Selected records for May & June 2001
GANNET Fishers Green, 1 seen on a dawn chorus walk on the 6th May (TH).
CORMORANT Maple Lodge, a French colour-ringed bird on the 10th and 22nd May, and 9th Jun (PL).
SHAG Ware, a colour-ringed imm on the River Lea on the 1st Jun (TA).
WHOOPER SWAN Startops End Res, 1 on the 6th May (IE). East Hyde, 3 (part of the feral flock from Wardown Park, Luton) on the 24th-26th Jun (MR).
BLACK SWAN Ware, 2 from the 13th May (DL). Stockers/Bury Lake, 2 on the 10th and 19th May, and 1 on the 13th Jun (PL).
WHITE-FRNTD GOOSE Lynsters Farm, the regular escapee on the 2nd May-20th Jun (PL).
BARNACLE GOOSE Wilstone Res, 1 on the 6th Jun (BF).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Lynsters Farm, 1 on the 4th, 8th May (PL). Amwell GP, 1 on the 28th May, and 6th Jun (RP/DL), and 14th Jun (RP/DL/RH).
SHELDUCK Amwell GP, a pair throughout (DL). Rye Meads, up to 8 present throughout (RMP). Tyttenhanger GP, 2 on the 31st May (RP).
MANDARIN DUCK Nr Whitwell, a pair with young on the 20th May (MK), and 8 (4 juvs) on the 12th Jun (DB). Panshanger, a female on the 17th Jun.
GARGANEY Amwell GP, a male on the 20th May (TB).
AYTHYA HYBRID Hilfield Res, the returning drake Ferruginous x Tufted Duck on the
MERG-EYE A bird thought to be a Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid was at Hilfield Res from the 10th May-months end (HRBR) and visiting Broad Colney Lake on the 1st Jun (BL).
RUDDY DUCK Maple Lodge, max 7 on the 2nd, and 16th May, and 5 on the 9th Jun (PL). Rye Meads, max 5 on the 5th May (RMP). Kings Meads, a pair on the 7th May (DB). Tring SF, 5 males on the 31st May (IBu). Marsworth Res, a pair with 3 yg on the 1st Jun (EG). Chadwell Springs, Ware, 7 adults and 9 yg on the 25th Jun (RFa).
WHISTLING DUCK SP? Amwell GP, 1 possibly of this type on the 29th May (RFa).
ARGENTINE BLUEBILL Hilfield Res, 1 on the 22nd May (SM).
HONEY BUZZARD Oxhey Village, 1 over on the 3rd Jun (AGr).
RED KITE Near Flaunden, 1 on the 13th and 21st Apr (JM). Watton at Stone, 1 on the 5th May (CH). Preston, 1 on the 28th May (MK). Rye Meads, 1 flew north on the 12th May (ME). Tring, 1 drifted SE on the 20th May (IBu). Sacombe, 1 flew over the A602 on the 30th May (MH). Mill End, Rickmansworth, 1 reported on the 30th May (per JB), and 1 over on the 8th Jun (SY). Harrow Weald, 1 drifted SE on the 7th Jun (AGri). Allens Green, 1 on the 7th Jun (per HC). Amwell GP, 1 on the 17th, and 3 on the 30th Jun (MI). Near Dagnall, 2 on the 20th Jun (RB). Berkhamsted, 1 over on the 27th Jun (BW). Harpenden, 1 over on the 30th Jun (KA).
MARSH HARRIER Wilstone Res, 1 on the 1st, and another on the 4th May. Ver Valley, Redbourn, 1 high over on the 6th May (GA).
HARRIER SP Rye Meads, a female over on the 7th May (RMP).
