Grim weather for a walk around the hills. Steps Hill still produced plenty of singing warblers. Ivinghoe Beacon still holds the Grasshopper Warbler and there were 7 Wheatear in the usual field South-East of the Trig. I decided best to vacate the hills at this point !!
Wilstone Reservoir produced tons of hirundine and Swift, and the female MARSH HARRIER showed well above the reedbed until at least 9 am (Mike Wallen)
Much earlier, a single DUNLIN flew through and 9 ARCTIC TERNS (Dave Bilcock)
Monday, 3 May 2010
Sunday, 2 May 2010
It was one of those days.....
Phew - what an amazing day at the reservoirs.
David Bilcock deservedly discovered a RED-RUMPED SWALLOW on his second early morning walk round of Wilstone, the bird showing well amongst the hordes of newly-arrived House Martins and European Barn Swallows just off the jetty and along the hedgerow of the East Bank. It afforded good views for about a 20 minute period but was generally very difficult to pick out in the large flock of hirundines flighting low over the water in the heavy rain and freezing NE winds. About 25 birders connected during the initial showings and then a further 15 during the next 45 minutes, just before it flew off strongly east at 0932 hours. It was not seen again. It represents only the second Red-rumped Swallow ever recorded at the reservoirs following one on Wilstone on 17 May 1981 and only the NINTH in Hertfordshire (following singles at Aldbury on 11 June 1949, at Hilfield Park Reservoir on 1 October 1966, at Hilfield again on 18 May 1982, at Amwell GP on 5 April 1987, at Hilfield again on 28-29 May 2000, at Hollingson Meads, north of Harlow, on 28-29 May 2002 and at Stocker's Farm on 11 April 2007.
Next off came an OSPREY, initially picked up distantly from Wilstone (Ian Williams et al) at 1557 hours, this bird circled over Tringford Reservoir for some time at low level before drifting off east at 1612 hours - and then flew east over College Lake BBOWT at 1616 - and then yet another MARSH HARRIER - a near adult female - which was either in or above Wilstone reedbed for nearly two hours late afternoon.
And then we had the terns - 116+ Common Terns still in residence, with two passage ARCTICS (present from at least 1000-1900 hours), two BLACK (flew along the line of the Grand Union Canal before flying east) and two LITTLE TERNS (present at around 1600 hours only) - and passage waders (a total of 11 DUNLIN through, including two which lingered during the heaviest spell of rain; a WHIMBREL through, a SANDERLING through and a Ringed Plover - with 2 COMMON SANDPIPERS all day).
Other migrants included two female GREENLAND WHEATEARS and 3 YELLOW WAGTAILS on the East Bank at Wilstone mid-afternoon, with up to 9 HOBBIES still present over the reedbed.
David Bilcock deservedly discovered a RED-RUMPED SWALLOW on his second early morning walk round of Wilstone, the bird showing well amongst the hordes of newly-arrived House Martins and European Barn Swallows just off the jetty and along the hedgerow of the East Bank. It afforded good views for about a 20 minute period but was generally very difficult to pick out in the large flock of hirundines flighting low over the water in the heavy rain and freezing NE winds. About 25 birders connected during the initial showings and then a further 15 during the next 45 minutes, just before it flew off strongly east at 0932 hours. It was not seen again. It represents only the second Red-rumped Swallow ever recorded at the reservoirs following one on Wilstone on 17 May 1981 and only the NINTH in Hertfordshire (following singles at Aldbury on 11 June 1949, at Hilfield Park Reservoir on 1 October 1966, at Hilfield again on 18 May 1982, at Amwell GP on 5 April 1987, at Hilfield again on 28-29 May 2000, at Hollingson Meads, north of Harlow, on 28-29 May 2002 and at Stocker's Farm on 11 April 2007.
Next off came an OSPREY, initially picked up distantly from Wilstone (Ian Williams et al) at 1557 hours, this bird circled over Tringford Reservoir for some time at low level before drifting off east at 1612 hours - and then flew east over College Lake BBOWT at 1616 - and then yet another MARSH HARRIER - a near adult female - which was either in or above Wilstone reedbed for nearly two hours late afternoon.
And then we had the terns - 116+ Common Terns still in residence, with two passage ARCTICS (present from at least 1000-1900 hours), two BLACK (flew along the line of the Grand Union Canal before flying east) and two LITTLE TERNS (present at around 1600 hours only) - and passage waders (a total of 11 DUNLIN through, including two which lingered during the heaviest spell of rain; a WHIMBREL through, a SANDERLING through and a Ringed Plover - with 2 COMMON SANDPIPERS all day).
