August round up: Seeing red!

Well that was pretty good, when it kicked off on the 11th with the arrival of juvenile looking Whinchat in the pub scrub, and later that day a Spotted Flycatcher in Long Wood.  It just got steadily more crazy after that. Certainly the best autumn our sadly lacking reporting has managed, and we are not through September yet. The only issue is the lack of reports from the park, and with Dan now holed up in a caravan in Dorset, whose going to look out for ducks during the autumn. With everything happening around Long Wood I can't see many of venturing that way for a few weeks.  Maybe the closure of the Costa at the Esso garage will persuade us to venture down to the tea hut of happiness. The problem is the park, too much cover and when you get there it's like migration's not happening.

(Possibly one of the worst record shots of a Wryneck you are ever likely to see!)

I will add more in due course, but I am completely cream-crackered with all these early starts...



Scores on the doors for August past and present:

Whinchat: 79 [22 2014; 20+ 2013]
Common Redstart: 52 [22;5]
Northern Wheatear: 24 [25;8]

Spotted Flycatcher: 60 [49;8]
Pied Flycatcher: 11 [2;7]

Reed Warbler: 19 [N/A;10]
Wood Warbler: 1 [1;0]

Yellow Wagtail: 56 [37;20-30]
Tree Pipit: 29 [16;1]

Green Sandpiper: 4 [2;N/A]
Common Sandpiper: 2 [2;2]
Common Snipe 1

Siskin: 10+
Bullfinch: 1
Yellowhammer: 1

Swallow: 133+
Sand Martin: 2

Red Kite: 1

Wryneck: 1 [-;-]

Now while some of the numbers look fantastic for the records for this year, it must be remembered that the bulk of the records are for long staying birds–that's the theme for this year, birds lingering and arriving earlier: Whinchat a good case in point, almost 10 days before they usually arrive. What this means for September we have yet to find out. The numbers above also don't give a true representation of the actual numbers involved (up to Green Sandpiper) and are "bird days", so while Pied Flycatcher were reported on 11 occasions there certainly weren't 11 individuals, indeed I would surprised if there were half that number

1^st

Wanstead Flats: Little Owl, Siskin, Goldcrest (Tony Brown), 2-3 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 6 + Lesser Whitethroat, Sand Martin, Swallow, 14 + House Martin, 10 + Swift, Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 singing Skylark, Nuthatch, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: 5 Lesser Whitethroat (family), 2 Kestrel, 3-5 Sparrowhawk (including young), 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, Little Egret, Swallow, 10 + House Martin, 20 + Swift, Grass Snake (Nick Croft/Mike Messenger/James Heal)

2^nd

Wanstead Flats: 30 + House Martin, m Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 3 Skylark (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)

 3^rd

Wanstead Flats: 100 + Swift moving ssw, 10 + House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow, 4-5 Willow Warbler, 1-2 Hobby (one with prey), Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Common Snipe, Tern sp heading north, 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 100 + Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, 10 + Lesser Black-backed Gull (3 first winter), 5 Gadwall, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Grebe (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 40 + Swift in 10 minutes going south over Heronry (Dan Hennessy)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 2 Common Tern over Eagle early am,Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, Great crested Grebe, 8 Chiffchaff (Stuart Fisher)

4^th

Wanstead Flats: Peregrine Falcon, 4-5 Kestrel, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, Swallow, 15 + House Martin, 6 Swift, 2 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 4 Egyptian Goose, 4 Little Grebe, Purple Hairstreaks (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Green Sandpiper over, Gadwall, Hobby (Dan Hennessy)

6^th

Wanstead Flats: 10 + Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 10 + Swift, 10 + House Martin, Swallow, Reed Bunting, 2 Common Gull, 1st winter Yellow-Legged Gull, 4 Pochard, Little Grebe with 2 young, 4 Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit, 12 Mistle Thrush (Nick Croft/Dan Hennesssy/Bob Vaughan/Jono Lethbridge)

Wanstead Park: 15 + Swift, 2 House Martin, Buzzard, Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Kingfisher, Little Egret, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Pochard, 3 Grey Wagtail (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)

