Some recent sightings in and around the Lea Valley and North London January to March 2003

March 2003

Mon 31-3-3 Fishers Green: male redstart still around at 14.37.  I watched it for about half an hour and got cracking views of the bird hawking insects - Martin Shepherd
Walthamstow, Higher Maynard - Oystercatcher, 7 Grey Wags - Gary Gardiner
Trent Park, 7 Sparrowhawks over Williams Wood around 9.40am, male blackcap, crossbill heard over Rough Lot, 2 lit owls Vic and Park Farms, 2 partridge looked and sounded like a grey and red-leg in flight, 2 small torts - R Callf
Trent Park pm: 2 Firecrests Rough lot / Moat wood on the ride up to the obelisk near the fallen tree. Also Crossbill heard (  Rough Lot.) - Pete Lowman
KGV Res, oystercatcher, no sign of scoter - Phil Vines, common redstart seen by Terry Smith, 200m beyond Bittern Watchpoint from car-park - Fishers Green - news from Phil
KGV Res am, oystercatcher and wheatear - Martin Shepherd
Pole Hill/Hawkwood - 2 nuthatch, no marsh tits encountered, several blackcaps and chiffchaffs, one budgie- A Middleton

Sun 30-3-3 W'stow Marsh, Peacock;  2 Small Torts. chasing;  Small White   At least 7 Common Snipe. No Reed Buntings at all. Meadow Pipit; another with c.10 Pied Wags at water treatment plant   2 Willow Warbers in song at 6 p.m. on E side of H20 treatment plant. Jeremy Gaskell
Bedford's Park late pm, 2 singing blackcaps, 7 chiffs, 12 peacock, 7 comma, 1 small tort. Hatters Wood garden, woodcock flew from behind neighbours cnifer hedge, calling lesser spot - C Jupp
1 Speckled Wood Coppetts Wood today.   Tony Clancy
Gillespie Road - Highbury - 10 sand martins flewover at 7:25pm in fading light.   Two large gulls in the distance prob greater black or lesser black back. - Chris Langsdon
Trent Park, red kite seen near William's Wood 16.42-48hrs, flew south, 17 y'hammers, Vic Farm 2 fieldfare, 5 redwing - R Callf
KGV Res 8.45am, 4 common scoter (2 male & 2 fem/imm) south basin, also 2 roseybills. Scaup seen earlier by S Hamilton - news from Phil Vines

River Lee CP:   Shelduck - 8 on various sites, Wigeon - 94 on Cornmill, Garganey - pair on Hall Marsh close to Snipe Hide, Shoveler - 60 on Cornmill, Red-legged Partridge - pair on "Donkey Field" at Hayes Hill Farm, Little Ringed Plover - 1 on Cornmill, Snipe - 56+ on Cornmill, Redshank - 8 on Cornmill, Willow Warbler - 1 singing at Waltham Abbey Arboretum.   Stephen Harris Wathamstow Marsh, the Cetti's warbler seems to be enjoying the sunshine. Burst into song 8 times in an hour mid morning ( once in 3 hours on friday! ). Good views obtained. From the marsh side of the rail line view ditchside thicket on rail track side of fence 50 yds or so on left from Coppermill Lane entrance - Alex McKechnie. Coppermill, path south of car park, 10.45 am willow warbler.   Jeff Butcher Epping Forest, several adders, 2 nuthatch. Sewarsdtone willow warbler, speckled wood, 2 brimstone. KGV Res pm, 4 c scoter flying around south basin, perhaps 2 ad male, 1 fem & 1 imm male. Fem/imm male black redstart on KGV fence opposite Tradeteam. T&H Bantock, A Middleton THE STAIR`S, WAKERING, 16.00 to 18.30.   45 BRENT GEESE, 53 SHELDUCK, 11 LITTLE EGRET, 9 CORN BUNTING, 4 REED BUNTING all male`s, 2 SHORT EARED OWL,. Pr HEN HARRIER, Pr RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 15 STOCK DOVE. Tony Howells

Cornmill Meadows - c60 snipe, large numbers of wigeon and teal and 6 redshank (3 pairs).  Fishers Green goosefeilds, nothing interesting to note, large numbers of jackdaws and the commen geese. Amwell - 1 possibly 2 redshank, 5 phesants, 2 grey wags showed well and c5 stock dove and 7 sand martins flew over at 6:10. - Chris & Pete Langsdon
Harold Hill, 2nd tawny calling nr garden. Clements Pk, Warley, kestrel, calling lesser spot, 9 m pipits, 8 redwings, 6 chiffs, 2 y'hammers, 44 linnets on adj. field. Nags Hd Lane water rail on small pond - C Jupp
Walthamstow Marsh, 10.30  -  11.30:  No sight or sound of Cetti's, unfortunately, but 1 singing male Blackcap at 11 a.m. At least 2 singing Chiffchaff and M. Pipit over. Jeremy Gaskell
KGV Res, female c scoter south basin, 5 little ringed plovers, one house martin flew south then north, c10 sand martins, 1 white wagtail, willow warbler singing north end, 5 lapwing, 1 linnet over, 25 m pipits, 5 goosander, 2 reed bunts with migrant flock - T Clancy & A Middleton
Havering 2 x ADDERS Basking 4 x Linnets 2 x Skylarks 3 x Chiffchaff 1 x Reed Bunting  Paul Norris
29-3-03, Sewardstone Marsh: willow warbler singing in SW corner at 07.35.  Oystercatcher flew over north calling at 07.50.  Enfield Lock: a pair of kingfishers and a grey wagtail on the River Lea near Rifles pub - Martin Shepherd   28-3-03, Sewardstone area: green sandpiper on Pattypool Mead at 09.00 and redshank flew over. Female goosander on the relief channel - Martin Shepherd

Fri 28-3-3   Great Monk Wood, Deershelter Plain & Wake Valley Ponds.  About 100 Bramblings in the area, including a flock of c60 in Great Monk Wood. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Woodcock in woodland at the edge of Deershelter Plain. Roy Woodward.
Fairlop, willow warbler this evening - Alan Bell
Berwick Ponds, Cetti's Warbler AM seen briefly, calling well but mobile also pair of Garganey which flew west to nearby Hornchurch.C.Park, not relocated. Willow warblers 2. Les Harrison. 
Horsenden Hill, Woodcock (1 this evening on eastern boundary with Sudbury Golf Course), Redwing (1), Chiffchaff (6). Willow Warbler on 26th; first Blackcap 22nd. - Andy Culshaw
Amwell GP, redshank, ringed plover, 2 little ringed plover, grey wagtail, kingfishers in bank under fallen tree, approx 6 snipe,  teal, wigeon, lapwing, 1 blackcap, plenty of chiffchaff, a few reed bunting - Dave Messenger
1 Willow Warbler singing Sewardstone Marsh.   W . Girling Flood channel 20+  Sand Martin some exploring nest holes . 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck. Tony Clancy
Walthamstow Marsh, the Cetti's Warbler is still present but only vocal occasionally and very tricky to pin down - Alex McKechnie.
At 14.45 on Cornmill Meadows LVP most southerly pools: one little ringed plover, one green sandpiper, one redshank, several lapwing and numerous snipe. Wigeon still present. Jeff Butcher
Copped Hall, 100+ m pipits, c12 skylark, 1 peacock - A Middleton
Trent Park area, pr of firecrests displaying, 26 y'hammers, 16 fieldfares Vic Farm - R Callf
Cornmill Meadows LVP, 27th Sid & Dorothy Petts had good view of a drumming female lesser spotted w. in trees near new hide - news from C Jupp

Thur 27-03-03 Weald Park, Tower Plantation female firecrest in rhododendron by paths, pr of bullfinch blackthorn by tip, . 30 redwings Bluebell Pond. Pilgrims Hatch little grb. Butterfly totals 2 peacock, 7 comma, red admiral, 3 small torts on nettles on tip. 26th Priors GC pr of lapwing nearby, 12 y'hammers,40+ m pipits, 70 linnets- Colin Jupp.
KGV Res: Female wheatear, two LRPs on the causeway 11.30am, fem/imm black redstart on fence bordering the paddock by Tradeteam's yard, 20+ sand martins, female common scoter on S basin, two redshanks, grey wag, 40+ meadow pipits. Also unidentified female-type pochard species on N basin, looked like cross involving  red-crested pochard. Cornmill Meadows: Ninety shoveler, 70+ wigeon, two redshanks. Seventy Acres/Friday Lake/ Police Pit/Hall Marsh: Two blackcaps and many chiffs singing, no sign of recent pair of garganey. Sean Huggins
Trent Park area, fem brambling Shaws, firecrest Moat/Rough Lot, male lesser spot calling Ride wood nr Hadleigh Rd car-park, 2 bullfinch, 5 small tort, small white, 2 comma - R Callf
Coppetts Wood this evening 1singing Blackcap, still 2 Firecrest.   Tony Clancy
Nick Sampford's photo of the Blue-winged Teal/Shoveler cross looks identical to a bird at Titchwell in February 2001 which was identified as he suggests.   Jeff Butcher

