Fraser's Birding Website > Recent Bird Sightings from London, Ayrshire and further afield...

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2024

April 2024

Apr 21st

Purfleet-on-Thames brownfield site

Cetti's Warbler (3 singing mm), Lesser Whitethroat (singing m), Chiffchaff (4 singing mm), Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia), Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana).

Apr 17th-19th

Cycle to work highlights (Purfleet > London)

Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Corn Bunting, Avocet, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Small White.

Apr 4th-5th, 15th-16th

Return Interrail trip Purfleet > London > Paris > Perpignan > Barcelona > Madrid > Malaga

Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Carrion Crow, Coot, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Robin, Great Tit, Wren, Rook, Collared Dove, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Ring-necked Parakeet, Moorhen, Mallard, Starling, Long-tailed Tit, Black Kite, Kestrel, Buzzard, Jackdaw, Montagu's Harrier, House Sparrow, Greater Flamingo, Mute Swan, Red-legged Partridge, Great Egret, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Spoonbill, Avocet, Cattle Egret, Black-winged Stilt, Greenfinch, Crested Lark, Spotless Starling, Goldfinch, Turtle Dove, White Stork, Raven, Woodchat Shrike, Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, Cormorant, Azure-winged Magpie, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Short-toed Eagle, Red-rumped Swallow, Booted Eagle, Calandra Lark, Pallid Swift, Monk Parakeet, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Wagtail, Alpine Swift, Grey Heron, Common Swift, Whiskered Tern, Sand Martin, Slender-billed Gull, Red Kite, Mediterranean Gull.

Apr 5th-15th

Costa de la Luz, C�diz, Andaluc�a, Spain [Trip Report]: Great Egret, Spoonbill, Northern Bald Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Red-rumped Swallow, Montagu's Harrier, Bee-eater, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spanish Festoon, Provence Orange-tip, Three-toed Skink, Iberian Mantis, Large Psammodromas, Woodchat Shrike, Black Kite, Iberian Water Frog, Orobanche densiflora, Clouded Yellow, Melodious Warbler, Green-striped White, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, Iberian Wall Lizard, Monarch, Calandra Lark, Chlorophorus trifasciatus (wasp beetle), Barbary Nut, Tawny Pipit, Thekla Lark, Cirl Bunting, Southern Scarce Swallowtail, Cleopatra, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Audouin's Gull, Blue Rock Thrush, Spiny-footed Lizard, Greater Flamingo, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Short-toed Lark, Griffon Vulture, Little Tern, Hoopoe, Lesser Kestrel, Vagrant Emperor, Caspian Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Subalpine Warbler, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Tabanus barbarus (horse fly), Common Digging Grasshopper (Acrotylus insubricus), Slender Burrowing Grasshopper (Acrotylus patruelis), Desert Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus rubescens), Shady Grasshopper (Morphacris fasciata), Broad Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus strepens), Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus puissanti), Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium), White-banded Grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis plorans), Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus), Garden Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis), Orange-butted Grasshopper (Chorthippus apicalis), Common Maquis Grasshopper (Pezotettix giornae), Iberian Wingless Groundhoppper (Tetrix nodulosa), European Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris), Mediterranean Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), White-faced Bush-cricket (Decticus albifrons), Smooth Striped Bush-cricket (Odontura glabricauda), Spade-cricket sp. (Sciobia sp.), Mediterranean Banded Centipede (Scolopendra cingulata), Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe payoyo), Spanish Dung Beetle (Copris hispanus).

Spurge Hawkmoth (Hyles euphorbiae), Zahara de los Atunes, Spain � Fraser Simpson Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Barbate, Spain � Fraser Simpson

Spurge Hawkmoth (Hyles euphorbiae) larva, Zahara de los Atunes & Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Barbate, Spain

Mediterranean Chamaeleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), Barbate, Spain � Fraser Simpson Checkered Beetle (Trichodes octopunctatus), Zahara de los Atunes, Spain � Fraser Simpson

Mediterranean Chamaeleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), Barbate & Checkered Beetle (Trichodes octopunctatus), Zahara, Spain

Mar 30th-Apr 1st

Rainham Marshes

Short-eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Corn Bunting, Little Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Chiffchaff, Avocet, Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret, Lapwing (displaying), Redshank (displaying), Brimstone, Peaccock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White.

� River Thames, Purfleet, Essex (observations from my window)

Apr 21st

Shelduck (pr), Shoveler (m), Teal (1), Swift (4), Avocet (7), Oystercatcher (pr), Redshank (2), Swallow (2).

Apr 20th

Egyptian Goose (4), Shelduck (3 prs), Gadwall (pr), Shoveler (m), Teal (4), Avocet (1), Oystercatcher (pr), Common Sandpiper (1), Lapwing (1), Redshank (1), Little Egret (3), Kestrel (1), Buzzard (1), Skylark (singing m), Swallow (4), Meadow Pipit (singing m).

