LONDON/NETHERLANDS MAY 2002
PART ONE
We spent 2 days in the centre of London basically being a tourist but of
course managed to see a few birds as well. Many were seen at St James’s Park, so
have been introduced there. Most species I also saw again in the "real wild" in
Holland where we spent two weeks. I will post the Holland report in a separate
mailing.
It was my first trip to Europe so there were going to be a lot of new birds,
but I really hadn’t expected to see as many as I did in London, but with all the
parks and gardens it is hardly surprising. Amazingly enough I only saw two House
Sparrows in London. We didn’t get to a wetland area close to the city, which
would no doubt have added several more species.
Thanks to all those people who sent me information on where to go birding in
Holland as well. Also meeting up with a local "birdo" for about 3 days in
Holland was also of tremendous help particularly with calls.
LONDON LIST
Feral Pigeon
Common Magpie
Common Starling
Common Blackbird
House Sparrow
Great Cormorant
Canada Goose
Mallard
Wood Pigeon
Black headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black backed Gull
Blue Tit
Common Raven (tame ones at Tower of London, doesn’t really count!)
Eurasian Coot
Carrion Crow
Herring Gull
Great crested Grebe
Black Swan
Mute Swan
Wood Duck (Australian)
Tufted Duck
Red crested Pochard
Common Pochard
Ruddy Shelduck
Barnacle Goose
Greylag Goose
White-fronted Goose
White-headed Duck
Common Eider
Red-breasted Merganser
Song Thrush
Common Swift
Fulvous Tree Duck
Ross’s Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Red-breasted Goose
Wood Duck ( Carolina )
Mandarin Duck
Great Tit
Ruddy Duck
Winter Wren
Of these, 32 were new species but as I said earlier many of them, mostly
water birds, were introduced to St James Park so don’t count as far as listing
goes but were good to see anyway.
Will get around to posting a more detailed Part two of the more serious
birding done in The Netherlands.
Cheers
Dick Jenkin (Dungog)
