9th February

Well, I couldn't resist one...

One of the forty plus Redwings.

Blue tit in Graveney wood.

One of the Nuthatches around the tennis courts.

Not that much to report from an early walk this morning. It was cold and bright and generally quiet. There were 40+ Redwing over by Dr Johnson's Avenue and 2 Mistle thrushes by the running track. 3 pairs of Great spotted woodpeckers were seen and 2 Green woodpeckers were heard, in Cafe and Graveney woods. A Herring gull flew over Furzedown as did a Grey heron and a Cormorant. There were no Cormorants on the pond though there was a heron and 4 pairs of Tufties. Greenfinches and Chaffinches were heard singing which made me wonder where the Godfinches were. The highlight was 4 Nuthatches chasing each other around the bushes and small trees at the back of the tennis courts.

6th February

A singing Robin.

Robins doing their 'dance'.

General view in Graveney wood.

Crow on a roof in Furzedown.

An early start on a damp and slightly misty morning. Even so, Spring must be in the air, at least as far as the birds are concerned. Song thrushes and Chaffinches could be heard singing and the Robins seemed to be doing some form of mating dance.

All the usual species where seen and some in good numbers. At least 30 Redwings seen around at the back of the Triangle and several were seen flying over Furzedown first thing. Also on the triangle were over 200 Black headed gulls and at least of pair of Common gulls. 60 Redwings were reported in the trees by the car park as were a pair of Lesser spotted woodpeckers. As the morning progressed it brightened and the sun came out. A rare sight in itself. A Sparrowhawk was seen high over Balham and one of the Little owls was out in full view in the favoured tree in Cafe wood.

However, still no Goldcrests. Brian and I heard one back in October but none since and the general consensus seems to be that they have been wiped out by the cold weather...

1st February

Cyclists on the central path.

Robin and a light dusting of snow.

Robin.

Sun rise through the trees in Graveney wood.

Planes racing across the sky in Furzedown.

After my brief trip away, it was great back over to the common. Double bonus after the hot weather in Africa as there was a light dusting of snow. It was a crisp fresh morning and a couple of Redwings were seen immediately flying over Furzedown. The Blue and Great tits were abundant through out Graveney wood and several Great spotted woodpeckers were seen there. My main motivation was to get over to see the Robins who leapt out immediately. There seem to be at least six individuals just in the one area (the beach area of the pond) alone. Also there, Chaffinchs could be heard singing as could Greenfinchs and Dunnocks. Another singing Chaffinch was heard on the way over to Cafe wood, is it that time of year already? In the wood itself, there was another Chaffinch and lots of Great and Blue tits and some very active Great spotted woodpeckers. A single Nuthatch was also seen, but the highlight was to see both Little owls sitting out sunning themselves, within a few feet of each other.

Brief trip to Somalia.

Abyssinian white-eye, (based on range over very similar Yellow white- eye).

One I recognised, an Osprey,
with a fish.

Northern carmine bee- eater.

Yellow billed kite, (sub-species/seperate species of Black kite).

Sacred Ibis.

For the last week of January I was away on assignment in Somalia. Surprisingly this gave a welcome opportunity to have a brief look at some of the birds in Mogadishu. We were based with the African Union peace keepers on their main base which was besides the sea and surrounded by Acacia bushes and scrub. Movements were limited and I wish I'de taken my field guides to the birds of East Africa, which I still haven't found...

Here are some pictures of a couple of birds I was able to identify and when I find my guide, I may post a few more. Here is a link to the assignment:

http://timesnews.typepad.com/news/2010/01/hill_photo_somalia.html

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.

30 December

Huge pull up of the Lesser spotted woodpecker

Little owl high in a tree and a crop of the same photo below

Trees and a very small Starling

Robin

Mute swan on ice

HOT NEWS, well hottish. Not the weather, it has rained without remorse for two days. What is news are the sightings of a Lesser spotted woodpecker and Little owl. Britain's smallest woodpecker and smallest owl both on the common is a fantastic surprise. The 'Lesser spot' is an increasingly rare bird nationally and is in steep decline. The BBC reported in 2005 that this diminutive woodpecker's numbers had fallen by 80% in the preceding 30 years. It has also been given Red Status by the RSPB, its highest conservation priority. The Little owl is not as scarce but is a rare thing in Tooting.

Observing the 'Lesser spot' was the common's bird recorder, Mr Peter White. A find in itself as the recorder explained that this is one of the common's speciality birds as well as another, the Little owl, kindly suggesting a likely tree to look in. Helpfully, Little owls are diurnal and like to warm themselves in the sun. (It was Brian who found it using some characteristic lateral thinking.) The tame Robins by the pond are fairing well and seem unperturbed by people and dogs in the main and are eating the food that's being put out, sharing it with the pigeons, Moorhens and some of the geese.

Windy and cloudy on the 27th, frosty, bright and clear on the 28th. Pond: Shoveler numbers on up to 12 on the 28th, Black headed gull 130+, 2 Common gull and 2 Herring gull over, 8 Redwing over (NW) 27th, 20+ over (N) 28th, 1 male Chaffinch. 6 Robins, 2 Wren and a Dunnock. Song thrush on the 28th. Furzedown: 6 Fieldfare over 27th, 6+ House sparrow (not counting garden), fox on the bowling green. Graveney wood: 16 Blueter, 12 Greater, 2+ Long tailed tits, 5 Blackbird, 3 wren and a male Sparrow hawk. Great spotted and Green woodpeckers, Nuthatch and another male Chaffinch also seen around and double figures of Blueters and Greaters. Little owl takes the list total to 49.