Rarities in the London Area up to LBR 2011
The list below gives details on species that need to be considered by the LNHS Rarities Committee or the BBRC before being included in the London Bird Report. For each species it gives summary data, recent LBR entries and some recent records. For the rarer species, all records are listed. It has been drawn up from past editions of the LBR. Please let us know if you find any errors in it.
Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus
Status: scarce migrant, usually in autumn, and winter visitor.
Summary data
Bewick Swan records 2000-2011
Year200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
Number of records038651654531112945
Number of birds0424562143921
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
Five records of probably 21 birds was significantly down on 2010 (nine records of 94 birds) but better than most recent years. The West London birds had been present at the end of 2010, but the East London birds were new arrivals, although no doubt these too were part of the major influx from last December. The West London birds (or at least most of them) were also seen at several sites in Surrey later in January. There were no records at the end of the year.
Essex: Barking Bay and Rainham Marshes, three on Jan 1st (PH, HV et al).
Middx: Harmondsworth, 18 on Jan 1st and 16 on Jan 24th (IG, JE).
Surrey: Cobham Floods, 18 (15 adults and three juvs) on Jan 9th & 10th (SJS). Sixteen on Jan 18th-19th were presumed to be part of the earlier flock, as were the 14 there on 21st. Hersham GP, 16 flew N on Jan 23rd (SJS). Walton Res, 18 roosted on Jan 9th, after being flushed from Cobham Floods (DMH).
2010 LBR entry
A welcome return to form with nine records of 94 birds (three of 12 last year), assuming no duplication. Most of these were at the end of the year(winter 2010/11)with a notable influx of 49 on Dec 3rd. Bigger numbers of this species were recorded in the London Area in the Nineties than since, and this year’s total is the best since 1997, when there were 12 records of at least 124. The chart below shows numbers in recent years.
Essex: Fairlop Waters, 17 on Dec 3rd (SBn). IngrebourneValley, 15 on Dec 3rd (RBA). KGV Res, six on Jan 9th (MSd). Rainham Marshes, 27 on Dec 3rd (DSm et al).
Middx: Alexandra Park, seven on Dec 3rd was the second record for the site (RJW).Harmondsworth, 18 on Dec 29th & 30th and 19 on Dec 31st (DJM et al).
Bucks: Wraysbury GP, three on Nov 30th (CDRH).
Kent: Crayford Marshes, 27 on Dec 3rd, same as Rainham birds(KMJ).
Other recent records
20093 recordsDec 14th, Dec 19th (3 birds), Dec 24th (5 adults, 3 juvs).
20084 recordsMar 15th, Nov 4th (4 birds), Nov 24th (2 birds), Dec 15th (4 birds).
20071 recordNov 15th (3 birds).
20062 recordsMar 7th (4 birds), Mar 11th.
20057 recordsJan 9th, Feb 9th, (4 birds), Mar 2nd (20 birds),Nov 5th (8 birds), Nov 19th, Nov 19th, Dec 28th (22 birds).
20045 recordsMar 8th, Oct 12th, Oct 16th, Nov 24th, Dec 19th.
20034 recordsJan 4th (2 birds), Oct 27th, Nov 8th, Nov 8th.
20022 recordsFeb 16th, Dec 9th (5 birds)>
20014 recordsNov 16th (3 birds), Nov 27th, Dec 14th (27 birds), Dec 15th (7 birds).
19991 recordNov 10th (3 birds).
19981 record
199712 records
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Status: rare winter visitor.
Summary data
Whooper Swan records 2000-2011
Year200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
Number of records001105200141
Number of birds005101620018*1
*perhaps 13
Whooper Swan records 1990-1999
Year1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Number of records3243020311
Number of birds20131170401411
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
Just one record this year, after last year’s four although there were reports of others (see App III for details). Remarkably this was in Inner London. It is not recorded every year as the tablesabove show.
In Lond:Hyde Park, one on Round Pond on Nov 7th (MR).
2010 LBR entry
A good year for the scarcer of the two wild swans, with four records of eight or thirteen birds (just a single bird last year), the best total since 2005. Three of these records were of five birds on the same day. The Fishers Green birds were last noted at 13:15 and the Crossness birds first noted at 14:20, so they could have been the same birds.
Essex: Fishers Green Goosefield, five on Jan 23rd (MSd). Rainham Marshes, five on Jan 23rd & 24th (BC et al) and three on Dec 24th (IW, RW et al).
Kent: Crossness, five on Jan 23rd (JKA), same as Essex sightings above.
Other recent records
20091 recordOct 13th-31st (1).
