Monday, 5 March 2012
Cassiobury Park (5th March)
I had a little free time today between 14:00-14:50pm and spent the time (as usual) in Cassiobury Park for a bit of a break. Not much was at the eastern end of the park (near the Cha Cha Cha cafe) with the main birds of note including 25+ Redwing feeding in the leaf litter and 1 Ring-necked Parakeet. A flock of 43+ Black-headed Gulls were on the football fields. However, most of the activity was down along the Gade River where several Mallard were dotted along the river with 2 Mandarin (a pair) amongst them on the flooded meadows in the nature reserve. I was also alerted to the harsh "squak" of a ♂ Pheasant coming from the cress beds (apparently an unusual occurrence in the Park) and a Kingfisher shot out of the woods infront of me before briefly alighting on a bulrush. A ♀ Bullfinch feeding in the slough berry hedgerow in the same area was also a nice surprise.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Dungeness, luck does run out eventually. (3rd March)
In order to arrive at Rye at 8:30am I had to put in the extra effort of cycling to Watford at 4:15am, which unfortunately meant I had to get up at 3:30am all for the hope of finding a Penduline Tit at Dungeness.
WATFORD A41/CANAL
I was just reaching Watford and was about to cross the bridge over the canal when an Owl sp. flew over the road in line with the canal going south. From the glimpse I had from the bike it appeared overly white/pale brown however it could have been darker as I only saw it in the headlamps of car. It had a wavering flight with very slow relaxed wing beat but I could barely ID any other notable features. I pulled over to the side of the road, locked up my bike and walked a short distance down the canal towpath hoping to relocate it along the bank. I assumed it had gone into the neighbouring field (which is ideal for owls) but unfortunately getting a look over the fields was very difficult and I still had to get to Watford Junction on time. I then heard the call of a Tawny Owl, perhaps the same bird as I walked back to collect my bike. Note to self- check the area for Barn Owls.
RIDGMONT PARK, THE SERPENTINE 6:00AM
I arrived at Euston with about an hour to spare before the next train left to Ashford International (the next leg of my journey) so decided to spend the early hours of the morning checking the wildfowl along the Serpentine in Ridgmont Park. It was still in near darkness and there was no lighting in the park, all the same I still managed to see 3+ Shoveler (2♂,1♀), dozens of Tufted Ducks, Pochard, 2+♂ Gadwall a ♂ Red Crested Pochard and 2 EGYPTIAN GEESE (a year tick) not a bad start to the day for central London. Also of note were 2 Grey Herons and dozens of Herring Gulls beginning to congregate as they circled over the lake.
CAMBER, NEAR DUNGENESS
I still had a further 10 mile cycle ride ahead to get to Hanson ARC were the Penduline Tit was last seen yesterday. c.20 Curlew were the first birds of note as they came in to land into some flooded fields as I passed on my bike.
HANSON ARC PIT
I arrived eventually at c. 9:30am (over 4 hours journey time) at Hanson ARC Pit. On the way to the screen the unmistakable song of several CETTI'S WARBLER came from the sides of the ditches (naturally none showed themselves). I sat down in the screen hide and within minutes I glimpsed a large brown bird dive into the reeds, after a few seconds it re-emerged at the side of the reedbed as a stunning BITTERN, it provided amazing views and approached to within meters of the hide occasionally poking the water’s surface and adopting its unusual gate. Within my stay a further 2-3 BITTERNS showed for brief periods of time as they flew into some of the reeds neighbouring the pit. To the left of the hide a Pipit flew out from the side of the bank in a short loop. It too showed well and provided a good all round view of itself including its buff/white supercilium, slate-grey head, light streaking on the back and pale yellow lower mandible which all pointed towards a winter plumaged WATER PIPIT. As I searched the reads for the Penduline Tit the sound of Herring Gulls shrieking at something drew my attention. I raised my bins to see initially the Herring Gull before a GREAT WHITE EGRET (a yea tick) loomed into view. It did a short circuit before landing out of view behind the reeds. However, 2 GREAT WHITE EGRETS soon took flight again from the same spot and flew to the line of reeds/bushes on the north side of the pit.
