Selected records for November and December 1999
CORMORANT Maple Lodge, a French colour ringed bird on 9th Nov and 2nd Dec (PL).
BITTERN Amwell GP, 1 on 20th, 27th and 30th Nov and 4th, 19th and 27th Dec (BR/DL). Marsworth Res, 1 on 29th Dec (DB).
WHOOPER SWAN Rye Meads, 4 over on 9th Nov (RMP).
BLACK SWAN Bury Lake, 1 present throughout (PL/HB).
LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Ware, an escaped adult on the River Lee on 15th Dec (BR).
BARNACLE GOOSE Smallford Lake, 1 with Canadas on 19th Nov (BL). Wilstone Res, 1 on 21st Nov (PL).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Wilstone Reservoir, 4 on 6th Nov (SR). Amwell GP, 2 on 7th Nov and 5th Dec (DL). Bury Lake, a tame bird on 28th Dec (PL).
SHELDUCK Wilstone Res, max 2 on 21st Nov (PL), and 7th Dec (MC). Amwell GP, 1 on 27th Dec (DL).
MANDARIN Wilstone Res, a male on 20th Nov-26th Dec (SM/MC). Amwell GP, a female on 4th and 18th Dec (BR). Ware, a male on the River Lee on 15th and 29th Nov and 15th Dec (BR).
PINTAIL Wilstone Res, 12 (4 males) on 4th Nov and a male on 21st Dec (MC).
GARGANEY Rye Meads, 1 present throughout (RMP).
RED-CRESTED POCHARD Wilstone Res, a male on 21st Nov-26th Dec (PL/MC).
SCAUP Wilstone Res, an imm male on 3rd Nov (MW), and a female on 21st Nov-26th Dec (PL/MC).
GOLDENEYE Hilfield Res, max 3 on 12th Nov (SM) and 28th and 31st Dec (HRBR). Amwell GP, max 3 on 20th Nov (DL). Stockers Lake, max 12 on 26th Dec (PL).
SMEW Hilfield Res, a redhead on 16th Nov and another on 31st Dec (SM). Wilstone Res, 1 on 3rd and 2 redheads on 7th Dec (PC/MC). Stanstead Abbots GP, a redhead on 4th Dec (BR). Amwell GP, regular from 4th and max 4 (2 males) on 19th Dec (BR). Stockers Lake, 2 red-heads on 20th Dec (PL). Tyttenhanger GP, 4 (2 males) on 24th, and a female on 28th Dec (RF).
GOOSANDER Amwell GP, 3 on 21st Nov, and a male on 18th Dec (BR). Stockers Lake, max 8 on 19th Dec (TS). Wilstone Res, max 9 (3 males) on 21st Dec (MC). Tyttenhanger GP, a female on 22nd Dec (RF).
RUDDY DUCK Hilfield Res, max 152 on 20th Nov and 194 on 28th Dec (SM/HRBR).
COMMON BUZZARD Prae Wood, 2 on 6th Nov (SM). Rye Meads, 1 on 6th Nov (RMP). Frisden Copse, 1 on 20th Nov (MS). Gaddesden Row, 5 on 25th Nov (EL). Haberdashers School, 1 on 1st Dec (SM). Hilfield Res, 1 on 19th Dec (SM). Amwell GP, 4 on 19th Dec (BR).
HARRIS HAWK East Hyde, 1 with jesses on 28th Nov (MR).
PEREGRINE Wilstone Res, 1 on 19th Dec (JTh).
RED-LEGGED PRTRDGE Lemsford, 36 on 28th Nov (MR).
GREY PARTRIDGE Coursers Lane, 6 on 7th Nov (GE/JF). East Hyde, a covey of 26 on 30th Nov (MR). Beech Farm, 6 on 4th Dec (SM).
WATER RAIL Hilfield Res, 1 on 14th and 25th Nov (HRBR). Stockers Lake, max 3 on 15th Nov (PL). Amwell GP, max 2 on 19th Nov (DL). Rye Meads, max 9 on 20th Nov (RMP). Maple Lodge, 1 on 2nd Dec (PL).
