Black-headed Gulls

Black-headed Gulls at East India Dock Basin, June 2011.

A summer build-up of mainly first-summer birds has

become a feature of recent years.

There is usually not an awful lot to see on the patch in June, I was hoping that the two pairs of Shelduck that have oversummered might have produced young, both pairs were present but no chicks were evident; other wildfowl included two Mute Swans, 112 Mallard including two newly hatched ducklings and 20 Tufted Duck, but no sign of the two Portuguese birds. At least 190 Black-headed Gulls were at the basin, most of these were non-breeding first-summer birds. A pair of Common Terns were on one of the rafts but I could not see any chicks, three others passed over the basin and were seen off by the resident pair. A Kestrel was intently hunting over the ecology park and one adult Little Ringed Plover was still in the area. Three Reed Warblers were singing along with two Blackcaps and a common Whitethroat; at least six Sand Martins were hawking over the basin and finally two House Martins over Bow Creek, the almost constant presence of this species hints strongly at local breeding.

Common Swift new for the year

June is probably the most unproductive month at the patch but following a string of Mediterranean Gull records over the last few days I decided to give it a go. The two Portuguese nasal-saddled Tufted ducks were still on the basin and a pair of Oystercatchers were feeding on the Millennium Dome mudflats; two pairs of Common Terns were incubating on the rafts and a pair of Song Thrushes were commuting between the copse and the eastern scrub. Several Reed Warblers and a Blackcap were still in song and two pairs of Sand Martins are now feeding young. I didn't manage to find a Mediterranean Gull but one was observed flying upstream after I left the patch, but I did find a Common Swift flying east, never an easy bird here; this was only the 2nd record in a week that saw the RSPB, East London Birders Forum and Thames 21 on site from 10 a m to 4 p m daily.

Portuguese Tufted Ducks still present

A brief post work visit this evening in the hope of adding Common Swift to the yearlist in the overcast conditions drew a blank but there were still one or two things of interest. Two pairs of Shelduck were on Orchard Wharf, a perfect undisturbed place for them to breed. The females looked very wary and the males were displaying at each other, both of the females managed to slip away, presumably back to their nests whilst I was busy watching the males; if all goes well the ducklings should appear around the first week of June but there are lots of foxes at this site, which could cause a problem, although most of the Mallards seem to have got off their broods without the unwelcome attention of this increasing opportunistic predator; a pair of Canada Geese with four downy young were on Bow Creek , the second pair to have bred this year and the two Portuguese saddled Tufted Ducks were on the basin, part of a flock of 22 birds, a good late May count for the Lower Lea.

Good numbers of juvenile Starlings

Grey Heron at East India Dock Basin, May 2011

Overnight rain prompted a brief pre-work visit but with the wind still coming from a westerly direction nothing much transpired; a very vocal Blackcap and a more subdued Common Whitethroat, both in the northern scrub at the basin, were new in but Reed Warbler numbers had dropped to five singing birds throughout the site. Juvenile Starlings were very much in evidence, vocally at least, their begging calls a constant accompaniment throughout the visit. The only sign of movement was a single Collared Dove flying east at the ecology park, it's been a good year for this species but I've yet to hear a singing bird on the patch. Other notables were four Shelduck, three Sand Martins and one or two Little Ringed Plovers. The above Grey Heron photo illustrates perfectly how silted-up the basin has become, the bird is ankle deep in water that less than a decade ago hosted regular wintering Goldeneye and the occasional Scaup.

Two Swallows pick of a quiet day

The north-westerly wind that has been blowing for the best part of a week now has effectively put a stop to any passage in what should be one of the most interesting periods of the spring migration; the only movement being a single Swallow south-west early morning and another west mid-morning. Reed Warbler numbers are high and this species is probably having its best year ever on the patch but Blackcaps seem a little scarce this year with a pair feeding young in a nest in bramble in the copse and another pair in the ecology park the only definite breeding records so far; there are also two territories of Common Whitethroat but the Lesser Whitethroat from last weekend wasn't singing today; this species is notoriously difficult to nail down as a breeding species, the male usually stops singing after he has attracted a mate and the skulking nature of this sublime sylvia makes proof of breeding doubly hard. Back at the basin two pairs of Common Terns have taken to the rafts, despite the fluctuating water level and two pairs of Sand Martin are breeding. Other notables today included three or four Shelduck, a female Kestrel hunting over the ecology park, a Little Ringed Plover and a singing Chaffinch in the copse.

Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler new for the year

I made a very brief post work visit to add Spotted Flycatcher to my year list this evening, the bird was in the copse at East India dock Basin and showed well after about half an hour. Although Spotted Flycatcher is regular (but not annual) in the autumn, this is the first spring record apart from a bird that turned up in June 2007 that could have conceivably been an early returning migrant. I also added Garden Warbler to the year list, a very showy but silent individual, also in the copse, found during the stakeout for the Spotted Flycatcher.

Common Buzzard falls at last

Overnight rain, albeit on a westerly wind, had me out on the patch at dawn. I wasn't sure what to expect, a nocturnal migrant or two grounded by the rain, but in the event it was disappointingly quiet but I did add Lesser Whitethroat to the yearlist with a single bird singing strongly from Bow Creek, I was beginning to think this species was going to pass me by, at least during the spring, and they can be very difficult here in the autumn. Weatherwise it was a morning of contrast with very warm sunny periods interspersed with some heavy rain showers which really should have delivered the first Common Swift of the year, but didn't. Reed Warbler numbers were up with at least ten singing throughout the site but, given the proximity to each other of several singing birds and the racket they make this is almost certainly a conservative count. It looks like we have two Common Whitethroat territories this year, both in the ecology park where one of the males was observed carrying nesting material in-between song flights. Blackcap territories are harder to ascertain as there are still singing migrants passing through but between three and five pairs a year is the norm here.. Two pairs of Common Tern have settled down on the basin rafts with another pair still prospecting; the two drake Shelducks are still hanging around, the basin bird was joined by his mate for a time, voraciously feeding before flying off to resume (hopefully) incubation duties. Other notables this morning included two male Common Teal on Bow Creek, certainly migrants, a Little Ringed Plover, two Stock Doves and three each of Sand Martin and Song Thrush. Just as I arrived home I received a text message from John Archer informing me that a male Mandarin was heading west up the river from Crossness; I immediately headed back to the basin but didn't relocate the bird anywhere on the patch, but Tufted Duck numbers were up from a singleton this morning to 31 now, including both the Säo Jacinto birds. Not much else was happening so I left the basin by the north-western gate and immediately connected with a typically marked Common Buzzard drifting in from the west at about 200 feet up, it was half-heartedly mobbed by two Lesser Black-backed Gulls before gaining height and drifting off north up the Lea Valley. The wisdom of the Lower Lea birders is that dedicated skywatching is a waste of time here, large raptors just turn up when you least expect them; this is a theory I've decided to buy into, if for no other reason than to give my aching neck muscles a rest.

Tufted Ducks from São Jacinto

The two Tufted Ducks fitted with red nasal saddles have been traced to a marking scheme based at São Jacinto Dunes nature reserve, Portugal. some 1375 kilometres from East India Dock Basin. The male was rung as a juvenile (Euring code 3, ring number L68769) on December 16th 2007, and the female, rung as a juvenile (Euring code 5, ring number LV1732) on January 14th 2011. Both birds were present in the São Jacinto area until February 28th this year and were then relocated in France at Reserve de la Grande Noé, Val de Reuil, Normandie from March 26th to April 8th; the next sighting, of the male only was a East India Dock Basin on April 17th and again on April 27th; both birds were then seen at the basin on May 1st and on subsequent dates. The photographs above were taken in Portugal and I am grateful to David Rodrigues for his permission to reproduce them here.

A passage of Common Sandpipers

Nose-saddled Tufted Duck at East India Dock Basin, May 2011

As I arrived at the basin this morning a flock of seven Mute Swans were heading east down the Thames, the highest count of the year so far and a feature of the last three springs when herds of between six and eight birds have been noted, mainly at Bow Creek; the two male Shelducks, one on the basin and one on the creek, are almost certainly awaiting the arrival of ducklings, which, if my suspicions are correct, should appear around the end of the month. The male nasal-saddled Tufted Duck was on the basin and an attempt to lure him close enough (with wholemeal bread) to photograph failed, but amazingly it attracted the female in the above pictures; hopefully the cryptic markings will make sense to somebody and we will learn the provenance of these birds. A flock of six Common Sandpipers flew down the Thames mid-morning, the largest group I have seen here, the only other waders recorded today were two very vocal Oystercatchers on the Millennium mudflats. Other migrants today included a nice male Wheatear found by Gary on Orchard Wharf, a single Swallow flying north and two House Martins. Most of the recent warblers seem to have moved on with just three Reed Warblers, three Blackcaps and two Common Whitethroats present this morning. Other notables today included a pair of Greylag Geese, a Sparrowhawk, seven Common Terns, a 1st-winter Common Gull, two Stock Doves and a singing Chaffinch.

Common Teal pair still hanging on

Common Tern at East India Dock Basin, April 2011

After drawing a blank yesterday, I found the pair of Common Teal going to roost on a rising tide at Bow Creek this morning, my latest spring date for this species; the male looks quite content to hang around but the female is definitely getting itchy wings, leaving the roost after a few minutes and indulging in small flights on the creek, today could well be their last day. No sign of yesterday's Pochard but Tufted Duck numbers were well down with only 12 on the basin, there is obviously a large turnover of birds at this site which is why I always take care to go through them all at least twice per visit. Two pairs of Common Terns were showing interest in the rafts this morning and there was an increase in Black-headed Gulls on the river with 36 mostly 1st-summers floating upstream on the tide. As I was leaving the site I found another singing Sedge Warbler, just outside the patch recording area but audible from inside, had I not scored an unequivocal bullseye on the 17th I would be facing a bit of a dilemma, but I did so I'm not. Other warblers today; seven Reed Warbler, three Blackcap and five Common Whitethroat. I made a return visit late in the afternoon, Tufted Duck numbers had risen to 40 but nothing unusual was with them, the only other notables were four Shelduck and three Common Sandpipers feeding in the same place on the creek as yesterday.

First Pochard of the year

Pochard at East India Dock Basin, April 2011

Another scorching hot April day, albeit a little cooler early on in the brisk north-easterly wind. Many migrants are well established now and with water constantly in the basin a pair of Common Terns were displaying over the rafts, a third bird occasionally joined them but was indignantly driven off by the propecting couple; a few non-breeding Black-headed Gulls are still hanging around on the river and the commotion from the terns had them investigating, resulting in some spectacular intraspecific dogfighting over the mill pond still water of the basin. The stable water level was also no doubt responsible for the only addition to the yearlist, a male Pochard roosting on the island along with a Shelduck and some of the 36 Tufted Duck present today; another Shelduck was at Bow Creek and five broods of Mallard were noted throughout the site. Three Little Ringed Plovers were very vocal, mainly at the Pura Foods peninsula and four Common Sandpipers were feeding together at Bow Creek on the falling tide. Sand Martin numbers were up to seven today, five at the basin and two over Bow Creek the latter pair were joined by two House Martins, never easy here in the Spring, and two vocal Swallows flew west at the basin mid-morning. Finally, singing Reed Warblers and Common Whitethroats numbered six and five respectively along with at least five Blackcaps, although this is almost certainly an underestimate as non-singing birds seemed to be everywhere, but very mobile, making an accurate count impossible.

A brief high tide visit

Incubating Mallard at Bow Creek, April 18th 2011

I made a brief post-work visit to the patch today in the hope of adding something to the yearlist, a Lesser Whitethroat perhaps which usually turns up about now but the whole site was very quiet. A Mallard with ten ducklings was at Bow Creek and another with four was on the basin, that's at least three broods this year so far, but the nest in the above photo was empty, probably robbed by children rather than gulls or a fox as there were no damaged eggs or indeed empty eggshells to indicate a hatching. Other odds and ends included five Shelduck, the Common Teal pair and a Common Sandpiper at Bow Creek, 52 Tufted Duck, two singing Song Thrushes, four Sand Martins and single singing Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.

First Swallow of the year

As I've mentioned in a previous post the money allocated for the de-silting of the basin has been withdrawn. A short-term solution to this problem is to raise the sluices on the inner dock gate to keep in the water entering the basin on a high tide; and so Gary, my fellow patch worker, had arranged to meet Andy, the Lea Valley Regional Park Warden, to get the job done and as I had a rare Monday off work I decided to go along and see if I could lend a hand. Andy turned out to be an enthusiastic young bloke and a keen botanist, he soon had the sluice gates sorted out with minimal help from Gary and myself. It was another glorious day, more like June than mid April and we decided to do a few hours skywatching in the hope of a large raptor, we had good views of an adult female Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk downriver at Silvertown which put up everything on the river and had me thinking that perhaps something bigger had caused the commotion but whatever it was we couldn't find it; a female Kestrel made up the trinity of raptors for the day. The only other addition to the yearlist was Swallow, I picked up two relatively low birds heading north-west, other moving migrants included a Meadow Pipit north and a very high-flying Jay heading north-west. Other migrants included two Northern Wheatears, one each on the Pura Foods peninsula and Orchard Wharf and two Common Terns whilst a 1st-winter Common Gull was also probably on the move rather than just a tardy leftover from the winter. Other highlights included three Shelduck, the Common Teal pair still hanging on at Bow Creek, a flock of five vocal Otstercatchers flying up the Thames, two Little Ringed Plovers, four Common Sandpipers in the roost, a pair of Linnets and the follwing singing warblers: two Reed Warblers, at least three Blackcaps and a Common Whitethroat.

A marathon session

I had intended to get well away from the patch today, London Marathon day usually has me running for the hills but a late night saw me oversleep and consequently head for the patch mid-morning instead of somewhere more bucolic at dawn. At first it seemed a little disappointing, the two Willow Warblers from yesterday had moved on and a thorough search of the Pura Foods peninsula and Orchard Wharf drew a blank on the Wheatear front; then a somewhat surreal ten minutes began, I found a male Tufted Duck wearing a red nasal saddle and I moved around the north side of the basin in an attempt to read any inscription it might have, as I was grilling the tufty I became aware of a Sedge Warbler in full song in the scrub to my right, not only a year tick but a patch lifer, my first Sedge Warbler in 14 years. Bolstered by this unexpected bonus I decided to do another circuit of the ecology park, just as I was about to go in I heard a weak "ca" and on looking up I saw a Rook flying purposely east, my second patch lifer in ten minutes and only the second site record of this unlikely migrant. The rest of the day's haul included two Greylag Geese, four Shelduck, a pair of Teal, 40 Tufted Duck (including the aforementioned bird which was probably "saddled" in either France or Portugal), two Common Sandpipers in the roost, a Stock Dove, at least five singing Blackcaps and single singing Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.

First Common Tern, House Martin and Common Whitethroat of the year

A very early start this morning in an attempt to cover the patch completely before any dogwalkers appeared. Two Willow Warblers were singing in the copse at the basin and a female Blackcap was feeding in the canopy along with another warbler which, after a frustrating few minutes of hide and seek, turned into the first Common Whitethroat of the year, a Chiffchaff sang briefly from the northern scrub and a Song Thrush was singing from one of the gardens. At the ecology park at least two more Common Whitethroats and a Reed Warbler were singing along with another Song Thrush and throughout the patch at least five Blackcaps were in song; the only other notable vocalist was a Reed Bunting singing intermittently from the pylon reedbed. At least eight Sand Martin were present this morning and the first House Martin of the year was busily feeding over Bow Creek before moving off mid-morning. A pair of Kestrels were displaying over the north dide of the ecology park and were showing a lot of interest in a gasometer about half a mile north-west of the patch, the only other raptor seen was a Peregrine. Back at the Thames four very vocal Common Terns had arrived and were soon joined by a fifth, the third year tick of the morning. Wildfowl included a Greylag Goose flying south, four Shelduck including two males behaving as if they have mates on eggs nearby, a pair of Common Teal and 11 Tufted Duck. On the wader front a Little Ringed Plover was on the Pura Foods peninsula, two Oystercatchers were on the Millennium Dome flats and four Common Sandpipers were in the high tide roost. Other notables today included two each of Stock Dove and Jay and a single migrant Meadow Pipit flying south.

First Mallard ducklings of the year

Mallard and ducklings at Bow Creek, April 2011

I made a brief post-work visit today, the skies had become overcast early afternoon and by 5 o'clock it had started to rain so I was hoping for some tern or, perhaps, Little Gull action on the Thames, but the river proved to be very quiet on a rising tide. A female Mallard was leading a string of 11 ducklings on Bow Creek but was still being attended by three drakes, one of which tried to forcibly mate with her, many of the ducklings got separated in the ensuing melee, but fortunately (for now) none of yesterday's large gulls were on hand to take advantage of the situation, but I expect at least half of this brood to have become larid or corvid fodder by the weekend, that's if the local foxes or herons don't get there first. I didn't cover the site comprehensively but other notables included two Shelduck, 11 Common Teal, 54 Tufted Duck, a Little Ringed Plover and three Sand Martins busily feeding over the basin after the rain had moved through.

Willow Warbler new for the year

An overcast day to start with but clearing up and becoming very sunny later, a singing Willow Warbler in the copse was the only addition to the year list. Apart from a rise in Tufted Duck numbers from 43 to 51 and two Greylag Geese on Bow Creek wildfowl numbers were almost identical to yesterday's count. At least four pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and three pairs of Herring Gulls were also at Bow Creek and around 120 large gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backeds, were loafing on the Millennium Dome mudflats along with a dozen Black-headed Gulls. Sand Martin numbers had risen to four and at least seven Blackcaps were singing along with single Reed Warbler and Song Thrush. A Little Ringed Plover was song-flighting over the Pura Foods peninsula and I flushed another one from Bow Creek, two Common Sandpipers were also at Bow Creek and finally a female Peregrine was watched soaring above the Millennium Dome, much to the indifference of the assembled larids on the mudflats below.

