My nomination for May’s Bird of the Month is a Bonaparte’s Gull that spent 10 days on the Thames, allowing twitchers to catch up with it if they were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. First seen at Creekmouth on 14th May, it roamed up and down the river, spending time at Crossness and Rainham Marshes and making its last appearance back at Creekmouth on 23rd Mar.
The first records acceptable to the LNHS were as recent as May 2012, when two clearly different birds each spent a few days around Crossness. (Perhaps surprisingly they were never seen together, even though their visits overlapped. - surprising! miraculous would be a better word Since then there have been two-day Boney visits at Crossness (again) in Jul 2013 and Staines Reservoir in May 2014.
Another rare American gull was seen at Rainham Marshes on the 9th. But what was it? It seems unclear whether it was a Laughing Gull or a Franklin's Gull.
Unusually, wintering white-winged gulls lingered into May. A Glaucous Gull at Beddington Farmlands on the 3rd was only the second May record since this wiki was launched 15 years ago. And an Iceland Gull seen occasionally at the same site until the 16th was only the fourth ever known to hang around into May.
Another notable larid was White-winged Black Tern. One was reported at Rainham Marshes on the 14th and two adults and a first-summer were at Staines Reservoir on the 23rd, with the younger bird remaining until the next morning. This scarce passage migrant is particularly rare in London in spring, being mainly seen during the autumn passage.
Long-leggedy beasties
Usually when the word “crane” appears on this wiki it turns out to be a reference to a perch for a Peregrine. But this month an avian Crane spent 24 hours at Rainham Marshes. It was first seen at 10:30 on 21st May and it flew off north-ish 24 hours later after allowing a few weekend twitchers to clock it.
Crane reports are becoming commoner. After only seven accepted records before 2000, London sightings in this century are already more than three times that number. The increase is perhaps linked to the naturally expanding East Anglian population and/or the outrageously costly reintroduction programme on the Somerset Levels. (I have asked the WWT and RSPB for information about the project’s expenditure so far, but after several days I have had no reply. I wonder why.)
The Rainham sighting is unusual in that almost all past London records have been of birds overflying the area. The only previous reports of Crane on the deck are three at Tyttenhanger GPs for two days in Apr 2008, one that bizarrely landed briefly in a Loughton garden in Mar 2010, a juvenile at Beddington Farmlands for three days in Dec 2010 and two birds spotted in a field at Rye Meads in Apr 2014.
Much smaller than Crane but with proportionately longer legs— indeed, ridiculously long legs — were the two Black-winged Stilt that spent the day at Rainham Marshes on 10th May. There are only a dozen or so previous London records of Stilt, the most recent being two birds at Island Barn Reservoir in May 2016. But at least half a dozen breeding pairs are currently being monitored at undisclosed sites around Britain, so it may be only a matter of time before a pair chooses to procreate within the London area.
On the 11th a Great White Egret was seen at Gallions Reach. This of course is another former rarity that now breeds in England and is seen increasingly in the London area.
Some other non-passerines
A Quail was at Rainham Marshes from 6th to 8th May (with one observer reporting two birds singing on the 7th). Another Quail flew through Sidcup on the 27th. Nice, but this declining species is now a less than annual visitor to the London area.
On the 10th a Black Kite was reported first over Gidea Park and then over Hainault Forest Country Park. Another was seen at Rainham Marshes on the 18th.
Flying insect hawkers
The spring’s last Pied Flycatcher was espied at Sidcup on the 1st, and the year’s first Spotted Flycatcher was spotted in Hyde Park on the following day. On 2nd May a Bee-eater was reported in Wanstead Park by “one of the locals” — presumably not a birder.
Finally, another intriguing sighting by non-birders. On the 20th a couple whose home backs onto Brent Reservoir noticed an unfamiliar bird perched briefly on their garden fence. They describe it as mainly black and white but with a prominent orange/chestnut cap. Having questioned the couple, I am convinced that their bird was a Woodchat Shrike, probably female. There have been only 17 previous London records of this species — most often also in May. But would the rarities committee accept a report from just two people who are not experienced birders? Sadly, it seems unlikely.
(Contributed by Andrew Haynes, who accepts full responsibility for any errors. Historical information is mainly based on earlier reports on this wiki and on ‘The Birds of London' by Andrew Self.)
Wednesday 31st May 2017
Alexandra Park: Little Egret still on east bank Wood Green Res 0640, water level down a foot, also Common Tern (Bob Watts)
London Wetland Centre: 1 singing Whitethroat, 2 Common Tern, 2 pairs Little Ringed Plover, 1 pair Shelduck (no sign of second pair that bred), several singing Reed Bunting (Martin Honey, B. Page & Wendy Newnham)
Pinner (HA5); female Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 6 Swift & 3 Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
RSPB Rainham Marshes: 68 Common Whitethroat, 65 Reed Warbler, 14 Reed Bunting, 23 Singing Cetti's Warbler, 17 Sedge Warbler, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Rook, 88+ Swift, 3 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 16 Gadwall, 7 singing Blackcap, 6 singing Chiffchaff, 57 Shelduck, 2m 1f Cuckoo, 48 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, Oystercatcher, 2 Corn Bunting, 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Swallow, Common Buzzard, 46 Tufted Duck, 3 Pheasant, m Stonechat, 56 Coot, 9 Little Egret, House Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Whitethroat, 17 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Barn Owl, 2 Little Grebe, 26 Pochard, Kestrel, 2 Wigeon, Hobby, f Bearded Tit, Jackdaw. 72 Species in total. (Samuel Levy)
Shoe Lane / Wine Office Court, EC4A: Black Redstart heard singing from rooftops, from alleyway behind Old Cheshire Cheese pub, 09:10 (Steve Younger). *South Quay station: Mute Swan on nest with at least 5 eggs (John Mitchell)
Stratford: Black Redstart singing above TK-Max (Nick Croft)
Westminster: Black Redstart still singing in Parliament Square at 08:15 (Frank Nugent).
Tuesday 30th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Little Egret south bank Wood Green Res 0645, also Common Tern (Bob Watts)
Hampstead Heath: Common Whitethroat in scrub on Small Tumulus Field, singing Reed Warbler Model Boating Pond. (MHill for MBS gp)
Leatherhead, Randalls Way: 1 Kestrel, 7 Common Swift and an apparent new singing Blackcap (Neil Batten)
Mile End Park: Reed Warbler still singing quietly lunchtime Ecology reedbed (Bob Watts)
O2 Greenwich: 1st-summer Caspian Gull and 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull at low tide early a'noon (Richard Bonser)
Thamesmead: 40 Swift over Southmere (Richard Bonser)
Totteridge Valley/ Darlands Lake: 36+ Swift, 10+ Stock Dove, Nuthatch, 8+ Singing Blackcap, 5 Common Buzzard, 12+ Singing Chiffchaff, 10+ Singing Common Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 2 Black-headed Gull (unusual here outside of winter), f Peregrine, Red Kite, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Herring Gull, Mistle Thrush, 4 Swallow, 4 House Martin, Goldcrest, f Sparrowhawk, f Kestrel (Samuel Levy + Joan Arnold + Linda Sansom)
Trent Park: 3 Nuthatch adult and 2 juvs Rough Lot (Robert Callf)
Alexandra Park: Common Tern, 25+ Swift (Gareth. Richards, Bob Watts)
Barking Bay:, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin race alpina, c40 Common Tern nesting, Sand Martin 12 occupied nest holes, 9 singing Skylark, Grasshopper Warbler, c30 Linnet inc juv's (N Senior) What time was the Osprey? Could it have been the South Norwood bird continuing its journey? (John Birkett) 07.05 so likely to be the same bird (NPS)
Brockwell Park: Hobby over (Matt Palmer)
Bushy Park: 1 Hobby (Roger Unite)
Brent Reservoir: 2 Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler (Andrew Self); late morning 4 Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover (Roy Beddard, Victor Mraz)
Dollis Brook, Holders Hill: Little Egret, Goldcrest, Blackcap (Samuel Levy)
Hampstead Heath: 32 Herring Gulls on football pitches 0630 + 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Linnet flew E over Parliament Hill, still 2 Reed Warblers at High No 1, and W end of Boating Pond (Pete Mantle)
North Finchley, Birkbeck Road N12: 18+ Swift 20:54 (Samuel Levy)
Little Britain, EC1: Black Redstart (Frank Nugent).
Crayford: Braeburn Park LWT, Lesser Whitethroat singing west side of site, full variety of song, also 2 Common Whitethroat juv and now only m sub song. 4 Chiffchaff and several Blackcaps. 2 m Song Thrush, full song, on site and also over railway in Crayford Rough 4 Common Swift (2pairs) above. 2 Holly Blue and and several Common Blue Butterflies . Bees are interesting, several species on Birds Foot Trefoil and Vetches, not researched (Patrick English)
London Wetland Centre: 1 Garganey (male), 2 Common Tern, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Shoveler (WWT Website)
Northolt + Greenford CP: high circling Red Kite 11 am with 10+ Swift, singing Reed Warbler (Neil Anderson/K. Bull)
Oxleas Wood 2Songthrush Common Whitethroat[pair] Kestrel[pair] 2Greatspottedwoodpecker 2Greenwoodpecker 30+Swift 1Swallow 8+Jackdaw Red Kite Common Buzzard Sparrowhawk[m] 5+Stockdove 2Nuthatch 4Goldcrest 5+Coaltit 4Chiffchaff 4Blackcap[2m/2fm] [Ron Turner]
RSPB Rainham Marshes: Turtle Dove over (Tony Brown via Twitter)
RSPB Rye Meads: 2 Ringed Plover, Cuckoo, Hobby, Tawny Owl (juv), Red Kite (NW London RSPB Local Group)
South Millfields E5: 2 Peregrine perching on electricity pylon (Marcin Kempa)
Totteridge Valley: Goldcrest, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Stock Dove, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 36+ Swift, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Singing Blackcap, 6+ Swallow, f House Sparrow, Common Whitethroat (Samuel Levy) (footpath between St Vincents and Finchley Nurseries). Also male Linnet and pr Reed Bunting at owl field this afternoon (Ian Ellis).
Wembley Stadium: Peregrine Falcon (Half-time between Reading and Huddersfield in the play-off final. Flew into nest in the underside of the stadium roof).
Laleham Park: Cuckoo am (David Combes)
Sunday 28th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Little Egret feeding along east bank Wood Green Res until 1110 at least (Greg Smith, Bob Watts)
Brent Reservoir: Peregrine, 3 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover; Chimney Sweeper moth (Andrew Self, Andrew Haynes); plus Little Egret, Kingfisher, 10 Common Terns (Roy Beddard, Frank O'Sullivan)
Chelsea Bridge: Yellow-legged Gull 2cy, 2 Swift, 5 Grey Wagtail - family group (Nick Senior)
Farringdon EC1 junction of Cowcross St and Peters Lane: Black Redstart singing 07.50 above The Rookery (Andrew Lyburn)
Greenford Station: bizarre sight of Kingfisher flying through trees seen from platform at 12.00 (Neil Anderson)
Gresham St, EC2: Black Redstart singing on the spire of St Lawrence Jewry Church before flying to nearby rooftop (Frank Nugent).
KGV Reservoir: 10+ Common Tern, Hobby N/E corner of north basin (day 3). Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting (Neville Smith).
Kingston, John Lewis: 15 House Martin hawking insects from roof of John Lewis 17:00 (Neil Batten)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Common Tern (displaying and scraping on tern rafts), 3 Shelduck, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank (WWT Website); also, White Wagtail (not seen by me but certainly by credible sources) ... I did see 2x Green hairstreak (butterflies) (Terence Baker)
Pinner (HA5): 20 Ring-necked Parakeet through south-east at 19:50(Jon Ridge)
Ten Acre Wood area: Pheasant calling, 4 Grey Heron, Buzzard, Hobby, 2 Kestrel, 3+ Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Stock Dove, 4+ Skylark, Swallow by stables (breeding site), singing Goldcrest nearby conifers, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Rook over, 3m, 1f Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Painted Lady (Neil Anderson); also Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and 4 Red Kite together circling over the wood at 11.00 (Nigel Dodd)
Thames Barrier Park: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (1st-summer and 2nd-summer) late morning (Richard Bonser)
Thames Ditton: 9 Common Swift, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Coal Tit family, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel mobbed by Crow, 10+ Goldfinch (some seemed to be fighting), Great Crested Grebe on nest, Pied Wagtail, Swallow (P.Redmond)
Wanstead Park: 3 Red Kite, Buzzard (Jono Lethbridge)
Whiting's Hill / Arkley Fields South: c.30 species including Skylark, Stock Dove, Buzzards and Cuckoo (heard) (Geoff Crabtree).
