Some recent sightings in and around the Lea Valley and North London July to september 2001

Some recent sightings in and around the Lea Valley and North London October to December 2001


Sat 17-11-01 Banbury Res, 1 Ringed Plover (stumpy), 3 Green Sands, 3 Common Sands, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 84 Lapwing - David Darrell-Lambert female Red-crested Pochard on river at Stansted Abbotts swimming with Mallards not far from town bridge 1-30pm, 2 Goldeneye seen diving in lake opposite Amwell reserve at 3-30pm - M Jameson Trent Park/Vicarage Farm, female brambling with chaffinch flock, pair of stonechat, a hawker dragonfly sp. flying in poor light over Lower Lake 13.40hrs, 12 goldfinch, reed bunting - R Callf KGV Res pm, 1 rock pipit and common sandpiper causeway, 4 ruddy duck, red-crested pochard, c18 goldeneye, 3 goosander, 2 green woods, 2 kingfishers, Mossops Creek chiffchaff - A Middleton Fri 16-11-01 Forty Hall/Whitewebbs, marsh tit, 3 mandarin, bullfinch - R Callf WG Res 17 black-necked grebes, 8 goosander, red-crested pochard - Phil Vines. Thu 15-11-01 Hammersmith Park, Shepherds Bush. Grey wagtail alighted for two minutes at 1.50pm on ornamental waterfall near BBC building, and then flew off.- Martin Shepherd Amwell 3 adult Bewick's Swan present (=asleep) until at least 09:45 just off viewpoint, 1 Dunlin flew south 09:38 - Phil Ball Lea Valley 2 Smew ( Redheads ) Friday Lake, Peregrine sitting on number 5 pylon, Fishers Green, 4+ Brambling in Fishers Green sailing club viewable from the footpath along side the sailing club, 100+ Chaffinch and 2 Brambling in the roost at Copped Hall (Lodge Road) this afternoon/evening but viewing restricted to one leafless tree. There were plenty of other finches coming in but most chose to sit in trees with lots of foliage still on them therefore making them difficult to see. Tony Gray/PJV KGV Res pm, pair of stonechat, 14 geese which flew south around 4.30pm may have been whitefronts - A Middleton Grovelands Park, late afternoon, 65 mandarin inc. 40 drakes, Oakwood Park, a large dark butterfly seen briefly - possibly peacock - R Callf Small flock of Reed Buntings feeding in reed seedheads at Amwell Pits. 1400 hrs - Nigel Agar Wed 14-11-01 Trent Park/Vicarage farm area - 50 chaffinch, 1 y'hammer, pair of stonechat, 1 r.l.partridge, 40 fieldfare - R Callf, Saturday last, brambling and woodcock for R White Horsenden Hill, Stonechat (3), Fieldfare (60), Pheasant (1; first for over 2 years). The Stonechats have built up to 3 birds gradually since early October.Other news for previous week or so: 2nd Nov Fieldfare (72), Blackcap (1), Speckled Wood (3), C. Darter (1). 4th Nov Nuthatch (1; Perivale Wood), Chiffchaff (1), Wigeon (1; probably first modern day record for site) 10th Nov Fieldfare (125), Chaffinch (21), Redwing (76) - all south over. - Andrew J. Culshaw 28th October 2001, Essex Filter Beds- Yellow-browed Warbler - unfortunately no public access during groundwork/development - Gary James Tue 13-11-01 KGV Res 7 ruddy duck, 1 male stonechat, 4 green sands, 1 c sand, red-crested pochard, WG Res stonechat, adult Mediterranean gull, 6 black-necked grebes - Robert Callf Amwell 3 drake Pintail on main lake until 09:06 am when flew north - Philip J Ball Harrow-on-the-Hill, Fieldfare 9, Song Thrush 4, Goldfinch 8, Meadow Pipit 7, Chaffinch 3 - John Palmer Sewardstone, 20 fieldfare, chiffchaff - A Middleton Sunday 11/11/01 Wanstead Flats: Redwing (50), Ruddy Duck (8), Gadwall (6), Shoveler (7), Little Grebe (7).Wanstead Park: Gadwall (52). Eagle Pond, Whipps Cross: Kingfisher (1), Shoveler (37), Tufted Duck (157).Fraser Simpson Sun 11-11-01, Harrow-on-the Hill, Woodcock 1, Mistle Thrush 24, Redwing 12, Goldcrest 10 - Philip Palmer Mon 12-11-01 Chingford Plain am, 1 female blackcap, 1 yellow bunt, 10+ song thrush, 20+ blackbirds - Ken Murray Walthamstow Marsh - Water Rail, Tate Modern - male Peregrine - David Darrell-Lambert Sun 11-11-01 news from and recent reports to Jeff Butcher whilst on duty in the Bittern Watchpoint - Short-eared owl seen in Fishers Green area mid morning, also reported by rangers on Hall Marsh and then over Rammey Marsh, all reports of single bird flying south. 15 Bramblings with Chaffinches on farm land near the Goosefield. 2 Goldeneye near Grand Weir. 2 Green sandpipers on Hall Marsh Scrape. Bitterns not seen all day between 10 am and 4pm. Reports of sightings at 9.30 am. Water Rails also only seen a few times during the day, but kingfishers flying by and perching frequently. Seem to be unusual numbers of shoveler on 70 Acre Lake this year. Jeff Butcher East India Dock.At least three Chiffchaff, about 20 Chaffinch and a few linnets. Two peregrine on the Dome and loads of Blue and Great Tits also Two Redshank on Sat 10-11-01. Steve Allum Banbury Res, 14 Little Grebes, 7 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Ringed Plover (still no feet!), male Goldeneye & 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull - David Darrell-Lambert Dagenham Chase- 555 Golden Plover (best early morning or late afternoon) on Eastbrook playing field, two Stonechat on Fel's field -Ken Barrett
Sat 10-11-01 Dagenham Chase-am- 16 Snipe, 12 Golden Plover, three Ruddy Duck, 21 Fieldfare flying west and a Chiff heard. Ken Barrett Copped Hall total of c45 skylark NW over 3 hrs, c100 chaffinch - A Middleton Trent Park 6 mandarin, 3 sparrowhawk sightings, 1 stonechat - R Callf King George Res, Mistle Thrush by the Energy Centre, Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground in the meadow. Kingfisher along Mossop's. We spent nearly an hour watching a tailless, juvenile male Black Redstart. It was flying up and down the Res fence between East Duck Lees Lane end and Leggett's.Very agile , in spite of lack of tail, with some red visible on the under tail coverts! Heard Med Gull is back in Soham Rd - Helen and Tristan Bantock	Tail-less black redstart Brimsdown/KGV - T&H Bantock
Walthamstow Reservoirs: Lt Grebe 31, Wigeon 4, Goldeneye 3, Ruddy Duck 23, Sparrowhawk 2, Ringed Plover 1, Green Sandpiper 2, Common Sandpiper 5, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Kingfisher 5, Green Woodpecker 4, Grey Wagtail 12, Fieldfare 85, Siskin 1, Brambling 1. David Darrell-Lambert, Dan England & Stephen Harris Fri 9-11-01 Ally Pally 1 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 10 Fieldfares, 1 Siskin, 25+ Lapwing (FO) - highlights of past few days. Tom Clarke KGV Res pm, 1st winter Mediterranean gull and adult little gull briefly in roost around 4pm, flew towards W Girling (not together), also 6 ruddy duck, 30+ goldeneye, 3 goosander, 4 green sandpipers, 3 male pintail, ad male black redstart, partial albino coot - A Middleton and R Callf WG Res 7 black-necked grebes, 70 teal, 1 male goosander, adult Mediterranean gull in roost - R Callf Thu 8-11-01 10 a.m. Hall Marsh Scrape LVP one green sandpiper, one snipe, one shelduck Jeff Butcher Grovelands Park - 58 mandarin, ruddy duck and 10 cormorants - R Callf Isle of Dogs, 2 Kittiwake along river - BirdCall North Mymms, 3 woodcock, marsh tit, Wormley Wood, 2 marsh tits on 7th - A Middleton Wed 7-11-01 Brent Res short-eared owl - BirdCall Walthamstow Marsh - 2 Chiffchaffs, Coppermill FB - adult Yellow-legged Gull, Tate Modern - male Peregrine and adult GBBG - David Darrell-Lambert Tue 6-11-01 Hatch Path Woodford, firecrest again - Ken Murray, good fall of song thrush Chingford Plain Mon, and peregrine tall yellow crane east of Tate Modern Sunday 5 November Tottenham Marsh - male Stonechat + Fieldfare, Tate Modern - male Peregrine + ad GBBG, 6 November, Tate Modern - male Peregrine + ad GBBG, 7 November, Tottenham Marsh - male Stonechat - David Darrell-Lambert Mon 5-11-01 am-Harrow Lodge Pk, Hornchurch-two Chiffchaffs, one male Mandarin - Ken Barrett Trent Park 2 small coppers (also on Tue 6th) - R Callf, also green-veined white and speckled wood seen by R White here on Friday Copped Hall area, 2+ c buzzards, 4 bramblings (singles), 3 woodcock - A Middleton Sun 4-11-01 Fairlop. p.m. Stonechat (3) Snipe (3) Golden Plover (150) Green Woodpecker (4) Common Darter.- Peter Hopkins. Coppermill Filter Beds, 200+ Herring Gull, 200+ LBBG, 100+ Common Gull but no Med, Banbury Res, 6 Common Sandpipers, 1 adult Ringed Plover with no feet! - David Darrell-Lambert KGV Res 9-11.15 am, 30 Lapwings flew north, 30 Linnets and Meadow Pipits. 3 Ruddy Duck, pair of Wigeon (double figures Fri). Brimsdown, two juvenile Black Redstarts on the Res fence opposite LDA site and a female Stonechat and male Reed Bunting below Leggetts. Nazeing GP yesterday 25 Great Crested Grebes - Helen Bantock Apologies - Sun pm - one email sent to me - had records of two black redstarts Duck Lees Lane and other records etc - please could it be re-sent to me because I seem to have destroyed it - Andy Sat 3-11-01 Chingford Plain, 8.30am, pair of bullfinches. Sun 4-11-01, Innova Park, stonechat seen by Brian Sperring on fence near fishing lake. Martin Shepherd Netherhall On latest visit for WeBs Count - notable for Lapwing c 540, Green Sandpiper 1 on new excavation N of Dobbs Weir Road. No Ferruginous Duck this time - presumably this may well be the bird seen at Amwell - Nigel May KGV Saturday 3rd pm 1 Red-Crested Pochard, 60 Wigeon, 15 Goldeneye, 1 Scaup, 6 Fieldfare - Cheers Tony Clancy WG Res south end during WeBS count - one tree sparrow - Phil Vines Ponders End Lake and Rammey Marsh - a pair of stonechat at each site - A Middleton HERTS drk Ferrug Duck. Amwell G.Pits, @ S.end of main pit - SEBirdNews/YAHOO Thu 01-11-01 Waterloo Bridge, 1.15pm, Ring-billed Gull 1 adult - John Palmer Fri 2-11-01 Woodlands Rd, Romford, 14 red admirals nectaring on a flowering Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo, and a holly blue on a hebe in the neighbouring garden, 27th Oct, one southern hawker in a garden in Harold Wood - Colin Jupp Maida Ave, Chingford, overhead migration 10am - 2pm - 31 greenfinch NW, 57 chaffinch NW, skylark 6 NW and 1 SE, 1 m pipit, 1 fieldfare, 2 redpoll - Richard Cope KGV Res am, water pipit at the water's edge for 20 minutes before flying off south, fem/imm scaup, 1 stonechat, 1 common sand, 3 green sands, 1 redshank, 2 ruddy duck, 17 goldeneye, red-crested pochard prev on WG Res - AM, PV Chingford Plain am, 2 hawfinch by Hunting Lodge, 3 common snipe, Woodford, firecrest by garden - Ken Murray Barking Marsh pm, 4 stonechat, 164 shelduck, 1 c snipe, 1 fem/imm ring ouzel 2pm in central bushes by hut, 3.30pm a peregrine hassling the gulls, green woodpecker - Andrew Middleton Trent Park area, speckled wood, small copper, 2 red ads, southern hawker, 17 fieldfares - R Callf Fishers Green, nr. weir in field amongst the canada geese were aprox. 