oct 2000 localbirds

Sun 31-12-00 Fishers Green area, PM. Female Smew on Seventy Acres Lake plus 200+ Canada Geese on the ice. Woodcock flying low near electricity station.Iin alders near Holyfield Lake, 30+ mixed flock of Goldfinch, Siskin, and Redpoll - Martin Shepherd
60 greenfinch Fishers Green c park, happy new year Tony Clancy, 100 fieldfares on ploughed fields to the east - the Fitzpatricks
KGV Res am, common scoter in front of sailing club, 2 green sands, 1 redshank, 400 teal, 8 wigeon - Phil Vines
Nazeing GP roost, 2 adult yl gulls, white black-headed gull, 20 grt crested grebes, 2 little grbs, 1 chiffchaff - R.Cope and A.Mids, Lippitts Hill area 2 woodcock, 18 golden plover south, 22 goldfinch on knapweeds - A.Mids
2f smew Holyfield Marsh + 3 goosander, adult RB Gull Isle of Dogs, Lovells Wharfe - Birdcall

Sat 30-12-00 Walthamstow area - Banbury Res 49 GBB Gulls roosting there, 12 Goosander, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Teal first for this res, Lockwood 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Goldeneye, High Maynard 5 Goosander, East Warwick 1 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe (not seen by me!) - David Darrell-Lambert
Nazeing GP roost, 4 yellow-legged gulls michahellis, probable adult Caspian gull - Adam Wilson
Monkham's Hall, NE of Cornmill min 250 skylarks, 25 reed buntings, 30 linnets, all on stubble, 5 golden plover and 35 lapwing on plough, Seventy Acres 2 long-eared owls, 1 chiffchaff, several water rails ( 'scaup type' hybrid and bittern also reported-Birdcall), KGV Res fem common scoter diving infront of sailing club pm, WG Res 1 green sand, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, 11 hawfinch Brox Woods - Tony Clancy and A..Mids

Fri 29-12-00 Fishers Green 14:00 - 14:35, Bittern showed at the back of the reedbed from the watchpoint and drake + 2 female Smew were infront of the watchpoint. One LEO was visible perched high on the usual island - Dave Rimes
Also - two le owls, both had flown off by 3.30pm. 2 drake 1 duck smew, 100+ skylarks nearby on fields, 20 greenfinch went to roost near car park by le owls - Tony Clancy

Thu 28-12-00 Chingford area, Pole Hill- 1 fem. L.S. Woodpecker feeding at top of oak scrub along edge of golf course, Chingford Plains-4 meadow pipit, 2 reed bunting, Connaught Waters-14 mandarin, 1 kingfisher. Over house in Chingford - 28 Lapwing flew w (towards WG) one flew east.- R.Cope
WG Res pm probable adult Caspian gull, 4 adult yellow-legged gulls, 9 bn grebes, green sandpiper, 25th Dec the ad Med gull Soham Fields - Steve Connor, 'lesser scaup' type hybrid report from Amwell
Fisher's Green 70 Acres two le owls, 1 chiffchaff, farmland stubble and rape between here and Cornmill Arboretum c100 skylarks, 25 reed buntings, 25 linnets, Deephams SF area Picketts Lock Lane 1 woodcock flew by and a water pipit flew from the big manure dump - Tony Clancy
Whitewebbs Park 2 marsh tits in 'Archers Wood' feeding on burdock, 2 nuthatch, 7 treecreepers, 3 mandarin on the lake, 3 bullfinch, 1 Barnacle goose flew over with Canadas, Wildwoods Lake 11 mandarin, 5 teal, farm north of Whitewebbs Road c270 lapwing, 20 skylark, Forty Hall lake 12 moorhen - Robert Callf
KGV Res Up to 10 goosander, c.130 teal, 15 wigeon, 8 ruddy duck, 7 shoveler, c. 20 goldeneye, c.10 pochard, 1 redshank, 1 green sand, 1 stonechat, 2 black redstart, 1 reed bunting, 1 perhaps 2 rock pipit - Mike Rossor, also 2 skylark over, Sew marsh 1 bullfinch, water rail

Wed 27-12-00 c.9am. Brent Resevoir: Siberian Chiffchaff seen well and heard calling several times along the path between the two hides. Fisher's Green: c.12 noon-1.30pm,.Bittern from the watchpoint, one Long-eared Owl (another reported), two ad drake and one red-head Smew, two Water Rails, two male Siskin with Goldfinches in the car park. Dominic Mitchell.
Rainham Marshes: ad m and ad f Peregrine, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Blackwit, 15 Curlew (exceptionally good count), 210 Wigeon, Slav Grebe, 1 Gt Crest. Nothing special in the way of passerines or gulls. MKD later had a Whinchat and 6 Water Pipits near the Barges. I believe the Whinchat has been around a while. Howard Vaughan
KGV Res female common scoter south basin, 1 goosander, ad male black redstart west of south basin - Tony Clancy
Brimsdown by KGV north basin, a 2nd adult male black redstart and a pair of stonechats - Gary Gardiner
WG Res roost, min 7 bn grebes, 2 adult Med gulls, min 8 probable adult yellow-legged gulls - Cope, Clancy and Mids

Tue 26-12-00 Trent Park area, one woodcock flew from the insect field near Williams Wood, 9 skylarks on stubble nearby, 14 lapwing flew east - Robert Callf and Robin White
WG Res roost: 3.40-4.15pm, 7 probably 10 Black-necked grebes ( 7 at north end then 3 swam north past gull roost ), 3 adult winter Med gulls, 4 Yellow L. gulls and a Rock/Water pipit flushed from inside west bank and flew off across reservoir, call not heard. Also c20 fieldfare roosting in elders along R. Lea.- R.Cope
Copped Hall area am, 1 common buzzard, feeding on linseed stubble - c200 jackdaws, c50 linnets, a mixed flock of c60 chaffinch and greenfinch, 2 goldfinch, 6 skylarks, 16 song thrush along game cover crop margin - T+H Bantock, A.Mids

Mon 25-12-00 Brent Res Scaup 2, Golden Plover (1+ flew over calling), Yellowhammer, Firecrest, Siberian Chiffchaff, Happy Yuletide - Andrew Self
KGV Res am, common scoter on south basin, 1 green sand, 1 male black redstart, 6 ruddy ducks, 9 pochard, 39 jackdaw, 150 lapwing east, 1 ufo (wader, not green sand or redshank) flew n/east, 4 fieldfare, Ponders End garden birds, black sunflower seeds being enjoyed by up to 20 greenfinch, c30 house sparrows, 20+ blue and great tits and a chaffinch, and up to 6 goldfinch have been regular visitors to my single burdock plant through Nov + Dec - A.Mids
Today's birdies in my Ware garden, 15 greenfinch, 15 blue tits, 6 gt tits, 1 robin, 10 starling, 4 blackbird, 12 chaffinch, 2 woodpigeon, 10 house sparrows, 2 blk headed gulls (15 overhead), 2 collared doves, 1 coal tit, 1 dunnock, 1 grey wagtail, 2 long tailed tits, no goldfinches, bullfinches or wrens today - Liz Goodyear

Sat 23-12-00 Sewardstone Marsh pm n/r Godwin Close woodcock, 22/12/00 am New River lagoon, Oylers Farm wx 5 little grebes, 8 gadwall - Brian Dawton.
Rye Meads 12 Different Chiffchaffs trapped, photos will be available soon. 3 Water Rail. 1 Willow Tit. 8 Shelduck. 200 Teal. 1 Green Sand. 8 Snipe. Paul Roper - RMRG
Brent Res Scaup 2 (ad drake & imm drake), Grey Plover, Lapwing 6, Shelduck 1, Wigeon 1 - Andrew Self
KGV Res 8.30am, one adult red-necked grebe by the sailing club - Phil Vines
13:30~14:30 KGV Resevoir; South basin: The Red necked Grebe was still present off the sailing club and two Green Sandpipers were in the south-east corner. As I watched an adult Med Gull in the gathering roost a 1st winter dropped in next to it. The two remained together for 10 minutes when the 1st winter flew off. Whilst scanning the Gulls I picked up the female Common Scoter behind them - Dave Rimes
KGV TODAY 1 RN GREBE 6 SHELDUCK - Tony Clancy
My garden in Ware - 3 goldfinches, c10 long tailed tits and up to 50 starlings(very briefly) in an action packed day. Also one very well fed squirrel given an amnesty because it is Christmas! No Bullfinch today - that was yesterday Liz Goodyear
11:35am Bittern Watchpoint, Bittern, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull. M.Braun

