Regent's Park Birds

16th February

2012-02-16T18:24:00.001Z

Regent’s Park

Smew: the drake is still present, however this morning it was visible by Heron Island, area 8 looking from Longbridge. It was probably here due to tarmac laying work that was going on around the Longbridge Sanctuary yesterday.

Bushy Park

Common Buzzard: the bird is still present in the Brew House Field area.

Common Snipe: one was flushed from beside the scrape in the Brew House Field, viewable from the Iron Bridge area.

Common Teal: 11 birds were also on the scrape.

Water Rail: 2 birds were calling from beside the pools in the same area.

Redwing: 26 were feeding in the Woodland Garden by the Longford River.

Common Buzzard

Common Teal

Common Snipe

13th February

2012-02-13T15:49:00.001Z

Smew: the drake redhead is still present.

Goosander: Ten minutes after I had recounted the story of my sighting of 4 birds Dave, phoned to say that he had seen 3 flying SW at 9.00am.

Lapwing: Maggie texted me while I was in the middle of painting the bathroom to report a bird down on the Cricket Tables. I replied that I bet it won’t be long before it is flushed. Back came the reply that the bird was now heading off over St Johns Wood. They never have a moments peace in the park.

Redwing: 110 flew along the canal heading west at 8.25am.

Lesser Redpoll: 3 birds were in the Cricket Pen.

This Little Grebe was a casualty of the cold weather, it was very emaciated.

11th February

2012-02-11T16:49:00.001Z

Goosander: three drakes and a female flew SW at 2.50pm.

Smew: the 1st winter drake is still present in area 34.

Redwing: 650 flew through by 10.30am.

Fieldfare: 500 flew mainly SE also by 10.30am.

Siskin: 4 birds in the Cricket Pen, area 31 this afternoon.

Just a record shot of the Goosanders before the flew SW and into the sun.

These 2 pictures show 50% of the waterfowl present on the lake today.

Female Kestrel in the Wetland Pen, area 32.

One of the 500 plus Fieldfares that passed overhead this morning

Siskin female in the thicket opposite the gate into the Wetland Pen

10th February

2012-02-10T19:03:00.001Z

Regent’s Park today

Smew: the 1st winter drake is still present in area 34 & 35, the Longbridge Sanctuary.

Common Teal: still 29 birds present.

European Wigeon: 6 again on the main lake, though they do mix with the collection birds in the Longbridge Sanctuary.

Redwing: 170 flew over, again at least 30 were feeding in area 27.

Fieldfare: 220 flew west.

The birds look so different when they are in the shade

This Scandinavian Blackbirds bill is turning from black to yellow.

Bushy Park news

Common Buzzard: the bird is still present in the Brew House Fields Wood.

Redwing and Fieldfare: numbers were much reduced due to covering of snow on the ground.

Distant view of the Common Buzzard

My office is the behind the upstairs window, and nice and warm.

Lime Avenue

The Longford River (above) and the Brew House Field (below).

9th February

2012-02-09T19:33:00.001Z

Not much change in Regent’s Park and Bushy Park

Smew: Redhead male still present.

Common Teal: 29 present today.

European Wigeon: 3 pairs on the lake.

Lapwing: 2 birds were flushed from the open spaces, a fete that happens to all interesting grassland visitors.

Redwing: 150 flew over and at least 40 were feeding on berries in my garden.

Fieldfare: A similar number flew through and one was with the Redwings in my garden.

I do hate these noisy alien residents

Bushy Park

Lapwing: 14 birds were present in the paddocks.

Redwing: 180 birds were feeding in the Brew House Fields. Others flocks were seen flying over, in less number than the previous 2 days.

Fieldfare: 95 were also in the Brew House Fields

Lapwings doing a circuit of the Paddocks

What a difference some light makes to a Fieldfare

This Redwing really is red, compared to the ones in Regent’s Park

8th February

2012-02-08T17:46:00.001Z

Smew: drake still present.

Common Teal: There is still a small flock present.

Redwing: 200+ flew through, a small flock are feeding on berries in area 27.

Fieldfare: 94 flew west in small flocks.

Siskin: a male was singing in the Cricket Pen, area 31.

Bushy Park

Lapwing: a flock of 28 birds were feeding in the paddocks, could well be the birds seen yesterday.

Redwing: I didn’t get out much today, but I still saw over 400 birds flying through.

Siskin: 3 were in the Woodland Gardens

Lapwings in the paddocks

7th February

2012-02-07T18:54:00.001Z

Another day with birds on the move due to the cold weather. This time though I had my share of winter thrushes and other interesting birds in Bushy Park. First though lets start at Regent’s Park

Smew:The drake red-head is still present in area 34 & 35 and looking quite content.

Common Teal: 25 birds were present on the lake, the largest number recorded in the park since 1968.

European Wigeon: At least 2 on the main lake.

Northern Shoveler: Over 100 present today.

Gadwall: 40 on the main lake.

Redwing: 110 flew over, some birds can be found feeding around the park, particularly in area 27.

1st w male, the frosty looking mantle makes this bird standout from the Redheads in the collection.

Common Teal

Red Crested Pochard

Barnacle Goose (not wild)

Regent’s Park Herons are much more obliging than the ones in Bushy Park.

Common/Mew Gulls behave more like skuas when trying to steal food from the smaller BH Gulls.

Bushy Park

Common Buzzard: not having visited the Brew House fields this week I was surprised to see that the bird was still present.

Sparrowhawk: One flew into the Woodland Gardens spooking everything.

Woodcock: one was flushed from long grass bordering the Longford River.

Common Snipe: at least 3 were by the pools in the Brew House Fields.

Lapwing: a flock of 28 flew west over the paddocks.

Little Egret: one was again feeding in the Longford River.

Mandarin Duck: 24 were hiding away on the Longford River adjacent to the Brew House Fields.

Meadow Pipit: 4 birds were in the Paddocks.

Redwing: 2450 flew through prior to 12.00pm, no doubt many more were on the move as these are the ones I happened to see when away from my desk or when they flew over Lime Avenue, which my office looks out on.

Fieldfare: 300 in small flocks were mixed in with the Redwings.

Siskin: 3 flew away from the Woodland Gardens.

Mistle Thrushes

Redwing

Fieldfare

Common Snipe

Lapwings

Mandarin Ducks

6th February

2012-02-06T17:37:00.001Z

After months of very little bird activity Dave came up with some goodies today.

Smew: 1st winter male, first seen on the main lake at 8.25am before flying into the Longbridge Sanctuary areas 34 & 35. Here it soon joined the Smew in the collection and appeared to be feeding by the waterfowl feeding station. I managed to see it, when I returned home from West London. It was still present in the sanctuary but flew out on to the main lake when something spooked the wild birds in that area. It was relocated on the ice in area 6. I managed a few photos before it again took off and flew back to where it had come from.

