May 31st 2009

Wanstead Park:

• Canada Goose, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck,
• Cormorant, Grey Heron, Herring Gull,
• Hobby, Sparrowhawk,
• Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren
• Swift,
• Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff
• Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Starling
• Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit,
• Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie,
• Chaffinch (via Tajinder Lachhar)
• 2 Ring Necked Parakeets chasing off 5 Squirrels from the dell. (Sally Hammond)
  

Wanstead Flats:

• Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Coot, Mallard, Moorhen, Tufted Duck
• Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon
• Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Wren
• Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Swift
• Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker,
• Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull
• Blue Tit, Whitethroat,
• Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, House Sparrow, Starling (Tajinder Lachhar)

Barking: near A406: (just outside the borough)

• at least 6 Sand Martins over the River Roding

Woodford Green:

• Mistle Thrush pair noisy around nest, also at least 5 Goldfinches around the Broadmead Estate (Daniel Erickson-Hull)

Wanstead:

• Red Kite flying fairly low (100ft) north, over Lakehouse Estate at 2.15pm. (Tim Harris)

Hainault:

• 40+ Lesser Black Backed Gulls on the Car Boot field south of Hainault Golf Course, (including a numebr of juvenlie birds)

May 30th 2009

Claybury Park:

• Kestrel on nest.
• Blackcap singing, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat
• Dunnock singing
• Pied Wagtail
• Swift overhead
  
• Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker,
  
• Coot, Mallard Duck, Moorhen,
  
• Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit,
  
• also: Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Mistle Thrush, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Starling, (via Tajinder Lachhar)

Ashton Playing Fields:

• Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker all heard in the area to the north of the playing field. (8pm)

Woodford Green:

• 6 Goldfinches on Broadmead estate.
  

May 29th 2009

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• 11 Grey Herons present (10 on the south side, 1 on the north), that is the most reported at one time.
• The Mute Swan on the north side is off the nest, but with only 1 Cygnet
• several families of Mallard and Canada Geese
• lots of Coot, Moorhen and Tufted Duck.
• Great Crested Grebe, 2 male Pochard, 1 pair of Shoveler and 1 male Gadwall on the north side.
  
• 3 pairs of Lapwing, at least 1 pair protecting young, the other 2 protecting a nest.
• 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plover (on the south side)
• a few Pheasant calling and at least 3 Skylark singing.
• Many fledged Starlings, a flock of at least 40 birds.
  
• Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler both singing.
• Green Woodpecker calling in the distance
• Sand Martin lingering.
• lots of Swifts in the area
• c35 Lesser Black Backed Gulls on the south side.
• lots of Collared Doves, many displaying.
• At least 7 Stock Doves
• also: Carrion Crow, Mapgie, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird.
• (slightly less Moorhens than there were this morning, as a fox crept up on a brood and carried off Mother AND 2 chicks!)
  

Valentines Park:

• Mute Swans have 6 cygnets. (Jacqueline Millea)

A406 Waterworks Roundabout: (just outside the borough)

• Jays being very active at 9.30am

Wanstead Flats:

• Reed Bunting (Sally Hammond)
  

May 28th 2009

Woodford Green:

• Goldfinches singing on Broadmead estate at 07.15

South Woodford:

• Jackdaw flying over St. Aubyns School

Roding Valley Park:

• Little Egret in its usual place, near Woodford Bridge (north side) (Alan Hobson)

May 27th 2009

Gants Hill:

• Garden Bird Count (Alan Thomas)
• 4 fledged Greenfinches,
• 2 fledged Chaffinches,
• 6 fledged Blue Tits,
• 4 fledged Great Tits,
• 1 fledged Blackbird (female)
• 9 fledged House Sparrows
• 14 fledged Starlings plus lots of adults enjoying the mealworms
• juvenile Dunnock still present
• pair of Magpies with 4 fledged chicks.
• Grey Heron (over, being mobbed by a Carrion Crow at 9.20am)

May 26th 2009

Valentines Park:

• 2 Goldfinches outside Valentines Mansion (TLacchar)

Fairlop Waters:

• Wheatear (very late migrant) (AB via ELBF)

May 25th 2009

Wanstead Flats:

• c.40 Skylarks, including fledged young
• 4 Meadow Pipits
• 2 Reed Buntings (one collecting nesting material)
  
• 1 Goldfinch
• Two family parties of Greenfinches with young birds (Tim Harris)

Fairlop Waters:

• Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan
• Green Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch
• heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Wren
• Whitethroat and Blackcap
• Lesser Whitethroat singing in the bushes at the back by the dried grass pile
• Kestrel
• Skylark in the surrounding fields
• Cuckoo heard over near Hainault Road/Painters Lane.
• Swallow and House Martin nesting in the stables
• Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, House Sparrow and Linnet near the stables (Neil Twyford)

Claybury Park:

• 8 Mallard ducklings on the main pond
• 2 Moorhen chicks on one of the small ponds.
• 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
• 2 Stock Doves
• Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrels
• 3 Long Tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat
• Jay, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush,
• Grey Heron (Alan Hobson)

May 24th 2009

Valentines Park:

• 2 Egyptian Geese in the gladed area this morning (Peter Hopkins)

Wanstead Flats:

• Reed Bunting (Sally Hammond)
  

May 23rd 2009

Woodford Green:

• Little Egret over my garden (Peter Warne)
• 3+ fledged House Sparrow (first for about 10 years)
• 3+ fledged Blue Tits
• Fledged Great Tits
• Fledged Starlings

Knighton Woods:

• Grey Heron on the main pond
• 3 Wrens, Blue Tits and Great Tits
• Jay, 3 Magpies, 2 Jackdaws
• Jackdaws are increasingly being seen in the Woodford area
• Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker
• 3 Blackcap (singing)
• fledged Moorhen on the main lake

Wanstead Park:

• 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, one near the glade, and one near Heronry Pond (Sally Hammond)
  

May 22nd 2009

Gants Hill:

• Grey Heron being mobbed by single Carrion Crow above gardens for roughly 1 minute around 3:10pm this afternoon;
• Two Greenfinch fledglings with adults plus four other adult greenfinches on feeder;
• House Sparrows fledglings – Five still present with adults;
• Two Collared doves, various pigeons, plus Blue and Great tits feeding in usual numbers;
• Four Chaffinches -two males, two females;
• Juvenile Dunnock still present;
• Starlings Fledglings roughly four with other adults present plus more in around surrounding trees and neighbours gardens;
• Female Blackbird nest building again – Fourth time lucky this time on border of mine and next door’s garden;
• Male Blackbird patrolling territory;
• Two Magpies harassing the other birds;
• Woodpigeons one in garden plus three others in surrounding trees;
• Single Robin amongst shrubs feeding;
• Wren heard singing as usual but not seen again;
• Numerous Swifts above gardens; (Alan Thomas)

Roding Valley Park:

• 2 Little Egret on the river by Woodford Bridge

Barking: (just outside the borough)

• several Sand Martins around the River Roding near A406

South Woodford:

• Little Egret over Charlie Browns Roundabout at 8.15am (Nigel May)

Barkingside:

• Long Tailed Tit family party, at Ilford County High School (Nigel May)
  
• Breeding Greenfinches (usually breed here)
  

May 21st 2009

Woodford:

• Jackdaw by the Castle at 10am

Loxford:

• Sparrowhawk and Kestrel over Loxford Lane (Jonathan Makengo)

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• Mute Swan still on nest, Several families of Mallard and Canada Geese.
• Moorhens and Coots around, but fewer than usual.
• 1 pair of Gadwall, 2male and 1female Shoveler, many Tufted Duck.
• at least 10 Stock Dove around,
• 3 Sedge Warblers singing, and displaying
• Whitethroat and Chiffchaff calling and showing well
• Green Woodpecker
• 8 Lapwing and a Little Ringed Plover
• 10+ Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 4 Grey Heron
• pair of Greenfinches (over)
• also: Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Swift, Swallow,

May 20th 2009

Woodford:

• Jackdaw flying over Broadmead Road at 10am and 4 Swifts

Gants Hill:

• first fledged Starlings in our garden (Alan Thomas)

South Woodford:

• 5 Swifts and a Sparrowhawk over South Woodford this evening (Peter Gordon)

Roding Valley Park:

• Little Egret near Woodford Bridge (Alan Hobson)

Pics - May 19th 2009

An array of Garden Birds, Alan Thomas

Juvenile house Sparrows being fed by mum

...and a Greenfinch

3 Goldfinches

a pair of Collared Doves

and a male Blackbird

juvenile Dunnock

May 19th 2009

Hainault Forest:

• Linnet (Tajinder Lachhar)

Fairlop Waters:

• 20+ Swifts over the boating lake, also Swallows
• House Sparrows near the Club House (Tajinder Lachhar)

