Alexandra Park: unidentified (in the pouring rain) warbler in bushes on south eastern boundary of cricket field, then flew into trees nearer WG reservoir - looked like a Phylloscopus type, distinctly grey and making a monosyllabic contact call. (James Palmer). Assuming the contact call was the standard 'Hewit', then it sounds like a Chiffchaff (JR). I am sure it wasn't a Chiffchaff - the contact call wasn't the standard 'Hewit' and the bird was greyer and longer than a Chiffchaff (JP). Then you have clearly found something more interesting - good luck (JR). I went back in the sunshine and the same bird was in the same place - and I think it might have been a Chiffchaff. But it was very grey. My apologies to everyone and my thanks to JR (James Palmer). Thanks for going back & reviewing the bird, no apologies necessary (JR). Southern Hawker just north of bridge in Conservation area 11am (Bob Watts).
Brent Reservoir: 2 migrant Willow Warblers, also 5 Lapwings & 4 Common Sands (Brent & AP Birders)
Brentford Eyot: Sparrowhawk (m) over, Jay, Stock Dove (Charlie Farrell)
Brockley to Forest Hill: primarily went looking for Jersey Tiger moths and found a minimum of 56 individuals; birds noted were singing Collared Dove and 2 Stock Dove at Honor Oak Park, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet (inc. a juv) and an ad Pied Wagtail accompanied by a single juv at Forest Hill, plus two Cockatiel flying together over Brockley (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 1 Heron (sitting on old coot's nest) 20 Mallard, 3 Moorhen, 7 Coot, 2 Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Wren, 4 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch 1 female Chaffinch. (Conrad Ellam)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Avocets, fem/juv Marsh Harrier and Hobby on Rainham side. 3 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, 6 Common Sandpipers, Great Crested Grebe, 9 Greylags, Blackcap, 2 Oystercatchers, 5 Common Terns, 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls (2+ ads, 1+ juv), 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, Sand Martin (Kevin McManus and David Campbell).
Northolt, Yeading Brook area: 1 Little Owl, 4 Kestrel, 3 Pheasant, 9 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swift, 1 Swallow, 7 Skylark, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet & a super charm of 80+ Goldfinch (Jon Ridge).
Prior's Farm, South Ruislip: 1 Rook over the A40 (JR).
Rainham Marshes: 2 Greenshank, 2 Avocet, 2 Whimbrel, 1+ Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, Peregrine, Dunlin (M Bourne)
South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, Tufted Duck (with brood of 7), 4 Cormorant, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Chiffchaff, c8 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Stock Dove, 2 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Staines Reservoir: 16.30- Juv Black-necked Grebe on the North basin in the S/W corner.
Tooting (Springfield Hospital): 14:55 Sparrowhawk (f) circling over and chased by crow. (Stuart M)
Tufnell Park (Anson Road N7) two sparrowhawks (juveniles) in garden again this morning (Adrian Platt)
Woolwich Ferry: immature Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls, Common Terns etc. - so close birds can be observed without binoculars. R. A. (Bob) Husband & Sue Widdowfield (Bob's sister).
Friday 30th July[]
Banstead Downs: 19 Common Crossbills in one flock, low and westwards at 18.05hrs (Steve Gale). No further sign in area but Hobby flew low north east also c.16 House Martins and 90-100 Rose-ringed Parakeets over, Common Whitethroat, Linnet, 3+ Green Woodpeckers, 5 juv Chiffchaffs, 2 Black-headed Gulls over (David Campbell).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Avocet, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 7 Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe (KJM).
Ingrebourne Valley: Cattle Egret on Albion Pool at 09:35 (Birdguides); flew off perhaps 250m east at 10:30 with 4 Little Egrets, no longer visible but still in area (J Lethbridge); no further sign by 12:15pm (RBA) - Still no sign by 14:25 (John Gates per JR).
Rainham Marshes: 2 Avocet, Whimbrel (Aveley Bay), 2 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 23 Yellow-legged Gulls (mostly adults and 3rd-summers on dump foreshore first thing), 150+ Sand Martins, c4,000 Starlings (David Callahan); Marsh Harrier (Dominic Mitchell, Roy Beddard).
Alexandra Park: indications of a small fall with singing Willow Warbler near the Conservation Pond and Garden Warbler in Cricket Scrub just west of the Cricket Pavilion (Bob Watts).
Bedfont Lakes CP: Now at least 54 Common Tern chicks this year. Best year by far. (Adam Cheeseman)
Brent Reservoir: (evening) 5 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper (Andrew Haynes).
Hounslow Heath LNR: 2 Common Crossbill near the bird hide. (Adam Cheeseman)
Mitcham Common: 2 Kestrel (regular hen hunting field behind Ecology Centre; her tail feathers in very poor condition now, cock bird in tree perch near old factory site), 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Grey Heron successfully fishing at Seven Islands Pond, 17 Canada Goose & one dead adult floating in the water, c50 Goldfinch in smashing flock on high ground to south of pond (Stuart M)
Roding Valley Park and surrounding area: Bullfinch (juvenile), 2 Common Terns, Blackcap (female), Willow Warbler, Swift, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Goldfinches (Alan Hobson).
Sainsbury's Nine Elms Car Park: 1 f, probably immature, Peregrine seen on BT building, Goldfinch nest in small tree outside busy entrance to shop - on shopping trip (Michael Mac).
Staines Reservoir: Caspian Gull on King George VI Res until at least 09:30, juvenile Black-necked Grebe, 2 Common Sandpipers (PFM).
Wandsworth Road/Vauxhall end: pr agitated Herring Gulls, chicks still hiding in chimeny stacks (Michael Mac).
Limehouse Cut: pair breeding House Martins on disused factory, breeding Grey Wagtails (MJP et al)
Mile End Park: 6 House Martins, likely local breeders (MJP et al)
Victoria Park: c50 Swifts, high in tight flock (MJP et al)
Tufnell Park (garden in Anson Road N7) 3 sparrowhawks (female and two juveniles) perched in back garden (Adrian Platt).
Thursday 29th July[]
Crayford Marshes: 2 Avocet, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Ringed Plover (juv), 4 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 11 Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Stonechat (2 juv), 2 Stock Dove (KJM).
Colliers Wood (Wandle Park): Grey Heron (Stuart M)
East India Dock Basin area: 1 Little Egret, 2 Peregrines, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper (Bow Creek), 4 ad 1 juv Common Tern, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Goldfinch (Gary A James).
Hackney Marshes: adult Sparrowhawks feeding fledged young (on Great Tit and Feral Pigeon respectively), 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps (Mark Pearson)
Lea Navigation: at least one active Sand Martin nest in drainage pipes (Mark Pearson)
London W2 (location witheld): m Black Redstart (not singing) early a.m. (Des McKenzie). London Wetland Centre: 3 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Little Ringed Plover (2 ads and a juv), Common Snipe, 5 Common Tern (4 ads and a juv), singing Cetti's Warbler (juvs nearby), 6 Chiffchaff (LWC website).
M25 J3 Peregrine (fem) @11:00am (Paul Hawkins)
Margravine Cemetery: 9 Goldfinch inc 4 juv, 1m Peregrine eating prey at 9:30 (Nathalie Mahieu); 2+ Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Goldcrest, flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits plus some Blue Tits, Wren with fledglings, Peregrine on Charing Cross Hospital (M Ruscoe)
Paddington Green: unidentified raptor (too distant, too high, but thought to have been a Common Buzzard) north-east 11:00, m Peregrine Falcon in the area a.m. joined by fem p.m., now 8 juv Herring Gull at local rooftop colony, at least 10 House Martin; also Small White, Vapourer, plus an independent juv Grey Wagtail foraging on council estate grassland at nearby Luton Street NW8 (DMc).
Parsloes Park (dagenham) Hobby @5:30am (Paul Hawkins)
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 1 Willow Warbler (first autumn migrant), 2 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 30+ Goldfinch, 4 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, 165 Starling, 3 Jackdaw, 22 Canada Goose (including a large number of young, all free flying now) 3 Grey Heron & just 1 Swift. Also 68 Ring-necked Parakeet over in the evening (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: 2 Avocet (ave bay) also 3 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green sandpiper, 5 Common Sand, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Dunlin, Ruff, 9 Little Egret.(Paul Hawkins)
Roding Valley Park and surrounding area: Common Tern, Grey Heron, 2 Goldfinches, half a dozen Swifts, flock of around 20 Long-tailed Tits (Alan Hobson).
Springfield Park: Common Whitethroat (first bona fide migrant warbler of the season), 33 House Martins in high feeding flock overhead, 3 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff (Mark Pearson)
Thorney CP: 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Treecreeper,3 Song Thrush, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler,6 Tufted Ducks, 2 G C Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cormorant, 7 Common Terns,1 Red Kite and 1 Common Buzzard flew over seemed to be hunting alongside each other.{Sue Giddens}
Wednesday 28th July[]
Crayford Marsh: Marsh Harrier (f), 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 10 Common Sands, ad Med Gull, Little Egret, Garden Warbler (KJM).
Grays: Honey Buzzard circled over Oval Gardens, RM17 at 06:40 (Birdguides)
Paddington Green: Red Kite drifted and circled south (in from the north) 17:00-17:05 having passed over the north side of Regent's Park, local rooftop Herring Gull colony now with 7 well-grown young, 26 Swift, Swallow, 12 House Martin (Swifts and hirundines generally south-west) (Des McKenzie).
Rainham Marshes RSPB: 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel, Ruff, fem Marsh Harrier, 7+ Yellow-legged Gulls (3+ ads, 4+ juvs), 3 Green Sandpipers, 7+ Common Sandpipers, 5 Common Terns (2 ads, 3 juvs), 3 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Gulls, Reed Warbler singing, Reed Bunting, 5 Little Egrets, Wigeon, Dunlin, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, small number of Sand Martins, Swallow, juv Little Grebe, fem Kestrel, pair of Shelduck with 11 young etc (David Campbell et al).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 6 Grey Heron, 34 Swift over southwest, Swallow, House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat & 17+ Mistle Thrush (Jon Ridge).
Arctic Street (Kentish Town) 06:15 - 07:15: 25 Swifts W, 2 Swallows W, 3 Song Thrushes W, Willow Warbler W (Pete Mantle).
London Wetland Centre: 2 broods of Gadwall, 20 Teal, Little Grebe chick, juv Great Crested Grebe, Common Buzzard drifted west c8:45, 3 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 2 singing Cetti's Warbler, singing Chiffchaff (LWC website).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Sandpiper on tern raft, c70 Swifts high and south plus c40 feeding over res (MJP).
Sainsbury's Nine Elms Car Park: 8 Black-headed Gulls, most since they started appearing about 7 days ago, 1 Goldfinch in tree outside front doors of Sainsbury's (Michael Mac).
Mitcham (Cricket Green): 4 Black Headed Gull, Ring-Necked Parakeet (Stuart M)
Vauxhall BT: 1 Peregrine flying, at random scan at 8pm (Michael Mac).
Staines Res: Black-necked Grebe, Goldeneye, 2 Black-tailed Godwit through SE (KLP).
