First outing this ‘Magic May’ was back to the traditional nightingale haunt at Lee Valley with Isabelle. Unfortunately the satnav took me a different car-park and from there I didn’t know how to get the same spot as last year! However after a longer than usual walk we found our way to the familiar area near Bittern Hide, but we ran out of parking time, and legs, to get to the same place we’d heard nightingales the year before.
Neverthless we heard two Cuckoo and saw one in a tree as we had lunch by one of the creeks. We also saw plenty of Garden Warbler at 70 Acres Lake near the footbridge, a great place for them.
The second and last outing was to RSPB Rainham Marshes for pond-dipping with Isabelle again and after that a walk around about a third of the reserve. We found greater pond beetle, dragonfly nymphs and lots of back-swimmers during the dipping, and on the mini-beast hunt, mosquitoes found us!
Birds heard and seen at the Woodland Discovery Centre, while we were pond-dipping, were Lesser Whitethroat, Song Thrush (I also found a snail anvil with lots of broken snail shells), Chiffchaff and the first of several Cetti’s Warbler (I even saw one later).
On the way back from the pond-dipping, we took a detour through the cordite storage area because of a singing Cuckoo, but we, and others there, did not see it.
During lunch we sat on a bench overlooking the marshes and saw plenty of activity, including Redshank with chicks, a couple of Sand Martin and House Martin, Swift, Kestrel and one or two Water Rail grunting and squealing from nearby reeds.
Friday 24th, Lee Valley Regional Park, Hertfordshire, UK.
Thursday 30th, RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, UK.
Showing posts with label hertfordshire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hertfordshire. Show all posts
Friday, 31 May 2019
Thursday, 31 May 2018
May 2018
Only one outing, but for a couple of ‘magical’ May birds.
During my first spell in London (2005-2011) Lee Valley Park was a good place for Nightingales and Cuckoos, amongst others. On returning to London in 2016, I took my eldest daughter during half-term to see if they were still there and we were treated to the amazing song of a nightingale during our lunch. A couple of Kingsfishers were also piping while zipping up and down one of the creeks and a cuckoo called from the other side of the lake.
I also recorded returning Swift from the garden on the 25th.
Saturday 5th, Lee Valley Regional Park (70 Acres Lake), Hertfordshire, UK.
During my first spell in London (2005-2011) Lee Valley Park was a good place for Nightingales and Cuckoos, amongst others. On returning to London in 2016, I took my eldest daughter during half-term to see if they were still there and we were treated to the amazing song of a nightingale during our lunch. A couple of Kingsfishers were also piping while zipping up and down one of the creeks and a cuckoo called from the other side of the lake.
I also recorded returning Swift from the garden on the 25th.
Saturday 5th, Lee Valley Regional Park (70 Acres Lake), Hertfordshire, UK.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
May 2017
Only a couple of outings for this 'magic' May. After a family move back to the UK, birding time was hard to come by.
The first of the month I was out to the occasional patch at Tyttenhanger where I saw over 50 species, the most notable being Peregrine Falcon. Also both Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and plenty of warblers including Garden, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, as well as site speciality Tree Sparrow.
Towards the end of the month, during a family outing to a horse sanctuary, I saw a Hobby scaring the Barn Swallows.
Monday 1st, Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Hertfordshire, UK.
Sunday 28th, Redwings Horse Sanctuary -- Ada Cole, Essex, UK.
Towards the end of the month, during a family outing to a horse sanctuary, I saw a Hobby scaring the Barn Swallows.
Monday 1st, Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Hertfordshire, UK.
Sunday 28th, Redwings Horse Sanctuary -- Ada Cole, Essex, UK.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Wilstone Reservoir, Hertfordshire, UK, 21-May-2011
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: An evening return to the reservoir in the hope of seeing a good gathering of hobbys. I was disappointed with the raptors but saw an impressive gathering of swifts.
Weather: bright & sunny, breeze (W).
30 species
Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Eurasian Wigeon 1 male - a complete surprise (escapee?)!
Mallard X
Common Pochard X
Tufted Duck X
Great Crested Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Eurasian Hobby 1 amongst the swifts but not the congregation I was hoping for.
Eurasian Coot X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern X
Common Swift 100 + swirling above the reservoir.
Common Kingfisher 1
Common Magpie X
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Carrion Crow X
Great Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Common Chiffchaff X - heard.
Eurasian Reed-Warbler X - heard.
Blackcap X - heard.
Eurasian Blackbird X
Dunnock X - heard.
Reed Bunting X
Common Chaffinch X
European Goldfinch X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Wilstone Reservoir, Hertfordshire, UK, 8-May-2011
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out to try to get 'Magic May' off to a start. I headed to Wilstone hoping to see hobbys & whether anything else had turned up.
Weather: bright, sunny, some clouds, breezey (W); rain early in the morning.
49 species
Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Common Pochard X
Tufted Duck X
Common Pheasant X
Great Crested Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Red Kite 1 drifted over.
Common Buzzard 1 being mobbed by crows over distant Starstops reservoir.
Eurasian Hobby 3 hawking over the reedbeds.
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Common Tern X
Stock Dove 2
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Cuckoo 1 heard from the carpark.
Common Swift 2 at first then a good movement of 20+ later in the day.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 heard.
Green Woodpecker 1 heard yaffling.
Common Magpie X
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Carrion Crow X
Skylark X - heard from agricultural fields.
Barn Swallow 2
Common House-Martin 1
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Common Chiffchaff X - heard from the carpark.
Eurasian Reed-Warbler X - heard in the reeds around cemetery corner.
Blackcap X - heard from the carpark.
Common Whitethroat 1 singing overhead then into hedgerow.
Spotted Flycatcher 1 within trees at cemetery corner. Again I was tipped off it would be around, I heard its high-pitched, almost mammal-like, call before eventually connecting for a decent view. I soon moved on not wishing to disturb a potential nester.
European Robin X
Whinchat 1 seen on far hedgerow from reservoir. I left the reservoir's hide for a walk up the hill to the canal & was informed by another couple of birders that the whinchat was on a hedgerow in a field along the canal, in the opposite direction to which I normally walk. I took the path & soon connected with it & had a very nice view of it. It was not disturbed by the heavy machinery nearby which was working on the canal. A life-tick.
Eurasian Blackbird X
Song Thrush 2 , first heard, then seen around cemetery corner.
Western Yellow Wagtail 1 also on a fencepost near to the blue-headed.
Western Yellow Wagtail (Blue-headed) 1 on the same line of hedgerow as the whinchat but much more distant from the canal. However it was still fairly easy to pick up with its distinctive plumage & blue head - a first for me. It kept coming back to a fencepost within the thinned out hedge, right where the other birders said it would be (like the whinchat was too), but it seemed to take one last, longer flight which took it much further away.
Pied Wagtail X
Yellowhammer X - heard.
Common Chaffinch X
European Goldfinch X
House Sparrow 2 , a pair collecting nesting material.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Sandon & Kelshall, Hertfordshire, 04-Jul-2010
12:15 - 2pm. Weather: bright, sunny & hot, windy (W).
After studying my rare birds site guide this location was close enough for me to target a missing tick & off I went on a lovely sunny day into a peaceful agricultural area.
Off A505:
Red Kite - floated over.
Skylark - first of several.
Quail - I parked up soon after turning off the A505 & almost immediately I heard the characteristic 'wet-my-lips' call. I listened & scanned the thick barley for a sighting but to no avail. The call seemed to be emanating from further down the hill so I moved down & parked next to a path that ran along the base of the hill & a field. No sooner had I got out walked along the path than it sounded as though the call was now coming from the top of the field, up the hill, a great example of the species' ventriloquism! I eventually headed off & heard a couple more calls later in the afternoon but again no sightings of this elusive species.
Corn Bunting - heard first then 3 or 4 perched on wires over another sub-road off the A505.
Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw.
Bury Barn:
Swift, Swallow, House Martin.
Dunnock - heard from roadside hedgerows.
Kelshall:
Blackbird, Mallard, Goldfinch.
Stock Dove - 2.
House Sparrow - nice to see them in abundance, compared to London.
Crow - 2 on the road.
Collared Dove - 2 on the road,
Stoat - crossed the road in front of the car with a rabbit clamped in its jaws, it then struggled to get over the freshly cut roadside vegetation into the field, though it eventually succeeded & disappeared from view.
Corn Bunting - on the roadside wires.
Buzzard, Chaffinch.
Off A505:
Brown Hare.
21 species, 1 new species.
After studying my rare birds site guide this location was close enough for me to target a missing tick & off I went on a lovely sunny day into a peaceful agricultural area.
Off A505:
Red Kite - floated over.
Skylark - first of several.
Quail - I parked up soon after turning off the A505 & almost immediately I heard the characteristic 'wet-my-lips' call. I listened & scanned the thick barley for a sighting but to no avail. The call seemed to be emanating from further down the hill so I moved down & parked next to a path that ran along the base of the hill & a field. No sooner had I got out walked along the path than it sounded as though the call was now coming from the top of the field, up the hill, a great example of the species' ventriloquism! I eventually headed off & heard a couple more calls later in the afternoon but again no sightings of this elusive species.
Corn Bunting - heard first then 3 or 4 perched on wires over another sub-road off the A505.
Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw.
Bury Barn:
Swift, Swallow, House Martin.
Dunnock - heard from roadside hedgerows.
Kelshall:
Blackbird, Mallard, Goldfinch.
Stock Dove - 2.
House Sparrow - nice to see them in abundance, compared to London.
Crow - 2 on the road.
Collared Dove - 2 on the road,
Stoat - crossed the road in front of the car with a rabbit clamped in its jaws, it then struggled to get over the freshly cut roadside vegetation into the field, though it eventually succeeded & disappeared from view.
Corn Bunting - on the roadside wires.
Buzzard, Chaffinch.
Off A505:
Brown Hare.
21 species, 1 new species.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire, 23/05/2010
Weather: glorious, hot & sunny; shorts & t-shirt. From 1 to 3pm.
After the outing to 70 Acres Lake I set off for Wilstone hoping to see more hobbies in some glorious weather.
Car-park:
Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Reservoir:
Common Tern, Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard.
Cuckoo - heard.
Whitethroat - in the hedgerow alongside the reservoir wall.
Red-Legged Partridge - from the fields behind the hedgerow.
Woodland & Hide:
Chiffchaff - heard.
Buzzard x2,
Skylark - heard.Jackdaw, Great Tit, Wren.
Robin - heard.
Red Kite - 1 over.
Great-Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose.
Shoveler - 2 x male, 1 x female.
Hide to Dry Canal:
Stock Dove, Crow, Pheasant.
Green Woodpecker - heard.
Dunnock, Blackbird.
Yellowhammer - singing from hedge at the top of the field, next to the canal.
Blackcap - 1 male in hedge on path back down to reservoir.
From Cemetery Corner:
Reed Warbler - heard from reeds next to wood.
Swallow, Swift, Starling.
A lovely day but no hobbies, which seemed unusual because I didn't think I was too late to see them in numbers; seems I was wrong!
38 species.
After the outing to 70 Acres Lake I set off for Wilstone hoping to see more hobbies in some glorious weather.
Car-park:
Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Reservoir:
Common Tern, Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard.
Cuckoo - heard.
Whitethroat - in the hedgerow alongside the reservoir wall.
Red-Legged Partridge - from the fields behind the hedgerow.
Woodland & Hide:
Chiffchaff - heard.
Buzzard x2,
Skylark - heard.Jackdaw, Great Tit, Wren.
Robin - heard.
Red Kite - 1 over.
Great-Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose.
Shoveler - 2 x male, 1 x female.
Hide to Dry Canal:
Stock Dove, Crow, Pheasant.
Green Woodpecker - heard.
Dunnock, Blackbird.
Yellowhammer - singing from hedge at the top of the field, next to the canal.
Blackcap - 1 male in hedge on path back down to reservoir.
From Cemetery Corner:
Reed Warbler - heard from reeds next to wood.
Swallow, Swift, Starling.
A lovely day but no hobbies, which seemed unusual because I didn't think I was too late to see them in numbers; seems I was wrong!
38 species.
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Tring Reservoirs, Hertfordshire, 02/10/2008
Weather: Bright & sunny but cold & breezy. From 1:45pm.
After a morning guided tour of Tring Natural History Museum's egg & nest collection I took advantage of being in the area & headed up to Wilstone.
From the carpark: overflying Starling & Pied Wagtail.
Up onto the reservoir wall: Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Cormorant, Great-Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Lapwing, Black-Headed Gull; Pheasant in the field opposite the reservoir & Wren in the hedgerow.
Rounding the corner into the woods: Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Moorhen & Mallard; a couple of Little Egret on the bank near the woods, a first for me at Wilstone; a pair of Common Sandpiper darting about on the exposed mud, fighting or indulging in some early 2009 courting.
From the hide: Canada Goose, Woodpigeon, Teal & groups of over-flying House Martin, the last migrating stragglers. Something was spooking the waders, gulls & ducks but they went up a few times before the female Sparrowhawk flew into view & into the trees, before flying back into the woods behind the hide again.
Continuing to scan from the hide: Ringed Plover, Snipe (x5) on the exposed mud to the left of the hide near to the reedbeds; Kingfisher arrowed across the water showing it's magnificent orange breast, into the trees on the middle island where the sparrowhawk had been; Jackdaw twos & threes at the far side of the reservoir; a lone Ruff on the exposed mud to the right of the hide amongst Golden Plover (x8); a Long-Tailed Tit group also moved through the trees; another look at the assumed roosting mute swans revealed that they were in fact a pair of Whooper Swans, another first for Wilstone.
Back to the far end of the reservoir: Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-Backed Gull
After hearing a wagtail a few times but failing to clearly see what it was finally one alighted on a stump close to the hide & revealed itself as a Grey Wagtail, my first for many a year.
A Buzzard the soared over the trees to the far left of reservoir, & finally as I returned to the car a Mistle Thrush perched at the top of one of the chestnut trees near the car-park.
This wasn't the end of the day however because in the hide I read about sightings the day before of little gull on the Marsworth reservoir which I checked on an excellent Tring birding blog, so it was an easy choice to see if I could collect another life tick. On arriving at Marsworth it wasn't long before I picked out the two immature Little Gull constantly hawking over the water more like terns than gulls. I stayed for a while enjoying great views of the two in the fading sunlight, & also saw, in addition to those seen at Wilstone, a couple of over-flying Swallow & a lone Ruddy Duck, before heading home, another excellent day at Tring reservoirs.
42 species, 1 new species.
After a morning guided tour of Tring Natural History Museum's egg & nest collection I took advantage of being in the area & headed up to Wilstone.
From the carpark: overflying Starling & Pied Wagtail.
Up onto the reservoir wall: Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Cormorant, Great-Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Lapwing, Black-Headed Gull; Pheasant in the field opposite the reservoir & Wren in the hedgerow.
Rounding the corner into the woods: Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Moorhen & Mallard; a couple of Little Egret on the bank near the woods, a first for me at Wilstone; a pair of Common Sandpiper darting about on the exposed mud, fighting or indulging in some early 2009 courting.
From the hide: Canada Goose, Woodpigeon, Teal & groups of over-flying House Martin, the last migrating stragglers. Something was spooking the waders, gulls & ducks but they went up a few times before the female Sparrowhawk flew into view & into the trees, before flying back into the woods behind the hide again.
Continuing to scan from the hide: Ringed Plover, Snipe (x5) on the exposed mud to the left of the hide near to the reedbeds; Kingfisher arrowed across the water showing it's magnificent orange breast, into the trees on the middle island where the sparrowhawk had been; Jackdaw twos & threes at the far side of the reservoir; a lone Ruff on the exposed mud to the right of the hide amongst Golden Plover (x8); a Long-Tailed Tit group also moved through the trees; another look at the assumed roosting mute swans revealed that they were in fact a pair of Whooper Swans, another first for Wilstone.
Back to the far end of the reservoir: Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-Backed Gull
After hearing a wagtail a few times but failing to clearly see what it was finally one alighted on a stump close to the hide & revealed itself as a Grey Wagtail, my first for many a year.
A Buzzard the soared over the trees to the far left of reservoir, & finally as I returned to the car a Mistle Thrush perched at the top of one of the chestnut trees near the car-park.
This wasn't the end of the day however because in the hide I read about sightings the day before of little gull on the Marsworth reservoir which I checked on an excellent Tring birding blog, so it was an easy choice to see if I could collect another life tick. On arriving at Marsworth it wasn't long before I picked out the two immature Little Gull constantly hawking over the water more like terns than gulls. I stayed for a while enjoying great views of the two in the fading sunlight, & also saw, in addition to those seen at Wilstone, a couple of over-flying Swallow & a lone Ruddy Duck, before heading home, another excellent day at Tring reservoirs.
42 species, 1 new species.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire, 07/08/2008
Weather: Mild, bright but overcast, just after rain. From 11am.
From the wall, scanning the whole reservoir: Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck, Great-Crested Grebe, Mallard, Cormorant, Common Tern, Grey Heron, Moorhen.
More unusually: Ruddy Duck, a couple of males; Pochard, one or two; Teal again a couple on the mud & on the banks in front of the hide.
Further along the wall: Pied Wagtail, juveniles; good numbers of gregarious & chatty Lapwing; Black-Headed Gull, Canada Goose.
In the wall-side hedgerow: Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Goldfinch; a yellowhammer singing, but not seen.
Into the small woods: flitting Goldcrest & Great Tit.
Taking up position in the hide: Gadwall, then after a few scans of the whole reservoir I picked out Red-Crested Pochard in eclipse plumage, easily identified by its bright red beak, & one of the birds I had hoped to see on this visit after reading the latest sightings on the website.
As I was about to leave the hide a heavy shower came down so I waited it out, & after it finished it triggered some activity: a Common Sandpiper skimmed the water & perched on a distant bank; then a fellow birder alerted me to a couple of Green Sandpiper which had flown up & out of their previous, hidden position to alight on the edge of the reeds, where they foraged before again moving out of view. A much darker bird than the common, a slightly dumpier, & marginally less active & 'dipping', & also a new species.
No sooner had the 'green sands' moved out of view than I picked up a Kingfisher perched on a fence post, again on the edge of the reeds. It preened for a while allowing me to take some digiscoped shots before it flew off. The first time I've seen one perched & not more usually zipping along & away from view in an instant.
The other birder then alerted me to a Red Kite floating over the car-park; a Crow flew across the reservoir onto a tree & as I scanned the area I again picked out a kingfisher. For a brief instant it was joined by another then one even dove into the water before it sat on a overhanging branch, before again flying out of view. Really good views!
I reluctantly set off for the car park, hoping to pick up a little owl in a dead tree that the other birder also tipped me off about, but to no avail, although I did see Swallow & Kestrel overflying.
Another excellent excursion & mission accomplished for a couple of target species (red-crested pochard & green sandpiper).
33 species, 1 new.
From the wall, scanning the whole reservoir: Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck, Great-Crested Grebe, Mallard, Cormorant, Common Tern, Grey Heron, Moorhen.
More unusually: Ruddy Duck, a couple of males; Pochard, one or two; Teal again a couple on the mud & on the banks in front of the hide.
Further along the wall: Pied Wagtail, juveniles; good numbers of gregarious & chatty Lapwing; Black-Headed Gull, Canada Goose.
In the wall-side hedgerow: Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Goldfinch; a yellowhammer singing, but not seen.
Into the small woods: flitting Goldcrest & Great Tit.
Taking up position in the hide: Gadwall, then after a few scans of the whole reservoir I picked out Red-Crested Pochard in eclipse plumage, easily identified by its bright red beak, & one of the birds I had hoped to see on this visit after reading the latest sightings on the website.
As I was about to leave the hide a heavy shower came down so I waited it out, & after it finished it triggered some activity: a Common Sandpiper skimmed the water & perched on a distant bank; then a fellow birder alerted me to a couple of Green Sandpiper which had flown up & out of their previous, hidden position to alight on the edge of the reeds, where they foraged before again moving out of view. A much darker bird than the common, a slightly dumpier, & marginally less active & 'dipping', & also a new species.
No sooner had the 'green sands' moved out of view than I picked up a Kingfisher perched on a fence post, again on the edge of the reeds. It preened for a while allowing me to take some digiscoped shots before it flew off. The first time I've seen one perched & not more usually zipping along & away from view in an instant.
The other birder then alerted me to a Red Kite floating over the car-park; a Crow flew across the reservoir onto a tree & as I scanned the area I again picked out a kingfisher. For a brief instant it was joined by another then one even dove into the water before it sat on a overhanging branch, before again flying out of view. Really good views!
I reluctantly set off for the car park, hoping to pick up a little owl in a dead tree that the other birder also tipped me off about, but to no avail, although I did see Swallow & Kestrel overflying.
Another excellent excursion & mission accomplished for a couple of target species (red-crested pochard & green sandpiper).
33 species, 1 new.
Monday, 12 May 2008
Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire, 11/05/2008
Weather: Bright & sunny, glorious t-shirt weather. From 8:30am.
A follow-up trip to Wilstone, fingers crossed for hobbies.
In the car-park & same as the last time with blackcap in good voice but not visible this time, although Swift, Pied Wagtail & Goldfinch were seen.
Cresting the embankment & scanning the water revealed Grey Heron, Coot, Common Tern & Great-Crested Grebe.
Continuing along the embankment path a Kestrel over the trees, Canada Goose, Cormorant & Shoveler all flying over the water, Starling & Carrion Crow flying over the nearby trees & fields.
My attention turned back to the reservoir & the terns foraging over the water, & I soon noticed a slightly different bird to the common terns. It was one I had hoped to see after checking the Friends of Tring Reservoirs' website where many sightings of flocks had been reported, but for me here was a lone Black Tern, a new species for me. It was smaller than the common terns & obviously of much darker colour: blacker on its head, fading to grey on the underparts. The website states that it has been a good year for these terns at the reservoir & I watched for a while before moving off along the path, hoping to see it again when I rejoined the reservoir later in the walk.
Further along the path either on the reservoir or in the hedgerow by the side of the embankmant were Gadwall, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck.
A Skylark was heard before I picked it out over the fields just before entering into the small woods for Blue Tit & Great Tit. As I continued into the woods I glanced out onto the adjacent fields thinking I had spotted a hare only it was much larger & was in fact a Chinese Water Deer complete with fangs that are its equivalent of antlers. Further into the woods for a Wren which was apparently in exactly the same place as last time, this time with a beak full of moss presumably for its nest.
Into the reservoir hide revealed an additional Mallard, Pochard & Mute Swan, then leaving the hide & continuing through the woods & onto the pasture & hedgerow, picking up Long-Tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Great-Spotted Woodpecker & Jackdaw.
Further along the path, & just before the ascent to the old canal a very vocal bird caught my attention sounding similar to a blackcap. It took some time to pick out as it flitted about amongst the dense foliage but eventually I identified a Whitethroat, my first for some time. As I watched I also heard the distinctive loudness of Cetti's Warbler but as usual didn't see it, unlike the Treecreeper which alighted on a branch nearby. A few yards further along & another vocal warbler, this time a Sedge Warbler which also took some time to show itself as it flitted between amongst the hedgerow rather than the reedbeds where I was focusing my attention.
Rounding the corner of the field to begin the small climb, a Blackbird flew along the hedgerow & then overhead a Buzzard received some unwanted attention from a crow, then back to the hedgerow where I picked out a surprise pair of Yellowhammer skulking about.
After walking along the dry canal bed & spotting nothing new I turned downhill & into another small wooded area where I finally picked out Blackcap. Then heading to rejoin the embankment path around the reservoir, a bird flew into the nearby field of rape where it became quite difficult to pick out, but nevertheless a clear male Reed Bunting with his partner calling plaintitively from the trees into which a Song Thrush flew.
Back on the reservoir embankment & with the temperature having risen throughout the morning had seemed to enliven the reservoir with plenty of activity from the terns, both common & black (although I could still only see a single bird). By this time however another bird had joined the others because as I scanned the water I picked out a largish, scythe-winged bird which first skimmed low over the water & then up over the trees in the middle of the reservoir. It was joined by another which skimed over the reeds. Here, finally, were the Hobbies I had hoped to see & they didn't disappoint! In certain aspects of their profile they looked like giant swifts, as they dashed about catching insects with ease, a very charismatic bird with slate-grey upperparts, distinctive moustaches & a flash of reddish-orange on the underparts. I watched for a while before reluctantly having to head back to the car, & by this time their numbers had gone up to at least five.
As a nice bonus to watching the hobbies, a Red Kite lazily soared over & a Lesser Black-Backed Gull also flew towards the other reservoirs, to the east of Wilstone.
A good day, & although I would have liked to pick up the cetti's it was a first for the black tern & a definite first (only a previous possible at Titchwell) for hobby.
45 species, 2 new species.
A follow-up trip to Wilstone, fingers crossed for hobbies.
In the car-park & same as the last time with blackcap in good voice but not visible this time, although Swift, Pied Wagtail & Goldfinch were seen.
Cresting the embankment & scanning the water revealed Grey Heron, Coot, Common Tern & Great-Crested Grebe.
Continuing along the embankment path a Kestrel over the trees, Canada Goose, Cormorant & Shoveler all flying over the water, Starling & Carrion Crow flying over the nearby trees & fields.
My attention turned back to the reservoir & the terns foraging over the water, & I soon noticed a slightly different bird to the common terns. It was one I had hoped to see after checking the Friends of Tring Reservoirs' website where many sightings of flocks had been reported, but for me here was a lone Black Tern, a new species for me. It was smaller than the common terns & obviously of much darker colour: blacker on its head, fading to grey on the underparts. The website states that it has been a good year for these terns at the reservoir & I watched for a while before moving off along the path, hoping to see it again when I rejoined the reservoir later in the walk.
Further along the path either on the reservoir or in the hedgerow by the side of the embankmant were Gadwall, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck.
A Skylark was heard before I picked it out over the fields just before entering into the small woods for Blue Tit & Great Tit. As I continued into the woods I glanced out onto the adjacent fields thinking I had spotted a hare only it was much larger & was in fact a Chinese Water Deer complete with fangs that are its equivalent of antlers. Further into the woods for a Wren which was apparently in exactly the same place as last time, this time with a beak full of moss presumably for its nest.
Into the reservoir hide revealed an additional Mallard, Pochard & Mute Swan, then leaving the hide & continuing through the woods & onto the pasture & hedgerow, picking up Long-Tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Great-Spotted Woodpecker & Jackdaw.
Further along the path, & just before the ascent to the old canal a very vocal bird caught my attention sounding similar to a blackcap. It took some time to pick out as it flitted about amongst the dense foliage but eventually I identified a Whitethroat, my first for some time. As I watched I also heard the distinctive loudness of Cetti's Warbler but as usual didn't see it, unlike the Treecreeper which alighted on a branch nearby. A few yards further along & another vocal warbler, this time a Sedge Warbler which also took some time to show itself as it flitted between amongst the hedgerow rather than the reedbeds where I was focusing my attention.
Rounding the corner of the field to begin the small climb, a Blackbird flew along the hedgerow & then overhead a Buzzard received some unwanted attention from a crow, then back to the hedgerow where I picked out a surprise pair of Yellowhammer skulking about.
After walking along the dry canal bed & spotting nothing new I turned downhill & into another small wooded area where I finally picked out Blackcap. Then heading to rejoin the embankment path around the reservoir, a bird flew into the nearby field of rape where it became quite difficult to pick out, but nevertheless a clear male Reed Bunting with his partner calling plaintitively from the trees into which a Song Thrush flew.
Back on the reservoir embankment & with the temperature having risen throughout the morning had seemed to enliven the reservoir with plenty of activity from the terns, both common & black (although I could still only see a single bird). By this time however another bird had joined the others because as I scanned the water I picked out a largish, scythe-winged bird which first skimmed low over the water & then up over the trees in the middle of the reservoir. It was joined by another which skimed over the reeds. Here, finally, were the Hobbies I had hoped to see & they didn't disappoint! In certain aspects of their profile they looked like giant swifts, as they dashed about catching insects with ease, a very charismatic bird with slate-grey upperparts, distinctive moustaches & a flash of reddish-orange on the underparts. I watched for a while before reluctantly having to head back to the car, & by this time their numbers had gone up to at least five.
As a nice bonus to watching the hobbies, a Red Kite lazily soared over & a Lesser Black-Backed Gull also flew towards the other reservoirs, to the east of Wilstone.
A good day, & although I would have liked to pick up the cetti's it was a first for the black tern & a definite first (only a previous possible at Titchwell) for hobby.
45 species, 2 new species.
 |
| Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordsh |
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire, 20/04/2008
Weather: Overcast, misty & cold. From 8:40am.
Another trip out to the Tring reservoirs, Wilstone being the best for birding, in anticipation of hopefully seeing good numbers of hobby next month. I thought I'd have a dry run as it were & maybe pick up an early arrival.
In the car-park: Long-Tailed Tit & a very vocal Blackcap, the first of many. A Grey Heron then flew overhead onto the reservoir & I then picked out Goldfinch & Chaffinch in the hedgerow bordering the car-park before finally climbing the reservoir embankment.
On the reservoir itself: Common Tern in surprisingly good numbers, actively foraging & preparing to breed; Tufted Duck, Coot & a couple of Black-Headed Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan & Gadwall. Swallow were also present in good numbers, skimming low over the waters, & as I took a few steps along the track I noticed many were chattering away in the branches of a nearby tree which was maybe a roosting site.
Also as I advanced along the path a Pied Wagtail went up, soon followed by a Meadow Pipit & I noticed the first of many Great-Crested Grebe on the water.
Looking further along a Moorhen scuttled back to the water from the path, & in the adjacent fields & hedgerow, Woodpigeon, Willow Warbler in good song as was a skylark, but unlike the warbler I couldn't pick it out in the mist. Other birds in good voice included Song Thrush & Wren but both were not visible at this point.
Rounding the bend of the path into the small woodland & good view of a Great-Spotted Woodpecker, & a Carrion Crow on the fields, then a Chiffchaff in the tree-tops along with Great Tit, & lower down, Wren & Dunnock.
From the one & only hide, I immediately picked out a larger than average brown-headed duck which revealed itself as a lone & unexpected Pintail, it was accompanied by a few Cormorant & a couple of Greylag Goose. Whilst scanning the water a cuckoo was also clearly heard 'singing' from the fields towards the car-park but there was no chance of seeing it through the mist. I sat for a while observing the water & was struck by the noise the numerous gadwall were making which was accompanied by squawking from the heronry in the middle of the reservoir; I was also able to pick out a few Pochard & a lone Shoveler before leaving the hide.
After the hide the path continues up into some pasture & then along the side of a dried-up canal, before turning back & heading through some small woods back towards the reservoir. Along this stretch I saw a couple Jackdaw, flushed from the hole of a large seemingly dead, tree, Blackbird, Robin, & a Song Thrush which I finally managed to pick out amongst the trees, & in the woods, a Jay.
The final part of the walk is again on the reservoir's embankment, & as I began this last stretch I noticed what looked like a red-breasted bird landing on the reservoir's concrete side & as soon as I raised my binoculars to get a better look I could see the powerfully-built bird had an orange breast & metallic blue upper-parts, a unmistakeable Kingfisher. I watched as it flew fast & direct across the reservoir & into the trees, a great bird to see & my first in many years.
In the agricultural pastures that are overlooked from the reservoir wall, there were good numbers of birds browsing the fields including Canada Goose & a nice pair of resting Stock Dove which were briefly accompanied by a Mistle Thrush.
Rounding the final bend of the embankment towards the car-park were large numbers of hirundines, numbers large enough to almost be described as clouds, of mainly Sand Martins but there were also a few House Martins. With these numbers it's easy to see why the hobbies are frequent visitors here!
As I watched the martins, hoping for a last minute raptor to finish the day, a wagtail flew along the wall & with a quick scan it was easy spot it as a Yellow Wagtail. It landed promptly & began to forage accompanied by a pied wagtail allowing good views of a bird that us new to me in England
The wagtail was a very nice way to finish a surprisingly productive day. One thing about this site is to try & get there early because by the time I'd finished the car-park was full & the area was full of other walkers.
42 species, 1 new species.
Another trip out to the Tring reservoirs, Wilstone being the best for birding, in anticipation of hopefully seeing good numbers of hobby next month. I thought I'd have a dry run as it were & maybe pick up an early arrival.
In the car-park: Long-Tailed Tit & a very vocal Blackcap, the first of many. A Grey Heron then flew overhead onto the reservoir & I then picked out Goldfinch & Chaffinch in the hedgerow bordering the car-park before finally climbing the reservoir embankment.
On the reservoir itself: Common Tern in surprisingly good numbers, actively foraging & preparing to breed; Tufted Duck, Coot & a couple of Black-Headed Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan & Gadwall. Swallow were also present in good numbers, skimming low over the waters, & as I took a few steps along the track I noticed many were chattering away in the branches of a nearby tree which was maybe a roosting site.
Also as I advanced along the path a Pied Wagtail went up, soon followed by a Meadow Pipit & I noticed the first of many Great-Crested Grebe on the water.
Looking further along a Moorhen scuttled back to the water from the path, & in the adjacent fields & hedgerow, Woodpigeon, Willow Warbler in good song as was a skylark, but unlike the warbler I couldn't pick it out in the mist. Other birds in good voice included Song Thrush & Wren but both were not visible at this point.
Rounding the bend of the path into the small woodland & good view of a Great-Spotted Woodpecker, & a Carrion Crow on the fields, then a Chiffchaff in the tree-tops along with Great Tit, & lower down, Wren & Dunnock.
From the one & only hide, I immediately picked out a larger than average brown-headed duck which revealed itself as a lone & unexpected Pintail, it was accompanied by a few Cormorant & a couple of Greylag Goose. Whilst scanning the water a cuckoo was also clearly heard 'singing' from the fields towards the car-park but there was no chance of seeing it through the mist. I sat for a while observing the water & was struck by the noise the numerous gadwall were making which was accompanied by squawking from the heronry in the middle of the reservoir; I was also able to pick out a few Pochard & a lone Shoveler before leaving the hide.
After the hide the path continues up into some pasture & then along the side of a dried-up canal, before turning back & heading through some small woods back towards the reservoir. Along this stretch I saw a couple Jackdaw, flushed from the hole of a large seemingly dead, tree, Blackbird, Robin, & a Song Thrush which I finally managed to pick out amongst the trees, & in the woods, a Jay.
The final part of the walk is again on the reservoir's embankment, & as I began this last stretch I noticed what looked like a red-breasted bird landing on the reservoir's concrete side & as soon as I raised my binoculars to get a better look I could see the powerfully-built bird had an orange breast & metallic blue upper-parts, a unmistakeable Kingfisher. I watched as it flew fast & direct across the reservoir & into the trees, a great bird to see & my first in many years.
In the agricultural pastures that are overlooked from the reservoir wall, there were good numbers of birds browsing the fields including Canada Goose & a nice pair of resting Stock Dove which were briefly accompanied by a Mistle Thrush.
Rounding the final bend of the embankment towards the car-park were large numbers of hirundines, numbers large enough to almost be described as clouds, of mainly Sand Martins but there were also a few House Martins. With these numbers it's easy to see why the hobbies are frequent visitors here!
As I watched the martins, hoping for a last minute raptor to finish the day, a wagtail flew along the wall & with a quick scan it was easy spot it as a Yellow Wagtail. It landed promptly & began to forage accompanied by a pied wagtail allowing good views of a bird that us new to me in England
The wagtail was a very nice way to finish a surprisingly productive day. One thing about this site is to try & get there early because by the time I'd finished the car-park was full & the area was full of other walkers.
42 species, 1 new species.
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Tring Reservoirs, Hertfordshire, 08/07/2007
Bright, sunny & warm.
Walk around all the reservoirs: Startops End, Tringford, Marsworth, Wilstone.
Barn Swallow
Blackcap
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Common Tern
Coot
Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose
Long-tailed Tit
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Rook
Song Thrush
Swift
Tufted Duck
Pied Wagtail
Wood Pigeon
Wren
23 Species.
Walk around all the reservoirs: Startops End, Tringford, Marsworth, Wilstone.
Barn Swallow
Blackcap
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Common Tern
Coot
Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose
Long-tailed Tit
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Rook
Song Thrush
Swift
Tufted Duck
Pied Wagtail
Wood Pigeon
Wren
23 Species.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)