NewsJan2003

January 31 Waxwing, 8 flew south over Whipps Cross at 08.35 (Peter Hadrill) Lapwing, 220 over Brent Res, also 340 Fieldfare (Andrew Self) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, See Photo, also 6 Ringed Plover & 15 Redshank (Rob Innes) Green Sandpiper at Stanwell Moor, also Little Egret at Staines Moor & 255 Fieldfare across both moors (Rob Innes) Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter on Thames at Belvedere, also Ruff & Common Sand (Birdguides) Goosander at Little Britain Lake (Bill Came) Common Sandpiper at Walton Res, also Black Redstart on filter beds (Steve Spooner) Fieldfare, 20 over Kingsway, WC2 at 11.00 (Dave Miller)

January 30 Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbots GP, also 4 Smew (Birdguides) Bittern at Barnes WWT, also Cetti's Warbler, Smew & 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Birdguides) Common Sandpiper at Walton Res (Ken Purdey) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also Green Sand & 2 Water Pipits (Ken Purdey & Dave Morris)

January 29 Kittiwake, 37 over Queen Elizabeth II Res between 15.45-16.45, also Smew (Steve Spooner) Slavonian Grebe at Royal Albert Dock (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also 16+ Redshank (Rob Innes) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury GP, also 3 Goosander (Birdguides) Smew at Barnes WWT (Martin Honey)

January 28 Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 13 Water Pipits, 6 Stonechat & 2 Goosander on River Colne (Ken Purdey) Waxwing at Harold Hill, in Wednesbury Green, off St Neots Road (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin (Ken Purdey). Little Egret, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR, also 2 Smew (Birdguides) Marsh Tit at Epping Forest, Theydon Bois near golf course (Martin Shepherd)

January 27 Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also 30+ Goldeneye, 3 Pintail & 17 Redshank (Andrew Moon & Ken Purdey).

January 26 Waxwing at Northfields, in a private garden (J. Shelver) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also 49 Goldeneye (Peter Naylor) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also Firecrest in churchyard (Ian Ellis) Smew, 4 at Bedfont, Prince's Water Ski Club (Peter Naylor) Jack Snipe at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Pintail at Kempton NR, also 250+ Wigeon (Cliff Watson) Ring-necked Parakeet, 3000 roosting at Esher Rugby Club (Birdguides) Goosander, 22 roosted at Queen Elizabeth II Res (Birdguides) Jack Snipe at Mercers Park, Redhill, also 20 Snipe & 300+ Lapwing (Shaun Robson) Goosander over Horsenden Hill (Andy Culshaw)

January 25 Glaucous Gull, 1st winter roosted at Queen Elizabeth II Res, also Med Gull (Steve Spooner) Little Egret at Molesey GP (Steve Spooner) Common Sandpiper at Walton Res (Steve Spooner) Caspian Gull at Rainham Marsh, also 2 Med Gulls and Water Pipit (Birdguides) Waxwing at Bedfont CP, also 3 Smew (Rob Innes) Waxwing, 2 at South Woodford, by Central Line (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Ring-necked Parakeet, 3000 roosting at Esher Rugby Club, also Alexandrine Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon & Little Egret (Birdguides) Golden Plover, 300+ at Cheshunt, by A10 just north of M25 (David Darrell-Lambert) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin (Jim Sweetland) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 10+ Water Pipits (Cliff Watson) Smew at Barnes WWT (Cliff Watson) Smew, 11 at Broadwater Lake, also Little Egret (Birdguides) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also 16 Snipe (Leo Batten)

January 24 Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also 2 Green Sands (Lester Hunt) & 3 Brent Geese flew west at 09.01 (John Murray) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 9 Stonechat (John Murray) Little Egret, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR (Birdguides) Smew at Barnes WWT (Birdguides)

January 23 Grey geese, 7 NE over Shoreditch at 08.37, probably Pink-feet (David Darrell-Lambert) Little Egret, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, also 46 Goldeneye, 11+ Redshank & Green Sand (Rob Innes & Ken Purdey) Stonechat, 8 at Staines Moor (Ken Purdey) Mediterranean Gull, 3 at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Goosander at Little Britain Lake (Bill Came) Smew at Barnes WWT (Birdguides) Water Pipit, 2 at Rainham Marsh, by stone barges (Birdguides)

