Please turn around! A female Northern Wheatear
Cormorant
As with July these reptilian-like birds were in short supply with 3 on the 12th being the most seen.
Grey Heron
As usual, we were subject to periodic visits from this riverside denizen during August with 4 on the 24th being noteworthy. These large birds are prone to flying over at any point of the day and probably choose not to pass over whilst we are out birding!
Canada Goose
It looks like our geese may have been hiding away in a field behind the Linford Christie Stadium as per last August. Reasonable numbers congregated there with a flock of about 50 birds seen flying from there on the 21st and the 28th.
Mallard
A drake flew over on the 23rd and a further 4 noticed on the 24th and 3 flew by on the 29th.
Sparrowhawk
Marauding birds were ever present during the month with near daily sightings reported. This is a usual occurrence during August when the immature birds come over to learn their trade. A male was spotted speeding over Lester's Embankment on the 16th with an unfortunate small bird in its talons.
Kestrel
Either an immature/female or a male (sometimes both) were seen on a daily basis.
Lapwing
A lone bird drifted over Central Copse on the 29th. We normally see this distinctive plover during the winter months and in June and July.
Curlew
Out of the blue on the dark, dank morning of the 22nd, a flock of 4 birds came from the south flying low over the grassland slowly battling against a quite brisk north easterly wind. Watching them through binoculars you could have been forgiven for thinking that you were standing on some estuarine salt marsh, until the distant office blocks in Acton came into view, shattering the illusion!
These birds were our 2nd record this year (the 1st was seen last month) and the 3rd ever and definitely the surprise of the month.
Black-headed Gull
The common gull became slightly more numerous during the month with up to 100 birds present on the 23rd and 24th.
Common Gull
The occasional bird was seen during the month with 10 on the 23rd being the maximum, dropping to 5 the following day.
Herring Gull
No remarkable changes here with 10 on the 23rd being the most seen.
Lesser Black-back
Similarly, there were no amazing leaps in numbers during the month. At least 15 were counted on the 23rd.
Common Tern
A bird was watched flying over on the 1st. These graceful seabirds are rarely noted here in August.
Woodpigeon
Towards the end of the month there seemed to be a lot of these pigeons just flying around. Where they were heading and from where they came, who knows. Over 60 birds were counted on the 5th and 12th.
Stock Dove
Recorded just 3 times in the whole month this rural pigeon was a real challenge to spot amongst the multitudes of city Feral Pigeons that fly over every day.
Collared Dove
One of our scarcest residents, the 2 that flew through on the 5th were our only known record.
Swift
Following this terrible summer most of the swifts in the area have vacated back to warmer climes. We noted a handful of birds during the first few days of the month with over 40 counted on the 5th.
Intriguingly, a large flock of around 100 was reported at around 6.30 am on the 15th noisily swooping low over the grassland before promptly disappearing. Some birds heard calling and a singleton seen in the murky sky the following day were the last Swifts of the month.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Daybreak at Wormwood Scrubs will never be the same again. The loud raucous calls of hundreds upon hundreds of the green blighters fill the air as they ascend their roost in Central Copse. They gain height and begin to splinter of in noisy chasing groups dispersing to all the points of the compass. Over 1,000 were counted leaving the roost on the 20th.
As much as we hate to admit, it is an amazing sight even though it is more suited to a jungle in northern India. As the sun creeps over the horizon, most of them have gone leaving a few stragglers and local birds.
Green Woodpecker
The first reported bird since the end of the monsoon season (also known as June) was on the 13th in the north west corner. Thereafter, it or others were noted occasionally.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
This species was noticeably thin on the ground (or thin on the sides of trees to be precise) with only a couple of known sightings during the month. A couple were knocking about on the 1st.
House Martin
This familiar bird is scarcely seen at The Scrubs so the 6 over on the 26th were a nice bonus.
Swallow
Autumn movement began late on the 28th when around 12 flew over in several groups including so high up that they appeared as dots. As usual, they were all heading north. Why?? Africa is to the south of us!
Meadow Pipit
There was a sudden dearth in numbers during August with numbers falling from just 6 birds on the 12th to none on some days. Towards the end of the month a couple sorry looking individuals were flushed from the grassland on a daily basis. Unusually, these birds did not call, but quietly dipped down soon after being flushed. Their bedraggled look was due to being in the middle of a moult.
Pied Wagtail
This was another species that has under performed numerically. Around 5 were seen on the 27th.
Yellow Wagtail
Our first birds of the autumn were reported on the 23rd when 2 flew over. Another singleton flew over on the 30th.
Wren
These small birds were still in song throughout the month. At least 4 were along Lester's Embankment on the 5th.
Dunnock
Low numbers were counted through the month.
Robin
The old Robin Redbreasts were in plentiful supply with at least 8 birds seen in the western half of the site alone on the 5th including a few juveniles.
Whinchat
An immature bird took up residence in the hogweed near the bramble patch by Lester's Embankment late in the month. We expect more in September.
Northern Wheatear
It was an extremely poor showing with the only bird of the period and our first of the autumn showing up on the 22nd.
Song Thrush
Quite a few were seen and heard in song at the beginning of the month with upwards of 8 birds reported on the 5th. A hiatus followed where very few birds were located until the dying days of the month.
This is usual for the time of year as the adults were keeping their heads down whilst they moulted.
August 2007 Sightings at Wormwood Scrubs
After our abysmal summer and eventually seeing the backs of the last of the major rain clouds roll away during August, we were left to reflect on the results of our labours thus far.