OYSTERCATCHER Wilstone Res, 1 on 6th Nov (SR).
GOLDEN PLOVER Woodoaks Farm, 131 on 8th Nov (PL). Coursers Lane, max 1200 on 28th Nov (GE/JF), and 2500 on 12th Dec (MR). Sleapshyde, max 800 on 10th Dec and the leucistic bird there on 17th Dec (BL). Amwell RAB, 450 on 18th Dec (DL). Rye Meads, 200 over on 18th Dec (RMP). Great Amwell, 150 on 19th Dec (BR). Harpenden, 34 flew west on 21st Dec (MR). Tyttenhanger GP, 250 over on 24th Dec (RF). Woodoaks Farm, max 1200 on 27th Dec.
LAPWING Coursers Lane, max 1000 on 28th Nov (GE/JF). Woodoaks Farm, max 560 on 30th Nov (PL). Rye Meads, 400 on 18th Dec (RMP).
DUNLIN Rye Meads, singles (trapped and ringed) on 14th and 18th Nov (RMP). Wilstone Res, 9 on 20th Nov (SM), 4 on 7th Dec (MC), and 1 on 19th Dec (SM).
BAR TAILED GODWIT Wilstone Res, one on 7th November (AL).
JACK SNIPE Near St Albans, 3 on 7th, 5 on 14th and 11 on 27th Nov, and 6 on 4th Dec (SM). Beech Farm, 2 on 4th Dec (SM). Amwell GP, 1 on 27th Dec (RF/TS). Rye Meads, 2 on 18th Dec (RMP).
COMMON SNIPE Kingsmeads, 40 on 9th Nov (EL). Amwell GP, max 25 on 17th Nov, and 35 on 27th Dec (RF). Near St Albans, max 53 on 27th Nov, and 44 on 4th Dec (SM). Rye Meads, max 40 on 11th Dec (RMP). Otterspool, 27 on 20th Dec (CE).
WOODCOCK Rye Meads, 1 on 24th Nov (RMP).
CURLEW Rye Meads, 1 flew north on 20th Nov (RMP).
REDSHANK Wilstone Res, 2 on 19th Dec (MC/SM).
GREEN SANDPIPER Rye Meads, max 6 on 20th Nov (RMP). Tyttenhanger GP, 1 on 22nd/24th Dec (RF).
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Hilfield Res, 2 1stW birds on 6th, and 1 on 14th Nov (GE/SM/TB). Amwell GP, an adult on 29th Dec.
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Hilfield Res, 2 adults on 13th and 26th Dec (HRBR). Amwell GP, max 3 adults on 13th Nov (SM/BR), and 6 including 2 showing characteristics of "Caspian Gull" on 14th Dec, otherwise 1-3 present throughout (BR).
GLAUCOUS GULL Amwell GP, a 2ndW on 14th-17th Dec (BR).
KITTIWAKE Amwell GP, a 1st winter on 20th Nov, and an adult on 12th Dec (BR). Hilfield Res, 35 briefly on 13th Dec (SM).
STOCK DOVE Coursers Lane, 80 on 14th Nov (GE/JF).
COLLARED DOVE Woodoaks Farm, 50 on 8th Nov (PL).
RING-NECKED PARAKEET Dane Park, 1 on 30th Nov (HC).
PARAKEET SP Post Wood, Ware, 1 flew towards Amwell on 27th Dec (RF/TS).
BARN OWL Colney Heath Lane, 1 reported by a farmer in early Dec and 2 on 20th (per BL). Chess Valley, an escaped bird on 10th-11th Dec (GH/CW).
LONG-EARED OWL Rye Meads, 1 on 26th Dec (RMP).
SHORT-EARED OWL Beech Farm, max 5 on 21st Nov and 4th Dec (SM).
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Harpenden SF, a male on 7th Nov and 5th Dec (MR). Stockers Lake, 1 on 28th Nov (PL). Gobions Wood, a female on 28th Nov (SM).
SKYLARK Coursers Lane, 50 on 7th Nov (GE/JF). Potters Crouch, 150 on 9th Dec (CE). Near St Albans, 100 on 27th Dec (SM).