Woodford Green:

• Turtle Dove (through) (KM via ELBF)

May 18th 2009

Hainault Forest:

• Linnet (Tajinder Lachhar)

Wanstead Park:

• Mute Swan with 7 Cygnets
• 5 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe
• 5 Song Thrush singing,
• 3 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff (JL via London Birders)

Wanstead Flats:

• 2 Grey Heron (over)
• Little Grebe
• 5 Greylag Geese and 2 Egyptian Geese
• Sparrowhawk
• Mixed flock of about 200 Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls on the playing fields
• 2 Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, 2 Jackdaw
• 10+ Skylark
• 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff (JL via London Birders)

Gants Hill:

• Birds seen in my garden (Alan Thomas)
• Single Jay.
• Three Goldfinches – feeding on seed feeder;
• Four Greenfinches – again on seed feeder;
• Four Chaffinches – two female fledglings one being feed by adult male and single adult female on and around seed feeder;
• Five House Sparrows – two fledglings being feed, one adult female and two adult males on and around seed feeder;
• Two Great tits – feeding on seed feeder;
• Five Blue tits – feeding on various feeders and looking for insects;
• Six Starlings - in trees and in and around on ground feeder;
• Two Collared doves – feeding from underneath seed feeder on ground;
• One Dunnock – Juvenile on ground in and out of shrubs feeding;
• One Blackbird - male in tree sitting pretty;
• One Magpie – doing the usual being disruptive and causing havoc;
• One Robin – feeding in ground tray;
• Six Feral pigeons – feeding below seed feeder picking up dropped seeds;
• Also later seen in my garden: One woodpigeon;
• Five Fledgling Sparrows with two adult females, plus three adult males - couple of these probably were seen earlier;
• Female Blackbird;
• Female adult Dunnock

May 17th 2009

Fairlop Waters:

• Herring Gull,
  
• Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose
  
• Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling,
  
• Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen Great Crested Grebe,
  
• Blackbird, Robin, Wren
  
• Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift
  
• Blue Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow,
  
• Chiffchaff, Whitethroat
  
• Green Woodpecker,
• Skylark, Pied Wagtail,
  
• Grey Heron,
  
• Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon,
  

May 16th 2009

South Woodford:

• Sparrowhawk (Peter Gordon)

May 15th 2009

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• quick view of the northern site from the farmland.
• Sedge Warbler singing, lots of Whitethroat too
• Green Woodpecker calling
• Mute Swan still on nest
• Mallard, female Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe
• lots of Swifts
• 2 pairs of Lapwing guarding nests.
• several Skylark singing.
• Robin, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, male Reed Bunting.

Fairlop Waters:

• the 3 Greylag Geese families are hanging around together like a nursery, total of 17 chicks between them
• Mute Swans, lots of Mallards with chicks, Canada Geese, several with goslings, Great Crested Grebe on the main lake and Little Grebe on the lagoon. Coot and Moorhen galore.
• 2 more Green Woodpecker on the golf course
• at least 20 Whitethroat around the site, also, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
• fledged Robins near the remote control cars.
• Linnets carrying nesting material on the plain
• (total of 5 Linnet seen)
• Chaffinch and Blue Tit seen carrying food
• 10+ Skylark on the farmland/plain
• many Pheasants calling.
• Common Sandpiper on the island.
• 3 Reed Bunting on the plain. and by the lagoon.
• Reed Warbler singing at the fishing lake.
• male Kestrel by the stables
• lots of Swallows and Swifts.
• Also: Lesser Black Backed Gull, 2 Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie, 10+ Collared Dove, pr Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow, Starling, Pied Wagtail,

Wanstead Flats:

• pair of Egyptian Geese grazing near Alexandra Lake (PF via Wanstead Wildlife)
  

May 14th 2009

Woodford Green:

• 2 Jackdaw by Broadmead Housing office at 7.30am

Woodford:

• Jackdaw near the Castle, 3pm

Barkingside Recreational Ground:

• 7 Starlings, 8 Wood Pigeon and 1 Stock Dove on the grass (Alan Thomas)
• pair of Blackbird
• 2 Blue Tits seen, others heard singing in the trees.
• 2 Wren, and 1 adult Robin seen (others heard)
• Fledged Robin on the path
• 4 Long Tailed Tits seen, others heard in the same flock.
• Great Tits.
• Chaffinches and Greenfinches heard, but not seen.
• Collared Doves on the lamp column just outside the park