One bird still had the pale yellow mandible of a winter bird whilst the second had a predominantly darker beak, nearly fully black indicating a summer bird. Other birds of note during my wait included 1 Little Egret, 1♂ Reed Bunting, 9 Curlew in the shallow water at the west end of the pit amongst dozens of Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. Wildfowl were also numerous including 100's of Wigeon, and lesser numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard and Shelduck. Despite putting in considerable effort and scanning the bullrushes and reeds the Penduline decided to remain elusive. Even covering the whole western and southern sides of the pit didn't work although a stunning ♂ Stonechat along the shingle bank and 1 Chiffchaff next to the Hanson ARC hide were nice surprises. A local patch birder also pointed out a ♀ Marsh Harrier coming over the reedbeds and informed me of the local population of Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall Farm.
DUNGENESS RSPB RESERVE
I dipped out on the Penduline Tit and decided to go and visit the reserve to try my luck with the Long-tailed Duck. I checked the back garden of the Farm as instructed and was glad to set eyes on several Tree Sparrows (a year tick) making regular visits to the feeders.
On arriving at the visitor center I was informed that the Long-tailed Duck had been sighted this morning near the southern end of the main pit overlooked by the reserve visitor centre. My first stop of was at the Makepeace Hide were I joined several other eager observers all in hope of seeing the duck. Despite their long efforts they were disappointed not to have seen in yet; as a result I decided to scan the pit from several different points from south to north, whilst stopping of at each hide. The only birds of note on the way included 2 Ringed Plover (a year tick) and a flock of 20-30 Golden Plover (a year tick) and 2 Tree Sparrows at the reserve centre feeders. At the final most northern end of the pit I was scanning from next to the Dennis's Hide when I picked out the ♀ LONG-TAILED DUCK (a life tick) amongst a small raft of Tufted Ducks, I quickly passed on the news to the staff at the visitor centre and was soon joined back at the viewing point by half a dozen more observers. Unfortunately, during this time the bird had disappeared (again) but I was relieved to refined it once again in the same area. It was mainly diving during the time and only intermittently showed for one or two seconds, not long enough to get it in the scope, however after a little patience it gave up diving and swam about for some time providing excellent views.
HANSON ARC PIT
I tried once again to find the Penduline at a more suitable time of day (15:00 till 16:30pm) but once again failed. The only birds still of note included 2 Pintail (1♂,1♀), c.20 Curlew and some more explosive song from the Cetti's Warblers.
JURY'S GAP ROAD
On the bike ride back my journey was once again slowed by a strong westerly head wind however, I was rather surprised to see a flock of c.20 SNOW GEESE including 2 "Blue Morphs" (most likely escapes or feral) feeding amongst Greylag Geese on the grassy verge of the lakes just north west of the road.
presumed escape Snow Geese
WATFORD A41/CANAL
I was just reaching Watford and was about to cross the bridge over the canal when an Owl sp. flew over the road in line with the canal going south. From the glimpse I had from the bike it appeared overly white/pale brown however it could have been darker as I only saw it in the headlamps of car. It had a wavering flight with very slow relaxed wing beat but I could barely ID any other notable features. I pulled over to the side of the road, locked up my bike and walked a short distance down the canal towpath hoping to relocate it along the bank. I assumed it had gone into the neighbouring field (which is ideal for owls) but unfortunately getting a look over the fields was very difficult and I still had to get to Watford Junction on time. I then heard the call of a Tawny Owl, perhaps the same bird as I walked back to collect my bike. Note to self- check the area for Barn Owls.
