Honey Buzzard (Steve Daly)
Cormorant
Larger numbers than normal were recorded this month with 5 seen heading east on the 1st and 8 on the 10th. Our largest count of the year thus far was 20 seen on the 14th that included a wavering flock of 18 heading south towards the Thames.
Grey Heron
At least 4 birds reported during the month was pretty good going as we sometimes struggle to see just one.
Mute Swan
September was a good month for swans. An adult flew west over Scrubs Lane Wood on the 8th, another headed over on the 15th and a pair flew low east over Scrubs Lane Wood on the 16th.
Canada Goose
Honking autumnal flocks were occasionally sighted heading low overhead, no doubt after being flushed from their grazing areas on the local school grounds. The biggest count was at least 22 on the 8th.
Mallard
The only reports were of a singleton on the 6th and 3 seen on the 15th and the 28th.
Osprey
‘Oh My God!!’ was one of the few repeatable quotes made at the scene whilst this first for The Scrubs drifted over Chats Paddock and west over Lester’s Embankment on the 14th. It was watched in brilliant light and at fairly close quarters. Inevitably, It was discovered and mobbed by a crow as it passed over the embankment causing it to pick up speed and head steadily west. Due to the slight ruddy hue to its upper tail and the general ‘scaley’ look to its mantle it was aged as an immature.
During early to mid September there was a national influx of these fish-eating hawks and Honey Buzzards almost to the scale of the previous ‘invasion’ back in 2000. There were even several Ospreys reported in London with a further 2 being seen on the same morning as our bird, over north London.
Honey Buzzard
A dark morph (mostly chocolate brown) was watched through disbelieving eyes on the 10th as it drifted low south west over the rooftops of Braybrook Street pursued by about half the crow population of west London!
Indeed, it was the crows that first drew the attention to this elegant and extremely rare relative of the Red Kite. The sky seemed filled with at least a couple hundred crows and a peppering of Starlings, all agitated but strangely, not calling. At the heart of this near silent melee was a small nucleus of crows that were actively mobbing the ‘HB’. Although superficially similar to Common Buzzard, ‘HB’s’ are less bulky. They give away their relationship to kites by their languid flight, gliding on gently bowed wings (Common Buzzards coast with their wings in a shallow ‘V’) and much kite-like tail twisting.
This bird soon disappeared and it or another was relocated less than an hour later, low over the north west corner of Richmond Park were it remained for about 45 minutes before heading off south west. It was part of an incredible invasion of birds from Scandinavia on their way south to Africa. Incredibly, over 850 were recorded nationally in the week that we saw our bird! That’s pretty mind boggling when you consider that the British population is not more than around 10 pairs.
Amazingly, this is the 2nd record for Wormwood Scrubs. The first was also a dark morph on 22nd August 2004.
Common Buzzard
Again, we have the crows to thank for pointing out this nationally common raptor. It was a familiar story: hoards of crows all up at once mobbing a large bird of prey over the rooftops of Braybrook Street. Our bird had the typical Buzzard shape: bulky, typical Buzzard underwing pattern and when gliding it held its wings in a gentle ‘V’.
Although this was officially the area’s 2nd ever record, these birds have doubtless been recorded here on many occasions over the years by several non-birding Scrubs visitors. Some of these people (mostly dogwalkers) have had a lot of experience with Buzzards having watched them regularly in the country.
Sparrowhawk
As per normal for this time of year, sightings of this ambush specialist continued on a practically daily basis. At least a pair operated in the area with Central Copse and Braybrook Woods and environs being the hunting grounds of choice. Most of time they would have slipped in and out unnoticed if it wasn’t for the ever vigilant crows alerting us to their presence.
Kestrel
Our usual couple of juveniles were trying to eke out a living, hovering over the grassland, whilst warding off the attentions of our pugnacious crow population. Occasionally an adult male also visited the area.
Black-headed Gull
Small numbers drifted overhead with some of the birds seemingly flying from the school fields on nearby Du Cane Road. The maximum count was of around 60 on the 10th.
