Interpretation Board (Paul Thomas)
It’s been a long time since a monthly
report was written about the birds of this internationally known and now
threatened patch of green nestled in urban west London. But the hope is that
over the next 12 months you will see a story unfolding. This story will feature
the day-to-day (or at least, visit-by-visit) avian goings-on at The Scrubs.
There will be mentions of interesting behavioural notes, estimates of flock
sizes, territories held and of course, inexplicable disappearances and
appearances.
We began January 2015 as we left it in
December 2014. With fewer regular observers than what we have had in many years
and consequently, fewer species being seen. We ended last year on around 82
species, our lowest year list in over 10 years. Of course, it’s not just about
the number of species we end up seeing, but with less active observers means
that there is more chance of missing scarce regulars like the legendary passage
Ring Ouzel. It remains to be seen how 2015 will pan out.
If you choose to visit the hallowed turf
this year, please don’t forget to let us know what birds you encountered. It’s
always good to hear about other people’s birds – just don’t make them too rare!
Overhead view of The Scrubs
The habitats
Our trusty groundsmen have been an invaluable
source of information for the past 20 years or more. They are the guys that are
on The Scrubs everyday doing their work. But whilst they work they look up.
They are normally first on the scene when
our early Wheatears show up and are the ones to tell us about all the Buzzards
and Peregrines we have missed. Last year, we recorded around four Red Kite
sightings. But according to these guys, there were a spate of Red Kite
sightings throughout the summer indicating that they are far more regular over
The Scrubs than what we realise.
Let the journey commence.
Contributors: Rob Ayers, Andy Cameron, Charlie
Farrell, Nick Gibson, David Jeffreys, David Lindo, Des McKenzie, Roy Nuttall, Bob
Still, Paul Thomas et al.
Cormorant
A singleton headed over on the 17th.
Canada
Goose
Our only report was of five grazing on the
grass within Lynford Christie Stadium on the 1st.
Egyptian
Goose
A single bird headed through on the 2nd
and became our earliest E-goose to be seen during a calendar year. We normally
expect to see these exotics flying over during the late summer.
Kestrel
A singleton was occasionally seen hunting
over the grassland during the month often accompanied by attendant angry crows.
Peregrine
One was watched repeatedly stooping at the
assembled crows on the pitches by the groundsmen in early January.
Sparrowhawk
A single female was observed on the 20th.
Black-headed
Gull
We experienced good numbers of this common
gull during the month. At their peak there were at least 200 birds mostly on
the sports pitches.
A Black-headed & Common Gull duo
Mediterranean
Gull
Our first record for two years appeared on
the 18th. It was a winter adult found in the afternoon with some
Black-headed Gull. It did the classic Med Gull thing of being slightly aloof. When
the flock it was associating with was flushed by dog walkers it flew south of
the prison whilst the other gulls simply circled around and landed a few metres
from where they were originally flushed.
It was reported again on the 26th
feeding on the sports pitches.
Common
Gull
The peak count for this regular winter
visitor was c22 on the 2nd.
Herring
Gull
Low numbers were noticed during the month.
No doubt there were more birds floating overhead that were plainly missed. The
best count was around 20 on the 27th.
Lesser
Black-back
We rarely record large numbers of this
rather attractive larid. No count exceeded six birds.
A rack of gulls
Wood
Pigeon
No amazing counts were made during the
month with around 40 birds being the norm.
Rose-ringed
Parakeet
At least 1,000 were seen most mornings
after leaving their roost in Scrubs Lane Wood. Nearly 3,000 were watched coming
into roost on the 18th.
Green
Woodpecker
A bird was calling regularly from the
western end of the site throughout the month.
Great
Spotted Woodpecker
A pair was at large in the western end of
The Scrubs throughout January.
Meadow
Pipit
Our wintering population varied from
day-to-day peaking at around 16 roving birds on the 2nd.
Pied
Wagtail
Occasional birds were seen and heard flying
over during the month.
Wren
A couple singers were heard on the 17th.
Dunnock
Spring came early when a couple of
threesomes were seen displaying to each other on the 18th. The best
count was around eight on the 27th.
A Robin holding territory
Robin
The peak count of 14 was had on the 17th.
Stonechat
A male has been wintering on the grassland
for a least the past month. It was not always easy to catch sight of however,
despite being not particularly shy.
Our wintering male Stonechat
Song
Thrush
Up to four birds were seen during the month
with at least two singers in full voice.
Redwing
Braybrook Street was the main epicenter of
our Redwing sightings this month. At least six were located on the 17th.
Mistle
Thrush
This, the largest thrush in the UK, is a
real scarcity at The Scrubs. We normally expect to see the occasional family
party during the late summer. Two were seen on the 2nd.
Fieldfare
It has to be a harsh winter before we start
to see this regal thrush in any numbers. On the 17th at least six
were with Redwings and an additional individual was seen later.
Blackbird
At least 10 were seen per visit throughout
the month. The maximum number was 15 on the 17th.
Great
Tit
Small numbers were seen during the month.
The peak count was 10 on the 18th.
Blue
Tit
A good count of 13 was made on the 17th
and 16 the following day.
Long-tailed
Tit
Small numbers were seen during the month,
never more that four birds.
Magpie
At least 10 were seen throughout January.
Jay
One was noticed on the 20th.
Carrion
Crow
Around 100 birds was the average figure
found throughout the month.
Starling
No huge numbers this month with the peak
count being around 25 birds found mostly on Braybrook Street.
House
Sparrow
Away from their Braybrook Street stronghold
sparrows are still very much a rarity on our patch. At least 10 birds were
found around the community centre and Braybrook Wood on the 16th and
the 18th.
Chaffinch
At least two pairs have set up territories
in Central Copse and around the cottage in the western end. Four birds were in
Central Copse on the 27th.
Goldfinch
A small number were present during the
month with eight being the most on the 17th.
Greenfinch
Small numbers were seen during the month
mostly situated along Lester’s Embankment.
Reed
Bunting
A female wintered during the month. A male
was found on the 17th.
2015 Year List
1. Cormorant
2. Canada
Goose
3. Egyptian
Goose
4. Kestrel
5. Peregrine
6. Sparrowhawk
7. Black-headed
Gull
8. Mediterranean
Gull
9. Common
Gull
10. Herring
Gull
11. Lesser
Black-back
12. Wood
Pigeon
13. Rose-ringed
Parakeet
14. Green
Woodpecker
15. Great
Spotted Woodpecker
16. Meadow
Pipit
17. Pied
Wagtail
18. Wren
19. Dunnock
20. Robin
21. Stonechat
22. Song
Thrush
23. Redwing
24. Mistle
Thrush
25. Fieldfare
26. Blackbird
27. Great
Tit
28. Blue
Tit
29. Long-tailed
Tit
30. Magpie
31. Jay
32. Carrion
Crow
33. Starling
34. House
Sparrow
35. Chaffinch
36. Goldfinch
37. Greenfinch
38. Reed
Bunting
38 species thus far
(31 species in January 2014 & 50 in
January 2013)
