August review

Aaaaaugust, that's better!

Scores (bird days) on the doors up till August end

Whinchat (12th): 22 (high of 11 on the 31st)
Northern Wheatear: 25 (high of 4 on the 25th)
Common Redstart (16th): 22 (high of 7 on the 31st)

Pied Flycatcher (1st and 24th): 2
Spotted Flycatcher (15th): 49 (high of 14+ on the 31st)

Tree Pipit (15th): 16 (high of 3 though Stu got 4 on the 15th at Leyton)
Yellow Wagtail: 37 (a couple of 6 days)

So poor for Pied, but a good autumn for Tree Pipit.

The rest of the highlights:

• Wood Warbler: or two on a rainy Alex island on the 17th
• Sedge Warbler: only the one autumn record so far (22nd)
• Lesser Whitethroat: highs of15 on the 16th and 14 + on the 28th
• Turtle Dove: 2 juvenile birds on the 24th and 29th
• Treecreeper: what could be the first record for the flats on the 1st
• Firecrest: singing at Snaresbrook

• Water Rail: juvenile (or 2) on the Roding a possible locally bred bird?
• Mediterranean Gull: a metal ringed 1st winter bird on the 19th
• Buzzard: a group of 4 (I wonder if we will ever get a bigger group at one time...)
• Marsh Harrier: oh yes! one on the 27th get in!

• Green Sandpiper: for 2 days on the Roding on 4-5th
• Common Snipe: a returning bird on the 15th
• Common Sandpiper: 2 records after the 15th

While numbers of migrants were a bit disappointing there was enough variety to  keep everyone keen and certainly a bit of an improvement on July...

1st

Wanstead Flats: f/juv Pied Flycatcher (Birdguides) Mid Long Wood (Twitter), Treecreeper (first record for the flats), Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sparrowhawk (Dan Hennessy)

2nd

Wanstead Flats: No sign of Pied Flycatcher, 15 + Chiffchaff, 4 + Willow Warbler, 4-5 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 + Common Whitehtroat, Garden Warbler, 2 Swallow south, 10 + House Martin, 6 Swift, Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, 2 Kestrel (Dan Hennessy/John Weil/Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 10 + Chiffchaff, 2 Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, Swift, young Sparrowhawk heard (Nick Croft)

3rd

Wanstead Flats (Long Wood/SSSI): 25 + Common Whitethroat (including the sandy pale one - tried to make into Desert Warbler but its far too big!), 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 + Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 13 + Chiffchaff, 20 + House Martin, no Swift, Kestrel, 3 Stock Dove (Nick Croft)

4th

Wanstead Flats: Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 5+ Willow Warbler, 15 + Chiffchaff, 30 + Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warber, 13 Skylark, 10 + House Martin, 4 Swift, 6 Little Grebe (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Green Sandpiper, 3-4 Little Egret, 2 Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 10 + Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, 1-2 Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 4 Little Grebe, juv Great Crested Grebe (Nick Croft)

5th

Wanstead Flats: Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 5 Willow Warber, 15 + Chiffchaff, 20 + Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Backcap, 2 Swallow, Sand Martin, 20 + House Martin, 5 Swift, Gadwall, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy)

Wanstead Park: Green Sandpiper on Roding, 2 Little Egret, Kingfisher (Dan Hennessy)

6th

Wanstead Flats: 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 40+ Common Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 15+ Blackcap, 20+ Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, 14+ House Martin, 4 Swift, 4 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 9 Mistle Thrush, 10+ Song Thrush, Hobby, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 Gadwall, 2 f Pochard, 9 Little Grebe (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft).

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: 2 Nuthatch, 4 Great crested Grebe, 6 Swift, juv Sparrowhawk, Willow Warbler, Jersey Tiger (Stuart Fisher).

