Bird walk with the recorder.

The group in Bedford wood, Peter White centre left.

A singing Robin.

A Lesser spotted woodpecker.

The group looking at a Nuthatch.

Peter White the bird recorder for both Tooting Bec and Wandsworth commons organised a walk around the common this morning. There was a good turn out and it was the warmest morning for a while with a clear blue sky. The walk started well with 30+ Redwings and Fieldfare (80% of the former) on the open space next to the lodge house on Doctor Johnson's Avenue. (There were over a 100 here on Friday). We set off towards Cafe wood and as Corinne and I dawdled to look at a tame Redwing we saw a Lesser spotted woodpecker. We had good views but unfortunately, it flew into a higher tree before the rest of the group had a chance to see it, which is a shame as it is one of the common's specialities. However, Great spotted woodpeckers and Nuthatch were seen in this wood as well as a fair amount of Great and Blue tits. Again, unfortunately another of the common's 'speciality birds' the Little owls also proved elusive, but they were seen by some of the group later on. The walk continued around the pond with Common and Black headed gulls seen and Peter Griffiths was the first to spot a Pochard, a rare bird on the common these days. I remember often seeing Pochard on the pond as a boy. Shoveler numbers are still down on what they were but the Cormorants are back now the ice has gone and a heron was seen around the back. As we walked round towards Bedford wood the Robins showed themselves well and another was singing beside Bedford hill. Over in Bedford wood a Green woodpecker was seen and heard well and some observers could hear a Stock dove calling. Peter White spotted a Lesser black backed gull flying over and two common gulls were on the field. We walked back through Streatham wood though not much was seen there. In Graveney wood on the way back another 20+ Redwing were feeding in the glade opposite Clairview Road. Highlights for me were cracking views of the Lesser spot (not wishing to rub it in) and two new ones for the list, Pochard and Lesser black back, that's 51.

The recorder's next walk is on Wandsworth common next week, 9.30 at the station or in the Spring sometime on Tooting Bec common.

Summary of the year so far.

Snow and dogs on the common.

Dog walkers at the cafe.

Robin on ice.

A dog, a snow ball and a Christmas tree.

Big footed Coot.

Gulls over the frozen pond.

Robin in the snow.

Female Sparrowhawk by the pond.

There has been a lot of weather so far this year. It has been very cold with reports suggesting it has been the coldest winter in Britain for 30 years. The 1st started brightly and a Sparrowhawk circled in the clear blue sky above Furzedown. It remained cold with temperatures dropping below zero most nights but it was still a pleasant surprise when over two inches of snow fell on the night of the 5th. The following 2 days were icy underfoot and it snowed again yesterday afternoon. Presumably as a result of the harsh weather, small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare have been seen feeding in all areas of the southern common. Numbers peaked today with 30+ (mainly Redwing) feeding on the berry bushes by the bowling green today.

Other sightings. 2 Little owls in the wood behind the cafe (4th) and Lesser spotted woodpeckers have been seen or heard on most outings either in Graveney wood or by the pond area. The Great spotted woodpeckers have been very active chasing each other around, a maximum of 9 were seen on the 2nd. Nuthatches in Graveney and cafe wood. The pond has been frozen which probably accounts for the drop in Shoveler numbers (6) and a lone Cormorant was back on the pond today. The Robins seem to be faring well and are being fed which is also being appreciated by the Blackbirds, Dunnocks and pigeons. Black headed gull numbers have remained constant at 100+ and the 2 Common gulls are still present. Sparrowhawks have been seen regularly in Graveney wood and 2 (male and female) were seen by the pond today. Blue, Great and Long tailed tits have been seen in good numbers, and a Coal tit (a scarce bird on the common) was seen at Heritage park on the 2nd. Greenfinchs and Goldfinchs are regular and two Chaffinchs were seen by the pond today.