2nd January

Below is a checklist of birds recorded last year (the one’s with circles next to them). The number is down on the last few years, which I put down to a lack of suitable weather systems during the migration periods. I am sure that it wasn’t that due to bad birding and lack of effort.

Little Grebe

O

Mediterranean Gull

O

Mistle Thrush

O

Great crested Grebe

O

Black-headed Gull

O

Redwing

O

Great Cormorant

O

Common Gull

O

Song Thrush

O

Little Egret

O

Herring Gull

O

Sedge Warbler

O

Grey Heron

O

Yellow Legged Gull

O

Eurasian Reed Warbler

O

Mute Swan

O

Lesser Black-backed Gull

O

Lesser Whitethroat

O

Grey lag Goose

O

Great Black-backed Gull

O

Greater Whitethroat

O

Canada Goose

O

Common Tern

O

Blackcap

O

Eygptian Goose

O

Feral Rock Dove

O

Garden Warbler

O

Common Shelduck

O

Stock Dove

O

Wood Warbler

Mandarin Duck

O

Collared Dove

O

Willow Warbler

O

Mallard

O

Turtle Dove

Chiffchaff

O

Eurasian Wigeon

O

Wood Pigeon

O

Goldcrest

O

Gadwall

O

Rose-ringed Parakeet

O

Firecrest

O

Northern Pintail

O

Cuckoo

O

Spotted Flycatcher

O

Northern Shoveler

O

Tawny Owl

O

Pied Flycatcher

O

Common Teal

O

Little Owl

O

Red Breasted Flycatcher

Red Crested Pochard

O

Short-eared Owl

O

Long-tailed Tit

O

Common Pochard

O

Swift

O

Blue Tit

O

Tufted Duck

O

Kingfisher

O

Great Tit

O

Greater Scaup

O

Great Spotted Woodpecker

O

Coal Tit

O

Common Scoter

Green Woodpecker

O

Nuthatch

Ruddy Duck

O

Woodlark

O

Treecreeper

Common Buzzard

O

Eurasian Skylark

O

Jay

O

Europea Honey Buzzard

O

Barn Swallow

O

Magpie

O

Red Kite

O

Sand Martin

O

Carrion Crow

O

Marsh Harrier

O

House Martin

O

Rook

O

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

O

Tree Pipit

O

Jackdaw

O

Osprey

O

Meadow Pipit

O

Starling

O

Common Kestrel

O

Water Pipit

O

House Sparrow

O

Eurasian Hobby

O

Pied Wagtail

O

Brambling

Peregrine Falcon

O

Grey Wagtail

O

Chaffinch

O

Water Rail

O

Yellow Wagtail

O

Greenfinch

O

Moorhen

O

Wren

O

Common Crossbill

O

Coot

O

Hedge Accentor

O

Siskin

O

Eurasian Golden Plover

O

Robin

O

Lesser Redpoll

O

Northern Lapwing

O

Common Redstart

O

Linnet

O

Jack Snipe

Stonechat

Reed Bunting

Common Snipe

O

Whinchat

O

Yellow Hammer

O

Woodcock

O

Northern Wheatear

O

Wryneck

O

Whimbrel

O

Ring Ouzel

O

 

Curlew

O

Blackbird

O

 

Common Sandpiper

O

Fieldfare

O

TOTAL

116

This table is a checklist I produced at the start of the year with the birds I was expecting/hoping to see. There are one or two that I included that are there because it is nice to have great expectations. I did swap Water Pipit for Rock Pipit and added Wryneck.

Below are a few of my favourite photographs, some may not win prizes but they have meaning to me and the park.

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Over-wintering pair of Firecrests

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It is a strange why Common Pheasants should choose to travel through London, this one was present for a couple of months.

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One of three Tawny Owlets by St Johns Lodge (secret garden).

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Watching this Herons nest at eye-level was a real treat

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I was surprised by the size of Perch that the BH Gulls and Common Terns could swallow.

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These 2 male Common Shelduck kept on scrapping over who would court the only female.

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Not ringed in Central London, I wonder where this bird got his bracelet

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It was a very good spring for Common Buzzard, autumn numbers were disappointing

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Again Sparrowhawks were seen throughout the year and juveniles from August onwards. We still are uncertain as to where they are nesting.

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This Wryneck present on 30th April was certainly the bird of the year.

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The Little Owls again proved a pleasant early morning distraction and produced 3 young

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The both pairs of Kestrels had a good year

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Pergrine Falcon juvenile (top) and Hobby (above) both species bred in London

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Common Whitethroats had 2 clutches in the Cricket Pen

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Spotted Flycatchers found catching Wasps quite easy.

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Whinchats have a tough time finding a spot to rest up and feed. The small patch of gorse by area 36 is always worth checking during August and September. With luck a Stonechat could also drop in.

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A Kingfisher played hard to see as it moved from one area to another during the autumn.

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Not the best photo, but it was still great to catch one of the 2 birds that flew over the Old Golf and Tennis School during October

The 1st winter drake Pintail was another bird that wasn’t really expected

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Comments

castlehaven said…
Tony,
happy New Year!Many thanks for reposting so many of the pictures - I remember the Firecrest very well,te bet I've seen! More power to you with your efforts. I will be trying to spend more tie in the Park this year (though not today, hat with the weather!)
Hi Francis.

Even though I said it was a slightly disappointing year, there were still some memorable days. Today was absolutely fowl, fortunately I was inside my new base in Bushy Park.
Bloody marvellous

Still gutted about the Wryneck....I missed it

Have a great new year