Blue sky thinking

Met up with Lol early(ish) this morning to give the Southern end of the patch a good workover. Wandered around the back of the Ice Skating Rink, then off patch through the Middlesex F. B. but nothing much was doing, past the Pitch'n'Putt Course and more of the same, though it was warming up and the odd Butterfly appeared (Comma). Onto the Waterworks and a few bits started to show, a half dozen Sand Martins prospecting the unused concrete coloumn, perhaps someone should tell them its for their use! An unseen Cetti's was very vocal, a Green Sandpiper fed in one of the better beds. Back across Lea Bridge Rd. and onto the marsh proper Blackcaps made themselves noticed with probably double figures throughout the morning, possibly the same with Chiffchaff and just a few less Willow Warblers. The Little Owls refused to give themselves up and the Horse paddock, unusually, had no Wagtails of any flavour, let alone flava.

I had often thought about a big-sit type skywatch on a raised bank backing onto the Eastern edge of the Walthamstow F.B. about 600m North of the riding stables and today, with it's gorgeous clear blue sky felt like a 'big bird' day, so we sat and watched. We had just had the first Sparrowhawk and Kestrel of the morning so Raptors were obviously awakening and as I followed a large Gull across the sky a Buzzard suddenly appeared in my bins, you will understand it was quite high if I say that my directions to Lol were 'just up and Right of the Moon'. It was very difficult to get in the scope due to the beatiful, but featureless, blue sky. As we watched it circle getting higher another came in from the East, behind us but soon dissappeared. Lol repaid me by finding a slightly lower House Martin, my first for the year.

We looped back down the Eastern side of a fairly empty marsh finding 3 female Wheatears and a Mistle Thrush had dropped into the Horse Paddock whilst we were away. The Owls still did not want to come out to play though, and on such a lovely day, shame.
PW

Backtracking a little...

Dusky Warbler at Walthamstow reservoirs, Feb 2010 (Photo by Pricille Preston)

Hello all,
My fist entry - long overdue - on here, and I'd like to thank firstly Mark Pearson (of Stoke Newington reservoirs/London Wildlife Trust fame) for setting up this blog over a year ago, and secondly Paul Whiteman for breathing life back into it recently. I agree that the task of keeping this going will be a lot more fun and less arduous if many of us Walthamstow regulars contribute, rather than leaving it to one individual to do so. So I would encourage readers/contributors to spread the word, thus making this a fun (and informative) forum for local birders.
Now please allow me a little self indulgence...On 14th February this year, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon what is likely to be one of the 'birds of the decade' in the form of a Dusky Warbler - a patch and county first (if accepted).
Below is the account I was invited to write for the current (April) edition of Birdwatch magazine.
Good birding all,
Lol Bodini

Dusky Warbler at Walthamstow reservoirs NE London

On the 14th February 2010 - a bright but cold morning - I’d decided to go for a mid-morning stroll around my local ‘patch’, the Lockwood reservoir (part of the Walthamstow reservoir complex in NE London) and proceeded on my usual route along the public footpath which runs parallel to the reservoir on it’s Eastern side. There were a number of small birds feeding in the bramble covered grassy slope leading up to some allotments (adjacent to my back garden); the usual tits, Dunnocks, Robins & my first singing Goldcrests of the year. My attention though, was drawn to an unfamiliar call; a soft, often repeated ‘tchuck’ or ‘tchup’ reminiscent to my ears of a Blackcap only quieter (though I’m well aware that trying to describe & spell-out bird calls is very subjective). I soon located the bird responsible which was clearly a Phylloscopus warbler superficially resembling a Chiffchaff in size & appearance. My notes from the day state: ‘medium brown upperparts with a slight olive tinge, no apparent wing markings, underparts paler with a buffish wash & no obvious white patches to the belly or undertail coverts; a long pale supercilium which appeared paler in front of the eye than behind; pale brownish-yellow legs with strikingly yellow feet; bill thin & pointed’.
Plumage apart, the warbler’s ‘jizz’ just didn’t feel quite right for a Chiffchaff; it was darting restlessly from one patch of undergrowth to another – something I don’t associate with local Chiffies which in my experience have a more leisurely feeding behavior, picking their way systematically through the leaves, hovering regularly and so on. I watched the bird on and off for around 15 minutes as it made it’s way along the perimeter fence, before losing it somewhere in the allotments which are not accessible to the public. At this point I had a strong suspicion that I was onto something pretty unusual and narrowed it down in my mind to a ‘probable’ Dusky Warbler – no other Phyllosc warblers matched what I’d seen so what else could it have been? Problem was that I’d never seen or heard one before so decided to call another local patch watcher Paul Whiteman, whom I knew had seen Duskies before & described what I’d seen & heard to him. His reply was encouraging: ‘sounds good for a Dusky’…
Paul drove straight over to meet me on the reservoir where we had a look at a gorgeous Slavonian (fresh in the previous day) & Black-necked Grebe, before having another look for the warbler in the same area I’d been watching it, but with no joy. Unfortunately I’d run out of time for the day and had to get home to go out, but was anxious to put out the news of what I’d seen on the London Birders’ Yahoo group as a ‘strange Phyllosc warbler’ in the area; so as to give others a chance to have a look for it that afternoon. On returning home that evening, I was able to do some more research with photos & sound recordings of both Dusky & Radde’s warblers (the other most likely candidate). As soon as I heard recordings of Dusky’s call I knew that this was what I’d heard (and seen) earlier, and I was able to put out the news with absolute certainty (almost!).
I was working the following morning but fortunately the bird was refound in the same area around 12.30pm by birder/photographer Roy Woodward, (who also deserves credit for getting the first decent pics of the bird) and to my delight, my initial ID suspicions were confirmed. I got there soon after and the bird performed well for a small but rapidly growing gathering of birders and stayed in the area for a further eight days allowing many to catch up with it (and making a significant contribution to the Thames Water day permit coffers!). If accepted, this will be a first for the London area, and therefore would have to be described as the patch-watching equivalent of winning the lottery. For me personally this was a World, UK, county & patch first…all I need now is for it to reappear in the garden, then I’ll have the full house!

