24th April

Regent’s Park

A red letter day in this and Bushy Park today

Osprey: a bird flew high northwards at 8.20am.

Grey Wagtail: a bird flew towards the Mosque carrying food, so there could be 2 pairs breeding near the park.

Sandwich Tern: a single bird flew north at mid-day.

Swallow: 20 birds passed through.

House Martin: 6 were over the lake.

Lesser Whitethroat: a bird was sing from inside the Cricket Pen, area 30 this morning.

Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs: The former can be heard in most areas with enough cover. There seemed to be a few more Chiffchaffs around this afternoon.

Bushy Park

Short-tailed Hawk: one very high bird was thermaling high above Round Plantation before carrying on NW.

Arctic Tern: two birds flew SW over the Woodland Gardens at 9.30am, these really are clean looking elegant birds.

Kingfisher: one flew along the Longford River towards Brick Bridge.

Yellow Wagtail: one flew over the Brewhouse Meadow.

Common Whitethroat: 3 males and 2 females were present.

Willow Warbler: one was singing from the Round Plantation.

Blackcap and Chiffchaffs: present in good numbers`

Reed Bunting: 2 pairs were in the Brewhouse Meadow area.

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Short-tailed Hawk

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Hopefully the Skylarks in Bushy Park will soon be on eggs, if some aren’t already.

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The family at the eastern end of the Bandstand Island, area 7 are still steadily growing, though they are still not quite big enough to feature on the gulls menu.

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The male would break away from parental duties to confront a pair that are trying to build a nest further along the western edge.

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The two rival males

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I do not normally take Coot photos, I was just hoping a gull was going to swoop down and take it.

 

 

Comments

Not sure what a short tailed hawk is ......American?
Hi Des.
Short-tailed Hawk is not a species but a Sparrowhawk with a very short tail. Several years ago one was seen in Regent's Park on several dates. It is just that at first glance you wonder what the hell is that high flying raptor.