David and I watched three CURLEW SANDPIPERS fly round as we were stood by the car park and we lost them at about 6:50 as they descended behind the bushes along Drayton Bank. We went to the hide but couldn’t see them from there. I also couldn’t find them from the jetty and so felt it was fair to assume that they hadn’t landed after all. I decided there was no rush to put out news since they appeared to have departed.
Otherwise this morning a juvenile Peregrine made several passes at birds at just after 6am this morning. It then cruised past again later but made no attempt to hunt. The Little Stint was still with the Ringed Plover on the spit by the jetty. One of the two Ruff present flew off at about 6:05, heading towards the other reservoirs, presumably as a result of the Peregrine’s hunting attempts. Several Yellow Wagtails flew over during my time by the reservoir. The overflow hedge had a Whinchat on it and then in the grass field near it. There was also one yesterday in the hedge to the west by the long dung heap. Also in the overflow hedge a number of Yellowhammers, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats were active. I could only find one Greenshank and a Redshank flew over in an easterly direction (Roy Hargreaves)
Friday, 2 September 2011
LITTLE STINT still present
FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
Today was one of those great days to be out and about. The weather was excellent and very good for diurnal migration. The winds were light - ESE early on, then southerly, then switching right round to NW by evening. Glorious sunshine throughout but then clouding over somewhat by dusk with a few spots of rain.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)
Joining Steve Rodwell, Mike Hirst, Ian Williams and others at Wilstone, we did the evening shift from 1700-1930 hours. By now, the wind had veered northwesterly and cloud cover had encroached from the east. It was frustratingly quiet.
Both Dave and Roy had seen 3 juvenile CURLEW SANDPIPERS briefly early morning but none had lingered. New in this evening were a single COMMON SNIPE and another new juvenile RUFF. One juvenile RUFF from earlier lingered, along with the juvenile LITTLE STINT on the main spit, whilst 8 RINGED PLOVERS (4 juveniles), 2 Common Sandpipers and a single COMMON GREENSHANK remained.
Otherwise, Great Crested Grebes numbered 17, Coot 386, Little Egret 19, Mute Swan 16, Common Teal 135, Shoveler 67, Northern Pochard 69 and Tufted Duck 26.
The family party of 3 HOBBIES were still in the area, whilst just 3 Common Terns remained. A single YELLOW WAGTAIL flew over, with 143 Barn Swallows in the area and at least 115 House Martins. Mike and Ian saw a single COMMON SWIFT.
WORD OF CAUTION: the main road has been tarmacced today but is very slippery in places; there was one accident this evening just west of the car park
Today was one of those great days to be out and about. The weather was excellent and very good for diurnal migration. The winds were light - ESE early on, then southerly, then switching right round to NW by evening. Glorious sunshine throughout but then clouding over somewhat by dusk with a few spots of rain.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)
Joining Steve Rodwell, Mike Hirst, Ian Williams and others at Wilstone, we did the evening shift from 1700-1930 hours. By now, the wind had veered northwesterly and cloud cover had encroached from the east. It was frustratingly quiet.
Both Dave and Roy had seen 3 juvenile CURLEW SANDPIPERS briefly early morning but none had lingered. New in this evening were a single COMMON SNIPE and another new juvenile RUFF. One juvenile RUFF from earlier lingered, along with the juvenile LITTLE STINT on the main spit, whilst 8 RINGED PLOVERS (4 juveniles), 2 Common Sandpipers and a single COMMON GREENSHANK remained.
Otherwise, Great Crested Grebes numbered 17, Coot 386, Little Egret 19, Mute Swan 16, Common Teal 135, Shoveler 67, Northern Pochard 69 and Tufted Duck 26.
The family party of 3 HOBBIES were still in the area, whilst just 3 Common Terns remained. A single YELLOW WAGTAIL flew over, with 143 Barn Swallows in the area and at least 115 House Martins. Mike and Ian saw a single COMMON SWIFT.
