My first trip in months! I've been addicted to Beddington SF.
2 Siskins around The Ave and the main grassland area
5 Green Woodpeckers, mainly at and around Warren Farm
several Stock Doves and Coal Tits
1 Nuthatch
1 Kestrel at Warren Farm
c20 Fieldfares near the ponds with a large number of Redwings
Showing posts with label Kestrel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kestrel. Show all posts
Friday, 27 February 2009
Saturday, 4 October 2008
03/10/2008
Another good day.
1 Pied Wagtail (something like 3rd or 4th record here for me), 2 Nuthatch (1 near Mansion House, 1 near ponds), 1 Kestrel (male north east of ponds), c15 Goldcrests (gardens, ponds etc), 1 Coal Tit (gardens), 9+ Mistle Thrushes (around Mansion House), 1 Stock Dove (over), 1 Chiffchaff (ponds), 2 Moorhens (ponds)
1 Pied Wagtail (something like 3rd or 4th record here for me), 2 Nuthatch (1 near Mansion House, 1 near ponds), 1 Kestrel (male north east of ponds), c15 Goldcrests (gardens, ponds etc), 1 Coal Tit (gardens), 9+ Mistle Thrushes (around Mansion House), 1 Stock Dove (over), 1 Chiffchaff (ponds), 2 Moorhens (ponds)
Saturday, 27 September 2008
27/09/2008
I think I broke my day list record for Nonsuch Park today with 34 species seen or heard.
Some of these species were great patch birds. Species in bold are occasional visitors to the site, others are resident or seasonal but in low numbers.
Swallow (1 south 1st site record for me) Pied Wagtail (1 over near ponds, 3rd site record), Grey Heron (regular in winter but scarce in autumn), 24+ Jays (all over the place), 2 Green Woodpeckers (1 near ponds, 1 at north end), 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, (mainly around ponds), 3 Nuthatches (2 in gardens, 1 c500m north of ponds), 10+ Goldcrests (mainly around gardens), 1+ Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel (near ponds), 1 Sparrowhawk (over ponds), 1 Moorhen (ponds), c10 Jackdaws, 2+ Mistle Thrushes, 2 Stock Doves.
So, in summary, an awful lot of patch scarcities but no decent migrants despite 4 hours of almost non-stop thorough watching. I am surprised I didn't have another Buzzard or Peregrine as it looked pretty good for raptors with Gulls circling on thermals. No sign of the Hobbies today... perhaps they've left. I think they probably have as it was a clear, sunny day with a fair number of dragonflies and still no sign...
Some of these species were great patch birds. Species in bold are occasional visitors to the site, others are resident or seasonal but in low numbers.
Swallow (1 south 1st site record for me) Pied Wagtail (1 over near ponds, 3rd site record), Grey Heron (regular in winter but scarce in autumn), 24+ Jays (all over the place), 2 Green Woodpeckers (1 near ponds, 1 at north end), 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, (mainly around ponds), 3 Nuthatches (2 in gardens, 1 c500m north of ponds), 10+ Goldcrests (mainly around gardens), 1+ Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel (near ponds), 1 Sparrowhawk (over ponds), 1 Moorhen (ponds), c10 Jackdaws, 2+ Mistle Thrushes, 2 Stock Doves.
So, in summary, an awful lot of patch scarcities but no decent migrants despite 4 hours of almost non-stop thorough watching. I am surprised I didn't have another Buzzard or Peregrine as it looked pretty good for raptors with Gulls circling on thermals. No sign of the Hobbies today... perhaps they've left. I think they probably have as it was a clear, sunny day with a fair number of dragonflies and still no sign...
Saturday, 13 September 2008
13/09/2008
3 hours from around 2:30pm to 5:30pm gave me the following highlights at the park:
1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch, c8 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c3 Jackdaws, 1 Moorhen, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Ring-necked Parakeets.
Directions for anyone interested:
The Little Owl was in the thick young plantation adjacent to the gardens, near the mansion house.
