The month just gone...

February consigned to the dustbin of mediocrity for another year great month!

Blimey February without freezing temperatures is like July. The weather was the same as January and for the most part so were the birds. Early blossom and the first leaves have now appeared so we don't want any cold days anymore, perhaps some air masses coming up from Africa and Europe to bring in the migrants and some early morning rain to dump them on the patch. Don't really mind if we have more rain as it will keep the police scrape and the flooded jubilee pond just right for the waves of waders we're hoping for (and perhaps it will stop the fair/circus from happening).  Some warmer weather might encourage the newly destroyed habitat (courtesy of the Corporation) to grow back a little.




Before I get to that, it's time for another apology.

This time to Geoff Harding over a certain Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report that we didn't include in the Annual Report. In a comment on a house keeping and travel blog optimistically called The Wanstead Birder, Mr Harding revealed his disappointment (my word) for his "sighting" being looked on as unsubstantiated. I checked the London Wiki for the report on the 24th which was a of a "male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling 50yds from Warren Rd entrance (Geoff Harding)." So there's the problem, a few of us heard calls we thought could be down to LSW but couldn't follow them up with sightings (it's happened already this year!). Around that time we spent rather a lot of effort trying to find Lesser spots in any of their favoured areas, and thereafter widened our search to include the Warren Road entrance with no luck. We presumed that it would be just a matter of time before we found a male drumming or calling, but as it turns out the only other report was mine from the flats. 

With the demise of this former breeding bird it is important for all reports to be looked into with an open mind, and that is what transpired, but calling and a sighting are two different things and if the latter had been used on the LBC page then we would have probably accepted it, even after our attempts to substantiate it. I would have been happy to, though whether the powers that be would have let me is another question.  I had a similar experience myself with a LSW I saw at Radipole the first time I went there.

So back to  February was a trifle dull, and it's only thanks to Mr Fisher's Leyton reports that we have enough to pad this round up out with. The month has apparently got better, like a good wine, with age, as Shelduck and Red Kite have been added subsequent to February's demise.  Yay!

The highlights

• Linnet numbers peak at 54 on the police scrape
• 2 adult Med Gulls make it 5 for the winter period
• A Pheasant is spotted down by the stables, the first record for 2 years and not a game bird!
• Yellowhammer over Heronry
• Firecrest no show in Bush Wood, but Stu's birds more confiding
• Rook south over Leyton Flats 
• Buzzard over Leyton Flats
• Red Kite over the cemetery
• 2 Shelduck on the Police Scrape

Otherwise: 

All the Gadwall have just about left, Shoveler numbers down, Pochards all gone and only a few reports of Teal.  Only the Tufties have been braving the dullness that was February. Gull numbers fluctuated depending on how horrible the weather was (the worse the better) and as their temporary pools recede so the dominance of the Common Gull is now being usurped by the Black-heads.

On the raptor front; has anyone seen a male Kestrel? There only appears to be the one female hanging around north of Long Wood, which is quite worrying.  No signs of Sparrowhawk displays and only singles when they are seen.  On the other hand Tawny Owl reports have increased, while no one bothered the Little Owl too much.

Fieldfare and Redwing numbers fell, with just a few of the stripey-eyed thrush left on the flats, but still good numbers in Bush Wood and moving around the old sewage works and stables area. A few Blackbirds have joined in the thrush medley, but even their numbers appear down from last month.  It's been a rubbish winter for finches, with a few Siskin hanging on in the park, but numbers of Redpoll of any type are down to a trickle.

Still just the one Snipe holding out in the SSSI, and no sightings of Woodcock since the first day of the year so it appears many of our winter visitors have just gone back from whence they came leaving a bit of a void while we wait for the Spring migrants.

In other news:

Tim has been putting in a huge effort to help our Skylarks.  He's been talking to dog owners, and even took a few of them on a Skylark safari, whilst cajoling the Corporation to do more.  Signs are promised (again!) but whether the breeding areas will be afforded any more protection that remains to be seen.  Meanwhile myself and Mr Harris (again) did a little showcase on the Birds of Wanstead Flats, at Coffee7 during the month.  Since no one asked for their money back I will take it as a success!