Gants Hill:

• 6 Swifts, above Kenwood Gardens (Alan Thomas)

Fairlop Waters:

• Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen and Tufted Duck on the main lake
• at least 6 familes of Mallard Duck, 3 Canada Geese families, and 3 Greylag Geese families around the main lake.
• Swifts and Swallows over the lake (less Swifts than of recent)
• Green Woodpecker flying over the golf course.
• female Kestrel hovering near the stables
• Large number of Wood Pigeon including fledged young, and a pair of Stock Dove near the stables.
• be careful when identifying Stock Doves among the Wood Pigeons, as juvenile Wood Pigeons do not have the white collar.
• Good numbers of Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler around the reserve.
• Also: Blackcap, 2 singing Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and at least 4 Reed Buntings.
• Mute Swan, Tufted Ducks and a brood of Canada Geese (with 5 young) on the scrape.
• 2 Corn Bunting, up to 8 Skylark iuncluding at least 3 fledged young on the field between the scrape and the Gravel Workings.
• 3 Linnet over the plain

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chaffinch and Willow Warbler around the north site.
• Lots of Blackbird, Robins and Wrens singing.
• Mute Swan still on nest, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, pair of Shoveler, Coot and Moorhen, and at least 2 familes of Mallard (one with 10 ducklings)
• 2 pairs of Lapwing on nests, and looking after chicks.
• at least 2 Sedge Warblers, and a Reed Warbler singing in the reeds/thicket areas around the north site.
• 2 Grey Heron on the south site,
• pair of Shelduck still present.
• Mallard with 9 ducklings at the far end.
• a few Pied Wagtails, (less than of recent)
• 2 Little Ringed Plovers seen (others head)
• pair of Lapwing
• 1 Snipe flushed (very late... perhaps breeding???)
• also, 1 very late migrating Greenshank in summer plumage, calling.
• several singing Skylark, and a few calling Pheasant.
• Chiffchaff calling from Hargreaves Scout Camp

May 13th 2009

Woodford Green:

• male ***Golden Oriole*** singing in a private garden in Abbotsford Gardens between 05.45 and 6.15am this morning. (Birdguides)

Roding Valley Park:

• Little Egret on the River Roding, near Woodford Bridge at 7.50am (Alan Hobson)

Ilford:

• Osprey flew south-east at 3pm (LV via ELBF)

Fairlop Waters:

• male Whinchat, singing Corn Bunting, displaying Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark and a few Chaffinches in the field between the scrape and the Gravel Works.
• at least 50 Swift over the main lake. (DErickson-Hull)

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• south side of Painters Road:
• 4 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, several pairs of Canada Geese, and at least 2 on eggs.
• Mallards, Tufted Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 1 pair of Shelduck, 1 pair of Shoveler, Moorhen and Coot.
• 1 pair of Tufted Duck with 1 chick.
• 1 pair of Lapwing, 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plover.
• Hobby perched on the gravel mound.
• at least 10 Stock Dove amongst the Wood Pigeons
• quite a few Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 1 or 2 Herring Gulls flying over
• 2 singing Skylark, 2 Linnet, 20+ Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail
• several Whitethroat singing, also Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff calling from Hargeaves Scout Camp.
• at least 4 Pheasent calling.
• also: Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie,
• north side:
• 3 Sedge Warbler singing
• Great Crested Grebe, 4 Shoveler, 20+ Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen,
• Mute Swan on nest (and male swimming around)
• Canada Goose Brood with 5 chicks (newly hatched)
• Mallard Brood with 2 chicks
• 2 pairs of Lapwing, 1 nest has 2 newly hatched chicks and 2 eggs.

May 12th 2009

Fairlop Waters:

• 2 House Sparrows and 2 Starlings by the car park, also 4 Feral Pigeons over
• up to 100 Swifts over the lake.
• 12 Coot and 2 Moorhen on the main lake
• 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 male Gadwall on the main lake
• 22 adult Mallard on the main lake including 5 with chicks...
• Mallard brood #1 - only 2 ducklings (newly hatched)
• Mallard brood #2 - 3 ducklings (a couple of weeks old)
• Mallard brood #3 - 7 ducklings (a couple of weeks old)
• Mallard brood #4 - 8 ducklings (newly hatched)
• Mallard brood #5 - at least 2 ducklings lost down the drain, distressed mother!
• (total of 44 Mallard Duck on the main lake including adults and ducklings)
• Flock of 20 Starling on the golf course near the remote controlled car club
• 1 Stock Dove flew over the lake
• 1 Mute Swan on the main lake
• 37 adult Canada Geese on the main lake
• 9 adult Greylag Goose on the main lake including 3 broods
• Greylag Goose brood #1 (6 goslings - couple of weeks old)
• Greylag Goose brood #2 (2 goslings - newly hatched)
• Greylag Goose brood #3 (10 goslings - newly hatched)
• total of 27 Greylag Geese including adults and goslings.
• 2 Blackcap singing in the bushes round the lake.
• 1 male Kestrel hunting over the scrub near the main lake
• Whitethroat displaying near the main lake
• 1 Common Sandpiper on the lake bank, near the sailing club
• pair of Chaffinches and pair of Greenfinch in the trees between the main lake and the fishing lake.
• 2 Mute Swan, 3 Canada Geese, 10 Tufted Duck , 4 Mallard and 3 Moorhen on the fishing lake.
• 2 Coot Broods on the fishing lake
• Coot brood #1 - only 1 chick
• Coot brood #2 - only 2 chicks
• at least 1 more Coot on nest on the fishing lake.
• total of 11 Coots on the fishing lake.
• Chaffinch calling near the fishing lake,
• 3 Collared Doves flyaing around the area between the fishing lake and the scrape (the pond on the farmland)
• pair of Stock Dove over the scrape
• Pheasant calling fromthe farmland
• 2 Skylark singing near the scrape.
• 1 pair of Lapwing agitated as i approached the scrape, perhaps nesting nearby
• Mute Swan, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Coot, Moorhen, 10 Canada Geese and 2 Greylag Geese
• Mallard Brood #6 - 3 ducklings (female is a crossbreed/'farmyard duck')
• Canada Goose #1 - 5 goslings (newly hatched)
• Turtle Dove (flew NE) over the farmland near the fishing lake.
• Chiffchaff singing near the scrape.
• same male Kestrel being mobbed over the plain by a Magpie, and 5 mins later being mobbed by 4 Swifts.
• 2nd flock of about 20 Starlings at the east end of the plain, with 4 Chaffinches.
• 4 Lesser Black Backed Gulls (over, low)
• Lapwing feeding on the plain
• pair of Linnet flying over the plain.
• male Reed Bunting on the plain, and a pair near the 'Painters Road Sign'
• at least 2 more Pheasant calling on the Plain, and another Skylark singing.
• pair of Long Tailed Tit and another 3 Chaffinch on the plain,
• 4 House Martin (over)
• 5 Stock Dove, 18 Feral Pigeon, 6 Collared Dove on the paddock by the stables
• also a further 11 Canada Geese there.
• at least 6 Swallows flying in and out of the barns
• Blue Tit along the hedge
• Green Woodpecker calling in the distance.
• a couple of Starlings busy bringing food to their young in the trees by the stables, near the road.
• 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling near the painters lane sign
• Mute Swan, 10 Tufted Duck, 3 Coot, 4 Moorhen on the lagoon
• Mallard Brood #6 - 8 ducklings (couple of weeks old)
• Grey Heron (over)
• Garden Warbler near the lagoon also 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch.
• quite a lot of Blackcap, and Willow Warblers and at least 11 Whitethroat throughout the park.
• a further 33 Canada Geese on the driving range, and 1 Greylag Geese
• 2 more Collared Dove and a Pied Wagtail by the main lake again as i returned to the car.
• Also: 9 Wood Pigeon, 4 Carrion Crow, 6 Magpie, 2 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 2 Great Tit

Woodford:

• Little Egret over Snakes Lane at Midday (Peter Hopkins)

Woodford Green:

• pair of Mistle Thrush, pair of Goldfinch, Blackbird, Robin, and Pied Wagtail on Broadmead Estate (Daniel E-Hull)

Roding Valley Park:

• Little Egret on the River Roding, near Woodford Bridge at 7.55am (Alan Hobson)

May - WeBS Counts

WeBS - (Wetland Bird Survey) Records:

Fairlop:

• Little Grebe - 6
• Great Crested Grebe - 7
• Grey Heron - 5
• Mute Swan - 8
• Canada Goose - 49
• Greylag Goose - 16
• Shelduck - 1
• Gadwall - 3
• Shoveler - 2
• Moorhen - 12
• Coot - 17
• Little Ringed Plover - 2
• Lapwing - 4
• Common Sandpiper - 1
• Lesser Black Backed Gull - 4 (WeBs Recorder - Steve Bacon)

Hainault Forest CP:

• Great Crested Grebe - 2
• Cormorant - 1
• Mute Swan - 2
• Greylag Goose - 1
• Canada Goose - 45
• Mallard - 13
• Moorhen - 2
• Coot - 5
• (Farmyard Ducks - 3) (WeBS Recorder - Steve Bacon)

May 11th 2009

Woodford Green:

• 4 Goldfinches around Broadmead Estate.
• Also, finally found the Mistle Thrush nest on the estate!... made mostly out of cotton wool, or the lining of a puffer jacket!

