Hertfordshire Website Sightings Archive 2002

31ST DEC: PUCKERIDGE, RIB VALLEY: Marsh Tit, 4 Siskin, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Reed Bunt, 2 Cormorant (Murray Orchard)....WILSTONE: F Smew & m Goldeneye (RBA per Ian Bennell)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERODROME: 2 Short-eared Owls, also 50+ Redwing/Fieldfare, 3 M Swan, 2 Kestrel (Wendy Hatton)....KINGS MEAD: Jack Snipe, 35 Snipe, 3 Stonechat, 20 Mdw Ppt, 30 Linnet, 16 Tufted, 53 Gadwall, 32 Shoveler, 53 Teal, 125 Wigeon, 200 BH Gull, 80 LBB Gull & 56 Lapwing (Alan Reynolds)....N MET PIT: Bittern from Pochard Hide (Graham Knight)....TYTTENHANGER: 5 Snipe, 15 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 56 Tufted, nrby 30+ Hs Sparrow at Bullens Green (Steven Pearce), also at Tyttenhanger pr Bullfinch, 30 Common Gull & Kingfisher (Alan Gardiner)....WELWYN GC: c45 Pied Wags in roost on Broadwater Rd (Chris Dee)....HITCHIN: Pr Mute Swan on river next to market (Sean Blackmore)

29TH DEC: HATFIELD AERODROME: Short-eared Owl (Anthony Dorman)....GREAT NORTHAW WOOD: 6+ Marsh Tits in car park, also 2 Goldcrest (Nathalie Schorbon)

28TH DEC: WATFORD: m Blackcap in private garden (Joan Thompson)....ALDBURY: Stonechat at Norcourt Hall Farm (Joyce Staines)....STOCKERS LAKE: 8 Goosander, also Siskins & Water Rail (Jol Mitchell)....HATFIELD AERODROME: 2000+ Golden Plover, 300+ Lapwing, c75 BH Gull, Grey Wag (John Moss)....JERSEY FARM, ST ALBANS: 20+ Yellowhammer, 15+ Mdw Pipits, 15+ Skylarks around Open Space (Graham Knight)....HEXTON: 2 Buzzards over chalk pits (Nigel Agar)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: 100+ Fieldfare, nrby c300 mixed Golden Plover/Lapwing at Symondshyde Farm (John Moss)....STANBOROUGH PARK, WGC: Grey Wag, also feral Greylag & Barnacle Gs (John Moss)

27TH DEC: TRING RSVRS: 2 Bitterns over Marsworth reedbed at dusk, 3 Bewick's Swans at Tringford (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, Tree Sparrow, 37 Cormorant, 2 Yellowhammer, 3 Bullfinch, 3 Gadwall & 4 Pochard (Paul Unwin)....KINGS MEAD: 87 Teal, 43 Gadwall, 115 Wigeon, 23 Lapwing, Grey Wag, 80 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing (Alan Reynolds)....EAST HYDE: C Buzzard hunting over R Lea S of East Hyde (Roger Payne)....POTTERS CROUCH: 2 C Buzzards flew from Square Wood mobbed by crow (Alan Gardiner)

26TH DEC: TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 45 Tufted, 8 Gadwall (Steven Pearce)....LEE VALLEY: N MET PIT - Bittern showing well from Pochard Hide, also 3 Goosander & 5 Goldeneye, AMWELL - 2 m Smew, 60+ Siskin, 50+ Chaffinch, 100+ Lapwing, FRIDAY LAKE - f Smew, 3 Goldeneye, BOWYERS WATER - 2 m Smew, 15+ Ruddy Dk, Sparrowhawk, also m Blackcap in private Cheshunt garden (Ross Facer)....PUCKERIDGE: 3 Marsh Tits, Siskin, 1+ Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Cormorant, Goldcrest, 6 Mdw Pipit, Yellowhammer, Green Wdpkr (Murray Orchard)....WATFORD: 200+ Jackdaw, 128 Canada Gs, 116 Teal, 114 Redwing, 89 Fieldfare, 26 Lapwing, 19 Goldfinch, 13 Gadwall & 3 Mdw Pipit at Mundens Estate (Ian Bennell)

25TH DEC: BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERODROME: Short-eared Owl, Jack Snipe, Peregrine low over towards Tyttenhanger, 26 Snipe, 3 Stonechat, 22 Goldfinch, 4 Snipe, 1000 Golden Plover, nrby at Coopers Green GP: m Pintail, 9 Gadwall (Steven Pearce)....PATMORE HEATH: 3 Redpoll in private garden (Mick East)

24TH DEC: TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 22 Cormorant, 22 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard (Steven Pearce)....CHORLEYWOOD: Marsh Tit in Carpenter's Wood; 2 C Buzzards N of Flaunden (Jol Mitchell)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: F Blackcap in private garden, also 2 Goldfinch (John Moss)....BISHOPS STORTFORD: f Blackcap in private garden (Chris Dee)

23RD DEC: TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 4 Siskin, 400+ Lapwing (Paul Unwin)....NORTHAW GREAT WOOD: 4 Marsh Tits (AM)

22ND DEC: GT GADDESDEN: Prob Ruddy Shelduck on R Gade just N of Wyevale Garden Centre, seen from car (John Rimes)....AMWELL: Little Egret, 10 Golden Plover over, 6 Smew, Shelduck (Toby Austin)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 23 Gadwall, 6 Teal, Kingfisher, Green Sand, esc Southern Lapwing, 250 Lapwing (Steven Pearce)....BROXBOURNE WOODS: c20 Crossbill (Toby Austin)....BEECH FARM: 3 Short-eared Owls , Barn Owl, 400 Jackdaw (Alex Lewis) also 38 Snipe, Green Sand, Greenshank over (from Tyttenhanger direction) and later seen at Coopers Green Ln GP, nrby 1000+ Golden Plover at Hatfield Aerodrome also 200+ Starling & 300+ Lapwing, nrby at Coopers Green GP: male Pintail, 43 Pochard, 7 Gadwall (& Greenshank, presumed same as Tyttenhanger & Beech Farm) (Steven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD: 18 Tufted, 2 Pochard, 67 Shoveler, 41 Gadwall, 105 Wigeon, 40 Mallard, 90 Teal, 15 Lapwing, 9 Linnet, 4 Stonechat & 5 Snipe (Alan Reynolds)....SYMONDSHYDE: 108 Fieldfare (Steven Pearce)

21ST DEC: LEA VALLEY: Little Egret (roosting most evenings), adult Yellow-legged Gull & Green Sand at Amwell, f Smew at Stanstead Abbotts GP, pr Stonechat at Kings Mead, c1500 Golden Plover & c1000 Lapwings from A10/Amwell roundabout (Toby Austin)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, Green Sand, 6 Wigeon, 8 Bullfinch, esc Southern Lapwing, Grey Wag, 66 Cormorant, 4 Gadwall, Kingfisher & 2 Snipe (Steven Pearce)....BROCKET PARK: 24 Crossbills at 1100 (Alex Lewis)....BITTERN WATCHPOINT, 70 ACRES LK: 2 Bitterns & 2 Water Rails, Kingfisher & Weasel (AM)

20TH DEC: CASSIOBURY PARK, WATFORD: GS Wdpkr drumming; 40 + Greenfinches & 3 Jays at King George V playing fields off Tolpits Lane (Ian Bennell)

19TH DEC: SYMONDSHYDE FARM, HATFIELD: 500+ Lapwing (John Moss)....VERULAMIUM PARK: Male Wigeon, m Tufted, small flock Shoveler, small flock Pochard & Sparrowhawk (Glen Barnes)....WALTHAM CROSS: c1000 Golden Plover in field nr Waltham X r'bout on A10 (Nigel Agar)....KINGS MEAD: Jack Snipe, 2 prs Stonechat, 12 Tufted, 10 Mallard, 100 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, 10 Redwing & 40 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....AMWELL: Green Sand on Sheepcot Pit, also 5 Siskins, Water Rail & 6 Goldeneye (Stephen Welch)....TONWELL: C Buzzard over bypass (Ray Hooper)....ST MARGARETS: 2 large flocks of Golden Plover over A414, c2000 birds, also 210 Lapwings (Stephen Welch)

18TH DEC: WILSTONE: 3 Redshank & drake Goldeneye from hide (FoTR)....WALSWORTH COMMON, HITCHIN: Unconfirmed Slender-billed Gull reported again but no sign in subsequent search just a BH Gull with orange-yellow bill base that looked unusual among the other gulls (BN)....BEECH FARM: 2 Short-eared Owls seen from path behind Notcutts at 1600 (Ernest Leahy)....LEE VALLEY BITTERNS TODAY: 3 from Bittern Watchpoint, 2 from Pochard Hide, N Met Pit, 1 at Amwell, 1 at Rye Meads (per Tim Hill)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Green Sand, male Stonechat, Water Rail, Mdw Pipit, Kingfisher, numerous Redwing & Fieldfare (Af Nasir)....COW ROAST: C Buzzard over A41 at 0800 (Ian Burrus)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY PARK: Tawny Owl calling from next to lake (Sean Blackmore)

17TH DEC: WALSWORTH COMMON, HITCHIN: Unconfirmed possible Slender-billed Gull, nearby 4 Fieldfare in Stotfold Road (Sean Blackmore - SEAN PLEASE CAN YOU EMAIL GARETH@HERTSBIRDCLUB.ORG.UK? Thanks!)....BEECH FARM: 2 Stonechat & 100 Teal (Alan Gardiner)....BLACKMORE END: Male Blackcap in private garden (Peter Wilkinson)

16TH DEC: TRING RSVRS: 80 Corn Bunts roosted at Marsworth, also Woodcock thru & Water Rails heard; 7 Goosander at Wilstone & Goldeneye at Startops (FoTR)....WALSWORTH COMMON, HITCHIN: Unconfirmed possible Slender-billed Gull reported "feeding with 100 BH Gulls" (Sean Blackmore)....FAIRLANDS LAKE: Tawny Owl calling next to lake (Sean Blackmore)....TYTTENHANGER: esc Southern Lapwing with 200 Lapwing, also Grey Partridge, 3 Bulfinch, 15 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 10 Gadwall & 3 Grey Wags (Alan Gardiner)

15TH DEC: ST IPPOLITTS: Red Kite over Little Almshoe (per Stephen Welch)

14TH DEC: BROCKET PARK: c35 Crossbills also 3 Redpoll and many Siskin (Alex Lewis)....STANSTEAD ABBOTTS GP: Slavonian Grebe still, from nr boat house (AM)....AMWELL: Little Egret, Pintail & Brambling, also max 3 Smew this week (Toby Austin)....N MYMMS PARK: Red Kite over, also Tawny Owl, Marsh Tit, 6+ Bullfinch, 25 Redwing & 60 Fieldfare (Rupert Pyrah)....SYMONDSHYDE: 200+ Golden Plover (Alex Lewis)....TYTTENHANGER: 18 Wigeon, 50+ Chaffinch, 32 Cormorant, 7 Teal, 5 Snipe, 300 Lapwing (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM: 27 Snipe, Stonechat but no large plover flocks at aerodrome (Steven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD: pr Stonechat, 95 Canada Gs, 13 Tufted, 54 Teal, 86 Wigeon, 31 Shoveler, 36 Gadwall, 250 BH Gull, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, 2 Song Thrush, 10 Redwing & 40 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....BOVINGDON: 246 Golden Plover on airfield (Lee Evans)....N WATFORD: Steady stream of small Redwing flocks E over Goodrich Close, 200+ per hour (Stephen Welch)....REDBOURNBURY: 6 Gadwall & 4 L Grebe at mill (Mike Thompson)

13TH DEC: HATFIELD AERODROME: 3 Short-eared Owls (Lee Evans)....AMWELL: Bearded Tit heard, Shelduck (Toby Austin)....STANSTEAD ABBOTTS GPs: Slavonian Grebe still, also 2 f Goldeneye (David Wheatcroft)....TYTTENHANGER: esc Southern Lapwing still, with 198 Lapwings on shingle island of main new workings, also 6 Pochard, 17 Wigeon, Green Sand, 2 Kingfishers & 16 Goldfinch, also 7 Tree Sparrows opposite entrance to Bowyers Farm (Lee Evans)....CHIPPERFIELD: Male Blackcap in a private garden (Lee Evans)

12TH DEC: WHITWELL: Water Rail on R Mimram (1st record for site) (Robin Smith)

11TH DEC: FISHERS GREEN (just outside Herts): 2 Bar-tailed Godwits over, also Slav Grebe on Stanstead Abbotts GPs (RBA per Ian Bennell)....AMWELL: 2 Green Sands & Shelduck (AM)

10TH DEC: TRING PARK: 2 Marsh Tits, Woodcock & 5 Bullfinch (AM)....ROTHAMSTED PARK, HARPENDEN: Black Redstart around farm, viewable from gateway on Redbourn Rd betw rugby club & Hatching Green (Rare Bird Alert per Ian Bennell)....AMWELL: Cetti's Warbler seen and heard, also Yellow-legged Gull, Shelduck & leucistic BH Gull (Toby Austin)....STEVENAGE: Stone Curlew near Sainsbury's roundabout on Gresley Way at 1230 but not since, no further details (BN)....CHISWELL GREEN: Bullfinch in private garden (Alan Gardiner)

8TH DEC: TRING RSVRS: f Red-breasted Merganser & 10 Goosander & Water Rail at Wilstone, Goldeneye at Startops (FoTR)....70 ACRES LAKE: Bittern from Watchpoint, also RH Smew, 2 Goldeneye & Water Rail (AM)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, 7 Gadwall, Grey Wag, 60+ Fieldfare (Steven Pearce)....SHAFFORD FARM: 2 Nuthatch & 70+ Fieldfare (John Pritchard)....STOCKING SPRINGS WOOD HMWT: C Buzzard flushed by a car (Trevor Chapman)....BRICKET WOOD: 8 Siskin in alders along R Colne (Paul Unwin)

7TH DEC: BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERODROME: 3 Short-eared Owls, 1800+ Golden Plover, c400 Lapwing, 8 Snipe, 50+ Teal, Stonechat & 11 Goldfinch (Rupert Pyrah)....WILSTONE: Little Gull in roost & 3 Dunlin (FoTR)....BISHOPS STORTFORD: Marsh Tit, 2 Nuthatches & Bullfinch in private garden (Andrew Hardacre)....HARPENDEN: 2 Blackcaps in a garden in Ox Lane (Roger Cave)....BOVINGDON: 246 Golden Plover on airfield (Lee Evans)

6TH DEC: OXHEY: Woodcock flushed from undergrowth in Oxhey Woods at 1030 (Sue Anderson)

5TH DEC: WILSTONE: 5 White-fronted Geese circled res (FoTR)

4TH DEC: CHESS VALLEY: Water Rail at Sarratt Bottom (Anthony Cook) C Buzzard & Stonechat N of Chenies (Jol Mitchell)

3RD DEC: RYE MEADS: Green Sand, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Water Rail (Ian Bennell)....NORTH MET PIT: Bittern from Pochard Hide, nrby 2 Water Rail, Bittern & Chiffchaff at Bittern Watchpoint (Carol Watkins)....TYTTENHANGER: 6 Tree Sparrows by farm, also 10 Yellowhammer, 20 Chaffinch, 4 Hs Sparrow, 10 Reed Bunt, 15 Goldfinch, 100 Lapwing (inc Southern Lapwing), 2 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall & 100 Canada Gs (Alan Gardiner)

2ND DEC: EAST HYDE: C Buzzard over at 0845, also 2 Cormorant nr mill (Mike Russell)

1ST DEC: WALSWORTH COMMON, HITCHIN: Unconfirmed possible Slender-billed Gull reported "on water", winter plumage (Sean Blackmore)....SHAFFORD FARM: Bullfinch, 40 Fieldfare, Mdw Ppt & Skylark (John Pritchard)....KIMPTON MILL: 200+ Fieldfare with 10-15 Redwing (Richard Webb)

30TH NOV: MAPLE CROSS: 1024 Golden Plover, 300+ Lapwing, 20+ Fieldfare at Woodoaks Farm (Andrew Moon)....TYTTENHANGER: GReen Sand, Grey Wag, 14 Cormorant, 7 Wigeon, Kingfisher & esc Southern Lapwing (Steven Pearce)....BROXBOURNE GPs: Bearded Tit, 5 Water Rails, f Smew (per Ian Bennell)....TRING RSVRS: Mandarin, 4 Whooper Swans at Startops & Peregrine over, also male Cetti's Wblr ringed at Sewage Farm (FoTR)....KINGS MEAD: 3 pr Stonechat, 3 Grey Wags, 45 Teal, 22 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 25 Wigeon, Chiffchaff, 30 Fieldfare & 9 Siskin, also 7 Redwing over Horns Mill garden (Alan Reynolds)....MUNDENS ESTATE, WATFORD: 700 Redwing, 300 Fieldfare, 52 Great Tit, 27 Greenfinch, 25 Blackbird, 11 Jay, 6 G Heron, 6 Siskin, 2 Nuthatch, 18 Rook, pr SHoveler, 3 Goldcrest, Kestrel (Ian Bennell)

29TH NOV: BITTERNS IN (AND CLOSE TO) HERTS: 3 Bitterns from Pochard Hide (N Met Pit, Cheshunt), inc one with a bad right foot, trails in flight, also 3 from Bittern Watchpoint, 1 at Amwell & 1 at Rye Meads (AM)....HORNS MILL: Fem Blackcap in a private garden (Alan Reynolds)

28TH NOV: HATFIELD AERODROME: 1200+ Golden Plover (prob an underestimate), 600+ Lapwing, Gree n Sand, 20 Teal, nrby 50+ Teal at Beech Farm (Steven Pearce)

27TH NOV: TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand & 3 Snipe (Steven Pearce)....MAPLE CROSS: 785 Golden Plove r with 600 Lapwing by A412 (Jol Mitchell)

26TH NOV: WILSTONE: Juv Peregrine, Redshank & 3 Dunlin (FoTR)....BOWYE RS WATER: Whitethroat reported on RBA pager (per Ian Bennell)....HITCHIN: Unconfirmed possible SLENDER-BIL LED GULL reported on water at Walsworth Common, Hitchin with 50 BH Gulls (Sean Blackmore)....AMWELL: Juv Ferruginous Duck on main pit (BN), also f Goldeneye, 20+ Snipe, 200 Lapwing (AM)....RYE MEADS: 2 Green Sands, 400 Lapwing over, 750 Golden Plover over, 175 Teal, 40 Reed Bunts, 16 Yellowhammers (AM)....HATFIELD AERODROME: Pr Stonec hat, 1000 Golden Plover, 250 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 18+ Teal, 70+ Fieldfare, 1200 Jackdaw, 400 C Crow but no sign of any SE Owl s (Rupert Pyrah)....CHISWELL GREEN: 2 Corn Buntings along Blunts Lane, also 50+ Goldfinch, 50+ Linnet, 80+ Greenfinch, 20+ Chaffinch, 20+ Mdw Ppts, 20+ Yellowhammer in stubble fields, nrby 2 Reed Bunts in hedgerow by Rose Gardens, Chiswell Gree n Lane (Alan Gardiner)....OXHEY: Large movement of thrushes over Paddock Rd Depot between 0800-0930, 1200+ Redwing, 300+ F ieldfare, also 4 Jays, 30+ Greenfinches & 2 Skylark (Ian Bennell)