1st
Wanstead Flats: 40 Linnet, 10+ Skylark (incl song-flighting bird), Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, Common Snipe, Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 10 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler - many gulls (mostly Common & Black-headed) (Nick Croft).

3rd
Wanstead Flats: 54 Linnet, 2+ Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, singing Chaffinch, 20 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 600+ Common Gull, 400+ Black-headed Gull, 13+ Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail,
Sparrowhawk, 10 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 3 Stock Dove (Nick Croft)

4th
Wanstead Flats: Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 10+ Redwing, 7 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Kingfisher, Little Grebe, 16 Pochard, 5 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 26 Mute Swan, Redpoll sp, 25+ Redwing (Nick Croft)

5th
Wanstead Flats: 45 Linnet, 5 Skylark, Little Owl (Josh Selfe)

Wanstead Park: Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, 15+ Redwing chased by Sparrowhawk (Josh Selfe)

6th
Wanstead Flats: 7 Skylark 2 singing, 20+ Linnet, 5 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, 2 Pochard, 14 Mute Swan (Jub) (Nick Croft).

Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 10 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck (Shoulder of Mutton), Redwing, 4 Stock Dove (Nick Croft).

8th
Wanstead Flats: 35 Linnet, 4 Skylark, 6 Redwing, 50+ Jackdaw, Great Black-backed Gull, 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1000+ Common Gull, 800+ Black-headed Gull, 20+ Herring Gull, 9 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Great Crested Grebe back on Heronry, Little Grebe on flooded Roding, 100+ Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 6 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, 250+ Jackdaw in pre-roost on Wanstead golf course, 2 Goldcrest (Nick Croft).

11th
Wanstead Flats: 10 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 5 Skylark, 15+ Linnet, 11 Tufted Duck (jub), 4 Shoveler on floods, Great Black-backed Gull (Nick Croft).

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Firecrest in hollies along west boundary of Court at 10:15, Lesser Redpoll over, Grey Wagtail, 8 Shoveler, 3 Redwing (Stuart Fisher).

12th
Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 13 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, Kingfisher, f Sparrowhawk, singing Nuthatch (Gilberts Slade), Redwing, 87 Tufted Duck, Egyptian Goose, 5+ Ring-necked Parakeet, Grey Wagtail, 7 Goldfinch (Stuart Fisher)

13th
Wanstead Flats: un-ringed ad Mediterranean Gull, 4-5 Skylark, 6 Shoveler, 2f Pochard, m Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, Meadow Pipit, 2 Redwing (Nick Croft).

Wanstead Park: 3 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 30+ Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 7+ Siskin, 2+ Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher, displaying Stock Dove, Redwing (Nick Croft).

14th
Wanstead Flats: ad Mediterranean Gull still (Dan Hennessy)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 2 Firecrest left roost in laurel hedge in court side early am, singing Goldcrest, 220+ Jackdaw in Epping Forest roost, Sparrowhawk by Snaresbrook tube stn (Stuart Fisher)

15th
Wanstead Flats: ad Mediterranean Gull still (Tony Brown)

19th
Wanstead Flats: 2 ad Mediterranean Gull (5 birds now this winter) (DH), 8+ Skylark (3 display song flights), 5 Meadow Pipit, 15+ Linnet, 6 Fieldfare, 10+ Redwing, Kestrel, 13 Shoveler, trilling Little Grebe on Alex (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft).

Wanstead Park: report of Pheasant by stables (first record for 2 yrs), Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 2-3 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll, flock of 10+ Goldfinch, 10+ Redwing (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft).

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Firecrest (Stuart Fisher)

20th
Wanstead Flats: 9 Linnet, 3 Lesser Redpoll, m Reed Bunting, 5 singing Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Snipe (Nick Croft/Tim Harris).

