December 2010

Waxwings in Balham!!!!

Waxwings near Pegwell, Kent.

Grey heron on the pond.

Robin by the pond.

Another busy month with few opportunity to get out. However, there were a good surprises and unfortunately one of the Robins down, due to a Sparrow hawk. Once again, heavy (ish) snow and the common was covered. Clearly, I had to go and take a 'Robin in the snow picture'. I was in the middle of it, when two Robins started scrapping, continuing into a nearby bush. Whoosh!!!! And before I could register what was going on, out came a female Sparrow hawk and only one Robin...

Otherwise: Little owls (2), were heard calling on the way back from Brian's on the 5th. Not seen at the usual tree yet. A Dozen Redwings beside the pond (23rd). The pond has been largely frozen trough out, though on the small open patch has been Cormorant and Shoveler (8) and 60 Black headed gulls.

Of more note, were the Waxwings seen in the area. I had a job in Folkestone and popped up to Pegwell to look at the Waxwings there (published in The Times) to see an email from Duncan on my return, who had seen a group of around 50 in the trees beside his house near Streatham Hill (17th). Go figure! Brian and I went for an early look the following morning to no avail. Luckier for Duncan who had 150 there later in the morning. Over 50 were also seen by Clapham south tube on the Friday, presumably the same group. I finally tracked them down on the Sunday 100 apprx, (19th) on Hanson Close, just off Balham High Street. Not my find, but pleased to see them! They stuck around for most of the week and when I went to the sorting office this morning (31st), 50 were feeding on the berries besides Waitrose, brilliant!!

November 2010

Waxwings in Norwich, a group of around 60 and part of a huge national invasion. Stunning birds!!

A Robin on a frosty common, published in The Times.

Tawny eagle, Nakuru National Park, Kenya.

Lesser flamingos, Lake Nakuru. The colour was stunning, difficult to capture and translate the sense of scale and richness in colour.

Kittlitz plover, Nakuru National Park, Kenya. An amazing park with huge amounts and variety of birds, this is a very small sample. Highly recommended!

October was a write off as I was away on a job in Africa. Fortunately, I managed to squeeze a few days safari in Kenya which was brilliant. The impressive Kenya Wildlife Service were very supportive in my modest efforts at wildlife photography.

I got back at the end of the month and motivation was low to get out and about, partly because of a heavy work load, but also perhaps due to having been spoiled in Africa. Coupled with some DIY at home, meant there also wasn't really much time.

Did get a stroll out on the 7th, though didn't see much. Shoveler are back on the pond (12) and there were Cormorants (8) perched on the dead tree, two herons were on the pond and another flew over. Mistle thrush (6) and a Sparrowhawk were also seen. Little owls didn't seem to be back yet. One of the Robins was published in the paper during the first cold spell.

Also of note, Waxwings everywhere in the north and East Anglia. During, a short trip to Norfolk I had a look at a lively group in Norwich.

9 October.

Kitty found... More crazy signs on the common.

Railway tunnel to the Triangle.

Autumnal tree over the Triangle.

Another nice cloudy, misty morning but again very few birds on the common. One new one though, following on from the 2 Meadow pipit on Clapham yesterday, 1 was heard over the pond this morning. Otherwise, 2 Mistle thrushes and 2 Pied wags were the only other mentionables.

8 October 'Change of scene'

Clapham common.

A spider outside the house.

It all sounds much more dramatic than it is...

Having had another walk around Tooting earlier in the week and seeing next to nothing, I decided to have a wander around Clapham common.

A fine misty, Autumnal morning and had a couple of good (ish) birds. Two Meadow pipits over head were new ones in London for me, a Grey wagtail over and two Goldcrests in that dodgy bit towards Battersea Rise, where 'Ron Davis lost his keys'.

Possible Lesser spot calling, but it was very faint and only called once. The Goldcrests are the first I've seen around here for donkeys. Two Cormorants were flying around as was at least one Grey Heron.

Might go back...

3 October

White-winged black tern, swimmers and the cafe, Hyde Park.

White-winged black tern, Hyde Park.

White-winged black tern, Hyde Park.

Just back again from Afghanistan. Not too many birds seen, though lots of Lesser whitethroats, parakeets and some as yet unidentified Phylloscs...

While I was away I heard about a White-winged black tern in Hyde Park. A rare bird nationally, more so for London. When I got back I went to see if it was still there...

A Swallow flew south over Balham in the afternoon. Three for the year!!!

7 September

Railway cottages, during a brief moment of sun.

Hiding from the rain with a big red umbrella.

Swan in the rain.

Coot.

A month ago now, what can I remember? I was testing a new Canon camera, the all singing all dancing 1D MKIV. An excellent camera and far superior auto focus and shutter burst to my 5Ds. At over £4000 a pop though...