Reed Warbler new for the year

The unseasonably warm weather that has been prevalent for most of the week made it to the weekend, however a dawn start beneath a cloudless sky was a reminder that this was early April and not mid June, it was cold enough for a scarf and gloves for the first hour or so until the sun had climbed high enough to dispel the overnight frost. Lea Valley Regional Park have finally taken some action on the silted-up basin by raising the sluices on the inner dock gates trapping the water from high-tide inside the basin, all three tern rafts now have water beneath them and the "island" really is an island again, the sluices are not completely watertight, but should do enough to retain sufficient water between high tides to make the basin an attractive prospect for Common Terns again after the worst breeding season on record in 2010. Migration is well under way now, at least six Blackcaps were singing throughout the patch and a single Reed Warbler was sub-singing from the ecology park reedbed, my earliest record here; a male Northern Wheatear was on the Pura Foods peninsula along with at least three Little Ringed Plovers, a fourth bird was on the island at the basin, and two Sand Martins were hawking midges, mainly over Bow Creek. Wildfowl included three Shelduck, nine Common Teal and 43 Tufted Duck; other odds and ends noted today were a male Peregrine on the Millennium Dome, two Common Sandpipers on Bow Creek, a silent but typical collybita Chiffchaff in the northern scrub, a male Chaffinch in the ecology park and finally a singing Reed Bunting in the pylon reedbed.

Song Thrushes salvage a quiet day

After a good run of six visits adding nine new birds to my yearlist I finally drew a blank this afternoon, arriving at around 17:30 my first priority was to check the wooded areas for new migrants; a rather nagging south-westerly was blowing and, apart from the odd burst of song from one or other of the residents, passerine activity was confined to a single Sand Martin over the basin and a pair of Song Thrushes which came out to feed around half an hour before dusk. One or two pairs of this superlative songster breed on the patch but they are very rarely seen well, a usual encounter consisting of a subdued "sip" call as the bird vanishes into cover, so it was good to see them so well for a change. The tide was ebbing and I flushed two Common Sandpipers from the foreshore at Bow Creek; a pair of Shelduck were also on the creek with another pair apparently prospecting nest sites on the Pura Foods peninsula. Tufted Duck numbers were around 25% up on yesterday with 40 counted, all on the basin, other wildfowl included a Mute Swan, two Canada Geese, 36 Mallard and 13 Common Teal; finally around 80 mainly immature large gulls were loafing on the Millennium Dome mudflats.

Northern Wheatear new for the year

As the weather gets warmer and the days longer, both the basin and the ecology park become a hotbed of activity for the increasing human population of the Lower Lea. There is nothing in the way of amenity parkland in the area so the nature reserves are utilised and binocular toting birders going about their legitimate business are often regarded with suspicion or sometimes hostility. Inevitably the birds are marginalised by all this activity and are often to be found on the less accessible areas of the patch, notably the Pura Foods peninsula, a mothballed housing development on the next meander downstream from the ecology park. Today was no exception with the star bird being a cracking male Northern Wheatear; this species is just about annual in the spring and the peninsula is proving to be the most reliable spot to find it. It was high tide when I arrived so I checked the wader roost which was deserted but I did find four Common Sandpipers roosting on the west side of the peninsula, the only waders of the day; three Stock Doves were also foraging on the peninsula and that was about it for the day, with just a single Sand Martin the only other passerine migrant noted, and surprisingly, not a single warbler seen or heard. A comprehensive wildfowl count was undertaken (but hardly worth the effort given the level of disturbance) and returned the following low totals: two Mute Swan, Two Canada Goose, two Shelduck, 38 Mallard, ten Common Teal and 29 Tufted Duck.

Sand Martin new for the year

Another post-work visit on a glorious spring afternoon and , a week after the first showing, I finally connected with Sand Martin, just a single bird at the basin, probably one of the breeders, or their progeny from last year as it visited the breeding pipe in the lock wall a couple times; no sign of the four Little Ringed Plovers on the Pura Foods peninsula but there was a single bird on the basin at dusk. Common Teal numbers continue to drop with just 34 present today, other wildfowl included two pairs of Canada Geese, five Shelduck and 34 Tufted Duck. The only other notables were two Common Sandpipers at Bow Creek and a singing Linnet near the entrance to the ecology park.

Little Ringed Plover new for the year

A post-work visit now that British Summer Time has arrived to search for migrants, specifically Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin, none of the latter but four LRPs on the Pura Foods peninsula were a welcome addition to the year list; lots of territorial behaviour; parallel running and song flighting noted; it's a private site, secure and wardened since last years illegal rave so the birds have a good chance of success. it was a fairly brief visit with four each of Canada Goose and Shelduck, 40 Common Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, a Common Sandpiper and three Pied Wagtail the only other sightings of interest.

Blackcap new for the year

The first day of British Summer Time was a bit of a let down to start with, a cold north-westerly wind had me wishing I'd packed my gloves and the Canary Wharf tower was invisible in the mist; not too promising for migrants but my first Blackcap of the year was tacking in the scrub at Bow Creek although not showing; the only other evidence of passage was a calling Meadow Pipit overhead at the ecology park and it or another briefly perched in a Silver Birch at the basin along with a Linnet. Two Greylag Geese were at Bow Creek and another pair flew up the Thames mid-morning whilst 11 Canada Geese scattered throughout the site was a good count for March; other wildfowl included 53 Common Teal and 42 Tufted Duck. An adult female Peregrine was on the Millennium Dome and presumably the same bird was seen flying up-river shortly later, the only wader noted was a Common Sandpiper at Bow Creek; still no Little Ringed Plover or Sand Martin, but other observers have seen both species and the next few days should see them fall.

Greylag Goose and Sparrowhawk new for the year

Another glorious spring day in London prompted an after work visit in the hope of connecting with a migrant or two, but to no avail, Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin are well overdue and it's a complete mystery why we haven't had a singing Blackcap yet. I did add two to the year list however, a pair of Greylag Geese on Bow Creek and an immature female Sparrowhawk flying south over the basin being mobbed by Starlings; the year list now stands at 53, a reasonable total considering it contains no migrants. It was high tide so I checked the wader roost, it held two Common Sandpiper and nothing else, that's probably it for Redshank now until the late autumn, unless we get a passage bird or two. Finally a comprehensive wildfowl count produced two Canada Geese, two Shelduck, circa 40 Mallard, 96 Common Teal and 49 Tufted Duck.

Three year-ticks but still no migrants

Pintail at Bow Creek, March 2011

Saturday March 19th: I arrived at the basin in glorious sunshine, cloudless skies and just a hint of a south-easterly wind, perfect conditions for a flyover raptor, a male Kestrel flying north over the Thames being mobbed by a Carrion Crow wasn't quite what I had in mind but was a year-tick nonetheless. Two Oystercatcher feeding on the Millennium flats and a Collared Dove flying north-east were also welcome additions but the conditions really should have delivered something better; we'd already had Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin by this time last year but no obvious migrants were logged today. Wildfowl included two Canada Geese on the Millennium flats, a single Shelduck flying east, 96 Common Teal, the female Pintail at Bow Creek (I took the above photographs this morning, the flight shot shows really well the long-bodied, narrow-winged jizz of this elegant duck) and 30 Tufted Duck. Redshank numbers have dropped off in the last week or so and only a single bird came into the roost today, three Common Sandpiper were also noted at Bow Creek. A single Stock Dove was display flying over the old gravel works before landing on a warehouse roof, I couldn't find a second bird but a pair is usually present in this area although its not exactly typical habitat for this species something is clearly going on.

Sunday March 20th: A pre-work dawn start in overcast conditions produced a very similar tally to that of yesterday, wildfowl include two Canada Geese on the basin, 2 Shelduck and the female Pintail on Bow Creek, 146 Common Teal throughout the site and 37 Tufted Duck, all but three on the basin; a Redshank was heard and three Common Sandpipers were seen on the creek and a collared Dove flew in from the east and landed in a tree on the other side of the A13. I also returned late in the day and concentrated on covering the Pura Foods peninsula in the hope of a Little Ringed Plover or a Wheatear, no sign of either just around six each of Pied Wagtail and Linnet feeding on the short grass area; the only other notable passerines were two Reed Buntings in the pylon reedbed at dusk and a calling Chiffchaff in the ecology park.

A pair of post-work visits

From around the middle of March post-work visits to the patch become possible due to the longer days, I made two visits this week on Tuesday 15th and Thursday 17th. It's a race against the setting sun to cover the patch completely as I have just over an hour of workable daylight by the time I arrive. The most notable difference between the two days was the fall in Common Teal numbers from 98 on the 15th to 63 on the 17th and a smaller fluctuation in Tufted Duck numbers from 44 on the 15th to 38 on the 17th; in the case of the Tufted Duck I think it's just local movement and I fully expect numbers to rise again before seriously dropping off as the birds pair up and move off to their breeding sites; but I think the Common Teal are definitely moving out, most birds are paired up and lots of displaying is apparent. Six Shelduck were noted on the 15th but only two on the 17th, these birds are very flighty at the moment, no doubt propecting for nest sites, and the drakes are very aggressive towards other species. The Water Rail that has been giving me the runaround since early January was seen on both dates, preening in front of the western reedbed at dusk. Two Common Sandpipers were seen on the 15th with with two Redshank noted on the 17th, finally the only year tick was a Meadow Pipit flying east on the 15th.

