January 2011

Monday 31st January 2011[]

Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Tawny Owls (hooting at 1539 in the afternoon sunshine), 3 Coal Tits, 3 Goldcrests (Mark Pearson)
Alexandra Park: c70 Waxwing on railway embankment trees by recycling centre behind Wood Green res 09.30 to 10 am (Ian Lycett); c30 Redwing, Canada Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Blue Tit, Green Woodpecker, lots of gulls - boating lake 12noon (D. Painter).
Battersea Power Station: 1 m Peregrine [Chimney at dusk.] (Michael Mac).
Beddington SF: ad Mediterranean Gull, 2 Caspian Gull (ad and first-winter) (Birdguides).
Bookham Common: 4 Hawfinch behind railway station (Birdguides).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Dabchick, 10 Mallard, 8 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 female Blackcap, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 1 Jay, 9 Magpie, 20+ Carrion Crow, 2 male House Sparrow, 10+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 10+ Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Bursted Wood (former Pitch and Putt course): 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 8 Woodpigeon (Chris Rose).
Crayford Marshes: drake Goosander on the Thames near creek barrier at 08:55. 2 Water Pipit, 2 Grey Plover, Little Owl, male Peregrine, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Rock Pipit, 113 Black-tailed Godwit, c600 Dunlin (Kev Jarvis).
Danson Park (Bexleyheath/Welling): 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 (possibly 4) Greenfinch, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron (2 over nearby road earlier, chased by Ring-necked Parakeet might have been amongst these individuals), circa 80 Woodpigeon, 36+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 54 Canada Geese, Carrion Crows, 1 Magpie, Blue Tit, 2 Mute Swans, lots of Coot, Moorhen, Mallard and Black-headed Gulls (Chris Rose).
Ewell: 60+ Waxwing at the A24 / A240 junction 08:25 (Birdguides).
Grays: 50 Waxwing by train station at St. Peter and St. Paul's Churchyard (Birdguides).
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park (viewed from the perimeter path): 1 Water Rail seen well briefly, having until now not managed to find this species here all winter! Also Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipits and 20 Redwings in the surrounding trees and wasteland (Joe Beale).
Hampstead Heath: at least 21 Waxwing in trees st the junction of Finchley Raod / Platt's Lane TQ251858 08:45 (Birdguides); 89 Waxwings this afternoon (Tony Duckett); Bittern flew south / south-east over the Royal Free Hospital 10:05 (Birdguides).
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn (JR).
Holmethorpe SPs: 2 Goldeneye, 2 redhead Smew, Little Egret (Birdguides).
Holyfield Hall Farm: 2 Pink-footed Geese in the field opposite the Milking Barns, also Little Owl in the hedgerow. Langridge area: 4 Yellowhammer, Shelduck, flock of 25 Skylarks. 2 drake Smew on Seventy Acres (Mike Oakland).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 19 Egyptian Goose, 3 Mandarin Duck, 9 Gadwall, 34 Shoveler, 87 Pochard, m Ruddy Duck, 5 Little Grebe, Water Rail (Temple Gate reeds), 4 Stock Dove (3 singing), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Des McKenzie).
Ingrebourne Valley: 4 White-fronted Goose with Greylag Geese along Berwick Pond Road, opposite Berwick Manor (Birdguides).
Island Barn Res (permit access): juv Great Northern Diver (Birdguides).
London Wetland Centre: 100+ Shoveler, 3 Bittern, 5 Redwing, 27 Siskin, 3 Redpoll west (LWC website).
Muswell Hill: 2 Waxwing briefly in a private garden (photo) (Birdguides).
North Finchley: female Blackcap in garden (John Colmans).
Northwood Hills: 60 Waxwings appeared in a garden I happened to be working in at 11.20am, flew north after arrival of sparrowhawk. Relocated at 4.05pm (on return from Stockers) in oak tree next to Northwood Hills roundabout. Still there at 4.30, looked settled for the night (Richard Francis).
Pinner Park Farm: 8 Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Meadow Pipit, 25 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 10 Jackdaw & 9 Grey Heron. Also at Headstone Moat: 1 Kingfisher, 56 Mallard & 5 Coot (Jon Ridge).
Queen Elizabeth II Res: m Red-breasted Merganser (SBC).
Rainham Marshes: m Goosander, Merlin, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, ad Mediterranean Gull (ELBF).
Regent's Park: pair of Firecrests Leaf Yard Wood showing well (Tony Duckett).
Stapleford Abbotts: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pheasant, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Long-tailed Tit, singing Coal Tit, 6 Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin - Bournebridge Lane and Straights Plantation area. Flock of 55 Yellowhammers and 5 Reed Buntings in large stubble field & hedgerow near west end of Straights Plantation (Colin Jupp).
Stockers Lake / Bury Lake: drake and redhead Smew, 6 male / 8 female Goldeneye, male & female Red-crested Pochard, 20 Siskin, Coal Tit (Martin Smith); also 2 Goosander, Little Owl, Red Kite, Little Egret (Richard Francis).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 3 Peregrines (together), 2 Cetti's Warblers, 5+ Water Rails, 50 Shovelers, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Teddington; 1 male Blackcap in gardens on Windsor Road (R Gowrley)
The Warren (London Borough of Bexley): 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Wren, 3+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 7+ Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), 1 Blackbird, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Robin, 1 House Sparrow (Chris Rose).
Uxbridge (Swakeleys Roundabout): c30 Waxwings in trees in middle of roundabout - had to do 2 circuits of roundabout to estimate numbers! This is at the junction of B467 & the A40 (Roger Dewey).
Wanstead Flats: Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, 4 singing Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 7 Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 11 Greylag Goose, 1 Snipe (west), 7 Lesser Redpoll, 12 Greenfinch, 7 Goldfinch, flock of 10 Chaffinch (Alex Lake wood), Kestrel (NC).
Wanstead Park: Yellowhammer (flushed from the River Roding same place as yesterday hmmm!), Reed Bunting, Linnet, 30 + Siskin, L Redpolls, Coal Tit, 26 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush (5 singers), 35 Jackdaw, 4 Stock Dove, 53 Tufted Duck, 17 Pochard, 10 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 G Heron, RN Parakeet, 2 Little Grebe, Cormorant, 4+ Goldcrest (NC); Sparrowhawk (pair displaying over old allotments/n. circular - JL),

Sunday 30th January 2011[]

Barking Outfall: Grey Seal early a.m coming in with rising tide.(Dave Morrison)
Alexandra Park: 7 Fieldfare SW, 7 Shoveler Boating Lake, 2 Water Rail Conservation Pond (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards, Bob Watts).
Bedfords Park LNR: Firecrest along bridleway near Nursery (brief views late afternoon), 3 Goldcrest in Nursery Wood, singing Coal Tit, several Goldfinch (2 singing), 5 Dunnock (2 singing). At dusk 5 Woodcock flew over in quick succession towards Upper Bedfords Farm, also 61 Redwings over and calling Little Owl (Colin Jupp, John Millar).
Belhus Woods Country Park: Marsh Tit, Red-crested Pochard, flock of at least a dozen Siskins (Alan Hobson).
Chertsey, Holmwood Park: c.30 Waxwing 15:30 Hrs (David Combes).
Canons Farm: Common Buzzard, 66+ Fieldfares, 1+ Redwing, 2 Rooks etc (David Campbell and Roy Weller).
Canons Park (nearest Stn - Jubilee Line), Edgware, Middx HA8: NW London RSPB Group - Big Garden Birdwatch 10.00 - Noon: Nuthach (at least 4 singing), 2 Redwings, 10 Ring-necked Parakeets, 60 Black-headed Gulls, Common Gull, Lesser Bb Gull, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush (singing), 20 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, Coal Tit (singing) Great Tit, Blue Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeons, Cormorant (over), Stock Dove (reported), Green Woodpeker, pair Great Spot Wpker (drumming), Goldcrest (singing). No sign of Lesser Spot Wpker. (Bob Husband, NW London RSPB Group).
Crayford Marshes: Dark-bellied Brent Goose , 2 Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 4 Grey Plover, 72 Black-Tailed Godwit, Little Egret. (Kev Jarvis & A.W)
Crossness: Water Pipit on the Thames shore, with 50+ Black-tailed Godwits, 250+ Dunlin, c20 Grey Plover, 4 Curlew, 1 Caspian Gull, Gadwall, Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Shoveler (M and O Bourne).
Dagenham Riverside: Dark Bellied Brent Goose. (Dave Morrison)
Dagnam Park: Tawny Owl calling in Hatters Wood at 18.10hrs (CRJ).
East Barnet: 7 Waxwing over my house at 16.10pm (Pete Lowman).
East India Dock Basin area: Black Redstart, 30 Tufted Duck, 250 Teal, 11 Redshank. (Gary A James).
Ewell (A24/A241 junction): 25 Waxwings in berry tree outside computer shop 1100-1200 very flighty though (Bob Smith).
Gayford and Cobbold Road (W12): flock of 21 Waxwings still feeding (F. McKinnon).
Godstone, Bay Pond: Bittern showing well late afternoon, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Gadwall. 2 Egyptian Geese and Mistle Thrush nearby (David Campbell, Neil Randon et al).
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: 1 Dabchick, 12 Canada Goose, 8 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 4 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 4 Woodpigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail (on Thames foreshore), 2 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 4 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 6+ Great Tit, 6+ Blue Tit 10+ Starling, 2 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 30+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Reed Bunting + House Mouse showing well in the office (Conrad Ellam); Snipe turned up at 4pm.
Hampstead Heath: 25 Waxwings still present on the junction of Finchley Rd and Platt's lane at 1-1.30. Still plenty of berries on the tree they're feeding on so a good chance they'll be around for another day. (Aaron C-Partridge); 2 Bullfinch (m & f) by feeders (Chris B).
Horsenden Hill: 1 Woodcock flushed in Perivale Wood, also 1 Little Grebe Grand Union Canal and 4 Teal Paradise Fields (Andy Culshaw).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: c30 Shoveler, c70 Pochard, m Ruddy Duck, Little Grebe, Song Thrush (Nick Tanner)
Ingrebourne Valley: Female Merlin, 2 Common Buzzards, Marsh Harrier and 4 White Fronted Geese.(Dave Morrison)
Islington: 20 Waxwing on a tree opposite the entrance to the Emirates at 2pm (Chris Legge)
Margravine Cemetery: 1 Goldcrest, 2 Mistle thrush, 3 Redwing, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker (Nathalie Mahieu).
Muswell Hill: (13:45-15:00) several Redwings and 30-50 Waxwings flying backwards and forwards from a poplar tree on Parkland Walk to berry-bearing trees at the back of the Marks and Spencers car park in front of LA Fitness (Tony Clancy and Steve Smith).
Pinner Park Farm: 14 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 12 Jackdaw, 1 Goldcrest, 36 Ring-necked Parakeet over & 11 Grey Heron (JR).
Rusilip Lido: Drake Smew at nothern end. Up to 4 (2m & 2 Redhead) reported by Woodland Rangers during the week (Steve Pash).
Ten Acre Wood area: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 30+ Lapwing (some hidden in furrows), 16 Snipe, 2 Green + 4 Great-spottted (drumming + pr in cop) Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing, 4 Siskin, 4 Bullfinch (3 males, 1 female) (Neil Anderson)
Tufnell Park (Anson Road N7): big garden birdwatch 8am-9am 15 species including 27 Waxwings (Adrian Platt).
Tooting Bec Common: 4 Egyptian Goose, 2 Mute Swan, Many Coot & Mallard on pond, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, (Ernie Thomason & Tom Stone)
Walthamstow res (Lockwood): 7 Goosander (6f), f Goldeneye, 9 Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, f Pheasant, Fieldfare (LB). f Eider refound on West Warwick (PL).
Wanstead Flats: singing Mistle Thrush, singing Song Thrush, 17 Redwing (Tim Harris had a Redwing singing subsong yesterday in the Park), 7 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, 17 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 12 Greylag Goose, 2 Snipe (SSSI and 1 Cat and Dog pond), 6 Reed Bunting, c.30 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Siskin, 14 + Greenfinch, Kestrel (NC).
Wanstead Park: f Goosander (Perch, apparently seen yesterday on the Ornamental Waters), Yellowhammer (flushed from the River Roding), 50 + Siskin, Coal Tit (Bush Wood), 62 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 33 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 G Heron, RN Parakeet, 4 Little Grebe, Cormorant, 7+ Goldcrest (Treecreeper reported) (NC)
Watford: Brambling at feeders in private garden on Cardiff Road (Des Mckenzie).

Saturday 29th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: 8 Waxwing south over Wood Green Reservoir and toward Newand Road 08:40, also 3 Fieldfare NE over Top Field, 10 Shoveler Boating Lake (Bob Watts). 2 Egyptian Geese N over Tunnel Res, Snipe Flood (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards).
Balham: 60+ Waxwing opposite the doctor's surgery on Bedford Hill (Birdguides).
Brent Reservoir: Waxwing over at 07.50, also 3 Greylags (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall). Cetti's Warbler showed briefly by main hide entrance (Anand Ramesh); Jackdaw 2 'duetting?' (AGV).
Burgess Park: adult Mediterranean Gull still on the lake 1.05pm (Richard Bonser).
Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: 7.59am-c.1.45pm: Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 19 Yellowhammers, 3 Treecreepers, 4 Coal Tits, 3 Goldcrests, 3 Nuthatches, 1+ Bullfinch, 3 Stock Doves, male Pheasant, 5 Mistle Thrushes, c.85 Fieldfares, 30+ Redwings, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Greenfinches, several Goldfinches, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Rose-ringed Parakeets, 20+ Chaffinches (David Campbell).
Crayford Marshes: Water Pipit, ad Mediterranean Gull, male Bullfinch, 4 Rock Pipit, pr Pintail, Turnstone, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, male Peregrine, 113 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Yellowhammer, 9 Curlew, Grey Wagtail, Water Rail. (Kev Jarvis & Ian Stewart).
East India Dock Basin area: Pintail, 300 Teal, 12 Redshank. (Gary A James).
Ewell: 9 Waxwing junction A24 and A214 on berries outside computer shop 1000-1530 (Colin Manville, Bob Smith)
Finsbury Park: circa 98 Redwing and 95 Starlings feeding together, north side slope. 4 Chaffinch, 2 or 3 Goldfinch, 11 Shoveler, 11 Pochard, 28 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant + 1 over, 4 Greylag, 22(+?) Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan. (Chris Rose).
Gayford Road (W12): 24 Waxwings,feeding 09.00 lots of berries left on several trees, 15.45, still 28 birds feeding in berry trees in gayford and cobbold road (f. mckinnon)
Hampstead Heath: 65 Waxwing at the junction of Finchley Road / Platt's Lane 08:55 (Birdguides). 14 increasing to 34 seen there from 11.30am - 12.00 (Alex Massey).
Harold Park (Elgin Avenue): male Blackcap in private garden a.m. (M. Wyatt).
Holmethorpe Sand Pits: 2 redhead Smew and 2 Goldeneye (ad fem & 1st winter) on Mercers West Pit. At Spynes Mere/Mercers West Pit/Mercers Farm: Little Owl, 3+ Egyptian Geese, 106+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 13 Great Black-backed Gulls, c.26 Little Grebes, Fieldfare, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Greylags, 12 Cormorants, 6 Pochards, 18 Tufted Ducks, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Bullfinches, c.128 Lapwings (David Campbell & Kevin Guest)
Hounslow: c12 Waxwings flew N over Myrtle Road (near Hounslow E Underground Station) at 1000hrs (Rob Innes).
Hyde Park: Peregrine drifted NW over Serpentine Bridge into Kensington Gardens at 11.05am (D.Jordan).
Ingrebourne Valley: still 4 White-fronted Goose in field opposite Bewick Hotel 09:45 (Birdguides). 4 White Fronted Goose, 2 Bittern, Kingfisher, 2 Bullfinch, Little Owl (Shaun Harvey)
King George V Res: 2 Shelduck, c15 Goldeneye, 5 Little Grebes (no sign of yesterdays Slavonian Grebes)(Roy Woodward).
Lee Valley: 2 Raven over Bowyers water early morning, very low and calling! 5 Smew Friday Lake (1 Drake). 3 Goosander on Hooks Marsh, Bittern from watch point, Pink-footed Goose with Greylag flock on Seventy Acres, near the bridge & then nearby fields. 2 Buzzard over Galley Wood; also Weasel seen (J. Murray & J. Murray Snr).
London Wetland Centre: 72 Wigeon, 153 Teal, 4 Pintail, 106 Shoveler, Scaup, Water Rail, 23 Redwing, 18 Siskin (LWC website), Bittern (Angus Innes).
Lonsdale Road Reservoir LNR: 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Redwing, 15+ Goldfinch, 8 Common Gull, the usuals (Rich Petley)
Margravine Cemetery: 2 Goldcrest, pr Great Spotted Woodpecker mating, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet (hole prospecting), 2 Redwing (Nathalie Mahieu)
Molesey Heath: 39 Tufted Duck, 15 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Song Thrush, 4 blackbird, 15 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 1 GS Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Wren (Richard Inch).
Muswell Hill: 150+ Waxwing, Grove Avenue, 8.20 - 8.40 (Charlie Kitchen), 12 briefly 10am (Bob Watts). 100 + Waxwings behind M&S around 9am. Some in trees behind LA fitness on disused rail line. Cracking views. Also 1 male Blackcap. 25 House Sparrows and 1 Barbary Dove (being stalked by cat) off Sydney Road. (PA); c.40 Waxwing still feeding behind M&S at 14.00-14.30. Wonderful views, thanks to all for the reports (Matt Evans)
Perivale Wood: The annual count produced 1261 Carrion Crow flying into established roost (Andy Culshaw, David Howdon, Nick Tanner)
Queen Mary Res: Great Northern Diver, 2 Snipe, Sparrowhawk (Steve Chastell)
Rainham Marshes: Lapland Bunting (h between the Discovery Centre and the Dragonfly pool), Caspian Gull (my inability to identify gulls still intact as I was helped on to this bird), 3 Yellow-legged Gull, Ruff on foreshore, 2 Curlew, c. 10 BTGodwit, 50 Redshank and 100+ Dunlin at Stone Barges, Chiffchaff, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 100 + Golden Plover, 25 Pintail (2 seen in mid-Thames), Rook (NC)
Ripple Nature Reserve Barking: Dartford Warbler in brambles 25 yards beyond entrance (kissing gate) accesss of Renwick Rd at 09:40 (Paul Hawkins).
Richmond Park: 2 Egyptian geese, c20 Redwing, Pochard, Gadwall, Gt Spotted Woodpecker. (Aaron C-Partridge)
Sharvel Lane area (Northolt): 57 Lapwing in field, 39 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare, c20 Linnet (Neil Anderson)
South Norwood CP: 3 Mute Swan, pr Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant, Grey Heron, 7 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, Kingfisher, 10 Pied Wagtail, 42 Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 19 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Streatham (8.40am. Corner of Oakdale and Grasmere Roads): 120 Waxwings (R. Bell).
Streatham Common: female blackcap in my garden (Peter Newmark).
Sutcliffe Park: 1 Water Rail (in reeds by bridge between boardwalk and lake; first for the site?), 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Snipe, 1 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush (James Lowen)
Tooting Bec Common: circa 40 Waxwings in 'triangle' east of Balham station, near the underpass to Cavendish Rd. 8 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk (over), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet. Lake: 4 Egyptian Geese, 10 Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swans. (Chris Rose, LNHS field meeting).
William Girling Reservoir (viewed from Mansfield Park): At least one 1 Slavonian Grebe (presumably from KGV), 17 Black-necked Grebes (Roy Woodward). Scaup (Harry Lacey per RW).
Wimbledon Park: male Blackcap in garden am (F Beswick)
Woodford, Snakes Lane East: 20 Waxwing (London Birdwatching)
Tottenham: c25 Waxwing at Reform Row (Birdguides).
Yeading Brook Meadows: 4 Teal, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, 15 Redwing (Neil Anderson)

Friday 28th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: 15+ Waxwings on railway embankment trees again behind Wood Green Reservoir briefly at 10.50 (David Callahan, Ian lycett, Rebecca Armstrong).
Bookham Common: Hawfinch agian behind railway station late a.m. (Birdguides).
Brent Reservoir: 1 Common Buzzard SW mobbed by crows c12.30pm: 1 Cetti's Warbler by Heron Hide: 15 Redwing: 4 Fieldfare: 55 Pochard (John Colmans)
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Dabchick, 1 Heron, 12 Mallard, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Wren, 6 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Magpie, 1 Carrion Crow, 10+ Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Grey Plover, Turnstone, 13 Ringed Plover, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, c400 Lapwing, c600 Dunlin, 2 Rook, 2 Jackdaw, c60 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Fulham Reach: (Thames) 1 Skylark, 348 Black-headed Gull, 53 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Tufted Duck, 12 House Sparrow - (Margravine Cemetery) 2 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing (Nathalie Mahieu)
Garston: 50 Waxwing on tv aerials along Greenwood Drive briefly mid-a.m. (Birdguides).
Grays: 50+ Waxwing by the Red Lion off-licence on London Road a.m. (Birdguides).
Hampstead Heath: 30 Waxwing at the junction of Finchley Road / and Platt's Lane for second day 08:30 (Birdguides).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 3 Egyptian Goose, 3 Gadwall, 25 Shoveler, 3 Red-crested Pochard, m Ruddy Duck on Longwater, 2 Little Grebe, Nuthatch (Des McKenzie).
Ingrebourne Valley: 4 White-fronted Goose in field with Greylags (Birdguides).
Islington: at least 62+ Waxwing still at the junction of St. John's Square / Clerkenwell Road 09:45 (Birdguides); approx 35 feeding at 11:15, but not many berries left (L. Wormald). 43 feeding at head height, exceptional views 11:00, perched on TV ariels above stationers when not feeding (Laurence Pitcher); unfortunately I found two of the Waxwings dead in the gutter next to the stationers at 1pm - presumably they had flown into windows. No sign of any others between 1pm-1.30pm; tree almost empty of berries and occupied by solitary Blackbird (Alex Massey).
King George V Res (permit access): 2 Slavonian Grebe on west side of South Basin a.m. (Birdguides).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 16 Redwing (LWC website).
Muswell Hill: 9 Waxwing in tree outside 62 Grove Avenue 13:00. A gentleman said there had been 36 a few minutes earlier (David Bentley); 160+ Waxwing on berrys in Marks and Spencers car park 11:30-12:30 only, immediately outside LA fitness health club (J. Murray).
Northolt, Yeading Brook (Hillingdon side): 1 Kingfisher, 21 Teal, 9 Snipe & 1 Pheasant (JR).
Paddington Green: 30+ Goldfinch (3 singing) (DMc).
Rainham Marshes: 7 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull on landfill (ad and first-winter) (Birdguides).
Regent's Park: pair of Firecrests in Leaf Yard Wood (Tony Duckett).
Ten Acre Wood: 1 Little Egret along the Yeading Brook (JR).
Tooting Bec Common: 50-60 Waxwing in trees by second railway bridge and cycle path to Bedford Hill, coming from Cavendish Road / Emmanuel Road junction (Birdguides).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 2 Firecrest in Monument Glade (Bob Watts).
Walthamstow Reservoirs: female Eider at the north end of Lockwood res at 9 am but not
visible on a subsequent scan at 11.30. Also 5f & 1m Goosander roosting on/near N bank @ 15.30 + 1f Goldeneye but still no sign of Eider this pm (Lol Bodini).
Wanstead Flats: 3 Mistle Thrush, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Gadwall, 11 Greylag Goose, 2 Snipe (SSSI), m Reed Bunting, 2 Meadow Pipit (NC).
Wanstead Park: 20 + Siskin (Dell), Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit (Bush Wood), Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, 3 G Heron,RN Parakeet, Little Grebe, Cormorant, 6 Goldcrest (NC)
West Thurrock: 8 Waxwing over Lakeside Retail Park (Birdguides).
Woodford Bridge (playing fields off Roding Lane North): mixed flock of Fieldfares, Redwings, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Starlings, Robin, Woodpigeons, Common Gull, Greenfinches, Chaffinch (I got all six of the thrush species in one shot, more or less!). Around 60 birds in all, around a third Starlings. Scrubland between there and M11: 2 Bullfinches, 2 Goldcrests. Also 2 Mute Swans flew over from Redbridge Lakes, and Goldfinch in tree in allotments (Alan Hobson).
Woodford Green: c50 Waxwing outside Broadmead Baptist Church on Chigwell Road (London Birdwatching)
Yeading Brook (Northolt Aerodrome): 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Bullfinch & 1 Sparrowhawk (JR).

