Selected records for November and December 1998
Selected November/December recordsGT NORTHERN DIVER Hilfield Res, a 1st-w from 18th Nov-20th Dec, and presumably the same bird returned on 28th Dec and remained into the new year (SM).
SLAVONIAN GREBE Stockers Lake, 1 from 4th-6th Dec (JDy).
BLACK-NECKED GREBE Tring Res, 2 from 1st-25th Nov, with 1 lingering until 29th Nov (FoTR).
CORMORANT Maple Lodge, a colour-ringed bird from Abberton Res, Essex on 15th Nov (PL).
SHAG Rye Meads, 1 trapped and ringed on 7th Nov.
BITTERN Amwell GP, 2 on 28th-29th Nov (BR/MI), 1 on 9th (DL), 2 on 13th (GW), and 1 on 21st Dec (NA). Rye Meads, 1 on seven dates, 29th Nov-28th Dec (GW/RMRG).
LITTLE EGRET Wilstone Res, 1 from 26th Dec into the new year (EG).
PUNA IBIS Whitwell, 1 on 26th Nov (LM).
BEWICK'S SWAN Wilstone Res, a late report of 2 on 29th Oct (FoTR), and 2 on 21st Dec (MC).
WHOOPER SWAN Wilstone Res, 2 on 31st Dec (DB).
SWAN SP Dane Park, 50+ flying NE at 0300hrs on 16th Nov (HC).
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Near St Albans, presumably an escape with Canadas on 11th and 28th Nov, and 1st, 5th, 12th and 14th Dec (LM/SM).
WHITE-FRNTD GOOSE Near St Albans, 10 from 3rd Dec remaining into the new year (LM).
GREYLAG GOOSE Lynsters Farm, max 40 on 12th Nov (PL).
BARNACLE GOOSE Rye Meads, 1 on 8th and 19th Nov. Amwell GP, 1 on 16th Dec (NA).
BRENT GOOSE Hilfield Res, 1 on 3rd Dec (SM).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Amwell GP, a pair on several dates (BR).
SHELDUCK Wilstone Res, 2 on 15th Nov, and 1 on 16th Dec (PC/MC). Hilfield Res, 1 on 25th Nov (JTh).
MANDARIN Tykeswater Lake, a pair on 16th and 20th Nov (SM). Wilstone Res, a male on 17th Nov (MC). Cassiobury Park, a female on 2nd Dec (AM/JTh). Amwell GP, a pair on 5th, and a male on 6th Dec (MI). River Lee, Ware Priory, a male reported on 31st Dec.
PINTAIL Wilstone Res, a male on 9th, 14th and 17th Nov (AM/SM/MC). Hilfield Res, a male on 27th Nov (JTh). Near St Albans, a female on 13th Dec (SM). Wilstone, 2 males on 30th Dec (MC).
GARGANEY Rye Meads, 1 on 5th, 7th and 14th Nov.
RED-CRSTD POCHARD Wilstone Res, a male from 5th-30th Dec (MC). Stockers Lake, 4 on 13th Dec (GW).
RING-NECKED DUCK Wilstone Res, a female from 8th-13th Nov (DB).
LONG-TAILED DUCK Tilehouse GP, 1 on 23rd Dec (JTh).
GOLDENEYE Hilfield Res, max 3 on 7th Nov and 3rd Dec (SM). Rye Meads, max 5 on 14th Nov. Wilstone Res, max 12 on 17th Nov (FoTR). Stockers Lake, max 9 on 28th Nov (TS). Amwell GP, max 3 on 24th Dec (DL).
SMEW Wilstone Res, 5 (1 male) briefly on 23rd Nov (MC). Amwell GP, 3 females from 26th Nov (BR/MI). Tilehouse GP, 2 females on 29th Nov (TS). Hilfield Res, a male on 29th Nov (PM), and 2 females on 28th Dec (SM). Amwell GP, max 11 (5 males) on 12th and 30th Dec (MI/GW). Stockers Lake, max 10 on 13th Dec (GW). Tilehouse GP, a pair on 27th-28th, and 2 females on 29th Dec (GE/JTh).
GOOSANDER Wilstone Res, 2 on 7th (PW), and 6 on 17th Nov (MC), with a max of 10 on 20th Dec (GW). Tyttenhanger GP, a male over on 28th Nov (RF). Smallford Lake, a female on 7th Dec (BL). Stockers Lake, max 3 on 29th Dec (JTh).
RUDDY DUCK Verulamium Park, 3 on 7th Nov (CE). Hilfield Res, max 153 on 9th Nov (LM).
RED KITE North Herts, 1 roosted throughout Nov/Dec (JeD), joined by a second bird on 26th Dec (GW).
COMMON BUZZARD Prae Wood, 3 on 29th Nov (SM), and 2 on 19th and 28th Dec (LM/SM). Whitwell, 1 on 20th Dec (MK).
MERLIN Wilstone Res, 1 reported on 15th Nov. Hunsdon, 1 on 21st Nov.
