Amwell this morning

Two Swallows south, 2 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 LRP, 5 Little Egret, 5 Goldeneye, 4 Redshank this morning (Graham White)

Sherrardspark Wood for the very first time..........

TUESDAY 27 MARCH

Another very unseasonally warm day with temperatures again reaching 66 degrees F this afternoon; wall-to-wall sunshine and light SE winds.

After a brief flirtation with Hertfordshire this morning, I spent the rest of the day in Bedfordshire, catching up with a few more migrants........

SHERRARDSPARK WOOD, LNR WELWYN GARDEN CITY (HERTS)

A new site for me and a tremendous relic ancient woodland site. It is one of Hertfordshire's largest and most important Oak woodlands and extends to approximately 80 hectares (200 acres) and has some of the county's finest Oak and Hornbeam trees. It is an ancient woodland for which there is archaelogical evidence to suggest that people lived there some 4,000 years ago. It is also home to an important colony of Hazel Dormice.

Anyway, the reason for my visit. After hearing of numerous reports of LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER from Monks Walk, I decided to visit this morning and was not disappointed. Chris King first espied it - a nice male moving quickly through the tall canopy of Hornbeams to the right of the tree-lined avenue. It called just once and moved rapidly through the trees. A very welcome Herts year tick and a nice new site tick.

The area also held both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, several Nuthatches, Common Treecreeper, Great and Blue Tits, nesting Stock Dove and Chaffinches.

Being positioned on the A1, I was relatively convenient for Bedfordshire and as it was, Matt Burgess discovered a passage flock of Little Gulls......whilst driving north, a pair of MANDARIN DUCKS flew across the A1 at Welwyn, just over a mile south of Junction 6.....

DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT, BIGGLESWADE (BEDS)

A nice selection of waders present including a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Redshanks, several Lapwing, a GREEN SANDPIPER and a Little Egret

PEACOCK'S LAKE, BROOM GP (BEDS) (1130-1230 hours)

After an initial dipping session, I joined finder Matt Burgess at the watchpoint and enjoyed good views of his 4 winter-plumaged adult LITTLE GULLS. The birds were extremely restless and active and on at least two occasions, thermalled up very high in the sky and attempted to fly off east; both times they returned back down though. MJP, Pip and SCB soon caught up with them too.

Not many wildfowl left on the lake, just 3 Wigeon, a few Teal, 4 Shoveler and a scattering of Tufted Duck and Pochard, along with 8 Lapwing and 1-2 Common Redshank.

Whilst keeping on the Little Gulls high in the sky, several raptors were intercepted, including 3 Sparrowhawks, a Red Kite and a number of Common Buzzards. A single SAND MARTIN was also picked up.

At least 2 Common Chiffchaffs were singing in the vicinity

WILLINGTON GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Not a great deal to report but 304 Barnacle Geese on the grass, 8 Meadow Pipits in the new plough and 2 Common Shelducks, 8 Wigeon, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Ringed Plovers on Dovecote Pit. Again, also 2 singing Common Chiffchaffs

PRIORY COUNTRY PARK, BEDFORD (BEDS)

The surrounding parkland yielded my first Beds male BLACKCAP of the year, along with 2 more singing male Common Chiffchaffs. The country park itself was heaving with people with dogs galore entering the lake at the eastern shore

Checked out a number of other sites but nothing worth mentioning - just numerous singing Common Chiffchaffs.

At FLAUNDEN (HERTS), I noted my first Orange Tip butterfly of the year

Bramfield Woods today

Took a walk in Bramfield Woods this morning with the hope of finding the Crossbills and the Brambling recorded yesterday by Alan Reynolds. Normally I would park up in the village and walk northwards along the footpath leading up the hill and into the woods from the southeast end but I decided to park in the layby near where Tewin Hill meets Winding Shott and walk along the footpath that goes through Nicholson's Wood.

It started rather quietly with just a handful of tits, wren, blackbird and woodpigeons until I approached the crossroads in the northeast corner of Nicholson's Wood where there were several chaffinch on the ground. I scanned them with the hope of a Brambling but there were none. A Nuthatch caught my eye low down and then a Chiffchaff burst into song. As I neared the crossroads where I noticed a small pond the distinct calls of Lesser Redpolls became apparent and I noticed several coming down to the pond plus several more in the pinetrees -around 20-25 in total. I decided that the site looked good for attracting birds down to drink so I set myself up in a position overlooking the pond and waited.

It was not long before I heard the call of Crossbills and caught the brief glimpse of a female passing overhead but then it was gone. A year tick but all a bit too brief really so I returned to watching the pond where chaffinches, goldfinches, blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits, dunnock and wren were intermittent visitors along with the redpolls. After about 20 minutes a male BRAMBLING in full breeding plumage landed on a small shrub near the pond and although it only remained there for about 5 seconds, it was just what I wanted. My first for the year (I did not get out much in January and February) and a male in breeding plumage with full black hood to boot. Shortly after this, suddenly a pair of Common Crossbills landed on the lower branches of a nearby tree no more than 25ft away and were frantically calling. I watched them for a while thinking this is far better, when I could hear a rustling sound at the base of the tree the crossbills were in. A JUVENILE!!!!.. WOW!!! a juvenile Common Crossbill was about 20ft from me amongst the leaf litter. I had never seen a fledgling crossbill before (seen juveniles capable of feeding themselves in Scotland and first winter birds in various places) and here was one barely a few miles from where I live in Herts. I watched open mouthed and awe struck as the juvenile managed to escape the leaf litter and fly to a shrub about 40ft away from me where the adults followed and the female preceded to feed it with regurgitated seeds. The feeding process took about 20 seconds before both adults left leaving the juvenile quietly perched some 10ft above ground all on its own where it remainedso for at least another 15 minutes until I left the area. The juvenile was uniformly greyish brown with heavy streaking throughout with the wings appearing darker. The bill appeared to have a slight curve but seemed to lack any crossing and was grey with a yellowish tint. The tail was distinctly shorter than the adults appearing somewhat stub-tailed which made it difficult for the bird to balance... seeming front (head and bill) heavy.

There was little else elsewhere in the woods, although a horse-rider mentioned seeing a large brown bird of prey sitting on the ground on one of the rides but it was not there when I arrived (presumed buzzard).

The pond is located at TL 2829 1705 just to the north of the crossroads in the northeast corner of Nicholson's Wood and seems to be a huge attraction to finches and tits given the warm weather and lack of water around.. It is shaded by pines and looks to have plenty of water in it and as well as the redpolls, crossbills and brambling could potentially attract hawfinches which are believed to be in the area.

Tony Wileman

Southeasterly winds displace large LITTLE GULL flock

MONDAY 26 MARCH (LGRE DIARY NOTES)

The gorgeous summer-type weather continued today with a light SE breeze and wall-to-wall sunshine culminating in another top temperature of 66 degrees F.

Although most of the day was spent surveying, a brief visit to Tring Reservoirs finally pushed my tally through the 100 species barrier......

BOVINGDON BRICKPITS (HERTS)

Spring is well and truly underway with bird song seemingly everywhere. The Brickpits were alive with activity and although I failed to find yesterday's Willow Warbler, no less than 8 Common Chiffchaffs were in full song. A nice male Blackcap was showing well too.

Otherwise, the site yielded Red Kite, 3 Green Woodpeckers, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Nuthatch, 2 Song Thrushes, 5 Common Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin pair, 2 Wrens, singing male Goldcrest, BULLFINCH and 6 Linnets. Butterflies on the wing included COMMA and Small Tortoiseshell.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ROOKERIES

That at Chessbury has now increased to 44 active nests whilst the colony besides the A413 just south of Great Missenden (at SU 905 996) now holds 15 nests. In the town centre by the church (SU 894 014), one tree holds 16 nests, whilst further north just before the A413 enters the Wendover Bypass, 29 active nests were counted at SU 873 066. A singing male Common Chiffchaff was also at the latter site.

BACOMBE HILL AND ENVIRONS (BUCKS) - CREST SURVEY WORK PART 2

Spent three hours surveying Coxgrove Wood, Smalldene Farm, both High and Low Scrubs, Upper Bacombe, Bacombe Warren and Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve. Although Dave Cleal and I found Firecrest in this area last year, my visit today resulted in a blank sweep. In fact, despite a massive area of suitable fir woodland covered, just 2 Goldcrests were found. A total of 5 singing male Common Chiffchaffs was noted, with 6 Nuthatches, 2 Jays, Common Treecreeper and a single MARSH TIT (High Scrubs). A pair of BULLFINCH was in 'Upper Verney' garden, with 18 Carrion Crows in one group in a neighbouring field.

Numerous butterflies were on the wing including Green-veined White, Peacock and 4 Brimstones.

WENDOVER FOREST (BUCKS)

Did a full and comprehensive survey of all of the southern part of the forest - beginning at 1330 hours and finishing just over two hours later. Perhaps it was the time of the day but it was real hard work. I managed to find just 5 FIRECRESTS (4 singing males), with 1 close to the Hale entrance gate on the main drove, two males in a usual area not far from the hide and a pair in a new area east of the fort. Steve Rodwell had fared much better yesterday, recording no less than 9 singing males.

GOLDCRESTS were far more numerous with no less than 11 singing males counted.

At the Keeper's Cottages at the Hale entrance, a gorgeous male BRAMBLING was in full song, with two more females with Chaffinches in the same area. SISKINS were seemingly everywhere and in constant display throughout the wood, whilst 2 COMMON CROSSBILLS flew over near Post 9.

Three Nuthatches, 9 Coal Tits, 2 MARSH TITS (singles at the Hale and another near 'Picket Piece') and a singing male BLACKCAP were also encountered, whilst a TAWNY OWL hooted in the warmth of the afternoon sun at 1503 hours. Lots of butterflies again, with 3 COMMAS, Small Tortoiseshell and up to 6 Brimstones.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Following a call from Dave Hutchinson, arrived at Wilstone at 1545 hours - a flock of LITTLE GULLS had flown in on the southeasterly. Initially, 16 birds was present, but this soon increased to 20, including four adults in full breeding plumage and a single first-year. The remaining birds were a mixture of white-headed adults and third-years. This was my largest flock in quite a while at Wilstone and I immediately updated RBA and David Bilcock. Francis Buckle and Jack O'Neill soon turned up and the flock were still present when I departed (1615). According to Charlie Jackson, both he and Mike Wallen watched the flock get intimidated by a Lesser Black-backed Gull not long later and this forced them all to fly off strongly east towards Ivinghoe Beacon. Chaz then discovered a further single early evening.

Also on Wilstone Reservoir were 21 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Mute Swans, 15 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 2 drake Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, all 10 remaining Common Goldeneyes, 4 Little Egrets and the 2 OYSTERCATCHERS. A full breeding-plumaged adult Common Gull flew through.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

New birds for me for 2012 included a pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and a splendid adult male WHITE WAGTAIL, both species joining the pair of RINGED PLOVER and the near summer-plumaged WATER PIPIT

FROGMORE MEADOWS (HERTS)

Again, no sign of the Willow Warbler seen by Chris Pontin here on Friday, just 2 singing male Common Chiffchaffs and the resident pair of Common Kestrels

PENN WOOD SSSI (BUCKS)

BRAMBLINGS were in fine fettle and making a cacophony of nasal sounds. At least 36 birds were still utilising the site for roosting, initially arriving in the tall fir trees at the west end of the main circuit before flighting down towards the Penna Rhododendrons to roost. Many of the males were in outstanding condition and the birds were feeding on seeds in the conifers.

Four COMMON CROSSBILLS were in the tall pines along the western perimeter trail including a female with a bulging lower mandible.

A male BLACKCAP was also noted, 4 different male Common Chiffchaffs, 8 singing male Goldcrests, Nuthatch, 6 Coal Tits and 3 singing male Song Thrushes.

Female BLACK REDSTART on Glebe Road in Letchworth

Showing well on rooftops and front gardens at intersection of Glebe Road and Cromwell Road. Seen in garden and on rooftop of number 99 and also other side of junction at 97.

OSPREY north over Cassiobury Park

At about 2.20 this afternoon the first park record of OSPREY was seen as a bird drifted off NW over the council yard being mobbed by 3 Herring Gulls (per Ian Bennell)

With SE winds, LITTLE GULLS arrive

First thing, Mike Ilett had two adult LITTLE GULLS briefly at Amwell, whilst this evening, Steve Rodwell found another on Wilstone