Wed 26-3-3 1045am Rye Meads Pair of kingfishers excavating in artificial nesting bank. Green sandpiper, Green woodpecker. Steve Lee
LVP 1 pair of garganey seen on  Hall Marsh scrape plus teal, wigeon & snipe, plenty of chiffchaff around the area  Dave Messenger
The pair of Garganey were on Hall Marsh today and the highlight at Cornmill was one Little Ringed Plover, but there was no sign of the Lesser Scaup on Police Pit, Friday Lake or Seventy Acres.   Simon Papps.
25th Amwell, 3 little egrets, seen mating briefly (two of em). 26th Trent Park 2 firecrests - R Callf
Mon 24/3/3 Peregrine on Cornmill, then up over towards River Lea, where there was a second high bird. Wed 26/3/3 Garganey (male) right at south end of Police Pit - two birds had been on Cornmill for most/some of last week   Chris Page.

Two Pictures from Amwell - my first butterfly photo of the year  [ comma]   and this duck. I think its a blue winged teal x shoveler. What do you think? Nick Sampford's Wildlife Photography

Herts & Middx Branch of Butterfly Conservation early-spring meeting St Albans, Wed 26th March 7.30pm - non-members welcome

Tue 25-3-3 Walthamstow Res 4-6.30pm: Lockwood - Wheatear (female), 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Sand Martins N; E. Warwick - 2 Wheatears (both male), c. 20 Sand Martins; No.3 Res. 2 Kingfishers. Rock Pipit reported E. Warwick this morning.   Toby Robertson
HANNINGFIELD RES, 12.30 to 17.00   13 CHIFFCHAFF all different bird`s, MALE BLACKCAP, 2 COAL TIT, 2 LESSER REDPOLL, 2 TREE CREEPER, RED HEAD SMEW of caulseway. 1 BRIMSTONE, 2 PEACOCK, 3 SMALL TORTOISESHELL.              TONY HOWELLS.
Walthamstow Marsh . A singing Cetti's Warbler this afternoon. From car park at end of Copperfield Lane go on to marsh and the bird is about 50 yds on the left by the railway line.Only singing infrequently it favours the rail track side of the fence and proved very elusive.The female Scaup seen again on No5 reservoir - Alex McKechnie
Harold Wood area 6 comma, 4 peacock, garden 2 comma & peacock. Tyler's Shaw 100 jackdaws, 30 stock doves. Harold Crt 2 snipe, skylark & y'hammer singing, Nags Hd STW 3 l grb, 12 teal, w rail - Colin Jupp
Gillespie Park (for London BTO) 4:35-5:00 Great Tit - 4, Black Bird - 11, Robin- 4, Wren - 3, Dunnock - 4, Wood Pigeon - 10, Long Tailed Tit - 2, Blue Tit - 5, Morhen - 1, Magpie - 2, Crow - 1, Gold Finch - 1, Collard Dove - 1 and a total of 2 squirrels.   Does anyone else watch Gillespie Park or Clissold Park - if so please get in touch with me at clangsdon@hotmail.com, also what is the best thing to put in a collage portfilio for photography. cheers Chris Langsdon.

MILE END PARK E1. 1.00pm. Green woodpecker, close, very trusting, probing bark chips at edge of bed of shrubs close to road. Probing lawn as well.- Keith Pell. Hooks Marsh area: male blackcap at 09.55, NE corner of Police Pit, giving very brief snatches of song and feeding on insects in the canopy.  Also two Shelduck on Hall Marsh, and one on the Goosefield - Martin Shepherd Harold Hill, 8.10am lesser spot calling (5th time since Feb 27th) but not seen. Calling tawny early hrs yesterday - Colin Jupp Cheshunt GP - Drake Lesser Scaup showing well with Tufted Ducks on Friday Lake @12:00pm. Friday Lake is adjacent to the Police Pit. Park in car park adjacent to Herts Young Mariner's Sailing Base (over the level crossing at Cheshunt Station) and walk south along the canal to the lock and lock house and view Friday Lake from here. Also 1 pair Garganey showing well on the Police Pit below the bunker on the western side of the pit which runs adjacent to the canal. Ross Facer KGV Reservoir, South basin: Common Scoter and 126 Ruddy Ducks plus 2 Green sandpipers.  William G Res: 12 Black Necked Grebes all in summer plumage plus 2 Sand Martins and one drake Goosander.- John Murray KGV Res, PM. South basin- female Common Scoter, causeway 5 LRP's, a pair either side displaying and a single bird, also 2 Redshank, fair numbers of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wags, 1 male Stonechat. 4 Sand Martin, over heading N. Gary Gardiner

Fairmead area, Epping Forest, 11 crossbills over SE around 7.30am, singing blackcap, Copped Hall peacock and small white - A Middleton Pole Hill area, lesser spot calling recently - Tony Baumber Kingfisher at the River Rib Great crested grebe  Stansted Abbotts Nick Sampford's Wildlife Photography

24-3-03, KGV Reservoir, brief visit, north basin: Egyptian goose and sand martin.  Amwell: swallow through north over main gravel pit at 13.08.  Also two little ringed plover, ringed plover, four redshanks, five kingfishers and six sand martins (14.42-14.52)  - Martin Shepherd
Walthamstow Reservoirs 5pm-6pm: East/West Warwick - Chiffchaff singing, 4 Sand Martins. Common Tern flying around south complex at sunset.   Toby Robertson
Valentines Pk.  p.m.  Ring-necked Parakeet. Peter Hopkins.
Kew Gardens, pair of Egyptian geese with 12 chicks, nuthatch, 10+ ring necked parakeets, comma - A Middleton
At a heavily watched Kew Gardens - Three more adult Egyptian Geese flew in at 4.30pm.  Three male Golden
Pheasants were also an impressive sight. Stephen Harris
Navestock, wheatear, pr lit owls, kingfisher, y'hammer, no sign of black redstart. Harold Hill, 2 nuthatch, a few commas, 2 small torts - C Jupp.
Record from Brian Sperring, 9.30, 16-3-03: two pintail on the PERME site lake, (ex-MOD area south of Waltham Abbey.)

Sat 22nd, AM, Canons Park, Edgware, 1x Ring-necked Parakeet on feeder trying out the sunflower seed.
Sun 23rd 4.30pm Canons Park, Edgware, 2 x RnP over park. 3rd sighting this month. Presumably these are last years Thameside fledged birds looking for new territoried in the 'north'. Also AM, 7 chiffchaff at Brent Reservoir. - Robin Morden NW London (Mill Hill) RSPB Group
Sun 23-3-3 Beech farm / Hatfield airfield; 3 (possibly 4) short eared owls hunting from 5pm, 3 kestrel, sparrowhawk, great spotted woodpecker, ringed plover, little grebe and reed bunting - Chris Bowden
Walthamstow Reservoirs:  9 Little Grebe, 3 Shelduck, 36 Teal, 37 Gadwall, 71 Pochard, 18 Ruddy Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpecker  -   also 1 Red Admiral.   LVP, Hooks Marsh:  53 Shoveler,  Police Pit:  1 Lesser Scaup male in full or almost-full adult summer plumage, Bowyers Water: 5 Goldeneye, 1 Sand Martin.   Stephen Harris
LVP Seventy Acres GP, drake lesser scaup near the Bittern watchpoint, in and out of reedbed just to the east. Later pm on Metropolitan Police Pit - news of sighting by Alan Harris, from Phil Vines
Harold Wood Shepherds Hill area, barn owl flew ove road 1t 19.25hrs. Garden - brimstone, comma, small tort, . Brentwood Honeypot Lane-Weald Rd 6 peacock, 3 comma, 3 small torts (inc nectaring in prunus & aubretia). Grt Warley 2 tawny owls calling at dusk- C Jupp
NAVESTOCK 1 x BLACK REDSTART TYLERS COMMON 1 x REED BUNTING 2 x CHIFFCHAFF PAUL NORRIS
Ware Widbury Hill and Old Lea. Green and G S Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Chiffchaff, On the Ware Gp 6 Goldeneye, 2 male 4 female. 3 Hares in the field at the top of the hill. Ian Edwards.
KGV Res common scoter south basin, pair of 'rock dove' plumaged birds by Res - Jeremy Gaskell

Sun 23rd March 10:0am - NW London Group RSPB (Mill Hill) will visit Brent Reservoir - Meet Cool Oak Lane bridge, off West Hendon Bdwy.Boots absolute necessity.  All welcome - Robin Morden.

