service report

Female speckled bush cricket at Sewardstone today - Helen Bantock >
Iver's scorpion at Sewardstone today

Rainham Marshes RSPB - Just a quick note to inform you that there is an Open Day at Rainham Marshes on Saturday 21st September from 11am to 4pm.  This will be the first chance for most people to see how the new RSPB Reserve is coming on.  Access will be off of Tank Hill Road, Purfleet.  There will be on site refreshment (including a hog roast) as well as other local conservation bodies including the East London Birders Forum and the Essex Birdwatching Society.   With any luck there should be some birds as well!   All the best   If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch. In the meantime I shall endeavour to obtain more info. Check out the following site. http://www.rainhammarshes.org.uk/ Howard Vaughan - Essex County Recorder

Tue 17-9-02 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, firecrest and two chiffchaffs - Ken Murray
Tottenham Marsh  - 1 lesser whitethroat. Coppermill FB - 10+ House Martins. Tate Modern - female Peregrine this morning, 1 Whitethroat &  1 Chiffchaff - David Darrell-Lambert

Mon 16-9-02 Fairlop. p.m.- 8 Whinchat, 6 Y. Wags, 20-30 Mipits.- P.Hopkins.
Weald Park, a common buzzard flew over the Belvedere at 4.45 and went high/west, 5 spot and 1 pied fly here, also 4 chiffs, 1 ww, 4 goldcrests, min 100 swallows and 100 housemartins. St Peter's Church nearby, 3 spot flies and 2 grey wags on roof. Sun 15th Weald Park, tree pipit and whinchat on tip to the NE - Colin Jupp and Trevor Broom
Coppermill FB - 10+ House Martins. Walthamstow Marsh - 5 Jays, 2 Jackdaws, 3 Chiffchaffs. Tate Modern - male Peregrine present until 2pm when it caught a Pigeon and flew west and female at 2.30pm, 1 Whitethroat - David Darrell-Lambert
River Thames 2 Common Scoter just west of Thames Barrier also 3 Grey Wagtails, 30+ Teal, 2 Meadow Pipits west and 31 Mute Swans (highest count for 2 years) - Chris White
Brimsdown, Mossops, black redstart singing and foraging at 7.30 am on an old factory roof (new location). KGV Res am, hobby, 2 c sands, sub-adult little gull, 10+ y wags, c100 flock mostly swallows, also house and sand martins, 3 whinchat and reed warbler nrth end by Sewardstone Marsh. - A Middleton, also black necked grebe - R Woodward, red-legged partridge on causeway - R Callf
Ally Pally Black & Common Redstart. Tom Clarke.
Juvenile red-necked phalarope in the tufted duck flock on the WG Res am, not seen since - Phil Vines tried but was unable to arrange access

Here are some Musselburgh pics from the weekend - I managed a record shot of the albino Velvet Scoter which is a strange beast indeed. Also Little stint - Tristan Bantock

Sun 15-9-02 Rye Meads Solitary Sandpiper. flew off high to the east at around 1255, and not seen since. Thanks to everyone for helping the 'event' run smoothly, marshals and visitors alike. Alan Harris RMRG
Thanks to all of the RMRG members who gave up their days ringing to help with the access and controlling the crowds particularly AH, Sarah, and Jeroo. Also thanks to the RSPB who also did an excellent job (most of Sunday) particularly Vicky and Carol and a number of other volunteers. Also, thanks to all the birders who were all very well behaved. The odd silly and irate comment (which under the circumstances when you are waiting at a gate in that state of panic were probably expected!!) were all dealt with in the spirit. This type of thing gives you sleepless nights but all went very well thanks to the good organisation and well behaved birders. At present estimates of people who saw the bird probably run well over 1000, cash raised will go towards the RSPB for conservation work on the reserve and the Rye Meads Ringing Group to fund their studies on the site.   Finally thanks to Tringa solitaria for turning up on a Friday night and going at Sunday lunchtime much better than the middle of the week when arranging access is impossible!   Paul Roper

Walthamstow Reservoirs   24 Little Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe (West Warwick res), 6 Gadwall, 40 Teal, 103 Shoveler, 19 Ruddy Duck (including 2nd brood), 1 Sparrowhawk, 220 Wood Pigeon, 7 Grey Wagtail, 3 Whinchat (Lockwood Field).   Stephen Harris
Whipps Cross c.50 Swallows east 0700-1030, then 10 House Martins south; 2 Whitethroats; 1 Hobby; regular commoner raptor sightings - Peter Hadrill
West Ham park - 8am - in flower gardens, 1 Pied flycatcher and 2 male Blackcaps.-Marco Johnston.
Valentines Park 7am.  1 f shoveller, little grebe, g c grebe, 3 ruddy duck, grey wagtail, g woodpecker. 30+ starlings and 20+ lbb gulls. B Miller
Harold Hill garden, 3 crossbills went west at 12.05 (garden tick) - Colin Jupp
Trent Pk, lesser spot calling by Lower lake, 30 long-tailed tis by Upper Lake. 20 mistles Park Farm. 6 m.pipits over - R Callf

Sat 14-9-02 Solitary Sandpiper still present at Rye Meads - thanks to RMRG for arranging access
Some images have been posted on Surfbirds

< Tree pipit at Tyler's Common, first for site - image taken during the stay of the Red-backed shrike in early September 2002 - Adrian Webb

