seen anything?

Some recent sightings in and around the Lea Valley and North London April to June 2002

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

Wed 26-6-02 Epping Forest, two tree pipits singing Sunshine Plain (north and south), single downy emeralds at High Beech pond and Paul's Nursery flash, 5+ purple hairstreaks out on Chingford GC high spot and elsewhere, brief views of an unidentified large raptor at Lippitts Hill. Lea Valley Road between KGV and WG Res, c10 white letter hairstreaks by lone elm tree nectaring on adjacent lime tree flowers - A Middleton Lincolns Inn Fields, spotted flycatcher at the weekend - Ken Murray, of interest, Charles Fentiman (birding locally in a bygone era) had a rose-coloured starling last weekend in his West Sussex garden. 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

Bee-eaeter and rose-coloured starling images taken recently in the UK by Nick Sampford - see HMBC site for Nick's recent butterfly images 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
I've researched the origin of the two Roseate Terns (at East India Dock Basin on May 14th) and can confirm that they were ringed either at the Rockabill (600 pairs !) or Coquet Island (45 pairs) colonies - both birds carrying special Roseate rings (taller) on the right leg and BTO's on their left. At Lady's Island Lake colony ( 120 pairs) the special ring is carried on the left leg. Incidentally, many of the Coquet Island birds originated from Rockabill. If we ever get any specific details from the special rings we would know which colony the birds came from and their age, so any such notes taken by birders on the day would be more than welcome. The special rings carry one letter and three digits only. At Rockabill up to 900 terns are individually field identified each year using the codes on the special rings. Regards - Jim Lawrence	See a selection of six of Jim Lawrence's great images
Sun 23-06-02 Fairlop -. Small Skipper this afternoon & small numbers of Meadow Browns-Alan Bell Rainham Marshes 06:30 to 09:00 - Little Egret, Hobby, adult Med Gull by stone barges (then flew on to tip), Cuckoo, usual breeding waders and warblers. Rod Standing Tottenham Marsh Ring-necked Parakeet - heard calling but not seen! Recent sighting from Inner London - Tate Modern 2 weeks ago 2 Shelduck flew up river. Last week 2 male Wigeon have been frequenting the river! One was seen to fly onto the National Theatre - David Darrell-Lambert 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
Tue 18-6-02 Painted lady on Pole hill around obelisks, also c50 Swifts and a Hobby. - Rich Cope Ware. Widbury Hill, Red Legged Partridge with at least 8 chicks probably more, but they were in long grass. Ian Edwards. Broxbourne Wood NR, 2 ringlets, siskin flew over - A Middleton Rammey Marsh, 8-9pm, two groppers reeled very briefly in separate areas well away from Martin's recent gropper site nearer the M25 on the planned route of the new link road, also nightingale and kingfisher calls, at least 5 each of skylark, reed bunting and meadow pipit - Tony Clancy and A Middleton 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

Andrew Self - I've just set up a website for birders in London. It has latest news, lists of available publications, details of how to submit records, links to birding sites & clubs and an events page:
http://website.lineone.net/~andrewself/Londonsbirding.htm

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