RSPB Rainham Marshes

A day spent at the RSPB Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve and River Thames with my daughter Emily provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (4), Great Cormorant, Grey Heron (1), Little Egret (2), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Common Shelduck (30), Eurasian Wigeon (c40), Gadwall, Common Teal (200+), Mallard, Northern Pintail (8), Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Western Marsh Harrier (female), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Common Kestrel (pair), Peregrine Falcon (2), Common Pheasant (male), Water Rail (1 calling), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, European Golden Plover (c50), Northern Lapwing (c500), Dunlin (c200), Common Snipe (20), Eurasian Curlew (1), Common Redshank (2), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet (8), Green Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (4), Pied Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, European Stonechat (pair), Common Blackbird, Fieldfare (1), Cetti's Warbler (2), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (c100), House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Reed Bunting (5).

                                                       The rather colourful visitor centre.

                                                        European Stonechat (male).

                                                        European Stonechat (female).

  

Broadwater G.P Nature Reserve

A mid-afternoon visit to Broadwater G.P with my daughter Emily provided the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Eurasian Wigeon (7), Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler (17), Common Pochard (c50), Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (7), Goosander (3 inc pair on River Colne), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull (4), Lesser Black-backed Gull (22), Herring Gull (20+), Woodpigeon, Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Common Chiffchaff (6), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (2), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin (2), European Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll (1).

Out and about my local patch

An afternoon visit around my local patch provided the following species of note:-
Woodoaks Farm:-
Common Buzzard (2), Collared Dove (25 in old orchard), Woodpigeon (32), Redwing (c10), Fieldfare (c40), Goldfinch (4).
Bottom Wood:-
Red Kite (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2).
Hornhill Road, Maple Cross:-
Sparrowhawk (mobbed by 2 Carrion Crow).
Maple Lodge Nature Reserve:-
Green Sandpiper (1 from Rotunda Hide), Green Woodpecker (2 from Rotunda Hide), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Eurasian Jay (2).
Lynsters Farm:-
Greylag Goose (8), Egyptian Goose (15), Common Buzzard (1), Rook (4).
Lynsters Gravel Pit:-
Canada Goose (48).
 
 

Scotsbridge Mill, Chess Valley Walk

My daughter and I arrived late morning in mild, calm conditions and observed the following species of note:-
Grey Heron (2), Little Egret (2), Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (1), Common Pheasant (1), Water Rail (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (3), Eurasian Jay (1), European Goldfinch (4), European Greenfinch (5).
We then headed off to Mill Farm, Chenies, Bucks where from the bridge we observed the winter plumaged Great Egret feeding on the water meadow to the east just inside the Bucks boarder.
On arriving home I received a call from Joan Thompson informing me that she had discovered a flock of Waxwing at Oaklands Avenue, South Oxhey. Some thirty minutes or so later we were viewing 16 Waxwing from the back garden of a very obliging resident, a fitting end to a wonderful days birding.
  
  

WWT London Wetland Centre

A family visit to the London Wetland Centre, Barnes produced 3 new species for the year.

From the Wildside Hide a magnificent Eurasian Bittern was present in the phragmites reed and was viewed from the upper deck of the hide. Many thanks to the kind gentleman who let my ten year old daughter use his telescope to view a new lifer. I can remember how excited I was viewing my first Bittern many years ago at Stockers Lake. From the main centre I briefly noted a single Reed Bunting feeding on the seed heads of the Phragmites and a male Mandarin was observed overhead.

The pinioned Waterfowl collection held Common Goldeneye and Smew and I was fortunate to get a few close up shots to add to the blog. I also gained superb views of a pair of Little Grebe sporting winter plumage.

                                          Smew (male).

                                         Smew (female AKA redhead).

 

                                         Goldeneye (male).

                                          Goldeneye (female).

                                         Egyptian Goose (wild).

                                         Little Grebe.

Local birding New Years Day

I began the day with a mid-morning visit to Maple Lodge Nature Reserve and Lynsters Farm where the following species were encountered:-
Little Grebe (2), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (9 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (49 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (11 Lynsters Farm), Eurasian Wigeon (2 Lynsters G.P), Gadwall (15), Common Teal (18), Mallard (8 including a copulating pair), Northern Shoveler (1), Tufted Duck (38), Common Buzzard (1 mobbed by Carrion Crow), Common Moorhen (4), Eurasian Coot (21), Green Sandpiper (1 Lynsters Farm), Black-headed Gull (c100 over from sewage works), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 over), Herring Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (c50 Lynsters Farm), Stock Dove (4 plus c30 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon (2), Collared Dove (1 Maple Lodge Close), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Green Woodpecker (pair), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (11 Lynsters Farm), Pied Wagtail (2 over), Wren (1), Dunnock (2), European Robin (3), Common Blackbird (2), Song Thrush (2), Redwing (2), Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie (5), Western Jackdaw (c80 Lynsters Farm), Carrion Crow (5), House Sparrow (2 Maple Lodge Close), Common Chaffinch (16), Eurasian Siskin (7), Lesser Redpoll (6).

                                         Green Woodpecker (female) from Rotunda Hide.

After an early lunch I headed off with my daughter to Stockers West (Inns Lake) where the male Goosander was again seen although tucked up tight in to the far bank not giving great views.
Then on to Stockers Farm where I added Starling to my list before moving on to Stockers Lock and Stockers Lake where the following species were encountered:-
Snow Goose (1 of presumed captive origin with 23 Canada Geese on Grand Union Canal below Stockers Lock), Great-crested Grebe, Great Cormorant (18), Common Pochard, Common Goldeneye (13 inc 5 male), Common Kestrel (female), Northern Lapwing (7), Common Gull (6).
Finally at Bury G.P a singing male Goldfinch provided the last addition to my new years list.

                                         Snow Goose on Grand Union Canal.

Apparently there has been a bit of a debate going on as to whether this bird might in fact be a Ross's Goose. My own opinion is that there is no doubt that it is a Snow Goose. To me the head shape, long chin, bill length and thickness of dark band on gape of bill is characteristic to that of Snow Goose, but I will let you decide yourself.

                                         Tufted Duck (male) at Stockers Lake.

                                         Common Pochard (pair) at Stockers Lake.





 
 
 

End of year birding at Stockers Farm & Stockers Lake

A late morning visit in light drizzle provided the following species:-
Stockers Farm:-
Snow Goose (1 of presumed captive origin), Canada Goose (193), Wigeon (23), all feeding on the flooded field.
Stockers Lake:-
Little Egret (1), Red-crested Pochard (drake), Goldeneye (13 including 2 male), Smew (male observed from the Kingfisher Hide), Red Kite (1), Lapwing (21), Nuthatch (1calling near Kingfisher Hide).