December 2014

• 31st - Wandle Park: 5 Mallard, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 50+ Starlings, 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Mistle Thrush (SH)
• 31st - Russell Hill, Purley. Up to 28 carrion crows amassed on tall trees at the bottom of our garden for over an hour during the morning (DL)
• 31st - South Norwood Country Park: 29 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 6 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, 7 Cormorant, Kestrel, 5 Water Rail (again showing well in Harrington Road stream), Snipe, 7 Common Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull quite low going west, 7 Stock Dove, 10 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff. (JAH/DM)
• 30th - Ash Rd, Shirley: Sparrowhawk with prey.(Martin Stevens)
• 30th - South Norwood Country Park: Lake 85% frozen. 28 Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, 9 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, 3 Water Rail, 11 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 2 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff. (JAH)
• 29th - Riddlesdown: 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Nuthatch. (JB)
• 29th - South Norwood Country Park: Lake 70% frozen. 16 Greylag Goose, 18 Canada Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, pair Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Kestrel, 4 Water Rail (showing well at Harrington Road Stream and to left of platform 4), Snipe, 13 Common Gull, 3 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare. (JAH)
• 28th - South Norwood (Pittville Gdns) 2pm: m Kestrel flying low towards SNCP (GH)
• 28th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00:10:30hrs) 5 Mute Swan, 53 Tufted Duck 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, c200 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 imm Herring Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 House Sparrow, c20 Goldfinch, (JW)
• 28th - South Norwood Country Park: 27 Greylag Goose, pair Teal, 9 Shoveler, 3 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 4 Water Rail, 3 Common Gull, Stock Dove, 4 Collared Dove, 2 Chiffchaff, 98 Magpie, Jackdaw, Bullfinch. (JAH)
• 27th - South Norwood Lake (08:15:10:00hrs) 5 Mute Swan, 45 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull(on lake c150 on playing fields) 2 Common Gull, 1 imm Herring Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 8 House Sparrow, 15 Goldfinch, (JW)
• 26th - South Norwood Lake (08:30:10:00hrs) 5 Mute Swan, 1 m Shovler (over) 37 Tufted Guck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant, c200 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 imm Herring Gull, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming) 2 Song Thrush, 18 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 6 House Sparrow, c30 Goldfinch, (JW)
• 26th - Lancaster Road SE 25, Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming) (JW)
• 25th - Lloyd Park: (am) Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and both Stock Dove and Kestrel displaying in the sunshine to potential mates for 2015! Five strong parties of both Bullfinch and Fieldfare seen among a total of 28 bird species in the park. (John Parish).
• 24th - South Norwood Country Park: 150+ Black-headed Gulls & 2 Common Gulls on Rylands Field (no sign of Med Gull), at least 6 singing Song Thrushes, lots of Blackbirds, 2 Redwing, 10+ Shoveler, 12 Herring Gulls, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 1 Bullfinch. (JB)
• 24th - Waddon Ponds: 1 Mute Swan, 70+ Black-headed Gulls inc Danish TO9 and Lithuanian HA25829, 26 Canada geese inc BTO 5261277, 1 Greylag, 33 Coots, 36 Mallard, 6 Tufted Ducks, 12 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff. (JB)
• 24th - Wandle Park: 18 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Mallard. (JB)
• 23rd.- Russell Hill, Purley. Juvenile sparrowhawk hit window, presumably while chasing a small bird by the feeders. Sat for a while recovering then flew off (DL).
• 22nd - South Norwood Country Park: 20 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 14 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Kestrel, 2 Water Rail, 167 Black-headed Gull on Rylands Field, Mediterranean Gull 1st winter on Rylands Field for c10mins at 08.35 before flushed by dog walker and not relocated, 8 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 121 Magpie emerged from overnight poplar roost, Fieldfare. (DM)
• 21st - South Norwood Country Park: 13 Greylag Goose, 3 Teal, 13 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Kestrel, Water Rail, 5 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Stock Dove, 93 Magpie emerged from overnight poplar roost, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Bullfinch. (DM)
• 21st - Sanderstead: c130 Black-headed Gulls with 45 on Pond and 85 on playing fields. (JB)
• 20th - Coulsdon: 1 blackcap in the back garden, also 1 heron on the roof for 2 hours! (David Hayes)
• 20th - Farthing Downs: 1 skylark, 1 greenfinch, 7 long tailed tit, 3 bullfinch, 1 kestrel, 1 green woodpecker, 3 redwing, 2 goldcrest, 1 blackcap. (David Hayes)
• 20th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Teal, 18 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Kestrel, 3 Common Gull, 3 Stock Dove, Chiffchaff, 3 Bullfinch. (DM) Also Water Rail, Grey Wagtail. (per Peter P)
• 19th - South Norwood Country Park: 28 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 11 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, Kestrel, 4 Water Rail, 6 Common Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing, Stonechat in Cemetery Field. (DM)
