Selected records for July and August 1999
BLACK-NECKED GREBE Hilfield Res, 3 present until 4th, 2 until 25th Jul, and 1 until 21st Aug (HRBR). Wilstone Res, 1 on 29th Aug (MC).
LITTLE EGRET Tyttenhanger GP, 4 for just five mins on 24th Jul (RM). Mill End, 1 on 30th-31st Jul (per PL). Amwell GP, 2 on 4th and a different bird on 7th Aug, the latter bird first visiting King's Meads (BR). Wilstone Res, 1 on 21st Aug (PW).
WHITE STORK 1 escaped from captivity near Harpenden on 31st Aug and was recaptured the next day (per PW).
BLACK SWAN Bury Lake, the regular bird still present on 18th Jul (PL/HB).
WHOOPER SWAN Wilstone Res, 5 on 12th-13th Jul (SR).
BARNACLE GOOSE 1 at East Hyde with Canadas on 30th Aug (LH).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Bury Lake, 1 on 15th Aug (HB).
SHELDUCK Wilstone Res, singles on 23rd Jul, 11th, 13th, and 25th Aug (MC/JTh/SH/PS), and 7 on 29th Aug (DB). Near St Albans, a juv on 8th Aug (SM).
MANDARIN DUCK Tewinbury, a pair bred in Jul (GW). Haberdashers School, a female on 27th Jul (SM). Wilstone Res, 2 on 5th Aug (PH), and a male on 17th Aug (JTh). Amwell GP, 1 on 17th Aug (BR).
WIGEON 3 at Amwell on 21st Aug (CH).
PINTAIL Wilstone Res, a female on 19th Jul, and 7th-20th Aug, 6 on 24th Aug (MC), 3 on 25th, and 4 on 29th Aug (JTh).
GARGANEY Hilfield Res, a male on 3rd Aug (SM/GE). Amwell GP, a male from 4th-24th (BR), 5 were present on 14th (TG), and a female from 20th-30th Aug (BR). Wilstone Res, 2 from 7th-29th Aug (MC/SH/JTh), with 3 on 13th Aug (BP). Rye Meads, a male on 7th, and a female on 20th Aug (RMRG).
SCAUP 1 at Wilstone on 13th Aug (SH).
RUDDY DUCK Maple Lodge, max 3 on 3rd Aug (RM). Rye Meads, 3 on 31st Jul (RMRG). Hilfield Res, max 28 on 27th Aug, with 3 broods of yg seen (HRBR).
COMMON BUZZARD Tring Res, singles on 3rd (DH), and 24th Jul, and 15th Aug (MC). Panshanger, 1 on 14th Jul (GW). Prae Wood, 2 on 24th Jul (SM). Further singles at Easneye on 26th Jul (RP), Amwell GP on 15th Aug (BR), at Cold Christmas on 19th Aug (NS) and near Lemsford on 30th Aug (AMo).
OSPREY Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 25th Jul (BG). Hilfield Res, 1 briefly on 17th Aug (SM).
HOBBY Hilfield Res, singles on six dates throughout period (HRBR). Amwell GP, 1 on 3rd Jul (DL), Stockers Farm, max 10 on 10th Jul (AM). Little Munden, 1 on 14th Jul (DL). Royston, 1 on 15th Jul (DL). Batford, 2 on 18th Jul, one seen to catch and eat a Swift (MR). Near St Albans, 1 on 25th Jul, and 2 on 27th and 31st Aug (SM). Rye Meads, 2 on 15th Aug (RMRG). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 20th Aug (RF). Wilstone, Res, 2 on 25th Aug (JTh). East Hyde, 1 on 26th Aug (MR).
PEREGRINE Wilstone Res, a juv female on 27th Aug (BP).
QUAIL Wilstone Res, 1 seen and heard on 9th Jul (SD). Near Sandon, 2 still calling on 13th Jul (MR).
WATER RAIL Amwell GP, max 4 on 21st Aug (BR). East Hyde, 1 on 22nd Aug (MR).
OYSTERCATCHER Near Baldock, 1 flew south on 29th Jul (GW). Rye Meads, singles over calling on 2nd and 12th Aug (DM). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 over on 10th Aug (RF). Amwell GP, 1 on 12th Aug (TG).
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Amwell GP, max 3 (1 juv) on 3rd Jul, and 2 on 8th, and 14th Aug (DL/RM). Hilfield Res, 1 on 10th Jul (HRBR). Near St Albans, 1 adult with 2 yg on 16th Jul (SM). Wilstone Res, 1 on 13th Aug (BP).
RINGED PLOVER Amwell GP, max 4 on 4th-14th Jul (GW). Near St Albans, max 8 on 7th Jul (SM). Hilfield Res, 1 on 11th Jul (SM). Wilstone Res, 4 on 20th (JTh), and 2 on 25th Aug (MC). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 30th Aug (RF).
