Chaffinch and Common Blackbird (Mike Lawrence)
FRIDAY 16 JANUARY 2009
A dull, dreary grey day with intermittent drizzle and slightly milder southerly winds. Today saw my first real stab at Hertfordshire birding this year (other than Tring Reservoirs and the Waxwing/Shrike twitch) and by the end of the day, I had recorded just 58 species.
HOGPITS BOTTOM (TQ 018 014)
A total of 15 Rooks were back at the 'Rookery' and attending to the nests.
BARNES LANE (BUCKLERS LANE)
In the vast expanse of stubble fields bordering both sides of Barnes Lane, some impressive flocks of farmland birds were located (at approximately TL 054 035). Most important were the COMMON SKYLARKS - of which I click-counted 222 - easily the largest flock I have recorded in the region this winter. In with them were 77 LINNETS - all in stubble just to the right of the footpath that criss-crosses the field (park by the two metal gates and large manure mounds either side of the road).
There were also 28 STOCK DOVES feeding together, as well as 87 Feral Pigeons in the stubble, whilst 17 Fieldfare flew over. A further 11 Redwing were present by Barnes Farm.
KINGS LANGLEY LAKE (TL 073 034)
An excellent selection of waterbirds present, highlighting with an adult drake RUDDY DUCK.
Noted were Great Crested Grebe (1), Little Grebe (8), Mute Swan (2 adults), Mallard (16), Teal (1 drake), Gadwall (19), Shoveler (3 - 2 drakes), Tufted Duck (32), Northern Pochard (16), Moorhen (15) and Coot (25).
TYTTENHANGER FARM (TL 197 050)
An impressive and noisy flock of 14 TREE SPARROWS was attending the feeders at the far end of the main horse paddock, along with 17 House Sparrows and an exceptional 44 YELLOWHAMMERS; also 11 Red-legged Partridges. The pits were very quiet, with 18 Cormorant and a Grey Heron of interest.
LEMSFORD SPRINGS NR
There was no sign of the Jack Snipe present until Monday - just 3 Common Snipe. The cressbeds also held WATER RAIL, 6 Moorhens, 5 Common Teal and a single GREEN SANDPIPER (up to 6 have been present recently).
MIMRAM RIVER VALLEY
At least 5 LITTLE EGRETS wintering along the Mimram between Welwyn and Kimpton Mill
KIMPTON MILL (TL 197 185)
The resident pair of EGYPTIAN GEESE were on the pond by the house. The gander had chased away all of last autumn's five young (6 fledged but one died subsequently) at the end of December. Two pairs of Gadwall were also wintering on the pond, along with 6 Coot and numerous Moorhen.
Nearby, the regular pair of COMMON RAVEN were mating, with the nest already complete (tidied up from last year). In Kimpton (TL 166 181), * Rooks were attending nests at the Luton Road junction.
EAST HYDE
A single GREEN SANDPIPER was showing well from the bridge, along with a GREY WAGTAIL.
The river held 6 Little Grebes, 2 adult Mute Swans, 23 Canada Geese and 4 Gadwall (2 pairs). A flock of 96 Lapwing flew over
At dusk, I tried a regular site for Lady Amherst's Pheasant. There was no sign, just 38 Common Pheasants at the feeder.
A dull, dreary grey day with intermittent drizzle and slightly milder southerly winds. Today saw my first real stab at Hertfordshire birding this year (other than Tring Reservoirs and the Waxwing/Shrike twitch) and by the end of the day, I had recorded just 58 species.
HOGPITS BOTTOM (TQ 018 014)
A total of 15 Rooks were back at the 'Rookery' and attending to the nests.
BARNES LANE (BUCKLERS LANE)
In the vast expanse of stubble fields bordering both sides of Barnes Lane, some impressive flocks of farmland birds were located (at approximately TL 054 035). Most important were the COMMON SKYLARKS - of which I click-counted 222 - easily the largest flock I have recorded in the region this winter. In with them were 77 LINNETS - all in stubble just to the right of the footpath that criss-crosses the field (park by the two metal gates and large manure mounds either side of the road).
There were also 28 STOCK DOVES feeding together, as well as 87 Feral Pigeons in the stubble, whilst 17 Fieldfare flew over. A further 11 Redwing were present by Barnes Farm.
KINGS LANGLEY LAKE (TL 073 034)
An excellent selection of waterbirds present, highlighting with an adult drake RUDDY DUCK.
Noted were Great Crested Grebe (1), Little Grebe (8), Mute Swan (2 adults), Mallard (16), Teal (1 drake), Gadwall (19), Shoveler (3 - 2 drakes), Tufted Duck (32), Northern Pochard (16), Moorhen (15) and Coot (25).
TYTTENHANGER FARM (TL 197 050)
An impressive and noisy flock of 14 TREE SPARROWS was attending the feeders at the far end of the main horse paddock, along with 17 House Sparrows and an exceptional 44 YELLOWHAMMERS; also 11 Red-legged Partridges. The pits were very quiet, with 18 Cormorant and a Grey Heron of interest.
LEMSFORD SPRINGS NR
There was no sign of the Jack Snipe present until Monday - just 3 Common Snipe. The cressbeds also held WATER RAIL, 6 Moorhens, 5 Common Teal and a single GREEN SANDPIPER (up to 6 have been present recently).
MIMRAM RIVER VALLEY
At least 5 LITTLE EGRETS wintering along the Mimram between Welwyn and Kimpton Mill
KIMPTON MILL (TL 197 185)
The resident pair of EGYPTIAN GEESE were on the pond by the house. The gander had chased away all of last autumn's five young (6 fledged but one died subsequently) at the end of December. Two pairs of Gadwall were also wintering on the pond, along with 6 Coot and numerous Moorhen.
Nearby, the regular pair of COMMON RAVEN were mating, with the nest already complete (tidied up from last year). In Kimpton (TL 166 181), * Rooks were attending nests at the Luton Road junction.
EAST HYDE
A single GREEN SANDPIPER was showing well from the bridge, along with a GREY WAGTAIL.
The river held 6 Little Grebes, 2 adult Mute Swans, 23 Canada Geese and 4 Gadwall (2 pairs). A flock of 96 Lapwing flew over
At dusk, I tried a regular site for Lady Amherst's Pheasant. There was no sign, just 38 Common Pheasants at the feeder.
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