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.

Quality patch day

Duck bonanza on the patch today: over 150 Tufties on short stretch of river by the mouth of the Wandle, at least 24 Teal on the Wandle (maybe 27 but flushed by doggy walkers). Whichever, a site record for me. Also 3 Pochard (a year tick for me for this part of the patch). Also c20 Mallard, 8-9 Gadwall, c12 Jackdaw. Walking along the daylight path suddenly had a flock of around 45 finches fly overhead (presumably from the development plot behind the path). All the ones I could get onto (about 40 of the 45) were Linnets. I usually just get ones and twos of Linnets - record flock!! The flock headed over the Thames to the Fulham side, briefly perched on a house roof and then disappeared onto some rough ground.

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 Wags

Trip out with the boys to the river. Not a great deal about: a Pied Wag on the railings by the new housing development, c25 Mallard on the Wandle, along with 2 Mute Swan, 4-5 Coot, a couple of Moorhen, f Tufted. On the Thames: a dozen cormorant, c40 Gulls (BH, HG, LBB), 2 more Tufted in flight upriver and a Goldfinch over calling.

Pied Wagtail alongside Thames

Wandle / Patch Tick!

Looking into the Wandle Delta saw something bobbing around behind the log near the Coots' (current) nest. For a second I thought it was a Grey Wag then realised it was a Common Sand. Not exactly rare here, but still a patch tick for me.

Also the regulars including 4 Gadwall and the Blackcap still in the same place.

Wandle - Grey Wagtails nesting

Lots of the regulars singing, including a Blackcap near the underpass. Also the local Grey Wags carrying food/ nesting material.

Wandle sings

Another trip out with the kids. Around are 4 Gadwall (hanging on well into Spring this year); 17-20 Tufted; 4 Teal (2m, 2f, 2!! female); Chiffchaff calling again (still not singing maybe it is a female); 1 GC Grebe on the river, no Common Gulls, lots of locals singing (2 Wrens, Robin, Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2-3 Goldfinch) plus Pied Wag, 3 tit spp.

Wandle - migrants flood through

Major passage through the Wandle this morning - one Chiffchaff. For some reason it feels more like a migrant than an overwintering bird. Partly because it's new right here, it's calling and feeding like crazy rather than trying to sing (OK but it could just be a female). Maybe spring is on the way - there's no sign of any Teal or Gadwall so maybe this is it.

Teal-tastic

There's a Teal take-over of the Wandle. 5 Teal (all male) dabbling around all nonchalant. Also 9 Gadwall, Grey Heron, c25 Tufties and c20 Chaffinches on the weeds in the new daylight path.

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.