4 November 2012

Ouzelly the best October for years...


Finally they came.  A few quiet, subdued chacks and it's Ouzel Autumn time again.

Highlights for this, all things considered, good month:

  • Short-eared Owl, not one, but two, woohoo!
  • Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail: a few late leavers
  • Brambling: already better than last year, and shaping up for finchtastic winter
  • Woodlark recorded on 2 days, with 4 on the 23rd
  • Goldeneye: 2 for the morning on Heronry, that's why we send Dan to school!

  • October 16th Ouzels: Tardy turdus
  • Hawfinch, 3 days of possibly 2 birds, the first sightings since 1985 (Stevey T might have got one over the Heronry the weekend before!)
  •  Not forgetting Stonechat: again a bumper year, are UK populations bouncing back? 


  • And a cast of extras including: Bob's Alba Wagtail, Nuthatch, Golden Plover, mass Lapwing movement, Wigeon, late Wheatear and a couple of Yellowhammer
A surprisingly good month with the best days completely obscured by thick fog.  Happily many of my predictions came true, but the best birds were out of the blue - or rather the thick pea souper. Just goes to show you have to be out there...

2nd October

Wanstead Flats: 0645-0800, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 4 Swallow, 12 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Chiffchaff, inc. 1 singing bird (Tim Harris, Dan Hennessy)

3rd October

Wanstead Flats (Bush Wood playing fields, 07:00-07:30): 1 Grey Heron (over), 22 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 21 Herring Gulls, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (Dan Hennessy, Tim Harris).

4th October

Wanstead Flats: two flocks 40 &10 Meadow Pipits collecting at dusk (Bob Vaughan)

5th October

Wanstead Flats: (07-00-07.45) 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 10+ Herring Gull, 20+ Common Gull, 50+ Lesser Black-backed Gull and even more Black-headed Gull, alba wagtail (Bob Vaughan) (08.00-0845); Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull in roost, 1 Skylark, 1 Swallow NE, 4 Meadow Pipit, 9 Chiffchaff (SSSI/Long Wood), 2 Goldcrests (Long Wood) (Tim Harris).


6th October

Wanstead Flats: 07:30-09:30, probable Short-eared Owl over east, heading towards Ilford, at 9:10 (Steve Thorpe); 19 Swallows and 37 House Martins mostly W/SW between 8:30-8:45, 28 Meadow Pipits (resident birds), few Chiffchaffs, 2 Chaffinch over, 2 Reed Buntings (broom) (Tim Harris) 15:45-17:15 Wheatear police mud bath (nr Alex), 2 Blackcap Long Wood (Bob Vaughan).

7th October

Wanstead Flats: Tree Pipit, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 18 Pied Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 56 Redwing, 10 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 16 Chaffinch, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Linnet, 6 Siskin, m eclipse Teal, 3 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 16 Skylark, Common Buzzard as seen from the park, Common Snipe (A Wanstead Collective).


Wanstead Park: 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfisher, 22 Gadwall, 31 Tufted Duck, 20 Pochard, 13 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 2 Common Buzzard (Nick Croft/Paul Davis)

8th October

Wanstead Flats: 32 Chaffinch, 65 Goldfinch, 22 Siskin, 36 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Linnet, 23 Meadow Pipit, 15 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 7 House Martin, 11 Swallow, 14 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Redwing, 6 Shoveler, f Teal, 4 Gadwall, 2 Lapwing, Common Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Tim Harris) (57sp).

9th October

Wanstead Flats: vis-migging 2-4 Brambling, 15 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 2 Linnet, 20 + Chaffinch, 10 + Goldfinch, 14 Greenfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, m Stonechat, 20 + Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Song Thrush, 8 Skylark, 20 + Meadow Pipit, 10 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 11 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 9 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 9 Goldcrest, 5 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel (Tony Brown/Steve Thorpe/Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft).



