Tuesday 14 April 2009

EASTER SUNDAY - LGRE DIARY NOTES




WILSTONE RESERVOIR

After spending the morning in Bedfordshire and Leicestershire, I finally pitched up at Wilstone at 1345 hours, in time for the scoter but well after the male Hen Harrier and 2 Sandwich Terns had departed - both mega birds for the reservoirs.

The adult drake COMMON SCOTER was still showing well out in the main open patch of water and easily viewable from the car park steps or from near the jetty. It was part of a major displacement of the species inland, involving at least 90 birds. David Bilcock obtained some photographs of it.

All 5 EURASIAN WIGEON were still present, along with 4 Common Teal, whilst 1 Common Tern was present, my first COMMON SANDPIPER of the Tring Area year and a Song Thrush feeding along the top of the reservoir bank.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR

Common Terns had increased to a minimum of 15 birds whilst a single ARCTIC TERN was also present - occasionally roosting on the green algae-control bunds (again, excellently photographed by DB).

10 Mute Swans were present on the adjacent canal.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR

Three Common Gulls (all immature) flew high east, whilst the Paddock Fields yielded 9 YELLOW WAGTAILS, 7 Meadow Pipits and 12 Barn Swallows.

Two CETTI'S WARBLERS singing.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (return visit)

Sinensis Cormorants (29 - 4 pairs breeding)
Mute Swan (5 adults)
Gadwall (12)
Coot (3+ pairs nesting)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS (2 immatures flew east)
HERRING GULLS (passage of first-summer birds with 6+ flying east)
Black-headed Gulls (10 over)

House Martins (8)
Jay (1 in trees on the central bank)

Lee Evans

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