CURLEW SANDPIPER Wilstone Res, 3 on 27th Aug (JTh).
DUNLIN Amwell GP, 1 on 23rd Jul (BR/DL). Near St Albans, 1 on 22nd Jul (SM). Fairlands Valley Lakes, 1 on 23rd Jul (AF). Wilstone Res, 2 on 20th (JTh), and 1 on 31st Aug (RH).
RUFF Wilstone Res, 1 on 7th Aug (MC).
COMMON SNIPE Rye Meads, max 28 on 27th Aug (RMRG).
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Wilstone Res, 1 on 17th (RH), 3 on 23rd (DB), and 1 on 31st Jul, and 1 on 13th Aug (MC). Near St Albans, 1 on 26th-27th Jul, and 1 (probably the same) 31st Jul-1st Aug (SM).
BAR-TAILED GODWIT Amwell GP, 2 on 16th (TG), and an incredible 150 flew NW on 30th Aug (BR).
WHIMBREL Wilstone Res, 19 over on 8th Aug (AL).
CURLEW Rye Meads, 1 over on 16th Jul (RMRG). Wilstone Res, 1 on 23rd Jul (MC).
SPOTTED REDSHANK Amwell GP, 2 juvs on 12th-13th Aug (TG/BR).
REDSHANK Rye Meads, singles on 3rd Jul, and 8th and 21st Aug (RMRG). Wilstone Res, 4 on 5th Jul (DB), and 1 on 8th Aug (JTh). Amwell GP, 1 on 6th Jul (BR).
GREENSHANK Rye Meads, 1 on 23rd Jul (RMRG). Wilstone Res, 1 on 4th, (MC), then numbers built up to an impressive max of 36 on 25th Aug (DB). Amwell GP, singles on 5th, 15th, and 25th Aug (BR). King's Meads, 1 on 7th Aug (BR). Near St Albans, singles on 8th and 24th Aug (SM).
GREEN SANDPIPER Amwell GP, up to 5 throughout Jul, and on 5th Aug (BR/GW). Rye Meads, 1 throughout Jul, and max 9 on 20th-21st Aug (RMRG). Near St Albans, 1 on sev dates in Jul (RF/SM), and max 4 on 1st, and 12th Aug (SM). Maple Lodge, 1 on 13th, and 2 on 20th Jul (RM). Otterspool, 2 on 26th Jul (CE). Wilstone Res, 3 on 1st Aug (DB). Hilfield Res, 1 on 6th Aug (JF).
WOOD SANDPIPER Wilstone Res, 2 on 1st (DB), and 1 on 5th Aug (PH).
COMMON SANDPIPER Hilfield Res, 1 on 4th, and maxima of 3 on 12th Jul, and 10 on 4th Aug (HRBR). Fairlands Valley Lakes, 1 on 15th Jul (AF). Smallford Lake, 1 on 19th Jul (BL). Amwell GP, 1 on 26th-29th Jul, and max 3 on 8th-9th Aug (BR). Near St Albans, 1 on 29th Jul (SM). Wilstone Res, 3 on 4th (MC), and max 11 on 9th Aug (CB). Rye Meads, 4 on 7th Aug (RMRG). Tyttenhanger GP, max 5 on 8th-10th Aug (RF).
TURNSTONE Hilfield Res, 1 on 7th Aug (SM).
ARCTIC SKUA Rye Meads SF, a dark phase bird flew over on 10th Aug (DM).
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Amwell GP, an adult summer on 21st Jul (TA), a moulting 1st-summer 23rd-29th, and a juv on 30th Jul (BR). The 1st-summer bird was present again on 2nd and 9th Aug (BR). Near St Albans, an adult on 1st Aug (SM). Rye Meads, a juv on 5th Aug (RMRG).
LITTLE GULL Near St Albans, a juv on 14th Jul (BF). Tyttenhanger GP, 5 juvs on 30th Aug (RF).
BLACK-HEADED GULL Amwell GP, an albino on 24th Jul (BR).
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Amwell GP, a juv 28th-29th Jul, and an adult on 5th Aug (BR). Pitstone No 2 Quarry, 1 on 24th Aug (DB).
SANDWICH TERN Rye Meads, 2 flew NE on 7th Aug (RMRG). Wilstone Res, 2 on 8th Aug (PW).
BLACK TERN Wilstone Res, 5 on 6th Aug (PC). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 10th Aug (RF/CS).
| WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN Wilstone Res, a moulting adult on 31st Jul (DB). |  |
TURTLE DOVE Rye Meads, max 5 on 10th and 17th Jul, and 4 on 8th Aug (RMRG). East Hyde, 2 on 12th (CS), 3 on 15th, and 2 on 26th Aug (MR). Cole Green, 1 on 21st Aug (DL).
