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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 25, 2018 14:25:25 GMT
Over the last few days there have been quite a few passage migrants passing through the green spaces of London with Yellow Wagtails, Redstarts, Whinchats, Spotted + seemingly very good numbers of Pied Flycatchers.
So visited by local patch this morning with some sense of anticipation. At one point I saw a small bird fly over which landed on a dead bramble tip + revealed itself to be a Lesser Whitethroat. A couple of Common whitethroats came out to investigate the new arrival. This small area of bushes seemed full of birds with Blackbird, Robin Wren, Great-spotted Woodpecker. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcaps + then a Spotted Flycatcher came in + sat on a twig + began to preen. My first UK one for the year.
They used to be a regular breeder a couple of decades ago but sadly now only a scarce passage migrant.
A few raptors about with Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk + 2 Kestrels.
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 26, 2018 11:03:08 GMT
Managed to get 3 hours out on my local patch at dawn + getting back just before the rain that will probably last the rest of the day.
First highlight just after 7 am was when a Peregrine flew in, landing on an elevated bare area of soil + kept scanning around. Though I was a reasonable distance, she (I say she as the bird looked large) seemed unfazed by my presence + didn't fly off while I was around..
Many of the warblers seen yesterday seemed to have cleared off + the 5 Whitethroats I did see were very hyperactive + probably off soon. Other signs of migration were a group of 5 Yellow Wagtail over, a Spotted Flycatcher perched on a large stand of Blackthorn + a small trickle of Swallows low over the grassland + along the hedge. Four single Sand Martins travelled with the Swallows.
Final highlight was standing on the road bridge over the brook. Initially I saw just 5 Mallard loafing on a shallow shelf when I realised a Grey Wagtail was feeding below me. As it spotted me it flew about 30 metres along the brook. As I followed it in my bins a Kingfisher flew towards me, briefly landing with some prey in its beak, before turning back as it saw me.
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 27, 2018 14:19:25 GMT
Today went up to Ruislip Woods/Lido. First of the wintering duck beginning to appear with 4 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall + 5 Pochard. Quite a few hirundines about- 30+ House Martin which breed down the adjacent road, 3 Sand Martins + a couple of Swallows.
BOTD though was the family of 3 Hobby in the air, with all three flying close together + a couple of times a bird would turn upside down in the air + touch talons with one of the others. Also saw a Buzzard + a Sparrowhawk on the raptor front.
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Post by NellyDee on Aug 28, 2018 7:57:10 GMT
A Grey Wagtail first I have seen in a long while.
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Post by NellyDee on Aug 30, 2018 7:47:41 GMT
A Heron on the lawn looking at the feeders
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 1, 2018 17:42:50 GMT
Over the last couple of weeks there have been some good number of scarce migrants moving through the London area + Richmond Park has had a couple of very good days this past week so thought I'd start my autumn/winter wildfowl counts today.
Highlights today included Kingfisher, 2 Hobby, Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, Redstart + Spotted Flycatcher. My biggest surprise was a Red-legged Partridge- my first in the park, but has apparently been around for a little while.
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Post by NellyDee on Sept 2, 2018 13:13:14 GMT
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 2, 2018 15:59:43 GMT
Back to my local patch this morning. Generally quiet though highlights were a a female Wheatear on a small mound, a Whinchat sitting in tiny oaks+ brambles in the marsh that seemed to have a Whitethroat going round with it + 3 juvenile Hobbies hawking insects. There were also 2 juvenile Sparrowhawks playfully mobbing each other along a track with tall hedges.
I saw a juvenile Stock Dove that I thought may have been sickly as it didn't seem to fly + I got within 3 metres of it + it walked away. As it seemed uninjured I left it alone.
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Post by John on Sept 2, 2018 18:17:47 GMT
I wish I had taken my camera wet with me on my dog walk this afternoon as a fully leucistic Magpie dropped into a nearby field. What a smart bird. I have never seen one before or even heard of one.
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Post by ianr on Sept 5, 2018 7:50:24 GMT
Walk to the lake today and the tufted duck are back all looking very dull, they disappear every spring and return for the autumn and winter there was another smaller duck? nearby, mid water smaller and browner and very skittish. I must have been 150m away and it still flew off. The tufted were unfazed by me or the dog:) have to take bins ian
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 5, 2018 16:41:55 GMT
Walk to the lake today and the tufted duck are back all looking very dull, they disappear every spring and return for the autumn and winter there was another smaller duck? nearby, mid water smaller and browner and very skittish. I must have been 150m away and it still flew off. The tufted were unfazed by me or the dog:) have to take bins ian If it was smaller than the Tufties, I would suggest Teal?
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Post by Tringa on Sept 6, 2018 7:24:18 GMT
About 4:30 this morning I heard tawny owls calling. The 'kewick' call was very clear; the 'whoo' less so.
I was pleased to hear this as we haven't heard tawny owls around here for years.
Dave
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Post by NellyDee on Sept 6, 2018 9:45:38 GMT
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Post by duncan74 on Sept 6, 2018 15:47:51 GMT
Nice shot Helen, hope it stays for you Duncan
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 8, 2018 16:28:55 GMT
Started the winter season's WeBS counts today. Small numbers of Teal + Gadwall back, but my BOTD as a final look back to summer was the group of up to 30 Hoyse Martins feeding up for the long journey ahead.
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