A bash around Steps Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon produced 4 NORTHERN WHEATEARS on the usual slope on the Beacon, and together with Iain Malin and Steve Rodwell a PEREGRINE over Steps Hill. Earlier a Redpoll flew over Steps, but little else of note.
No sign in a brief look of the Sandwich Tern at Marsworth/ Startops, although Ian Williams watched an OSPREY fly through Wilstone Res, early on. The drake Red-crested Pochard is still on Startop's End Reservoir (Mike Wallen)
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
SANDWICH TERN relocates and shows well until late evening
The adult SANDWICH TERN was still present over Marsworth this evening, giving great views, especially when close to the Bucks bank. At 19:30 it crossed over to Startops, where after a few circuits it settled down to roost on one of the anti-algae bales. It was still there when I left at 19:50. If you haven't seen this bird yet and you'd like to, I'd recommend infra-red goggles - it'll be gone before first light in the morning!
A BARN OWL was quartering the field behind the Marsworth reedbed this evening, and I had 26 CORN BUNTINGS come in to roost.
Cheers & Good Birding,
Ben Miller
A BARN OWL was quartering the field behind the Marsworth reedbed this evening, and I had 26 CORN BUNTINGS come in to roost.
Cheers & Good Birding,
Ben Miller
Saturday, 3 April 2010
SANDWICH TERN over
A SANDWICH TERN has just flown west through Wilstone Reservoir into Buckinghamshire (Steve Rodwell et al)
Friday, 2 April 2010
WILLOW WARBLER new in
GOOD FRIDAY - 2 APRIL (LGRE DIARY NOTES)
Continuing cold, with fresh westerly winds which veered slightly more SSW towards late afternoon. Some hefty showers throughout the morning and a belt of rain which was pushed quickly through and cleared by mid afternoon.
Another good day in terms of migration and although nothing new appeared in terms of variety, some good counts continued of those species arriving, particularly hirundines.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(morning visit; with Steve Rodwell)
The EGYPTIAN GOOSE was still present, initially on the main reservoir and then later back in the field with 38 Greylag Geese to the east of the reservoir. An adult Mute Swan also joined the flock briefly.
There were 9 Black-headed Gulls present and during the day, both Steve and Ben recorded some good Common Gull passage.
Hirundines were once again well represented, with 156 present up until midday, including 72 European Barn Swallows, 83 Sand Martins and 1 HOUSE MARTIN, whilst the east bank, in between walkers, attracted 4 Pied Wagtails, a first-summer male WHITE WAGTAIL and 3 passage Reed Buntings.
COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were singing from just south of East Poplar Wood and from trees behind the reedbed near Cemetery Corner, whilst a singing male WILLOW WARBLER (my first in Herts this year) was present in the hedgerow in the SE corner of the reservoir.
A pair of Common Buzzards was displaying over the hide and a male LINNET flew west.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)
At midday, Startop's End held 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans and the adult drake Red-crested Pochard, with migrants represented by 48 European Barn Swallows, 28 Sand Martins, 2 HOUSE MARTINS and a cracking male WHITE WAGTAIL on the algae bunds.
Continuing cold, with fresh westerly winds which veered slightly more SSW towards late afternoon. Some hefty showers throughout the morning and a belt of rain which was pushed quickly through and cleared by mid afternoon.
Another good day in terms of migration and although nothing new appeared in terms of variety, some good counts continued of those species arriving, particularly hirundines.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(morning visit; with Steve Rodwell)
The EGYPTIAN GOOSE was still present, initially on the main reservoir and then later back in the field with 38 Greylag Geese to the east of the reservoir. An adult Mute Swan also joined the flock briefly.
There were 9 Black-headed Gulls present and during the day, both Steve and Ben recorded some good Common Gull passage.
Hirundines were once again well represented, with 156 present up until midday, including 72 European Barn Swallows, 83 Sand Martins and 1 HOUSE MARTIN, whilst the east bank, in between walkers, attracted 4 Pied Wagtails, a first-summer male WHITE WAGTAIL and 3 passage Reed Buntings.
COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were singing from just south of East Poplar Wood and from trees behind the reedbed near Cemetery Corner, whilst a singing male WILLOW WARBLER (my first in Herts this year) was present in the hedgerow in the SE corner of the reservoir.
A pair of Common Buzzards was displaying over the hide and a male LINNET flew west.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)
At midday, Startop's End held 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans and the adult drake Red-crested Pochard, with migrants represented by 48 European Barn Swallows, 28 Sand Martins, 2 HOUSE MARTINS and a cracking male WHITE WAGTAIL on the algae bunds.
EGYPTIAN GOOSE still present
This evening a cracking male WHITE WAGTAIL was with the pre-roost Pied Wagtail flock on the Bucks bank at Startops, plus 1 Yellow Wagtail and a Meadow Pipit. 2 CORN BUNTINGS came into roost at Marsworth.
At Wilstone with Steve & Rob, a flock c.65 Common Gulls went through, and the EGYPTIAN GOOSE was still with the Greylags in the field east of the reservoir (Ben Miller).
At Wilstone with Steve & Rob, a flock c.65 Common Gulls went through, and the EGYPTIAN GOOSE was still with the Greylags in the field east of the reservoir (Ben Miller).
The smaller reservoirs this morning
Did another long spell at Startops/Marsworth this morning - the strengthening westerly wind made it feel very cold indeed.
The highlight was a relatively pale & grey backed male YELLOW WAGTAIL commuting between the Bucks bank and the paddock behind, and occasionally sitting & singing in one of the tall trees by the canal.
Hirundines moved through during the morning, with 60+ Barn Swallows, 50+ Sand Martins and 4-5 HOUSE MARTINS.
1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps and 4+ Chiffchaffs were singing during the morning. Plenty of Kite, Buzzard and Sprawk action, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The drake Red-crested Pochard is still present on Startops (Ben Miller)
The highlight was a relatively pale & grey backed male YELLOW WAGTAIL commuting between the Bucks bank and the paddock behind, and occasionally sitting & singing in one of the tall trees by the canal.
Hirundines moved through during the morning, with 60+ Barn Swallows, 50+ Sand Martins and 4-5 HOUSE MARTINS.
1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps and 4+ Chiffchaffs were singing during the morning. Plenty of Kite, Buzzard and Sprawk action, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The drake Red-crested Pochard is still present on Startops (Ben Miller)
WHEATEAR numbers on the up
Pretty blustery up the hills this morning but (partly with Ian Williams) now 7 NORTHERN WHEATEARS were ranging between the sheep pens and halfway up the slope towards the beacon. Also a Redwing flew over west and a couple of Red Kites were giving a great display on the slope. In the top scrub a Willow Warbler, Blackcap and 2 Common Chiffchaffs were singing. Nothing in Incombe Hole.
Nearby heading towards Cheddington a flock of c20 Fieldfare flew up into a roadside tree (Rob Andrews).
Nearby heading towards Cheddington a flock of c20 Fieldfare flew up into a roadside tree (Rob Andrews).
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