21st
Wanstead Flats: ad Mediterranean Gull still, 1000+ Black-headed Gull, 1000+ Common Gull, 15 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 14+ Mute Swan, 4 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 2 Redwing (Dan Hennessy/Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 20+ Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall pr, 5 Shoveler, f Pochard (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy)

22nd
Wanstead Flats: 18 Linnet, 6 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 2 Stock Dove pr, Kestrel (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Treecreeper, Redwing (Nick Croft)

23rd
Wanstead Flats: Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Skylark all SSSI area (Quentin Given)

24th
Wanstead Flats: 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 4 Skylark, 5 Linnet, 4 Lesser Redpoll, f Reed Bunting, 3 Redwing, Kestrel, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, 17 Shoveler, 26 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 4 Little Grebe (Nick Croft)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Rook S, 2 singing Nuthatch (one on Leyton Flats), singing Grey Wagtail, 2 Egyptian Geese, 53 Tufted Duck, 7 Shoveler, 2 Goldcrest pr, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, Redwing, 4 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher (Stuart Fisher)

25th
Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: singing m Firecrest on Court boundary, Common Buzzard, 12 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Coal Tit (Stuart Fisher)

26th
Wanstead Flats: 6 Skylark on territory, 4-6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6-8 Linnet (1 singing), Lesser Redpoll, 3 Reed Bunting (1 singing), Sparrowhawk, 5 Redwing, 2 Stock Dove pr, Shoveler, Little Grebe (Nick Croft/Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: Yellowhammer N, Bullfinch, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 4 Gadwall, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff singing, Goldcrest (Nick Croft/Josh Selfe)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: singing m Firecrest on Leyton Flats, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe, 16 Shoveler on Eagle Pond, 2+ Stock Dove, Kingfisher, 3 Gadwall (Stuart Fisher)

27th
Wanstead Flats: 7 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 6 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush pr, 10+ Linnet, f Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Skylark, 2 Stock Dove pr (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, 70+ Redwing, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, Little Egret, Goldcrest, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, f Pochard, 30+ Tufted Duck (Nick Croft)

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: singing Chiffchaff, 7 Shoveler, Kingfisher, Redwing (Stuart Fisher)

28th
Wanstead Flats: Red Kite (Paul Ferris), 2 Shelduck on Police Scrape (Julie Donovan)

Wanstead Park: Tawny Owl (Tim Harris)

Forest Gate Common Buzzard (Nick Croft)

The price nature pays

I had a spring in my step today, no easy task in wellies, but that soon dissipated when I heard the sound I hate more than any other in the world.  Even more than Mr Yap or drunks shouting at each other early in the morning: Chain saws!

The Corporation was at it again, this time in the little woodland south of the Police scrape.  Bushes where sparrow liked to have a communal chirrup, understorey where Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat all sang from - and may well have nested in - was being dragged up and chopped up.

The geezer with the chain saw came out of the bush he was trashing when he guessed I might not be too pleased with events.

His defence "it's open space!" Then pointed towards the play area.  "You've got the kid's play area there"

To me it was still quite clearly a wood and judging by the age of some of the trees had been such for a lot longer than the 2-stroke engine he was using to destroy parts of it. "You've got plenty of woodland in the forest" he correctly postulated. I explained it was the very margins that he was so intent on destroying that were the best parts of any forest. 

He was after all only following orders. Of  f****ng twats I pointed out.

He went back into the bush to deliver up open space where there was none before, while I walked off seething. They will be back during the week to take out a heap of birch near centre road, in the SSSI, to help the spread of heather.  Tim's already warned them off the main birch copse because of the Willow Warbler, whether they actually heed anything we say we will find out soon.

Later I met up with Jordan, and I presume Tibo, wandering across the flats on their way to inspect the work.  He explained a rough sleeper had threatened a keeper with a knife there, but its mainly down to the strange men (never seen any) who loiter in the undergrowth.  That's what did for the scrub around the Jubilee and for previous attacks on Long Wood.  Policing the area might be a more environmentally friendly way of doing things, but the Park's police are seldom seen down this way and there aren't enough of them anyway.

This is the thing, virtually every user of this park comes here without thinking twice about the consequences of their actions on this fragile place.  There's nothing new in it, it's the human way, and always nature gets barely a second thought.

I put together this little map of the trashed areas in the last 6 months and its a sizable chunk of habitat that's gone.  It may come back, it may get managed into the ground. I doubt it will solve any problems perceived or otherwise.

Blue areas = trashed, Red = to be trashed

Adult Med Gull not Valentino shock!

February finally delivers.  After wading through flooded football fields for weeks it feels like, finally I found something. A two-pointer on the Patchwork Challenge.  Kerching!

 

No ring, so clearly not Valentino!  Possibly the bird from South Park?

