29th December

Some of the highlights in the park during 2007


Great crested Grebes had a reasonable season with 3 pairs being successful.
Little Grebes found it hard going, young were killed by coots.
These Sparrowhawks found the feeding station in area 24 to their liking.

Two of the seven kestrels that fledged, the lower bird being rescued from long grass.

This Water Rail spent the winter by Hanover Bridge, area 2.
This adult Yellow-legged Gull is a regular visitor to the lake.
This Meditterrranean Gull pu in a very brief appearance.
Hopefully Common Terns will soon breed in the park.
Stock Dove numbers seemed to have dipped slightly, maybe due to the presence of Sparrowhawks at all the feeding stations.
The only Tawny Owlet of the year.
Two of the three Little Owl young, a real bonus.

Kingfisher in area 1, could this be the next new species to breed in the park?
Green and Great spotted Woodpecker, the only species found in the park. There was a reprt of a Lesser Spotted at the feeding staion in area 24 in October.

This was one of three Whinachts recorded this year.
Northern Wheater males in spring, the bird below is of the Greenland race. This was the first year that I did not see one during the autumn in 3o years in the park.

Last year this bird bred in the reed bed in area 26, this year it failed to attract a mate and moved to area 2. The wet spring caused birds to fail due to nests being washed out and a lack of food.
Greater Whitethroat, this bird also failed to breed due to the weather.
This species was recorded in slightly increased numbers this autumn.
Nuthatch, this bird spent 12 days in the park during July.
Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, numbers were down. Probably due to the lack of winds from the continent.

It was good to see parties of Goldfinch juveniles at the feeding stations and feeding on thistles and teasles in the park.
Greenfiches and a few Chaffinches sufered from trichomoniasis this autumn. At one point there were no Greenfinches coming to the feeding stations.
One of up to fifteen Siskins that have been present on and off since October.
Reed Bunting male singing by the boathouse cafe.





After last years record breaking year, we were two species behind on 120. I managed to see all apart from Honey Buzzard and Lapwing. You may think this total indicates a good number of passage migrants. In fact weather conditions on the whole were unfavourable. Below is a pick of the best sightings.

Hawfinch: 2 birds flew over the leaf yard wood 29/1.
Common Snipe: 1 by the edge of the lake 7/2 and another in the wetland 21/12.
Waxwing: 1 dropped in during a heavy downpour 3/3.
Water Rail: One over wintered and two birds were present in March.
Mediterranean Gull: 1 put in a brief appearance on the 7/3.
Reed Bunting: Two pairs were present, with breeding confirmed in one location.
Woodcock: 2 birds were present in two locations from 10/3 until 14/3.
Grey Heron: Young were in the nests from February until October.
Honey Buzzard: 2 singles were seen by Dave on 1/6 and 28/8.
Common Buzzard: A record year with birds recorded on seventeen dates.
Red Kite: 4 birds recorded on three dates from 6/4 until 14/4.
Marsh Harrier: Two singles, a female 14/4 and a male 10/10.
Jack Snipe: One was flushed from the wetland 14/4.
Tawny Owl: 1 pair raised 1 youngster, another pair was present in Queen Mary's.
Little Owl: 1 pair bred, the first record ever in Central London.
Stone Curlew: 1 bird flew low over the open spaces 25/4.
Little-ringed Plover: 1 flew south-west 28/4.
Turtle Dove: The only record involved 1 bird on 25/4.
Ring Ouzel: 1 female 28/4 and then 3 over on 8/10.
Arctic Tern: 1 over on 30/4.
Bar-tailed Godwit: 1 flew south-east 1/5.
Sandwich Tern: 1 north 3/5.
Cuckoo: Birds were recorded on three dates, the best year since 1980.
Hobby: A very god year with birds recorded on sixteen dates.
Kingfisher: One seen in February, then up to two from 27/7 until the years end.
Nuthatch: A scarce visitor, 1 was present from 15/7 until 25/7.
Little Egret: 1 flew east 19/7.
Firecrest: 1 male 10/10 by the bandstand.
Rock Pipit: 1 flew over 11/10.
Nothern Lapwing: The only record for the year was a sinlge bird 20/10.
Merlin: A male was present 3/11, when seen chasing finches.
Siskin: For the first time for many years birds have been present since October.