April 9th 2009

Wanstead Park:

• 2 Egyptian Geese around Heronry Pond (Jim Martin/AT/IW/TL)
• 2 Greylag Geese (AT/IW/TL)
• female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: at first we heard it's call then saw it fly over from one woodland to the opposite side of the woodland area between the open green which leads down to the Ornamental Waters area - It was near the top of tree which we manage to get a good look at and noticed it was a female....What a fantastic surprise and of course my first time in seeing one - Great!! (Alan Thomas/IW/TJ) male also seen by S. Fisher
• Green Woodpecker, various sightings and of course the usual yaffle noise which you can distinguish with the bird.
• Great Spotted Woodpecker, various sightings seeing both female and male in woodland and in flight.
• Female Sparrowhawk: in flight over open field and sitting on a branch in the woodland.
• Jays, up to eight in one area in the woodland also six of them in display with a couple also in territorial dispute.
• Grey Wagtail, A pair near the sub station opposite the river Roding in a small water area with a pylon in the background.
• Stock Doves, various pairs seen in the woods.
• Ring Neck Parakeet, single bird in the tree.
• Chiffchaff, singing just above where we were standing plus hearing a couple more whilst walking around in different areas.
• Jackdaw, we saw a couple in flight over open area.
• Blackcap, we heard and saw just briefly but couldn't see if it was a male or female as it was well hidden in behind some foliage.
• Song Thrush, we heard two singing within the same vicinity but unfortunately could not see them once again well hidden in foliage.
• Swallow, a pair seen flying and swooping over the pond feeding which was again very brief.
• Greylag Goose, a pair in the Ornamental Waters, and also the same pair seen flying from the lagoon over to another area which was within the vicinity. (Report: Alan Thomas)
• House Martin (over) (SFisher)

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• 5-7pm sightings from Alan Hobson, Steve Bacon, Jonathan Makengo and Daniel EHull
• 4 Shelduck together.
• 2 pairs of Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover being very vocal, and also displaying and showing very well.
• 2 Grey Herons
• Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Coot and Moorhens on the works
• Also, 20 Canada Geese and 2 Greylag Geese on the field opposite with 2 male Pheasants.
• at least 3 other Pheasant calling around the site.
• a few Lesser Black Backed Gulls.
• 3 Yellow Wagtail (2 male and 1 female) and 1 male Wheatear amongst the 20+ Pied Wagtails. (a lot more Pied Wagtails flying in at dusk.
• 3 Linnet, 2 Meadow Pipit and at least 4 singing Skylark.
• 1 Kestrel hovering.
• 2 Sand Martin lingering around the site.
• Green Woodpecker calling.
• 1 Stock Dove (over)

Barking: (just outside the borough)

• 8 Sand Martin around the River Roding near the A406 Barking/East Ham exit.