Fri 22-12-00 Trent Park area, a group of blackbirds, jay, long-tailed tits and goldcrests mobbing something in a hawthorn by the Hadley Road, Robert went in and found a tawny owl which flew off, 50 lapwings n/w, 5 mandarin Lower Lake, 4 new drake pochard joined 3 females, tufteds down to 10, 3 bullfinch here, 1 grey wag Vic Farm, 41 species - Robert Callf and Robin White
KGV Res pm, the female common scoter was still present on the south basin, a probable shag was seen very late on, 1 y.l.gull, and the returning adult Med gull was seen again today on Soham Fields at Enfield Lock - Steven Connor and Richard Cope
Nazeing Meads 12 goosander, c5 goldeneye, on a small neighbouring area of unharvested wheat - 25 reed buntings (red-list), 30 chaffinch, 15 greenfinch - Bill Cutts, Bill Craig, A.Mids
Rainham am on pools west of Tilda Rice factory, 1W Herring gull resembling American race - BirdCall

Thu 21-12-00 Brent Res, 2 Scaup (drake & immature) plus one Wigeon, 20 December: immature Scaup plus Goldeneye (J.P. Charteris) - Andrew Self
Trent Park woodcock flushed from near the Water Garden around mid-day by Robin White - Robert Callf
Sunday 17th - 8.45-9.30am from Brimsdown Canal Towpath. One male and one female black redstart, male and female stonechat, reed bunting, four song thrushes in the same bush, several fieldfares, plus a fox on the King George embankment - Martin Shepherd

Wed 20-12-00 KGV Res, probable adult Caspian gull arrived late on in the roost, 1st winter and 2 adult yellow-legged gulls, female common scoter on south basin, Tue 19th Rammey Marsh south end, the regular ad Mediterranean gull on its north-south road lamp-post - Steve Connor
Friday Lake, LVP, mid-day, 7 smew including two drakes - Tony Gray
Whitewebbs Wood, N Enfield, one firecrest at 12.18 and relocated at 1.03pm, in holly near the Whitewebbs Road/Cuffley Brook area with a mixed flock mainly of long-tailed tits, also treecreepers and goldcrests, pair mandarin on lake, 1 male bullfinch, 1 siskin, 2 marsh tits in 'Archer's Wood', total 3 grt spots - Robert Callf
Sunday 17th & again on Monday last, a woodcock Cobb Fields, Sewardstone LVP farmland, seen by Brian Sperring - news from Brian Dawton

Tue 19-12-00 Nothing of great note bar 2 Woodcock alongside the River Roding at Barking and a male Peregrine over City Road (Central London) at 8.30 - Howard Vaughan
Hello Andrew, please see below our sightings in the Lea Valley on a field trip to East London for LROS (Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society) on Sunday 17th December. Fishers Green area 1 Bittern showing well in front of the watchpoint at Fisher's Green, around 9.30a.m. 3 Water Rails in front of watchpoint (one feeding on a Perch!) and Chiffchaff, 2 Long Eared Owls on islands on Seventy Acres Lake, 15+ Redpoll over car park at Fisher's Green, 2 Red head Smew on Hooks Marsh Lake, 1 Drake Smew on Friday Lake and 1 Chiffchaff. Also seen 5+ Goldeneyes around Hooks Marsh, and small numbers of Wildfowl (ie Shoveler,Gadwall,etc) - Dave Gray

Mon 18-12-00 WG Res 8.30am, female common scoter along the east side - Phil thinks it has been a poor year for scoter, this being perhaps just the second local record, again of a single - Phil Vines
Fernyhill Farm, N Enfield, 21 yellowhammers, 200 + fieldfares, Sunday Williams Wood 7 redpoll, c8 goldfinch + 8 siskin - Robert Callf, also Robin White

Sat 16-12-00 Small flock brambling west over Coppetts Wood, Finchley area, this morning - Tony Clancy
Rye Meads - 1 Stonechat (trapped), 2 Green Sandpiper, 20 Snipe, 5 Water Rail, 146 Teal, 1 Garganey, 8 Redpoll, 1 Blackcap (trapped), 15 Chiffchaff (inc 10 different ones trapped) one showing some signs of tristis, but not all the signs so probably abeatinus or intergrade - Paul Roper RMRG
WeBS at Nazing- 2 Goosander, 3 goldeneye, Goldcrests, other birds as usual - Helen Bantock.
KGV Res pm, Brimsdown area 3 black redstarts (2 adult males and a female), a pair of stonechats, 5 reed buntings, east side another female stonechat, 3 ruddy duck, 18 gadwall, c20 goldeneye, 1 goosander, 4 pochard, WG Res brief visit at dusk, min 3 black-necked grebes, 1 chiffchaff - A.Mids
KGV Res dusk, 3 yellow-legged gulls (2 adults and an immature, prob 2nd winter), adult Mediterranean gull, this gull also seen today at Soham Fields, Enfield Lock - Steve Connor
Walthamstow Res 1 redhead smew, ad Mediterranean gull Coppermill filter beds - BirdCall
North Enfield Vicarage Farm 13 greenfinch, goldfinch 15 on teasels and burdock + 9 in alders Trent Park, 22 meadow pipits, high site count of 75 lapwing flying over the Ridgeway, 6 bullfinch (4 Vicarage Farm, 2 Trent Park 'dew pond' area), 1 reed bunting, min 17 yellowhammers on Fernyhill Farm, 5 mandarin Lower Lake Trent Park, and last Wed min 8 redpoll nearby with siskins - Robert Callf and Robin White

Thu 14-12-00 Copped Hall area, a pair of common buzzards circling over woods to the north-east, 7 bullfinch, 31 song thrush mostly in a dense cover crop along a field margin, mixed flock of 20 greenfinch, 30 chaffinch and 35 blue/great tits all feeding on the ground on a hemp crop, 2 hares, 2 foxes, 32 'black' fallow deer inc several antlered bucks, Copped Hall roost 3.30pm c50 chaffinch, 2 bramblings - A.Mids

Wed 13-12-00 KGV Res am, a juvenile peregrine harassing black-headed gulls for 5 minutes around 10am flew off south and showed some distinctive 'missing' inner primaries on the left wing, 2 wigeon, 2 green sandpipers, 2 goosander - Phil Vines
Gt.Amwell this morning 1 bullfinch, 1 gt.spotted woodpecker, 1 kingfisher, a mistle thrush top of tree singing away, plus the usual ducks and geese plus 1 black swan - Dave Messenger

Mon 11-12-00 Enfield Town, Robert counted 71 greenfinches going to roost in a large rhododendron by the west end of Enfield Town shops 3.15-3.45pm (by public lavs!) - Robert Callf

Sun 10-12-00 KGV Res 10 goldeneye, 1 fem goosander, 2 drake ruddy duck, 1 redshank, 1 fem black redstart on the causeway, 1 fem stonechat east side, Sewardstone Marsh 3 bullfinch, 1 chiffchaff - Helen Bantock and A.Mids
Not local, of course, but late swallow seen at Holkham Hall lake yesterday lunchtime (Norfolk) - Jeff Butcher

