Roy Woodward did brilliantly well obtaining these fabulous shots of the highly mobile DUSKY WARBLER - the first ever record for the London area
Today's dazzling FIRECREST captured on film by Luke Massey - superb!
Today's dazzling FIRECREST captured on film by Luke Massey - superb!
MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY
Still continuing very cold with temperatures once again struggling to reach much more than 4 degrees C. Occasional heavy rain gave way to a dull, grey and overcast afternoon.
Following Andy Tweed and others finding of a Penduline Tit at Rainham Marsh RSPB, I set forth yet again for another attempt to add this elusive species to my 2010 British year-list. No sooner had I started driving east around the M25, I was informed that the bird had flown, disappearing high over the railway towards Dagenham. It had lasted all of 20 minutes !
I then diverted north into Bedfordshire, where I was delighted to connect with a very showy FIRECREST.......
EAST HYDE (BEDS/HERTS BORDER)
Favouring the ivy-clad hedgerow bordering Thrales End Lane at East Hyde bridge (at TL 128 172, in Bedfordshire), the male FIRECREST was showing very well, flitting slowly through the branches 15-60 yards west of the bridge. Lol Carman and Luke Massey were also present, the latter photographer obtaining some excellent shots, despite the poor light conditions. The bird called occasionally, but only as a result of light pishing, and was quite orange at the leading edge and sides of the yellow crown-stripe.
A single JACK SNIPE was feeding by the sedgebed at the convergence of the streams, and my first Herts LITTLE OWL of the year was showing very well in its favoured tree behind the farm, close to its nesting hole. The hedgerow also held Song Thrush and Wren.
LOCKWOOD RESERVOIR (LONDON RECORDING AREA)
(1330-1646 hours)
Local patchworker Lol Boldini had impressively located a DUSKY WARBLER in scrub behind the houses and allotments NE of Lockwood Reservoir Sunday morning and after releasing news of his find to other locals, Roy Woodward relocated it late morning today. It represented the FIRST record for the London Recording Area.
On hearing of Roy's relocation, I made my way straight there, and after negotiating the A10 and North Circular, eventually arrived in Black Horse Road at 1330. I was greeted by a beaming Joan Thompson and Mick Frosdick, who along with 7 others, had just seen the bird flicking between scrubby patches at the west side of the Flood Relief Channel. It had disappeared north and had been lost from view.
Lawrence knew the area well and took me and Andrew Self around on to the Walthamstow Marsh proper, where we searched the area well but failed to locate it. It did look good though, with much scrubby understorey, and 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits and 3 Reed Buntings were noted. We all returned to the original site and in a study of the area, I felt that the only place it could be was in the small scrubby patches bordering the Flood Relief Channel slightly further north. Paul Whiteman arrived, and I informed him of my senses, and in no time at all, he had managed to scale the fences and was in - soon to be followed by eight others. No sooner had they climbed in than Andrew Self declared he had heard it - and seen it flicking its way into some more dense vegetation.
Being a first for London, I clambered after Jonathan Lethbridge, Lol and others, and eventually got to where they were standing. The DUSKY WARBLER was calling constantly - a hard clicking ''tuckk'' - but was near impossible to see, as it was hugging the ground on the opposite side of a concrete wall. Andrew Self had worked out a way of 'scoping it at distance and that was where all of us (13 observers in total) eventually enjoyed good views, as it slowly made its way along the edge of the Relief Channel towards us, often in the company of a single Wren.
I must have seen it on 20 occasions over a period of 50 minutes, with it often flitting higher into the vegetation and occasionally perching on the top of the concrete fence. It was a typically dingy warbler, with an olive tone to its brown upperparts, and a marked and quite broad buff-brown supercilium. It was often rather Chiffchaff-like but had characteristic orange-brown legs with brighter feet, light buff undertail-coverts and darker flanks and sides. It was constantly flicking its wings, particularly when calling, and was highly mobile at all times. Roy Woodward managed to get several images of the bird as it flew closer, three of which are published above. Both Franko Marievic and Adam Wilson arrived late and saw the bird. I am indebted to both Jonathan and Lol for their kind help.
Four GOOSANDERS were also seen.
DIRECTIONS: The bird is moving between the allotments and the relief channel to the NE of Lockwood Reservoir. If at the former location, follow the public footpath directly opposite Worcester Road north for 220 yards to view. If it is in the channel, you will need to park on Ferry Lane (the A503), purchase a day permit for £1 and walk north along the entire length of Lockwood Reservoir to view.
Still continuing very cold with temperatures once again struggling to reach much more than 4 degrees C. Occasional heavy rain gave way to a dull, grey and overcast afternoon.
Following Andy Tweed and others finding of a Penduline Tit at Rainham Marsh RSPB, I set forth yet again for another attempt to add this elusive species to my 2010 British year-list. No sooner had I started driving east around the M25, I was informed that the bird had flown, disappearing high over the railway towards Dagenham. It had lasted all of 20 minutes !
I then diverted north into Bedfordshire, where I was delighted to connect with a very showy FIRECREST.......
EAST HYDE (BEDS/HERTS BORDER)
Favouring the ivy-clad hedgerow bordering Thrales End Lane at East Hyde bridge (at TL 128 172, in Bedfordshire), the male FIRECREST was showing very well, flitting slowly through the branches 15-60 yards west of the bridge. Lol Carman and Luke Massey were also present, the latter photographer obtaining some excellent shots, despite the poor light conditions. The bird called occasionally, but only as a result of light pishing, and was quite orange at the leading edge and sides of the yellow crown-stripe.
A single JACK SNIPE was feeding by the sedgebed at the convergence of the streams, and my first Herts LITTLE OWL of the year was showing very well in its favoured tree behind the farm, close to its nesting hole. The hedgerow also held Song Thrush and Wren.
LOCKWOOD RESERVOIR (LONDON RECORDING AREA)
(1330-1646 hours)
Local patchworker Lol Boldini had impressively located a DUSKY WARBLER in scrub behind the houses and allotments NE of Lockwood Reservoir Sunday morning and after releasing news of his find to other locals, Roy Woodward relocated it late morning today. It represented the FIRST record for the London Recording Area.
On hearing of Roy's relocation, I made my way straight there, and after negotiating the A10 and North Circular, eventually arrived in Black Horse Road at 1330. I was greeted by a beaming Joan Thompson and Mick Frosdick, who along with 7 others, had just seen the bird flicking between scrubby patches at the west side of the Flood Relief Channel. It had disappeared north and had been lost from view.
Lawrence knew the area well and took me and Andrew Self around on to the Walthamstow Marsh proper, where we searched the area well but failed to locate it. It did look good though, with much scrubby understorey, and 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits and 3 Reed Buntings were noted. We all returned to the original site and in a study of the area, I felt that the only place it could be was in the small scrubby patches bordering the Flood Relief Channel slightly further north. Paul Whiteman arrived, and I informed him of my senses, and in no time at all, he had managed to scale the fences and was in - soon to be followed by eight others. No sooner had they climbed in than Andrew Self declared he had heard it - and seen it flicking its way into some more dense vegetation.
Being a first for London, I clambered after Jonathan Lethbridge, Lol and others, and eventually got to where they were standing. The DUSKY WARBLER was calling constantly - a hard clicking ''tuckk'' - but was near impossible to see, as it was hugging the ground on the opposite side of a concrete wall. Andrew Self had worked out a way of 'scoping it at distance and that was where all of us (13 observers in total) eventually enjoyed good views, as it slowly made its way along the edge of the Relief Channel towards us, often in the company of a single Wren.
I must have seen it on 20 occasions over a period of 50 minutes, with it often flitting higher into the vegetation and occasionally perching on the top of the concrete fence. It was a typically dingy warbler, with an olive tone to its brown upperparts, and a marked and quite broad buff-brown supercilium. It was often rather Chiffchaff-like but had characteristic orange-brown legs with brighter feet, light buff undertail-coverts and darker flanks and sides. It was constantly flicking its wings, particularly when calling, and was highly mobile at all times. Roy Woodward managed to get several images of the bird as it flew closer, three of which are published above. Both Franko Marievic and Adam Wilson arrived late and saw the bird. I am indebted to both Jonathan and Lol for their kind help.
Four GOOSANDERS were also seen.
DIRECTIONS: The bird is moving between the allotments and the relief channel to the NE of Lockwood Reservoir. If at the former location, follow the public footpath directly opposite Worcester Road north for 220 yards to view. If it is in the channel, you will need to park on Ferry Lane (the A503), purchase a day permit for £1 and walk north along the entire length of Lockwood Reservoir to view.
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