PEREGRINE Tring Res, 1 on several dates in Nov/Dec (PW).
GREY PARTRIDGE Near Offley, a covey of 33 on 30th Dec (MK).
WATER RAIL Kimpton Mill, 1 on 4th, 13th and 26th Nov (LM). Frogmore Lake, 1 on 11th Nov and 15th Dec (LM). Stockers Lake, max 9 on 18th Nov (LM). Maple Lodge, 1 on 18th Nov (LM). Scotsbridge Mill, 1 on 22nd Nov (HB). Otterspool, 2 on 22nd Nov (CE). Rye Meads, max 4 on 2nd Dec (GW). Amwell GP, max 8 on 3rd Dec (GW). Maple Lodge, 1 on 4th and 30th Dec (PL). Stanborough Marsh, 5 on 5th Dec (GW). Broxbourne GP, 1 on 27th Dec (SM). Hilfield Res, max 2 on 28th Dec.
GOLDEN PLOVER A1, Hatfield, 300 on 1st Nov (LM). Rye Meads, max 60 on 7th Nov. Baldock, 600 on 14th Nov (BR). Coopers Green Lane, 600 on 18th Nov (GW). Waterdale, 116 on 22nd Nov (CE). Coursers Road Fields, max 2160 on 30th Nov and 24th Dec, including the leucistic bird 30th Nov-9th Dec (LM). Bloodhound Wood, 60 on 5th Dec (HC). Near St Albans 2000+ on 13th Dec (SM). Smallford, 900 on 19th Dec (MR). East Hyde, 21 on 19th Dec (MR). Woodoaks Farm, max 405 on 28th Dec (JTh).
LAPWING Near St Albans, 1500 on 13th Dec (SM). Coursers Rd Fields, max 1400 on 24th Dec (LM). Broxbourne GP, 800 on 27th Dec (SM).
DUNLIN Wilstone Res, 4 on 4th and 14th (MP/AM/SM), 2 on 11th (RH), and 3 on 13th Nov (MC). Amwell GP, 2 on 3rd Dec (GW). Coursers Rd Fields, 1 calling from Golden Plover flock on 3rd Dec (LM).
JACK SNIPE Rye Meads, 1 on 12th and 28th Dec. Amwell GP, 1 on 27th Dec (GW).
COMMON SNIPE Rye Meads, max 20 on 7th Nov. Amwell GP, max 11 on 11th Nov (DL). Tyttenhanger GP, max 16 on 22nd Nov (SM). East Hyde, max 5 on 22nd Nov (MR). Rye Meads, max 32 on 5th Dec. Stockers Lake, max 3 on 6th Dec (PL). Old Parkbury, 2 on 11th Dec (LM).
WOODCOCK Frogmore, 1 on 11th Nov (LM). Dowdells Wood, 1 on 13th Nov (LM). Rye Meads, 1 on 15th Nov, and 5th Dec. Whitwell, 1 on 26th Nov (LM). Berkhamsted Common, 1 on 27th Nov (SD).
REDSHANK Amwell GP, 7 on 7th Nov (BR/MI). Wilstone Res, 2 on 9th (AM), and 1 on 11th and 14th Nov (RH/SM).
GREEN SANDPIPER Rye Meads, max 5 on 15th-19th Nov, and 12th Dec. Scotsbridge Mill, 1 on 22nd Nov (HB) and 2nd Dec (AM). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 9th-10th Dec (LM). Beech Farm GP, 4 on 20th Dec (LM).
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Hilfield Res, an adult on 9th-10th and 21st, and a 1st-winter on 21st Nov (TB/GE/JF/TA/SM). An adult on 26th and 28th Dec (SM), and a 1st-w on 31st Dec.
LITTLE GULL Near St Albans, a 1st-w on 28th Nov (SM).
BLACK-HEADED GULL Hilfield Res, one of the regular partial albino birds noted on 7th-9th, and 28th Nov.
COMMON GULL Tyttenhanger GP, a 'white-winged' bird on 3rd, 9th, and 20th Dec (LM).
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Amwell GP, 1-2 present throughout Nov. (BR/MI).
COLLARED DOVE Woodoaks Farm, 150 on 16th Nov (PL).
BARN OWL Near Whitwell, 1 on 13th Nov (MK). East Hyde, 1 on 24th Nov (MR). Coleman Green, 1 on 6th Dec (MR). Colney Heath Lane, 1 reported early Dec (per BL).
LSSR SP WOODPECKER Rye Meads, 1 on 18th Nov. Hilfield Res, 1 on 6th Dec.
SKYLARK Coursers Road Fields, max 260 on 4th Nov (LM). Codicote, 120 on 4th Nov (LM). Hunsdon, 500 on 28th Nov (BR).
MEADOW PIPIT Rye Meads, max 70 on 27th Dec.
ROCK PIPIT Wilstone Res, 1 littoralis on 5th (MC), with 2 reported on 8th Nov (FoTR).
WATER PIPIT Rye Meads, max 6 on 19th Nov, and 8th and 19th Dec (GW/RMRG).