RIDGMONT PARK, THE SERPENTINE 6:00AM
I arrived at Euston with about an hour to spare before the next train left to Ashford International (the next leg of my journey) so decided to spend the early hours of the morning checking the wildfowl along the Serpentine in Ridgmont Park. It was still in near darkness and there was no lighting in the park, all the same I still managed to see 3+ Shoveler (2♂,1♀), dozens of Tufted Ducks, Pochard, 2+♂ Gadwall a ♂ Red Crested Pochard and 2 EGYPTIAN GEESE (a year tick) not a bad start to the day for central London. Also of note were 2 Grey Herons and dozens of Herring Gulls beginning to congregate as they circled over the lake.
CAMBER, NEAR DUNGENESS
I still had a further 10 mile cycle ride ahead to get to Hanson ARC were the Penduline Tit was last seen yesterday. c.20 Curlew were the first birds of note as they came in to land into some flooded fields as I passed on my bike.
HANSON ARC PIT
I arrived eventually at c. 9:30am (over 4 hours journey time) at Hanson ARC Pit. On the way to the screen the unmistakable song of several CETTI'S WARBLER came from the sides of the ditches (naturally none showed themselves). I sat down in the screen hide and within minutes I glimpsed a large brown bird dive into the reeds, after a few seconds it re-emerged at the side of the reedbed as a stunning BITTERN, it provided amazing views and approached to within meters of the hide occasionally poking the water’s surface and adopting its unusual gate. Within my stay a further 2-3 BITTERNS showed for brief periods of time as they flew into some of the reeds neighbouring the pit. To the left of the hide a Pipit flew out from the side of the bank in a short loop. It too showed well and provided a good all round view of itself including its buff/white supercilium, slate-grey head, light streaking on the back and pale yellow lower mandible which all pointed towards a winter plumaged WATER PIPIT. As I searched the reads for the Penduline Tit the sound of Herring Gulls shrieking at something drew my attention. I raised my bins to see initially the Herring Gull before a GREAT WHITE EGRET (a yea tick) loomed into view. It did a short circuit before landing out of view behind the reeds. However, 2 GREAT WHITE EGRETS soon took flight again from the same spot and flew to the line of reeds/bushes on the north side of the pit.
2 Great White Egrets
DUNGENESS RSPB RESERVE
I dipped out on the Penduline Tit and decided to go and visit the reserve to try my luck with the Long-tailed Duck. I checked the back garden of the Farm as instructed and was glad to set eyes on several Tree Sparrows (a year tick) making regular visits to the feeders.
Tree Sparrows, near the feeders in the reserve car park
female Long-tailed Duck
I tried once again to find the Penduline at a more suitable time of day (15:00 till 16:30pm) but once again failed. The only birds still of note included 2 Pintail (1♂,1♀), c.20 Curlew and some more explosive song from the Cetti's Warblers.
JURY'S GAP ROAD
On the bike ride back my journey was once again slowed by a strong westerly head wind however, I was rather surprised to see a flock of c.20 SNOW GEESE including 2 "Blue Morphs" (most likely escapes or feral) feeding amongst Greylag Geese on the grassy verge of the lakes just north west of the road.
presumed escape Snow Geese
Kings Langley and Cassiobury Park (1st March)
- cloud 1/3 shade 1/3
- wind 0/3
- temp. 0-1/3
VICARAGE LANE
The "Chwing" of a Siskin or Redpoll sp. alerted me to a single flyover bird, an unusual record for this location.
CASSIOBURY PARK
The usual birds were present although most were only heard and not seen including 1 yaffling Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1+ Redwing, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Virtually the only bird of note that I saw was a single Jay. I also saw my first Red-tailed Bumble Bee of the year whilst waiting at the bus stop along Hempstead Road at 15:30pm.
