Wandle fledglings

A trip to the Thames and Wandle with the boys showed some of the local breeding success with a newly fledged Chaffinch alongside Trinity Road where a male had been seen singing and then carrying food earlier in the year.

The Thames held a limited range of gulls, just three species with Herring, Lesser Black backed and Black headed present. Alongside the Wandle a Great Tit carrying food was probably raising a second brood and a male Grey Wag was singing and calling – not sure if this year’s brood has been successful.

Along the Daylight Path the male Whitethroat was singing. I'm not sure if that means he’s still looking for a mate or is just maintaining his territory. As far as I know some birds carry on singing even after they’ve found a mate whereas others stop singing, but I’ve no idea which category Whitethroats fall into. I've certainly heard other Sylvias singing when they’re raising a brood so Whitethroats may well do this as well. The images below are a bit over exposed as I had to quickly manually frig the numbers as the bird hopped up on a twig and down again.

I occasionally hear Stock Doves singing from the tall trees alongside the Wandle but I suspect that they don’t breed here – although I assume they do over in Hurlingham which is where these birds probably come from (although Wandsworth Park is another option although I'm not sure they breed there).

The Coots made famous by Thing’s blog are also trying again to build a nest on the highly tidal delta. This is the latest low-water effort, complete with emergency escape pod disguised as a football.

Wandle - last visit of 2010

High tide visit, not particularly planned – I just forgot to check the tide times before I left. High tide visits can sometimes work out – there's a better chance of Kingfishers and I guess a high tide could be better for bringing some birds further upriver. Generally though it means fewer birds. Today paid off in an unexpected way with my highest Jackdaw count to date – at least 24 birds. Just a few years back Jackdaws were pretty uncommon here but over the last year especially they've become a permanent winter fixture – presumably attracted by the tip from the local populations around Barnes or Richmond Park. Also good numbers of Gadwall (at least 14), 1 Grey Wag feeding in the bushes above the delta, 7-8 Teal, 6 Common Gull and two of the Pochard still present.

Wandsworth, dimly

A late trip out with the boys in fading light didn't produce that much. Highlights were 4-5 Grey Wags around the delta, 2 GC Grebes on the Thames and another 2 on the delta. Only low numbers of Tufties (3) but good numbers of Mallard (c70 up to Wandsworth Park), 3 Mute Swans and 2 Herons. Few gulls around as it's not far off of high tide.

Low light levels made getting any photos a bit tricky: this one at ISO6400 and 1/200.

Wandle Wagtails

Female showing a very abraded tail but the male's tail seems pretty intact. Presumably the female's tail has got a bit shredded on the nest while the male has been bringing food (or doing nothing....).

Female with abraded tail below

And again here:

While the male's tail looks in good nick.

Female on a trash can

Also the pair of Gadwall are still dabbling around.

Dunnock singing from the Daylight Path

Wandle - quiet (very quiet)

Tufted numbers good (c 5 pairs plus 4-5 additional males); Grey Wag over calling. No sign of Gadwall, Teal. Blackcap. At all. Anything.

Wandle Delta

Walk with the kids. 4 Grey Wags on one of the buidlings near the delta. Still 3-4 Gadwall, 1m Teal. Also c10 Tufties, 2 GC Grebes plus other usuals.

Swan Stringing

Had a brief burst of hope and exitement as three big swans flew downriver today. With the local reports of Whoopers I had high hopes of a patch mega for the fraction of a second it took to realise they were Mutes.

Also around: 1 GC Grebe on the Thames, 2 male Teal (why is always males here this year?), 14 Gadwall, 3 Grey Herons, 4 gull spp, including good numbers of Common Gull (at least 30), a couple of Grey Wags. Thought I heard a Mipit go over at one point but it was so faint it could have been any one of a number of squeaky things: kid's bike, rubber duck, reality show pop hopeful. But probably an unticked Mipit.

Kingfisher fishing

Another trip out with the eldest boy. Wandered up to the mouth of the Wandle, parked the boy and scanned the creek. A flash of blue and orange and a splash - Kingfisher. I've seen them here quite a few times and I know it's a bit geeky to get excited by them, BUT, it's a Kingfisher! In the middle of London! Just a couple of yards away from a tip full of old PCs and sofas and bald Christmas trees. Honestly, how cool is that? Also around 8 or 9 Gadwall, c10 Tufties, a male Pintail (presumably part of the London plastic posse) and a Grey Wag.