Herring Gull
As with previous autumns, larger congregations were noted overhead with around 25 on the 3rd and 30 on the 14th and 24th being significant.
Lesser Black-back
Despite the increased numbers of their close relative, the slightly less gruff voiced Herring Gull, sightings of Lessers did not match. We never saw more than 10 birds.
Collared Dove
A pair of this locally scarce dove heading over on the 18th and was our only record during the period.
Woodpigeon
Quite large numbers were present at ground level, augmented by the profusion of juveniles. At least 150 were counted on the 17th and 250 were noticed on the 19th including 140 on the Linford Christie Stadium grass.
Stock Dove
A handful of birds flying over during the month were our only records this month.
Tawny Owl
After the years of nocturnal spring visits listening out for their characteristic calls drawed a blank we had come to the conclusion that our patch was in an owl-free zone. Imagine our shock hearing a short hoot rung out from within the small belt of trees at the extreme western end of Lester’s Embankment, whilst watching Stonechats on the 29th!
Although not seen, we can only imagine that this bird is a dispersing youngster. It was our first ever record.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
A casual almost dismissive count of around 20 birds was made on the 8th. This noisy bird continued to exist at The Scrubs and we successfully did our best to ignore them!
Green Woodpecker
This large woodpecker has become something of a scarcity here with few sightings made throughout the year. A female was watched feeding on the ground on the 28th. Unusually, there had been no reports of youngsters this autumn.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Following on from August, our resident pair was seldom noticed. The best day was on the 18th when a pair was knocking around the Lester’s Embankment area. The female was watched at very close range, inspecting a tree trunk in the north west corner.
Skylark
The first for the autumn flew in calling and was watched on the deck for a short while on the 15th and another was seen on the 20th.
Sand Martin
Our only September flock consisted on around 10 birds migrating with Swallows on the 8th.
House Martin
A couple of these locally rare birds were reported passing through by the groundsmen on the 8th – which was generally an excellent day for hirundine movement. On the 24th, 6 more birds were noted on migration.
Swallow
There was quite a reasonable passage of birds during the month that easily out did August’s poor showing. The movement involved some 230 birds including around 65 birds on the 8th, at least 4 of which lingered for a while to patrol the grass verge along Braybrook Street.
The overall figure we came up with was a vast underestimate considering that we are only taking into account the birds seen during a couple hours in the mornings. Many more pass through during the course of the day.
Meadow Pipit
The return of the m’pit was a slow starter. After not seeing any from mid June through to early August, the maximum count on any given morning never exceeded 4 birds until the 3rd when there were 8. The whole thing went into overdrive when at least 110 were present on the 14th and over a 100 on the 21st. After that high there was a daily minimum of at least 50 present.
Tree Pipit
Our first bird of the autumn was flushed in Chats Paddock on the 3rd, which was the exact same date that our first autumn bird was seen in 2007. Another was flushed and seen at close range in the same location on the 21st. Clearly, any pipit flushed away from the grassland deserves a second look.
Calling birds are a lot easier to decipher, as their utterances are quite distinctive. This was clearly demonstrated by a bird that flew over Chats Paddock on the 11th.
Pied Wagtail
A local movement of birds was noted during the month with ones and twos seen passing overhead. There were no gatherings to equal the size of last month’s flocks
Grey Wagtail
We witnessed a daily small flurry consisting of up to a couple of these riparian inhabitants passing overhead for a few days during the month. Most of the birds were flyovers, but a pair was found feeding on the path by the pony centre on the 28th.
Yellow Wagtail
Following on from our first autumnal bird on the 31st August, this month saw upwards of 28 of these delightful wagtails traversing our airspace. This is a record breaking total especially as recently as in 2004 they were considered as being a scarce migrant.
The 14th was a special day because we had our biggest day count of around 12 birds. At least 2 immatures chose to delay their migration and hang out with the Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches in the grassland, a sight that we have never beheld here before.
The winged messenger presented the scroll to the assembled gods. The main god picked up the document and began to read it. This bloke had a typical god-like appearance; pointy white beard adjoining full ‘tash’ and wore a white tunic. His expression changed as he scanned the parchment as it was the August 2008 Scrubs Bird Report. He turned to the other gods. ‘’Those bloody birders at The Scrubs are moaning again. They want to see a Red Kite fly over their patch. What do you think my brothers and sisters?’’