Scatterdells Wood evening tetrad work (TL00L)
No record yet existed on the Herts Bird Atlas, New Winter Atlas of Tawny Owls in the TL00L tetrad of Whippendell Bottom. With only 1 day left before the closing date I decided to leave after school at 8:30pm to search the area. The weather was ideal with:
- cloud 3/3
- fog 0-1/3
- temp. 1/3
Cassiobury Park (28th February)
500 BUS TRIP INTO WATFORD 7:40AM
1 Buzzard was an unexpected sighting perched on a fallen tree just east of the A41 near Hunton Bridge and the usual 2 Grey Herons were perched in the dead tree just S of Hunton Bridge.
CASSIOBURY PARK
Another usual walk through the park at about 7:50am. 1 Stock Dove of note at the usual place at the entrance to Cassio Park from Stratford Way, 2 calling Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Nuthatch also calling and a shrieking Ring-necked Parakeet.
KINGS LANGLEY
4+ Redwing flew NNE over Vicarage Lane.
Birding from the bedroom window (28th February)
I was finishing of Geography coursework late in the evening and only got to bed at 1:20am on 28th February, I had still not fitted much birding in yesterday so I planned to listen out for calling Tawny Owls to add to the "New Winter Atlas" records. To my utter surprise I was soon greeted with the call of a ♂ TAWNY OWL hotting just outside the my bedroom window and an added bonus as it is new to the herts bird atlas new winter record.
Tetrad Work in KL (TL00R) and Whippendell Bottom (TL00L) (26th February)
With the "New Winter Atlas" soon ending on the 29th February I was tasked with finding some of the commoner bird species that had not yet been recorded around my local area.
I started out with Theo (my dog) behind the RSSKL but only walked along the eastern edge of the field in hope of finding Stock Dove, unfortunately none were present today and the only birds present included Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Robins feeding amongst the stubble.
On a previous visit on the 19th June 2011 I had found an adult and 2 juvenile Little Owls just east of Whippendell Bottom itself and despite revisiting the same location on several following occasions I could never relocate any Owls. However, today I was in luck when I was taken totally by surprise at the site of an ad. LITTLE OWL perched in the open and resting in bright sunshine in the horse field just west of Balls Pond Farm. Surprisingly, 1 Grey Heron was also standing in a nearby field at Balls Pond Farm. On the opposite side of Chipperfield Road (east of Whippendell Farm) a flock of 60+ Redwing were hopping about amongst the horses on the open field. Other birds of note in the same area included 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker a calling Jay and a single Treecreeper in "The Wings" at the eastern end of Scatterdells Wood. After emerging from the woods again I noticed a Grey Heron flying towards Kings Langley from a NW direction over the A41. A flock of 42+ Skylarks were in the fields neighbouring Barnes Lane and a further 2 Skylarks rose into the sky doing their classic song flight.
KINGS LANGLEY TETRAD (TL00R)
I started out with Theo (my dog) behind the RSSKL but only walked along the eastern edge of the field in hope of finding Stock Dove, unfortunately none were present today and the only birds present included Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Robins feeding amongst the stubble.
WHIPPENDELL BOTTOM TETRAD (TL00L)
On a previous visit on the 19th June 2011 I had found an adult and 2 juvenile Little Owls just east of Whippendell Bottom itself and despite revisiting the same location on several following occasions I could never relocate any Owls. However, today I was in luck when I was taken totally by surprise at the site of an ad. LITTLE OWL perched in the open and resting in bright sunshine in the horse field just west of Balls Pond Farm. Surprisingly, 1 Grey Heron was also standing in a nearby field at Balls Pond Farm. On the opposite side of Chipperfield Road (east of Whippendell Farm) a flock of 60+ Redwing were hopping about amongst the horses on the open field. Other birds of note in the same area included 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker a calling Jay and a single Treecreeper in "The Wings" at the eastern end of Scatterdells Wood. After emerging from the woods again I noticed a Grey Heron flying towards Kings Langley from a NW direction over the A41. A flock of 42+ Skylarks were in the fields neighbouring Barnes Lane and a further 2 Skylarks rose into the sky doing their classic song flight.
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