Chats Paddock 1997
Great Crested Grebe
It's always odd to think of this strictly aquatic bird being found at The Scrubs, well away from any bodies of water. Bizarrely, we have had 5 records of birds flying over in broad daylight. Our 6th record concerned an individual that flew along Lester's Embankment on the 10th. It just makes you realise just how unpredictable birds are.
Cormorant
As usual, single birds were noted flying over on most visits. At least 6 birds flew over on the 27th.
Grey Heron
The odd bird flapped languidly over The Scrubs no doubt heading for some marshy waterside bank to scoff the local fish population.
Canada Goose
This common goose was ill-recorded this month 2 on the 15th and 3 on 22nd being the only birds logged.
Greylag
On the 27th, 6 birds flew over the western edge of the site representing our largest ever flock. What excitement! We are easily pleased over here in west London!
Shelduck
Six birds flying over Scrubs Lane car park on the 22nd was a pleasant surprise to the 2 observers who were engaged in looking for a singing Lesser Whitethroat in Martin Bell's Wood. These birds were 3rd ever record.
Mallard
Our now familiar threesome were spied several times during the month and were sometimes seen loafing on the pitches.
Tufted Duck
It's weird to consider that this common diving duck is actually a rarity that seems to make a brief appearance here almost annually in April or May. Our 4th or 5th ever record occurred when 3 birds flew over the back of the Channel Tunnel Depot on the 19th.
Sparrowhawk
Our usual pair was periodically seen patrolling the area in the hope of capturing and devouring unwary and ultimately unlucky passerines. We suspect that this supreme predator is nesting over at nearby Kensal Green Cemetery.
Hobby
Our earliest record of this summer visiting falcon occurred on the 19th when a bird flew over the grassland on the 19th heading south east. It made a half-hearted swoop at the assembled Woodpigeons and crows near the prison before drifting off south.
Kestrel
There seems to be a pair that favour hunting over Lester's Embankment, the grassland, Scrubs Lane Woods and over by the Lynford Christie Stadium.
Whimbrel
One flew over low overhead from the north west and over the football pitches on the 17th. Although superficially it is very similar to its commoner cousin the Curlew, it had a shorter bill with a more pronounced curve plus the fine underwing barring made it look quite dark from beneath.
These shorebirds are normally quite coastal though a few had been seen in the London area during early to mid April. In Britain they normally breed in the extremities of northern Scotland in the Shetlands and Orkney. This was our 3rd ever record.
Curlew
For the first time ever we recorded both British curlew species within days of each other in the same month. This, our largest wader, flew over heading east over Scrubs Lane Wood on the 19th. With the memory of the Whimbrel fresh in our minds, it was easy to see the differences as it passed overhead especially the elongated gently curving bill.
Snipe
A singleton was flushed from the north west corner of Lester's Embankment on the 10th and another headed east on the 21st. Seeing these long-billed waders in April is not unusual.
Black-headed Gull
Most self-respecting individuals of this common species should by now be jostling on a shingle island somewhere outside London with hundreds of others of its kind going about the business of raising broods. Despite that, several were noticed often quite high up heading over in a north westerly direction during the month.
Common Gull
The only reports were of a 1st summer bird on the pitches and an adult flying over on the 3rd, 2 sub-adults headed west on the 8th and a further 3 sub-adults flew past on the 19th.
Herring Gull
Classically for this time of year numbers of this 'seagull' continued to build with the majority of the birds being sub-adults. Around 12 birds were counted on the 8th, 15 on the 18th and a whooping (by our miserly standards) 22 plus birds on the 21st.
Lesser Black-back
The usual small number averaging 7 birds were watched flying around calling loudly with their gruff voices. At least 10 birds were noticed on the 27th.
Common Tern
Fresh in from their travels from southern Africa, 3 birds were distantly seen in the east flying past the gasometer, obviously following the course of the Grand Union Canal on the 27th - 2 days later than last year. Another bird was seen at much closer quarters, directly overhead the northern portion of Scrubs Lane Wood on the 28th.
We expect to see them infrequently during the summer as they traverse The Scrubs on their way to and from their London reservoir breeding grounds.
Woodpigeon
Numbers remained constant with around 50 present.
Stock Dove
A lone bird was loosely associating with a pair of Woodpigeon as they all headed north west on the 3rd and another flew over on the 8th.
Collared Dove
This scarce dove has begun to be noticed more frequently with several birds seen sprinting over during the month after the first for the year was seen on the 17th.
Swift
The only report for the month concerned 3 distant birds wafting around on the 27th, 2 days later than last year.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The Braybrook Street roost persisted with upwards of 600 present throughout the month and several birds were prospecting in Scrubs Lane Wood.
Green Woodpecker
These birds were scarcely detected this month with one heard on the 10th calling from Scrubs Lane Wood. We are not sure whether they are breeding on site this year.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Our usual couple of pairs were knocking around during the month but the were super elusive.
Swallow
Every spring us birders at The Scrubs eagerly await the first Swallows sweeping through the site. We received our first passage birds on the 8th when 5 birds flew over Central Copse. These birds were a few days earlier than last year, but way later than in 2005 when birds rolled in on the 19th March. At least 40 birds were counted thereafter until the month's end.
