WAXWINGS in Hemel

Postponing my photography trip to London today due to cloud wasn't so bad when on my way to the office 20 odd WAXWINGS were feeding on Cotoneasters between A414 St.Albans Road (dual carriageway) and St.Albans Road with the houses on (road runs parallel). Next to underpass entrance. Also sitting on house aerials & commuting to a Birch tree behind number 42.

of note from Sunday...

Piccotts End Pools:

GREEN SANDPIPER on empty pool near fence,
LITTLE EGRET,
male REED BUNTING singing (my first here),
KINGFISHER,
2 to 3 SISKINS one or two singing,
TREECREEPER singing in flight,
2 BUZZARDS,
KESTREL displaying & calling,
STOCK DOVE,
1 Drake 1 Female TEAL,
2 Drake 1 Female TUFTED DUCK,

Water End (up to Great Gaddesden):

3 KINGFISHERS together displaying & chasing around private fishing areas,
C2 REED BUNTING atleast 1 Male,
2 Drake 1 Female GADWALL between Red Lion & 'S-bend',
also LITTLE EGRET here,
REED BUNTING singing,
5 HARES from Nettleden Road,
a lone LAPWING,
2 RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE,
2 STOCK DOVE,
a few YELLOWHAMMERS,
GREYLAG over,
80+ FIELDFARE high heading Northish,
2 TREECREEPERS,
LITTLE GREBE,
2+ BUZZARDS one of which was carrying stick in air whilst hanging then dropped & caught it,
ad HERRING GULL over,
RED KITE,
2 KESTRELS,
3 Drake 2 Female TEAL,
3 Drake 2 Female GADWALL,
NUTHATCH,
GREAT-SPOTTED WOODPECKER,
2 GREY WAGTAILS.

Great Gaddesden:

15+ COMMON SNIPE,
19 TEAL I'd say just over half were Drakes,
10 BUZZARDS circling & tusseling together + poss. 1 more individual sat across valley,
1 Male 1 Female BULLFINCH,
2 Male REED BUNTINGS,
C3 MEADOW PIPITS,
5+ LAPWING,
STOCK DOVE,
LINNET,
GREY WAGTAIL,
GREAT-SPOTTED WOODPECKER,
Female SPARROWHAWK.

SKYLARKS singing everywhere the whole time, lots of REDWINGS singing too.

Dan Forder