Sat 9-12-00 Fishers Green Saturday afternoon - 2 redhead Smew present on the west side of Hookers lake (I think that's the name - it's the one on the other side of the bridge from the LEO roost!) around the islands from 13:30 - 14:30 at least. Also, 2 LEOs in roost - David Rimes
Trent Park female stonechat (their 1st Trent Park record, also an area 1st for Dec), 12 mandarin (8 m, 4 f) on Lower and Upper Lake - Robin White and Robert Callf

Fri 8-12-00 North Enfield area, year max of 7 mandarin Lower Lake Trent Park, grey wag Upper Lake, 2 year max of 18+ yellowhammers Fernyhill Farm, also 15 lt tits, 12 stock doves Vicarage Farm - Robert Callf and Robin White

Thu 7-12-00 KGV Res am 1 brent goose n/w corner of south basin, fem black redstart east side, adult Mediterranean gull north basin - Phil Vines
Grovelands Park, Southgate, 14 mandarins (6 ducks and 8 drakes), 8 goldcrests, 2 grt spots, 1 singing song thrush, Oakwood 5 song thrushes - Robert Callf

Wed 6-12-00 11 am. Holyfield 1pair of goosanders, 2 fem goldeneye, 1 ruddy duck, Fishers Green (near electricity station) 1 redpoll, 1 siskin - Jeff Butcher, 3 long-eared owls recently 70 Acres Lake - news from Tony Gray

Tue 5-12-00 Holyfield Fish Grn, 1 adult Mediterranean gull 10.15am - Phil Vines
Little Chef A10/M25 c50 golden plover with lapwings

Mon 4-12-00 nearly all the sallows (larval food-plant) have been removed from a copse near one of the few purple emperor areas ever to have been found in Herts even though the manager was given full information and guidance - superb! If anyone is managing a Herts or Middx woodland this winter please retain your sallows - and please liaise with Herts and Middx Butterfly Conservation or e-mail me. A reasonable target for mean sallow densities within a woodland complex may be a minimum of about one large bushy sallow per hectare (100x100m).

Sun 3-12-00 Enfield Town a female blackcap along Holly Close, 26 greenfinch New River Loop, then 50+ going to roost in rhododendrons and pines by the Library - Robert Callf
Brimsdown canal towpath am - several Redwings and Fieldfares in the hedge, and a Jay. Singing song thrush on factory bank. At Mossops Creek Bridge, 6 reed buntings, 5 linnets, 10+ goldfinch, and 2 stonechat, and on the factory side a calling chiffchaff and a kestrel. In the meadow, green woodpecker and 7 meadow pipits.- Martin Shepherd
Amwell 3.12.00 12 noon. One red-head smew on top extension of lake (near gravel works track-way path), redpoll and siskin in woods west of navigation opposite the main lake along with bullfinch and treecreeper. Goldeneye (all fems) and ruddy duck on main lake - Jeff Butcher
Sat and Sun am adult Mediterranean gull Soham Fields, Enfield Lock (the bird's limp is worsening), Netherhall GP 1 female smew, 4 water rails, 2 fem goldeneye, 5 little grebes, 1 bullfinch - Steve Connor
WG Res pm 7 bn grebes, 3 adult yellow-legged gulls - Chris Page and A.Mids
Walthamstow area Highlights - adult Med Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, Banbury Res 1 Ruddy Duck, Lockwood 1 Goldeneye, 2 Chiffchaffs, 34 Teal, High Maynard 25 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, Low Maynard 8 Teal, 2 Chiffchaffs, East Warwick 89 Gadwall, West Warwick 8 Ruddy Duck, 3 Goldeneye, Filter Beds 1 Chiffchaff, 1 adult Med Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, No5 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Ruddy Duck, 38 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 12 Teal, David Darrell-Lambert
Cycled to KGV.No one about, calm and sunny. Arrived 9 am. A pair of Stonechats by the bridge to Mossops creek, and seen again on return trip. Also, 12 Linnets, Song Thrush, in good voice and Kestrel. On the reservoir, a vigorous Little Grebe, 4 Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Wigeon, Goldeneye, Gadwell, Tufted Duck and several Great Crested grebes flying about. A female Black Redstart on the fence by the causeway with a Green Woodpecker - Helen Bantock
Brent Res Firecrest still present between hides, also 7 Water Rail & 2 Chiffchaffs. Andrew Self
Fishers Green 2 long-eared owls reported on the island in south-east coner of 70 Acre Lake, 170 lapwing just north of M25/A10 junction

Sat 2-12-00 Bowyers Water am - 1 siskin in alders. 2 chiffchaffs. 2 goldcrests. 2 long-eared owls on third island out in south east corner of 70 Acres Lake. - Martin Shepherd
WG Res am 1 peregrine - Phil Vines, WG Res pm 4 Mediterannean gulls (2 adults, two 1st winters), presumed 7 adult yellow-legged gulls, 1 bn grebe close by - A.Mids
Claverhambury/Upshire - Essex - pair of common buzzards, 15 skylarks, 15 song thrush, 20 linnets, 50 chaffinch, 20 fieldfare - Helen Bantock and A.Mids
Bittern - Bittern Watchpoint Fishers Green, female Ferruginous Duck River Lee Ware - BirdCall

Thu 30-11-00 KGV Res pm, 1 probable adult Caspian Gull, 4 yellow-legged gulls (inc 3 ad and a 1st w), adult Mediterranean Gull (also here on 21st), 1 possible hybrid lesser black-backed x herring gull adult (mantle paler than lesser black-backed gull of race L.f.graellsii) - Steve Connor

Wed 29-11-00 Vicarage Farm, Enfiled, a male blackcap by the allotments - Robin White and Robert Callf
Ware - had a look at the Fuggy Duck today, I noticed that it has a damaged left eye as did the one last year on 70 acres pit -- so must asume it is the same bird returned, Amwell today 1 Shelduck, 3 Ruddy Duck, 100+ lapwing, 30+ C.Snipe - Tony Gray

Tue 28-11-00 KGV Res pm 2 goosander, c15 goldeneye, 30 gadwall - Tony Baumber
Northaw Great Wood - 9 marsh tits including 3 pairs, and an additional bird in a garden nearby along the Ridgeway - Robert Callf
Holyfield 3 Goldeneye, Mon 27-11-00 Ware field S.E. of A1170/A414 roundabout, 50 Golden Plover, 200ish Lapwing, 100s Starlings - Smithy

Sun 26-11-00 Brent Res Firecrest: 1 between hides in Sallow bushes. Andrew Self
Peregrine over Osier Wood, Sewardstone Marsh - Brian Dawton
Herts fem Ferrug Duck. Ware-R.Lee Saracens Head pub- BirdCall
No sign of firecrest today Enfield Town area am or pm, 10 mistle thrush in Enfield Town Park, Adam Wilson saw a bittern before Pochard Hide, Nightingale Wood - LVP Cheshunt area today and another was in front of the Bittern watchpoint, Fishers Green - news from Robert Callf
A dragonfly flight period table from as many sources as possible - any additions?

Sat 25-11-00 Enfield Town, Little Park Gardens -firecrest seen probably am with goldcrests by Adam Wilson - news from Robert Callf
24/11/00 Rye Meads 2 Blackcap 25/11/00 Rye Meads 180 Lapwing, 5 Green Sandpipers, 5 Chiffchaff, 25 Goldcrest, 1 Garganey, 1 Black Redstart - Paul Roper - I need as much data as people can provide for breeding records of Common Terns in the Lea Valley from 1972 to 2000, particularly for Walthamstow, Broxbourne, Nazeing, Ponders End, and Amwell. The main information I need is Pairs per year, and number of young per year - paul@qenpbo.freeserve.co.uk
Herts Ferrug Duck. Ware-R.Lee nr Priory, @2.30pm with 3 tufted duck - BirdCall
WG Res am 8 black-necked grebes, 1 common sandpiper, recently 2 le owls 70 Acres island - Phil Vines
Waltham Abbey 2 waxwings calling from an area of about 30 gardens between Tudor Way and Monkswood Avenue 8.40am on Steve's round - hard to locate - Steve Connor - not relocated by 12 noon.

