Archive for 2001

Archive for 2000

31ST DEC: 1-2 Waxwing still in Stevenage in vicinity of 69 Canterbury Way....4 Goosander and 50 Siskin at Stockers Lake

29TH DEC: 2 Smew at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, plus 1 Green Sandpiper and 11 Gadwall....Blackcap in Brookmans Park....3 Short-eared Owls at Hatfield Aerodrome

28TH DEC: 1, poss 2, Waxwing still showing well in Stevenage in trees outside 69 Canterbury Way....2 Smew on small lake adjacent to Amwell GPs....5 Goosander at Turnford Pits, Lea Valley

27TH DEC: Short-eared Owl at Hatfield Aerodrome....Bittern from 70 Acres Lake Watchpoint hide

26TH DEC: 2 drake Smew at Amwell GPs...Waxwing still outside 69 Canterbury Way, Stevenage

19TH DEC: Up to 6 Short-eared Owls at Hatfield Aerodrome also 2 Stonechat in area....female Ferruginous Duck on 70 Acres Lake and a Bittern from Watchpoint...5 Smew on Friday Lake

18TH DEC: Stockers Lake - female Smew, 5 Goosander (1 male) and 3 female Goldeneye....drake Smew and 2 Water Rail at Amwell GPs....male Blackcap in Brookmans Park garden and Snipe overhead

17TH DEC: 2nd-w Glaucous Gull in Amwell roost again late afternoon

16TH DEC: 2nd-w Glaucous & 3 Yellow-legged Gulls again in Amwell roost....Willow Tit at Rustling End

15TH DEC: 2nd-w Glaucous Gull in Amwell GPs roost, also prob adult Caspian Gull and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls....2 female Smew at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring

14TH DEC: Immature Glaucous Gull in Amwell GPs gull roost, also drake Smew and 6 Yellow-legged Gulls

12TH DEC: 4 Redpoll at Hertford Heath

11TH DEC: 4 Short-eared Owls at Hatfield Aerodrome showing well....male Blackcap in a Bishops Stortford garden and one in Kings Langley

10TH DEC: 2 Snipe at Purwell Meadows, also prob Green Sandpiper

7TH DEC: 2 female Smew and female/juv Scaup at Wilstone Reservoir

5TH DEC: 4 Smew (1 drake) Friday Lake....Bittern from Watchpoint, 70 Acres Lake....Chiffchaff behind Cheshunt railway station....Common Buzzard (juv) near Watton-at-Stone....2 Stonechats at Croxley Moor....female Blackcap in a Sherrardswood garden

4TH DEC: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Gobion's Wood, Brookmans Park, also Kingfisher and c30 Siskins

2ND DEC: 5 Golden Plover over Brookmans Park Station at 0805

27TH NOV: Wilstone Reservoir, Tring - Female Smew, juv female Scaup and Peregrine...2 Woodcock on North Mymms Park....2 Bitterns, 70 Acres Lake Watchpoint

26TH NOV: Bittern from Watchpoint (aka Paddyfield Warbler/Waverley) Hide, near Fishers Green carpark

23RD NOV: Egyptian Goose at Amwell, also c500 Lapwings on new diggings west of railway

21ST NOV: At Amwell - Snow Bunting, 3 flyover Goosander, Redshank and Ruddy Duck, and adult Yellow-legged Gull in roost....At King's Meads 2 Stonechat, 56 Wigeon and one Mandarin....1-2 Brambling near Wildhill....2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Cassiobury Park...female Ferruginous Duck, 70 Acres Lake, and Bittern from Watchpoint....Buzzard over Watton-at-Stone at 2pm

20TH NOV: Male Blackcap in Brookmans Park....2 female Red-crested Pochard at Tyttenhanger GPs (easternmost pit), also 4 Wigeon and c20 Gadwall....Buzzard and Little Owl at North Mymms Park....1st-winter Kittiwake and adult Yellow-legged Gull in Amwell gull roost

19TH NOV: Kingfisher at Waterford Marsh

18TH NOV: Buzzard sp. (poss Rough-legged) over Hexton Country Park, TL106303

17TH NOV: Pair of Red-crested Pochards on Inns Lake (adjacent to Stockers Lake), Rickmansworth

16TH NOV: Probable Shag at Lynsters Lake, Colne Valley

14TH NOV: Amwell: adult Caspian Gull seen for 45 mins at 0855 before it flew south, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls present....female Ferruginous Duck still on 70 Acres Lake

13TH NOV: Bittern in flight at Amwell....2 Green Sandpipers at Tyttenhanger GPs

8TH NOV: 4 Red-crested Pochard at Stockers Lake (2 on Stockers, 2 on Inns Lake) also 1 Redpoll and 50+ Siskin in area

7TH NOV: Female Ferruginous Duck on 70 Acres Lake....female Blackcap in a garden in Sherrardswood....c350 Golden Plover with c25 Lapwings near North Mymms

6TH NOV: 2 1st-winter Mediterranean Gulls in the roost at Hilfield Reservoir

3RD NOV: Juvenile Scaup at Wilstone Reservoir....female Ferruginous Duck still on 70 Acres Lake

30TH OCT: Female Ferruginous Duck from Waverley Hide, 70 Acres Lake....Little Grebe and 3 Great Crested Grebes at Verulamium Park

29TH OCT: No sign of Paddyfield Warbler....Female Ferruginous Duck on 70 Acres Lake and Bittern from Pochard Hide, North Met Pit....Rye Meads: 2 Water Pipits, 110 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, Whinchat and Stonechat....2 SHort-eared Owls at Beech Farm, St Albans, also 30 Fieldfare, 30+ Skylark and 7 Golden Plover over

28TH OCT: Paddyfield Warbler still from Waverley Hide 9am at least, £1 entry

27TH OCT: Paddyfield Warbler from Waverley Hide (Bittern Watchpoint), Lee Valley - Hetrs/Essex border - would be Herts' 2nd

25TH OCT: Curlew Sandpiper at Wilstone reservoir

24TH OCT: Adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Hilfield Reservoir roost...3 juv House Martins at Cheshunt GPs

23RD OCT: Rock Pipit (present since 17th) and 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (in the roost) at Hilfield eservoir

20TH OCT: Osprey low over Moneyhill, Rickmansworth at 0845

19TH OCT: Knot and good numbers of Wigeon and Shoveler at Wilstone

18TH OCT: Male Hen Harrier east over Maple Lodge NR at 1345....2 female Goldeneye and a Garganey at Wilstone

17TH OCT: 35+ Common Snipe and 10 Meadow Pipits at Redbournbury....17 Golden Plover at East Hyde

16TH OCT: Garganey and Pintail at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring....Male Stonechat along footpath behind Stockers Farm....Redwing and Brambling at Bishops Stortford

15TH OCT: 6 Common Scoter at Hilfield Park Reservoir....Little Owl in Bushey

14TH OCT: Brent Goose grazing on dam at Hilfield Reservoir

11TH OCT: Possible Red Kite over a Broxbourne garden

13TH OCT: Male Stonechat at Stockers Farm along the footpath

12TH OCT: Mixed flock, 500 strong, of Lapwing and Golden Plover in field by Great Braitch Lane, Hatfield Garden Village

10TH OCT: 1 Brambling with flock of Chaffinches in Dane O'Coys Rd, Bishop's Stortford

7TH OCT: 11 Redwing over Moneyhill, Rickmansworth

6TH OCT: At Wilstone, Garganey and Green Sandpiper

4TH OCT: Osprey flew low south over Moneyhill, Rickmansworth towards Stockers Lake at 0755

3RD OCT: Male Stonechat at Croxley Moor

30TH SEPT: House Martins still feeding young in a nest in Puckeridge....2 Chiffchaffs still singing in Glaxowelcome's car park, Ware

29TH SEPT: Drake Garganey and Reed Warbler at Rye Meads....2 Hobbies at Amwell....singing Chiffchaff still at the fringe of Sherrardswood, Welwyn GC

27TH SEPT: Chiffchaff singing at Abbey View golf course, St Albans and Sherrardswood, Welwyn GC

26TH SEPT: 1st-winter Wheatear (unfortunately freshly dead on road) at Ashwell....Chiffchaff and few young Common Terns at Tyttenhanger GPs

25TH SEPT: c50 Lapwings in fields near Hatfield Garden Village....Osprey over the River Ivel near Radwell....male Wheatear at Therfield Heath

24TH SEPT: Wilstone - Drake Mandarin, 3+ Pintail, 1 Greenshank and 1 Common Sandpiper....Wheatear at St. Ippollyts

23RD SEPT: 6 Buzzards near Barley

22ND SEPT: Osprey at the north end of Amwell Pits at 1040

19TH SEPT: Willow Warbler showing characteristics of race acredula - "colour of rich tea biscuit" - by the hide at Wilstone....Juv Osprey still at Amwell GPs and has also been seen along the River Lee at Ware....Wheatear (1st-winter) at Wickham Hall

18TH SEPT: Wilstone - 6 Greenshank, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Common Sandpiper....c200 Swallows at Bishop's Stortford and 2 Spotted Flycatchers near Hoggates Wood

13TH SEPT: Wilstone - Osprey 1124-1128 then flew towards Marsworth Resv, also Grey Plover there but no sign of Black-necked Grebe or Little Tern

12TH SEPT: Wilstone - Black-necked Grebe, Little Tern and Grey Plover at 11.30am at least...Osprey at Amwell to 4.30pm at least, also 2 Garganey, 2 Common Sandpiper and 1 Greenshank

11TH SEPT: Osprey at Amwell GPs till 5pm at least but mobile (visited at Rye House Marsh 3.30pm) and 1 Garganey there....Wilstone - 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2+ Common Sandpipers, 4 Greenshanks and 2 Shelduck

10TH SEPT: Wryneck killed by a dog at Kimpton, near Hitchin...Osprey lingered briefly at Wilstone during the evening....3 Garganey at Hilfield (also on 9th)

9TH SEPT: Yellow Wagtail at the East Herts Golf Club

8TH SEPT: Wryneck at Stockers Farm at 6.10pm, also 2 Hobbies and 3 Whinchat....Hawfinch at Saw Trees Farm just past Cold Christmas (nr Barwick Ford)....24 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin and 3 Hobbies at Wilstone

7TH SEPT: Wryneck at Stocker's Farm....Wilstone - 14 Curlew Sandpiper, 18 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin and 2 Shelduck

6TH SEPT: Wilstone - Curlew Sandpiper and Little Gull

5TH SEPT: Spotted Flycatcher and Little Owl at the Old Church, Thundridge....Female Wheatear over Great Ashby Road, Stevenage....Buzzard over St Nicholas Industrial Area, Stevenage

3RD SEPT: Wryneck at Stockers Farm, Rickmansworth

2ND SEPT: Greenshank at Wilstone

1ST SEPT: White Stork was recaptured early this morning

31ST AUG: White Stork - escaped from captivity today near Harpenden....Wilstone - 15 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 2 Shelduck, Mandarin and a Hobby

30TH AUG: Wilstone - Greenshank and Common Sandpiper....Buzzard near Lemsford

29TH AUG: Wilstone - Black-necked Grebe, 4 Pintail, 2 Garganey, 1 Shelduck, 17 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Wigeon and Peregrine on Castle Cement chimney viewable from the reservoir

26TH AUG: Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Pitstone No. 2 Pit (Herts section)

25TH AUG: Wilstone Reservoir - 2 Garganey, 21 Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 "dark" juv Grey Herons

24TH AUG: Little Owl seen near Bishops Stortford Rugby Club

21ST AUG: Little Egret at Wilstone, seen at 0810 then flew off south at 0915....3 Wigeon at Amwell (winter on the way?!)

19TH AUG: Buzzard seen at Cold Christmas, drifting up the Rib Valley towards Barwick Ford

17TH AUG: Osprey at Hilfield Reservoir briefly around 1300....Wilstone - 8 Greenshanks, 2 Garganey, Mandarin and Pintail

16TH AUG: 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Amwell this morning

15TH AUG: Hilfield Reservoir - Wheatear on the dam and Crossbill overhead....Small group of Crossbill over Bayfordbury nr Hertford at midday

14TH AUG: 5 Garganey (male and 4 females) at Amwell....Barn Owl hunting along verge of A414 near Cole Green, Welwyn GC, at 0430

13TH AUG: Wilstone - Scaup, 2 Garganey, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpipers and a Shelduck....2 Spotted Redshank at Amwell

12TH AUG: Oystercatcher at Amwell

11TH AUG: Wilstone - 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Shelduck

9TH AUG: Wilstone - 11 Common Sandpipers, 2 Garganey, 1 Wheatear and 1 Shelduck

8TH AUG: Wilstone - 2 Garganey, 2 Sandwich Terns present, 17 Whimbrel through

7TH AUG: Wilstone Reservoir - 2 Garganey, Ruff, Pintail, 2 Greenshank and 4 Common Sandpipers.....Kingsmead, Ware - Little Egret and Greenshank then relocated at Amwell (drake Ruddy Duck there also)

4TH AUG: Amwell - 2 Little Egrets briefly also drake Garganey, Common Sandpiper and up to 5 Green Sandpipers (3 different Mediterranean Gulls have also been seen recently - adult, 1st summer/2nd winter and a juvenile)

3RD AUG: Wilstone Reservoir: 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, Kingfisher and Little Owl