• 18th - South Norwood Country Park: 29 Greylag Goose, 12 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine north/east 8.21am, 2 Water Rail, Snipe, 10 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 77 Magpie in overnight lakeside poplar roost. (JAH/DM)
• 17th - South Norwood Country Park: 39 Greylag Goose, Teal, 14 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 9 Cormorant over, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine north 8.30am, 4 Water Rail, 14 Common Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Collared Dove, 10 Redwing, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, Bullfinch. (JAH/DM)
• 16th - South Norwood (Pittville Gdns) 11am: Great Black-backed Gull flying medium high E towards SNCP (GH)
• 16th - South Norwood Lake: (08:45:09:45hrs) 9 Mute Swan, 32 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 House Sparrow, c20 Goldfinch, (JW)
• 16th - South Norwood Country Park: 3 Greylag Goose, 12 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Kestrel, 6 Water Rail (showing well in Harrington stream and by platform 4), 4 Common Gull, Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, Jackdaw, Linnet. (JAH/DM)
• 15th - South Norwood Country Park: Mute Swan took off west at 7.47am, 16 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Little Egret in Harrington stream, Kestrel, 5 Water Rail (incl. one showing well in Harrington stream), 173 Black-headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Coal Tit, Linnet. (JAH/DM)
• 14th - Waddon Ponds: 09.00-10.00. 1 Greylag Goose, 27 Canada Goose inc BTO5261277, 8 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 9 Moorhen, 26 Coot, 201 Black-headed Gull inc HA25829 (Lithuanian), yellow 2DSS (ringed at Pitsea Landfill Site, Essex, black XN31 (German), 5 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Magpie, 1 Carrion Crow, 2 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock. (Bird Arrivals at Waddon Ponds)
• 14th - Hutchinsons Bank Reserve: 2 Common Buzzards low to south early afternoon, annoyed by odd gulls and crows. (John Parish)
• 14th - South Norwood Country Park: 16 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 6 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 6 Water Rail (two briefly on water to left of platform 4), 5 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff. (JAH) Great Black-backed Gull (DM)
• 13th - Dering Road, South Croydon: At 23:30 I was out in the garden watching the meteor shower when all of a sudden, I heard a familiar sounding wader call. I turned around and saw 6 Redshanks heading east. Their pale undersides being illuminated by all the lights below. Now there's a garden tick I wasn't expecting! (J.Barnes)
• 13th - South Norwood (Pittville Gdns) 6.30pm: Several Redwing heard calling overhead (GH)
• 13th - South Norwood Country Park: Mute Swan took off towards SNL at 9.20am, 24 Greylag Goose, 14 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, Kestrel, 7 Water Rail (incl. two walking at edge of lake between platforms 2 & 3), 4 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 9 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 72 Magpie in lakeside poplars, Jackdaw, 2 Bullfinch. (JAH/DM)
• 11th - Chepstow Rise (Park Hill): a Redwing on our patio. (John Parish)
• 11th - Farthing Downs: Very quiet recently. 5 bullfinch, unusually for the time of year 2 yellowhammers, 3 redwings, 1 fieldfare over, 1 GS woodpecker, 1 kestrel, 1 chaffinch, 1 F blackcap. (David Hayes)
• 11th - South Norwood Lake: (08:30:09:45) 8 Mute Swan, 34 Canada Goose, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Cormorant, c150 Black-headed Gull, 1 imm Herring Gull, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 House Sparrow, c20 Goldfinch (JW)
• 11th - South Norwood Country Park: 11 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 7 Cormorant, Kestrel, 3 Water Rail, 4 Common Gull, Stock Dove, 4 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff. (JAH)
• 10th - Selsdon Wood: Buzzard mobbed by crow low over Hillocks wood. (J.Barnes)
• 10th - South Norwood Lake: (09:00:10:30hrs) 6 Mute Swan, 29 Canada Goose, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, 42 Coot, c120 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 imm Herring Gull, 4 Collared Dove, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 5 House Sparrow, Goldfinch (JW/JB)
• 10th - South Norwood Country Park: 2 Greylag Goose over east 9.20am, 16 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 4 Water Rail, 4 Common Gull, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff. (JAH) 12 Greylags flew in at 11:25.(JB)
• 9th - South Norwood Lake: (08:30:09:45hrs) 6 Mute Swan, 28 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, c100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Collared dove, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, c20 Goldfinch, 4 House Sparrow (JW)
• 9th - South Norwood Country Park: 4 Mute Swan circled several times over frozen lake before going west, 15 Greylag Goose, 16 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 7 Water Rail, 6 Common Gull, 11 Stock Dove, 4 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, 22 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 7 Linnet. (JAH/DMs)
• 8th - South Norwood Country Park: 19 Greylag Goose, Teal, 19 Shoveler, Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Kestrel, 3 Water Rail, 5 Common Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, Chiffchaff. (JAH/DM)
• 7th - South Norwood Lake: (08:45:09:45) 7 Mute Swan, 32 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, c150 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 imm Herring Gull, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, c50 Goldfinch, 2 House Sparrow (JW)