25TH NOV: BROXBOURNE WOODS: 5 Crossbill, "Redpolls & Siskins" (AM)....WELWYN GARDEN CITY: Rin g Ouzel still in private garden....AMWELL: 2 Bearded Tits calling, also 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Snipe, 6 f Goldeneye & 3+ Water Rail calling (Rupert Pyrah)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERODROME: Up to 3 Short-eared Owl s, 16 Yellowhammers, 100 Fieldfare & 1000+ Jackdaws in roost (Home Covert) (Alan Gardiner)....VERULAMIUM PARK: Pr M andarin on river & 18 Pochard on lake (Alan Gardiner)

24TH NOV: AMWELL: Ferruginous Duck (or poss hybrid) on main pit just west of island, also 2 drk Smew, 2 Bearded Tits, Cetti's Wblr, Green Sand, Chiffchaff (BN)....WELWYN GARDEN CITY: 1st-w male/female RING OUZEL in a private garden (James Jobling)....WILSTONE: Woodcock quartering meadow behind hide & Water Rail picked up dead (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: Teal, 3 Wigeon, 8 Cormorant, 6 Gadwall, 35 M Swan (Steven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD: 62 Teal, 63 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, 100 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush (Alan Reynolds)....PUCKERIDGE: C Buzzard, Water Rail, Nuthatch, L Grebe, Cormorant, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Grey Wags, 12 Yellowhammer, 3 Siskin, Kestrel, 15 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, 20 Blackbird, 4 GS Wdpkr, 2 Jay & Mdw Ppt (MUrray Orchard)....TRING: 2 male Yellowhammers in a private garden (Ian Burrus)....BERKHAMSTED: 200+ Fieldfares in fields N of town, also 2 Bullfinch, 4 Goldfinch & Tawny Owl (by Alpine Meadow) (Stuart Scott)

23RD NOV: WILSTONE: Little Gull in roost & 2 Redshank (FoTR)....HATFIELD AERODROME: 1200+ Golden Plover, up to 300 Lapwing, nrby at Beech Farm: pr Stonechat, 2 Snipe, 5 Gadwall, 70 Fieldfare, 11 Grey Partridge (Steven Pearce)....CHESS VALLEY: Sparrowhawk at Sarratt Bottom (Anthony Cook)

21ST NOV: AMWELL: Ferruginous Duck (prob 1st-w female) at south end with Pochard flock 1554 at least, also Hawfinch over at duck & leucistic BH Gull (Toby Austin)....WILSTONE: Bar-tailed Godwit, 379 Golden Plover, 805 Lapwing, 9 Dunlin (FoTR)....70 ACRES LAKE: Bittern & RH Smew (BN)

20TH NOV: WILSTONE: Drake Pintail, 3 Goosander, 2 Dunlin, 100+ Fieldfare (FoTR)....SMALLFORD GP: Pr Stonechat, also 55 Goldfinch, Kestrel, Grn Wdpkr, GS Wdpkr & 150 Golden Plover over, nrby up to 150 Jackdaw high over Hatfield Park twds Roe Green (Steven Pearce)

19TH NOV: WILSTONE: 1st-w drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK showing well from nr car park, also Little Egret in bay to right of hide, also 3 Goosander, f Smew, 21 Cormorants, 167 M Swan, 1311 Wigeon, 4 Dunlin, 112 Golden Plover, 416 Lapwing, 25 Stock Dover, 2 Grey Wags (Lee Evans)....BUSHEY: Short-eared Owl hunting over nursery trees and rough grass at back of Woodland Trust building, Merry Hill at 1830 (Andy Jardine)....VERULAMIUM PARK, ST ALBANS: 2 Ring-necked Parakeets in trees by river, also 200 BH Gulls, 10 Common Gulls, 9 Pochard, 7 Shoveler & nrby at Shafford Farm - 150 Fieldfare (Alan Gardiner)

18TH NOV: WILSTONE: Drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK viewed from car park on north side off B489, 1210 at least, also RH Smew, 3 Goosander (2 males), Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 2 Golden Plvr & 1300 Wigeon (Ian Bennell/BN)....BEECH FARM: 11 Grey Partridge on BT site (Alan Gardiner)....HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: Grey Wag in Telephone Exchange car park by Magic Roundabout (Andy Banthorpe)

17TH NOV: WILSTONE: FERRUGINOUS DUCK viewed from southern end of resv mid pm (BN)....AMWELL: 2 BEARDED TITS (present for c1week), 2 Green Sands, Dunlin, nrby at KINGS MEAD: Drake Eurasian x Am Wigeon hybrid (has been at Amwell) (Toby Austin)....STOCKERS LAKE: RH Smew, 5 Goldeneye & c50 Siskin (Paul Lewis)....BEECH FARM: pr Stonechat, nrby 25 Goldfinch at Hatfield Aerodrome (Steven Pearce)....STANBOROUGHBURY FARM, HATFIELD: c115 Lapwing, c250 Starling, c40 BH Gull, Grey Heron (John Moss)

16TH NOV: AMWELL: Little Egret (Toby Austin)....HATFIELD AERODROME: Short-eared Owl dropped into long grass at 1050 (David Wheatcroft)....N MYMMS PARK: 2 Woodcocks, Buzzard, 7 Redpoll, c50 Fieldfare, 8+ Bullfinch (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, 4 Snipe, Kingfisher, 8 Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, 21 Tufted, 25 M Swan, Wigeon, 5 Pochard & esc Southern Lapwing with c100 Lapwing (Steven Pearce)....RYE MEADS: male Stonechat, Water Rail, Kingfisher, 3 Green Sands, m Blackcap, 2 Goldcrests, Reed Bunt, Bullfinch (AM)....SHAFFORD FARM, VER VALLEY: Stonechat, Buzzard, 100+ Fieldfare, Kingfisher, 25+ Skylark, Mdw Pipit, Grey Wag (John Pritchard)

15TH NOV: BOREHAMWOOD: 56 Common Gull at Strangeways Farm (Steven Pearce)....WILSTONE: 150 Golden Plover, 2 Goosander (inc 1 drake), f Smew (FoTR)....ST ALBANS: Grey Wag in a Marshalswick garden (Graham Knight)

14TH NOV: WILSTONE: Juv Peregrine, f Pintail, 2 Goosander (inc 1 drake), f Smew, 17 sinensis Cormorant, 118 M Swans, 2 Shelduck, Teal, 24 Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, 5 Dunlin, 389 Lapwing, 211 Golden Plover, 2 Little Owls (calling at dusk behind hide), 2 Mdw Pipits, 2 Grey Wag, Grn Wdpkr, GS Wdpkr (Lee Evans)

13TH NOV: TYTTENHANGER: C Buzzard over, also 32 M Swan, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Steven Pearce)....HATFIELD AERODROME: 100 Golden Plover, 220+ Lapwing, 2 Reed Bunts, nrby at Beech Farm 2 Stonechat & Snipe (Rupert Pyrah)

12TH NOV: VERULAMIUM PARK LAKE, ST ALBANS: 15 Shoveler, pr Mandarin, 9 Pochard, 2 f Ruddy Dk, Cormorant, GC Grebe, 5 G Heron (John Moss)....HATFIELD BUSINESS PARK: c75 Lapwing, c30 Golden Plover over south, 20 Pied Wags roosting (John Moss)

11TH NOV: CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: pr Stonechat, f Bullfinch, 8 Siskin, 2 Redpoll, Grey Wag (Af Nasir)....N MYMMS: 2 Bullfinch & 2 Grey Wags at The Potwells (Alan Gardiner)

10TH NOV: WILSTONE: Ring-necked Parakeet in Drayton Beauchamp briefly, RH Smew, 3 Little Gulls (ad & 2 jv) in roost, 13 Dunlin with Lapwings, Kittiwake am only (FoTR)....BEECH FARM: Short-eared Owl(Notcutts' End), 50 Lapwing (Mike Thompson) pr Stonechat (Mike Thompson/Steven Pearce)....ELLENBROOK, HATFIELD: 50 Fieldfare (Steven Pearce)....SHERRARDSWOOD: 5+ Bullfinch, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Green Wdpkr in a garden (David James)

9TH NOV: CROXLEY GREEN: 2 Marsh Tits trapped and ringed in a private garden (Peter Delaloye)....WILSTONE: Saker (no jesses) swooping at Mallard and Teal (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: 14 Tree Sparrow, esc Southern Lapwing with c100 Lapwing & Snipe (oil spill reported on edges of south side of mail pit) (Steven Pearce)....STARTOPS RSVR: pr Red-crested Pochard at southern end (Mike Wallen)....HATFIELD GARDEN VILLAGE: 200+ Golden Plover, 50+ Lapwing (John Moss)

8TH NOV: STEVENAGE: GS Woodpecker in a Chells Manor garden (Ray Hooper)

7TH NOV: WILSTONE: Bittern flew over reedbed and into corner nearest Drayton Beauchamp am (FoTR)....RYE MEADS: 3 Green Sands from Draper Hide, also Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat (Lapwing Hide) (Jason Chapman)....NORTH MET PIT, CHESTHUNT: Goldeneye in SE corner (AM)....SHAFFORD FARM: 40 Fieldfare & 20 Redwing (Alan Gardiner)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Water Rail, also pr Stonechat, 45 Redwing & Bullfinch (Af Nasir)

Late news 31ST OCT: Possible Rough-legged Buzzard seen flying north out of Bloodhound Wood, nr Bishops Stortford (Hugh Coe)

6TH NOV: BERKHAMSTED: Firecrest in a private garden (Stuart Downhill)....CROXLEY GREEN: 11 Ring-necked Parakeets perched in a private garden, flew off at 1045 (Peter Delaloye)....TRING: 80+ Jackdaw SW over a Tring garden (Ian Burrus)

4TH NOV: HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: Juv Peregrine low over A41 at c1000 (Mike Wallen)....AMWELL: Jack Snipe, 3 Goldeneye, 10+ Snipe & 3 Green Sands (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 4 Tree Sparrow in hedge by Tyttenhanger Farm, also Green Sand, 30 Siskin, 4 Shoveler & 165 Canada Gs (Alan Gardiner)....RICKMANSWORTH: 3 C Buzzards over Highfield Way at 1035, also 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over & 15 Lesser Redpoll (Andrew Moon)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: pr Stonechat y railway bridge, also Redpoll, 31 Fieldfare, 150+ Redwing, 3 M Thrush, 50 Mdw Pipit, 17 Siskin, L Grebe, 4 Green Wdpkr, 2 Sparrowhawk & Grey Wag (Af Nasir)

3RD NOV: PRIVATE SITE: GREAT GREY SHRIKE seen being mobbed by Skylarks at a private site, also 2 Black Redstarts & plenty of winter thrushes....CHISWELL GREEN: 5 prob Ring-necked Parakeets N up Watford Road (Alan Gardiner)....ROYSTON: Brambling with Chaffinches along bridleway from Royston-Therfield, c0.5 mls from top end of Therfield Heath (Richard Webb)....WILSTONE: Male Goosander, 8 Dunlin & Buzzard (FoTR)....KINGS MEAD: 52 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 180 Lapwing, 42 Snipe, 220 BH Gull, 38 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....SHAFFORD FARM: Pr Stonechat, 12+ Skylark, Fieldfare & Redwing (John Pritchard)....RYE MEADS: 2 Stonechat (Draper Hide), 2 Bullfinch, c10 Fieldfare, c 10 Redwing, Green Sand & 4 Lapwing over (AM)....HATFIELD AERODROME: Snipe & 10 Grey Partridge (Steven Pearce)....GADDESDEN ROW: C Buzzard over at 1310 (Chris Hocking)....STEVENAGE: GS Woodpecker coming to feeding stn in garden in Chells Manor (Ray Hooper)....KIMPTON: 65 Fieldfare (Robin Smith)

2ND NOV: RYE MEADS: 3 BEARDED TITS still, from Draper Hide (photos on Multimedia page), also 3 Jack Snipe, 7 Green Sands, Common Sand, pr Stonechat, 38 Siskin, Pintail south, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (RMRG)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: Ad Yellow-legged Gull with 38 Herring Gulls, also 2nd-w Mediterranean Gull (Jack Fearnside)....WILSTONE: 2 Goosander (1 drake) & 3 Goldeneye (FoTR)....N MYMMS PARK: Marsh Tit, 100+ Fieldfare, 100+ Redwing, c35 Redpoll, 8+ Bullfinch, Siskin, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, 2 Snipe, 4 Shoveler & 340 Canada Gs (Steven Pearce)

1ST NOV: WILSTONE: WHeatear, 48 Golden Plover among 809 Lapwing & 27 Mdw Ppts (FoTR>....CASSIOBURY PARK, WATFORD: Nuthatch, 2 Siskin, Grey Wag, 16 Pied Wag, 33 Redwing, 18 Fieldfare, Skylark , Mdw Ppt, Sparrowhawk (Ian Bennell)....WATFORD: 5 Brambling over a private garden in Goodrich Close at 1330 (Stephen Welch)....ROTHAMSTED EXP STN: 4 Ring-necked Parakeet over calling at 0900, heading west (Mike Russell)

October 2002

31ST OCT: WILSTONE: 8 Crossbills over hide towards Wendover Woods, also large thrush flocks south (FoTR)....RYE MEADS RSPB: Common Sand (AM)....TRING: 100+ Fieldfare through & up to 20 Hs Sparrows in a private garden (Ian Burrus)....HERTFORD HEATH: 300+ Starling at Amwell Place Farm (Derrick Dorken)....WILLIAN: c100 Fieldfare (Roger Broadie)

30TH OCT: N MYMMS PARK: 2 Woodcock & 100+ Redwing (Rupert Pyrah)

29TH OCT: WILSTONE: 13 Pintail (4 males), 1017 Wigeon, 895 Teal, Goldeneye (FoTR)....WATFORD: 1000+ Starlings in 3-4 groups, Tolpits Lane, flushed by Sparrowhawk at 1115 (Ian Bennell)

28TH OCT: AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs at Amwell till 0930 but no news after that (Toby Austin), also Little Egret left roost at 0620, returning at 1630, also 3 Brambling, 20 Siskin (AM)....WILSTONE: Wheatear and 25 possible Shags in flock briefly that flew off NW (FoTR)....N MYMMS PARK: 2 Woodcock, 3 Marsh Tits & 5 Bullfinch (AM)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, 21 M Swan, 6 Gadwall, Pochard & 5 Teal (Rupert Pyrah)....SHAFFORD FARM, VER VALLEY: 2 Stonechat, 20+ Fieldfare, 40+ Redwing, 3 Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 2 Teal, 6 Gadwall, Grey Wag & Brimstone butterfly (John Pritchard)....STOCKERS LAKE: 3 Redpoll, 20+ Siskin, 14 Fieldfare south, 10+ Redwing, 2 Ruddy Dk, Water Rail but no sign of RC Pochards (Andrew Moon)

27TH OCT: HILFIELD PARK RSVR: Ad Yellow-legged Gull & 1st-w Little Gull in roost (Jack Fearnside)....AMWELL: 1st winter Lesser Yellowlegs on Sheepcote Farm Pit 0930, also Little Egret on main pit (BN)....WILSTONE: 2nd-w Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull & Dunlin (FoTR)....STOCKERS LAKE: pr Red crested Pochard at eastern end of lake, viewable from Heron viewpoint (Jol Mitchell)....TYTTENHANGER: 7 Gadwall, Snipe & 2 Teal (Steven Pearce)

26TH OCT: AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs still on Sheepcote Farm Pit with 3 Green Sands, plus Jack Snipe from main viewpoint (David James), also Cetti's Warbler (AM)....MUNDENS ESTATE, WATFORD: 66 Teal, 12 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing, 4 Jay, 25 LT Tit, pr Shoveler, f Bullfinch, Grey Wag, L Grebe (Ian Bennell)....SARRATT BOTTOM: 2 Stonechats (Jol Mitchell/Anthony Cook)

25TH OCT: RYE MEADS: 3 BEARDED TITS on private part of reserve (Rare Bird Alert), also Cetti's Warbler heard from East Hide (AM)....AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs still on Sheepcote Farm Pit this morning (BN)....N MYMMS PARK: Chiffchaff, 2 Marsh Tit, Stonechat, 7 Siskin, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)

24TH OCT: AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs still present at 1750 at least, also 2 Green Sands, on scrape furthest from railway (Christopher Hughes)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERODROME: Swallow, 6+ Stonechat, 6+ Reed Bunt, Snipe, 17 Golden Plover, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 30 Teal (Rupert Pyrah)....N WATFORD CEMETARY: 525 Woodpigeons over S 0800-0810, Cormorant west at 0830, 5 Siskin west at 0915 (Ian Bennell)

23RD OCT: TRING: 5 Pintail (3 drakes) & Dunlin at Wilstone; Swallow at Startops (Andrew Moon)....AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs still present to 1200 at least on south side of pits best viewed from north side railway, also 4 Green Sands & Jack Snipe (Steven Pearce/Stephen Welch)....SHENLEY: C Buzzard over Ridgehill (Stephen Welch)....BEECH FARM: Fieldfare & 4 Swallows (Alan Gardiner)....EAST HYDE: 1 Swallow south early am (Mike Russell)

22ND OCT: AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs on Sheepcote Farm pit still (BN)....BEECH FARM: 2 Sontechat, Green Sand & 3 Kestrel, nrby at Hatfield Aerodrome: Green Sand, 5 Snipe, 41 Goldfinch, 140 Lapwing & 2 Hares (Steven Pearce)....BROOKMANS PARK: Chiffchaff, Fieldfare, Little Owl, 80+ Linnet, Grey Wag, 25+ Stock Dove, 3+ Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)

21ST OCT: AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs on Sheepcote Farm pit, also 4 Green Sands (BN), also 2 Jack Snipe on main pit, 4 Snipe, Water Rail, Egyptian Goose, 40 Siskin & 6 Golden Plover (Alan Gardiner/Andy Grimsey)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 19 Siskin & 6 Redwing around tennis courts (Ian Bennell)

20TH OCT: TRING: 2 Cetti's Warblers ringed at sewage farm (both females & not singing) (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, 5 Wigeon, Kingfisher & 37 M Swan (Steven Pearce)....AMWELL: Lesser Yellowlegs on Sheepcote Farm Pit at noon at least, also 2 Green Sands (BN)....GOREHAMBURY ESTATE: Little Egret in fields 300m N of Bluehouse Hill, St Albans. View from main road, also 30+ Pied Wag & 40+ Chaffinch (Alan Gardiner)....POTTERS CROUCH: Buzzard at Plantation, also Bullfinch (Alan Gardiner)....SOUTH MYMMS: 7 Golden Plover & 51 Lapwing in field at intersection of B556 & A1 (Paul Unwin)....VERULAMIUM PARK, ST ALBANS: Drake Mandarin (unknown origin but unringed) on river, also f Ruddy Dk & 15 Shoveler (Alan Gardiner)....SHENLEYBURY: 10 Golden Plover & 40+ Lapwing in field by Harperbury Hospital (Paul Unwin)

