I predicted that given a change in the weather to a more frigid direction would make things happen and so it was with the duck and the gull. We could do with a bit more of that me thinks.
However it's not what was seen that makes the news this month, but what wasn't–namely Skylark! With only 4 birds recorded (to my knowledge), this has been the worst month for records since I have been birding here. I hope this is not the end game we have warned about, but it looks that way. I want to be very wrong on this. Usually, at this time of the year, the birds move out of the grassland and on to the playing fields and on to the fairground and if they are there I can't find them, even when they are moulting and flightless we are likely to hear a burbling occasionally. Clearly not enough is being done to protect them from the ever increasing pressures of human interference and certainly nothing has been done to encourage them to prosper.
November has been mainly about ducks and gulls: an autumn high of 324 Gadwall in the park on 27th with Shoveler peaking at 43 the same day, Wigeon moved around, came and went, but reached a maximum for the month of 34 in the park on the 3rd with one on Alex, though that might have been eclipsed later in the month. Of course there was the Silver Teal on the 10th which was mildly interesting, and plenty of normal Teal on the Ornamentals and Alex. Diving ducks are very much down as we are lacking any deep water.
As for Gulls, maximums for Black-headed and Common during the month, but not the really big numbers we can probably expect later this year or early next. Herring Gulls are starting to grow in strength, favouring the brickpit pitches and down by the Alex. Apart from Bob's Caspo, I had a leggy long-billed individual on the 2nd which could prove interesting if anybody would like to comment. A few Great Black-backs passed through, while the Med stayed until the 16th, but with gulls scattered widely is not always possible to find the lazy bugger. The 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, or another of that ilk, is still hanging about, but stands out less with the arrival of so many young Herring Gull.
A few Chiffchaff were seen during the period, but never in the same place, and a pair of Blackcap are still loitering in the bushes by the Roding. Goldcrest numbers recorded are lower than the number of birds that are actually present, and with the amount of records of Firecrest in London it's not surprising that we finally got our birds back in Bush Wood. Stuart of course has had them for longer down at Snaresbrook.
The only wader movement was of one Snipe and a heard only Green Sandpiper, though Woodcock on the 22nd and 29th means our wintering birds are back.
Just the one Brambling, a handful of Redpoll and the occasional large party of Siskin in the park in addition to the small flock of Linnet around Jubilee, reported for the month, while with the thrushes you can have a good day or none at all. Redwing can be found in Bush Wood feasting on the holly berries if you need a thrush fix and now both Song and Mistle Thrush have started singing again.
It's got to be said, even now, there is always something of interest out there–just not the biggy we're hoping for.
1st
Wanstead Flats: 67 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 2 calling Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, 10 + Goldcrest, 3 Meadow Pipit, 5 Linnet (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 29 Wigeon, 207 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, 18 Teal, 8 Egyptian Goose, 5 Little Egret, 9 Grey Heron, 3 Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, 16 + Goldcrest, Fieldfare, Kingfisher (Nick Croft)
2nd
Wanstead Flats: 31 Linnet, 4 Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, 9 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1-2 Chiffchaff, 8 + Goldcrest, Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 12 Shoveler, 10 Teal, 2 Pochard, 53 Gadwall, Little Grebe, 30 + Herring Gull, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
3rd
Wanstead Flats: pr of Goldeneye north (first record for 2 years), Mediterranean Gull, Brambling, 4 Linnet, 2 Siskin (BV), 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 12 Lesser Redpoll, 200 + Wood Pigeon south, 4 Fieldfare, 6 + Goldcrest (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 34 Wigeon (Ornamentals–site record), 230 + Gadwall, 23 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 7 Teal, 30 + Tufted Duck, 11 Egyptian Goose, 10 Grey Heron, 7 Little Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Skylark south, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, 10 + Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Kingfisher, Redpoll, 4 + Siskin, 4 Greater Black-backed Gull, 5 + Redwing (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 1-2 Firecrest (Court grounds), 12+ Goldcrest, 18 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Siskin N, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper (Stuart Fisher)
4th
Wanstead Flats: 15 Teal, f Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 27 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Little Grebe, Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 10 + Song Thrush, 10 Linnet, 2 Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Meadow Pipit, 15 + Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 28 Wigeon still on Ornamentals (Tim Harris)
5th
Wanstead Flats: Mediterranean Gull in roost nr Alex, 41 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 27 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 9 Redpoll, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Coal Tit, 6 + Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 33-36 Wigeon, 243-343 Gadwall, 33 Shoveler, Pochard, 10 + Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Egret, Kingfisher, Redoll, Siskin, Blackcap, 14 + Goldcrest, Redwing, 6 Song Thrush (Nick Croft)
6th
Wanstead Flats: Mediterranean Gull, 200 + Common Gull (probably twice that over the whole flats with slightly fewer Black-headed Gull), Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Meadow Pipit, 10 + Pied Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 17 Linnet, 6 Redpoll, 20 + Goldfinch, 5 Fieldfare, 21 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 20 + Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 11 Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Kestrel (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 2 Firecrest, 6 Goldcrest, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Pochard, Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit, 47 Tufted Duck, 6 Redwing, 2 Great crested Grebe (Stuart Fisher)
8th
Wanstead Flats: Mediterranean Gull, 10 Siskin, Reed Bunting, 3 Linnet, 3 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 150+ Common Gull, 14 Egyptian Geese (Bob Vaughan).
