More Birds Of Spitalfields
When I published my Birds of Spitalfields, selected from Thomas Bewick’s History of British Birds 1797, I invited readers to send in their additions to my survey and today I publish this list accompanied by the relevant extra plates.
Pied Wagtail – spotted by Ash on the Holland Estate, Petticoat Lane
Rose-ringed Parrakeet – an occasional visitor
Heron – spotted flying overhead in Spitalfields
Buzzard – spotted over Holland Estate, Petticoat Lane
Blackcap – spotted by Libby Hall in Clapton
Swift – spotted by Ian Harper around Christ Church
Raven – spotted by Ian Harper & Jim Howett around Christ Church
Kite – spotted by Ian Harper & Jim Howett around Christ Church
Sparrowhawk – spotted by Vivienne in Islington
Long-tailed Tit – spotted in Wapping
Willow Warbler – spotted by Tony Valsamidis in Whitechapel
Greater Spotted Woodpecker – spotted by Annie Martin in Finsbury Park
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I am happy to see so many birds still flying over Spitalfields! Valerie
Yes, they are all coming back, aren’t they?
And new arrivals too.
The rose-ringed parakeets are now all over London, as residents, terns & kingfishers are nesting in Walthamstow, little egrets have joined the herons on the reservoirs, spar-hawks beat down the streets for prey,
A lot of them are following the green lung & pathway of the Lea Valley – very occasionally, snipe have been seen there & once, a hen-harrier.
These are incredible and funny names of the birds! The English names as well as the German ones:
Pied Wagtail —> Bachstelze
Parakeet —> Papagei
Heron —> Reiher
Buzzard —> Bussard
Blackcap —> Barett
Swift —> Mauersegler
Raven —> Rabe
Kite —> Gabelweihe
Sparrowhawk —> Sperber
Long-tailed Tit —> Schwanzmeise
Willow Warbler —> Weidengrasmücke
Greater Spotted Woodpecker —> Großer Buntspecht
Love & Peace
ACHIM
How wonderful that there is such a variety of feathered friends over a major metropolis like London. And beautiful plates too.
A few more for Tower Hamlets if not quite Spitalfields. The quarrelsome Greenfinch, pretty common in my garden (Bow) also Dunnocks rather inconspicuous, poking around amongst the leaf litter. The sinister looking Cormorants now on the Thames and Lea. Ducks, Geese and Coots a plenty in Victoria Park.
lovely pictures.
I note one of the photographers is Ian HARPER. My grandmother’s maiden name was Harper (Alice Ada Harper with 4 sisters and 2 brothers) and she lived in Spitalfields most of her life – probably born in North (Rd or St). If at all possible please would you pass my email address to him for contact – as I don’t know how common the name Harper is in Spitalfields. Perhaps a second cousin.
Lovely! Wonderful to see this variety in a big city! Thanks for these beautiful pictures.
We are inundated with greenfinches in Wilkes Street!
I spotted an unusual bird last year.
Each morning I heard the drumming of a Woodpecker but with a mettalic ring, I eventually spotted it, a Greater Spotted Woodpecker drumming on the reflecter plates of TV ariels.
I had seen The Greater Spotted Tinpecker.
Gary