Sat 22-3-3 Coppetts Wood today 1 Comma, 2 Firecrest, 6 singing Chiffchaff , 12 Fieldfare.   Tony  Clancy
Tyttenhanger G/Pits, 8 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 1Greenshank, 5 Redshank, 1 Green Sand. 19+ Tree Sparrow at farm feeding station, also 1 Lesser Spot. - Gary Gardiner
Amwell 13.00, 4 Redshank, 1 Green Sand, 2 Little Egrets, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, LS Woodpecker and Jack Snipe. A pair of Garganey were reported at the  Cornmill Meadows seen at 11.00. Neville Smith
KGV Res am, pr mandarin east channel & kingfisher & pr grey wags, female common scoter south basin, c40 goldeneye, 2 redshank, 2 green sandpipers, 25 m pipits, pr shelduck - A Middleton
Harold Wood, 11am, 3 crossbills flew N calling, inc 2 red males - Colin Jupp
Sat 22nd March 8.30am, Trent Park area ~ walk for woodland bird-song with Robert Callf. Meet 8.30am at Cockfosters tube station entrance (west side of park). London Natural History Society walk, but all welcome.> Trent Park, male firecrest, 2 litle owls, 12 mandarin & pr moat, 20 y'hammers, 3 reed bunts, kingfisher, repoll heard twice, 50 redwing, R Callf and others

Fri 21-3-3 Amwell.16.30. 2 Redshank, 2 LRPs, 2 Ringed Plover, and 2 Dunlin. Cornmill Meadows. 1 Redshank. 50+ Feeding Snipe. Neville Smith
17.05pm River Pinn- Pinner, Middlesex. Kingfisher. Subt.P D Slark
Vincent Square, SW1  (Central London)  1 female Wheatear on the football pitches at lunchtime.  Always thought this looked a good place for one!   Stephen Harris
TYLERS COMMON 1 x REED BUNTING 6 x LINNETS PAUL NORRIS
KGV Reservoir, late afternoon visit: black redstart - a female/immature/1st s bird - on the reservoir fence posts opposite Tradeteam at 15.35, possibly wondering what the #### has happened to the buildings it was planning to spend the spring and summer at.  This is the first BR I've seen here since 5 January.  Also two green sandpipers, 15 sand martins over the south basin and one over the north, skylark on the causeway, 26 meadow pipits and three reed buntings. Pattypool Mead: nine lapwings, several displaying.  Little owl on the oak tree.  Enfield Island Village: eleven linnets on waste ground underneath the pylons - Martin Shepherd  
Ware Old Lea.  A pair of Grey Wagtails along the shallow stretch this morning. Chiffchaff singing. Kingfishers very active and vocal.  Yesterday a V of seven Cormorants flew over. Ian Edwards.
Trent Park, firecrest singing between Moat Wood and Rough Lot - R Callf
Ash Lane setaside, Lower Bedfords, 45 m.pipits, 5 skylark, 3 flighty song thrush, y'hammer now appear absent, 50-60 present late 1999-2000, last seen here 2001. Bedfords Pk pm, pr grt crstd grbs, fieldfare, 12 redwing,4 chiffs. Gidea Park male mandarin, male firecrest nr nursery singing occ., 15 chaffinch, calling crossbill - C Jupp,
VANGE MARSH, BASILDON. WATER RAIL, 4 REED BUNTING, 4 LITTLE EGRET, HEARD CETTI`S WARBLER SINGING. HANNINGFIELD RES, 6 SAND MARTIN, PR RED-CRESTED POCHARD, SLAVONIAN GREBE, BLACK NECKED GREBE( summer plumage), other side of causeway, feed on oak tree buds, 12 WAXWINGS, 4 CHIFFCHAFF ( 3 singing) - TONY HOWELLS.

Thu 20-3-3 - Highbury one jackdaw flew over - my first sightinmg for Highbury. - Peter langsdon  
At 4.00pm this afternoon at the Princess of Wales pub Lea Bridge Road I watched a swallow for 5 minutes or so. It was too far away for me to say which variety of swallow but I've seen enough swallows over the  Wanstead Ponds where I live, to be sure I was watching a very early swallow   John Regan
Walthamstow Reservoirs - East Warwick 1 Scandinavian Rock Pipit (a classic littoralis, on stony west shore), 4 Great Black Backs (3 2nd yr, 1 3rd yr), Kingfisher; No 5 Res. 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpecker (together), 5 Fieldfare, Great Spot over entrance buildings     Toby Robertson
Trent Park lesser spot Rough Lot near Obelisk, 3 reed bunts & 10 y'hammers south of here, total 4 comma & 1 peacock - R Callf, news from R White ~ yesterday 3 lesser spots (Shaws, Vic Farm and Camlet areas, blackcap in subsong Williams Wood, today 40 fieldfare near here.
Amwell this morning - Kingfisher, Chiffchaf, 4 redshank, little ringed plover, ringer plover, 4 goldeneye, grey wagtail Mark Hows
20-3-03, Fishers Green/Holyfield: 30+ chiffchaff singing in the area.  Also muntjac, two commas, small tortoiseshell, and four bullfinches.  Cornmill Meadows: Little ringed plover, weasel dragging what looked like a water vole, plus an unscathed water vole.  Garganey had been seen this morning - Martin Shepherd 
19th Epping Forest nr Woodredon Farm: ten fallow deer, two nuthatches, two chiffchaffs.  Epping Thicks: brambling. Nr Piercing Hill: two stock doves, two chiffchaffs. Piercing Hill: two siskins.  Amwell: four redshank, ringed plover, three chiffchaffs, four bullfinches, kingfisher, grey wagtail building nest. Cornmill Meadows: the two garganeys, particularly the drake, seen well 15.00 to 15.30 in front of hide with drake giving display call.  Also water rail preening, 60+ snipe and four redshank.  KGV Relief Channel: sand martin at 16.47, c30 redwings and fieldfares roosting at the north end near main building. - Martin Shepherd
20-3-03. SOUTHEND PIER,  13.00 TO 15.15.  RED NECKED GREBE (summer plumage), RED THROATED DIVER ( summer plumage), 17 EIDER, 3 GUILLIMOT, 2 PORPOISE.         TONY HOWELLS.

Wed 19-3-3 Trent Park pm: Common Buzzard flying actively north at approx 4.25 pm, 1 Firecrest on north side of Rough Lot on the ride up to the obelisk by the fallen tree and small wooden bridge, 2 Cormorant on lower lake and a single Mandarin on the upper lake, c20 Redwing in nature trail area, 3 Great spots, 4 nuthatch, a few Stock dove on the stubble field south of Rough Lot. - Pete Lowman
Hatfield Aerodrome, 2 possibly 3 Short Eared Owls hunting over long grass back of Notcutts garden centre between 5 and 7pm, lots of sky larks, 1pr mandarin and lots of teal at Beech Farm pits. T&S Endean.
Amwell, 3 redshank, 1 ringed plover, 1 little ringed plover, 1 green sandpiper, 1 kingfisher, reed buntings, approx 14 female, 2 male goldeneye, 1 redwing.  Dave Messenger.
Harold Park-River Ingrebourne - lesser spot in alders. Harold Hill, small tort flwe past. Pages Farm, small white - C Jupp & T Broom
Cornmill am, a pair of garganey - Phil Vines
Copped Hall, 5 crossbills flew east, pair of kingfishers. Brimsdown, 3 sml torts, 2 comma - A Middleton
Sun 16th - Wanstead park am: 4-5 Great spots drumming; chiffchaff in song, usual ducks plus several gadwall. Amwell pm: 2 little egrets, snipe, goldeneye group - mainly females, a kingfisher that seemed to be burrow building and 1 screaming water rail. Barbara Miller

