In other news- 29/12/2009

In Sutton today a PEREGRINE was seen flying from the Reed Building to the glass building just north as I got off the 280 bus.

In other news- 26/12/2009

A trip to Canon's Farm today, at last! The first of the Christmas holidays, mainly because of the ice keeping me to the Downs.

The highlight was the presence of a single male BRAMBLING in the field eastern most field with maybe 50 CHAFFINCHES, though I didn't really count. Also in the same field were about 20 LINNETS. There were about 300 CHAFFINCHES, in total in the whole area (Kevin).

The COMMON BUZZARD remained in 'The Big Field' and showed well to the other four birders there (including Kevin).

15+ YELLOWHAMMERS were also present and some showed well today.

2 NUTHATCHES were noted, one in Banstead Woods and one in the hunting wood (where a single GOLDCREST called).

2 MEADOW PIPITS and at least 3 SKYLARKS were noted together (though many kept popping up and down and they were hence difficult to count) with about another 10 LINNETS and a number of CHAFFINCHES, maybe 30 or so.

A decent count of 5 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS was taken and a single GREEN WOODPECKER was seen as well.

2 KESTRELS were seen at the end of the run of houses at Canon's Lane (where 2 of the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were.

2 SONG THRUSHES showed well together with about 10 or so FIELDFARES and up to 20 REDWINGS. 7 MISTLE THRUSHES were in the north eastern most field.

25/12/2009

Christmas day and no birding for once! Something did, however, manage to catch my eye. Flying north over my garden, so without a doubt coming directly from the Downs which is a matter of feet away at all times was a very low GREY HERON. It looked like an immature so it was probably the same bird as the bird that flew south east of the 23rd. A Crow was close on its tail.

Yesterday yet another COAL TIT was calling at Belmont Heights.

Festive greetings

Wishing everybody a merry christmas and happy new year, and good birding in 2010 and the next decade!

23/12/2009

Another day doing my newly devised winter route was relatively productive.

Briefly calling at the golf course, it was encouraging to see that the workers had kept to their promise and had postponed the undergrowth clearance.

It was also encouraging to hear a FIRECREST calling and eventually pin it down in the thick vegetation near post 678.

A good patch bird was a NUTHATCH that flew in from the adjacent gardens along The Drive (where they are fairly regular, though they rarely stray onto the Downs), called once and was lost to view, never to be seen again! I am fairly sure that you don't get Nuthatches in the east wood, but I'm not 100%; I've never seen them there even though I don't visit that area too often, and the habitat is similar to the rest of the wooded areas at the Downs, where I never see them. So a good bird to see at the Downs.

The other main highlight was 2 LAPWINGS flying relatively low, west. Again, I only saw them as they were flying away, not noticing them when they would have been in a good position for a decent photo. I managed another poor back shot, though it's a slight improvement on Saturday's photo!Lapwings (the top shot is another of the right and bird and the bottom is another of the left hand bird).

As I was hoping for, and kind of expecting in this weather, a GREY HERON flew over. It flew over the middle of the site, very low, much lower than I've seen any Grey Heron here before and a CARRION CROW was right on its tail. At one point it was just a few feet above the bushes! It was a 1st winter bird and headed roughly south east. Cormorant or Mallard next? (latter being desperately needed for my Downs year list!).

Grey Heron

I was thinking about the dearth of Skylarks this autumn. I have logged one so far this autumn and I think that was back in September, so it was nice that just as I was thinking this I heard a single SKYLARK fly over, it sounded fairly low but I couldn't get onto it. This sort of thing has happened before, I think I must have heard the bird in the distance, subconsciously and this must have started thoughts about them!

5 BULLFINCHES were present together just south of the central enclosure. I didn't manage to sex all of them but I think 2 were females and one was a male, not sure about the other two.

REDWING numbers were similar, perhaps a little down??? FIELDFARES had increased once more with 2 birds flying over the golf course, 5 south of the enclosures that flew off low south west to another part of the site, 4, possibly different birds over the bike track and 8+ feeding in the central and western enclosures (the latter being the one now fenced off and sheep are due tomorrow, weather providing). So in total up to 19 (possibly more) Fieldfares today. Maybe more realistically around 15? With the birds being so mobile it is hard to estimate. A MISTLE THRUSH was present briefly at the north enclosure before flying low south.

