December 2012

  

Highlights of the month
The undisputed headline bird in December was London’s first Buff-bellied Pipit, which was found on the 12th at Queen Mother Reservoir, right on the edge of the London recording area. It obligingly stayed until the 26th, when amazingly it was joined by a second bird! But they were gone by the following day. Apart from pipits, the month was notable for a wide variety of sea ducks, divers and rarer grebes. Also at Q Mum Res, November’s Red-necked Grebe and Long-tailed Duck stayed on through most of December and were joined by a Great Northern Diver for four days mid-month. Long-tailed Duck were also to be seen at William Girling Reservoir and Grangewaters CP and a Red-necked Grebe was briefly at King George V Reservoir. Another Great Northern Diver visited Hilfield Park Reservoir for a couple of days and a Red-throated Diver was reported over Rainham Marshes. Island Barn Reservoir’s two female Velvet Scoter stayed for 12 days before flying off high on the 9th. A Common Scoter was at Hilfield Park Reservoir from the 1st to the 3rd. Several species of wild goose were reported, and Bewick’s Swan families were at Rainham Marshes and Tyttenhanger GP on the 8th, but did not linger longer. Short-eared Owl were seen at various sites, with long stayers at Staines Moor (four) and Dagenham Chase (one). The only wader of note was the wintering Spotted Redshank at Crayford Marshes, which was seen regularly up to Christmas Day. An Iceland Gull visited Rainham Marshes on the 28th. Waxwing were reported from all over the area, but mainly small numbers flying over. The only twitchable flocks were c.25 in Streatham Hill from 7th to 9th (with one or two remaining to the 11th) and about 100 in Mill Hill from 27th to New Year’s Eve (and a 2013 year tick?). November’s two Bearded Tit at London Wildlife Centre and one at Brent Reservoir hung around till mid-December and another popped up occasionally at Rainham Marshes. Firecrest were seen at more than a dozen sites, and a Siberian Chiffchaff was reported from Dorney/Eton Wick on the 16th.

Monday 31st December 2012
TO BE ADDED

Sunday 30th December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 11 Ruddy Ducks, 22 Snipe, 2 Lapwing (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
 * Beckton Sewage Works: 24 Redshank, Chiffchaff, Black Redstart, Green Sandpiper and 2 Curlew.(Dave Morrison)
 * Blackheath: 3 Waxwing on A102 300m N of Sun in the Sand roundabout at junction with A2 at 1310 (James Lowen) Present from 1325 to at least 1500 when seemingly left to roost (Joe Beale).
 * Charing Cross Hospital: Peregrine perched with prey (Neil Anderson)
 * Greenford UB6: male Blackcap in garden (Neil Anderson)
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Barnacle Goose of unknown origin still present, 34 Egyptian Goose, 33 Shoveler, 2 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, c30 Herring Gull, 14 Stock Dove, both Tawny Owl showing well (D. McKenzie). Hi Des, where's the best place to see the R-C Pochard? Serpentine Island area for R-cP and usual trees for Tawnies.
 * Jack's Lake, East Barnet: Waxwing small flock flew over south at 0800hrs (Neville Smith).
 * Leyton (Waterworks NR): 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 30+ Long Tailed Tit, 8 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard (Jonathan Nasir).
 * Mill Hill NW7: c.100 Waxwing still present at 08:30 on A1/A41 Watford Way at Chadbury Court near Fiveways Corner, mainly in trees at rear of houses or on TV aerials and only occasionally coming down to feed, when easily spooked by traffic (Andrew Haynes). Still present at 13:00 & still berries (Frank Nugent). Great views of feeding birds at lunch time, excellent directions by the way, cheers, nice bird to end the year with! (Dawn Painter). Still there 3.30 (Rich Townsend). Do not park in Chadbury Court's private slip road; park in Tithe Walk or Page Street and use the subway to cross Watford Way or park at Pentavia Retail Park and walk back.
 * Oakhill Park, East Barnet: 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron (D Bates)
 * Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine Falcon (D. McKenzie).
 * Rainham Marshes: c5 Rock Pipit, 20 Curlew and 1 Stonechat.(Shailesh Patel and George Kalli).
 * Ten Acre Wood area: Barn Owl, Common Buzzard, 2 Skylark, 15+ Stock Doves and 1 Mute Swan over.(G Westley).

Saturday 29th December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 15 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, 10 Ruddy Ducks (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall).
 * Finsbury Park: 2 Egyptian Goose, 5 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler (James Palmer).
 * Grange Waters: Siskin, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Snipe, Long-tailed Duck, 70 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 204 Tufted Duck, 83 Pochard, 80 Fieldfare, 45 Redwing, 2 Yellowhammer and 4 Red Legged Partridge.(Dave Morrison)
 * Greenford UB6: m Blackcap in garden (Neil Anderson)
 * Ham Lands: 1 Bullfinch (area south of Young Mariner's Lake. 9.30am) (Spencer Neal).
 * Greenwich Park: 1 f Teal still present (Joe Beale).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: female Scaup (BirdGuides).
 * Kensington Gardens: Tawny Owl on roost, Green Woodpecker, many Common Gull, 2 Shoveler. (Mark H and the North France Birder)
 * Mill Hill NW7: 100+ Waxwing still on A1/A41 Watford Way at Chadbury Court near Fiveways Corner 08:15 (Allan Stewart). Still present at 12.15 (Oscar Dewhurst, Derek Turner) Do not park in Chadbury Court's private slip road; park in Tithe Walk or Page Street and use the subway to cross Watford Way. I counted 91 on aerials of Chadbury Court  at 1.00pm. Thanks for the parking info - a very busy place!. (Geoff Crabtree.) 80+ Waxwings still present 14:50 - 15:20. They perch in the large trees in the back gardens of Chadbury Court, at one point moving next to the Nissan garage's car park. They're very flighty and easily spooked by lorries going by - they weren't coming down and feeding very often. I'd also like to extend my thanks for the parking instructions! (Katy McGilvray)
 * Northolt and Greenford CP: m Kestrel, Redwing, Chiffchaff by scrape, 1 Lesser Redpoll feeding with 7 Goldfinches in small alder (Neil Anderson)
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, 250 Dunlin (RSPB)
 * Worcester Park: 2 Little Egrets on fields (Bob Smith) Hi Bob - where abouts in Worcester Park was this? Thanks Adam F(on fields from end of Green Lane up past school on left onto footpath)

Friday 28th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 9 Shoveler Wood Green Res., 1 Conservation Pond (Gareth Richards).
 * Crayford Marshes: 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Little Egret, 2 Curlew, 250 Lapwing (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: 4 Waxwing by red lighthouse (probably the first non-flyover record for the patch), 2 Peregrines, Chiffchaff (John Archer)
 * East Barnet: 7 Siskin on my garden feeders. ( Pete Lowman).
 * Enfield Town (New River at Southbury Road): 1 adult male Goosander, 15:25 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Hilly Fields SE4: Great Spotted Woodpecker (Phil Laurie).
 * Horsenden Hill: 9 Waxwing in birches around Canal Pond ca. 1.30pm before flying over the IBM building towards Perivale and not relocated. Also 1 Kingfisher Paradise Fields and 240+ Common Gulls on playing fields (Andy Culshaw).
 * Ladywell Cemetery SE4: Kestrel (m), 2 Mistle Thrush, Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 Jay, 2 Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker (observer?).
 * Lake Farm, Hayes: In memory of Pete Naylor, I did a three-hour bird count of the site today - 15 Common Gull, 18 Herring Gull, 28 Black-headed Gull, 46 Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 5 Stonechat (3m and 2f), 4 Reed Bunting (all males), 1 Red Kite over at 10.30am, a fully leucistic Blackbird by the canal and a large (c30) flock of Long-tailed Tit. (W.Marks)  R.I.P Peter Naylor.  I never knew this, very sad news :-(  (Nigel Sluman)
 * Mill Hill NW7: 100 Waxwing on A1/A41 Watford Way northbound at Chadbury Court between Fiveways Corner and WLMG Nissan showroom mid-morning onwards, building up during the day (Bob Husband, Steve Blake, etc).
 * Rainham Marshes: juv Iceland Gull, 4 Caspian Gulls (ad, 3w & 2 2w) and 15 Yellow-legged Gulls (all ages) near stone barges (Dominic Mitchell via @birdingetc);  Kingfisher @ Ken Barrett hide, 6 Common Snipe, Bearded Tit (observer?).
 * Wanstead Flats: Common Snipe, 19 Gadwall, m Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, 7 Common Pochard, 4 Shoveler, 23 Greylag Goose,  19 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark, Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Stock Dove, c. 1,500 + gulls on the flooded parts, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 45 Gadwall, 10 Pochard, 124 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest (Nick Croft)

Thursday 27th December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 10 Ruddy Duck (Andrew Self)
 * Connaught Water: Hooded Merganser f. I believe this was reported a while ago. Suppose its credentials are questionable. [yes, several around UK] Also, several Mandarins and 2 Goldcrests (Dan Barrett)
 * Ewell Village (Lower Mill): Little Egret feeding in Hogsmill river early a.m. Bird returned again at 13.00 (Neil Batten).
 * Greenford UB6: male Blackcap still feeding in garden (Neil Anderson)
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Woodcock flushed off Buck Hill by incoming Air Ambulance 12:11, also tame Barnacle Goose, 46 Egyptian Goose, 3-4 Gadwall, 21 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 3 singing Mistle Thrush (D. McKenzie). Kingfisher at top of Long Water nr fountains (James Hudson)
 * London Wetland Centre: Bittern (BirdGuides).
 * Mill Hill NW7: 50+ Waxwing reported on A1/A41 Watford Way at Chadbury Court between Fiveways Corner and Nissan showroom.
 * Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine Falcon a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: no sign of any Buff-bellied Pipits (Twitter).
 * Stocker's Lake: drake Goosander, 18 Goldeneye incl. 4 drakes (Herts website).
 * Wanstead Flats: c 15 Waxwing near SSSI (Bob Vaughan), 1600 assorted gulls near Alex (Tim Harris)

Wednesday 26th December 2012

 * Bentley Priory: 3 Ravens over calling 09:45 northern edge of site. Suspect they are the same trio I found in September attracted to area around the deer park (Richard Francis).
 * Brent Reservoir: 11 Ruddy Duck, 11 Lesser Redpolls, 12 Snipe & 2 Lapwing (Brent Birders).
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, 3 Peregrine, Green Sanpiper, 2 Rock Pipit, Curlew (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: circa 50 Pied Wagtails in the paddock near the ridgeway path, Meadow Pipit, circa 500 Teal on the Thames, Little Grebe, Widgeon, Gadwall, Shelduck, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Little Egret, Dunlin, Green Woodpecker, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Redpoll (Phil Laurie).
 * Finsbury Park: 1 Mandarin, 5 Egyptian Geese, 10 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Grey Heron on edge of lake, very close, 100 gulls, many Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Shag (Observer ?)
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: female Scaup (Herts website).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Snipe (Shaun Harvey).
 * Kensington Gardens: Both Tawny Owls looking content in their tree (Denise Anderson).
 * Osterley Park: 3 Commom Buzzard (Rob Mills).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT Now TWO birds present and photographed  on Berks Birds website. Amazing! (permit holders only till 2013) (per MMcK)
 * Rammey Marsh, Enfield Lock: Short-eared Owl flushed at 09:50 (Martin Shepherd).
 * Southall, Warren Farm: 12 Rook (Rob Mills)
 * Ten Acre Wood area:  Short-eared Owl (observed with G. Westley) flushed 9.40 then watched hunting over rough grass + perched briefly on low bush + in tree ; also m Kestrel, 25 Lapwing on ground and another 29 circling over, 7 Stock Doves, 2 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Buntings, c10 Linnets, 50+Chaffinch (Neil Anderson)
 * Yeading Brook Meadows: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 65 Common Gulls, Lesser Redpoll in hedge (Neil Anderson)

