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Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for June 2000

June is typically a quiet month which can, none-the-less, combine the last few north bound migrants with the first returns for the autumn. The first noteworthy bird of the month was a Common Scoter on King George V Reservoir on the 3rd. Always a little unpredictable this bird surprised by being on view for only 5 minutes! On the 9th an Oystercatcher flew south over Banbury Reservoir, destination unknown, whilst a Green Sandpiper on the Cornmill Meadows next day could well have been the first returning migrant of the autumn.

Back on the Walthamstow complex a Dunlin and Sandwich Tern were on the West Warwick Reservoir on the 12th and yet further south on the East India Dock Basin a bird which had been present for two weeks or so, and identified as a Grey-headed Gull, was re-identified as a Hartlaub's Gull. As they occur only in South Africa this bird was an obvious escape from captivity, but did, despite this, pose an interesting identification challenge. It was joined by a Kittiwake on the 14th.

Around this period sightings of Clouded Yellow Butterflies began. The first was one on the Cornmill on the 10th and up until the end of the month there were numerous sightings up and down the Valley. This, not surprisingly, formed part of a significant national influx. Of interest one of the pale form Helice was found at Bully Point Nature Reserve on the 25th.

Staying briefly with escapes the Red-breasted Goose continued to put in an appearance in the Holyfield area throughout the month.

The 17th was the next day producing birds of note. Both these were complete surprises to their respective observers. First a Little Tern was found on Holyfield Lake and then a female Garganey was identified on the High Maynard Reservoir at Walthamstow, a particularly unseasonal bird for the Valley.

A fairly quiet spell followed until a Little Egret was discovered on the 25th. It was first found on Stanstead Abbots Gravel Pits for around an hour over lunch time and was then seen briefly at Hall Marsh Scrape mid afternoon. On the same day numbers of Little Ringed Plover began building. 8 were counted on the Cornmill Meadows, with a remarkable 13 there the next day.

To close, the most bizarre sighting of the month was a report of a Merlin over the Coppermill Playing Fields at Walthamstow on the 28th, whilst mention must be made of the breeding success of the wader population at Amwell. The totals read as 2 - 3 pairs of Ringed Plover, 5 - 6 pairs of Little Ringed Plover, a pair of Redshank and 6 pairs of Lapwing. Well done to all concerned in the management of this site.

Please note that this report is in no way a complete account of all the notable bird sightings in the Lee Valley Regional Park over the month, but is a selection of some of the more interesting records. Please telephone any bird sightings into the Information Centre on 01992 702200, available 24 hours a day, as this helps us greatly in compiling this report.

Lee Valley Park Information Centre, Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1XQ (01992 702200)

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for May 2000

May never fails to disappoint and surprise with a combination of large numbers of the more regular migrants interspersed with the occasional north bound variety.

The first half of the month was largely dominated by a small but healthy passage of Black Terns. Birds were reported from the 1st, when two were at King George V Reservoir to at least the 12th when they were present at a variety of sites the length of the Valley. As many as 20 were counted on King George V Reservoir on the latter date. Inevitably they were accompanied by small numbers of Arctic Terns and Little Gulls and it seems that the 6th was a particularly good day with perhaps as many as 20 Arctics north through the Walthamstow complex and five Little Gulls on King George V Reservoir.

Two Bar-tailed Godwits graced the Sewardstone Marsh area in the first week of the month, but probably the most popular bird of May was a Temmink's Stint at Amwell Quarry from around midday on the 5th. The bird showed well to a steady stream of admirers and was still present next day, a Saturday, when it proved equally as popular. Further south, also on the 6th , two Wood Sandpipers popped into Holyfield Goosefield, one of which was apparently present next morning. This same period also saw small numbers of both Common Sandpiper and Greenshank, the former widely scattered throughout the Valley, the latter favouring the Cornmill Meadows.

In the far south of the Park a drake Garganey put in an appearance at the East India Dock Basin on the 13th, which nicely coincided with when the site was first officially opened to the public. Its position on the Thames foreshore will almost certainly mean that it will continue to attract a variety of more unusual migrants.

