June 2002 Sun 30-06-02 Rainham Marshes 06:30 to 09:30 - 2 Oystercatchers by barges, juvenile Black Headed Gull, Turtle Dove west, steady movement of Sand Martins west, lots of juv Whitethroats and Goldfinches about.  Rod Standing [Puzzled by the Little Egrets - normally expect them to be mobile and visible but not a whisker...] Digiscoping atBrimsdown today-Helen Bantock > Sat 29-6-02 Barking Creekmouth 8pm tide falling. Shelducks, cormorants; lapwings, oystercatcher & bh gulls feeding on the mudflats, a fox working the banks mobbed by gulls. Barbara Miller

Oakwood Tube, opposite entrance, 1 white-letter above elms, 2 red admirals. Vicarage Farm, 4 small torts, 1 small heath, juvenile little owl and bullfinch. Canada Goose 12-4-02 Grovelands Pk, ringed as adult 11-12-83 nearby at Broomfield Park, then seen Broomfield Nov 93, Dec 94, Feb 96, Grovelands Dec 96 - Robert Callf
Sewardstone, short song from nightingale Godwin Close early am. Brimsdown, 2 juvenile black reds being fed and adult by north basin pylons - a pair here on Sunday and an oystercatcher on the KGV Res, and about 10 juvenile Sand Martins - Helen Bantock

Some weedy roofs in Basel, Switzerland, infested with black redstarts and their watchdogs - glacial drift above a motorway tunnel.Zero maintenance, invert and plant rich, hot and cold insulation, flood buffer properties - too good to be true - pics by Tristan Bantock

Apologies for Jim's roseate tern page where the images were not materialising - six of the best from Jim Lawrence

Thu 27-6-02 Wanstead Park 7pm  Nice close up of m kestrel on pylon, 2 blackcaps singing, song thrush, green woodpecker. About 15 jackdaws coming to roost in tree by heronry pond. Gt C grebe pair on nest. Swan pair with 4 cygnets,  heron. The ornamental water is one mass of water lilies. B Miller
WG Res, 4 black-necked grebes, oystercatcher - Phil Vines
Had a white admiral [only seen high in the tree tops briefly] and at least 3 purple hairstreaks in Bramfield Wood, Herts, last night plus large skippers, ringlet, meadow brown in good numbers, also painted lady in my garden yesterday - Nick Sampford, white admirals are also well out in Balls Wood, and no doubt Brox Woods as well - see Herts and Middx BC
Went to Mossops-Brimsdown for an hour 7am.Imm male BR feeding from towpath fence and from the wire fence around the KGV Res. Helen Bantock
Trent Park, common sandpiper by the Lower Lake - news of R White's sighting from R Callf

Large blue on National Trust Reserve nr Glastonbury recently, and peacock larvae today

Rainham Marshes - the RSPB have a mailing list for people intrerested in Rainham Marshes and from time to time send out details of guided walks.  I think it's organised from the RSPB South East Regional Office.  I suggest anyone interested should contact them and ask to be added to the mailing list - Stephen Harris
20+ little egrets at Rainham recently.

People's Trust for Endangered Species Stag Beetle 2002 survey.This is a follow up to the 1998 survey which was led in London by none other than Mathew Frith. You can get forms from enquiries@ptes.org . The NE of London had the least records for any of the areas in London. I found one dying last Thursday on Platform 2 London Bridge. Obviously missed the 17.05 to Blackheath!!   It is a fine specimen and it is sitting on my desk now, safely - though dead - back on the Heath!! Dusty Gedge

Tue 25-6-02 Peregrine circling above Marsham Towers, Marsham Street Westminster (aka 3 ugly sisters - old Transport and Environment Govt buildings) 08:50 -- Des Newton
Grasshopper Warbler singing near sub station Fishers Green, LV, 9.30am. Terry Smith
Herts, marsh tit singing Brick Kiln Wood, Potters Bar area, tree pipit and marbled white North Mymms area - A Middleton
and 15.15 Painted lady and unidentified skipper in North Mymms Park. Also 2 Hobby. anon
Have found a grey wagtail frequenting Enfield Town by the new river Gentlemans Row side. Got to be early bird around 05.30 !!! Not seen cormorant fishing for a while, normally a competition between Heron and Cormorant around this time. Great Spotted flying up Church Street ! regards Mick Nagle
Ally Pally 07:45 - Swallow hawking over the cricket pitch with the usual House Martins (slightly unseasonal)-Rod Standing

Mon 24-6-02 Ally Pally Sightings for the past week: kingfisher (1st of year), female bullfinch, juvvy pied wagtails, common tern, lesser & common whitethroats. Kestrels probably bred on the Palace building again.   Tom Clarke.
Brimsdown adult male black redstart by pylon (north site), and a pair by LDA - Helen Bantock
Robert's round-up - Sun 23rd Fir and Pond Wood Middx/Herts border, pr little grebes with one young, also small skipper. Fri 21st southern hawker in Trent Park, also 15 large skippers. Thu 20th 6 painted ladies Trent Park and family of lesser whitethroats Vicarage Farm - Robert Callf
Sat 22nd WG Res, no sign of bn grebes, 2 green sands in relief channel. Recent sand martin breeding survey - c31 drainage holes occupied but in danger of being flooded out due to recent high water levels - Phil Vines and J Fitzpatrick

See a selection of six of Jim Lawrence's great images

Sat 22.06.02 4 pm Brimsdown. Pair of Black Redstarts on LDA (Immature male singing from blue roofless tower). Mature male on the Reservoir fence by Delta pylons. Rammey Marsh, brief song of gropper, and bullfinch - H. Bantock

Thu 20-6-02 Isle of Dogs 09:30 - female Black Redstart at south end of Cable and Wireless site on Harbour Quay, Wood Wharf Business Park (off Manchester Road just south of A13) - Rod Standing
2 black necked grebes and an oystercatcher (flew off later) on the WG Res today - P. Vines and J. Fitzpatrick.

Wed 19-6-02 Saw a Banded Demoiselle just off Gower Street, WC1 this lunch time. Weird. Belated news - I had a male Black Redstart at Baker Street tube on 5th June but no sign before or since (I pass through every day). Grey Wagtail with fledged young there. Cheers, Andy Culshaw
Went round Epping Forest this am. - Long Running: 1 Painted lady flew N. Strawberry hill pond, 24 juv mandarins and 3 females. Connaught waters: 1 Blue winged Teal, 3 Ruddy ducks (2males and a female) 1 brood of 4 mandarins and probably another brood of six although these were almost fully grown and could fly! Rich Cope
Fairmead Bottom main pond, one territorial downy emerald, about 2km from the species' normal haunt at Wake Valley Pond - A Middleton
Rammey Marsh - the road has been in my thoughts as well.  I paid a night visit to the site at 1.00am today and the '150m south' bird was reeling constantly.Martin Shepherd
Forty Hall area, 2 painted ladies, 2 sml torts, 8 speckled woods, kingfisher, chimmney sweeper moth (Cat 4), 2 nuthatch families, family bullfinch, 2 marsh tits Archery Wood prob juvs, 1 painted lady Hillyfields - R Callf

General Essex Odonata - Dear all - Saw good nos. of scarce chasers today at 5 sites along the Stour.  The best is at TL915335.  Go into Bures, cross bridge over Stour and turn immediately right.  After0.5 miles, road turns 90deg left by river bank at Clicket Wood. Park here , go through gate to waters edge.  Good numbers here inc. cop pairs.  Walk to left along river to see more.  Also, white legged, red-eyed etc. Saw 2 males with bins from Wormingford Bridge at TL933329. - regards - John Dobson johndobson@mammals.fsnet.co.uk John is Essex recorder for Odonata, and is presently compiling records - records welcome.

Looks like Green Arches trapped in Ware 16th-17th - Liz Goodyear

Mon 17-6-02 Sewardstone Farmland near Netherhouse Farm: singing lesser whitethroat, two meadow browns, and two meadow pipits in song flight. Epping Forest close to Church Road: nuthatch, hobby over flying west.  Two red admirals in the forest rides and many speckled woods.  Copped Hall Estate: yellowhammer singing, two painted ladies, two small coppers and five meadow browns. Martin Shepherd
11 am Cornmill Meadows LVP 55 Lapwings on central pool, hobby hunting over north pool and perching in dead tree at the north end.   Jeff Butcher
Grovelands Park early am, spot fly singing 4.35-50, young tawny owl calling, 2 large bats feeding 20ft over lake at 4.20am, Trent Park, Robert's first record of shelduck (in 21 years watching), Trent Park area 25 sml heaths, 13 m browns, 19 lrg skippers, 1 sml copper, 1 emperor, 8 c blues - Rober Callf, hairy dragonfly and 4 spot chaser reported by Robin White
Sewardstone Marsh, 5.30 am, one Nightingales still in full voice in the copse opposite Knights Pits, one briefly by picnic area, also one from by the cycle track. At least 3 Garden Warblers singing and well seen. At Brimsdown, imm male Black Redstart feeding from towpath and fence. Didnt look as if feeding young, though after 15 mins, caught something big on towpath, flew to Leggetts gutter and then over to LDA - Helen Bantock, hairy dragonfly at Knights Pits
Recently - Lesser whitethroat singing alongside 9th fairway of Elstree golf club for long periods 14.6.02. Male bullfinch seen on feeder in my garden (Sherrardswood, Welwyn Garden City) on most days in last couple of weeks, sometimes joined by female and on one occasion by another male. Stock dove singing on neighbour's aerial for last 2 weeks or so with a pair seen on 15.6.02 squabbling with a pair of jackdaws on top of chimney (potential nest site?). - DAVID J JAMES

Sun 16-6-02 Epping Forest area - Had a painted lady on the Orchids near Pepper Alley today. There are 43 flowering spikes, think they are "Heath Spotted Orchids", also 57 Mistle Thrushes on West Essex golf course, and a grass snake at the Cuckoo Pits - Rich Cope

Sat 15th/Sun 16th, Balls Wood Herts, national moth night, 1 roding woodcock, owls 2+ tawny owls calling, little owl calling outside wood, probable long-eareds calling briefly at dusk and barn owl calling 1.30am along road towards Hoddesdon on cycle back home, Rammey Marsh gropper reeling constantly and nightingale singing briefly 2.30am, emperor dragonly Cheshunt Park- Andrew Middleton
Sat - Trent Park area, male sprawk with male chaffinch prey, Grt Crested brood down from 3 to 2, male emperor dragonlfy hawking the Barracks at 9pm - R Callf

