Brent Reservoir.

On Boxing Day, I went to the Reservoir for birding. On the northern side of the Reservoir I saw a single Bullfinch feeding among the trees.

The following are bird species that I saw at the Reservoir were:- Shoveler, Teals
Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Common Gulls, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Redwing.

A single Fox was also seen.

Rainham Marshes.

It is one of the RSPB reserve that I visited for birding on 11th December. It is in London/Essex area and along the river Thames. A good place to see some of the winter bird species that visit the marshes and river Thames.


Along the river Thames, we saw a flock of Shelduck, Dunlin and Common Redshank. Others include Grey Plover and skylark.

At Rainham Marshes, we had Eurasian Wigeon, Pintail, Water Rail, Mediterranean/ Great Black-backed / Yellow-legged Gull, Fieldfare, Redwing, Bearded Reedling (Tit) and Stonechat.
To know more on Rainham Marshes go to www.rspb.org.uk/rainhammarshes.

Rutland Water.

Home to the annual British Birdwatching Fair which is held at the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre at Egleton.

The highlight species that we saw were: - Ospery, Little Egret, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Shelduck, Common Sandpiper, Marsh Tit, Green Sandpiper
Ruff, Sand Martins and Goldfinch.

Eyebrook Reservoir.

This reservoir is approximately 3 miles north of Corby. I visited this reservoir in August 2010 with a group of birders. We only saw a total of 8 different species as the weather and time was not on our side. The highlight species that we saw were: - Ruff, Great-crested Grebe and Oystercatcher.

South Ealing Cemetery.

This birding site is 5-10mins walk from South Ealing underground station. From the station turn right hand.

The following are bird species that we saw at the cemetery: - Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Redwing, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Goldcrest.

Kenya.

I was in Kenya for a 3 weeks holiday visited my family and friends. I did some birding, but not so much. Most of my birding was in and around Nariobi. On Sunday 17th Oct, i joined a birding group from Nature Kenya where we went to Lukenya, which is on the west side of the city along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway.




A group of birders from Nature Kenya on a Wednesday Morning Birdwalk in Nairobi.


A group of birders on a 3rd Sunday Outing around Lukenya Hills.




African Grey Flycatcher.

In those 3 weeks in Kenya, i saw a total of 164 different species of birds, out of which 15 were Palaearctic migrant, 1 Near threatened and 1 was Afrotropical migrant. Below is the list of Palaeartic / Afrotropical Migrant and Near threatened birds species seen in Kenya.

Palaearctic Migrant: - Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common (Eurasian) Cuckoo, Eurasian Bee-eaters, Eurasian Golden Orioles, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Thrush Nightingale, Northern Wheatear, Common Rock Thrush and Spotted Flycatcher.

Near Threatened: - Martial Eagle.

Afrotropical Migrant: - Violet-backed Starlings.

Walthamstow Reservoirs.

These reservoirs are 10-15 mins walk from Tottenham Hale tube station. To go to the Tottenham Hale tube station, take the Victoria line to Walthamstow Central or from Liverpool street tube station take the national rail. From Tottenham Hale tube station, take the Ferry lane which is on the left hand side, pass Mill Mead road and Lee Valley Park.

These reservoirs are managed by the Thames Water and there is a visitor permit of £1 per person to be paid at the office.

I saw a total of 45 different bird species at the reservoirs . Here are some of the highlight species that we saw : - Cuckoo, Little Egrets, Swallow, Sand Martins, House Martin, Swifts, House Sparrow, Ruddy Duck, Kestrel and Kingfisher.