June 2016

After the intensity of May I eased off in June and focused on adding a few Suffolk county ticks by visiting Belle Isle Marshes. It's a very good spot, the best in Suffolk according to eBird species logged, but only my second visit. It was later also cast under a cloud after reports of a fatal assault and police warnings about visiting! Nevertheless I was able to add Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Semiplmated Sandpiper, Least and Common Tern, Snowy and Great Egret.

Monday 6th, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, MA, USA.

Towards the end of the month I made a patch visit.

Sunday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

June 2015

A post migration slow-down with only a single Leverett Pond patch visit, though it brought me a site-tick Great Black-Backed Gull on Saturday 20th.

June 2014

I kept the spring momentum going with a visit to Great Meadows NWR on a lovely summer day. The target species was MARSH WREN of which I saw many and heard more, for a life-tick. I also saw 13 Common Nighthawk flying in some sort of migration or display high above the river. It was quite a sight!

Sunday 1st, Great Meadows--NWR, Concord Unit, MA, USA.

An Olmsted Park patch visit the week after where I noted resident breeding species, although at Willow Pond I spotted a Hairy Woodpecker which does not appear to be a resident breeder.

Saturday 7th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Saturday 7th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

The next day I was down on the south coast with the family and on a walk to Apponagansett Beach, Dartmouth I was surprised to hear and then see a couple of male Prairie Warblers singing enthusiastically.

Sunday 8th, Apponagansett Beach, MA, USA.

A few days after that I was in Chicago on a mini-break and ended up at Lincoln Park Zoo where I enjoyed a nice walk around the south pond, where the most notable species was Green Heron.

Thursday 12th, Lincoln Park, IL, USA.

On returning to Boston, I was able to confirm breeding activity for several species on my local patch.

Sunday 15th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

Next I visited Moose Hill and on my way there I spotted my first Massachusetts Fish Crow. Once at Moose Hill I had to wait around for quite a while before my target species eventually appeared, a life-tick DICKCISSEL. Well worth the wait! Other notable species at a lovely site were singing Scarlet Tanager and Bobolink.

Sunday 22nd, Route 9, MA, USA.
Sunday 22nd, Moose Hill, MA, USA.

My final Olmsted Park patch visit for more breeding birds or early movers:

Sunday 29th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 29th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

Olmsted Park--Willow Pond and Meadow, Suffolk, MA, USA, 29-Jun-2013

6:55 PM - 7:16 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Second part of a small patch visit. Even more mozzies at this part of the park so I quickly walked through, but on the way back I had a nice surprise.
6 species

Mallard 5 including 4 chicks.

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 adult. As I walked back towards to Leverett Pond a man was crouched taking photos of what I assumed was the reflection in one of the pools. As I got closer I saw he was actually photographing this heron which was close to the path. It soon flew off as it saw me, but after briefly updating the finder as to what it was, I walked round the other side of the pond where I watched it from near the road. Resplendent in breeding plumage it was motionless for a long while but when a mallard family bustled through it flew off to Leverett Pond where I did not see it again when I walked back that way. Site-tick.

American Robin X
Song Sparrow 1 heard singing in the meadow.
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14564122

Olmsted Park--Leverett Pond, Suffolk, MA, USA, 29-Jun-2013

6:25 PM - 6:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Another later patch visit - plenty of mosquitoes about so I couldn't linger unfortunately.
7:16pm to 7:30pm on the way back.
Weather: bright & sunny, breeze (N).
15 species

Canada Goose X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Double-crested Cormorant X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Eastern Kingbird 1
Warbling Vireo 1
American Robin X
Grey Catbird 1 heard.
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 1 , a site-tick.
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14564075

Olmsted Park--Leverett Pond, Suffolk, MA, USA, 23-Jun-2013

7:55 PM - 8:27 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: An evening patch visit with mum.
Weather: hot & sticky; dusk.
11 species

