December not really as bad as it could have been and that's almost entirely down to the Yellow-browed Warbler that appeared in the willows on the south west corner of Alex on the 7th and behaved impeccably until the new year, by which time it had inspected every remaining leaf at least twice and then hid itself in the evergreens. Now of course it is a complete bastard, not calling and showing briefly if at all. It took me near enough 10 hours to see it briefly, moving between the islands, and much questioning of my sanity.
Just the 77 species for the month, but that means we managed an average of just over 82 species per month for the year, which sounds better than it probably was as 5 months failed to reach 80. Golden Plover, Lapwing, Ringed Plover were noted making it the best month for plovers this year! The Little Owl is still with us and reports of its demise premature, no one could be bothered to stay out late for Tawny Owl or Woodcock which are probably present so the month could have been marginally better.
Duck numbers struggled back after November's freeze, and fell away again when the ponds froze again in December, though 3 Red-crested Pochard were noted on the Hollow Ponds on the 20th, but the cold weather did bring in a few good days of Redwing and Fieldfare.
We do have a wintering Stonechat again by Cat & Dog, which may be last year's bird, but that would require me looking at old posts to check. It has been joined by Meadow Pipits and a few Reed Bunting–which may not be surprising as it is the quietest part of the patch elsewhere overrun by dogs! Skylarks haven't sussed this yet, and are increasingly hard to find down by Alex.
Little Egret numbers are building up again on Heronry, though way down on last year, with a high of 7 counted, whereas all the Little Grebe have moved off the lakes on to the Roding. And that was December, so just about 80 days until the Wheatear get here...
2nd
Wanstead Flats: 6 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Peter Brinton)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 86 Gadwall, 2 Teal, Wigeon, 13 Wigeon, 14 Tufted Duck, 18 Redwing (Nick Croft/Peter Brinton)
4th
Wanstead Flats: Golden Plover (Tony Brown); Little Owl, Common Buzzard, m Sparrowhawk, 2 Linnet, Meadow Pipit, 7 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 2 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Common Snipe (Tony Brown); Firecrest, 12 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, f Sparrowhawk, 130+ Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 7 Redwing (Nick Croft); Water Rail on Heronry Pond (Frank Nugent)
5th
Wanstead Flats: Little Owl, 5 Shoveler, Gadwall, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 65 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 6 Shoveler going east, Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Great Black-backed Gull, 12 Mistle Thrush, 30+ Goldfinch, 10+ Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
6th
Wanstead Flats: 8 Lapwing (Rob Sheldon), 12 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 3 Pochard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Redwing, 8 Mistle Thrush, 550+ Common Gull, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 60+ House Sparrow (Nick Croft)
7th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler on south side of Alex in willows calling and showing well, 2 Goldcrest, 34 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 7 Linnet, 30+ Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 13 Shoveler (Nick Croft/Bob Vaugan)
Wanstead Park: 20 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, singing Song Thrush, singing Mistle Thrush, 12 Goldcrest, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebe, 27 Shoveler, 58 Gadwall, 6 Teal, Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, 300+ Black-headed Gull (Nick Croft)
8th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler again in willows on south side of Alex until about 8:30 when it joined a roving mixed tit flock (Jono Lethbridge/Peter Brinton/Nick Croft) - excellent find Nick (JR); 220+ Redwing, 70+ Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Kestrel, 8 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 3 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe, 92 Gadwall, 39 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 22 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 16 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, 10+ Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
10th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler on south side of Alexandra Lake in overhanging Willows but mobile and only occasionally calling (Tony Brown)
11th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still on island at Alexandra Lake, c10.30. 3 Goldcrest, m Blackcap, 63 Fieldfare, singing Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 12 Gadwall, 16 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, Great Black-backed Gull (Stuart Fisher/Nick Croft et al) recording here
Wanstead Park: 150 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 23 Teal, 28 Shoveler, Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe on Roding, 2 Coal Tit, 4 Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Redwing (Nick Croft)
12th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still SW corner of Alex in willows but (understandably) elusive, 1w m Stonechat, 25 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove, Goldcrest, 3-5 Linnet, 20+ Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, 12 Gadwall, 21 Shoveler, 13 Teal, 10 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Kestrel (Nick Croft)
13th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still sw corner of Alex, Goldcrest, 24+ Goldfinch, 8 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, singing Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
14th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still favouring the SW corner of Alex, 6 Goldcrest, 15 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing (many more calling overhead as I returned home after dark), singing Song Thrush and 2 singing Mistle Thrush, 2 Reed Bunting, 12 Gadwall, 11 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel (Nick Croft et al)
Wanstead Park: 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 5 Little Egret, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 108 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 42 Shoveler, 15 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 4 Mistle Thrush (one singing), singing Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, Fieldfare, 2 Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
15th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest, 102 Fieldfare, 36 Redwing, Stonechat, 12 Linnet, 10 Meadow Pipit, 18 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 5 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 7 Little Egret, 28 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 17 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 11+ Song Thrush, 14 Redwing, Fieldfare, 2 Siskin, 30+ Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
16th
Wanstead Flats: RBA report Yellow-browed Warbler still on south side of Alex, Ringed Plover heard over SSSI (other records appear to have been deleted from the London Bird Club page, again!