Fri 14-6-02, Upshire: 12.30, lesser whitethroat calling from scrubby woodland next to the road.  Woodredon Farm: Five swallows hawking insects over the meadow. Waltham Abbey:  22+ house martin nests under the eves of flats in the courtyard next to The Crown pub: several young calling.  Rammey Marsh East, Enfield Lock: grasshopper warbler reeling from scrub, 19.45 to 19.55, 150 yards south of M25 in central area of the marsh.Martin Shepherd
4pm Valentines Park. 2 male ruddy duck on boating lake. 1 GC grebe but nest gone. 50+ coots. Some of mallard drakes going into eclipse. Barbara Miller
Grovelands, spotted flycatcher, Trent Park, 2 painted ladies, 2 lrg skipper, 6 c blues - R Callf

Thur 13-6-02  Epping Forest   Multiple roding Woodcock in Long Running/Jack's Hill area and also at Furze Ground/Copley Plain.  Also a Lime Hawk Moth at Theydon Bois station on the way home.      Stephen Harris
Walthamstow Reservoirs  Some breeding information for this year so far may be of interest:  Little Grebe - 2 pairs, Gt Crested Grebe - 5+ pairs (half the usual numbers), Cormorant - 293 nesting pairs, Grey Heron 89 occupied nests, Mute Swan - 5 nesting pairs with 3 broods so far, Greylag - 11 broods, Canada Goose - 38 broods, Shelduck - 1 brood, Pochard - 2 broods so far, Tufted Duck - 50+ pairs present, Kestrel - 2 pairs, Coot - 46 nesting pairs,  Lesser Black-backed Gull - perhaps 25 pairs, Herring Gull - 2 pairs, Common Tern - 21 nesting pairs (a decrease due to loss of rafts), Stock Dove - 2 pairs, Green Woodpecker - 1 territory, Kingfisher - 2-3 pairs, House Martin - nesting in Filter Beds, Grey Wagtail - 4-5 pairs, Pied Wagtail - 3 pairs, Carrion Crow - 6+ pairs, Reed Bunting - 5-6 pairs.  Plus lots of other stuff I haven't got my head round yet!   Stephen Harris

Wed 12-6-02 Navestock Heath, turtle dove and 1 red-legged partridge - Tony Baumber
Butterflies on Epping Forest buffer lands - 6 common blues, 4 small heath, 6 yellow shells, 36 burnet companions, 4 meadow browns, 8 large skippers, 100+ green oak tortrix, 3 speckled woods, single fresh peacock and red admiral, hobby over Yates Meadow, 29 mistle thrushes West Essex GC - A Middleton Long Running 9-9.45pm, c8 passes by roding woodcock, one eclipse drake mandarin flew in - with Martin Shepherd
Enfield Town Park, pr mute swans with 7 cygnets, pr pochard with 4 duckings, 2nd pr of nuthatch - R Callf

Tue 11-6-02 Sewardstone Marsh, 7.45-8.45: Two reed warblers singing on edge of relief channel; swallow over flying north; three nightingales heard, one provided great views preening near gate at north of site; pair of bullfinches flew across Knights Pit and a male - possibly a second bird - at the edge of the larger lake; lesser whitethroat singing near picnic table; red admiral.  Enfield Lock, 9.00: hobby circling over meadow at north end of KGV Reservoir. Enfield area.  A pair of house martins are nesting under the eves of a property in Hoe Lane, EN1, just off the Great Cambridge Road. A hobby flew NW over Carterhatch Lane and Carterhatch School at 16.50. Martin Shepherd
Grovelands Park, Southgate, 4.30-6.30am, a brood of 8 mandarin 1 or 2 days old, 16 stock doves feeding on lawn, 1 spotted fly singing for 10 minutes, 2 treecreepers singing, with young: coal tit, great spot and nuthatch, also 7 song thrush, goldcrest and pr of kestrels. Trent Park pm, 2 painted ladies, 14 small heaths, 3 small coppers, 1 comma, 2 c blues, 7 nuthatch Nature Trail - Robert Callf

Excellent satellite images and animations from NASA - choose settings and click UK in map - links from Weatherjack for aeronauts, passed on by Liz Goodyear
Quick view of upcoming satellite weather animation for UK from NASA

Mon 10-6-02 LVP Broxbourne, drake mandarin by Silvermead, hairy dragonfly there, 1 LRP + pair of bullfinch Hall Marsh, 2 singing skylark, common blue butterfly and bee orchids Rammey Marsh
Grovelands Park Sat 8th, 17 mandarin, lesser spot inspected its recently widened 'roost hole' at 7.56pm but thought better of it and flew off, spotted flycatcher Williams Wood on Friday - Robert Callf

To brighten up a dull North London day - gentian and lichen in the Swiss Alps on our recent trip - Tristan Bantock (That's a snow finch!)

Sun 9-6-02 Walthamstow complex Hobby hunting Swifts over the Lockwood. 500+ Swifts, 4+ Gadwall. Does anyone know whether the Roseate Terns,in the Docks, rings were read? - David Darrell-Lambert
Walthamstow Reservoirs    1 pair of Shelduck have bred and 8 ducklings can be seen on Res No. 3, 35 Pochard, 4 Ruddy Duck, c.500 Swift, c.120 Sand Martin.  Also Red-eyed, Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflys and Banded Demoisells on the wing despite the weather.   Stephen Harris.

Sat 8-6-02 Lee Valley.   Langridge GP   2 pairs Little Grebe, pair Ruddy Duck displaying, 2 singing Turtle Doves, 1 Large Skipper.   Holyfield Hall Farm, 57 Lapwing - at least 6 pairs nesting between here and Paynes Lane - , 9 Stock Doves, 2 Cuckoos feeding together on ground.   Stephen Harris
KGV Res am, black tern around 9am, Brimsdown pr of black redstarts - Helen Bantock
Last Sunday, Friday Lake, black tern - from Phil Vines, and black tern KGV still late am and red-crested pochard. Pink-foot last seen Fishers Green area early May
Waterford area, Herts, large skipper, 5 teneral common darters, pr lapwing. First record for me of a brimstone in my Ponders End garden - A Middleton
Clissold Park - Ruddy Duck , Little Grebe with 5 - 6 young - Christopher Langsdon

Fri 7-6-02 Ponders End Lake today 3 LRP,s ( 1 pair seen mating), 1 Ringed Plover.   KGV  approx. 500 Swifts, 1 Hobby.   W. Girling 500 Swifts   Cheers  Tony Clancy
Clissold Park, May round up. HIGHLIGHTS Beginning of the month had 2 long tailed tits and a large number of great and blue-(throughout the month) also 1 sparrowhawk and 3 greylag geese. Middle of the month had a few more sparrowhawks and the end of the month saw the common terns usually in 2s or 3s but have had as many as 6 at one time (very good for Clissold) and by far the best bird of the month was a ruddy duck  which was present on the 27th but was also seen by me on the 7/6/02. OTHER STUFF Mistle and Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Crow, Commorant, Herons. Highbury Fields May Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk and Green Woodpecker - Christopher Langsdon
Epping Forest, nice to see the longhorn cattle out on Fairmead, 2 family parties of skylark on Chingford Plain - A Middleton