7th

Wanstead Flats: 15 + House Martin, 4 Swallow, 30 + Swift, 3 Willow Warbler, 10 + Chiffchaff, 40 + Common Whitethroat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 10 + Blackcap, 4 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 2 Teal, Kestrel (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

8th

Wanstead Flats: Yellow Wagtail, 5 Skylark, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 + Common Whitethroat, 15 + Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Swift, 10 + House Martin, 19 Mistle Thrush, 15 Gadwall, f Teal, 10 Little Grebe, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Tim Harris)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Treecreeper, Nuthatch, 6 Great crested Grebe, 3+ Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Stuart Fisher)

10th

Wanstead Flats: Hobby, Kestrel, Skylark, Willow Warbler, 14 + House Martin, 7 Swift (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 3 Kigfisher, 2 Gadwall, 2 Reed Warbler, 6 + Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtail, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 6 House Martin, 2 Swift (Nick Croft)

11th

Wanstead Flats: Hobby south over SSSI, lingering juv Sparrowhawk, 30 + Chiffchaff, 2 + Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 15 + Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 10 + House Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit carrying food, Pied Wagtail, 5 Stock Dove, pr Egyptian Goose, 2 Linnet (Nick Croft).

12th

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat (Alex/pub scrub), 15 + Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 5 + Lesser Whitethroat, 15 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 2 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, Hobby (SSSI), Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet, 3 Gadwall, 11 Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Richard Rae)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Kingfisher, Nuthatch, Kestrel, 2 Common Whitethroat, 9 Chiffchaff, 4 Great crested Grebe, Swift over west, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Stock Dove (Stuart Fisher)

13th

Wanstead Flats: Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 35+ Common Whitethroat, 7-8 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 15 + Chiffchaff, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark, 3 Swallow, Sand Martin, 14 + House Martin, 2 Swift, Linnet, 6 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe (Nick Croft)

14th

Wanstead Flats: Reed Warbler (Alex), 10 + Willow Warbler, 35 + Chiffchaff, 8 + Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 3 Garden Warbler, Hobby, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Swift, 14 + House Martin, Teal, 3 Gadwall, 10 + Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Richard Rae)

15th

Wanstead Flats: Tree Pipit (Birdguides), 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Garden Warbler, 20 + Common Whitethroat, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 20 + Chiffchaff, 6 + Willow Warbler, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 7 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, 2 Swift, 9 Gadwall, f Teal, f Pochard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Linnet, Little Egret (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Richard Rae/James Palmer) 2 Wheatear yesterday

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 4 Tree Pipit together on the Flats near the burnt oaks until about 10:30 at least calling frequently and showing well, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail over, 30+ Chiffchaff, 5+ Willow Warbler, 5+ Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, Treecreeper calling, 3 Teal on Hollow Pond, drake Pochard (Stuart Fisher/Birdguides)

16th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Common Redstart (ist winter male in enclosure, f type SSSI), Whinchat, f Wheatear, Reed Warbler, 15 + Lesser Whitethroat, 40 + Common Whitethroat, 15 + Blackcap, 7 Garden Warbler, 30 + Chiffchaff, 8 + Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Hobby (several times), 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 3 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, Little Egret, 11 Gadwall (A Wanstead Collective)



Leyton Flats: Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Willow Warblers in Tit flock, Little Egret over (JW Davies)

17th

Wanstead Flats: Wood Warbler (one first winter bird with a very grey chunky Chiffchaff at SE corner of the Alex in willows on island, not seen after 13:30) possible adult in with a few Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler further to west in willows on that island (again not seen subsequent to 14:00 and not easy to see in the wind and with 2 Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk putting in appearances) (NC), 8 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3-4 Garden Warbler, 20 + Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 2 Common Redstart still (m south of Long Wood at visimig point, f north of Long Wood on the edge of the old clay pits), Northern Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail over, Swift, 8 House Martin, Common Sandpiper, Hobby, 2 + Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 4 Gadwall, f Teal, 10 + Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Tony Brown/John Weil/Dan Hennessy)

18th

Wanstead Flats: 3 Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (s), 3 Pied Wagtail, Skylark, 2 Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, 8 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, (no sign Wood Warbler at Alex), 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 + Common Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warbler, 15 + Blackcap, 8 + House Martin, Peregrine Falcon, 1-3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, f Teal, 2 Gadwall (Dan Hennessy/Richard Rae/Nick Croft)

19th

Wanstead Flats: metal ringed first winter Mediterranean Gull (possibly 2nd winter briefly too), Common Redstart (SE of motorcycle wood in small line of hawthorns), 1-2 Whinchat NE SSSI, f Wheatear, Tree Pipit (SSSI), 2 Yellow Wagtail, 8 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, 6+ Lesser Whitethroat,20 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 4 Common Buzzard in group going west, Hobby mixed with them for a while, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2+ Kestrel, 9 Sand Martin, Swallow, 8 + House Martin, Swift, 6 Gadwall (Nick Croft/Marco Johnson/Dan Hennessy/Richard Rae/Jonathan Lethbridge)

