Bushy Park: Sparrow hawk flew low overhead at Cobbler's Walk - 17:45, also 2 Skylark (heard 1 singing) and lots of RN Parakeet (Penelope Paxer)
Crayford Marshes: fem Garganey along the creek, near landfill reedbed at 10:29. 5 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, 3 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing (Kev Jarvis & Ian Stewart).
Dagenham Chase LNR: 1 Swallow this evening ( probably returning stables bird ), also female Goosander still on the slack but flighty, 2 LRP, pr Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Geese, and 15 Fieldfare. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
Gidea Park (Links Avenue): 18 Waxwings flew over ENE towards Gallows Corner at 16.20 (Colin Jupp).
Hayes (Croyde Avenue): 2 House Martins (Jim Fell).
Hemans Estate Community Gardens: pr Lesser Black-backed Gulls making a lot of noise on block roof for a few days this last week, hope they don't plan to nest? (Michael Mac).
Kensington Gardens: 2 adult Tawny Owls and 2 owlets showing well 12:45 (L. Wormald).
KGV Reservoir: c15 Sand Martins, c5 Swallows, 1 Shelduck, 8 Goldeneye, 2 Shoveler (+ Blackcap, Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff singing from adjacent hedges) (Roy Woodward); female Scaup still c.11am, plus 40 Sand Martins through (Ian Lycett).
London Wetland Centre: Common Tern on shingle island in Main Lake 15:20; also 6 Common Snipe, 5 Redshank, 3 Sand Martin, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (Birdguides / LWC website). Goosander (f) mid afternoon (S. Javes)
Margravine Cemetery area: House Sparrow calling (rare here, but twice in 3 days) (Nathalie Mahieu).
Motspur Park: 10 Stock Doves feeding along with Wod Pigeons on the back fields. (J. Dickerson)
New River Loop, Enfield Town: 1 Mistle Thrush on golf course, female Mallard with five small ducklings, male Mandarin Duck near Gentleman's Row. Lots of singing birds too including Chaffinch and Blue Tit. (Katy M.)
North Finchley: Red Kite low over house going S at 10.20 - don't know why I bother to go out birding at all (John Colmans).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Little Owl, 1 Snipe, 23 Fieldfare, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Stock Dove, 19 Jackdaw, 1 Jay & 3 Grey Heron - a disappointing month (JR).
Richmond Park: Red Kite flying low SSW mobbed by a crow over Conduit Wood at 10.45. Possibly same as Finchley bird? 7 Lesser Redpoll bathing in Conduit Strem and feeding on Hawthorn buds in large enclosure, late a.m.-early p.m. (FJM); Northern Wheatear female Holly Lodge Paddock early a.m., 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecckers, pair at Sheen Gate Car Park early a.m. (Tim Howard)
Richmond Park: pair of mandarin ducks on beverley.brook near Roehampton Gate ( D Benton)
Richmond Park: Brief but fairly close view of a Red Kite disappearing ->W over Sheen Clump at ~19.10, height ~100ft (mobbed by parakeets). I went after it on my bike, lost touch for a minute or two - but pretty sure I then saw it over Barn Wood, with another large bird. Could there be two in the area ? (Stefan Cz)
River Lee Country Park: 14 singing Chiffchaff, 9 singing Blackcap, 1 singing Willow Warbler around electricity substation, 2 Redshank (Goosefields), Little Owl + Common Buzzard (Holyfield Hall Farm) (Roy Woodward). 2 Red Kites over Galley Hill Wood (Mike Oakland)
Roding Valley Park: pr Kingfisher, 3 Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 singing Blackcap, 3 Song Thrush, Jay, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, 2 Linnet, Reed Bunting plus the usuals (London Birdwatching).
South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 15 Tufted Duck, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Song Thrush, 2 pair Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 6 singing Blackcap, 5 singing Chiffchaff, 4 singing Chaffinch, c8 Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow (John Watson).
Staines Moor: 2 Water Pipit, Goosander flew N, Redshank, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Little Egret (Nigel Sluman)
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver still on South Basin (Birdguides).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 3 Sand Martins, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs (MJP); escaped Goshawk hunting over reservoirs and then further south 1450 - 1510 (MJP, LP) Was the Goshawk quite brown with trailing jesses? I am wondering if it is the same bird I saw in Ealing last week? (birksy@yahoo.com) (Andrew Birks)
Streatham rail station: 5 RN parakeets, 7 goldfinches, 1 dunnock from alley alongside rail line (RB).
Valentines Park, Ilford: 4 Grey Heron (1 chick fell from the nest, got stuck in the tree and died, 2 remain) (London Birdwatching).
Walthamstow Reservoirs (Lockwood): c15 Waxwings headed W towards Tottenham 18.15; 6 Sand Martins, 2 Little Egrets S, 2 Shelduck, pair Pheasant (LB).
Wanstead Flats: Willow Warbler (calling SSSI), 5+ singing Chiffchaff, 2 m Blackcap, Swallow (over Alex), 2 Sand Martin (Angel Pond), Goldcrest, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 15+ Skylark, 2 Linnet (over east), 4 Reed Bunting, 3 Little Grebe, 5 RN Parakeet, 2 Heron, Snipe and hundreds of Starling moving north (C&D) (NC/JL).
Wanstead Park: 2 Fieldfare (OSW), Kingfisher, Water Rail (still on Perch), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 10+ singing Blackcap and similar numbers of Chiffchaff, 3 Coal Tit, 2 Linnet (OSW), Stock Dove(s), Sparrowhawk, Lesser Black-backed Gull (NC/JL).
Wormwood Scrubs: calling Green Woodpecker, singing Song Thrush + 2 other thrush over, c2 singing Chiffchaff, c4 singing Greenfinch, c3 singing Dunnock (Charlie Farrell).
Ingrebourne Valley: LRP (Shaun Harvey)
Wednesday 30th March 2011[]
Euston Station: Young Peregrine within the station building, seen above the destination boards. Station staff say the RSPCA has been informed. Also there the previous day.
Alexandra Park: Pair Stock Doves, plus singers: Willow Warbler (conservation area woods), 2 Blackcap, 5+ Chiffchaff (David Callahan). Lesser Spotted Woodpecker lower slope - 1st for about 8 months! (Richard Andrews).
Beaverwood (Chislehurst): 6 Canada Geese, Mallard, Kestrel, 10 Moorhens, many Woodpigeons, 2+ Stock Doves, 10+ Ring-necked Parakeets, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 6+ Wren, 2 Dunnocks, 6+ Robins, 8+ Blackbird, 2+ Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, heard singing Blackcap + singing Chiffchaff, 8+ Long Tailed Tits, Coal Tit, plenty Blue and Great Tits, Nuthatch, 4 Treecreepers, Jay, 8+ Magpies, 4 Jackdaws, 20+ Carrion Crows, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch (Ian Stewart)
Bedfords Park LNR: 6 singing Blackcap, good numbers of Chiffchaff but no additional migrants, 2 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, singing Treecreeper (Damselfly Pond), 4 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 3 Jay, Redpoll over, 3 Bullfinch (fem + 2 h, in blackthorn), 2 pr Canada Goose, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Black-headed Gull (Colin Jupp).
Blackheath: 2 Waxwing in village 10h00 but not 11-12h. No sign of any at Sun in the Sand roundabout, 10h3 (James Lowen).
Brent Reservoir: Avocet (found earlier by Roy Beddard) still present from main hide at 16.55; also 4 Green Sands behind dam at 18.00 (Andrew Self)
Bromley-by-Bow: 4 Siskin west, 2 Meadow Pipit over, Swallow over, 5+ Sand Martin, Jay (giving really good imitation of Tawny Owl qwick call for several seconds), 2 male Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet South plus the usuals (Stuart Fisher).
Bushy Park: 1 Treecreeper, 2 Mallards in trees! Lots of Ring-necked Parakeets and 5+ Skylark (Penelope Paxer).
Crayford Marshes: male Northern Wheatear, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Sand Martin, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, 4 male Blackcap, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Sandpiper, Redwing, 2 Snipe. (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Dagenham Chase LNR: 6.25-7.45 pm, 5 Garganey 2m, 3f ( pics ) Female Goosander ( pics ),1 LRP, 1 Yellow Wagtail over at 6.58 pm & pr Shelduck ( all birds by the slack ) V.Halley-Frame.
Fulham Sands End: 1 Wheatear on wharf (Nathalie Mahieu).
Garston: 30 Waxwing by 21 Hill Farm Avenue 07:15 (Birdguides).
Holmethorpe SPs: 1 Little Owl, Little Ringed Plover, 30 Linnet, Shoveler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker.
North Acton (NW10): Female Peregrine over east toward Wormwood Scrubs at 09:45 (Bill Haines).
Pinner Park Farm: 3 Little Owl, 1 Snipe in ditch, 26 Fieldfare, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Chiffchaff, 3 Jackdaw, 7 Herring Gull & 4 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Rainham Village: House Martin, singing Blackcap, singing Chiffchaff (Richard Harrison).
Rammey marsh: Woodcock , Little Egret [small river lee] many Chiffchaffs. (Brian Dawton)
Richmond Park: Mealy Redpoll briefly and joined by a Redpoll sp in flight at Conduit Stream, Hawthorn Valley prior to 9am. (FJM) Also several Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in recent days drumming and calling. (Mike Lewis and Tim Howard per FJM)
South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 1m Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckerr (1drumming) 1 Nuthatch, 3 Song Thrush, 6 singing Blackcap, 5 singing Chiffchaff, c 6 Greenfinch, 3 singing Chaffinch, 3 pair Long-tailed Tit, c10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 House Sparrow, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
Staines Reservoir: 4 Little Gulls, early a.m. (Bob Warden per FJM). Great Northern Diver S basin and 2 Little Ringed Plovers N basin at dusk (FJM)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: House Martin (first of year), 3 Willow Warblers (first of year), 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2nd cy Great Black-backed Gull (MJP).
Sydenham Hill Woods: 2 Kestrel, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Stock Dove (Dave Clark)
Wanstead Flats: 3 Wheatear (2f,1m), 1 male Ring Ouzel, 2 Sand Martin (JL/NC). Snipe (Cat& Dog), m Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 20 + Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 13 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 Redwing, 4 Linnet, 4 Reed Bunting, 20+ Cormorant, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk (54sp NC/JL/TH) probable Tree Sparrow reported in SSSI yesterday (SThorpe)
Wanstead Park: 5 Sand Martin over the Basin at 2:30pm (J Lethbridge)
Stockers Lake (near Rickmansworth):- 10 Swallows, Blackcap, Willow Warbler singing, 3 Snipe, Gadwall, Teal, 7 Egyptian Geese, 2 Stock Doves, 1 Goldeneye, 2 F. Goosander, 2 Red Crested Pochards, Wigeon, 1 hybrid Scaup, 1 Buzzard and Chiffchaffs. Geoff Crabtree and Tony Clancy.
Tuesday 29th March 2011[]
Alexandra Park: 9 Waxwings flew east skirting Newland Road then SE over Filter Beds at 0657. Also 4 Greylag Wood Green Res (Bob Watts). Kestrel in reservoir nesting box 4.30pm (Claire).
Barnes Common: c.40 Waxwing by the train station at 09:40, 3 singing Chiffchaff (Andrew Skotnicki).
Battersea Park Lake: 1st pr Red-crested Pochard I seen here in 4 years of watching site, obviously come from one of Central London Parks, 10 pr Gadwall, Mute Swan on nest, 1 Egyptian Goose - suggests other on a nest? 3 Coot on nests, Green Woodpecker calling, pr Great Spotted Woodpecker (Michael Mac).
Blackheath village: c 12 Waxwings early afternoon - recounted after examining photos (Joe Beale). Egyptian Goose at pond by Princess of Wales pub (Sharon Lowen) 2 Egyptian Geese mid afternoon there (Joe Beale per Patricia Brown).
Brent Reservoir: Little Egret behind dam in morning (Andrew Self)
Bromley-by-Bow: Blackcap singing by the wall river then flew east (early am), 1 Swallow NE mid morning, 2 Greylag over, 9 Sand Martin, 2 Mistle Thrush building another nest by the looks of it, 3 Teal, Siskin over, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Stock Dove, 2 Meadow Pipit over, 7 Goldfinch (Stuart Fisher)
Bow Creek Ecology Park and East India Dock Basin: Sand Martin, lone Fieldfare dropped in during light rain, 2 Oystercatcher on Greenwich foreshore, 2 Greylags over (same noisy pair that flew low over 3 Mills studios earlier), 32 Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Song Thrush, 3 Linnet, 32 Teal, pr Stock Dove (S Fisher)
Chandler's Cross: c50 Waxwing in trees from the M25 south-bound just after Junction 19 08:30 (Birdguides).
Crayford: 17 Waxwing opposite Ghandi Spice restaurant London Road / Bourne Rd junction plus 4 behind Duke of Wellington pub 10.30 (Ralph Todd).
Crayford Marshes: Water Pipit, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Little Egret, 3 Blackcap, 2 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Eltham: c20 Waxwing at the junction of Rochester Way / Grangehill Road 07:30 (Birdguides) and 33 Waxwings at 16.45 (same location) John R
Fairlop Waters: 60 Sand Martin (photo), 1 House Martin (photo), 1 Swallow, 2 Little Owl, Linnet, Reed Bunting (London Birdwatching).
Garston: 30 Waxwing opposite 21 Hill Farm Avenue 16:15 (Birdguides).
Greenwich: 100+ Waxwing on the north-east side of the Sun in the Sands roundabout at the A102 / A2 junction a.m. (Birdguides).
Hampstead Heath: Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, Kingfisher. Still 2 Shoveler and 2 Pochard on Sanctuary Pond (Pete M).
Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): singing m Blackcap in my garden, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet over (CRJ).
Holmethorpe SPs: 2 Avocet on Mercer's Pit a.m.; view from the gate and stay on public rights of way (Birdguides).
Hornchurch: c20 Waxwing on Laburnam Avenue a.m. (Birdguides).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: male Ruddy Duck, adult Tawny Owl and 2 owlets showing well, 6 Sand Martin over Round Pond for a few minutes, 3 Meadow Pipit over, 6 Pied Wagtail, singing Blackcap, 5 singing Chiffchaff, singing Willow Warbler; also 8 adult Egyptian Goose, pr Mandarin Duck, Gadwall, 7 Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe, 115+ Black-headed Gull, 18 Herring Gull, Green Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, 4-5 Mistle Thrush, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper; also Brambling reported by another observer (D. McKenzie).
Ingrebourne Valley: Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Little Egret, 2 Blackcap, Bullfinch, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Sandmartin (Shaun Harvey).
Kilburn: 22 Waxwing off Christchurch Avenue at 17.00, flew south (Aaron C-Partridge).
Larkhall Park (Stockwell): 1 fledged [Thrush still visible in tree.] video here! I reckon the other nest may have been vandalised by builders overlooking site but not sure? (Michael Mac).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl, 1 Snipe in ditch near the main pond, 17 Meadow Pipit over mostly north, 1 Linnet over east, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, singing Chiffchaff, 8 Jackdaw & 1 Grey Heron (JR).
Rainham Marshes: male Marsh Harrier, 2 adult Little Gull on Target Pools, first-winter Mediterranean Gull (Birdguides).
Richmond Park: 3 Wheatear on Flying Field, 18 Skylark and 1 Meadow Pipit on Sports Pitches (Andrew Skotnicki).
Roding Valley Park: Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, up to 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Greenfinches (Alan Hobson).
Sewardstone: male Wheatear on NE corner of KGV Reservoir, 2 Willow Warbler, Swallow (Martin Shepherd).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 4 Sand Martins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, trickle of Meadow Pipits and finches (esp. Greenfinches) over throughout, otherwise v quiet; also 4 Small Tortoiseshells, as well as Peacocks, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood (MJP)
Wanstead Flats: No migrants; best of the rest usual male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Copses on and off all day, single drake Gadwall, Shoveler and Pochard on Alexandra Lake, Common Buzzard over west at 1725 (J Lethbridge)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail on Perch Pond (Steve Thorpe)
West Beckton: Chiffchaff in Richard House Drive (London Birdwatching)
West Ham Park: didn't think it could be as bad as in the winter but it was, what a wasted resource this place is. All parks should have at least one third set aside for conservation: singing Blackcap, singing Mistle Thrush, Green and Great Spot Woodpecker, 1 Cormorant over, LBBG, a couple of Chaffinch - I am off for some mogadon (NC).
Wimbledon Common: Woodcock, Ladies Mile area (David Wills).
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 male Northern Wheatear, c8 Chiffchaff, c2 singing Blackcap, c6 Jackdaw over plus usuals. (The Scrubbers).
Mill Hill: Dawes Lane P.M. Red Kite circling low. (R Regan)
Monday 28th March 2011[]
Alexandra Park: 8+ Chiffchaff, very large female Sparrowhawk (David Callahan); Common Buzzard north at 14.45 (DC, Ian Lycett). 2 Greylags over 0650 (Bob Watts).
Bedfords Park LNR: m Sparrowhawk, pr Mandarin, 4 Black-headed Gull, 4 Stock Dove, singing Skylark (Foxes Hill), 3 Redwing, 5 singing Blackcap, 15 singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Nuthatch (Larch Wood & EWT car park), Coal Tit, pr Goldfinch, Bullfinch (heard in two areas of blackthorn) (Colin Jupp).
Bromley-by-Bow: 9 Sand Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, Linnet, 5 Gadwall, pr Kestrel and the usuals (Stuart Fisher)
Crayford: 20+ Waxwings on London Road @ 3.30pm (Ian Miller per JA).
Crayford Marshes: ringtail Hen Harrier east, Yellow Wagtail over, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Swallow, 3 Pintail, Little Owl, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 male Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warbler. (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Crossness: escaped Red-breasted Goose (yellow-ringed) on lake in Sewage Works (Karen Sutton per JA).
Crystal Palace Park: 2 x Kestrel, 2 x Chiffchaff (Dave Clark, Jason Cunningham & Charles Hemsworth ... SoLoMig ... South London Migration Watch)
East India Dock Basin: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Sand Martin, 39 Teal, 25 Tufted Duck, 2 Greylags over (John Archer). Still 2 LRP's in afternoon, 1 East India Dock, 1 Bow Creek, Common Sandpiper (Bow Creek), Common Buzzard north 3:25pm, 4 Linnet, 8 Shelduck, 2 Meadow Pipit north, Chiffchaff (Stuart Fisher). 4 Little Ringed Plover on the Pura Foode peninsula late afternoon, view looking east from the footbridge over the DLR at the entrance to Bow Creek Ecology Park (Nick Tanner).
Forest Gate: Sparrowhawk being chased by 3 Grey Wagtail and Carrion Crow (NC)
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (06:45-08:00): Tawny Owl and owlet getting mobbed by crows and by smaller birds, 2 Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 2+ Green Woodpecker (calling), Ruddy Duck on Longwater, pr of Great Crested Grebe (Charlie Farrell); Common Buzzard over early evening (Chris Langsdon per DMc).
London Wetland Centre: Sparrowhawk, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 5+ Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin; also Comma (LWC website).
Staines Moor: 2 Wheatear, 2 Cetti's Warbler (one showing well by the wooden bridge just north of the Moor), 3 Little Egret, at least 10 Reed Bunting, 1 Willow Warbler (on path north of the Moor), at least 10 Chiffchaff, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Green Woodpecker (10.00am). (Neil Randon)
Staines Reservoir: South Basin - at least 2 Little Gull, 1Great Northern Diver. On causeway banking (eastern end) - 1 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 1 Wheatear, 1 Swallow (8.30am). (Neil Randon)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Buzzard south 1315-1317, 6 Sand Martins south, c20 Meadow Pipits north, Peregrine, 3 Linnets north, unID'ed bunting east (probably Yellowhammer), Water Rail, c5 Chiffchaffs, 2 blackcaps, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Thorpe Park: Redshank, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Kingfisher, 16 Wigeon, 10 Teal and a Chiffchaff (KPDuncan)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: singing Blackcap (1st of spring) Sanctuary Wood, 2+ Chiffchaffs, 2 pairs displaying Stock Dove (Bob Watts).
Wanstead Flats: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (centre copse 07:00 - Tony Brown, later east copse c.08:30, back in centre copse 11:00), Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7+ Chiffchaff, 3 singing Blackcap, 3+ Linnet (singles over SSSI, Long Wood, Broom Fields), 4m Reed Bunting (2f), 10 + Meadow Pipit, 2 Fieldfare (Long Wood and east of Alex), Gadwall, Shoveler, Heron, 2 Stock Dove, Snipe (Cat & Dog then SSSI), 16 Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull (east), and the usuals (NC/Tony Brown)
Chingford: Bittern thermalling and drifting north west towards the Lea Valley @16.05 (Matt Evans)
Connaught Waters: Male Green-winged Teal (or hybrid) still present, at least 12 Mandarins, 2 Egyptian Geese, Ring-necked Parakeet, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Roy Woodward).
Cornmill Meadows: 1 Red Kite at 0810hrs drifted low north/west.(N.Smith et al)
Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: pr Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers copulating, Woodcock, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Little Owls, Sparrowhawk, 18+ Redwings, Fieldfare, 11+ Skylarks, 3 Yellowhammers, 3+ Pheasants, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Mallards over, 2 Grey Herons over, 3 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls over, 3 Treecreepers, 2 Coal Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 6 Green Woodpeckers, 4+ Great Spotted Woodpeckers, c.25 Linnets (inc fem with nesting material), Long-tailed Tit with nesting material, Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Song Thrushes, Rose-ringed Parakeet, 3 Goldcrests etc (David Campbell, Ian Jones & Roy Weller). 2 Mealy Redpolls recently with Lesser Redpolls (Fiona Johnson via David Campbell).
Crayford Marshes: Ring-tail Hen Harrier hunting behind Erith Yacht Club at 10:55. Willow Warbler, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, 13 Curlew, Little Owl, 3 male Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Fieldfare. (Kev Jarvis & A.W).
Ealing (W13): Waxwing heard calling distantly from garden at c.12:30. Could not see it/them through trees, but in area of St. Stephen's Road (Bill Haines).
East India Dock Basin area: 1 Sand Martin, 50+ Teal, Common Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Collared Dove. (Gary A James & Nick Tanner).
Blackeath Royal Standard Roundabout about 30 Waxwings feeding on berries at the east end of the motorway bridge. (Phil Laurie)
Grovelands Park, Southgate: 1 female Northern Wheatear, near Bourneside Sports & Tennis Courts - only my third record for the site and second spring record, after the first - also a female on April 30th 1991! (Robert Callf).
Hampstead Heath: Buzzard circling high over Royal Free Hospital c17:00 (CB)
Horton Country Park, Epsom: Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 4, Treecreeper, Buzzard (Bob Smith)
Larkhall Park (Stockwell): 2nd Mistle Thrush nest on the ground with remains of 2 smashed eggs in - out of human reach so culprits probably Grey Squirrels? 1st nest now has fledged and only 2 young seen near by being fed - 2pm (Michael Mac).
Lee Valley: Oystercatcher and Little Ringed Plover at both Hall Marsh and Langridge Scrape. Pink-footed Goose still at Holyfield Hall Farm, 2 Shelduck on Goosefield. Two very high and distant small falcons drifting on easterlies, over Fishers Green at 13.45. Possibly, two very early Hobbies. (Mike Oakland).
Mill Hill, NW7, Scratchwood (off A1): MHPS / RSPB Birdwalk - 3 Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 singing Chiffchaff, singing Blackcap, Stock Dove, bat sp flying c.13.30, Toads spawning in pond. (Bob Husband, Group Leader, NW London RSPB Group)
Nags Head Lane Fishery (Brentwood): 10 Tufted Duck, 35 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, singing male Blackcap, singing Chiffchaff, 2 Greenfinch. Also pr Little Grebe, Common Snipe and Chiffchaff adjacent Sewage Works (Colin Jupp).
Osterley Park: Wheatear 1. Chiffchaff 2. Fieldfare c10. (K.Fisher). 1 Common Buzzard over south @1420 (N.Smith)
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Little Owl, Sparrowhawk, 1 Linnet over west, 2 Meadow Pipit over north, singing Chiffchaff, 13 Canada Goose (Jon Ridge, Joe Dickens); Also: 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Stock Dove, 7 Jackdaw & 2 Snipe left in the south-east perimeter ditch (JR).
Poverest Park, Orpington: 3 Redwings early am also 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, 3 Jackdaws, 1 Blackcap singing. (Quentin Given)
Rainham Marshes: female Hen Harrier west marsh to silts 09:30, Red Kite NW from dump to west marsh pursued by Jackdaws 10:10, 3 Water Pipits in sum plum together (barges), 2 Wheatear (Thameside footpath), 6 LRP, pair Garganey (reserve), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 7+ Cetti's Warblers, pair Pintail (David Callahan). Garganey visible from entrance ramp/sea wall still present on pool nearest woodlands, late afternoon. Also imm male Marsh Harrier over targets, c15 Snipe (James A) + female Marsh Harrier (Roy Woodward).
Richmond Park: 1 fem Goldeneye on Upper Pen Pond (Hugh Bradshaw)
Staines Reservoir: Scandinavian Rock Pipit still along reservoir banks along causeway early am (see Dave Smith's photo: [1]. Also 10 Little Gulls on S basin. 2 Redshank, 12 Sand Martins and 2 Swallow flew over. (Bob Warden per FJM) Great Northern Diver on the S basin @ 11:30 (KPDuncan)
Stoke Newington: female Black Redstart (no specific site). BirdGuides.
Sunny Hill Park: singing Nuthatch in St Mary's churchyard (F Simpson).
Teddington: c40 Waxwings at junction of Connaught Road and King's Road. Feeding in trees along road at 8.15am. (R Gowrley)
Ten Acre Wood area: 4 Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge (site tick), 10 Lapwing displaying, 3 Stock Dove, 5 Green + 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, pr Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, 6 singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Blackcap, Fieldfare, 2 Nuthatch, c10 Jackdaw, Rook calling from wood + 1 seen flying out, m Reed Bunting, 33 Linnets (Neil Anderson)
Wanstead Flats: Red Kite (over Alex NE towards Ilford - yay! patch life tick 130), 2 Common Buzzard (SW over SSSI), 3 Sparrowhawk, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (JL), 3 Sand Martin over Alex (SF), Linnet, Stock Dove, Goldcrest and the usuals (NC/JL/SF)
Wanstead Park: Little Egret (Roding), 3 Teal (SoM), Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, lots of singing Chiffchaff, Blackcap etc. (Carol Brown/Peter Jenkins - apologies if I got the name wrong, couldn't read myown writing - NC)
Yeading Brook Meadows: 2 Green Woodpecker, pr Skylark, 14 Meadow Pipits, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 2 male Blackcap together (both silent) (Neil Anderson).
Saturday 26th March 2011[]
Addington (fields by Kent Gate Way): 3 Pheasant, a few Stock Dove, 300+ Woodpigeon, 50+ Jackdaw, 6 Rook, 40+ Carrion Crow, 40+ Chaffinch, 2 male Brambling (Croydon Birders).
Brent Reservoir: Little Egret flew in at 10.40 (Andrew Self)
Cornmill Meadows: Cetti's Warbler, 2 Treecreepers, single Goldcrest (J Anderson)
Crayford Marshes: Northern Wheatear, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 3 male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Little Egret, 4 Rook. (Kev Jarvis).
Crossness: juv Iceland Gull off Golf Centre late afternoon, female Wheatear, 14 Fieldfares, Common Buzzard, Water Pipit, near-ad Yellow-legged Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 15 Oystercatchers, 4 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler (John Archer & Mick Southcott). Blackcap trapped and ringed (Roger Taylor).
Ealing: 11 Waxwing on Kent Avenue (BirdGuides).
Ealing (Warren Farm, Windmill Lane): 2 Northern Wheatear (1m & 1f), 2 Rook. 1 Stock Dove on horse paddocks north of the playing fields (Bill Haines).
East India Dock Basin area: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit , 2 Jackdaw east. (Gary A James).
Fairlop Waters: Avocet on Main Lake, north of island, 1 Swallow, 6 Sand Martin (BirdGuides, Alan Bell).
Five Oaks Lane, Chigwell: Red Kite, Little Owl, Sparrowhawk, Pheasant, 10 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 10 Mipit, 54 Skylark, m Reed Bunting, 11 Yellowhammer, London Birdwatching
Foots Cray meadows: 16-40 Waxwing near Riverside Road pumping station, about half the flock flew towards Bexley at 10.50, the rest there till 11.15, very vocal (Ian Stewart and Phil Cliffe); 8+ singing Chiffchaff, 2 Little Grebes, Grey Heron, pair Mute Swans, c20 Mallard, 7 Tufted Ducks, Kestrel, 4+ Moorhen, 10+ Coot, several Herring Gulls E, many Woodpigeons, 7+ Stock Dove, many RN Parakeets, 3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit N, Grey Wagtail, 10+ Wren, 6+ Dunnock, 10+ Robin, 4+ Blackbird, 2+ Song Thrush, 2 singing Mistle Thrush, 1+ Goldcrest, 10+ Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tit, Blue and Great Tits all over, Jay, Magpies, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows by the dozen, 10+ Starling, few House Sparrows, 6+ Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 6+ Goldfinch, redpoll sp. heard (Ian Stewart).
Horsenden Hill: 1 Brambling NE at 06.30, also 15 singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Blackcap, 18 Song Thrush (15 singing) (Andy Culshaw).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (LNHS walk, 30 attended, 56 species): highlights were male Ruddy Duck, Little Egret over 10:38, pr Grey Heron nest-building, unidentified wader over 10:33 (probably Common Snipe), third-summer Yellow-legged Gull, Tawny Owl, sub-singing Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler showing well and singing intermittently, 1-2 Jackdaw (D. McKenzie, Robert Callf et al). Pair of Nuthatches lining nest, early pm (F Simpson). Also Peregrine circling overhead c16:00 (L.F-H)
Ingrebourne Valley: 16 Sand Martins and a Common Buzzard over (Dave Morrison).
Lee Valley (Holyfield Hall Farm): Red Kite drifting east 12:00 (Andrew Thomas)
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Sand Martin, Northern Wheatear, 3 Chiffchaff (LWC website).
Lonsdale Reservoir: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Pochard, usual ducks and so on . . . otherwise quiet (I guess the birds had all left, anticipating the boat race crowds) (Rich Petley)
New Southgate (Warwick Road): male and female Blackcaps in gardens (Philip Dawton).
Pinner: 6 Waxwings Church Avenue 08.00 (Richard Francis)
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Rook by the rugby club, 1 male Blackcap tuning up, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Jackdaw, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff singing, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit & 2 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Putney Bridge: male Peregrine over, just before the Boat Race (Sash Tusa)
Rainham Marshes: Garganey - drake and duck - viewable from seawall on Purfleet marshes), Little Egret (1), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Water Rail (heard), 7am (Martin Birch); No sign Garganey from 10:00 onwards, Red Kite, 17 Little Gull on Aveley Pools mid-a.m. (Sean Huggins), 10 Sand Martin (over Aveley Pools), Swallow (along seawall west), Willow Warbler (stone barges approach road), 3 Chiffchaff, singing Blackcap, c.7 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Tree Pipit (reported in Cordite Store), 6+ Water Pipit (stone barges then flew north c.18:00), Yellow-legged Gull (on tip at 17:45), pr Great Crested Grebe (+ on river), 20+ Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover, leucistic f Pintail - 4 pr Pintail, many Shoveler (NC et al)
Richmond Park: Northern Wheatear. Sixteen Acres, near disabled car park Isabella Plantation late am. (Steve Reed per FJM)
River Lea (at North Chingford) c10 Sand Martin over King George's Reservoir 07.30, 1 Little Egret, 3 Goosander (1 male 2 females), Grey Wagtail 1 pair, 3 Shelduck (Millicent Harper)
Staines Moor: Swallow flew N 12.00. Goosander female flew over onto Wraysbury Res @ 10.40. 10 Chiffchaff singing. 2 Cetti's Warblers singing, 1 near Bonehead Ditch Bridge and 1 along track by 5 bar metal gate near gravel pit. 45 Fieldfare flew NW 10.30. 2 Water Pipits flew over. 8 Shelduck on bank of King George VI Res. (FJM)
Staines Res: 2 Great Northern Diver (1 flew towards King George VI @ 9ish), 2 Shelduck, m Scaup, 12+ Goldeneye, c6 Little Gulls (Neil Anderson); female Red-breasted Merganser briefly on S basin prior to 13.00, 1st summer Mediterranean Gull early pm then flew E @ 1420, 10 Little Gulls.Scandinavian Rock Pipit along banks of causeway and on railings 12.40-13.00 photos to follow. Still present late pm (Ken Purdey) 1 Common Snipe, 3 Sand Martins flew E @ 14.25 ( Peter Casselton and FJM).
Thorpe Park: Redshank still present, Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, Kingfisher, 11 Teal and 26 Wigeon. (KPDuncan)
Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 1 female Northern Wheatear, my first of the spring (Robert Callf).
Wanstead: 30 Waxwings in the tallest tree in Nightingale Court 1:45pm (Chris Legge)
Wanstead Park: 2 male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (one vocal individual near the tea hut and another drumming near the main lodge), 1 male Blackcap singing near the lodge 8.00am (Rich Jones); singing male Treecreeper at the Dell, 2 Blackcap singing, 13 singing Chiffchaff, Siskin, Little Egret & Kingfisher (Roding), 7+ Stock Dove, several Jay (one gave mimicry of Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl) (Stuart Fisher)
Wanstead Flats: 2 Sand Martin over Alex, Siskin over, Great Black-backed Gull over calling SW, male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming in copse near the Esso garage (that makes 3 males drumming in the park and flats!) 3 singing Chiffchaff, several singing Skylark and Meadow Pipit, no real Wheatears, just imaginary ones (Stuart Fisher) Snipe reported c.08:00, Linnet (over) plus the usuals (NC/JL/Steve Thorpe)
West Thurrock: still 205 Waxwings at Lakeside Shopping Centre outside Debenhams this morning, 7.20am (Martin Birch). At least 123 still there at any one time until 16:30 - sometimes flock split and groups moved around, so may have been more in the general area (Joe Beale).
Barnes Common: 17 Waxwing by the train station at 10am, 3 singing Chiffchaff (Andrew Skotnicki).
Battersea Park Lake: 1 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, pr Dunnock, 10+ prs Gadwall, 2 Grey Herons still building nests, at the other end of spectrum some with chicks close to fledging, calling Little Grebe - all lunchtime (Michael Mac).
Beckton Park: singing Chiffchaff along Stansfeld Road (London Birdwatching).
Beddington Farmlands: 3 Mediterranean Gull migrating over, 4 Common Buzzard, 3 Water Pipit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 30+ Mipit, 40+ Fieldfare, 5 Redwing Some photos here of early spring migrants
Blackheath: 2 Wheatear in ne corner (Martin Hallam per James Lowen).
Brentford (Clifden Road): c20 Waxwing sitting on roof above empty berry bush 07:30 to 8.30 on and off, then flew off towards Ealing (F.mck)
Bromley-by-Bow: Common Buzzard over Bow Lock at lunchtime then drifted back South East, Kestrel, pair of Jays, 5 Teal, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Meadow Pipit north plus usuals (S Fisher)
Cannon's Farm (Banstead): probable ringtail Hen Harrier early a.m.
Chafford Hundred: 15 Waxwing at Warren Gorge a.m., c70 along the cycle track off Saffron Road a.m. (Birdguides)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Sand Martin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Avocet, 2 male Blackcap, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chffchaff (Kev Jarvis)
Croxley Common Moor: 3 male Northern Wheatear (Maple Cross Birding).
East India Dock Basin area: 1 Little Ringed Plover (dock), 1 Sand Martin (dock), Kingfisher (Bow Creek), Chiffchaff, 2 Greylag Goose (Gary A James).
Enfield: 1 singing male Chiffchaff in a bush in front garden in Corby Crescent, EN2 7JT (Robert Callf).
Fryent Country Park: multiple singing Chiffchaff, 2 Gadwall, 8 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Nuthatch singing, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Aaron C-Partridge)
Garston: 7 Waxwing at the junction of Peregrine Close / Falcon Way 06:45 (Birdguides).
Gidea Park (Links Avenue): Grey Wagtail at a pond in private garden (CRJ).
Goodge St-Oxford St (0715-0730): 3 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit calling, 14 Woodpigeon over to N, Magpie (Sash Tusa).
Greenwich Park: Common Buzzard W ish. circling low, @ 11.30, Sparrowhawk over, Chiffchaff just outside E edge of Park, 8 Meadow Pipits N around midday (Joe Beale).
Grovelands Park: 2 Egyptian Geese on lake. (Katy M.) also 6 Little Grebe and 1 Woodcock, flushed, 17:25 hrs - only my second record for the the site! (Robert Callf)
Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): 2 Red Kites seen from my garden (a first!) high above Dagnam Park 11.50-11.55 eventually drifting E/SE; also Sparrowhawk (Colin Jupp).
Horsenden Hill: 2 Waxwing at the Ranger Station, female Ring Ouzel on Berkley Fields (Birdguides), Common Buzzard SE at 13.35, singing Lesser Redpoll Canal Ponds 11.00 and Redpoll sp. NW at 13.15, 1 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 singing Coal Tits. Also six species of butterfly inc. Orange-tip, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell (Andy Culshaw).
Hoxton St (N1): singing Chiffchaff (Trent Smith).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (a.m.): male Ruddy Duck (bubbling), third-summer Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit over, adult male Northern Wheatear on Buck Hill and flushing into surrounding trees (first of 2010 was 20/03), Redwing, 6 singing Chiffchaff, male Linnet on Parade Ground; also 7 adult Egyptian Goose and 2 goslings, 3 Mandarin Duck, 3 Gadwall, 62 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 10 Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe, 20 Great Crested Grebe (3 pairs displaying), 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Treecreeper (D. McKenzie).
Islington Green: Jackdaw north at 10:20 (Tim Harris).
London Wetland Centre: Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Snipe, 6 Redshank, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin, 5 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
Manor House: (New River TQ325878) Little Grebe (William Marshall).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 adult male Wheatear along the middle hedge (Jon Ridge, John Gates); Also: 6 Common Buzzard over at 15:28, 1 Little Egret (main pond), 1 Little Owl, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnet, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Green Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 14 Jackdaw, 5 Redwing & 1 Comma (JR).
Rainham Marshes: still 2 Garganey on pool by seawall, left of the new hide (Birdguides); 4 on Purfleet Scrape late a.m. (Birdguides). pr Garganey still present near new hide till 4:30 at least (S Fisher)
Roding Valley Park: Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Greenfinches, Wren (carrying nesting material) (Alan Hobson).
Ruislip: Peregrine over Poors Field at 12.15, circling with 2 Common Buzzard. Tawny Owl, 2 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 9 Gt Spotted Woodpecker, 6+ Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 3 Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk in Park Wood. 2 pr Lesser Redpoll displaying over Haste Hill GC. Kestrel over Lido (Steve Pash).
St James' Park: Chiffchaff, also the White Pelican was soaring around (Andrew Self).
Sewardstone: Brambling in caravan park woodland at 10.10, and Bullfinch on Sewardstone Marsh (Martin Shepherd).
Sidcup (York Avenue): Treecreeper briefly in garden then lost to view @13.20 (garden lifer), 2 or 3 Common Buzzards (1 over house for 5 mins then S 13.02, 1 or 2 distant to NE), large female Peregrine high E 14.07, Chiffchaff briefly in garden then W 11.20, 3-5 Sparrowhawks, 17+Pigeons, 10+Woodpigeons, 3 Stock Doves, 3 Collared Doves, 5+R/N Parakeets, Dunnock, 2 Robins, 3 Blackbirds, pair Goldcrests, 6+Blue Tits, 2+Great Tits, Jay, pair Magpies, 20+Carrion Crows, 10+Starlings, 8+House Sparrows, 6+Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, heard Chaffinch + Wren (Ian Stewart)
South Ealing: 14 Waxwing on Coningsby Road to 07:30 when they flew north (Birdguides).
South Norwood CP: 11 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pheasant, 3 Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail, 21 Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
Staines Res: 2 Great Northern Divers, 8 Little Gulls and Scaup drake still (Bob Warden per FJM).
Sunbury Cross: 7 Waxwing at around 07:45 by Vicarage Road junction (Tony Sweetland).
Thorpe Park: Redshank on Manor Lake.(KPDuncan)
Twickenham: 2 Red Kites over low NW at 15:10 (Peter Gray)
Tylers Hall Farm (Upminster): male Wheatear (thanks to farm owner for allowing me access for close views), also Kestrel, singing Skylark, 3 singing Chiffchaff on Tylers Common + Comma (Colin Jupp).
Crayford Marshes: ringtail Hen Harrier south over the Thames a.m. 3 Swallow north-west, Little Ringed plover, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, male Blackcap, Green Sandpiper, 3 Chiffchaff. Snipe. (Kev Jarvis & Phil Cliffe).
Dagnam Park LNR: pr Mandarin, 2 circling Common Buzzard drifted high W, Kestrel, Pheasant, 4 Green Woodpecker, Redwing, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest (1 singing), Coal Tit, singing Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper (h), 3 House Sparrow, Greenfinch, 3 Bullfinch; plus Siskin and Meadow Pipit heard over. Also pr 1st-year Mute Swans on Green Lake 21/3/11. Butterflies today: 2 Brimstone, Peacock, Comma (Colin Jupp, Geoff Pepper).
Ealing (Walpole Park): possible Goshawk at 1.45pm, going south east. Quite high, quite distant, circled a couple of times. It had something odd about the tail which may have been jesses. A brown looking bird, by no means certain of the ID, but certainly not buzzard, sparrowhawk etc. (Andrew Birks)
Edgware Road: Common Buzzard over NW late p.m., omnipresent Peregrines very active (Jamie Partridge).
Harold Hill Industrial Estate: still at least 116 Pied Wagtails at roost 19.00hrs, foliage breaking out on tree holding most birds making counting more difficult (Colin Jupp).
Harrow-on-the-Hill: Common Buzzard drifting south, mobbed by crow 8.30am. Also calling Nuthatch (Alex Massey)
Ingrebourne Valley: 2 adult Meditterranean Gulls, Blackcap, 11 Siskin, 4 Common Buzzards, 33 Golden Plover, 2 pair Bullfinch, 80 Fieldfare, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Small Tortoiseshell.(Dave Morrison)
Iver Heath: 1 Common Buzzard soaring over Chandlers Hill - M25 bridge. (Roger Dewey)
Knighton Woods, Woodford: 1 Shoveler, 4 Moorhen, 8 Mallard, Grey Heron, male Sparrowhawk, Ring Necked Parakeet, 9 Wood Pigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 5 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 3 Blackbird, 10 Robin, Dunnock, 11 Wren, Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, 26 Blue Tit, 6 Long Tailed Tit, 11 Great Tit, 9 Magpie, c7 Jay, 6 Carrion Crow (London Birdwatching)
Larkhall Park (Stockwell): pr Mistle Thrush at new nest, 1 sitting. Oasis Adventure Playground - young Mistle Thrush on edge of nest. Yesterday - 1 Grey Heron over and 6 Ring-necked Parakeets briefly, then left the park - both patch ticks (Michael Mac).
Waterlow Park (07.50): 2 Woodcock flushed from lower pond, singing Blackcap. 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Canada Geese, 1 GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker heard, no Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff though the mist seems to have quietened things down this morning (PA).
Waterworks NR: Snipe, 3pr Shoveler, 2 Little Grebes, 4pr Teal, Pochards. 3 Comma, 5 Peacock (D. Barrett).
Wimbledon Park: 1 Blackcap in song, 1 male Sparrowhawk (Martin Daniel).
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Woodcock, 1 second-winter Mediterranean Gull east with Black-headed Gulls, 1 male Northern Wheatear, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 singing male Reed Bunting, c8 Chiffchaff, c10 Linnet, c20 Meadow Pipit, c45 Herring Gull, c15 Common Gull & 4 Greylag over (David Lindo).
Wednesday 23rd March 2011[]
Harlow: three probable Glossy Ibis seen from Rivermill flew high southeast at 16:45 (Birdguides)
Alexandra Park: female Reed Bunting from hedge by Wood Green Res to Cricket Scrub, 4+ Chiffchaffs, calling Jackdaw (David Callahan).
Bedfords Park LNR: male Kestrel, 6 Mandarin over, 8 Green Woodpecker (inc 5 vocal birds in Wildflower Meadow), 6 Redwing, pr Mistle Thrush, 13 Chiffchaff (all except 1 singing), 6+ pair Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, singing Treecreeper, 2m Greenfinch, Siskin over. Also 5 species of butterfly - Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma & Small Tortoiseshell + 2 Orange Underwing moth (Colin Jupp).
Bromley-by-Bow: 2 Sand Martin, 2 Peregrine over Bow at lunchtime, male passed a pigeon to the female in flight, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Greenfinch, 6 Chaffinch, pr Mistle Thrush, pr Grey Wagtail, c40 Black-headed Gulls (all in flight, 32 south east + only one on the river), 2 Grey Heron, Comma and several Red Admirals (Stuart Fisher).
Bushy Park: 1 Mandarin (male), 1 Gadwall, Lots of Red-crested Pochard, some sort of hybrid duck (looks like a tufted duck x red-crested pochard) and 1 Grey Heron. (Penelope Paxer).
Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: fem Brambling, 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Mallards over, 2 Little Owls, 3 Chiffchaffs, Pheasant, 2+ Yellowhammers, 6+ Common Buzzards, fem Kestrel, Greenfinch, 11 Fieldfares, 6 Redwings, 5 Skylarks, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets, Mistle Thrush, 2 Coal Tits, Siskin, 5 Treecreepers, 5 Nuthatches, 6 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Stock Doves, Rose-ringed Parakeet, 2 Song Thrushes; 3+ Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Commas, 6+ Brimstones (David Campbell et al).
Central Park (Harold Hill): Sparrowhawk (over), singing Stock Dove, singing Goldcrest, Brimstone & Comma (Colin Jupp).