Tue 18-3-3 Harold Hill, Nags Head STW 12 teal, green sandpiper, 14 m pipits, 4 grey wags, 2 chifffs (& 4 elsewhere), 2 reed bunts. , C Jupp & T Broom
KGV Reservoir, late morning visit: redshank, eight chiffchaffs singing from surrounding land, goosander. Also kingfisher at Knights Pit, Sewardstone Marsh.- Martin Shepherd
Hornchurch country pk. 1 pr of Garganey on lake opp viewing area, also gadwall, shoveler, sparrowhawk, green & great spotted woodpecker, pr of bullfinches, singing chiffchaffs and 1 water vole. COLIN PUMFRETT.
Cornmill Meads: A jack snipe at the SE end of Cornmill at 2pm ( on E side of second smallish pool N of the main entrance. Although I couldn't find it when I looked on my way back an hour later). No sign of green-winged teal. Sean Huggins
Trent Park, 7 crossbills inc. males flew out of Rough Lot, 2 firecrests, 10 treecreepers, 3 reed bunts, 15 fieldfares Vicarage Farm, 3 little owls on farmland - R Callf and blackcap singing Enfield Road. Mon 17th lesser spot calling Williams Wood & 70 stock doves to the north, total 11 nuthatch - R Callf, totals of 3 comma, peacock, 2 small torts, red admiral for Robert and Robin
Walthamstow Res. No 5 : A female Scaup showing close to roadside from Coppermill Lane. Alex McKechnie.
Epping Forest comma and small tortoiseshell, 5 chiffs and 3 nuthatch - A Middleton
Sat 15.3.03 - LVP: 2 Chiffchaffs seen & several others heard; 7+ Goldeneye, inc 1 breeding male (North Met Pit); pair Water Rail (in front of Bittern Hide); numerous Green Woodpecker yaffling.- Nigel Willits

Monday 17.3.03  Weald Park, 2 brimstones, 6 commas, weasel in Beech Wood. fem goosander, woodcock, a few redwings, 2 singing chiffs, 2 firecrests, coal tit 6 areas, nuthatch 4 areas, 4 green woods on tip - Colin Jupp
Mudchute Farm, Isle of Dogs: A firecrest early afternoon on the nature trail 100yds from the gate to Asda car park. And a brimstone. Sean Huggins
Ware am, osprey over and brimstone - Nick Sampford
8.15 Cornmill Meadows: Redshank . 10.40 Admiral's Walk Lake, LVP near Hoddesdon. Pair of goosander (also one tortoiseshell butterfly). 10.30 Churchfields, Broxbourne: Lesser spotted woodpecker. 11.50 Feilde's Lock on start of Stort: Brimstone butterfly. - Jeff Butcher
I had a drive around the larger areas of water around Roydon, Stanstead Abbotss, Nazing area today. very little to
report other than singing chiffs - Rich Cope
At 8.15 am on Cornmill Meadows: One green-winged teal male, at roost on large middle pool of three. Along north edge towards east side with other teal - vertical stripe showing well.   Jeff Butcher, also 2 lesser spots yesterday west side by entrance - Harry Lacey
Had a GN Diver from the train this morning (7.40) at Roydon Camping/Caravan site WaterSkiing Lake. Can't be certain of age but definitely a GND. Should be viewable from the footpath as it was close in on the Railway line edge of the lake ie the opposite side to the footpath Streetmap.co.uk grid ref. 539500,209500 - Neil Murphy

Peruse more butterfly reports on Herts & Middx Butterfly Conservation website

Sun 16-3-03 M40 saw 13 Red Kite as we drove down the motorway! Verulam Lake, St.Albans - nothing of note except a couple of Little Grebe, St. Albans Watercress beds - Treecreper and the usual suspects! Chris Bowden
Ware Widbury Hill area and Lea tow path 4 Chiffchaffs, singing Song Thrush. On the Ware GP a pair of Great Crested Grebes giving  great show of thier courtship display. Last Friday I saw my first Grass snake of the year basking in the sun. Ian Edwards
Weald Park pm, 3 prs grt crested grbs, Tower & Quick's Plantations sparrowhawk, green and great spot woods, 12 goldcrests, 3 firecrests, 2 coal tits, nuthatch, 2 treecreepers, chiffchaff, 10 siskin, a few redpoll, 5 crossbills inc 4 females im larches - Colin Jupp
Sewardstone Marsh, up to 10 chiffchaffs, little owl , many long tailed tits nesting and brimstone butterfly. Brian Dawton.
Trent Park & Vic Farm area, 2 commas, peacock, 2 small tortoiseshells (one nectaring on sallow blossom), total 4 chiffs, 70 stock doves north of Williams Wood, woodcock (R White) - R Callf, also R White
Coppetts Wood, 2 Firecrest together today Coppetts Wood also 3 singing Chiffchaffs. Tony Clancy
Amwell. 5 drake goldeneye displaying, 3 redshank, 2 snipe, siskins, kingfisher, grey wagtail. Stoat hunting in the reedbeds. - Paul Unwin

Post Wood, Amwell, was full of song - both Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers drumming. Later, Green Woodpecker calling and drumming. Plenty of Nuthatches calling all over- at least 4-5 territories, I guess. Three Treecreepers seen. Several Marsh Tits singing,one well seen.Many Goldcrests, one singing.3 Jays, Songthrush, 2 Chiffchaffs singing. Blue Tits, Great Tits and Long tailed Tits in abundance.15 +Chaffinches.Wren, Robin, Crow. Helen Bantock Lippitts Hill area, 3 commas, several bullfinch, 5 chiffchaffs - A Middleton KGV Res am, female common scoter south basin - Phil Vines. Cornmill Meadows, black-tailed godwit this am - Harry Lacey - news from Phil SOUTHEND PIER,  16-3-03.     8.30   TO   12.30. 2 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER,  BLACK THROATED DIVER, 2 RED THROATED DIVER, 2 GUILLIMOT, 4 EIDER, 4 MEDITERRANEAN GULL, 10 GREAT CREASTED GREBE,  COMMON SEAL -    TONY HOWELLS Sardinian warbler at Holme today ~ more pics on Nick's website Nick Sampford's Wildlife Photography

Sat 15-3-3 Horsenden Hill Chiffchaff (4 - first since December so presumably genuine migrants), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1 - Perivale Wood), Little Grebe (1 on the Grand Union Canal). - Andy Culshaw
Waterford Heath - Several siskin and redpoll, both species in song, green woodpecker. Grass snake - returned to basking position after initial disturbance - Phil Rhodes.
Cornmill Meadows approx.30-40 snipe, 1 redshank, 1 black tailed godwit, 9 shelduck  some seem to be going through a courtship ritual, plus teal, wigeon 50 plus, pr. pied wagtails - Dave Messenger
Fishers Green Goose Fields - Large numbers of greylag and Canada geese, 2 snipe, large numbers of crows and jackdaws.   Amwell - Nothing much to note couple of goldeneye of scrape and the usual large numbers of chaffinches and reed buntings - Chris Langsdon
Pages Farm, several singing skylarks, 18 y'hammers + 1 singing Harold Crt. Clements Park male y'hammer, 15 meadow pipits, , 20 redwings. Warley Place calling firecrest in canopy of Holm Oak nr post 18,, calling brambling - Colin Jupp
KGV Res am, female common scoter south basin, shelduck, 2 or 3 sand martins, 8 goosander, common and green sandpiper, 5 chiffchaffs, small tortoiseshell Mossops Creek - T Clancy, H Bantock & A Middleton
Trent Park 2 firecrest Roguh Lot, male lesser spot Nature Trail, 4 chiffs, redpoll with siskins, 20 y'hammers, orange underwing, 15 mandarin Lime Av Lake. Grovelands 11 mandarin, 3 nuthatch, grt spot and green wood, treecreeper - R Callf, weasel seen Trent Park R White