1ST AUG: Wood Sandpiper late evening at Wilstone Reservoir but no sign all day of WWB Tern

31ST JUL: Moulting adult White-winged Black Tern in NW corner of Wilstone Reservoir, Tring at 2030 at least, showing well - has been roosting on Drayton Bank - but often mobile

29TH JUL: moulting 1st summer Mediterranean Gull at Amwell....Oystercatcher seen in flight near Baldock

27TH JUL: 7 Crossbills flying north over Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead

24TH JUL: Wilstone Reservoir - Common Sandpiper, Shelduck and a Buzzard flew north-east

23RD JUL: Wilstone Reservoir - Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers and Shelduck

21ST JUL: Amwell - Adult summer Mediterranean Gull and 4 Green Sandpipers

18TH JUL: Turtle Dove calling at Swallow Holes, North Mymms; 2+ Crossbills at Pinehurst, Hertford

17TH JUL: 1 female Pintail and 2 Common Sandpipers at Wilstone Reservoir

News of a Sand Martin colony near Welwyn GC: active colony of about 50 holes, many young seen. Site is strictly private

13TH JUL: 2 Quail still calling 4 miles east of Baldock from fields by the minor road off the A505 to Sandon at TL 295368

12TH JUL: Maple Lodge NR - Little Grebe (4 adults and 5 young) & Kingfisher

Verulamium Park, St Albans - 12 Grey Heron nests this year on one of the islands, have been very successful - 30 birds reported recently (including young birds)

30TH JUN: Buzzard low over Stockers Lake at 3.15pm

27TH JUN: Sandwich Tern at Tyttenhanger Pits with 6+ Common Terns

25TH JUN: Common Sandpiper at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring

23RD JUN: 3 Quail still calling from barley fields near Sandon TL 291365

9TH JUN: 7 Hobbies and a Yellow Wagtail, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring

5TH JUN: Egyptian Goose (adult plus gosling) at Amwell Pits

4TH JUN: Mandarin (female plus 4 small young) near Hitchin (poss. first site breeding record)

3RD JUN: No sign of Purple Heron at Oxhey

2ND JUN: Adult Purple Heron nr Watford at Oxhey on flooded grazing land behind Bushey Cricket Club off Hampermill Lane to 8pm./P

1ST JUNE: Red Kite in flight near Gaddesden Row....Corn Bunting along Blunts Lane, near Potters Crouch

28TH MAY: Red Kite over Harpenden Common at 1145

25TH MAY: Little Ringed Plover on flooded field next to Stockers Lake

23RD MAY: 2 Arctic Terns at Bowmans Open Fishing Lake

22ND MAY: 2 Red Kites drifted NW over Stocker's Lake

20TH MAY: Hobbies seen near Tyttenhanger and Bayfordbury (and yesterday)

19TH MAY: Stockers Lake - Yellow Wagtail, Common Tern, Reed Warbler....Amwell - Reed, Sedge, Garden Warblers, Whitethroat, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper

18TH MAY: Summer plumaged Grey Plover at Amwell

16TH MAY: Long-tailed Duck still at Startops End Reservoir, Tring

14TH MAY: Marsh Harrier at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring

11TH MAY: 1st-summer drake Long-tailed Duck at Startops End Reservoir, Tring....No sign of Dotterel today (news of yesterday's sighting only received today)

10TH MAY: Dotterel in fields by minor road between Ashwell and Eyeworth this evening....2 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field next to Stockers Lake, 5 Common Terns around the lake

9TH MAY: Common Buzzard near Watton-at-Stone

7TH MAY: Little Egret on the River Lea, East Hyde in the water meadows lining B653 Lower Luton Road, midway between Batford and Luton, also 2 Ruddy Duck and Lesser Whitethroat there

5TH MAY: 7 Black Terns at Startops Reservoir and 3 at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring....Red Kite over, Hobby and Ruddy Duck at Maple Lodge....Green Sandpiper and 2 Yellow Wagtails on a flooded field at Stockers Lake....2 Swifts in Ware

4TH MAY: Female Marsh Harrier at Wilstone Reservoir....5 Whimbrel east over Patmore Heath early am....Whinchat, Tree Sparrow and 3 Yellow Wagtails at Tyttenhanger....3 Swifts at Hatfield University

3RD MAY: Spotted Flycatcher at Barley

2ND MAY: Buzzard seen being mobbed by crows over Porters Park, Shenley

30TH APR: Osprey seen flying north up the Lea Valley (Nazing Meads area) towards Amwell at 7.30pm....Yellow Wagtail at Wheathampstead

28TH APR: Hobby, Grasshopper Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and RInged Plover at Amwell....6 Hobbies over Wilstone Reservoir

27TH APR: Stanborough Lake, Welwyn Garden City - 2 Cuckoos, 3+ Common Tern and a Grey Wagtail....Little Gull at Hilfield Park Reservoir

26TH APR: Osprey and 4 Little Gulls at Wilstone....At Amwell - Black-necked Grebe, Buzzard and Nightingale....6 Swifts and 2 Cuckoos in Rye House power station area....6 Little Gulls at Hilfield Park Reservoir

25TH APR: Short-eared Owl at Beech Farm GPs, St Albans....2 summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebes still at Amwell GPs, also 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Whitethroat, Hobby, 2 Turtle Doves, many Sedge Warblers and several Common Terns....Cuckoo at Patmore Heath....Grasshopper Warbler and 4 Hobbies at Wilstone Reservoir

24TH APR: Blue-headed Wagtail at Amwell GPs, just south from viewpoint....5 Hobbies around Wilstone Reservoir....2 Cuckoos at Common Moor....Buzzard at Howe's Cross, near Standon

23RD APR: The first Swallows reported to the site! 2 at Much Hadham, 2 at Furneux Pelham, 1 at Patmore Heath (late news of several at Tyttenhanger on 17th Apr)

22ND APR: 3 summper-plumaged Black-necked Grebes at Amwell Gravel Pits, viewable from main lookout point towards south end of reserve....Hobby and 5 Whooper Swans at Wilstone Reservoir....Common Sandpiper at Hilfield Reservoir

18TH APR: Firecrest at Hilfield Reservoir but not seen on 19th

17TH APR: Green Sandpiper at Cassiobury Park, Watford

16TH APR: Black Redstart at Hilfield Park Reservoir

14TH APR: 5 Whooper Swans at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring

13TH APR: Swallow at Amwell GPs

12TH APR: Buzzard seen at Hunsdonbury

11TH APR: Osprey over Tyttenhanger Pits....Cetti's Warbler again showing on+off late pm in reeds at the south end of Springwell Lake, Rickmansworth (Herts/Middx border)....Cuckoo near Ayot Green Way....2 Ringed Plovers at Rye House Marsh RSPB Reserve on middle lake

10TH APR: Long Tailed Duck at Troy Mill

7TH APR: Wheatear (male) at Barkway Golf Course....30 Fieldfare near Barley (Herts/Cambs border)

5TH APR: 2 Long-tailed Ducks & Black-necked Grebe at Troy Mill (in Colne Valley, west of Harefield)

4TH APR: 3 Buzzards over Patmore Heath at 5pm

1ST APR: Swallow over Marsworth Reservoir, Tring with 60+ Sand Martins....Drake Garganey still at Amwell GPs also there 4 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover and a Chiffchaff singing....Kingfisher on the River Gade at Common Moor

31ST MAR: At Amwell drake Garganey on main lake in front of main hide but elusive, also 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Redshanks, Stock Dove, Chiffchaff and Water Rail calling

29TH MAR: 13 Sand Martins at Amwell.....Marsh Harrier over Stockers Lake towards Harefield early am....2 Little Ringed Plovers at Stockers Farm, next to Stockers Lake, Fieldfare also

27TH MAR: Red Kite seen soaring over the A10 near Standon

26TH MAR: Black Redstart in a private garden in Foxholes, nr Hertford, briefly this morning

25TH MAR: Red Kite south over Chiswell Green at 1255

23RD MAR: Amwell GPs: Yellow Wagtail, Garganey (male), 4 Snipe, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin

21ST MAR: Red Kite (wing-tagged) drifted NE over East Hyde at 10.45am

20TH MAR: Red Kite over Amwell GPs from 1455-1500.....2 Little Owls near Ayot Green Way

18TH MAR: 6+ Sand Martins at Marsworth Reservoir, Tring

17TH MAR: Black Redstart at Stockers Farm, next to Stockers Lakes....Little Ringed Plover at a private site near St Albans

15TH MAR: Chiffchaff singing at Netherfield Lane Pits, Stanstead Abbots....Long-tailed Duck at Tilehouse Gravel Pits....2 Common Buzzards still at Hunsdon....no news of Great Grey Shrike since 6th March

6TH MAR: Great Grey Shrike near Lower Sheering

5TH MAR: Bittern from Pochard Hide, North Metropolitan Pit, Cheshunt + Water Rail there

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