20th

Wanstead Flats: 2-3 Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit carrying food, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Wheatear (2 x ist winter males), 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Garden Warbler, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 10 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, 6 + House Martin, 2-3 Keestrel, 3 + Sparrowhawk, 6 Pochard, 8 Gadwall (A Wanstead Collective)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Firecrest (heard), 3 Willow Warbler, 7+ Chiffchaff, 3+ Blackcap, 5 Pochard, 3 Sand Martin, Sparrowhawk, 2-3 Goldcrest, Coal Tit (Stuart Fisher)

21st

Wanstead Flats: Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit carrying food, f Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 + Common Whitethroat, 6 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, Swallow, 6 + House Martin, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Barry Bishop/Dan Hennessy)

22nd

Wanstead Flats: 2 m Common Redstart, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Swallow, 6 + House Martin, Sedge Warbler, 6 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, 8 Lesser whitethroat, 30 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Linnet, 11 Mistle Thrush, Kestrel (Dan Hennessy/John Weil/Nick Croft)




23rd

Wanstead Flats: 2 Common Redstart, 3 Wheatear, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 + Willow Warbler, Hobby (Barry Bishop/Dan Hennessy/Bob Vaughan)

 24th

Wanstead Flats: Turtle Dove N from Long Wood, 6 Yellow Wagtails over, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Common Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 2 Northern Wheatear, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 8 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher, Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, 8 Gadwall, Egret sp, 4 Swallow, 10 + House Martin (Wanstead Collective).

Wanstead Park: 1-2 juv Water Rail by River Roding, 3 Little Egret, Kingfisher (Bob Vaughan) 15 Pochard, 2 Willow Warbler, 10 + Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat, 3 Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Kingfisher, Goldcrest, Coal Tit (Nick Croft)

25th

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart (pub scrub), Whinchat (brooms), 4 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 + Willow Warbler, 40 + Chiffchaff (mostly SSSI), 10 + Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 + Blackcap, 15 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, f Teal, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 + House Martin, Skylark, 6 Mistle Thrush (Dan Hennessy/Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)

26th

Wanstead Flats: Female Common Redstart (still pub scrub), f Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, 30 + Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler (1 singing), 5 Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 + Blackcap, 7 Swallow through, 2 Teal, 3 Pochard, 10 + Gadwall, 6 + Little Grebe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel (Nick Croft) Whinchat (Rose Stephens)

27th

Wanstead Flats: Marsh Harrier, 3-6 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Hobby, Tree Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Northern Wheatear, probable Whinchat, 15+ Chiffchaff (looks like a big clear out overnight), Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 15+ Common Whitethroat, 8+ Blackcap, poss Reed Warbler SSSI, 5 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 3 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, Skylark, Spotted Flycatcher (Nick Croft/Richard Rae/Keith Marchant)

28th

Wanstead Flats: Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 14 + Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Common Whitethroat, 10 + Blackcap, 20 + Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 + House Martin, Hobby, 4-6 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 13 Mistle Thrush, 2 Teal, 7 Gadwall, Swift (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Richard Rae)

29th

Wanstead Flats: Reed Warbler, Common Redstart (first winter male), Whinchat, Wheatear, Turtle Dove, 5-6 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 20 + Swallow, 10 + House Martin, Hobby, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 3 Willow Warbler, 10 + Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, 10 + Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 + Common Whitethroat, 4 Gadwall, Teal, Skylark, 21 Cormorant in one flock (Nick Croft/Richard Rae)

Wanstead Flats: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Whinchat (male & female), 4 Common Whitethroat (rDo)

30th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Whinchat, Common Redstart (f), 2 Northern Wheatear, 5-6 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 10 + Swallow, 10 House Martin, 10 + Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 15 + Common Whitethroat, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Gadwall (Wanstead Collective)

31st

Wanstead Flats: 11 Whinchat, 7 Common Redstart, 10 Northern Wheatear, 14 + Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 10 + Swallow, House Martin, 10 + Willow Warbler, 30 + Chiffchaff, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 10 + Blackcap, Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Skylark (Wanstead Birders)