One day to bird the UK

Waldhamstow Wetlands, London

Sunday 27 August 2023 77 °F

MONDAY, AUGUST 14:

I took advantage of our one free morning here in London, England away from chaperoning the children’s choir, to bird the Waldhamstow Wetlands in northeast London off the Victoria tube line.

I was greeted by introduced EGYPTIAN GEESE:

Flyover EURASIAN SHAG:

There were many rafts of primarily TUFTED DUCKS out on the Reservoir:

Shag and a duck:

A few COMMON TERNS flew over:

CANADA GEESE, I believe an introduced species over here:

EURASIAN COOT:

COMMON POCHARD:

GREAT CRESTED GREBE:

Juvenile:

BLACK-HEADED GULL (basic plumage):

COMMON MOORHEN:

Juvenile:

EURASIAN MAGPIE:

EURASIAN ROBIN:

COMMON WOODPIGEON:

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL:

I stopped at a bird blind on the south pond where I was stopped in my tracks: there, flying from branch to branch, was my life bird COMMON KINGFISHER, or as I sung in my Ravel this summer, un Mârtin-Pècheur!!! Not only is this an awesome lifer, but perhaps it is one of the most beautiful birds in Europe and one I have been waiting on seeing for a number of years. Absolutely awesome!!! They are also tinier than the Kingfishers back home; perhaps about the size of a Catharus thrush.

A beautiful LITTLE EGRET was also in the vicinity:

There were a number of nice songbirds on the way out like WILLOW WARBLER:

And LONG-TAILED TIT, a species I have only seen once before, at London Wetlands with my dad in 2014.

Later in the evening after Evensong, I hit a location much closer to the hotel: St. James Park in central London. Many Woodpigeons were about:

As well as GRAYLAG GOOSE:

COMMON POCHARD:

GREY HERON:

MUTE SWANS:

My best bird here was a heard-only TAWNY OWL right after the sunset, another species I have only ever had once before: in Urbania, Italy back in 2018 with Ann (who I coincidentally recently saw in Idaho!).

And here are a few photos from singing in and touring the cathedrals and other great spaces here in England; it is truly all magnificent:

Bird-of-the-day to my life bird Common Kingfisher with runner-up to the Tawny Owl.

A great day of birding nestled among incredible experiences singing Evensong and other services in the greatest cathedrals in England. It has been an amazing summer, for sure! Here are all of the lifers I have gained since may:

May 21: Greater Prairie-Chicken, Bartel Grassland, Kinmundy, IL
July 4: Common Chiffchaff, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Yellow-billed Chough, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Ring Ouzel, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Fieldfare, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Northern Wheatear, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Water Pipit, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Rock Ptarmigan, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Wallcreeper, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Alpine Accentor, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Bearded Vulture, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: White-winged Snowfinch, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Eurasian Nutcracker, Mürren, Switzerland
July 4: Common Firecrest, Mürren, Switzerland
July 5: Lesser Whitethroat, Mürren, Switzerland
July 5: Willow Tit, Mürren, Switzerland
July 5: Spotted Flycatcher, Mürren, Switzerland
July 6: Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Mürren, Switzerland
July 7: Eurasian Crag-Martin, Verbier, Valais, Switzerland
July 8: Goldcrest, Verbier, Valais, Switzerland
July 25: Crested Tit, Mauvoisin, Valais, Switzerland
August 3: Pinyon Jay, Barton Rd, Pocatello, ID
August 4: Greater Sage-Grouse, Rinker/Rock Creek Canyon, Blaine, ID
August 14: Common Kingfisher, Waldhamstow Wetlands, London, UK