Saturday 27th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Red Kite low south over Boating Lake (Henry Wyn-Jones); Peregrine low circling palace building, stooping and diving at crows, dwarfed male Kestrel so presume female (Bob Watts)
Brent Reservoir: 5 Egyptian Goose, 3 Lapwing, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 10 Common Tern, Kingfisher, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Nuthatch; Painted Lady (Andrew Self, Andrew Haynes)
Greenwich Ecology Park: 2 Little Grebe juvs no sign of the parents, 12 Common Tern, 2 Sand Martin, 6 Reed Warbler (John Bushell & Conrad Ellam)
Hampstead Heath: 1 Kestrel, hovering over Jack Straw's Castle at 1124; Mandarin drake on Whitestone Pond 11.00 (M.Hill)
Limehouse: 24 House Sparrows on BBS walk until a male Sparrowhawk swooped in and predated one of them. 2 Grey Wagtail. Total 29 species. (Harry Harrison)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Garganey (both drakes, one in partial eclipse), 1 Whitethroat, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Shelduck, 1 Peregrine (WWT Website); 1 Common Tern, 2 (feral) Barnacle Geese (Martin Honey)
Pimlico - Churchill Gardens Housing Estate: very busy House Sparrow colony in thorn bushes 20 nests (more than last year) visible, why is this not happening in the central London Parks anymore but is here, on a pretty normal housing estate? What's the big mystery? (Michael Mac) (None - they cut down all the breeding habitat AS)
Pinner (HA5): male Marsh Harrier picked up fairly distantly towards North Harrow & mobbed by two Carrion Crows, at 13:05, Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Goldcrest, 5 Swift & 6 Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
Thames Ditton: 8 Common Swift, 5 Herring Gull, 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 4 House Martin, 2 Mute Swan (pair with 6 cygnets), 4 Goldfinch, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Great Crested Grebe (pair), Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 5 Egyptian Goose, m Sparrowhawk, Buzzard (escorted away by crows), singing Goldcrest, several Starling and House Sparrow families (P.Redmond)
Totteridge Valley: Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, Little Egret, 16 Swift, 4 Swallow, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 3 Tufted Duck on Long Pond (John Colmans)
Trent Park: Hobby, 26 Common Swift, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, m Mandarin, Small Heath. ( Pete Lowman).
Friday 26th May 2017
Dollis Brook: Finchley Tennis club to Holders Hill roundabout - 6 Singing Blackcap, Singing Chiffchaff, 4 Starling, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Goldfinch (Samuel Levy)
Finchley: Garden N3 - Red Kite drifting S 12:31 (Samuel Levy)
Fishers Green: 2 Nightingale, 5+ Reed Warbler - several singing after dusk (Charlie Farrell)
Gresham St EC2: Black Redstart male Guildhall roof late morning (Nick Senior)
London Wetland Centre: 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 2 Shelduck and 2 Great Black-backed Gull (Shailesh Patel) Have the Shelduck young mentioned a few days back all now been predated?
Motspur Park: Common Buzzard soaring(Bob Smith)
Orpington boating pond: 2 Egyptian goose pair on the side of the pond (jack headley)
Palmers Green: Dark, large, gull-shaped bird flew low with confident and mostly gliding flight over Eaton Park Road, N13 at 13:45. Flew NW. Mobbed by crows and other birds. Your guess is as good as mine. (Definitely wasn't a gull!) (Katy McGilvray)
Pinner (HA5): Red Kite north at 16:32, female Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Coal Tit & 2 Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
Richmond Park: 3m 1f Red-crested Pochard (S.Read per JW)
Teddington: Common Sandpiper flying along Thames from bottom end of Trowlock Island towards lock 0845 (Mike Foster)
Thames Ditton: Kestrel, 7 Common Swift, 7 Starling, singing Goldcrest, House Martin, Goldfinch, 2 Great Crested Grebe (pr), f Sparrowhawk chasing 3 Pied Wagtail, dead Jay in garden with feathers everywhere, chest and head eaten, lots of Mayflies (P.Redmond)
Trent Park: 5 Common Buzzard, 4 Blackcap, 12 Common Swift, Chiffchaff, 2 Swallow, Common Whitethroat, pair Tufted Duck, 5 m Mandarin, Small Heath, Speckled Wood. ( Pete Lowman).
Upper Ruxley: 30 Linnets in a flock at Timbertops Farm (Patrick English)
Woodberry Wetlands: Common Tern, 2 Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Little Egret, 2 Shelduck (Chris Farthing)
Wormwood Scrubs: 1 Lesser Whitethroat on Little Scrubs (Charlie Farrell)
Thursday 25th May 2017
Bank Junction, London: Black Redstart (Heard) AM (George Kalli)
Boxer's Lake, Enfield: male Pochard, 3 Dunnock adult and 2 juvs (Robert Callf)
Brent Reservoir: Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Tern (5 pr on 5 rafts), singing Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Haynes); 19.00 3 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Tawny Owl on LWT bat walk (Francis O'Sullivan)
Crossness: Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 5 Common Whitethroat, several Blackcaps and Chiffchaff. 3 pairs Oystercatcher, 3 pairs Lapwing, 2 Common Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron and a Weasel (Patrick English)
Hackney Marsh: m Kestrel, m Sparrowhawk, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Green Woodpecker, young Great Spotted Woodpeckers still in nest hole (M. Kempa)
Hampstead Heath: Reed Warbler still in reeds Western edge of the boating pond (Will Hitchins)
Hyde Park: Reed Warbler still singing in reeds SE corner of Serpentine (James Hudson)
Mile End Park: Reed Warbler still Ecology Pavilion reedbed (Bob Watts)
Frays Farm Meadows LWT: 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat singers, a Hobby twice, Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Bullfinch, Garden Warbler, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler song, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting female, 2 Stock Doves, Little Egret, Grey Wagtail (Dan Pinkham)
Hampstead Heath: Red Kite over Parliament Hill 1030, Reed Warbler singing from reeds at western end of boating pond, still two singing Whitethroats. Also Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper and Brimstone seen (Pete Mantle)
Lee Valley - Fisher Green: female Smew from Bittern Hide, Cuckoo, Hobby and singing Nightingale (ian & Hugh Bradshaw)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Shelduck, 2 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Tern, 1 Whitethroat, 1m 1f Mandarin, 4 pairs Black-headed Gull each with 2 chicks, 1m 1f Lapwing with 1 chick (Martin Honey)
Morden: Swift entering property under bargeboards, 142 Wandle Road, Morden (Tony Stones)
Oxleas Wood: 2 Common Buzzard [pair], 4 Kestrel [2 pairs], Common Whitethroat, 2 Swift, 6+ Jackdaw, 5+ Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, male Sparrowhawk, 5 Coal Tit, 6+ Goldcrest, Hobby, 2 Chiffchaff, male Chaffinch, Song Thrush, 5 Blackcap [m] (Ron Turner)
Richmond Park: Little Egret (Phil Davies); Red Kite, Peregrine, 8 Common Tern - four pairs, 2m Garden Warbler (J.Wilczur, B.Marsh, J.Few)
Spitalfields, E1: Black Redstart singing and mobile above rooftops (Matthew Cunningham)
Staines Reservoirs: 1 White-winged Black Tern, 1st summer still present till 08.15 at least (Bob Warden per FJM); 10.45 still present on S basin perched on pipe (Jim Fell)
Stave Hill/Russia Dock Woodland: 4 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 20+ House Martin, 5+ Common Swift (John Cadera)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Painted Lady between Scrapyard Meadow & Cantrell Field (Bob Watts)
Wallington Garden: Little Egret flew over 1819 - 'Garden' first (Arjun Dutta)
West India Dock: female Mallard with 8 ducklings at Dollar Bay (John Mitchell)
Westminster: Black Redstart singing in Parliament Square 07:45 (Andrew Self); and at 09:00 (Frank Nugent).
Woodberry Wetlands: Little Ringed Plover, 2 Shelduck, House Martin (Chris Farthing); Spotted Flycatcher (TeRNSorg twitter)
Worcester Park: Red Kite west over observers garden (Bob Smith)
Tuesday 23rd May 2017
Barnet, Whitings Hill: Skywatch 11.00-13.00 Red Kite, 6 Common Buzzard, 2+ Kestrel, 2 Hobby (Roy Beddard, Bob Husband)
Arnos Park: adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker at nest hole with large young calling (Robert Callf)
Borehamwood: Red Kite over Tesco before being seen off by a Crow at 18.15 (Simon Worsfold)
Brent Reservoir:Little Ringed Plover,Lapwing,6 Common Terns,2 Egyptian Geese,Cetti's Warbler,Grey Wagtail,Red Kite,plus Red Admiral,Small Tortoiseshell,2 juvenile foxes(Francis O'Sullivan)
Creekmouth: BONAPARTE'S GULL 2cy flew upriver and back downriver toward Barking Bay at 12.15 but not seen subsequently to 2 pm, 5 singing Lesser Whitethroat (N P Senior)
Kentish Town: Hobby over Arctic Street at 0900 (Pete Mantle)
KGV Reservoir: N Basin - m Black Redstart on W Bank - 12.40pm, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 10+ Common Tern, 20+ Swift (Davey Leach).
Kingston: Sparrowhawk harassed by 4 Ring-necked Parakeets high above Canbury Gardens 1845 (Mike Foster)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Tern, 1 Common Whitethroat (WWT Website); singing Chiffchaff, pair Lapwing with 1 chick on grazing marsh (Martin Honey)
Mayflower Park: Raven flew high east (Bob Smith)
Mill Hill Village NW7: Angel Pond, Milespit Hill – pr Egyptian Goose still with 8 young (Andrew Haynes)
Oxleas Wood: Goldfinch, Stock Dove [pair], Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, 2 Kestrel [f/m one feeding young], 7 Coal Tit, 10+ Swift, 3 Swallow, 5+ Jackdaw, 5 Blackcap [4 m], 3 Swallow, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, male Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest (Ron Turner)
Pinner (HA5): 2 Red Kite - singles over at 12:15 & 17:00, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret north-west at 17:35, Grey Wagtail over, Pied Wagtail, 6 Swift, Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest & 5 Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
Rainham: m Garganey on Targets first thing, 3 Marsh Harriers (ad f, ad m, 3CY m), Grasshopper Warbler singing and showing occasionally, 4 Oystercatcher, Blackwit on river. Rather weird song from near Serin Mound, like a slow Garden Warbler but with a Lesser Whitethroat-like rattle. Apparently GW do occasionally mimic other spp (Matt Palmer)
Richmond Park: 7 Red Kite flew high E 11.00-11.10, Hobby, 2 Pochard - pair, 6 Common Tern - 3 pairs, 5 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail - pair (J.Wilczur); calling Cuckoo on 21st reported by non-birder (per JW)
Southgate Chase Allotments: imm male Sparrowhawk perched in sallow (Robert Callf)
Staines Reservoirs: 3 White-winged Black Terns 2 adult, 1 1st yr on S basin till 15.00 at least (Dom Pia per FJM+Twitter); still present at 20.40 & also there an Avocet & 2 Black-necked Grebes. (Simon West)
Whitehall, SW1: Black Redstart singing from MOD building (Dave de Sllva)
Worcester Park: Peregrine on pylons (Bob Smith)
Monday 22nd May 2017
Alexandra Park: Black Redstart, 11:10, Filter Bed 5 (Bruce Carson); still present at 15.20 - thanks Bruce (James Palmer), Willow Warbler singing mid platform 1800 (Bob Watts)
Brent Reservoir: 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, 6 (3 pr) Common Tern, singing Cetti’s Warbler, singing Garden Warbler, Black Swan (Andrew Haynes). Red Kite over E at 10:38 (Bill Haines).