Following the weekend of 13th & 14th , migrant activity slowed a little allowing time for people to take stock of breeding birds. At Walthamstow Reservoir counts revealed 26 pairs of Reed Warblers, 36 pairs of Sedge Warblers, an excellent 34 pairs strong Common Tern colony and 252 Cormorant nests.

Prize for the most attractive bird of the month went to a stunning Red-breasted Goose which arrived at Holyfield on the 18th and stayed into June. It joined an ever expanding variety of geese in the area which now includes a White-fronted Goose, two Bar-headed Goose and an Egyptian in addition to the more unusual fare. Of interest, an adult White-fronted Goose was seen at East Warwick Reservoir on 21st which was possibly the aforementioned Holyfield bird. Needless to say the origin of all of these birds is likely to have been captivity.

No month would be complete without mention of long stayers which this month included the Rednecked Grebe at Walthamstow's West Warwick until at least the 14th and an apparently injured drake Wigeon at Hall Marsh Scrape all month.

May drew to a close with a small selection of passage waders which started with a Whimbrel at Lockwood Reservoir on the 21st continued with two Black-tailed Godwit on the Goosefield on 28th and concluded with an Oystercatcher at Amwell on the 29th.

Please note that this report is in no way a complete account of all the otable bird sightings in the Lee Valley Regional Park over the month, but is a selection of some of the more interesting records. Please telephone any bird sightings into the Information Centre on 01992 702200, available 24 hours a day, as this helps us greatly in compiling this report.

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for April 2000

Despite the fact that climate change is allegedly a gradual phenomena, arrivals of spring migrants would appear to be averaging earlier each year.

By the end of the first week of the month Yellow Wagtails, Swallows, Willow Warblers and Common Terns were all well established arrivals whilst there had been a good passage of Wheatears including 17 on King George V Reservoir on the 4th. A drake Garganey on King George V on the 1st was a little unexpected and singles of Water Pipit at the Cornmill Meadows on the 1st and Rock Pipit of the Scandinavian sub-species 'littoralis' at King George on the 4th , although by no means unexpected, are always pleasing finds.

On the 3rd and 4th the C Red-breasted Merganser was still on King George V Reservoir and our faithful stalwart Red-necked Grebe continued an almost perpetual stay in the Valley as the individual on West Warwick Reservoir lingered all month and in fact had attained summer plumage by the 20th. A Scaup was part of the long list of good birds present on King George V on the 4th.

Waders were decidedly unremarkable throughout April especially early in the month. Up to four Little Ringed Plovers were on the Cornmill Meadows early in the month with birds at a few other sites the length of the Valley. Ringed Plovers and Redshank set up territories at traditional sites with the latter showing more promise than usual. On the minus side though pairs of Lapwing appeared to be down on previous years.

What was presumably last month's Jack Snipe was seen on the Cornmill again on the 5th and small numbers of Common Snipe stayed on the same site for much of the month, but sadly didn't drum.

Keeping up the interest, an Osprey flew north over Broxbourne on the 8th, a Black-necked Grebe visited King George V on the 9th and a Grasshopper Warbler was found at Fishers Green on the 14th. This year though the Grasshopper Warbler failed to linger for more than a few days or, more hopefully, attracted a mate quickly so ceased reeling. Just across the Flood Relief Channel in the Goosefield area, last years apparent 'Sykes' Wagtail reappeared dispelling any doubts that it isn't actually from Russia. Whilst it still may 'show characteristics' of the beema sub-species, that its mummy was a Yellow Wagtail and its daddy a Blue-headed now seem a little more likely!

Amongst the Valley's breeding species Nightingales seemed to hold territory at more sites than last year, Common Terns were delighted with the newly flattened island at Ponders End Lake, Lesser Whitethroats arrived in larger numbers than last year and Grey Herons established themselves more convincingly as a breeding species in River Lee Country Park, with at least two occupied nests.

