Wormwood Scrubs > February 2011 Scrubs Report
February 2011 Sightings at Wormwood Scrubs
Game on!
It's two months into 2011 and the impression is that this could potentially be a special year. Despite a relatively quiet January in terms of the total number of visits put in by The Scrubbers and other visiting birders, we still managed a healthy species list. February was much better attended and as a consequence we ended up with a grand total of 50 species — the best ever February total. Things are shaping up nicely.
This month's highlights included a dashing Peregrine, our usual Mediterranean Gull that put in its final appearances for the year plus we had a nice-looking male Lesser Redpoll discovered in the early part of the month.
With spring around the corner we will all be waiting in eager anticipation.
A flock of Lapwing (R. F. Spencer)
Contributors: Rob Ayers, Charlie Farrell, David Jeffreys, David Lindo, Roy Nuttall, Anders Price, Bob Stills et al.
Sightings
Cormorant
Single birds were seen on the 2nd and 16th.
Grey Heron
Our first heron of the year flapped over on the 16th.
Mute Swan
The bird seen flying over on the 18th was the first for 2011 swiftly followed by another on the 22nd.
Greylag
The first birds of the year were the pair seen flying through on the 7th. Then three birds flew through on the 22nd.
Canada Goose
At least 34 were seen on the 6th.
Egyptian Goose
After practically waiting until the last minute of 2010 to register our first record of this distinctive goose/duck it was pleasing to get one in the bag early for 2011 on the 6th.
Mallard
A couple were seen on the 3rd and the 22nd.
Sparrowhawk
A female was seen infrequently during the month.
Kestrel
Our first bird of the year was briefly seen on the 6th and again on the 19th.
Peregrine
One heading east tracing the railway line on the 11th was our first report of the year. It is highly unlikely that it will be our last.
Lapwing
A single bird headed over on the 6th and two were feeding on the pitches with the gulls on the 20th.
Black-headed Gull
Around 120 were seen on the 3rd increasing to around 400 on the 7th and 450 on the 20th.
Common Gull
At least 50 were encountered on the 7th.
Mediterranean Gull
Our usual adult continued to be occasionally seen throughout the month. By the close of the period it was sporting a near black hood.
Herring Gull
At least 32 were at large on the 6th.
Lesser Black-back
The usual low numbers were around during the month.
Great Black-back
Following our recent remarkable run of this large seafaring gull another couple was noted on the 9th.
Stock Dove
A few were seen during February with four on the 3rd being the largest count.
Wood Pigeon
The usual numbers were seen.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The usual post roost numbers were noted in the mornings.
Green Woodpecker
A singleton was reported on the 8th.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
A couple was noticed during the month but on the 8th up to 4 were reported including a drumming male.
Meadow Pipit
Around 15 birds were in the grassland on the 16th. The first singing birds were recorded on the 25th.
Pied Wagtail
One was noticed on the 6th and at least 10 on the 20th.
Wren
Around 10 birds were either heard or seen during the month.
Dunnock
At least four were counted on the 14th.
Robin
More birds were reported this month with an average of 10 noted.
Song Thrush
No counts were submitted for this familiar thrush.
Redwing
Birds were seen throughout the month with the peak being at least 15 on the 2nd.
Mistle Thrush
A pair was seen on the 2nd and 25th pointing to the possibility of breeding nearby.
Fieldfare
The single bird seen on the 7th was our first record for 2011. Thereafter, another lone bird appeared on the 14th.
Blackbird
This common thrush remained uncounted for February.
Great Tit
Around six birds were seen on the 14th.
Blue Tit
No reports were received despite birds obviously being seen.
Long-tailed Tit
Despite being seen no counts were received.
Magpie
No counts were received.
Jay
Up to two birds periodically appeared during the month.
Jackdaw
A single bird was seen on the 2nd and a couple more headed over on the 14th.
Carrion Crow
Birds were omnipresent but no estimates were received.
Starling
There was a discernable drop in numbers since last month with a maximum of 60 on the 12th and 20th.
House Sparrow
Around 10 birds were seen in their usual western end haunts on the 2nd. An individual was found on Lester's Embankment on the 18th.
Chaffinch
Small numbers were encountered during the month with 15 on the 8th being the most.
Linnet
A singing male in non-breeding plumage was discovered on Lester's Embankment on the 20th.
Lesser Redpoll
A male was discovered in Scrubs Lane Wood and Heron Copse on the 8th.
Goldfinch
The numbers of this charming finch are slowly rising from 10 seen on the 2nd to at least 25 the following day. Our peak count was 50 on the 8th.
Greenfinch
At least 15 were seen on the 14th.
Reed Bunting
Our regular male was relocated in the grassland on the 8th and 25th. The likelihood was that it and maybe others were always around perhaps spending a lot of their time in the neighbouring gardens.
2011 Year List
- Cormorant
- Grey Heron
- Mute Swan
- Greylag
- Canada Goose
- Egyptian Goose
- Mallard
- Sparrowhawk
- Kestrel
- Peregrine
- Lapwing
- Black-headed Gull
- Common Gull
- Mediterranean Gull
- Herring Gull
- Lesser Black-back
- Great Black-back
- Feral Pigeon
- Stock Dove
- Wood Pigeon
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Green Woodpecker
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Skylark
- Meadow Pipit
- Pied Wagtail
- Wren
- Dunnock
- Robin
- Song Thrush
- Redwing
- Mistle Thrush
- Fieldfare
- Blackbird
- Great Tit
- Blue Tit
- Long-tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Jay
- Jackdaw
- Carrion Crow
- Starling
- House Sparrow
- Chaffinch
- Linnet
- Lesser Redpoll
- Goldfinch
- Greenfinch
- Reed Bunting
- Yellowhammer
50 species thus far (45 species in February 2010 & 48 in February 2009)