Beckton Sewage Works - October 2026

With easterly winds I had a good look round and it paid off with 2 new birds for the year, both mega rare at the Barrier and both Red Listed.

First up was a Yellowhammer, declining fast from our countryside, this was feeding on the ground along the sea wall path with Pied Wagtails. Unfortunately it immediately flew on my appearance, straight over the fence and was then lost to view, I was unable to get a photo of it. This represents only the 2nd ever record for the Barrier for me, the last was seen on March 8th 2008!

The second record was initially 3 Lapwing sitting on the mud, another very rare bird for this part of the world, we just don't seem to get them in this area. I was able to get photos of these and remarkably as I watched them, another flew flock north, fairly low and the 3 went up and joined them. Counting them all, I arrived at exactly 20 birds.

Again an extreme rarity for the Barrier for me, only 2 previous records - January 15th 2011 and March 2nd 2018.

It pushed the year list onto 95, so only 5 now to reach the annual target.

I was also present at the right time, to see a very large super yacht called Kismet heading down river, certainly the largest yacht I have ever seen.
Quite spectacular to see it passing, looking it up after shows it is owned by a billionaire not surprisingly.

In regard to other winter species, 5 Black Tailed Godwits were present along with 4 Redshanks, both species will now increase with the approaching cold weather.

Parliament - September

I visited on Sunday 27th, not quite the sunny weather I was hoping for, but it didn't rain so can't complain.

Arriving at my usual spot, it was a little while before they showed, both arriving from the west.

Good to see that both were actively hunting, the male often disappearing for long periods hunting elsewhere, but the female hunted and stayed faithful to Parliament.
As I have mentioned before, the Elizabeth Tower is only occasionally used by the Peregrines to hunt from, however on Sunday morning it was used extensively by the female.
I would suspect with the removal of the nearby Luffer Crane at Norman Shaw, which gave them the height for hunts, they have now switched to the next tall structure, the Elizabeth Tower.

During the course of the morning, she launched 7 hunts from the Tower, all ended with failure and all targeting and intercepting Feral Pigeons. There was a fairly large flock just beyond St. Thomas's and 3 times she went for these, once the male joined her as they pair hunted the flock.

I record all birds going over Parliament, there were no other migrants going over to hunt so it seems their attention was set solely on the Feral Pigeons.

A number of Ring-Necked Parakeets also flew past, but these were ignored, they are usually the smaller male's speciality being more agile. Additionally passing Wood Pigeons were ignored, she could take one no doubt, but the heavier pigeon would be a bit of a struggle for her to carry.

I was present for nearly 4 hours, when I left for a look round the Park, she was still hunting from the Elizabeth Tower.
She could also have likely taken a Black Headed Gull given their numbers and density, fairly light and easier to carry. They do take them, but I would suspect as a last resort when hunger really starts to kick in, probably after a good number of failed hunts on Feral Pigeons.

In regard to other birds, 20 species recorded in, or over Victoria Park and the River, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker being the stand outs.

Spain Day 4

 

Friday - September 18th

Parque Fluvial

7.40 - 11.00a.m

A really good morning starting off at the usual dawn, not 1 but 2 Night Herons flying around calling in the murk, again they headed off up river.

After Tuesdays visit, I had decided to give this venue more of a bash and explore upriver, as the light increased 4 Grey Herons and 3 Little Egrets dropped in and flew upriver also, so obviously a good food source further up which I needed to explore.

Again as per the earlier visit, the Yellow Wagtail roost was further evident in the large reed bed, birds leaving in flocks probably totalled around a 100 birds.

Heading up river showed lots more good habitat and scrub, but it was impossible to get close to the river and get a clear view due to the height and density of the Spanish Cane, however I did see the 2 Night Herons again briefly.

Moving on it I saw at least 4 Spotted Flycatchers and I at last caught up with Waxbill, 6 of them seen in the reed bed, I have missed these on every visit.

Heading towards the Sea produced 2 Red Rumped Swallows en route and on the sea, 11 Cory’s Shearwaters moving westwards.



On the walk back I also caught up with a Zitting Cisticola near the main pool, before then looking up as you do and spotted a Raptor. A little high but this turned out to be a light phase juvenile Honey Buzzard, a good bird and not a phase I have come across often and see well enough, another patch tick.

43 species recorded which is the highest count I have recorded here.

To top it off I then had not 1 but 2 Monarch Butterflies, I was told that there is a colony breeding around the province of Malaga so a good result, I last saw these little beauties in New Zealand.

 

Beckton Sewage Works - September

Winter is fast approaching and cold weather birds are just starting to arrive at the Outfall, first up were Black Tailed Godwits, I suspect Redshank will now not be far behind.

5 Black Tailed Godwits were present in partial summer plumage, feeding on the mud initially on a rising tide before being pushed off to roost down river.
A pair of Raven were on the pylon of choice where they bred this and last year, and lucky enough to locate a very distant Red Kite passing.

Both Common Buzzards were seen but no sign of any Kestrels this time, presumably off site hunting. Due to the sheer number of Crows, the Common Buzzards receive major mobbing anywhere near the Refuse Station – McGraths.

In regard to other wildlife, high tide showed a few Teal have now arrived on the Sewage Works, in October these will start arriving in high numbers.

2 Little Egrets were roosting in the Willows with the Grey Herons, again another species which is more of a autumn/winter visitor at the Outfall.

We also had a visit from a Hobby, managed to get a few distant photos of it from a distance. Not a regular annually on the Works.

It is a good bird for the year list which now stands at 93, only 7 needed to make the target for the year!

                                              Common Buzzard getting the Crow treatment

                                                                            Hobby

                                                                              Ravens