NewsDec2002

December 31 Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter at St James's Park (Andrew Self) Bittern at Barnes WWT (Sacha Barbato) Caspian Gull, adult at Rainham Marsh (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Dagenham Chase, also 237 Golden Plover & 2 Stonechat (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Thorpe Park, also 3 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Little Egret at Molesey GP (Steve Spooner) Shag at Island Barn Res (Dave Harris) Common Sandpiper at Walton Res, also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Steve Spooner) Smew, 11 at Wraysbury GP, also 10 Goosander & Yellow-legged Gull (Rob Innes) Scaup at Horton GP, also Bittern, Green Sand & 160 Siskin (Rob Innes) Little Egret, 14 roosted at Broadwater Lake, also 12 Yellow-legged Gulls, 11 Goosander & Chiffchaff (Andrew Moon) Crossbill, 7 at Black Park ,also 2 Brambling & 6 Mandarin (Ben Miller) Red-crested Pochard at Waddon Ponds, Croydon (Birdguides)

December 30 Bittern, 2 at Lee Valley Park, at Pochard Hide (Birdguides) Smew at Stockers Lake, also 8 Goldeneye & 2 Egyptian Geese (Birdguides) Green Sandpiper at Rye House RSPB (Stephen Harris) Smew, 2 at Netherhall GP, also Green Sand, Common Sand & 650 roosting Lapwing (Stephen Harris) Goosander, 7 at Nazeing GP, also Goldeneye & 173 Lapwing flew North (Stephen Harris)

December 29 Bittern, 2 at Barnes WWT, also Jack Snipe, Mediterranean Gull & 2 Cetti's Warblers (Birdguides) Probable hybrid drake Ring-necked Duck at Brent Res (Birdguides)

December 28 Curlew, 24 at West Thurrock (Steve Connor) Turnstone, 20 at Grays, also 6 Rock Pipits (Steve Connor) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 8 Smew plus 2 Smew & 7 Goosander on Holyfield Lake (Sean Huggins) Shag at Brent Res, also probable hybrid drake Ring-necked Duck (Andrew Self) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also Yellow-legged Gull (Ken Purdey) Pintail at Stanwell Moor, also Green Sand (Ken Purdey & Andrew Moon)) Scaup, female at Horton GP (Andrew Moon) - See Photo Goldeneye, 38 at Staines Res, also Redshank (Andrew Moon) Firecrest, 2 at Trent Park, Rough Lot, also 25 Yellowhammers (Robert Callf)

December 27 Scaup at Brent Res, also probable hybrid drake Ring-necked Duck & Shag (Andrew Self) Ring-billed Gull at Isle of Dogs, on Thames shore opposite Lovells Wharf (Birdguides) Dartford Warbler at Rainham Marsh (Steve Connor) Long-eared Owl, 2 at South Norwood CP (Birdguides) Yellow-legged Gull on Thames at Tate Modern, also Silver Gull (David Darrell-Lambert) Firecrest at Trent Park, Rough Lot (Robin White) Common Buzzard at Copped Hall, also 25 Yellowhammers (Andrew Middleton) Smew, 3 at Amwell GP, also 60+ Siskin (Ross Facer) Bittern at Lee Valley Park from Pochard Hide, also 3 Goosander & 5+ Goldeneye (Ross Facer)

December 26 Slavonian Grebe reported at Gunnersbury Park Boating Lake - could someone confirm this? Shag at Brent Res, also 22 Snipe (Andrew Self) Long-eared Owl at South Norwood CP, for info phone Dave on 07771 843070 (Birdguides) Caspian Gull, 4th winter at Regent's Park, also a Firecrest (Birdguides) Bittern at Barnes WWT (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 3 Smew at Friday Lake & 2 Smew at Bowyers Water (Tristan & Helen Bantock & Ross Facer)) Kittiwake at Beddington SF, also Med Gull (Johnny Allan) Little Egret, 13 roosted at Broadwater Lake Firecrest at Bedfords Park, Havering, also 2 Mandarin (Colin Jupp)

December 25 Smew, 8 at Wraysbury GP, also 6 Goosander, 20+ Goldeneye & Mandarin (Birdguides) Caspian Gull, 4th winter at Regent's Park, also a Firecrest (Birdguides) Rook over Brent Res, also Shag & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Andrew Self)