Tuesday 27th July[]
Beddington SF: Wood Sandpiper still mid p.m., 31+ Green Sandpiper (Birdguides).
Crayford Marshes: Avocet, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Oystercatcher, 10+ Common Tern, Stonechat, 2 Pheasant; also a Grey Seal. (KJM).
Dagenham: Probable juv Arctic Skua (pale phase) over our garden at 7.45 pm. Looked for at Dag' Chase but no sign. Eclipse drake Wigeon & Common Snipe on what remains of the slack (V.Halley-Frame).
Hammersmith, Furnival Gardens: pr Moorhen still with 2 chicks, 1pr Egyptian Goose + 4 young (Nathalie Mahieu).
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens: 18 Egyptian Goose, fem / imm Mandarin Duck, 16 Red-crested Pochard, 26 Pochard, trilling Little Grebe, 17 Great Crested Grebe (inc. 3 juv), 181 Black-headed Gull (inc. 13 juv), 1s Common Gull, juv Lesser Black-backed Gull, juv Herring Gull, 7 Stock Dove, 5 Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 House Martin, Blackcap, 5 Coal Tit (2 singing and 3 juv), 2 Treecreeper, Jay lacking head feathers, 500+ Starling; also, 5 Essex / Small Skipper (1 definite Essex), minimum of 31 Meadow Brown, Common Blue, 5 Silver Y (Des McKenzie).
London Wetland Centre: 2 Gadwall broods, 16 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Pochard broods, Little Grebe brood, Little Ringed Plover, singing Cetti's Warbler (LWC website).
Paddington Basin (West End Quay): 2 broods of Tufted Duck (6, 2) (DMc).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Hobby, 2 Little Owl, 5 Grey Heron, 2+ Whitethroat (inc one juvenile), Lesser Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush, Swallow, House Martin, 7 Swift, Goldfinch numbers building up & Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker (Jon Ridge).
Roding Valley Park: Little Egret, Great Spotted Woodpecker, flock of around 40 Goldfinches, at least half a dozen Swifts, 2 Whitethroats, flock of Long-tailed Tits (Alan Hobson).
Staines Reservoir: Caspian Gull until 8am on King George VI gantry; has been reported recently some mornings and evenings (PFM).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: male and female Aythya hybrids still, 10 Common Terns (mobbing a la Farne Islands, despite not breeding within 3km), families of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs amongst the usual passerine broods, c20 Reed Warblers, inc. many juvs in hawthorn / oak etc. (MJP).
Tower Bridge: Common Tern flew East @ 17:00 (Paul Whiteman).
Brent Reservoir: Little Egret, Dunlin, 5 Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper (Andrew Haynes +)
Crayford Marshes: 28 Common Scoter on the Thames (see below), Avocet on Thames (far shore), juv Med Gull, Arctic tern, 2 Whimbrel, Greenshank, 7 Common Sandpiper, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Owl, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, (Kev Jarvis, Ian Stewart).
Crossness: 28 Common Scoter on Thames off Thamesview Golf Centre 8.00-8.15am then flew east (Ian Miller per JA); Garganey on Great Breach Lagoon this afternoon, moulting ad Black Tern and ad Arctic Tern off golf centre all day and 2 more ad Arctic Terns flew west at 13.05, 2+ juv Med Gulls, juv Hobby, Whimbrel, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, 17 Teal, 13 Gadwall (including 2 broods), 11+ Common Sandpipers, 3+ Redshank (John Archer)
Hammersmith Bridge: 1 colour-ringed Black-headed Gull (white UYC - seen previously in Feb, in Ladbroke Grove) (Nathalie Mahieu). I wonder if this might be the same bird that I saw at the London Wetland Centre on Sunday but too distant to read number. HAs it been reported? (Martin Honey). It has, yes. Plumage in transition, photo here might help (Nathalie Mahieu).
Hainault Lodge NR: Hobby (DEH)
Kensington: Yellow Wagtail heard passing overhead near old Commonwealth Institute building 09:05 (Des McKenzie).
London W2 (location withheld): m Black Redstart at this year's breeding locale but no sign of fem or young (DMc).
London Wetland Centre: 21 Teal, 4 Shoveler, Common Tern chick, 4 Collared Dove, Cetti's Warbler; also Common Lizard hatchlings appearing on Wildside (LWC website).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 5 Grey Heron, Lesser Whitethroat, Swallow, 13+ Mistle Thrush & Green Woodpecker (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: 28 Common Scoter off Visitor Centre for most of day; also 1 Eurasian Wigeon (oversummering bird), five Common Teal, 4 Little Egrets, Hobby, juv Avocet, 3 Oystercatchers, numerous Northern Lapwing, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Snipe, 7 Greenshank, 10 Common Redshank, 9 Common Sandpipers, 5 Green Sandpipers, female Ruff, 5 Dunlin, juv Mediterranean Gull E at 10:55, 20+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Common Gulls (Dominic Mitchell).
South Lodge Farm, Enfield: 32 Pied Wagtail; 1 juv Mistle Thrush (Robert Callf & Robin White).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Little Egret, Dunlin, Redshank 16 Common Tern, 2 Garden Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, Tree Sparrow. (Steve B)
Dartford Marshes: 28 Common Scoter on Thames untill 1600 at least; also 1 Whimbrel, 8 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Oystercatcher & 1 juv Med Gull. (Conrad Ellam) + Grey Seal
Walthamstow Reservoirs : 2 winter plumaged Black-necked Grebes on No. 4 Reservoir, 1 Blackcap with juvenile, 1 Willow Warbler with 2 noisy juveniles, large numbers of moulting Tufted Ducks floating about in groups. (Katy M.)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: male and female Common Pochard x Tufted Duck, plus the usuals. Any migrant of any kind gratefully received (MJP)
Sunday 25th July[]
Chiswick Eyot (20:00-20:35):1 Ad. Mediterranean Gull (with small metal ring, flew downriver at 20:30), c120 Black headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 3 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 2 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Moorhen, c21 House Martin. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Staines Reservoirs : 1 Mediterranean Gull juv on W bank of N basin late evng. Also 2 Whimbrel flew over calling then flew off SW.and 2 Common Sandpipers. (Rob Innes, FJM)
Brent Reservoir: Dunlin, 2 Common Sands, 7 Lapwing, Little Egret, 2 Green Sands (Andrew Self, Roy Beddard, Andrew Verrall).
Canons Farm: Meadow Pipit, 2 Common Buzzards, 50-60 Swallows, 4 House Martins, Coal Tit, 2-4 Kestrels, 5+ Yellowhammers, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4+ Green Woodpeckers, 2+ Linnets, Pheasant, 2 Rose-ringed Parakeets, Skylark, 7-9 Common Whitethroats, Pied/White Wagtail (David Campbell, Roy Weller and Kevin McManus).
Rainham Marshes: ad Arctic Tern feeding 2 juveniles off Aveley Bay at 7 am, plus 8 Common Terns, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, juv Med Gull, Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, Whimbrel, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 4 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, female Ruff, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets (Dominic Mitchell, Bob Watts); 8am to 11am river-watch: 5 Arctic Terns, 15+ Common Terns (most coming up-river), 5 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 5-8 Oystercatcher, 3 Dunlin, Redshank, (J Lethbridge) juv Med Gull (Dave Morrison, JL)
Fairlop Gravel Works: fTeal, fShoveler, 7 Pochard, 6+ Little Grebe, GCGrebe, 5 GHeron, 150+ Lapwing, 7 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover (2ad, 2 juv), Swallow, House Martin, fSparrowhawk, 20 Stock Dove, 30+ Goldfinch, 50+ Pied Wagtail, Linnet, 2 Greenfinch (DEH)
Fulham Reach (Thames, 8-10am): 1 Common Sandpiper (patch tick), 2 Egyptian Goose with 4 young, c134 Black-Headed Gull (at least 5 juv), 2 Great Black-Backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 2+ Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant, 1 House Martin, 11+ Swift (screaming), House Sparrows (hiding in bushes by Riverside Studio), lots of Starlings - (area) 1 f Peregrine (digesting all morning) (Nathalie Mahieu).
Hammersmith (Furnival Gardens): 1pr Moorhen with 3 chicks (out of 5 yesterday), 1pr Mute Swan with 3 young (Nathalie Mahieu).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Green Sandpiper, cicuited East Res 12:15 (first of year, finally), plus the usuals (MJP et al)
Langridge Scrape, LVRP: 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Buzzards (Mike Oakland & John Murray)
Beech Hill Lake, Monken Hadley Common: 1 female Mandarin Duck plus three juveniles; 1 Kingfisher; 2 Grey Wagtail (Robert Callf).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 2 Collared Dove in Horse Chestnut Glade (Nick Tanner).
Trent Park: 1 Willow Warbler, feeding in Poplars; 14 Ring-necked Parakeet, Church Wood (Robert Callf).
3 Kings Pond: 30+ House Sparrow, flock Starlings, 6 broods of Tufted Duck (4,5,5,7,12,7) seems they like small ponds with an island of good cover, 6 Egyptian Geese, 2 broods Mallard, Moorhen with two broods, 1 Lesser black backed Gull, Canada Geese - lot going on round a small pond (Michael Mac).
Ten Acre Wood & meadows, Hillingdon: Adult & 2 young Little Owl, Hobby, 2 Kestrel, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Linnet, family party of Bullfinch, 2 Skylark, Meadow Pipit and 8 Lapwing (Steve Pash).
Woodside Park N12: 3 Common Crossbills circled over back gardens, calling, then briefly alighted in large pine before heading NW towards Totteridge Valley (calling again) around 18:30. Obviously I must do some gardening more often! (Ian Ellis).
Rickmansworth, 1 Whimbrel flew south calling over Highfield Way at 19:27 (Andrew Moon)
Saturday 24th July 2010[]
Crayford Marshes: 4 Avocets, female Marsh Harrier mobbed by Peregrine, and Whimbrel on Rainham side also 4-8 Sandwich Terns back and forth along the Thames, 2 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, 6+ Redshanks, c.3 Oystercatchers, Hobby, juv Med Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 ads, juv +3rd summer), 2 Common Terns (adult +juv), 5 Little Egrets, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, juv Chiffchaff, Common Gull (Kevin McManus and David Campbell)
Fulham Reach (Thames, 7-9am): c150 Black-Headed Gull (4 juv), 1pr Egyptian Goose with 4 young (a first), 1pr Mute Swan with 5 young, 3 Swift (screaming), 1 Housemartin, c12 House Sparrow, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 10 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-Backed Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 8 Cormorant, lots Starlings (at least half juveniles) - (area) 1m Peregrine late afternoon (Nathalie Mahieu).
Hammersmith (Furnival Gardens): 1pr Moorhen with 5 chicks (nesting in a tyre, at least 3rd attempt), 1pr Mute Swan with 3 young (Nathalie Mahieu).
London Wetland Centre: Common Sand., Green Sand. reported on marsh but not seen, Redshank, 3 Common Snipe, 4 Wigeon, pr Little Ringed Plover with chick (Martin Honey)
Alexandra Park: Garden Warbler (adult + juvenile) near Conservation Pond (James Palmer).