Two more owls from Nick ~   Nick Sampford's Wildlife Photography

Fri 14-3-3 Cheshunt, 2 shelduck in pool by goose field, 1 chiffchaff singing by Turnford brook.Roy Pearce
Harold Court, jack snipe, 5 common snipe. The Mores, 2 singing chffchaffs, , 12-14 goldcrests, , nuthatch nr Church. Coxtie Green pr red-legged partridge - Colin Jupp, with Trevor Broom
Walthamstow Res 4pm-6pm, Lockwood - no sign of Green-winged among Eurasian Teal but male Wheatear, male Goosander, 2 Fieldfare, Kingfisher. East Warwick - 1 White Wagtail (very smart individual with 10 Pieds), 1 Dunlin - Toby Robertson
KGV Res am, female Common Scoter on South basin. Also female Red Breasted Merganser on North basin and Wheatear 7am - John Murray
Amwell 9.30,18 female & 2 male Goldeneye on first lake 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret on main Lake, 1 Chiffchaff in woods - Tim Dick.
KGV res am, female common scoter near sailing club, rb merg, goosander, shelduck. Blackbird carrying Food in Chingford gardens - Phil Vines
Trent Park area, orange underwing moth, 2 firecrests Rough Lot, woodcock Seedfield Spinney (R White) and Moat Wood, 10 nuthatch, 3 reed bunts & 26 stock doves, 7 y'hammers on stubble, little owl Vic farm - R Callf
Symondshyde Great Wood, Herts, 3-5 crossbills, many siskins and coal titis - Bill Cutts & A Middleton

Thu 13-3-03, Dagenham Chase, sand martin this evening - Alan Bell
Harold Hill area, 5 snipe flew from edge of field near Ivy Lodge Farm, male stonechat Pages Fm,. Warley: singing chiffchaff, 2 brambling - Colin Jupp
Bowyers Water: four chiffchaffs in song plus one towards Hooks Marsh. Amwell: ringed plover, three chiffchaffs, five bullfinches, six reed buntings, treecreeper - Martin Shepherd
Amwell - 4.30 onwards. Water rail in field with chaffinches,  searching amongst the dried grass, also reed buntings pr. bullfinch. 2 fieldfare, chiffchaff by observation point. Two sand martins on 1st lake by railway, at least 6 goldeneye. 2 little egret fly in approx 5 oclock to roost in willow with the herons. Dave Messenger

Trent Park pm: Firecrest 1 ( 50 yards west of Laurel on South side of Rough Lot), c40 Stock Dove, c100 Redwing, a few Fieldfare, 7 Nuthatch, 4 Treecreeper, Great Spot( a few ).12th Trent Park pm: Firecrest 1 in Laurel on south side of Rough Lot, c50 Stock Dove, c60 Redwing, c10 Fieldfare, 3 Kestrels, included a pair prospecting a nest site, Greater Spotted and Green woodpeckers. -Pete Lowman Trent Park, male lesser spot UL, Ferny Hill flock of 150+ golden plover in flight, 2 sparrowhawks displaying over Ride Wood, 25+ y'hammers nrth of Williams Wood - R Callf & R White KGV Res am, female common scoter south basin - Phil Vines 08.20 am Cornmill Meadows LVP. One chiffchaff singing near top Meridian stone. Jeff Butcher Amesbury area, Epping Forest, 2 brambling with c50 chaffinch. Copped Hall, c40 y'hammers on stubble, 2 c buzzards, woodcock, 65 goldfinch on teasel - A Middleton

Hi, went back to Welney last nite see barnies again but not as well but got a record shot of dark breasted barn owl   Nick Sampford's Wildlife Photography

Wed 12-3-03 Epping Forest near Oak Hill: three stock doves.  KGV Reservoir, brief late afternoon visit: male wheatear on the causeway, green sandpiper, flock of c30 pied wagtails, and 45 greenfinches in tree north of main reservoir building - Martin Shepherd Recent news from Tony Baumber ~ Pole Hill 7th 60 chaffinch & 2 brambling, 10th chiffchaf in song, today pr of lesser spots. Chingford Plain 8th 2 reed bunts. Copped Hall 11th 5 y'hammers Bowyers Lake, 3 sand martins. Friday Lake, imm male smew. Recent Walthamstow heronry count, total of 90 occupied nests is very close to recent annual totals - John Fitzpatrick Valentines The redwings seem to have gone. Four greylag geese appeared overnight amongst the park Canadas; also single GCGrebe which seems permanantly asleep! B Miller Harold Hill, tawny owl calling 1am, chiffchaff singing 8am. Harold Wood area, 2 male wheatears west side of Nags Hd lane/Tylers Common rd nr Ivy Lodge farm. Tylers C. fem stonechat, 40 m pipits, 2 singing skylark, 1st yr mute swan fishing lake. Colin Jupp Here's a barnie photo for you, went to Welney last nite. Set up a barn owl page on my web site. Had sand martin through Westmill Trout lakes and there was a white wagtail there all day yesterday 11/03   Nick Sampford

Tue 11-3-03 1 grey wagtail over British Museum at 8.30am   R.Pyrah
Walthamstow Reservoirs   No.5 - 1st winter female Greater Scaup viewable from Coppermill Lane.   Tate Modern - 1st summer GBBG   David G Darrell-Lambert
Cetti's Warbler still at Berwick Ponds Essex. Best AM. Favours western end of lake but wondered into thick scrub just North of lake this morning. Les Harrison
Harold Hill area, Nags Hd STW, 4 l grb, 1 gc grb, pr teal, 7 tufted duck, water rail, 100+ pied wags and 1 white wagtail, 5+ grey wags. Thorndon with T Broom, 30 crossbills in pines by Visitor Centre. Harold Hill - Redwings overhead every night since 8th, and chiffchaff singing this am - Colin Jupp
THORNDON  C/P.  12.30  TO 16.00.  30+CROSSBILL, WITH MIXED FLOCK OF LESSER REDPOLL, AND SISKIN (FEEDING). 2 COAL TIT, ADULT PEREGRINE  FLEW OVER BEECH WOOD, SOUTH BOUND.    TONY HOWELLS.
Ally Pally, Ringed Plover flying over on the 6th, first record for the park! Tom Clarke. 
Warley Place 1x Treecreeper 2x Coal tits 1x Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Louise Norris
Trent Park area, male lesser spot nr Upper lake, 4 reed bunts, 15 y'hammers, 50 stock doves nr Williams Wood, 28 fieldfares, 12+ redwing, 1 red-legged partridge, 12 nuthatch - R Callf. singing blackcap Kennilworth Rd C Moorhouse
Hainault Forest CP. A Wheatear  on the main plain near the Millennium Beacon, 2 singing Chiffchaff and 10 Redwings. Steve Stuart
14:00 Cornmill Meadows - 1 Redshank. Usual nos. of Snipe, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing. Also 2 Kingfisher and 1 Chiffchaff singing. P.Smith
Chingford in garden 2 male Blackcaps (one in song). Pole Hill 2 Nuthatch, c170 Chaffinch, c30 Brambling (some nice summer males!), 8 fieldfare and 20 redwings over. R. Cope
Brimsdown canal towpath: singing chiffchaff at 07.15. KGV Reservoir: male wheatear on the causeway of 07.50. A pair of mandarin on the relief channel at 07.58 joined by another pair 10 minutes later with the four birds settling on the reservoir at north end of north basin. Wintering common sandpiper still around.  Also two shelduck over, and 30 plus flock of winter thrushes east, mainly fieldfare. Sewardstone Marsh: two chiffchaffs, one singing - Martin Shepherd
Recent news from John Murray - Sun 9th Ring Billed Gull - on Thames foreshore by Cutty Sark. Mon 10th White Fronted Geese x 2 adult x 1 imm at Staines Moor, also Kingfisher and Green Sand. Near by Slavonian Grebe at Kg res. - John Murray

Mon 10th King's Meads, stonechats: 1 fem at the Hertford end on the Lee Navigation footpath fence; 2 males and 1 female on River Lee walk fence near the railway line.   Jeff Butcher
Barnes WWT: 1st W Caspian gull - wader scrape. Flew off at 11.25 1 curlew, 2 jackdaw, 1 white wagtail, 4 fieldfare, 4+redwings.....Sacha Barbato. Also redwings noted migrating last few nights over Ponders End and Harold Wood
Tate Modern 1pm   male Peregrine was chasing Black-headed Gull also a Kingfisher dashed past.   David G Darrell-Lambert
Recent sightings Vicarage Farm area, grey partridge Thursday, Stonechat Friday. Trent Park, fields near, probable water pipit flushed Saturday - Robin White (news from R Callf)

Sun 9th March 2003; St.Albans watercress beds - water rail, kingfisher, sparrowhawk, 2 siskin, 2 goldcrest and many finches and tits. Chris Bowden

Black Redstarts at Brimsdown - after several autumns and winters (outside of the breeding season), demolition has just started on the London Development Agency site at Mossops Creek, where black redstarts have bred for many years. EN and GLA representatives both state that the timing is unfortunate. But it is not illegal to demolish black redstart breeding habitat at the beginning of the breeding season.