19TH OCT: AMWELL: LESSER YELLOWLEGS on Sheepcote Pit at 1545 at least, also 2 Green Sands & 2 Jack Snipe on main pit from viewpoint (BN)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Stonechat, 17 Snipe, 7 Wigeon, 46 Teal, 700 BH Gull, 100 LBB Gull, Kingfisher & Grey Wag (Alan Reynolds)

18TH OCT: AMWELL: LESSER YELLOWLEGS on main pit until dusk from main viewpoint (BN)....TRING RSVRS: Barn Owl flying over meadow behind Drayton Hide, Wilstone...2 Red-crested Pochard on Startops (FoTR)....N MYMMS PARK: 14 Golden Plover over, also Buzzard, Little Owl, Siskin & Chiffchaff (Rupert Pyrah)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 27 Fieldfare north, also 200+ Redwing, 20 Song Thrush & 2 Mistle Thrush over, also Kingfisher, Grey Wag, 4 Bullfinch, 4 Skylark & Sparrowhawk (Af Nasir)

17TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: 10 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 4 Redwing, also Buzzard over mobbed by crows, also 8 Tree Sparrows at Tyttenhanger Farm & stoat climbing oak tree! (Alan Gardiner)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 15 Fieldfare briefly, also 17 Redwing, 10 Skylark north, 35 Mdw Ppt, Kingfisher, 3 Lapwing, 4 Green Wdpkr (Af Nasir)....STEVENAGE: House Martin over Chells Manor (Ray Hooper)....ROTHAMSTED EXP STN, HARPENDEN: 11 Golden Plover over (Mike Russell)

LATE NEWS FROM 12TH OCT: Guillemot picked up on Berkamsted Golf Course, was planned to be released at Tring Reservoirs yesterday (16th). No further details at this stage. (per Mick Burton)

16TH OCT: REDBOURNBURY: pr Stonechat on fence at Punchbowl meadows, also 10 Hs Martins (Ernest Leahy)....N MYMMS PARK: 6 Swallows, 11 Siskin, Little Owl, passage of Redwing (200+), 14 Golden Plover (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: c20 Tree Sparrow, 14 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 26 Mute Swan (Rupert Pyrah)

15TH OCT: STEVENAGE: Hs Martin over The Paddocks (Christopher Hughes)

14TH OCT: M1 Junct 8: Hobby high over south at 1630 (Andy Grimsey)....WATER END: 3 Teal & Siskin (Rupert Pyrah)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 3 Redwing, Redpoll, Chiffchaff, pr Bullfinch, Grey Wag, 5 Mdw Ppt, 6 Goldcrest & 100+ LT Tits (Af Nasir)

13TH OCT: AMWELL: WOODLARK flew over viewpoint, calling, at 1045 (Toby Austin)....HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR: 2 Little Gulls (ad-w & 2nd-w) (Jack Fearnside)....HORNS MILL: Brambling with finch flock in a private garden (Alan Reynolds)....HATFIELD AERODROME: Little Owl, 21 Skylark, nrby Green Sand at Sutton Farm GP (Steven Pearce)....SHAFFORD FARM, VER VALLEY: 45+ Redwing, also Chiffchaff (John Pritchard)

12TH OCT: WATFORD: Grey Wag on weir at end of pond in High Street (Peter Horne)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Jack Snipe, 19 Wigeon, 15 Snipe, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal, Green Sand (Steven Pearce), also Hobby, 4 Hs Martins, 30+ RL Partridge & 25 Mute Swans, & c300 Golden Plover (Coursers Lane) (Christopher Hughes)....WILSTONE: Stonechat & pr escaped Red Shoveler (FoTR)....AMWELL: "Several" Snipe, Wigeon (Christopher Hughes)....FAIRLANDS LAKE, STEVENAGE: Grey Wag (Christopher Hughes)

11TH OCT: KINGS MEAD: 3 Stonechat, 60 Mdw Ppt, 23 Snipe, 3 Wigeon, 51 Teal, 700 BH Gull, Grey Wag & Kingfisher (not much water here now) (Alan Reynolds)....N MYMMS PARK: Siskin, also 25+ Hs Martin, 5 Swallow & Chiffchaff (Rupert Pyrah)

10TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, 4 Snipe, singing Chiffchaff, 9 Wigeon, Kingfisher (Alan Gardiner)

9TH OCT: SARRATT BOTTOM, CHESS VALLEY: Stonechat (Anthony Cook)

8TH OCT: N MYMMS PARK: 4 Swallows & Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)....HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: 2 Redwing over Briery Way Park at 1250 (John Rimes)....BITTERN WATCHPOINT, FISHERS GREEN: Just outside Herts, a Bittern flew from the north into the reedbed in front of hide at 0810 (Tim Hill)....SHAFFORD MILL, VER VALLEY: Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Grey Wag & Kingfisher (Alan Gardiner)

7TH OCT: WILSTONE: 2 Goldeneye, 50+ Redwing, Swallow, nrby Red-crested Pochard at Startops (FoTR)

6TH OCT: COURSERS LANE: Southern Lapwing with Lapwing & 180 Golden Plover (Rupert Pyrah)....WILSTONE: Stonechat on hedge beyond cressbeds (FoTR)....REDBOURNBURY/SHAFFORD MILL: up to 4 Buzzards, Hobby, Stonechat, Snipe, King fisher, Mdw Ppt (Mike Thompson)....HATFIELD AERODROME/BEECH FARM: Stonechat, Snipe, 2 Kestrel, nrby at Sutton's Farm GP 2 Green Sands (TL195102) (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, Snipe, Kingfisher, 7 Teal, 30 Mute Swan (Rupert Pyrah) nrby 200 Linnets by R Colne nr Old Parkbury area (Alan Gardiner)....BROOKMANS PARK: Little Owl & 23 Linnet (Rupert Pyrah)

5TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: Southern Lapwing, Green Sand, 2 Common Sands, 12 Snipe, 80 Goldfinch, 28 M Swan, 156 Canada Gs, 7 Tufted, 7 Pochard, Sparrowhawk, 3 Cormorants, Kestrel (Steven Pearce)....PUCKERIDGE: LS Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Yellowhammer (Murray Orchard)

4TH OCT: KINGS MEAD: 2 Stonechat, 50 Snipe, 60 Teal, 9 Wigeon, 60 Meadow Ppt, Grey Wag, Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....BEECH FARM: 2 Green Sands, 5 Grey Partridge & 4 Swallows (Alan Gardiner)....REDWELL WOOD FARM: 200+ Golden Plover over, also Stonechat, Little Owl & 3 Buzzard (Rupert Pyrah)....N MYMMS PARK: Redpoll, Marsh Tit & Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)....GROVE MILL, WATFORD: Green Sand & 2 Snipe on pool south of A41/M25 link road N of Grove Mill (Stephen Welch)

2ND OCT: WILSTONE RSVR: Garganey, 16 Pintail & Golden Plover (Andrew Moon), also Hobby & Stonechat (FoTR)....AMWELL: 2 Hobbies (AM)

1ST OCT: AMWELL PITS: Cetti's Warbler showed v well but briefly by viewpoint at dusk (Toby Austin) also Jack Snipe & Green Sand (Nigel Agar)....WILSTONE: Garganey in SE corner, also Wheatear (FoTR)....CASSIOBURY PARK, WATFORD: 16 Swallows south, Stock Dove feeding 2 juvs, 22 Mistle Thrushes together on football pitch (Ian Bennell)

September 2002

30TH SEPT: PATMORE HEATH: Male Crossbill drinking from pond in private garden (Mick East)....CASSIOBURY PARK, WATFORD: 4 Redwings over west at 1000 (Ian Bennell)....EAST HYDE: Pr Little Grebe on R Lea (Robin Pearson)....HATFIELD AERODROME/COOPERS GREEN: 2 Snipe on long pond and prob juv/female Merlin bathing on edge of Coopers Grn GP (Alan Gardiner)....WHITWELL: Buzzard & Sparrowhawk on Long Lane (Nigel Agar)

29TH SEPT: TYTTENHANGER: Presumed escape Southern Lapwing in large field at approx TL193051, flew off south at 1230, also 4 Green Sands, 2 Hobby (Steven Pearce/Tony Blake)....WILSTONE: Peregrine, prob imm F, also 7 Pintail & Hobby (Chris Townend)....EAST HYDE: Green Sand & Snipe on stream visible from bridge 1820 (Matt Best)....KINGS MEAD: Stonechat, 12 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 200 Lapwing, Grey Wag, Chiffchaff (Alan Reynolds)....REDBOURNBURY: 2 Whinchat, Teal, escaped Red-breasted Goose, 10+ Swallows (Mike Thompson)....SHERRARDSWOOD: 30+ Hs Martin over a garden, also Marsh Tit & Chiffchaff (David James)

28TH SEPT: TRING RSVRS: 2 Golden Plover & Snipe at Wilstone, juv Little Gull at Startops (FoTR)....PUCKERIDGE: Little Owl, Reed Bunt, Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest (Murray Orchard)....AMWELL: Cetti's Warbler seen briefly from public hide, also Egyptian Gs & LS Wdpkr (AM)

27TH SEPT: TYTTENHANGER: Southern Lapwing, 7 Teal, 2 Green Sands, 4 Snipe, Common Sand...nrby 200+ Golden Plover on Coursers Lane fields (Steven Pearce)....WILSTONE: Mandarin & Yellow Wag (FoTR)....KINGS MEAD: Stonechat, 64 Snipe, 60 Teal, 67 Lapwing, 50 Swallow, Chiffchaff, 4 Grey Wag (Alan Reynolds)

26TH SEPT: WILSTONE RSVR: 2 Shelduck, 3 Whooper Swan, 423 Wigeon, 73 Teal, 68 Shoveler, 3 juv Greylag, 1 feral Barnacle, 74 Tufted, 11 Pochard, Grey Wag & Kingfisher (Lee Evans)....HARPENDEN COMMON: c80 Pied Wags on common late evening, pre-roost (Mike Russell)....RYE MEADS: 4 Green Sands, Whinchat, Stonechat (AM)....KINGS MEAD: 50 Snipe, 100 Lapwing, 20 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 20 Shoveler (AM)....HATFIELD GARDEN VILLAGE: 5 Whinchat in tall grassland to west of village (John Moss)....KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS, WATFORD: 100+ Greenfinches around community centre (Ian Bennell)

25TH SEPT: TRING RESERVOIRS: Little Gull at Startops, Garganey at Wilstone (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Stonechats though mobile, also 8 Teal, Shoveler & 180 Canada Gs (Alan Gardiner)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Water Rail, also Sedge Wbr, 3 Willow Wbr, 3 Blackcap, 40 Mdw Ppt, 500+ Hs Martin, Swallow, Grey Wag (Af Nasir)....KINGS MEAD: up to 60 Shoveler, pr Grey Wag (Dick Tanner)....BEECH FARM: Green Sand, 25 Teal, Snipe, 6 Stonechat & Whinchat (Steven Pearce)....N MYMMS PARK: 8 Buzzards overhead, also 2 Hobbies, 4+ Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap & nrby Buzzard over Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)

26TH SEPT: WILSTONE RSVR: 2 Shelduck, 3 Whooper Swan, 423 Wigeon, 73 Teal, 68 Shoveler, 3 juv Greylag, 1 feral Barnacle, 74 Tufted, 11 Pochard, Grey Wag & Kingfisher (Lee Evans)....HARPENDEN COMMON: c80 Pied Wags on common late evening, pre-roost (Mike Russell)....RYE MEADS: 4 Green Sands, Whinchat, Stonechat (AM)....KINGS MEAD: 50 Snipe, 100 Lapwing, 20 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 20 Shoveler (AM)....HATFIELD GARDEN VILLAGE: 5 Whinchat in tall grassland to west of village (John Moss)....KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS, WATFORD: 100+ Greenfinches around community centre (Ian Bennell)

25TH SEPT: TRING RESERVOIRS: Little Gull at Startops, Garganey at Wilstone (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Stonechats though mobile, also 8 Teal, Shoveler & 180 Canada Gs (Alan Gardiner)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Water Rail, also Sedge Wbr, 3 Willow Wbr, 3 Blackcap, 40 Mdw Ppt, 500+ Hs Martin, Swallow, Grey Wag (Af Nasir)....KINGS MEAD: up to 60 Shoveler, pr Grey Wag (Dick Tanner)....BEECH FARM: Green Sand, 25 Teal, Snipe, 6 Stonechat & Whinchat (Steven Pearce)....N MYMMS PARK: 8 Buzzards overhead, also 2 Hobbies, 4+ Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap & nrby Buzzard over Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)

24TH SEPT: BEECH FARM: 2 Garganey, also c70 Teal, Whinchat, 8 Stonechat, 35+ Meadow Ppt & Blackcap (Rupert Pyrah)....WILSTONE: Little Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, 2 R Plovers & Dunlin (FoTR)....KIMPTON MILL: Marsh Harrier high over heading S at 1215 (Matthew Best)....PANSHANGER GP: 22 L Grebe, Grey Wag, Kingfisher (Steven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD : 43 Snipe, 48 Teal, 9 Wigeon (Steven Pearce)....PARK STREET MILL: Kingfisher on R Colne (David Anderson)

23RD SEPT: TYTTENHANGER: 15 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, Snipe, 8 Tree Sparrow, 5 Common Sandpiper (Steven Pearce)....FLAMSTEADBURY: Hobby & juv Wheatear (Ernest Leahy)....PETERS GREEN: Stonechat, also 40 Meadow Ppts & 14 RL Partridge (Matthew Best)

22ND SEPT: BROXBOURNE WOODS: 5 Crossbill inc 2m, 1f & 2jv, f Brambling, 4+ Siskin (2ad, 2jv) (Mike Ilett)....RYE MEADS RSPB: Whinchat from Herts & Middx hide (Toby Austin)....WILSTONE: 2 Shelduck, Greenshank, 8 Pintail, 474 Wigeon, R uddy Dk, f Mandarin, 3 Grey Wags, Chiffchaff, 84 Pied Wags (Lee Evans)....BEECH FARM/COOPERS GREEN GP: 2 Green Sands (Steven Pearce)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Sedge Wblr, 100+ Hs Martin, 25 Swallow, 4 Willow Wbr, f Blackcap, 30 Md Pipit, Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....TYTTENHANGER: Snipe, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Small Copper butterfly (Paul Unwin)....SHAFFORD FARM, VERVALLEY: pr Stonechat, Blackcap, 150 Linnet, 2 Grey Wag (John Pritchard)

21ST SEPT: PUCKERIDGE: 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, Hobby, 20 Hs Martin, 5 Swallows (north) (Murray Orchard)....SHAFFORD FARM, VER VALLEY: Whinchat, Spot Fly, 10+ Chiffchaff, Snipe, Buzzard, 20+ Mdw Pipit, 20+ Skylark (John Pritchard)....WILSTONE: 13 Pintail, Greenshank, 2 Shelduck (Clifford Smout)....KINGS MEAD: 11 Snipe, 19 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 20 Swallows thru (Alan Reynolds)....WOODSIDE, WATFORD: 3 Hobbies thru south (Bob Cripps)....SHERRARDSWOOD: Buzzard over private garden, also 2 Marsh Tit & Chiffchaff (David James)....WATERFORD MARSH: Hobby (Alan Reynolds)

20TH SEPT: BROOKMANS PARK: jv Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, sev Chiffchaff, Little Owl, nrby at Water End Hobby & Grey Wag (Rupert Pyrah)....CASSIOBURY PARK: Yellow Wag, 30+ Hs Martins, Grey Wag (Ian Bennell)....CHESS VALLEY: Hobby at 130 0 (Anthony Cook)....NOMANSLAND COMMON: Redstart & Blackcap (Susan Styles)

19TH SEPT: WILSTONE RSVR: 269 M Swans inc 2 jv, 5 ad Whooper Swan, feral Barnacle, 2 Shelduck, 312 Wigeon (big increase this week), Pintail, 112 Teal, 2 Hobby, Greenshank, 32 sinensis Cormorants (Lee Evans)....COURSERS RD, COLNEY HEA TH: c25 Tree SParrows feeding on edge of game crop c1500 (Peter Delaloye)....CHORLEYWOOD: C Buzzard soaring with Kestrel mid pm (Jol Mitchell)

18TH SEPT: STARTOPS RSVR: Common Sand, Sand Martin, 2 Swallows, 50 Hs Martin, 2 Hobbies (David Anderson)....WILSTONE: Black-necked Grebe (FoTR), Wheatear & 3 Hobby (David Anderson)

16TH SEPT: FLAMSTEADBURY: 2 recently fledged juvs being fed by adult (Ernest Leahy)....CHESS VALLEY (S of Flaunden): 1+ Hobby at 1750 (Jol Mitchell)....N MYMMS PARK: 5 Hobbies (inc 3 jv) also Spot Fly, 2 Little Owl, Willow Wbr, several Chiffchaff & Blackcap (Rupert Pyrah)....ROTHAMSTED EXP STN, Harpenden: Hobby over car park at 1750 (Mike Russell)

15TH SEPT: Solitary Sand at Rye Meads flew off high east at 1240 and not seen again. Had been mobile around reserve during the morning. A summary of this amazing record is on our news page, including photos.....Black-necked Grebe at Wilstone, also Greenshank & Hobby (BN) also 2 Garganey (FoTR)....Spot Fly at Hexton Chalk Pits (Nigel Agar)....100+ RL Partridge at Tyttenhanger, also Kingfisher. Water levels very high here at the moment (Graham Knight)....Spot Fly at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also Buzzard, 3+ Snipe, Kingfisher, 40+ Mdw Pipit, 20+ Chiffchaff, Reed Wblr (John Pritchard)

14TH SEPT: Solitary Sandpiper still at Rye Meads RSPB till 6pm at least, also 2 Green Sands, from Draper Hide. ....Water Rail & 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Wilstone (FoTR)....Green Sand at Kings Mead, also Whinchat, 23 Sn ipe, 26 Wigeon (Alan Reynolds)....6+ Chiffchaff at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also 2 Blackcap & Hummingbird Hawkmoth (John Pritchard)....At Puckeridge - Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 200 Hs Martin, also nrby Hobby over Thundridge (Murray Orchard)....100+ Goldfinch at Tyttenhanger by new workings (Steven Pearce)

13TH SEPT: SOLITARY SANDPIPER at Rye Meads RSPB (BN)....F/imm Redstart in N Mymms Park, also 2 Hobbies, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel (1 jv), nrby male Redstart at Redwell Wood Farm (Rupert Pyrah)....Wilstone Rsvr: 9 Pintail, 2 Garganey, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Common Sand, juv Wheatear, 2 Shelduck, 22 sinensis Cormorants (Lee GR Evans)