Lincoln's Inn Fields, pied and spotted fly - Ken Murray
KGV Res am, 50+ swallows and 50+ house martins moving through, 2-3 whinchat, black-necked grebe south basin, goldeneye, 3 little grebes, 5+ y wags, one white wagtail, min 3 c sands, 55 goldfinches - H Bantock, A Clancy, S Harris, A Middleton
Turkey Street station, hobby seen from train. Vic Fm 1 whinchat - R Callf
13 September 2002 - Walthamstow Marsh - 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Tate Modern - 1 Peregrine male, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff. 14 September 2002 - Rye Meads - 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Turtle Dove south. Walthamstow Res - lots of Chiffchaffs, 50+ House Martins, 1 Hobby, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler. Banbury Res - 1 Common Sandpiper - David Darrell-Lambert
Weald Park Belvedere, pied flycatcher still present, and tree pipit over - news via Colin Jupp - Fri 13th Bedford's Park/nr Lower Bedford's Rd, 2 single tree pipits, 2 lssr whitethroats, 10 sp of Odonata inc main lake 20 small red-eyed, 5 red-eyed, 70+ com. blue dams, 1 blue-tailed, 1 emperor, many migrant/brwn hakers, c darters, small ponds souther hawker and 2 emerald damsels. Tyler's Common 5 whinchat, 3 whitethroats - Colin Jupp

Friday 13 September 2002 at 18:45 tonight a Solitary Sandpiper was found at Rye Meads. The bird was seen by a few observers. It was last seen at dusk.  Tommorow morning (Saturday) the bird will be looked for, if present the news will be released at 7am, and access arranged. The bird is on the RSPB reserve and £1 entry will be charged.   Paul Roper RMRG

Fri 13-9-02 WG Res Flood relief channel area, greenshank, 2 whinchat, 3 c sands - Tony Clancy
Trent Pk 8 small heath. Vic Fm, 11 red-legged partridge, 1 whinchat - R Callf
Ally Pally Wheatear, Kingfisher & Black Redstart. Tom Clarke
Whipps Cross - Swallows moving south and east in small groups all day (from 0830 until at least 1700) at a rate of 60 - 100 per hour. Much smaller numbers of Martins and 1 Swift. 3 different Sparrowhawks (1m, 1f, 1juv) - Peter Hadrill
KGV Res 10-12am, 3 little terns flew north, 2 Sandwich terns flying south seen distantly, 1 calling tree pipit flew from causeway, 6 whinchat, c10 y wags flew over, 14 red admirals - A Middleton, osprey, 3 Sandwich terns and arctic tern also reported

Thu 12-9-02 Whipps Cross common skyway 0800-0815 1 Swallow / 3 house Martins east. 1515-1630 6 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 2 Swifts (all east), 1 Hobby (moving south over Letonstone), 2 local Sparrowhawks soaring over Leyton end - Peter Hadrill
Tottenham Marsh - 1 Swallow north, 3 Common Terns south, 1 Turtle Dove east. Walthamstow Marsh - 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff. Tate Modern - male Peregrine at 2pm & 5:45pm. Yesterday at Walthamstow Marsh - 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat - David Darrell-Lambert
Weald Park, the Belvedere, one pied flycatcher, 8 spotted flycatchers, 2+ willow warblers, several chiffs, blackcaps and goldcrests, nuthatch, treecreeper and coal tit, 150+ house martins overhead - Colin Jupp and Sid Petts
Horsenden Hill Tree Pipit (1), Meadow Pipit (6 - first of the autumn here), Hobby (1 ad.), Whinchat (1 - 3rd bird of the week), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (3), Chiffchaff (8), Jackdaw (1), Kingfisher (1), Grey Wagtail (1).- Andy Culshaw
Ally Pally Black Redstart, Whinchat, Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wags, Little Grebe. Tom Clarke
Vicarage farm, Enfield, two tree pipits took off and flew NE from barracks, also reed bunting - R Callf
Southwark Bridge at 14.00 today, an ad male Peregrine Falcon, which then flew across the Thames to soar over the Cannon St station area. - David Jobbins
Greenwich Peninsula. Adult, 2nd summer and juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on Bugsby Reach by the Dome also 5+ Sandwich Terns, 50+ Common Terns and 1 Shag. At Greenwich Ecology Park 12 Meadow Pipits in the fields to the south of the park and Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood and Tortoiseshell Butterfly all seen in the area. Around the Thames Barrier 2 Oystercatchers, 14 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtails - Chris White
LVP, Whinchat 6 Clendish Marsh, 2 Walthamstow Marsh - A Middleton

Black redstart recently at Brimsdown - Helen Bantock < Clouded yellow recently in Cornwall - Nick Sampford

Wed 11-9-02 Cornmill Meadows. (midday).  2 Garganey (juv + eclipse male), 2 juv Hobbies, + 1 Coal Tit, 3-4 Treecreepers and several Willow warblers & Chiffchaffs with a tit flock in the tree park.  Roy Woodward.
Pymmes Park, Edmonton, pied flycatcher at 12.07 and 1pm, also 2 coal tits, juvenile kestrel, holly blue, 5 speckled woods - Robert Callf
KGV Res am, 5 whinchat, 1 stonechat, 2 wheatear, 5 y wags, 8 c sands - A Middleton
Mon 9/9/02 Ware Old Lea Large flock of House Martins with two Swifts above the trees next to the pit.  Ian Edwards. 

