17th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 0630-0930hrs MJP
misty and dull early, sunny later; mild. light NW.

Peregrine - 1 (east, 0815)
Tree Pipit - 1 (north, 0745)
Meadow Pipit - 16
Siskin - 8
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 9
Willow Warbler - 1-2
Chiffchaff - 5
Grey Wagtail - 3
Sparrowhawk - 2-3
Kestrel - 1
Wigeon - 7
Red-crested Pochard - 2
Canada Goose - 23
Reed Bunting - 1
Mistle Thrush - 15
Blackbird - 45
Kingfisher - 2
Goldcrest - 2

visible migration again productive; the first day of the autumn to feature mixed finch flocks overhead, with Greenfinch and Chaffinch dominating, and 8 Siskin (one over, seven alighting in treetops with Greenfinch) the highlight. A number of flocks passed high overhead when blue skies broke through, unfortunately too high to i.d. on calls or sight.

The first Peregrine of the autumn, pursued by a Carrion Crow and heading east, was probably a young male. Pipits continue to pass through, with a total of 16 Meadow Pipits (in ones, twos and threes) and a single Tree Pipit; two of the three Grey Wags flew high overhead, suggesting migrants rather the 'resident' few.

Warblers, while not abundant, provided good variety - a Lesser Whitethroat in scrub at the ER and still-lingering Sedge being the pick. Blackbirds were numerous in the berry scrub at dawn, most having moved on by 7a.m. The group of Wigeon, present now for several days, numbered six, but were joined by a male coming in high from the NE, illustrating the 'crossover' of migrant wildfowl on site. A Reed Bunting at the ER is surprisingly the first for many weeks.

15th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 0630-0915hrs MJP,LP
o/c, showers. light-mod NE.

Hobby - 1 adult, chasing hirundines, then heading N 0745
Common Snipe - 2 N, 0900
Tree Pipit - 1 N, 0730
Meadow Pipit - 3 singles over
Sand Martin - 1
Swallow - 10
Sedge Warbler - 1 (singing at dawn)
Reed Warbler - 8 (one singing)
Willow Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 12 (several singing)
Red-crested Pochard - 2
Wigeon - 9
Canada Goose - 49
Kingfisher - 2
Song Thrush - 15
Blackbird - 20
Mistle Thrush - 10
Robin - c15
Black-headed Gull - 25
Herring Gull - 1
LBB Gull - 4



another entertaining early morning on patch, the highlight being an adult Hobby - which came in from the east, terrorised a small group of hirundines, performed beautifully over the East Res and then departed to the north. Visible migration continues to provide, with a single Tree Pipit (the first of the year), three Meadow Pipits, two Snipe (the first for the autumn), ten Swallows and a Sand Martin all overhead.

Thrushes and Robins maintain a comparatively numerous migratory presence, and warblers are still moving through; they're also (surprisingly) singing regularly, with Sedge, Reed and chiffys all in song today (as well as Willow and Garden in the last few days).

Wildfowl numbers - especially Gadwall, Common Pochard, Shoveler and Tufted Duck - are high, and the extensive weed present on the East Res is a hit with Wigeon, nine of which are now present. The pair of Red-crested Pochards (an imm. male and a female)and two Kingfishers were also frequenting the ER; over on the WR, 49 Canada geese roosted and left at dawn (sadly bereft of any african brethren).

13th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 1030-1200hrs MJP,TB
humid, changeable. mod SW.


Egyptian Goose - 2
Garden Warbler - 1
Wigeon - 8
Chiffchaff - 6
Sand Martin - 2



Aren't they glorious? Direct from Lake Nasser, obviously, two Egyptian Geese appeared at the Reservoirs this morning. Rather shy (thus strengthening their vagrant credentials), they commuted between the two reservoirs and could be seen easily from the New River path.

A Garden Warbler in full song in the thickets on the southern fringe of the East Res. was another nice surprise, and there are now eight Wigeon (also on the East).




(Thanks to Gary and Tony for the tip-off.)

12th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 0645-1110hrs MJP,LP
heavy showers early, then o/c and bright; v humid. wind v light, variable.


Wigeon - 7
Spotted Flycatcher - 3-4
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 12
Chiffchaff - 16
Willow Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 1
Swallow - 11
Song Thrush - 25
Blackbird - 30
Robin - 16
Little Grebe - 11

hopes raised by overnight rain (and on patch in time for a heavy downpour), and although nothing overwhelming around, the autumn's first Wigeon were welcome, and passerine migrants had increased in numbers. At least three, possibly four, Spot Flys (all presumably new birds after several blank days at the reservoirs) continues the species' unprecedented run in the area this year.

