Wednesday, 24 March 2010

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and first WILLOW WARBLER arrive

Further signs of Spring passage around the local area this morning.

At College Lake, the highlight was a cracking male WHITE WAGTAIL on the island on the main lake, plus one European Barn Swallow and two Sand Martins, and a singing Chiffchaff. Something unseen flushed the waders off the marsh providing a rare chance to do a proper count; it produced 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Common Redshanks and 17 Common Snipes. 5 Goldeneye were new on the main lake, and there was also a noticeable influx of Shoveler, presumably from Marsworth where numbers were well down this morning.

As I left, I let Mick A’Court, working on-site today, about the Wagtail. His trip down the far end of the reserve resulting in finding a singing WILLOW WARBLER, the first recorded in the county this year I think.

At Pitstone Industrial Estate was the first LITTLE RINGED PLOVER of the year for the Tring area, a vocal new arrival, plus the remaining pair of Common Ringed Plovers. A Chiffchaff was also singing here this morning.

Cheers & Good Birding,

Ben Miller

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