Farringdon: Black Redstart singing at lunchtime (Charlie Farrell)
Hackney Marshes: Reed Warbler, Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret (JW Davies)
Hornsey: Little Egret west over Nightingale Lane 1845 (Bob Watts)
London Wetland Centre: 10 Shelduck (4 adults, 6 ducklings), 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Little Egret, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank (WWT Website) Mint moth, Burnet Companion, Painted Lady, Rose Chafer and a male Banded Demoiselle added extra interest (Martin Honey)
Mile End Park: Reed Warbler singing Ecology Pavilion reed bed (Bob Watts)
Oxleas Wood: singing Whitethroat, 2 Hobby, Kestrel [pair], male Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Chiffchaff, male Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove [pair], 6 Jackdaws, 40+ Swifts, 10+ House Martins (John Bushell & Ron Turner)
Richmond Park: 20m Skylark - twenty territories found in a complete survey of the Park (J.Wilczur et al) Rufous phase Cuckoo Pond Plantation (Phillip and Sherry Pentek)
RSPB Rainham Marshes: Common Crane till 11:03 then flew off NW over Ingrebourne Hill (Birdguides)2 Hobby, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Grasshopper Warbler reeling for at least 10 minutes in full view this morning, Quail singing near Serin Mound late afternoon, 1 Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover on Aveley Bay, Oystercatcher, 2 Little Egret (John & Janet Cadera)
Trent Park: 12 Mandarin Duck 7m 1f and 4 ducklings, Common Tern fishing lower lake, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker nest holes with young calling, ad Nuthatch at nest hole with young calling, 2 Bullfinch pair, Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle, 3 Large Red Damselfly (Robert Callf)
Westminster: Black Redstart singing near Westminster Abbey at 07:45 (Andrew Self)
Sunday 21st May 2017
Alexandra Park: 3 Pochard (1m2f), 2 Swift -Wood Green Res. Mute Swans with 5 cygnets on New River (Sam Jones)
Crouch End: Little Egret over N8 9HH 1500; Tawny Owl at 0230 (Sam Jones)
Brent Reservoir: Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Self) and one more Cetti's Warbler plus Little Ringed Plover, 8 Common Tern, 3 Black-headed Gull, Red Kite N at 12:45, 15+ House Martins at West Hendon colony (Brent Birders)
Chigwell: m Yellow Wagtail singing and displaying on territory, Garden Warbler, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, 5 Skylark (Stuart Fisher)
Deptford Creek: Canada Goose, pair with 3 young (John Mitchell)
Kingston, John Lewis/Turks Pier: 8 House Martin hawking insects from JL roof. 3 Swallow including one bird hawking around my legs at about 2 feet off the pavement, 5 Sand Martin, 3 Common Swift (Neil Batten)
London Wetland Centre: Whimbrel NE, 12 Shelduck - two pairs and a brood of 8 young - first breeding record (Peter Gray per JW); Common snipe (right below Peacock Hide amid first group of yellow iris), Little ringed plover (Terence Baker)
Middlesex Filter Beds: Pair Reed Warbler in pond (by Old River Lea) (Jan Dobbie)
Northolt: Hobby low over Field End Road at junction Sandown Way 08:10 (Alex Massey)
Pinner (HA5): Red Kite south at 17:30, Common Buzzard south-east at 17:25, 6 Goldfinch , 8 Swift, Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush & Pied Wagtail (Jon Ridge)
Queen's Wood, Muswell Hill: Hobby (Matt Evans)
RSPB Rainham Marshes: Common Crane 13:00 on Wennington Marsh viewed from Serin Mound (BirdGuides); Common Crane from 10:30 till at least 16:00, 25 Singing Cetti's Warblers, 5 Kestrel, 49 singing Common Whitethroat, 41 singing Sedge Warbler, 41 Gadwall, 46 singing Reed Warbler, 3 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 5+m 2f Cuckoo, 63 Coot + 12 Ducklings, 9 singing Blackcap, 2 Swallow, 25 Swift, 53 Canada Geese + 36 Goslings, 7 singing Chiffchaff, 8 Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzard, 8 Common Tern, 54 Shelduck, singing Garden Warbler, 46 Tufted Duck + 6 Ducklings, 6 Pochard, 17 Shoveler + 11 Ducklings, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Jackdaw, 3 Teal, Northern Wheatear (Greenland Race?), Oystercatcher. 64 Species seen. (Samuel Levy et al) 3 broods of Shovelers on Target Pools/Wennington (11, 8 & 7) 3 broods of Pochards Aveley Pool/dragonfly pond (7,4 & 3) 7 broods of Redshanks, pair of Stonechats (enclosed bay) (Ian Bradshaw)
Ten Acre Wood area: Pheasant heard, 2 Little Egret, Buzzard, rufous Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 3 Lapwing, Cuckoo, 5+ Skylark, 2-4 Swallow, apparently lingering m Greenland type Wheatear (probably same bird present for 3/4 weeks), Sedge Warbler, Rook over, 3 m Reed Bunting, Linnet. Also Barn Owl reported by birder- seen at dawn (Neil Anderson/G. Westley)
Palmers Green, N13: Hobby hunting over Meadowcroft Road then headed N at 12:40 (Katy McGilvray)
Richmond Bridge: Mandarin (f) with 3 ducklings (Mike Wheeler)
South Harrow, Roxeth Rec: Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff (Alex Massey)
Thames Ditton: Goldcrest, 11 Common Swift, 3 Swallow, Common Gull, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Great Crested Grebe nesting, 2 Egyptian Geese, Pied Wagtail, Starlings roosting, 2 Collared Dove, Stock Dove (P.Redmond)
Tooting Common: Red Kite west over garden beside the common at 15:20; Reed Warbler still (Alan Wilkinson)
Totteridge Valley: 3 Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk mobbed by a Crow, Tawny Owl calling for a split second, 5 Pheasant, Rook, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Coal Tit, 3 Common Whitethroat, 4 Stock Dove, 10 Common Swift, 2 Barn Swallow, 8 Egyptian goslings (Simon Worsfold)
Wandsworth Common: Red Kite circling over north end 08:30 (Nick Rutter)
Waterworks NR: 2 Reed Warbler Bed 15, Common Buzzard drifting high NW mobbed by crows at 15.00, Kestrel, singing Chiffchaff, displaying Common Whitethroat (Jan Dobbie)
Alexandra Park: 2 Common Tern Wood Green Res, Mute Swan pair with 5 cygnets New River, also 3rd Great Crested Grebe still in non-breeding plumage, 2+ Whitethroats, silt in 2nd filter bed looking good for waders, Small Copper Lower Slopes, 20+ Swift (APOG Birders)
Brent Reservoir: Little Egret, 3 Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler (Andrew Self); Muntjac crossing Cool Oak Lane into West Hendon housing development 0750 (Andrew Haynes); still 4 pairs of Common Tern around rafts in afternoon, Little Ringed Plover (Andrew Verrall); apparent Woodchat Shrike reported by trustworthy local couple whose house backs onto the reservoir — the bird perched on their garden fence for about 30 seconds and showed mainly black and white plumage with a chestnut cap — what else could it have been? (Andrew Haynes)
Buckland: 1 Sandwich Tern adult lingering at Park Pit (Christian Cogley/David Campbell/Phil Wallace/Ian Magness).
Clapham Common - Mount Pond: male Reed Bunting (Michael Mac).
Conway Road Recreation Ground N14: 1600-1630hrs 1 singing Blackcap, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Moorhen (adult with 3 juveniles), 2 Swifts over, Cuckoo called three times (from the south) (Nick Rutter); Cuckooin Broomfield Park? (James Parry)
Dollis Brook, Holders Hill: Little Egret downstream 18:00, Grey Wagtail, 6 Swift (Samuel Levy)
Dollis Valley Greenwalk: 3 Little Egret feeding along the Dollis Brook between Bridge Lane and Woodside Park (Frank Nugent).
Eastcote (Lowlands Road): Sparrowhawk over (Jon Ridge)
Hackney Marshes: 1 Common Buzzard flaying low, then high and drifting towards Stratford. Buzzard missing many tail feathers; from distance tail looked more like Kite tail at 10.45 - 11.00. - moult is usually symmetrical in raptors, so this explains the slightly ambiguous plumage (JR); Also 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker nest with loudly chicks (Marcin Kempa)
Hampstead Heath: 12 Swifts and 2 Birds Of Prey (Kestrels?) over Cohen's Fields at approx. noon (Callum Farrell-Morris)
KGV Reservoir: 2 2nd cy Caspian Gull, 10+ Common Tern, 2 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel, Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, 2 House Martin in with mass of Swift, Mistle Thrush, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2+ Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, flock of 20 Linnet (Neville Smith).
Pinner (HA5): Peregrine Falcon over at 12:57 & 13:05, Red Kite moulting out secondaries over west at 12:55, 5 Swift, 4 Goldfinch & 2 Coal Tit; later: Little Egret at last over south at 17:02 (Jon Ridge)
Richmond Park: 2f Wheatear - both Greenland in the paddocks (J.Wilczur); Spotted Flycatcher In Tercentenary plantation (f.mck)
River Thames, Greenwich: Kite sp (Peter Andrews)
Ruislip Lido/Poors Field: 6 Common Tern, 40+ Swift, c15 House Martin, min 2 Swallow, pr Garden Warbler, singing Willow Warbler (Neil Anderson/K. Bull)
Staines Reservoirs: 1 Arctic Tern 1st Summer on S basin mid pm (Franko J Maroevic)
Thames Ditton: 8 Common Swift, 3 Swallow, Whitethroat, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Kestrel (P.Redmond)
Totteridge Valley/ Totteridge Fields: 2 Egyptian Geese with 8 Goslings, 40+ Swift, 2 Hobby, 4 Nuthatch, 9 singing Blackcap, 19+ Swallow, 11+ Stock Dove, 9+ House Martin, 7 singing Chiffchaff, 3 Collared Dove, 3 Common Buzzard, Black-headed Gull (unusual here outside of winter), singing Garden Warbler, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 singing Common Whitethroat, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Bullfinch, Red Kite, Pheasant, Kestrel, Goldcrest (NW London RSPB Group + Totteridge Valley Birders)
Walpole Park, Ealing: part of BBS survey- first ever Little Owl here in over 20 years of survey, feeding on invertebrate in short grass; also 13 Tufted Duck (record count), 10 Stock Dove (record count), 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, pr Mistle Thrush (also another pr Haven Green), 7+ Swift (Neil Anderson)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Wheatear and Oystercatcher on Lockwood (David Bradshaw)
Friday 19th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Common Tern still patrolling Wood Green Res 0645, also 6+ Swifts in area (Bob Watts)
Brent Reservoir: Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern 16:30 (Simon Worsfold)
Chiswick Pier: Peregrine NW over Thames, 3 Common Tern, 4 House Martin, 2 Barn Swallow, 6 Common Swift (Simon Worsfold)
Crossness: BONAPARTE'S GULL by sewage outflow 12,55-13 30 at least, Spotted Flycatcher on golf course (Conrad Ellam)
Grovelands Park: 5 Mandarin Duck male, female and three ducklings (Robert Callf)
Harrow: Peregrine perched on top of crane in central Harrow this morning (Alex Massey) - Alex, I think they are breeding nearby here & the female is huge if it's the one I recorded earlier this year (JR)
Ladywell Fields: 2 Mandarin Duck (1m, 1f) on the Ravensbourne (Tom Moulton)
Whimbrel, London Wetland Centre. Photo by Shailesh Patel.
London Wetland Centre: Redshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Tern and 1 Whimbrel (Shailesh Patel); 3 Peregrine, the adult pair plus the juv m from last year still present, Hobby, Red Kite, 2 tundra Ringed Plover, m Swallow still present (R.Kaye)
Pinner (HA5): House Sparrows nesting in the roof & making rather a racket - first time this century, 2 Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Jackdaw west & 2 Swift (Jon Ridge)
Regent's Park: 2cy female Cuckoo (Dante Shepherd) - Great find for inner London Dante & very good job on ageing the bird (JR) Picture here
Richmond Park: Whinchat, Red Kite (Friday Group); 18.00 6 Common Tern, 50+ Swift (R Dunne)
St James's Park: 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Grey Wagtail and 22 Swift (Frank Nugent).
Thames Ditton: 7 Common Swift, Whitethroat, Stock Dove, many Starlings roosting (P.Redmond)
Thursday 18th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Reed Warbler singing cricket scrub, 9.05 (Greg Smith), Peregrine Falcon, immature male on Palace transmitter, 13.40 (Bruce Carson), Common Tern Wood Green Res, drake Aythya hybrid Boating Lake (Dominic Mitchell, Bob Watts)
Crouch End: Red Kite and Buzzard over Clifton Road at 1030 (Pete Mantle)
Greenwich Ecology Park: 12 Common Tern, 2 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 Little Grebe chick, 4 Reed Warbler, male Blackcap (John Bushell)
London Wetland Centre: 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Shelduck, 3 Redshank (WWT Website) Hobby caught a Sand Martin, 2 Buzzard, Red Kite. (R.Kaye)
Oxleas Wood: 2 Hobby, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush [pair], Song Thrush, Swift, female Kestrel, Goldfinch, Stock Dove [pair], 3 Mallard [2m/1fm] (John Bushell /Ron Turner)
RSPB Rainham Marshes: Black Kite, Red Kite, 10 Buzzard, 10 Hobby, 3 Marsh harrier, 10ad Little Gulls, Grasshopper Warbler, m Garganey, 2 Wheatear, 20 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern (ATw via ELBF Facebook)
Staines Reservoirs: 2 Black-necked Grebe, no sign of Sandwich Tern reported earlier (Twitter)
St James's Park: 3 broods of Greylag Goose (Andrew Self)
Alexandra Park: Common Tern Wood Green Res (Bob Watts)
Barking Bay: 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 7 Sanderling, 2 Little Stint, c.120 Common Tern, 1 Kittiwake ad downriver, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, c30 Swift, 4 Swallow W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher (Nick Senior)
Beddington Farmlands: Iceland Gull (BirdGuides)
Brent Reservoir: Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 10 Common Tern, Cetti's Warbler, 7 Egyptian Goose (Steve Leeke, Magnus Andersson); 2 Little Egret behind dam in evening (Andrew Self)
Chelsea Bridge: 1 Common Gull 2cy, 3 Common Tern E, 2 Swift (Nick Senior)
Dartford: m Hen Harrier W 1145 along south bank of Thames nr Asda Distr'n Centre & Dartford/QE2 Bridge then back E 1225 (BirdGuides & Paul Moon via Twitter)
Greenwich Ecology Park: 15 Common Tern, Little Grebe chick, no sign of parents but possibly hiding in reeds, 3 Sand Martin, 6 Reed Warbler, Song Thrush unusual here (John Bushell)
KGV Reservoir: 1 Turtle Dove flying N , E of North Basin (Same area as on Monday- poss. same bird but then flew NE towards Epping Forest) 13.10pm. Also 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 Common Tern (S Basin) 2 L. R. Plover on N. Basin (Davey Leach).
London Wetland Centre: 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 2 Redshank (WWT Website); Oystercatcher arrived at 12.55, 4 Little Ringed Plover- two pairs, 3 'Commic' Tern flew east during rain, 75 Herring Gull, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gull - including an 'intermedius', Swallow (J.Wilczur, R.Kaye, M.Honey, B.Page)
Mill Hill NW7: Angel Pond, Milespit Hill – Egyptian Goose pair with 8 young (Andrew Haynes)
Morden: 5 Swift over Ravensbury Park, 12 Herring gull flew NW along River Wandle, Red Kite flew purposefully SW 15.34 across Ravensbury Park and over Wandle Road (Tony Stones).