Fieldfare

I finally got a ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET! One bird flew fairly low over the golf course today after a recent dearth in these species after the bad weather (even though I thought they wouldn't have been too effected; maybe they have been, or maybe they've just been less mobile in the bad weather?)

A GOLDFINCH was heard in a tree but could not be located at the golf course.

A single GREEN WOODPECKER called at or near the bike track and a single GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was heard at the south wood where the GOLDCREST was still present, despite being heard-only. At the golf course, a fair distance down the wooded footpath, another GOLDCREST, a female, showed well.

A 1st winter COMMON GULL flew over.

4 JAYS were noted today; 1 at the golf course, 2 at the bike track and 1 at the north wood.

A single SONG THRUSH was seen at the bike track.

Not so many BLACKBIRDS, with 5 or so present. A handful of LONG-TAILED, BLUE and GREAT TITS were present (a huge flock of BLUE and LONG-TAILED TITS was seen in Belmont this a.m.; they were all just streaming into one or two bushes!). Again no sign of the Blackcaps.

CARRION CROWS, MAGPIES and WOODPIGEONS common as always.




IN OTHER NEWS

1 SPARROWHAWK dashed through buildings and trees around St. John's Church, Belmont, this morning.

A GREY HERON was reported over Belmont this a.m., possibly the same bird I saw later on?

One COAL TIT was calling at Burdon Lane where a male GREENFINCH also showed well.

One COAL TIT was calling at The Drive.

Yesterday, after the gathering, I was passing the PIED WAGTAIL roost so had a look to see how many there looked to be in that tree in comparison to last time. It looked packed! In comparison to my count of c.160 I would guess there were perhaps 200 in there.

22/12/2009

I was delighted today to see a FIRECREST along the wooded footpath between post 657 and 678, although upsetting to see cut stems and a burning pile of vegetation just feet away from it. I was pretty sure I heard a separate bird calling nearby, too.

Good news is no further work will be done until the groundsmen get the all clear from Banstead Commons Conservators and Natural England.

3 REDPOLLS flew over the golf course, west of the A217.

A SPARROWHAWK flew across the railway line while another was seen jostling with one of the 20 or 30 CARRION CROWS along Freedown Lane.

Just a thought, it is interesting that I have failed to record any Rose-ringed Parakeets since the snow.

The only other raptor seen today was a single KESTREL which was hovering over the east enclosure between the railway at Sutton Lane.

In the area between the railway and Sutton Lane there were 2 JAYS, a single GOLDCREST that showed well in the south wood, at least 3 male BULLFINCHES which showed well (for Bullfinches anyway) together. It seems to be an excellent time to catch up with one of these beautiful finches locally, with birds grouping up and showing well as they search for food.

Bullfinch

Thrushes were still in evidence with similar numbers of REDWINGS to the past few days and an increase in FIELDFARES, with at least 7 mobile birds in the central enclosure in the area between the railway and Sutton Lane.
Fieldfares

Not exactly a common bird at Banstead Downs, especially settled on the site, were c.6 GOLDFINCHES that dropped down at the edge of the site or maybe into someone's garden.

A single GREEN WOODPECKER perched on a small, bare oak at the western side of the central enclosure was a nice bird. It seemed to love that tree, not flushing, unusually, when a dog walker went straight past it, and when it did flush a bit later on, it soon returned. Green Woodpecker, like Rose-ringed Parakeet has been a little difficult to track down in this icy weather.

Green Woodpecker

IN OTHER NEWS

COAL TITS were vocal locally today. One was very near Banstead Downs Golf Course, calling from a garden along The Drive. Another was singing at the western part of Northdown Road.

21/12/2009

No sign of the Firecrests today at the golf course where I was shocked to find further habitat destruction following the well publicised clearance that took place in February and won the front page of a local newspaper.

I was even more shocked to have found out that the golf course is planning to clear most of the undergrowth along a substantial length of the wooded footpath favoured by the Firecrests. I think that this is a very silly and pointless thing to do, causing disturbance to a rare bird in an area which is not important to the golf course, at the edge of the site. There is absolutely no need for this destruction, even if the Firecrests could find suitable habitat nearby (there is no habitat as good as the wooded footpath nearby anyway, and there is NO QUESTION that it is causing unnecessary disturbance to all wildlife let alone the scarce and sensitive Firecrests) and I am doing everything in my ability to stop it happening.