European Wigeon: 6 birds were on the main lake, some of these also commuted into area 34 and back.

Common Teal: 13 birds were present.

Shoveler: At least 90 birds were present on the main lake.

Common Snipe: One was present in the rail ditch, area 2 this morning.

Lapwing: one flew west at 2.50pm. Belated news from yesterday, 4 were seen in the morning and 7 in the afternoon.

Fieldfare: 600 birds landed briefly in trees in Queen Mary’s Gardens before heading off SW at 8.10am.

Redwing: 1060 birds in large flocks flew SW prior to 10.00am.

Reed Bunting: a male was feeding on Bulrush seeds in the rail ditch, before then moving to the reed bed opposite. It couldn’t be seen later, but may have been feeding on the floor.

Siskin: 4 birds in the Cricket Pen, area 31.

Bushy Park

Redwing: 220 in several flocks flew SW.

Fieldfare: 4 birds were feeding on the ground north of the Woodland Gardens.

4 Red Crested Pochard were on the Leg of Mutton Pond

5th January

2012-02-05T16:10:00.001Z

Regent’s Park was covered in several centimetres of snow when I woke up this morning. I was hoping to see the continuing movement of winter thrushes and with luck some Lapwings. Although I wasn’t out that early the skies were very quiet with the odd thing passing over.

Curlew: one flew north at 10.40am.

Redwing: a flock of 75 flew north-east and a handful were feeding on Holly berries in area 27.

Curlew my first for many years

4th February

2012-02-04T13:03:00.001Z

Much of the boating lake is now iced over, with waterfowl concentrated around area 8. Other birds are now being forced to move due to this cold spell. I wonder if somewhere preferably in the park or at worst not to far away can produce a scarce winter thrush, something like an adult male Black-throated would be nice. Back to the park, my first walk about for a couple of weeks.

Red crested Pochard: 68 birds on the main lake.

Mandarin Duck: 46 hiding away on the main lake, they really can be hard to locate.

Fieldfare: 74 flew west.

Redwing: In the 2 hours I was in the park 380 flew over in no particular direction. There is no doubt a lot more passed through, as even from my kitchen window a couple of flocks headed west a few hours later.

Siskin: 4 birds were feeding in area 31.

Goldfinch: 36 birds feeding in small groups around the lakeside.

Redwing (above) drops in before continuing on it’s journey with

a passing flock (below).

This big yellow canary flew over my house yesterday not the most

melodic of birds.

2nd February

2012-02-02T17:39:00.002Z

At last some news for Regent’s Park

Common Teal: three birds on the lake.

Redwing: 5 flew through.

Siskin: 4 birds on the peanut feeder in the Wetland Pen, area 32. They can be seen from the viewing platform.

Bushy Park

Great Black-backed Gull: One was on the boating pond.

Water Rail: one was walking on the ice near the Iron Bridge.

Fieldfare: 100 plus flew south in two flocks.

Redwing: 220 plus flew south, while there were still birds feeding alongside the Longford River in the Woodland Gardens.

Siskin: The flock of around 40, were feeding in Alder trees also alongside the Longford River in the Woodland Gardens.

Redwing (above) and Fieldfares take a breather (below)

A fleeing Water Rail

Great B B Gull, for some reason the bright blue skies seem to have given my photos a blue tint.

This Grey Heron allowed me to approach reasonably close, normally it bolts before I get to within 50 meters of him.

1st February

2012-02-01T17:06:00.001Z

Bushy Park news

Meadow Pipit: 46 feeding amongst the ant hills north of Upper Lodge Road.

Fieldfare: 3 in trees bordering the Brewhouse Fields.

Redwing: 60 plus in trees along the length of the Longford Rivers western stretch.

Siskin: 40+ in the Woodland Garden by the Longford River.

A different Kestrel to last weeks bird

Quite nice feather detail on these corvids.

28th January

2012-01-28T17:43:00.001Z

I popped out to the Chilterns for a walk around the Xmas Common area. Kites were everywhere calling and pair bonding. Unfortunately we had hardly any sunny spells where we were. It wasn’t until we headed for home at 2.30pm that we were bathed in glorious sunshine. Then I couldn’t really stop on the M40, my wife would have gone mad, only joking I am not that irresponsible. Other birds of note encountered on the walk were Marsh Tits, Nuthatches, Redwings, Fieldfares and a drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Here are some poor kite photos, that mean I will have to venture out there again

Female above and male below

I am used to seeing Kites stuck in tree on Primrose Hill but never this many.

27th January

2012-01-27T18:16:00.001Z

I only had time for a quick walk up to the Brewhouse Fields today.

Common Buzzard: What I take to be Mondays bird, was chased from the wood near the Brewhouse.

Redwing: It is hard to say how many are present as they are scattered over much of the western side of the park.

The Common Buzzard is keeping an eye on incoming crows

After being used to getting up-close and personal with the birds, this lot, with the exception of the Mallards are quite nervous.

A bit of warm sunshine triggers the drakes hormones and the females have to take flight

26th January

2012-01-26T18:26:00.001Z

As things seem pretty quiet in Regent’s Park and in Bushy I thought I would post a couple of snaps that I have taken whilst I have been here. Today was my first attempt at getting a few bird photos. It has been a while and hopefully either Bushy or Richmond will come up with a few goodies.

The first few photos were taken either looking from my office window in White Lodge down the Lime Avenue towards the Diana Fountain or the other way.

One of the local vandals

Black-headed Gull and Common Gull

20th January

2012-01-20T16:47:00.001Z

Shoveler: 48 on the lake.

Common Teal: 7 on the Wetland Scrape.

Peregrine Falcon: a male flew over

Redwing: 2 were seen

19th January

2012-01-19T17:20:00.001Z

Work in Regent’s Park has started to extend the area of reeds in area 2. Hopefully it will allow more Reed Warblers to breed.

Birds in Bushy Park

Green Sandpiper: one was flushed from the scrape in the Brewhouse Fields. At the moment the scrape is viewable from the Iron Bridge.

Little Egret: one flew from the same area earlier in the day.

Common Teal: 5 on a pool by the Longford River.

Redwing: 38 still present.

Fieldfare: 1 perched by the Iron Bridge.

Siskin: 30+ in the Woodland Garden.

Lesser Redpoll: one associating with the Siskins.

18th January

2012-01-18T17:45:00.001Z

Lesser Redpoll: 3 birds are still present and were seen feeding in Silver Birch trees in area 36. Alas no Couse’s Arctic Redpoll with them.

European Wigeon: pair still present on the main lake.

Bushy Park

Siskin: 30+ birds feeding in Alders alongside the Longford River in the Woodland Garden.

