June is quite often a dull month for birding and thus those out birding take to either Butterflies or even to Dragonfly's. This June was unfortunately no different and with the Folly Brook Drying up and Darlands lake becoming just a few small pools it would seem like this June would head the same way that those historically had gone. All the regular species were seen and heard during the month including Grasshopper Warblers, Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Chiffchaff, and Blackcaps. Linnets are breeding in the valley this year for the first time in a while and sightings of the pair kept up throughout the month from various places throughout the valley with 2 on 1st, 1 on 3rd, 1 on 4th, and 1 on 17th. Grey Herons actually became easier to see as the water level dropped with 3 at Sheepwash pond on the 1st and example of this. This month was one of the best months in ages for Red Kites in the valley with 1 on 3rd, 3 on 4th, 2 on 17th, 1 on 18th, 3 on 24th, and 2 on the 25th. We can now also confirm that this is the first time that 2 pairs of Red Kites have breed in the valley and that one of the nest sites has been used continually since 2013! Kestrels were a bit easier to see this month with a pair around: 1 was seen on the third followed by 2 birds on the 4th and 24th. Reed Bunting were present throughout the month with one on the 3rd and 1 on the 24th. Common Buzzard had some particularly high counts during the month including 7 on the 4th and 6 on the 18th. Rook were unusually present during the whole of this month suggesting that breeding might be occurring, with 6 on 4th, 10 on 10th, a June record of 36+ in 'Cow' field on 17th, 17 on 20th, and finally 28 seen on the 24th. Tufted Ducks again were present all month with most of the records coming from Sheepwash Pond; 4 on Long Pond on 4th, a Pair on Sheepwash on 8th, 1 flew S over Sheepwash on 18th, 2 Drakes were at Long Pond on the 20th, and a Female was seen at Sheepwash on the 26th. House Sparrows are now doing reasonably well in the colony at Frith Stables with at least 10 seen on the 10th, however I recon there were more than that. a Bullfinch was heard on the 10th, with 3 then seen on the 20th. The First Cormorant of the year was seen on 18th and was seen 3 more times before the 26th. The highest count of Stock Doves for the month was 45 on the 24th which again is a good June count. Although Treecreepers are numerous in the valley they often prove difficult to see and thus this species was only recorded once this month on the 24th. And finally my bird of the month award has to go to the Kingfisher seen at Darlands on the 24th. This is partially because of the lack of water and the fact that this sighting suggests breeding in the local area. Below are some photos and videos taken during the month of the Red Kites and Buzzards... Contributed by Samuel Levy 16/07/17
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What can I expect from this blog?A Monthly summary will be written each month starting from May 2017, with photo's and reports of interesting species that have been found, as well as an update on the bird life in the valley. Sightings can be contributed via uploading to London Bird Wiki under the heading Totteridge Valley. Any pictures that have been taken can be submitted by email (This can be found on the contact us page)!!! We thank everyone for their contributions so far! Good Luck! Archives
December 2018
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