Some recent sightings in and around the Lea Valley and North London April to June 2001

June

Sat 30-6-01 Brimsdown Seemed to be one pair of Black Redstarts still feeding by Leggetts and flying over in the direction of East Duck Lees Lane. The male of this pair sang a snatch from the roof, while I was watching another male on reservoir fence. Another unmarked male was singing from Johnson Matthey - Helen Bantock

Fri 29-6-01 Brimsdown The Leggetts Black Redstarts have now fledged young. There were two juvs + the female on the canal towpath this evening. Also a female Gadwall with one duckling on the canal near Turkey Brook (originally 4 in the brood).  Roy Woodward.
Buckhurst Hill am, just had three crossbill fly south-west - Richard Cope

Thu 28-6-01 Barking Bay am : eight  Common Terns ; 54 Shelduck plus two broods of 15 and 3.   Creekmouth;: one brood of 11 Shelduck; a loose gathering of 16 adult Great Crested Grebes off the Northern Outfall - my highest count here. No dolphins! Ken Barrett
Gt.Amwell, 2 hobbies which were being seen off by 1 common tern. Also at Fishers Green a common tern was dive bombing a heron that was too near its chick - very protective and plucky birds. Other birds included reed buntings, reed & sedge warblers, whitethroat, blackcaps, green woodpecker, and a kingfisher - Dave Messsenger, Cetti's warbler singing at Hall Marsh for John Fitzpatrick
Trent Park area, young lesser spots up at nest hole entrance, 2 slow worms, spotted flycatcher in Williams Wood, little owl, 1 painted lady Wed 27th 8.10pm - R Callf and R White

Nick Sampford has been around the UK photographing butterflies with his digital camera ~ the images can be seen on the Herts and Middx Butterfly Conservation site, also posted in the photohouse there. Meadow brown ~ Wed 27-6-01 Hockley Woods Essex, 200+ heath fritillaries on the wing - Cotton, Cutts, Craig, Middleton.

Mon 25-6-01 Broxbourne Woods 2 ringlets, 2 small skippers, 1 brown hawker, 1 marsh tit - Liz Goodyear
June wildfowl count at Walthamstow Reservoirs (24/6/01), Little Grebe 3, Gt Crested Grebe 43, Cormorant 547, Mute Swan 72, Black Swan 1, Greylag 60, Canada Goose 781, Barnacle Goose 1, Shelduck 2, Wigeon 1, Gadwall 4, Mallard 42, Pochard 91, Tufted Duck 262, Scaup 1, Moorhen 21, Coot 218, Lapwing 5, Black-headed Gull 16, L Black-b Gull 41, Herring Gull 2, Common Tern 61, Kingfisher 1 - Stephen Harris

Sun 24-6-01 Brimsdown Black redstarts Very exciting day today, I'm sure both the 'Leggetts' and 'Pylons' birds are feeding young. One of the Leggetts birds was on the tow-path only 20 feet away. Caught a big insect and took it across to the main Leggetts area, by one of the parked lorries - Helen Bantock
Rye Meads 22/6/01   Curlew N at 05:10, 1 LRP 2 LBB Gulls   Sat 23/6/01 70 Acres 8 Common Terns Ringed (6 Pairs), Friday Lake 12 Common Terns Ringed (8 Pairs) - Paul Roper
North Mymms area, a common buzzard circled high overhead, 1 tree pipit - A Middleton

Sat 23-6-01 Trent Park area ~ a male hairy dragonfly patrolling the marginal reedbed of the Upper Lake, male lesser-spot carryng food taken from dead elms - R Callf and R White
Epping Forest Wake Valley numerous downy emeralds, here and Long Running, numerous emperors, 4 spot chasers, broad-bodied chasers, large red, red-eyed and azure damselflies, 2 hairy dragonflies, a hobby swooped low over Long Running and took a dragonfly, 1 singing tree pipit - T Clancy and A Middleton, also one southern hawker Wednesday last at Yardley Hill, and 1 brown hawker Bucks Thursday last

Mon 18-6-01 am, a red kite flew north-west over the Fishers Green area, being mobbed by crows at one point - Phil Vines and Terry Smith

16/6/01 Cornmill  At least 1 turtle dove in area north of car park. Too wet this morning to properly survey the area. Also seen were yellowhammer, bullfinch, green woodpecker and a sparrowhawk. Plenty of commoner species in what seems quite a lively spot - Alex McKechnie.

Tue 12-6-01 Cornmill Meadows LVP. One turtle dove, two fields north of car park, flew off towards Kennel Wood across Crooked Mile about 12.30 p.m. Also one painted lady in the same field. Jeff Butcher
Yardley Hill area, Epping Forest, pair of bullfinch, 1 meadow brown and large skipper in Yates Meadow, also 20+ burnet companions, 2 emperors, 1 black-tailed skimmer - A Middleton - for Roy Woodward - where should I send TQ39/Essex Odonata records for the 2001 project, and what contacts are there for the other 10km squares in our area?- many thanks

Mon 11-6-01 Gt.Amwell among the  40 odd species sighted were  a pair of bullfinches, 2 grey wagtail, 2 redshank, 1 Egyptian goose. A hobby flew past, also willow wartblers, chiffchaffs, sedge & reed warblers & whitethroats & 1 gt.spotted woodpecker - Dave Messenger
Trent Park area, lesser spot returning to its willow nest-hole after 21 minutes, 2 male banded demoiselle Merryhills Brook, 1 black-tailed skimmer, large skipper, 2 burnet companions, 1 small yellow underwing, 1 spotted flycatcher Williams Wood, Thursday 7th 6 small coppers and 15 small heaths, 1 female common blue, 1 emperor - various sightings from both R Callf and R White

10-6-01 am Sewardstone Marsh a common waxbill around the Godwin Close entrance area - found by Harry, news from PJV
Some counts from Walthamstow Reservoirs from yesterday (10 June) plus some breeding info:
Little Grebe 2 pairs, Gt Crested Grebe 46, Grey Heron 98 pairs, Cormorant 270 pairs, Mute Swan 7 nesting pairs, Greylag 12 broods, Canada Goose 45 broods, Shelduck pair, Gadwall 4, Shoveler 1 female, Pochard 2 broods so far, Tufted Duck 147, Scaup 1, Kestrel pair, Coot 42 pairs, Herring Gull 1 pair with newly hatched young, Lesser B-b Gull 4-5 nesting pairs, Common Tern c. 32 breeding pairs, Swift c. 1,300, Grey Wagtail 2-3 pairs, Sedge Warbler c. 27 territories - Stephen Harris
13:00 East India Dock (LVRP) two Peregrines over the dome, at least two pairs of Reed Warblers and two pairs of Whitethroats, one male Blackcap, a Little Ringed Plover on the island. Steve Allum
Herts Before the weather deteriorated I had 2 corn buntings nr Bone Hill, towards the M1, a 2 pairs near Potters Crouch. Also four hares, two adults and two leverets. Three singing Yellowhammers, lots of Skylarks.Three Lapwing flew over, also three Linnets - Helen Bantock
9-6-01 Woodford, Essex - KITE species, probably red, flew over my house at 11am going east - Ken Murray
9-6-01 Brimsdown am, East Duck Lees Rd area a young male and a female black resdstart, an adult male and female near the overhanging factory. An adult male black redstart (with well marked white wing panels) feeding from the reservoir fence - just before the newest factory in Delta Park south of the usual pylon. And a well marked adult male Black Redstart by Mossops Creek (Johnson Mathey and Macros) - Helen Bantock
7.6.01:  Ponders End Lake; Sunday 3.6.01- 1 Dunlin,  Tuesday 5.6.01- 1 Painted Lady. - Steve Connor

Stag beetles Cheshunt is a "hot spot " for them and they are on the wing mid May to end of August. The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species are asking for sightings. Also, if anyone living in Cheshunt has time to walk along the same 500 metre stretch at least once a week for 4 to 6 weeks ~ their phone no is 020 7498 4533. Web site www.ptes.org - Helen Bantock

Wed 6-6-01 19.00 Fishers Green 70 Acre lake, 1 Hobby catching flies high up, 1 fox crossing the River Lea on boom, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green woodpecker and a Nightingale was sighted over by the electricity generators - Mr M Jameson and Mr M Howell.
12.30 pm. Oystercatcher seen feeding on fields between Hollyfield farm and Goosefield at Fishers Green. Flew briefly to another field slightly south of farm, but soon returned - Ann and Terry? Smith.
Lea Valley, Hall Marsh. One Green Sandpiper on the main scrape, viewed from the Plover Hide.- J Murray
Barkng Marsh 7 grey partridge, single lrp and ringed plover, single pairs of redshank and lapwing, estimated 25+ pairs of whitethroat, 15+ meadow pipit, 10 skylark and 2 reed bunting, also c50 shelduck - A Middleton

Tue 5-6-01 There were 2 Firecrest's singing this morning at the Warren ( Copped Hall ), both birds were singing about 15 yards apart. Also my first sighting this year of an emperor dragonfly. I counted 7 singing Yellowhammers around Copped Hall, BUT there are signs up indicating that the entrance to the estate at Crown Hill is shut to the public.  When I was on my way back by the 'white house' ( at the start of the permissive footpath ) the old lady that lives there let her dog out and he attacked me ( Little Bastard) (you were asking for it Tony). When I complained she indicated a sign saying the area was shut due to F&M. I have been on to the Corporation of London ( The Warren ) and they have told me all Forest land is open and I was within my rights to be walking the footpaths. It seems some people are taking the law into their own hands. The sign in question is nailed to a telegraph pole opposite the pond (I can think of better places to nail it-am). Tony Gray, PS There are now 2 Hooded Mergs on the pond, one Male one Female.
At Gt. Amwell a total of 38 species, including redshank, ringed plover, kestrel, hobby, shelduck, common tern. At Rye Meads, a cuckoo, ruddy duck, little grebe, reed bunting.and a LRP. At Hall Marsh scrape there was a strange bird, I looked it up and the nearest I found to it was a wood duck. Can anyone confirm that? I also saw the Cettis warbler here on Mon.4/6 - Dave Messenger - on Saturday there was a report of a female Mandarin Duck -(Similar to female wood duck) on the board in the Plover hide. I did not see the bird but this might be the culprit? news from John Murray
Epping Forest Reed Warbler Warren Pond today and yesterday - Ken Murray, and another Yardley Hill, also 2 skylarks Yates Meadow, 20+ burnet companions, 4 common blues, 1 small heath, 1 male banded agrion - A Middleton
Sun 3.06.01, Ramney Marsh, 9.30am.  Nightingale singing in scrub close to canal towpath about 300 yards south of the lock - Martin Shepherd

