Selected records for May and June 2000
CORMORANT Maple Lodge, a colour-ringed bird of French origin on 27th Jun (PL).
LITTLE EGRET Wilstone Res, 1 on 7th May (reported by a fisherman, but seen shortly after at College Lake). Stanstead Abbots GP, 1 on 24th Jun (GW).
WHOOPER SWAN Wilstone Res, 4 adults throughout Jun (MC).
BLACK SWAN Bury and Stockers Lakes, 2 on 4th May and 11th and 13th Jun (PL).
WHITE-FRONTED GSE Lynsters Farm, 1 on 19th May (PL).
LSR WHITE-FRNTD GSE Wilstone Res, an escaped bird on 7th-13th May (IG).
BARNACLE GOOSE Stockers Farm, 1 on 4th May (PL).
BAR-HEADED GOOSE Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 1st May (RF). Amwell GP, 1 on 17th May (BR).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Amwell GP, 1 on 12th May (DL). Lynsters Farm, 1 on 19th and 27th May (PL). North Troy GP, 2 over on 12th Jun (PL).
SHELDUCK Amwell GP, 6 throughout May (BR/CS). Coopers Green GP, 2 on 6th and 12th May (WH). Near St Albans, max 3 on 10th May. Tyttenhanger GP, 2 on 21st May (RF). Rye Meads, up to 5 on several dates (RMP).
MANDARIN DUCK Beech Farm, a male on 9th May (WH). Tykeswater Lake, a brood of 5 yg on 30th May (SM). Panshanger, 3 broods in Jun (GW).
GADWALL Maple Lodge, 2 broods of 2 and 12 yg on 19th Jun (PL).
PINTAIL Amwell GP, 1 on 28th Jun (GW).
POCHARD Amwell GP, a brood of 7 on 12th May (BR). Maple Lodge, broods of 5 and 7 on in May and three more of 10, 7 and 5 in Jun (PL).
COMMON SCOTER Tyttenhanger GP, a female on 2nd-7th May (RF/BF/TS).
GOLDENEYE Hilfield Res, a male From 13th-month end (SM).
RUDDY DUCK Verulamium Park Lake, 4 on 5th May (BL). East Hyde, 2 males on the River Lee on 8th-11th May (MR). Maple Lodge, a brood of 5 yg on 19th, and max 5 adults on 27th May (PL). Hilfield Res, a brood of 4 yg on 11th Jun (SM).
RED KITE Marshalls Heath, 1 over on 1st May (MR). Hertingfordbury, 1 over on 14th May (SG). Walkern, 1 over on 2nd Jun (MW). Lemsford Springs NR, 2 over on 15th Jun (BT).
MARSH HARRIER Wilstone Res, 1 on 2nd and another on 5th May (SR/DB).
COMMON BUZZARD Wheathampstead, 1 on 14th May (MR). Lilley, 1 on 28th May (MR). Withstocks Wood, 3 on 29th May and 28th Jun (MR). East Hyde, 1 on 7th Jun (MR).
OSPREY Wilstone Res, 1 flew along the dry canal on 1st May (AF). Hilfield Res, 1 over on 7th May (GE/JF).
HOBBY Wilstone Res, up to 9 in May (FOTR). Rye Meads, 3 on 6th May (RMP). Harpenden, 2 on 7th May and 1 on 28th Jun (MR). Tyttenhanger GP, max 2 on 7th May (RF/TS). East Hyde, 1 on 11th May (MR). Hilfield Res, max 2 on 6th (SM) and 28th May (MR). Cheshunt Park, a pair on 15th May (RFa). Ware, 1 on 26th May (DL). Amwell GP, up to 3 seen daily in Jun (BR). Butterwick Meadow, 1 on 5th Jun (BL). Hatfield Garden Village, 1 on 7th Jun (JM). North Troy GP, 6 on 12th Jun (PL). Wyddial, 1 on 26th Jun (DL).
WATER RAIL Rye Meads, 1 on 4th May (RMP).
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 2nd, 7th, and 21st May (RF/BF/TS). Coopers Green GP, 5 on 9th May (WH), and 18th Jun (SP). Stockers Farm, 1 on 23rd Jun (DH). Amwell GP, 5-6 pairs present in Jun (BR). Rye Meads, max 6 on 14th Jun (RMP).
OYSTERCATCHER Amwell GP, 1 on 29th May. Hilfield Res, 1 on 16th May (HRBR).
RINGED PLOVER Near St Albans, 2 on 3rd (SM) and 3 on 23rd May (PB). Coopers Green GP, 2 ad and 2 juvs on 18th Jun (SP). Amwell GP, max 4 on 23rd and 27th May (DL), and 2-3 pairs present in Jun (BR). Rye Meads, 2 on several dates (RMP).
GOLDEN PLOVER Near St Albans, 2 on 10th May (SM).
GREY PLOVER Near St Albans, 1 on 8th May (PB).
LAPWING Near St Albans, 4 broods totaling at least 8 yg on 10th May (SM). Coopers Green GP, an adult with 1 juv on 18th Jun (SP).
SANDERLING Wilstone Res, 1 on 6th May (FOTR).
TEMMINCK’S STINT Amwell GP, 1 on 5th-6th May (GW). Rye Meads, 1 on 6th May (RMP).
DUNLIN Amwell GP, 1 on 1st and 3 on 8th May (BR). Rye Meads, 1 on 3rd May (RMP). Hilfield Res, 1 on 14th May (HRBR).
RUFF Near St Albans, 1 on 5th May (PB).
COMMON SNIPE Rye Meads, 1 on 6th May and a pair in Jun (RMP/GW).
WOODCOCK Broxbourne Woods, 2 on 12th May (DL).
BAR-TAILED GODWIT Wilstone Res, 1 on 6th May (DB). Near St Albans, 1 on 8th May (PB).
WHIMBREL Wilstone Res, 1 on 4th, 2 on 6th May (DB), and 8 over on 13th Jun (PLee). Ware, 1 flew north on 9th May (BR).
CURLEW Wilstone Res, 1 over on 11th Jun (FOTR). Amwell GP, 1 flew NW on 20th Jun. Near St Albans, 1 on 29th Jun (GW).
REDSHANK Hilfield Res, 1 on 4th-6th May (SM). Near St Albans, max 12 on 5th May (PB). Tyttenhanger GP, singles on 5th and 21st May (RF), and 30th Jun (RFo). Cheshunt Park, 2 on 15th May (RFa). Amwell GP, max 2 on 12th and 23rd May (DL), and 2 pairs, 1 with a brood of young in Jun (BR). Stockers Farm, 1 on 25th Jun. Rye Meads, 2 on several dates (RMP).
GREENSHANK Hilfield Res, 2 on 1st May (HRBR). Near St Albans, 1 on 2nd-3rd, 3 on 5th, and 1 on 8th May (PB/SM). Pitstone Quarry, 1 on 4th May. Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 4th-5th May (RF/BF/WH). Amwell GP, 1 on 8th May (BR). Beech Farm/Coopers Green GP, 1 on 6th (SP) and 9th May (WH).
GREEN SANDPIPER Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 5th May (RF), and 30th Jun (RFo). Rye Meads, 1 on 17th and 25th Jun (RMP). Beech Farm, 3 on 18th Jun (SP).
WOOD SANDPIPER Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 4th-5th May (RF/BF).
COMMON SANDPIPER Hilfield Res, 1 on 1st-4th, and 2 on 7th May (SM). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 4th, 2 on 5th and 7th, 1 on 9th May (RF/BF/TS). Rye Meads, 4 on 7th May (RMP). Near St Albans, 1 on 8th-10th May (PB). Amwell GP, max 3 on 11th-13th May (BR). Fairlands Valley Lake, Stevenage, 1 on 12th and 2 on 15th May (AF). East Hyde, 1 on 15th May (MR).
LITTLE GULL Hilfield Res, 5 on 5th May (SM). Wilstone Reservoir, 3 on 6th May (FOTR) and 1 on 22nd Jun (NG).
COMMON TERN Hilfield Res, max 32 on 1st May (SM). Tyttenhanger GP, max 10 on 2nd May (RF/BF/TS), and 5 on 7th May (RF/TS). Smallford Lake, 2 on 5th Jun (BL). Stockers Lake, max 15 on 25th Jun (PL). Fairlands Valley Lake, Stevenage, max 4 on 26th Jun (AF).
ARCTIC TERN Tring Res, 4 at Wilstone and 10 at Startops End Res on 3rd and 2 at Wilstone on 4th May (FOTR). Hilfield Res, 5 on 4th May (HRBR).
LITTLE TERN Wilstone Res, 1 on 4th and 11 on 5th May (FOTR). Rye Meads, 1 on 6th May (RMP).
BLACK TERN Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 2nd May (RF/BF/TS), 5 on 6th, and 3 on 7th May. Wilstone Res, 2 on 4th, 6 on 6th, 10 on 7th, 1 on 27th May (FOTR), and 1 on 30th Jun (JW). Hilfield Res, 2 on 4th, 10 on 5th, and 1 on 7th May (SM/HRBR). Amwell GP, 4 on 7th (CS), and 1 on 9th and 12th May (DL). Coopers Green GP, 1 on 9th May (WH).
STOCK DOVE Lynsters Farm, 100 on 19th May (PL).
TURTLE DOVE Harpenden, 2 on 6th May (MR). Rye Meads, max 11 on 7th May (RMP). Tyttenhanger GP, 2 on 7th, 5 on 8th, and 1 on 28th May (RF/TS/WH). Barkway, 1 on 20th May (DL). Lilley, 1 on 28th May (MR).
COCKATIEL Mackerye End, 1 on 23rd Jun (MR).
COMMON SWIFT Hilfield Res, max 800 on 27th May (SM). Rye Meads, 400 on 24th Jun (RMP).
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Leasey Bridge, a female on 11th Jun (MR). Rothamsted Exp stn, 1 on 24th Jun (MR). Riverside Nursery Centre nr Bayford, a female on 28th Jun (CH).
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW Hilfield Res, 1 from 27th-29th May (SM).
TREE PIPIT North Mimms, 1 on 4th Jun.
WHEATEAR Butterwick Meadow, 1 on 1st May (BL). Tyttenhanger GP, single females on 2nd, 7th and 9th May (RF/BF/TS).
NIGHTINGALE Stanstead Abbots HMWT reserve, 3 singing males in May. Rye Meads, 1 on 6th May (RMP). Smallford GP, a male on 5th-16th May (BL/WH).
RING OUZEL Near Hitchin, 1 on 1st May.
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Broxbourne GP, 1 on 1st May (BR). Potters Crouch Plantation, 2 singing on 9th May (SM). Stockers Lake, 1 singing on 7th Jun. Tring SF, 1 singing on 27th Jun (IB). Rye Meads, 2 nested raising 6 young (RMP).
GARDEN WARBLER Rye Meads, 10 on 1st May (RMP). Tyttenhanger GP, 2 on 1st May (RF).
WOOD WARBLER Smallford Lake, 2 on 6th May (SP).
FIRECREST Near Hertford a juv on 12th, and an adult with 1 juv on 19th Jun (RS). Broxbourne Woods, a singing male + 3 juvs on 21st Jun (GW).
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Colney Heath Lane, 1 on 10th May. Harmer Green, 1 on 3rd Jun (DBo). Wickham Hall, a pair on 10th Jun (HC). Kimpton, 1 pr with yg on 24th Jun (RSm).
WILLOW TIT Fir and Pond Wood, a pair on 7th Jun (GW).
RED-BILLED BLUE MAGPIE Burnham Green, 1 on 25th Jun (DBo).
HAWFINCH Bayfordbury, 1 on 12th and 2 with 2 newly fledged yg on 16th Jun (RS).
INSECT NEWS
HAIRY DRAGONFLY Haberdashers School, a male on 12th Jun (SM).
RED-VEINED DARTER Tyttenhanger GP, a male on 18th Jun (SM).
CLOUDED YELLOW Bayfordbury, 1 on 19th Jun (RS). Wyddial, 1 on 25th Jun (DL). Haberdashers School, 1 on 26th Jun (SM).
List of Observers: Graham Anderson, Sue Anderson, Rob Andrews, Helen Baker, Helen Bantock, Glen Barnes, Neil Burt, Dave Bilcock, Tony Blake, Eddy Blyth, David Booth, Les Borg, Chris Bradshaw, Colin Bushell, Mike Campbell, Steve Carter, Paul Clarke, Hugh Coe, Paul Collins (Rye Meads Partnership), Peter Colston, Anthony Dorman, Stuart Downhill, Mick East, Gary Elton (Hilfield Reservoir Bird Report), David Emery, Lee G.R. Evans, Colin Everett, Ian Eyre, R Farmer, Jack Fearnside, Ricky Flesher, Alan Ford, Richard Foster, Friends of Tring Reservoirs, Andy Grimsey, Molly Grist, Peter Gudgeon, Paul Halford, Andrew Hardacre, Roy Hargreaves, Bob Harris, Wendy Hatton, Tim Hill, Keith Hudson, D Hutchinson, Andy Jardine, G Knight, Basil Lewis, Huw Lewis, Paul Lewis, Derrick Ling, Anna Marett, Paul McManus, Richard Middleton, Andrew Moon, John Motch, Steve Murray, Steve Pearce, Bill Pegram, R Pyrah, Barry Reed, Paul Reed, Steve Rodwell, Nick Sampford, Robin Smith, Terry Smith, Rob Souter, Phil Stead, Ian Stewart, Mike Russell, Jim Terry, Joan Thompson, Mike Wallen, Graham White, Simon Wilson, John Yates.
Lee Marshall
Bird sightings summary for May/Jun 2000