After a short discussion they came to an agreement. The main god turned to the messenger and handed him a parcel. ‘’They’re not a bad bunch. Now make haste.’’ The messenger turned and sped off.
We didn’t get the Red Kite that we so craved for in September, but instead we were sent a superb triumvirate of large birds of prey. Our first ever Osprey, second ever Honey Buzzard, our second ever confirmed Common Buzzard plus for good measure a Dartford Warbler, our first Tawny Owl and good numbers of some nice passage migrants including superb numbers of Yellow Wagtails and our first long awaited Spotted Flycatcher of 2008!
We didn’t deserve such riches!
September more than exceeded the tag of being the best month of the year to be watching birds at The Scrubs. At the close of the month we had even clocked up more varieties than any previous year – 92 species - and we still have three months to go!
God was a DJ, but now he’s a birder!
Contributors: Mathew Bournat, Malcolm Chettleburgh, 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
Wren
Up to 5 were noted on the 7th, especially from around the bramble patch.
Dunnock
At least 5 birds were milling around the vicinity of Lester’s Embankment on the 7th.
Robin
Around 8 were noticed on the 28th including a sub-adult feeding outside Chats Paddock on the 28th with a tiny dull bib.
Northern Wheatear
Although better that last autumn, 2008 has been a poor year for this attractive relative of the thrushes. Reports included a female seen by birders and groundsmen alike by the rugby posts near Scrubs Lane Wood on the 2nd, a flighty male on the 3rd and other single males on the 8th and 11th.
Whinchat
Our unofficial emblematic bird had an almost daily presence on the grassland, particularly on the hogweedy stuff around the bramble patch adjacent to Lester’s Embankment. Initially, a different juvenile to the long stayer found in mid August took up temporary residence at the beginning of the month. By the 5th a female had taken its place and 4 birds took up intermittent residency from the 8th dropping to 2 birds by the month’s end.
Stonechat
A first winter bird was found in close association with a similarly aged Whinchat by the hogweed stuff near our mythical bramble patch by Lester’s Embankment on the 17th. This youngster constituted our first for the winter, a day earlier than last year. Our wintering ‘flock’ arrived on the 24th when at least 3 birds dropped anchor.
Song Thrush
Apart from the usual sporadic sightings of birds commuting across the grassland, at least 10 birds were buzzing around Martin Bell’s Wood and Lester’s Embankment on the 28th. It was tempting to think that these birds were continental migrants.
Mistle Thrush
This scarce thrush was recorded on a couple of occasions during September with 1 seen flying over on the 14th and another winged its way over the grassland on the 24th.
Blackbird
Now is the season where all black/dark thrushes are examined very closely for the possibility of a passing Ring Ouzel. This quest revealed that our Blackbird numbers had dropped somewhat. At least 10 juveniles were at large on the 7th in Martin Bell’s Wood.
Blackcap
Our local birds had well and truly disappeared by the end of August, so a fall of around 6 birds on the 6th was a most welcome sight. At least 3 birds were still present on the following day. A few were seen subsequently with last September birds being a couple seen in the Southern Copse on the 19th.
Garden Warbler
Possibly the last bird of the autumn was detected at close quarters in Chats Paddock on the 3rd – a day earlier than the latest ever recorded on the 4th September 2005.
Lesser Whitethroat
Our summer residing birds had presumably moved on and the species was much less in evidence than in September 2007 when small numbers were seen during the month. A singleton was observed on the 1st.
Common Whitethroat
It almost feels that this common warbler had only arrived 5 minutes ago and was leaving already. Most, it seemed, had departed in August with only the occasional bird seen during September, especially on the bramble patch adjacent to Lester’s Embankment. The small fall of migrants grounded by the persistent rain on the 7th resulted in at least 10 birds being located, mostly on Lester’s Embankment. The last birds seen were 2 immatures and an adult on the 21st.