Brent Reservoir: Little Egret, 2 Green Sands, Dunlin, 3 Common Sands, 7 Lapwing, 1st Common Gull of autumn & a Tawny Owl (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall, Roy Beddard)
Wanstead Park: Common Tern over the Basin (J Lethbridge), Reed Warbler by the sluice (River Roding) 110 Swift (mostly in the Redbridge direction), 2 Willow Warbler (adult with juv). Wanstead Flats: Common Sandpiper on Alex, Hobby over the Alex, Kestrel, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, 14 House Martin, 7 Mistle Thrush together, Common Gull and the usuals (S Fisher)
Shooter's Hill, Greenwich: Lots of Purple Hairstreaks in Oxleas Woods, Woodlands Farm & Shrewsbury Park. + 10+ Sand Martins heading south. (Conrad Ellam)
Barking Outfall: 2 juv Med Gulls, 3 Oystercatchers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 Common Terns, female Teal and 6 Great Crested Grebes.(Dave Morrison)
Holyfield/Langridge: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Buzzards. (Mike Oakland)
Paddington Green: fem Sparrowhawk, 2 Hobby interacting (1 went south) 10:10, pr Peregrine Falcon a.m., c200 Swift south by 13:00hrs (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Serpentine - 3 Mute Swan broods (3,2,4) most broods in recent years. Round Pond: Egyptian Geese family1 adult and 7 young, Sparrowhawk over trees, Tawny Owl (calling) and 56 Mute Swans (Michael Mac).
Friday 23rd July 2010[]
Canons Farm: 6 Common Crossbills flew SW over north end of Ruffett Wood (David Campbell).
KGVI Res: Caspian Gull adult again present on E pier from about 2030hrs onwards, viewed from W end of Staines Res causeway. First report of it since Saturday 17th, as far as I know. Also up to seven Yellow-legged Gulls on the pier. Staines Res very quiet (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic, Ken Purdey).1 Black-tailed Godwit flew in from W at 21.15 appeared to land on W bank of N basin.(FJM)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 6 Common Crossbills, initially heard then located in treetops, then south after c20 seconds,1002hrs; also drake Common Pochard x Tufted Duck (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
Trent Park, Cockfosters, Middx: 5 Common Crossbills, calling in flight "chip chip chip chip", flew across Ferny Hill Road towards the Obelisk and woods 15.30. Although we searched the Westen Hemlocks - where Crossbills usually feed we could not relocate. (R. A. (Bob) Husband & D. (Pete) Lowman.
Bedfont Pits (not the same as Bedfont Lakes): Green Sandpiper. (Adam Cheeseman)
East India Dock Basin NR: Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Great Black-backed Gull. (Gary A James).
Fulham by Thames. 7:45 - 8:15am. 5 Redshank (patch tick), Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpiper, Common Gull (summer plumage), Common Tern. Blog post. (Michael F)
Ingrebourne Valley: Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, juvenile Yellow Wagtail, 4 broods of Pochard and 3 of Tufted Duck.(Dave Morrison)
London Wetland Centre: 1 Mediterranean Gull - adult summer in Black-headed Gull flock at 3pm. Good numbers of Tufted Duck chicks, several Pochard and Gadwall chicks. (S. Haslem)
Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon in area all morning and into afternoon (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Grey Heron, Swallow, 5 Swift, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush & 1 Grey Wagtail over at 20:19. Also 105 Ring-necked Parakeet over southeast between 20:04 & 20:30 - one large flock of 70 birds noted at 20:15 (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: early a.m, Aveley Bay - Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Sandwich Terns up river @ 6.08am, 3 Common Terns and Shelduck brood of 11.(Dave Morrison).Also 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Little Ringed Plovers, Ruff, 2 Greenshank and 3 Snipe on Aveley Pools.( Andy Tweed, Howard Vaughan and Dave Morrison)
Richmond Park: Pen ponds - Who said 1 Swallow doesn't make a summer? It does if you add 1 1/2 Common Terns!... 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Swallow, 1 Common Tern and 1 Juvenile - the juvenile was trying to get off the raft over a sheet of perspex. Adams Pond - 2 Mute Swans and 2 eggs in deserted nest, also no cygnets at any other location on the park this year (Michael Mac).
South Norwood Lake: Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck (with brood of 7), 3 Cormorant, 1 Black-headed Gull, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, c20 Swifts, 2 House Martin, pair Collared Dove,1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, c8 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
Trent Park( Jubilee Path): 5 Common Crossbill flew ( calling) from Jubilee Path into Moat Wood area. ( Pete Lowman, Bob Husband).
Thursday 22nd July 2010[]
East Finchley Allotments - a pair of large soaring raptors, circling the stormy sky west to east, very high, flew into a grey cloud and out of sight, roughly 3pm. Can anyone tell me what they could be? (DPainter); Common Buzzard would be most likely (DMc) Agreed (JR); Many thanks guys, roughly this time last year we had a Red Kite sighting - this flew much closer to earth and I could pick out more detail, so I did wonder. Also spotted Green Woodpecker and Ring-necked Parakeets (DHPainter)
Dagenham Chase: 2 little egret, 4 lapwing, 1 green sandpiper, 1 bar-tailed godwit on Slack, 1 green woodpecker, 1 Greater spotted woodpecker near black poplar woods, reed bunting on country park (Dominic Allen)
Alexandra Park: Kingfisher (h) 3rd platform (1st since spring), also Lesser Whitethroat (h) near Conservation Pond, 4 young Great Crested Grebes Tunnel Res (Bob Watts).
Bexley Woods: Red Kite flew NW @ 12.30pm (RBA).
Brent Res. 8 Lapwing, 5 Common Sandp, 2 Green Sandp, 2 Dunlin (Sum. Plum.) (Roy Beddard)
Bromley-by-Bow: 2 Hobby north at 7.30, 24+ Sand Martin, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (S Fisher)
Crossness: Sandwich Tern flew west along Thames at 15:20, 4 juv Med Gulls by main sewage outfall at 12.00, Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Common Sandpipers in Barking Bay, 5 Black-tailed Godwits flew east (Kev Jarvis, I.Miller.
Hornsey: Peregrine NW at 1815 towards Alexandra Park (Bob Watts).
Margravine Cemetery: at least 2 Kestrels then 1m Peregrine on hospital, 1 Goldcrest (Nathalie Mahieu).
Paddington Green: (unaged / sexed) Peregrine Falcon west 08:05, local Herring Gull colony now with 6 juv, 5 Swift, 2 House Martin, tit-flock containing at least 50 Blue and a single Coal Tit; Vapourer Moth (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Hobby, 29 Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, 5 Swift, Swallow & 53 Black-headed Gull. The ensuing electrical storm from 17:24 was scary (Jon Ridge).
08:30, Greenfinch calling on Tower Hill, 6 Greenfinch in Potter's Field, singing Reed Warbler in the western end of the 'magic' hedge. (Paul Whiteman).
Wanstead Flats (04:45-09:30): Kingfisher (Alex again), WiIllow Warbler (Alex), Chiffchaff, Blackcap (brief burst of song behind Alex), many C. Whitethroats, 14 Sand Martin (south), 3 Swallow (s), c. 10 House Martin (staying put), c. 40 Swift (over the whole area), 4 Kestrel (2 Alex, 2 Long Wood), m Sparrowhawk (across SSI), 6 Mistle Thrush, Green and Spotted Woodpeckers with young, 51 Cormorant (over), Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, C. Crow, c. 20+ Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet, 25 Ring necked Parakeet, no sign of the Shoveler on Alex, c. 100+ Black-headed Gull, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Greater Black-backed Gull (east), 3 Herring Gull, Skylark and Meadow Pipit (who don't get up at dawn), 49 species and whilst not quite mega enough, par. 4 foxes (Nick Croft).
Clapham Common: 13 Egyptian Geese at Mount Pond, pr Egyptian Geese with about 5 young at Eagle Pond - 2nd lot this year (Michael Mac).
Staines Res: juv Med Gull, 1st summer Little Gull, 2 LRP, drake Wigeon (REI, KLP).
South Norwood Lake: Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, 20+ Tufted Duck, c20 Swifts, 6 House Martin, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Coal Tit, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Greenfinch, c30 Goldfinch, 2 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
Wednesday 21st July 2010[]
Alexandra Park: 8 Common Terns including 2 begging juveniles (SNR bred?) (Bob Watts). If only Bob - our CT families are Walthamstow visitors (MJP)
Broxbourne Woods: 1+ Crossbill flew over small pond NW of main ride at 12:37. Also 3 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, 12+ Coal Tit (J Lethbridge)
Crayford Marshes: 2 ad Yellow-legged Gull, Little Owl, Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Common Sandpiper, Curlew, juv Cuckoo, 2 juv Stonechat. (Kev Jarvis).
Crystal Palace Park Lake: pr Great Crested Grebes but no young as mate turned up late, pr Mute Swans not bred this year, very low water line and many Coots seem to have gone, no Tufted Duck compare with Wells Park, very vocal Wren, 6 Black-headed Gulls (Michael Mac).
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens (brief visit, early a.m.): 344 Greylag Goose, 3 Greylag Goose x Canada Goose, 139 Canada Goose, 20 Egyptian Goose, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 109 Black-headed Gull (inc 7 juv), 3 Stock Dove, dead Ring-necked Parakeet (floating on Round Pond), 12 House Martin, 2 Treecreeper, 400+ Starling; also 6 Small White, Red Admiral, c20 Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, 15-20 Small / Essex Skipper, 3 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, 40-50 Common Blue Damselfly, 8 Emperor Dragonfly (Des McKenzie).
Leyton Flats: Peregrine, 2 Little Egrets, 60 Swift, 4 Common Terns, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff. (Gary A James).
London W2: no sign of any Black Redstarts a.m. at recent breeding locale (DMc).
Morden Hall Park (11:00 - 12:00) Sparrowhawk (f), Grey Heron (over), 4 Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, 2 Wren, 3 Swift, 2 House Martin, Green Woodpecker, Jay, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Moorhen, 7 Coot, 24 Mallard + usuals. Quick walk round; wetland area completely overgrown. (Stuart M)
Paddington Green: fem Peregrine Falcon in area a.m. (DMc).
Richmond Park: Cuckoo ad flew out of wood SE of Holly Lodge 19.51 and Hobby ad flew S over Sidmouth Pantation 20.51 Also 1 juv Common Tern on raft with ad on Pen Ponds. (FJM)
South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, 20+ Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 1m Sparrowhawk, c30 Swifts, 2 House Martin, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker + 2 juv, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 House Sparrow (John Watson)
Sydenham Wells Park Pond: small pond 3 broods Tufted Duck (14,7,5), 1 Mallard brood of 5, 2 broods Moorhen, 1 of Coot, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Song Thrush hoping about not often seen, 1 dead Fox cub (Michael Mac).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Silver-washed Fritillary showing extremely well on buddleia and ragwort in Soanes Centre 1420 and photographed on mobile phone down to inches, a favoured spot, also seen 4x on transect survey by Terry Lyle on either Friday or Sunday. 10+ House Martin last week (Bob Watts)
Wanstead, Bush Wood: White-cheeked Turaco, showing well. Also present yesterday in the same spot close to Bush Wood & Hartley Road (J Lethbridge)
Wanstead Flats (05:00-08:45): 48 Cormorant (over), c. 50+ Black-headed Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 8 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, c.40 Swift, 3 Greylag Goose (over west), Shoveler still on Alex, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (both Alex), Yellow Wagtail (h over Angel pond), 5 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and others for a disappointing 44 sp, tomorrow will be mega (Nick Croft).