Chalk Wood and Ruxley area: Common Buzzard, Rook S, Sparrowhawk, 30+ Woodpigeons, Stock Dove, 5+ Collared Doves, 3+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6+ Green Woodpecker, 2 singing Skylarks, 2 Meadow Pipits (Ruxley- Honeydale farm), 5+ Pied Wagtails (Ruxley), 4+ Wren, 2 Dunnocks, 5+ Robins, 4+ Blackbirds, 20+ Fieldfare (C.W.), 2 Mistle Thrush, singing Chiffchaff, 2+ Goldcrests, 8+ Long Tailed Tits, Coal Tit (Ruxley by Maidstone Road), many Blue and Great Tits, 2+ Nuthatch, 2+ Treecreeper, Jay, 16+ Magpies, 2 Jackdaws, 10+ Carrion Crows, 4+ Linnets (Ruxley), 2 Goldfinch. No sign of LSW or Siskin/Redpoll flocks and Goldcrests much reduced. (Ian Stewart)
Claybury Park: Up to 4 Nuthatches, both pairs building their nests, up to 12 Stock Doves [the most I have ever seen there], Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, 3 Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, the feral 'snow' Goose, 2 Canada Geese, Coot [on nest], Greenfinch (Alan Hobson).
Crayford Marshes: immature male Marsh Harrier flew south a.m. 2 Common Buzzard, fem Peregrine, Kingfisher, Little Owl, 3 Cetti's Warbler, male Blackcap, 9 Fieldfare, 3 Chiffchaff. Little Egret (Kev Jarvis).
Ealing (Ealing Green): 20+ Waxwing in the trees outside Pitzhanger Manor at 9.45, also Common Buzzard heading north (Andrew Birks); Walpole Park (10:30-11:00): 1 Peregrine "playing" over the park, 2 female-type Grey Wagtail, but no sign of the Waxwing (Bill Haines).
Elstree: Possible Osprey high over Aerodrome at 16.00. Clearly different flight pattern to Buzzard with notably kinked wings but no detail seen as I didn't have binoculars with me (Oliver Simms).
Greenwich Park: Peregrine circling to the S, also 3 Coots squabbling (usually 2 there), also 4 Greenfinch N (Joe Beale). Thanks Edgar for your reply!
Grovelands Park (Southgate): Firecrest (observed singing like Goldcrest but without the flourish ending) in thick Holly bushes - disappeared into large gardens c11.00am, at least 6 Nuthatch, 4 Treecreeper, including a pair and one singing male; adult male Sparrowhawk, Mandarin Ducks, 5 Little Grebes, including two pairs, Egyptian Geese pair, male Brimstone and a Peacock butterfly (Enfield RSPB Group, Robert Callf & R. A. Husband).
Hainault Forest: Common Buzzard flew NW 1.30pm (Steve Bacon)
Hampstead Heath: Tawny Owl by Viaduct 18:45, pr Great Crested Grebes nestbuilding on Men's pond, Chiffchaff, 3 Treecreepers (Chris Bird)
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens (a.m.): 61 Mute Swan, 7 adult Egyptian Goose (no goslings seen), 10 Mandarin Duck, 3 Gadwall, female Teal, 5 Shoveler, 10 Red-crested Pochard, male Ruddy Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 41 Common Gull, c20 Stock Dove (4 attending nest-holes), adult Tawny Owl showing well, 3 male Green Woodpecker, 2 Meadow Pipit over, 4 Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, 5 Treecreeper (3 singing), no warblers heard; also Comma (D. McKenzie, Bernie Whiskin).
London Wetland Centre: 9 Common Snipe, 6 Redshank, 5+ singing Cetti's Warbler, 3 Siskin, 3 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
New River Walk, Islington, N1: 18 sp. incl. 2 Dunnock, 4 Long-tailed Tit. (TeRNS).
Paddington Green: male Peregrine Falcon with a prey item a.m. (D. McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Little Egret over north-east, 2 Little Owl showing well from 18:32, 1 Sparrowhawk, 30 Redwing, 5 Jackdaw, 1 Grey Heron & 2+ Chiroptera sp. (JR).
South Norwood Lake: Common Buzzard (circled wooded area for about 4 mins) 1f Sparrowhawk, 1m Kestrel, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull (over) 1 Jackdaw, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Gren Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 3singing Chaffinch, 3 Jay, 4 Chiffchaff, 6 Dunnock, 15 Goldfinch, House Sparrow (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Staines Moor: Water Pipit on R. Colne and in fine spring plumage. 2 Cetti's Warbler north of moor. 4 Chiffchaff and 6 displaying Meadow Pipit (John Edwards).
Staines Reservoir: male Scaup on North Basin, Great Northern Diver on South Basin (Birdguides).
The Glade (Sidcup): pair G/C Grebes, Grey Heron, Mute Swan on lower lake, 12+Canada Geese, c20 Mallard, 2 pairs Tufted Ducks, 6+Moorhens, 10+Coots, many Woodpigeons at roost, 30+R/N Parakeets W to roost, G/S Woodpecker, 4+ singing Wrens, 4+ singing Robins, 2+Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, pair Mistle Thrushes, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 3+Magpies, 10+Carrion Crows, Chaffinch. Late and quick visit 18.15-18.40. (Ian Stewart)
Streatham Common: blackcap - 1st of the year - singing (Peter Newmark).
Totteridge Valley: 7 singing Chiffchaff: 30-40 circling Common Gulls: 1 Cormorant over plus Speckled Wood, Comma and Hummingbird Hawk-moth (no doubt about identification but not sure if this a very early migrant or a hibernator) (John Colmans).
Tooting Common: 3 tawny owls (one seen, two heard, two near cafe, one in oaks across Bedford Hill, 22.40) (Rob Bell).
Wanstead Flats: male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and foraging, West Copse, 07:15; 8 singing Skylarks and 7 singing Meadow Pipits (T. Harris); 6 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, L Redpoll, 3 Linnet, 4 Reed Bunting, 7 RN Parakeet, Chiffchaff, 25 Mute Swan, 2 Shoveler, 3 Grey Heron, 9 Cormorant (over), 2 Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk (NC/JL).
Waterlow Park (07.50): 1 Willow Warbler singing on Cemetery side, 2 Chiffchaff calling, 9 Tufted Ducks, plus 1 Lapwing and 1 Common Buzzard over the Whittington Hospital (PA).
West Harrow: 34 Waxwings past my house heading north at 7am. House tick! (Alex Massey)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011[]
Alexandra Park: Water Rail (con pond), 6+ singing Chiffchaffs, singing Goldcrest and Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe (David Callahan).
Bankside: Sparrowhawk over site of Old Globe Theatre (John Colmans).
Beckton (Newham Council Offices): 2 Lesser Redpoll (ELBF).
Beddington SF: 5 Shelduck, Wigeon, 2 Common Buzzard, 8 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, adult Mediterranean Gull, Sand Martin, Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
Bedfords Park LNR: 3 soaring Common Buzzards N end of park 14.10-14.15, 8 singing Chiffchaffs, 6 Meadow Pipit. Also Brimstone (m), 2 Peacock & 6 Comma; plus many, mainly paired, Common Toads in the Lake (Colin Jupp, Geoff Pepper).
Bexleyheath: 2 Waxwing at junction of A2 and Upton Road 07:30 (Birdguides).
Bromley-by-Bow: 1 Sand Martin (couple of laps then vanished), Redpoll over, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2+ Pied Wagtail, 22 Teal, Sparrowhawk, female Kestrel, single Common Gull, c6 Black headed Gulls over only, 6+ Stock Dove, 6 Collared Dove over, 2 Canada Geese, 6 Mute Swan, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 2 Mistle Thrush (1 visiting nest), 3 Linnet over, male Brimstone (Stuart Fisher).
Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: Brambling, 4 Little Owls, 4+ Common Buzzards, 2 Chiffchaffs, 16+ Fieldfares, 36+ Redwings, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 4+ Yellowhammers, 5+ Skylarks, 2 Pheasants, 2+ Meadow Pipits, 3+ Lesser Redpolls, 2 Siskins, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Song Thrushes, 6 Nuthatches, 2 Treecreepers, Coal Tit, 2 Linnets, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinch, 10 Stock Doves, 3 Rose-ringed Parakeets, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Pied Wagtails, Goldcrest; Stoat, 2 Roe Deer, Small Tortoiseshell & Wood Mouse - yesterday: 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers - Sunday: Barn Owl & 5+ Tawny Owls (David Campbell, Ian Jones et al).
Cassiobury Park: Little Egret a.m. (Joanne Biscomb per D. McKenzie).
Crayford Marshes: Red Kite north-west at 11:30, Little Ringed Plover, Brambling, 4 Avocet, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, male Blackcap, Water Rail. 7 Redwing (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Ealing (Walpole Park): 30 Waxwing in an avenue of trees near the duck pond (2pm); 2 are colour-ringed.(Andrew Birks)
Eltham: 4 Waxwing still at junction of Rochester Way and Grangehill road, 1230 (James Lowen).
Galley Hill Wood (Lee Valley): Sparrowhawk, 6 Common Buzzard (ELBF).
Garston: 50+ Waxwing at the north end of Meadow Road on Kingswood Estate 08:15 (Birdguides).
Grays: c20 Waxwing along London Road by The Old Shant (Birdguides).
Hampstead Heath: Common Buzzard over Parliament Hill drifted SW quite high 1020, Sparrowhawks (3) displaying, 5 singing Chiffchaffs around south end of Heath, few M.Pipits and Siskin over (Pete M).
Kilburn: Blackcap (m) in garden (Aaron C-Partridge).
London Wetland Centre: 5 Common Snipe, 6 Redshank, 2 Sand Martin, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin, 6 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website); Goshawk south, Little Ringed Plover, Water Pipit (Birdguides).
Pinner Park Farm: 3 Little Owl, 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn, 36 Redwing, 1 Cormorant (being harassed by one of the Canada Geese), 12 Jackdaw, 1 Grey Heron & 2 chiroptera sp. around the farm buildings from 18:30 (JR).
Purfleet: Green Woodpecker, singing Chiffchaff (D. McKenzie).
Rainham Marshes: 3 Garganey, 6-7 Little Egret, 2 Water Rail (lots of sharming), 4 Avocet (Aveley Bay ~ same as Crayford Marshes birds?), Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover (over from Dartford side with Redshank then east along foreshore 12:05), minimum of 253 Redshank, redpoll sp over; no sign of Bearded Tits; also Brimstone, 4 Comma (D. McKenzie); 3 Garganey still present 16:00 (Purfleet Scrape) (Birdguides); Red Kite 11:30 (see Crayford Marshes), pr Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 3 Peregrine Falcon, 18 Pheasant, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 84 Stock Dove, 12 Meadow Pipit west, 11 Redwing, male Blackcap, 9 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff (ELBF).
Regent's Park: 3 Tawny Owlets showed well early am, the two were out all day (Tony Duckett).
Ruislip: 40+ Pied Wagtail roosting in trees outside WH Smith in the High Street at 18.20 (Steve Pash).
Sidcup (York Avenue): first Chiffchaff of 2011, female Blackcap, Cormorant N, 2 Grey Herons S, Sparrowhawk, 4+ BH Gull N, 10+ Common Gulls, 2+ Herring Gulls, 20+ Pigeons, 10+ Woodpigeons, 2+ Collared Doves, 3+ RN Parakeets, Wren, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Robins (1 nest-building), pair Blackbirds, pair Goldcrests, 6+ Blue Tits, 2+ Great Tits, Jay, 2 Magpies, 2 Jackdaws S, 4+ Carrion Crows inc pair nesting, 15 Starlings, 10+ House Sparrows, 2 Chaffinch W, 4+ Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll SW, 2 Goldfinch. Also pair Mallards over on Sunday- first of 2011 (Ian Stewart).
South Norwood CP: Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Pheasant, 17 Common Snipe, 2 Common Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 23 Fieldfare, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Jackdaw, Siskin (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, c25 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 8 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, pair Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron (over), pair Mistle Thrush plus 2, c8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1f Siskin, 6 pair Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 6 Jay, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 3 singing Chaffinch, also 2 Comma Butterfly, (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
St Albans: Glossy Ibis flew over St Albans Tennis Club and toward London Colney 18:00 (BirdGuides, 23 March).
St John's Wood: 25 Waxwing by Lord's Cricket Ground a.m. before flying toward Maida Vale (Birdguides).
Tyttenhanger GPs: 6 Redshank, Snipe, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, 2 Redpoll, 6 Tree Sparrow, 4 Skylark, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, Redwing and Fieldfare in small numbers (Steve B).
Uxbridge (Brunel University): 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 5 Lesser Redpoll in Bicentenary Garden, 2 Common Buzzard south at 13.15 and another east at 13.50 (Steve Pash).
Walthamstow Marsh: Little Owl, male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff (ELBF).
Wanstead: 10 Waxwing in Addison Road but flew over A12 toward Seagry Road 07:30 (Birdguides).
Wanstead Flats: 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, c. 10 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Snipe (south over Alex), 4 Redwing, c. 10 + Meadow Pipit, 15+ Skylark, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Goldfinch, Siskin, 4 Reed Bunting, singing Chiffchaff (Long Wood), 6 RN Parakeet, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Stock Dove, 19 Mute Swan, Gadwall (JL), Shoveler, f Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron (NC)
Wanstead Park: 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, up to 12 singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Blackcap, 2 MeadowPipit (over OSW north), 7 Stock Dove, 2 Siskin, 2 Egyptian Goose, Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 8 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Heron (NC)
West Beckton: Chiffchaff singing outside Richard House Childrens Hospice (London Birdwatching).
West Thurrock: 20 Waxwing at Lakeside Retail Park in the car park by Primark (Birdguides).
Wraysbury GPs: 15 Waxwing in trees by traffic lights near Sunnymeads station 07:55 (Birdguides).
Monday 21st March 2011[]
Archway: female Blackcap 10.40am (D. Painter).
Battersea: 15 Waxwing (SBC).
Battersea Park: 1 Peregrine calling, seeing off another heading south-west, then came back alone. Lake - 1 singing Goldcrest (pt), pr Egyptian Geese, pr Grey Heron at new nest structure then mating, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 3 singing Song Thrush all late pm (Michael Mac).
Beddington SF: 5 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, 4 Common Buzzard, 4 Common Snipe, Latvian-ringed Black-headed Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaff (Dip or Glory).
Blackheath: 2 Chiffchaffs singing on N edge of Blackheath were new arrivals (Joe Beale).
Bromley-by-Bow: 1 Skylark flew north (very high), Meadow Pipit over, single Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Linnet, female Kestrel, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 8 Stock Dove and the usuals (Stuart Fisher)
Bushy Park: saw this goose in Bushy Park, thought it was a greylag at first, but now not sure. I looks like a pale white-fronted goose, as it has the white rim around its bill, only not quite so well defined... I left a couple of images in the photo section of this page. Any ideas? (Penelope Paxer) If it's this bird you're referring to, Greylag, sorry. They can show white around the bill. Looks like a domesticated Greylag.
Cassiobury Park: 25 Mallard, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush (Joanne Biscomb).
Chiswick House Grounds: c3 Common Buzzard, 2 E together followed by a single, probably same bird flew W a few minutes later c13:50, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Meadow Pipit over, 1 Great Black-backed Gull over and regulars. Also 6 bats (probably Pippistrelles) feeding along river at dusk by Duke's Meadows (Louis Freeland-Haynes).
Crayford Marshes: Mealy Redpoll briefly near Erith Yacht Club a.m. before flying west. Brambling, Little Ringed Plover, Avocet, Common Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Water Rail, Little Owl, male Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 11 Redwing, Grey Wagtail (Kev Jarvis).
Eltham: 14 Waxwing on Rochester Way at the junction of Grangehill Road and feeding at Cotoneaster 08:20 (Birdguides).
Enfield: Woodcock flew low over Chatsworth Road at 9.08am (Andrew Peel).
Epping Forest: 2 Common Buzzard (Woodredon Estate) (ELBF).
Greenwich Park: 1 Buzzard N ish at around 1pm, also between 11.40 and 12.05 Siskins heard overhead, 4 Meadow Pipits N and 1 Skylark singing and going SW ish. Also Sparrowhawk around, Goldcrest singing, a few Redwings still lingering (Joe Beale).
Hammersmith: Sparrowhawk, group of 5 Meadow Pipit over 08:45 (D. McKenzie).
Hatfield: c10 Waxwing in the T-Mobile car park opposite the Airfield pub on the A1001, Comet Way a.m. (Birdguides).
Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: singing Chiffchaff, just E of the N end of The Long Water. pair of Mandarins being harassed and flushed out of trees by Carrion Crows (Matt Reed); adult Tawny Owl (Richard Hack).
Ingrebourne Valley: 3 Gadwall, 13 Teal, 19 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, female Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Water Rail, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, 14 Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff (ELBF).
Kelvedon Hatch: Hobby reported flying high south-west 13:45 (Birdguides).
Larkhall Park (Stockwell); 1 Redwing remaining, pr Mistle Thrush on ground (Michael Mac).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Red Kite over south-west at 14:51, 1 Common Buzzard over south-west at 16:36, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Egret & 1 Cormorant (Main Pond), 1 Little Owl, 21 Meadow Pipit over, 1 Skylark, 1 Linnet, 26 Fieldfare, just 3 Redwing, 9 Jackdaw, 4 Stock Dove, 3 Green Woodpecker, male Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Grey Heron, 11 Canada Goose over north-east & 1 Small Tortoiseshell (Jon Ridge).
Queen Mother Res (permit access): still 2 Great Northern Diver a.m. (Birdguides).
Rainham Marshes: 200 Wigeon, 17 Pintail, 3 Garganey (2m, 1f) on Target Pools, 13 Pochard, male Pochard x Tufted Duck, 17 Tufted Duck, female Hen Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, male Merlin, 7 Little Egret, 12 Grey Heron, 12 Water Rail, Little Ringed Plover, 35 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 2000 Black-headed Gull, 10 Redwing, 30 Waxwing, 9 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Bearded Tit (ELBF).
Richmond Park: 2 Mealy Redpoll and at least 5 Lesser Redpoll bathing in Conduit Stream in Hawthorn Valley near Cambrian Gate late am. (Tim Howard and FJM)
South Norwood CP: pr Teal, 6 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 3 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Common Snipe, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 25 Fieldfare, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
Thorney CP: 2 Common Buzzards circling over, Brambling in with flock of Chaffinch, Treecreeper, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Siskins, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 3 Goldfinch (Sue Giddens).
Thames Chase, Harold Court: 23 Waxwings flew over at 17.15 (continued NE over adjacent fishery), pair Mute Swan over (from fishery), Common Snipe, 8 Stock Dove, 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail over, 4 Song Thrush, singing Chiffchaff, 10 Goldfinch (2 singing), 2 Jay (Colin Jupp).
Thorpe: Red Kite north-east over M25 (SBC).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: singing Chiffchaff Moumemt Glade and Song Thrush Linden Graves, also 12+ Brimstone, 2 Commas (Bob Watts).
Wimbledon Common: 1 Woodcock flushed near Ranger's Office 1600, c10 Great Spotted Woodpecker (J. Dickerson).
Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Chiffchaff, c6 Meadow Pipit (3 singers), 6 Song Thrush (4 singers), 2 Green Woodpecker, c8 Linnet, c8 Greenfinch, 30 Common Gull, 39 Black-headed Gull. On Little Scrubs: Goldfinch, Song Thrush, c6 Greenfinch (Charlie Farrell).
Sunday 20th March 2011[]
Alexandra Park: Reed Bunting west 0750, Peregrine south 0840, 4 Skylarks, 2 Siskin east, Mipit, R N Parakeet, 3 Water Rail Conservation Pond, 14 Jackdaws (Andrew Gardener, Bob Watts).
Barnet, Byng Road Countryside Centre: Goldcrest, Chiffchaff singing, (RSPB Birdwalk - Bob Husband, Group Leader, NW London RSPB Group)
Bedfont Lakes CP: fem. Cetti's Warbler trapped and ringed. (Runnymede Ringing Group per Adam Cheeseman)
Bookham Common: 2 Hawfinch briefly at 10am (2 observers); 1 Hawfinch showing well down to 10m at 1:30pm, also 3+ Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 singing Chiffchaff, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, 2 Mallard (M Bourne)
Brent Reservoir: Green Sand, 5 Common Snipe, at least 4 singing Chiffchaff (RB per A Self)
Bricket Wood: Red Kite (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb). Presumed same bird over Junction 8 of the M1 at 3pm (BE)
Cassiobury Park: Little Egret (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Cetti's Warbler, Little Owl, 2 Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, 2 Rook, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Curlew. (Kev Jarvis).
Dagenham Chase LNR: Black-tailed Godwit flew over the slack at 1.07pm, 2 Egyptian Geese, several Chiffchaff, singing male Blackcap. Impressive flock of 60 Fieldfare with a few Redwing on playing fields behind Tom Thumb lake. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
Foots Cray: Little Owl over Tescos @02.00 heard only (Ian Stewart).
Hackney Marshes: Common Buzzard, Fem Peregrine, Sparrow Hawk all in the same thermal at 15.20, (Buzzard flew south). Singing Chiffchaffs. 30+ Goldfinch flock. (Jamie Partridge)
Lee Valley (River Lee Country Park): 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull on Seventy Acres Lake mid morning, Raven over Bittern Watchpoint hide at 15.25 hrs (high up heading east). 2 Pink-footed Geese and at least 11 Egyptian Geese on Holyfield Hall Farm fields. Also Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler at Bittern Watchpoint, 3 singing Chiffchaffs in area, and Common Buzzards over Seventy Acres and Galleyhill Woods (Roy Woodward).
London Wetland Centre: female Brambling, 1 Dunlin, 6+ Redshank, 6 Common Snipe, 2+ singing Cetti's Warbler, female Kestrel, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Goldcrest, 5+ Siskin, all pm. Also reported in the morning but not seen by me: 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Water Pipit (Iain Darbyshire)
North Finchley: female Blackcap in garden (John Colmans)
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Little Owl - seen mating at 18:24, 1 Chiffchaff (main pond), Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Jackdaw, good numbers of Fieldfare & Redwing still (Jon Ridge).
Richmond Park: 2 (m&f) Mealy Redpoll. Near Cambrian Gate, same place as yesterday, near Hawthorn enclosures bathing in stream, preening and feeding in nearby hawthorn @ 0930-1000hrs at least. Also small group of Lesser Redpoll (N.Smith & FJM)
Ten Acre Wood area: 2 Pheasant, 2 Sparrowhawk together in air, 3 Lapwing, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Green + 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, much thrush activity (min 60+ Redwing + 50+ Fieldfare moving around), 2 Nuthatch, Rook heard constantly calling in wood + appeared to be at nest with 2nd bird, another pair seen flying towards the wood later, 10+ Jackdaw, Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, 2 prs Bullfinch, 11 Linnet (Neil Anderson)
Larkhall Park, Priory Mews: resident told me 4 House Sparrow nests in his house walls for several years, pr Mistle Thrush still havn't built a nest, Mistle Thrush across the road in Oasis Adventure Playground feeding at least 3 half grown young (Michael Mac).
Prae Wood area: 5 Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzard, 3 Pheasant, 2 Red-legged Partridge, fresh Tawny Owl pellets on Bedmond Lane, c120 Stock Dove, c300 Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, at least 7 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 4 Fieldfare, Redwing, 15+ Chaffinch, singing Bullfinch (D. McKenzie).
Rotherhithe: 2 Egyptian Geese Southwark Park; 2 Peregrine over Rope Street (Richard Bonser).