The Kestrel was around the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house along the main concrete path.
The Sparrowhawk flew over the Cheam end car park and appeared to settle in the woods.
The Nuthatch was heard calling near the ponds.
The Green Woodpeckers were as follows: 2 near Cheam end car park, 2 at the first no dogs area near the aviary, 1 at the edge of the woods, 2 at the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house, 1 at the second no dogs area near the south car park. Though some of these could involve the same birds.
The Goldcrest was heard singing around the edge of the gardens from a conifer.
The Coal Tit was calling around the Cheam end car park
The Lesser Black-backed Gull stayed for 3 minutes (4:33pm-4:36pm) at ND2, my 8th record for the site.
The Jackdaws flew over the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house.
The Moorhen was heard amongst the Reeds at the ponds.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the area of scrub north of the ponds.
The Ring-necked Parakeets were all over the place.
1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch, c8 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c3 Jackdaws, 1 Moorhen, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Ring-necked Parakeets.
Directions for anyone interested:
The Little Owl was in the thick young plantation adjacent to the gardens, near the mansion house.
The Kestrel was around the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house along the main concrete path.
The Sparrowhawk flew over the Cheam end car park and appeared to settle in the woods.
The Nuthatch was heard calling near the ponds.
The Green Woodpeckers were as follows: 2 near Cheam end car park, 2 at the first no dogs area near the aviary, 1 at the edge of the woods, 2 at the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house, 1 at the second no dogs area near the south car park. Though some of these could involve the same birds.
The Goldcrest was heard singing around the edge of the gardens from a conifer.
The Coal Tit was calling around the Cheam end car park
The Lesser Black-backed Gull stayed for 3 minutes (4:33pm-4:36pm) at ND2, my 8th record for the site.
The Jackdaws flew over the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house.
The Moorhen was heard amongst the Reeds at the ponds.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the area of scrub north of the ponds.
The Ring-necked Parakeets were all over the place.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
2nd September 08
2 Hobby around Mansion House 16:00hrs. Also 4 Stock Doves, c20 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Jays (3 near mansion house 2 in gardens), 1 Nuthatch (north of mansion house), 3 Mistle Thrush (around mansion house), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (near balancing ponds) and 1 Kestrel (north of mansion house), 1 Moorhen (ponds)
The Hobbies were briefer this time. First 1 was seen flying by the first no dogs area and landed in a tall tree in plain view in the woods then 2 were seen hunting around the gardens at 16:00hrs.
Still haven't found myself a Whinchat yet....
The Hobbies were briefer this time. First 1 was seen flying by the first no dogs area and landed in a tall tree in plain view in the woods then 2 were seen hunting around the gardens at 16:00hrs.
Still haven't found myself a Whinchat yet....
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
26/8/08
Above: TreecreeperToday's highlights: 1 Treecreeper (my second site record) (c200m north of mansion house), 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over (my 7th site record), 41 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, c5 Stock Doves, 1 Nuthatch, c40 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jays, 3 Green Woodpeckers, c2 Goldcrest.
The Treecreeper was the first I've seen here for a few years and was in a large Tit flock. I guess this species is heavily under recorded at the park and they may well breed but it was a great bird. It froze when I stumbled upon it for the second time and allowed brilliant views.
The Treecreeper was the first I've seen here for a few years and was in a large Tit flock. I guess this species is heavily under recorded at the park and they may well breed but it was a great bird. It froze when I stumbled upon it for the second time and allowed brilliant views.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
August at Nonsuch
August at Nonsuch Park sees the tame young Kestrels that are very photographable. They seem to appear at the begginning of the month and disappear pretty strictly around the end so if you want good Kestrel pictures, this is the time and the place to visit.
Throughout the park, birds seem to be very quiet; even the Chiffchaffs have fallen silent (mostly!).