Tuesday 25th December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 9 Ruddy Duck, 4 Snipe & Lapwing . Season's Greetings from all Brent Birders and thanks to Santa! (Andrew Self)
 * Cowley, Uxbridge: On this sad day, after the passing of Pete Naylor yesterday evening, 3 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff in the garden and a Red Kite over in the morning. (Roger Morton)
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, 182 Black-tailed Godwit, c1000 Dunlin, Curlew, 14 Ringed Plover, 70 Redshank, c 1700 Lapwing. (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crayford, Thames Road Wetland: 3 Water Rail (heard), 1 Little Egret (over), approx 8 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldfinch (Chris Rose)
 * Greenford UB6: male Blackcap now territorial in garden chasing Blue Tits off (Neil Anderson)
 * Greenford UB6 Malden Avenue 8-10 Waxwing  very briefly in unberried street tree at 10.30 am (Martin Smit)
 * Osterley Park: 07.40 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kingfisher. (K.Fisher); 16:45 Barn Owl very briefly, Merry Xmas to KF you certainly need 360 deg. vision (Rob Mills)
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon flew toward Little Venice a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT Xmas day  Berks Birds website (BirdGuides)
 * Twickenham / Whitton: 31 Waxwing along the Crane Park walkway near Mill Road Weir between Hospital Bridge Road and Kneller Gardens, then later along adjacent Lincoln Avenue (2-3 pm), 11 Mandarin on the River Crane at Kneller Gardens (I. Darbyshire).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: drake Goosander on No5, 13 Shelduck (Stuart Fisher)
 * Wanstead (private garden): Grey Wagtail (enjoying the scrape which has formed on the lawn), 5 Siskins (Chris Legge)
 * West Green Road, N15: Chiffchaff (Harringay Birder)
 * Whitton: 3 Linnets on my feeder, a first for my garden (Tony Leppard)
 * West Drayton Sipson Road: 10 Waxwings A first for me after 55 years Merry Xmas all ( Mike Goodall)

Monday 24th December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 50 Ring-necked Parakeets (Andrew Self),1 Kingfisher and 1 Lapwing (Shailesh Patel).
 * Crayford Marshes: Waxwing flew over south-west calling, landed briefly then continued on its way; 160 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Golden Plover, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter & 2nd winter), 3 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 80 Egyptian Goose, male Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 6 Red-crested Pochard, 54 Pochard, both Tawny Owls showing well, Sparrowhawk, adult Great Black-backed Gull (D. McKenzie).
 * Ladywell Cemetery SE4 : 2 Goldcrest, Jay, G and GS Woodpecker, Gold Finches.(Phil Laurie)
 * Muswell Hill: up to five Lesser Redpolls again visiting feeders in my garden (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon, Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: ad Ross's Goose of unknown origin on Wennington Marshes early morning (Dave Smith) and then on Aveley Pools until midday at least (Dave Smith, Howard Vaughan, Dominic Mitchell). Also two Marsh Harriers (imm male and imm female), 12 Northern Pintail, 3 Little Egrets, 17 Eurasian Curlew, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, Chiffchaff (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT 11.30, Long-tailed Duck  Berks Birds website (BirdGuides)
 * Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 (Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir): 52 Barnacle Goose came in high from the SE and landed on Apps Court GP mid-morning (TQ165625).  Still present c.1030 (DMH).

Sunday 23rd December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 9 Ruddy Duck (Andrew Self).
 * Bromley South Stn : Grey Wagtail on Platform 3 (Phil Laurie)
 * Canons Farm: 5 Woodcocks in Ruffett Wood yesterday (local shooting group per David Campbell).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): 2 Water Rail, Common Buzzard, Wood Duck (P_Kite).
 * Greenford UB6: male Blackcap in garden (Neil Anderson)
 * Hackney (Middlesex Filter Beds NR): 1 Firecrest (Leaside with tit flock), 4 Teal, 8 Goldfinch (TeRNS)
 * Hayes: in my garden @09:00-09:10, 12 species inc. Brambling, Blackcap, Parakeet (Nigel Sluman)
 * Hayes, Hillingdon UB4 (Ten Acre Wood NR area): 2 Pheasant (1 all white bird), covey 5 Red-legged Partridge, Buzzard, f Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 40 Lapwing, Barn Owl mobbed by 6 Jackdaws 8.45 uttering screech then hovering on its own before landing in tree, Short-eared Owl flushed at 10.00ish from ground few feet from me (both owls patch ticks for me but previously recorded by others), 13 Stock Doves, 4 Skylarks, 6 Meadow Pipits, 16 Fieldfare, Linnet, 54 Chaffinch (Neil Anderson)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT - early am then flew towards NW bank. £2 permit access, 8am-4pm Sunday and Monday per Birdguides . Berks Birds website. (FJM) Also sprawk, m goldeneye, m long-tailed duck, c. 10 fieldfare (FS)
 * Rainham Marshes: Ross's Goose of unknown origin (not Snow Goose as originally reported) and White-fronted Goose with Greylags from Shooting Butts Hide (per Howard Vaughan), Merlin (f), 3 Yellow-legged Gull (2ad 1 2w), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Pintail (John Richardson)
 * Staines Moor: 4 Short-eared Owl, 2+ Water Pipit, 2 Stonechat, c 20 Linnet, c 20 Meadow Pipit, 6+ Reed Bunting, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 1m Kestrel - all 13.30-15.00 (I. Darbyshire)
 * Staines Reservoir: 2 Scaup on north basin, 1 redhead Smew on south basin ( Jim Sweetland)
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 1 Woodcock flushed, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Fieldfare, 17 Canada Geese, 5 Rook, 120+ Jackdaw, 14 Teal, 2 drake Mandarin (John Colmans)
 * Wanstead Flats: c. 1-2,000 gulls on playing fields and police scrape: predominantly Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls, with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls in the mix, 4 Common Pochard, 2 Shoveler, Tufted Duck (Jub), 2 Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Kestrel, 3 Mistle Thrush (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 1,300 Black-headed Gull north towards dark, with a few larger gulls (mainly Herring Gull), Ilford Golf Course as viewed from the Old Sewage Works, 2 Pipistrelle bats, c. 200 Gadwall (150 + on basin), c. 100 Tufted Duck, 15 Pochard, 5 Shoveler, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Goldcrest, Nutchatch, Tawny Owl calling in Reservoir Wood at 17:30 (Nick Croft)
 * Wraysbury Lake: I f goldeneye, 2 goosanders, 2 red kite (FS)

Saturday 22nd December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: Little Egret west over Neasden Rec at 09.25, also 18 Snipe (Andrew Self)
 * Canons Farm: 5 Woodcocks in Ruffett Wood (local shooting group per David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, Turnstone, 270 Black-tailed Godwit, 21 Golden Plover, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, Green Sandpiper, 3 Curlew (Kev Jarvis).
 * East Barnet EN4 (Oak Hill Park): Little Egret on flooded football pitch (Sylvia Javes).
 * Enfield Town: Little Egret feeding on the New River adjacent to Southbury Road (Phil Rhodes).
 * Greenford, UB6: male Blackcap again in garden; in pm 1 male + 2 female Blackcaps arrived together with 5 Long-tailed Tits - one female spent some time sipping nectar from Mahonia (Neil Anderson).
 * Hornsey N8: 1 Blackcap in my garden (James Palmer).
 * Mill Hill NW7: 1m Blackcap, 1m Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch (Xav).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT at 11.35, drake Long-tailed Duck 09.20 (Michael McKee).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: Lockwood and Maynards - 5 Goosander (1 drake 4 fem), 7 Goldeneye (1 drake 6 fem); West Warwick - imm Shag still (Stuart Fisher).
 * Wanstead Flats: Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Shoveler, 2 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Heron, 2 Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 43 Gadwall, 81 Tufted Duck, 16 Pochard, 6 Shoveler, m Teal, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Goldcrest, Siskin, 2 Bullfinch, Water Rail, Sparrowhawk having a pop at a bat-shaped bird, or a bird-shaped bat in the gloaming (Nick Croft)

Friday 21st December 2012

 * Archway: Mistle Thrush 11am (Dawn Painter)
 * Bedfont Lakes CP: 14 Waxwings over this morning (Chris Slack per Adam Cheeseman).
 * Bentley Priory: Little Egret on Old Lodge Common 08:30 (1st record on site); 3m 3f Mandarin, 2m Goosander on Summerhouse lake (Richard Francis).
 * Bexleyheath DA6 (Danson Park}: 9 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 8 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Egyptian Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Cormorant, 1 or 2 Common Gull amongst lots of Black-headed, 2 Mute Swan, about 96 Mallard (Chris Rose).
 * Brent Reservoir: 24 Snipe in east marsh, also 9 Ruddy Duck (Brent Birders).
 * Cheshunt/Waltham Cross, Herts: adult dark-bellied Brent Goose  at Theobalds Park Farm in field immediately south-west of A10/B198 junction, opposite Travelodge, from 09:42-10:00 (Dominic Mitchell); still present 11:20 . View from small layby on northbound carriageway of A10.(Simon West)
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, male Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Curlew, c1500 Lapwing (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crossness: female Black Redstart on sea wall by entrance to The Ridgeway (Steve Carter per JA).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Short-eared Owl again on travellers field at 3:40pm, caught a vole and flew off (Gary Polain per VH-F).
 * Greenford, Ealing UB6: male Blackcap in my garden (last time I saw garden in daylight (Sunday) there was a female) (Neil Anderson)
 * Greenwich Park: now 4 Teal (2m 2f); pair Egyptian Geese just outside Park (Joe Beale).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: female Scaup and three Ruddy Duck (Dominic Mitchell, Steve Murray).
 * Ilford Garden:today it was the female Sparrowhawk chasing the Goldfinches (B Miller)
 * Kensington Gardens: 1 male and 1 female Tawny Owl plus Coal Tit (G.Curry and W.Marks).
 * Ladywell fields.S.E.6: mandarin duck.female.with the mallards.(tT.Wilson)
 * Lee Valley RP: Middlesex FB - 1+ Firecrest, 2+ Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaff; Essex FB (WaterWorks NR) - 1 Firecrest, Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests (Paul Whiteman), Middlesex FB: 15.00 - 2 Firecrest (Jamie_Partridge), Middlesex FB: early a.m. - as above plus adult Mediterranean Gull (with nearly complete black hood) flew NE (Stuart Fisher).
 * Lee Valley RP (Walthamstow Marshes): Green Sandpiper on puddle, fem Pheasant, 3 Kestrel (Jamie_Partridge).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 16 Starling, 1 Peregrine (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mill Hill NW7: 1 male Blackcap, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Waxwing (Xav).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT still late morning and Long-tailed Duck still; no access today - weekend access will be 08:00-16:00 (Birdguides)
 * Rainham Marshes: 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Turnstone (stone barges) (James Lowen).
 * Ruislip Lido, Hillingdon HA4: 2 Little Egrets, 2 Nuthatches (Martin Smith).
 * Trent Park: 15(10m 5f) Mandarin Duck; 5(3m 2f) Pochard; 4(2m 2f) Tufted Duck; 1 Woodcock flushed, Icehouse Wood 14:03 hrs; 1 singing male Mistle Thrush; 6 Goldcrest; 2 Coal Tit; 2 Nuthatch; 1 Treecreeper; 35 Siskin feeding in Alder on island between Icehouse Wood and Water Garden (Robert Callf).
 * Wanstead Flats: 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Egyptian Goose, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, Goldcrest, 4 Stock Dove (Nick Croft).
 * Wanstead Park: 50 Gadwall, 14 Pochard, 43 Tufted Duck, 7 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Redwing (Nick Croft).
 * Willesden NW2: 5+ Waxwings in trees at the junction of Warm Lane and Lydford Road late afternoon (Thom Shannon).
 * William Girling Reservoir: drake Long-tailed Duck still, pair Goosander, 7 Black-necked Grebe (Stuart Fisher).
 * Woodside Park N12: FOUR different Blackcaps (3m 1f) in garden today, also male Sparrowhawk and Nuthatch (Ian Ellis).

Thursday 20th December 2012

 * Bushy Park : 1 Little Owl (Ian R Watson).
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, Spotted Redshank, 64 Golden Plover, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Rock Pipit, Green Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis).
 * Ewell Village: Little Egret again at the Lower Mill on and off throughout the morning and then showing very well between 15.00 and 16.00. Also Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher (Neil Batten).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: Scaup (BirdGuides).
 * Hyde Park: Peregrine over (Greg Smith).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT still this morning, also Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver; no further arrangements for public access until 08:00 on Saturday (via @birdingetc on Twitter).
 * Sidcup, Kent DA15: Firecrest at The Glade in oaks behind Rowley Avenue (Ian Stewart per JA).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: 2 Tundra Bean Goose flew NE at 10.50 (Twitter).

