Brent Reservoir Birdwalk Report 13 September 2026
Highlights: Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Lapwing. Challenging eclipse ducks!
FIVE regulars, Bob, John, Haydn, Paul & Eileen, gathered on Cool Oak Lane footbridge for the second Sunday of the month Birdwalk. Temperatures were back to normal for the season at 19 degrees increasing to 22 degrees Celsius by noon with a slight SW breeze bringing rain showers in the afternoon. The prospect of possible new waders, brought down by the early morning rain, dictated a trip to the Main Hide.
Main Hide: Unfortunately, the only waders on view were singles of Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper and the long staying Lapwing. Nearby eleven Teal sifted the muddy water and a Pied Wagtail energetically pursued insects. Cetti’s Warblers occasionally burst into song while Red Kite and Kestrel were noted in the far distance. In all we counted 53 Cormorants, including some perched on the north shore heronry trees. Black-headed Gulls, including brownish juveniles, were dotted around but the majority were out in the middle of the lake. Other water birds included 190 Coot, two pairs of Gadwall, 17 Pochard, four Moorhen, two Mallard, two Egyptian Geese (but unusually no Canada Geese?), 18 Mute Swan including the now almost fully grown six cygnets, Great Crested Grebes with two large stripy young and several whinnying Little Grebes also with young.
Dabchick (the alternative name for Little Grebe) refers to its constantly diving behaviour. William Shakespeare (who was born on 13 April 1564 and died on his birthday in 1616) wrote in Venus and Adonis (1593);
‘Like a dive-dapper, peering through a wave
Who being look’d on, ducks as quickly in’.
Returning to Cool Oak Lane we stopped to examine the football size papery nest of the Median Wasps as several House Martins flew overhead. At this stage Rosemary and her young dog ‘Scampy’ joined us, although we do not encourage dogs on Birdwalks as they are a distraction and a potential hazard.
North Marsh: Held 71 Black-headed Gull, 27 Coot, 16 Tufted Duck, 54 Shoveler, 44 Gadwall, 10 Mallard, 22 Common Teal, 16 Tufted Duck, 8 Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebe inc. juvs, Moorhens, a Grey Heron 2 Great Cormorant and the Black Swan.
NB. Vegetation obstructed the platform viewpoint so these counts may not be fully inclusive.
Restoration Works: Examination of this area only produced very muddy boots followed by heavier rain.
Species List: Black Swan, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Northern Shoveler , Gadwall, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard , Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Great Cormorant, Red Kite, Common Kestrel, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Feral Rock Dove, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Ring-necked Parakeet, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Western House Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Starling, European Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail. Total = 41 (BOURC British Birds List Updated 11 December 2025)
Insects: Migrant Hawker. Small White & Red Admiral Butterflies.
Football size papery nest of Median Wasp (Dolichovespula media) low down in vegetation – path to Main Hide.
Next Birdwalk: 10.00am Sunday 11 October 2026. Names to Bob (020 8441 8742)
NB. Please do NOT attend events if you have cold or flu symptoms.
Diary Date: Christmas Fun Quiz 7.45pm Tuesday 15 December 2026 St Paul’s, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QU
R. A. (Bob) Husband, RSPB Group Leader (group.rspb.org.uk/nwlondon)