Lesser Redpoll: one was also in the Woodland Garden.

Redwing: Still a flock around 40 birds commuting between the Woodland Garden and Holly Bushes by White Lodge.

Fieldfare: one in the same area.

15th January

2012-01-15T18:47:00.001Z

Norfolk yesterday was well worth the 4.40am alarm call. Well in fact I was awake before the alarm went off, thus not waking up Sally (my wife). I picked up Glen from Primrose Hill and off we went. I had arranged to meet my friend Mark and Trevor (his Dad) between 8.15am and 8.30am at Cley NWT Reserve. I was a little worried that the weather forecasters had mentioned fog and even though we drove through some small patches on route by the time we reached the North Norfolk Coast at 7.50am all we were met with was some high cloud and good visibility. We made our way to Daukes Hide, as we approached the hides the roosting Pink footed Geese began to leave, to feed on the farmlands of East Norfolk, amongst them was alone Ross’s Snow Goose, one of 2 birds in Norfolk this winter. Once inside the hide we set about trying o find our target bird, Western Sandpiper. At around 8.10am Mark and his Trevor arrived and within 10 minutes Mark drew my attention to some waders on the farside of Simmons scrape, going through these it wasn’t long before I announced that the Western was amongst a small group of waders. We watched the bird for a while until they were spooked by a Marsh Harrier. They were then very fidgety and would land and take off after a few seconds, this was our cue to move on. I then headed off towards Titchwell and would stop if I thought something might be on view. My first stop was along the coast road between Wells next-the Sea. We then starting scanning and it wasn’t long before I said b----- h---, which is not like me, when in the middle of my scope was a not to distant Rough-legged Buzzard. It was sat looking at us with not a care in the world. A fantastic bird in superb light, you couldn’t ask for more. It was spooked by something and headed away from us, but soon settled in a small pine plantation. We headed off, stopping next to look at a flock of grey geese in a roadside field. This consisted mainly of White-fronted Geese, with a few Grey-lags and a dozen Barnacle Geese. As time was passing and I wanted to be at Titchwell before the car park became to busy we carried on, only stopping when a very obliging Barn Owl sat on a roadside fence post. We pulled into the RSPB’s Titchwell Reserve at 10.15am, to find the1st car park full but the over-flow car park empty. Our target here was Coues’s Arctic Redpoll, a bird I had seen last year without confirming it’s identity, was later done. We stopped at the feeding station (one of it’s haunts), before moving to the main beach path. Here there was a group of birders looking at some redpolls feeding in some Alder tree’s. There were 11 or more Lesser and a single Common (Meally) present. After much scanning and looking at the underside of birds I picked out the Coues’s, it’s short stubby bill, small balck throat patch is a good clue to this birds identity. The pale rump is very hard to pick up, especially as it fed on the far side of the tree’s. After we had seen this for long enough we set off towards the beach, bumping into Lee Evans, who gave us a run down of what he had seen on the sea, 4 Long-tailed Ducks being the best of a good bunch. Unfortunately we were unable to find them we we reached the beach, though other ducks, auks and waders made up for it. Our stomachs were now in need of food so we headed back for some food (mushroom & stilton baguette) at the RSPB snack shop. After this Glen and I left Mark & Trevor, as they were here for the weekend and headed towards home stopping on route for a Great Grey Shrike at Fakenham and then hoping for Hawfinch at Lynford Arboretum. Unfortunately some irresponsible bird photographer had trespassed into the field and under the trees that the birds favour. For this reason the tally for the number of species I recorded was only 99.

European White-fronted Goose

Barnacles with White-fronted Geese(above) and Brent Geese(below)

Northern Pintails and female Shoveler (Titchwell)

Water Rail running between ditches at Cley NNT Reserve

Barn Owl in the mid-morning sun

Is it a bird or is it a branch? yes it’s a Treecreeper

Meally Redpoll (Titchwell) show large chin patch. The Coues’s Arctic Redpoll has a much smaller patch.

The broad wing-bar, lighter mantle, pale rump, light brown ear coverts and small stumpy bill are features differentiating Coues’s from Meally Redpoll.

Great Grey Shrike near Fakenham

Black-tailed Godwit looks to be going down the plug-hole

Sanderling (above) and Oystercatcghers (below) at Titchwell leaving their high-tide roosts.

With a couple of rarities only a quick dash down the M3 to the New Forest, it really was an opportunity to good to miss.

Dark-eyed Junco at Hawkshill enclosure in the New Forest

Just a short 10 minute drive from Hawkshill enclosure to Calshot was the Spanish Sparrow, present for at least a year.

Spanish Sparrow trying to hide amongst dense cover.

13th January

2012-01-13T18:58:00.001Z

Things in the park are still pretty quiet.

Common Teal: 3 birds were on the Wetland Scrape, area 32.

Fieldfare: 26 flew over.

Redwing: at least 10 flew over.

Bushy Park

Common Teal: 5 birds were on a pool in the Brewhouse Field.

Kingfisher: one flew along the Longford River.

Redwing: 36 are feeding in a Holly by White Lodge>

Siskin: The odd bird was seen flying over the Woodland Gardens.

I am off to Norfolk for the day tomorrow for some birding with some friends. Hopefully the weather will be kind and we will have a bright crisp day.

6th January

2012-01-06T17:07:00.001Z

Water Rail: one bird still present in the rail ditch, area 2.

Common Teal: 7 birds still present on the main lake.

Yellow legged Gull: an adult was on the post in the lake this morning.

Siskin: 2 birds flew over.

Lesser Redpoll: 1 bird flew over.

4th January

2012-01-04T18:56:00.001Z

Common Teal: 4 drakes and 3 ducks were present on the main lake, by area 8.

Redwing: 6 birds flew over.

Bird news from Richmond Park.

I only had time for a quick walk over to Pen Ponds. I do not know if these numbers are the average for this time of year, but if someone know I would appreciate it if they would let me know.

European Wigeon: 86 were on the lakes.

Gadwall: 116 were present.

Fieldfare: 2 were feeding near Holly Lodge.

Redwing: 16 flew over HL.

2nd January

2012-01-02T18:59:00.001Z

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.

Over-wintering pair of Firecrests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The both pairs of Kestrels had a good year

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

Common Whitethroats had 2 clutches in the Cricket Pen

Spotted Flycatchers found catching Wasps quite easy.

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.

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

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

1st Jaanuary

2012-01-01T11:01:00.001Z

Happy New Year

It would be great if during 2012 I could bump into at least one of these species, as I am unlikely to be having a trip to Southern Europe this year.

28th December

2011-12-28T15:00:00.001Z

European Wigeon: the pair were present and associating with the collection wigeon in area 35.

