Looking east to Martin Bell's Wood
Chiffchaff
Our earliest ever returning bird was found flitting in the bushes along the edge of Martin Bell's Wood on the 11th. Another bird was heard quietly singing near Chats Paddock on the same day.
Thereafter, there was a steady influx of birds culminating in around 12 birds (at least 8 singing) on the 31st.
Great Tit
Several pairs were observed cavorting around in the wooded areas with at least 15 counted on the 11th.Blue Tit
This attractive was prevalent throughout the site though no counts were made - as usual.
Long-tailed Tit
Pairs were watched busily constructing their intricate ball nests. Up to 8 birds were discovered on the 11th.
Jay
A couple were glimpsed darting through the treetops during the month.
Magpie
At least 20 birds were chattering raucously and chasing themselves around the Scrubs on the 7th. However, at least 45 were counted on the 8th including 17 in one tree in Martin Bell's Wood!
Jackdaw
Small numbers of this diminutive corvid were seen throughout the month raising hopes of breeding in the vicinity. Usually seen in pairs though a group of 7 frequented the general area till the month's end.
Rook
Our 5th ever record for Wormwood Scrubs flew over in the company of a Jackdaw on the 7th. This particular Rook was our earliest ever. Meanwhile, over at nearby Kensal Green Cemetery another Rook was watched casually flapping over in the direction of the Scrubs. It would have constituted our 6th record - had someone been here to see it!
Carrion Crow
The usual ubiquitous marauding mobs were to found. Around 180 birds were counted on the 11th. Worryingly, many of these scavengers had taken to foraging in the grassland - of course the breeding area for the ground nesting Meadow Pipits.
Starling
Good numbers were counted during March with over 450 on the 4th being especially good. Over 200 were watched hawking insects over the grassland on 27th.
House Sparrow
The occasional chirp is usually as good as it got when it came to evidence of this bird's existence at the Scrubs. So 10 birds sighted along Braybrook Street was a welcomed change. Also of note were the 4 birds sighted flying out of the Central Copse on the 31st.
Chaffinch
It is hard to believe that this is one of the most common birds in Britain. Out of an estimated 10 million birds, the Scrubs was home to on average around 3 of them during the month!
Having said that, at least 15 were counted on the 5th and around 8 on the 8th including a singing male. Up the road at Kensal Green Cemetery at least 4 males were in song.
Greenfinch
This is by far the most common finch in the park with at least 30 birds present. There were many males displaying, especially along Lester's Embankment.
Linnet
Our small colony has begun to re-establish along Lester's Embankment with at least 10 birds present on the 13th.
At least 10 birds were still present in St Mary's Cemetery throughout the month.
Goldfinch
Around 10 birds were to be found in Martin Bell's Wood and the eastern portion of Scrubs Lane Wood during the month.
Bullfinch
A pair of these secretive finches seemed to have settled in Chats Paddock.
Wren
The usual numbers were encountered during the month with a grossly underestimated count of 5 was made on the 7th.
Dunnock
At least 20 were seen on the 11th with the majority along Lester's Embankment.
Robin
As per usual, no specific counts were made, however at least 15 were casually noticed on the 11th.
Stonechat
Our wintering pair, or at least the female, was rediscovered again for the last time this winter on the 4th in and around the bramble patch opposite Lester's Embankment - the traditional wintering area of choice.
Interestingly, a male was discovered on the same day on the eastern side of the park in the small enclosure opposite Scrubs Lane Wood. Stonechats are rarely seen outside the grassland areas. Perhaps this male was a migrant.
Song Thrush
Up to 12 birds were seen on the 7th with many in song throughout the month.
Redwing
Stragglers continued to be noted to the month's end. A break to the norm occurred on the 11th when over 100 were counted followed by around 30 on the 13th.
Fieldfare
Known as the Royal Thrush in Spain, this corking bird was similarly in short supply during the month with far fewer seen than last March. Over 30 birds were roving, generally heading east, with a few Redwings on the 4th.
Blackbird
This common and excellent songster was in good form during March with at least 20 recorded daily.
Mistle Thrush
A male was heard singing near the pony centre on the 31st.
Blackcap
The sweet warble of this the 'Northern Nightingale' was heard for the time on the 31st. This was our earliest ever, however, we were pipped to the post by Kensal Green Cemetery which recorded its first on the 16th.
Willow Warbler
Potentially the first report for London this spring (along with a bird found at the Wetland Centre on the same day) and our earliest ever record was heard singing in the north east corner of Scrubs Lane Wood on the 31st. We normally see this long distance migrant in mid-April.
March 2007 Sightings at Wormwood Scrubs
March was largely a cold, overcast time with some rain and even snow flurries with a brief period of almost spring-like weather. This weather system may have had something to do with the general lack of summer migrants. By the end of March we should have been celebrating the arrival of our returning Northern Wheatears and Swallows. They were nowhere to be seen. We did record early Chiffchaffs and a solitary Willow Warbler and Blackcap though.
