13th November

A thouroughly miserable day, with the rain only easing mid morning, before returning again.

Mediterranean Gull: 1st winter still present.
Fieldfare: seven birds with five Redwings looked as if the wanted to come down at 10.30am, they then had second thoughts and headed off westwards.
Red-crested Pochard: thirty-two birds were on the lake in two groups.

12th November

Mediterranean Gull: the 1st winter bird was on a post in the lake at 7.50am.
Ruddy Duck: two birds were on the lake, we used to have a small flock of around 13 bird on the lake during the winter period. It looks like the cull has taken most of our birds.
Gadwall: only three present on the lake, maybe they haven't moved in to London so far this autumn.
Common Teal: one female mixing in with the collection teal in area 1, just as the Garganey did during the spring and summer.
Fieldfare: a flock of twelve landed briefly in trees in area 26 at 7.25am.
Redwing: singles past through.
Siskin: one was in area 26 this afternoon.

11th November

Slightly better photos of the 1st winter Mediterranean Gull


The photo above show the differences in structure between the Med and Black-headed Gull. Where as the one below shows the subtle differences between Med Gull and Coot.


Mediterranean Gull: The first winter was still present on and around the lake.
Fieldfare: At least eighteen birds in two flocks dropped in briefly this morning.
Redwing: Birds passed over in one's and two's throughout the morning.
Meadow Pipit: One was heard flying over.
Tree Creeper: One in trees close to Longbridge, area 26.
House Sparrow: two females were present in the cricket pen, area 24. It is extremely unusual to see this species away from the colony in London Zoo.
Lesser Redpoll: At least four birds were feeding in the silver birch trees in area 24.

10th November

Mediterranean Gull: 1st winter bird again present.
Yellow-legged Gull: adult again present.
Wood Pigeon: 1400 flew south between 7.00am and 7.40am.
Ring Ouzel: a female flew NW with five Redwings at 7.20am.
Redwing: sixty flew westish in small groups.
Lesser Redpoll: one in area 26 with 14 Goldfinches.

9th November

Yellow-legged Gull; primaries are still not all fully grown, creating a slightly short-winged appearance.



Mediterranean Gull: the 1st winter was feeding on the football pitches at 7.30 am, before moving to the lake by 8.30am.
Yellow-legged Gull: the adult bird was present on the lake again for most of the day.
Water Rail: two birds in area 2.
Fieldfare: two singles flew over.
Redwing: twenty five birds in one's and two's passed through.
Meadow Pipit: a single bird flew west.
Tree Creeper: one was in area 2 between 7.30am and 9.00am, with a tit flock.
Lesser Redpoll: a small flock landed in area 24 for a few minutes.
Siskin: two flew through.

7th November

Water Rail: two birds showing well in the rail ditch.
Mediterranean Gull: the first winter was around until 11.40am at least.
Skylark: one flew west.

6th November

A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was on the lake this morning. This was only the second time a bird in this plumage had been seen in the park since 1982.



I thought the scaling of this Cormorants feathers was worth a quick snap.


Water Rail: 2 birds still showing in area 2.
Mediterranean Gull: a 1st winter bird was on the lake until at least 9.30am, but couldn't be found at mid-day.
Chiffchaff: one was by the Nature Study Centre, area 1 this morning.
Siskin: a dozen were feeding in Silver Birch trees in area 24.