March 15th 2010

weather: sunny spells 10C max

On this day last year, our first spring arrival was seen. (Wheatear, Wanstead Flats)

Fairlop, Aldborough Riding School:

• Little Owl, in its usual tree

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• pr Wigeon stil present
• 6 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, 13 Shoveler, pr Gadwall
• 16 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper
• 28 Pied Wagtails in to roost
• Linnet

Ilford, garden:

• male Blackcap singing
• pair of Dunnock, pair of Blackbird, Wren
• 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
• 2 Great Tits
• 1 Goldfinch
• Grey Heron at the Koi pond (Barbara J)

Ray Park:

• 28 Redwing, including 1 singing (TLachhar)

Roding Valley Park, Central:

• Kestrel
• 3 Jays
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Long Tailed Tits
• Lesser Black Backed Gull
• 2 Greenfinch (AHobson)

South Woodford, St. Aubyns School:

• 2 Jays

Valentines Park:

• 3 Grey Herons on the Ornamental Lake
• Green Woodpecker
• 3 Mistle Thrush
• c150 Starlings in to roost
• c100 Redwing still (Barbara J)
• Mute Swans violently chasing off last years young now, 1 juvenline got bloodied
• female Ring Necked Parakeet (SLitt)

Woodford, Library:

• Redwing
• Chaffinch, Goldfinch (AHobson)

Woodford Green, Roding Lane North:

• 12 Redwing and a Song Thrush in the playing field (AHobson)

Buckhurst Hill, North End: (just outside the borough)

• Red Kite over (Graham Taylor)

Mayesbrook Park: (just outside the borough)

• 2 Little Egret, 10 Gadwall 8 Shoveler, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Great spotted woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 10 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blue tit, 4 Great tit (PHa)

Abridge: (just outside the borough)

• Little Egret on the rivr Roding (P&HS)