Tue 10-9-02 Harold Court, east of Harold Wood, near railway bridge, Colin found an impressive female 'wasp' orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi in a web low down in vegetation. This species, striped yellow and black, is spreading in the UK from the south coast. Tyler's Common, 7 whinchat, 2 spot flies, 5+ each common and lesser whitethroats, 2 southern hawkers. Harold Hill garden/Dagnam Park, lesser spot calling and nuthatch -Colin Jupp
Ally Pally Black Redstart still here, two weeks now. A few Shoveler yesterday and a few Gadwall today. Tom Clarke.
Chingford Plains: 3 whinchat ( prob. adt male, juv male and another juv type, 15+ meadow pipits. Connaught waters: 1 kingfisher, 2 teal, 1 Little Grebe. Fairmead: 1 small copper. Sewardstone: 1 Hobby, 1 whitethroat, 1 blackcap, 2 lesser whitethroat. Copped Hall: 1 Hobby, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 4+ willow warblers, 1 prob. Wood warbler seen briefly perched on evergreen in front of cottage driveway. The passerines were bathing and drinking from a small pool along the driveway to the Copt hall trust cottages, N of the main hall. Also 2 Buzzards and a Little Owl. - Rich Cope
KGV Res c.4.45pm, an osprey flew low & south over the KGV Res north end (viewed from north of the res.) and was then seen circling high & south over Ponders End Lake direction - Roy Woodward. Little stint on the KGV Res causeway pm - A Middleton and Roy W., - saw the little stint on the causeway, also had 2 greenshank fly south calling along the east side of the res. Rich Cope

Greenwich Peninsula, 12:15 - 14:15pm,   Whinchat in field opposite Film Works Cinema on Bugsby Way (SE10) also 1 Meadow Pipit east and 2 Kestrels. In Greenwich Ecology Park, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat and 5 Little Grebes (2 adults and 3 juv), several Migrant Hawkers, Brown Hawker, Common Darters, Emperor Dragonfly and several Speckled Woods in the Alder Carr. No sign of the Kingfisher reported on and off for the last couple of weeks. On the Thames a Common Sandpiper flew east as did 2 juv Sandwich Terns, also 1 Shag, 20+ Common Terns, 4 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtails, 28 Mute Swans and the Black Swan still in the area.   Kind Regards Chris White
Park Farm, nrth Enfield, 3 hobby - Robert Callf

7-9-02 Amwell afternoon today: 1 hobby heading west over main pit with vole. 1 lesser whitethroat, chiffchaff and two marsh tits in tit flock heading south 100 metres below the bridge by the watchpoint. - Nigel Taylor
11am, south of Buntingford adjacent to A10, two common buzzards circling - Liz Goodyear
Woodford, spot fly in garden - Ken Murray
Trent Park, new fields, 3 small coppers, 5 small heaths, 2 comma, 1 meadow brown. Upper Lake 6 mandarin. Vicarage Farm, 5 whinchat, tree pipit, 9 red-legged partridge - Robert Callf
KGV Res 6 Sand martins flying south,1 Wheatear.   Mossops-on big blue LDA hut, just in front of the ochre buildings-Mature male Black Redstart with well marked white wing panels,singing at 9.45 am. Helen Bantock
Tottenham Marsh - 6 Whinchat, 1 Redstart, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler. Walthamstow Res. Lockwood - 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Wheatear, 3 Swallows. Low Maynard - 1 Whitethroat, 1 Common Tern. East Warwick - 1 Whitethroat, 1 Reed  Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Common Sandpipers. No 2 - Spotted Flycatcher. Filter Beds - 1 Hobby, 20+ House Martins - David Darrell-Lambert
Walthamstow Reservoirs     22 Little Grebes, 20 Teal, 58 Shoveler, 923 Tufted Duck, 13 Ruddy Duck (1 pair has bred), 2 Sparrowhawks, 621 Coot, 2 Common Terns, 3 Kingfishers, 12 Grey Wagtails, 6 Chiffchaffs.    Stephen Harris
All KGV Res.  7/9/02. (late evening). 2 Common Sands, 1 Kingfisher.  5/9/02. (14.15-17.30) 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, male Ruddy Duck.  4/9/02. (from 18.30) 3 Common Sands, 4 Kingfishers on flood relief, 5 Grey Wagtails.   Roy Woodward.  

6-9-02 Chingford: 155 Sand Martins flew SW over my house this am (Poss the WG birds?). Pole hill: 4 swallows and 1 swift flew west, 3 chiffchaff. Richard Cope.
KGV Res am briefly, 125 cormorants, 1 little grebe - A Middleton
Vicarage Farm, 6 whinchat (highest count here for 2 years), 1 yellow wagtail over Hog Hill, red admiral and painted lady, juvenile hobby again - Robert Callf
Millennium Dome, peregrine, two on Sept 2nd & 3rd, one on 4th. Bankside, two peregrines at 18:15 on Sept 4th. Sept 5th, 18:45, Isle of Dogs, Ring-billed Gull, usual adult 60 metres left of Glenaffric slipway.

Hi all - Just a quick note to inform you that there is an Open Day at Rainham Marshes on Saturday 21st September from 11am to 4pm.  This will be the first chance for most people to see how the new RSPB Reserve is coming on.  Access will be off of Tank Hill Road, Purfleet.  There will be on site refreshment (including a hog roast) as well as other local conservation bodies including the East London Birders Forum and the Essex Birdwatching Society.   With any luck there should be some birds as well!   All the best   If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch. In the meantime I shall endeavour to obtain more info. Check out the following site. http://www.rainhammarshes.org.uk/ Howard Vaughan - Essex County Recorder

Walthamstow Reservoirs Guided Walk with David Darrell-Lambert  It is on Saturday 7 September, meet at 9am at the entrance on Ferry Lane, nearest tube Blackhorse Road. - anyone welcome - David Darrell-Lambert

