Bishops Park, Fulham: Nuthatch fledglings being fed by parents. (M Ruscoe); Also Great Spotted Woodpecker hole containing vociferous young, and female Sparrowhawk on nest (David Wills).
Crayford Marshes: 10 Sanderling (record shot on the blog), 4 singing Corn Bunting, Cuckoo, Little Owl, 3 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 28 Swift, 8 Swallow, 4 House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret. (Kev Jarvis).
Dartford Marshes: m Black Redstart, m Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 5 Swallow, 7 House Martin, c20 Swift, c270 Starling, 10 Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, 5 Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 9 Shelduck, 6 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, c18 Skylark, Corn Bunting, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, 4 Linnet (Martin Stevens).
Dollis Brook, N3: Female Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding young in nest, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers entering a nest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Goldcrests, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackcaps (m+f), Grey Heron, 3 Song Thrush (2 adults,1 juv), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), 4 Swifts, 2 Parakeets. (an oil spill into brook earlier in spring seems to have driven away pair of kingfishers, grey wagtails) (S. Tash)
East India Dock Basin: 4 Shelducks, 14 Tufted Ducks (including the male with a Portuguese nasal saddle), 4 Common Terns, singing Blackcap, Reed Warbler (John Archer).
Ewell - Bourne Hall: 2 Sub-adult Herring Gull on lake, singing Blackcap, Fledgling Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from nest hole in Yew Tree (Neil Batten).
Fulham, SW6: family group of Grey Wagtail around railway arches off Grimston Road (Martin Honey)
Kentish Town: Prince of Wales Rd, Short eared Owl glided high NW over Morrisons at 1545 ( Pete Mantle)
South Island Place/Stockwell: pr Swifts at roof height then at least 5 dot height over area (Michael Mac).
St James's Park: 1 singing Blackcap (m), Greylag with 2 very young gosling, Mute Swan with 5 cygnet (were 6), Red Crested Pochard with 3 duckling. (P. Haynes)
Trent Park: Nuthatch feeding young at plastered nest hole in Williams Wood (Bob Husband & Robert Callf)
Wanstead Flats: Barnacle Goose south, 1 singing Willow Warbler, c. 10 singing Common Whitethroat, Swallow, 8 House Martin, c. 10 Swift, Kestrel , 4 Egyptian Goose (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 2 Common Tern still, singing Reed Warbler, Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Bullfinch, Black-headed Gull (Steve Thorpe/Nick Croft)
Bushy Park: 4 Common Shelduck, Common Buzzard, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler (Tony Duckett). Also, Red Kite over Sandy Lane Gate at 7:40 pm and, presumably same bird, flying towards Hampton Wick at 8:20 pm (Phil Davies and Mike Foster).
Crossness: 2 2cy Bonaparte's Gulls briefly off the incinerator outfall, the 'part-hooded' individual at 07:10 and the 'non-hooded' individual at 08:50, among up to 400 or more Black-headed Gulls. Also Hobby through at 06:40, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, 20+ Common Terns and Cetti's Warbler, but no sign of the possible Trumpeter Finch (reportedly seen Sat, Sun and Mon) in the weedy field between the sea wall and the nature reserve by midday (Dominic Mitchell).
East Wickham Open Space (LB Bexley): Common Buzzard drifted west 18:15 mobbed by up to six crows with 2 swifts joining in at one stage. (Gus Wilson)
Erith, top of hill around Colyers Lane: 13 Swifts over Stelling Rd, flying very low around flats and 'surfing' off curved rear wall of long 3-storey block. (Chris Rose).
Finsbury Park area: Hobby over 20:05 at west end of Tollington Park (150m along from Hornsey Road intersection) (Steve Torpey).
London Wetland Centre: 2 pairs Little Ringed Plover; 2 Redshank; >14 pairs Lapwing, only one young seen from >5 early broods; 10 pairs Common Tern, 9 of these on rafts; 2 pairs Black-headed Gull, only one of these still nesting (J.Wilczur).
Rainham Marshes: F Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Corn Bunting, Spotted Flycatcher, Black Tern flying up river with Common Tern around 17.00 (S Haslem)
Sutton - Rosehill Park East: Red Kite high north 19:00 (Andrew Kellett)
East India Dock Basin: 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Shelduck, 11 Tufted Ducks, 2 pairs of Common Terns, singing Reed Warbler, singing Blackcap (John Archer).
Hall Place North: 11 Jackdaw, 1 Stock Dove (Chris Rose).
Hampstead Heath: 2 singing Reed Warblers, Highgate no.1 pond, Grey wagtails still regularly feeding at same pond (Frank Nugent).
Hemans Estate Community Garden/Stockwell: 1 Swift, 2nd Magpie chick in 6 days to leave/fall out of nest and die (Michael Mac).
Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook/Eagle Pond: 2 Common Tern high over Eagle pond catching insects at 09:30 (probably same birds as Wanstead), Willow Warbler (Leyton Flats), 5 Blackcap, female Sparrowhawk caught fledgling Jay but then seen off by parent Jay, Coal Tit and 2 Goldcrest (both at Snaresbrook Crown Court) --what had they done?, 5+ Swift, 3 Black-headed Gull, Great crested Grebe, 7 Tufted Duck (Stuart Fisher)
Mill Hill Park: 3 Ring-necked Parakeets seen flying close to the park. (Xav)
Queen Mother Res: Turnstone (Birdguides)
Redbridge Lakes and Roding Valley Park: 2 Sedge Warblers seen (one showing very well) and a third heard at the lakes; 2 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, 3 Swifts, Green Woodpecker (Alan Hobson).
Richmond Park: 1 Red Kite flew low SW over Pen Ponds Plantation @ 20.30 mobbed by a Crow, (Franko J Maroevic)
River Shuttle corridor (LB Bexley): Beths school field between river and A2 - 1 Stock Dove. By Beths school footbridge - 2 Grey Wagtail (a.m.), Love Lane allotments - Male Common Whitethroat singing/display flights, Riverdale - 1 Kingfisher, 3 Goldfinch, Bexley Woods - male Blackcap, Albany Rd bridge - 1 Grey Wagtail (eve). (Chris Rose).
Sidcup, Crescent Rd/Christchurch Rd junction: 2 (+?) Coal Tits in large pine. (Chris Rose).
Sidcup Golf Course margins: Lake - 1 Mute Swan. West margin (Burnt Oak Lane) - 1 male Chaffinch, North margin (by Rowley Av) - 2 Blackcap alarm calling, 1 female seen. East margin (small wood) - 2 Nuthatch seen, probably at least 1 more heard, Song Thrush heard. Lots of Ring-necked Parakeet calls from inside Golf Course. (Chris Rose).
Sidcup, Lamorbey Park: - 1 Chiffchaff (heard), 3 Stock Dove,1 Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding on ground with 15 Starlings, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet,1 Song Thrush, 1 Long-tailed Tit , 2m + 2f Tufted Duck on lake.(Chris Rose).
Sidcup, Longlands allotment site: - 1 male Common Whitethroat singing/display flight, Longlands Recreation Ground - 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (Chris Rose)
South Norwood Lake: c15 Swifts, 12 Blackcaps (+ family party of 3), 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Wanstead Park: 2 Common Tern (06:30-09:30) on Heronry, Little Egret, Reed Warbler (shoulder of mutton) (Steve Thorpe/Nick Croft)
Sunday 27th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Peregrine SE 0945, 2 Common Tern, Willow Warbler still Conservation Area (Bob Watts).
Barbican: 2 Coot broods of 1 & 4 respectively, 2 Wood Pigeons drinking from smaller lake. (Matt Reed).
Barking Bay (access from Renwick Rd opp power station): Bonaparte's Gull 12.35, 13.30, 14.45, 15.45 (Birdguides).
Brent Reservoir: 3 Redshank, 2-3 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper (Brent Birders).
Fishers Green (Lea Valley): 3+ Nightingales in full song; good views. Hobby, Cuckoo, Cetti's & Reed Warbler (Sash Tusa 0800-1000)
Frogmore, (North of Radlett on old A5) Herts: singing Wood Warbler in Birch Wood west side of River. (Park in Old Moor Lane near M25) (Bob Husband, Fay Broom, Mike Crawthorne).
Greenford: 17.55 Crow alerted me to large raptor high over my garden- buzzard sp, soaring on flat wings that appeared long + small head-suspect Honey Buzzard, but bird went very high drifting NW after 5 minutes. (Neil Anderson)
Hampstead Heath: Pr Kingfisher + 3 (?) young on Sanctuary Pond 8:00am. Mandarin ducklings on several ponds. 2 Swallows over. (Dave Porritt)
King's Cross: few House Sparrow knocking about in derelict (but being redeveloped) warehouse N of Wharf Rd. (Matt Reed)
Kingston upon Thames: at least 6 Sand Martin hawking insects over R. Thames at Kingston Bridge (17.00) plus many Swifts and two resident Lesser Black Backed Gulls (Neil Batten).
Little Venice: Egyptian Goose pair with 4 small goslings (Matt Reed).
Lillie Park, Fulham: Hobby chasing a flock of Swifts 16.00 hrs (M Bournat)
Staines Reservoir: early morning - not unexpectedly (see 26th May), one dead Fulmar in the SW corner of the N basin. Otherwise, two Black-necked Grebes S basin, one Sanderling and three Black Terns N basin, and a Red-breasted Goose through -> W at 0650hrs with three Greylags (Rob Innes, Dominic Mitchell).
Uxbridge:1 Jackdaw on a house chimney pot, Chiltern View Road. Possible nest site? (Roger Dewey)
Sunny Hill Park, Hendon: singing Lesser Whitethroat; at least 3 peripheral House Sparrow sites (see Golders Green on 24th for context) (James Levy).
Walthamstow Reservoirs:Lockwood 3 Black Terns (KJMcmanus) still present at 19:30 (Nick Croft/Stuart Fisher) 20:30 Birdguides, also Grey Wagtail, 3 Shelduck, 2 Common Sandpiper
Wanstead Flats: House Martin, Swallow, 10 Swift (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Common Sandpiper (Steve Thorpe), 4 House Martin, Kestrel, 3 Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Paul Davis)
Saturday 26th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 2 Common Terns, 2 Swallow north (Bob Watts).
Ashtead: Cuckoo calling The Murreys/Barnett Wood Lane then seen flying SW. (Dave Kiddell)
Barking Bay: 1 adult summer Black Tern 7.50am (Tony Brown) Knot, 3 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 30+ Common Terns (early evening) (David Callahan, Gary A James). Brent Goose (Jonathan Lethbridge/Nick Croft)
Barnehurst Golf Course: 1 Chiffchaff. 29 Swifts over west end early evening and up Northall Rd as far as railway station, investigating and going under various eaves. (Chris Rose).
Battersea Park Lake: 1 Swift drinking then gone, first of year here - still no Mallard broods yet unusual compared to pre-years (Michael Mac).
Beddington SF: 4 Wood Sandpipers and Iceland Gull (Birdguides)
Boston Manor, Grand Union Canal: 3 Common Tern, singing Sedge Warbler, pr Great Spotted Woodpecker (Tom Smith)
Braeburn Park (Old Orchard/Gun Club site), Crayford: 1 Lesser Whitethroat (heard - ID by Tristan Bantock), Common Whitethroat, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Song Thrush (heard). (Chris Rose).
Brent Reservoir: Little Tern briefly at 08.15 then flew East, also Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, LRP, 2 Lapwing & Common Sand (Brent Birders)
Clapham Common: pair Gadwall on Mount Pond (S Hampson)
Crayford (west side of Thames Road): 4 or 5 Swift over junction Maiden Lane and Mayplace Av, investigating eaves, sometimes chased by Starlings, 13 House Martin over Shearwood Crescent investigating eaves and going into existing nests, including two smashed up ones (possible related to 'For sale' sign outside building). (Chris Rose).
Creekmouth, Barking: Black Tern reported (Birdguides)
Crossness: 1st-summer Bonaparte's Gull (now rapidly advancing with a mottled black hood) 8.50am-9.40am off the incinerator outfall. Also adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose in Barking Bay early morning, then drifting east off incinerator outfall 9.30am. Grey Plover in Barking Bay 10.15am. Also Little Egret, Swallow (Richard Bonser and Josh Jones) Bonaparte's Gull still present on foreshore west of the Outfall 11.30 am. Common Tern, Oystercatcher and c.25 Swift also (M & O Bournat)
Fir & Pond Woods, Potters Bar: 1 singing male Spotted Flycatcher, 12:35 and still in same area, 13:25 hrs, on territory? 1 singing male Cuckoo (Robert Callf).
Frogmore Lakes (old A5 near M25) Herts: Wood Warbler reported (Birdguides) Still singing & showing well between 11.00 - 11.30 a.m. (Simon West). And onto late afternoon, red kite over heading north (Alan Lewis)
Galley Hill Wood, Lea Valley: Black Kite over (Birdguides)
Greenwich Maze Hill: 1 Swallow over, late afternoon, still some migration then (Joe Beale)
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Common Tern pair on raft, Whitethroat, 2-3 Reed warblers singing, 2 Sand Martins (Joe Beale)
Hampstead Heath: Common Sandpiper on raft on Highgate No 1 pond, 17.00 hrs (Liz Valentine)
London Wetland Centre: 3 (probably 4) Common Sandpiper, 18 Common Tern, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, 1 drake Shoveller, plus usual Swift, Sand & House Martins, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warbler. Hobby and 2 Yellow Wagtail seen first thing (Martin Honey)
Newham, Thames shore: 1 Sanderling feeding @ midday, seen very distantly, at extreme limit of scope range, from Greenwich ecology Park on opposite shore. Redshank/s also heard in area. (Joe Beale).
Northaw Great Wood: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, together, including a singing male, 15:30 - 15:40 hrs; 1 singing male Willow Warbler; 3 Nuthatch, including a pair feeding young in nest-hole; 6 Treecreeper (Robert Callf).
Rainham Marshes: 2 Cuckoos, Willow Warbler (West Marsh), Corn Bunting, 3rd-summer Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Terns east (jetty warehouse), 2 Grey Plovers (1 sum, 1 win), 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Avocets (Aveley Bay), 3rd calendar year Caspian Gull on foreshore near jetty warehouse, then east at 1.05 pm (David Callahan, Gary A James).
