Hertfordshire Website Sightings Archive 2003
December 2003
31ST DEC: CODICOTE BOTTOM: 3+ Little Egrets along R Mimram, 2 roosting in a tree by Codicote Mill, also 2 Kingfisher (Ian Eyre)....BEECH FARM: Short-eared Owl at 1330 (John Trew)....TYTTENHANGER: 18 GC Grebe, 17 Cormorant, 2 Teal, 50 Skylark, 50 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare, 15 Tree Sparrow (by Tyttenhanger farm) (Peter Christian)....CHISWELL GREEN: m Blackcap in a garden (Alan Gardiner)....NORTHAW GREAT WOOD: 7 Marsh Tits & 8 Nuthatch (Rupert Pyrah)....EAST HYDE: Water Rail & 2 Yellowhammers (Roger Cave)
30TH DEC: BEECH FARM: Short-eared Owl at 1430, also Stonechat (Darin Stanley)....TRING: 2 Blackcaps, m in garden, 1 roosted indoors in Christmas Tree (!), was released unharmed (Ian Burrus)....HORNS MILL: 120 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....N MYMMS PARK: 100 Fieldfare (Rupert Pyrah)....FAIRLANDS LAKE< STEVENAGE: Ring-necked Parakeet in trees nr main boating lake (Paul Lufkin)
29TH DEC: BEECH FARM: Short-eared Owl from 1430-1530 (David Anderson)....HARPENDEN: m Blackcap in a garden (Roger Payne)....HORNS MILL: 50 Redwing, 25 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)
28TH DEC: STOCKERS LAKE: 1st-w Mediterranean Gull from 1100-1145 (Tony Stride per Andrew Moon)....SARRATT BOTTOM: 2 Little Egrets reported to be regular in the area (CM Everett)....HARPENDEN: m Blackcap in a garden (Roger Cave)....ABBOTS LANGLEY: pr Stonechat at South Way (CM Everett)....SARRATT: Marsh Tit in Plough Wood (CM Everett)....JUNIPER HILL, WATFORD: Marsh Tit (resident at this site) (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: 12 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 9 Wigeon & Grey Wag (Steven Pearce)....HEXTON WOODS: 3 Buzzard & 2 Green Wdpkr (Nigel Agar)....REDBOURNBURY: 9 Grey Partridge (Ernest Leahy)
27TH DEC: BROXBOURNE WOODS: 9 Hawfinch (Dave Jordan)....AMWELL: 3 Smew (1m), 2 Little Egrets (in roost) (Graham Knight) also 2 Lesser Redpoll nr hide (Martin Parr)....SCOTSBRIDGE MILL: Little Egret, Water Rail & L Grebe (Joan Thompson)....PUCKERIDGE: 2 Marsh Tits, 3 Bullfinch (Murray Orchard)
26TH DEC: WARE GP: 2m Smew (Ian Edwards)....STEVENAGE: m Blackcap in a Chells Manor garden (Ray Hooper)....TYTTENHANGER: 71 Cormorant, 300 Jackdaw, 18 Pochard, 63 Tufted, Grey Wag (Steven Pearce)....SMALLFORD: 60+ Greenfinch with 50+ Linnet on setaside field (Steven Pearce)
25TH DEC: WATFORD: 2 Waxwings on Leggats Rise adj to A41 by footbridge going over A41 at back of shops (Bob Harris)....AMWELL: ADULT CASPIAN GULL, 5 Litle Egrets, Bittern, ad Mediterranean Gull, 7 Smew (4m), Green Sand & Shelduck (RBA)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Tree Sparrow, 30 Golden Plover, 180 Lapwing, 5 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunts, 30 RL Partridge, 3 Teal, 63 Cormorant, 14 GC Grebe (Rupert Pyrah)....BEECH FARM: 2 Snipe, 35 Linnet, 8 M Swan, 14 Gadwall & 2 Wigeon (Steven Pearce)
24TH DEC: TEWIN FISH FARM: 2 Little Egrets (DJ Ling)....STOCKERS LAKE: 4 Smew (3m), 7 Goosander (3m), 8 Goldeneye, Lesser Redpoll & Chiffchaff (Andrew Moon)....NORTH MYMMS PARK: Woodcock, Buzzard, 260 Golden Plover over, 2 Marsh Tits, 2 Little Owls & 48 Fieldfare (Rupert Pyrah)....AMWELL: 3 Smew (2m), c12 Goldeneye (2m), Water Rail from hide, 30 Siskin (Graham Knight)....KINGS MEAD: 60 Teal, 132 Wigeon, 43 Gadwall, 5 Redwing, 90 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat (Alan Reynolds)....TYTTENHANGER: f Goldeneye (Jim Terry) 5 Teal, 40 Tufted, 53 Cormorant, Grey Wag, 2 Snipe, 470 Golden Plover (over) (Steven Pearce)....SALISBURY HALL: 1000 Golden Plover plus 250 Lapwing (Jim Terry)
23RD DEC: BOREHAMWOOD: 44 Monk Parakeets in Mildred Avenue, plus 1 Maroon-tailed Parakeet (RBA)
LATE NEWS FROM 7TH DEC: 70 ACRES LAKE: Unconfirmed report of poss Penduline Tit in SE corner in bushes adj to Lea Navigation for 3 mins at 1545 (RBA)
22ND DEC: WILSTONE: No sign of Siberian Chiffchaff but Scandanavian Chiffchaff with 2 Chiffchaffs, also Brambling & 2m Goosanders. Nrby 2f Smew & 75 Gadwall at Startops (RBA)....REDBOURNBURY: Greenshank startled by incoming Teal and flew towards St Albans (Ian Williams)
21ST DEC: WILSTONE: Siberian Chiffchaff (form tristis) with Common Chiffchaff from fpath S of hide, also m Blackcap, nrby 3 f Smew at Startops (Ben Miller)....BEECH FARM: Short-eared Owl nr BT Site, also 22 Skylark & 6 SNipe (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 52 Cormorant (site record?), Green Sand, 40 Goldfinch (Steven Pearce) 10 GC Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 6 Pochard, 2 Grey Wags & 30 Mdw Ppt (Rupert Pyrah)....AMWELL: 2 Smew (1m) & 3 Goldeneye (1m) (Ben Green)....FRIDAY LAKE (Essex border): m Smew, f Goldeneye & 10+ Siskin (Ross Facer)....POTTERS BAR: Buzzard nr Dancers Hill (Phil Rhodes)
20TH DEC: LEMSFORD SPRINGS: 4 Little Egrets in front of hides (Barry Trevis)
19TH DEC: AMWELL: 6 Little Egrets, 5 Goldeneye, 4 Smew (Toby Austin)....BALDOCK: Blackcap in a garden (Terry Brown)....TRING: Blackcap in a garden (Joanne Mason)
18TH DEC: BEECH FARM: 2-3 Short-eared Owls seen at 1430 (Ernest Leahy)....TEWIN: Little Egret in meadows by R Mimram (Nigel Agar)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Stonechats, 67 Wigeon, 3 Snipe, 52 Lapwing, 30 Redwing (Alan Reynolds)....PETERS GREEN: f Blackcap in a garden (Matt Best)
17TH DEC: BROXBOURNE WOODS: 2 Hawfinch (Dave Jordan)....BOREHAMWOOD: 12 Monk Parakeets at end of Whitehouse Lane late morning, some carrying nesting material (BN)
16TH DEC: STEVENAGE: 3 Waxwings in Symonds Green at 1230, around Torquay Crescent area (Simon Crockford)....HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: Waxwing on Boundary Way opp Thermoelectron faactory at 1500 (BN)....ARCHERS GREEN: 2 Little Egrets still (Clive Chapman)
15TH DEC: STEVENAGE: Waxwing in a rowan tree in Symonds Green area (Simon Crockford)....HOOKS MARSH: 7 Smew (Phil Smith)
14TH DEC: BEECH FARM: juv Peregrine flushed Greenshank, also present 35 Teal, 280+ Golden Plover, Reed Bunt, 45+ Skylark, 15 Linnet & 12 Goldfinch (Rupert Pyrah) also 2 Goldcrest, c50 Fieldfare & sev hundred Lapwing/Golden Plover flock over (John Moss)....ARCHERS GREEN: 3 Little Egrets opp Warrengate Farm again, and another a little down river at Poplars Green, Tewin (David Wheatcroft)....STOCKERS LAKE: 3 Smew, 4 Goosander (Sean Blackmore)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, 15 Cormorant & Kingfisher (Steven Pearce/Pete Christian) also 2 Herring Gulls (Pete Christian)....AMWELL: 13 Goldeneye (3m) & 2 Smew (1m), also Shelduck (Murray Orchard), 4 Smew later reported (Jonathan Forgham)....KINGS MEAD: Stonechat, 85 Wigeon, 63 Teal, 20 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare, 10 Meadow Ppt (Alan Reynolds)....BUSHEY HALL: m Brambling with large mixed finch flock (CM Everett)....COOPERS GREEN GP: Green Sand (at nrby Sutton Farm GP) (Steven Pearce) 2 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 34 Pochard, Buzzard, 9 Tufted & 220 Lapwing (Rupert Pyrah)....CODICOTE BOTTOM: Buzzard E over (Ian Eyre)....HITCHIN: 2 Blackcaps in a garden (Mike Walker)....VERULAMIUM LAKE: 10 Pochard, Mandarin & 4 Shoveler (AP Jeffery)
13TH DEC: AMWELL: 2 Smew, Snipe, 15 Golden Plover, 100+ Fieldfare, 60+ Redwing, 250 Gadwall, 6 L Grebe, f Shelduck, 11 Goldeneye, 3 Water Rail, LS Wdpkr, 20+ Reed Bunt (Stephen Patmore)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, Greenshank, 400 Lapwing, 800 Golden Plover, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Teal (Steven Pearce)....RYE MEADS: Green Sand & 2 Stonechat (Stephen Patmore)....HATFIELD PARK: 4 Marsh Tit, Lesser Redpoll, 50 Meadow Ppt, i5 Siskin, 2 Grey Wag (Rupert Pyrah)
12TH DEC: EAST HYDE: Water Rail feeing along stream at 0830 viewed from Thrales End Lane (Mike Russell)
11TH DEC: BOREHAMWOOD: 45 Monk Parakeets in Whitehouse Avenue (Lee Evans)....WILSTONE: pr Smew on inner lake area (Peter Leigh)....STOCKERS LAKE: 5 Smew (3m) (Lee Evans)....COURSERS RD, L COLNEY: 34 Tree Sparrows (Lee Evans)
10TH DEC: BROOKMANS PARK: Lesser Redpoll over railway stn (Rupert Pyrah)....BOREHAMWOOD: 50 Monk Parakeets at end of Whitehouse Avenue early afternoon but mobile (BN)
9TH DEC: AMWELL: 10 Wigeon, 20 Gadwall, Water Rail, 60 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, GC Grebe, 5 Reed Bunt, Snipe & 3 Teal (Nigel Agar)....WATFORD LINK ROAD: 4 Water Rails calling in reedbed, also 18 Grey Wags entered reedbed roost at dusk (CM Everett)....LEMSFORD SPRINGS: 2 Water Rails, Grey Wag, 2 Kingfisher (Les Borg)....REDBOURNBURY: Water Rail, 10 Linnet (Ian Williams)
LATE NEWS FROM 8TH NOV: HILFIELD RESERVOIR: Bewick's Swan till 1600 at least (Bob Cripps/Tony Blake)....AMWELL: 9 Smew (1m) (DJ Ling)....STOCKERS LAKE: f Smew, 3m Goosander (per Ian Bennell)
7TH DEC: THERFIELD HEATH: Merlin, also Goldcrest (Rob Spragg)....STOCKERS LAKE: 4 Smew, Goosander, 3 Water Rail, Chiffchaff, 3 Goldeneye, 3+ Lsr Redpoll in mixed flock with c30 Siskin, LS Woodpecker, L Grebe (Steve Younger)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank on main lake at 1400 but can be mobile (per Ian Bennell) 2 Wigeon, 2 Teal & 11 Cormorant (Steven Pearce)....TRING RSVR: Wilstone - 2 Dunlin, f Goldeneye, Kingfisher, 91 Moorhen, 70 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Wag, GBB Gull, Chiffchaff (in tit flock by hide), Tringford - 150 Teal, Siskin, At Startops - 422 Coot, 42 Tufted, 27 Pochard, 30 GC Grebe, m Goldeneye, 7 Gadwall, 25 Lapwing, 40+ Redwing (Ian Bennell)....EAST HYDE: Water Rail (Clifford Smout)....N MYMMS PARK: 3 Tree Sparrow, 25 Yellowhammer, 250 Lapwing over, Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)....KINGS MEAD: 55 Teal, 57 Wigeon, 100 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 3 Stonechat (Alan Reynolds)....ABBOTS LANGLEY: 2 Stonechat, 7 Bullfinch, 30 Linnet (CM Everett)....CROXLEY GREEN: pr Blackcap in a garden (Af Nasir)....A10/M25 jctn: 500+ Golden Plover with lapwings (Ross Facer)....BERKHAMSTEAD COMMON: 3 Grey Partridge, C Buzzard (Stuart Scott)....STANBOROUGH LAKES: 3 Water Rail (at Reedmarsh), Snipe, 15+ Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 7 Reed Bunting (Anthony Dorman)....BROAD COLNEY: f Blackcap around car park, also 2 Siskin & 20 Fieldfare (Pete Christian)
6TH DEC: TYTTENHANGER: 4 Green Sand, 300 Jackdaw, 56 M Swan, Snipe, f Sparrowhawk, 6 Cormorant (Steven Pearce)....STOCKERS LAKE: 5 Smew (3m), 3 Goosander (2m) (Ian Bennell)....BROOKMANS PARK: 45 Linnet with c75 Chaffinch on stubble, also 60 Siskin with 15 Lesser Redpoll at Gobions Pond, 100 Redwing, 2 Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah)....VERULAMIUM LAKE: 20 Pochard, 35 Moorhen, 110 Coot (CM Everett)....EAST HYDE: Little Owl (Clifford Smout)....BOREHAMWOOD: 24 Monk Parakeets off Shenley Rd at end of Whitehouse Ave at 1230 (per Ian Bennell)....WELWYN GDN CITY: m Brambling with Chaffinches in a garden, also poss Woodlark reported over on 26th Oct calling (Murray Brown)
5TH DEC: AMWELL: 5 Little Egrets roosted (per Ian Bennell)
4TH DEC: ARCHERS GREEN: 4 Little Egrets along R Mimram between Archers Grn & Poplars Green (Steve Austin)....LETCHWORTH: 6 Grey Partridge at Radwell Meadows (Roger Broadie)
3RD DEC: AMWELL: Bittern (Ian Bennell)....STOCKERS LAKE: 4 Smew (1m) (Ian Bennell)
2ND DEC: BOREHAMWOOD: 15 Monk Parakeets on NW side of town in trees at the south end of Theobald Street by Waterend Close junction (BN)....GUSTARD WOOD: m Blackcap in a garden (Peter Wilkinson)
1ST DEC: TYTTENHANGER: 300+ Jackdaws, 3 Green Sands, 3 Dunlin, 4 Tree Sparrow, 300 Lapwing, 7 Cormorant, 30 Chaffinch (Steven Pearce)....BATFORD: m Blackcap in a garden (Darin Stanley)
November 2003
30TH NOV: RYE MEADS: Bittern in flight around WAter Vole Hide at 1400 (per Ian Bennell)....WILSTONE: Swallow 0800-1030 at least (per Ian Bennell)....AMWELL: 2f Smew, 6+ Goldeneye & Snipe (Darin Stanley) also Siskin & Sparrowhawk, also flock of 100+ Golden Plover in field by M25 and A10 northbound (Paul Unwin)....KINGS MEAD: 24 Snipe, 56 Wigeon, 42 Teal, 20 Redwing, 40 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....TYTTENHANGER: 372 Golden Plover, 2 Green Sands, Dunlin, 1000 Lapwing, Grey Wagtail (Peter Christian)....BROAD COLNEY: Siskin & 15 Redwing (Peter Christian)....COOPERS GREEN GP: 36 Canada Gs, 7 Gadwall, 26 Pochard, 2 Tufted, nrby at Beech Farm: up to 2500 Golden Plover over, Snipe, 55+ Skylark, 40 Meadow Ppt, 75 Fieldfare, Marsh Tit, Lesser Redpoll, 5 Bullfinch & 2 Reed Bunt (Rupert Pyrah)....POTTERS CROUCH: 2 Corn Bunts, 5 Yellowhammers, 8 Goldfinch, 100 Greenfinch (Alan Gardiner)....VERULAMIUM PARK: 6 Shoveler, 200 BH Gull, 10 Common Gull (Alan Gardiner)....TYTTENHANGER: 29 Golden Plover (Paul Unwin)
29TH NOV: TYTTENHANGER: 500+ Lapwing, up to 1000 Golden Plover, 33 M Swan, 5 Fieldfare, 8 GC Grebe (Peter Christian)....STARTOPS RSVR: 207 M Swan, 5 Shoveler, 18 Pochard, 50 Tufted, 2 Wigeon (plus 100 over) (Jason Chapman)....HATFIELD PARK: 2 GC Grebe, 5 L Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Marsh Tit & Bullfinch (Rupert Pyrah)
28TH NOV: ASHRIDGE ESTATE: Woodcock in woodland nr Alpine Meadow SP987103 (Don Otter)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 120 Jackdaw, 43 M Swan, GRey Wag & Teal (Steven Pearce)....OXHEY PARK: Singing Chiffchaff by council depot (Ian Bennell)....STOCKERS LAKE: 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 2f Goldeneye (Darin Stanley)....POTTERS CROUCH: 2 BUzzards soaring over farmland betw Potters Crouch & Plaistows Farm, also male Stonechat adj to airfield at Plaistows Farm (Alan Gardiner)....BROOKMANS PARK: Lesser Redpoll & Sparrowhawk (Rupert Pyrah)....KINGS MEAD: 40 Wigeon, 45 Teal, 7 Stonechat, 20 Redwing, 5 Snipe, 40 Meadow Ppt, 110 Fieldfare (roost), 21 Magpie (roost) (Alan Reynolds)
27TH NOV: WILSTONE RSVR: Juv SPOONBILL flew off west at 0930 (BN), also 4f Goldeneye, 20+ Golden Plover, Dunlin, 4+ Common Gull, 60+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, Grey Wag, Kingfisher (Darin Stanley)....TYTTENHANGER: 4 Green Sands, 11 Golden Plover, 3 Snipe, 40 M Swan inc 19 juvs, m Bullfinch, also 25 Tree Sparrows in several groups at Tyttenhanger Farm (Alan Gardiner)....REDBOURNBURY: 3 drake Mandarin, Gadwall (Ian Williams)....GARSTON: Lesser Redpoll calling over (CM Everett)
26TH NOV: TYTTENHANGER: 48 M Swan, c750 Golden Plover, c300 Lapwing, 2 Kingfisher (Jim Terry), also GReen Sand, 3 Bullfinch, Grey Wag (Steven Pearce)....WILSTONE RSVR: Juv SPOONBILL mobile around reservoir till 1130 at least (BN)....WARE, RIVER LEA: m Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk, singing Song Thrush (Ian Edwards)
25TH NOV: WILSTONE RSVR: Juv SPOONBILL present in SE corner on mud to 1545 at least, also Little Egret (BN)....STOCKERS LAKE: pr Smew, m Goosander & Whooper Swan (of unknown origin) (Sean Blackmore)....FROGMORE GP, RADLETT: Singing Chiffchaff, 2 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Dk (Ian Williams)....BARNET: C Buzzard over road between Barnet & Potters Bar (Pete Carruthers)
24TH NOV: ABBOTS LANGLEY: 56 Skylark & 28 Yellowhammer (Bob Cripps)
23RD NOV: POTTERS BAR: Monk Parakeet in Oakmere Park (Rupert Pyrah)
22ND NOV: AMWELL: 4 Little Egrets (Toby Austin)....WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Peregrine seen twice in a garden on edge of town between 1000 and 1330 (David Brooks)....WILSTONE: 56 Golden Plover, 520 Lapwings, Snipe, 2 f/imm Goldeneye, 2 Grey Wag with 19 Meadow Ppts (Jason Chapman)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, 200+ Golden Plover, 300+ Lapwing, Kingfisher, 22 M Swan (Steven Pearce)
21ST NOV: REDBOURNBURY MILL: 5m Teal & pr Gadwall on Ver (Ian Williams)....WATTON AT STONE: 2+ Jays in a garden (Graham Kolthammer)
20TH NOV: MIMRAM MEADOWS: 3 Little Egrets in meadow, N of Poplars Green, TL277135 (Tim Hill)....NORTH WARE: Ring-necked Parakeet over houses (Liz Goodyear)