Rainham Marshes: BONAPARTE'S GULL 07:25 (BirdGuides) off FerryLane till 0740 at RSPB Rainham then flew to Crossness (Howard Vaughan via Twitter)
Staines Reservoirs: 2 Black-necked Grebe on S basin, Mediterranean Gull ad flew in to large raft 14.45, not many Swifts or hirundines in rain. (Dominic Pia, Franko J Maroevic )
Stave Hill/Russia Dock Woodland: 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 12+ House Martin, 1 Common Swift, pair Egyptian Goose at Greenland Dock (John Cadera)
Totteridge Valley: 6 Tufted Duck (Long Pond) (Simon Worsfold); also Egyptian Goose with 8 Goslings (High Street Pond), 2 Tufted Duck (Sheep Wash Pond) briefly before circling the pond several times and heading into the valley Also 2 Collared Dove (Samuel Levy). Samuel, your "High Street Pond" has for centuries been called Angel Pond (after the former Angel & Crown alehouse); it is also on Milespit Hill, not High Street, and is in Mill Hill Village, not Totteridge Valley.
Tyttenhanger GP: Sanderling (transitional plumage) on Main Pit between 1.30 - 4.00 p.m. as least. (Simon West)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: three Sanderling south through Lockwood plus Oystercatcher ( Paul Whiteman, Jamie Partridge)- also 9 Common Tern, Garden Warbler (Simon Worsfold)
Wanstead Flats: Sedge Warbler (Bob Vaughan/Jono Lethbridge) No sign of Sedge Warbler, but Reed Warbler singing on Alex, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 7 House Martin, 20 + Swift, Peregrine Falcon, 2 singing Meadow Pipit, 3 singing Skylark (Nick Croft)
Tuesday 16th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Hobby low over cricket scrub then climbed to high Swifts. 9.10 (Greg Smith)
Balham: Hobby drifting over northwards at 13:00 (Nick Rutter)
Brookmill Park: Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap, Goldcrest (Conrad Ellam)
Tooting Bec Common: 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat both singing, 1 Hobby over adjacent houses (Alan Wilkinson)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Spotted Flycatcher, N end of No 1, Garden Warbler singing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Swallow, Peregrine (Jamie Partridge)
Wanstead Flats: f Wheatear still, 10+ House Martin, 3 Swallow, 20+ Swift, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 2 singing Meadow Pipit, 3 singing Skylark, Common Buzzard, f Sparrowhawk with prey, Kestrel, 3 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, over 240+ Herring Gull of various ages loafing, 20 + Lesser Black-backed Gull (Nick Croft/James Palmer)
Wanstead Park: 2 singing Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, pr of Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, same C Buzzard as above, Little Egret, Stock Dove, 50+ Swift (mostly over Ilford), 2 Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Mike Messenger)
Woodford Green: Honey Buzzard at 12.05pm, just above forest canopy, drifting SSW,"controversially" imaged, however seen well through bins. (Ken Murray)
Monday 15th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Red Kite very low over boating lake car park. It had probably been perched in trees overlooking north slopes and car park. Headed N over lake (still low). 10.50. Grey Wagtail, boating lake 10.55 (Greg Smith)
Hyde Park: 2 Reed Warbler singing (1 reedbed SE corner of Serpentine & 1 reedbed Diana memorial fountain), 6+ Swift (James Hudson)
KGV Reservoir: Turtle Dove calling then seen flying S through scrub E of Overflow by N Basin, Ad. Kittiwake swimming behind buoy on S Basin, 6 Common Tern feeding on S. Basin, Also 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover & Fem. Wheatear all on N. Basin. 12.40 - 13.30pm. (Davey Leach)
London Wetland Centre: ad Mediterranean Gull flew SE, 2 Caspian Gull - both 2cy, 360 Herring Gull, Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Buzzard over, 130 Swift (R.Kaye, J.Wilczur) 1m Mallard mating with a female Tufted duck, 1m Kestrel, 1 Peregrine over Ch. X. hospital (Martin Honey)
Rainham RSPB: m Garganey, ad Mediterranean Gull, 15 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Oystercatcher, 2 m Marsh Harrier, Garden Warbler, Stonechat, 2 Cuckoo (Phil Street/Andy Tweed/Nick Croft)
Sevenoaks NR: Little Stint fr Tyler hide 1410 (BirdGuides)
South Woodford: Red Kite W over George Lane and 3 Common Swift (Simon Worsfold)
Staines Reservoir: Arctic Tern on North basin 07:30 (Oliver Metcalf)
Alexandra Park: Reed Warbler singing quietly between mid platform and concrete mower, also 2 Common Tern Wood Green Res, Great Crested Grebe 2cy New River, drake Aythya hybrid Boating Lake, 2 House Martin, 20+ Swift (APOG Birders)
Amwell NR: Sanderling main island fr viewpt till 1005 at least (Adrian Hall via Twitter)
Brent Reservoir: Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, 2 Cetti's Warbler (Andrew Self), plus 2 Peregrine, Red Kite, 2 perhaps 4 Common Buzzard (Roy Beddard, Bob Husband, NW London RSPB).
Brockley Grove SE4: over garden west Red Kite west (Phil Laurie)
Brockley Station SE4: Red Kite (observer?)
Bromley BR1: Little Egret in Ravensbourne/Mill Lane Pond(Rob Tomalin)
Broomfield Park N13: 7 Mandarin Duck (3 pairs plus 1 male), 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Coot on nests plus 1 pair with 2 young, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 7 House Sparrow (1 pair with 5 fledged young) (James Parry)
Creekmouth: BONAPARTE'S GULL 1s 0830 (Paul Hawkins via Twitter) park at IG11 0AD & walk behind cinema along northern lagoon footpath south for 1 mile to view outfall but no sign 1100 (per PH via Twitter)
Crossness: BONAPARTE'S GULL 1s at Sewage Outfall 13.32 and again 17:40 to 18:15 at least (John Tilbrook & John Archer) still at 19:30, 100+ Common Tern opposite Barking Bay (Nick Croft/James Heal)
Kentish Town: 3 Common Buzzard convened at 15.30, one continued south, the others flew west (Frank Nugent).
Kingston Hospital: 5 Common Swift, Pied Wagtail (P.Redmond)
London Wetland Centre: Wagtail pics from Weds 11/5/17 - note to follow from RK (S Woolfenden) Wagtail I reported as 'Channel' shows more characters of Sykes's Wagtail, including distinctive harsh call. (R.Kaye) Having seen a lot of beema in the southern Ural Mountains, this bird looks at odds with that taxon - even accounting for slight overexposure of bird in these photos, its appearance looks much more in line with Channel Wagtail (Josh Jones)
Margravine Cemetery: 2 Red Kite (1 at 10:35, E to W, 1 at 15:30 mobbed N by Crows) (Nathalie Mahieu, Ruth Savery).
Mill Hill NW7: Angel Pond, Milespit Hill – Egyptian Goose with c.10 young (Andrew Haynes)
Oxleas Wood: Common Buzzard, 2 Red Kite, 2 Hobby, 2 Kestrel, male Sparrowhawk, Common Whitethroat, 60+ Swift, 5 Swallow, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (John Bushell Ron Turner)
Queen Mother Reservoir: 2 Sanderling briefly 0715 then S, Black Tern briefly 0605; 4 Sanderling between clubhouse & pier 08:50-11:10 at least - permit only (Berks BN)
Rainham Marshes: White-winged Black Tern near visitor centre am (BirdGuides)
River Thames (O2 to Thames Barrier): 27 Shelduck, pair of Oystercatcher, 11 Common Tern, Swallow, Sand Martin, Common Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler. Also Common Seal upriver 15:15 (Des McKenzie).
Tooting Bec Common: Reed Warbler singing in reeds SE side of lake at 20:00, Common Whitethroat singing ecology ponds (Alan Wilkinson)
Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: Red Kite, Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat, Barn Swallow, 4 Rook (Simon Worsfold) Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzard, 12+ Swift, Eygptian Goose with 8 Goslings (High Street Pond, Also known as Angel Pond) and another Eygptian Goose (Belmont Farm Pond), 2 Sparrowhawk, 11 Goldfinch, 6 Canada Geese including 4 with 9 Goslings (Sheep Wash Pond), 2 Pied Wagtail, 20+ Swallow, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Pheasant, 12 Stock Dove, 4 Jay, 500+ Feral Piegon (Possible valley record for largest amount), 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Chaffinch. (Samuel Levy)
Tyttenhanger GPs: Grey Plover main pit 1100 (Alan Gardiner via Twitter)
West Harrow: Peregrine over 09:30 - house tick! - and Red Kite drifted north-west 16:00 (Alex Massey)
Alexandra Park: 3 Swallow, 15+ Swift, Jackdaw with crows feeding on perimeter of playing fields (APOG Birders). 10 Stock Doves, in a flock feeding separately from scattered feral pigeons on cricket pitch, 18.00 (Jonathan & Sam Cooke)
Brent Reservoir: 5 Common Tern, Kestrel, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 2 singing Cetti's Warbler (Brent Birders)
London Wetland Centre: 3 Shelduck, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank, 210 Herring Gull, Common Tern catching fish then flying towards Lonsdale Road Res, 4 Carrion Crow - two nesting pairs (J.Wilczur, A.Innes); Hobby (OSL/JSL)
Priest Hill, Ewell: 43 Common Swift, 7 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 8 Common Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Common Buzzard (Neil Batten)
Rainham Marshes RSPB: drake Garganey, Greenshank, 3 Dunlins, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Turnstone (Wennington Marsh), 1+ Cuckoo, 4 Whimbrels (Purfleet Scrape), early broods of Pochard (7 ducklings) & Shoveler (9 ducklings) (Ian Bradshaw); Caspian Gull (2cy) on Target pools, Greenshank, Grasshopper Warbler at Rainham West (Sean Huggins); 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Greenshank, Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Garganey, Dunlin, Marsh Harrier, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Kestrel, Lapwing, Little Egret, Shelduck, Whimbrel, Swift, Swallow, Sand martin (Jack Headley)
Richmond Park: 5 Common Terns, 3 Common Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, Garden Warbler (Phil Davies).
Ruislip Lido: 8 Common Tern, Grey Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Reed Warbler, only 3 Black-headed Gulls and 1 overflying Herring Gull (Martin Smith)
Totteridge Valley/ Darlands Lake: Hobby, 2 Yellow Wagtail (1st for the valley this year), 24 Singing Chiffchaff, 55+ Swift, 6 Herring Gull, 8 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 42+ House Martin, 17+ Swallow, 11 Singing Blackcap, 13 Singing Common Whitethroat, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 32 Stock Dove, Common Buzzard, 4 Singing Lesser Whitethroat, Coal Tit, 8 Rook, 2 Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Whinchat ('Cow' Field), Collared Dove. (Samuel Levy) 2 Mandarin Duck, Grasshopper Warbler ('Owl' field), Grey Heron. Also Water Shrew at Darlands. No Sign of Common Sandpiper. 39 Species seen in total. (Samuel Levy + Ian Ellis)
Trent Park: 3 singing male Garden Warbler (1 'Old Golf Course' and 2 area between lower lake and Ride Wood (Robert Callf)
Uxbridge UB8: At least 6 House Martin nests, occupied or in construction - Cowley Mill Road / Church Close. (Roger Dewey) Obviously endevouring to sort out the housing shortage! Geoff Crabtree.
Friday 12th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Common Tern Wood Green Res 0645 (Bob Watts)
Beddington Farmlands: 1 Iceland Gull, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Yellow Wagtail (BFBG)
Brent Reservoir: Dunlin, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Tern, Common Buzzard landed in tree briefly then chased off (Brent Birders); 8+ House Martin visiting nest colony (Andrew Haynes)
Borehamwood, Leeming Rd: pr Red-legged Partridge wandering around on garden lawn (Stuart Fisher)
Brookmill Park: Common Tern w, 4 Swift, Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
Foots Cray: Several pairs of Barn Swallows around Honey Dene Farm, also 10 House Martin above (Patrick English)
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park: Spotted Flycatcher in alder carr, Little Grebe with 3 chicks, 5 Reed Warblers seen and 4 heard, 10 Common Terns, 3 Sand Martins (John Bushell)
Heathrow: Red Kite. (Adam Cheeseman)
Hyde Park; Hobby over the Meadow at 9am. (Dave Jordan)
London EC1 Charterhouse street: Black Redstart back again and singing out side my office window.(Bob Beaumont)
London Wetland Centre: Red Kite, Hobby, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, Little Tern SW 11.15, Grey Wagtail, Swallow still lingering, Linnet flew onto Marsh. (R.Kaye, J.Wilczur, S.Fogg)
Richmond Park: 7 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper (S.Read)
Slade Green: Lesser Whitethroat singing in old brick pits field by Bridge Road (Ian Stewart)
South Darenth: 10 Common Swift, several display chasing and vocal. 10 House Martin, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler, several Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Large ball of swarming Honey Bees (Patrick English)
Staines Reservoir: 1 Grey Plover on North Basin, 1 Black Tern South Basin and 36 Common Tern. (Oliver Metcalf)
St James's Park: Kestrel, Reed Warbler (Ben Nicholson)
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill: Egyptian Goose (High Street Pond), 2 Collared Dove, 2 Swift E 07:20 + 5 N 12:20., Common Buzzard SW 13:45.(Samuel Levy)
Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 1 Common Sandpiper at Darlands (personal patch first after 40 years!), Little Egret, Lapwing, 2 Grey Wagtail, c25 Swift, 4 House Martin, 4 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, good numbers of singing Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, Mistle Thrush (John Colmans) Common Sandpiper still 17:00-17:10, Grey Heron, Common Buzzard (Samuel Levy + Simon Worsfold) Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet still in 'Cow' Field, Also Grass Snake at Darlands (Samuel Levy)
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Whitethroat m still on territory also 5 Swifts (Bob Watts)
Tufnell Park, Mercers Road N19 20+ Long-tailed tits with their silvery calls.7.30pm
Wanstead Park: Cetti's Warbler still by Roding and singing more than I've heard him before, Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, singing Goldcrest, 2 Little Egret, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Common Buzzard in from north seen off by crows, and possibly the Romford Honey Buzzard over the Roding (right direction and timeframe), 40 +Swift, 6 Swallow, 2 House Martin (Nick Croft)
Woolwich Common: female Wheatear at north end by the fun fair off Circular Way atounnd 6:45am Gus Wilson.
Thursday 11th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Reed Warbler between lower platforms, pair Common Tern south end Wood Green Res, Swallow NW, 15+ Stock Dove playing fields (Josh Jones, Bob Watts)
Bankside SE1: Common Whitethroat still in birches next to Tate Modern (Reuben Braddock)
Barnes Village Pond: Mute Swan pair with 7 cygnets, 4 of which 'Polish", Egyptian Goose pair with 7 young, 3 Mandarin, pair Pochard, 48 Tufted Duck, Chiffchaff (R.Kaye)
Bayhurst Wood west fields, Harefield: 14 singing male Common Whitethroat over the rough fields and presumably in territory ( John Edwards)
Brent Reservoir: Oystercatcher, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Lapwing, Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail on West Hendon Playing Fields, Great Crested Grebe with grebelets off the nest (Brent Birders)
Brookmill Park: 8 Swift, Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap (Conrad Ellam)
Dollis Brook, Holders Hill: Grey Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit, 10 Swift E 16:05. (Samuel Levy)
Finchley: Garden N3 - 16 Swift + Hobby E 16:18, Pied Wagtail NW 16:32, 6 Swift NE + Stock Dove SE 16:37, 6 Swift + 2 Stock Dove SE 16:41, 2 Stock Dove SE 16:42, Pied Wagtail S 16:59, 20 Swift + 3 House Martin W 17:26, 2 Swallow NW 17:32, 2 House Martin NW 17:38, Peregrine came in from high up in the general vercinity of Finchley Central 17:44, 2 Swift NW 17:44, 2 Swallow NW 17:56, 2 Swift N 18:05 + 8 N 18:09 + 12 NW 18:22, Mallard N + 3 Swift 18:31, Swift N 18:33, 10 Stock Dove SE 18:35, 5 Swift NE 18:42, 3 Swift NE 18:44, 20 Swift E + House Martin W + Pied Wagtail NW 18:49, 6 Stock Dove SE + 6 Swift E + Swallow SE 18:55, 3 Swallow W + 3 Swift NW 18:57, 2 Stock Dove SE 19:02, Common Buzzard + 2 Swift N 19:14. Also 2 Goldcrest, 2 Singing M Blackcap, 1M 2F Sparrowhawk + Regulars.(Samuel Levy) Skywatch Summary: 115+ Swift, 23 Stock Dove, 6 House Martin, 8 Swallow, 3 Pied Wagtails, Hobby, Peregrine, Buzzard 16:15-19:15.how about just a summary? As per the guidance notes at the top of this page..... Birdtrack would welcome your detailed sighting, that Greater London Bird Recorders can't be arsed ploughing through. London Bird recorders are already arsed enough to plough through 100s, if not 1000s of records. Why not try to make their job a little easier? It's not as if they get paid to do so. This wiki site is a very useful tool for reporting sightings to the LNHS and their bird recorders. I'm sure it would be a help to them if contributors followed the guidlines given in the opening paragraphs. Makes perfect sense, unfortunately the schoolmasterly tone of many remarks only serves to discourage contributions. Yes, perhaps use of the word 'please' may have helped. But was it an administrator that made the initial request? Why do so many birdwatchers behave like 14 year old girls on this site? Quite entertaining though (Martin Shepherd)
Gallions Reach: Red Kite, Great White Egret, 3 Buzzard (KJM)
Greenwich Ecology Park: Little Grebe pair with 3 chicks, 11 Common Tern, Swallow, Sand Martin, Blackcap, 2 Whitethroar, 6 Reed Warbler (John Bushell)
Grovelands Park: 2 Great Crested Grebe pr have lost all their first brood, 2 Greylag Goose pr, 5 Egyptian Goose pr and 3 goslings, 5 Mandarin Duck 4m 1f, 10 Tufted Duck 5m 5f, 2 Grey Wagtail adult male feeding juv, 3 Mistle Thrush pr and one juv, 2 Nuthatch, 8 Treecreeper including a family party of seven - 5 juvs huddled together on oak trunk - an early fledging date in my experience (Robert Callf)
Hampstead Heath: Yellow Wagtail flew E over Parliament Hill at 0723, Reed Warbler singing from High 1, single Swallow and House Martin, still 2 Whitethroats holding territory (Pete Mantle)
Hyde Park: Reed Warbler singing in small reedbed at south east corner of Serpentine (James Hudson)
Joydens Wood: Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Garden Warbler (Patrick English).
Alexandra Park: 3 Common Whitethroat m including verge of station (Bob Watts)
Balham: Common Buzzard high over Bedford Hill 11.30, mobbed by crow south. Also, return of local Swifts (4). (Nick Moll)
Bankside SE1: Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat in birch trees, Tate Modern. (Simon Fogg)
Brent Reservoir: 1 Grey Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, Red Kite N over Shrike Field 11.55 (Steve Leeke, Andrew Verrall)
Coppetts Wood NR, Friern Barnet, N12: 2 Swift, 2 singing Common Whitethroats, 7 singing Blackcap,2 singing Chiffchaff, male Kestrel, fully fledged Song Thrush, pair Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding young in nest hole. Woodland Festival & RSPB Woodpecker Watch - Sunday 21 May 2017 (1-4pm) (Bob Husband & Tony Clancy)
Dollis Brook, Holders Hill: Grey Wagtail, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Goldfinch, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Swift NE 17:41, followed by what i pressume was a Red Kite (rather than the previously reported Black) NW 17:42. (Samuel Levy)
Dollis Brook: Gordon Road Alotments to Finchley Tennis Club - 8 singing M + 1 F Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ring-necked Parakeet, Song Thrush, Singing M Chiffchaff, Nuthatch. (Samuel Levy)
Gidea Park: Black Kite reported at 15:00 by Birdguides
Fryent Country Park: Black Redstart f, 2 Common Buzzard (Joe Taylor)
Finchley: Garden N3 - 6 Swift NE 18:10 + 1 NE 19:00, 2 Singing Male Blackcaps + Regulars. (Samuel Levy)
Friern Barnet, Glebeland allotments: Whinchat, singing Lesser Whitethroat, C. Buzzard mobbed by crows, 4 Swifts, Kestrel, 12+ H.Sparrow including fledglings, Chiffchaff, 4+ Blackcap & 7 + Greenfinch. (Paul Angus)
Greenwich Park: singing Garden Warbler (passage bird), House Martin W, Common Buzzard N, Linnet N, 3 Moorhen young (Joe Beale)
Hainault Forest Country Park: Black Kite reported at 16:00 by Birdguides.
Ham (KT2 5BQ). Red Kite circling low over industrial estate (P Davies).
Kentish Town Station platform: Grey Wagtail (G Sawtell)
Kingston Hospital: Pied Wagtail (P.Redmond)
Leatherhead, Randalls Way: Bullfinch pair calling constantly to each other from trees around The Square, 2 Blackcap, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Pied Wagtail (Neil Batten)
London Wetland Centre: 2 Wood Sandpiper (images WWT London Twitter), 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Common Whitethroat, 40+ Swift, 3 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Tern, 2 Shelduck, 1 Yellow Wagtail (WWT Website) 2 Wood Sandpipers still present 16.00 (R.Kaye); 7 Mute Swan - pair with brood of five, f Shelduck entered burrow in east bund, Buzzard over, Caspian Gull 2cy, 340 Herring Gull, m and f Pied Wagtail, 60 Carrion Crow (J.Wilczur)
Longlands Road, Sidcup: Whitethroat singing, in garden, unusual in this area (Conrad Ellam)
Northolt Park: Hobby up high with 7 Swifts above flat (Dan Pinkham)
Oxleas Wood Willow Warbler Blackcap [m/fm] Great Spotted Woodpecker Green Woodpecker Common Buzzard Sparrowhawk Hobby Kestrel[m/fm] House Martins Swallows Swifts Jackdaws Goldfinch Chiiffchaff Whinchat Stockdoves Goldcrest Coaltit [Ron Turner] [John Bushell]
Rainham Marshes: 2 Black-winged Stilts on Target pools 10.19am (Rare Bird Alert); now yesterday's rare American Gull listed as London's 1st Laughing Gull - not seen again? According To Andrew Selfe's tome this would be the 3rd record, the others being from 2006 Amwell and Hilfield (RBA) Possible Laughing Gull at 16:30 going west near sea wall, rear views only but a particularly dark mantled bird, 2 Avocet, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, 7+ Whimbrel. Turnstone, Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Quail reported as singing, 4 Hobby, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, pr of Peregrine Falcon, Garden Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Cuckoo, 3 Spoonbill, Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern (Nick Croft/Dave Morrison.RSPB et al); Black-winged Stilts still viewable from Serin Mound at 19:00,
Regent's Park/Primrose Hill: 40+ Swift (most N), Rook NNW 0955, 32 Swallow N/NW 09:30-12:30, 10+ House Martin (most collecting mud below Hill viewpt for nests somewhere north), singing Lesser Whitethroat briefly nr Clarence Gate area 11 at 0725, 5 Whinchat spring patch record & foy - m briefly below Hill viewpt a50 at 1050 then NW/ f SW-facing slope of Barrow Hill Reservoir a48 at 13:15-15:15 at least/ m Chat Pen a39 at 1530/ m fenced-off gorse nr a36 at 1600/ f Cricket Pen a31 at 1630, pair Reed Bunting (scarce here) mating by gorse nr a36 at 0610 (Twitter)
Richmond Park: 2 Red Kite, m Peregrine - same as on 8th, 6+ Buzzard - three flew east including a pale morph, Common Sandpiper, 45 Swift, 33 Swallow flew NW, f Wheatear - Greenland, Linnet over (J.Wilczur)
Staines Reservoirs: 1 Garganey drake on S basin asleep in middle of basin till midday. (Dave Morris per FJM)
Stave Hill/Russia Dock Woodland: 4 Blackcap,1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Buzzard around the Shed, chased off by crows toward Lavender Pond, 1 Sedge Warbler, small passage of 20+ House Martin and 5 Common Swift (John Cadera)
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill: 3 House Martin N 10:56, 7 Swift N 10:50, + 12 more N 10:59, Egyptian Goose (High Street Pond), Common Buzzard S 11:15, Swallow, Pied Wagtail (Sheep Wash Pond).(Samuel Levy)
Trent Park: 50+ Swift, Lesser Whitethroat singing male by lower lake, 2 Garden Warbler singing males, Nuthatch, 4 Treecreeper including two singing males, 3 Small Copper, 17 Small Heath (Robert Callf)
Trent Park Equestrian Centre: 13 Barn Swallow 15:00 (Robert Callf)
Vanbrugh Pits SE3: singing Common Whitethroat on territory, 2 Linnets S, 7+ Swifts, 1 Swallow NE (Joe Beale)
Walthamstow Marshes: Whinchat Leyton Marsh (cow parsley NW corner), 12 Linnet, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Pied Wagtail on short grass nearby. 2 Reed Bunting (2m) on Bomb Crater Field, trickle of 5 Swallows northbound 07:30-09:00 (Alastair Dent)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Turnstone, 2 Grey Wagtails on Lockwood, Common Sandpiper on High Maynard (Quentin Given)
Wembley Park: Red Kite low over houses at 14:45 (Joe Taylor)
Woodberry Wetlands: Oystercatcher over low NE at 07:10, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, Swallow, Grey Wagtail (Chris Farthing & Tony Butler) [reposting this after it got deleted accidentally at 15:52]
Tuesday 9th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Immature male Peregrine on Palace transmitter 16.45-16.55 (Bruce Carson)
Avenue House Park, N3, Northern End: 100+ Swift through mainly NE 18:00-19:45, 4 Pied Wagtail, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Starling, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Collared Dove. (Samuel Levy)
Bankside SE1: Chiffchaff at east end of Tate Moder. Oystercatcher up river at 06.45 and back down river at 06.50. (Simon Fogg)
Brent Reservoir: drake Mandarin, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 50 Swift, 250 House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, Common Buzzard over at 14:20 (Andrew Self). 4 Grey Plover per Steve Leeke; 4 Grey Plover on East Marsh at 13:00 (Joe Taylor)4 Grey Piover,Mandarin still present 18.00(Francis O'Sullivan)
Fryent Country Park: Red Kite, 2 Gadwall (Joe Taylor)
Hampstead Heath: Hobby hunting over Parliament Hill, early. Common Tern on lower ponds 0800, Also 3 Swallows N, 2 Linnets (1 N, 1 W) and Tawny Owl flushed near the Sanctuary. Whitethroat now singing at Meg's Pond (Pete Mantle)
Hyde Park: 100 Swift, 5 Swallow, 2 House Martin, Treecreeper (Conrad Ellam)-3:00- Hobby seen flying over Serpentine (Tom Bell)
Leg of Mutton Nature Reserve: Hobby (Conrad Ellam)
KGV Reservoir: N Basin; 1 Little Gull flew N towards Sewardstone Marsh, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Fem. Goldeneye, 1 Yellow Wagtail. 8+ Common Sandpiper on both Basins. 20 Common Tern on S. Basin, 80+ Swift, Yellowhammer singing Chingford Side.1-1.30pm (Davey Leach)
London Wetland Centre: ad Kittiwake Main Lake briefly 12.00 (found by Jake), 2 Ring Ouzel one still in NE corner and one flew over NW 10.20, 8 Yellow Wagtail. (R.Kaye) Whitethroat, Oystercatcher, 4CY Yellow legged Gull, Ringed Plover, 1 m Wigeon, 2-3 LRP (Matt Palmer)
Olympic Park (River Lee Navigation): 4 Red Crested Pochard (James Palmer)
Pinner, Lloyd Court: 17:25, Red Kite grabs remains of cooked chicken off of the lawn. Local crow watches his dinner disappear at speed (Richard Francis). It's rare to get a Red Kite on the deck here - but no further comments as I am a strict vegetarian (JR)
Pymmes Park, Edmonton: 2 Little Grebe pair, 2 Grey Wagtail (Robert Callf)
Rainham Marshes: possible 1st Summer Franklin's Gull flew towards Stone Barges, being looked for now (photo on Twitter here). 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank, 10 Whimbrel, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, pr Pintail, drake Wigeon, 2 Water Rail, several hundred Swift (Tom Jordan) Franklin's/Laughing Gull seen on river then refound on tip at 16:15 before all the gulls were flushed, no sign thereafter. Good but distant views at max magnification, but with the haze coming off the tip unable to help with ID. Barn Owl over winter pool (Nick Croft)
Richmond Park: 2 Common Sandpiper on Upper Pen Pond, Mandarin with 10 ducklings on Thompson's Pond, 3 Red Kite circling high, 3 Stonechat (Nigel Jackman)
Staines Reservoirs: Grey Plover, Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black Tern, Little Gull (Dominic Pia-Twitter) Black Tern present to 8pm at least, also 2-3 Arctic Tern, 2 Black necked Grebe, Yellow Wagtail over (Matt Palmer)
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill: Grey Wagtail (SheepWash Pond), Eygptain Goose (High Street Pond), 2 Ring-necked Parakeet. (Samuel Levy)
Totteridge Valley: 1 singing Garden Warbler, 4 House Martin,7 Swallow, Lapwing, Common Buzzard, male Grey Wagtail, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2pr Canada Goose on Sheepwash Pond with 10 gosling plus pair of Coot with two young(John Colmans)
Walthamstow Reservoirs : Turnstone on Lockwood (Mike Messenger) 9.00 - 11.00- House Martin, Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, Kestrel, 6 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper (Simon Worsfold); 7- 9am - 4 Arctic Terns, 2 Garden Warblers, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Greenland-type Wheatears, 10+ Swallow, 100+ Common Swifts, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, 6 Common Sandpipers (Jamie Partridge & David Callahan).
