Bushy Park
Sparrowhawk: four birds near the Brew House, possibly a pair and two young.
Hobby: a very high flying bird was over Teddington Cricket Club.
Common Tern: two birds were over the water by the Diana Fountain.
Common Whitethroat: at least fourteen just north of the gate into the park by Dukes Head Passage.
Blackcap: a family party were with the whitethroats.
Willow Warbler: one was along the Dukes Head Passage.
Goldfinch: a flock of 12 flew west.
Sparrowhawks either playing or a territorial squabble
Hobby
Common Tern
On the floor in the Stock Yard
An early morning Green Woodpecker
Blackcap juvenile (above) and female (below)
Comments
Clear and fairly mild (15C) with brisk S (15-25 kph) wind that's been blowing for much of the week.
2 juv Garden Warbler, 1 juv Common Whitethroat (both in Cricket Pen, area 31 at 07:20), 3 summer-resident Chiffchaffs calling in areas 1, 10 and 19, 2 Willow Warbler calling - in areas 31 at 07:20 and 40 at 07:50, 1 juv male Kestrel (Wetland Pen, area 32 at 08:20), 135 Black-headed Gull (only one juv), 9 House Martin, 5 Swift. Little obvious passerine migration during the past few days, apart from a few Willow Warblers passing through.
(Yesterday they mowed down the thistles around the Hallowed Gorse - better known as the Chat Bush - in area 34 bordering the Open Spaces. However, they also laid waste to a plethora of other plant species that could have provided food and shelter for some of our most attractive migrants. The judicious use of a hand-scythe would have been better - if they need a volunteer next year, I'm up for it!)