River Cray (downstream of Crayford): Footpath 106 - 8 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Dunncock. By-way 105 - 3 Song Thrush (heard), 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Whitethroat, 5 Collared Dove. Thames Road Wetland: - 1 Little Egret (over), Reed Warblers, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Collared Dove. (Chris Rose).
Rotherhithe: 3 pairs of Common Terns on Surrey Water and 2 Sand Martins over Old Salt Quay pub (Richard Bonser and Josh Jones)
Staines Reservoir: late evening, a sick-looking Fulmar on the N basin when REI arrived just after 1945hrs, still present at 2100hrs; otherwise two Black-necked Grebes still S basin, and two Sanderling N basin (Rob Innes, Ken Purdey, Chris Heard, Andrew Moon).
Stapleford Tawney and Navestock: 1 - 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 - 2 Yellowhammers, Red-legged Partridge, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroats, several House Martins and Swallows, Swift, Pheasant, several Rooks (Alan Hobson).
Tooting Bec Common (north end, 1.30pm): 1 m Whitethroat (singing & showing well in BR fenced enclosure at western corner/apex of "Triangle Field"); 2 singing Blackcap (heard) (N. Granger-Taylor).
Totteridge: Cuckoo heard from Totteridge Fields at 11:50 (the bird was somewhere to the north of the reserve). Also Lesser Whitethroat heard from near the bottom of Grange Avenue (D. Jackson).
Wanstead Park: Great Crested Grebes with 3 chicks, Little Egret on Roding (Tim Harris)
Friday 25th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Swallow north 0715 (Bob Watts).
Barking Bay: 2 Little Gulls (Birdguides)
Barnehurst, Thirlmere Rd (my garden): 4 juvenile Coal Tits foraging noisily in old Norway Spruce. (Chris Rose).
Blackheath Dips: 1 singing Whitethroat, 3 singing Chiffchaffs, nesting Greenfinches, singing Song Thrush and Chaffinch, 1 Swallow over and Swifts (Joe Beale and Yu-Hsuan Lin)
Canary Wharf (Jubilee Park) 09:00 Song Thrush having a bath in the raised ponds 1st for this site for me and a welcome addition (Mel Shepherd-Wells)
East Dulwich: 2 House Martin drifting north, 7.20pm (Tom Smith)
East India Dock Basin: 2 Shelducks, 15 Tufted Ducks, 4 Common Terns, Sand Martin, singing Blackcap (plus Red-eyed Damselfly on pond in nearby business park) (John Archer).
Hendon: House Sparrow, Victoria Road (see yesterday Golders Green for context) (James Levy).
Leyton (Oliver Road): 15 Crossbill south west at 06:25 (Stuart Fisher)
Little Britain Iver/Cowley: 8 Greylags 1pr with 2 Gosling and 1pr with 6 Goslings, 8 Grey Herons, Mistle Thrush, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Swallows, 3 Chaffinch.(Sue Giddens)
Thorney CP: Sparrowhawk, Buzzard over, 20+ Common Terns, Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallows Swift, 2 Chiffchaff (Sue Giddens).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: male Whitethroat singing still in Scrapyard Meadow, also male Kestrel hovering (rare here) (Bob Watts).
Bromley Kent: Red Kite (observer?)
Thursday 24th May 2012[]
Beddington SF: 1st Sum Iceland Gull and Common Buzzard over (website).
Birdbrook Road NR, Kidbrooke: f Pied Flycatcher (James Lowen)
Blackheath: Egyptian Goose (James Lowen)
Bushy Park: 6 Common Shelducks, 1m Common Tern, 2m Reed Warblers, 14m Common Whitethroats, Kingfisher (Tony Duckett)
Crayford Marshes: immature male Marsh Harrier flew north-east, 2 little Ringed Plover, Hobby, Corn Bunting, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Common Sandpiper. (Kev Jarvis).
Crossness: Bonaparte's Gull still around (Birdguides). Bonaparte's Gull located at 15.45 in mid Thames floating on incoming high tide - viewed from Golf Course Thames Walk - then it flew down stream to Sewage Works outfall where close views obtained until c.17.00 hrs. Believed to have then flown upstream? (Bob Husband, Ian Brice, Tim Dackus & John?)
Enfield (Lea Navigation near Delta Business Park): singing Cetti's Warbler, singing Garden Warbler, singing Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Sand Martin (Stuart Fisher)
Fulham Reach: 1 Buzzard at 19.10 mobbed by male Peregrine, drifted W (Nathalie Mahieu).
Golders Green: House Sparrow, Sandringham Road (a repeat occurrence). I have now heard them at many sites west of the A41 in NW2, NW11 and NW4, but only here in many recent tours of NW11 and NW4 streets east of the A41. Buildings too well-maintained in 'ere posh parts? (James Levy)
Greenwich Park: at least 2 Goldcrest fledglings being fed by adults, also 6 Mallard ducklings on lake (Joe Beale)
Queens Park, NW6: Common Buzzard SW 12.23, mobbed by crows (Rob Ayers)
North Finchley: Common Buzzard SW over house, mobbed by crows (John Colmans)
North Wembley: Buzzard low over railway lines opposite station c15.00 mobbed initially by couple of Crows but number built to 15+ (Neil Anderson)
Totteridge valley: Red Kite north 1.50pm (Andrew Bailey)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Singing Whitethroat Scrapyard Meadow (fresh in today), also Swift, 2 singing Chiffchaffs (1 recently) (Bob Watts).
Valentines Park: 3 Grey Herons: 2 juveniles now venturing out of nest and 1 adult. Pair of Great Crested Grebes on boating lake, pair of Pochard. (Barbara Miller)
Wanstead Park: Hobby over ornamental waters, Lesser Whitethroat, singing Goldcrest, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker nests with young, Great-crested Grebe have 2 chicks with one egg remaining, no sign of any acros (Nick Croft)
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Red Kite low north at 0640. (The Scrubbers)
Wednesday 23rd May 2012[]
Alexandra park: 2 Common terns Wood Green Res, 2 Jackdaws low west 7am (Bob Watts).
Barnes Wetland Centre: Avocet (website).
Beddington Farm: Iceland Gull 1st S (website).
Blackheath Dips: 2 female and 1 singing male Common Whitethroats (Joe Beale and Yu-Hsuan Lin).
Bromley: Honey Buzzards flew north over Shortlands Village at 13:00 and 15:30 (Birdguides)
Crayford Marshes: Red Kite circled low over the marshes then flew south 08:00; 2 male Corn Bunting, Little Owl, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin. (Kev Jarvis).
Crossness: 1w Bonaparte's Gull again off sludge outfall up to 3 pm at least (RBA). [Is it 1s or 1w please].
East India Dock Basin: Red Kite west @ 09.52, 3 Swallows north, Tufted Duck female red saddle. (Gary A James).
Finsbury Park: 1+ Common Whitethroat singing at north end of Finsbury Park Overground platform (Ian Bradshaw)
Richmond Park: Red Kite @9.40; 3 Buzzards 9.15-20; 2 Hobbies; c500 Jackdaws high-up flycatching (J.Wilczur). Red Kite again in evng over Ham Cross, 5 Crossbills flew over Thatched House Lodge calling. (Steve & Sam Read per FJM) Also pair of Stonechats feeding 2 juveniles at Lawn Field in evng. (Franko J Maroevic)
Ruislip Lido: Cuckoo calling over Poors Field 7:30am(Richard Francis). Cuckoo also calling later am, 2-3 Garden Warbler, 4 Common Tern, many Swift and House Martin over Lido. (Roger Dewey)
Thorney CP: Goosander(drake) returns on Tern raft at 1pm, 18 Common Terns, Black-headed Gull also nesting on raft, (Sue Giddens)
Wanstead Park: Singing Reed Warbler (Shoulder of Mutton) another acro on Roding, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff with very yellow vent, 2 Swallow, Swift, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, the Great Crested Grebe have now got chick(s), Meadow Pipit (h), (Steve Thorpe/Nick Croft)
Tuesday 22nd May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Hobby NE over obs 1810, also 5 Swallows N (Bob Watts, Gareth Richards).
Bankside SE1: Singing Sedge Warbler (showing occasionally) and singing Reed Warbler in birches at NEO Bankside Sales Pavilion on south west end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg). Both still there at 17:30 (Reuben Braddock)
Creekmouth / Barking Bay Riverside: (Bonaparte's Gull until c.10.20 - photographs taken by Russell & Dave). Male Ring Ouzel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Oystercatchers, 93 Shelducks, nesting Common Terns on river platform, Meadow Pipits singing, Skylarks singing, Common Whitethroats singing - This area is to be re-developed but would make an excellent Nature Reserve (Bob Husband, Pete Lowman)
East Dulwich: Hobby (first for the garden)(Steven Robinson).
Fishers Green/70 Acres Lake: Red Kite (on the way in and on way out), 3 singing Nightingale, 3 Hobby, 1 Common Buzzard, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, pr Reed Bunting (Michael Mac).
Fulham, Craven Cottage area: Red Kite over 7pm, heading west (M Ruscoe).
Crossness: 1w Bonaparte's Gull again off sludge outfall at 12:10-13h15 at least, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail (James Lowen) still roosting at sludge outfall 1820-1845, then flew across the river to Barking Bay. Hobby also seen. (O Bournat)
Hampstead Heath: Red Kite W over house at 16.40 (Dave Porritt).
Kingston: - hampton rover walk. Sand Martins, 2+ Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Common Tern. (J. Dickerson)
London Colney: White Stork circling with gulls c.200m south of Junction 22 on the M25 at 16:40 (Birdguides)
Pinner Park Farm: female type Kestrel, 4 singing Whitethroat, just 3 Swift, 2 Green & 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Stock Dove, 24 Jackdaw & 4 Canada Goose with seven goslings (Jon Ridge).
Richmond Park: Good view of a male Kestrel (near Pen Ponds) (Penelope Paxer).Red Kite over at 12.35; 3 Hobbies, including 2 feeding high over Pen Ponds; 3 Buzzards- 2 NW @ 12.45 including a bird with white inner primaries in left wing & one over at 13.45 (J.Wilczur).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Mute Swan brood of 7 cygnets, 2 House Martin, 5+ Reed Warbler (TeRNS)
Sutcliffe Park: 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Common Whitethroats, 1 Hobby, 20+Swifts, Yellow necked Terrapin on island. (Peter Kite)
Totteridge/Dollis Valley: 2 Common Buzzards: Kestrel: 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat: 5 Swallows: Cormorant again on Totteridge Long Pond: estimated c100 Orange Tip butterflies(John Colmans). Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff heard, Terrapin sunbathing on log in lake, several Orange Tips seen. Midday - 1.30pm (Darlands) (Xav).
Walthamstow Marshes: White Stork, came in low from the North,18.33 mobbed by crows, Circled for about 5 mins and flew off NE, at closest views no sign of any ringing. very clean plumage no primaries missing etc. (Jamie Partridge)
Wood Green: Red Kite NE over Birdwatch office at 2.35 pm (Ian Lycett, David Callahan).
Monday 21st May 2012[]
Barking Bay: Bonaparte's Gull. East end of bay 11am to noon then disappeared when not watching. (John Fordham)
Brookmill Park: drake Mandarin, Grey Wagtail, singing Song Thrush, singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Blackcap (one nest building) male and female House Sparrow (Conrad Ellam)
Bursted Wood: 1 m Blackcap top of adjacent railway cutting, 1 Song Thrush (heard), 1 Mistle Thrush. (Chris Rose).
Bushy Park: Brilliant and close views of a perched Little Owl. (Penelope Paxer) Any specific area within the Park, Penelope? (Billy Dykes) Along Duke's Head Passage Ash Walk near the Gamekeeper's cottage. (Penelope Paxer)
Crossness: Bonaparte's Gull on Thames off Golf Centre at 12.55, Wood Sandpiper one in west paddock, Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Whitethroat. (Kev Jarvis, Steve Carter, Ian Stewart).
East India Dock Basin: Swallow north, 2 Shelducks, 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Common Terns, singing Reed Warbler (John Archer)
Enfield (Delta Business Park): Cuckoo north west (nearly colliding with electricity pylon cable!), Peregrine north, 80+ Swift over over reservoir and canal, 1 Swallow south west (Stuart Fisher)
Finchley: White Stork flew over towards Whetstone at 17:30 (Birdguides)
Hampstead Heath: Grey Wagtail, Reed Warbler, (both Highgate no 1), Swallow (Vale of Health), Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Tern (Highgate no 1 & 2), pair Stock Dove (nr Athlone House Gardens), pair Mistle Thrush (Kenwood), Coal Tit (Adrian Platt).
River Shuttle corridor (LB Bexley): Love Lane allotments - 1 m Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff to south, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in adjacent riverside tree; Riverdale Rd - 3 Kingfisher; Bexley Wood - 1 Nuthatch, 1 Jay, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker (heard), 1 Song Thrush (heard); Riverside Central - 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Stock Dove; Small wood east side Sidcup Golf Course - 1 Chiffchaff (heard), 2 Song Thrush (heard), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (from calls, possibly near nest); Hollyoak Park - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (from calls, possibly near nest), 1 Greenfinch, 1 Song Thrush (heard), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), 1 m Blackcap; Parish Wood Park - 2 Swift (over), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), Ring-necked Parakeets. Good numbers of House Sparrows throughout these sections. (Chris Rose).
St James's Park: Numerous pochard, greylag, tufted duck. Barnacle goose, red breasted goose, 6 shelduck, pair of wigeon, ruddy shelduck, pair of pintail, pair of mandarin, red-crested pochard in abundance. Pair of smew, several goldeneye, 4 ruddy duck. One goose I couldn't identify with gold neck and bronze patch on head. 1 wood duck. (P. Haynes)
Staines Reservoir: in the evening, all very quiet, but an adult Kittiwake seen twice after 1950hrs, then flew off S (Rob Innes, Franko Maroevic, Ken Purdey).
Totteridge Valley: Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mandarin Duck (f) and 8 ducklings, Tufted Duck (Long Pond), 2 Grey Heron, 2 Lapwing, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a few Swallow, 1 Orange Tip (Darlands & area) (Xav).