Sand Martin
Our first bird of the spring journeyed west along Lester's Embankment on the 27th. This riparian species is barely ever noticed here during the spring and is almost as rare on The Scrubs as House Martins.
Meadow Pipit
We're guessing that there are 4-5 pairs inhabiting the grassland thus far. Our fear is that a path is steadily being created by dog walkers short-cutting through the grassland, right through the main breeding area of the pipits. Why the main path literally yards away can't be used by these people is puzzling. It remains to be seen how this intrusion will affect our population - which is the closest breeding colony to central London.
There was a slight passage of birds on the 10th when at least 20 birds were counted.
Tree Pipit
The only report for the period was a solitary calling flyover on the 1st heading north over Chats Paddock. This bird was a full 2 weeks earlier than last year's spring record, making it the earliest ever. It was also the 3rd consecutive year that we have noticed this migrant in the spring, as they are normally associated with autumnal movements here at The Scrubs.
'T'ripit's', as they are affectionately known by British birders are notoriously difficult to tell apart from their far more abundant cousin, the Meadow Pipit. But with experience they are usually fairly easily discernable as they have a slightly different structure, different calls and flight patterns.
Pied Wagtail
A couple birds were seen or more often the case, heard during the month. A fine 'White' Wagtail was watched feeding near Scrubs Lane Wood on the 3rd. The 'White' is the continental race of our black-and-white 'Pied' birds but differs by being distinctly pale grey looking with a grey rump.
APRIL SHOWERS
After September and October, April is the month most anticipated by the birders at The Scrubs. Every year something interesting seems shows up. Our nirvana was in 2006 however, when everything that could have turned up did and in bigger numbers than ever before. As birding junkies, we have been unsuccessfully chasing that high ever since.
We have had fewer Northern Wheatears thus far than last year. Even the groundsmen who are here everyday, didn't report any additional birds. Cuckoos, Whinchats, Garden Warblers, Yellow Wagtails and Pied Flycatchers were missing and for the 2nd year in a row we reported no Common Redstarts.
We did manage to maintain our ongoing annual spring re-acquaintance with Ring Ouzels when 2 males turned up. That's 5 years in a row now. We also had a Nightingale in Chats Paddock in full song. For 3 years out of the past 4 we have had the privilege of listening to this bird's amazing song, which is guaranteed to give you goose pimples. These two migrants illustrated the fact that The Scrubs is a regular refuelling stop.
At nearby Kensal Green Cemetery a Common Buzzard drifted over on the 4th and a Shag was reported on the 19th (be careful how you say that!). We also had a Pink-footed Goose fly east over Braybrook Street on the 3rd. Normally, wildfowl like these are consigned to the 'escaped' category but there have been couple Pink-foots in London of 'unknown origin' during the past couple of months, so you never know.
Despite the dearth in speciality birds we still have clocked up 75 species this year so far, which is most ever at this point. If things carry on like this and we keep adding a steady run of species, then we are on course for the biggest year list here ever.
What has May got in store?
Contributors: Mathew Bournat, Kim Dixon, David Jeffreys, David Lindo, Roy Nuttall, Dave Renham et al.
If you have details of any sightings or observations of unusual behaviour please sent them on no matter how trivial they may seem to: david@theurbanbirder.com
Wren
At least 8 birds were at large during the month.
Dunnock
With nesting activity well underway singing males were seen all over especially in Chats Paddock and along Lester's Embankment. At least 15 birds were counted.
Robin
Although 8 birds were counted on the 2nd, the true number was probably at least 15.
Nightingale
A bird suddenly burst into song in Chats Paddock on the 22nd. This area and the woodland in the north west corner are the most likely places to come across this amazing migrant songster at The Scrubs.
Northern Wheatear
A couple of flighty males were discovered in the grassland on the 3rd, 4 more (including our first spring female) were around on the 20th and 2 single birds on the 28th.
Stonechat
A lone female was discovered on Lester's Embankment on the 13th and became our latest ever winter record for this hardy chat.
Song Thrush
Around 8 were counted on the 2nd and there were was plenty of nesting behaviour observed.
Redwing
A sprinkling of birds was noted during the very early part of the month with a singleton heading over Chats Paddock on the 2nd and the last record involved at least 2 birds on the 3rd.
Mistle Thrush
A singleton was in the Scrubs Lane car park on the 14th.
Fieldfare
A couple birds were seen on the 2nd, 8 birds on the 8th, a singleton on the 17th and an individual in a poplar on Lester's Embankment that was mobbed by a Greenfinch on the 21st was the last to be seen.
Ring Ouzel
For the 5th consecutive year we discovered this elegant thrush gracing our hallowed turf. For the first time we not only had a multiple record of two males seen on the 17th, but we also had the unprecedented pleasure of having one of the males stay over for a second day. This attracted the attention of many birders, some of whom travelled from the other side of London for a chance of glimpsing this elusive and truly wild beauty.
