Wednesday, October 31, 2007

31st October 2007

Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0700-0850 MJP
o/c. light W.

visible migration

Woodpigeon - 533
Starling - 295
Goldfinch - 65+
Chaffinch - 38
Siskin - 12
redpoll - 1
Brambling - 1
Redwing - 49
Fieldfare - 18
Jackdaw - 3
Skylark - 3
Meadow Pipit - 2

also:

Water Rail - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2
Goldcrest - c12
Common Gull - 4


Walthamstow Marshes 0930-1100 MJP
sunny, mild. light W.

Skylark - 14
Meadow Pipit - 10
Linnet - 4
Fieldfare - 3
Redwing - c20
Woodpigeon - c80

An entertaining morning's skywatching at the Reservoirs, with good numbers of late autumn migrants moving; Woodpigeons, Starlings, Chaffinches and Goldfinches were especially numerous, with a noticeably strong movement of the latter species. Siskins made it into double figures, a rare event on patch, and three Skylarks were, at last, the first of the autumn.

Goldcrests were liberally scattered, and the Water Rail remains faithful to the southern fringe of the East Res.