Fri 24-11-00 Sew Marsh 3 bullfinch, 4 chiffchaffs, 1 drake goosander flew over, 15 song thrush, 1 water rail, Upshire 2000+ woodpigeons, 75 greenfinch, small flocks of linnet, goldfinch and skylark on linseed, 30+ song thrush in cover crop - Cutts, Craig and Mids
Amazing - I saw a Red Admiral flying around the sun-lit flower baskets in the Broadgate complex (opposite the Dirty Dicks pub in Liverpool Street EC2) at 12.30pm this lunchtime - David Chandler (Herts and Middx Butterfly Cons.

Thu 23-11-00 12:30 Bowyers Water and Hall Marsh Scrape - Mixed flock of Goldfinch Siskin and Redpoll feeding in Alders by Bowyers Water. 23 Snipe feeding on scrape, along with 2 Green Sandpiper and 20-30 Lapwing. Andy Holmes.

Tue 21-11-00 Brent Res Smew: 1 male, Water Rail: 6, Chiffchaff: 4 (inc. 1 abietinus), Skylark: 1, Pochard: 19 - Andrew Self
KGV Res pm 2 male black redstarts, 3 reed buntings, 1 adult Mediterranean gull flew south with the roost flight, 14 gadwall, c15 goldeneye, 1 drake ruddy duck, 25 goldfinch - A.Mids
Recent sightings in N Enfield - Fri 17-11 Forty Hall/Whitewebbs 1 woodcock, 4 marsh tits, 7 great spots, 1 kingfisher Turkey Brook, 4 mandarin Whitewebbs, 1 drake mandarin and a teal Wildwoods, Sat 18-11 Trent Park area, 1 rock or water pipit flew over the 'barracks' at 7.55am, recently 6 redpoll and 50+ chaffinch here - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sun 19-11-00 Fisher's Green: 2 Bitterns (0640 a.m.), 2 Long-eared Owls, 3 Water Rail. North Met Pit: 1 F Goldeneye.
Amwell: 1 Ruddy Duck, 3 Barnacle Geese, 1 Chiffchaff - Peter Oaks
Walthamstow area - Late News, 12 Nov Black-throated Diver on No5! 17 Nov Little Egret on East Warwick island!!!! 19-Nov Banbury Res Male Goldeneye, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Grebes, Tottenham Marsh Male Stonechat, High Maynard 70 Teal, East Warwick 30+ Gadwall, Filter Beds 4 Yellow-legged Gulls! (3 adults & 1 2nd winter), No 5 16 Ruddy Duck, no Black-necked Grebes! - David Darrell-Lambert
70 Acres Lake 1 bittern showing extremely well @ 07:30 am, water rail,and two Long eared owls roosting on an island in the lake (same island as last winter). will post bittern video on the Herts Bird club site - David Lindop.
Caught in heavy rain on the King George, but male Black Redstart on the fence near the causeway. Five Meadow Pipits and Green Woodpecker - Helen Bantock
At Fishers Green this afternoon spotted 2 l.e.owls on one of the small islands, also on Hall Marsh scrape at least 16 snipe plus teal wigeon gadwall & shoveler and the usual array of ducks, lapwings & gulls - Dave.Messenger

Sat 18-11-00 18th Nov. 2000. Hall Marsh/ Bowyers Water area. 3 very mobile Twite which seemed to be moving between Hall Marsh Scape and Waltham Abbey Marshes. Last seen flying towards W. Abbey Marshes at c12.30 + not relocated by 14.00. Also several Redpolls overhead in ones and twos, 2 Linnets, 2 Siskin, small groups of Greenfinch & Goldfinch, 6 Fieldfare, 8 Meadow Pipits, 5+ Green Woodpeckers, 1 Chiffchaff. 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, 82 Lapwings, 22 Gadwall, 35 Teal and 2 Shoveler on Hall Marsh. 39 Greylags, 93 Canada Geese and 2 Barnacle Geese on Waltham Abbey Marshes. 1 Kingfisher on the Lea Navigational. 70 Acres. 2 Long-eared Owls. +2-3 Water Rails and 7 Little Grebes at the Bittern Watchpoint - Roy Woodward
Rye Meads 1 Jack Snipe, 61 Snipe, 1 Garganey, 1 Shelduck, 5 Chiffchaffs, 20 Goldcrest - RMRG/Paul Roper
Webs Count Nazeing Gravel Pits. Practically all the Coot and Tufted Duck had left the larger pits and were on the small, south east one. I think the rain must have churned up the weed there, as all the coot were actively feeding (over 100). Ducks included Goldeneye, Wigeon and Pochard. Goldcrest and Chiffchaff seen and were very vocal - Helen Bantock

Fri 17-11-00 Rye Meads 1 Goldeneye, 5 Redpoll - RMRG/Paul Roper
Waxwing Dagenham Chase NR on east edge of Mill Pond - BirdCall
Copped Hall area 60 greenfinch on sunflowers, 300 fieldfares, min 1000 woodpigeons on linseed crop
Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Reports for September and October 2000 - Ian Kendall

Thu 16-11-00 Went to KGV today .... walked north from the Ponders End Lock .... Kingfisher .... flying south along the canal between the pub and the footbridge. Green Woodpecker .... feeding in the field between the towpath and the reservoir embankment. Black Redstart .... male and female feeding from the concrete fence just after the footbridge and opposite the blue factory .... my first birds for 6-7 years .... always difficult to catch up with! Connaught Water .... c.30-40 Mandarins on and around the 2 islands at the northern end. 3 Cormorants in the trees on the centre island. Good view of Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from the top of a dead tree on one of the Mandarin islands - Richard Chew
KGV Res/Brimsdown mid-day, 4 black redstarts (3 ad males, 1 imm m), 2 stonechats, north basin 3 drake ruddy ducks, 10+ goldeneye, Sew 2 chiffchaffs, Ponders End Lake 29 wigeon, 1 little grebe, 12 pochard - A.Mids
Trent Park, Enfield 2 lesser-spotted woodpeckers by the 'WaterGarden' and 80 chaffinch yesterday - Robert Callf and Robin White

Tue 14-11-00 28 bn grebes today in the valley - WG Res 17, KGV Res 4, Walthamstow 7 - news from Tony Gray
Brimsdown/KGV a pair of stonechats, 2 reed buntings - A.Mids (Tony Clancy reports 3 male and two fem/imm black redstarts here on Sunday 12th) (31st Oct, brimstone and comma Crooked Mile at Waltham Abbey - Steve Connor)
East London Birders' Forum meeting - Tue 14th Nov at 8pm. Upstairs in the County Arms, Hale End Road, Highams Park, E4

Mon 13-11-00 am K.G.V. reservoir 4 grey wagtails, 1m + 17f goldeneye, 1 black-necked grebe, 1 little grebe, 5 heron, 3 green sandpiper, 1f + 2m black redstart, 1 stonechat - Jeff Butcher, no sign of the l-e owl at Fishers Green this afternoon.
Enfield Trent Park 1 peacock, 4 mandarins, Vicarage Farm area 1 little owl, 12 yellowhammers - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sun 12-11-00 Trent Park 4 redpoll, 3 siskin, 1 calling lesser spotted woodpecker Moat Wood, 9 yellowhammers Fernyhill farm - Robert Callf
Walthamstow Res Filter Beds 200+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 100+ Herring Gull, West Warwick 3 Ruddy Duck, East Warwick 10+ Gadwall, male Wigeon, No 5 3+ Black-necked Grebes, 9 Ruddy Duck, 100+ Shoveler, 1 Goldeneye, first of the winter for Walth Res, Gadwall 1 (5 November East Warwick 63 Gadwall, 10+ Wigeon, No1 C470 Carrion Crow roosting, No5 Shoveler 83, Black-necked Grebes 2 (7 present in morning), L Grebes 3, Ruddy Duck 10, Low Maynard Shoveler 37) - David Darrell-Lambert
WG Res pm one 1st winter Med gull, 10 bn grebes (7+2+1) north end - A Mids
ESSEX L-E OWL LEA VALLEY CTRY PK ON ISLAND IN 70 ACRES LAKE - Birdguides/Birdnet

