Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report Jul-Dec 2000

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 Regional Park Bird Report for December 2000

Overall, December proved to be a relatively uneventful month. There were, non-the-less, plenty of quality birds to be seen throughout the month proving that winter is certainly an exciting time of year to be birding in the Valley.

Inevitably it began with familiar faces, including the Long-eared Owls on 70 Acres Lake (two or three were seen throughout), Bitterns at Fishers Green, Black-necked Grebes on the Girling (up to seven early in the month), the adult Mediterranean Gull at Coppermill Filter Beds and a few Black Redstarts on King George V.

Gulls were something of a feature of the month from beginning to end and with four Mediterranean Gulls and seven Yellow-legged Gulls in the Girling roost on the 2nd , this was certainly the case. On the 3rd , two Smew were reported, singles at Amwell and Netherthall, the fore-runners of good numbers by the month's end, with at least nine in the River Lee Country Park alone.

On the 5th an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Holyfield and further south, on the 7th a Brent Goose visited King George V Reservoir, with a Peregrine at the same site six days later.

By the middle of the month, numbers of mid winter wildfowl began to build. Apart from the Smew, already mentioned above, Goosander numbers had reached 12 on Nazeing Meads by the 14th, with 20 here by the end of the month, the Wigeon flock on the Cornmill Meadows reached 190 birds and good numbers of Teal continued to be seen at the same site.

On the 17th, a female Common Scoter was found on the William Girling Reservoir which remained in the area until the end of the month, and winter wouldn't be complete without a Red-necked Grebe, so it was no surprise then that one appeared on King George V on the 23rd. More surprising though, was that it wasn't reported again. Continuing a theme from last month, probable Caspian Gulls were again reported in the Chingford Reservoirs gull roost on the 20th and 28th and a bird thought possibly a Caspian Gull appeared at Nazeing on the 30th. Continuing briefly with gulls there was a remarkable record of a first-winter Little Gull at Nazeing on the 26th.

Further north in the Valley a Willow Tit at Rye Meads on the 23rd was a good find of a, sadly, rare bird. The same day a total of 12 Chiffchaffs were trapped. Also here a Peregrine was seen late in the month and a Jack Snipe was trapped.

As the month, and year, drew to a close, a Rock Pipit or two were present on the Chingford Reservoirs, Jack Snipe appeared at Hall Marsh, the Cornmill Meadows and Walthamstow's East Warwick Reservoir and finally a Pintail was reported on 70 Acres Lake on the 31st.

Here's to a bird filled 2001.

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for November 2000

November began by reinforcing that winter was well and truly on the way with up to three Bitterns in the River Lee Country Park and singles appearing at both Amwell and Rye Meads. Siskin flocks beginning to build throughout and small numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing at many sites.

The 3rd produced a Great Northern Diver at King George V, staying to the 4th and a superb count of 20 Black-necked Grebes on the Girling. The 4th, however, was even more remarkable with bird of the month, an immature Blue-winged Teal at Walthamstow Reservoirs, seen unfortunately very briefly and by one lucky observer and a Woodlark over Rye Meads, a flyover, and so briefer still! A first-winter Mediterranean Gull and Peregrine at King George V Reservoir were good birds, but somewhat overshadowed.

A Black-throated Diver was reported briefly on King George V on the 6th and on the 9th an adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted on William Girling and three adults roosted at Nazeing Meads. Observers anticipating the return of last year's Long-eared Owls on 70 Acres Lake were rewarded with a bird on last year's island on the 10th. By the end of the month three had been seen, but as yet not the large numbers of last winter.

A fairly quiet spell during the middle of the month allowed time to take stock of what had arrived for the winter and what was still moving through. In the latter category, a Brambling seen on the Cornmill Meadows and a valley wide total of 28 Black-necked Grebes were the highlights, whilst a dozen Redpoll around Hall Marsh, a Jack Snipe at Rye Meads, and at least four Black Redstart on King George V Reservoir were of interest in the former.

On the 18th what were considered to be three Twite proved elusive on Hall Marsh Scrape, but unfortunately didn't linger. More conspicuous, Yellow-legged Gulls increased in this latter half of the month with a further two adults and a first-winter south of the M25 and a third-winter adding to those north of the M25.

An excellent day at Rye Meads on the 25th produced five Green Sandpiper, a Black Redstart, a Garganey and five Chiffchaff and 25 Goldcrests, these latter two species seen in particularly large numbers at many sites throughout the Valley. The same day a female Ferruginous Duck on the Lea Navigation at Ware inevitably proved itself to be last year's bird from 70 Acres (an injured left eye confirmed this). An adult Mediterranean Gull on the Coppermill Filter Beds was also, no doubt, a returning bird, but of more comfortable origins.

To end, yet another bird considered to be a Caspian Gull was on King George V on the 30th. I'm sure one will give itself up more convincingly in the Valley someday.