Mon 4-6-01 Trent Park/Vicarage Farm area BB Chaser by Upper Lake, 1 common blue, 3 mother shiptons, 1 burnet companion, Yesterday 2 little owls Vicarage Farm, Trent Park west 'new fields', 19 small heath, 10 small copper, 1 male c blue, 1 mother shipton - R Callf, also R White
Bramfield area, Herts 1 singing firecrest, probably a stoat rather than weasel - A Middleton

Sun 3-6-01 Lea Valley: Red Kite, Drifted distantly over woodland, viewed from highest point of Police Pit, also 2 Hobby, Sparrow Hawk and Kestrel seen from here. 2 Ruddy Ducks on Police Pit.- John Murray
Copped Hall: Firecrest catching insects from conifers on track that runs right from the entrance lodge (I hope that makes sense) and a single Spotted Flycatcher down by the hall. Long Running: single Tree Pipit in song flight. No yellowhammers at Copped Hall though, where do these usually hang out? (in the winter at the bottom point of the permissive path - in the summer thinly spread) Andy Massey
LVP What better way to spend a June afternoon than walking in the sunshine and watching some birds along the way. The sun blazed. the cuckoos called and you knew that this was early Summer in England.  The highlights of today's excursion was probably the nightingale at the rear of Teal Hide at Hall Marsh. The swifts and martins were busy overhead throughout the afternoon feeding on the rising insects and hordes of small flies.  There was a spotted flycatcher just over the bridge from Plover hide in the scrubby bushes as we walked back towards Windmill Lane. A number of sedge and reed warblers and also reed buntings. Blackcaps also in the trees near Windmill Lane and at Turnford Brook.Good views of Lapwing, Garganey and Common Terns on Hall Marsh Scrape. Don't miss the young titmice that are flying the nests at the moment. The long tailed are particularly engaging. The banded damselflies were striking in the afternoon sunshine, too. Alun & Chrissie

Sat 2-6-01 1 male Cetti's Warbler seen singing at 17.00 on 2/6/2001 in a bush opposite Plover Hide at Hall Marsh Scrape in the Lea Valley - Tim Dick
Ponders End Lake, 24+ common terns, 5+ pairs on the small rafts, 2+ on the island more open to predation, a great crested grebe with young on its back, 1 ringed plover, 2 singing reed bunts by hide, 250+ swifts over the KGV Res, 1 reed bunting, and a meadow pipit carrying food by Mill Lane (Sew), Sew Marsh, 2 reed bunts singing, a pair of lapwing with 2 well grown young by the horse paddocks and 3 LRPs here - A Middleton

The Herts Dragonfly Group would like all dragonfly records for the Herts Atlas Project. Included in their website are details of other interesting recent sightings, Herts Atlas coverage so far, recording and photos etc. Contact Alan Reynolds

Fri 1.6.01 Isle of Dogs:  25th May  Black Kite North East at 12.20  Followed it until it got into Essex over the Royal Docks somewhere! ~ Isle of Dogs: 4 Black Red territories around Millwall Dock.  Isle of Dogs: 1st June Common Crane east south east 1.30pm unfortunately towards the Greenwich Peninsular and not Essex! - Howard Vaughan
Vicarage Farm/Trent Park area, a pair of sedge warblers, 1 lesser spot, single small copper, red admiral, mother shipton and burnet companion moths - R Callf and R White
Ponders End Lake pm, a pair of ringed plovers - Tony Clancy
Epping Forest area Copped Hall, 1 singing nightingale in a new area, 5 yellowhammers, 10+ hares, skylarks using the beetle bank, firecrest heard briefly in The Warren, 1 singing tree pipit Long Running (2 birds seen), none seen on Deershelter Plain, just a fallow deer - sheltering I suppose - Andrew Middleton
http://www.cormorantbusters.co.uk/ - thanks very much Tony Gray!

May 2001

Thu 31.5.01 Netherhall GPs 2  Grasshopper Warblers, Amwell GP 7  Hobbies, 4  LRPs, also Grasshopper Warbler at Walthamstow Reservoirs on Monday 28th - Stephen Harris
Mill Lane off Sewardstone Road, a lesser spotted woodpecker disturbed by a great spot, and a calling nuthatch here last Saturday - Phil Vines

Many thanks to Liz Goodyear for the time and trouble she has taken to keep this page up to date whilst I've been away ~ looks like she has done a great job ~ Andy ~ this page has a permanent new address
http://www.acmiddleton.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/localbirds.htm ~ and my email address is now acmiddleton@blueyonder.co.uk

Wed 30.5.01 - Waterford Heath pm - visited both the north and south pit and saw at least 12 Grizzled Skippers in a 2 1/2 hour period including a pair mating on a plantain flower head. Hoddesdon Pit area, Cock Lane - am - at least 5 male (territorial) Hairy Dragonflies also a female egg laying and a mating pair, 5 Four-spotted Chasers, and numerous Large Red and Azure damselflies, pair Little Grebe with 4 young, a pair of Spotted fly-catchers 'open space' by Cock Lane/A10 - A. Middleton & L. Goodyear
Sewardstone Marsh am, 3 singing/calling nightingales, 3 pairs lapwing, 1 lrp on wet field with 2 chiloe wigeon, a white-letter hairstreak larva settling down to pupate on a wych elm twig, turned from green to purple/brown, sedge warbler giving great wood sand 'jiff~jiff' calls - A Middleton

Tues 29.5.01 - news from 26th May - Cornmill Meadows -A glorious early Summer day greeted us as we wandered from woodland to the open paths and back again on Saturday morning. Reed Warblers were busy all along the margins of the Meadows. Possible Cetti's also sighted there. The cuckoos were also around, presumably seeking suitable nests to exchange their young like night fairies in the old tales. Plenty of species but mostly common ones on show, today. Blackcaps in the woods near the car park along with garden warblers. Lower down, near the fenced off area, there was a Green Woodpecker feeding on the new trees. 27th May; Rye House Dusk on a warm May evening and we were accompanying a group around the reserve, including a look at the new hide which will open next year. The highlight of the evening was a little ringed plover there. Also a redshank was showing well on the edge of the water. Other than that, it was quiet. Reed and Sedge warblers were evident but there were no signs or sounds of the Cetti's there. A cuckoo was once again on the overhead wires near North Hide and the kestrel was sitting in full view on the lip of its nesting box on the pylon opposite. Reed buntings were seen on the fence to the right of Trust Hide -Alun & Chrissie
Tonight 29.5.01 - we were having our tea in our garden in Ware. At 6.40pm a Red Kite flew East over the Lea navigation. It was mobbed by a corvid (probably one of the rooks by the college) then flew SW over the hill towards Rush Green. - Ted & Rosie Bell
Perhaps of interest about the Little Stint at PE Lake last week. London bird reports back to 1933 give only two spring records in the valley;- 25/5/52, two at Broxbourne Gps, and 18/5/69, Girling Reservoir.  Roy Woodward.
Cornmill Meadows.  4 Redshank (1 bird displaying), 9 Lapwing, 6 Shelduck. LVP Sewardstone Farmland. 1 female Yellow Wagtail. Bowyers Water. Cettis Warbler heard + seen near small bridge at NE corner of Lake just after 18.00hrs. Also heard by Plover Hide at Hall Marsh on Sunday (27th). Not much else to report bird wise ...but lots of Odonata records during the last week :-  Hairy Dragonflies just about everywhere c30 along Cornmill Stream, 20+ at Hookes Marsh Ditch, 15-20 at the ponds near the Wren Hide & 6 by the electricity substation at Fishers Green and singles by Bowyers Water, along Horsemill Stream and  near Bittern Watchpoint. In Epping Forest, 2 at the main Wake Valley Pond and at the ponds by the Wake Arms Roundabout + 1 at Long Running. Downy Emeralds and 4-Spot.Chasers are now out in Epping Forest, with 1 or 2 4-spots by the Wren Hide today (Sunday). White-legged Damselfly - first 2 today, one by the Cornmill Stream, the other at the ponds by the Wren Hide! Also an Emperor at Cornmill on Sunday, Broad-bodied Chasers, Banded Demoiselles and Large Red, Azure, Red-eyed, Blue-tailed and small numbers of Common Blue Damselflies.    Roy Woodward.
Ponders End Lake 2 Ringed Plovers courtship display this evening. Also Saturday, Turtle Dove heard at Sewardstone Marsh - Tony Clancy
Trent Park area news for the last 7 days - Small Copper max seen so far 8 on 24/5. Small Heath 2 seen 24/5, 9 in 1 hour 26/5. Red Admiral; 1 seen on edge of Shaw's Wood 25/5 and 2 on 27/5. 2 Holly Blue seen together on Enfield Road. Silver Y & Burnet Companion moths on 25/5 and several Small Yellow Underwings & Mother Shipton seen. Robin saw a male Common Blue on 26/6 on the Old Golf Course. Omitted from last news - ladybirds should have included 2 Pine and a Water Ladybird - Pine Ladybird found on Robin's trousers! 3 Red eyed damselflies seen on 24/5, now many on lower lake. Vicarage Farm; Little Owl on 23/5, Turtle Dove on 25/5 (first this year), Grey Partridge seen 24/5 on and a pair of Red legged Partridge as well, one in full cry (27/7), pair Lapwing with 3 young and active LSWP using same tree as last year - Robert Callf and Robin White. Robert has also had his moth trap out and finds include 2 Herald 23/5, Broken-barred Carpet 26/5, Red-green Carpet & Poplar Hawkmoth.
No Grizzled Skippers today at Frogmore Hall, nr Stevenage, but plenty of Common Blues and a couple of Brown Argus and  Peacock. Also Azure and Large Red Damselflies now appearing. and one Little Owl, Bullfinch, Goldfinches, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Cuckoo heard (seen previously), and Coot with young - Trevor Chapman