Walthamstow Filter Beds: Oystercatcher, at least 6 prs Shelduck, RN Parakeet, several Grey Wags (Dan Barrett)
Waterwork NR: Pair of Shelduck on bed 17, (unusual here) ,Singing willow warbler, swallow, sand martin, reed warblers , common whitethroats everywhere (J. Patrtridge)
Sunday 20th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Willow Warbler singing Conservation Area (not recent mixed singer, has bright orange legs), pair Grey Wagtail Boating Lake (Bob Watts).
Battersea Park: 3 Goldcrest, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck. Lots of singing Song Thrush. Long-tailed Tit & Ring-necked Parakeet in abundance (P. Haynes).
Broadwater: Adult Med Gull (12:00 - 12:15), also 3 Egyptian Goose, 1 Hobby, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Bullfinch (Simon Buckingham).
Canada water: 2 sining Reed Warbler (James Lowen)
Crossness: first-summer Bonaparte's Gull still viewable from just west of Thamesview Golf Centre mid-morning; ranging between the power station and the outfall by the incinerator around high tide mid pm, showing well on the S side of the river. (Sean Huggins).1st summer Mediterranean Gull on foreshore (Conrad Ellam et al) At east end of Barking Bay, on the mud under jetty with green ship at 1800hrs (Neville Smith)
East Wickham Open Space (LB Bexley): Green Woodpecker (heard), 1 male Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush (heard), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), 2 Swifts over, Ring-necked Parakeets, 50 Starling, good number of House Sparrows (Chris Rose)
Epsom Downs: Pair of Honey Buzzard - rear of race course over fields towards Walton. (Dave Blocksidge)
Kingston upon Thames: Drake Red Crested Pochard on river by Turks Boatyard, 16.30 - 16.40 before flying off downriver out of view. (Neil Batten).
London Wetland Centre: 2 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gulls with c.15 other large gulls (J.Wilczur, R.Kaye). 2 Redshank pm (M. Honey). 1 Yellow Wagtail (Aaron C-Partridge)
Ruislip Lido: 300+ Swifts over the water (Richard Francis)
St John's Wood: female Mallard bizarrely perched extremely high on stanchion way above Lords Grandstand (no Duck puns please!) (Matt Reed).
Wanstead Park: Hobby (Nick Croft)
Saturday 19th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Hobby over Wood Green Res 0802 (Bob Watts). Common Buzzard over, from 'The Grove' Cafe 12:30(Frank Nugent). Egyptian Goose Boating Lake with ring (Alan Gibson).
Barnehurst, Thirlmere Rd: 1 Goldcrest in my back garden. (Chris Rose).
Battersea Park: bathing f Goldcrest, 1 singing Chiffchaff, 5 singing Blackcap, pr Egyptian Geese, noticable lack of young water birds (ducks and geese) considering time of year and previous seasons, 3 broods Coot (Michael Mac).
Boston Manor: Common Tern patrolling Grand Union canal, several small groups of Swallow moving north, 2 Mandarin Duck (m,f) (Rob Mills)
Brent Reservoir: 2 Greylag Goose in river channel,1 fairly tame Egyptian Goose at Cool Oak Bridge rat feeding station, 2 Shelduck, 2 m Shoveler, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 fly-by Turnstone, brief visit from Rainham’s celebrity leucistic Herring Gull with “SH1T” leg rings, 167 Carrion Crow on West Hendon Playing Fields (Brent Birders).
Leucistic Herring Gull SH1T at Brent Reservoir
Bushy Park: Sedge Warbler singing in scrub by Iron Bridge. Also 5 Whitethroat. (Billy Dykes)
Crossness: Bonaparte's Gull 1st S from 08.00 till 08.50 when flew upriver (Richard Bonser per FJM); Bonaparte's Gull relocated on Barking Bay mud, viewable from Crossness Lighthouse, 10.20-1145 by Keith Holland (Bob Watts & Ian Miller per JA). Also Hobby flew west (John Archer). Bonaparte's Gull flew off east 11.45 (Andrew Self et al) and no further sign by 2pm at least (Paul Whiteman et al per BW); Bonaparte's Gull again in Barking Bay 16.50-17.00 (BirdGuides); Bonaparte's Gull middle of the Thames opposite the lighthouse at 18:40 (Kev Jarvis); Bonaparte's Gull on Crossness foreshore by outfall between 20:25 and 20:40 (Gareth Richards).
Farringdon: Grey Wagtail (male) singing on arch over West Smithfield. (Matt Reed).
Golders Green: Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding in short grass, Meadway Gate (James Levy).
Greenwich: Bonaparte's Gull going upriver 12.30 (Kevin J Mcmanus 265). Bonaparte's Gull is back at Crossness @5.00. Barking bay Bonaparte's Gull showing well @6.30. (Kevin J Mcmanus 265)
Hampstead Heath: Reed Warbler Highgate No1 Pond, 6+ Common Terns on and over Boating Pond, 2pr Whitethroat on Pryors Field (Sash Tusa) also 7 Crossbills E over High No.1 at 0640 and Tawny Owl with two owlets ( Pete Mantle) and 2 Greylag Goose(uncommon here) for 15 mins on the Boating Pond & nearby bank (Frank Nugent).
Hanwell: Red Kite north over Brent Valley golf course at 11.45 (Simon Fogg)
Leyton Oliver Road area: No sign of Melodious Warbler, immature male Harrier flew north, looked good for Hen, too broad winged for Montagu's. Showed greyish upper wings with some faded, whitish markings on secondaries or greater coverts but female/immature plumage underneath. (Marsh harrier most likely?).. no, not Marsh Harrier, definately a small harrier, heavily marked underneath, the back may have appeared greyer due to light conditions, but was probably greyish brown, was probably a ring tail (SF) Also male Sedge Warbler singing in patch of Japanese Knotweed near Asda turning along Ruckholt Road, male Whitethroat (Stuart Fisher)
Richmond: Red Kite circling over town centre at 11.00am (Hugh Bradshaw)
Richmond Park: 3 Hobby over pen ponds at 10am (J.murray snr).
South Norwood Lake: 8 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Wilow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 8 Swifts, 2 pair Collared Dove (John Watson). 3 Nuthatch -- parents feeding juvenile in ash next to lake in far eastern corner. (Daniel Greenwood)
Ten Acre Woods: pair Hobby, Red Kite, Kestrel (Jim Fell, M Fell).
Totteridge Valley: female Tufted Duck at Long Pond, 4 Swallows, c10 Swifts, loads of Whitethroats. (Ian Ellis).
Trent Park: 6 Common Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Garden Warbler, 6 Common Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Mandarin(m), Ring-necked Parakeet, many Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Swift ( Pete Lowman).
Weald CP: Honey Buzzard flew west over South Weald Cricket Ground at 18:10 (Birdguides)
Friday 18th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 4 Swallows NE 0725, several House Martins (Bob Watts). Red kite over new river village at 17:54 (J.Murray).
Bankside SE1: Singing Reed Warbler in birches at NEO Bankside Sales Pavilion on south west end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg). Grey Wagtail in garden on east side of Tate Modern (Gavin Charles).
Battersea Park: Hobby NW corner heading Barnes direction (Michael Mac).
Brent Reservoir: 2 Common Sands, pair Shelduck, 41 Common Terns, 6 Swallows N (Andrew Verrall).
Crayford Marshes: 3 Common Scoter (2 drake's and a female) drifting on the Thames a.m; 2 Sanderling, 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Corn Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, 32 Common Tern.(Kev Jarvis).
Greenwich Peninsula (Millenium Dome): Male Northern Wheatear, 5 singing Common Whitethroats, 1 Common Tern, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets (Tony Stones)
Grovelands Park (Southgate): 6 Nuthatch, including a pair feeding young in nest-hole (Robert Callf).
Hampstead Heath: Little Egret flying low over Cohen's Fields towards Highgate West Hill from Kenwood 06:20, pair Reed Warbler showing well and singing in small reedbed in corner of Highgate No 1 Pond 08:00.(Allan Stewart)
Leyton, Lyttelton Road: Melodious Warbler seen briefly at 6.10 in Holly tree and briefly singing between 6.05 to 6.15. (Davey Leach). The area of scrub & favoured Holly tree is in Oliver Road near junction with Lyttelton Road (Bob Husband). No sign of M. Warbler up til 12:30 (I arrived at 12:00 but others had been there all morning) (Nigel Sluman). No sign up to 4pm (Stuart Fisher)
London Wetland Centre: early evening. Leucistic gull sp in front of WWT hide (from memory, not Saturday's Brent bird as bill colour was bluish with a dark tip). Seen briefly from Dulverton hide but it was flushed, along with the rest of gulls, by a flyover helicopter. Didn't see the direction it took when it left (Martin Honey).
Rainham Marshes RSPB: despite the hides being closed at 3.55pm today (which is a site record even for key happy Rainham) managed to see 1 Short Eared Owl over silt lagoons, 2 Peregrines on usual pylon, 2 Hobbies chasing starlings , male Cuckoo, 4 drake Shovelers and 1 Wigeon (Ian Bradshaw)
South Norwood Lake: c12 Swifts, 9 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroats, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Streatham (playing fields adjacent to common): 1 great spotted woodpecker (attending nest, young heard), 1 chiffchaff (RB)
Sydenham Hill Wood: London Wildlife Trust Dawn Chorus walk -- Juvenile Tawny Owl, 3 Nuthatch (1 feeding young), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, young Sparrowhawks calling from canopy, 5 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, Juvenile Blackbird w/parents, 3 Stock Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet flock, Chiffchaff, c15 Wren, 3 Mallard, Starling,1 Hedgehog, 2 Goldcrest, c5 Blue Tit, c5 Great Tit (Daniel Greenwood)
Thorpe Park: 3 Common Sandpiper and a Shelduck(m) on Manor Lake (Kevin Duncan).
Trent Park: Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, many Chiffchaffs , Blackcaps and Common Swift, Song Thrush,. ( Pete Lowman).
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Lockwood oystercatcher north over (K J Mcmanus); Lockwood, Wheatear by blockhouse, Oystercatcher flew S @ 14:20 towards filter beds. (Paul Whiteman)
Walthamstow Filter Beds: Oystercatcher, pr Pochard (rare here outside of winter) (Dan Barrett)
Wanstead Flats: 30+ Swift, Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat with peculiar subsong, Kestrel, 3 Stock Dove (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Lesser Whitethroat, 3 House Martin, 20 + Swift (Nick Croft)
Waterworks NR: Common Sandpiper. (Paul Whiteman)
Ingrebourne Valley: Common Sandpiper my first of the year here, also 6 Jackdaw, 2 Shelduck (Shaun Harvey)
Thursday 17th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 50+ Swifts over Wood Green Res 7am, 10+ House Martins 1745 (Bob Watts).
Bankside SE1: Whitethroat in birches at west end of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg) Whitethroat still there at 13:00, also Chiffchaff singing at East end of Tate (Reuben Braddock)
Barnard Park, Islington, about 7pm. Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
Barnes WWT: afternoon visit, 4 Shelducks on Wader Scrape, 2 Black Headed Gulls sitting on nests on tern rafts, 1+ Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plovers on Grazing Marsh and incubating bird on Wader Scrape,only 2 broods of Lapwings seen although possibly one or two more on Grazing Marsh (recent reports suggest over 7 broods) but with many males displaying and nest scraping suggesting possible fox/heron predation of young, told by a visitor that a fox has outfoxed the electric fence around Wader Scrape/Grazing Marsh! (ian bradshaw)
Brent Reservoir: 4 Greylag, 2 Shelduck, female Mallard with 14 ducklings, 2 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Swift, a few House Martin around nest site, singing Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap & Chiffchaff (Andrew Haynes).
Brockwell Park: Pair Egyptian Geese (Tony Stones)
Cowley, Uxbridge - Nursery Lane allotments / Brunel Bicentenary Garden: 2-3 Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler in hawthorn hedge; Linnets on allotments. (Roger Dewey)
Ewell - Hogsmill Open Space: 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, female Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Song Thrush (Neil Batten).
Hampstead Heath: Spotted Flycatcher Cohen's Fields next to Stock Pond 17:45.(Allan Stewart)
Heathrow Airport: 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Swallow, Black Redstart (m). Rob Mills
Leyton: Melodious Warbler singing occasionally in scrub opposite Lyttelton Road to 11am at least (Roy Beddard, Ian Lycett et al); no sign from 6 - 8 30 am (David Bradshaw); showed well 9 45 to 10 45 at least in holly overhanging road, on trees and brambles, and along Volley ball court scrub (NickS); showed well at 12.20 (Tom Smith); showed well in favoured Holly at 14:25 at least (Bob Husband, Pete Lowman , D. McKenzie et al); showed well for 1-2 mins on 2 occasions between 1730 & 1750 (Matt Reed) also singing Chiffchaff and Garden Carpet moth at nearby Coronation Gardens (D. McKenzie). Showing intermittently but well in usual tree between 6-15 and 7pm (David Bradshaw). Some more pics of today's bird: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/262910?nav=latest (Jeremy Richardson)
King George V Res: presumed aberrant Common Swift with creamy-white belly patch over N end of S basin early pm (Ian Lycett)
Queen Mother Res: Sanderling (Birdguides).
Redwell Wood, South Mimms: Red Kite low over the wood, 11am. (S.Javes)
South Norwood Lake: c40 Swifts, 11 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Streatham Common: Cuckoo calling intermittently from 9.30-10-30 in wooded area (Peter Newmark).
Tooting Commons (north end, 5.45-6.15pm) - Triangle Field: 1 singing Whitethroat (showing well at southern edge of field; also heard here about a week ago), 2 singing Blackcap (+ 1 female or juv), 2 singing Song Thrush; Emmanuel Road Green : 5 Stock Dove (N. Granger-Taylor).
Totteridge Valley: Common Buzzard: Lapwing: 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat: 5 Swallow: 3 House Martin: Swift: 1 pr Bullfinch: Kestrel: good numbers of Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap: Tufted Duck drake on Totteridge Long Pond (unusual) plus two Foxes (John Colmans)
Green Park: 1 Green Woodpecker heard calling. (Tony Brown)
Heathrow Airport: Black Redstart (m) Rob Mills.