Thursday 5-09-02, Whipps Cross common, a.k.a. east London raptor city. Watching on and off from my attic window a.m., up to 3 Kestrels and 3 Sparrowhawks grouped together at times, single Hobby and a larger Buzzard-size raptor, seen only in tail-on profile at first whilst gliding away on flat wings from Hollybush Hill towards Hollow Pond, then at too great a distance to distinguish plumage details when it flapped north through the tree tops with local corvids going crazy. Epping Goshawks? - Peter Hadrill
Ware Old Lea A pair of Moorhens with three downy young, this is their third brood this year. Great Spotted Woodpecker, calling Chiffchaff. Quite a few House Martins over this afternoon. Ian Edwards. 
Nrth Enfield, juv female hobby with pair of hobby on Park Farm and thought to have bred in the area. Vicarage Farm, 3 whinchat, 2 y wags over. Lesser spotted woodpecker calling by Lower Lake in Trent Park - Robert Callf
Lesser spotted woodpecker regular visitor to an old dead chestnut in a garden no far from Oakwood Park - news from Bill 'n Nell
Loughton: 1 yellow wagtail over this am. Chingford Golf Course: 1 Grey wagtail over. Chingford Plains 14.30-16.30: 3 whinchats (adt male and juv, third bird possibly adt female thou not sure), 1 juv Hobby, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Meadow Pipits. Connaught waters: 7 Mandarin, 2 Teal, pair of Ruddy ducks and one very tired Reed warbler in nettles by Car Park, perched on a car bonnet at one point! Rich Cope
Brimsdown, canal towpath, 09.45.  Female (or immature) black redstart preening and catching flies from tallest of the blue Johnson Matthey buildings, joined by grey wagtail.  Three swifts over high-up and flying south west at 10.08.  Three singing chiffchaffs along the towpath...Martin Shepherd
Chingford Plain, male redstart, spot fly and whinchat - Ken Murray

Red-backed shrike at Tyler's Common (into the sun) and swallow in my garden - Nick Sampford

Wed 4/9/02 King's Mead Garganey, Greenshank, Green Sand - Toby Austin
Tottenham Marsh - 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coppermill FB - 20+ House Martins. Walthamstow Marsh - 1 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs. Walth Res - West  Warwick - 33 Mistle Thrush, Low Maynard - 3 Common Terns. Tate Modern - Peregrine male and female at 5:45pm - David Darrell-Lambert
11.45 a.m. WHIPPS CROSS COMMON E11 An Osprey high S.E. from the reservoir complex. 3 Sparrowhawks circling beneath. Swallows trickling through. - Peter Hadrill 
Fairmead: 1 hobby, 10 common darters, 2 Southern Hawkers, 1 Small Copper, no "large" coppers or american butterflies today! Rich Cope
Ally Pally 2 Kingfishers reported this morning. Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall still around. Tom Clarke.
Tyler's Common red-backed shrike
KGV Res, 1 redstart, 2 whinchat, 1 spotted flycatcher east side. Sewardstone hobby, 1 male small red-eyed damselfly. Yardley Hill, 3 small coppers. West Essex Golf Course, 1 redstart - Andrew Middleton
Vicarage Farm area, wheatear, 3 whinchats, juvenile sparrowhawk. Parkside Farm 1st winter spotted flycatcher - Robert Callf

Tue 3-9-02 Horsenden Hill AM, Tree Pipit (1), Garden Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (12), Willow Warbler (1), Blackcap (8), Whitethroat (3). 02-09 AM, Hobby (1 ad.), Whitethroat (1), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Chiffchaff (8), Blackcap (5). - Andy Culshaw
Coppermill FB - 50 House Martins. West Warwick - 2 Com  Terns. Walth Marsh - 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs. Tate Modern - 2 female Peregrines at 08:45. Also, 6 Cranes flew over Regent's Park NW this morning at 08:30. Seen by Dave Johnson & Tony Duckett - news from David Darrell-Lambert
red-backed shrike Tyler's Common am
Cornmill Meadows, 10.15-11.30:  Common sandpiper, dunlin, four green sandpipers, two snipe, hobby...Martin Shepherd
3/9/02.  Sewardstone Marsh. pm. 1 Crossbill flew west at 15.25, 70+ Swallows moved through in small groups - most heading S or SE. Also a first year male Sparrowhawk, plus a male Emperor Dragonfly and a possible Small Red-eyed Damselfly on Knights Pits (only seen briefly with quite a few Red-eyes still around). 30/8/02. Curlew heard over Chingford (Larkshall Crescent) at 7am.    - Roy Woodward.
Male pied fly Lincoln's Inn Fields - Ken Murray.
Vicarage Farm, 2 whinchat, 1 wheatear, 1 y wag over, goldcrest with/feeding fledgling near 'Barracks' - R Callf.
Ally Pally Black Redstart still around, 7 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 1 female Teal. Also Spotted Flyc and 23 Mistle Thrush. Tom Clarke
Epping Forest - Not too much about - a few hirundines moving over the plains and Connaught Waters, also 2 sand
martins, teal and kingfisher at Connaught Waters. Rich Cope
Sighting - 1 grey wagtail at Three Mill Island, 01.09.02 at 12.30pm - Daphne Dean

