3 OCTOBER 2008

Dave Bilcock discovered this new juvenile DUNLIN today, feeding along the north shore of Startopsend Reservoir.

The juvenile RUFF and DUNLIN and 2 RINGED PLOVERS remain on Wilstone Reservoir.

On Marsworth Reservoir, the two juvenile LITTLE GULLS remain.

DAVE BILCOCK

2 OCTOBER 2008

WILSTONE RESERVOIR

Two LITTLE EGRETS, the juvenile RUFF, juvenile DUNLIN, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER and 7 NORTHERN PINTAIL all remain.

The highlight however was a covey of 10 GREY PARTRIDGES present in the field immediately north of the Dry Canal.

CHINESE WATER DEER, 130 Jackdaws, WATER RAIL, 8 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS and Common Snipe (SR)

ROY HARGEAVES

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR

The two juvenile LITTLE GULLS remain

STARTOPSEND RESERVOIR

WHITE WAGTAIL and 9 SISKIN over (SR)

STEPS HILL

17 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER over, 4 Blackcaps and a Marsh Tit (SR)

1 OCTOBER 2008

BIRD OF THE DAY

This juvenile LITTLE GULL brightened up an otherwise lacklustre day and was one of two birds gracing Marsworth Reservoir throughout the late afternoon

WEDNESDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2008

A much colder day than of late with strong (near gale-force at times) WNW winds and long clear periods.

The undoubted highlight today was two gorgeous juvenile LITTLE GULLS showing down to just a few yards on Marsworth Reservoir, along with the continuing RUFF and DUNLIN on Wilstone and a massive increase in Great Crested Grebe numbers and general duck numbers. Two 'new' PINTAIL arrived.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (1300-1530 hours)

A full inventory of birds was done with the new month with us

GREAT CRESTED GREBES - a huge increase with at least 34 birds present (SR & VR counted 39 last night)
Little Grebe - 8 still present
Sinensis Cormorants - 19 roosting
Grey Heron (3)
LITTLE EGRET - both still present, feeding this afternoon on the North Bank

WILDFOWL

A total of 783 birds click-counted involving 12 species

Mute Swans - just 19 present
WHOOPER SWANS - adult pair still present
Greylag Geese - 8 Canada Goose (1)
Mallard - 173
Gadwall - 19
Eurasian Wigeon - 118
Common Teal - 276+
NORTHERN PINTAIL - 9 now present, all in 'grey' eclipse plumage
Tufted Duck - 77
Northern Pochard - 76
RUDDY DUCK - 5 (2 adult drakes, 1 female & 2 juveniles)

Common Coot (630 click-counted)

WADERS

Lapwings (345)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (9)
RINGED PLOVER - adult still present
RUFF - juvenile male still present, favouring the creek in the far SW corner
DUNLIN - juvenile feeding on islands in NW corner (present for its 2nd day - DB, RH, SR, LGRE)
COMMON SANDPIPER - 1 remaining (favouring the NW corner)
Common Snipe (1+)

Black-headed Gulls (421+)
Common Gull (1 adult - DB)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (35+)

Grey Wagtails (3)

LATE MIGRANTS

Barn Swallows (4)
*House Martins (12 still, mainly juveniles)

TRINGFORD RESERVOIR - just 3 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Mute Swans
STARTOPSEND RESERVOIR - 4 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans (2 cygnets), 10 Shoveler, 6 Northern Pochards, 22 Tufted Ducks and male Grey Wagtail

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR (1530-1645)

Great Crested Grebes (8 present including the two recently fledged juveniles)
Mute Swan (1 cygnet)
Northern Shoveler (5)

At 1550 hours, I located two superb juvenile LITTLE GULLS feeding over the eastern end of the reservoir. They were using the causeway line of trees and bushes from which to shelter from the strong NW wind and were showing exceptionally well, often approaching me to within 65 yards. They were both in largely full juvenile plumage, with the black horseshoe at the tip of the tail, much blackish-brown feathering in the mantle, the dark outer primaries and extensive dark covert bar (giving the distinct zig-zag upperwing pattern), dark crown, dark ear-covert patch, white forehead, gleaming white underparts and small, black bill. They were both taking small grubs from the surface and were competing with up to 18 House Martins in taking insects from just above the water's surface.

I immediately informed Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell of my find, as well as RBA, Mike Collard and Mike Wallen. Unfortunately none of them was able to come. I then tried Cheddington birder Mike Campbell, who instantly agreed to drive over. The two birds continued to show very well over the next half hour and at 1624 hours, MC finally arrived. Luckily so, as at 1626 (just two minutes later), both birds got chased by an adult Black-headed Gull, flew up high and disappeared way over towards College Lake, seemingly following the course of the Grand Union Canal. I thought they had gone.

