August round-up

August highlights

 Cuckoo (pics Bob Vaughan)

• Common Redstart: first returning female (4th-9th), 4 more sightings by the end of the month
• Willow Warbler: a high of 6 birds on the 7th, many singing, many not seen, till end of the month
• Sedge Warbler: possible on the 7th
• Northern Wheatear: first bird back on the 8th, but only 8 birds for the month
• Common Sandpiper: records from the park and flats
• Redshank: a first for Wanstead we thought on the 9th, but thanks to Des McKenzie who informs us of a bird seen back in 1983 by the Essex Field Club
• Reed Warbler: good passage of over 10 birds
• Yellow Wagtail: first on the 14th and virtually daily (early morning), with a high of 12 on the 26th. Some even come low enough to see (c. 20-30 birds)
• Cuckoo: 7th, 16th-24th probably the same bird throughout
• Spotted Flycatcher: First bird of the year on the 9th, and subsequently virtually daily, a high of 7 on the 31st, including 3-4 birds in the Park
• Pied Flycatcher: 7 sightings from the 10th onwards with 2 birds on 2 occasions
• Whinchat: A juvenile was first bird on the 21st -25th, thereafter numbers picked up to 5 by the end of the month.
• Tree Pipit: probably just the one bird from the 22nd, and all sightings round the enclosure at the east end of Long Wood (check the updated map)
• Stonechat: just the one record thanks to a young lad called David Bradnum - the boy has a future!
• Quail: Bob kicks game bird in to touch in the rain on the 24th
• Crake sp: Small crake flies into the largest patch of bramble on earth in the enclosure,  leaving 2 baffled birders. Size and lack of white suggest Corn Crake, but not picking up any markings on the back mean an attempt to get this past the London Committee is probably a non-starter, mind you I was having trouble picking up markings on Common Whitethroat through bins the weather was that rank
• Prize bird? Barred Warbler: first seen on the 28th on the edge of the pub/Alex scrub and that was that we thought.  Subsequently seen by myself and Marco Johnson on the 5th September, who will help me with the submission.  Yes we are having it!

A slow start to August with only a female Redstart to get the blood racing on the 5th, it was as if July hadn't finished. Then on the 7th things began to accelerate: a possible Cuckoo being the harbinger of a bird that kicked around the patch for a good few days (16th-24th), allowing virtually everyone to get on to it - so it's been a good year for them: one sighting and 3 heards in the spring.

So not a shabby month, and if you include almost daily Garden Warbler, a handful and an extra finger of Snipe, Hobby, Peregrine, a smattering of Swallow, the last local Sand Martin and Swift - something for everyone!

September should be better, but has a lot of expectation to fulfil.

3rd August

Wanstead Flats: 6 Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 House Martin, 10 Swift, 50+ Greenfinch (good breeding year), 2-3 Kestrel (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Common Tern, Lesser Black-backed Gull plunge-diving for & catching crayfish, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Hobby, Garden Warbler (Nick Croft/Kathy Hartnett)

5th August

Wanstead Flats: f Common Redstart (Long Wood), Hobby, 2 Kestrel, m Sparrowhawk, 4 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebe chicks, Swallow, 5 House Martin, 10+ Swift, 6 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)

6th August

Wanstead Flats: 12 Sand Martin S, 8 House Martin, 2 Swift, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrel, 6 Meadow Pipit W, 2 Teal, Gadwall, Mistle Thrush (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy)

Wanstead Park: Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, Pochard, Shoveler, 6 Swift (Nick Croft)

7th August

Wanstead Flats: 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and possible Sedge Warbler Alex, c20 Chiffchaff, 5 Swallow NW, House Martin, 6 Swift, 3 Kestrel, Bullfinch, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Gadwall, possible Cuckoo, and an Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar in the SSSI (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy)

8th

Wanstead Flats: Northern Wheatear, Common Sandpiper, 3 Swallow W, 3 Sand Martin, 7 House Martin, 3 Swift, 6-8 Lesser Whitethroat, 20-30 Common Whitethroat, 20+ Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 300 Starling Capel Point, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Teal, 3 Gadwall, 8 Little Grebe chicks on Alex, Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, 10+ Skylark (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft).

9th

Wanstead Flats: f Common Redstart (possibly Monday's bird still), f / juv Northern Wheatear, Redshank heard calling flying S over Alex towards Manor Park - Mega! first record (unbelievably) for the patch, Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kestrel, 11 House Martin, 2 Shoveler, Gadwall, 2 Grey Wagtail, family group of 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 2 Reed Warbler Shoulder of Mutton, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, 2 Grey Wagtail 1juv, 3 Swift, House Martin (Nick Croft); Common Tern (Tim Harris)

10th

Wanstead Flats: Reed Warbler, 30+ Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Wagtail, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, 3 Kestrel, House Martin, Swift (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan).