Thu 6-6-02 Rainham Marshes In the last week there have been small numbers of waders moving through, up to 3 Blacktailed Godwits and 2 bar-tailed Godwits all in summer plumage; drake Wigeon has been on site all month; there are still up to 5 Little Egrets in the area; first summer Little Gull at the end of the month. The humid weather has forced large numbers of Swift down over the site, up to 1000 in the last couple of days. All the summer migrants have now arrived although some species are very scarce this year - notably Yellow Wagtail and Sand Martin - both of which had an appalling spring with the latter only being seen on a couple of dates - Dominic Funnell - RSPB Warden for Rainham Marshes The Bedfordshire Bird Club 10th Anniversary Conference is being held on SUNDAY 9th JUNE 2002 at MARSTON VALE MILLENNIUM COUNTRY PARK, Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire - see details 4-6-02 Westferry Circus, firecrest - Ken Murray Enfield Town Park, family parties of nuthatch and goldfinch, 30th May 2 adult and min. 2 juv marsh tits Whitewebbs - Robert Callf 3-6-02 Valentines Pk a.m. Pochard family (4 Young) and Pair of Ruddy Ducks on Ornamental Water.- Peter Hopkins. Sat 1st June, Trent Park 34 Small Heath in 1 hour 20mins. Mon 3rd June Enfield Town Park brood of Pochard - Robert Callf Good numbers of downy emeralds and a few red-eyed damsels at Wake Valley Pond, Epping Forest, today. Phil Rhodes. May 2002 Fri 31st May - Monken Hadley area, several red-eyed damsels, 3 adult mandarin + 8 ducklings, 2 lesser spots (1 fem, 1 juv) Trent Park area, 1 Large Skipper, pr Spotted Flycatchers nest building - Robert Callf Valentines Park 8.30 whitethroat singing & displaying in dell garden, gt c grebe on nest in boating lake for past week, goldcrest, gr sp wooddpecker,little grebe. Barbara Miller Wed 29-5-02 Copped Hall, one nightingale singing west of beetle banks, 1 buzzard, 1 painted lady, 1 white-letter pupa, 10+ brown hares, pr of hooded mergansers, two house-martin nests on Copped Hall - A Middleton Trent Park area, pr spot flies Williams Wood, 2 grt spot families, red admiral, 7 small heath, 5 small coppers - Robert Callf Yellow wagtail on hard shoulder of M25 this morning - just west of J23 - new one on me! Phil Rhodes. Tue 28-5-02 KGV Res 9.45am, adult kittiwake on south basin - Phil Vines Trent Pk, Williams Wood, 2 spot flies, also hobby, 3 rl partridge - Robert Callf, Mon 27-5-02 Brimsdown, 1 singing black redstart - Helen Bantock Trent Park area, great crested grebes with young (1st breeding in 10 years), brood of 5 mandarin ducklings plus 5 adults, 2 c. terns and kingfisher, 2 spotted flycatchers (first for 2002), reed bunts carryng food, 5 small coppers, 11 small heaths - Robert Callf Valentines Park. 8.30am Long tailed tits with young, grey wagtails feeding 3 young in Cran Brook, gt spotted woodpecker. Mallards, coots, Canada g all with broods. One of the Canada pairs had 11 chicks. Barbara Miller Sun 26-5-02 Rainham Marshes 06:00 to 09:00 - 8 Gadwall, 1 Common Tern east, 20+ Stock Dove, 1 Turtle Dove east, 1-2 Cuckoos, 2 Swallows east, 1 Grey Wagtail, Blackcap singing.  10-15 each of Ringed Plover, Redshank and Lapwing.  Rod Standing and Helen Bantock  Long Running, Epping Forest  1 Tree Pipit singing and 2 Tawny Owls calling at mid-day.  Stephen Harris Sat 25-5-02  Amwell GP   3 LRP, 4 Redshank, Easneye Estate, 2 Hobby, 6 Red-legged Partridge.  Stephen Harris Grovelands Park, 11 mandarin, 6 stock doves, fledged grt spot, Oakwood Park family of great spots in hole, lesser spot already visible roosting in its hole, juvenile great and blue tits in evidence - Robert Callf Yates Meadow, 8 small heaths, Lippitts Hill area, 3 pairs of bullfinch, 2 grt spot broods begging in holes - Andrew Middleton Fri 24-5-02 Valentines Park 9am Several flocks of fledgling starlings being fed, 100+ total, blackcap in sunken garden, otherwise very quiet. Barbara Miller Thu 23-5-02 Hi all. Here's the red necked phalarope at Wilstone ressie. It showed to 20 foot at times but no light - rained nearly all the time I was there. Was quite disapointed with results -should have been better   Nick Sampford Amwell, 1 mink, pair of Egyptian geese, hobby, several banded demoiselles - Robert Callf Brimsdown, two pairs of black redstarts. Also had Linnet singing in front of Exel and 3 Linnets on towpath at Walthamstow. Kestrel on W. Girling bank and another at Walth. - Helen Bantock Couldn't find Temminck's stint at Ponders End Lake 7-8am. Sewardstone, min 5 nightingale territories - A Middleton Ponders End Lake - No sighting of stint this evening but juv. pied wag., 2 LRP's, Magpie eating ducks egg. Tony Clancy Painted lady Romford garden today (Trever Broom), Hornchurch CP Tuesday last (TB and Les Harrison) - news from Colin Jupp Red-necked phalarope, Wilstone Res - Nick Sampford Wed 22-5-02 Ponders End Lake 6.30pm, Temminck's stint on island, moved to side furthest from hide around 7.30pm, also 3 LRPs, brood of mallard - Steve Connor Ponders End Lake lies in the golf course adjacent to the north side of Picketts Lock Sports Center, Meridian Way. Park by the cinema/main entrance, walk around the north side of the cinema and along the path through the GC to remnants of hide Holyfield Goosefield, little egret dropped in briefly then flew west towards Copped Hall, also turtle dove in area - Harry Lacey Epping Forest, single tree pipits singing Long Running and Deershelter Plain, 17 common heath moths Sunshine Plain - Andrew Middleton NE Metropolitan Essex - Odonata 5 species- 19th May, banded demoiselle > Harold Park/R Ingrebourne 8, blue tailed damsel > 1 Harold Pk, 4 Warley, large red damsel > 15+ Harold Pk, 3 Warley, 7 Merrymeade Pk, Brentwood, azure damsel > 8-10 Merrymeade, red-eyed damsel > 1 Shenfield Common Pond. Couldn't find small copper or brown argus, 7 common butterfly species plus 1 brimstone, 3 silver Ys and mother shipton during the visit. Warley - no sign of tree pipits, - eight singing willow warblers, several whitethroats, 2 gard. warblers, 1 lssr whitethroat - Colin Jupp Starlings and house sparrows are flourishing in urban Montreal.  Highlights:  wood thrush, grey catbird, blackburnian, chestnut sided, magnolia and American redstart to mention just a few - Ken Murray 10-17 May 2002 Canada - 170+ species, 29 species of warbler! Nothing much today - Tate Modern - 3 Swifts - David Darrell-Lambert Tue 21-5-02 Rainham Marsh RSPB, avocet 4, wood sandpiper 1. There have been up to 91 ringed plovers present recently (see 17th May) - Dominic Funnell, RSPB Reserve Warden Lime hawk moth on window shutter Finchley electrical store North Finchley High Road. B Dawton. Sewardstone, well grown white-letter hairstreak larvae, pair of bullfinch, 2 singing reed buntings, several nightingales - A Middleton Trent Park, silver y moth, juvenile chiffchaff. Covert Way NR, red admiral, bullfinch, 2 speckled woods - Robert Callf. Tues 14th May, Bentley Church, nr The Mores, 1 spotted flycatcher, pr nuthatch. Wed 15th May 20+ large red damselflies Risebridge GC. 21st April nightingale and wheatear on Tylers Common (all Essex) - Colin Jupp Grey partridge - Tristan Bantock Barn owl - Nick Sampford Mon 20-5-02 Ware. Widbury Hill area two Hobbies this afternoon soaring around.  Blue Tit fledglings left the nest in the eve's of the warehouse where I work.  Ian Edwards Sun 19-5-02 Easneye Wood area (near Amwell,) pm. Two pairs of red legged partridge - near Dairy Farm and in field on west side of wood.  At least six hobbies hawking insects over road/west side of wood.  Government Row, Enfield Lock.  Swallow over calling at 11.15.  Grey wagtail on house roof at 18.45. Martin Shepherd Cornmill, 6 hairy dragonflies, banded and large red damsels. Relief channel at Sewardstone Marsh/KGV Res, 4 Egyptian Geese - Tony Clancy Horsenden Hill, Tawny Owl (1), Sedge Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (2), Little Grebe (1), Whitethroat (9), Lesser Whitethroat (2). Horsenden Hill; 18th May, "Greenland" Wheatear (1), Reed Warbler (2), Little Grebe (1), Whitethroat (12). - Andy Culshaw Lea Valley, Hall Marsh scrape, pair Shoveler, 2 LRP.  Cornmill Meads,  7 Shelduck, 1 Ruddy Shelduck, pair Shoveler, 2 Hobby, 3 pairs Lapwing.  Fishers Green Farm, 2 Red-legged Partridge.   Stephen Harris King George Reservoir 06:30 - 08:45 2 Gadwall, Kestrel, Kittiwake south basin (flew off west 08:00), 2 - 4 Common Terns, Cuckoo, 2 Swallows, female Black Redstart Brimsdown towpath (near blue factories).  Rod Standing Leyton Flats brief visit am, one painted lady flew north, small tort., lesser whitethroat, skylark. Enfield Lock pm, Rammey Marsh, 3 skylarks, 2 reed bunts, kingfisher, latticed heath, POW Fields/Turkey Brook, kingfisher, 2 large red damsels, painted lady flew north - Andrew Middleton (Portland Bill - The first 2 Painted Ladies of the year were seen at the Bill) Trent Park area, 5 small coppers, 6 small heath, pair of hobby - R Callf Bison Hill, Whipsnade Downs, Beds Duke of Burgundy (5) plus occasional green hairstreak - Phil Rhodes Here are a few photos taken while dipping the elegant tern at Dawlish today - glad i never needed it - Nick Sampford Sat 18-5-02 pm, HI - JUST SEEN A KITE SPECIES OVER THE WOODS SOUTH OF WEST MILL, BUNTINGFORD LOOKING TOWARDS THE BIG MAST. I'M CERTAIN IT WAS A BLACK KITE BUT NOT A !00%. THE FORK IN THE TAIL WASN'T DEEP ENOUGH FOR RED KITE AND WAS OF A UNIFORM COLOUR. I WON'T CLAIM IT AS ONE BUT I'M ALMOST CERTAIN IT WAS. TIME I'D SET UP THE CAMERA AND SCOPE IT WAS MOBBED BY CROWS AND APPEARED TO DROP INTO THE WOOD BUT I WAITED NEARLY A HOUR WITH NO MORE SIGHTINGS. ALSO HOBBY THERE TOO. AREA BEST VIEWED FRON LAYBY ON A10 JUST BEFORE FIRST WESTMILL TURNING NICK SAMPFORD Fri 17-5-02 9am Valentines Park- single ruddy duck on boating lake (near coot nests on east side). Singing goldcrest by peace pole. Valentines is gorgeous at the moment. Barbara Miller Trent Park area, 3 hobby, 3 small heath, 2 small copper, 2 small torts - R Callf Rainham Marshes 15:00 to 19:00 - 2 drake Shoveler, 9 Redshank, 13 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Dunlin (s.p.), 2 Common Sandpiper (by barges), 41 ringed plovers in one flock plus a single LRP on Murex, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (s.p.), 1 Sanderling, 5 Golden Plover (4 s.p.), loads of Swifts, 6 Swallows north, 6 Stock Doves.  All waders except where shown viewable distantly on Wennington Marsh.  Rod Standing  China 'Happy Island', Megas inc. dollardbird, black-winged cuckoo shrike, Hodgson's hawk cuckoo, missed spoon-billed sandpiper by 15 mins - Alan Bell Thu 16-5-02 Fishers Green area, 9.45-12.  Black tern over Holyfield Lake with 3 common terns (first spotted by LVP ranger.)  Also two common sandpipers here, and a single at Friday lake.  Lesser whitethroat singing near National Grid.  Two hobbies high over Friday Lake.  Turtle Dove purring near photographic hide area.  Reed warbler singing at north end of Hall Marsh. 15-5-02 KGV Reservoir, 10-12.  Female wheatear, 6+ common sandpipers, pair of Egyptian Geese.- Martin Shepherd Ally Pally Grey, Yellow & Pied Wagtails, 2 Common Terns, Black-headed Gull (unusual for us at this time of year), 2 Spotted Flycatchers have been seen for the past few days (they haven't bred for 5 years), Hobby. Quite a few blue (haven't checked the sp. yet) damselflies and a broad bodied chaser.   