19TH NOV: TEWIN: 3 Little Egrets in meadows by R Mimram opp Warrengate Farm, easily viewable from B1000 just west of fish farm TL 274136 (Nigel Agar/Steve Chilton)....AMWELL: Ring-necked Parakeet (presumably the Ware bird), also 3 Little Egrets (presumably Tewin birds) & 3 ad Yellow-legged Gulls (Toby Austin)
Late news from 11th NOV: KINGS MEAD: Bittern flying over Ware viaduct at 0700 heading east (Jeff Davies)
18TH NOV: MAPLE CROSS: c200 Golden Plover in usual field adj to A412 and M25 link road (Alan Gardiner)
17TH NOV: WARE OLD LEA: f Goldeneye on pit by river also Ring-necked Parakeet still present (Ian Edwards)....HERTFORD: 2 Marsh Tits in a garden on Willowmeade estate (per Colin Hull)....OTTERSPOOL: 12 Wigeon (Jim Terry)
16TH NOV: WILSTONE RSVR: M Goosander from ide, also Dunlin with Golden Plover & Lapwing (Ian Eyre)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Green Sands, Tree Sparrow, Kingfisher, 11 Teal (Steven Pearce) 120 Golden Plover came into roost at 1600 (Paul Unwin)....REDBOURNBURY: 2+ Green Sands, 3+ C Buzzard, Kingfisher & 60+ Fieldfare (Mike Thompson)....KINGS MEAD: 32 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 10 Fieldfare, Stonechat, Kingfisher & Grey Wag (Alan Reynolds)
15TH NOV: WILSTONE RSVR: M Goosander at E end, also Shelduck and Barnacle Goose of unknown origin (Stephen Welch)....STARTOPS RSVR: 2 Goldeneyes & f Ruddy Dk (Stephen Welch)....VERULAMIUM PARK: tame m Mandarin on R Ver, 11 Shoveler, 36 Moorhen (CM Everett)....SOPWELL: 2 Lesser Redpoll over & singing Song Thrush (CM Everett)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: Brambling with Chaffinches by entrance gates at 1530 (Gareth Richards)....ASHWELL: 10+ Golden Plover betw Ashwell & Bygrave (Richard Webb)
14TH NOV: MARSWORTH: Merlin at midday, flying south beside rd just below Wilstone Rsvr (David Reece)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 70+ Fieldfare over between 9-10am, also up to 30 Redwing (Ian Bennell)
13TH NOV: AMWELL: Bittern flew over reedbeds at 1200 (Nigel Agar)....HARMER GREEN WOODS: 4-6 Crossbills on eastern edge of woods. They seem to visit the eastern margin most mornings (David Pennington)....WARE OLD LEA: Ring-necked Parakeet again, also Water Rail calling & Kingfisher (Ian Edwards)....TYTTENHANGER: Redshank, 2 Green Sands, 2 Bullfinch & Grey Wag (Alan Gardiner)....EAST HYDE: m Blackcap & Buzzard (Darin Stanley)....BRICKENDONBURY: Up to 70 Fieldfares in cattle pasture, also few Redwing (Colin Hull)
12TH NOV: WARE OLD LEA: Ring-necked Parakeet in tree tops between river and pit (Ian Edwards)....MONEYHILL, RICKMANSWORTH: 2+ Brambling in gardens with Chaffinches (Steve Younger)....REDBOURNBURY: 4 C Buzzards & Sparrowhawk (Ian Williams)....WATFORD LINK ROAD: 22 Grey Wags entered reedbed roost at dusk, also 2 Water Rails calling (CM Everett)
11TH NOV: LEMSFORD SPRINGS NR: Little Egret, almost certainly same as present Jan/Feb 2003 and ringed on 16th Jan by warden, also 4+ Water Rails (Barry Trevis)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sand, Redshank, 7 Golden Plover, 550 Lapwing, 3 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 2 Tree Sparrow (Rupert Pyrah)
10TH NOV: OXHEY: 6 Ring-necked Parakeets over jctn of Little Oxhey Ln B4542 & A4008 at 0805 heading twds Mutton Wood (1 seen over there on 7th) (Andy Grimsey)....REDBOURNBURY: m Pintail on back section of river nr mill (Ian Williams)
9TH NOV: HILFIELD RSVR: 1st-w f Stonechat ringed (1st ringing record for site), also 3 BUllfinch, 3 Goldcrest (Ian Bennell)....KINGS MEAD: 35 WIgeon, 10 Teal, 45 Fieldfare, 2 Grey Wags (Alan Reynolds)....REDBOURNBURY MILL: Common Sand, 35 Fieldfare, C Buzzard (Martin Parr)....TYTTENHANGER: 4 Green Sands, Redshank, Kingfisher, 7 Gadwall, 7 Wigeon (The Wigeon & Teal favour the corner to the right of the Coursers Rd viewpoint, beyond the bushes), 2 Tree Sparrow, 17 Tufted, 4 Teal, Grey Wag (Steven Pearce)....HATFIELD GARDEN VILLAGE: 700+ Golden Plover on field on S side of Great Braitch Ln, also 1000+ Starlings (Steven Pearce)....BROOKMANS PARK: 2 Redpoll, 10 Siskin, 3 Marsh Tit, 70 Redwing, 7 Bullfinch & 8 Skylark (Rupert Pyrah)....JERSEY FARM OPEN SPACE: Tawny Owl (Graham Knight)
8TH NOV: BUNTINGFORD: Ring-tail Hen Harrier flushed from along farm drive nr Hare Street, also Buzzard (Tracey Burrows)....WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still in NW corner also Avocet viewable from jetty (Ian Bennell/Graham Knight) plus 155 Golden Plover & 2 Dunlin from hide (Ian Bennell)....STARTOPS RSVR: Female Greater Scaup, also 5 Meadow Ppt, 15 Linnet, Snipe, Reed Bunt, Grey Wag, nrby 77 Shoveler & Water Rail at Marsworth (Ian Bennell)....AMWELL: Red Kite flew over railway line (Paul Lufkin)....TYTTENHANGER: male Pintail, 2 Redpoll, Redshank, 2 Tree Sparrow, 5 SHoveler, 3 Wigeon (Peter Christian) 2 Green Sands, 11 Teal, 2 Snipe, Grey Wag, Kingfisher (Steven Pearce)....BROAD COLNEY: Brambling, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Grey Wag (Peter Christian)....N MYMMS PARK: 85 Golden Plover over, also 2 Buzzard; 40 Fieldfare over Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)....RADLETT AREA: 1+ Brambling over Colney St Farm, 71 Stock Dove at Old Parkbury, 34 Golden Plover, 20 Magpie & 71 Stock Dove at Batlers Green (CM Everett)....RYE MEADS: 2 Chiffchaff (Mick East)
7TH NOV: TYTTENHANGER: Redshank, Dunlin, 500+ Lapwing, 4 Grey Partridge (Alan Gardiner)....HATFIELD AERO/BEECH FARM: 3 Stonechats & C Buzzard (David Wheatcroft)....AYRES END, HARPENDEN: C Buzzard over (Ian Eyre)
6TH NOV: GARSTON: Lesser Redpoll over (CM Everett)
5TH NOV: WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still in NW corner, also Goldeneye & 31 Golden Plover but no sign of BN Grebe (Ben Miller)....KINGS MEAD: 5 Snipe, 12 Wigeon, 8 Teal, Grey Wag (John Moss)....BEECH FARM: 50 Golden Plover with 100 Lapwing, also 2 Bullfinch (Alan Gardiner)
4TH NOV: WELWYN: Woodcock flying along wood and over gardens in N Welwyn (Malcolm Bridges)....WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still in NW corner and Black-necked Grebe from hide....SANDRIDGE: 40+ Fieldfare (Alex Lewis)
3RD NOV: WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still in NW corner and 2 Scaup (1st-w m and female) at Startops (per Ian Bennell)....COURSERS ROAD: c200 Golden Plover (Graham Knight)
2ND NOV: WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still in NW corner, also Black-necked Grebe from hide (BN)....TYTTENHANGER: Jack Snipe still, also 2 Snipe, 2 Green Sands & Kingfisher (Steven Pearce)....BATFORD/LEASEY BRIDGE: pr Lsr Spotd Wdpkr, 8 Redwing & 2 Kingfisher (Darin Stanley)....KINGS MEAD: 24 Teal & 21 Wigeon (Alan Reynolds)....CREWS HILL: C Buzzard over M25 (Mike Thompson)
1ST NOV: TYTTENHANGER: Jack Snipe, 4 Snipe, 5 Green Sands, 2 Tree Sparrow, Grey Wag, 3 Shoveler (Steven Pearce)....WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still in NW corner (BN)....STEVENAGE: C Buzzard over Al(M) (Mike Thompson)
October 2003
31ST OCT: KINGS MEAD: 12 Wigeon, 5 Snipe, 16 Teal, 6 Stonechat, 6 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....CROXLEY GREEN: 1st yr male Firecrest in a garden (Peter Delaloye)....LONDON COLNEY: C Buzzard over Coursers Rd (Timothy Dick)
30TH OCT: WARE OLD LEA: Chiffchaff singing (Ian Edwards)....WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still and drake Scaup (BN)
29TH OCT: WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still. Also 5 Pintail, 5+ Ruddy Dk & c400 Wigeon (Mike Wallen) also m Stonechat on southside along path & 3 Goldeneye (Darin Stanley)
28TH OCT: SCOTSBRIDGE MILL: 40+ Lesser Redpoll feeding and coming to water, also Buzzard over (Peter Delaloye)....WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope still. Seems to have a bad leg (BN)....CROXLEY GREEN: 2 Ring-necked Parakeets flew very low over gardens at 0915 west (Andrew Hodges)....TYTTENHANGER: 8 Snipe, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, Tree Sparrow & Fieldfare (Alan Gardiner)
27TH OCT: FAIRLANDS VALLEY LAKE, STEVENAGE: Ring-necked Parakeet came into roost again at 1638, in trees between sailing lake and boating lake (Alan Ford)....WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope in NW corner mid morning at least, also 2 Dunlin (Mike Wallen)....WYDDIAL: Merlin by Wyddial turning on B1368 TL390329 (Mick East)
26TH OCT: WILSTONE: 1st-w Grey Phalarope in NW corner, also 2 Pintail (Alan Gardiner)....TYTTENHANGER: Peregrine (prob imm) over at 1220, also 2 Pochard, Kingfisher, 3 Redpoll, 5 Tree Sparrow (Rupert Pyrah), also 5 Green Sands, 9 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, 15+ Teal, 100+ Mallard (Steven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD: 6 Stonechat, 15 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 3 Grey Wags, Kingfisher, 2 Green Wdpkr, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Redpoll (Alan Reynolds)....NETHERWYLDE FARM, RADLETT: Stonechat, Buzzard, nrby at Moor Mill - Stonechat, Lsr Redpoll, Water Rail at Frogmore Lakes (CM Everett)....BERKHAMSTEAD: c10 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing & 5 Lapwing (Stuart Scott)
25TH OCT: WILSTONE: Grey Phalarope, Red Kite over south, 2 Pintail, f Goldeneye (Graham Knight), also 8 Ruddy Dk, 4 Redpoll & Siskin (Mike Wallen)....LEAVESDEN GREEN: Curlew over SW at 1310 (Stephen Welch)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY: f Ring-necked Parakeet came into roost at 1720, also 2 Grey Wags. Nrby Marsh Tit at Knebworth (Alan Ford)....BROOKMANS PARK: 5 Lsr Redpoll, 4 Siskin, 80 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, 6 Bullfinch & 2 Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)....BULBOURNE: Red Kite over, flew towards reservoirs (CM Everett)....GARSTON: Lsr Redpoll over railway station (CM Everett)....CROXLEY GREEN: Marsh Tit in a garden (Peter Delaloye)
24TH OCT: WILSTONE RSVR: Grey Phalarope off W bank near car park, also Scandanvian ROck Pipit, juv Greater Scaup, 6 Meadow Ppts, 12 Goldcrests & Grey Wag (David Reece), also 3 Swallow, 2m Pintail, f Goldeneye, Shelduck, 2 Grey Wags (Darin Stanley)
23RD OCT: STARTOPS END RSVR: Scandanavian Rock Pipit on western shore (Mike Wallen)....WILSTONE RSVR: Juv Greater Scaup seen well from W bank and photographed (Mike Wallen)....HATFIELD ROAD, ST ALBANS: Woodcock flew into a window but died soon after (Paul Clack)....TYTTENHANGER: 18 Tree Sparrow, Buzzard, 9 SNipe, Green Sand, Grey Wag (Alan Gardiner)
22ND OCT: STOCKERS LAKE: Swallow (Geoff Horn) 3 Goldeneye, Swallow nrby at Maple Cross Sewage Works (David Anderson)
21ST OCT: SCOTSBRIDGE MILL: 30+ Lesser Redpoll coming to water, 28 trapped and ringed (Peter Delaloye)....STARTOPS END RSVR: 1st-w Little Gull, 2+ Fieldfare, Little Owl & 63 Chaffinch (Andrew Moon)
19TH OCT: AMWELL: Little Egret, Bittern, 5 Jack Snipe & Dunlin (Barry Reed per Phil Ball)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: 2 Little Gulls, also 7 Fieldfare over (Gareth Richards)....SHENLEYBURY: 375 Golden Plover, 12 Grey Partridge, 8 RL Partridge (Gareth Richards)....BEECH FARM: Green Sand, Snipe (Alan Gardiner)....LANGLEY: 17 Grey Partridge (Clive Brackenbury)....RAGGED HALL LN, ST ALBANS: 20 Meadow Ppt (Alan Gardiner)....PUCKERIDGE: 17 Fieldfare N, 5 Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Song Thrush (Murray Orchard)....TYTTENHANGER: 5 Green Sand (Steven Pearce) 8 Snipe, 3+ Green Sand, 5 Tree Sparrow, c25 Hs Sparrow, 3 Teal, 3 Grey Wag (Rupert Pyrah)
18TH OCT: BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: Stonechat, 2 Snipe, Green Sand (Steven Pearce)....THE COMMONS LNR: Ad male LS Wdpkr trapped and ringed (Barry Trevis)....BEDMOND: 4 Swallows NE (CM Everett)....GARSTON: Brambling over (CM Everett)....BOURNE END: 1+ Lesser Redpoll & Chiffchaff (CM Everett)....KINGS LANGLEY LAKE: Chiffchaff, 3 imm Ruddy Dk, 8 L Grebe (CM Everett)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Redpoll, 6 Stonechat, 2 Fieldfare, 15 Snipe, 18 Teal, 20 Goldfinch, Grey Wag, Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....AMWELL: 4 Jack Snipe (Toby Austin/Clifford Smout), Spotted Redshank, 2 Redstart, Bittern, Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret & Dunlin (Toby Austin), also Common Snipe (Clifford Smout)
17TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: 3 Green Sand, 3 Snipe, 20 GC Grebe, 4 Tree Sparrow (Steven Pearce)....AMWELL: 4 Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe, Kingfisher & 2 Grey Wag (Darin Stanley), also Black-tailed Godwit (Toby Austin)....BROOKMANS PARK: 2 Siskin over, also Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah)....HERTFORD: 3 Buzzards over (Darin Stanley)....REDBOURN: C Buzzard over (Darin Stanley)
16TH OCT: WILSTONE RSVR: Imm Peregrine chasing ducks (Don Otter)....AMWELL: 4 Jack Snipe from hide until 1530 at least (Les Borg)....GT OFFLEY: C Buzzard over N (Andy Bandthorpe)....RYE MEADS: 2 Stonechats in grazing field (Jim Terry)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: 11 Lapwing over adj farmland (John Moss)....FURZEFIELD WOOD (NW of Hatfield Quarry): 2 Grey Partridge, also hare and many Common Red Darters (John Moss)
15TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: Dunlin, Green Sand, 9 Teal (Steven Pearce)....AMWELL: 6 Jack Snipe, a new site record (Les Borg/Toby Austin) Peregrine drifted around Shepcote at 1545, Stonechat over viewpoint at 1600, 2 Green Sands, Goldeneye, 6 Siskin, 30 Redwing (Toby Austin) & Egyptian Goose (1st site record of 2003) (Barry Reed) ....SILVERMEAD, BROXBOURNE: Jack Snipe & 7 Snipe (Tim Hill)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Green Sands, 4 Snipe, Dunlin, Grey Wag (Alan Gardiner)
14TH OCT: WILSTONE: 7 Curlew & Grey Plover till 1615 at least (Peter Leigh)....AMWELL: 4 Jack Snipe from public hide (Graham Knight/Les Borg)
13TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, Grey Wag, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 9 Tree Sparrow (Steven Pearce)....AMWELL: Hawfinch briefly at 1630 (Toby Austin)....BOREHAMWOOD: Juv Hobby SE over at 1400 (Jim Tery)....SHENLEYBURY: 85 Golden Plover (Jim Terry)....OXHEY PARK: Fieldfare over (Ian Bennell)
12TH OCT: BEECH FARM: Green Sand (Steven Pearce)....REDBOURNBURY: Peregrine well-watched (per George Ashby)....AMWELL: Peregrine flew over viewpoint and drifted SW at 1030 (presumed same as 9th) also 5 Jack Snipe from hide & Green Sandpiper (Trevor Brownsell) also Water Rail (David Wheatcroft)....WILSTONE: Grey Plover, 42 Golden Plover, 3 Greenshank, Shelduch, Ruff, Buzzard, 2 Redwing, Treecreeper, 3 Pintail, Common Sand & Feral Barnacle Gs, nrby 29 GC Grebe on Startops (Ian Bennell)....OTTERSPOOL: 5 Snipe, 20 Teal, Kingfisher (Alan Gardiner)....ESSENDON: Redpoll over, also Little Owl, 7 Redwing & 2 Bullfinch (Rupert Pyrah)....HALL MARSH SCRAPE (Essex border): 2 Black-tailed Godwit at N end of scrape in front of Plover Hide (D Whatling)....SHAFFORD FARM: 10 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 68 Lapwing, nrby 6 Swallows thru Gorhambury (John Pritchard)
11TH OCT: TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, Snipe, 5 Teal (Steven Pearce)....AMWELL: 2 Jack Snipe from public hide at 1130 (Tim Hill)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: m Stonechat, 21+ Grey Partridge, c65 Meadow Ppt, c50 Skylark, 5 Reed Bunt, 55+ Linnet, 4 Fieldfare, 27+ Teal, 3 Chiffchaff, Green Sand, 46+ Moorhen (Rupert Pyrah)....ALDENHAM RSVR: 13+ Mandarins (9 males) along western fringe and in wood (Stephen Welch)....OTTERSPOOL: Lesser Redpoll, 3 Chiffchaff, Green Sand, 3 Snipe (CM Everett)....KINGS MEAD: 19 Snipe, 126 Lapwing, 31 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 126 Mallard, 2 Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Grey Wag & Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....GARSTON: 10 Swallows SE (CM Everett)....PUCKERIDGE: 2 Bullfinch, 6 Yellowhammer, 2 Chiffchaff (Murray Orchard)
10TH OCT: WILSTONE: 2 Rock Pipit, juv Little Gull, Grey Plover, pr Mandarin, 2 Ruff, Snipe (Darin Stanley) 2 Greenshank, 3 R Plover, Common Sand (Darin Stanley/Mike Wallen), Golden Plover & 4 Hs Martin (Mike Wallen)....GARSTON: Chiffchaff calling (CM Everett)....CROXLEY GREEN: C Buzzard over for 5 mins before heading S (Af Nasir)