December 24 Bittern, 3 at Barnes WWT, also Cetti's Warbler (Birdguides) Smew at Sevenoaks NR, also Goldeneye (Birdguides) Common Buzzard at Crews Hill, also Woodcock & 3 Siskin (Rupert Pyrah)

December 23 Greenshank at Tyttenhanger GP for 3rd day (Birdguides) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also 17 Goldeneye & Golden Plover (Ken Purdey) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury GP, also 8 Mandarin (Birdguides) Goosander, 3 at Bushy Park, on roundabout ornamental pond (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Barnes WWT (Birdguides)

December 22 Barnacle Goose, 12 flew off high from Thames at Dartford Marsh at 11.10 (Birdguides) Pintail, 19 at Rainham Marsh (Steve Connor) Curlew, 17 at Swanscombe Marsh (Steve Connor) Common Sandpiper, 2 at Walthamstow Res, also 11 Goldeneye (Stephen Harris) Bittern, 3 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also 3 Firecrests, 3 Smew & 10 Goosander (Birdguides) Stonechat, 2 at Dagenham Chase NR, also 175 Golden Plover (Birdguides) Smew at Broadwater Lake, also Goosander & 2 Yellow-legged Gulls in roost (Andrew Moon) Smew, 6 at Korda Lake (Andrew Moon) Goosander, 21 at Nazeing GP in evening (Alan Harris) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Chingford GC (Rich Cope) Smew, 5 at Holyfield Lake, also 70 Siskin (Robert Callf & Chris Moorhouse) Slavonian Grebe at King George V Res, also 2 Goosander, 2 Common Sand & 2 Green Sand (Andrew Middleton) Golden Plover, 3-400 over Waltham Abbey (Andrew Middleton) Firecrest, 2 at Great Warley, Dark Lane (Colin Jupp)

December 21 Black-throated Diver on Queen Elizabeth II Res (previously on Walton Res) (Steve Spooner) Knot over Brent Res, also 4 Egyptian Geese & 30 Snipe (Andrew Self) Bittern, 3 at Lee Valley Park, at Bittern Watchpoint, also Goldeneye (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Caspian Gull at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan) Red-throated Diver over South Norwood CP, also 2 Long-eared Owls there Little Egret at Sevenoaks NR Firecrest at Coppets Wood (Tony Clancy)

December 20 Smew, 5 at Korda Lake (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Queen Mother Res (Birdguides)

December 19 Smew, 61 in the Wraysbury Area (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, on pit at end of Park Lane (Rob Innes) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury Lake North (Rob Innes) Smew, 10 at Wraysbury GP, also 9 Goosander & 20 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Queen Mother Res, also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (Rob Innes) Merlin over Island Barn Res at 16.05 (Steve Spooner) Common Sand at Walton Res (Steve Spooner) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also 15 Goldeneye & Green Sand (Ken Purdey) Smew, 7 at Broadwater/Korda Lake, also 2 Goosander, 12+ Goldeneye & 30+ Siskin but no sign of White-headed Duck (Ken Purdey & Andrew Moon) Green Sandpiper at Rickmansworth, TQ061958 (Birdguides) Green Sandpiper at Amwell, Sheepcote Pit (Birdguides)

December 18 Bittern, five roosted in Lee Valley Park, 3 at Bittern Watchpoint & 2 from Pochard Hide, additional birds seen at Amwell Quarry NR, Turnford Marsh & Rye Meads (LVRPA) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Bittern at Barnes WWT (Birdguides) Green Sandpiper at Croxley Common Moor, also Stonechat & good numbers of Redwing & Fieldfare (Birdguides) White-headed Duck at Broadwater Lake, also 8 Smew, 5 Goosander, 3 Little Egrets & 4 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted (Rob Innes) Smew at Sevenoaks NR (Birdguides) Firecrest, 2 at Regent's Park, also 7 Blackcap (Birdguides)

December 17 Kittiwake at King George V Res, also Slavonian Grebe (Phil Vines) Mandarin at Brent Res, also 24 Snipe (Roy Beddard) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also 13 Goldeneye (Ken Purdey) Redshank, 4 at Staines Res, also 394 Wigeon (Ken Purdey) Caspian Gull, 1st winter at Beddington SF, also Med Gull (Johnny Allan)