Tom Clarke Cornmill Meadows LVP 8am turtle dove singing on conifers on northern boundary, 830 am one hobby hunting high over, 9.15 2 sparrowhawks high over. Cornmill stream swan had 7 cygnets, Old River Lea had 4 cygnets and five eggs in nest at 9.30 am Banded demoiselle and (f) broad bodied chaser both seen. (Yesterday had a large red damsel fly in nearby location)   Jeff Butcher 6+ large red damselflies Durants Park wildlife/ paddling pool Enfield - Brian Dawton. Colney Heath, hobby and kestrel in conflict on ground. Aldbury Nowers, hobby over, 1 dingy skipper, 4 grizzled, 3 green hairstreaks, small copper, brown argus and common blue, also red admiral - Bill Cutts and Andrew Middleton Sewardstone, one nightingale singing from new patch in addition to established territories. Brimsdown, black redstarts carrying food Trent Pk area, 2 hobby, male lesser spot, 3 small heaths and 2 small coppers, pair of Little Grebes nest-building on Parkside Farm Res.. Grovelands park pm, 10 mandarin, female lesser spot peeking out of roost-hole - Robert Callf Wed 15-5-02 Walthamstow Reservoirs:  1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whinchat.  Stephen Harris Juvenile starling in Ware (Liz Goodyear) and juvenile house sparrows in Southgate (Bill Cutts) Trent Park/Vic Fm area, 2 small heaths and small coppers, 6 mandarin, 22 stock doves, 5 holly blues during trip - R Callf Cornmill - 9 shelduck, 1 ruddy shelduck, 2 whitethroat, plus gadwall. lapwing,1 pied wagtail - Dave Messenger Kentish Plover recently in Scotland - Tristan Bantock Lesser Sand Plover - Nick Sampford Tue 14-5-02 W Girling Res, early afternoon, osprey drifted north in the direction of the KGV Res - Steve Connor Highbury Fields 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied wagtail flying over. Does anyone else watch or walk through the fields regulay - if you do please e-mail me @ clangsdon@hotmail.com East India Dock basin, LVP, pair of Roseate terns from mid-afternoon, also fed over the Thames. Seen to fly up river towards Greenwich at 5.10pm, also two c sands. Two peregrines on the Millennium Dome - various obs. Roseate terns reported heading back to Millennium Dome at 20:09 - Birdguides One common sandpiper on Wapping foreshore near St Katherine Docks on 10th May 0800hrs. Terry Bates Trent Park/Vic farm small copper, 3 holly blues, grey tawny owl, 3 red-legged partridge - Robert Callf Nature on Radio 4 at 11am - simple, but effect discussion of migration of birds in general and changes in patterns - also about BTO migration watch and the soon out Migration Atlas. Jeff Butcher Mon 13-5-02 Upshire.  Little owl seen in flight from car at 09.20 near entrance to Warlies.-Martin Shepherd KGV Res, 8.30 am, turnstone, dunlin, redshank, 2 common sands - Phil Vines, Stuart Hamilton KGV Res pm sanderling, 2 c sands, y wag, 50 swallows- A Middleton Ally Pally 2 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats & 2 Yellow Wagtails over the weekend. Fairly late records for the site for the first two species. The pair of Swans on the Boating Lake are the proud parents of seven cygnets.   Tom Clarke I took this picture in my garden in Cuffley on 12th May at lunchtime. I heard a big commotion among the birds in the garden and looked out and saw this. I managed to take a couple of pictures through the patio doors. I can't say definitely what the victim was because next door's cat turned up while the sparrowhawk was plucking feathers out of its prey.  The sparrowhawk then left in haste and the cat made off with the remains. I'm fairly sure the victim was a starling as the were a lot feeding in the garden at the time, or it could possibly have been a blackbird. - Roy Pearce >> In the Bentley Wood area, Hants - Sunday 12th May - Nick Sampford- full images http://www.hmbutterflyconservation.org.uk/ Sun 12-5-02 Cornmill Meadows LVP 18.30 pm   one ruddy shelduck, one male garganey still on most northerly pool - appears to be roosting in low reeds opposite the hide. (reported Terry Smith 9.45 this morning)   Jeff Butcher Netherhall GP  2 Oystercatchers.   Rye House RSPB  3 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby.  Stephen Harris Woodford, godwit sp. flew over house am, hobby west pm. St James Park, peregrine and herring gull interacting , and sparrowhawk. Common whitethroat singing Embankment Gardens pm - Ken Murray Great Amwell - c.tern 20 plus r.plover 1, redshank 3, shelduck 4, egyptian goose 1, swift 2 , reed bunting 2,  grey wagtail by bridge next to observation point. Cuckoo 2 , plus whitethroat, chiffchaff, blackcap, & 1 green woodpecker , sedge warbler & 2 pied wagtails.  Dave Messenger KGV Res 2-3.30pm at least, 8 common scoter (5 drakes) south basin amongst sailing boats but mobile, 1 common sandpiper - Andrew Middleton ( 8 c scoters inc 5 drakes flew off from Staines Res at 09:40am-BirdGuides) Scoters still present 6pm - Phil Vines KGV Res. Common Scoter still present at 19.20. Also 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper.     Fishers Green Lane. Little Owl at c20.00.  Fishers Green (around electricity substation). 5 singing Nightingales + Hobby. 11/5/02. Cheshunt Marsh. 1 Turtle Dove -flew through heading north at about 9am.  -Roy Woodward. Brimsdown pair black redstarts carrying food - Helen Bantock 11-5-01, Lake John, Aimes Green, p.m. Cuckoo calling from Claygate Lane and lesser whitethroat singing all afternoon from hedgerow bordering the large lake.   12-5-01, Amwell, 16.15.  Two hobbies hawking insects over trees on the Easneye Wood side of the main pit, also perching on roadside trees. Martin Shepherd Sat 11-5-02 mid-day Fishers Green Grand Weir hide 2prs Bullfinch - J Johnson Dagenham Chase pm, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby, 1 Common Tern, 2 LR Plovers - Richard Harrison Walthamstow Reservoirs   3 Shelduck, 11 Ruddy Duck, 2 Common Sandpipers, 300+ Swifts, 1 (probable, make that almost certain) Tree Pipit, 4 Wheatears.  Stephen Harris & Dan England. Cheshunt (over Whithern Park) 20:30 - 5 Pintail heading N. Paul Roper Long Running, Epping Forest, roding woodcock, 14 passes 8.50-9.30pm - Andrew Middleton Rainham Marshes 06:45 to 09:30 - 7 Common Scoter on the river being harassed mercilessly by gulls (why?), about 10 Redshank, 3 Greenshank and 2 Whimbrel on Wennington Marsh, 2 Rook on the Murex site and extended views of a blue cuckoo calling near the barges.  Several GBBs with the other gulls on the tip.  No swifts, hirundines or wagtails evident.  Rod Standing Sewardstone 5am, min 5 nightingales. Brimsdown, one black redstart carrying food. KGV Res, calling black-necked grebe, dunlin, red-crested pochard - Helen Bantock (inc. the res), Andrew Middleton Male common blue and grizzled skippers at Waterford Heath, Herts, this evening - Nick Sampford http://www.hmbutterflyconservation.org.uk/ China - 10th grey nightjar, & pied harrier. 9th 3 whites and grey backed, 10 dusky thrushes - Alan Bell Fri 10-5-02 Grovelands Park, Enfield, lesser spot came to roost at 20.32 - Robert Callf KGV Res am, 7 kittiwakes dropped in on south basin, 5 adults 2 immatures - Phil Vines Trent Park area, 5 pairs of lesser whitethroats, grey tawny owl seen, family party of long-tailed tits, grey wagtail in song from roof of Jolly Farmers - Robert Callf Thur 9-5-02 1800 Stanstead Abbots GP. A Bar tailed Godwit on the silt beach, flew off to the north. Alan Harris KGV Res: Three little terns on north basin c9.45am-c10am only; one sandwich tern flew NE over north end of north basin at 11.22am. Also dunlin, common sand, red-crested pochard. Cornmill Meadows: LRP, redshank, 10 shelduck, 6 lapwings - Sean Huggins (5 black terns reported Amwell) Whitewebbs farm, Enfield - wheatear (possibly) showing chracteristics of Greenland race - Robert Callf Bramfield Wood, Herts, 2 pr bullfinch, siskin, two tawny owls seen, pr of firecrests - Andrew Middleton, Nick Sampford Highbury Fields - Blackcap, chiffchaff,  blue tit, great tit, swallow, swift, kestrel, starling and a blackbird with a white patch like a ring ouzel - Christopher Langsdon Wed 8-5-02 There were 6 hobbies circling over the Met Police pit at Cheshunt on Wednesday 8th May at 3 - 4 pm. Clearly seen hawking for insects and feeding on the wing. Also nightingale singing in undergrowth at back of Grid switching station. - Roy Pearce Had a black  tern (see below) , 2+ arctics, 40+ commons on Nazeing GPs [ i think thats what they are called] also williow, sedge, reed, garden warblers, blackcap, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, chiffchaff, cuckoo, turtle dove, also 3 whites, orange tip, holly blue and peacock - Nick Sampford - see Herts and Middx Butterfly Conservation website for Nick's grizzled skipper and brown argus sightings today at Waterford http://www.hmbutterflyconservation.org.uk/ The picture is of a brown argus attempting to mate a grizzled skipper - it was persistant for 15 mins - is this common behaviour? we might end up with grizzled argus or brown skippers Nick - you may be interested in the image (to the right) which I took last year - AM Vicarage Farm pm, fem whinchat, cuckoo, c tern over Trent Pk lake - Robert Callf, also turtle dove reported by Robin White Westferry Circus, Isle of Dogs, firecrest again - Ken Murray Broxbourne Wood Nature Reserve (Brickendon) firecrest singing, also 4 lizards, 2 speckled yellows nearby - Andrew Middleton Tue 7-5-02 Cornmill Meadows 10.05 am greenshank Terry Smith Cornmill Meadows 10.05 Terry Smith found a greenshank. Still there at 11.30 but hiding in reed margins in pools either side of the Wake Hide. 11.35 six black-headed gulls made a brief visit and an osprey flew over southwards being mobbed by a large gull, probably lesser-black-backed.   Jeff Butcher KGV Res 8.30am, turnstone and common sandpiper on causeway - Andrew Middleton KGV Res dunlin, turnstone, greenshank, 2 LRPs, 1 white wagtail, 1 wheatear, pr of y wags, female black redstart. WG Res 2 c.sands, female wigeon, 2 y wags. Vicarage Fm pm, 2 y wags over - Robert Callf Westferry Circus, Isle of Dogs, firecrest around mid-day in copper beech - Ken Murray Blackwall Basin, Isle of Dogs 09:00 - Lesser Whitethroat singing at west end of Basin - Rod Standing Grt Amwell common tern about 15-20, 1 redshank, 1 ring plover, whitethroat, chiffchaff & willow warbler, sedge warblers, reed warblers, 4 swift, kestrel, green woodpecker, 1 kingfisher, pair of grey wagtails at Hardmead Lock appear to be nesting under the bank. Dave Messenger Mon 6-5-02 KGV Res am, 1 + 6 arctic terns through - Phil Vines KGV Res 9.30am-12.45pm: Five arctic terns (three north, two feeding on N basin), ringed plover, common sand, 2 yellow wags, grey wag. Also female wheatear there on Saturday. Sean Huggins. There's a pair of grey wagtails feeding young in Ware (see image below) also 30+ swifts and Saturday night there were 4+ arctic terns on the sailing pit nr Dobbs Wier   Nick Sampford Sun 5-5-02 Tottenham, High Cross - 2 Hobbys north. Also not seen by me yesterday at Walthamstow 2 female wheatears at Lockwood, 2 c sands, 1 hobby soaring high up amongst flock of swifts - David Darrell-Lambert Walthamstow Reservoirs   3 Arctic Terns through at 08.50, 3 Common Sandpipers, c.23 pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on East Warwick Island, 500+ Swifts, 5 Ruddy Duck, 2 pairs of Little Grebe.   Stephen Harris Sewardstone Marsh, min of 6 singing nightingales, 8 species of warbler. KGV Res am several hundred swifts (200-300?), 50+ linnets inc. small numbers moving north, single ringed and 2 little ringed plovers, c10 c terns - Clancy, Bantock, Vines, Middleton, Woodward. KGV Res pm, red-crested pochard, 3 y.wags + male blue-headed wagtail - Jeremy Gaskell LVP Cornmill Meadows 9 am - two little ringed plovers, one ringed plover. Friday Lake now 8 common terns on rafts Fishers Green lane - farmland - 8 yellowhammers, 2 skylarks singing   Jeff Butcher