Valentines Park:

• Still a healthy number of Swifts over the park.

South Park:

• Mute Swan still on the nest
• Canada Geese and Greylag Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Coots a plenty
• Lesser Black Backed Gull and a 1st yr Hering Gull around the lake.
• 1 male Pochard in the centre of the lake, and a female at the north end with 6 chicks ( only a day old or so)
• Kingfisher (heard only)
• 1 male Sparrowhawk over the park, and bothering the pair of Mistle Thrushes
• at least 1 Stock Dove, (also many Feral Pigeons, Wood Pigeons and Collared Dove)
• at least 2 Blackcap singing
• Also: Blackbird, Starling, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit.

Wanstead:

• Hobby, being pursued by a crow over residential Wanstead (JL via London Birders)

Wanstead:

• Little Egret flying South East over Elmcroft Ave, Wanstead (Peter Hopkins/M Davis)

Loxford:

• several Swifts, (Jonathan Makengo)

Pics - May 11th 2009

Common Lizzard, Fairlop Waters, 9th May 2009

Neil Twyford

Female Pochard with her 6 ducklings, South Park Lake

11th May 2009, Tajinder Lachhar

May 10th 2009

Woodford Green:

• Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail and Goldfinches on Broadmead estate
• 2 Turtle Dove (north west) 5.30pm

Gants Hill:

• pair of Sparrowhawk soaring high above Beehie Lane 9.30am

Valentines Park:

• lots of Swifts circling above the park/Cranbrook Road

Knighton Woods:

• several male Mallards
• Moorhen on nest
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush
• 3 Jackdaws, 1 of which was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow

Woodford:

• Grey Heron fishing on the pond outside Johnson Road Post office
• Also: Mallard with 6 ducklings, Moorhen and pr of Canada Geese

Fairlop Waters:

• 1 Common Sandpiper on the island of the main lake (SF via London Birders)
• House Martin,
  
• Chiffchaff, Whitethroat
  
• Meadow Pipit, Skylark
  
• Kestrel,
  
• Lapwing
• Stock Dove
  
• Great Crested Grebe
• Great Spotted Woodpecker, (Tony Leaderman)
  

Fairlop Gravel Pits:

• 2 Little Ringed Plovers
• 2 Hobby
• Shelduck (SF via London Birders)

Fairlop:

• female Whinchat
• Wheatear
• 2 Hobby
• 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler (AB via ELBF)

Wanstead Flats:

• Skylark Survey 9.30am (Tim Harris)
• 22 Skylarks, including 14 singing
• 2 Lesser Whitethroat
• displaying Meadow Pipit
• about 10 Whitethroat, and lots of Blackcaps
• 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls

Wanstead Park:

• 3 Lesser Whitethroat (Tim Harris)
• lots of Whitethroat and Blackcap
• 4 Chiffchaff

Hainault Forest:

• 5am-7am Dawn Chorus Walk with the Nature Conservation Team, lead by Roy and Ian Woodward. (Neil Twyford)
• Pied Wagtail, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Trush, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock,
• Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch,
• Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Jay, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove,
• Pheasant,
• Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler,
• Cuckoo
• Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker,
• Cormorant,
• Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Coot,

May 9th 2009

Gants Hill:

• Heard Green Woodpecker 'yaffle' from our garden (Alan Thomas)
• Jay flying over the roundabout (DEHull)

Ilford:

• many Swifts flying over Valentines Park

Hainault:

• 2 Swifts flying over Tomswood Hill

Barking: (just outside the borough)

• 8 Sand Martin by the River Roding
• Swifts over Longbridge Road/Barking Park

Wanstead Park:

