I added seven new birds to the patch list in 2018 which now stands on a reasonable 139.
1. Great White Egret - 17th January
2. Rook - 31st March
3. Black-tailed Godwit - 4th August
4. Red-backed Shrike - 28th August
5. Rustic Bunting - 18th October
6. Barn Owl - 20th October
7. Short-eared Owl - 25th October
I finished the year on 109 a new personal high total, but this could have been even better as there were several notable omissions (Common Tern, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit, Tawny Owl and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker) which would have made what was a great year into an amazing year, but as with any year listing patch birder it's sometimes the birds you don't see that make the most interesting reading.
Along with birds mentioned above, other highlights in 2018 was a self-found Yellow-browed Warbler in Long Wood on the 29th September, two 1st-winter Caspian Gulls (10th Nov/27th Dec), finding my 10th Mediterranean Gull (17th March) and who can forget the 'Beast from the East' which delivered big movements (1500+) of Lapwing at the end of February, although dipping a Dunlin (this would have been a patch tick) on Perch Lake in Wanstead Park was probably the years biggest disappointment.
Here's a selection of photos from the year on the patch...
![]() |
Firecrest in Bush Wood |
![]() |
Great White Egret on Perch Lake |
![]() |
Bullfinch in Wanstead Park |
![]() |
Med Gull number 10 on Wanstead Flats |
![]() |
Black-tailed Godwit on Alexandra Lake |
![]() |
Red-backed Shrike - Alexandra Scrub, Wanstead Flats |
![]() |
Rustic Bunting, Wanstead Flats |
![]() |
Barn Owl, Wanstead Flats |
![]() |
1st-winter Caspian Gull, Wanstead Flats |
Here's wishing you all very happy New Year and good birding throughout 2019.