Whenever, these mountain blackbirds appear at The Scrubs they seem to be harassed by the local Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. This time was no different as a male that was flushed by a dog walker was hassled by a Song Thrush moments after it had landed on a bush on Lester's Embankment. Quite why this happens is a bit of a mystery.
Blackbird
At least 25 were counted on the 2nd.
Blackcap
Our first birds were a couple of males found on the 2nd, 3 days later than last year. By the 21st up to 8 birds were proclaiming territories.
Lesser Whitethroat
A couple singers on the 21st were our first returning birds - a full week later than last April. Hopefully as with previous years, we will have a healthy breeding population. The initial signs are good as there were 5 singing males around the park on the 28th.
Common Whitethroat
Our first bird of the spring was a male discovered in the southern most copse opposite Scrubs Lane Wood on the 17th, a date that was earlier than last year and a day later than the earliest in 2006. By the 28th, over 15 birds were present.
Sedge Warbler
Two hidden singing birds were secreted in Chats Paddock and 'Heron Copse' (opposite the north east corner) on the 20th and were our first birds for the spring. The Chats Paddock bird was heard in song again on the 27th and 2 more birds in 2 different locations were in song on the 28th. These latter birds may have been the original singers discovered previously on the 20th.
Although these birds were only our 3rd ever April records, they were not particularly early as last year singing birds were reported on the 4th.
Willow Warbler
A periodically singing bird was seen very well as it feed along the edges of the northern portion of Scrubs Lane Wood on the 8th with another heard singing nearby. These birds had arrived later than last year when we were enjoying its wistful song on the 31st March. Up to 4 birds were in song on the 20th.
This interesting warbler does not seem to breed here despite the regular occurrence of a singing male in Martin Bell's Wood during the early summer most years. Usually, they seem to sing for a few days and then move on.
Chiffchaff
As the month progressed it became clear that our summer population of these endearing small warblers seemed down on last year with perhaps an average of just 4 birds singing around the site instead of up to 10 birds last April though there were around 7 singers on the 2nd and 3rd. Interestingly, in 2006 our bumper year for migrants, only 5 singers were located.
Goldcrest
A singleton was heard calling from Scrubs Lane Wood on the 2nd.
Great Tit
At least 10 were counted on the 2nd.
Blue Tit
For once there was a proper count done on the 2nd resulting in at least 20 birds being logged.
Long-tailed Tit
Our breeding birds were still at large.
Jay
A pair seem to be definitely showing breeding behaviour as they were seen on a daily basis carrying nesting materials and generally acting like an item.
Unusually, a bird was watched flying high to the south west over the football pitches on the 28th.
Magpie
Up to 15 birds were noticed on the 2nd that correlated with last April's counts.
Carrion Crow
The usual marauding groups were loitering around the site with 150 or so cawing away. Around 6 nests were found.
Starling
Similar numbers to last month were seen especially in the grassland and in Braybrook Street. Over 35 were around the grassland on the 28th.
House Sparrow
A few were seen predominately around Braybrook Street with a maximum of 25 birds seen. Some of these radiated away from their garden comfort zones and out into The Scrubs itself where birds were found as far afield as the north west corner of Lester's Embankment.
Chaffinch
We may have 2 pairs nesting at The Scrubs, which is great news given that they rarely breed here. Birds were watched courtship chasing and flying around carrying nest material. Up to 10 birds were seen in total.
Linnet
Our breeding colony on Lester's Embankment seems to be thriving with perhaps 10 pairs holding territory.
Greenfinch
At least 25 of these common finches were busying themselves along Lester's Embankment during April. We seem to have more birds present here than ever before.
Goldfinch
The usual small numbers were noticed primarily in Scrubs Lane Wood and along Lester's Embankment. At least 10 were encountered on the 2nd.
Bullfinch
Encouragingly, a pair was discovered in Martin Bell's Wood on the 10th raising hopes that they may be breeding. An unsexed bird flew through Scrubs Lane Wood on the 18th.
Reed Bunting
The last of our over wintering birds, a female, was seen in the north west corner on the 3rd.
Compartments within Wormwood Scrubs
Martin Bell's Wood - formally known as the Southern Paddock is situated on the south eastern corner close to Scrubs Lane.Scrubs Lane Wood - the strip of woodland on the eastern edge of the site running the length of Scrubs Lane to the east and along the northern edge to Chats Paddock in the west.
Chats Paddock - will also be known as the main lizard habitat.
Lester's Embankment - marks the north western border of the Scrubs and is also referred to as 'the embankment'. Now named after Lester Holloway who in the 80's unsuccessfully campaigned to stop British Rail developing on the Scrubs.
North West Corner - the western edge of the Scrubs.
Braybrook Woods - the woodland strip running along the southern edge from Braybrook Street up to and including outside the prison along the southern parameter.
>2008 Year List
Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Hobby, Kestrel, Moorhen, Whimbrel, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Great Black-back, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Short-eared Owl, Swift, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Swallow, Sand Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Nightingale, Northern Wheatear, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Little Bunting75 species thus far (70 species in April 2007 & 73 in April 2006)