30 December

Huge pull up of the Lesser spotted woodpecker

Little owl high in a tree and a crop of the same photo below

Trees and a very small Starling

Robin

Mute swan on ice

HOT NEWS, well hottish. Not the weather, it has rained without remorse for two days. What is news are the sightings of a Lesser spotted woodpecker and Little owl. Britain's smallest woodpecker and smallest owl both on the common is a fantastic surprise. The 'Lesser spot' is an increasingly rare bird nationally and is in steep decline. The BBC reported in 2005 that this diminutive woodpecker's numbers had fallen by 80% in the preceding 30 years. It has also been given Red Status by the RSPB, its highest conservation priority. The Little owl is not as scarce but is a rare thing in Tooting.

Observing the 'Lesser spot' was the common's bird recorder, Mr Peter White. A find in itself as the recorder explained that this is one of the common's speciality birds as well as another, the Little owl, kindly suggesting a likely tree to look in. Helpfully, Little owls are diurnal and like to warm themselves in the sun. (It was Brian who found it using some characteristic lateral thinking.) The tame Robins by the pond are fairing well and seem unperturbed by people and dogs in the main and are eating the food that's being put out, sharing it with the pigeons, Moorhens and some of the geese.

Windy and cloudy on the 27th, frosty, bright and clear on the 28th. Pond: Shoveler numbers on up to 12 on the 28th, Black headed gull 130+, 2 Common gull and 2 Herring gull over, 8 Redwing over (NW) 27th, 20+ over (N) 28th, 1 male Chaffinch. 6 Robins, 2 Wren and a Dunnock. Song thrush on the 28th. Furzedown: 6 Fieldfare over 27th, 6+ House sparrow (not counting garden), fox on the bowling green. Graveney wood: 16 Blueter, 12 Greater, 2+ Long tailed tits, 5 Blackbird, 3 wren and a male Sparrow hawk. Great spotted and Green woodpeckers, Nuthatch and another male Chaffinch also seen around and double figures of Blueters and Greaters. Little owl takes the list total to 49.