!! $!%& "#"' $!& !# by David Darrell-Lambert, Bird Brain UK 24 September 2009 David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Breeding Bird Survey 2009: Summary Purpose: To complete a breeding bird survey for nine sites in Kensington and Chelsea. Four visits were made to each site during 2009 to capture all possible breeding species. Objectives: To record and map all breeding species of bird on these sites and produce a final report. The report contains a detailed methodology, dated results of birds recorded, habitat description, maps displaying the location of the birds present, the national status of the birds observed, recommendations and conclusion. Methods: All sites were surveyed within the first two hours of sunlight, with the exception of Holland Park, where an Eurasian Woodcock survey was completed at dusk during April 2009. The following parks were surveyed: Park Name Months surveyed Holland Park February, March, April and May Avondale Park February, March and May Little Wormwood Scrubs February, March and May Emslie Horniman Gardens February, March and May Athlone Gardens February, March and May Kensington Memorial Park February, March and May Westfield Park February, March and May Cremorne Gardens February, March and May St Lukeʼs Gardens February, March and May !! David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Recorded bird species: Summary of species recorded Breeding Species Non Breeding Species Schedule 1 Species Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Red List Species European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Common Linnet (Acanthis cannabina) Amber List Species Gadwall (Anas strepera strepera) Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) Stock Dove (Columba oenas) Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) Northern House Martin (Delichon urbicum) Common Gull (Larus canus canus) Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) Western Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) graellsii) Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Common Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) Common Swift (Apus apus) European Swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica) !! David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Breeding Species Non Breeding Species Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) Green List Species Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) decaocto) Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) Common Coot (Fulica atra) Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos Feral Pigeon (Columba livia 'feral') major) Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Common Magpie (Pica pica) Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus) Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) Great Tit (Parus major) Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) Coal Tit (Parus ater) Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) !! David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Breeding Species Non Breeding Species Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Introduced Species Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) Recommendations: Site specific recommendations are provided within each individual report. This breeding bird survey should be repeated every three to five years to establish trends in the boroughʼs breeding birds and assess the effectiveness and impact of the current habitat management scheme. Report completed by: David Darrell-Lambert Bird Brain UK 33 Mary Rose Close Chafford Hundred Essex RM16 6LY Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] !! !!$!% ! !$" by David Darrell-Lambert, Bird Brain UK 31 August 2009 David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Breeding Bird Survey at Little Wormwood Scrubs from February to May 2009.......3 Method..............................................................................................................................3 Weather............................................................................................................................3 Habitat..............................................................................................................................4 Results.............................................................................................................................5 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................8 Appendix 1 – Species seen on or over the site and their status in this country....12 Appendix 2 - List of all species seen and their activity at the site...........................14 Appendix 3 - Little Wormwood Scrubs map for 21 February 2009..........................16 Appendix 4 - Little Wormwood Scrubs map for 21 March 2009................................17 Appendix 5 - Little Wormwood Scrubs map for 3 May 2009.....................................18 Appendix 6 - Little Wormwood Scrubs map for 30 May 2009...................................19 Appendix 7 - Bird species key.....................................................................................20 Appendix 8 - Bird behaviour key.................................................................................22 !! David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Breeding Bird Survey at Little Wormwood Scrubs from February to May 2009 Method Four thirty minutes surveys were carried out in February, March and May 2009 starting approximately sixty minutes before or after dawn. During this time, the whole of the site was walked, stopping to listen for birds holding territory and looking for any other signs of breeding activity. All birds were mapped indicating where the territories were. Weather Survey Visit Date Time Weather conditions conditions 06:13 to 4 to 5c, no wind and 1 21 February 2009 Excellent 06:45 hrs clear sky 06:41 to 3c, southwest wind up to 2 21 March 2009 Very good 07:26 hrs 7 kph and clear sky 11c, northwest wind up 05:45 to 3 3 May 2009 to 3 kph and overcast Excellent 06:58 hrs but clearing sky 15 to 18c, northeast 05:53 to 4 30 May 2009 wind up to 4 kph and Excellent 07:24 hrs clear sky !! David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Habitat Area Habitat Potential for birds The scrubland provides excellent habitat The main area is rich and provides an abundance of nesting scrubland bordered by and feeding areas for bird. This is clearly trees and a small wooded illustrated with Common Whitethroats North section area to the north. At the breeding here in a high density. The edges of the scrubland is surrounding margins also hold good long grass and mature numbers of breeding species and this trees. habitat is boosted by the rich scrubland. Short cut grass covers the The short cut grass provides little benefit majority of the area with a for wildlife. The mature trees provide few mature trees bordering some food and cover for nesting birds. it. In the southwest corner The cover at the southern end of the site South section there is a large childrenʼs attracts some species such as House play area. Along the Sparrows to the site. The area lacks the southern edge are some high bird density present in the northern bushes, hedgerows and section this is illustrated on the maps on mature trees. pages 16 to 19. !! David Darrell-Lambert Mobile 07500 373 256 Email [email protected] www.birdbrainuk.com Results Saturday 21 February 2009 Eleven species of bird were recorded at the site, nine of these were considered to be breeding. These were Common Kestrel (1), Common Magpie (2), Carrion Crow (2), Winter Wren (8 to 9), Eurasian Blackbird (1 to 5), Song Thrush (3 to 4), Mistle Thrush (1), European Robin (4 to 5) and Dunnock (1). The numbers in brackets represent the total number of breeding pairs calculated. Two other species were recorded but were not considered to be breeding: twenty Feral Pigeons were resting on the site, these were thought to be breeding in the block of flats along Sutton Way. One Rose- ringed Parakeet flew over the site and it appeared to come from the roost on Wormwood Scrubs. Three Song Thrush were heard singing on the site, this species is on the Red List which means it is either globally threatened or has suffered serious decline. One was singing from the trees along the west side of the site and two were singing from the northeast corner of the site. An additional bird was