Thursday, 13 May 2010
HOBBIES increase to 17
Warren Claydon and I counted 17 HOBBIES just before it was dark. There were c.100 Common Terns, this seems to be the norm in the last week at dusk. 1 First summer Common Gull. On Tuesday there was 1 Common Sandpiper, on Monday Rob and I saw 1 Common Shelduck arrive late evening, and on Sunday a Common Cuckoo briefly called and there were 2 ARCTIC TERNS. At Marsworth on Sunday the GRASSHOPPER WARBLER was still reeling and there was also a Garden Warbler singing close to the canal near the sewage works. Elsewhere on Sunday there were 2 male Mandarin Ducks at Pitstone Quarry and opposite the Hale End at Wendover there were 315 Stock Doves. Monday evening at the Beacon there were still 5 Wheatears (Steve Rodwell guided tours)
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
More MARSH HARRIERS and a nasal-banded NORTHERN POCHARD from France
David Bilcock found and phone-scoped this nasal-banded female Northern Pochard this morning, and this first-summer female MARSH HARRIER this evening
WEDNESDAY 12 MAY
In any normal year, the 12th May would be traditionally 'Dotterel Day' but with cold northerly winds now almost in their third consecutive week, migrants of this ilk are still being held up much farther south in Europe. In fact, many areas had experienced a frost overnight, particularly in Scotland and Northern England, but even in this area, temperatures once again struggled to 12 degrees C, well below average. It did remain dry though and the combination of wind and sun ensured that the ground was crusted hard in many areas.
After a very successful day in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, yielding three new 2010 birds including SANDERLING and COMMON QUAIL (the latter, one of my earliest ever in Britain), I returned again today, after Jim Gurney found two Turnstones........It was also another good day at Wilstone, with two more Marsh Harriers - the best year on record.
HORTON (BUCKS) (SP 925 194)
Within a mile section of the B 488 just north of Horton village, I located two Common Kestrel pairs, including a pair breeding in a dead Elm.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(joined by Mike Hirst and later by Dave Bilcock, Steve Rodwell and Chaz Jackson)
After hearing that Mike Hirst had discovered yet another MARSH HARRIER at Wilstone - his third this spring - I stopped off there on my route south. Mike's bird - a first-summer male - was showing well over the reedbed, between the hide and the Drayton Bank 'Boatshed Corner', occasionally being attacked by corvids. Whilst watching it through the 'scope, a second MARSH HARRIER flew in to view - a dark first-summer female - and for a while the two birds flew around hunting and scattering wildfowl and Coot. I lost track of the male at around 1610 hours but the female reappeared from the reeds on at least five more occasions and flew around and hunted.. At one stage, she was physically attacked by one of the nesting Grey Herons and had to take evasive action, plunging into the reeds to escape. She kept on showing until 1715 before dropping out of view in the reeds, presumably to roost, and did not reappear. MH joined me later and I was able to show him this additional bird, Wilstone having its best ever spring for this ever-increasing and very successful raptor.
HOBBIES were the other big story with at least 13 flighting back and forwards over the reedbeds and Drayton Bank. They afforded magnificent views from the hide and when not feeding took advantage of the many posts to rest. The majority of birds were adults but there were the odd first-summer with them.
Other raptors included Red Kite and Common Buzzard.
Otherwise, the following were noted:
Great Crested Grebes (8)
Continental Cormorant (9 active nests)
LITTLE EGRET (two birds flew in to roost at 1905 hours)
Mute Swan (the 16 regular birds present joined later by 5 new arrivals)
Greylag Geese (two pairs with goslings, both broods numbering 5)
Gadwall (12)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (pair still present)
Tufted Duck (83)
NORTHERN POCHARD (10 present, including 6 adult drakes and a nasal-banded female from France - pale blue band marked =P - see Dave's image above)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1)
Black-headed Gull (adult winter still loafing just off the bank - presumably suffering botulism - but present for its 13th day; interestingly, a pair nearby constitute the first breeding attempt for the area)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 immatures)
Common Tern (52)
Common Swift (constant passage overhead, numbering at least 330 birds)
European Barn Swallow (64)
House Martin (14)
SAND MARTIN (late passage - at least 53 counted)
YELLOW WAGTAIL (a male flew east at 1905)
Blackcap (male singing by new overflow)
In any normal year, the 12th May would be traditionally 'Dotterel Day' but with cold northerly winds now almost in their third consecutive week, migrants of this ilk are still being held up much farther south in Europe. In fact, many areas had experienced a frost overnight, particularly in Scotland and Northern England, but even in this area, temperatures once again struggled to 12 degrees C, well below average. It did remain dry though and the combination of wind and sun ensured that the ground was crusted hard in many areas.
After a very successful day in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, yielding three new 2010 birds including SANDERLING and COMMON QUAIL (the latter, one of my earliest ever in Britain), I returned again today, after Jim Gurney found two Turnstones........It was also another good day at Wilstone, with two more Marsh Harriers - the best year on record.