Common Teal: a pair were on the main lake by area 8.

Kestrel: the pair in area 32 were displaying and using the box that offers shelter from the prevailing winds.

Water Rail: the bird showed well this afternoon.

Tawny Owl: one was calling from area 40 this afternoon.

Little Owl: one was in a tall London Plane tree in area 25.

Redwing: 4 flew into the Leaf Yard Wood, area 40.

Chiffchaff: one was in area 31.

Goldcrest: 16 were seen on my walk around the park.

Long-tailed Tit: 65 in two flocks were counted.

Lesser Redpoll: 4 were in an Alder tree in area 31.

24th December

2011-12-24T09:57:00.001Z

Bird news from the park is still the same as it has been for the past few weeks. The only slight improvement is that the Water Rail has been showing a little better from the rail ditch in area 2. I will have to make an effort to take his photo for 2012.

21st December

2011-12-21T17:56:00.001Z

I popped up to Norfolk to drop off some presents to my wife’s family members. It allowed me to pop over to Cley to try and get some better views of the long staying Western Sandpiper. Fortunately Tuesday was a super day with glorious sunshine for much of the morning. The morning was all I had, before having to get back and take my wife out.

I arrived at Cley at 7.45am with the light gradually improving. As I changed my footwear and put my many layers on, that I hoped would protect me from biting NW wind, the Pink footed Geese were departing the reserve having roosted there overnight. It is one of the spectacles of visiting Norfolk, either here, The Wash or Horsey Broad. As the skeins of geese departed I was delighted to pick out a lone Ross’s Goose, that I later found came in with the birds the previous evening. For the birder who gave me that info he was an hour late getting to Cley and it was one of his targets. I headed off to Daukes Hide and after 30 minutes and with the sun just above the horizon someone picked out the little American sandpiper, though fairly distant, it did at times come closer affording great views though a little to far for my camera lens.

The Western Sandpiper is the birds 2nd from the right

They really do look Golden when the sun shines on them

Turnstone do what it says on the tin, turning stones.

Marsh Harrier

One of the 1000’s of European Wigeon that feed on the reserve

Even with a strong WNW wind blowing the sea was very quiet, bird wise.

Having enjoyed a pleasant morning on the North Norfolk Coast I returned to my wife, with the intention of going for a walk at Winterton. The weather however closed in and we decided to visit her sister and then drive along the coast road from Lessingam to Marham. It appeared very quiet, though having given my wife instructions to keep an eye out for the geese flock we drove slowly along the road. I pulled off the road just before Waxham Sands as I had seen some Pink-feet drop down behind an embankment embankment. Marsh Harriers were quartering the reeds by their roost site. I then noticed some necks moving along behind a grass pathway. They turned out to be 3 Tundra Bean Geese. They were possible the ones that I had seen a few weeks ago, near Sea Palling. We then carried on to Horsey Wind Mill and again stopped to scan. There was nothing on my side of the road, I asked Sally was there anything on her side. “A few geese” she said. I moved the car to give me a view of the field. In fact there were several thousand Pink-feet, 100’s of Golden Plovers and Lapwings. Towering over them there were 2 Common Cranes. The sheer number of birds and noise was really breath-taking. Unfortunately the dimming light made it impossible to capture.

18th December

2011-12-18T17:28:00.002Z

I do not mean to sound like a stuck record, but there has really been no change on what is present in the park. The only increase is that there are now 4 Lesser Redpolls, other than that the Water Rail, European Wigeon, Blackcap, Chiffchaff are all still present.

10th December

2011-12-10T15:28:00.001Z

At first it looked as if yesterday was going to be a one day.

1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Siskin and then 1 Lesser Redpoll, luckily for the latter it met up with two others that were feeding again in Silver Birch trees by the bank in area 36.

Lesser Redpoll with what appears like a pale crown

Apart from these there was little else of note, the rail still being hard to see.

Today was again quiet so here are a few gulls to look at.

Even though this Common Gull has a prominent ring on its bill, don’t be fooled into thinking that it is a Ring-billed Gull.

Adult Common Gull (above) and 2nd winter(below)

Argentatus Herring Gull (northern European race) larger and different primary pattern. 1st winter Herring Gull (below)

Standing on the edge of the lake in area 9 often produces good views of Stock Doves in flight as they fly between the islands.

7th December

2011-12-07T16:29:00.001Z

Not an awful lot happening, not that I want any cold weather, but that is likely to be the only way we get any new visitors to the park.

Chiffchaff: one was feeding with a flock of Long-tailed tits and Goldcrest in area 36.

European Wigeon: the pair are still present.

Northern Pintail: the drake is also present and like the above coming to feed in area 35.

As things are a bit quiet here are a few snaps taken on a trip to Norfolk, where I managed to connect with the Western Sandpiper at Cley, alas no photos.

A canopy feeding Yellow-browed Warbler at Titchwell

Green-winged Teal amongst 1000’s of Common Teal and at times really hard to locate, but not on this occasion.

The photo below shows how the Green-wing differs from the Common Teal.

The drake below caught his wing in water as he came in to land and ended up doing a cartwheel.

Black-tailed Godwit (above) and Little Egret (below)

Cley reserve and Pats Pool one of the areas that the Western Sandpiper likes to frequent, though in the last couple of days it has taken to spending time on Arnolds Marsh.

More Pink-footed Geese come in off the sea, Dark-bellied Brent Geese are present in large numbers and if you look closely amongst the flock you could find Pale- bellied Brent’s as well.

A strange posture

2nd December

2011-12-02T18:26:00.001Z

Not much to report, but still a couple of goodies still present.

Northern Pintail: The 1st winter drake was present again today.

European Wigeon: the pair are still present and have began to mix in with the collection wigeon in area 35, so a close check for both sets of primaries is called for. The birds do tend to look a little more nervous than the resident one’s.

Tawny Owl: a male was calling from area 40 at 11.30am.

Fieldfare: one flew over Primrose Hill.

Lesser Redpoll: one was feeding on Silver Birch cones in area 36.

Northern Pintail

25th November

2011-11-25T14:57:00.004Z

Fieldfare: 30 flew NW at 10.50am.

Redwing: there were several single birds encountered on our walk around the park this morning.

Yesterdays we had a business meeting in Norfolk that allowed us a quick visit to the coast.

Lesser Redpoll (Titchwell)

Meally Redpoll (Titchwell)

Coues's Arctic Redpoll (above and below)

Snow Bunting

Grey Partridges (part of a group of 11 birds)

2 Greenland White-fronted Geese (right-hand side foreground), European White-fronted Geese (background).

Brent Geese (good numbers were along the coast)

Pink-footed Geese (flocks were seen battling into a strong head –wind as they flew in off the sea)

Birds seen

Little Gull: 300+ flew west past Cley

Pomarine Skua: one flew west at Cley

Red-throated Diver: 30+ past Cley heading east

Little Auk: one flew west

Rough legged Buzzard: one at the western end of Holkham Pines

European White-fronted Goose: 65 feeding in a field by the road.