20062 recordsFeb 3rd (1), Oct 14th (1). Both adults.
20055 recordsJan 21st (10), Nov 5th (1), Nov 20th (1), Dec 17th (2), Dec 18th (2).
20031 recordOct 24th (1).
20021 recordOct 18th (2 adults, 3 juv).
19991 recordNov 13th.
19981 record Dec 5th.
19973 recordsJan 1st (5 adults, 1 juv), Dec 12th (3 birds), Dec 27th (5 adults).
19952 recordsMar 4th (3 birds), Dec 24th.
19933 recordsOct 22nd, Oct 24th, Nov 23rd (5 birds).
19924 recordsMar 15th (6 birds), Nov 12th (2 imm), Nov 15th (2 birds), Dec 24th.
19912 recordsFeb 9th (3 adults), Dec 27th (8 adults, 2 juv).
19903 recordsNov 4th (2 adults), Nov 23rd (10 adults, 3 juv), Nov 24th (5 adults).
Bean Goose Anser fabalis
Status: occasional migrant and rare winter visitor.
Summary data
Bean Goose records 2000-2011
Year200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
Number of records010220020041
Number of birds618317301
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
Back to normal this year with just one record. The table above shows recent records.
Herts: Tyttenhanger GP, one 1st-winter from Nov 26th to Dec 1st (SBl et al) was of the tundra form rossicus.
2010 LBR entry
An impressive series of records after two blank years including a flock of 14 in December; the record for the London area is 17. A minimum of 30 birds was recorded at four sites. Two appeared on Jan 21st, staying for a while, then 14 on Dec 1st which probably accounted for the further Dec records. All were reported as being of the tundra form rossicus except the Beddington Farmlands birds, which were not assigned to race by the observer.
Essex: Rainham Marshes, two on Jan 27th (PH).
Kent: Crayford Marshes/Dartford Marshes, 12 E on Dec 21st (KMJ). R. Thames, Belvedere, two E on Jan 21st (JKA).
Surrey: Beddington Farmlands, 14 on Dec 1st (FP).
Other recent records
2007Jan 27th`5 at Rainham Marshes. (Tundra form.)
2007Dec 21st12 from Dec 21st-22nd at Rainham Marshes. (Tundra form.)
20042 recordsDec 2nd (2 birds), Dec 8th (1,Tundra form).
20032/3 recordsFeb 24th (17 birds, largest flock ever recorded.), Mar 1st ( 1,tundra race) & Mar 20th (1 or same?).
20011 recordJan 20th (6 birds).
1997
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
Status: scarce winter visitor.
Summary data
Pink-footed Geese records 2000-2010
Year200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
Number of records010300005293?
Number of birds39841010162?
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
For the second year running a big flock (60) was seen in January at Rainham Marshes and across the river at Crayford/Dartford Marshes, but since this made up the vast majority of the year’s birds 2011 was not as good as the previous year. Elsewhere, up to two were seen at several sites in the LeeValley in January, and single birds were seen at Roding Valley Meadows NR, Tyttenhanger GP and Sevenoaks WR. There were no records at the end of the year.
Essex:HolyfieldLake, one remained in the LeeValley from 2010, being seen at several sites nearby. A second bird was present on several dates from Jan 25th until the last sighting of two birds on May 8th (mo). Singles at RodingValley and in Herts (see below) may have been one of these birds. Rainham Marshes, 60 on Jan 1st (KMJ et al).
Herts: Amwell NR, one flew in from the east with Greylags on Jan 16th. Presumably the same bird was seen again on Jan 18th and there was another or the same on Mar 13th (JHvS, BR). All these birds may be the same as those seen on the Essex side of the Lea.
Kent: Crayford/Dartford Marshes, 60 flew N on Jan 1st (KMJ), the same as those at Rainham Marshes.
2010 LBR entry
The best year in recent decades with nine records of at least 101 birds including a flock of 71 seen at Rainham Marshes and across the river at Belvedere in January. The species has been surprising rare in the London Area in recent decades, despite the large numbers wintering in Norfolk (the peak count this year was 87,237 in December - Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2010). Two records of ten last year in Londonwas above average.
A flock of 71 on Jan 21st was followed by two at Dartford Marshes on Feb 11th, which may have accounted for all the other records of two birds up to Mar 15th at various sites. In December there were four at Holmethorpe on 2nd, ten over Oxhey on the 8th and eight over Crayford/Dartford Marshes on 21st.
Essex: Belhus Woods CP, two Mar 7th to 15th (VHF et al). IngrebourneValley, two on Feb 19th (ELBF). Rainham Marshes, 71 on Jan 21st (HV, DSm et al); two on Feb 15th-16th (PSt).
