Thursday 18 May 2006

Area 1: two reed warblers singing.
Guardian fungi wallchart today.

Wednesday 17 May 2006

Area 24: great spotted woodpecker on feeder, plus coal tit and jay.
Area 26: reed warbler singing.
Area 31: chiffchaff singing.
Guardian butterfly wallchart today. Birds yesterday.

Monday 15 May 2006

Area 26: reed warbler singing.
Guardian publishing free nature wallcharts all week. Sharks today.

Sunday 14 May 2006

Not much time for birds today. Did hear blackcap singing again in trees outside flat. I'm glad to have learnt its song.

Saturday 13 May 2006

RSPB Central London local group visit to Amwell Gravel Pits and Rye Meads reserve.

Amwell Gravel Pits

Station: blackcap singing, screaming swifts.
Canal: sedge warbler showing very well. A few whitethroats also showing.
Viewpoint: little ringed plovers, common sandpipers, redshank, common terns, cormorants, cuckoo, lapwings, reed bunting, reed warbler singing.
Highlight of the day: spotted two kingfishers chasing, then one flying back and landing. Brilliant flash of orange and blue. Very exciting to see them for myself and not have them pointed out for me.

Rye Meads

Another kingfisher, long way from hide.
More common terns, swifts, cuckoo.
Good view of whitethroat and great spotted woodpecker from Otter Hide, then a spotted flycatcher. Originally thought to be a garden warbler, but it turned round and revealed pale streaked breast. Typical flycatcher behaviour: seemed to be on a piece of string.
Stock dove. Reed and sedge warblers singing. Solitary willow warbler singing.

Friday 12 May 2006

Area 29: chiffchaff singing.
Area 26: reed warbler singing.
Area 1: two reed warblers singing.

Thursday 11 May 2006

Area 24: spotted flycatcher, on top of the wire cage on the ground.
Area 31: chiffchaff singing.
Area 29: great spotted woodpecker drumming, blackcap, song thrush.
Area 26: reed warbler singing.
Area 1: two reed warblers singing.

Wednesday 10 May 2006

Area 1: two reed warblers singing.
Between areas 29 and 31: great spotted woodpecker drumming.
Area 31: chiffchaff singing.

Tuesday 9 May 2006

Area 1: two reed warblers singing.
Area 26: reed warbler singing. Good view from path.

Monday 8 May 2006

Many birds today.
Area 1: two reed warblers singing. Saw one of them.
Area 25: pair of reed buntings. Female carrying nest material in mouth. Two mistle thrush feeding on grass.
Area 26: warbler singing. Sedge or reed?

Sunday 7 May 2006

New binoculars. Bought them at the Wetlands Centre. Nikon Action EX 8x40. Wide field of view (8.2) plus good close focus. Bit on the heavy side but no heavier than old pair. Second hand for £119 with new neck strap included. In very good condition. Waterproof.
Tried them out around the Centre and impressed.
Saw a sedge warbler (distinctive eye-stripe).

Saturday 6 May 2006

Weather forecast put me off going to Paxton Pits.

A walk around Regent's Park with Anna to decide on a location for our spiritual celebration. Too drizzly to see many birds.

Friday 5 May 2006

Area 25: chiffchaff singing. I think this is a new bird. Not heard one here this spring.
Area 31: chiffchaff singing.
Area 2: sedge warbler singing.

Thursday 4 May 2006

Area 29: chiffchaff singing.
Area 31: chiffchaff singing.

Too warm for birdwatching, and I have discovered a disadvantage to cheap neck straps: they hurt your neck if you don't have a jacket to stop the friction. Must add to shopping list.

Wednesday 3 May 2006

Last night, blackbird singing beautifully in tree outside flat.

I discovered this poem called The Blackbird by W.E. Henley.

The Nightingale has a lyre of gold,
The Lark's is a clarion call,
The Blackbird plays but a boxwood flute
But I love him best of all.

For his song is all of the joy of life,
And we in the mad, spring weather,
We two have listened till he sang
Our hearts and lips together.

Tuesday 2 May 2006

Area 29: chiffchaff singing. Coal tit on feeder.
Area 31: chiffchaff singing.

Monday 1 May 2006

No birds have found the window feeder yet. Might try moving it to another window, or putting some loose food onto the roof of the flat below to see if they take that.

Sunday 30 April 2006

A birdwatcher's day off.

Saturday 29 April 2006

RSPB Central London group outing to the Lea Valley (near Cheshunt).
Several nightingales singing. Many warblers: blackcap, willow w, garden w, whitethroat, reed w and sedge w. I think I may have learnt the blackcap's song.