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.