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Bird Sightings 1999 to 2006

Order / Family / Genus / Species English Name Notes - date of record, etc.
Ardeidae Herons and Bitterns
Grey Heron Juvenile in pond, 24/5/99. Seen occasionally flying over, eg 19/4/02
Anatidae Geese, Swans and Ducks
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Pair visits re-built pond, March 2001, eat several newts, then scared off.
Accipitridae Kites, Buzzards, Hawks, Falcons etc
Sparrow Hawk Seen sporadically overhead throughout each year e.g 'throughout 1999', 16/3/00, 28/3/01. Dead juvenile found on lawn, no obvious injury, 19/10/01. Sent to Monks Wood. Awaiting results. 2002: 2 sightings only, July. 2006: adult stoops high over garden towards Walnut Tree Walk and Kennington Rd 11/05; female soaring over WTWk, 12/07.
Falconidae Falcons
Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon 15/10/01, soaring overhead and calling. Seen sporadically most years overhead. See woodcock.
Falco tinnunculus Kestrel Passing over 22/6/99 Seen periodically each year. 2003 Photo of juvenile on chimneys of flats.
Scolopacidae Sandpipers etc
Scolopax rusticola Woodcock 25/11/05 Dead bird in meadow. Head missing. One breast stripped. Possibly peregrine kill. Possible peregrine seen in area 21/11. One wing and feet kept.
Laridae Gulls and Terns
Larus ridibundus Black-headed gull Overhead frequently
Larus argentatus Herring Gull Overhead frequently
Columbidae Pigeons and Doves
Columbus palumbus Wood Pigeon Resident in area. No nests on site
Apodidae Swifts
Apus apus Swift 2000: Seen overhead periodically throughout the year - though never frequent; 1st seen R & S 5/5/00; 2001: 9/5/01; 11/7/01 during Open Evening - lge nos. suddenly huniting at low level over garden - weather? 2002: 1st seen Lewisham 11/05/02. 2003: 1st seen Lewisham 1/05/03. 2005: 1st seen Lewisham 1/05; 2006: 1st seen Lewisham 1/05
Picidae Woodpeckers
Picus viridis Green Woodpecker 2001: 12/10/01 Call heard from office in afternoon sun. On entering garden, heard it call again. It swooped down from paperbark birches into himalayan birch where it hunted briefly in the sun, then moved down into meadow. Made the whole site feel rural. 2005: 1 adult hanging around LWOs throughout 13/01.
Dendrocopus major Great Spotted woodpecker 2001: Calling 18/9/01 - seen flying over from plane trees on Kennington Road over to garden and then onto Walnut Tree Walk School direction. 2002: 28/2/02 - virtual repeat of above observation. Also 30/09/02, 1/10/02. 2003: 25/03/03; 28/05/03; 22/08/03; 2004: 14/05; 12/07. 2005: pair displaying Kennington Park 13/01. Seen periodcially R & S/Kenn road throughout year. 2006: seen frequently on plane tree on Kenningtopn rd; 24/04: male drumming - on TV aerial pole! Seen frequently on this aerial through year. Also calls from planes on Kenn Rd nr WTWk and fromone at top of WTWk near China Walk estate.
Alaudidae Larks
Alauda arvensis Skylark 26/5/99 - recently dead bird - no obvious injury - prob. window impact, found top of Walnut Tree Walk.
Hirundinidae Swallows and Martins
Delichon urbica House Martin Seen overhead on migration each year (May) and occasionally through summer. One passes Oct 02.
Motacillidae Pipits and wagtails
Anthus pratensis Meadow Pipit Seen/heard overhead 13/10/99; 15/11/00; 3/10/01; 1/10/02
Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail Individuals spend time in autumn and winter around neighbouring houses and flats, '99, '00, none 01.
Motacilla alba Pied Wagtail Common around site and neighbourhood, winter.
Troglodytidae Wrens
Troglodytes troglodytes Wren Two territories held each year - rouhgly one around Wildlife Garden, borders near office, other at main hall end and Kennington Road gardens. 2002: fledglings seen 28/05/02 near bubble gate. 2003: nest in garden - bramble patch? 2005-2006: territories have to change slightly due to building work.
Prunellidae Accentors
Prunella modularis Dunnock Two territories on site each year - one very confiding close to main gates and walnut tree. 1999: one family seen. 2001 - nest in beech hedge, 2003: fledglings out 16/06/03; family in garden 8/07/03 (see robin/blue tit/great tit/blackbird) 2004: nest, 3 eggs, bramble by thyme circle; 4 eggs 12/07; 2005: nest in rose above garden gate, unsure of outcome.
