Glad I got in on the act in Turkey, after flip-flapping about whether sitting at a desk was better than cruising the Goksu Delta in 30C sunshine......erm......
Been doing a bit of birding around SW London, quite an under-watched area it seems. I very rarely come across another birder on my travels, and usually get a few funny looks from the yummy mummy brigade as they speed past in their Chelsea Tractors at 12mph in the traffic, utterly oblivious to the wealth of wildlife happening around them.
On my regular bike ride from Clapham to Hammersmith along the Thames path I have found breeding Grey Wagtail and Blackcap. All the commoner passerines occur in big numbers along the river; Great/Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Song/Mistle, Blackbird, Starling, Greeny/Goldy/Chaffinch. There's still a small House Martin colony around Putney Bridge, but the old colony off Clapham Common Southside seems to have disappeared for good. Happily, the Swift colony returned to the Trade Union building outside my house last week in Clapham Old Town, appears to be 3-4 pairs only compared to 5-6 last year but good to have the screechers for company again.
A nice male Pintail at Wandsworth was a Brucey Bonus on Monday, maybe delaying his return migration till after the boat race? A couple of Redshank at low-tide on the river in Hammersmith and 3 Stock Dove in playing fields at Barnes were other highlights.
I dropped into Wimbledon Common during last week's raptor passage and bagged a distant Honey Buzz (easily Bird of the Week), nice views of Hobby, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk. The woodlands were full of GS Woodpecker and angry Yaffle + a couple of Whitethroat pairs away from the main paths. Heard there was a Turtle Dove bashing around but couldn't locate it.
Next on London target is Black Redstart, apparently fewer breeding pairs in the UK than Golden Eagle. Got a couple of potential spots in Wandsworth and Castlenau, think it is only a matter of time.
Will post a few photos up on here soon.
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