Wanstead Flats: Garden Warbler 2 Yellow Wagtail (Jono Lethbridge), 9 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 7 + Swift, 11 singing Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Meadow Pipit, 6 Tufted Duck (Nick Croft) Tawny Owl young calling in Reservoir Wood (James Heal) yesterday one or more Little Owl in East Copse (Jon Lethbridge)
Wormwood Scrubs: Lesser Whitethroat (upñ from 1 to 3). 7 each of Whitethroat (most displaying) & Blackcap, a couple of singing Chiffchaff, a single Swift, 3 Mute Swan over low and the usual Male Kestrel. (Charlie Farrell)
Monday 8th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Peregrine Falcon, 19.00, circling high above Wood Green Reservoirs, then headed SE (Bruce Carson). 10+ Swallow 1615 (Bob Watts)
Brent Reservoir: 3 Avocet from main hide 12:30 (Steve Leeke, Roy Beddard); also 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper (Brent Birders); 3 Avocet, Dunlin & Ringed Plover still present 17:55 (Andrew Self) - a super find Roy (JR)
Chelsea Bridge Wharf: Peregrine, Grey Wagtail (Neil Anderson)
Crystal Palace Park Lake: 5 Swifts, 2 fledged Egyptian Geese only 1st or 2nd year bred here, single Grey Heron nest, Grey Wagtail, G C Grebe pr + 2 juv (Michael Mac)
Rainham RSPB: Quail still calling 12:00 on landfill near where shore path meets road. 1 Greenshank, 2+ Wood Sandpipers, 1 Turnstone, 1 LRP, 6+ Whimbrels, Ring Ouzel seen by other observers. (Quentin Given)
Richmond Park: 2 Greylag Goose - pair appear to be nesting, 2 Pochard - pair, Red Kite, adult m Peregrine - same as on April 29th, 2 Common Sandpiper, 10 Swallow, m Garden Warbler (J.Wilczur): Late news for yesterday: 3 Hobby, Tree Pipit (R.Herbert, S.Woolfenden per JW)
South Lodge Farm, Enfield: 45 Stock Dove feeding flock 16:50 (Robert Callf)
Stratford Shopping Centre: Male Black Redstart above the entrance to TK Maxx (Alasdair Wilcock)
Woodberry Wetlands: Common Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, Red Kite to the SW at 8:45, Mute Swan pair with 9 cygnets (Chris Farthing)
Yeading Valley (Minet Country Park): Hobby, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 20+ Whitethroat, Jay, Little Owl, 2 Cormorant, 2 Stock Dove, 12 Linnet (Dave Bookless)
Sunday 7th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Little Egret SE 0643, Yellow Wagtail heard 0641, Linnet east 0647, immature male Peregrine around palace building and landed on transmitter, 20+ Swallow, 2 House Martin, 30+ Swift, 3+ Common Whitethroat (APOG Birders).
Barnet Environment Centre, Byng Road: Willow Warbler with mixed WW / Chiffchaff song similar to last year but more so (Bob Husband)
Bayswater Road, W2: Red Kite drifting NE from 13:35, Common Buzzard W from 14:05 and Hobby over Kensington Gardens at 15:30 (Frank Nugent).
Boxer's Lake, Enfield: Grey Heron - three occupied nests containing six large young (one young pure white plumage - leucistic), 7 Mandarin Duck 2m 1f and 4 ducklings (Robert Callf)
Brent Reservoir: Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, Common Buzzard, 150+ Swift, 40+ Swallow, 9 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler (Brent Birders)
Debden, Colebrook Lane: Red Kite 19:00 (Barry Jones)
Canons Park, Edgware, Middx: pair Nuthatch visiting nest hole, brief song of Willow Warbler, singing Chiffchaff, Swallow, total of 8 Swift overhead. Nearby Seven Acre Lake (private access): adult with juvenile Great Crested Grebe & another adult sitting on a new nest. The Basin, Canons Drive: male Mandarin Duck, pair Grey Lag Geese & 5 goslings (Bob Husband, NW London RSPB Group Bird walk)
Finchley: Garden N3 - 6 Starlings, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls NE 09:55, 9 Swift 19:15 (Samuel Levy)
Greenway: 6 Sand Martin, 2 Whitethroat, Song Thrush (Harry Harrison)
Gallions Reach: Osprey (KJM)
Gospel Oak: Common Buzzard drifting N at 17:45 (Frank Nugent)
Hogsmill STW: 2 Grey Heron nesting, 2 Mute Swan nesting, 2 Canada Goose nesting, 2 Egyptian Goose over, 1 Pochard male, 6 Little Grebe (3 nests), 2 Lesser Black Backed Gull, small House Sparrow colony (only 1 male seen but noise suggests c10 birds), 1 Linnet female, 1 Cetti's Warbler heard, 1 Reed Bunting male, 1 Whitethroat singing, c3 Sand Martin, c10 Swift high over sewage works, 2 Kestrel including 1 juvenile, 1 Pied Wagtail (Mat Hare)
Kentish Town, Arctic Street: Peregrine flew E with prey at 1705 (Pete Mantle)
Kingston Hospital: Pied Wagtail on roof (P.Redmond)
Harefield - Denham: 2 male Cuckoo between Harefield Marina and Denham deep lock (Dan Pinkham)
Hyde Park: No sign of possible Iberian Chiffchaff 08.15- 09.45 near Henry Moore Arch, Long Water. (FJM)
Lords Cricket Gound, St John's Wood: vis mig 11:30-18:30: 9 Swift NE 11:33, Cormorant S 11:39 + one very high NE 12:23, 4 Swallow 12:24 NW, 6 Swallow + Swift NW 12:36, 2 Swift + Swallow N 12:58, 2 Swift N 13:18, Cormorant 13:19 SW, 2 Swift NW 13:28, Grey Heron 13:39 N, 6 Swift NW 13:47, 3 Swallow NW 13:48, Red Kite drifting E 13:54, 2 Canada Geese low 14:39 E, 2 Swift + Common Buzzard N 14:59, 10 Swift NW 15:33, 3 Swallow NW 15:35, Mallard NE+ 4 Swift N 16:34, 41 Swift NW 16:39, 2 House Martin N 16:52, Ring-necked Parakeet SE 16:53, Swallow NE 16:56, 36 Swift NE 17:52, 6 Swift NE 17:56, 32 Swift N 17:58, Swift N 18:15, 8 Swift NE 18:17 (Samuel Levy) (162+ Swift Through in total)
North Finchley: c12 Swift over house at lunch-time (John Colmans)
Mill Hill: Common Buzzard E over Salcombe Gardens, mobbed by 3 Carrion Crows, 14:10 (James Levy)
Pinner (HA5): House Martin, 5 Swallow & 35 Swift all north from 18:00, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit & 3 Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
RSPB Rainham Marshes: Quail still on Rainham Mound 06:00. (BirdGuides) Those visiting are reminded to stick to the path at all time.Two singing Quail at 10:45; Turtle Dove briefly on fence-post of electric fence near "high chair" at 1050 - then flew S over sea wall. Ring Ouzel (f) on riverside path W of Aveley Bay, Cuckoo, 1+ Wood Sandpiper W from Shooting Butts Hide (Alastair Dent). Egyptian Goose, Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Terns, 2 Wood Sandpipers (1 Winter pool, 1 Targets), 10 Grey Plover, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Oystercatchers, 10 Whimbrel, 33 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff, Green Woodpecker, Bearded Tit, 2 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails (Sean Huggins) 5 Hobby, 2 Buzzard, 4 Wood Sandpiper, 18 Grey Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 16 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 2 Caspian Gull (both 2cy), 1 Arctic Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 4 Wheatear, 2 Corn Bunting (Dante Shepherd)
Rammey Marsh: Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler (Neville Smith & Roy Balne).
Richmond: 2 Hobby over Selwyn Avenue 13.30. (Franko J Maroevic)
Ten Acre Wood area: m Mandarin over, m Pheasant, Little Egret,m Kestrel, 2 Lapwing, c10 Stock Dove, 4 Skylark, 2 Swallow, m Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 8+ Whitethroat, 3 Rook over, 2m Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet (Neil Anderson/G. Westley)
Tooting Common: 1 Hobby (16:25) hunting over Athletics track, then heading towards Lake, also 40+ Swifts (Alan Wilkinson).
Wandsworth Common: Red Kite on LNHS birdwalk led by Peter White (Nick Rutter)
Wanstead Flats: Wheatear f, 100+ Swift, 14 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, pr of Hobby, 3 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Coal Tit, Linnet (Nick Croft); possible Great Egret at 8:25 (Marco Johnson)
Woodberry Wetlands: Patch count day update: A Black-headed Gull at 17:45 brought up our 60 species. Highlights Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, Hobby, Buzzard NE at 17:15, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Coal Tit (~20 observers over the period 04:30 - 17:50 coordinated by Nathan Legall) - (you made it - & well done) (JR).
Saturday 6th May 2017
Alexandra Park: Red Kite NNE 1105 high, Northern Wheatear filter beds, Little. Egret NW 1000, 35+ Swift, 5 Swallow NNW, 2 House Martin, Willow Warbler m west of ski slope, 3m 2f Pochard Boating Lake (Gareth. Richards, Bob Watts)
Amwell: Black Tern, 100+ Swift (Twitter)
Beddington Farmlands: Iceland Gull 2cy, Wood Sandpiper, F Ring Ouzel, Greenshank, 13 Common Sandpiper, c150 Swift, 3 Yellow Wagtail (Twitter)
Brent Reservoir: 3 Oystercatcher on mud for 5 mins, 4 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Lapwing for 15 mins, c200 Swift feeding, 40+ Swallow, 6 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, male Peregrine (Brent Birders)
Clapham High Street SW4: 13 swifts overhead (OSL)
Clapton E5: 30+ Swifts over Powerscroft Rd/Chatsworth Rd junction at 1500 (Alastair Dent)
Cowley, Uxbridge UB8: 1 Swift over (at last!). (Roger Dewey)
Greenford UB6: circling Sparrowhawk over garden, 12+ Swift (Neil Anderson)
Hampstead Heath: Parliament Hill, 70+ Swifts feeding at 1100 + 5 Swallows and 3 House Martins over, drake Gadwall still on Highgate 1 (Pete Mantle)
Hyde Park: possible Iberian Chiffchaff 10 metres NW of Henry Moore Arch singing and showing until 3.20 at least, plumage & bare part tones and structure all spot on, classic ibericus short trill song & call - no collybita type song or call heard, 60 Swift, 4 Swallow, 2 Wheatear, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Chiffchaff (Nick Senior) No sight or sound of possible Iberian Chiffchaff between 17.40-1855. 1 Little Egret flew NW @18.30 , 2 Hobby over. (Bob Watts, Franko J Maroevic.)