Kensington Gardens: (Round Pond): 3 large, juvenile Egyptian Geese, probably survivors from the broods in November or February here. 2 Gadwall (pair), 1 female Red-crested Pochard, 4 Stock Dove ground feeding N of Round Pond (Matt Reed).
Leyton, E10: Melodious Warbler singing but elusive 8.38am; Oliver Road, in scrub opposite Lyttelton Road junction (Stuart Fisher, via Nick Croft and Steve Thorpe pics at http://theuttertwite.blogspot.co.uk LondonBirders email). Still present at 09:20 singing in scrub by Oliver Road opposite the Lyttelton Road junction (BirdGuides); Melodious showed superbly when in altercation with Lesser Whitethroat against fence to beach volleyball court at 9am (Bob Watts). Still 1250 (Dominic Mitchell). Still present 1430 (Birdguides) Still present 5.50 (Twitter). Still 1955 (James Lowen). More pics
Lonsdale Road Reservoir: Red Kite heading NW 7-45 this morning, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcaps, Reed Bunting (John Gordon).
Nine Elms Sainsbury's Car Park: 2 Swift hi heading NW and 20 Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (perched) all 8pm (Michael Mac).
Lee Valley Cp: Extremley large & distant bird (probable stork) seen riding thermal from galley hill, above corn mill meadows, heading NW at approx 10am, also Raven over calling & 9 Buzzards. At Holyfield hall farm, 2 little owl, yellowhammer, yellow wagtail & Red-legged partridge, At undisclosed site Barn Owl seen, but sad news reported of another barn owl found dead in grass in close proximity. (J.murray).
Paddington Basin: Grey Wagtail (Matt Reed).
Richmond Park: 4 Crossbills flew overt Thatched House Lodge 12.15 (Mike Lewis per FJM)
Ruislip Lido/Woods: c150 Swift & House Martin, 8 Common Tern, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Chiffchaff (Nigel Sluman)
South Mimms: possible Black Kite reported flying south at 13:55 (Birdguides)
South Norwood Lake: c50 Swifts, 2 House Martin, 7 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, (John Watson)
Tooting Common: Pair of Sparrowhawk, 2 Egyptian geese with one gosling + a further single adult, 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush singing, 25+ Tufted Duck on lake, 8+ Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 2 Blackcap, numerous Chiffchaff, various common birds with young. (James Hudson)
Alexandra Park: Sand Martin, 30+ House Martin, 12+ Swallow, 40+ Swifts at 1835 Wood Green Res (Bob Watts). Hobby from Birdwatch office earlier (Dominic Mitchell).
Barnehurst Golf Course: 13 Swift over west end (traditional haunt). (Chris Rose).
Beddington Farm: 2 Iceland Gull, Red Kite and 3 Ringed Plover (Surrey site).
Brookmans Park: Black Kite reported flying towards South Mimms Junction at15:00 (Birdguides)
Bushy Park: Osprey over Hampton Hill at 10:55 (BirdGuides).
Canons Farm: Red Kite NE , Kestrel, Lesser Whitethroat, Red-legged Partridge, 537 Herring Gull at least N/NE (Nigel Sluman 12:00-13:15).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Sanderling, 3 Whimbrel, 7 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Little Owl, 2 Corn Bunting, Common Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis).
Crayford area: River Cray By-way 105 - 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, Reed Warblers, 2 Dunnock, 7, 27 and 24 Ring-necked Parakeet heading west + 3 in tree. Jolly Farmers open Space - 30 Starling. Thames Road Wetland - 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk (over) carrying squawking Starling, 1 Goldfinch, 9 Swift, Reed Warblers. (Chris Rose).
Crispin Street, E1: male Black Redstart (Gavin Charles).
Crossness: Red Kite south over nature reserve at 12.10pm (Steve Carter per JA).
East Finchley Allotments: Sparrowhawk, Sparrows, Jay, Chaffinch (Dawn Painter)
East India Dock Basin area; Red Kite west 1035, Sparrowhawk, 1 Wheatear, 2 Sand Martin, 4 Swift, 4 Reed Warbler, 3 Whittethroat, 5 Stock Dove. (Gary A James).
Ewell Village - Lower Mill & Hogsmill Open Space: Kingfisher, Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Swift, 6 Song Thrush (Neil Batten).
Gainsford Street, SE1: female Black Redstart 12.37pm (James A).
Hounslow, Green Lane: Red Kite over at 14.00 heading towards Hounslow Heath (W.Marks)
M25 J15: Red Kite & Sparrowhawk (Nigel Sluman).
Staines Reservoirs: in the evening 10 Arctic Terns at the N basin when I arrived at 1840hrs, but all had gone by 1850hrs - presumably had pushed on as the weather cleared. Apart from them, just two Black-necked Grebes S basin and the lingering 2CY Little Gull (Rob Innes).
Tyttenhanger GPs:adult Kittiwake, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 2 Hobby (Steve Blake et al. 10:35 - 12:28 ).
Monday 14th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: c50 Swifts, 20+ House Martin, 5+ Swallows 6pm Wood Green Res (Bob Watts).
Hounslow (Heathrow Gymnastics Club, Green Lane): Male Whinchat 09:30 (Paul Boult)
Richmond Park: c10 Crossbills flew over Thatched House Lodge towards Pembroke Lodge prior to 09.00. No sign of Black-necked Grebes (M. Lewis per J.Wilczur).
Staines Reservoirs: 2 Black-necked Grebes on S basin. 1st yr Shag on old tern rafts. (Bob Warden per FJM)
Wanstead Park: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Little Egret (Nick Croft)
Sunday 13th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Yellow Wagtail over 0920, 1 or 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Swallows, c5 House Martins, 3 singing Whitethroats (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards).
Barnehurst/Northumberland Heath: 4 Swift over Bexley Rd in North Heath shopping area, 1 over Coniston Close, Barnehurst then 4 over Grasmere Rd allotment site later, possible same birds as earlier. (Chris Rose).
Dagenham Chase LNR: Female Whinchat on travellers field in the afternoon. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
Greenwich Ecology Park: Ring Ouzel briefly, 3 House Martins, Sand Martin, 2 Sedge Warblers. (Peter Kite)
Horsenden Hill: 1 Red Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1m1f Red-crested Pochard (Andy Culshaw and David Howdon)
Lee Valley, Holyfield Hall Fm area: Red Kite mid morning, Little Owl, c12 Hobby, Buzzard, 2+ singing Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk. (David Bradnum / Jono Lethbridge).
London Wetland Centre: 4 Buzzards over late a.m.: Peregrine 2 males over; Common Gull 1st-summer; Ringed Plover; Little Ringed Plover pair (J.Wilczur, R. Kaye, S.Fogg): pm Wheatear and LRP on grazing marsh, nesting pair LRP on scrape, Sparrowhawk over, colour-ringed Redshank [reported via Euring] (Martin Honey).
M25 - between J22 & 21 (near St Albans): 1 Red Kite 11.40am, N of M25/M4 junction: 2 Buzzard; S of this junction: 1 Little Egret over (warning: looking at these at 70mph+ unnerves passengers..) (Nigel May)
Muswell Hill, Sydney Road: 1 Common Buzzard (pale bird) heading SE. 19.00 (P.Angus)
Osterley Park: 3 Common Tern (Tom Smith)
Richmond Park 0930 Pair of Black-necked Grebes on Pen Ponds, displaying close to causeway. ( Phillip + Sherry Pentek). Still showing well this evening in N corner of Upper Pen Pond. Thanks to finders for prompt reporting (J.Wilczur et al).
Sainsbury's Nine Elms Car Park: 1 Peregrine, mixed flock of 13+ L B B Gulls and Herring Gulls of various ages looking for food (Michael Mac).
South Norwood Country Park: Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, 3 Greylag Goose, Sparrowhawk, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 5 Linnet (John A. Hughes)
Staines Moor: 1 Spotted Flycatcher (western edge, beside Wraysbury River), 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 7 Northern Wheatear (inc. several Greenland types - pics here ), 3 Cuckoo, 3+ Hobby, 9 Garden Warbler, 2 Common Tern (fishing along the Colne), 2-3 Common Buzzard, 5 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck (Lee Dingain). 2 Treecreepers near Bonehead ditch and River Colne confuence early am. (Ken Purdey per FJM)
Staines Reservoirs: 2 Dunlin, W bank of N basin mid pm. 1st yr Shag on old tern rafts, till mid pm when flew off.Also 2 Black-necked Grebes on S basin, not seen by us though mid pm. (Susanna Ramsey & Franko J Maroevic)
Staines/Runnymede: 1 / 2 Hobby over R Thames (Nigel May).
Thorney CP: Goosander returns on Tern Raft 5.30pm , 8 Common Terns, 4 Ring Necked Parakeets, 2 Common Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, Canada Goose, Stock Dove, 3 Swifts, Swallow (Sue Giddens).
Totteridge Valley: 1 Cuckoo seen and heard till around 9am, not noted after, 1 Little Egret, 2 singing Garden Warbler,2 Lesser Whitethroat, good numbers of singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat, 20+ Swift: 4 Swallow,6 House Martin,1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, also several Orange Tips. (John Colmans & Ian Ellis); Cuckoo heard (- probably same one as above), Kestrel seen 9.50am rising from just north of Darlands Lake and then flying east, 2 Grey Heron at western end of Darlands Lake. (Xav)
Trent Park: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Garden Warbler, many Common Swift, Chiffchaff, Blackcap,4 Common Whitethroat, Cormorant. ( Pete Lowman). Bright male Yellow Wagtail & 3 pairs of Common Buzzards in the Trent Park / Enfield Chase area (Bob Husband & Mike Cawthorne).
Upminster: Alpine Swift flew north low over Cranham Golf Course with Swallows (Ruth Barnes) (Birdguides)
Wimbledon Common: Yellow Wagtail on the Meadow 0845hrs; 3 Hobbies over (Adrian Podmore).
Wimbledon Park: Sparrowhawk being constantly buzzed by four parakeets 1940:(Tim Richardson)
Saturday 12th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Wood Warbler singing in trees between pitch 'n' putt and construction area until 8.55 am at least (Dominic Mitchell). Still present in SW corner of pitch 'n' putt until at least 10am though sporadically chased by Blackcaps and Robin (Bob watts). Singing when left at 1025 (Gareth Richards). No sight or sound 10:30-11:15 (Birdguides). 4 Greylag Wood Green Rres (Andrew Gardener).
Bankside SE1: Sedge Warbler still present above garages east end of Tate Modern, Whitethroat in community garden, singing Reed Warbler in birches at NEO Bankside Sales Pavilion on south side (Stuart Fisher)
Battersea Power Station: 2 Wheatears, Common Whitethroat, 2 pair Grey Wagtails, Yellow Wagtail, Egyptian Goose and Shelduck over.(Dave Morrison)
Beddington SF: 1s and 2s Iceland Gulls still present. Live updates etc here. (observer ?)
Bromley-by-Bow: 6:45 - 7:30 singing and displaying Sedge Warbler along canal near railway bridge, singing Garden Warbler along canal side opposite 3 Mills Green, Ring-necked Parakeet over, 3 Reed Warbler (Stuart Fisher).
Bursted Woods (Barnehurst): 1 male Blackcap, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), at least 8 Ring-necked Parakeet. (Chris Rose).
Crossness: 2 Turtle Doves (1 showing well on golf course, 1 NW at 07:00 - that's an unprecedented 4 in a week), Hobby, Yellow Wagtail NW, Wheatear, 100+ Swifts, Lesser Whitethroat, Redshank (John Archer, Ian Miller & Rich Bonser).
Epping Forest: during four-mile afternoon circular walk between Connaught Water and High Beach, singing warblers included numerous Blackcaps, nine Common Chiffchaffs, five Gardens, three Willows, and single Common and Lesser Whitethroats (Dominic Mitchell)
Fishers Green, Lee Valley: 2 Nightingales (one female), at least 2 Garden Warblers, up to half a dozen Hobbies, up to a dozen Common Terns, Kingfisher, 2 Reed Warblers (Alan Hobson).
Golders Green: House Sparrows, Cumbrian Gardens - as still very localised in borough (James Levy).
Hall Place North: 1 Jackdaw, 16 Stock Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker (+probable different bird heard), 7 Ring-necked Parakeet. (Chris Rose).
Hampstead Heath: Red Kite NW over Tumulus 7.45, Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Swallow (Dave Porritt).The same Kite chased southwards by crows 10 mins later. But was it the same as yesterday's? They looked very similar. And what about the other records today? The same bird on tour, or a small invasion?(Greengrandad).1 Common Buzzard over @ 17.10, House Martins in among and some Swallows slipping through the large number of Swifts up to 20.00 (Frank Nugent).
Hemans Estate Community Garden: pr Great Tit with 3+ fledged young - my contribution providing 5 packets dried meal worms in last 5 days cost of £4:25 (400grams) all used by these birds to feed their young (Michael Mac).
King George V Reservoir: 1 Arctic Tern still, but only 8 Common Terns, 1 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail (I Lycett).
Kensington Gardens: 47 Swift, 2 House Martin (Ben Green). Tawny Owl (m & f calling at 2pm), Stock Dove (Amanda Brown)
London Wetland Centre: 90 Swifts, H & S Martins, Swallows, Ringed & Litttle Ringed Plover, nesting Lapwing, Gadwall, C Pochard, Yellow Wagtail, C Buzzard, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Cettis and abundant singing Reed Warblers, Common Tern and first Black-headed Gulls to nest [in my memory] (per Angus Innes). 6 Buzzards over 12.00-15.00, mainly N, including an almost all dark bird: Cuckoo west; 4 Ringed Plover; Dunlin; Hobby; 2 Peregrine (J.Wilczur, R.Kaye).
North Finchley: Red Kite W over Summers Lane (Tony Clancy).
Pinner Park Farm: Red Kite (14:30) thermalled and headed West, Buzzard, 3 Common Whitethroat. (Joe Dickens)
Poplar: 3 Peregrine around tall tower block (James Lowen).