Mon 2-9-02 Fairlop a.m. 3 m Whinchat, 150 Lapwing, R.L. Partridge. Peter Hopkins. Puck Lane, Holyfield: Little owl, 10.45.  Nuthatch at Aimes Green, 11.15, on the edge of Galleyhill Wood.  Two whinchats at Fishers Green, 14.20, on the fence between road to sailing club and the farm.  Also yellow wagtail on Girling Reservoir relief channel wall at 13.15 on 1-9-02. Garden (Higham Hill Park, Walthamstow) - 1 Crossbill NE at 06:38, 2 Swifts. No5 Res - 1 Swift, 50+ House Martins. Walthamstow  Marsh - 1 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs. West Warwick - 6 Com Terns - David Darrell-Lambert Tylers Common, between Harold Wood and Warley, off Nags Head Lane,TQ567904, juvenile red backed shrike frequenting dog rose and hawthorn east side of common pm, also 2 whinchat. female common redstart, 2 spot flies, and 40+ small red-eyed damselflies Shenfield Common Pond, red-eyed damselflies gone over and none seen. Colin Jupp and Trevor Broom, also 20 crossbills Thorndon CP last Thursday

I'm told that Dryas julia seems to be the likely identity of the orange butterflies seen in Epping Forest recently by Rich Cope 29-8, Martin Shepherd 1-9, and also at Rainham Marshes. The female has stronger black markings than above - an American species.

Vicarage Farm, 1st winter male redstart, 1 yellow wagtail over. Two weasels seen on Trent Park - Robert Callf
At last! Evidence of bullfinch breeding in area around my back garden (backing onto Sherrardswood, WGC). Adults seen / heard calling on many days over last few months but this morning a juvenile on seed feeder. - Cheers DAVID J JAMES
KGV Res pm, 1 spot fly, 1 wheatear, 2 c sands, 1 first winter Mediterranean gull in the roost, 4 yellow wags - A Middleton

Sun 1-9-02 River Lea Country Park:  Bowyers Water  21 Wigeon, 176 Gadwall.   Hall Marsh  68 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper.   Waltham Marsh  70+ Goldfinch.  Cornmill Meads  12 Snipe, 6 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper.  Holyfield Goosefield  2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Garden Warbler.    Stephen Harris
Banbury Res - 13 Little Grebes, 1 Comm Sand, 3 Hobbys. Lockwood - 2 Sandwich Terns north 2pm, 1 Goldeneye!, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Swift, 20+ Shoveler, 9 Teal, 1 poss Garganey flew up the north end with Shoveler but couldn't be relocated, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Wheatear. Low Maynard - 5 Ruddy Ducks, 3 Common Terns - David Darrell-Lambert
Gt.Amwell - 2 hobby skimming over water feeding on dragonflies, gt.spotted woodpecker, blackcap & whitethroat. Rye Meads - 1 green sandpiper, high overhead 2 raptors circling looked like buzzards? Cornmill - 3 g. sandpipers, 4 snipe, & sand martins. Dave Messenger
3.30 PM CORNMILL MEADOWS L.V.C.P. 12 SNIPE, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS JOHN RIVOIRE
Rye Meads 1 Osprey flew south at 1000 being mobbed by a Buzzard! , also 1 Hobby (but no Kestrels or Sparrowhawks!!) Alan Harris RMRG
Trent Park & Vicarage Farm, 5 willow ws, 9 blackcaps, 7 lesser whitethroats, 4 whitethroats, Trent Park 2 spot flies and kingfisher by the Dew Pond - Robert Callf
Ally Pally Not a bad day at all... 11 Crossbills (flying over early am westerly), 1 Linnet, Wheatear, Whinchat, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Lsr Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Yellow Wagtail (f.o.), 2 Grey Wags, 9 gadwall and finally I got to see the Black Redstart. Look around the filter beds in the evening if you want to see the latter. I think the nearest disued one is the one most frequented. Also one reported possible pied flyc, but only a poss as the observer couldn't get the best of views.   Tom Clarke
Valentines Park. p.m. 7 Ruddy Duck (2m 3f 2 imm) from 3 last week. Also 2 Grey Wags( 1m 1 imm) and 12 Little Grebe ( inc. 2 broods). Peter Hopkins.
I saw a large orange moth on the edge of Sunshine Plain in Epping Forest at 16.00.  Its flight was butterfly-like and it was about the size of a red admiral.  There was a noticeable downcurve to the wing tips, and when it alighted, I could see faint downward lines on the wings - any ideas? - Martin Shepherd

Walthamstow Reservoirs Guided Walk with David Darrell-Lambert  It is on Saturday 7 September, meet at 9am at the entrance on Ferry Lane, nearest tube Blackhorse Road. - anyone welcome - David Darrell-Lambert

August 2002

Sat 31-8-02 Rye Meads 2 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Lapwing. 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Siskin (S at 06:30), 3 Meadow Pipits (W), 31 Teal, 14 Shoveler - Paul Roper (RMRG)
1st. visit to Trent Park today, not much to see except some sand martins & a barn owl nr. the obelisk. Fri 30 at Kings Mead, Ware, saw grey wagtails, house martins 1, c. sandpiper 7, 3 female shovelers. - Dave Messenger
Ally Pally 1 Kingfisher on the tunnel pond. Tom Clarke.
Ally Pally Black Redstart - 1 1st winter/fem again on disused filter beds early pm. - Gareth Richards
KGV Res am, 1 whinchat. Lippitts Hill area, good views of an adult tawny owl in trees with some kind of feathered prey. Several common blues inc. two small caterpillars (2&3mm) feeding on birdsfoot trefoil, 3 purple hairstreaks. Sewardstone Road, two spotted flycatchers - A Middleton
Vicarage Farm, female redstart, whinchat, hobby, 2 spot flies, 1 little owl, grey wagtail, 2 lesser whitethroats - Robert Callf - Correction 17th June 2002 > Trent Park, first site record of Shelduck in 21 years of watching - Robert Callf (note > not Trent Park area as given previously)