17th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler showing well on south side of lake at 0830 (John and Janet Cadera)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 8 Gadwall (Bob Vaughan); Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, Kingfisher, 6 Little Egret (Tony Brown)
18th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still s side Alex, 2 Goldcrest, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 50 Fieldfare, 23 Redwing, 2 singing Song Thrush, 3 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Meadow Pipit, Skylark, WeBS - 665 Common Gull, 144 Black-headed Gull, 103 Mallard, 22 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 18 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 46 Moorhen, 67 Coot (Nick Croft et al)
Wanstead Park: Basin WeBS - 75 Black-headed Gull, 3 Wigeon, Gadwall, Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 18 Redwing (Bush Wood), 25 Fieldfare, 12 Gadwall, Pochard (James Heal/Bob Vaughan/Jono Lethbridge)
19th
Leyton Flats /Hollow and Eagle Ponds: c15 Redwing, 12 Gadwall, 5 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Greenfinch (Simon Worsfold)
20th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still on sw corner of western island on Alex, 2 Goldcrest, 9 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 6 Shoveler, Pochard, Reed Bunting, 2 Kestrel, m Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/James Palmer/Peter Brinton)
Wanstead Park: 2 Kingfisher, 120 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 32 Shoveler, Pochard, 18 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Egret, Coal Tit, 3 Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel, 2 Redwing (Nick Croft)
21st
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still on Alex but took 2 hours to track down, 2 Goldcrest, 8 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 6 Skylark 5 east & 1 remaining resident bird, 4 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 6 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Mistle Thrush, 12 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, Great Black-backed Gull, 500+ Common Gull, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
22nd
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler at 11.30 on Alex, looking good in the sun. Thanks for the pointers (Jon Agar); 7 Redwing, Fieldfare, Reed Bunting, 8 Gadwall, Teal, 5 Shoveler, Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 105 Gadwall, 34 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 3 Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egret, 6 Little Grebe on Roding, Great Crested Grebe, Nuthatch, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Grey Wagtail (Nick Croft)
23rd
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still on SW corner of Alex, 8 Redwing, 100+ Jackdaw (Nick Croft); Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare (Bob Vaughan)
24th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler, 8 Meadow Pipit (Tony Brown et al)
26th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still sw corner of Alex, 2 Goldcrest, Teal, 6 Gadwall, Shoveler, 8 Fieldfare, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 69 Gadwall, 11 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 13 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 4 Redwing, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
27th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, Stonechat, 8 Meadow Pipit, 6 Skylark, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk (James Heal/Bob Vaughan)
28th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler thanks Nick. (G. Gram); 8 Reed Bunting, 4 Linnet, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 31 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 13 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 1w Great Black-backed Gull (Tony Brown/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 90 Gadwall, Wigeon, 19 Shoveler, Teal, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 3 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
29th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still on Alex showing well when seen, 2 Goldcrest, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 12 Linnet, Reed Bunting, c30 Fieldfare, Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Gadwall, 25 Shoveler, f Teal, 9 Tufted Duck, 8 Pochard, Stonechat (Nick Croft/Paul Davies/Marco Johnson/Tony Brown et al)
30th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still sw corner of Alex in willows, Goldcrest, 7 Reed Bunting, 4 Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Fieldfare, Kestrel, 5 Gadwall, 17 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 2 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 50+ House Sparrow (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 35 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 3 Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe, 6 Redwing (Nick Croft)
31st
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler showed late afternoon between the islands on Alex, 7 Teal, 6 Shoveler (Nick Croft et al)
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