MEADOW PIPIT Colney Heath Lane, 50 on 8th Nov (BL).
WATER PIPIT Rye Meads, 1 recorded on four dates (RMP).
PIED WAGTAIL Harpenden SF, 120 roosted on 23rd Dec (MR).
WAXWING Cheshunt, 3 on 4th Dec. Near Tring, 13 on 13th Dec (JW). Stevenage, 2 on 20th-28th Dec.
STONECHAT Rye Meads, 1 present throughout period (RMP). Kingsmeads, 2 on 9th Nov (EL).
FIELDFARE Stortford Park, 250 on 11th Nov (HC). Foxdells, 150 on 23rd Nov (HC). Great Hadham Golf Club, 200 on 14th Dec (HC). Hilfield Res, 300 on 31st Dec (HRBR).
REDWING Garston, 120 on 28th Dec (CE). Hilfield Res, 200 on 31st Dec (HRBR).
BLACKCAP Berkhamsted Garden, 9 birds trapped and ringed in Nov, and 4 in Dec (SD). Colney Heath Lane, 2 in garden on 8th Nov (BL). Rye Meads, a male on 9th and 14th Nov, and a female on 11th Dec (RMP). Maple Lodge, a female on 9th Nov (PL). Maple Lodge Garden, 2 (male/fem) on 29th Nov (PL). Stockers Lake, 2 (male/fem) on 28th Nov (PL). Rickmansworth Garden, 2 (male/fem) from Dec 7th (HB).
CHIFFCHAFF Rye Meads, 8 present throughout period (RMP). Amwell GP, 1-2 in Nov and 1 on 14th, 20th and 24th Dec (BR). Watford Link Rd, 1 throughout period (CE). Stockers Lake, 1 on 15th Nov and 20th Dec (PL). Broxbourne GP, 1 on 5th Dec (BR). Harpenden SF, 2 on 5th Dec (MR).
STARLING Hilfield Res, 500 roosting in Dec (HRBR).
JACKDAW Beech Farm, 1000+ roosted on 21st Nov (SM).
TREE SPARROW Coursers Lane, 12 in Nov and 25 on 5th Dec(GE/JF).
CHAFFINCH Hertford Heath, up to 70 throughout period (DD). Rye Meads, 80 on 4th Dec (RMP). Coursers Lane, 100 on 5th and 27th Dec (GE/SM).
FIRECREST Rye Meads, singles trapped and ringed on 6th and 11th Nov (RMP). Amwell GP, 1 on 13th Nov (BR).
BRAMBLING Amwell GP, 1 on 14th Nov (BR). Coursers Lane, 4 from 14th Nov and 6 on 5th Dec (GE/JF).
GREENFINCH Coursers Lane, 50 on 14th Nov (GE/JF).
GOLDFINCH Colney Heath Lane, 80 on 28th Dec (BL).
SISKIN Stockers Lake, max 80 on 11th Nov (PL). Gobions Pond, 30 on 28th Nov (SM). Aldenham Res, 70 on 26th Dec (CE). Amwell GP, 25 on 27th Dec (RF/TS). Hilfield Res, max 26 on 31st Dec (SM).
REDPOLL Garston, 1 on 25th Dec (CE). Hilfield Res, 4 on 26th Dec (HRBR).
BULLFINCH Rye Meads, 10 on 13th Dec (RMP).
CORN BUNTING Marsworth Res, max of 50 roosted on 19th Dec (SD).
LIST OF OBSERVERS
Helen Baker, Dave Bilcock, Tony Blake, Mike Campbell, Hugh Coe, Peter Colston, Derrick Dorken, Stuart Downhill, Gary Elton (Hilfield Reservoir Bird Report), Colin Everett, Jack Fearnside, Ricky Flesher, Geoff Hall, Earnest Leahy, Basil Lewis, Paul Lewis, Derrick Ling, Arthur Livett, Steve Murray, Barry Reed, Mike Russell, Rye Meads Partnership, M Sattles, Terry Smith, Tony Stride, Joan Thompson, Mike Warren, Colin Wilkinson, John Wyatt.
Lee Marshall
Bird sightings summary for Nov/Dec 1999