15-20 barnacle geese. On the very edge of the weir was a grey wagtail. Also saw 2 green woodpeckers, 2 gt. spotted woodpeckers and the bittern showed itself for a few minutes around 3.20pm (Bittern Watchpoint) - Dave Messenger 0730hrs-Romford- a flock of 40 Jackdaws flying south over my garden. Four Stonechats and a Fieldare pm at Bretons (Hornchurch). Ken Barrett Thu 01-11-01 Coppermill Filter Beds, 1 pipit south west called like a Tree but with more buzz at the end OBP? Walthamstow Marsh, 1 Water Rail, 2 Siskin, Tate Modern, 2 male Peregrines! 1 adult Yellow-Legged Gull, 1 adult GBBG - David Darrell-Lambert Holland Park, 1.20pm. Grey wagtail at main woodland pond. Red admiral flying south along one of the posh streets near tube station. Martin Shepherd Copped Hall - 1 c buzzard, brambling, 5 fieldfare, 3 red ads - A Middleton Single small coppers Vicarage Fm and Trent Park, 1 prob small white, 13 siskin, pair of stonechat - R Callf 13.30 - Cecil Road, Enfield Town, nr Town Park - 12 Chaffinch, predominately male - D Schwartz October Wed 31-10-01 Chingford Plain am, female/immature ring ouzel - Ken Murray, Tony Gray and Mike Cotton Trent Park area, pair of stonechat, 2 small coppers, 3 y'hammers - R Callf Tue 30-10-01 Chingford Plain am, female/immature ring ouzel at least, one calling wood lark flew over observer's head in a north/west to south/east direction - Ken Murray Brimsdown, 3 stonechats, Sewardstone, 17 common snipe, 3 red ads south - Andrew Middleton Trent Park/Vicarage Fm area, 4 red ads, 1 peacock, 1 speckled wood, 3 small coppers, silver Y moth, 50 greenfinch on sunflowers, 100 fieldfare yesterday for R White - R Callf and R White Fairlop Brambling in bushes beside main lake this afternoon - Steve Stuart Mon 29-10-01 Barking Bay pm ebbing tide - Shelduck 68, Redshank 44, Dunlin 10, Ringed Plover 6, Stonechat 2 - Ken Barrett Hornchurch C/P - 15 Song Thrush, 113 Fieldfare, 26 Redwing, 6 Stonechat (4 Sqaudrons Approach, 2 St.Albyns Farm), 5 Water Rail, 77 Teal, 26 Shovelor and 3 Siskins. 7-9.00am - Dave Morrison. Walth Marsh, 1 Chiffchaff, Tate Modern, male Peregrine, nothing big and white on the building! I discovered that someone who works for Birdlife International saw the bird (Gyr) without bins and that it flew off over the river. He was 100% certain of the id. - David Darrell-Lambert Chingford Plain. one possibly two ring ouzels am pre 9am - Ken Murray, two seen here later am, prob male and fem/imm - Bill Craig and Bill Cutts Lower Lea Valley 27/10/01, Teal (38), Kingfisher (2), Chiffchaff (singing), Small White, Speckled Wood, Migrant Hawker, Hackney Marshes. Stonechat (3), Chiffchaff (1), Walthamstow Marshes. Chiffchaff(1), Springfield Marina. Fraser Simpson Trent Park area, 21 Mistle Thrushes, 11 Fieldfare - R. Callf Sun 28-10-01 Bowyers Water, Wigeon 33, Chiffchaff 3, Redwing 38, Friday Lake, Wigeon 71, Cornmill Meads Stonechat 1, Fishers Green Farm, Skylark 55, 70 Acres Lake Bittern, at least 2 possibly 3 from the Watchpoint, Water Rail 3-4. Stephen Harris Horsenden Hill Bird, 27th - Stonechat (1m, 1f.), 28th - Stonechat (2f.); Redwing (15), Fieldfare (13), L. Redpoll (1), Woodpigeon (1150 sw in 2h) - Andrew J. Culshaw Fairlop. 11.40. Marsh Harrier flushed from middle. Also single Fieldfare.- Peter Hopkins, Dave & Pat Chinery. Trent Park area - 30+ redwing, pair of stonechats, 3 y'hammers, 4 fieldfare, 5 red admirals, Hadley Road, 3 small flocks, totaling 10 golden plover flew east at 11.15hrs over Parkside Farm - Robert Callf an Robin White Theobalds area, Enfield, traffic jam M25, last Monday - c10 grey partridge flew low over the road - Kevin Armitage Sat 27-10-01 Brimsdown canal towpath, 9.00-11.00am: Very tatty female or juvenile black redstart on ground/industrial buildings 300 yards south of the loading bay that overhangs the canal. A pair of stonechats near Mossops Creek, plus four chiffchaffs - one singing. Kingfisher fishing. Also 20 meadow pipits in the damp meadow, 30 linnets, and a pair of kestrels - male carrying rodent.- Martin Shepherd, also 2 black redstarts at Brimsdown for Helen Bantock Banbury 3 Green Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Wheatear looked at very carefully! 10 Little Grebes, 4 Lapwing south, 4 Grey Wagtails. Does anyone know about this Gyr Falcon at Tate Modern on Saturday? David Darrell-Lambert Walthamstow Reservoirs: Little Grebe 24, Wigeon 9, Teal 57, Shoveler 59, Ruddy Duck 19, Grey Wagtail 4, Stonechat 2 (Lockwood Field), Black Redstart 1 (east side of High Maynard), Budgerigar 1 (a blue one), Red Admiral 1. Stephen Harris Pinner Wood Farm, Siskin 15, Redwing 14, Song Thrush 24, Goldcrest 5 - John Palmer Fairlop. p.m. Wheatear, Green Sand, Little Owl, R.L.Partridge, Chiffchaff, Snipe.- Peter Hopkins. Ally Pally Very quiet now. Occassionally a pair of Gadwall can be seen on the reservoirs.Still Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Common Darter and Southern Hawker on the wing in the sun. Tom Clarke Trent Park/Vicarage Fm 3 small coppers, 3 red ads, brambling over, pair of stonechats, migrant hawker - Robert Callf Thu 25 Oct Trent Park/Vicarage Fm, 1 fieldfare over, brambling, redpoll, parakeet, chiffchaff all heard, stonechat, 15+ redwing, 2 red admirals, 1 fem small copper- R Callf Copped Hall, c80 greenfinch, single brambling, fieldfare, pr hooded mergansres - A Middleton Wed 24 Oct - am - Dagenham Chase - 1 Wheatear (Travellers Field), 2 Stonechat - Ken Barrett Tues 23-10-Dagenham Chase - 350 Golden Plover (Eastbrook Playing Field) best early am late pm. 8 Redwing (Reserve) and 3 Stonechat (Fel's Field) Ken Barrett 20th Oct Epping Forest, Crossbill (4) overhead, Hill Wood. Redpoll (12), Fairmead Pond. Tawny Owl (1), Long Hills. Chiffchaff (1), Speckled Wood (1), Connaught Water - Fraser Simpson, Lezah Ketchen WG Res 18 bn grebes recently Tue 23-10-01 Maida Av. Chingford, 10pm, redwings over and first tawny owl for two years - Richard Cope Oct 17th-20th startling experience of very pushy southern hawkers coming very close to Margaret and myself around the Cheshunt lakes, quite overcome by their approaches - John Fitzpatrick Sunday 21st Tottenham Marsh - a pair of Stonechat on the Lockwood field (Wild Marsh East); Monday 22nd Walth Marsh - 1 Chiffchaff, Wigeon call at night on my way home, Tate Modern - male Peregrine present at 8:45am, 2pm and 5:45pm, Today 23rd Tottenham Marsh - Stonechat calling at 6:45am in the dark whilst jogging (me not the stonechat), Walth Marsh - 2 Chiffchaffs, Tate Modern - male Peregrine at 9am, 2pm and 5:50pm, 4 adult GBBG's - David Darrell-Lambert Chingford Plain, 22 redpoll over, 1 fem blackcap - Ken Murray Vicarage Fm area, 3 stonechat, fem blackcap, 2 red ads - R Callf Mon 22-10-01 Pole Hill, Chingford, speckled wood, brambling, 15 red admirals and 5 small torts south - Richard Cope Trent Park/Vicarage Farm area, common buzzard, 7 small coppers, 3 stonechat, 17 red admirals south for Robert C plus 7 red ads for Robin W - R Callf, R White Sat 20-10-01 KGV Res, pm, red-necked grebe, 2 rock pipits, 2 fem goosanders, 5 ruddy duck, pair of black redstarts, green sandpiper, 40 meadow pipits, 30 pied wagtails - SC Horsenden Hill, Golden Plover (1 northeast), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1), Skylark (11, mainly south), Jackdaw (2) - Andrew J. Culshaw Bittern Watchpoint (70 Acres Lake). 12.45-17.30. Otter -swam along the edge of one of the islands at 13.40. Lost when it went under overhanging willows. Bittern - showed 3 times crossing the channels (at 13.55, 15.25 & 17.05), in view for a total of 4-5 seconds! Also 3-4 Water Rails, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, 3 Little Grebes, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, 3 Migrant Hawkers, 1 Common Darter and a Hornet (in the hide for a while!). Roy Woodward. Brent Res: 1 Brent Goose, from 10 - 11am and again at 2.30, 8 Swallows, 4 Lapwings, 7 Redwings, 1 Lesser Redpoll. Andrew Self Chingfors Plain, 1 woodcock flew up from n/e quarter, 1 stonechat, 2+ reed buntings - K Murray, A Middleton Fri 19-10-01 Nrth Enfield, Vicarage Farm, swallow sth, pair stonechat, reed bunting over, 3 y 'hammers, Grovelands Park, 45 mandarin, 59 tufted duck, 12 pochard - R Callf Copped Hall, 1 c buzzard, 1 brambling, flying over - 1 fieldfare, 15 skylarks, 10 redwing - A Middleton KGV Res, ad Mediterranean gull in roost, 3 goosander, 5 goldeneye, 10 wigeon, 1 stonechat Chingford Plain, 9 golden plover south - Ken Murray

