A Survey of Birds in Fishpool Street
My interest in British Birds started in 1950s North East London where our house overlooked open countryside.
My parents were both country folk; my mother hailed from Dorset and my father from Hertfordshire. My father pointed out the song of the Great Tit which he said was the sound of a " sword sharpener " and my mother was always excited by the first sound of the Cuckoo every Spring.
In recent years I have participated in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch every January. My results always reveal a very healthy environment for birds in Fishpool Street with above average species recorded.
For my survey I downloaded the Merlin Bird ID App onto my iPad as I had recorded dawn choruses on this device with great success in the past using a Voice Memo App.
I started the survey in the third week of August 2026 and ended the survey in the first week of October 2026.
Early results revealed the anticipated residents; Robin, Dunnock, Blue Tit. Great Tit, Collard Dove, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie and more recently Starlings making a comeback. These were joined by the ever- present Jackdaws which frequent our rooftops and chimneys.
The most dominant voice was that of the Robin always up early and around at dusk to say " good night " in defence of its territory.
The extremely hot and dry summer meant that the Blackbird's fluty call only started after September rain.
The first major surprise was a Spotted Flycatcher in August , a regular summer visitor and passage migrant in September. Other members of the Warbler Family were revealed to be residents in the form of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.
Additional Warblers were a Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and the smaller Lesser Whitethroat, all summer visitors. To my amazement I also recorded a Cetti's Warbler which are normally only seen in the very south and east of England.
Long-tailed Tits were regularly heard throughout the survey with Blue Tits and Great Tits and from time to time Coal Tits.
Finches were well represented by regular Goldfinches, Chaffinches, and Greenfinches. I also recorded a Bullfinch on one occasion. Bullfinches have suffered in recent years from climate and environmental changes and are quite rare in Fishpool Street. Come the first week of October then Hawfinches appeared possibly from the nearby Woodland Trust of Heartwood Forest in Sandridge.
My recordings were made from upstairs windows on both the north and south side of my house. The woodlands of Verulamium Park picked up the call of Nuthatches and Treecreepers. On several occasions I recorded Treecreepers on the north side where there are mature garden trees.
Grey and Pied Wagtails are residents on both sides of the street. I have often seen Pied Wagtails feeding in George Street oblivious to passers by. From September the Wagtails were joined by Meadow Pipits a closely related species. Once again these may have come from Heartwood Forest.
After the extremely dry summer two seed eating species appeared in the form of Siskins and Linnets. I have also witnessed Reed Buntings in my garden in winter months but none appeared in my survey.
With the lakes in Verulamium Park and the River Ver it was no surprise to record Moorhens, Coots, Canada Geese and Greylag Geese. Joining these were Grey Herons and new to me were Gadwalls and Wigeon. However, I recorded Kingfishers on two occasions on the north side of the street which added to my excitement.
The Merlin Bird ID App is excellent at recording birds high in the sky and on August 25th I picked up the last of the migrating Swifts. Earlier in August I also recorded the last of the Swallows and House Martins as they departed our shores.
Raptors also featured with the ever-present Red Kites and occasional Sparrowhawk very actively feeding on Woodpigeons in the gardens on the north side of the street. Peregrine Falcons were also regularly recorded no doubt from the Abbey where our regular pair of Boudicca and Alban raise their young. Buzzards also crossed our skies and were recorded regularly.
Several sea birds were also present with Black- headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and on one occasion a Yellow- legged Gull.I also picked a solitary Little Ringed Plover no doubt migrating to warmer shores.
Very occasionally solitary Rooks were present and remarkably on two occasions Ravens were recorded.
Woodpeckers were represented by the common Great Spotted Woodpecker and the far less frequent Green Woodpecker. The very noisy and aggressive Ring- necked Parakeets are now present in large flocks in Verulamium Park and visit our gardens.
To my surprise Goldcrests are present in large numbers and permanent residents of Fishpool Street. The often appear with the joyful Wrens. A few years ago I had a Goldcrest nest in a large shrub in my front garden. Sadly the chicks were predated probably by Jays and Magpies. Jays are regular visitors to our gardens.
Collared doves are residents and sing along with the Woodpigeons on a regular basis. Less common are Feral or Rock Pigeons and the occasional Stock Dove.
House Sparrows were extremely common in the 1950s and are now making a comeback. They appear on a regular basis with the Starlings another species making a comeback after decline. Last year I had a successful Starling nest in my rear garden with a very successful group of fledglings.
Two birds only appeared once in my survey. These were a Lapwing, no doubt migrating through St Albans and a solitary Pheasant most probably from the Gorhambury Estate.
My recordings were made at both dawn and dusk. During the early evenings in August and September I recorded three Owls; a Barn Owl, Little Owl and Tawny Owl. This is probably due to healthy small rodent populations in our gardens.
As October approached the winter Redwings arrived from Scandinavia in Verulamium Park and our north facing gardens. They have been regularly recorded with Song Thrushes and they flock together during the winter.
On the 1st October 2026 I had a spectacular day of recording over thirty species. A Hawfinch arrived and has taken up residence in my rear garden. On the south side of the street I recorded my first Marsh Tit and an extremely unusual visitor namely a Whooper Swan far from it it's northern wintering home. I visited Verulamium Park and the lake in St Michael's Manor in search of this rare bird but to no avail.
My survey reached its highest point on October 3rd and 4th when a Hobby was recorded. This beautiful raptor is a rare summer visitor.
The Merlin Bird ID App recorded 73 species during my survey. This indicates a very healthy environment in Fishpool Street for birds and associated wildlife.
I believe the large number of Warblers, Tits and Finches may visit from Heartwood Forest and the Gorhambury Estate. The wonderful lung of Verulamium Park with the River Ver ( a chalk stream ) is responsible for the extensive range of water-based species. Three species of Owls would appear to indicate a very clean environment. We are fortunate to live in such a precious landscape.
5 October 2026
Stuart Macer.
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