HORTON (BUCKS) (SP 925 194)
Within a mile section of the B 488 just north of Horton village, I located two Common Kestrel pairs, including a pair breeding in a dead Elm.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(joined by Mike Hirst and later by Dave Bilcock, Steve Rodwell and Chaz Jackson)
After hearing that Mike Hirst had discovered yet another MARSH HARRIER at Wilstone - his third this spring - I stopped off there on my route south. Mike's bird - a first-summer male - was showing well over the reedbed, between the hide and the Drayton Bank 'Boatshed Corner', occasionally being attacked by corvids. Whilst watching it through the 'scope, a second MARSH HARRIER flew in to view - a dark first-summer female - and for a while the two birds flew around hunting and scattering wildfowl and Coot. I lost track of the male at around 1610 hours but the female reappeared from the reeds on at least five more occasions and flew around and hunted.. At one stage, she was physically attacked by one of the nesting Grey Herons and had to take evasive action, plunging into the reeds to escape. She kept on showing until 1715 before dropping out of view in the reeds, presumably to roost, and did not reappear. MH joined me later and I was able to show him this additional bird, Wilstone having its best ever spring for this ever-increasing and very successful raptor.
HOBBIES were the other big story with at least 13 flighting back and forwards over the reedbeds and Drayton Bank. They afforded magnificent views from the hide and when not feeding took advantage of the many posts to rest. The majority of birds were adults but there were the odd first-summer with them.
Other raptors included Red Kite and Common Buzzard.
Otherwise, the following were noted:
Great Crested Grebes (8)
Continental Cormorant (9 active nests)
LITTLE EGRET (two birds flew in to roost at 1905 hours)
Mute Swan (the 16 regular birds present joined later by 5 new arrivals)
Greylag Geese (two pairs with goslings, both broods numbering 5)
Gadwall (12)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (pair still present)
Tufted Duck (83)
NORTHERN POCHARD (10 present, including 6 adult drakes and a nasal-banded female from France - pale blue band marked =P - see Dave's image above)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1)
Black-headed Gull (adult winter still loafing just off the bank - presumably suffering botulism - but present for its 13th day; interestingly, a pair nearby constitute the first breeding attempt for the area)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 immatures)
Common Tern (52)
Common Swift (constant passage overhead, numbering at least 330 birds)
European Barn Swallow (64)
House Martin (14)
SAND MARTIN (late passage - at least 53 counted)
YELLOW WAGTAIL (a male flew east at 1905)
Blackcap (male singing by new overflow)
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
WHINCHAT
This evening a WHINCHAT was at the north end of College lake, hunting from the fence posts.
Also present were 2 Common Sandpipers on the marsh.
This morning 6 Common Shelducks were at Wilstone by the jetty before flying off east at 6:30am.
Also present were 2 Common Sandpipers on the marsh.
This morning 6 Common Shelducks were at Wilstone by the jetty before flying off east at 6:30am.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Another OSPREY moves through
An OSPREY flew towards College Lake from Marsworth, following the course of the Grand Union Canal, at 0834 hours this morning (Rob Andrews)
Sunday, 9 May 2010
And yet more WHIMBRELS grounded - Sunday morning
Another good morning at the lake today with the highlight being a flock of 8 WHIMBREL that flew in at 7.45, tried to land on the area north of the lakebut after being harrassed by a Crow flew off to the east.
The only other passage wader was a Common Sandpiper on the marsh but it was also nice to see a Common Snipe lingering. Thought I heard it drumming at one point and it was certainly in the air when I heard the sound so seems probable.
Pitsone Hill was very cold and quiet with just a single Corn Bunting singing, 2 Common Whitethroats and a Red Kite. Good numbers of hirundines at Startops but nothing else of note (Rob Andrews).
The only other passage wader was a Common Sandpiper on the marsh but it was also nice to see a Common Snipe lingering. Thought I heard it drumming at one point and it was certainly in the air when I heard the sound so seems probable.
Pitsone Hill was very cold and quiet with just a single Corn Bunting singing, 2 Common Whitethroats and a Red Kite. Good numbers of hirundines at Startops but nothing else of note (Rob Andrews).
......And a few snippets from Steve Rodwell
Saturday Wilstone Reservoir: There was another single WHIMBREL and then a group of 6. It was great to hear that the 3 TURNSTONES that circled around Wilstone several times ended up at College Lake. Up to 4 ARCTIC TERNS, 2 still present in the evening (all above seen with Dan Forder).
There was some fantastic views of HOBBIES hunting. Up to 3 Hobbies chasing hirundines or Swifts. One Hobby overshoot when dive-bombing a swallow yesterday and hit the water, but managed to fly off. Today 2 Hobbies grappled with one another, both plunging down to the surface of the reservoir, and this time one bird was almost totally submerged and just about struggled out from the water.
On Wednesday there were 15 Hobbies just before dusk and 11 on Thursday.
On Tuesday Dave, Stuart and I saw 4 Common Shelducks briefly in the evening. Wednesday - 2 Arctic Terns. Friday - 3 Dunlins. Ivinghoe Beacon - Wednesday evening: Only 1 gropper was singing. There was no sign of the one on Steps Hill.
There was some fantastic views of HOBBIES hunting. Up to 3 Hobbies chasing hirundines or Swifts. One Hobby overshoot when dive-bombing a swallow yesterday and hit the water, but managed to fly off. Today 2 Hobbies grappled with one another, both plunging down to the surface of the reservoir, and this time one bird was almost totally submerged and just about struggled out from the water.
On Wednesday there were 15 Hobbies just before dusk and 11 on Thursday.
On Tuesday Dave, Stuart and I saw 4 Common Shelducks briefly in the evening. Wednesday - 2 Arctic Terns. Friday - 3 Dunlins. Ivinghoe Beacon - Wednesday evening: Only 1 gropper was singing. There was no sign of the one on Steps Hill.
Dave Bilcock's Picture Gallery of today's Wader-fest
The jetty WHIMBREL and College Lake TURNSTONE and breeding-plumaged GREY PLOVER
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