September: Once upon a time

Remember September?

Bodily frailties, apathy, Shetland and Microsoft's efforts to control the world have meant that September's write up is appearing where October's should be.

No prizes for guessing what the bird of the month was, just be pleased that if you got it right you aint senile, yet, but if you got it wrong–ooh dear!

Otherwise, by our exacting standards. it was a bit of slump.  No Wryneck, Wood Warbler, Nightingale etc. helping the bunting to its unchallenged position. Having said that, judging by the London Bird Club's report for the month, we appear to have done much better than other patches.

Passerine (and near-passerine) passage

"However, September as usual saw a continuing passage of migratory passerines throughout the London area. Wanstead Flats emerged as a prime hotspot: for example, on 11th Sep, Flats birders reported two Tree Pipit, 20+ Meadow Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail, six Redstart, six Whinchat, a Stonechat, five Wheatear and five Spotted Flycatcher; and on other September days the site hosted up to three Pied Flycatcher."

(Pic: Bob Vaughan)

From my hastily cobbled together tables of happiness our poor Autumn can be put into some kind of perspective (I had created a whole series of charts but thanks to Microsoft they are no more–you lucky people!).  The only birds to buck the trend of down, were Pied Flycatcher and Stonechat. With the Shetland trip starting at the end of the month, some extras could have been achieved but would not have had too much effect on the numbers overall.  It does however appear that most of summer warblers (Willow, Common and Lesser Whitethroat) bunked off by the 23rd and the last flycatcher by the 26th.

	Sept '16	Aug '16	Sept '15	Aug '15	Sept '14	Aug '14	Sept '13	Aug '13
Whinchat:	62	19	79	79	60	22	80	23
Common Redstart:	23	4	34	52	7	22	7	6
Northern Wheatear:	22	10	17	24	15	25	9	14
Spotted Flycatcher:	54	28	94	60	30	49	33	24
Pied Flycatcher:	13	2	5	11	1	2	5	7
Yellow Wagtail:	40	49	55	56	77	37	33	33
Tree Pipit:	6	2	8	29	8	16	11	4
Stonechat:	13		5	18				1

Lower numbers of Chiffchaff and other warblers suggest that drought like conditions may have exacerbated things, and we certainly missed out on the hirundine hurricane of last year.

I think we got to 90 species for the month, but with the excel file of inconsequential data removed by Bill Gates' mob I might be wrong. What sounded like an alarm calling Barred Warbler, a good-ish shout for a Wood Warbler in a tit flock and what was probably a Great White Egret (distantly pictured so badly I will let you off suffering them) meant it could have been better.

Meanwhile:

The Great Crested Grebe has more success with raising their second brood on Herony with 4 young, while the Little Grebe made do with singles for the most part and by the end of the month these young were to be found on the river and even on the ornamentals.  The first returning Water Rail was back on the Roding by the 9th and with water levels everywhere else on the low side, this is where they (2 birds noted) have stuck.

A Common Sandpiper took to liking Jubilee pond for almost a week and could suggest all is not lost with this maligned pond. The new planting hasn't been eaten yet and could mean an improvement all round next year–complimenting the jaunty coloured rubbish and mouldering bread as it does so!

One story of the month was that of disappearance of our summer visitors, the other the return of out winter staples: finches, gulls and ducks. October is the month for viz-mig, the be-there-or-you'll-miss-it-birding.  I predict highs and lows easing our way gently to the empty quarter of early winter.