Wanstead Park: Common Sandpiper, 3 Pochard, Shoveler, Grey Wagtail (Bob Vaughan).

11th

Wanstead Flats: Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler (Bob Vaughan)
Wanstead Park: Kingfisher fishing on Heronry (Bob Vaughan)

14th

Wanstead Flats: Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine Falcon, 2-3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, 2 Egyptian Goose, Pochard, Gadwall, 5 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Peregrine Falcon carrying prey, Hobby, 3-4 Sparrowhawk, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Pochard, Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck ad & 1 chick, Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Swallow, 5 Swift (Nick Croft)

15th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Swallow, 11 House Martin, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Kestrel, m Sparrowhawk, 4 Teal (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 2 Kingfisher, Gadwall, Pochard, 3 Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, 3 House Martin (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)

16th

Wanstead Flats: Cuckoo, Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 6 Meadow Pipit, 11 House Martin, 4 Gadwall (Nick Croft/Josh Selfe)

18th

Wanstead Flats: Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 4 Egyptian Geese, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Pied Wagtail (Bob Vaughan)

Wanstead Park: 2 Kingfisher Heronry slack (Bob Vaughan)

19th

Wanstead Flats: Spotted Flycatcher (first this year) between Esso Copse and Long Wood, 2 Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, House Martin, Skylark, 3 Kestrel, 2 Shoveler (Nick Croft); Whinchat (Birdguides)

20th

Wanstead Flats: f Pied Flycatcher briefly in Alex Scrub, 1-2 Reed Warber, 2-3 Garden Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Swallow E, 2 Hobby, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, 2 Shoveler, Gadwall (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Steve Thorpe/Jono Lethbridge/John)

21st

Wanstead: Pied Flycatcher on a poor view and not entirely convinced, after seeing Spotted Flycatcher with a fairly pronounced wingbar at the east end of Long Wood but possiby 2 birds!, also juv Whinchat, Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, 2 Swallow, House Martin, Yellow Wagtail over, juv Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 Skylark (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge/Dan Hennessy/Barry Bishop/Keith Marchant/BirdGuides).

22nd

Wanstead Flats: Pied Flycatcher in Long Wood (NC/JL/BV/BB/BirdGuides); Spotted Flycatcher (BV); Tree Pipit, 4 Meadow Pipit, juv Whinchat still in brooms, 2 f Northern Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler (one singing), Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 15+ Robin, 2 Skylark, House Martin (NC); 2 Teal, 2 Shoveler on Alex (BV) [all Long Wood and brooms unless stated - a good morning] (Nick Croft/Jonathan Lethbridge/Bob Vaughan/Barry Bishop); Cuckoo Long Wood, Pied Flycatcher still 14:44 (Dan Hennessy); Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher still 19:09, juv Stonechat (David Bradnum)

 

Juv Stonehcat (pic David Bradnum)

West Ham Park: Whinchat (BirdGuides)

23rd

Wanstead Flats: Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy)

24th

Wanstead Flats: Quail (BV); Crake sp flushed from path nr Long Wood and landed in bramble patch [No white on tail, legs dangling behind, no discernible rufous on wings or streaky back but darker towards primaries, smaller than juv Moorhen. Not enough to be 100% certain] (NC/BV); Cuckoo (TB); 2 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Tree Pipit, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Willow Warber, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Mistle Thrush, 4 Snipe NE over Esso Copse, 2 Egyptian Goose, 12 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Tony Brown/Steve Thorpe/Tim Harris/J Ward).

25th

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat SSSI (Tim Harris); Tree Pipit east end of Long Wood (Bob Vaughan/Barry Bishop); 2 Spotted Flycatcher (BV)

26th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Whinchat (Tim Harris), 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 4-5 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 singing Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, 12+ Yellow Wagtail W, 3 Grey Wagtail, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Tony Brown/Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Tim Harris)

27th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Whinchat, f Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Teal, 10+ Gadwall, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 5+ Meadow Pipit, 13 Swallow, House Martin, Hobby, Kestrel, 5 Mistle Thrush, imm Great Black-backed Gull (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

28th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Pied Flycatcher (one pub scrub & 2nd Esso Copse), Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Whinchat (brooms), Common Redstart (SSSI), 20+ Swallow through, 3 House Martin W, Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, 9 Gadwall, Shoveler, 14 Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Steve Thorpe/Tim Harris)

29th

Wanstead Flats: 5 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 1 Common Redstart, 1-2 Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 10 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, Teal, 3 Yellow Wagtail (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: Tawny Owl by ornamental waters (Tim Harris)

30th

Wanstead Flats: 4 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 5 Yellow Wagtail, House Martin, 3 Kestrel, 10+ Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, Little Egret (Wanstead Birders)

31st

Wanstead Flats: 4 Whinchat, 2 Common Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, 5 Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 14 Swallow, Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, Shoveler, Gadwall (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, 2 Swallow (Nick Croft/Sally Hammond)