Fri 10-11-00 Enfield, Forty Hall 2 marsh tits 'Archer's Wood', 2 shoveler, 2 more marsh tits Whitewebbs and 11 mandarin here - Robert Callf
Ponders End Lake pm 2 black-necked grebes, no sign of island - Tony Clancy
LVP cycle ride am 4 black redstarts inc 3 adult males Brimsdown/KGV, 1 long-eared owl Fishers Green - Seventy Acres Lake south end (in last year's bush - also seen by J+M Fitzpatrick), adult Mediterranean gull on flooded grass by Waltham Marsh Lock 1.30pm, 1 chiffchaff - A.Mids, also reported 1 bittern Bittern Watchpoint, 1 little owl by Fishers Green car-park - White pelican Fairlop CP main lake 2.50pm - BirdCall - Warbler at Lowestoft of interest.
The Essex Birdwatching Society

Thu 9-11-00 WG Res adult yellow-legged gull this evening, pair of mandarins Cornmill Stream, 100yds W of info centre on 6th; 2nd winter Mediterranean gull at Soham Fields off Soham Road-Ordnance Road, Enfield Lock briefly pm on 7th (no sign of the recent adult though) - Steve Connor
Woodford a brambling at Ken's home on Monday and fieldfares on Tuesday - Ken Murray
Hall Marsh general area 1 Green Sandpiper still present but quite difficult to see. Very little else on the scrape. Field south of Hall Marsh had numbers of pied wagtails and a small flock (15-20) meadow pipits flying around - not able to check if all MPs or if it included other varieties.. One small flock of fieldfare seen - about 20, otherwise only a few singles. No redwings seen today (couple only yesterday). One bullfinch seen near Highbridge car park, the flooded fields alongside also holding a greylag goose flock of 25 - 50, swans from the 30 strong flock on the canal, and several hundred black-headed gulls and 20 common gulls. No sign of goldeneye on Bowyers or Friday yet - small numbers of pochard, tufted, wigeon, gadwall and mallard on each, with great crested grebes - Jeff Butcher.

Wed 8-11-00 Vicarage Farm area 225+ fieldfares flew west in 3 flocks, 14 lapwing west, 1 grt bb gull - R Callf/R.White
A Whinchat at Fairlop Waters between lagoon & stables this afternoon - Steve Stuart
Copped Hall area is really looking good with all the setasides and weedy edges - 2 Woodcock, 14 Yellowhammer, 217 Fieldfare, c30 Redwing, 200+ Greenfinch in 3 flocks, c60 Goldfinch, 2 Brambling, c35 Meadow Pipit, 500+ Woodpigon, 140 Jackdaw, 5 Sparrowhawks 3 fem 2 males, 1 Kestrel, Plus the 2 Bills at the forest tea stall - Tony Gray
Chingford am bullfinch 2 Yardley Hill, 4 Chingford Plain, est 65 mandarin Connaught Water, 1 little grebe, 1 grey wagtail, c100 redwing - A.Mids, a female bullfinch on sweet rocket in a Ware garden on 7th - LG

Tue 7-11-00 WG Res am 18 bn grebes, 9 wigeon - Phil Vines, KGV Res pm little grebe, 2 black reds, 8 goldeneye
North Enfield, Vicarage Farm 150-200 redwing, Trent Park 1 woodcock - Robin White
Robert Callf visited Grovelands Park, Enfield, today and left wondering where the mandarin could be, as 100 were present late 1999
LVP north Very little seen today, starting at Netherhall and all pits south. There seems to be a few more Fieldfare in today and the Goldcrest population seems to be getting larger, the bittern showed briefly this afternoon - Tony Gray

Mon 6-11-00 KGV Res 12-3.30pm, 4 black redstarts west of north basin inc 2 adult males, 2 stonechats on the causeway, 1 green sandpiper, 12.35pm - I realised that the diver on the north basin, when it came a little nearer, was not the great northern of Friday and Saturday, but a black-throated diver - white rear flank patches showing all the time whilst the bird was just floating, and esp when diving, also in flight this area of white showed high on rear flanks, well above a line taken from the wing to the small feet, narrow bill, lack of dark 'box-like' collar on neck-sides, lack of bold pale upperpart feather fringing seen on Friday's bird - unfortunately it flew off high to the north around 12.55pm, c30 pochard, 6 goosander - Andrew Middleton

Sun 5-11-00 Netherhall GP 1 female pintail, Paynes Lane GP a female goldeneye and a red-billed teal, KGV 1 bn grebe- Steve Connor
am KGV Reservoir 3 black-necked grebe at 8.30 but could only find 1 at 10 am. Three black redstart (2m 1f) and one male stonechat at same place. No sign of diver - Jeff Butcher
Walthamstow am, no sign of the blue-winged teal this am, 7 bn grebes - five on No 5, 2 on No 4 - Phil Vines - min 15 bn grebes yesterday WG Res
Vicarage Farm area, Enfield, 2 fieldfares, Sat 4th 2 red admirals, 11 yellowhammers, 26 mistle thrushes - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sat 4-11-00 KGV Res 8.30-11.30am South basin: Green Sandpiper in SW corner. Juvenile GN Diver by causeway, Male & female Black Redstarts pylons/fence and a pair of Stonechats in the paddocks/fence. 4 Wigeon, 2 female Goldeneye - David Rimes
am Hall Marsh Scrape 1 Green sandpiper, 1 Red Admiral.- Jeff Butcher
Rye Meads Passage this morning 165 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, 270 Wood Pigeon, 6 Skylark, 1 Woodlark all going SW and W. Other birds:- 1 Bittern, 1 Water Pipit, 15 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat, 2 Water Rail (1 trapped in afternoon), 1 Goldeneye, 2 Shelduck, 20 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaff (1 trapped), 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper - Paul Roper - new Rye Meads Ringing Group address/email http://www.rmrg.care4free.net/ - mailto:rmrg@care4free.net.
Brent Res: female Scaup, Rock or Water Pipit, 400+ Redwing, 3,300 Woodpigeon, 6 Skylarks, Brambling, 22 Chaffinch & 2 Water Rail - Andrew Self
Juv Blue-winged Teal on No5 Res at Walthamstow Res. It was swimming with shoveler east of the east island and then roosted on the island. Later it moved back to the shoveler flock. I first saw it at 15:30 hrs and last at 16:00 hrs. I had my mobile but the battery was flat!!!! also 6 Black-necked Grebes on that res, 4 Common Sandpipers at various reservoirs, 2 stonechat on the Lockwood, 15 Wigeon 10 Ruddy Duck - David Darrell-Lambert
am KGV Res great northern diver south basin, pair of black redstarts - BirdCall
KGV Res 3pm, an adult peregrine falcon, possibly a female ie large, landed on the second pylon west side north of causeway, after knocking a large bird out of the sky, the prey item sinking without trace into the KGV water, 1 bn grebe sth basin, 1 black redstart - Steve Connor, peregrine not seen later on, 1st winter Mediterranean gull north basin gull roost, 2 goosander, great northern diver on north basin from 4.30pm - A.Mids
Tate Modern, Bankside-Thames - a peregrine - Ken Murray
Sewardstone area, through 6 miles of 'habitat', 8am-1pm, Sew Marsh a flock of 24 fieldfares flew N/W, 20+ redwing, 10+ song thrushes, 2 bullfinch, LVP managed Cobb Fields 15 skylarks, 4 snipe (compare 16-11-99), Avey Lane farmland just 4 skylarks - A.Mids, today's and yesterday's correct dates from Robin Smith

