8th August 2007

Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0830-1200 MJP, TB
warm, mainly sunny. light N.

Garden Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 5
Willow Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 8
Common Tern - 3
Shoveler - 34
Pochard - 20
Gadwall - 8
Tufted Duck - c45
Ruddy Duck - 5
Swallow - 1
Sand Martin - 1
Grey Wagtail - 4
Swift - 10
Black-headed Gull - c40
LBB Gull - 12
Herring Gull - 3

The first time up at the reservoirs this month, and in all likelihood, the first of many. The expanse of algae-covered mud around the edge (and extending into the centre) of the East Reservoir is potentially productive - while no waders were present today, the possibility of something interesting appearing has risen a hundred fold; how long Thames Water intend to maintain the low water level is anybody's guess, but a few weeks would be very welcome.....





The mud and surrounding shallows attracted gulls, a Common Tern, many Shovelers and other ducks to ground, and is presently perfect for waders, wagtails etc. A deterrent this morning along the eastern edge (although Mute Swans and Canada Geese were very tolerant) were the family of five foxes, sunbathing, playfighting and throwing around mud-filled plastic bags.....

3rd - 5th August 2007

several sunny days at last, with little to report from walks in the park and cemetery:

3rd - Clissold Park: adult Common Gull, 1 Blackcap, 4 Little Grebes

5th - Abney Park Cemetery: Coal Tit, 2 House Martins









this fish, approx. 70cm long, is frequenting the western lake in Clissold Park - any ID ideas?

1st August 2007

Walthamstow Marshes 1030-1230
sunny, warm, light W.

c50 Goldfinches, 4 Reed Buntings & 10 Linnets in one flock (growing by the day presently), 7 Common Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, c35 House Martins, 2 Common Terns, c200 Swifts.





also, a single Swallow north over the house this afternoon.

31st July 2007

Three sites covered today, on a what seemed like the first truly warm, sunny day in weeks....

Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0750-1000hrs

3 Common Terns, 12 Gadwall, 18 Pochard (plus fully grown brood of 7 on New River), 2 Shoveler, c16 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Grey Wagtails, 1 Swallow









Walthamstow Marshes 1030-1230hrs

Garden Warbler (again singing from near southern bridge), 3 Sedge Warblers, 9 Common Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Linnets, 35 Goldfinches, 1 Common Tern, c150 Starlings




Clissold Park 1400-1540hrs

1 Common Tern, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Blackcap

26th, 27th, 28th & 29th July 2007

an update of the last few days:


26th - Walthamstow Marshes: 9 Sand Martins, 1 Meadow Pipit, 6 Linnets, family party of 4 Kestrels, c300 Starlings, 50 Black-headed Gulls inc. several juvs.

27th - Clissold Park: 2 Common Terns, 4 Little Grebes (2 ad, 2 juv), 2 Grey Herons, 1 Goldcrest.

28th - Walthamstow Marshes: 20 Linnets, 30 Goldfinches, 2 Common Terns, 2 Sparrowhawks, c60 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls inc. 1 juv.

29th - Walthamstow Marshes: Garden Warbler singing (by southern bridge), juv Willow Warbler, 4 Sedge Warblers, 5 Common Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 12 Linnets, 5 Reed Buntings & 32 Goldfinches in flock, 6 Common Terns, 5 Song Thrushes.

and a few shots from the last few days (the Terns are from Clissold Park, the rest from the marshes):

24th July 2007

Walthamstow Marshes 1030-1150 MJP
sunny, warm. light/mod W.

Hobby - 1
Common Tern - 3
Garden Warbler - 1 singing
Willow Warbler - 1
Common Whitethroat - 16
Sand Martin - 5
House Martin - c30
Goldfinch - 35, in single flock
Greenfinch - 10, -"-
Linnet - 8, -"-
Starling - 250

A pleasant day on the marshes after being away for the best part of a week in and around Oslo (Nutcrackers, Goldeneyes, Green Sandpipers, Fieldfares, Redwings and other expected local breeders all present and correct); within a minute or two of arriving over the bridge, a Hobby bulleted through, and unsuccessfully attacked the feeding finch flock in the central field before heading east. The third sighting at the site this year, and the first post-breeding record.

Warblers are still very much in evidence, with all the usual species present, as well as a Garden Warbler in song by the ice rink. The finch flock has grown, no doubt on account of the excellent habitat presently available.

some recent butterfly shots from today, and the 17th: -

mid-July (summary)

As expected at this time of year, visits to the usual sites during mid-month provided little of note to report, but for the expected breeding species and their fledged young, and a few signs of 'autumn' migration beginning.

Walthamstow Marshes continues to entertain, especially regarding butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies (more of which soon, with recent photos to follow); otherwise, notable sightings included a second record of Little Egret, again a pair, on the 12th (with two Common Gulls on the same day), a small movement of House Martins on the 17th, when at least 60 moved through in an hour, and single Swallow and Lesser Whitethroat on the same day. Finch flocks continue to enjoy the meadow-like habitat of the open areas, and Black-headed Gulls are again omnipresent.

Stoke Newington sites remain very quiet, with little more than the regular presence of up to three Common Sandpipers (and one Green on the 20th) at the Reservoirs. However, with the first post-breeding movements and dispersals beginning to filter through, efforts at the Reservoirs and elsewhere will step up accordingly, so hopefully it won't be too long now before slightly more interesting reports appear on this site.....

11th July 2007

Walthamstow Marshes 0930-1100 MJP
o/c, drizzle. mod W.