• 6am-9am
• male Garden Warbler singing.
• 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat
• pair of Whinchat in Broom
• 1 Turtle Dove flew North
• Skylark and Meadow Pipit displaying
• 1 male Reed Bunting
• male Reed Warbler singing from Hawthorn by the River Roding near the Cemetary (SF via London Birders)
• 3 Sand Martin over Heronry Pond (PF)

Woodford Green:

• 4 Goldfinches on Broadmead Estate
• Pied Wagtail

Fairlop Waters:

• male Corn Bunting
• female Whinchat (AB via ELBF)

Fairlop Waters:

• Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen
• Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe
• Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit,
• Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Starling,
• Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap
• Green Woodpecker,
• Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove,
• Skylark in the surrounding fields,
• Reed Bunting,
• also Common Lizzard near the stables. (Neil Twyford)

May 8th 2009

Woodford Green:

• pair of Mistle Thrushes making a lot of noise in the rain on Broadmead Estate

Wanstead Flats:

• 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat,
• pair of Wheatear
• c70 Swift and c 40 Swallows

Wanstead Park:

• 1 Cuckoo north over park,
• 1 Hobby over,
• singing Garden Warbler near River Roding,
• Willow Warbler, (SF: via London Birders)

Wanstead Park:

• 7-8pm
• Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe
• 2 Grey Heron
• 2 pairs of Canada Geese with goslings (5 & 2)
• Hobby over the plain
• Ring Necked Parakeet over Heronry pond
• 20+ Swift
• 4 Sing Thrush, Mistle Thrush
• Grey Wagtail by the Roding pumphouse
• Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff
• Garden Warbler by the River Roding
• 10+ Blackcap, 8 Whitethroat
• about 50 Jackdaw (JL via London Birders)

Bush Wood:

• 2 Hobby,
• 30+ Swift, (JL via London Birders)

Wanstead:

• 2 Mistle Thursh in my garden, which were a tick (JL via London birders).

Fairlop Waters:

• at least 50 Swifts over the lake (8pm)

Roding Valley Park:

• Little Egret on the River Roding, near Woodford Bridge at 5.45 pm (Alan Hobson)

May 7th 2009

South Woodford:

• Swallow flying over St. Aubyns School at 10am

Ilford:

• Cormorant flying over the A406 near Ilford Lane at 10.15am

Loxford:

• Swift over Loxford Lane
• 3 male Mallard Ducks on the field at Loxford Park (male Mallards are generally 'absent' fathers and usually play no part in incubating or raising the young, that is why groups of male Mallards can be seen everywhere at the moment with no females, and also why they appear in rendom places, even on rooftops!)

Loughton: (just outside the borough)

• Red Kite, low, SW over Valley Hill IG10 at 6.50pm (DB via London Birders)

Wanstead Park:

• pair of Canada Goose with 5 goslings (JL via London Birders)
• Herring Gull
• 7 Swift
• Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat
• 3 Jackdaw

May 6th 2009

Wanstead Park:

• Sand Martin and 2 Swift over the Basin at 9.30am (JL via London Birders)

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• 8pm visit.
• 2 Grey Herons
• 1 Little Grebe on the south side (of Painters Road) and 1 Great Crested Grebe on the north side.
• Mute Swans, including 1 on a nest.
• 20 or so Canada Geese on the field on the north side of Painters Road with about 12 Greylag Geese, (other Canada Geese on the flooded works)
• Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Coot and Moorhens in good number
• 2 pairs of Shoveler and 2 pairs of Gadwall,
• the pair of Shelduck was around again today.
• 5 Lapwing, trying very hard to 'shoe' me away. (on the northern site)
• 2 pairs of Redshank, (one on each site)
• 3 Snipe (1 on the south side, 2 on the north)
• 1 fairly tame Common Sandpiper on the south side.
• several Lesser Black Backed Gulls around
• Green Woodpecker calling distantly
• several Pheasant calling too.
• pair of Meadow Pipit (1 displaying)
• 4 Yellow Wagtails (including 1 subspecies with a darker head)
• Also: Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Whitethroat.

