Vagrant There have been 4 records involving at least 4 birds. A singleton headed low over on 29th July 2005 and at least 4 were reported over several days in October 2006.
Regular visitor Although seen flying over most days, numbers have dropped over the years since a relative peak during the mid nineties. The biggest count in recent times was a flock of 32 in April 2006.
Irregular visitor This common Ardea is possibly more frequent flying over in the evenings when no one's around to report them!
Rare visitor It was only a matter of time before this Mediterranean species would be recorded here, especially given their exponential increase nationally. Our first record concerned a singleton heading east over Lester's Embankment on July 16th 2006.
Scarce visitor Usually seen flying from the nearby Grand Union Canal, counts of airborne birds have never exceeded more than 4.
Regular visitor Although a locally common resident on the nearby Grand Union, this species has decreased as a visitor to the site. The largest count was recorded in August 2004 when in a single flock c120 birds flew over.
Scarce visitor First recorded in 2004 this introduced goose now occurs several times a year.
Vagrant A pair flew low overhead on 23rd April and 12th September 2006.
Vagrant There has been just 2 records involving a pair over on the 27th April and 7 on 12th May 2006.
Irregular visitor Despite their relative abundance along the nearby Grand Union Canal they are scarcely seen over The Scrubs.
Vagrant A flock of 6 males heading over on 26th May 2005 constituted our first record.
Vagrant Surprisingly, there has been only one record on 28th August 2005.
Rare visitor Again considering the close proximity of the canal and the various other surrounding watercourses, there have only been four reports of birds flying over.
Vagrant A dark morph/juvenile flew low south on 22nd August 2004. It passed over the London Wetland Centre 15 minutes later.
Vagrant A female flew north on 20th May 2004.
Vagrant There have been several reports of this species over the years from non-birding dogwalkers. Some of the descriptions seemed pretty reasonable. However, our only accepted record for the period was of a bird riding the thermals before heading south on the afternoon of October 8th 2004.
Regular visitor Although not seen daily, they breed next door at Kensal Green Cemetery and use The Scrubs as part of their hunting ground.
Rare visitor Since August 2004 there has been a couple records a year of fly-through birds. No doubt this majestic falcon is grossly overlooked.
Regular visitor Although decreasing, this endearing falcon is a frequent sight particularly over the grassland and embankment area.
Scarce migrant The only record until 2005 was of an adult passing through on 23 September 1993. Since 2005 this species has suddenly become more regular with up to 5 records a year including a bird that stayed for 3 days during May 2006.
Vagrant A bird was heard distantly calling from the nearby Grand Union Canal in May 2004.
Vagrant A report of what was almost certainly a female came via a dog walker in January 2004. An elusive male stayed for a month from mid October 2006 mainly frequenting Martin Bell's Wood.
Vagrant One was on the football pitches on the 28th July 2005.
Scarce visitor This distinctive plover can potentially be seen flapping over during almost any month.
Vagrant A calling bird flew over on 13th August 2006.
Vagrant Incongruously, a flock of 35 headed east on the misty morning of the 1st May 2004.
Vagrant A pair flew over on 7th May 2006.
Irregular winter visitor Prior to 2003 most of our records pertained to the occasional over flying winter bird. Since 2001 when the grassland area was allowed to flourish instead of being cut every autumn, the incidence of this wader instantly showed an increase. Most birds were flushed from the damper areas especially in the early morning.
Common visitor The most abundant Larid to be encountered on the site throughout the year with loafing flocks on the football pitches being a characteristic part of winter birding. These gatherings are not usually large with around 200 being the usual maximum. On a couple of occasions during Februarys 2005/06 there was a large movement of gulls involving at least 500 of this species.
Common winter visitor This attractive gull usually starts begin to arrive in September (however, we have had birds as early as July) usually peaking to around 40 birds by mid-winter before evaporating by May. Over 80 birds were involved in the gull movement on February 6th 2005.
Scarce visitor Our first record concerned a winter adult consorting with a small group of Black-headed Gulls in January 2004. Since then this species has occurred at least bi-annually.
Regular visitor Although present all year round they are usually seen in remarkably low numbers. This is despite the close proximity of areas that boast fairly large gatherings, especially during the winter. Our largest count was 120 plus at the end of October 2004.
Regular visitor A familiar sight here though rarely more than 10 birds during the summer are seen at any one time increasing to perhaps 20 birds in the winter. Over 50 were counted on our big gull day on the February 6th 2004.
Rare visitor January to March is when we usually record our annual sighting of this huge gull.
Vagrant Our first record relates to a bird found in the mid eighties. Nearly 20 years later (November 21st 2004) our second ever record of this maritime gull occurred when 2 singletons headed northwest fairly high overhead as part of a large movement of gulls that morning.
Irregular visitor Calling singletons heading over are an expected though infrequent sight during early summer until early August.
Irregular visitor Despite the small breeding populations surrounding us, the nearest of which at Kensal Green Cemetery, this dove is either grossly overlooked or genuinely scarce.
Common resident We experience a good visible passage from late October with birds streaming in from the northeast. One morning during late October 2006 over 10,000 passed through.
