A classic summer sign - a juvenile Goldfinch (A. Kerr)
Cormorant
The usual paucity of sightings persisted during July.
Canada Goose
The only known report was an aural one of several honking in the distance on the 30th.
Sparrowhawk
The birds that have almost certainly bred in nearby Kensal Green Cemetery were making sporadic hunting visits during the month seeking out our finches.
Kestrel
A small family party consisting of 2 nosily calling juveniles were present on the 1st. Subsequently; the odd singleton (usually the female) was seen fairly frequently throughout the rest of the month.
Curlew
Our 2nd ever Curlew was watched from the grassland on the 2nd circuiting Central Copse after seemingly being flushed from the ground. If flew around for about 5 minutes at low level before heading off towards the Scrubs Lane car park and subsequently disappearing.
Black-headed Gull
Slowly, moulting adults began to appear fresh from their breeding grounds. The daily maxima rarely exceeded 20 birds.
Mediterranean Gull
A moulting summer adult replete with black hood flew over heading west with around 13 Black-headed Gulls on the 8th. This was our 5th record in the past 4 years of this gorgeous gull.
Common Gull
Our earliest returning winter bird was an adult that winged its way low west over the grassland on the 30th.
Lesser Black-back
The usual 4 or so patrolled the area. No great shakes here.
Herring Gull
Low numbers floated overhead during the month with a peak count of over 9 birds on the 5th.
Woodpigeon
This familiar pigeon was encountered with the usual regularity with perhaps around 100 birds resident.
Swift
Numbers began to dwindle during the month, possibly due to the adverse weather conditions. Around 40 birds were seen daily for the first half of the period peaking to around 100 on the 17th.
Maybe some of these birds are beginning to drift back to Africa after the washout of a summer we have had thus far.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
We have decided that come late August we will venture out in the evenings to assess the roosting flocks to see if the numbers have risen.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
A pair was noticed in the trees between Braybrook Street and in the north western corner. The latter area was also the site were a juvenile bird was found foraging on the 5th.
Skylark
A solitary bird was twice picked up hovering over the grassland briefly before plummeting into cover on the 5th. Another bird was seen on the 17th. This lark is rare here during the summer.
Sand Martin
At least 7 birds headed purposefully northwest on the 5th.
Swallow
This was another unusual entrant on The Scrubs July bird list with around 4 heading west over Scrubs Lane car park on the 29th.
Meadow Pipit
Birds were still displaying way into the month - perhaps a sign that some of their nests may have been washed out during the rains and that they were starting over. At least 18 were counted on the 17th.
Pied Wagtail
Despite the presence of a pair by the stadium there has not been any sightings of the youngsters as yet.
Wren
The usual birds were to be seen, especially around the northern edge of the site.
Dunnock
Very few were recorded this month.
Robin
Much in evidence with a few fledglings noticed.
Song Thrush
Young birds were evident especially along Lester's Embankment.
Mistle Thrush
The by now annual appearance of a family party that frequents the southern environs of The Scrubs was well evident, albeit earlier than usual, as we normally play host to these birds during the late summer.
At least 6 birds were involved during the start of the month with 2 juveniles observed on the stadium grass on the 2nd.
July 2007 Sightings at Wormwood Scrubs
After last month's washout we looked forward to the onset of July with hope in our hearts as we longed to be reminded of what the British sun looked like. Alas, we were to be disappointed. It rained and then it rained some more. Then on one day, in less than 24 hours many areas had one month's worth of rain - with dire and well-documented consequences.
Thankfully, we avoided the devastating floods, but the glum, wet weather was enough to drive away even the most hardiest birder. When it came to ornithology, The Scrubs was a largely deserted place during July.
Despite the lack of visits, two great species were discovered quite out of the blue. Our 2nd ever Curlew toured Central Copse before disappearing off towards Scrubs Lane. A few days later, a gorgeous Mediterranean Gull was picked out in a flock of Black-headed Gulls that were heading over. These kinds of discoveries make it all worthwhile!
Finally, thanks to all who turned up for the Summer Bird Walk on the 29th. Although nothing hugely unusual was seen, at least it didn't rain!
Contributors: 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
There was no shortage of these endearing thrushes.
Blackcap
At least a couple males were still singing at the beginning of the month and small family parties were noted throughout the period.
Lesser Whitethroat
A male was still singing in Martin Bell's Woods at the month's start whilst a bird was watched preening out in the open on the 29th.
Common Whitethroat
Up to 20 were noticed and a couple were heard singing on the 2nd especially in the grassland and along Lester's Embankment.
Sedge Warbler
An unseasonal bird was discovered singing hidden in a thicket in Chats Paddock on the 1st followed by another singer on the 5th by the dog exercise area.
These reports are unusual because our spring migrants usually disappear during mid June and returning migrants start appearing during August. Could these particular birds be failed breeders slowly heading back south a month early?
Chiffchaff
This warbler has been particularly prominent along the northern edge of the site as well as along the eastern boundary in Scrubs Lane Wood. A singing bird was heard from Martin Bell's Wood on the 1st and juveniles were seen on the 5th in the north western corner.
Great Tit
Absolutely no counts were made this month.
Blue Tit
A few were seen but none counted.
Long-tailed Tit
This perky little bird was barely recorded this month.
Magpie
At least 20 birds were counted on the 1st including juveniles.
Carrion Crow
At least 100 were marauding on the 1st including the elusive 'Choco', our chocolate-coloured crow.
Starling
The autumnal gathering began to build with at least 200 birds on the 30th swirling around the grassland at the beginning of the month. Most of these birds were this summer's youngsters and included a very pallid individual amongst their number.
Any thoughts of this bird being a very rare juvenile Rose-coloured Starling from eastern Europe and beyond were quickly dashed when It was noted that it exhibited none of that species characteristics - a thick, pale thrush-like bill, sandy brown upperparts and whitish underparts. It was a bog standard, if pale, European Starling!
House Sparrow
After a brief summer high with up to 30 seen last month, numbers dropped right back during July with the bulk of the sightings from their ancestral home in Braybrook Street.
Chaffinch
The only record this month was of a pair by the cottage bordering Old Oak Common Lane on the 30th.
Linnet
The largest flocks yet occurred during the early days of the month with upwards of 40 birds roaming the grassland. They actually outnumbered the usually far more numerous Goldfinches. The tables were turned by the 30th when only 20 could be found compared to over 120 Goldfinches.
Goldfinch
As exposed by the Linnets, numbers were far below their usual amount with just 10 birds counted on the grassland on the 1st. This figure rose, however, to over 120 by the month's end.
Greenfinch
Over 30 birds frequented the embankment area alone on the 1st. These gatherings comprised of a lot of juveniles.
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