12TH SEPT: Wilstone Rsvr: 5 Whooper Swans, 2 Hobbies, Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits (icelandic), Lsr Whitethroat, 44 Wigeon, 76 Teal, 49 Shoveler, 109 M Swans, Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wags (Lee GR Evans)....Osprey thru Kings Mead, also 2 Whinchat, Green Sand, Common Sand, 16 Snipe, 26 Wigeon, 37 Teal, 114 Gadwall (Alan Reynolds)....c50 Swallows gathering in Gt Braitch Lane, Hatfield Garden Village, also several Yellowhammer (John Moss)

11TH SEPT: Juv Black-necked Grebe at Wilstone viewable from car park bank, also Wood Sand (photo by Mike Campbell at Friends of Tring Reservoirs site), Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sand (BN)....F/imm Redstart in N Mymms Park, also Stonechat, LS Wdpkr, 3 Hobbies, 5 Buzzard, 2 Marsh Tit and passage of Willow Wbr/Chiff/Blackcap (Rupert Pyrah)....Hobby at Tyttenhanger (John Trew)

10TH SEPT: 10 Crossbills over Lemsford at 1500 towards WG City (Tom Kittle)....Lsr Whitethroat at Brookmans Park, also Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah)....2 Spot Fly at Old Church, Thundridge (Mike Baverstock)

9TH SEPT: Whinchat in Otterspool area, Watford, also Wheatear & 2 Spot Fly (all after heavy shower), also 4 Little Owls (inc 2 jv), 16 Teal & 9 Gadwall (Bob Harris)....Good passage of warblers thru N Mymms Park during pm - Sedge, Willow, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lsr Whitethroat, also 50+ Hs Martin & 3 Hobbies (Rupert Pyrah)....Wood Sand still at Wilstone (Birdguides)....2 Swifts with Hs Martins at Ware Old Lea (AM)

8TH SEPT: Wildfowling started at 5pm at Beech Farm!....Lsr Whitethroat in a Sherrardswood garden, also Marsh Tit (David James)....9 Blackcaps & 15 Chiffchaffs trapped at Kimpton Hoo, inc retrapped Chiffchaff, 1st ringed as juv in Sept 2001 (Tom Kittle)....2 Buzzards, Hobby & 5 Whinchat at Beech Farm (Anthony Dorman)....3 Whinchat at Beech Farm, also 12 Teal...nrby at Coopers Green GP - Common Sand, L Grebe, 235 Canada Gs with 14 Barnacle (inc juv) (Steven Pearce)....Wood Sand from hide at Wilstone, also 3 Greenshank, LRP & R Plover (Paul Sutton) plus Whinchat & Wheatear (FoTR)....At Kings Mead - 2 Whinchat, 2 Greenshank & 2 Common Sands (Alan Reynolds)....10+ Chiffchaff at Shafford Farm, also Willow Wbr, Buzzard & Hobby (John Pritchard)....2 Tawny Owls calling at N Mymms, also Chiffchaff & Nuthatch (Paul Unwin)

7TH SEPT: 7 Crossbills SW over Goodrich Close, Watford at 0930 (Stephen Welch)....At Kings Mead - Greenshank, Green Sand, 2 Common Sands, 10 Snipe, 36 Lapwing, 4 Wigeon (Alan Reynolds)....Hobby at Amwell, also Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Mars h Tits (AM)....5 Buzzards over Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also 2 Hobbies, Yellow Wag, 10+ Reed Bunt, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaf (John Pritchard)

6TH SEPT: Hobby at Elstree Golf Club (Rupert Pyrah)

5TH SEPT: At Croxley Common Moor - Hobby, Lsr Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, Kingfisher (Aftab Nasir)....c100 Lapwing at Bullsmill (Clive Chapman)

4TH SEPT: Garganey, Greenshank, Common Sand, 30 Teal, 14 Snipe & Green Sand at Kings Mead (Toby Austin, Alan Reynolds)....Juv Little Stint at Wilstone Rsvr from hide, also 3 Greenshank, Green Sand & Mandarin (BN)....Whinchat on Croxley Common Moor, also Lsr Whitethroat, Kingfisher, 2 Reed Wbr, 2 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 3 Willow Wbr, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Sand Martin (Af tab Nasir)....6 Whinchat at Beech Farm/Hatfield Aerodrome, also 3 Hobbies, 14 Teal, Greenshank, Green Sand (Rupert Pyrah)....At redb ournbury - 2 Spot Fly, Kingfisher, 3 Green Wdpkr & esc Red-breasted Goose (Mike Thompson)

3RD SEPT: Osprey over Wilstone, also Whinchat & R Plover (FoTR)....2 Common Sands at Tyttenhanger, also Kingfisher, juv Willow Wbr & Chiffchaff (Alan Gardiner)....3 Hobbies hawking flock of 100 hirundines at dusk at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley (John Pritchard)

2ND SEPT: 12 Common Crossbill over Rothamsted Exp Stn, Harpenden calling late am (Mike Russell)....At K ings Mead - Greenshank, 2 Common Sand, Garganey, 2 Swift, R Plover, 11 Snipe, 45 Lapwing, 25 Teal (Alan Reynolds)....3 Reed Wbr by r iver on Croxley Common Moor, also Sedge Wbr, 2 Willow Wbr, Blackcap, 3ad + jv Green Wdpkr, 2 Grey Wags (Aftab Nasir)....2+ Buzzards over N Mymms Park, also 2 Hobbies & 18 M Thrush (Rupert Pyrah)....Escaped Harris Hawk evading capture in Hemel Hempstead Ind Estate! (John Rimes)

1ST SEPT: Male Redstart at Jersey Farm Woodland Park, St Albans, also Hobby & juvs of Whitethroat, Chif fchaff & Willow Wbr (Wendy Hatton)....Fem/imm Redstart in hedge N of Coach Lane, Rothamsted 1015 (Roger Payne)....Osprey S over Rye Meads at 1000 mobbed by Buzzard, also Hobby (AM)....At Beech Farm - 3 Greenshank, 5 Green Sand on farm pool, also Yellow Wag over... .5 Yellow Wags in field by Hedges Farm, Park Street with 10 Swallows around (Alan Gardiner)....Whinchat at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley , also 20+ Yellow Wags, Grey Wag, 3+ Chiffchaff, 2 Spot Fly, Whitethroat, 3+ Buzzard & Hobby (John Pritchard)....5 Buzzards over Dia mond End, Peters Green (Roger Cave)....At Mundens Estate, Watford - 300+ Woodpigeon, 2 Little Owls, 2 Hobbies, 30+ LT Tits (Ian Benn ell)

August 2002

31ST AUGUST: WRYNECK in a private garden in Gt Offley, making frequent visits to veg patch to feed on L arge White caterpillars, between 1300-1900 (Hazel Godfrey)....At Kings Mead - Greenshank, Garganey, 2 Green Sands, 4 Common Sands, 4 Snipe, 22 Lapwing, 16 Teal (Alan Reynolds)....At Rye Meads - 2 Snipe, Common Sand, 2 Green Sands, Spot Fly, Siskin (AM)....Hobby at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, Buzzard over (John Pritchard)....4 Buzzards over Ravensburgh Castle, Hexton (John Trew)

30TH AUGUST: 5-10 Crossbills at Kimpton Hoo (Tom Kittle)....Yellow Wag over Watford Fields at 1100 (Ian Bennell)....At Kings Mead - Wood Sand, Greenshank, 2 Green Sands, 3 Common Sands (Toby Austin)

29TH AUGUST: Hobby hunting Hs Martins at East Hyde, also 4 Cormorants & Sedge Wblr (Mike Russell)< /tr>

28TH AUGUST: 3 juv Hobbies nr wood SE of Baldock at 1800 (Roger Broadie)....5 Shelduck at Wilstone (FoT R)....Wheatear at Tyttenhanger, also R Plover & Sparrowhawk (Steven Pearce)

26TH AUGUST: Osprey at Poplars Grove betw WG City & Hertford at 1700 (Tim Hill)....At Kings Mead - 3 Ga rganey, Greenshank, 2 Common Sand, Green Sand, 4 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 4 Swift (Alan Reynolds)....20+ Yellow Wags at Shafford Farm, Ver V alley, also Buzzard, Spot Fly, 10+ Willow Wbr, 4+ Blackcap (John Pritchard)....2 Snipe at Tyttenhanger, also 3 Teal & Green Sand (Gr aham Knight)....Lsr Whitethroat, Yellow Wag & Little Owl at Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)

25TH AUGUST: Osprey at Poplars Grove betw WG City & Hertford at 1300 (Tim Hill)....Greenshank & 3 Green Sands at Beech Farm, also Wheatear, 50+ Lapwing (John Moss)....At Hatfield Aerodrome - 4 Greenshank, Green Sand, 2 Wheatear, Hobby, Buzzard...nrby at Coopers Green GP - Common Sand & 2 Teal (Steven Pearce)....3 C Buzzards at Redbournbury, also 100+ Chaffinch & Re d-breasted Goose (poss from collection in Markyate) (Mike Thompson)

24TH AUGUST: Goshawk at Wilstone again at 0825, Green Sand & 2 Greenshank also (FoTR)....12 Crossbills S over Rye Meads at 1400 (AM)....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Hobbies, 3 Teal, Common Sand, Green Sand, R Plover, 2 Kingfisher (Steven Pearce )....Greenshank, 3 Garganey at Kings Mead, also 3 Snipe, 3 Common Sand, Green Sand, 7 Teal, Swift, Wigeon, 4 L Grebe, (Alan Reynolds /Clifford Smout/Graham White)....Spotted Fly at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also 10+ Reed Bunts, 10+ Willow Wbr, 5+ Chiffchaff 300+ S wallows roosted at Beech Farm, also Little Owl on farm buildings (Alan Gardiner)

23RD AUGUST: 3 Whinchat at Beech Farm (Andy Grimsey)....At Kings Mead - Greenshank, 3 Common Sand, Gree n Sand, 2 Garganey, 21 Shoveler & 12 Teal (Alan Reynolds)....Feral Red-breasted Goose at Redbournbury with domestic geese (Richard L ee)....2 Wheatears at Beech Farm, also Garganey, 3 Green Sands & 250 Lapwing (Alan Gardiner)

22ND AUGUST: Garganey at Kings Mead (Toby Austin)

21ST AUGUST: In North Mymms Park - Spot Fly feeding juv, 4 Hobbies, 3 C Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1+ Sp'hawk, many Willow Wbrs & Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah)

20TH AUGUST: 12 Pintail & Greenshank at Wilstone (FoTR)....2 Greenshank at Tyttenhanger, also Hobby, 100 Lapwing & Tufted Dk with 5 yng (Alan Gardiner)

19TH AUGUST: Female GOSHAWK over Startops End Rsvr, Tring at noon (Derek Amer)....Eclipse drake Garganey at Beech Farm, also Whinchat, Reed Wbr, Yellow Wag...nrby at Hatfield Aerodrome - 2 Whinchat, 2 Mandarin, 2 Teal & Hobby (Rupert Pyrah)....Greenshank at Kings Mead but flew east, also 2 Common Sands & Green Sand (Clifford Smout)....3 Yellow Wags at Stockers Farm flooded field (Paul Lewis)

18TH AUGUST: 6+ Green Sands & 2+ Greenshank at Hall Marsh Scrape...nrby Hobby & Black Swan at Bowyers Water (Ross Facer)....Green Sand at Beech Farm, also 40 Linnet, 200 Lapwing...nrby at Coopers Green - Common Sand & 5 Teal (Steven Pearce)....Green Sand at Tyttenhanger, also Common Sand & Hobby (Alan Gardiner)....Little Owl at Knebworth Park Cricket Club (Rupert Pyrah)....Hobby chasing Hs Martins at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also Spot Fly (John Pritchard)....Swift over Wheathampstead (Peter Wilkinson)

17TH AUGUST: 2 Garganey still at Kings Mead, also 2 Common Sands, 10 Swifts (Alan Reynolds)....8 Grey Partridge along Cooters End Land, Harpenden (Richard Lee)

16TH AUGUST: 2 Garganeys at Kings Mead, also 6 Teal, 2 Common Sands, 3 Shoveler, 75 Lapwing, Common Tern & 6 Swifts (Alan Reynolds)....Hobby at Essenden, also pr Spot Fly feeding 2+ yng (Rupert Pyrah)

15TH AUGUST: Little Egret over, E of Broxbourne (Richard Cope per AM)....Swallow at Nomansland Common....R Plover & 3 Common Terns at Tyttenhanger (Robin Pearson)

14TH AUGUST: Juv Marsh Harrier at Wilstone (FoTR)....Poss Long-eared Owl seen briefly from car in Stotfold Rd, Hitchin nr Lower Wilbury Farm, perched in tree at 0330 (Nigel Wood)....Curlew circled Tyttenhanger, also 4 Green Sands (Rupert Pyrah)....3+ Spot Fly in Ware Park (Ian Eyre)

13TH AUGUST: 2 Common Sands still at Tyttenhanger (Alan Gardiner)....2 Hobbies around East Hyde (inc juv), also Turtler Dove (Mike Russell)

12TH AUGUST: 2 Common Sands at Tyttenhanger (Daphne Dean)

11TH AUGUST: At Wilstone - Little Gull, Arctic Tern, 3 Green Sands, 3 Common Sands (Joan Thompson) & juv Marsh Harrier (Dave Bilcock)....Wood Sand at Kings Mead, also Common Sand (Anthony Dorman)....Common Sands at Tyttenhanger, also R Plover - water levels high (Alan Gardiner)....2 Marsh Tits at Puckeridge, also Lesser Whitethroat, Little Owl (Murray Orchard)

10TH AUGUST: Wood Sand at Kings Mead, also 2 Common Sands, 2 Garganey, 5 Teal, 2 Common Tern (Alan Reynolds)....Kingfisher at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley (John Pritchard)....Swift over Chells Manor, Stevenage (Ray Hooper)....4 Buzzards over Peters Green, also Hobby (Matt Best)

9TH AUGUST: Osprey & Black Tern at Wilstone (FoTR)....Male Chestnut Bunting (unknown origin) 1 mile W of Bushey in allotments on Lower Paddock Road with Greenfinches, 1450-1510 when flew east towards Merry Hill (allotments clsoe at 1900) (Ian Bennell)....At Amwell - Greenshank, Common Sand, Green Sand...At Kings Mead - Wood Sand, Garganey, 2 Common Sands (Toby Austin)

8TH AUGUST: Male Chestnut Bunting (unknown origin but unringed) on SW side of Bushey by council depot & allotments on Lower Paddock Rd at 1145 TQ124947 then flew twds Merry Hill, also 5 Little Owls - note depot is private (Ian Bennell)....2 Greenshank at Amwell (Ross Facer)

7TH AUGUST: Wood Sandpiper at Kings Mead on flash closest to A10 flyover, also 2+ Common Sands & pr Grey Wags with fully fledged yng (Ross Facer)....2 Common Sands on main pit at Tyttenhanger (Alan Gardiner)

6TH AUGUST: Red Kite over Telegraph Hill, S into Herts at 1700 (per Nigel Agar)....Common Sand at Tyttenhanger, also R Plover & 5 Common Tern (Andy Grimsey)

5TH AUGUST: Wheatear at Stonebury Farm, Buntingford (Allan Burrows)....Buzzard over N Mymms Park, also 2 Garden Wbr, 4 Hobbies (inc pr with 1 jv). Nrby at Redwell Wood Farm 2 Buzzard, 30+ Linnet. Brookmans Park - Common Tern with 3 yng at Gobions Pond (Rupert Pyrah)

4TH AUGUST: Oystercatcher at Tyttenhanger briefly at 0930, also R Plover, Kingfisher, 200 Lapwing, 6 Green Sands, 5 Common Tern, Whitethroat, Lsr Whitethroat (Robin Pearson, Graham Knight)

3RD AUGUST: Grasshopper Wblr reeling at Storm Lagoon, Tring (FoTR)....3 Turtle Doves at Treasure's Grove Picnic Site, Lilley (John Trew)....15 Cormorants feeding in large pond my M25 link road N of Grove Mill, also L Grebe, 6 Grey Wag & Kingfisher (Stephen Welch)....2 Common Sands & 50 Lapwing at Kings Mead (Murray Orchard)

2ND AUGUST: Wood Sandpiper ringed at Rye Meads, 1st ringed there since 1967 (per UKBirdnet)....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Common Sands, 130 Lapwing (Alan Gardiner)....Common Tern with 3 yng at Gobions Pond, Brookmans Park, also Marsh Tit & Sparrowhawk with 2 yng (Rupert Pyrah)....At Kings Mead - 3 Common Sands, 47 Lapwing, 5 Common Tern, 300 BH Gull, 99 Canada Gs (Alan Reynolds)

1ST AUGUST: Peregrine over London Colney, mobbed by Hobby at 1500 (Jim Terry)....Little Egret N over Rickmansworth School, Croxley Green (Aftab Nasir)

July 2002

30TH JULY: Juv Wood Warbler trapped at Kimpton Hoo, also 11 Reed Wblr, 7 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff & Willow Wbr (Tom Kittle)....Sandwich Tern W over Watford High Street at 1450 & Swallow-tailed Moth in garden of Tudor Arms pub, Bushey Mill Lane, Watford (Ian Bennell)....Common Sand & 3 Green Sands at Tyttenhanger, also Lsr Whitethroat & Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah)

28TH JULY: Black Darter dragonfly at Kings Mead (1st record since 1995) (Alan Reynolds)....Around Puckeridge - 4 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcap, 3 Willow Wbr, 8 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunt, Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wags, 50 SwiftSt Albans garden (Homewood Rd) - pr Spotted Fly, juv GS Wdpkr, Nuthatch, pr Bullfinch (David Edwards)

27TH JULY: C Buzzard over Amwell (Ross Facer)....Common Sand at Kings Mead (Clifford Smout)....At Puckeridge - 3 Common Tern north, also 6 Lsr Whitethroat, 3 Willow Wbr, 2 Blackcap, Whitethroat, Marsh Tit (Murray Orchard)

26TH JULY: 2 Common Sands at Kings Mead, also 4 Common Tern, 205 Lapwing, Grey Wag, Lsr Whitethroat (Alan Reynolds)....2 Common Sand at Tyttenhanger, also 4 R Plover (inc 1 jv) (Rupert Pyrah)....Marbled White butterfly in Cassiobury Park by paddling pools (Ian Bennell)....2 Lsr Whitethroat at East Hyde (Clifford Smout)....Spotted Fly at Redbournbury & nrby Common Sand at Gorehambury in flooded field (Clifford Smout)....At Tyttenhanger - 2 R Plover, Green Sand (Alan Gardiner)

25TH JULY: Woodcock over A41 flying towards Whippendell Woods at 2000 (Ian Bennell)....At Tyttenhanger - Common Sand, 2 R Plovers, 2 Grey Wag, 3 Common Tern, 30 Lapwing, Whitethroat (Robin Pearson)

Late news from 6TH JULY: Quail calling at Sandon, in field opposite linseed crop at bottom of hill along minor road off A505 (Christopher Hughes)

24TH JULY: Female Wheatear at Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross (Paul Lewis)....Hobby over M25 N of Old Parkbury, Frogmore, 0800 (Stephen Welch)

23RD JULY: Hobby at Potters Bar golf club, also 2 Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)

22ND JULY: Little Egret still at Wilstone Rsvr (FoTR)....At Amwell - Common Sand, 3 R Plover, Egyptian Gs, 1+ Hobby, Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah)....3 Hobbies (1 jv) over Panshanger picnic site (Keith Cotton)....Hobby at East Hyde hunting Hs Martins (Mike Russell)

22ND JULY: 2 Hobbies seen from hide at Amwell, hawking over reeds (Christopher Hughes)

21ST JULY: 2 Little Egrets at Wilstone (FoTR)....Ad + jv Common Tern at Aberford Lake, Borehamwood (Jeff Weston)....Common Sand at Tyttenhanger, also 11 Common Tern, 2 Green Sands (Steven Pearce)....At Beech Farm/Coopers Green GP - Green Sand, Kingfisher, 2 Teal, pr M Swan + 4 yng, 90 Lapwing (Steven Pearce)....At Kings Mead - 2 Common Sand, 2 Teal, 2 Ruddy Dk, 4 Common Tern & 140 Lapwing (Alan Reynolds)....Tawny Owl in Brocket Park, also Grey Wag, Spotted Fly, Nuthatch (Richard Lee)....Corn Bunting singing at Plaistowes Farm, Chiswell Green (Alan Gardiner)

20TH JULY: 2 Little Egrets N at 0500 over Rye Meads (Alan Harris via AM)....At Tyttenhanger - Common Sand, 2 Green Sands, Greenshank, R Plover with 3 chicks, 2 Hobbies, 2 LBB Gull, 50 Lapwing & Grey Wag (Graham Knight)

19TH JULY: C Buzzard over Gorehambury, St Albans (Steve Postlethwaite)....Ruff at Rye Meads, also L Egret flew N (Alan Harris via AM)....6+ Crossbills in N Mymms Park, also Buzzard, Little Owl, Garden Wbr & Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)....At Kings Mead - Common Sand, 6 Common Tern, 3 Teal & 47 Lapwing (Alan Reynolds)....3 Buzzards over Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also Kingfisher, Hobby & Little Owl (John Pritchard)

18TH JULY: Eclipse drake Garganey on Storm Lagoon, Tring (FoTR)....Red Kite (with large gap in feathers in middle of right wing) over Chess Valley (Anthony Cook)....Spotted Fly & Little Owl at Woodside (Rupert Pyrah)

17TH JULY: 3 Whooper Swans (unknown origin) over Marsworth Rsvr (FoTR)....Hobby at Tyttenhanger (John Trew)....Little Owl nr Redbourn Golf Club (Richard Lee)

14TH JULY: Little Egret at Gt Gaddesden at 1230 (John Rimes)....In a Sherrardswood garden - Marsh Tit, Stock Dv, 2+ Bullfinch, Treecreeper, 2+ Nuthatch, GS Wdpkr, Grn Wdkpr (David James)....At Kings Mead - Common Sand, 3 Common Tern, 56 Lapwing....Turtle Dove along R. Rib at Fabdens (Alan Reynolds)....2 Buzzards NW of Whitwell (Les Borg)....Turtle Dove at Jersey Farm open space, also Lsr Whitethroat & Grey Partridge (Graham Knight)....11 Common Tern (4 juv) & 3 LRP at Tyttenhanger (Robin Pearson)

13TH JULY: Corn Bunting singing W of Chiswell Green (Steven Pearce)....2 Spotted Fly, Hobby, 3 Buzzards, Reed Warbler at Shafford Mill/Redbournbury (Mike Thompson, John Pritchard)....2 Buzzards nr Flaunden (Jol Mitchell)

12TH JULY: Little Owl at Law Hall Farm, Kimpton (John Trew)....At Beech Farm - 2 Ruddy Dk, 10 Mdw Pipits, 2 Sedge Wbr, Hobby, Reed Wbr & Hare...nrby at Hatfield Aerodrome - Green Sand & 2 Mdw Pipit...nrby at Coopers Green GP - Hobby, 100+ Lapwing, 2 Hares (Steven Pearce)....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Common Sands, 2+ Green Sands, 150+ Lapwing, 5+ R Plover, 4+ LRP, 3 Common Tern, & nrby in Coursers Lane - 2 Yellow Wags & 15 Tree Sparrows (Rupert Pyrah)....Hobby over Cassiobury Park bowling green (Ian Bennell)

11TH JULY: 2 Common Sands at Wilstone Rsvr & Redshank over sewage farm lagoon (FoTR)....Corn Bunting singing on Redbourn Common - not seen locally for 2 yrs (Ernest Leahy)....At Tyttenhanger - R Plover (+ 1 chick), Green Sand (Steven Pearce)

10TH JULY: 2 prs M Swan at Oaklands Park Lakes, Potters Bar (Steven Pearce)

9TH JULY: Little Egret at Frogmore GPs (between Stevenage & Watton at Stone), present since Saturday 6th and roosts in a willow tree on site (Mike Ilett)....4+ Marsh Tits in Pond Wood, Potters Bar with large mixed tit flock, also pr L Grebe + 2 juvs (Rupert Pyrah)

8TH JULY: At Tyttenhanger - Common Sand, Green Sand, 3 Common Tern, Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce)....Little Egret on R Gade just east of Hudnall Corner on Herts/Beds border (Rob Dazley)

7TH JULY: 6 LRP & 2 Common Tern at Kings Mead (Alan Reynolds)....At Tyttenhanger - 3 Green Sands, 6 R Plover, Redshank, Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah) 38 Lapwing, pr LRP with 3+ yng, Reed Bunt, 2 Common Tern (Paul Unwin)....Little Owl at Brocket Park, also pr Spot Fly, Grey Wag, Blackcap with 3 juvs, GC Grebe pr with 4 juvs, Green Wdpkr (Anthony Dorman)....Hobby chased by Swallows at Shafford Farm, also Buzzard, Reed Bunt, 30 LT Tits (John Pritchard)....Hobby over A1 2 miles N of M25 (Richard Webb)

6TH JULY: Kings Mead - Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sand, 3 LRP, 57 Lapwing, Ruddy Dk, Shelduck, 5 Common Tern (Alan Reynolds)....At Chadwell Springs - Ruddy Dk, Shelduck, 36 Lapwing (Murray Orchard)....Lapwing with 5 yng at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley also Little Owl, 2 Buzzard, 2+ Reed Wbr & Blackcap (John Pritchard)

4TH JULY: Green Sand in flooded field at Stockers Farm, also Green Wdpkr (Joan Thompson)....Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley (John Pritchard)

2ND JULY: 3 LRP at Sawbridgeworth Stn, in field adj (John Slee)

1ST JULY: 2 Hawfinches over N Mymms Park, also Garden Wbr & nrby Hobby over Vet College, Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)

June 2002

30TH JUNE: Hobby at Coopers Green GP (Steven Pearce)....At Kings Mead - 5 R Plover, c40 Lapwing, Shelduck, 2 Common Tern, 5 juv Pied Wag, Snipe, Kingfisher (John Moss)....Little Egret at Amwell, also pr Egyptian Gs (Toby Austin)....Red Kite heading E, S of Flaunden, also 2 Buzzards (Jol Mitchell)....4 Green Sands at Beech Farm & nrby at Coopers Green GP - Hobby & pr M Swan with 4 yng (Steven Pearce)....Hobby at East Hyde, caught a House Martin (Mike Russell)

29TH JUNE: Green Sand at Tyttenhanger, also R Plover, 2 Common Tern, Redshank (Steven Pearce)....Red Kite over Chess Valley at 1300 (Anthony Cook)....2 Gadwall broods of 10 & 6 at Chadwell Springs, also Teal & 16 Lapwing (Murray Orchard)

27TH JUNE: Little Owl in Hempstead Rd, Potten End (Stuart Harrison)....Buzzard over Peter's Green at 0830 (Mike Russell)

26TH JUNE: Quail still at Sandon 1930 at least, also Buzzard over Telegraph Hill (Nigel Agar)....5 LRPs on flooded field at Stockers Farm, also 31 Lapwing, 27 BH Gull, 4 Linnet (Aftab Nasir)

25TH JUNE: 7 Whooper Swan of unknown origin at Wilstone (Stuart Harrison)....Little Owl at Kirkwood Kennels, nr Lilley (John Trew)....In the Chess Valley - Hobby, Little Owl, Whitethroat, Grn Wdpker (Anthony Cook)....Tree Pipit at N Mymms Park, also 2 Hobbies & Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)....Buzzard perched beside M1 near Potters Crouch at 0745 (Andy Grimsey)....Cockatiel (!) in Cassiobury Park by R'worth Rd, also Marbled White butterfly (Ian Bennell)

24TH JUNE: Quail still nr Sandon in barley at bottom of hill along minor road off A505 (BN)....At Tyttenhanger - Hobby, LRP, R Plover, 3 Common Tern, Lapwing with 2 chicks, Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr & Lsr Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah)....Little Owl mobbed by Blackbird at Paddock Rd council depot, Oxhey (Ian Bennell)

23RD JUNE: Hobby at Tyttenhanger, also 2 Sedge Wbr, GC Grebe with 1+ chick, Green Sand (Steven Pearce)....2 Quail still calling 2mls NW of Sandon by rd east off A505 in barley field at bottom of hill (BN)....Meadow Pipits at Hatfield Aerodrome, also 2 Lapwings & LRP (Steven Pearce)....Juv Grasshopper Wbr at Wilstone (proof of breeding) (FOTR)....Shelduck with 5 ducklings at Mundens Estate, Watford, also 6 Gadwall (Ian Bennell)....6 Swifts in the roof of house on Watford Rd, Chiswell Green with prob 2 prs breeding (colony active since pre-1976) (Alan Gardiner)

22ND JUNE: 2 Green Sands at Beech Farm, also 3 Ruddy Dk, 3 L Grebe, Reed Wbr, 2 Mdw Pipit, 2 Lapwing & nrby at Coopers Green GP - Redshank, LRP, M Swan + 4 yng, 2 Barnacle Gs of suspect origin (Steven Pearce)....At Tyttenhanger - Redshank, 2 R Plover, 4 Common Tern, 5 Gadwall, Lapwing with 2 chicks plus flock of 31 (Steven Pearce)....Quail still calling 1 mile N of Sandon(BN)....Hobby over St Julians, St Albans (Peter Wilkinson)....At Chadwell Springs - 4 Teal, Shelduck, 15 Gadwall, 4 Lapwing, LRP & 25 Sand Martin (Murray Orchard)

21ST JUNE: Red Kite east over Rothamsted, Harpenden at 1020 (Mike Russell)....2 Green Sands at Coopers Green, also LRP, Redshank, 2 Teal, 3 Ruddy Dk, 2 Barnacle Gs (Rupert Pyrah)....2 pres feral Whooper Swans on R Lea at East Hyde (Mike Russell)

20TH JUNE: Common Tern on R Lea at East Hyde (Mike Russell)

19TH JUNE: Quail calling in linseed field 1 mile N of Sandon on minor rd off A505, also 2 Buzzard, 4 Corn Bunt (Rupert Pyrah)....60+ Gadwall at Kings Meads (inc 9 juv), 4 Teal, Shelduck & 16 Lapwing (Anthony Dorman)

18TH JUNE: 3 Buzzards over Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also Hobby (John Pritchard)....At Redbournbury, Cormorant, 2 Buzzards, Little Owl, Yellow Wag, Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr, Green Wdpkr (Mike Thompson)....Hobby over Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)

17TH JUNE: Red Kite over Rothamsted Park, Harpenden, 1045 for 5-10 mins before drifting high W, also Buzzard (Mike Russell)....Pr Stonechat with 4 recently fledged yng at Merry Hill, Oxhey (Paul Reed per Joan Thompson)....3 Buzzards over N Mymms Park, also Tree Pipit (Rupert Pyrah)....2 Corn Bunts at Dunton Lodge Farm, also Reed Bunt in oilseed rape, nrby Little Owl at Shingay & Steeple Morden (Nigel Wood)

16TH JUNE: Red Kite flew from Herts into Beds nr Luton Airport at 1400 (Paul Wiseman)....Red Kite S over Tring at 1500 (Ian Burrus)....Hobby at Tyttenhanger, also 3 Common Tern, 5 R Plover, 3 Redshank, 2 Reed Wbr, 5 LRP (Steven Pearce)....At Coopers Green GP - 2 unringed Barnacle Gs, Redshank, LRP, Lapwing (Steven Pearce)

15TH JUNE: 2 Redshank at Tyttenhanger, also 2 Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr, 3 Common Tern & 2 Cormorant (Steven Pearce)

14TH JUNE: Spot Fly in private garden on Sollershott West, Letchworth (Roger Broadie)....Lsr Whitethroat on Elstree golf course (David James)

12TH JUNE: 5 RN Parakeets over Furzfield Rd, Borehamwood (Peter Carruthers)....Yellow Wags feeding young nr Bygrave (Nigel Agar)

11TH JUNE: At Tyttenhanger - Redshank, 4 LRP (inc fully fledged juv), 2 R Plover, Bullfinch & 10 Lapwing (inc juv) (Alan Gardiner)

9TH JUNE: Osprey flew from College Lake into Herts towards Wilstone at 1300 (Joan Thompson)....Dunlin at Tyttenhanger, 2 Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr (Steven Pearce)....Pr Nuthatch with 4 recently fledged yng in N Mymms Park, also Treecreeper, Jay, GS Wdpkr, Blackcap & Chiffchaff (Anthony Dorman)....At Coopers Green GP - Redshank, M Swan with 4 yng, Canada Gs with 6 yng, 100 Swift (Steven Pearce)

8TH JUNE: Black-necked Grebe on main pit at Tyttenhanger (Joan Thompson, Alan Gardiner), also there - 6+ Redshank, 2 Common Terns (nesting pr), Reed Wbr (Steven Pearce)....Turtle Dove in Sawtrees Wood, Barwick Ford (Mike Baverstock)

6TH JUNE: 2 Reed Wbr at Stanborough Lakes, also several Sedge Wbr, Reed Bunt, pr Grey Wags, Kingfisher, 2 Common Tern, male Pochard (Anthony Dorman)

5TH JUNE: At Tyttenhanger - Common Tern, 3 Tree Sparrows, 2-3 Redshanks (inc prob non-breeding pair), 3-4 breeding prs R Plover, plus pr with 2 yng, LRP (Steven Pearce)....Tawny Owl at Letchworth (Sean Blackmore)

4TH JUNE: BLACK STORK circled Amwell from 1640-1715 before drifting high NE (BN)....Whinchat at Scotsbridge Mill, Rickmansworth (Joan Thompson)....Pr Yellow Wags breeding at Redbourn golf course (Clifford Smout)....5 Meadow Pipits at Beech Farm, also 2 M Swan, Ruddy Dk, L Grebe, 4 Reed Wbr and nrby at Coopers Green - 2 LRP & Cuckoo (Steven Pearce)....Spot Fly nr Munden House, Bricket Wood (Alan Gardiner)

3RD JUNE: 9 Hobbies at Amwell at dusk, also 62 Common Terns (Toby Austin)....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Sedge Wbr, Common Tern, Ruddy Dk, 2 Redshank, 2 LRP, 2 R Plover (1 on nest), 2 L Grebe, 6-7 prs Lapwing (Steven Pearce)

2ND JUNE: 2 Shelduck & 2 LRP at Coopers Green GP (Steven Pearce)....Little Owl at Jersey Farm open space, St Albans (Graham Knight)

1ST JUNE: 3 Spot' Flycatchers in Barwick Ford woods (Mike Baverstock)....Spot Fly at Potters Green TL347212 (Alan Reynolds)....Spotted Flycatcher at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley (John Pritchard)....Lsr & Common Whitethroat at Osborn Way, WG City (Anthony Dorman)....3 Shelduck at Tyttenhanger, also 2 Redshank, 6 Gadwall, Ruddy Dk, Sand Martin excavating holes (Steven Pearce)....Tawny Owl at Telegraph Hill (Toby Austin)

May 2002

30TH MAY: LS Woodpecker in Northaw Great Wood, also pr Marsh Tit with 4 yng, Cuckoo & Garden Wblr (Rupert Pyrah)....Hobby at Sarratt Bottom (Anthony Cook)....Tree Pipit at Berkamsted Common (Alan Gardiner)....Hobby over Watford Rd, Chiswell Green (Alan Gardiner)

29TH MAY: RED-RUMPED SWALLOW still just N of Harlow at Hollingsons Mead. From A414 Edinburgh Way take River Way north past car park & thru wooden gate turn left to view from Latton Lock TL457122, 0834 but no sign subsequently (BN)....Pr Grey Wag at Stanborough Lakes, also several Reed Bunts, Common Tern over, 21 Canada Gs goslings & presumed feral Bewicks Swan & Barnacle Gs (John Moss)

28TH MAY: RED-RUMPED SWALLOW nr Harlow at Honningsons Meads south pit. Access off A414 at Burton Mill Lock. Present till 2020 at least (BN)....Barn Owl on Herts/Beds border nr Peters Green (Andy Grimsey)....Buzzard over Lilley at 0800 (John Trew)....At Tyttenhanger - Yellow Wag, 2 Hobbies, 2 Ruddy Dk, 3 Redshank, 4 LRP, 2 R Plover & 2 young plovers (prob LRP) (Rupert Pyrah)....1000+ Swifts hawking over Wilstone (Ian Burrus)....At the Big Brother house, Elstree - GS Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, C Crow, Rook, Wren, Robin, Collared Dove, Swallow, Pied Wag & Dunnock (heard via live E4 broadcast!) (Ian Bennell)

27TH MAY: 4+ Hobbies over Easeneye Woods, Amwell (Nigel Agar)....2 Turtle Doves at Amwell, also 4 Hobbies, 4 R Plover & 3 Redshank (Rupert Pyrah)....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Hobbies hawking over main pit, LRP, R Plover & Redshank (Alan Gardiner)

26TH MAY: At Coopers Green Ln GPs - 2 Hobby, Redshank & LRP (Steven Pearce)....Hobby at Wilstone (Clifford Smout)....At Tyttenhanger - 5 LRP (inc 2 young), R Plover, Redshank, Common Tern...also nrby at S Mymms Lsr Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah)

25TH MAY: At Tyttenhanger - Hobby, 2 R Plover, 2 Shelduck, 3 Redshank, Reed Bunt, many hirundines (John Moss, Steven Pearce)....Pr Black Redstarts (male is ringed) nr East Hyde (Clifford Smout)

24TH MAY: No sign of RN Phal or BN Grebe at Wilstone today....Tree Pipit in N Mymms Park, also Hobby plus 1 Hobby nrby at Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)

23RD MAY: Summer plumaged female RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring 20yds from jetty (also Black-necked Grebe there) 1830 at least...had previously been just outside Herts at College Lake, Tring on marsh viewed from main hide until 1245 when it flew towards Tring (BN)....Ring-necked Parakeet south over M25 J23 (A1) at 0745 (Tim Hill)....Little Owl at Whiteway Bottom, Kimpton (John Trew)

22ND MAY: Male White Wagtail, Bricket Wood, at ford over R Colne nr Munden House (Alan Gardiner)