Canada Goose X
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron X
Northern Flicker 1 dusting itself in the dust of the batting zone on the software pitch.
Eastern Kingbird 2
Warbling Vireo X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 including one juvenile. Flying over the water calling as they frequently exchanged food. Both were brown therefore not tree swallow.
American Robin X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14564059

Blue Hills Reservation, Norfolk, MA, USA, 16-Jun-2012

10:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out for what turned out to be a long walk around Blue Hills reservation, culminating in an ascent of Chickatawbut Hill, before returning back to my car which was parked just off the Chickatawbut Ro. - Rte 28 intersection.
Weather: sunny, cool; then cloudy.
25 species

Chimney Swift X - a few overhead, visible through the foliage.
Downy Woodpecker 1 female.
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 in total; first two flew up from the Cedar Swamp, then another heard calling later.
Eastern Phoebe 1 attending to a nest within the car-park. It alighted on nearby rocks & branches between regular nest visits.
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 atop a tree next to the compound's fence on the top of the hill.
Red-eyed Vireo X - heard.
Tree Swallow X - several using nest boxes placed inside the fence of the (weather station?) compound that is on top of Chickatawbut Hill. I observed them through the fence.
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 4 approx., including juvenile feeding party.
White-breasted Nuthatch X - 3 feeding groups including juveniles.
Eastern Bluebird 3 seen just after the warblers on the hill.
Wood Thrush 3 heard in total. First one heard from the Curve Path then two more on the way back to the car.
American Robin X
Ovenbird X - heard up to 10 in total.
Worm-eating Warbler 2 heard emitting their distinctive song. I heard the first at the first path intersection I came to from the side that has a steep rise from a boggy area. I waited a long time for it to show but it did not, however during that time I heard a second singing from further away but it didn't show either. Life-tick (sort of).
Pine Warbler X - several seen high in tree tops; indistinct yellowish undersides, notched tail.
Prairie Warbler X - heard on Skyline Path to Chickatawbut Hill from the small trees in that area. I heard the distinctive ascending song from what sounded like it was very close by, but I couldn't pick it/them out unfortunately. Life-tick (-ish).
Black-throated Green Warbler X - also heard on the Skyline to Chickatawbut Hill path, just after the prairie warbler, but again I wasn't able to pick it out from the foliage.
Eastern Towhee 4 in total; the first two were a make and female which scolded me as I walked, before I heard a couple more later.
Chipping Sparrow X - several across the area I walked including juvenile feeding parties.

Scarlet Tanager 2 in total; the first was a male flitting about the tree-tops from the Curve Path. It was unmistakable and a species I had hoped to see on the walk, so I was very pleased to see such a beautifully coloured species for the first time. As I finished the walk I saw another close to the carpark as I returned to my car, & after being drawn to it by its song.

Northern Cardinal X - as I neared the carpark.
Common Grackle X - just before reaching Chickatawbut Hill.
House Finch X
American Goldfinch 1 heard.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13320852

Blue Hills Reservoir, Norfolk, MA, USA, 15-Jun -2012

8:35 PM - 9:15 PM

Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Dusky visit to a nearby reservoir after reading on Massbird about the presence of a crepuscular summer specialty. I parked and walked anti-clockwise around the reservoir.
Weather: sunny, cool, dusk then dark.
5 species

Spotted Sandpiper 5 on reservoir-side on the north-side. Allowed close views although the light was fading.

Eastern Whip-poor-will X - first heard at 8:50pm, one at each end of the reservoir. On the northeast-side the call became more distant so I headed back to the car-park along the road, but just before I got there one flew up over the road & landed on the reservoir-side where it called for 2-3 minutes. A 'plane then flew over causing it to fly into the woods next to the reservoir. I was very lucky to see one rather than just hear them, a life-tick!

Tree Swallow X - over water & around nest boxes.
American Robin X
Song Sparrow 2 in reservoir-side reeds.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13203282

Allen's Pond--Quansett Trail, Bristol, MA, USA, 10-Jun-2012

1:30 PM - 4:15 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Second part of a thorough walkabout at Allens Pond, first part was the beach loop followed by the Quansett Trail all the way out to Reuben's Point, taking in Zylee Brook and the Western Overlook Trail.
Weather: hot & sunny; spectacular!
26 species

Mute Swan 2 adults plus chicks on Zylee Brook.
Gadwall 2 males, with white wing blocks on Zylee Brook.
Mallard 3 males on Allens Pond.
Green-winged Teal 2 , a pair on fresh Pond.
Willet 2 mating!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 female.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 heard.
Willow Flycatcher 1 in the small meadow just before Reuben's Point. It had two neat white wingbars & a V on its chest. Gave a 2-tone call note not far off but not quite 'peewee'. I checked the call & was able to identify - a life-tick.
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 in & out to a nest box on Zylee Brook.
Red-eyed Vireo X - heard first but a brief glimpse later on. Later still, I couldn't miss a vireo sp. on a low branch along the trail with clean underparts, buff uppers, darker crown, ear coverts, eye stripe not beyond its eye, notched tail, dark eye with 'wheedh' call note. Field marks all identifying a juvenile red-eyed which was being fed by its parent.
Blue Jay 1 juvenile on the way back down the trail. It was being mobbed by a red-eyed vireo & a yellow warbler.
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee X - at Fresh Pond.
Tufted Titmouse X - heard.
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Veery 1 heard first, coming towards where I was standing on the path, then it flew through the clearing. My first (very brief) view of one.
Wood Thrush 2 just after the ovenbird, one showed itself then another. Small, raised crown.
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 4 atop the tall shrubs as I came to the end of the trail near the carpark, i.e., the last species seen.
Ovenbird X - a few heard at first, then at one point along the trail, thick in the woods, one popped up onto a fairly high branch, looked at me & flew off. It confused me at first because it wasn't on the ground but I soon clicked & realised what it was. A first sighting although I had already heard them many times before.
Common Yellowthroat 1 heard giving its distinctive repeating call.
American Redstart 1 male quickly moved through the canopy.
Yellow Warbler X - including one male that came very close as I stood taking photos of it.
Saltmarsh Sparrow 2 seen on separate occasions, one on way out, the other on the way back. Both low in the short marsh-grass on Allens Pond. I had the best look at the first one: good size, longish bill, small tail, yellowish lores(?). The second one looked smaller & greyer but I think it was more to do with the light & distance. Photos helped to identify them later on - life-tick.
Northern Cardinal 1 heard.
American Goldfinch 1 male.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13231033

Allen's Pond--Beach Loop, Bristol, MA, USA, 10-Jun-2012

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out almost all day roving around the Allen's pond reserve, mainly hoping to see seaside sparrows. I walked the beach loop then the Quansett trail out to Zylee Brook - to be covered in a separate submission.
A long walk with camera, no 'scope.
Weather: hot & sunny; spectacular!
25 species

Canada Goose 5 including a chick.
American Black Duck 1 female.
Common Eider X - at sea, all females.
Double-crested Cormorant X - on sea rocks.
Green Heron 1 in small reedbed next to carpark. Rusty head, steely body/wings, bright orange feet.
Turkey Vulture X - outside reserve boundaries.
Osprey 1 over marshes outside reserve boundaries.
Piping Plover X - a chick seen on the beach first, later, adults as well.
Killdeer X - the first of a few seen was doing its broken wing distraction display.
Willet X - first seen over the pond with distinctive white wing patches; later very noisy disputes were heard & I had better views as I walked along the path next to the pond. An easy life-tick.
Herring Gull X - over.
Least Tern X - several overhead making their way along the shore to a nesting colony, easy to identify due to their size. Life-tick.
Common Tern X - over.
Mourning Dove X
Tree Swallow X
American Robin X
Grey Catbird X - first seen next to thrasher.
Northern Mockingbird X - heard distantly first then a later flyby in the carpark.
Brown Thrasher 1 singing in bushes alongside the pond-side path. Very distinctive bird, it sang from atop a bush before heading into the undergrowth where it continued to sing. A mockingbird also started to sing followed by a catbird, all in a row, allowing a nice comparison of all their similar but different song styles!
Yellow Warbler 4 seen in total; first one was on bushes next to the beach, later I saw 3 flitting about the grass in the meadow next to the carpark. Easily identified, through distinctive, jewel-like all-yellow colour; a life-tick.
Song Sparrow X
Bobolink 1 male, flying from a wall along the meadow. Very distinctive plumage and song. I listened to its great voice for a wall, trying to get photos as it sallied back & forth over the meadow. Life-tick.
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13221583

Smith Neck Road Creek & Backwoods, Bristol, MA, USA, 9-Jun-2012

4:00 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: First at 4pm then more at 8pm. Standing on the path & near the shed, getting nibbled by mozzies.
Weather: bright & sunny, warm.
11 species

Carolina Wren X
Veery 1 heard (the same as wood thrush) singing its distinctive song from deep in the woods - wonderful song! Life-tick.
Wood Thrush 1 heard singing its distinctive song from the woods.
American Robin X
Cedar Waxwing 2 atop trees in the front garden.
Common Yellowthroat X - heard singing in the woods. Not seen.
Yellow Warbler X - heard singing in the woods. Not seen.
Song Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal 1 male.
Common Grackle X
American Goldfinch 1 male.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13031280

NWT Roydon Common, Norfolk, UK, 26-Jun-2011

10:20 AM - 12:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out with Ben for a Sunday walk in what turned out to be nice warm day. We also looked for sun-bathing adders but had no luck.
Weather: cloudy at first but increasingly warm & sunny.
26 species

Common Buzzard 1
Common Kestrel X
Eurasian Hobby 1 seen swiftly flying away towards trees, with brown back, black tips; mobbed by swallow as it went.
Northern Lapwing 3
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Jay 2
Common Magpie 2
Carrion Crow X
Skylark X - heard.

Woodlark 1 heard in the car-park, & seen when when we returned to the car after our walk. I had heard these on a couple of visits before, nice to have a confirmed sighting.

Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Common Chiffchaff X - heard.
Blackcap X - heard.
Common Whitethroat X
Stonechat 1 male.
Mistle Thrush 3
Dunnock X - heard.
Meadow Pipit 1 in tree.
Yellowhammer X
Reed Bunting X
Common Chaffinch X
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

NWT Roydon Common, Norfolk, UK, 25-Jun-2011

9:15 PM - 10:30 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Dusk-time visit to check for the return of a spectacular & enigmatic migrant, although the weather was not promising.
Weather: overcast, dusk, breeze (NE).
10 species

Red-legged Partridge X - heard distantly.
Grey Partridge X - persistent call from near agricultural fields.
Northern Lapwing X - heard on returning to the car.
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Eurasian Curlew 3
Eurasian Woodcock 1 flew over the copse near the car-park.

Eurasian Nightjar X - heard - 10:02pm briefly, then 10:07, 10:12 & 10:27pm.

Carrion Crow 2 in tree.
Skylark X - heard.
Eurasian Blackbird X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Undisclosed, Norfolk, UK, 25-Jun-2011

12:20 PM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Trying to pick-up pretty much my favourite bird for the year, unsuccessful this time but I did have a nice surprise anyway.
Weather: mild but overcast, breeze (NE).
18 species

Red-legged Partridge X - heard.

Common Quail X - heard from a distant field, then slightly closer at 1:08pm. Quite a surprise as I hadn't expected to hear one here. I assumed some were about in Norfolk but didn't know where, until now.

Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1
Common Buzzard X
Black-headed Gull X
Stock Dove 2
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Swift X
Carrion Crow X
Skylark X - heard.
Barn Swallow 4 +
Common Whitethroat X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Yellowhammer X
Reed Bunting 1
Common Chaffinch X - including two juveniles.
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

RSPB Church Wood, Buckinghamshire, UK, 19-Jun-2011

10:10 AM - 11:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Visit to a new location for me.
Weather: bright, sunny, mixed clouds; mild but not warm.
25 species

Red-legged Partridge X - heard.
Common Pheasant X
Red Kite 2 overhead.
Common Moorhen X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 10 over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Great Spotted Woodpecker X - heard.
Green Woodpecker 1 call heard from across meadow.
Eurasian Jay X - heard.
Carrion Crow X - in meadow.
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X - including many juveniles.
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Nuthatch X - including juvenile calling loudly.
Eurasian Wren X - including on an open 5m high branch.
Goldcrest X - including an adult feeding a juvenile.
Common Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 4 approx., including juveniles.
Garden Warbler X - possible, heard.
European Robin X - including juveniles.
Eurasian Blackbird X - including one female with nesting material.
Song Thrush 2 - one juvenile, later one signing.
Dunnock X - heard.
Common Chaffinch 1
European Goldfinch 3 over.

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Hampstead Cemetery, London, 27/06/2010

11:45am to 12:45pm. Weather: bright, hot & sunny - hottest day of the year!

Very quiet mid-summer visit in fantastic weather. Hardly any birds even singing but several regulars still active around the cemetery.

Entrance:
Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Wren - all heard.
Swift, Magpie, Woodpigeon.

South-side:
Blackbird, Crow, Dunnock.
Great Tit - juvenile.
Goldcrest - two gleaning amongst an oak tree, one waited for the other & the other apparently drank from the water collected in a leaf. I have very rarely seen two together & it was good to see after reports of their demise due to the harsh winter.
Blue Tit, Blackcap, Robin - juvenile.
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - heard.

UCL Sports Grounds-side:
Jay, Greenfinch - over.

East-side:
Goldcrest.

WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, 13/06/2010

Weather: bright & hazy, breezy. 3:50 to 5:00pm.

Being in the area I decided it was too good a chance not to visit the hallowed ground of Slimbridge after hearing & reading so much about it from my membership publications. I was also inspired to see the reality of Peter Scott's great project, again after reading so much about it. The centre was very impressive & the grounds initially felt a bit like a zoo but I walked out to Holden Tower for views across the vista of the River Severn estuary & its meadows which I imagined would throng with wildfowl in the winter. After that I walked back to the entrance & down to the South lake observatory which overlooked a lively scrape, before heading off back to London.

Carpark:
Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, House Martin, Moorhen.

To Holden Tower:
Shelduck, Greylag Goose, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Wren - heard.
Reed Warbler - heard.
Swallow.
Dunnock - heard.
Blue Tit - heard.
Herring Gull, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Robin.

South Hide:
Shoveler.
Little Grebe - heard.
Redshank, Common Tern, Cormorant, Great-Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher.

Out:
Buzzard.

31 species.

RSPB Nagshead, Gloucestershire, 13/06/2010

Weather: bright & sunny; more clouds & haziness. 11:15am to 2pm.

Another attempt to see my hoped for woodland trinity, in particular I hoped to see the elusive redstarts I'd heard from the day before.

Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Nuthatch - all seen &/or heard as yesterday.

Bullfinch - two flew in front of the car as I drove up the road to the car-park, flashing distinctive white rumps.

Lower Hide:
Spotted Flycatcher - in the same place as yesterday, busy catching flies & visiting its nest.
Mistle Thrush - one scraggy bird preening itself in a tree next to the dead spotted flycatcher's tree; later I heard a mistle thrush singing for the first time.

Wood:
Pied Flycatcher - after leaving the lower hide & heading up the path I joined a small group of birders that were looking intently into the trees from the path. It didn't take long for me to also connect with another pair of wonderful 'pied flies' as they busily foraged through the low-levels of the woods, at one point the pale perched on the fence posts & the fence wire that lined the path providing great views.

Meadow:
Garden Warbler - in the shrubs next to the small meadows I spotted a couple of nondescript warblers active in one of the bushes, one feeding the other; later the distinctive song confirmed the sighting.

Long Nature Trail:
Willow Tit - heard at a few points along the path from the thick trees, though unfortunately I didn't see any.
Long-Tailed Tit - a couple flitted through some saplings.
Wood Warbler - a loud piping call alerted me to something in one of the large oaks next to the path & after a few minutes a warbler moved out into view & then another, again one was apparently feeding the other. They were both in silhouette & I was not familiar with the call however a little later on I heard the wonderful & distinctive call of wood warbler & along with it the same call I had heard earlier.
Raven - just after seeing the wood warbler I heard a distinctive & familiar 'grok' call, soon followed by the bird itself as it flew over & away. A quite unexpected sighting from the middle of a wood though I was aware they nested in the Forest of Dean.
Fallow Deer - as I made my way back I heard a shuffling from the leaves of the understorey & was rewarded with a sighting of three deers moving discreetly through the woods, which I found evocative of earlier times when forests such as these covered much of the country & which must have teemed with the biodiversity a fraction of which I'd experienced in the last 24 hours.
Stock Dove - a pair flew away through the trees.
Wren - buzzed away from the path.
Chiffchaff - heard as I approached the carpark.
Buzzard - another scraggy specimen overhead this time as I left the meadow for the carpark.

RSPB Nagshead, Gloucestershire, 12/06/2010

Weather: bright, sunny & warm. 2 to 6pm.

A first visit to a site I'd long hoped to visit, in search of woodland specialities. An easy walk to the hides from the small visitors' centre but with much longer walks through the woods if desired. The oaks were magnificent & at a couple of hundred years old probably quite young with more magnificence to come!

Car-park:
Crow - several around including a number of recently fledged juveniles.
Song Thrush - several singing repetitively around the reserve then I later spotted two seemingly courting.
Woodpigeon, Blackbird.

Woods:
Redstart - crossing the meadow as I approached the trees I heard one singing but though I waited for a good period of time I couldn't connect with the bird through the thick foliage though a couple of shadows flitting amongst the trees may have been what I was searching for. I later heard another right outside the hide but again did not sight it.
Robin, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Coal Tit - seen and/or heard amongst the trees as I strove to see the redstart.
Nuthatch - a squeaking hubbub alerted me to a group of fledgings moving overhead with their parents in attendence; there were maybe 10 or so & I also saw another adult visit a nesthole several times from a tree next to the hide.

Lower Hide:
Spotted Flycatcher - flying back & forth from a dead tree & bushes nearby in typical fashion; apparently it was nesting in the dead tree.
Grey Heron - a lone juvenile skulking in the woodland pond visible from the hide, slightly out of place. At one point it flew up to perch high on the spot-fly's dead tree.
Blue Tit, Great Tit - several groups of fledglings moving around the area.
Mallard - a pair on the pond.
Pied Flycatcher - after being advised that I was due a wait before seeing them I was not disappointed however after waiting for the best part of an hour a stunning male appeared on a low branch at the far end of the pond clearing. It flitted around in textbook fashion, staying low & often disappearing onto the ground amongst the bracken. The male was joined by a female & they both soon spread their foraging across the whole of the pond clearing amongst the oak trees & bracken before eventually melting away into the woods. They did reappear again not too long after but for a shorter length of time, before I finally departed (from the somewhat uncomfortably designed hide).

Woods:
Siskin - two flew over perching on branches as they went, one a juvenile calling persistently.

Towards Campbell Hide:
Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff.

22 species, 2 new species.

Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 05/06/2010

Weather: hot, muggy but cloudy. 3:45 to 4:45pm.

Afternoon patch visit with Kim; shorter walk than usual.

Robin.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Dunnock - heard.
Great Tit, Blackbird, Magpie.
Song Thrush - singing well & from a tree close to the path but though we lingered it didn't show.
Woodpigeon, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Jay.