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver and adult Little Gull on South Basin, drake Scaup on North Basin @ 4:30pm
Vauxhall Park, 1 Peregrine across road, first Blackbird nest with 1 egg, singing Wren (Michael Mac).
Vicarage Farm, Enfield: 5 Siskin, including at least one adult male, in trees along Leeging Beech Gutter near Williams Wood (Robert Callf).
Walthamstow res/Tottenham marsh: Pair Peregrine on London Waste chimney stack all pm; 5 Goldeneye, f Goosander (LW); f R-b Merganser with pair Goosander on 'canal' S of Banbury @ sunset & 2 Little Egrets over; 4 Shelduck, 5 Little Grebes, RN Parakeet over (no 5 - L Bodini).
Beddington Farmlands: 1 Iceland Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Water Pipit, 9 Buzzard, 1 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper photos here
Alexandra Park: Buzzard over allotments late am earlier over Hornsey garden, Snipe and 2 Water Rails Flood near Conservation Pond (Bob Watts) where also Siskin, possible female Merlin west 1015, 3 Chiffchaffs, 16 Jackdaws, Greylag (Andrew Gardener)
Alperton: 27+ Pied Wagtails roosting in trees by bus garage (Andy Culshaw).
Bentley Priory: Goosander (Female), Buzzard (Pos 2, first seen in garden took off heading south west, second being mobbed by crows North East). Mandarin drake on lake at Little Stanmore.
Bushy Park: 70+ Ring-necked Parakeet feeding on blossoming trees in Canal Plantations, and later roosting in large birches. 20 Redwing roosting in conifers in Plantations (Billy Dykes)
Cassiobury Park: 31 Redwing at dusk (D. McKenzie, Joanne Biscomb).
Central Park, Harold Hill: Treecreeper (Sage Wood), Nuthatch (Long Wood). Also 5 Comma & 4 Small Tortoiseshell early pm (Colin Jupp).
Cornmill Meadows: 200+ Siskin in trees along river, Goldcrest, Lapwing, and single Chiffchaff singing (J Anderson).
Cowley (Cowley Road, A408, by Brunel University): c12 Waxwing in tree feeding on Ivy berries - 16.00.
Mobile phone pic.
(Roger Dewey)
Crayford Marshes: Little Owl, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Sandpiper, 6 Curlew, Little Egret, male Blackcap, pr Peregrine, 2 Chiffchaff. (Kev Jarvis, A.W, Phil Cliffe)
Croydon; Cotelands (Park Hill): c15 Waxwing calling in flight low east over Park Hill Primary School 06:00 (Alan Pearson).
Dagenham Chase LNR: Peregrine Falcon with prey item circling, 2 Egyptian Geese 1 with silver ring on right leg, 4 Siskin very vocal and showing well in alders , several Chiffchaff now in since last visit on Sun 13th March. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
Dartford: Caspian Gull at the gravel pit on University Way 11:00 (Birdguides).
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: Shelduck, 96 Common Teal, female Pintail, 30 Tufted Duck, Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Reed Bunting, Common Seal (Gary A James, Nick Tanner).
Erith Cemetery (east side): 2 Coal Tits in large Pines, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Blackbirds, Robin, Carrion Crows, 3 Magpie, House Sparrows, 1 Starling. (Chris Rose).
Erith Quarry: Green Woodpecker and drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker heard from adjacent cemetery. (Chris Rose).
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: singing Chiffchaff (maybe an overwinterer), 2 trilling Little Grebes, Reed Buntings Meadow Pipits over. Also 11 Shelduck over Thames close by. (Joe Beale)
Greenwich area: flocks of Black-headed Gulls in groups of 30-60, inc c60 thermalling then heading N fast, went over from mid-morning to early afternoon at least, headed roughly N. Not counted properly but 200 + (Joe Beale).
Hornchurch: Blackcap singing in garden, full song.(Dave Morrison)
Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: 6 adult Egyptian Goose and 3 goslings, 6 Mandarin Duck, 3 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 7 Red-crested Pochard, 20+ Stock Dove, adult Tawny Owl showing well (no sign of owlets yet), 3 Green Woodpecker, sub-singing Redwing, 4 singing Mistle Thrush, sub-singing Blackcap, 4 singing Chiffchaff, 3 singing Goldcrest, minimum of 114 Carrion Crow; also Bar-headed Goose (esc) (D. McKenzie). Firecrest by feeders on north west side of Long Water (S. Hampson)
K.G.V.Res: 1Blk.N. Grebe, 1 Redshank, 1R.B.Merganser, 6 Goosander, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Buzzard and 1 L.S.Woodpecker campsite (T. Clancy)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, 3 Dunlin, 3 Common Snipe, 5 Redshank, Water Pipit, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3+ Goldcrest, 7 Siskin (LWC website) Coal Tit, Brambling, Little R Plover - 1, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and C Buzzard (Angus Innes); 6 Redshank, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 10 Siskin, 17 Common Snipe (Martin Honey)
Lonsdale Reservoir: 1 Water Rail (north end, on pool in flooded wooded area - patch tick for me), 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Egyptian Goose, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Pochard, 12+ Gadwall, common species (Rich Petley) (Water Rail sighitng is the first site record since November 2008 I think - congrats- M Bourne) pr Great-black Backed Gull with 3 Lesser-black Backed Gull, 1 Kestrel, no sign of any Tawny Owl yet, 1 Egyptian Goose on grass in flats across the road, nice to see Teal flying about, 3 adult Grey Heron's on nests (Michael Mac).
M25 just north of Thurrock services: Common Buzzard thermalling at 10 am (David Callahan).
Northumberland Heath Recreation Ground: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail (over), 2 Starlings (over) - Starling numbers have suddenly declined markedly in this area, several House Sparrows, Carrion Crows. (Chris Rose).
Paddington Green: Peregrine Falcon east early p.m. (D. McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Egret, female Pochard & 1 Cormorant (main pond), 1 Little Owl, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Meadow Pipit over, large mobile flock of Fieldfare & Redwing (Jon Ridge).
Queen Mary Res: Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, 32 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Redpoll (Steve Chastell)
Queen Mother Res (permit access): 2 Great Northern Diver 08:30 (Birdguides)
Rainham Marshes: Red-breasted Goose (presumed escape) on Target Pools 08:02 (Birdguides). didn't see the RB Goose or the 2 Wheatear reported. 10+ Dunlin, 20+ Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, m Merlin, 6 singing Cetti's and not much else (NC)
Richmond Park: Buzzard circling over Sidmouth Wood, 7 Redpolls in hawthorn enclosure near Cambrian Gate including 1+ Mealy Redpoll (Hugh Bradshaw) 2 males in winter plumage late am, A Woodcock in Prince Charles Spinney late evng. (FJM) Also a Woodcock in Saw Pit Plantation, (Neil Anderson)
Riddlesdown: several singing Stock Dove, 12+ Skylark, a few Meadow Pipit, 15+ Fieldfare, Redwing, singing Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer (Croydon Birders).
Wanstead Park: Goshawk South East 09:20 (probable female, huge!), singing male Treecreeper (The Dell area), pair Sparrowhawk, male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming on the plain, probable Water/Rock Pipit over (heard only), 3 Chiffchaff, 11 Stock Dove, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit, 8 Song Thrush, 2+ Siskin over, 3 Goldcrest, pr Egyptian Goose, 4 Great-crested Grebe on The Basin, Pheasant (OSW/cemetry) (Stuart Fisher)
Yeading Brook - 2 Red Kites from Kingshill avenue 3pm (Jim Fell)
Friday 18th March 2011[]
Beddington SF: Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, Common Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit south, Green Sandpiper, adult Mediterranean Gull, second-winter Yellow-legged Gull, first-winter Iceland Gull, 2 Water Pipit (Dip or Glory).
Brentford: 33 Waxwing in Clifden Road mid-morning, but other birds seen flying around in the neighbourhood, so may be as many as 70-80 in the area including the Ealing birds that seem to commute between the two sites - 25 were seen flying SW over Carlyle Road late morning (Bill Haines & Gavin Bennett).
Chafford Hundred: 210 Waxwing at the junction of Grifon Road / Kershaw Close 13:10 (Birdguides).
Cheam (St Dunstans Hill): 20 Waxwings at 10.00am (Bob Smith).
Clayhall: 14 Waxwing on Ravensbourne Gardens (London Birdwatching).
Cowley Lock, Grand Union Canal: 1 pr Mandarin. (Roger Dewey
Crayford: 7 Waxwing on London Road near Citroen garage (BirdGuides); 1+ Waxwing at Bourne Road/London Road junction by Mazda garage 14.25 (Ian Stewart)
Crayford Marshes: 4 Little Ringed Plover in the field between University Way and the landfill, adult Caspian Gull mobile between University Way flooded fields and the landfill, Avocet, Little Owl, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 2 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Croydon: singing Blackcap along King's Road (Croydon Birders).
Ealing: 22 Waxwing at the Broadway station (Birdguides).
London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 46 Wigeon, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 4 Fieldfare, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website). 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Water Pipit, 1 fem. Sparrowhawk. (Louis Freeland-Haynes). Also 1 little grebe, 1 water rail (William Marshall)
Margravine Cemetery: 1f Blackcap, 3 Redwing, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Greylag over (Nathalie Mahieu).
Mill Hill: Hendon Crematorium, flock of c35 Waxwing, flock of c25 Redwing, flock of c25 Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Long-tailed Tits,small numbers of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird. 4.30pm (Carol Turnham).
North Finchley: male Blackcap again in garden (John Colmans)
Queen Mother Res (permit access): Great Northern Diver 07:30 (Birdguides).
Raynes Park: 60 Waxwing along Barham Road, Copse Hill 11:00 (Birdguides).
Richmond: male Brambling coming to seed feeder in private garden in Grosvenor Road (Hugh Bradshaw).
Sidcup (York Avenue): 3 Blackcaps (2 male,1 female) at least, B/H Gull over, 2 Common Gulls, 25+ Pigeons, 20+ Woodpigeons, Collared Dove, 30+ Ring-necked Parakeets W pm, 3 Dunnocks, pair Robins, 3+ Blackbirds, Long Tailed Tit, 4+ Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, Magpie, 4+ Crows, 40+ Starlings, 6+ House Sparrows, 3+ Chaffinch, 6+ Greenfinch, 12 Goldfinch. Also heard Tawny Owl last night @23.30. (Ian Stewart)
South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, 2 Egyptian Goose, c20 Tufted Duck, c50 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, pair Green Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 7 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1f Sparrowhawk, c20 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 15 Pied Wagtail, c8 Long-tailed Tit (1pair with nesting material), c20 Goldfinch, c6 Greenfinch, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Uxbridge: c50 Waxwings on Waterloo Road mid-morning (per A. Self).
Walthamstow: 14 Waxwing on Ravensbourne Gardens, Clayhall (BirdGuides).
Wanstead Flats: Water Pipit (on the shore of Alex for about 10 minutes before disappearing into scrubby margins–NC), Some Waxwings, unsure of how many or direction, trilling over my head as I left the house at 6:20am; also Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming West Copse at 6:40am, then flew to copse near Capel Road changing rooms (J Lethbridge - back in W Copse @ 09:30). c15 Skylarks, c35 Meadow Pipits (nr. broomfields), 12 Lesser Redpolls (Alexandra Lake), Linnet (over), Siskin, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, 5 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 14 LBB Gull in early morning roost, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff singing Alex island, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit carrying feathers into the broom (NC, TH).
Wanstead Park: male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (The Plain) (Natalie Benajeh per T Harris); also seen and heard drumming at 8.30am near tea shop (Jean-Patrick Elmes).
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Jackdaw, c3 Stock Dove, 1 singing Chiffchaff (Southern Copse), c20 Meadow pipit (inc c4 singers), 1 pr Reed Bunting, 6 Redwing, c20 Greenfinch, c12 Linnet, c50 Common Gull, c45 Herring Gull & a belated report of a female Brambling in an adjoining garden 2 weeks ago constituting our 1st record since 1999! (David Lindo); Jay, Green Woodpecker, Cormorant over, 2 Canada Geese over on Little Scrubs (Charlie Farrell).
Thursday 17th March 2011[]
Alexandra Park: Mipit NE 0650 (Bob Watts).
Barking Bay: 12 Oystetrcatchers, 7 Snipe, Jack Snipe, 115 Redshank, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, 10 Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, 114 Shelduck and a Grey Seal mid-river coming in with the tide (Dave Morrison).
Barnes (Byfeld Gdns): c20 Waxwings feeding on tree blossom (F.Mck).
Beaverwood (Chislehurst): 4+ Mallard, 6 Moorhen, 6+ BH Gulls over, many Woodpigeons, 4+ Stock Doves, 10+ RN Parakeets, 6+ GS Woodpeckers, 3+ Green Woodpeckers, 6+ Wrens, 4+ Robins, 6+ Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 20+ Redwings, 10+ Goldcrests, plenty Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Treecreepers, 5+ Jays, 10+ Magpies, 4+ Jackdaws, 20+ Carrion Crows, Starling, 8+ Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch (Ian Stewart).
Cassiobury Park: Little Egret a.m. (Joanne Biscomb per DMc).
Chiswick, Burlington Lane: Harrier sp. (possible the Bedfont bird?) circling very high overhead at c16:10 then appeared to head south-west. Seen without bins (Louis Freeland-Haynes).
Crayford Marshes: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Water Pipit, Avocet, 2 Little Owl, 2 Rock Pipit, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, male Blackcap (Kev Jarvis).
East Bedfont: Firecrest at Hatton Cross Road near Bedfont sign, 100m from Bedfont FC 17:13 (Birdguides).
East India Dock Basin area: 1 Pintail, 50 Teal, 3 Redshank. 1 Common Sandpiper (Gary A James).
Hemans Estate Community Garden (Stockwell): 1 Kestrel nearby, pr Magpies building nest, 1st time bred here since 1996 when a pair fledged young (Michael Mac).
Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): Goldcrest in my garden, calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 2 drumming Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker in Hatter's Wood (07.00-07.15) (Colin Jupp).
Headley Heath: 2 singing Willow Warbler (SBC).
Holmethorpe SPs: male Red-crested Pochard, 4 Little Egret (SBC).
Horsenden Hill: 1 Woodcock SE over lower fields ca. 08.00 (Andy Culshaw).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 6 adult Egyptian Goose with 3 goslings, 10 Mandarin Duck, 11 Gadwall, Shoveler, 13 Red-crested Pochard, 23 Pochard, 172 Tufted Duck, male Ruddy Duck, 2 Little Grebe (1 trilling), 17 Great Crested Grebe, 15+ Stock Dove, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, sub-singing Blackcap, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Jay, Jackdaw over, 5 singing Greenfinch; also Bar-headed Goose (esc) (D. McKenzie).
Ingrebourne Valley: 54 Golden Plover, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, Ringed-necked Parakeet (Shaun Harvey).
Kenton: 20 Waxwing 13.00. Fifth separate find of this species. Hard to miss; to be honest, when working outside (Richard Francis).
Leatherhead: probable Common Crane landed by the river near junction 9 of the M25 09:00 (Birdguides).
Lee Valley: 1 Mealy Redpoll with c20 Lesser Redpoll in large Alder and birches on Fishers Green Island (near bailey bridge/electricity substation) (Ian Woodward).
London Wetland Centre: Little Egret north, Buzzard, Avocet, 3 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, 5 Common Snipe, 3 Redshank, first-winter Yellow-legged Gull, 14 Redwing, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper (scarce for site). Yesterday Marsh Harrier, 20 Waxwing by Red Lion pub (LWC website).
Regent's Park: 25 Waxwing west 15:20 aslo we had a strange looking gull, that was constantly bullied, pictures on blog. 5 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, Tawny Owlet (Tony Duckett).
Richmond Park: 4 Mealy Redpoll and 5 Lesser Redpoll in large hawthorn enclosure near Cambrian Gate adjacent to Conduit Wood. Feeding on hawthorn buds late am, also 18 Chaffinches (FJM).
Sewardstone: c120 Fieldfare on farmland east of KGV Reservoir (Martin Shepherd).
Sidcup (York Avenue): pair Blackcaps, Grey Heron N, Sparrowhawk, 21 Pigeons, 20+ Woodpigeons, 4 Stock Doves N, pair Collared Doves, 6+ RN Parakeets, GS Woodpecker, Wren, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, 3 Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 60+ Redwing E p.m., 4+ Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 4 Magpies, 10+ Carrion Crows, 40+ Starlings, 8+ House Sparrows, 6+ Chaffinches, 6+ Greenfinches, 4+ Goldfinches (Ian Stewart).
South Norwood CP: 9 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Grey Heron, 2 Pheasant, Water Rail, Common Snipe, 2 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Fieldfare, 21 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Siskin, 2 Linnet, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
Staines Resevoir:(South Basin): Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 6 Sand Martin (Simon Knott).
Sudbury: 20 Waxwing on Cotoneaster outside Sudbury Hill Station on Greenford Road (Birdguides).
Bookham Common: Common Buzzard, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 15-20 Redwing, singing Chiffchaff, Marsh Tit, good numbers of Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch, c15 Siskin over, Mealy Redpoll with 6-7 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Hawfinch in trees behind railway station to 14:20 at least (D. McKenzie, Jon Reveley).
Brentford (Clifden Road): 40 Waxwings feeding on and off all day since 8.00am (F. Mck).
Bushy Park: Waterhouse Plantation, along the Longford River. circa 100 Siskins (possibly includes Redpoll but I didn't have my scope with me), circa 40 Redwing, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and plenty of common woodland birds. (Tony Leppard)
Central Park (Harold Hill): 2 Waxwing in tall poplar feeding on buds (13.50-14.05), Green Woodpecker, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 3pr Long-tailed Tit, 10+ Great Tit (inc group of 8 chasing around through low cover, 2+ singing), pr Nuthatch, 2 Jay, c20 Magpie, 2 Goldfinch (CRJ).
Crayford Marshes: adult Caspian Gull on landfill a.m. 3 Cetti's Warbler, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, male Peregrine, 2 Chiffchaff, male Blackcap, Little Egret, 2 Black-tailed Godwit (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Ealing: 30+ Waxwing again on Ealing Green at midday. Same as the Brentford flock? (Andrew Birks).
Enfield (Botany Bay): 2 Waxwings by bus stop a.m (John Egginton); 30 Waxwing in trees between Southbury Road Leisure Centre car park and Kingsmead School p.m. (BirdGuides).
Feltham: 4 Waxwing in trees by No:32 Staines Road a.m. (BirdGuides).
Grovelands Park: 18 Redwing on pitch and putt this afternoon until flushed by dog, 2 Herring Gulls on lake (Katy M).
Harold Park (Harold Court Road nr River Ingrebourne): 13 Waxwing over W at 17.05; imm male Sparrowhawk in area where House Sparrows (40+) gathering to roost, dashing through low several times unsuccessfully; sparrows (wisely) remained virtually silent on arrival instead of usual pre-roost loud chirping. Also calling Goldcrest (Colin Jupp).
Lee Valley: White-fronted Goose still with flock of Greylags, this time on arable field N.E. of Royal Gunpowder Mills. Pink-footed Goose was with other geese at Holyfield Hall Farm but flew off north at 11.10. Redshanks at various locations, Hall Marsh, Cornmill Meadows, Seventy Acres (2) and Langridge. Cetti’s Warblers at Hall Marsh and Seventy Acres. Shelduck on Goosefield (Mike Oakland).
London Wetland Centre: Bittern, 6 Common Snipe, 2 Redshank, adult Mediterranean Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, Water Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 13 Siskin, 6 Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll (LWC website); 20 Waxwing by the Red Lion public house
Martens Grove (Bexleyheath): Circa 35 Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tit, Ring-necked Parakeets, Blackbird, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow. (Chris Rose).
Muswell Hill: Stock Dove calling on Parkland Walk (north), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush (singing beautifully) in Highgate Wood (Brian Price).
North Finchley: 3 Waxwing in tree by No 89 Grange Avenue a.m. (BirdGuides); Red Kite over Lodge Lane at 14.30 flying NW (while searching for Waxwings sighted earlier in the day - not found) (Geoff Crabtree).
Paddington Green: male Peregrine Falcon in the area a.m., Grey Wagtail (D. McKenzie).
Rainham Marshes: 15 Pintail, 14 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, female Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, 6 Little Egret, Avocet, 11 Golden Plover, Grey Plover, 20 Lapwing, 35 Dunlin, Common Snipe, 8 Curlew, 42 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Water Pipit, 7 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warbler, pr Blackcap, 5 Corn Bunting (ELBF).
Richmond Park: 3 Mealy Redpoll including 2 males going into summer plumage and 3 Lesser Redpoll feeding on hawthorn buds, in large hawthorn enclosure near Cambian Gate at 11.30 (FJM).
Sidcup (York Avenue): pair Blackcaps, Kestrel hovering @17.40, 2 Grey Herons 1 early 1 late, 40+B/H Gulls mainly NE pm, 2+Common Gulls, Herring Gull, 25+Pigeons, 10+Woodpigeons, pair Collared Doves, 50+R/N Parakeets E @06.00 from roost, Wren, 3 Dunnocks, Robin, pair Blackbirds, 2+Redwing, heard Goldcrest, 2 Long Tailed Tits @18.00, 4 Blue Tits, pair Great Tits, 2 Jays, 4+Magpies, 28 Carrion Crows, 30+Starlings, 6+House Sparrows, 6+Chaffinches, 8+Greenfinches, 10 Goldfinches. (Ian Stewart)
South Norwood Lake (10:10hrs): 1m Ring Ouzel, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe, c20 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Gull, c50 Black-headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Siskin, c20 Goldfinch, c20 Redwing, pair Mistle Thrush plus 1 singing, 3 Song Thrush (1 with food sack), 2 Chiffchaff, 1 singing Coal Tit, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Pied Wagtail (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
Staines Res: Scaup on North Basin, 2 Great Northern Diver on South Basin, 3 Black-necked Grebe a.m. (BirdGuides).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: summer-plumaged Redshank trying and failing to find a place to put down 1008-1015 before flying north (4th site record), ad Great Black-backed Gull; 2 Sand Martins in at 1105, joined by a third and still present 1140 (MJP).
The Glade (Sidcup): pair Great Crested Grebes, pair Mute Swans, 1 Greylag, 10 Canada Geese, @20 Mallards, 10+ Moorhens, 10+ Coots, 20+ Pigeons, 40+ Woodpigeons, 3 Stock Doves, several Ring-necked Parakeets, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 4 Wrens, Dunnock, 4+ Robins, 4 Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 20+ Redwings, 6+ Goldcrests in pairs, Coal Tit, 6+ Blue Tits, 10+ Great Tits, 6+ Magpies, 6+ Carrion Crows, 20+ Starling, Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch (Ian Stewart)
Wanstead Flats: Little Ringed Plover on Alexandra Lake at 0730, plus Common Sandpiper, 2 Great Crested Grebe (presumably the pair from Heronry), 2 Egyptian Geese (JL/NC/TH); 5 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Lesser Redpoll, 6 Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Kestrel, 5 Redwing (52 sp NC).
Wanstead Park: Little Egret (Roding), Kingfisher (pump house), 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1 the Dell, 2nd drumming on golf course), 2 Water Rail (1 perch, 1 SoM), 14 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, Meadow Pipit (west over Ilford golf course), Grey Wagtail, 6 Chiffchaff (4 singing), 3 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Redwing, 6 Gadwall, 2 Egypian Goose, 45 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, Little Grebe, 13 Stock Dove, 2 Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk (49 sp - 62 in total) (NC).