Other migrants included two female GREENLAND WHEATEARS and 3 YELLOW WAGTAILS on the East Bank at Wilstone mid-afternoon, with up to 9 HOBBIES still present over the reedbed.
MEGA - RED-RUMPED SWALLOW at Wilstone
I arrived at Wilstone at about 6:30 as the rain had slackened off and was surprised that I was the only person there. A quick scan revealed little other than a good number of Swifts and Hirundines so I walked round to the Jetty to see if any waders had been downed. Between the North Corner and the Jetty I flushed a flock of five waders and was surprised to see that they were summer-plumaged DUNLINS which circled round and were obviously reluctant to leave.
Just after I arrived at the Jetty I saw David Bilcock appear on the bank so I called him to let him know about the Dunlin flock. He walked round and duly saw them and then joined me at the Jetty. I said I would walk to the Cemetery Corner to see if other waders were sheltering on the rocks. David said he would stop there and look for Red-rumped Swallow as there had been one in Cambridgeshire yesterday. To which I replied it was probably still in Cambridgeshire as well.
I walked far enough along to be convinced there were no waders and heard a vague noise and as I was returning to the Jetty David calmly said "RED-RUMPED SWALLOW". I think he was so calm because he didn't quite believe it - I did! A few tense moments later I saw it and then I told David that I would ring a few people while he kept track of the bird. We didn't want it getting lost as people would soon be arriving. Having made a few calls I took over tracking it while David texted a larger number of people. That done he then took over again while I took a break. It was quite difficult to keep track of it at distance in poor light with so many Swallows and House Martins about and when it flew up against trees it was even worse. Anyway, just as Mike Campbell arrived, David lost it against the trees. Since at that point it was close to the car park we decided to walk to the bench by the path down to Meads and look from there. We met up with Mike and Ian and Steve arrived and after failing to relocate it there I said I would go back to the Jetty and look there.
I again flushed the Dunlin flock as I made my way there. After a couple of minutes I relocated it and gestured the others over. Needless to say there was some haste from the newly-arrived to join me. Soon after they did they were on the bird. As they arrived nine Dunlin were mentioned and we heard them and looked up and saw the nine Dunlin and I spotted a SANDERLING and someone else shouted Ringed Plover. These birds flew around and left shortly afterwards. When David joined us he had already seen the Sanderling and shouted to us but we hadn't heard him. More people joined us and at one stage the bird came very close to the Jetty and allowed us very good views. Eventually Ian and I left the group and we decided to check the bank by the overflows. The only wader there was a Common Sandpiper, but today nothing could be taken for granted.
Mike Campbell pointed out that the only previous record of Red-rumped Swallow for the reservoirs was at Wilstone on 17th May 1981 seen by G Brandejs (Roy Hargreaves).
Just after I arrived at the Jetty I saw David Bilcock appear on the bank so I called him to let him know about the Dunlin flock. He walked round and duly saw them and then joined me at the Jetty. I said I would walk to the Cemetery Corner to see if other waders were sheltering on the rocks. David said he would stop there and look for Red-rumped Swallow as there had been one in Cambridgeshire yesterday. To which I replied it was probably still in Cambridgeshire as well.
I walked far enough along to be convinced there were no waders and heard a vague noise and as I was returning to the Jetty David calmly said "RED-RUMPED SWALLOW". I think he was so calm because he didn't quite believe it - I did! A few tense moments later I saw it and then I told David that I would ring a few people while he kept track of the bird. We didn't want it getting lost as people would soon be arriving. Having made a few calls I took over tracking it while David texted a larger number of people. That done he then took over again while I took a break. It was quite difficult to keep track of it at distance in poor light with so many Swallows and House Martins about and when it flew up against trees it was even worse. Anyway, just as Mike Campbell arrived, David lost it against the trees. Since at that point it was close to the car park we decided to walk to the bench by the path down to Meads and look from there. We met up with Mike and Ian and Steve arrived and after failing to relocate it there I said I would go back to the Jetty and look there.