Rainham Marshes: 17 Wheatear (mostly on river wall towards Stone Barges), 2 Whimbrel, 2 Buzzard (Tom Smith); singing Grasshopper Warbler west marsh, 2 Cuckoos at barges end including a hepatic female that flew across the river, singing Corn Bunting, c5 Arctic Terns among 50+ commics fishing on the opposite side of river to the helipad late afternoon, Hobby (Wennington), Sandwich Tern north over dump and then Wennington 4.35, Lesser Whitethroat and first-summer Yellow-legged Gull (barges), 2 first-summer Common Gulls and Ringed Plover (Aveley Bay), 3 Common Sandpipers off visitor centre at 6pm, Wheatears roughly as above but many showed features of the Greenland subspecies (David Callahan) 1 Spotted Flycatcher on post in middle of Wennington Marsh (next to Hobby on the next post!) 1 Grey Seal on river and 7 Whimbrel near Visitors Centre - 6.30pm (Davey Leach).
Richmond Park: 1 Hobby over Ham Cross (midday), 1 Common Sandpiper at Upper Pen Pond early pm. Pair of Stonechats Lawn Field, above Lower Pen Pond. 2 Sand Martins (Susanna Ramsey and Franko Maroevic). Presumably the same Common Sandpiper still present on Upper Pen Ponds at 5.30pm though distant, feeding on far shore between tree stumps underneath silver birches. Also 2 Common Tern on raft (attempted to mate at one point), at least 1 Sedge Warbler in reedbed, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard over Isabella car park at 3pm (Billy Dykes)
Russell Park (Bexleyheath): 1 Goldcrest (Chris Rose)
Shenfield Garden: Red Kite flying over, 2x Swallow, Swift (Bonyman).
South Norwood Lake: c20 Swifts, 9 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroats, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Staines Moor: 9 Swallow, c8 Wheatear, Hobby, 5 Stock Dove, c10 Jackdaw, 2 Shelduck, 2 Canada Goose, c3 Little Egret, Redshank, 5 Lapwing, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, Swifts. 1 Black Rabbit (??), 1 Roe Deer (Nigel Sluman, Lee Batten).
Staines Reservoir: Whimbrel, 3 Hobby chasing a wader (small, short-billed, pale belly), 2 Egyptian Goose, c10 Common Tern, hundreds of Swift, Shelduck (Nigel Sluman, Lee Batten).
Streatham (Valley Road): 6 swift (RB)
The Warren (Bexleyheath): 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 or 3 Jay (Chris Rose).
Thorney CP: Kingfisher between 2 bridges, 5 Common Whitethroats, 4 Common Terns 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Reed Warblers, Song Thrush, 2 Swifts, 3 Swallows, Reed Bunting. 2 Nests of Blue tits in same location one set of babies have starved to death as all 4 adult birds are feeding the same young. (Sue Giddens)
Tyttenhanger GP: Osprey 7:30am, White Stork 09:10 - 09:35, (Steve Blake Rick Flesher, et al.)
Wimbledon Common: male Ring Ouzel (0845hrs) flew from the Meadow into the Triangle Wood (Adrian Podmore).
Walthamstow:Lockwood 2 Red Kite,2 Common Buzzard (Kevin J Mcmanus).
Woodford Green: Red Kite over garden heading in a southerly direction. 11:45 (Tony Brown)
Alexandra Park: Red Kite drifting very high north from Birdwatch office window at 12.40 into park airspace (Ian Lycett, David Callahan, Dominic Mitchell); and another Red Kite low and almost directly overhead at 16.34, again heading north over the park (IL et al); and a third Red Kite west over the filter beds at 17.35 (per Bob Watts); Red Kite no.4 very low over filter beds at 17.54 for a few minutes, the north-west along Ally Pally below roof level, pirsued by crows (BW, DC, DM); Peregrine thermalling over east end of reservoir and Heartlands school at 6.15 pm (DC).. Red Kites 3 & 4 May have been the same bird, also 40+ Swifts, 20+ Swallows, 10+ House Martins (Bob Watts).
Bankside SE1: Sedge Warbler singing and showing well in bushes above garages East end of Tate. Garden Warbler singing in top of birches closest to Tate at East end. 12:45-13:15 (Steve Torpey).
Birchwood Park Golf Centre - Wilmington: Whinchat, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 2 swift, c10 swallows (Ralph Todd)
South Norwood Lake: c20 Swifts, 9 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 2male Common Whitethroat (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Staines Moor: 1 Osprey over north (BirdGuides). 2 Hobby's 1 landed by the concrete bridge for 10mins then flew off, 3 Swallows, 20+ Swifts, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 5 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lapwings, 5+ Linnets, Grey Heron, Sedge Warbler, 2 Buzzards, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Buntings, Jay, 2 Goldfinch. (Sue Giddens).
Staines Reservoir: 12:00-13:15 - Nothing until the last 5 minutes, Buzzard W then S after being mobbed, Whimbrel over N basin then headed S, Dunlin (N basin), 2 Shelduck (N basin), Shag (N basin), c200 Swift, 2 Swallow NW, 2 Stock Dove (banks of KGVI res), c15 Common Tern (Nigel Sluman)
Tooting Common: 1 pair Egyptian goose with one gosling (RB)
Wanstead Flats: m Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 3 Shelduck, 10 + Swallow, hundreds of Swift mostly west, Lesser Whitethroat, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge)
Wanstead Park: Spotted Flycatcher (Warren Rd entrance) at c. 07:30 (Dan Hennessy), no sign thereafter, 4 Red Kite (west), 2-3 Hobby, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, dozens of Swift west, 2 Sand MArtin, 6 Swallow, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Little Egret, Kingfisher, Skylark over north (Nick Croft)
Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Northern Wheatear, 1 Sedge Warbler singing, c50 House Martin north, c50 Swallow NW, 5 Jackdaw, 2 Stock Dove & a Collared Dove (The Scrubbers).
Thursday 10th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 1 Sand Martin 7.30 a.m. (Wood Green Reservoir) (James Palmer). Hobby 1803 SE over Wood Green Res scattering 40+ Swallows, c8 House Martin, 40+ Swifts (Bob Watts).
Bankside SE1: 1 m Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat in birches at front of Tate Modern, Sedge Warbler still singing from bushes over the garage, 13:30 (Reuben Braddock)
Beddington: Turtle Dove (first one in a couple of years) pics here.( observer ? )
Brent Reservoir: pr Shelduck (North Marsh), 1m Lapwing, 1f Ruddy Duck, 100+ Swift, 3 House Martin (East Marsh) (water level up less mud, no sign of Whimbrel) (Brent Birders); Whimbrel heard calling over dam 16.40 (Andrew Self).
Crossness: Turnstone off Golf centre at 1.35 then flew towards Barking Bay (Ian Miller per JA).
Dartford Marshes: 2 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, Cuckoo, 3 Linnet, 14 Shelduck, 2 Greylag Goose, Kingfisher, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Corn Bunting, 9 Redshank, 2 Golden Plover flew east, 3 Common Sandpiper, 12 Lapwing, Chiffchaff, 2 Whinchat, 1 Skylark seen (lost count of those heard), 2 Northern Wheatear, Kestrel, Hobby, 2 Little Egret, 2 Meadow Pipit, large number of Swift, Swallow and House Martin (Martin Stevens).
East Dulwich: Swifts finally back in decent numbers - 7 screaming this evening (Tom Smith).
East India Dock Basin: 4 Shelducks, 27 Tufted Ducks, 3 Common Terns, 2 pairs of Sand Martins showing courtship behaviour, Blackcap, Reed Warbler (John Archer).
Epping Forest: 8 Mandarin (6 male 2 female) on one small pond (Jon Agar).
Ewell Village: 2 Swift, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull east over (Neil Batten).
Kilburn (behind Grange Park): male Black Redstart singing never before seen this area (Andrew Verrall).
King George V Res: 1 Hobby, 2 Arctic Tern, 58 Common Tern, 3 Common Sand, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Wheatear, 1 Skylark (I Lycett).
Park Royal NW10 : Swallow west over Victoria Road mid-morning (Bill Haines)
Regent's Park: 1 Garden Warbler seen singing behind The Holme perimeter fence area 9 at 08.10 (birdman_euston).
St John's: 2 Hobbies together, seen from train between New Cross and St John's 0820hrs (Rob Innes).
Staines Reservoir: 2 Little Terns on N basin prior to 07.15 at least, 1 Knot (Bob Warden per FJM).
South Norwood Lake: c30 Swifts, 3 House Martins, 9 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Common Whitethroat, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood.)
Stoneleigh Broadway: 12 Swift between 18.00 and 19.00 (Neil Batten).
Streatham: swifts have arrived, but I've been away most of the week so they may have been here for a few days (RB)
Tooting Bec Common, north end ('Triangle Field'), : 1 Swallow heading SW, group of 9 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker (Nick Ganger-Taylor 2.30pm).
Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 5 Swift W, 3 Swallow N, 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing plus good numbers of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff: 3 Lapwing, 1m Bullfinch, 1m Sparrowhawk (observer?)(John Colmans - sorry!).
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Short-eared Owl hunted for around 10 minutes over the grassland at 0740. Was eventually chased off north by crows. Our 1st record since 2009. No sign of yesterday's Nightingale (David Lindo).
Wednesday 9th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 2 Common Tern Wood Green Res 0715, still one New River 1015 (Bob Watts, Gareth Richards).
Bankside SE1: 2 Blackcap (m & f) in birches at front of Tate Modern (Simon Fogg). Both still there in West birches with male singing 13:15 (Steve Torpey). Sedge Warbler still singing from bushes over the garage, (showing occasionally), Chiffchaff singing in East birches. (Simon Fogg).
Bushy Park Osprey 1.40pm south, Peregrine, 2 Wheatears (Tony Duckett).
Crayford Marshes: 4 Whimbrel, Cuckoo, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Wheatear, Corn Bunting, Common Sandpiper, Little Owl, 6 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 24 Swallow, 30 Swift, 3 Sedge Warbler, 14 Reed Warbler. (Kev Jarvis & Philip Cliffe)
Crossness: drake Common Scoter flew E along Thames at 09:10 (ian Miller per JA).
Ewell Village: Cormorant at Bourne Hall Lake (Neil Batten).
Greenwich: 18 Swift over Greenwich Station (Tony Stones).
Lee Valley, Fisher's Green: possible Penduline Tit heard calling twice c.50 metres south of the Bittern Watchpoint on Seventy Acres Lake at 12.50pm but no further sign by 1.20pm. Also first-summer Mediterranean Gull, 6+ singing Nightingale, Garden Warbler, 3+ Hobby, Cuckoo. (Simon Papps).
Lewisham: 2 Egyptian Geese flew south along Lewisham High Street at 08:05 (John Archer).
Ludgate Circus (EC4): Female type Black Redstart feeding on scaffolding in St Bride St (desk tick) (Ian Bradshaw)
Queen Mother Reservoir: 1 Roseate Tern ad prior to 09.00 at least. Also 1 Knot. Permit access or pedestrian access up to clubhouse. Park outside only. (Mike Mckee per FJM)
Regent's Park: 1 Arctic Tern flying SW at 06.30 (fide Dave Johnson), 1 Sedge Warbler (singing in bamboo thicket at N end of area 34 enclosure, 09.30-11.15 at least), 2 Tree Pipit N in early a.m. (fide Dave Johnson), 2 Linnet NE 09.00, 5 Reed Warbler (singing, territorial males in areas 2, 5, 13, 32 and 34), 2 Reed Bunting (territorial pair, areas 5 & 32), 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Gadwall [new pair feeding and courting off Long Bridge; drake's contour plumage is solid rusty-brown (sides) / finely-streaked sooty-brown (head) instead of grey], 1m Grey Wagtail feeding on tiny mudflat in Boating Lake, area 2 (birdman_euston).
Richmond Park: 1 Wheatear fem at 16 Acres near Ham Cross early evng. (Susanna Ramsey & Franko J Maroevic)
Ruislip Lido: 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Tern (Dick Middleton).
Staines Reservoirs: 1 Roseate Tern ad on S basin. Again feeding prior to 10.00 until 10.45 when flew off high. Earlier at 08.40 then presumably departed to Queen Mother Reservoir. Also Whimbrel early am. (Bob Warden per FJM) 12:00-13:00 - No sign of R. Tern. Whimbrel still, m Mandarin Duck, pr Shelduck, 6 Dunlin, Redshank, c20 Common Tern, c200 Swift, Swallow (all on S basin), Shag on rafts (S basin) (Nigel Sluman)
Staines Moor: 1 Whinchat, c 12 Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Cuckoo (Bob Whatley)
Tooley Street, Tower Bridge, SE1: Singing Black Redstart in evening (Tony Stones)
Trent Park: Red Kite, 4 Garden Warbler , 5 Common Whitethroat, Bullfinch (m), 2 Swallow, 5 Mandarin(m), Green Woodpecker, many Chiffs and Blackcaps, Cormorant. ( Pete Lowman).
Wimbledon Common: at least 12 Garden Warblers singing this morning - see photo (David Wills).
Tuesday 8th May 2012[]
Amwell GP: Osprey south at 10.55 (Birdguides)
Bankside SE1: Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler in birches at west end of Tate Modern. Sedge Warbler singing from Garden over garage at East end. (0650-0715). Also 2 Garden Warbler, f Blackcap in west birches (12.00-12.25) (Simon Fogg) All still there at 14:30, plus 2 Whitethroat (Reuben Braddock); Lesser Black-backed Gull briefly on grass by said trees (13:40) (Steve Torpey).
Brent Reservoir: Whimbrel still in east marsh (5th day), also 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, pr Shelduck, 2 imm Great Black-backed Gull Brent Birders (Brent Birders)
East India Dock Basin: 4 Shelduck, 27 Tufted Duck, Common Tern, Swift west, Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, singing Blackcap, Whitethroat, singing Reed Warbler (John Archer).
Rainham Village: Marsh Harrier heading South at 8:25, 10 House Martin, Whitethroat (Richard Harrison).
Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 1f Whinchat (gorse bushes between area 34 and Open Spaces of area 37 between 12.00 and 20.15 at least), 1f Northern Wheatear, 3 Spotted Flycatcher (2 together in Cricket Pen/ area 31 + 1 in area 2), 2 Garden Warbler (Cricket Pen + Leaf Yard Wood/ area 41), 9 Common Whitethroat, 3+ Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 1 Hobby (Dave Johnson and birdman_euston).
Savay Lake: Pair of Hobby flying up and down River Colne. (Chris Bessant)
S.Woodford:1 Hobby in an aerial skirmish with a male Sparrowhawk. (John Richardson 3.15pm, ).
Staines Reservoirs: Roseate Tern 7.34pm put on (Birdguides). Still present till too dark to see much (Rob Innes, Chris Jones, Chris Heard).
Tooting Bec Common: 3 Egyptian Goose incl pr with only 1 young (2 young on 29 Apr.), 15+ Tufted Duck, 8 Stock Dove, 6 Jackdaw (in Bedford Wood), pr Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 5 singing Chiffchaff, 3 singing Blackcap, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, group of 7 Swift (Nick Granger-Taylor).
Wimbledon Common: A number of Blackcap singing (4+), 20+ Swifts, Whitethroat. (J. Dickerson)
Monday 7th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Yellow Wagtail SW, male and fem Wheatear, 6 Jackdaws SE, all Filter Beds, also 2 Whitethroats, Reed Warbler, 60+ Swifts, c6 House Martins, 10+ Swallows, mixed singing Willow Warbler Conservation Area, Linnet (Gareth Richards, Bob Watts).
Barking Outfall: Wheatear, 12 Common Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtail, Turtle Dove, 2 pair Oystercatchers and Cetti's Warbler.(Dave Morrison)
Battersea Park : Numerous long-tailed tit, ring-necked parakeet, greenfinch & wren, 2 chiffchaff, one in weeping willow over main lake, another singing on island in main lake, 1 willow warbler, 2 jay, 2 blackcaps, 3 goldcrest, 2 in conifer on edge of lake (pump house side) & 1 behind in tree next to main lake, 2 tree pipit, 1 singing in tree near bandstand (fountain lake side) and one singing in tree near Rosery Gate, 12+ heron, many on nests, 2 mistle thrush forraging under tree near Rosary Gate entraance along with several dunnock, ( PH) if you had two singing Tree Pipits in Battersea Park you will need to submit a description with your FULL NAME to the Inner London recorder (Nick Tanner). Why ? (PH)
Bushy Park: 3 Hobbies (landed in high oaks in Silver Birch Glade during rain shower), 7 Wheatear, 13 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Common Whitethroat, 25 Swift, 6 Swallow. Also 1 Grey Wagtail by Heron Pond early am (Billy Dykes), 3 (1m 2f) Whinchat and 8 Wheatear between Oval Plantation and Cricket Ground. Also 1 Garden Warbler and 4 Sand Martin at Queen's Promenade, Kingston (Andrew Skotnicki).
Farm Canon's Farm: 1 Red Legged Partridge, Yellowhammers, Swallow, 6 Wheatears, Common Whitethroat, Jackdaw, Linnet, Skylark, Kestral, Pheashant. (Ernie Thomason)
Chingford: 10 Bee-eaters high NE at c12.00 (Tony White via ELBF).
Clapham Old Town : 1 greater spotted woodpecker and numerous goldfinch (singing) & greenfinch (both quite common now) in garden (PH)
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: female Ring Ouzel showing well from east hide, Oystercatcher, 2 Common Tern, Swallow N, Sedge Warbler, 3+ Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat (Nick Tanner).
Hampstead Heath: 12+ Swallow, low-low and 20+ Swift over Parliament Hill Fields, 6 Common Whitethroat, 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat, Parliament Hill '2nd Hedge', 2 Common Tern patrolling Boating, Men's & Highgate 1 ponds, 1 f Wheatear, Parliament Hill, between 1st & 2nd Hedge, still around at noon, 8 Linnet over N, pair of Grey Wagtail again, Highgate 1 Pond, m Kingfisher at the Stock Pond, 17.00 (Frank Nugent). 1 f Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Swallows, Parliament Hill Fields, 17:00 (Reuben Braddock) 2 Kestrel from Parliament Hill around 17:00, m Whinchat in scrub up the hill west of Men's Pond at c17:40, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, pr Mandarin (Charlie Farrell)
Horsenden Hill: 1 Whinchat 11.45-16.40, 1 Little Owl, 1 Tawny Owl, 34 Blackcap, 22 Whitethroat, 20+ Chiffchaff, 2 House Martin, 3 Swallow, 10+ Swift (Andrew Culshaw and David Howdon).
Lea Valley (Fishers Green area): At least 6 singing Nightingales, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Hobby, Common Buzzard, Kestrel. Common Sandpiper from Grebe Hide (NW London RSPB Group visit Bob Husband, Group Leader)
London Wetland Centre: Red Kite- over, drifted S @ 10.15; Peregrine pair- bathed on island in front of obs @11.15-20; 1-2 Hobbies; Bar-tailed Godwit still; Ringed Plover; Snipe; Yellow-legged Gull Ist-year- for a while the only large gull on site (as the Iceland was the other day); 17 Common Tern; 3 Shelduck; Swift c70; Swallow c180; White Wagtail fem; 4 Yellow Wagtail; 5 Wheatear; 2 Common Sandpiper; 3 LRP, 6 Redshank (J.Wilczur et al).
Lonsdale Road Res: 1 Cetti's, 2 Reed Warblers (my first of the year here), 3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Crested Grebe (RP)
Mill Hill East / Copthall: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 11 Blackcaps, 1 Nuthatch, 29 Wrens, 30 Robins, 39 Magpies, 4 Swallows ... per London Atlas TTV walk. (Ian Ellis)
Radlett (farmland south of): 1 Whinchat (f). (Aaron C-Partridge)
Rainham Marshes: 08:00-18:20 - 91 species recorded (Dominic Mitchell), including: Egyptian Goose, 2 Eurasian Teal, 5 Eurasian Wigeon, 17 Northern Shoveler, Aythya hybrid resembling drake Ring-necked Duck, Common Buzzard high N, 4 Hobbies, Peregrine, Water Rail, 12 wader spp including 2 Avocet, 2 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 12+ Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, first-summer Common Gull, Cuckoo, Short-eared Owl, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 male Whinchats, 15+ Northern Wheatears, Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warblers, female Bearded Tit and Corn Bunting (thanks to David Callahan for the Bearded Tit!). Short-eared Owl again at 08:50 mobbed by crow high west over West Marsh, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, Cuckoo, fem Bearded Tit (all at the barges), 28+ Wheatears, 8+ Whimbrel, Common Seal fishing close inshore at warehouse jetty, m & f Yellow Wagtail by compost heap, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits (Aveley Bay), Hobby (Wennington), 2 Arctic Terns east and 4 Common Terns west on Thames, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet, 3+ Wigeon, pair Teal, first summer Common Gull, sum plum Spotted Redshank, sum plum Black-tailed Godwit plus numerous common warblers inc 6+ Cetti’s warblers, and hundreds of Swifts, hundreds of Swallows, House and hundreds of Sand Martins (David Callahan, with help in part from Dominic Mitchell and Hugh ?).
Regent's Park: Pr Common Shelduck, Common Sandpiper, pr Common Terns, ad Yellow legged Gull, Cuckoo, Collared Dove, 4 Swifts, 2 Swallows, 3 Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting, 4 Jackdaws (Tony Duckett)
Ruislip Lido: 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Terns, c30 Swifts, c45 Swallows, 20+ House Martin (mud collecting), 3 Sand Martins (Neil Anderson)
Ruislip Lido: 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Female Kestrel, 4 Blackaps all males, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed warblers, 3 Chiffchaff, numerous Greenfinch, 2 common Tern. (observer ?)
Staines Reservoirs: 1 Wood Sandpiper half way along causeway on N basin 07.45-08.00 Again at 09.55 (Originally found by a very kind couple & their dog,(many thanks- sorry, didn't get your names). please edit here if you wish your names to be entered, thanks. Other observers A.Luscombe & Bob Warden per FJM). 3 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Hobby (2 hunting over S.Basin, 1 resting on causeway bank of N.Basin), Little Ringed Plover, Shag (juv.), 2 Yellow Wagtail. (A.Luscombe).
Stockley Park, West Drayton: 1 Common Tern. (Roger Dewey)
Sutcliffe Park: 1 Grey Heron, 2 Reed Warbler singing, 1 Grey Wagtail singing: not a migrant in sight (James Lowen)
Sutton - Rosehill Park East: 2 Little Owl, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff (Andrew Kellett)
Trent Park: 1 singing male Sedge Warbler in bushes by Lower Lake - our first of the year (Robert Callf & Robin White).
Uxbridge town centre: 20+ Swift. (Roger Dewey)
Valentines Park: 2 Grey Wagtail - one adult feeding juvenile; 2 Heron youngsters well grown still in nest, no adults seen; pair of Pochard; 2 Chiffchaff; Stock Dove, Jay (Barbara Miller)
Walthamstow Res: W.Warwick 2 Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear. East Warwick 1 Yellow Wag, drake Garganey at SE end. (Paul Whiteman) Garganey relocated on no 1 res then after 15 mins went back onto east warwick. (Lol.Cumming&K J Mcmanus),2 Hobby Lockwood Reservoir 16:55.(Allan Stewart).
Wanstead Flats: 1 Hobby, 146 Swift, 74 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin north, 4 Wheatear, 4 Lesser Whitethroat,1 Yellow Wagtail over (Tony Brown, Tim Harris between 0830-1030,)
Wimbledon Common: male Ring Ouzel on the Meadow; singing Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Bunting (David Wills).
Alexandra Park: White Wagtail still Filter Beds (Gareth Richards) also 1s s male Greenland Wheatear briefly perched then flew west 0935, 20+ Swallows, c5 House Martins, c10 Swifts Wood Green Res (Bob Watts), pair Shelduck on res then flew west c0830 (Paul Rawlins). Sedge Warbler skulking in brambles by overflow pond, 15.30 (Jonathan Cooke).
Blackheath: Whinchat, 7 Wheatear (Martin Hallam, James Lowen)
Brent Reservoir: 1 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover which left around 0645hrs. 35 Common Terns (1 ArcticTern yesterday) (Neville Smith). Whimbrel & 2 Greenshank, Lapwing still 0900, also White Wagtail all on mud East Marsh, Common Sand & 6 Greylag Geese (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall, Bob Watts).
Collier Row: Swallow east over Hog Hill Road about 12:30 (G J Francis)
Crayford Marshes: 3rd Calendar year Iceland Gull flying between Viridor recycling centre and flooded field off University Way; female Garganey flew down the creek; Spotted Redshank on the Thames foreshore near the Yacht club; 5 Whimbrel, 24 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Grey Plover, Garden Warbler, Hobby, Greenshank, Corn Bunting, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtail. (Kev Jarvis)
Crossness: Turtle Dove north 1245 (RBA).
Dalston, Hackney. 3 Swifts. Dalston swifts are back around St Marks. (Jon Agar)
Dulwich & Sydenham woods: 3 Tawny Owl chicks plus one adult, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Mallard, possible Peregrine over. Silhouette and size consistent but not conclusive view (Martin Stevens)
Fairlop Waters:Whinchat 3,Wheatear 1,Garden Warbler 1,Lesser Whitethroat 1 (Scrub area W of Lagoon) (Steve Bacon)
Staines Reservoir: 1 Little Tern, 1-2 Little Gulls, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Hobby, 4 Arctic Terns, 1 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 2 Wheatear, 1 Shag. (Ephraim Perfect). 8 Turnstone (s/p) flew in at 14:30 on North Basin, westbank, the single was still also present, 1 Common Sandpiper. (Barry & Kevin Duncan)
Thorney CP: Little Egret , Goosander returned on Tern raft, Common Whitethroat, Greenfinch, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Mute Swans, 5 Common Terns, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, Kingfisher between 2 bridges, Chaffinch, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Song Thrush, Grey Heron, many Swallows and House Martins over lake, Cuckoo heard, Cormorant.(Sue Giddens)
Tooting Common: Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch and several pairs of Blackcap, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers (alas the Lesser Spotted remains elusive), Pied Flycatcher. 39 species seen. (Derik Palmer et al.) Where exactly was the Pied Flycatcher? Thanks. (Nick Granger-Taylor) Nick, it was in Bedford Wood, ID by myself and others inc Peter White. - Thanks, Derik. Will keep a look-out next time I'm there. Nick.(Derik Palmer et al.)
Walthamstow Filter Beds: At least 6 Yellow Wagtails (N. Verlander)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Honey Buzzard drifted East at 1704 (via londonbirders)
Whetstone, Barnet: Brook Farm Open Space: International Dawn Chorus RSPB walk: Little Egret by Dollis Brook, Lesser Whitethroat singing in KGV fields off Barnet Lane. (Bob Husband, NW London RSPB Group)
Wormwood Scrubs: Swift, c8 Lesser Whitethroat, 4+ Whitethroat, 13+ Blackcap, c14 Chiffchaff, m GW Woodpecker. Also 2+ Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker on Little scrubs (06:30-07:30) (Charlie Farrell)
Saturday 5th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 3 Greenland Wheatears (male & 2 fem), White Wagtail Filter Beds, 3 Sand Martins, c15 Swallows, c10 House Martins, 10+ Swift Wood Green Res, Whitethroat eastern perimeter Cricket Pitch, Little Egret west 1015 (Bob Watts, Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards, Alan Gibson, Paul Rawlins). Hobby based on gantry over railway line opposite middle observaton post and flying periodically over Wood Grn Res.r . Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler still singing feebly from previously reported postions nearby 18.00 (Jonathan Cooke).
Brent Reservoir: Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, 4 Lapwings & 2 Common Sandpiper in east marsh, also 5 Lesser Whitethroats (Brent Birders).
Bushy Park: 1 female Whinchat with 13 Wheatear in grassland by overflow car park on Upper Lodge Road. Also 2 Hobby low over Woodland Gardens at 3.30pm. (Billy Dykes).
Canons Farm: no sign of Dotterels today (see here and here for shots from yesterday) but 2 Shelducks flew over (first site record), fem Common Redstart, 2 Whinchats, c8 Yellow Wagtails, Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Wheatears (David Campbell, Harry/Luke Boorman, Roy Weller, Paul Goodman, Steve Waters, Paul Manville et al).
