Well it has been a fairly quiet winter locally
with little of interest being recorded.......
Apart from up to 4 BITTERNS and the odd flyover
GOOSANDER, the RESERVOIRS proved very hard work
Since February when Dave Bilcock photographed an
immature/female MERLIN near WILSTONE CEMETERY, highlights have been a
first-winter CASPIAN GULL in the roost one night (5th March), an unprecedented
32 KITTIWAKES in the roost (6th March), no fewer than 7 MEDITERRANEAN GULLS in
February, a 20-year record of just under 200 HERRING GULLS in February, a pair
of COMMON STONECHATS in Rushy Meadow for 3 weeks (to 1st March) and a female in
Cemetery Corner on 4th March, two pairs of GARGANEY on 11 March and up to 50
SAND MARTINS since the first on 5th
The first NORTHERN WHEATEARS arrived today on
the Hills, with a pair at PITSTONE HILL with a female COMMON STONECHAT (the
second migrant this month following a male on 11th). Meanwhile, IVINGHOE BEACON
has been particularly quiet, with just a daily passage of Meadow Pipit and
Common Gull in recent days