Fri 3rd KGV Res from 1.30pm, a great northern diver on the south basin, still there 3.30pm at least- Tony Clancy, also 1 bn grebe, 2 green sandpipers - various people
WG Res am a further record count for Phil of 20 black-necked grebes - Phil Vines
Aveley Bay am, Caspian gull with damaged wing - Howard Vaughan and Paul French
Rainham barges/tip/lagoons area am - 1st winter Mediterranean gull, c10 pipits moving between the shore and the lagoons seemed to involve both Scandinavian rock pipits and water pipits - Craig, Cutts, Middleton
Saw the Bittern at Amwell this morning from the bridge (the high point), also at Amwell c70 C.Snipe and 50+ Redwing, 4 B.N.Grebes on Walthamstow today - total 25 in the valley - Tony Gray
Red admiral Abney Park cemetery - Robert Callf, 12 yellowhammers on set-aside/game cover crop Fernyhill Farm, N Enfield - Robin White

Thu 2-11-00 Copped Hall area, 17 yellowhammers, 35 linnets, 4 skylarks, 2 hares - A.Mids

Wed 1-11-00 Sewardstone 4+ common darters inc a pair
Fishers Green, Bittern Watchpoint - bittern showing well - Bill Cutts and Bill Craig
10:56-83 (419) 10:54 *ESSEX LAP BUNT RAINHAM JUST INLAND OF BARGE 10AM. 6 TWITE AVELEY - Howard Vaughan + Paul

Tue 31-10-00 The only birds I've seen of note today are a few Redwing (c10) Fishers Green/Holyfield area, 1 Chiffchaff and good numbers of Goldcrest all over - Tony Gray
WG Res am 15 bn grebes - Phil Vines
Ware 11 degree in shade, 13 in sun (when sunny) wind - windy - had a red admiral flying in front garden and is now basking on the front of the house - Liz Goodyear
Sounded like a firecrest calling from ivy just south of Swan and Pike Pool, Enfield Lock, at 4.50pm, but not seen - A.Mids
London Leach's Petrel, Aveley Bay - R.Thames 2.25pm, + S.Petrel, 800m W of R Darent Mouth by yachts - initially located by Paul French

Mon 30-10-00 KGV Res 1.45pm an adult kittiwake flew south, 6 goosander, WG Res pm 15 bn grebes - Robert Callf
KGV Res am, 1 bn grebe, 1 little grebe, 2 black redstarts, 6 goldeneye, flying about - c150 teal, 75 wigeon, 20 gadwall - Phil Vines and A.Mids, canal and relief channel are both level with the tops of their banks
Barking Bay a storm petrel flew upriver 10.22am - seen from Crossness - Paul French

Sun 29-10-00 Very windy, with a gale blowing through the Bittern Watchpoint. Bittern seen at 8am, but we missed it. Walking round, chiffchaff heard, lots of long-tailed tits - Helen and Tristan Bantock.
Parkside Farm, Enfield 6 red-legged partridge, 5 siskins, KGV Res Friday 2 black redstarts - Robert Callf, and 2 fem red-breasted mergansers today - Mike Dent
There is an interesting account of the Minsmere Siberian Blue Robin by the finder on the surfbirds.com website - Tony Gray

Sat 28-10-00 Woodford area, Essex, 20 redwings dropped in to Ken's garden am, then a firecrest visited briefly late afternoon - Ken Murray
Coppetts Wood, Finchley, c25 goldcrests and 3 chffchaffs early am, then a good soaking and home - Tony Clancy


Bittern Botaurus stellaris - click on the images to expand them Phil Vines took these amazing photos of a bittern from the Bittern Watchpoint, at Fisher's Green in the Lee Valley Park, on Monday 23rd October 2000. One captures the bird on the door, and four shows the catching of a fish. 60-70kb. If anyone would like to buy a print of these excellent images please contact me and I will put you in touch with Phil. The images are for your personal enjoyment only and copyright is reserved. Images scanned by Tony Gray. Also posted - Phil's photos of grey phalarope - KGV in 1991, and the recent 'Lesser scaup' type hybrid at Fishers Green.

Fri 27-10-00 2.15pm. Bittern Watchpoint, Fishers Green, Bittern showing well for about 30 mins in front of hide. Caught at least 6 fish then cleaned his beak on the door before disappearing. I am told it has put on a lot of weight in the last week! Also 1 water rail - Joy Park
1 stonechat Rammey Marsh pm - Brian Dawton
Walthamstow still at least 3 Black-Necked Grebes and 6 Ruddy Duck on No. 5 reservoir - Tristan Bantock
22:38pm - unconf Hoopoe. Westham Park-Romford Road area - BirdCall
There is a bug of an error on this page which is beyond me - if it is causing your computer problems, you can 'disable the script error debugging' in your settings-control panel-internet settings-advanced section, afterwhich it should work OK

Thu 26-10-00 8.30-10.30 Cornmill Meadows 34 species including first 2 siskins for this winter, 160 lapwing, 40 snipe, 96 teal, 95 wigeon, 76 shoveler (unusual numbers this year - Jeff Butcher
Chingford Plain a woodlark flew south-east c9.15am, calling, 1 spot-morph fallow deer - Ken Murray
KGV Res 3 black redstarts, 2 females, 1 1st winter male, 3 goldeneye, WG Res min 12 black necked grebes, probably 17 - Robert Callf
Rye House 1 calling firecrest by the RSPB visitor centre at 10.20am, a pair of stonechats Rye Meads, 2 chiffchaffs Amwell GP am - A.Mids
Tony Gray has passed on a mega-link to a page with photos of the recent Spanish Siberian Blue Robin

Mon 23-10-00 10.30-12.30 am King George V Reservoir. 1 Black-necked grebe, 2 black redstart (1m 1f), 2 f goosander, 1 stonechat, 1 common sandpiper.No sign of rock pipit - a number of meadow pipits were seen. - Jeff Butcher with Terry Smith
Parkside Res, N Enfield, a calling rock or water pipit flew NW at 11.45am - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sun 22-10-00 Walthamstow area highlights 22 Little Gulls south, 1 Curlew south, poss 3 diff Oystercatchers, 14 Lapwing north, 6 Black-necked Grebes, 4 Ruddy Duck, Banbury Res 09:41hrs 10 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers, Lockwood 10:36 hrs 1 Curlew south - this was timed to be travelling at 21 kph, 6 Reed Bunting west, 1 Skylark south, and at 14:36 hrs 22 Little Gulls south (only 2 first-winters noted in the flock) they were timed to be flying 30 kph, 14 Lapwing north, 1 Golden Plover north at 14:47 hrs, 1 Oystercatcher north at 14:35 hrs, High Maynard 1 Oystercatcher south 13:45 hrs, East Warwick 3 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck! 1 Little Grebe, Filter Beds 40 Common Gull 204 LBBGs, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 147 Herring Gull, 1 GBBG, No5 6 Black-necked Grebes, 4 Ruddy Duck, 5 Little Grebes, No 4 Oystercatcher flew in and landed on tern raft - David Darrell-Lambert
Bittern Watchpoint, Fishers Green. 16-30 hrs. Bittern feeding out in the open in front of hide. (Caught 5 fish!!) Also Water Rail. - Dave Wadley
At Rye Meads: 2 Water Pipit, 125 Teal, 27 Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff. At Amwell GP: 5 Swallows, 45 Redwing, 4 Redpoll, 35 Snipe. Bittern at Amwell yesterday (B Reed). - Graham White
Woodford area, swallows south along edge of forest behind Ken's house - 4 at 1.30pm, 3 at 5.30pm, Chingford Plain 12 reed bunts and a chiffchaff today, whinchat on Fri 20th (Ken's latest here by 10 days) - Ken Murray
Vicarage Farm, the barracks, a ring ouzel around the bushes from 9.45-10.30am - Robert's 10th on the farm and 14th in that area, (possibly two birds today - 1st winter/fem with dull gorget, one with pure white gorget), 1 swallow NE at 10.25am, 1 male blackcap, last whinchat date 19th Oct with a female stonechat - Robert Callf and Robin White, Grovelands Park pm 5 mandarin (60 this time last year)
WG Res am, 3 red-head mergansers landed, 10 brent geese south, 14 black-necked grebes, 1 redshank, 1 greenshank, 2 green sands, 1 dunlin, 1 curlew, Fri 20th 2 adult winter Med gulls - Phil Vines
KGV Res am, 4 black redstarts west side (1 ad male, 2 imm males-1 with a large white tail feather, 1 fem/imm), 2 reed buntings, 3 chiffchaffs, 2 green sands, 1pm 1 adult little gull south, 2.15pm a minimum of 19 little gulls flew south, around 2-2.30pm 2 little stints and a dunlin north basin may have moved on to the south basin (also seen by Steve Connor), 1 bn grebe, 20 wigeon, 5 skylark south, 6 goosander, 3 little grebes, Sew Marsh 2 blackcaps, 6 redwing, 3 grt spots - Helen Bantock and A.Mids, 2 migrant hawkers Mossopps Creek, Brimsdown
KGV Res am 2 golden plover SE 10.05am, 1 rock pipit SW corner, Fishers Green am a curlew south 12.15pm, 13 little gulls south 12.20pm, 1 rock pipit S then E at 12.20pm, Paynes Lane area, 2 rock pipits down on the ground (with buff outer tail feather-sides) and a pair of stonechats - Steve Connor

