Monthly ornithological summary for: September 2008

Honey Buzzards - two: one north, 14th, one south, 21st (both over Clissold Park);

Pied Flycatchers - three: one in Abney Park Cemetery, 2nd - 4th; one at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 3rd - 5th and another there, 8th;

Common Redstart - one in Abney, 3rd;

Arctic Terns - 43 south-west over SNR, 11th;

Common Crossbill - SNR, 29th;

Little Egret - over Lea Navigation, 19th;

Firecrests - Abney, 13th & 22nd;

Spotted Flycatchers - at least nine: SNR, one on 3rd - 6th, one on 8th, two on 12th, one on 25th - 26th; Abney, two on 21st (one to 22nd); private garden, NW Hackney, 23rd & 29th;

Common Buzzards - one over Clissold Park, 20th; one over Hackney Marshes, 21st;

Red-crested Pochard - SNR, 1st;

Peregrines - SNR, 1st, 7th & 29th;

Hobbys - at least ten: SNR, two on 4th, one on 8th, three on 9th; Hackney Marshes, one on 13th; Abney, one on 15th; Clissold Park, one on 20th, one on 29th;

September 2008 was arguably the best month for observing avifauna in Hackney in recent years, with local naturalists being rewarded throughout the month with a long list of highlights. The three key sites in the north-west of the borough - Stoke Newington Reservoirs (SNR), Abney Park cemetery (APC) and Clissold Park (CP) - recieved regular, sustained coverage, instrumental in increasing our understanding of passage and movement through the area. (Unfortunately, less attention is afforded to the key sites in the south-east, namely Middlesex Filter Beds (MFB), Hackney Marshes (HM) and the Lea Navigation (LN), which would no doubt rival the Stoke Newington area if watched regularly.)

As it's been somewhat of the theme of the year so far, where better to start than with raptors. After Hackney's first back on the 30th May, an influx of Honey Buzzards occurred in the UK from the 13th of the month, with hundreds of birds arriving on easterly winds along the eastern seaboard. Birds began to drift over the capitol from the afternoon of the same day, with a impressive peak on Sunday 14th, and sightings continued in single figures on several other days until the 21st. A total of 18 were recorded in London in the nine-day period, and happily, Hackney had its fair share of this remarkable influx - a 'common-morph' north over CP on the 14th, and a 'dark morph' south over the same site on the 21st were fine rewards for dedicated sky-watching during the period. Three records in one year of this impressive, scarce bird of prey is an outstanding result.

Common Buzzards also put in welcome appearances, with two records - one over CP on the 20th, and one over HM on the 21st. Hobbys continued to confound, and September once again broke the monthly record. A minimum of ten individuals were recorded, from various sites in the borough, with SNR proving the most popular; the last bird was seen on the 27th at CP. Peregrines were encountered three times this month, on the 1st, 7th & 29th.

Another notable influx across the capitol occured on the 11th, involving an unusual passage of terns overland. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time (early morning at SNR in this instance), when no less than 43 Arctic Terns flew over, heading south-west. Another new species for the borough, it was fairly high on the list of possibilities, but to have such a large number was a great surprise. Common Tern sightings dried up after the first week, with four on the 3rd being the last.

Wildfowl records at SNR were much more about quantity than quality, with few records of the less common species, but high numbers of familiar ones. Common Pochards in particular were very numerous during the first half of the month, with 176+ on the 1st, and a record 210 on the 8th. Shoveler numbers rose from 11 at the beginning of the month, to 24 by the 8th, and then up to 35 by the month's end. A single Red-crested Pochard was on the West res on the 1st, and three Wigeon were present on the 22nd and 23rd. Wader records were confined to Common Sandpipers on the 5th (two), 8th and 12th.

Gulls were represented by all four of the commoner species, although not in any unusual numbers; Common Gulls were seen on six dates, and Black-headed Gulls inevitably became more numerous as the month wore on. A roost on Beckmere island (in CP) of Collared Doves - a borough resident in small numbers - peaked at 15, a high count locally; Woodpigeons numbered up to 200 in the park by the end of Sep, although very few were recorded on visible migration counts. Abney's Tawny Owls were seen and heard on several occasions, and Kingfishers were often encountered along the New River, SNR and (increasingly from the 20th) in CP. Another Little Egret (just) made into Hackney airspace over the LN on the 19th.