Swifts are making a move and the most you'll get is small numbers very high up, migrating but they are hard to spot. Other summer migrants are still around but are very hard to locate. Blackcaps are probably the most obvious (and the only ones you are likely to see) with their alarm calls.
Gull flocks grow in size, but at this point mainly contain Black-headed Gulls. You have to be lucky to get a settled Herring Gull (though these are frequent fly-overs) let alone a Common or Lesser Black-backed at this stage. These will come later on in the year.
This is a good month for passage migrants, with birds like Whinchats on the move in August across the country you stand a chance of seeing one in the park (they have been seen in the past, but by people other than me unfortunately!).
Here is a list of 38 Birds that you are likely to see in August (based on my own records). Note that August is a poorly recorded month because I go on holiday in this month for half of it and I only started recorded the site thoroughly in the last year or two so these do not fully represent the birds to be found this month, though they do give a rough idea.
The numbers represent difficulty to see (1 being hardest, 8 being easiest)
Black-headed Gull (5)
Blackbird (7)
Blackcap (1)
Blue Tit (4)
Carrion Crow (8)
Chaffinch (5)
Coal Tit (1)
Dunnock (2)
Feral Pigeon (7)
Goldcrest (4)
Goldfinch (3)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (5)
Great Tit (2)
Green Woodpecker (6)
Greenfinch (4)
Grey Heron (1)
Herring Gull (2)
Hobby (2)
House Sparrow (2)
Jackdaw (5)
Jay (4)
Kestrel (7)
Little Owl (1)
Long-tailed Tit (3)
Magpie (8)
Mallard (1)
Mistle Thrush (3)
Moorhen (1)
Nuthatch (2)
Ring-necked Parakeet (6)
Robin (6)
Song Thrush (1)
Sparrowhawk (5)
Starling (5)
Stock Dove (6)
Swift (1)
Woodpigeon (7)
Wren (3)
Throughout the park, birds seem to be very quiet; even the Chiffchaffs have fallen silent (mostly!).
Swifts are making a move and the most you'll get is small numbers very high up, migrating but they are hard to spot. Other summer migrants are still around but are very hard to locate. Blackcaps are probably the most obvious (and the only ones you are likely to see) with their alarm calls.
Gull flocks grow in size, but at this point mainly contain Black-headed Gulls. You have to be lucky to get a settled Herring Gull (though these are frequent fly-overs) let alone a Common or Lesser Black-backed at this stage. These will come later on in the year.
This is a good month for passage migrants, with birds like Whinchats on the move in August across the country you stand a chance of seeing one in the park (they have been seen in the past, but by people other than me unfortunately!).
Here is a list of 38 Birds that you are likely to see in August (based on my own records). Note that August is a poorly recorded month because I go on holiday in this month for half of it and I only started recorded the site thoroughly in the last year or two so these do not fully represent the birds to be found this month, though they do give a rough idea.
The numbers represent difficulty to see (1 being hardest, 8 being easiest)
Black-headed Gull (5)
Blackbird (7)
Blackcap (1)
Blue Tit (4)
Carrion Crow (8)
Chaffinch (5)
Coal Tit (1)
Dunnock (2)
Feral Pigeon (7)
Goldcrest (4)
Goldfinch (3)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (5)
Great Tit (2)
Green Woodpecker (6)
Greenfinch (4)
Grey Heron (1)
Herring Gull (2)
Hobby (2)
House Sparrow (2)
Jackdaw (5)
Jay (4)
Kestrel (7)
Little Owl (1)
Long-tailed Tit (3)
Magpie (8)
Mallard (1)
Mistle Thrush (3)
Moorhen (1)
Nuthatch (2)
Ring-necked Parakeet (6)
Robin (6)
Song Thrush (1)
Sparrowhawk (5)
Starling (5)
Stock Dove (6)
Swift (1)
Woodpigeon (7)
Wren (3)
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
19/8/08
Above: Green Woodpecker
Above: Black-headed Gull Nonsuch Park 1 unidentified large bird of prey north west over the gardens briefly at 2:18pm, 1 Little Owl near the mansion house, c4 Sparrowhawk (c3 woods bordering Nonsuch and Cheam Park, 1 gardens), c8 Green Woodpecker (gardens, no dogs/picnic areas 1 and 2), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (woods bordering Nonsuch and Cheam Park), 2 Stock Dove (1 Cheam Park, 1 gardens), 2 Jackdaw (Cheam Park), c20 Ring-necked Parakeets (all over), c19 Mistle Thrushes (near mansion house), 1 Goldcrest (gardens), 1 Kestrel (female) (main grassland area), 1 Nuthatch (gardens), 2 Swift (over Cheam Park)
Sunday, 17 August 2008
17th Aug 08
I'm back from France now (report will be on www.southeastbirding.com shortly). And am straight back into local patching. Because I'm writing the report I currently only really have time to give a quick summary of today's birds:
1+ Hobby (flying over), 2 Kestrel, c7 Stock Dove, 1 Moorhen, 1 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron (flying over), 5 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jackdaw, c18 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Sparrowhawk
Bold = unusual/unseasonal visitor others are seasonal/resident but in low numbers.