Grey Phalarope at Banbury Res 17th Oct - Tristan Bantock - click to enlarge Thu 18-10-01 Vicarage Fm, 2 stonechat, Trent Park woodcock in flight - Robin White, also R Callf Chingford Plain, good numbers of common migrants - finches, thrushes, larks, one calling water/rock pipit flew over Whitehouse Plain area, 6 house martins over - Ken Murray Wed 17-10-01 Vicarage Farm, 3 stonechats-highest ever site count,one possible ring ouzel heard (not seen) by Robert, Trent Park, 2 speckled woods, 7 small coppers, 9 comma, 16 red admirals both sites, Grovelands Park, 52 mandarin inc 33 drakes, total 7 yellowhammers- sightings from R Callf and R White Dagenham Chase - 1 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat (seems a good autumn for these locally), 1 Redwing - Ken Barrett Banbury Res. p.m. Grey Phalarope still present, as is Red Crested Pochard at Valentines Pk. - Peter Hopkins Lea Valley Little Egret flying west high up over the southern end of 70 Acres Lake or Hookes Marsh at c15.40 (seen from near the Bittern Watchpoint). Also 4 Redpolls near the weir, 1 Redshank at the Goose Field, Water Rails at the BWpoint, SW corner of 70 Acres + near the Cormorant Spit and a Red Shoveler from the Pochard Hide. Roy Woodward

