Sightings

During an average year 80+ birds will be observed on Sparrowfeld. We post interesting sightings on the London Bird Club Wiki, the Surrey Bird Club website, BirdTrack and Twitter. We publish monthly newsletters and annual reports, which can be requested via our contact details. The latest report can be found below along with recent monthly summaries.

Yearly Reports

Birds of Sparrowfeld 2024

Monthly Reviews

GHW = Gas Holder Wood; HF = Horse Fields; MC = Morden Cemetery; MP = Mayflower Park; PFA = Pig Farm Alley; MSJC = Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery; DF = Derwent Floodwash.

December 2025

52 Species were observed

Little Egret: one on two dates on DF. Cormorant: Two dates on pools. Egyptian Goose: two more or less permanent on HF with forays to the pools. Moorhen: Up to 14 on pools. Coot: max of 3 on pools late month. Peregrine: Not very obvious on gasholders or pylons. One or two dates. Red Kite: one on 15^th and 25^th. Common Buzzard: one on 15^th. Black-headed Gull: up to 40 on pools. Herring Gull: 6 on HF on 31^st. Lesser Black-backed Gull: one on HF on 31st. Green Sandpiper: two flew across pools on 3^rd. Lapwing: one flew away from pools on 25^th-first for many years. Stock Dove: decline in numbers on horse fields from 100 on 2^nd to 20 at months end. Blackcap: one in lane N/S and MP. Chiffchaff: Up to two on three dates MP. Cetti’s Warbler: Heard singing on one date MP. Goldcrest: on three dates dates in GHW , MC, lane E/W. Firecrest: one on two dates in GHW. Redwing: Very poor month with just four in MC 31s. Cole Tit: two dates GHW. Goldfinch: Up to 20 on HF and lesser numbers in MP. Chaffinch: Up to 18 regularly on HF. Jackdaw: Regular on HF and stables with up to 70 birds but 100 on 10th. Raven: one on pylon MP flew south on 12th/ Starling: up to 100 but generally only 40 on HF

November 2025

53 Species were seen

Little Egret: two dates on DF. Cormorant: two dates on pools. Up to 14 Moorhen on the pools. Peregrine were less frequent with one or two dates. Sparrow Hawk: occasionally soaring over area, also GasHolder Wood. Red Kite: two observations of fly-over birds. Black-headed Gull: up to 40 on pools. Common Gull: 2 on Rugby mid month. Stock Dove: still good numbers on HF with between 150 and 200 birds. Collared Dove: Up to 16 around feeders by stable. Kingfisher: on two dates on pools. Grey Wagtail: On Pyl and Beverley Brooks on two dates, also HF on one date. Pied Wagtail: daily on HF with up to 20 birds. Meadow Pipit: 7^th November one on HF. Blackcap: 2 different birds: GHW and MP on 13^th. Chiffchaff: two dates on MP. Cetti’s Warbler: Heard singing on two dates on MP. Goldcrest: on two dates in GHW and MP. Firecrest: one on two dates in GHW. Redwing: Very poor month with just two observations on HF. Mistle Thrush: 8^th heard back of JH, 18^th two in MC flew off. Cole Tit: one on DF. Goldfinch: Up to 20 on HF and lesser numbers in MP. Chaffinch: Up to 40 regularly on HF. Brambling: one with Chaffinches on HF 7^th/8^th. Jackdaw: Regular on HF and stables with up to 60 birds. Raven: 13^th one flew away south. Starling: up to 500 but generally only 150 birds.

August to October 2025

Due to the absence of a number of regulars, we have combined three months.

60 species were observed during the period

A Little Egret was observed on DF on 22^nd October. Two Egyptian Geese frequented the HF in October. Peregrine present on Gasholders and pylons during the period. Sparrow Hawk and Kestrel seen regularly. Hobbies over pools on two dates in August. Red Kites on 11^thAugust and 15^th September. Common Buzzard on five days during the period. Black-headed Gull especially on pools in small numbers. 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull west on 1^st August. Moorhen with 2 chicks on 3^rd September. Tawny Owl feather found in GHW on 1^st August. Kingfisher occasionally seen on pools during the period. Last Swift on 7^th August. Huge numbers of Stock Dove on HF with 240 towards end of October was a record count. Collared Dove count of 11 by stables. Willow Warblers in GHW on 8^th August and MP on 16^th. Last Reed Warbler seen on 25^th August. Lesser Whitethroat in GHW on 14^th August. Cetti’s Warbler heard singing in MP on 23^rd October, Nuthatch in GHW on 13^th Sept. Grey Wagtail in MP on 22^nd September. Good numbers of Pied Wagtail in September and November on HF with 40 on 29^th September, 32 on 20^th October. A Meadow Pipit there on 22^nd September. 100 Jackdaw at roost on 15^th August. TwoRaven on gasholders on 12^th and 14^th August. Chaffinch numbers built up on HF towards end of October with maximum of 15. Also female Brambling on 27^th October. Goldfinch up to 20 in period. Up to 50 House Sparrows on HF during month.

July 2025

Moorhen with broods of seven and five on 15^th on pools. Peregrines were much more visible during the month with up to three on gasholders and pylons. Kestrels were present during the month. Sparrowhawk one or two regular. Overflying Red Kite on 11^th and 27^th. One Common Buzzard soaring over Waitrose car park on 3^rd moved north towards patch. Regular Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over. Two Black-headed Gull flying over on two dates and an adult on MP 15^th. Kingfisher on pools on two dates. Swifts regular all month. Some of these will be residents but others moving through with weather. Last seen on 30^th. 2 Swallow flew north on 3^rd. Maximum Pied Wagtail numbers on HF was 12 on 29^th. Common Whitethroat with young MP on 2^nd. Cole Tit along Beverley Brook 28^th. Chaffinch in Mayflower Park on 6^th. Good numbers of Goldfinch especially on GHW border with 20 on 24^th.