Wednesday 19th December 2012

 * Brent Reservoir: 4 Lesser Redpoll near hide, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Water Rail, 21 Common Snipe, c100 Teal (Derek Turner).
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, Spotted Redshank, 8 Golden Plover, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, Lesser Redpoll, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Pipit, 3 Curlew, Kingfisher, 77 Fieldfare, 1800 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dulwich SE22 (Dunstans Road): 2 Lesser Redpoll on niger feeder in back garden (Martin Stevens).
 * Ewell, Surrey KT17: Little Egret showing well at The Lower Mill, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets prospecting nest holes in a plane tree; no sign of any Waxwings at Ewell Park Way/London Road this morning (Neil Batten).
 * Farnborough, Bromley BR6: c20 Waxwings by pedestrian crossing mid-way along the A21 between Starts Hill Rd & Tubbenden Lane 10.40 (Dave de Silva).
 * Grays, RM17: c20 Waxwings Bexhill Drive 8.00 am (James Astley). 50 present 11.20 (DDL).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Barnacle Goose at Round Pond (probably from a local collection), pair of Gadwall, 22 Shoveler, 70 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, adult Great Black-backed Gull, Tawny Owl showing well, male Blackcap in shrubs adjacent to Westbourne Gate (D. McKenzie).
 * Ilford IG1: 8 Goldfinches on the garden feeders this morning - scattered by male Sparrowhawk looking for breakfast! (Barbara Miller)
 * Lewisham SE13: female Mandarin on River Ravensburne in Cornmill Gardens (John Archer).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 2 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 1 f Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Peregrine (other side of hospital) (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Oakwood Park, N14: 2(m&f) Shoveler, Conservation Pond; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 f Great Spotted Woodpecker; 3 Fieldfare;  27 Redwing;  3 Mistle Thrush; 70+ Starling, 4 Siskin; 4 Goldfinch; 7 Lesser Redpoll (Siskin & Lesser Redpoll using niger feeder in neighbouring garden) (Robert Callf).
 * Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine Falcon early p.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Still BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT. Please check Berks Birds website for current info (NS). No further access today after 12pm. Also Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe (BirdGuides).
 * Snaresbrook Crown Court: 2 Firecrest still, 5 Goldcrest, Redwing this morning (Stuart Fisher)
 * Westminster: f Teal on Thames by Lambeth Bridge at 8:30 (Frank Nugent).

Tuesday 18th December 2012

 * Bankside SE1: 5 Chiffchaff in birches at east end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg).
 * Blackfen, Sidcup DA15: Days Lane - Little Egret and 2 Grey Wagtail both sides of bridge over River Shuttle; Parish Wood - 11 Goldfinch, 17 Magpie, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Eric Brown).
 * Brent Reservoir: 3 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Bullfinch, 13 Snipe, 1 Lapwing, 1 Water Rail, 115 Teal, 5 Goldcrest (John Colmans).
 * Broadwater Lake, Harefield / Denham Green: 1m Goosander, 12 Teal, c20 Shoveler, 6 Goldeneye (m & f), 1 Red Kite, 1 Kingfisher, 1 calling Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 20 Siskin, 1 pr Bullfinch (Roger Dewey).
 * Cowley, Middx UB8 (large field adjacent to St. Peter's Road): Red Kite at 10.30 (Kate Randall)
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, Spotted Redshank, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Redpoll, male Stonechat, Green Sandpiper, Cetti's Warbler (Kev Jarvis).
 * Ewell, Surrey KT17: Little Egret and Grey Wagtail at Lower Mill all morning, feeding in Hogsmill River. Waxwings reported again at Ewell Park Way this morning but no sign between 12.00 and 13.00, although their favoured rowan tree is still bearing quite a few berries (Neil Batten).
 * Grays, RM17: 3 Waxwings in Worthing Close at 8am (James Astley). c50 Waxwings in Bexhill Drive at 9.15. Still present in trees along railway 13.40 (Hannah Astley)
 * Hendon NW4 (Peel Centre): f Peregrine present most of day, on tower block (KW).
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon, Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Still BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT. Berks BC volunteers said the permits may be available on the gate throughout the week - they said to check this site, BirdGuides and Birdforum for further details. Thanks to Mike McKee and others. From Berksbirds.co.uk? I'm not sure who posted this or where they got their info from but this doesn't appear to be the case, please check Berks Birds website for current info (NS). Buff-bellied present all day but becoming far more mobile and elusive. Spent large periods of today on the adjacent gravel workings and in the fields. Also Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver and 3 White-fronted Goose west (Alex Berryman).
 * Rainham Marshes: adult Caspian Gull on Thames foreshore and tip 300yds east of stone barges, also 13 Yellow-legged Gulls, Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail (Sean Huggins).
 * Redbridge Lakes and Roding Valley Park: 2 Snipe, Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Lesser Redpolls, Bullfinch, around 25 Goldfinches, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Alan Hobson).
 * Regent's Park: Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Chiffchaff (Tony Duckett).
 * Sidcup DA15 (Lamorbey Park): 4 Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, Kingfisher (f), 2 Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit, 8-10 Long-tailed Tit (Eric Brown, Steve and Sandra Sheppard).
 * Staines Moor: 3 Short-eared Owl still present (Twitter)
 * Trent Park: 3(2m 1f) Goosander, Lower Lake; 5(3m 2f) Mandarin Duck; 2(m&f) Shoveler; 8(5m 3f) Pochard; 2(m&f) Tufted Duck; 1 Woodcock, flushed from Rough Lot 13:50 hrs; 3 Fieldfare; 70+ Redwing; 3 Treecreeper including two in Water Gdn; 27 Siskin, feeding in alders along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges' (Robert Callf & Robin White). Helen Shore reported c. 30 Waxwings  near the Upper Lake (Bob Husband).
 * Wanstead Flats: 6 Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, 10 Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 40 + Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, 13 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 14 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
 * Westminster: Peregrine with prey, over Houses of Parliament at 8:45 (Frank Nugent).

Monday 17th December 2012

 * Bankside SE1: 4 Chiffchaff still in birches at East end Tate Modern (Peter Beckenham+Simon Fogg/et al)
 * Bentley Priory: 1 Woodcock flushed from beside pond, straight into nearby garden 08:35 - last recorded this species on site in 1975! Also f Lesser Spotted Woodpecker by pond, 2 m Goosander, 3m 1f Mandarin on lake (Richard Francis).
 * Crayford Marshes: 2 Turnstone, Grey Plover, 14 Golden Plover, Spotted Redshank, Lesser Redpoll, Green Sandpiper, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 1300 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis). Erith Saltings: 1 Grey Heron, 3m, 5f Wigeon, 1 Lapwing (Chris Rose).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): Snipe, 2 Mistle Thrushes, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 8 Long-tailed Tits, Grey Wagtail, 4 Tufted Duck(2m 2f), Water Rail (Eric Brown, Steve and Sandra Sheppard).
 * Enfield Town Park EN2: 13(11m,2f) Shoveler, Carr's Basin; 3 male Pochard; 6(5m,1f) Tufted Duck; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Fieldfare (Robert Callf).
 * Ewell, Surrey: large flock of Waxwing circling over Ewell by-pass between London Road and Kingston Road at 13.25 (seen from car) - presumably part of the flock visiting London Road/Ewell Park Way (52 reported there this morning) (Neil Batten).
 * Grays Thurrock RM17: single Waxwing low west 8.05 am over Argent St/Goldace/Bexhill Drive area - lots of suitable foodplants in the area (James Astley).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: Great Northern Diver 09.09 but no sign since (Derek Turner).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Common Snipe flushed from Buck Hill; also 238 Greylag Goose, 71 Egyptian Goose, 42 Pochard, 33 Shoveler, Little Grebe, adult Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Little Owl and 2 Tawny Owl showing well (D. McKenzie).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Waxwing (Dave Morrison,Dick Jeffries and Shaun Harvey)
 * New Eltham SE9: 7 Waxwing by junction of Footscray Road & Avery Hill Road, feeding on rosehips on railway embankment (Conrad Ellam). Still showing well from road bridge at New Eltham Station 12.30pm (Eric Brown, Steve and Sandra Sheppard).
 * Paddington Green: male Kestrel, 2 Peregrine Falcon (female with a kill), Stock Dove over (D. McKenzie).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Still BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT. Berks BC volunteers said the permits may be available on the gate throughout next week - they said to check this site, BirdGuides and Birdforum for further details. Thanks to Mike McKee and others. From Berksbirds.co.uk @ midday today! (many observers)
 * Rainham Marshes: first-winter and near-adult Caspian Gulls and 19 Yellow-legged Gulls (mainly first-winters, just one adult today) near stone barges (Dominic Mitchell); Grey Plover over RSPB reserve (Howard Vaughan, Dominic Mitchell).
 * Redbridge IG1 (Valentines Park): 2 Ring-necked Parakeets on the peanut feeders (Barbara Miller).
 * Redbridge Lakes and Roding Valley Park: 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, Goldcrest, flock of Long-tailed Tits right next to me (Alan Hobson).
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 1♀ Blackcap (with tit flock on Hanover Island, area 1 at 11:00), 9 Gadwall, 24 Shoveler (birdman_euston). 2 Teal, 1 Water Rail (fide Regent's Park Birds blog).
 * Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 9 Shoveler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting (TeRNS).
 * Swanley Park : 1 waxwing, (first record) with starlings around Top Car Park 9am .plus Tufted Duck (Andy M)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (Banbury only): 9 Goosander (3 drakes), 4 Teal, pr Gadwall, 4 Grey Wagtails, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper (Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: 6 Mistle Thrush, 5 Redwing, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll, 13 Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, 8 Shoveler, Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Water Rail (W end of Perch), Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Little Grebe, 2 Teal, 44 + Tufted Duck, 64 + Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 18 Pochard (Nick Croft)
 * Westminster: Peregrine in tussle with Carrion Crow over Thames next to Houses of Parliament at 2:30 (Frank Nugent).
 * Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Woodcock flushed from the grassland - 97th species for the year, also c10 Meadow Pipit (David Lindo).

