Aside from expected seasonal occurences locally (Redwings in Clissold Park, Reed Buntings and Water Rail at the Reservoirs, etc.), the late winter continues to be fairly quiet in the local area.
The pair of Red-crested Pochards continue their stay at the East Reservoir (with as many as 32 free-flying birds currently present in Regent's Park), where a Lesser Redpoll and a Yellow-legged Gull were also reported on the 8th (TB).
Clissold Park still has a female Brambling with a small Chaffinch flock, last seen on the 8th in St. Mary's Old Church Yard (at the south-east corner of the park), where Goldcrests are omnipresent and in song at one of several traditional breeding sites in the area. They are also ubiquitous in Abney Park Cemetery, where the first Peacock butterfly of the year was present on the 8th.
A Mediterranean Gull has been seen regularly over the last few months with Black-headed Gulls at Clapton Common, often present in pre-roost gatherings (PR). A rare bird in the area, this is only the second record in recent years.