Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0645-1040 MJP, TB
high cloud, some sun. mod NNW.
Redstart - 1 male
Spotted Flycatcher - 3
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Common Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 1
Garden Warbler - 2+
Sedge Warbler - 5
Reed Warbler - 5
Willow Warbler - 6
Chiffchaff - 4
Common Tern - 1(high, NW)
House Martin - 37
Sand Martin - 4
Swallow - 1
Wigeon - 1
Gadwall - c30
Shoveler - c25
Little Grebe - 2
Sparrowhawk - 2
up on patch shortly after dawn, and as promised by overnight showers, migrant passerines were rich and varied. Missed the Redstart by a few minutes (I was over on the East Res at the time) and failed to connect after a lengthy search with Tony, but enough variety to soften the fall; indeed, watching all eight common spp. of warbler within an hour is a treat anywhere, let alone in central London.
Three Spot Flys and a Blackcap were along the southern flank of the ER, Common and Lesser Whitethroats were along the New River path west (as was the Redstart), Garden Warblers were there and also along the northern flank of the ER, Sedge Warblers were scattered liberally amongst the reeds of the ER, Reed Warblers were, as is often the case at this time of year, pretty much anywhere, and Phylloscs were scattered, but mainly along the New River west.
A Common Tern high and NW was the first for a while, all three hirundines moved through, the Wigeon is the first of the autumn, and dabbling duck numbers are high.