Friday 9 January 2009

WAXWINGS, RED-CRESTED POCHARDS AND A NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE

















In the first week of JANUARY 2009, the coldest winter weather for over 25 years has seen virtually every open water in the county freeze over. Avian-wise, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have stolen the headlines, with the flock of 7 still visiting the Rowan tree in front of 77 York Road, Stevenage, throughout (see Mike Lawrence's fabulous images above) [access off of the first roundabout in Canterbury Way] (Dave Beer et al)and another flock of 10 in Bishop's Stortford, in bushes opposite 158 Stortford Hall Park Road.

A NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, present on private land near Crews Hill from at least 31st December 2008 to 2nd January 2009 was relocated just south of Cuffley on 9th, at Cattlegate Farm (view only from the public footpath).

With the icy conditions predominating, up to 2 EURASIAN BITTERNS have been seen at Tring Reservoirs, with two in Marsworth Reservoir reedbed on 3rd (with 1 remaining until 5th and the other moving to Wilstone reedbed on 4th-6th).

Wildfowl have included two adult drake SMEW at Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, on 8th-9th (LGRE et al), with up to 17 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS in or around the main unfrozen patch (JT et al) and a single adult GOOSANDER on 9th (JT), and at Aldenham Country Park, 14-16 Mandarin Ducks have been counted in recent days.

A JACK SNIPE was seen well at Tyttenhanger GP on 3rd.

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