SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008
(NW veering W then SW with poor visibility and light rain early morning giving rise to clearer conditions through the morning; reasonably warm. Dry)
IVINGHOE HILLS NR
(0700-1300 hours)
Sadly, a combination of an all-night party gig in Chesham and Dave Bilcock taking the family away to Sandy, I failed to realise the impressive winter thrush passage taking place over the escarpment and Vale until Francis Buckle 'tipped' me off mid morning. By then, many hundreds of birds had already passed over and flown west, with Steve Rodwell independently intercepting them over Tring. Both RDA and MW had already counted some exceptional numbers, with an estimated 3,000 Redwings, 300 Fieldfares and 320 Chaffinches passing over prior to 1030 hours (the latter one of the largest single-day counts ever at the site).
I pitched in shortly after 1030 hours and managed the following - a total of 907 REDWINGS west over by 1300, including individual flocks of up to 305 birds but just 5 FIELDFARES (all landing in the Copper Beech trees near the car park). Four BULLFINCHES flew west, as well as 124 Chaffinches, 17 LESSER REDPOLL, 8 SISKIN and 146 Woodpigeons. A single migrant Song Thrush was also seen.
There was a marked increase in Common Kestrel numbers over the Inkombe Hole area (with 9 on view at one time late morning), with two different juvenile female Eurasian Sparrowhawks west and a fantastic male PEREGRINE which captured a Redwing mid-air, plucked it briefly (being mobbed by three Kestrels at the time) and then flew off towards Steps Hill and the Beacon (also observed by FB, CJ and RDA from Pitstone Hill).
Moving down to the Down Farm stubble fields, the passerine flocks therein included 8 CORN BUNTINGS, 161 Skylarks, 12 Yellowhammers and 63 Linnets, with a single female COMMON STONECHAT on the fenceline. Three further male COMMON STONECHATS remained on the fence by the Sheep Pens.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(with FB, CJ & Jenny Wallington - 1320-1400 hours)
Mute Swans (20)
WHOOPER SWANS (2 adults still)
Greylag Geese (41)
NORTHERN PINTAILS - 9 still present including 6 adult drakes
*Northern Shovelers - 122 (my highest count this autumn)
Northern Pochards (84)
RUDDY DUCKS - 6 still including 3 adult drakes
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS - 153 roosting on mud
Lapwing (498)
**DUNLIN - adult and first-winter on central spit from jetty (FB, CJ & LGRE)
Common Snipes (4)
Grey Wagtail (3)
The SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT was present intermittently between the jetty and mud in Cemetery Corner throughout the day but was disturbed by walkers at regular intervals. It was seen early morning by RH, IW & MCa and again by me early afternoon. It was favouring the upper margin of vegetation well in from the water's edge and was skulking in actions as it rifled through the leaf litter and other objects on the muddy 'beach' in front of the Poplars. It called twice in flight when flushed by a man and his dog and flew straight into the large ploughed field adjacent to the SE corner of the reservoir.
GADE VALLEY
RED KITES were very much in evidence, with 3 just south of Dagnall, three more near Great Gaddesden and another being chased by 11 Jackdaws at Gaddesden Row. Further south, a beautiful first-year scavenged with up to 6 Common Buzzards on dead Woodpigeons on Briden's Hill.
PICCOTTS END FISH FARM POOLS
(Late afternoon visit with Dan Forder and Ashley Stowe)
The OSPREY was still present but more elusive than of late (DF) whilst LITTLE EGRETS had increased to four (most likely the Wilstone four from earlier in the month). Two juvenile Little Grebes waddled precariously between pools, with 6 Redwings in Gaddesden Hall garden.