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for October 2000

September 2000 was going to be a hard act to follow, as indeed was October 1999, but this October put on a brave showing. It began with an immature Red-backed Shrike at Holyfield Hall Farm, which showed well through to the 6th. The trickle of visiting birders also managed to find a Redstart (on the 5th), a Whinchat and nine Stonechats in the same area. Waders on the 1st included a Greenshank at Amwell and an Oystercatcher and Dunlin on King George V Reservoir. A Tree Pipit at Bowyers Water was also of interest.

On the 2nd, the last of the Honey Buzzards was seen, with one south through Essex Filter Beds, and on the 8th reminders of both summers departure and winters arrival came in the form of 10 Yellow Wagtails at Holyfield and two Jack Snipe at Rye Meads respectively.

A late Swift flew through Rye Meads on the 12th, late Whitethroat was around Fishers Green on 13th, and later still, a Wheatear was on Rye Meads on the 21st. Two remarkable records on the 14th , came in the form of a Short-toed Lark reported over Amwell and a record 19 Black-necked Grebes on William Giirling Reservoir. Whilst some of the latter are undoubtedly passage birds, the fact that the British wintering population averages around a mere120 birds, the importance of the Girling population then becomes clear. Four days later, the return of a particularly showy Bittern to the small reed bed in front of the Bittern Watchpoint at Fishers Green, was yet a further reminder of the unique importance of the Lea Valley.

Another excellent day was had by many on the 22nd. Highlights included 13 Little Gulls south through Fishers Green, which presumably picked up six more and flew through King George V, which presumably picked up another three and flew through Walthamstow, (although I'd like to think there were 54 birds involved), two Little Stints on King George V, three Red-breasted Mergansers on the William Girling, a total of four Rock Pipits at various sites, 10 Brent Geese south over William Girling Reservoir and a selection of commoner waders on the move.

A few interesting roosting gulls featured towards the end of the month with two adult Mediterranean Gulls at King George V on 20th and at Nazeing Meads a possible Caspian Gull, a first-winter Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow- legged Gull during the last week of the month. To end, and on the same theme, an adult Kittiwake flew through King George V Reservoir on the 30th.

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for September 2000

September 2000 will long be remembered by British birdwatchers for the extraordinary passage of Honey Buzzards nationally, fortunately the Valley saw its fair share of 'Honeys' too and for those that witnessed part of the spectacle it served as a reminder of just how incredibly unpredictable birdwatching can be.

The month started with an Osprey at Amwell and, on the same day, 15 Common Sandpipers on King George V represented a good count. On the 2nd , a co-ordinated bird watch at various sites in the region showed that good numbers of Yellow Wagtails were on the move and a thorough search of Tottenham Marshes revealed an excellent variety of passage warblers including three Lesser Whitethroats.

By the 3rd , Common Sandpiper numbers on King George V had increased to 20 and were joined by a Dunlin. Further north a Marsh Tit was seen at Rye Meads, something of a special bird in the Valley these days.

Typical passage migrants featured during the middle period of the month with plenty of Whinchat reported, a small movement of Little Gulls and Arctic Terns mostly through King George V Reservoir and continuing good numbers of Greenshank. It was, however, the discovery of Small Red-eyed Damselflies at Sewardstone Marsh on the 10th , which caused most interest around this period. The finder's patience was rewarded and the insects presence was enjoyed by a number of enthusiasts.

The 19th saw a couple of Black Tern add to the Arctics and Little Gulls at King George V, but next day, whilst birders on the east coast revelled at a total of 80 Honey Buzzards arriving from across the North Sea, the finders of 27 Sandwich Tern on King George V and a staggering flock of 17 Spotted Redshank at Amwell could hardly imagine that such an unprecedented Honey Buzzard influx could spread to the Valley...... but it did. Next day one was seen at Amwell and this was followed by almost daily sightings to the end of the month with birds the length of the Valley. King George V Reservoir appeared to be one of the best places to see them, where some flew through little more than head height, whilst others flew along the edge of Epping Forest. Throughout, it seemed that at times you couldn't look to the skies without seeing a large raptor and inevitably other species were picked out, including an Osprey or two, a Marsh Harrier at Amwell and numerous Common Buzzards. It is difficult to know exactly how many Honey Buzzards were involved in this passage - conservatively a minimum of 20 birds in the Valley with 500 nationally and for those lucky enough to witness the spectacle, I'm sure it will never be forgotten.

There were, of course, other birds of interest towards the end of the month, but needless to say they were overshadowed. Of note, a Swift flew south through Fishers Green on the 24th, when a first-winter Mediterranean Gull was in the same area and on the 29th a Goosander reported on King George V reminded us that winter was on the way. Finally, a Redstart at Rye Meads on the 30th and a bird considered to be a Wryneck in the Holyfield Goosefield area on the 26th , was an indication that autumn perhaps still had a lot to offer.