Vauxhall BT: 2 Peregrines wheeling low over building at 4pm (Michael Mac).
Tuesday 20th July 2010[]
Godstone: Black Kite reported flying high SSW near Junction 6 of the M25 at 18:00 (Birdguides)
Alexandra Park: Southern Hawker along racecourse ride behind Cricket Scrub 1830 (Bob Watts).
Beddington Farmlands: 5 Whimbrel S, juv Peregrine, 6 Common Sandpiper, 10+ Green Sandpiper, 2 LRP, 150 Swiftphotos
Brent Reservoir: 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove (Andrew Haynes).
Crayford Marshes: Juv Med Gull, Little Owl, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, Juv Cuckoo, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers. (Kev Jarvis).
Fulham Reach: 1 Redshank (right at south edge - still there c.7pm), 2 Mute Swan families (3 & 5 cygnets), 4 juv Black-headed Gull (Nathalie Mahieu).
Hyde Park: (Possible) 7+ Crossbills heading west over Reservoir complex at 8.55am towards Ken Gdns, (diagnostic call notes).(Dave Jordan)
Ingrebourne Valley: 8 Green Sandpiper, 2 LRP+Juv, 2 Little Egret.(Shaun Harvey)
Isle of Dogs: 4 GBB Gulls (2 ad with 2 near fully grown juvs), 11 GC Grebe including pair with large juv and second clutch of 5 eggs, adult with 2 small chicks on back & pair at nest), juv Moorhen, 2 Mute Swan 5 House Martin, Common Tern (Richard Harrison).
Mitcham Common: 3 Kestrel (juvenile nr Redhouse road having personal war with a magpie, M+F together just S of 7 Islands pond moving direction of golf course), Grey Wagtail (fem) and Grey Heron at One Island Pond plus usual 4 Canada Goose and several Moorhen + Coot, Ring-Necked Parakeet, 6 Goldfinch (at last!) near Seven Islands pond, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Greenfinch, c12 House Sparrow nr Bidder's Pond, 2 Jay, c40 Swift (Stuart M)
Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon in the area from 18:30 (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Hobby, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Whitethroat, Swallow, House Martin & 10 Canada Goose (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood Lake: Peregrine Falcon, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Sandpiper, pair Great Crested Grebe (courtship display) 3 Cormorant, 6 Black-headed Gull, 20 Tufted Duck, c20 Swifts, 2 House Martin, c4 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, pair Collared Dove, c6 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 House Sparrow,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Staines Reservoir: 2 Black Tern until at least 9am (PFM).Still present in the evening also Whimbrel, Wigeon and juv Med Gull (KLP).
Wandle at Earlsfield from Penwith Road: Grey Wagtail family of three including a fledged young present(Martin Daniel)
Wanstead Flats (05:00-08:45): Little Egret (east), 4 Grey Heron, 120+ Black-headed Gull (flocks of 27, 17, 15, 12 west and including 67 in a roost west of Alex), 22 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Whitethroat (ad, north of Long Wood by Centre Road), Willow Warbler (Long Wood), Chiffchaff, Blackcap (typing), numerous Common Whitethroat + young, Kingfisher (heard and then seen on Alex), 5 Greylag Goose (over Centre Road east), 2 Tufted Duck and the eclipse Shoveler on Alex, 3 Little Grebe with chick, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 25 Cormorant (over, 1 on Jub), 7 Green Woodpecker, 7 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Mipits and other stalwarts (51 sp seen and its bubbling up nicely again!) (Nick Croft).
Wanstead Flats (7:45-midday): 2 Little Grebe, 11 Cormorant over, Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan, 117 Canada, 66 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 12 Moorhen, 74 Coot, 2 Common Gull, 4 LBB, 1 prob GBB, 121 Common Gull, 42 Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, 200+ Pigeon inc a ringed racing one, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet over, 73 Swift, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Green Woodpecker, 10 Skylark, 7 House Martin, 7 Meadow Pipit, 11 Wren, 3 Robin, 2 Blackbird, Song Thrush, 33 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 13 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit (garden), 4 Great Tit, 11 Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, 9 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, 32 House Sparrow, 5 Starling, 6 Jay, 70 Jackdaw, 233 Crow (J Lethbridge).
Walthamstow res (Lockwood): up to 6 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, f Sparrowhawk carrying prey to nest site, at least 6 juv Common Terns now flying; min 200 Tufted Duck, Egyptian Goose (Lol Bodini).
Crayford Marshes: Little Owl, Greenshank, Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, Common Buzzard, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, juv Cuckoo, juv Stonechat, Curlew, 10 Sand Martins. (Kev Jarvis).
Crossness: 2 juv Mediterranean Gull and 4 Yellow-legged Gull flew west 10.55 (BirdGuides).
Fulham Reach: 1 Redshank on foreshore at lunchtime, 1-2 Common Tern (Nathalie Mahieu).
Oakhill Woods, LWT NR East Barnet - Sparrowhawk Viewing Site (nearest entrance Mansfield Ave) Four juv still near nest but now fledged Fay Broom & Bob Husband, RSPB Group Leader, NW London RSPB Group 020 8441 8742.
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Hobby, 2 Little Owl, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 10 Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Green Woodpecker, 5 Grey Heron & 8 Canada Goose (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: Aveley pools this evening - 4 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 5 Green Sand, 2 Common Sand, 4 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 19 Black-Wit, Snipe, 10 LRP, 2 Yellow-legged Gull.(P Hawkins)
South Norwood Country Park: 1m Pheasant, 2adult Great Grested Grebe + 2juv, Grey Heron, 25+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Swallow, c15 Swifts, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Linnet, 1m Reed Bunting, (John Watson)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: emergent insect feeding frenzy over the area includes c65 Black-headed Gulls, c430 Swifts, Kestrel, ad. Common Gull (first of 'autumn'), c20 Common Terns & Sand Martin; also female TD x CP hybrid still (MJP)
Vauxhall: Peregrine carrying large prey item flew north west over Vauxhall station at 08.25 heading towards Millbank Tower - Neil Batten.
Wanstead Flats : After the highs of the weekend its back to the humdrum - 30+ Ring-necked Parakeet going North (JL/NC) including one group of 17, 100+ Black-headed Gull (50 each in 2 roosts), 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull (including one that looked good for a YLG, but I couldn't make out the legs before a jogger put it up), Grey Heron (Jub), 3 Kestrel, f Sparrowhawk, 16 House Martin, 1 Swallow, c. 10 Swift, Stock Dove, 6 Green Woodpecker, Little Grebe with chicks (Alex), eclipse Shoveler (Alex), Meadow Pipit (one group of 10), 35 Cormorant (over) and others (44sp) (Nick-didn't even have to phone a friend-Croft).
Wanstead Park, Old Sewage Works area: 3 Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher (h.o.), Wren, Robin, f Blackbird + juv, 4+ Song Thrush, 2 Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, f Mallard + 6, 3 Moorhen, 5 Goldfinch, 8 Greenfinch, Chaffinch. No sign of yesterday's Sedge Warbler. (J Lethbridge)
Wandsworth Common: pr Sparrowhawks at nest (Michael Mac).
Wandsworth Common Ponds: 1 drinking Swift, 2 Tufted Ducks - this time last year there were at least 5 Broods of them with a massive brood of about 22, this year none so far, 8 Egyptian Geese (no young) highest ever count, 4 Mallard broods (5,4,3,4), 2 Black-headed Gulls briefly then flew off (Michael Mac).
Sunday 18th July 2010[]
Bedfont Lakes CP: 52 Common Tern young and 31 Black-headed Gull young. Hobby and Lesser Black-backed Gull buzzed the colony mid afternoon. (Adam Cheeseman)
Brent Reservoir: 2 Green Sands, 5 Common Sands & 6 Lapwing (Brent Birders)
Crossness : adult Med Gull, 7 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 ads, 2nd summer, 1st summer, 3 juvs), 2 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9+ Oystercatchers, Redshank (John Archer, Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter). Juvenile Med Gull late afternoon (per RBA).
East India Dock Basin NR : Oystercatcher, 5 House Martin SE, 2 Swift, 2 Peregrines. (Gary A James).lexandra Park down to 1/2 pairs.
Hornsey: House Martin breeding in High Street opposite chippie (Bob Watts). Note colony at south end A
Joyden's Wood: 20+ Crossbills feeding in larches & 1 Hobby nearby. 15 species of butterfly including White Admiral,Dark Green Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak & Ringlet. (Conrad Ellam)
Harefield: 2 Red Kite over rubbish tip in New Years Green Lane (Steve Pash).
Mayesbrook Park: Common Tern flew north 06.25.(Paul Hawkins)
Pinner Park Farm: 1+ Hobby, 3 Little Owl (inc one juvenile), 2 Sparrowhawk, 6 Grey Heron, Lesser Whitethroat, 20 Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker & 12+ Mistle Thrush. Also 108 Ring-necked Parakeet flew southeast in groups between 20:00 & 20:43 (Jon Ridge).
Ruislip Lido: 8 Common Sands, 1 LRP (Dick Middleton)
Ruislip: 2 Common Buzzard over Bayhurst Wood,14 Rook and Kestrel in field SW of wood and Lesser Whitethroat along footpath to New Years Green Lane (Steve Pash).
South Norwood Lake: Peregrine Falcon, 3 Mute swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, c20 Tufted Duck, c20 swifts, 2 House Martin, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 3 House Sparrow, (John Watson, Gavin Hawgood)
Wanstead Flats : ad Yellow-legged Gull with a few other gulls on playing fields on Northern Flats, Hobby (over Alex), Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 15 House Martin, 2 eclipse Teal, 6 Little Grebe (2 young), fem/eclipse Shoveler, 2 Greylag (S Fisher)
Wanstead Park : Reed Warbler, juv Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler (near River Roding old Sewage wks) (S Fisher) Garden Warbler, 5 Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk (juvs by Shoulder of Mutton), Common Tern (the Basin) (J Lethbridge, Nick Croft), Kingfisher (twice in one day to make amends for its absence since January), Grass Snake (2nd reptilean tick) (Nick Croft).
Saturday 17th July 2010[]
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Red Kite over at 14:05, departed high to the west at 14:15 (first July record here), I then noticed even higher,1 probable Common Buzzard moving west & lost from view at 14:20. Also 1+ Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1+ Little Owl, 11 Swallow, 7+ House Martin, 20+ Swift, 15+ Mistle Thrush, Whitethroat, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker & 7 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Beddington Farmlands: 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 LRP, 2 Teal, 1 Peregrine Blackwit pics
Brent Reservoir: Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sands, 6 Lapwing, LRP & Hobby (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall & Leo Batten).
