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

Lee Valley

I was back at Seventy Acres Lake for a dawn survey, noting a female Brambling, 12 Egyptian Geese, four Water Rails, plus a few redpolls and Siskins.

Lee Valley

Highlights of my dusk survey at Seventy Acres Lake included a couple of Water Rails, nine Egyptian Geese, a Kingfisher and a few Siskins.

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.