Hampstead Heath

So I was invited to go to Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House, a stately home of sorts. I opted out of this in order to frolic with my binoculars in Hampstead Heath park where I had heard there were many birds.

What I had heard was correct!

Considering that this is the first birding experience of 2011, and the first full year I shall be keeping records for (2011 ticks), I had a ridiculously productive day. Indeed, I didn't manage to gain any life ticks but in terms of first-day-listing, today was superb! And as I still actually enjoy watching birds, there were one or two 'magical' moments too...

It all began with a Jay. There were dozens of them overall, never more than three at a time, but beautiful views and relatively tame. Not 5 minutes into the walk, I lost the pleasant company of two women that I was keeping to a gorgeous Treecreeper right at eye level on an exposed oak tree. Up the trunk, eating what it found, fluttering back down and then up the trunk again. This very obliging little bird even allowed me within about 15 feet and continued to feed for a while! What a bird, not just for London but just to experience! Featured 4th for the year 2011, nice. During my Treecreeper extravaganza, I could have sworn I saw a Goldcrest, but couldn't count it as I didn't see it properly due to being distracted by...

... a flock of ~40 Siskins! They all landed high up in a tree nearby, making a terrible noise as they did so. After a quick check, I identified and tried to count them. They stayed around five minutes or so, then flew off in a panic - didn't see what caused it though. A nice flock of Long-tailed Tits announced itself and then flew through the canopy.

After a bit more walking, I caught sight of another Blue Tit flying across the trees. Checked it to be sure and oh my goodness me, it was actually a Nuthatch! Followed it for a while until it flew off for good. This was no problem however, as I came across a quaint stone bridge, where there were two more Nuthatches feeding on old seed and bread etc. that someone had left for them, amongst the Robins and Great Tits. I even heard a call I wasn't used to, and, with the magic of modern technology, have just confirmed that it was a Nuthatch calling. They fed within 5 or 6 feet of me at times, which could be described as nothing less than 'magical' (again)! A Coal Tit also frequented this feast, but not quite as tamely. There was a rat down in the water under the bridge that was less appreciated by the onlookers. I was promptly driven off by a large group of people meeting another large group of people ON the bridge where I was TRYING to birdwatch, and they decided they needed to talk EVER so loudly about THIS and THAT and the OTHER, forcing me onwards and compelling me to TYPE IN CAPITALS.

Stress attack averted, I caught sight of a female Great Spotted Woodpecker, then minutes later heard and saw another. A Ring-necked Parakeet was heard but not seen, ticked anyway as there really is no doubt, and then nothing much happened for a while. I reached a bit of frozen water where there were a few Shoveler amongst the Mallards and a beautiful pair (male and female) of Mandarin Ducks. A first for London (and a first for a very long time indeed, therefore a life tick according to the more recently created spreadsheet).

And that was that. I had to hurry back to Hampstead to rejoin my two fellow walkers for a delicious pizza at Pizza Express.

PS. New year's resolution is to capitalise the names of all birds in my blog, as I do on my Twitter feed. You may have noticed this already. Don't say I'm not wild.