Greenland White-fronted Goose: definitely 4 possibly a few more in with the white-fronts but the flock took off when a tractor approached.

Meally Redpoll: 3 birds at Titchwell

Lesser Redpoll: 3 by feeding station, others heard flying over

Twite: 18 on the brackish marsh

Snow Bunting: one on the beach

Goldeneye, R B Mergansers, Eiders and Common Scoters on the sea at Titchwell.

23rd November

2011-11-23T15:13:00.001Z

I awoke expecting clear skies, that was according to yesterdays forecast for today. Unfortunately I was greeted with a misty murky sky. The only good thing to come from it was a drake Pintail.

Drake 1st winter Pintail in the murk. It was flushed from area 36 and instead of flying off circled the area several times before dropping down on to the main lake. You can tell that it is a 1st winter due to the lack of long central tail feathers, short scapulars, drab two toned bill. If you compare it to the photos below of an adult from the collection. Pintails do not breed in the SE especially in the London area.

The pair of European Wigeon are still present, mainly on the main lake, though still hopping over the bridge and feeding in area 36.

20th November

2011-11-20T20:30:00.001Z

I popped up to Norfolk this weekend to see my wife's mother in Stalham. I was hoping for a dry weekend, which I got, however I wasn’t expecting to wake up to fog on Saturday morning. It was patchy, with clear slots, this persuaded to push on to the North Norfolk Coast at Salthouse. The closer I got the clearer the skies became and although the sun hadn’t quite risen above a piece of wispy cloud but soon would. The coast was then bathed in glorious sunshine, the temperature though was only 6 degrees but a few layers would keep the chill out. Time was short as I had to be back to buy lunch and then go for an afternoon walk. My target at Salthouse beach car park was to be Snow Bunting, but they haven’t started feeding them yet and the flock of around 60 birds were very mobile. The sea was relatively quiet, but Red throated Divers were flying by and some were very close inshore, as was a female Common Scoter. Two Whooper Swans flew in off the sea and a few Skylarks had also made the journey across the sea. The conditions were calm but a slight headwind may have been the reason that three birds having gotten within 400 metres of the coast turned around and looked to land on the sea before turning around and coming a shore. I spent an enjoyable time here with only 4 other birders stopping briefly before heading off. I also had a distant Slavonian Grebe looking splendid in it’s winter plumage, a very contrasting bird, compared to the similar Black-necked Grebe that tends to look dirty in comparison.

Red throated Diver

Common Scoter (female)

Snow Bunting

Redshank

Shorelark on private grounds and a bit distant

During the afternoon my wife and I had a pleasant walk over Winterton Dunes, a very unique habitat. We didn’t see many birds the I was hoping to see Short-eared Owl.

This morning I looked out of the bedroom window and the visibility was poor with dense fog. I ventured out at around 8.00am but the fog was everywhere. It wasn’t until 9.50am that it began to brighten up and the sun broke through. As time was short I popped down to Waxham and the coast road. The fog was still on the coast but 200 metres inland there were patches of bright sunshine. Driving down to the coast I spotted three geese on there own, this arose suspicion in my mind and turning around and pulling of the road I sneaked up the side of a farm building. Though distant the birds turned out to be Tundra Bean Geese, a nice little find. From here I continued along the road towards the sound of distant Pink footed Geese. We had seen them yesterday but I didn’t stop. I pulled up by the entrance to a farm track, one I have always felt tempted to wander down. The geese were some way off and numbered at least 2000. It was hard to scan through them as there were bodies and necks everywhere. The farmer then pulled up behind me and I thought he was going to ask me to move. I was okay he was going to get some bales of straw and warned me that the birds were going to be spooked. That’s alright I told him I can get some flight shots. The birds did take off and checking through them wasn’t easy but I picked out White-fronted and Barnacle Geese. When the birds returned to the ground I picked out a couple of Greenland White-fronted Geese.

Check through the photos to see what you can find.

Tundra Bean Geese

The farmer puts the geese to flight

18th November

2011-11-18T14:26:00.001Z

Yet another quiet week, with pretty much the same cast.

Wigeon: a pair on the main lake do visit area 36 and feed with the collection birds. They fly off as soon as you approach them.

Shoveler: a slight increase recently, with at least 11 birds present.

Water Rail: one still present in area 2.

Meadow Pipit: a single bird passed over on Thursday>

Fieldfare: a handful of birds have been seen flying over.

Redwing: Birds were heard passing over the park during the dark on Wednesday evening.

Blackbird: Birds from the continent can be seen feeding on those areas with a good berry supply.

Chiffchaff: Single birds have been seen in area 34 and 40.

Lesser Redpoll: three birds are still present in areas 32 to 36.

Siskin: the odd bird has been seen flying over.

Lesser Redpolls (above) and Sparrowhawk (below) hoping for a meal

Continental Blackbird in area 32.

14th November

2011-11-14T14:20:00.001Z

Fieldfare: 36 birds in two flocks flew NE in very low cloud prior to 8.30am.

Redwing: one bird without a tail dropped into area 36 this afternoon.

Lesser Redpoll: Fridays three birds were feeding in area 33.

Siskin: a single bird was around area 32 this afternoon.

13th November

2011-11-13T16:48:00.001Z

Not much to report, we really want something more from an easterly direction. The light however was reasonable for trying to get a few photos.

Drake Mandarins were chasing the females around

There was a flock of 11 Common Teal on the lake.

Three Sparrowhawks were very much in evidence this morning causing panic at the feeding stations and amongst the Starlings

The Starling flock by the lake panic

There are not enough posts for the gulls to perch on

The proud owner of his own post (below)

Five birds are still present on the lake, a pair in the Longbridge Sanctuary, area 36.

The numbers of this pest are steadily increasing

11th November

2011-11-11T16:46:00.001Z

European Wigeon: a pair on the main lake, area 8 this afterrnoon.

Grey Wagtail: 4 flew south-west.

Redwing; 2 were seen flying west.

Chiffchaff: 1 in the Leaf Yard Wood, area 41.

Lesser Redpoll: 3 feeding on Silver Birch trees in the Cricket Pen, area 31.

Siskin: 2 flew over.

10th November

2011-11-10T15:56:00.001Z

I am sorry for the lack of action on the blog lately but it’s not my fault its the birds, there just hasn’t been many. If we do get a glimpse of the sun first thing in the morning over the next few days we could be lucky and have a good movement of birds.

