Battersea August 2026

At last some easier cooler weather greeted me on Sunday morning August 23rd, great weather from the off as I headed immediately to the Coaling Jetty on a low but rising tide.

Virtually the first bird seen, other than the ever present Gulls, was a Common Sandpiper calling and heading down river. A bit of a rarity in Central London, I am lucky if I see one over the year at all.
Add to this shortly after, a Little Egret flying up river, before then undertaking a u turn and going back down river, this was the best of the species.

Moving on from the Jetty, I searched the Northern Park and other than the usual Blue/ Great Tits there was little bird activity. Obviously with the recent heat, birds have been struggling quite a bit.

Only 2 Pied Wagtails were seen and I again failed to see Grey Wagtail, usually nailed on, hopefully they will return in the Autumn. With no insects in the now brown dusty grass, the same everywhere, ground foraging is not providing a food source with insects.

Watching from Switch House East gardens, also provided little bird activity with no sign of any Black Redstarts, it's possible that these may also have moved on to a better food source.

The Peregrines were active, especially the male from Parliament, colour ringed ABB, who was hunting basically since dawn, no successful hunts but a couple of near misses including a Feral Pigeon losing much of its tail.
It took me a good while to find the ringed female, yes she is still with us and with 2027 fast approaching, she is heading for her 17th year at the Power Station!

I eventually located her on a very distant Crane towards Vauxhall, she actually spent a good few hours in the same position, no doubt keeping an eye on the male hunting from the chimneys.

Just a pity that they cannot breed now paired, he is a young male 2 years old, so 14 years between them, I seem to say this every year, it will change with a new female but so far she continues to prove me wrong.
On other peregrine nest sites, older females are often ousted/replaced over the course of a few days, for her to stay this long is quite a feat so hats off to her.
Her last successful breeding was 2021, since then no laying, as befitting her age, she spends a lot of time in the nest box sleeping.


E Bird list below, 25 species recorded.


https://ebird.org/checklist/S386015456

                                                                         Male - ABB

                                                                           Female

                                                                        Little Egret

                                                              Female on distant Crane