Sunday 16th December 2012

 * Blackheath: 2 Siskins again with Goldfinches on alders, 2 Egyptian Geese (Joe Beale).
 * Brent Reservoir: male Bearded Tit showed from Heron Hide several times between 09.22 and 11.00; also 27 Snipe (Brent Birders)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: 61 species recorded - 14 Waxwings around Millenium Centre though mobile, Short-eared Owl quartering travellers field late pm, 6 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin heard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2+ Chiffchaff, 1+ Bullfinch, 95 Lapwing, 2 Water Rail heard, 5 Pochard 3m 2f, 5 Wigeon 3m 2f, 6 Jackdaw, 1 Common Snipe and 1 Kingfisher (V.Halley-Frame, Steve Drake & Dawn Read).
 * Dorney\Eton Wick, Berks SL4: Siberian Chiffchaff (Berks Birds)
 * Eltham: 4 Waxwing 400m W of junction of A20/B263, 12.30 (James Lowen).
 * Eltham SE9 (Oxleas Woods): male Blackcap 9.45am (John Reid).
 * Ewell, Surrey: 42 Waxwings at Ewell Park Way/A24 London Road junction (40 yesterday, 25+ Thursday & Friday, 5+ Wednesday), also 1 Blackcap. (Twitter/various obs).
 * Fairlop Waters: 1 Jack Snipe, 7 Common Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper, 270 Lapwing, 31 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 33 Teal, 15 Pochard, 63 Tufted Duck (Steve Bacon).
 * Greenford: female Blackcap in my garden (Neil Anderson)
 * Greenwich Park: 2 Teal (m + f) still on pond (Joe Beale).
 * Hampstead Heath: Peregrine over Millfield Lane and NW over Heath at 11:35; 61 Wigeon, 50 Gadwall & Little Grebe at Highgate 1 Pond; 1 Fieldfare, c15 Siskin alders Sanctuary Pond; c30 Siskin, East Heath; Redpoll over Parliament Hill (Frank Nugent).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: Great Northern Diver, 2 redhead Smew (BirdGuides).
 * Hillingdon: Little Egret perched in hawthorn between A40 and Ten Acre Wood ca. 9.30am (Andy Culshaw)
 * King George V Reservoir: 14 Goldeneye (6m), 8 Goosander (4m), 7 Wigeon (4m), 3 Little Grebe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Grey Wagtail, 12 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 5 Goldcrest (Neville Smith).
 * Lee Valley RP (Fishers Green): Bittern seen from Bittern watch point hide 1.00pm (Shaun Harvey, Martin Redfern).
 * Lee Valley RP (Middlesex Filter Beds): 2 Firecrest (in holly bushes by the canal), 3 Goldcrest, 1 Peregrine over (Adam Winstanley).
 * Leee Valley RP (Waterworks NR): Chiffchaff, Common Snipe, 3+ Goldcrest, 1+ Siskin, 1+ Redpoll, 8 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 2 Red Fox (Jonathan Nasir)
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 82 Teal, 6 Shoveler, Great Black-backed Gull, Redwing, Chiffchaff (Neil Anderson)
 * Margravine Cemetery:  monthly count - 30 Blackbird, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Magpie (together), 2 Peregrine, 1 Redwing afterwards (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Mill Hill NW7: male Blackcap on apple tree, 3 Lesser Redpoll on feeder (Xav).
 * Muswell Hill N10: female Blackcap in my garden mid-morning and up to 5 Lesser Redpolls (Dominic Mitchell)
 * New Covent Garden Market - Inner London: 5 Common Gull with Black-headed Gulls all scavenging Sunday market  throwaways (Michael Mac)
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon, Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie).
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: 2 Peregrines, Water Pipit (Aveley Bay), Bearded Tit (northern boardwalk); Jack Snipe reported by others (James A).
 * Regent's Park: 2 Waxwings 3.20pm . Where in Regents Park? And can anyone tell me where the resident Tawny Owl is most seen in the park? Thanks. W.Marks (Tony Duckett)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: message posted 10:05 - BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT still along southern bank showing very well. Park outside main gate and day permits available (Dave Morris per FJM). Showing extremely well during the afternoon, to less than 3 metres. Little Egret also. Also Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Red Kite, 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (Andy Lawson, John Archer et al). Berks BC volunteers said the permits may be available on the gate throughout next week - they said to check this site, birdguides and birdforum for further details. Thanks to Mike McKee and others (M Bournat).
 * Shooter's Hill SE18 (Woodlands Farm): Common Snipe, 2 Lesser Redpoll (Conrad Ellam)
 * Sidcup Station: Sparrowhawk, Peregrine over at 1.50pm (Eric Brown)
 * Staines Reservoirs: fem Scaup on N Basin (James Lowen). Male & female Scaup on North Basin (Clive Herbert).
 * Stanmore HA7 2HJ: male Blackcap in garden (Nigel Musk)
 * Totteridge Valley: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, several Siskin (Xav).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: E Warwick - Redshank; W Warwick - Shag (Paul Whiteman).
 * Wanstead Flats: 12 Waxwing south down Centre Road (NC/JL), Siskin, Reed Bunting, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Goldcrest, Stock Dove, 16 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge)
 * West Acton W3: Stock Dove, male Blackcap (Nick Miller).
 * William Girling Reservoir: 1 (adult drake) Long-tailed Duck, 6+ Black-necked Grebe (Neville Smith).
 * Wraysbury, Berks TW19 (Wraysbury GPs): fem Smew, male Goldeneye, 30 Lesser Redpoll, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall (M Bournat).

Saturday 15th December 2012

 * Amwell NR: first-winter Yellow-legged Gull on Great Hardmead Lake and 20+ Siskin in brief visit (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Battersea Park Lake: m Sparrowhawk chased by brave wagtail, 3 Common Gull, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 22 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 92 Cormorant in 2 roosts, 3 Egyptian Geese (pr with rings 1420766 and 1431422 + single bird). (Michael Mac).
 * Blackheath: 2+ Siskins with Goldfinch flock feeding in alders, Folly Pond (Joe Beale).
 * Cheshunt, Herts: 59 Golden Plover in field immediately south-west of A10/B198 junction early afternoon (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Short-eared Owl again from 3:40pm on the travellers field passing us at very close range, also 3+ Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch and 81 Lapwing (V.Halley-Frame & Steve Drake).
 * Gallions Reach DLR: Kestrel hunting over rough ground just south of the station (Matt Reed).
 * Greenwich Park: 3 Teal (1m, 2f; first of the winter), 2 Egyptian Geese (Joe Beale).
 * Hampstead Heath: 62 Wigeon & 55 Gadwall at Highgate 1 Pond, Water Rail & Kingfisher at Sanctuary Pond, Meadow Pipit over Parliament Hill, 5 Fieldfare, 15 Siskin in alders at Sanctuary Pond (Frank Nugent).
 * Hounslow (Osterley Park): 1 Lapwing, 2 Siskin, 2 Stonechat, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Owl, 18 Linnet (KFr).
 * Lee Valley RP (Fishers Green): Bittern was seen in the morning, then no further sightings until 16:00 when bird clambered up into tops of reeds to roost in front of Bittern Information Centre; also three Water Rails and Cetti's Warbler heard singing. Up to three have apparently been seen recently from the Pochard Hide on the Cheshunt side (Dominic Mitchell et al).
 * Lee Valley RP (Gunpowder Park): 25 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, Pochard, Little Grebe, Snipe, 2 Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon & 2 Chiffchaff seen; Siskin & Redpoll heard (Tony Brown).
 * Lee Valley RP (Middlesex Filter Beds): 2 Firecrest still, 3 Chiffchaff (Stuart Fisher). Whereabouts are the Firecrests, I looked this morning but found just one goldcrest on holly? Cheers - (J. Richardson) Hi, sorry for late reply - I basically pished and they appeared in small deciduous trees along the main walkway a few feet from me, then flew towards the canal, so maybe worth trying that technique. They were with 2-3 Goldcrest and Long-tailed tit flock and Chiffchaff (SF).
 * Lee Valley RP - Netherhall/Glen Faba (WeBS): 50+ Siskin, 2 Green Woodpecker, Fieldfare, 1m Goldeneye, 331 Pochard (about 10x normal number), 51 Teal (normally only single figures if any), 58 Wigeon, 44 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 195 Tufted Duck and only 54 Coot (normally 4 or 5 times this number at this time of year) (Nigel May).
 * London Wetland Centre: At least 2 Bittern, 2m Pintail, small flock Siskin, 2 Redpoll and Stonechat seen; 6 Water Rail and 1 Cetti's Warbler heard (Martin Honey).
 * Mill Hill NW7: male Blackcap feeding on apple, 2 Lesser Redpoll on feeder, 2+ Siskin (Xav).
 * Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine Falcon, Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie).
 * Plaistow E13 (Balaam Street): Waxwing  http://londonbirder-birdman.blogspot.co.uk/  (KJ Mcmanus)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT showing down to 2 feet, 2 Red Kites, Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe and Peregrine Falcon on watchtower (Don Nicholson and many observers).BBP1.jpg
 * Staines Moor: 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Short-eared Owls hunting (V Williamson, R Woolley). 3 Short-eared Owls late afternoon and 10-15 Common Snipe around the floods (Lee Dingain)
 * Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Fieldfare, 5 Siskin with Goldfinches, 7 Teal, 2 drake Mandarin, Sparrowhawk (John Colmans).
 * Trent Park: 2(m&f) Goosander on Lower Lake 14:15hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Twickenham/Strawberry Hill: 15 Waxwings in Strawberry Vale, 2.45pm (Mike Wheeler)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: Shag (BirdGuides).
 * Wanstead (private garden): 1f Blackcap, 2f Siskin (Chris Legge).
 * Wanstead Park: Wigeon (ornamental waters), 2 Teal, 91 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 60+ Tufted Duck, 13 Pochard, 2 Egyptian Goose, c10 Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, Siskin, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft).

Friday 14th December 2012

 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 90 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, 700 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover (Kev Jarvis).
 * East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek: 1 Shoveler, 16 Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 300+ Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper, 14 Redshank (John Archer).
 * Edgware, Middx: Fay Broom reported Brambling visiting back garden bird feeder (Bob Husband).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 92 Mute Swan, 70 Egyptian Goose, 46 Shoveler, 1 Little and 2 Tawny Owl showing despite the weather (D. McKenzie).
 * Lee Valley RP (Bittern Watchpoint, Fishers Green): Bittern sitting up and preening in the reeds at end of "door" channel 1430-1500, 3 Water Rail, 3 Little Grebe catching fish in front of hide (Steve Howey)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: 09:15 - BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT still present (Twitter). Park outside main gates and walk up steps to clubhouse. Berkshire Bird Club day permits may be available for £2 from 10:00 (via @birdingetc).  According to Berkshire Bird Club there is no one available to give out day passes today: http://www.berksbirds.co.uk/birdnews.asp but keep checking for updates (Nigel Sluman).  Update 11:00 - Apparently day permits are now available at the gate (NS). 13:00 - Bird still showing well despite miserable weather (NS). Showing very well down to a few feet this morning in area south of the pier. Update 14:25 - still showing well at 14:10 but no further day permits being issued today. Day permits at £2 will be available tomorrow morning. Photos (Nigel Sluman)
 * Regent's Park: 1 Water Rail seen in Rail Ditch reed bed, area 2 - first confirmed sighting of the autumn (fide Regent's Park Birds blog), one week after completion of season-long revetment-reconstruction work in the neighbouring waterfowl sanctuary that had kept the birds away. Also, the Park's beautiful pair of pinioned Black Swans was re-released today into Queen Mary's Gardens lake, newly-desilted and relandscaped with reed beds (birdman_euston).
 * Sidcup DA15 (Lamorbey Park): Firecrest beside golf course in ivy by River Shuttle behind Rowley Avenue at 08:45 (Ian Stewart per JA).
 * Snaresbrook Crown Court/Leyton Flats: 2 Firecrest, 11 Stock Dove, 10 Shoveler, 55 Tufted Duck (Stuart Fisher)

Thursday 13th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: Wood Green Res almost completely frozen but where water 5+ Shoveler and c 20 Aythyas, mainly Tufted Duck (Bob Watts).
 * Bankside SE1: 4 Chiffchaff in birches at east end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg).
 * Brent Reservoir: drake Pintail, 22 Common Snipe, 5 Redwing, 2 Jackdaw (Andrew Verrall, John Gravatt); male Bearded Tit from Heron Hide 12:05 (Roy Beddard, Andrew Haynes).
 * Brookmill Park: Little Grebe, Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest (Conrad Ellam).
 * Canons Farm: c83 Lapwings (12 in fields, 1 south, c70 west) (David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marshes: Waxwing in hedge along the creek; Spotted Redshank on the Thames foreshore near the Erith Yacht Club; 6 Pintail, Grey Plover, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Rock Pipit, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 32 Snipe, 1200 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis).
 * Cudham (Kent): calling Raven flew SE across the Cudham valley at 1340hrs The bird flew over Cudham Tithe Barn  Berry's Hill  TQ441598 ; also 15 Lapwings -> S (scarce here).    (Rob Innes)
 * East Barnet: 10 Siskin at feeders in my garden (Pete Lowman).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): Little Egret, Snipe, 3 Teal, Kingfisher (John Archer).
 * Erith Cemetery (east section): 14 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker, approx 18 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet (Chris Rose)
 * Ewell Village, Surrey KT17 (Lower Mill): Little Egret again on river beside rear of Lower Mill but being regularly spooked by dogs and their owners. Also 1 Common Gull (Neil Batten).
 * Fulham: Crabtree Wharf, high tide - 1 f Pochard, 65 Tufted Duck, 66 Teal; Charing Cross Hospital - Woodcock feather under Peregrine spot, 1 Grey Heron (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Lee Valley RP (Fishers Green): 2 Bittern from Bittern watchpoint. 1 fishing almost constantly in front of the hide and a second bird chased off by the first at 1.30, which then flew across to the far side of the lake. (I Lycett)
 * Oakwood Park, Enfield N14: 6 Lesser Redpoll, including an adult male (Robert Callf).
 * Paddington Green: 2 Peregrine Falcon a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * Peckham Rye Park: 5 Lapwing over SW at 11:00 (Martin Stevens).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT still present for 2nd day. Park outside main gates and walk up steps to clubhouse (Mike Mckee). Seen at 8.45 but not again until 13.10 when 500 yards from clubhouse at waters edge (Bob Watts, John Archer, Pete and Chris Langsdon) and until 13.50 (Mike McKee, Dominic Mitchell et al); Red-necked Grebe & Long-tailed Duck still present (BirdGuides). Also Red Kite, 2 Goosander, 6+ Goldeneye (John Archer, Bob Watts). Still present at 14:00 showing well 200m left of Sailing Club (Nigel Sluman). B-b Pipit present to 16.05 at least showing well 400m left of Sailing Club (GJ et al). Is a permit necessary to view the pipit? Thanks. We just walked in late morning, but the bird group are now selling day permits at £2 - I assume that will be the case tomorrow too (JA).
 * Rainham Village: Kingfisher on R. Ingrebourne between Tesco and A1306 (Richard Harrison).
 * Redbridge (Roding Valley Park): Goldcrest, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, flock of Long-tailed Tits (Alan Hobson)
 * Redbridge IG1 (Valentines Park): Nuthatch (Barbara Miller).
 * Snaresbrook Crown Court/Leyton Flats: 2 Firecrest in hollies along main pedestrian path in the court, 1 Lapwing North west, 3 Siskin, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Linnet over, 20 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 51 Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, 2+ Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 32 Goldfinch on the Flats (Stuart Fisher)
 * South Norwood Lake: 1f Goosander, 1 Redwing, 4 Lesser Redpoll, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
 * Staines Moor: 4 Short-eared Owl hunting over various parts of moor at 13:30. Also 1 Stonechat, 1 fem Bullfinch (by entrance gate), c25 Fieldfare, c40 Lapwing over (Bill Dykes).
 * Wanstead Flats: 20 Lapwing (17 west, 3 north), 4 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 4 Mitle Thrush, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Goldcrest, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 6 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 5 Snipe north, Water Rail, 52 Gadwall, 30 + Tufted Duck, 33 Pochard, 11 Shoveler, 23 Mute Swan, Little Grebe, 4 Redwing, 4 Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll (Nick Croft)
 * Woodside Park, Barnet: still 2 male Blackcaps  taking over the feeders! (Ian Ellis).
 * Worcester Park, Sutton: Kingfisher, 10 Lapwing south west  (Bob Smith)