COMMON BUZZARD Withstocks Wood, 3 throughout May (MR). Rye Meads, 1 on the 3rd May (RMP). Green End, 1 on the 6th May (AR). Redbournbury, 2 hunting rabbits on the 29th May (EL). Cassiobury Park/Whippendel Woods, 1 on the 21st May (JB). Redbourn, 1 on the 20th May (AG). Watton at Stone, 1 on several dates (AR/RH). Furneux Pelham, 2 displaying on the 30th May (ME). Langley, 2 on the 18th Jun (DB). Maple Lodge, 1 on the 13th Jun (BT). Near Flaunden, max 3 on the 18th Jun (JM). Pre Hotel, St Albans, 2 on the 18th Jun (PS). Essendon, 1 on the 20th Jun (RP). Amwell GP, 1 on the 22nd Jun (DL). East Hyde, max 3 on the 24th Jun (MR). Hertford, 1 on the 26th Jun (JMa).
OSPREY Wilstone Res, 1 drifted west on the 6th May (IE). Patmore Heath, 1 flew north on the 11th May (ME). Thundridge, 1 on the 12th May (NS). Rye Meads, 1 on the 12th May (RMRG). Amwell GP, 1 on the 13th Jun (TA).
HOBBY Hilfield Res, max 2 on several dates (HRBR). Rye Meads, max 2 on several dates (RMP). Maple Lodge, 1 on the 8th, 16th, 22nd May (PL). Wilstone Res, max 9 on the 21st May. Ickleford, 1 on the 21st May (RB). Stockers Lake, 2 on the 24th May (EL). Sarrat Bottom, 1 on the 24th May (EL). Watton at Stone, 1 on the 26th and 30th May (AR). Ashwell Stn, 1 on the 28th May (RW). Amwell GP, max 5 on the 28th May (RP), and 22nd Jun (DL). Frogmore Lakes, 1 on the 3rd Jun (ES). Wilstone Res, max 7 on the 6th Jun (BF). Essendon, 1 on the 20th Jun (RP). East Hyde, 2 on the 26th Jun (MR).
CHUKAR Chiltern Green, 2 on the 2nd May (MR). North of Harpenden, 2 on the 8th May (MR).
WATER RAIL Rye Meads, max 5 on the 6th May (RMP). Amwell GP, 1 on the 8th May (RP), and 2 on the 1st Jun (MI). Sawbridgeworth Marsh, 2 on the 12th May (AH).
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Redbourn, 3 pairs bred in May (EL). Amwell GP, 1-2 pairs throughout (DL). Rye Meads, max 4 on the 8th and 11th May, a breeding attempt failed (RMP). Stockers Farm, 1 on the 11th May (PL). Hilfield Res, singles on the 27th May, and 10th Jun (HRBR). Tyttenhanger GP, max 2 on the 5th and 31st May (PS/RP), and 8 on the 28th Jun (RPe).
RINGED PLOVER Rye Meads, 2 present to the 2nd Jun (RMP). Amwell GP, max 5 on the 13th (AD). Tyttenhanger GP, max 4 on the 5th May, and 15+ (5 juvs) on the 10th Jun (PS). Luton Lane, Redbourn, 1-2 from 6th-19th May (EL).
GREY PLOVER Hilfield Res, 1 over on the 13th May (HRBR).
SANDERLING Hilfield Res, 1 on the 14th May (SM).
LITTLE STINT Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on the 25th-26th Jun (GN et al).
DUNLIN Tyttenhanger GP, singles on the 5th-6th and 20th May (PS). Amwell GP, 1 on the 6th-7th, 11th, and 12th and 15th May (RFa/JY).
WOODCOCK Cowheath Wood, Hoddesdon, 2 on the 24th Jun (DL).
BAR-TAILED GODWIT East Hyde, 1 on the 7th May (MR). Amwell GP, 2 on the 9th May.
WHIMBREL Hilfield Res, 2 on the 6th May (HRBR).
CURLEW Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on the 17th Jun (RF/TS/BF). Hilfield Res, 4 over on the 17th Jun (HRBR). Rye Meads, 1 on the 23rd Jun (RMP).
REDSHANK Redbourn, 1 on several dates in May (EL). Rye Meads, max 7 on the 12th May but none were recorded after the 2nd Jun (RMP). Hilfield Res, singles on the 13th and 20th May, and 10th Jun (HRBR). Tyttenhanger GP, max 4 on the 18th Jun (RP). Stockers Lake, 1 on the 19th May (PL). Amwell GP, max 3 on the 22nd Jun (DL).