Irregular visitor/resident This species has only managed to secure a toehold in this area as most sightings are of singletons. On May 5th 2006 at least 7 birds were counted.
Scarce migrant This summer visitor is now essentially an annual autumn migrant that was first noted in the early nineties and not recorded again until a spring bird was discovered on April 25th 1999.
Scarce migrant Surprisingly, there has only been one record, of a juvenile in Scrubs Lane Wood in September 1993, prior to 2005. Since then, this nationally decreasing species has suddenly re-entered our birding lives becoming an annual spring visitor. The 1993 bird remains our only autumn record.
Vagrant One of the surprises of period was the discovery of an individual hunting over the grassland at 10.30pm on October 18th 2005.
Rare visitor This diurnal owl is probably more frequent than records suggest. A bird drifted over Chats Paddock in late November 1994 and was watched for over 20 minutes. Our second record was of a bird flying over in late September 1998. Finally, one was flushed from the grassland on October 31st 2004.
Regular visitor The harbinger of summer, this species is a common sight especially mid summer when small flocks swoop over the grassland. We never get huge numbers.
Common visitor/resident Virtually unknown until the mid nineties, by 2005 early morning commuting flocks of up to 40 birds were commonplace. More alarmingly, a pair bred for the first time in an old woodpecker hole in Scrubs Lane Wood. A roost containing over 130 was formed in late 2006.
Scarce resident A pair sometimes nest within Scrubs Lane Wood but are scarcely seen outside of the breeding season.
Common Resident Up to 2 pairs regularly breed.
Vagrant Remarkably, a bird was watched for over 20 minutes in full view in Chats Paddock on 7th September 2003 representing our first ever record. It remained for the day.
Irregular visitor This species has long been lost as a breeder but remains a fairly frequent winter visitor to the grassland area. The occasional non-breeder may summer.
Vagrant A bird was flushed with assorted Skylarks and Meadow Pipits from the grassland in November 1994.
Irregular migrant Over the years this hirundine has proved to be a very scarcely noticed passage migrant. Recently they have become slightly more regular possibly due to our close proximity to the breeding colony at the London Wetland Centre.
Irregular migrant Although recorded on passage most years it is perhaps the scarcest hirundine in the area.
Common migrant This hirundine is a guaranteed double migrant that has been recorded in every month between April and October.
Vagrant One of the biggest rarities to turn up at Wormwood Scrubs, a bird was flushed from the grassland at 07.30 on September 29th 1998. It was heard calling and seen hovering over the grass before dropping down. Despite searches later in the morning it was not relocated.
Vagrant A singleton flew north over the football pitches in November 1996.
Common resident/migrant Prior to 2001 the grassland was regularly cut in late autumn forcing the flocks of larks and pipits to disperse. Flocks of up to 80 birds used to gather. Breeding was first noted in 2003 when 2 pairs were suspected; by 2006 this had increased to c5 pairs. They have probably bred here for many years.
Regular migrant This pipit is more regularly noted in the autumn and sometimes individuals hang around for a few days. At least 14 birds were recorded in the spring and autumn of 2005.
Common resident/migrant At least 1 pair breed annually in and around the Linford Christie Stadium. There's an increase in roaming birds during passage. Up to 5 White Wagtails were present on the athletics field on 5th September 2004.
Irregular visitor No doubt a local breeder, birds are usually noted flying over in the general direction of the Grand Union Canal.
Regular migrant From being quite a rarity during the nineties this attractive wagtail is now an expected double migrant normally noted heading over.
Common resident There are at least 6 pairs in residence, though this is probably a gross under estimate.
Common resident These birds are especially prevalent in Martin Bell's Wood and along Lester's Embankment. There are perhaps 15 territories around the site.
Common resident These birds are part of the furniture here with perhaps 17 singing males.
Scarce spring migrant After the initial record on a bird singing from the northwest corner in April 1999 we had to wait until 2004 for our next record. In 2006, 2 separate birds were reported within a few days of each other. One was singing in the northwest corner and the other individual flew between Central Copse and Chats Paddock.
Irregular migrant Aside from 'Rudolph', a first winter male that decided to overwinter from December 2004 until February 2005, a couple are noted most years especially during the autumn. 2006 was an unprecedented year with 8 birds in April and a further 4 in the autumn.
Vagrant Surprisingly, there has only been one record of this stereotypical urban bird dating back to 1998.
Regular migrant This is one of the species for which the Wormwood Scrubs is renown with most years resulting in multiple records for both passage periods, particularly the autumn. Over 40 birds appeared during the spring of 2006 with a further 8 returning in the autumn.
Regular migrant The archetypal Scrubs bird whose presence is eagerly awaited especially during the autumn when they are most numerous. There has been a general decline in numbers since the halcyon days in the 1990's when autumn counts consistently topped 10 birds on a daily basis with 18 on a small area of thistle on 16th September still the unbeaten maxima.
Regular migrant/winter visitor Most years we play host to a wintering population of c3 mobile birds that spend their time in the grassland, Lester's Embankment and presumably on the Channel Tunnel land. Just prior to their departure numbers may swell to up to 8 birds that congregate together on small patches of the grassland.