Robin feeding at the Water Rail feeding station

Todays news;

Water Rail: one bird present but possibly due to the mild conditions and still plenty of natural food stuffs it only visits the feeding station occasionally.

Fieldfare: 12 birds flew SE.

Redwing: 25 Redwings flew west.

Lesser Redpoll: three birds were present feeding on birch seeds in area 36.

Siskin: 6 flew over.

Chiffchaff: one was with the tit flock in area 11.

Grey Wagtail: 2 singles flew over the lake, one of them doing a song display flight.

You may be interested to know that we have just started a major habitat enhancement of the lake in Queen Mary’s Gardens. We have removed the fish and ornamental waterfowl none of these will be returning apart from a pair of Black swans. The aim is to make it more of a natural lake with marginal and submerged planting schemes that we hope will attract wildlife to what at present is an area without much appeal.

Electro fishing being carried out in Queen Mary’s

The fish are taken out of the net and put in a basket and weighed.

The heaviest fish to be caught weighed in at just over 33lb’s

The long nest are pulled in after the sections were first electro fished thoroughly.

1st November

2011-11-01T15:11:00.001Z

Once the overnight rain had almost passed over London and only light showers to contend with there was a small passage of birds heading mostly to the west.

Crossbill: 2 birds flew south at 7.35am.

Fieldfare: 26 birds mixed in with Redwings flew west prior to 9.00am.

Redwing: 320 birds in small flocks headed west, just skimming the tops of the trees on occasions.

Wood Pigeon: 760 migrants flew high SW.

Chaffinch: 165 in small flocks headed NW.

Lesser Redpoll: 4 birds headed SW.

Siskin: 8 birds were seen, some landing in area 32 briefly.

Water Rail: the bird showed well between 8.30am and 9.00am in the rail ditch in area 2.

30th October

2011-10-30T19:39:00.001Z

I am back from what was a mixed week, bird and weather wise down on the Lands End Peninsular. With most days having a band of persistent rain and showers moving through, it was a case of waiting for that to move off and then get out. With the winds light it also meant that there wasn’t any significant movement of sea birds. Scarce migrants were few, though there were Yellow-browed Warblers in some of the valleys along with Red-breasted Flycatcher and Wryneck. On the clearer nights it meant that the following morning saw a passage of birds, mainly Chaffinches and Skylarks. However there were Bullfinches, Bramblings, Starlings and a few Reed Buntings. These birds would follow the north coast and then head off out over the sea in the direction of the states. At some point they would need to turn south or north-west so that they reach land rather than continue in a direction that would surely mean death.

On the rarebird front I did manage to see one lifer, a Bufflehead female on a small pond near the Lizard. I also had several good views of a Pallas’s Warbler at Porthgwarra. The most frustrating find was all to brief and one that I am sure others will disbelieve. I was birding the area around the cycle track that leads from Sennen to Lands End, an area that is my local patch while we stay at The Old Dairy. A Merlin was patrolling the area, looking for a tired migrant or not even a tired one. It had just flown a fairway off shore at had a finch species doing everything it could to evade capture. Fortunately after several close shaves the finch managed to get back over the mainland, where it then dropped down into cover. A good piece of entertainment, that had put everything on alert. My attention was drawn to two small birds that had popped up on a bush, Reed Buntings, not the typical habitat for them. Then about 2 metres away another bunting hopped up. It looked at first Reed Bunting like, apart from the fact that in all aspects it was much paler. Its primaries and secondaires were light brown, with obvious wingbars, the mantle was bodly maked, it’s underparts were very pale with very faint streaking on its flanks and its head pattern was also very light, with off-white eye and malar stripes.There appeared to be know obvious crown stripe either. Then before I could get much more on it or even raise the camera they were off. As it took off a faint pale rump was obvious. The birds gained height quickly and headed off out to sea, almost in the direction of the Isles of Scilly, on which Reed Buntings are rare. I hoped that it might be picked up on there, but no news came out. So Frustrating, but that is birding.

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler

Bufflehead

Chough at Lands End (above) and in Nanquidno Valley (below)

Raven

Common Buzzard being harried by a gull

Sparrowhawk and crow

Merlin female

Sparrowhawk and crow

Mediterranean Gull

Stonechat

Great Northern Diver

Rock Pipit(above)

To see more from Cornwall click on the link below

https://picasaweb.google.com/107267121003379671650/CornwallOctober2011

News from the park while I have been away concerned three days in particular.

24th Woodcock: one landed near the Nature Study Centre, area 1 at 12.15pm.

25th Short-eared Owl: one flew over Queen Mary’s at 5.40am. Water Rail was back in the rail ditch.

28th Short-eared Owl: 2 flew west at 8.37am.

also seen that day 15000+ Wood Pigeons, 100 Goldfinches, 2000+ Starlings.

21st October

2011-10-21T15:37:00.001Z

With the winds still coming from an unfavourable direction passage was again slow.

Lesser Redpoll: 16 birds passed through.

Siskin: 12 birds passed through, during the morning.

Meadow Pipit: 4 singles flew south-west.

Pied Wagtail: 16 birds in small groups headed west prior to 9.00am.

Grey Wagtails: 3 birds were around the lake.

The acorn harvest continues, the bird below has at least one in his crop.

Black-headed Gulls (below) can be seen clearing up food left after the waterfowl in area 35 have been fed.

I know that it looks as if I am always on holiday, it just happens to be the time of year that offers a good chance of finding something unusual. So I thought I would again ask for any interesting sighting to be left in the comments section while I enjoy a week away with my wife. We will be staying in our usual destination the Little Dairy, situated at Lands End.

19th October

2011-10-19T14:38:00.001Z

Yellow Hammer: one flew west at 8.05am, this is the first sighting since October 2005.

Skylark: one flew west at 9.05am.

Lesser Redpoll: two singles headed south.

Siskin: two flew west.

Pied Wagtail: a flock of 8 flew west.

17th October

2011-10-17T15:18:00.001Z

The clear blue skies over the weekend and again this morning made it very difficult to pick out many birds on migration as they flew over the park. So the expected arrival of birds from the continent possibly went on, but unseen by me. The only birds of note on Saturday were 1 Swallow, 17 Lesser Redpolls and 8 Siskins. Sunday was even worse with only the odd Redpoll and a few Song Thrushes.

Todays news wasn’t much different with the exception of.

Common Crossbill: 2m flew SW over the old golf and tennis, area 39 at 9.35am.

Redwing: one was feeding on berries in the Hawthorn hedge and the fruit trees behind area 39.

Blackbird: 14 were feeding in the same area as the Redwing, more than likely these were birds from the continent.

Jackdaw: 7 birds flew through, 4 SW and 3 NW.

Meadow Pipit: 6 singles flew over.