21ST MAY: 2 Tree Sparrows at Tyttenhanger, also 3 R Plover, 2 Common Tern & Redshank (Rupert Pyrah)

20TH MAY: Tree Pipit, 3 Garden Wbr, Cuckoo, Buzzard & 50+ Swift at N Mymms Park (Rupert Pyrah)

19TH MAY: Hobby & 2 Common Terns at Kings Mead (Alan Reynolds)....2 Grasshopper Warblers at Rushy Meadow, Wilstone, also Sedge Wbr...2 Whooper Swans, 10+ Hobbies, 25+ Common Terns on resvr (Ian Bennell)....At Tyttenhanger - female Mandarin, Common Sand, 4 LRP, R Plover, 3 Redshank, 2 SHelduck & 3 Stock Dv (Anthony Dorman)....2 Shelduck at Coopers Grn Ln GP, also LRP, 2 Redshank & R Plover (Alan Gardiner, Steven Pearce) ....Hobby over Chiswell Green (Alan Gardiner)....Hobby chasing Hs Martins at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also Buzzard & Cuckoo (John Pritchard)....Male TealxMallard hybrid at Amwell on pit by railway crossing (Ross Facer)

18TH MAY: 3 TEMMINCK'S STINTS at Tyttenhanger, also noted 2 broods R Plover, brood of 4 LRP chicks (Steve Murray)....Prob BLACK KITE 2 miles south of Buntingford west of A10 late pm viewed from layby south of Westmill jctn then seemed to drop into wood & no sign since (BN)....Hobby nr Potters Crouch plantation (Steven Pearce)

17TH MAY: At Tyttenhanger - 2 Redshank, 5 Sedge Wbr, 4 LRP, R Plover (Steven Pearce)....Hobby over Tolpits Lane, Watford & 1 ovdr A41 nr M25 jctn 20 at 1545 (Ian Bennell)

16TH MAY: At Tyttenhanger - 2 Buzzard, 3 Shelduck, Hobby & Turtle Dove (Rupert Evershed)....2 Ruddy Ducks at Beech Farm (Andy Grimsey)....At Kings Mead - 2 Common Tern, Kingfisher carrying food & 2 Grey Wags (Alan Reynolds)....Little Owl in Chiswell Green at jctn of Chiswell Green Ln & Furzebushes Ln (Alan Gardiner)

15TH MAY: Red Kite over A41 nr Tring at 1800 (Andy Grimsey) after one earlier over A41 S of Hemel Hempstead at 1415 (Andy Whitney)....10 occupied heron nests at Verulamium Park, St Albans, also 3 Kingfisher & 6+ Grey Wags (Robin Smith)....Hobby at Grove Mill, N Watford chasing 3 Goldfinches (Stephen Welch)

14TH MAY: Ruddy Duck at Marsworth (Andy Grimsey)....Drake Ring-necked Duck just outside Herts at Broadwater Lake (Alan Gardiner)....Hobby & Little Owl at Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)....2 LRPs & Egyptian Goose at Stockers Farm (Alan Gardiner)....Female Siskin seen with 2 juveniles nr Ringshall (David Glue)

12TH MAY: Drake Garganey at Wilstone Rsvr (Colin Lambert)....At Amwell - pr displaying Hobbies, 3+ LRP, R Plover & 3+ Redshank (Ross Facer)....Poss male GOLDEN ORIOLE seen at Telegraph Hill c10 days ago (per Nigel Agar)....At Tyttenhanger - pr Dunlin, LRP, R Plover, Redshank & Common Tern (Mike Smith)....Spotted Flycatcher at St Pauls Waldenbury (Clifford Smout)....3 Yellow Wags on Redbourn GC (Clifford Smout)....Buzzard over Pond Wood, Potters Bar, also Marsh Tit & L Grebe (Rupert Pyrah)....At Sarratt - Buzzard, Grey Wag, Cuckoo, Reed Bunt plus v large raptor with jesses soaring over at 1100 (Paul Unwin)

11TH MAY: At Tyttenhanger - dk Mandarin, Sedge Wbr, 4 Redshank, pr Shoveler (Steven Pearce)....Quail calling nr Telegraph Hill at TL114287 (Jonathan Palmer)....2 Hobbies hawking over Stockers Lake, also LRP at Stockers Farm (Graham Knight)....At Shafford Farm , Ver Valley - Cuckoo, 3 + Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Buzzard & Lapwing with 9 chicks (John Pritchard)

10TH MAY: 2 Turtle Doves along Icknield Way, Baldock (Roger Broadie)....12 Hobbies hawking over reedbeds at Wilstone, also 2 Shelduck...Black Tern at Marsworth (Paul Clack)....Redwing over Beechan Grove, Watford, also Whitethroat singing from town hall r'bout (Ian Bennell)....At Kings Mead - 2 Common Sand, Ruddy Duck, 77 Gadwall & Common Tern....6 common warbler spp at Nicky Line, Redbourn (Ernest Leahy)....Black Tern & Hobby at Wilstone Rsvr 1840 at least (BN)

9TH MAY: 5 Black Terns at Amwell, Harris Hawk also (Toby Austin)....Drake Mandarin at Bowyers Water on fishermans landing opposite Cormorant Hide at 1515 (Dennis Whatling)....Black Tern & 5 Hobbies at Wilstone Rsvr (BN)....2prs Lapwing at Damask Green, Weston (Roger Broadie)....5 LRPs on flooded field at Stockers Farm, Hobby over (Paul Lewis)....Garden Wblr nr Chequer Ln, Redbourn (Ernest Leahy)

8TH MAY: Hobby NW over Adeyfield Rd, Hemel Hempstead at 1745 (John Rimes)....5 Hobbies over reeds at Wilstone Rsvr (Sezar Hikmet)....Lsr Whitethroat at Munden, Garston, also 6 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (Andy Bright)

7TH MAY: Tree Pipit in N Mymms Park, also 2 Redpoll, Cuckoo & Garden Wbr (Rupert Pyrah)....Black Tern at Tyttenhanger on main lake, also Wheatear, Oystercatcher, 6+ LRP, Common Sand & R Plover (Alan Gardiner)....Sedge Wbr & Lsr Whitethroat at Rothamsted Exp Stn (Mike Russell)....Yellow Wag, Reed Wbr & 8+ Lapwing chicks at Redbournbury

6TH MAY: Probable pair of BLACK-WINGED STILTS circled Tyttenhanger this afternoon but did not land (Mike Smith) [A pair were seen at Lakenheath RSPB 2 days later on 8th]....Male Whinchat & Lsr Whitethroat at Croxley Common Moor (Ian Bennell)....At Gt Gaddesden - Cuckoo, Lsr Whitethroat, 20 Hs Martin & Black Swan (Martin Parr)....Lsr Whitethroat at Redbourn (Ernest Leahy)....3 Treecreepers at Stanborough Lake (John Motch)....At Fairlands Lake, Stevenage - Sedge Wbr & broods of Canada Gs, Coot & Mallard (Christopher Hughes)....Little Owl & pr Shelduck at Mundens Estate (Ian Bennell)....Corn Bunting & 2 RL Partridge by Rose Gardens, Chiswell Green (Ian Bennell)....3+ Garden Wbr & Hobby at Stockers Lake (Ian Bennell)....Firecrest & 2 Garden Wbr in Northaw Gt Wood (Chris Beach)

5TH MAY: 25 Arctic Tern at Wilstone until 1315 when all but 3 flew off towards Marsworth (Ed Griffiths)....At Tyttenhanger - 4+ LRP, 2 Cuckoo, Redshank, 10+ active Sand Martin holes (Paul Unwin), Common Tern, Lsr Whitethroat, Sedge Wbr, 10+ Lapwing (Steven Pearce)....At Coopers Green GPs - 2 Shelduck, 3 Redshank, 2 LRP & Lsr Whitethroat (Steven Pearce)....3 Whooper Swan (unknown origin) at East Hyde, also Kingfisher & Cuckoo (Robin Pearson)

4TH MAY: 2 Redshank at Tyttenhanger (Steven Pearce)....3-4 Tawny Owls heard in Whippendell Woods at 0430 (Ian Bennell)....5 Hobbies over reeds at Wilstone, Corn Bunting at Steps Hill, Whitethroat, Garden, Sedge & Reed Wblrs at Wendover arm of canal behind Marsworth Rsvr with Common & Artic Terns on Marsworth itself (Martin Parr).... At Amwell - Several Swift, many hirundines, Reed & Sedge Wblrs singing, LRP, R Plover, Egyptian Gs, Redshank & esc Harris Hawk (Christopher Hughes)....Buzzard over Reed (Rupert Pyrah)....At Sawbridgeworth Marsh - Garden Wblr & Reed Wblrs (Andrew Hardacre)

3RD MAY: RED-RUMPED SWALLOW reported at Wilstone Rsvr but flew off SW with other hirundines into Bucks (BN)....Tree Pipit displaying at Northchurch Common, also Garden Wblr (Clifford Smout)....Pr Grey Partridge at Chiswell Green (Clifford Smout)....At Stockers Lake - 3 Wheatear, Buzzard, 2 LRP, Hobby & 3 Garden Wblr (Paul Clack)....In N Mymms Park - Buzzard, Cuckoo, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, 6 Garden Wblr, 10 Whitethroat, Lsr Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, Siskin (Ruper Pyrah)....3+ LRP at Tyttenhanger, also 2 R Plover, Redshank & 30 Sand Martin, nrby 3 Yellow Wags at Coursers Lane (Ruper Pyrah)....Yellow Wag at Redbourn Golf Course (Clifford Smout)....Cuckoo at Amwell, also R Plover, 2 LRP, 3 Redshank & pr Shelduck (Clifford Smout)....2 Buzzards SW of Sarratt (Jol Mitchell)

2ND MAY: HOOPOE at Wilstone Rsvr at dry canal area adj to rsvr and flew towards Tringfird at dusk (Stuart Wilson)....Water Rail heard at Sawbridgeworth Marsh (Andrew Hardacre)

1ST MAY: Hobby at Butterwick Meadows, Sleapshyde, until 1700 (Wendy Hatton)....Swift over Patmore Heath (Mick East)....Buzzard over Brookmans Park, also 2 Kingfisher, 3 Hs Martin, Garden Wblr & Whitethroat....Blackcap & Whitethroat at Lambwell Wood, Tewin (Les Borg)....At Tyttenhanger - Oystercatcher, 4 LRP, R Plover, Redshank, pr Shelduck & 3 young Lapwing....2 Shelduck over Radlett GPs

April 2002

29TH APR: Arctic Tern at Stockers Lake with Common Terns to 1730 at least, also 2 Garden Wblrs, Hobby but no sign of Garganey (Andrew Grimsey)....Hobby over Blackgreen Wood, Bricket Wood at 2037 (Stephen Welch)....Buzzard over Rothamsted Exp Stn (Mike Russell)....Corn Bunting on Ickield Way at Ickleford, also Lsr Whitethroat & 4 singing Whitethroat....nrby 2 Cuckoos nr Burymead Springs, also 3 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Wbr, Blackcap (Roger Broadie)

28TH APR: At Puckeridge - pr Grey Partridge, 2 Little Owl, Grey Wag, pr Reed Bunt, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Wblr, Swallow (Murray Orchard)....Drake Garganey still at Stockers Lake (Ian Bennell), Grasshopper Wblr in "TOC H field" at 0700 & 3 Cuckoos (Tony Stride), also 8 Common Tern, LRP, Swift, Hs Martin, Reed Wblr & Black Swan (Paul Davies)....Male Whinchat at Beech Farm, also Swift, Snipe, Lapwing, Ruddy Dk & nrby at Coopers Green GP - pr Shelduck, 5 Lapwing, Green Sand (ringed: right yellow over "darker" one, left red) (Steven Pearce)....Garden Wblr at N Mymms Park also Cuckoo (Rupert Pyrah)....At Wilstone - 4 Common Sand, Yellow Wag, 60+ Swifts (Ian Eyre) also Hobby, 25+ Common Tern, many hirundines, feral Barnacle Gs & 2 Bar-headed Gs (Ian Bennell)....Oystercatcher at Tyttenhanger, also 4 Common Tern, pr Shelduck, 2 LRP, Hs Martin & Sand Martin (Andy Massey, Sean Blackmore, Steven Pearce)....At Croxley Common Moor - Lsr Whitethroat, Common Tern, 6 Willow Wbrs, 2 LBB Gulls, 5 Whitethroat & 3 Sedge Wbr (Ian Bennell)

27TH APR: Oystercatcher at Tyttenhanger, also 3 LRP, Redshank, 2 Sedge Wbr, Lapwing brood (2 chicks), 4 prs Gadwall, Hs Martin, Common Tern, Snipe (Steven Pearce)....Jack Snipe flushed from lakeside vegetation at Stockers Lake pm (Paul Clack)....Male Whinchat at Puckeridge in Rib Valley, also Lsr Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 3 Willow Wblr (Murray Orchard)....Ringed Barn Owl (15763U + 1BR) roadkill found dead on A414 nr Hatfield (Brian Hopkins)....Common Sand at Kings Mead, also 2 Whitethroat, 2 Swallow & 2 Common Tern (Alan Reynolds)....Little Egret S thru Stockers Lake at 0800, also 2 LRP & many Swifts (Paul Clack), also drake Garganey at S end of lake (BN)....At Sawbridgeworth Marsh - 11 Sedge Wblr, 4 Whitethroat, Cuckoo, 2 Blackcap & Snipe (Andrew Hardacre)

26TH APR: Drake Garganey at S end of Stocker's Lake at 1545, also Grasshopper Wblr still, 2 Hobbies, sev Swift, 2 Reed Wblr & 2 LRP (Paul Clack)....At Tyttenhanger - Yellow Wag, 35+ Sand Martin, 25 Swallow, 2 Hs Martin, 2 Whitethroat, 2 LRP, R Plover & 2 Redshank (Rupert Pyrah)

25TH APR: Reeling Grasshopper Wblr at Stockers Lake in field with 4 blue portacabins N of R. Colne, also Hobby, 5 Sedge Wblr, 2 LRP, Treecreeper, Reed Wblr (Ian Bennell)....2 Egyptian Geese crossing Hollycross Road to fpath N of Stanstead Abbotts (Murray Orchard)....Buzzard over Prae Wood, also Grasshopper Wblr reeling from rear of Prae Wood raptor watchpoint site on Bedmond Lane (Ernest Leahy)....2 Common Sands & 2 Yellow Wags at East Hyde (Matthew Best)....Swift over Croxley Common Moor, also 2 Lsr Whitethroat, 11 Whitethroat, 9 Sedge Wblr, Reed Wblr, Cuckoo & Kingfisher (Aftab Nasir)

24TH APR: Singing male Lsr Whitethroat at Puckeridge (Murray Orchard)....Garden Wblr at Oughtonhead Common, Hitchin, also Blackcap, Willow Wblr, Chiffchaff (Roger Broadie)....2 Wheatear & Common Sand at Croxley Common Moor. (Paul Clack)....3 Lesser Whitethroats singing at Mackreye End, nr Batford, also Whitethroat. (Mike Russell)....Cuckoo at Essendon, also Little Owl & 6 Whitethroat. (Rupert Pyrah)....3 Buzzards soaring over Patmore Heath. (Mick East)....2 drake Ruddy Dk on Verulamium Lake. (Alan Gardiner)....2 Grey Partridge at Tyttenhanger on N side of fishing lake also LRP & Common Tern. (Alan Gardiner)....46 Common Tern over Marsworth Rsvr, also Reed Wblr. (Ed Griffiths)

Recently: green parakeet sp around St Leonards churchyard, Sandridge - ID not confirmed but keep an eye out!

23RD APR: At Redbournbury - 2 Yellow Wags, Sedge Wblr, Hobby, Cuckoo & 20+ Yellowhammer....Pr Whinchat at Tyttenhanger, also Buzzard, 2+ LRP, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, Green Sand, 2 Common Tern, 7 Whitethroat & Sedge Wblr (Rupert Pyrah)....Male Whinchat & 2 Whitethroats above old cress beds at Wilstone (FOTR).....2 Little Egrets on flash in R Gade at Gt Gaddesden. (Rob Dazley)....Grey Partridge at Bygrave, also 5 singing Whitethroats. (Roger Broadie)....At Croxley Common Moor - 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, 25 Willow Wbr, 7 Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, Kingfisher & Common Tern.....2 Hobbies at Stockers Lake, also Reed Wbr & 6 Common Tern, nrby 2 LRP on Stockers Farm flood & Little Owl calling.....6 Hs Martins nr Tolpits Ln, Watford.

22ND APR: Swift at Wilstone Rsvr, also 6 Common Tern, 18 Swallow, 9 Sand Martins...nrby 2 Yellow Wags & 10 Common Terns at Marsworth....Cuckoo calling nr Shafford Farm, Ver Valley....Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Whitethroats nr Noton Green landfill, Stevenage....N Mymms Park - Buzzard, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Garden Wbr, 2 Whitethroat, 35+ Redpoll, 3 Swallows....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Redshank, 4 LRP, R Plover, Bullfinch, Cuckoo....5 Common Tern at Stanborough Lakes plus 4 Cormorant

21ST APR: Male Whinchat in Brookmans Park, also Yellow Wag, 7 Blackcaps, 4 Swallow, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Wbr....Osprey over Wilstone Rsvr, also female Redstart & Swift (FOTR)....At Tyttenhanger - 3 Common Tern, Wheatear, Greenshank, 3 SHelduck, 3 Sand Martin, 2 R Plover, 2 LRP, Redshank, Green Sand, 2 Sedge Wblr & Whitethroat....At Kings Mead - 3 Common Tern, 6 Sand Martin, Blackcap, 97 Gadwall, Ruddy Dk, Grey Wag....Just outside Herts at Fishers Green - 2 Nightingales singing nr sub-station....4 Willow Wblrs & 3 Chiffchaffs in Potters Crouch Plantation, nrby Buzzard over Chiswell Green Lane & 2 Corn Bunts along Ragged Hall Lane....4 Mdw Pipit singing at Beech Farm, also male Mandarin...nrby at Coopers Green Lane GP - 2 Shelduck, 4 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, Green Sand, 3 LRP....2 Yellow Wags nr Walkern Rd, Stevenage....Cuckoo at Aldwickbury Golf Course, Harpenden....Buzzard over Stapleford

20TH APR: Jack Snipe at Rye Meads, also 2 LRP, 5 Snipe, 5 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, Yellow Wag, Wheatear, 5 Whitethroats, Reed Wblr (Rye Meads RG, AM)....2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling at Rushey Meadow, Wilstone, also Swift over Wilstone Rsvr at 1600 & imm Marsh Harrier (FOTR)....Cuckoo at Flaunden....At Shafford Farm - Whitethroat, 2 Hs Martin, 6 Swallows & 2+ Buzzard....2 Cuckoos at Rye House Marsh, also Blackcap & esc Harris Hawk....Little Egret still on R Gade at Gt Gaddesden TL025124....At Stockers Lake - 2 LRP, 4 Common Terns & drake Mandarin....at Chadwell Springs - 2 Common Tern, 4 Teal, Blackcap....At Puckeridge - 2 Swallows, 2 Hs Martin, 5 Willow Wbr, Blackcap, 2 Yellowhammer

19TH APR: Male Marsh Harrier, Wheatear & 2 Yellow Wags at Wilstone (FOTR)....At Tyttenhanger - Whitethroat, Yellow Wag, 3 Redshank, Sedge Wbr, 2 Teal, Wheatear, 12 Lapwing, 6 LRP, 2+ R Plover (water level v high)....3 Common Tern over Kings Mead....Grey Partridge at Graveley....2 Common Terns on R Gade at Blackmore Lane....Swallow at Tewin....3 Common Terns at Stockers Lake, also 2 LRPs, 4 Teal, Wigeon, 2 Sedge Wbr & Green Sand nrby at Springwell

18TH APR: Little Egret & Garganey at Kings Mead, also 2 Common Tern....Cole Green - 2 Yellow Wags, Lapwing....At Panshanger Park - pr Mandarin, 3 LRP, 2 R Plover, Reed Bunt, Treecreeper....At Tyttenhanger - 4 LRP, 3 R Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sands, 4 Swallows & 10 Hs Martin....Lesser Pecker in N Mymms Park, also Little Owl, 7 Willow Wbr & 5 Blackcap....At East Hyde - 2 Hs Martins, 5 Swallows, Kingfisher & small race Canada Goose of unknown origin....Garganey at Maple Lodge NR

17TH APR: Osprey N over Startops Rsvr at 0930...Whimbrel on jetty at Wilstone at dusk (FOTR)....Marsh Harrier (sex not known) over Sawbridgeworth Stn flood plain, seen early morning and evening 12th, 16th & 17th, observer requests confirmation if anyone else has seen it....N of Cannock Wood TL228227 - Cuckoo, Garden Wbr, Blackcap & redpoll....At Tyttenhanger - 4 LRP, 3 R Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sand, 4 Swallow, 10 House Martin....At Amwell - 4 Common Tern, 3 R Plover, LRP, 3 Redshank, Snipe, 2 calling Water Rails, 3+ Sedge Wbr, 2 Shelduck....Yellow Wag at Rye Meads, also Cuckoo, Redwing, 2 Common Terns 4 Shelduck, Buzzard (over) & esc Harris Hawk....Green Sand at Stanstead Abbotts GP, also 2 Redshank & Snipe....Little Owl in N Mymms Park....Cuckoo calling at Tewin Mill....1+ Common Tern over Stockers Lake tern raft, also several hirundines plus LRP at Stockers Farm

16TH APR: Red Kite flew into Herts from Dunstable Downs at 1630....At Tyttenhanger - 4 LRP, 2 Shelduck, R Plover, 2 Redshank, Green Sand, 2 Swallows, 20+ Sand Martin, 30 Fieldfare....2 Buzzards over Prae Wood....Blackcap on Croxley Business Park

15TH APR: 2 Common Tern at Amwell, also several Swallows thru, Sedge Wbr singing, R Plover & LRP....At Tyttenhanger - STONE CURLEW (at noon), 4 Redshank, Green Sand, 2 R Plover, 4 LRP, Snipe, Kingfisher....Swallow at NOrtonbury Farm, Letchworth

14TH APR: STONE CURLEW for an hour at Tyttenhanger pm but no sign at 1830, also 70+ Fieldfare....Sedge Warbler at Croxley Common Moor, also 4+ Willow Wbr, 6+ Reed Bunt, Water Rail calling....3 Redshank & Shoveler at Prae Mill, St Albans....2 Redshank over Shafford Farm, also 3 Swallows, 3 Buzzard, 50+ Linnet & Kingfisher....4 House Martin over Stockers Lake, also 10+ Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Buzzards....Drake Garganey & Little Egret at Kings Mead 1130, also 2 Swallows, Kingfisher, 4 Wigeon, 4 Teal....4 LRPs on Redbourn Golf Club pools....2 LRPs at Stockers Lake....45 redpoll at N Mymms Park, also 2 Buzzard, 4 Willow Wblr, 2 Blackcap & 5 Chiffchaff....Marsh Tit in a Sharrardswood garden....redpoll at Lamerwood Golf Course....Buzzard over Rye Meads at 1555....2 singing Blackcaps at Crabtree Fields, Harpenden....Whooper Swan of dubious origin at Stanborough Lake, WGC but no sign of Bewicks

13TH APR: 2 Little Egrets over Brookmans Park at 0730....At Tyttenhanger - Swallow, 4 LRP, 2 R Plover, 2 Green Sands, Greenshank, 2 Redshank, Snipe, 2 Teal, Sparrowhawk....Pr RC Pochard at Tringford Resvr, also drake Mandarin....Bewicks Swan of unknown origin at Stanborough Lakes

11TH APR: c30 Fieldfare nr Wheathampstead....Drake Garganey at Kings Mead, also 2 SHoveler, 3 Wigeon, 92 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 2 Ruddy Dk....At Tyttenhanger - 4 LRP, 2 R Plover, 2 Green Sand (one colour ringed left red, right yellow), Greenshank, 4 Redshank, Swallow....LRP on pool at Redbourn Golf Club....Pr Teal at Pond Wood, Potters Bar, also pr L Grebe, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcap & Willow Wblr....20+ Golden Plover at Radlett GP, viewable from train

10TH APR: At Tyttenhanger - 4 LRP, 2 R Plover, 2 Green Sand, 2 Redshank, 2 Teal, Swallow, Willow Wblr, Blackcap & 17 Fieldfare....Yellow Wag and Buzzard at Coursers Lane....12+ Redpoll feeding with Goldfinch & Coal Tits at Birchall Wood, Panshanger....Albino Bar-headed Goose at Radwell, also Tawny Owl....5 Buzzards NE over Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross at 1300

9TH APR: Wood Wblr heard singing on estate nr Albury by 3 obs (per Mick East)....Presumed escaped Hoopoe in Hitchin in Roundwood Crescent - any recent sightings in Harpenden?....Yellow Wag at Marsworth Resvr, Tring and nrby at Wilstone - 60+ Sand Martin & 10 Swallows....Little Egret still at Tewin Mill viewable from B1000 opp Warrengate Farm at 1615....At Tyttenhanger - Dunlin, Greenshank, 2 Green Sands, 4 Redshank, 3+ LRP, R Plover, Tree Sparrow & Willow Warbler....Willow Warbler at Harpenden sewage farm....Buzzard over M25 nr Shenley....2 Shelduck W over Theobalds Park, WGC at 1815....Bewick's Swan of unknown origin at Stanborough Lakes, WGC

8TH APR: Little Egret at Tewin Mill seen from B1000 in field opp Warrengate Farm at 1715....Grey Wag at Rothamsted conf centre

7TH APR: LRP at Coopers Green Ln GP, also Green Sand....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Greenshank, Dunlin, 3 Green Sands, 4+ Redshank, 12+ R/LR Plover, 10+ Sand Martin & Marsh Tit....Drake Garganey & Little Egret at Kings Mead, also 4 Ruddy Dk & 4 Wigeon....6 LR Plovers at Stockers Farm, also Swallow & Wigeon....80 Goldfinch in a stubble field at Hertford Heath

6TH APR: Red Kite low NE over M25 J20 at 1400 mobbed by corvids....Jack Snipe at Beech Farm, also C Snipe....Kittiwake at Stockers Lake briefly on tern raft before flying E, also 2 Swallows, Sedge Warbler, 3 singing Blackcaps, nrby Wigeon at Stockers Farm....At Tyttenhanger - Dunlin, Greenshank, Marsh Tit, 4+ LR Plover, 2 R Plover, Green Sand, 2 Snipe, Willow Warbler & 8 Sand Martin....Swallow at Amwell & 12 Golden Plover over....Snipe at Sawbridgeworth Marsh....Swallow & Sand Martin at East Hyde....Swallow & Sand Martin at Prae Mill, St ALbans, also Teal, 12+ Lapwings & 2 Grey Wags....2 LR Plovers at Redbourn Golf Club pools, also 8 Lapwings

5TH APR: Red kite S over M1/M10 junction at 1540....Buzzard over Essendon, also 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff & 6 Sand Martin....2 Sedge Warblers at Stockers Lake, also 2 LR Plovers at Stockers Farm

4TH APR: Garden Warbler & Blackcap singing N of Cannock Wood TL228227....Imm Marsh Harrier through Stockers Lake at 1830, flew off S....Yellow Wag at Tyttenhanger on edge of main pit, also Greenshank, Dunlin, 2 Tree Sparrow, Blackcap, Green Sand, 3 Redshank, 4 LR Plover, 2 R Plover & 2 Willow Warblers....Buzzard over N Mymms Park, also redpoll, Marsh Tit, 2 Willow Warbler & 5 Chiffchaff....4+ Willow Warblers at Colney Heath....Green Sand at East Hyde nr farm, also Snipe & Kingfisher, Little Owl nrby....Willow Warbler retrapped S of Whitwell was ringed as an adult on 23rd May 1999

3RD APR: Drake Garganey & Little Egret at Chadwell Springs....Buzzard S over Langley (S of Hitchin)

2ND APR: 4 Common Scoter (3 drakes) at Wilstone & pr RC Pochard but no sign of Firecrest nr hide....At Tyttenhanger - Dunlin, Greenshank, 4 LR Plover, 3 R Plover, 3 Redshank, 15 Sand Martin, 2 Shelduck, Green Sand & 2 Tree Sparrows...Buzzard rptd over....At Puckeridge - Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, pr Bullfinch, pr Grey Wag & 2+ Yellowhammer....2 Brambling & 5 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden

1ST APR: At Coopers Green GP - Tawny Owl, 2 Redshank, pr Shelduck, 3 LR Plover & 2 Teal....3 Whooper Swans (of unknown origin) at East Hyde briefly....Drake Garganey at Kings Mead....At Tyttenhanger - 4 LR Plover, 3 R Plover, 2 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, Greenshank, 5 Sand Martins, 3 Snipe & Tree Sparrow plus Buzzard over....Brambling & 7 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden....Redwing at Shafford Farm

March 2002

31ST MAR: Drake Garganey at Kings Mead, also Little Egret, 3 Ruddy Dk, 5 Sand Martin, 5 Wigeon....Willow Warbler at East Hyde....15 Sand Martin, Garganey & 2 Swallows at Chadwell Springs....2 LR Plovers on small pool opp Redbourn Golf Club just before entrance....Swallow at Shafford Farm, also 12 Fieldfare....Redpoll with 30+Siskin at Birchall Wood, Panshanger

30TH MAR: Firecrest still by gate to hide at Wilstone, also 30 Sand Martins....Male Redstart at Stockers farm in willows by floods this pm....Male Wheatear south of ford in River Beane betw Aston & Aston End east of Stevenage....Red Kite over Ware at 1500 and then it or another over Rye Meads at 1555....Little Egret over 4th Ave, Garston heading towards Munden, also 4 Brambling, 4 Blackcaps & 14 Siskin....130 Stock Dove at Redwell Wood Farm....In North Mymms Park - 2 Marsh Tit, 2+ Redpoll, 5 Chiffchaff & 3 Siskin....Swallow over Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, also 3 Buzzard, Reed Bunt, 30 Linnet, Kingfisher & 2 Grey Wags....20 Stock Dove at Great Munden

29TH MAR:At Beech Farm - 6 Snipe, 2 L Grebe, 2 Mdw Pipit, 4 Lapwing, & nrby at Coopers Green GP - Green Sand, 2 Redshank, Snipe....2 drake Garganeys at Chadwell Springs, also 47 Wigeon, 85 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler....Oystercatcher at Amwell, also 2 R Plover, 9 Goldeneye, LR Plover....Pr Mandarin at "The Commons LNR"....Female/1st-s M Black Redstart in a Hitchin garden for 10 minutes....At Tyttenhanger - 5 LR Plover, 3 Ruff, Greenshank, Green Sand, 3+ Redshank, 5+ Sand Martin, R Plover plus 4 Tree Sparrows at Tyttenhanger Farm

28TH MAR: Pr Egyptian Gs at King's Mead....At Tyttenhanger - 3 Ruff, 5 Redshank, 3 Green Sands, 2 R Plover, 2 LR Plover, pr Shelduck, 20 Linnet, 33 Fieldfare & 5 Sand Martins (starting to excavate nest holes)....2 C Buzzard over Watton-at-Stone

27TH MAR: At Kings Mead - 4 Snipe, Ruddy Duck, 64 Gadwall, 36 Wigeon, 13 Shoveler, 5 Teal....At Stockers Lake - 10 Pintail, 10 Sand Martin thru, Blackcap, Grey Wag, several Chiffchaffs, 2 LR Plover (Stockers Farm) & Buzzard (over)....2000+ Golden Plover over New Jeromes Farm, Redbourn & 2 Grey Partridge nrby at Dane End Farm....Brambling & 20 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden....No sign of Ring necked Duck at Wilstone in brief search but Firecrest near hide (though no sign 1615-1645), pr Red-crested Pochard, F Smew, Goldeneye & singing Willow Warbler....Red Kite soaring over A41 nr Berkhamstead

26TH MAR: Drake RING-NECKED DUCK at Wilstone Resvr, Tring, at the back of reedbeds viewed a few yards right of car park at 1750....At Amwell - Swallow, 7 Sand Martins, LR Plover, 4 R Plovers & 3 Redshank....Summer plumage male Brambling at Tyttenhanger Farm, also 20 Tree Sparrows, 2 Grey Partridge, 18 Fieldfare & Chiffchaff....on GPs - 7 Redshank, 2 Ruff, Greenshank, LR Plover, 2 R Plover, 2 Green Sand, 2 Shelduck & 3+ Sand Martin....Brambling in a Bishops Stortford garden, also 2 Blackcaps

25TH MAR: 10 male Crossbills in Tewinwood....At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 2 LR Plovers, R Plover, 2 Ruff, 5 Redshank, Green Sand, Tree Sparrow, 3 Sand Martins....C Buzzard over Prae Wood....Pr Grey Wags at Gorehambury....5 singing Chiffchaff at Norton Green

24TH MAR: 3 AVOCETS at Tyttenhanger, on south side of main pit, also 6+ Redshank, Greenshank, 3 Ruff, 2 LR Plover, 3 Green Sands, 6+ R Plover, 4 Sand martins, 2 Snipe, 1+ Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaff & Reed Bunt....FIRECREST at Wilstone for 2nd day in trees and bushes 25 yards before hide....Singing Willow Warbler at Kings Mead....At Amwell - 2 Egyptian Gs, Siskin, several Chiffchaff, 3 Treecreeper, LR Plover, R Plover, Buzzard, Redshank, 3 Goldeneye....3 Singing Chiffchaff in N Mymms Park....4 singing Chiffchaffs & 2 Siskins at Batford....Colour-ringed Green Sand at Rye Meads (left leg: red, right: yellow over green)....2 C Buzzards over Shafford Farm

23RD MAR: Bittern north of public hide at Amwell, also 2 Water rails at hide & 3 Buzzards over....Curlew at Tyttenhanger, also Greenshank, 2 Redshank, Dunlin, 2 Chiffchaff....LR Plover at Stockers Farm....On Mundens Estate, Watford - pr Little Owls, pr Shelduck, 2 Kingfishers, 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 20 Teal & 4 Cormorant (2 continental)....2 Blackcaps in a Bishops Stortford garden, plus 6 Siskins....30 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden

22ND MAR: 2 Ruff at Tyttenhanger & wing-tagged Red Kite over....4 C Buzzards around Flaunden....120 Golden Plover over Kimpton....3 Chiffchaff, 2 Marsh Tit, L Grebe in Pond Wood, Potters Bar....200 Golden Plover at Radlett GPs viewed from train (no public access)

21ST MAR: At Tyttenhanger - 2 LR Plover, 2 R Plover, 2 Shelduck, 3 Sand Martins, 3 Green Sands, Redshank & Greenshank....2 Jack Snipe & Little Egret at Amwell

20TH MAR: Water Rail on old cress beds at Cassiobury Park, Watford....Little Egret on Gade at Gt Gaddesden....At Tyttenhanger - Little Stint (W end of old causeway), 2 Redshank, Greenshank, R Plover, 2 Green Sands, 2 Shelduck & 9 Tree Sparrows at Tyttenhanger Farm....Woodcock picked up dead on Pinner Rd, Oxhey (prob flew into wires)....Red Kite over Chesfield Downs Golf Club, Graveley, S towards Stevenage at 1130....3 singing Chiffchaffs at Panshanger....30 Siskins in a Horns Mill garden

19TH MAR: Peregrine S over a Tring garden at 0730....Little Egret at King's Mead at 1000, also 2 Ruddy Duck, 2 Shelduck, Kingfisher & Grey Wag....10 Brambling around Rothamsted Exp Stn, Harpenden....Singing Blackcap in a Welwyn garden....9 Siskin in a Brookmans Park garden....Juv Robin in Ware ....At Tyttenhanger - 2 R Plover, 2 LR Plover, Greenshank, 2 Sand Martin, Redshank, Green Sand, 2 Shelduck & 7 Tree Sparrows adj to Tyttenhanger Farm....At Kings Mead - 37 Gadwall, 62 Wigeon, 31 Tufted Dk, 10 Teal

18TH MAR: At Amwell - 3 Black-necked Grebes, Little Egret, 19 Snipe, 2 Shelduck, Redshank & calling Water Rail....500+ Golden Plover on Radlett GP pools (seen from train)....10 Gadwall on flooded fields at Letty Green

17TH MAR: On Redbourn Golf Club scrape - Green Sand, Kingfisher, 20+ Yellowhammer & 4+ Reed Bunts....C Buzzard over Tingley Wood nr Pirton....At Tyttenhanger - 2 Sand Martin, 2 Shelduck, 2 Green Sands, 2 R Plovers, Chiffchaff & 55 Fieldfare....Long-eared Owl still present in N Mymms Park, also redpoll over....At Amwell - 3 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Sand Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 20+ Goldeneye, 4 Redshank & 2 Shelduck....Little Egret at Kings Mead, also 20+ Wigeon....2 C Buzzards over East Hyde....Little Egret still at Gt Gaddesden & same or another next to Hillier Garden Centre at Piccotts End (3 miles SW) at 1200, also 4 Buzzards in area....Pr Mandarin at Beech Farm, drake calling, also Kingfisher, 3+ displaying Meadow Pipits, Snipe, 2 L Grebe & 34 Teal nrby at Coopers Green....At Thundridge - 50 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunt, Brambling, calling Lesser Spotd Wdpkr, Little Owl & Chiffchaff....2 Brambling in 4th Ave, Garston, also 7 Blackcap & 17 Siskin....5 Buzzards over Gt Offley, also pr Little Owl nrby....15+ Siskin in Brocket Park....Recently fledged Blackbird in WG City

16TH MAR: Singing Chiffchaff in WGC town centre, also fledgling Collared Dv....Pr Marsh Tits at Bayfordbury....F Marsh Harrier flew into Herts from Luton Airport area....Greenshank at Tyttenhanger, also Green Sand, R Plover, 2 Snipe, 2 Sand Martin....Red Kite E over Flaunden, also 2 C Buzzards in area....4 Water Rails on Ickleford Common & singing Chiffchaff by Cadwell Farm....Singing Chiffchaff in Sherrardswood

15TH MAR: Pr Red-crested Pochard at Wilstone, also f Smew....70 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden

14TH MAR: At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 4 Redshank, R Plover, Green Sand (all on scrape)....60+ Golden Plover over Salisbury Hall, L Colney....80 Golden Plover over Waltham X

13TH MAR: In N Mymms Park - Woodcock, Siskin, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, pr Kestrel & 7 Golden Pvr over....Escaped Hoopoe seen along Lyndhurst Drive, Harpenden this morning

12TH MAR: Little Egret still on Kings Mead at 0825....At Tyttenhanger - Water Rail (with Moorhens in overgrown marshy area nr Scrape), LR Plover, 2 R Plover, 3 Green Sands, Golden Pvr, 10 Tree Sparrows (nr Tyttenhanger Farm), 50 Redwing, Teal & 4 Gadwall....80 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden....Woodcock over Watford Heath, nr Oxhey Grange Bowls Club at 1125....At Croxley Common Moor - 2 L Grebes, Snipe, 2 Green Wdpkrs, GBB Gull....Brambling with 50 Chaffinch N of Cannock Wood at TL228227

11TH MAR: Little Egret showing extremely well on roadside pools at Kings Mead, between Ware & Hertford, 1600 at least....At Cold Christmas - 10+ Brambling, 30+ Yellowhammers, Little Owl, Sparrowhawk, C Buzzard & Lesser Spt Wdpkr, nrby Siskin in Croft Rd....Chiffchaff singing at W end of Stockers Lake

10TH MAR: Sand Martin at Coopers Green GPs, also 63 Teal, pr Shelduck plus 2 Snipe at Beech Farm....At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 3 Redshank, Green Sand, 2 R Plover, Shelduck....2 Grey Partridge at Coursers Farm....Female Lesser Spot'd Wdpkr nr Gade Ave entrance to Cassiobury Park, Watford, also Water Rail on old cress beds....Female RC Pochard on Radwell Lake....Mixed flock of 200+ Fieldfare/Redwing nr A505 N of Baldock....8 Golden Plover over Rothamsted Manor....20 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden

9TH MAR: 20 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden....Green Sand & Kingfisher at East Hyde & C Buzzard over....In Rib Valley at Puckeridge - f Teal, 6 Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunt, 2 Siskin & pr Kestrel....C Buzzard N over BUPA Hospital, Harpenden....250+ Golden Plover S over Shafford Farm, Ver Valley

8TH MAR: Singing Blackcap & 4 Bramblings at Cold Christmas....2 Little Owls & C Buzzard on private land nr Sacombe

6TH MAR: Escaped Hoopoe still in Harpenden, in private garden....Little Owl at Ayot St Lawrence....Stonechat by R Lea at East Hyde, also 100 Fieldfare & 20 Redwings nearby....Chiffchaff singing along R Lea in Ware

5TH MAR: 18 Brambling on bird table at Rothamsted Exp Stn + 2 Siskin....2 Little Owls calling in Essendon....Brambling & 40 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden, Hertford

4TH MAR: 5 Snipe at Amwell, also 2 Shelduck, 2 Goldeneye & 4 Grey Wags....130 Siskin over Cheshunt station....25 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden....85 Mute Swans on R Lea by Saracens Head pub, Ware

3RD MAR: At Tyttenhanger - 3 Redshank, 2 Green Sands, c 30 Fieldfare....Emperor Goose flying around Wilstone, also m Pintail & 2 RC Pochard....Little Egret still N of Gt Gaddesden....At Amwell - Bittern, 13 Goldeneye, 2 Shelduck, 4 R Plovers, albino BH Gull, 41 Golden Plvr (over) & L Egret roosted....Around Shafford Farm, Ver Valley - 2 C Buzzards on dead rabbit, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wags, 60+ Lapwing, 80+ Fieldfare....Pr Shelduck, 10 Snipe, pr Stonechat at Beech Farm, also singing Yellowhammer....Pr Buzzard over N Mymms park, also Grey Wag & 29 Fieldfare

2ND MAR: Little Egret still just N of Gt Gaddesden on R Gade, viewable from 1st layby....At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 3 Green Sand, 3 Snipe, 15 Golden Pvr, Siskin & Redpoll....C Buzzard at White Hall....Brambling in a Horns Mill garden, also 9 Siskin

1ST MAR: Little Egret on R Gade just N of Gt Gaddesden, viewable from A4146 layby....At Tyttenhanger - 3 Green Sands, 2 Shelduck briefly, Kingfisher & Mdw Pipit over....At Wilstone - female Smew, 5 Goldeneye, 3 Pintail (1 male)....15 Siskin in a Horns Mill garden....At Brookmans Park - Kingfisher, 17 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 21 Mdw Pipit, c15 Siskin, Marsh Tit....4th Ave, Garston - 3 Brambling, 14 Siskin, Fieldfare, 2 Blackcap & 48 Goldfinch

February 2002

28TH FEB: At Amwell - L Egret, Bittern (showing well), pr R Plover, Redshank & drake Smew....At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 3 Green Sands....30 Redpoll N of Cannock Wood, Stevenage TL228227....2 C Buzzards over Watton-at-Stone....2 Stock Doves over Bone Hill, Chiswell Green

26TH FEB: Ringed Plover at Tyttenhanger on bare earth area viewed from nr water pumping station....Bittern flew from in front of Pochard Hide, Cheshunt....Green Sand at Tyttenhanger....40+ Golden Plovers over SE end of Amwell, Ringed Plover also there

25TH FEB: Little Egret on R Mimram at Panshanger nr Tewin (in same place as one in 1979!), viewed from B1000 nr Tewin fish farm....Escaped Hoopoe still in Harpenden on Crabtree Lane

24TH FEB: At Tyttenhanger - Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sands, 2 Snipe, 45 Tufteds & 7 Gadwall....Little Egret still on Gade flash at Gt Gaddesden....2 Smew at Stockers Lake....At Wilstone - redhead Smew, juv Bewick's Swan, pr RC Pochards....Green Sand on R Lea at East Hyde....juv Bewicks Swan at Wilstone Resvr....3 Snipe at Beech Farm & pr Shelduck nrby at Coopers Green GP....redpoll sp at Stockers Lake with Siskins

23RD FEB: Green Sand at Cassiobury Park, Watford, also Water Rail

22ND FEB: 11 Goosanders at Stockers Lake

21ST FEB: 1+ Little Egret still on Gade flash by Wyevale Gdn Centre, Gt Gaddesden at 1645....200 Golden Plvrs at Graveley

19TH FEB: At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank & Redshank....Pr Stonechat on Croxley Common Moor

18TH FEB: At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 3 Green Sands, Redshank, 1000+ Lapwing & 600+ Golden Plvr....3 C Buzzards soaring over Flaunden at 1400

17TH FEB: Little Egret & drake Smew at Amwell....Ad Med Gull & 7 RL Partridge at Westmill Tip, Ware....pr Stonechat at Beech Farm, also 8 Snipe....At Stockers Lake - 3 male Goosander, Water Rail & 30 Siskin....At Tyttenhanger - Greenshank, 3 Green Sands & Redshank....19 Golden Plover at Therfield

16TH FEB: 5 Little Egrets flew S along Colne Valley at Mill End, Rickmansworth at 1705....Little Egret at Amwell....Little Egret on Gade flash at Gt Gaddesden still....4+ Water Rail along R Gade at Croxley Common Moor....2 Water Rails & Barn Owl at Ickleford Common....female Merlin at Beech Farm nr conveyor at 0915, also 3 Stonechat & 9 Stock Dv....at Rye House - Green Sand, 1+ Snipe....220 Golden Plover nr Amwell by A414 r'bout

15TH FEB: Little Egret at Gt Gaddesden again at 1640....C Buzzard at Telegraph Hill....2 Brambling in a Horns Mill garden, 4 Siskin also

14TH FEB: Adult CASPIAN GULL reported in Watford on KGV Playing Fields off Tolpits Lane 0920-0930....2 Little Egrets still on flash in R Gade at Gt Gaddesden, by Wyevale Nursery....Little Owl in Brocket Park....Little Owl in tree nr Pirton at TL139319 at 1720

13TH FEB: 3 Mandarin flushed from small pool at Hatfield Aerodrome with 50 Teal, also 350 Golden Pvr over....2 Ruff & Greenshank at Tyttenhanger, also Green Sand, 70 Golden Plover, 1200+ Lapwing & 25+ Meadow Pipits....Little Egret at Amwell, also pr Smew....6 Stonechats & Grey Partridge at Beech Farm

12TH FEB: Little Egret at Gt Gaddesden, still in the flash on R Gade....4 Smew (2 drakes) at Amwell, also 6 Snipe an d C Buzzard over

11TH FEB: 2 Little Egrets at Gt Gaddesden again....25 Siskins in alders along R Lea in Ware

10TH FEB: 2 Little Egrets by Wyevale Garden Centre, Great Gaddesden, also 6 Buzzards betw there & Hudnall Corner from A4146....pr Ringed Plover at Amwell....Greenshank & 2 Green Sands at Tyttenhanger....at Beech Farm - Jack Snipe, 11 Snipe, Grey Pa rtridge, 2pr Stonechat & 35 Stock Dv....Green Sand on R Lea at East Hyde, also 4 Snipe....C Buzzard at Redwell Wood farm, also 40+ S tock Dove...Stonechat still betw Standon & Colliers End

9TH FEB: Ad Med Gull in Hilfield roost....Little Egret still at Amwell....C Buzzard at Shafford Farm, Ver Valley.... Greenshank at Tyttenhanger

8TH FEB: 5 Little Egrets at Stockers Lake: 1 flew from island at 1640 & joined 4 others flying west, also 4 Smew & 26 Goldeneyes....Little Egret at Amwell....Little Egret 1 mile south of Little Gaddesden on wet flash by R Gade at Waterend....male Stonechat betw Standon & Colliers End TL382214....35 Pied Wags roosted at Asda, N Watford....Brambling on garden bird table at Rothamsted Exp Station (present all last month)

7TH FEB: 3 Green Sands at Tyttenhanger, also 2 Shoveler, Gadwall & 60 Lapwing

6TH FEB: Little Egret at Amwell, also ad Yellow-legged Gull & pr Shelduck....Little Egret on R Mimram, seen from B1000 opp Warrengate Farm at 1330

5TH FEB: Barn Owl by road at Mobb's Hole (betw Eyeworth & Ashwell)....83 Wigeon at Kings Mead, also 9 Shoveler & pr L Grebe

3RD FEB: 2 Shelduck at Coopers Green GPs....Green Sand at Rye Meads....C Buzzard over Shafford Farm, Ver Valley....3 Bullfinch, singing Coal Tit, Grey Wag & 5-10 Yellowhammers at Puckeridge

2ND FEB: 3 Smew & 10 Goldeneye at Amwell....Green Sand & 12 Teal at Tyttenhanger....Brambling in a garden on Fourth Ave, Garston, also 9 Siskin, 4 Blackcap & 50+ Goldfinch....male Blackcap in a Cheshunt garden

1ST FEB: 10 Brambling in a Horns Mill garden with 30 Chaffinch/Greenfinch & 10 Goldfinch

January 2002

30TH JAN: At Amwell - Little Egret (over at dusk), 300+ Lapwing, 2 Smew (1 drake), 25 Goldeneye

29TH JAN: At Hilfield Reservoir - 117 Ruddy Duck, 8 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant....Green Sand still on R Lea at East Hyde, also 3 C Snipe....C Buzzard over Redwell Wood

28TH JAN: Little Egret on R Mimram, seen from B1000 opposite Warrengate Farm at c1145....in a flooded field at Otterspool, Watford - Cormorant, G Heron, 2 M Swan, 154 Canada Gs, 40 Teal, 41 Gadwall, 52 Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, 8 Moorhen & 12 Coot!

27TH JAN: 2 Little Egrets at Great Gaddesden, on R Gade between Hudnall Farm & Braddens Lane, till 1230 at least....3 Green Sands (on northernmost pit), 40+ Siskin at Tyttenhanger, also many Lapwing....7 Shoveler at Beech Farm....2 Shelduck at Coopers Green GP, also 106 Teal....Green Sand on R Lea at East Hyde, also C Buzzard over....male Stonechat west of Hatfield Garden Village....female Reed Bunt in a Tring garden

26TH JAN: 2 Little Egrets on wooded island in Stockers Lake, viewable from causeway, also 10 Goosanders....18 Lesser Redpoll in a Sherrards Wood garden....2 redpolls (showing mixed characteristics) in an Oxhey garden

25TH JAN: 10 Wigeon at Tyttenhanger

24TH JAN: Escaped Hoopoe relocated on other side of Harpenden Common in gardens along Meadow Walk midway betw Southdown & Harpenden town centre....10 Brambling in a Horns Mill garden

23RD JAN: 2 Little Egrets flew in to Amwell at dusk (prob from Kings Mead), also 4 Smew but no sign of Iceland Gull....11 Brambling in a Horns Mill garden

22ND JAN: Adult ICELAND GULL in Amwell roost, also 2 Little Egrets

21ST JAN: Little Egret at Thames Water station, A4146 Hemel Hempstead, in field with ditch next to garden centre (2 present on 15th)....female Blackcap in a Hatfield Garden Village garden

20TH JAN: Little Egret, 9 Goosander, c45 Siskin, 30 redwing, 5 Fieldfare at Stockers Lake (Smew on Springwell Lake)....Greenshank at Otterspool, The Mundons, Watford (TQ128992) also Green Sand, 7 Snipe, 93 Teal, 5 Gadwall....Green Sand at Tyttenhanger on fishing lake....11 Grey Partridge east of Latchford....at Chadwell Meads - 30 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 33 Wigeon, 27 Teal, 15 Tufted, 2 Pochard....male Blackcap in a B Stortford garden....Barnacle Goose at Wilstone

19TH JAN: 2 Green Sands at Tyttenhanger, also Snipe....3 Wigeon & Green Sand at Redbournbury Mill....C Buzzard over Tingley Wood, Pirton....60+ Fieldfare at Abbotts Langley....50 Redwing & 19 Fieldfare at Puckeridge

18TH JAN: c50 Lesser Redpoll in Hawkshead Wood, N Mymms Park (1-2 showing whiter underparts)

17TH JAN: Probable Little Egret on Waterford Marsh, viewed from Hertford Rd at 1000....3 Teal in Pond Wood, Potters Bar

16TH JAN: Little Egret at Amwell late pm

15TH JAN: 7 Bramblings still in the Horns Mill garden

13TH JAN: Little Egret at Amwell till 1620 when flew to Rye Meads.... juv Bewicks still at Tringford, Peregrine over....Green Sand at Tyttenhanger, also 3 Wigeon & 19 Mute Swan....at Wilstone - 11 Goosander (7 males) & drake Pintail....Green Sand on flooded field at Stockers Lake, also 70 Siskin....pr Stonechat at Beech Farm

12TH JAN: 3 Bitterns at Marsworth...L Egret at Radwell Lake on island at 3pm....Chiffchaff at Wilstone....male Blackcap in a Stevenage garden

11TH JAN: Little Egret at Radwell Lake....45+ Siskin at Gobions Pond, Brookmans Park

10TH JAN: At Tyttenhanger - Green Sand, 4 Pintail 5 Teal, 8 Golden Plover, 130 Lapwing & up to 20 Tree Sparrow around farm....4 Smew (3 drakes) at Amwell, 4 Goldeneye & Water Rail also....at Burymead Springs, Hitchin - 2 male Blackcaps, abietinus Chiffchaff (retrapped for 3rd time since last Nov), 2 Water Rail

9TH JAN: At Stockers Lake - 2 redhead Smew & 5 male Goosander....2 Bitterns roosted at Marsworth, Tring....juv Bewicks Swan still at Tringford

8TH JAN: Water Rail at East Hyde, on cress bed NW of road bridge....drake Pintail at Amwell, Cetti's Warbler heard several times....6 Brambling in a Horns Mill garden

6TH JAN: Little Egret at Radwell Lake....2 Ruddy Shelduck at Tyttenhanger....Little Egret on R Gade nr Fourways Farm between Water End & Dagnall, N of Hemel Hempstead at 1500....Little Egret on R Rib at Standon....10 Smew at Amwell (7 drakes)....Greenshank at Mundens, also 2 Green Sands & "several" Snipe....4 Goosander (3 drakes) & 2 Smew at Stockers Lake....juv Bewicks Swan at Tringford Resvr....8 Goosander at Wilstone, also redhead Smew, drake Pintail, pr RC Pochard....Bittern at Marsworth Resvr at dusk....Puckeridge - Kingfisher, Grey Wag, 30 Magpies (roost), 2 Yellowhammer, Little Owl, S'hawk

5TH JAN: 2 Ruddy Shelducks at Tyttenhanger, also 13 Teal....Mediterranean Gull (no age given) at Verulamium Park with BH Gulls....male Blackcap in a Chiswell Green garden....12 Redpoll over Tring sewage farm

4TH JAN: Female Hen Harrier at Abbots Langley....2 Ruff in winter wheat field behind Tyttenhanger Farm, male Brambling in hedge nearby with large flock of Reed Bunts, Yellowhammers, Greenfinch & Chaffinch, female Goldeneye & 4 Teal on pit....male Blackcap in a WG City garden

3RD JAN: Juv Bewicks Swan at Tringford with Mutes, 5 Whoopers, male Pintail & pr Goosander at Wilstone....3 Bitterns around reedbed at Marsworth....11 Smew at Amwell, 9 Goldeneye, Redpoll & Shelduck also...Common Sand still on R Lea at East Hyde (since 16th Dec), also Woodcock, several Snipe & Cormorant....200 Golden Plovers with lapwings at New Jeromes Farm, Redbourn, also Water Rail, Snipe & Kingfisher

2ND JAN: Black-tailed Godwit (colour-ringed) & RH Smew at Wilstone, also 5 Whooper Swans & 3 Pintail....juv Bewicks Swan at Tringford....Bittern over reeds at Marsworth at 1545, also 97 Corn Bunts in roost....Buzzard nr Albury....11 Siskins around Fourth Ave, Garston

1ST JAN: 2 Bitterns at Marsworth 1600....at Tyttenhanger - Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, Redshank, 3 Green Sands, 20+ Tree Sparrows, Brambling....5 Smew at Amwell (2 male), also 2 Chiffchaff, Grey Wag, 10 Goldeneye....at Otterspool, nr Watford - Green Sand, Snipe, Kingfisher & 30+ Teal....41 Golden Plover over Wickham Hall Farm, B Stortford....Bittern & Water Rail from Bittern Watchpoint, Lee Valley....4 Brambling in a Horns Mill garden....on Mundens estate - Redshank, Green Sand & 58 Teal....200+ Lapwing at Langleybury....300 Woodpigeons Buntingford....75 Golden Plover at Moor Hall....2 Bramblings in a Gustard Wood garden

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