This large post includes a list of the 61 birds including 7 life birds seen on this trip; bringing my UK list up to 261 since I started the list in 1987. I saw while in London late December 2015 and first week of January 2016. Captions provide the names, locations and dates of each siting. I posted the best ones but decided to include a few not so good photos as they are all I have of certain species.
My one serious trip was to the WWT London Wildlife Refuge on 1/4/2016. The WWT (Wildlife and Wetlands Trust has 8 other refuges around Great Britain. They cater to families, provide education and the wetlands have blinds for serious birders. I may not have found some of them, like the bittern and snipe, if other birders hadn’t pointed them out to me. My one disappointment was not having more days to do this. It was really a trip to visit family. Cemeteries are the best for birding. I enjoyed St James Park which is well stocked with ducks and pelicans.; and winter birds and ducks in and Clissold Park. Walthamstow Marshes might have produced some good birds but I didn’t get the time to investigate it.
Land Birds
Jay, Abney Park, London 12/20/15
Rose-ringed Parakeet, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Robin, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Blackbird, Abney Park, London 12/20/15
Robin, Abney Park, London 12/28/15
Goldcrest, Abney Park, London 12/28/15
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Abney Park, London 12/20/15
Siskin, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
European Stonechat, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
European Stonechat, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Common Chaffinch, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Jay, Abney Park, London 12/20/15
Jackdaw, Deer Park, Greenwich 1/2/16
Wood Pigeon, Abney Park, London 12/20/15
Carrion Crow, Deer Park, Greenwich 1/2/16
Water Birds
St James Park 12/31/15
White Pelican, Regents Park 12/31/15
White Pelican, Regents Park 12/31/15
White Pelican, Regents Park 12/31/15
Black-headed Gull, St James Park 12/31/15
Black-headed Gull, St James Park 12/31/15
Eurasian Bittern, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Snipe, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Great Crested Grebe, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Great Crested Grebe, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Cormorant, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Shag, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Shag, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Grey Heron, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Gery Heron, St James Park 12/31/15
Trumpeter Swan, St James Park
Mute Swan, Clissold Park 12/23/15
Bewick’s Swan, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Greylag Goose, St James Park 12/31/15
Egyptian Goose. WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Egyptian Goos, Clissold Park 12/21/15
Egyptian Goos, Clissold Park 12/21/15
Red-breasted Goose and Brant, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Barnacle Goose, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Smew, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Smew, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Smew, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Tufted Duck, Clissold Park 12/21/15
Tufted Duck, Clissold Park 12/21/15
Pochard, Clissold Park 12/21/15
Red-breasted Goose, St James Park 12/31/15
Ferruginous Duck, Deer Park, Greenwich 1/2/16
Pochard, Deer Park, Greenwich 1/2/16
Red-crested Pochard, Deer Park, Greenwich 1/2/16
Ruddy Shellduck, St James Park 12/31/15
WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Nene, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Bufflehead, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Eurasian Widgeon, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Canvasback, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Green-winged Teal, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Wood Duck, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Northern Pintail, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Northern Pintail, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Northern Shoveler, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Black Swan, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Magpie Goose and Plumed Whistling Duck, WWT London Wetland 1/4/16
Sherry am impressed by the variety of species, especially the waterfowl. Interesting how birds can thrive in green belt in the big cities – and it appeals to my sense of the quirky to go bird watching in cemeteries.
I am always amazed by how many bird species pass through Central Park. Greenwood Cemetery is a great place to bird too, talking of cemeteries 🙂 thanks for the comment.
I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Sherry, thanks so much. I was certain there must be a mistake about the nene, but then I looked it up and saw that WWT was instrumental in saving this species from extinction, and then I remembered that there was indeed an English org., and they are the ones. Absolutely fantastic! Also enjoyed that first image with the jays, fun to see the smews, and OMG how incredible to see the bittern and snipe, great that some new friends pointed them out. Thanks for taking the time to label each bird, and enjoyed seeing your list, too.
Sherry am impressed by the variety of species, especially the waterfowl. Interesting how birds can thrive in green belt in the big cities – and it appeals to my sense of the quirky to go bird watching in cemeteries.
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I am always amazed by how many bird species pass through Central Park. Greenwood Cemetery is a great place to bird too, talking of cemeteries 🙂 thanks for the comment.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Sherry, thanks so much. I was certain there must be a mistake about the nene, but then I looked it up and saw that WWT was instrumental in saving this species from extinction, and then I remembered that there was indeed an English org., and they are the ones. Absolutely fantastic! Also enjoyed that first image with the jays, fun to see the smews, and OMG how incredible to see the bittern and snipe, great that some new friends pointed them out. Thanks for taking the time to label each bird, and enjoyed seeing your list, too.
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Thanks Jet. Glad you enjoyed the jay composite and the rest. There was one set of ducks I couldn’t name – the three in the grass.
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loved all the pictures
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oh my!! wonderful and a bit of work with the identifications!!
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I loved this post. There are a couple I would live to paint 🤓
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If you want to do that sometime please purchase one.
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Thanks Sherry, I would definitely do that AND give you photo reference credit when appropriate. Keep taking the beautiful pictures.
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The jays and blackbirds stand out as truly wonderful images. Great post great images.
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Thank you Victor. Too many in one post, but I have a lot more London images to post.
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