Slightly Dippy Day

Not sure if you can dip a bird that you didn't actually go and see, but it felt like dipping. I needed a break from London, and felt that Bobolink would make a nice addition to my British list. Happily enough, one was found in Glamorgan. The only way I could get there and back in time for the school pick-up was to leave in the dark on no news, a risky move. So rather than go the whole way, I strategically placed myself on the M4 corridor and awaited news.

The news was unfortunately negative, so I spent a bit of time dipping two Glossy Ibises, attempted some Red Kite photography near Stokenchurch, and finally ended up in Wanstead looking for the Wryneck again.

As I headed towards the Alexandra scrub I could see a few people milling around. Turned out they were all Wryneck dippers, and looking fairly miserable. Hadn't been seen for over an hour and a half. Oh dear. I cheered them up by finding it in approximately five minutes, and they all got good and prolonged views, and were most grateful. I felt rather smug, possibly looked it too if you can believe it, but then again I do spend a large amount of time on Wanstead Flats and know it rather well. On previous Wryneck searches in the larger area of scrub that it disappears into, I had noticed an excellent-looking feeding spot consisting of a couple of anthills in a hollow area of bramble. This was the first place I went to look, and there it was. I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or it? It flew up and sat inside an Elder bush, and I went and found the dippers, all of whom were still wandering disconsolately around the burnt patch of Broom where it had been in the morning.

And then it was time to pick up the kids, and my birding day was over. So, in summary, I woke up in the middle of the night and drove about 300 miles to see a Wryneck in Wanstead. An act of genius if ever I saw one.

London 2010 Year List - WANTED!

These are the birds that I feel could be possible, and that I have not seen in London this year, and in most cases, ever. The LNHS recording area is a circle of 20 miles radius, centred on St Paul's Cathedral. Very approximately, this is the area enclosed by the M25, but a proper map can be found here.

I'm reasonably well plugged-in to the London grapevine, but no-one can know everything, so I would very much appreciate any news you may have on any of the below. Obviously some are less likely than others, but if you have one (or more) on your patch, or in your garden, I would like to know about it!

Fulmar
Great White Egret
Spoonbill
Glossy Ibis
Whooper Swan
Green-winged Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Goshawk
Grey Partridge
 Pomarine Skua
Ring-billed Gull
Iceland Gull
Guillemot
Long-eared Owl
Richard's Pipit
Great Grey Shrike
Willow TitCommon redpoll
Twite
Raven

London 2010 Year List

These represent my first sightings of the species in 2010. In many cases, even some of the rarer ones in a London context, I have seen the species multiple times. More often than not in the company of others, and if not, I generally have a photo. Why so paranoid? No idea. Birds I have not seen, but would like to, are listed here.

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) 61) 62) 63) 64) 65) 66) 67) 68) 69) 70) 71) 72) 73) 74) 75) 76) 77) 78) 79) 80) 81) 82) 83) 84) 85) 86) 87) 88) 89) 90) 91) 92) 93) 94) 95) 96) 97) 98) 99) 100) 101) 102) 103) 104) 105) 106) 107) 108) 109) 110) 111) 112) 113) 114) 115) 116) 117) 118) 119) 120) 121) 122) 123) 124) 125) 126) 127) 128) 129) 130) 131) 132) 133) 134) 135) 136) 137) 138) 139) 140) 141) 142) 143) 144) 145) 146) 147) 148) 149) 150) 151) 152) 153) 154) 155) 156) 157) 158) 159) 160) 161) 162) 163) 164) 165) 166) 167) 168) 169) 170) 171) 172) 173) 174) 175) 176) 177) 178) 179) 180) 181) 182) 183) 184) 185) 186) 187) 188) 189) 190) 191) 192) 193) 194) 195) 196) 197) 198) 199) 200) 201) 202) 203) 204) 205) 206) 207) 208) 209)

