Osama bin Laden's house and back.

A Black drongo on Osama bin Laden's electricity cables...

White male, Asian Paradise flycatcher.

Away again... A short notice departure to Pakistan on account of Osama bin Laden being found and killed in Abbotabad. I had hoped it would also give an opportunity to spend some time running around the Margalla hills that border Islamabad. We did get up there a couple of times which was better than none. They are a fantastic place for birds both in variety and number. Some of the goodies are the abundant Grey hooded and Hume yellow browed warblers as well as Blythe's reed warblers this time of year. Other highlights were the Long tailed minivet which is a fantastic colour and probably the best picture was a white male Asian paradise flycatcher in Abbotabad.

Other news from Tooting. First Common swifts were over Balham on the 30th April and the Lesser spot was still drumming away up until I went away. Looking for it on the 15th May and again today unsuccessfully. Not sure what it means, hopefully, that he found a mate. Also on the 15th was a low hunting Sparrowhawk, otherwise not much else apart from a few singing Black caps and Chiffs. Today was better, at least 15 swifts, two Herring gulls, a calling Garden warbler at the back of the Triangle and a singing Reed warbler by the pond was the highlight. There are lots of Long tailed-tit chicks kicking around at the moment and there are some big Great spotted woodpecker chicks in a nest in Streatham wood. As for the ducks and swans on the pond it is another story. The Mallards (including the returned Farm duck) all appear to have lost there chicks as have the second pair of Egyptian geese. Alas, it also seems the Mute swans have had another unsuccessful year with the female having abandoned the nest... What happend?? You can't blame it all on the giant Pike.