Wednesday 22 April 2009

Below is a summary of HERTFORDSHIRE sightings not previously highlighted on this blog site. Remember, for details of all birds seen at the premier county site of Tring Reservoirs, browse my Tring blog site at http://birdingtringreservoirs.blogspot.com/

LITTLE EGRET: 5 at East Hyde on 4th (Mike Russell)
*EURASIAN BITTERN: the wintering bird remained at Maple Lodge NR until 2nd.
EGYPTIAN GEESE: a pair remained at Lynster's Farm throughout (Ian Bennell et al)
Ruddy Shelduck: a female of presumed captive origin was near Flamstead on 1st (Ernest Leahy) before relocating on Willows Farm Pool, Tyttenhanger, on 3rd and then the main pit from 4th-13th.
*GARGANEY: a beautiful drake at Maple Lodge NR on 12th (Steve Carter, Darin Stanley, JT, et al) with it or another at Stocker's Lake on 21-22 April
GOOSANDER: a single redhead remained at Kings Mead on 1st-6th (Alan Reynolds), with probably the same bird art Amwell NR the same day (David Booth).
*MERLIN: one at Barley briefly on 12th (Toby Austin)
OYSTERCATCHER: 3 at Tyttenhanger GP from 4th-7th (many observers) with another south over Royston at 1105 on 13th (Tim Wilson).
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER: noted at Kings Mead on 1st (Alan Reynolds) and on the River Ver that same day (Ernest Leahy), with a pair in the Tyttenhanger area throughout
DUNLIN: 3 adults in summer plumage at Tyttenhanger GP on 11th (Mick Frosdick)
GREEN SANDPIPER: 1 remained at Scotsbridge Mill until at least 6th (Geoff Lapworth) with 4 at Standalone Farm, Letchworth, on 5th (Ray Hooper)
**WHIMBREL: a flock of 5 birds landed near Hatchpen Farm, Royston, on 15th but flew off N at 0930 (M Johnson). The first of the year.
SHORT-EARED OWLS: the two wintering birds were still on territory at Beech Farm on 11th (Mark Payne)
COMMON CUCKOO: the first of the year was calling at Colney Heath on 11th (S.Evans) and at Walkern the same day (C.Allen) followed quickly by further singles at Welwyn on 12th (M.Bridges), Withy Beds LNR on 12th-20th (JT), Bricket Wood on 12th, Colney Heath on 13th (DB) and Croxley Common Moor from 14th.
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER: a displaying pair was noted in Cassiobury Park on 1st (M.Beatley)
HOUSE MARTIN: an early bird flew N at Puckeridge on 2nd April (Murray Orchard) with another over Croxley Common Moor on 3rd (Joan Thompson)
YELLOW WAGTAIL: The first male at Tyttenhanger appeared on 7th
BLACK REDSTART: a first-summer male showed well at Woodoaks Farm from 3rd-4th (John Edwards et al) with a female probably of this species in a Field Lane, Letchworth, garden on 4th (P.Moore).
Northern Wheatear: 2 males at Woodoaks Farm on 3rd-4th April (JE et al) with the first male at Norton Green on 4th (AF), a male at Willows Farm, Tyttenhanger, on 6th (Steve Blake), another male at Woodoaks Farm on 6th (GL), a male at Croxley Common Moor on 7th (GL), a further male at Norton Green on 7th-8th (Dave Beer), 3 at Tyttenhanger Sheep Fields on 8th, 3 on the rifle range at Therfield Heath on 8th (A.Beale), a female at Cromer Hyde on 11th (Anthony Dorman), 3 at Norton Green on 12th (Ray Hooper), a female in Thrales End Lane near East Hyde on 13th (J & F Dowley), Tyttenhanger GP again on 13th, a female at Batford on 14th (DS)
Fieldfare: 4 late birds at Hamper Mill on 13th (JT)
Sedge Warbler: the first of the year was a singing male at Kings Mead on 4th (AR) followed by another at Amwell on 7th (Tim Hill)
Common Whitethroat: the first singing male of the year was at Tyttenhanger GP on 11th
WILLOW WARBLER: noted at Fairlands Lake, Stevenage, on 1st (A.Ford), Croxley Common Moor from 3rd (JT, GL) (increasing to 4 by 7th, 5 on 8th), Tyttenhanger GP on 3rd (David Booth), Temple End on 5th (John Crystal), 3 on Berkhamsted Common on 7th (M.Spittles)
Nuthatch: 2 displaying at Stockers Lake on 3rd (Steve Carter)
BRAMBLING: male in Puckeridge on 2nd (Murray Orchard)

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