Tue 16-10-01 Grey Phalarope showing well at waters edge by sailing base at Banbury this p.m. 1 Swallow, 7 Green Sand., W. Girling flood channel. Tony Clancy
Trent Park area, peregrine probably immature, tree pipit, redpoll, 2 stonechat, 6 mandarin, 4 male bullfinch, kingfisher, 6 small coppers, 4 red ads, 4 comma - sightings from both R White and R Callf
KGV Res 2 black terns, Banbury Res grey phalarope
Wormley Wood area, 1 crossbill over and marsh tit - A Middleton

Mon 15-10-01 Grey Phalarope still on Banbury Reservoir in front of boating centre, drake Ferruginous Duck at Netherhall GP by main island-BIRDCALL
KGV Res, 1 black tern, 1 common sandpiper, 2 goosander, 5 little grebes, 1 stonechat, 30 goldfinch on thistles, 25 linnets

Sun 14-10-01 Grey Phalarope still on Banbury Reservoir right in front of boating centre. ( Also grey wagtail) Jeff Butcher
Trent Park area, 2 stonechat, redpoll - R Callf
Pinner Wood Farm, Redwing 14, Cormorant 3, Goldcrest 3, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1, Bullfinch 2, Song Thrush 10 - John Palmer
Claverhambury Carp Lakes. Drake mandarin. Pipistrelles at dusk.Martin Shepherd
Walthamstow Reservoirs (No's 1,2,3,4,5, East and West Warwick) Shoveler (121), Great Crested Grebe (40), Ruddy Duck (7), Common Sandpiper (1), Grey Wagtail (6), Chiffchaff (1), Southern Hawker, Speckled Wood. - Fraser Simpson

Sat 13-10-01 Theobald's Park Farm, near Waltham Cross. Stonechat. Shelduck feeding with 300+ canada geese and four barnacles. Also, a pair of stonechats on overgrown land to north of road between Little Chef and Waltham Cross. Red admirals everywhere. Martin Shepherd
Tylers Common, site record 8-10 stonechat, whinchat, 20 red admirals - Colin Jupp
W. Girling,1 Little Egret. K.G.V, 1 Yellow wag. 2 Goosander, 1 Goldeneye, 100's Red Admirals going south p.m. Never seen visible insect migration like it before. Tony
Fairlop, 11 corn buntings, wheatear, 5 swallows, Banbury Res, grey phalarope still showing well at 3.55pm - Alan Bell (sailing club entrance when open)
Drake Ferruginous Duck still at Netherhall GP at 9am, by main island -Birdcall
Cornmill Meadows, garganey with teal from hide - Phil Vines
Banbury Res 07:45, 1 Grey Phalarope, (juvenile moulting) found in the middle of the res! 1 Lapwing north, 350+ Cormorants off the roost north, 1 Redpoll, 22 Jackdaws south, 1 Comm Sand, Lockwood 09:21, 2 medium sized waders north, thought to be Knot but they both had pectoral bands! 20 Jackdaws south, 5 Rooks south, 6 Redwing south, 2 Wheatear, 1 juv Com Tern, 1 poss Ring Ouzel circled 100+ feet up then went north, 1 Snow Bunting heard not seen (not claiming). Rest of site - 20+ Skylark heard or seen, 50+ Meadow Pipts also heard or seen - David Darrell-Lambert
Brimsdown, singing black redstart, 2 stonechat and 1 whinchat - H & T Bantock
16 Mandarin (4mm) at Connaught Water and a dodgy hybrid which I believe has more Garganey ancestry than Blue-winged Teal - Ken Barrett
Trent Park area, 30+ red admiral mainly south or southwest, 13 comma, 1 painted lady, stonechat, 2 small copper - R Callf an R White

Fri 12-10-01 Horsenden Hill; (AM) Hen Harrier (female or imm.) arrived from west (Northolt direction) and departed towards southeast (roughly towards Ealing) at 8.05am. Also Skylark (20), Stonechat (1) and a Tawny Owl. Andrew J. Culshaw
Dagenham Chase-2 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 3 Stonechat,1 Green Sandiper. {Les Harrison/Trevor Broom) Ken Barrett.
1 Dunlin, 3 Green Sand W. Girling Flood Channel. 1 Stonechat by Res. fence - Tony Clancy
Trent Park/Vicarage Farm/Ferny Hill Fm, 12 small coppers, 21 red admirals, brimstone, 10 comma, 3 speckled woods, whinchat, stonechat, redpoll, 9 siskin - Robert Callf an d Robin White

Thu 11-10-01 11.10.01 14.45 LVP Cheshunt Marsh (near Bowyers) one male stonechat. Jeff Butcher
Drake Ferruginous Duck still at Netherhall GP at 9am, by main island - Phil Vines
Copped Hall, 2 c buzzards calling, 1 male stonechat, c15 swallows and house martins, pair of hooded mergansers - male no longer in eclipse - A Middleton
Trent Park area, whinchat Ferny Hill Farm, 7 rl partridge Vicarage Farm - R White
Whitewebbs 2 possibly 3 marsh tits, speckled wood - R Callf
Cornmill Meadows, garganey with teal from hide - S Hamilton
KGV Res, 2 goosander, 1 large 'noctule' type bat at dusk
11.00hrs - Dagenham Chase - 1 Whinchat, 3 Stonechat, 4 Golden Plover, 12 House Martins, 40 Meadow Pipit, 1 Blackcap, 2-3 Chiffs. Ken Barrett

left and centre - Little Egret
in August at Rye Meads,
right - Woodcock roding at Long Running in June
all Dave Rimes

Wed 10-10-01 Harrow on the Hill, Meadow Pipit 45 over, Pied Wagtail 37, House Martin 18, Goldfinch 15, Swallow 8, Chaffinch 2 - John Palmer
Horsenden Hill, Meadow Pipit (140+ south or southwest), Stonechat (1), Swallow (11), Chaffinch (25 south), Greenfinch (16 south), Mistle Thrush (11 west), Chiffchaff (1). - Andrew J. Culshaw
Drake Ferruginous Duck still at Netherhall, staying under willows on main island - Roy Woodward
Bittern Watchpoint - 1 Hobby + 2 Sparrowhawks. Cornmill Meadows - 1 Redshank, 14 Snipe, S'hawk, 1 Redwing, c12 Siskins. Also Grass Snake, Common Darters, Migrant Hawkers + deer prints (probably Fallow) in arboretum. 'Russels Road Footpath' (flood relief + bank of W. Girling Res.) - Rock Pipit, juv Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, c40 Linnets, 38 Teal, 8 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper (calling from S end of W. Girling). Roy Woodward
Trent Park area, 1 comma, 1 small copper, 30 linnets, 1 + 11 redwing, Lower Lake, 10 mandarin flew off c1pm, Grovelands Park pm, 58 mandarin inc 38 drakes, 1 ruddy duck - R Callf, also R White
09.30 Cornmill Meadows, LVP, late migrants house martins (small numbers), one redshank. Jeff Butcher
Valentines Pk. a.m. - (F) R. C. Pochard still present on Boating Lake.- Peter Hopkins.
Barking Marsh, 4 grey partridge, 3 common terns - A Middleton