 7^th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Reed Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 10 + Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler, 20 + House Martin, no Swift, 3 Meadow Pipit (one carrying food), 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Linnet (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Dan Hennessy), Jersey Tiger and Brown Argus (Dan Hennessy)

8^th

Wanstead Flats: Little Owl, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 7 Lesser Whitehtroat, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, Swallow, 10 + House Martin, 2 Pochard, 7 Little Grebe, Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter again), 3 Meadow Pipit, Linnet (Wanstead Birders)

 9^th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Common Buzzard, Hobby, 4 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, 2 Willow Wabler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Pochard, 7 Little Grebe, 8 Swift, 20 + House Martin, Yellow-Legged Gull (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)

Wanstead Park: 2 Little Egret, Kingfisher, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Swift, 5 House Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 3 Grey Wagtail, Buzzard sp (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)

10^th

Wanstead Flats: 3 Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Kestrel, 2-4 Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting, 13 Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Swift, 15 + House Martin (Nick Croft)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 2 Treecreeper (one in court grounds), Lesser Whitethroat, 1-2 Common Whitethroat, 3 juv Blackcap, 2-3 young Sparrowhawk calling, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Coal Tit (Stuart Fisher)

11^th

Wanstead Flats: juv Whinchat (pub scrub), Spotted Flycatcher (enclosure), Green Sandpiper (h), 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Meadow Pipit, 10 + House Martin, 10 Gadwall, f Teal, f Shoveler, 10 + Little Grebe (5 young), 3 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, Skylark (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan); Pied Flycatcher, 7 Willow Warbler, Red Kite (Dan Hennessy/Marco Johnson)

12^th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Whinchat, Sedge Warbler (pub scrub), singing Reed Warbler, 10 + Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, 8 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 4 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

13^th

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat still pub scrub, 2 Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, 6 + Willow Warbler, 5 + Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 15 Swift, 4 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, 6 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 10 + Little Grebe, Skylark, 4 Kestrel, 200 + Starling, Jersey Tiger  (Nick Croft)

14^th

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat still pub scrub, Spotted Flycatcher still Long Wood but elusive, Garden Warbler, 4 + Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Common Whitethroat, 50 + Swift, 30 + House Martin, 7 Swallow, 4 Gadwall, Teal, 4 Pochard, 6 Egyptian Goose, Hobby, 4 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Wanstead Birders)

Leyton Flats: 4 Siskin, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, 3+ Blackcap, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 10 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler plus tit flock all in one area E of Hollow Pond during the morning, also 7 Swift over, juv Sparrowhawk calling (Stuart Fisher)

15^th

Wanstead Flats: Pied Flycatcher (different bird from this week), Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 10 + Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, 4 Kestrel, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 1 Swift, Swallow, 10 + House Martin (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: 4 Swift, 4 House Martin, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 7 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 12 + Pochard,, 4 Gadwall, Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat (Nick Croft)

16^th

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat, 6 + Willow Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, 40 + Swift, Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 4 Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, 4 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Reed Bunting (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)

17^th

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 10 + Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 8 Swallow, 6 + House Martin, Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Linnet (Nick Croft/John Whele/Marco Johnson)

18^th

Wanstead Flats: 3 Tree Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat still pub scrub, f Wheatear,  2 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Swallow, House Martin, 3 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Linnet (Bob Vaughan/Tim Harris/Nick Croft/Barry Bishop)

19^th

Wanstead Flats: 2 Common Redstart, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat, 3 Tree Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 10 + Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 10 Swift,, 20 + House Martin, 10 Swallow, 4 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 3 Egyptian Goose, 4 Kestrel (Wanstead Birders)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Tree Pipit briefly by the burnt oaks, 4 Common Whitethroat, 10+ Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallow N, f Shoveler (Eagle Pond) (Stuart Fisher)

20^th

Wanstead Flats: m Common Redstart, Whinchat, 3 Tree Pipit, 2-3 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler, 10 + Lesser Whitethroat, mixed flock of 30 + Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the SSSI, 4 Swift, 20 + House Martin, 5 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Wanstead Birders)