Mon 28.5.01 - Silver Street area, EN7.  Two singing Yellowhammers & Painted Lady - Martin Shepherd
5.10pm Rainham Riverside car park (stone barges). An immature female Montagu's Harrier soaring high above Tilda Rice before gliding south across river - Ken Barrett
Fairlop; a.m. Female Wheatear, 3 L.R.P.s, 2 Yellow Wags, 2 Brown Hare, on east field. Male Cuckoo seen north and south of site, possibly same bird. Reed Warbler south of lagoon, 6 Common Whitethroat and a Little Owl.- Peter Hopkins.
Sewardstone & Brimsdown; 7-9 am - Nightingale singing at S west edge of Sewardstone, by the new cycle route. Also very unusual voiced Sedge Warbler, sounding a bit like an Olivaceous Warbler. Good views of a male Cuckoo on bare tree overlooking the recent wet area, on the right hand side as you enter the marsh. On that, still quite wet, area were 3 Lapwings (2 males, one female) with a fourth bird in the ?Patty pools opposite. Feeding, rather than nesting, as behaviour not aggressive enough. Also, a pair of Little Ringed Plover, not likely to be nesting here. A few Garden Warblers singing, but no Whitethroats, although one or two were seen. Brimsdown 8.20 am. Snatch of Black Redstart song from Leggetts, but bird not seen. Then a female seen feeding from the Reservoir fence, opposite the south edge of the overhang (8.25-8.35am). Did not see where the bird flew. At 8.45-8.50am two birds seen on the Leggetts building (just beyond and north of the overhang). They were perched on the light at the end of the building and were flying from the roof to the ground. At least one of these was a female and I think the other was a young male. Brief look at far end - none seen - Helen and Tristan Bantock

Sun 27.5.01 - KGV Res; the 4 Arctic Terns seen by Phil Vines at 9am stayed only 10 minutes.   Sewardstone Marsh; The recently accessible footpath across the corner of the southern field and through to Enfield Lock has been closed off again. Also, 1 mobile Nightingale singing constantly in bushes on west side, by fence next to the flood relief channel, others quiet.   Ponders End Lake; 1 Dunlin.   Cornmill Meadows; no unusual birds - Steve Connor
KGV Res, viewed from Mill Lane; 4 Arctic Terns on South Basin at 9am ~ seen by Phil Vines

Sat 26.5.01 - 9.30 am Fishers Green LVP. Near weir, 2 Hobbies high up - Jeff Butcher

Fri 25.5.01 - 2 Hairy Dragonfly, 1 Banded Demoiselle, many Azure Damselfly, many Large Red Damselfly, Cornmill today - Tony Clancy.  
5.40pm Dagenham Chase - Honey Buzzard flying west. Ken Barrett for Howard Vaughan/Vince Halley-Frame - 7.15pm- Romford (my garden!) Peregrine soaring west with large prey - Ken Barrett
Broxbourne Woods - over 30 Speckled Yellow moths but no Grizzled Skipper - Liz Goodyear, Brian Sawford & Christine Shepperson - Grizzled Skipper continue to be seen at Waterford Pits. Anyone visiting Broxbourne Woods this weekend please look hard in the two glades near the West carpark - thanks

Thurs 24.5.01 - Little Stint - I have gone back to the Lee Valley Bird Report 1976 onwards - no spring records since pre 76 - Robin Smith
Spotted Flycatcher Coppets Wood this evening - Tony Clancy
A snippet of interesting info for the web site! - after comment from Phil Vines, I checked back and found this to be the first spring record of Little Stint in the Lee Valley for at least 20 years, and possibly longer (I don't have any records further back) ~ Steve Connor
Ponders End Lake; Little Stint-still present 4.10pm at least
Ponders End Lake; Little Stint 2.45-4.10 at least,also a Common Sandpiper ~ Steve Connor

Wed 23.5.01 - total of 11 Black Terns through KGV Res by 10.30am (from Mill Lane)~seen by Phil Vines
Barking Bay 1010hrs - 4 Black Terns flew downriver (east). One Curlew, three Oystercatchers and two Grey Partridges also seen yesterday Dagenham Chase - two Commas and 11 Orange-Tips - Ken Barrett
Sewardstone Marsh now has full access over the whole marsh, including the southern part (the flooded field with cattle on it), and the footpath through to Enfield Lock- Steve Connor. Also KGV Res (from Mill Lane); 5 Black Terns in a.m.~ seen by Phil Vines  
I've spent about 6 hours in total now at Waterford Heath looking for Grizzled Skipper and I had one yesterday by the bench very briefly in flight but well enough to id it but tonight. I've had 7 sightings. 4 by the bench near the yellow broom, 1 between there and the kissing gate and 2 by the bench by the kissing gate. I'm not saying that these were all different but they were sightings but I never got a photo. I had one in the scope but it flew before I could get me camera on it. I will get a picture if its the last thing I do! - Nick Sampford

Tues 22.5.01 - Trent Park; 3 Spotted Flycatchers in Shaws wood and 2 Whinchat at Vicarage Farm.- J. Murray

Mon 21.5.01 - Coppermill Filter Beds; 2 Swallows north at 08:14 hrs, Walthamstow Res - viewed from Coppermill Lane, 300+ Swifts, 20+ Common Terns, Walthamstow Marsh; 1 Hobby drifting low over tree tops (first for the years)18:30 hrs, also usual assortment of warblers - Sedges, Reeds, Willows, Blackcap, Garden and Whitethroats - David Darrell-Lambert
Had a hybrid drake Athya at Ponders End Lake this evening,  Met Steve Connor & I thought it was Tufted Duck x Pochard maybe?  We saw a Magpie raiding the Terns nests on the island, got eggs from 3 nests. May also have got the LRP,s - Tony Clancy.
News from Trent Park area. Today: 6 newly emerged Small Copper, Male Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue (settled on ground), at least 10 male and female Orange Tip, 1st Broad-bodied Chaser of the year, several "blue" damselflies and several Large Red damselflies. Last week - 15th: pair Whinchats (Vicarage Farm), 16th: 3 juvenile Pied Wagtails being fed by adult female (Vicarage Farm), 18th: Blue-tailed damselfly, female Muslin moth, 19th: Hobby and 5 Mandarin ducklings with mother. - Robert Callf and Robin White. Robin & Robert are looking at ladybirds and since 1st April have identified 24 spot, 2 spot, 7 spot, 10 spot and 14 spot. Last week they found 5 species on just one patch of nettles!
Spent 1 1/2 hours at Waterford Marsh today between 12.30 & 2.  I had 86 Orange Tip, 44 Green-Veined White, 23 Small White, 2 Holly Blue, 2 LargeWhite, Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell -  these were sightings probably of the same butterfly several times but no Grizzled Skippers. Also a Hobby and 2 Turtle Doves - Nick Sampford
Singleton Grizzled Skipper seen at Waterford Heath about 4.15 and an hour later another person also saw one but in a slightly different location - Liz Goodyear
A couple of sightings from the past weekend, Friday 18 May - Wood Warbler singing at Long Running, Epping Forest at dusk. and Saturday 19 May - 1 Oystercatcher at Walthamstow Reservoirs -1st Pochard brood of year at Walthamstow Reservoirs - Stephen Harris

Some images received today from Nick Sampford - the Broad-bodied Chaser was taken at Patmore Heath, Herts and the butterflies in the Thundridge area

left: Broad-bodied Chaser Nick Sampford right:Small Tortoiseshell Nick Sampford click to enlarge all images

right: Speckled Wood Nick Sampford

Sun 20.5.01 - 06.30 -14.30, Lea Valley: 74 species recorded - highlights were Grasshopper Warbler at Waltham, Cetti's Warbler by Plover hide, 2 Nightingales by the National Grid, 4 Hobbys together over Seventy Acres Lake, 2 Ruddy Ducks on Police Pit, Tawny Owl in usual box, 4 Dunlin  at Waltham in flooded field and strangest of all a pair of Goosander flew high over Grand weir hide! - J Murray
08.00hrs, London Bridge: Black Redstart in song in Tooley Street area for 35 minutes. Also, of interest: Swanscombe Marsh, 09.00hrs: 13 Grey Heron, Cuckoo, 6 Wheatear, 18 Reed Warbler, Lsr Whitethroat, Turtle Dove. P Baglee
8:30 PM Amwell GP; Oystercatcher - D Gompertz
Rye House - The Cuckoos were out in force today. At least, you could hear them calling with that oh so familiar call. After studying a possible distant and well hidden cuckoo in a far off tree from Trust Hide, we finally spotted one sitting on the overhead wires near North Hide. It showed well there for some time before flying off to taunt some other poor birdwatcher from the foilage. The reserve is alive with warblers. A few moments of patience beside any of the reed beds there and you will see at least Reed and Sedge. Whitethroats are also around in numbers. A pair of text book Blackcaps were enjoying a feeding frenzy beside the pool at North Hide. They were joined by some of our more common birds, all displaying aerial acrobatics as they snapped up the rising may flies. The kingfisher pair were regularly seen from North Hide, also Hobbies were reported by other watchers but our only sighting was too far off to definitely confirm. Hobby was pencilled in as a probable - Alun & Chrissie
South KGV Res; Oystercatcher a.m. Tony Clancy & Phil Vines
Waterford Heath, nr Hertford this afternoon - 1 or 2 Grizzled Skippers, Cinnabar Moth, 4 Small Yellow Underwing, Latticed Heath, Peacocks, Orange Tips, Holly Blues and a Green Veined White - Liz Goodyear

