N W London lists (L.B. Brent)

[Jandy]

I made a list yesterday, and stupidly, instead of starting a new thread, I put it in the same thread I'd been reading - Bedford List. It certainly isn't nearly as impressive as some of yours, but I did find seeing the Redwing and the Ring-necked Parakeets very exciting, and we still have our old faithful, the young moorhen, though not actually seen today yet.

[Hazelnuts]

No worries Jandy - I did that the other day on another forum. :o
We forget where we are at times, and add another post by a mistake.
At least you can delete your other post on the Bedford thread if you wish (cut/copy it first) and transfer it to this thread instead
So not all is lost. ;)

[Jandy]

My list, just seen today:

Starlings (crowd)
House Sparrow
Feral Pigeons (a lot!)
Blackbirds (2 pairs at least)
Robin
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Greenfinches (several)
Chaffinch (female)
Goldfinches (usual flock)
Woodpigeons (2)
and last but not least our juvi Moorhen (still with us!)

Our regulars (not seen today) include Collared Dove, Great Tits, Crow and Magpies.

Seen yesterday in local park:

Redwing
Pied Wagtail
Ring-necked Parakeets (3)
Last edited by Jandy; 9th January 2009 at 04:36 PM.

(This is the list that I put in the wrong thread before, now copied to here.) Actually recorded on 8th Jan.

[Jandy]

Seen today in the garden:

Our Moorhen (almost seems he's part of the family now!)
G.S. Woodpecker again
Starlings (hordes)
Blackbirds (male and female)
Male Chaffinch
Dunnock
Goldfinches (usual crowd)
Greenfinches (a few)
Woodpigeons
Collared Dove
Blue Tits
Great Tit
and, last but not least, a Blackcap! I thought at first it was the usual Coal Tit, but checked v. carefully in book and am sure. Greyish buff back, paler beneath, black cap covering complete top of head from eye level upwards. On sunflower hearts but v. shy, so didn't get a photo. Book says summer visitor, but are they now staying over?

[Hazelnuts]

Great to hear you have a Blackcap Jandy. Super bird though I understand they can be quite domineering on the bird feeders, and like to have a scrap with other birds.

Oh dear that Moorhen really likes you a lot. He might you are his mother. I hope that he moves on soon.
Maybe when spring has sprung he will move on to find a mate.

[Jandy]

I don't think the moorhen's adopted me in that sense, Hazelnuts! If I go out the back he flies away just as quick as the others! I think he only loves the garden for the scraps of peanut cake and the seeds which fall to the ground from the feeders.

The blackcap, on his own as he is, seems to be on the timid side at the moment, probably down to those bossy greenfinches. Haven't seen him today at all.

Up at the Welsh Harp (Brent Reservoir) today, but nothing unusual, just the usual mute swans, tufted ducks, shelducks, coots and moorhens, and 3 shoveler ducks, one male and 2 female. One of our group was telling me he'd been there last Sunday and they'd seen a small group of snipe!

[Hazelnuts]

I don't think the moorhen's adopted me in that sense, Hazelnuts! If I go out the back he flies away just as quick as the others! I think he only loves the garden for the scraps of peanut cake and the seeds which fall to the ground from the feeders.

The blackcap, on his own as he is, seems to be on the timid side at the moment, probably down to those bossy greenfinches. Haven't seen him today at all.

Up at the Welsh Harp (Brent Reservoir) today, but nothing unusual, just the usual mute swans, tufted ducks, shelducks, coots and moorhens, and 3 shoveler ducks, one male and 2 female. One of our group was telling me he'd been there last Sunday and they'd seen a small group of snipe!


hi Jandy

Interesting what you say about the Moorhen. Wonder if he will ever move on and do his own thing. Maybe when it comes to breeding time he will become that bit more independant of you. Here is hoping that he does, but I am sure that you will miss him too. ;)

Since I spoke to you before we had had a visit from a Male Blackcap in our garden area. He was sitting in the bushes eating berries of our Snowberry bush. Hope that they where alright for him and where the right berries for him to consume.
What are the most likely foods that Blackcaps will eat from feeders? :)

Great news to hear about your Snipe. That is one bird I would love to see anyday. I am sure that you get another opportunity if Snipe are seen quite local to where you stay. Keep my fingers and toes crossed for you. :)

[abqaiqjohn]

At my parents house on Sunday in East Wiltshire, right out in the country and while working in the garden we saw a flock of about 50 snipe go over also a red kite just circled about 30 feet above us for a while and then three buzzards passed by at low level. Later their usual visitor, a lesser spotter woodpecker was on the peanuts. Plus blue tits, long tailed tits, great tits, greenfinches, dunnocks and robins so quite a good day!!

[Hazelnuts]

Hi Jandy

How is that well trained Moorhen doing. Is he still hanging around your pad at the moment? ;)

[Jandy]

Hi, Kathy

If you go to my thread "Going back a bit" on Members' Photos, in my post for 15th March you will find the last two photos I ever took of the moorhen. He hasn't been seen since, and I can only hope that he met up with his own kind down on the canal a mile away.

[Hazelnuts]

Hi, Kathy

If you go to my thread "Going back a bit" on Members' Photos, in my post for 15th March you will find the last two photos I ever took of the moorhen. He hasn't been seen since, and I can only hope that he met up with his own kind down on the canal a mile away.

Hi Jandy

I had a look at your thread and yes, the now illusive moorhen is no more in your life since.

We can only hope he is with a group of his own kind now As you say that is the best place for him to be.