LONDON NEWS

Common Cranes (Photo credit: Lip Kee)

Amwell NR: 2 Common Cranes south 1055.Rye Meads RSPB: 2 Common Cranes in field opposite Draper hide 1100.Staines Reservoir: 10.00hrs-12.30hrs: 1 Eider imm male (flew in from S tried to land but mobbed by at least four Pochards, circled south basin before flying off N over Heathrow 5th Terminal), 1 Little Gull (adult, south basin), 1 Black Tern, 10 Arctic Tern, 15 Common Swift (flew over north basin heading E), 1 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail (flew SE), 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Oystercatcher. (Neil Randon, Chris Hazell). 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (western edge of north basin, flew N at 9.30.Tyttenhanger GP: 2 Sanderling 9:10 - 9:41. 2 Little Ringed Plover.Hampstead Heath: Whimbrel circling over Parliament Hill then away E at 09:30.Gallions Reach: Arctic Tern, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Oystercatcher.Brent Reservoir: 10 Arctic Terns flew East at 07.30, Whimbrel at 07.15 and 09.22.

LONDON NEWS

Beddington: 1 Whimbrel, 1 Red Kite, 1 Hobby (first for year), 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Swift (first for year), 30+ Swallow N, 1 Sedge Warbler (first for year), 6 Reed Warbler, 10 Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap, 9 Wheatear, 1 Pheasant (BFBG, Peter Alfrey). (Cackling Goose not present today)  pics here

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) (Photo credit: mikebaird)

Brent Reservoir: Today is our annual dawn-to-dusk Spring Birdcount Day. Total at 16.40: 74 species.. Great White Egret east 09.12, also singing Nightingale North Marsh, Bar-tailed Godwit over 08.02, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, Cetti's Warbler, Peregrine, Hobby & Common Buzzard over at 15.05.Walthamstow:Lockwood WHIMBREL (KJM).

PATCHBIRDING

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) (Photo credit: Rainbirder)

Today i had the shock of my life when i was walking out of the patch at low maynard reservoir when i flushed a SHORT-EARED OWL which was no more than six feet from my face.The bird then proceded to give me a dirty look as it flew over to lockwood reservoir.Also it was my 1st spring record at the patch.

PATCHWORK

A slight improvement for march moving up just one place.I have to get some 3 pointers to advance on the leaders.

I LIKE A NICE PAIR

Today i found myself yet another patch tick with a nice pair of (COMMON SCOTER) putting me on 151.

and also a nice pair of GARGANEY