January 22 Black-throated Diver at Staines Res (Ken Purdey) Little Egret at Stanwell Moor (Rob Innes) Smew, 4 at Bedfont CP, south lake (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Sevenoaks WR, also 3 Smew & 3 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Bittern at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 2 Smew (Birdguides) Hawfinch at Woodford Green, in private garden (Birdguides) Yellow-legged Gull, 2nd winter by Lambeth Bridge at low tide (Stephen Harris)

January 21 Waxwing, 4+ at Kemsing, on Oxenhill Road, TQ543587 (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res (Ken Purdey) Hawfinch at Woodford Green, in private garden (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Royal Victoria Dock (Birdguides) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also Goosander, 150+ Fieldfare & 8 Stonechats (Birdguides)

January 20 Black-throated Diver at Staines Res (Birdguides) Waxwing, 5 at Kemsing, on Oxenhill Road, TQ543587 (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Red-crested Pochard at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

January 19 Cetti's Warbler at Barnes WWT (Mike Sheehan) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, also 4 Pintail, 4 Smew & Ringed Plover (Rob Innes & Ken Purdey) Red-breasted Merganser at Banbury Res, also Common Sand, 5 Goosander & 5 Goldeneye (David Darrell-Lambert) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Bittern at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter at Connaught Water (Rich Cope)

January 18 Waxwing, 5 at Kemsing, on Oxenhill Road, TQ543587 (Birdguides) Waxwing at Romford, opposite Mashiters Hill (Birdguides) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also 23 Snipe (Andrew Self) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Bittern at Sevenoaks NR, also Smew & 450 Siskins (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, morning only, (on KGVI in afternoon) also 32 Goldeneye, Green Sand & Redshank (Andrew Moon & Peter Naylor) Water Pipit, 10+ at Staines Moor, also 5+ Stonechats (Andrew Moon) Cetti's Warbler at Amwell Quarry NR, to right of public hide, also 12 Siskins & Goldeneye (Nigel Taylor) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Barking Reach, also 159 Shelduck (Fraser Simpson) Yellow-legged Gull, adult at Creekmouth (Flood Barrier), also 103 Shelduck (Fraser Simpson) Ringed Plover over Rye Meads (Rich Cope) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park, also 24 Mandarin on Lime Avenue Pond (Robert Callf)

January 17 Waxwing, 5 at Kemsing, on Oxenhill Road, TQ543587 (Birdguides) Ferruginous Duck, immature at Amwell Quarry NR, also 2 Bearded Tits & Cetti's Warbler (Birdguides) Siskin, 3 at Barnes WWT (Sacha Barbato) Bittern at Sevenoaks NR (Birdguides) Water Pipit, 3 at Rainham Marshes, by stone barges, also Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides) Ring-necked Parakeet, 700+ at Esher Rugby Club (Birdguides) Red-crested Pochard at Bushy Park (Birdguides) Little Egret at Queen Elizabeth II Res, in ditch by Molesey Road opposite Total Garage (Birdguides) Bittern at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 3 Smew (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res (Birdguides) Ring-billed Gull, adult at Woolwich Common, in front of Royal Military Academy (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull at William Girling Res (Steve Connor)

January 16 Little Egret at Staines Moor, also Goosander (Rob Innes) Pintail at Stanwell Moor, also 200 Lapwing over (Rob Innes) Smew, 15+ at Wraysbury GP, also 7 Goosander (Rob Innes) Scaup at Horton GP, on the biggest pit to the west of the Horton-Wraysbury footpath, at the end nearest the railway line (Rob Innes) Smew at Stocker's Lake, also 7+ Goldeneye & 100+ Siskin (Andrew Moon) Scaup, drake at Kensington Gardens, also 2 Ring-necked Parakeets (Sacha Barbato) Black Redstart at Walton Res (Birdguides) Water Pipit, 5 at Staines Moor (Birdguides) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin, also Green Sand & 16 Redshank (Ken Purdey & Mike Sheehan) Jack Snipe, 2 at Barnes WWT (Birdguides)

January 15 Red-breasted Merganser at William Girling Res, also 16 Black-necked Grebes (Steve Connor) Red-crested Pochard at Ponders End Lake (Steve Connor) Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, north basin (Rob Innes) Smew at Sevenoaks NR, also 6 Lesser Redpolls (Birdguides) Smew, 8 by Queen Mary Res, on GP by River Ash, TQ078685 (Rob Innes) Ring-billed Gull at Greenwich, 100 metres east of Cutty Sark (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbotts GP, TL 386112 (Rich Cope & N. Gates) Little Gull, 1st winter in roost at Nazeing GP, also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls & 25 Goosander (Rich Cope & N. Gates)

January 14 Black-throated Diver at Staines Res, south basin, also Red-breasted Merganser & Green Sand (Rob Innes) Firecrest at Brent Res, in churchyard (Ian Ellis) Ring-billed Gull, adult at Woolwich Common, in front of Royal Military Academy (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Little Egret at Maple Cross, also 250 Golden Plover by M25 slip road (Birdguides) Firecrest at Regent's Park in NW corner, also Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides) Grey Geese, 5, possibly White-fronts north over Trent Park at 09.30, also Firecrest (Robert Callf) Firecrest, 2 at Bedfords Park (Colin Jupp) Mediterranean Gull at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also Green Sand (Birdguides)

January 13 Red-breasted Merganser at King George V Res (Birdguides) Caspian Gull, 1st winter at Barnes WWT, also Yellow-legged Gull & Jack Snipe (Birdguides) Smew at Thorpe Park, Abbey Lake (Steve Spooner) Stonechat at Bushy Park, also 'dodgy' 8 Pintail, 4 Egyptian Geese & 6 Red-crested Pochard (Steve Spooner) Shag at Island Barn Res (Steve Spooner) Scaup, drake at Queen Mother Res (Rob Innes) Mediterranean Gull, 2 adults at Beddington SF, also Smew (Johnny Allan) Smew, 3 at Stocker's Lake, also 4 Goosander & 100+ Siskin (Glen Barnes)

January 12 Glaucous Gull, 1st winter at Beddington SF, also 3 Avocet, Little Egret, Smew, adult Med Gull & Jack Snipe (Johnny Allan) Merlin at Tyttenhanger GP, also 2 Green Sands (Steven Pearce) Little Egret, 9 roosted at Broadwater Lake, also 3 Smew, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls & 16 Goldeneye (Andrew Moon) Pintail, 4 at Queen Mary Res, also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Rob Innes & Ken Purdey) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Walthamstow Res, also adult Yellow-legged Gull, Green Sand, Common Sand & 515 Cormorants at roost (David Darrell-Lambert) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 13 Water Pipits, 6 Stonechats & Goosander (Ken Purdey) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Firecrest at Kingston-upon-Thames, in garden near cemetery (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury GP (Peter Naylor) Scaup, drake at Queen Mother Res (Peter Naylor) Goldeneye, 7 at Wraysbury Res (Peter Naylor) Smew at Staines Res (Peter Naylor) Green Sandpiper at Stanwell Moor (Peter Naylor) Slavonian Grebe at Royal Albert Dock, also one at Royal Victoria Dock by the Excel building and female Scaup on the Thames off Armada Way (Birdguides) Ruff, 2 at Crossness, also 1000+ Teal & Common Sand and 2 Pintail at Beckton outfall (Nick Tanner & Des McKenzie) Pintail, 3 at Holyfield Lake, also Smew & Goosander (P. Smith) Bittern at Amwell Quarry NR, also 12 Smew & Goldeneye (Dave Wheeler)

