Sunday 21 January 2018

Broxbourne Woods and Walthamstow Wetlands

For the third time, Kevin and I visited Broxbourne Woods and dipped the Parrot Crossbills. We've both had enough of this venture now and have vowed never to return to the site. A male Hawfinch brightened the morning up but otherwise the only bird of note was a fly-over Siskin. Later, we popped in to 'Walthamstow Wetlands', eventually getting brief but satisfactory views of the Little Bunting, a London tick for me and only my second decent view of the species anywhere. In the same vicinity were four Reed Buntings and a Cetti's Warbler.

While opening the site up to the public in a controlled manner might be a good idea overall, it was frustrating to see the extreme levels of disturbance as the public jogged around the reservoir banks. It really beggars belief that this level of access has been allowed at such an important site for wintering wildfowl, while the whole situation is bound to be a great frustration for local patchers hoping to find migrant waders on the shores of the reservoirs.

Little Bunting at Walthamstow Wetlands