Cassiobury Park - 10.4.13

Even before i'd got out of bed the first bird of the day was heard calling from outside that being a Tawny Owl. Then a GS Woodpecker was again drumming from a large oak near the car.

At work a dozen Lesser Redpolls were flying around over the yard buzzing as they went whilst down near the river a Chiffchaff was still singing, a Pheasant called and a Little Egret was near the rustic bridge. On the canal a Cormorant was busy fishing then while marking out the tennis courts a Red Kite flew over as did a Meadow Pipit and a Sparrowhawk zoomed in chasing Starlings. The warm weather also saw the first Comma and 3 Small Tortoishell butterflies.

Cassiobury Park - 9.4.13

The first Linnet for the park this year flew over the bowls club this afternoon but was only heard. 50+ Redwing were still present with 3 birds singing again by the toilet block. 10 Jay were in the park includin 8 in one tree by the tennis courts around 9am doing what looked like displaying to each other. Just as I walked out of the mess room to go home 7 Lesser Redpoll flew over.

Other news from the park to reach me was the sighting of the first Reed Bunting, Blackcap and 4 Sand Martin of the year. The count of 4 Sand Martin was the first multiple sighting since the 1950's and is still a species I've yet to see in the park.

A piece of news from yesterday that I forgot to add was of a Little Egret flying over Kings Langley towards the M25 whilst driving home.

Cassiobury Park - 8.4.13

A handful of Redwing were dotted around the park still and a couple of Siskin were heard around the yard including one that during it's song it mimicked a Fieldfare and Chiffchaff! I didn't know they could do that! 2 or 3 Chiffchaff were singing around the river and the male Mandarin was above the waterfall.

Tring Reservoirs - 7.4.13

A quick afternoon visit to Tring saw a Buzzard over Pendley Manor. At the reservoirs a couple of Grey Wagtail were around Startops End, a male RC Pochard was seen on a quick scan of Tringford and at Marsworth another Buzzard flew over but the highlight was my first Kingfisher of the year.

Cassiobury Park - 4.4.13

A Pheasant was the first bird of the day calling from somewhere in the meadow. A Rook flew over the car park and 15 Redwing were by the paddling pools with a few more near the yard.

Scandinavian Singers - 3.4.13

First birds of note for the day were the 2 singing Chiffchaffs by the river closely followed by the Mandarin pair on the river and 2 Treecreepers chasing each other around a tree near the croquet lawns. A Grey Wagtail was near the meadow and a group of about 40 Jackdaws flew up out of the woods on the other side of the canal. A few Siskin were still hanging around the yard but the highlight of the day were a small group of Redwing in trees around the toilet block. At least 3 of the group were singing which was a nice surprise.

Chipperfield + Cassiobury Park - 2.4.13

Stepping out the door this morning 2 Fieldfare flew over, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from a nearby tree and Siskins could be heard from another tree. Shortly after the front spring on my car snapped and ended up costing me £100 to fix! In the park 2 Grey Wagtail flew over the rustic bridge and a few Siskin were still around the yard.

Watford - 30.3.13

A visit to my mums saw a Buzzard being mobbed by Herring and LBB Gulls.

Cassiobury Park - 28.3.13

The Mandarin pair were on the river and the Chiffchaff was still singing from the old cress beds where 5 Teal flew out of towards the meadow. A Lesser Redpoll flew over the toilet block and a Common Gull this time a winter plumaged bird was in the the BH Gulls.

Cassiobury Park - 27.3.13

The first bird of note of the day was a nice summer plumaged Common Gull which is an uncommon plumage in the park. The sun came out which encouraged one of the Chiffchaffs to start singing.