Fri 30-8-02 Chingford- One grey wagtail flew south over my house this morning also 2 meadow pipits flew S over Sewardstone Marsh. Connaught Waters: one adt and one Juv Common tern. Rich Cope.
WG relief channel area, pm, 6 swifts - Tony Cancy

Thu 29-8-02 King's Mead, Wood Sand, Greenshank, Green Sand x 2, Cmn Sand x 3, Swift - Toby Austin
Ware.  Old Lea Hobby this morning, also Grass snake. Ian Edwards
Enfield Lock.  Two swifts at 08.55 over north basin of KGV Reservoir seen from River Lea footbridge.  Also green sandpiper in shallows of relief channel, and two meadow pipits over Sewardstone Marsh - Martin Shepherd
Greenwich Peninsula, 1 Whinchat in field opposite Film Works Cinema on Bugsby Way, 1 Clouded Yellow and 1 Painted lady. On the Thames 1 adult and 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Shag and several Common Terns - Chris White.
Ally Pally 1 fem/juv Black Redstart seen yesterday by water works, about 6.30pm. First in at least four years.   Tom Clarke 
One meadow pipit and 6 house martins SW over Pole Hill, and 4 whinchat on Chingford Plain, hobby over Fairmead, and yesterday I had sighting here of a moderately well-sized copper species of butterfly, but which soon flew on - appeared not unlike a large copper or scarce copper in pattern and size but no camera with me - Rich Cope
Tate Modern - male Peregrine all day.Walthamstow Res - up to 20 Common Terns on West Warwick and 1 Swift Walthamstow Marsh - 1 Lesser White, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 5 Willow Warblers - David Darrell-Lambert
Trent Park area, 4 spot flies, hobby, common blue - Robert Callf

Wed 28-8-02 Hi - Steve Bacon had a Wryneck at Hainault Forest this lunchtime & seen briefly (by Howard Vaughan) a couple of times this afternoon, but no further sign for me or other birders by dusk. The bird was in the hedgerow that runs from the east end of the lake towards the second carpark. Also this evening a female Redstart & 5-6 Spotted Flycatchers in the same area. Alan Bell
Trent Pak, 40+ crossbills flew over lakes calling at 8.59am - Robert Callf
Chingford am, 3 swifts high NW over the house. Chingford Plain, 5 whinchats - Rich Cope
Ally Pally 1 Whinchat, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker & 2 Gadwall.   Tom Clarke
Fairlop - 1 Whinchat by Paddock 1 Common Redstart Good views of immature bird along southern boundary path leading to turn off for paddock  - Des Newton
Horsenden Hill Bird News; Nothing outstanding but good numbers of common migrants first thing this morning: Chiffchaff (18), Blackcap (9), Willow Warbler (1), Whitethroat (9), Lesser Whitethroat (4), Garden Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (1). Also a Water Vole. - Andy Culshaw
24.8.02 Saunders Ness, Isle of Dogs, 2 Sandwich Terns, c. 12 Arctic Terns, all ads Downstream.Nick Tanner 24.8.02 Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1 male White Wagtail, 1 Clouded Yellow. Richard Green, Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner 25.8.02 Greenwich Peninsula, 1 male Peregrine, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Whinchat, 1 female type Black Redstart, 2 Clouded Yellow, 2 Painted Lady. Richard Green, Des McKenzie, Nick Tanner 26.8.02 Isle of Dogs, 11:07 to 12:30 at least, ad Ring-billed Gull

Tue 27.8.02  11.00 am Cornmill Meadows, LVP. One black-tailed godwit, one common sandpiper, at least one green sandpiper, several snipe, 100+ lapwing. Jeff Butcher
KGV Res pm, quiet, 5 c sands, 1 dunlin south - AM

Mon 26-8-02 Leyton  One large raptor slowly south down Lea Valley at 3.40pm, distantly visible from the Main Stand at Leyton Orient FC.  Looked a bit like an Osprey but I didn't have my bins with me!    Stephen Harris
KGV Res - The lock for KGV birders car park is missing again.   Climbed over fence. 1 Hobby hunting Martins, 1 Swift, 200 House Martins.   W. Girling flood channel 2 Greenshank, 4 C. Sand. Sand Martins still visiting nest holes.   Tony Clancy
Isle of Dogs pm, adult ring-billed gull flying up and down River Thames, seen from Glenaffric Avenue. Also 9 common terns uprver by Tate Modern and dead reed warbler by Cutty Sark - Rich Cope
Nrth Enfield, Parkside Fm, Salmon's Brook, prob non-calling wood warbler with warbler & tit flock, 2 kingfishers Trent Park Lower Lake, spot fly and 2 y wags Vicarage Fm - R Callf
WG Res am, a flock of 22 common sandpipers in flight and landing was unusual - Phil Vines
24th Ally Pally 5 Crossbills flying in easterly direction at 11am on Saturday morning, second ever sighting in the park.   Tom Clarke
24th Walthamstow Complex, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 14 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 1 poss juv Yellow-legged Gull (East  Warwick Island), 6 Comm Sands, 1 Painted Lady, 3 Wigeon, 10+ Swifts. Over Garden 15:30 - 2 Hobbys hunting - David Darrell-Lambert