Thursday 27th January 2011[]

Balham: 60-70 Waxwing at the corner of Cavendish Road and Hydethorpe Road in trees at Henry Cavendish School 13:45 (Birdguides).
Banstead Downs Golf Course: Firecrest at west side along wooded footpath c.20 metres beyond post 3 late afternoon. Also 3 Goldcrests and Green Woodpecker (David Campbell).
Brentford: 19 Waxwing still on Syon Lane behind Homebase (Tom Smith)
Chafford Hundred: 94 Waxwing off Flemming Road late a.m.(Birdguides).
Clerkenwell: 43 Waxwing at St. John's Square 13:40 (Birdguides).
Crayford Marshes: Waxwing flew west a.m. 1st w Med Gull east along Thames. Turnstone, 4 Curlew, c60 Redwing, Little Egret, c500 Lapwing (Kev Jarvis).
Debden: 35 Waxwing at Kier Building by M11 sliproad (London Birdwatching)
East Dulwich: 3 Waxwing feeding on Sycamore buds behind William Rose, Blackwater St SE22 at 09.30. Also fem Sparrowhawk (Ian Cater).
Erith Cemetery (east side): 2 male Chaffinch, around 50 Woodpigeon (Chris Rose).
Gillespie Road (Highbury): 3 Waxwing over (Chris Langsdon).
Grays: 20 Waxwing at junction of London Road / Gumley Road 13:15 (Birdguides).
Grovelands Park (Southgate): 1 male Firecrest feeding in Holly 13:40-13:42 and 14:45-14:48 hrs (Robert Callf).
Hampstead Heath: c60 Redpolls roving around Kenwood, 30+ Siskin by Conservation pond (Chris Bird).
Heathrow Airport: 15+ Waxwing feeding on berries by Terminal 4 10:00 (Birdguides).
Horsenden Hill: 2 Little Owl in large oak tree near wooden bridge on Paradise Fields (David Howdon)
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 81 Wigeon, 82 Shoveler, Bittern, Water Pipit, 7 Redwing, 19 Siskin, 6 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
Muswell Hill: 285 Waxwing on Grove Avenue mid-a.m. (Birdguides).
Nags Head Lane Sewage Works: 3 Grey Heron, Little Grebe, 2 fem Gadwall, 6 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, Green Sandpiper calling several times at dusk but not seen, Grey Wagtail also heard (Colin Jupp).
Northumberland Heath: 2 Redwings at school on Brook St, c60 Starlings intermittently wheeling over North Heath Recreation Ground and 15 House Sparrows around feeder in adjoining garden. 50+ House Sparrows in Erith School hedges, Avenue Rd (Chris Rose).
Rainham Marshes: Peregrine, 4 Curlew, 50+ Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Shelduck, 2 Pintail (one drake), Cetti's Warbler (calling), 25 Linnet, 2 Little Grebe & 2 Pheasant (JR).
Rainham (River Thames): 1 Curlew, 1 Ruff, 180+ Dunlin, 110 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Lapwing, Rock Pipit, 34 Shelduck & 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) along Rainham Creek (Jon Ridge).
Romford (RM1): single Waxwing east over house 7.45am. House tick (James Astley).
Roding Valley Park and surrounding area: 4 Goldcrests, mixed flock of around 70 birds (at least half Starlings), comprising of Fieldfares, Redwings, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Starlings, Blackbirds; also nearly a dozen Common Gulls, 2 Bullfinches, a dozen Greenfinches (more than I've seen together for years; are they making a recovery after the virus?) (Alan Hobson).
Southgate: 15+ Waxwing flew low W calling at 12:10hrs over Dalrymple Close (Robert Callf).
South Norwood CP: Mute Swan, 3 Shoveler, 3 Cormorant, Grey Heron, 3 Pheasant, 4 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 15 Pied Wagtail, 40 Fieldfare, 28 Redwing, 5 Goldcrest, 15 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: single Waxwing north, 1428 (MJP)
Watford Fields: 3 Waxwing in trees 15:13 (Joanne Biscomb per DMc).
Watford High Street rail station: 3 Waxwing west 15:02 (Des McKenzie).
Wood Green: 100 Waxwing on Western Road 09:14 (Birdguides).

Wednesday 26th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: 5 Waxwings from the Birdwatch office at 10.27, feeding in trees along railway line at the back of Wood Green Reservoir (Dominic Mitchell et al); c30 more south at 12.26 (David Callahan).
Bedfont Lakes CP: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in reserve woodland. First record since 2003. (Paul Jackson per Adam Cheeseman)
Brentford: c30 Waxwing still at the junction of Great West Road / Syon Lane behind Homebase car park 08:30 (Birdguides).
Claybury Park: Grey Heron (excellent views), 5 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Redwing, Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Stock Doves, Cormorant, 3 Herring Gulls, Goldfinch, Jay, small flock of Long-tailed Tits, feral Snow Goose, 2 Canada Geese, Jackdaw (Alan Hobson).
Cowley: 1 m Reed Bunting in my garden feeding on seed fallen from feeders. (Roger Dewey)
Crayford Marshes: Ruff, 2 Turnstone, 2 Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 14 Ringed Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, 2 Rook, c 50 Redwing (Kev Jarvis)
Dartmouth Park (Upper Holloway): 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit. (Chris Rose).
Herne Hill: 24 Waxwing on Winterbrook Road early p.m. (Birdguides).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 73 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, Sparrowhawk, 3 Collared Dove, 7 Redwing, Cetti's Warbler (LWC website).
Muswell Hill: c100 Waxwing still in tree by 26 Grove Avenue today (Birdguides).
Oakwood Stn (Picadilly line) N. London: 20 Waxwings reported outside Stn 15.00 hrs (Bob Husband)
Pinner Park Farm: 163 Redwing, 118 Fieldfare, 33 Jackdaw, 9 Canada Goose & 7 Grey Heron (JR).
South Norwood CP: Mute Swan, 3 Shoveler, 4 Pheasant, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 17 Pied Wagtail, 54 Fieldfare, 11 Song Thrush, 23 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: 1 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1m 1f Pochard, c70 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Cormorant, 20 Tufted Duck, 1singing Song Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Coal Tit (2 singing) c12 Long-tailed Tit, 20+ Goldfinch, (John Watson).
SE20: 15-20 Waxwing (per Birdforum).
St James's Park: Peregrine again high over St James's Park and The Mall at exactly the same time as yesterday's sighting (0740hrs). Attempted to take a Feral Pigeon without success. A cracking sight over Central London. (Richard Seargent).
Tottenham: c100 Waxwing still in Reform Row a.m. (Birdguides).
Town Park (Enfield): 1 female Gadwall, Carr's Basin (only my second record here!) (Robert Callf).
Walthamstow Reservoirs: fem Eider still in north-east corner of No.5 Res 10:00 (Birdguides).
Waterlow Park: male Firecrest in trees around Conservation pond. Singing occasionally. 08.00 (PA). Circa 15 Siskin in Alders in Upper Pond Nature Area 11.45, 1 Song Thrush, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 27 Mallard, 18 Black-headed Gull, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, several Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Carrion Crow, Magpies, several Wood Pigeon, several Feral Pigeon. (Chris Rose).
Watford: c70 Waxwing in the car park of Woodside Leisure Centre on Horseshoe Lane 08:25 (Birdguides); 50+ still p.m. (Birdguides).
West Ham Park: Singing Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Robin Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jay, singing Dunnock, Wren, Starling, Woodpigeon, Feral Dove, 50 Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (NC)

Tuesday 25th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: c25 Waxwings past Birdwatch office window overlooking the park at 12.57 (Ian Lycett, Dominic Mitchell).
Beddington SF: juv Iceland Gull still present (Birdguides).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Dabchick, 20 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 8 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Wren, 6 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 2 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 14 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 10+Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Broomfield Park: 90 Waxwing present p.m. (Birdguides).
Chertsey: 100+ Waxwing at Homewood Park (SBC).
Clerkenwell: 38 Waxwing still showing well on St. John's Square 11:50 (Birdguides).
Coppetts Wood LNR (Colney Hatch Lane, Friern Barnet): Nuthatch (calling), Bullfinch (calling), Stock Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet. No sign of Waxwings but still some red berries on bush by car parking off road to to Summers Lane Recycle Centre (Bob Husband & Dr Oliver Natelson).
Cowley: 24 Redpoll including at least 2 Mealy in Brunel Univ. Bicentenary Gardens 11.30-2. Also flocks of Siskin and Redwing and a Little Egret. No confirmed sighting of LSW - possible distant sighting (John Fordham).
Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, Egyptian Goose, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Green Sandpiper, fem Stonechat, c40 Redwing, 2 Rock Pipit, Little Egret (Kev Jarvis & S. Carter).
Enfield: 50+ Waxwing at Capel Manor College, seen through out the day, moving around the college. Also Nuthatch, Kestrel and Ring-necked Parakeet (heard) (Andy Gray).
Forest Hill: Peregrine Falcon (adult female) on the spire of Christ Church (SE23 2UJ). First seen at 12pm, still present at 1.30pm (Andrew Birks).
Grays: c20 Waxwing flew west along London Road toward Morrison's 08:55 (Birdguides).
Green Lane (Hounslow): 1 Jack Snipe, 15 Snipe, 19 Teal, 4 Gadwall (Adam Cheeseman).
Hampstead Heath: large Siskin flock, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtail, 2 drumming Gr Spot Woodpeckers, 3+ Nuthatch (CB).
Holmethorpe SPs: 2 Goldeneye, redhead Smew (SBC).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 80 Mute Swan, 6 Egyptian Goose, pr Mandarin Duck, 6 Gadwall, 33 Shoveler, m Ruddy Duck on Longwater, 2 Little Grebe, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Stock Dove, Tawny Owl showed well, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming), 10-12 Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Coal Tit, Nuthatch (Des McKenzie).
Ingrebourne Valley: Bittern in flight briefly (Shaun Harvey).
Island Barn Res: redhead Smew, Great Northern Diver (SBC).
Islington (140-156 Drayton Park Road): Waxwings still there. 15 at 9.25 then flew east. 6 at 11.45 and 12.20 (Lawrence Lawry).
London Bridge: no sign of ad Caspian Gull on Thames by Custom House at 13:00 (Paul Whiteman).
London Wetland Centre: 54 Wigeon, 118 Shoveler, Scaup, Woodcock, 28 Siskin, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Mealy Redpoll (LWC website).
Margravine Cemetery: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 1 Goldcrest (calling) (Nathalie Mahieu).
Muswell Hill: finally the berry bushes outside the Marks and Spencers / LA fitness club produced long overdue Waxwings! 8 came down to feed, when a Sparrowhawk dived in and killed a bird, which it carried off, still with a berry in it is mouth! The remaining flock fled - not sure they will be back! (J. Murray).
Paddington Green: Grey Wagtail singing briefly a.m. (DMc).
Queen Elizabeth II Res: m Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Goosander at roost, ad-wint Mediterranean Gull (SBC).
South Norwood CP: 6 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, Pheasant, 2 Common Snipe, Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Pied Wagtail, 12 Fieldfare, 19 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Staines Res: m Red-breasted Merganser (SBC).
St James's Park: male Peregrine over the south of the park at 0740hrs. Circled and headed towards Birdcage Walk (Richard Seargent).
Tottenham: 3 Waxwing still present on the corner of Dowsett Road / HoneySett Road 10:15 (Birdguides).
Twickenham: 40+ Waxwing at Tesco's on High Street, Whitton (Birdguides).
Upminster: 20 Waxwing at golf course 10:30-10:55 then flew south (Birdguides).
Waddon Ponds: 4 Little Grebe, 2 Egyptian Geese both with no BTO rings present was informed by gardener earlier there was 3 present, c30 Coot, 5 Male & 3 Female Pochard, Goldfinch, Ring necked Parakeet, 15+ House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, 100+ Starlings, (Ernie Thomason).
Waterlow Park: 5 Siskin, 2 (m & f) Bullfinch, 1 G Heron, 7 RN Parakeet 08.15 (PA).
Wallington (Clarendon Road / Ross Road junction): 9 Waxwing for 5 mins at 10:45; 50+ Waxwing 11:30 to about 11.45. This second flock started to feed but were disturbed by scaffolders and flew off (David Mercer).
Wanstead Flats: 5 Mistle Thrush, 3 singing Song Thrush, 3 Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, 18 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 3 Greylag Goose, Little Grebe (first on Alex this year, coming into breeding plumage), Kestrel (NC).
Wanstead Park: 10 + Siskin (Dell), 69 Tufted Duck, 24 Pochard, 40 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose (JL), 6 G Heron, 8 singing Song Thrush, 7 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, RN Parakeet, Little Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit (NC)

Monday 24th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: 2 Water Rails Conservation Pond, 4 Redwing racetrack (David Callahan); c100 Waxwings in railway embankment trees opposite Birdwatch office at 09.15, then flew south-east (David Callahan, Ian Lycett, Rebecca Armstrong); 43+ Waxwings feeding on sycamore buds on the railway embankment between 11.10 and 11.25, when they flew west (DC, IL, et al); and 20 back again 11.45 (DC, et al). See blog entry here: Birdwatch's Team Blog
Beddington SF: juv Iceland Gull (Birdguides).
Bookham Common: 2 Hawfinch behind railway station late p.m. (Birdguides).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Great-crested Grebe, 18 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 6 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 6 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 4 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Clerkenwell: 41 Waxwing in St. John's Square (Birdguides).
Cowley: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Nursery Lane early afternoon; bird has been around for at least a week, either here or in Brunel University Bicentenary Gardens. In the Bicentenary Gardens this afternoon at least one Mealy Redpoll with at least 20 Lesser Redpolls and 20 Siskins. First seen in the Silver Birches in SE corner and later in the Alders by the river. Also several Goldcrests seen. The gardens are closed on Tuesday between 0900 and 1000, on Wednesday between 0900 and 1400 and Thursday between 0900 and 1300 this week, for filming (Roger Morton); Nursery Lane is on the southern edge of Brunel University - put postcode UB8 3PH into Bing Maps shows it. The Bicentenary Gardens are accessed from Nursery Lane. If travelling by car, only place I have found to park is the Pay-and-Display at south end of Kingston Lane (John Fordham); parking is restricted to permit holders only in the immediate area, on Mondays to Fridays but there are no restrictions on side roads at the weekends (Roger Morton); Still at least four Blackcaps (2 males) in my garden today. There have been at least 14 different birds in the garden this winter that included at least 8 males. Most at any one time was 11 on December 18th (Roger Morton).
Crayford Marshes: fem Marsh Harrier west over yacht club, Turnstone, pr Peregrine, 10 Yellowhammer, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Rock Pipit (Kev Jarvis).
Dulwich: Goldcrest singing in garden on Court Lane (Tom Smith)
Friern Barnet (Ribblesdale Avenue N11): 60 Waxwings at 8.00 a.m. (James Palmer).
Grays: 100+ Waxwings on Gumley Road a.m.; c70 flew over Morrison's and appeared to land nearby p.m. (Birdguides).
Grovelands Park (Southgate): 1 male Firecrest feeding in Holly 12:55-13:02 hrs; 1 Little Grebe; 1 Great Crested Grebe; 2 male Mandarin Duck; 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Fieldfare, 71 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, Pitch & Putt Course; 2 Nuthatch; 1 Treecreeper (Robert Callf).
Harmondsworth: 16 Bewick's Swan viewable from Harmondsworth Lane a.m. (Birdguides).
Holborn: c25 Waxwing north-east over Gray's Inn Field p.m. (Birdguides).
Holmethorpe SPs: 2 redhead Smew (Birdguides).
Islington (Drayton Park Road 1.15pm): 33 Waxwings on tv aerials above No 156 and feeding on Rowan trees outside No.140 (Lawrence Lawry).
King George V Res: 3 Goosander, c25 Goldeneye, 7 Little Grebes, c100 Pochard, 2 Grey Wagtails, Green Woodpecker (Roy Woodward).
London Bridge: ad Caspian Gull at Thames on post at Custom House 14:00 (Birdguides).
London Wetland Centre: fem Scaup, Bittern (Birdguides).
Muswell Hill: 31 Waxwing at Cranbourne Road late p.m. and c100 by 62 Grove Avenue p.m. (Birdguides).
Rainham: 2 Waxwings on New Road at 9.15 (Richard Harrison).
Richmond: at least 12 Waxwings at junction of Queens Road and Marchmont Road still 14.50 briefly before flying off (Susanna Ramsey).
Richmond Park: 1 male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in wooded area on the right, halfway down Queen's Ride, late am. (Ian Grant).
Romford: 3 Waxwings in Silver Birch at Linton Court adjacent to Eastern Avenue East (A12) at 13.45 (Colin Jupp); 10 Waxwings in same birch tree at 3pm (Sid Petts).
Ruislip Lido: Smew (2 male, 1 female) (Dick Middleton); the birds are skulking in vegetation 150 yards north-east of the beer garden (JR).
South Norwood Lake: 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1f Pochard, 25 Tufted Duck, c50 Black-headed Gull, 9 Cormorant, 3 singing Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, c30 Goldfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Staines: 20 Waxwing by A30 (Birdguides).
St Cuthbert's Garden (West Hampstead): male Blackcap singing full song, Heron over SE (Andrew Verrall).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: c60 Waxwings low and north, 1605; male Peregrine, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 43 Shovelers, 2 Goldcrests, plus the usuals (MJP)
Tyttenhanger GPs: Black Redstart at far end of field by Willows Farm car park a.m. (Birdguides).
Upminster: 70 Waxwing at Park Avenue, Cranham (Birdguides).
Waddon Ponds: 6 Little Grebe, 2 Egyptian Geese (1 with BTO metal ring)( Number unknown), c30 Coot, Goldfinch, 1 Ring necked Parakeet, 1 Chiffchaff, c20 House Sparrow, Grey and Pied Wagtails, (Ernie Thomason)
Wallington: 150 Waxwings in mobile flock; Clarendon / Ross Road area 11-11.30am at least (Alan Pearson).
Walthamstow Res: fem Eider still present in south-west corner of No.5 Reservoir, viewable from Coppermill Lane p.m. (Birdguides).
Walton Res: juv Great Northern Diver (Birdguides).
Wandsworth Common: c15 Siskin by ponds, 14 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush (Peter Newmark).
Whitton: 58 Waxwings outside Card Fair in the High Street. Watched from 13.00-13.10 when they flew off but they may still be in the area as the trees still have berries on (Andy Roberts).
William Girling Res (viewed from Mansfield Park): female Scaup, female Red-breasted Merganser, 19 Black-necked Grebes, 5 Goosander, c18 Goldeneye (Roy Woodward).

