islington
BIRDWATCHING
 The
group makes trips to look at birds, with occasional
meetings to learn and discuss.Group Coordinator: Derek Harwood (click to contact) |
| When Two visits a month. One will be
more of a local visit, the other may be further
afield. So one should be shorter in duration, the
other longer, generally.
|
| Where Good places to look at birds and
enjoy nature in or near London and slightly
further afield.
|
The iU3A Birdwatching group was established
in December 2014, and we now have over fifty signed up
members, ranging from complete beginners to a few with
several years' experience of birdwatching. However,
generally there are no more than about six on each visit.
New members are welcome, whatever their level of
expertise. We also welcome anyone with a broad interest in
nature, wildlife or other aspects of the countryside which
they would like to share or extend. Group members share
ideas they have for outings, and we do our best to follow
up all of them.
The emphasis is very much on getting out and
enjoying nature and birds in particular. We may also have
a few indoor meetings from time to time to share
experiences and perhaps also to hear expert speakers. It
depends entirely on what the group would like.
If you want to join the group and you are
already a iU3A member then you can sign up through Beacon
here. If you are not a member of
Islington U3A then you need to join that firstly. Go to
the Join Us web page and
download the Membership form.
Monday 9 October, Walthamstow Wetlands:
this will be a local outing to Walthamstow reservoirs
which are 7 minutes walk from Tottenham Hale station along
Ferry Lane. We'll meet inside at the ticket office area of
Tottenham Hale station by 10.00. No need to sign up for
this visit — just turn up.
Walthamstow Reservoirs are an important part of the system for supplying London's water. Some of them are quite 'hard-edged' and not so great for birds. Others are much softer-edged and there are islands and so forth, so that overall it a very good place for birds. We'll see a good variety of ducks, herons, cormorants, kingfishers if we're lucky, and some other species including perhaps some less common ones. For the visit, you can stop to look at birds almost from the entrance but there is also a walk of about a mile and a half round the best bits for birds. You can do as much or as little as you like and stay for as long or as little time as suits you. However we'll probably finish by 12.30 and then it's a choice if you want to stay for coffee or lunch.
Friday 27 October: details to follow.
Other Provisional dates for 2023:Walthamstow Reservoirs are an important part of the system for supplying London's water. Some of them are quite 'hard-edged' and not so great for birds. Others are much softer-edged and there are islands and so forth, so that overall it a very good place for birds. We'll see a good variety of ducks, herons, cormorants, kingfishers if we're lucky, and some other species including perhaps some less common ones. For the visit, you can stop to look at birds almost from the entrance but there is also a walk of about a mile and a half round the best bits for birds. You can do as much or as little as you like and stay for as long or as little time as suits you. However we'll probably finish by 12.30 and then it's a choice if you want to stay for coffee or lunch.
Friday 27 October: details to follow.
November: 6th and 24th
December: 11th only
Other
Information
British Bird List If you want to
print out a list for use during your visits to allow
ticking off what you see then the list is here.
Or to see what we've spotted on our previous
visits:
2017-18 look here
2018-19 look here
2019-20 look here.
To help plan your own trips, or to inspire suggestions for our visits, you might want to look at the London Bird Club Wiki here. To enjoy our bird visits to the maximum you will need decent binoculars (8×25 or 8×42 or 10 x 42 or 10 x 50 are good). The first number tells you the magnification (ie 8 or 10 times bigger), the second number is the size of the 'objective' (larger) lens which determines the amount of light (sharpness) of the image. Bigger numbers also mean bigger weight. There are also two forms — porro prism (offset lenses) or roof prism (in-line lenses). Porro type are generally cheaper but larger/heavier. Appropriate footwear and rain gear if the weather threatens. Each of our visits will have a maximum of 10 participants (but normally we are a lot less than that).
Birds on the Edge — see here for information of birds at risk. To read the quarterly magazine from WWT, click here.
Also see the following link here to the local RSPB web page regarding their recent visits (to be updated).
To follow what the London Wildlife Trust are up to have a look here.
If you want to hear some particular bird song or call try using this site: here.
And to end, just a bit of humour, have a look at this video clip here. And another one: here.
What can you see in your back garden? See some goldfinches here.
Blogs
This sections provides some learning material in bite-size easy format. They are in no particular order.
For a record of our other visits you can see the reports by the following links:
2017-18 look here
2018-19 look here
2019-20 look here.
To help plan your own trips, or to inspire suggestions for our visits, you might want to look at the London Bird Club Wiki here. To enjoy our bird visits to the maximum you will need decent binoculars (8×25 or 8×42 or 10 x 42 or 10 x 50 are good). The first number tells you the magnification (ie 8 or 10 times bigger), the second number is the size of the 'objective' (larger) lens which determines the amount of light (sharpness) of the image. Bigger numbers also mean bigger weight. There are also two forms — porro prism (offset lenses) or roof prism (in-line lenses). Porro type are generally cheaper but larger/heavier. Appropriate footwear and rain gear if the weather threatens. Each of our visits will have a maximum of 10 participants (but normally we are a lot less than that).
