Finally dragged myself out of bed for my early BTO Breeding Bird Surveys visit today. Highlight was only my second ever Mallard record. Otherwise it was pigeon, sparrow, crow, starling, pigeon, sparrow, crow, starling, pigeon, sparrow, crow, starling… you get the picture! #londonbirds

Finally twitched the Iberian Chiffchaff today. After 45 minutes waiting it landed in a small tree just 8 metres from where we were standing and showed brilliantly as it sung and called. 10.45am, 100m east of Cricket Pen. Life ✅ for me! #londonbirds Tony Duckett

Just received my copy of the LNHS London Bird Report 2020 with an excellent cover photo by Rudy. The section on Geese to Shelduck is very good too, even if I say so myself…

Chobham Common: min 5 churring Nightjar inc several close flypasts, territorial displays & wingclapping. Also 2 Woodcock flying past just metres away and Tree Pipit, Dartford Warbler, Peregrine, lots of Stonechat, distant Cuckoo heard. Good luck tomorrow Sean Moore!

Completed my late Breeding Bird Surveys visit today in my two suburban residential transects. 23 species recorded in glorious sunshine plus juveniles of several species noted. #londonbirds

Juvenile Black-winged Kite in the garden, South-West France, June 2022. Presumably raised locally. (Adult noted on my last visit here in 2019.) The breeding range for this species is apparently spreading northwards.

This fella just turned up in the garden. Can I add him to the list?

Roxeth Rec, South Harrow: Little Owl. First found just over 2 weeks ago by Michael R. My first here in nearly 12 years. It is somewhere in this pic, honest! #londonbirds

Eastcote Lane, South Harrow: Swift seen entering nest-hole in eaves of terraced house. My latest ever local record - shouldn’t it be half way to Africa by now?!? #londonbirds

Two Nuthatches on the feeders today was good, but the Firecrest in the trees at the back of the garden was better - a West Harrow mega tick! #londonbirds

A respectable 33 species at Headstone Manor Park this morning, including Kingfisher, male Stonechat (check out the quality pic!) Peregrine and two Little Egrets. #londonbirds

Quick twitch of the Smew at Stocker’s Lake this morning - my first there since Jan 2008! Two Barnacle Geese as well were a patch tick (yes, I am ticking them!) for me. #londonbirds #hertsbirdnews

Record shot of two out of three Spotted Flycatchers in West Harrow today - my first locally in almost exactly five years.

Cetti’s Warbler at Newton Park West in #Harrow, found by MR. LBH tick for me! #londonbirds

Newton Park West, Harrow: singing Cetti’s Warbler, Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, 12+ Redwing this morning. #londonbirds #Harrow