May 14th 2010

Aldersbrook, Northumberland Avenue:

• The escaped White Cheeked Turacao in Northumberland Avenue today. (J Charter)

Fairlop Gravel Works:

• 2 Shelduck
• 17 Tufted Duck, pair of Gadwall
• still no Canada Goslings, (7 nests still occupied)
• 3 Coots nests
• Trilling Little Grebe
• 8 Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, 4 Little Ringed Plover
• 3 Swallow, 2 Linnet,
• Singing Song Thrush (DEH)

Ilford, garden:

• Goldfinch
• 3 house sparrows
• 2 greenfinches
• still singing dunnock and blackcap (Barbara J)

Valentines Park:

• 10 Goldfinches feeding on dandelion seeds
• 5 Stock Dove
• about 40 Starlings in two groups feeding in cut grass
• Great Spotted Woodpecker calling
• 5 Swifts
• 2 Great Crested Grebes and nest
• Song thrush, blackcap (Barbara J)
• Egyptian Goose (Kathy Hartnet)

Wanstead Flats:

• 13 Skylarks, 8 Meadow Pipits, Male Reed Bunting
• still lots of Whitethroats (THarris)
• Alexandra Lake: 6 broods of Coot, with parents (total of 14 or 15 chicks seen), 7th Coot still on nest
• 7 broods of Canada Geese (broods of 7, 1, 1, 2, 10, 4 and 4 goslings)
• 2 Little Grebes trilling
• 2 Chiffchaff calling from the island
• 44 adult Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 36 adult Coot, 44 adult Canada Geese, 4 Greylag Goose, Mute Swan (DEH)

Wanstead Park:

• Heronry Pond: 2 Common Sandpiper on Heronry (1 found by Jonathan L. soon after 6:00, and then I had 2 together from 7:15 to 7:45)
• 17 Common Swift, 1 House Martin,
• 5 Little Grebes
• Shoulder of Mutton: 4 Little Grebe, Mute Swan still on nest, and mate nearby
• Mallard ducklings have now disappeared.
• 2 Tufted Duck, 9 Coot, 1 Moorhen (THarris)

Woodford Green, Sunset Avenue:

• overlooking Woodford Golf Course:
• I regularly hear a chiffchaff singing outside my flat
• We overlook the forest and Woodford Golf club. Also have heard a blackcap this week in Sunset Ave plus dunnock, songthrush, great tits, robins, greenfinches and chaffinch.
• We get lots of wood pigeon, of course and several magpies.
• Sometimes we see jays. Have seen 3 at one time. (Ann Westland)