It was also enlightening to find that checks are NOT done for every piece of management that the golf course plans, but instead the 'conservation' organisations have an agreement which lets the golf club do such things without consultation or the surveying of an area. This questions one of the manager's statements in February that all appropriate checks had been made and they were doing nothing wrong, if I remember correctly.

The most that I have got out of the golf club regarding why they are doing it, other than because they can, is that golfers lose their balls in the undergrowth and 'it's a golf course'. Maybe bad golfers deserve to have trouble finding their balls, surely a scarce wintering bird on the red list is more important (regardless of whether it is in the breeding season or not).

All very upsetting and stressful. The most understanding person I have talked to today about the issue was the head guy of the workforce which were doing the felling! He said that all of the work would be postponed until Natural England and the Banstead Commons Conservators give them the all clear on any sensitive wildlife. I contacted the main man of the Banstead Commons Conservators on the issue to be greeted with complete lack of knowledge of what was going on (shows how organised they are), and he said that all he would agree to do is to send one of his guys down there tomorrow morning to see what was going on. I asked if I could join him (not completely trusting them) and I was answered, rather grumpily, with something along the lines with 'You most certainly can not). I found his attitude unpleasant, as I did with one of the main men at the golf club who said something along the lines of 'We have permission, so we can do whatever we like' and 'there's gonna be more clearance', all said in a pretty smug manner with a little smurk on his face.

Not a good situation for the Firecrests, especially with all this snow and ice. This combination of harsh weather and habitat destruction without much aid from conservation bodies is not conducive to the survival of a tiny, scarce and sensitive passerine bird.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE BIRD SIGHTINGS AT BANSTEAD DOWNS TODAY

Sorry for the inaccurate counts, I was busy thinking about the situation at the golf course.

Suffice to say, there was no sign of any Firecrests along the wooded footpath today.

2 male BLACKCAPS were seen together at the bike track which is just west of the railway and at least 3 BULLFINCHES were present there also. I only managed to sex one, a female, not sure what sex the others were.

A SPARROWHAWK was seen at the golf course just east of the A217 and what was probably the same individual was seen jostling in the air with a CARRION CROW in the distance over the golf course, from the main site between the A217 and Sutton Lane.

3 FIELDFARES present at the core site between the railway and Sutton Lane also good numbers of REDWINGS, perhaps 30 or 40 like yesterday, but hard to estimate.

Fieldfare

Not quite as many BLACKBIRDS as the other day but there were a few around, I really didn't count them but I would guess around 10 or so.

There were probably about 5 ROBINS. There was a handful of TITS including GREAT, LONG-TAILED and BLUE.

Up to 5 MAGPIES were present with 10 or 20 WOODPIGEONS and 5 to 10 or so CARRION CROWS.

In other news- 20/12/2009

Mark Stanley provided me with another impressive batch of sightings from the Banstead Woods/Chipstead area today notching up some good birds and impressive counts.

Close to Chipstead Lane, 5 BULLFINCHES, including a single male, were present.

10 BULLFINCHES were present in one spot along the western edge of Banstead Wood. This is a pretty impressive count for the local area, especially all in one go like that!

A little further on and Mark saw a further pair of BULLFINCHES (possibly the earlier pair, but probably different).

All in all this makes a total of SEVENTEEN BULLFINCHES all in a pretty small area!

Mark also got a couple of other good birds with a flock of 9 eastbound LAPWINGS. There seems to be a bit of a cold weather movement of this wonderful Plover going on at the moment. Mark also recorded a single ROOK which is never common in the local area.

Also seen in the area by Mark today:

2 MISTLE THRUSHES
2 SONG THRUSHES
60+ FIELDFARES
80+ REDWINGS
6 JAYS
5-10 GOLDCRESTS
1 GREY HERON north
40+ BLACKBIRDS

19/12/2009

the wooded footpath, post 657


A very photographic post for once! Finally got a chance to do some prolonged daytime birding at the Downs and I wasn't disappointed. I was hoping that waterfowl of some description would fly over today given the weather conditions, but I wasn't expecting much so it was a brilliant surprise to catch 6 LAPWINGS as they flew roughly west south west over, in the distance. I managed one or two really dire record shots of 5 of them. This was a nice Banstead Downs tick and puts me on 72 for the Downs and for the 69 year.
Lapwings
It seems that a few other people throughout London have been treated to over-head Lapwings today at sites like the Downs, where they are always exciting.