• 7th - Chepstow Rise (Park Hill): 11:30. Female Blackcap in garden. (John Parish)
• 7th - Waddon Ponds: WeBS count 08:00-08:50.126 Black-headed Gulls incl black XN31 (first sighting this winter - from Germany), white TO9 (from Denmark), HA25829 (from Lithuania) & another bearing a metal ring, 7 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 29 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 47 Mallard, 20 Tufted Ducks, 38 Coots, 14 Moorhen, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Pied Wagtail and an estimated 500+ Ring-necked Parakeets! (JB)
• 7th - Wandle Park: WeBS count. 27 Black-headed Gulls, 6 imm Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Mallard - until 2 Staffordshire Bull Terriers (off leads and owners somewhere in the distance) came along for a swim when the bird count became zero!(JB)
• 7th - Waddon: 2 Mistle Thrushes contesting ownership of a tree laden with mistletoe. (JB)
• 7th - South Norwood Country Park: 21 Greylag Goose, 16 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, 7 Cormorant, Kestrel, 8 (new record count) Water Rail, 2 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 3 Collared Dove, 3 Fieldfare, 33 Redwing, Chiffchaff. (JAH/DM)
• 6th - South Norwood Lake: (08:30:09:45hrs) 7 Mute Swan, 38 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Cormorant, c200 Black-headed Gull (on lake), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Redwing (over), 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 6 House Sparrow (JW)
• 6th - South Norwood Country Park: 21 Greylag Goose, 4 Teal, 14 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 4 Water Rail (one flying, one running), 6 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 12 Redwing, Chiffchaff. (JAH/DM)
• 5th - Sanderstead: Several raucous flocks of Ring-necked Parakeets over garden at 16:00 heading approx. NW. Presumably going to roost at Mitcham Common (apparently the roost is now at the Croydon end of the common, along Mitcham Lane). (JB)
• 5th - South Croydon: Male Blackcap in garden adjacent to Old Whits. (Kim Mitchell)
• 5th - South Norwood Country Park: 7 Mute Swan (site record on lake), 33 Greylag Goose, 14 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 6 (site record count) Water Rail incl. one in flight across lake, 6 Common Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 6 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit. (JAH)
• 5th - Chepstow Rise: 09:00. Male Blackcap feeding on honeysuckle berries in garden. Also at least 7 Blackbirds compared with the normal 1 - 2. (John Parish)
• 5th - South Norwood (Pittville Gdns) 00.15am: Tawny Owl calling briefly (GH)
• 4th - South Croydon: Good numbers of Blackbirds everywhere as I walked from home in Sanderstead to Purley Hospital. Also Pied Wagtail in Purley. (JB)
• 4th - Waddon Ponds: 12.30-13.30. 31 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, 15 Moorhen, 31 Coot, 131 Black-headed Gull inc T09, VBA & HA25829, 2 Common Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 4 Woodpigeon, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Magpie, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 2 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Grey Wagtail. (Bird Arrivals at Waddon Ponds)
• 4th - South Norwood Country Park: 21 Greylag Goose, 13 Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, 2 Water Rail, 2 Common Gull, 3 Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 2 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw. (JAH)
• 3rd - South Norwood Lake (08:45-09:45) 42 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Cormorant, c150 Black-headed Gull, 1imm Herring Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, c30 Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow (JW)
• 3rd - Waddon Ponds: 2 Pochard (m&f), 10 Tufted Duck, 34 Coot, Goldcrest singing, 119+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Little Grebe. (JB)
• 3rd - Wandle Park: 1 Grey Wagtail, 20 Black-headed Gulls,2 Common Gulls.(JB)
• 3rd - Waddon: Mistle Thrush in a tree laden with Mistletoe.(JB)
• 3rd - South Norwood (Pittville Gdns) 11am: 2 Redwings feeding, then flew off towards SNL (GH)
• 3rd - South Norwood Country Park: 31 Greylag Goose, 12 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, 9 Cormorant over, Kestrel, Water Rail, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 3 Collared Dove, male Tawny Owl calling, Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldcrest.(JAH/DM)
• 2nd - South Norwood Lake: (08:45:10:00hrs) 45 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, c200 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 6 House Sparrow, Goldfinch,(JW)
• 2nd - South Norwood Country Park: 31 Greylag Goose, 12 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Kestrel, 4 Water Rail, 3 Common Gull, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch. (JAH/DM)
• 1st - South Norwood Lake (08.45-10.00): 36 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Cormorant, c200 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 8imm Herring Gull (on lake), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 3/4 Goldcrest, c12 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Jay, c50 Carrion Crow (on playing fields), c100 Starling (on playing fields), 2 House Sparrow, c30 Goldfinch (JW)
• 1st - South Norwood (Pittville Gdns) 10am: Chiffchaff feeding with a mixed party of tits, plus Cormorant low S at same time (GH)
• 1st - South Norwood Country Park: 22 Greylag Goose, 10 Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, 2 Water Rail, 12 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 25 Fieldfare, 17 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch. (JAH/DM)