Hornsey: A flock of 25 House Sparrows on the feeders in my garden - the largest flock I have ever seen in my garden. (James Palmer)
London Wetland Centre: 1 Black-tailed Godwit, also 1 Common Sandpiper (Martin Honey).
Nine Elms/Stockwell Estate Community Garden (it's on the boundary line): pr Greenfinch at bird feeder and I'm wondering if they are responsible for spilling out lots of seed they don't want on the ground and just taking the black sunflower seeds? Anyone else had this problem? (Michael Mac). Greenfinches are costing me a fortune in spilt seed too, have watched the male happily throw everything on the floor apart from sunflower seeds. 2 very fat Wood Pigeon's aren't complaining. (S. Haslem) Feral Pigeons used to pick some up and Dunnocks, but not so of late so wasted seed - suppose trick is to have one feeder with pure sunflower seed (MM). Tried that, they insisted one using both still! (SH)
South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, c20 Swifts, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 2 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Fairlop Waters.2 Little Egret,2 Green Sandpiper,1 Common Sandpiper,2 Littlle Ringed Plover,Lapwing 40,Gadwall 3,(Steve Bacon)
Tyttenhanger GPs: 2 Little Egret, Hobby 2 Tree Sparrows. (Steve B)
Vauxhall: 3 juvenile Peregrines having a good fly round 20:45 (Michael Mac).
Wanstead Flats: Whimbrel south, Common Tern (S Fisher) Yellow Wagtail (S Fisher, N Croft [96/103]), Kingfisher (on Alex), Common Sandpiper (ditto, J Lethbridge) - later 2 birds, Lesser Whitethroat (juv) (JL), 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Swift passing through, Swallow (NC), Sand Martin (SF), 10+ House Martin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipits, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Shoveler, Tufted Duck (on Alex - SF, NC), 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 15+ Cormorant, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lttle Grebe and the usuals - see I told you it would be massive, even if my contribution was only the Swallow! (Nick Croft).
Wanstead Park: Interesting noise (not a song, more an alarm/call) coming out of the tallest reeds on Shoulder of Mutton, def. Warbler (is the Reedy back?), but on comparing what I thought I heard with the Bird Guides DVD sounded more like, dare I say it, Marsh!! Was around 21:30 so not much chance of seeing anything. Also the Pochard were still there, a Heron popped in and was later mobbed by some crows, and then of course T. Owls [97 tick for the Wanstead year] (Nick Croft)
Maple Lodge Nature reserve. 10+ wader.sp. flying low south at 21:15Hrs. By size and jizz would say probably Black tailed Godwit although views from a gap in the tree canopy and too brief to be sure. (John Edwards and Steve Pash.)
Bedfont Lakes CP: At least 40 Common Tern chicks so far. Marbled White butterfly. No sign of the Little ringed Plovers (adults or chicks) that bred here for the first time this year. 4 chicks were hatched about a week ago, presumed predated, and the adults have moved off. (Adam Cheeseman)
Brent Reservoir: 1 adult Hobby trying to lunch early on House Martins at 11.45: 2 Green Sandpipers: 2 Common Sandpipers: 2 Lapwing: 4 Little Ringed Plover (John Colmans)
Bromley-by-Bow: 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 juvs, Common Sandpiper on Channelsea, 3 Grey Wagtail, fem Peregrine over Channelsea river, 2 Kestrel (one juv I think), 15+ Sand Martin, several Black-headed Gulls (S Fisher)
Crayford Marshes : 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, 10 Sand Martins, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 House Martins, juv Stonechat, Common Tern, fem Sparrowhawk. (Kev Jarvis).
Muswell Hill: 2 Crossbills heard flying south towards the Grove in Alexandra Park at 17:37 (Dominic Mitchell)
Pinner Park Farm : 2 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 23 Mistle Thrush (the highest count for some time), 7 Grey Heron, 10+ House Martin, 4+ Swallow, just 2 Swift & 41 Black-headed Gull (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: 1 Wigeon, 25+ Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Eurasian Curlew, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 13+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 4 Common Terns (Dominic Mitchell, Gareth Richards, Pete Lowman)
Roehampton Danbury/Priory lane area : 1 Crossbill flying round calling (D Benton)
Ruislip Lido: Exactly 100 Mute Swan counted (plus one or two seen later skulking at the far end), 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Wagtail, 15 Pied Wagtail (inc juveniles), 25 House Martin & 1 Common Tern - water level still very high at this site (Jon Ridge).
Ruislip: Hobby over my garden at 18.45 (Steve Pash).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs : female Aythya hybrid still, 22 Common Terns (inc 2 juvs), 30+ Black-headed Gulls (inc 11 juvs), 9 Grey Wagtails, plus the usuals; 2 Sand Martins and a Painted Lady p.m. (MJP)
Wanstead Flats (05:00-11:00): Another gull day and windy, c.100 Black-headed Gull (36 in roost West of Alex, and another 26 on the extreme west of the flats), 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 11 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 60 Cormorant over, 10 Greylag Goose (2 west, 8 east), 10 Ring Necked Parakeet, Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 14 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, juv Peregrine Falcon (south and then west), 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel (including 1 male running after his prey on the ground) and others up to the value of 50sp (Nick Croft) tomorrow massive!
Thursday 15th July 2010[]
Alexandra Park: 10 Common Terns 08:30 (David Callahan) I thought that the Great Crested Grebes had been sitting on their nest for so long that maybe they had been wasting their time, but today there they were, each carrying at least one chick (James Palmer).
Crossness: adult Little Gull flew north @ 14.45 by Golf Centre, adult Med Gull, 3+ Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 20+ Sand Martins (John Archer, Ian Miller & Kev Jarvis).
Fulham - 8am. First Common Gull of winter silly blog post. Black Headed Gulls recently up to 85. 3 Common Tern over Thames, including 1 Juv. Not a lot else. (Michael F)
Paddington Green: fem Peregrine Falcon in area a.m., male p.m., Ring-necked Parakeet flew toward Regent's Park, 85-100 Swift south around 21:00 (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 9 Grey Heron, Swallow, House Martin & 56 Black-headed Gull - a very windy afternoon (Jon Ridge).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: ad Great Black-backed Gull, aythya female still, c15 Common Terns inc. one in 'winter' plumage, c50 Common Pochards, plus the usuals (MJP)
South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Coal Tit, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, c20 Swifts, 4 House Martin, 8 Goldfinch, 4 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
Wandsworth Road - Vauxhall end: pr Herring Gulls with 2 medium grown young on roof, possibly 1st nest in the area? male Peregrine visible (Michael Mac).
Wyvil Estate - Stockwell: House Sparrows at least 3 nests in ventilation pipes on flats (Michael Mac).
Wednesday 14th July 2010[]
Crayford Marshes: 3 Avocets on foreshore near flood barrier at 07:10 (Kev Jarvis per JA). 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Little Owls, 2 male Corn Buntings, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Juv Stonechats, 2 Little Egrets. (Kev Jarvis).
Alexandra Park: 8 Common Terns still 08:40 (David Callahan).
East India Dock Basin NR: 2 Peregrines, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, 2 LRP, 2 Swift, Jay. (Gary A James).
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (p.m.): 75 Mute Swan (inc 7 well-grown cygnets), 314 Greylag Goose (inc colour-ringed White DB3), 25 Egyptian Goose (inc 15 goslings from 4 broods), 4 Mandarin Duck, 8 Red-crested Pochard, 79 Black-headed Gull (inc 6 juv), 2 Common Tern patrolling Serpentine, 5 Swift, 11 House Martin, singing Coal Tit, Nuthatch, 2-3 Treecreeper; also at least 33 Small / Essex Skipper, 25 Meadow Brown, 12 Gatekeeper, 2-3 Small White, Sitochroa verticalis, 6 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, c20 Cinnabar, 2 Silver Y, 2 Hornet (Des McKenzie). m Peregrine hunting feral pigeons over hyde park corner 3:45-3:50 at least (Paul Hawkins)
Isle of Dogs: Pair of Great Black-backed Gulls at nest site but no young visible, Great Crested Grebe on nest plus another adult feeding well grown chick, pair of Mute Swan (Richard Harrison).
London W2 (location withheld): singing Black Redstart p.m. (DMc).
London W8 (location withheld) singing Black Redstart 17:20hrs (John Watson)
Mitcham Common: Little Egret (10:34 at One Island Pond, flapped into a tree close to Grey Heron who had also just taken a tree perch), Sparrowhawk (juvenile), Kestrel (female nr Bidder's Pond), 7 Greenfinch, 7 Swift, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, c12 House Sparrow nr Bidder's Pond (Stuart M)
Paddington Green: m Peregrine Falcon with kill early a.m.; still present p.m. (DMc).
Pinner Park Farm: 1+ Hobby, 2 Little Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Grey Heron, Swallow, House Martin, 10 Swift, 3 Green Woodpecker (inc one juvenile), 11 Mistle Thrush, 1 Whitethroat & 42 Black-headed Gull (Jon Ridge).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Aythya hybrid still, 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 15 Common Terns, Brown Hawker in the moth trap this morning, photos on site (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
Wanstead Flats (05:00-07:30): 2 Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Common Tern east, 22 Herring Gull and 19 Lesser Black-backed Gull in early morning roost on playing fields, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 27 Cormorant (over), 18 RN Parakeet, 15 Mistle Thrush, 30 + Swift, 10+ House Martin... tomorrow's going to be mega (Nick Croft).
Walthamstow res: Common Sandpiper, Redshank, c600 Tufted Duck (N Cendron per L Bodini).
Westminster: pair Peregrine on Parliament (also present 12th) (James Lowen)
Tuesday 13th July 2010[]
Belmont (Sutton): Common Crossbill flew SW at 3.08pm (David Campbell).
Alexandra Park: 8 Common Terns 1800 (Bob Watts).
Chiswick Eyot-Duke's Meadows: 6 Egyptian Geese (4 goslings), c50 Black Headed gull inc. 3 juvs, 3 LBB Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 12 Tufted duck, 2 Blackcap singing, 1 Stock Dove, c20 Woodpigeon over, 13(!) Mistle Thrush feeding on fields, c115 Starling, c25 Goldfinch feeding on fields, 2 Pied Wagtail (one very aggressive male chasing goldfinches), 2 Common Tern over, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Crayford Marshes: Grey Plover feeding on Thames foreshore early a.m, 34 Black-tailed godwits, 2 male Corn Buntings, Whimbrel, juv Cuckoo, 3 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers.(Kev Jarvis).
Paddington Green (early a.m.): pr Peregrine Falcon in the area, 4 juv Herring Gull at local rooftop colony, 1-2 Ring-necked Parakeet continually in the area during June to present; the first summer this has been the case in the 12 years I've lived here (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 2 Grey Heron, Lesser Whitethroat, 10 House Martin, 7 Swallow, 4 Swift & 1 Green Woodpecker (JR).
