Weather: cloudy but bright. From 2:30pm.
An afternoon to test the camera & pick-up any early migrants; both locations a short walk from Canning Town tube station.
Bow Creek: a small restored area along the river with mixed scrub & reed areas.
Dunnock (singing enthusiastically), Magpie, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Mute Swan, Coot (one seen later with a chick), Mallard, Pied Wagtail, Crow, Cormorant (over), Goldfinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Shelduck, Blue Tit.
14 species.
East India Dock.
Tame Tufted Duck, up to 20; Teal, several still around; Moorhen, Robin, Blackbird, Oystercatcher (on the far riverbank under the O2), Grey Heron (over), Woodpigeon,
Greenfinch.
12 species.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Kensington Park Gardens, London, 29/03/2009
Weather: cloudy but bright, chilly. From 3pm-ish.
A trip out with the new camera to get some shots of the owls (results to be posted soon).
Notables on Round Pond: Lesser Back-Backed Gull (2), Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck,
A trip out with the new camera to get some shots of the owls (results to be posted soon).
Notables on Round Pond: Lesser Back-Backed Gull (2), Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck,
Near the physical energy statue: Tawny Owl (2), both adults, no sign of the youngsters. A few more people were passing through the area looking for the owls, one lady in particular helped me look for the youngsters but neither of us could find them - good views of the adults though that were completely unconcerned with the human traffic below.
Notables at a couple of points on Long Water: Ring-Necked Parakeet, Pochard (pair), Red-Crested Pochard (pair), Mallard.
Round & about: Magpie, Woodpigeon, Starling.
12 species.
St. Brelade, Jersey, 19th to 22nd May
A non-birding weekend break to Jersey after a dreary & work-dominated late Winter was quite surprising in that the long unspoilt beaches near my hotel were quite bereft of birds; maybe I have been spoilt by the beaches of Norfolk!
However I did visit Jersey Zoo (or Durrell as it's known) & amongst the more exotic captive species I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year in the grounds.
However I did visit Jersey Zoo (or Durrell as it's known) & amongst the more exotic captive species I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year in the grounds.
Generally though the beach of St. Brelade's Bay was quiet although on the first night I did spot a small skein of Brent Goose apparently coming into roost on the far side of the bay. On a morning walk (20th) I also chanced upon a lone, juvenile Dunlin on the shore that allowed close approach as I walked past it; presumably it had been left behind by its companions as they headed north.
The only other species around the beach were the usual Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, occasional Cormorant & just a single Black-Headed Gull.
The last day is why this trip warrants a post, because as I was again walking along the St Brelade's shore, I spotted a raptor soaring above Point Le Grouin. It was not hard to identify as a Peregrine, in traditional coastal habitat - there are lots of seacliffs around Jersey. However a smaller bird was enthusiastically mobbing the falcon & this bird was different. At first its flight profile lead me to think it was an early martin, but it was too large & bold in its attacks. I briefly considered hobby, again for the profile but it was too small, likewise when considering kestrel which was also the wrong shape. This left me to consider Merlin, which ticked all the boxes for flight profile, size, & aerial agility, & long, slender wings & prominent head. As I watched, after it saw off the peregrine it stooped down to a tree on the headland; stooping behaviour that I've also never seen in a kestrel, giving me more evidence. As it remained perched I managed to get to within a few hundred yards of it but it was still too distant, & the angle not quite right (it was looking away from me) to get a good look, before it dove out of sight into lower vegetation. However I did pick out a tawny streaked colour of a female & no mustaches.
On retuning to mainland UK I contacted Mick Dryden of Jersey Birds & reported what I'd seen. He confirmed a nearby peregrine pair as well as the over-wintering presence of merlin on the island so I was pleased to end up with an unexpected life tick at the end of a lovely break.
I also picked up a Canon 40D for a great price (there is no VAT in Jersey) & I hope to start posting more pictures here soon, including any record shots I can manage.
The only other species around the beach were the usual Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, occasional Cormorant & just a single Black-Headed Gull.
The last day is why this trip warrants a post, because as I was again walking along the St Brelade's shore, I spotted a raptor soaring above Point Le Grouin. It was not hard to identify as a Peregrine, in traditional coastal habitat - there are lots of seacliffs around Jersey. However a smaller bird was enthusiastically mobbing the falcon & this bird was different. At first its flight profile lead me to think it was an early martin, but it was too large & bold in its attacks. I briefly considered hobby, again for the profile but it was too small, likewise when considering kestrel which was also the wrong shape. This left me to consider Merlin, which ticked all the boxes for flight profile, size, & aerial agility, & long, slender wings & prominent head. As I watched, after it saw off the peregrine it stooped down to a tree on the headland; stooping behaviour that I've also never seen in a kestrel, giving me more evidence. As it remained perched I managed to get to within a few hundred yards of it but it was still too distant, & the angle not quite right (it was looking away from me) to get a good look, before it dove out of sight into lower vegetation. However I did pick out a tawny streaked colour of a female & no mustaches.
On retuning to mainland UK I contacted Mick Dryden of Jersey Birds & reported what I'd seen. He confirmed a nearby peregrine pair as well as the over-wintering presence of merlin on the island so I was pleased to end up with an unexpected life tick at the end of a lovely break.
I also picked up a Canon 40D for a great price (there is no VAT in Jersey) & I hope to start posting more pictures here soon, including any record shots I can manage.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Hyde Park & Kensington Park Gardens, London, 22/02/2009
Weather: cold, grey & windy. From 11:30am.
From Hyde Park Corner along Serpentine Road on the Serpentine: Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Black-Headed Gull, Red-Crested Pochard (feral).
Crossing Exhibition Road into Kensington Park Gardens: Ring-Necked Parakeet noisy in the trees; Little Grebe from the Serpentine Bride on the Long Water.
In the trees around the feeder near the Physical Energy Statue: Robin, Starling, Great-Spotted Woodpecker. After a scouring the nearby trees eventually the target bird was spotted unassuming against a tree trunk, a day-roosting Tawny Owl. Unfortunately we only spotted one & not the widely reported family group, but maybe next time.
On Round Pond: Common Gull, Great-Crested Grebe, Egyptian Goose. Many of the previous species also seen again in an area where many people come to feed them, as a consequence they were extremely naturalised & easy to approach.
14 species.
From Hyde Park Corner along Serpentine Road on the Serpentine: Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Black-Headed Gull, Red-Crested Pochard (feral).
Crossing Exhibition Road into Kensington Park Gardens: Ring-Necked Parakeet noisy in the trees; Little Grebe from the Serpentine Bride on the Long Water.
In the trees around the feeder near the Physical Energy Statue: Robin, Starling, Great-Spotted Woodpecker. After a scouring the nearby trees eventually the target bird was spotted unassuming against a tree trunk, a day-roosting Tawny Owl. Unfortunately we only spotted one & not the widely reported family group, but maybe next time.
On Round Pond: Common Gull, Great-Crested Grebe, Egyptian Goose. Many of the previous species also seen again in an area where many people come to feed them, as a consequence they were extremely naturalised & easy to approach.
14 species.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Stoke Newington Reservoirs, London, 15/02/2009
Weather: same as earlier & trying to rain. From 14:30pm.
After the Isle of Dogs, a trek up to Stoke Newington for the reservoirs were a great-northern diver had been reported for the past fortnight & which would be another UK tick. However I took a little longer to get there after getting a bus that went in the opposite direction to where the reservoirs were!
West Reservoir.
Walking along the canal-side bank, on the opposite side to the reservoir, but which allowed good views across the water for usual common reservoir species: Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Cormorant, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Shoveler in mainly in pairs & in good numbers; along the path Blue Tit, Wren, Crow & Blackbird; a pair of Gadwall on the canal which was a nice surprise; back on the reservoir Great-Crested Grebe.
East Reservoir, from 14:45pm.
I continued on to the next reservoir to see if the diver had moved on, & picked up a few species in addition to the west reservoir: Pochard, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Mallard, H Gull; at the end of the path a scrubby area with a couple of large trees held nosiy groups of Great Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Starling, Greenfinch & Goldfinch.
Unfortunately no sign of the diver on either reservoir & I later learnt that it had flown off west earlier that day after being disturbed by boats on the water.
25 species, none new.
After the Isle of Dogs, a trek up to Stoke Newington for the reservoirs were a great-northern diver had been reported for the past fortnight & which would be another UK tick. However I took a little longer to get there after getting a bus that went in the opposite direction to where the reservoirs were!
West Reservoir.
Walking along the canal-side bank, on the opposite side to the reservoir, but which allowed good views across the water for usual common reservoir species: Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Cormorant, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Shoveler in mainly in pairs & in good numbers; along the path Blue Tit, Wren, Crow & Blackbird; a pair of Gadwall on the canal which was a nice surprise; back on the reservoir Great-Crested Grebe.
East Reservoir, from 14:45pm.
I continued on to the next reservoir to see if the diver had moved on, & picked up a few species in addition to the west reservoir: Pochard, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Mallard, H Gull; at the end of the path a scrubby area with a couple of large trees held nosiy groups of Great Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Starling, Greenfinch & Goldfinch.
Unfortunately no sign of the diver on either reservoir & I later learnt that it had flown off west earlier that day after being disturbed by boats on the water.
25 species, none new.
Isle of Dogs, London, 15/02/2009
Weather: dull, cold, still. From 11:45am.
Another trip out to the Isle of Dogs (last time was 13th January) for the regular & long-staying ring-billed gull which I'd missed the first couple of times because I'd always got the tide wrong. This time I was determined to get there at low tide & after riding the buses because the tube was down for engineering, & the DLR, I made it in time.
Off at Island Gardens & along the river walk up to the Glenaffric Road slipway, lots of gulls foraging on the muddy banks: Black-Headed Gull; lesser numbers of, but still numerous Common Gull; a few Lesser Black-Backed Gull with a few Woodpigeon & Carrion Crow also; & the occasional Herring Gull, & mainly first winter birds also.
At a viewpoint area to the left of the slipway, overlooking a section of exposed bank, I scanned through the gulls in order to pick out the ring-billed, which was no easy task because of the number of common gulls & their variability of plumage as Spring creeps around the corner. In particular a few had quite prominent rings on their bills but the weaker-looking bill finally told that they were not what I was after. During the time spent here however a few Goldfinch flew over, & a few Mallard moved through. Finally though I did pick out an individual with fewer flecks on its head, a deeper chest, a stronger bill with a ring & the diagnostic pale iris of the Ring-Billed Gull, a UK first, which spent some time preening before wandering about the back foraging. Whilst I watched it, a couple of fellow birders came back from further up the river, they were following a first winter Mediterranean Gull which they picked out amongst the black-heads, & which was a nice bonus.
After watching the ring-billed for several more minutes I headed off but not before also seeing a lone Pied Wagtail & several Cormorant coming into fine spring plumage with white head-dress & thing-patch.
12 species, none new but one UK first.
Another trip out to the Isle of Dogs (last time was 13th January) for the regular & long-staying ring-billed gull which I'd missed the first couple of times because I'd always got the tide wrong. This time I was determined to get there at low tide & after riding the buses because the tube was down for engineering, & the DLR, I made it in time.
Off at Island Gardens & along the river walk up to the Glenaffric Road slipway, lots of gulls foraging on the muddy banks: Black-Headed Gull; lesser numbers of, but still numerous Common Gull; a few Lesser Black-Backed Gull with a few Woodpigeon & Carrion Crow also; & the occasional Herring Gull, & mainly first winter birds also.
At a viewpoint area to the left of the slipway, overlooking a section of exposed bank, I scanned through the gulls in order to pick out the ring-billed, which was no easy task because of the number of common gulls & their variability of plumage as Spring creeps around the corner. In particular a few had quite prominent rings on their bills but the weaker-looking bill finally told that they were not what I was after. During the time spent here however a few Goldfinch flew over, & a few Mallard moved through. Finally though I did pick out an individual with fewer flecks on its head, a deeper chest, a stronger bill with a ring & the diagnostic pale iris of the Ring-Billed Gull, a UK first, which spent some time preening before wandering about the back foraging. Whilst I watched it, a couple of fellow birders came back from further up the river, they were following a first winter Mediterranean Gull which they picked out amongst the black-heads, & which was a nice bonus.
After watching the ring-billed for several more minutes I headed off but not before also seeing a lone Pied Wagtail & several Cormorant coming into fine spring plumage with white head-dress & thing-patch.
12 species, none new but one UK first.
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