Monday, 24 October 2011

WATER PIPIT new in

MONDAY 24 OCTOBER

Strong Southeasterly winds blew all day, associated with clear skies before late afternoon....

BROGBOROUGH RECLAIMED LANDFILL SITE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Dave Odell, Roy Nye and I put in three hours (1100-1400 hours) overlooking the rough field on the slope above the landfill, but failed in our quest to locate the ringtail Hen Harrier that had been present here on Saturday and Sunday. There were a host of raptors present though, with at least 5 Common Buzzards, 5 Common Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. Both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers were also recorded, 15 Stock Doves, 3 Skylark, 4 Fieldfare and 3 Redwings, whilst a Red Fox was seen several times hunting.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)

I joined Mike Campbell on the jetty at 1530 and over the next half hour, we enjoyed superb views of a winter-plumaged WATER PIPIT on the left side of the main spit, ranging between 40 and 75 yards from us. A flock of 10 Meadow Pipits were also on the spit, as well as 3 Pied Wagtails, and also a single male Linnet.

Wildfowl present included the pair of Whooper Swans and 7 PINTAILS (4 drakes), whilst the 34 Mute Swans present included the family party of 5 birds (3 of which are marked with orange plastic rings - '033' - adult - and '031' and '032' the two first-years).

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

All 6 young Mute Swans still survive, with 6 Gadwall present, a female Tufted Duck and 64 Coots. An adult Common Gull was with the Black-headed Gull flock, as well as a juvenile Argenteus Herring Gull, whilst migrants included 25 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Pied Wagtail

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