Got one of these big ugly muvvers on Saturday.  One of these nasty, windy, wet, miserable, bone chilling days we are going to get a good gull in the masses. Better be something I can recognise!

Today though a Common Gull with a weird head, stood out from the pack.  Naturally I completely blew the whites...

Do not disturb breeding skylarks on Wanstead Flats, dog-walkers warned

12:23pm Friday 7th February 2014 in Redbridge By Douglas Patient

Skylarks are an endangered species 

Dog-walkers are being asked to keep their pets on a lead while walking on Wanstead Flats from next month to protect an endangered species of bird.

The Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group are worried their breeding season will be disturbed, as they lay their eggs in the long grass.

Tim Harris, Chairman of the Wren Group, said: "We're happy for people to visit Wanstead Flats and watch the birds, but are asking people with dogs to keep them on the leash when walking through the long-grass area where they breed - and to keep to the paths."

The flats have the largest population of skylarks in London and the locations most at risk are east of Centre Road and south of Alexandra Lake.

Gill James, Committee Member of the Wren Group, said: “We are very lucky to have skylarks in the area and we need raise awareness of this issue as people do not realise the damage they are doing."

"Their numbers are declining rapidly, halving in around five years. So it is really important people take care when on the flats to not disturb them."

With a life expectancy of just two years on average, breeding is of paramount importance to the survival of the species.
Members of the Wren Group will be handing out the leaflets and putting up signs to explain the campaign this week.

 

 Lets not forget the mipits too!

Stolen from The Wanstead Guardian  

January (may contain traces of Leyton Flats and Snaresbrook)

An all round enthusiastic start to the year, which at one point looked like it might even eclipse last year's pretty solid start.  But then it didn't so we are playing catch up with our exacting standards with 81 the new target to beat for February.  It was the large raptors that let us down, No Buzzard or Peregrine, and the weather: where is the bloody winter? So no Plovers, interesting ducks or, of course, Waxwing. No Short-eared Owl, Brambling or Yellowhammer, but on the plus side

• Kittiwake taking it easy on the flats
• Mealy Redpoll in the mix
• The Water Rail finally gives up anonymity
• Woodcock on the 1st, a first for Josh
• Two separate, possible, calling Green Sandpiper reports on the same day
• Blackcap and wintering Chiffchaff
• Record numbers of Linnet on the Police Scrape
• Firecrest in Bush Wood and off Warren Drive
  
• Bob finds an early blocker Wigeon
• And just for Mr Lethbridge somewhere in Africa, a Chaffinch (this joke is now retired!)
  

Dull, some would say, but that is patch working, a lot of the mundane with a few nuggets and we don't just go around just ticking stuff we do notice things. Like where are all the winter birds?  Very few Siskin have made it down this far south, no big movements of Redwing and Fieldfare.  Numbers of the former peaked in Bush Wood, but are on the way down.  The wintering thrushes are now looking for worms rather than feasting on berries.  Song Thrush are singing everywhere and for every five to ten of them there is one Mistle Thrush banging it out too!

Duck numbers have also fallen away big time. Not a month on from record numbers of Gadwall, Heronry is now empty of these wonderful ducks. Numbers of Shoveler are well down on last year, and while Tufties appear to be at similar levels, our other diving duck the Pochard is also being noticed for not being here in the numbers we'd expect.

The mild weather may have encouraged the sightings of Chiffchaff and Blackcap (Tim had one singing close to Bush Wood during the month), but it has also meant that the big numbers of Goldcrest we'd expect have failed to materialise, and the Firecrest are just being stubbornly arsey! No I haven't seen one yet.  Though a report of a bird down by the ornamentals is encouraging, might have to go see if I can find that one as I am getting rather bored of failure in Bush Wood.  Here though the Nuthatches have been checking out holes and making a racket whilst doing so and the Treecreepers are still hanging on, so fingers crossed for both these former breeders.

Gull numbers have been enjoying the increasing amount of water on the footy pitches, though bar the Kittwake, there's been nothing much of interest bar the weekly occurrence of Great Black-backs crossing the flats.

Egrets and Heron sightings and unsurprisingly Kingfisher sightings are well down, down to the height of the Roding and its strong tea complexion.