December 16 Bittern, 2 at Barnes WWT, also Scaup, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls & 30 Siskin (Birdguides) Short-eared Owl, 3 at Staines Moor (Birdguides) Red-throated Diver at Whipps Cross (Birdguides) Kittiwake at Broadwater Lake, also 3 Little Egrets & 4 Yellow-legged Gulls at roost but no sign of White-headed Duck (Birdguides)

December 15 White-headed Duck at Broadwater Lake, female/immature 1/2 a mile SW of Harefield between the Grand Union Canal and River Colne in the SW corner at TQ043892, also 8 Little Egrets & Iceland Gull roosted there See photos. Scaup at Horton GP, on pit at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Bittern at Bittern Watchpoint, Lee Valley, also 2 Smew (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Barnes WWT, also Scaup (Birdguides) Smew, 11 at Wraysbury GP, also 4 Goosander (Birdguides) Jack Snipe, 3 at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

December 14 Iceland Gull roosted at Broadwater Lake, See photo also 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls (Andrew Moon) Siskin, 10 at Brent Res, also 19 Snipe (Andrew Self) Little Egret at Amwell GP, also Pintail (Birdguides) Smew at Sevenoaks NR, also 2 Goldeneye & 250 Siskin (Birdguides) Bittern at Bittern Watchpoint, Lee Valley, also Smew (Birdguides) Bittern at Wraysbury GP, also 14 Egyptian Geese flew over, 4 Smew & 9 Goosander (Rob Innes) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbotts GP (Birdguides) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res (Rob Innes) Pintail at Stanwell Moor, also Little Owl (Rob Innes) Stonechat, 4 at Staines Moor (Rob Innes) Eider flew past Dartford Marsh on the River Thames (Birdguides) Little Egret at South Norwood CP, also Stonechat & 9 Siskin (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Barnes WWT (Birdguides) Ring-necked Parakeet, 7 at Hampstead Heath (Paul White) Oystercatcher at Beddington SF, also Dunlin (Johnny Allan)

December 13 Slavonian Grebe at St James's Park (Andrew Self) Green Sandpiper at Tyttenhanger GP (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Birdguides) Curlew, 5 flew east at Belvedere, also 2 Common Sandpiper & Stonechat (Birdguides) Mandarin, 13 at Trent Park on Lime Avenue Pond (Robert Callf) Dunlin, 9 at Beddington SF (Johnny Allan)

December 12 Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbotts GP (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, on pit at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Smew, 7 at Wraysbury GP, also 2 Goosander (Birdguides) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Rob Innes) Green Sandpiper, 2 at Amwell GP (Jeff Butcher)

December 11 Common Scoter at Northfleet, also Kittiwake & 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (Steve Connor) Slavonian Grebe at Island Barn Res, also Yellow-legged Gull & 2 Redshank (Steve Spooner) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also 15 Goldeneye, Ringed Plover & 2 Redshank (Ken Purdey) Peregrine, two over Euston Road at 08.30 (Peter Jones) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, Bourne Hall Lake, TQ219628 (Geoff Barter) Curlew over Sevenoaks Reserve, also there 2 Goldeneye (Birdguides) Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 north over Fishers Green (Alan Harris) Slavonian Grebe at Stanstead Abbotts GP (Alan Harris) Knot, 2 at Beddington SF, also 5 Grey Plover, Greenshank, Curlew, 12 Dunlin, 2 Redshank & Little Gull (Johnny Allan)

December 10 Red-throated Diver at Chipstead Lake, Sevenoaks (Birdguides) Golden Plover, 400 at Dagenham Chase, also 120 Fieldfare & 130 Redwing (Birdguides) Scaup at Horton GP, on pit at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Smew, 2 at Wraysbury GP, also 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (Birdguides) Grey Plover, 7 at Grays, also 11 Turnstone & adult Yellow-legged Gull (Steve Connor) Sandwich Tern at West Thurrock/Grays, also 245 Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2000 Dunlin, 200 Ringed Plover & 150 Redshank (Steve Connor) Goosander, 14 at Walton Res, also 2 Dunlin (Steve Spooner) Slavonian Grebe at King George V Res (Roy Woodward)

December 9 Bewick's Swan, 5 north over Walthamstow at 19.15 (David Darrell-Lambert) Scaup at Horton GP, on pit at end of Park Lane (Birdguides) Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res (Ken Purdey) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe & 17 Goldeneye (Ken Purdey) Ring-necked Duck, female at Ewell, TQ2062 (Birdguides) Dunlin, 7 at Beddington SF, also Peregrine (Johnny Allan) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Soham Fields, Enfield Lock (Steve Connor) Red-throated Diver at Northfleet, also Kittiwake & 400 Dunlin (Steve Connor)

