Monday 12 January 2009

SHRIKE STILL ON TERRITORY







The adult NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, present since December 2008, showed well throughout the weekend in the vicinity of Cattlegate Farm, often frequenting the tall trees bordering the railway cutting. On one occasion, it captured a Blue Tit and flew with it in its talons to its larder in a distant hedgerow (LGRE, Alan Stevens, Chris Hazell). Jan Hein Steenis obtained these excellent images above.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS: Park in the Sports Centre car park at TL 303 022 just outside Cuffley and follow the public footpath SE to the railway. Turn right, 50 yards beyond and then after a further 250 yards, turn right again under the viaduct. Keep on the main footpath as it rises up the slope and continue for nearly half a mile to Cattlegate Farm, where the trees at TL 306 010 can be viewed. The bird is extremely mobile and in one flight, moves between the railway cutting and the hedgerow running parallel with the minor road, as far north as the power lines.

The 10 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were still present in Stortford Hall Park Road in Bishop's Stortford on Sunday morning, whilst the 7 in Stevenage were still present in Great Ashby Way (TL 252 273) on Saturday.

A single EURASIAN BITTERN remains at Marsworth Reservoir reedbed, with another two still in front of the Bittern Watchpoint Hide at Fisher's Green (Lee Valley Park). Up to 160 CORN BUNTINGS are roosting each evening at the former site, with a single LITTLE EGRET on Wilstone, whilst 5 SMEW are currently wintering in the county, with two adult drakes at Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, and a drake and two redheads in Tumbling Bay at Amwell NR.

Up to 17 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS remain on Stocker's Lake, along with 1 drake GOOSANDER, with up to 30 Siskin in this area.

1 comment:

  1. Keep up the great work Lee. THis is an excellent blog for info .I hope to come home some time in the future ( I'm orignally from Stevenage ) and do some serious birding .

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