Is the mild weather the reason for the record number of Linnet on the fairground, and possibly for the good number of wintering Skylark there too? Has the unseasonal warmth meant Meadow Pipit just haven't bothered moving so far south as usual?

With just the 76 species recorded so far it means the patch challenge is pretty nip and tuck at the moment.  Everybody appears to be engaged more this year and that's why there's a big cluster of similar scores.  Jono and I are in the Patchwork Challenge, him for a second year, so I have added the points we've scored on to the league below:


Nick Croft:  73 (76pts)
Josh Selfe: 69
Bob Vaughan: 68
Tim Harris: 67 
Jonathan Lethbridge: 65 (66pts)

Dan Hennessy: 65
Tony Brown: 64
Richard Rae: 55
Steve Thorpe: 50
Stuart Fisher: 20


This year I am going to try and add the Leytonstone and Snaresbrook stuff of Mr Fisher, cos its just up the road and so fairly local, but then I could get bored of that...

1st

Wanstead Flats: 39 Linnet, 10 Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll,3 Reed Bunting, Snipe, 50+ Redwing, 20+ Fieldfare, 13 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, 40 Gadwall, 10+ Shoveler, 10+ Tufted Duck, Egyptian Goose (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: Woodcock, 357 Gadwall, 50+ Pochard, 10+ Shoveler, 4 Teal, 80+ Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 6 Siskin, 7 Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, 200+ Redwing, Kingfisher - 61 sp for the day down 2 on last yr (Wanstead Birders)

2nd

Wanstead Park: Treecreeper, Firecrest (Bush Wood) (Jono Lethbridge)

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: 4 Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Goldcrest, 40 Redwing, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, 72 Tufted Duck, Stock Dove, 250+ Woodpigeon (Stuart Fisher)

3rd

Wanstead Flats: west of Centre Rd - 35 Linnet, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Reed Bunting, 10 Skylark, Kestrel, 60+ Redwing, 10+ Fieldfare, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Steve Thorpe)

Wanstead Park: 2 Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, 2 singing Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, 100+ Redwing, Goldcrest (Nick Croft)

4th

Wanstead Flats: 8 Skylarks, 45 Linnet (east of Centre Rd) (Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: Firecrest, 2 Treecreeper, 100+ Redwing, Sparrowhawk (Bush Wood) (Tim Harris)

5th

Wanstead Flats: probable Mealy Redpoll and 17 Lesser Redpoll, 40+ Linnet, Little Owl, Kestrel (Dan Hennessey, Richard Rae, Bob Vaughan, Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: m Wigeon, 2 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, many Redwing (Wanstead Collective)

6th

Wanstead Flats: 40+ Linnet, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Skylark, Snipe, Great Black-backed Gull, 10+ Redwing, Fieldfare, 50+ Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, 4 Pochard (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 150+ Gadwall, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, 20+ Redwing (Nick Croft)

7th

Wanstead Flats: extremely knackered Kittiwake in with gull roost west of Alex (NC/BV/SF), 500+ Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10+ Herring Gull, 30+ Linnet, 20+ Lesser Redpoll, 2 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 10 Redwing (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan/Stuart Fisher).

Wanstead Park: Mealy Redpoll type with 6 Lesser Redpoll (east of Shoulder of Mutton in Birches) (Bob Vaughan).

8th

Wanstead Flats: c850 gulls incl c550 Common Gulls and c250 Black-headed Gulls, also 2 Great Black-backed Gulls but no sign of Kittiwake to 8:45, Chiffchaff, Snipe (Tim Harris, Josh Selfe); 30+ Linnet, 25 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Reed Bunting, 10+ Fieldfare, 30+ Redwing, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 41 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, f Pochard, 10+ Tufted Duck, 5 Skylark, 6-12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff (2nd bird), 150 Common Gull on western flats (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Firecrest Warren Wd, Kingfisher (Christian Morris)

9th

Wanstead Flats: 20+ Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Little Owl, Redwing, c1000 gulls in roosts (Nick Croft/Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: c150 Gadwall, 40 Pochard, 40+ Tufted Duck, 26 Mute Swan, Little Egret, 13 Lesser Redpoll, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, Redwing (Nick Croft); Grey Wagtail (Louis & Gosia) 

10th

Wanstead Flats: Little Owl, Snipe, 20+ Fieldfare, 10+ Redwing, 24 Linnet, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft/Steve Thorpe/John Whele)

