October review

While not a patch on last year, the month threw up some good birds, in some good numbers. Dominant southerlies and good weather, indeed balmy weather on occasions meant that as in the Spring many of our expected visitors just carried on. Or maybe some have just yet to arrive...

Highlights of the month

Ring Ouzel blink and you'd have missed them
Wood Lark thinks about being a long stayer then decides against it
Wigeon on the Alex for most of the month
Crossbill over the Alex and chez Lethbridge
Jono gets his Stonechat for a record year list
Goshawk(s) tempted by the huge increase in Wood Pigeon!
Medeterranean Gull on the Alex, but I am still crap at gulls



On the furry front
Possible Otter sp on the Roding
Weasel in the Sewage Works
Wood Mouse uses local bus stop

In a slight change to previous months, we will be just hacking the materials uploaded to the London Bird Club sight (saves me a few hours of having to try and collate and illustrate and to tie all together with a bit of whimsy. So we are all winners!).

1 October

Wanstead Flats: Woodlark in grass east of Long wood then flew West and not relocated, Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, male Blackcap, Grey Wagtail over, 7 Skylark, 28 Meadow Pipit, 4 Song Thrush (S Fisher/Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: Garden Warbler male in subsong OSW, 3 Goldcrest (Stuart Fisher, Tim Harris)

2 October

Wanstead Flats: 28 + Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Siskin, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 7 Chaffinch, Linnet, c. 10 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, Goldcrest, 3 Teal, 3 Gadwall (east), Tufted Duck, Sparrohawk, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Tony Brown)

Wanstead Park: 2 Little Egret (Paul Davis), 6 Gadwall, 6 f Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Chiffchaff (singing), 2 Goldcrest (Nick Croft/Paul Davis)
3 October




Wanstead Flats: 10 Song Thrush, 20 + Blackbird (representing a small fall during the night), 5 Mistle Thrush, 10 + Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2-3 Chiffchaff, Linnet (Nick Croft) Buzzard reported last week



Wanstead Park: 50+ Jackdaw, 9 Siskin, 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, 9 Pochard, 15 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldcrest (Nick Croft)




4 October

Wanstead Flats: 1m + 1 f/juv type Ring Ouzel, 3 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 6 Song Thrush, 6 Mistle Thrush, 50 + Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, Hobby feeding on the wing headed south, Kestrel, 9 Swallow (south), 12 Chaffinch, 13 Siskin (south), 2 Lesser Redpoll (north), 2 Linnet, 4 Goldfinch, 6 Skylark, 4 m Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff (Nick Croft/Tim Harris), Goldcrest (Bush Wood), 2 Gadwall (jubilee pond), Little Egret (east) (Tim Harris), Monk Parakeet (Bush Wood - Jonathan Lethbridge). Male Ring Ouzel still present in Long Wood at approx 2:45, 1 Wheatear still (Stuart Fisher).



5 October

Wanstead Flats: 2 Wheatear (juv + fem), 5 Mistle Thrush, 60 + Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 7 House Martin, 5 Swallow, 1,225 Wood Pigeon feeding on football pitches, 600 Starling (likewise), 5 Linnet, 10 Chaffinch (south), Kestrel, 2 Gadwall, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Paul Ferris/ Steve Thorpe).

6 October

Wanstead Flats: 2 juv/f type Wheatear (+ 1 SSSI), 30+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting (east), 2 Linnet, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, f Pochard, 3 Teal, Kestrel, 10 + Skylark (Nick Croft/Tim Harris).

7 October

Wanstead Flats: Ring Ouzel alarm call heard but not located, 1 Wheatear, 12 + Song Thrush, 20 + Blackbird, 12 Mistle Thrush, 16 + Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 20 + Linnet, 10 + Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, 3 Swallow, 20 Meadow Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 10 + Skylark, Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Pochard (f), 2 Gadwall (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Paul Ferris)

8 October

Wanstead Flats am: Woodlark North over Broom fields calling 8am (ish), drake Wigeon on Alex, 52 Siskin south, 5 Chaffinch NW, Linnet North, 22 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting (Stuart Fisher) Wigeon still at 18:00, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 1 f Pochard, Kestrel. Sparrowhawk, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Reed Bunting, flock of 30 + Ring-necked Parakeet + many others (south), 2 House Martin, 6 Skylark (Nick Croft)



Wanstead Park pm: Woodlark (west over Heronry, probably Stuart's bird 15:30), juv Goshawk (briefly chasing pigeons low to the south of Heronry), Sparrowhawk, 6 + Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 3 Linnet, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 12 Pochard (Nick Croft).





9 October

Wanstead Flats: Woodlark (again in broom fields associating with Skylark), 12+ Skylark, juv Hobby (east), Kestrel, m Wigeon still (eclipse drake on Alex), 2 Gadwall (jubilee), 19 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 9 UFOs (unidentified finches over), 4 Chaffinch, 10 + Greenfinch, 3 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, Wheatear, 8 Redwing, 9 Mistle Thrush, 8 + Song Thrush, 20 + Blackbird, 23 + Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, (Stuart Fisher/Tim Harris/Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 5 House Martin, 30 + Cormorant (east), Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 27 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 20 + Tufted Duck, 10 Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe,Grey Wagtail, 40 + Jackdaw (south), 8 + Goldcrest, Coal Tit (h), 3 Mistle Thrush, Linnet, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (Tim Harris/Nick Croft) - yesterday C Redstart (Mike Messenger)







10 October

Wanstead Flats: Wigeon still Alex, 2 Shoveler, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtail, 14 Linnet, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redwing, Greater Black-backed Gull (Nick Croft)

