Bramfield

An early morning visit to Bramfield churchyard and nearby with Brendan G; 3 Hawfinch briefly, 7 Bullfinch in the hedgerow around the playing field, Buzzard, Red Kite. 07:30 to 09:30.

My Abbots back garden; Coal Tit.

Beds Short Eared Owl

An evening visit to Wixams near Wilstead in Befordshire with Brendan G.
We enjoyed good scope views of a Short Eared Owl, showing well between 16:15 and 17:15. Also seen 2 Snipe, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and 2 Muntjac. Postcode for Sat-Nav MK45 3HT (Dane Lane.)

Waxwings Toms Lane, Kings Langley/Bedmond

c40 Waxwings feeding on rotten apples in front garden of house next to IPS fencing Toms Lane at 10:15 this morning.

Waxwings at Croxley and Maple Cross

24 Waxwing between Dorrofield Close and Sycamore Road, Croxley today from 14:00 to at least 15:30. Similar number at Maple Cross near Nissan and Renault buildings at about 14:45.
Woodoaks Farm; 6 Yellowhammer, 12 Goldfinch, Little Owl, 30 Redwing/Fieldfare, 13 Pied Wagtail.
Maple Lodge; Teal, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Ring Necked Parakeet, Goldcrest, Redwing, Fieldfare.

Waxwings Toms Lane

60 Waxwing bottom end of Toms Lane, 100 yards before railway bridge.
Also Sparrowhawk over Tibbs Hill, Abbots Langley.

Ivinghoe Hotspot

A mid morning visit to Ivinghoe Beacon. Extremely high winds especially up on the ridge, not much about as you might expect with such poor weather conditions, however, on the way back to the car park I noticed a Blue Tit in the hedgerow and on closer inspection I could see another bird flitting about in the background. I put my bins on the birds and noticed the Blue Tit was closely accompanied by a Goldcrest. Almost immediately they were joined by a Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, Coal Tit and Nuthatch. All birds were within 4 feet of each-other.
Then I crossed the road towards Incombe Hole. The only noteworthy birds were Goldcrest and Long Tailed Tit. I did, however, have a great view of 2 Weasels.

Mauritius

Arrived back from a family holiday to Mauritius on sunday morning, not much opportunity for birding but did note the following;

Seen from, or near our accommodation at Perybere in the north of Mauritius.
Zebra Dove, Madagascar Turtle Dove, Ring Necked Parakeet, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Mauritius Grey Whiteye, Madagascar Fody, House Sparrow, Masked Weaver (weaving nest,) Spice Finch,

On the shoreline Pereybere area.
Striated Heron, Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper.

Black River Gorge National Park.
White Tailed Tropic Bird, Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher.

 Common Mynah

 Madagascar Fody

 Masked Weaver

 Ruddy Turnstone

 Red Whiskered Bulbul

 Spice Finch

Striated Heron

Updates

Mon 31st Jan, Woodoaks Farm; 2 Little Owl, c100 mixed flock Fieldfare and Redwing, 3 Red Kite, c50 Linnet, 12+ Yellowhammer. Withey Beds; 2 Mistle Thrush, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker. Cassiobury Park; 2 Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, Little Egret, 2 Water Rail.
sh4rpy, Geoff L, Martin.J.S.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Scotsbridge Mill

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

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.

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.

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.