Wanstead Birding

jono lethbridge, bob vaughan, nick croft, tony brown, richard rae, james heal and others birding Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

Ruddy Shelduck enjoying the delights Wanstead Flats over the Bank Holiday weekend! It’s not a patch tick (yet) but could well be in the future… #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

Best ever April by species: 104 (avg: 92). Best birds: Bar-tailed Godwit, Goshawk, Little Ringed Plover, Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whimbrel, Nightingale, Cuckoo, Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Woodlark, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Barnacle Goose, Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit #londonbirds

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

Apart from plenty of singing Chiffchaff & Blackcap, a single Barn Swallow was the only new summer migrant on the Wanstead patch today. Of note, the fine drake Mandarin duck was new for the year in Wanstead Park #londonbirds

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

Black ties were in evident at the prestigious Wanstead Wheatear Sweepstake presentation for 2025! Correct date winner @TheCowboyBirder (2 years running) & finder @loudivision with trophies & bubbles. Total raised £210 for @SEWH #londonbirds

[Apatura Ilia @Apaturailia15]

A Skylark on Wanstead Flats in East London this morning, where it was heartening to hear several in song despite cloudy conditions @WansteadBirding @WWTworldwide @Natures_Voice @KissimmeeWild @SaveLeaMarshes @Britnatureguide #BirdsSeenin2025

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

💥Wheatear💥on Wanstead Flats this morning! Congratulations to the finder @loudivision and a pat on the back to me for retaining the trophy 🏆 and selecting the 22nd as the date of its arrival - photo by @JWFHeal #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

Black Redstart on Wanstead Flats (Brooms) - first in 12 years found by Bob V
#londonbirds

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

No sign (yet) of any Wheatears on Wanstead Flats this morning. The Skylarks were in good voice with 3 birds song-flighting #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

February ended on 71 (joint lowest for Feb and any month, 5 down on last Feb). Best birds: Woodcock, Firecrest, a high of 5 Stonechat, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Peregrine, Cetti’s, Grey Wagtail, Redpoll, and Siskin. Pic of Kestrel by JH #londonbirds

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

March 1st tomorrow! This can only mean one thing - the annual Wanstead Wheatear Sweepstake kicks off (now in its 8th year). This year’s chosen charity is @SEWH . The weather looks good for an early arrival?? #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

January ended on 79 species (2 down on 2024 but 2 up on average). Best bird: Tundra Bean Goose (thanks @TheCowboyBirder ). Other stuff: Bullfinch, GW Egret, Barn Owl, Raven, 1w Caspian Gull, Water Rail, Woodcock, Firecrest, Chiffchaff #londonbirds

[Henry Wyn-Jones @henrywynjones]

Not every day you get point blank views of Tundra Bean Geese. Totally worth getting soaked for!

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

This certainly wasn’t on my radar as I left the house this morning - Tundra Bean Goose on Wanstead Flats. Always check those flocks of Greylag geese! Urban patch birding at its finest #londonbirds

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

Tundra Bean Goose on Wanstead Flats - Not surprisingly the 1st ever record for the patch! #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

Barn Owl went from a mega rarity to frequently seen, we welcomed back a Bullfinch after a four year gap.
The only standout omission was the second year without Jack Snipe.

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

2024 saw 137 sp. Including: Nightjar, Ferruginous Duck, Stone Curlew, Whimbrel, Quail, Wryneck, Dartford Warbler, Hawfinch, Bullfinch, Nightingale, Cuckoo, Raven, Great White Egret, Woodlark, Marsh Harrier, Red-legged Partridge, Red-crested Pochard, Mandarin #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

And Bob’s NocMig recorded added: Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, C Ringed Plover, Avocet, Oystercatcher, and Dunlin

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

Finished on 111 for the Wanstead year list (my 2nd highest ever total). New birds included Fudge Duck, Whimbrel & Stone Curlew which brought my overall list up to 160. But my personal highlight of the year was the discovery of an Otter on the River Roding! #londonbirds

[Wanstead Birding @WansteadBirding]

1w Mediterranean Gull on Jubilee Pond, Wanstead Flats today per @JWFHeal #londonbirds

[Tony Brown @TheCowboyBirder]

Patch birding is so often about the little wins. And this smart male Wigeon at Wanstead yesterday was NFY & my first for 3 years! #londonbirds