Water Rail new for the year

Common Seal: Thames off East India Dock Basin, March 2011

After spending many hours staking out the western reedbed at the basin in an attempt to add the wintering Water Rail to my yearlist I finally connected with it at dawn this morning, no waiting, no fuss, it was just standing at the front of the reeds preening; apart from that it was fairly quiet, the first singing Chiffchaff of the year was in the ecology park along with a second bird that was calling incessantly; they were in an area of the park that held no wintering birds so they could have been the first migrants of the year. Wildfowl included five Shelduck, the female Pintail briefly, 107 Common Teal and 59 Tufted Duck, three Redshank and two Common Sandpipers were at Bow Creek and at least five Pied Wagtails and three Linnets were foraging on the Pura Foods peninsula; an added bonus came in the form of a Common Seal in the Thames just off the basin, the second I have seen here, it caught at least two flatfish, probably Dabs; my personal mammal list at the Lower Lea is not a long one: Pipistrelle sp (probably Common), Red Fox, Common Seal, Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Grey Squirrel and Brown Rat; I'm thinking of investing in a Longworth trap to see if I can catch some of the smaller insectivores and rodents that ought to occur in the various habitats of the Lower Lea.

A record count of Pied Wagtails

Pied Wagtails at Bow Creek, March 2011

I timed my visit today to coincide with high tide, ten Redshank and three Common Sandpiper were in the roost, a good count given the recent mild conditions although today was rather cold with a nagging north-easterly adding to the wind chill. A complete site count of Common Teal produced at least 163, again not a bad count for the time of year; 56 Tufted Duck were on the basin along with a pair of Canada Geese, another pair were on Bow Creek and two Shelduck flew in at Dusk. It was proving to be an unpromising day for passerines until I got on to a flock of at least 12 Pied Wagtails flying west over Bow Creek and coming down somewhere behind the Esso garage, I then realised that there were seven more all sitting motionless on the pavement alongside Bow Creek, at least 19 in total, my best count ever here surpassing the 11 I recorded on April 7th 2007. Presumably, given the time of day, these birds would be roosting locally but I could not find the roost site in the gathering darkness.

The olympic legacy

I met up with Gary at the basin this morning, a clear and sunny day after the washout of yesterday, we both agreed that unless the Water Rail mentioned in my last post does not give itself up soon, that will be it until the first Little Ringed Plover turns up on March 17th (trust me). Gary had attended the last East India Dock Basin Users Forum meeting where he learned that the money earmarked for clearing the silt from the basin has been reallocated to "The Olympic Legacy". I still find it impossible to take on board that a month of running, jumping and swimming can have such a massive impact on people's lives; I remember a group of allotment holders being turfed off their plots, which were on land gifted to them "in perpetuity" by some philanthropic Victorian, simply because the ramshackle nature of the site didn't fit in with the "olympic vision", unbelievable. What this means is that East India Dock Basin will not be a water body in less than ten years time, Alder and Willow will seed in the sediment as the process of turning open water to reedbed then carr and finally dry land begins; when this happens will the area still be considered important for wildlife? I doubt it.

A washout

Heavy rain greeted me this morning as I opened the curtains, so the decision I faced was do I stay at home and stare fruitlessly at the window or do I head down to East India Dock Basin and stare fruitlessly at the western reedbed from the comparative comfort of a covered blind in the hope of finally connecting with Water Rail for my year list? I chose the latter option and spent over 90 minutes failing miserably, if it was a patch lifer I would be in despair (or more likely in permanent residence in the reeds), but as it's only a yeartick I'll just have to let it go, but probably not before I've put in several more hours trying to nail it. In any other walk of life it would be a truism to say that good things come to he who waits but in birding the opposite is often true. Needless to say not much else was noted, two Shelduck and the female Pintail on Bow Creek, 107 Common Teal throughout the site, 45 Tufted Duck on the basin and a female Reed Bunting feeding on the north shore of the basin.

February wader count

Today was the second instalment of the monthly wader count initiated by Dave Morrison, an attempt to count all the waders roosting along the Thames in the London area and to log all the roost sites; Bow Creek is the most westerly site and therefore the closest to central London; today it yielded 16 Redshank and three Common Sandpiper, not a great contribution, but I'm always amazed that any waders choose to use this site at all. High Tide at London Bridge was around 15: 30 today which made for an atmospheric last hour as plenty of wildfowl flighted into the basin including nine very noisy Canada Geese, a pair of Shelduck, 125 Common Teal, the overwintering female Pintail and a year record count of 56 Tufted Duck.

First Jay of the year

Today it rained all day, not optimum birding conditions, the only bonus being that Joe Public rarely ventures forth to disturb the non-existent birdlife during periods of precipitation. A flock of seven Chaffinch was feeding in the understorey at the eastern scrub and while I was going through them in the hope of something better a Jay flew in, my first year tick since the Mute Swan on January 23rd. A single Shelduck was on the basin along with 34 Tufted Duck whilst the majority of the 158 Common Teal were strung out along Bow Creek, other wildfowl included singles of Mute Swan and Canada Goose, both on the Thames. As it was low tide I only managed to find three Redshank, the rest of the day's notables were a Stock Dove flying strongly west, a skulking Song Thrush and three rather tame Goldfinches feeding on Silver Birch buds in the ecology park.

A brief visit on a falling tide

Shelduck at Bow Creek, February 2011

With the recent run of mild weather seemingly firmly established with no sign of a change visits to the patch before the spring migration kicks in are a triumph of hope over expectation, and today was no different except that I very rarely time a visit to coincide with a falling tide so I thought I'd give it a go. Two pairs of Shelduck were at Bow Creek along with around 160 Common Teal, most of these were paired up and numbers will steadily drop from now on as they head north to their breeding grounds, although a cold snap could produce one last big winter count; the only other wildfowl of note was a flock of 22 Tufted Duck on the basin. A few hundred gulls were feeding on the exposed mud at Bow Creek, mostly Black-headed Gulls, around 400 with smaller numbers of Common and Herring Gulls including a probable Scandinavian Herring Gull, darker mantled and with more white in the wings. Passerine interest was negligible with several of the commoner species in song including Dunnock, Wren and Blue Tit but oddly no thrushes.

The forgotten art of grebe sexing

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the request entitled " Freezing weather for southern England until the end of February" lies forgotten and unactioned in the bottom of the burgeoning in-tray of some apathetic weather god and this is clearly the reason for the stagnation of my fledgling yearlist; another ridiculously mild day with a suitably unimpressive cache of records to complement it as follows: two Shelduck, circa 180 Common Teal, 43 Tufted Duck, two Redshank and a Chaffinch. Finally I have provided for your instruction and at no extra cost two photographs culled from the Lea Valley Regional Park bird identification boards at East India Dock Basin; now at last I know that with such meticulous attention to detail the future of the Lower lea lies in safe hands and that's a thought even more depressing than the weather.

An ordinary day

Redshank and Common Sandpiper (far left)

in high tide roost, Bow Creek, February 2011

An afternoon visit timed to coincide with high tide produced nothing out of the ordinary, it was an extremely mild day for February, albeit with a robust south-west wind that played havoc with the queues on the Tufted Duck, 36 of which were present on the basin. Common Teal were fairly evenly scattered throughout the site with a total count of 225 but there was no sign of the wintering female Pintail. The high tide wader roost produced 12 Redshank and two Common Sandpiper, a low February count of the former not really surprising given the clement weather conditions. Four Pied Wagtails and a single Grey Wagtail were the only notable passerines along with a singing Song Thrush in the ecology park.

Belligerent Peregrines in border dispute

Common Teal and Tufted Duck numbers were up on yesterday, 151 and 41 respectively and a single Mute Swan on the Thames was new for the year; the only other wildfowl of note were two Canada geese flying high west and five Shelduck. Two male Peregrines provided some excitement mid morning as they indulged in some low-level dogfighting over the ecology park, screaming at each other in rage and predictably putting everything else to flight; one of them eventually landed on a pylon still calling agitatedly whilst the other circled, gained height, drifted off south and was seen to land on the Millennium Dome. The second year tick of the day was a nice adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Millennium flats along with a mixed bag of around 600 gulls of the five common species. The only passerines of note were two singing Song Thrushes and a silent Chiffchaff in the copse at the basin. A brief return late afternoon produced 12 Redshank and three Common Sandpipers in the high tide roost.

A slight recovery in Common Teal numbers

After the recent plummet in Common Teal numbers from over 400 to just eight birds it is good to see that a recovery is underway with at least 118 present throughout the site this morning; Tufted Duck numbers were also up with 34 on the basin and one on Bow Creek; other notable wildfowl included the female Pintail on Bow Creek before being flushed by members of the Thames 21 clean-up team and two Shelduck. Apart from that it was fairly quiet in the mild conditions, three Redshank and a Common Sandpiper were at Bow Creek, a Stock Dove flew north and a pair of Pied Wagtails were foraging on the Bow Creek foreshore on the falling tide.

