Cassiobury Park - 23.5.12

The first birds of the day were 2 Common Terns that flew high NW over the yard at 7.45am. A Kingfisher flew through the trees near the Langley Way entrance mid morning.

Cassiobury Park - 22.5.12

A 6am start was had today to prepare for the parks green flag award inspection and just after six 14 Stock Doves were near the log benches and a Little Owl dropped out of its tree to feed on the ground briefly. The most surprising bird of the day was an unseasonal Siskin which flew West. A Kingfisher was heard as it flew up river and a Buzzard was over the yard just before I went home.

Cassiobury Park - 16.5.12

Only a Sparrowhawk made the notes today when it flew over the cricket square. The later a Red Kite was near Leavsden Studios.

Photos

Finally i've managed to get a couple of photos off my phone and onto the computer so I can add the m here. They are the Fulmar at Wilstone and 4 of the 5 Wheatears at Cassiobury. Both were taken on my phone through my bins so the quality isnt what you would call great!

Cassiobury Park - 15.5.12

For the first time in a while there were some birds worth noting in the park! A Common Tern flew along the canal, 11 Swift and a single House Martin were overhead and a Blackcap was singing in the council yard first thing.

Minsmere Again! - 13.5.12

The male Garganey and the young Treecreepers.

Less than a week after visiting the reserve and I was back this time with the Watford RSPB group. This visit didnt see as many year ticks but I did manage 4 more. 3 of those were seen from the East hide with a Curlew Sandpiper on one of the islands and a Little Gull on the water and flying around. A Hobby was also seen distantly but better views were had further around the reserve. The final year tick was a pair of Garganey that appeared out of nowhere posing just long enough for a photo before vanishing again. Because of the high water levels last week there were no Avocets but around 20 were seen today as the water level had dropped. 3 Little Egrets were on the levels and a Yellow Wagtail flew over. From the new Island Mere hide 2 Bitterns were seen in flight and in the woods a family party of 7 Treecreepers were seen with 5 young huddled together on a branch being fed by the adults. A Marsh Tit on the feeders by the visitor centre was the last bird of note for the day.

Suffolk - 5-7.5.12

The Wryneck, Worlds worst photo of BW Stilts and the Ring Ouzel.

As it was a bank holiday weekend I decided to head up to East Anglia. In Lowestoft a Black Redstart was in the car park near the North denes and 4 Avocet were on the boating lake at Southwold.

A Sandwich Tern flew past the beach car park at Winterton and a Barn Owl was sat on a post by the road near Halesworth. A Cuckoo flew alongside the car at Theberton.

But the bank holiday Monday produced some quality birds at Minsmere RSPB with a showy Wryneck and 2 not so showy Black-Winged Stilts being the highlights. Other notable birds were a Ring Ouzel and Stone Curlew and a couple of singing Nightingales.

KGVPF - 4.5.12

Whilst preparing the cricket wickets I heard the call of a Yellow Wagtail but it only called twice and then stopped so I thought it must have gone but when I was marking out the boundary 3 Yellow Wagtails got up and headed towards the hospital.

Cassiobury Park - 1.5.12

Another miserable day weather wise was only brightened up with a singing Willow Warbler just the otherside of the canal, a Swallow flying South (who can blame it!) and a Bullfinch near the mini railway.

Watford - 30.4.12

Whilst cutting the cricket squares ready for another season at KGV playing fields 3 Swifts were seen flying around on and off and a Red Kite and Sparrowhawk also flew over.

Then whilst shopping in Asda I recieved a text from Samuel Perfect telling me he had just found another 2 Wheatears (1 male) at Cassiobury Park! (9 so far this Spring).

Hilfield Reservoir - 29.4.12

Whilst dinner was cooking I decided to head over to Hilfield for an hour or so after a message telling me of 2 Black Terns being present. I arrived to find many Swifts flying around and once at the top of the steps there were around 600 present with some flying a few feet from my head. That was the first year tick of the visit and was closely followed by 3 more in the shape of 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 adult Black Terns and an Arctic Tern. Also present were at least 2 White Wagtails and a Wheatear aswell as many other hirundines.