Mon 8-10-01 Enfield Lock, bridge to Enfield Island Village, 8.25am. Sixty plus house martins moving south following River Lea - Martin Shepherd
KGV Res, pm, 2 sand martins, c50 house martins and a few swallows, 1 rock pipit
I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD THE ALPINE SWIFT TODAY, I SAW IT WELL FOR 3-4 SECONDS. IT WENT OVER THE HEDGE TOWARDS THE OLD CEMERTRY. I LOOKED FOR IT FOR HALF AN HOUR BUT IT HAD GONE - NICK SAMPFORD
HERTS ALPINE SWIFT. JUST N.OF WARE, FLEW S.OVER WATTON ROAD BY A10 FLYOVER AT 3.32PM - BirdCall

WeBS Sun 7-10-01 Thames (Lea to Beam) and Royal Docks: highlights, 131 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 10 Mute Swan, 90 Shelduck (Barking Bay), 224 Mallard, 496 Teal, 209 Tufted Duck, 41 Ringed Plover (Barking Bay), 143 Lapwing, 12 Dunlin (Barking Bay), 102 Redshank, 3 C Sandpiper (Beckton), 9 Yellow-legged Gull (Barking Bay), 13 Common Tern - Adrian Dally & Paul Davies
Drake Ferruginous Duck at Netherhall GP on Saturday - seen by Nigel May on WeBS count. Roy Woodward

Sat 6-10-01 Fairlop a.m. 35 Golden plover, c30 mipits. Peter Hopkins
Trent Park area, hobby, redpoll, 12 m. pipts - R Callf, R White
Harrow-on-the-Hill, Reed Bunting 1, Meadow Pipit 21, Song Thrush 4, Chiffchaff 1 - John Palmer
Woodford, 8 redwing over first thing - Ken Murray
NR W.G RES IN S.E CHANNEL AT 1PM - 6 GRN SANDS,1 NR SUM PLM DUNLIN, 2 SNIPE, KINGFISHER GRY WAG AND COMMON TERN ON RIVER LEA. NO L.EGRETS SEEN. EARLIER AT WEST HAM PARK PAIR OF BLACKCAPS AND 4 REDWINGS OVER. Marco - East London
10am Bretons Lake, Hornchurch: one whinchat, six swallows. Ken Barrett

Fri 5-10-01 Clippers Quay, 16 Chaffinch, 14 Mipit, 4 Grey Wag and a few House Martins south this morning before the cloud broke. Also still an amazing 13 Mute Swan on the dock - Howard Vaughan
Harrow on the Hill, Ring-necked Parakeet 4, Meadow Pipit 8, Blackbird 12 (1st W), Song Thrush 5, Goldfinch 30, Chiffchaff 2 - John Palmer
WG Res s/e channel from footpath, 1 dunlin, 9 green sands, 1 c snipe, 2 little egrets, kingfisher, 1 stranded barbel thrown from the shallow to the deep flood channel - various, Copped Hall, 1 c buzzard

Thu 4-10-01 Harrow on the Hill, Meadow Pipit 31, Lesser Black-backed Gull 58, Goldfinch 45, Chiffchaff 3, Swallow 1 - John Palmer
Lea Valley, Bittern seen this morning from Bittern watchpoint MIKE COTTON
HAYES HILL FARM FISHERS GREEN 3 Whinchat 4 Stonechat 1 Yellow wagtail + 3 Meadow pipits in freshly mown grass in 1st field on track to sailing club MIKE COTTON
Enfield Lock, Mollison Avenue, 8.00am: Five swallows heading south - Martin Shepherd
Adult ring-billed gull Isle of Dogs, opp Lovells Wharf ,am at least - Birdcall
Chingford Plain, stonechat - Ken Murray, and a redwing in the garden
Copped Hall, hobby, 3 c buzzard, kingfisher - Mick Collns
Horsenden Hill; Whitethroat (1), House Martin (12 south), Swallow (2 south), Meadow Pipit (47 south), Siskin (2), Fieldfare (1 south), Redwing (1), Chiffchaff (3) - Blackcap (1).- Andrew J. Culshaw
Southgate, painted lady nectaring outside flats, Trent Park, mating small copper, 3 comma, a few siskin, hobby, little grebe Lower Lake, 50+ swallow and house martin - R Callf and R White

Wed 3-10-01 Grovelands Park, 41 mandarin, 1 male ruddy duck - Robert Callf
Valentines Park. p.m. - Red Crested Pochard still present near old boat house.Grey Wag on brook, Kingfisher on ornamental water, plus G. S. Woodpecker. - Peter Hopkins
Parkside Farm, north Enfield, juvenile, prob female, hobby, also comma, speck wood, small copper and red admiral - R Callf
Nothing drastic over Clipper Quay today but an impressive 13 Mute Swan in the Dock and quite a few Mipits moving over-HV
Horsenden Hill; Oct 3rd; early morning, some passage of finches: Siskin (6 south); Redpoll (1 west); Linnet (18 south); Greenfinch (8 south). Also some Swallows with 40 south mainly in small groups, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1; Horsenden Wood), Chiffchaff (2) and Blackcap (1). 1st Oct 2 Teal flew east (unusual record) and Lesser Spotted Wood. alongside canal - Andrew J. Culshaw

Tue 2-10-01 Clipper Quay, Millwall Dock, Mudchute 1st October: female Black Redstart in same area as singing male on 28th (pair bred at this spot) 2nd October: 1 Lesserthroat, 2 chiffies, flock of 28 1st winter Blackbirds appeared from nowhere in the pouring rain and began devouring pyracantha berries whilst I was no more than 5 feet away. Within half hour of the rain stopping they had all moved on! - Howard Vaughan
KGV Res 5 ruddy duck, c sand, 1 goldeneye, 1 common tern, 1 rock pipit (prob Scandanavian with pale/whitish tail corners)
Enfield Lock by Rifles on ivy, 8 red admirals, 3 commas - R Callf
Three little egrets in flight over south end of WG res tonight and 1st winter Mediterranean gull

Mon 1-10-01 All Clippers Quay, Milwall Dock area: 27th: 1 lesser redpoll, 3 goldcrest, Grey wagtail, male Black Redstart still singing! 28th Common Seal in main Millwall Dock 1st Oct: 6ad and 2 juv Mute Swan on Dock and 14 House Martin west late morning - Howard Vaughan
Valentines Pk. p.m. Female Red Crested Pochard with Mallards on main lake, also 2 Grey Wags.- Peter Hopkins.
Channel s/e of WG Res, am, 2 little egrets viewable from footpath. Farmer reports a hoopoe KGV Res/Sewardstone Marsh for 2 days around time of Temmincks Stint (believed to have been wrestling with the ID in the interim)- news from Phil Vines
Dagenham Chase am - 17 Siskin, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 2 Chiffchaff, `1 L.S.Woodpecker, 40 House Martin, 12 Swallow. y/day 1 Stonechat - anon
Trent Park area, 4 small coppers, speckled wood, red admiral, Vicarage farm, 1 teal, 40+ linnets, 12 swallows - R Callf