January 11 Iceland Gull, adult roosting at Queen Elizabeth II Res (Dave Harris) Hawfinch, 2 at Broxbourne Woods, also 5 Crossbills (Steve Connor) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also Firecrest in churchyard (Andrew Self) Little Egret at Sevenoaks NR, also Smew, 2 Goldeneye & 15 Siskin (Birdguides) Little Egret at Staines Moor on riverbank at the south end TQ030730, also 10+ Water Pipits, 4 Stonechats & Goosander (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Common Sandpiper at Belvedere, also Ruff & Black Redstart (Birdguides) Bittern, 4 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 2 Smew (Birdguides) Smew, 5 at Wraysbury GP, also adult Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Ring-billed Gull, adult at Isle of Dogs, opposite Lovell's Wharf (Birdguides) Siskin, 28 at Amwell Quarry NR (Stephen Harris) Mediterranean Gull at Beddington SF, also Smew (Johnny Allan)

January 10 Slavonian Grebe, 2 at Walthamstow Res, also 3 Pintail (D. Rudd) Scaup, drake at Queen Mother Res, also 300 Lapwings & 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Rob Innes) Caspian Gull at Beddington SF, also adult Med Gull & Smew (Johnny Allan)

January 9 White-fronted Geese, 40+ North over Walthamstow Marsh at 18.30 (David Darrell-Lambert) Ring-billed Gull, adult at Isle of Dogs, opposite Lovell's Wharf (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Yellow-legged Gull, 2 at Queen Mother Res (Birdguides) Lapwing, 9 over Brent Res, also Blackcap (Ian Ellis) Avocet, 2 at West Thurrock, also 173 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Curlews, 5 Grey Plovers, Oystercatcher & 4000 Dunlin (Steve Connor) Turnstone, 7 at Grays, also 4 Grey Plovers & 90 Ringed Plovers (Steve Connor) Green Sandpiper, 2 at King George V Res, also 2 Common Sands & 2 Goosander over (Martin Shepherd) Smew at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

January 8 Caspian Gull at Beddington SF, also Jack Snipe & 47 Golden Plover over (Johnny Allan) Black Redstart at Canary Wharf, No. 10 Cabot Square (Birdguides) Red-breasted Merganser at King George V Res (Birdguides) Scaup at Hyde Park, Serpentine (Ross Facer) Firecrest at Trent Park, also 14 Mandarin (Birdguides)

January 7 Curlew, 2 at Beddington SF, also Grey Plover & adult Med Gull (Johnny Allan) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Brent Res, also 1 Siskin over (Andrew Self) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Kensington Gardens (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury GP, also 3 Goosander & 80 Siskin (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Siskin, 110+ at Bexley Heath, in Bexley Wood by River Shuttle (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Royal Albert Dock (Birdguides) Ring-billed Gull, adult at Greenwich Reach, on moored barge 100 yards west of Cutty Sark (Birdguides) Shag at Island Barn Res (Steve Spooner) Woodcock, 2 at Sewardstone Marsh (Martin Shepherd) Bittern at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 2 Smew (Birdguides) Bittern at Barnes WWT, also Cetti's Warbler (per Sacha Barbato)

January 6 Smew, 4 at Stocker's Lake, also 8 Goosander (Birdguides) Caspian Gull, adult at Royal Albert Dock, also Slavonian Grebe (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter at Connaught Water (Rich Cope) Little Egret at Amwell Quarry NR, also Bittern & 1st winter Med Gull (Alan Harris) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 3 Water Pipits & 7 Stonechats (Steve Spooner)

January 5 Red Kite flew over Brent Res at 12.00, also 1st winter Med Gull over at 09.50 & Firecrest in churchyard (Andrew Self) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Kensington Gardens (Sacha Barbato) Red-crested Pochard, 2 at Stockers Lake, also 3 Goosander but no Lesser Scaup (Birdguides) Bittern at Barnes WWT, also Cetti's Warbler & Yellow-legged Gull (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 2 at Amwell Quarry NR (Alan Harris, Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Walthamstow Res, also Smew, 4 Goosander, 21 Goldeneye & Common Sand (David Darrell-Lambert) Slavonian Grebe at King George V Res, also Goosander & Common Sand (Martin Shepherd) Black Redstart, 2 at Brimsdown on reservoir fence, also 2 Stonechats (Martin Shepherd) Jack Snipe, 3 at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

