Monthly ornithological summary for: May 2008

Honey Buzzard - Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 30th:

Osprey - Hackney Marshes, 18th:

Red Kites - Clissold Park, 5th, and Hackney Marshes, 11th:

Hobby - Clissold Park, 5th;

heavy Swift & Hirundine passage.

Conditions during much of the month were dominated (unusually) by an easterly airflow from the 5th onwards, but the weather was relatively typical for May, with generally mild average temperatures and a mix of sunny periods, cloud and precipitation. The first and last weeks of the month in particular were warm and often sunny. With the majority of summer migrant species having returned in late March and (especially) April to / through the area, May is a month when, while spring migration at a larger level is still very much in progress, there can be less activity on a local scale.

While the potential for scarcities and odd flourishes of movement remains, May 2008 was fairly typical, with most of the highlights concerning flyover raptors. With periods of mild temperatures and bright conditions theoretically providing good circumstances for birds of prey drifting over the borough, regular sky-watching sessions (especially during the early afternoon) were performed, mainly from Clissold Park. While quantity was scant and many sessions were blank (but for local Kestrels and Sparrowhawks), their were several quality flyovers in the NW and SE of the borough, including a stunning first for Hackney on the 30th.

The first two interesting raptor sightings of the month came from Clissold Park on the afternoon of the 5th, with barely ten minutes between each - the year's first Hobby gave excellent views to several observers as it harried Swifts for several minutes, followed closely by an equally accomadating Red Kite, which drifted low and east soon after.

Another Red Kite - the second of the month, and the fourth of the spring - was recorded over Hackney Marshes on the 11th, which was also the venue for another star raptor sighting - an Osprey overhead on the 18th. Sightings over London of this majestic bird of prey are increasingly regular during migration periods in recent years, reflected by records in Hackney, with three in the last three years over the borough.

The bird of the month, and of the year so far, was a superb Honey Buzzard, which spent several minutes soaring over Stoke Newington Reservoirs before being chased off by the local Lesser Black-backed Gulls and gliding east at 1620hrs. Pre-empting several further sightings to the north and east of Hackney over the following two days, such a record is very much a holy grail for urban patch-watchers, and - with the excellent strike rate of four large raptor species this spring - more than justifies extended (and often fruitless) sky-watches in the borough.

Smaller migrants were typically represented in the main by warblers, hirundines and Swifts, with no unusual passerines recorded this month. Phylloscopus warblers were much harder to come by in comparison to April, with just one Willow Warbler recorded on the 9th (in Clissold Park), perhaps indicating a lack of breeding presence this year; a small, late trickle of Chiffchaffs were noted in the NW of the borough between 10th and the 15th, with a single at Stoke Newington Reservoirs on the 28th. Otherwise, a singing male was present throughout the month holding territory in Abney Park Cemetery, indicating a breeding presence (as usual at this site).

Sylvia Warblers were more evident, both as migrants and breeders. Blackcaps were especially numerous, with passage birds moving through until at least mid-month; a high count of a minimum of 17 on the 1st (all in NW Hackney) was supported by several counts of up to 14 between 2nd and 10th. Singing males and breeding pairs are common and widespread this year, with territories across the borough at almost all suitable sites - isolated pairs are present e.g. along railway sidings and in extensive, well-vegetated garden networks, as well as at more traditional sites. Of the latter, Abney Park Cemetery hosts at least six territories (perhaps as many as eight) this year, while Clissold Park and Stoke Newington Reservoirs have at least two each.

Common Whitethroats have been a highlight of the month, with up to three territories established at Stoke Newington Reservoirs by the last week (none were present last year); migrants were recorded irregularly until mid-month, with one or two birds at several sites. Single Lesser Whitethroats were recorded on the 6th & 23rd (Stoke Newington Reservoirs), with two on the 4th (Hackney Marshes). Two Garden Warblers were recorded on the 4th at Hackney Marshes.

Acrocephalus warblers were, as is to be expected, confined almost exclusively to Stoke Newington Reservoirs. Reed Warblers, having arrived in good numbers during April, increased to 11 by the 1st, and 10 to 15 were recorded on most visits thereafter; by the last week of the month, adults were already carrying food, and an estimated 12 territories were established. Sedge Warblers were much scarcer, with one to two birds seen and heard on most visits.

Swifts and Hirundines were numerous on migration through the borough in May, with the highest counts coming from Stoke Newington Reservoirs (unless otherwise stated). Swift numbers continued to ebb and flow throughout the month, with three-figure counts on the 1st (100+), and 19th (270+), as well as between 40 and 80 on many other days.

House Martins were also very much on the move through the borough, often arriving en masse, and fairly briefly, with Swifts and on the leading edge of storms; 50+ on the 1st, 50 on the 2nd (Lea Navigation), and 45+ on the 19th (SNR) were the highest counts, with single figures regularly recorded on other days.

Swallows were more evident than usual, with many days providing ones and twos at several sites, with three on the 7th and four on the 19th. Sand Martins, meanwhile, peaked with 30 on the 4th (Hackney Marshes) and seven on the 1st, with odd ones thereafter. Finches were represented, as expected, by the commoner breeding species, but a Lesser Redpoll in Clissold Park on the 5th and a Linnet at the West Reservoir on the 1st were noteworthy.

Gulls were omnipresent, although of course in much smaller numbers than at other times of year. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were the commonest, with up to 20 at Stoke Newington Reservoirs (where once again, a pair were attempting to breed) and smaller numbers elsewhere; Herring Gulls were also regular in small numbers of up to 10, and Black-headed Gulls were recorded on several dates in single figures (of up to six).

Wildfowl numbers and species were largely confined to breeding and/or summering birds; Gadwalls maintained their usual presence at the Reservoirs, with between three and 12 usually counted, while Common Pochards were present at the same site (between five and nine) and in Clissold Park (between eight and 12) - hopefully this species will breed successfully at one or both sites again this year. Tufted Ducks, likewise, were ubiquitous at both places, with up to 20 at the reservoirs and up to ten in Clissold. A single Shelduck was recorded at Hackney Marshes on the 4th.

Canada Geese were with eggs or chicks at both locations by mid-month, and occasional Greylags were seen at several sites; Mute Swans, meanwhile, once again flew in the face of adversity and attempted to breed wherever open water occurs. Mallards, Coots and Moorhens were likewise undeterred and all three species were onto second broods by the month's end.

Little Grebes are attempting to breed in Clissold Park (two pairs) and Stoke Newington Reservoirs (at least one pair), while two pairs of Great Crested Grebes are on nests at the latter site. Wader reports were confined to single Common Sandpiper records, all from Stoke Newington Reservoirs, on and off until the 23rd; Common Terns, however, were hard to avoid at the same location, with one to three present on almost all visits. Two pairs of Reed Buntings are at nest sites at the East Reservoir, while Grey Wagtails are carrying food to a traditional breeding site over on the West.

May is a key month in establishing the breeding status of local birds, and with the BTO Atlas project in full swing, observations are particularly valuable. And so the proven breeding of, for example, Tawny Owls and Green Woodpeckers in Abney Park Cemetery, the encouraging breeding populations of Blackcaps, Stock Doves and Great Spotted Woodpeckers at the same site, and the fates of common birds across the borough are all of special interest.

For example, Rose-ringed Parakeets may well breed in Hackney for the first time this year (in Clissold Park?), and we're still to establish the success or otherwise of Abney's Sparrowhawks this season.

Once again, we welcome all sightings - see the box above for contact details.

Mark Pearson