Sunday 23rd January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: Firecrest still in Conservation Area, 3 Water Rails Conservation Pond, 3 Greylag and 10 Shoveler Boating Lake, 50+ Redwing racetrack (Bob Watts).
Belvedere (Norman Rd): 1 Kestrel came down on lamp post, 19 Chaffinch in trees and 7 Magpie on 'building site fields', junction Norman Rd and Eastern Way. 1 Pied Wagtail on house roof. (Chris Rose).
Bookham Common: Hawfinch near station + several Bullfinch. (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel)
Bounds Green: Approx. 10 Waxwings in treetops at north end of Brownlow Road, near North Circular, at 08:50 (Ian Ellis).
East India Dock Basin area: 2 male Peregrines in aerial dispute, 150+ Teal, 41 Tufted Ducks, Redshank, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, Chiffchaff. Late pm: 12 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper in high tide roost (Nick Tanner & Gary A James)
Enfield: 7 Mealy Redpoll amongst redpoll flocks at Vicarage Farm till 12.50 at least. (Adam Wilson, Robert Callf & Phil Rhodes) per FJM
Erith Marshes: 2 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan. 40 Teal in ditch. More Teal on flooded field between Sewage Works and Incinerator plus over 200 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck and 60 Lapwing (Thames tide was right in). 30 Canada Geese and Song Thrush in Sewage Works grounds. (Chris Rose).
Fairlop Waters:1 Jack Snipe ,15 Common Snipe,90 Lapwing,21 Pochard ,34 Teal,2 Shoveler,35 Gadwall,39 Tufted Duck (Steve Bacon)
Finsbury Park: Waxwings still on Drayton Park with c45 around 162 and another 20 around 84 at 1-30pm. (David Bradshaw)
Friern Barnet: 45 Waxwings in Poplar Grove at 08:45 this morning, some bathing in roof gutterings (Ian Ellis / Brian Demby).
Fulham Reach: (Thames) 47 Canada Goose over, 6 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 349 Black-headed Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 7 Herring Gull, 56 Teal, 16 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 7 Coot, 3 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows (Queen Caroline Estate) 20 Goldfinch, (Margravine Cemetery) 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Redwing (Nathalie Mahieu).
Greenwich Peninsula: Adult Mediterranean Gull on Thames between Anchor & Hope Lane and Thames Barrier. (Conrad Ellam)
Holborn, John Street: 37+ Waxwings still in the area feeding on trees along street, male Sparrowhawk spooked them c14:05 and all flew off N. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Lee Valley CP: Pink-footed Goose & White-fronted Goose in among flock of 90+ Greylags, ( After wait of over 2 hours the White-front flew in with second flock of greylags to join the smaller flock present and the whole flock moved to the adjoining field. Greylag with neck collar also present within this flock. Red Kite being mobbed by 2 crows over Galley Hill wood, Common Buzzard in field opposite cow sheds, flock of 7 Yellowhammers in trees beyond viewpoint, also 7 Red-legged Partridge in corner of top field. (J Anderson)
Lesnes Abbey Wood: 1 Sparrowhawk (flyover), 1 Grey Heron and 1 flyover, 3 Mallard (Abbey Ponds), 7 Long-tailed Tit (in woods). (Chris Rose)
Loughton: c.90 Waxwing Pyrles Lane x Chester Rd. @ 13:30 (Paul Whiteman)
Mill Hill. c100 Redwing, c20 Waxwing at Hendon Crematorium @ 4.15 (Carol Turnham)
Muswell Hill: Waxwings - 70+ near 91 Grove Road 1030, 150+ Cranbourne Road 1400 (Bob Watts & Dominic Mitchell).
Northolt + Greenford CP: m Mandarin (new site tick) with Mallards, 2 Green + pr Great Spotted Woodpeckers (m drumming), 5 Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, 7 Mistle + 2 singing Song Thrushes, c70 Redwing, c30 House Sparrow, c20 Goldfinch (Neil Anderson)
Osterley: 26+Waxwing at 1330hrs in hombase carpark, at Syon Lane Junction of A4.(N.Smith)
Richmond: 12 Waxwing at junction of Queens Road and Marchmont Road till 13.15 at least (Steve Read and Tim Howard) per FJM
Richmond Park: 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 long-tailed Tits. Along Beverley Brook Robin Hood Gate to 1st ped. bridge (AM). (Ian Grant) 6 Sisken in trees at edge of reed bed on upper Pen Pond (Steve Woolfenden)
Romford Golf Course: male Firecrest on north side of GC late afternoon (Colin Jupp).
Romford: 13 Waxwings at junction of Eastern Avenue E / Pettits Lane N perched in trees and feeding in hawthorn hedge along A12 next to Linton Court and Rise Park Parade. 32 were present yesterday (Colin Jupp).
Ruislip Lido - male and female smew (swimming in bushes opposite pub shoeline) 6 Bullfinch 4m 2 f, poss Scaup ! lots of white on face. (Martin Gibbons)
South Norwood Lake: 2 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 10 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron (over)c150 Black-headed Gull, 8imm Common Gull, 40+ Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3singing Song Thrush, 1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Siskin, c30 Goldfinch, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 15 Ring-necked Parakeet, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Staines, Leacroft area: 25 Redwing, a pair of Chaffinch. 13.30- 14.00
Valentines Park, Ilford: 2 Egyptian Goose, Valentino the Med Gull showing well, and developing hood nicely (Photos) (London Birdwatching)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: fem Eider still on No 5 Res late morning ( S.Bacon per V H-F ). Still present to 15:15hrs at least, showing down to 10 metres by water tower in SW corner (Nick Tanner). Nearby 2 Ruddy duck on Higher maynard & at 15:18, 6 Swans on Lockwood facing away from me at distance, showed a very long straight thin necked jizz, suggesting Whoopers? they immediatley flew and appeared to alight on Banbury res (J.Murray). John, I regularly see a family party of up to 6 Mute Swans flying around here between the Maynards, Lockwood & Banbury, so more than likely it was them (Lol Bodini).
Walthamstow marsh: Woodcock flushed from Horseshoe Thicket, Little Owl by riding stables. (Paul Whiteman) http://walthamstowwildlife.blogspot.com/
Wanstead Flats: 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 singing Song Thrush, 17 Redwing, 2 Fildffare, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pochard, 32 Tufted Duck, 21 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 9 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal (sw), Kestrel, Reed Bunting, Snipe, 6 Cormorant, (NC).
Wanstead Park: Siskin (Dell), 50+ Tufted Duck, 10+ Pochard, 20+ Gadwall, 7+ Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Canada Goose, 7 G Heron, 5 singing Song Thrush, 13 Redwing, RN Parakeet, Little Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 4 Goldcrest, possible Firecrest Bush Wood, Tawny Owl (Bush Wood), Coal Tit (NC)
Whitton: 55 Waxwings on Whitton High Street, feeding on Sorbus trees outside Card Factory at 16.00 (I. Darbyshire).
Woodside Park: One Waxwing flew W, calling, over my garden in Westbury Road shortly before dusk (Ian Ellis).
Greater London:- Waxwings, Waxwings, Waxwings everywhere - What a Wonderful Waxwing Winter!! --Geoff Crabtree.

Saturday 22nd January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: c20 Lesser Redpoll Lower Slopes, Little Grebe Tunnel Res, 7 Shoveler Boating Lake, c35 Redwing (Bob Watts).
Barking Bay: 5 ad, 2w Yellow Legged Gull, 4 Ringed Plover, Curlew, 53 Redshank, 3 Rock Pipit, c150 Linnet, 4 Reed Buting, fem Sparrowhawk, 100 Teal.(Paul Hawkins)
Belhus Woods: Marsh Tit, Common Buzzard, 30 Siskin, 4 Goldcrest, Red-crested Pochard, 50 Wigeon (Shaun Harvey)
Crayford Marshes: Jack Snipe flushed along Darent creek. Grey Plover, Turnstone, 2 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Yellowhammer, Green Sandpiper, Little Owl, Goldcrest. (Kev Jarvis).
Ealing Broadway: perched Peregrine (Neil Anderson) Recently identified by (LPP) as a tiercel rung on 01/06/2010 from a brood of 4 in south west London. (Stuart Harrington)
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 2 Shelduck, 118 Teal, fem Pintail, 35 Tufted Duck, 4 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Stock Dove north, singing Song Thrush (Gary A. James, Nick Tanner). Jay, Chaffinch, 3 Reed Bunting, Common Gull (Paul Hyland)
Enfield: 2+ Mealy Redpoll, amongst flock of at least 23 Redpoll sp., most of which were Lesser Redpoll (Only viewed with binoculars - one bird appeared to show a large white rump patch - possible Coue's Arctic Redpoll!?) feeding in Silver Birches, 14:00 hrs (Robert Callf). Where in Enfield, please, Robert? - Vicarage Farm - TQ307972 - Feeding in Silver Birches in first field on the right past mini-rifle range (David Bradnum) - Grid ref would be very helpful, thanks in advance (JR).
Friern Barnet / N.Finchley: 19 waxwing in Poplar Grove. A further 70 or so in trees outside the Compton School on Summers Lane / Porters Way beside Coppetts Wood (Iain Dykes).
Gallions Reach: 7 Scaup (6 drakes, 1 female) on Thames adjacent to Beckton sewage works, 3 Curlew, 60+ Redshank, 10+ Black-tailed godwits, c30 Shelduck (Ian Woodward).
Greenwich Peninsula: Drake Gadwall in Ecology park + 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Dabchick & 20+ Goldfinch. 30+ Redwing in Central Park. Reed Bunting in reed terraces (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel)
Hampstead Heath/Kenwood: Firecrest in holly bushes behind Wood Pond (Dave Porritt).
Herne Hill/Dulwich: 20 x Waxwing from 8.00 - 9.00 a.m. at least at same place as larger flock yesterday (Dave Clark)
Holborn: 2pm to 2.30pm approx. - 3 groups (or same group - not seen at same time?) of c15 Waxwings flying SW from area in vicinity of Gray's Inn Field. Then coming back (presumably same lot), and settling in John Street, WC1N at 2.45pm, c30 rising to approx. 102 max. count by 3.05pm and then dispersing in groups to around 20 by 3.25pm - All flew NW this time. c40 present from 4pm to 4.20pm - Also flew NW. Focal point is the aerials above no. 4 and 5 John St., with sporadic raids on the small rowan tree outside no. 4 and the 2 larger trees almost opposite. (Kat)
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Tawny Owl showing well. No luck with the Firecrest but Coal Tit and Treecreeper nearby. (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel)
Ingrebourne Valley: Common Buzzard (Shaun Harvey)
Kew Gardens: 3 Mute Swan, 6 Greylag, 8 Egyptian Geese, 29 Shoveler, f Teal, 5 Gadwall, 40 Tufted Duck, m Pochard, 4 Great-spotted + 1 Green Woodpecker, 20+ Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, 3 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, c15 Jackdaw,, c30 Siskin (Neil Anderson)
Kingston: c30 Waxwing S over Minstrel Gardens at 10:30 and 12 N over Kingston Cemetery at 12:00. 4 Chiffchaff on banks of Hogsmill River just upstream of Villiers Road (Andrew Skotnicki).
Lee Valley: White Fronted Goose first seen Jan 6th, still with Greylag flock in goose fields around the back of the cafe; also a Greylag with neck collar which early signs suggest from Sweden. Pink Footed Goose on Seventy Acres lake (near bridge). 1 Waxwing trilling over Turnford Carpark, plus the usual Bittern, Smew, Goosander (J.Murray).River Lee Country Park: Hooks Marsh GP - 1 male, 3 rh Smew, 2 rh Goosander, c 200 Siskin in smaller flocks. Friday Lake - 4 Goldeneye. Hall Marsh - c120 Lapwing, Water Rail, 2 Stock Doves, Kestrel. Fields near Hooks Marsh car park - Pink-footed Goose with Greylags, 2 Egyptian Geese, c60 Fieldfare, c40 Redwings. Seventy Acres Lake - Bittern, Water Rail, 3 Lesser Redpolls. North Met Pit - Bittern, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Treecreepers. (Roy Woodward + LNHS group)
Muswell Hill: 82 Waxwing at 79/81 Grove Avenue at c.9:00 am (Bob Watts) Approximately 100 in Curzon Road at 3:05 pm and male Blackcap (Gareth Richards).
Northolt, Yeading Brook (Hillingdon side): 30+ Snipe, 52 Lapwing, 3 Teal, 80 Fieldfare & Redwing in a mixed flock flying over - mainly Fieldfare, 2 Pheasant, 1 Skylark & 1 Meadow Pipit (Jon Ridge).
Paddington Green: 2 Lapwing east 11:53 (Des McKenzie).
Rainham Marshes: Hen Harrier (reported over woodland/cordite store), Waxwing by visitor centre, Grey Plover (foreshore).... but I didn't see any of them: 2 Barnacle Goose (and I can't count them), 10 + Pintail, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe (trilling), 3 Cetti's Warbler (calling), m Blackcap (feeding on apples), 10-20 Ringed Plover, 100+ Golden Plover, 50 + Stock Dove (66 sp NC)
Rotherhithe: drake Pochard Surrey Water with c.80 Tufted Ducks; little else of note (Richard Bonser).
Ruislip: Drake Smew and 6 Wigeon on Lido, 6 Bullfinch in lakeside scrub. 2 Tree-creeper, 2 Nuthatch and 5 Goldcrest with Lt Tit Flock in LNR. 50+ Redpoll and 1 Siskin on Poors Field (Steve Pash).
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 1 imm Common Gull, pair Shoveler, 1f Pochard, c30 Tufted Duck, 4 Siskin, 20 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, c40 Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 1singing Chaffinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: first-winter Yellow-legged Gull, partially leucistic Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher, 2 Water Rails, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 45 Shovelers; 2,600+ Black-headed Gulls, 400+ Common Gulls, c250 Herring Gulls and c170 LBB Gulls in pre-roost flightline and gathering (Mark Pearson)
Trent Park: 1 female hybrid Aythya (presumed Pochard x Tufted Duck, Lower Lake - with small flock of Pochard) (Robert Callf).
Walthamstow Reservoirs: female Eider on No.5 res (Pete Lambert & Lol Bodini per MJP). Present until 15.30 at least. (TeRNS).
West Thurrock: 250 Waxwing, Lakeside retail park - moving between B&Q, Costco, TGI Friday and Habitat car parks (James Lowen); 90+ still early a'noon near Currys (Richard Bonser).
Wormwood Scrubs: singing Song Thrush. 23 Goldfinch, 11 Greenfinch and 4+ Chaffinch (on little Scrubs) (Charlie Farrell)

Friday 21st January 2011[]

Bookham Common: Hawfinch still behind the station mid a.m. (Birdguides).
Bromley-by-Bow: 22 Gadwall, 60+ Mallard, 61 Coot, 7 Cormorant, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 f Pochard, 6 Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Song Thrush, Great spotted Woodpecker drumming, Chiffchaff calling, Pied Wagtail (Stuart Fisher)
Brownlow Road (N11): c30 Waxwing over low E at about 09:14, calling (Stuart Harrington).
Brunel University: female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in SE corner of Bicentenary Garden. Also, Green Woodpecker, 16 Redpoll, pr Bullfinch, Little Egret. 4 Goldcrest along Nursery Lane and 2 Siskin in Alders along R.Pinn (Ron Jackson & Steve Pash).
Chafford Hundred: 60+ Waxwing at the junction of Saffron Road / Rainbow Road early a.m. (Birdguides).
Coppetts Wood (entrance to "civic amenity site" off Summers Lane N12): 70 Waxwing at 8.00 a.m. (James Palmer).
Cheshunt GP's: 59 species in 2 hours late afternoon/earl evening. Highlights were - male Goldeneye + 3 rh Goosander (North Met Pit), 4 Goosander + Water Rail (Ashley GP), Bittern, Snipe, 6 Water Rail, 2 Egyptian Geese & Cetti's Warbler (Seventy Acres Lake - Bittern flew from in front of Bittern Watchpoint hide to west side of lake at dusk), rh Smew (Hooks Marsh GP), and Pink-footed Goose + White-fronted Goose with Greylags (in field near Hooks Marsh car park, Fishers Green Lane) (Roy Woodward).
Crayford Marshes: 6 White-fronted Goose flew south-east at 07:30. 2 Bearded Tit calling from yacht club reedbed. Turnstone, Little Owl, 7 Yellowhammer, 3 ad Yellow-legged Gull, Water Rail, Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret (Kev Jarvis).
Dagenham Breach: 3 Smew (m , 2f) late a.m. (Birdguides).
Forest Gate: Grey Wagtail in back yard (NC).
Fryland's Wood (private): Pheasant, 23 Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 3 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 20 Blue Tit, Nuthatch, 3 Treecreeper, Chaffinch, Jay, 2 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow (Croydon Birders).
Grays: Waxwing at junction of London Road / Devonshire Road a.m., m Black Redstart in ploughed field by Thurrock Rugby Club mid a.m. (Birdguides).
Hackney Marshes, River Lea pm: 22 Gadwall, 64 Teal, 41 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 7 Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chiffchaff, 19 Moorhen, 36 Coot, Grey Wagtail, also 30+ Chaffinch with 9 Goldfinch and 23 Linnet feeding on weeds near Orient Way (Stuart Fisher)
Hampstead Garden Suburb: c.20 Redwings Northway Gardens (David Matthews)
Hampstead Heath: 4 drumming GS Woodpeckers, 6 singing Song Thrushes, c5 chirpy Greenfinches (CB
Herne Hill: c100 Waxwing still at Croxted Road / Turney Road late a.m. (Birdguides).
Holborn: 15+ Waxwing still in John Street (Gray's Inn Field) early a.m. (Birdguides); with c30 present mid-p.m. (Birdguides).
Larkhall Park (12:45pm): 2 Mistle Thrush, 20 Black-headed Gulls and pr Magpie's building a nest - spring is in the air! (Michael Mac).
Leicester Square (14:04): 200+ Waxwing flew west over square trilling. Lost sight of them over Haymarket - potentially could have landed in St James Square. At last some central London Waxwings! (J Hudson).
London Wetland Centre: 51 Wigeon, 72 Shoveler, Scaup, Bittern, Water Rail, Woodcock, 5 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 20+ Siskin, 2 Mealy Redpoll (LWC website / Birdguides).
Loughton: 40+ Waxwing still outside Forest Practice, Pyrles Lane and also feeding on berries next to Honey Mead Court, Fairmeads, and the front garden of 39 Colebrook Lane (Birdguides).
Nine Elms Lane (Inner London): m Peregrine circling up and South West at 3:50pm (Michael Mac).
Paddington Green: 35+ Goldfinch a.m. (Des McKenzie).
Peckham Rye Park: Firecrest yesterday in conifers near disused council yard, 200m from main entrance (Birdguides).
Queen Mother Res: fem / imm Velvet Scoter still (Birdguides).
Rainham Marshes: 8 Yellow-legged Gull, first-winter Caspian Gull on landfill - no sign of probable Slaty-backed Gull (Birdguides).
Richmond Park: c200 Siskin by Ham Gate (Andrew Skotnicki).
Southgate: 30 Waxwing east over Brownlow Road a.m. (Birdguides).
South Norwood CP: 4 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 3 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, 6 Pheasant, Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Wagtail, 38 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 20+ Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (ad and 1st winter), ad Great Black-backed Gull, Water Rail, 27 Shovelers, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
South Norwood Lake: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1m Shoveler, 24 Tufted Duck, c70 Black-headed Gull, 12 Cormorant, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Coal Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, c30 Goldfinch, 7 Greenfinch, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson).
Vauxhall BT: 1 Peregrine at 11:20am (Michael Mac).
Wanstead Flats: 7 Mistle Thrush, 4 singing Song Thrush, 9 Redwing, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pochard, 42 Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 9 Greylag Goose, 3 Grey Heron, Kestrel, Goldcrest, 200+ Woodpigeon south, Snipe (NC).
Wanstead Park: Treecreeper (in the Dell - possibly 2), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (drumming - The Dell), Chiffchaff (south end of old sewage works), 10 + Siskin (Dell), 2 Linnet, 52 Tufted Duck, 19 Pochard, 28 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Canada Goose, 3 G Heron, 5 singing Song Thrush (+ 3 other), 24 Redwing, RN Parakeet, 10 Stock Dove, 5 Little Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 5 Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk (NC); the same or another Treecreeper near Grotto at 13:30 (J Lethbridge)
West Thurrock: 100+ Waxwing by Argos, Lakeside Retail Park p.m. (Birdguides).

Thursday 20th January2011[]

Belhus Woods: Marsh Tit (photo), large flock mixed Siskin and Lesser Redpoll, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest,Nuthatch, Long Tailed tit (London Birdwatching).
Crossness: 32 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Curlew, c300 Dunlin, 4 Jackdaw, 2 Goldcrest, 22 Redwing. (Kev Jarvis).
Fulham Reach (Thames, high tide): 7 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck, 23 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 136 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Mute Swan - (Margravine Cemetery) pr Great Spotted Woodpecker (courting), pr Jay, 5 Redwing (Nathalie Mahieu)
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn, 53 Redwing & 2 Fieldfare (JR).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: Tawny Owl showing well in usual tree. (Richard Seargent); m Ruddy Duck on Longwater, 3 Little Grebe (1 trilling), 2 Nuthatch, 3 Treecreeper (Des McKenzie et al)
London Wetland Centre: fem Scaup, Peregrine (pair on Charing X Hosp), Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, 20+ Siskins, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Snipe, Ringed-necked/Tufted Duck male hybrid (Mike Wheeler)
Muswell Hill: 100+ Waxwing on the corner of Curzon Rd and Cranbourne Rd at 11.45. Flew off at 12.00. (Tommy Angus).
North Kensington, Trellick Tower: Peregrine Falcon, seen in flight and perched in ariels at 9am (from a train out of Paddington). (Andrew Birks)
Peckham Rye Park : 1 Firecrest 200 yds from main entrance (Strakers Rd car park), 300+ Black headed Gulls, Herring Gull, Common Gull, on open common, c50 Redwings, (Ernest Thomason & Tom Stone)
Horsenden Hill Fields: 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (1 hammering), 2 Green Woodpeckers,12 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush. (Martin Smith )
Pinner (Cannon Lane): 1 Siskin flew over (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 72 Redwing, 35 Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Grey Heron, 12 Canada Goose flew in & 1 Cormorant flew over west (Jon Ridge).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull, colour-ringed adult Black-headed Gull (ringed Copenhagen, spring 2008), 2 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Shovelers, 3 Redwings, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Walton-on-Thames: at least 2 Waxwing again in trees opposite The Laundry Room in Terrace Road. (Adam Cheeseman)

Wednesday 19th January 2011[]