Thundridge, Hi all - spent many hours on and off up at the seed patch. The bramblings are still there, numbers depending on time of day. They know my car now so tend to appear when I pull up with me seed. Best count of birds on the floor was c.87 on Sat before Christmas.I've had marsh tit (above) nearly every time lately - 2 birds together, but I feel there are proberly 2 pairs as there always seems to be one bird on the seed. Other good birds - treecreeper, coal tit, sparrowhawk [daily], common buzzard 2/12 & 27/12 [above], lesser spotted woodpecker, possibly heard hawfinch twice but didnt see on either occassion - plus all the common species - great, blue, long tailed tit, gold, chaff + greenfinch, robin, dunnock, goldcrest, wren, blackbird, redwing, fieldfare, song thrush, magpie, crow, jay, pheasant, red-legged partridge, kestrel, yellowhammer, reed bunting, heron, green and great spotted woodpecker - Nick Sampford Hertford garden Hi - Since moving into our new house in Hertford mid-September , I have been feeding the birds both from feeders and on the ground .The ground flock has been building up nicely to about 60 birds ( maximum 80 ) , mainly Chaffinch , but with up to 7 Brambling including a male in close to breeding plumage . As this is the first winter in our new house , I have no idea whether this number of Brambling is exceptional or not . The feeders are attracting up to 20 Greenfinch , a dozen or so Goldfinch and a few tits . No sign recently , however , of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that visited the feeders twice shortly after we moved in .Alan Reynolds
Mon 31.12.01 KGV Reservoir about 9.30 found a red-necked grebe on the south basin, but couldn't find it again around 11 am when leaving. Black redstart (m) active in usual area on fence on west side. Jeff Butcher KGV Res - 2 Goosander, no sign of RB Merganse. Found two male Black Redstarts on the fence by the pylons about 10 metres apart. The brilliantly marked one I've seen previously and another bird with much fainter white wing panels. Leggetts end, a pair of Stonechats. Good views of a Song Thrush, near the BRs, with a snail, using a big stone at the bottom of the fence as an anvil. Reed Bunting by Mossops, Linnet by Excel. Pair of Green Woodpeckers on the fence. 10+ Redwings and Fieldfares on the bank beyond north basin. 3 Snipe and one Jack Snipe on Sew. Marsh. Helen Bantock Oakwood Pk, nuthatch, Enfield Town Pk Sat 2 nuthatch, Abney Pk Cemetery, 2 Grt spots, 4 stock doves - R Callf Sun 30-12-01 13:45, Lea Valley Park, Bittern from the Bittern Watchpoint hide (briefly!) crossing the rightmost channel, also Water Rail there. Roger Payne KGV Res Female Red-Breasted Merganser on north basin. We had good views, but not close enough for pics. Amazingly, in view of low temperature, male Black Redstart was feeding by pylons.- Helen and Tristan Bantock

Lea Valley Bittern from Pochard Hide - North Met Pit)), Cheshunt today at about 13:30. Showing very well in front of the hide, standing on the ice and clambering through the reeds in the icy conditions, until disturbed by noisy walkers and people entering the hide. Turnford Brook car park is the best place to park - Pochard Hide is located in Nightingale Wood. Over the past week a group of 4 Waxwings has been reported in the same area (Turnford Brook car park and just up the road at Canonsgate) - exactly the same spot where the party of 5 was present in January / February this year. I have had a look over the past couple of days, but have had no joy so far. This information comes from a reliable source - the observer who discovered the group earlier in the year works with a member of my family, and actually lives in Canonsgate, when he first discovered them feeding in front of his house. Huge numbers of Wigeon on Friday lake / Bowyers Water on 24/12/01. 3 Goldeneye on Friday Lake. Ross.Facer@uk.experian.com Copped Hall 14 bullfinch, 300+ chaffinch, also 50+ greenfinch, 20 brambling, 6 woodcock - A Middleton Sat 29-12-01 Connaught Water: 206 Teal, 36 Mandarin and 3 Puna Teal Howard Vaughan 2 Drake Smew+1 Redhead Hooks Marsh G.P. Large flock of Goldfinches & Siskins in nearby Alders. Cheers Tony Clancy Fishers Green, Goosefield area, 3+ brambling with chaffinch flock feeding on stubble - Bill Cutts and friends LOND presumed Yellow-browed Warbler. South Woodford - (reported) private garden midway along High View road adj to wood, briefly @ 8am, Firecrest.seen by several observers - various people Fri 28-12-01 Walthamstow Res 32 Gadwall, 11 Goldeneye, 56 Ruddy Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper. Stephen Harris Hume's yellow-browed warbler reported east side of Gilbert's Slade, South Woodford (Nov 19th and last ten days) Hi - heres photos of a pair of bullfinches taken this am at Westmill, Buntingford - Nick Sampford

Thu 27-12-01 KGV Res - Goosander 2 in flood relief channel, 3 north end north basin, Ruddy Duck 53 West side north basin, Black Redstart I male west side north basin, Many thrushes in field north end of north basin, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Redwings and Fieldfare, Green Woodpecker north and west side, all the usual ducks Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, Goldeneye & Wigeon - Pat Hart Brimsdown - Mossops, Chiffchaff seen and heard calling in the bushes, Grey Wagtail in Ponders End channel. KGV Res Male Stonechat on fence opposite Leggetts, Green Woodpecker feeding, male Black Redstart feeding from the fence by the pylons. . 38 Ruddy duck,one Goosander, Little Grebe, on South basin. 40+ lapwing on Sewardstone Marsh - H Bantock Lea Valley - Bittern at hide 70 Acres pm flew in from across lake. Pair of Smew Holyfield , 6 Goosander also. Tony Clancy Nrth Enfield, Vicarage Fm/Fernyhill Fm, 10 r.l.partridge, 34 stock doves, 10 yellowhammers, 6 song thrush - R Callf Ware - male blackcap again this am - L Goodyear