Sat 21-10-00 Rye Meads - 1 Wheatear, 153 Teal, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Water Pipit, 3 Redpoll, 40 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff - RMRG
thanks for the messages - andy m
Dagenham Chase Jack Snipe S/W cnr Fel's Field by grass mound - BirdCall

Fri 20-10-00 approx 1300hrs. at Fishers Green Bittern (Watchpoint) Hide watched a bittern for 1/2 hour, also saw a water rail and a treecreeper - Dave Messenger

Thu 19-10-00 7.40 to 10.15 King George 5 Res. 1 wood sand, 1 common sand, 2 black redstart, 3 goosander over N, 1 Black neck grebe, 30 teal, 2 pochard, 10 gadwall, 50 goldfinch, 40 linnet, 30 meadow pipit, 1 grey wag - Mike Rossor

Sun 15-10-00 Walthamstow Reservoirs - Banbury Res 13:17 hrs 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Lapwing south, 10 Little Grebes, 1 Green Sandpipers, 1 Migrant Hawker, Lockwood 13:45 hrs 35 Teal, 7 Lapwing south + 4 east, 1 Redpoll, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Mistle Thrush, High Maynard 2 Little Grebes, 4 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper, Low Maynard 16 Lapwing south, East Warwick 14:30 hrs 24 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebes, 14 Gadwall, 7 Lapwing, No 5 15:05 hrs 2 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Ruddy Duck, 15 Shoveler, 1 Rock or Water Pipit flew up calling - David Darrell-Lambert
13.30ish Footpath rear of Fairlop Waters 1 Redstart - Steve Stuart

Sat 14-10-00 WG Res 9am, a record 19 black-necked grebes, 17 north end, 2 west side, and still counting - Phil Vines
Herts Amwell GPs Short-toed lark reported west over early am - c9am - BirdCall

Fri 13-10-00 Vicarage Farm/Trent Park area etc, whinchat still on the barracks, in all 12 swallows over, 10 skylarks on stubble, 10 mistle thrushes, 1 rather grey song thrush thought to be Continental T.p.philomelos, kingfisher by the 'dew pond' - Robert Callf and Robin White
Fishers Green pm, 1 whitethroat gave some song near the 2nd car-park (sailing club road), 45 pied wags on newly ploughed field, 16 greylags on the goosefield, 2 yellowhammers, comma, Enfield Lock Med gull 2pm flew off west towards Albany Park - Steve Connor
Sewardstone area, 1 blackcap, bullfinch, flying over -12 skylarks, 11 song thrush inc groups of 3+4, Netherhouse Fm 5 yellowhammers, 20 meadow pipits, reed bunting, total 4 migrant hawkers - A.Mids

Thu 12-10-00 Vicarage Farm 7 house martins, 1 swallow, whinchat still on the 'barracks', 16 goldfinch, one large brown bat species flying around at 3.30pm, 45 meadow pipits on the stubble, Trent Park Lower Lake 9 goldcrests, 3 chiffchaffs, 1 kingfisher - Robert Callf and Robin White
Rye Meads 20 Meadow Pipits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 90 House Martins, 1 Swift, 6 Goldcrest - Paul Roper
Gt. Amwell today there was a sparrowhawk perched in the weeping willow opposite the observation point which after 5 mins. took off and sent all the lapwings into a panic, 15 snipe, 2 Egyptian geese - Dave Messenger
Cornmill Meads yesterday stonechat near hide - Jeff Butcher, and whinchat reported, Enfield Lock adult Med Gull still on Soham Fields pm, seen from Steve's bedroom window, hornet in the house - news from Steve Connor
WG Res am, a record count of 17 black-necked grebes - 14 north end, 1 west side, 2 south end, yesterday Fisher Green, 1 stonechat, 2 snipe, 1 lesser-spotted woodpecker just past the second/sailing club road car-park - Phil Vines
Copped Hall area am, 2 woodlarks flew up on to a wire, sightings of 1 and 2 common buzzards in the last 2 weeks, last Monday a stonechat on Chingford Plain (1 redpoll over here for Ken Murray yesterday) - Tony Baumber, also Copped Hall area 1 painted lady, est100 greenfinch on hemp haulm, c18 yellowhammers in the area, 1 stonechat, 25 house martins, 5 swallows, a calling common buzzard, 1 calling lesser-spotted woodpecker, 1 reed bunting - A.Mids

Wed 11-10-00 Vicarage Farm one whinchat yesterday and today on the 'barracks' is the latest site record, Parkside Farm 1 female stonechat, 1 housemartin, 1 swallow, 1 redwing - Robert Callf and Robin White
KGV Res am north basin, 2 goldeneye, 1 wheatear, 3 chiffchaffs, 1 skylark on the causeway, est100 housemartins, c5 swallows, 1 sand martin, adult male and fem/imm black redstarts west of north basin, 30 chaffinch, 20 linnets, possibly 1 adult male 'white' wagtail - A.Mids

Tue 10-10-00 Rye Meads 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Skylarks, 30 Meadow Pipits, 32 Linnets, 150 House Martins, 3 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Stonechat, 10 Grey Wagtails - Paul Roper

Mon 9-10-00 Sewardstone Marsh approx 6 goldcrests & 1 swallow - Brian Dawton
Vicarage Farm 1 whinchat, 1 dead lanner type falconer's bird, a record 15 cormorants flew west - Robert Callf, A.Mids
East London Birders' Forum meeting - Tue 10th Oct at 8pm. Upstairs in the County Arms, Hale End Road, Highams Park, E4.

