The Urban Birder

Sightings

Cormorant

Last month we erroneously claimed the absence of any birds seen at The Scrubs. In reality, they were clearly overlooked.

This month a few were seen most days; however at least 13 were seen on the 14th, which included a flock of 11 heading over in ‘V’ formation. This was our largest count for some time.

Grey Heron

Sole birds flew over the western end of The Scrubs on the 14th and 15th whilst two went southwest on the 23rd.

Mute Swan

A pair headed east over Lester's Embankment on the 14th, 5 flew over on the 16th and a further 4 were counted flying over on the 24th.

Greylag

Our first reports in 2010 of this feral goose referred to individuals flying over on the 1st and 25th.

Canada Goose

The big count this month was 9 on the 10th.

Mallard

The odd bird (or three) was seen flying over during the month and amazingly these were the first birds to be reported in 2010. A dog walker reported a pair found taking a mid-month stroll near the football pitches.

Sparrowhawk

Sightings were few and far between this month and usually involved soaring birds.

Kestrel

Somewhat of a scarcity here now, this once common falcon's fortunes have definitely changed. Very few sightings were reported — a worrying state of affairs.

Woodcock

Perhaps the surprise of the month, a bird flew low out of Central Copse in a leisurely fashion on the 23rd and dumped down along the southwestern edge of the grassland literally feet away from an unsuspecting dog walker. Its head and neck were visible briefly in the shortish grass before the bird melted away.

It or another was flushed at very close range (almost underfoot) in Chats Paddock on the 28th. It headed off east appearing to land just outside the paddock in Scrubs Lane Wood south of the Back Passage. A subsequent search resulted in nothing — which is no surprise as these birds are totally cryptic once on the ground. Later, it or another headed west along the embankment in loose association with a Wood Pigeon before branching off northwest towards Harlesden.

If these records relate to just one bird then it would be our second ever record following the bird that flew over Central Copse in November 2007.

Snipe

A bird flew out of the grassland on the 8th. It or another was flushed at close quarters on the 14th. These birds were the first March records since 2008.

Black-headed Gull

Numbers began to dramatically dwindle towards the end of the month with the majority of the remaining birds being around 12 immature birds. The 130 or so birds that were loafing on the pitches on the 7th was a good gathering and the 200 plus on the 14th that were mostly in flocks heading southeast was also good to see. On the 21st, our largest count was guesstimated to be at least 600 with around 400 or so of them overhead.

Last year on the 1st March, 600 birds simultaneously took flight from the football pitches and their shimmering wings made for a gorgeous spectacle.

Common Gull

This species was less prevalent at The Scrubs this year, than this time in 2009. Then we were averaging 50 per day; this year 55 was exceptional on the 21st with a daily average closer to 30 birds. By the end of the month we were struggling to see any with the last bird seen being a 2nd year bird with the other gulls on the pitches on the 28th.

Mediterranean Gull

Our on-and-off wintering bird was sighted on the football pitches on the 26th, this time in near full summer garb.

Herring Gull

As the smaller gull species dissipated this big gull became more numerous with a peak count of 50 seen on the 21st and 24th.

Lesser Black-back

The 10th was unusual as it was the first time ever that this species was not recorded. It may have been just an oversight but usually even when we are not looking we still manage to bump into a few. Thankfully, every other day was back to a normal service day with the 21st scoring over 20 birds.

Great Black-back

This usually scarce gull was sighted a more times this month than any other previously. It involved an adult watched flying northwest on the 16th, a 1st winter bird overhead on the 18th and another adult on the 23rd and finally, a pair that headed northwest on the 28th.

Stock Dove

Obviously a locally scarce resident, this endearing pigeon is most certainly overlooked. It was fairly frequently seen in ones and twos flying over and the three on the 14th that included an individual consorting with a Wood Pigeon heading northwest was the most seen.

Wood Pigeon

Several pairs had begun nesting during early March in Chats Paddock, along Lester's Embankment and other sites around The Scrubs. Usually at least 60 birds were counted on site with more birds seen commuting overhead, though over 200 birds heading northeast on the 14th was exceptional.

Collared Dove

A bird whizzed through on the 19th whilst two singletons passed overhead on the 21st followed by another on the 28th.

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Varying numbers were seen noisily leaving their roost during the month. Up to 600 left their Central Copse roost at sunlight on the 21st and the 30th.

Green Woodpecker

Last year we didn't record a ‘Yaffle’ until early March. This year was no different with the first bird noticed on the 1st; thereafter they were regularly heard and less frequently seen in the Martin Bell's Wood area. We suspect that they are breeding in the vicinity.

Interestingly, Green Woodpeckers used to be seen all year around until 2007. Since then they have tended to disappear for a lot of the winter to reappear in late February/early March.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

We have perhaps two pairs in the area with one firmly based in the east in Scrubs Lane Wood and the other ranging from Chats Paddock.

A male was drumming on a CCTV camera by the Channel Tunnel sheds on the 21st creating an amazingly loud and resonant sound.