10th October

Wanstead Flats: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Peregrine Falcon showing some interest in a large flock (90+) Jackdaw, small movement of finches: Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Linnet, 20+ Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Redwing, Fieldfare, 5 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, 6 Stock Dove south, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, m Stonechat still in brooms though elusive, 7 Skylark (Tim Harris/Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

11th October

Wanstead Flats: Woodlark (heard calling over centre path of brooms south at 08:10: JS/NC), 10+ Skylark, Tree Pipit (Alex scrub), 10+ Meadow Pipit, 10 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat still brooms, 125+ Redwing, Fieldfare, 20+ Song Thrush, good movement of finches: 20 Chaffinch, 7 Siskin, 6 Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Linnet and Greenfinch, 3 Reed Bunting, 10+ Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Barnacle Goose (plastic fantastic), 5 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 7 Gadwall, 3 House Martin, 12 Swallow (Tim Harris/Tony Brown/Nick Croft/Josh Selfe) [60sp].

12th October

Wanstead Flats: m Stonechat still broom fields, 82 Redwing, 5 SongThrush, 20 + Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 7 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, 2 Swallow, 5 House Martin, possible Hobby east over Lake House Road estate, 2 Sparrowhawk, 8 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail (Nick Croft)

15th October

Wanstead Flats: 6 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 16 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 20+ Chaffinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Kestrel (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge).


Wanstead Park: f + 1st winter Goldeneye (Heronry), 30+ Pochard, 30+ Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Redwing, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, 5+ Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Kestrel (Dan Hennessy/Tim Harris/Jonathan Lethbridge/Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe).



16th October

Wanstead Flats: Ring Ouzel (long wood), 12 Redwing, Firecrest (first on the flats) in with numerous Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll, 2 Linnet, Siskin, 20+ Chaffinch, Swallow, 7 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 5 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge/Josh Selfe).

17th October

Wanstead Flats: f Ring Ouzel being elusive in Long Wood (Tim Harris), Redwing, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Siskin, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 10 + Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, possible Yellow Wagtail over, 5 Shoveler, Gadwall, Kestrel, f Sparrowhawk (Team Wanstead)



18th October

Wanstead Flats: 1 probably 2 Ring Ouzel in Alex scrub, one flew on to Alex island then north, the other presumably still in the scrub, 20 + Song Thrush, Redwing, Yellowhammer (2nd-3rd bird of the year) circled twice over brooms, 2 Reed Bunting, 15 Siskin, 20+ Chaffinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff, 6+ Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Dan Hennessy)

Wanstead Park: 30 + Pochard, 40 + Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Kestrel (Nick Croft)

19th October

Wanstead Flats: f/1st winter Ring Ouzel (4th day), south of Long Wood, 20+ Song Thrush, 51 Redwing west in one flock, 3 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 17 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Linnet, 20 + Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, 15 Pied Wagtail, 25 Meadow Pipit, 7 Skylark, 27 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 6 Shoveler, Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron (Nick Croft/Tim Harris)

20th October

Wanstead Flats: f Ring Ouzel (long wood - 5th day), 500 + Redwing west, 30 + Song Thrush, c. 100 Chaffinch, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 20 + Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, c. 500 Starling, 24 Skylark, c. 30 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 14 Pied Wagtail, 8 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (A Wanstead Collective)

Wanstead Park: Nuthatch (Res. Wood - Kathy Hartnett), 8 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 5 Skylark, Chiffchaff, 13 + Goldcrest, Kingfisher, 42 Tufted Duck, 61 + Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 32 Common Pochard, f Teal, Redwing, 3 Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Nick Croft)



21st October

Wanstead Flats: 2 Ring Ouzel (Birdguides), 7 Fieldfare north over SSSI, Short-eared Owl (sw chased by crows), 10 Pied Wagtail, 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Snipe, 10 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 2 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk (The Wanstead Collective)

Wanstead Park: Wigeon reported Shoulder of Mutton, 9 Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pochard in good numbers on heronry, 6 Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge)



22nd October

Wanstead Flats: Hawfinch (circled over Esso Copse calling before going north - NC), 2-3m Ring Ouzels (+ female), 20+ Redwing, 30+ Song Thrush, 9 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, f Teal, Reed Bunting, 4 Chiffchaff, f Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge).