(six of seven wigeon, East Res)

Song Thrushes, Robins and Blackbirds were present in good numbers, and eleven swallows were, suprisingly, the first hirundines (but for a lone Sand Martin on the 8th) in almost a week. Reed Warblers are presently almost everywhere around the fringe of the East Res., and at least sixteen Chiffchaffs, two Sedge Warblers, and single Willow Warbler and Blackcap made for a respectable warbler presence.

11th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 0645-0900hrs MJP,LP
warm, clear, sunny. light S.

Hobby - 1 juv.
Yellow Wagtail - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 10
Willow Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 8
Blackcap - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 30+
Jay - 6+
Little Grebe - 11
Black-headed Gull - 25
Herring Gull - 2
Kingfisher - 1
Grey Wagtail - 2
Pied Wagtail - 2
Goldcrest - 4

productive and enjoyable early morning session in beautiful conditions. Yellow Wagtail over, calling and continuing south at 0725, and a cracking juvenile Hobby low overhead (and heading southeast) at 0845. Also a nice selection of warblers, with a notably late Sedge battling with chiffys in the reeds.

Wildfowl numbers remain high, although aside from the six common duck species (and the Red-crested Pochards), the autumn has yet to provide much variety.

10th September 2006

Clissold Park 1300-1830hrs MJP,GJ
warm, clear, sunny. light SE.


Spotted Flycatcher - 2
Chiffchaff - 3
Sparrowhawk - 2

Unproductive sky-watching session in the park (although hardly a chore under indian summer skies), with no overhead records to speak of; however, two more spot flys continues an excellent autumnal run.

9th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 0930-1430hrs MJP,LP
Light SE, mild, sunny. some high cloud p.m.





(an accomadating Migrant Hawker, East Res., 9th Sep 2006)


Unremarkable after yesterday's shot in the arm, with few notable sightings (despite having eyes on the skies for several hours). Wildfowl numbers are still high, with Shovelers reaching an autumn peak of 36, and all other common ducks very well represented; the two Red-crested Pochards remain, with the immature male moulting into less conservative dress. 14 Little Grebes is perhaps the highest day count for a number of years; 60+ Cormorants (mainly heading west) is also a high day count.

Raptors were confined to Sparrowhawks (2) and Kestrels (2), and few passerine migrants were recorded.


Reed Warbler - 3
Chiffchaff - 4
Willow Warbler - 1
Kingfisher - 1
Jay - 5
Goldcrest - 2
Grey Wagtail - 2
Pied Wagtail - 2
Herring Gull - 2
LBB Gull - 6
Black-headed Gull - 12

Also: 4 Red Admirals, 6 Speckled Woods.

8th September 2006

Stoke Newington Reservoirs and Clissold Park 0630-0930hrs
Light SE winds, cool & clear.

The first cool night-morning of the autumn so far, and hopes of something interesting were high.
Generally warbler numbers have increased, with the bias switching from Willow Warblers to Chiffchaffs, of which some of each species were in song.
Blackcaps were also more evident. Suprisingly hirundines were represented by a single Sand Martin which quickly headed south.
The first Common Gull, an adult, was present upon the 'gull pipes'.
But, our high hopes were not redeemed until an immature Black tailed Godwit came in low from the west! The bird circled low over the east reservoir, several times, almost wetting its feet. But due to ever high water levels there was no suitable areas for it to set down. It then continued south. The joy of this occurence was great and the record itself wholly unexpected. The reservoirs are almost always filled to brimming, only the exposed concrete margins of the west reservoir provide some attraction to Green and Common Sandpipers. This, and the reservoirs small size, seem to be the main reason interesting wader records are confined to the periods when they are semi drained... Which is not very often.

Laurence Pitcher and Mark Pearson.

full counts:

Clissold Park 0630-0740 (MJP,LP), & 1230-1545 (MJP)

Northern Wheatear - 1 west (at tree height), 1340
Linnet - 1 south west, 1250
Chiffchaff - 4 (a.m.)
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 15
Woodpigeon - 160 (a.m)
Goldfinch - c25

Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0745-0930 (MJP,LP)

Black-tailed Godwit - 1 imm.(see above)
Kingfisher - 1
Chiffchaff - 16
Willow Warbler - 12
Blackcap - 5
Reed Warbler - 1
Sand Martin - 1
Grey Wagtail - 6
Pied Wagtail - 5
Red Crested Pochard - 2
Shoveler - 23
Canada Goose - 3 (other wilfowl as is)
Common Gull - 1 ad.
Black-headed Gull - 10
Cormorant - 21

also: Speckled Woods and Red Admirals, omnipresent foxes at the res and in Abney.
additional: 2 Spotted Flycatchers, East Res., 7th Sep (TB)

6th September 2006

SN Reservoirs 1800-2000hrs MJP, LP
very warm, some sun, some cloud. light-mod SW.

Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Common Swift - 3
Willow Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Goldcrest - 2
Blackbird - 12
Song Thrush - 5
Mistle Thrush - 2
Starling - 50

most of the passerine migrants present yesterday have moved with today's clear skies, although another Spot Fly record (in one of the species favoured sites in the area, at the eastern end of the New River path) continues an unprecedented run this autumn. Wilfowl numbers remain high.

Canada Goose - 16
Common Pochard - 61
Shoveler - 15
Tufted Duck - c80
Ruddy Duck - c30
Mallard - 20
Gadwall - c20
Cormorant - 16
Grey Heron - 2
Great Crested Grebe - 3
Little Grebe - 9 (inc juvs)
Black-headed Gull - 25
Herring Gull - 3
LBB Gull - 8

additional: 2 Red-crested Pochards a.m (TB)
also two foxes (as is usual), several Speckled Woods and a Red Admiral.

Clissold Park 1300-1630hrs MJP
v warm, clear. light SW.

Common Swift - 1
Sand Martin - 4
House Martin - 3
Barn Swallow - 1
Sparrowhawk - 3
Grey Heron - 2
Cormorant - 7

also Small Toroiseshell - 1, Red Admiral - 1.

5th September 2006

Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0645 - 1100hrs MJP,LP
warm, overcast. light W.


Siskin - 2
Spotted Flycatcher - 2
Red-crested Pochard - 2
Common Swift - 3
Barn Swallow - 2
House Martin - 8
Sand Martin - 6
Willow Warbler - 18
Chiffchaff - 3
Common Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 5
Reed Warbler - 3
Sparrowhawk - 3/4
Song Thrush - 20
Blackbird - 32
Goldcrest - 3
Starling - 100
Woodpigeon - 60
Jay - 9

enjoyable morning on patch, mainly on account of the variety of migrant passerines present - most feeding avidly on the plentiful insect supplies in warm and pleasant conditions; the Spot Flys and Siskins providing the highlights, but a good supporting cast of warblers, all three hirundines, thrushes and three late Swifts.

Also good counts of the commoner waterbirds, with duck numbers swelling significantly of late. Two Red-crested Pochards - an eclipse male and a female - are still on the West Res; almost all records last year (and in previous years) fell between mid-Aug and mid-Sep, and 2006 records appear to be going with type.


Great Crested Grebe - 4
Little Grebe - 9 (inc juvs)
Grey Heron - 5
Cormorant - 14
Canada Goose - 43
Gadwall - 25
Common Pochard - 50+
Tufted Duck - 70+
Shoveler - 19
Ruddy Duck - 27
Mallard - 20

4th September 2006

Clissold Park 1830 - 2010hrs MJP
mild, overcast. light W.

Noctule - 1

evening walk through the park, and no birds to speak of (the circus is in town, and the park's human population has doubled to 200,000....); but a single Noctule hunted moths over the New River/deer enclosure at dusk,with several Common Pipistrelles.

(additional: reports of Imm. Northern Wheatear in Clissold Park, 4 Sandwich Terns over East Res - TeRNS)

August 2006 - summary

Highlights:

Black-necked Grebe - one at the East Res. from 28th to months end
Hobby - two singles at the reservoirs, 13th & 26th
Spotted Flycatcher - one to two on several dates from 22nd to 31st
strong hirundine passage errratically throughout the month
regular Common Terns on return migration
Curlew - at least two calling overhead on the night of 29th
Red-crested Pochard - two from 25th to months end



Being in Scandinavia for much of the month prevented patch coverage on my part, but Laurence (and several other observers) maintained a regular presence at our favoured local sites - the Reservoirs, Clissold Park and Abney Park Cemetery.

Details of the above highlights can be found in Laurence's daily entries below.


A more systematic summary at the end of each coming month, with photos, highlights and full counts, will resume from September onwards.



Mark


(additional: another Hobby reported on 26th - TeRNS)

30th August 2006

Clissold Park 1700-1830hrs MJP
mild, mainly sunny. light W.

Spotted Flycatcher - 2 (in the deer enclosure)

Clissold Park 5.30am - 7am.

Very disappointing morning!
c120 Wood Pigeon.
12 BH Gull
3 LBB Gull
2 Green Woodpecker
1 Blackcap

Laurence pitcher

Geldeston Road, 2320hrs (29th)

at least two Curlew over MJP

29th August 2006

East Reservoir: Black-necked Grebe still present.
Clissold Park: 1 Spotted Flycatcher still in the deer enclosure late pm.

Laurence Pitcher.

28th August 2006

SNR 1400-1600hrs MJP

mainly sunny & mild, odd sharp showers; mod W.