Muscicapidae Warblers, Flycatchers, Thrushes
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge warbler 2006: Male singing in bramble patch/buddleia/paradise pond, 15/05, Reen records;
Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap Passes through each year in spring. Dates: 2000: 12/5/00;15/5/00; 2001: 24/4/01;18/6/01 to 22/6/01 - hoped it would find mate but no evidence. 2002: 12/4/02 -15/4/02 2003: 19/05/03 2004: 22/04 male; 23/04; 26/04; 27/04; 30/04; 3/05; 4/05; 6/05;10/05;12/05. 2005: Male singing 18/04; 10/05; female seen bramble patch 12/05; male singing 23-24/05; 26/05; 2006; short snatch of song 21/04; 25/04, 26/04;
Sylvia communis Whitethroat 2006: 29/06 - brief snatch of song from buddleia jungle, prob this sp.
Sylvia curruca Lesser Whitethroat 2001: 4/5/01 & 5/5/01 Spent time in birches and kiwi vine, moving around to pyracantha hedge on Fitzalan St.
Phylloscopus trochilis Willow Warbler 2001: 2 individuals 12/4/01; 1 on 15/5/01; 6/9/01; 13/9/01; 20/9/01; 2002: 16/4/02; 2004: 23/04 - 2 singing; 2006: 1 singing 21/04;
Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff 1999: 2 singing 2/9/99 to 23/9/99; 2000: 22/3/00; 2001: 29/3/01; 13/9/01; 6/9/01; 20/9/01; 2002: 21/3/02; 22/08/02,12/09/02, 16-23/09/02; 4/11/02 2003: 27/03/03. 2004: individual calling, no song, 3/3/04; singing 26/03; 1 adult singing 3/09; 29/09; 2 singing 30/09; 2005: 1 singing 20/03; 23/03; 2006: one singing 29/03;
Regulus regulus Goldcrest Periodically seen eg one in hazel 9/03/01, one near main gate, Sept. 01. 2003: Pair in prostrate rosemary in garden and moving about roses 11/02/03.
Erithacus rubecula Robin Generally two territories held on R & S site - one roughly covering the Wildlife Garden, the other the front site including neighbouring park and Kennington Road gardens. A pair was seen displaying and mating (3 x) by the kiwi vine 19/03/01. They built a nest in a hole in the wall in the Paradise Corner. Eggs were laid w/b 14/05/01, hatched and adults were seen feeding, but the nest was later disturbed by the black cat and abandoned. Same site used 2002 - first seen feeding young (newly hatched) 7/5/02 - carried on feeding even with 7 special needs students sitting in Paradise Corner. Fledglings 28/05/02 2003: Use old teapot put into rose on wall - nest material by 8/04/03 fledglings 27/05/03; second nest in Passiflora actinia in Paradise Corner in July. 8/07/03 Family in garden (see also blue tit/great tit/blackbird/dunnock). 2005: in camera nest box, nest almost complete 6/04; 1 egg, 8/04; 3 eggs 10/4 not incub.; 4 eggs 11/04 not incub.; 5th egg laid 12/04, partial incub.; Filming of nest took place throughout. 18/04 nest disturbed, all eggs but 2 removed, remaining are hidden in disturbed material. Suspect squirrel.
Turdus merula Blackbird At least two territories held each year on R & S site. Nests built in beech hedges, in the pyracantha hedge on the Fitzalan St. open space (near side gate). In 2000 there were heavy chick losses to a ginger cat from St. Olav's gardens. In 2001 this cat had left and the balckbirds reared several young in peace. One female developed an unusual hunting technique during June 2001. Watching the pond closely from the edge of the dipping platform she would wait for a newt to rise for air. As it was approaching the surface she would fly out over the pond and snatch the newt from the water surface in flight. She would land on the far side of the pond, adjust the newt in her bill, return to the dipping platform and bash the newt to death on the flags. Her chick(s) would wait in the cherry above. She would fly up and attempt to stuff the newt into the chick's bill. This often took several attempts - pulling it out and getting the newt's head-first position exactly right. She was observed catching up to 6 newts a day, though it was likely to be more. For a while it was her main food source for the large chicks. A brief observation of a female blackbird in exactly the same position on the dipping deck 3/05/02 suggests the same female may be around and will start to repeat the method as her chicks fledge. 2003: droppings on pond platform suggest pond predation is still being used as food source; family in garden 8/07/03 (see robin/blue tit/great tit/dunnock)
Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush Seen often on roofs of surrounding flats, only occasionally in the garden. 2003: more often seen around R & S. 2 well grown chicks on hall roof, 3/07/03; 2005: familoy seen on LWOS; 2006: family with 2/3 chicks seen feeding/sheltering in sedum on planted roof over office - July-August.
Turdus iliacus Redwing 5 seen resting in Walnut Tree in Wildlife Garden, 10/12/02, moved off towards Kennington Road. 2004: 1 seen 7/01/04
Paridae Tits
Aegithalos caudatus Long-tailed tit 2001: 6 with blue tits 21/01/01. 2002: Small number with blue tits, 1/11/02. 2003: 14/01/03. 2004: well grown family 1/07; chicks still being fed 11/07; large family 23/07; 9/09. 2005: pair foraging 10/05; 2005-2006: good numbers in winter around garden; families also frequent in late spring.
