MONDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER
(A marked change to the weather, with fresh SW winds back once more. Apart from the odd isolated shower, a dry day, but cloudy throughout, and rather warm)
(A marked change to the weather, with fresh SW winds back once more. Apart from the odd isolated shower, a dry day, but cloudy throughout, and rather warm)
The SHORT-EARED OWL was the star bird of the day, being seen twice in flight as it flushed from the upper footpath near the Beacon obelisk and then again from the slope above the sheep pens (see photographs above; seen by both Don Otter and Sue Rowe)
Both WHINCHAT and NORTHERN WHEATEARS remained in the cornfield (photographs courtesy of David Bilcock)
IVINGHOE HILLS NATURE RESERVE
Following Don Otter's text, arrived at Ivinghoe Beacon shortly after 1215 hours, where I joined Mike & Rosie Collard in search of the SHORT-EARED OWL. Sue Rowe had acted upon Don's find earlier and had scored, chancing upon the bird as it had been flushed from short grass from the slope immediately up from the 'chat sheep pens'. All three of us were quickly on the scene but despite an extensive search of the area, failed to relocate it between 1215 and 1400 hours.
A few migrant passerines remained from previous days, including 2 NORTHERN WHEATEARS (an adult and juvenile on the hay bales), a single juvenile WHINCHAT and the continuing moulting male COMMON STONECHAT. The adult HOBBY was again present, as well as 13 Skylarks and 4 Linnets.
As Rose paid the ice-cream man protection money for guarding their Renault, I carried on to Tring Reservoirs to carry out my first September counts.
In WEST IVINGHOE, 9 HOUSE SPARROWS were recorded, with a further 11 individuals in MARSWORTH VILLAGE and 33 in the Angler's Retreat Willow trees.
IVINGHOE HILLS NATURE RESERVE
Following Don Otter's text, arrived at Ivinghoe Beacon shortly after 1215 hours, where I joined Mike & Rosie Collard in search of the SHORT-EARED OWL. Sue Rowe had acted upon Don's find earlier and had scored, chancing upon the bird as it had been flushed from short grass from the slope immediately up from the 'chat sheep pens'. All three of us were quickly on the scene but despite an extensive search of the area, failed to relocate it between 1215 and 1400 hours.
A few migrant passerines remained from previous days, including 2 NORTHERN WHEATEARS (an adult and juvenile on the hay bales), a single juvenile WHINCHAT and the continuing moulting male COMMON STONECHAT. The adult HOBBY was again present, as well as 13 Skylarks and 4 Linnets.
As Rose paid the ice-cream man protection money for guarding their Renault, I carried on to Tring Reservoirs to carry out my first September counts.
In WEST IVINGHOE, 9 HOUSE SPARROWS were recorded, with a further 11 individuals in MARSWORTH VILLAGE and 33 in the Angler's Retreat Willow trees.
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