From SE26 to Scandinavia

Friday 30th March, 0630, cool w/slight Easterley breeze, hazy (but improving)

A better morning on the ridge than the last outing. Birds seen or heard in the viewpoint scrub: Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Jay. Blackcap and Chiffchaff territories have doubled since last week, two singing males apiece now.

Flyovers:
Canada geese, Greylags, Mallard, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Feral pigeon, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Redwing (8).

Dave and Gavin report the latter were pretty flighty and restless...zugenruhe? It's a beautiful idea describing the 'anxiety' or nervousness displayed immediately prior to undertaking migration. These sexy thrushes will no doubt soon be swapping SE26 for Scandinavia. Of the gulls, the Herrings were observed in singles and doubles, largely moving NW (to the river?). Worth mentioning the Woodies too - c120 all in, groups moving SE. It was suggested this is a daily 'phenomenon'; the birds moving out to forage in fields on the suburban/Kent fringe (thanks Gavin).

Park life: Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, RN parakeet.

Thanks to Dave and Gavin for this update. Here's the BBC weather picture for the middle of next week, looks like we're stuck with northerlies for the most but you never know what'll chance them. COMING SOON (to a park near you): Swallow, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat.

Dammit

Friday 23rd March, 0630, Pea Souper

An inauspicious start to proceedings this year. When I left New Cross Gate at 6 it was clear and bright; when I got to the ridge just before 6.30 -  total white-out. Somewhere around Brockley a huge bank of fog had descended. Bugger. With dreams of a long awaited urban Wheatear dashed for the time being I felt my way across the park to find the others. Eventually I bumped into Dave (literally) and we marvelled at the misfortune. Not much to do so we did a headcount on the ridge, visibility was <10m so some of these were just heard:

Dunnock, Robin, Carrion Crow, Wren, Blackcap (1), Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Mallard, Chiffchaff (1), Long-tailed Tit

Singing Chiff and Blackcap were alright but you know it's gonna be a slow morning when 3 Mallard flying out of the murk are a highlight. Vis didn't improve so we stumbled down to the lake for a circuit:

Magpie, Jay, Feral Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch (pair), Ring-necked Parakeet, Canada Goose (pair), Moorhen, Coot, Tufted duck (10), Shoveler (pair) No sign of the herons so far, any thoughts why this might be? 

So bit of a disappointing session but that's the way it goes. Stick around, it can only get better.

Feel free to submit any sightings to southlondonbirds@gmail.com, all will be credited. We'd love to know what else is out there. Cheers.

Incoming...

It's that time of year again; green shoots are emerging from the ground, insects are stirring, the days are getting longer. Yep, it can only mean one thing: vismigging! Or, more appropirately: SoLomigging.

SoLomig 2012 is gearing up for action. By way of a recap (and introduction) SoLomig is run by a couple of guys from South London who love birds and like recording the comings and goings in the local area. The Ridge at Crystal Palace Park SE26 provides a great vantage point for doing jut this. Last year we heard that a sizeable area of scrub on the ridge was being ear-marked for clearance and we reckon it could be a pretty important area for birds, some resident species but especially migrants 'stopping off'. Since it is largely South-facing it's a good spot for watching incoming birds so that's what we do for a couple of weeks during the 'peak' spring migration period. Last year, fly-overs were restricted to House Martins and Swallows but we also turned up newly arrived Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff. That still aint bad for Sarf London! This year, a Wheatear is my target. But who knows what'll turn up? Watch this space.