Tickets: Five pounds (three for under 18s) from Tim Hill, 6 Cromwell Road, Ware, Herts, SG1 7JS. Please send SAE

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Green Woodpecker eating apples

Anna Marett has noted a male Green Woodpecker eating apples from a tree in her garden Although BWP mentions fruit as being eaten occasionally she has not personally noted it before, and would be interested to hear from anyone who has encountered this behaviour.

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To tick or not to tick?

A Paddyfield Warbler was found by our own Tim Hill whilst on a foreign birding trip to Essex looking for Bitterns in the Lea Valley on 26 October.

The pager companies could not make up their minds which county it was in, and eventually seemed to settle for the Herts/Essex border. Prior to 1995, the bird would have been in Hertfordshire but sadly the boundaries have been shifted in Essex's favour and now follow the River Lea Navigation. While living in Lincolnshire, I could find no Lincs or Yorkshire birders that actually recognised the county of Humberside. If a bird was south of the Humber it was in Lincs, or if north of the river, it was in Yorkshire. Eventually the government gave in to the will of the birders and scrapped the county of Humberside altogether. Those of you who have been birding in Herts for many years may feel justified (quite rightly) in adding Paddyfield Warbler to your Herts list. I personally keep a list for every county in Britain, perhaps I should count it for both. Anyway it's your list, so tick it where you like.

It was the second record for Essex (their first seen by one observer in 1987), and would have been the second record for Hertfordshire, the first being identified from a photograph taken at Wilstone reservoir on 9th November 1981.

The Lea Valley bird remained faithful to willows by the Bittern hide where it often gave crippling views (though it could be illusive) until the 28th allowing hundreds of birders to connect with it. A certain birder from Hampshire was noted in the queue well in front of some Herts and Essex birders, and was happy to 'life-tick' it in either county. Cheers Tim!

Lee Marshall

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Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits ­ an update of restoration plans

This is a follow up to the piece that Marc Brew contributed to the Bulletin last year concerning the preliminary response from Redlands concerning their plans for Tyttenhanger GP. Now that Marc has moved to Yorkshire, I have assumed the link role.

When Redlands Aggregates (now Lafarge Redlands) sought planning permission to divert the bridalway (BW 6 Ridge) and then to remove the causeway that it ran along, there was considerable objection from birders over the Sand Martin colony and others regarding rare and uncommon insects. Other members of the public were vocal over the cutting of a bridalway link; this resulted in local opposition meetings and a follow-up meeting with Mr Legerton representing Redlands and Bowmans Farms Ltd and their interests. Because of the strength of objection, the footpath and planning officers at County Hall met some of the objectors and, as a result of informed arguments, called in the Ecology Unit and the Minerals and Waste committee for assessment of the situation. In due course, based on the requirements and appraisals listed, the County Development Officer requested that the gravel company should come up with an appropriate restoration package for the site.

The following is a brief synopsis of the resulting supporting statement to the restoration plan forwarded to me via the County Development Unit: [A map illustrating the plans can be found here but was too large to place on this page]

Lafarge Redlands, to restore the site for nature conservation.

Method: To divert Bridalway 6 Ridge to a line around the south and west boundaries and to rejoin the present line to the south of Tyttenhanger Farm.

To remove the embankment of the present bridalway line and by so doing to establish a single waterbody landscaped favorable for conservation of wetland species of birds and wetland margins to encourage a diversity of habitat for other associated species.

The present steep banked spit to be cut of to form an island with the shoreline of the resulting island and also the shoreline of the single lake to be regraded to form a shallow profile resulting in areas of shallow water favorable to waders and dabbling wildfowl.

To compensate for the loss of the cliffs on the present causeway, used by Sand Martin and Kingfisher, the existing cliff formation below Tyttenhanger Farm to be retained and improved to allow for the re-establishment of the colony.

The areas to the north and south of the lake to be restored to agricultural purposes, the areas immediately adjacent to the lake to be managed as rough grassland cut in alternate years, to encourage insect and mammal species.

The area between Garden Wood and the reformed lake margin to be planted with native deciduous tree species to establish a new woodland habitat for woodland species.

The water levels of the lake are to maintained at 67m Above Ordinance Datum (AOD) by extraction from the River Colne to the north at 68m OAD and an outfall pipe at to the south west at 67.5m OAD

Conclusion (in full) The proposal aims to provide a holistic restoration proposal for the area, both enhancing and protecting existing habitats alongside providing new habitats. The existing landscape framework would be strengthened, providing corridors for wildlife movement. Existing rights of way would be enhanced with the addition of a new route providing circular walks around the lake area.

If there are any comments or proposals that you would like to make, please forward them to me as soon as possible, so that the scientific committee of the Bird Club are in a position to suggest any amendments that may be thought desirable.

Jim Terry 46 Manor Way, Boreham Wood, Herts WD61QY. Telephone 0181 905 1461

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