In recent years Spring migration has often been better than autumn migration in the valley, however a slow spring might have helped with this bumper autumnal fall of migrants and this run of migrants has even continued all the way through September, making it one of the best on records. This is partially through to the dedicate of the local birders this year and also through better communications between the 5 of us! My bird of the month for the valley is a very hard one to chose. With record amounts of migrants in the valley at times. The bird of the month does have to go to the stunning adult plumage Common Redstart that John found on 24th and stayed up until the 26th. This was my first ever Redstart and almost all of us managed to connect with this amazing bird! Despite what I have just written the month actually got of to a rather slow start! With the first notable sightings coming in on the 6th! Bullfinch showed well throughout the month suggesting breeding was successful this year, with 1 on 6th, 1 on 15th, 3 on 20th, 2 on 22nd, 1 on 25th, 1 on 26th, and finally 1 seen on the 28th. I have decided to include the Chiffchaff numbers throughout the month to monitor the noticeable influxes. This includes 10 on 6th, 17 on 13th and 15th, 22 on 20th, 32 on 22nd. This was before numbers dropped off to just 13 on 24th, 16 on 25th, 8 on 26th, 3 on 27th, 7 on 28th, however numbers dramatically increased to 30 on the 31st. Suggesting that migration for warblers occurs in phases throughout the valley and the weather conditions could play apart in the amount seen and heard. Sand Martins were hard to come by this month with 2 on 13th, 10 on 20th, and 1 on 31st actually making it a poor year for them! Egyptian Geese were present for most of the month down on Belmont Farms pond and numbers peaked at 7 on 13th. Hobby numbers were good throughout the month especially on the warmer sunnier days with lots of insect prey about. The first one on the month wasn't seen until the 13, however by the 25th there were 3 possibly 4 about, with a Juv seen mobbing a Kestrel on the 26th, 3 on 27th, and 4 on 28th. Willow Warblers were hard to find this spring, however this autumn was much easier with some mixed into Chiffchaff flocks and some mixed into the large Tit flocks roving the valley. Numbers stayed quite stable throughout the month with 2 on 13th, 3 on 15th, 3 on 22nd, 5 on 25th, 4 on 27th, and finally 4 on 31st. This was the best month of the year and possibly the best for a long time for the valley's Little owls. The guests at Belmont Farm were delighted to see 2 sitting on the fences up close to the tractor on 13th, with 4 possibly as many as 7 heard around 'Cow' field on the 25th, 2 on 26th, 1 on 27th, 2 on 28th, and 2 possibly 3 were heard near the power station on Burtonhole Lane on 31st, suggesting that there could be at least 14 individuals in the valley at the moment. Grey Wagtails returned mig month with 1 on 13th, 1 on 26th, and 1 on 27th. Red-legged partridge were hard to spot with the only sighting of the month from Belmont farm involving 2 adults and a well grown Juvenile on 13th. Goldcrest numbers were interesting throughout the month with 4 seen on 15th, 22nd, and 26th, as well as 2 on the 27th, 1 on 28th, and finally numbers were back up to 3 on 31st. Coal Tit numbers were also generally high throughout the month 4 on 22nd being the most and singles being seen on 15th, and 31st. Rooks are on track to be present in every month of the year for the first time ever (I think). 4 were seen on 15th, 7 on 22nd, 2 on 24th, 4 on 25th, 5 on 26th, 4 on 28th and finally numbers were up to at least 9 on 31st. Despite Treecreepers being a 'common' species they are notoriously hard to see however one was seen on 4 dates and 2 were seen on 27th during the month suggesting an increase in numbers at this time of year is a possibility!? Linnets were harder to find this month than in previous months, however 2 were seen on 15th, and 3 on 28th suggesting that if they breed this year then they were probably successful. House Martin migration for this month peaked at 64+ on 15th. The autumns only Sedge Warbler so far was found in the hedges surrounding 'Cow' field on the 22nd. After a disappointing autumn migration for Wheatears this month saw 2 on 24th and 25th, as well as 3 on 27th and 31st suggesting a good year so far. Yellow Wagtails this month were mainly recorded as flyovers with 1 on 24th, 5 on 27th, 2 on 28th. This year is probably going to go down as the best year so far for Common Redstarts in the valley with a stunning male gracing us for 3 days from 24th - 26th, there were then 2 fem/juvs on 27th and another not so smart plumaged Male on 28th! Red Kite weren't seen until the end of the month after they were seen successfully hunting voles over the silage field. at least 1 was seen over that field from 25th - 28th, with 2 being seen on 26th and 28th! Whinchat also are having one of their best springs in a long time with 4 on 25th, 1 on 28th, and 1 on 27th. Spotted Flycatchers again came to the valley in almost record breaking numbers this year with 7 on 25th equalling the record. Numbers then slowly rounded off with 4 on 26th and the last sighting of 2 on 28th. Common