RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 27/12/2009

12:45 to 3:30pm. Weather: cold, grey, some blue sky.

Outing with mum & the boys, in wintry conditions which meant we didn't linger on the beach. The boys were still able to pick up a couple of starfish, unbelievable numbers of which had been washed up on the shore, & these along with wrecked shellfish attracted large numbers of gulls. We stopped in the new Island Hide on the way back for lunch but it was fairly quiet, however a good tally was still had overall.

Carpark:
Woodpigeon, Robin, Starling

Picnic Area:
Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Wren.
Muntjac - confidently & unhurriedly crossed the path in front of us.
Dunnock, Moorhen, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Long-Tailed Tit, Blackbird.

Freshwater Marshes:
Kestrel, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Coot, Little Egret.
Brent Goose, Wigeon, Redshank, Shoveler, Avocet, Teal.
Pintail - 3 males, 2 females.
Herring Gull - thousands were seen towards Thornham, in large flocks clouding the horizon.
Shelduck, Black-Headed Gull.

Tidal Marshes:
Black-Tailed Godwit, Cormorant.
Water Rail - proving quite a good spot for them, with one skulking about the low undergrowth on the beach side of the old dividing embankment.
Little Grebe - 7 counted, again tucked in against the embankment.
Crow, Lapwing, Great Black-Backed Gull.
Goldeneye - a lone male; later many were spotted on the sea.

Beach:
Pied Wagtail - 2 flushed as soon as I set foot on the sand.
Turnstone, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Curlew - all on the tide line.
Common Scoter - good sized rafts fairly close in shore due to it being high tide.
Great-Crested Grebe - 3 also at sea.

Adjacent to Tidal Marsh:
Marsh Harrier - female or juvenile quartering the marsh.

Island Hide:
Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Gadwall - additional to the wildfowl seen on the way up.

Entrance/Exit:
Pink-Footed Goose - above fields next to Titchwell Village.
Magpie, Greylag Goose - a small flock flew in & settled on the fields next to the reserve entrance/exit.

52 species.

Dersingham Bog Bypass, Norfolk, 20/12/2009

4:30pm. Weather: cold, snowing.

Woodcock - 2 flying along the road.

WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London, 13/12/2009

1:30pm. Weather: dull, breezy, cold.

A free weekend allowed me to take Kim to the LWC for the first time. Closer than Rainham but not with the same variety of species, nonetheless a good day out.

Entrance Area:
Great Spotted Woodpecker - heard from the trees adjacent to the carpark.
Magpie, Crow, Starling, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck.
Goldfinch, Blackbird, Ring-Necked Parakeet.

Wildside:
Egyptian Goose - a pair over & away from the reserve.
Greenfinch, Wren (heard), Cormorant (over).

Hide:
Grey Heron, Teal, Little Grebe, Great-Crested Grebe.
Black-Headed Gull, Gadwall, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Shoveler, Common Gull.

Wildside:
Green Woodpecker, Robin, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Jackdaw, Mute Swan.

Towards Peacock Tower:
Bittern - along the path we passed a couple of obliging birders who pointed out its whereabouts & when we arrived at the viewing place another birder helped us point in the right direction. Although only a few reedstems from the water's edge the amazingly cryptic plumage still meant that it was perfectly well-concealed, just a suggestion of density with the naked eye & difficult to see even with a 'scope, though I could pick out the detailed plumage & was impressed with its almost russet & dark upper head & neck. It then skulked back & forth before the cold persuaded us to move on.
Water Rail - also heard from the reedbeds nearby.

Peacock Tower:
Wigeon - feeding on a grassy bank.
Woodpigeon, Lapwing, Herring Gull (1st winter).

36 species.

Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 28/11/2009

1:15pm. Weather: bright & sunny, cold, easterly breeze.

Fortune Green Entrance:
Chaffinch, Crow, Goldfinch.
Woodpigeon - later, at least 18 counted in a large pine tree on the south-side.
Redwing - over 20 all over the south-side of the cemetery, chucking & pseeping.
Blackbird, Black-Headed Gull.

South-side:
Jay - flitting ahead, flashing white-rump.
Greenfinch, Robin, Magpie, Blue Tit.
Song Thrush - briefly singing.

Pitches:
Starling - gulls.

Brambles:
House Sparrow - 3 males in brambles, after hearing them calling.
Wren - heard from brambles near to sparrows.
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - heard back at south-side.

Exit:
Great Tit,
Goldcrest - heard from centre pine but foliage was too thick to find it.

15 species.

Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 15/11/2009

11:30am. Weather: bright & sunny, cool, still.

Patch visit during which I found an alternate & more secluded path which yielded more species than usual.

South-side:
Woodpigeon, Magpie, Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Crow, Blackbird, Goldfinch (over).
Redwing - several more than previous visits, noisily foraging amongst the foliage.
Blackcap - as I watched the redwings, a surprise grey bird came into view also foraging. A female, over-wintering & the first time I have encountered one doing so.
Song Thrush - flicked away quickly through the understorey then heard singing.
Goldcrest - heard singing in the pines then seen with a Long-Tailed Tit feeding party.
Coal Tit, Jay, Greenfinch (heard).
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - amongst the trees tapping here & there.

North-side:
Wren (heard),

Playing Fields:
Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Starling.

Rememberance Garden:
Herring Gull (over).

Fortune Green Gate:
Greenfinch - 4 over.

22 species.

Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 07/11/2009

11am. Weather: bright & sunny, cool.

Nice morning walk with Kim.

South-side:
Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Jay, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Magpie.
Redwing - a few winter visitors flitting amongst the larger trees, pines & shrubs.
Green Woodpecker - close by & into a larger tree near the centre building.

Centre:
Long-Tailed Tit, Blue Tit.
Crow - high up, to the east, harrassing a Sparrowhawk, site tick.

North-side:
House Sparrow, Wren, Greenfinch - all around the large brambles.
Robin.

16 species.