Greenfinch roost re-established

A marked contrast in the weather compared to yesterday, after a morning of continuous drizzle the afternoon was still overcast but the quality of the light was very good and the nagging southerly wind had abated. Common Teal numbers were up on yesterday but still very low, I found a total of 29 throughout the site with only three on the basin; other wildfowl included three Canada Geese, the first of the year, three Shelduck, the female Pintail on the basin at dusk and 22 Tufted Duck; two Redshank were on the creek and a solitary Stock Dove flew purposefully north. A Song Thrush was singing in the ecology park with phrases that included a car alarm and an incredibly good Ring-necked Parakeet flight call which had me searching the sky in vain a couple of times; as dusk approached around 50 Greenfinch came in to roost in the trees behind the Esso garage, the first time I've seen them since last January; the only other passerines of note were six Reed Buntings commuting between the pylon and linear reedbeds and feeding acrobatically on the phragmites seedheads.

A massive exodus of Common Teal

I arrived at the basin on a falling tide, it was mid afternoon but the light was almost crepuscular, omnious scudding clouds threatening, but not delivering rain, and a nagging southerly wind, but exceptionally mild for the time of year. The big shock was that I found only eight Common Teal on the basin and absolutely no more throughout the site, this has to be an all-time January low count, even before the silting-up of the basin, birds could usually be found on the creek at low tide, very puzzling. This visit has to be the least productive I have ever made to the patch, the only other notables were a rise in the Tufted Duck flock to 19 and two Chiffchaffs in the copse, both silent and both looking like normal collybita to me.

An interesting Chiffchaff and a record count of Gadwall

I spent several hours on the patch today, mainly trying to nail the identity of a Chiffchaff I found in the copse that was calling like the Siberian form tristis; the bird was incredibly skulking and I could get no plumage details as it kept to deep cover before moving into the inaccessible gardens on the west side of the copse; I returned at regular intervals throughout the day until dusk but had no further sight or sound of the bird. As dusk approached I noticed that a lot of Common Teal were flighting into the basin on a rising tide, the reason for this was a flotilla of narrow boats moving up the Lea and spooking the birds into flight, they didn't, however, bother the Mallards other than to make them swim out into the middle of the creek giving me a good opportunity to count them, halfway through the count I came across six Gadwall, a record site count and perhaps the spillover of birds from the large concentration further upstream mentioned in a previous post; the Mallard count totalled 108 with other duck numbers as follows: seven Shelduck, female Pintail and 16 Tufted Duck; six duck species in all, anything over three is a good day on the Lower Lea. An adult female Peregrine was on the dome and a Scandinavian type Herring Gull was at Bow Creek. Passerines included a good local count of 18 Linnet, one of them singing, a Grey Wagtail and a singing Song Thrush in the ecology park.

A small movement of Redwing

Pintail at Bow Creek, January 2011

Shortly after arriving at East India Dock Basin this morning I got on to a flock of 30 Redwing heading south-west followed by another flock of 13 moving in the same direction five minutes later, these were the first of three year ticks the other two being Greenfinch and a single Stock Dove which came in from the east, circled the copse and headed north. There seemed to be above average numbers of gulls around so I decided to do a comprehensive count with the following result: c390 Black-headed Gull, 17 Common Gull, four Lesser Black-backed Gull, five Herring Gull and nine Great Black-backed Gull; most of the larids were feeding in Bow Creek at low tide. The female Pintail is still favouring Bow Creek where all of the Common Teal were today, albeit in low numbers for the time of year with around 150 counted; other wildfowl include seven widely scattered Shelduck and 13 Tufted Duck. A Peregrine was roosting on the dome with the only notable passerines two Song Thrush, including one singing and a Chaffinch calling from the copse.

An increase in Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck at East India Dock Basin, January 2011

The Tufted Duck flock, which numbered nine on the 1st has risen to 15 today, consisting of ten adult drakes, a 1st-winter drake and four females; these birds are probably the fallout from the large flocks at Millwall and Greenland docks and could conceivably carry one of the four Scaup which are wintering at the docks, or failing that a Pochard would do. There were no Shelduck on the basin early morning but one flew over the eco park late afternoon and five flew into the basin at dusk. The Pintail was feeding at Bow Creek early morning and was roosting with Mallard on the eastern side of the eco park late afternoon, Common Teal numbers were slightly up with c275 noted throughout the site. Two Peregrines were roosting on the Millennium Dome and a trilling Little Grebe was at Bow Creek late afternoon. The only notable passerines were three Robins having a face-off in the copse and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits moving through the gardens on the west side of the basin.

New Year off to a quiet start

Herring Gull at Bow Creek, January 2011

I arrived at East India Dock Basin just after dawn on a rising tide, conditions were very mild and my low expectations were almost entirely realised. A dozen Shelduck were feeding on the basin silt with another at Bow Creek, a comprehensive count of Common Teal totalled 258 and the female Pintail was on the basin late morning; the only other wildfowl of note were nine Tufted Duck. No raptors were encountered and the only waders were four Redshank and a Common Sandpiper in the roost. There was a small passage of Woodpigeon with flocks of 23 and eight noted moving north mid-morning. A Song Thrush was singing in the eco park at dawn but most other passerines were keeping a low profile, a Chiffchaff in the eastern scrub was giving a very unusual contact call, which made me look at it a little more closely, but it turned out to be a textbook collybita. The only other bird of note was a female Reed Bunting calling from the western reed bed at the basin. A day total of 35 species to get the year started was a little below average, with the usual New Years Day bankers like Greenfinch, Mute Swan and Canada Goose strangely absent.

Single Mistle Thrush the highlight of a quiet day

A two hour visit on a falling tide, probably my last of this year, produced virtually nothing of note; Common Teal numbers had slightly recovered from the recent slump with c220 counted throughout the site, with only three present on the basin which is still partially frozen, especially on the western side with no Little Grebes noted in their usual spot; a pair of Shelduck and two Redshank were on Bow Creek and that was about it until I found a single Mistle Thrush in gardens on the west side of the basin before it flew off north, only my second record this year of this unaccountably rare species. Yesterday I paid a brief visit to the Lea a mile upstream from the patch at Three Mills and found the area covered in wildfowl, at least 30 Gadwall were noted along with lots of Common Teal, a handful of Shelduck and a few Tufted Duck, It seems slightly anomalous that Gadwall, a species I struggle to record annually at the patch should be present in good numbers just a five minute flight away; I don't think the salinity of the water is an issue as Gadwall are found commonly further downstream at Barking Bay and Crossness, the habitat is virtually identical but there is clearly some limiting factor at work here. Finally the lard cake I put up last week at the basin is being eaten by Great and Blue Tits and I've got my fingers crossed that it will attract something a little more unusual, a Brambling would be nice.

Common Snipe increase as hard weather sets in

Black-headed Gull at East India Dock, December 2010

The heavy snow that fell yesterday has had a dramatic effect on the birdlife of the lower Lea, many of the Common Teal seem to have cleared out, I didn't make a comprehensive count but a rough estimate of 150 would be generous, the female Pintail is still in the area, flying into the basin from the Thames at high tide this afternoon, other wildfowl included five Shelduck and a female Tufted Duck. The wader roost was under an inch of snow but still held eight Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and five Common Snipe, the first time I have seen this species in the roost and five Lapwing flew south-east. A probable female Peregrine was on the dome early morning with a pair there in the afternoon, possibly a different male flew north at the ecology park early afternoon with a female type Kestrel also seen there. Four Reed Buntings were in the pylon reedbed, my first sightings here since the spring, two or three Meadow Pipits were at the water meadow and a Chiffchaff was calling in the ecology park. A single Chaffinch was in the copse, 13 Goldfinches were feeding in birches in the ecology park and two Linnets flew east. A mixed bag, obviously heavily affected by the weather with the low count of Redshank particularly disappointing in conditions that have produced three-figure counts in the past.

Personal best high count of Common Teal

Great Crested Grebe at East India Dock Basin, December 2010

A much colder day than yesterday with an overnight frost and light northerly wind, six Shelduck were on the basin along with eight Tufted Duck, a single Little Grebe and a 1st-winter Great Crested Grebe, by no means an easy species here; I made a very extensive Common Teal count and totalled c430, my best ever count, my previous best was c380 on January 14th this year, a cold snap over the new year could push numbers past the often punted 500 mark, a good count anywhere let alone a small urban reserve in an Inner London borough. Two Redshank were on the creek and I had calling Chiffchaffs in the northern scrub at the basin and in the ecology park. Despite the cold several passerines were singing including Dunnock, Great Tit and Goldfinch; overhead passage was negligible with three Woodpigeon high east the only birds of note.

First Pintail for over four years

Gloves were an optional extra as I set out this morning, so I didn't have very high hopes of finding anything interesting. As I arrived at the basin seven Shelduck were just leaving with another nine feeding on the mud, 16 in total is a good December count; a Mute Swan was also on the basin along with three Canada Geese and 11 Tufted Duck and I made total site counts of c370 Common Teal and c80 Mallard, then I struck gold when I found an extremely wary female Pintail with Mallards on Bow Creek, she flushed at around 30 yards and flew down the Lea and despite extensive searching I could not relocate her, this is my first record since January 22nd 2006 and my first female. Although the tide was out I managed to find at least three Redshank and had distant views of a Common Sandpiper as it flew across Bow Creek, not surprisingly, given the conditions these were the only waders I saw. Good passerines were fairly thin on the ground but included a 1st-winter type Black Redstart, two Redwing and a Chiffchaff in the copse at the basin, a Meadow Pipit west over the ecology park, two Pied Wagtail, one Grey Wagtail and two Chaffinch whilst three Jays feeding in gardens on the west side of the basin is my best count here, all in all a satisfying visit in rather unpromising conditions.