Herts: Oxhey, ten over on Dec 8th (JF).
Kent: Crayford/Dartford Marshes, eight E on Dec 21st (KMJ). Dartford Marshes, two on Feb 11th (PRo). R. Thames, Belvedere, 71 E on Jan 21st, same as Rainham Marshes above (JKA).
Surrey: Holmethorpe SP, four on Dec 2nd (GWJH).
Other recent records
20092 records9 on Sep 16th. 1 on Oct 10th.
20085 records2 on Jan 2nd, 35 on Jan 28th,6 on Feb 16th and 17th, 5 on Dec 14th, 36 on Dec 26th.
20033 recordsJan 4th (3 birds), Feb 26th (2 birds), Nov 14th (4 birds).
20011 recordFeb 16th (3 birds).
1998
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
Status: only before 1900.
Brent Goose Branta bernicla
Status: occasional migrant and winter visitor.
Sub-species: Pale-bellied Brent GooseB. b. hrota
2010 LBR entry
Essex: Rainham Marshes, an adult on Dec 22nd (HV et al) was the third record of this form, following singles at Beddington SF (now Beddington Farmlands)in 1998 and at Staines Res in 2003.
Sub-species: Black BrantB. b. nigricans
All records
1999Nov 13thDartford Marshes and Rainham Marshes.
1990Mar 18thKGV Res.
1984Oct 27thStaines Res, from Oct 27th-Nov 23rd.
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
Status: rare winter visitor and occasional visitor from self-sustaining population outside the London Area.
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
As last year, we have split the records into winter wanderers and those believed to be resident/summer birds. The latter appear in the Escapes section, the rest are below. Some of those below remained from 2010 and none were seen at the end of the year. With the WeBS national index at its highest ever level, we may see increasing numbers here. (WeBS 2010/11).
Essex: Rainham Marshes, three remained from 2010 on Jan 1st-2nd; then two on 16th & 22nd (DCn, RSPB). Fairlop Waters, three on Jan 4th-5th may have been the Rainham birds (BJe, EB).
Bucks: Q. Mother Res, 15 remained from 2010 on Jan 2nd; presumably the same 15 on Feb 1st-2nd (CDRH, MMcK).
Surrey: Walton Res, 42 on Jan 30th, the same flock seen on Dec 6th 2010 (DMH).
2010 LBR entry
Distinguishing genuinely wild Barnacle Geese from wandering feral birds or escapes from collections is difficult, and this species does not appear annually in the main section of the report. This year at least three flocks appeared in Bucks and Surrey that were not local, resident birds.These, and three at Rainham Marshes/Crayford Marshes in December, may have been of wild origin or, more likely, from the large feral population in Britain and Europe. The relevant records are listed below. A single bird of unknown origin at Rainham in January is considered most likely to have been an escape. It and known escapes are listed in Appendix I.
Essex: Rainham Marshes, three from Dec 20th-29th (HV, PH, JL et al).
Bucks: Q. Mother Res, 16-17 un-ringed birds on Dec 7th; later in the day 16 were seen in the SW corner of reservoir and did not associate with the local Canada Geese. Four there on 22nd, 18 on 23rd, 14-16 on 25th and 15 on 31st (CDRH).
Kent: Crayford Marshes, three on Dec 20th (KMJ).
Surrey:Island Barn Res, 16 on Dec 6th and at QE II Res(seen the next day at Q. Mother Res) (DMH). QE II Res, 50 from Jan 4th-5th, 9th & 28th (DMH, SJS). Walton Res, apart from the resident birds (see App I), a larger group of up to 50 from Feb 9th-24th. Counts here of 42 on Dec 9th and 40 on Dec 14th were also not part of the local population (DMH, SJS).
Other recent records
2008Jan 1stUp to 37 from Jan 1st-16th at Rainham Marshes (from 2007).
2007Dec 21st82 on Dec 21st at Rainham Marshes; 88 from Dec 24th-29th and 37 from Dec 30th-31st.
2006Sep 9th11 on Sep 9th at VerulamiumLake.
2002Dec 22nd16 on Dec 22nd at Rainham Marshes.
American Wigeon Anas americana
Status: very rare vagrant.
All records
1975 3rdSep 9thMale at Surrey Docks from Sep 9th-15th.
1975 2ndSep 5thPair at Surrey Docks.
1973 1stAug 29thMale at Surrey Docks.
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
Status: rare vagrant.