Black-necked Grebe - 1

After much of the last three months in the highlands of Scotland and Scandinavia, a Black-necked Grebe on the East Resevoir somewhat softened the blow of having to return to Mother Hackney. The bird, probably present since yesterday, fed in the centre of the reservoir and could be seen from the new river path.


Hirundines were present in good numbers, with around 50 House Martins, 30 Sand Martins and 12 Barn Swallows; wildfowl numbers are also high, and weekly counts (along with entries at least every few days) will recommence from next week. Other migrants included several Willow Warblers and eight Goldcrests, and a Kingfisher has returned to the East Res.


Little Grebes are feeding three chicks, and Great Crested Grebes are still on the nest.

23rd August 2006

Clissold Park 7am - 8am

Overcast, light westerly wind. 1 possibly 2 Spotted Flycatcher in the deer enclosure, cafe side, often using the large dead tree as flycatching post. 2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest. Juvenile Green Woodpecker. 1 brood of 3 little Grebe on main pond.

Laurence Pitcher

19th August 2006

Birding very predictable and dull!
50 Sand Martin and perhaps 15-20 House Martin, most of the later probably being made up of mostly local breeders. Although, apart from 3 birds prospecting on Mountgrove Rd,I have not seen any active nests locally.
2 Common Sandpiper on the west Reservior and also a single Kingfisher on that section of the New River.
Wildfowl on the East Reservior made up of Gadwall, Tufted and Ruddy Duck, Pochard and 8 Shoveler. The ubiquitous Coot and Moorhen. Numbers of Cormorant remain high (perhaps 30 birds) indicating good fish stocks. Gull numbers low 1 BH Gull and perhaps 2-3 fly over LBB Gull. No Common Tern. Reed Warblers still present in good numbers.
1 Canada Goose had been taken by the local foxes... they were still eating it.
A few Swift noted high on the evening of the 19th and 20th.

Laurence Pitcher

13th August 2006

With strong NE winds and sudden heavy showers the weather was nothing if not lively.
The main feature of todays birds was the presences of c200-220 Martins, made up of 80% Sand Martin and the rest House Martin. There was also a maxima of 2 Swifts present over the East and West Reserviors.
During the heavy showers, Sand Martins gathered in the reed beds fringing the East Reservior creating an iconic image of migration even in deepest Hackney!!.
Bird of the day goes to a Hobby which sent terror through the Martin flock as it singled out a victim from the group.
A very welcome addition to the local list for me and another credit to this inner London space for providing quality birds.

Usual numbers of wildfowl, Coot etc. At least one new brood of Mallard and Ruddy duck, infact 3-4 male Ruddy's still actively displaying. Many Cormorant present 30+. Reed Warblers begining to venture out of the reed bed and into berry bearing bushes.

Common Sandpiper 3
Red crested Pochard 2
Shoveler 3
Sparrowhawk 1

13th August 2006

With strong NE winds and sudden heavy showers the weather was nothing if not lively.
The main feature of today's birds was the presence of c200-220 Martins, made up of 80% Sand Martin and the rest House Martin. There was also a maxima of 2 Swifts present over the East and West Reserviors.
During the heavy showers, Sand Martins gathered in the reed beds fringing the East Reservoir, creating an iconic image of migration even in deepest Hackney!!.
Bird of the day goes to a Hobby which sent terror through the Martin flock as it singled out a victim from the group.
A very welcome addition to the local list for me and another credit to this inner London space for providing quality birds.

Usual numbers of wildfowl, Coot etc. At least one new brood of Mallard and Ruddy duck, infact 3-4 male Ruddy's still actively displaying. Many Cormorant present 30+. Reed Warblers begining to venture out of the reed bed and into berry bearing bushes.

Common Sandpiper 3
Red crested Pochard 2
Shoveler 3
Sparrowhawk 1

5th August 2006

A large scale Swift "clear out" took place on the 31st July. Only stragglers and migrants now present. Very little else bird wise, a Lesser Whitethroat was seen within the boundary of the east reservoir on the 4th August. Despite a long staying male holding teritory into late spring breeding was not confirmed this year. Most ducks are now in full moult, Black headed Gull numbers are slowly increasing to c10-15 birds. Ruddy Ducks are still displaying and the Common Tern "traffic" still evident.

Banded Demioselles are still dancing around the wooden bridge at the start of the new river path near Green Lanes, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Black tailed Skimmer Dragonflys all seen along the New River path. Also the newly discovered Small Red Eyed Damselflys can be seen with ease along the New River path west reservoir side. Waterlevels very high dashing any hopes of an exciting wader. 2 impressive Volucella Zonaria hoverflys seen on budliea along the path.
"Of note" a high flying raptor seen from Clissold Park (without optics) looked good for Common Buzzard but eluded conclusive ID on the 6th August.

Laurence Pitcher.