23rd May

Bushy Park

Not much to report, I have been on the hunt for these little blighter, to show some volunteers. They will be assisting me in surveying the park looking for them.

The birding highlight seen during my search was a fly through Turtle Dove at 8.50am. Other birds that  caught my attention were at least 5 Skylarks singing in the SE section of the park, nearby were several pairs of Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. South of Upper Lodge Road at least 4 Skylarks were also singing. In the skies Swifts were courting and feeding on the sheltered sides of the trees or low over the water by The Diana Fountain.

21st May

It has been and will continue to be a busy week for me this week. We are conducting a series of OPM training for the volunteers. Mind you the weather isn’t the best for finding that skulking passerine or leisurely flapping raptor.

I popped into the Wetland Pen on my way home and sat in the car hoping to get a decent shot of the pair of Reed Warblers that I hope will breed there. When they did show they were hidden by reed stems. However the local Kestrel came to investigate what I was doing and the Shelduck pair dropped in.

The sun popped out briefly before disappearing again. As normal it reappeared late in the day.

 

19th May

Regent’s Park

Again another quiet day, the best being;

Yellow-legged Gull: am adult was harassing the terns, causing them to keep moving posts.

Sand Martin: 4 flew north at 7.40am.

Reed Warbler: 4 males singing.

The Common Terns appeared to be snatching insects from the surface of the lake.

A Jay found the Long-tailed Tits nest

18th May

Regent’s Park

Really very little change.

Little Grebe: 6 pairs present:

Kestrel: the eggs may have hatched in area 32.

Common Tern: pair present.

Little Owl: one was calling from area 25.

Grey Wagtail: a pair collecting nesting material in area 9.

Common Swift: at least 28 over the lake.

House Martin: 10 amongst the Swifts.

Barn Swallow: one joined the above over the lake briefly at 9.15am.

Reed Warbler: 3 males singing.

Common Whitethroat: 3 present.

Blackcap: 9 males singing.

Chiffchaff: 5 males.

Little Grebe in pursuit of a rival male

 

16th May

I have had quite a busy couple of days which has not allowed me to get any or very little birding in. It has also got to that time of the year where the spring migration has almost come to an end. There has been a few goodies back in Regent’s Park.

Yesterday

Common Tern: the pair were still present.

Cuckoo: one flew across the Wetland Pen heading east at 7.50am.

Common Sandpiper: 2 birds were around the lake.

Garden Warbler: one was by the old Golf/Tennis School, area 39.

Common Whitethroat: a pair and a couple of males were present.

Today

Common Sandpiper: one present around area 8.

Common Tern: pair still on the lake.

Sedge Warbler: one was feeding and singing quietly in the hedge bordering area 32 and 33.

12th May

Regent’s Park

After  an absence of several years I conducted my first two Bird Walks in the park, one on Friday evening and another today. I was asked by the Marylebone Bird Society over a year ago if I would be able to lead them on a walk of the park. I said that I always like to keep the groups small so that everyone keeps together, meaning everyone has the chance to see something rather than turning up after the bird has bolted. To give more of the members a chance to come along I agreed to carryout these two walks. The cool weather over the last few days meant the Friday walk was a little quiet though things this morning were slightly better. I am just pleased that those that attended enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the park.

Most of the species listed below were seen on the walk.

Common Shelduck: 3 wild birds are still present.

Common Buzzard: one flew north at 10.50am. I had mentioned to those on the walk that it looked good for this species. The downside to this sighting was that it flew over my lodge after the walk.

Common Tern: pair again present.

Little Owl: one was seen on the walk.

Grey Wagtail: one was commuting back and forth to its nest site somewhere to the south of the park.

Pied Wagtail: a pair were collecting nesting material from area 9.

Swift: a handful were over the lake,  while small numbers were seen almost anywhere.

Swallow: one was over the lake.

Reed Warbler: a pair were in the Wetland Pen.

Chiffchaff: two were heard on the walk.

Spotted Flycatcher: having not seen yesterdays bird and then catching a glimpse of what I thought was a flycatcher on the walk I returned in the afternoon and saw one. It was again on the island in area 34, while a second bird was in area 14.

 

 

11th May

Regent’s Park

Red crested Pochard: one pair have managed to keep 4 youngsters out of the reach of the large gulls.

Common Tern: a pair were on the lake at 6.30am another pair was seen later.

Swift: 16 were over the lake.

House Martin: at least 6 were over the lake.

Swallow: two birds fed low over the lake at 7.30am.

Reed Warbler: 4 birds were singing from the reed beds.

Blackcap: 8 males were heard singing.

Common Whitethroat: one still present in area 40.

Willow Warbler: one was singing in the Wildlife Garden.

Chiffchaff: 5 birds were singing.

Jackdaw: 4 flew NE at 8.00am.

Pair of Mandarins in the Wetland Pen

Several pairs of LBB Gulls are now breeding with the Herring Gulls on Heron Island.

The female Lesser spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the Round Plantation again on Friday.

In recent weeks I have seen several very high flying Jays heading east.