Wednesday 12th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 12 Shoveler Wood Green Res 0710, also probable Gadwall calling with flock (too dark to see) (Bob Watts); also Peregrine Falcon eating Starling on gasometer overlooking filter beds mid-morning (Ian Lycett, Dominic Mitchell, David Callahan).
 * Bankside SE1: 2 Chiffchaff in birches at east end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg).
 * Barnehurst, Bexley (Barnehurst Golf Course): 1 Fieldfare, 1 Goldfinch (Chris Rose)
 * Battersea Bridge: drake Goosander flying upriver 7.50 (Neil Anderson)
 * Beddington SF: 8 White-fronted Goose flew south over Main Lake at 10:48 (RB via @birdingetc).
 * Brookmill Park: Little Grebe, female Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest (Conrad Ellam)
 * Camberwell Old Cemetery: Waxwing heard calling overhead 13:55 (Martin Stevens).
 * Chafford Hundred, Thurrock: 100 Waxwings by Treacle Mine pub (RBA)
 * City of London: 2 Waxwings off Lower Thames Street on the green behind St Magnus Church briefly (RBA)
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, 2 Pintail, 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull, 130 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Curlew, Little Owl, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Pipit (Kev Jarvis).
 * Crayford (Thames Road Wetland): 2 (probably 3) Water Rail heard, 1 Snipe, 5 (+?) Long-tailed Tit, 2 or 3 Chaffinch (Chris Rose).
 * East India Dock Basin/Bow Creek: 2 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 9 Shelduck, 255 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Common Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail (John Archer).
 * Ewell Village, Surrey KT17 (Lower Mill): 1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Fieldfare south over, 1 Scandinavian-type male Blackbird, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Common Gull north over (Neil Batten).
 * Forest Gate, Newham: 41 Lapwing north over the Romford Road (Nick Croft)
 * Lee Valley RP (Bittern Information Point, Fishers Green): Bittern feeding in front of hide. Seen to take at least 15 small fish (probably Rudd, approx 3ins long) during two sessions, 13:30 to 13:40 & 14:15 to 14:30. Also  up to 5 Water Rails some of which were equally adept at catching fish. Favoured fishing area for both species: just in the reeds left of entrance to ‘1 o’clock’ channel, marked with yellow painted stick (Mike Oakland).
 * Lee Valley RP (Middlesex Filter Beds NR): 2 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, Snipe over N at dusk. Firecrests have been there to my knowledge for over 3 weeks now, would be a good time to go and see them a.s.a.p as gardening/coppicing works are planned this week apparently (Jamie_Partridge).
 * Leyton Olver Road: Male Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest in gardens near Alpine Road (Stuart Fisher)
 * Northumberland Park, Haringey: 1 Waxwing in gardens/allotment between Willoughby Lane and West Road  viewed from the alleyway between them (Davey Leach).
 * Peckham Rye Park: fem Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Goldcrest, 20 Lapwing over W 12:20 (Martin Stevens).
 * Petts Wood, Bromley: Firecrest in the Edlmann Memorial Wood c100m from the railway in hollies (Ian Stewart per JA).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT (found by Michael McKee)
 * Redbridge Lakes and Roding Valley Park: Snipe, Goldcrest, Grey Heron, 2 Jays (Alan Hobson).
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 1 Lapwing (circling low over the playing fields, area 37 at 12:30), 50+ Cormorant & 10+ Stock Dove (coming in to roost high in trees on Heron Island, area 8 in the hour before dusk, arriving in ones and twos - sadly, a juvenile Cormorant succumbed to the cold last night); 580 Black-headed Gull (three times the usual number, most standing on lake ice); 11 Common Gull, 1♀ Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 35 Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe (birdman_euston).Duck.jpg
 * River Thames, Central London: Unidentified large yellow duck drifting downstream (Edgar de Jarnac)
 * Ruislip Woods\Lido, Hillingdon HA4: 28 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, c7 Song Thrush, 10 Robin, 5 Chaffinch, 11 Blue Tit, 10 Great Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 23 Shoveler, 9 Pochard, Gadwall, 45+ Moorhen (Nigel Sluman)
 * Shooter's Hill SE18 (Woodlands Farm): no sign of Bittern at 1pm; 4 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Kestrel (Joe Beale).
 * St James's Park: 3 Little Grebes and a Chiffchaff (Will Rose)
 * South Croydon: Waxwing heard calling somewhere overhead at Selsdon Road 07.40hrs (Alan Pearson)
 * Streatham Common/Biggin Wood: 2 tawny owls (one seen, one heard) (R Bell)
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 2 Fieldfare SW 0815, Chiffchaff still mixed tit flock (Bob Watts).
 * Trent Park area: 2 Woodcock (1 Williams Wood, 1 Ferny Hill Farm); 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Rough Lot, 13:23 - 13:39 hrs; 1 male Firecrest feeding low down in bramble  along Farm Trail near Seedfield Spinney 12:45 - 12:51 hrs; 16+ Yellowhammer (5 Vicarage Farm, 11+ Ferny Hill Farm) (Robert Callf).
 * Wanstead Flats: Firecrest (in woodland to north of Alex), 3 Goldcrest, 41 Lapwings west (19 on deck north of Long Wood), 7 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, Reed Bunting, Redwing (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 47 Gadwall, 37 Tufted Duck, 24 Pochard, 10 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, Siskin, 3 Redwing, Fieldfare (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Village: Waxwing (Jono Lethbridge).
 * West Acton W3: male Blackcap in garden (Nick Miller).
 * Westminster: 2 Fieldfare W over Houses of Parliament 8:30, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel, Victoria Tower Gardens (Frank Nugent).
 * Worcester Park: Blackcap, 6 Lesser Redpoll, Little Owl (Bob Smith)

Tuesday 11th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 11 Shoveler (8 on boating pond  3 on Wood Green Reservoir), Redwing heard, 3 Siskins over Blandford (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Belmont, Sutton: Siskin flew over (David Campbell).
 * Borough: 1 male House Sparrow in gardens off Brockham Street (Tony Stones).
 * Brookmill Park: Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Mandarin Drake (R Lord).
 * Canons Farm: 3 Lapwings, Little Owl, Common Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge, c30 Skylarks (David Campbell).
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, 10 Grey Plover, 4 Pintail, 212 Black-tailed Godwit, Little Owl, 3 Lesser Redpoll, Green Sandpiper, 2 Rock Pipit, Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Curlew, Kingfisher, 8 Snipe, c1000 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): Kingfisher, Water Rail, 4 Snipe, 6 Redpoll, Wood Duck (P_Kite).
 * Ewell Village, Surrey KT17 (Lower Mill): Little Egret again in Hogsmill River late afternoon before seeming to go to roost locally (Neil Batten)
 * Greenwich Park: Goldcrests, also 1st Coot of the autumn, all very exciting (Joe Beale).
 * Hendon (Peel Centre): Peregrine catching prey 8am  mobbed by gull & crow
 * Leyton Oliver Road/Orient Way: Green Sandpiper (Dagenham Brook) and 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 1 Siskin over, Mistle Thrush (Oliver Road) (Stuart Fisher)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff (website).
 * Nine Elms Sainsbury's - Stockwell border of Wandsworth and Lambeth actually Inner London): 3 Common Gulls eating bread with Black-headed Gulls and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Michael Mac).
 * Oakwood Park, Enfield N14: 2 Siskin  feeding in Alder with 5 Goldfinches (Robert Callf).
 * Paddington Green: 2 Egyptian Goose over, female Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine Falcon (D. McKenzie).
 * Redbridge Lakes and Claybury Park: Jack Snipe, Sparrowhawk, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldcrest, 5 Jays, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Song Thrush (Alan Hobson).
 * Regent's Park: Common Snipe one dropped in at 3.45pm (Tony Duckett).
 * Shooter's Hill SE18 (Woodlands Farm): Lesser Redpoll, 2 Goldcrest, Nuthatch . Apparently there's been a Bittern seen on the Farm during the past week, in the marshy area behind the wood pile. No sign of it today though. (John Bushell, Conrad Ellam & Lorraine Parish)
 * Staines Moor: 3 Short-eared Owls still (@birdingetc) and 1 Water Pipit (BirdGuides)
 * Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth: 8 Goldeneye, 3m  5f (Herts website).
 * Streatham Hill:  2 Waxwing (heard only) on corner of Thornton Avenue\Criffel Avenue (Nigel Sluman)
 * Wanstead Flats: 54 Lapwing NW, 46 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 12 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark, 4 Brambling north, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, 20 + Goldfinch, 7 Goldcrest, 5 Shoveler, 6 Pochard, Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 52 Gadwall, 60 Tufted Duck, Wigeon, 3 Teal, 30 Pochard, 13 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, 10 + Siskin, singing Coal Tit, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
 * Worcester Park, Sutton: Water Rail, Blackcap (Bob Smith)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Tawny Owl at 23:00 (Charlie Farrell)