December 8 Brent Goose at Beddington SF, also 2 Dunlin & 2 Water Pipits (Johnny Allan) Red-breasted Merganser past Belvedere, also Common Sandpiper & Stonechat there (Birdguides) Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res, also 444 Ruddy Duck (Ken Purdey) Bittern at Bittern Watchpoint, Lee Valley, also Smew & 2 Goldeneye. Also Bittern on North Met Pit from Pochard Hide, 4 Goosander at Holyfield Lake & 2 Goosander at Turnford GPs (Stephen Harris) Little Egret at Staines Moor, also 3 Short-eared Owl & Stonechat (Birdguides)

December 7 Red-throated Diver at Walthamstow Res, also 6 Goosander, 10 Goldeneye & 2 Green Sands (David Darrell-Lambert) Kittiwake, 3 over Beddington SF at 11.00 (Johnny Allan) Firecrest at Regents Park, in NW corner in Leaf Yard Wood (Birdguides) Short-eared Owl, four at Stanwell Moor (Birdguides) Scaup, immature at Horton GP (Rob Innes) Mediterranean Gull, 2nd-winter at Queen Mother Res, also 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls (Rob Innes) Little Owl at Horsenden Hill - 3rd sighting since October (Andy Culshaw)

December 6 Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res, also 40 Goldeneye (Ken Purdey) Great Northern Diver at King George VI Res, also 7 Goldeneye (Ken Purdey) Firecrest, 3 at Regents Park, in NW corner in Leaf Yard Wood (Birdguides) Woodcock at Brent River Park, Long Wood (Rob Innes) Stonechat, 2 at Heston Fields (Rob Innes)

December 5 Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res, also 10 Redshank & 43 Goldeneye (Ken Purdey & Rob Innes) Short-eared Owl, four at Staines Moor, also 4 Stonechat (Birdguides & Rob Innes) Fieldfare, 68 at Stanwell Moor (Rob Innes) Smew, 6+ at Wraysbury GP, also 9 Goosander & 175+ Fieldfare (Rob Innes) Smew, two at Eagle Pond, Snaresbrook (Birdguides) Firecrest, two at Regents Park, in NW corner in Leaf Yard Wood (Birdguides) Slavonian Grebe at King George V Res, also Common Sand (Phil Vines & Rich Cope)

December 4 Smew, 7 at Wraysbury GP, also 3 Goosander & 2 Mandarin (Birdguides) Caspian Gull at Horton, on fields next to Queen Mother Res (Birdguides) Ring-billed Gull, adult at Woolwich Common, in front of Royal Military Academy (Birdguides) Chiffchaff, two at St James's Park (Andrew Self) Red-crested Pochard, female at Connaught Water (Birdguides) Mediterranean Gull, adult at Soham Fields, Enfield Lock (Steve Connor)

December 3 Smew, 2 drakes at Wraysbury GP, on Heron Lake (Birdguides) Goosander, 2 at Walton Res, also 2 Green Sands, 2 Common Sands & 4 Redshank (Ken Purdey) Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res, also 4 Redshank (Ken Purdey) Smew, 2 at Lee Valley, Fishers Green, Pochard Hide, also Bittern (Birdguides) Brambling at Turnford Marsh GP, also 80 Siskin (Steve Connor) Lapwing, 43 over Walthamstow Res, also 4 Goldeneye (Stephen Harris) Green Sand at Rye Meads RSPB, also Siskin, 3 Water Rail & 10 Snipe (Rich Cope) Goosander, 4 at Nazeing GP (Rich Cope)

December 2 Smew, 2 drakes at Wraysbury GP, on Heron Lake (Birdguides) Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res, also 5 Redshank (Birdguides) Golden Plover, 350+ at Mill End, Rickmansworth, also 400+ Lapwing (Birdguides)

December 1 Red-throated Diver at Wanstead (Bob Vaughan) Smew, 3 at Wraysbury GP, on Village Pit (Birdguides) Bittern, 2 at Bittern Watchpoint, Lee Valley, also 2 Smew (Birdguides) Smew at Walthamstow Res, also Green Sandpiper (David Darrell-Lambert) Red-breasted Merganser at Staines Res, also 4 Redshank (Peter Naylor)