Island Barn Reservoir: 250+ Swift, 2 Greenshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail. Chris Turner)
North Finchley (N12): 4 Swift over Hutton Grove/Nether Street (Samuel Levy)
Kingston Hospital: 4 Swift over (P.Redmond)
Lamorbey Park : Pair Mute Swan , Grey Heron, Pair Tufted Duck , Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Black-headed Gulls over, 3 Goldcrest singing, Pied Wagtail (Mike Amos). 5-10 Swift early pm (Ian Stewart)
London Wetland Centre: Grey Plover still, 2 Common Tern briefly, Wheatear (WWT); Jack Snipe, Ringed Plover, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Common Sandpiper, m Wigeon, 3m 1f Shoveler, 2 Teal - a pair, 8 Mandarin Duck, 170 Herring Gull, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull 2nd summer, 150 Swift, 25 Swallow, Grey Wagtail over, m Ring Ouzel, Whitethroat. (R.Kaye, J.Wilczur) m Pochard x Tufted Duck paired with a fem Tufted Duck x Scaup (!), Little Egret, 5 Yellow Wagtail, fem Blue-headed Wagtail (RK, JW, W. Newnham & Martin Honey)
Plumstead Common SE18: 19:00 6 Common Swift circling over and calling, then at 20 minute intervals groups of about 15 higher above N. 1992 at least 10 pairs breeding in 4 local streets of terraced housing. About 4 pairs in area 2006 (Patrick English). Two Swift calling seen heading NW just NW of Shrewsbury Park 12pm (Tim Rymer).
Priest Hill, Ewell: 91 Common Swift, 2 Swallow n, 6 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pheasant (Neil Batten)
Rainham Marshes: Singing QUAIL on hill near Aveley car park 100m west of car park (Shaun Harvey-Twitter); Quail was at 9.45 (BirdGuides) still present 10:30 (Shaun Harvey-Twitter) heard calling at 16:00. 5 Wood Sandpipers (3 Target Pool, 2 Winter Pool), Jack Snipe (Purfleet Scrape) (Sean Huggins) 32 Grey Plover, 2 Knot, 10 Common Sandpiper, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel, 30 + Dunlin, Ring Ouzel, 7 Wheatear, 2 Hobby, 2 Cuckoo (Nick Croft/James Heal); 1 Turnstone (Frank Nugent).
Ruislip Lido: 3 Oystercatcher attempted to land on large raft but seen off by feisty Mallard, 15 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, good numbers of House Martin and Swallow (Martin Smith)
Scadbury Park: Cormorant over, 2+ Pheasant, 20+ Swift NW, 3+ Swallow, Garden Warbler showed v well near Perry St entrance, 8+ Blackcap, 12 Whitethroat, 6+ Chiffchaff, Bullfinch (Ian Stewart, Mike Amos) Lesser Whitethroat, 4+ Bullfinch (Bill Whitaker per Ian Stewart)
Sidcup DA15: Reed Warbler singing in small hedgerow at Old Farm Park along path to footbridge over railway, highly unusual location for this species (Ian Stewart)
Thamesmead: 1st-summer Caspian Gull (German-ringed X090) off Princess Alice Way; also 1st-summer Yellow-legged Gull (Richard Bonser and Jamie Partridge)
Tolworth: 3 Swift at 09:30 (Mat Hare)
Tooting Bec Common: 4+ House Martins, 4 Swallows heading north (Alan Wilkinson)
Totteridge Valley/Darlands Lake: 22 Singing Chiffchaff, 27 House Martin, 4 Swift, 21 Swallow, 4 Herring Gull, 30 Stock Dove, 22 Singing Common Whitethroat, 26 Ring-necked Parakeet including 20+ on the ground near Folly Farm, 2 Singing Blackcap, 4 Singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Mandarin Duck + Mallard with 3 ducklings on Darlands Lake, Reed Bunting, 8 Rook, Pheasant, Kingfisher flew up stream near Folly Farm, Goldcrest, Lesser Black Backed Gull, 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grasshopper Warbler Reeling still. Video Here. (Samuel Levy)
Trent Park: 2 Common Buzzard, 25+ Swift feeding, 1 Swallow, Lesser Whitethroat singing male, 2 singing male Garden Warbler (Robert Callf); 2 Stock Dove, 2 Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk (Alex Farris)
Twickenham: Common Sandpiper flying from riverbank at Marble Hill over to Ham House side, 11:45 (Mike Foster)
Walthamstow Marshes: 6 Stock Dove, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Linnet on rear paddocks, 2 Swallows heading N at 1430 (Alastair Dent)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Hobby, 50+ Swifts, 30+ Swallows, f Teal, pr Shoveler, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpipers, 10 Common Terns, Yellow Wagtail over, 3 Wheatear, singing Willow Warbler (Lol Bodini).
West Finchley Station: 4 Swallow N 13:00. (Samuel Levy)
Friday 5th May 2017
Bankside SE1: Garden Warbler in community garden east of Tate Modern (G Sawtell)
Barnes Pond: 3 Swift over early morning (Rich Petley)
Beech Hill Lake, Monken Hadley Common: Great Crested Grebe, 2 male Mandarin Duck, 8 Coot pr and six chicks (Robert Callf)
Clapton E5: 3 Swift. Swifts returned last year on 04.May (M.Kempa)
Dalston: 10 Swift. Swifts returned last year on 3 May (Jon Agar)
Dollis Brook, Holders Hill: 6 Swift Low NE 07:05, singing Chiffchaff, Stock Dove, Mallard with 3 Ducklings in the Brook. (Samuel Levy)
Eastcote (Field End Recreation Ground): 2 Swift heading north, 1 Swallow north west (Tim Rymer).
Finchley: Garden N3 - 34 Swift through between 17:00- 18:15 mainly NE , 6 Starlings, 5 Stock Dove + 30 S 17:00-1815, 2 Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Samuel Levy)
Finsbury Park: Finsbury Park swifts have returned (day later than last year) (reported to G Sawtell)
Foots Cray Meadows: 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Common Swift, 1 Barn Swallow. (Patrick English)
Hyde Park: Wheatear on Parde Ground briefly at 11.30am. (Dave Jordan); 1 Yellow-legged Gull 3cy, Black Tern briefly at 11.20 then high NE, c.260 Swifts in at 11.30 the drifted E, 7 Barn Swallow W, 2 House Martin, 3 Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler (Nick Senior)
Greenwich: Swift (Ray Crouch)
KGV Reservoir: S Basin - 1 Black Tern with 30+ Common tern, Oystercatcher flew N, 3 Greenshank (1 on N Basin), N basin: 1 Turnstone, 2 L R Plover, 8+ Common Sandpiper on Both Basins. 1 - 1.30pm (Davey Leach).
Leatherhead, Randalls Way: 1 Common Swift ne 09:05. Two more Swifts distantly at 12:40. Common Buzzard 12:50 Another swift ne at 13:10 second Common Buzzard 13:35 (Neil Batten)
Lewisham. Swift 8.30 (Conrad Ellam)
London Olympic Park : Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, 3 Sandmartin, Song Thrush, Blackcap (Roger Keith)
Grey Plover, London Wetland Centre. Photo by Shailesh Patel
London Wetland Centre: 2 Wood Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Jack Snipe, 4 Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull 2cy, 240 Herring Gull, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gull, juv male Peregrine low over reserve, 100 Swift, 2m Ring Ouzel still, Yellow Wagtail (J.Wilczur, R. Kaye); 1f Whinchat (anon et al); Ring Ouzel, Grey Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 12 Shelduck (Shailesh Patel) 6 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Wheatear (Martin Honey); 1 Whimbrel main lake (Sam); 1 Brent Goose main lake (V. Picken)
Rainham Marshes: 4 Oystercatcher, 21Grey Plover, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, Curlew, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 17 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 2 Ruff, Common Sandpiper, 5 Wood Sandpipers (2 Winter pool, 3 Target pools), 5 Wheatears, Ring Ouzel (fem on lower path at Aveley Bay) (Sean Huggins) Little Tern (at same time as Fraser), 22 Grey Plover, 40 + Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 50 + Dunlin, 2 Sanderling (as above), Curlew Sandpiper (HV), 10 + Whimbrel, 3 + Ruff, 2 Hobby, 2 Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, 3 Pintail, 2 Cuckoo, House Martin, many Swallow coming across the river, Sand Martin, many Swift, 3 Lesser Whitethroat (RSPB/Howard Vaughan et al)
Richmond Park: 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Tern (S.Read per JW); Red Kite (Friday Group) 4 Sandpipers at 6:15pm. 3 were Common but not sure about fourth (Phil Davies). 2 Stonechat at gorse enclosures [1] (Richard Goodman). 1f.Wheatear (Nigel Jackman).
Staines Moor: Grasshopper Warbler reeling (near Bonehead Ditch), 4 Hobby, 2 Kestrel, Red Kite, Wheatear, 3 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck (Colne), Redshank (Colne), 2 Linnet, 2 Green Woodpecker, lots of singing warblers inc 3 Cetti's & Lesser Whitethroat, Skylarks in song-flight, 3 House Martin, lots of swallows and swifts - personal total 48 species. Bar-tailed Godwit and Lapwing reported by another birder ("Bob") (Alex Massey)
Thames off Pimlico gardens SW1: 196 Herring Gull 7 Great Black Backed Gull, 23 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 1 Caspian Gull 3cy, 1 Yellow-legged Gull near adult, Wheatear male leucorhoa on shore (Nick Senior)
Tooting Commons: Grey Wagtail feeding on muddy margin at south end of lake, Swallow north 15:40, 2 Swift near lake, Sparrowhawk over Bedford Wood, 2 Pied Wagtail over cricket pitch, 2 Mistle Thrush (James Hudson)
Tottenham N15: 5 - 6 Swift over w. end Philip Lane and a Little Egret heading east low over West Green Road j/w Black Boy Lane @ 6:15pm (HarringayBirder)
Totteridge Valley: Swift, 2 Swallow, three singing Lesser Whitethroat, usual numbers of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, 2 Common Buzzard, Kestrel, 4 Rook, pair of Tufted Duck and pair of Coot on Totteridge Long Pond, also two broods of Mallard and one of Canada Goose in area (John Colmans)
Thames Ditton (KT7): 1 Swift E, 1 Green Woodpecker (Billy Dykes)
Victoria Park: 5+ Sand Martin, Pochard m & f West Lake (Bob Watts)
Walthamstow Reservoirs (Lockwood): Arctic Tern and Redshank (both High Maynard), plus 200+ Common Swifts, 16 + Sand Martins, 4 House Martins, 3 Swallows, 4 Common Terns, 4 Common Sandpipers, Lesser Whitethroat (David Callahan). east warwick - 3 Greenshank, yellow wag, wheatear (Jamie Partridge)
West Harrow: first Swift of the year - one day later than 2016 (Alex Massey)
Woodberry Wetlands: Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, Shelduck, 29 Swift (Chris Farthing) Our first annual patch count takes place on Sunday 7th May. To help, just turn up during open hours (09:00-16:30), or contact nlegall@wildlondon.org.uk to join in any time from 06:00-18:00. Sightings can be posted here or on Twitter with hashtag #WWPC17. Our target is 60 species.
Wormwood Scrubs: 2 Swift, 1 Swallow, 1 m Kestrel, c12 Whitethroat, c10 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Canada Geese - rare to have them on the ground here (Char
Thursday 4th May 2017
Alexandra Park: 5+ Swift mostly east of. Wood. Green Res also Swallow 1745 (Bob Watts)
Bankside SE1: Garden Warbler; Common Whitethroat at east end of Tate Modern. (Simon Fogg)
Barn Elms playing fields SW13: 66 Stock Dove - including a territorial bird and probably a record flock for the site (J.Wilczur)
Bentley Priory NR, Stanmore, Middx: Grey Wagtail feeding fledgling by weir, Garden Warbler, 3 Common Buzzard, Red Kite (Bob Husband, Brian Hunter et al)
Brent Reservoir: 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 50+ Swift feeding for an hour, 25+ Swallow, 8 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, male Peregrine (Brent Birders)
Ickenham, Riverside Open Space: 2 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Little Egret feeding on River Pinn, Kingfisher, 5 Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Swift, 4 Swallow (Frank Nugent)
Isle of Dogs: 2 Swifts 1600 just south of Canary Wharf (Bob Watts)
KGV Reservoir: Black Tern, 20 + Common Tern, Kittiwake (not looking entirely great, found sleeping up against the retaining wall on the west side, but then disappeared), 2 Hobby mingling with a few hundred Swift and many Swallow and Sand Martin, up to 10 Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat singing along overflow drain, 2 Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail reported to us as present (Nick Croft/Marco Johnson)
Kingston: Common Sandpiper on bank opposite Trowlock Island 0900 (Mike Foster)
Lee Valley, Fishers Green: 3 Nightingales, 1 Cuckoo, Kingfisher and rather surprising for the time of year; 1 male Wigeon accompanied by 2 females (Mike Oakland)
Lee Valley, Holyfield Hall Farm: 1 Yellow Wagtail (Mike Oakland)
Lee Valley, Langridge: 2 pairs of Shelduck, 6 Barnacle Geese, 1 male Teal, 1 male Shoveler (Mike Oakland)
Leatherhead Station: 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 1 singing Blackcap. 1 Common Swift low ne 16:10. 1 Female Sparrowhawk carrying apparent Long-tailed Tit prey item (Neil Batten)
London Wetland Centre: 4 Whimbrel high E at 09.00, Ring Ouzel (male) Res Lagoon NE corner, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Swift (Twitter) m Garganey, Buzzard, 3 Whimbrel NE at 11.15, 3 Greenshank E at 11.45, Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Caspian Gull 2cy - a new bird, 5 Yellow-legged Gull - four 2cy and one 3cy, Common Gull 2cy, 520 Herring Gull - more than usual, Commic Tern - over high, Swallow - a bird present for a few days, 6+ Yellow Wagtail, 2m Ring Ouzel (R.Kaye, J.Wilczur); 2 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper (anon); 14 Yellow Wagtail late afternoon (Martin Honey, Yvonne Simmons) 2 Peregrine on Charing Cross Hospital, 1 Swallow on electric fence round grazing marsh, 5 Common Snipe and a pair of Lapwing with 1 chick on grazibg marsh (Martin Honey)
Pinner (HA5): Swift at last, Coal Tit & Goldfinch (Jon Ridge)
Purfleet: Little Stint, Turtle Dove flew E 0816, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Wheatear (Fraser Simpson)
Rainham Marshes: Wood Sandpiper (BirdGuides). Thieves operate in car park. Still no sign of birders rucksack, Zeiss 10x40B binoculars, Canon digital camera, fieldguides, irreplaceable notebooks etc.