Monday 10th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 3 Shoveler still Conservation Pond 0715 (Bob Watts).
 * Broadwater: c20 Siskin, 30+ Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, 3 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon (Nigel Sluman).
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank feeding on the Thames foreshore near the Erith Yacht Club; Grey Plover, 28 Golden Plover, Common Buzzard, 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Curlew, 2 Rock Pipit. (Kev Jarvis)
 * Erith Marshes: Crossness - 42 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 2 male Shoveler, 1 female Pheasant. Sea Wall (dusk): 181 Teal in 'creek' below viewing platform, more further out, 25 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 3 male Shoveler, 5 Lapwing, Redshank, 1 Grey Heron (Chris Rose).
 * Ewell Village, Surrey KT17 (Lower Mill): Little Egret feeding in River Hogsmill all morning. Also 1 Kingfisher (Neil Batten).
 * Hornchurch, Havering: Common Buzzard being mobbed by 3-4 Carrion Crows over Wingletye Lane at 10:20 (G J Francis)
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: ♂&♀ Firecrest moving SW along NW border of Rose Wheel, Queen Mary's Gardens, area 17 at 11:45 - they were seen here last week too, I'm told, so this could be part of a regular circuit; the male I saw here on 8 October did exactly the same, disappearing out the back of a large holly tree to reappear in the Mediterranean Border, area 18 (birdman_euston).
 * Sidcup DA15 (Hollyoak Wood Park, Haddon Grove): Goldcrest, 6 Siskin among mixed flock of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Greenfinches feeding in alders alongside River Shuttle (Eric Brown).
 * Sidcup DA15 (Lamorbey Park): Little Egret, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, 2 Common Gull, 4 Cormorant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, 2 Egyptian Geese (Eric Brown).
 * Snaresbrook Crown Court: Firecrest, Great Crested Grebe on Eagle Pond (Stuart Fisher)
 * Streatham Hill: 4 Waxwings feeding on berries of one small tree by Telford Avenue/Thornton Avenue roundabout and drinking in gutter of nearby block of flats at 11.30am. Main group seem to have departed even though still good number of berries on tree. This may explain why the small group seen made two brief visits earlier without feeding (Martin Stevens et al). 5 Waxwings present still feeding 1-1.30pm (Steve Woolfenden). 5 Waxwing still present 3.40-3.50pm on bare tree at SE corner of Telford Avenue/Thornton Avenue roundabout, and making sorties to small berry-tree on pavement 15 yards up Telford Ave (Nick Granger-Taylor).
 * Thamesmead SE2 (Southmere Lake): 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2m 5f Tufted Duck, 38 Canada Geese, 9 Greylag (+1 hybrid with small group of white domestic Geese), 10 Mute Swan, approx. 200 Coot, 100 Carrion Crow on neighbouring horse paddock, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Long-tailed Tit (Chris Rose).
 * Totteridge Valley: Black-headed Gull (Darlands Lake), Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, 5 Teal (2m, 3f on Darlands Lake) (Xav).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: nominate-race Chiffchaff still in mixed tit flock Sanctuary Wood, also 6+ Goldcrests, female Sparrowhawk (Bob Watts).
 * Trent Park: 1 Firecrest, feeding in Holly, SW corner, Rough Lot, 14:00 hrs (Robert Callf).
 * Wanstead Flats: 31 Lapwing west, 3 Reed Bunting, Siskin, 13 Fieldfare, Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, 7 Shoveler, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: 155 Gadwall (125 on Basin - SF), 46 Tufted Duck, 12 Shoveler, 22 + Mute Swan, 20 Pochard, Teal, Siskin, 4 Fieldfare, 7 Goldcrest, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Stuart Fisher)

Sunday 9th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 6 Shoveler inc 3 on Conservation Pond, 6+ Redwing (James Palmer)
 * Beddington SF: 8 Snipe, 15 Fieldfare, 2 Wigeon, 2 Water Pipit, 8 Reed Buntings, 12 Green Sandpiper, 13 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Shelduck, 1 Stonechat, 2 Cormorant, 1 Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 68 Grey Heron
 * Brent Reservoir: male Bearded Tit briefly at Heron Hide 08.50; also Waxwing over north marsh, drake Pintail & site record count of 219 Teal also 290 Tufted Duck(Brent Birders)
 * Brookmill Park: drake Mandarin, Sparrowhawk (Conrad Ellam)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR 6+ Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest in tall willows between old Farmhouse pub and Tomthumb Lake. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Little Egret, Water Rail (Phil Laurie)
 * Hornsey: c20 Waxwing from Nightingale Lane garden circled whilst being spooked by Sparrowhawk then headed south  SW towards Hornsey at 1145 (Bob Watts).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 98 Mute Swan, 66 Egyptian Goose, 30 Shoveler, 2 pair of Red-crested Pochard, colour-ringed adult Black-headed Gull (Black P762), 2 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl showed well, several Redwing, 2 singing Mistle Thrush, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper (D. McKenzie).
 * Island Barn Reservoir: 2 female Velvet Scoter flew off high west at 10.58 (Birdguides)
 * King George V Reservoir: Short-eared Owl over Stewardstone Rd at 07.25, 4 Goosander on N end of flood relief channel, also 2 Little Grebe, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Bullfinch, 5 Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, 18 Redwing, Fieldfare (Rob Ayers)
 * Lewisham SE13 (Orchard Estate): 2 Peregine (Conrad Ellam)
 * Lewisham (Hither Green Cemetery, Catford): 2 Peregrine having a go at the parakeet roost at dusk (James Lowen).
 * Mill Hill NW7: Waxwing on tree in my back garden this morning. (Xav)
 * Rainham Marshes: no sign of yesterday's three Bewick's Swans, c200 Black-tailed Godwits flew upriver just after high tide, Eurasian Curlew on Crayford foreshore (many observers), 12 Pintails - Wennington flood, flock of 25 Fieldfares feeding on Wennington marshes   all disturbed by unscheduled landings on reserve by a film productions helicopter filming a car chase on flyover apparently for a Bruce Willis film - Howard was not a happy rabbit (Ian Bradshaw)
 * Redbridge Lakes and Roding Valley Park: Blackcap, around 8 Snipe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Jay, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Goldfinches (Alan Hobson).
 * Stoke Newington (New River Walk): 1 Chiffchaff (Alastair Rae).
 * Streatham Hill: 11.00am, 25 Waxwings still feeding on berries of one small tree by Telford Avenue/Thornton Avenue roundabout and drinking in gutter of nearby block of flats (Peter Newmark),  Still 25 Waxwings there at 2.30 and still berries left on the little tree (Simon Osborn).  No sign of them1530-1600, 1 male Blackcap in the berry tree (Guy Bradley).
 * Thamesmead SE2 (Crossness LNR): adult Yellow-legged Gull, 42 Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Lapwings, 12 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 151 Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, male Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfares west (John Archer & Steve Carter).
 * Thamesmead (Southmere Lake): 2 Egyptian Geese, 10+ Tufted Duck (John Archer).
 * Thamesmead (Thamesmere West Lake): 257 Tufted Duck, 45 Pochard, 3 Gadwall, Little Grebe (John Archer).
 * Tottenham: 20 Waxwing feeding on berries on small rowan tree in West Green Open Space on West Green Rd, N15. Still present after an hour at 14.30  but only a few berries left! (Caroline Nash).
 * Totteridge Valley: Firecrest still present at the small 'Oakfields' copse on the Mill Hill side - directions as per entry on 02 Dec although it was ranging further from the path and generally more elusive today (Ian Ellis).
 * Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 (Lieutenent Ellis Way off A10): 600+ Golden Plover in field south of Lieutenant Ellis Way at 0900hrs (Neville Smith)
 * Wanstead Park and Flats: Woodcock SSSI, f Teal (Jub), Coal Tit (Bush Wood), 110 Gadwall (The Basin) (Steve Thorpe)
 * William Girling Reservoir (from Mansfield Park): Red-necked Grebe in NE corner at 10.00am, male Long-tailed Duck, probable Black-necked Grebe though very distant, 4+ Goldeneye, 2 Bullfinch (Rob Ayers); Red-necked Grebe still present 13:15 but elusive and Long-tailed Duck still, plus 11 Black-necked Grebes  and six Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Goldeneyes (Dominic Mitchell).

Saturday 8th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: Egyptian Goose low NE then SW over Tunnel Res, 6 Shoveler inc 3 on Conservation Pond, 5+ Redwing (Bob Watts).
 * Barnet (Woodside Park): 2 male Blackcaps (Ian Ellis).
 * Blackheath: 1+ Waxwing (heard only) in Blackheath Park, Cator Estate (James Lowen)
 * Beddington SF: 2 male Goosander (3rd record this year), 1 male Stonechat, 4 Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe pics  news  (Peter Alfrey and BFBG)
 * Brent Reservoir: male Bearded Tit again from Heron Hide 08.52-09.00 and 09.50; also 25 Snipe, 3 Lapwing & drake Pintail in north marsh (Brent Birders)
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: wintering Short-eared Owl again at 3:45pm quartering travellers field, 73 Lapwing, 3 Chiffchaff, 5+ Fieldfare, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Common Snipe, 1 drake Wigeon with mixed Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall flock (V.Halley-Frame).
 * Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Meadow Pipit over, Grey Wagtail, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest (Joe Beale).
 * Hampstead Heath: 34 Wigeon, 54 Gadwall, 1 m Teal & 1 Little Grebe all on Highgate 1 Pond (Teal relocated to Sanctuary Pond pm), Chiffchaff, Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 3 Redwing, 1 Meadow Pipit over, Kingfisher at Men's Bathing Pond and again at Sanctuary Pond (Frank Nugent).
 * Island Barn Reservoir: 2 female Velvet Scoter (Birdguides)
 * Kensal Green Cemetery and St Mary’s Cemetery: 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, c6 Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Charlie Farrell)
 * King George V Reservoir: Red-necked Grebe on south basin, also 7 Little Grebe, 5 Teal, 8 Wigeon, 27 Gadwall, c20 Goldeneye, 65+ Cormorant, Grey Wagtail, female Sparrowhawk over (David Bradnum). Grebe still present at dusk (Neville Smith).
 * Ladywell fields.S.E.6.Kingfisher.grey wagtail.gt spotted woodpecker.10 fieldfares flying over.T.Wilson.
 * Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock: 30+ Linnets feeding by Alexandra Lake with several Chaffinches, 3+ Siskins and a Brambling; also 3 Great Crested Grebe (Ben Green).
 * Leyton Oliver Road/Orient Way: Green Sandpiper in the Dagenham Brook, 1st w Yellow-legged Gull on tip, Grey Wagtail, 5 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 5+ Song Thrush, c2 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit, 8+ Great Black-backed Gull (Stuart Fisher)
 * London Wetland Centre: Scaup (Birdguides)
 * Rainham Marshes: 3 Bewick's Swans (2 ads and juv) on Purfleet Scrape, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Corn Buntings at Stone Barges (Ruth Barnes), Two Caspian Gulls (adult and second-winter) on southern side of the tip viewed from Thames path 300yds east of the stone barges; also 10 Yellow-legged Gulls (Sean Huggins), 2 Short-eared Owls over silts at dusk and Ring-necked Parakeet over (David Bradnum), 2 Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Cetti's Warbler, 40 + Fieldfare, 20 + Redwing, 300 + Linnet in one flock, 4,000 + Starling in one flock going west at dusk, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Curlew, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, 50 Golden Plover (Nick Croft), Red-throated Diver reported going north over car park (RSPB).
 * Staines Moor: 1 Water Pipit (BirdGuides)
 * Streatham Hill: 26 Waxwing at Telford Avenue/Thornton Avenue roundabout at 10.40 (Birdguides). Still present 11-12am feeding/drinking - occasionally chased around by a curious C Crow (Steve Woolfenden).
 * Tyttenhanger GPs: 4 Bewick's Swan (2 ad 2 juv), 2 Goosander (males), Goldeneye (drake), 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, 16 Lesser Redpoll (Steve Blake et al).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (N side): 11 Little Grebe, 15 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 5 Goosander (1 drake), 10 Goldeneye (2 drakes), pr Egyptian Goose, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3-4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Song Thrush, 8-10 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Park: Bush Wood - Woodcock (Steve Thorpe)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: m Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, m Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Charlie Farrell)

Friday 7th December 2012

 * Blackheath: Waxwing 14 west over the dips (Martin Hallam per James Lowen)
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 32 Golden Plover, 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, c800 Dunlin, 80 Redshank, Curlew. (Kev Jarvis).
 * East India Dock Basin: Chiffchaff, 9 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 15 Teal, also 35 Cormorants roosting on mud by O2 (John Archer).
 * Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 3 Wigeon (fem on Long Water, male and fem on Round Pond), Little Owl showed well though briefly, Tawny Owl showing well; also 97 Mute Swan, 223 Greylag Goose, 119 Canada Goose, 75 Egyptian Goose, 59 Mallard, 26 Shoveler, pair of Red-crested Pochard, 24 Pochard, 90 Tufted Duck, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 77 Common Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, c30 Ring-necked Parakeet (D. McKenzie).
 * Island Barn Reservoir: 2 Velvet Scoter still (Surrey website).
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Bearded Tits from Dulverton Hide (WWT London Facebook page); also Stonechat, Bittern, Water Rail, 82 Wigeon, 2 Chiffchaff (website).
 * Paddington Basin: 2 Egyptian Goose (D. McKenzie).
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon pursued a Feral Pigeon a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, 2 Goldeneye (Nigel Sluman)
 * Redbridge IG1 (Valentines Park): 7 Shoveler 3m 4f  (Barbara Miller).
 * Staines Reservoir: 2 Scaup , Black-necked Grebe (Twitter)
 * Streatham Hill, mini-roundabout junction of Telford Ave and Thornton Ave: 23 Waxwing, calling intermittently and showing well in bare treetops at SE and SW corners of junction  3.25-3.40pm (still there when I left) (Nick Granger-Taylor).
 * Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Chiffchaff with mixed tit flock Sanctuary Wood 1230 (Bob Watts).
 * Wanstead Flats: 3 Fieldfare, Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, Kestrel, 33 Goldfinch, 3 Goldcrest (Jubilee-SSSI-Long Wood) (Nick Croft)
 * Whitewebbs Wood: 1 female Firecrest feeding in Rhododendrons around Ornamental Lake 15:15 hrs., also 12(7m 5f) Mandarin Duck (Robert Callf).