Apr 3rd

Shelduck (pr), Teal (2), Avocet (3), Lapwing (displaying), Oystercatcher (pr), Curlew (1), Redshank (3), Buzzard (1), Peregrine (imm), Water Pipit (1).

Apr 2nd

Shelduck (19), Gadwall (5), Teal (8), Tufted Duck (4), Avocet (8), Oystercatcher (pr), Green Sandpiper (1), Redshank (8), Dunlin (1), Lapwing (displaying), Curlew (1), Little Egret (1), Marsh Harrier (ad m), Sparrowhawk (m), Skylark (2 singing mm).

Apr 1st

Shelduck (32), Shoveler (3), Wigeon (2), Teal (20), Great Crested Grebe (1), Avocet (3), Oystercatcher (pr + 1), Curlew (4), Redshank (5), Greenshank (1), Mediterranean Gull (ad upriver calling), Little Egret (1), Marsh Harrier (ad m), Buzzard (3), Ring-necked Parakeet (36), Cetti's Warbler (singing m), Starling (55), Linnet (12).

March 2024

Mar 18th-22nd

Cycle to work highlights (Purfleet > London)

Wheatear, Chiffchaff (14 singing mm), Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Lapwing (displaying), Redshank (displaying), Skylark (displaying), Cetti's Warbler, Buzzard (3 displaying), Water Vole.

Mar 11th-15th

Cycle to work highlights (Purfleet > London)

Chiffchaff (6 singing mm), Meadow Pipit (displaying), Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Lapwing (displaying), Redshank (displaying), Skylark (displaying), Cetti's Warbler, Avocet.

Mar 9th

Rainham Marshes, Essex

Chiffchaff singing, Kingfisher (pr on Mardyke).

Mar 8th

Dean Castle Country Park, Ayrshire

Nuthatch (5 singing mm), Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming male), Bullfinch (3 prs), Raven, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove (pr). Also singing Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Chaffinch.

Mar 7th

Kilwinning, Ayrshire

Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warbler - first Nearctic passerine for Ayrshire.

Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata), Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland. 7 March 2024

Mar 6th

Train journey Essex to Ayrshire 44 species recorded: Collared Dove, Wren, Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Fieldfare, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose, Carrion Crow, Marsh Harrier, Shoveler, Coot, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Red Kite, Jackdaw, Rook, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Grey Heron, Pheasant, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Teal, Great Egret, Moorhen, Buzzard, Blackbird, Common Gull, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Cattle Egret, Mistle Thrush, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Oystercatcher.

� River Thames, Purfleet, Essex (observations from my window)

Mar 24th

Shelduck (4 prs), Gadwall (pr), Wigeon (2), Teal (12), Stock Dove (6), Great Crested Grebe (1), Avocet (26), Oystercatcher (pr), Lapwing (2 prs displaying), Curlew (7), Redshank (27), Buzzard (2), Short-eared Owl (1), Kestrel (1).

Mar 17th

Shelduck (4 prs), Wigeon (59), Mallard (9), Teal (30), Avocet (28), Lapwing (pr displaying), Oystercatcher (pr), Curlew (3), Redshank (5), Black-headed Gull (762 downriver/60mins), Common Gull (179 downriver/60mins).

Mar 10th

Shelduck (3 prs), Wigeon (63), Teal (29), Avocet (4 prs), Oystercatcher (pr), Grey Plover (1), Common Sandpiper (1), Redshank (17), Dunlin (4), Little Gull (1), Caspian Gull (3rd-w).

February 2024

Feb 26th - Mar 1st

Cycle to work highlights (Purfleet > London)

Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Lapwing (displaying), Redshank (displaying), Skylark (displaying), Cetti's Warbler, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Tufted Duck.

Feb 20

Moth Trap, Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex

Narrow-winged Grey (Eudonia angustea).

Feb 16th-17th

Moth Trap, Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex

Common Quaker, Beautiful Plume, Brown-spot Flat-body (Agonopterix alstromeriana).

Feb 5th-9th

Cycle to work highlights (Purfleet > London)

Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Water Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Lapwing.

� River Thames, Purfleet, Essex (observations from my window)

Feb 25th

Shelduck (14), Gadwall (11), Wigeon (54), Teal (11), Avocet (17), Oystercatcher (2), Curlew (7), Common Sandpiper (2), Redshank (27), Dunlin (86), Yellow-legged Gull (2nd-w), Long-tailed Tit (7), Redwing (9).