9TH OCT: BETWEEN STANSTEAD ABBOTTS/HUNSDONBURY: Peregrine flew N over road at 0950 (Murray Orchard)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: m Stonechat, 15 Redwing, 8 Siskin, 2 Water Rail, 2 Grey Wag, Chiffchaff, m Bullfinch, Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....GARSTON: Chiffchaff singing (CM Everett)
8TH OCT: WILSTONE: juv Little Gull, 2 Greenshank, 2 RUff, 2 Dunlin, 3 R Plover, Common Sand, 3 Pintail, Ruddy Dk, 2 Snipe, 20+ Hs Martin (Andrew Moon)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: juv Little Gull still present at 1100, also Wheatear & 10 Skylark on airfield, plus Chiffchaff calling in pines (Chris Baines)....WILSTONE: 2 Greenshank, 2 Golden Plover, Ruff, Snipe, 5 L Grebe, c30 Hs Martin, Sand Martin (Mike Wallen)....GARSTON: Brambling calling overhead (CM Everett)....OXHEY GRANGE BOWLS CLUB: Redwing over at 1100 (Ian Bennell)....BROOKMANS PARK: Snipe over (Rupert Pyrah)....SHAFFORD FARM: Redwing over at 0730 (John Pritchard)
7TH OCT: TRING RSVR: At Wilstone - c60 Hs Martin, c20 Swallows, 3+ Sand Martin c1130 after heavy rain, also Ruff, 2 Dunlin & Shelduck. Few Redwing & a Fieldfare over Startops (Mike Wallen) also Common Sand, Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 2 Dunlin and 2 Snipe (Andrew Moon) 2 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 3 Snipe & 2 Greenshank seen from hide at 1700 (Mark Leveridge)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: juv Little Gull from 1500-dusk from path at side of airfield also Chiffchaff & Reed Bunt (Chris Baines)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 7 Redwing over bowling green at 1000, also c15 Jays around park (Ian Bennell)
6TH OCT: WILSTONE RSVR: Rock Pipit & juv Little Gull (Don Otter)....CODICOTE: F/imm Black Redstart along public fpath by Hollards Farm at 1430, flew S towards woods but could not be relocated (Ian Eyre)....GARSTON: 90 Redwings west in 15 minutes (CM Everett)....BROOKMANS PARK: 21 Redwing over (Rupert Pyrah)....HARPENDEN: c20 Hs Martin over Crabtree Lane (Robin Pearson)
5TH OCT: WILSTONE: GREY PHALAROPE flighty until 0910 when it flew off high north (BN) also Juv Little Gull, 2 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank & Shelduck (Paul Sutton)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: F Cetti's Warbler trapped and ringed but no further sign before or after ringing (Jack Fearnside)....TYTTENHANGER: Redpoll over, 6 Snipe, Green Sand, 11 GC GRebe (Rupert Pyrah) 2 Grey Wags, 2 Swallow, 3 Hs Martin, sev Chiffchaff (one singing), Teal, pr Kestrel (Alan Gardiner), 2 Bullfinch, 2 Green Sands, Buzzard (Steven Pearce) nrby 13+ Tree Sparrow at Coursers Rd (Rupert Pyrah)....KINGS MEAD: 56 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 3 GAdwall, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, 23 Moorhen, 3 Grey Heron, L Grebe (Murray Orchard) DUnlin, 14 Snipe, 77 Lapwing, 2 Stonechat (Alan Reynolds)....WATER END (MYMMS): 2 Redwings, 2 Grey Wags & Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah)....N WATFORD: Redwing over Windsor Rd at 1625 (Ian Bennell)....HARPENDEN: 14 Golden Plover at Beeson End with 8 Lapwing (Ernest Leahy)....SHAFFORD FARm, VER VALLEY: 5 Buzzards circling together (John Pritchard)....N MYMMS: 2 Buzzards over (Steve Evans/Ann Lee)....BATFORD/LEASEY BRIDGE: 3 Kingfisher, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Cormorant, 10 Hs Martins, 4 Swallows, pr Gadwall, 2 L Grebe, 3 Willow Wbr (Darin Stanley)....PUCKERIDGE: 12 Bullfinch, 3 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Kingfisher (Murray Orchard)
4TH OCT: REDBOURNBURY: Greenshank in flight, dropped into field by river nr Shafford Mill (Clifford Smout)....TYTTENHANGER: 180 Canada Gs, 2 Grey Wag, 23 M Swan, 3 Cormorant, 6+ Chiffchaff, Green Sand, Buzzard, N MYMMS PARK: 110 Linnet, 2 Little Owl, Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 10 Meadow Pipit (Rupert Pyrah)....POTTERS BAR: pr Mandarin in Oakmere Park (RUpert Pyrah)....COLNEY HEATH: 3 Buzzards over Coursers Rd (Steve Evans/Ann Lee)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 8 Swallows S at 1245 (Ian Bennell)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: 2 Buzzards high over at 1430 (John Moss)
3RD OCT: KINGS MEAD: 3 Stonechat, 38 Snipe, 50 Teal (Alan Reynolds)....BEECH FARM: 30 Meadow Ppt, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel (inc a large female) (Alan Gardiner)
2ND OCT: TRING RSVRS: Poss Cetti's Warbler in reedbed at Marsworth ; at Wilstone - Juv Little Gull, Greenshank, Snipe, Common Sand (from hide), Yellowhammer (D Jordan)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcap, 35 Meadow Ppt, Snipe, 2 Grey Wags (Af Nasir)....WILSTONE: 7 Swallows SE over village (Len Vaughan)....GARSTON: 15 Swallows E (CM Everett)
1ST OCT: TYTTENHANGER: Jack Snipe, 7 Snipe, 3 Green Sands, Kingfisher, 2 Kestrels, Grey Wag, m Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff (with Blackcap around main viewpoint on Coursers Rd side of pits) (Steven Pearce)....TRING RSVRS: No sign of Avocets at Wilstone but juv Little Gull, 2 Greenshank, 2 COmmon Sand, Shelduck there. At Startops - Rock Pipit on western shore but flighty (Mike Wallen/Andrew Moon) also 4 Pintail & Dunlin at Wilstone (M Collard)....Lapwings are back on the field opposite Little Chef on A10 just N of M25 (Liz Goodyear)....ROTHAMSTED PARK: C Buzzard E over (Mike Russell)
September 2003
30TH SEP: ROYDON (Herts Essex border): prob Nightjar flew over rail crossing at 1900 (Murray Orchard)....WILSTONE RSVR: 8 AVOCETS present early evening, also 2 Ruff, 2+ Greenshank, 2 Snipe, Dunlin, Common Sand (Don Otter), also juv Little Gull reported (Birdguides)....HEXTON: 4 Buzzards over Pegsdon/Telegraph Hill, 2 Buzzards over Ravensburgh Castle (Nigel Agar)....BROOKMANS PARK: 7 Swallows over, also Chiffchaff (Rupert Pyrah)
29TH SEP: HORNS MILL: 6 Swallows heading SE (Alan Reynolds)....WARE: Chiffchaff singing at Old Lea, also few Hs Martins through plus Kingfisher (Ian Edwards)....VERULAMIUM PARK: pr Mandarin, 4 Ruddy Dk, 6 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 5 Tufted, 11 Pochard, Kingfisher & Grn Wdpkr (Glen Barnes)
28TH SEP: COOPERS GREEN GP: Black-necked Grebe with 5 L Grebe, also Green Sand (Steven Pearce)....BUSHEY: 40 Meadow Pipit feeding on pasture, nrby 62 Stock Dv at Otterspool (CM Everett)....SHAFFORD FARM, VER VALLEY: 2 Buzzards, Chiffchaff, 30 Meadow Pipits, 20 M Thrush, 9 Swallows (through) (John Pritchard)....VERULAMIUM PARK: m Mandarin, 6 Pochard, Chiffchaff (Anthony Dorman), 7 Ruddy Dk (Alan Gardiner/Anthony Dorman)
27TH SEP: KIMPTON MILL: Small group of Egyptian Geese still present, also 3 Tufted & pr Gadwall (Clive Brackenbury)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, 2 Teal, 111 Canada Gs, Kingfisher, Wigeon, 23 M Swan, 4 Snipe (Steven Pearce)....REDBOURNBURY: Buzzard, Reed Wbr, 2 Snipe, 35 Lapwing, 2 L Grebe, 50+ Linnets & 5 Swallow (Mike Thompson)....VERULAMIUM PARK: 392 Canada Gs (Poss highest ever count), 7 Ruddy Dk, f Mandarin (on R Ver) (CM Everett)
26TH SEP: N MYMMS PARK: 3 Marsh Tit, 9 Siskin, Little Owl, Willow Wbr, 5 Chiffchaff, Swallow, 16 Hs Martin, 29 Meadow Ppt (over) (Rupert Pyrah)
25TH SEP: TRING RSVRS: At STartops - juv R Plover, Common Sand; at Wilstone - Common Sand, jv Ruddy Dk (Mike Wallen)
24TH SEP: OTTERSPOOL: Wheatear in field nr Munden Spring, Buzzard over, 38 Teal, light but constant movement of Meadow Pipits (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: Snipe, 3+ Chiffchaff, Willow Wbr, 3 Buzzards over (N Bristow)....KIMPTON MILL: m Egyptian Gs with 3 young, also female on nrby pond, nrby Mandarin on flash flood area (Tom Kittle)....WATER END: 6 Buzzards soaring over (Geoff Horn)
23RD SEP: TRING RSVRS: At Wilstone - 5 Greenshank, Ruff, Common Sand, 10+ Pintail; at Startops - R Plover, Dunlin & Common Sand (Andrew Moon)
22ND SEP: LONG MARSTON: imm m Wheatear in a field (Dave Jenkinson)....EAST HYDE: Hobby caught Hs Martin, also 2 Buzzard (Mike Russell)
21ST SEP: KINGS MEAD: 19 Snipe, Common Sand, Ruff & Greenshank (Anthony Dorman)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: Osprey flew in from north and went straight through, heading south (Tony Blake)....TRING RSVRS: At Startops - Dunlin, Greenshank, COmmon Sand (Mike Wallen), 20+ Swallows, 5 Mdw Pipits, 2 Common Sands, at Tringford - 10 Teal, 2 Grey Wags, at Wilstone - 6 Greenshank, 50+ Lapwing, Hobby, 3 Pintail, Shelduck, 150 Wigeon, Yellow Wag (over), 30+ Swallow, up to 1000 Mallard (Ian Bennell) also Ruff, 270 M Swans (Mike Thompson)....STEVENAGE: Wheatear in ploughed field between S'age and Walkern (Ray Hooper)....KINGS MEAD: Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sand, 92 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 42 SHoveler, 35 Teal, 4 Grey Wag (Murray Orchard)....N MYMMS PARK: 22 Grey PArtridge, 70+ Meadow Ppt (through), 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Hobby, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap & Willow Wbr (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, 8 G Heron & Hobby (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM: 80 Meadow Ppt (Steven Pearce)
20TH SEP: TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, Kingfisher (Steven Pearce).... ESSENDON: 5 Siskin, c50 Hs Martin, Willow Wbr & Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)....MERRY HILL, BUSHEY: Lsr Whitethroat, also Golden Plover over (CM Everett)
19TH SEP: GARSTON: 2+ Sandwich Terns S over Goodrich Close, calling at 2315 (Stephen Welch)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Ruff, Common Sand & 30 Snipe (Alan Reynolds)....TRING RSVRS: 2 Greenshank & 3 Common Sands at Startops; Greenshank, 2 Pintail & c150 Wigeon at Wilstone (Mike Wallen)
18TH SEP: HAREFIELD: White Stork roosted at end of Jack's Lane (over border in Middx), then left roost at 0618 and flew over canal into Herts. Was looked for later around Troy Mill area but no sign (Andrew Moon)....EAST HYDE: Little Egret just over county border on East Hyde wader scrape at 0900 (Mike Russell)....HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: Woodcock flew low over A41 between Hemel & M25 at 1930 (Andrew Moon)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: COmmon Sand on river, also Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....KIMPTON MILL: 2 Snipe (Tom Kittle)
17TH SEP: WOODSIDE, WATFORD: 2 Hobbies (Bob Cripps)....KIMPTON MILL: 2 ad Egyptian Geese with 2 flying young (Tom Kittle)....WELWYN GARDEN CITY: Juv Pied Flycatcher along Beehive Lane opp dental surgery in park land at 1300, seen 4-5 mins flycatching and on ground (Trevor Brownsell)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff & Greenshank (P Smith)....ROTHAMSTED PARK: 2 Buzzards over (Mike Russell)....GARSTON: Siskin flew south (CM Everett)
15TH SEP: NETTLEDON: Merlin at Golden Valley Farm at 0800 when flew east (BN)....Of interest: 2 Ravens seen over Eversholt Lake in Bedfordshire during the afternoon - 2 were well described over Tyttenhanger on 13th....ROTHAMSTEAD EXP STN: c60 House Martins through south (Patrick White)
14TH SEP: WILSTON RSVR: 8 Black Tern, Ruff, 2+ Hobbies, 5+ Greenshank, Dunlin & 3 PIntail (Joan Thompson)....BEECH FARM: 3 Whinchat, 2 Buzzards, 7 Teal (Rupert Pyrah)....WATERY GROVE, STEVENAGE: Marsh Tits, also 2 at Oak Grove/Kitching Lane, Knebworth (Alan Ford)....OTTERSPOOL: 2 Green Sands, 32 Teal, 4 Blackcap (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: Lsr Spotted Wdpkr, Yellow Wag, 3 Buzzards (Anthony Dorman) Hobby hawking, also Snipe (Steve Evans/Ann Lee)....VERULAMIUM PARK, ST ALBANS: Up to 350 Canada Geese, 3 Ruddy Dk, Grey Wag (Ian Bennell)
13TH SEP: TYTTENHANGER: 2 prob Ravens high over SW (per Steven Pearce), also 3 Hobbies, 8 Shoveler, 3 Green Sands (Steven Pearce)....ALDENHAM: f Redstart in hedgerow along fpath south of Blackbirds Farm, also Hobby over village (CM Everett)....KINGS MEAD: 4 Whinchat, 10 Yellow Wag, Hobby, Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sand, 2 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 12 Shoveler, Sedge Wbr (Alan Reynolds)....REDBOURNBURY/SHAFFORD MILL: Whinchat, Wheatear, Buzzard (Clifford Smout)....BRICKET WOOD: Whinchat nr M25/A405 jctn (CM Everett)....OTTERSPOOL: Green Sand, 2 Snipe (CM Everett)....PUCKERIDGE: Marsh Tit, Yellow Wag (Murray Orchard)....N MYMMS PARK: Hobby & Buzzard (Rupert Pyrah)
12TH SEP: STARTOPS RSVR: imm WHITE-HEADED DUCK, first seen on 6th, also Greenshank, Dunlin, 4 Common Sands & Yellow Wag (Mike Wallen)....KINGS MEADS: 3 Ruff, Greenshank, 4 Whinchat, Common Sand, 33 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 210 Lapwing, Chiffchaff, Grey Wag (Alan Reynolds)....REDBOURNBURY: 2 Greenshank, Hobby & 50+ Linnet (Mike Thompson)....BRIGHTWELLS FARM (nr EBURY WAY, WATFORD): Whinchat & Kingfisher (Joan Thompson)....BEECH FARM: Green Sand, Grey Wag & good nos of Small Coppers (Wendy Hatton)....CODICOTE: 10 Yellow Wags in a horsefield nr junior school (Ian Eyre)....GT GADDESDEN: Red Kite over (Don Otter)
11TH SEP: COURSERS RD FIELDS: 3 Whinchat opp entrance to Bowmansgreen Farm (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, Common Sand, LRP, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, Yellow Wag, 2 SHoveler (Steven Pearce)....LETCHWORTH: Hobby over, mobbed by Jackdaws (Roger Aldridge)
10TH SEP: TRING RSVRS: At Startops - 2 Dunlin, Greenshank; at Wilstone - 5 Pintail, 4 Greenshank, R Plover, juv LRP, Green Sand, Common Sand, Water Rail & Hobby (Andrew Moon)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 2 Lsr Whitethroat, Sedge Wbr, 15 Swallow, Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....COLNEY HEATH LN, ST ALBANS: Hobby over road (Wendy Hatton)
9TH SEP: ALDBURY VALLEY: Osprey flew south into Herts near Barley End (Don Otter)....COLE GREEN/BIRCHALL: 2 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wags, 4 Grey Partridge (Steven Pearce)....SANDRIDGE: 80+ Collared Doves at Nashes Farm, also 10 Linnet (Wendy Hatton)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Ruff, Greenshank, Grey Wag (Steven Pearce)....PANSHANGER PARK: Hobby, 10 L Grebe (Steven Pearce)
8TH SEP: AMWELL: Juv Black-necked Grebe & Green Sand (Mike Baverstock)....GREAT GADDESDEN: Little Egret feeding along river Gade but was flushed and flew over Wyevale garden centre (Duncan Halls/Michael Collins)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sand (Mike Baverstock/Clifford Smout)....TYTTENHANGER: 4 Hobbies, Green Sand, Grey Wag, Garden Wbr, Kingfisher (Steven Pearce)....RYE MEADS: Green Sand, 57 Cormorant, m Ruddy Dk (Clifford Smout)
7TH SEP: AMWELL: Pied Flycatcher, Black-necked Grebe & 4 Spot Fly (Mike Ilett)....BROOKMANS PARK: Juv Redstart, also Lsr Whitethroat, Marsh Tit & Hobby (Rupert Pyrah)....GT GADDESDEN: Little Egret upstream from Wyevale Garden Centre (John Rimes)....KINGS MEAD: 4 Whinchat, Greenshank, 3 Ruff, Common Sand, 50 Meadow Ppt, 21 Teal & 7 Snipe (Alan Reynolds)....KINGS LANGLEY LAKE NR: F Ruddy Duck with 5 small chicks, also 3 males, also pr L Grebe with 2 chicks, 10 Chiffchaff by lake and along adj canal, also Red Kite over (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands (Steven Pearce)
6TH SEP: PUCKERIDGE: 2 Marsh Tit, Lsr Whitethroat (Murray Orchard)....BATLERS GREEN, RADLETT: 2 Redstarts in a hedgerow, 5 Whinchats on fence at edge of maize field, 2 Lsr Whitethroats, Whitethroat, Wheatear nr Moses Dell (CM Everett)....GADE VALLEY: Little Egret in meadows downstream from Gt Gaddesden (between there and Water End), also 20+ Goldfinch, Spot Fly, Kingfisher & Clouded Yellow butterfly (Don Otter)....KINGS MEAD: 3 RUff, 5 Snipe, Green Sand, 2 Grey Wag, Kingfisher & f Wigeon (David Wheatcroft)....OTTERSPOOL: Greenshank, 2 Green Sands, 2 Snipe, Common Sand, 16 Teal, Whitethroat (CM EVerett)....LETCHMORE HEATH: Hobby, Spot Fly, 2 calling Little Owls, 150 feral Rock Dove (CM Everett)....ALDENHAM VILLAGE: 15 M THrush, Hobby circling over and moveent SW of Swallows (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: Common Sand, Green Sand, 3 Cormorant, 4 Shoveler, 49 Goldfinch, Hobby (Steven Pearce)