All records
200511th?Apr 23rdfrom Apr 23rd-26th at Staines Res, then from May 1st-2nd at Beddington SF. (This was reported as 13th in LBR 2005. Only found 10 before it.)
2004 10th Dec 5thWetland Centre.
2003 9th Feb 16th 1 from Feb 16th-Mar 10th at Walthamstow Res, also on Feb 24th at William Girling Res, Mar 17th at Cornmill Meadows, Mar 23rd at Thamesmead, and then Apr 16th at Belvedere.
2002 8th Mar 9thStaines Res.
1999 7th Feb 11thA male from Feb 11th-12th at Hooks Marsh, then from Feb 12th-16th at Cornmill Meadows.
1998 6th? Jan 17thA male from Jan 17th-Feb 8th at Beddington SF, appeared first in 1997.
1997 6thDec 14thBeddington SF, male.
1990 5th Feb 6thSevenoaks WR, from Feb 6th-Mar 4th.
1985 4thFeb 28thWalthamstow Res, from Feb 28th-Mar 27th.
1971 3rdApr 13thKGVI Res.
1971 2ndApr 11thBarn Elms Res.
1961 1stNov 11thHilfieldPark Res, Nov 11th & 15th. (Added in LBR 1992.)
should have read “A drake on Apr 22nd & 27th.”
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Status: rare vagrant.
All records
20005th. Nov 4thA female/imm at Walthamstow Res.
19984th. Aug 25thA male at Hilfield Park Res.
19963rd. Jan 6thThe bird from 1995, at Brent Res from Jan 6th-30th.
19953rd. Dec 9thA female from Dec 9th-12th and Dec 28th onwards at Brent Res. (Photo LBR 1995)
19842nd. Apr 20thA female from Apr 20th-27th at StockersLake.
19811st. Feb 16thA male from Feb 16th-19th at Barn Elms Res.
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Status: rare vagrant.
All records18?
2003 17thJan 1st2002 female remained to Mar 1st at Bourne Hall Park & Island Barn Res.
2002 18th?May 6thBroadwaterLake, male from May 6th-Aug 24th.
2002 17thJan 1stBourne Hall Park from Dec 22nd 2001, stayed in area to Feb 17th. Returned Dec 5th-2002.
2002 16thJan 1stFrom Nov 2001, stayed in area to May 4th. At other sites too.
2001 17thDec 22ndBourne Hall Park, Ewell. A different 1st-winter female from Dec 22nd-2002.
2001 16thNov 25thIsland Barn Res/Walton Res, 1st-winter female from Nov 25th-2002.
2001 15thMay 20thHilfield Park Res, male.
2000 14thApr 7thWalton Res, male.
1999 13thFeb 20thValentine’s Park, female from Feb 20th-May 8th.
1997 12thMay 23rdGatton Park Lake, male.
1997 11thFeb 24thWalthamstow Res, male.
1997 10thJan 11thurrey Docks, 1st-winter male from Jan 11th-Feb 3rd, seen on BlackwallBasin Jan 26th-27th & Feb 4th.
1996 9thApr?Female from 1995 seen at KGV Res “on 7 dates up until Apr 17th”; also at Bowyers Water Apr 8th & 19th.
1995 9thSep 28thKGV Res, female Sep 28th-29th, Oct 21st, Nov 3rd, 7th & 15th. Also at Fishers Green on Oct 8th.
1993 8thMay 14thStocker’s Lake, male May 14th-17th, also at Broadwater GP May 15th.
1992 7thApr 20thLonsdale Road Res, male.
1989 6thJan 14thYiewsley GP & Little BritainLake, female from Jan 14th-May 2nd.
1981 5thApr 14thAmwell GP, male from Apr 14th-May 14th & May 25th-26th.
1978 4thMay 23rdSt James’s Park, male; then at Regent’s Park Jun 14th.
1977 3rdNov 27thSevenoaks WR, male.
1977 2ndApr 15thSevenoaks WR, male.
1974 1stApr 28thBroxbourne GP from Apr 28th-30th.
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Status: rare vagrant.
Summary data
Ferruginous Duck records 1990-2009 20 records
Year199019911992199920002001200220062007200820102011
No. of records112112113151
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
A more typical showing for this near-annual species after last year’s exceptional five records. The table below shows the records since 1990.
Ferruginous Duck records 1990-2009
Year19901991199219992000200120022006200720082010
No. of records11211211315
Bucks: Wraysbury GP, a 1st-winter drake on Nov 27th (CDRH).
2010 LBR entry
From 1990 to 2009 there were only 14 records, so five records this year is exceptional. The table below shows the number of records in recent years.