Sat 19.5.01 - Cuckoo seen and heard as it flew around the Roselands Estate, Hoddesdon about 4.30 - Liz Goodyear
Was experiencing some problems with the server but now seems okay! - LG

Fri 18.5.01 - Fairlop; Female Wheatear on paddock south of lagoon - late evening -Peter Hopkins
A few (late!) records which may be of interest -   The Cettis Warbler was still present in the Hall Marsh/ Friday Lake area on Saturday (12th) - It flew across to the other side of the Lee Navigational just after 7pm. Also on Saturday, there were 4 Hobbies, a single Hairy dragonfly + Azure, Large Red, Blue-tailed & 1 Common Blue Damselflies at Cornmill, and at Holyfield GP - I counted a minimum of 15 occupied Cormorant nests, and 9 Grey Heron nests (all of the Herons nests visible from the path to the Grebe Hide).   During the past few days there has been a Grey Wagtail singing daily at the flood relief channel, near the Girling Res. entrance and a Hobby over the KGV Res on Tuesday - Roy Woodward.

Thurs 17.5.01 - Brent Res; Oystercatcher on rafts in evening - Andrew Self. Monday 14th - Pair of Garganey reported by unknown observer - news from Andrew Self
Ware; 2 Starling youngsters on my lawn this afternoon (26th May last year!) - Liz Goodyear

Wed 16.5.01 Black Redstart survey, 4.45am: Finsbury Park, Coburg Rd (back of Alexandra Palace), Angel Rd, Leeside Rd, Eley Estate, no birds seen or heard (other passerines quite vocal, in spite of intermittent rain). Brimsdown: 5.40, nil at Energy Centre or Delta Park (new trading estate in Millmarsh Lane).6.05, Leggatt's overhang building, female Black Redstart seen feeding on the roof for five minutes, then flew down into the gulley between the roofs. 6.30am, from the canal bank, opposite the newest factory (in Delta park), male and female Black Redstart seen feeding from the fence, in usual place by the pylons. The birds were flying down to the ground and also to the side of the pylon, where they seemed to be catching insects. After 15 minutes they took shelter, as it began to rain - Helen Bantock  

Tues 15.5.01 - Singing male Firecrest this evening at Glebelands Nature Reserve, Finchley - Tony Clancy.
4pm - 5pm. Walthamstow Res; Lockwood, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 male Wheatear and 2 Shelduck - Marco Johnston
Walthamstow Res; 08:10 hrs No5, 1 Greenshank, 200+ Swifts & 5 Swallows north - David Darrell-Lambert

Mon 14.5.01 - KGV Res; Grey Plover on causeway 8.30 am, then flew off SW, also a Dunlin ~ seen by Phil Vines.   Ponders End Lake; morning - 5 Dunlin (seen by Phil Vines) , afternoon- male White Wagtail, 2 Dunlins ~ Steve Connor. 
Male Orange Tip in my garden North Finchley on Saturday 12th, also Speckled Wood - Tony Clancy
This is a late record for Saturday as I've been away photographing this weekend - Osprey over Thundridge at 2.30 from Hanbury Manor towards Youngsbury Estate watched for 5 mins being mobbed by a rook this was seen by Angela my wife. Now I'm gripped off as she has it as a garden tick  -  Nick Sampford
Trent Park area today - Shaw's Wood 1 Spotted Flycatcher (a week later than last year), Sedge Warblers still near Barracks, 1 Cuckoo heard this pm - Robert Callf. 3 Cuckoos heard this am - Robin White (news from R.Callf). Weekend news from the Trent Park area - 6 Orange Tips including 2 females, 8 Small Tortoiseshells, 8 Speckled Woods plus 2 seen on journey (Sat) - Robert Callf. Trent Park (Sun); 2 Large Red Damselflies (exactly same day of emergence as last year!), Small Yellow Underwing. Vicarage Farm (Sun); 1 Kingfisher (first seen this year) - Robert Callf and Robin White

A couple of interesting birds in Epping Forest on Saturday 12 May: 1 male Hawfinch at 7.45am in St Mary's Churchyard, Theydon Bois. 1 Tree Pipit singing briefly at Long Running at 9.00am - Stephen Harris

Sun 13.5.01 - Ponders End Lake; 2 Dunlins, and a large Red-eared Terrapin hauled out on small tern raft (this also seen on Saturday 12th) ~ Steve Connor.
Sewardstone Marsh 2 singing Nightingales and pair of Hobby over National Grid, Fishers Green. At least 3 singing Nightingales and a Turtle Dove calling - Andy Massey
Fishers Green: 14:30 at least 3 Nightingales singing on the south & east sides of the National Grid station. 1 Cuckoo over - Dave Rimes
Rainham Marsh 12:00 to 13:30 - 2 Hobby, 3 Bar Tailed Godwit, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, about 4 pairs of Lapwing, 10 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall (all on or over the eastern flooded silt lagoon), 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting, lots of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail heard over, Skylarks singing by barges - Julie Rix
Black Redstart survey 13.05.01.Checked the Trading estates just south of the Lea Valley viaduct (Lea Valley and Hastingwood). Also looked at the Riverside Industrial estate (level with the top of the W Girling res), but nothing heard or seen at these sites or from the gasworks across the road (around 5am). Cycled several times around East Duck Lees lane, Johnson Matthey, Jeffery's Rd, Millmarsh Rd and Brancroft Way. No birds heard singing,but at 6.30 am, had brief views of probable male bird in East Duck Lees lane, flying into low waterside buildings south of the overhang. At 7am, a bird seen entering and leaving the taller, roofless, corrugated, blue J Matthey, waterside building (where birds seen singing earlier in the week and in April). At 8.15 am, good views of female Black Redstart, feeding on the overhang building roof for several minutes, before flying off in the direction of East Duck Lees lane. No sight of the pair seen further north, by the pylons and new factory, all year and on the 11.05.01. At 7am, a Kingfisher flew up and down the water. Walthamstow, Lockwood res, 9.45 am. Juvenile Little Gull seen flying at north end , flew off north. At least 13 Common Terns on one raft at one point - Helen Bantock
Amwell - 5.00pm.1 Turnstone, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 little Ringed Plover, 1 redshank. Garden Warbler singing and showing well around 'picnic tables' - Anthony Dorman
Banbury Res - 1 Common Sandpiper, Lockwood - 3 Shelduck & 2 Gadwall, High Maynard - male Scaup, East Warwick - Turnstone, Dunlin, 5 Comm Sand, 3 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 1 pair Herring Gull and 2 pairs LBBG nesting & 3 Barn Geese, West Warwick - Cuckoo & 1 pair Ruddy Duck, No 3 - male Teal!, 40+ Common Terns for the whole site - David Darrell-Lambert

Sat 12.5.01 - At Amwell G.P. today - from 1pm at least - 1 Wood Sandpiper showing well, also a summer plumage Dunlin and a Grn Sandpiper - Anita Daruvala.
5pm - Amwell , from look out point; showing well 1 Wood Sandpiper, also 1 Grn Sandpiper and a summage plumage Dunlin - Also present- RINGED P & LRP - MARCO JOHNSTON
Brimsdown. 5.55am Male Black Redstart same J.Matthey building as 11.05.01, duetting briefly with a Wren, each singing a phrase in turn. Black Redstart then flew into one of the three larger huts. 6.25 am, Common Sandpiper flew south along the water and then back again. 10.50am, female Black Redstart on the roofs of the three bigger J Matthey huts, feeding on insects. Flew down behind them - Helen Bantock
At Ponders End Lake 6 Black terns still present at 6.45 p.m. - Alex McKechnie and Barry Bishop.
A single Wheatear on farmland the rear of Fairlop today - Steve Stuart
Ponders End Lake; 6 Black Terns & a Little Gull, still present mid-pm ~ Steve Connor.
KGV Res (viewed from Mill Lane,Sewardstone); 4 Black Terns flew north at 9.15, and another 6 arrived at 11.15 staying at least 10 minutes, also a Turnstone & a Dunlin there ~ seen by Phil Vines.
Ponders End Lake; A first-summer Little Gull arrived at 11.55, flew off high east at 1.20, but returned at 2.30. Also there, 6 Black Terns arrived at 1.30. All birds still present at 2.40 at least ~ Steve Connor.  
3 Orange Tip butterflies in my Ware garden including a pair mating - Liz Goodyear

Fri 11.5.01 - Brimsdown. 5.20 am Male Black Redstart in brief song in Johnson Matthey huts at waters edge ( usual site). Flew off towards E.Duck Lees lane,over the Leggats lorries. 5.40 am, male Black Redstart feeding on small insects on the pylon opposite new Exel building. Then flew to small bush before flying across the water between the Exel and next factory. Observed for about five minutes. Helen Bantock
Sewardstone Marsh; Greenshank ~seen by Ken Murray
Sewardstone Marsh; 4 Nightingales - 1 at the end of Godwin Close, 2 by picnic site, 1 in the N.E. corner by the squeeze gate - this one in full song for 15 minutes. Also 6 Sand Martins, 1 Ringed Plover on the puddle in the cow field - Joy Park
Vicarage Farm; pair of Sedge Warblers preparing to nest in stinging nettles near oil seed rape field - first known on site. Trent Park; 6 drake Mandarins together on Upper Lake then flew to Lower Lake. Trent Park area - 4 Orange Tips (all male), 4 Speckled Woods, 2 Comma, Large White, Green-veined White and many "assorted whites", Peacocks, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, no Brimstone today but 2 yesterday - Robert Callf and Robin White