1st September  

Wanstead Flats: 1-2 Common Redstart, Whinchat, Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Skylark, 2 Willow Warbler, 15+ Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 25+ Gadwall, 8 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 3 Swallow, 10+ House Martin (Nick Croft)

2nd September  

Wanstead Flats: 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher (all in birch wood in SSSI), 3 Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 2 Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, 13+ House Martin, Skylark, 20+ Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 2 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Marco Johnson)

3rd September  

Wanstead Flats: 3 Whinchat, 2 Common Redstart (1w/f type), Pied Flycatcher (in birches SSSI), 5 Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler 08:00-10:00 (Tony Brown/Jono Lethbridge/Bob Vaughan); 30+ Gadwall, 6 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 3 Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 4 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 350+ Starling, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Swallow, 14+ House Martin (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 6 Great Crested Grebe (4 young), 7 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, Kingfisher, 3 Gadwall, Shoveler, 6 Stock Dove, Hobby, 2 Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, 2 House Martin, Swallow, Grey Wagtail 1w (Nick Croft)
 

4th September  

Wanstead Flats: 3 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Whinchat, 1 f Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, 15+ Gadwall, Shoveler (Wanstead Birders et al); Redstart reported by Capel Rd this morning at 9:00

Wanstead Park: Treecreeper (Jonathan Lethbridge)

 

5th September  

Wanstead Flats: 3 Pied Flycatcher (2 SSSI/1 Long Wood/enclosure), 7 Spotted Flycatcher (1 SSSI/6 Long Wood), 5 Common Redstart, 5 Whinchat (plus 2 Whinchat reported in the park), 5 Wheatear, Tree Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, 10+ Willow Warbler, 30+ Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 20+ Common Whitethroat, 2 Skylark, 10+ House Martin, 4 Swallow, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 30+ Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 2 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck (Nick Croft/John Whele/Simon Raper et al)

6th September  

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: Tawny Owl seen north of Gilberts Slade at around 6.20am, Willow Warbler, 2-3 Blackcap, 4 Teal, 3 Gadwall (Stuart Fisher)

Wanstead Flats: 5 Whinchat, 2 Common Redstart, Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, 8 Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 2 Skylark, 4 + Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, 15 Swallow south, 10 + House Martin, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 20 + Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, Teal, Reed Bunting (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Egret, 6 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Gadwall, Teal, 2 Hobby, Grey Wagtail (Nick Croft)

(Ortolan pics by Tenacious Bob Vaughan)

7th September  

Wanstead Flats: 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Common Whitethroat at the Enclosure 07:00 (Quentin Given); ORTOLAN BUNTING (Barry Jones/Nick Croft)18:45 (BirdGuides, Twitter) - last seen 19:05 centre copse (Tony Brown via Twitter); Common Redstart, 7 Whinchat, m Wheatear,  Tree Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, 5 Skylark, Reed Bunting, Linnet, 3 Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 30+ Gadwall, 6 Teal, 4 Shoveler, Wigeon (Wanstead Birders) 

8th September  

Wanstead Flats: No sign Ortolan Bunting by 12:00.  5 Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, 5+ Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Meadow Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail, c. 30 Swallow, 10+ House Martin, Common Snipe, 21 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 14 Tufted Duck, 5 Skylark, 3 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk (Wanstead Birders et al)

9th September  

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat, f Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, 1 Willow Warbler, 10+ Chiffchaff, 2 Common Whitethroat (a pretty major clear out over the last few days), Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 14+ House Martin, 2 Common Gull, 30+ Gadwall, 4 Teal, 5 Shoveler, Goldcrest in Golden Fleece garden, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: first returning Water Rail, 3 Little Egret, Kingfisher, 10 Little Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Gadwall, Spotted Flycatcher, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Reed Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff (Nick Croft)

10th September  

Wanstead Flats: 4 Whinchat, Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark, 2 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, Blackcap, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 6 House Martin, Common Sandpiper, 37 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 2 Shoveler, (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: Hobby, 3 Little Egret, 14 Gadwall, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, Kingfisher, (James Heal)

11th September  

Wanstead Flats: 6 Whinchat, 6 Common Redstart, 5 Wheatear, Stonechat, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Tree Pipit, 20+ Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, 2 Skylark, Hobby, 4 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, 36 Gadwall, Shoveler, 20+ House Martin, Common Sandpiper (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Peter Brinton et al)

 

12th September  

Wanstead Flats: Another major clearout overnight.  Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 20+ Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, 19 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 44 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 7 Shoveler, Pochard, Reed Bunting, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel (Nick Croft/Peter Brinton)

Wanstead Park: 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 3 Meadow Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat, Wigeon, 11 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe (Nick Croft)

13th September  

Wanstead Flats: 2 Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 3 Swallow, 6+ House Martin, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark (Nick Croft)

14th September  

Wanstead Flats:  5 Whinchat,  2 Sand Martin, 14 House Martin, 80 + Swallow through, 30 + Meadow Pipit, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Skylark, 2 Willow Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 20 + Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, f Teal (Nick Croft/Simon Worsfold)

By all accounts a Reed Warbler!