Sun 23-12-01 Bittern at Fishers Green watchpoint @ 9.15 a.m. ..... crossed R/H channel - Richard Chew KGV Res 9.15am-12.30pm.North Basin. Six Linnets by Leggetts.Green Sandpiper flew over towards Brimsdown from the Reservoir. A Goosander flew north along the R. Lee Navigation canal. On the Reservoir there were 27 Ruddy Duck, 45+ Teal, a good number of Goldeneye, a few Pochard and Gadwell.Looking over at Sewardstone Marsh from the north end, there were 3 Snipe, one Jack Snipe and a water rail, all feeding out in the open. 16 Jackdaws in the field with cattle. Walking back, a Green Woodpecker and Songthrush were on the fence opposite the old Delta site and, best of all, a pristine male Black Redstart, in perfect condition, by the usual pylons.Helen Bantock. KGV Res pm, adult Mediterranean gull in the roost, 2 snipe alng the water's edge, Ponders End Marsh channel, 1 green sandpiper and 1 jack snipe - A Middleton Sat 22-12-01, Brimsdown canal towpath, a.m. Male stonechat on far canal bank at end of Duck Lees Lane. Pair of stonechat in the pasture opposite blue Johnson Matthey buildings. Enfield Lock - little grebe on the cut by the power station.- Martin Shepherd Lea Valley 9.10 am Long-eared owl back in usual roost. 9.45 am 70 Acre, LVP Chiffchaff on island near Bittern Watchpoint. 10.15 am 320 Canada geese on Goosefield (plus 5 Barnacle, 4 greylag). Jeff Butcher Fri 21-12-01 Whitewebbs Park, 2 marsh tits feeding on field maple seeds, 3 mandarin, kingfisher Wildwoods Lake, 'Archers' Wood' 1km north of Forty Hall, 1 marsh tit, also 7 shoveler on lake - R Callf Ally Pally 1 Woodcock, 1 Water Rail, 6 Gadwall. Tom Clarke LOND ad Caspian Gull. King George V Resr - on S.Basin, in evng roost (PERMIT ONLY).BirdCall WG Res, pm, 8 black-necked grebes, min of 20 adult yellow-legged gulls (indicative of) - R Cope, A Middleton Grey wagtail over Marble Arch area - Ken Murray Thur 20-12-01 Grovelands, 113 mandarin inc 68 drakes, 51 tufted duck, 3 grt spots - R Callf Fishers Green, a.m. Three bramblings with 30 chaffinches feeding on the ground to the right of the sailing club gate. Sparrowhawk flew low across the field into the hedgerow and flock of c30 skylarks in the stubble. In alders near Holyfield Weir, there was a mixed group of siskins, redpolls, and goldfinches. The sunlight was on the birds, so brilliant views. Also, at 2.00pm, grey wagtail on Government Row, Enfield Lock - Martin Shepherd KGV Res: Four goosander, 26 goldeneye, 36 ruddy ducks, green woodpecker on causeway, two grey wags, four redwings, four fieldfares. The little owl still in smallest of the three oaks NE of causeway. Sean Huggins. (when I was renewing my permit at Walthamstow today the guy in the office said KGV was still 'officially' closed because of F&M!!! Surely Britain's longest F&M closure. He did promise that no one would 'come after me' if I went there though)- see Tue 20-11-01 As far as is known, the official Thames Water line is that the KGV is definitely open to permit holders with their old keys. On Tuesday however, the lock had been changed, so Tony Baumber, unable to go birding, went to Walthamstow Res, where he was told that 'birders' had changed the lock, and that the lock would be changed back, which it was - AM. I had trouble with the lock on Sunday and complained to Walthamstow by phone - I spoke to the man on duty and was asked where KGV was!!! I thought I might have had a problem with my key, but I know other people tried Monday and found same problem. Jeff Butcher A Chiffchaff around the lagoon at Fairlop today - Steve Stuart Copped Hall, c10 brambling, 9 red-legged partridge - A Middleton Wed 19-2-01 Trent Park area, 8 treecreepers, 2 nuthatch, 5 grt spots, 50 chaffinch, 14 stock doves, 2 pairs of bullfinch feeding on ash seeds at Covert Way NR, Hadley, R Callf - red admiral and woodcock reported Tue Trent Park by R White Enfield Lock. Tawny Owl heard calling at 11.40pm from gardens/possibly roofs of houses on south side of Ordnance Road half way between wildlife garden and station. Martin Shepherd Broxbourne Woods NR, 1 woodcock Tue 18-2-01 A single Marsh Tit seen in Hainault Forest - Steve Stuart Grovelands, record 107 mandarin at c.4pm, counted when they leave their islands and perches, and gather on the water before dispersing into the woods to forage at dusk, probably four red-head goosander flew off at RC's arrival - R Callf Mon 17-12-01 Grovelands Park, Southgate, record count of 104 mandarin inc. 67 drakes - Robert Callf LOND ad RBGull. Thames Barrier, then flew E.+ 550 Teal, 17 Shelduck.BirdCall Hello. Here is a nice and easy way to help a lot of people. Thames Water has promised to donate £50,000 to Water Aid if 2,000,000 visit their website. This would give 6,000 people in the poorest parts of the world safe and accessible water for their whole lives. So please visit www.givewater.org and click in the appropriate spot. This could be the best Christmas present you ever send. Best wishes for a joyous Christmas and here's hoping for a happy, healthy and successful 2002. Joy Park Sunday 16-12-01 Rammey Marsh east, am, small flock of reed buntings - Brian Dawton Fishers Green, Goosefield. Female merlin seen a.m. by Brian Sperring. Flew across goosefield from tree near sailing club. Seen again from Bittern Hide flying fast across the lake.- Martin Shepherd Ally Pally Seen over the past week: 2+ Bullfinches, 10+ Chaffinches, 5+Greenfinches, 3 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 probable Ring Billed Gull (could be first for the park!), a few very active Great Spotted Woodpeckers around the park, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a few Goldcrests, pair of Grey Wagtails. Tom Clarke. KGV am 16.12.01 5 goosanders in river (4m 1f), little owl still in the oak tree (in the smaller of the three oaks, ne of the causeway over the river), 15 ruddy duck, sparrowhawk (f) taking a starling and then letting it go (alive) when disturbed by man on the golf course. No sign of red-necked grebe. Bittern Watchpoint, Fishers Green pm several water rail, kingfisher, 1 smew (rh), 1 ruddy duck, bittern reported in the morning. No sign of yesterday's Cettis Warbler. Jeff Butcher Fairlop this afternoon 2 Stonechats& 70+ Fieldfares into roost - Alan Bell Walthamstow Reservoirs, 16 Goldeneye, 7 Goosander, 39 Ruddy Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 40 Goldfinch. Also, 1 possible Caspian Gull seen briefly before flying south. - Stephen Harris & Dan England. Epping Forest area, 20+ brambling Copped Hall, 1 woodcock, 2 snipe Trueloves, Mott Street - T+H Bantock, A Middleton
A couple more bramblings from Nick Sampford
Sat 15-12-01 Nazeing GP 12 goosander - Helen Bantock Vicarage Farm, 9 red-legged partridge - Robert Callf Isle of Dogs, the adult ring-billed gull on Thames shore until 9.15 when it flew towards Greenwich Park -- Sean Huggins Amwell Gravel Pits - presumed female American Wigeon from main watchpoint + five Smew (inc.3 drakes), 1 Little Egret flying over NW at 11am, 12+ Goldeneyes, 1 Shelduck, 1 Ruddy Duck, 2 Redpolls by railway line, 5+ Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 50+ Tufted Ducks, 30+ Pochard, 50+ Gadwall, 70+ Wigeon, 20+ Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 30+ Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 5+ Cormorants, 100+ Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5+ Reed Buntings, 10+ Goldfinches, 5+ Redwings, 7 Little Grebes and 10+ Great Crested Grebes - Stephen Patmore KGV Res Red necked Grebe. Cettis warbler reported near Long-eared owl roost, 70 Acres/Hooks Marsh area - news from Phil Vines Tottenham Marsh - female Stonechat on Wild Marsh East (Lockwood Field) Amwell GP - 6 Smew (3 males), several Goldeneye, 2 Shelduck, 1 Waterail, 1 Wigeon sp considered to be an American. - I'd like to know other peoples opinion on this bird. I watched it for 1.5 hours, it isn't a classic American Wigeon as it lacks the grey head with peppering on it. It's head has a grey cast and the peppering isn't very strong. I didn't see the underwing. The tertial edges are white as are some of the female Wigeon there. If you go there try walking down the lea (100 m) you can see it better from there. I would not have looked at this bird twice if I was on my own, I am undecided on the identity of it. People should have a look at the hybrids in the autumn Alula magazine. There is a female WigeonXAmerican which is inseperable from an American and was only known because it was a captive bird. - David Darrell-Lambert 14-12-01 Red Necked Grebe KGV south basin near causeway E side + 3 Goosander. Large flock Wigeon Ponders End Lake. Tony Clancy Netherhall GP, mid-pm, 27 Bewick's swans on the water, 21 adults, 6 first winters, one juvenile was called down as it flew over - the flock flew off to the northeast after 3pm - Steve Connor Sewardstone, 1 water rail, 10 common snipe, 10 skylark, 16 lapwing - A Middleton KGV Res am, 23 ruddy duck, 4 goosander, little owl back in oak c200m (north) east of causeway, not seen here for 2 or3 years - Phil Vines 13-12-01 WG Res am, one adult red-necked grebe briefly, then thought to have flown south, also c.12 b n grebes here recently - Phil Vines Lea Valley With the lack of of bird new, perhaps a little bit of good news for a change - the Owl box near the goose-field has been put up today, let's hope it not to late. And I have been told ( hope it's true ) that a new farmer has recently taken over the farm at Holyfield, and he is more sympathetic to wildlife than the last farmer (not difficult), so maybe next year we will not have 4+ pairs of Lapwing nests ploughed into the ground as happened this year. The Copped Hall Lodge area Brambling/Chaffinch roost is building up now, my max so far is 24 but I have only been there on dull/overcast afternoons and as the light is bad they fly straight into the roost and dont bother to sit around in trees. East London Birders Forum Report for 2000 now available! - Tony Gray Copped Hall - farmer, keepers and conservation officer (Epping Forest/Corporation of London) teamed up to sow some mixed sunflower and quinoa crops for winter bird seed, and these are attracting a good number of finches - 300+ at times. Brambling numbers have been increasing, although variable, but hit a high today with 55 counted - please keep to the permissive footpath away from the crops from where the flock can be watched with ease and not disturbed, also 1 common buzzard over HERTS f.American Wigeon Amwell GPs, 1.5ml SE of Ware, still from main viewpoint on NW side (TL376127), paired with a Wigeon & favours E.side of pit - BirdCall
12-12-01 During a morning at Fishers Green LVP today covering 70 Acre, Goosefield and Hayes Farm, we logged 55 species including the two stonechats still near Hayes Farm, grey wagtail with pied wagtail in a small flock of meadow pipits at the Farm; large flock of skylarks on the fields opposite the Goosefield, 4 snipe flying over the Goosefield, generally large numbers of fieldfare, redwing and siskin around. Jeff Butcher HERTS fem American Wigeon. Amwell GPs - 1.5ml SE of Ware, 1.40pm from main viewpoint on NW side (TL376127).BirdCall The jury seems well split on this one - best go look!
Here's a pretty crappy photo of the American Wigeon at Amwell. It was about 300 yards away and there wasn't much light at all today but it's a record shot - Nick S	?
Hi all. Here's a better brambling photo - Nick Sampford

