Whipsnade Zoo

Today saw my inevitable return to Whipsnade Zoo, this time with Ed Stubbs and Sam Jones, and this time the adult male BLACK-THROATED THRUSH duly performed very well. It divided its time feeding on berries in its favourite bush, and dropping to the ground to pull the occasional worm from the adjacent pig pen.

adult male Black-throated Thrush

Other birds included a Red Kite, a Mistle Thrush and around 50 Redwings. The highlight of the journey back was a flock of around 40 Lapwings near London Colney.

Cissbury Ring, Chorleywood and Sutton

First thing I walked the fields north of Cissbury Ring, noting two Ravens, Yellowhammer, two Bullfinches, eight Whitethroats, a few Skylarks, a Swallow and a Kestrel.

Non-birding wanderings produced Grey Wagtails at the Tropical Marine Centre in Chorleywood and in Sutton High Street.

Lee Valley Park

A dawn look at Bowyer's Water produced a female Shelduck, a singing Chiffchaff (my first of the year) and a Reed Bunting among the birds noted.

Goring and Lee Valley Park

What was presumably the same redhead Goosander from 5th was on the sea off the Gap before heading east. Other bits offshore included two Fulmars, 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Common Scoters, 38 Red-breasted Mergansers, 15 Red-throated Divers, 16 Gannets and six Kittiwakes. A Pheasant was an unusual sighting. 11 Mediterranean Gulls (including two 3CYs, a 2CY) were seen, along with four Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A very quick walk around the land yieled a male Stonechat, a Meadow Pipit and two Skylarks.

Goosander off Goring Gap

Later on I was at Bowyer's Water in the Lee Valley Park where highlights included a Sparrowhawk hunting bats at dusk, a Grey Wagtail, a Little Egret and a couple of Cetti's Warblers.

Lee Valley Park

A dawn look at Seventy Acres Lake produced highlights of a 3CY Yellow-legged Gull and a flock of 17 Siskins.

3CY Yellow-legged Gull

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

Broxbourne Woods

Kevin and I had another stab at the Parrot Crossbills in Broxbourne Woods but unfortunately we went home empty handed once again... It was nice, however, to see a couple of Hawfinches fly over the site.

Broxbourne Woods, 24th December 2017

I spent my Christmas Eve in the eclectic company of Kevin McM, Phil W and Magnus A at Broxbourne Woods - teaming up with David D-L on site. It was a pig of a dip, the three Parrot Crossbills being seen before and after our visit, and we gave it a good few hours. Notable sightings included two Ravens, three Siskins, a Grey Wagtail, a Sparrowhawk and two redpolls. A Red Kite was seen over Cheshunt on the way home...

Lee Valley, 11-12th December 2017

A dusk survey at the North Metropolitan Pit provided a fly-over Golden Plover, a Goosander, a male Blackcap, two Siskins, 32 Skylarks, a pair of Goldeneye and 18 Shovelers of note, as well as small numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings. A Muntjac provided additional interest.

The following morning saw a gloamy fly-by from a Bittern, as well as three Goosanders, the drake Goldeneye, the male Blackcap, four Siskins, a redpoll, a Reed Bunting, a Chiffchaff, a Fieldfare and the odd Redwing. 65 Tufted Ducks were counted, along with 33 Shovelers and three Gadwall.

Lee Valley and Staines Reservoir, 19th November 2017

A morning survey returning to Seventy Acres Lake produced two Egyptian Geese, two Little Egrets, three Water Rails, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, two Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff, three redpolls, seven Siskins and 20 Reed Buntings.


On the way to my parents' home in the afternoon I stopped off at Staines Reservoir in the hope of seeing either the Shorelark or the Whooper Swan flock reported in the morning. Unfortunately, both species had shifted off but a Black-necked Grebe was seen and there seemed to be a decent number of Pochard about, although I didn't have the time to do any meaningful counts of anything.

Lee Valley, 18th November 2017

A survey visit in the afternoon to Seventy Acres Lake produced interesting sightings in three Egyptian Geese, two Little Egrets, four Water Rails, two Kingfishers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail, a Siskin and several Reed Buntings.

Little Bittern

Great to finally see one of these gorgeous little herons today (and in the LNHS area!) on the river by Stocker's Lake. A female bird, the LITTLE BITTERN showed well just across the narrow stretch of river, creeping around in the reeds, suddenly lashing out at small prey items (usually little fish) and performing right out in the open for a few minutes at one point.