Spain

Guadalhorce April 30th



We have all been looking forward to this trip, namely Lee, Martin, Paul and myself, it’s becoming a fairly regular excursion, the lure of Spanish birding, socialising with my mates, good food and a drink or 2, makes it quite a special occasion.

We arrived on the 29th from Stanstead and stayed in La Cala, initially undertaking some afternoon local birding, before embarking and heading out on a planned itinerary at dawn the following day at Guadalhorce.

Having studied E Bird lists beforehand, we knew some good birds had been present, the dawn start was also in the hope of getting one of the rarer Herons flying out, and also the hope of connecting with a Red Necked Nightjar or a Barn Owl.

Our previous best total for the morning was 73 species, so a good “carrot” to keep us looking just that little bit harder.

Not surprisingly plenty of Nightingales everywhere and as dawn filtered in, plenty of good birds for the list.

No R N Nightjar/Barn Owl but Night Heron added although Purple/Squacco Heron evaded us all morning as did Great White Egret, all recently on the Reserve.

With daylight in full swing, the tally grew, Woodchat Shrikes were everywhere it seemed and easily into double figures, presumably the Reserve is a stop off before they disperse far and wide.

Nice to again see Greater Flamingo’s on the walk out to the sea, and additionally an adult Peregrine, very likely from the Cathedral as I understand they breed there.

Good numbers of Sandwich Terns as were Mediterranean Gulls, both these species were plentiful with smaller numbers of Slender Billed Gull and Whiskered Tern.



Not much moving on the sea other than a couple of Gannet, a good variety of waders included a couple of Curlew Sandpipers although we missed Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint which were present.

A good mornings birding, the total number of species seen – 73 again!

 

A busy week

 

May 11th – 15th



As above, last week regarding Peregrines has been eventful to say the least for Shaun, Paul and myself, its not often that all the accessible ringing pairs lay, and then hatch close together, this year they did.

We ringed/swabbed at no less than 5 peregrine sites, Monday (1), Wednesday (1), Thursday (1) and Friday(2), all London, London East and Essex.

A total of 19 chicks were BTO ringed with both metal and a white plastic colour ring by the boys, then followed up by DNA swabbing to combat wildlife crime. To touch on this DNA is being taken all over the UK Peregrine sites, to combat the illegal trade in taking wild chicks, the DNA will prove origins.

As per last year, I am also collecting Peregrine Pellets to be sent off for analysis via BTO, this is to see how much plastic is now getting in the food chain, also starting this year for Barn Owls.

Brood numbers were as follows, 3-4-3-4 and a fantastic brood of 5, the 5 very memorable with a very feisty adult female who refused to leave the box.

All went very well and good to catch up again with April, Tianna and Caroline who I used to work with at The Ecology Consultancy, now a different company as I understand it.

Lastly, a big well done to my buddy Lee on ringing his first Peregrine chick as a trainee, impressed.

                           Paul, myself and April at one of the sites - beard and hair nets a must!

                                 Our white colour rings - hopefully many sightings in the future

Battersea Power Station - April

 

 After last month's unprecedented adult Peregrine activity, where 4 adult Peregrines were present at one time, I must admit I was quite looking forward to this visit to see the outcome and hopefully some stability.

Arriving at dawn on the 12th,Sunday morning with a fair forecast, I headed straight for the Northern Park, on scanning around I could immediately hear a peregrine calling and then located it on the north east wash tower at his roost spot. This was as expected, he is now permanently paired with the older female, it was white ringed ABB from Parliament.

As the light grew, I located the female across the River on the old Thames Water Tower, she then flew back to the Power Station, ABB then attempted copulation but was rebuffed.
At 16 years of age, breeding is no longer on the females radar sadly, no longer able to lay eggs, she is still too strong to displace however by another female it seems.
It's unfortunate for the new male at 2 years of age, he is in his prime with at least 14 years separating him from the female! It will change, the female will eventually be replaced, and we will then very likely have young peregrines again gracing the Power Station.


Moving on from the Peregrines, I searched the remainder of the Northern Park for any spring migrants, not many on show other than 1 calling Chiffchaff.

However, resident Grey and Pied Wagtails were very active along the River Wall, males are already on territory singing, trying to attract females, hopefully one or both species will adopt one of the new nest boxes placed for them.
Goldfinches continue to flourish all over the Estate, the small trees provide nesting sites along with natural seeds/buds for feeding, their nests are tiny but only become visible in the Autumn when leaves drop and all is revealed.

Blue and Great Tits are already in some of the nest boxes which is good news, every year as habitat increases and matures, we get more uptake on the nest boxes.

Phase 3/4 is still the hotspot for Black Redstarts, only the male was seen which very likely means the female is in attendance already at a nest site possibly. Also a good range of other species present there, including a very confiding Wren that seemed to follow me around scolding me, very likely a nest close by.

The Sunday morning list from my visit was 29 species on or over the Power Station, it’s on E Bird if of interest, it usually ranges in the 28-30 bracket every month so we can keep an eye on progress.

Beckton Kestrels

 

As of last weekend she still hadn't laid, however she is sticking very close to the nest box and hunting nearby occasionally in between periods waiting for the male to arrive with prey.

Recent prey seen has been Mice and what looked like a Lizard, would suspect she may well have laid by now.

                                                                            Female

                                                                        Grey Wagtail

                                                                    Birds and the Bees

                                                                              Male

                                                      Surrounded - suspect a small Crab

Parliament March 2026

Hi, where to start, lots going on with the pair and I am very pleased to report that, as of March, the female has now laid no less than 5 eggs!

A really good clutch and of the pairs that I am monitoring on camera, the 2nd lot of 5 so hopefully signs of another good year.

The male was feeding her well on the morning of my visit, a flyover Chaffinch was taken, I actually saw the flock going over, around 8 birds, and he went up and took one, this was then given to the female. Additionally later, after feeding himself on cached prey on Victoria Tower, he then flew to the nest box and called her out, males do love to incubate.


Previous to this visit, I visited Battersea Power Station on Saturday March 14th, the female there, now 16 years of age has been single since May 2025, the male having disappeared and last seen in April 2025.
Lots going on there with 4 Peregrines present at one time, all clashing as you would expect, however she has bonded/paired with a new male at her age.
It is one of the males from Parliament - white ringed ABB!

He was ringed at Parliament on May 28th 2024, when the nest site was on Victoria Tower, by Paul and Tom Maher from Parliament.
If you recall ABB was the long staying male at Parliament who overstayed his welcome after fledging and then staying into 2025, stealing cached prey meant for the chicks, I last saw him in May 2025, eventually driven off by the adults.

It again shows the value of the ringing scheme.

I will see how this pans out at the Power Station as time goes by, obviously she cannot breed with him, so it’s likely that to breed, he may well have to wait until she is ousted by another female.

As far as I am aware she is the oldest Peregrine in London, her last successful breeding was 2021, since then she has not produced an egg, she is ringed and on camera also, which is how I know it is the same female.


In regard to prey at Parliament, I had the male Peregrine retrieving prey on Victoria Tower, as you will see from the photos. I have since had this confirmed as a Little Grebe from the foot webbing.

This undoubtably was taken at night, Little Grebes are weak flyers and they move up and down the Thames flying just above the River, illuminated, no doubt the male has spotted it and took it.

All peregrines in London hunt at night and it often reflects in the prey that is taken, they are incredibly efficient adaptable hunters.

                                                      Male retrieving cached Little Grebe