WORD OF CAUTION: the main road has been tarmacced today but is very slippery in places; there was one accident this evening just west of the car park
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Swarming with RUFFS and a new LITTLE STINT
TUESDAY 31 AUGUST
The last day of August brought dry and fine weather to the Chilterns with light, variable winds and long spells of bright sunshine - temperatures recovered too from those over the Bank Holiday Weekend....
It was my first chance in a few days to get down to the ressies and an excellent few hours birding resulted. The highlight was seeing one of the largest flocks of RUFF in the county in over 25 years, as well as a superb migrant flock of WAGTAILS. A second juvenile LITTLE STINT also arrived today...
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1700-1930 hours; in the company of Steve Rodwell, Mike Hurst, JT, Sally, Dave Bilcock & Kevin Holt)
Just as SR and I arrived at the car park steps at 1700 hours, a large flock of flava wagtails flew in calling from the Northwest. I followed them in flight to see them all land on the East Bank and on the jetty. Kevin Holt and I followed them round towards the jetty and 'scoped them and were delighted to find a flock of 25 YELLOW WAGTAILS and 2 striking migrant WHITE WAGTAILS with them - an adult male and a first-winter. The Yellows consisted of both adults and juveniles/first-winters and all clambered down to the water's edge and drank together - a superb sight. They then flitted back and forwards to the grassy bank before flying off towards the fields behind the jetty.
Shortly later we were viewing the spit and thankfully (after an East European had just flushed everything in sight by illegally walking round the centre of the reservoir and fishing without a license or permit), the wader flock had returned. Two very fresh juvenile LITTLE STINTS were feeding together, along with a juvenile DUNLIN and a party of 6 RINGED PLOVERS (including four juveniles), just 25 yards away along the spit, affording exceptional views (see the many photographs of the first individual on my blog as well as a brand new selection taken by Ian Williams above). A quick pan round also revealed the presence of 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS, a Common Sandpiper and just 2 remaining COMMON GREENSHANKS.
A survey of the remaining birds present on the reservoir resulted in the following -:
26 Mute Swans, 175 Common Teal, 18 Gadwall, an increase to 38 Shoveler, an increase to 58 Northern Pochard, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 477 Coot, 5 Grey Herons, 18 LITTLE EGRETS, juvenile Herring Gull, just 5 Common Terns and 330 Lapwings.
Steve and I then spent a long vigil searching the ''Hide Meadow'' for Roy's COMMON REDSTART - seen early this morning. No joy I am afraid but migrants did include an enjoyable party of 6 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, a juvenile WILLOW WARBLER, a juvenile COMMON WHITETHROAT and a male Blackcap, whilst other species noted included a juvenile Sparrowhawk, all 3 HOBBIES, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Stock Doves, 11 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 8 Blue Tits, 1 juvenile Great Tit, Robin, Wren and Song Thrush.
Whilst scanning from the Drayton Bank Hide, after counting the 4 resident Chinese Water Deer, 2 Red Foxes and the 3 continuing RUFFS (male and 2 females), I came across a flock of waders flighting in from the Ivinghoe Beacon. I followed them in the 'scope for about 5 minutes before which time they dropped rapidly in flight and flew right down in front of JT and Kevin still viewing from the jetty. Incredibly, they were a flock of 9 juvenile RUFFS. They continued westwards, skirted over the middle causeway and then landed briefly with the 3 'resident' birds. Within a few minutes, they took flight again and then continued circling the reservoir in a tight-knit flock for some time before eventually settling in the feeder stream in the SW corner and drinking voraciously. They then remained in this area, mingling with the large Teal and Lapwing flock. Twelve individuals at once is quite exceptional for Hertfordshire and in addition to the 5 of last week, the largest number recorded for over 20 years.....
Now we just want that migrant Pectoral or Curlew Sandpiper to make landfall.......