To end the month, that typically brilliant patch of 25th April onwards produced a Woodlark over Amwell on the 27th, a Grey Plover there on the 30th and a Little Tern, three Sandwich Terns, eight Sanderling, two Dunlin and a Hobby all on King George V on the 30th.

Lee Valley Park Information Centre, Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1XQ tel 01992 702200

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for March 2000

March produced everything a typical March should, plenty of early spring migrants, good numbers of lingering winter visitors, small numbers of passage waders and the odd surprise.

To begin, as is customary, with lingering birds from February, their ranks included a Bittern still in front of the Fishers Green Bittern Watchpoint on the 1st, up to two Long-eared Owls on 70 Acres Lake until at least the 19th , the Red-necked Grebe on Walthamstow's West Warwick all month and a female Red-breasted Merganser on the King George V Reservoir until at least the 22nd , when a male was also present.

Before spring forced its way in, reminders that winter wasn't over yet came in the form of a female Scaup on Cheshunt Lake for a few days from the 4th, a third winter Iceland Gull at Coppermill Filter Beds on the 11th, 15 Redpoll around Hall Marsh in the first week of the month and a drake Scaup at Rye Meads on the 10th. More familiar winter fare in the first half of
the month were on show in the form of the Meditteranean Gull at Coppermill Filter Beds, now in summer plummage, on the 11th, Common Sandpipers in the northern section of Walthamstow Reservoirs and Stonechat at a few sites mostly in the south of the Park.

Spring departure flocking in a number of species is always a feature of March and true to form up to 88 Goldeneye were present on King George V Reservoir on the 11th and 800 Common Gulls were counted on the Nazeing gull roost on the 4th.

True spring migrants were finally reported towards the latter half of themonth. Sand Martin was the first migrant to appear with birds at Bowyers Water on the 14th and Wheatears next found at King George Reservoir on at least the 22nd. Little Ringed Plovers were slow to arrive, but four birds were on the Cornmill Meadows on the 24th with regular sightings thereafter. Mention should also be made of a Garganey at Amwell on the 20th, but it seems that the long staying bird at Rye Meads could account for this record.

Of the aforementioned wader passage, a Grey Plover and Jack Snipe graced the Cornmill on the 19th , with the latter also appearing on the 31st , and a Ruff was at Sewardstone on the 26th and 27th and on the Cornmill Meadows from the 28th to the months end. Further north a Curlew was at Rye Meads on the 21st whilst, to round off the waders, a superb Black-tailed Godwit was on the Cornmill on the 31st.

The unexpected, well.... less expected, came in the form of a Coal Tit on the Cornmill on the 12th, a Snow Bunting at Walthamstow Reservoirs on the 20th, a Black-necked Grebe at Amwell on the 24th and two Water Pipits on the Cornmill on the 31st.

Lee Valley Park Information Centre, Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1XQ, tel 01992 702200

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for February 2000

A remarkably quiet month saw the focus of attention remain as it was through January. The star birds of January, the Long-eared Owls retained their magnetism throughout the month with still as many as seven present on 70 Acres Lake on the 11th and 14th. Whilst they moved from island to island, almost daily, at least one or two birds always remained in full view to the constant procession of admirers.

Other January 'leftovers' included the Red-necked Grebe at West Warwick Reservoir, Walthamstow, remaining all month, the White-headed Duck, also at Walthamstow, remaining until at least the 20th, a Slavonian Grebe on King George V until at least the 2nd and between 1000 and 3000 Golden Plover still on the former Royal Ordnance site. More usual suspects included up to seven Black-necked Grebes on the William Girling early in the month, the elusive adult Mediterranean Gull at Coppermill Filter Beds on and off throughout, Bitterns at Fishers Green, Rye Meads and Amwell (two at each of the latter two sites) and a scattering of Smew at both the Walthamstow and River Lee Country Park complexes.

On the 3rd there were still as many as 16 Goosander on William Girling Reservoir but it seemed that the continuing mild weather caused a somewhat premature departure of significant numbers of this fine duck.