Put in blatant terms, at the end of August 2006 we had recorded 85 species for the year and had seen good numbers of some great species. Migrants like Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Northern Wheatear and Whinchat were almost numerous. Whilst birds like Redstart, Stonechat, Turtle Dove, Greenshank, Hobby, Skylark and Pied Flycatcher appeared at least once.
This year is a completely different story with 78 species seen this year so far and this August being particularly poor. Very few of the above-mentioned species have showed up in tiny numbers this month - if they have occurred at all. Okay, we can take some comfort in the knowledge that the scenario that we have experienced has been played out to a lesser or greater degree across the nation, but hey, this is Wormwood Scrubs - the migration hotspot!
Rant over. There's always September!
Contributors: Christine & Mike Adlem, David Jeffreys, Sue & Andrew Kerr, David Lindo, Roy Nuttall 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
Mistle Thrush
The only record this month was of around 6 on the 27th.
Blackbird
No real counts were made of this familiar species - itself quite thin on the ground for the same reasons as its spotted cousin the Song Thrush. However, at least 30 birds, including a good number of juveniles, were noticed on the 5th.
Garden Warbler
Our first autumn bird was discovered briefly in Chats Paddock on the 5th followed by another feeding on the Hawthorn in the same location on the 28th.
This skulking warbler at first glance is reminiscent of 'cap-less' Blackcap. At this time of the year the stockier build, more ponderous demeanour and plain appearance is striking.
Blackcap
As with last year, numbers of this fine songster dropped right off the radar during the month with an average count of around 4 being the norm - generally on par with August 2006. Having said that, over 20 including a few juveniles, were found on the 28th.
Lesser Whitethroat
This has possibly been one of its best breeding seasons on record if we take into account the amount of birds found rattling away deep within the bushes around The Scrubs. Some 5 males had territories. A family party of around 5 birds was seen briefly in the north west corner on the 5th consorting with a troop of Long-tailed Tits. Sightings, usually of singletons, were had throughout the month.
Common Whitethroat
Conversely, this warbler had a pretty bad breeding season perhaps partially due to their nests getting sodden by all the rain being so close to the ground. In addition, the low turnout of returning birds in the first place didn't bode well.
These engaging warblers were seen on a near daily basis with around 15 found around the site on the 24th.
Sedge Warbler
It's been a weird year when it comes to the occurrences of this riparian warbler at our beloved patch. The autumn passage seemingly started in July, a month earlier than usual. Then a bird was found skulking in the grassland on the 24th. This is the type of habitat you would expect to find a tired migrant at a coastal headland.
Willow Warbler
We experienced a light passage that commenced with 3 birds on the 20th and 21st with a couple of birds occasionally picked out during the rest of the month. The peak count was 6 birds on the 28th.
Chiffchaff
The autumn movement began early in the month with the notable disappearance of a lot of our birds, as observed in the Augusts of the last couple years. The maximum count was of around 8 birds on the 28th & 29th.
Last year at The Scrubs Chiffchaffs were outnumbered by their usually scarcer, longer winged more migratory brethren, the Willow Warbler. Not so this year, thus far.
Great Tit
Very few were noted earlier in the month. At least 20 were kicking around by the end of the month.
Blue Tit
Over 15 were counted on the 5th.
Long-tailed Tit
At least 30 were roaming on the 5th. The flocks were eagerly sifted through for wandering warblers tagging along.
Jay
The first of these colourful crows to be seen in a while was found on the 23rd along Lester's Embankment, thereafter birds were seen quite frequently.
Magpie
The usual number was noticed sidling through the trees with at least 30 including juveniles counted on the 5th.
Jackdaw
The only bird for the month was reported on the 2nd.
Carrion Crow
Our crows have rediscovered their zest for chasing parakeets maybe because they are feeling a bit overwhelmed or possibly because of boredom due to no large rare birds of prey passing over during the month! Over 200 were present on the 22nd with Chocco the chocolate coloured crow in their number.
Starling
Small flocks were roving the area during the month with around 80 on the 5th being the largest count. This time last year flocks were topping over 500 birds. Something is amiss here.
House Sparrow
This scarce species was noted a couple of times near Lester's Embankment early month. We also noticed that their roost in Central Copse was back in use again by moulting adults and juveniles attaining adult plumage. The gatherings were normally dispersing by the time we arrived therefore our counts of upwards of 40 birds leaving the roost was deemed as being the tip of the iceberg.
This theory was proven right when on the 29th over 136 sparrows emerged from the bushes in small parties. This constituted the biggest count yet for The Scrubs.
Goldfinch
Low numbers existed during the month. On the 5th a large 'charm' of over 200 birds was on the grassland with a further 80 in 'Dartford Enclosure' - the areas of fenced off thistles and bushes just west of the hospital car park. This number was reminiscent of the flocks of previous years.
Aside from that on most days we could only locate at most 80 birds and more usually around 40.
Linnet
Small numbers remained around Lester's Embankment through the month with 12 on the 29th being the most seen.
Greenfinch
Our resident population seemed to have disintegrated. Although around 30 birds including juveniles were present on the 12th mostly along Lester's Embankment, the normal number of birds encountered was far less with some days resulting in none being found.
Reed Bunting
A winter plumaged male was flushed from the grassland on the 30th.
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.
2007 Year List - thus far
Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Hobby, Kestrel, Moorhen, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Great Black-back, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, House Martin, Swallow, Sand Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting
78 species thus far