Monthly ornithological summary for: June 2008

Hobbys - Stoke Newington, 24th & 26th

Red Kite - Hackney Marshes, 14th

Common Buzzards - Clissold Park, 16th and Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 18th

As expected, June was a quiet month for movements and signs of migration, and most interest was provided by local breeding species. However, birds of prey continued to provide the highlights, a situation that's prevailed throughout the spring, and sky-watching has been rewarded beyond previous expectations.

After the Honey Buzzard on the last day of May (see last month's summary), a fortnight passed before the next large raptor was recorded in the borough, a Red Kite over Hackney Marshes on the 14th. There wasn't so long to wait before the next two however, with Common Buzzards over Clissold Park on the 16th, and Stoke Newington Reservoirs on the 18th.

This brings the large raptor totals for the first half of 2008 to: Honey Buzzard - 1; Osprey - 2: Red Kite - 5; Common Buzzard - 5. A formidable haul for an urban borough with only a handful of dedicated observers, and hopefully an indication of both the increase in the UK populations of the species involved, and of observer effort / awareness. More intensive studies are planned for next spring.

Otherwise, two Hobby sightings, both hunting over busy streets in the north of the borough (on 24th and 26th, as well as one on 1st July) raises interesting questions as to where these welcome summer visitors are coming from at this time of year - are they breeding closer than suspected, are they failed / unpaired non-breeders, or are the breeding birds further up the Lea Valley regularly exploiting our high densities of Swifts? More predictable as a scarce but regular visitor in the late summer and early autumn, the above records constitute an interesting new trend.

Breeding birds, and their offspring, were of course the general theme of the month, with all the common species benefiting from a (somewhat) drier late spring / early summer, and House Martins, Grey Wagtails, Reed Buntings, Common Whitethroats, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, Reed Warblers and Common Pochards all feeding young. Chiffchaffs are breeding once again in Abney Park Cemetery, with at least one (and perhaps two) pairs, while a male continued to sing near the West Reservoir, perhaps indicating another breeding presence. A Garden Warbler was singing, again near the WR, on three occasions during the month - will we ever know for sure if they bred this year?

By contrast, both Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers were noticeable by their absence. Hirundines were a (slightly surprisingly) regular feature, with Swallows continuing to move through irregularly in ones and twos until mid-month, House Martins almost omnipresent at Stoke Newington Reservoirs (with at least a couple of pairs breeding nearby), and Sand Martins commencing migration / post-breeding dispersal perhaps as early as the 20th - ones and twos were recorded flying south on several occasions, with a peak of 13 in 90 minutes on the 24th.

Swift numbers were consistently healthy throughout the borough, where feeding flocks of up to 50 could be seen wherever suitable feeding conditions occurred; Stoke Newington Reservoirs often hosted between 40 and 80. Wildfowl (excluding breeders) at the latter site were confined to up to six summering Gadwall, and an increase in Common Pochard numbers by the last week of the month (up to c20, mainly males).

Gull numbers were dominated by Lesser Black-backs, with between eight and 20 omnipresent at the Reservoirs; not one but two pairs are breeding this year, with the regular pair on the raft of the ER (with two well-grown chicks) joined by a new and extremely aggressive pair on a nearby tower-block. A bird from the latter pair spends much of its time dive-bombing passers-by (and striking some), despite its nest being 15+ storeys above.....

Herring Gulls were also regular at SNR in small numbers, with up to 10 present by the end of the month. Black-headed Gulls reappeared after just a few weeks absence by mid-month, with single figures present on several occasions. Common Terns, meanwhile, were omnipresent - a pair have seemingly taken up residence at SNR, spending their time courtship-feeding, occasionally displaying, resting on the rafts, pipes and boats, even mobbing a Cormorant which landed on their favoured raft. They're often joined by other feeding birds, presumably from Walthamstow Res., and up to five together was not unusual. A Kingfisher was recorded along the New River several times this month.

Mark Pearson