January 4 Lesser Scaup, 1st winter drake at Stocker's Lake, also 2 Smew & 6 Goosander over (Andrew Moon) See Photos Pink-footed Geese, 3 flew NE over Brent Res at 11.10, also 50 Siskin (Andrew Self) White-fronted Geese, 3 flew west over Barnes WWT at 11.00, also Bittern there (Birdguides) Bewick's Swan, 2 at Wraysbury GP, on BA Pit, also 5 Smew & 4 Goosander (Birdguides) See Photo Slavonian Grebe at Amwell Quarry NR, also Mediterranean Gull, 3 Smew, 2 Bearded Tits, Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler & Brambling (Birdguides) Kittiwake, 8 flew west up Thames at Dartford, also adult Med Gull (Birdguides) Bittern at Bedfont CP (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 2 Smew & Goldeneye on Friday Lake; 3 Smew at Netherhall GP, also 600 Lapwing; 3 Smew at Nazeing GP, also 6 Goosander & 2 Goldeneye; Green Sand at Rye Meads RSPB, also Common Sand & Bearded Tit (Stephen Harris, Andy Culshaw) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Smew at Thorpe Park (Birdguides) Smew at Sevenoaks NR, also Mandarin & 2 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Black Redstart, male at Walton Res (Birdguides) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Kensington Gardens (Chris Collins) Pintail, 8 on King George VI Res, previously on Staines Moor (Ken Purdey, T & J Sweetland) Red-breasted Merganser at King George V Res, also 4 Goosander & adult Med Gull (Birdguides) Caspian Gull, 1st winter at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

January 3 Little Gull, adult at King George V Res (Phil Vines) Bittern 6 at Lee Valley CP, 4 at Bittern Watchpoint & 2 at Pochard Hide (Alan Harris & Jeff Butcher) White-fronted Goose flew north over St James's Park at 08.15 (Andrew Self) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park, NE side of Rough Lot Wood, TQ286979 Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbots GP (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Amwell Quarry NR, also Bittern at roost (Birdguides) Smew, 6 at Wraysbury GP, on BA sailing pit, also 4 Goosander (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, also 130 Siskin (Rob Innes) Goosander at Staines Moor, also Little Owl & 6 Stonechat (Rob Innes) Caspian Gull at Queen Mother Res, also 2 Med Gulls & 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Rob Innes) Smew, 4 at Thorpe Park, viewable from A320 Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Steve Spooner) Little Egret roosting at Molesey GP (Steve Spooner) Black Redstart, female at Walton Res, sewage treatment works (Birdguides) Firecrest at Regents Park, in Leaf Yard Wood (Birdguides) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Kensington Gardens (Birdguides) Redwing, 80+ at Queens Park, NW6 (Andrew Verrall) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

January 2 Bittern at Barnes WWT, also Goosander (Martin Honey) Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter at Lee Valley, NE of Holyfield Lake Sailing Club (Birdguides) Firecrest at Regents Park (Birdguides) Scaup, 1st winter drake at Kensington Gardens (Birdguides) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res (Ken Purdey) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Kittiwake at Greenwich Reach (Steve Connor)

January 1 2003 Brent Geese, 3 over Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter at Lee Valley, Holyfield Goosefield, also 2 Bitterns at Bittern Watchpoint (Andrew Self) Smew, 3 at Amwell Quarry NR, also Bittern, Little Egret, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 Goldeneye & Brambling, Green Smew, 3 at Wraysbury GP, also 2 Goosander (Andrew Moon) Smew, 3 at Korda Lake (Andrew Moon) Scaup at Horton GP, from end of Park Lane (Andrew Moon) Goosander, 3 at Staines Moor, on river (Andrew Moon) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res (Andrew Moon) Ruddy Duck, 518 at Staines Res (Lee Evans) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Firecrest at Burgess Park, in Bird Sanctuary (Nardine Montague-Gibson) Shag at Island Barn Res (Steve Spooner) Willow Tit at Bushy Park (Bob Douglas)