A late afternoon visit on a falling tide

I arrived at East India Dock Basin with barely an hour of daylight remaining thanks to a combination of work and a lengthy detour to Beddington to successfully twitch a 1st-winter Common Crane which takes my London List to 262. Although the recent cold weather had ameliorated somewhat it was immediately obvious that Common Teal numbers were well up on my previous visit so I did a fairly comprehensive count missing out only a couple of the more unproductive areas in the failing light, there were around 280 present, my best count since February. Also on the basin were nine Shelduck, my first since May, eight Tufted Duck, a species which is becoming more difficult here due to the silting up of the basin and four Little Grebe in the usual spot in the north-western corner. As the tide was on the ebb there were no waders in the roost but I did have a Common Snipe which flew high north over the basin, a Lapwing north-east over the ecology park and a Common Sandpiper flying down the Lea, the only other bird of note was a calling Chiffchaff in the ecology park.

The Birds

The following annotated list is a comprehensive account of all the species known to have occurred on the patch, not all of them were recorded or seen by me and these are marked as follows: a single asterisk * denotes a species seen by me but not found by me; a double asterisk** denotes a species I have not seen.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

A regular visitor which can occur in any month but especially in the spring; recent counts have included eight in early May 2008 and 2009 and nine in late April 2010; breeding has not been noted but a pair was observed mating on May 5th 2008.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

An occasional visitor, often coming in at dusk to roost at East India Dock Basin, recent counts include ten on November 15th 2009 and a skein of ten flying high east on November 21st 2010.

Canada Goose Branta canadensis

A frequent visitor with a pair breeding most years on the tern rafts at East India Dock Basin; during the winter this species often roosts on the basin with a peak count of 17 on February 25th 2009.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

One briefly on March 28th 2010 and two on August 22nd 2010 are the only records.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

An increasingly frequent visitor, usually from mid November to May; up to four pairs were present in both 2009 and 2010 and although behaviour strongly indicative of breeding was noted no ducklings were seen. Up to ten are usually present during the winter but in early spring the numbers increase with a peak count of 22 on March 4th 2010.

Mandarin Aix galericulata **

An adult drake at East India Dock Basin on May 14th 2004 is the only record.

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

A drake at Bow Creek on an unspecified date in March 1998 and a female on the Thames off East India Dock Basin on January 10th 2010 are the only records.

Gadwall Anas Strepera

An uncommon visitor, more frequent in recent years, all known records are given and refer to East India Dock Basin unless otherwise stated: two from January 28th into February 2004, two on December 30th 2005, two on January 17th 2006, a pair on the Thames on January 1st 2009, single drakes on January 9th and March 31st, an eclipse drake intermittently from August 5th to 10th, a drake on January 3rd 2010 and an eclipse drake on June 19th 2010.

Common Teal Anas crecca

Mainly a winter visitor which has increased in numbers dramatically over the past few years as a result of the silting-up of East India Dock Basin. The first birds of the autumn usually appear in mid August with numbers gradually building up to a peak in late December or early January; the record site count is a high tide gathering of 410 at the basin on December 31st 2009 with 400+ during freezing weather on January 12th 2010; three-figure counts can persist into March if the weather stays cold with one or two pairs occasionally staying into late April.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Resident with between two and five pairs breeding annually, numbers are augmented in autumn and winter by migrants with three-figure counts noted most years and a peak count of 166 on August 29th 2010.

Pintail Anas acuta

An uncommon winter visitor, formerly more regular, all records are given: Bow Creek adult drakes on January 17th 2001, January 26th and November 3rd 2004, November 25th and 29th 2005 and January 14th, 15th and 22nd 2006, a female on December 11th 2010. East India Dock Basin; adult drakes on January 25th 2001 and January 1st 2006.

Garganey Anas querquedula **

A drake at East India Dock Basin on May 1st 2001 is the only record.

Shoveler Anas clypeata

An uncommon winter visitor usually during hard weather, all records are given: a drake on December 31st 2001, a drake on February 21st 2006, one over on February 14th 2008, a drake on nine dates between December 17th and 2008 and January 8th 2009, three drakes and a duck on January 9th 2009, two drakes on January 10th and 11th 2009, all records are from East India Dock Basin.

Pochard Aythya ferina

A scarce passage migrant and winter visitor, the silting-up of East India Dock Basin has made it unattractive to this species, the last record was of four on April 27th 2010.

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris **

One report of an adult drake at East India Dock Basin on January 7th 2002, but I can find no reference to this record in the relevant London Bird Report.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

One or two pairs have attempted to breed each year usually with little success; 2010 was the first blank year as the ongoing silting-up of East India Dock Basin makes it unsuitable for this species; during the autumn numbers start to build up from September onwards and a wintering flock of between ten and 20 is usually present into early March. Before the silting-up of the basin numbers were significantly higher during the winter months with counts of between 50 and 80 and a peak count of 94 on January 2nd 2002.

Scaup Aythya marila

Three winter records involving eight birds; a drake on January 8th 2001, a 1st-winter drake intermittently between January 24th and February 29th 2004, both at East India Dock Basin, and a flock of six flew west along the Thames on January 10th 2010.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra

Two records, both on the Thames off East India Dock Basin: one flew west on October 29th 2009 and one flew west after being flushed by a boat on April 4th 2010.

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

A scarce winter visitor, formerly more regular, the silting-up of East India Dock Basin has seriously affected the status of this species which is now more likely to be encountered on the river; the last record was of one at Bow Creek on December 20th 2006.

Ruddy Duck Oxjura jamaicensis **

A female on the Thames off East India Dock Basin on January 1st 2004 is the only record.

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

The only record is of a male in the copse at East India Dock Basin on February 26th 2006, it probably originated from one of the small discrete populations further up the Lea Valley at Mill Meads or Stratford Marsh.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

A passage migrant and winter visitor, usually arriving in late September and leaving by mid March with the odd individual remaining in early April; most winters two or three are present at East India Dock Basin with a peak count of six on December 1st 2008.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

A decidedly scarce passage migrant and winter visitor, just about annual and more likely to be encountered on the river, recent records include one at Bow Creek on February 7th 2010 and one on the Thames on September 19th 2010.

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus **

One was observed on the Thames from the Kent side, but close into the Essex shore on September 7th 1997, it was attacked by a Great Black-backed Gull and seriously injured, it then drifted upstream on the rising tide and was seen to pass East India Dock Basin, it constitutes the 50th record for the London Area (McKenzie D. The Birds of the Charlton and Woolwich Area 1993-2003 [in prep] ).

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

A common visitor at all times of the year with both birds probably originating from the Walthamstow Reservoirs rookery which contained over 300 nests in 2005, the peak count for the lower Lea is 30 on January 1st 2009.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis **

There appears to be only one record, on an unknown date during January 2000.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

A scarce but fairly regular spring and summer visitor with the first record on July 31st 2004; since 2006 a small breeding colony has become established at Walthamstow Reservoirs which should lead to an increase in sightings, the last record was of one flying north at East India Dock Basin on April 11th 2010.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

A common visitor at all times of the year, probably from the Walthamstow Reservoirs heronry which contained over 80 nests in 2006; there is a high tide roost on the eastern side of Bow Creek Ecology Park which can hold up to a dozen birds, at low tide the Millennium Dome mud flats are a favourite fishing area with 12 present on April 2nd 2010.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

An immature, first seen downstream at Crossness, was relocated on the Millennium Dome mudflats where it stayed for 20 minutes before being pushed off by the rising tide, it flew off west but returned five minutes later, circled the dome and flew off high upstream following the course of the Thames until it was lost to view.

Honey-buzzard Pernis aviporus **

One record of two birds flying north on August 25th 2006.

Red Kite Milvus milvus **

One flying south-west on June 12th 2010 and one flying north-east on September 4th 2010 are the only records.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

An occasional visitor on hunting forays at any time of the year, often seen around the copse at East India Dock Basin, it almost certainly breeds locally but the available habitat is probably too marginal for a successful breeding attempt at the lower Lea.

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo **

Two flying east on March 30th 2009 and singles flying south on April 9th and 11th and May 4th and east on September 2010 are the only records.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus **

One drifting slowly north-east on May 6th 2010 is the only record.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

An occasional visitor at any time of the year but more regular in winter and spring and formerly more frequent. The habitat does not exist to support a breeding pair although breeding is strongly suspected from a locality to the north of the A13. The increase in Peregrine numbers may also have a limiting effect, a hovering Kestrel would be an easy target for a hunting Peregrine.