5TH SEP: CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: LSr Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 6 Willow Wbr, 3 Reed Wbr, Kingfisher & Barnacle Goose over (Af Nasir)....OTTERSPOOL: Greenshank, 2 Snipe, Green Sand, Common Sand, Whitethroat (CM Everett)....KIMPTON MILL: Willow Tit trapped and ringed. First since 1993 (Tom Kittle)....KINGS MEAD: Garganey, 3 Ruff, Common Sand, 20 Teal, 10 SNipe, 108 Lapwing, Chiffchaff, 2 Kingfisher, Grey Wag & 1st Wigeon of the winter (Alan Reynolds)....OXHEY GRANGE: 2 HObbies & Sparrowhawk (Ian Bennell)
4TH SEP: BEECH FARM: Wheatear, Green Sand, Sand Martin, c20 Swallows, 10 Chiffchaff (Wendy Hatton)....KIMPTON MILL: Greenshank flew along Mimram east (Tom Kittle)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sand (Alan Reynolds)....SEWARDSTONE (Herts/Essex border): No news either way of Ortolan....WALKERN: 5 Grey Partridge flushed from farmland between Stevenage & Walkern (Ray Hooper)
3RD SEP: SEWARDSTONE (Herts/Essex border): ORTOLAN BUNTING - from Hawes Lane car park at TQ384.983 (on west side of A112 Sewardstone Rd opposite Plough pub on Mott Street), walk 100 yards down Hawes Lane and take footpath across stubble field for 300 yards (RBA pager)....WILSTONE: 4+ Greenshank, Hobby, Common Sand, juv LRP, 3 Whooper Swans, 3 Ruddy Dk (Andrew Moon)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Ruff, Common Sand, 10 Snipe, 24 Teal, Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....WARE: Swift over & many Swallows through (Ian Edwards)....OXHEY PARK: Hobby high west (Ian Bennell)....CASSIOBURY PARK: c100 Hs Martin through, also Grey Wag (Ian Bennell)....KINGS LANGLEY: Yellow Wag over south (Ian Bennell)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby, Marsh Tit, 50+ Linnet, 27 Goldfinch, Kingfisher, Little Owl & steady passage of hirundines (Rupert Pyrah)....CHISWELL GREEN: 2 Tawny Owls calling in gardens (Alan Gardiner)....COOPERS GREEN LANE, ST ALBANS: C Buzzard soaring over (Wendy Hatton)
2ND SEP: KINGS MEAD: Ruff (Mike Baverstock)....TYTTENHANGER: Snipe, Green Sand, Kingfisher, 2 Teal (Alan Gardiner)....KINGS MEAD: Greenshank, 2 Ruff (P Smith)....N MYMMS PARK: 3 Spot Fly, Hobby, 2 Little Owl & c60 Swallow (Rupert Pyrah)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Whinchat, Lsr Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, c25 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Wbr, m Bullfinch, Grey Wag, c70 Goldfinch & 6 LBB Gulls (Af Nasir)
1ST SEP: KINGS MEAD: 3 Ruff, 2 Common Sands & Greenshank (Mike Baverstock)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 fm + juv Whinchat passed through (Jim Terry)....BATFORD GOLF POND: 5 Swifts, Jay, Kingfisher, Green Wdpkr (Darin Stanley)
August 2003
31ST AUG: WILSTONE: 5 Greenshank, 3 Whooper Swan, 3 Hobbies, also Common Tern at Startops (Alex Lewis)....THERFIELD: 5+ Wheatears along track from Therfield to Therfield Heath, also f Redstart briefly (Richard Webb)....BLACKBIRDS FARM, ALDENHAM: Whinchat, nrby 5 Little Owls in Aldenham village area (CM Everett)....ABERFORD LAKE, BOREHAMWOOD: Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard of unknown origin feeding on bread with Mallards (Jim Terry)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Greenshank, Common Sand, 8 Snipe, 70 Lapwing, 60 Hs Martin, 152 Gadwall, 21 Teal, 17 Shoveler, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, Reed Wbr & Chiffchaff (Alan Reynolds)....OTTERSPOOL: Snipe, Green Sand, Common Sand, Spot Fly plus a Yellow Wag over (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Hobbies, 2 Green Sands (on N pit where water is low) 2 Sparrowhawk, Grey Wag, Garden Wbr, plenty Willow-Chiffs, Kingfisher, 2 Teal (Steven Pearce) also a Mute Swan that had to be rescued from a contractors' ditch (Graham Knight)....VERULAMIUM PARK: 10 Ruddy Dk on lake (Alan Gardiner)....REDBOURNBURY/SHAFFORD MILL: 3 Buzzards mobbed by Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Wdpkr & 7 Snipe (Mike Thompson), also Hobby, Kingfisher & Blackcap (John Pritchard)....HARPENDEN COMMON PONDS: Grey Wag (Alan Jackson)
30TH AUG: TYTTENHANGER: 3 Shoveler, Kingfisher, Green Sand, Cormorant (Steven Pearce)....WATFORD: f Redstart in a central Watford garden (Martin Searle)....POTTERS CROUCH: Whinchat, 3 Buzzards, 30 Linnet (CM Everett)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, Grey Wag (David Wheatcroft)....BOREHAMWOOD: Poss eclipse male Red-crested Pochard in Aberford Park (per Martin Reid)....AMWELL: 3 Green Sands & 2 Ruddy Dk (Paul Unwin)....EAST HYDE: Hobby & Kingfisher (Darin Stanley)....VERULAMIUM PARK: 11 Ruddy Dk (4m) (CM Everett)....WILSTONE RSVR: 8 Greenshank, 1+ Swift with hirundines (Graham Knight), also Hobby (David Whitehouse)....BROOKMANS PARK: Spotted Fly, Hobby, Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)....ESSENDON: LS Wdpkr (Paul Unwin)....ROYSTON: 2 Swifts over A505 (Alan Gardiner)
29TH AUG: STARTOPS RSVR: Juv Turnstone with juv LRP until 1900 when both flew N into Bucks (M Collard)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, 4 Teal & 65 Gadwall (Clifford Smout)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby over (Rupert Pyrah)....ICKLEFORD COMMON: Hobby (Richard Webb)
28TH AUG: TRING RSVRS: At Wilstone - 17 Greenshank, Common Sand, Hobby, Ruddy Dk & c60 Sand Martin; at Startops - juv Turnstone on western shore (Mike Wallen)...4pm at Wilstone - 2 Hobbies, 12+ Greenshank, Pintail, 4 Common Sands (Mark Leveridge), also Yellow Wag (Joan Thompson)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 2 Lsr Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, 5 Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr, 5 Willow Wbr, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest & c100 Goldfinch (Af Nasir)....EAST HYDE: 3 Buzzards over, 2 Lapwing over & 15+ Linnet (Darin Stanley)....WATFORD FIELDS: 3 Yellow Wags SE over (Ian Bennell)....CASSIOBURY PARK: Hobby hunting House Martins at 1400 (Ian Bennell)....REDBOURN: 4 Hobbies & 4 Buzzards (Ernest Leahy)
27TH AUG: WILSTONE: Drake Scaup from hide or bank at 1530 (RBA pager)....TYTTENHANGER: Common Sand, Green Sand, Snipe, Hobby (hunting dragonflies over lake), Grey Wag & 2 Bullfinch (Alan Gardiner)....BROOKMANS PARK: Golden Plover over (Rupert Pyrah)....CROXLEY GREEN: Hobby low over A412 nr station at 1830 (Af Nasir)
26TH AUG: TRING RSVRS: At Wilstone - 2 Common Sands, Hobby (Joan Thompson), 11 Greenshank, & R Plover, nrby 2 Turnstones at Startops (RBA pager) and 2 Pintail (Joan Thompson)....BUSHEY HEATH: Sub adult NIGHT HERON flushed from duck pond by Three Crowns Pub at 1300, TQ145 943...but no further sign by 4pm at least (BN)
25TH AUG: BEECH FARM: Grasshopper Wbr in thistle patch, nrby at Hatfield Aerodrome: 5 Mandarin, 12 Meadow Ppt, Reed Bunt, GBB Gull (over). At Coopers Green GP: Green Sand, 15 L GRebe (Rupert Pyrah)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Green Sand, 4 Snipe, 16 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 157 Gadwall, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr, Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....STARTOPS RSVR: Juv Turnstone (Don Otter) & White Wagtail (Ian Bennell)....PATCHETTS GREEN: Whinchat between A41 & M1 (CM EVerett)....MERRY HILL, BUSHEY: 2 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat & 36 M Thrush in two flocks (CM Everett)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Teal, 2 Common Sand, 6 Green Sands (on North Pit) (Steven Pearce)....OTTERSPOOL: 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sand, Green Sand, 9 Teal (CM Everett) also Snipe (Paul Unwin)....GROVE MILL: Green Sand, 5 L Grebe, Kingfisher, 8+ Chiffchaff, Grey Wag, 39 Hs Martin (Stephen Welch)....AMWELL: Hobby, sev Spotted Flycatchers & Lsr Whitethroat, also 2 Painted Ladies & sev Speckled Woods (Ross Facer)....WILSTONE: R Plover, LRP (Don Otter)....COOPERS GREEN GP: 4 Buzzards (Alex Lewis)
24TH AUG: N MYMMS PARK: f Redstart harrassing Spotted Fly nr church, also Hobby. Nrby at Redwell Wood Farm: 220 Mallard & 9 Yellow Wags (Rupert Pyrah)....OTTERSPOOL/MUNDENS ESTATE: Common Sand, 50+ Swallow, 20 Chiffchaff, 5 Stock Dv, 3 Grey Heron, Little Owl (Ian Bennell)....BOWYERS WATER: 3+ Lsr Whitethroat, Wigeon & Green Sand...many Gadwall/Tufted & Pochard nrby on Friday Lake (Ross Facer)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Snipe, 3 Teal, 3 Common Sands, Green Sand, 10 Pochard, Cormorant, nrby 9 Yellow Wags at Coursers Farm (Steven Pearce)....LYLE END FARM: 100+ Linnet, and 2 Turtle Dove at Hyde Hill Farm (Alan Reynolds)....CODICOTE: Buzzard over (Ian Eyre)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby over (Rupert Pyrah)....LETCHWORTH: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden (P Hasell)....CHORLEYWOOD: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden (Lesley Edwards)
23RD AUG: LETCHMORE HEATH: f/imm Redstart in blackthorn hedges, also Hobby, Spotted Fly, 2 calling Little Owls (CM Everett)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit (Ross Facer)....OTTERSPOOL: 2 Greenshank, 7 Teal, 11 Chiffchaff (CM Everett)....MOSES DELL, RADLETT: Wheatear, Yellow Wag (CM Everett)....KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, Garganey, 8 Teal, 8 Snipe, 150 Lapwing, Kingfisher, Grey Wag (Alan Reynolds)....ABERFORD PARK, BOREHAMWOOD: 13 Monk Parakeets (CM Everett)....ALDENHAM GOLF COURSE: 3 calling Little Owls (CM Everett)....EAST HYDE: 2 Hobbies over barn, also 10 Lapwing over (Darin Stanley)....N WATFORD: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden (Ian Bennell)....SHAFFORD FARM< VER VALLEY: 2 Yellow Wags over, 2 Buzzard, Hobby & 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths (John Pritchard)....POTTERS BAR: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden on Cranborne Rd (Ricky Flesher)....REED: 3 Yellow Wags & Hobby (Rupert Pyrah)
22ND AUG: KINGS MEAD: Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Snipe, 115 Lapwing, 7 Teal, 12 Shoveler, Common Tern (Alan Reynolds)....STANBOROUGH LAKES: No sign of anything resembling American Coot on boating lake, but many juvenile Coots moulting into adult plumage (Alan Reynolds)....GARSTON: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden (CM Everett)
21ST AUG: STANBOROUGH LAKES: No sign of any atypical Coot. Feral Barnacle Goose and 3 Kingfishers (Robin Pearson)....WILSTONE: 3 Hobbies, 7 Greenshank, 2 Common Sand, Green Sand, Little Egret, Kingfisher, 3 feral Whooper Swans (Daniel Forder)....BROOKMANS PARK: Swift over (Rupert Pyrah)....WARE, OLD LEA: 2+ Swifts, Kingfisher, 2 flocks of 20+ LT Tits (Ian Edwards)
20TH AUG: WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Garden Wbr & 4 Willow Wbr along R Lea (Patrick White)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 3 Lsr Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroat, 8 Reed Wbr, 3 Sedge Wbr, c100 Goldfinch & Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....H HEMPSTEAD: Hobby hunting over Gadebridge Park at 0600 (Daniel Forder)
19TH AUG: WATER END: f Whinchat in the boggy scrubland opp Wyevale Garden Centre, also Sedge Wbr, many Willow Wbr & Chiffchaff with juvs, 2f Teal, 25 Lapwing, L Grebe & c60 LBB Gulls (Daniel Forder)....STANSTEAD ABBOTTS GP: Little Egret, 9 Green Sands & Snipe. The egret was in the refuge area in SE of lake (Tim Hill)....OTTERSPOOL: Greenshank, 2 Common Sands, 2 Teal, 20 Swallow, 2 Swift, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Wbr, Chiffchaff (noticeable movement along R Colne), 15 LT Tit (Alan Gardiner)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Whinchat, 5 Lsr Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 10 Willow Wbr, 8 Blackcap, 2 Garden Wbr, 4 Reed Wbr (inc 2 jv), Sedge Wbr, Grey Wag, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher & 3 Grn Wdpkr (Af Nasir)
17TH AUG: TYTTENHANGER: 9 Green Sands, 3 Common Sands & 2 Greenshank (Steven Pearce)....H HEMPSTEAD: Hobby among 30 Swallows at Bunkers Farm (CM Everett)....SANDON: Buzzard over Gannock Farm (Alan Reynolds)....CHISWELL GREEN: Yellow Wag feeding in paddock (CM Everett)
16TH AUG: TYTTENHANGER: 5 Yellow Wags, Kingfisher, Green Sand, Common Sand (Steven Pearce)....COOPERS GREEN GP: Common Sand, 2 L GRebes with 2 juvs (Steven Pearce), also Hobby & Dunlin (Alex Lewis)....TEWINBURY: f Mandarin on R. Mimram next to Tewinbury Farm Hotel (Gareth Watkins)....OTTERSPOOL: 3 passage Willow Wblrs, 8 Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Greenshank, 2 Common Sands, Whinchat, Spotted Fly (C Everett)....WATER END: Buzzard over Heizdin's Wood (Daniel Forder)....ALDENHAM GOLF COURSE: 2 Little Owls calling (CM Everett)
15TH AUG: BALDOCK: Peregrine hunting over field next to houses on farmland from Wallington Lane TL334258 at 1610 (Rupert Evershed)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Greenshank, Common Sand, Kingfisher, Whitethroat, Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr (Alan Reynolds)....SOUTH MYMMS: Red Kite W over A1M (Wendy Hatton)....ROTHAMSTEAD: Corn Bunting singing (Patrick White)
14TH AUG: ARKLEY: Little Owl at Saffron Green - a site being run for wildlife objectives and intended to have some public access. Anyone wishing to visit please call 01462 459870 or email Nigel (Nigel Agar)....WILSTONE: Black-necked Grebe (FoTR) Greenshank, Hobby (ALan Gardiner), nrby Green Sand & COmmon Sand at Sewage Farm Lagoon (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Green Sands, Common Sand, Snipe, 2 Yellow Wags (Alan Gardiner)....KINGS MEAD: Green Sand, Common Sand, 5 Snipe, Teal, 128 Lapwing, 5 SHoveler (Alan Reynolds)....VERULAMIUM PARK: 3 m Ruddy Duck on lake (Alan Gardiner)....PRAE WOOD: 3 soaring C Buzzards (Alan Gardiner)....BALDOCK: C Buzzard E of town (Roger Broadie)....SHAFFORD FARM: Hobby & Hummingbird Hawk Moth (John Pritchard)
13TH AUG: STANSTEAD INNINGS GRAVEL PITS, Stanstead Abbotts: Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Common Sand & 6 Green Sands (Tim Hill)....WILSTONE: Greenshank, juv LRP, 14+ Common Terns, nrby at Startops - f Ruddy Duck, 64 Greylags but no sign of Least Sandpiper (Andrew Moon)....TYTTENHANGER: 4 Common Sands, 2 Green Sands, 3 Tree Sparrow, 108 Lapwing, 207 BH Gull, 3 Common Tern, 32 Tufted & 200+ RL Partridge (presumed captive bred) (Rupert Pyrah)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 7 M Thrush, 30+ Hs Martin, Grey Wag & 2+ Painted Ladies (Ian Bennell)
12TH AUG: PATMORE HEATH: Pied FLycatcher with Spot FLy (Mick East)....STARTOPS RSVR: Ad sum LEAST SANDPIPER still present, showing well on spit at 0730 (Timothy Dick, RUpert Evershed)....WILSTONE: 4 Greenshank, 2 Common Sands, Green Sand (Rupert Evershed), 6 GReenshanks in the evening (Don Otter)....LEAVESDEN AIRFIELD: Red Kite over (Stephen Welch)....REDBOURN: C Buzzard perched beside bypass (Patrick White)
11TH AUG: STARTOPS RSVR: Adult summer LEAST SANDPIPER at 0745 at least (BN), also 2 Greenshanks (Alan Gardiner)....WILSTONE: Little Egret (BN), 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sand (Alan Gardiner) but no sign of GW Egret all day (BN)....N MYMMS PARK: HObby, 3 Spot Fly, Marsh Tit & 18 M Thrush (Rupert Pyrah)
10TH AUG: WILSTONE: GREAT WHITE EGRET in reedbed at back until 8pm when flew towards Aston Clinton (BN), also 3 Turnstones flew N at 1730, also Ruff, 3 Greenshank (Steve Younger)....STARTOPS RSVR: Adult summer LEAST SANDPIPER still present (BN), 2 Common Sands, Ruff & 3 Greenshank (same as Wilstone?) (Steve Younger) also 68 Greylag (Joan Thompson)....TYTTENHANGER: 181 Canada Gs, 6 Green Sands (on north pits) & Common Sand (Steven Pearce)....WIGGINGTON: C Buzzard over A41 (Andrew Moon)