Sun 8-10-00 Holyfield / Goose Field area – No sign of the Red-backed Shrike. One Common Buzzard – first seen at 11am over Galleyhill wood, mobbed by corvids, drifted out between Holyfield and Hayes Hill Farms and back to Galleyhill. Seen again at about 11.30am, mobbed by a pair of Sparrowhawks over Galleyhill, then drifted West over the farms, and over the South end of the Goose Field. Also 1 Stonechat on the Goose Field and another by the Bittern Watchpoint, 40+ Skylark, 10+ Yellow Wagtail, 15+ House Martins, 30+ Swallows, 3 Siskin, 1 Yellowhammer, 3-4 Sparrowhawk, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Red Admiral and 3 Migrant Hawker. Also a Redwing over Waltham Abbey town - Simon Papps and Simon Satchell
At Rye Meads today: 2 Jack Snipe, 32 Snipe, 1 Garganey - Graham White
North Enfield, Vicarage Farm one immature Dartford warbler along a hedgerow 13.00-13.10hrs, not seen in one hour's search later in the afternoon, c30 m pipits, 50+ linnets, 1 whinchat, Parkside Farm 1 male stonechat, 1 redwing, 1 chiffchaff, Lower Lake 1 kingfisher - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sat 7-10-00 Enfield Lock - Soham Fields off Soham Road-Ordnance Road, around 1pm, the 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull which wintered there last year has just been seen again by Steve today - of course now in adult winter plumage, the bird still has a slight limp, perhaps due to damage to its right leg, but the limp is less obvious than last winter. Last year it was first seen Nov 10th 1999, last seen March 7th 2000 - Steve Connor
ESSEX RPT OF PRATINCOLE SP. DOWNRIVER ALONG THAMES AT PURFLEET 10.10AM. BirdNet

Fri 6-10-00 Holyfield Hall Farm no sign of red-backed shrike am several observers, one brief sighting around 4pm - John Stevens, also in the area and by the Goosefields - 9 stonechat and a whinchat, 1 green sand, 3 golden plover over - various people
KGV Res am 1 goosander, 2 goldeneye, 1 black redstart, 75 m pips, 1 y wag, 2 grey wags, Mossopps Creek a 2nd fem/imm black redstart - Phil Vines and Andrew Middleton
5 Stonechat this evening from footpath to rear of Fairlop Waters - Steve Stuart

Thu 5-10-00 Fishers Green - Holyfield Hall Farm - The Red backed Shrike is still there, best viewed from the field by the sailing club, Also there is a very obliging Common Redstart feeding in the open on the part of the field that's been ploughed, at the top by the fence between the two fields - Tony Gray
A painted lady on 2nd and 3rd by by houses along the Crooked Mile near Cornmill south end - news from Steve Connor
Copped Hall 1 common buzzard, 1 stonechat, 50+ linnets, 20 greenfinch, 10 skylarks, 10 red admirals south, Ponders End 2 brambling over 9.30am - A.Mids
Hampstead Heath, 1 honey buzzard over ths am - FocalPoint
Large raptor over A10 at Puckeridge about 6 pm, dark head with white flecks, short tail, brief sighting of C Buzzard? - L Goodyear
Lee Valley Regional Park Bird Report for August 2000 - Ian Kendall

Wed 4-10-00 Vicarage Farm, 3 whinchat yesterday and today on the barracks, Trent Park 1 spot fly, 1 clouded yellow, total 6 chiffs, 10 red admirals - Robert Callf and Robin White

Tue 3-10-00 Red-backed Shrike still at Holyfield Hall Farm 10.30am, viewing best today from footpath into field beyond and east of Sailing Club - Tony Gray
14:55 *LONDON NO SIGN RADDE'S WBLR FAIRLOP CTRY PK BY 2.30PM AT LEAST - Birdnet
KGV Res 2 goldeneye, 3 wheatear, 2 sand martins with swallows and house martins, 1 skylark on the causeway concrete, WG Res 8-10 black-necked grebes, 3 wheatear, 2 y wags, 3 green sandpipers south end, 1 dunlin - Robert Callf

Mon 2-10-00 Barn Owl heard at 10:55 pm outside house in Ware - Liz Goodyear
Fairlop, Essex Radde's warbler showed very well for 2 or 3 minutes down to 10ft at 9.45am after brief views at 8.45am, within willow belt just south of the old fishermen's hut, by small fishing lake, just east of eastern car-park, TQ460908 - rather stocky bird, very bold pale yellow/white rear supercillium well defined against dark borders, long rear of super tapering to a squiggly point, thick orangey legs, rather dark fore-super and dark below, inc undertail, upperparts rather olive, primary emarginations well forward on closed wings - yesterday Alan Bell spent several hours with KB trying to get conclusive views after hearing distinctive calls, managing brief views of head and super - Alan came to the conclusion yesterday that it was a Radde's warbler, based on calls, which came as a 'hammer to the head', and 'joke views' - Alan couldn't get any kind of decent view on Sunday. Very elusive and very few sightings by 2pm, although AG at least managed good head views around 10.05am, when pale lower eyelid contrast against dark cheeks also seen
Red-backed Shrike still at Holyfield Hall Farm at 2.30pm - Simon Papps
Fishers Green Holyfield Hall Farm immature red-backed shrike am - Rare Bird Alert, also honey buzzard SE Regents Park 10.35am, HB Essex Filter Beds 11am, peregrine, 2 redwing - FocalPoint
Vicarage Farm area, Enfield, 1 whinchat, 1 wheatear Parkside Fm, 12 lapwing, 5 skylark, 3 chiffs, possible brambling over - Robert Callf and Robin White, am 1 whinchat approx 24 house martins & 6 swallows - Brian Dawton
One more Honey buzzard discussion (Beachy Head) passed on by John Stevens

Sun 1-10-00 Chingford Plain 1 Whinchat, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 40+ Meadow Pipit, Connaught Water: 26 Mandarins and an escaped New Zealand Scaup, Amwell: 1 Red-tailed hawk south at 12pm (Graham White), 1 Common Tern, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Hobby, 2 Snipe, 3 Egyptian Geese, 1 Greenshank and a Clouded Yellow.- Simon Papps
Fishers Green Holyfield Hall Farm around 1-2pm at least, an immature red-backed shrike beyond the farm along a hedgerow - news form Phil Vines and Tony Gray - Park at Hayes Hill Farm cafe car-car park, walk straight north for 1km through Holyfield Hall farm -yard, and through gate up the hill, shrike was viewed to the north just over the hill in two bramble bushes
Vicarage Farm Enfield am 1 honey buzzard flew s/w being mobbed by crows at 10.10am, then a 'kettle' of three more honey buzzards circled south slowly right over the observers' heads on the 'barracks' at 10.45-11.00am, 40+ red admirals, 2 painted ladies, 12 skylarks over, 1 little owl, plenty of swallows and housemartins through, 6 commas - Robert Callf and Robin White
KGV Res am 1 common buzzard flew south, 1 oystercatcher flew south, 1 dunlin - Phil Vines
Cornmill am. 1 hobby, 100 wigeon, 50 teal - Brian Dawton
LONDON H.BUZZARD S.OVER UXBRIDGE 1.20PM. LONDON H.BUZZARD S.AT REGENT'S PK 11.55 +HOBBY BirdNet

Sun 17-12-00 WG Res at dusk, a female common scoter flew north around 3.40pm, landed at the north end and began diving, 3 bn grebes north end (14 black-necked grebes counted here by Phil Vines yesterday - Saturday), Ponders End Lake c40 wigeon, 2 ruddy ducks - A Mids Fishers Green 2 long-eared owls, 1 water rail Bittern Watchpoint early am - Helen Bantock Ware - the garden has been so busy today, at least 15/20 blue tits pottering about plus 8 sparrows and poss 30+ starlings but best was a pair of bullfinches poss feeding on early forsythia bud-burst, and a coal tit, first coal tit for 2/3 years - Liz Goodyear Netherhall area, 3 ruddy ducks (1m,2f), pair of stonechats, 2 grn woods, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 siskin sth, 1 redpoll n/e, Soham Fields Enfield Lock ad Med gull - Steve Connor
		Two chiffchaff photos from Rye Meads taken in the first half of December 2000 - What race might they be? - Hmm interesting one. Thought you might ask that. In my view these birds show all the charicteristics of Collybita. However, I think they must be abeatinus as they are wintering ones. It is impossible to tell so they must really be put down as P.c.c We are just waiting for one of our wintering chiffs to be recovered in the breeding grounds of abeatinus to prove our theory - Paul Roper RMRG. Click on the thumbnail images to enlarge.

Mon 27-11-00 Lippitts Hill area, Essex, 1 woodcock, 40+ redwing, 12 goldfinch - A.Mids
			Images one and two of the Ferruginous duck on the Lee at Ware, Herts in late November 2000, photos taken and scanned by Nick Sampford, 50kb. Still present today. Click on thumbnails or links to view.

Some recent sightings in and around the Lea Valley and North London October to December 2000