Sun 9-3-03 Fairlop little ringed plover on workings and singing chiffchaff on lagoons - Alan Bell
Walthamstow Reservoirs Complex Banbury Res   4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 9 Goosander   Lockwood   10 Teal (green-winged was reported earlier and flew off no direction given, could still be in area as I didn't check no5)   David G Darrell-Lambert
Amwell 1400 Hrs  9/3/03   Little Egret, Ringed Plover, 8-10 Goldeneye. Water Rail at the feeding station.   Steve Lee
Rainham Marshes 07:00 to 10:00 - Pretty quiet: Little Grebes trilling,11 Greylags, 4 Water Pipits, Curlew, 2 Snipe, lots of Wigeon, Teal and a few other dabbling ducks, 2 Shelduck, Redwing, quite a few Linnets and Goldfinches, Skylarks singing.  Rod Standing
Two Little owls in oak tree at Sewardstone Marsh. Neville Smith
KGV Res, 1 green sandpiper, A10/M25 Little Chef c125 golden plover - H Bantock, also wheatear reported here and sand martin Barn Elms - news from Jeremy Gaskell

Sat 8-3-03 Little Egret on the Albion Pools in the Ingrebourne Valley this evening - Howard Vaughan
Hedgerley Wood 12pm to 1.45pm   c40 Common Crossbill 1 male Two-barred Crossbill   David G Darrell-Lambert
Walthamstow Reservoirs:   Green-winged Teal - male still on the Lockwood this-morning.  Appears to be paired with a (presumed) Eurasian Teal.  Also  pair Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 35 Gadwall, 82 Pochard, 18 Goldeneye, 1 Smew, 1 Goosander, 60 Ruddy Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Grey Wagtail.   Stephen Harris
Harold Wood area, female stonechat Tylers Common, also woodcock in The Mores (A. Stroud) - Colin Jupp

Fri 7-3-3 Harold Wood, Segefield Drive, 150 mixed chaffinch and greenfinch flock with one male brambling in treetop - Colin Jupp
Regents Park - Lesser Scaup on the lake just west of the long bridge where the main wildfowl collection is (but it is not part of the collection!) plus Peregrine over.  Not bad for lunchtime!  Rod Standing
Epping Forest - lots of goldcrests today, and ran into a flock of 250+ chaffs in Bury Wood, with 10+ brambling - R Cope
Whitehouse Plain, had three nuthatch and two treecreepers in the decomposing woodland to the north, plus green woodpecker, kestrel, 12 redwings, and three bullfinches (in scrubby area by the pool due west of the car park.) - Martin Shepherd

Thur 6-3-3 Trent Park pm: Firecrest 2 in and around the Laurel on south side of Rough Lot also Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in SE corner of Rough Lot. Gadwall on Lower lake. Plus usual Nuthatches, Treecreepers etc. Pete Lowman
Rye Meads RSPB 1 Ruff (winter p / female type)from Draper hide then flew towards the meadow. Also 2 Grn Sands, 2 Water rails and a Small Tortoisehell. R.Cope
Amwell am - pair lesser spotted woodpeckers, 3 ringed plover, Sinensis Cormorant, water rail. Wed 5-3-3 Amwell GP PM 2 little egrets, yellow legged gull, 2 shelduck, blue winged teal / shoveler hybrid? (been there for a while apparently) . Mark Hows
Valentines Park recently:  Redwings and goldfinches still around but gull numbers down. Visitors - 3 little grebe, GCG pair, occasional pochard and shoveller; Regulars - up to 3 great spots drumming and green woodpecker, long tailed tits. Our garden pond is heaving with frogs. Barbara Miller
Tues 4th - 11 red kite in 7 separate sightings, M40 northbound, Stokenchurch to Oxford Services, 14.30 -14.45.
Also male and fem. blackcap making regular daily visits to well stocked Oakwood bird table. 1/2 mile south of Trent Park.
Robin Morden Mill Hill RSPB Group

Wed 5-3-3 THORNDON COUNTRY PARK.  10.00 TO 14.30. 11+ COMMON CROSSBILL, 24 LESSER REDPOLL, 3 COAL TIT, 3 NUTHATCH . 4-3-03.  HANNINGFIELD RES,   9.OO TO 12.00 3 SLAVONIAN GREBE,  FIRECREST WITH GOLDCREST,  IN CARPARK. - TONY HOWELLS.
Went around Fairmead / Whitehouse area today though didn't see anything much. 2 Redpolls and a Bullfinch were the highlights! Chingford garden: 1 male blackcap just about managing to give sub-song. R.Cope
Essex Warley area - Warley Gap 2 firecrests in holly by derelict building. Warley Place Reserve 2-3 north end ~ mobile, mostly betwen posts 15-16.. Also 6+ bramblings Warley - Colin Jupp & Alan Hamilton
Trent Park, no sign of woodlark, 10-15 y'hammers on stubble, 9 treecreepers, 6 nuthatch, pr gadwall Lower lake, male lesser spot, firecrest. Pr of red-legged partridge Vic Farm - R Callf
Holyfield, oystercatcher on island nrth of sailing club, pr smew - Phil Vines am

Tue 4-3-3 Had a group of 27 house sparrows on the edge of Prince of Wales Fields, Enfield Lock, late afternoon yesterday. Martin Shepherd
Trent Park, one woodlark in flight and calling over stubble to the south of Rough Lot, west of lakes, flew off E NE at 9.30am. Firecrest Rough Lot. Grovelands Pk pm, grt spot, green wood, nuthatch- R Callf, also, female stonechat Vic farm for R White.
Firecrests ~ Warley Gap singing male; Great Warley, two in Warley Place (prob 3 yesterday & 12 singing goldcrests); Warley wood, male. 7 bramblings Warley. Warley Place is EWT members only, non-members can look for firecrests, small donation to resrve appreciated - Colin Jupp
10.00am Buzzard circling over Hockey pitch in Trent Park. - Regards, Beryl Roberts
Pole Hill 1 male Blackcap in sub song, 2 siskins over R.Cope
Meesdon area, nr Saffron Walden NW Essex, flock of seven common buzzards, several marsh tits and crossbills - Keith French, E Goodyear, A Middleton

Mon 3-3-3 THORNDON C/P 2 nuthatch 6  brambling 3 redpoll 1 coal tit - Paul Norris
Dartford Warbler at Rainham with pair of stonechat. also Curlew and juv Shag on foreshore.Access via Purfleet. (John Murray) 
KGV Res am, 1st winter Mediterannean gull eventually flew towards the WG Res - Phil Vines
Staples Hill, Epping Forest, nuthatch, 3 brambling - A Middleton
1/3/03.  Seventy Acres - 1 Bittern (flew in at 3 pm), 3 Smew (1 male), also 3 Waxwings again reported at Turnford - Roy Woodward. Bury Wood, Sewardstonebury (early am), 1 Lesser Spot. Woodpecker, Firecrest, 2 Woodcock + c12 Brambling with 100 Chaffinches - David Hutley. 28/02/03. Sewardstone. Little Egret seen briefly by a resident in a field by Sewardstone Marsh - Described as a white heron with yellow feet. News from Roy Woodward

