Weekend wanderings

Some sightings from the bank holiday weekend:

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Happy Valley near Croydon

Farthing Downs/Happy Valley - South Coulsdon (Croydon) 7/5/12


Yellowhammer, Linnet, Wheatear, Swallow, Swift, Jackdaw, Green woodpecker,  Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Great Tit, Skylark, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch
 - sightings and photo by Daniel Greenwood


Stone Marshes/Thames foreshore (Dartford) 7/5/12


c6 Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Little Grebe (heard), 16 Shelduck, 8 Linnet, 3 Wheatear (2f, 1m), c 10 House Martin, c30 Swallow (passage), 4 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 2 Cettis' Warbler, 1 Pheasant, c20 Starling, 1 Green Woodpecker, Skylark, 1m Reed Bunting, 2 Pied Wagtail, Blackcap (heard), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), Robin, Carrion Crow, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Tern (W), c40 Black-headed gull, 2 Great Black-backed gull, Herring gull 
- sightings by Peter Beckenham


    

Lesser Whitethroat

Crystal Palace Park, 4/5/12, 0630+, fair, light northerlies

Solomiggers have been putting in the hours this week that's for sure. Another stint on the ridge this morning, here's what was picked up. No sleep 'til Dulwich:


Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song thrush, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jay, Starling, Chiffchaff (2 territories), Blackcap (8 – 10 territories), Whitethroat (2/3 territories), Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Kestrel, Ring necked Parakeet, Goldcrest.

The star turn on the ridge was the Lesser Whitethroat. I haven't seen many records for them in the area so that's an excellent result and a new one for the park list. It gave good views in the scrub, alongside it's close relative, Common Whitethroat. So which is which?:

Top: Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) somewhere that isn't SE26. Pic: Wiki
Below: Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) ditto^ Pic: mine.

There are a number of clear visual differences between the two species; the Lesser being slightly smaller, having  an earthy, brown upper side (as opposed to the warmer tones on the Common) and a darker, more defined, slate-grey head. Good views should show a further contrast with darker ear coverts evident. Both birds are spring migrants to Britain from sub-Saharan Africa. The songs are distinct rattle-y numbers with Common going for scratchy warbles, usually from a prominent perch, and Lesser chucking a spanner in the works by sounding like a Yellowhammer. Look it up.

Elsewhere in the park there were the usual gulls and woodies over, going their various ways. Hirundine passage has been a non-event this year so far, last week's swifts were bang on cue but nothing again today. On the rest of the patch there were a pair of Mistle Thrush and a Nuthatch singing down by the Capel bit, otherwise it's as you were. Cheers to Dave, Daniel, Martin and Gavin for all of the above.

More local sightings:

There was a Garden Warbler reported by Martin in the Dawson's Hill area (May 2nd) and a Hobby was over Forest Hill on the first (per London Birders). It'd be good to get some more sightings of the latter, especially after the late discovery of a juv in the area last summer. 

Sydenham Hill Wood today: Blue tit, Great tit, Goldcrest, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wren, Robin,, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Treecreeper, Nuthatch

Green Woodpecker (at nest hole), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie - Martin S. 

There's been a lot of activity in and around and Sydenham Hill Wood of late, with staff and volunteers from the London Wildlife Trust working hard on the restoration of the Ambrook stream and dewy pond. I dropped by last week and have to say it looks fantastic. Breaking news this afternoon is the sighting of a bonafide Sydenham Hill Wood MEGA in the vicinity...a pair of Mallard looking cosy on the pond (new patch tick!). Really great news, seriously. (Thanks to Ashley White for the update)

If you'd like to add anything on here feel free to email us at southlondonbirds@gmail.com. Check back soon, it's not over yet. Cheers - Pete.

Oh yeah

OK update time...the big news from the Ridge this week was undoubtedly the female COMMON REDSTART that was picked up in the park on Friday (27th April) and reported on London Birders. Apparently it was seen around lunchtime poking about in the firs at the top, right next to our usual spot. Naturally we all missed it, but it's a great record for the area and well done to the gent who spotted it. It's proof that there is value to the scrub at the top and that the prominent south facing ridge is capable of attracting long-distance migrants on spring passage.

Female Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) not the palace bird but one like it. Redstarts are very Robin like in appearance but have a distinct rufous tail. They are summer visitors, arriving in Britain in spring where they are most commonly found in western broadleaved Oak forests. They spend the winter in Africa and the gulf states.
Photo: GoogleImages/Flickr I think.

With pulses racing at this news and a good weekend of swirling north westerlies behind us, Dave, Dan and Gavin headed up the ridge this morning for business as usual. Tuck in:

Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Carrion Crow, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Magpie, Dunnock, Ring-necked Parakeet, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap (c10), Chiffchaff (2). 

These were the commoner birds inhabiting the ridge. Nice to see Coal Tit making an appearance, not one I come across much in these parts. Jay, Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch were noted elsewhere and in amongst some crows was another local rarity - a Jackdaw! Who needs a flippin' Redstart when you got ol' Blue Eyes?!

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
A handsome corvid, told apart by smaller size,  sleek grey nape and  blueish eyes.
Calls in crow fashion but with  more distinctive 'metallic' cries. Photo: wiki or something.