The last day of August brought dry and fine weather to the Chilterns with light, variable winds and long spells of bright sunshine - temperatures recovered too from those over the Bank Holiday Weekend....
It was my first chance in a few days to get down to the ressies and an excellent few hours birding resulted. The highlight was seeing one of the largest flocks of RUFF in the county in over 25 years, as well as a superb migrant flock of WAGTAILS. A second juvenile LITTLE STINT also arrived today...
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1700-1930 hours; in the company of Steve Rodwell, Mike Hurst, JT, Sally, Dave Bilcock & Kevin Holt)
Just as SR and I arrived at the car park steps at 1700 hours, a large flock of flava wagtails flew in calling from the Northwest. I followed them in flight to see them all land on the East Bank and on the jetty. Kevin Holt and I followed them round towards the jetty and 'scoped them and were delighted to find a flock of 25 YELLOW WAGTAILS and 2 striking migrant WHITE WAGTAILS with them - an adult male and a first-winter. The Yellows consisted of both adults and juveniles/first-winters and all clambered down to the water's edge and drank together - a superb sight. They then flitted back and forwards to the grassy bank before flying off towards the fields behind the jetty.
Shortly later we were viewing the spit and thankfully (after an East European had just flushed everything in sight by illegally walking round the centre of the reservoir and fishing without a license or permit), the wader flock had returned. Two very fresh juvenile LITTLE STINTS were feeding together, along with a juvenile DUNLIN and a party of 6 RINGED PLOVERS (including four juveniles), just 25 yards away along the spit, affording exceptional views (see the many photographs of the first individual on my blog as well as a brand new selection taken by Ian Williams above). A quick pan round also revealed the presence of 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS, a Common Sandpiper and just 2 remaining COMMON GREENSHANKS.
A survey of the remaining birds present on the reservoir resulted in the following -:
26 Mute Swans, 175 Common Teal, 18 Gadwall, an increase to 38 Shoveler, an increase to 58 Northern Pochard, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 477 Coot, 5 Grey Herons, 18 LITTLE EGRETS, juvenile Herring Gull, just 5 Common Terns and 330 Lapwings.
Steve and I then spent a long vigil searching the ''Hide Meadow'' for Roy's COMMON REDSTART - seen early this morning. No joy I am afraid but migrants did include an enjoyable party of 6 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, a juvenile WILLOW WARBLER, a juvenile COMMON WHITETHROAT and a male Blackcap, whilst other species noted included a juvenile Sparrowhawk, all 3 HOBBIES, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Stock Doves, 11 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 8 Blue Tits, 1 juvenile Great Tit, Robin, Wren and Song Thrush.
Whilst scanning from the Drayton Bank Hide, after counting the 4 resident Chinese Water Deer, 2 Red Foxes and the 3 continuing RUFFS (male and 2 females), I came across a flock of waders flighting in from the Ivinghoe Beacon. I followed them in the 'scope for about 5 minutes before which time they dropped rapidly in flight and flew right down in front of JT and Kevin still viewing from the jetty. Incredibly, they were a flock of 9 juvenile RUFFS. They continued westwards, skirted over the middle causeway and then landed briefly with the 3 'resident' birds. Within a few minutes, they took flight again and then continued circling the reservoir in a tight-knit flock for some time before eventually settling in the feeder stream in the SW corner and drinking voraciously. They then remained in this area, mingling with the large Teal and Lapwing flock. Twelve individuals at once is quite exceptional for Hertfordshire and in addition to the 5 of last week, the largest number recorded for over 20 years.....
Now we just want that migrant Pectoral or Curlew Sandpiper to make landfall.......
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
And more images from the reservoirs - this time taken by Ian Williams
Today and yesterday's juvenile DUNLIN and Ian's WHINCHAT
LITTLE STINT still present (3rd day)
The juvenile LITTLE STINT present since Saturday and photographed by Francis Buckle above was still feeding along the spit this evening (per Steve Rodwell). Not much else though, other than a few Greenshanks
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