The 5th saw the arrival of a first-winter Glaucous Gull in the massive gull roost on the King George V Reservoir. It was intermittently present between here and the adjacent Girling Reservoir until the 9th and on the 6th the same roost hosted a Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid. Staying with gulls (because secretly the author has a passion for gulls) an adult Caspian Gull was identified at Banbury Reservoir on the 12th and on the 16th a second winter Mediterranean Gull was at Walthamstow.

A pair of Red-crested Pochards were found on Police Pit on the 13th and next day a first-winter drake Scaup paid a particularly brief visit to 70 Acres Lake and in fact couldn't be found the same afternoon. On the subject of Scaup, an injured hybrid duck, vaguely resembling Lesser Scaup, which has taken up residence below the 'green bridge' at Fishers Green, appears to have Scaup and Tufted Duck parentage and is still present at the time of writing.

Commoner, but in no way less interesting, species included at least 10 Stonechats scattered the length of the valley, a flock of around 15 Redpoll at Bowyers Water late in the month, a group of Brambling reported on the Cornmill Meadows, still up to 100 Siskin in the 70 Acres Lake area throughout, a Blackcap at Rusheymead on the 3rd, and the first harbinger of spring in the form of a Ringed Plover on the Cornmill on the 18th.

To conclude, (and the best is often left until last) a Stone Curlew was reported on the former Royal Ordnance site on the 29th. The lucky lone observer managed to obtain good close views, but unfortunately the bird couldn't be relocated.

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for January 2000

January is always a month which sees birdwatchers avidly year listing so no surprise then that a good number of unusual birds were found. Inevitably, many of these were birds extending their stay from 1999 and included Red-necked Grebes at both Netherhall and Walthamstow's West Warwick Reservoir, the White-headed Duck also at Walthamstow and the female Red-breasted Merganser on William Girling Reservoir. Also on the 1st a Jack Snipe was seen at Amwell and a second-winter Mediterranean Gull roosted on the William Girling. More unusually and presenting a bit more of an identification challenge, an apparent Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid was at Coppermill Filter Beds on the 3rd.

It was the 4th, however, which brought a species that almost dominated the headlines for the rest of the month. This was the discovery of a remarkable five Long-eared Owls roosting on islands on 70 Acres Lake. Next day nine were counted and on most days up until the end of the month, up to eight of these beautiful birds could be seen with ease on the security of the islands and were consequently enjoyed by literally hundreds of birdwatchers and passers by alike.

On the Lee Valley Park Bird Race on the 9th , the presence of the owls and glorious weather attracted record numbers of people, some 3000 in all. 102 bird species were recorded, 88 of which were seen by the winning team, the East London Birders. Highlights of the day included the discovery of a Slavonian Grebe at King George V Reservoir (and with Black-necked Grebes on the Girling, all five of the commoner grebe species were seen), a Buzzard drifting over Fishers Green with others seen at Amwell, an adult Mediterranean Gull over Walthamstow Reservoirs and Bitterns at both Amwell and Fishers Green. One lucky observer also managed to see a Barn OwI in the Enfield area.

The 15th saw an extremely brief visit by an immature Common Scoter to the North Met Pit and on the same day there were nine Smew on 70 Acres Lake and a Woodcock at Fishers Green.

With the weather remaining mild the latter half of the month proved a little quiet. The Long-eared Owls still proved popular and an added attraction in the same area was a spectacular flock of up to 250 Siskin. Equally spectacular was, a probably, record sized flock of Golden Plover on the former Royal Ordnance site just south of the M25. Counts of up to 3000 birds were made in this daytime roost, although where the bulk of the flock fed remained something of a mystery.

Finally, the last weekend of the month saw a Buzzard over Hall Marsh Scrape, the, at times, elusive male Stonechat still on the Cornmill Meadows and a Herring Gull of the east European subspecies cachinnans, at Coppermill Filter Beds. Also known as 'Caspian Gull', the bird was seen here again next day. The results of The British Ornithologists Union's current taxonomic review of the Herring Gull complex is still eagerly awaited...........

Lee Valley Park Information Centre, Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1XQ, tel 01992 702200

Andrew Middleton, London, UK acmiddleton@blueyonder.co.uk