I again flushed the Dunlin flock as I made my way there. After a couple of minutes I relocated it and gestured the others over. Needless to say there was some haste from the newly-arrived to join me. Soon after they did they were on the bird. As they arrived nine Dunlin were mentioned and we heard them and looked up and saw the nine Dunlin and I spotted a SANDERLING and someone else shouted Ringed Plover. These birds flew around and left shortly afterwards. When David joined us he had already seen the Sanderling and shouted to us but we hadn't heard him. More people joined us and at one stage the bird came very close to the Jetty and allowed us very good views. Eventually Ian and I left the group and we decided to check the bank by the overflows. The only wader there was a Common Sandpiper, but today nothing could be taken for granted.
Mike Campbell pointed out that the only previous record of Red-rumped Swallow for the reservoirs was at Wilstone on 17th May 1981 seen by G Brandejs (Roy Hargreaves).
College Lake BBOWT - official opening of new centre
The visitor centre opened today (Saturday 1 May) - and what a great day it was! Highlight of the day was 4 HOBBIES hawking insects over the marsh. Right in front of the new hide a pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVER was setting up a nest site. Nancy found a sitting Redshank on the east island. There are at least 10 lapwing young, which we were able to show to lots of visitors. Cuckoo was vocal and was flying around towards the end of the day. Whitethroat, lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Blackcap were all heard and seen.
One NORTHERN WHEATEAR at the north of the reserve and good numbers of common terns. Five buzzards and two red kites were also were seen. GOOD DAY!! (Paul Reed)
One NORTHERN WHEATEAR at the north of the reserve and good numbers of common terns. Five buzzards and two red kites were also were seen. GOOD DAY!! (Paul Reed)
College Lake BBOWT - Saturday morning
Unfortunately Mike Wallen's Grey Plovers didn't touch down at College this morning but there were a few migrants around. Dave Bilcock had both Common Sandpiper and Dunlin earlier.
Three Wheatears were on the chalk bench north of the main lake and a Yellow Wagtail flew over east. The Cuckoo was very vocal this morning and flew straight over at one point. Counted 52 Common Terns, at least 5 fledgling Lapwings and 6 adult Common Redshanks. Still 2 male and a female Shoveler hanging on.
Best was saved for last when I met Rosie Hamilton in the new visitor centreand we had 2 Hobbies hunting over the marsh (Rob Andrews)
Three Wheatears were on the chalk bench north of the main lake and a Yellow Wagtail flew over east. The Cuckoo was very vocal this morning and flew straight over at one point. Counted 52 Common Terns, at least 5 fledgling Lapwings and 6 adult Common Redshanks. Still 2 male and a female Shoveler hanging on.
Best was saved for last when I met Rosie Hamilton in the new visitor centreand we had 2 Hobbies hunting over the marsh (Rob Andrews)
More detail on the GREY PLOVERS - and birding the Hills early Saturday morning
SATURDAY 1 MAY: Another great morning on the hills. Ivinghoe Beacon held the singing GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, still in the same area and singing more strongly now. I could actually hear it whilst stood near the Sheep Pens. Another decent number of Wheatear with 11 in the field/ slope South East of the Beacon. The vast majority of these ( if not all ) were probably Greenlanders, but at least half were for sure. There were 2 particularly bright males which had been Tango'd, and one of these was simply breathtaking. Yellow Wagtail over and a small flock of Corn Bunting as well as the singing males.
Back up on to Steps Hill where at the top of the slope I looked up to see 2 unfamiliar ( on jizz ) birds passing over. These turned out to be 2 GREY PLOVERS; I didn't see the front of them as they went over and away from me, but looked to be in S/P with black bellies and armpits. Their very obvious white rumps were still visible as they disappeared into the murk. They were on a direct course for Wilstone as I lost sight of them.
Near to Incombe hole there was a second reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLER and at least 4 singing Garden Warblers remain in top scrub (Mike Wallen)
Back up on to Steps Hill where at the top of the slope I looked up to see 2 unfamiliar ( on jizz ) birds passing over. These turned out to be 2 GREY PLOVERS; I didn't see the front of them as they went over and away from me, but looked to be in S/P with black bellies and armpits. Their very obvious white rumps were still visible as they disappeared into the murk. They were on a direct course for Wilstone as I lost sight of them.
Near to Incombe hole there was a second reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLER and at least 4 singing Garden Warblers remain in top scrub (Mike Wallen)
May starts with a bang - GREY PLOVERS
SATURDAY 1 MAY: Two summer-plumaged adult GREY PLOVERS flew west over Steps Hill mid morning (Mike Wallen) and were intercepted as they flew NW to the east of the reservoirs (Roy Hargreaves/Ian Williams)
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