Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering November and December 2000
Tring gets a new Pelican crossing
A White Pelican moving between reservoirs at Tring from the 13th Nov must be an impressive sight even if it is an escape. There is some debate over whether the bird is American or Eastern. If it stays into Spring, the true identity will be revealed by the presence, or lack of a knob on the bill.
At least 4 Bitterns were recorded at three sites, Amwell seemingly offering the best chance to catch up with the species this Winter. The White-fronted Goose at Lynster’s Farm is probably of suspect origin but a Brent Goose at Rye Meads (1st Nov), and 2 more at Amwell (24th Dec) were certainly wild, though unfortunately brief. Two first winter Egyptian Geese visited Wilstone on the 30th Dec. The regular wintering Garganey at Rye Meads remained throughout, a Ferruginous Duck of probable suspect origin was present on the River Lea at Ware from the 24th Nov, and 3 Common Scoter were seen at Hilfield on the 17th Dec. Small numbers of Goldeneye, Smew and Goosander were recorded from regular sites.
A Goshawk at Tring (27th Nov) was a good find, but otherwise it was a poor period for raptors. A Peregrine was seen at Rye Meads, and single Merlins at Bishops Stortford, and Tring. Noteworthy waders included a Ruff at Amwell (31st Dec), and up to 3 Jack Snipe at Rye Meads. Common Snipe appear to be benefiting from the wet Winter with high counts of 64 and 61 at Amwell and Rye Meads respectively, although I often find that Snipe numbers at usually good sites often fall in such conditions, as more wet habitat becomes available. 6 Woodcock were found including 1 freshly dead in Watford High Street (no doubt killed in the rush of Christmas shoppers). A Black-tailed Godwit circled Wilstone without landing, a Redshank was found at Tring, and a Greenshank at Munden. Green Sandpipers were recorded at five sites with up to 5 at Rye Meads, where a late Common Sandpiper was seen on the 4th Nov.
A Mediterranean Gull was discovered roosting at Hilfield and 2 at Wilstone, with the former site also claiming a Little Gull (24th Dec), and the latter, a kittiwake (19th Nov). A Yellow-legged Gull was seen at Amwell until the 11th Nov, and up to 4 roosted at Hilfield. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeets were seen at Abbots Langley, and 3 Monk Parakeets at Boreham Wood. I understand that ‘Monks’ were first seen in Boreham Wood in 1992, and Steve Murray reports that locals are seeing flocks of up to 20 parakeets. I wonder how long it will be before they can be counted on the British List. Disturbance at Beech Farm has obviously affected the wintering Short-eared Owls, with just 1 bird seen there on 4th Nov, with another seen by the M25 near London Colney (26th Dec). Single Barn Owls were seen near Leavesden Airport, and near St Albans.
A Woodlark eluded county listers when it flew south over Rye Meads (4th Nov), where a single Water Pipit was seen on the same date, and a Black Redstart there on the 24th Nov. Another Black Redstart was seen at Apsley on the 28th Dec. A good year for wintering Stonechats with 12 recorded from six sites (4 at Beech Farm), and for Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, with 18 and 23 recorded respectively. A Firecrest found it’s way onto David James’s garden list on the 11th Nov, one of the benefits of having your garden backing onto Sherrardspark Wood. Small flocks of Siskins and Redpolls were reported from scattered locations, and Stuart Downhill found just a pitiful 10 Corn Buntings roosting at Marsworth Res. Happy New Year, and good birding in 2001.
Lee Marshall
Lee's contact details are here.
Systematic bird sightings for Nov/Dec 2000