Thames Ditton: 1 Swift N 17:40 (Martin Stevens)
Trent Park: 3 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Common Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch, m Bullfinch, Garden Warbler, pair Tufted Duck, 3 m Mandarin, Speckled Wood. ( Pete Lowman).
Twickenham: 3 Swift over Thames by Marble Hill at 1715 (Mike Foster)
Brent Reservoir: Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat in allotments (Andrew Self); plus 2 more Swallow, 9 Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, 4 Black-headed Gull, singing Garden Warbler by Main Hide, singing Lesser Whitethroat opposite Heron Hide, singing Reed Bunting, Black Swan (Andrew Haynes); Brent Birders, could I have contact info to obtain hide keys please? (Mark F); Hi Mark – info about keys is on the Welsh Harp Conservation Group website (AH). Thanks.
East Barnet: 2 Little Egret together over Brunswick Park at 10:15 (Frank Nugent).
Finchley: Garden N3 - 5 Stock Dove, 5 Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 2 Mallard N + 1 Cormorant N 16:20, 20 Ring-necked Parakeet (Samuel Levy)
Grovelands Park: 4 Great Crested Grebe pr with two small chicks, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose pr and four goslings, 5 Egyptian Goose pr and three goslings, 4 male Mandarin Duck, 4 Eurasian Teal 2m 2f - my latest spring record in the Enfield area! 24 Tufted Duck 15m 9f, Green Woodpecker, 11 Barn Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail pair (Robert Callf)
Isle of Dogs, Saunders Ness: Yellow-legged Gull (3cy) (Sean Huggins)
KGV Reservoir: S Basin 3 Black Tern, 1 Kittiwake, 6 Arctic Tern, 12 Common Tern, 60+ Swift, 6 House Martin, 8 Swallows. 7 - 7.30am (Davey Leach); pm 6 Black Tern,100+ Swift, 50 Swallow, 50 House Martin, 30 Common Tern (Tony Clancy)
Kingston Hospital: Pied Wagtail on roof (P.Redmond)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: 3 Arctic Terns N over Lockwood @19.30, also Oystercatcher & 2 Swallows (Lol Bodini/Jamie Partridge).
Westbourne Park, Meanwhile Gardens: 2 singing Blackcap, 1 singing Goldcrest, 1 singing Grey Wagtail, Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen all incubating (Charlie Farrell)
Tuesday 2nd May 2017
Alexandra Park: 4+ Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 2 Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Wheatear (male Greenland race, cricket pavilion), 2 Whitethroat (Bruce Carson); Wheatear still 1730 east of cricket pavilion, also Swallow, 3 House Martin Wood Green Res 1800 (Bob Watts)
Bankside SE1: Sedge Warbler singing in bushes just east of Anchor pub; Garden Warbler singing in community garden east of Tate Modern (G Sawtell)
Barnes Waterside: 4 Swift high N, singing Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (Neil Anderson)
Brent Reservoir: Whimbrel (E Marsh), Lapwing, Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, Common Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler (Steve Leeke per Roy Beddard)
Broadwater Lake: Cuckoo somewhere along adjacent canal (Dan Pinkham)
Covet Wood & Poverest Park, Orpington: 7 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 11.30-12.00 (Jamie Fletcher)
Croxley Common Moor: Little Egret, 2 Red Kite, female Sparrowhawk, 4 Common Buzzard (1 bird displaying), pair of Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Tern along canal, Swallow over, House Martin over, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, plenty of Common Whitethroat and Blackcap, 3 Garden Warbler, several Chiffchaff (Des McKenzie).
Deptford: 2 Sandwich Tern East down river 17:30 Greenland Dock (Gus Wilson)
East Barnet: Little Egret over Pymmes Brook at East/West Walk (Frank Nugent).
Edgware Road: Red Kite south mid morning (Jamie Partridge)
KGV Reservoir: Greenshank on N. Basin (S Bank), 12+ Common Sandpiper, 2 Arctic Tern, 12 Common Tern & 1 Little Ringed Plover on S. Basin. 12.20 - 12.50pm (Davey Leach); 2 Lesser Whitethroat, f Goldeneye (Chris Farthing)
Mayflower Park: Sedge Warbler, Swift 3 (Bob Smith)
Mill Hill, Angel Pond, Milespit Hill, NW7: Pair of Egyptian Geese with 8 goslings per Gill Taylor (Bob Husband)
Purfleet: 9 Bar-tailed Godwit on mud at mouth of River Darent/Dartford Creek (Fraser Simpson)
Staines Reservoir: Black Tern, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Gull (2 ads & 1 2nd yr). 20+ Common Tern, 2+ Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, small northerly passage of Swift (c10), Swallow (6+) & Sand Martin (12+) during period of low cloud mid afternoon (Bill Haines)
Stave Hill/Russia Dock Woodland: 4 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker (John Cadera)
Thames Barrier Park: Whimbrel feeding on the foreshore at 15:00 (Frank Nugent).
Tooting Bec Common: 1 Buzzard NE at 12:15, 2 Swifts (Alan Wilkinson)
Trent Park: 2 Garden Warbler by lower lake (Robert Callf)
Walthamstow Reservoirs: c55 Swifts, 6 Common Terns, Jackdaw west, Common Sandpiper (Jamie Partridge, David Bradshaw)
Wanstead Flats: f Wheatear, 6 Swallow, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 pair of Linnet, 5 Skylark, 4 m Meadow Pipit (Wanstead Birders)
Wanstead Park: Bee-eater reported by one of the locals (Nick Croft)
Westbourne Park Grand Union Canal: Grey Wagtail displaying, Peregrine (Francis O'Sullivan)
Monday 1st May 2017
Alexandra Park: Sedge Warbler singing near cricket pavilion car park, Swift, 3 Swallow, Little Egret NW (Gareth Richards, Bob Watts); Little Egret W, Swallow, Sparrowhawk N (early PM) (Sam Jones)
Brent Reservoir: 2 Snipe, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Tern, 20 Swift, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (Brent Birders)
Eastcote (Roxbourne Park along Yeading Brook): 2 Grey Wagtail, Swallow, Sparrowhawk (Tim Rymer); 2 Swift (Frank Nugent).
Hampstead Heath: 4 Whitethroats holding territory (Cricket hedge, Hedge 1, Hedge 2 and another on Pryors) Also Lesser Whitethroat singing occasionally from Hedge 1 and still one Willow Warbler, Swallow SE + juv. Blackbirds on cricket pitch (Pete Mantle)
Fairlop Waters: Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Swift. (Alan Thomas/Neil Twyford)
Finchley: Garden N3 - 5 Stock Dove, 5 Starlings, Jay, Sparrowhawk N 11:20, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Samuel Levy)
KGV Reservoir: Kittiwake, 4 Black Tern, Dunlin, 10 Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel dropped by for 10 minutes then off north 1915hrs (time corrected), Greenshank, Black Redstart singing, 7 Wheatear, 5 House Martin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat (Neville Smith).
Kingston Hospital: Pied Wagtail on roof (P. Redmond)
London Wetland Centre: Caspian Gull 2cy - one of yesterday's birds, 2 Yellow-legged Gull - both 2cy, 380 Herring Gull, f Wheatear (Greenland) still, m House Sparrow (J.Wilczur, R. Kaye); 1 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, 1 Common Whitethroat, Swallow, House Martins, Sand Martins, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 11 singing Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcap (E. side only), Ring Ouzel and Yellow Wagtail also seen, by others (Martin Honey); singing Chiffchaff (B. Whiskin)
Lonsdale Road Reservoir, Barnes; 1 Little Egret, 1 Whitethroat; 2 Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (John Gordon); John, was the Egret feeding or flyover? Thanks it was resting at Barnes end of reservoir
Oxleas Wood: Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Jackdaw, Common Buzzard, Song Thrush, Blackcap (m), Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Tawny Owl (calling 14.15) (Ron Turner)
Pimlico Gardens & river: 2 Gadwall, Yellow-legged Gull 2cy, 3 Common Tern downriver, Blackcap, Garden Warbler (N P Senior)
Pinner: Red Kite low over Pinn Way/St Martin's Approach at 10:15 (Frank Nugent).
Purfleet (obs across river to Darent mouth): Sandwich Tern downriver at 1801, 2 Little Gull upriver at 1558, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshank, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, min 5 Arctic Tern, f Whinchat, 14 Common Tern, 19 Swift north, Cuckoo, Wheatear, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, ad m Marsh Harrier, Common Sandpiper (Fraser Simpson)
Ruislip Golf Course: 6 Common Buzzard and 1 Red Kite over together at 11:00 (Frank Nugent).
St. John's Wood: Swallow north-east a.m. (Des McKenzie).
Sidcup: The Hollies: Pied Flycatcher in Oaks on bend of Acacia Way, disturbed by joggers and not re-located (Eric Brown)
Sidcup: Lamorbey Park: 2 Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk (Eric Brown)
Staines Moor: 2 singing Garden Warbler on Stanmore Path, 2 reeling Grasshopper Warbler SE Moor, Hobby, 4 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit over, 4 Swift (Nick Baker and Seb Sattin).
Staines Reservoir: 2 Black Tern, many Common Tern, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, many Swift, Black-necked Grebe (Jim Fell)
Stanmore Bentley Priory: 4 Lapwing, 40 Stock Dove on field south of Summerhouse lake 07:50, 1 m Mandarin on Lake. Mute Swan fly over. Personal site list now on 98 species (Richard Francis).
Ten Acre Wood area: 2m Pheasant, Buzzard, probably 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3-4 Lapwing, Little Owl, c15 Stock Dove, 4+ Skylark, displaying Meadow Pipit, c5 Swallow, pr Whinchat, m Greenland Wheatear, singing Garden Warbler, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Whitethroat, 16 Blackcap, displaying Sedge Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Rook over, 3 m Reed Bunting, 6+ Linnet, Bullfinch heard (Neil Anderson); Neil - despite volunteering for LWT and having worked on site I confess to not understanding the place - where were the Whinchat if you don't mind? (Dan Pinkham); All 3 chats were not too far from woods on area of dead weedy material by almost dried up pond by long hedge leading to wood on golf course development. Probably came down in the early hours rain (NA); I am grateful for that Neil and know a pond area thank you ok (Dan Pinkham); 1 Swift E at 10.00 (Nigel Dodd)
Totteridge Valley: Whinchat on fence at top of Lapwing field, Hobby SE at 08:40, Little Egret, 3 Lesser Whitethroat (Ian Ellis) ;3 Herring Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Linnet ('Cow' Field), 19 Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Common Buzzard, Starling, 11 Rook, 10+ Sand Martin N 15:50, 18+ singing Chiffchaff, 14+ singing Common Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush, 6+ singing Lesser Whitethroat, reeling Grasshopper Warbler still, 2+ Singing Blackcap, 3 Teal, 2 Swallow, 18+ House Martin through between 16:45-16:50 mainly NE, Bullfinch (Samuel Levy)
Trent Park: Lesser Whitethroat singing male 'The Clump' (Robert Callf)
Walthamstow: Oystercatcher between the Warwicks, Dunlin East Warwick, 2 Whimbrel N over No.5, a few Common Sandpipers, 8-10 Common Tern, plenty of Swifts and all 3 Hirundines. Lesser Whitethroat central path. 7+ Wheatears (Paul Whiteman, David Bradshaw)
Wanstead Flats: 4 Wheatear, 3 Common Tern, Rook, 2 Willow Warbler, House Martin, Sand Martin, 4+ Swift, Hobby, pair of Reed Bunting (Wanstead Birding)
Warren Farm Fields, nr Hanwell: 1 Wheatear and a singing Sedge Warbler (Bill Haines)
Woodberry Wetlands: 2 Shelduck, 2 Red-crested Pochard, Willow Warbler, 2 Swift, Sedge Warbler plus 2 Bar-tailed Godwits on the West Reservoir boating pontoons until 06:00 (Chris Farthing)