Wanstead Park: Bush Wood - 2 Nuthatch inspecting old woodpecker holes, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Redwing, Fieldfare (Tim Harris/Bob Vaughan/NickCroft); m Bullfinch Old Sewage Works (Bob Vaughan)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: Firecrest along west boundary of court with Long-tailed_Tit flock, m Blackcap on Leyton Flats, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll over, Grey Wagtail, 10 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 Stock Dove, 105 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, Kingfisher (Stuart Fisher)

11th

Wanstead Flats: 8 Skylark, Grey Wagtail, 30 Linnets (Wanstead Birders)

Wanstead Park: 2 Siskin, 10+ Lesser Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch, Kingfisher (Tony Brown); Bush Wood - 5 Goldcrest (2 singing birds), Treecreeper, 3 Nuthatches, Coal Tit (Wanstead Birders, Louis & Gosia)

12th

Wanstead Flats: early doors 6 Redwing, Skylark (NC), 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 30 Linnet, 15 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail (Dan Hennessy).

Wanstead Park: singing Goldcrest and Coal Tit Wanstead Golf Club House (NC), 3 Bullfinch (DH), 2 Little Grebe (BV), Grey Wagtail, 2m Teal (NC) (Nick Croft/Dan Hennessy/Bob Vaughan).

13th

Wanstead Flats: 20+ Linnet, 8+ Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, singing Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, Redwing, 10 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail (Nick Croft/Josh Selfe)

Wanstead Park: 2m Bullfinch (ad & 1st-w), Grey Wagtail, 8+ Goldcrest, Redwing, Sparrowhawk, 50+ Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 20+ Pochard, Kingfisher (Nick Croft/Josh Self).

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: 2 Nuthatch (Gilberts Slade), Lesser Redpoll, 2+ singing Song Thrush, singing Mistle Thrush, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets on court building, Pied Wagtail, 2-3 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 7 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, Kingfisher, 4 Egyptian Geese, 4 Grey Heron (Stuart Fisher)

14th

Wanstead Flats: 50 Linnet, 20 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 8 Skylark, 2 Egyptian Goose, 11 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler (Jubilee), Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 10 Gadwall, Shoveler, Pied Wagtail (Shoulder of Mutton), 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, Coal Tit, 6+ Stock Dove, 20+ Redwing (Nick Croft)

15th

Wanstead Flats: 40+ Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 10+ Song Thrush, 40+ Blackbird, singing Mistle Thrush, 5 Meadow Pipit, 8 Skylark, 40 Linnet, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Shoveler, 44 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 4 Pochard, Little Grebe, 5 Stock Dove, Kestrel, possible heard only Green Sandpiper (Nick Croft); Chaffinch (Jono Lethbridge).

Wanstead Park: Old Sewage Works - 11 singing Song Thrush, 15 Redwing, 12 Goldfinch, displaying Stock Dove (and also possible Green Sandpiper heard, hmmm!) (Tim Harris).

16th

Wanstead Flats: Snipe, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Linnet, Reed Bunting, Teal, Egyptian Goose, 35 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, Kestrel, 27 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark incl one singing (Nick Croft)

17th

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 2 Egyptian Geese, 82 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 2 Mistle Thrush pr, 3 Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 2 Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk (Stuart Fisher)

18th

Wanstead Flats: 49 Linnet, 9 Skylark, 20 Fieldfare, Little Owl (Tim Harris/Richard Rae)

Wanstead Park: Bush Wood - Nuthatch (Tim Harris)

19th

Wanstead Flats: WeBS highlights - 6 Mute Swan, 38 Greylag Geese, 42 Gadwall, 2 Teal, Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 23 Moorhen, 67 Coot, 333 Black-headed Gull, 825 Common Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Tim Harris)

Wanstead Park: WeBS highlights - 23 Mute Swan, 211 Gadwall, 77 Mallard, 19 Shoveler, 20 Pochard, 69 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 39 Moorhen, 105 Coot, 94 Black-headed Gull, Kingfisher (WREN group)