Parus caeruleus Blue tit Two territories held annually on the site - one covering the Wildlife Garden, one the front site and Kennington Road gardens (as for other species). Nests have been in the St. Olav's houses (1999, fledge 25/05, and again in 2000, fledge same date), the St. Olav's flats (2001, 2002), the workshop nest box (1999, 2000) and somewhere in houses on Kennington Road (2001). Friction at the boundaries of the territories is frequent especially earlier in the year. Adults examined the new box in the rose on the SW facing wall March 2002 but used same hole as last year, high up on NE-facing wall of old flats. 2003: Using box in rose on 12/05/03. Builders have started work on St. Olave's Buildings. Well grown chicks in box 27/05/03; still in box 7/06/03; 5 chicks have left box on 12/06/03; still around 17/06/03; family in garden 8/07/03 (see robin/etc) 2005: Put off use of the camera nest box - in site of previous year's box, - by great tits. Not sure where they nested. 2006: investigate camera box 23-26 Jan. one egg 21/04; 10 eggs 2/05, 1st egg hatches 10/05, chick exercises wings, 24/05; almost fledged 26/05, fledge during half term (29th - 2nd). 3 dead chicks in box.
Parus major Great tit Regular throughout the summers. No evidence of breeding 1999 or 2000. A new box in the climbing rose on the SW-facing wall was used in 2001. First seen in box 20/03/01, noisy fledglings through May, last heard 17/05/01. Thought they were lost in bad weather but the box contained no remains so either lost as soon as fledged from box or moved very quickly out of the garden on fledging. Fear the former. Adults seen examining the box March 2002. No breeding. 2003: 25/03/03 - Adults definitely using box in rose, 17/04/03 - chicks fully fledged. New nest started in box almost immediately. Feeding young by 1st May. Well grown chicks by 19th May. Fledglings by 27th May. Family still in garden 8/07/03 (see robin/blackbird/blue tit/dunnock). 2004: in box, 19/03?, 22/03; 3/05 - chicks in box; 14/05 - chicks leave box; 2005: investigate blue tit camera box, putting off the blue tits, but then use old great tit box further down wall. Few observations - though the chicks fledged - up to five, and were subsequently almost all taken by cats - poss. only one survived.
Fringillidae Finches
Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch Adult alarm call from trees around garden/Fitzalan St. late March 2002. Several wintering around site Oct/Nov 02, eg one near thyme circle 10/12/02, one at feeder in Walnut Tree at front, 16/12/02. 2003: seen and heard more frequently around site. 2 Young males singing in LWOS and the Wildlife Garden - LWOS: 26/02/03, 20/03/03, 7/05/03; 8/05/03; 13 - 16/05/03; 19/05/03 - 20/05/03 (and in garden); 17/06/03 (LWOS); 2004: 6 bathing in pond 10/02/04 (see also robin/blackbird/blue tit); 2005: more frequent around neighbourhood, singing from Fitzalan st direction; 2006: frequent. singing april/may from Fitzalan st gardens, on feeder October/Nov.
Carduelis chloris Greenfinch Birds singing in area nearby each year - around Fitzalan St. Open Space. No breeding on R&S site. Regular users of walnut tree bird feeder throughout spring/summer 2003. Numbers healthy 2004/2005 - singing and breeding close by. 2006: common throughout year, frequent on feeder Oct/Nov.
Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch Regularly use garden for feeding in autumn and winter - eg on chicory and teasels in meadow. Flocks often hang around eg 23/9 - 15/10/99, fewer in 2000. 2002: Seen on dandelion heads by side gate 10/05/02. Seen feeding on seed heads of Phlomis russelliana. 10/12/02 (first time seen using this food source). 2003: more frequent and larger numbers throughout winter eg 13/01/03 on feeder. More regularly seen in spring and summer, including visiting new feeder at Walnut Tree. Singing in garden 11/02/03. 2004 - 2006: numbers good. More evidence of breeding in area. Use seed heads in new meadow in LWOs in autumn.
Ploceidae Sparrows
Passer domesticus House sparrow Resident, though not in large numbers. 2006: no sign of nos increasing, boxes on new building not used.
Sturnidae Starlings
Sturnus vulgaris Starling Resident on flats and houses nearby, not in large numbers. Rarely seen actually feeding in garden - do not use meadow, for example. Slightly larger numbers, it seems 2003. 2005/06: flocks using LWOS for feeding young by R & S - but nests appear to be across Kennington Road. 2006: boxes on new building not used.
Corvidae Crows
Garrulus glandarius Jay Seen regularly in and around garden. Breed nearby, not on R&S site.
Pica pica Magpie Seen regularly in and around garden. Breed nearby, not on R&S site.
Corvus corone Carrion Crow Seen regularly in and around garden. Breed nearby, not on R&S site.