Monday 23 June 2014

TREE SPARROWS on a high at Tyttenhanger

I recorded no less than 44 TREE SPARROWS today at Tyttenhanger - 31 at one site and a further 13 at the Farm site, indicating that the birds have had another successful breeding season (first brood).










EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVES at Letchworth Sewage Works

Thanks to Mike Ilett, I was delighted to see and enjoy 3 purring EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVES in Hertfordshire today - on wires along the east side of the works. These are the first I have seen in the county this year, this species now seemingly absent from the Bygrave area. The pool at the south end also harboured a pair of Common Teal and 6 Green Sandpipers; also a singing male Garden Warbler.

Not that far away, along Newnham Way (TL 254 387), I recorded 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Skylarks, while Mike again had a calling Common Quail




















The Avian delights of RYE MEADS RSPB RESERVE

Rye Meads RSPB Reserve at Hoddesdon is a gem of a reserve housing an exceptional number of breeding waterbirds and an exceptional diversity of bird and wildlife within the London area. In addition to this year's breeding Black-necked Grebes, the reserve also boasts over 168 pairs of Black-headed Gull, 14 pairs of Common Tern and 16 pair of Northern Pochard........