1+ Hobby (flying over), 2 Kestrel, c7 Stock Dove, 1 Moorhen, 1 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron (flying over), 5 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jackdaw, c18 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Sparrowhawk
Bold = unusual/unseasonal visitor others are seasonal/resident but in low numbers.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
19/7/08
My late summer bird atlas 2007-11 survey. A fairly quick trip between 2:30pm and 5:30pm. Not much birdwise with only 16 species. Highlights were 1 male Sparrowhawk carrying prey and then seen again later over the same spot (the woods at the border of Cheam and Nonsuch Park). A female Kestrel was seen nearby on the grass at the patch that the Cheam end car park over looks and it then flew over the the mansion house gardens were it was later seen again. There were several Green Woodpeckers, two or three families with a juvenile each. Several Black-headed Gulls were settled and flying over. Herring Gulls were often seen flying over today. Ring-necked Parakeets were few and far between today with only about four being seen. There were no Stock Doves or Great Spotted Woodpeckers either. The lack of birds today must have been because of some loud music being played in the gardens for some event and the amount of people there for the event itself.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
12/7/08
An expectional day today, I equalled my record day total for this site of 31 sp. Some good birds too- 1 HOBBY 2nd site record+ first adult. Flew from Cheam Park to ND1 at 2:48pm. Also 2 Kestrel (females, 1 ND1 1 ND2- ND1 bird showed very well), 2 Stock Dove (gardens), 1 female 1 juvenile Mallard (first confirmed breeding record- balancing ponds), 2 Moorhen (balancing ponds), 4+ Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 6 Mistle Thrush at 2nd no dogs (including juvs), c30 Black-headed Gull (ND1, ND2, short grassland in front of Cheam car park- 5 juveniles altogether) (first settled Gulls of the season), 5+ Herring Gull over, c10 Ring-necked Parakeet (not many today and the ones that were there were quite elusive) , 1 Chiffchaff (singing near balacing ponds), 1 Blackcap (singing near gardens), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (mansion house), 3 Jackdaw (gardens).
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Nonsuch 9th April 2008
Another trip to Nonsuch today, focussing on the western half, aka Ewell end. I checked the scrubby area at the furthest point first. It wasn't as good as I remember with only a couple of Chiffchaffs singing and a Blackcap. Next I went to Warren Farm where there were some House Sparrows, my first for the year at Nonsuch and an increasingly scarce bird at the site. There were about 5 Jays in the scrub and woodland around the edges too and I saw a male Sparrowhawk circling in the distance from the farm. Next I went to the ponds, where there was a drake and female Mallard and three Moorhen with a singing Chiffchaff or two in the area. Green Woodpeckers were plentiful as were Blackcaps with at least 6 present. Just as I was leaving, there was a female Kestrel dust bathing in the non concrete car park right next to the school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
