Monthly ornithological summary for: December 2009

GOLDEN PLOVERS - 80 south over Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 23rd;

Cetti's Warblers - one in Clissold Park throughout (from Oct); one at Stoke Newington Reservoirs thoughout (from Nov); one reported from Middlesex Filter Beds, 2nd;

Jack Snipe - two at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 19th; one, 23rd;

Goshawk - one over north-west Hackney, 1st;

presumed Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck - drake at Stoke Newington Reservoirs throughout (from Nov)

presumed Greater Scaup x Tufted Duck - female at Stoke Newington Reservoirs throughout (from Nov)

Orange-winged Amazon - escape still at Springfield Park to at least 11th (from 11th October)

Record cold-weather movements of Lapwings, Redwings and Fieldfares on the 21st, 22nd & 23rd

December 2009 became a particularly cold month, with an extended period of freezing conditions beginning around the 15th and intensifying during the third and fourth weeks. Open water froze over, heavy frosts set in and wintry showers fell intermittently for much of the period. Unprecedented cold-weather movements provided the month's stand-out ornithological highlights, with classic northern species providing quantity and quality.

The month began with a surprise flyover reported from north-west Hackney - a Goshawk soaring overhead on the 1st; only our fourth local record (including at least one escaped bird).

The 1st also provided the first overnight frost of the year, and dawned sunny and still, providing a perfect opportunity to photograph one of our long-staying Cetti's Warblers - the particularly accomodating bird in Clissold Park. True to form, the bird performed beautifully down to two metres (see photos on the latest sightings page); despite very harsh conditions, the bird remained on territory into 2010.

The somewhat more (typically) elusive individual by the observation platform at the East Reservoir (since November 11th) was also present throughout. In addition, another report came from Middlesex Filter Beds on the 2nd.

Other long-stayers included both hybrid Aythya ducks at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, from last month - the male presumed Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck, and the female presumed Greater Scaup x Tufted Duck were recorded on and off throughout.

Gulls were extremely numerous at the Reservoirs especially, with pre-roost counts of the commoner species being particularly high - Black-headed Gulls were counted in their thousands, while Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Common Gulls were often in three figures. Scarcer Larids were represented by fairly regular appearances of at least two Great Black-backed Gulls, and a single adult Yellow-legged Gull on the 8th.

Mid-month was pretty quiet generally, although expected species included Kingfishers along the New River and at the Reservoirs, Kestrels at the Reservoirs and in Clissold, Redwings and Fieldfares scattered in small numbers, Tawny Owls in Abney (observed mating!), up to five Reed Buntings at the LWT feeding station, occasional Chiffchaffs in Springfield and along the New River, several Water Rails omnipresent at the East Res, and the Orange-winged Amazon still surviving the British winter in Springfield.

Rewards for cold-weather related stakeouts at the reservoirs began in earnest on the 19th, when two Jack Snipe and four Common Snipe were recorded at the East Res - the former is a rare, much less than annual visitor to the borough, and the latter has been particularly scarce in the last couple of years. A Chiffchaff, a Peregrine and at least 50 Redwings were at the same site on the day.

With temperatures continuing to plummet, the following day brought more indications of birds on the move - more thrushes overhead and dropping in, two Chiffchaffs together in the East Res reedbed, and 20 Lapwings heading low and west. Another 30 Lapwings passed low over Stoke Newington Station, and a further four over Clapton brought the day total to a then-record of 54. No less than 20 Skylarks were on Hackney Marshes, another recent record.

The 21st produced a new record day total for Lapwings, with 103 over sites in the NW; 383 Redwings were also counted - a high count, and an indication of many more to follow. Wildfowl numbers remained high at the reservoirs, despite most of both being ice-covered.

More high counts of thrushes followed on the 22nd; but it was the 23rd which will live long in the memories of local observers for exceptional movements related to the freezing conditions. An unbroken five-hour count at the reservoirs produced a fantastic spectacle, including unprecedented numbers of winter thrushes, and a long overdue new species for the site.

Top billing undoubtedly went to Redwings. A conservative estimate of 1800 were recorded from early morning until mid-afternoon, with perhaps many more birds involved; single flocks numbered up to 400, and many birds pitched down around the East Reservoir in their hundreds throughout the day - more than doubling our previous highest count. Fieldfares also smashed previous top counts, with a minimum of 650 recorded.

Lapwings were again overhead in locally impressive numbers, with 88 recorded, but the real reward involved their scarcer companions. In bleak, wintry skies, around 80 Golden Plovers bulleted south over the frozen, snow-fringed East Reservoir at 1345 - a much-hoped for addition to the local avifauna and a classic indication of frozen farmland beyond the city limits.

The same session also produced a third Jack Snipe for the month (and the fourth of the year), two Chiffchaffs, the Cetti's and four Water Rails in the reeds, and clouds of common finches around the feeding station.

The final week of the month was less dramatic, although Redwings and (to a lesser degree) Fieldfares were ubiquitous, and two Lesser Redpolls - surprisingly the only record of this or any other scarcer winter finch species during the month - were at the West Reservoir on the 27th.

Mark Pearson