Regent's Park 12th to 14th September
After 5 weeks off work trying to get over the affects of Lyme disease I finally returned to work on Wednesday. I know I have missed some good birds i.e 3 Pied Flycatchers and 3 Spotted Flycatchers sitting in the same tree. By mid September the passage of summer visitors to Europe has been going on for 7 weeks at least. In Regent's Park it normally means that things will become much quieter, with the exception of the passage of Swallow and Martins. Numbers of the latter is nowhere near what it used to be, however Swallow numbers can still be impressive. The 13th was one such day, over 1600 birds passed over the park, some birds were really high and needed to be on the alert in case a local Hobby was after a meal. Not all birds are flying 1000's of feet above the park some are less than a foot above the ground. In general the numbers of migrants and migrant species that have been seen this year has been low.
Below are some photos that I have managed to take in the last 3 days.
Whinchat: this female was present in the Chat Bushes on the 12th and 13th.
After 5 weeks off work trying to get over the affects of Lyme disease I finally returned to work on Wednesday. I know I have missed some good birds i.e 3 Pied Flycatchers and 3 Spotted Flycatchers sitting in the same tree. By mid September the passage of summer visitors to Europe has been going on for 7 weeks at least. In Regent's Park it normally means that things will become much quieter, with the exception of the passage of Swallow and Martins. Numbers of the latter is nowhere near what it used to be, however Swallow numbers can still be impressive. The 13th was one such day, over 1600 birds passed over the park, some birds were really high and needed to be on the alert in case a local Hobby was after a meal. Not all birds are flying 1000's of feet above the park some are less than a foot above the ground. In general the numbers of migrants and migrant species that have been seen this year has been low.
Below are some photos that I have managed to take in the last 3 days.
Hobby
Swallow
Sparrowhawk: This species will also pick off hirundines given the chance, however a thermaling Sparrowhawk is a target for the local corvids.
Common Buzzard: on days with ideal thermaling condition I am sure the skies over London have good numbers of these birds moving around
Whinchat: this female was present in the Chat Bushes on the 12th and 13th.
Green Woodpecker: this juvenile had possibly just had a bath in the pool in the Chat Enclosure, area 39. This enclosed area, though not open to the public has a viewing point opposite the pool. Nearly all the following passerine photos were taken in this area unless stated otherwise.
Spotted Flycatcher: 4 birds appeared to drop down in a very brief shower at least 2 remained for 3 days.
Spotted Fly's like to use the highest branches, especially the dead one's to sail out and catch an insect.
Not easy to see but there is a Spot Fly in this Poplar tree in area 41, which is probably 1 of the birds from area 39 as it only a stone's throw away.
Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
These 2 Chiffchaff images were of a bird visiting the bird bath in my garden
Blackbird: there is a good supply of fruiting trees and shrubs in the enclosure.
Song Thrush
Robin
Goldfinch: This bird unfortunately has scale on his legs.
Greenfinch:
These 2 images were taken at the drinking pool in the Leaf Yard wood, the Great Tit has some white tail feathers
Most of the breeding is now complete, these Great crested Grebes and Little Grebe can often rear all their chicks at this time of the year because the Coots and Gulls have all reared their young and aren't quite so interested in these chicks when they are a few days old. After 2 weeks they are alert enough to look after themselves.
Willow Emerald Damselfly: This species was seen for the first time in Regent's Park last year by the cascade in area 14. I didn't see that one but found this one in the Wetland Pen on Friday. That day I failed to bring my camera and took some photos with my phone, they were awful. Lucky for me I managed to find it in a nearby area on Saturday.
Red Kite: This is one of my favourite species, mainly because growing up it was so scarce and on the verge of extinction. Well that's not likely to happen now. This bird was being mobbed in Richmond Park yesterday.
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