9TH AUG: TYTTENHANGER: Hobby, 9 G Herons, 37 Tufted, 3 Green Sands, Common Sand, Little Owl (Steven Pearce)....COOPERS GREEN GP: m Ruddy Dk, f Tufted with 6 young, 2m Pochard, Teal (Steven Pearce)....EAST HYDE: Ring-necked Parakeet flew N along Lea early am (Richard Lee)....WILSTONE: 3 Greenshanks, 3 Whooper Swans & Common Sand (Jason Chapman), Black Tern, 4 Common Sands, Ruddy Dk, Shelduck, pr Kingfisher (Stephen Welch)....STARTOPS RSVR: Adult summer LEAST SANDPIPER , also Ruff (Stephen Welch)
8TH AUG: STARTOPS RSVR: Adult summer LEAST SANDPIPER at 1640; At Wilstone Black Tern, 2 Greenshank, Common Sand, Shelduck and rptd eclipse Pintail (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Common Sands, 3+ Green Sands, Grey Wag & 125+ Canada Gs (Alan Gardiner)....OTTERSPOOL: 3 Swifts (Jim Terry)
7TH AUG: STARTOPS RSVR: Adult summer LEAST SANDPIPER in SE corner with Common Sand, 1550 at least (Jason Chapman/Andrew Moon/BN) - Photos here also f Marsh Harrier flew SE at 0900 (Steve Younger)....WILSTONE: Black Tern, Greenshank, Common Sand & 3 Whooper Swans (BN)....IVINGHOE: Turtle Dove on roadside in village at 0630 (Jason Chapman)
6TH AUG: STARTOPS RSVR: Adult summer LEAST SANDPIPER in SE corner, showing well at 1600 at least, SP920.136. Park in main car park and walk up bank to view. Also Black Tern & 4 Black Terns at Wilstone (BN)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Common Sands & Green Sand (Graham Knight)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 2 Spotted FLycatchers by tennis courts (Ian Bennell)
5TH AUG: STARTOPS RSVR: LEAST SANDPIPER showing well in SE corner till dusk (BN/Ian Bennell/Alan Gardiner)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 2 Common Sands, 3 Green Sands, 2 Yellow Wags (Alan GArdiner) also 2 Spotted Redshank & 4 Black-tailed Godwits briefly (Steve Murray)....CASSIOBURY PARK: Siskin over (Ian Bennell)....EAST HYDE: Hobby over early am (Mike Russell) & 42+ Mistle Thrushes present (Matt Best)....KINGS LANGLEY: Garden Wblr, Lsr Whitethroat & Blackcap in a garden & Hobby over carrying prey (David Whitehouse)
4TH AUG: ASPENDEN: 2 Buzzards drifted south (Ted Fletcher)
3RD AUG: CASSIOBURY PARK: Crossbill calling in trees nr tennis courts then flew twds Rickmansworth Rd (Ian Bennell)....WILSTONE: 2 Black Terns & f Mandarin (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: 5 Common Sands, 5 Green Sands, 6 S Martin, Kingfisher, Cormorant (Steven Pearce)....GORHAMBURY ESTATE: 2 C Buzzards soaring (Alan Gardiner)....BROOKMANS PARK: family of 5 Sparrowhawks at Gobions Wood (Rupert Pyrah)
2ND AUG: TRING RSVRS: At Startops - Common Sand, 6 Grey Wags (4 jv), at Wilstone - Common Sand & Kingfisher, at Marsworth - several juv Reed Wblrs (Jason Chapman)....TYTTENHANGER: C Buzzard, 39 Tufted, 2 Green Sands, Common Sand, Hobby & 2 Yellow Wags (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM: 7 Kestrels & nrby at Coopers Grn GP - f Tufted with 6 yng & 2m Pochard (Steven Pearce)....WESTON: 2 Little Owls in area calling (Clive Brackenbury)....PUCKERIDGE: Buzzard, 4-5 juv Bullfinch, 3 singing Yellowhammers (Murray Orchard)
July 2003
31ST JULY: WILSTONE: Whimbrel & Green Sand (FoTR)....TYTTENHANGER: Dunlin, 4+ Green Sands (Alan Gardiner)....REDBOURN: 4 Buzzards circling (Jason Chapman)....LANGLEY, W OF STEVENAGE: 3 C Buzzards circling (Phil Barron)
30TH JULY: TRING RESERVOIRS: 3 ad Dunlin at Startops, also 3 Common Sands & 6 Common Terns; at Wilstone - 58 Common Terns & Common Sand (Andrew Moon)....N MYMMS PARK: 4 Hobbies, Buzzard, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Marsh Tit & 4 Hare (Rupert Pyrah)....SHAFFORD FARM: 4 Buzzards soaring over (John Pritchard)
29TH JULY: GORHAMBURY: 6 Buzzards & Little Owl (Richard Lee)
28TH JULY: LANGLEYBURY: C Buzzard over (David Whitehouse)....BROOKMANS PARK: Pr Lsr Spotted Wdpkrs in a garden, flew off towards Gobions Pond (Trevor Brownsell)
27TH JULY: BENGEO: White Stork low over St. Leonard's Road at 1800. Slightly ragged primaries on left wing but appeared unringed (Clive & Helen Fleming) Earlier it had been seen over Hoddesdon Cemetery at 1700 (Daphne Rook per Derrick Ling)....TYTTENHANGER: 9 Green Sands, 2 Common Sands & 3 R Plover (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM: 2 prob Green Sands, Buzzard (over), 31 Lapwing, L Grebe, 7 Gadwall & 2 Pochard (John Moss), also Coopers Green/Beech Farm: Green Sand, 250 BH Gull, 10 L Grebe, 100 Stock Dv & 5 Pochard (Rupert Pyrah)
26TH JULY: RYE MEADS: Little Egret from Dra per Hide, also 7 Green Sands & Common Sand, plus f/juv Red-crested Pochard from Tern Hide mid-pm (Jason Chapm an)....BEECH FARM: 3 Green Sands, nrby 2 Barnacle Gs (unknown origin) at Coopers Green GP, also 3 Pochard, f Tufted with 6 yng, Hobby, 8 L Grebes (inc juvs) (Steven Pearce)....HARPENDEN: Ad Lsr Whitethroat with 2+ juvs along Lea Valley Walk (Jason Chapman)....RYE MEADS: Little Egret and 7 Green Sands from Draper Hide (BN)....TYTTENHANGER: 5 Green Sands, Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce) 10 LBB Gulls (Robin Pearson)
25TH JULY: STARTOPS END RESVR: Common Sand, 10 Sand Martins & 10 Swallows (Andrew Moon)
24TH JULY: ROYDON: C Buzzard over A414 nr Briggens Home Farm (Murray Orchard)
23RD JULY: EAST HYDE: 2 Buzzards over & 15+ Lapwing (Darin Stanley)
22ND JULY: HANBURY MANOR: Family party of Spotted Flycatchers with 3+ young (Mike Baverstock)....TRING: Quail calling from barley field just south of Pitsone Hill (1.5 miles NE of Tring) at 2140 for 3rd evening, SP.949.137 (BN)
21ST JULY: VERULAMIUM PARK: m Ruddy Dk on lake (Alan Gardiner)
20TH JULY: POTTERS BAR: f Mandarin at Oakmere Park (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Dunlin, L Grebe, 7 Green Sands, 2 Common Sands, Hobby, 2 LRP, Greenshank & Cormorant (Steven Pearce)....LEA VALLEY WALK, HARPENDEN: Common Sand on poor nr river between Harpenden & Wheathampstead (Jason Chapman)....EAST HYDE: Hobby hunting swifts over farm, also C Buzzard & imm Cormorant (Mike Russell)....BROOKMANS PARK: Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)
19TH JULY: TYTTENHANGER: 3 Green Sands, 2 Common Sands, Greenshank & 2 Yellow Wag (in bean field) (Steven Pearce)....COOPERS GREEN: 2 Barnacle Gs, f Tufted with 5 yng, 7 L Grebe (inc juvs), 3m Pochard, m Ruddy Dk (Steven Pearce)....SHAFFORD FARM: 2 C Buzzards soaring, also Hummingbird Hawk Moth (John Pritchard)....GROVE MILL: 3 Kingfisher, ad + juv Common Tern, family of Bullfinch, pr Sedge Wbr, pr Spot Fly, pr Reed Bunt, L Grebe, Grey Wag & 12 Hs Martin (Stephen Welch)....PUCKERIDGE: Marsh Tit, Garden Wbr, 4 Reed Bunts, Buzzard (Murray Orchard)
18TH JULY: TYTTENHANGER: Dunlin, 4+ R Plover, LRP & 3+ Green Sands (Alan Gardiner)....TRING RSVR: 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Startops (7 there early am), 2 Common Sands (Andrew Moon/Ian Bennell) & 12 Common Terns (Andrew Moon)....KINGS MEAD: 3 Common Sands, 6 Common Tern, 15 S Martin, Tufted with brood of 6, 101 Lapwing, Shoveler, 2 Linnet & m Bullfinch (Alan Reynolds)....ESSENDON: Hobby, 2 Garden Wbr, 2 Lsr Whitethroat & c30 Linnet (Rupert Pyrah)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 2 Spotted Flycatchers by tennis courts, also 200+ BH Gulls with 6 LBB Gulls on fields (Ian Bennell)
17TH JULY: BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby over station at 0800 (Rupert Pyrah)
16TH JULY: STARTOPS RSVR: Common Sand (Andrew Moon)....HADLEY WOOD: C Buzzard over (Rupert Pyrah)
14TH JULY: H HEMPSTEAD: C Buzzard feeding on road kill by A41 (Andrew Moon)....AMWELL: LRP (Sarah Mumby Croft)
13TH JULY: NR HARE STREET: 2prs Corn Bunt, 2 prs Yellow Wag, flock 25 Linnet; S OF BARKWAY: 2 Corn Bunts, 3 Stock Dv (Murray Orchard)....OTTERSPOOL/MUNDEN EST: 2 Spot Fly, Hobby & pr Kestrel feeding 1+ yng (Bob Harris)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, Dunlin, 4 Green Sands, Common Sand, 10 R Plover (inc 2 chicks), 8 LRP (inc 2+ juvs), Reed Wbr & 17+ Common Tern (inc sev juvs) (Rupert Pyrah)
12TH JULY: TRINGFORD RSVR: 3 Whooper Swan in front of hide (FoTR)....OTTERSPOOL/MUNDEN EST: 2 Spotted FLycatchers feeding 2 yng nr Munden Hs (also 13th) (Bob Harris)....TYTTENHANGER: Green SAnd, 2 LRP, 7 R Plover, Common Sand, 9 COmmon Tern & Reed Bunt (Robin Pearson)....ARKLEY: Hobby (Rupert Pyrah)....PUCKERIDGE: C Buzzard, Cormorant, Kingfisher, juv Green Wdpkr, singing m Reed Bunt, 3m Yellowhammer & Bullfinch (Murray Orchard)
11TH JULY: TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, up to 5 Green Sands, Common Sand, 2 LRP, 2 R Plover & Hobby (Alan Gardiner) also 7 juv Common Terns in 3 distinct grps, implying 3 broods/prs (Steven Pearce)....COBS ASH: Buzzard (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM/COOPERS GREEN GP: 3 Kestrel, Reed Wbr, 9 Stock Dv, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Barnacle Gs, 2 L Grebe (Steven Pearce)....GT GADDESDEN: 15 Lapwing on wet meadow by R Gade, also Snipe (David Anderson)
10TH JULY: ST IPPOLYTS: pr Spot FLycatcher in a garden with 2+ young feeding (Michael Hooper)
9TH JULY: TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, Yellow Wag, 3 broods GC Grebe, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Redshank, pr R Plover + 3 juv, Sedge Wbr, 2 Green Sands, nrby 70+ Starlings at Roestock (Steven Pearce)....STOCKERS FARM: 2 Egyptian Geese on the field with 3 ad Lapwing with 2 chicks, also 2 Sand Martin (Af Nasir)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby, Common Tern & Lsr Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah)....St IPPOLYTS: Spotted Fly & Little Owl nr church (Michael Hooper)
8TH JULY: TRING RSVR: Male Redstart calling and flycatching nr Gamnel Bridge (Wendover Arm) (FoTR)....BIRCHALL: Stonechat with juv, also Cuckoo, 2 Yellowhammer, Meadow Ppt, 20+ Linnet, 4 Cormorants over, Little Grebe with 3 juvs (Steven Pearce)....EAST HYDE: Imm Little Egret on river from Thrales End Lane at 0745 (Mike Russell) and again at 1300, also Green Sand, Kingfisher (Darin Stanley) and again at 1430 viewed from mill cottages end (Graham Knight)....TYTTENHANGER: COmmon Sand, Redshank & R Plover (Graham Knight)....COLNEY HEATH: Monk Parakeet on house roof in Coopers Gate at 1830 (Steve Evans/Ann Lee)....HEXTON: Buzzard over chalk pit at 1330 (Les Borg)....WIGGINGTON: 2 C Buzzards over A41 (Andrew Moon)
7TH JULY: TYTTENHANGER: 2 Green Sands, Lapwing with 2 juvs, Great Crested Grebe with 2 young, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cormorant, 36 Linnet, 18 COmmon Terns with 4 juvs, 2 G Herons (Steven Pearce)....BALDOCK: Turtle Doves calling from 2 separate sites near Baldock (Roger Broadie)....EAST HYDE: Imm Little Egret (poss recently fledged) till noon at least (Mike Russell)....STANDON: 2 Grey Partridge flushed from road (Murray Orchard)
6TH JULY: TRING RSVRS: Grasshopper Wbr & Turtle Dv at sewage farm, Redshank & Common Sand at Wilstone (FoTR)....BEECH FARM: Reed Wblr, nrby at Coopers Green GP - pr Barnacle Geese (Steven Pearce)....GT GADDESDEN: Green Sand on wet meadows by R Gade, also seen on 5th (Michael Collins)....EAST HYDE: Imm Little Egret on river at 0900 (Clifford Smout)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Green Sand, 2 Redshank, juv Grey Wag, 20+ Lapwing, also Spot FLy feeding juvs at Shenley (Paul Unwin)....ST ALBANS: Lesser Sptd Wdpkr in a garden (David Edwards)....COLE GREEN FARM: Spotted Fly, also Turtle Dove at Brent Pelham Hall (Alan Reynolds)
5TH JULY: WILSTONE RSVR: Common Sand (FoTR)....EAST HYDE: Imm Little Egret on river at 0630 (Darin Stanley) and again at noon, viewable from road bridge (Robin Pearson), also Little Owl (Clifford Smout)....TEWINBURY FARM: pr Grey Wags feeding recently fledged yng (Anthony Dorman)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 2 ad Jays & 3 juvs behind bowling green (Ian Bennell)....PUCKERIDGE: 1+ Turtle Dove, C Buzzard, 3 Yellowhammers, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Nuthatch, Kingfisher & Sparrowhawk (Murray ORchard)....BERKHAMSTEAD: C Buzzard over A41 (Andrew Moon)....RICKMANSWORTH: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden on Highfield Way (Andrew Moon)
4TH JULY: EAST HYDE: Imm Little Egret showing x. well mid river at 0815 (Mike Russell)....BENDISH: Little Owl perched on telegraph pole along Law Hall Lane (John Trew)....ROTHAMSTED EXP STN: Hummingbird Hawk Moth briefly at 1145 (Mike Russell)
3RD JULY: MARSWORTH RSVR: Mandarin, also on storm lagoon, also Turtle Dv at Wilstone (FoTR)....KINGS MEAD: 2 LRP, 34 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 3 Teal, Kingfisher, 5 Sand Martin, 50 Swift, 8 Hs Martin, Hobby & 2 Shelduck (Alan Reynolds)....N MYMMS PARK: c100 Swifts over, also Garden Wbr & Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)
2ND JULY: WARE: Family party of 5+ Green Wdpkrs along Old Lea (Ian Edwards)
1ST JULY: EAST HYDE: Little Egret showing well on river close to Thrales End Lane til 2pm at least, also COmmon Tern seen to dive bomb it! (Mike Russell)
June 2003
29TH JUNE: NR BUNTINGFORD/BUCKLAND: 10 Yellowhammers, 4prs Corn Bunts, 6m Reed Bunts, Quail calling c1 mile E of Buckland, 13 Linnets, 4 RL Partridge, Nuthatch (Murray Orchard)....EAST HYDE: Little Egret (Allan Cutts)....COOPERS GREEN GP: f Mandarin with 5 young, 2 Barnacle Geese (apparently sitting on nest), 4m Pochard (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Redshank, ad R Plover + 2 chicks (the 2nd pair confirmed to have bred this year), Hobby, 7 Grey Heron (Steven Pearce)....SHAFFORD FARM: Spotted Fly, Buzzard, Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Chiffchaff, 50+ LT Tits (John Pritchard)....ST IPPOLLYTS: pr Little Owls with yng, Turtle Dove & pr Bullfinch (David Russell)
28TH JUNE: PUCKERIDGE: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden, also nrby Turtle Dove (Murray Orchard)....TYTTENHANGER: 6 Stock Dv, 3 Reed Wbr, Hobby, Redshank, Green Sand (Steven Pearce)....POND WOOD, POTTERS BAR: 2 Reed Bunts, Marsh Tit, Kingfisher, Bullfinch, L Grebe, c40 Rook (Rupert Pyrah)
27TH JUNE: AMWELL: Male Hawfinch ground feeding with Bullfinch (Sarah Mumby Croft)....KINGS MEAD: 3 LRP, CommoN Tern, 28 Lapwing, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr (Alan Reynolds)
26TH JUNE: EAST HYDE: Common Tern downriver (Mike Russell)25TH JUNE: ALPINE MEADOW: 2 Lsr Whitethroats, 2 yng Tawny Owls, Little Owl, c4 Skylarks, 2 Yellowhammers & Chiffchaff (Stuart Scott)
24TH JUNE: HIGHFIELD WAY, R'WORTH: Hummingbird Hawkmoth in a garden (Andrew Moon)
22ND JUNE: AMWELL: Oystercatcher from viewpoint at 1000 (Trevor Brownsell)....TYTTENHANGER: 9 Redshank (inc yng), Green Sand, 2 broods LRP (ad with 3 juvs, 3+ ads with 2 juvs), 6+ R Plover with 2+ jv, Grey Wag, 2 Reed Wbr (Steven Pearce)....HATFIELD AERO/BEECH FARM: 5 singing Mdw Ppt, Reed Wbr (Steven Pearce)....WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Grey Partridge (Darin Stanley)....RYE MEADS: Turtle Dove, Lsr Whitethroat, Sedge Wbr, Whitethroat, Reed Wbr, Grey Wag (Darin Stanley)HATFIELD: Reed Wbr in a garden (N Bristow)....BETWEEN GT HADHAM, LATCHFORD & BARWICK FORD: 24 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Bunts, juv Cuckoo, 2prs RL Partridge, 8 Stock Dv, 3 Turtle Dove, Little Owl, 2 Lsr Whitethroat, 2prs Linnet (Murray Orchard)
21ST JUNE: KIMPTON MILL: f Mandarin with 2 juvs on R Mimram, also Tawny Owl with 1+ jv, also Grey Wag (Richard Webb)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 prs Redshank with young, 2 Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Yellow Wag, Kingfisher, Hobby, Blackcap (Steven Pearce)....BROOKMANS PARK: pr Lsr Spotted Wdpkr in a garden (Rupert Pyrah)....HATFIELD AERO/BEECH FARM: c20 Meadow Ppt, c15 Skylark, 9 Reed Bunts, 3 L GRebe (inc 2 yng), 4 Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Garden Wbr & Lsr Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah) 9 Stock Dove (Darin Stanley) Nrby at Coopers Grn GP: L Grebe, 105 Lapwing, pres feral Barnacle Gs, and at Sutton Farm GP: 3 L Grebe, 8 Tufted (Steven Pearce)....ST IPPOLYTS: pr Spotted Flycatchers in a garden (Michael Hooper)....PUCKERIDGE: 2 Buzzards, 300 Swifts, 4 Willow Wbr, 2 Whitethroat, Reed Bunt, Yellowhammer & 2 Bullfinch (Murray Orchard)....COLLIERS END: Turtle Dove (Murray Orchard)