Balham, Chestnut Grove: 1st Winter Yellow Legged Gull on School roof, with 15 Black-Headed, 8 Common 1 Second Winter Herring & 1 Adult Lesser Black-Backed (Graellsi)
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Dabchick, 1 Heron, 2 Canada Goose, 16 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 15+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Wren, 7 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 6 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Bookham Common: Hawfinch behind station, 8+ Bullfinch, Little grebe, 2 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Ian Stewart).
Coppetts Wood: (entrance to "civic amenity site"): 40 Waxwing at 8.00 a.m. (James Palmer). Off Summers Lane N12?? Thanks James for this. I went there at about 14.30 and counted about 30 in the tallest tree on rhs down the entranceway and feeding on berries on lhs (Geoff Crabtree).
Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, 2 Little Owl, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Rock Pipit, Water Rail, 76 Black-tailed Godwit, c800 Dunlin, 11 Curlew (Kev Jarvis).
Ealing: 50 Waxwing at West Ealing Magistrates Courts (Birdguides).
East India Dock Basin area: Pintail, 50 Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, 8 Redshank (pre-roost), Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff (copse, not calling), 18 Linnet, 2 Reed Buntings (Gary A James).
Enfield: 25-30 Waxwing at Capel Manor College by canteen at 15:10 but no sign since (Observer?).
Erith Cemetery (east side): 6 (+?) Redwing, 12 Greenfinch, 14 House Sparrows in adjoining garden, 20+ Woodpigeon, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, several Starlings, Blue Tit, Robin (Chris Rose).
Ewell: 10 Waxwing at the junction of the A24 / A240 08:30 (Birdguides).
Guy's Hospital: Peregrine seen passing from 23rd floor at 12:05pm (S Fisher)
Hampstead Heath: c50 Siskin, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, 4+ Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 2 singing Song Thrushes and 2 courting Stock Doves (CB) 13:00 Hampstead Pond 1 and 2 - 4 Cormorant, 1 m Shoveler, 1 Great Crested Grebe, pr Herring Gulls, Pochard, pr Mute Swans and apparently earlier in the day the last 4 of 2010's Cygnets taken to Docklands for release (per Ron Vester). Red Arches Pond: 1 f Shoveler very nervous flew a safe distance away. Bird Bridge: 1 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Coal Tit, pr Nuthatch, 3 Robins, 5+ Great Tit, Blue Tits (Michael Mac).
Harlesden: Mediterranean Gull on a lampost opposite the prefab playing field 10:40 (Birdguides).
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn (JR).
Hayes: 60+ Waxwing until at least 09.20 in trees behind Sainsbury's Petrol Station, Lombardy Retail Park (Observer? - I didn't post this siting, but was there 09:00-09:20 (Nigel Sluman); c12 Waxwing at 15.30 in trees behind Sainsbury's Petrol Station, Lombardy Retail Park, Coldharbour Road. Feeding on Rosehips, perching in Alders and drinking from electricity substation guttering (Roger Dewey).
Herne Hill: 12 Waxwing north-east toward Dulwich 11:40 (Birdguides).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 80 Mute Swan, 18 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 68 Pochard, m Ruddy Duck, 3 Little Grebe (1 trilling), pr Great Crested Grebe (weed dance display), c500 Black-headed Gull, 115+ Common Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 4 Stock Dove (1 singing), Tawny Owl showing well, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), singing Song Thrush, 2 singing Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, singing Coal Tit, Nuthatch, 3 singing Treecreeper, 3 singing Goldfinch (Des McKenzie).
Hertford: 18 Waxwing in Brickendon Lane by the first junction with Mandeville Road 07:55 TL 322 113 (Birdguides).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 52 Wigeon, 6 Pintail, Aythya hybrid (Tufted Duck x Scaup), fem Scaup, Sparrowhawk north, Peregrine Falcon, Bittern, 5 Redwing - Additional News for Yesterday: 6 Tundra Bean Goose flew south (LWC website).
Margravine Cemetery: 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 (+?) Redwing, fighting Robins (Nathalie Mahieu).
Mill Hill, Hendon Crematorium: flock of c30 Waxwing 4pm, c25 Redwing (Carol Turnham)
Muswell Hill: 18 Waxwing outside 39 Grove Avenue at 9:30, also male Blackcap; then c.25 in back garden of 12 or 14 Curzon Road at 9:55, before flying back towards Grove Avenue (Gareth Richards); 12 Waxwing in Grove Avenue 09:52 (Birdguides); 20 on Curzon Road (Birdguides).
New Barnet: 1 Waxwing low over the train station calling at 7:40am (J.Murray).
Pinner Park Farm: 153 Redwing, 92 Fieldfare, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Jackdaw, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bullfinch, 15 Goldfinch & 3 Siskin. Also: 1 Sparrowhawk at Headstone Moat (Jon Ridge).
Queen Mother Res (permit access): Velvet Scoter, juv Great Northern Diver 14:45 (Birdguides).
Rainham Marshes: 3 ad White-fronted Goose on Aveley Pool, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, juv Glaucous Gull - no sign of Slaty-backed Gull (Birdguides); Little Egret, 19 Ringed Plover, 30 Golden Plover, Dunlin, 7 Curlew, Jack Snipe. 42 Common Snipe, 43 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 40 Stock Dove, 8 Rock Pipit, 5 Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest (ELBF).
Regent's Park: 2 Waxwings east 8.30am and 40 south-east at 1.50pm, 1m Firecrest, Fieldfare, 4 Teal, Tawny Owl (Tony Duckett).
South Norwood CP: 4 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, Sparrowhawk, 3 Cormorant, Pheasant, Common Snipe, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, Jackdaw, 2 Siskin, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: 3 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, 30 Black-headed Gull, 15 Tufted Duck, 6 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Song Thrush, 1m Sparrowhawk, 2 Jay, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, c20 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch (John Watson).
Tottenham: 7 Waxwing still in Ash tree at Reform Row 08:14 (for second day); still present at 12:40 (Birdguides).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery: 2 Firecrests Monument Glade contact calling, 3+ RN Parakeets (7 seen recently), 3 Stock Doves, 2 Goldcrests (Snipe reported in recent weeks) (Bob Watts).
Trent Park: 1 Goosander (redhead), 7 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 24 Mandarin, 30 Lesser Redpolls, 40 Siskin, 25 Redwing, 7 Nuthatch (Ian Woodward).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Shelduck, Barnacle Goose, 3 redpoll, Tawny Owl, Red Kite, Kestrel, 8 Yellowhammer, 4 Reed Bunting (Steve B).
Walthamstow: 20 Waxwing in treetop in Stoneydown Park 08:30 (Peter Keeble)
Walton-on-Thames: c20 Waxwing briefly in trees opposite The Laundry Room, Terrace Road (Adam Cheeseman).
West Drayton: 14 Waxwing in the garden of 13 Heather Lane 12:05 (Birdguides).
West Ealing: Waxwings (up to 50, numbers fluctuating) still present in the trees around Ealing Magistrates Court. The berry-bearing tree is almost empty though, despite the lone Mistle Thrush defender (Andrew Birks).
West Thurrock: 86 Waxwing at Costco car park, Lakeside 08:25 (DD-L); rising to at least 225 by about 10:30 (JL).
Kenwood: bench area - pr Nuthatch, at least one considering flying to hand for food several times, but baulking at the last minute, 1 Coal Tit, 5+ Great Tit, 5+ Blue Tit feeding from hand, pr Jay, 2 Robins, 1 Brown Rat 1st seen here. Kenwood - wood pond, 50 Redwing in brambles then flew NW pr Egyptian Geese in trees, 1 Common Gull on lawns, 20 Black headed Gulls, 1 Cormorant. 1,000 Pound Pond - 13 Mandarin, several Jackdaws, 25 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Song Thrush singing (Michael Mac).

Tuesday 18th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: 2 Water Rails fighting (conservation pond) (David Callahan).
Barking Park: 2 Egyptian Goose, 10 Shoveler (ELBF).
Batchworth Lake (Rickmansworth): 6 Goosander (3 drakes) (JR).
Beddington SF: Firecrest (SBC).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Dabchick, 1 Heron, 22 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 2 Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 7 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 10 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Magpie, 8 Carrion Crow, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Bury Lake (Rickmansworth): 2 Red-crested Pochard (1 drake) (JR).
Broomfield Park (Palmers Green N13): 4 (3 adults, 1 '1st-winter') Mute Swan; 7 (6 males, 1 female) Shoveler; 2 (m&f) Tufted Duck; 1 'summer-plumaged' Black-headed Gull, amongst flock; 1 Pied Wagtail; 2 Dunnock, including one singing male; 14 Redwing; 3 Mistle Thrush, including a singing male (Robert Callf).
Crossness: 2 Grey Plover, 4 Rock Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, 64 Black-tailed Godwit, c700 Dunlin, 130 Gadwall, 4 Curlew (Kev Jarvis, S. Carter).
Dulwich Park: 2 Fieldfare with 9 Redwing (Steven Robinson).
East Barnet: 4 Waxwing in my back garden at 13.30 pm (Pete Lowman).
East India Dock Basin NR: Water Rail (seen on edge of phragmites reeds - northern fringe), Teal, Mallard, Heron over, Robin, Gt Tit, Blue Tit, Cormorant (Pete Fallan) thanks Pete (Nick Tanner).
Epping Forest, Connuaght Water: 80 Tufted duck (by far my highest count ever at the site, usual count 20-30), 14 Pochard, 1m Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 14 Mandarin. Also Kingfisher on nearby Butler's Pond (Ian Woodward).
Gillespie Park: 21 Waxwings at 1600 then flew off towards Quil Street Estate, Chiffchaff (Chris Langsdon).
Hackney: 10+ Waxwing around The Scolt Head pub on Ardleigh Road 15:00 (Birdguides).
Hayes: 86 Waxwing on St. Christopher's Drive behind Sainsbury's petrol station at Lombardy Retail Park 12:00 (Birdguides).
Hayes Hill Farm (Lee Valley): Raven (ELBF).
Highbury (80 Drayton Park Road, 7.55 and 8.10): around 75 Waxwings perched on tv aerials. Flew off to west (Lawrence Lawry).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 27 Egyptian Goose, m Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, m Ruddy Duck on Longwater for 8th day at least, fem Sparrowhawk, 3 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebe, singing Song Thrush, Firecrest in shrubs on north side of Serpentine nr the bridge (second day at least), Treecreeper, Linnet over (Des McKenzie, Noel Lever).
Ingrebourne Valley: Little Owl, Redpoll sp, 5 Cetti's Warbler, Sparrowhawk, RN Parakeet (Shaun Harvey).
Inns Lake (Rickmansworth): 2 Red-crested Pochard (one drake) (JR).
Isle of Dogs: Chiffchaff, 5 Long Tailed Tit, 30 Monk Parakeet, 9 Great Crested Grebe (Richard Harrison).
Islington (N1): 5 Waxwings in Gibson Gardens at 1:20 (TimH); 6 Waxwing in a tree by No.15 Cruickshank Street 10:55 (Birdguides). c20 Flew over Gibson Sq. at 12.50 (Birdguides)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 55 Wigeon, 100 Shoveler, fem Scaup, 4 Bittern, 2 Woodcock, Water Pipit, 8 Redwing, 5 Siskin (Birdguides LWC website).
Maple Cross: 1 Common Buzzard over (JR).
Muswell Hill. 33 Waxwings still present, sitting in a tree outside 39 Grove Ave 10am (Iain Dykes).
New Covent Garden Market (Stockwell): 1 m Kestrel perched 11:15 (Michael Mac).
Pinner Park Farm: 5 Skylark over, 1 Green Woodpecker, 30 Fieldfare, Redwing, Jackdaw, 1 Coot on the main pond & 6 Grey Heron. Also: 1 Kingfisher at Headstone Moat (Jon Ridge).
Queen Elizabeth II Res: 25 Goosander roosted, Black-necked Grebe (SBC).
Rainham landfill: ad Caspian Gull. No sign of Slaty-backed Gull 1030-1230 (James Lowen).
Romford GC: 3 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, Firecrest (ELBF).
Rotherhithe: only 3 Scaup this morning at west end of Greenland Dock (2 1st-winter drakes and female). They woke up at 7:50 & swam to middle of dock looking agitated before flying off east at 8:05 (to Millwall Dock?) (J Hudson).
Southgate: c15 Waxwing in trees at Oakwood Underground Station 08:55 (Birdguides).
South Norwood CP: 3 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 6 Pheasant, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 8 Pied Wagtail, 17 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 9 Siskin feeding on path (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: 3m 3f Siskin, 6 Redwing, 2 Mute Swan, pair Shoveler, 1 Great Crestd Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 12 Cormorant, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 1m Kestrel, 3 singing Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 1 Collared Dove, c30 Goldfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Staines Res: Brent Goose flew west late a.m. (SBC).
Stocker's Lake: 2 Goosander (1 drake), Goldeneye, 1 Kingfisher & 25 Siskin. Also 2 Egyptian Goose & 2 Lapwing on the flooded field at Stocker's Farm (JR).
Thurrock: 50 Waxwing outside Costco at the Lakeside Retail Park (ELBF).
Tottenham: 7 Waxwing still on Reform Row 12:08 (Birdguides); c15 Waxwing on roofs and aerials on Shelbourne Road in Tottenham Hale 08:15 (seen from a moving train) (Birdguides).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck, 16 Siskin, Buzzard. (Steve B)
Walton Res: first-winter m Scaup, juv Great Northern Diver (SBC / Birdguides).
Wanstead Flats: Reed Bunting nearly taken by Sparrowhawk, Skylark, 4 Mistle Thrush, singing Song Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 12 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 6 Greylag Goose, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Stock Dove (NC/Tim Harris)
Wanstead Park: 40 Siskin (ow, later Dell), Bullfinch (h over north end of ornamental waters), 63 Tufted Duck, 23 Pochard, 46 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Canada Goose, 4 G Heron, Coal Tit, 6 singing Song Thrush, 12 Redwing, Water Rail, 10 RN Parakeet, Grey Wagtail, up to 10 Stock Dove displaying, Magpie half-heartedly looking at nest repair, Skylark over south, 6 Little Grebe (NC); also 12 Mute Swan, 58 Mallard, 6 Cormorant, 11 Moorhen, 192 Coot, 118 Black-headed Gull, Kestrel, 5 GS Woodpecker. 4 Green Woodpecker, m Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (nr Dell), Chiffchaff (ow), 4 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 7 Goldfinch, 10 Jay (J Lethbridge).
West Ealing: 45 Waxwings at 08:15 increasing to 60 by 16:00 feedings on berries outside Ealing Magistrates Court W13 0SD (Nigel Dodd)
Woodoaks Farm (Maple Cross): 5+ Yellowhammer & 1 Sparrowhawk (JR).

Monday 17th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: Water Rail, 4 Redwing, pair Gadwall (David Callahan).
Bedfords Park LNR (Lake): drake Teal, 4(2m 2f) Pochard, f Tufted Duck, 20 Mallard. Not much else in brief late afternoon visit, Goldcrest, singing Mistle Thrush (Colin Jupp).
Brentford: c30 Waxwing at Homebase (Syon Lane) at 08:45, then small flocks (6 & 11) on and off throughout day, before flock peaked at 47 at 14:00 (Bill Haines).
Brent Reservoir: 15.00-16.00. 4 Bullfinch, 12 Jackdaw, 3 Goldcrest, Collared Dove, Redwing, Snipe, juv Sparrowhawk, Ruddy Duck plus regulars (Rob Ayers)
Crayford: 1 Little Egret following Grey Heron west over farm between River Cray and Dartford Loop railway line. 10+ Teal on watery field here. 25 Goldfinch along By-way 105 by River Cray. Circa 240 Starlings on pylon at junction of Thames Rd and University Way. More Teal, 12 Shoveler, 2 Mute Swan on flooded fields Dartford side of Crayford Creek. (Chris Rose).
Crayford Marshes: Avocet, 52 Black-tailed Godwit, c420 Lapwing, Little Egret, c700 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 64 Redshank, 14 Wigeon. (Kev Jarvis).
East Barnet, North London: Oak Hill Park, Church Hill Road, EN4 - Little Egret feeding in Pymmes Brook near the pavilion. per Kit Jones (R. A. Husband)
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 3 Shelduck, 29 Teal (massive drop in numbers), female Pintail, 2 Redshank, Stock Dove north, singing Song Thrush, c50 Greenfinch (into roost behind Esso garage at dusk), 6 Reed Bunting (Nick Tanner).
Hounslow East tube station: 11 Waxwing immediately outside the station (northside) 12.00. Increasing to 31 at 12.40 (Keith Fisher)
Islington Green: at 11:55, 15 Waxwings west towards Liverpool Road (TH); at 1:15, 22 Waxwings in Gibson Square, N1, before flying off east over Upper St. (TH)
Margravine Cemetery: 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Redwing, singing Dunnock, 2 Egyptian Goose over, pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu)
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Egret on flooded fields, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Skylark over, Fieldfare, Redwing, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Coal Tit & 13 Grey Heron. Also: 1 Kingfisher & 1 Mute Swan at Headstone Moat (Jon Ridge).
Sidmouth Park, Leyton: 42 Waxwing landed on Alder then dispersed along Sidmouth Road (c3:15), also 36 Chaffinch, 6 Blue tit, Great Tit, 2 Robins, 5 Blackbirds, Collared Dove, 7 Starling (kept away from the Waxwings), 9 Woodpigeon (Stuart Fisher)
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 30 Tufted Duck, 35 Black-headed Gull, 10 Cormorant, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 singing Song Thrush, 6 Long-tailed Tit, c20 Goldfinch, 2 House Sparrow, (John Watson)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery: Firecrest south of Monument Glade 115pm, also 20+ Redwing, Song Thrush, R N Parakeet (Bob Watts).
Tyttenhanger flood plain!!: Shelduck, 99 Lapwing, c100 Fieldfare, 9+ Yellowhammer. (Steve B)
Waddon Ponds (Croydon) : 1 Possible Madagascar Teal hybrid, (See photos), 2 Mute Swan, 20+ Tufted Duck, 5 drake Pochard, House Sparrow, Starling, 4 Robins, c100 Black headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, Moorhen, usual large number of Coot, 3 Little Grebe, Large number of Starking and Goldfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, Ring necked Parakeet, (Ernie Thomason)
Walthamstow Reservoirs, West Warwick: f Scaup, f Reed Bunting, Pochards, Kingfisher (D Barrett)
Wanstead Park (The Basin): at 8:15, drake Teal (rare here), 2 drake Pochard, no sign of yesterday's Great Crested Grebe, 3rd-summer graellsii Lesser Black-backed Gull with flesh-coloured legs. Very little else. (TH)

Sunday 16th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: 2 GBB Gulls, Water Rail, 30+ Redwing, Fieldfare, female Blackcap Top Field (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts).
Amwell GPs: 9 Smew, Bittern (Birdguides).
Biggin Wood (SE17): 50+ carrion crow, 1 green woodpecker (heard), 3 ring neck parakeet, 4 magpie. (R Bell)
Brent Reservoir: Waxwing over Birchen Grove at 07.50 (Andrew Self)
Canonbury: c50 Waxwing flying between tree and tv aerials on Petherton Road (N5) near Poets Road at around 11.20am; and again at 12.55pm (Neil Verlander)
Cassiobury Park: no sign of recent Waxwings - Tawny Owl (called), 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30+ Redwing, 4-5 Mistle Thrush (1 singing), 4 Nuthatch (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
Chalk Farm / Belsize Park: at least 90 Waxwings feeding behind King Henry's Road on railway embankment. Are mobile and split, some flying around nearby Belsize Park area (Glen Mcdonald, Tony Duckett).
Cockfosters EN4: East Barnet - Belmont Open Space (Behind Bob Husband's garden in Carson Road, EN4): M & F Blackcap, Goldcrest, Redwings feeding on Hawthorn berries, 7 Long-tailed Tits (R. A. (Bob) Husband & Mrs Anna T. Husband)
Crayford Marshes: Little Egret (Conrad Ellam & John Bushel)
Fairlop Waters: female Goosander (London Birdwatching)
Finsbury Park N4 / Highbury N5: between 9am and 9:30am. No sign of yesterday's c100 Waxwings at Finsbury Park Rd, Plimsoll Rd, Gillespie Rd or Drayton Pk (Richard Moorhead); c30 Waxwings over the junction of Plimsoll Road and St Thomas's Road at 10:10am, heading south (Tim Blackburn). 60 Waxwings at south side of Gibson sqaure N1 (Chris & Pete Langsdon)
Grange Waters: 160 Fieldfare, 50 Skylarks, 16 Yellowhammers, 4 Waxwings over south west @ 8.10am, 14 Wigeon, 2 Common Snipe, 35 Redwing, Brambling and 7 Corn Buntings. ( Dave Morrison )
Greenwich Peninsula: 17 Teal, 1 Meadow Pipit. Nothing of interest in with large gulls at low tide. (Dave Capper, James Lowen)
Highbury (140 or higher Drayton Park Road): large flock of Waxwings perched on Aerials and feeding on Rowan trees. 12.50pm (Lawrence Lawry).
Hillfield Park Res: Black-necked Grebe a.m. but no sign of Red-necked Grebe (Birdguides).
Holmethorpe SPs: Goldeneye, fem Smew (SBC).
Hooks Marsh (Lee Valley): 3 Smew (1m) (Birdguides).
Hornchurch Sainsbury's carpark: 25 Waxwings showing well (Shaun Harvey).
Hornchurch: Trees just beyond garden 12 Waxwings @ 2.40pm (Dave Morrison)
Island Barn Res (permit access): Great Northern Diver but flew off and was relocated to Walton Res (Birdguides).
Isleworth: 25 Waxwing at the rear of B&Q car park (Birdguides).
Kensal Green Cemetery and St Mary’s Cemetery: 100+ Redwing, G.S. Woodpecker (Charlie Farrell)
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 41 Gadwall, 149 Teal, 4 Pintail, 94 Shoveler, 372 Tufted Duck, fem Scaup Aythya hybrid (Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck) on lagoon nr Peacock Tower late a.m., Peregrine Falcon, 6 Common Snipe, Water Pipit, 3 Redwing south-west, 4 Siskin (Birdguides). Also Woodcock (L. Freeland-Haynes)
Muswell Hill: 70+ Waxwing bathing in the guttering of No.37 Grove Avenue p.m. (Birdguides).
Paddington Green: fem Peregrine Falcon over 13:40 (DMc).
Pinner (East Towers): 1 Tawny Owl calling at 23:07 (JR).
Rainham Marshes RSPB: again no sign of putative Slaty-backed Gull this morning (predictably as tip not working); Golden Plover, 3 Barnacle Geese and Marsh Harrier, 1w White-fronted Goose, 7 Ring-necked Parakeet south late pm (Steve Bacon, Richard Bonser, David Bradnum et al).
River Lea E4 7PX: (near King George's Sailing Club) 1 female Goosander, 1 Gadwall (Millicent Harper).
Romford: 26 Waxwing at the junction of Havering Road and Moray Way a.m. (Birdguides); 12 in roadside trees here mid-afternoon (until 15.30 at least). Hardly saw any feeding activity, very skittish when visiting rowan (Colin Jupp, Sid Petts).
Romford Golf Course: no sign of any Waxwings up to dusk, 3 Song Thrush singing near A12 (CRJ).
Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup (3 1st-winter drakes and female) still showing well on south end of Greenland Dock 10:35am; drake Pochards on Surrey Water and Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
South Norwood CP: 6 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, Cormorant, Pheasant, 19 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Wagtail, 8 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 10 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: Peregrine, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great, Crested Grebe, 1f Pochard, 28 Tufted Duck, 12 Redwing (over) c300 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 3 singing Song Thrush, c20 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 8 Collared Dove, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Tolworth: 60 Waxwing on School Lane a.m. (Birdguides).
Tufnell Park: (Anson Road N7) single Waxwing landed briefly in my garden 14:30 approx (Adrian Platt).
Valentines Park, Ilford: Valentino the Med Gull showing well (photos) (London Birdwatching)
Walthamstow Res: 2 Scaup at the sout-west corner of West Warwick 14:30
Walton Res (permit access): Great Northern Diver (see Island Barn report) (Birdguides).
Wanstead Flats: flock of 34 Goldfinch Capel Point (+ others on the flats), 2 Reed Bunting, 12 Mistle Thrush, 14 Redwing, singing Song Thrush (east of Alex), 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, singing Skyark (broom fields), 12 Pochard, 26 Tufted Duck, 18 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 9 Greylag Goose, 3 Snipe (2 Angel Pond first thing - Steve Thorpe), Tawny Owl (calling south of Fairground as yesterday - Steve Thorpe), 5 Cormorant, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Sparrowhawk (NC/Tim Harris)
Wanstead Park: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Siskin, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, 4 Teal, Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Canada Goose, 4 G Heron, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, 3 singing Song Thrush. Water Rail, 13 Redwing (didn't bother to count ducks as the Wren Group were on hand to do the math, NC). Peregrine Falcon (over the old allotments), Woodcock (the plain), Grey Wagtail (River Roding) - (Mike Messenger's contribution to this year's patch list).
West Thurrock: 10 Waxwing at Tony Levoi Vauxhall Garage (Lakeside) (Birdguides).

