Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering September and October 2000
The air sweet with honey
With a meagre total of 15 accepted records of Honey Buzzard in Herts, and six of those from the 19th century, Honey Buzzard is a real rarity. However, over an eleven-day period this autumn, a massive 27 records involving 70 birds have been received so far. This total will obviously involve some duplication, but one can only wonder at how many were missed, and what the real total should be.
The first record was of 1 bird over Amwell GP on 21st Sep. The following two days saw the largest movements with 17 birds recorded on 22nd and 16 on 23rd Sep. Subsequent daily totals were 9 on 24th, 11 on 25th, 1 on 26th, 8 on 27th, and 1 on 28th Sep. None were reported over the next couple of days; then came a final surge of 6 birds on 1st Oct. In addition, 13 large raptors seen circling over Stevenage on 3rd Sep were described as too slim-winged for Common Buzzards, and could possibly have been an advance party of Honeys. It appears that the birds were forced from their usual migration route by a large weather system over Scandinavia causing easterly gales mid-month, and records suggest that the movement also involved a good number of Common Buzzards and other large raptors. Those of us who still need Honey Buzzard for Herts may have a long wait before another passage like this occurs.
An even more rare event took place when a Short-toed lark flew over Amwell GP with Skylarks on 14th Oct (Barry Reed), constituting only the second county record, the first being a more obliging individual at Tyttenhanger GP from 7th-10th May 1991. Roll on 2011.
Even without the major county rarities, it was an action packed autumn. A Great Northern Diver spent five days at Hilfield Res, a Slavonian Grebe turned up at the unlikely site of Smallford Lake, and a Bittern was seen at Amwell GP. Wildfowl reports included 4 (apparently new) Whooper Swans, a drake Garganey, and a drake Pintail at Wilstone Res, and a pair of Red-crested Pochard at Hilfield Res. Single Garganey were also seen at Amwell GP, Rye Meads, and Tyttenhanger GP.
Other raptors, mostly coinciding with the Honey Buzzard passage, included a Red Kite at Lilley, a possible Montagu's Harrier at Ashwell, a Hen Harrier lingering in the Pitstone Hill-Ashridge area, 5 Marsh Harriers and 5 Ospreys, (with four of each seen at Amwell GP), and a Merlin at Hare Street. An escaped Harris Hawk was seen at Langley, and the Hunsdon Red-tailed Hawk has reappeared again with presumably the same bird seen at Amwell GP the previous day. Another more exotic escapee was a Crowned Crane near Thundridge.
Wader passage was light but interesting with at least 20 Ruff including a flock of 14 over Hilfield Res, 2-3 Jack Snipe at Rye Meads, 3 Curlew, and a Spotted Redshank at Amwell GP. Up to 4 Yellow-legged Gulls could be found at Amwell, joined by a probable first winter 'Caspian' Gull on 11th Oct. Wilstone Res claimed 2 Sandwich, 6 Arctic, and 5 Black Terns, with another Sandwich Tern found at Hilfield Res. At least 1 Short-eared Owl has returned to Beech Farm/Hatfield Aerodrome, and another flew over Wilstone Res. A late Swift was seen at Rye Meads on 12th Oct. A Woodlark was reported over Digswell, 2 Rock Pipits were found at Wilstone Res, and 2 Water Pipits at Rye Meads. A Redstart was found at Rye Meads, Whinchats, Stonecats and Wheatears continued to pass through, the first Redwings arrived (8th Oct), and a Firecrest was seen in a Tit flock at Wilstone Res briefly. Now becoming a county rarity, a Willow Tit was seen at Rye Meads; it shouldn't be too long before this species is highly sought after by up and coming county-listers. Finally, a pair of Ravens were reported displaying by the M25 at Abbots Langley.
Please note that our grafting County Recorder Mike Ilett has moved to- 14 Cowper Crescent, Bengeo, Hertford, SG14 3DY Tel 01920 830073
Lee Marshall
Lee's contact details are here.
Systematic bird sightings for September/October 2000