GREENSHANK Ver Valley, Shafford Farm, 1 on the 6th May (EL/GA/RP). Amwell GP, 1 on the 6th May (SM).
GREEN SANDPIPER Rye Meads, 1 on the 10th May (RMP). Amwell GP, singles on the 12th May, and 14th and 28th Jun (MI). Hilfield Res, 1 on the 19th Jun (HRBR). Fir Tree Farm, Moor Green, 1 flushed from a ditch on the 30th Jun (AR).
WOOD SANDPIPER Amwell GP, 1 on the 12th May.
COMMON SANDPIPER Rye Meads, up to 3 recorded from the 4th-18th May (RMP). Luton Lane, Redbourn, 1 on the 6th May (EL). Amwell GP, 1 on the 8th May (RP). Hilfield Res, max 4 on the 14th May, and 6 on the 30th Jun (HRBR). Stockers Lake, 7 on the 24th May (SY).
TURNSTONE Amwell GP, 1 on the 13th May (RH/AD).
LITTLE GULL Marsworth/Startops End Res, 1 on the 4th, and 2 reported on the 9th May (per EG). Hilfield Res, an immature on the 12th May (HRBR). Wilstone Res, a first summer on the 13th May (EG).
GREY-HEADED GULL Tyttenhanger GP, 1 from the 27th May, and still present at the end of Jun (SP et al).
COMMON TERN Hilfield Res, max 42 on the 4th May, 5 pairs bred successfully in Jun (SM/HRBR). Tyttenhanger GP, max 5 on the 6th May, and 3 on the 17th and 28th Jun (RF/RPe). Marsworth Res, 40 on the 9th May (EG). Brookmans Park, 4 over the village centre on the 9th May (RP). Stockers Lake, max 6 on the 10th May (PL). Maple Lodge, 2 on the 15th May (PL). Wilstone Res, 30 on the 6th Jun (BF). Stockers Lake 24 adults (+ yg) on the 13th Jun (PL). Mardleybury, 1 on the 21st-22nd Jun (DB). Amwell GP, max 40 on the 23rd Jun (MI). East Hyde, 1 on the 24th, 26th, and 28th Jun (MR).
ARCTIC TERN Hilfield Res, 1 on the 7th May (HRBR). Marsworth Res, 1 on the 9th May (EG).
BLACK TERN Hilfield Res, 1 on the 9th, 4 on the 10th, 3 on the 11th, and 1 on the 14th and 16th May (SM). Marsworth Res, 3 on the 12th, May (EG). Wilstone Res, 3 on the 13th, 2 on the 21st, 1 on the 22nd, and 7 on the 23rd May (EG).
TURTLE DOVE Bygrave, 1 on the 8th May (RB). Near Essendon, 1 on the 18th May (RP). Rye Meads, up to 10 present from the 19th May (RMP). Doolittle Mill, Redbourn, 1 on the 20th May (EL). Hanbury Manor Golf Course, 1 singing on the 20th May (MB). Amwell GP, 1 on the 28th May (RP). Hilfield Res, 1 on the 10th Jun (HRBR). Darley Hall, 1 on the 11th Jun (MR). Gaddesden Row, 1 on the 20th Jun (AG). Northchurch Cricket Club, 1 on the 30th Jun (RP).
BARN OWL Digswell, 1 on the 8th Jun (SW). Near Aley Green, 1 on the 29th-30th Jun (MR).
NIGHTJAR Sawbridgeworth Marsh, 1 on the 12th May (AH).
COMMON SWIFT Rye Meads, 2000 on the 3rd May (RMP). Amwell GP, 200 on the 18th May (DL). Burymead Springs, Hitchin, 2000 on the 21st May (CBu). Hilfield Res, max 1500 on the 2nd Jun (SM). Wilstone Res, 250 on the 6th Jun (BF). Maple Lodge, 200 on the 9th Jun (PL).
LSR SPOTTED WPECKR Brookmans Park, 1 feeding a juv on the 18th Jun (RP).
SWALLOW Burymead Springs, Hitchin, 800 on the 21st May (CBu).
HOUSE MARTIN Burymead Springs, Hitchin, 1500 on the 21st May (CBu).
TREE PIPIT Bricket Wood, a singing male on the 27th May (IB). Berkhamsted Common, 1 on the 30th May, and a pair on the 26th Jun (SD). Colney Heath Lane, 1 on the 8th Jun (BL).
YELLOW WAGTAIL Luton Lane, Redbourn, up to 15 late Apr and throughout May (EL). Wickham Hall, 2 on the 2nd May (HC). Hilfield Res, 1-3 birds recorded on 5 dates from 2nd-14th May (HRBR). East Hyde, 7 on the 7th May (MR). Rye Meads, max 3 on the 10th May (RMP).
BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL Luton Lane, Redbourn, up to 3 late Apr, and throughout May (EL). East Hyde, 1 on the 7th May (MR).
WHITE WAGTAIL Luton Lane, Redbourn, up to 2 late Apr and throughout May
NIGHTINGALE Maple Lodge, 1 on the 13th Jun (BT). Rye Meads, 1 trapped and ringed on the 16th Jun (RMP).
BLACK REDSTART Watford Town Centre, a singing male on the 23rd Jun (SW).
COMMON REDSTART Rye Meads, a female on the 5th May (RMP).
STONECHAT Hilfield Res, a male on the 13th May (SM).
WHEATEAR Amwell GP, 1 on the 20th May (TB).
GRASSHOPPER WBLR Sawbridgeworth Marsh, 1 on the 10th May (AH). Potters Crouch Plantation, 1 singing on the 11th and 23rd Jun (SM).
FIRECREST Hilfield Res, a singing male on the 10th Jun (SM).
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Chadwell Meads, 1 on the 11th May (DT). Amwell GP, 1 on the 15th May (JY). Pond Wood, Potters Bar, a pair on the 24th May (RP). Letchworth, 1 on the 25th May (RB). North Mimms Church, 1 on the 29th May (RP). Hoddesdon, a pair on the 6th Jun (DL). Ardeley Church, 1 on the 14th Jun (AR). Ickleford, 1 on the 19th Jun (RK). Berrygrove Wood, Roundbush, 1 on the 22nd Jun (MJ).
RAVEN Berkhamsted garden, 1 flew over on the 21st May.
SISKIN Hilfield Res, 7 flew over on the 6th May (HRBR).
CORN BUNTING Allens Green area, 8 singing males on the 5th May (NS). Potters Crouch, 2 singing males on the 16th Jun (GW).
List of observers: Nigel Agar, Karen Anderson, George Ashby, Toby Austin, Mike Baverstock, David Booth, Richard Booth, John Britten, Roger Broadie, Trevor Brownsell, Ian Bennell, Ian Burrus (IBu), Cliff Butterworth (CBu), Hugh Coe, John Davis, Paul Davies, Daphne Dean, Timothy Dick, Anthony Dorman, Stuart Downhill, Mick East, Gary Elton (Hilfield Reservoir), Ian Eyre, Ross Facer (RFa), Brendan Fagan, Jack Fearnside, Ricky Flesher, Paul Gasgoigne, Alan Gardiner, Liz Goodyear, Andrew Graham (AGr), Ed Griffiths, Andrew Grimsey (AGri), Andrew Hardacre, Mike Harris, Ray Hooper, James Horgan, Christopher Hughes, Mike Ilett, David James, Melanie Jardine, Martin Ketcher, Roger Kynman, Earnest Leahy, Basil Lewis, Paul Lewis, Derrick Ling, Jim Margerison (JMa), Jol Mitchell, Steve Murray, Gordon Nash, Murray Orchard, Robin Pearson (RPe), John Pritchard, Rupert Pyrah, Alan Reynolds, Rachel Roberts, Rye Meads Partnership, Nick Sampford, E Sharman, Terry Smith, Phil Stead, Ian Stewart, Dick Tanner, Joan Thompson, Barry Turner, S Warrington, Gareth Watkins (HBC website), Richard Webb, Stephen Welch, Bill Wilson, Nigel Wood, John Yates, Steve Younger.
Lee Marshall
Bird sightings summary for May/Jun 2001