Leyton Flats: 3 Siskin, 2 Willow Warbler (Stuart Fisher)

21^st

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart briefly, Whinchat, 4-5 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 Tree Pipit still, f Peregrine Falcon, Hobby, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Bullfinch, Swallow, 30 + House Martin, 10 + Swift, large flock of mixed Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler still in SSSI, Reed Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Common Whitethroat (Wanstead Birders)

22^nd

Wanstead Flats: f Common  Redstart, Whinchat, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Tree Pipit, 4 Yellow Wagtail, Skylark, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 + Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, 2 Swallow, 30 + House Martin, 2 Swift, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Hobby (Wanstead Birders)

23^rd

Wanstead Flats:   Pied Flycatcher (Twitter), 4-5 Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart (f), 4-6 Whinchat, Tree Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 + Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff mixed flock in SSSI, Swallow, 20 + House Martin, 2 Swift, 2 Peregrine Falcon (being mobbed by Hobby), 2-3 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel (Wanstead Birders)

  

24^th

Wanstead Flats: 3-4 Whinchat, Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 6 Swallow, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, Kestrel, 8 Gadwall (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy) Whinchat, juv m Wheatear still after the rain, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Swallow, Swift, Reed Warbler (Nick Croft)

 

25^th

Wanstead Flats: 5 Common Redstart, 6 Whinchat, 13 + Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, 7 + Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 15 + Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 10 + Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 3 Swallow, House Martin, Linnet, 3-4 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, Gadwall, 5 Egyptian Goose (Wanstead Birders)

26^th

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart, 3 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Common Sandpiper, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, large mixed flock of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Lesser and Common Whitethroat in the SSSI, 2 Swallow, 10 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, Hobby, 2 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Dan Hennessy/John Whele)

Wanstead Park: 22 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Nuthatch (Dan Hennessy)

27^th

Wanstead Flats: 6 Common Redstart, 6 Whinchat, 2 Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 + Willow Warbler, 2 Sand Martin, House Martin, 4 Kestrel, 7 Gadwall, Pochard (Wanstead Birders), Hobby, Common Buzzard, 2 Whitethroat, 8 House Martin (Steven Robinson)

Leyton Flats: Hobby hunting and Buzzard over north 15:50. Sparrowhawk, 2 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall. (Joe Dickens)

 

28^th

Wanstead Flats: 8-9 Common Redstart, 6 Whinchat, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 8 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Tree Pipit, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Garden Warbler, 6 + Willow Warbler, 8 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Swallow, 10 + House Martin, Linnet, Green Sandpiper, 4 Kestrel, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter), 5 Gadwall, 8 Little Grebe (Wanstead Birders) I haven't been to Wanstead Flats before so can you recommend a particular part of the Flats to visit in an afternoon and hopefully seen some of what you've seen here? (Andy Cameron) The afternoon is not that great as birds tend to hide for the most part, there is a map on the blog, but Long Wood is where the action has been mostly.

29^th

Wanstead Flats: 7+ Common Redstart, 6 Whinchat, 7+ Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Tree Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Hobby taking House Martin, 1-2 Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Little Owl calling at 15:00, Garden Warbler, 6 + Willow Warbler, 8 + Lesser Whitethroat, Nuthatch, 17 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, Egyptian Goose (Wanstead Birders + Paul Hawkins et al) 2 Pied Flycatcher in hawthorns to the south of the brick pit early afternoon (Conrad Ellam) Nice work–NC

Leyton Flats: Tree Pipit (Pete Betts)

 

30^th

Wanstead Flats: 10+ Common Redstart, 8 Whinchat, Wheatear, 2-3 Pied Flycatcher, 6 Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 10+ Willow Warbler, 10+ Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Tree Pipit, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 30+ Swallow, 10+ House Martin, 5 Gadwall, Little Egret, 5 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Skylark, 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (Wanstead Birders et al)

31^st

Wanstead: Pied Flycatcher (BirdGuides) 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Common Redstart, 12 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 5 + Willow Warbler, singing Chiffchaff, 6 + Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Swallow, 3 Teal, Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 17 Gadwall (Nick Croft/Tim Harris/Tony Brown)