Monthly ornithological summary for: September 2009

RAVEN - one over Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 22nd;

BLACK TERN - juvenile at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 16th;

Osprey - one over Clapton, 4th;

Common Redstarts - females/immatures in Springfield Park, 3rd, & 9th/10th; Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 16th;

Pied Flycatchers - two, Springfield Park, 5th; Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 16th;

Marsh Harriers - one over Hackney Marshes, 4th; one over Clissold Park, 24th;

Firecrests - two at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 22nd;

Spotted Flycatchers - Stoke Newington Reservoirs - two, 1st; two, 4th; two, 6th; two, 7th; two, 8th; two, 11th; Springfield Park - three, 3rd; at least six, 5th; three, 6th; three, 9th;

Hobbys - Springfield Park - two, 5th; two, 12th; Stamford Hill - 7th;

Red Kite - one over Clapton, 24th;

Common Buzzard - one over Clapton Pond, 5th; two over Stamford Hill, 19th.

September richly rewarded regular coverage of the borough's best sites throughout, further strengthening its reputation as the most exciting and productive month in the latter half of the year.

The month began with two Spotted Flycatchers and a sprinkling of warblers at Stoke Newington Reservoirs / the New River path on the 1st, when a few more migrants (including a Reed Warbler) arrived in Abney; the latter site received more new arrivals the following day, including a Common Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler and plenty of Phylloscopus warblers.

Much more attention was paid to the previously under-watched Springfield Park throughout September, and it proved to be a very wise move; after producing a very showy Firecrest late in August, a Common Redstart on the 3rd was one of a hatful of quality passerines hosted by the park this autumn. Always a very hard species to catch up with locally, and just about annual, amazingly this was the third year in a row a Redstart materialised on the 3rd September in the borough... In 2007 and 2008, they turned out to be the years' only records - would the same transpire in 2009?

It was a fine month generally for Spotted Flycatchers, with two or three regularly present at the East Reservoir Community Garden / New River path area, and variable numbers throughout in Springfield (see below).

Not one but two rare raptors passed low through Hackney airspace on the morning of the 4th - an Osprey heading into Dalston and a Marsh Harrier heading down the valley over the marshes.....

The following day, and again Springfield shone - not one but two Pied Flycatchers appeared in the (often productive) north-west corner of the park, showing a preference for the silver birches by the entrance. Again, a very hard species to catch up with even with patient effort, and more proof of the site's pulling power for migrants.

Impressive back-up in the park on the same day was provided by a minimum of six Spotted Flycatchers (easily a record count), two Hobbys, plenty of warblers and two Tree Pipits - the only record this year. The raptor mini-influx continued with a Common Buzzard over Clapton the same day.

More fresh arrivals in the meantime, with at least 15 Chiffchaffs, 12 Willow Warblers, two Spotted Flycatchers, a Garden Warbler and a Reed Warbler all in a small area around the LWT garden at the East Res on the 7th, and all three hirundines passing through in double figures; the 8th provided a Yellow Wagtail and a total of 68 Swallows through (also at the East Res).

The 9th was the day the aforementioned spell was partially broken, when a second Common Redstart of the year was found in Springfield Park (remaining until at least the following day) - the first multi-record year for, well, as long as we can remember.

Expected features of the period included Chiffchaffs, Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers, hirundines, small numbers of Meadow Pipits, Jackdaws and Siskins overhead, Kingfishers (especially at the reservoirs / New River), good numbers of common wildfowl (particularly Shovelers), odd Hobbys and Peregrines, omnipresent Coal Tits (at all sites), and much increased gull numbers (particularly Black-headed, with Common Gulls back in).

Of less common wildfowl, a welcome arrival occured at the reservoirs on the 14th, with seven Wigeon variously snoozing and sparring with Gadwall. The flock remained throughout the month, with the drakes steadily moulting back out of eclipse plumage.

A session on the viewing platform at the East Reservoir on the evening of the 16th proved to be particularly memorable, and also provided further evidence for the almost water-tight theory of good Hackney birds arriving in clusters.... simultaneously, the autumn's third Pied Flycatcher fed secretively in a Horse Chestnut to the right, while a(nother) Common Redstart showed briefly in the willow below the platform.

As if that wasn't enough, a much-anticipated and arguably long overdue Black Tern whipped gracefully in from the east, briefly entertained both water bodies, and flew high and north-west within a few minutes.

A relatively quiet few days followed, before another modern-era first for Hackney on the 22nd. Noisily pursued by a pair of Carrion Crows (and dwarfing them in the process), a Raven flew low over the East Reservoir; the same very satisfying session produced a brace of accomodating Firecrests feeding by the viewing platform.

As a period of warm and sunny weather continued, so did the sky-watching, and the following day saw the month's second Marsh Harrier soaring high and north over Clissold Park - making September 2009 the most productive yet for large raptors. Finally, Eight Teal were on the river at Hackney Marshes on the 30th.

Mark Pearson