Sun 2-3-3 Hatfield Aerodrome; watched a pair of short eared owls feeding for over an hour, huge flock of jackdaw (1000+), large flock of golden plover (300+), teal, 2 shoveler, 2 little grebe, 4 reed bunting, 2 pair kestrel, 6 long tailed tit, lapwing and another observer reported a buzzard.  Chris Bowden
Weald Park, Beech Wood & Tower Plantation, displaying sparrowhawk, tawny owl, 8-10 goldcrest, 2+ firecrest, 2 coal tits, nuthatch, treecreeper, 1 calling brambling, several chaffinch, 10 siskin, 2 lesser redpoll, 1 comma (with Andrew and Rob Stroud) - C Jupp
North Greenwich   pair of Peregrines on Dome at 10am.    Stephen Harris
Single water rail seen at Fishers Green, at 12.30pm. Feeding at edge of water, near car park for 5-10 minutes, 20 feet away. Paul Gratwick
Bury Green, near Cheshunt GR 351015 50-60 Golden Plover -some coming into summer plumage, with a lesser number of Lapwing.  On field W of A10 and N of B198 from layby on A10 just S of mushroom farm.   Nigel May
Banbury Reservoirs 14 Goosander, 6 Goldeneye, 2 Common Sandpipers Lockwood male Peregrine (seen from my Garden chasing a LBBG!), male Green-winged Teal still at the north end with 30+ Teal but can be on its own.   David G Darrell-Lambert
Trent Park and area, pm two firecrests (north & south sides of Rough Lot), 4 teal lower lake, weasel, 7 nuthatch, pr lit grbs, lit owl, 30 stock doves, 25 y'hammers, 10 skylark - Robert Callf, and others, lesser spot also reported
Weald Park, Essex, two firecrests - Colin Jupp
Firecrest still present in Coppetts Wood in NW corner near pond, been present since late September. Also Frogs spawning.   Tony Clancy
Copped Hall, 3 buzzards up late am, two circled off towards Epping Upland and one went on towards Thornwood - N Smith, A Middleton, H Bantock. KGV/Brimsdown fem/imm black redstart - H Bantock

Sat 1-3-3 Northaw Great Wood: three marsh tits - one at 12.50 300 yards north of the keeper's cottage and two at 13.55 on the edge of the car park near the cottage.  All birds calling well.  Amwell, (brief visit): two shelduck from main watchpoint, 17.00 - Martin Shepherd
Horsenden Hill, Not much of a big deal to the reservoir and gravel pit watchers, but a pair of Shoveler at Horsenden today was a first for the site for me and probably only the second record there (recent times). Possibly they had been displaced from Smith's Farm, where there have been 2-3 recently. Also of note: a Great Black-backed Gull over and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Horsenden Wood. PS Primrose in flower today in Perivale Wood! Andrew J. Culshaw
Harold Wood area, 3 lit grbs, 2gc grbs, 12 teal, 2 water rail (STWorks aad Fishery). Pages Farm 100 fieldfares, 12 y'hammers, 30 stock dove, 4 reed bunts - Colin Jupp
River Lee CP:  Holyfield Hall Farm  16 White-fronted Goose, 2 feral Barnacle Goose, 35 Wigeon, 192 Fieldfare.  70 Acres Lake  2 redhead Smew.    Stephen Harris
Cornmill Meads: A female lesser spotted woodpecker in alders along the river in the SW corner around noon; two lesser redpolls c500 yds further north along the river. The 16 European whitefronts were in the grassy field just NW of Hayes Hill Farm till c2.45 when they flew off. Two Egyptian geese and three yellowhammers near Holyfield Hall Farm. Sean Huggins
ChiffChaff singing at Tottenham Marsh. !30+ Ruddy Duck on the KGV - Helen Bantock
Trent Park 11.00-12.30pm Firecrest on south side of Rough Lot 150 yards from SE corner. Lesser spotted woodpecker still at western end of upper lake in alders. - Nigel Taylor
Mandarin 13 near High Beach, 14 Lost Pond (Epping Forest), several nuthatch - A Middleton

February 2003

Fri 28-2-03 Still three Smew, 1 male 2 female, Belhus.C.Pk. also 8 Siskin and 1 redpoll seen.    Les Harrison.
Trent Park pm: ( Weather appalling) Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker again in the trees around the upper lake also a small flock of C 7 Siskin around the lake. 20 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare, 25 Stock Dove. - Pete Lowman.
M25, Theobalds area, common buzzard - R Callf and Chris Moorhouse.
KGV Res, am, winter plumage Slavonian grebe near south tower - Phil Vines
Wintry Wood, Epping, 5 nuthatch, 85 rooks - A Middleton

Thu 27-2-03 Enfield Island Village: 70 wigeon over south at 13.25.  Waltham Abbey farmland near M25: three skylarks in song, and 30 house sparrows on edge of housing estate alongside motorway.  Cornmill Meadow: 80 lapwing over the main pools.  Two bullfinches and six redpolls in arboretum area to the east of Cornmill Stream - Martin Shepherd 
Friday Lake, pair Golden Eye; Hall Marsh Scrape, 3 Snipe, 7 Lapwings, 18 Teal, 24 male and 12 female Shoveler, Green Woodpecker flew over, female Muntjac. John Anderton
Trent Park pm: Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in trees around upper lake. Nuthatch 4, Treecreeper 5. Great Spot and Green Woodpeckers, Fieldfare C60. - Pete Lowman. Brambling, 3 goosander R White
Forty Hall, fem lesser spot 'Archers' Wood' also fox and muntjac, kingfisher, pr shoveler. Whitewebbs, female lesser spot, 16 mandarin, pair of marsh tits,. Wildwoods Lake, 2 pr of teal - R Callf & C Moorhouse
Copped Hall, 2 woodcock early am for Mick Collins, c36 y'hammers and 80 goldfinch - A Middleton

Wed 26-2-03 Trent Park area, male lesser spot in alders by Upper Lake, 3 little owls inc 2 Pk Fm, pr gadwall Lower Lake, 35 stock doves & 11 y'hammers , bullfinch, 2 firecrests inc one in sub-song Rough Lot - R Callf
Cetti's Warbler calling still at Berwick Ponds from South West corner of main reed bed.       Les Harrison.
LVP Single Bitterns at  Bittern watchpoint, Pochard hide reedbed, Slipe Lane Marsh pit and Rye Meads. A male Mandarin at the north end of North Met Police Pit at the 'causeway'. A Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Nightingale Wood. 3 Waxwings at Turnford Brook. 2 Little Egrets at Amwell at 1730. Alan Harris
Early afternoon. Goosefield still 16 white-fronted geese; 180 Lapwing over Holyfield lake setting off north and another 126 took off from Cornmill Meadows and flew north-east. 30+ snipe on northern-most pool of Cornmill Meadows. One bittern attempting to fish along the far bank without noticeable success, walked over bank into reeds - great crested grebe arrived and caught a fair-sized fish. Jeff Butcher 
Nags Hd STW, 10 grey wags, 2 singing chiffs. Warley Gap 20 siskin, pr nuthatch (with Sid Petts). Weald Park, comma Tower Plantation (my 1st butterfly of year), female goosander, 5 grt crsted grbs. Quicks-Tower Plantation, 3 firecrests (1 singing), 10 goldcrests, 4 coal tits, pr nuthatch, 40 siskin, 1 lesser redpoll - Colin Jupp

Tues 25th Bedfords Park tawny owl in usual roost, male firecrest near nursery giving occasional low power song. Mon 24th Harold Crt 3 snipe, Nags Hd Lane STW, 22 teal, 10 grey wags, singing chiff - Colin Jupp
Holyfield Lake - at least 8 smew, including 3 drakes. Was very excited to see two actually mating, the female was presenting herself with bill held low in the water and tail raised prior to brief mounting by the male - I've attached a couple of efforts to capture the action. Also 6 Ruddy Duck and 2 Goosander, and 3 Waxwings at Turnford flying between the car park and the wood on the other side of the railway.  Tristan Bantock (digiscoper) ~ see images below
Holyfield Farm area: three yellowhammers, and c250 lapwings at 16.55, 150 of which came down to feed on farmland opposite the Goosefield - Martin Shepherd
Epping Forest Pole Hill: c40 Chaffinchs and at least 3 brambling, 1 siskin. Bury Wood: c90 Chaffinchs and at least 2 brambling. Chingford Plains: 3 singing Skylark, 5 Bullfinch, 1 siskin. Connaught Waters 40 Tufted Ducks, c10 Mandarin.  R.Cope
Turnford Brook about 1 mile from Cheshunt Station, 1 waxwing seen in car park, 3 seen in the trees just over the wooden bridge - Carol Walton. Lunchtime 3 waxwings still in trees over 'wooden bridge', 1 bullfinch - Sue Upton
Rainham, Wennington and Aveley Marshes Nature Reserve - A good run of records recently: 10 Whitefronts still on site today - visible from the river wall only. Dartford Warbler on river wall only today (25th Feb). Little Egret up to 5 in area. Ruff 2-3. Blackwits 1-2. Pintail still approx 70+. Jackdaw flock of 20 a good site record. Peregrine seen regularly. Lapwing approx 2000 on site - Dominic Funnell, Reserve Warden
KGV Reservoir: very pale buzzard with distinct dark carpal patches, south end of the south basin at 10.55.  Bird circled twice, gaining height quickly, and flew off fast to the south east into the sun.  Also 127 ruddy duck (north basin,) 30 meadow pipits (Sewardstone farmland,) three goosander, female reed bunting, and two mistle thrushes - Martin Shepherd
Plashes Wood near Ware, brief visit, 4 marsh tits + nuthatch. Little Chef A10-M25 c150 golden plover - A Middleton
Trent Park am, common buzzard over Rough Lot 9.55am, woodcock Williams Wood, lit owl Vic farm - R Callf, C Moorhouse. Grovelands Park, 12 mandarin, 3 green woods, 2 nuthatch - R Callf