Merlin Falco columbarius **

Three winter records: one on January 15th 2001, a female flew west on January 28th 2007 and a male flew west on December

Hobby Falco subbuteo **

A very scarce passage migrant with just three spring records: one on May 1st 2007, one flew north-east on May 11th 2009 and one flew north on April 27th 2010.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

A fairly frequent and increasing visitor in all months but especially between October and March; there are at least three eyries within a three mile radius of the lower Lea and multiple sightings are not uncommon; on May 19th 2002 a pair resident on the Greenwich Peninsula attacked an interloping male forcing it to ground in the old gravel works before chasing it off north-east over Canning Town and four were seen in the air together over East India Dock Basin on March 28th 2010.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus *

Surprisingly, given the relative abundance of suitable habitat, there is only one record of a single bird that overwintered at East India Dock Basin from November 7th 2008 to January 13th 2009; it spent most of it's time in or near the western reedbed but was also seen at the eastern reedbed on January 3rd 2009.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

A common resident with three or four pairs breeding annually, often utilizing the tern rafts at East India Dock Basin; recent high counts have included 15 on December 3rd 2008 and 14 on December 27th 2009.

Coot Fulica atra

A common resident with two or three pairs breeding annually which, like the previous species, often utilises the tern rafts at East India Dock Basin; it can but quite scarce during the autumn and winter with a peka count of nine on August 29th 2009.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

A fairly frequent visitor at any time of the year although scarcer in the winter months, most records involve between one and four birds with a peak count of ten in two groups of five flying west up the Thames on July 13th 2008.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

A passage migrant and breeding summer visitor, at least one pair oversummer every year and breeding almost certainly takes place locally; 1n 1997 a pair made three breeding attempts in the old gravel works, none of which were successful, probably due to corvid predation, the following year a pair were seen to mob a Sparrowhawk and behaved as if they had chicks although none could be found, in 2009 at least one and probably two pairs were present and breeding was believed to have taken place on the Pura Foods peninsula, two pairs were present at this locality in 2010, frequent display flighting and territorial behaviour was observed but no solid proof of breeding was obtained.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

A scarce passage migrant, a pair were present at East India Dock Basin on an unspecified date in April 1998 but were mobbed and chased off by a territorial pair of Little Ringed Plovers, a pair were also present during June 2001; other recent records include five flying down the Thames on August 18th 2001, one on the Thames on August 26th 2001, one on May 26th 2007, one on August 22nd 2007 and one flying east on May 4th 2009.

European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

The only record is of a flock of three that circled East India Dock Basin before flying north-east on October 18th 2009.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola **

The only record is of two flying east at East India Dock Basin on April 25th 2009.

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

A scarce passage migrant and winter visitor, 13 flying north over East India Dock Basin on December 31st 2008 is the highest site count.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

A scarce passage migrant, all records are given: one in February 2001, one in summer plumage on May 12th and 14th 2007, two flew north on April 30th 2008, one on September16th 2009.

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

The only record is of two at Bow Creek Ecology Park during freezing weather on January 10th 2010.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

An uncommon winter visitor usually during hard weather and almost certainly under recorded, all records are given: one on January 14th 2006, one on August 14th 2006, one on January 4th 2009, one on February 2nd 2009, four on January 9th 2010, three on January 10th 2010.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola **

One flushed from the copse at East India Dock Basin during freezing weather on December 1st 2010 is the only record.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus **

A very scarce passage migrant with only five spring records: one flew down the Thames on May 9th 2004, one briefly at East India Dock Basin on April 27th 2006, one initially on the Millennium Dome mudflats before flying north over East India Dock Basin on April 20th 2008, two flew north at East India Dock Basin on May 7th 2009 and singles flew north and west on May 14th 2009.

Curlew Numenius arquata **

One record, a bird at Bow Creek during freezing weather on December 9th 2010.

Redshank Tringa totanus

A passage migrant, more regular in autumn, and winter visitor; a high tide roost has become established on the western side of the Bow Creek Ecology Park peninsula, which, in an average year can hold between ten and twenty birds, in hard weather this number can rise and occasionally reaches three figures with a record count of 141 on January 19th 2003.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia **

Singles at East India Dock Basin from September 1st to 8th 2005 and on August 22nd 2007 are the only records.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

A regular passage migrant, more frequent in autumn, and winter visitor, one or two birds usually winter at the Lower Lea with a peak count of three roosting with Redshank on several dates in February and March 2009; autumn passage can commence as early as mid July with a peak count of seven on August 15th 2010.

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

A common passage migrant and winter visitor, there is often a build-up of non breeding 1st-summer birds in June with the first juveniles usually appearing in mid July; during the autumn and winter a roost has become established on the Pura Foods peninsula with a peak count of c320 on February 15th 2007, there is often a sizable pre-roost gathering on the Thames with a peak count of c3,000 on January 30th 2004.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus **

A total of seven records, all but one in the summer months and almost certainly under-recorded: an adult on the Thames on July 13th 2001, an adult on the Thames on November 22nd 2002, a 2nd-summer on the Thames on July 29th 2005, an adult at East India Dock Basin in August 2005, an adult at East India Dock Basin on August 31st 2008, an adult flew west at East India Dock Basin on June 28th 2009 and an adult flew west at East India Dock Basin on August 3rd 2010.

Little Gull Larus minutus **

A scarce passage migrant with just two records: an adult drifted past on the Thames on August 15th 2000 and two adults flew west on April 17th 2003.

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis **

An adult was seen on the Millennium Dome mudflats during November and December 2000, these sightings almost certainly relate to the long-staying adult which overwintered in the area from 1996 to 2010.

Common Gull Larus canus

A passage migrant and winter visitor usually appearing in mid to late August and building up to a peak of up to 20 in January, there is usually a small but distinct passage in March and most have departed by the first week of April, with two 1st-summers at East India Dock Basin on April 27th 2006 the latest spring record. The largest count is of 107 on the Thames on March 13th 2000.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

A common visitor at all times of the year, breeding locally on piers, barges, warehouse rooves and at nearby Billingsgate Fish Market; at low tide there is a gathering of up to 40 birds on the Millennium Dome mudflats.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

An uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor, one or two are recorded most years with a peak count of four on August 22nd and September 9th 2008 with most birds favouring the Millennium Dome mudflats; an adult bird has returnrd to winter for at least the last three years frequenting the old gravel works and the adjacent Thames foreshore.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

A frequent visitor at any time of the year, breeding locally at Billingsgate Fish Market but less commonly than Lesser Black-backed Gull; likt the other large gull taxa it is often found loafing on the Millennium Dome mudflats.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

A frequent visitor and recent local breeder, there is a late summer build up with a peak count of 13 on August 23rd 2008; during the winter months numbers start to build up in late November or early December with a peak count of 24 on March 2nd 2010.

Kittiwake Rissa Tridactyla **

One on the Thames off East India Dock Basin on October 7th 2009 is the only record.

Little Tern Sternula albifrons **

Fifteen on September 12th 2000, the 3rd largest flock to be recorded in the London Area, and an adult on July 13th 2001 are the only records.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger **

A scarce passage migrant usually observed passing through on the Thames; recent records include one on August 18th 2001, 18 flying east on August 26th 2001, two on August 24th 2005, one flying west on September 10th 2007, two juveniles flying west on August 20th 2008, six flying west on August 31st 2008 and one on September 5th 2010.

Sandwich Tern Sterna Sandvicensis

A scarce passage migrant, all records are from the Thames off East India Dock Basin: two on August 6th 2001, two on May 4th 2002, two flew west on August 31st 2008, one flew east on June 7th 2009, two flew west on August 2nd 2009, eight flew west on September 16th 2009 and three flew east on August 15th 2010.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

A passage migrant and breeding summer visitor, a small colony has become established on three purpose built rafts at East India Dock Basin, numbers of breeding pairs fluctuate from year to year with ten in 2002, six in 2008 and a single pair in 2009 and 2010. The silting-up of East India Dock Basin is having a detrimental effect on numbers and it may be lost as a breeding species if something is not done to reverse the effects of the silt. The first birds usually arrive in mid April with the earliest record of two flying west on April 7th 2009; there is usually a strong autumn passage on the Thames with recent counts including 76 on September 3rd 2006, 90 west on August 24th 2008 and 85 on August 15th 2010. The highest count is 258 moving west on August 26th 2001. Most birds have departed by the first week of September with the latest record of a singleton at East India Dock Basin on September 26th 2006.

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii *

A pair in summer plumage was at East India Dock Basin and the adjacent Thames on May 14th 2002, both birds were colour-ringed (white on both legs) and were ringed at Coquet Island, Northumberland: this pair constitutes the 17th record for the London Area. One was at East India Dock Basin from 12:30 to 15:15 on May 16th 2006, it constitutes the 21st record for the London Area.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

A scarce passage migrant, more frequent in the autumn, recent counts include 47 flying west on August 21st 2008 and 13 flying west on September 12th 2008; the most recent record is of one flying west on April 25th 2010, all records concern birds passing through on the Thames off East India Dock Basin.

Rock Dove Columba livia

Feral birds are present all year round and breed locally, mainly under bridges spanning the Lea and in disused warehouses; they can often be found foraging on the foreshore at Bow Creek with up to 25 noted.

Stock Dove Columba oenas

A casual visitor at any time of the year, one or two are usually recorded with four on June 13th 2006. Spring and summer occurences are a little puzzling because there is no suitable breeding habitat locally. The only notable passage counts are of nine flying north on November 8th 2009 and seven flying south on October 10th 2010.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus

A common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor with two or three pairs breeding annually; numbers are swollen by migrants during the winter months and a small passage usually occurs in late October or early November with a peak count of 151 flying mainly south on November 8th 2009.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

A casual visitor at any time of the year with most records involving single birds; this species is still in the process of colonising central London and can be expected with increasing frequency in the future; recent records include three flying west on April 25th 2010 and singles flying north and west on October 10th 2010.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

The only records are of two flying west on May 9th 2006 and one flying west on May 10th 2006.

