Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering May and June 2000
Red-rumped Swallow Upstages Stint; Firecrests Breed
The flock of dippers from Tring were given a second chance when Steve Murray discovered a Red-rumped Swallow at Hilfield Reservoir on 27th May. Access was arranged for the Saturday and the bird showed well for most of the morning and again in the evening allowing even birders from distant Hampshire to connect. It was last seen early am on 29th. Almost as rare was a Temminck's Stint found by Graham White at Amwell GP 5th-6th May, and presumably the same bird was seen at Rye Meads on 6th May.
Firecrests are regular passage migrants and winter visitors to the county, but this year breeding birds, with adults and young were found at not one, but two sites. Rob Souter discovered an adult feeding a juvenile at a private site near Hertford, and Graham White found a singing male with 3 juveniles at Broxbourne Woods.
Little Egrets seem to be becoming more regular with singles found at Wilstone Reservoir and Stanstead Abbots GP. Escaped/feral birds dominated the wildfowl section, but more interesting records were a Common Scoter at Tyttenhanger, a Pintail at Amwell, and a summering male Goldeneye at Hilfield. Red Kites records continue to be recorded from scattered locations, I wonder how much longer before they are found breeding in Herts. Two Marsh Harriers were found at Wilstone, and Ospreys were seen at Wilstone and Hilfield Reservoirs.
Twenty wader species were found, most notably 2 Oystercatchers, 2 late Golden Plover, a Sanderling, a Ruff, two Bar-tailed Godwits, four records of Whimbrel (including one flock of 8), 3 Curlew, and a Wood Sandpiper. 1 to 5 Little Gulls were recorded on three dates from just two sites; Arctic Terns were few, but an incredible total of 12 Little Terns passed through Wilstone Reservoir 4th-5th May, with another at Rye Meads on 6th May, and good numbers of Black Terns were noted.
Turtle Dove records from five sites were encouraging, a Tree Pipit was found at North Mymms, and the last Wheatears of Spring had trickled through by 9th May. A total of 5 Nightingales were found holding territory, with three at Stanstead Abbots GP, 1 at Smallford Lake and 1 at Stockers Lake, and a Ring Ouzel was seen near Hitchin. Two Wood Warblers at Smallford GP were an excellent find, a pair of Willow Tits at Fir and Pond Wood are almost as rare these days, as are breeding records of Hawfinches which bred successfully at Bayfordbury.
Finally an exotic species from the east in the form of a Red-billed Blue Magpie was found at Burnham Green by David Booth who was familiar with the species, identifying it as being one of the Chinese races. I think we can safely assume that it was of captive origin!
New County Recorder. After many years of service, Rob Young has decided to retire as County Recorder. On behalf of the Herts Bird Club I thank him for the years of hard work he has put in and wish him a happy retirement. Mike Ilett has bravely agreed to take up the position and is already working like a Trojan. Please send all descriptions of rare birds to Mike at the address given later in this bulletin. Also welcome to Jonathan Braggs and Alan Gardiner to the Herts Bird Club Committee.
Lee Marshall.
Lee's contact details are here.
Systematic bird sightings for May/Jun 2000