Watford: c50 Waxwing flew along Nascot Street then north along St. Alban's Road 08:10; c40 Waxwing in Sainsbury's car park at Dome Roundabout, near Pizza Hut 11.20am. Probably the Nascot Street flock (Mike Johnson).
West Thurrock: c150 Waxwing in car park No:8 near Debenhams store at Lakeside Shopping Centre 12:20 (BirdGuides).
Chiswick (Duke's Meadows): 13 Greenfinch (Netheravon Road Sth.), 3 Bar-headed Goose and 1 White-fronted Goose (prob. all escapes) initially with flock of c30 Canada Geese then flew SE, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Gadwall, 1 Stock dove and the usuals (Louis Freeland-Haynes).
Claybury Park: Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, 12 Waxwing, pr Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Song Thrush, 12 House Sparrow at Ravensbourne Gardens, and pr Reed Bunting gathering nest material (London Birdwatching).
Crayford Marshes: Grey Plover, 2 Rock Pipit, Little Owl, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chifchaff, Common Sandpiper, male Peregrine, 3 Curlew, 16 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Ealing (Walpole Park): 3 Buzzards over (high) heading roughly east 12.30pm (Andrew Birks).
Foots Cray: Tesco Pied Wagtail roost down to single figures (was 150+ in mid-winter) (Ian Stewart)
Gidea Park: 7 Lesser Redpoll (ELBF).
Greenford (Ealing): male Brambling on my garden feeders at 1230hrs along with Siskin. Up to 6 of latter daily from 3rd March (Martin Smith).
Harefield (Church Hill): 3 Red Kite (Roger Dewey).
Harold Hill (Duck Wood): pr Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Song Thrush, 2 Nuthatch, also 24 Magpies & 3 pr Jackdaw on Henderson's Sports Ground adjacent south side (Colin Jupp).
Harrow Weald: 3 Little Egret over Courtenay Ave at 11:55Hrs (John Edwards).
Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens: 6 adult Egyptian Goose and 3 goslings - is this a new brood or one of the previous mentioned? (Michael Mac), 10 Mandarin Duck, 7 Gadwall, 7 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, male Peregrine Falcon circling low over Parade Ground and toward Mayfair (what was probably the same bird was seen later over Buck Hill), 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8-10 Stock Dove (including a bird with nest-material), 3 Meadow Pipit over, singing Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, singing Chiffchaff, 2 singing Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, 5 Treecreeper, Reed Bunting over; also Bar-headed Goose (esc) http://hpkg.blogspot.com (D. McKenzie).
Islington: 7 Waxwing on Hillmarton Road at mid-day (Birdguides).
Putney: 6 Waxwing on Huntingfield Road 11:00 (Birdguides).
Richmond Park (Upper Pen Pond): adult male Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck with c.5m and 2f Tufted Duck. It was watched down to 5m at the NE corner of the pond from 18.14 to 18.28, whereupon the flock flew off to the N. All features pointed to pure Ring-necked Duck but suspicions raised by the following: white at base of bill very thin and only just discernable, broad white band behind prominant black bill tip possibly not as sharply defined as should be and, in the fading light, the hint of a green tinge to head. (Andrew Skotnicki).
Roding Valley Park: Little Egret (2+1), Kingfisher, flock of Redwings (22), Cormorant (flying), Little Grebe, Song Thrush (3), Chiffchaff (London Birdwatching).
Ruislip: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Copse Wood, Blackcap & Chiffchaff singing on Poors Field , 2 Common Buzzard over the Lido (Steve Pash).
South Lambeth Road (Stockwell): Peregrine Falcon circling low then high west at 3pm and Dunnock singing in bush (Michael Mac).
South Norwood Country Park: c.20 Waxwing over (Harrington Road perimeter) and then relocated in poplars in neighbouring Beckenham Cemetery. Also Kingfisher (Harrington Road stream), Egyptian Goose in flight and on main lake, 4 Siskin, 20+ Fieldfare (Martin Birch); c20 Waxwing in the actual park itself at 13.00 in poplars by the path that runs towards the tram station, plus 30+ Fieldfare, 6 Redwing and 2 Reed Bunting (m&f) (Steven Robinson).
Staines Moor: 2 Goosander, 8 Water Pipit (SBC).
Staines Res: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe (SBC).
Stockers Lake / Inns Lake / Springwell Lake: 1pr + 1 GC Grebe (Springwell), 1 Littlle Grebe (Inns), 1 f Goosander, 1 pr Teal, c 8 Shoveler, 3 Siskin (Stockers), 1 singing Chiffchaff (Stockers), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 singing Goldcrest (Inns), 1 Red Kite (Springwell) (Roger Dewey).
The Glade (Sidcup): pair G/C Grebes, pair Mute Swans, 6+ Canada Geese, 20 Mallards, male Tufted Duck, 10+ Moorhen, 10 Coots, 10 Pigeons at roost, 20+ Woodpigeons, plenty RN Parakeets, pair Grey Wagtails, 3+ Wrens, Dunnock, 3+ Robins, 3+ Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 10+ Redwings at pre-roost gathering chattering away, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 4+ Goldcrests, 2+ Long Tailed Tits, 3 Coal Tits, 4+ Blue Tits, 6+ Great Tits, 4+ Magpies, 8+ Crows, few Starlings at roost in Lleylandii. Late visit so no finches and less activity generally (Ian Stewart).
Thorney CP: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 RN Parakeets, 2 Waxwings in top of trees, 2 Reed Buntings, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, 15+ Siskins, Green Woodpecker, Jay, 5 Greenfinch (Sue Giddens).
Walthamstow Reservoirs (north side only): Sand Martin, 5 Green Sandpipers, Lapwing, Dunlin, 8 Goldeneye (1 drake), 16 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, Chiffchaff (David Callahan).
Wanstead Flats: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming in South Copse at 0615; present again at 10:30 in West Copse before flying to East Copse. For anyone wanting to see this species, Wanstead Flats surely represents an easy option as there are so few trees (J Lethbridge). Chiffchaff (Cat & Dog), 11+ Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail (over C&D east), Pied Wagtail, 6 Reed Bunting, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Pochard, 7 Shoveler, 1 Egyptian Goose, 4 Gadwall, Greylag Goose, 30+ Jackdaw, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, Heron and the Coots are back on Angel Pond (here we go again!) (NC).
Wanstead Park: 2 Great Crested Grebes displaying on Heronry Pond (Natalie Benajeh), 16 Waxwings in Arran Drive at 7:30 (Natalie Benajeh, TH). 2-4 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Little Egret (north on the Roding), 2 Heron, 3 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, Little Grebe, Stock Dove, 5 LBB Gull, Sparrowhawk (NC).
Watford: 130 Waxwing at Sainsbury's car park on Northwestern Avenue (A41) 09:20; also 22 at the junction of Peregrine Close / Falcon Way 10:30; also 34 in trees by the police station on St. John's Road 08:00 (BirdGuides).
Wormwood Scrubs (0730-0930) 1 male Northern Wheatear (our 1st for the spring); plus 11 Redwing, 12 Linnet including Louie the leucistic male, c7 Meadow Pipit including 3 singers, a male Reed Bunting & a Collared Dove (Rob Ayers).
Monday 14th March 2011[]
Alexandra Park: male-type Peregrine over Wood Green Reservoir 1.20pm (David Callahan & Mike Benyon), Stonechat (cricket scrub), Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaff (1 singing) (Mike Benyon); escaped mule-type Cockatiel north at 14.55 (DC).
Banbury Reservoir: 2 Common Scoter (BirdGuides).
Bedfont Lakes CP LNR and Prince's Lakes: 2f Smew and Redshank on Prince's Lakes, Chiffchaff singing and brief view of probable Firecrest near to Black Hide at Bedfont Lakes (Adam Cheeseman).
Brentford (Clifden Road): c30 Waxwings over at 08:30 (G. Bennett).
Crayford Marshes: Ruff, Turnstone, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher, Little Owl, 2 Golden Plover, m Blackcap, Chiffchaff, fem Peregrine, 3 Green Sandpiper (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter); Hi there, keen to see the Little Owl at Crayford. Are you able to give more detailed directions? Thanks J. Hudson.(Hi J, walk up Moat Lane, then past the moat itself. You will come to a group of around 10 willows on your left. Have a scan low amongst the branches.Or let me know when your coming and i'll take you right there. Cheers, Kev) Thanks Kev.
East Barnet: Common Buzzard NW harassed by crows (Pete Lowman).
Forest Gate (on my roof): Peregrine over Greenwich Dome, Sparrowhawk, LBB Gull, GBB Gull, no Red Kite or Buzzard (NC).
Great Warley (Foxburrow Wood): male Pheasant, Sparrowhawk over, 2 singing Song Thrush, singing Mistle Thrush, 3 singing Goldcrest, Treecreeper (h), 6 Long-tailed Tit (Colin Jupp).
Harold Hill: 4 Waxwing at Harold Park at the junction of Petersfield Avenue / A12 06:30 (BirdGuides).
Harold Park: Little Egret flew over River Ingrebourne (bridge on Harold Court Rd) at 16.48 (Colin Jupp).
Hatch End Playing Fields: 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn (JR).
Holyfield Hall Farm, Lea Valley: Red Kite at 14.40 (Martin Shepherd).
Larkhall Park (Stockwell): 1 Redwing left, pr Mistle Thrush but no sign of nest yet? 1 female House Sparrow plus a male chirping on a building, 4 active Magpie nests (50% up from last year in about 1+ acre site) (Michael Mac).
Leatherhead - Elmers Cottages: c20 Waxwing by new houses at 08:15 (Dave Kiddell).
Oasis Adventure Playground (Stockwell; across from Larkhall Park): 1 Mistle Thrush sitting on nest - possibly has young as mate flew from the park with worms lead me to the nest, 1 singing Dunnock, pr Great Tits very vocal (Michael Mac).
Lower Edmonton N9 (Boundary Ditch, off Hertford Road): Chiffchaff, 3 Linnets, 8 Golfinches, Jay (Chris Kennington).
Muswell Hill: 4 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Mealy Redpoll coming to garden feeder, caught and ringed (Gerry Rawcliffe)
Oakwood Park (N14): 2 (m&f) Great Spotted Woodpecker together; 4 Fieldfare; 38 Redwing; 2 (m&f) Greenfinch together; 2 male Siskin together (Robert Callf).
Merrivale and Prince George Ave (Oakwood N14): 7 Greenfinch including 2 singing males (Robert Callf).
Paddington Green: 1-2 Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon (probably male) in the area early a.m. with a pair circling the area later, 38 Herring Gull at local colony, 2 Stock Dove north-east, singing Grey Wagtail, 3 Chaffinch north, c10 Goldfinch (D. McKenzie).
Sidcup (York Avenue): pair Blackcaps, 2 Siskins NW, 2 Jackdaws W, 1 Canada Goose NE 17.34, Sparrowhawk, 40+B/H Gulls NE pm, 2+Common Gulls, 4+Herring Gulls SW, LBB Gull N, 20+Pigeons, 10-20 Woodpigeons, pair Collared Doves, 4 R/N Parakeets, Wren, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, pair Blackbirds, 8 Redwings flew S 17.55 to roost, pair Long Tailed Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, Magpie nest-building, 4+Crows, 40+Starlings evading Sparrowhawk 17.05, 8 House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4Goldfinch. (Ian Stewart)
Staines Reservoir: 2 GN Divers, 2 Redshank: 3 Shelduck amongst Shoveler, many Goldeneye. (Chris Bessant).
South Norwood CP: 16 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 3 Pheasant, Water Rail, 4 Common Gull, 2 displaying Stock Dove, Stonechat, 24 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Red-crested Pochard still, pair of Peregrines hunting over and west of West Res (and in the area throughout the day), 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Water Rails (Mark Pearson)
Tyttenhanger GPs: c35 Waxwing (2 flocks), Jack Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, Redshank, Goosander (f), 3 Red Kite, 2 Treecreeper, Goldcrest. (Steve Blake / Simon West).
W2: female-type Black Redstart adjacent to last year's breeding site; not known to have wintered (D. McKenzie).
Wanstead Flats (07:00-08:30): 25 Skylarks (inc. 11 singing birds), 24 Meadow Pipits (inc. 3 song-flighting birds - 30 birds, including 10 in flock south of Long Wood, NC), 9 Lesser Redpolls, 30+ Goldfinches (20+ in flock east end of Long Wood - NC), 2 singing male Reed Buntings, (Tim Harris), Yellowhammer (north over Cat & Dog), 7 Siskin, 2 Pied Wagtail, 16 Cormorant (over), 10 Redwing, 2 Grey Heron (1 Cat & Dog pond consuming frogs), 6 Stock Dove, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Pochard, 7 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, Greylag Goose, 2 Little Grebe, Peregrine Falcon (south of flats going west) - 49 sp (NC)
Waterloo: 1 Red Kite over with Carrion Crow in hot pursuit at c0945 (Lisa Mobley per David Lindo).
Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Linnet, 2 G S Woodpecker, 3+ Meadow Pipit (performing song flight), Redwing, Song Thrush, c12 Goldfinch over, 7 Greenfinch (Charlie Farrell).
Sunday 13th March 2011[]
Amwell GPs: 3 Bearded Tit from viewpoint (BirdGuides).
Bedfont Lakes CP LNR: Firecrest in vicinity of Black Hide. (Cliff Watson per Adam Cheeseman)
Bedfords Park LNR: Firecrest in wood adjacent to EWT car park, in holly at 17.15 (elusive, hadn't been seen late afternoon previous 2 days); plus 3 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 2 singing Treecreeper, several Long-tailed Tit, 5 Song Thrush (2 singing) and first Chiffchaff (Lake). Also, staying till nearly dark - Tawny Owl (m hooting), Little Owl, 2 Woodcock over, 3m Pheasant, 10+ Redwing (Colin Jupp).
Brent Reservoir: 2 Green Sands flew off at 09.45, also drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, singing Chiffchaff, 5 Fieldfare & 6 Lapwings (Andrew Self & Roy Beddard)
Brentford (Clifden Road, 8am): still 50 Waxwings feeding outside No: 27 (F. McK)
Camberwell Church Street, 3pm: Red Kite being mobbed by Crows and Jackdaws (Simon Hampson)
Cassiobury Park: 3-4 Siskin (D. McKenzie).
Chalk Wood: male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker on silver birches, 10+Redpoll nearby (the light wasn't too good but they all appeared to be Lesser) + In nearby Joydens Wood: 10+Siskin & lots of Goldcrests, Coal Tits, Chiffchaff etc... (Conrad Ellam)
Connaught Water: male Green-winged Teal still. Also 6 other Teal, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Mandarin (Mike Benyon)
Crayford Marshes: 2 Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Avocet, Turnstone, 31 Golden Plover, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Chiffchaff, Little Owl. (Kev Jarvis).
East India Dock Basin / Bow Creek Ecology Park: 5 Shelduck, 107 Teal, female Pintail, 59 Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet, Common Seal (Gary A James, Nick Tanner).
Foots Cray : Little Owl over Tescos 02.00-02.20 calling (Ian Stewart)
Lee Valley: Cornmill Meadows: 4 Goldcrest, 5 Reed Bunting, pair of Bullfinch, Holyfield Lake: Black-necked Grebe seen very close to bridge near the Kiora Radial Gates, which are at the northern most part of Lake.(James Anderson)
Lonsdale Res: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Gadwall, 1 Song Thrush, usuals (Rich Petley)
Maze Hill, Greenwich: 1 Male Pheasant was a surprise, just 2 or 3 m away, on railway verge of Maze Hill Station (around 1pm), at one stage flew onto a house roof! (Joe Beale)
North Finchley: Female Blackcap in garden again (John Colmans)
Northolt + Greenford CP: 8 Mute Swan, m Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Snipe, Green Woodpecker, 6 Pied Wagtail 30+ Redwing, 3 Jay (Neil Anderson)
Oakwood Park, N14: 2 Stock Dove, 2(m&f) Great Spotted Woodpeckers, drumming to each other, 1 Meadow Pipit, flew N, calling, 07:56 hrs, 7 Fieldfare, 44 Redwing, Pitch & Putt Course, 11 Siskin, coming to seed-hopper in garden adjacent to park (Robert Callf).
Pinner (Glover Road): 2 Siskin in an Alder tree (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Little Owl at 18:10, female Pochard & Cormorant (main pond), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Jackdaw, 35 Redwing, 2 Coot, 2 Canada Goose (pair) & 3 Grey Heron (JR).
St James's Park (Inner London): 2 Goldcrest. WeBS Count - pr Egyptian Geese still got 8 goslings (but for how long? after gorging on white bread rolls provided by tourists), 7 Mute Swan 1 sitting on a nest, pr Gadwall, 19 Red-crested Pochard, 33 Pochard, 50 Tufted Duck, 57 Mallard, 27 Grey-lag, 7 Canada Geese, 140 Coot, 35 Moorhen, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 10 Herring Gull and 125 Black-headed Gulls all from 3pm (Michael Mac).
Staines Moor: 4-5 Water Pipit along the River Colne, 2 Goosander, 1 Chiffchaff and 70+ Fieldfare (Lee Dingain).
Staines Res: 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 drake Scaup, 1 Black-necked Grebe, all on the South basin @ 0800hrs (N.Smith). All still present 1pm to 2pm (John Fordham).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: brief visit p.m. produced drake Red-crested Pochard still and little else (MJP)
Wanstead Park : Pair of Sparrowhawk (later m mistle thrushing through the dell), 2 Water Rail (the usual and a new one west end of heronry), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (various observers), Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit (over), Greylag Goose (2 on Heronry, 1 over), Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, 5 trilling Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Siskin, L Redpoll, Goldcrest, Coal Tit (prospecting for nesting hole), Stock Dove, Collared Dove (NC et al). Also 2 Goldcrest, 7 Jay, Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Moorhen (Brandon Anderson).
Watford: Mistle Thrush feeding young at nest on Gade Avenue (D. McKenzie).
West Harrow: Blackcap (over-wintered) singing in my garden 8.45am (Alex Massey).
St Stephen's Gardens W2: 1420 Red Kite low over the rooftops being pursued by c20 crows. (David Lindo)
Vauxhall BT: f Peregrine pm (Michael Mac)
Willesden Green, flock of 22 Waxwings feeding on cotonester berries on garage roof. Second day present.(Chris Elsdale)
Ingrebourne Valley: Little Egret, Ring-necked parakeet,Chiffchaff. (Shaun Harvey)
Saturday 12th March 2011[]
Acton Park: Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming repeatedly, 1 male Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, pair of Mallard. (Chris Rose).
Brent Reservoir: Skylark over & 2 Greylags (Andrew Self & Andrew Verrall)
Brentford, Clifden Road 7.30am 50+ Waxwings feeding on berries outside number 27 and on new shots in trees by the libray. (F.Mck)
Beverley Meads LNR (corner of Wimbledon Common): 1 f Kestrel, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron (Michael Mac).
Broadwater GPs: 4+ Red Kites, 4+ Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks hunting around area. 24 Goldeneye, c. 25 Lapwing, Little Egret, 7+ Chiffchaffs (5 singing), 2 Reed Buntings. Report of 3 Swallows yesterday. (Joe Dickens). Where is this place? - Michael Mac.
Dagenham Chase LNR: 61 species recorded, 1st W Med Gull again on the slack, drake Pintail, pr Wigeon, pr Shelduck, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Siskin, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 5-6 Common Snipe, pr Lapwing, no migrants just yet.( V.Halley-Frame ).
Dartford: adult Caspian Gull on flooded fields east of Thames Road and north of University Way (BirdGuides).
Enfield: Little Owl sunbathing in Oak, 09:40 hrs (Robert Callf).
The Glade (Sidcup): pair Great Crested Grebes, pair Mute Swans, 2 Greylags, 15+Canada Geese, @20 Mallards, 5 Tufted Ducks (3 male 2 female), Kestrel, 8+Moorhen, 8+Coot, 100+B/H Gulls, few Common Gulls, several Herring Gulls over, 40+Woodpigeons, pair Collared Doves, 3 Stock Doves, 10+R/N Parakeets, G/S Woodpecker, pair Pied Wagtails, 3+Wrens, 2 Dunnocks, 8+Robins, 8+Blackbirds, pair Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrush, 6+Redwings, 4+Goldcrests, 4+Long Tailed Tits, plenty Blue and Great Tits, Jay, 10+Magpies, Jackdaw, 6+Crows, 2 Starlings, 2+Chaffinch, 2+Greenfinch, 4+Siskin, 2 Goldfinch. More disturbance today due to fish rafts going in lake (Ian Stewart)
Grays: c30 Waxwing by the Old Shant on London Road 07:30 (BirdGuides).
Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): Coal Tit in my garden a.m.; plus in Hatters Wood nearby, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush & Nuthatch .Also: singing Goldcrest in Central Park, Harold Hill (CRJ).
Harold Hill Industrial Estate: 177 Pied Wagtails at roost 19.00hrs (compared to 280+ on 1st March) (CRJ).
Hemans Estate Community Garden (Stockwell): pr Robins, 1 singing - not seen 2 at this time of year for over 5 years (Michael Mac).
Horsenden Hill: 2 Common Buzzards - NW over Perivale Wood at 11.00 and N over Paradise Fields at 12.10. Also 1 Siskin, 2 Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipit, displaying pair Sparrowhawks and 1 Brimstone buttefly (Andy Culshaw).
Ingrebourne Valley:12 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Siskin, Golden Plover,4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 5 singing Yellowhammers, 2 calling Chiffchaff and a pair of displaying Sparrowhawks.No sign of White- fronted Geese allthough Greylag flock present.(Dave Morrison)
Lea Valley Park - Netherhall: 1 f Smew (on smaller pool NW of main Glen Faba pit), 4 Goldeneye (1m, 3f), 1 Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 2 Bullfinch. Also 3 Brimstone & 1 Comma (Nigel May).
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Water Pipit, 18 Redwing, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Siskin, 10+ Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
Lonsdale Res: 2 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff (my first here this year) (Rich Petley) Also Egyptian Goose, 3 Gadwall + 2 Stock Doves (Neil Anderson)
Markfield Park (N15) 6 Redwings, plus Mistle Thrushes singing (Quentin Given)
Muswell Hill: 4 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Mealy Redpoll coming to feeder and ringed in Grove Avenue
Paddington Green: 3 Sparrowhawk (including a displaying pair), male Peregrine Falcon in the area a.m. and into p.m., Ring-necked Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker (unusual), singing Grey Wagtail, 2 Jackdaw north (D. McKenzie).
Prae Wood area (near St. Alban's): 2 Red Kite, 3 Common Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge in field adjacent to Bedmond Lane (D. McKenzie).