11-12-01 Amwell GP, 85 Eurasian Wigeon, one female thought to be an American Wigeon (quite grey and reported whitish axilliaries). Two water rail, leucistic collared dove nr St Margaret's station - news from Robert Callf

above - Hi - just a couple of photos of bramblings taken this afternoon at Thundridge (Herts) - not the best pictures but record shots. Now got 9+ brambling coming to my seed patch and a pair of marsh tits plus all the normal bits - Nick Sampford below - Smew and goosander and siskin recently in the Lea Valley - Tristan Bantock

Mon 10-12-01 Male Peregrine at Tate Modern. Also reported male Velvet Scoter on High Maynard yesterday! I'll be looking for it in the morning!!!! - David Darrell-Lambert Grovelands Park pm, 99 mandarin, inc 39 ducks, 13 cormorants - Robert Callf Amwell, female American wigeon type present again today (pale greyish female wigeon present here on 23rd November) HERTS fem American Wigeon. Amwell GPs, from NW side (TL376127).- BirdCall Sun 9-12-01 WG Res, unidentified wader flew through with lapwing flock, possibly a knot - Phil Vines am-Dagenham Chase- Five Bullfinch (most in recent winters), 32 Golden Plover. Throughout the week : five Chiffchaff (whole site), 2-3 Stonechat, five Ruddy Duck, one female Goldeneye, 34 Gadwall (high for site). Ken Barrett Copped Hall - 1 Common Buzzard, c.150 Chaffinch, 50+ Greenfinch, 7 Brambling. Jack's Hill, Epping Forest - 1 Firecrest, seen by the main path around 200 yards uphill (west) from the rear of the Sixteen-string Jack towards the first car park. Stephen Harris Banbury Res 7 Goosander, 127 Lapwing, 2 Com Sands, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Goldeneye, Tottenham Marsh 1 pair Stonechat, 5 Reed Buntings. Reported female Am Wigeon at Amwell GP has been present since Nov! David Darrell-Lambert I bumped into two guys at Fairlop this pm who said they had earlier today been to Walthamstow Res & had a male Velvet Scoter on High Maynard, up the top part of the water where it narrows down by the wooded island - sounded interesting but too late to check out. There where 4 Velvets at Island Barn Res this morning - news from Alan Bell. KGV Res south basin: Green Sandpiper, Red Crested Pochard, at least 13 Goldeneye, numerous Tufted duck and Coot. North basin: 12+ Wigeon, c.10 Gadwell, 20 Lapwing roosting, two male/one female Goosander, one Little Grebe and a few Teal. Small numbers of Black headed Gulls, one L Black Back and a couple of H. Gull. 12 Goldfinches, 7 meadow pipits Sewardstone Marsh: Male Stonechat on fence north of channel, 13 Moorhens feeding, two Little Owls in Oak tree to left of greenhouses - Helen Bantock Brent Res, 6 Pintail.- Andrew Self Sat 8-12-01 Rye Meads 1 Bittern, between 3 and 5 Woodcock, 2 Green Sandpipers, 51 Golden Plover over (probably from the Amwel roundabout flock), 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Redpoll, 11 Fieldfare, 30 Reed Buntings going in to roost, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Grey Wagtails, 10 plus Water Rails (3 trapped), 5 Goldcrest. Duck numbers very low due to work being undetaken on lagoons at present. However, 250 Teal in the meadows. The white B H Gull was present again today. This is the bird with a ring on and which was ringed as a pullus in Scandinavia now several years old.- Paul Roper RMRG Walthamstow Reservoirs (am) 14 Little Grebe, 41 Shoveler, 95 Pochard, 8 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander, 18 Ruddy Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 40 Blackbird. - Stephen Harris Horsenden Hill Little Owl (1; south of the burning yard), Nuthatch (1; a long staying bird in Perivale Wood), Redpoll (1), Stonechat (3). - Andrew J. Culshaw Copped Hall - brood of several mallard chicks doubled in size in last two weeks, pair hooded mergansers, 1 mandarin - A Middleton/T Clancy Thu 6th red admiral Woodford Station - Ken Murray House of Commons - Culture, Media and Sport Committee - First Report - Picketts Lock [UNPICKING THE LOCK: THE WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE UK "This is another fine mess ..." Oliver Hardy.] Fri 7-12-01 Holyfield Farm - pair stonechat. Joy Park Trent Park 2 bullfinch, 3 mandarin, Fernyhill Farm, 1 brambling - R Callf Thu 6-12-01 Epping Forest, Flagstaff Hill, 1 woodcock, 2 red admirals flying mid-day in sunshine, 2 nuthatch -A Middleton Harold Wood - dark butterfly either peacock or red admiral seen briefly - Colin Jupp Woodford Station red admiral in flight - Ken Murray Wed 5-12-01 Grovelands Park minimum 100 mandarin late afternoon inc 64 drakes - Robert Callf North Mymms common buzzard - A Middleton
Tue 4-12-01 Fishers Green A flock of Siskin, Brambling with Chaffinches (on the way to Grebe hide).Two male, one female Goosander. Lots of Fieldfare and Redwing, male Goldeneye, one Long Eared Owl and Chiffchaff.- Tristan Bantock KGV Res pm, 14 ruddy duck, 40 goldfinch, 1 common sandpiper, 1 stonechat Brimsdown - A Middleton Whitewebbs, 2 marsh tits with tit flock, 2 muntjac, Forty Hall 9 shoveler - R Callf, also woodcock Mon 3rd Trent Park seen by Robin White Sun 2-12-01 Harrow-on-the-Hill, Coal Tit 1, Fieldfare 55, Song Thrush 9, Goldfinch 17, Meadow Pipit 12 - John Palmer Brimsdown, canal towpath, 9.20am. Male black redstart on fenceposts under usual pylon. - Martin Shepherd Enfield Town kingfisher New River Loop, 9 pochard, greenfinch roost only18+, Grovelands Friday 84 mandarin - Robert Callf -am Dagenham Chase- c600 Golden Plover (Eastbrook PF) No trace of tristis type Chiffchaff (27th Nov Eastbrook Grove) A female Goldeneye on 1st Dec. Ken Barrett			Meadow Pipit - Lea Valley, Nick Sampford

I'm sure everyone who visits this page regular, like what I do, would wish to thank all those who have contributed through the year - many thanks and all that and a happy new year to all - andy


Sun 18-11-01 Vicarage Farm, nrth Enfield, 9 red-legged partridge, 34 lapwing NW, lesser spotted woodpecker flew over, 100 fieldfare + a few redwing - R Callf Hoopoe at Harpenden today - Nick Sampford Asked if he will get a hat-trick of Hoopoes this year > Had 3 already - Porthgwarra, London and now Herts. That's 22 I've seen in Britain.