Friday 13 May 2011

Wednesday 11th May, Crystal Palace Park, 0630, dense white cloud, poor visibility, wind SW
The Ridge - didn't there used to be a tower somewhere?

As the BTO migration blog reports here, a fantastic array of birds have turned up across the country this week courtesy of the prevailing South Westerlies.

However luck deserted us at the ridge on Wednesday morning as a band of mist and cloud swept in overnight and made conditions impossible for visible migration. With visibility 50m at best we did a quick roll call of species in the scrub on the ridge instead: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Blackcap, ChiffChaff, Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Magpie.

Although many of these are common species and locally abundant, it doesn’t diminish their importance in terms of biodiversity. The scrub may lack visual appeal, being a mass of brambles, budlea, cow parsley and immature trees, but it is home to a wide range of species and in the context of a heavily-managed urban park it has considerable ecological value.

So the weather was disappointing but at least the breakfast at Dave's later was top notch!

One radio transmitter, no birds


Wednesday 4 May 2011

Monday 2nd May, Crystal Palace Park, 0630+, fine, clear, strong wind NE

Good session on the ridge this week. Prolonged period of clear weather and strong North Easterlies have kept things interesting, such conditions often hold up the progress of birds migrating from the south so there's always a chance of turning up something unusual.
This week the action was in the skies with a Buzzard seen (at considerable distance) along with a Kestrel, while 2 House Martins and 2 Swifts flew N over the ridge. The scrub behind our view point now holds established territories for 2 Whitethroat and 2 Blackcap.
The weather looks to be staying fine (some showers perhaps) with Southerly winds approaching at the end of the week. This should speed the passage of birds, especially Hirundines and Apods (Swifts) so check back soon!                           

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Monday 25th April, Crystal Palace Park, 0630-0810 Cool, bright,  hazy (but lifting throughout morning) Light wind E

A hazy start to the morning but this soon cleared leaving good visibility as far as the Dartford bridge crossing in the East. Aside from small local movements of geese, ducks and common passerines there was little in the air to report. However since our last visit Whitethroat have arrived in the park, with at least 3 singing males recorded this morning in the scrub behind our viewpoint. Several Blackcap and one Chiffchaff were still present too. Four migrant warbler species have now recorded in as many weeks on this high, south-facing ridge which clearly shows that it is an important stopping off point for birds arriving from Europe. The mixture of scrub and young, deciduous trees provides vital food and shelter, enbabling them to refuel before continuing their epic journeys. More updates soon.
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) Crystal Palace Park- photo PB

Monday 11 April 2011

Monday 11th April, Crystal Palace Park, 0645-0830, warm, bright, partial cloud cover, light wind W

With Buzzards reported close to our location during the week and Swallows creeping through here and there I had hopes that the prolonged westerlies would bring a few things our way today. But little in way of vis mig to report unfortunately. No sign of last week's Willow Warblers in the park, 2 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff still present though. Another pair of Herons appear to be in the process of building a nest by the lake. Also on the lake - 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck.

Adult Grey Heron with three young, Crystal Palace Park lake. Photo PB

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Early Birders

Monday 4th April 2011, Crystal Palace Park, 0630-0845, bright, cloudy start improving, light wind SW

First meet off to a flyer! V few birds in flight but several landed migrants were seen and heard close to our view point, including recently arrived Willow Warbler. List:

2 Kestrel,
1 Sparrowhawk (female)
3 Willow Warbler
3 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff