First day out and about in the neighbourhood in over a week (on account of a trip to Corfu - see last post), and three sites covered:
Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0630-0845 MJP, LP
mild, o/c. mod WSW.
Water Rail - 1
Jackdaw - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 1
Chiffchaff - 8
Meadow Pipit - 1 south
Reed Bunting - 2
Mistle Thrush - 10
Walthamstow Marshes 1200-1330 MJP
o/c, odd showers and sunny ints. mild. mod SW.
Greenland-type Wheatear - 1(horse field)
Yellow Wagtail - 2
Meadow Pipit - 3
Clissold Park 1400-1550 MJP
Firecrest - 1 (with mixed flock in NE corner of park)
Chiffchaff - 3
Little Grebe - 4
A good day all round, with quality (if not quantity) at all three sites. The reservoirs were hard work, and visible migration remains practically non-existent, but the first Jackdaw of the autumn and a single Meadow Pipit at least served to of things to come. Chiffchaffs were more numerous than of late, and a Water Rail feeding along the NW corner of the ER was the first of the autumn and the highlight of the morning.
The marshes were also fairly quiet, but for a Greenland Wheatear in the horse field - on size, stance and colouration, the bird has evidently made a transatlantic crossing as the first part phase of its migration, which is always a real marvel.
A walk in the park also yielded an unexpected gem in the form of a Firecrest, which moved through (and gave views down to a couple of metres) with a mixed flock of tits, finches and warblers; the third individual in the park this autumn, which is a great strike rate.