Sun 25-8-02 Walthamstow Reservoirs   Common Teal 7, Shoveler 13, Pochard 84, Ruddy Duck 3, Sparrowhawk 1, Common Sandpiper 5, Common Tern 30, Wheatear 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, also, Painted Lady 1.    Stephen Harris
A few sightings, a Hobby again over Fairmead, also had a Common lizard and Painted lady there, and Muntjac near Connaught Waters overflow. Chingford Plains: c20 Swallows and c5 House martins over - Rich Cope
Trent Park area, 8 ringed plovers over at 9.05am was a site tick, also whinchat, spot fly and hobby - Robert Callf
KGV Res am, turnstone, 2 greenshank, 5+ c sands - A Middleton
KGV Res pm, 10 turnstones flew in from the south and turned back south over north basin - Roy Woodward

Sat 24-8-02 Hall Marsh scrape  1 Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpipers.  Bowyers Water  1 Common Sandpiper.   Stephen Harris Rye Meads 12 Crossbills flew S at 1400hrs Alan Harris, RMRG. WRYNECK 8.15-8.45am in Hawthorns opposite Firing Range seen in flight again by the barracks 7.12pm, and spotted flycatcher, Vicarage Farm. Access 200m along lane opposite Jolly Farmers, Enfield Road, but not seen later on - Robert Callf, also hobby, immature male redstart, 3 whinchat, 3 single yellow wagtails flew east, kingfisher - R Callf, H Bantock, A Middleton KGV Res pm, adult and juvenile hobby hawking dragonflies east of res, c30 c terns and 5 c sands, 1 greenshank, black redstart at Brimsdown - R Woodward, H Bantock, A Middleton At King's Mead: 3 Garganey, 3 Common Sandp, 1 Green Sandp. I had a small red-eyed damselfly at Bowyers GP today.  Graham White. Roy Woodward has searched Knights Pits, Sewardstone for small red-eyed damselflies recently, but without any joy Ally Pally No less than 6 Wheatears, a site record, 1 Whinchat and a very confused Orange Tip on Wednesday.   Tom Clarke. Whinchat at Vicarage Farm (excuse offered > 500m through heat haze) HB >

Fri 23/08/02. Tate Modern. 2 Peregrines (a pair) 1.00pm-2.00pm Bren Spooner.
14.30-18.00.  Cornmill Meadows.  1 moulting adult Black-tailed Godwit. 4 Greenshank, 5 Snipe and at least 10 Green Sandpipers.   22/08/02. Holyfield Hall Farm. 1 1st winter Whinchat, on the fence running from the Crannum Hide, at about 15.00hrs. also 1 Yellow Wagtail. Roy Woodward

Thu 22-8-02 Fairmead/Red path area, Epping Forest, juvenile hobby catching migrant hawkers - Rich Cope Species Garganey - Site King's Mead - Toby Austin Brimsdown: juvenile black redstart, 09.15, feeding from Leggetts roof and canal tow-path fence.  Clendish Marsh, Tottenham: two whinchats at 10.15.Martin Shepherd KGV Res pm, 4 wheatear, 1 spotted fly, c 10 c sands, 1 ruddy duck, c50 goldfinch - A Middleton Trent Park area, 3 wheatear, 3 whinchat, 1 yellow wagtail, purple hairstreak Robert Callf Rose-coloured starling at Medbourne - Nick Sampford >

Wed 21-8-02 Sewardstone area, 9.00-12.30.  Two green sandpipers and later two greenshanks flew calling over Sewardstone Marsh.  Five clouded yellows on Lea Valley Parks land between new housing and Osier Marsh - one gave close-up views feeding on a large daisy family species (I think!).  Numerous common blues.  Red legged partridge with seven young seen - an excellent breeding record for this site...Martin Shepherd    
Fairlop this evening - 9 wheaters, 3 whinchats, swift & painted lady. Alan Bell
Walthamstow Res - 8 Swift (over No5), 10+ Com Tern. Walthamstow Marsh - 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Yellow Wagtails north. Tate Modern - 2 Peregrines at 2pm (a pair) and a male in the morning, 3 GBBGs, a possible Skua high north at 3pm (not submitting it) - David Darrell-Lambert
Vicarage Farm area, Barracks, 3 whinchat, spotted flycatcher, 3 y wags plus 3 singles over elsewhere, 7 blackcaps, 2 garden warblers, 2 lesser whitethroats, reed warbler. Trent Park, wheatear, 4 small copper, 3 small heath, 2 purple hairstreak, possible calls of redstart but not located - Robert Callf,

Tue 20-8-02 Cornmill Meads   64 Teal, 74 Lapwing, 1 LRP, 9 Snipe, 3 Greenshank, 7 Green Sandpiper, 35 House Martin.   Stephen Harris
Coppermill FB - 3 Swifts, 50+ House Martins. Walthamstow Marsh - 10+ Whitethroats, 6+ Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers. Tate Modern - male Peregrine at 9am & female at 5.40pm - David Darrell-Lambert
1.00pm-2.00pm Tate Modern .1 adult male,1 adult female Peregrine .Male flew in hunting flight over the Globe and out of sight .The female flew over the Thames towards the Nat West Tower ( 1.40pm ) Bren Spooner
KGV Res, very brief visit late morning, single wheatear, yellow wagtail and greenshank - Andrew Middleton
Trent Park area, 4 mandarin, kingfisher, 9 housemartins, wheatear near the Barracks - R Callf

Mon 19-8-02 Coppermill FB - 2 Swifts. Walthamstow Res - No5 1 Yellow Wag, West Warwick 5 Comm Terns
Tate Modern - 1 male Peregrine 08:45 and three reported at 12.30pm two adults and 1 juvenile. - David Darrell-Lambert
12.15pm-1.15pm Tate Modern, 3 peregrines .1 adult male.1 adult female ,and 1 juvenile .Bren Spooner.
Trent Park area, spotted flycatcher by the Barracks, grasshopper warbler along field margin, 2 kingfishers Lower Lake, teal Parkside Res. Sunday 18th 2 RL partridge, little owl and 32 chaffinch - R Callf

