The Scrubbers (L-R) David Jeffreys, David Lindo & Roy Nuttall
Cormorant
The only bird of the period was on the 30th when a singleton was reported flying over.
Mute Swan
A first winter bird (told by it's dusky neck and head and dark bill) flew southeast over Lester's Embankment on the 28th. On the 30th a singleton flew over followed by a pair later. All were sub-adults.
Egyptian Goose
Our third ever record flapped over heading east on the 31st, though there was an unsubstantiated report of a pair waddling on the playing fields early in the month.
This introduced African bird is a mix between a goose and a duck that's most closely related to Shelducks.
Mallard
A pair flew over the Channel Tunnel Depot heading east on the 30th.
Kestrel
The usual female frequented the trees in Scrubs Lane Wood and within the northwest corner on most visits.
Snipe
A singleton headed high west over Lester's Embankment on the 31st.
Black-headed Gull
Numbers of this common gull climbed dramatically from last month, kicking off at around 95 birds on the 16th and rising to over 250 on the pitches on the 28th.
Common Gull
As with their commoner above-mentioned cousin, numbers of this bird also increased with more birds reported than in December last year. The peak count was on the 28th when at least 80 birds, our largest count this year, were amongst the Black-headed Gulls on the pitches.
Herring Gull
Small numbers were present throughout the period with a peak of around 30 mostly sub-adults flying over on the 30th.
Lesser Black-back
Slightly more birds than usual were counted over the few visits made during December with over 20 seen on the 30th.
Woodpigeon
It seems that just the local birds were present during the month with few noticed winging their way overhead unlike last December. The average count was of around 60 birds, though there were probably far more present.
Stock Dove
The only record for the month was of a single bird disturbed from drinking from a muddy puddle on the path adjacent to Lester's Embankment on the 30th.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Celebrations due to the fact that these noisy birds had seemingly deserted their roost in Central Copse were short lived. Like a bout of bad flu, they have come back with vengeance. An estimated 600 birds garrulously congregated at their roost over the Christmas period.
Green Woodpecker
A bird was heard calling on the 16th in the woods by Scrubs Lane, our first known report of this large woodpecker since September.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
A couple were back and at large on the 31st.
Skylark
A bird flew over the grassland on the 30th followed by 2 on the 31st.
Meadow Pipit
Our transient winter population dropped to around 8 birds during the month from the highs of up to 40 in November. This is quite normal for this time of year and numbers should start to build up again during January until birds start displaying again in March.
Pied Wagtail
A female was feeding on the tarmac of Braybrook Street on the 28th.
Wren
Only around 5 birds were noted during the month, particularly along Lester's Embankment.
Dunnock
Noted on every visit, around 6 birds were watched doing their shuffle-wing display along Lester's Embankment on the 30th.
Robin
At least 6 birds were found around The Scrubs on the 31st and they were the only ones counted during December.
Stonechat
Our winter population dropped from 3 to1 during the period, which is unusual as we normally retain a pair in December. It may be because a lot of the vegetation that they perch on in the grassland is dying off and perhaps the other member of the pair is beyond Lester's Embankment feeding amongst the plant life along the railway tracks.
Song Thrush
A few were song along Lester's Embankment during the month.
Redwing
A few birds were seen flying over on most visits during the month with 9 on the 30th the highest day count.
Fieldfare
At least 8 birds flew over on the 16th.
As 2007 at The Scrubs drew to a quiet close we took five minutes to reflect on the past 12 months. By far the best bird of the year was the amazing Richard's Pipit that graced the grassland in September, followed by the superb Dartford Warbler in Chats Paddock in October.
We also recorded Whimbrels, Curlews, a Grey Plover, a Cuckoo, Black Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel, a Pied Flycatcher, Little Egrets, a Mediterranean Gull and a Woodlark. Not a bad list of scarcities considering how rubbish the summer was weather wise and the generally low numbers of our regular migrants coupled with the complete absence of expected visitors such as Common Redstart.
With the inclusion of the exotic Egyptian Goose that flew over this month we managed to end the year on 87 species - 2 down on last year. This is an amazing total of species seen for a truly special inner-city site.
In 2008 we look forward to the discovery of more great birds, the stability of our resident bird populations (apart from Ring-necked Parakeets!) and the flourishing of our soon to be planted reed bed that will be situated within Martin Bell's Wood adjacent to the Pony Centre.
We can't wait!
GOOD BIRDING IN 2008!
Contributors: Chris Adlem, Kim Dixon, David Jeffreys, 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
Blackbird
Up to 10 birds were encountered on the 16th and 30th.
Blue Tit
This little birds have become quite scarce in recent months with some visits resulting in none being seen. At least 5 were on show on the 16th.
Great Tit
As with their smaller relative, Great Tits have been a little hard to come by of late and have sometimes not been seen at all. Four were seen on the 31st.
Long-tailed Tit
The largest flock reported was around 10 by Braybrook Street on the 16th.
Magpie
Not much change here for this long tailed, black and white with a dash of iridescent blue crow. Around 20 birds were noted on the 31st.
Carrion Crow
Around 100 birds were milling around during the month.
Starling
After seeing the large flocks of over 250 birds last month, we had to settle with a peak count of at least 80 on the 16th.
House Sparrow
This time of year House Sparrows can be pretty tricky to track down, especially if you arrive after they have left their roost in Central Copse. So around 15 in the bushes adjacent to Braybrook Street at the end of the month was a good find.
Chaffinch
Our tiny wintering population persisted with at least 5 found hanging out with the sparrows at Braybrook Street. This is probably a gross underestimate, as these birds love creeping around inconspicuously on the woodland floor.
Goldfinch
Very few were seen during the month with the maximum of 8 birds on the 30th.
Greenfinch
At least 20 were roaming the area on the 30th. At this time last year at least 40 birds were to be found.
Linnet
The pair that alighted on Lester's Embankment on the 31st were the first to be seen here since October.
Bullfinch
A bird flew out of Martin Bell's Wood on the 16th and was our first record of this secretive finch since September.
Reed Bunting
The grassland and Lester's Embankment played host to a series of records during the month that lead us to believe that they may have involved the same birds that had obviously stuck around. A bird was heard calling and seen briefly in the grassland on the 16th. Another was seen along Lester's Embankment on the 26th and 2 females and a male were 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
Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Hobby, Kestrel, Moorhen, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Snipe, Woodcock, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Great Black-back, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Woodlark, House Martin, Swallow, Sand Martin, Richard's Pipit, 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, Dartford Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting87 species