Friday 25 May 2012

School's Out...

Crystal Palace Park, Thursday 24th May, 0600-0730, warm, hazy becoming overcast, light Easterly

Bit of an end of term vibe at the Ridge this week, most stuff has passed through and I suppose we're already looking towards the Autumn. Nevertheless conditions were ok and it's never bad to sit back and watch the sun rise. I got up to the park at 0600 and was immediately aware of a "hoo-eet" call coming from the buddleia scrub. Bit unexpected to find a Willow Warbler still knocking about at this time but welcome anyway (perhaps one of the birds from a few weeks back?) Usual suspects were in place on the ridge with Blackcaps in abundance and easily seen. I counted 7 - all male. There were 2 Common Whitethroat showing well, one from along the fence line just inside the park on the ridge entrance. Both were involved in a bit of territorial banter.

'Fraid it was D- on the Vis-Mig front: two Swifts went over North early on and joined half a dozen more feeding high over our heads. The only other real movement came from Greenfinch (3>South), a Cormorant (>NE), 2 Jays (W>E) several groups of gulls and the obligatory hordes of Woodies, Feral Pigeons and RnPs.

In full:

Willow warbler (1), Song thrush (2 - 1 doing a passable impression of a Nuthatch), Mistle thrush (heard - park), Robin (several inc 1 juv), Blackcap (7), Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff (1 heard), Stock dove (4 feeding on grass), Blackbird, Ring-necked Parakeet (c10), Starling (5 feeding w/ Stock doves), Carrion crow, Magpie, Goldfinch, Whitethroat (2), Long-tailed Tit (5 inc fledglings), Blue tit, Jay (3), Dunnock (1), Swift (c6), Cormorant (1), Goldcrest (1 heard), Herring gull, Lesser Black-backed gull, Mallard, Green woodpecker (heard - park)

Just after I left, Tom had a Sparrowhawk low round the transmitter - wonder if this is a Sydenham Hill Wood bird?

This was probably the last early visit for a while but generally it's been a positive season. There were two park firsts at least (as far as I know): Lesser Whitethroat and the Redstart (ok, not our bird, but whatever) Palace is never going to be a hot destination for rarities but these little things are important from a local perspective. It's as much about sharing knowledge and (hopefully) enthusiasm for the area and its wildlife as anything else. We'll be posting sightings from around the area through the Summer so keep checking back. Drop us a line at southlondonbirds@gmail.com - all sightings, questions etc welcome!

Big thanks to Dave, Martin, Daniel, Gavin, Tom, Steve, Jason, Ernie (sorry if I missed your name)

Class dismissed.

Words by Pete 

Monday 21 May 2012

Sydenham Dawn Chorus

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) silhouetted in flight at LWT Sydenham Hill Wood,  May 2012


Daniel led a dawn chorus walk, down the road at Sydenham Hill Wood on Friday (18th). Sounds like it was a corker...here's his list:


Wren (1,000,000)
Robin
Song thrush
Blackbird (pair w/juvenile on Cox's Walk)
Nuthatch (feeding young)
Goldcrest
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Great Spotted woodpecker
Starling
3 Stock dove (Thanks Ernie)
Woodpigeon
Blue tit
Great tit

Sparrowhawk - juveniles calling from canopy nest site
Feral pigeon



The SoLoMig research department are currently looking into that Wren figure - if it holds up, I reckon we've got a record on our hands. And possibly a problem. Also spotted in the wood was a hedgehog - quite a rare local sighting. Here are a few more awesome owl pics:


Top: juvenile Tawny Owl flying between branches
Bottom: three juvs






Tawny Owl photos by D Greenwood - thanks! More ridge updates soon...

Saturday 12 May 2012

"Scrrreee-ya"


That's "hey, how's it going?" in Swift-speak. Good turnout on the ridge yesterday, you can't beat birding before breakfast: 

Crystal Palace Ridge, 11th May, clear, 5-10mph NE breeze

Whitethroat (2/3), Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Jay, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk (male, hunting), Swallow (1, over), Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed gull (usual movements)

Park: Green Woodpecker, Ring-necked Parakeet, Mallard.

After a quiet few weeks, there was a good movement of Swift and House Martin across South London. Several groups of House Martins were seen flying East to West and other groups over the ridge to the North. Similarly for Swifts there was a general East - West movement with a couple feeding on the ridge and many more outside the Park to the South.

