Autumn Birdwalk part 2 at Brent Reservoir.

This was my second autumn birdwalk for 2011 held on the 16th of October at Brent Reservoir. The first autumn birdwalk was held on the 11th of September

A total of 30 different bird species were seen. The following is the list of birds seen at the reservoir.

Little Grebe.
Cormorant.
Grey Heron.
Mute Swan.
Canada Geese.
Mallard.
Gadwall.
Shoveler.
Wigeon.
Teal.
Tufted Duck.
Ruddy Duck.
Moorhen.
Coot.
Lapwing.
Black-headed Gull.
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Feral Pigeon.
Wood Pigeon.
Rose-ringed Parakeet.
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Robin.
Blackbird.
Blue Tit.
Magpie.
Jay.
Carrion Crow.
Chaffinch.
Goldfinch.
Greenfinch.

Autumn birdwalk part 1 at Brent Reservoir.

My first autumn birdwalk for 2011 was on the 11th of September which was held at Brent Reservoir. All the young birds born during the summer are now juveniles. Bird species like Common Terns as well as most of the Warblers have left and are on their way to Africa.

A total of 32 different bird species were seen included a single Spotted Flycatcher and a Swift. The following is the list of birds seen at the reservoir.

Little Grebe.
Great Crested Grebe.
Cormorant.
Grey Heron.
Mute Swan.
Canada Geese.
Mallard.
Gadwall.
Tufted Duck.
Ruddy Duck.
Kestrel.
Moorhen.
Coot.
Lapwing.
Green Sandpiper.
Common Sandpiper.
Black-headed Gulls.
Herring Gull.
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Feral Pigeon.
Wood Pigeon.
Swift.
Kingfisher.
Green Woodpecker.
House Martin.
Barn Swallows.
Robin.
Spotted Flycatcher.
Magpie.
Carrion Crow.
Starling.
Goldfinch.


The next autumn part 2 is to be held on the 16th of October.

Birtish Birdwatching Fair 19 - 21 August 2011.

Kenya Birding stand at the 23rd Birdfair.


This was the 23rd Birdfair this year. My first birdfair was way back in 2007. It is held every year in the month of August at Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water. This was my 4th visit at the fair helping my colleagues from Kenya at the Kenya Birding stand.

There is a courtesy bus service between the Birdfair and Oakham railway station. I went by train to Oakham via Peterborough from London Kings Cross. From London Kings Cross, take the East Coast train which takes about 45 mins journey to Peterborough. From Peterborough, take the Cross Country train which takes about 30 mins journey to Oakham.

At the Oakham railway station is where I met my colleagues from Kenya. We were staying at a hotel in Cottingham. Cottingham lies in a quiet and peaceful countryside in Leicestershire.

Beside Kenya Birding stand, there were other stands from RSPB, African Bird Club, Birdlife International, British Trust of Ornithology (BTO), Oriental Birdclub and Tour Companies. There was also a ringing demonstrate done by the Rutland Ringing Group.

At the birdfair, I saw bird species like Barn Swallows, Greenfinchs, Blue Tits and Great Tits. On the last of the fair, we went to Eyebrook Reservoir for birding. We recorded 13 different bird species.

The following is the list of birds that we saw at the Eyebrook Reservoir.

Little Grebe.
Great Crested Grebe.
Cormorant.
Little Egret.
Grey Heron.
Mute Swan.
Greylag Goose.
Canada Goose.
Mallard.
Sandpiper.
Black-headed Gull.
Lapwing.
Coot.

Next year’s birdfair is on 17 – 19 August 2012. To know more about the birdfair, go to www.birdfair.org.uk.

Brent Reservoir. 08.05.2011

A visit to the reservoir to look for the summer visitors which i did see a few and with a total of 28 different bird species seen included a nice Common Blue Damselfly which i managed to photographic it see below.

The following is the final list of birds see at the reservoir: - Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck , Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Terns, Wood Pigeon, Swifts, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Wren, Blackbird, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie and Carrion Crow.

Staines Reservoirs in Summer.

On 2nd of April which was my 3rd birding visit to Staines Reservoirs in this year. The month of April is the best time to see the summer visitors. At the Reservoirs, i saw my first summer visitor a single Barn Swallow which was flying west of the Reservoirs. A total of 18 different bird species were seen at the reservoirs.

The following is the list of the birds that i saw at the reservoirs: - Great Northern Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Coot, Avocet, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gull, Barn Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starlings and Goldfinch.

Cassiobury Park & Whippendell Wood.

Cassiobury Park.

Cassiobury Park is not far from Watford tube station. It is a nice place for the family as well as for birdwatching. You have the River Gade and the Grand Union Canal that passed through the park, here you get to see Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot and if you are luck possible a Kingfisher. Woodland species like Green / Great spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Chaffinch. We were luck to see a single Bullfinch.

Whippendell Wood.

You can walk to this wood from Cassiobury Park. Here you also get to see woodland species, but also look up in the clouds / sky for any raptors that are flying over. In the woods, we saw a single Red Kite, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Redpoll and a flock of Siskins.

Access to Cassiobury Park & Whippendell Wood.

From Watford tube station, you take the left turn on Cassiobury Park Avenue, turn left on Swiss Avenue and walk until you come to Gade Avenue. From Gade Avenue you will see the Cassiobury Park.

Staines Reservoirs & Staines Moor.

Staines Reservoirs & Staines Moor are in South West London. I went to the Reservoirs & Moor for birding with the London Bird Club ( LNHS ). A telescope is usually essential as there is no facility to walk around the reservoirs.

At the reservoirs, we saw a good of waterfowls like: - Great crested Grebes, Little Grebe, Mute Swans, Gadwalls, Wigeons, Tufted Ducks, Goldeneyes and non-waterfowls:- A flock of Fieldfares.

Staines Moor is a long walk from the reservoirs or you can go from Staines town, but do ask the local people for directions to the moor.

At the moor, we saw bird species like: - Little Egret, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Flocks of Redwing / Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush.

Access to Staines Reservoirs.

Take a Bus 203 at Hatton Cross Station ( Piccadilly line ) from Stop D to Staines.

Drop at St Anne's Avenue and walk towards the reservoirs which you can see from the stop.

You will see a small roundabout, turn right hand on Town Lane. It is about 5 mins walk from St Anne's Avenue stop.

Beddington.

On Sunday 16th, I went for birding at Beddington with the London Bird Club members. Beddington is a good place to see Tree Sparrows in London area. We did see a good number of Tree Sparrows 10-15 in count.

The following are other bird species that were seen:- Egyptian Goose, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Lapwings, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Snipe, Water Pipit and
Rook.