Thursday 6th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 2+ Shoveler 0715 Wood Green Res, several Tufties and 3 Pochard (Bob Watts). 07.30 boating lake, Grey Heron (Naomi Stadlen).
 * Canons Farm: juvenile Mute Swan flew NW (4th site record), 7 Lapwings, 30+ Skylarks, Little Owl (David Campbell).
 * Canary Wharf: Peregrine Falcon over Bank Street (Nick Croft)
 * Crayford Marshes: Turnstone and Spotted Redshank on the Thames foreshore near Erith Yacht Club; 4 Pintail, 34 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Golden Plover, Water Rail, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Pipit (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dulwich Park SE2: 15 Redwing over E, 1 Redpoll over W (Martin Stevens).
 * East India Dock Basin: 10 Shelduck (mostly on the river by the O2), 8 Tufted Duck, no Teal - Basin almost entirely frozen (John Archer).
 * Erith Cemetery (east): 31 Redwing, 34 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Goldfinch (Chris Rose)
 * Kilburn NW6: 9 Waxwing west over Brondesbury Road at 08.02 (Rob Ayers)
 * Lee Valley RP (River Lee CP): 2 Smew (1m 1f)) on Seventy Acres Lake at 12:00 from Bittern Information Point, 1 Bittern reported at 12:30 in front of the hide, 4 Goldeneye on Bowyers Water (Mike Oakland).
 * Mayesbrook Park: Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, 61 Gadwall, 21 Shoveler (Paul Hawkins). 1 Snipe, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Fieldfare (over), Skylark (heard) (Peter Beckenham).
 * Paddington Green: adult Herring Gull stained pink (from a project?) . They were being marked at a couple of rubbish tips in southeast Northumbs (New Moor near Ashington, and Seghill near Backworth) to study feeding behaviour at tips. Info from 2004 - may be different now? (D. McKenzie)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck still present (Birdguides)
 * Rainham Marshes RSPB: Goshawk reported flying over at 09.30, also Water Pipit (via Twitter), Cettis Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Pintail, Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel, Fieldfare, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Little Grebe. (Phil Laurie)
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 1♂ Wood Duck (returning for 3rd successive winter - origin unknown), 2 Wigeon, 19 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 58 Shoveler (birdman_euston).
 * South Norwood Lake: 2m Teal, 2 Fieldfare, group of 2m 2f Bullfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
 * South Ockendon (Grangewaters CP): 170 Fieldfare, 4 Siskin, Long-tailed Duck, 317 Tufted Duck, 81 Pochard, ringtail Hen Harrier over, 3 Water Rail, 27 Redwing and 250 Lapwing (Dave Morrison).
 * Upminster RM14 2TY (Stubbers OPC): 58 Pochard, 67 Tufted Duck, 2 female Goldeneye and 12 Siskins . If visiting please book in at reception on arrival. (Dave Morrison)
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: (Lockwood) 3 f Goosander, 1 Lapwing S (Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: Firecrest (Alex), 4 Goldcrest, 6 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, 2 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, 7 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler Firecrest pics here http://wansteadbirding.blogspot.co.uk/  (Nick Croft/Josh)
 * Wanstead Park: 23 Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 41 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 3 Little Grebe, 30 + Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher, Water Rail, Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Josh)

Wednesday 5th December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 3+ Shoveler Wood Green Res 7am (Bob Watts).
 * Amwell: 2 Smew from viewpoint - male  & redhead (Herts website).
 * Bedfords Park LNR: 2 Firecrest feeding in holly at western end of Nursery Wood early afternoon (C.Jupp).
 * Brent Reservoir: Waxwing over at 08.10 (Andrew Self)
 * Bushy Park: Red Kite 12.30pm SE, pr Red-crested Pochards, pr Shovelers, 1 Fieldfare, 12 Redwings, 14 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls (Tony Duckett).
 * Canons Farm: 10 Lapwings, 20 Yellowhammers (David Campbell).
 * Crayford (Hall Place and Crayford Rough): HP - 1 Jay, 3 Greylag, 47 Canada Geese. CR - 1 or 2 Pheasant heard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Jay, several Ring-necked Parakeet (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford (Hall Place North): 10 Jackdaw, 17 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 or 2 Jay (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford (River Cray - Footpath 106/By-way 105): 1 Redwing, several Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Mute Swan, 73 Starling on pylons near Crayford town centre (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford (Thames Road Wetland): 1 probably 2 Water Rail heard (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford Marshes: adult Caspian Gull, Spotted Redshank, 108 Golden Plover, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, Water Rail, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Rock Pipit (Kev Jarvis).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): 2 Teal, Grey Heron, 4 C Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Lesser Redpoll; no sign of yesterday's wood duck (James Lowen).
 * Lee Valley RP (River Lee CP): 2 Bitterns at Bittern Information Hide - dominant bird chased off the other, which flew to the back of the reedbed; 1 Cetti’s Warbler in reedbed. 5 Goosander (1m & 4f) on North Met Pit. Several small flocks of Lesser Redpoll in the Park (Bowyers Water, Cornmill Meadows), all feeding in low vegetation on seed heads as opposed to up in the alders (Mike Oakland).
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Shoveler, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chaffinch (Rich Petley)
 * Redbridge IG1 (Valentines Park): 3 Shoveler first of the season 2m 1f, 11 Pochard, Cormorant, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail (Barbara Miller).
 * Snaresbrook Crown Court: 2 Firecrest, 4+ Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll, 5+ Redwing, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, Coal Tit (Stuart Fisher)
 * Southgate N14 (Dalrymple Close): 1 female Blackcap - presumably the bird first seen two weeks ago (Robert Callf).
 * Totteridge Valley: Little Owl, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing N, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming (John Colmans).
 * Tyttenhanger GP: male Goosander, Dunlin, Kingfisher, Red Kite, Buzzard, c100 Lapwing, 7 Mistle Thrush (Steve Blake).
 * Wanstead Flats: Firecrest (Alex scrub), 3 Goldcrest, 9 Redwing south, 2 Fieldfare south, Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit, 5 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, Reed Bunting (Nick Croft)
 * Wormwood Scrubs: Waxwing (Birdguides). 2 Stonechat, 1 Mistle Thrush, 38 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, 2 GS Woodpecker (The scrubbers)

Tuesday 4th December 2012

 * Barnet EN5 (Monken Hadley Common): 1 male Firecrest calling quietly and feeding in holly 15:10-15:20 hrs - western end of wood nearest to High Barnet; 15+ Goldcrest (Robert Callf).
 * Buckhurst Hill, Essex: 17 Waxwing on Albert Road before flying towards Woodford (Birdguides)
 * Bushy Park: Little Egret (Tony Duckett).
 * Crayford (town centre, derelict industrial site west side of Roman Way): 21(+?) Chaffinch, 1 Pied Wagtail (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford (Thames Road Wetland): 1 Water Rail seen (Chris Rose).
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank, adult Mediterranean Gull, 54 Golden Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Rock Pipit, 3 Curlew, 643 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis).
 * Eltham: Waxwing in bushes beside A2 south of Eltham Golf Course in afternoon (RBA).
 * Eltham SE9 (Sutcliffe Park): Common Snipe, Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, drake Wood Duck, 20+ Redpolls, 12 Linnets (P_Kite).
 * Finchley: 7 Waxwings at the Sternberg Centre (Chris Langsdon).
 * Iver Heath, Bucks (Mansfield Farm): 2 Green Sandpiper on flooded field (Roger Dewey).
 * Lee Valley RP (Middlesex Filter Beds NR): 2 Firecrest, c10 Goldcrest, Peregrine (Jamie_Partridge).
 * Lee Valley RP (Walthamstow Marshes/Middlesex Filter Beds): 2 Snipe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 3 Redwing, Stonechat (pair - first I have seen here) (Marcus Mitchell).
 * Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon a.m. (D. McKenzie).
 * South Ockendon Stn : 17 Waxwings calling and flying around station at 15:34 (Paul Hawkins)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Red-necked Grebe mid-morning; also Long-tailed Duck (Birdguides)
 * Shooter's Hill SE18 (Woodlands Farm): Lesser Redpoll, 2 Goldcrest, Nuthatch . Apparently there's been a Bittern seen on the Farm during the past week, in the marshy area behind the wood pile. No sign of it today though. (John Bushell, Conrad Ellam & Lorraine Parish) Woodcock flushed from Clothworker's Wood, 2 Lesser Redpoll on feeders by pond, Goldcrest, a few House Sparrows in old allotment (Conrad Ellam & Lorraine Parish).
 * Tyttenhanger GP: male Goosander (Steve Blake)
 * Wanstead Flats: 10 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 7 Mistle Thrush, 20 Fieldfare, 31 Redwing, 7 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 4 Stock Dove, 62 Jackdaw in one flock, 40+ Goldfinch, Siskin, 5 Reed Bunting, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Chiffchaff, 5+ Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Nuthatch Bush Wood (Tim Harris), f/juv Wigeon, 10+ Lesser Redpoll and Siskin (Tony Brown), 37 Common Pochard, 40+ Gadwall, 50+ Tufted Duck, 10+ Shoveler, Water Rail, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Redwing (Nick Croft).

Monday 3rd December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: Brambling in Conservation Area (Dave Callahan), 7+ Shoveler Wood Green Res, 2 Redwing (Bob Watts).
 * Broadwater: 3 Goldeneye (2m 1f), c25 Siskin, 3 Redwing, 3 Red Kite, 2 Grey Wagtail (Nigel Sluman)
 * Buckhurst Hill, Essex: 14 Waxwings on the corner of Albert Road off Palmerston Road until 14.50pm Pics here  (Tony Brown)
 * Crayford Marshes: Spotted Redshank on the Thames foreshore near Erith Yacht Club; adult Mediterranean Gull, 172 Golden Plover, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Rock Pipit, Cetti's Warbler (Kev Jarvis).
 * Dartford Marshes: Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 67+ Teal, 5 Shoveler, 16 Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese, 321+ Lapwing, c200 Golden Plover, 14 Ringed Plover, c500 Dunlin, 3 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 3 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, Kingfisher, 90+ Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, 9 Meadow Pipit, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, 14 Linnet (Martin Stevens).
 * East India Dock Basin: 10 Shelduck, 21+ Tufted Duck, 53 Teal (John Archer).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: juv Common Scoter still (Herts website).
 * Lee Valley RP (Middlesex Filter Beds NR): Firecrest (BirdGuides).
 * London Wetland Centre: Peregrine, Bittern, 28 Redwing, 11 Redpoll (website).
 * Margravine Cemetery: 1 Redwing, 2 Peregrine (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Muswell Hill N10: 3 Waxwings again on Cranborne Road at western end this morning (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Oakwood Park, Enfield N14: 6 Lesser Redpoll feeding on Willowherb; 15+ Goldfinch (Robert Callf).
 * Paddington Green: 8 Egyptian Goose over, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Great Black-backed Gull (D. McKenzie).
 * Rainham Marshes: Snow Bunting on sea wall 200 m west of RSPB visitor centre at 09:20 (Dave Smith, Andy Tweed) until at least 15:25 (Dominic Mitchell), 2 Jack Snipe and 1 Common Snipe on Aveley saltings, 80 Black-tailed Godwits (one colour ringed), 7 Eurasian Curlews, 3 Caspian Gulls (ad, 2w 1w), 20 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Water Pipit and 6 Rock Pipits (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 1♀ Blackcap briefly at NW corner of Avenue Gardens area 20 (birdman_euston).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs (W & E Warwick): 3 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare (TeRNS).
 * Wanstead Flats: Woodcock NE from SSSI, Brambling, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, 18 Redwing, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1-2 Chiffchaff, 10+ Goldcrest, 9 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler (Nick Croft).
 * Wanstead Park: 107 Gadwall (the Basin), 20 Pochard, 10+ Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe (Tim Harris).