S-CRESTED COCKATOO Wilstone Res, 1 on 23rd Jul (MC).
COCKATIEL Garston, 1 on 12th Jul (CE).
RING-N PARAKEET Rye Meads SF, 3 over on 24th Jul (DM).
CUCKOO Stockers Lake, 2 juvs being fed by a Reed Warbler on 24th Jul (TS).
BARN OWL Cole Green, 1 on 14th Aug (RS). Rye Meads, 1 on 20th Aug (RMRG).
LITTLE OWL 1 in Bishop's Stortford on 24th Aug (AH).
SWIFT Berkhamsted, c100 high over on 24th Jul (SD). Garston, 200 flew south on 8th Aug (CE). Wilstone Res, 2 on 29th Aug (JTh).
WRYNECK Rickmansworth, 1 visited a garden on 29th Aug (JC).
WOODLARK Pitstone No 2 Quarry, 1 on 31st Aug (SR).
WHINCHAT Hilfield Res, singles on 27th, and 30th, Aug (SM/GE). Beech Farm, 4 on 28th Aug (RM). Rye Meads, 1 on 28th Aug (RMRG). Hunton Bridge, Watford, 1 on 30th Aug (CE). Colney Heath Lane, 1 on 30th Aug (BL).
WHEATEAR Near St Albans, 1-2 on several dates from 8th-27th Aug (SM). Hilfield Res, singles on 15th and 27th Aug (TB). Tyttenhanger GP, 2 on 28th Aug (RF). Wilstone Res, singles on 9th (CB) and 30th Aug (RH/HRBR).
BLACK REDSTART Miswell Farm, Wilstone, 1 on 31st Aug (RH).
REDSTART Bricket Wood, 1 on 22nd Aug (CE).
CETTI'S WARBLER Stockers Lake, a pair bred successfully with 3 yg seen on 17th Jul (TS/GW).
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Stortford Park, 1 feeding 2 juvs on 5th Jul (HC). Rothamsted Exp Stn, a pair feeding yg on 7th Jul (MR). Colney Heath Lane, singles on 23rd Jul, and 27th Aug (BL). East Hyde, 1 on 19th Aug (MR). Beech Farm, 1 on 28th Aug (RM). Rye Meads, singles on 28th and 30th Aug (RMRG). Miswell Farm, Wilstone, 1 on 31st Aug (RH).
WILLOW TIT Wilstone Res, a family party on 31st Jul (LM).
TREE SPARROW Colney Heath Lane, 1 on 2nd-9th Jul, and 2 on 6th Aug (BL). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 14th Jul (JTh).
SISKIN Broxbourne Woods, 1 on 4th Jul (GW).
REDPOLL Hilfield Res, 1 on 9th Jul (PD). Carpenders Park, 5 over on 28th Aug (JS).
COMMON CROSSBILL Pinehurst, Hertford, 2 on 18th Jul (JB). Gustard Wood, 7 on 27th Jul (PW). Bayfordbury, a small party on 15th Aug (RS). Hilfield Res, 1 over on 15th Aug (GE/JF).
HAWFINCH Wilstone Res, 1 reported on 13th Aug (FOTR).
BULLFINCH Rye Meads, 10 on 22nd Aug (RMRG).
Observers
Toby Austin, Helen Baker, Dave Bilcock, Tony Blake, Crispin Boylan, J Briggs, Mike Campbell, John Carter, Hugh Coe, Michael Collins, Peter Colston, John Davis, Sally Douglas, Stuart Downhill, Peter Draper, Gary Elton (Hilfield Park Reservoir), Colin Everett, Brendan Fagan, Jack Fearnside, Ricky Flesher, Alan Ford, Friends of Tring Reservoir (FOTR), Brendan Glynn, Terry Goddard, Andrew Hardacre, Roy Hargreaves, Doug Helsby, S Hikmet, Lynne Hingston, Colin Hull, Pete Humber, Basil Lewis, Paul Lewis, Derrick Ling, Arthur Livett, Anna Marrett, Lee Marshall, R Middleton, D Morrison, Adrian Moss, Steve Murray, Bill Pegram, Mike Perkins, Roland Power, Barry Reed, Steve Rodwell, David Russell, Mike Russell, Rye Meads Ringing Group, Nick Sampford, Clifford Smout, Rob Souter, Joyce Staines, Tony Stride, Paul Sutton, Joan Thompson, Graham White, Peter Wilkinson, Paul Wiseman, Paul Wright.
Lee Marshall
Bird sightings summary for Jul/Aug 1999