Nearby Kensal Green Cemetery and adjoining St Mary's Cemetery were the places to be during March. The top sightings were a pair of Peregrines on the 22nd, a Common Buzzard drifting over on the 25th (there was a belated report of an overflying bird at the Scrubs in February) and an early, quietly singing Blackcap on the 16th. We will be keeping a loose eye on these neighbouring sites.
Situated a quarter of a mile northeast of the Scrubs, KG Cemetery is 77 acres of light mixed woodland interspersed with fairly ancient tombs, mausoleums and graves. St Mary's Cemetery adjoins from the northwest and is approximately 50 acres. Its landscape is starker and distinctly eerier than KG's as it consists of legions of bleak headstones with little in the way of tree cover.
The general lack of migrants was a national feature during March with the breakthrough finally occurring towards the last few days of the month. Who knows what April will bring, if last year's anything to go by, then quite a lot.
Finally, of mammalian interest, a Rabbit was present for 2 days on the edge of Scrubs Lane Wood from the 17th.
Contributors: 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
Cormorant
Birds were seen purposefully flying over on a near daily basis with 7 on the 21st the largest count.
Grey Heron
The only bird of the period was reported flying over being mobbed by crows on the 27th.
Mute Swan
A pair flew parallel with Lester's Embankment on the 7th and on the 13th 2 headed over from the direction of the canal.
Canada Goose
Small numbers continued to pass over occasionally with 10 on the 15th being the largest.
Mallard
The annual rash of reports began with our first record for the year concerning a couple birds on the 7th. History tells us that until they begin their moult during the summer, we will be seeing them quite frequently.
Sparrowhawk
Our first bird of the year was a male on the 11th that was quickly shepherded out by the crows. It was our only known record.
Kestrel
A male briefly appeared in the northwest corner to be immediately set upon by some crows. Further brief sightings occurred during the month.
Exploring our immediate vicinity has revealed that Kestrels (perhaps our visitors) also frequent the adjoining Little Wormwood Scrubs and on the waste ground belonging to the Peabody Trust behind Sainsbury's, Ladbroke Grove.
Moorhen
Surprisingly, a bird was observed calmly strolling between Lester's Embankment and the passage behind Chats Paddock on the 21st.
Snipe
A bird was watched zig-zagging away towards Braybrook Street on the 15th.
Black-headed Gull
Rather more birds were found around the site than March last year. At least 300 birds were counted on the 5th. The vast majority were summer plumage adults though a fair number were just attaining their familiar brown hood.
Numbers dramatically dropped into the low teens around mid-month onwards with very few if any on the deck.
Common Gull
Carrying on from last month our winter population remained fairly constant with a peak of around 45 birds counted on the 5th and the 13th. Thereafter, birds began to dissipate to a couple birds every now and again.
Herring Gull
Small numbers passed through usually overhead. These birds probably breed nearby in Paddington and Regents Park as they invariably seem to be heading in that direction.
Lesser Black-back
This gull very rarely numbers more than 10 birds during an average morning. In fact, we have to go back to October last year to for a halfway respectable count that exceeded 30 birds. We feel that we miss quite a few birds flying over as we concentrate on the terrestrial avian life.
Great Black-back
March is the classic month to see this massive gull at the Scrubs. This year was no different, other than we had 3 separate records. A 2nd winter bird flew over the prison on the 13th, 2 adults flapped over on the 15th and a 1st winter bird on the 23rd again over the prison.
Woodpigeon
No specific counts were made apart from on the 7th when over 200 birds were noted.
Stock Dove
Despite the presence of up to 5 pairs in nearby Kensal Green Cemetery this cute pigeon is often scarcely detected in our airspace. Our only records this month was of singletons over on the 5th and 15th.
Collared Dove
Our first bird of the year flew over the grassland on the 15th after which a couple more were seen by the month's end.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Ever present and ever heard, this parakeet is a firm fixture in our avian scene. You cannot fail to notice these birds especially if you are in the Central Copse first thing in the morning as they noisily leave this growing roost. At least 60 emerged from there on the 31st.
Green Woodpecker
The usual birds loudly roamed the woodland areas, particularly along the northern edge of Scrubs Lane Wood near Chats Paddock.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
A couple of pairs may be at large with the pair near the pony centre particularly noticeable.
Skylark
This has been a poor late winter/spring for this declining farmland bird. Our 2nd bird of the year flew over the football pitches on the 13th.
Meadow Pipit
The first displaying birds were watched 'parachuting' on the 4th involving 3 males. On the 7th as many as 22 were skipping in and around the grassland and up to 4 males were displaying on the 11th.
Pied Wagtail
Sporadic sightings were had throughout the month.
Grey Wagtail
A couple birds were distantly seen and heard north of the embankment on the 15th.
2007 Year List - thus far
Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Great Black-back, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch
49 species thus far