15th September  

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 35 + Meadow Pipit including flock of 22 by Alex, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Linnet, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, 20 + Chiffchaff, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, Skylark, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Gadwall, Shoveler, 4 Common Gull (Nick Croft et al)

Wanstead Park: 2 Water Rail, 2 Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egret, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Kingfisher, 2 Gadwall, f Teal, 9 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebe, Grey Wagtail, 3 Grass Snake (Nick Croft)

16th September  

Wanstead Flats: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 40 + Meadow Pipit, 6 Skylark, 64 Swallow through N/W, 60 House Martin (plus 8 local birds), 20 + Chiffchaff, 2 Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 60+ Gadwall, 20 + Shoveler, 5 Teal, Wigeon, 6 Common Gull, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Little Egret (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Tawny Owl hunting in Bush Wood just after midnight, 60 + House Martin (Jono Lethbridge)

17th September  

Wanstead Flats: 2 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 20 + Meadow Pipit, 100 + Swallow through north, 50 + House Martin, 2 Skylark, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 49 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 60 + Shoveler (including a flock of 50 going north in a "v" formation), 3 Teal, 3 Pochard, 15+ Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat  (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: Willow Warbler, Kingfisher (James Heal)

18th September

Wanstead Flats: Spotted Flycatcher (Kev Burgess), 2 Spotted Flycatcher, up to 50 Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtail, Swallows through  (Bob Vaughan)

 

19th September

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart (m), Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 80+ Meadow Pipit through, 20+ Swallow, Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, 20+ Gadwall, 3 Teal, Shoveler (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan)

21st September

Wanstead Flats: Pied Flycatcher on Alex main island, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat, Stonechat, 160+ Swallow east, 40+ House Martin, 30+ Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 25+ Chiffchaff, 4 Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 20+ Gadwall, 4 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Skylark, Linnet (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Tim Harris)

22nd September

Wanstead Flats: Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 20 + Swallow, 14 House Martin, 10 + Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, 1-2 Reed Bunting, Linnet, 10 + Meadow Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Skylark, 10 + Gadwall, 2 Teal, Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Wanstead Birders)

23rd September

Wanstead Flats: Common Redstart (f), 4 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 House Martin, 10 + Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 6 Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 6+ Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 2 Skylark, Reed Bunting, Kestrel – all brooms/Long Wood area (Nick Croft/Peter Brinton/Jonathan Lethbridge); Pied Flycatcher SSSI (Conrad Ellam doh! the only place I didn't visit, nice one - NC); Female Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, Swallow, 15+ Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Common Buzzard – all Alex and Pub Scrub (Nick Croft) There was a female Teal on the lake (Conrad Ellam)

24th September

Wanstead Flats: 2 female Common Redstart, 2 Stonechat, first returning Siskin of the autumn, 50 + Swallow, 6 House Martin, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 15+ Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, 10 + Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 10 + Gadwall (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: 3 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 2 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest (James Heal/Nick Croft)

26th September

Wanstead Flats: 100+ House Martin, 10+ Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Stonechat, 10+ Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk male having a go at martins and failing, 3 Kestrel, 20+ Gadwall, 5 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, Skylark, 20+ Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft/Peter Brinton)

27th September

Wanstead Flats: Stonechat, Lesser Redpoll (first returning bird of the autumn), 5+ Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, 2 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel (Nick Croft)

28th September

Wanstead Flats: 2 Stonechats, Whinchat, 8 Meadow Pipits, 6 Swallows, Linnet, Grey Wagtail, 4 Shoveler, 3 Teals, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Kestrel (Simon Worsfold)