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...