Thurs 10.5.01 - Morning at Fisher's Green; Reed warblers in good numbers showing well in the reed bed infront of the Bittern Hide. Also Reed Bunting and Cuckoo. Two Nightingales visible, one each side of the road to the electricity station. A pair of Turtle Doves flying around the relief channel just north of the copse where the Tawny Owl nests and across to the electricity station - Jeff Butcher
Amwell; 19:00 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 2 LRPs. 2 Ringed Plover and stunning views of Cuckoo from hide - David Wheeler
I've just seen a Holly Blue in Ware out side Glaxos while waiting for the Grey Wagtail to appear, this was my first for the year also today Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites, Brimstones and Peacocks in reasonable numbers near Thundridge old church might of had Large White too, but female Brimstones do good impressions at a distance - Nick Sampford
KGV Res; Short-eared Owl resting on causeway for at least 45 minutes around midday, probably still present ~ seen by Phil Vines
Fairlop: 2 Common Sandpipers around fishing lake this morning - Steve Stuart

Wed 9.5.01 - Brimsdown; Singing male Black Redstart at 8.20am seen on small corrugated huts by the water(J Matthey site). Bird singing from here on 7.4.01 and 18.4.01. This time, a female bird seen at the same place at 11.05 am, flying down to the ground to feed. At 10.50, a female or juv male seen flying in East Duck Lees Rd. News from Mon 7.5.01 - Brimsdown; Orange Tip, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies - Helen Bantock.
2 Bar-tailed Godwit at Amwell GP - G J White
pm Nightingales singing south of Rammey Marsh Lock & Enfield Island - Brian Dawton
KGV Res, viewed from Mill Lane, Sewardstone; 2 Little Terns were feeding over the south basin when I arrived at 3.10pm, but had gone within 15 minutes.     Sewardstone Marsh; 7 LRPs, 4 Yellow Wags.     Cornmill Meadows; 4 Dunlins, 5 Redshanks including a pair mating. News from May 8th - Ponders End Lake; 8 Common Sandpiper (none there today, 9th) 2LRPs, Ringed Plover- Steve Connor.
News from 12th April 01: two Chiloe Widgeon were seen a the Seventy Acre Lake at Fishers Green at 2.30pm approximately it was not reported earlier as it took some time to identify them which I managed to do via the internet- MICHAEL HOWELL MARTIN JAMESON.

Tues 8.5.01 - Trent Park - 5 Brimstones (3 male 2 female including pair together Churchwood), 1 Orange Tip, good numbers of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. 3 Grass Snakes (1 Dew Pond, 2 coiled together Nature Trail) - Robert Callf and Robin White
Some more counts and sightings from Walthamstow yesterday: Gt Crested Grebe 40, Little Grebe pair, Mute Swan 7 nesting pairs, Black Swan 1,Greylag 85, Canada Goose 350, Shelduck pair,Gadwall 6, Scaup 1, Pochard 34, Tufted Duck  258, Ruddy Duck pair, Common Sandpiper 3, Grey Wagtail 3 pairs, Yellow Wagtail 2, Sedge Warbler 14 singing, Reed Warbler 8 singing - Stephen Harris

Mon 7-5-01 - 18:00-19:00 Sewardstone Marsh: Male Blue headed Wagtail and at least five Yellow Wagtails on the marsh with 2 prs LRP. Another 2 prs LRP were on the puddle in the cow field. 4 Nightingales singing - 2 around the end of Goodwins Close and 2 along the road by the picnic area - one sang out in the open for so long I had time to change the film in the camera and take more photos! - Dave Rimes
17.30 Sewardstone Marsh - Nightingale (3 in song) - anon
Ring tail Harrier Sp at Rye Meads not seen well due to being in reed bed undertaking Water Rail survey! Unable to positively ID. Any details on a Ringtail Harrier would be welcome if any one else saw it. Last seen heading towards Amwell about 07:30 - Paul Collins
Broxbourne Woods; 2 singing Firecrests this pm, both seen - one moving through the corner of the paddock at TL343078, and one beside the old main ride at TL330075 ~ Steve Connor
Walthamstow Complex, 8:15 hrs to 14:15 hrs, Banbury Res 300+ Swifts, 2 GBBG, Lockwood 200+ Swifts, 2 House Martins, 1 Swallow, 8 Common Terns, 2 Gadwall, High Maynard 1 pair Shelduck, East Warwick Turtle Dove flew north  Yellow Wagtail,  Common Sandpiper, No 1 6 House Martins, No 3 male Scaup, Lesser White, Garden Warbler, No 5 270+ nesting  Cormorants, possible 10+ more nests they are very hard to count! - David Darrell-Lambert
I've restored the black redstart map for TQ39

Sun 6-5-01 I went to Allens Green area and saw at least 8 singing male corn buntings, one of which decided to sit and pose for the camera. The shot of the orange tip was taken recently at Stanstead Abbots - Nick Sampford
	Nick Sampford click to enlarge
Seen at Amwell high point today, one Greenshank, 2 Redshanks, 4 R Plovers, 1 LRP,and one Marsh Harrier, seen at a distance over the trees/fields opp the high point, v dark, possible 1st summer bird. Large nos of Hirundines over new pit. Pair Grey Wagtails showing well by bridge. Thursday 3rd, late news, 2 Grasshopper Warblers- one at Highbridge showground, in bushes by dog `walking' area and one by Bowyers W. - Ann & Terry Smith KGV Res am viewing from Mill Lane, 8 turnstones visible on west side of north basin - Phil Vines Aldbury Nowers, west Herts, 1 singing firecrest - A Mids Brimsdown/Sewardstone To my surprise, at 9am, the East Duck Lees rd black redstart was singing from the same Poplar. No sound or sight of others. A Hobby flew over. Two Nightingales at Sew- Godwin close and just across the road from the Picnic area. - Helen Bantock Sunday 6-5-01  5am Two black redstarts at end of Duck Lees Lane North, Brimsdown - Andy Childs Friday 4-5-01, canal Enfield Lock to Brimsdown,  7.00 to 8.30am. Calling green woodpecker.  Six yellow wagtails in ones and twos, some flying from reservoir bank over industrial area.  Female kestrel on power station roof.  Pair of black redstarts near the usual pylon - female foraging on reservoir bank and male spending some time hovering like a flycatcher on far bank and sitting on shrubs and fencing.  Lesser whitethroat singing from bramble thicket opposite power station.  Common warblers singing were blackcap (2), willow warbler (2), whitethroat (6), sedge warbler (4).  Several swifts and sand martins.  Lake John Match Lake near Galleyhill Wood, 3.40pm.  Pair of mandarins.     Saturday 5-5-01, Amwell, 7.30 to 8.45am.  Four LRPs, three RPs and four redshanks on various scrapes. Two garden warblers singing in scrubby area of wood close to canal - one providing superb close-up views.  Grey wagtail on bridge near main viewing area.  Lake John Match Lake, 7.00pm.  Three drake mandarins and one female.   Sunday 6-5-01, Sewardstone Marsh, 7.00 to 7.45am.  Three nightingales singing of which two seen briefly.  One in the cleared area between main fishing lake and the pits, one on the path up to the pits, and one in third bush on the left as you walk down from Godwin Close.  Also two linnets in this area. - Martin Shepherd

Sat 5-5-01 Fairlop   6-8pm Green woodpecker, 4 yellow wagtails, long tailed tit, 7 swallows, little grebe, jack snipe, ringed plover, lrp, four lapwings, willow warbler, six skylarks , meadow pipit, reed bunting - Andy Childs
Pole Hill 1 lesser spotted woodpecker between the obelisk and the golf course. Joy Park
Black Redstart spotted on KGV Resv. boundary fence opposite blue grey new building, 3 linnets, whitethroat, willow warbler, reed bunting in reeds by blue bridge. Overhead swift, swallow & sand martin, common tern.- Dave Messenger
LVP Cettis's Warbler singing and showing frequently by Plover hide from 07:45 to 08:15 at least. At least 1 Nightingale singing from scrub behind pond by National Grid. Several Cuckoos heard & seen. Dave Rimes & Dave Stewart
LVP - Cetti's still at Friday Lake, better access now Hall Marsh has re-opened. Pair of Ruddy Duck defending territory on Police Pit. Fishers Green - Tawny Owl in it's box. Goose Field - Redshank (3) Yellow Wagtail (4) flying over - Mick Oakland
Nightingale carrying nesting material Sewarstone Marsh, great views of one which killed and ate a bee on the road! 1pair Yellow Wagtail on marsh. 1 Yellow Wagtail Ponders End Lake on island. Tony Clancy       
Sewardstone Marsh: 3 Nightingales, Godwin Close, Picnic area and Knights Pits. Yellow wagtail (male) on the new wet area with 2 Shelduck, a pair of Lapwings (one displaying) , 5 Gadwell. Pair of Reed Buntings in the area with abundant Whitethroats, Bcap, ChChaff, G Warbler, but no W Warbler. A pair of Kestrels and Sparrowhawk. also Swifts. - Helen Bantock
Brimsdown Black Redstarts 4.30-6.30am, 1 singing male old blue factories Mossops Creek, 1 first summer male Duck Lees Lane singing from a factory roof and then from a very tall poplar (adult or 1st summer here yesterday?), 1st summer male singing from the top of a tall conifer in Brancroft Way just opposite the new Energy Centre (north Brimsdown TQ366978) at 5.50am, then flew 100 metres north, into a tree in the rough ground to the left of the cycle path level with the Energy Centre, and a female or young male seen flying from a nearby factory roof by the M&S and Argos lorries towards the canal, approx TQ368975 - Helen Bantock, also A Middleton early am (summary of survey so far ??? - 4 to 5 singing males in 4 or 5 locations, perhaps 2 or 3 seen with a female nearby, two adult males so far ?)
Epping Forest early am, Chingford Plain a jack snipe flew 25m between muddy areas in the scrubby n/e quarter of the plain, 1 calling/singing marsh tit Cuckoo Pits area TQ400955 - A Middleton