Rainham, River Thames: 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank, 3 Shelduck (inc one pair with 11 young), 2 Kestrel, Pheasant, 6 Pied Wagtail, Skylark, 20+ Linnet, 1 Common Tern, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, several hundred Black-headed Gull (inc several juveniles), a good amount of Great Black-backed Gull, plus the usual deluge of immature (mainly first-year) Herring & Lesser Black-backed Gull in their hundreds, if not thousands around the rubbish tip (Jon Ridge).
Rainham RSPB Reserve, cont: Anna Husband (ATH) & R.A (Bob) Husband (RAH) attended the 10th anniversary event - speechs by Bill Oddie & others plus buffet lunch - As we returned to the Information Centre we saw a Whimbrel standing on a post beside the Thames. It was high tide (approx 15.00). Small size, head stripe, thin straight bill only decurved at the business end. (Whimbrel also seen by other observers including Howard.)
Regent's Park: ? 1st w Caspian Gull briefly, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher and 1st park record 75 Cinnabar Moth caterpillars (Tony Duckett).
Roding Valley Park and surrounding area: Little Egret, Common Tern, Sparrowhawk, over 20 Swifts in screaming party, small flock of Goldfinches, 4 Song Thrushes [and a fifth singing], 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, LBB Gull, Herring Gull (Alan Hobson).
Wanstead Flats (07:00-08:30): 22 Black-headed Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Common Gull, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Cormorant and not much else. Came back at 10:00 12 Cormorant, 1 RN Parakeet, 30 (2 juv) BH Gull roosting, 10 + House Martin and finally 4 Swift - 39sp (Nick Croft).Forgot to say one of the last four Cormorants was two thirds the size of the others - any juv Shag on Walthamstow Res or am I just clutching at straws...?
Wanstead Park (08:30-10:00): Little Egret (E over Heronry), 2 Pochard (m&f on SoM), 13 Tufted Duck (4 SoM, 2 Her, 7 Perch), Moorhen with 4 chicks on Heronry, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe (ornamental waters), Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 7 Ring-necked, 10+ House Martin, 6 Swift, singing Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and a Terrapin attempting to lay eggs and about to be impounded by the Park Authorities by Perch. 39 sp. Tomorrow will be mega!! (Nick Croft).
West Molesey: Common Sandpiper flew west over my back garden calling, en route to the Molesey Reservoirs. (Adam Cheeseman)
Monday 12th July 2010[]
Battersea Park Lake: 4+ Gadwall but still no young this year - down 6 broods since last year, Great Crested Grebe with 1 young, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 5 broods of Mallard, many dragonflies and a pair of Red Admirals (Michael Mac).
Alexandra Park: 6 Common Terns, Purple Hairstreak, Ringlet opposite Conservation Pond 1700 (1st record?) (Bob Watts).
Brent Reservoir: Nuthatch (h) still in wood adjacent to entrance Field Studies Centre, 4 LRP, 4 Lapwing E Marsh (Bob Watts).
Crayford Marshes: 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Owl, Whimbrel, 3 juv Stonechats, 3 Common Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Rook. (Kev Jarvis).
Duke's Meadows, Chiswick: 5 Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel over, 1 Common Tern over hunting in Chiswick house grounds, 3 Pied Wagtail. Nothing much else. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Ealing W13 - Lesser Whitethroat - juvenile caught and ringed in the garden this morning (garden tick and garden ringing tick!) (Bill Haines)
Fulham Reach (Thames, c8am): 3 or 6 juv Black-headed Gull (earlier and more than last year), 1 House Martin collecting mud and flying over to Barnes, dozens of Starlings, most of them juvs, by and on Hammersmith Bridge, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Tufted Duck (Nathalie Mahieu).
Headstone Manor: 11 Mistle Thrush (inc juveniles) on the playing fields (JR).
Marylebone Road (over weekend): 2+ House Martin active nests on block of flats (Michael Mac).
Pinner Park Farm: 1+ Little Owl, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Grey Heron, 12 Mistle Thrush (inc juveniles), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (inc 1 juvenile), Green Woodpecker, 20 Swift, 4+ Swallow, 4+ House Martin, 20 Swift, 52 Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull & 2 Herring Gull (Jon Ridge).
Regent's Park: 3 families of Little Grebe with another bird on a nest, Great Crested Grebe nest building again, 1f Sparrowhawk, 6 juv Reed warblers of interest 2nd record of Marbled White (Tony Duckett).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: a.m. - female Aythya hybrid (one of the recent Common Pochard x Tufted Ducks) still, 15 Common Terns, 10 Black-headed Gulls (first juv. yesterday), plus the usuals - little of note over last week or so (MJP).
Tooting Bec Common Ponds: pr Egyptian Geese with 3 young, 3 Tufted Duck broods (8,3,2) (Michael Mac).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank, 2 Little Grebe, Hobby, Buzzard, Kestrel (Steve B)
Wanstead Flats (06:00-11:00): Little Egret (North east over Alex), 2 Egyptian Goose (for about ten minutes until a numpty spooked them, then orf west - tick 95/102), Lapwing (again circling Alex before departing east), 27 Ring-necked Parakeet (north over Alex), 27 Cormorant (over), c.50 Black-headed Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull (south), c.20 Mistle Thrush, 5 SongThrush, 10 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, Swift (numbers picked up by mid-morning but fewer than in previous days), 7 Tufted Duck, 11 Green Woodpecker (including young), 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (v. quiet), C. Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, f. Sparrowhawk carrying something smaller than a Starling this time (49 sp again) (Nick Croft)
West Molesey: Hobby hunting over Hurst Road. (Adam Cheeseman)
Wormwood Scrubs: (19:00-21:00) 4 Stock Dove (feeding with feral pidgeons on the football pitches), 7 Linnet, Meadow Pippit. Mixed flock of juvenille Common Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long-tailed tit. 2 singing Song Thrush + usuals (Charlie Farrell)
Walthamstow res (Lockwood): 2 juv Little Ringed Plover, up to 4 Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtail (h. overhead), 2 Grey Wagtail, flock of c100 Starling (with one almost all white bird), 200+ Black-headed Gulls, 200+ Tufted Duck, 6 Little Egrets (Lol Bodini).
Sunday 11th July 2010[]
Broxbourne Woods NNR: Small party of Crossbills heard calling at c.10:30 over glade approx 200 metres from West Car Park (D Mitchell, R Beddard, G Richards).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Little Tern, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher. (Steve B)
Brent Reservoir: 5 LRP, 2 Lapwing, Common Sand & Nuthatch again (Andrew Self)
London W1 (location withheld): Black Redstart singing intermittently over the course of about an hour (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
London W1 - Singing Black Redstart (Michael Robinson)
Lonsdale Road Reservoir: 2 Cormorant, 2 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus usuals (Rich Petley)
Oakhill Woods LWT Nature Reserve, East Barnet: Sparrowhawk Viewing Site - NW London RSPB Group (Leader: Bob Husband 020 8441 8742) & Reserve Group. Four well grown chicks exercising there wings etc. Female brought in prey.
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 5 Grey Heron, Swallow, House Martin, 11 Goldfinch, 7 Mistle Thrush & 1 Green Woodpecker. Quiet again (Jon Ridge).
Roding Valley Park, Redbridge: 4 (family of) Grey Wagtail, 2 ads and juv Garden Warbler, 5 Stock Dove, Linnet, 12 Whitethroat, 30 Long-tailed Tit, 1 ad 2 juv Sparrowhawks, 15+ Swift (S Fisher)
South Norwood Lake: Great Crested Grebe, c20 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 2 Herring Gull, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 12 Swifts, 2 House Martin, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 4 House Sparrow, (John Watson
Thorney Country Park: 3 Treecreepers,2 Reed Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings,Kingfisher, 3 Green woodpeckers,1 Swift over,Flock Long Tailed Tits, 2 Gt Crested Grebes +1 yg, 3 Blackcaps,,20+ Common Terns,1 Grey Heron.(Sue Giddens).
Wanstead Flats (05:00-11:00): 2 Shelduck (s over Alex), 1 Lapwing (over Alex before deciding naah), 3 Hobby (1 west 7:00, 2 over Alex with a transfer of food - JL/NC), 3 Sparrowhawk (another starling biting the dust), Kestrel, 60 Cormorant (over), 50+ Black-headed Gull, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, 21 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Heron, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Green Woodpecker, 10 + Mistle Thrush etc. etc. to the order of 51sp (Nick Croft).
Saturday 10th July 2010[]
KGVI Res: adult Caspian Gull on the east pier from roughly 0950-1020hrs, then flew off SE; again present around midday, then again flew off SE. More info and a record shot on the Yahoo group website. Also up to 50 Yellow-legged Gulls on and near the pier, including the first juvenile of the season (Rob Innes).
Oakhill Woods LWT Nature Reserve, East Barnet: Sparrowhawk Viewing Site - NW London RSPB Group (Leader: Bob Husband 020 8441 8742) & Reserve Group. Four well grown chicks exercising there wings etc. Female brought in prey. Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly at 11.00 and later that afternoon, photographed by Roy Beddard.
Regent's Park: Curlew 6.45am N, 4 Kestrel juvs, 2 Common Terns, 2 Siskins, pr Common Whitethroats, juv Chiffchaff being fed (Tony Duckett).
Beddington Farmlands: 22 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Peregrine, blog
Bookham Common (LNHS visit): Pr Buzzard, Marsh Tit calling. Also 8 Purple Emperor, c 10 White Admiral, c20 Silver-washed Fritillary, Marbled White (my 1st sighting here), 4 Purple Hairstreak, f Beautiful Demoiselle, Grass Snake (Neil Anderson)
Brent Reservoir: 5 Lapwing, 2 LRPs, 2 Common Sands & a Nuthatch (Andrew Self)
Fulham Reach: 1f Mallard with 9 day old or so ducklings (a first on patch), 1 Chestnut Teal, 2 Cormorant, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1m Peregrine (Nathalie Mahieu).
Pinner, Church Lane: Family party of Goldcrest, including four recently fledged tiny juveniles at only about 7.5 cm (or thereabouts) in length (Jon Ridge).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl staying cool in the disaster area, 7 Grey Heron, Swallow, House Martin, Blackcap & 38 Black-headed Gull (JR).
South Norwood Lake: Great Crested Grebe (on nest) c20 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail, c12 Swifts, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c4 Nuthatch, 1 singing Song Thrush, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, 4 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Wanstead Flats (05:00-12:00): 1 Lapwing (w at 05:15) and 2 further (w 07:15 - S. Fisher/Nick Croft), 2 Common Tern (over alex -S. Fisher/N. Croft/J. Lethbridge) 115 Black-headed Gull (50 on playing fields), 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 75 Cormorant (over), 13 Mistle Thrush, Grey Heron, 27 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Sparrowhawk (including a male who grabbed the solitary juvenile Starling who had taken up residence on the south bank of Alex, and to whom I had grown quite attached... ) 3 Stock Dove and some other to make up 49sp (again! Determined to get fifty I think I've now got sun stroke and may have hallucinated calling Jono out on a false alarm for pochards, but we did see penduline tits! Nick Croft)
Friday 9th July 2010[]
Bankside: Pair of Peregrines on the Tate Modern Tower ~ 21:00 (Charlie Farrell)
Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 7 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 9 Coot, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Swift, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 8 Blackbird, 1 singing Song Thrush, pair of Blackcap, 1 singing Chiffchaff, Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tit flock, 5 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 8 Goldfinch, 7 Greenfinch & a pair of Chaffinch.
