands Lake on 20/4 (DW)]
 * Goldcrest
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common. 7+ singing on 13/5
 * Spotted Flycatcher
 * 4th June
 * 2 seen on 4/6.
 * Long-tailed Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Blue Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Abundant
 * Great Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Coal Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Nuthatch
 * 4th Feb
 * Scarce: calling birds at St Paul's wood, Mill Hill, in Feb-Apr. 2 at Burtonhole Lane on 17/4.
 * Treecreeper
 * 2nd Jan
 * Several pairs present, most obvious around Darlands Lake.
 * Jay
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common. 20+ in valley on 21/1
 * Magpie
 * 1st Jan
 * Abundant
 * Jackdaw
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common. Max. 95 near Folly Farm on 11/2 (+ four elsewhere)
 * Rook
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common in the winter around Folly Farm. Max. 31 on 11/2
 * Carrion Crow
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Starling
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common. Max. 140+ on 19/2
 * House Sparrow
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common in residential areas.
 * Tree Sparrow
 * 31st Mar
 * Irregular. 1-2 calling at Folly Farm on 31/3.
 * Chaffinch
 * 1st Jan
 * Common. Max. 80+ at Holecombe Dale on 4/2
 * Brambling
 * 2nd Apr
 * A male at Highwood Hill on 2/4 then another nr Finchley Nurseries on 9/4.
 * Greenfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Goldfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Linnet
 * 9th Apr
 * 1 at the rough grassland area on 9/4 and 16/4; 3 on 17/4; 2 on 4/6
 * Siskin
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common winter visitor. Max. 51 at Darlands Lake on 15/1.  5 at Darlands Lake on 14/4.
 * Lesser Redpoll
 * 15th Jan
 * Scarce winter visitor: 3 on 15/1; 6 on 5/3; 5 on 20/4 [DW].
 * Bullfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Uncommon resident
 * -}
 * One calling on 15/1, 11+ singing 13/5.
 * Wood Warbler
 * [one was present at Darlands Lake on 20/4 (DW)]
 * Goldcrest
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common. 7+ singing on 13/5
 * Spotted Flycatcher
 * 4th June
 * 2 seen on 4/6.
 * Long-tailed Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Blue Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Abundant
 * Great Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Coal Tit
 * 1st Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Nuthatch
 * 4th Feb
 * Scarce: calling birds at St Paul's wood, Mill Hill, in Feb-Apr. 2 at Burtonhole Lane on 17/4.
 * Treecreeper
 * 2nd Jan
 * Several pairs present, most obvious around Darlands Lake.
 * Jay
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common. 20+ in valley on 21/1
 * Magpie
 * 1st Jan
 * Abundant
 * Jackdaw
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common. Max. 95 near Folly Farm on 11/2 (+ four elsewhere)
 * Rook
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common in the winter around Folly Farm. Max. 31 on 11/2
 * Carrion Crow
 * 1st Jan
 * Common
 * Starling
 * 2nd Jan
 * Common. Max. 140+ on 19/2
 * House Sparrow
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common in residential areas.
 * Tree Sparrow
 * 31st Mar
 * Irregular. 1-2 calling at Folly Farm on 31/3.
 * Chaffinch
 * 1st Jan
 * Common. Max. 80+ at Holecombe Dale on 4/2
 * Brambling
 * 2nd Apr
 * A male at Highwood Hill on 2/4 then another nr Finchley Nurseries on 9/4.
 * Greenfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Goldfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Linnet
 * 9th Apr
 * 1 at the rough grassland area on 9/4 and 16/4; 3 on 17/4; 2 on 4/6
 * Siskin
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common winter visitor. Max. 51 at Darlands Lake on 15/1.  5 at Darlands Lake on 14/4.
 * Lesser Redpoll
 * 15th Jan
 * Scarce winter visitor: 3 on 15/1; 6 on 5/3; 5 on 20/4 [DW].
 * Bullfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Uncommon resident
 * -}
 * A male at Highwood Hill on 2/4 then another nr Finchley Nurseries on 9/4.
 * Greenfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Goldfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common
 * Linnet
 * 9th Apr
 * 1 at the rough grassland area on 9/4 and 16/4; 3 on 17/4; 2 on 4/6
 * Siskin
 * 2nd Jan
 * Fairly common winter visitor. Max. 51 at Darlands Lake on 15/1.  5 at Darlands Lake on 14/4.
 * Lesser Redpoll
 * 15th Jan
 * Scarce winter visitor: 3 on 15/1; 6 on 5/3; 5 on 20/4 [DW].
 * Bullfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Uncommon resident
 * -}
 * Scarce winter visitor: 3 on 15/1; 6 on 5/3; 5 on 20/4 [DW].
 * Bullfinch
 * 2nd Jan
 * Uncommon resident
 * -}
 * -}