With Sep. being one of the best months for for tracking down locally scarce or unusual passerines, hopes were high and efforts were stepped up to almost daily coverage of the favoured sites. It didn't take long to get lucky, with a Pied Flycatcher located in APC on the 2nd (staying until the 4th), joined briefly by the year's only Common Redstart the following day. The 3rd also saw the discovery of the year's fourth Pied Flycatcher, this time along the New River at SNR, keeping close company with the month's first Spotted Flycatcher (see photo gallery); both stayed faithful to the site, and like all three of Abney's Pied Fly's this autumn, were eventually enjoyed by many observers.

Yet another Pied Flycatcher appeared briefly at SNR on the 8th, bringing 2008's tally to a fantastic five (after two preceding years without a single record). From then on, it was all about the traditionally much less scarce of the two congeners, with a run of Spotted Flycatcher records. SNR attracted another four birds during the month, APC another two, and a private garden added another two, bringing the Sep total to at least nine. Several individuals stayed for a few days at favoured locations.

Two Firecrests were patiently picked out of the often substantial Goldcrest flocks in APC, on the 13th and 22nd; even more effort there would potentially produce further records of this beautiful sprite, which is known to favour the cemetery (and has even bred there in recent years). Goldcrests, meanwhile, were omnipresent and often plentiful, with peak counts of 12 on 3rd, 10 on 12th, 15 on 25th and 18 on 26th, as well as fluctuating smaller numbers at other sites.

Warblers were represented by all eight of the commoner species, with phylloscopus (leaf) warblers once again dominating. Willow Warblers continued to pass through, although in predictably lower numbers than August; between two and eight were recorded on most dates up until mid-month at SNR (with odd birds elsewhere), with singles thereafter until the last on the 25th. Chiffchaffs became more numerous; small numbers at the beginning of the month built steadily, with many day counts of between 10 and 18 from the 15th, and a peak of 20 on the 17th (all at SNR).

Lesser Whitethroats and Common Whitethroats were recorded on a handful of dates, although usually in singles and with peaks of no more than two of each on a given day. Reed Warblers maintained a widespread presence at SNR until numbers ebbed by about the 20th; odd birds were recorded up until the last of the month, with two on the 29th. Sedge Warblers were seen on several dates, with two on the 9th, and Garden Warblers were recorded on a couple of occasions in the first half of the month. Blackcaps were encountered in small numbers on various days.

Hirundines ebbed and flowed throughout the month, with Swallows being particularly numerous on certain days. Another borough high count was achieved on the 8th, with 109 counted (86 through SNR, 23 through CP), exactly equalled on the 11th (all SNR); other peaks included 65 on the 12th and 40 on the 21st, with various double figure counts on other dates. House Martins, although present in single figures up until the months end, peaked earlier, with the highest counts being 140 (7th), 80 (3rd and 4th), and 50 (8th and 11th). Sand Martins were the least common of the three, with early Sep peaks of 40 on the 7th and 50 on the 8th.

Visible migration counts (i.e., the counting of birds migrating overhead) were somewhat staccatto during Sep., with no heavy or sustained passage to speak of. Jackdaws, one to three birds being recorded on several dates (with five on the 8th), clocked in on the 1st; single Skylarks were recorded on several occasions, with five on 26th; Meadow Pipits were recorded heading generally south-west (as usual) in small numbers on a handful of dates, with an impressive isolated peak of 73 over SNR on the morning of the 8th; Yellow Wagtails meanwhile were seen on 8th (one over CP), 13th (three over HM), 20th (one over CP), and 26th (one over SNR).

The autumn's first Siskin was feeding tamely in the willows along the New River on the 8th, after which birds were encountered on various occasions, with a peak of 22 on 25th. The autumn's first Tree Pipit flew low over CP on 25th, the same date and location for the season's first Redwings - a total of five moved through, with a further two over the following day. Another excellent passerine highlight (in a year of small influxes into the country) was a Common Crossbill over SNR on the 29th - a fine way to round off a great month in the borough.

Please send your sightings, photos etc. to info@hackneywildlife.org.uk

Mark Pearson