Birds on the Edge — see here for information of birds at risk. To read the quarterly magazine from WWT, click here.
Also see the following link here to the local RSPB web page regarding their recent visits (to be updated).
To follow what the London Wildlife Trust are up to have a look here.
If you want to hear some particular bird song or call try using this site: here.
And to end, just a bit of humour, have a look at this video clip here. And another one: here.
What can you see in your back garden? See some goldfinches here.
Blogs
This sections provides some learning material in bite-size easy format. They are in no particular order.
- Seeing Red (redwings, redstarts and redshanks) here
- Preying (identifying between birds of prey) here
- Gulling About (or more about gulls) here
Rainham Marshes: we
have had several excellent visits and had our highest
species count there – 61!! - when we had the help of
two Wardens. This time, by our devices, (and with only
3 pairs of eyes) we spotted or heard 33 species, still
a good amount. The rain wasn’t as bad as
forecast. Highlight was the snipe, spotted first by
Michael, blending in with the foliage. We looked for
bearded tits that have been seen there but not today.
RSPB man said he’d only seen them once. Not much on
the feeders except tits and sparrows. Where were
the goldfinches?
Regents Park: on a very hot day we returned to this glorious local park. And again it didn't fail to surprise with 36 sightings. The numbers are helped by the mix of woodland and wetland habitats but also the clipped wing section where more unusual (for London) birds reside. For example the pink footed goose was a highlight. But an even better sighting was the great spotted woodpecker that displayed for us for some time. Another successful outing.
Fishers Green, Cheshunt: 7 of us ventured to Cheshunt and meandered to the reserve centre at Fishers Green. A reasonable count for a summer visit with 29 species spotted and verified.
Woodberry Downs: sometimes this local reserve can give us some good sightings, sometimes it's just average. This was one of the average times. It was a good day and all enjoyed the stroll but not a lot of bird life.
Chingford, Connaught Water: 10 of us gathered for this pleasant walk on the edge of Epping Forest. We have been lucky on previous visits to this location with kingfishers and goosanders being spotted. However this time the sightings were disappointing with a count overall of only 22. In fact the only interesting debate was regarding numbers of mallard. Most were young with yellow beaks and didn't have the winter male plumage yet. Were some of these gadwells? No, but amongst them were a few gadwells with their black beaks and flashes of purple.
Walthamstow Wetlands: this was one of our local outings. The Walthamstow reservoirs are just 5 minutes walk from Tottenham Hale station along Ferry Lane. Walthamstow Reservoirs are an important part of the system for supplying London's water. Some of them are quite 'hard-edged' and not so great for birds. Others are much softer-edged and there are islands which is better for the birds. We saw a good variety of ducks, herons, cormorants, geese (including barnacle) and the usual woodland birds. 37 species were spotted in total.
Thurrock, Thameside: due to the small numbers and the heat of the day we revised the route. Instead of getting off the train at East Tilbury and walking in past the gravel pits we carried on and started at Stanford-le-Hope. From there we looped down to the Essex Wildlife Trust centre. Initially we thought we'd timed it badly with the tide way out, however it soon started to come in quickly bringing with it many birds. Many many shelducks. There was also a curlew just in front of the hide. So things worked out pretty well with 32 sightings. Was it a better route? Possibly.
Rye Meads: it was a very hot humid day so we spent quite a bit of time in the shade of the hides. We didn't go all the way round but we saw and heard a good range of woodland and water birds. 37 species in total.
Stockers Lake: a return to this popular spot. We walked in via the bridge near the roundabout, along the river before crossing to the Lake and the hides. We hadn’t the energy to walk all round the lake, so we walked back to the cafe along the canal where we saw the Swallows. But the highlight of the visit was spotting a nuthatch. He flew to a trunk and sat outside a hole where presumably he had a nest but we had a great view before he popped inside.
Abbeywood to Belvedere, Thames Southside: the Elizabeth line makes it easy now to reach Abbeywood but by the time we got there the clouds had rolled in and the rain started. Maybe the day's forecast of rain had kept members away. However, three brave souls soldiered on. At Southmere we were rewarded by a display from swifts. On the river we didn't see the range that we have seen previously. There were plenty of shelducks and gulls but no shanks or curlews this time. The odd oystercatcher or two. But nevertheless a count overall of 33 is not bad going. The train strike did catch us out on our return but it was an easy bus ride instead.
Woodberry Downs: a return to our local reserve. We spent a long time looking at reeds, and with great excitement hearing, then seeing, chetti, chiffchaff and reed warbler. Most exciting was the song thrush who sat on a post posing near us singing its heart out. A good half day with 31 species spotted.
Cheshunt: we headed straight in to the Lee Valley park and meandered our way to the Discovery Centre at Fisher Green. We did quite well with 30 different species being spotted. But the best was not the total variety seen but the 'Attenborough' moments. These were great crested grebes doing their necking mating dancing and then, as we sat quietly eating our picnic, a cormorant swam right in front of us, dived and came up with a pretty big fish that then disappeared down its throat. Special moments.
Barnes/London WWT: we thought a bit of a blustery showery day might keep the birds away; however, we were wrong. We had a species count of 47! It's a bit of a hike to get there but the mixture of natives and non-natives always makes for an interesting visit, and it's educational to see how many originally non-natives are now on the British list. Not just the ubiquitous Egyptian goose but birds such as, for example, the wood (caroline) duck, the bufflehead and the hooded merganser.
Walthamstow Wetlands: a rather windy day made it difficult for the birds, and the bird watchers. But we struggled on and were rewarded by a pretty good spot count, highlights being the shovelers. Pity the gosander wasn't verified.
Rainham: we last visited Rainham last May so it was time for a return. Normally Rainham attracts a good turnout but this time we were few. However, even with only three pairs of eyes we still managed to spot 40 species. Not a record for Rainham (last visit it was 44) but not a bad rate at 13 per pair of eyes! Avocets, curlew, godwits, water rail and the marsh harrier were the highlights. Large parts of the broadwalk were closed for repair but we still managed to cover estuary, woodland and scrapes.
Brighton: Seven of us went to Brighton on a sunny Monday to watch the starling murmuration, which, like the fish restaurant and brilliant sunset, was enjoyable although not as spectacular as some times. The day was slightly blighted by train delays and cancellations on the way back.
Woodberry Down: a good turnout for our most local reserve. Most of the water was frozen still which meant the gulls were standing on it and we could see their legs! Easier to sort out which gull was which that way. A few teal and pochards.
Wanstead Park: a brave two souls ventured out but enjoyed it nevertheless.
Walthamstow Wetlands: this was one of our regular 'local' half day visits. It was a cold day, which probably explained our low numbers. However, for the three that did brave the weather they were rewarded by good sightings. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary but it was the quantity that made things special. For example 10 little grebe, or 15 shovelers. In all 30 species was the final count. But the hot drinks were appreciated also at the end in the Engine Room.
Two Tree Island, Leigh on Sea, November: another successful trip to this Essex reserve. 37 species spotted. Not our highest count here but not bad. Not as many in quantity either, possibly due to bird flu. We were lucky with the weather, a nice clear mild day for late November. Highlights were probably the plovers — little ringed and grey.
Rye Meads, November: on a very mild day six of us had a pleasant stroll around this RSPB reserve. There were many mute swans and one whooper we were told, but we couldn't pick it out. Not the best time of year for the kingfishers so no sightings at that hide but we had a great display from lapwings and an overall count of 30. All were happy with that.
Epping Forest, October: another successful visit to this spot.
Walthamstow Wetlands, October: one of our regular local venues.
Previous
VisitsRegents Park: on a very hot day we returned to this glorious local park. And again it didn't fail to surprise with 36 sightings. The numbers are helped by the mix of woodland and wetland habitats but also the clipped wing section where more unusual (for London) birds reside. For example the pink footed goose was a highlight. But an even better sighting was the great spotted woodpecker that displayed for us for some time. Another successful outing.
Fishers Green, Cheshunt: 7 of us ventured to Cheshunt and meandered to the reserve centre at Fishers Green. A reasonable count for a summer visit with 29 species spotted and verified.
Woodberry Downs: sometimes this local reserve can give us some good sightings, sometimes it's just average. This was one of the average times. It was a good day and all enjoyed the stroll but not a lot of bird life.
Chingford, Connaught Water: 10 of us gathered for this pleasant walk on the edge of Epping Forest. We have been lucky on previous visits to this location with kingfishers and goosanders being spotted. However this time the sightings were disappointing with a count overall of only 22. In fact the only interesting debate was regarding numbers of mallard. Most were young with yellow beaks and didn't have the winter male plumage yet. Were some of these gadwells? No, but amongst them were a few gadwells with their black beaks and flashes of purple.
Walthamstow Wetlands: this was one of our local outings. The Walthamstow reservoirs are just 5 minutes walk from Tottenham Hale station along Ferry Lane. Walthamstow Reservoirs are an important part of the system for supplying London's water. Some of them are quite 'hard-edged' and not so great for birds. Others are much softer-edged and there are islands which is better for the birds. We saw a good variety of ducks, herons, cormorants, geese (including barnacle) and the usual woodland birds. 37 species were spotted in total.
Thurrock, Thameside: due to the small numbers and the heat of the day we revised the route. Instead of getting off the train at East Tilbury and walking in past the gravel pits we carried on and started at Stanford-le-Hope. From there we looped down to the Essex Wildlife Trust centre. Initially we thought we'd timed it badly with the tide way out, however it soon started to come in quickly bringing with it many birds. Many many shelducks. There was also a curlew just in front of the hide. So things worked out pretty well with 32 sightings. Was it a better route? Possibly.
Rye Meads: it was a very hot humid day so we spent quite a bit of time in the shade of the hides. We didn't go all the way round but we saw and heard a good range of woodland and water birds. 37 species in total.
Stockers Lake: a return to this popular spot. We walked in via the bridge near the roundabout, along the river before crossing to the Lake and the hides. We hadn’t the energy to walk all round the lake, so we walked back to the cafe along the canal where we saw the Swallows. But the highlight of the visit was spotting a nuthatch. He flew to a trunk and sat outside a hole where presumably he had a nest but we had a great view before he popped inside.
Abbeywood to Belvedere, Thames Southside: the Elizabeth line makes it easy now to reach Abbeywood but by the time we got there the clouds had rolled in and the rain started. Maybe the day's forecast of rain had kept members away. However, three brave souls soldiered on. At Southmere we were rewarded by a display from swifts. On the river we didn't see the range that we have seen previously. There were plenty of shelducks and gulls but no shanks or curlews this time. The odd oystercatcher or two. But nevertheless a count overall of 33 is not bad going. The train strike did catch us out on our return but it was an easy bus ride instead.
Woodberry Downs: a return to our local reserve. We spent a long time looking at reeds, and with great excitement hearing, then seeing, chetti, chiffchaff and reed warbler. Most exciting was the song thrush who sat on a post posing near us singing its heart out. A good half day with 31 species spotted.
Cheshunt: we headed straight in to the Lee Valley park and meandered our way to the Discovery Centre at Fisher Green. We did quite well with 30 different species being spotted. But the best was not the total variety seen but the 'Attenborough' moments. These were great crested grebes doing their necking mating dancing and then, as we sat quietly eating our picnic, a cormorant swam right in front of us, dived and came up with a pretty big fish that then disappeared down its throat. Special moments.
Barnes/London WWT: we thought a bit of a blustery showery day might keep the birds away; however, we were wrong. We had a species count of 47! It's a bit of a hike to get there but the mixture of natives and non-natives always makes for an interesting visit, and it's educational to see how many originally non-natives are now on the British list. Not just the ubiquitous Egyptian goose but birds such as, for example, the wood (caroline) duck, the bufflehead and the hooded merganser.
Walthamstow Wetlands: a rather windy day made it difficult for the birds, and the bird watchers. But we struggled on and were rewarded by a pretty good spot count, highlights being the shovelers. Pity the gosander wasn't verified.
Rainham: we last visited Rainham last May so it was time for a return. Normally Rainham attracts a good turnout but this time we were few. However, even with only three pairs of eyes we still managed to spot 40 species. Not a record for Rainham (last visit it was 44) but not a bad rate at 13 per pair of eyes! Avocets, curlew, godwits, water rail and the marsh harrier were the highlights. Large parts of the broadwalk were closed for repair but we still managed to cover estuary, woodland and scrapes.
Brighton: Seven of us went to Brighton on a sunny Monday to watch the starling murmuration, which, like the fish restaurant and brilliant sunset, was enjoyable although not as spectacular as some times. The day was slightly blighted by train delays and cancellations on the way back.
Woodberry Down: a good turnout for our most local reserve. Most of the water was frozen still which meant the gulls were standing on it and we could see their legs! Easier to sort out which gull was which that way. A few teal and pochards.
Wanstead Park: a brave two souls ventured out but enjoyed it nevertheless.
Walthamstow Wetlands: this was one of our regular 'local' half day visits. It was a cold day, which probably explained our low numbers. However, for the three that did brave the weather they were rewarded by good sightings. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary but it was the quantity that made things special. For example 10 little grebe, or 15 shovelers. In all 30 species was the final count. But the hot drinks were appreciated also at the end in the Engine Room.
Two Tree Island, Leigh on Sea, November: another successful trip to this Essex reserve. 37 species spotted. Not our highest count here but not bad. Not as many in quantity either, possibly due to bird flu. We were lucky with the weather, a nice clear mild day for late November. Highlights were probably the plovers — little ringed and grey.
Rye Meads, November: on a very mild day six of us had a pleasant stroll around this RSPB reserve. There were many mute swans and one whooper we were told, but we couldn't pick it out. Not the best time of year for the kingfishers so no sightings at that hide but we had a great display from lapwings and an overall count of 30. All were happy with that.
Epping Forest, October: another successful visit to this spot.
Walthamstow Wetlands, October: one of our regular local venues.
For a record of our other visits you can see the reports by the following links:
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