It was a damp and rainy day and there have been so few birds on the common, despite a national influx of vagrants and on going migration. There has been nothing. Oh, no I did have a pair of Swallows over high. These are the first seen this year!!! There were five or six singing Chiffs and a large mixed tit flock moving around, though nothing obviously with them. Two herons were on the pond and three over yesterday. A pair of Cormorant and that's challot.

Some pictures...

5 September.

Scary looking cat missing on the common.

Tame young Dunnock by the pond.

Autumnal leaves around the Triangle.

Good to see the swan back on form chasing a Canada goose (is it always the same goose?).

An early start this morning, but still beaten by a dog walker...

Still not much to report, two House martins over high heading south are probably the first I've seen over there this year. Others, good views of a Green wood, 4-5 Great spots calling and Nuthatches around the Triangle. 6+ Greenfinches by the pond and another 3 by the Ecology pond, 3 Chiffs and that's about it...

28 and 30 August.

Rays of light coming through the trees in the early morning.

Hound in the grass around the Triangle.

Dead tree looking towards the Triangle.

An increase in parakeets around the pond.

Nice mornings but very quiet. Nothing of note, no flycatchers, warblers or Redstarts... They could well be out there but am missing them. 3 herons around the pond on the 28th and 2 on the 30th.

23 August.

Sparrowhawk, the Streatham side of the Triangle.

After the torrential down pour overnight, I didn't expect to see much, though a young Sparrowhawk hanging out with the Jays was curious. And one bush, on the edge of the triangle near the stump, had a tit flock (Blue and Great) of 30-35 birds pass through it in a couple of minutes while 3 Song thrushes sat idly by. A Blackcap and Chiff were also in the same bush as two Nuthatches called overhead.

I am assuming the Sparrowhawk to be young and one of the fledglings from one of the two nests on the common. I have yet to confirm a successful brood with Peter but seeing Sparrowhawks so low in new areas leads me to this conclusion. Probably another came very low across the pond and into the trees near the tennis courts.

Otherwise...

20 August 2010.

An early morning Robin.

One of the ten Mistle thruhes

Heron and Indian runners on the pond.

Crows looking for breakfast.

A hint of Autumn in the leaves.

Managed an early start and dragged myself around the common. Nice morning but very quiet. All the usual suspects. Of note was a very noisy young male Sparrowhawk in Streatham wood, two herons mobbed by Crows over the pond while another remained and ten Mistle thrushes in the open space beside the pond.

19 August 2010.

Away on assignment in Afghanistan for July to the start of August. Didn't see much apart from this juvenile Collard pratincole in Helmand. Immediately ater shooting this picture we came under fire from the Taliban...

22-25 June

We thought the sheep shearer should have gone to Specsavers...

Scarfell Pike, peak covered by a cloud, seen from near the campsite at Wasdale Head (top spot).

Bomber command at St Bee's Head.

The Lakes. Brian and I headed up to the Lakes for a few days, neither of us ever having been there before. Very scenic and a few good birds. I think even in our casual manner we still got nearly seventy species and birds are not abundant up there. Best for me was a Black Guillemot at St Bees head and the breeding Ospreys at Bassenthwaite lake.

19 June

A big branch across the path by the Triangle.

A Robin carrying food for young. Sensibly, choosing to nest in the grass beside the path. Seemed successful...

What with exciting foreign assignments and some time off, visits have been less than frequent. A quick walk with Brian was pretty quiet apart from us hearing the Lesser spot calling (once) in Graveney wood.

15th June

Great spots around the Triangle area.

Good day for the woodpeckers. Seem to be quite a few young around generally. A few Blackcaps and Wrens still singing. Single House martin over on Sunday was a first here for the year.

3rd June

Buzzard being mobbed by Crows.

'Craack craack craack', I looked up just as I reached the common at the Cavendish Road end and saw my first Buzzard being mobbed by Crows before being driven off towards Balham...

Whit Monday

Man and dog.

Swan and a Tufted duck.

This and above, swift over the pond.

Sometimes when you're really not in the mood you take a couple of snaps you like and it makes it all worth while...

Dull and overcast. Other sightings: Mute swan over east, 20+ swift circling over pond.

9th May

Mystery bird...

Farm duck with Farm duck x Mallard chicks early in the week.

Mallard.

Another two new ones this morning, a Hobby and a Reed warbler! Both Summer migrants from Africa and good finds in south London. I saw the Hobby fly low and hard heading north through the back of the Triangle and Peter found the Reed warbler singing in the same place the Sedge had been earlier in the week. It was a coldish overcast morning but Blackcaps were out in force with at least a dozen singing males. Two Chiffs (not including a pair nesting by the pond) but only one Willow warbler. Sparrowhawk and Jackdaw on the Triangle. Not sure what is predating the chicks on the pond, but the Farm ducks brood is down from 4 to 1... Peter also saw a female Garden warbler with the male so hopefully they'll breed.