Wanstead Flats:

• 2 Whitethroat singing near Jubilee Pond. (Tim Harris)

Snaresbrook:

• Red Kite at 9.30am (PS via ELBF)

May 5th 2009

Gants Hill:

• Swift over Beehive Lane (7am) (JMakengo)
• **White Stork** flying north west (towards Wodford Avenue) at 3.30 (Alan Thomas) (ps... as far is a know of, this is the first sighting of a White Stork in the borough)
• juvenile Dunnock in private garden (AT)

South Park:

• Swift over
• 2 male Pochard, lots of Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese, Coots and Moorhen
• (1 Moorhen with 3 chicks)
• Mute Swan on nest
• Kingfisher fishing
• Stock Dove, Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons and loads of Feral Pigeons
• Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Starlings
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• 1 Cormorant fishing

Valentines Park:

• 5 broods of Mallard ducklings on the small lake
• 2 Male Pochard,
• Little Grebe
• Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard)
• pair of Mistle Thrush
• Pied Wagtail

South Woodford:

• Little Egret over Tescos at Charlie Browns Roundabout (16.30)

Woodford Green:

• Mistle Thrush on the playuing field by Broadmead estate.

May 4th 2009

Wanstead Park:

• Ring Necked Parakeet near Ornamental Waters (Sally Hammond)

Roding Valley Park:

• 3 Grey Herons, 2 being mobbed by Carrion Crows
• Song Thrush, Long Tailed Tit,

Fairlop:

• brief visit to the Gravel Pits
• Kestrel over Painters road (hunting)
• pair of Lapwing and 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plover
• also: Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, pair of Shoveler, Coot, Moorhen
• 2 Whitethroat
• 1 Swift (over)
• 4 Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls
• Several Pheasant calling

Roding Valley Nature Reserve: (just outside the borough)

• Cuckoo (Peter Warne)

May 3rd 2009

Wanstead Park:

• 7 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe,
• pair of Lesser Black Backed Gulls,
• 2 Ring-necked Parakeet,
• 19 Swift, 2 House Martin, Swallow,
• Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker,
• 3 Song Thrush,
• 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (all warblers singing),
• 5 Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 10+ Chaffinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jackdaw (J Lethbridge).
• 2 Egyptian Geese seen mating by Shoulder of Mutton Pond (Sally Hammond)
• Ring Necked Parakeet nesting in the park (SH)

Wanstead Flats:

• Garden Warbler singing near Bush Wood (S Fisher)
• 2 Swift, 3 House Martin, 2 Swallow (through)
• 2 Egyptian Geese (SF)

Claybury Park:

• Green Woodpecker
• 6 Stock Doves
• Whitethroat
• 6 male Mallards on the pond (absent fathers out at the 'pub' while their devoted 'wives' are briding up the kids!)
• pair of Moorhen
• several Song Thrushes in song

Woodford Green:

• probable Goshawk chasing a Mistle Thrush round Broadmead Estate (may have been an escaped bird but no jessies were seen) (DEH)

May 2nd 2009

Fairlop:

• Yellow Wagtail seen flying north over the fields when I was driving south down Hainault Road (also Long Tailed Tit) (JMak/DEH)
• Little Owl, Kestrel, Whitethroat and Linnet (Alan Thomson/Neil Twyford)

Wanstead Flats:

• Yellow Wagtail on the northern playingfield early am (S Fisher)
• 10 Swift, 6 Swallow, 4 House Martin (through)
• 7 Whitethroat, c14 Skylark 4 Meadow Pipit (2 of which were displaying)
• 4 Little Grebe (presumably on Alexandra Lake (S Fisher)
• Grey Wagtail flyring south from Alexandra Lake (PF)

Claybury Park:

• brief 8.30pm walkthrough (not really bridwatching) but heard...
• Chaffinch, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Blackbird
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Moorhen on one of the smaller ponds.(DEH)
• also...
• 9.45am Redbridge Council Guided walk with Alan Hobson
• Lesser Whitethroat

Roding Valley Park:

• Woodford Bridge (northward)
• 1 Pheasant
• male Cuckoo (heard and seen)
• lots of Whitethroat and Chiffchaff
• 5 Long Tailed Tit, lots of Blue Tit and Great Tit
• Little Egret
• 8 Mallard, 4 Pied Wagtail. (Peter Warne)

Roding Valley Nature Reserve: (just outside the borough)

• Swift, Swallow,
• 26 Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler
• pair of Bullfinch (BJ)
  

May 1st 2009

Fairlop Waters:

• Nightingale reported singing in the South West corner of the reserve (via Tajinder Lachhar)

Wanstead Flats:

• Hobby (Jonathan Lethbridge)

Wanstead:

• 7 Swifts over residential Wanstead (JL)

Wanstead Park:

• 6 Little Grebe on Shoulder of Mutton Pond (Paul Ferris)

Woodford Green:

• Grey Heron flying over Broadmead Estate (JMak)