PIED WAGTAIL Hertford Town Centre, 250+ roosted on 8th Nov (CC).
BLACK REDSTART Hilfield Res, 1 on 14th Nov (TB).
STONECHAT Rye Meads, 1 from 7th, 14th and 17th Nov, and 12th and 19th Dec.
FIELDFARE Whitwell, 100 on 13th Nov (LM). Hilfield Res, 160 on 12th Dec (SM). Wickham Hall, 100 on 18th Dec (HC). Beech Farm, 100 on 20th Dec (LM).
REDWING Haberdashers Girls School, 100 on 1st and 3rd Nov (SM). Rye Meads, max 160 on 7th Nov (RMRG). Whitwell, 110 on 13th Nov (LM). Holywell Hill, St Albans, 100 on 1st Dec (CE). Wickham Hall, 200 on 18th Dec (HC).
BLACKCAP Berkhamsted, 2+ males throughout Nov/Dec (SD). Rickmansworth garden, a male on 16th Nov (AM). Colney Heath Lane, 1 on 17th Nov (BL). Harpenden Garden, 2 on 21st Dec (JD).
CHIFFCHAFF Aldenham Res, 1 on 8th Nov (CE). Rye Meads, max 3 19th-29th Nov. Troy Mill, 1 on 21st-22nd Nov (TS). Tilehouse GP, 1 on 29th Nov (TS). Stockers Lake, max 4 on 30th Nov (GW). Frogmore Lakes, 1 on 1st Dec (LM). Stanborough Marsh, 4 on 5th Dec (GW). Wilstone Res, 1 on 6th Dec (MC). Hilfield Res, 1 on 4th, 6th and 28th Dec. Rye Meads max 6 on 19th Dec.
WILLOW WARBLER Wheathampstead garden, 1 in song briefly on 23rd Nov (MR).
FIRECREST Rye Meads, 1 on 7th Nov. Bedmond, a male on 8th Nov (DJ).
WILLOW TIT Water End, Wheathampstead, 2 on 4th Nov (MB).
TREE SPARROW Coursers Road Fields, up to 40 present in Nov (GE/LM/SM), and max 54 on 28th Dec (GE/JF). Tyttenhanger GP, max 10 on 29th Nov, and 7 on 9th Dec (LM). Colney Heath Lane, 1 on 3rd Dec (BL).
CHAFFINCH Wickham Hall, 100 on 9th Nov (HC). Coursers Rd Fields, max 100 on 18th and 20th Dec (LM). Rye Meads, max 100 on 27th Dec.
BRAMBLING Coursers Rd Fields, 1 on 4th and 28th Nov (LM/GE). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 11th and 29th Nov (LM). Royston, 10 on 14th Nov (BR). Maple Lodge, 1 on 18th Nov (LM). St Albans garden, 1-2 from 20th-30th Nov, and up to 6 throughout Dec (GB).
GOLDFINCH Blackbridge landfill, 120 on 13th Nov (LM). SISKIN Rickmansworth Aquadrome, 10 on 7th Nov (HB). Cassiobury Park, 15 on 2nd Dec (AM).
LESSER REDPOLL Hilfield Res, 10 on 1st Nov (PM). Stockers Lake, 2 on 8th Nov (PL). Blackbridge landfill, 6 on 13th Nov (LM). Maple Lodge, max 20 on 15th Nov (PL). Tyttenhanger GP, 6 on 9th Dec (LM). Rye Meads, max 11 on 27th Dec.
COMMON CROSSBILL Stockers Lake, 1 over on 18th Dec (AM).
HAWFINCH Post Wood, Ware, 1 on 6th Dec (DJ).
REED BUNTING Amwell GP, 65 on 3rd Dec (GW).
CORN BUNTING Near Hitchin, 20 on 15th Nov (MK). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 30th Nov (LM). Stanborough Marsh, 17 on 5th Dec (GW). Near St Albans, 3 on 15th Dec (LM).
List of Observers: Nigel Agar, Toby Austin, Helen Baker, Glen Barnes, Dave Bilcock, Tony Blake, Marcus Brew, Mike Campbell, Clive Chapman, Hugh Coe, Peter Colston, Jeff Davies (JeD), John Davis, Chris Dee, Peter Delaloye, Derrick Dorken, Stuart Downhill, John Dyer (JDy), Gary Elton (Hilfield Park Reservoir), Colin Everett, Jack Fearnside, Ricky Flesher, Alan Ford, Friends of Tring Reservoirs (Tring), Ed Griffiths, Roy Hargreaves, Mike Ilett, David James, Dave Johnson, Martin Ketcher, Basil Lewis, Paul Lewis, Derrick Ling, Anna Marett, Lee Marshall, Paul McManus, Steve Murray, Mike Perkins, Barry Reed, Mike Russell, Rye Meads Ringing Group (Rye Meads), Tony Stride, Joan Thompson, Graham White, Paul Wright, Rob Young.
Lee Marshall
Bird sightings summary for Nov/Dec 1998