East India Dock Basin NR: 10 Common Terns, 6+ Sand Martins, Swift, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Gary A James).
Ingrebourne Valley: Common Crossbill over calling main carpark.(Shaun Harvey) patch tick
Crayford Marshes: Greenshank, Little Owl, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Kingfisher, 3 Common Sandpipers, 13 Sand Martins, 8 House Martins. (Kev Jarvis).
Isle of Dogs: Pair of Great Black-backed Gull, chicks not visible in very brief visit (Richard Harrison).
Mill Hill - Moat Mount Open Space (beside A1): Buzzard over this morning. (Geoff Crabtree)
Pinner Park Farm: 1+ Hobby, 3 Little Owl (still no juveniles confirmed), 2+ Lesser Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff near the River Pinn (inc juveniles), Blackcap singing again, 20+ Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw & 162 Black-headed Gull on the cricket pitch (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood Lake: pair Great Crested Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, c20 Common Swift, 2 House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 juv) 1 Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 3 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Wanstead Flats (07:00-11:00): Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (S over Alex), 6 Green Woodpecker (3 young), 12 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 182 Black-headed Gull (flocks of 34, 23, 54, 14 and 22 moving s. westward), 27 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 45 Cormorant (over), well over 100 Swift over the whole flats, 11 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 5 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 6 Robin, 13 Magpie, 7 Jay, c.20+ Jackdaw, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, Little Grebe, etc. etc. 47 species recorded (Nick Croft).
West Molesey: 6 Crossbill NW over Chandlers Field School. (Adam Cheeseman)
Wormwood Scrubs: c30 Stock Dove still on and around the pitches, c170 Herring Gull, c80 Swift, male Reed Bunting with c3 fledglings & c12 Meadow Pipit including at least 1 fledgling. (David Lindo & Roy Nuttall).
Thursday 8th July 2010[]
Broxbourne Woods NNR: nine Common Crossbills flew over West Car Park at 12:45 (Birdguides)
Regent's Park: two Common Crossbills flew NE at 6.10am, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Common Terns, 32 Stocks Doves in garden, 7 Grey Wagtails, pr Common Whitethroats (Tony Duckett)
Teddington: c30 Common Crossbills flew west over my house at 11.30am (Roger Unite).
Alexandra Palace N22 - Sparrow Hawk in trees near deer enclosure. Managed to get a few hazy photos if anyone would care to look.
Sparrow Hawk - Ally Pally
(DHPainter North London)
Boston Manor Park. Little Grebe (vocal too). (Michael F)
Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 1 Heron, 7 adult Mallard + 13 Ducklings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Moorhen, 9 Coot, 1 Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 8 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 pair of Blackcap + at least 2 juvs, 1 singing Chiffchaff, Blue & Great Tit flock, 6 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 10+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch & pair of Chaffinch. (Conrad Ellam)
London W1: m Black Redstart singing am (James Astley)
London W2 (location withheld): m Black Redstart but no sign of fem or juv(s) in 50 minutes (Des McKenzie).
North Weald (Church Lane and Golf course): 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (f), 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 singing Yellowhammers, 2 Bullfinches, 10+ Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler (Ian Woodward).
Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon in area for most of the morning, 20+ Herring Gull at local rooftop colony but no young visible, Grey Wagtail, 4 Goldfinch singing locally (DMc).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Hobby, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 25 Swift, 5 House Martin, Swallow & 43 Black-headed Gull (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood Lake: Sparrowhawk, Great Crested Grebe (on nest) 20+ Tufted Duck, Mallard (with brood of 9) 2 Cormorant, 3 Herring Gull, c30 Swifts, 8 House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 singing Song Thrush, 2 singing Dunnock, 4 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
Wanstead Flats: no sign of White-tailed Lapwing....grrrr....but Coot (J Lethbridge). 4pm - 2 Hobby over Flats, Kestrel, 12+ House Martin, 2 Reed Bunting (S Fisher)
Wanstead Park: 14:30: 1 Common Tern feeding over The Basin, 3 pairs of Coot with broods on The Basin, 1 Sand Martin, hundreds of damselflies on the Ornamental Waters, mainly Common Blue and Red-eyed, Brown Hawkers, Black-tailed Skimmers, Southern Hawker, also a Purple Hairstreak near Heronry Pond (S Fisher)
Wednesday 7th July 2010[]
Rainham Marshes: WHITE-TAILED LAPWING on Aveley Pools at 10:57 (Sam Shippey, Howard Vaughan); still present at 16:48 (RBA). Also Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, LRPs (J Lethbridge), Whimbrel and 2 Oystercatchers Aveley Bay also adult Yellow-legged Gull on Crayford side (David Campbell), Hobby, 4+ Little Egrets (Andrew Self); the lapwing was still showing at 18:10 then flew out of view, follow on-site instructions. Reserve open tomorrow at 06:30 (Birdguides). W-T Lapwing still present at 21.30 (Birdforum thread)
Wanstead Flats (06:30-11:00: Whimbrel (south over Alex), Peregrine Falcon (which did a much better job of scaring the gulls than all the dog walkers - 100th site tick in 2 years for the flats and park [93 for 2010]), 65 Cormorant, 40 + Black-headed Gull, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 4 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, c. 20 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet (North), 10 Green Woodpecker (including 3 young), 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 14+ House Martin in one group, greatly reduced Swift numbers, 4 Greylag Goose (Jub pond), 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 16 Magpie, 4 Jay, c.20+ Jackdaw, Little Grebe (with 2 young on Alex south side), Kestrel, Reed Bunting and others (49 species again) (Nick Croft).
Brent Reservoir: Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 5 Lapwing (none with white tails), 2 Sand Martin, c.12 House Martin, 200+ Swift, Stock Dove, c.150 Black-headed Gull (including 4 juv), plus usual suspects (except no LRP) (Andrew Haynes).
Bromley-by-Bow: Hobby flew South, Reed Warbler carrying food and the usual rare Lapwings (S Fisher)
London W1: Black Redstart singing constantly all day, clearly trying to cheer me up about being unable to get to the W.T.Lapwing. It's not working. (James Astley)
Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon in the area a.m., Ring-necked Parakeet, singing Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 5 Grey Heron, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff (probable return migrant) around the main pond, Swallow, Swift & House Martin (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood Lake: Hobby, Great Crested Grebe (on nest), 2 Cormorant, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 singing Blackcap, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 3 singing Song Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c12 Swift, 4 House Martin, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Nuthatch, c 20 Goldfinch, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 House Sparrow (John Watson).
South Norwood Hill SE 25, 11:50hrs Common Buzzard N/NE (John Watson)
St Andrew's Churchyard, Enfield Town: 6(2 adults feeding 4 very recently fledged juveniles) Great Tit - late fledging date? (Robert Callf).
Wimbledon Common (07:00): Little Egret on Rushmere. Also 8 Mistle Thrushes nearby (Chris Jasper).
Tuesday 6th July 2010[]
Wanstead Flats (06:30-11:00): Ad Mediterranean Gull just south of Alex in with some Black-headed Gulls roosting on the footie pitches (P Ferris, J Lethbridge, Nick Croft), c. 30 Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 25 Cormorant over, 20+ House Martin (one large group south of Long Wood), 3 Swallow, c100+ Swift (over the whole flats), 15 Ring-necked Parakeet (mainly over north), 3 Grey Heron (over Alex at 07:00), 3 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (west from Alex), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 5 Song Thrush, 7 Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, c.20+ Jackdaw, 6 Jay, 6 Magpie, 2 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Moorhen with 4 chicks (Alex again), Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail (49 sp in total) (Nick Croft)
Crayford Marshes: 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, male Corn Bunting, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Egrets,12 House Martins, 8 Rook. (Kev Jarvis)
Forest Gate (11:20): 3 Lapwing north over the Romford Road (Romford Road tick, Nick Croft)
Lonsdale Road Res: Very quiet this evening.. 4 Teal, 2 Cormorant, 1 BH Gull plus usuals (Rich Petley)
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Lapwing in the main pond field was a nice surprise, 2 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Grey Heron, 20 Swift, Swallow, House Martin, 1 Green Woodpecker & 6 Mistle Thrush (Jon Ridge).
Pinner View: 1 Grey Wagtail in the relief channel at Headstone Manor (JR).
Shenley: Red Kite low over Shenley Cricket Club Pavilion (Rex Dunwoody)
Trent Park: 1 '1st-summer' Black-headed Gull, Lower Lake (Robert Callf & Robin White).
Regent's Park: Tawny Owl 2 juvs, Little Owl 3 juvs, Kestrel 1 & 4 juvs, Little Grebe 2 pairs with young, 3 Grey Wagtails, Common Whitethroat 1pr, Reed Warbler 3prs with young, 3m Chiffchaffs singing. Kingfisher yesterday and White-letter Hairstreak 4th (Tony Duckett).
Vauxhall BT Building: 3 Peregrine Falcons (at least 2 juveniles) circling above the building and higher - a casual observation while taking out rubbish (Michael Mac).
Wormwood Scrubs: female Black Redstart over, 1+ Skylark, c10 Meadow Pipit inc juvs, Reed Bunting family with c4 juvs, c5 Stock Doves on playing fields + others over, Collared Dove, c60 Goldfinch (in one large flock by the Athletics Stadium), Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, c150 Swift, c100 Starlings, 2 Pied Wagtail + usuals (David Lindo, Anders Price, Charlie Farrell)
Black Park: male Lesser Emperor Dragonfly hawking along western shoreline of main lake for about 5 minutes at around midday with 9 other species of odanata in area ; also many White Admiral and Ringlet Butterflies (Pete Naylor).
Bromley-by-Bow: 2 Peregrine over, 2 Kestrel (an adult bringing food to a juvenile on old gas works), 2 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat (a juv found dead after hitting a window last week), Kingfisher, 20 Sand Martin, 15 Swift NW (early morning), 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Linnet (S Fisher)
Fulham Reach: 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Grey Wagtail - seen from the pub beer garden at the Crabtree (M Bourne)
Hampstead Heath: 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Common Terns, Kingfisher, several Nuthatches and Treecreepers, numerous Coal Tits, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Kestrel family (three fledged chicks), plus commoner spp. (Mark Pearson & Amity Dunn) Was that at Kenwood? Michael Mac - would prefer not to say specifically, MJP
Kensington Green W8: 10:40 Grey Wagtail. (John Watson)
Langley Park:1 Common Tern, family of Egyptian Geese by lake, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard (carrying foodstuff in beak), Lapwing in maize field, 1 singing Chiffchaff, also large number of Broad-Bodied Chasers, some mating. (Alan Hewlett).