Saturday 15th January 2011[]

Barking Outfall: pair 1st winter Greater Scaup, record count of 77 Black-tailed Godwits, 98 Redshank, Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, Chiffchaff and 4 Grey Wagtails (Dave Morrison).
Barking Park: 10 Shoveler, 30+ Chaffinch (London Birdwatching).
Bookham Common: 1 Hawfinch in trees behind train station at 08:45am, 30 Waxwing by Station entrance late morning; also 2 Buzzards over head (J. Murray & J. Murray Snr).
Brent Reservoir: 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull in North Marsh from 10.10 onwards (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall).
Canonbury (N1): c30 Waxwings in trees near station, 1.10-1.20, before flying off towards Highbury (Neil Verlander).
Colne Valley - Longwater and Korda Lakes: 200+ mixed Siskin/Goldfinch flock, fem Goosander, 9 Goldeneye, Shoveler, 20+ Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 5 Great Crested Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, 35 Lapwing, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch (Rob Ayers).
Crayford Marshes: ad Kittiwake west over marsh at 12:14, 8 Yellow-legged Gull, Avocet, Common Sandpiper, 2 Rock Pipit (Kev Jarvis).
East India Dock Basin: area 2 Gadwall, Pintail, 20 Tufted Duck, Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, Peregrine (Gary A James).
Finsbury Park (N4): c100 Waxwing in Finsbury Park Road (Seven Sisters Road end) at approx 9:15 for 30mins; in trees and perched on tv aerials, then flew south (Richard Moorhead). At one point, 100+ Waxwings on aerials above 30 Plimsoll Road, dropping down to feed on street trees (9.30 -10.00am) (Dave Jordan). 75 Waxwings resting on nearby TV aerials and feeding on berries outside 144 Drayton Park between 1pm and 1.20pm before flying towards Ecology Centre (David Bradshaw). 30+ Waxwings in mobile groups, Plimsoll Rd area (N5), 1430-1530 (TeRNS).
Gillespie Park LNR, Highbury (N5): 9 spp incl. 3 Redwing (TeRNS).
Hall Place North (LB Bexley): 1 Green Woodpecker, four separate groups Ring-necked Parakeets heading west over Gravel Hill approaching dusk - totalling circa 43 birds (Chris Rose).
Hampstead Heath: c16 Waxwings E over Tumulus, 9 Mandarin, singing Song Thrush (CB).
Hornchurch Sainsbury car park: 32 Waxwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (Shaun Harvey, Dave Mcgough, M. Blow).
Horsenden Hill: 1m Pochard (Andrew Culshaw and David Howdon)
Ingrebourne Valley: Marsh Harrier over, 5 Cetti's Warbler (Shaun Harvey).
Lonsdale Reservoir: good numbers of Teal and Tufted Duck (though no time to count properly), plus Gadwall and 2 Pochard; also Goldcrest with tit flock and usual species around and about (Rich Petley).
Margravine Cemetery: 1 Sparrowhawk (seen off by Carrion Crows), 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Redwing, 7 singing Robin, 4 Greenfinch, 1 Chaffinch with bumblefoot, 1 pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu).
Martens Grove (LB Bexley): 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Goldfinch, 1 male Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 22+ Woodpigeon, several Ring-necked Parakeet, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Robin (Chris Rose).
Osterley: Waxwings still present in Homebase car park, Syon Lane junction of A4 (N. Smith per Lucy Willis).
Lea Valley - Netherhall/Glen Faba: 1 f Smew, 2 Goldeneye (1m 1f), 189 Wigeon, 2 Treecreeper, 50+ Siskin, Bullfinch, Skylark (Nigel May).
Queen Mary Res: 3 Goosander, 8 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 43 Shoveler, 22 Pochard, 70+ Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Treecreeper (Steve Chastell).
RSPB Rainham Marshes: Not sure if anybody actually saw the Slaty-backed Gull, rumours abounded, what was certain was that the place was rammed: estimates up to 1,000 punters watching even more gulls fighting over what many might have put in their bins just last week! ,Meanwhile: Jack Snipe, Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Curlew, 10 Pintail, Goldcrest, Marsh Harrier, f Merlin, c. 100 Golden Plover were seen on the reserve, alas not all by me (NC).
Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup (3 1st-winter drakes and female) again at the south end of Greenland Dock 08:10; viewable from near the underpass to Tesco (Richard Bonser).
Shenstone Park/Hall Place: North (NE 'enclave') (LB Bexley): 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Wren, Ring-necked Parakeets (Chris Rose).
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 f Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, c250 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 imm Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming), 1 Nuthatch, 2 singing Song Thrush, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Jay, 6 Collared Dove, 3 Greenfinch, c20 Goldfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Stocker's Lake: Colne Valley. 1 male Red-crested Pochard, male Goosander, 3 Goldeneye (Rob Ayers).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: adult Yellow-legged Gull on East Res (presumably same as an individual in December, with two missing primaries on right wing), plus the usuals (Mark Pearson) Hackney Wildlife
Tufnell Park (N7): 08:15-08: 45 smaller numbers than recent days of Waxwings (up to 20), Corinne Road (Adrian Platt).
Valentines Park, Ilford: Mediterranean Gull showing well today (London Birdwatching).
Wormwood Scrubs: 10.00-11.00 - adult Mediterranean Gull again on football pitches with 3 Stock Dove, 550+ Black-headed Gull, 40+ Common Gull, 2 juv Great Black-backed Gulls, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Herring Gull, 600+ Starling, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk (Rob Ayers).
Wraysbury and Hythe End GPs: 1 m Smew, 7 Goldeneye, 1 f Goosander, 15 Teal, 30 Gadwall, 25 Pochard, 5 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe (Rob Ayers).

Friday 14th January 2011[]

Rainham Marshes landfill: putative adult SLATY-BACKED GULL again at 8:30, flying from Coldharbour Lane landfill (Richard Millington) and then several during the day, mainly on the landfill, where photographed again (Dominic Mitchell) and viewed from the cycle path outside the perimeter (Andy Tweed, Howard Vaughan, Simon Buckell, Johnny Allan, Laurence Pitcher et al). Also scoped on Wennington Marshes at around 11.30 am from mound end of cycle path while it loafed with other gulls, when reasonable flight views were had as it went to the tip (Laurence Pitcher, Paul Whiteman, David Callahan et al). Bird was found yesterday by Dominic Mitchell - details on his blog. Looks a very very good candidate! Also up to five Caspian Gulls reported (assorted ages), two adult Yellow-legged Gulls and adult Mediterranean Gull (Dominic Mitchell, Andy Tweed, Richard Millington et al).
Barking Abbey School Grounds: Sparrowhawk seen taking a starling mid murmuration by a yr 9 student (London Birdwatching)
Rainham Village: Cettis Warbler opposite Tescos (Richard Harrison).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Cetti's Warbler, Peregrine, plus the usuals (MJP); 30+ Waxwings in trees near Canonbury station (Penny Walker per MJP)
Finsbury Park/Arsenal - 50+ Waxwings in Rowans at the North end of Plimsoll Road (N4) at 8.00am (Ian Bradshaw) 70+ Waxings Gilliespie road opposite Gillespie school (N5) at 1300 (Chris and Pete Langsdon). c70 still Plimsoll Rd (N4) until 1400 at least. (TeRNS).
Tufnell Park (N7): 08:15-09:00 very mobile flock of at least 80+ Waxwings, Corinne Rd / Brecknock Rd (cf. yesterday, Chris B)
Crayford Marshes: Dark-Bellied Brent Goose, Corn Bunting, c155 Black-Tailed Godwit, Avocet 5 Yellow-Legged Gull, 2 Turnstone. (Kev Jarvis).
Osterley: c.60 Waxwings in Homebase car park feeding in bushes along Syon Lane.
Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup (3 1st-winter drakes and female) at the south end of Greenland Dock with a handful of Tufted Ducks 08:45; viewable from near the underpass to Tesco. Also 3 Shoveler Canada Water (Richard Bonser).
Walthamstow res: f Scaup West Warwick, f Red-breasted Merganser with pair Goosander #5 res, Peregrine over (Pete Lambert per Lol Bodini).

Thursday 13th January 2011[]

Rainham Marshes RSPB: possible adult SLATY-BACKED GULL briefly early afternoon on tip before flying off, appearing to head towards Wennington Marshes but not relocated. Park at main car park, off New Tank Hill Road and walk along river wall, west and then take cycle path on inland side towards tip. Alternatively park at Rainham Riverside car park off Coldharbour Lane (space for c.20 cars) Do not park in or obstruct entrance road or disabled spaces. Walk back down path to Coldharbour Lane and follow cycle path east. Strictly no parking anywhere along Coldharbour Lane/works car park for Veolia landfill site/industrial units at Coldharbour Point. No access onto tip. Further details at www.birdingetc.com
Brent Reservoir: 13 Snipe, Kingfisher, drake Ruddy Duck (141 left in UK in December) (Andrew Verrall).
Broadwater GP: 1 female Smew at southern end, mid afternoon. Also, 1 Water Rail calling, 2+ Chiffchaff and a probable adult Yellow-legged Gull (Bill Haines).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Dabchick, 1 Heron, 35 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 9 Moorhen 1 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 8 Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 3 singing Wren, 2 singing Dunnock, 6 Robin (4 singing) 8 Blackbird, 1 singing Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare west, 15 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 2 Jay, 2 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 8 Goldfinch, 10 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Cassiobury Park: 48 Waxwing nr the cafe a.m. (Birdguides); c30 Waxwing nr Peace Hospice (Peace Drive) at mid-day (Joanne Biscomb per DMc).
Cobham: 18 Bewick's Swans from the bridge in Bridge Road. Also present, 10 Egyptian Geese, Lapwings, Mallards and Mute Swans. Kingfisher on the River Mole. Swans present for four days. (Adam Cheeseman)
Grovelands Park (Southgate): At least 1 Firecrest feeding in Holly late morning; 5 Manadarin ducks (J.Murray).
Crayford Marshes: 3 ad Yellow-legged Gull, c170 Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, 12 Fieldfare, 28 Redwing, Chiffchaff, 6 Curlew (Kev Jarvis, P. Cliffe).
East India Dock Basin area: Pintail, 43 Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Kestrel, 5 Redshank. (Gary A James).
Garston: 25 Waxwing at Kingswood, on TV aerials at 7 Perivale Gardens 13:30 (Birdguides).
Hammersmith (King Street): 15-20 Waxwing west c13:35 (DMc).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 22 Egyptian Goose, pr Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, m Red-crested Pochard, 45 Pochard, 159 Tufted Duck, m Ruddy Duck still on Longwater, Common Snipe flushed off Parade Ground, Tawny Owl showed well but mobbed by Jays, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch (Des McKenzie).
London Wetland Centre: Bittern, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 5 Meadow Pipit, 8 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing south-west (LWC website).
Osterley 30+ Waxwings feeding in Homebase car park beside Syon Lane 08.20 (SR).
Peckham: 5 Waxwing in trees adjacent to Peckham Rye Station (Birdguides).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, Fieldfare, Redwing & 1 Song Thrush (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: ad Caspian Gull on Target Pools 13:10 (Birdguides). Possible SLATY-BACKED GULL (Dominic Mitchell)
Risebridge Golf Course (Romford): 15+ Waxwings flew low west near the A12 at 14.10. A subsequent 20 minute search of the area failed to relocate them (Colin Jupp).
Rickmansworth Aquadrome: 1 female Goosander & 1 Little Egret (Batchworth Lake), pair of Goosander and 3 drake and 1 female Red-crested Pochard on Stockers Lake (Bill Haines).
Ruislip Lido: Pair of Smew late afternoon (Bill Haines).
South Norwood CP: 4 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 17 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher, 8 Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, 43 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Stanmore; c75 Waxwing Uppingham Avenue HA7 2JU 08.15-10.00 (Nigel Musk)
Stockwell (Hemans Estate Communiity Garden): 4pm in feeder tree; 4 Greenfinch, 2 Great Tit and while I was counting them Blackbird singing (Michael Mac).
Streatham: 2 Waxwing in garden by roadside at High Street end of St. Julian's Farm Road (West Norwood) 09:00 (Birdguides).
Tufnell Park (N19): 120+ Waxwings feeding in Corinne Road 10.45 (Ian Hunt). Same flock trilling loudly in a large sycamore on St Georges Ave, Tufnell Park (N7) at 10:30 before flying off in direction of Corinne Road (Reuben Braddock)
Walthamstow Reservoirs (north side): 2m & 14 f/imm Goldeneye, 6 f/imm Goosander, 2 Redshank, Water Rail, Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher, 2 Fieldfare, m+f Ruddy Duck (David Callahan).
Wanstead Flats: flock of 34 Goldfinch, 1 f Reed Bunting, 9 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Skylark, 2 Teal, 19 Tufted Duck, 16 Gadwall, 14 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, Grey Heron, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 8 Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, 2 Stock Dove, Goldcrest (NC).
Wanstead Park: 7 Lesser Redpoll, 50 Tufted Duck, 21 Pochard, 25 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Canada Goose, 2 Little Grebe, 2 G Heron, 2 Coal Tit, Goldcrest, singing Song Thrush (NC).
Cheshunt GP(Seventy Acres): 1 '1st-winter' Mediterranean Gull, flew off over Bittern Watch Point, 12:20 hrs; 1 Little Egret; 15 Siskin, flew over calling (Robert Callf).
Cheshunt GP (Hooks Marsh): 4 possibly 5 Smew,(2 adult males, 2 or 3 female/immature); 1 Lesser Redpoll, flew over calling (Robert Callf).

Wednesday 12th January 2011[]

Biggin Wood (SE17): 1 sparrowhawk, 1 green woodpecker, 1 GS woodpecker, 25+ magpies in one group, 9 ring neck parakeets, 15 wood pigeons, 4 carrion crow. (Rob Bell)
Alexandra Park: 2 Water Rails, 2 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing (David Callahan).
Bedfont Lakes CP and Princes Lakes: 286 Coot, 170 Tufted Duck, 154 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 61 Pochard, 41 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 6 Dabchick, 51 Mallard, 14 Wigeon, 11 Mute Swan, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 39 Gadwall, 7 Smew, 8 Moorhen, 2 Egyptian Geese, 76 Shoveler, 21 Teal, 2 Redshank, 1 Goldeneye, 2 esc Harris Hawk both with jesses. (Adam Cheeseman)
Bromley-by-Bow: 21 Waxwing South West 11:50am, Common Sandpiper, 15 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 9 Teal, 57 Mallard, only 1 Snipe seen since heavy rain and they opened the Abbey Mills flood tanks earlier in week, singing Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 68 Coot, 15 Chaffinch etc (Stuart Fisher)
Brookmill Park: (Lewisham) 1 Heron, 15 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 7 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 10+ Redwing, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Starling, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 4 Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch. (Conrad Ellam)
Bunhill Fields Burial Ground: (fem) Great Spotted Woodpecker (Charlie Farrell)
Chiswick House Grounds: 7 Redwing, 1 fem Sparrowhawk, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Blue Tit, c6 Great Tit, c14 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 5 Chaffinch, 9 Goldfinch over, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Jackdaw (at Chiswick school), 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant (over), 2 Shoveler. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Turnstone, 3 Grey Plover, 9 Curlew, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, c120 Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 32 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Hammersmith W14: 15+ Waxwing briefly in Glazbury Road. Flew off south at 10:45 (M Ruscoe).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 39 Wigeon, 408 Tufted Duck, fem Scaup, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Redwing, 8 Mistle Thrush, c20 Siskin including a singer (LWC website).
Loughton: 44 Waxwings Chigwell Lane nr Debden Station on trees 14.15. (Gary A James)
Northwood: 30 Waxwings in trees by entrance to Waitrose car park in Murray Road. Flew to back gardens in Murray road and beyond Maxwell Road. First reported on Monday per G.Bray (Steve Pash).
Osterley: 40+Waxwings at 1410hrs, Homebase car park feeding on large Cotoneaster bushes at Syon Lane junction of A4 (N.Smith)
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl in the reception garden, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Snipe, 80 Fieldfare, Redwing, 40 Jackdaw & 15 Grey Heron. Also 1 chiroptera sp. around the disaster area at dusk (Jon Ridge).
RSPB Rainham Marshes: 27 Black-tailed Godwits, 84 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew, Little Egret, 5 Fieldfare, 64 Ring-necked Parakeets, ad White-fronted Goose (NE), m Peregrine, 1000 Teal, 336 Greylags, 37 Canada Geese, Ruff (HV et al)
Romford: 70 Redwings between Keats Avenue and A12 (Eastern Ave E); also 2 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Goldcrest (Colin Jupp).
Romford Golf Course: 6 Waxwings in poplar tree 15.45-15.50 then flew off NW, 4 Lesser Redpoll, singing Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush, 40 Magpies gathering to roost after 4pm (Colin Jupp).
Sidcup: Peregrine on North side of Marlow House at 15:30. (Ian Stewart).
Staines Reservoir: Velvet Scoter on the Southern side of the South basin from 1230-1345hrs at least (N.Smith).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Cetti's Warbler, ad Great Black-backed Gull, 3 argentatus Herring Gulls, 9 Little Grebes, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson) Hackney Wildlife
Sutcliffe Park: 22 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Chaffinch (James Lowen)
Walpole Park, Ealing: Peregrine Falcon - high speed harassment of pigeons accross the park at 10.30am, heading south (wetland centre?). Unlikely to be Wetland Centre: not that close, in SE direction and pair there unlikely to allow it... (Nathalie Mahieu) Still roosting on the church at Ealing Broadway, nightly. Also: Sparrowhawk (juv fem), Goldcrest x 2 behind Pitshanger Manor. (Andrew Birks)
Watford: 6 Waxwing at the junction of Peregrine_Close and Falcon_Way 09:00; 52 Waxwing by 7 Falcon_Way mid morning (BirdGuides).

Tuesday 11th January 2011[]

Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 2 Heron, 19 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 8 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 10+ Black-headed Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 10 Redwing, 5 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Magpie, 6 Carrion Crow, 1 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 1 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Bushey: 30 Waxwing in Caldecotte Gardens briefly a.m. (Birdguides).
Cassiobury Park: 120 Waxwing (Birdguides).
Cheam: 3 Waxwings at junction of Summerville Gardens and Cheam Road; 2 Waxwings at junction of Fairholme Road and Cheam Road between 08.20 - 08.25 (Steve Gale).
Cheshunt GPs: 2 Smew (Birdguides).
Connaught Water: 2 Goldcrest, 4 Mandarin, 2 Gadwall, few Teal (J. Anderson snr).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Turnstone, 2 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Curlew, fem Peregrine, 2 Little Egret, 16 Ringed Plover, 24 Black-tailed Godwit (Kev Jarvis).
East India Dock area: no sign poss Sibe Chiff after two hours, but female Blackcap, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall (pair) (David Callahan).
Finsbury Park (N4): 26 sp. incl 8 Pochard, 1 Sparrowhawk over, c70 Redwing. (TeRNS)
Greenwich Park: 1 Cormorant (James Lowen)
Hampstead Heath: 52 Siskin feeding low in alders between Boating and Conservation ponds (CB)
Holmethorpe SPs: Goldeneye, 2 red-head Smew (SBC).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 30 Egyptian Goose (inc a bird ringed 42704 with a missing left foot), pr Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, pr Red-crested Pochard, m Ruddy Duck with Pochards on Longwater (the first since 17/03/2010), Little Grebe, 2 ad sinensis-type Cormorant (judging by gular patch shape), at least 119 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Stock Dove (2 displaying aerially), Collared Dove east, Tawny Owl showing well, Green Woodpecker, Skylark over, 2-3 Pied Wagtail, 4 Song Thrush (3 singing), 9 Redwing (8 west and 1 on site), 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Coal Tit, Treecreeper, 10+ Goldfinch (1 singing) (Des McKenzie).
Islington (N1): 47 Waxwings feeding on berries, Theburton St. at 12.30 (Tim Harris). No sign of Waxwings at 14.15 - just 2 Mistle Thursh and Woodpigeon (Adrian Platt); 7 Waxwing in trees by Robinson Crusoe pub on Collins Road (N5) 14.10-14:25 at least (TeRNS per Birdguides).
Leytonstone: 20 Waxwings in tree Grove Green Rd. (Gary A James).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 72 Shoveler, 300+ Tufted Duck, fem Scaup, Bittern, Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 41 Lapwing, 22 Redwing south-west, 10+ Siskin (LWC website / SBC).
Maple Lodge NR (Maple Cross): c100 Siskin (Roger Dewey).
Osterley (Syon Lane, Homebase car park): 30+ Waxwings feeding 08.30 (SR); c50 Waxwing at 15:44 (Birdguides).
Paddington Green: 2 Egyptian Goose south a.m. (DMc).
Pinner Park Farm: 3 Snipe, 97 Redwing, 78 Fieldfare, 13 Jackdaw, 7 Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest & 13 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Regent's Park: 3 Woodcock, 2 Water Rails, 5 Teal (Tony Duckett).
Snaresbrook: c90 Waxwing in Snaresbrook Primary School for a while this morning before being chased off by a Sparrowhawk in the direction of Eagle Pond (London Birdwatching)
Southgate: 14 Waxwing on Bramley Road opposite Peace Close 08:05 (Birdguides).
South Norwood CP: 9 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 22 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, Pheasant, Water Rail, 3 Common Snipe, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 26 Fieldfare, 49 Redwing, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 16+ Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 2 Waxwings low and south-east 1240, Gadwall numbers significantly higher today (c55), plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Tolworth (Kingston-upon-Thames): 12 Waxwing at the junction of Ewell Road / Derby Road 08:30; 41 Waxwing off Kingsdowne Road between 335 Ewell Road and Iris Close 13:30 (Birdguides).
Totteridge Valley & Darlands Lake: 12+ Mandarin Duck, 5 Teal, 30+ Siskin, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, LS Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 11 Long tailed Tit - Folly Farm: 33 Canada Goose, 188 Common Gull, Herring Gull, LBB Gull, c60 Jackdaw, 8 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, GS Woodpecker (Steve B)
Trent Park: 1 Woodcock, flushed, 10:40 hrs (Robert Callf & Robin White).
West Drayton (R. Colne bridge, Thorney Mill Road): 1 Kingfisher perched on parapet as I drove past (Roger Dewey).
Wraysbury GPs: 3 Smew (Birdguides).
Woodoaks Farm: 1 Little Owl in old orchard (Roger Dewey).

