May 2020 birding Hampstead Heath

May has so far been my most exciting month of birdwatching here on Hampstead Heath! I finally pretty much managed to get the hang of skywatching or “vizmig” and learned to identify most finches and other migrant passerines by flight call although I’m still missing a definite tree pipit! The beginning of the month started well with two hobby on the 2nd of may as well as house martin and a huge arrival of swifts. I even had a very high up bird which may have been an osprey but oh well. The next few days also brought the first six common terns of the year, a pair of Reed Warblers as well as  kestrel and little egret from my flat!

There was also quiet a few peregrines about with three sightings in the beginning of the month. Another hobbywent over my flat on the 9th and yellow wagtail flew over on the 12th.  Greylag geese made a few appearances too which are still uncommon here. The best bird of the month was a crossbill that flew over Parliament hill on a windy bitterly cold morning at 6:30am on the 13th. Luckily I managed to record the call to be identified later! The second half of the month was quieter with the highlights being a long staying pair of common terns, kingfishers showing occasionally, seven great spotted woodpecker nests and a sparrowhawk nest which unfortunately appeared to be destroyed by magpies only a day after I first saw it. When Kenwood reopened I had hobby, willow warbler and brilliant views of the new common buzzard pair!

Two other possible good birds which got away to soon were an egret sp which flew over at a ridiculous height and a possible female redstart which disappeared before I could get a real look!