Mon 24-Feb-03 Tate Modern - Peregrine male at 3pm and Kestrel over at 2pm.   David G Darrell-Lambert
Trent Park area, water rail by Upper Lake (2nd park record for observers), firecrest Rough Lot, 2 little owls. Yesterday pair of goosander on lake, snipe on South Lodge Farm- sightings by R White & R Callf
Rye Meads: 6 Water rails, 8 Skylark flew East, 5 Shelduck. R.Cope.
14:00 Amwell - I Ringed Plover, 2 Shelduck , P.Smith

Sat 22nd Feb. Twite - showed well feeding on gravel bank at Grays Town Wharf. Also 1 Kittiwake, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Turnstone, 2 Bl T Godwit, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and many Dunlin / Redshank. All between Grays and Purfleet - Sun 23rd, Green winged teal and Med Gull at Lockwood Res -(John Murray)

Sun 23-2-03, Cheshunt area: tawny owl calling for five minutes from 06.15: the bird was in woodland on canal between Hall Marsh Lock and the bridge at Waltham Marsh: also this morning, three smew on Bowyers Water and 18 smew on Holyfield Lake (six drakes) along with seven goosander (six redheads) - Martin Shepherd   22-2-03, Holyfield Hall Farm area, late afternoon: five yellowhammers, two egyptian geese, stonechat, reed bunting, 50 rooks - Martin Shepherd
Halfway Reach and Crossness. 1500 teal, 50 gadwall, 25 shovelers, 3 drake pintail, 5 shelduck, 30 redshanks, 50-100 lapwing, 1 common snipe on mudflats and inland marshes. Thousands b h gulls, with 50 lesser bb's, 20 herrings gulls. A stonechat and 4-5 skylarks about inland fields. Dillon English
River Lee CP:   Holyfield Lake  6 Goldeneye, 5 Smew, 1 Water Rail, Holyfield Hall Farm  16 White-fronted Goose, 31 Wigeon  Seventy Acres Lake  8 Smew, 3 Water Rail.  Hayes Hill Farm  1 Little Owl.    Stephen Harris
Hawkwood, Chingford, 1 nuthatch. Lippitts Hill, woodcock - T&H Bantock, A Middleton

Sat 22-2-03 Hayes Hill Farm 1 skylark, meadow pipits, r. bunting, 1 chiffchaff, 1 yellowhammer, pair egyptian geese, flock of fieldfare, also the white fronted geese showing farm side of  road to sailing club. Dave Messenger
Fishers Green - Counted 16 white fronts inc 3 young (by my counts anyway), 1 stonechat, number of rooks, 2 egyptain geese, 3-4 yellowhammers at private house between the two farms, aswell as reed buntings, chafffinches, lapwings etc...  1 munjac deer at about 12-15 feet away in bushes at carpark which leads up to Grebe Hide. Grebe hide - 7 smew 3 pairs and a single redhead, 6 ruddy ducks 2 males 4 females. Also a munjac deer in a field backing on to wood land further down. 2 foxes aswell, bittern and kingfisher from bittern watchpiont. Turnford - 3 waxwings in trees over 'wooden bridge', 2 goosander, goldeneye, grey herons. Hall Marsh - large numbers of snipe from hide aswell as lapwings, pheasant and feildfare. We also found a Jack Snipe!!!! We were also told of a buzzard over Holyfield Farm and a lesser spot around bittern watchpiont area - Chris & Pete Langsdon
LVP Female Sparrowhawk observed taking a Redwing at Seventy Acres Lake. Also 6 Redpoll there. Still c85 Pied Wagtails roosting at Blockbuster video/Public Library in Stratford.     Fraser Simpson
Walthamstow Reservoirs    14 Little Grebe, 106 Pochard, 1 female Greater Scaup (on East Warwick Res), 63 Ruddy Duck, 5 Grey Wagtail .  Stephen Harris
Walthamstow Reservoirs   Banbury - 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 7 Goosander, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Shelduck Lockwood - Curlew south at 16:58hrs, male Green-winged Teal found at 17:05hrs wasn't present in morning was with 12+ Teal in north east corner. East Warwick - female Scaup (per SRH) No 5 - 2 Common Sandpipers (per SRH)   Cheshunt GP   Bittern Watchpoint - 1 Bittern, 5 Smew Fishers Green - 16 White-fronted Geese, 4 Goosander   see David G Darrell-Lambert's image below
Harold Wood area, Pages Farm kestrel, 7 stock doves, 20+ skylarks, 26 m pipits, 15 fieldfare, 120 linnets (high winter count), 31 y'hammers, 7 reed bunts & 1 corn bunting - C Jupp

Fri 21-2-03 Tate Modern - 2 Peregrines seen hunting over the Thames and roosting on the Tate.  Saw then hunting as a pair chasing a Cormorant which escaped!  They are also using a steeple by Ludgate Circle to roost on during the day.   David G Darrell-Lambert
Nrth Enfield, lesser spot calling Forty Hall & female Whitewebbs Wood. Buzzard north of Whitewebbs probably over Theobalds mid-day. Pair marsh tits hacking away at honeysuckle seeds in Whitewebbs. 8 nuthatch in area in 2 Hillyfields Park, 8 grt spots, 2 bullfinch Forty Hall. Vic farm, 2 little owls, 25 y'hammers, reed bunt. R Callf also male lesser spot Williams Wood & firecrest Rough Lot - R White
1 Barn Owl, and 2 Short Eared Owls at Hatfield Aerodrome/Beech Farm - John Murray
Amwell, 8.30am Shelduck and two Sinensis Cormorants, from the watchpoint, also two common gulls on the pit on the other side to the watchpoint. Mark Hows
Fishers Green - 19 White Fronts still present on Goose Field, also 7 snipe and bittern showing well from watchpoint - Bill & Mark Cutts
Warley Park, singing y'hammer, 8 teal & water rail calling nr railway line. Great Warley, Headley Common 1 female firecrest, Warley Gap, two firecrests (m&f) near derelict building at TQ594909 - Colin Jupp
Hedgerley area, 6+ crossbills, 4 c buzzards, 1 red kite over tip plus buzzard, brief view of Iceland gull - Jeremy Gaskell & A Middleton

Thu 20-2-3 Rye Meads 1100 Pair of stonechats in main car park Steve Lee
Amwell 2.00 p.m.: 1 Water Rail out in the open for several minutes with the usual mxd. flock of feeding Chaffinch, Reed Bunting etc., also 5 Goldeneye v. close from level crossing -  Siskin, 5 Bullfinch, 1 Grey Wag., 4+ Redwing - P.Smith. 
Went to Brent Reservoir, this morning Lesser Scaup showing well on North Side of road. Bill and Mark Cutts
Ally Pally Very little to report recently. Lots of Great Spotted drumming activity, late record of a Lesser Spot in mid-January and 34 Redwings last Monday.   Tom Clarke.
Harold Court, 2 snipe. Nags Head Lane, 65 stock doves. Nags Head STW 300 pied wags, green sandpiper, 12 grey wagtails, 12 meadow pipits. Weald Park, firecrest - Colin Jupp
Trent Park: Male lesser spotted woodpecker calling and seen near obelisk in NW corner of Moat Wood, 11.30.   Firecrest at 10.40 and again at 12.40 in NE corner of Rough Lot - Martin Shepherd, also corn bunting