Herts Bird Club Bulletin, covering September and October 1999
Two Wrynecks? This is Hertfordshire not Spurn Point!
Bird summary
A Great Northern Diver taken into care was an interesting record at an unusual time of year for this species. The first Bittern of the autumn was found in the Lea Valley and another Little Egret was seen at East Hyde. The latest report by the Rare Breeding Birds panel in British Birds (1997) lists Whooper Swan as breeding ferally over the border in Bedfordshire this must put a question mark against the latest run of Tring records. Passage ducks, such as Garganey, Pintail and Common Scoter, were seen with six of the latter at Hilfield Park Reservoir.
A Red Kite lingered in the Ver Valley while three Marsh and a fine male Hen Harrier were also logged. There were eight Buzzards together at Shafford Mill and many others were seen elsewhere. Long-staying Ospreys were a feature of both the Lea and Colne Valleys this autumn. Up to 14 Curlew Sandpipers were notable amongst 16 species of wader reported. Short-eared Owls returned to last year's wintering site but one of two Wrynecks was unfortunately found dead. And there were plenty of passerines too!
Day flying Humming-bird Hawk-moths were seen at Berkhamsted on 22nd Sep (SD) and Haberdashers School on 23rd (SM).
Jack Fearnside
Systematic bird sightings for Sep/Oct 1999