Bird' Sightings on the 'Patch'

We previously competed (if albeit, nominally) in the 'Patchwork Challenge' but have decided to give it a miss this Year. We say nominally, since the Highest Position we could ever have hoped for, was Mid-Table. That being said, we will continue to look for Birds on the 'Patch'.

The so-called, 'Patch', runs alongside the Thames from where the Footpath runs up to the Thames Path from Crabtree Manorway North in Belvedere, downstream, to just beyond Corinthian Manorway, in Erith.

It includes the area, say 200 yards inland, running parallel to the River. Sadly though; almost all of the ground immediately inland from the River has been built on. The 'Patch' includes the (fairly small) newly-landscaped Lake beside Church Manorway and the Footpath that runs between Church Manorway and Bronze Age Way where there is a short stretch of Ditch bordered by Reeds &c.

We had been toying with the idea of extending the 'Patch' this year to include the nearby Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area but have decided against the notion.

Although it would inevitably boost the total number of Birds seen (we could have included Birds such as Avocet (but seen on the 'Patch' during 2018), Black Redstart, Caspian Gull and Great White Egret if we had included the Reserve and Surrounding area in our 2017' 'Patch') the truth of the matter is that we probably wouldn't see many more Birds than we do already!

During 2016, we Recorded 74 Species on the 'Patch' (an Exceptional Total we think: for us at least).

During 2017, we Recorded 60 Species on the 'Patch'.

After a break of a few months this year, we are not expecting to reach 60 Species but that won't affect our enjoyment.

During July we added Great Crested Grebe and Little Egret to our List of Sightings.

As at 31 July, the Sightings are as follows (52 Species):

Avocet
Black-Headed Gull viz.

Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Common Gull viz.

Common Sandpiper
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew
Dunlin
Dunnock
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe viz.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard viz.

Meadow Pipit
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Redwing
Ring-Necked Parakeet

Ringed Plover
Robin
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon (accepted for the 'Patchwork Challenge')
Rock Pipit
Shelduck viz.

Starling
Stonechat
Teal
and Wood Pigeon