January & February 2008
If possible please e-mail all sightings to reach fhe Recorder, Mike Schickner, before fhe end of each calendar month Please ensure that all relevant information is given on the e-mail - arrange the records by date, then location, then species, sex and number and finally comments.
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Map of Our Recording Area
Compiled by Paul Tregenza based on information received by the Recorder.
In these two months a larger than usual number of records was provided but there were fewer species than last year. The highlights were Raven and Black Redstart. The former was seen outside our area at Painshill Park in January and then in our recording area flying over The Ledges on 29th February. The latter has been found in Kingston and this sighting was at the junction of Acre Road and Burton Road 8th February. Other interesting passerines seen were Skylark in Bushy Park on 13th January and 11th February, Dartford Warbler on Hersham Gravel Pits 26th January and sightings of Blackcap in gardens in New Malden (28th January) and Surbiton (on several days in mid-February).
The usual flocks of visiting passerines were seen. Winter thrushes included Redwing in many parts of our area singly and in flocks up to 50 birds throughout both months, Fieldfare are rarer in more urban areas like ours and so were in ones and twos (Kempton Nature Reserve 18th January, Garson's Farm 22nd January, Hook 8th February) and singles of Mistle Thrush in various places. The only winter finches seen were small flocks of Siskin on four occasions. However single Bullfinch were spotted on three occasions (Claygate 30th January, Barwell Court 1st & 12th February). Winter flocks of Goldcrest were spotted in quite a few places with numbers up to 7 and also Meadow Pipit with 43 in three flocks in Home Park on the 17th February. A few singing males were heralds of spring: Mistle Thrush 7th January, Song Thrush 11th February, Goldcrest 11th February and Blackcap 18th February (and off and on to the month's end).
Some escapees provided some 'unusual records including a Wood Duck at West End Common on 21st January where a Peacock was seen on 15th February, a pair of at Teddington Lock 12th February and 14 of them in Bushy Park on 17th February.
Egyptian Goose, early nesters, had 5 young at Bushy Park on 17th February. In winter ducks are found in many suitable places in our area and the highest numbers were: 12 Mandarin Duck (Bushy Park 11th February), 11 Gadwall (Portsmouth Road Filter Beds 17th February), 43 Mallard (West End Common 15 "' February), 80 Shoveler (Kempton NR 25"' January), 45 Pochard (Home Park 17th February) and 25 Tufted Duck (Bushy Park 11th February).
Other than Kestrel and Sparrowhawk which are found throughout our area in small numbers, the only raptors seen were single Peregrine at Bushy Park on New Year's Day and at Tolworth 12th February where it was also seen on the 13th which was unlucky for it as it was being mobbed by crows.
There were few waders seen but a Black-tailed Godwit turned up at Kempton Nature Reserve on 4th February and there were 3 Snipe at Hersham Gravel Pit on 26th January. Large flocks of Lapwing were seen at Portsmouth Road Filter Beds (60 on 15th January) and at Kempton Nature Reserve (over 80 on 25th January).
Three times a Kingfisher was spotted - East Molesey on 6th-8th January, West End Common 22nd January and Portsmouth Road Filter Beds 15th February. The one in East Molesey visited a garden pond getting a goldfish each day!