Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering July and August 1999
Plenty of good birds this issue but space to only mention a few of the most notable.
Black-necked Grebes looked set for another breeding attempt at Hilfield Park Reservoir with two pairs present for much of the summer, but for some unknown reason it came to nought.
There was a big boost in Little Egret records involving nine birds which included a flock of four which unfortunately only stayed for a few minutes at Tyttenhanger gravel pits.
Those 'iffy' Whooper Swans at Wilstone Reservoir did not improve their credibility by staying into mid-July. Good duck records included up to six Pintails at Tring and possibly 12 Garganeys scattered around the county including up to five together at Amwell.
A Peregrine was a good August record and Quail were seen as well as heard. Waders were of excellent quality and included Curlew Sandpipers, Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits (including a massive flock of 150 of the latter), Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers and a Turnstone.
An Arctic Skua over Rye Meads was an exceptional record and perhaps five Mediterranean Gulls were seen in the county. All tern records were eclipsed by a moulting White-winged Black Tern at Wilstone Reservoir, the best bird of the period.
A Wryneck was found in Rickmansworth and a Woodlark was at Pitstone Quarry. Other passerines included Black Redstart, breeding Cetti's Warblers at Stocker's Lake and some Common Crossbills.
Erratum: The four singing Redstarts noted in the previous issue were, in fact, Nightingales.
Jack Fearnside
Systematic bird sightings for Jul/Aug 1999