Little Egret - 2 ad's
Linnet - 12
Goldfinch - c30
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Black-headed Gull - 12



At last, Little Egrets graced the marshes with their presence while I happened to be around, and looking skyward....

early July 2007 (summary)

Regular visits to the marshes and the park over the last ten days or so produced little of note (hence laziness in updating the site), but the marshes in particular are full of life. Presently the entire Central Marsh (including the Bombcrater Field) is transformed into an unspoilt and extensive grass and wildflower meadow, with butterfly numbers (and species) providing easily enough to enjoy, as well as dragonflies, and various passerines exploiting the feeding bonanza available.





The Northern Marsh is equally wild and colourful, with extensive sedge and reed covering most of the area; there seems to be Reed Buntings and Sedge Warblers everywhere presently, and Common Whitethroats are perhaps the commonest species at the site. Seeing seven species of breeding warbler on most occasions this summer is really a pleasure at such an urban site.



Hirundines are pleasingly ubiquitous at the marshes, with several pairs of Sand Martin using drainage pipes as artificial nesting sites along the canal, and up to 30 House Martins (most likely from a nearby colony at the sewage works) usually present; Swift numbers vary between 50 and 250, depending on the weather and conditions.



Finches are beginning to flock again, and Black-headed Gulls are drifting back into the area, sure signs of 'autumn' movements taking over from any remaining late-spring occurences. The park, meanwhile, naturally has very limited appeal from an avian perspective especially at this time of year, but the lakes at least provide habitat and very close views for breeding Pochard, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Canada Goose and Mute Swan, as well as omnipresent Common Tern, Grey Heron and Cormorant. A singing Sedge Warbler a few days ago was a rare occurence on site.



The Reservoirs continue to produce very little, through a combination of lack of quality coverage and the time of year, a Common Sandpiper last week being the only notable (if expected) record. Swifts seem particularly numerous this year, and as I write (from the house, near Stoke Newington Common) at least a hundred are circling overhead.

27th & 28th June 2007

Walthamstow Marshes MJP
both days: sunny spells, o/c, light to mod W.





Common Tern - 2 (28th)
Meadow Pipit - 1 (28th)
Linnet - 8 (28th), 3 (27th)
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 (both)
Common Whitethroat - 16 (28th)
House Martin - c20 (28th), 5 (27th)
Sand Martin - c8 (both)
Reed Bunting - 5 (28th), 3 (27th)

25th June 2007

Clissold Park 1300-1430 MJP
mild, o/c. mod nw.

Goldcrest - 3 (ad & 2 juvs)
Blackcap - 1
House Martin - 3
Pochard - 7

21st June 2007

Stoke Newington Reservoirs 0650-0850 MJP
warm, bright, mod E.

Common Tern - 3
Black-headed Gull - 12
House Martin - 3
Sand Martin - 2
Reed Warbler - c25
Sedge Warbler - 7
Grey Wagtail - 1
Gadwall - 4
Pochard - 11, pair with 2 young

Walthamstow Marshes 1100-1250 MJP

Linnet - 3
Reed Bunting - 3 pairs breeding
Sand Martin - 15 inc. breeders
Swallow - 1
House Martin - c20
Swift - 100
Lesser Whitethroat - 1

19th June 2007

Walthamstow Marshes 1030-1200 MJP

Common Tern - 2
Sand Martin - 3/4 pairs breeding in drainage pipes



Clissold Park

Common Tern - 1
Blackcap - 2
House Martin - 3

15th June 2007

Clissold Park 1300-1450 MJP

Common Tern - 1
House Martin - 2
Sparrowhawk - 1

14th June 2007

Walthamstow Marshes 1130-1310 MJP
v humid, o/c, some bright spells. no wind.

Common Tern - 1
Swift - c300
House Martin - 40
Sand Martin - 10



also today: A Rose-ringed Parakeet flew over the house, the fifth or sixth record for the homestead.....

13th June 2007

Walthamstow Marshes 1115-1315 MJP
humid, o/c, bright spells. light variable wind.

Turtle Dove - 1
Swift - 300+
House Martin - c20
Sand Martin - c15
Linnet - 16 (mostly juveniles)

Despite not posting for a while, as mentioned below I've covered Clissold Park, Abney Park Cemetery, and Walthamstow Marshes regularly over the last few weeks; but, despite best efforts, unfortunately there's been essentially nothing to report. The breeding season is of course in full swing, however, and changes in pressure have encouraged huge numbers of Swifts to feed over the area of late. But that's been about it.....



However, at last, today provided a fine and unexpected record. A Turtle Dove, flushed from a path in the northern third of the marshes, spent a while in the north copse before flying over the fence into the Reservoirs compound. Breeding species and numbers provide entertainment at these quietest of times, and Linnets, as well as various warbler species (especially Common Whitethroats) appear to have done especially well so far this year.

early june update

Apologies to regular visitors for the lack of activity over the last few weeks, and indeed during the spring as a whole; other, more pressing (and important) priorities have taken over most of my time of late. Somewhat ironically, completing an Ornithology HND over these last few weeks has involved very limited time out with the birds, but with the end in sight, normal service should be resumed within a week or two.

Thankfully (for me anyway) it's been a very quiet spring in the area, and so I haven't missed too much as I glance disconsolately out of the study window......

The only notable reports from the last couple of weeks, in the Stoke Newington area anyway, was of a Lapwing at the East Reservoir, and a Peregrine over, on the 6th June. Both species are recorded on average a few times each year.

Otherwise, regular visits to Clissold Park and the Cemetery have produced little of note, with most records relating to the expected breeding species.