Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering January and February 2001
Waxwings replace Christmas lights!
As the Christmas decorations came down, at least 51 Waxwings were found in Hertfordshire, forming part of a nationwide influx. The first birds arrived on the 6th Jan with a singleton at Welwyn, and 4 at Stevenage. Within a week, the well watched Stevenage flock had grown to 20 birds, and by the end of February, Waxwings had been reported from a total of nine sites. These records constitute the largest influx since ‘The Big One’ of 1996.
The White Pelican was still at Tring on the 17th Feb, and no less than 3 Little Egrets were found in the Chess Valley, upstream of Scotsbridge Mill. These birds were roosting nightly just outside the county at Broadwater GP. Bitterns were also more obliging with birds at five sites, the 2 at Amwell offering the best chance to catch up with this species. 2 Whooper Swans were seen at Tring Reservoirs (hopefully holding better credentials than the Black Swan at Bury Lake, and the Lesser White-fronted Goose at Ware). Egyptian Geese are on the increase in the Lea Valley, with a flock of 16 at Amwell constituting the largest flock ever recorded in the county. Other wildfowl reports included 7+ Shelduck roaming the Lea Valley, single Pintails at Hilfield and Stockers Lake, a drake Garganey at Rye Meads, 3 Red-crested Pochard at Stockers Lake, and 2 Scaup at Hilfield Reservoir. The female Ferruginous Duck was seen daily on the river Lea at Ware until the 20th Jan, and Smew and Goosander were present at their regular haunts.
A Goshawk was seen in Central Herts, but a large Falcon sp on a Stevenage house was probably an escape. An Oystercatcher was heard calling at night near Bishops Stortford, Ringed Plover had returned to Amwell by the 10th Feb, and a Dunlin was found at Lea Marsh RSPB Reserve. 5 Jack Snipe were shared between three sites, a Redshank was found at Amwell, and 1-4 Green Sandpipers were recorded from five sites. At least 3 Mediterranean and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls rewarded roost watchers at Wilstone and Hilfield, with another Yellow-legged Gull seen at Amwell, but more interestingly a Little Gull was found at Stanstead Abbots GP on the 13th Jan, and 4 Kittiwakes at Hilfield, and another at Stockers Lake on the 25th Feb; the Kittiwake records coincided with inland movements noted in Hampshire. A Ring-necked Parakeet was seen at Stevenage, and Steve Murray has confirmed that the population of Monk Parakeets at Boreham Wood now numbers at least 19 birds (Tick em Steve). 5 Barn Owls were seen, and five sites held the illusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
An adult male Black Redstart was found at Hitchin on the 22nd Feb, and a well above average number of Stonechats were recorded. Wintering Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs remained a regular feature in many gardens, but were outshone by single Firecrests at Codicote, Rye Meads, and Post Wood, Ware. Never assume that that little bird in your leylandii is just another Goldcrest. A report of a Raven near St Albans awaits confirmation, and a handful of Tree Sparrows were seen at three sites. Bramblings remain scarce with just two records involving 4 birds, and even Glen Barnes’s famous St Albans Garden failed to produce this species for the first time since the winter of 1995/96. Siskin and Redpoll fared a little better, and up to 7 Hawfinches were seen at Broxbourne Woods.
Gary Elton reports that a Tree Sparrow ringed as a pullus at Coursers Road in July 2000, was controlled at Languard, Suffolk in September. He has also voiced his concerns that birders visiting the site are driving along the footpath and parking in the lay-by, which is for the use of the Model Aircraft Club only. We need the continuing full support of the farmer to maintain the winter feeding, and nest box programs, and would ask visiting birders to park by the main road, and walk out into the fields without straying from the main footpath. Better still, try searching for the birds at Beech Farm, and Tyttenhanger GP instead. The decline of Tree Sparrows in Hertfordshire makes the golden rule ‘the welfare of the bird comes first’ apply doubly in this case.
Finally, as the Foot and Mouth epidemic escalates, and many of our favourite birding haunts become inaccessible, It is imperative that we all behave responsibly when birding in the countryside, and observe all access restrictions, and hopefully the crisis will be over soon.
Lee Marshall
Lee's contact details are here.
Systematic bird sightings for Jan/Feb 2001