Lesser Redpoll: 2 singles flew over.

Siskin: 3 flew SW.

Common Crossbill: not the best photo, but I had little time to focus on it.

Redwing (above) and Blackbird (below) feeding in the area 39.

Blackbird female on passage

One of the 7 Jackdaws that passed overhead

Jays are very active going to and fro collecting acorns

Another aerial dog fight takes place high overhead

Great spotted Woodpecker coming into land

14th October

2011-10-14T16:07:00.002Z

The park didn’t quite have the XFactor today, the skies were just a little to clear to make picking up passage birds difficult. They were up there somewhere, though I did find some between 7.00am and 8.00am.

Wood Pigeon: 200 flew west.

Meadow Pipit: 12 birds in ones and two’s, some looked to land but no sooner as they touch down they were flushed by dog walkers.

Pied Wagtail: 4 fly overs.

Grey Wagtail: 3 flew west.

Fieldfare: twelve birds in small groups flew in from the north.

Redwing: 126 flew in a roughly westerly direction in small flocks.

Blackbird: None of the 4 very high flying single birds couldn’t be turned in to Ring Ouzels.

Song Thrush: 8 birds flew through.

Starling: 60 flew west in 2 flocks.

Siskin: 50 birds in small flocks flew south.

Lesser Redpoll: 4 single birds passed through.

Goldfinch: 46 birds passed through.

Jackdaw: one was perched in an Ash tree in area 1.

Sparrowhawk: 2m and 1f were seen, the males being harassed by crows.

Kestrel: one was also chased by crows.

Chiffchaff: 3 were heard.

Wood Pigeons fly past the BT tower

Fieldfares (above and below)

Sparrowhawk being hassled by a crow

Jackdaw

Black-hgeaded Gull grabbing a snack

13th October

2011-10-13T14:11:00.001Z

The horrible noise on the video clip is an aerator (machine used to oxygenate the water).

The weather was a little to overcast for a really good movement of birds, but there was a taste of what could be on it’s way over the next two days.

Redwing: 45 birds in small groups were seen between 7.00am and 8.00am.

Song Thrush: 5 birds that were probably from the continent passed through.

Meadow Pipit: 8 flew north.

Pied Wagtail: 6 flew north.

Grey Wagtail: 2 were feeding on the islands in area 34.

Chiffchaff: 4 were in area 32.

Lesser Redpoll: one flew west.

Siskin: 6 did a circuit of the open spaces.

Greenfinch: 24 birds flew SW.

Chaffinch: 46 flew west.

12th October

2011-10-12T16:19:00.001Z

Woodlark: a bird flew SW over the open spaces calling at 10.25am.

Grey Wagtail: one was around the lake.

House Martin: one flew NE at 10.00am.

Chiffchaff: 8 birds were seen or heard.

Blackcap: one was in the Wetland Pen, area 32.

Goldcrest: 14 were seen around the park.

Wood Pigeon: 250 flew SW at 7.45am, if the winds swing around towards the east then we should see large numbers heading towards France.

It could be worth getting out into an open area over the coming days as there is a good chance that we could see large numbers of birds heading SW. The best time to witness this spectacle is normally from first light until around 9.30am.

10th October

2011-10-10T18:52:00.002Z

I am back slightly the worse for wear after a very enjoyable week on the Isles of Scilly. Hours spent walking and looking for birds at a time of year when you don’t expect to see that many species or large numbers of birds on passage, though on occasions certain species ie pipits can be present in their hundreds. Prior to our visit there had been several passerines from America present, unfortunately the only one left was a cracking Nothern Waterthrush. To see this bird you had to spend time in a mosquito infested swamp at Lower Moors waiting for it to appear. Amazingly it was caught and ringed a mile away at Porthellick, which led to can we get there in fifteen minutes, as the bird was going to be released then. We had to call a taxi, this arrived in 5 mins, the drive was about 6 minutes. We got to a point on the road and set off towards the beach at least 5 minutes away. Then after not going to far a line of smiling birders came towards us, the bird had been released and had disappeared into bracken. We soon arrived at the area and was told the bird was about 10 metres away. The day was misty as it had been for the previous day and would be a bit for the next few days, affecting flights to and from the islands. A call went up and the bird appeared briefly on top of some bracken, before departing over the ridge and back into cover. We had a further 2 frustratingly short views of the bird before it disappeared. Amazingly it returned to its favoured patch at Lower Moors 2 days later, we would get another chance later in the week to catch up with it, without any of us getting bitten by mosquitos.

The rest of the week turned out to be very rewarding particularly for my friends, they added 5 new species to their UK lists. I only manged the one, though it was the best one. I also had the luck in finding a female Subalpine Warbler, only my second ever sighting and also a brief sighting of a Scandinavian Rock Pipit. This is a rare bird on the islands and this was the first sighting since 1996.

Below are a few snaps.

Pallid Harrier juvenile at Lower Moors

Pectoral Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs and Wilsons Snipe

Wilsons Snipe

Wilsons’ Snipe can be told from Common Snipe by the number of tail feathers and black and white barred underwing. This bird fanned its tail if it felt threatened.

It is also greyer toned on it’s upperparts than the brown of the Common Snipe (seen below).

Short-toed Lark

Subalpine Warbler female on The Garrison

Black Kite being mobbed by a Raven and a Carrion Crow

Greenshank

Mediterranean Gulls at Porthloo Beach

Northern Wheatear

Whinchat

Eurasian Linnets can be found in good numbers feeding in the small weedy fields. It pays to spend time checking through them in case a goody is hiding away.

It is not often that you get a photo of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth that has its wings in focus.

Birders watch the Buff Breasts doing a circuit of the airfield unaware that the Short-toed Lark has landed fairly close to them.

View across Lower Moors towards The Garrison

Park news

The winds while I was away were not in a favourable direction for bringing migrants to the park. It was with some relief that reading through the diary the only decent birds that I missed were 8 Crossbills 4th.

Today

Redwing: 5 birds flew north at 11.25am.

Meadow Pipit: one flew SW

Chiffchaff: 2 birds were in area 32.

30th September

2011-09-30T04:30:00.001Z

Spotted Sandpiper

I am off to the Isles of Scilly for a weeks birding, with luck there could be a new species for me there.

Please report any interesting park birds, by leaving details in the comments box.

27th September

2011-09-27T14:50:00.001Z

Water Rail: what we presume to be one of our returning birds was present in the rail ditch, area 2 this morning. This is the earliest autumn date for this species.

Swallow: 68 birds passed through.

House Martin: 2 were in with one party of swallows.

Meadow Pipit: 18 birds in small groups headed west.

Blackcap: 6 were present.

Chiffchaff: 14 were present.

Lesser Redpoll: one flew east.