Pinner (Grove Avenue): 1 Grey Wagtail along the River Pinn (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: migrant Chiffchaff in the middle hedge, 1 Little Owl showing well at 18:10, female Pochard (main pond), 67 Fieldfare & Redwing in a mixed flock, 12 Herring Gull, 7 Jackdaw, 2 Long-tailed Tit & 3 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Putney- Barnes Bridges WeBS: 5 Great-crested Grebe, 20 Cormorant, 2 Heron, 7 Mute Swan, 5 Greylag, 58 Canada Geese, 123 Mallard, 157 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 75 Tufted Duck, f Scaup (by Hammersmith Jetty with 30 Tufties + f Scaup x Tufty hybrid), 27 Coot, 2 Moorhen, c910 Black-headed, 30 Common, 110 Herring, 38 Lesser Blackback + pr Great Blackback Gulls, Grey Wagtail. Buzzard circling + mobbed by Sparrowhawk 12.05 western end Chiswick Eyot, drifting south (Neil Anderson)
Queen Mother Res: juvenile Great Northern Diver (BirdGuides).
Rainham: Common Buzzard heading high South, Sparrowhawk (Richard Harrison).
Rainham Marshes: 5 Avocet (on Thames), Great Black-backed gull, 4 Skylarks, 3 Pochard, Wigeon, Teal, Mallards, male Pintal, Shovelers, 1 Little-Ringed Plover, Common guls, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (f), Mute Swan, 12 Shelduck, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Grey Heron, 2 Redshank (on Thames), Lapwings, 2 Greenfinch, Little Grebe, 3 Kestrel, 5 Greylag geese, Canada Geese, 4 Little Egret, Linnets, Peregrine, 6 Corn Bunting, 5 Reed Bunting, Rock Pipits, Water Pipit, 2 Gadwall, 2 Cormorant (Brandon Anderson). Also 4+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 1W and prob 3W Caspian Gulls, Common Buzzard, 5+ Cetti's Warblers, sum plum male Scandinavian Rock Pipit, male-type Curlew west, Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, 130+ Golden Plover, Ruff, 230+ Stock Doves, 100+ Linnets, and a Weasel (David Callahan/Ian Lycett/Jonathan Wasse/et al). 2 Little Ringed Plover, 12+ Reed Bunting, 200 Wigeon, 30 Shelduck, 100 Shoveler, Pintail (male), GSWP, 6 Linnet, (London Birdwatching) Kingfisher, Mediterranean Gull (ad on tip), Short-eared Owl , Jack Snipe + 4 Snipe (sea wall), 4 Oystercatcher, leucistic f Pintail, c. 20 Ringed Plover, White Wagtail (NC with thanks to Martin Jordan for the owl)
Regent's Park: pr Firecrests, White Wagtail (Tony Duckett).
Richmond Park: Mealy Redpoll Prince Charles Spinney 13.00. Also a pink breasted White Redpoll briefly through bins only 12.15 but rump not seen and not relocated. Also 32 Redwing and a Woodcock flushed. (FJM) A Common Buzzard flew S over Pen Ponds 12.44 (Steve Reed) Female lesser spotted woodpecker by car park at Kingston Gate at 07:00-07:15 but no further sign up to 8am (Paul Cox).
Sidcup (York Avenue): pair Blackcaps, Sparrowhawk, plenty gulls mainly Black Headed and Common but a few Herring and LBB, 20+Pigeons, 10+Woodpigeons, 4 Stock Doves SE, pair Collared Doves, 3+R/N Parakeets, 2 Wrens, 3 Dunnocks, pair Robins, pair Blackbirds, 2+Redwing, 2 Goldcrests, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 4 Magpies, Jackdaw, 4+Crows, 10+Starlings, 8 House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 2+Goldfinch. (Ian Stewart)
Staines Res: 3 Great Northern Diver on South Basin early a.m. (BirdGuides). 3 Redshank (KPDuncan)
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Common Buzzard low north 1040, male Peregrine around East Res, drake Red-crested Pochard still, 3 Chiffchaffs, Water Rail, Jackdaw north, 2 Brimstones, Red Admiral (Mark Pearson)
Thorpe Park:Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard and 5 Goldeneye (KPDuncan)
Trent Park: 3 Treecreeper, including two singing males (Robert Callf).
Waltham Abbey - Harrier Way (near Marriott Hotel): 35 Waxwing briefly at 9.55am (Nigel May).
Watford: 16 Waxwing south over Cardiff Road (from Vicarage Road) direction 17:10 (D. McKenzie).
Woodford Green: Buzzard over (London Birdwatching)
Archway / St. Johns Way (3pm): Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blackbird (Dawn Painter).
Barnehurst: 1 Greenfinch behind Thirlmere Rd (first seen round here for ages), Grasmere Allotments: 2 Grey Herons over, heading north-west, vocalising. 2 Ring-necked Parakeets. (Chris Rose)
Bedfords Park LNR: 2 pr Tufted Duck, Kestrel, 6 Redwing, 2 singing Mistle Thrush, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Treecreeper (2 singing), 4 Jay, singing Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch (h). Pre-roost gathering of corvids (Deer Park c18.15hrs) now lacking rooks but still 350+ Jackdaw & 100+ Carrion Crow. Also Tawny Owl calling in Nursery Wood (Colin Jupp).
Bishop's Park (Fulham): 1 Tawny Owl (Nathalie Mahieu).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 11 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 6 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 4 Black-headed Gull, 10+ Woodpigeon, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 4 Robin, 5 Blackbird, 4 Redwing, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Starling, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 House Sparrow, 6 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 1 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam; Lots of disturbance in the park today plus I've got a nasty cold so, not a very representative survey).
Cassiobury Park: Little Egret a.m. (Joanne Biscomb per D. McKenzie).
Chafford Hundred: 42 Waxwing on Saffron Road 09:02 (BirdGuides).
Claybury Park (edge): pair of Stock Doves doing a mating ritual involving lots of bowing to each other, LBB Gull (Alan Hobson).
Connaught Water: male Green-winged Teal still present though very elusive at right hand side of first island as you leave the car park, until 08.30 at least - appears to be pairing up with a female Common Teal; plus 4+ drake Mandarins (David Callahan). 2 Egyptian geese, 2 Greylag geese, 2 Great-crested grebe, 15 Mandarin (with most drakes displaying), 2 Gadwall, 5 Teal (Brandon Anderson).
Ealing: Young Peregrine Falcon, on the spire of Christ the Saviour church at 9am; 50+ Redwing by the tennis courts in Lammas Park; Grey Wagtail and Goldcrest in Walpole Park at 1.30pm; 7 Waxwing, on Ealing Green at 4.45pm in a plane tree, flew towards the Broadway and seen again from the train platform at 5pm. Not bad for a day in the office. (Andrew Birks)
Five Oaks Lane Scrubland (Chigwell): Grey Heron, 10 Mipit, m Stonechat, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, m Reed Bunting, 3 Pheasant, 2 (pr) Red Legged Partridge, Kestrel, 2 Stock Dove (London Birdwatching).
KGV Reservoir: male Wheatear on NW corner of north basin at 09.00. Also dead Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage, found by farmer on edge of north basin and apparently strangled with a rubber band (Martin Shepherd); also Red-breasted Merganser (BirdGuides). Can you send details of B-n Grebe including photo to Tim Webb, RSPB London office please (Bob Husband)
London Wetland Centre: 3 Common Snipe, Redshank, 14 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Siskin (LWC website).
Lower Bedfords Road (Romford): singing Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting in field near Covered Reservoir (CRJ).
Lower Edmonton N9 (Boundary Ditch, off Hertford Road): Chiffchaff, 3 Linnets, 8 Golfinches, Jay (Chris Kennington).
Muswell Hill: 4 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Mealy Redpoll coming to garden feeder, caught and ringed (Gerry Rawcliffe)
Oakwood Park (N14): 2 (m&f) Great Spotted Woodpecker together; 4 Fieldfare; 38 Redwing; 2 (m&f) Greenfinch together; 2 male Siskin together (Robert Callf).
Merrivale and Prince George Ave (Oakwood N14): 7 Greenfinch including 2 singing males (Robert Callf).
Paddington Green: 1-2 Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon (probably male) in the area early a.m. with a pair circling the area later, 38 Herring Gull at local colony, 2 Stock Dove north-east, singing Grey Wagtail, 3 Chaffinch north, c10 Goldfinch (D. McKenzie).
Sidcup (York Avenue): pair Blackcaps, 2 Siskins NW, 2 Jackdaws W, 1 Canada Goose NE 17.34, Sparrowhawk, 40+B/H Gulls NE pm, 2+Common Gulls, 4+Herring Gulls SW, LBB Gull N, 20+Pigeons, 10-20 Woodpigeons, pair Collared Doves, 4 R/N Parakeets, Wren, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, pair Blackbirds, 8 Redwings flew S 17.55 to roost, pair Long Tailed Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, Magpie nest-building, 4+Crows, 40+Starlings evading Sparrowhawk 17.05, 8 House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4Goldfinch. (Ian Stewart)
Staines Reservoir: 2 GN Divers, 2 Redshank: 3 Shelduck amongst Shoveler, many Goldeneye. (Chris Bessant).
South Norwood CP: 16 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 3 Pheasant, Water Rail, 4 Common Gull, 2 displaying Stock Dove, Stonechat, 24 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: Red-crested Pochard still, pair of Peregrines hunting over and west of West Res (and in the area throughout the day), 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Water Rails (Mark Pearson)
Tyttenhanger GPs: c35 Waxwing (2 flocks), Jack Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, Redshank, Goosander (f), 3 Red Kite, 2 Treecreeper, Goldcrest. (Steve Blake / Simon West).
W2: female-type Black Redstart adjacent to last year's breeding site; not known to have wintered (D. McKenzie).
Wanstead Flats (07:00-08:30): 25 Skylarks (inc. 11 singing birds), 24 Meadow Pipits (inc. 3 song-flighting birds - 30 birds, including 10 in flock south of Long Wood, NC), 9 Lesser Redpolls, 30+ Goldfinches (20+ in flock east end of Long Wood - NC), 2 singing male Reed Buntings, (Tim Harris), Yellowhammer (north over Cat & Dog), 7 Siskin, 2 Pied Wagtail, 16 Cormorant (over), 10 Redwing, 2 Grey Heron (1 Cat & Dog pond consuming frogs), 6 Stock Dove, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Pochard, 7 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, Greylag Goose, 2 Little Grebe, Peregrine Falcon (south of flats going west) - 49 sp (NC)
Waterloo: 1 Red Kite over with Carrion Crow in hot pursuit at c0945 (Lisa Mobley per David Lindo).
Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Linnet, 2 G S Woodpecker, 3+ Meadow Pipit (performing song flight), Redwing, Song Thrush, c12 Goldfinch over, 7 Greenfinch (Charlie Farrell).
Thursday 10th March 2011[]
Battersea Park: North corner - 3 Redwing with 2 Greenfinch. Lake - Grey Heron's evident at at least 10 nests out of the 32, 70+ Tufted Duck, 6 pr Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, male Sparrowhawk at dusk (Michael Mac).
Blackheath: 2 1st w Kittiwake north over my garden and 2 Stock Doves (lawn tick) in it (James Lowen)
Chafford Hundred: c100 Waxwing on Saffron Road 08:04 (BirdGuides).
Chigwell School: Buzzard (London Birdwatching).
Chiswick Eyot: 1 Water Rail heard calling briefly, 1 Sparrowhawk over and the usuals. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Crayford Marshes: Turnstone, Cetti's Warbler, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Pipit, Green Sandpiper, pr Stonechat, Little Egret, 14 Fieldfare, 26 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
East India Dock area: 2 Oystercatchers, Common Sandpiper, Pintail, 66 Tufted Ducks, Kestrel (Gary A James).
The Glade (Sidcup): pair Great Crested Grebes, pair Mute Swans, 3 Greylags, 20 Canada Geese, 40-50 Mallards, 12+Moorhens, 8+Coots, up to 100 B/H Gulls on golf course, 2+Common Gulls over, LBB Gull over, 60+Woodpigeons, pair Stock Doves, 10+R/N Parakeets, G/S Woodpecker, heard Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 2+Wrens, 4+Robins, Dunnock, 4+Blackbird, 2+Song Thrush, singing Mistle Thrush, 20-30 Redwings, 4+Goldcrests, Coal Tit, plenty of Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits, 1 or 2 Nuthatches, 10+Magpies, 1+Jackdaw, 20+Crows, 4 Starlings, 4+Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches, 10+Siskins, 4+Goldfinch (Ian Stewart)
Grays: c40 Waxwing by The Old Shant on London Road 09:10 (BirdGuides).
Harold Hill: 14 Waxwing in birch tree by the subway at junction of Petersfield Avenue / A12 (09.30am) (Marion Wyatt).
Headstone Lane: 3 Siskin over railway station 08:10 (D. McKenzie)
Herne Hill: c20 Waxwing on TV aerials in Hawarden Grove p.m.; also seen around the garden centre on Croxted Road earlier in the week (BirdGuides).
Ingrebourne Valley: 6 White-fronted Goose in top paddock along Berwick Ponds Road (BirdGuides).
Larkhall Park (Stockwell): quick look around after visiting the post office - 6 Redwing on grass feeding with 8 Starlings, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Greenfinch (Michael Mac).
London Wetland Centre: 31 Wigeon, 139 Cormorant, Water Pipit, Redwing, 2 Lesser Redpoll (LWC website).
North Finchley: male Blackcap again present in back garden (John Colmans).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Pochard back on the main pond, 22 Jackdaw, good numbers of Fieldfare & Redwing still present (Jon Ridge, Jon Reveley).
Rainham Marshes: 6 adult White-fronted Goose (presumably the Ingrebourne birds?), ringtail Hen Harrier, White Wagtail, Northern Wheatear along River Wall, Lapland Bunting over p.m. (BirdGuides)
Ray Park: Red Kite [over the playing fields at the northern end of the park, and being mobbed by Crows], 3 Redwings, Common Gull (Alan Hobson).
Roding Valley Park: Kingfisher, Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, pr of Mistle Thrushes, pr of Mute Swans (Alan Hobson).
Romford: 15-20 Waxwing flew NNE trilling over Beauly Way at 16.30, seen only briefly (Colin Jupp).
Sidcup: 15+ Waxwing west over Birkbeck Road 14:15 (John Archer).
Sidcup(York Avenue): pair Blackcaps, 5-10 Jackdaws, Sparrowhawk in garden, 60+B/H Gulls and 20+Common Gulls mainly NE pm, 1+Herring Gull, 3 LBB Gulls, 20+Pigeons, 20+Woodpigeons, pair Collared Doves, 4+R/N Parakeets, 3 Dunnocks, pair Robins, pair Blackbirds, 2 or 3 Redwings, pair Coal Tits, 4+ Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 2 Jays, 4 Magpies, 6+Crows, 10+ Starlings, 5 House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinch, 6+Greenfinch 4 Goldfinch (Ian Stewart)
South Norwood CP: 13 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Pheasant, Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, Common Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 47 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing (Croydon Birders).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: male Red-crested Pochard, Cetti's Warbler, 3 Great Black-backs, 3 Chiffchaffs, plus the usuals (MJP, JP)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: male Firecrest singing incessantly and flying around a wide area 130pm south end Hurricane Wood (Bob Watts).
Vauxhall BT: 1 female Peregrine at 1:30pm (Michael Mac).
Vicarage Farm (Enfield): 1 male Stonechat still present (Robert Callf).
Walthamstow Reservoirs (only had time to check the Lockwood): 1 Sand Martin being blasted along by the wind and disappeared along the the River Lea, 2 redhead Red-breasted Mergensers, 10 Teal, 2 Gadwall. No sign of Wheatear but he was probably sitting somewhere out of the wind (Katy M). Hi Katy, are you sure they were RBM's? There were two female Goosanders on Lockwood yesterday, and they can look very similar. (Mark)
Wanstead Park: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Teal, 2 Pochard, 5 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Siskin (NC).
Watford (A41; Costco entrance): c.8 Waxwings trying to alight in roadside trees (R. A. (Bob) Husband).
Wormwood Scrubs: 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 singing Greenfinch, 2 Canada Geese over (cavalry and horse-drawn artillery being exercised behind the prison) (Charlie Farrell).
Wednesday 9th March 2011[]
Ashtead: 38 Waxwing trilling in tree at front of No 37 West Farm Avenue at 16:05 (Observer?).
Beaverwood/Kemnal Wood (Chislehurst): 4 Canada Geese, 5+ Mallard, 14 Moorhens, 3+ Black-headed Gulls over, 2 Common Gulls, many Woodpigeons (large roost here), 20+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 3+ Great Spotted Woodpeckers (1 drumming), Green Woodpecker, 3+ Wrens, 4+ Robins, 6+ Blackbirds, 5+ Song Thrush, plenty Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits, 10+ Magpies, 6+ Jackdaws, 10+ Carrion Crows, Chaffinch (late visit 16.45-17.40) (Ian Stewart)
Beddington SF: Little Ringed Plover, m Wheatear (Beddington Farm Bird Group).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 1 Grey Heron flying over, 16 Mallard, 10 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 5 Black-headed Gull, 20+ Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 4 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Starling, 6 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 10+ Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch (Conrad Ellam). [Conrad, I'm interested in visiting this site after the kingfisher, could you let me know where's good to look? You can delete this and email me at bell.freelance@gmail.com. Thanks, Rob Bell]
Claybury Park: 4 Goldcrests, Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 pairs of Long-tailed Tits (one building a nest), pair of Mistle Thrushes, 3 Meadow Pipits (Alan Hobson).
Connaught Water: male Green-winged Teal still present (BirdGuides).
Crayford (various sites): Perry St Farm - 9 Redwing. Thames Rd Wetland - calling Chiffchaff, 6 Goldfinch, possible Cetti's Warbler (calling at dusk - and dark brown cocked-tailed bird seen last week). River Cray, Vitbe Mill pond - 1 Grey Wagtail. River Cray behind Barnes Cray Rd - 1 Song Thrush. (Chris Rose).
Crayford Marshes: 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, Little Owl, Golden Plover, m Peregrine, 3 Stonechat, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Rook, Green Sandpiper, 4 Fieldfare, 28 Redwing (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Dagnam Park LNR: 2 Grey Heron (Lily Pond), 3 Mandarin, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 singing Song Thrush, 20+ Redwing arriving to roost in scrub at 18.00hrs, singing Mistle Thrush, 52 Magpies in gathering at 17.30 (CRJ)
Ealing: 20+ Waxwing in the top of a plane tree on Haven Green, near the station (17:00). Perched for a few minutes, then flew south west. They may have only gone to the other side of the green, but I had a train to catch so didn't follow them. (Andrew Birks)
Fir & Pond Woods: 1 Common Buzzard; 1 Firecrest; 1 Goldcrest; 2 Nuthatch; 5 Treecreeper, including three singing; 1 Brambling heard calling (Robert Callf).
Grays: 90+ Waxwing comprising 60+ on Saffron Road and 30+ by The Old Shant on London Road (BirdGuides).
Grovelands Park: Firecrest singing from holly @ 11:50 (JJH).
Hanwell (W7): single Waxwing on Greenford Avenue opposite junction with Milton Road. Flew off NW at 14:45 (Bill Haines).
Harold Park (A12): c15 Waxwing in trees near bus stop east of the Audi garage 08.30am (Andrew Stroud).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 5 Egyptian Goose (all goslings so far predated), 10 Mandarin Duck, pair of Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 8 Red-crested Pochard, male Ruddy Duck, Little Grebe, 10 Stock Dove, at least 26 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush; also, Bar-headed Goose (esc) (D. McKenzie).
Kew Gardens: 11 Waxwing adjacent to Ginkgo on Kew Road (in front of Clarendon Court) 09:30 (BirdGuides). (corrected to Kew from Kew Gardens Rd by FJM.)
London Wetland Centre: Shelduck, Little Ringed Plover, Chiffchaff, 4 Siskin (LWC website).
Pinner (Marsh Road): 1 Little Egret over north-east at 16:54 (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 2 Little Owl, 1 Cormorant & 9 Jackdaw (Jon Ridge).
Regent's Park (07:40hrs): 1 Firecrest in Ivy-clad trees behind the rugby pitch. 3 Siskin over west. (N.Smith).
Richmond: 55 Waxwing flew high SW over A316 Manor Road roundabout at 11.25. Birds breaking away from flock and rejoining later. May have been looking to land in Richmond town centre or S of there (FJM).
Sidcup (York Avenue): pair Blackcaps still in garden (since November), 4 Jackdaws, 2 Stock Doves SE, 2 Redwings, Song Thrush in garden, Cormorant SE 16.00, few Black-headed + Common Gulls over, 2 Herring Gulls E, 22 Pigeons, 6+ Woodpigeons, pair Collared Doves, 2+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Dunnocks, Robin, pair Blackbirds, 2 Long Tailed Tits, 4+ Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 2 Magpies, 4+ Crows, 8+ Starlings, 5+ House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinches, 6+ Greenfinch, 4 Goldfinch - much quieter than yesterday (Ian Stewart).
St James's Park: pair of Egyptian Geese with 8 goslings (Andrew Self).
South Norwood CP: 14 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron, 3 Pheasant, 2 Water Rail, Common Snipe, 6 Common Gull, Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail, 24 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, Coal Tit, Linnet (Croydon Birders).
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver, drake Greater Scaup and Black-necked Grebe on South basin at 08:40. Bob Warden reported a Ring-billed Gull (on a raft on North Basin which then flew over Ashford Hospital at ca. 07:30) and a White Wagtail on the causeway (PFM). Short-eared Owl flew west 09.25 (FRC,KLP,RW).
Vicarage Farm (Enfield): 1 male Stonechat along hedgerow off Barracks, 07:20-07:30 hrs (my first of the spring); 12 Lesser Redpoll feeding in Birch, Sidhil's Field (Robert Callf).
Walthamstow Reservoirs: male Wheatear (photos here) on west bank of Lockwood from 1350 (hosanna!), 7 Green Sandpipers (1 south side, 6 Lockwood), Dunlin, Common Sandpiper (both Lockwood), 9 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander (1 south side, 2 Lockwood), 3 Chiffchaffs, male Blackcap, 2 Water Rails, Cetti's Warbler showing occasionally down to 2m and calling regularly 0750-1030 50m south of anglers' shelter, 12 Shelduck, 13 Teal, Kestrel at nest site, 25 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, plus the usuals (Mark Pearson).
Wanstead Flats: m Reed Bunting, 8 Lesser Redpoll (SSSI), 20+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, singing Chaffinch, 12 Siskin (over north), 10+ Meadow Pipit (one or two singing), 3 Pied Wagtail, 10+ Skylark, 20+ Jackdaw, 3 Little Grebe, 6 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 8 Redwing, Snipe (cat and dog pond), Sparrowhawk, 6 Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull (over west) (NC).
Wormwood Scrubs: pair of Stonechats (Anders Price per David Lindo)
Tuesday 8th March 2011[]
Archway: working its way slowly through the emerging buds of a park tree about 10am, could I have seen a garden warbler? Or is it too early? (D. Painter); too early. Maybe a Chiffchaff or Blackcap though? - Ok, thanks; probably a Chiffchaff, but worth going back for if you get a moment - stranger things have happened (JR). (I heard chiffchaffs in Kent on Sunday so they're about (RB)) I've seen Chiffchaffs or Willow Warblers over-wintering on Tooting Bec Common, alongside very noticeable Blackcaps (N. Granger-Taylor)
Alexandra Park: male Stonechat low over NE (i.e. at tree height) at 08.30, plus 2 singing Goldcrests, 2 Stock Dove, calling Jackdaw (David Callahan); ca.150 Redwing feeding in boggy clearings along park boundary E. of Deer Enclosure at 10.00 (Jonathan Cooke).