20th

Wanstead Flats: m Blackcap, 21 Lesser Redpoll, 40+ Linnet, 10+ Goldfinch, m Reed Bunting, 10+ Fieldfare, 10+ Redwing incl some singers, 40+ Blackbird, singing Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, 12 Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 30 Tufted Duck, 2f Pochard, 5 Shoveler, 29 Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, 38 Greylag Goose, Little Grebe (Nick Croft)

21st

Wanstead Flats: 20+ Redwing, 20+ Fieldfare, 30+ Linnet, Reed Bunting, 9 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 3 Nuthatch, singing Coal Tit, 4 Goldcrest (2 singing), large numbers of Redwing, 2 Shoveler over, 19 Gadwall, Tufted Duck (Shoulder of Mutton) (Nick Croft)

Leyton Flats/Snaresbrook: 2 Firecrest incl m in laurel hedge in court grounds then on western perimeter early am, Treecreeper and Nuthatch (Gilberts Slade), 10 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, 2 Stock Dove (Stuart Fisher)

22nd

Wanstead Flats: 37 Linnet, 13 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 10+ Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, 33 Gadwall, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Little Grebe (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 20+ Lesser Redpoll (some really pale birds amongst them), 5 Siskin, 31 Gadwall, 12 Pochard, c50 Tufted Duck, Shoveler, 10+ Redwing (Nick Croft)

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: Water Rail in SW cnr of Eagle Pond at dawn, Lesser Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, 10+ Redwing, Nuthatch (Gilberts Slade), 6 Stock Dove, 18 Ring-necked Parakeet, 15 Gadwall (Stuart Fisher)

23rd

Wanstead Flats: 2 Stock Dove pr, 8 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 40 Linnet, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Fieldfare, 6 singing Song Thrush (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 9 Gadwall, singing Coal Tit, lots of Redwing, 4 Stock Dove (Nick Croft)

24th

Wanstead Flats: 45+ Fieldfare, 40 Linnet, Bullfinch, 6 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 2 Goldcrest, 22 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, f Pochard, Snipe, 2 Stock Dove pr (Josh Selfe/Nick Croft).

Wanstead Park: 1-2 Firecrest and 2 Goldcrest (Bush Wood - Josh Selfe); Little Egret, Little Grebe, Kingfisher, 70+ Redwing, 2 Teal, Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 17 Pochard, Water Rail (Nick Croft/JS).

Snaresbrook/Leyton Flats: 1-2 Firecrest, 10+ Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 15 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, f Sparrowhawk (watched it kill a feral pigeon by drowning it in a puddle), Stock Dove, 2 Great Crested Grebe (Stuart Fisher).

25th

Wanstead Flats: 7 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 4+ Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff, 45 Linnet, 4 Reed Bunting (Tim Harris, Dan Henessey)

Wanstead Park: Water Rail (SoM), f Bullfinch (OSW) (Tim Harris, Dan Henessey, Bob Vaughan)

27th

Wanstead Flats: 30+ Linnet, 8 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 8 Tufted Duck, m Pochard, m Shoveler (Jub), Redwing, Fieldfare, 2 Kestrel (Nick Croft/Josh Selfe)

Wanstead Park: 10 Gadwall (SoM), 2 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 10+ Redwing (Nick Croft/Josh Selfe)

 28th

Wanstead Flats: 3 Skylark (one doing display flight song), Meadow Pipit, 3 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare (Nick Croft).

Wanstead Park: Nuthatch, singing Coal Tit, Goldcrest, 4 Stock Dove, 10+ Redwing, Grey Wagtail (Bush Wood), Siskin, 10 Gadwall, 16 Pochard, Shoveler, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit (Nick Croft/Bob Vaughan).

Leytonstone E11 (St Anne's Rd): Blackcap m on suet feeder & cotoneaster (G Sutton).

30th

Wanstead Flats: 47 Linnet, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Skylark, 4-6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 9 Shoveler, 27 Gadwall, 15+ Redwing, Fieldfare, 4 Mistle Thrush (Nick Croft).

Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 2 Teal (Bob Vaughan); 10 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 10+ Pochard, Little Grebe, Goldcrest (Nick Croft).

31st

Wanstead Flats: 50 Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Redwing, 5+ Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 12 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail (Nick Croft)

Wanstead Park: 2 Nuthatch, calling Treecreeper, 10+ Stock Dove, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, 20+ Redwing, Lesser Redpoll (Nick Croft)