Wanstead Park: 15 Wigeon and Water Rail, Ornamental Water (Tim Harris)
9th
Wanstead Flats: 9 Redpoll, 2+ Siskin, 10 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 9 Fieldfare, 5 Meadow Pipit, 31 Gadwall, 21 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 2 Pochard, 20+ Tufted Duck, 18 Egyptian Goose, 200+ Common Gull, 4 Goldcrest, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
10th
Wanstead Flats: Mediterranean Gull still asleep, Green Sandpiper (h) 29 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 7 Teal, Little Grebe, Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Goldcrest, Kestrel (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft).
Wanstead Park: 2 Silver Teal (one unringed), 215 Gadwall, c. 30 Wigeon, 21 Shoveler, 2 Teal, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, Kingfisher, 6+ Siskin, 20 + Goldfinch, 2 Blackcap, 10 + Goldcrest, 8 Redwing (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
11th
Wanstead Flats: 22 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 12 Fieldfare, 15+ Redpoll, 2 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 5 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest (Bob Vaughan/Peter Brinton/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 213 Gadwall, 23 Wigeon, 22 Shoveler, m Teal, m Pochard, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, 7 Siskin, 8 Redpoll, singing Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove, 10 + Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
13th
Wanstead Flats: 31 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 9 Teal, f Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 4+ Goldcrest (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 21 Wigeon, 170+ Gadwall, 8 Shoveler (all Ornamental Waters), Chiffchaff (Bob Vaughan)
14th
Wanstead Flats: Common Snipe, 7 Teal, Redpoll, Chiffchaff, 150+ Fieldfare (Tony Brown); 2 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, Goldcrest, 2 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 260 Gadwall, 25 Wigeon, 42 Shoveler, 16 Teal, Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 5 Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, 100+ Jackdaw in pre roost gathering, 6+ Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
15th
Wanstead Flats: Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 14 Herring Gull, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater Black-blacked Gull, 300 + Common Gull, 300 + Black-headed Gull, 83 Mallard, 36 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 2 Pochard, 18 Tufted Duck, 7 Egpytian Goose, 6 Little Grebe (WEBS), 17 Linnet,, Redpoll, 5 + Goldcrest, 4 Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk, 80 + Jackdaw (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 5 + Lesser Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 2 Redwing, 68 Gadwall, 11, Shoveler, 7 Egyptian Goose, 6 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, 8 Goldcrest (Nick Croft) WEBS: 235 Gadwall, 14 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 31 Shoveler, 17 Tufted Duck, 7 Egyptian Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 6 Little Egret, Water Rail (Wren Group)
16th
Wanstead Flats: Mediterranean Gull, 1st w Yellow-legged Gull, 500 + Common Gull, 400 + Black-headed Gull, 40 + Herring Gull, 20 + Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 29 + Fieldfare. 10 + Linnet, 11 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 6 Teal, 3 Pochard, 54 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, 10 + Tufted Duck, 5 Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Grebe, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Snaresbrook: Firecrest, early morning (Stuart Fisher)
17th
Wanstead Flats: 170+ Fieldfare, 23 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, Mediterranean Gull, 1w Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 24 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 8Shoveler, 4 Egyptian Goose, 4 Meadow Pipit, 5 Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Kestrel (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 253 Gadwall, 29 Shoveler, 18 Wigeon, 10+ Tufted Duck, 4 Teal, 2 Egyptian Goose, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 8 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtail, 13+ Goldcrest, 3 Siskin, Redwing (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
18th
Wanstead Flats: 35 Fieldfare west, singing Mistle Thrush, 3 Meadow Pipit, 23 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 f Pochard, Egyptian Goose, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Linnet, 4 + Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 170 + Gadwall (ex Ornamentals and Basin), 37 Shoveler, 21 Wigeon, Teal, 10 + Tufted Duck, 2 Egyptian Goose, 7 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Siskin, 2 Redpoll, Fieldfare, 3 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kingfisher (Nick Croft)
