Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering July and August 2000
Spoonbills star. Black-necks breed.
Once again the star birds of the period eluded the masses. Two Spoonbills spent just eight minutes at Wilstone Reservoir at 07.30 hrs on 20th Aug for the benefit of just two 'jammy' observers before heading off towards Aylesbury. Records of Little Egret are also on the increase, reflecting the ever growing numbers on the south coast. Two birds were seen this period, one at East Hyde (26th Jul), and the second flew over Tesco's in Watford (ignoring the special offers) on 7th Aug. Not content with just 'ticking' Ravens in Hertfordshire, Robin Smith had to get 1 flying over his Kimpton Garden on 20th Jul.
The good news from Hilfield Reservoir is that the Black-necked Grebes have bred again albeit with limited success. Up to 7 adults and 3 young were seen over the period. Amazingly the first youngster was found in the company of a family of Great Crested Grebes, and seen being fed and carried by the adults. The youngster developed quickly on a diet of over-sized fish and was the only one survive to fledge. The second brood of 2 yg did not do so well despite being raised by their own kind. One did not survive the first week and the second is not believed to have survived to fledge. Nevertheless, any breeding record keeps potential water sporting activities at bay a little longer, ensuring protection for wintering and breeding wildfowl at the site.
Among the dearth of 'dodgey ducks' was a Ruddy Shelduck at Stockers Lake and a report of breeding Scaup at West Hyde (what happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'). Perhaps holding better credentials were a Pintail at Amwell, single Garganey at Amwell and Tyttenhanger, and a summering drake Goldeneye at Hilfield, where there were also 6 Common Scoter (holding full passports) in late July. Three Marsh Harriers and an early returning Osprey head the raptor list, and a pair of Hobbies raised 1 yg at Hilfield.
Wader passage got off to a good start and included 4-5 Oystercatchers, an early returning Golden Plover, 2 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2-3 Wood Sandpipers, and a Turnstone. Single Mediterranean Gulls were found at Amwell, Broxbourne GP, and Hilfield Reservoir, the latter site also hosting a Yellow-legged Gull on two dates. Four Sandwich Terns at Tyttenhanger (23rd Aug) were a good find, and a total of 7 Black Terns were found at Tring Reservoirs. Four sites recorded 1-2 Turtle Doves, 2 juvenile cuckoos were found, and a Barn Owl was seen at Potters Crouch.
A Nightingale was found at Balls Wood (17th Jul), and a juvenile Redstart in a Bishops Stortford garden (8th Aug). Beech Farm held the first returning Whinchats with 2 juveniles on the incredibly early date of 22nd Jul (I wonder), 3 more were present on a more respectable 20th Aug, and another was at Hilfield on 23rd. The return passage of Wheatears began trickling through from 30th Jul, several breeding records of Spotted Flycatcher are encouraging as are the ringing reports and counts (max 75) of Tree Sparrows at Coursers Road. One has to look back to 1996 to find counts of 70+, the recent increase undoubtedly due to the efforts of Gary Elton and Jack Fearnside, with winter feeding and putting up nest boxes.
Unfortunately this bulletin has had to be completed minus the records for Rye Meads as I have still not received them. I will try to incorporate those records into the next bulletin.
Lee Marshall
Lee's contact details are here.
Systematic bird sightings for July/August 2000