Ferruginous Duck records 1990-2009
Year19901991199219992000200120022006200720082010
No. of records1121121131 5
Middx:Q. Mary Res,a female on Dec 19th (REI).
Bucks:Horton GP, a 1st-winter female on Jan 3rd (CDRH). Wraysbury GP, same bird on Jan 7th-8th & 11th then a 1st-winter male on Nov 27th (CDRH, JMC).
Surrey:Holmethorpe SP, a 1st-winter female on Apr 4th (IKe).
In Lond: Burgess Park, a female on Nov 28th is the first Inner London record since 1975 (RHB).
Other recent records
2008From Oct 11th-31st at Amwell GP.
2007 Mar 8,9,12,17th at William Girling Res.
2007Apr 7th-8th at Dagenham Chase & 7th-10th at HarrowLodgePark.
2007May 14th & 28th at Staines Res and Jun 4th & 8th at KGVI Res.
2006May 22nd at Rainham Marshes.
2002Oct 1st at Wraysbury GP & Staines Res. Then Oct 28th-Nov 1st at Harmondsworth CP. Then Nov 2nd-24th at OldSladeLake, and Nov 30th at Orlitts LakeNorth.
2001From Oct 16th-18th at Netherhall GP
2001From Nov3rd-4th at Amwell GP.
2000May 22nd at Kempton NR.
1999Mar 1st at “Cheshunt Sourh Reservoir”, a 1st-winter female.
1992Dec 23rd-29th male at Stocker’s Lake and at BuryLake on 29th. Photos LBR 1992.
1992Nov 8th-10th male at Amwell GP
1991Sep 9th, 1st-winter male at Amwell GP for 10 minutes.
1990Dec 11th,a male at Beddington SF .
1981Barn Elms Res, male Feb 11th-Mar 2nd, then May 17th-20th and Nov 9th. This was published in LBR 1980, then withdrawn in LBR 1981 as possible hybrid, then re-instated in LBR 1992.
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Status: very rare vagrant.
All records
2008 3rdOct 5th Wraysbury GP, then from Oct 8th-15th at Q Mother Res.
2003 2ndJan 4th First winter drake seen first at Stocker’s Lake on Jan 4th. Then Brent Res from Feb 14th-23rd, Regent’s Park from Mar 3rd-9th, 16th-22nd & Mar 26th-Apr 8th, and Seventy Acres Lake from Mar 23rd-25th. Last sighting Apr 17th at Brent Res. (Correction in LBR2004.)
1996 1stApr 7thA male from Apr 7th-18th at Tyttenhanger GP. (Photo in LBR 1996)
Common Eider Somateria mollissima
Status: scarce visitor, usually in winter.
Recent LBR entries
2011 LBR entry
Two birds is above average for this attractive sea duck: last year’s total of six records of 23 birds was exceptional. There were only four records between 2000 and 2009. Most turn up in winter but two were at KGV Res on April 27th 2007.
Essex: Walthamstow Res, fem/imm from Jan 22nd-Mar 6th. (PLt et al).
Surrey: Buckland SP, 1st-winter on Jan 22nd-23rd (DSt). QE II Res, 1st-winter on Jan 3rd & 24th, same as Buckland SP bird (DMH).
2010 LBR entry
There were only four records of Eider from 2000-2007, (none involving more than two birds) and with no records since then, six records this year involving about 23 birds was exceptional. All of them were in December. There was one long-staying flock of up toeight birds at William Girling Res. Many of the rest were ‘fly throughs’. All records are given below.
Essex: Grays, 12 on R. Thames on Dec 15th (DMl ). Rainham Marshes, an imm male from Dec 2nd-4th (PSt et al). William Girling Res, five imm males and three females from Dec 19th, with three until 27th when seen to fly south (RW, DHu et al).
Middx: Stoke Newington Res, an imm male S on Dec 21st (MJP).
Kent: Crayford Marshes, imm male E on Dec 2nd (same as Rainham bird), a female W on Dec 3rd (KMJ).
Other recent records
2007Apr 27thKGV Res, two females.
2003Oct 17thNorthfleet, juv/1st-winter male on R Thames.
2002Dec 14thDartford Marshes, female.
2000Jan 1stQEII Res, from 1999, female remained until Mar 13th.
19994 recordsJan 1st (QEII Res, five remained from 1998 and 2 of these summered at Island Barn Res); Mar 19th (2 new birds); Oct 29th (4 birds), Nov 30th (2 birds).
19983 recordsJan 1st (2 from 1997), Jan 11th, Nov 21st (8 birds).