Sun 18/8/02 Rye House Marsh - 1 Red-crested Pochard (on river) - Rex Cox
Hall Marsh: 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers.  Cornmill Meadows: 1 Greenshank, 5 Green Sandpipers, 12 Snipe, 2 Stock Doves. - Ian Elkins
Banbury Res 10.35am, 3 Greenshank north + 35 Common Tern south (were seen over the Wm Girling a few minutes before), 3 Common Sandpiper, 1  Swift. Tottenham Marsh, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 19 Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Sparrowhawks. Yesterday, 1 Hobby over garden - David Darrell-Lambert

Sat 17-8-02 Trent Park area, 3 small copper, 4 small heath, 3 c blues, whinchat by Barracks, 2 lesser whitethroats - Robert Callf
Woodford garden, spotted flycatcher in the evening - Ken Muray
WG Res, am, 5 juvenile little gulls - Phil Vines
Sat 17-8-02   Walthamstow Res   Gadwall 5, Shoveler 8, Tufted Duck - 33 broods so far (22 in 2001), Ruddy Duck 2, Common Sandpiper 2, Common Tern 129 - inc. 1 1st summer bird, Grey Wagtail 4, also Clouded Yellow 1, Painted Lady 1 Stephen Harris   Fri 16-8-02  North Greenwich   Sandwich Tern 2 by mouth of East India Dock at 5.20pm, Peregrine 1 on Dome, Ring-billed Gull adult on Thames by Pilot Inn. Stephen Harris

Sat 17th Aug - Rough grassland north of Osier Marsh, Sewardstone, 9.00-10.30.  In very warm and sunny conditions, we were lucky enough to see 5 clouded yellows, 250+ common blues, 20+ meadow browns, and 8 painted ladies (with a further 8 in a sunny woodland clearing on Osier Marsh plus 3 peacocks and 2 red admirals.)   On Sewardstone Marsh, we added 1 comma, 3 large white, and 2 speckled wood...Enfield Lock Conservation Group - news from Martin Shepherd. Hi all - went back for breeding bee-eaters today - here's an image for you all - Nick Sampford

Fri 16-8 The first oak bush-cricket I've seen this year, hunting gnats on the wall of our Enfield house tonight - speckled bush-crickets have been chirping in or around garden for at least a week (best heard on a bat detector). Phil Rhodes
KGV Res, 2 juvenile Sandwich terns flew south at 16.05 - Roy Woodward
12.50pm 1 male Peregrine at Tate Modern .9 common terns flying down river. Bren Spooner .
Five clouded yellows today, 3 on Essex side of Lea Valley around Epping Forest, 2 Rammey Marsh. Minimum 80 common blues on rough ground by new housing just south of M25 (east of canal - by downy black poplar) and 14 on Rammey Marsh - Andrew Middleton

The Population status of birds in the UK - Birds of Conservation Concern: 2002-2007

Thu 15.8.02 Hi - had a Little Egret flying S.W over the traffic lights to the east of Broxbourne this afternoon. - Rich Cope Cornmill Meadows LVP about 0935: 5 snipe , 2 green sandpipers, 1 greenshank (flew off west about 0950), 60 lapwing all on central pool.  37 moorhen on north pool - unusual number all in one place? Jeff Butcher Harold Hill, during work in the garden, came across four great crested newts under some bricks which he left - great crested newts were present in garden ponds around here many years ago. Also 3 painted ladies - Colin Jupp Enfield Not quite a bird but a young/small terrapin in the new river by the Wagon & Horses..either too early or too young for opening time. Also youngish fox patrolling the school fields, while a sage of a wood pigeon just hopped out of the fox`s way as it veered towards it. regards Mick Nagle

Grest skua - Tristan Bantock

Thu 15-8-02, Sewardstone area, 11.00-13.00.  Kingfisher at Knights Pits, garden warbler, lesser whitethroat, several chiffchaffs and whitethroats.  Hobby hawking insects over west side.  Oystercatcher and yellow wagtail, both calling and flying north east, seen from footpath to east of KGV. Painted lady. (Also, two greenshank, green sandpiper, and four swifts at Cornmill Meadows, 10.00, 13-8-02.) - Martin Shepherd

Wed 14-8-02 Things are starting to happen!! Walthamstow Marsh - 1 Turtle Dove north, 3 Swallows SW Tate Modern - 2 male Peregrines, 7 Common Terns upriver at 12:55pm - David Darrell-Lambert
Ponders End garden, at least one crossbill flew west calling around 9am. Epping Forest, 16 species of butterfly including brimstone, 1 calling tree pipit flew over Yardley Hill, finally saw a clouded yellow in Ponders End at 5.30pm- Andrew Middleton

13th Aug 02: 18;25 Millenium Dome resident pair of Peregrines both present, another adult female flew upstream towards Central London. The breeding attempt at this site has been unsuccessful. Nick Tanner
10th & 12th Aug 02: Isle of Dogs, Ring-billed Gull: seen on both these dates at low tide between 11:00 & 11;30. In past years I have had a 80% success rate at this site at low tide, especially in the morning; from the end of Glenaffric Avenue take the footpath to the left of the slipway and view the exposed foreshore, the bird oftens loafs about 80 yards down adjacent to the spiky green railings. Nick Tanner

Tue 13-8-02 Ally Pally 1