No Goshawk but....

Didn't really go out looking for Goshawk today, just using this as a reference back to the 'no Black Red' post of two weeks ago. Had a walk up the East side of the High Maynard and finally saw the female Black Redstart on the fence alongside the overflow channel. At first I could just see the back of a head which promptly dropped down out of sight and then a Robin reappeared in the same spot, however this was joined by the Black Red and my confusion was dispelled. Amazingly my first patch Black Redstart for exactly 21 years. (2 at the South end of the East Warwick 07 04 1989)

I have started taking my wife's camera out with me just in case I actually find anything noteworthy, so I thought I would try for a shot.....note to self make sure the battery is charged!

Had a few sightings of Little Egret flying up and down the overflow channel, Shelduck numbers are back up, at least a dozen birds on the North side of the Reservoirs, possibly twice as many, as they were very mobile it was difficult to be sure. A pair of displaying Oystercatchers on the Lockwood were new for me for the year. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were very vocal and there was a steady trickle of Sand Martins moving North, possibly close to 80 birds over a 45 minute period. 3 male Wheatears suddenly appeared from nowhere along the West bank of the Lockwood together with a Meadow Pipit, a group of 4 of the latter flew over and then a further single.

Teal still around in reasonable numbers, perhaps over 30 birds, with the largest group in the overflow channel North of the Lockwood, also there 3 Green Sandpipers together.

PW

The one that didn't get away

Yesterday we got a text from Mark Pearson about an Osprey flying North over Stoke Newington Res. It would almost certainly have been visible if someone had have been on Walthamstow Reservoirs but sadly it seemed we were all elsewhere. Lol was looking at the Ring Ouzel at Sewardstone as the Osprey headed toward Holyfield Marsh further up the Lea Valley. I should have been there but was delayed and so I missed it too.
Today however we had a second chance and Pete found an Osprey heading North over the High Maynard at about 16:55. Lol managed to get it from his house after a call. (As an aside I had probably the same bird heading South-west at 15:00, as I drove along the M25 toward the Chafford Hundred Alpine Swift, it came from Thorndon Park and flew toward Tyler's Common, if it continued it would have gone over Wanstead and then hit the valley around Leyton Marsh, just behind my house. I was looking when I got home but it got past me!) Well done Pete and Lol, anyone else get it?
PW

Ton up

A timely text from Pete, requesting a Telescope to confirm half a dozen suspected Common Scoter on the Banbury, soon had me, after some quick negotiations, up on the bank and scoping the aforementioned sextet. Pete was of course correct in his suspicions three fine adult males and three females. Also hanging out with them was a Brent Goose. Both species I have not seen on the patch for many a year. 5 Swallows a Sand Martin and a Green Sandpiper over completed this flying visit. As far as I know the Scoter were the 100th species for the patch this year but I believe there may be some other undisclosed records so watch this space. PW

No Black Red but....