Lee Valley, Gunpowder Park: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Lapwing, 3 Mute Swans + 6 cygnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warblers (carrying food), 5+ Reed Warblers, several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats (Ian Woodward)
London Wetland Centre: 8 Black-tailed Godwit a.m., 4 LRP+2 chicks, Hobby, Peregrine (LWC website). 10 Black-tailed Godwit late pm on main lake, possibly disturbed by low-flying military helicopter c. 20.00 (Martin Honey).
London W1: 1st summer male plumage Black Redstart in the normal perches, calling loudly 0845-0940 (Francis Tusa)
Paddington Green: singing Grey Wagtail early a.m. (Des McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Hobby, 1 Little Owl, 30+ Swift, Swallow, House Martin, 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 Grey Heron & 1 Green Woodpecker (Jon Ridge).
Purley: Hobby over Riddlesdown at 1920
Tyttenhanger GPs: 4 Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank (juvs) 9 Common Tern (inc 2 young) 2 Egyptian Goose, 37 Lapwing, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 20+ Sand Martin, 5 Swift. (Steve B)
Walthamstow Filter Beds: (private, no access) 2 juv Little Gulls, Common Sandpiper. (Dan Barrett)
Wanstead Flats (07:00-11:00):15 Black-headed Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, m&f Sparrowhawk, 10 Green Woodpecker (including young), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Swift, 7 House Martin, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 12 Magpie, 7 Jay, 20+ Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Lttle Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck and only 3 Cormorant (Nick Croft).
Wormwood Scrubs: (06:30-08:00) Kestrel over Braybrook woods, 2 Pied Wagtail + 1 juv on playing fields, G S Woodpecker + singing usuals (2 Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Wren etc), 2 Meadow Pipit. Reed Bunting heard but not seen. Cormorant, 6 Swift. (Charlie Farrell)
Sunday 4th July 2010[]
Ashtead Common: Crossbill heard calling, Purple Emperor seen from various sites across common + many Silver Washed Fritillary & White Admiral. (Dave Kiddell)
Borehamwood: Dark-green Fritillary in the beer garden of The Battle Axes public house along Butterfly Lane this p.m. (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
Brent Reservoir: Common Buzzard over at 09.45, also Green Sandpiper (Brent Birders).
Forest Gate (Gull watch - formerly known as on my roof) 12:30-17:30: Common Tern (over south and carrying food!), 100 Starling, 61 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 17 Black-headed Gull, 11 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, c.100 Swift (all points of the compass), 46 Carrion Crow, 7 Magpie, 45 Wood Pigeon, 6 Collared Dove, 1 f Sparrowhawk and only 11 Cormorant... so I am off down the flats to get me some more (Nick Croft).
King George V Reservoir: 1 Little Egret (very shy, flew off somewhere), 200+ Tufted Duck, 1 Common Tern carrying fish to William Girling Reservoir. (Katy M.)
London Wetland Centre: Greenshank, 3 x Little Ringed Plover, 3+ Common Tern, G C Greebe with young, c10 Sand Martin (Charlie Farrell)
M11 approaching M25 junction (near Epping): Red Kite, this is the second time I have seen one in this area in the last 2 months so hopefully here to stay. (Jean-Patrick Elmes).
Paddington Green: m Peregrine Falcon in area since at least 15:00, singing Grey Wagtail (DMc).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Sandpiper (West Res), female aythya hybrid (see yesterday), 10 Black-headed Gulls, 15+ Common Terns, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
Tufnell Park N7 (Anson Road) juv Sparrowhawk in bird bath for 10 minutes, then on TV aerial. Also male kestrel past. (Adrian Platt)
Wandsworth Park: ad Yellow-legged Gull on barges (pics [[1]]), plus usuals incl 1s GBB, 10+ House Martin, 2 Stock Dove, singing Grey Wagtail (Matthew Palmer)
Wanstead Flats: More frogs at the round pond (and 2 biggies), naff all except Mipits, Skylark, 1 Black-headed Gull and some Swift, too many people spreading their rubbish and setting fires... ...nearly forgot 5 Cormorant (joy!) (Nick -misanthrope-Croft).
Wanstead Park (aah relative peace!): Hobby over Shoulder of Mutton on 3 occasions at dusk, Sparrowhawk down by the allotments, family of 4 Green Woodpeckers, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, families of Whitethroat, c. 10 singing Song Thrush, Great Crested Grebe (on Heronry), Little Grebe, Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant (woo hoo!), 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (Nick Croft)
Saturday 3rd July 2010[]
Aldenham Golf Club: Hobby over c19:45, singing Chiffchaff (Des McKenzie).
Barnet Underhill: Red kite low west along Dollis Brook at c09:30 (Ian Woodward)
Brent Reservoir: 2 Little Ringed Plover & 4 Lapwings; also 7 White-letter Hairstreaks, 23 Marbled Whites, 27 Ringlets among 16 species of butterfly (Brent Birders)
Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon in the area to 09:30, Grey Wagtail (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
Rainham Marshes: Whimbrel, 3 Yellow-Legged Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Little Egret, Grasshopper Warbler (reeling), 2 Cetti's Warbler, Shelduck with 7 ducklings (on south bank), f Cuckoo... large bull seal going out with the tide... ...and there would have been more but they chucked me out at five... (Nick Croft).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: two Aythya hybrids, often together - female Common Pochard x Tufted Duck (as yesterday and also 10th May), plus moulting male Common Pochard x Tufted Duck, superficially v similar to scaup sp. (possibly same as bird present here on 26th February); also further build-up of aythyas and dabblers, juv Coal Tits and Goldcrests, plenty of dragonflies and damselflies inc. many Common Blue, Azure and Blue-tailed, Emperors, Four-spotted Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer. Evening - Hobby hunting, 7 Small Tortoiseshells (Mark Pearson Hackney Wildlife)
Friday 2nd July 2010[]
Black Park: five or six Siskins NE of lake, including a singing male and juvenile, confirming breeding in the London Area (Dominic Mitchell) This comes as no surprise to this hugely under-recorded & somewhat neglected site, well done DM (Jon Ridge).
Wanstead Flats (05:00-11:00): Wood Sandpiper (again v. briefly on Alex), Common Sandpiper (stayed for a couple of hours before the traffic of dog walkers, joggers got too much), Common Tern (over Alex to the west), 88 Cormorant (over), 31 Black-headed Gull, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, 21 Ring-necked Parakeet (over north), 15 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, c.100 Swift (over the whole Flats), 16 Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, 11 Jay, 5 Magpie, c.20-30 Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, 3 (or possibly the same) f Sparrow Hawk (once carrying food to the cemetry), 8 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, C. Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Skylark... and I'll let you off the rest (Nick Croft). More frogs exiting round pond.
Bedfont Lakes CP: At least 35 Common Tern chicks present. (Adam Cheeseman)
Brookmill Park, Lewisham: 1 Heron, 5 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 6 Woodpigeon, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 1 singing Chiffchaff + at least 2 more in with a flock of Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tits, 1 Starling, 5 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch & 6 Greenfinch. (Conrad Ellam)
Crayford Marshes: 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Owl, male Corn Bunting, 2 Common Terns, Common Sandpiper, 7 Rook. (Kev Jarvis).
Forest Gate (05:00): Song Thrush (first for years, and years, probably the very first to sing) just north of my flat on the Romford Road (Nick Croft).
London W2 (location withheld): m Black Redstart accompanied by at least 1 juv between 08:45 and 10:15 (Des McKenzie).
Marble Arch Roundabout - mobile (but lame) cock Pheasant, present at 10.00. Colleagues have phoned RSPCA to see if they can attend, although bird looks reasonably happy, and last seen posing for tourists' photographs.(Dave Jordan)
Paddington Green: pr Peregrine Falcon in area from 14:40; fem with a kill (DMc).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Common Buzzard, one over Hatch End at 17:50 & one picked up about two miles out over Old Redding at 17:51-18:00, both seen from the main pond although neither birds ticked for the patch. Also 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Owl, 8+ House Martin, Swallow family & 15 Swift (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood Lake: Peregrine Falcon, 3 mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 3singing Blackcap, 2singing Chiffchaff 2singing Song Thrush, Goldcrest, 6 Common Swift, 2 House Martin, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1singing Coal Tit, 3 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: hybrid female Common Pochard x Tufted Duck (presumably same bird seen here on 10th May), Great Black-backed Gull, plus the usuals (MJP)
Tyttenhanger GPs: 4 Oystercatcher (2ad+2Juv), 5 Redshank (2Ad+3Juv) Ruddy Shelduck, 9 Common Tern. (Steve B)
Willows Farm Pool: 2 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 2 Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron. (Steve B)
Rotherhithe: pair of Common Terns feeding single chick on Surrey Water; also 8+ Common Terns (including 2 juveniles not locally bred) and 80+ Black-h Gulls on River Thames (Richard Bonser)
Thursday 1st July 2010[]
Crossness: adult Black Tern lingering off Golf Centre late morning, female Ruddy Shelduck still on foreshore east of Golf Centre (Kev Jarvis per JA).
Wimbledon Common: c12 Common Crossbill west over Brook Cottage, some calling, 0915 (Adrian Podmore, David Wills).
Bushy Park: 3 Little Owl in North of park (RG)*Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe (east end of dock near floating pub): Great Crested Grebe with loop of plastic tape trapped round its body. RSPCA contacted, anything else I can do to help? (Philip Lowden)
Hampstead Heath, Pond No 2: f Mallard with 8 ducklings, grabbed a Common Tern and was pushing it under the water, luckily the tern was released and seemed undamaged, tern was diving for bread thrown in by a mother with child for the ducks the tern was taking the bread and got too close and thus the Mallard grabbed it, I thought the tern was a goner (Michael Mac).
Hampstead Heath, Kenwood: Singing Common Whitethroat, 1 Treecreeper, pr Green Woodpecker displaying in meadow, singing Chiffchaff (Michael Mac).
London W1: singing Black Redstart (James Astley)
Pinner, Cannon Lane: 1 Grey Wagtail along the River Pinn (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl in the disaster area still, 5+ Swallow, 4 House Martin, 10 Swift, 6 Grey Heron, 3 Mistle Thrush, 7 Black-headed Gull & 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Jon Ridge).
Smithfield Market, 1800: pair of peregrines thermalling before heading off south (James Astley)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 31 Common Terns, 14 Black-headed Gulls (mainly West Res), 113 Coots, juvenile Coal Tits and Goldcrests, 9 Grey Wagtails, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Wanstead Flats (07:00-11:00): 69 Cormorant, 27 Black-headed Gull, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 10 House Martin (including a family group of 7 - the parents already collecting mud for a new home), 1 Sand Martin, c.30 Swift, 7 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 7 singing Meadow Pipit, 7 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (briefly heard in hedge east of Long Wood), 3 singing Chiffchaff + young, 3 Blackcap, 2 m Reed Bunting, Greenfinch (with young in tow), Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, c.20+ Jackdaw, 6 Jay, 4 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit (family group in Long Wood), Skylark (including 1 collecting for a nest), 2 Collared Dove. A second exodus of the small pond by froglets was under way this morning - hundreds of the little critters surprisingly creating little interest from predators (Nick Croft).
