Just to let you know that I am off to Lands End for a week. Before you say anything, know I have just come back from that end of the country. This time it’s a holiday for my wife, so not dawn to dusk birding. With luck I will see something of interest, although the forecast isn’t looking that promising. If you do see something of interest in any of the parks please let me know.
Purple Sandpipers at their high tide roost in Sennen Cove
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Primrose Hill lookout 08.00-09.00: c160 Redwing N, c40 Fieldfare N, c120 Woodpigeon W/SW, 20 Chaffinch. Also 4 Common Gull (three on lake fenceposts), 7 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler. One Redwing was feeding on Park lawn by Winfield House perimeter, area 4 in late morning.
c3080 Woodpigeon S (mostly 07:00-07:30GMT along two parallel flight paths about 1km E & W of Primrose Hill lookout), c90 Fieldfare NW, 14 Redwing NW, 90 Chaffinch W/NW; also 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Common Gull, 2 Shoveler.
♂ Brambling (feeding in Old Golf School wildlife pen, area 39 before flying toward zoo at 08:15), 11 Chaffinch, 4 Teal (low over Longbridge sanctuary viewing platform, area 34 at 06:50), 8 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 2 Fieldfare S, 2 Redwing S.
Eurasian Woodcock flushed from thicket at NW corner of Holford Field, area 40, then flew over Outer Circle toward Regent's Canal at 08:20.
Based on my knowledge of its close relative the American Woodcock, to me this area is the best accessible Eurasian Woodcock habitat in the Park. For anyone who's flushed woodpigeons from that location, woodcocks in flight look rufous-brown rather than brownish-grey and lack white wing flashes. They have a distinctive flight pattern: fast, twisting and low, quickly dropping into suitable cover again - blink and you'll miss them!
I am sorry that for some reason it takes you a long time view my blog. When I am checking it on other appliances it may take up to 20 seconds but that isn't the norm. I will check with my son to see if he has any suggestions.