More suppression at Hilfield Park Reservoir

The drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen by several observers at Hilfield Park Reservoir yesterday (13 April) but as usual, after countless attempts to eradicate such behaviour, its presence was unfortunately suppressed from the vast majority of us for no good reason

I have given up trying to stop this selfish approach from those that regularly visit the site and have accepted that it is very unlikely I am ever going to hear about anything there unless it is in midwinter (and even then it is most unlikely)

It is such a shame that we have to put up with this in Herts, particularly as it is such a good site with huge potential.

Browsers will be interested in the entry in the latest British Birds (April 2009, Volume 102) on page 171.

OSPREY and BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

At 1030 hours this morning, the first confirmed OSPREY of the spring flew low north over Startop's End Reservoir being mobbed by Common Terns (Jonathan Nasir)

Despite my enthusiasm for the weather conditions, Ivinghoe Hills drew a blank this morning for migrants and other than a few more WESTERN REED and SEDGE WARBLERS, very little has come out of it (per Steve Rodwell)

A single ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWIT was at Amwell NR early morning (per Barry Reed)

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Highlight of the day was an adult PIED AVOCET which remained throughout on the main reserve pit, feeding around the 'island' at the NE end (many observers)

WHITE STORK of unknown origin in North Herts 11 April

This afternoon my pager gave news of a WHITE STORK at Albury near Bishops Stortford. Having missed the Tring birds last year by minutes, I dashed off straight away, and arrived to find 2 local birders and Bill Last looking at the bird, but as I got out of the car they said "Quick, before it disappears over the hill!" I just managed to get a view through one of their scopes of the head and neck before it walked over the brow of the hill. A local resident then passed in his car, and showed us where we could get a view of the rest of the field. We drove round, with Anthony Dorman, who had arrived just too late to see it, and had excellent views of it feeding in the field. However, a dog walker passed along the edge of the field. The stork looked nervous and stopped feeding, and then flew off low over our heads, and over the village and out of sight. It could still be in the area, though possibly in Essex.At the start of the year, a few of us posted messages saying what we hoped to add to our Herts lists in 2009, and I said White Stork! Next year I'll wish for Siberian Thrush! (David Booth)

AMWELL GP - 11 APRIL

This morning at Amwell: 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER drumming, 1 EGYPTIAN GOOSE, 1 Common Shelduck, 5 singing CETTI'S WARBLERS, 8 Sedge, 3 Willow, 5 Blackcap, 3 Western Reed, Common Whitethroat, 1 Redwing, pair Ringed Plover, 4 Common Redshank (Graham White)

TYTTENHANGER GP - 11 APRIL

A good morning's birding today despite, or perhaps because of, the rain. Three DUNLIN were on the island in the main lake, but flew off at 10;45. A Common Tern was on the fishing lake, and then moved to the main lake. A Sedge Warbler and a Common Whitethroat were singing intermittently by the river. There were 7 Common Redshank in front of the hide, and another 2 were on the Willows Farm pool, almost certainly different birds. The 2 Oystercatchers were also there. At least 6 House Martins were over the main lake, with about 40 Sand Martins, and Swallows were everywhere, probably 20 in all (David Booth)

Spring Migration in full swing

Just returned from a long sojourn in Israel. Migration seems to be in full swing with many species arrived, including both HOUSE MARTIN and BARN SWALLOW.

This morning, Ian Williams, Geoff Lapworth, Joan Thompson and I saw the first-summer male BLACK REDSTART at Woodoaks Farm that John Edwards had discovered yesterday (April 3rd). There were also two NORTHERN WHEATEARS there, whilst a singing male WILLOW WARBLER remains for a second day at Croxley Common Moor (Joan Thompson et al).

A female Ruddy Shelduck of presumed captive origin remains at Tyttenhanger GP (many observers) whilst LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS are present at numerous locations.

Lee G R Evans