Images of 4 warbler species, all taken locally this spring by Nick Sampford

Sat 4-5-02 Trent Park, 44 species seen on walk, pair of hobby over Vicarage Farm, rufous tawny owl Sat and Sun - Robert Callf (grasshopper warbler reported to Robert - heard Chingford Plain 20th April) KGV Res 11am, 1 black tern (5 reported by another observer) and 4 arctic terns. Sewardstone c5 nightingales. Brimsdown male black redstart - Helen Bantock KGV Res 2-4pm, 2 arctic terns, LRP and ringed plover, 2 redshank, two first summer little gulls from 3-4pm, a black tern briefly at 2pm, azure damselfly Mossops Creek - Andrew Middleton 08.13am. Male cuckoo ( no call) around Brentwood Station car park, whilst waiting for steam hauled special. - John Snow Ware   As I left the house this morning 2 Cuckoos flew over calling. Ian Edwards Fri 3.5.02 - Trent Park area, 2 wheatear on playing fields, 3 recently fledged song thrushes, 3 orange tips, 2 small torts - Robert Callf Fairlop this evening, 3 male whinchat, 6 wheatears, corn bunt, & 2 rooks (not easy at the lop) - Alan Bell Blackwall Basin, Isle of Dogs 14:00 - Lesser and Common Whitethroats in scrub at west end of basin.  Lesser Whitethroat was singing at 09:30.  5 Common Terns around Basin.  Rod Standing Cheshunt Park - Excellent views of singing Lesser Whitethroat, Lapwing and Redshank on gravel pit with a pair of Hobbies circling overhead, 3 Bullfinch. - Mick Oakland KGV Res am, wheatear, 2 arctic terns, 3 common sandpipers, redshank - Phil Vines Weds 1/5/02 KGV Res also wheatear & ringed plover  B Dawton Hoddesdonbury GPs, Cock Lane - skylark, small copper nectaring on bugle, 5 latticed heaths and a mother shipton moth - Andrew Middleton Dawn Chorus Day walk in Alexandra Park on Sat 4th May. Meet 5am at the Conservation Information Centre, Bedford Rd entrance - Tom Clarke London Natural History Society bird-walk in Trent Park on Sat 4th May. Meet 9.30am Cockfosters tube station, or 9.45am at Trent Pk cafeteria car-park (Cockfosters end of Park) - all welcome - morning walk - Robert Callf Thu 2-5-02 LEA VALLEY. Bowyers/Hall Marsh - Male Whinchat (Cheshunt Marsh), Garden Warblers (many), Lesser Whitethroats, 1 pair Little Ringed Plover. Fishers Green - Hobby, 2 Nightingale, Ruddy Duck. Brief glimpse of one of the 'powder blue' dragonflies near Fishers Green Lane, probably Broad-bodied Chaser. Pair of Grey Wagtails by stream next to College Road, Cheshunt (30.5.02) - Mick Oakland Woodford, common buzzard drifted south am over Friday Hill (house tick) - Ken Murray 17 swifts over Alders Ave Woodford Green @ 6.30pm - John Snow Grovelands Park, 10 mandarin, lesser spot - Robert Callf Tottenham Marsh - 9 Sedge Warblers sgg, 8 Whitethroats sgg, 2 Lesser Whites sgg, 1 Reed Warbler sgg, Whimbrel north 06:32, Reed Bunting sgg. 1 May 2002 Coppermill FB - 1pr Shelduck. Walthamstow Marsh - Reed Bunting  sgg. Tate Modern 30 April 2002 - Lesser Whitethroat, 2nd summ GBBG. 29 April 2002 - Whitethroat, 2nd summ GBBG - David Darrell-Lambert Ally Pally 1 garden warbler and a pair of bullfinches to go with a pair of swifts mating.   Tom Clarke KGV Res pm, summer plumaged black necked grebe calling, 5 y wags, dunlin, greenshank flew north calling, 2 redshank, 2 LRPs - Andrew Middleton Wed 1-5-02 Ware  Weds evening I saw my first Swift over the town.  Ian Edwards KGV Res, arctic tern, 3 c sands, dunlin - Phil Vines Fairlop pm, 3 wheatears on back field, sedge warbler fishing pit, 2 swifts, Hainault nightingale in scrub behind lake, garden warbler & cuckoo - Alan Bell Cornmill Meadows  0830 Wheatear (m) hobby   Jeff Butcher Sewardstone, 5 singing nightingales, c5 garden warblers, redshank, snipe and 3 large bats at dusk KGV Res 6 c sands - various observers Ally Pally Yesterday our first Hobby was seen - think it was an evening record.   Tom Clarke. April 2002 Tue 30-4-02 KGV Res c8.45am, little tern and arctic tern, c40 c terns, 2 hobby, ringed plover - Phil Vines, little and arctic tern still present n basin 12noon, 1 c sandpiper, many swift, swallow, sand and house martins - Andrew Middleton KGV gate and key news from Tony Clancy, Thames Water (Walthamstow gatehouse staff) say they will be reverting shortly to the 'old' lock for which some permit holders may still have a key. Otherwise, new keys have been ordered and should be arriving shortly to collect from Walthamstow. Ally Pally One Yellow Wagtail and One Swift. J.Murray Ally Pally 2 pairs of Ruddy Duck and a male Bullfinch. Tom Clarke ~ Conservation Officer.  I am also leading an International Dawn Chorus Day walk in Ally Pally on Sat 4th May. Meet 5am at the Conservation Information Centre, Bedford Rd entrance to the park. All welcome - please email Tom Clarke for further info at  mail@tonkey.fsnet.co.uk. Tom would also be interested in contact with any other Ally Pally birders he hasn't met yet. Mon 29-4-02 Ware   Old Lea This morning I heard a Nightingale in scrub between the river and the pit. I last heard one here three years ago.  Ian Edwards KGV Res, am, whimbrel south basin, 1st summer little gull, arctic tern and 20 c terns north basin - Phil Vines KGV Res 7-8 pm, 2 lrps, 1st summer little gull, arctic tern and 35 c terns north basin - Andrew Middleton Hayes Hill Farm, Fishers Green, 13.05.  Hobby flew over west and then went north over Holyfield Hall Farm.Martin Shepherd Amwell pm, 12 c terns, 3 ringed and 2 little ringed plovers, reed warbler, pr of red-legged partridge on Widburyhill Fm - Robert Callf Sun 28-4-02  14.00 Thames at Richmond Bridge 2 Bar Headed Geese   Simon Cummings Sewardstone am Cuckoo, 4 Nightingales singing, Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, pr of Chiloe Wigeon on horse paddocks.  KGV am 2 Arctic Tern, 20 Common Tern, female R c Pochard, 4 Yellow  Wag., 2 Blk. Redstart, 200 Swift, many House Martin, 4 C. Sand - Tony Clancy, curlew flew through am - Phil Vines Ally Pally Last thursday 25th we had 4 whinchats milling around and a curlew fly over. On friday 26th we had two wheatears and a spotted flycatcher. Tom Clarke Lincoln's Inn Fields mid afternoon, a low-down female pied flycatcher - Ken Murray Rainham Marshes 06:30 - 09:30 - 2 Greylags, 2 Ruddy Duck, Merlin (female hunting over the grazing marsh), 4 Dunlin, 4 Ruff on wet lagoons (one male almost like a spotted redshank), 4 LRP, Cuckoo, Swift, Swallow, 2 House Martins, 8 Wheatear and 2 Whinchat (along footpath southeast from end of road).  Also 2 Hare on newly landscaped rubbish tip near barges.  Rod Standing Birds seen during S E Herts RSPB Group's 24 hour Sponsored Birdwatch, 6-00pm Friday 26 April to 6-00pm Saturday 27th April   Amwell:    2 Shelduck, sparrowhawk, 4 LRP, 2 ringed plover, 4 redshank, 1 snipe, 1 common sandpiper, common tern, cuckoo, lots of house, sand martins and swallows, 2 grey wagtail, reed warbler, garden warbler.   Kings Meads: 6 Swift, kingfisher, ruddy duck, common sandpiper   Broxbourne Woods: 2/3 woodcock, calling tawny owl.   Connaught Water: 8 Mandarin, nuthatch   Chingford Plain: Lesser whitethroat   Brimsdown: 3 Black Redstart (1 male, 2 female), stonechat, 4 linnet   Fishers Green/Holyfield: Hobby, ruddy shelduck, 4 Egyptian geese, 1 pink-footed goose   Sewardstone: 2 Little owl, nightingale, lesser whitethroat   Allens Green: Corn Bunting   A total of 103 species were seen within 10 miles of Rye House Gatehouse.  £2000 raised towards developments at Rye Meads.                     from  S E Herts LMG Members I had a request to re-instate species highlights, but choice of species is a bit subjective. Went for migrant arrivals, late and scarce migrants, red-list and scarce species. Sat 27-4-02 Rye Meads   6:45 1 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit North. Also 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Reed Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Wigeon, 4 LRP, 2 Redshank, 2pr Water Rail one pair with young.   RMRG Horsenden Hill, Hobby (1 over Perivale Wood), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Whitethroat (9), Blackcap (13), Willow Warbler (4), Chiffchaff (5), Kingfisher (1), Swallow (3), Goldcrest (1). Also of interest Large Red Damselfly (Perivale Wood) and Slow Worm (2, Horsenden Hill). - Andy Culshaw Trent Pk, singing wood warbler Shaw's Wood 10am and 12.45, and a second non-singing also present, garden warbler - Robert Callf, hobby seen by Robin White. Robert will be leading a London Natural History Society bird-walk in Trent Park on Sat 4th May. Meet 9.30am Cockfosters tube station, or 9.45am at Trent Pk cafeteria car-park (Cockfosters end of Park) - all welcome - morning walk KGV Res. mid afternoon.  c20 Common Tern, 300+ swifts, lots of hirundines, Hobby, 2 Yellow Wags, 1 White Wag, 2 Common Sands, 1 LRP  + 2 female Black Redstarts on fence between Mossops Creek bridge and Leggetts.   Yesterday (midday) 50-60 Swifts, 2 White + 5 Yellow Wags, 1 Common Sand.  - Roy Woodward. also RC Pochard Banbury Res - 2 Arctic Terns north (07:00), 3 Common Terns, 1 H Martin, 3 S Martin. Lockwood - 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo. High Maynard - 1 Common Sandpiper. Low Maynard - 3 Ruddy Duck. East Warwick - 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Gadwall, 51 LBBG (mostly nesting!), 3 Herring (1 pair nesting poss 2), 5 GBBG (all immatures). West Warwick - 2 Little Grebes, 9 Ruddy Ducks. No3 - 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler No5 - male Whinchat (by horse paddocks), 293 Cormorants nests (record year). Whole Site 50+ Common Terns, 100-200 Swifts moving through constantly, 50+ House Martins, 100+ Sand Martins - David Darrell-Lambert Sewardstone pm, 4 singing nightingales, lesser whitethroat, 2 y wags, garden warbler - Fentiman, Murray, Wilson, Middleton Fishers Green area - from new hide, amongst the canada geese, 1 barnacle goose, 4 egyptian geese, 1 pink footed goose, plus sedge warbler, whitethroats, blackcaps, nmr. Bittern hide sand martins & swifts. Dave Messenger Fri 26-4-02 KGV Res am, 40+ swifts, 6 house martins, c sand, 10+ c terns, many sand martins and swallows - Phil Vines Walthamstow Res, No5 - c10 house martins, c100 swifts first for the year. - David Darrell-Lambert KGV Res pm, pretty sure 6 arctic terns around 6.45pm, otherwise 35 common terns gathered by dusk, 2 y wags, 20+ swifts, redshank, c sand, hobby feeding over the Res briefly at 8pm - Andrew Middleton 13 swifts Dagenham Chase this evening - Alan Bell Thu 25-4-02 Eden Grove, Holloway. Male Grey wagtail seen on derelict building,as cycling past. - Helen Bantock. 23 April Tate  Modern - male Peregrine circling at 14:30hrs. 24 April Coppermill Filter Beds - Greenshank north 07:40. Highbridge (Waltham Abbey) - male Ring Ouzel (via Phil Vines). 25 April Tottenham Marsh - 7 Whitethroat, 7 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler. Southbank - 1pr Wigeon, 1pr Gadwall (both fully winged, the Gadwall flightly) David Darrell-Lambert 2 house martins over West Ham Park at 4pm - also male blackcap singing in flower garden. marco johnston - east london. Trent Park area, grey partridge, 3 lesser whitethroats, Grovelands Park pm, lesser spotted woodpecker - Robert Callf Lea Valley - Langridge area - Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, 2 pairs Linnet, 'Peruvian' type Ruddy Duck. Fishers Green - Turtle Dove reported near Goose Field, Nightingale in fine voice near Substation just opposite outfall, also Garden Warbler Reed Warbler at North Met. Mick Oakland Fishers Green: reed warbler singing at Bittern Hide. Six swifts and one house martin over Police Pit/Hooks Marsh area at 12.50. Amwell: hirundine passage at 17.45 of two swallows, four swifts and eight house martin. Cuckoo also flew in. Martin Shepherd North Mymms, 3 red-legged partridge, buzzard, garden warbler, 6 siskin, 4 bullfinch, brown hare - Bill Cutts, A Middleton Brimsdown early am, one black redstart singing in the mist - Helen Bantock Wed 24-4-02 Claverhambury Carp Lakes nr Waltham Abbey: swift at 8.30am flying NE over the wood. Also cuckoo, mandarin, three common terns and several swallows - over the lake, and perching on telegraph wires in the late afternoon - Martin Shepherd Horsenden Hill, Garden Warbler (1), Whitethroat (4), Blackcap (6), Willow Warbler (2),Kingfisher (1), Grey Wagtail (2), Swallow (2), Common Tern (2). Earlier in the day, Martin Smith had 2 Swifts and a Snipe. Seven species of butterfly including 2 Small Tortoiseshells this evening. - Andy Culshaw Ally Pally 4 Whinchats today. Tom Clarke Fairlop 7 y wags and lesser whitethroat this pm - Alan Bell. 5 to 6pm Farmland behind Fairlop Waters; 7 Yellow Wagtails and a Common Sandpiper on island of main lake. Steve Stuart Stoke Newington East Reservoir 3-4pm 1 male Whinchat (!), 1 male Whitethroat (singing), 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 pairs Ruddy Duck, 1 pair Common Tern - prob arrived yesterday, 1 Grey Wagtail. Also 1 Wheatear this morning, on roof of block of flats (TB only). Ben Hoare and Tony Butler KGV Res. 1 Arctic Tern (went East at about 08.30), at least a dozen Common Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, male Wheatear. Sewardstone. At least 4 Lesser Whitethroats. Cheshunt Marsh (East of Bowyers Water). Ring Ouzel - prob 1st summer male - until at least 12.30. (found by Roger Clark) - Roy Woodward. Barking, 2 grey partridge, 4 ringed plovers, still meadow pipits and skylarks. Habitat much reduced. Juvenile robins Leyton Flats - Andrew Middleton Trent Pk Nature Trail, wood warbler in song around 12.30 and 6.50pm, swift over, 2 wheatear- Robert Callf