(*An hour later, Ian Williams visited the site and both birds were again present, remaining on Marsworth until dusk, allowing both DB and SR to connect. Graham White, who is helping out with reedbed management for wintering Bitterns, also saw them).

COLLEGE LAKE

Mute Swans numbered 11 adults, Eurasian Wigeon had increased to 85 and a drake Gadwall was present.

PITSTONE QUARRY

The water level has substantially dropped since my last visit, giving rise to much mud and island habitat.

Little Grebes (9), Mute Swan (adult), Common Teal (16), Shoveler (3, 2 drakes), Tufted Duck (13), Northern Pochard (a high count of 31, mostly adult drakes) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (14 adults)

30 SEPTEMBER 2008

TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2008

Steve Rodwell kindly provided the following information from Tring Reservoirs

WILSTONE RESERVOIR

Great Crested Grebe (huge increase with 39 counted)
Sinensis Cormorants (41)
Mute Swans (23)
WHOOPER SWANS (2)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (increased to 9)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (9)
RINGED PLOVER (1 adult)
DUNLIN (1 juvenile)
RUFF (juvenile male still)

Black-headed Gulls (750 pre-roost)
Common Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (13)

PICCOTTS END OSPREY

Local birder DAN FORDER could hardly believe his eyes when he discovered this juvenile OSPREY at Piccotts End Fish Farm on Sunday 21 September 2008. During the course of the following week, he was able to obtain these terrific images of the bird, both in flight and perched on its favourite fir tree. Two images also show the landscape.

Just outside the Tring Reservoirs Recording Area, a juvenile OSPREY is present for its 8th consecutive day at Piccotts End Fish Ponds. It is a particularly confiding individual and has been visiting the ponds up to four times per day - in the early morning, late morning, between 1300 and 1400 hours and again late afternoon. It generally flies in from the NE and glides low over the pools, searching for a prized Carp to plunge upon. It has been catching up to three fish a day and on most occasions, flies towards Varney's Wood with its catch and utilises an assortment of dead trees on the slope above Leighton Buzzard Road to feed.

It also favours a tall Leylandii Conifer in the large garden of Gaddesden Hall in which to roost, where it affords some outstanding views from the footpath adjacent. Unfortunately, the owners of the fish farm (L. Cura & Sons) are far from impressed with their new resident and are making their best efforts to scare the bird away from their expensive Carp.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

Park carefully in Piccotts End village (just north of Hemel Hempstead on the A4146) and walk along Leighton Buzzard road past the Garden Centre to Noakes Mill Lane. Follow the lane for 400 yards to Gaddesden Hall and then follow the public footpath SE for 200 yards to view the private fish ponds from the gap in the hedgerow and fence.

Two LITTLE EGRETS are also present, along with a GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS and a WHINCHAT. I also saw a late HOBBY here on 28th.

HAWFINCH brightens up an otherwise quiet morning on the hills

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

IVINGHOE HILLS NR

(0900-1100)

Once again, it was the Beacon and Steps areas which were deviod of fog for much of the morning but unlike yesterday, migrants were few and far between.

The undoubted highlight was a male HAWFINCH which flew over Steve Rodwell and Peter Nash at 0937 flying towards Inkombe Hole. It hit the fog bank however and halted and was seen very well in isolated trees adjacent to the gate and stile at the top of the Hole from 0950 to at least 0953 (see photograph above). It then flew back towards the Top Scrub and called several times in flight as it bounded low over the bushes (LGRE).

Two LESSER REDPOLLS also flew over, along with 4 SISKINS and 2 GREY WAGTAILS.

A number of JAYS were once again present, including a single flock of 9, as well as 6+ BLACKCAP and 15+ COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS.

Two COAL TITS were also still present, with Green Woodpecker and 4 BULLFINCHES also seen.

Steve Rodwell also saw two COMMON STONECHATS, with single males on Steps Hill and near the Beacon.

28 SEPTEMBER 2008

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2008

PITSTONE HILL

2 NORTHERN WHEATEARS, 36 Skylarks, 34 Meadow Pipits and an adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL with 120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in fields in the vicinity (Steve Rodwell)

WILSTONE RESERVOIR

LITTLE EGRETS - 2 still, both flying off to roost towards Tringford at 1825

Mute Swans - now alarmingly down to 19

WHOOPER SWANS - pair still

NORTHERN PINTAIL - 7 still present

Northern Pochards - up to 86

WATER RAIL still

EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (12)

COMMON SANDPIPER (1)

Common Snipe (2)

*RUFF - juvenile still present

COMMON KINGFISHERS (2)

Grey Wagtails (3)

Pied Wagtails (19 flew to roost)

YELLOW WAGTAIL (1) (DB)

BARN SWALLOWS - 23 near Wilstone Great Farm