20TH JUNE: KINGS MEAD: 48 Lapwing, 20 Swift, 3 Hs Martin, Sand martin, Shelduck, 4 LRP, 2 Common Tern (Alan Reynolds)
18TH JUNE: SHAFFORD FARM: Cuckoo, Chiffchaff & Sedge Wbr (John Pritchard)....BITTERN WATCHPOINT: (just outside Herts) Male Bearded Tit in front of hide (4 there on Tuesday 17th) (Tim Hill)....ST IPPOLYTS CHURCH: pr Goldcrests feeding young (Michael Hooper)
17TH JUNE: BEECH FARM: 4+ singing Meadow Pipits (Alan Gardiner)....N MYMMS PARK: Tree Pipit and Little Owl (Rupert Pyrah)....FISHERS GREEN: No sign of Marsh Wblr so far this morning but male Bearded Tit from Bittern Watchpoint (BN)....BROOKMANS PARK: Lsr Spotted Wdpkr in a garden (Rupert Pyrah)....WELHAM GREEN: Ring-necked Parakeet on Holloways Road at 0700 (Simon Cummings)....BATFORD: Red Kite over (Peter Wilkinson)
16TH JUNE: PUCKERIDGE: Hummingbird Hawk Moth in a garden (Murray Orchard)....FISHERS GREEN (just outside Herts): Marsh Warbler till dusk by river 500 yards north of roadbridge, viewed from riverside before weir. Park in Fishers Green car park. Some observers think this may poss be a Blyth's Reed Warbler (BN)....LITTLE GADDESDEN: C Buzzard over (Ian Burrus)....KINGS LANGLEY: Buzzard over village towards Bovingdon (David Whitehouse)....STEVENAGE: Hobby at Coreys Mill & Little Owl at Knebworth Park (Clive Brackenbury)
LATE NEWS FROM MARCH
15TH JUNE: PUCKERIDGE: HObby over (Murray Orchard)....TYTTENHANGER: Hobby (Alex Lewis)....KINGS LANGLEY: Hobby (David Whitehouse)....LETCHWORTH: Spotted Fly at Sollershott West (Roger Broadie)....SMALLFORD HEATH: 2 male Bullfinch (Steven Pearce)....PEGSDON HILLS: Turtle Dove calling (Clive Brackebnury)
14TH JUNE: WESTON: Hobby at Halls Green (Clive Brackenbury)....TYTTENHANGER: 4-6 Redshanks, 1 pair with 3 young, 1 with 1+ chick, also Green Sand, Shelduck, Sedge Wbr, 2 Reed Wbr, 3 Cormorant, 2 Yellow Wag, 3 lapwing chicks (Steven Pearce)....COOPERS GREEN GP: Redshank, 2 pres feral Barnacle Gs, 2 broods Coot, 44 Lapwing, pr displaying GC Grebe (Steven Pearce)....WALKERN VILLAGE: Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding in a garden (also 15th) (Jeff Davies)....BRENT PELHAM HALL: Turtle Dove (Alan Reynolds)....SHAFFORD MILL: pr Spot Fly, Buzzard & 4 Painted Ladies (Mike Thompson)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY LAKE: Grey Wag (Christopher Hughes)
13TH JUNE: KINGS MEAD: Redshank, LRP & Hobby plus large hatch of Black-tailed Skimmers (Alan Reynolds)....BATFORD/LEASEY BRIDGE: Stock Dove, pr Blackcap, pr Bullfinch, Lsr Whitethroat, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Grn Wdpkr, Chiffchaff & Painted Lady (Darin Stanley)
12TH JUNE: CHISWELL GREEN: 2 singing Corn Bunts by Plaistows Farm, also 6+ singing Yellowhammers in area (Alan Gardiner)....BROOKMANS PARK: Common Tern & Kingfisher at Gobions Pond (Rupert Pyrah)
10TH JUNE: STOCKERS FARM: 3 LRPs & pr Mistle Thrush (Af Nasir)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby over village centre at 1910 (Rupert Pyrah)
9TH JUNE: CASSIOBURY PARK: Spotted Fly, nrby Painted Lady on Douglas Ave, Watford (Ian Bennell)....TYTTENHANGER FARM: Hobby, 2 Buzzards & Tree Sparrow (N Bristow)....AYOT ESTATE: Hobby, nrby 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Brocket Park & 1 at Waterend (Richard Lee)
8TH JUNE: BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: R Plover (pr + chick), Lsr Whitethroat, Bullfinch, 5+ Meadow Ppt, Hobby, Reed Wbr, Cuckoo, nrby at Coopers Green GP - Shelduck, 2 Barnacle Gs (pres feral), Redshank, 30+ Lapwing, 2 "ringed" plovers (birds distant) (Steven Pearce)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby over village centre (Rupert Pyrah)....ST PAULS WALDENBURY: Spotted Fly (Clifford Smout)
7TH JUNE: TYTTENHANGER: Hobby, 2 Redshank (poss with young), 2 Cormorant, 2 Common Tern, L Grebe, large Lapwing chick with parent birds, Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck, 3 Yellow Wags (1 carrying food), Tree Sparrow (Steven Pearce)....SOUTHERN GREEN FARM: Turtle Dove at TL312318 (Alan Reynolds)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: Hobby circling with Swifts at 1945 (John Moss)....WATER END: pr Mandarin on R Lea (Clifford Smout)....HARE STREET: pr Yellow Wag gathering food for young (Murray Orchard)
6TH JUNE: N MYMMS PARK: Spotted Fly, Lsr Whitethroat, 3 Garden Wbr, nrby Hobby at Brookmans Park (Rupert Pyrah)....STOCKERS FARM: 150 Starlings inc juvs plus m GS Wdpkr (Joan Thompson)
5TH JUNE: TYTTENHANGER: Tree Sparrow by farm, 3 R Plover (with 1 well fledged juv), 2 LRP, 10+ Lapwing (plus 1 chick), 2 Redshank, Yellow Wag, Common Tern (Alan Gardiner), also Whitethroat, Kingfisher, Sand Martin, pr Bullfinch, pr Reed Bunt, 2 Stock Dv, Nuthatch, 4+ RL Partridge, 2 Yellow Wags (Darin Stanley)....KINGS MEAD: 3 LRP, 8 Lapwing, 20 Sand martin, 2 Shelduck, 20 Swift (Alan Reynolds)....KINGS LANGLEY: Buzzard circled, mobbed by Hobby (David Whitehouse)....ALPINE MEADOW: Little Owl, Tawny Owl with 2 yng, 4 Grey Partridge (Stuart Scott)
4TH JUNE: CHALKDELL FARM, WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Little Owl (Alex Lewis)
3RD JUNE: CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: f Cuckoo & Lsr Whitethroat (Af Nasir)....ASHWELL: Quail calling at 2145 at TL270382, also 2 Grey Partridge calling & Little Owl (Roger Broadie)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 2 Painted Ladies and 1 at Paddock Rd allotments, Oxhey (Ian Bennell)
2ND JUNE: KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS, TOLPITS LN: Painted Lady butterfly, a mini influx occured today with 400+ in Norfolk (Ian Bennell)
1ST JUNE: ST IPPOLYTS: Drake Mandarin at St Ibbs Park Lake (Michael Hooper)....STOCKERS FARM: No sign of Wood Sand today (BN) but LRP present (Ian Bennell)....COOPERS GREEN GP: 2 LRP, 2 Barnacle Geese, 2 Ruddy Dk & Redshank (Steven Pearce)
May 2003
31ST MAY: LEGGATTS COLLEGE, N WATFORD: Poss Purple Heron west over at c100m altitude calling at 0420, in direction of Grove Mill but no sign there in a subsequent search (Stephen Welch)....STOCKERS FARM: Wood Sandpiper on floods, also LRP & Redshank (Andrew Moon)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Redshank, Shelduck, Sedge Wbr, 2 Reed Wbr, Yellow Wag (in pea field), Cormorant, sev Sand Martin (Steven Pearce)....BENGEO: Red Kite south over a garden (Clive Fleming)....BRICKET WOOD: Buzzard over, nrby at Otterspool - Hobby, 5+ Lapwing & Kingfisher (Bob Harris)....BRAUGHING: 6 singing Corn Bunts in area, also 1-2 prs Yellow Wags & good nos Skylarks & Yellowhammers with a few prs Linnet (Murray Orchard)....SLATE HALL FARM RESERVOIR: pr Yellow Wags (Alan Reynolds)....WELHAM GREEN: Hobby over (Rupert Pyrah)
30TH MAY: N WARE: Lsr Whitethroat in scrub behind a garden - 1st for c10 years! (Mike Baverstock)
29TH MAY: STOCKERS LAKE: Little Egret (Neil Chapman)....GORHAMBURY: 15 Lapwings with 9 chicks, also Hobby chasing Swift (Mike Thompson)....FAIRLANDS LAKE, STEVENAGE: Oystercatcher & Common Sand on main boating lake (Paul Lufkin)
28TH MAY: BENGEO: Hobby at The Warren hawking over redwood at Port Hill end of The Warren (Clive Fleming)....NR WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Woodcock (Peter Wilkinson)....J19 M25: 3 Common Terns over A41 (Ian Bennell)....CORNMILL MEADOWS: (just outside Herts) Nightingale singing near car park (Les Borg)
27TH MAY: WILSTONE: Black necked Grebe (Dave Bilcock) & Redshank (Joan Thompson)....WEST OF STEVENAGE: Quail calling at TL217242 at 1800 only (Roger Broadie)....TYTTENHANGER: pr Marsh Tit in Coppice Wood, also 2 Cormorant, 3 Greylags, 8+ Common Tern, 2 LRP, 6 R Plover & 2 Redshank, but no sign of Brent Goose (Graham Knight), also 3 Yellow Wags, Kingfisher, Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Lsr Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Wbr, 4m Reed Bunts & 4 Common Tern (Af Nasir)....WATFORD: Red Kite high over Gammons Lane (Frank Horne)....EAST HYDE: Buzzard over R Lea, also Cormorant & 15 Canada goslings (Robin Pearson)....HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: GS Wdpkr feeding young (Ian Burrus)....STEVENAGE: Spotted Fly in a Chells Manor garden (Ray Hooper)
26TH MAY: SUTTON FARM GP: L Grebe & Yellowhammer (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENH ANGER (north end only): pr Pochard, Redshank, Lsr Whitethroat (Steven Pearce)....WELWYN GDN CITY: Hobby east over area adj to British Lead Mills Factory in Bridge Rd (Michael Worby)....TYTTENHANGER: pr Hobbies, Cuckoo, R Plover with 3 chicks, Dunlin, Lapwing with chick, 7 Common Tern, 2 LRP, 3 Redshank (Graham Knight)....BALDOCK: 4 singing Corn Bunting, Yellow Wag, Hobby (Rupert Pyrah)....SHAFFORD FARM: 2 Hobbies chasing Hs martins, also 4+ Buzzard, 3 Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo (John Pritchard)....PIRTON: Yellow Wag on Icknield Way (Michael Hooper)....WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Spotted Fly along Lea Valley Walk (Michael Collins)....PUCKERIDGE: Reed Bunt, 2 Bullfinch, 3 singing Willow Wbrs, & 2m Whitethroat (Murray Orchard)
25TH MAY: BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: 2 singing Mdw Pipit, 2m Reed Bunts, 2 LRP, 2 Grey Partridge, nrby at Coopers Grn GP: Redshank, 2 LRP, 1+ R Plover (Steven Pearce)....ALPINE MEADOW: pr Whitethroats, Cuckoo, c7 Skylarks, 2 Tawny Owl chicks (Stuart Scott)
24TH MAY: TYTTENHANGER: 2 Redshank, 5 Common Tern, Yellow Wag (singing in pea field), 2 Kingfisher, 2 Sedge Wbr, Lsr Whitethroat (Steven Pearce)....PUCKERIDGE: Turtle Dove, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Whitethroat, also Cuckoo at Hare Street (Murray Orchard)....ASHRIDGE ESTATE: Cuckoo (Don Otter)....GADE VALLEY: 3 Buzzards (Don Otter)....FROGMORE PIT, STEVENAGE: Buzzard & escaped Harris Hawk (Jeff Davies)
23RD MAY: POTTERS BAR: L Grebe, Lsr Whitethroat & Marsh Tit in Pond Wood (Rupert Pyrah)....WATFORD: Kingfisher on R Colne at Ebury Way, also Lsr Whitethroat, GS Wdpkr & Willow Wbr (Joan Thompson)
22ND MAY: TYTTENHANGER: Kingfisher (Steve Evans)
21ST MAY: HITCHIN: Turtle Dove in a garden on Roundwood Close (Martin Banthorpe) Turtle Dove at Offley Holes, Charlton (Michael Hooper)....TYTTENHANGER: R Plover with 3 chicks, 2 LRP, 2 Redshank, 5 Common Tern, DB Brent Goose, 3 Greylag, 2 Reed Wbr, Cuckoo, LSr Whitethroat (Rupert Pyrah)....ESSENDON: pr Spotted Fly (Rupert Pyrah)
20TH MAY: ALPINE MEADOW: Tawny Owl feeding 2 fledged young (Stuart Scott)....BROOKMANS PARK: Hobby over (Rupert Pyrah)....STEVENAGE: Hobby N over Gresley Way, also Common Tern at Fairlands Lake (Alan Ford)....HATFIELD PARK: 2 large hawks, poss Harris Hawks recently (Steve JOnes)....TYTTENHANGER: DB Brent Goose, Redshank, 3 R Plover, Ruddy Dk, 3 Greylag, Whitethroat (Darin Stanley)
21ST MAY: POTTEN END: Little Owl at Lower Little Heath Farm (Stuart Harrison)
18TH MAY: WILSTONE: 1000 Swifts, 200+ Hs Martin (Joan Thompson)....TYTTENHANGER: 8 Grey Heron, DB Brent Gs, 3 Greylag, Wheatear, Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Redshank, Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: Cuckoo, pr Shelduck, singing Mdw Pipit, LRP (Steven Pearce)....BROCKET PARK: Red Kite over (Anthony Dorman)....KINGS MEAD: 20 Sand Martin, 2 Hs Martin, Swallow, 50 Swift, 2 SHelduck, 16 Tufted, 46 Gadwall, 38 Coot, 2 Lapwing, 25 Mallard, Stonechat (with 3 young), 2prs Linnet, 5 Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Sedge Wbr, 2 Reed Wbr & 4 Reed Bunts (Alan Reynolds)....ASHRIDGE: Singing Tree Pipit, also SPotted Fly (Clifford Smout)....SHAFFORD FARM: Cuckoo, Cormorant (on Ver), Buzzard, Reed Bunt & Reed Wbr (John Pritchard)
17TH MAY: TYTTENHANGER: Hobby, 3 Greylag, DB Brent Goose, 3 broods Canada Gs, Reed Wbr, Cormorant, 3 Common Tern, 2 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 7 G Heron (Steven Pearce)....BROOKMANS PARK: Turtle Dove feeding on a garden lawn, nrby at Oakmere Park, Potters Bar - Mandarin & pr M Swan with 4 cygnets (Rupert Pyrah)....ALDBURY NOWERS: Buzzard calling (Ian Burrus)
16TH MAY: TYTTENHANGER: 4 Greenshank flew over calling on fishing lake side, also Kingfisher, Sedge Wbr, 2 R Plover, 3 Greylag, DB Brent Goose, 40+ Hs Martin, 3 Ruddy Dk (Steven Pearce)....POTTERS CROUCH: 8+ Lapwing (Steven Pearce)
15TH MAY: TYTTENHANGER: 4 LRP, RP, 3 Redshank, Tree Sparrow, Dark-bellied Brent Goose (unknown origin), Reed Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Chiffchaff, Willow Wbr, Blackcap, Garden Wbr & Whitethroat (Alan Gardiner)....KINGS MEAD: Drake Garganey, 2 SHelduck, 40 Coot, 51 Gadwall, 20 Mallard, 13 Tufted & Lapwing (Alan Reynolds
14TH MAY: N MYMMS PARK: Tree Pipit, also Little Owl, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Buzzard & 8 Garden Wblr (Rupert Pyrah)
13TH MAY: ST IPPOLYTS: Turtle Dove calling by church for past 3 days, nrby pr Grey Wag at St Ibbs Park (Michael Hooper)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY LAKES: 2 Common Sands at 0730, also 3 GC Grebes, pr Tufted & Common Tern (Alan Ford)....AYOT ESTATE: Pr Mandarins with 3 young on R Lea (Richard Lee)....PIRTON: Bullfinch on Icknield Way (Michael Hooper)
12TH MAY: WILSTONE: Barn Owl & Little Owl in meadow, also Curlew flew over & Willow Tit singing (FoTR)....ASHRIDGE ESTATE: pr Mandarin on pond nr Monument Dv (Don Otter)....AMWELL: 2 Hobbies, also Redshank with young (Nigel Agar)....STANBOROUGH: Little Owl in Brocket Rd (Alex Lewis)....GADE VALLEY: Little Owl (Don Otter)
11TH MAY: TYTTENHANGER: Brent Goose (unknown origin) still (Gordon Nash, Graham Knight)....WILSTONE: Raven over in the morning (per Ian Bennell)....BROCKET PARK: 9 Crossbills over at 1600, also pr Grey Wag, GS Wdpkr, Nuthatch & Treecreeper (Anthony Dorman)....BARNET: Red Kite west over St Albans Rd at 1420 towards Arkley (Nigel Taylor)....TRIMS GREEN: Yellow Wag, 3 Corn Bunts, Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk, 2 Pied Wag, 2 Swallows & sev Skylarks (Murray Orchard)
10TH MAY: TYTTENHANGER: Brent Gs, 3 Greylag, Dunlin, 2 Redshank, Common Sand, Pochard (Steven Pearce)....TRINGFORD RSVR: Falcated Duck (unknown origin) reported on RBA pager, one seen on 11th in Kent - same? (per Ian Bennell)....WILSTONE: BLACK KITE over reservoir then drifted east towards Ivinghoe Beacon c1020 (later seen 1ml w of Ivinghoe at 1045) (BN)....GUBBLECOTE: Little Owl (Ian Burrus)
9TH MAY: WATFORD: Possible Hoopoe calling at Oxhey Grange off A4008 Oxhey Lane behind bowling green 1005-1015 but no visible sign in brief search TQ118945 (Ian Bennell) - poss same as seen on 3rd by A41/M25 jctn?....AMWELL: Red Kite (wing-tagged) flew up valley towards Ware at 1720 (Toby Austin)....OTTERSPOOL/MUNDENS ESTATE: Common Sand, 2 LRPs, pr Shelduck, 4 Lapwing & Little Owl (Bob Harris)....TYTTENHANGER: m Wheatear on narrow causeway, also pr Ruddy Dk, 6 LRPs, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, Dunlin, GArden Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Whitethroat, Willow Wbr, Chiffchaff, 2 Common Terns, 20 Swift & 5 Sand Martins (Nigel Taylor)....TRING PARK: Tawny Owl flew across road at Hastoe Hill (Ian Burrus)....KINGS MEAD: pr Stonechat with 3 newly fledged young, LRP, 2 Redshank, 9 Sedge Wbr, 8 Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck, Lapwing, Kingfisher, Hobby, 27 Coot, 7 Tufted, 38 Gadwall, 20 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, L Grebe, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap (Alan Reynolds)
8TH MAY: CHELLS MANOR: 3 Yellow Wags on farmland (Ray Hooper)....Cuckoo nr Stockers Lake (Kfir)
7TH MAY: SOUTH MIMMS: White Stork east over jctn 23 M25 at 3pm (BN)....HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: Grey Wag at Water Garden (Roger Payne)
6TH MAY: SYMONDSHYDE GT WOOD: Garden Wbr singing (John Postlethwaite)....PETERS GREEN: Red Kite over (Mike Russell)....BERKHAMSTED COMMON: Hobby & Woodcock roding (Stuart Scott)....ICKLEFORD: singing Garden Wbr (Jim Terry)
