December sunrise
Cormorant
As usual, only a couple were seen during the month.
Canada Goose
The paucity of records continues with only a handful seen the whole month. This garrulous species' general decrease has been going on unnoticed for at least a year.
As mentioned in last month's report, the increased disturbance on the football pitches plus the development of is grazing pitches adjacent to Du Cane Road have not helped.
Mallard
These days you seem more likely to witness a Mute Swan winging its way over than this supposedly more numerically numerous waterfowl. There was only one record of 3 birds on the 15th.
Sparrowhawk
A male and female were seen separately on the 15th.
Kestrel
A female was seen on a couple of occasions during the month.
Peregrine
A raptor fitting the description of this magnificent bird was reported by the groundsmen in early December. They saw a large bird of prey with 'pointier wings' than a Kestrel heading west at incredible speed from the direction of the gasworks at fairly high altitude. It then dramatically banked over the prison and hospital putting up the gulls, pigeons and crows in its wake.
This represents our 3rd record and 2nd this year. As previously discussed, we believe that this falcon probably occurs at The Scrubs a lot more frequently than is detected.
Black-headed Gull
Over 100 were counted on the 26th.
Common Gull
Numbers are slowly beginning to build up with at least 20 birds present on the 15th and over 25 on the 26th.
Herring Gull
As with last month, numbers continued to build albeit very slowly with around 15 seen on the 17th building to over 25 on the 26th.
Lesser Black-back
December was a continuation of last month with fairly low numbers present with just 20 birds counted on the 26th.
Great Black-back
Unseasonally for us, an adult was observed languidly flapping eastwards on the 26th. We normally get to grips with this huge gull during February/March time.
Stock Dove
The only records for this month were all on the same day, the 15th, when a flock of 20 headed north accompanied by a lone Woodpigeon. This flock represented the 2nd largest number ever recorded. The largest count occurred in September 2005 when some 300 birds flew over mingled in a massive movement of over 10,000 Woodpigeons.
The 2nd record on the 15th was of a singleton, possibly a local bird that landed on the pitches amongst the loafing gulls later that morning.
Woodpigeon
A light passage continued through the start of December with up to 350 passing overhead on the 15th. Interestingly, these birds were heading from the south west.
Collared Dove
After an absence of a month 2 flew over on the 15th followed by a loner on the 28th.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The usual suspects were lurking around the site during the month and the roost in Central Copse is now firmly established with over 100 birds observed leaving one morning.
Green Woodpecker
A single bird was observed or at least heard along the northern edge on most days.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
This familiar bird was seen most days with 3 reported on the 27th.
Meadow Pipit
Numbers remained consistent with last month with no more than 15 reported at any one time.
Pied Wagtail
A couple were present on most visits.
Wren
The usual numbers were observed across the month with several singing birds recorded.
Dunnock
As usual, this unobtrusive bird was especially prevalent along the embankment.
Robin
At least 10 birds were counted with several found singing.
Winter at The Scrubs is usually a subdued affair and birders become as rare as some of our winter visitors. Thoughts swing to mince pies, Christmas shopping, stress, vast quantities of alcohol and more mince pies. The notion of walking through the dark, rainy, cold and often birdless grassland is the last thing one thinks of when the alarm goes off and you roll over for another half hour in your warm bed.
So although 2006 drew to a quiet close with little in the way of surprises, an urban birder has to show resilience and must truly believe that good birds are there to be found. And even when all hope of adding further species to our ever-growing list proved futile as in December, there were still a few good birds to be seen with the reported Peregrine topping the bill.
So basically, if you are not there to see it, then you won't see it!
In the London-wide Patch Watch competition we ended up mid table on 89 species (91 with everybody else's records taken into consideration). That is over 84% of all the birds ever seen here since 1980 making 2006 the best birding year ever!
So on that note - a big thank you to all the people who submitted records either verbally or by email and also to the tiny army of dedicated and casual birders who have covered this site throughout the year.
If you've never been birding at the Scrubs then why not give it a try in 2007!
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOOD BIRDING!
Contributors: Frank Clarke, David Jefferies, 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
Stonechat
Our resident pair became increasingly difficult to track down and indeed they were only seen twice (on the 15th and 28th) during December. Interestingly, 3 were seen on the 9th. Where they get to the rest of the time is currently a mystery.
Song Thrush
Singing birds punctuated the avian chorus during December, especially along the embankment where at least 2 males were holding territory. It almost felt like spring!
Redwing
After the strong passage in early November, sightings now are of the occasional bird flying over. A more thorough check resulted in small single figure flocks being found deep in the woodland especially in Central Copse and Martin Bell's Wood.
Fieldfare
After no sign all month, at least 12 were counted on the 28th. A few of which were discovered in the tall trees of Central Copse.
Blackbird
At least 10 birds were counted on the 15th.
Long-tailed Tit
Roving birds persisted during the month with maybe 20 birds present on the 15th.
Great Tit
Although birds were still present in the small roving tit flocks it seems that most of our birds have moved off into the surrounding gardens were food supplies are more readily available.
Blue Tit
As with the other tits, our birds have largely moved into the local gardens. Over 20 were located on the 15th.
Magpie
This common corvid was much in evidence during the month with at least 20 around on the 15th.
Jay
The usual wintering pair roamed the area during the month. A third bird was found on the 17th.
Carrion Crow
The usual crew were found milling around during the month with at least 180 counted towards the end of the month.
Starling
Small flocks still ranged usually along the housing on Braybrook Street and on the football pitches. Over 50 were counted on the 15th.
House Sparrow
None were seen during December, though chirping was heard from Braybrook Street on the 15th.
It is very weird that the roost in Central Copse that was established during the summer is all but abandoned now. The sparrows there have now been replaced by Greenfinches.
Chaffinch
Small numbers were found in various wooded areas around the park.
Greenfinch
This was a good month for this common finch with the majority of the 40 or so birds present residing in Central Copse.
Goldfinch
Very few were encountered during the month and usually in single number flocks.
Reed Bunting
A fine moulting male was discovered along the edge of the Central Copse on the 17th. It performed at fairly close range in the beautiful sunlight.
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.