Tue 23-4-02 garden warbler Coppetts Wood, Lesser spotted woodpecker Ken Wood - Tony Clancy
Ally Pally Yellow wagtail fly over, whitethroat, sedge warbler, 3 house martins & female ruddy duck. Tom Clarke
Copped Hall, pair of mandarin, 2 pairs of red-legged partridge, firecrest - Andrew Middleton and Jeremy Gaskell
KGV Res late am: Five dunlin north, 12 common terns, three white wags, yellow wag, swallow, sedge warbler - Sean Huggins

Mon 22-4-02, 4 woodcock Long Running at dusk - nightingale Copped Hall - Tony Baumber
AMWELL 1 common cuckoo male showed well. J.BEECH
21.00 Rammey Marsh nightingale singing near lock. Brian Dawton.
Harrow-on-the-Hill, Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 2, Song Thrush 6, Starling 150 - John Palmer
Tottenham Marsh - 5 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Common Terns, 2 Sand Martins. Walthamstow Marsh - 2 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler. Abney Park Cem - 1 Chiffchaff. Tate Modern - male Peregrine from 8:35 to 8:40 hrs - David Darrell-Lambert
Highbury Area 2 pied wagtails flying over 1 chiffchaff calling 1 kestrel flying over - Christopher Langsdon
Ware. Old Lea This morning there was a pair of Canada geese with 6 young. Ian Edwards
5-7am quick cycle Rammey Marsh, 2 skylark, several reed bunts (red list singers), nightingale. Sewardstone Marsh 3 nightingales, lesser whitethroat and cuckoo. KGV Res 2 y wags - A Middleton
Vic Fm/Trent Park, male wheatear on barracks, calling lesser spot by Lower Lake, 2 lesser whitethroat, 5 peacocks and 5 orange tips - Robert Callf
Sew Marsh,9.20-11.30.Garden warbler 10am N side of road-gave great views feeding/singing intermittently.At least 2 l lesser whitethroat- 1 moving from bush to bush on scrubby land S of Fairview site, possibly same heard again in SW corner by gate. Another heard in SE corner by gate to meadow.Heard my first Sewardstone sedge w. of the year.Got very good views of 2 singing nightingale. Cuckoo heard S of marsh, 2 swallows over.Whitethroats in in some numbers. Martin Shepherd
Lea Valley -N Holyfield/Langridge, 40 Stock Dove, 1 Oystercatcher flying over, 1pair Ringed, 1 pair Little Ringed Plover, 2 pairs Little Grebe, Whitethroat (several), 3 Ruddy Ducks 2 males 1 female. One male has black head and no white on the face, resembles Peruvian Ruddy Duck according to my Madge + Burn Wildfowl of the World book. Fishers Green-Barnacle, Egyptian, Pink-foot on Goose Field + Mallard with 19 young. Reed Warbler at Bittern Watch Point. Other wildlife - Hare, Fox. - Mick Oakland

Sun 21-4-02 Tylers Common (also Tylers Hall Fm), 2 reeling grasshopper warblers, calling cuckoo, 1-2 pr swallows, 8 willow w, 4+ whitethroat, 1 pr reed bunts, 3pr skylark, bullfinch, good numbers of linnets, Weald Pk, pr house martins back in artificial nest houses, Risebridge GC, 4 lrg red damselflies - Colin Jupp