Buzzards were present all month however a good peak count of 9 was noted on 26th. House Sparrows are showing signs of increasing their range in the valley with 3 seen near the feeders at Finchley nurseries for the first time in quite a while. A Tree Pipit was seen in 'Owl' field on the 26th, however that was the only one seen this month. Tawny Owls were also recorded on 26th with 2 heard calling in the late evening. If one hadn't been seen in May this year then this would have been my bird of the month with a Common Sandpiper at Belmont Farm pond from the 27th and has stayed into the new month. This is only the 2nd ever record for the valley and raises the question of if it actually ever left!? The only sighting of a Tufted Duck this month was the returning female again on Long Pond. Stock Doves showed well throughout the month with their count peaking on 54+ on 28th. Finally now on to the first returning birds. 2 Mistle Thrush were seen on 28th and the first Teal was a female at Darlands on 28th. Probably another contender for bird of the month was the possible Wood Warbler seen at the southern end of 'Cow' field on 25th. It was a very pale warbler with a yellowy head that sat out in the open for a while showing all the characteristics of one, but it wouldn't call or sing and therefore it's id remains open to some doubt. Subsequent searches for the bird unfortunately lead us to find the bird had left overnight. Contributed by Samuel Levy 29/09/17 Above: Young Whitethroat Next 2: Whinchat Above: Spotted Flycatcher Below: m Common Redstart Above: Whinchat Below: Spotted Flycatcher Above: Spotted Flycatcher
Below: Hobby
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To be honest July was another quiet month for the valley with very little seen during the poor weather that ended the month or the sweltering weather that started the month. 2 good birds were recorded just outside the valley with a Great White Egret mid month along the Dollis Brook at Brook Farm open Space and also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker spending 2 days in a Finchley garden at the beginning of the month, suggesting that this species still attempts to breed in the area and isn't completely lost. For the valley my bird of the month is hard to chose from since nothing much of interest was recorded. I will however give it to the 8 Hobby that were seen over Belmont Farm on the 17th which came as a surprise to me and many others as this included 3 very early juvenile birds. Tufted ducks were still present at Long pond all month with 2 on the 2nd, 1 on 10th, and 1 on 14th. This is an unusual record as most years they only arrive for spring and depart before the beginning of June. perhaps local breeding will soon exist? Bullfinch were also present throughout the month with 2 on 2nd, 1 on 10th, and 1 on 14th. Barn Swallow had some very good high counts this month with 60+ on 9th, and 100+ on the 17th suggesting a good breeding season for them this year especially as there are still some pairs with youngsters in the nest as I write this. Red kite had a very good month with 3 on 9th, 1 on the 10th, 1 on 14th, and finally 4 on 17th. Chiffchaff count peaked on the 10th with 20 seen, however this number was starting to pick up again towards the end of the month with migrants now moving through. Rook were still around during the month which will make it one of the only July's on record that has recorded this species before. 9 were seen on the 10th, with 4 seen on 12 and 6 on the 18th. Darlands lake suffered 2 extremes during the month. On the 10th it was officially noted as bone dry, but by the 12th July its banks were bursting and the lake had returned in force with above average water levels. Common Buzzards were present throughout the month with a max count of 8 being seen on the 17th. Also on the 17th a max count of 8 Hobby were seen with some unusually early Juveniles around as well suggesting a good year for them. 2 more Hobby were seen the next day on the 18th, but that was the last time they were recorded in the month. Swift numbers built up throughout the month to at least 64 on the 17th before numbers started to recede as their migration season started. The most interesting sighting of the month were the 8 unidentifiable Geese that flew over in v formation very high up on 18th. Linnet sightings were very scarce during the month with only one record of 2 on 18th. It was clear that migration had started towards the end of the month with Willow Warbler numbers starting to build. The first one was seen on the 20th, with 3 following on the 31st with one even deciding to give a brief snippet of their song. This was a pretty average July looking back at the records, however as I look towards writing the August round up i can already see that the migration season for the valley this year has been amazing and well above the yearly average. Contributed by Samuel Levy 14/09/17 Above: Bone Dry Folly Brook Below: Bullfinch Above: Mandarin Family on Bone Dry Darlands Below: Almost Bone Dry Darlands Below: Kestrel
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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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