5TH MAY: STOCKERS LAKE: f Marsh Harrier seen distantly to north, rising poss from Croxley Moor, also Hobby & 2 LRPs at the farm (Steve Younger)....WILSTONE: 7 Hobbies hawking at c1100 (Mike Sheehan)....TYTTENHANGER: Brent Goose still present with Greylags, fully winged, unringed and wary, also Dunlin & 4 Yellow Wags (Graham Knight) also 2 lapwing chicks, 6 Greylags & pr Shelduck (Steven Pearce) Mandarin over, 3 Redshank, 7 LRP, 2+ R Plover, 5 Common Tern, Kingfisher, 2 poss Arctic Terns through, Cuckoo, Garden Wbr, Sedge Wbr, Lsr Whitethroat, nrby Tree Sparrow & Yellow Wag at Coursers Rd (Rupert Pyrah)....BROCKET WOODS: m Crossbill, poss others about, also Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wag, Nuthatch & GS Wdpkr (Clifford Smout)....WATFORD: Spotted Flycatcher in canal side trees at The Wharfs, N of Grove Mill (Stephen Welch)....SHAFFORD FARM: Cuckoo, 2 Buzzard, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr, Willow Wbr & Reed Bunt (John Pritchard)....GT GADDESDEN: Lsr Whitethroat at Pipers Hill (Michael Collins)
4TH MAY: GOREHAMBURY: 6 Crossbills, 3+ Buzzards & Hobby (STeve Forder)....MARSWORTH RSVR: Little Egret over at 0700 (Ian Bennell)....STARTOPS RSVR: Black Tern (Birdguides)....BRICKET WOOD: Wood Warbler since 2nd May, presumably at the Common (Birdguides)....CODICOTE BOTTOM: Little Egret flew along R Mimram, also sev Whitethroat, calling Cuckoo & pr Lapwing (Ian Eyre)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: R Plover, Lsr Whitethroat, C Buzzard, L Grebe, LRP, Ruddy Dk, 6+ Lapwings, nrby at Coopers Grn GP - 20 Tufted, 2 M Swan, Redshank, pr Gadwall, pr Shelduck & Lsr Whitethroat at Sutton Farm GP where there were also 10 Tufted & Yellow Wag (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENHANGER: Brent Goose (unknown origin) with Canadas on grassy slope above causeway, also 3 Redshank, 3 R Plover, 3 LRP, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Wbr, Yellow Wag & 2 Common Tern (Pete Christian) plus 5 Greylags, 4 Shelduck (Steven Pearce) 4 Yellow Wags at Willows Farm (Steve Evans)....ASHWELL: No sign of Dotterels so far today (BN), though 2 Golden Plover there (Clifford Smout, Roger Broadie) & Lsr Whitethroat nrby. Turtle Dove in Ashwell village & 2 Corn Bunts by Ashwell-Newnham road (Clifford Smout)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Whitethroat, 2 SHelduck, pr Sparrowhawk, pr Kestrel, 3 SHoveler, LRP, 40 Coot, 57 Gadwall, 15 Mallard, 2 Common Tern, Cuckoo, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, 8 singing Reed Bunts, 9 singing Sedge Wbr, 5 Linnet, Reed Wbr, 20 Swift (Alan Reynolds)....SHENLEY: Buzzard mobbed by crows (Paul Unwin)....WOODOAKS FARM, MAPLE CROSS: Buzzard, Little Owl, Wheatear, 2 Lsr Whitethroat (Steve Pash)....SHIRE LANE, WEST HYDE: Whinchat on fence along track to Chalfont Ln, 2+ Yellowhammer & Hobby (Steve Pash)....N MYMMS PARK: 2 Garden Wbr & Cuckoo (Rupert Pyrah)....AYOT GREENWAY: Garden Warbler on OLd Railway Walk, also Buzzard over (Michael Collins)....BROCKET ESTATE: Garden Wbr (Trevor Chapman)....WHEATHAMSTEAD: 3 Sparrowhawks together (Trevor Chapman)
3RD MAY: WATFORD: Prob Hoopoe NW over A41/M25 roundabout at c1430 (Alan Jones)....ASHWELL: 4 Dotterels. Heading north from Baldock on A505, tale 1st rd signed Ashwell & birds are in 2nd bare field on left viewable from midway along footpath (BN, Nigel Agar), also Golden Plover with them (JMD), 2 by early evening (Anthony Dorman)....CHESHUNT MARSH: Grasshopper Wbr at 0755 SE of Bowyers Water (per Ian Bennell)....BROCKET WOODS: Spotted Flycatcher (Clifford Smout)....SAWBRIDGEWORTH MARSH: 2 Cuckoos, Willow Wbrs, 2 Greylags over, Sedge & Garden Wbrs, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Reed Bunts & Little Owl (Andrew Hardacre)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Yellow Wags & fem WHeatear in Willows Farm pumpkin patch, also 2 Dunlin, 2 Sedge Wbr, Reed Wbr, 5 Whitethroat, 3 R Plover, 2 LRP & 3 Redshank (Pete Christian) Ruddy Dk, 2 Cormorant, 6 Greylag, m Teal (Steven Pearce) also Kingfisher (Steve Evans)....BROOKMANS PARK: 2 Common Terns, Lsr Whitethroat, GArden Wbr & 3 Bullfinch (Rupert Pyrah)....BARLEY MOW FARM: Singing Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce)
2ND MAY: SHENLEYBURY: 2f Wheatears (Jim Terry)....ASHWELL: 4 Dotterels at TL272 382 all day (BN)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 Dunlin, Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce)....FAIRLANDS LAKES: Common Sand & Dunlin on shore of sailing lake (Paul Lufkin)....GT GADDESDEN: escaped Ruddy SHelduck, also Garden Wbr at Ashridge (Clifford Smout)....RYE MEADS: 6 Shelduck (Clifford Smout)....AMWELL: LRP & Redshank (Clifford Smout)....KINGS MEAD: Hobby caught a swift, also 15 Swift, Sand Martin, Hs Martin, 20 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck, 4prs Tufted, Turtle Dove, Chiffchaff & Blackcap (Alan Reynolds)....WATTON-AT-STONE: Red Kite over (Cliff Butterworth)....HITCHIN SEWAGE WORKS: c1000 Swift, 800 Swallow, 600 Hs Martin over filters (Cliff Butterworth)
1ST MAY: GADDESDEN ROW: Whinchat at 0630 off footpath from Gaddesden Row to Bridens Camp at TL0511 (Michael Collins)....STOCKERS LAKE: Little Egret in bushes at eastern end at 0945 (Andrew Moon)....ROTHAMSPED EXP STN: Hobby west at noon (Mike Russell)....REDBOURN: pr Yellow Wags at Verlam End (John Fisher)....BOREHAMWOOD: LSr Whitethroat at Strangeways Farm (Steven Pearce)
April 2003
30TH APR: AMWELL: m Whinchat from viewpoint, also Hobby, Common Sand R Plover (AM)....BRE SITE, GARSTON: Wood Warbler singing in oak outside Mansion. Close to Bricket Wood Common so may move on quickly. BRE Site is private but bird could be heard from Bucknalls Lane (Stephen Welch)....HATFIELD AERO/BEECH FARM: Lapwing, LRP, pr Shelduck, Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, 2 Mdw Ppts (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENHANGER: 8 Wheatear (4m, 4f), Teal, 5 Common Tern, 4 Redshank, Dunlin, 20 Tufted, Sedge Wbr (Steven Pearce)....HARROW WEALD: Red Kite over (Andy Grimsey)....FAIRLANDS LAKE, STEVENAGE: Common Sand on the island of the 2nd largest lake (Paul Lufkin)....BROCKET ESTATE: Buzzard over (Trevor Chapman)
29TH APR: BISHOPS STORTFORD: Whinchat singing along Rye Street in a garden before moving off north (Jonathan Forgham)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: Lsr Whitethroat, 7 Reed Bunt, 20 Stock Dv, Mandarin, Whinchat, 2 Shelduck, Ruddy Dk (Rupert Pyrah)....TYTTENHANGER: 170+ hirundines (mainly Hs Martin), 6 Gadwall, Teal, 4+ LRP, R Plover, 3 Shoveler, 2 Common Tern, 5+ Redshank (Rupert Pyrah) 13 Greylag & 2m Ruddy Dk (Jim Terry, R Pyrah)....ESSENDON: Cuckoo, Lsr Whitethroat, Common Tern, 2 Reed Bunt, 4 Whitethroat & 22 Swift (Rupert Pyrah)....TRING RSVRS: c200 Swift at Wilstone, Hobby, with c300 Swift in Startops/College Lake area. F Marsh Harrier N over (Mike Wallen)....WELWYN GC: Prob Red Kite over town centre at 1500 (Robin Pearson)....REDBOURN: 2 Lsr Whitethroats nr River Red, Nicky Line (Ernest Leahy)....WATFORD CREMATORIUM: LS Wdpkr heard in gardens (Barry Squires)....BOREHAMWOOD: Hobby hunting low over housing estate and open grassland (Jim Terry)....MILL GREEN: Lsr Whitethroat along disused rlwy line (Steven Pearce)....STAINES GREEN: 2 Grn Wdpkr, m Reed Bunt, m Bullfinch (STeven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Common Tern, pr Teal, 2m Shoveler, pr Shelduck, nrby Grey Wag at Hertingfordbury & 2 Lsr Whitethroats at Birch Green (Steven Pearce)
28TH APR: RADWELL: Osprey over A1 at TL234362 (BN)....TRING RSVRS: At Startops - Arctic Tern, c100 Swallows, c40 Hs Martins, c80 Sand Martin, c40 Swift. At Wilstone - c200 Swallows, c70 Hs Martins, c100 Sand Martin & c80 Swift (Mike Wallen)....N MYMMS PARK: 3 Garden Wbr, 2 Whitethroat, 8 Willow Wbr, 10 Blackcap, 2 Bullfinch & Buzzard (Rupert Pyrah)....SOUTH MYMMS: Hobby over M25 at 1045 (Darren Thomas)....TYTTENHANGER: 2m Shoveler, 2 Redshank, 2 Ruddy Dk, 3 Swift, 20+ Hs Martin, Common Sand, 2 Common Tern (STeven Pearce)
27TH APR: PUCKERIDGE: Lsr Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 3 Willow Wbr, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Swallow, 6 Hs Martin, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer & Kestrel displaying (Murray Orchard)....RADLETT: F Wheatear at Blackbirds Farm on kerb stone heap in field betw Blackbirds Ln & sewage works at 1930 (Stephen Welch)....TRINGFORD RSVR: 3 Whooper Swans with lg numbers of M Swan at noon (P Leigh)....SAWBRIDGEWORTH MARSH: Garden Warbler, also c15 Sedge Wbr, Whitethroats & Blackcaps (Andrew Hardacre)....WILSTONE: c100 Hs Martin with good nos of other hirundines, c60 Swifts & a Hobby, good nos hirundines noted at the other reservoirs too (Mike Wallen) 3 Hobbies seen hawking at c1pm (Peter Leigh)....TYTTENHANGER: Hobby, Dunlin, pr Ruddy Duck, Swift (Mike Smith) Skylark, 4 Swift, 2 Common Tern, Redshank, R Plover, LRP, sev Gadwall & Shoveler, numerous hirundines (Robin Pearson)....SARRATT BOTTOM: Buzzard, Stock Dv, Grey Wag & Water Vole (Paul Unwin)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY PARK: Ad Bar-headed Goose with M Swan & Canaga Gs (Sean Blackmore)
26TH APR: BERKHAMSTED COMMON: 2 Cuckoos calling, 6 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Treecreepers, 10 Yellowhammers, 4 Linnet & 2 Goldcrest (Stuart Scott)....FISHERS GREEN (close to Herts border): Nightingale, Garden Warbler, Ring Ouzel, 2 Lsr Whitethroats (Alex Lewis)....AMWELL: Garden Warbler (Alex Lewis)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Yellow Wag, 6 LRP, 4 Redshank, 4 R Plover, 8 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 11 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler (Pete Christian) also reported 2 Greenshank, 4 Green Sands & 2 SHelducks on pools behind workings (per Steven PEarce)....TRING RSVRS: At Startops - 15 Common Tern & Cuckoo, Cetti's Warbler calling at Marsworth, at Wilstone - 3 Hobbies, 3m Wigeon, 30+ Swift, 40+ Hs Martin, 20+ Swallow & Buzzard over W (Ian Bennell) 8 Wigeon early am, LRP flew across res into Bucks (Joan Thompson)....STEVENAGE: Red Kite over football ground at 1545 (Paul Lufkin)....VERULAMIUM PARK: 15 occupied heron nests (4 less than 2002) (Barry Trevis)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Common Tern, 2 LRP, Shoveler, 4 Sedge Wbr, 2 Shelduck, 2 Stock Dv, Grn Wdpkr, Blackcap (Alan Reynolds)....REDBOURN GC: pr Yellow Wag & Sedge Wbr (Clifford Smout)
25TH APR: KINGS MEAD: LRP, 4 Sedge Wblr, 4 Reed Bunts, 15 Sand Martin, Whitethroat, 2 Common Tern, 2 L Grebe, 3 Tufted, 111 Gadwall, 43 Coot, 6 M Swan, Blackcap, 28 Mallard, 6 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 2 Lapwing, Grey Wag, Chiffchaff (Alan Reynolds)....TEWIN: 2 RL Partridge, also Kingfisher nrby on private land (Les Borg)....BRIGHTWELLS FARM: 100+ Starling (Joan Thompson)
24TH APR: RICKMANSWORTH: 21 Swifts over Moneyhill at 1845 (Steve Younger)....FISHERS GREEN: (just outside Herts) F Ring Ouzel in goose field, also m Whinchat & 2 LRPs (BN)....HERTFORD: Cuckoo at Morgans Walk (Alan Reynolds)....CASSIOBURY PARK: 2 Swifts & 5 Swallows (Ian Bennell)
23RD APR: BROCKET PARK: 28 occupied heron nests (Barry Trevis)....WILSTONE: Curlew flew in calling at dusk (Len Vaughan)....PATMORE HEATH: Wood Sandpiper at 0615 from Middle Pond (Mick East)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 1-2 Grasshopper Wblrs reeling, also 2 Lsr Whitethroat, Reed Wblr, 6 Sedge Wblr, 4 Whitethroat, c15 singing Willow Wblr, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Grey Wags & Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....AMWELL: Osprey over, heading towards Ware (BN)....AMWELL: Common Sand, 3 R Plover, Snipe & Redshank (Alan Ford)....JERSEY FARM OPEN SPACE: GArden Warbler singing & Hs Martin (Graham Knight)....TYTTENHANGER: Lapwing brood of 2 juvs & m Ruddy Dk (Jim Terry)
22ND APR: CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Lesser Whitethroat & 4 Whitethroat (Af Nasir)....HITCHIN: Garden Warbler singing along Walsworth Rd (Martin Banthorpe)....SOUTHERN GREEN FARM: Turtle Dove calling (John Dingemans)....TRING RSVRS: At Startops - 2 Little Gulls (ad & 1st-w/s), 20+ Common Terns & 2 Yellow Wags (Andrew Moon) & Curlew low over (Alan Ford); at Wilstone - Common Sand (Andrew Moon), Little Egret & Little Gull, though the gull flew to Startops at 1050 (Alan Ford)....ST IPPOLYTS: 4 Fieldfare over (Michael Hooper)....KINGS MEAD: 9 Fieldfare roosted (Alan Reynolds)....ASHWELL: 2+ Corn Bunts singing at Midden, also 6+ Yellow Wags (Nigel Wood)....EAST HYDE: 3 Yellow Wag & 5 Fieldfare (Clifford Smout)....SANDRIDGE: c80 Fieldfare (Robin Smith)....BLACKBRIDGE LANDFILL: Redwing & Fieldfare (Michael Collins)
21ST APR: TEWIN: Red Kite over, nr Tewin (David Laming)....SAWBRIDGEWORTH: Female Ring Ouzel c0.5 mile S of The Maltings (nr station), also 2 Common Terns & Sedge Wbr (Barry Squires)....TRING RSVRS: Blue-headed Wagtail reported on pager, Pr Common Scoter at Startops at 0925 (Mike Wallen, Rupert Evershed, Ian Bennell) also there - Black Tern (Ian Bennell) Cuckoo & Cetti's Wblr (Rupert Evershed), At Wilstone: Black Tern (Mike Wallen, RUpert Evershed), also 2 Swift, Common Sand, Dunlin thru, 30+ Swallow, 10+ Hs Martin, 5+ Common Tern (Rupert Evershed), Reed Warbler heard (Ian Bennell) & Hobby (Alex Lewis)....OTTERSPOOL/MUNDEN ESTATE, WATFORD: 2 LRP, 4 Shelduck, 30 Fieldfare, Little Owl (Bob Harris, Paul Unwin), R Plover, 9 Snipe, 4 Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, 3 Nuthatch, 9 LBB Gull, sev Blackcap & Whitethroat but no sign of Ring Ouzel (Bob Harris)....TYTTENHANGER: Whimbrel but chased off by Lapwings and flew north at 1030, also Common Sand, Snipe, sev R Plover & LRP, no sign Greenshank (Graham Knight, Ricky Flesher & Terry Smith) also Green Sand (Robin Pearson) & 4 Redshank, 8 Shoveler & 2 Kestrels (Steven Pearce)....KINGS MEAD: Whinchat, 21 Teal, 2 Shelduck, 18 Sand Martin, 4 Common Tern, 2 Blackcap, 6 Shoveler, 8 Reed Bunts, 3 LRP, Sedge Wbr, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff & Swallow (Alan Reynolds)....STOCKERS FARM: Green Sand, 4 Shelduck, 14 Teal & 4 LRP (Joan Thompson, Andrew Moon), & Cuckoo calling by lake (Joan Thompson) nrby 3 Egyptian Gs flew N over Troy Mill GP at 1515 (Andrew Moon)....TINGLEY WOOD: winter male Brambling with Chaffinches (Richard Webb)....COLNEY HEATH: 2 Bullfinch at Park Corner & 2 Bullfinch at Bullens Green (Steven Pearce)
20TH APR: ICKLEFORD COMMON: Cuckoo, Yellow Wag & Lesser Whitethroat (Richard Webb)....WILSTONE: Swift & ad Little Gull (Joan Thompson)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Sedge Wblrs, 3 Redshank, LRP, R Plover, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 5 Swallow, 15 Sand Martin, 2 LBB Gull, H Gull (Robin Pearson) also 6 Common Tern & 9 Shoveler (Steven Pearce)....OTTERSPOOL/MUNDENS ESTATE: M Ring Ouzel still with 13 Fieldfare but distant, also 2 LRP, 25 Stock Dove, Cuckoo, Swallow, 2 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, Cormorant, Whitethroat, Willow Wbr, 4 Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, 2 Reed Bunt, 9 LBB Gulls, 3 H Gulls, 3 Nuthatch & 4 Lapwing (Ian Bennell)....STARTOPS RSVR: Ad Little Gull at 0645 (Mike Wallen)....ASHRIDGE ESTATE: Buzzard, 2 Linnet, 4+ Willow Wbr, 3 Grn Wdpkrs, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Yellowhammers & 2 prob Marsh Tits (Stuart Scott)
19TH APR: TYTTENHANGER: 2 Common Sands, 30+ Swallows, 5 Common Tern, 3 Snipe, 2 Redshank & 4 Teal (Steven Pearce)....ALDBURY NOWERS: sev Whitethroat, Willow Wbr, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & 10+ Green Wdpkrs, also m Ring Ouzel on Pitstone Hill, just outside Herts, beyond woods (Ian Burrus)....TRING RSVRS: Ad Little Gull & 2 Arctic Terns at Startops 0830 at least; at Wilstone - c40 Sand Martins & c30 Swallows (Mike Wallen)....BISHOPS STORTFORD: 34 Fieldfare w of town (Chris Dee)....BOURNE END: Red Kite over (Ian Burrus)
18TH APR: BEECH FARM: Ring Ouzel 0930-1100 at least, in fields on left after going thru iron gate but mobile, also Cuckoo & Willow Wbr (Mark McManus), also 2 Buzzards, Yellow Wag, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Shoveler & Sand Martin, also SE Owl reported, nrby 5 LRPs at Hatfield Aerodrome, 2 Redshank at Coopers Green GP & at Sutton Farm GP: Green Sand, Yellow Wag, 22 Linnet & 10 Tufted (Steven Pearce)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Black Terns, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Tern, 3 Redshank, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sand Martin, Common Sand, 4 Stock Dove, Willow Wbr, 3 Snipe, Kingfisher, 7 Swallows (Steven Pearce)....BOWYERS WATER: Male Ring Ouzel behind Cormorant Hide showing well in area of rough grass & hawthorn scrub till 1230 at least. Area is best viewed from ramp leading up to hide as bird is often well hidden in grass (Ross Facer)....OTTERSPOOL: m Ring Ouzel with 34 Fieldfare for 20mins at 1000 before being flushed by helicopter, not relocated, also Little Owl, sev Chiffchaff & Whitethroat (Bob Harris)....KNOCKING HOE, NR PEGSDON (200m outside Herts): 4 Ring Ouzels (2m, 2f) (Richard Webb)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: Grasshopper Wblr reeled for c5mins, also 4 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Wblr, 20+ Willow Wblr, 3 Common Tern, Redwing (Af Nasir)....SHAFFORD FARM: 4+ Hs Martins, Cuckoo, 2 Swallows & 3+ Buzzard (John Pritchard)....REDBOURN: pr Yellow Wags nr Ver footpath just N of Luton Lane (John Fisher)....BUSHEY: Buzzard over (Tony Clarke)....WHEATHAMPSTEAD: m Whitethroat at Blackbridge Landfill (Michael Collins)....BARLEY: c30 Fieldfare nrby (Ted Fletcher)
17TH APR: REDBOURNBURY: Hobby, 2 Buzzards, Whitethroat, 100+ Fieldfare & 6 Swallows (Mike Thompson)....AMWELL: Ad F Marsh Harrier flew in low from W of viewpoint, then south over main lake before being mobbed by 11 Common Terns, it then turned and flew N over reeds & lost to view, poss to roost (Ross Facer)....OTTERSPOOL: LRP & Green Sand (Stephen Welch)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Black Terns on fishing lake at Willow Farm end 0930-1015 at least, also 3 COmmon Tern, 2 Swallows, Sedge Wblr, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Sand Martin, SHelduck, Greenshank, 2 Common Sands (Graham Knight, Ricky Flesher)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY LAKES: 2 Common TErns, 2 GC Grebes, 4 Cormorants, Tufted & Grey Wag (Alan Ford)....HARPENDEN RD: 20 Fieldfare (Michael Collins)
16TH APR: TYTTENHANGER: 6+ LR Plover, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Wblr, 4 Redshank, Common Tern, Tree Sparrow, 2 R Plover (Alan Gardiner)....ALDENHAM RSVR: 19 Common Terns at 1900, also 11+ Swallows (Stephen Welch)....WILSTONE RSVR: 13+ Little Gulls with terns at 1030 (Mike Wallen), by 1215 Black Tern, 20+ Little Gulls, Arctic Tern through, Cuckoo, 30+ Common Terns, Grey Wag, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, also Brimstone & Green-veined White butterflies (earlier at 0915, 41 Little Gulls had been reported to RBA) (Ian Bennell), Arctic Tern at 1730 (Andy Grimsey)....STARTOPS RSVR: Black Tern (diff to Wilstone bird, 15 Common Terns, Reed Bunt, Willow Wblr & Blackcap mimicking Sedge Wblr! (Ian Bennell), Arctic Tern, 6 Little Gulls & 2 Black Terns at 1815 (Andy Grimsey), at 1700 - 2 Black Terns, 28+ Common Terns (no Arctics) & 5 ad Little Gulls (Andrew Moon)....PATMORE HEATH: 2 Swallows, 3 Hs Martins & pr Reed Bunts (Mick East)....FAIRLANDS VALLEY LAKES: Redshank, 3 GC Grebes, 4 Cormorants, Blackcap, Tufted (Alan Ford)....REDBOURNBURY MILL: 4 Swallows, 2 Linnet, Buzzard & Grey Wag (David Waters)....STEVENAGE: House Martin in Chells Manor (Ray Hooper)
15TH APR: ATTENBOROUGH FIELDS/MERRY HILL, BUSHEY: m Ring Ouzel feeding with thrushes in corner of horse field with metal fence off Merry Hill Road (Rob Hopkins/Jack Fearnside/Andy Jardine)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 2 Whitethroats, Sedge Wblr, 15 Willow Wblr & Water Rail (Af Nasir)....KIMPTON: Whitethroat at Whiteway Bottom (John Trew)....PATMORE HEATH: Cuckoo (Mick East)....COURSERS FARM: m Wheatear on ridge s of Coursers Rd, also Yellow Wag over (Jim Terry)....STOCKERS FARM: 70+ Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Swallows, Green Sand, 2 LRP, Little Owl (Af Nasir)....ALPINE MEADOW, BERKHAMSTED: Little Owl, 10 Yellowhammers, 6 Linnet, 2 Tawny Owls calling, 15 Fieldfare (Stuart Scott)....AMWELL: Cuckoo (Nigel Agar, Mike Baverstock), also pr Bearded Tits from hide, 3 Willow Wblrs, many Sedge Wblrs, 5 Common Tern , Green Sand (Mike Baverstock)
14TH APR: HERTFORD: Cuckoo at Morgans Walk (Alan Reynolds)....STARTOPS RSVR: 30+ Common Terns, 2 Ruddy Dk, 30+ Tufted & 2prs Pochard (Ian Burrus)....STOCKERS FARM: Common Tern, 3 Swallows & 2 LRPs (Af Nasir)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 15 singing Willow Wblrs, Water Rail & pr Nuthatch in nrby Croxley Woods (Af Nasir)....REDBOURN: Green Sand on Ver just N of Harpenden Ln 0830 (John Fisher)....REDBOURN GOLF CLUB: Snipe, Redwing, Fieldfare & Reed Bunt on R Ver, also House Martin at East Hyde (Matt Best)....BARLEY: 2 Grey Partridge just before Cambs border (Mick East)
13TH APR: WEST WOOD, HITCHIN: 2m Redstarts in hedgerows between West Wood & Austage End at 1730 (Richard Webb)....BLACKBRIDGE LANDFILL: Cuckoo at 1800 over waste land, also Willow Tit with mixed tit flock around disused car park off Codicote Rd (Michael Collins)....TRING RSVRS: Cetti's Wblr & Sedge Wblr heard at Marsworth, Swallow over & Sparrowhawk. 11 Common Terns over Startops & 3 over Wilstone. M Ruddy Dk at Startops. Swallow & 2 Grey Wag at Wilstone. 120 M Swan at Tringford (Jason Chapman)....HALL MARSH SCRAPE: Herts/Essex border, pr Garganey still present (AM)....TYTTENHANGER: Common Tern, Greenshank, 6+ LR Plover, singing Willow Wblr, 3 Sand Martins, 2 R Plover, Green Sand, 2 Snipe, pr Buzzards (Graham Knight), also 19 Tufted, 6 Shoveler & Common Gull (Steven Pearce)....REDBOURN GOLF COURSE: 3 LR Plover (Clifford SMout)....GT OFFLEY: 70+ Fieldfare at Minsbury Hill (Richard Webb)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Redshank, LR Plover, Chiffchaff, 2 SHelduck, 3 Swallows, Sand Martin, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, 5 Tufted & 71 Fieldfare (in roost)....PETERS GREEN: 4 Swallows N at 1930 (Matt Best)....MISWELL FARM, TRING: Willow Wblr, Chiffchaff, sev prs Linnet, Yellowhammer, Hs Sparrow & Long-tailed Tit (Ian Burrus)
12TH APR: PETERS GREEN: Male Hen Harrier, plus a second probable, over north at 1100, also Buzzard (Matthew & Jane Best)....TYTTENHANGER: 28 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 3 Redshank, Greenshank, 3 SHoveler, 8 Gadwall & 3 Sand Martin (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: Redshank, 2 R Plover, 8 Gadwall, 6 L Grebe, 2 LRP, Meadow Ppt, 2 Kestrel (Steven Pearce)....HIGHPARK WOOD, GT GADDESDEN: 40 Linnets (Michael Collins)....AMWELL: 2 Hobbies, 3 LR Plover, 3 SHelduck, R Plover, Willow Wblr, Blackcap (Alex Lewis)....STOCKERS FARM: Green Sand, LR Plover, Willow Wblr (Paul Lewis), also 47 Teal, 4m Blackcaps & House Martin around Lake (Af Nasir)....CODICOTE BOTTOM: Swallow (Ian Eyre)....REDBOURNBURY: Swallow by Mill (John Pritchard)....STANBOROUGH LAKES: pr Grey Wags (Michael Worby)....BATFORD: m Blackcap (Jason Chapman) & Buzzard (Trevor Chapman)
11TH APR: TYTTENHANGER: Yellow Wagtail & Water Pipit reported....STOCKERS FARM: Green Sand, 2 LR Plover, Lapwing & Grn Wdpkr (Joan Thompson)....FLAUNDEN: Buzzard mobbed by 2 crows (Rob Egan)....KINGS MEAD: Jack Snipe, 2 LR Plover, 16 Snipe, 2 Swallows, Grey Wag, 3 Chiffchaff, 14 Wigeon, 26 Teal, Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)....SHAFFORD FARM: 28 Golden Plover over, also 35 Fieldfare (John Pritchard)....ROYDON: 80 Fieldfare (Jim Terry)....PHSAELS WOOD: Buzzard over farmland nr campsite (Patrick White)
10TH APR: FROGMORE QUARRY, STEVENAGE: Singing Willow Wblr, L Grebe, 5 Chiffchaff, GS Wdpkr, Grn Wdpkr (Trevor CHapman)
9TH APR: TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, Green Sand, 5 LR Plover, 2 R Plover, 2 Redshank, Snipe & Tree Sparrow (Alan Gardiner)
8TH APR: WILSTONE RSVR: 1+ Arctic Tern, Common Tern, 20+ Sand Martins, 2+ Swallows, also Buzzard over S at 1650 (Andrew Moon)
7TH APR: TYTTENHANGER: 2 Whimbrel for at least an hour over midday, also 4 LR Plover, 3+ R Plover, Greenshank (on s side of causeway), 2 Sand Martins (Tony Wileman)....TELEGRAPH HILL: Red Kite over at 1300 (Nigel Agar)....WILSTONE: No sign of scoters but Willow Wblr & White Wagtail there (per Ian Bennell)
6TH APR: STARTOPS RSVR: 2 drake Common Scoter at 0730, prob same as Wilstone later (Joan Thompson)....WILSTONE: 2 drake Common Scoter from 12 onwards (per Ian Bennell), also Green Sand, 2 Redshank, Yellow Wag, Swallow & Meadow Ppt (Joan Thompson)....BOWYERS WATER: pr Common Scoter present in evening (per Ian Bennell)....SHAFFORD FARM: Male Marsh Harrier seen at close range over reeds & water meadow (George Ashby) but not relocated later, also Buzzard, Little Owl, Kingfisher, 100+ Fieldfare, 15+ Skylark, 6 Meadow Ppt, Reed Bunt (John Pritchard)....AMWELL: 7 Swallows, 3 Redshank & Snipe, also in Lea Valley but outside Herts - male Redstart at Fishers Green & Sedge Warbler at Hooks Marsh (Graham Knight)....TYTTENHANGER: 2 Swallows, Greenshank, 2 LR Plover, 38 Linnet, 3 Redshank, Snipe, 3 R Plover, Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck & 3 Gadwall (Rupert Pyrah), also 3 Sand Martin & m Blackcap (Steven Pearce)....BEDMOND: 2 singing Blackcaps, nrby Willow Wblr in Potters Crouch Plantation, also 2+ Brambling with Chaffinches in larch tree tops & 100 Fieldfare by Plaistows Farm, Chiswell Green (Alan Gardiner)....BROOKMANS PARK: c85 Linnet, 60+ Fieldfare, 9 Chiffchaff & 3 Blackcap (Rupert Pyrah)....BOWMANS FARM, L COLNEY: 120 Fieldfare & Redwing (Paul Unwin)....ELLENBROOK: Blackcap (Steven Pearce)....GORHAMBURY: 2-3 Buzzards, 30+ Fieldfare, 10+ Redwing (S Forder)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: 111 Fieldfare, 40+ Meadow Ppts, 8 SKylark, Reed Bunt, 4 Teal, 3 L Grebe, Snipe & 50+ Lapwing (Anthony Dorman)....AYOT ESTATE: SNipe on R Lea (Trevor Chapman)
5TH APR: COPPICE WOOD: 2 Marsh Tits, c0.5ml from Bowmans Farm Lake (Steve Evans)....HERTFORD HEATH: Prob Crimson Rosella, present for sev days (Derrick Dorken)....HILFIELD PARK RSVR: Common Tern (Stephen Welch)....TYTTENHANGER: pr Mandarin early am (Rupert Evershed) Greenshank, Green Sand, 5 Redshank, 5 R Plover, 5 Teal, 2 Shelduck (Robin Pearson, Steven Pearce), also 4 LR Plover, male White Wagtail, Sand Martin & 6 Shoveler (Steven Pearce)....BEECH FARM/HATFIELD AERO: 2 Meadow Ppt, 2 Kestrel, 2 Teal, 6 L Grebe, 16 Gadwall, Snipe, LR Plover, 15 Fieldfare, nrby at Sutton Farm GP - 2 Grey Partridger, 11 Tufted & 3 Linnet (Steven Pearce)....COW ROAST: Buzzard over (Ian Burrus)....STANDON: Grey Partridge along Dowsetts Ln (Anne Rowe)
4TH APR: HETRFORD: Little Egret west over (Alex Lewis)....WILSTONE: Water Pipit, 2 Yellow Wags & White Wag on causeway/jetty to left of car park, also 2 singing Willow Wblrs, Chiffchaff, Snipe, 20 Common Gulls, LBB Gull & Lapwing (Ian Bennell)....ST ALBANS: Red Kite over Jersey Farm heading SE (Wendy Hatton)....WATER END: Red Kite heading north at 1015 (Peter Clark)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 6 LR Plover, 3 R Plover, 2 Shelduck, Kingfisher, 2 Sand Martin, 19 Linnet (Rupert Pyrah)....KINGS MEAD: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Shelduck, 32 Teal, 100 Gadwall, 23 Wigeon, Grey Wag & Kingfisher (Alan Reynolds)
3RD APR: TYTTENHANGER: Merlin (male) at 1700 (Jim Terry)....WILSTONE: Barn Owl over meadow behind hide, also Water Pipit & Brent Goose (FoTR)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 5 singing Willow Warblers, m Blackcap, 2 Water Rail & Nuthatch nrby in Croxley Woods (Af Nasir)....KINGS MEAD: LR Plover, 2 Shelduck, 16 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 96 Gadwall, 60 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....LITTLE WYMONDLEY: m Pintail (unknown origin) on small pond at Redcoates Farm, viewable from Stevename Rd (Steve Austin)....TYTTENHANGER: 3 LR Plover, 3 Sand Martin, 4 R Plover, 3 Redshank (Alan Gardiner)....ROTHAMSTED ESTATE: pr Blackcaps & 2 singing Chiffchaffs (Jason Chapman)
2ND APR: WHEATHAMPSTEAD: Buzzard over (Adrian Horner)....MARSWORTH RSVR: Cetti's Warbler singing (FoTR)....CROXLEY COMMON MOOR: 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 3m Bullfinch, 3 Reed Bunt, pr Kingfisher (Af Nasir)....EAST HYDE: Swallow (Clifford Smout)....PANSHANGER: pr Buzzards over estate E of A414 at 0945 (Michael Worby)....NOMANSLAND COMMON: Buzzard over west (Robin Smith)....BAYFORDBURY: 80 Fieldfare (Alan Reynolds)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: c45 Golden Plover, 5 Yellowhammer (John Moss)....WELWYN GC: m Blackcap in a garden (Michael Worby)....HARPENDEN: m Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch in a garden (Robin Pearson)
1ST APR: SHERRARDSPARK WOOD: Willow Warbler singing (David James)....TRING: Red Kite west over Tring School (Alan Jones)....CHISWELL GREEN: 15 Golden Plover over (Alan Gardiner)
March 2003
31ST MAR: WOODSIDE, WATFORD: Red Kite (untagged) west over (Bob Cripps)....FAIRLANDS LAKE, STEVENAGE: 5+ Lesser Redpolls in pines on small slope by lake next to main lake (Paul Lufkin)....VERLAM END, REDBOURN: LR Plover on bank of R Ver upstream of Luton Lane, also Buzzard over, 3 Snipe & pr Reed Bunts (John Fisher)....POUND FARM, ICKLEFORD: Little Owl perched on guttering (Andy Banthorpe)....WARE: Buzzard over Westmill Tip, also pr Marsh Tits & Little Owl recently in Sawtrees Wood (Mike Baverstock)....HALL MARSH: (just outside Herts) 3 Garganey (2 drakes), 3 Blackcaps & 5 Chiffchaffs, nrby at Cornmill Meadows: 33 Snipe, 11 Redshank, 50+ Wigeon, 16 Lapwing, 60 Teal & Water Rail (Mike Ruggins)....STARTOPS RSVR: Tawny Owl perched on telegraph pole (Ian Burrus)
30TH MAR: WELWYN GC: 17 Waxwings 1330-1345 in poplars at jctn of Church Rd & Parkway before flying N (Anthony Dorman)....SPRINGWELL LAKE, R'WORTH: (just outside Herts) male Bearded Tit at 0930 only (per Ian Bennell)....AMWELL: Bittern briefly in flight, also m Blackcap (David Wheatcroft)....DIGSWELL: m Mandarin on R Mimram by Digswell Lake (David Wheatcroft)....TYTTENHANGER: pr LR Plover, 7 R Plover, Greenshank, 3 Green Sands, 6 Sand martins, 4 Redshank, 23 Golden Plover (over), 2 SHelduck, several Chiffchaff, 9 Tree Sparrow, 6 Gadwall, 49 Tufted, 2 SNipe (Rupert Pyrah, Steven Pearce, Anthony Dorman)....RYE MEADS: 3 LR Plover, 2 Green Sand (Draper Hide), Snipe & 64 Gadwall (Jason Chapman)....OAKMERE PARK, POTTERS BAR: 2prs Mandarin & Kingfisher (Rupert Pyrah)....HATFIELD GDN VILLAGE: Buzzard over, also Brimstone, Comma, Peacock & Orange Tip butterflies (John Moss)
29TH MAR: ROYSTON: Whitethroat singing 4mls ENE of ROyston along Icknield Way (per Ian Bennell)....HERTFORD: pr Mandarins on pit nr jctn Thieves Ln/A414 into Hertford (David Wheatcroft)....TYTTENHANGER: Green Sand, 3 LR Plover, 9 Shoveler, Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 2 Gadwall (Steven Pearce)....BROOKMANS PARK/WATER END: c85 Linnet on setaside, also 11 Chiffchaff, 150 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 3 Grey Wag & Marsh Tit (Rupert Pyrah)....HAMBURY MANOR, WARE: 4 Green Wdpkrs (Mike Browning)
28TH MAR: KINGS MEAD: 2 Jack Snipe, 18 Snipe, 7 Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, Shoveler x BW Teal hybrid, 50 Teal, m Blackcap, 40 Wigeon (Alan Reynolds)....STOCKERS LAKE/FARM: 23 WIgeon, 33 Teal, 3 LR Plover, 8 Chiffchaff, 80 M Swan, Siskin, 5 Goldeneye & Water Rail (Ian Bennell)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, Green Sand, 2 Redshank, 4 R Plover, Snipe (David Wheatcroft)....GARSTON: No sign of Firecrest at BRE site all week (Stephen Welch)....MOOR MILL: Moorhen chick (Stephen Welch)....AMWELL: Blackcap & Redwing (J Thornley)
27TH MAR: NR HITCHIN: Red Kite over towards Stotfold (Martin Banthorpe)....TYTTENHANGER: Greenshank, 4 LR Plover, 2 R Plover, 4 Redshank, Green Sand &