A few singing Chiffchaffs around the marsh today, also a few Little Egrets seen at Walthamstow, including a bird standing on the nesting island. At least 7 Sand Martins around the Lockwood, perhaps a few more passing through. 2 Wheatears and a Green Sandpiper on the West bank and a pair of Goosander flew in from the High Maynard. Another Green Sandpiper in the overflow channel to the North. No sign of the previously reported Black Redstart however. At c16:30 whilst scanning the forest ridge over Woodford, from the bottom of the Lockwood a probable m Goshawk seen briefly. Originally assumed to be a Buzzard, as I had been looking specifically for them in the reasonably good weather but when it flipped over onto its side, it was obviously an Accipiter, it looked greyish, so maybe a male? It was a big bird and had a broad body with deep chest, long necked (compared to Sparrowhawk, which I had seen earlier) broad wings with bulging secondaries and a longer and wider tail. Underparts looked quiet pale at that distance but no real plumage marks visible i.e. supercillium or undertail coverts. It never came up very high and was on show for less than 30 seconds but was clearly an interesting bird. Worth keeping an eye out in the area.

I have edited yesterdays post, as last night I arbitrarily decided to cut out the Middlsex Filter Beds from being part of my Walthamstow patch and also extend the South-eastern boundary along the Dagenham Brook.

M.F.B. are pretty well covered by our friends over at :http://www.hackneywildlife.org.uk/ and despite being a really nice bit of habitat, I think it probably belongs in Middlesex if not Hackney, sadly it loses us Yellow-browed Warbler from the Walthamstow list and personally costs me Firecrest. The upside is that the inclusion of the area West of the Dagenham Brook gains me Tawny Owl....swings and roundabouts I guess.

The Walthamstow List

I have consulted quite a few local birders, current and some now in exile from East London, and have compiled a Cumulative Historical List for the birds of Walthamstow Reservoirs (Banbury, Lockwood, High & Low Maynard and Nos. 1-5) Walthamstow Filter Beds, Walthamstow Marsh, Leyton Marsh, Waterworks N.R. the adjacent Pitch & Putt course and Marsh Lane Park, with the South-eastern boundary being the Dagenham Brook. This area can be seen depicted in red on the map to the right.

The list is as follows:



Mute Swan
Bewick's Swan
Whooper Swan
Pink-footed Goose
White-fronted Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Brent Goose
Egyptian Goose
Shelduck
Mandarin Duck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Garganey
Blue-winged Teal
Shoveler
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Ring-necked Duck
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Scaup
Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Common Scoter
Velvet Scoter
Goldeneye
Smew
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosander
Ruddy Duck
Red-legged Partridge
Grey Partridge
Pheasant
Red-throated Diver
Black-throated Diver
Great Northern Diver
Fulmar
European Storm-petrel
Leach's Storm-petrel
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Bittern
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Spoonbill
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Honey-buzzard
Red Kite
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Rough-legged Buzzard
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Merlin
Hobby
Peregrine Falcon
Water Rail
Spotted Crake
Corn Crake
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Stone Curlew
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Jack Snipe
Snipe
Woodcock
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Redshank
Turnstone
Grey Phalarope
Pomarine Skua
Arctic Skua
Sabine's Gull
Kittiwake
Black-headed Gull
Little Gull
Mediterannean Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Little Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Guillemot
Razorbill
Little Auk
Rock Dove
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Little Owl
Tawny Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Swift
Alpine Swift
Kingfisher
Hoopoe
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Red-backed Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Hooded Crow
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
Bearded Tit
Wood Lark
Sky Lark
Horned Lark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Cetti's Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Dusky Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Wood Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Dartford Warbler
Sub-alpine Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Reed Warbler
Waxwing
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Wren
Starling
Dipper
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Spotted Flycatcher
Robin
Nightingale
Black Redstart
Redstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
Pied Flycatcher
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Water Pipit
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Mealy Redpoll
Crossbill
Bullfinch
Lapland Bunting
Snow Bunting
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting

240 Species

+ 4 Species counted by some other authorities

Ruddy Shelduck
White-headed Duck
White Wagtail
Siberian Chiffchaff

Dusky Warbler was added to the list as recently as 14 02 2010, so there is still potential for more species to be added. Obviously a large number of the birds listed are exceedingly rare visitors to the area but is possible to see 75 spp. in a day (It was done on 14 05 2009) and over half the total list during a year. Maybe someone can tell us their big year list at Walthamstow.....or perhaps we should start keeping a cumulative one for all local birders?

I Hope this list proves useful, maybe it and the recent attention drawn by the Dusky Warbler will inspire even more people to watch the area and contribute their records and blogs to this site. (For hot news postings please use http://londonbirders.wikia.com/wiki/LatestNews or email:londonbirders@yahoogroups.co.uk )

Good birding

Paul Whiteman