Common resident Up 10 pairs may breed on site.
Scarce resident Rarely breeding within The Scrubs itself, local family parties normally descend during late summer.
Regular migrant/winter visitor Encountered in varying numbers on a daily basis during winter. Over 400 birds flew over in an hour on 10th October 2004.
Regular migrant/winter visitor This thrush is never numerous like the Redwings as they are sporadically seen during the winter months. A late bird stayed until 4th May 2004.
Scarce spring migrant Since 2004 this attractive thrush has become annual with up to a couple recorded each spring.
Common resident A regular sight with in the region of 20 pairs present during the breeding season, with rather less present during the winter.
Regular migrant A few birds are found annually in spring and autumn. A couple usually hold territory in early summer though breeding has never been proven.
Common summer migrant Up to 12 pairs breed around the site. There have been no winter records as yet.
Common summer migrant At least 5 pairs breed and some of the singing males are quite easy to find.
Common summer migrant This is usually the most common warbler present with an unprecedented 22 singing males counted in May 2004. Numbers fell to around 12 singing males in 2006.
Rare visitor There has been 3 records including singletons found in November 1998 and a singing male in March 1999 that may been present for several weeks. A first winter bird discovered on 18th August 2005 may have been London's earliest autumn record since 1938.
Vagrant A bird was discovered on 14th September 2006 and is our only record.
Regular migrant Although never proven as a breeding species, territories are sometimes held in the early summer with 7 males located in May 2004. Otherwise this 'acro' is regular in small numbers at passage times.
Irregular migrant This species is much scarcer than it's Sedge congener with far fewer passing through at passage times. Very occasionally, birds are found singing mid summer from deep within bushes sparking Marsh Warbler scares.
Regular migrant An erstwhile breeder, this species is at best a common migrant, though occasionally, up to 2 males may hold territory during the summer.
Vagrant A singing male was found in May 1980.
Common summer migrant This phylossc has slowly increased as a breeding bird with up to 5 pairs reported in 2006.
Scarce winter visitor A couple get reported most winters and may emanate for the nearby Kensal Green Cemetery.
Irregular migrant This scarce bird is more usually noted during the spring. We record on average 3 every year but in 2006 we received over 17 birds.
Irregular migrant An almost annual migrant and in some years we saw more Pied than Spotteds.
Common resident Around 10 pairs may nest at The Scrubs.
Common resident Around 5 pairs may nest every year, though this may be a gross underestimate, augmented by winter wanderers.
Common resident Populations have been relatively stable over the years with up to 35 birds usually around. Maybe 6 pairs breed in our sparse woodlands.
Scarce resident/migrant A couple of pairs breed occasionally, otherwise these colourful corvids are better know as migrant/winter visitors. In September 2006, 13 birds were observed including 7 flying south at great height in a straggling flock.
Regular visitor/scarce resident Small numbers are seen throughout the year with larger autumnal dispersal flocks.
Common resident This ominous figure is abundant around the site, particularly around the prison were upwards of 250 congregate on the prison wall and adjacent fields.
Irregular spring migrant Probably overlooked prior 2004, these rustic crows are now annual flyovers.
Common resident This garrulous bird breeds mainly in the surrounding residential areas, though around 4 pairs hole-nest in Scrubs Lane Wood. Birds use The Scrubs as a feeding area with upwards of 500 regularly gathering during late summer.
Scarce resident The main population nucleus lies within Braybrook Street and environs with a tiny overspill close to the prison. These birds rarely stray from these centres and are only occasionally found in the grassland and Lester's Embankment during the summer. From late summer until spring up to 60 birds roost in Central Copse.
Vagrant This species has doubtlessly been overlooked as our only record dates from December 1999.
Scarce resident/regular winter visitor Occasionally a pair may nest but these birds are better known as a winter visitor though never in large numbers.
Common/scarce resident Up to 12 pairs breed along Lester's Embankment dispersing and becoming much scarcer during the winter months.
Scarce autumn migrant Normally noted heading over and rarely making landfall.
Irregular winter visitor Due to our lack of the favoured trees this species relishes most of our records are flyovers.
Common resident A few pairs breed on site with the majority of our birds breeding outside the area. Up to 250 congregate on the seed heads in the grassland during late summer. Recently, there have been signs of a decline.
Common resident Maybe 15 pairs breed within The Scrubs with other birds from the surrounding area dropping in.
Scarce resident Perhaps 2 seldom seen pairs breed here most years.
Irregular migrant/winter visitor A couple are recorded most years.
Vagrant A first winter/female was found by Lester's Embankment on 2nd September 2003 and stayed for a few minutes before heading north west.
Vagrant A male flew low over the grassland on 17th November 2006. This species has probably been overlooked previously.
Acknowledgements. Many thanks for the records supplied by the following: Chris Adlem, Neil Anderson, Roy Beddard, Sacha Barbato, Philip Cadle, Jane Charteris, Frank Clark, Colin Cross, Steven Davidson, Gary Elton, Vinny Ganley, Suzie Gretz, Lester Holloway, David Jeffreys, Roy Nuttall, Rick & Elis Simpson, Jason Smyth, Jo Thomas et al