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for August 2000

August is the month when migrants begin moving south en masse and so can bring with it a few surprises. Waders were inevitably a feature of the first few days with Green Sandpipers dominating the scene on the Cornmill and a report of a Wood Sandpiper also there on the 2nd. On the 3rd nine Dunlin on the William Girling was a good count and next day there was singles of Ruff and Oystercatcher at the same site.

A little further south on the 5th a juvenile Mediterranean Gull paid a brief visit to Walthamstow's East Warwick Reservoir, with what was presumably the same bird on the Girling on the 6th and 9th, and an excellent count of 14 Little Grebes was made on Banbury Reservoir. At the opposite end of the Valley three Spotted Flycatchers paid a visit to the Amwell area.

A Curlew flew north over the North Met Pit on the 9th and a Sandwich Tern flew more appropriately south over Waltham Abbey on the 12th, the same day seeing a number of Whinchats appear on the banks of the larger reservoirs. It was the 14th though which brought the best bird of the month, a Hoopoe on King George V Reservoir. Still present next day it unfortunately prematurely departed before lunchtime.

This time of year sees a large build up of moulting Tufted Duck on the Chingford Reservoirs and amongst the 800 counted this year, sharp eyed birders managed to find both a drake Scaup and a hybrid resembling a Scaup all on the north basin of the King George V. The 'George' also produced the first Redstart of the autumn on the 19th, and over the latter ten days of the month reports came from Rye Meads, Sewardstone Marsh, Hall Marsh Scrape and Enfield Lock.

Greenshank is very much an August bird in the Valley and there were reports from Amwell, Fishers Green, Hall Marsh, Cornmill Meadows and the Chingford and Walthamstow Reservoirs with counts of up to five being common place. Nothing could, however, prepare for the astonishing 30 (possibly 35) which flew south-west over the William Girling on the 26th. As they are generally a pretty noisy bird it is remarkable that they weren't seen elsewhere in the Valley, with the exception, that is, of the adjacent King George V. A high count of 12 Black-necked Grebes was made on the Girling on the same day.

As the month drew to a close migrants continued to pop up throughout the Valley. A Pied Flycatcher was seen at Sewardstone, Common Sandpiper appeared in good numbers (10 dropped onto Banbury Reservoir after a rainstorm on the 27th), Whinchats remained plentiful and five Ruff were seen on the 30th, one on the Cornmill Meadows and four on the Goosefield.

Lastly came a report of a Nightjar on Holyfield Hall Farm on the 28th

Before signing off, mention must be made of the incredible number of Clouded Yellow butterflies seen this month. They were pretty much a constant companion on the warmer days and it is hoped that everyone had a chance to catch up with at least one of these 'shocking' butterflies somewhere this year. If would be remarkable indeed if we were treated to the same numbers again next year.

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

Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for July 2000

July sees autumn well underway with, usually, plenty of interest throughout. This July was no exception.

Following last months remarkable 13 Little Ringed Plovers on the Cornmill it seems as if the adjective was a little too hasty as a remarkable 21 were seen here on the 1st. They were accompanied by around 60 Lapwings and at least one Green Sandpiper. The 4th saw a small movement of Black-tailed Godwits with 4 on the Holyfield Goosfield and 3 on the Cornmill Meadows. The Goosefield birds were still present next day.

Passage continued on the 6th especially around the Chingford Reservoirs. Here there was a Black Tern, a Common Sandpiper and on nearby Ponders End Lake a Dunlin and Black Tern. The first of many Greenshank was also seen on the Cornmill Meadows.

Two days later a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on Tottenham Marshes, a good record for the site and by no means a typical time of year to hear their reeling. Nearby a Redshank was present on the Walthamstow Reservoir complex. A Whimbrel flew over King George V on the 13th and Common Sandpiper numbers had climbed to 8 here the same day.

A Little Egret, possibly last months individual having another look around the Valley, dropped into the Cornmill Meadow on the 18th, whilst the same site also held 7 Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank. There was another Greenshank on the Goosefield also on the 18th, which two days later attracted a short staying Dunlin. Amwell also hosted a Dunlin, on the 21st, in addition to 2 Common Sandpipers and a surprise Pintail.

The 22nd brought another Dunlin, this time on King George V, where Common Sandpipers had now reached 14 and across the road on the William Girling a second summer Mediterranean Gull was found along with 18 Common Sandpiper. Even allowing for some duplication this was certainly a superb total of Common Sandpipers. New in at Amwell today was an Oystercatcher and pleasingly Buzzards were still being seen, making them well and truly part of the Valley scene. (A small cheer from a westerner here).

2 Black Terns and an Oystercatcher continued the theme at King George V on the 24th as did another 3, somewhat sleepy, Oystercatchers on the Goosefield on the 27th.

Lastly, it is good to report that Black-necked Grebes love the William Girling Reservoir as a summer plummaged bird returned on the 25th.

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

Andrew Middleton, London, UK acmiddleton@blueyonder.co.uk ~ site index