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LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY ——— The Society publishes ornithological and other natural history records for the area within 20 miles of St Paul’s Cathedral. As well as Ornithology, other interests in natural history are catered for through the Society's Sections which record and study the major groups of flora and fauna, and the habitats in which they are found. Meetings organised by each Section are open to all members. New members, beginners and experts alike, are welcomed. An extensive programme of talks and field meetings, to which visitors are welcome, is provided throughout the year. As well as the annual London Bird Report, the Society publishes a journal, The London Naturalist, each year and its Newsletter and Bulletin of the London Bird Club every quarter. Members have access to a large lending and reference library of natural history books and can join one or more of several reading circles which circulate many natural history journals at a fraction of the cost of subscribing direct. Yearly subscriptions range from £20 (for ordinary member) through £16 for senior members (over 65 years and who have been in continuous membership for ten years or more) to £5 for students (under 18 years of age, or receiving full-time education). Additional family members who enjoy all the benefits of membership except separate publications pay only £4 each. Cheques should be made payable to the London Natural History Society and sent to the Assistant Treasurer: Robin Blades, 32 Ashfield Road, London N14 7JY. Further copies of this issue of the London Bird Report may be obtained (price £8.00 plus postage and packing) from: Catherine Schmitt, 4 Falkland Avenue, London, N3 1QR. Back numbers of most recent issues are also available from the same address. Cheques should be made payable to the London Natural History Society. ISBN 0 901009 32 6 ISSN 0141 4348 Published by the London Natural History Society – September 2012 www.lnhs.org.uk London Natural History Society c/o The Linnean Society of London Burlington House Piccadilly London, W1J 0BF Front cover: Brown Shrike by Andrew Moon. LONDON BIRD REPORT ——— NO.74 FOR THE YEAR 2009 PRODUCED BY THE LBR EDITORIAL BOARD London Natural History Society PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2012 CONTENTS ——— Introduction and Acknowledgements – Pete Lambert . 5 Terns – Richard Bonser . 95 Rarities Committee and Recorders . 7 Auks to Nightjar – Derek Colman . 100 Recording Arrangements . 8 Swift to Woodpeckers – Peter Newmark . 110 Map of the Area and Gazetteer of Sites . 9 Larks to Waxwing – Peter Newmark . 115 Review of the Year – Nick Rutter . 16 Wren to Thrushes – Andrew Gardener . 125 Contributors to the Systematic List . 24 Warblers – Richard Arnold . 136 Crests to Treecreeper – Clive Herbert . 145 Birds of the London Area . 29 Penduline Tit to Sparrows – Alan Lewis and Jan Hewlett . 151 Swans to Shelduck – Sean Huggins . 30 Chaffinch to Siskin – Angela Linnell . 158 Dabbling Ducks – John Colmans . 34 Linnet to Hawfinch – Andrew Culshaw . 162 Diving Ducks – Roy Beddard . 40 Buntings – Bob Watts . 166 Gamebirds – Bob Watts . 48 Appendix I & II: Escapes and Hybrids – Martin Grounds . 169 Divers to Shag – Ian Woodward . 49 Appendix III: Non-proven and Non-submitted Records . 175 Herons – Gareth Richards . 55 Appendix IV: Corrections and Additons to Previous LBRs . 178 Raptors – Andrew Moon . 58 First and Last Dates of Regular Migrants . 182 Rails – Gareth Richards . 66 Oystercatcher to Jack Snipe – Roy Woodward . 69 Ringing Report – Chris Lamsdell et al . 183 Common Snipe to Phalaropes – Tim Harris . 79 Breeding Bird Survey in London – Ian Woodward . 194 Skuas to Gulls – Andrew Gardener . 87 Birds of Larks Wood – changes between the 1980s and 2000s – Ian Woodward . 196 Brown Shrike at Staines Moor – John Gates and Chris Heard . 203 Bird Highlights at Alexandra Park – Andrew Gardner . 206 Bird Highlights at Beddington Farmlands – Kevin Guest . 207 Bird Highlights at Brent Reservoir – Andrew Verrall . 209 Bird Highlights at Crossness – John Archer . 214 Bird Highlights at RSPB Rainham Marshes – Howard Vaughan . 218 Bird Highlights at Regent's Park – Tony Duckett . 223 Bird Highlights at Staines Reservoirs – Rob Innes . 