23rd October

Wanstead Flats: Hawfinch, again circling over Esso Garage, 2 birds heard (NC/AH), f Brambling, 3 Woodlark west, 2 Golden Plover north (both TB), 1st winter Ring Ouzel north of Long Wood (ST), also 100 + Chaffinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 30 + Song Thrush, 60 + Redwing, Fieldfare, 15 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Skylark, 7 + Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 9 Gadwall + unidentified large game bird type flushed from Alex scrub (Nick Croft/Tony Brown/Adam Hudson/Steve Thorpe et al)


24th October

Wanstead Flats: 57 Lapwing west, c. 200 Chaffinch, 44 Siskin, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 46 Redwing, 63 Fieldfare, 20 Meadow Pipit, 8 Pied Wagtail, c. 20 Skylark, 6 Goldcrest, m Sparrowhawk, m Kestrel, 10 Gadwall, f Teal, 7 Shoveler, Chiffchaff, Swallow north, and a Ferret on a lead (Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe et al).



25th October

Wanstead Flats: 4 Brambling, c. 100 Chaffinch mainly north again, 13 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 8 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 60 Fieldfare, 30 + Redwing, 35 + Song Thrush, 20 + Meadow Pipit, 10 + Pied Wagtail, 18 Skylark, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, c 1,000 Starling through north, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler (Nick Croft/Tony Brown/Jonathan Lethbridge/Doug "wants ouzels") yesterday Hawfinch seen at 17:20 over Esso Copse and west along Long Wood by Eve Wei)

26th October

Wanstead Flats: m Stonechat, 200 + Redwing, 66 Fieldfare (mainly north), 30 + Song Thrush, 3 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 6+ Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 10+ Skylark, 40+ Meadow Pipit, 7+ Goldcrest, 1000+ Woodpigeon south, Sparrowhawk, Snipe, 14 Shoveler, 3 Swallow (north) (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Jonathan Lethbridge, Rob and Doug).

Wanstead Park: 36 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing (north), Siskin, 3 Meadow Pipit, 17 Pochard, 33 Tufted Duck, 10+ Gadwall, Teal, 5 Little Grebe, 10+ Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk  (Nick Croft).



27th October

Wanstead Flats: 125 Lapwing west, 2 Snipe, 10-15 unidentified med-large waders west roughly over West Ham park tracked through Bow Creek, c. 300 Fieldfare, c. 150 Redwing, 20 Song Thrush, 500 + Wood Pigeon south, 30 + Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 3 Linnet, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, 20 + Meadow Pipit, 10 + Skylark, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Teal, 23 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, Common Pochard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Swallow north - 54 sp (Wanstead Birding)

Wanstead Park: Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 40+ Common Pochard, similar numbers Tufted Duck, 30 + Gadwall, 4 Little Grebe, 8 + Goldcrest, Siskin (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge)

28th October

Wanstead Flats: 600 + Fieldfare, 50 + Redwing, 1700 Woodpigeon south, 158 Chaffinch, 50 + Linnet, 6 Lesser Redpoll, Brambling, 2 Siskin, 4 Reed Bunting, 500 + Starling, 20 + Skylark, 10 + Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, Peregrine Falcon (Bob Vaughan), 2-3 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Snipe (Jonathan Lethbridge/Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)


Wanstead Park: Kingfisher (Steve Thorpe)

29th October

Wanstead Flats: Ring Ouzel (Long Wood heard only - JL), juv Stonechat (Alex, pub scrub), 3 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 15 Siskin, 20+ Chaffinch, 5 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, 20 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 6 Skylark, Sparrowhawk (Jonathan Lethbridge/Nick Croft)



30th October

Wanstead Flats: 200+ Woodpigeon south, 20 + Chaffinch, 10 + Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 4 Linnet, m Bullfinch (first this year) Alex/pub scrub, 3 Reed Bunting, 5 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 10 + Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 7 + Goldcrest, Kestrel, Stock Dove, 5 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, f Teal, 10 + Skylark (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge)

Wanstead Park: Nuthatch reservoir wood, 3 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, 65 + Pochard, 30 + Gadwall, 10 + Shoveler, Little Egret, 10 + Goldcrest, 5 Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail (Nick Croft)


31st October

Wanstead Flats: 1500 Starling west, Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, c. 40 Chaffinch, 12 Goldfinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Linnet, 2 Siskin, Fieldfare (Nick Croft)


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