Robin Song Thrush Pheasant Mallard Magpie Blackbird Short-eared Owl Crow Cormorant Goldfinch Chaffinch Dunnock Starling Collared Dove Jackdaw Linnet Mipit Reed Bunting Kestrel Snipe Mute Swan Blue Tit Great Tit Long-tailed Tit Fieldfare Wren Great Crested Grebe Shoveler Great Black-backed Gull Dunlin Redshank Wigeon Heron Lapwing Teal Shelduck Curlew Pied Wagtail Redwing Marsh Harrier Water Rail Greylag Buzzard Skylark Herring Gull Black-headed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Common Gull Stock Dove Little Grebe Serin Great Skua Golden Plover Stonechat Peregrine Moorhen Cetti's Warbler Coot Tufted Duck Canada Goose Pintail Pochard Gadwall Woodpigeon Greenfinch House Sparrow Rock Pipit Jack Snipe Rook Pigeon Black-tailed Godwit Grey Wagtail Ruff Chiffchaff Ring-necked Parakeet Ringed Plover Green Woodpecker Mistle Thrush Great Spotted Woodpecker Little Egret Sparrowhawk Little Owl Water Pipit Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Common Sandpiper Goldcrest Glaucous Gull Jay Black-necked Grebe Bearded Tit Yellow-legged Gull Lesser Redpoll Grey Plover Mandarin Duck Mediteraennean Gull Caspian Gull Red-breasted Merganser Bittern Great Northern Diver Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Woodcock Smew Bar-tailed Godwit Black-throated Diver Egyptian Goose Kingfisher Coal Tit Firecrest Nuthatch Marsh Tit Treecreeper Goosander Brent Goose Bean Goose Slavonian Grebe Common Scoter Barnacle Goose Bullfinch Barn Owl Siskin Knot Corn Bunting Red-crested Pochard Red-legged Partridge Turnstone Blackcap White-fronted Goose Pink-footed Goose Dusky Warbler Scaup Red-necked Grebe Oystercatcher Yellowhammer Hawfinch Black Redstart Tree Sparrow Red Kite Tawny Owl Brambling Green Sandpiper Waxwing Little Gull Bewick's Swan Velvet Scoter Greenshank Little Ringed Plover Avocet Wheatear Alpine Swift Ring Ouzel Willow Warbler Swallow Sedge Warbler Whitethroat Sand Martin House Martin Grasshopper Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Cuckoo Nightingale Common Tern Yellow Wagtail Whimbrel Hoopoe Tree Pipit Whinchat Hobby Reed Warbler Spotted Redshank Swift Garganey Arctic Tern Garden Warbler Sandwich Tern Sanderling Little Stint Black Tern Little Tern Wood Warbler Wood Sandpiper Turtle Dove Quail Common Rosefinch White-tailed Plover Woodlark Crossbill Spotted Flycatcher Cattle Egret White-winged Black Tern Redstart Arctic Skua Kittiwake Ortolan Bunting Pied Flycatcher Curlew Sandpiper Manx Shearwater Wryneck Pectoral Sandpiper Gannet Lapland Bunting Penduline Tit Hen Harrier Eider Common Crane Merlin Snow Bunting Grey Phalarope Shag

Wanstead Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Wanstead Flats Wanstead Flats Staines Moor Staines Moor Staines Moor Staines Moor Staines Moor Staines Res Staines Res Staines Res Bush Wood Rainham Wanstead Flats William Girling Res Rainham Rainham Wanstead Park Rainham Connaught Water Rainham Rainham Rainham Fisher's Green William Girling Res Wanstead Park Rainham Berwick Res Rainham (barges) William Girling Res Wanstead Park (Heronry) Rainham Wanstead Park (Res Wood) Wanstead Park (Res Wood) Northhaw Great Wood Northhaw Great Wood Northhaw Great Wood North Met Pit, Cheshunt Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham (Stone Barges) Rainham Wanstead Park (OSW) Rainham Wanstead Park Rainham Rainham Amwell, Great Hartmead Lake Cuffley, Herts Rainham, south side of river garden Ingrebourne Rainham (Wennington) Walthamstow Staines Res William Girling Res West Thurrock Ingrebourne Danemead, Broxbourne East India Tyttenhanger GPs Prae Wood Abney Park Cemetery Clissold Park Waterworks NR Finchley Rainham Rainham William Girling Res Rainham Rainham Rainham Wanstead Flats Leyton Flats Rainham Wanstead Park Wanstead, my garden Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Fisher's Green Fisher's Green KGV Rainham Rainham KGV Wanstead Flats Wanstead Flats Wanstead Flats Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Rainham Wanstead Park Rainham Rainham Rainham KGV KGV Fisher's Green Crossness Hayes Hall Farm, Holyfield Roding Valley Park Tottenham Marsh Rainham Headley Common, Surrey Broxbourne Woods, Herts Greensted Church, Essex Albion Pools, Rainham Rainham Wanstead Flats Rainham Rainham Rainham Stoke Newington LWT Garden Rainham Rainham Wanstead Flats Beddington SF Rainham Staines Reservoir Rainham Rainham Rainham Beddington SF Rainham Rainham Grays Walthamstow Reservoirs

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One to go

Another day of ups and downs, but ending on a high. I started the day with a tick, always good - an early start in the garden. I was determined to get Meadow Pipit on the garden list given the increasing numbers on the Flats of late. It took over an hour, but finally two birds went over with a bouncy flight and giving the required squeaks. How I had failed to get one until now I have no idea. Oh, wait....

Anyway, finally I could go out on the patch, which is what I had wanted to do from the start. One more piece of toast and I was on my way, though not for long. The pager kicked into life just as I had completed the SSSI and Broom Fields with news of Guillemot flying west past Crossness. Gah! Another awesome seabird flying up the river on strong westerlies. What goes up must come down, so off to Rainham I went and plonked myself on the balcony, there to watch the river. Which was dead. I picked up a Sanderling on the Crayford foreshore, but it was otherwise very quiet.

On the Serin Mound, Paul wasn't having much luck either. That was until the Raven flew past him. Knowing I was on the balcony looking for auks on the river, he quickly called me, and I ran through the visitor centre to scan over the A13 where it had been flying.

I'll save you the agony, I didn't get it. I think needing to squeeze through the door sideways may have slowed me down. Also, I think it had been dropping steadily, and perhaps I wasn't looking in quite the right direction. Still on the phone he told me it had dropped just as I got onto where it had likely been flying. Another one that got away, and an exellent London bird. Bummer, as they say, and a bit of a downer. I was almost unable to believe that I had been so close to seeing it and had missed it, but there you go, that's birding. I missed an Arctic Skua by approximately the same margin earlier in the year and managed to claw it back. This is the second time in recent days that a Raven has been seen in the area, so I'm hopeful of picking one up soon if I spend enough time on the reserve.

Still on the ramp, my phone rings again, this time it's Johnny A from Beddington with the good news that the Pectoral Sandpiper has been relocated. Up, Down, Up, Down. I wasn't quite sure which this was. On the one hand it was a bird I had never seen in the London area, and one more towards 200. On the other hand there was a Raven nearby and the possibility of a Guillemot drifting down on the ebbing tide, and, as I have mentioned, Beddington is a right old trek.

Obviously I went to Beddington as that was the most hypocritical option available. It didn't take nearly as long as I remembered, perhaps because I took the motorway instead of trying to navigate across South London. Once there I followed Johnny's directions and found the lagoon. It didn't have a Pec Sand on it. Arse. I scanned the three lagoons for over an hour before Johnny joined me. He concurred that I wasn't just being useless and that it genuinely wasn't present, so suggested we look at the pools at the top end of the farm that it had been favouring a couple of days ago.

We went cross-country - no way would I ever have found the correct route, the site is enormous - and eventually arrived at the pools. Nothing doing. Hmmm. For some reason I decided I'd have a quick look at an unlikely looking pool with no muddy fringes, and there it was, feeding on a small island. Result! The cap was extremely rufous, I can see why Johnny had considered Sharp-tailed for a moment initially.

Such a smart bird, and easily the best view I have had of one. I approached to the edge of the pool, as close as I could get to it, and took a few record shots. With all the nonsense over the London year-list record attempt last year, I'm trying to document as many of the birds that I see as I can, either with a photo, or by seeing them with someone else present. And anyway, I like taking photographs, as you probably know by now. When I get a moment, I'm going to create a London 2010 page on this blog so that people can check up on me. For now though, here is the proof.

Pec Sand is a new bird for the London area for me, and also happens to be #199 for the year. My thanks to Johnny, who generously let me in and showed me round, and who probably wanted to go and have some lunch rather than trek across Beddington again. So, one more required, and then I can relax. I wonder what it'll be? Lapland Bunting perhaps - I have learnt the call in readiness. If I get there, I suspect I'll still go for things, but without all the angst. Well, without some of it perhaps. Bar the guy who holds the record, I'm not sure anyone has ever done 200 within the LNHS recording area in a year before. Yes, I know, I have no idea how I will cope with all the kudos and adulation.

More Wryneck

The Wryneck is still here and proving fairly popular. It has a lot to answer for actually, as we had Lee Evans here this morning. Patch Tick.

Sheer Delight

Once again I invite you to take a trip on the roller-coaster that is my birding life. As the title suggests, this time it is good news.

True to my word, this morning I was out on the Flats at dawn, all of yesterday's nonsense forgotten. I was birding, I had found a Wheatear, and I was having fun. Wryneck score zero, but nevermind. I found a very interesting dumpy and large-looking warbler in an elder which promptly disappeared, but this did not deter me in any way from thinking what a nice morning it was. I noted Nick wandering up the path, and noted Betsy charging through the protected Skylark habitat. All was well with the world. We (that's Nick & I, rather than Betsy & I) chewed the fat for a bit, mulled over yesterday's extraordinary events, and then all too soon it was time for me to go.

Around 9ish, as I was on the school run, my phone went. An involuntary "Nooooooooooooh!" escaped my lips - and this is before I had even answered it. As expected, Nick had refound the Wryneck, this time down near Alex. Sensing a repeat of yesterday's trials, I asked him to stay with it and beat any dogs and dog-walkers to death with his tripod if they looked like coming close.

Thankfully this wasn't required, or not that he mentioned anyway, and after completing a rather fraught dumping of children, Pudding and I made our way to the Flats. As I approached I could see Nick, Paul F and Tim peering intently at a Hawthorn. Could it be true?!

It was! I pitched up, and there it was in a scope. Sensational! I've dipped more Wrynecks than I have seen, so to get a second bite at the cherry this morning and to actually succeed was very unexpected. As I said yesterday, a dream bird for the patch, and an amazing relief. We watched it for about two hours, and all of yesterdays dippers returned and managed to see it as well, including Paul W, and also Dom, who managed to see it within about ten seconds of arriving and thus had time to pop over to Long Wood. I think that's what he said, although possibly it was more along the lines of he was never going near Long Wood again. Can't remember. Anyway, we all enjoyed excellent views as it fed on and around the numerous ant-hills that dot this area of the Flats. I returned home to get my camera, and the bird promptly disappeared. Luckily Paul F was more prepared, and has sent me this.

What a little stunner!!

What will tomorrow bring I wonder? It almost doesn't bear thinking about - I should probably start popping the pills now!

Sheer Agony

I am never year-listing again, in any way, shape or form. It is just too ridiculous for words (but I'll try and express how I feel nonetheless.) So, Tuesday, five hours at Amwell, hoping for Osprey, nothing. The two previous days had five Ospreys go through, including one I missed by five minutes.

Tuesday night doldrums.

Wednesday is a new day however, and news of a Manx Shearwater had me scurrying to Rainham where I got simply excellent views of this London mega. Better views than I ever get Sea-watching. Awesome.

Wednesday night elation.