Of swifts, there are few better sights in Spring or Summer than looking up and watching their dark, scythe-like shapes gracefully arching through the air as they feed. Interestingly, they are very much an 'urban' bird too, with a large proportion of nest sites found in built up areas. Does anyone have Swifts nesting locally? A lack of nest sites (and removal or damage to previous ones) has been suggested as a reason for the fall in numbers and subsequent amber-listing of this iconic species. How hard would it be to factor in bird-friendly designs to new builds? Given the rate at which they're being thrown up round here, such simple measures could make a real difference. Check out London Swift Conservation for ideas on how you can attract swifts to your neighbourhood. First person to email with a photo of their own DIY swift nest box wins a signed photo of Dave.

Other notes:

Blackcap and Chiffchaff territories were noticeably quieter - perhaps not surprising since brooding is likely well under way. Good to see Starlings in number, more so than on other occasions, and feeding around the ridge. Switching to Lepidoptera for a moment - several Speckled Woods were taking advantage of the mild conditions.


Cheers to the early birders: Martin, Daniel, Gavin and Dave. 
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) Crystal Palace Park, 11/5/12.
Photo by D Greenwood.







Tuesday 8 May 2012

Weekend wanderings

Some sightings from the bank holiday weekend:
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Happy Valley near Croydon
Farthing Downs/Happy Valley - South Coulsdon (Croydon) 7/5/12


YellowhammerLinnet, WheatearSwallow, Swift, Jackdaw, Green woodpecker,  Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Great Tit, Skylark, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch
 - sightings and photo by Daniel Greenwood


Stone Marshes/Thames foreshore (Dartford) 7/5/12


c6 Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Little Grebe (heard), 16 Shelduck, 8 Linnet, 3 Wheatear (2f, 1m), c 10 House Martin, c30 Swallow (passage), 4 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 2 Cettis' Warbler, 1 Pheasant, c20 Starling, 1 Green Woodpecker, Skylark, 1m Reed Bunting, 2 Pied Wagtail, Blackcap (heard), 1 Chiffchaff (heard), Robin, Carrion Crow, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Tern (W), c40 Black-headed gull, 2 Great Black-backed gull, Herring gull 
- sightings by Peter Beckenham


    

Friday 4 May 2012

Lesser Whitethroat

Crystal Palace Park, 4/5/12, 0630+, fair, light northerlies

Solomiggers have been putting in the hours this week that's for sure. Another stint on the ridge this morning, here's what was picked up. No sleep 'til Dulwich:


Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song thrush, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jay, Starling, Chiffchaff (2 territories), Blackcap (8 – 10 territories), Whitethroat (2/3 territories), Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Kestrel, Ring necked Parakeet, Goldcrest.

The star turn on the ridge was the Lesser Whitethroat. I haven't seen many records for them in the area so that's an excellent result and a new one for the park list. It gave good views in the scrub, alongside it's close relative, Common Whitethroat. So which is which?:

Top: Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) somewhere that isn't SE26. Pic: Wiki
Below: Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) ditto^ Pic: mine.

There are a number of clear visual differences between the two species; the Lesser being slightly smaller, having  an earthy, brown upper side (as opposed to the warmer tones on the Common) and a darker, more defined, slate-grey head. Good views should show a further contrast with darker ear coverts evident. Both birds are spring migrants to Britain from sub-Saharan Africa. The songs are distinct rattle-y numbers with Common going for scratchy warbles, usually from a prominent perch, and Lesser chucking a spanner in the works by sounding like a Yellowhammer. Look it up.

Elsewhere in the park there were the usual gulls and woodies over, going their various ways. Hirundine passage has been a non-event this year so far, last week's swifts were bang on cue but nothing again today. On the rest of the patch there were a pair of Mistle Thrush and a Nuthatch singing down by the Capel bit, otherwise it's as you were. Cheers to Dave, Daniel, Martin and Gavin for all of the above.

More local sightings:

There was a Garden Warbler reported by Martin in the Dawson's Hill area (May 2nd) and a Hobby was over Forest Hill on the first (per London Birders). It'd be good to get some more sightings of the latter, especially after the late discovery of a juv in the area last summer. 

Sydenham Hill Wood today: Blue tit, Great tit, Goldcrest, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wren, Robin,, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Treecreeper, Nuthatch
Green Woodpecker (at nest hole), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie - Martin S. 

There's been a lot of activity in and around and Sydenham Hill Wood of late, with staff and volunteers from the London Wildlife Trust working hard on the restoration of the Ambrook stream and dewy pond. I dropped by last week and have to say it looks fantastic. Breaking news this afternoon is the sighting of a bonafide Sydenham Hill Wood MEGA in the vicinity...a pair of Mallard looking cosy on the pond (new patch tick!). Really great news, seriously. (Thanks to Ashley White for the update)

If you'd like to add anything on here feel free to email us at southlondonbirds@gmail.com. Check back soon, it's not over yet. Cheers - Pete.