2 FIRECRESTS remained along the wooded footpath at the golf course and showed well in the snowy bushes there, allowing for some record shots of them in the snow. I am going to try to get a good photo of them soon. I've realised how bad my best one (from last year) is in comparison to my Firecrest shots from the New Forest. SEE THE LEFT OF THE BLOG FOR DIRECTIONS ETC.



Firecrest

Another pleasant surprise came in the same of 4 (almost certainly 4, anyway) BLACKCAPS at the eastern section of the golf course. 1 male was seen at the woodland edge then 3 (1 male, 1 female +1 unsexed) showed together a bit further in, though this gathering could have involved the first individual.

male Blackcap
Redwing
the bike track

2 FIELDFARES were in the scrub at the back of the central/east enclosures and 30-40 REDWINGS (very rough) were in the area as a whole.Fieldfare

Flyovers, other than the Lapwings, included 1 COMMON GULL and 1 PIED WAGTAIL.

1 MEADOW PIPIT was heard calling at the south end of the eastern enclosure and a pair of BULLFINCHES showed (for once) just south of the central enclosure.
Bullfinch

LONG-TAILED TITS, BLUE TITS and GREAT TITS were in evidence today.

Long-tailed Tit

2 JAYS were noted.
Jay

WOODPECKERS were represented by singles of both GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED.

MAGPIES, CARRION CROWS and WOODPIGEONS were, as usual, obvious.

BLACKBIRDS were in evidence with between 10 and 20 seen today.
Blackbird (1st winter male)

A probable Linnet was heard briefly.

A very enjoyable day in all.



IN OTHER NEWS


1 COAL TIT was calling at Burdon Lane.

In other news- 18/12/2009

6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS over, very near Banstead Downs, at Belmont early afternoon.

In other news- 14/12/2009

Thanks to Mark Stanley for this news from Canon's Farm

1 LITTLE OWL was noted by another observer, and Mark is pretty sure that he saw the bird in flight.

The COMMON BUZZARD remains, it was being seen off by ROOKS. Thrushes included 100+ FIELDFARE and 20+ REDWINGS also 2 MISTLE THRUSHES and a SONG THRUSH. Finches were represented by 25+ LINNET and a flock of 150+ finches, containing CHAFFINCHES and several other unidentified finches.

2 GREY HERONS were standing in the middle of the 'Big Field' and 12 SKYLARK were in the field opposite Canon's Farmhouse.

3 JAYS were seen together in a single bare oak tree.

1 GREEN WOODPECKER was noted and a nice male BULLFINCH showed well.

A single COMMON GULL was seen with a group of BLACK-HEADED GULLS.

Also 3 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over.

Sutton Pied Wagtail roost again

127 PIED WAGTAILS counted in the roost tree outside of Waterstones yesterday (14/12/2009) afternoon from c.15:58-c.16:20 making an average of 5.8 birds entering the roost per minute. Both the count and the average are down on last time, despite it probably being colder. I could have sworn that some birds that flew onto the rooves to wait to enter the roost didn't enter in the end (I count birds as they enter the tree only), so there were probably more roosting elsewhere?

15/12/2009

A trip to the golf course today produced 2 FIRECRESTS which were showing, though very elusive, near telephone wire pole 678 along the wooded footpath at 16:02, just before dusk. See left side of page for viewing instructions. Also, towards the beginning of the wooded footpath a GOLDCREST called. 1 JAY was present along the wooded footpath. 2 CHAFFINCHES were also noted as well as a showy WREN and a handful of the other usuals.

IN OTHER NEWS

A scattering of birds that just about justify a mention in the notebook, around the Belmont area today.

At Overton Park today a GREY HERON flew low in a west-ish direction and 2 PIED WAGTAILS were present from c.0810 to c.1345 at least.

Nearby, a GREY WAGTAIL was heard flying over Ventor Avenue.

At Burdon Lane, Belmont, 5+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over.

In Belmont Village at the church a single REDWING showed well in one of the bushes viewable from the north end of station road, this is the first showy local individual that I have seen this winter.