11 October

Wanstead Flats: Wigeon still Alex, 2 pr Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 2 Wheatear, 6 Redwing, 20 + Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 10 Skylark, 16 Linnet, 5 Greenfinch, 13 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 7 Chaffinch, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 4 House Martin, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Steve Thorpe)

13 October

Wanstead Flats: Wheatear, 16 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Fieldfare (north), 20 + Blackbird, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Chaffinch, 22 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Linnet, c. 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest (Nick Croft)

15 October

Sand Martin (Heronry), Common Buzzard (Paul Davis)

19 October

Wanstead Flats: 2 Common Crossbill (west over Alex), 26 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Siskin, 16 Greenfinch, 18 Goldfinch, 10 Chaffinch, 10 Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting, m Stonechat (only 3rd-4th record this year), 6 Mistle Thrush, 2 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, 6 Skylark, 13 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 14 Shoveler, Wigeon still, 2 Teal, Tufted Duck, 19 Greylag Goose, only 1 Little Grebe, flock of 60+ Jackdaw, 17 Common Gull (Nick Croft)











20 October

Wanstead: 8-9 Common Crossbill north over my garden at 07:50, calling loudly (J Lethbridge)

21 October

Wanstead Flats: Goshawk (west low over Longwood, then presumably the same bird south over Alex, then possibly returning north shortly after), Sparrowhawk, 114 + Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 15 + Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 8 Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer (h), 88 Chaffinch, 29 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Siskin, 23 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 10 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 30+ Long-tailed Tit, 74 Jackdaw (flocks of 34 and 40), 20+ Common Gull, 2 Wigeon (m and f), 12 Shoveler, Grey Heron (51 sp - Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe)


22 October

Wanstead Flats: 12 Lesser Redpoll, 7 Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, 11 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 5 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, 2 Song Thrush (1 singing) (Nick Croft), 2 Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler (Steve Thorpe)



Wanstead Park: 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Goldcrest, 26 Tufted Duck, 20 Pochard, 8 Egyptian Goose, 6 Little Grebe, Pipistrelle and 1 larger bat (Shoulder of Mutton) (Nick Croft)

23 October

Wanstead Flats: 21 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush, 10 Mistle Thrush, 45 Lesser Redpoll, 25 Chaffinch, 7 Siskin, Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, 14 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, Skylark, pr Wigeon (still), 9 Shoveler, Goldcrest, Grey Heron, 5 unidentified waders north (Nick Croft)



Wanstead Park: Peregrine Falcon (over old allotments), 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Snipe (flushed from River Roding), 5 Stock Dove, 8 Egyptian Goose, 8 Pochard, 33 Tufted Duck, 36 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, f Bullfinch, 3 Siskin, 10 Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Goldcrest (Nick Croft)









24 October

Wanstead Flats: 75 Fieldfare (west), 26 Redwing (west), 4 Mistle Thrush, 10 Skylark (4 north), 17 Meadow Pipit, 11 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 67 Ring-necked Parakeet (north), 27 Lesser Redpoll, 19 Chaffinch, Siskin, 5 Linnet, 8 Goldfinch, Chiffchaff (h), 3 Goldcrest, Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk (1 landed on the shoreline of Alex, and immediately aroused the duck, who as one swam toward it scaring it off - interesting behaviour), Kestrel, 2 Gadwall, f Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 2 Teal (ST): 52 sp (Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe).

25 October

Wanstead Flats: 208+ Redwing over (mainly south and west), 11 Fieldfare, 28+ Song Thrush, 30+ Blackbird, 13 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 23+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 10+ Skylark, 11 Lessser Redpoll, 22 + Chaffinch, 16 Siskin, 3 Linnet, 15 Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Stock Dove (1 singing), Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, m Teal, f Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 19 Shoveler, 4 Little Egret (east - TH), 30+ Common Gull (Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe/Tim Harris).



26 October

Wanstead Flats: 25 Chaffinch, 24 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 7 Linnet, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting (TH), 11 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (TH), m Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Mistle Thrush, 24 Redwing (south), 10 Fieldfare, 11+ Song Thrush (1 singing), 30+ Blackbird, 2m Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 12 Shoveler (Nick Croft/Tim Harris).

28 October

Wanstead Flats: 73 Chaffinch, 14 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 23 Linnet, 30+ Lesser Redpoll, 8 Reed Bunting, 54 Redwing, 16 Fieldfare, 14 + Song Thrush, 13 Mistle Thrush, 40 + Blackbird, 16 + Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Shoveler, 5 m Teal, 50 + Common Gull, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Tim Harris)


29 October

Wanstead Flats (0740-0930): 825 Woodpigeons, 4 Skylarks, 7 Meadow Pipits, 13 Mistle Thrushes, 36 Blackbirds, 86 Fieldfares, 132 Redwings, 390 Starlings, 11+ Chaffinches, 34 Linnets, with most birds flying W or SW. (Tim Harris)






31 October

Wanstead Flats: ad Mediterranean Gull (Alex), 60+ Common Gull, 100+ Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, f Wigeon, m Teal, 15 Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 9 Redwing, 9 Fieldfare, 3 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 5 Linnet, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Tim Harris).





Wanstead Park: 2 Bullfinch (old sewage works), 7 Lesser Redpoll, 13 Siskin, m Blackcap, 7 Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (ST), Meadow Pipit (south), 4 Little Grebe, Grey Heron, 48 Tufted Duck, 14 Pochard, 20 Gadwall, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Stock Dove (Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe)