Friday 14 January 2011

Stockers

An hour at Stockers Farm and Lake, late afternoon in failing light.

Stockers Farm; Little Owl in hole in tree and later on branch near nestbox. In the field on the other side of the track 2 Mistle Thrush and a Redwing.

Stockers Lake Shoveler Hide, 20 Goldeneye 8m and 12f, 8 Goosander 4m and 4f, also Pochard, Shoveler.

Off on hols to Mauritius tomorrow, not a birding holiday and not sure if my broadband dongle will work. If it does and I do see anything noteworthy I will update my blog.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Waxwings in the Park

Around 11:30 this morning c40 Waxwing in trees either side of Cassiobury Park Avenue between Shepherds Road and Watford Met Station. The same flock then re-located to an area around the Cha Cha cafe in the park until spooked by a Sparrowhawk. Also noted 4 Fieldfare and 4 Ring Necked Parakeet.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Urban Birding

Rear of Royal Mail Sorting Office, Ascot Road, Watford; 4 Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, male Bullfinch.

Wood End Lane, Hemel Hempstead; c50 Waxwing.

Ex B.T. Bulding near "Magic Roundabout" Hemel Hempstead; Peregrine roosting on top of furthest right hand column.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Maple Lodge

Maple Lodge; c100 Siskin feeding furiously in the Alders near the clubhouse, Wigeon and Gadwall grazing on Lynsters Farm, f Goosander on Lynsters Lake.

Mon 10th Jan 2011 Stockers then Woodoaks Farm

Stockers Farm; Little Owl.

Stockers Lake; 2 Little Egret, 14+ Goldeneye, 1 Red Crested Pochard, 2 Red Kite, 20 Ring Necked Parakeet, Common Gull, 10 Lapwing.

Woodoaks Farm; Buzzard, 10 Yellowhammer, 9 Linnet, 2 Herring Gull, 100+ mixed flock Fieldfare and Redwing, 2 Little Owl.

Saturday 8 January 2011

Norfolk Birding

An excellent days birding in Norfolk with Brendan G and Dave J.

First stop was Thornham Marshes; Northern Harrier, Hen Harrier, Barn Owl, Red Breasted Merganser and Common Scoter the best birds seen. We had only been at Thornham for 5 minutes when the Northern Harrier showed really well, at first it was joined by a Hen Harrier but this flew off towards Titchwell. Not a bad start to the day!

Next stop, RSPB Titchwell; Highlights here were; Marsh Harrier, Black and Bar Tailed Godwit, Pintail, Eider, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Avocet, Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew, Twite, Merlin.

Finally, Burnham Overy; 2 Rough Legged Buzzard showing well with Marsh Harrier in close attendance, Brent Goose, Pink Footed Goose, Ringed Plover.

Not a bad day!!!!
sh4rpy, Brendan G, Dave J.

Friday 7 January 2011

East Hyde and Batford

Another late afternoon visit to East Hyde and Batford. On the way I noted a Red Kite over the Bedmond Road in the Pimlico area. Then once parked up at East Hyde I went in search of the recently reported European White Fronted Geese, after a lengthy walk along the cycle track I located a flock of geese in a field on the opposite side of the Lower Luton Road, the flock contained mainly Canada and Greylags but also 8 Egyptian and 2 European White Fronted Geese. On returning to East Hyde I noted; Kestrel, Little Egret, Teal, Green Sandpiper and Jack Snipe.  Also noted 2 Hare's.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Jack Snipe at East Hyde

A late afternoon visit in fading light and pouring rain produced; Jack Snipe showing well in the stream close to the bridge also Little Egret and Water Rail. I located a flock of geese distantly on the hillside but no sign of White Fronted or Egyptian just Canada and Grey Lag, perhaps they had gone over the brough?

Tuesday 4 January 2011

Scotsbridge Mill

In fading light a late afternoon visit to Scotsbridge Mill; 8 Teal, 4 Water Rail, 3 Little Egret.

Monday 3 January 2011

Going Local

Scotsbridge Mill mid morning; 4 Water Rail, 3 Little Egret, Lots of Dog walkers.

Woodoaks Farm midday; Goldcrest, 150 mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing, Little Owl, c40 Yellowhammer, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Skylark, Song Thrush.

Stockers Farm; Little Owl, Ring Necked Parakeet.

Springwell Lake; 3m and 1f Goosander.

Stockers Lake; 4m and 4f Goldeneye, c30 Siskin, Ring Necked Parakeet, Goldcrest, c30 Lapwing.

Bury Lake; Pair Red Crested Pochard, Ring Necked Parakeet.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Waxwings in Hemel

At 15:30 today I located c40 Waxwings close to the A414 St Albans Road between Leverstock Green/Maylands Avenue Roundabout and Jarmans Park.

Earlier in the day a visit to Wilstone Reservoir produced the following; Buzzard, c30 Goldfinch, 12 Fieldfare, 7m Pheasant, 2 Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Saturday 1 January 2011

Herts Birding

First stop was junction of Bruce Grove and St Albans Road, North Watford at 8a.m.; c 50 Waxwing.

Southern Country Park, Bishops Stortford CM23 4QZ. 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, Water Rail (calling)

B181 Amwell; 31 Waxwing, Mistle Thrush.

Amwell Gravel Pits; Bittern, f Smew, f Goldeneye, 3 Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Wigeon, Teal, Common Gull, Water Rail, Little Grebe.
sh4rpy, Brendan G.