It looked good, and it was; a four-hour skywatch from 16 storeys up on the roof of Lincoln Court (my obs of choice for the spring, a residential tower block overlooking the reservoirs - and much of north London - here in Stoke Newington) produced a memorable roll-call of birds of prey.
One of today's Red Kites taking the equivalent of an open-top bus ride around Babylons's tourists traps, starting with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben....
The pick of which were a Short-eared Owl thermalling high to the east, a Goshawk (of unknown origin), two Red Kites and seven Common Buzzards, plus a Peregrine, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels. With enigmatic locals Laurence and Jamie on board today, the strike rate was pleasingly high.
... and continuing past the London Eye....
April is arguably the most productive month locally, and the first week always pays out handsomely; hopefully there's similarly rewarding frolics to follow over the next couple of weeks, my last in my adopted manor for a long time.....
...Battersea power station.....
...and finally Centrepoint, before sensibly seeking more green and pleasant climes
more at Hackney Wildlife.
