A break in the bad weather allowed me to get out and do the Winter Thrush survey for December on my patch. It started well with Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Redwing in the garden.
As I left the garden 5 Redwing flew out from the trees towards Eltham Palace. On arrival at the Palace a sharp high pitched call alerted me to a Peregrine Falcon flying North overhead. This is my first record for the area of a species which is becoming increasing common in London with at least 2 nesting pairs that I am aware of in the relatively close vicinity to home. Maybe it was one of the Peregrines resident at the O2 dome on Greenwich Peninsular? King Johns Walk had a good number of Blackbirds but little else of note. As I retraced my steps towards the Tarn I found a single Goldfinch in an area which is usually a good place for them and I imagine it is these birds which occasionally stray in to our garden.
The Tarn looks lovely in the winter afternoon sun and good numbers of Greylag (10) and Canada Geese (5) were present. From the bridge over the lake I caught a brief view of the Kingfisher as it sped away and found a party of 6 Redwing in the trees. The recent storms have caused some damage to the Trees around the Tarn.
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Peregrine Falcon [sp] (Falco peregrinus)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove [sp] (Streptopelia decaocto)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
Common Kingfisher [sp] (Alcedo atthis)
Great Spotted Woodpecker [sp] (Dendrocopos major)
Eurasian Jay [sp] (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit [sp] (Aegithalos caudatus)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Redwing [sp] (Turdus iliacus)
Mistle Thrush [sp] (Turdus viscivorus)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
White Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla alba)
European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)
European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)
Pete's Favourite Things 