Monday 10th January 2011[]

Abney Park Cemetery: 2 Tawny Owls, 5 Redwings (Mark Pearson).
Addington Hills: 4 Stock Dove, 19 Goldcrest, 28 Blue Tit, 2 Treecreeper, Siskin, 4 Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch (Croydon Birders).
Alexandra Park: 2 Water Rails, Little Grebe (David Callahan).
Batchworth Lake: 4m 2f Goosander (David Howdon)
Belhus Woods CP: 30 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, Goldcrest, Marsh Tit, 10 Siskin, 15 Lesser Redpoll, m Bullfinch (ELBF).
Belvedere: Marbled Duck by incinerator outfall 14:23 (Birdguides). Any first-hand or later news on this? - Only that it's of unknown origin.
Brentford: 30 Waxwing still at the rear of Homebase at the Great West Road / Syon Lane junction (Birdguides).
Brockwell Park: 19 Mallard (7F 12M), 7 Canada Goose, 8 Tufted Duck (2F 6M), 16 Carrion Crow, 4 Magpie, 70 Starling (Football Pitch), 8 Blackbird (4F 4M), 1 Robin, 4 Mistle Thrush (Football Pitch), 31 Redwing (Football Pitch), 7 Song Thrush, 51 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull (Norwood Road Fields), 6 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet, 24 Woodpigeon, 16 Rock Dove, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 4 House Sparrow, 1 Wren (Charlie Kitchen).
Bushey: 50 Waxwing opposite Tesco at Bushey Heath but mobile (Birdguides).
Cherry Lane Cemetery (in field adjacent to): c150 Lapwing (Nigel Sluman)
Clissold Park: 11 Common Pochards, 2 Tufted Ducks, c200 Starlings (including apparently partially leucistic bird with double white wing-bars...) (Mark Pearson)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Turnstone, Little Owl, Chiffchaff, 4 ad Yellow-legged Gull, Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Curlew (Kev Jarvis).
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: Chiffchaff (possibly of one of the eastern forms, see my post on Yahoo group), 7 Shelduck, female Pintail, 6 Gadwall, 108 Mallard, c195 Teal, 16 Tufted Duck, Peregrine, 18 Linnet (Nick Tanner).
Gidea Park (Heath Drive): at least 16 Mandarin (12m) and 4 Shoveler (2m,1 imm male,1f) on private lake only partly viewable from H. Drive, also 10 Long-tailed Tit and fem Sparrowhawk over (CRJ).
Grovelands Park (Southgate): 1 Firecrest feeding in Holly 11:27-11:30 and 12:00 hrs; 50+ Siskin, feeding in Alders around S end of lake (Robert Callf).
Hainault Forest (Camelot entrance): Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1m, Goldcrest 1, Coal Tit 3, Treecreeper 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Long tailed Tit 8 (Steve Bacon).
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn (JR).
Hornchurch: Redwing (ELBF).
Isle of Dogs: 2 Greater Scaup (1w drake and a female) on Millwall Outer Dock at 7.45am (Ian Strickland).
Leyton Flats: 14 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Mealy (Common) Redpoll, 19 Gadwall, 20 Pochard (Gary A James).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 64 Wigeon, Pintail, 250+ Tufted Duck, fem Scaup, 2 Bittern, 10 Siskin (LWC website). Jack Snipe visible from Peacock Tower, F Reed Bunting (S. Haslem)
Mardyke (Stifford-Davy Down): 4 Gadwall, 16 Teal, 4 Mallard, m Sparrowhawk, fem Kestrel, 10 Moorhen, 11 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 5 Wren, 4 Dunnock, 9 Robin, 11 Blackbird, 36 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 12 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, 16 Long-tailed Tit, 19 Blue Tit, 13 Great Tit, 19 Jackdaw, 14 Goldfinch (ELBF).
Orsett Fen: fem Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Buzzard, 38 Red-legged Partridge, 300 Stock Dove, 32 Skylark, Waxwing, 21 Fieldfare, 38 Redwing, 400 Jackdaw, 70 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 24 Linnet, Lapland Bunting west 12:30, 4 Yellowhammer, 10 Corn Bunting (ELBF).
Osterley: 50+ Waxwings feeding in Homebase car park at 08.30 (A4 and Syon Lane junction); same trees as yesterday (Sula Riedlinger). 70+ at 11:00 (Paul Jackson per Adam Cheeseman)
Oxhey Park: 70 Waxwing in vicinity of Mercedes Benz dealership 11.00am (Richard Francis).
Paddington Green: flock of 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull south-east, 12 Redwing south 08:10 (Des McKenzie).
Pinner (Grove Avenue): 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Woodcock flushed near River Pinn - disappeared into a Hatch End back garden, 89 Fieldfare, 22 Redwing & 12 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Richmond: 13 Waxwings feeding on berries in Mount Ararat Road 8.15 to at least 8.45 (Hugh Bradshaw, Andrew Westenbeger, Alex Westenberger).
Romford Golf Course: 35-40 Waxwings at 16.15 (earlier at 4pm c20 over - came in from SE; presumably same flock then joined by others). Steady stream of mainly Black-headed & Common Gulls SW late afternoon + several Herring, Lesser Black-backed & 1ad Great Black-backed Gull. Also: Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest, Goldfinch & (Lsr) Redpoll over (Colin Jupp).
Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup off Durand's Wharf at 1230 (PeteM) any later sightings of these? presumably the Millwall Dock birds? Where exactly is Durant's Wharf? Thanks. Access is from Rotherhithe St via Salter Rd. Park next to the Surrey Docks Farm, the river is 50 yards E (Pete M).
Snaresbrook: 66 Waxwing back in the playground at Snaresbrook Primary School (London Birdwatching).
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 35 Canada Goose, 16 Cormorant, 26 Tufted Duck, c150 Black-headed Gull, 9 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 4 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, c30 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, c30 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Stocker's Lake: 1 Little Egret, 6 + Goldeneye, 1 Red Kite (David Howdon)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Woodcock into reedbed 0955, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Streatham: 35 Waxwing in trees at junction of Casewick Road and St. Julian's Farm Road (West Norwood) 08:00 (Birdguides).
Tolworth: 17 Waxwing at the junction of Ewell Road and Derby Road from 13:00 to 15:00, usually perched at top of a London Plane but occassionaly dropping to feed on berries (Lee Dingain).
Totteridge Valley (Folly,Darlands) 4 Goldfinch, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 30+ Canada Geese, 40+ Fieldfare, 8 Pied Wagtail, 4 Teal, 3 House Sparrow. (J.Martindale)
Trent Park: 12 Waxwing in the Water Garden at 15.35 pm-15.40pm.Flying off west. Also 2 Shoveller (m),4 Tufted Duck (3m,f), 2 Pochard (m), 2 Mandarin (m,f).(Pete Lowman).
W2: a Peregrine flapping and clumsily stalling with a live pigeon in its talons. It seemed to have four wings before it settled on a rooftop out of sight (David Lindo).
Waddon Ponds (Croydon) One BTO ringed Egyptian Goose, 4 Little Grebe, m+f Gadwall, 1 m Pochard, 1 Herring Gull (Ernie Thomason)
Wandsworth: King George's Park. Siskin c20 at lunchtime, trees by footpath just S of Kimber Rd also Sparrowhawk over
Wanstead Flats: f Kestrel (at last), f Sparrowhawk, 52 Fieldfare, 80 + Redwing, 10 Mistle Thrush (1 singing), Song Thrush (singing), Goldcrest, Coal Tit (Alex island), m Teal, 4 Gadwall, 26 Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 9 Greylag Goose, 7 Skylark (feeding in the centre circle of a football pitch), Reed Bunting, 11 Greenfinch, 6 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Black-backed Gull, Snipe (SSSI), 5 Pied Wagtail (NC/Steve Thorpe/Tim Harris). Now the shameless advertising: New multi-author Wanstead Birding Blog here.
Wormwood Scrubs: regular adult Mediterranean Gull on the pitches plus 1 Stock Dove & 8 singing Song Thrushes (Anders Price).

Sunday 9th January 2011[]

Alexandra Park: Firecrest in Conservation Area, Tawny Owl being mobbed by corvids in Cons. Area, Skylark (hd), 1+ Water Rail (hd) (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards).
Balham - Hanson Close: 1+ House Sparrow, 6 Blackbird, pr Chaffinch, no sign of any Waxwing though still abundance of berries on trees - all after 3pm (Michael Mac).
Balham - Nightingale Lane: 4 Collared Dove on roof, most ever seen here and 1st in this area since 2008 - late pm (Michael Mac). I often see Collared Doves down here (Neil Anderson) 2008 was last time I saw one in same spot on the main road, which suggests they probably change nest site or something - Peter White also mentioned he doesn't seem them on Tooting Bec Common? (Michael Mac) Have often seen 1 or 2 Collared Dove just northeast of Tooting Bec Common, around junction of Telford Avenue & Thornton Avenue (N. Granger-Taylor).
Barking Bay: Lesser Redpoll over, 200+ Linnet, 5 Skylark, 30 Chaffinch, Great Tit, 2 Water Rail, 25 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Curlew, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Teal (Paul Hawkins).
Barnes Pond: pair of Mandarin (M Bourne)
Bedfords Park LNR: 2 Firecrests in holly along bridleway (nr Nursery); also calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Song Thrush (1 singing), 6 Redwing, Nuthatch, singing Coal Tit, 20+ Chaffinch. Stayed till nearly dark hoping for owls; Little Owl calling in Wildflower Meadow but no tawny or barn owl. Definitely 4 possibly 5 Woodcock (inc 2 together) flew over towards Upper Bedfords Farm at c16.40hrs and a total of 27 Mandarin flew NE in several groups (calling) around 16.50 (Colin Jupp, John Millar).
Belhus Woods CP: Red-crested Pochard, redhead Smew on Conservation Lake, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Firecrest (BirdGuides).
Bexleyheath: 2 Waxwing at Russell Close mid-p.m. (BirdGuides).
Broadwater Lake: 1 Little Egret, 18 Egyptian Geese, 1 Smew, 3 Goosander, 9 Goldeneye, 16 Lapwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Chiffchaff, 50+ Siskin and 3 Bullfinch (Simon Buckingham).
Burgess Park: adult Mediterranean Gull still on lake and coming to bread early afternoon; also 20 Tufted Duck (Richard Bonser).
Carpenders Park/Oxhey: 100+ Waxwing in Oxhey Lane opposite Penrose Ave, feeding in bushes close to the road at 10.30 (Alan Furnell).
Clapham Common: Mount Pond - RSPCA Officer trying to catch a dog mauled Canada Goose, 1 Shoveler, 3 Egyptian Geese, no gulls (Michael Mac).
Claybury Park, western edge: Peregrine [flew low over, and headed off towards the City/Thames], Redwing, 2 Jays, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Long-tailed Tits (Alan Hobson).
Crayford Marshes: Cetti's Warbler, Turnstone, ad Yellow-legged Gull, Little Owl, Pintail, 4 Grey Plover, Rock Pipit, Water Rail, 27 Black-tailed Godwit (Kev Jarvis).
Ealing Broadway: 2 Pied Wagtail on Edward's frontage, Green Woodpecker (heard), Peregrine Falcon, [Walpole Park, pond area] gazillion Carrion Crows, singing Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, 16+ Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, c12 Moorhen, c40 Mallard (Nathalie Mahieu).
East India Dock Basin area: Black Redstart, Peregrine, Pintail, 150 Teal, Stock Dove (Gary A James & Nick Tanner).
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Grounds: 20 species; regulars plus Sparrowhawk (over mobbed by a crow), Coal Tit (1 singing), c15 Waxwing (over south; then 1 & 3 more; patch tick!), Goldcrest, 1 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull & 1 Black-headed Gull on playing fields. 1240-1340 (Marcus Hunt).
Hertford: 26 Waxwing on Tanner's Crescent a.m. before flying north (BirdGuides).
Hoddesdon: 30+ Waxwing at 38 Champions Green (BirdGuides).
Horsenden Hill: 1 Firecrest in Perivale Wood, 2 Siskin, 1+ Fieldfare, 40+ Redwing, 2 Nuthatch (Andy Culshaw and David Howdon).
Ingrebourne Valley: 7 Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Green Woodpecker, 10 Fieldfare (Shaun Harvey).
Isle of Dogs: The four Greater Scaup again (three 1w drakes and a female), on the main section of Millwall Outer Dock at 3pm (see also Rotherhithe entry below); also 26 Tufted Duck there. (Sean Huggins). I did not see the Scaup on my morning visit (for now obvious reasons) but did have 8 Monk Parakeet near Mudchute tube and a Sparrowhawk (M Bourne)
Lesnes Abbey: 1 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, circa 40 Carrion Crow, 4 Magpie, 1 male Chaffinch, 3 House Sparrow, 2 Blue Tit (around Abbey ponds), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, group of circa 43 Woodpigeon (within wood). (Chris Rose)
Kensal Green Cemetery and St Mary’s Cemetery: c140 Redwing, 6 Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, G.S. Woodpecker, 4 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail (Charlie Farrell)
London Wetland Centre: Bittern, female Scaup, probable 2nd winter Caspian Gull (N Smith, M Bourne, L Freeland-Haynes, et al) + Jack Snipe (Mike Wheeler)
Lonsdale Reservoir: 50 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Pochard (M Bourne)
Margravine Cemetery: singing Greenfinch, pr Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Mistle Thrush, calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Nathalie Mahieu)
Mayesbrook Park: Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 20 Pochard, Little Egret, 2 Grey Wagtail, 22 Redwing, 3 pairs of Grey Heron nest building (Paul Hawkins).
Mill Hill NW7: c30 Waxwing SW over Bunns Lane at 16:10 (Andrew Haynes).
Osterley: 15+ Waxwing in Homebase car park this morning, feeding on large Contoneaster bushes backing onto Syon Lane (N.Smith).
Oxhey: 100+ Waxwing in Oxhey Lane opposite Penrose Avenue mid-a.m. (BirdGuides).
Paddington Green: strong movement (in a local context) of Black-headed Gull north/north-east at dusk numbering 900+ birds, 30+ Herring Gull at local rooftop colony, singing Blackbird (Des McKenzie).
Pinner (Cannon Lane/Grove Avenue): 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn (JR). c30 Waxwings Cannon Lane/Chestnut Drive, briefly around midday (Joe Dickens).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Black-backed Gull over north-east, 133 Fieldfare, 22 Redwing & 5 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Molesey Heath: 7 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Long-tailed Tit, Great and Blue Tits, Mink swimming up R Mole (Richard Inch).
Regent's Park: 4 Waxwings SW at 12.25pm, pr Firecrests, Redwings, Skylark, f Wigeon, 1st w Great Black-backed Gull (Tony Duckett).
Richmond: 17 Waxwing at junction of The Vineyard and The Hermitage at 09.45 before flying off to gardens to the south (Hugh Bradshaw per FJM).
Richard Park: 1 Common Buzzard over, heading south-west, plus usual common woodland species (Richard Petley).
Rotherhithe: 4 Scaup on River Thames off Durand's Wharf before flying north towards Isle of Dogs at 12:15; drake Pochard with c.60 Tufted Duck Surrey Water (Richard Bonser).
South Woodford: c30 Waxwing (London Birdwatching) (photo)
Staines Reservoir: 2 red-head Smew, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall, Fieldfare, Linnet, Lapwing (Andrew Peel)
Surbiton: 6 Waxwing at Ewell Road/Egmont Road junction early p.m. (Chris Wilkinson).
Swiss Cottage area: Common Buzzard drifting high east 14:10 (seen from Paddington Green) (DMc).
Ten Acre Wood area: pr Teal, 52 Lapwing, 28 Snipe, 2 Green + 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, 20+ Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, Rook, 4 Siskin (Neil Anderson).
Totteridge Valley (Near Folly Farm) 34 Canada Geese feeding, at least 200 Fieldfare in stubble field, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 18 Ring-necked Parakeets, Pheasant (J. Martindale)
Twickenham: 11 Waxwings on Heath Road 2.45pm, on trees near Topps Tiles and on aerial above A-Z Computers (opposite side of road) coming down onto Rowan trees (Mike Wheeler)
Walthamstow: No sign of yesterday's 'interesting Aythya' in a fairly comprehensive search. 2+ Goosander, 6+ Goldeneye, 2+ Redshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, drk Pintail on High Maynard. Kingfisher No.1 channel, also Water Rail, another at the south end of No.3, Chiffchaff calling from that area too. (Paul Whiteman et al.)
Wanstead Park: 2 Shoveler (Basin), 7 Goldcrest and Coal Tit in Reservoir Wood, 93 Tufted Duck, 36 Pochard, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drummin in the dell, 7 Stock Doves nr the Dell (London Birdwatching)
Wanstead Flats: Rock Pipit over Alexandra Lake (via London Birdwatching)
Watford: c30 Waxwing in Upper Paddock Road a.m. flew toward allotments (BirdGuides).
Watford (Cardiff Road area): several Redwing over early a.m., Rook over, c15 Linnet (1 singing) (DMc).
William Girling Reservoir (viewed from Mansfield Park): c6 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Goldeneye (James Palmer); Scaup (pair), 4 Black-necked Grebes; nearby probable 2nd-winter Caspian Gull on KG res (North Basin) (J.Murray).
Whitton: Blackcap ( a nice male) on my feeder at 63 Rydal Gardens (Tony Leppard)
Woodford: c100 Waxwing (still c50 as of 3.45pm) and 3 Redwing on Snakes Lane East opp car lot just up from bus stop feeding on berries (James Palmer). Also 3 Mistle Thrushes, Sparrowhawk (Matthew Cunningham, with thanks to Nick Tanner).
Yeading Brook Meadows: 8 Teal, Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 13 Fieldfare (Neil Anderson).
South Norwood Lake: Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, 20 Tufted Duck, 9 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 3imm Herring Gull, 2 Lesser B;ack-backed Gull, 2singing Song Thrush, 6 Redwing (over) c20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, c15 Goldfinch, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)

Saturday 8th January 2011.[]

Islington, Upper Street N1 (southern end): 2 Waxwings flew low south east past first floor window, 1430 (Mark Pearson)
Walthamstow Reservoir: possible 1st winter female Lesser Scaup (Favours North-west side of Low Maynard). The identification has not been confirmed but most features seem to fit, seemingly including the wing bar (although the bird has only been seen to flap very briefly). Also redhead Smew. (Paul Whiteman per Roy Woodward).2-3 Redshank, 3 Goldeneye and 1 Goosander Lockwood, Green Sandpiper High Maynard. More details later tonight on the blog: Walthamstow Birding
Alexandra Park: Firecrest in Conservation Area. 2+ Water Rail on flood north of Conservation Pond, 15+ Redwing (Andrew Gardener and Gareth Richards).
Brent Reservoir: 6 Lapwings flew in & a Skylark (Andrew Self), 15 Snipe, 300+ Tufted Duck, 50+ Pochard, 50+ Redwing (Roy Beddard, Leo Batten).
Chiswick Eyot and Duke's Meadows: 26 Redwings SW, c15 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Great Black Backed Gull, 4 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck, c65 Teal. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Siskin, Avocet, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, Little Egret, 1200 Dunlin,10 Ringed Plover. (Kev Jarvis).
Crossness: 8 Grey Plover, 2 Curlew, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, c400 Dunlin, 38 Black-tailed Godwit (AW).
Dagenham Chase: 1 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 45 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 2 Little egret, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 Great Black-backed Gull (Ian Woodward).
East Finchley: c. 50 Waxwings on Rowan trees, N2 County Roads at noon
Greenwich Peninsula: Three adult Yellow-legged Gulls, two Shelduck, 32 Teal on Thames shore by 02. Also three Linnets over, three Meadow Pipits. (Sean Huggins)
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: 10 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff, m Kestrel, m Great sp Woodpecker, Little Grebe, Reed Bunting, Redwings (Joe Beale).
Hampstead Heath: Drake Pochard (High No.1 Pond), Little Grebe (Men's Pond), 4 GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (Chris B)
Harold Hill (Duck Wood): 2 drake Teal on pond in SE corner (up to 4 were seen on the ponds here last winter as well); otherwise quiet (CRJ).
Harold Hill Industrial Estate: c150 Pied Wagtails roosting in trees at 17.05hrs (CRJ).
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn & 3 Skylark over west (JR).
Isle of Dogs: Four Scaup still Outer Millwall Dock (Rare Bird Alert)
London Wetland Centre: 1 (f) Scaup still on main lake viewed from observatory. (N.Smith)
Osterley: 33 Waxwing in Homebase car park down Syon Lane, from 1500hrs till at least 1545hrs (N.Smith and other observer)
Oxhey (Bucks Avenue): 137 Waxwing in two flocks in the two large trees behind houses up to 13:45 at least (JR).
Oxhey (Merry Hill): 1 Kestrel (male), Lesser Redpoll, Siskin & Skylark over, 4 Rook, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch & 2 Cormorant over east (JR).
Paddington Green: fem Peregrine Falcon with kill from 11:30, male flew in c11:45 (Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 2 Snipe, 160 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 1 Skylark, 350 Starling & 11 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes RSPB: prob 1st winter Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid on the tip mid morning. On the reserve: 1050+ Teal, 350+ Wigeon, imm male Marsh Harrier, 2 Stonechat, 74 Golden Plover, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Dunlin, 14 Skylark, 30 Linnet (David Bradnum)
Richmond: 6 Waxwings in large Ash tree in burial ground in Vineyard Passage at 9.30 before flying off south (Hugh Bradshaw)
Romford Golf Course: 2 Firecrests in tall scrub near footpath on north side of GC late afternoon. Nearby 6+ Waxwings trilling in clump of oaks and birch trees at 16.10 then flew off south, possibly to roost elsewhere on GC; also 16 Lesser Redpoll (Colin Jupp).
Rotherhithe: 5 Shoveler Canada Water; drake Pochard Surrey Water (Richard Bonser).
Ruislip: 1, poss 2 Woodcock and 70 Redpoll in LNR. At least 16 Bullfinch feeding in bramble scrub on Lido shore and 8 Wigeon on Lido (Steve Pash, Mark Morgan).
Teddington: 4 Waxwings on Shacklegate Lane in bushes by houses at 9.30-10. (R Gowrley)
Twickenham: ca. 60 Waxwings in trees and on TV aerials on Heath Road, between Lloyds Pharmacy and nearby railway bridge (W. Baker).
Trent Park: 2 (ad m & f/imm) Goosander, Lower Lake; 7(4m,3f) Mandarin Duck, Lower Lake; 2 male Shoveler; 5 (3m, 2f) Pochard, Lower Lake; 12 (8m, 4f) Tufted Duck, Lower Lake; 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker; c40 Siskin, feeding in Alders (Robert Callf & Robin White).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Goosander (f), 25 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, c300 Lapwing, 3 Bullfinch. (Steve Blake)
Woodford: c50 Waxwings on Snakes Lane East opp car lot just up from bus stop feeding on berries but being mobile.(R Anderson)
Wormwood Scrubs: Yellowhammer in central copse (per Rob Ayers)
Ingrebourne Valley: Little Owl,3 Wigeon,10 Pochard,Kestrel(Shaun Harvey)
Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: Kingfisher:Grey Wagtail: 3 drake Mandarin: 3 Teal: c30 Siskin: c80 Redwing; 2 Fieldfare (John Colmans)
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1m 1f Shoveler, 3f Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 9 Cormorant, c300 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 6 Redwing (over) 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1drumming) 2 Nuthatch, 1 Coal Tit, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Dunnock, 2 Collared Dove, c20 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Brookmill Park (Lewisham) Dabchick & Kingfisher (Conrad Ellam)
Hounslow: c55 Waxwings at 1350hrs in a tree by the Etap Hotel, Staines Road, west of the Treaty Centre. Obviously eying up the berries in the carpark opposite (Rob Innes).
Staines Res: four redhead Smew on the S basin late afternoon (Rob Innes).
Berwick Ponds :120 Teal,12 Gadwall,4 Water Rail,2 Bullfinch (Steve Bacon)
Fairlop Waters:65 Tufted Duck,2 Pochard, 28 GadwallL,40 Lapwing (Steve Bacon)
Ewell (Hogsmill Open Space): Common Snipe on marshy, waterlogged ground by railway line, 2 Kingfisher (Neil Batten)