Feb 24th

Egyptian Goose (pr), Shelduck (12), Gadwall (2), Wigeon (48), Teal (9), Stock Dove (18), Avocet (6), Lapwing (4), Curlew (8), Oystercatcher (3), Common Sandpiper (1), Redshank (36), Dunlin (78), Black-headed Gull (800+), Common Gull (110), Caspian Gull (3rd-w), Yellow-legged Gull (ad), Stonechat (3).

Feb 18th

Shelduck (8), Gadwall (7), Wigeon (17), Teal (11), Avocet (3), Oystercatcher (1), Grey Plover (1), Curlew (15), Redshank (26), Dunlin (323), Caspian Gull (2nd-w), Yellow-legged Gull (3rd-w), Rock Pipit (1), Short-eared Owl (1).

Feb 17th

Shelduck (3), Wigeon (24), Teal (10), Avocet (1), Oystercatcher (2), Grey Plover (2), Curlew (8), Redshank (24), Dunlin (327), Little Egret (1), Skylark (2 singing mm).

Feb 11th

Gadwall (6), Wigeon (77), Teal (41), Great Crested Grebe (1), Stock Dove (39), Avocet (16), Oystercatcher (1), Grey Plover (1), Curlew (4), Snipe (3), Common Sandpiper (1), Redshank (48), Dunlin (12), Kittiwake (ad), Marsh Harrier (ad m), Sparrowhawk (f), Skylark (singing m).

Feb 10th

Egyptian Goose (2), Shelduck (1), Shoveler (pr), Gadwall (20), Wigeon (200), Teal (44), Avocet (10), Oystercatcher (1), Grey Plover (1), Curlew (3), Redshank (42), Dunlin (171), Short-eared Owl (1).

Feb 4th

Egyptian Goose (4), Teal (15), Avocet (10), Grey Plover (1), Lapwing (98), Curlew (5), Caspian Gull (2nd-w), Yellow-legged Gull (1), Little Egret (2), Marsh Harrier (imm m).

Feb 3rd

Gadwall (7), Wigeon (18), Teal (14), Stock Dove (56), Avocet (9), Grey Plover (1), Lapwing (27), Curlew (13), Redshank (21), Dunlin (154), Little Egret (2), Marsh Harrier (imm m), Peregrine (1), Jackdaw (5).

January 2024

Jan 10th-17th

Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Tit, Willow Tit, Siberian Jay, Hooded Crow, Common Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Common Bullfinch.

� River Thames, Purfleet, Essex, England (observations from my window)

Jan 28th

Egyptian Goose (3), Gadwall (17), Wigeon (46), Teal (21), Avocet (27), Oystercatcher (1), Curlew (10), Grey Plover (1), Common Sandpiper (2), Redshank (46), Dunlin (112), Black-headed Gull (900+), Stonechat (ad m), Fieldfare (58), Pied Wagtail (14 downriver to roost).

Jan 27th

Gadwall (9), Wigeon (33), Teal (17), Avocet (53), Oystercatcher (1 - first returning), Grey Plover (1), Lapwing (15), Redshank (27).

Jan 21st

Gadwall (4), Teal (4), Great Crested Grebe (1), Grey Plover (3), Curlew (8), Black-tailed Godwit (10), Dunlin (524), Yellow-legged Gull (1), Redwing (20).

Jan 7th

Shelduck (2), Gadwall (4), Wigeon (44), Teal (14), Stock Dove (37), Grey Plover (3), Curlew (11), Dunlin (300), Little Gull (ad + 1st-w), Caspian Gull (2nd-w), Yellow-legged Gull (2), Little Egret (1), Marsh Harrier (ad m + imm m), Fieldfare (29), Water Pipit (1).

Jan 1st - NYD Count of 58 species 07:45-16:00

Greylag Goose (17), Canada Goose (5), Shelduck (1), Gadwall (10), Wigeon (33), Mallard (13), Teal (34), Pheasant (m), Feral Pigeon (2), Stock Dove (40), Wood Pigeon (18), Collared Dove (4), Avocet (27), Grey Plover (2), Lapwing (6), Curlew (3), Black-tailed Godwit (1), Redshank (27), Dunlin (800), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull (3), Great Black-backed Gull (33), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant (12), Little Egret (2), Grey Heron (2), Marsh Harrier (ad m), Sparrowhawk (m), Red Kite (1), Short-eared Owl (1), Kestel (2), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Jay (1), Magpie (12), Jackdaw (1), Carrion Crow (7), Raven (1), Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (2), Skylark (2), Long-tailed Tit (10), Goldcrest (1), Wren (1), Starling (31), Song Thrush (1), Redwing (55), Blackbird (singing from 03:08), Fieldfare (26), Robin (singing from 02:19), Stonechat (1), Dunnock (1), House Sparrow (20), Pied Wagtail (1), Meadow Pipit (1), Chaffinch (2), Goldfinch (2).

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� Fraser Simpson � www.fssbirding.org.uk