Battersea Park Lake: pr Great Crested Grebe performing classic display, 3 Mute Swan -1 flew in and instantly seen off by resident male, pr Egyptian Geese, 2+ Shoveler, loads of Gadwall etc - all gulls gone by dusk (Michael Mac).
Beddington SF: adult Mediterranean Gull, Water Pipit (SBC).
Connaught Water: male Green-winged Teal still present (BirdGuides).
Crayford Marshes: ad Shag on the Thames foreshore 08:35,then flew north-west. 2 ad Mediterranean Gull, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 3 Oystercatcher, Little Egret, 2 Rook, 12 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Coulsdon: 40+ Waxwing flew over Woodcote Grove 07:10 (BirdGuides).
Ealing W13: Male Blackcap again in garden early morning. also the ubiquitous Ring-necked Parakeets (6 of them), 1 Jay and a Chaffinch (uncommon in the garden) heard over (Bill Haines).
East Barnet: 2 Blackcap in my garden (Pete Lowman).
Enfield: c20 Waxwing flew north-east along Green Lanes over Winchmore Hill 12:40 (BirdGuides).
Foots Cray Meadows: Little Owl over Rectory Lane 18.20 (Ian Stewart)
Gidea Park Sports Ground: leucistic colour-ringed Herring Gull briefly (14.58-15.00) then flew W, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Redwing, pr Long-tailed Tit, pr Carrion Crow nest building, plus the following in good song: Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Goldcrest, Blue & Great Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch (Colin Jupp).
Grays: c40 Waxwing along London Road by The Old Shant (BirdGuides).
Greenwich Park: 2 Firecrests were the highlight but also Goldcrests, Stock Doves, lots of singing species and Redwings (Joe Beale and Yu-Hsuan Lin).
Holmethorpe SPs: Little Egret (SBC).
Kilburn: 1 Sparrowhawk in garden (Aaron C-Partridge).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Pochard (female) on the main pond, 88 Redwing, 72 Fieldfare, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Canada Goose & 2 Grey Heron. Also 1 Little Grebe at Headstone Moat (JR).
Queen Elizabeth II Res: 2 Avocet early morning only (DMH).
Queen Mother Res (permit access): second-winter Iceland Gull again this evening, Mealy Redpoll trapped and ringed (BirdGuides).
Rainham Marshes: ringtail Hen Harrier pursued by corvids over west side of Wennington (near large rusty pipes) 14:35 (seen earlier from Ken Barrett hide by another observer - thanks HV / NT), 5-6 Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Ruff (Target Pools), Knot (Aveley Bay), Curlew, 264 Stock Dove on Wennington (possibly a record count), Cetti's Warbler (D. McKenzie); also adult Shag (see Crayford Marshes), 55 Dunlin, 32 Redshank, Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gull, first-year Caspian Gull (ELBF).
River Lea (North Chingford, near Lea Valley Road) 06.55: 1 female Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Goosander (2 males, 1 female) (Millicent Harper).
Romford Golf Course: Kestrel, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 13 Redwing, 1 pr & 1 singing Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, 4 pr Long-tailed Tit, Jay, 25 Magpie, 8 Greenfinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll; good common bird song generally. No sign of any Firecrests over past month (Colin Jupp).
Southgate, Middx. Grovelands Park: 12 Mandarin (8 M & 4 F), Little Grebe, Egyptian Geese (pair calling & excited), 3 singing Nuthatches, 3 pair Stock Dove, c. 6 Gt Spot Wpkers very active calling & drumming in "Holly" wood area, Goldcrest, R-n Parakeets, pair Mistle Thrush, 2 Peacock Butterflies. (Mike Cawthorne, Mike Williams & Bob Husband)
South Norwood CP: 9 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, 2 Pheasant, Water Rail, Common Snipe, Common Gull, 15 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver, Scaup on South Basin near causeway 11am (Alan Furnell); 2 Great Northern Diver at 16:00, White Wagtail (BirdGuides).
Sunbury: at least 66 Waxwing still present around Sunbury Cross roundabout mid-morning (Bill Haines).
Sutcliffe Park: 16+ Mallard, 12 Coot, 12, Moorhen, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Little Grebe, Blue, Great & Long tail Tits, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Chiffchaff (calling), 2 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (atheletics track), 2 Common Snipe, 2 Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Various other common birds. (Peter Kite)
Town Park (Enfield): 9 Waxwing in trees along New River 14:00-14:10 hrs at least, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail in display flight (Robert Callf).
Trent Park: Red Kite low WSW over old golf course at 16:25pm ,4 Tufted Duck (2 pair), 2 Pochard ( a pair), 2 Mandarin (pair), 5 Canada Goose, 2 Goldfinch. ( Pete Lowman)
Valentines Park (Ilford): Little Grebe, family of 5 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shoveler, 60 Tufted Duck, 2 Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 4 Siskin plus the usuals (London Birdwatching).
Wanstead Flats: m Stonechat (SSSI - different to Sunday's bird being duller plumaged), 4 m Reed Bunting chasing each other plus 3 female, 8 Lesser Redpoll (SSSI), 10+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, singing Chaffinch, Siskin, 10+ Meadow Pipit (one or two singing), 2 Pied Wagtail, 10+ Skylark, 27 Jackdaw, 2 Little Grebe, 20+ Shoveler (14 in flight wheeling around Alex), 7 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 12 Mute Swan (Alex), Stock Dove, singing Redwing, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk (NC).
Wanstead Park: Coal Tit, Goldcrest, no sign of the Water Rail (London Birdwatching).
York Avenue (Sidcup): Common Buzzard 12.45-13.00 then flew S, pair Coal Tits (both window year ticks), pair Blackcaps, 5 Jackdaws S, Siskin S, Stock Doves E and W, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed Gulls over, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20+ Feral Pigeons, 10+ Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, 4+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Dunnocks, Robin, pair Blackbirds, Redwing, Goldcrest, 4+ Blue Tits, pair Great Tits, 2+ Magpies, 6+ Carrion Crows, 10+ Starlings, 6+ House Sparrows, 5+ Chaffinches, 5+ Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches (Ian Stewart).
Broomfield Park (Palmers Green N13): 1 pr Stock Dove (unusual here?); 17 Redwing, and a lot of conversational twittering (Robert Callf).
Canons Farm: 15 Waxwing behind 72 Canons Lane to 07:49 only, again at 4.10pm briefly, 4 Little Owls, 1+ Common Buzzard, 6 Cormorants flew over together, Sparrowhawk, 7 Skylarks, 3 Yellowhammers. Peregrine over Banstead Woods, also c.4 Common Buzzards, Skylark, Meadow Pipit etc there. See cfbwbirds blog for full sightings (David Campbell).
Chafford Hundred: 70+ Waxwing along Saffron Road late a.m. (BirdGuides).
Clapham Common: pr Stock Dove, pr Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 8 Shoveler, Jay, GS Woodpecker and lots of activity from usuals (Mark H).
Connaught Water: Green-winged Teal showing well at 10.30 to 10.45am at least; pr Wigeon (Dan Barrett); G-wT still present to 13:00 at least; also 2 Egyptian Goose, at least 9 Mandarin Duck, 18 Teal, Sparrowhawk (D. McKenzie, Joan Thompson, Simon West).
Copped Hall: pair of Ravens, 8 Common Buzzard & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, also Siskins & Redpolls in Epping Forest (Andrew Self).
Crayford Marshes: Water Pipit, Knot, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Little Owl, 2 Peregrine (pair), 2 Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, 8 Redwing (Kev Jarvis).
Dartford: adult Caspian Gull (BirdGuides).
Ealing Broadway: 14 Redwing feeding on Haven Green (Neil Anderson)
Grovelands Park (Southgate): 3 Little Grebe; 12 (8m,4f) Mandarin Duck; 7 (6m,1f) Shoveler; 1 Sparrowhawk, circling overhead, 12:00 hrs; 6 Stock Dove; 2 Ring-necked Parakeet; 1 Green Woodpecker; 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, together; 1 singing male Mistle Thrush; 2 Goldcrest, including a singing male; 1 singing male Firecrest, feeding in Holly and Rhododendrons, 11:40 and 12:25 - 12:30 hrs - a mixed singer - giving both Firecrest and Goldcrest song! 4 Coal Tit; 3 Nuthatch; 2 male Siskin, together, feeding in Alders; 3 Jay (Robert Callf).
Harold Park (A12): 9 Waxwing p.m.; 8 in ash tree near Geoffrey Avenue & 1 on cotoneaster by subway Petersfield Ave on Harold Hill side (Roy & Marion Wyatt, CRJ).
Harold Hill (Sedgefield Crescent): pr Tawny Owls calling in Hatter's Wood near my garden 23.30-23.40 (CRJ).
Hendon: (NW4) Green Woodpecker excavating my garden 15.23 (Observer?).
Kenwood: bench area 2 Coal Tit calling, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming in response,1 Jay, Robin/Great and Blue Tit taking [seed from hand.] Kenwood - Wood Pond, pr Egyptian Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 2 pr Mandarin, Jackdaw chasing a Black-headed Gull, 30 Redwing feeding in Holly bushes, Tawny Owl calling at dusk (Michael Mac).
Leyton Flats: Common Buzzard east. 22 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler. Goldcrest (Gary A James).
London Wetland Centre: 47 Wigeon, Dunlin, Redshank, Water Pipit, 2 Redwing (LWC website).
Mill Hill NW7 (Bunns Lane): House Sparrow, my garden (08:15), first in many years (Andrew Haynes).
Mores Plantation, Bentley (near Brentwood): 2 Firecrests, both probably male (1 in full song, other giving sub-song) in holly on south side near Bentley Churchyard (17.00-17.15 & vocal again from 17.30, pre-roost); also 5+ Goldcrests including 3 singing (Colin Jupp).
Queen Mother Res (permit access): 40 Waxwing east 09:30 (BirdGuides).
Rainham Marshes: female Hen Harrier, 4 Oystercatcher, 11 Ringed Plover, 58 Golden Plover, 400 Dunlin, Ruff, 27 Curlew, 2 Common Snipe, 150 Redshank (ELBF).
Regent's Park: pr Shelducks, Little Owl showing well this morning, pr Firecrests, Jackdaw (Tony Duckett).
Richmond Park: No sign of Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Pen Ponds Plantation only 4 Lesser Redpoll, and 2 Lesser Redpoll in Isabella Plantation. Sparrowhawk in display flight 14.00 and 20 Stock Dove. (Tim Howard and FJM)
Roding Valley Park: 2 Little Egrets, Water Rail, Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker, Jay, 3 Long-tailed Tits, Herring Gull, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Greenfinches, pair of Mute Swans, 6 Collared Doves, 3 Wrens, pair of Mistle Thrushes (Alan Hobson).
South Norwood CP: 2 Greylag Goose, 18 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Grey Heron, 4 Pheasant, calling Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 4 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, 21 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 24 Blue Tit, 7 Jackdaw, Siskin (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: pair of Mute Swan, pair of Greylag Goose, pair of Great Crested Grebe, pair of displaying Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Herring Gull over, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Pied Wagtail, pair of Song Thrush, 30 Redwing, pair of Mistle Thrush, female Blackcap, Goldcrest, c5 pairs of Long-tailed Tit (1 pair with nest-material), 2 Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Jackdaw (over), 2 House Sparrow, 1m 1f Siskin (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood)
South Weald (Weald Road): Woodcock flew over at 18.30hrs (CRJ).
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver and 1st-winter male Greater Scaup still on South Basin at 08:45 (PFM).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: male Red-crested Pochard (back after loan spell in nearby Clissold Park), Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, 46 Gadwall, 65 Shoveler (Mark Pearson).
Sunbury Cross: 20+ Waxwing on the Feltham side of the roundabout still (Adam Cheeseman).
Tyttenhanger GPs: 8 Avocet (Main Pit) to 16:15 at least, 17+ Waxwing, 4 Oystercatcher (Steve Blake/Simon West); 20 Waxwing by Garden Wood, in trees near conveyor belt (BirdGuides).
Wanstead Flats: sub-adult Yellowhammer (Cat and Dog pond), 4 Reed Bunting, 13 Lesser Redpoll (SSSI), 20+ Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 3 singing Chaffinch, 5 Siskin, 15+ Meadow Pipit (one or two singing), 2 Pied Wagtail, 10+ Skylark, 40+ Jackdaw, c.200 Common Gull, 3 Greater Black-backed Gull (east), 2 Little Grebe, 4 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, c.20 Mute Swan (Alex) and some other stuff I've forgotten (Nick Croft/Johnathan Lethbridge).
William Girling Res: a minimum of 5 Black-necked Grebe (D. McKenzie).
Wormwood Scrubs: 3 singing Song Thrush, 4+ Linnet (including bird with a very pale head), Meadow Pipit, 4+ singing Greenfinch. Green Woodpecker (in southern copse) (Charlie Farrell & Anders Price); 2 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 4+ Greenfinch on Little Scrubs (Charlie Farrell).
Wraysbury GPs: 44 Waxwing near the traffic lights by Sunnymeads Station (BirdGuides).
Sunday 6th March 2011[]
Aldersbrook: 1 Waxwing left on Westmorloand Close (London Birdwatching).
Battersea Park Lake: 1 Mediterranean Gull, breeding plumage adult, about 16:30 (Alan Wilkinson).
Beddington SF: Merlin north (SBC).
Brentford: 75 Waxwing at Homebase (A4 / Syon Lane junction) mid-afternoon until they flew off SW at 14:55 (Bill Haines).
Brentwood: 70 Waxwings along Kavanagh's Road, feeding in tall poplars near The Terlings 14.35-14.42, then flew over to lime tree in front of Hadleigh Court (London Road). Flew off south at 14.45 (Colin Jupp).
Canons Park, Edgware, Middx. RSPB Birdwalk: 3 singing Nuthatches, 3 pair Stock Dove, Green Wpker, Great Spot Wpker, 3 Redwing, pair Long-tailed Tit, singing Goldfinch, Jackdaw nest building, R-n Parakeets. (R.A. (Bob) Husband, Group Leader NW London RSPB Group)
Connaught Water: after a 4 hour wait the drake Green-winged Teal showed well 14.00-14.15, same island as yesterday (Conrad Ellam, John Bushell).
Dagenham Chase LNR: 1st W Mediterranean Gull on the slack then flew towards Harrow Lodge Park at 1.15pm, drake Pintail, pair of Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Egyptian Goose, 6 Common Snipe 2 Siskin, 4-5 Goldcrest (V.Halley-Frame).
East Finchley Allotment: Robin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tits (kept flying into shed window), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Wren, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, heard GS Woodpecker drumming in distance, parakeets (D Painter).
East India Dock Basin area: 1 Oystercatcher, 6 Greylag Goose, 100 Teal, 2 Redshanks, 2 argentatus Herring Gulls (Gary A James); 10 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper in roost also at least 19 Pied Wagtail at dusk, presumably roosting locally (Nick Tanner).
Grovelands Park (Southgate): male Firecrest north of lake, about 150 yards north-east of main path / cafe in thick holly at 15:45 though elusive; also several Nuthatch, 4+ Great Spots, 6+ Ring necked Parakeets and 10+ Mandarin (Andy Gray).
Hampstead Heath: largeish raptor flying over towards the east at 1605. Intermittent flaps and glides. Not seen with binoculars but Buzzard seems most likely ID (R Ulph).
Harold Hill (p.m.): 12 Waxwings in small trees and feeding on cotoneaster by the subway at junction of Petersfield Avenue / A12, also Redwing (Colin Jupp, Marion Wyatt, Pam D).
Holmethorpe SPs: Little Egret, Peregrine Falcon (SBC).
Kensington (side street off High Street Kensington): Grey Wagtail over (Nathalie Mahieu).
Lloyd Park:: 2 Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, up to 40 Waxwing at Chepstow Rise, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Bullfinch (Croydon Birders).
Margravine Cemetery: 6 Redwing, 1 Jay doing Redwing / Starling song mixture, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (much drumming, chasing, shouting), Sparrowhawk above drifting W 4pm (Nathalie Mahieu).
Merry Hill / Attenborough Fields (Bushey); Sparrowhawk, Woodcock flushed near riding school 10:05, 7 Stock Dove (1 singing), 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming), 2 singing Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, c20 Redwing, Goldcrest, plenty of Chaffinch, several Greenfinch and Goldfinch, 2 pairs of Bullfinch, Yellowhammer (D. McKenzie).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Pochard (female) on the main pond, drake Tufted Duck & 1 Little Egret along the River Pinn, 45 Fieldfare, Redwing, Green Woodpecker, 17 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Jackdaw, 2 Jay, 12 Moorhen & 4 Grey Heron (Jon Ridge).
Queen Mother Res (permit access): juvenile Great Northern Diver, Iceland Gull to 17:19 at least, 39 Waxwing (BirdGuides).
Rainham Marshes: imm male Marsh Harrier over targets, 3 male Goldeneye in Aveley Bay, 5 Corn Bunting on sea wall, Knot, Ruff, c140 Golden Plover, c60 Redshank, 4 pr Pintail and all the usual suspects (James Astley); ringtail Hen Harrier over western end of Wennington Marsh from 10:40 intermittently until 11:50 (Nick Tanner).
Richmond Park: Coues's Arctic Redpoll Pen Ponds Plantation near where ditch enters it. Park outside Ham Gate and walk up hill straight across Ham cross roads and continue along tarmac Middle Road for 500 metres then turn left along plantation fence line for 100 metres. Car Parks are very busy at weekends. Seen 0915 close to cycle track with 3 Lesser Redpoll then flew into plantation (Bob Watts per FJM).
South Norwood CP: Mute Swan, 22 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Pheasant, Common Gull, 4 Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, 20 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, Siskin, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: Peregrine NW, pair Mute Swan, pair Great Crested Grebe plus 1, c20 Tufted Duck, c150 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Ring Necked Parakeet, 4 Siskin, 3 singing Chaffinch, c4 pair Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Jay, 2 House Sparrow (John Watson & Gavin Hawgood).
St Albans: 10 Waxwing opposite Homebase (BirdGuides).
Staines Reservoir: 2 Great Northern Diver and drake Scaup on the South Basin, 4 Shelduck and 2 Redshank on the North Basin. (KP Duncan); 3 White Wagtail (BirdGuides).
Stockers Lake: 25 Waxwing north 16:25 (BirdGuides).
Sunbury Cross: 31 Waxwing at the roundabout (BirdGuides).
Sutcliffe Park: 1 Little Grebe, 23 Moorhen, 18 Coot. Almost birdless (James Lowen).
Ten Acre Wood area: 3 f Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, Snipe, pr Lapwing, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, pr Skylark, pr Meadow Pipit, pr Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, 3 Redwing, f Stonechat on mound, 14 Jackdaw, m Reed Bunting and f Muntjac (Neil Anderson).
Thames Barrier Park: 3 Dunlin, 2-3 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 x 1w, 1x3w, 1x odd adult with apparently pink legs - photos taken), 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets (David Callahan).
Caldwell Street/SW9: 4 adult Herring Gulls appear to be looking for nest sites as calling and one simulating brooding, all gone 10 mins latter (Michael Mac).
Chiswick Eyot: 2 Redshank on foreshore by eyot, 2 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 adult Yellow Legged Gull, 3 Stock Dove and the usuals. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Copped Hall, Epping Forest: 3 Crossbill calling in flight, 7 Common Buzzards (Roy Woodward, Fay Broom & R.A. (Bob) Husband)
Connaught Water: Drake Green-winged Teal still this afternoon, consorting with Teal, can get on the islands and be less obvious. 2 Pintail, 4 Egyptian Geese, 5+ Mandarin. (Paul Whiteman)
Croydon; Chepstow Rise: 12 Waxwings present until 7.55am at least. Later on 20 birds present 3.30-4.25pm (Alan Pearson)
Dagenham Chase LNR: 60 species recorded in 6 hrs ( 3 heard only ). 2 Egyptian Geese on the slack for about 20 mins, 1 had a silver metal BTO/WWT ?? ring on its right leg, also Drake Pintail still, 1 Shelduck, pr of Wigeon, 2 Pochard, several Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall, 3 Sparrowhawk displaying together, 4 Siskin inc handsome male,1 Kingfisher,Waxwing/s heard trilling briefly overhead. ( V.Halley-Frame ).
East India Dock Basin area: Water Rail (NW reed-bed), 17 Pied Wagtails, 52 Tufted Ducks. (Gary A James)
Kensington Gardens: 6 Teal on Longwater (Ralph Hancock per DMc).
The Glade (Sidcup): Pair G/C Grebes, pair Mute Swans, pair Greylags(not usual birds), 12+ Canada Geese, pair Egyptian Geese, 50+ Mallards, male Pochard, pair Tufted Ducks, 13+ Moorhens, 12+ Coot, 30+ B/H Gulls, Common Gull, 2 Pigeons, 40+ Woodpigeons, 10+ R/N Parakeets, heard 2GSWs, Green Woodpecker, 4+ Wrens, 4+ Robins, Dunnock, 6+ Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 30+ Redwings, 4+ Goldcrests, 4+ Long Tailed Tits, 3 Coal Tits, plenty Blue and Great Tits, Jay, 8+ Magpies, Crows, 50+ Starlings, Chaffinch, 6+ Greenfinch, 10+ Siskin, Lesser Redpoll.(Ian Stewart)
Great Warley (Foxburrow Wood): Firecrest seen only briefly near Beredens Lane, 2 Goldcrest, Treecreeper, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, fem Pheasant (Colin Jupp, Sheila Barnett).
Greenwich Peninsula: ad Caspian Gull (Martin Hallam per James Lowen).
Islington Cloudesley Sq N1: Waxwing 1 at 7:30 am (Chris Matthews)
Lonsdale Road Reservoir: possibly f Scaup again, with Tufted Duck at north-east end (was distant but very distinctive up against f Tufteds); also 4 Redwing, m +f Mandarin, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Egyptian Geese; 38 species in total (Rich Petley).
Mad Bess Woods: Calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 14.35 (Just started a XC race when I heard it. Richard Francis)
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Pochard (female) on the main pond still, 1 Common Buzzard over north-east, 92 Redwing, 64 Fieldfare, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Coal Tit, 4 Coot & 1 Grey Heron (JR).
Ravenor Park (Greenford): Senegal Parrot with 5 Ring-necked Parakeets- 1st sighting of this bird since winter, now been around for 4/5 years (Neil Anderson)
Richmond Park: No sign of Y.days probable Coues's Arctic Redpoll along edge of Pen Ponds Plantation by 13.30. However a pink breasted bird was seen briefly by Bob Watts in birches nearest Middle Road prior to 09.30, that may have been the bird? Also 5 Lesser Redpoll and 10+ Siskin. 2 Common Buzzards flew N.E late am. (FJM. Potential Coue's Arctic Redpoll present intermittently from 14.42 to 15.19 at Pen Ponds Plantation west side working between ditch and south end, with up to eight Lesser and at least one Mealy, and loosely associating with Tit flock (but usually further back from the plantation edge than the tits). Very pink-breasted and unstreaked appearance but conclusive identification not possible with only binoculars given the distance/light. (Martin Daniel); 7 Egyptian Goose, 2 Wigeon, Common Snipe (D. McKenzie, Nick Tanner). Sheen Gate environs: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Mistle Thrush, 13 Redwings, large number Jackdaws. Adams Pond - 5m + 3f Mandarin Duck, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2m + 1f Tufted Duck, Common Gulls. (Chris Rose).
