October 2011 Was a Great Month for Bird Migration

The Wanstead Flats visible-migration (viz-mig) watchpoint on every day bar eight in October, providing an invaluable indication of the species and numbers of migratory birds passing through our area. With some species, these may be birds that will stay in our area for a while, or possibly the whole winter. Others were bound for more 
distant winter domiciles. The figures given below for some of the more interesting figures are totals of counts made each morning. Most mornings the counting got underway before dawn.

Woodlark 3 (probably only one bird involved)
Swallow 17
House Martin 16
Meadow Pipit 379
Common Redstart 1
Whinchat 2
Northern Wheatear 13/14
Ring Ouzel 2
Blackbird 200
Fieldfare 441
Redwing 567
Song Thrush 101
Chaffinch 391
Linnet 141
Siskin 124
redpoll sp. (presumed Lesser Redpoll) 290
Goldfinch 112
Common Crossbill 10/11
Yellowhammer 2

Most of these birds were fly-overs but some, notably the chats, were temporarily settled.

If you would like to know more, please contact Tim Harris on 0208 989 5453.