Dagenham Chase LNR : 70 species recorded in 11.5 hrs. 2 Egyptian Geese, pr Shelduck, pr Gadwall, drake Teal, 1 Hobby, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 13+ Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 10+ Swallow, 1 House Martin, 5+ Yellow Wagtail ( 3m 2f ), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3+ Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 5+ Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Siskin, 1 f Bullfinch & 2 Reed Bunting. ( V. Halley-Frame & Steve Drake ).
East India Dock Basin area: 3 Shelduck, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, 6 Swift N, 4 Swallow N, 5 Sand Martin, 6 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat (Gary A James, Nick Tanner).
Finchley Golf Course : male Wheatear, green woodpecker, greater spotted woodpeckers, nuthatch, many long tailed tits, ring necked parakeets (observer ?)
Hampstead Heath: 2 singing & at times quite visible Lesser Whitethroat ( 1 in '2nd Hedge',with Common Whitethroat, another in hedge near bandstand), 2 Common Tern patrolling the Boating, Mens & Highgate 1 Ponds, pair of Grey Wagtail, Highgate 1 Pond, 2 Swift over, Pied Wagtail on Bowling Green with 3 House Sparrow in the surrounding hedge (Frank Nugent).
Harmondsworth Moor: 3 Little Grebes, 3 Ring Necked Parakeets, 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcaps, Pochard, 4 Common Whitethroats, Wren, Reed Warbler, many Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins over lake.(Sue Giddens)
Holland Park: Lesser Whitethroat singing by car park (rare here). Also, 2 Willow Warbler (Bill Haines).
King George V Res: 2 Arctic Terns, 140 Common Terns, 3 Yellow Wags, 3 Common Sands, 100's Swifts and hirundines. (9.00 -10.00 I. Lycett). 3 Wheatear, Little-ringed Plover, 12 Yellow Wagtail, Hobby, Little Owl in Oak, 4 Lesser Whitethroat from perimeters plus Cetti's Warbler (Martin Shepherd).
Lee Valley, Cheshunt: 7+ Nightingales, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Hobby, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, 1 Common Tern, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cuckoo, dozens of Swifts. (Aaron C-Partridge)
London Wetland Centre: Spotted Redshank & female Bar-tailed Godwit still; 3 Dunlin; 2 Hobbies; male Peregrine catching prey (reportedly one of the Dunlin); 4 Yellow Wagtails; Wheatear; 3 Lapwing broods , three more Wheatear (1m 2f), f Peregrine on Hospital, 3 Common Sand , 1 Little Egret on grazing marsh, 3 Little Ringed Plover, m Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Common Tern, several more Yellow Wagtail pm (M. Honey J.Wilczur, R. Kaye et al)
Lower Chingford (off Russell Lane): 1 Wheatear, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sand Martin, 30-40 Swift, Common Whitethroat (James Palmer).
One Tree Hill: Nuthatch nesting in hole in St. Augustine's Church, 3 m Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Green + Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Daniel Greenwood)
Shrewsbury Park (Greenwich): Common redstart (female), 4 Blackcaps, Common whitethroat, 2 Stock doves,3 Chiffchaffs 16:15 - 17:30 (Gus Wilson)
South Norwood Lake (4pm): c50 H Martins, c20 Swallows & c35 Swifts, Grey Wagtail, 10 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers & 1 Common Whitethroat (Gavin Hawgood)
Staines Moor: 1 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 10 Wheatear (Surrey Bird Club). and this afternoon 14.00-17.00 4 Whinchat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 21 Northern Wheatear (at least), Kestrel, Sparrowhawk....and an RAF Typhoon out of RAF Northolt. (A.Luscombe).
Staines Reservoir: (early a.m) 8 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Northern Wheatear, 2 Little Gull, 1 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Redshank, 1 juv. Shag (A.Luscombe). Also 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Arctic Terns, 3 Grey Plover, Whimbrel (Surrey website).
Tottenham Marshes: at least 3 Whinchats (2m 1f) on Glendish Marsh plus Whitethroats, Sedge warblers etc. (observer ?)
Trent Park: 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Rough Lot 12:40 hrs - first of the year - quite early (Robert Callf & Robin White).
Trent Park: 2 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Mandarin(m), Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat ( first of the year and very late),many Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. ( Pete Lowman).
Wanstead Flats: 4 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail - (2 on the edge of Alexandra lake 1 over), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, c50 Swallows through, 1 Swift. (Tony Brown)
Friday 4th May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: 2 Lesser Whitethroats - one in the Top Field by deer enclosure and the other at the southern border of cricket pitch; plus Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 10+ Blackcaps, 4 Swallows, House Martin, 2 very vocal and visual Nuthatches by 'purple' deer enclosure (David Callahan).
Bankside SE1: 4+ Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler in birches at west end of Tate Modern. 3+ Whitethroat in same trees and in the square low hedges between the birches and the Founders Arms. (Simon Fogg).
Barking Bay : 3 Black Terns, 3 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover, Mixed flock of Ringed Plovers , Dunlin and 1 Turnstone,Mixed flock of Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits,.Female Ring Ouzel, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 female Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 3 Swallows, 1 Swift...Oh and not forgetting 1 Aircraft Carrier, heading for London !! (9-11am. Geoff Harding ); 2 Whinchat (pair), 5 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Wheatear, 3 Common Sandpiper.(Paul Hawkins)
Brent Reservoir: Grey Plover, Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, Dunlin, 2 Common Sands, Lapwing all on mud in east marsh; also 2 Yellow Wagtails over (Brent Birders)
Bushy Park: 2pr Common Shelduck, Hobby, 20+Swifts, 24 Swallows, Yellow Wagtail, 6 Northern Wheatears, Garden Warbler, 12 Common Whitethroats (Tony Duckett). 1 Little Egret flew over Heron Pond at 4pm, before dropping into stream near S side of Pond. (Billy Dykes)
Canons Farm: 15 Dotterel arrived on Heathside Field @13:30 (Roy Weller, David Campbell & Nigel Sluman) - pics here. Still present till 9.15pm plus Whinchat, 6+ Yellow Wagtails, 5 Wheatears (various observers). Also from 12:00-13:45 6 Yellow Wagtail, over 1000 Herring Gull & c100 Lesser Black-backed Gull N, 5 Wheatear, 3 Stock Dove, Mallard NW, Grey Heron NW, c30 Swallow through, Whitethroat (Nigel Sluman)
Crayford Marshes: 3 Arctic Tern upriver a.m; Spotted Redshank on the Thames foreshore near Erith Yacht Club; 4 Whimbrel, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Grey Plover, Greenshank, 5 Wheatear, 15 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Common Sandpiper, Corn Bunting, Little Owl, 4 Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, 3 Cetti's Warbler. (Kev Jarvis & Ian Stewart).
Crossness: 26 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover in Barking Bay at 10.30am (Ian Miller per JA).
Crystal Palace Park: 3 m & 1 f Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (Dave Clark, Daniel Greenwood & Martin Stevens. SOLOMIG).
Dalston: 1 Swift (not the whole group back yet) (Jon Agar)
Dawsons Hill (SE22 0HB): 2 m Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Wood Pigeon (Martin Stevens)
East India Dock Basin/Bow Creek Ecology Park: Yellow Wagtail flew E at 07:50 (called like a Citrine, so probably not flavissima or flava), Sand Martin (1st record this year at a site where they usually breed), Sedge Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers (both 1sts for the year), 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7+ Whitethroats, 14+ Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, Willow Warbler, Shelduck, 26 Tufted Ducks, Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Terns, Grey Wagtail, 2 Linnets, 3 House Sparrows west (1st site record this year) (John Archer).
Esher: 1 Hobby north over A3 at Esher junction at 08:40 (Lee Dingain).
Eaton Park Road, N13: 1 Little Egret over at 12:36 heading NW in direction of Grovelands Park. Patch tick. (Katy McGilvray)
Greenwich Park: male Ring Ouzel till 1730 at least (Martin Hallam, James Lowen)
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Common Sandpiper at 11.30am, female Ring Ousel at 11.30am (John Bushell)
Hampstead Heath: Lesser Whitethroat, hedge leading up to Parliament Hill between running track & bandstand, with Blackcaps, Willow Warbler & House Sparrows for company (Frank Nugent).
Hatton Cross nr Heathrow: Whimbrel in partially flooded horse paddocks on A30 near Hatton Cross tube station at 7.10pm (W.Marks)
Heathrow Airport: Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet (m f), Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Cormorant very low across airport, Black Redstart (m), at least 6 very active Wheatear (2m 2f definite), 2 Common Whitethroat first I've seen here and appeared to be interacting with Wheatear with no sign of both species when looked for again late afternoon (Rob Mills)
Hounslow, Green Lane area: Peregrine flying over heading towards Hounslow Heath at 2.30pm (W.Marks)
Isle of Dogs: Swift (1st of year) over Mudchute Farm, 2 Whitethroat, 7+ Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Greylag, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 long Tailed Tit (Richard Harrison).
Lewisham: 20 Swift north at 9-00 (Conrad Ellam)
London Wetland Centre: Spotted Redshank - marsh mainly sum plum; 2 Bar-tailed Godwit - mainly winter plum - scrape & a sum plum bird S at 9 am; 2 Greenshank- flew off E; 2 Dunlin; 2 Common Sand; Iceland Gull - yesterday's immature early on then flew off downriver: Yellow-legged Gull 1st-year; 9 Yellow Wagtails; 3 Wheatears, Garden Warbler; Lesser Whitethroat 75 species in 7 hours (J.Wilczur, R. Kaye, M. Lewis et al).
Muswell Hill, Highgate Wood: Hobby heading towards Alexandra park 07.50 (P.Angus)
Rainham Marshes: Black-necked Grebe (1 seen 2 reported), 7+ Yellow Wagtail, Whimbrel, 50+ Swift, 50+ Swallow, smaller numbers of House Martin and Sand Martin. 5+ Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler. 2 Skylark, 2 Greenshank Feeding close to c11 Wheatear in flooded field beyond western edge of reserve, 1 Knot, 36 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plover, Oystercatcher on shore, 1 Wheatear, Short-eared owl across the road when walking towards Rainham past the tip (Charlie Farrell)
Ruislip Woods - Copse Wood: 1 Woodcock roding at dusk (Andrew Culshaw, David Howdon, Dick Middleton)
South Norwood Lake (9.30am): c30 Swifts, c20 Swallows, c15 House Martins, good nos Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Common Whitethroat (Gavin Hawgood)
Scadbury Park: Wood Warbler singing near entrance from St Paul's Cray Road at 8.05 am (RBA), still present midday, Honey Buzzard over at 11.30am (Conrad Ellam per JA)
Sewardstone: Whimbrel NE calling at 07.08, Hobby, Cuckoo, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Bullfinch (Martin Shepherd)
Staines Reservoirs: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Wheatear, Common Tern, many hundreds of Swifts. (12:30 -13:00) . 2 Little Terns , 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Black-necked Grebes & 6 Dunlin. (Simon Cumming Also on website)
Thorney C P: 2 Common Whitethroats, Bullfinch (f), 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Common Terns, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Grey Wagtails, Willow Warbler, 2 Greenfinch, 7 Swallows.(Sue Giddens)
Tyttenhanger GP: Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear. (Steve Blake)
Vicarage Farm (Enfield): 1 Cuckoo Sidhil's Field - perched in Hawthorn (Robin White per RMC).
Wimbledon Common: Tree Pipit singing south of the Windmill (David Wills), Nightingale at the SE corner of the Meadow and a female Wheatear on the Large Mound (Adrian Podmore).
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Garden Warbler, 1 fem Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail on pitches, 3 Swift, 1 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 17+ Common Whitethroat, Jackdaw, 6+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Linnet. (The Scrubbers 06.15-08.45:)
Alexandra Park: Female Ring Ouzel on eastern end of Cricket boundary scrub at 06.15 am until disturbed by dog walkers and flew south but not relocated. (No sign of any Ring Ouzel in pitch and putt area), Sedge Warbler singing in Conservation area, Whitethroat in Cricket scrub and 3 Swallows flew over at 07.10 (Davey Leach); Pair Stock Doves feeding near Woodpigeons beside the felled timber area at bottom of putting course. 5 Whimbrel crossing corner of Wood Grn Res.r heading NE, 10.30 - 11.00 (Jonathan Cooke). I had Sedge Warbler 0705 at Conservation Pond between bridge and Platform 3 (Bob Watts). Spotted Flycatcher rear of overflow pond near platform 1 south end Wood Green Res at 1 pm (David Callahan). Male Greenland Wheatear south end Wood Green Res causeway 6pm, also 10+ Swallows, House Martin, 20+ Swifts (Bob Watts). 2 Hobbies made (unsuccessful) raid on the aforementioned Hirundines etc., and Sedge Warbler still singing in Conservation Pond reeds 18.30 (Jonathan Cooke).
Anerley: Single Swift flew N over Croydon Road at 10.00 (Martin Stevens).
Bankside SE1: 70+ Bar- tailed Godwit north over Millennium Bridge at 6.50, 2 singing Blackcap in birches at west end of Tate Modern & Willow Warbler same trees. Also Reed Warbler briefly singing near the Founders Arms. (Simon Fogg).
Bedfords Park: Roller reported by visitor centre 1415 but not since (Birdguides); The EWT Visitor Centre staff did not know of this sighting until 5pm when a visiting birder arrived after the news appeared on the pager (CRJ).
Brent Reservoir: 2 Bar-tailed Godwit flew in 9.50 still feeding on mud 10.35, Common Sand, Lapwing, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Garden Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, 36 Common Terns, 50+ Swallows, 30+ Swifts (Andrew Verrall).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
Bursted Woods (Barnehurst): 2 Green Woodpecker calling in quick succession from different directions, 1 perhaps 2 different Great Spotted Woodpecker (one heard drumming), 44 and maybe 50+ Carrion Crow roosting. (Chris Rose).
Causeway NR, Hounslow: Common Sandpiper (Adam Cheeseman)
Clapham Old Town: Male Blackcap singing loudly by The Sun pub. 1 Swallow over. (Mark H)
Crayford Marshes: Little Stint on the Thames foreshore near creek barrier from 07:20-09:20 when pushed off by the tide; Spotted Redshank feeding along the creek a.m; female Whinchat, 56 Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, 2 Knot, Whimbrel,18 Grey Plover, Greenshank, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Common Sandpiper, Little Owl. (Kev Jarvis).
East India Dock Basin: 4 Shelduck, 28 Tufted Ducks, 5 Common Terns, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, 3 Linnets (John Archer).
Finsbury Park: Nightingale singing from scrub on boating lake island (opposite bowling green) at 7.00am, 1 Willow Warbler also (Ian Bradshaw)
Hampstead Heath: sub-singing Sedge Warbler in first hedge by path up to Parliament Hill from cricket pitch / bandstand. 4 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Grey Wagtail (Chris Bird)
Kensington Gardens: Oystercatcher flew over Round Pond heading E at 09:20. (Matt Reed)
King George v Res: 5 Arctic Tern, 120 Common Tern, 27 Yellow Wag, 7 Wheatear (5 male, 2 female), 2 Hobby, 7 Common Sands, 1000+ Swifts (I Lycett)
London Wetland Centre: Iceland Gull immature on Lake, all morning & present to c16.30pm then seen to fly off W- looks like bird of Apr 21st; Dunlin; 3 Yellow Wagtail- including yesterday's grey variant; 2 Wheatear; Garden Warbler singing (J.Wilczur). Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwing chicks,1m Shelduck. (Louis F-H)
Queen Mother Res: 5 Bar-tailed Godwit through by mid-morning; also Grey Plover and Turnstone (Birdguides)
Richmond Park: 1 male Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, cattle enclosure near Holly lodge (Mike Lewis per FJM) late pm, 2 Whitethroat (at last) and 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Hugh Bradshaw)
Ruislip Lido: evening visit; 1 Grey Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 LRP (Dick Middleton)
Ruislip Woods: Grey Wagtail in carpark of Coteford Junior School (Nigel Sluman)
South Norwood Lake: c12 Swifts, c20 House Martins, 4 Swallows, 1 Common Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 3singing Willow Warbler,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Staines Moor: 12:00-13:00 - 4 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear at least, Cuckoo, c100 Swift over KGVI res, 3 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, numbers of Whitethroat, Sedge & Reed Warbler, Skylark & Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting (Nigel Sluman) Lesser Whitethroat, Buzzard (Paul Boult)
Staines Reservoirs: 40 Black-tailed Godwits flew N @ 06.45. Also Bar-tailed Godwits flocks of flocks of 19 , 6 , 5 flew E prior to 10.00. 3 Grey Plover on W bank of S basin till 12.45 at least. 1 Turnstone on W bank N basin. 1 Little Tern briefly 11.45 SW corner S basin.(BW & JG) Also 1st S Common Tern still there. 1 Black Tern, 2 Arctic Terns, 10 Common Terns, 2 Little Gulls both 1st S, all on N basin. 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 9 Yellow Wagtails W end of causeway early pm. 11 Shelducks. 1 Shag 1st yr.on old tern rafts being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls. (Bob Warden, Ken Purdey, John Gates, Franko J Maroevic)
Sutton - Rosehill Park East: Little Owl, Swift (Andrew Kellett)
Wimbledon Common: c40 Lesser Redpolls NE over the Large Mound, appeared to settle in the Ladies Mile area (David Wills). Two Northern Wheatear (Adrian Podmore).
Wednesday 2nd May 2012[]
Alexandra Park: Lesser Whitethroat (1st of year) and Reed Warbler (very quiet subsinging) in hedge on eastern perimater cricket pitch, Whitethroat (bizarrely late 1st of year) Cricket Scrub, all from 0700-0930 (Bob Watts, Gareth Richards). Female Whitethroat also in cricket scrub. 3 Wheatears (1 male, 2 female) around mound at east end of lower meadows; 1 (prob 1st summer) male Ring Ouzel around mature oak in centre of Putting Green (Jonathan Cooke 10.30-11 am). Still present 1330 feeding mostly in open then flying to sweet chestnut on southern boundary (Dominic Mitchell, David Callahan). Ring Ouzel again just north of mature oak with bin 1630 then flew to southern boundary horse chestnuts and no further sign; also male White Wagtail found by Ian Lycett lunchtime still Filter Beds 1730, Reed Warbler in flooded sallow swamp between Platforms 1 and 2 1745 (Bob Watts). c20 Swallows, c15 House Martins, 4 Swifts over Wood Green Res c1 pm (DC, IL), plus singing Willow Warbler; 1 male Whinchat at cricket scrub (Richard Moorhead, 8pm)
Bankside SE1: Singing Blackcap in birches at west end of Tate Modern (06.50) 2+ Willow Warbler same trees at 12.15. Also Reed Warbler singing on north side of river from garden on Queen Victoria St, near Mansion House tube. , (Simon Fogg).
Beddington SF: Dunlin and Whinchat new in. Live updates etc here (http://www.diporglory.co.uk/). Ring Ouzel (BFBG). Lots of migrants today: 2 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, 200+ Swift, 60+ House Martin, 75+ Swallow, 15 Yellow Wagtail pics here (PA, BFBG)
Brent Reservoir: (15:55-16:35) 1m,1f Shelduck, 1m Lapwing, c.40 Common Tern, c.10 Swift, 1 Swallow N (Andrew Haynes).
Catford (Culverley Green Conservation Area): Several Swifts (actually last night just before dusk), first sign of them in this area this year (Philip Lowden).
Camberwell (SE5): Little Egret NE over Edmund Street at 06:48. Also 2 Blackcap in area. (Bill Haines)
Heathrow Airport: x3 Pied Wagtail, Black Redstart (m), +12 Common Swift (the first I've noted this year) hawking over airport briefly around 15:30 (Rob Mills)
London Wetland Centre: 4 Wheatear, 1 Common Sand, LRP, 60+ Swifts, c10 Swallow, c10 House Martin, Willow Warbler (Matt Palmer) , 5+ Yellow Wagtail on Grazing Marsh, including one with a pale grey crown, mantle and scaps; This has been reported as a Blue-headed Wagtail on Birdguides which I don't think fits since it has a bright yellow super and grey mantle - some pics and explanation here (Matt).This was not the bird reported as a Blue-headed. There was a Blue-headed Wagtail' 'female along with 30+ Yellow Wagtails at 12.00, including the greyish variant. 20 Yellow Wags were flushed by a Sparrowhawk and flew off north. The Blue-head & the variant remained (J.Wilczur et al). Fair enough, someone I talked to before I left the site in the early afternoon said they'd seen a Blue headed with a 'bluey grey head' late morning, when this came up as 'reported' on BG I linked the two. Good to see Barnes getting such high wagtail numbers. (J.Wilczur et al)
North Finchley: 1 Swallow NE over house (John Colmans)
Rammey Marsh, Lea Valley: Whinchat at 07.50. Flew off high east at 08.00 (Martin Shepherd).
Richmond Park: 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear 16 acres near Ham Cross.early evng. (Steve Read per FJM) 1 Lesser Whitethroat in Two Storm Wood mid am. (Tim Howard per FJM)
Totteridge Valley: Whimbrel north over Woodridge / Laurel Farm at 08:20 (perhaps the bird from the Scrubs?), 10 Lapwing, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Ian Ellis). later in morning 9 singing Whitethroat and 3 siging Lesser Whitethroat, also pair Bullfinches (John Colmans)
Vicarage Farm (Enfield): 1 male Common Redstart; 2 male Yellow Wagtail, feeding amongst horses (Robin White) and 1 female Northern Wheatear; 1 Brimstone Moth (Robert Callf).
Wanstead Park: possible Ring Ouzel old sewage works, 3 Swift, Lesser Whitethroat (Nick Croft)
Wormwood Scrubs: Whimbrel feeding on pitches 07.00-07.45, Common Sandpiper up off pitches, male Ring Ouzel (missing many primaries), Hobby (alighted on embankment for 5 mins), Reed Warbler (heard), 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 11+ Whitethroat, 3 Swallow (Rob Ayers/Paul Thomas).
Tuesday 1st May 2012[]
Bankside SE1: Singing Sedge Warbler (also showed a couple of times) in bushes at east front/riverside of Tate Modern, (Simon Fogg).
Beckton Alps: 12 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker. Also several Grape Hyacinths and Star of Bethlehems (Ben Green)
Beddington SF: imm Iceland Gull over tip - seventh consecutive month of Icelands at Beddington. (observer ?)
Brent Reservoir: male Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler song flight, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 34 Swifts north, 24 Swallows north, high water, no mud (Andrew Verrall).
Canons Farm: 11:50-13:00 - f Ring Ouzel (Infront George Field @12:45), Red-legged Partridge (Infront George Field), 2 Greylag Goose over NW, 7 Wheatear (Skylark Field), 3 Yellowhammer (Reads Rest Cottages/Reads Bottom), 3 Swallow (Harrier Field), 3 Green Woodpecker. Also good numbers of Linnet, Skylark, Chaffinch. (Nigel Sluman)
Clapham Old Town: First pair of Swifts back at nest site yesterday evening. (Mark H)
Collier Row: 3 Swifts over Collier Row Lane at 1:50 p.m. (G J Francis)
Crayford Marshes: Short-eared Owl hunting along the creek edge; Spotted Redshank feeding along the creek; Hobby, Greenshank, 2 Cuckoo, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 9 Wheatear, 8 Reed Warbler, 9 Dunlin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 35 Swift (Kev Jarvis & Andy Sayer)
Crossness: 4 pairs of Shelduck, 10 pairs of Mallard, 4 Gadwall, pair of Shoveler. 4 prob. duck Garganey dabbling in West Paddock swamp at 19:00 difficult clinch just with binos, 1 Redshank, 2 Little Stint also there, 2 Grey Plover north over Thames,1 Oystercatcher,2 Little Grebes, Common Buzzard high and far, east over Thames,2 singing Skylarks, 2 singing Reed Buntings. 6 Northern Wheatears together in paddock. 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 10+ Reed Warblers, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Swallow north over Thames, 4 Common Swifts west, 1 Ring-necked Pheasant. (Patrick English)
Dagenham Chase LNR: male Marsh Harrier flew over the travellers field at 7:10 pm, also 8 Swift, 2 House Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Common Whitethroat, 2 Common Tern. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
East Bank NR, Stoke Newington: 2 Blackcap (TeRNS)
East India Dock Basin area: 7 Shelduck, 29 Tufted Duck, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, Northern Wheatear, Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat (Nick Tanner).
East Wickham Open Space (Bexley): 2 singing Commom whitethroats, 2 Swallows west (Gus Wilson)
Enfield Town: Hobby north over low 10.30am (Rob Ayers)
Folkestone Road Allotments (private): Bittern over low, Nightingale singing, 3 Common whitethroat, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Blackcap (Who ?)
Gallions Reach: 2 Oystercatcher, Lapwing E, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Skylark, 6 Swallow N, 2 Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat (Nick Tanner).
Grays, RM17: 2 Arctic Terns upriver early evening; also Common Tern, Whimbrel (James A)
Lee Valley: Grasshopper Warbler reeling in scrub East of Bowyers water and across river at 7-8pm (J.Murray).
Hampstead Heath: Lesser Whitethroat singing near bandstand 1300hrs, 3 Yellow Wags N, 6 Swallows N, Redpoll and 3 Linnets over ( Pete Mantle) Afernoon: Buzzard sp very high and brief. 2 Hobbies.3 House Martins, 1 C Whitethroat singing. Sunshine (rare lately) (Green Grandad) ,Wheatear 17:50 on field above running track later on running track.(Allan Stewart)
Heathrow Airport: Black Redstart (m) clearly enjoying a respite in the weather and sitting on its favoured section of fencing. No sign since of 2nd bird reported 25/04 (Rob Mills)
Kensington Gardens: 20 Swift feeding low over Round Pond in grimy 9am conditions (Matt Reed).
King George V: 1 Hobby, 2 Yellow Wagtail,5 Wheatear,1 Arctic Tern, many Common Tern at first few later,large no Swifts left when cloud lifted, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Cettis Warbler, Little Owl, 1 Redshank (T.Clancy)
London Wetland Centre: 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 1 Cuckoo, 120 Swift, 90 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 16 Yellow Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, 4 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website)
New Cross Gate Cutting NR: 1m Pied Flycatcher at north end of reserve, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Swifts overhead. (no public access but site is partially viewable from Vesta Road in the south), (Tony Wileman).
Old Orchard/Gun Club site (Braeburn Park), Crayford: 2 Whitethroat, 3 probably 4 different Song Thrush (heard), 4 Chiffchaff (heard). (Chris Rose).
Regent's Park: am: 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Cricket Pen / area 31, 08.40-14.30hr at least), 2f 'Greenland' Wheatear, 6 Willow Warbler (birdman_euston); also 1 Reed Warbler singing from reed bed in Wetland Pen / area 32 in the early morning rain, Park's first 'on territory' record this year - fide Dave Johnson Park staff; pm: Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby , Common Buzzard, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, pr Collared Doves, pr Reed Buntings (D. Johnson, Tony Duckett).
Southwark, Union St: 2 Goldfinch derelict land by railway. (Chris Rose)
Staines Reservoir: (17:30) 3 Black Tern (N. Basin), 1 Wheatear (Grass Bank, N. Basin), 9 Dunlin (N. Basin), 1 Swallow (Causeway), (Paul Boult)
Thames Road Wetland: 2 or 3 Reed Warbler calling, 1 Whitethroat, 18 Ring-necked Parakeet over heading west,3 or 4 Chiffchaff along By-way 105 by Cray. (Chris Rose).
Thorney CP: Wheatear on grass pathway, 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Ring Necked Parakeets, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Reed Warblers, Willow Warbler, 3 Common Terns, Song Thrush, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Dunnocks, 7 Swallows, Swift.Grey Heron, Stock Dove over. (Sue Giddens)
Trent Park: Little Egret( flew into lower lake and then perched in 'the triangle') then flew south west -possibly the first record for the park??, Many Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, Song Thrush, Mandarin (m),Green Woodpecker, Orange Tip.( Pete Lowman).