20-4-02 Amwell:10 am, just enough time to watch some very boisterous LRPs (6-8), aprox 6 RPs, 5 Common Terns, plenty of Sedge Warblers including one in song and displaying in front of the viewpoint. 1 Cuckoo heard. Rye Meads: was not visiting for birdwatching, but cuckoo heard on 2 occasions and escaped Harris Hawk still present and harassing pigeon population. Let's hope he's gone by the time the Turtle Doves get back! Nathalie Schorbon
Rye Meads   5 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 1 Water Rail, 2 LRP, 1 Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, 5 Common Terns, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear (trapped), 5 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler.   RMRG
KGV Reservoir, 8.15-10.00, north basin.  Male wheatear, yellow wagtail, common sandpiper, four common terns, swallow.  Sedge warbler singing in reeds on west side near causeway and whitethroat heard in towpath bushes.  One nightingale heard at Sewardstone Marsh plus cuckoo.  Fox on Sewardstone farmland. Martin Shepherd
Grovelands, pm 3 species of woodpecker, am 2 nuthatch - Robert Callf
KGV Res pm, male flava yellow wagtail, LRP, pr redshank, Cornmill, sedge warbler, pr LRP and Redshank - Ken Murray
KGV Reservoir 15:30 to 16:30 - Wheatear (male), 10 ruddy ducks, loads of sand martins, stock dove and redshank (all North Basin), 8 Common Terns (South Basin), sedge warbler and whitethroat singing and reed bunting (between West Bank of north basin and towpath). Rod Standing
Not sure if this is of interest (access to bat detector). Playing fields adjacent to Sketty Road, Enfield, 45kHz pipistrelle and noctule, last night (and on/off for about the last two weeks).   Regards, Phil Rhodes
Ally Pally Sightings this week: Plenty of blackcaps and chiffchaffs - they are all over the park. Quite a few willow warblers as well. Pretty much a swallow or two a day at the moment. 1 wheatear yesterday. The pair of bullfinches are still around. Tom Clarke.
Fishers Green LVP 09.30 am   Nightingale sub song and calls near electricity sub-station.   Jeff Butcher
18 April Totteham Marsh - Fieldfare. Inner London - 1 pair Kestrels nesting near the Thames (if anyone wants details please let me know). 19 April Walthamstow Marsh - 2 Swallows north, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs. Tate Modern - male Peregrine (14:30hrs), 2 Jays in the morning. 20 April Banbury Res - male Wheatear. Tottenham Marsh - Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Sedge Warbler - David Darrell-Lambert
Fairlop, gropper reeling, sedge warbler, several whitethroats, 1 wheatear, 2 yesterday - Alan Bell, large red damselfly out in Bedfords Park Essex/London- Colin Jupp
Horsenden Hill Lesser Whitethroat (1), Common Whitethroat (2), Blackcap (15), Chiffchaff (7), Willow Warbler (4), Goldcrest (1). Nuthatch (1) in Perivale Wood. - Andy Culshaw
13.4 (from completing WeBs Count for Netherhall) 6 LRP - 3 apparent pairs - one attempted mating seen. At S end of site just N of Dobbs Weir Road, and on 'reclaimed' land E of Glen Faba pit.   Also 1 green sandpiper on 'new' excavation adj DW Road.   3 swallows and 10 sand martin.   On 14.4 - 3 LRP seen.   Mixed flock of c40 sand martin and swallow.   Nigel A May 

19-4-02Amwell pm, 2 cuckoos, 6 sedge warblers inc ringed one infront of public hide, 3 LRPs, 2 ringed plovers, several c terns. Robert is leading a walk in Grovelands Pk Sat 20th 10-12am for Enfield Park Rangers Services - for anyone interested - Robert Callf

Waxwing last weekend in Dunfermline > Tristan Bantock

17-4-02 Sewardstone Marsh.  Nightingale, 9.20 a.m., singing in full view for two minutes from bush south of the road and close to picnic table.  This bird, or possibly a second, found again 20 minutes later in the area east of large lake behind Knights Pit sign (worked on by Andrew a couple of years ago to improve habitat for nightingales!)   Also cuckoo at 9.55: it flew in to trees in centre of marsh and started calling and then dropped down on to fence post.  Still calling at 12.15.  Additionally there was whitethroat at the south end, five swallows over, and three lapwings on the meadow. Martin Shepherd
Trent Park/Vicarage Farm male common redstart around Lower Lake at 9.20am, grasshopper warbler singing around 8am on the barracks, also whitethroat, 6 willow warblers, female lesser spot, tawny owl, pr grey wags - Robert Callf
Brimsdown 5-8am, immature black redstart singing from old factories by Mossops Creek, 2 reed buntings and singing linnet - Martin Shepherd, Helen Bantock, Andrew Middleton

16-4-02 KGV Res (late evening). 4 Common Terns - 3 roosted on a boat in the south basin, 1 Dunlin, 3 LRP, 2 Yellow Wags. Roy Woodward

15-4-02 Harrow-on-the-Hill, Wheatear 1 at Northwick Park, Swallow 4, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 1 - John Palmer
Had a drake garganey  and a common sandpiper on Kings Mead this evening, 32 pairs of gadwall, 2 pair shoveler and pair of teal, 30+ sand martins and a swallow. Garganey has been there for about 10 days - first time I've found it - I'll try and photo it tomorrow - Nick Sampford 
Ware. 10.30 A.M Old Lea and first pit south of Ware. 3 Swallows flew over, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, and Chiffchaff all singing. Grass snakes regular now.  Ian Edwards. 
Amwell.  Pair of common terns flew in at 4.00 p.m. and settled fairly quickly on one of the rafts.  Also several swallows through, ringed plover, little ringed plover, sedge warbler and fox. Martin Shepherd
Lea Valley - North Holyfield/Langridge - 1 Cuckoo, 7 Swallows on telephone wires, 1 pair Ringed, 1 pair Little Ringed Plover, 1 pair Red-legged Partridge. Fishers Green - usual collection of geese on Goose Field including the lone Pink-footed, Barnacle and 3 Egyptian Geese.- Mick Oakland
KGV Res am, 2 common and 2 green sands, 3 redshank, 2 LRPs, several yellow wagtails, c20 swallows, red-crested pochard, house sparrow, red-legged partridge on west bank, adult male black redstart Brimsdown fence, same/2nd? ad male black redstart singing from Johnson-Mathey red-brick office beside Mossops Creek at 8.20am - various sightings from Martin Shepherd and A Middleton
Vicarage Farm around 8am, a grasshopper warbler sang briefly, and again from 7.52 to 8.10pm when seen, also brambling and redwing Trent Park - Robert Callf
Sun 14th In addition to Roy's Sunday sightings at the KGV, also 8 Redshank, 4 LRP, 1 Common Sand, 1 White Wag, 3 Swallow with at least 50 Sand Martins. - Andy Massey
Copped Hall, 2 or 3 buzzards, 2 firecrests - Ken Murray and friends
Horsenden Hill Sat 13th, Influx of Blackcaps, with 23 sighted on my usual 'transect' walk (cf. 4-5 birds over previous week). Also 12 Chiffchaffs otherwise pretty slow. Sun 14th, Tardy winter visitors with 4 Redwing over, 2 Snipe at Paradise Fields. No new migrants, but Water Vole along the canal and Nuthatch continues in Perivale Wood. - Andy Culshaw

Sat 13-4-02 Rye Meads  2 LRP, 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Jack Snipe, 26 Teal, 27 Golden Plover, 11 Sedge Warbler, 11 Willow Warbler, Lots Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Female Firecrest trapped and ringed 9am, 1 Brambling. Escaped Harris Hawk with Jessies in Meadow and along toll road, if any one knows of one being lost in Hoddesdon tell the owner to come and get it!    RMRG
WG Res am, kittiwake briefly, flew off north, drake pintail - Phil Vines
KGV Res pm, single arctic tern 1-2.15pm, then two (probably additional) arctic terns from 2.45-4pm, 3 redshank, 6 yellow wagtails, white wagtail, 1 LRPlover, c20 swallows, 6 meadow pipits - Phil Vines, Andrew Middleton, Alan Bell
Sewardstone, whitethroat - Brian Dawton
Fairlop. a.m. Common Sand, 4 LRP, Green Sand- SE pool, 4 Shelduck, Little Owl, Singing Corn Bunting, >4 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Brown Hare.- Peter Hopkins.
Amwell 4 L.R.Plover, 1 R.plover, 3 redshank,  (throughout Reserve), 1 male & 1 Female Gadwall 2 Egyptian Geese plus all the common stuff - Christopher Langsdon

Fri 12-4-02 Amwell pm, pair of buzzards, water rail, sedge warbler, redshanks & l.r.p.s - Brian Dawton.
Trent Pk, 2 peacock, 3 speckled woods, comma, 3 great crested grebes Lower Lake, Vic. Farm, 5 small tortoiseshells, pr red-legged partridge. Grovelands, lesser spot came to roost at 7.16, pr of grey wagtails - Robert Callf, also brimstone Vic Fm Robin White

Thu 11-4-02 Lea Valley Langridge area - 5/6 pairs of Skylark, 3 pairs Little Grebe, 1 Ringed and 1 Little Ringed Plover,  1 pair Yellowhammers. Fishers Green - 15 Golden Plover flying N. most in summer plumage. 4 Egyptian Geese on field west of Substation. North Met. - Sedge Warbler. New Goose Field hide coming on a treat expected to be finished later today (Thur) - Mick Oakland.
Dagenham Chase this evening, 2 house martins and a green sandpiper - Alan Bell
KGV Res pm, a grey plover feeding on the causeway grass, 1 yellow wagtail, 2 swallows, 2 male mandarin in some kind of wide-ranging territorial flight/dispute from 6.45-7pm east of KGV Res, came to rest briefly in treetops by the LVP campsite near where young have been seen in the past - Andrew Middleton
Ally Pally, 2 Swallows this morning.   Tom Clarke

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Wed 10-4-02 HAD A HOBBY, 3 WILLOW WARBLERS, 5 BLACKCAP AND 5 CHIFFCHAFF, ALL SINGING THIS AM. WELL HOBBY WEREN'T, HE WAS FLYING AROUND - ALL AT THUNDRIDGE   NICK SAMPFORD
Weald Pk, 4 swallows, 1 sand martin. Nags Head fishing lake, 1 swallow. orange tip reported Noak Hill 8th - Colin Jupp
Amwell, little egret, probable territorial (calling) water rail, 1 swallow, male orange tip, pr shelduck, pr ringed and pr little ringed plover - Robert Callf
Gt. Amwell 4.30. onwards. little egret approx. 20 yards from viewpoint fishing for is supper. 1 redshank, 3 ring plover, pied wagtail, also a treecreeper - Dave Messenger

