COLNE VALLEY BIRDING

A cycle from Rickmansworth down to Uxbridge was great until I fell off.

At Stockers Lake: pair SMEW, 110 Shoveler, LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 34 occupied heron nests, 5 GOOSANDER, 16 Goldeneye.

At Troy Mill GP: singing Chiffchaff, 6 Goldeneye, Little Egret, pair Ring-necked parakeets and a Buzzard.

At Denham GP; GOOSANDER, Chiffchaff, pair RN Parakeets (Graham White)

CASSIOBURY LESSER SPOTS

As for the Cassiobury Park pair of LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, the directions are thus -:

Park in the main car park signposted Cassiobury Park (off of the main Watford road) and then walk diagonally across the field to the green bridge across the river. The area beyond is affectionately known as 'The Meadow' (two lovebirds were kissing & cuddling there today) and the Lesser Spots show up in the tall trees both sides of the open area. Many of these trees are dead and rotting and ideal for drumming and feeding Lesser Spots and to be in with a chance, you really need to be on site between 0830 and 1030 hours (the optimum period for activity). The male generally appears from the left, announces his arrival with his loud 'kekking' call and feeds for a while. You can hear his soft tapping on the wood and every now and again he will burst into a long cry. He usually flies from the left to the right side of the track (which is very wet and flooded by the way, wellingtons advisable) and then feeds or drums for about 20 minutes before flying off.

Last year the pair bred just 80 yards away from the meadow and I am hoping they will do the same again this year. The pair showed well at the site this morning (Lee G R Evans)

BLACK-NECKED GREBES NOW INCREASED TO 18 BIRDS

A total of 18 BLACK-NECKED GREBES has now returned to the site where a permit for access may be obtained from the Herts & Middlesex Trust at Grebe House, St Michael's Street, St Albans, Herts, AL3 4SN. You must at first become a member.

Please note that in order to prevent wildlife crime, this nature reserve is being patrolled and is under surveillance by the Hertfordshire Constabulary and is being monitored by CCTV.

I must add that I have refused to support this trust because they continually allow and support the Ruddy Duck cull which I am vehemently against. They allow Defra to shoot over this location on at least five times per winter and this year allowed a shoot to take place when 4 Black-necked Grebes had returned.

Breeding BLACK-NECKED GREBES in HERTFORDSHIRE

In 1990, after an absence of over 60 years as a breeding bird in Hertfordshire, a pair of BLACK-NECKED GREBES bred successfully in South Hertfordshire. The birds first appeared at the beginning of June and began displaying almost immediately. They were observed daily and on the 10 June, were observed carrying weed into a Typha bed in the SE corner of the reservoir. By the end of June, only one bird could be found, and after careful scanning, the other bird was found sitting on a nest, well hidden at the edge of the reedbed.

On the evening of 22 July, both adults were out on the water and closer inspection revealed three young on the back of one of the adults. The feeding of the young was done by both parents with the distribution of food down to the determination of the individual. By 7 August, one juvenile was already independent and by 18, one adult had departed. Two juveniles remained until 5 September.

This was the first confirmed breeding of Black-necked Grebe in Hertfordshire since 1928 when a pair were believed to have bred on Wilstone Reservoir.

In 1991, a single calling bird in breeding plumage returned on 18 May with a juvenile there from 12-19 July, whilst a displaying pair returned from 30 April to 4 May 1992, with another pair on 28 May 1992. The following year just singles turned up on 26 and 29 April and 5 May 1993, with the same again on 2-5 July and 17 September 1994.

Following a blank year in 1995, an adult and a juvenile was present from 31 July to 5 August 1996, with the adult remaining until 8 August and a juvenile again on 24 August, with a pair again present from 23 March to 5 April 1997.

1998 spawned another bout of breeding success and following a pair present on 24 May, successful nesting was finally confirmed on 27 June. At least one adult remained with four young until 26 July with the young birds remaining until 7 September.

In 1999, two pairs summered with breeding attempted but unsuccessful. A single adult arrived on 1 April, followed by 3 birds from 22 April to the end of May. Two formed a pair and were often seen displaying, increasing to two pairs throughout June with nest-building observed. Up to 3 birds stayed throughout July with just one remaining until 11 September.

With the new Millenium, successful breeding took place including the remarkable fostering of a chick by a pair of Great Crested Grebes. The first bird of the year arrived on 19 March, with 7 the next day. Up to 6 were then present from April-June peaking at 7 adults again in July. It appeared that nesting attempts by 2 or 3 pairs failed following a period of heavy rain, which may have washed out nests. However, in early July 2000, a newly hatched brood of Great Crested Grebes was seen to include a single Black-necked Grebe chick Although it received some aggression it was fed fish rather than the more invertebrate diet, and brooded on the adult's back. The chick grew quickly and was independent by the end of the month, although it continued to associate with Gret crested rather than Black-necked Grebes. It remained until at least the third week of August when finally, a late brood of two Black-necked Grebes appeared, presumably the results of a second brood. One bird probably fledged, with the last adult seen on 27 August.

With fortunes mirroring the species' national success in 2001, where the population increased to at least 70 pairs, the small but increasing Hertfordshire population eventually reared three broods. The first two birds appeared on 22 March, increasing to 6 during April, 8 during May and a peak of 11 on 2 June. Early breeding attempts probably failed as the three broods totalling only four young appeared late in the season again. The last bird was noted on 17 September.

In 2002, the breeding population increased slightly again to four pairs nesting, although only one chick was ever seen most probably due to the wet weather all spring. The first two returned on 2 March and increased to a peak of 10 birds on 10 April. The last was seen on 25 September.

2003 was a record year with five pairs having unusually high success with five broods each of two young being reared. The first two birds arrived on 6 April, a month later than in 2002, and increased to a peak of 11 birds as the month progressed. However 2003 was eclipsed by 2004, when an incredible 9 pairs bred with eight broods hatching and at least 12 young fledging. The first two birds arrived on 17 March and increased to a peak of 18 in April. Following such a good year, four birds remained to overwinter.

In 2005, five broods were recorded, rearing 13 young, the largest number to date. The first bird arrived on 27 February, with up to 14 present March-August with a peak of 21 on 15 April. Numbers declined to a maximum of 7 in September and 1-2 until 13 November.

Despite a record number of 25 birds present in April 2006 and up to 16 during May to July, none was recorded as breeding. The last bird lingered until 29 October.

Breeding took place in 2007 and 2008 (details not available) with a single first-winter remaining into January-February 2009.

BLACK-NECKED GREBES return

At least 6 BLACK-NECKED GREBES have returned to a regular breeding site in South Hertfordshire, one of which was almost in full breeding attire.

Four birds had first arrived last week, coincident with a Ruddy Duck cull conducted by the CSL, in conjunction with Defra. Not only does Defra kill Ruddy Ducks at the wintering and staging post of the Black-necked Grebe (Staines Reservoirs) but also at its breeding ground. Outrageous behaviour and totally unacceptable.

Just 9 RUDDY DUCKS survived the onslaught.

STOCKER'S LAKE (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Eurasian Wigeon (45 on the Water Meadow by Stocker's Farm)
**SMEW (both an adult drake and a redhead were visible from 'Shoveler Hide'
LITTLE OWL (1 by the meadow)

First OYSTERCATCHER of the year

There was an OYSTERCATCHER at Amwell present until at least 0800 hours this morning, most likely the first of the year in Hertfordshire (per Barry Reed)

KITTIWAKE ON 19 FEBRUARY !!

This is a summary of the more interesting items of bird news that have not previously featured here.

LITTLE EGRET: 12 roosted at Stanborough Lakes on 14 (Anthony Dorman), with 3 at Ickleford Common on 20 (Richard Webb)
EURASIAN BITTERN: Rye Meads RSPB on 7 (V.Buckel)
**BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: an adult winter in front of the Amwell Viewpoint from 0720-0745 at least on 19 (several observers?)
SHORT-EARED OWL* - two birds on the Icknield Way midway between Royston and Therfield from at least 1-9 February
BARN OWL - singles at Graveley on 7 (T.Hemmings), Weston on 8 (R.Broadie), Whitwell on 12 (B.Peddar) and Cottered on 18 (P.Moore), with 2 at Rye Meads on 7 (V.Buckel)
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER: a male in Northaw Great Wood on 18 (R.Callf) and another in Cassiobury Park on 23 (Ian Bennell).
MARSH TIT: 8 in Northaw Great Wood on 18 (R.Callf)