Thursday morning, ie a couple of hours ago, and I've decided to go to Rainham again, on the basis that of all the sites in London it has the most potential for more year-ticks. Wrong. A call from Wanstead stalwart Nick just as I'm approaching the Purfleet turn-off. "I've got a Wryneck"

FUCK.

I don't swear often on this blog, there is no need. Today however, there is a need. I mean, bloody hell! I turned straight around and was back on the patch within about twenty minutes, but by then it had flown and several searching birders could not relocate it. Gave it three hours but not a sign, but then again there is just so much cover, and Wrynecks are not birds renowned for perching up and giving great views. My fellow London year-lister Dom tried for it as well, even braving the interior of Long Wood searching for it. Taking one for the team. He was only in there for a few minutes, but needless to say he was propositioned. He didn't fancy 'taking one for the team', so told his would-be new friend to take a hike, and thankfully emerged unscathed. Even if there were a Semi-collared Flycatcher in Long Wood, I doubt I would go in for it.

Dodgy man emerging from Long Wood. Oh, hang on a minute....

So what are my feelings at the moment, other than the above in bold? Well, it would be churlish not to congratulate Nick on a great find for Wanstead. A superb bird, and the hours he has been putting in on the patch entitles him to goodies like this. I don't - can't - do the patch with the same dedication first thing. Occasionally I get something good, but with my early morning birding dwindling to thirty minutes or less (soon it'll be too dark to even go before Mrs L leaves for work), the chances are diminishing fast. This leaves birding mid-morning or afternoon, more often than not with children - unconducive to finding birds as I'm sure most parents will agree, plus it's not much fun for them. One of the reasons I'm not out there right now still looking for the Wryneck is that Pudding had had enough after three hours. So we're back home. I'm grinding my teeth and typing this, she's cooking her dolly. Who says birding is bad for kids?

Had I not been on the A13 nearly at Rainham, and instead at home, I might have got it. It probably flew ten minutes or so after being found, so I might have made it. Such is life. Or rather, such is London listing - I wasn't where I should have been, which was at home cleaning the bits of the house that Manx Shearwater twitching put paid to yesterday.

I also missed a Short-eared Owl on the Flats the other day, also found by Nick. Nick is dedicated and persevering. I am lazy and, well, lazy. I should have been out there, instead I was only just getting dressed having hit snooze several times. My mentality of late has been that seeing as I only have half an hour, why bother? I could have an extra hour in bed instead. That is not the attitude of a patch worker, I must do better.

A Wryneck is a dream of a patch bird for a London site like Wanstead. It turned up about 150m from where I have been predicting Wryneck, and where I have been looking for one in the mornings. So am I just annoyed I didn't find it? Well, a bit, yes. It would be odd if I were not. I also predicted the Dartford Warbler, was again out by roughly the same distance, and didn't find that either! Am I going to sink into a deep depression as a result? Only today, and typing this has made me feel much better. Tomorrow is another day, and I'll be out there. For at least twenty-five minutes!

Also depressing me slightly is news of a Pectoral Sandpiper. But surely this is good news?! Well yes, but the depressing part is that it's at Beddington. Beddington pulls in good bird after good bird, but takes so long to get to that I can never be bothered to schlep round there. Today is no different. Although I need it for London - ever, not just this year - I simply can't be bothered. At least I'm consistent though. They had a Lapland Bunting for several days earlier in the year, also a London tick, and I couldn't be bothered then either. This has gnawed at me ever since, and no doubt the Pec Sand will too.

What can I do such that birding will become stress free? I mean, all this angst is not why I go birding, it's ridiculous. Birding is meant to be fun. I enjoy it, and that's why I do it. But at the moment it seems a chore, and that's why I'm saying that next year I'm not doing any kind of listing. Mrs L apparently wants that in writing....

Kestrel digesting Wryneck

LATE EDIT: This afternoon while I was on the school run, Stuart phoned me from Wanstead Flats. Whilst looking for the Wryneck a Honey Buzzard had flown over his head. I give up. Any thoughts on a new hobby?