Friday 7th January 2011.[]

Biggin Hill (Upper Norbury SE19): 2 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Ring-necked Parakeets, 15 Woodpigeons, 4 Carrion Crows (25-30 roost here nightly), 2 Herring Gull, 1 Blackbird, 3 Great Tit, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Magpie (Rob Bell)
Brentford: 3 Waxwing between entrance to Syon Lane Station & Homebase along with 15+Redwing @15:00. There was a report on Birdguides of c20 Waxwing at this site (Great West Road/Syon Lane junction) at 08:30 (Bill Haines).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham) 1 Dabchick, 1 Heron, 14 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Wren, 7 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow. (Conrad Ellam)
Crayford Marshes: Little Egret, 4 Curlew, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, c70 Redshank, c600 Dunlin. (Kev Jarvis)
Erith Cemetery (Brook Street): 3 Goldfinch, circa 44 Starlings in Poplars between here and Carlton Rd., Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrows, Carrion Crow, circa 25 Wood Pigeon. (Chris Rose).
Gidea Park Sports Ground: 3 Herring Gull, 4 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 114 Common Gull, 50 Black-headed Gull, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit (Colin Jupp).
Kentish Town NW5, Arctic Street: Male Blackcap first here since Oct, also 20 Siskin over at midday ( PeteM)
Kilburn, NW6. (13.30-14.30) 14 Waxwing west over Brondesbury Rd back garden (2 groups), plus 3 Brambling alighted briefly. Male blackcap. (Rob Ayers)
London Wetland Centre: Collared Dove (locally scarce), Scaup, Great Spotted Woodpecker, c40 Wigeon, m Shelduck, 8 Egyptian Goose, 18 Pochard. Bumped into one of the locals who expressed some concerns about the flank and bill patterns on the Scaup but looked OK to me. Bill shows a black nail and then an area of blue-ish grey before the darker grey of the rest of the bill, quite different from the pale band you get on Tufted that might get inherited by a Tuftie x Scaup hybrid. I've seen the same pattern on a number of other f Scaup so find it hard to believe this is a hybrid feature. All in favour of caution with pesky Aythya but seems genuine - I took a few photos but at a distance so may not show that much (Matt Palmer).
Loughton: c50 Waxwing again today on Westall Road (B.Anderson)
Mark's Gate, Cemetery & Warren Farm area: 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Kestrels, 70 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Yellowhammers. (Ian Woodward)
Oak Hill Park, East Barnet: 2 Little Egret by Pymmes Brook. (S. Javes)
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Snipe, 3 Skylark over north-east, 58 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Long-tailed Tit & 10 Grey Heron. Also at Headstone Moat: 7 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest & 1 Coal Tit (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1f Pochard, 35 Tufted Duck, c150 Black-headed Gull, 8 Cormorant, 2 Nuthatch, 2 singing Song Thrush, 3 Coal Tit, c20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, (John Watson)
St James Park: Male Smew being reported in a post on birdforum [1], but poster is unsure if it has flown in or not. (Charlie Farrell)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 3 Great Black-backed Gulls (2 ads, 1 2nd-w), 3 Water Rails, plus the usuals; nothing of note to report over last few days (MJP)
Woodford, Snakes Lane East: 3 Waxwings (Alan Hobson).

Thursday 6th January 2011.[]

Alexandra Park: three Waxwings south at 8:00 (Andrew Gardener); 2 (adult and first-winter drake) Wigeon on Wood Green Res, plus 6 Redwing and 2 Goldcrests (David Callahan).
Belair Park, Dulwich: Little Owl (Steven Robinson).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Turntone, 8 Grey Plover, 4 Curlew, Common Sandpiper, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 24 Skylark, 12 Black-tailed Godwit. (Kev Jarvis).
Central Park (Harold Hill): Little Egret on waterlogged playing field with gulls at 13.45 (Colin Jupp).
Kilburn High Road: 2 Waxwing low west over junction with Willesden Lane c10:15 (Des McKenzie).
Fulham Reach (Thames at high tide in rain): c150 Black-headed Gull in what looked like a feeding frenzy in middle of Thames by the bridge (sewage release/overflow probably), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 2 Cormorant, 31 Mallard (some frisky/fighting) (Nathalie Mahieu).
Islington: Mistle Thrush bullying 4 Blackbirds from a tree on Gerrard Road, N1 (Matthew Cunningham)
Lee Valley, Seventy Acres Lake: 2 Bittern, 1 Smew, 2 Water Rail repeatedly stalked by a Mink (Simon Papps).
London Wetland Centre: 61 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 366 Tufted Duck, fem Scaup, 3 Bittern, 7 Redwing west, 6 Siskin (LWC website).
Loughton: 150+ Waxwing feeding in my garden again at 10.30am this morning also seen at 8.30am in Westall Road (B.Anderson).
Oakwood N14 - Bramley Road: 16 Long-tailed Tit in trees opposite shopping parade (Robert Callf).
Paddington - St Mary's Churchyard: Grey Wagtail and Redwing over, 2-3 Goldcrest (DMc).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Snipe, 42 Fieldfare, Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Goldcrest, Jackdaw & 3 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
South Norwood CP: 7 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 5 Cormorant, Pheasant, Goldcrest, 18 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Thurrock Retail Park: 15 Waxwings on low pyracantha outside Costco. (Brenda Clayton)
Twickenham: Waxwings again on Heath Road, c. 60 feeding on trees by the bus stop before Lloyds, at 09:20 in a single group (T. Utteridge with thanks to I. Darbyshire). c15 Waxwing still at 12.00 in Clifden Road - off Heath Road, briefly.(M.Goodman). c50 Waxwings still present in cherry tree at the junction of Radnor Road & Heath Road (Outside Giant Bike Shop) but mobile also 100+ Jackdaws going to roost at 15:35 (Ernie Thomason & Tom Stone).
Wanstead Flats: Before I got very wet... Snipe (SSSI), 3 Reed Bunting, Collared Dove (erm! doing it, on a lampost, on a busy street, in the rain - they have no shame), sub-song Blackbird, 8 Redwing, Fieldfare (h), 6 Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Great Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Pochard (west over Jub), 22 Shoveler, 22 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 6 Greylag Goose, Skylark (NC) New multi-author Wanstead Birding Blog here
Watford: 70+ Waxwing opposite the Estcourt Arms pub on St. John's Road 12:15 (Birdguides).
Wandle Delta: Snipe (local rarity), 9 Teal, c25 Gadwall, Grey Wagtail, no sign of last week's Pochard. (Matt Palmer)

Wednesday 5th January 2011.[]

RSPB Rainham Marshes: 2 Waxwings, Lapland Bunting, 2 Corn Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, (HV) imm Red Kite s at 0937 (same as Kev's), ad m & imm m Marsh Harrier, 42 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 800 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 2 Ruff, 4 Ringed Plover, 20 Snipe, 265 Greylag, 22 Canada Geese, 72 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, m Blackcap, 2 Sparrowhawk, f Peregrine 9 Pintail, 22 Pochard, 11 Tufted Duck, ad Caspian Gull, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Fieldfare, 27 Redwing, Bullfinch (HV et al) Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stonechats, 3 Bearded Tits, (MDD)
Alexandra Park: Female Peregrine SW oner Palace building at 10:40 (Andrew Gardener)
Belair Park, West Dulwich: Little Owl, 15-20 Siskins in Alders, 6 Goldfinch, Redwings with Mistle Thrush + male and female Mandarin. (Dave Clark and Pete Beckenham)
Blackheath: 5 Waxwing over Blackheath Common (Birdguides).
Boxer's Lake, Enfield: 1 Great Crested Grebe; 12(5 ad males, 5 females, 2 imm males) Shoveler; 9(7m,2f) Pochard; 11 (6m,5f) Tufted Duck; 1 imm Herring Gull; 1 Siskin, flew over calling (Robert Callf).
Buckhurst Hill: 1 solitary Waxwing on Loughton Way, near junction with Palmerston Road / Roding Lane at 0820 (David Bradnum)
Cherry Lane Cemetery (in field next to): c200 Lapwing (Nigel Sluman)
Crayford Marshes: Red Kite over yacht club at 09:48. 1st w Caspian Gull near landfill site p.m. Brambling, Water Pipit, 2 Avocet, Yellowhammer, 4 Rock Pipit, 3 Golden Plover, 6 Yellow-legged Gull, Green Sandpiper, Peregrine. (Kev Jarvis, I Stewart, S Carter, P Cliffe).
East Finchley: c.12 Waxwing flew in and landed in private garden (not mine) on Greenhalgh Walk (visible from the road) at 12.00 (Oliver Simms).
Fairlop Waters: 3 Barnacle Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 50 Tufted Duck, 250 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, Green Woodpecker, few Redwing and Siskin (London Birdwatching)
Gidea Park: Grey Wagtail on pond in private garden Links Avenue (CRJ).
Greenwich Ecology Park: 3 Teal, 2 Snipe, 1 Little Grebe (James Lowen)
Greenwich Peninsula: 2 Caspian Gull (ad, 3rd-w), ad Yellow-legged Gull, Great Crested Grebe (James Lowen)
Grovelands Park, Southgate: 1 Firecrest, feeding in Holly, 11:07 - 11:16 hrs (Robert Callf).
Harmondsworth Moor/St. Mary's Church: Red-crested Pochard, 2 Wigeon, c100 Pochard, 4 Little Grebe, 5 Gadwall 5 gull species, Goldcrest, Kingfisher (Nigel Sluman)
Hatton Farm Fields, Hatton Cross: Short-eared Owl 12:15pm at least. Mostly on the deck of the field with round hay bales east of Bedfont FC. (Chris Slack/Adam Cheeseman)
Isle of Dogs: 4 Scaup, Pochard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, 12 Great Crested Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull (Richard Harrison).
Little Britain Lake: 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1pr Goosander, at least 100 Gadwall, c6 Pochard, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Fieldfare over. (Roger Dewey)
London Wetland Centre: 38 Wigeon, Pintail, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, 2 Skylark south, Cetti's Warbler, 10 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website). 1 Bittern, 2 drake Pintail, several Siskin & a report of a Jack Snipe (though not seen by me) (Bill Haines).
Mill Hill: 24 Waxwing in garden centre car park on Daws Lane (though mobile), 3 Redpoll. (Steve Blake).
New Covent Garden Market (Inner London): 1 Kestrel at 8:45am (Michael Mac).
Park Wood, Ruislip: 1 Lesser Redpoll & 7 Long-tailed Tit (JR).
Regent's Park: 5 Waxwings flew west at 7.55am, 30 Redwings, 2 Water Rails (Tony Duckett).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: c25 Waxwings low and north over East Res 1149 (still none on the deck...), plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Totteridge Valley (Darlands lake): 10m + 2f Mandarin, 6 Teal, 5 Siskin. (Steve B)
Vauxhall - St Georges's Wharf: 1 Peregrine in flight at 10:55am (Michael Mac).
Wanstead Flats: 4 Cormorant (1 in breeding plumage), 6 Greylag Goose, 9 Gadwall, 19 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylark, 105 Redwing, 10 Mistle Thrush, 3 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 20 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 50+ Jackdaw, m Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron, Snipe, 1 Meadow Pipit (NC)
Wanstead Park: 2 Grey Heron, lots more Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Pochard than recently, 3 Teal (SoM), Egyptian Goose, 8 Lesser Redpoll, flock of Siskin (the Dell), Goldfinch, 1 Linnet, Coal Tit, 50+ Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Pied Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming), Skylark (over), 2 Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest (NC)New multi-author Wanstead Birding Blog here
West Finchley: 9 Waxwing today at 11.00 on trees and aerials at junction of Lullington Garth and Cissbury Ring (west). Very mobile. Thanks to Ian Ellis for yesterday's report. (Geoff Crabtree). [Glad you got 'em Geoff! Cheers, Ian].
Wimbledon: 35 Waxwing in Hartfield Road.
Wormwood Scrubs: 12 Meadow Pippit, c100 Black-headed Gulls on the playing fields, c60 Starlings ... and not much else (Charlie Farrell)
Woodside Park: A small group of Waxwing flew north, calling, at 08:00. The dilemma is: do I count this as a garden tick as I would have seen them from it, but was 80 yds up the road at the time heading to the tube station! (Ian Ellis).

Tuesday 4th January 2011.[]

RSPB Rainham Marshes: Marsh Harrier, 36 Ring-necked Parakeets, Black-tailed Godwit, m Blackcap, 2 Brambling 19 Waxwings, Sparrowhawk, 6 Pintail, Tree Sparrow (RSPB) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Terry Morris) adult & 1st winter Caspian Gull (ATw)
Belhus Woods CP: Marsh Tit, 2 Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, m Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush (London Birdwatching)
Bentley Priory: 80+ Siskin around Summerhouse Lake, 20 Redwing, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Bullfinch & 4 Coal Tit (JR).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Heron, 16 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 7 Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 10+ Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Grow, 6 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 6 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam); Great Crested Grebe was present yesterday morning. The Great Crested Grebe has been there since Dec 28th. Splendid opportunity to see how it swims in the shallow water by the DLR station (Geoff Fleming).
Brunel University: Woodcock flushed in Bicentenary Garden at 13.10 and 14 Siskin in Alders along River Pinn (Steve Pash).
Bursted Wood, Barnehurst: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Ring-necked Parakeets, Magpies. (Chris Rose).
Crayford Marshes: fem Merlin hunting over landfill 11:02. 4 Bearded Tit calling from yacht club reed bed, Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaff, 13 Grey Plover, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, Little Owl, 2 Rock Pipit (Kev Jarvis).
Cummings Hall Farm, Noak Hill: (private farm res; still 70% frozen over) 20 Mandarin (12m,8f), 105 Mallard, 38 Canada Geese, 10 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 1 Cormorant; also single Siskin over and Common Buzzard nearby mobbed by corvids over Carter's Brook (Colin Jupp).
Danson Park (Bexleyheath/Welling): Still a largish ice sheet on lake. 50+ Shoveler, 6 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 18 Mallard (mainly males), 1 or 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Egyptian Geese, 46 Canada Geese, lots of Coot and Moorhens, 2 Stock Dove, lots of Wood Pigeon, 5 Magpies, Carrion Crows, 15 Starlings, a few Ring-necked Parakeets, lots of Black-headed Gulls. (Chris Rose).
Fairlop Waters: 2 red-head Smew on Main Lake nr island 12:45 (Birdguides)(Steve Bacon)
Finsbury Park (N4): 29 sp. incl. c20 Common Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, c30 Redwing. (TeRNS)
Forest Gate: Song Thrush singing in False Acacia at the rear of my flat (only the third record in about 10 years) (NC).
Harrow Weald (Copse Farm): 1 Sparrowhawk & Song Thrush (JR).
Hatch End (Bannister Sports Centre): 1 male Kestel on the floodlights (JR).
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn & 1 Siskin (JR).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 24 Egyptian Goose, 3 Gadwall, 4 Teal west 10:00, 16 Shoveler, 141 Tufted Duck, ad sinensis-type Cormorant, c80 Common Gull, 3 Stock Dove (1 singing), Tawny Owl showing well, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Goldcrest, 6 Greenfinch; no sign of the recent dodgy Barnacle Goose (Des McKenzie).
Isle of Dogs: 4 Scaup, fem Pochard, Great Black-backed Gull, Goldcrest, 2 Greylag, 7 Great Crested Grebe (Richard Harrison). Three drake and female Scaup still present at 1pm in the southern channel of Millwall Outer Dock. Very approachable - great photo opportunities. Monk Parakeets at their normal site a couple of hundred yards away (Martin Birch).
Lee Valley: White Fronted'Goose'''with Greylag flock on Seventy Acres, Raven over Galley Wood, Bittern flew from watchpoint to roost at 4:20pm, 4 Smew inc 2 drakes on Seventy Acres & red head Goosander there (J.Murray).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 47 Wigeon, 106 Teal, 2 Pintail, 460+ Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 2 Siskin (LWC website).
Loughton: 20 Waxwing Chigwell Lane. (Gary A James).200+ in Westhall Road area AM. Feeding in Rochford Avenue where a single Mistle Thrush was desperately trying to defend his winter larder of Rowan berries (B.Anderson)
Mill Hill (NW7): 12 Waxwing on tree at side of 42 Tennyson Road - 09.30. Still there when I left at 09.45 (Mike Johnson); approx. 30 feeding on privet at 11:15 then flew west (Ian Ellis).
Osterley Park: 1 Little Owl by the paddocks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing feeding with 8 Blackbirds in paddocks, 3 Song Thrush feeding togther, 4 Gadwall (2 feeding in paddocks, 1 on the middle lake and 1 on small lake with a drake Teal), 25 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard. 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Nuthatch, Siskin heard over (N.Smith).
Pinner Park Farm: 4 Shoveler (inc one drake) on the ice, 7 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 27 Jackdaw, 55 Magpie (a record count) & 6 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Queen Mother Res (permit access): fem / imm Velvet Scoter still in situ (Birdguides).
Roding Valley NR: 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Jays, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail (only my 2nd ever here). (Adam Winstanley)
South Norwood CP: 5 Shoveler, pr Pochard, 23 Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 5 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Skylark, 3 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, Goldcrest, 17 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
St. Albans: 50 Waxwing behind Church Crescent (Birdguides).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (1st-w and 2nd-w most of day, adult in the pre-roost - highest ever day count here), 2nd-w Great Black-backed Gull, Cetti's Warbler, hybrid Aythya still, Brambling at the feeders briefly (first one on the deck here in months) (Mark Pearson)
Teddington: 25 Waxwing in Walpole Road 11:25 (Birdguides).
Totteridge Valley (Folly Farm): 1 Common Buzzard (heavily mobbed), c250 Fieldfare, c100 Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 50+ Rook, 200+ Jackdaw, c80 Common Gull, Little Owl (Ian Ellis).
Twickenham: Waxwings again on Heath Road, probably a few more than yesterday (c. 100) at 2.30 pm but in several groups, regularly coming down to fruiting trees along the shopping street (I. Darbyshire).
Tyttenhanger GPs: Woodcock, Water Rail, c40 Linnet, c25 Teal. (Steve B)
Walpole Park, Ealing: Sparrowhawk, Blackbirds, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Goldcrest, Mallard (20), Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Greenfinch, Ring-necked Parakeet (6+), Grey Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing (40+) on the lawn behind Pitzhanger Manor. (Andrew Birks)
Woodside Park (N12): 17 Waxwing feeding on ornamental cherries by bus stop opposite 61 Lullington Garth (N12 7BB) at 13:30, plus male Sparrowhawk over (Ian Ellis). 11 still present at 15:50 when flew off South.