Flyovers:

Herring gull, Lesser Black-backed gull (SW, moving in larger numbers than seen previously). A pair of Sparrowhawk were displaying/moving south. And finally there was some sexy mig action too; 8 swifts flying SW and a single Swallow NW over the ridge.

Additions from Friday (thanks Gavin):

Lake-side: Canada Goose (with young), Mallard (with young), Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe ( 1 adult calling intermittently), Moorhen, Coot (with young). 2 Willow Warblers (1 by lake, 1 on ridge)

Just in (30/4): Apparently it looks like a few Whitethroats have finally made it back to the ridge. Dan's got money on it so check back soon to see whose getting the drinks. Thanks all.

Willow Warbler - tick

Thanks to Dave for this latest update.

Friday 20th April 2012

Conditions much better than last time with clear skies and a light South Westerly although ridge itself had what is becoming an ubiquitous haze, but mast was very clear:

Sphinx thing wonders where all the Hirundines are...

Ridge birds heard and seen:

Mallard

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Chaffinch

Wren

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

SongThrush

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Pied Wagtail

Carrion Crow

Magpie

Starling

Jay

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Wood Pigeon

Feral Pigeon

Goldcrest

Ring-necked Parakeet

Blackcap

Chiffchaff (2)

Willow Warbler (first record for the year in the park)

+ The usual numerous flocks of Wood Pigeons flying on a daily migration south and Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull and Lesser Black Backed Gull, Beddington bound.

Blackcap territories are numerous on the ridge – we think 10 – 12 terriotories, we had fantastic views of a female sunning herself. Willow Warblers were hard to detect, possibly 3,  (well done Gavin) maybe suggesting these are recent arrivals and too knackered to waste energy on full song. Daniel also picked up a singing Willow Warbler in Nunhead Cemetary in the week, will be interesting to see if they stick around (thanks)

No sign of Whitethroats yet but these should be imminent. By all accounts it seems to have been a slower influx than last year. ALSO COMING SOON: Hirundines...surely?! 

From SE26 to Scandinavia

Friday 30th March, 0630, cool w/slight Easterley breeze, hazy (but improving)

A better morning on the ridge than the last outing. Birds seen or heard in the viewpoint scrub: Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Jay. Blackcap and Chiffchaff territories have doubled since last week, two singing males apiece now.

Flyovers:
Canada geese, Greylags, Mallard, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Feral pigeon, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Redwing (8).

Dave and Gavin report the latter were pretty flighty and restless...zugenruhe? It's a beautiful idea describing the 'anxiety' or nervousness displayed immediately prior to undertaking migration. These sexy thrushes will no doubt soon be swapping SE26 for Scandinavia. Of the gulls, the Herrings were observed in singles and doubles, largely moving NW (to the river?). Worth mentioning the Woodies too - c120 all in, groups moving SE. It was suggested this is a daily 'phenomenon'; the birds moving out to forage in fields on the suburban/Kent fringe (thanks Gavin).

Park life: Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, RN parakeet.

Thanks to Dave and Gavin for this update. Here's the BBC weather picture for the middle of next week, looks like we're stuck with northerlies for the most but you never know what'll chance them. COMING SOON (to a park near you): Swallow, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat.

Dammit

Friday 23rd March, 0630, Pea Souper

An inauspicious start to proceedings this year. When I left New Cross Gate at 6 it was clear and bright; when I got to the ridge just before 6.30 -  total white-out. Somewhere around Brockley a huge bank of fog had descended. Bugger. With dreams of a long awaited urban Wheatear dashed for the time being I felt my way across the park to find the others. Eventually I bumped into Dave (literally) and we marvelled at the misfortune. Not much to do so we did a headcount on the ridge, visibility was <10m so some of these were just heard:

Dunnock, Robin, Carrion Crow, Wren, Blackcap (1), Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Mallard, Chiffchaff (1), Long-tailed Tit

Singing Chiff and Blackcap were alright but you know it's gonna be a slow morning when 3 Mallard flying out of the murk are a highlight. Vis didn't improve so we stumbled down to the lake for a circuit:

Magpie, Jay, Feral Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch (pair), Ring-necked Parakeet, Canada Goose (pair), Moorhen, Coot, Tufted duck (10), Shoveler (pair) No sign of the herons so far, any thoughts why this might be? 

So bit of a disappointing session but that's the way it goes. Stick around, it can only get better.

Feel free to submit any sightings to southlondonbirds@gmail.com, all will be credited. We'd love to know what else is out there. Cheers.

Incoming...

It's that time of year again; green shoots are emerging from the ground, insects are stirring, the days are getting longer. Yep, it can only mean one thing: vismigging! Or, more appropirately: SoLomigging.

SoLomig 2012 is gearing up for action. By way of a recap (and introduction) SoLomig is run by a couple of guys from South London who love birds and like recording the comings and goings in the local area. The Ridge at Crystal Palace Park SE26 provides a great vantage point for doing jut this. Last year we heard that a sizeable area of scrub on the ridge was being ear-marked for clearance and we reckon it could be a pretty important area for birds, some resident species but especially migrants 'stopping off'. Since it is largely South-facing it's a good spot for watching incoming birds so that's what we do for a couple of weeks during the 'peak' spring migration period. Last year, fly-overs were restricted to House Martins and Swallows but we also turned up newly arrived Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff. That still aint bad for Sarf London! This year, a Wheatear is my target. But who knows what'll turn up? Watch this space.