Cassiobury Park - 31.7.12

6 House Martins were over the East end of the park late morning and a Sparrowhawk flew over the yard.

Cassiobury Park - 30.7.12

A Grey Wagtail flew over the pools early morning and it or another was on the new cressbeds. A Sparrowhawk flew over the log benches and the first Swift in a while was over the yard. A juv Robin was in the yard in the afternoon.

All the C's - 24.7.12

The first bird of the day whilst walking to my car in Chipperfield was a Crossbill that was so low and had the sun on it I could tell it was a male! Then at work at Cassiobury Park 9 RN Parakeets flew over the yard (my largest group in ages).

Cssiobury Park + KGVPF - 20.7.12

A juv Little Owl was heard screeching mid morning then whilst doing the cricket at KGV playing fields 83 Carrion Crows were feeding amongst the cut grass and 6 Swallows were flying over it. 2 Chiffchaffs were singing along the Ebury Way.

Cassiobury Park - 19.7.12

It was a day of fairly high numbers today with 10 Mistle Thrushes were again on the cricket outfield, 14 Mallards on the canal, 11 BH Gulls (highest count of the autumn so far) flying over the pools and finally on the new (being re-furbished) cress beds 9 Mute Swan were present (2 ad + 7 juvs).

Then this evening whilst watching telly at my girlfriends with the windows open in Chipperfield a Tawny Owl was heard calling nearby. My first of the year.

Cassiobury Park - 18.7.12

15 Swift were above the council yard first thing. Yesterdays 2 juv Moorhens were joined by an adult and the 2 Chiffchaffs were still singing but the highlight was the 14 Blackbirds on the tennis courts in the morning.

Cassiobury Park - 17.7.12

2 well grown Moorhen chicks were on the river and the young Mallard was still abover the waterfal. 2 Chiffchaffs were still singing as was a Blackcap.

Cassiobury Park - 16.7.12

2 Chiffchaffs were still singing this morning and the Mistle Thrush count had risen to 11 birds on the cricket outfield mid morning.

Cassiobury Park - 13.7.12

A Bullfinch flew over the yard first thing whilst down along the river 2 Chiffchaffs were singing and an adult and juv Green Woodpecker were by the paddling pools.

Cassiobury Park - 12.7.12

Another day of only 1 bird of note with todays bird being a Buzzard over the yard mid afternoon.

Cassiobury Park - 11.7.12

The only bird of note was another Crossbill that flew SE over the East end of the park at 11.20am.

Cassiobury Park - 10.7.12

3 Green Woodpeckers (2 ad + a juv) were on the grass by the cafe first thing. A Chiffchaff was still happily singing away in the meadow whilst on the river a pair of Moorhen were feeding a fairly well grown chick. A Sparrowhawk flew over the cricket square early afternoon and just before home time 9 Mistle Thrushes were on the cricket outfield.

Cassiobury Park - 9.7.12

9 Blackbirds were on the tennis courts first thing and a Grey Wagtail flew North over the paddling pools mid morning.

Cassiobury Park - 5.7.12

The main highlight of the day was had when going to open the toilet block! I was just about to open the door of the gents when I heard the glip glip call of Crossbills. I looked up and managed to see 7 of them as they flew SE towards the paddling pools. A few minutes later a Skylark flew North. On the cress beds a single BH Gull was present along with a Mallard family with 5 small chicks. Another slightly bigger chick was with its mother just above the waterfall.

Red Kite - 4.7.12

Firstly may I wish my American readers a Happy Independence Day!

Secondly the only bird of note today was a Red Kite over Kings Langley after work.

Cassiobury Park - 3.7.12

A Red Kite flew West over the yard early morning and a family party of 6 Mistle Thrush (2 adult + 4 juv) were on the cricket outfield.

Cassiobury Park + SABINE'S GULL!!!

4 camera phone photos of the Sabine's Gull.

Back to work this morning and whilst near the canal 2 Kingfishers were busy chasing each other. Down on the cress beds I noted a pair of Mute Swans and at least 6 cygnets aswell as a BH Gull.

Then at around 11.30am a message came onto my pager telling of a Sabine's Gull at Startops End Reservoir yesterday and not a Little Gull as first reported. Depression sank in thinking that we had all missed the first bird since the great storm of 1987! Amazingly though not long after that message another appeared to say it was still present. Luckily I finish work at 3pm on a Monday so I headed straight over and as I reached the top of the stairs there it was only 30ft away! Over the next hour it sometimes flew past at eye level less than 10ft away. Annoyingly I had left my camera at home and so the photos you see were taken on my phone.

Around this time last year I scored 3 UK ticks in 11 days (Broad-Billed Sandpiper, White-Throated Robin and Roller) and this year i've had 3 county ticks in 19 days (Little Bittern, Spotted Sandpiper and Sabine's Gull). Who says summer birding is quiet?!!

Chipperfield - 1.7.12

9 years ago today I became a dad. Where does the time go?!

Whilst sitting in my new girlfriends living room I noted at least 2 Red Kites and a Hobby. It's like a raptor watchpoint from the window as i've already seen Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk!