Selected records for November & December 2000
WHITE PELICAN Tring Res, 1 from the 13th Nov to the end of Dec (MC et al).
BITTERN Amwell GP, 1 from the 3rd Nov, and 2 on the 30th Dec (AR). Rye Meads, 1 on four dates from the 4th Nov (RMP). Wilstone Res, 1 on the 24th Nov (FOTR). Marsworth Res, 1 on the 31st Dec (FOTR).
BLACK SWAN Stockers Lake, 1 throughout the period (PL). Troy Mill, 1 on the 6th Nov (PL). River Lea, Ware, 2 from the 9th to the 22nd Nov (BR). Chadwell Meads, 1 on 19th Nov (NP). Amwell GP, 1 on the 13th Dec (NA).
WHITE-FRONTED GSE Lynster's Farm, 1 on the 8th Nov (PL).
BRENT GOOSE Rye Meads, 1 flew south on the 1st Nov (RMP). Amwell GP, 2 on the 24th Dec (TBr).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Wilstone Res, 2 first winter birds on the 30th Dec (PWr/MC).
SHELDUCK Rye Meads, 1-2 present throughout, and 8 flew east on the 23rd Dec (RMP). Wilstone Res, 1 on the 10th and 14th Nov (MC/PS). Amwell GP, 2 on the 15th Dec (DL). Hilfield Res, 3 on the 20th Dec (SM).
MANDARIN DUCK Verulamium Park, a female on the 3rd and 18th Nov and 29th Dec (Rfo/SM). Alerford Lake, Boreham Wood, a female on the 16th and 27th Dec (SM).
GARGANEY Rye Meads, a male present throughout the period (RMP).
FERRUGINOUS DUCK Ware, a female on the River Lee on the 24th Nov-years end (MO).
COMMON SCOTER Hilfield Res, 3 on the 17th Dec (TB).
GOLDENEYE Hilfield Res, max 2 on several dates (HRBR). Rye Meads, 2 on the 24th Nov (RMP). Stockers Lake, max 4 on the 21st Dec (PL). Amwell GP, max 5 on the 31st Dec (RH/AR). Wilstone Res, up to 12 in Dec (FOTR).
SMEW Stockers Lake, max 3 on 19th Nov (PL). Amwell GP, max 4 on the 26th and 29th Dec (DL/RFa). Wilstone Res, singles on the 19th and 26th Dec (LE/PWr).
GOOSANDER Wilstone Res, 1 on the 8th, and 3 on the 24th Nov, and up to 7 in Dec (FOTR). Amwell GP, 2 males on the 17th Dec (RH). Stockers Lake, up to 7 in Dec (JTh).
RUDDY DUCK Hilfield Res, max 83 on the 19th Nov and 147 on the 28th Dec (HRBR).
GOSHAWK New Mill, Tring, 1 on the 27th Nov (DW).
COMMON BUZZARD Telegraph Hill, 1 on the 1st Nov (NA). Kimpton, 2 on the 4th Nov (RS). St Pauls Walden, 1 on 4th Nov (RW). Tingley Wood, nr Pirton, 1 on the 14th Nov (NA). Ver Valley, Shafford Farm, 1 on the 3rd and 30th Dec (JP). Whempstead, 2 on the 15th Dec (AR). Lilley Hoo, 2 on the 17th Dec (TBr). Hexton, 1 on the 28th Dec (NA). Watton at Stone, 2 on the 28th Dec (AR).
PEREGRINE Rye Meads, 1 on the 30th Dec (RMP).
MERLIN Upwick, nr Bishops Stortford, 1 on the 26th Nov (ME). Wilstone, 1 on the 31st Dec (JW). Oughtonhead, a small falcon probably of this species on the 31st Dec (NA).
WATER RAIL Amwell GP, max 2 on the 4th and 12th Nov, and 24th Dec (DL/TBr). Stockers Lake, max 4 on the 5th Nov (PL). Hilfield Res, max 2 on the 9th Dec (SM). Rye Meads, max 9 on the 30th Dec (RMP).
GOLDEN PLOVER Great Amwell Roundabout, max 475 on the 4th Nov (DL). Coursers Road, max 550 on 20th Nov and 850 on the 7th Dec (RP). East Hyde, 32 on the 20th Nov (MR). Rye Meads, 40 on 21st Nov (RP). Woodoaks Farm, max 333 on the 24th Nov (PL). Lemsford/Symondshyde area, 400 on the 30th Nov (RS). Near St Albans, 300 on the 17th Dec (SM). Bloodhound Wood, 25 over on the 22nd Dec (HC). Wickham Hall Farm, 35 on the 23rd Dec (AH). Telegraph Hill/Hexton, 55 on the 28th Dec (NA).
LAPWING Great Amwell Roundabout, 320 on the 4th Nov (DL). Woodoaks Farm, max 420 on the 7th Nov (PL). Rye Meads, 180 flew south on the 24th Nov (RMP). Near St Albans, 500 on the 17th Dec (SM). Munden, Watford, 104 on the 28th Dec (BC). Chadwell Meads, 171 on the 29th Dec (DT).
RUFF Amwell GP, 1 briefly on the 31st Dec (RH/AR).
JACK SNIPE Rye Meads, 1 on the 18th Nov and 2nd Dec, and 3 on the 30th Dec (RMP).
COMMON SNIPE Rye Meads, max 61 on the 18th Nov (RMP). Amwell GP, max 64 on the 24th Nov and 40 on the 24th Dec (DL). Munden, max 12 on the 30th Dec (BC). Ver Valley, Shafford Farm, 30 on the 30th Dec (JP).
WOODCOCK Watford High Street, 1 found freshly dead on the 15th Dec (MJ). Little Berkhamsted, 1 on 16th Nov (RP). Rye Meads, 1 on the 16th Dec (RMP). Wilstone Res, 2 on the 17th Dec (JT). Stevenage, 1 on the 23rd Dec (RH).
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Wilstone Res, 1 circled on the 23rd Dec (EG).
REDSHANK Wilstone Res, 1 on the 14th Nov (PS).
GREENSHANK Munden, Watford, 1 on the 28th Dec (BC).
GREEN SANDPIPER Rye Meads, up to 5 present throughout the period (RMP). Wilstone Res, 1 on the 10th Nov (MC). Amwell GP, 1 on 21st Nov (RP). Chess Valley, Rickmansworth, 1 on the 26th Dec (HB). Munden, Watford, 1 on the 28th Dec (BC).
COMMON SANDPIPER Rye Meads, 1 on the 4th Nov (RMP).
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Hilfield Res, an adult in the roost on the 11th and 26th Nov, and 16th, 28th and 29th Dec (HRBR/SM). Wilstone Res, an adult roosted on the 18th Nov and a first winter on the 28th Dec (DB).
LITTLE GULL Hilfield Res, a first winter on the 24th Dec (HRBR).
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Amwell GP, 1 present until the 11th Nov (BR). Hilfield Res, an adult in the roost on the 4th and 25th Nov, and 4 on the 9th, 2 on the 14th and 16th, and 1 on the 31st Dec (HRBR). Wilstone Res, 1 roosted on the 19th Nov (DB).
KITTIWAKE Wilstone Res, 1 roosted on the 19th Nov (DB).
RING-NECKED PARAKEET Abbots Langley, 2 on the 12th Nov (BC).
MONK PARAKEET Boreham Wood, 3 on the 26th Dec (SM).
BARN OWL Leavesden Airport, 1 by the A41 on the 6th Nov (PC). St Albans, 1 near Aylett’s Nursery on the 26th Dec (PS).
SHORT-EARED OWL Beech Farm, 1 on the 4th Nov (SM). M27 nr Jct 22, 1 on the 26th Dec (PC).
LSR SPOT WOODPECKR Thirskcliffe Nature Park, Boreham Wood, a female on the 17th Nov and 25th Dec (SM). Hilfield Res, a pair on the 19th Nov (SM). Northaw Great Wood, a male on the 17th Dec (DJ). Haberdashers School, 1 on the 19th Dec (SM).
WOODLARK Rye Meads, 1 flew south on the 4th Nov (RMP).
WATER PIPIT Rye Meads, 1 on the 4th Nov (RMP).
GREY WAGTAIL Rye Meads, max 17 on the 4th Nov (RMP).
BLACK REDSTART Rye Meads, 1 on the 24th Nov (RMP). Apsley, 1 on the 28th Dec.
STONECHAT Beech Farm, 4 on the 4th Nov (SM). Rye Meads, 1 on the 4th Nov and 16th Dec (RMP). Stockers Farm, a pair from the 5th Nov (PL). Bridgedown Golf Club, Barnet, a male on the 27th Nov (RP). Attenborough Fields, Watford, 2 on the 28th Dec. Chadwell Meads, a pair on the 29th Dec (DT).
REDWING Rye Meads, 167 on the 4th Nov (RMP). Rothamsted Estate, Harpenden, max 86 on the 19th Dec (JC). Bedmond, 85 on the 26th Dec (BC).
FIELDFARE A late record for Oct, 20 flew over Berkhamsted on the 24th (SD). Hilfield Res, 60 flew west on the 8th Nov (SM). Smallford Lake, 50 on the 2nd Dec (BL). Pages Farm, near Elstree Aerodrome 100 on the 30th Dec (SM).
BLACKCAP Welham Green, 1 on 10th Nov (DD). Tring garden, a male on the 12th Nov (IB). Berkhamsted, a female from the 12th-24th Nov, and a male from the 21st Nov-23rd Dec (SD). Bushey garden, a male on 20th Nov (PB). Harpenden garden, a male on the 20th Nov (JD). West Hyde garden, a pair from 22nd-26th Nov (SJ). Hitchin, a male on the 27th Nov (TB). Rye Meads, 2 present from the 30th Nov (RMP). Batford, a male on the 16th Dec (MR). River Lea, Harpenden, a male on the 16th Dec (JC). Townfield, Rickmansworth, a female from the 16th, and a male on the 27th Dec (HB). Ware garden, a female on the 17th Dec (MB). Batford garden, a male on the 24th Dec (JC). Blackmore End, a male on the 30th Dec (PW).
CHIFFCHAFF Stockers Lake, max 2 on the 5th Nov (PL). Lea Valley, Harpenden, 1 on the 10th Dec (JC). Rye Meads, max 15 on the 16th Dec (RMP). Hilfield Res, 1 on the 16th Dec (HRBR). Glaxo Welcome, Ware, 1 on the 20th Dec (RH). Puckeridge garden, 1 on the 22nd and 29th Dec (MO). Amwell GP, 1 on the 28th and 31st Dec (AR/RE). Kings Mead/Hartham Common, 1 on the 31st Dec (NP).
FIRECREST Welwyn G.C. garden, (backing onto Sherrardspark Wood), 1 on the 11th Nov (DJ).
JACKDAW Beech Farm, 2000 roosted on the 10th Nov (RS).
STARLING Marsworth Res, c10,000 roosted on the 12th Nov, but only 100 on the 15th Dec (SD).
SISKIN Lemsford Springs, 14 on the 10th Nov (DJ). Hilfield Res, 20 on the 12th Nov (TB). Little Berkhamsted, 25 on 16th Nov (RP). Amwell GP, max 29 on the 24th Nov and c30 on the 31st Dec (DL/AR). Berkhamsted, 15 on the 22nd Dec (SD). Lea Valley, Harpenden, 40 from the 22nd-26th Dec (JC).
REDPOLL Stockers Lake, max 13 on the 6th Nov (PL). Maple Lodge, 30 on the 8th Nov (PL). Hilfield Res, 1 on the 9th Nov (HRBR). Smallford Lake, 2 on the 17th Nov (BL). Brookmans Park, 4 on 18th Nov (RP). Amwell GP, max 20 on the 17th Nov (BR). Rye Meads, 25 on the 25th Nov (RMP). Shafford Farm, Ver Valley, 6 on the 3rd Dec (JP).
REED BUNTING Marsworth Res, max 40 roosted on the 15th Dec (SD).
CORN BUNTING Marsworth Res, just 3 at the roost on the 12th Nov, and 10 on the 15th Dec (SD).
List of observers: Nigel Agar, Lynn Atkinson, Helen Baker, Mike Baverstock, Dave Bilcock, Tony Blake, Les Borg, Patty Briggs, Roger Broadie, Teresa Brown, Trevor Brownsell, Ian Burrus, Neil Burt, Mike Campbell, David Carter, Roger Cave, Dr Jason Chapman, Hugh Coe, Paul Collins (Rye Meads Partnership), Bob Cripps, Jean Crystal, Paul Davies, John Davis, Daphne Dean, Stuart Downhill, Les Eswards, Rob Egan, Gary Elton (Hilfield Reservoir Bird Report), Ross Facer, Jack Fearnside, Ted Fletcher, Richard Foster, Friends of Tring Reservoirs, Ed Griffiths, Andrew Hardacre, Ray Hooper, David James, Melanie Jardine, Steve Jones, Basil Lewis, Paul Lewis, David Lindop, Derrick Ling, Jol Mitchell, John Moss, John Motch, Steve Murray, Jill Naylor, Murray Orchard, N Parish, John Pritchard, Rupert Pyrah, Barry Reed, Alan Reynolds, Mike Russell, Robin Smith, Phil Stead, Dick Tanner, Johne Taylor, Joan Thompson, Barry Turner, Jenny Wallington, Gareth Watkins (HBC Website), Richard Webb, Peter Wilkinson, Dave Wingrove, Paul Wright.
Lee Marshall
Bird sightings summary for Nov/Dec 2000