Fri 4-5-01 Fishers Green; There is now access into the 2nd car park, and on up past the 'Goosefield' to the Grand Weir Hide. Not much up there though.- Steve Connor
Fairlop AM. 4 Whinchat and 1 Yellow Wag - Steve Stuart
13.05 today Duck Lees Lane (Brimsdown) by canal south of overhanging wharehouse, both Male and Female Black Redstarts. Male singing from low wire fence other side of canal, Female on concrete bank. Also Kestrel along Reservoir Bank and perched on Lifebelt. Pair of Linnets also around wharehouses. Regards - Peter Hale.  Mick Ladner and Dave Fricker
Ware garden - a female bullfinch enjoying the delights of my cooking apple tree's buds at 8 am today Liz Goodyear
Trent Park area, hobby flushed by mistles, 5 garden warblers, 5 small torts Vicarage Farm track, also 3 small whites, 1 comma, male brimstone, 8 peacocks - RCallf and R White
Broxbourne Woods NR - very mobile firecrest singing and calling briefly c3pm just 100m east of the nature reserve (east boundary path) in mixed conifer/birch woodland at roughly TL329073 - A Middleton

Thu 3-5-01 Ponders End Lake this evening, 1 Dunlin, 2 LRP, 1 Ringed Plover, 16 Common Tern, Good nos. Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed W.- Tony.Clancy
I had my first two orange tips today, one at High Wych and another at Much Hadham, also house martins nest building on our village post office [Thundridge] a few days earlier than normal - Nick Sampford
The Cetti's Warbler was still singing regularly mid-afternoon:- at 3.40 it was in the SW corner of Friday Lake, but at 3.50 it flew across to Hall Marsh (It's now in Essex!) and was actually singing from underneath the Plover Hide at 4.00. Also a Hobby chasing a Sparrowhawk overhead there.~ Hall Marsh is now open, and being as there has been Lee Valley Park staff and contractors on the west side of Cornmill Meads for the last two days, on the same ground as cattle, I might expect that site to re-open soon too. Has the risk factor diminished now locally, does anyone know ? - Steve Connor
Grovelands Park, Three drake Mandarin, Garden warbler, Nuthatch, G.s.woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler and Blackcap - J.Murray
Pole Hill, Epping Forest, lesser-spotted woodpecker this am, Hampstead Heath 2 brimstones, 1 nuthatch, Fishers Green yesterday 1 nightingale by sub-station, Ponders End Lake yesterday 1 dunlin and one redshank, 7 c terns - Tony Baumber
Trent Park area, Nature Trail 4 lesser redpoll in oaks, 1 speckled wood, 1 calling lesser spot, 1 large white, 1 comma Moat Wood, 3 yellowhammer Vicarage Farm + 1 Parkside Farm, 7 sand martins and 9 swallows through, total 5 lesser whitethroats and 3 garden warblers, 14 peacocks - R Callf and R White
Fairlop 10AM  A female Whinchat along rear path flew into raised area behind lagoon. Also Hobby flew out of lagoon area last seen entering Moby Dick beer garden! Swifts, House Martins, Swallows and a Lesser Whitethroat. The golf course is draining the long term flooded areas exposing lots of mud. - Steve Stuart
Ken can confirm Chiloe Wigeon at Sewardstone Marsh and the poaching of a tree pipit on his patch - Ken Murray
Chingford Plain one tree pipit singing 8.30am, 2 pairs of bullfinch towards Whitehall Plain, pm Rammey Marsh nightingale sang briefly 1.30pm from scrub just west of Rammey Lock (1-5-2000 Rammey Marsh.  2.35pm. Nightingale singing from scrub on east side just off tow path 50 yards south of fishing club - Martin Shepherd), 3 pairs reed bunting, 2 singing linnets, several skylark and meadow pipit, 12 peacocks, Mossops Creek 1 green-veined white - A Middleton

Wed 2-5-01 1 Hobby flew south over Borders Lane, Loughton at 06:50 today - Dave Rimes
Trent Park year high of 57 species today, 2 c terns Lower Lake, also garden warbler, 2 male mandarin here, elsewhere 2 r.l. partridge, 2 lesser whitethroats, 9 goldfinch - R Callf and R White
Tottenham/Northumberland Park/Angel Road Estate - no sign of any black redstarts early am - A Middleton
There are male black redstarts at West India Quay, South Quay and Blackwall Dock all in the Isle of Dogs and 3 males on Deptford Creek, also David Campbell has contacted me to say there is a male in Shoreditch around the old Truman brewery. and while I remember there has been a pair on the corner of Cheapside and Bow Lane in the City for the last 4 years - Dusty Gedge
ESSEX : WHITE STORK : Hornchurch CP : RPTD 1pm dropping into Ingrebourne Valley - FOCALPOINT & BirdCall

Tue 1-5-01 Barking Marsh min 5 grey partridge, 1 y wag, pair of little grebes on flash, 40 shelduck, 2 redshank, no sign yet of any nightingale at Connaught Water or Chingford Plain - Tony Baumber
Brimsdown 3 singing black redstarts 4.30 to 5.30 am - adult and first winter by Duck Lees Lane area (TQ366962) south of 'overhang' warehouse and away from canal, and one in constant song from Johnson Mathey blue outbuildings (TQ368964), none yet heard etc in the northern part of the Brimsdown estate or Ponders End gasworks, 1 reed bunting singing Brimsdown Marsh - A Middleton (Enfield Council has been sent all our records so far for Jan-Apr - I will send more records later on - past and present territory maps, the black redstart species action plan, and info on initiatives to incorporate appropriate brownfield/urban landscaping, and development inc green roofs, in black redstart habitat) ~ scoped KGV Res 4 - 5pm from Sewardstone Road - just 8 c terns, numerous swifts, house martins and swallows
I enclose a table of counts from local rookeries (and some not so local ones) which somebody may be interested in!  As you can see, most have been counted this year and the trend is clearly an increase in numbers.  But there are a few gaps it would be good to fill.  Similarly, if anyone has any counts from earlier years I would be interested to receive them - Stephen Harris Stephen.R.Harris@maff.gsi.gov.uk

April 2001

Mon 30-4-01 Lea Valley, 7.30am-15pm,Wood Warbler singing in tall trees nr toilet block opposite Royal Marine centre - singing to 8.00am only. Cetti's Warbler singing and showing nr plover hide, Grasshopper Warbler singing 100 yards north of the cormorant hide, 3 Nightingales singing by National Grid across bridge from Fishers Green carpark, also 2 Lesser Whitethroats there, 1 Yellow wagtail and 2 Common Terns in flight over Seventy Acres Lake, also very good numbers of all common warblers and cuckoos around the valley - J.Murray
Fairlop hobby this evening, Alan Bell and Peter Hopkins, garden warbler for PH
Fairlop 1 Garden Warbler south of lagoon, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby.- Peter Hopkins.
Ponders End Lake c4pm, 1 sanderling (fairly winter plumage), 2 dunlin, 1 lr plover, a little grebe calling, several c terns on the island - Steve Connor
Chingford Plain 10.50am one hobby - Ken Murray
Sewardstone Marsh 3 singing nightingales this morning, also 2 whimbrel seen flying over the KGV Res, lots of swifts - Tony Baumber, Sew am 2 sightings of hobby, whinchat Brimsdown side of KGV Res - A Middleton
KGV Res am 18 c terns, pm from Mill Lane/Sewardstone Road - 1 whinchat on field fence, 22 immature blackheaded gulls north, c100 swifts at one point, several house martins - P Vines, S Connor, A Middleton
Trent Park area, 25 redpoll Ride Wood, and brief views of a possible non-calling wood warbler in the tree tops, 2 peacocks, 7 swifts, little owl, 1 garden warbler - R Callf, R White
Walthamstow Reservoirs on Thursday 26 April. Gt Crested Grebe 40, Cormorant 586, Canada Goose 312, Cackling Canada Goose (Branta canadensis minuta) 1, Greylag 67, Gadwall 7, Scaup 1, Ruddy Duck 5, Common Sandpiper 3, Common Tern 28, Swift 160+, House Martin 2, Sand Martin 80+, Wheatear 1, Sedge Warbler 11, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Whitethroat 2 - Stephen Harris 30.4.01

Sun 29-4-01 Walthamstow Reservoirs, Common Tern, 22 at Number 1, West Warwick, Low Maynard and Lockwood.
Yellow Wagtail, pair at Lockwood. Reed Warbler, 2 singing mm at No 2. Whitethroat, 9 singing mm at No's 1,2,3 and East Warwick. Sedge Warbler, 4 singing mm at No 1, East & West Warwick. Blackcap, 2 singing mm at No's 1 and 2.
Swift, 294 in total over all basins. Sand Martin, 210 at Low Maynard. House Martin, 65 at Low Maynard. Swallow, 7 at Low Maynard. Ruddy Duck, pair on W. Warwick, 2mm,1f on No 2. Common Sandpiper, pair at No 2. Grey Wagtail, pair at E. Warwick, pair at Lockwood. - Fraser Simpson
Perseverence Works, Hackney Road: 1 Black Redstart in song c.14.00hrs in Printing House Yard area of office complex.- Patrick Baglee
am Enfield Island singing nightingale, grt spot wood poss breeding, various assortment common warblers   Brian Dawton
Ponders End Lake; 2 Dunlins & a Ringed Plover at 9.30am. Also covered- Nazeing GPs & Broxbourne GP, nothing of note.- Steve Connor
Dagenham Chase - Grasshopper Warbler 1-2, Swift 60, Dunlin 1, Yellow Wagtail 1 - Ken Barrett.
Rainham Marsh 06:30 to 08:30 - Around lagoons: 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 40+ Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 24 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 20+ Swift, 40+ Swallow, 25+ Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail, 50 singing Whitethroat (!), 35 singing Sedge Warbler, 3 singing Reed Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting.  Barges car park and foreshore footpath open (but nothing of interest there).  Rod Standing
Sewardstone Marsh mid-day, 2 lovely male white wagtails on the flash, and a female brambling here briefly with several chaffinch, min 3 nightingales inc 1 Godwin Close, 2 lssr whitethroats, cuckoo, reed warbler, 2+ garden warblers, at least 1 redshank Sewardstone Marsh PP Meads - A McKechnie, A Middleton, yesterday Cetti's Hall Marsh/Friday Lake, turnstone Amwell - Alex McKechnie and Barry Bishop

Sat 28-04-01 6 pm Sewardstone Marsh flash, y wag, 1 white wag, pied wag, 1 LRP, displaying gadwall, 4 singing nightingales (Godwin Close, north and south of road, and north edge of Knights Pits), several lssr whites, whitethroat, 2 foxes on PP Meads, nuthatch recently by Ken's Woodford garden - Ken Murray
Brent Res Arctic Tern 3, Whinchat, Common Sand 2, Swift 210, Swallow 127, House Martin 30, Garden Warbler 3, Shelduck Total Daylist 73 species   Brent Birders, news from Andrew Self
Dagenham Chase Hobby 1, Blue-headed Wagtail 1 m, Wheatear 1, Grasshopper Warblers 1pr displaying (N.River area), Swift 40, and good no,s of hirundine and warblers, 1 Cuckoo.  kenbarrett@talk21.com + other local obs.
Cornmill Meadows (viewed from arboretum). Early Afternoon (c12.00-14.00).   1 Hobby, female S/Hawk, 100+ Swifts, lots of Swallows + Martins, 7 Shelduck - came in from the east in small groups of 2-4, c12 Gadwall, Mallard + brood of 8, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo calling from Waltham Abbey Woods and 2 Redpoll - one a singing male. No sign of any waders.  Also c6 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.   Roy Woodward & David Hutley
Vicarage Farm area 1 jack snipe flew from the barracks, 1 tawny owl, garden warbler singing by the Lower Lake, 2 lssr whitethroat, 8 swallows, 17 swifts, 2 y wags over, 5 peacocks, small white, comma, small tort - R Callf and R White
Brimsdown pair of black redstarts by pylons, male taking a worm, Fairlop 2 cuckoos - various people
Sewardstone Marsh 06:40 to 07:40 - Definitely 4 separate Nightingales seen - 1 singing by path from Godwin Close to picnic area, 2 together in scrub opposite picnic area (1 singing), 1 singing in scrub near MOD fence in Knights Pits, also 1 possible extra singing by end of Godwin Close.  Also male Cuckoo, 2 Shelduck, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Swallow.  Loads of swifts and a commic tern over the end of the KGV Reservoir.  Rod Standing

Fri 27-4-01 Trent Park/Vicarage Farm area, 12 peacocks, 2 small whites, 2 small torts, 1 speckled wood by the insect field, y.wag over N/W Parkside Farm, 1 little owl, 1 lssr white - desperate for a cuckoo- R Callf and R White
Sewardstone Marsh; 3 or 4 singing Nightingales - One in scrub right beside block of flats at the top of Godwin Close, and 2 or 3 beside tarmac road next to Knights Pits. This road is now being used as an access road to the back of Enfield Island Village by heavy lorries - very noisy. Also at Sewardstone Marsh; Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat & c120 Swifts racing about. 3 Green Veined White, Cuckoo - Steve Connor and Tony Clancy
Dagenham Chase am 27th - 12 Swift, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Gadwall, 1 Shelduck + good no's early migrants. Report of 3 reelimg Groppers y'day ev at Hornchurch CP - Cheers Ken Barrett
Fairlop, cuckoo, common sand, 2 whitethroats, and 30 swifts - Alan Bell
There are 3 probably 4 Nightingales at Sewardstone today all singing, 2 nightingales at Holyfield area near the lecy sub station, the Grasshopper only gave a quick burst of song once in 1 & 3/4 of an hour that I was in the area ~ that was at 12.15, at least 5 Whitethroats along the track, there is a singing Garden Warbler by the picnic area just past the weir. It was also showing well. Of special interest, there is a pair of Oystercatchers displaying on the field to the back of Holyfield Lake this morning watched from the Grebe Hide, but where have all the Lapwing gone, they seem to have deserted the Goosefield and Sewardstone. I have been told by one of  the residents in Godwin Close that someone has been shooting on the grazing field at Sewardstone some evenings ~ if this is true or not I dont know..... Tony Gray (someone was also in the daily habit of running his three pointer dogs across the marsh in previous breeding seasons)   
Cycle Ponders End to Canary Wharf and back - 1 black redstart singing Brimsdown ~ warehouse south of 'overhanger', single green woodpeckers calling Picketts Lock and Hackney, mute swan pairs/nest Bow, Hackney, Picketts Lock, Mossops Creek, 3 pairs/singing reed buntings Clendish Marsh (Tottenham), grey wagtail Bow, 14 peacocks, 9 small whites, 2 small torts, black swan Tottenham - A Middleton

Thu 26-4-01 Canal towpath alongside KGV Res.  Hobby flew south over KGV & W.Girling Res's at c18.30. 2 Common Terns over canal + male Black Redstart on grey warehouse which overhangs the canal (near old blue warehouses) before 6am. Yesterday there were a pair of Black-Reds on this warehouse mid afternoon, with both this one and the other previously recorded male singing before 6am. Also 19 swifts and at least 4 Yellow Wagtails yesterday.  Roy Woodward. I have gathered a little more detail about Angel Road black redstart pair. They date from pre 1985 and are / were about the Lee Valley Trading Estate n/r Queensway Market - Brian Dawton
Had a good morning in the valley ~ had loads of migrants. AMWELL hobby, common sandpiper, swifts (25), sand and house martins, swallows, whitethroat, and lesser whitethroat, blackcap, willow and chiffs, yellow, grey and pied watails (dont think I've ever seen all 3 at Amwell together), little ringed and ringed plovers ~ 2 of each, common terns, arctic tern ( 1 showed very well for 30 mins then drifted off high), also cuckoo and a osprey reported through ~ neither of these I saw or heard - Nick Sampford ~ I've attached a picture of a little owl taken by me on Adrian Webb's camera Brent Res, Whimbrel, 1 flew over at 9.45, Common Tern 7, Swift 12, Swallow 9, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat 10, Lesser Whitethroat, Fieldfare   Andrew Self
Hobby at Fairlop this evening - Alan Bell Trent Park area, lesser spot calling Icehouse Wood, 2 c. whitethroats, 1 lesser whitehroat, 25 linnets, 1 little owl, drake mandarin on Lower Lake, 1 peacock, comma and small tortoiseshell, 4 redpoll - R Callf, R White Epping Forest, Bury Wood north edge TQ398965 drumming lesser spot 7am, ( other recent forest reports from Pole Hill, Baldwins Hill, Whitehouse Plain (2), Warren Pond ), over KGV 75+ swifts pm, 2 nightingales singing Sewardstone Marsh - A Middleton

Wed 25-4-01 Walthamstow Marsh, Sedge Warbler singing, male Pheasant again, Walthamstow  Res 63+ Swifts, 8+ Common Terns - David Darrell-Lambert
Blackwall Basin, Isle of Dogs, 13:00 - Adult male Black Redstart on derelict building site adjoining south side of basin. Watched for 20 mins but gone by 18:15.  First sighting this year - one to two seen there in June, July and November last year.  Also female Wheatear passing through and a pair of GC Grebes and a pair of Canada Geese on basin.  LBB Gulls apparently attempting to breed on nearby warehouse roofs (they were successful last year).  No sign yet of terns on rafts.  Rod Standing
Trent Park area 1 lesser whitethroat singing Park Farm, another Vicarage Farm, 4 swallows north, 1 peacock, pair of coal tits courtship feeding in Moat Wood, one buck muntjac Uni. grounds, 10+ goldfinch over in dribs and drabs - R Callf and R White
1300 - Connaught Water Mandarins 5 males fighting over one female plus One other pair - Jack Harrison
PM  Fairlop,  around the lagoon, 8 Swifts,  2 House Martins and a Cuckoo heard.- Steve Stuart
Fairlop this evening. 7 swifts, 5 house martins, common sand, 2 sedge warblers, 2 lesser whitethroats, whitethroat + calling cuckoo - Alan Bell
LVP Cheshunt area, Bowyers Lake 1 brimstone nearby, 1calling cuckoo flew over Cheshunt Station, Cetti's singing Friday lake, also 4 c terns on rafts, North Met GP 1 hobby and 30 swifts in flight north end, 1 whitethroat - John Fitzpatrick
Banbury Res. am, 40 swifts flew through - Phil Vines

Tue 24-4-01 Valentines Park. p.m.; Thanks to our very seasonal weather, a male Wheatear briefly visited one of the bowling greens. As far as I'm aware a first for the site. Also L. S. Woodpecker calling. -Peter  Hopkins.
KGV Res viewed from the Sewardstone Road 2-2.30pm, one little tern flew south c2.15pm near or east side of north basin, 6 c terns south basin, 10+ swifts, min 50 swallows, 1 meadow pipit singing nearby, Sewardstone Marsh 1 singing nightingale, 2 shelduck, 2 lesser whitethroats - A Middleton
Fairlop 1 swift pm - Alan Bell

Mon 23-4-01 Fairlop. p.m - Pair of Ringed Plovers still present on flash, east of fishing lake; also 2 Brown Hare and 1 Yellow Wagtail. 2 male Wheatear between driving range and lagoon. Sparrowhawk soaring overhead. L. Whitethroat still at yesterdays location. - Peter Hopkins, also at least a dozen yellow wags at Fairlop this evening - Alan Bell
Sewardstone Marsh, Swift 15 (over reservoir), Sand Martin 30+, Swallow 30+, House Martin 50+, Whitethroat 1s, Song Thrush 2, House Sparrow 30+ - Patrick Baglee
Holyfield Lake am in drizzle, 5 c terns, 1 cuckoo, Brox Woods 1 singing marsh tit - A Middletom

Sun 22-4-01 Fishers Green area, 17.30 -19.00pm. Cettis warbler singing opposite Plover Hide, Grasshopper Warbler singing by Cormorant Hide, 3 Turtle Doves over Hall Marsh and 1 calling Cuckoo - J Murray
Amwell, 7.40-9.10.  Reed warbler, common tern, three calling cuckoos, three LRP, two RP, four redshank, plus trout of 1.5 lbs in the Lea with shoal of larger chub. Lockwood Reservoir - Two lapwings flew south, also common tern over Low Maynard, Sewardstone farmland - two lapwings displaying.  Connaught Water, two pairs of mandarin plus a male seen during very brief visit - Martin Shepherd
Waverley Hide LVP, one swift over, 1 probable green-veined white in Cheshunt garden today and another last week by New River, also 2 small tortoiseshells recently Cheshunt area, recently18 occcupied heron nests in Waltham Abbey Wood (LV), one holly blue Fishers Green area on the 12th. - John + Margaret Fitzpatrick
Walthamstow area Banbury Res 40+ Sand Martins, 1 Com Sand (up to 4 during the week), Lockwood 1 Whitethroat singing, 2 Teal, Low Maynard 100+ Sand Martin, No1 1 Swallow, 2 House Martins, No3 male Scaup still present, 7 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, East Warwick 1 lapwing! - David Darrell-Lambert
Friday Lake LVP Heard the cetti's this afternoon but noticed that in the large bramble on muddy path opposite Plover hide there is a chaffinch on eggs and this could easily be disturbed as it is right next to the path. Also saw three c.terns on rafts and heard two cuckoos - Terry Smith. (perhaps one should just listen for and enjoy the Cetti's at some distance and not go down the muddy path near to the Plover Hide)
Brent Res Black Tern, 1 flew through at 9.30, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper 2, Lapwing, Common Tern 4, Sand Martin 10, Swallow 2, Blackcap 11, Chiffchaff 6, Willow Warbler 3, Whitethroat 3 - Andrew Self
Fairlop. a.m.- Singing L. Whitethroat east end of lagoon.- Peter Hopkins.
Barking Marsh area am, total of 80 shelduck, on the wet flash, 5 little grebes, a displaying pair of redshank, 1 dunlin, one pair of grey partridge found on the marsh, still good numbers of skylark and meadow pipit, foreshore 5 oystercatchers, a mating 2nd pair of redshank. I believe Barking Marsh was the best area in both Essex and London in recent years for red-list Grey Partridge ~ sad to see half the area being built on, whilst much of the rest seems now to be a motorcycle track - Andrew Middleton

Sat 21-4-01 Fishers Green area, 7.30-9.00am.  Cettis warbler singing well opposite Plover Hide, and appeared briefly once. Considerable Hirundine passage of around 80 swallows, and a few house martins and sand martins, with 20 or so birds using a silver birch to rest in. Common tern over Friday Lake, and cuckoo heard - Martin Shepherd 
Brent Res. - Pied Flycatcher, male (Birchen Grove Car Park), Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat, Common Tern 3, Common Sandpiper, Blackcap 10, Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 2, Swallow 3, Sand Martin 9 - (Brent Birders). news from Andrew Self
Nightingale showing well on roadside at Sewardstone Marsh, 3 common terns Nazeing GP, dunlin on the flash at Fairlop - Alan Bell
Friday Lake, cetti's warbler still present, in song and showing intermittantly mid to late morning. Also, 1 cuckoo. On scrub opposite Bowyers Water, 50 yards south of hide, 1 reeling grasshopper warbler - Alex McKechnie.  
Grasshopper warbler near the sub-station, Holyfield area around 11.30am, Also 2 Common Whitethroat in scrub at Holyfield. - Tony Clancy
Pole Hill top, 1 male L.S.Woodpecker calling from N.E end of cleared /scrubby area. Connaught Waters, 4M 1F Mandarin.Richard Cope
Hall Marsh area Cetti's warbler vocal near Plover Hide, Paynes Lane area 2 curlew were down on the ground but flew off, 1 lrp, also 2 cuckoos, 10+ pairs of skylark, 3 stock doves - Stuart Hamilton, also one lesser whitethroat
Banbury Res, around 9.15am, 2 high terns which flew north probably arctics, 5 c terns, 3 swifts flew through - Phil Vines
Theobalds area, 1 calling nuthatch - A Middleton
Trent Park Shaws Wood 2 nuthatch, pair of bullfinch, elsewhere 8 redpoll, female sparrowhawk calling to mate, small tortoiseshell - Robert Callf and Robin White

Fri 20-4-01 Friday Lake, Plover Hide Cetti's Warbler in song late am, nightingale watched by the road at Sewardstone Marsh - Bill Cutts and Bill Craig
Dagenham Chase 1 swift - Ken Barrett
Valentines Park. 16.30 2 Grey Wags [ pos. 1st summer ] feeding in brook.- Peter Hopkins.
Friday lake LVP, Common Tern fishing over lake. No sight or sound of Cetti's Warbler by 8.30am in wet & windy conditions. J Murray
Trent Park area, grey and brown tawny owls seen by Adam Wilson, 25 linnets - news from R Callf
Lsr Sp Woodpecker. Colchester Uni of Essex, in tree by John Tabor labs - anon

Thu 19-4-01 Grovelands Park, 1 pair of Mandarin also treecreeper, nuthatch, chiffchaff and blackcap. J Murray
Friday lake LVP, Cetti's Warbler singing well around 9.15 am10 yards west of the Plover Hide - Tony Gray (no access to path directly adjacent to Plover Hide but area approachable from north at least )
17.30hrs.Cetti's Warbler,calling and showing nicely, Friday Lake s. bank 20m w. of Plover hide. Also two pairs of Blackcap, four Sedge Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, one Reed Warbler and one Whitethroat, ( all within 50m of Plover hide ).Hooks Marsh w.side, pair of Kingfishers.- Tony Wells.
Brimsdown 1st summer black redstart singing, Ponders End Lake 1 LRP and 1 ringed plover on the island (reappearing now thanks to the lake being pumped out a little), 6 swallows, single kingfishers Picketts Lock and Tottenham Marsh areas- A Middleton
Trent Park area, 8 redpoll flew s/e, 10 more incl a possible 'mealy' in Williams Wood, 6 nuthatch, 2 bullfinch - R Callf

Wed 18-4-01 Coppermill Filter Beds, c4 Swallows c5 Sand Martins both had gone by the evening, Walthamstow Marsh 2 Willow Warblers, male Pheasant. Abney Park Cem 1 Chiffchaff - David Darrell-Lambert
Trent Park 'hen harrier field' one grey partridge disturbed (last one Aug 4th 1999), nearby - 5 redpoll over, song thrush carrying food - R Callf and R White
Brimsdown c9am, the pair of black redstarts near the pylons north of Mossops Creek, plus the 1st summer male in song from the old blue factories, also saw 3 Kestrels, 2 male and one female. The latter was calling for food, the two males sitting on the fence! - Helen Bantock
Six LBB gulls quartering Southbury Road commercial areas - Enfield
Cettis Warbler and Garganey reported Fishers Green area - news passed on by S Connor

Tue 17-4-01 Cetti's Warbler near the Plover hide ( Hall Marsh) heard (3 bursts in ten minutes) and seen briefly from the muddy footpath on the south bank of Friday Lake. (The footpath directly past the hide is closed). Slavonian Grebe in near summer plumage ( Ear tufts now beyond the head and neck rufus and breast mottled rufus) west side of seventy acre lake directly opposite the watch point by the footbridge near the car park. Best viewed from the west side. Also seen and/or heard first Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Sand Martin, Blackcap, Willow Warbler. Spring has really sprung. 2 Barnacle Geese (feral?) on goose field near great weir and at least one pair Redshanks - Pat Hart
Cornmill Meadows Tuesday 17th April 10 am Now ten shelduck present across the pools, along with two redshank. Jeff Butcher
Vicarage Farm, Enfield, pair of little owls, 1 peacock - RC and RW
Cormorants The Holyfield Lake nests are at the winter roost site and are best viewed from the appropriately-named 'Cormorant Spit'.  The whole area has been off limits for weeks because of foot & mouth and only re-opened last Wednesday. I was not aware of nesting there until I noticed the nests myself on Friday. None of the birds that I could see were colour-ringed.  I'm afraid that I have seen no rings at Walthamstow either, and I do look out for them. Please look out for and report colour-ringed Cormorants which may have come from other Essex breeding sites - Stephen Harris<