1 of the 3 Mandarins and a Grey Heron.3 Mandarins were the highlight of an afternoon stroll. Other notable sightings were 7 Mute Swans (2 ads and 5 cygnets), 50+ Swallows, 1 Common Tern and a Hobby.
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
5 hours ago
Monday, 17 August 2009
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Cassiobury Park - 12.8.09
2 early morning RN Parakeets were followed by 2 calling Nuthatches a Cormorant and now 10 Mistle Thrushes. A Sparrowhawk upset the Long-Tailed Tits in the afternoon by drifting over my yard. Its outermost tail feathers looked like they were still growing.
Cassiobury Park + Love is in the Back Garden - 11.8.09
2 photos of the Love-bird.At 8.40am whilst just about to start cutting the tennis courts a Hobby flew in hunting 2 small passerines but failed to catch either. It then drifted off towards the Met line station. Also present were 2 RN Parakeets and 7 Mistle Thrushes.
Later on in the day when at home watching TV, I heard a strange bird calling from the garden. On further inspection I noticed high in a Sycamore tree a lovely Love-Bird! I managed 2 shots before it flew. Not being much of a cage bird enthusiast my guess is that it was of the Peach-Faced variety but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know.
Later on in the day when at home watching TV, I heard a strange bird calling from the garden. On further inspection I noticed high in a Sycamore tree a lovely Love-Bird! I managed 2 shots before it flew. Not being much of a cage bird enthusiast my guess is that it was of the Peach-Faced variety but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Cemetary Sightings - 10.8.09
A female Sparrowhawk and a Cormorant flying over Vicarage Road cemetary towards Watford FC's ground this morning.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Back Garden Tick - 9.8.09
Whilst in the bathroom a Little Owl started calling from one of the trees from the garden. At this rate i'll have to start a bathroom list as thats LBB Gull and now the owl!
Friday, 7 August 2009
A Tern up for the books! - 7.8.09
Black Tern, Little Tern and blurry Sanderling!Early morning while at KGV playing fields 4 Ring-Necked Parakeets flew off from a tree by the community centre.
Then after a phone call from Ricky Flesher I took my boy along to Tyttenhanger GP's in the hope of seeing 3 good county birds. On arrival I was told by Lee Evans that the Little Tern had just flown off but fortunately the Black Tern and Sanderling were still on show. Just as I was leaving Simon West said that he'd refound the Little Tern and sure enough there it was. I managed to get some shots of all 3 birds (to appear here soon!).
Last but not least was a fly-by Kingfisher which was the first i'd seen anywhere in months!
Then after a phone call from Ricky Flesher I took my boy along to Tyttenhanger GP's in the hope of seeing 3 good county birds. On arrival I was told by Lee Evans that the Little Tern had just flown off but fortunately the Black Tern and Sanderling were still on show. Just as I was leaving Simon West said that he'd refound the Little Tern and sure enough there it was. I managed to get some shots of all 3 birds (to appear here soon!).
Last but not least was a fly-by Kingfisher which was the first i'd seen anywhere in months!
Thursday, 6 August 2009
KGV Playing Fields - 6.8.09
A morning preparing cricket wickets yielded 16 LBB Gulls (13 ads and 3 juvs), 4 Swallows over and a couple of Ring-Necked Parakeets. I could also hear Common Terns calling all the way from Hampermill Lake!
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Cassiobury Park - 5.8.09
8 Ring-Necked Parakeets flew NW this morning. 3 juvs (very short tails) followed 30 seconds later by a male Sparrowhawk then a minute later another 5 RN Parakeets also flew NW. A Grey Wagtail flew over the river and 8 Stock Doves were flying around. 5 Herring Gulls (3 ads and 2 juvs begging for food) were flying over for most of the day calling very loudly.
Monday, 3 August 2009
No show Spoonbills - 2.8.09
Golden Plovers, Greenshanks, Whimbrels and Curlew Sandpipers.
An early afternoon visit to Oare Marshes in the hope of adding 3 more year ticks didn't quite produce the goods.
3 Spoonbills that had been on the West flood had flown off 5 minutes before we arrived and were never seen again and the reported Wood Sandpiper had also done a bunk. Thats 3 times i've dipped a Woody this year! The only species to show itself of the 3 hoped for were the 5 moulting adult Curlew Sandpipers on the East Flood. 6 Little Egrets, 2 juv Shelducks, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Greenshank, c.200 Black-Tailed Godwits, 4 juv Yellow Wagtails and another 15 Whimbrel were also seen.
Then to add insult to injury around 2 hours after we left a Great White Egret flew in for a few minutes before flying off!
3 Spoonbills that had been on the West flood had flown off 5 minutes before we arrived and were never seen again and the reported Wood Sandpiper had also done a bunk. Thats 3 times i've dipped a Woody this year! The only species to show itself of the 3 hoped for were the 5 moulting adult Curlew Sandpipers on the East Flood. 6 Little Egrets, 2 juv Shelducks, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Greenshank, c.200 Black-Tailed Godwits, 4 juv Yellow Wagtails and another 15 Whimbrel were also seen.
Then to add insult to injury around 2 hours after we left a Great White Egret flew in for a few minutes before flying off!
Whimbrels a plenty - 1.8.09
The lone Greenshank and 1 of the 13 Whimbrels.Went down to visit the future mother-in-law at the weekend with mixed fortunes. (the birds not the mother-in-law!)
At Otterham Quay a single Little Egret and 6+ Black-Tailed Godwits.
While at Riverside CP there was a good number of waders on show on the low tide viewed from Horrid Hill. Highlights were 13 Whimbrels (year tick), 5 glorious summer plumaged Turnstones, 36 Avocet, 14 summer plumage Grey Plovers, 1 Greenshank, 24 Little Egrets and hundreds more Black-Tailed Godwits. The only passerine of note was a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat.
Then just as we were leaving to go for dinner 15 more Whimbrel flew over Otterham Quay calling loudly.
At Otterham Quay a single Little Egret and 6+ Black-Tailed Godwits.
While at Riverside CP there was a good number of waders on show on the low tide viewed from Horrid Hill. Highlights were 13 Whimbrels (year tick), 5 glorious summer plumaged Turnstones, 36 Avocet, 14 summer plumage Grey Plovers, 1 Greenshank, 24 Little Egrets and hundreds more Black-Tailed Godwits. The only passerine of note was a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat.
Then just as we were leaving to go for dinner 15 more Whimbrel flew over Otterham Quay calling loudly.
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