26th September

2011-09-26T15:23:00.001Z

The weekend away turned out to be one of the most quiet Septembers that I can remember up on the North Norfolk Coast. Passerines were very few, with the best bird being an Arctic Warbler that was found late in the day, giving birders very little time to get there before it would go to roost. As is often the case it had gone the following day. We spent much of the time scanning the sea, Friday at Cley before moving to Titchwell and Saturday and Sunday again at Titchwell, though we did have a look around the Dell in Wells Woods, where nothing out of the ordinary was seen.

Arctic Skua

Arctic Skua pursuing a Sandwich Tern, making it regurgitate a fish, which it follows down to the sea.

Pomarine Skua

Sanderling

Knots leave their high tide roost site

Black-tailed Godwits

Bar-tailed Godwit

Ringed Plovers

Knot

There were some interesting happenings in the park while I was away. On Saturday around mid-day and later in the evening there was a report of a Wiskered Tern over the lake, it was reported again on the Sunday morning. Dave was around on both days and was soon on the site where there was know sign of a bird or birder. This is all very strange and to go with that report there was also a supposed sighting of a Pectoral Sandpiper on Hampstead Heath. This bird was also looked, the pond it was reported to be on had know mud for a wader to feed on.

Todays news

Swallow: 300 flew south in three flocks.

Meadow Pipit: 6 singles.

Chiffchaff: 6 were seen.

22nd September

2011-09-22T13:52:00.001Z

Since the 19th bird movement through and over the park has been fairly slow, with the same few species being recorded but in lower numbers.

Today with the wind abating a bit I was hoping for a slight improvement. The wind direction was still from a westerly direction, so not the best and today followed the same pattern as in previous days. The rail ditch has been cut so with luck we should soon see a Water Rail or two sneaking in and out of the reeds.

Swallow: 90 passed through.

Meadow Pipit: 35 over.

Yellow Wagtail: 1 west.

Grey Wagtail: 5 over, plus two regular birds in area 1.

Chiffchaff: 12 birds seen in area 32 and 39.

Blackcap: 6 seen or heard.

Siskin: 6 over.

Lesser Redpoll: 1 flew south-west at 7.25am.

Chiffchaffs at this time of year seem to all be different in colour.

This Stock Dove has a slightly strange plumage pattern on its crown and right wing.

Ruddy Darter

I am off to Norfolk for a long weekend, so anyone birding in the park please leave me details of any interesting sightings.

18th September

2011-09-18T14:47:00.001Z

With the wind swinging around to the west, the past couple of days have been a little slow.

Kingfisher: yesterday a bird was seen in area 1 and 34.

Swallow: small numbers were seen both days.

House Martin: 6 birds were over the lake yesterday.

Yellow Wagtail: one flew over yesterday.

Meadow Pipit: small numbers were seen both days.

Chiffchaff and Blackcaps are present in small numbers.

Spotted Flycatcher: one was moving between area 40 & 41.

The flycatcher was very vocal and it also gave me the chance to improve on last weekends wing stretching bird.

16th September

2011-09-16T16:11:00.001Z

Common Snipe: one was flushed from a patch of long grass on the open spaces at 7.20am.

Hobby: possibly a very high flying juvenile seemed to be struggling in the stiff breeze.

Sparrowhawk: three birds were in the air together at 11.35am.

Collared Dove: one flew through Queen Mary’s Gardens.

Swallow: 360+ flew through, most of them at a really high altitude.

Sand Martin: a flock of 15 flew SE at 7.05am, which signalled the start of the hirundine passage that started with a rush, slowed up and then another rush was noted mid morning.

House Martin: 210+ flew through.

Tree Pipit: one landed in a tree for around 5 minutes mid morning, before heading off eastwards.

Meadow Pipit: 55 were seen, the passage being lighter than yesterdays.

Grey Wagtail: six birds flew through.

Whinchat: possibly yesterdays bird was seen to fly off at 6.55am.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are still present in reasonable numbers.

Sparrowhawks

Ruddy Darter

15th September

2011-09-15T17:34:00.001Z

Little Egret: one flew east at 7.45am. I am surprised we do not have more sightings of this species. It is one of a small band of birds who’s numbers are increasing steadily in the UK.

Honey Buzzard: a very high flying bird was undoubtedly this species, but it was so high and distant that I will not be claiming it to be one.

Common Buzzard: seven birds flew through between 11.25am and 1.00pm, the most seen together were a group of three.

Peregrine Falcon: there was a high flier over the Zoo at 1.50pm.

Sparrowhawk: three birds were seen.

Barn Swallow: 480 were seen passing through, most of them at a really high altitude. These were just the one’s that I saw, the passage steady throughout the day.

House Martin: these too were on the move, with 230 observed, though many more must have passed through.

Yellow Wagtail: 2 singles headed south-west.

Grey Wagtail: three were around the pond in the Nature Study Centre, area 1.

Northern Wheatear: one turned up late in the day, by the gorse bushes in area 34.

Whinchat: one was in the company of the above species, well they were in the same area.

Meadow Pipit: 60 headed SW, though others were heard but not seen.

Spotted Flycatcher:2 were in area 39.

Chiffchaff: at least 22 were around the park.

Linnet: one flew SW at 7.55am.

Shoveler: 10 were on the lake.

Migrant Hawker (above) and Ruddy Darter (below)

14th September

2011-09-14T16:25:00.001Z

Swallow: 55 flew through.

House Martin: 26 were over the lake at 7.50am.

Yellow Wagtail: 2 singles flew SW.

Grey Wagtail: one local bird and 2 passage birds.

Meadow Pipit: 30 flew through, with more heard than seen due to the clear blue skies, which makes it really hard to pick birds up.

Spotted Flycatcher: 2 birds were in the Lime trees just west of area 39.

Chiffchaff: birds were seen around the park.

Blackcap: as with the above species, birds were around most suitable locations.

Jackdaw: one was perched in area 1 at 10.30am.

Siskin: one flew through.

13th September

2011-09-13T16:25:00.003Z

Spotted Flycatcher: two in area 32 and one in area 39.

Common Redstart: a 1st winter male was present in the Old Golf/tennis School.

Lesser Whitethroat: one also in area 39.

Common Whitethroat: one in the Cricket Pen, area 31.

Blackcap: at least 8 in area 34.

Willow Warbler: two in area 39.

Chiffchaff: fifteen present.

Swallow: a passage of at least 160 were seen between 7.15am and 8.00am.

Meadow Pipit: a 155 flew SW in flocks of up to 30, prior to 8.45am.

Tree Pipit: one flew west at 7.25am.

Lesser Redpoll: the first of the autumn flew SW.

Siskin: one flew over area 1.

Three Kestrels were in area 32 this morning.