226 Bird Highlights at Stoke Newington Reservoirs – Mark Pearson . 229 Checklist of Birds of the London Area, and Guide for Contributors of Records . 231 Goldcrest. (Jan Wilczur) Breeding Criteria . 240 4 LONDON BIRD REPORT NO.74 5 LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY LONDON BIRD REPORT FOR 2009 FOUNDED 1858 ——— HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS This London Bird Report has been produced by an Editorial Board, comprising: A.J. Barrett, R.M. Burton, M.A., F.L.S., K.H. Hyatt, F.L.S., R.A. Softly. Chair of Editorial Board . Pete Lambert Chair of Rarities Committee . Bob Watts Consultant . Andrew Self OFFICERS FOR 2012 Data Manager . John Archer Design Co-ordinator . Mike Trier PRESIDENT Editor: Birds of the London Area . Pete Lambert Edward Tuddenham, M.D. Editor: Papers . Mike Trier VICE-PRESIDENTS Editor: Photographs . Dominic Mitchell Colin Bowlt, Ph.D., F.L.S., John Edgington, Ph.D., F.L.S., Editors: Remaining sections . Pete Lambert Jan Hewlett, Ph.D., David J. Montier, Colin W. Plant, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., Production Manager . Gus Wilson Pat J. Sellar, B.Sc. (Eng.), F.R.G.S., M.B.O.U., R. John Swindells, H. Michael Wilsdon, M.B.O.U. Introduction I’m sure you’ll already have noticed the big change to the appearance of the report SECRETARY this year – colour throughout. This is more expensive than our old style, but I hope you David Howdon will think, as we do, that it improves the appearance of the report. As always, your TREASURER comments are welcome, especially any suggestions as to how we could improve things Michael West even more. As mentioned in the introduction to LBR 2008, some amendments from previous years ASSISTANT TREASURER had to be held over to this report. They appear now as Appendix IV to the Systematic Robin Blades List (pages 178-181). We hope in future that amendments will appear within the Systematic List as normal. The Editorial Board have been trying to make the Report reflect more the whole area World List Abbreviation: Lond. Bird Rep. of London, rather than the bird watching 'hot spots' in the area. After reflection, we © London Natural History Society 2012 would like to encourage people to tell us more about the status of each species within the areas they bird-watch. We have therefore made some changes to our Guide for Designed by Nigel Partridge Contributors of Ornithological Records this year. Printed on Regency Gloss & Satin 90, FSC® C023146, by We felt our previous guidance may have discouraged people from sending in records Swallowtail Print Limited, Norwich, Norfolk of some species seen. So we are introducing a new category called NR, where we would like to receive all records of that species, from any site where they are not recorded regularly. We hope that this change will encourage people to send in records like this, so that we have a more accurate picture of the status of birds at sites. LONDON BIRD CLUB We have also withdrawn our minimum counts guidance, which affects a number of the The London Bird Club is the section of the London Natural History Society more common species. Another concern is that people may not be sending in records of for those with a particular interest in birds. birds commonly seen at their sites because there was nothing particularly special to say CHAIRMAN about the bird. We are now asking people to send us a yearly note about the status at David Darrell-Lambert their site for some species (category ST). Please read the new Guide (pages 231-240) carefully, before sending records to us in COMMITTEE SECRETARY future. We don’t see this as a definitive answer to some of the problems we’re thinking Angela Linnell about, so would welcome any thoughts from you on these changes. 6 LONDON BIRD REPORT NO.74 7 In response to comments on the changes we made to the Contributors List in LBR 2008, RARITIES COMMITTEE AND RECORDERS we have reverted to the previous policy on abbreviations. We hope this meets with your ——— approval. We have also changed the names we use for three sites that feature regularly in the Report. These follow changes made by people using the sites. Amwell GP has become RARITIES COMMITTEE Amwell NR, Beddington SF has become Beddington Farmlands, and Kempton Park NR has Chairman: Bob Watts become Kempton NR. There have also been.