TUESDAY 10 APRIL
It was a day dominated by cold NW winds, keeping temperatures well pegged back. It was quite bright and sunny though with the odd heavy sleet shower passing through.
There was little evidence of any movement going on and it was very cold out in the field.....
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
My first check here in over a month and few wildfowl now remaining. However, most intriguing, was the presence of no less than 7 first-year Mute Swans, in addition to the resident nesting pair. A pair of Atlantic Canada Geese was also nesting within 20 yards of the female Mute.
Otherwise, 1 pair of Little Grebes, no sign of the Great Cresteds, 3 pairs of Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Duck, 22 Coots (including 4 sat on nests), Stock Dove, a singing Nuthatch and singing male Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1147-1247 hours; with Steve Rodwell)
Newly arrived were 3 COMMON SANDPIPERS, my first of the year at Tring and in Hertfordshire. COMMON TERNS had increased to 8 and migrant gulls included up to 7 Commons and 3 immature argenteus HERRING GULLS.
The DARK-BELLIED BRENT was still with the 23 Greylags in the East Fields, with 10 Mute Swans, 40 Shoveler, 7 Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Barn Swallows and 16 Sand Martins noted (Steve additionally had a singing male Willow Warbler in the NE corner hedge).
MARSWORTH WOOD held 3 singing male Blackcaps and a Goldcrest, with 3 Barn Swallows and 6 Sand Martins on STARTOP'S END
IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)
The 4 RING OUZELS (3 males and a female) were showing very well amongst the scattered bushes on the Gallows Hill slope (see Lucy Flowers excellent shot from today above), with 9 NORTHERN WHEATEARS just SE of the Beacon. Up to 120 Linnets was present in the sheep field.
DUNSTABLE DOWNS/WHIPSNADE DOWNS/BISON HILL (BEDS)
A total waste of time and largely flogging a dead horse. The biting wind was relentless and I failed in my quest to find any additional Ring Ouzels. I gave up early
It was a day dominated by cold NW winds, keeping temperatures well pegged back. It was quite bright and sunny though with the odd heavy sleet shower passing through.
There was little evidence of any movement going on and it was very cold out in the field.....
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
My first check here in over a month and few wildfowl now remaining. However, most intriguing, was the presence of no less than 7 first-year Mute Swans, in addition to the resident nesting pair. A pair of Atlantic Canada Geese was also nesting within 20 yards of the female Mute.
Otherwise, 1 pair of Little Grebes, no sign of the Great Cresteds, 3 pairs of Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Duck, 22 Coots (including 4 sat on nests), Stock Dove, a singing Nuthatch and singing male Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1147-1247 hours; with Steve Rodwell)
Newly arrived were 3 COMMON SANDPIPERS, my first of the year at Tring and in Hertfordshire. COMMON TERNS had increased to 8 and migrant gulls included up to 7 Commons and 3 immature argenteus HERRING GULLS.
The DARK-BELLIED BRENT was still with the 23 Greylags in the East Fields, with 10 Mute Swans, 40 Shoveler, 7 Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Barn Swallows and 16 Sand Martins noted (Steve additionally had a singing male Willow Warbler in the NE corner hedge).
MARSWORTH WOOD held 3 singing male Blackcaps and a Goldcrest, with 3 Barn Swallows and 6 Sand Martins on STARTOP'S END
IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)
The 4 RING OUZELS (3 males and a female) were showing very well amongst the scattered bushes on the Gallows Hill slope (see Lucy Flowers excellent shot from today above), with 9 NORTHERN WHEATEARS just SE of the Beacon. Up to 120 Linnets was present in the sheep field.
DUNSTABLE DOWNS/WHIPSNADE DOWNS/BISON HILL (BEDS)
A total waste of time and largely flogging a dead horse. The biting wind was relentless and I failed in my quest to find any additional Ring Ouzels. I gave up early
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