Birds of SE1

I had a number of various birds in my garden along with the squirrels up until a month ago - except for some sparrows, all have disappeared. I have found dead pigeons in the garden that appear to have been shot - has there been a legal cull locally?

I would tell the police. If it's not an authorised marksman it's a local throwback and it will be a danger to people.

May be some eastern european person thinking that wildlife are legitimate food? I think swans were killed in a park sometime back...either way I love to see birds in my garden, unfortunately in our immediate location there is increasing cat population and as much as I love cats they are such good hunters..

I've noticed a woodpecker nesting in Tabard Park (with a very noisy chick). Great pics by the way!

nigelse1 wrote:

Would be great to know what that hawk/bird of prey is. First saw one over Potters Field and perched on St Olaves, where it was being mobbed by the crows.
Walking past Tower Of London then saw two perched on the drains coming off the battlements so fairly certain they are wild. Think too small for red kites.........I need my mother she would have known like a shot

I looked it up. It's a Harris's Hawk from Texas/Mexico.

Audubon:


Another shot in Tower Bridge Piazza:

That is a cracking shot of the hawk in Tower Bridge Piazza, love those cowboy chaps he's sporting!
I have to admit that when I first saw the thread title my younger alter-ego began buzzing with thoughts like, "Must check this out, maybe there will be phone numbers too!"

I'm a five minute walk from Southend seafront, but the one bird I never see over my house is a seagull. As well as the common birds, (sparrows, pidgeons etc.,) that frequent my back garden, I get magpies, wood pidgeons, robins, greenfinches, bluetits and jays. I've even seen a kestrel pounce on a blackbird right outside my kitchen window. But no seagulls. They must be too busy rooting around in the Coucil tip two liles away. Funny thing, evolution.

Fabulous photos Mark!

Would love to feature them on the Urban Birds website too, where we are tracking birds nesting in the Bankside area. Please if anyone has any bird sightings do let us know - there is a form on the right - don't worry if not using the Nestworks we have put up, all comments are useful.

Over the last 12 months we have regularly seen a group of between 6 and 20 starlings flying in and out of the bell tower of Southwark Cathedral, at dusk in the trees between Redcross Way and Little Dorritt Park and on the Mint Street lawn.

What an interesting website, Catherine. Urban birds are so interesting and photogenic. I've spent many hours photgraphing birds from a garden window in suburban New Jersey ( here ). You may use the pictures if you wish. Please mention http://thelightcavalry.com/gallery , where there's an album Around ShadThames .

I like the ones that you see in The Albion on a Saturday night