Sunday 2nd December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: 4 Fieldfare NE, 5 Shoveler Wood Green Res inc 3 drakes, also Lapwing north 1225, Redwing (Bob Watts).
 * Beddington SF: 1 fem Goldeneye (first record since 2006), 1 Shelduck, 1 Water Pipit, 7 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 1-2 Stonechat pics here (Peter Alfrey and BFBG).
 * Brent Reservoir: male Bearded Tit seen again from Heron Hide at 08.41, also 22 Snipe, 4 Wigeon (Brent Birders)
 * Broadwater GP: 2 Goldeneye, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 10 Chiffchaff, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Siskin & 6 Lesser Redpoll (Simon Buckingham)
 * Crossness LNR: 3 Lesser Redpoll (very scarce here except as vis mig), 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Curlew, 12 Wigeon, 24 Shoveler, 120 Gadwall, c100 Lapwings including 30 high SW (John Archer).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Short-eared Owl quartering travellers field at 4:27pm + Woodcock at 4:35pm, female Blackcap high up in tall willows, 4 Chiffchaff, Bullfinch (V.Halley-Frame).
 * Fairlop Waters: 4 Waxwing, 1 Buzzard, Lesser Redpoll (Neil Twyford)
 * Hampstead Heath: drake Goosander, Sanctuary Pond, flew in c9:00 then flew off after c20mins (Frank Nugent, Allan Stewart & Pete Mantle).
 * Ingrebourne Valley: Firecrest in ivy near Berwick Reservoir, Goldcrest and 2 Kingfisher (Shaun Harvey)
 * Island Barn Reservoir: two female Velvet Scoter still; also Brent Goose (Birdguides)
 * Lee Valley RP (WaterWorks NR): 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Snipe, 10 Fieldfare, 5+ Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Red Fox (Jonathan Nasir)
 * London Wetland Centre: 2 Bitterns (Birdguides)
 * Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 2 Goldcrest, 100+ Black-headed Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (5 gull species is a record for me here), 2 Shoveler (Rich Petley). Also 2 Water Rail at southern end and 4 Chiffchaff (Andy Culshaw).
 * Lower Chingford (off Russell Lane): 2 male Blackcap, 1 Green Sandpiper (despite the high water level), 1-2 Little Egret, 30-40 Linnet, 1 Greylag Goose, 5 Goosander (2 male + 3 fem), 3 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing (James Palmer).
 * Muswell Hill: 3 Waxwings Cranborne Road near junction with Rosebery Road from 09:20; also Fieldfare and up to 6 Lesser Redpolls (Dominic Mitchell, Bob Watts, Gareth Richards et al). Waxwings present throughout morning and still at 14:50 (Gerry Rawcliffe) but seen to fly off south over Rosebery Road at 15:32 (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Regent's Park: 64 Shovelers, 3 Teal, 56 Mandarins, 48 Red-crested Pochards, 3w Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Redwings, 10 Fieldfares, Firecrest, 18 Goldfinches, 2 Siskins (Tony Duckett).
 * Richmond Park: 163 Gadwall, 68 Wigeon, m Red-crested Pochard, 11 Mandarin, Little Owl, up to 5 Stonechats, 10 Siskin (Neil Anderson)
 * South Ockendon (Grange Waters CP, TQ 609 816: female Long-tailed Duck til at least 1215. Access (with difficulty!) from the end of Buckles Lane near travellers' site or Mollands Lane (Paul Hawkins, David Bradnum, Lee Brown).
 * Staines Moor: 3 Short-eared Owl showing from time to time from 2:20 pm along east side, 1-2 Water Pipit, 1 Red Kite, 6 Stonechat, 10 Pied Wagtail, 1-2 Little Egret, 2 Redpoll, 1 Siskin, 28 Fieldfare, 3 Common Snipe, 1 Little Owl on adjacent Stanwell Moor  - a few naff pics here (Lee Dingain).
 * Totteridge Valley: Firecrest on the Mill Hill side at Oakfields wood frequenting both sides of the public footpath along the first 50 metres from the entrance at the junction of Partingdale Lane with Ridgeway (Ian Ellis).
 * Trent Park: 1 Firecrest feeding in rhododendrons at edge of Moat Wood 12:15 hrs (Robert Callf & Robin White).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: Adult male Merlin flew low over Res. No. 5 (Lol Cumming).
 * Wanstead Flats: Ringed Plover heard flying south over Capel Point c7:30, 21 Lapwing north, 17 Redwing, 24 Fieldfare, 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark, 2 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Reed Bunting, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Stock Dove, Great Black-backed Gull, Sparrowhawk, 5 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler (Nick Croft)
 * Wanstead Park: Firecrest (Bush Wood), 10 + Goldcrest, m Blackcap, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Kingfisher, Water Rail, Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 160 Gadwall (100 + on the Basin), Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, 2 Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe)

Saturday 1st December 2012

 * Alexandra Park: Fem Bullfinch Cricket Scrub 9am calling then flew east, 4+ Lesser Redpoll, 2 Fieldfare west, 2 Redwing Top Field, 17 Shoveler (13 Wood Green Res inc 7 drakes - 2 pairs Boating Lake), 5 Pochard (3 WGR, 2 BL).
 * Barnet (Woodside Park): male Blackcap, Nuthatch, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ring-necked Parakeet all among birds on garden feeders this morning (Ian Ellis).
 * Barnes: Female Peregrine upriver between Barnes Bridge/Chiswick Bridge around noon (Andy Culshaw).
 * Beddington SF: Jack Snipe (BirdGuides), 1 f Goldeneye, 2 Snipe, 1 Shelduck, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine, 1 Stonechat (observer?)
 * Bentley Priory: 1m Goosander on lake (Richard Francis).
 * Blackheath: 2 Egyptian Geese, also 3 Siskin feeding on alder seeds with Goldfinches Folly Pond; Robin singing on parked tractor in the middle of Circus Field on the heath - never seen one in this wide open space before but due to ploughing and re-greening for Olympic reinstatement works (Joe Beale).
 * Brent Reservoir: male Bearded Tit at Heron Hide at 08.40 only, and 16 Snipe (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall); also drake Pintail & 4 Wigeon (Brent Birders).
 * Bromley:  20 Waxwing flew south over Keston Ponds at 11.00 (Birdguides).
 * Brookmans Park, Herts: 24 Waxwings in Bradmore Way mid-afternoon (Birdguides)
 * Bushy Park: Little Owl (Ian R Watson).
 * Chafford Hundred, Thurrock: Waxwing along cycle track off Saffron Road early morning (Birdguides)
 * Cheshunt (Hertford Road): 1 Waxwing in car park opposite Co-op till 0800hrs at least. Also 640 Golden Plover in field south of Lieutenent Ellis Way off A10 (Neville Smith).
 * Cowley, Uxbridge: 1 m Blackcap feeding on sunflower hearts in my garden (Roger Dewey).
 * Croydon: 34 Waxwings at junction of Broom Road and Myrtle Road Shirley (Birdguides), plus c10 more Waxwings over calling; also in the rowan was a Fieldfare and Redwing. Hardly any berries left so likely to be the last day on this tree (Steven Robinson).
 * Dagenham Chase LNR: Woodcock flew along main bridleway at 4:33pm (V.Halley-Frame).
 * Ealing (W13): 6 Waxwing around Rosemount Road/Charles Road this morning (09:30) but then flew off west (Bill Haines).
 * Ealing (Horsenden Hill): drake Mandarin on Grand Union Canal (unusual here) and Firecrest in Perivale Wood (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon).
 * Fulham Reach: (Thames, 8am) 1 Shelduck, 66 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, ca 400 Black-headed Gull (a record or close) - (Frank Banfield Park), 16 House Sparrow, 1 Greenfinch (Nathalie Mahieu).
 * Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: 3 Little Grebe, at least 1 Water Rail, Common Snipe, Great Spotted Woodpecker (John Bushell & Conrad Ellam).
 * Hampstead Heath: Water Rail at Sanctuary Pond; 41 Gadwall; 2 pair Wigeon   Little Grebe at Highgate No 1 Pond; c30 Siskin  in alders by Stock Pond, Lesser Redpoll at Hedge 3 Parliament Hill Fields (Frank Nugent).
 * Hertford: 2 Waxwing still at 2 Tanners Crescent at 09.00 (Birdguides).
 * Hilfield Park Reservoir: Common Scoter (birdingetc tweet).
 * Island Barn Reservoir: 2 fem Velvet Scoter still (Birdguides).
 * Lee Valley RP (Tottenham Marshes): 4 Goosander (2m 2f) on Flood Relief Channel at N end of marshes viewable from footbridge across Lea; also a few Redwing around (Quentin Given).
 * Lewisham (Ladywell Cemetery SE13): m Kestrel, Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker (T.Wilson).
 * Leyton: 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Waxwing Marsh Lane flew North at 13:42 (Paul Whiteman).
 * London Wetland Centre: 3m 1f Pintail, 1 Shelduck, 1m 1f Sparrowhawk (male with passerine prey probably Robin), c.40 Siskin, 4 Common Snipe, 2 Water Rail (Martin Honey).
 * Muswell Hill N10: Waxwing heard over Rosebery Road at 16:00 (Dominic Mitchell).
 * Northolt and Greenford CP: m Kestrel, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, 7 Redwings, c45 Goldfinch (Neil Anderson)
 * Queen Mother Reservoir: Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe (birdingetc tweet).
 * Rainham Marshes: c66 species 08:45-14:35 including 491 Eurasian Wigeon, 169 Northern Shoveler, 146 Eurasian Teal, 34 Mallard, 33 Gadwall, 8 Northern Pintail, 31 Common Shelduck, 22 Tufted Duck, 22 Common Pochard (one with green nasal saddle), Great Crested Grebe on river, 1+ Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, 12 Ringed Plover, 21 European Golden Plover, c2,500 Dunlin, 204 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Eurasian Curlew, 115+ Common Redshank, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Rock Pipit, European Stonechat, c10 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, Cetti's Warbler, Brambling on sea wall near visitor centre at 08:45 (Dominic Mitchell); also 3 Caspian Gull, Water Pipit and Waxwing in stone barges area (Kev Jarvis, Paul Hawkins).
 * Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 41 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 11 Mute Swan, 10 Common Gull (all 'grounded' season-highs), 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe (both season-lows), 3 Gadwall, 1f Sparrowhawk. The variety of bright berries - and the birds that eat them - significantly reduced from a week ago (birdman_euston).
 * Shepperton, Surrey (Upper Halliford area): 7 Waxwings over behind The Bugle pub at 0945 (W.Marks).
 * South Norwood CP: c10 Redpoll, 5 Pochard, 2 Goldcrest and a Blackbird narrowly avoiding predation by a Sparrowhawk (Steven Robinson).
 * Staines Moor: Fieldfare, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 3 Little Egret, c15 Meadow Pipit, Stonechat (V Williamson, R Woolley); 4 Short-eared Owl east side early evening (BirdGuides).
 * Staines Reservoir: 2 Scaup (1m 1f) (N. basin), 22+ Goldeneye (S. basin) (Simon Cumming).
 * Stockwell (Nine Elms Sainsbury's Car Park): 1 2nd-winter Common Gull with Black-headed Gulls (Michael Mac).
 * Totteridge Valley (Darlands Lake area): Goldcrest, Treecreeper (Xav).
 * Trent Park: 1 Woodcock flushed in Seedfield Spinney 14:13 hrs; 1 Firecrest feeding in rhododendrons & laurel at Rough Lot 15:18 - 15:30 hrs; 11 Goldcrest; 4(2m 2f) Shoveler  Lower Lake (Robert Callf).
 * Walthamstow Reservoirs: 3f Goldeneye, 3 Goosander (2m 1f), f Pheasant & Fieldfare all at N end of Lockwood Res today (Lol Bodini).
 * Wanstead Flats: Woodcock, 14 Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, 6 Meadow Pipit, 10 Goldcrest, 10 Song Thrush, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Reed Bunting, Kestrel, 3 Shoveler south (Tim Harris/Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe).
 * Wanstead Park: Firecrest Bush Wood (TH), 20 + Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 75 Tufted Duck, 56 Gadwall, 31 Common Pochard, 4 Teal, 27 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 10+ Siskin, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 300+ Carrion Crow in roost on golf course north of Heronry, 40+ Magpies (Tim Harris/Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge).
 * Welwyn Garden City: 12 Waxwings in Pondcroft. 140 yards inside LNHS Recording Area. (BirdGuides)
 * Worcester Park, Sutton: 2 Peregrine low over garden heading SW 10am (Adam F).

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LONDON BIRDING NEWS FROM ALMOST EVERY PREVIOUS MONTH SINCE JULY 2002 {C}