Sutton Pied Wagtail roost

Yesterday (12/12/2009) Kevin McManus and myself attempted a count of the Pied Wagtail roost at Sutton. Birds started coming in at c.16:05 and no new birds arrived after c.16:22. During this c.17 minute period, 160 PIED WAGTAILS (give or take a couple, maybe) flew in to roost in a single tree near Waterstones along Sutton High Street, giving an average of 9.4 birds arriving per minute. A great birding spectacle in the local area.

In other news- Canon's Farm

Yellowhammer


Been there both days of the weekend with Kevin McManus. Saturday was particulary good with mostly good weather and some good local birds.

CANON'S FARM/BANSTEAD WOOD 12/12/2009

Best birds were:

2 BRAMBLINGS- in north eastern most field at edge of Banstead Wood with CHAFFINCHES
1 COMMON BUZZARD feeding in the 'Big Field'
36 YELLOWHAMMERS
158+ FIELDFARES
50-100 REDWINGS
25 SKYLARKS
450 CHAFFINCHES
100+ LINNET
1 LESSER REDPOLL

Also

1+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
10-20 GREENFINCH (very rough)
c.10 HOUSE SPARROWS
up to 10 GOLDFINCH
c.5 COMMON GULLS
c.30 BLACK-HEADED GULLS (very rough)
10+ HERRING GULLS
50+ STARLINGS (very rough)
c.30 JACKDAWS (very rough)
CARRION CROWS
WOODPIGEONS
MAGPIES

etc

In the more wooded areas the following were noted

2 COAL TIT (1 of which at Banstead Wood)
1+ TREECREEPER
c.5 NUTHATCHES (3 of which at Banstead Wood)
3+ GOLDCRESTS (1+ of which at Banstead Wood)
2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS (1 of which at Banstead Wood)


On the bus, approaching Banstead a female/immature SPARROWHAWK flew in front of the bus and into an alleyway

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CANON'S FARM 13/12/2009

Not quite as good but still an enjoyable day, the Sunday was a bit wetter.

5+ YELLOWHAMMERS
1 COMMON BUZZARD still in the 'Big Field'
1 LITTLE OWL heard near/at edge of BANSTEAD WOOD.
c.250 CHAFFINCHES
c.100 FIELDFARES (very rough)
c.50 REDWINGS (very rough)
6 MISTLE THRUSHES
3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS
c.20 LINNET (very rough)
1 GREY HERON in field near COMMON BUZZARD's favoured area
10-15 MEADOW PIPITS
1+ SKYLARK
2 GREEN WOODPECKERS
2 GOLDCRESTS
2 REDPOLLS (presumably LESSER)
2+ GOLDFINCH
2+ GREENFINCH
10-20 HOUSE SPARROWS
c.20 STOCK DOVES

also

1+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
7 COLLARED DOVES together in the residential area at the beginning of Canon's Lane
up to 5 HERRING GULLS
up to 5 COMMON GULLS
c.30 BLACK-HEADED GULLS (very rough)
20-30 STARLINGS
1 ROBIN
1 WREN
2 DUNNOCKS
c.30 JACKDAWS (very rough)
CARRION CROWS
WOODPIGEONS
MAGPIES

etc

At Epsom Downs 1 KESTREL was sitting on a street light also PIED WAGTAIL in car park near the Lunch Box not seen by me, and a handful of BLACK-HEADED GULLS around there.

In other news- 11/12/2009

You've probably noticed that there's been even less to report in the few weeks. The birding in the local area has certainly slowed down a lot more!

At Overton Park today 2 PIED WAGTAILS were present as was at least 1 COMMON GULL along with c.30 BLACK-HEADED GULLS. c.10 STARLINGS were feeding on the playing field also.

In other news- 10/12/2009

Near Banstead Downs, at Belmont Pastures this afternoon there was a decent variety of common birds noted considering the site and time of day. I saw more variety than I usually do at the Downs because it doesn't take nearly as long to get there.

The highlight was 3 SONG THRUSHES. 2 sang and showed and the other flew through, calling. Going along with the theme of Thrushes, 1 Fieldfare/Mistle Thrush flew distantly past seen with the naked eye only and 1 MISTLE THRUSH was heard alarm calling at the north end. 3 BLACKBIRDS were noted.

2 DUNNOCKS sang and c.4 WRENS were logged. c.5 ROBINS were active.

4 BLUE TITS, 2 GREAT TITS and 1 LONG-TAILED TIT were noted. 10-15 WOODPIGEONS were present as were 2+ CARRION CROWS (with another 2 flying over).

17 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over (a flock of 10, then 6, then 1) in a roughly easterly direction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next door, this am at Belmont Park a PIED WAGTAIL was feeding along the concrete path there and c.5 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over then also.

late news- 05/12/2009

Mark Stanley saw two of the FIRECRESTS at the golf course c.50 yards past post 657 along the wooded footpath on 05/12/2009. They were feeding actively and showing well. He also noted a single MISTLE THRUSH and 10-12 REDWINGS.

09/12/2009

Golf Course today was more productive with 1+ FIRECREST heard and seen briefly near post 1. at 16:07.

c.5 REDWINGS, a WREN and c.5 BLACKBIRDS were seen as well as 1+ ROBIN etc.

Other than that very little else was seen.

IN OTHER NEWS

1 PIED WAGTAIL still at Overton Park. A MISTLE THRUSH was at Belmont Park and c.7 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over there.

08/12/2009

Better weather at the golf course and stayed the usual short amount of time before dark but still saw nothing

IN OTHER NEWS

c.23 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS flew over Burdon Lane

07/12/2009

Went up to the golf course today and it was raining and getting dark. Didn't stay long and saw nothing.

In other news- 06/12/2009

Went to Epsom Common this afternoon. Contrary to the good range of common birds I was expecting with maybe Mandarin or Yellowhammer etc, it was very, very dead . . . The highlights were a showy CORMORANT on the large stew pond with a GREY HERON there was also a BLACK-HEADED GULL there which saw off another that was thinking of settling. A drake MALLARD swam alongside walkers in the hope of bread. There was also a pair on the small stew pond. 1+ MOORHEN was on the small stew pond and at least 1 other was on the larger one. 2 LESSER (presumed) REDPOLLS flew over the large stew pond as did a single HERRING GULL. A JAY was nearby. 2 MAGPIE, c.5 CARRION CROW and c.2 WOODPIGEON represented the ubiquitous trio. 2+ WRENS and 2 ROBINS were noted. c.5 REDWING were logged and a single FIELDFARE called. 1 COAL TIT, up to 5 LONG-TAILED TITS, 2 or 3 BLUE TITS and 1 or 2 GREAT TITS were seen or heard today. c.20 FERAL PIGEONS flew over as did up to 5 JACKDAWS. Very quiet and disappointing with not even a single Mandarin to add some excitement to the day but it was a pleasant walk with Phil in some lovely weather.

03/12/2009

A bit more exciting today, although birding in general will remain unproductive through till January at least because most of the time I will be visiting after school and by that time there is an appauling amount of light left.

3 FIRECRESTS at the golf course today between telephone wire posts 657 and 678. Viewing details see left and below. 2 birds showed well, reacting to a bit of pishing. They flew from the thick vegetation to the left to the hedge to the right along a garden fence and fed there, showing well. The 3rd bird was heard calling softly from the foliage from where the original 2 came and they responded, calling frantically before eventually flying back.

Also 2 GOLDCRESTS along the wooded footpath near at the row on conifers c.600 metres down and on the right hand side. They were very inquistive and called, even singing at one point, while they flitted here and there, making themselves impossible to get good views of in the dying light.

c.5 REDWINGS were noted and a flock of c.10 LONG-TAILED TITS was nice to see.

ALSO LOGGED

1 BLACKBIRD
1 WREN
1 ROBIN
2 MAGPIES
1 CHAFFINCH
1+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET


IN OTHER NEWS

Not much to report but a single GREY HERON that flew low WSW over Overton Park/Belmont Heights at c.15:10 was the best sighting. 23 REDWINGS flew over Burdon Lane as did c.3 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS.


LATE OTHER NEWS 01/12/2009

In Sutton the pair of PEREGRINES showed well near Sutton Station in the afternoon. Best viewed from the Sutton Station car park. The male afforded good views atop the glass building just north of the Reed Building (the big brownish one). The female was on the usual north east corner of the Reed Building in front of the grey air conditioning pannel just below the top of the main part of the building.

Both the male and the female could be seen well perched up and both of them flew around, giving excellent, low views over the town at least once each, the female giving some lovely calls as she landed.

02/12/2009

At the golf course 2 probable Firecrests heard between telephone wire poles 657 and 678. Little else noted.

IN OTHER NEWS

MISTLE THRUSHES were evident with singles at Overton Park and Belmont Park at least.