Tues 9-4-02. Trent Pk area, mallards with 12 young, 60+ linnets on setaside, 4 redwing, c18 coal tit territories, 2 female lesser spots one of which in Church Wood, lesser spot came to roost Grovelands at 7.24pm - Robert Callf
N + E Holyfield - 2 pairs Skylark, 20+ Linnets, 1 pair Ringed, 1 pair Little Ringed Plover on waste ground at Langridge. 3 pairs of Egyptian Geese, 1 pair at northern end of Holyfield, 1 pair on Goose Field and 1 pair on partly flooded field west of Sub Station which also held a Green Sandpiper. Other points of interest - construction of the new hide overlooking the Goose Field started this morning, I am told it will probably take about 1 week.- Mick Oakland
Fairlop, common buzzard over 6.05-6.10pm, thought to be first site record - Alan Bell
KGV Res, black necked grebe south basin, different bird to last week's - news from Phil Vines

Mon 8-4-02 KGV Res, 2 red-crested pochard, 50+ ruddy duck, 5+ goldeneye and 19 on WG Res, 1 green sand, 2 LRPs, 6 yellow wagtails - Robert Callf
Curlew took off from Cornmill Meadows, circled  and called then flew south west. 9.10 am. Terry Smith.
8.30-12.00 Walthamstow, Male Garganey at north end of Lockwood with Teal, Rook mobbing Kestrel over Low Maynard, 2S Great  Black-back E. Warwick, Common Sandpiper No. 4 Res., pair Ruddy Duck displaying No. 2 Res. Toby Robertson
9am Amwell 1 green sandpiper, 1 little ringed plover. 10am Rye Meads RSPB  1 green sandpiper, at least 2 sedge warblers singing 11am Herts and Middx hide at Rye Meads - probable Harris Hawk - looks very similar to the one I saw at Little Paxton in the winter - red/brown shoulder patches, brown back, white rump, broad black band on tail, reddish under-wing panels, heavy head. Trailing jesses. On fence post and in trees over by the road.   Jeff Butcher
firecrest Copped Hall - Ken Murray and Andrew Middleton
Hi - A new hide is being errected next to the goosefield on Tuesday 9th April where the old birdwatching rest used to be, this will cause some disturbance while it is being installed and may extend over to Wednesday. On completion it will give good views over the site, my seat is already booked!!!! It may be worth putting this out on your site to save any birders wasting a journey. Regards Terry Smith.

Sun 7-4-02 Monken Hadley Common, pr grey wags, 6 mandarin Beech Hill lake area, 8 calling nuthatch - Robert Callf
10-00am - 12-00 Sewardstone   Little owl in usual oak tree, fine yellow wagtail nearby.   Other migrants;  willow warbler (5), blackcap (2), chiffchaff (1), sandmartin (10), house martin (1) (also 2 redshank on marsh pm).  Male garganey still at Kings Meads, Ware, yesterday morning.     Phil Blatcher
Gt.Amwell. 1 little egret, 1 redshank, 2 ringed plovers, 2 shelduck, chiffchaff  & 1 blackcap also a pair of muntjac deer opposite viewpoint - Dave Messenger
KGV Res common tern south basin 8am-ish, also single swallow and house martin- Phil Vines
Walthamstow Marshes, : first Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat singing, single Swallow. Singing Chiffchaff and female Blackcap in Springfield Park. Nathalie Schorbon
Hornchurch C/P, am. 9 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Whitethroat, 3 Pair Bullfinch and 6 Yellowhammers. D.Morrison
1 April - Walthamstow Res, 2  Green Sand in Lockwood channel. Banbury, 4 Common Sand, 2 Siskin west, 8 Sand Martin. 2 April - Rainham Marsh, 1 Spoonbill ( was present until 2nd at 12pm when flew east - asked not to release the news), 1 Curlew view from New A13. 3 April - Tate Modern, male Peregrine flew NE hunting. 4 April - Tate Modern, male Kestrel on SW corner. 5 April - Walthamstow Marsh, Sedge Warbler singing. Tate Modern, male Peregrine flew in from west circling and drifted off to the NE. Monument, 2 Kestrel chasing over building - wasn't able to sex them. 7 April - Walthamstow Res, male Garganey on No1 with 2 Teal, 1 Sedge Warbler. - David Darrell-Lambert

Sat 6-4-02 Swallows and orange tip at Fairlop. 3 swallows Weald CP - Alan Bell
70 Acres.  1 Swallow + 4 Egyptian Geese nearby on the field between the Old River Lee & Navigaional.  - Roy Woodward.

Fri 5-4-02 Buzzard over Galleyhill woods at 6:10 pm seen from Willowside fishing lakes - Christopher Langsdon
Romford area butterflies, Romford/Risebridges GC 12 speckled woods, 6 comma, 6 small torts, 8 peacock, small and green-veined white, Raphael Pk holly blue - Colin Jupp
KGV Res am, summer-plummaged black-necked grebe - Phil Vines
Trent Pk area, common buzzard south over Williams Wood around 10.47, Vicarage Fm 13 small tortoiseshells, single green-veined and small whites identified, tawny owl calling Moat Wood. Grovelands pm, lesser spot came home to roost in hole at 7.01pm - Robert Callf
I noticed the report of an Osprey at Cornmill Meadows on Tuesday 2nd April . You might be interested to know that the male Osprey that bred at Rutland last year arrived back at Rutland on Wednesday 3rd and is therefore likely to be the same bird .- Alan Reynolds

Thur 4-4-02  Cornmill & Hall Marsh Area - 5 waders on Cornmill -  Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Green Sand and Little Ringed + a pair of late Wigeon. Several Willow Warblers, Blackcaps in abundance. Male Ruddy Duck displaying to 2 females on Police Pit.
Are the tern rafts being put out on Friday Lake soon? - Mick Oakland
KGV Reservoir, early a.m..  One yellow wagtail NE corner.  Two little ringed plover on the causeway.  C70 sand martins with half of these massing over the meadow in the NW corner.   And on 2 April, I saw five LRPs at Cornmill Meadows and a green sandpiper. Martin Shepherd
Amwell, 10 species of butterfly, 2 LRPs, 1 ringed plover, shelduck, probably 1 buzzard briefly over wood - Robert Callf

Wed 3-4-02 Ally Pally Over Easter we have had: 1 Shelduck, couple of Greylags, a few Redpolls, a pair of Willow Warblers, 1 Sand & 3 House Martins and most impressively a possible (due to it flying at eye level) Red Kite on the Monday - which would be a first for the Park if accepted.   Tom Clarke
KGV Res pm, 6 yellow wagtails NE corner, rock pipit and 4 LRPs on causeway, 85 ruddy duck, 20+ goldeneye, probably 30+ sand martins. Sewardstone Marsh, green sandpiper, little owl calling - Roy Woodward, Andrew Middleton
Blackcap singing a very good imitation of Nightingale song alternating with blackcap song. Strangely, a female blackcap was close by when he sang like a nightingale. Fishers Green, near to Holyfield weir. Terry Smith
Trent Pk area, 8 blackcaps, 7 nuthatch, lrg white, 4 small torts and 3 speckled woods , pr little owls Park Fm - Robert Callf

Hi all, heres a few pictures from Scotland - Nick Sampford

Tue 2-4-02 Fairlop A swallow over the golf course, a Wheatear and a Willow Warbler - Steve Stuart
Central London. I had a peregrine being mobbed by a kestrel over Tavistock Square, WC1 at lunch time today. Presumably a wandering bird from the Thames? - Andy Culshaw
Cornmill early am, osprey flew off north from willows. Fishers Green lane bunting flock, 1 corn bunting - Stuart Hamilton
Grovelands, female lesser spot entered old nesting hole to roost at 18.57, also pr nuthatch. Vicarage Fm, tree pipit along hedge then on to field, pr reed buntings, pr of lapwing displaying over Fernyhill Fm, 17 lesser redpoll in Williams Wood - Robert Callf
Holyfield GP.  1 Sedge Warbler singing by weir, 1 female Goosander + I attempted to count the occupied heron and Cormorant nests and came up with totals of 11 Grey Heron + 15 Cormorant nests. Male ruddy duck with all black head. Grebe Hide, Fishers Green, apparently a very rare variety - The black headed Ruddy Duck is perhaps a 1st summer bird - some books show this type of variation for 1st year White-headed Ducks, and I'm told the Sibley  North American bird guide shows a similar variation for Ruddy Duck. I don't think its an escaped bird of one of the South American races (or similar species of stiff-tail) because the cheeks show some white flecking, and are not the solid black colour which would be expected for these races/species - apart from the colour of the cheeks its a typical moulting Ruddy Duck.    Roy Woodward

Mon 1-4-02 Highbury Fields - Blackap (1) in song, Chiffchaff (1) in song, West Stand entrance, Highbury. Patrick Baglee
My Romford Garden - 1 Willow Warbler. Dagenham Chase - am -single LRP, Redshank and Sand Martin, a pr of Shelduck, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffs. Ken Barrett
Horsenden Hill Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (3), Blackcap (1). Possibly of interest, three Monk Parakeets in Borehamwood in the back garden of 2 Furzehill Road, viewable from Furzehill Road. - Andrew J. Culshaw
Fairlop p.m. 2 snipe, 1 jack snipe, reed bunting, 2 green woodpecker, skylarks little grebe. No sign of the short eared owl. Andy Childs
Whitehouse Plain, a lesser spotted woodpecker on north side about 100 yds from road - Alex McKechnie
Fishers Green.  Red kite, 4.00p.m., seen from the Goosefield.  It flew over south end of Galleyhill Wood and continued west, mobbed by a crow, over National Grid area.-Martin Shepherd
Had a male Brambling in my Waltham Abbey garden today, (near Cornmill Meadows), feeding on peanut kernels & sunflower seeds on the patio-it was around for a couple of hours. - Terry Smith
KGV Reservoir, 11.40 a.m., yellow wagtail on top of grass bank in north east corner feeding on insects.  Also, at 9.45, little ringed plover on causeway calling to and being answered by another bird, plus green sandpiper. - Martin Shepherd
KGV Res pm, 4 LRPs and 2 Scandinavian rock pipits on the causeway, green sand, c50 sand martins, 60 ruddy duck. Sewardstone Marsh singing willow warbler, 2 redshank - C Jupp, A Bell, A Middleton
Singing Skylark in field east of causeway KGV, male Black Redstart at usual place. Tony Clancy