Snaresbrook: 1+ Waxwing on A11 Hollybush Road by junction with The Rise at 4.45pm (John Archer).
Watford: c50 Goldfinch in Waterfields car park (D. McKenzie).
Whitton: circa 20 Redwings on Nelson School playing field, along with Starlings, Goldfinches and some Mistle Thrushes. Viewable from the end of Rydal Gardens. (Tony Leppard)
Staines Reservoir: 2 Great Northern Divers, showing very well on South Basin throughout morning. 1 Adult Male Scaup, along causway on South Basin. Also reports of a Drake Smew and Black Necked Grebe, but not seen by myself. (Alex Berryman). Also Slavonian Grebe at southern end of south basin at about 9.30am. (Neil Randon); 2 G N Divers & Scaup still present at 4.00 p.m. (Simon West)
Sunbury Cross: At least 150 Waxwings on berries on the north west side of the roundabout and The Haven at 11am. (Lee Dingain).
Thames Barrier Park: adult Mediterranean Gull on foreshore with 100s of BHGs, plus fem Peregrine low north, 2 Oystercatchers, Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebe on river (David Callahan).
Thorpe Park: Shelduck and 3 Goldeneye on Manor Lake. (KPDuncan)
Valentines Park (Ilford) : 2 Egyptian geese with 3 Goslings, Grey Heron, Jay, 2 Great spotted woodpecker one on peanut feeder and one drumming , 2 Long-tailed tit, hybrid Canada goose x Greylag (Brandon Anderson)
Wanstead Park: Waxwing (Westmorland Close: 6 in the morning T Harris, 19 by mid afternoon, and I saw how many.... 1), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (by the temple - T Harris, later m doing excavating work south of the Dell), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Water Rail (Perch - TH), Great- crested Grebe (Perch), Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 2 Egyptian Goose, 20 + Tufted Duck , 10 + Gadwall, single figures of Shoveler and Pochard, 2 Teal over east, Lesser Black-backed Gull, numerous Siskin, 60 + Redwing (40 through the Dell going mad for Ivy berries), Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Stock Dove (NC et al)
Warley Country Park: c23 Waxwings flew round low, calling, several times 17.15-17.20 (presumably then roosting at site); also 20 Redwing, singing Song Thrush, calling Goldcrest, 4 Long-tailed Tit (Colin Jupp, Sheila Barnett).
Willows Farm: Stonechat (f), c40 Linnet. (Steve B)
Worcester Park: 1 Red Kite low over Cromwell Road at 13:20 heading north. (Lee Dingain)
York Avenue (Sidcup):2 Sparrowhawks, many gulls overhead- mostly Black Headed but few Common and LBB Gulls (60+ B/H and Common on nearby King Georges field), 20+Pigeons, 20+Woodpigeons, Collared Dove, 15+R/N Parakeets W pm, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, Blackbird, 2 Redwings, 3 or 4 Blackcaps (2 male, 1 or 2 female), 3+Long Tailed Tits, 4+Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 2 Jays, 4 Magpies, 6+Crows, 40+Starlings, 8+House Sparrows, 5 Chaffinches, 6+Greenfiches, 4 Goldfinches.(Ian Stewart)
Friday 4th March 2011[]
Banstead: Waxwing on Bolter's Lane at Blake's Corner 7.05am-7.09am then flew north (David Campbell).
Barking Bay: Common Buzzard overhead at 1.10pm.(Dave Morrison)
Barnet: 11 Waxwing on Hadley Grove before flying north at 10:50 (BirdGuides).
Bedfords Park LNR: Firecrest in Cherry Laurels just east of Visitor Centre near bridleway 13.40-13.45, 2 Coal Tit and Siskin Nursery area (Colin Jupp).
Brentford: 40 Waxwing present mid-morning at Homebase (junction of Syon Lane and A4 Gt West Road) 'til they flew off SW in direction of Isleworth. Also, 1 adult male Waxwing seen at Woodland Gardens, Isleworth at c.09:30 before it flew off towards Brentford. Flock probably commuting between the two sites (Bill Haines),
Canons Farm & Banstead Woods: 4 Golden Plovers flew NNE at 8.50am, Little Owl, 2 Common Buzzards, Canada Goose flew NW at 8.03am, Cormorant flew ENE at 8.10am, 2 Mallards flew over, Grey Heron flew past, 15 Linnets, 2 Siskins, 66+ Redpolls, 3+ Yellowhammers, 3 male Pheasants, 2 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls over, 15 Common Gulls & 78 Black-headed Gulls at Legal & General, 2 Treecreepers, 3 Nuthatches, 2 Coal Tits, Stock Dove, 5 Greenfinches, 4+ Goldfinches, 3+ Mistle Thrushes, 83 Fieldfares, 10+ Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Rose-ringed Parakeet, c.150 Chaffinches, Pied Wagtail (David Campbell).
Crayford Marshes: Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, Little Owl, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Oystercatcher, 12 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing. (Kev Jarvis).
Ealing (W13): Blackcap singing early morning in neighbouring garden (Bill Haines).
Enfield: Crossbill, Capel Manor College, Heard on and off for about 10 minutes in college car park, then flew off high south at 15:35. (Andy Gray).
The Glade(Sidcup): Pair G/C Grebes, pair Mute Swans, Greylag Goose with 8+Canada Geese, 50+Mallards, male Pochard, Sparrowhawk, 8+Moorhens, 4+Coot, 40+B/H Gulls, 10+Common Gulls, 60+Woodpigeons, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Collared Doves, 4+R/N Parakeets, GSW, pair Grey Wagtails, Wrens, Dunnock, few Robins, Blackbirds, heard Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush 1 singing, 20+ Redwing, 8+Goldcrests, 2+Coal Tits, plenty Blue and Great tits, Magpies, Crows, Chaffinch, 4+Greenfinches, 20+Siskins, 2+Lesser Redpolls, Goldfinch. (Ian Stewart)
Hanwell: Pair Mandarin again on River Brent at Hanwell Bridge, c. 7.30am (Anand Ramesh)
Larkhall Park (Stockwell): 13 Redwing, 3 House Sparrow, Starlings, pr Woodpigeon on a nest 9:30am (Michael Mac).
London Wetland Centre: 59 Wigeon, 4 Redwing, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, 15 Siskin (LWC website). Also 2 Jack Snipe, 10 Pintail. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Noak Hill Road (Romford): leucistic Herring Gull (with red colour-ring) on east side of Whitworth Centre with a few Common & B-h Gulls at 11.40. This bird also visits field on other side of road and the Covered Reservoir along Lower Bedfords Road (Colin Jupp).
Oakwood Park (N14): 1 male Collared Dove, singing; 2 Green Woodpecker, together; 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, together; 33 Redwing; 1 Goldcrest; 2 Goldfinch; 5 redpoll sp., flew over calling; 6 Jay, together (my highest count at this site, so far!) (Robert Callf).
Old Redding (Copse Farm): 1 Tawny Owl using the 'kewick' call at 18:20 (JR).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Pochard (female) on the main pond - (last record 14/01/1997 - two birds at Headstone Moat), 1 Little Owl, 5 Fieldfare, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit & 1 Jay (Jon Ridge).
Queen Mother Res (permit access only): juvenile Great Northern Diver in south-west corner mid-a.m.; still present p.m. (BirdGuides).
Richmond Park: Probable Coues's Arctic Redpoll male entering summer plumage, with 2 Mealy and 8 Lesser Redpoll feeding in birches along edge of Pen Ponds Plantation at 13.00. Probably same individual as last week, seen along edge of Isabella Plantation. Flushed by Virgin Ambulance Helicopter and flock did not come back during next half hour. Best searched for near where ditch enters Pen Ponds Plantation, near Pond Slade. Closest gate Ham Gate. Park outside gate. Go up hill and walk straight across Cross roads , along middle road for 500 metres, then walk left along edge of birches in Plantation. Also a Siskin flew over. A Common Buzzard flew from Sidmouth Wood to Spankers Hill Wood and appeared to go in there to roost? 17.41 Missing Inner Primaries on right wing. (FJM)
Roding Vallery Park: 3 Siskins, Redpoll, pair of Bullfinches, at least 6 Goldfinches, Greenfinch, Chaffinch [so making 6 species of finch in one area!], Green Woodpecker, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit (Alan Hobson).
Ruislip: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Park Wood, Siskin singing on Poors Field and Common Buzzard over (Steve Pash).*South Norwood CP: 2 Mute Swan, 17 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Pheasant, 29 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 10 Siskin (Croydon Birders).
South Norwood Lake: pair Mute Swans, pair Great Crested Grebe, 30 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 5 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 3 pairs Long-tailed Tit plus 4 on bird feeders in private garden, 2 singing Coal Tit, 3 singing Chaffinch, c15 Goldfinch (John Watson).
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver on South Basin at 08:00 and the 1st-winter male Scaup with a Black-necked Grebe (coming into Summer plumage) showing well on South Basin near the causeway at 08:45 (PFM).
Stockwell (John Buckle Centre, Wandsworth Road): 2 male House Sparrow chirping (3 females in the Ivy), (old houses with cracks / holes in brickwork, up to 5 prs - 9am) (Michael Mac).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: 16 Waxwings in trees around East Res then north at 1200, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Water Rails, small influx of Blackbirds (esp. in reedbed), plus the usuals (Mark Pearson)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Firecrest briefly in holly close to broken grave in Hurricane Wood (Bob Watts).
Aldersbrook: 5 Waxwing on Westmoorland Close (London Birdwatching).
Amwell: Redhead Smew from watchpoint (Simon West)
Banstead Woods: 1+ Mealy Redpoll with c.50 Lesser Redpolls near Reads Rest Lane entrance. Park at Canons Lane, walk up to end of lane & enter woods & first take first right walk c.50 yards. Birds are very mobile (David Campbell and Ian Jones).
Chingford (Larkshall Road, St. Anne's Church): c30 Waxwing flew over at 17:30 in direction of Manor Way, but no birds roosted in tree used last night (Ian Woodward).
Chiswick: c15 Waxwing, 5 of which alighted in back garden of house on Chiswick Mall briefy at 16:50, viewed from Netheravon Road South. c12 Greenfinch, 4 Redwing and the usuals along the river. Also thousands of gulls 'kettling' over Duke's meadows and surrounding fields before heading west to roost. (Louis Freeland-Haynes)
Crayford: 18 Waxwing in tree opposite 55 Prince's Road (BirdGuides).
Crayford Marshes: adult Mediterranean Gull on the Thames a.m. 2 Golden Plover, Little Owl, 3 Rock Pipit, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, c65 Fieldfare, c25 Redwing (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Cromwell Road, South Kensington: 08.20 Peregrine hunting pigeons around Point West (flats above Sainsbury's) (Martin Honey). also around 2pm quite high up in same general area (Nathalie Mahieu).
Croydon: 31 Waxwing in trees opposite the end of Fleetwood Close and north end of Chepstow Rise 07:15 (Croydon Birders).
Forty Hill Country Park (Enfield): m&f Goosander on large pond near Turkey Brook 09.35, gone 10.45 (Peter Beckenham).
Grays: 2 Waxwing near the post office on Hog Lane 08:00 (BirdGuides).
Greenwich Park: Possible Firecrest along woodland trail near deer enclosure, only seen in flight but I thought I saw a white supercilium (Conrad Ellam)
Grovelands Park (Southgate): 1 singing male Firecrest 09:10 and 10:27-10:30 hrs (Robert Callf); are these Firecrests frequenting a particular part of Grovelands? Walk around the holly in the wooded area north of the lake with your ears open and you will soon hear and see them! (details would be good).(agree)
Harold Park: 30 Waxwings between Geoffrey Avenue and Thurso Close at 2.45pm but flock mobile, flew across the A12 (to Harold Hill) and no further sign late afternoon (Marion Wyatt per CRJ).
Harrow Weald. 3 Common Buzzard over Old Redding at 13:00hrs (John Edwards).
Hendon: 20+ Waxwings in tree, Sunny Hill Park NW4, by entrance to Watford Way adjacent to Southfields 09.15 (Adam Raoof).
Herne Hill: 7 Waxwing in Crab Apple on Hawarden Grove 10:15 (BirdGuides).
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens: 58 Mute Swan, 76 Greylag Goose, 4 Greylag x Canada Goose hybrids, 5 adult Egyptian Goose and 4 goslings (the brood of 2 reported the other day have been predated), 6 Mandarin Duck (5 male), 3 pairs of Gadwall, 35 Shoveler, 9 Red-crested Pochard, male Ruddy Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 16 Great Crested Grebe, 148 Coot (D. McKenzie, R. Hancock).
Isleworth: 80 Waxwing in small cotoneaster opposite 244 Woodland Gardens (L. McCallum).
London Wetland Centre: 3 Bittern, first-winter Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Firecrest (BirdGuides); also 2 Pintail & 2 Snipe (JR).
Richmond Park: 1 male Mealy Redpoll and 2 Lesser Redpoll along edge of Pen Ponds Plantation, where ditch enters it. Feeding in birches 13.00 then flew in and 11 Siskin in alder.2 Coal Tits and Reed Bunting. ( Ian Hunter, FJM.)
Roding Valley Park: pair of Bullfinches, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, flock of over 30 Redwings, Song Thrush, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinches, Wren, 2 Mute Swans (Alan Hobson).
Staines Res: 2 Great Northern Diver on South Basin (BirdGuides).
Surbiton: 21 Waxwing flew E over Surbiton Crescent at 09:35 (Andrew Skotnicki).
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: 2 Firecrests SE of Monument Glade, also 7 RN Parakeets (Bob Watts).
Uxbridge: 25+ Waxwing in trees along central reservation of Hillingdon Rd (A4020) near RAF camp (Steve Pash).
Valentines Park: the pr of Egyptian Geese presented with 4 ducklings this morning, 1 was looking weak and has been rescued, the remaining 3 have followed their parents all the way to the boating lake (London Birdwatching)
Watford: Little Egret north-east over Cardiff Road with Black-headed Gulls 07:12 (D. McKenzie, J. Biscomb); 30 Waxwing at 62 The Avenue at 15:00. two previous drive-arounds this and other sites where Waxwings had been reported in last couple of days failed to locate any birds (Bill Haines).
Wednesday 2nd March 2011[]
Archway/Hornsey - two Tawny owls squabling and tustling through the trees out the back, male and female, very clear and very noisey 9pm. (Dawn Painter)
Aldersbrook: 5 Waxwing on Westmorland Close (London Birwatching)
Barnehurst: 1 Song Thrush heard south of Merewood Rd, a bit east of railway station, probably in tree on railway embankment. (Chris Rose).
Barnet: 5 Waxwing in tall trees at the top of Sunset View and feeding in gardens on Hadley Grove 07:20 (BirdGuides).
Beaverwood (Chislehurst): Firecrest along Kemnal Lane. Common Buzzard north at 16:55. (Ian Stewart).
Belhus Woods: Marsh Tit still one coming to car park feeder, drake Red-crested Pochard still and 3 Bullfinch (Alan Shearman).
Brookmill Park (Lewisham): 12 Mallard, 1 Mandarin, 8 Moorhen, 3 Coot, Black-headed Gulls flying about but none within the park, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 female Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 8 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 6 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 10+ Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch (Conrad Ellam).
Brunel University (Uxbridge): Red Kite over campus at 14;00hrs and 3 Rook over Bicentenary Garden (Steve Pash)
Chingford: c10 Waxwing roosted in tree outside wood yard near St.Anne's Church, Larkshall Road (flew in at 17:35) (Ian Woodward)
Clapham Common: Mount Pond - 8 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 4 Egyptian Geese, usual commoner species. Eagle Pond - 1 pr Shoveler, 1 Egyptian Goose would seem mate on the nest? plus Greylag and Canada Geese around (Michael Mac).
Claybury Park: Tree Sparrow, Coal Tit, (London Birdwatching). Treecreeper, 3 Goldcrests, Coal Tit, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Redwing, Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Greenfinches, 2 Canada Geese, Common Gull (Alan Hobson).
Colindale: Still 7 Waxwings roosting in Rushgrove Park (SW end) at 17.30 (Davey Leach).
Crayford: 2 Sparrowhawk just south of Sewer Pipe Embankment by Thames Rd Wetland. Colleague saw one attack a Ring-necked Parakeet. Ashe Hurst saw Kingfisher dart up River Wansunt under pipes and onto TRW while we were removing old fly-tipping. Unidentified dark bird on TRW with long tail, flicked up at high angle from body, as light faded (am not an expert birder - reminiscent of Dartford Warbler). 2 Wrens. 27 Teal on Stanham Farm pools. 2 Grey Herons chasing one another in the air here. Female Pochard on Cray by Thames Rd bridge. (Chris Rose).
Crayford Marshes: female Merlin flew south-east along Darent Creek a.m. Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Goldwit, 4 Oystercatcher, c55 Redwing, c40 Fieldfare. (Kev Jarvis & Phil Cliffe).
Crossness: adult Mediterranean Gull west 10:30 (BirdGuides).
East Barnet: 2 Blackcap ( in my back garden).(Pete Lowman)
Fulham Sands End (ca2pm): 48 Black-headed Gull, 16 Common Gull, 16 Herring Gull (inc 2 colour-ringed ones: white A6LK from Hastings and orange YW3T from Pitsea), 83 Cormorant on Battersea Reach wharf + 20 flying E (Nathalie Mahieu).
Harold Park (A12): 2 Waxwing in ash tree near Geoffrey Avenue 13.20 (CRJ).
Hatch End (New River Pinn): 1 Little Egret in trees by the railway embankment, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush & 1 Jackdaw (JR).
Isleworth (Woodland Gardens):100 Waxwing in cotoneaster tree, front garden with bungalow (Les Mccallum).
Margravine Cemetery: 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Jay, 1m Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Redwing, 31 Carrion Crow (in 1 tree, first time I see them having their local meetup here, usually they use tall buildings in the area) (Nathalie Mahieu).
Mill Hill Cemetery: c40 Redwing, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Carol Turnham)
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Owl behind the cattle sheds, 1 Meadow Pipit, 10 Jackdaw, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch & just 2 Fieldfare by the Garden Centre (Jon Ridge).
Pymmes Park (Edmonton): 1 Lesser Redpoll, feeding in Birch (Robert Callf).
Sanderstead: 10 Waxwing over 07:40, 7+ redpoll spp over 07:20 (Croydon Birders).
Staines Reservoir: Great Northern Diver and the 1st-winter male Scaup still on South Basin at 08:45 (PFM); diver still present early p.m. (BirdGuides).
Stoke Newington Reservoirs: c25 Waxwings in trees by East Res at 10:25, then flew west, 2 Cetti's Warblers close together (encouraging....) (Mark Pearson).
Sunbury Cross: c10 Waxwing still @17:15 (Tony Sweetland)
Wandsworth Common Ponds: 1 pr Egyptian Geese, pr Mute Swans the male now has a new partner which is a 2010 bird as still has some grey feathers, they met on Clapham Common in last month or so and the usual boring park birds ;)(Michael Mac)
Cassiobury Park: 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in large oak overhanging the path inside the Langley Way entrance (BirdGuides).
Colindale (Rushgrove Park) c30 Waxwings seen @4 pm (Mike Hoctor)
Crayford Marshes: adult Mediterranean Gull west along the Thames, adult Caspian Gull again in field by landfill site at 11.45am, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, Rook, 30 Redwing, Little Egret (Kev Jarvis & Steve Carter).
Ealing: 2 Waxwing at Sherborne Gardens p.m. (BirdGuides).
Fryent Country Park: 8 Waxwing in bushes opposite end of Barn Rise at 13.55h, flew off SE. (Stephanie & Graham Hart)
Hackney Marshes: Shelduck over north, at least 6 Chiffchaff along River Lee bordering golf course (including at least 2 singers), Goldcrest, 20 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebe, 1 fem Pochard (Jamie Partridge).
Hanwell: Mandarin on canal by Ealing Hospital (Anand Ramesh)
Harold Hill Industrial Estate: at least 280 Pied Wagtails at roost 18.15-18.25hrs (Colin Jupp).
Harold Park: 7 Waxwings in trees along the A12 near Geoffrey Avenue 14.25-14.30 (Colin Jupp).
Ilford (Northbrook Road): male Blackcap (London Birdwatching).
King George VI Res: female Kestrel, male Peregrine Falcon over Stanwell Moor Road and toward Staines Res 13:13, Skylark over, c30 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing on bank (D. McKenzie).
River Lee (at North Chingford) Goosander 1 pair, Grey Wagtail (Millicent Harper)
London Wetland Centre: 45 Wigeon, Kestrel, Water Rail, Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, 4 Siskin (LWC website).
Margravine Cemetery: 1 Sparrowhawk mobbed by flock of 17 Goldfinches (soared then drifted SW), 5 (prob 6) Redwing, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets on cherry blossom & Japanese bean pods, lots (~60) Woodpigeons (Nathalie Mahieu).
Middlesex Filterbeds NR: Stock Dove 2 (pair), Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, male Kestrel, 3 Little Grebe (Jamie Partridge).
North Finchley: male and female Blackcap in garden separately this morning (John Colmans).
Pinner Park Farm: 1 Little Egret, 62 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush (scarce this winter), 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 14 Canada Goose over & 4 Coot. Also 1 Little Grebe on Headstone Moat (Jon Ridge)
South Norwood CP: 22 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, 5 Pheasant, Common Snipe, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 26 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Goldcrest, 2 Siskin, Reed Bunting (Croydon Birders).
South Oxhey: Peregrine over Oxhey Drive mid-afternoon heading west (John Edwards).
Staines Reservoir: 1st-winter male Scaup still on South Basin near causeway at 08:00 as well as a Great Northern Diver which briefly flew over LHR T5 then came back again, also several Goldeneye (PFM); Scaup and diver showing well on South Basin (close to causeway) to 13:45 at least (2 Great Northern Diver reported earlier), 35+ Goldeneye on South Basin but no sign of Red-necked Grebe; also a dead adult-type Great Black-backed Gull (D. McKenzie, Andrew Verrall).
Stockwell (off my walkway): 1 Kestrel and 1 Peregrine both perched on various buildings at 9:30am (Michael Mac).
Tate Modern: Peregrine landed on the chimney c11.15 (John Colmans).
Walthamstow res (Lockwood): Up to 7 Goosander this pm (all Redheads & from memory my highest count on here); c15 Fieldfare + 4 Redwing on N bank (L Bodini).
Wanstead Flats: no sign ad Med Gull, 16 Mute Swan and 8 Greylag on Alex, Pied Wagtail (J Lethbridge)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail west end Perch Pond, 37+ Waxwing Westmorland Close (just south of Perch Pond) then flew west at 10:20am (J Lethbridge); Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming in a large Oak nr Temple (S Thorpe).
Watford: 130 Waxwing at Herga Court and 6 on The Avenues (BirdGuides).
Welling: 60 Waxwing still on Tenby Road (BirdGuides).
Wraysbury GPs: 70 Waxwing in trees by the traffic lights near Wraysbury Sunnymeads railway station 07:45 (BirdGuides).