Dartford Warbler
Our 5th ever and 2nd in 2 years was discovered in the grassland amongst 4 Stonechats on the 28th. It was quite a ruddy looking male that was watched in the bright morning sunlight. Within 15 minutes the entire ensemble disappeared never to be refound, despite searching.
This essentially Mediterranean species is a heathland specialist found predominately in southern England and parts of Suffolk. In London, they are a rarity and one may occasionally winter in Richmond Park. Our bird was apparently the first to be reported in the capital this winter.
Sedge Warbler
A bird was briefly seen as it was flushed in the grassland on the 4th and an immature was seen at very close range there on the 14th. This latter bird was possibly our latest yet.
Reed Warbler
Our only September record for perhaps 10 years occurred on the rainy morning of the 7th when a singleton was seen in loose association with a party of Chiffchaff roving through the bushes of Central Copse
Willow Warbler
At least one was seen near the Community Centre at Braybrook Street on the 3rd, which was exactly the same date we saw the last bird of the autumn last year. Another was heard calling from Chats Paddock on the 4th. The latest ever Willow Warblers were on the 19th September 2004.
Chiffchaff
A sprinkling of birds was roving around the park amongst the various assorted tit flocks during September. Up to 6 were in the company of a lone Reed Warbler on the 7th and 9 were found on the 12th. The biggest number seen and heard was on the 17th and 21st when at least 20 were roaming the area.
Spotted Flycatcher
At long last our first for the year was gratefully seen on the tallest tree in the Southern Copse on the 8th. We were delighted and relieved, especially given our unadulterated jealousy on hearing about the veritable ‘flocks’ that cavorted, seemingly all month, in the trees of neighbouring Kensal Green Cemetery!
For the record, our latest bird was on 22nd September 1993 making this bird the 2nd latest ever.
Great Tit
Fairly good numbers were seen throughout the month with up to 12 on the 9th.
Blue Tit
This little bird was ever present with at least 12 counted on the 8th, over 20 the following day and at least 22 on the 18th.
Long-tailed Tit
At least 20 birds were trooping on the 18th.
Jay
Our recently resident threesome began to multiply in number from the 10th onwards. At least 9 were encountered on the 19th and included a group of 6 that flew into Scrubs Lane Wood from the east. There were perhaps 10 plus at large on the 29th.
Magpie
As per usual, no serious counts were made of this common species though at least 20 were noticed on the 3rd.
Jackdaw
A few were seen during the month with 6 on the 14th being the most.
Carrion Crow
The crows at The Scrubs are a bit of an anomaly. On the one hand they are too numerous (being the benefactors of bread chucked out for them by well meaning, though misguided, members of the public) and are vicious predators. Conversely, they are the first to alert us of the possibility of some really good bird of prey flying over, due to their growling calls and their habit of attacking anything with wings and a hooked beak. They seem to take delight in harassing raptors and often chase each other seemingly out of boredom when there are no Kestrels to buzz.
Chocco, our strangely hued crow, was seen on a couple of occasions during the month. For some reason, he seems tied to the immediate vicinity of the prison.
Starling
Numbers of this gregarious bird remained fairly constant during the month with upwards of 60 birds present mostly in the grassland.
Chaffinch
Our first wintering birds arrived on the 14th with a couple noticed thereafter on a near daily basis.
Greenfinch
Small numbers were present in small twittering flocks. Around 20 were counted on the 28th.
Goldfinch
Paltry numbers remained during the month with no more than 40 seen.
Linnet
An exceptionally large group of about 40 flew over Martin Bell’s Wood on the 6th. It was perhaps our largest recorded flock. Otherwise, around 8 birds was the daily count.
Reed Bunting
A bird was heard calling from the grassland on the 9th and a winter plumaged male was found sitting on our bramble patch on the 28th. A different male was seen the following day.
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.
2008 Year List
Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Osprey, Honey Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Hobby, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Lapwing, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Great Black-back, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Turtle Dove, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Cuckoo, Short-eared Owl, Swift, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Nightingale, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Dartford Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Little Bunting
92 species thus far (81 species in September 2007 & 86 in September 2006)