19th
Wanstead Flats: 30 + Fieldfare west, 4 Redwing, 5 Goldcrest, 15 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 5 Pochard, 20 + Tufted Duck, Shoveler, 4 Egyptian Goose, 2 Little Grebe, Kestrel (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
Wanstead Park: 26 Shoveler, f Wigeon, 15 Gadwall, 2 Egyptian Goose, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 6 Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, 15 + Goldcrest, Redpoll, Redwing (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)
Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 18 Fieldfare in from SE, 5 Redwing, 6 Goldcrest, 14 Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redpoll sp, Treecreeper, Nuthatch (Stuart Fisher)
20th
Wanstead Flats: 71 Fieldfare, 10 + Redwing, 6 Redpoll, 4 Siskin, Reed Bunting, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrel, 20 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, Teal, 4 Little Grebe (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 268 Gadwall, 29 Shoveler, 20 Wigeon, 20 + Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, Water Rail sharming, 4 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, 2 Kingfisher, 30 + Siskin, Redpoll, 4 Redwing, Coal Tit, 15 + Goldcrest, Nuthatch (Nick Croft)
21st
Wanstead Flats: 1w Caspian Gull, Goldeneye on Alex (first record on this pond) before flying to park, 22 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 4 Pochard, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 10 Fieldfare, 2 Kestrel, Meadow Pipit (Wanstead Birders)
Wanstead Park: Goldeneye relocated to Shoulder of Mutton, 25 Wigeon, 184 Gadwall, 30 + Shoveler, 5Teal, 20 Tufted Duck, Egyptian Goose, 4-6 Little Egret, Kingfisher, Siskin, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest (Wanstead Birders)
22nd
Wanstead Flats: No sign Caspian Gull or Goldeneye. 8 Lesser Redpoll, 25 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 15 Fieldfare, 6 Great Black-backed Gull west, 4 Egyptian Goose, 3 Pochard, m Shoveler, 3 Meadow Pipit, 5 + Goldcrest, Kestrel (Wanstead Birders).
Wanstead Park: Woodcock (Bush Wood), 2 Water Rail, 2 Kingfisher, Little Egret, 257 Gadwall, 27 Wigeon, 34 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 20 + Tufted Duck, 9 Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Nuthatch, 4 Coal Tit, 15 + Goldcrest, Blackcap, 5 Redpoll, 4 + Siskin, 6 Redwing, Stock Dove, 2 Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sparrowhawk, Great Black-backed Gull (Wanstead Birders)
23rd
Wanstead Flats: 11 Siskin, 19 Linnet, 5 Redpoll, 6 Teal, 32 Gadwall, 5 Pochard, 8 Shoveler, 10+ Tufted Duck, 16 Egyptian Goose, Skylark (first for a few weeks), 3 Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Kestrel, 2 Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Jono Hong Kong Lethbridge)
24th
Wanstead, Bush Wood: 3 Nuthatch, 12+ Goldcrest, much dampness (Bob Vaughan)
25th
Wanstead Park: 6 Little Egret, Kingfisher, 5 Grey Heron, 12 Shoveller Heronry; 2 mTeal, 10 Gadwall SOM; 20 Wigeon, 100 plus Gadwall Ornamentals; Siskin, 7 Redwing (Bob Vaughan)
26th
Wanstead Flats: 30+ Gadwall, 8 Teal, 10+ Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 10+ Tufted Duck, 5 Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe, 42 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, singing Mistle Thrush, 6 Redpoll, 3 Siskin, Reed Bunting, 3 Goldcrest, 30+ Herring Gull, Kestrel, 9 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)
27th
Wanstead Flats: 80 Fieldfare, singing Mistle Thrush, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Redpoll, 16 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 6 Teal, f Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, Kestrel (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 324 Gadwall, 43 Shoveler, 30 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 13 Fieldfare, singing Song Thrushes, 5 Redpoll, Siskin, Linnet, 15+ Goldcrest, 2 m Kingfisher having a standoff and making cricket like chirruping noises, 3 Little Gret, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit (Nick Croft)
28th
Wanstead Park: 2 Firecrest, redpoll (Bush Wood) (Jono Lethbridge and Bob).
29th
Wanstead Flats: Woodcock (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 23 wigeon, 30 gadwall, 2 teal, 4 shoveller Shoulder of Mutton pond (Bob Vaughan).
30th
Wanstead Flats: 2 Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 2 Firecrest, 6 + Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, Nuthatch (Bush Wood), 360 + Gadwall (exc. Perch), 34 Wigeon, 41 Shoveler, 2 Teal 10 + Tufted Duck, 2 Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Redpoll, 8 Goldcrest, 20 + Redwing (Nick Croft)
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