Monday 3rd January 2011.[]

RSPB Rainham Marshes: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Ron Cook) 29 Waxwings, Brambling, Marsh Harrier, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit 3 Golden Plover, Cettis Warbler, 5 Pintail, Peregrine, Great Crested Grebe, Water Pipit, 2 Ringed Plover, Chiffchaff, 5 Snipe 4 Rock Pipit, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 9 Redwing, 18 Linnet, 5 Water Rail. (RSPB) 3 Avocet, 4 Rock Pipit, 11 Snipe, 8 Pintail, 3 Stonechat, Peregrine, 5 Bearded Tit, 12 Fieldfare, 160 Dunlin, 4 Grey Plover (John Richardson)
Banstead: 30 Waxwing on Winkworth Road (BirdGuides).
Barking Bay: 14 Wigeon, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Curlew, 40 Redshank, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, 120+ Linnet, Greenfinch, 40+ Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, 2+ Water Rail (Paul Hawkins).
Bedfords Park LNR: male Firecrest in evergreens along the Bridleway late afternoon (Colin Jupp).
Belhus Woods: 2 Marsh Tit, Red-crested Pochard, 4 Goldcrest, Firecrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Skylark, (London Birdwatching)
Brent Reservoir: Cetti's Warbler by main hide (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
Burgess Park: adult Mediterranean Gull still on lake 13:45 (Richard Bonser).
Connaught Water: male Smew (London Birdwatching) (photo)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Bearded Tit in reed bed near Yacht Club. 3 Avocet, 18 Grey Plover, 8 Golden Plover, 3 Water Rail, Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, fem Peregrine, Yellowhammer (Kev Jarvis).
Dollis Brook (Thornfield Avenue Bridge): Kingfisher (J martindale).
Debden, Pyrles Green: c30 Waxwing (London Birdwatching); 5 Waxwing present at 2.45pm and a Hawfinch flying over the entrance to Loughton Golf Course (at the junction of Clays Lane and Englands Lane) at 2.30pm (Simon Papps).
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 5 Shelduck, c275 Teal, female Pintail, 15 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, 2 Peregrine, 5 Redshank (Nick Tanner).
Enfield: 8 Tree Sparrow; flock flew over calling and settled in hedgerow 12:55 13:00hrs (site with restricted access - my first record in the Enfield Area for 11 years!); 26 Skylark; 10+ Yellowhammer; 3(1m,2f) Reed Bunting (Robert Callf).
Fairlop Waters: 2 female Smew east end of boating lake, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 150 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, (London Birdwatching). (photo)
Fulham Reach (Thames): 123 Teal, 27 Mallard, 24 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 6 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 2 Mute Swan (1 juv + 1 parent), 1 Canada Goose + Greylag-hybrid mate, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 6 Cormorant (Nathalie Mahieu).
Ham - Thames inlet (Young Mariners): 1 fem Goldeneye, 5 Little Grebe (with another 9 Little Grebe on Thames between Richmond and Kingston) (Hugh Bradshaw).
Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): Green Woodpecker, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove, singing Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch - all in Hatter's Wood near my garden a.m. (Colin Jupp).
Headstone Lane: 1 male Sparrowhawk shot through (JR).
Headstone Moat: 1 Kingfisher & 1 Goldcrest (JR).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 21 Egyptian Goose, 19 Shoveler, pr Red-crested Pochard, 52 Pochard, Little Grebe, Common Gull retaining juvenile plumage, 2 Stock Dove (1 singing), Tawny Owl showing well, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Goldcrest, singing Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 8+ Goldfinch, at least 2 Siskin; also Barnacle Goose with Greylag flock for eighth day at least (Des McKenzie).
Ingrebourne Valley: 3 Tawny Owl, 2 Bittern, 2 Wigeon, Little Egret, Snipe, Ring-necked Parakeet, Redpoll. (Shaun Harvey, Dave Morrison).
Kingston: 5 Waxwings only feeding in "Albert" pub car park at Kingston Hill / Queens Road junction 10:00-10:10am before flying off. No further sightings by 11.30 (David Mercer).
Lee Valley, Seventy Acres Lake: male Smew, 3 Goosander, 2 Water Rail (Simon Papps).
Lee Valley CP: Seventy Acres Lake; Pink-footed Goose, 2 drake & 3 redhead Smew, drake Goosander, 2 Water Rail and unfortunately a Mink in among the reedbeds in front of the Bittern hide. A pair of Bullfinch in trees near the overflow car park, 2 (f) Goldeneye in flood relief channel towards Holyfield weir. Flock of 40+ Siskins in area around the weir, Goose fields held 30+ Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 6 Teal & mixed flock of 30+ Redwing & Fieldfare. Farm area produced single Buzzard & Kestrel. (J & R Anderson, & J Anderson snr)
Little Britain Cowley / Iver: 2 Goosanders m/f, Little Egret, Little Grebe, 100+ Gadwall, Treecreeper, 2 Egyptian Geese, Shoveler, 30+ Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Mistle Thrush (Sue Giddens).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 40 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 466 Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, 3 Bittern, Water Rail, 10 Siskin (LWC website/Dominic & Ava Mitchell), plus Cetti's Warbler (M. Honey).
Loughton:50 Waxwing in Hanson Drive today (B.Anderson).
Mill Hill (NW7): possibly up to c200 Waxwings in Tennyson Rd 8.30-12.30. c150 feeding in privet by no.42 @ 8.30. Then flocks of c30 & 15 coming & going in different directions, a flock of c50 @ 10.00 then c100 that stayed between 10.30 & 12.30 feeding in back garden and by no.42. Also c10 Redpolls briefly (J.Wilczur et al). c20 Waxwing (gardens tick), Ring-necked Parakeet, Sparrowhawk (Steve B); 105 in Tennyson Road 10.30-11.00 (Andrew Self).
Mill Hill / Dollis Rd (my garden): @10 Waxwing (See Photo) @25 Redwing, 14 House Sparrows (daily visitors) (J. Martindale).
Northolt: 9 Snipe, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret and c50 Lapwing (over) rough meadows adjacent to West London Shooting Grounds (Chris & Nick Bessant, Steve Pash)
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Shoveler (female type) on the main pond (80% frozen), 1 Little Owl in the reception garden, 5 Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk (female), 80 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jay, 2 Meadow Pipit & 7 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Queen Elizabeth II Res: female-type Eider flew in from the north 0935. Settled at south end of res but then flew off high east 0950 - flight shots here (DMH).
Rainham Marshes RSPB: Waxwing (reported over Cordite), Marsh Harrier, Perergrine Falcon, Bearded Tit (two small groups: target pools, north west end of board walk c.6-10 birds), 3 Avocet, c.200 Black-tailed Godwit (stone barges roost), 150 Redshank, 40 + Ringed Plover (as the tide and evening fell), 50+ Dunlin, c.20 Golden Plover, loads of Lapwing, Brambling (reported by feeders at the visitor's centre), 6+ Pintail, Greater-spotted Woodpecker (stone barges!) (NC/Steve Thorpe)
Roding Valley Park: Peregrine (London Birdwatching) (photo)
Romford M25/A127 junction: Buzzard (London Birdwatching)
Rotherhithe: 4 Pochard and 2 drake Shoveler Southwark Park; drake Pochard & 100+ Tufted Duck on Greenland Dock (Richard Bonser).
Ruislip Lido. 40 magpies in one flock !, 100 swans ,redwing, (M Gibbons
South Harrow. Reed Bunting feeding in my garden (Michael Robinson)
South Norwood CP: 6 Shoveler, pr Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 7 Pheasant (record count for site), 2 Water Rail, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 16 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Staines Reservoir: Velvet Scoter on S.Basin (JohnF)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Cetti's Warbler, small numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings over, plus the usuals (MJP)
Teddington: c25 Waxwings in tree by allotments at Shacklegate Lane at 9:30am then flew to Princes Road tree to make flock of c56 at 9:45am (David Combes). 9 birds at top of lime tree outside No.41 Princes Road at 11.15. (Adam Cheeseman) About 50 birds were in Cambridge Road in trees in the Marks and Spencer car park from about 11.00 -11.20. Half flew off towards Manor road and the river, the rest remained. (RT)
Ten Acre Wood: Sparrowhawk, 2pr Stock Dove, 4 Great Spotted + 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Fieldfare, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, pr Bullfinch; fields to north: 11 Teal, m Pheasant, 2 Kestrel 15 Snipe, 53 Lapwing (Neil Anderson). Firecrest still present at 12.30 along path on southern edge of wood (Chris & Nick Bessant, Steve Pash).
Twickenham: 88 Waxwing on Heath Road, occasionally coming down to the fruiting trees opposite Lloyds Pharmacy but mainly sat in tall trees behind the high street - 12.30 pm, down to c. 50 birds by 2.00 pm (Iain Darbyshire).
Wanstead: female Blackcap in private garden (London BIrdwatching)
Wanstead Flats: Cormorant, 6 Mute Swan, 6 Greylag Goose, 200+ Canada, 2 Gadwall, 35 Mallard, 13 Shoveler, Pochard, 9 Tuftie, 3 Moorhen, 20+ Coot, 150+ Common Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 5 LBB, 1 GBB east over Capel Point mid-afternoon, 350+ BH Gull, 50+ Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 GS Woodpecker, 3 Skylark, 4 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 3 Robin, 2 Blackbird, 13 Redwing, 8 Mistle Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 13 Great Tit, 11 Blue Tit, Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 4 Goldfinch, 40+ Starling, 2 Jay, 7 Magpie, 50+ Jackdaw, 150+ Crow (J Lethbridge)
Wanstead Park: 2 Grey Heron, 9 GS Woodpecker (4 drumming), 8 Goldcrest (JL). New multi-author Wanstead Birding Blog here. Firecrest, 2 Siskin (ELBF)
Yeading Brook Meadows: f Teal, pr Stock Dove, Green + 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Waxwing (1 on top of poplar, other on top of ash; flew after after few minutes), 15 Redwing, 22 Fieldfare, 4 Bullfinch (Neil Anderson).

Wraysbury GP, 9 Smew (including 2 drakes) on the British Airways pit (Andrew Moon).
Dagenham Chase LNR: 56 Gadwall, 9 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, several Teal & Shoveler, Woodcock ( 3rd day running ), Little Owl, 2 Jackdaw, 3+ Goldfinch, Linnet Flock. ( V.Halley-Frame ).Full Yearlist Click Here

Sunday 2nd January 2011.[]

Alexandra Park: Firecrest in Conservation Area near wooden bridge, male Yellowhammer still, ranging between area of short wwaillows by owl box side of reservoir and western perimeter of cricket pitch, 2 W Rail, 2 Skylark over (Gareth Richards, Andrew Gardener, Alan Gibson).
Archway (St Johns Way): Kestrel calling about 9am then flew north-east (D Painter)
Balham: 15 Waxwings in tree adjacent to Post Office building on Balham Grove & bathing on roof of P.O. building. Flew north at 10:45. No Waxwings at Hanson Close. (J Hudson)
Barking Outfall: 2 1st winter Scaup, 53 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 Green Sandpipers, 221 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 2 Grey Plovers, 580 Tufted Duck, 73 Pochard and a Dunlin.(Dave Morrison)
Bentley Priory: Goldcrest (6); Chaffinch (30+); Grey Wagtail. (Alan Lewis)
Brent Reservoir: 7 Egyptian Geese over, 2 drake Wigeon & a Skylark (Andrew Self); Common Buzzard over 13.40 (Mike Hoctor); 3 Lapwings over 13.25 (A. Verrall).
Bromley-by-Bow/Abbey Creek: Jack Snipe, single Waxwing over, 43 Common Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Shelduck North, c8 Skylark (landed on mud on 3 Mills Green), Fieldfare, 22+ Redwing, Meadow Pipit, 6 Stock Dove, 5 Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, c130 Teal, 42 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck etc (S Fisher)
East India Dock Area: 2 Gadwall, Pintail, 410 Teal, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redwing, Sparrowhawk. (Gary A James), Black Redstart, 2Jay (Paul Hyland)
Hampstead Heath: Woodcock flushed from undergrowth on Sandy Heath, Water Rail by reeds at back of Stock Pond - great views from the tarmac path to Kenwood (Chris Bird) Skylark over (Stuart Harrington).
Highgate tube station. I Waxwing by junction. (Ebru Avci)
Holyfield Hall Farm: Pink-footed Goose still with Greylags (Adam Wilson)
Isle of Dogs: The four Scaup again on Millwall Outer Dock (three 1w in narrow southern arm, the female nr Glengall Bridge), also a female Pochard there and an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Thames at Saunders Ness (Sean Huggins) .
Kingston: Waxwings c.55 in two flocks of c.40 & c.15 feeding in car park of Albert pub at junction of Kingston Hill & Queens Road. Three visits in 90 mins this morning otherwise not seen in vicinity except for 15 feeding in Rowan at junction of Shortlands Road & Cross Road c.1km to NW of pub (J.Wilczur & S. Reed). Also Little Egret flew SW (JW).
Lee Valley CP: at least 5 Smew on 70 Acres; 2 males and 1 redhead south of the Bittern hide and later one male and three redheads just west of the big wobbly bridge (Harry Rutherford).
London Wetland Centre: Bittern, Cetti's Warbler by enterance, Male Pintail, Shellduck plus the usual : Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted, Shoveler, Pochard. Fieldfare flock on playing fields opposite. Total of 40 species counted over just 1 hour. (S Haslem)
Mill Hill NW7: At 10.30am, c250 Waxwing on trees and wires in Tennyson Road (NW7 2AB) and flying down to feed on berries in small tree at front of No 23, but Sparrowhawk flew in among them at 10.41am and they fled north-east; a few drifted back later but remained very mobile (Andrew Haynes -- thanks to Bob Husband for telling me they were there).
Pinner Park Farm: 3 Snipe, 30 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 5 Jackdaw, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark over, 2 Stock Dove & 8 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Marshes: c10 Waxwings south over Cordite Scrub at 12:05, plus imm male Marsh Harrier, 3 Barnacle Geese, 3 Avocet, 2 Water Pipits, Grey Plover, Jack Snipe, Water Rail, ad Yellow-legged Gull, 10+ Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, 3 Curlew, 6 Pintail, 8 Golden Plover (David Callahan).
Richmond Park: 7 Egyptian Geese, 46 Mandarin, 12 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 f Wigeon, m Teal, 16 Pochard, 53 Tufted Duck, 6 Red-crested Pochard, m Kestrel, Little Owl, f Kingfisher, 8 Great-spotted + 6 Green Woodpecker, 2 Skylark S, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Mistle Thrush, 26 Redwing, 3 Nuthatch, 3 Treecreeper, 8 Goldcrest (Neil Anderson)
Seventy Acres Lake: Bittern showing regularly from the Bittern Watchpoint (Adam Wilson)
Staines Res: first-winter Velvet Scoter on the S basin late afternoon (Ken Purdey, Rob Innes). Same bird as at KGVI Res in Nov/Dec.
St Margarets, 1 mile south of Amwell: 23 Waxwings in roadside tree, then flew right off (Lydia Willocks, Andrew Verrall). (Bittern, Buzzard, drake Smew Amwell, out of London area prob?).
Teddington: 30 Waxwing roosting in Shacklegate Lane near Teddington Cemetery feeding off bunches of red berries. (Penelope Paxer).
Teddington: Shacklegate Lane: about 50 birds on tree by no. 42 and allotments between 10.50 and 11.10 a.m. Earlier (10.10 - 10.30 a.m.) a similar number in the usual tree in Princes Road by no. 41 before flying into the gardens and away (RT)
Totteridge Valley: 1 Little Owl: 2 Skylark: c40 Fieldfare: c75 Redwing; 3 Bullfinch (John Colmans)
Waltham Abbey - Ninefields estate: 1 Little Egret along stream (Nigel May)
Watford: 2 Skylark over Cardiff Road a.m. (Des McKenzie).
Dagenham Chase LNR: Woodcock flew over, 1 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 30+ Gadwall, 1 Water Rail, 30+ Linnet and 23 Rook flew over. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
Chiswell Green (in LNHS area?): c60 Waxwing in Watford Road nr Stanmount Road. (Roger Dewey)
Theobalds Park Farm, Cheshunt: c20 Golden Plover, seen while driving past. (Roger Dewey)
M25/M1 junction: 1 Common Buzzard low over carriageway and 1 Sparrowhawk over later. (Roger Dewey)
Wanstead Flats: 37 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Mistle Thrush, 5 Gadwall, c. 22 Tufted Duck, c. 18 Shoveler, 5m Pochard, 4 Greylag Goose, 6 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting (Steve Thorpe, N Croft)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail (possible second bird on the Roding, which could mean 3 in all!), 56 Tufted Duck, 26 Pochard, 71 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 3 Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose, 16 Redwing, Lesser Redpoll, 14 Linnet, 8 Goldfinch, Reed Bunting (old sewage works), Pied Wagtail, 4 Skylark, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 11 Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk (ST/NC)
Battersea Park: 25+ Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 5 Grey-lag Geese, 1 Common Gull, 1 Jay, 1 Wren all common species (Michael Mac,Phil McHugh).

Saturday 1st January 2011.[]

Alexandra Park: c.15 Skylark, mainly SW, W Rail, 17 Lesser Redpoll in birches at top of Grove (Andrew Gardener, Gareth Richards) Yellowhammer by Wood Green Res., feeding around short willows (Paul Rawlins).
Balham: 35 Waxwings in the High Street in front of Waitrose, later between Balham Grove and Ramsden Road (9.30) (Christine Carlill)
Barking Bay: 3 Bewick's Swans north @08:47, fem Scaup flew upriver @09:30, Red-breasted Merganser (drake) in the bay briefly before flying east, m Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, 5 Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Wigeon, 8 Pochard, 6 Rock Pipit. 52 species seen 0745-12 noon. (Paul Hawkins)
Bedfords Park LNR: Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, 2 Woodcock over at dusk, 4 species of gull over, 5 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Little Owl (h), 2 Green Woodpecker, 5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Skylark over, 4 Song Thrush, 20+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8-10 Goldcrest, 30+ Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 40 Rook pre-roost in Deer Park, 10 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting (42+ species; Colin Jupp 11.00 until dusk & Havering EWT group 11.00-13.00)
Brent Reservoir: Rook west at 09.30, also 8 Skylarks over and a female Goosander briefly; 57 species seen (Andrew Self, Andrew Verrall & Derek Turner)
Crayford Marshes: 60 Pink-footed Goose north. Snow Bunting over calling, Woodlark over calling, Ruff, 2 Turnstone, Water Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 12 Grey Plover, Little Owl, Yellowhammer, Egyptian Goose. (Kev Jarvis).
Dagenham Chase LNR: 45 species seen PM. Woodcock flew over, also 30+ Linnet, 30+ Gadwall, 2 Jackdaw, 2+ Rook and 2 Goldcrest survived the freeze. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
Debden: 160+ Waxwings in tree in Pyrles Green (IG10 2NP) early morning & smaller flock of 40+ early afternoon (J & B Anderson).
Eastcote (Field End Road): 6 Skylark over east (JR).
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 13 Shelduck, 258 Teal, female Pintail, 4 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting (Gary A James, Nick Tanner).
Fairlop Waters: Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, GCGrebe, GWP, GSWP, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Goldcrest (London Birdwatching)
Harmondsworth: 18 Bewick's Swans, c100 Golden Plovers in field N of the A4 at 1145. (Ian Grant)
Isle of Dogs: Four Scaup still on Millwall Outer Dock this morning; the three 1w drakes on the narrow southern arm and the female near Glengall Bridge. Also the Red-legged Partridge still in the car park of the adjacent printing plant (Sean Huggins).
Lee Valley CP: Firecrest seen in bramble from railings at Holyfield weir, Seventy Acres lake; Bittern giving great views, seen eating a perch at one point, drake Smew, Water Rail, 70+ Lapwing, River leading down to Holyfield weir; single (m) & 3(f) Goosander, 2(f) Goldeneye, Grebe hide; single redhead Smew (J & B Anderson & J Anderson snr)
Leyton Waterworks NR area: 39 Gadwall, 11 Pochard, 14 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, Green Sandpiper over, Redpoll over, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Meadow Pipit, 6 Redwing, 17 Fieldfare, 4 Skylark over, Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and others (S Fisher).
London Wetland Centre: 6 (possibly 7) Bittern (photo) (LWC Website)
Little Britain Iver/ Cowley: 2 Goosanders m/f, Nuthatch, 2 Wigeon, 2 Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Greylag Geese, Kingfisher, Jay, Song Thrush, Little Grebe.(Sue Giddens)
Margravine Cemetery: 1 Goldcrest, at least 21 Redwing, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1pr Peregrine Falcon (Nathalie Mahieu).
Mill Hill NW7: 200+ Waxwings, four separate sightings. (Steve Blake)
Molesey Heath: 1 Water Rail (larger reed-fringed lake), 18 Linnet, 10 Goldfinch, 50+ Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 60 Starling (43 + others), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Gadwall and 3 mute Swan on River Mole, No sign of Waxwings on Island Farm road as on Birdguides yesterday. (Richard Inch)
Northolt, Yeading Brook (Hillingdon side): 1 Little Egret, 28 Teal, 17 Snipe, 30 Lapwing, 6 Skylark over north-west, 1 Meadow Pipit & 2 Rook (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 70 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 13 Jackdaw, 1 male Bullfinch & 9 Grey Heron. Also at Headstone Moat: 1 male Kingfisher (Jon Ridge).
RSPB Rainham Marshes: juvWhooper Swan north, rt Hen Harrier (HV, RB, Brian Churches), 3 ad Bewick's Swans west (SBa, Marco Johnson), Snow Bunting (HV, Brian Churches), Woodcock (HV, RB), 60 Pink-footed Geese north (Kev Jarvis, HV, RB, Brian Churches), 1st winter European White-fronted Goose (HV, CBa et al), Waxwing (RDu, Ken Foley), m Merlin (HV, MDD), Peregrine, 3 Barnacle Geese, 2 Bearded Tits, 14 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 25 Ring-necked Parakeets, Brambling, 4 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammer, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8 Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfisher, Avocet, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Grey Plover, 14 Golden Plover (RSPB) -- 96 species on day one
Ruislip Lido (90% ice)/Woods: 121 Mute Swans, 133 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 100+ Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 28 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, Heron, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 8 Great-spotted + 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Pied Wagtail,, 6 Redwing, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 12 Goldcrest, m Blackcap, c20 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Siskin, pr Bullfinch (Neil Anderson) You missed the Little Grebe along with approx one million pedestrians(RF)
South Norwood Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5m 2f Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Common Gull, C 20 Redwing, 1m Kestrel. 12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Mistle Thrush, c40 Goldfinch,(John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
South Ruislip (The Fairway): 1 Coal Tit & 1 Grey Wagtail (JR).
Springwell Lake: Goosander 2m 4f. Goldeneye 2m. (C Bessant)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: c15 Waxwings north, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, Cetti's Warbler showing well, 100+ Redwings, Skylark and c30 Fieldfares over (plus small numbers of Woodpigeons and Stock Doves), 2 Water Rails. Happy new year folks (Mark Pearson)
Teddington: 55 Waxwings in top of lime tree outside no. 41 Princes Road (IG10 2NP) 8.45-9.15am, feeding out of sight in back garden, before flying off. No other sightings in 90 min search of area including Wellington & Walpole Roads (J.Wilczur). Same site between 9.50 and 11.30 up to 40 Waxwings in tree and drinking from gutters, flying between tree and back gardens. 3 Goldfinches and 1 Siskin.. Left at 11.30 still 20-30 Waxwings in tree. (I R Watson)
Ten Acre Wood: Firecrest present 11.15 am. (Dick Middleton). Still showing well at 14.40. Little Owl in meadow west of wood and Little Egret on Yeading Brook (Steve Pash).
Thorney CP: 1 Bittern flying from one reed bed to another, 2 Great Crested Grebe, c6 Shoveler, c12 Gadwall, 2 Common Snipe, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common & Black-headed Gulls, 1 Treecreeper, flock of Long-tailed & Blue Tit. (Roger Dewey) 20+ Siskins, 2 Little Grebe. (Sue Giddens)
Watford: at least 69 Waxwing at the junction of St Alban's Road/Bruce Grove (WD24 4DZ) 11:30 attending Mountain Ash (Rowan), also Mistle Thrush (Des McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb) - Cardiff Road (a.m.): 2 Skylark over, 2 singing Song Thrush, several Redwing over after midnight, Jay, 20+ Linnet over, Lesser Redpoll (DMc).
Wanstead Flats: 82 Redwing, 9 Fieldfare, 5 Mistle Thrush, m Wigeon (fairground, later on jubilee), 3 Gadwall, c. 10 Tufted Duck, c. 11 Shoveler, m Pochard, 4 Greylag Goose, 20 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 60+ Jackdaw, Snipe (SSSI), 3 Reed Bunting (J Lethbridge, N Croft)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose, Redwing, Fieldfare, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Skylark, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest (JL, NC, Tim Harris) Get oh so more on the new blog http://wansteadbirding.blogspot.com/
Woodford Green: 6 Waxwing at junction Inman Row/Monkhams Lane feeding midday (London BIrdwatching)

January 2011

Monday 31st January 2011[]

Sunday 30th January 2011[]

Saturday 29th January 2011[]

Friday 28th January 2011[]

Thursday 27th January 2011[]

Wednesday 26th January 2011[]

Tuesday 25th January 2011[]

Monday 24th January 2011[]

Sunday 23rd January 2011[]

Saturday 22nd January 2011[]

Friday 21st January 2011[]

Thursday 20th January2011[]

Wednesday 19th January 2011[]

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Friday 14th January 2011[]

Thursday 13th January 2011[]

Wednesday 12th January 2011[]

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Monday 10th January 2011[]

Sunday 9th January 2011[]

Saturday 8th January 2011.[]

Friday 7th January 2011.[]

Thursday 6th January 2011.[]

Wednesday 5th January 2011.[]

Tuesday 4th January 2011.[]

Monday 3rd January 2011.[]

Sunday 2nd January 2011.[]

Saturday 1st January 2011.[]

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