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri *

One at Bow Creek on March 22nd 2009, two flying west on April 19th 2009 and two flying west on May 23rd 2010 are the only records but large numbers are being noted from localities across the Thames and records from metropolitan Essex are becoming more frequent so it seems this species will be encountered with increasing regularity in the future.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus **

The only record is of one on April 9th 2005, briefly in the copse at East India Dock Basin.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammea **

On November 8th 1998 one was observed from the Kent shore as it flew north over the Thames and East India Dock Basin (McKenzie D. The Birds of the Charlton and Woolwich Area 1993-2003 [in prep] ).

Common Swift Apus apus

A passage migrant and summer visitor that can be surprisingly scarce with a high count of 200+ flying west on July 14th 2008.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Mainly a winter visitor to East India Dock Basin where one or rarely two birds are present from late September to early March with the earliest record on August 18th 2008 and the latest on April 3rd 2008; artificial nesting banks have been constructed at East India Dock Basin and Bow Creek but so far no breeding activity has been noted.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis *

One on August 23rd 2003, one on April 13th 2009, one flying south at East India Dock Basin on April 25th 2010 and one at East India Dock Basin on September 30th 2010 are the only records.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

A casual visitor at any time of the year, nearly all records are of single birds with two on August 7th 2008 the only multiple count.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

A surprisingly scarce visitor, all records are given: one over East India Dock Basin on November 8th 2009, three on the meadow at East India Dock Basin on December 19th 2009, five flew north-west on September 26th 2010, seven flew east in one flock on October 11th 2010 and one on October 17th 2010.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

A passage migrant and recent colonist; since 2007 a pair has bred in a drainage pipe in the lock wall at East India Dock Basin, two pairs bred in 2009 and three pairs in 2010. The first migrants usually appear in mid April with the earliest record of two on March 18th 2010, the highest count was of c280 flying north-west in two hours during an unprecedented hirundine passage over London on September 26th 1999; most birds have departed by the end of July with the latest record on September 26th 1999.

Swallow Hirundo rustica

A passage migrant, usually more frequent in the spring, the first birds normally appear during mid April, with the earliest record on March 30th 2009. The highest count was of c650 flying north-west in two hours during an unprecedented hirundine passage over London on September 26th 1999 which is also the latest date for this species.

House Martin Delichon urbicum

A surprisingly scarce passage migrant, not recorded annually, earliest and latest dates are: one on April 24th 2007 and an unprecedented movement of at least 197 including c140 in a single flock on on September 26th 2010.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

A passage migrant and winter visitor with a peak count of 13 on October 13th 2006, one or two occasionally overwinter and the odd bird has been seen during the summer but no evidence of breeding has been noted.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus **

One on October 15th 2006 and one on September 12th 2008 are the only records.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava **

One over East India Dock Basin on August 24th 2009 is the only record.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

A resident with one or two pairs breeding locally.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

A resident and passage migrant with two or three pairs breeding locally; the peak passage count is 11 on April 7th 2007, this total includes two birds showing characteristics of the continental race alba.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

A common resident with eight to ten pairs breeding annually.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

A common resident with six to eight pairs breeding annually.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

A common resident with four or five pairs breeding annually.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos *

A singing male in the northern scrub at East India Dock Basin on April 13th 2008 is the only record.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

A winter visitor, passage migrant and occasional breeder; at least one singing male is noted each spring and breeding almost certainly takes place locally. In recent years this species has become a fairly reliable winter visitor with one or two present intermittently and a peak count of four at East India Dock Basin on November 26th 2007.

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus **

A female on April 23rd 2006 is the only record.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra **

Two on September 16th 2006 and one on September 13th 2008 are the only records.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

A scarce passage migrant with two or three recorded annually, usually in the autumn; an adult male at East India Dock Basin on March 1st 2009 constitutes the earliest record for the London Area, three together on the Pura Foods peninsula on March 21st 2010 is the largest multiple count.

Blackbird Turdus merula

A Common resident with four or five pairs breeding annually, numbers are augmented in autumn and winter by continental migrants with a peak count of c20 on November 26th 2007.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

An uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor, not recorded annually, the best count is 28 on January 1st 2010.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

A scarce resident with one or two pairs present locally in recent years: six flying north-east on January 3rd 2010 were almost certainly migrants.

Redwing Turdus iliacus

A passage migrant with one or two occasionally wintering. The peak count is 114 (14 south and 100 west) on December 10th 2009.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

A surprisingly scarce visitor that can turn up in any month, rarely more than two or three records annually with the occasional blank year.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus **

A scarce passage migrant, not recorded annually, the last record was of one in the eastern reedbed at East India Dock Basin on April 24th 2010.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

A passage migrant and summer visitor with four to eight pairs breeding annually. The earliest record is of one singing in the ecology park on April 9th 2011.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

A passage migrant and summer visitor with four or five pairs breeding annually, one or two may overwinter, uaually in the copse at East India Dock Basin and adjacent gardens.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

A scarce passage migrant, not recorded annually, the ocassional pair may breed locally.

Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria *

A somewhat elusive 1st-winter was present on September 25th and 26th 2006, it frequented the northern scrub at East India Dock Basin and constitutes the eighth record for the London Area.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curraca

A scarce passage migrant and summer visitor with at least one pair breeding locally, but probably not annually, the earliest record is of single birds on April 20th in both 2007 and 2010, and the latest a singleton on September 11th 2008.

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis

A passage migrant and summer visitor with two to four pairs breeding annually.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

A passage migrant and summer visitor which may rarely stay on to breed, one or two and exceptionally up to four may overwinter; one in the copse at East India Dock Basin on January 19th 2006 was thought to be one of the eastern forms.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

A passage migrant with singing birds ocassionally lingering into the summer but it is not thought to have bred; the earliest record was of one at Bow Creek Ecological Park on March 27th 2010 with the latest a single on September 29th 2008.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

An unaccountably rare visitor with the only records pertaining to a small influx during the autumn of 2008 and into 2009; two were at East India Dock Basin on September 29th, one or two were then recorded on most dates with four on November 27th and December 18th, after this date only singles were noted until the last report on March 8th 2009.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla

A scarce passage migrant, all records are given: East Indis Dock Basin: one on April 3rd, two on April 6th and 7th and November 5th 2008; one on April 20th 2010. Bow Creek Ecology Park, one singing on October 9th and one on November 1st 2008.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

A scarce passage migrant, all records are given: East India Dock Basin, two on August 22nd 2006, one on June 3rd 2007, one on August 21st 2008, two on September 16th and 17th 2009.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

A passage migrant and winter visitor, probably breeds locally; most winter flocks contain between three and eight birds with a peak count of 10+ on November 3rd 2008.

Blue Tit Cyanisties caeruleus

A common resident with four to six pairs breeding annually.

Great Tit Parus major

A common resident with three to five pairs breeding annually.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

A scarce resident with a pair probably breeding locally most years.

Magpie Pica pica

A common resident with four to six pairs breeding annually.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

A scarce passage migrant, not recorded annually, the last record was of four flying north at East India Dock Basin on March 21st 2010.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

A common resident with two or three pairs breeding annually and several more pairs breeding in the vicinity; resident numbers are augmented by migrants during the winter with a peak count of 26 on March 10th 2009.

Rook Corvus frugilegus

There are two records of single birds flying east on September 12th 2010 and April 17th 2011.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

A common resident with a handful of pairs breeding locally, during the winter numbers are augmented by migrants with a peak count of 26 on February 12th 2009.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

A scarce visitor at any time of the year, usually found in private gardens adjacent to East India Dock Basin; there are at least two discrete breeding colonies within a kilometre of the reserve and birds should occur with increasing frequency as this species recovers from the recent catastrophic decline in numbers.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

A passage migrant and winter visitor, never in large numbers, the peak count is of eight together on December 27th 2009; occasionally one or two birds linger into April and a singing male my hold territory but no evidence of breeding has been noted.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla **

An uncommon winter visitor, all records are given: one at East India Dock Basin on April 10th and 11th 2004, one on April 15th and 16th 2007.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

A common Resident and passage migrant with two or three pairs breeding annually, numbers build up from late autumn and usually peak around the turn of the year with a high count of 42+ flying in to roost in trees behind the Esso garage on February 28th 2010.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

A common resident and passage migrant with three or four pairs breeding locally; numbers build up in winter with a peak count of 15+ on March 21st 2010.

Siskin Carduelis spinus **

A flock of ten in Alders in the eastern clump at East India Dock Basin on December 19th 2007 isthe only known record.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

An uncommon resident with perhaps one or two pairs breeding locally; numbers build up during the winter months with a peak count of 26 on November 8th 2009.

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret

A very uncommon visitor, the last record was of nine feeding in Silver Birches on the west side of Bow Creek Ecology Park on March 21st 2009.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

An uncommon resident, one pair may breed but probably not annually, numbers build up during the winter with a peak count of nine on December 11th 2009.