Chipperfield, Hilfield + Tring - 11.1.14

The Pink-Footed Goose

 

A nice sunny day for once so on opening the curtains my first Buzzard of the year flew past quickly followed by a Sparrowhawk.

As I'm taking part in the Patchwork Challenge I thought it best that I should have a proper walk around Hilfield and try to add a few more species to the list. On reaching the top of the steps 4 Buzzard were flying over the north pines and in amongst the trees was my first Grey Heron (58) of the year. During the walk around I noted 2 Bullfinch, 2 Treecreeper, 4 Lesser Redpoll and finally caught up with the Goldeneye that had been present for a few days. The last bird of my visit was a screeching Water Rail. In all I added 10 more species for the challenge. I just now have to write up the list and work out my points.

As I had a couple of hours of daylight left I headed up to Wilstone Reservoir. I walked round to the jetty but there was no sign of the Water Pipit but in the hedge behind was a female Reed Bunting. Next stop was the hide where I had a scan and straight away found the Black-Tailed Godwit in with the Lapwings. Just then Dave Bilcock said he had the Pink-Footed Goose in with the small flock of Greylag Geese. It had been found before Christmas but had disappeared so was a welcome tick. At least 30 Snipe were huddled together in a gap in the reeds and 2 Little Egret were seen flying around.

Watford - 9.1.14

While driving along Vicarage Road a Sparrowhawk flew over.

Harebreaks Rec - 8.1.14

Today it was a quick case of checking the football pitches to see if they were playable and while at Harebreaks Rec at least 300 Woodpigeon flew over as did a Grey Wagtail. Just then I heard the drumming of a GS Woodpecker (56) before it flew a short distance.

Chipperfield - 7.1.14

After a quiet day at work I went home and while walking back to the flat I heard the call of Skylark (54). I looked up and saw at least 9 flying south. A welcome year tick. Shortly after a Sparrowhawk (55) flew past the living room window and also onto the list.

Watford - 6.1.14

A Red Kite was seen again near Knutsford Rec and that was about it!

Weekend Sightings

A quiet weekend with occasional moments of looking at birds saw a couple of Red Kite viewed from the flat and in Hemel Hempstead town centre a flock of Canada Geese were a year tick. A Grey Wagtail was on the flooded river outside of TK Maxx.

Claim To Fame

In a recent post I mentioned that a highlight for last year was identifying the welsh Orphean Warbler from photos on the internet. After a text from fellow birder Bob Cripps I downloaded the January edition of Birdwatch magazine and there in print is my name! It's the third column near the bottom.

Also of note from today (3.1.14) was a Bullfinch in Cassiobury Park and a Red Kite over Knutsford rec.

Watford - 2.1.14

Today it was back to work and straight out marking the football pitches. Between all the sites another 16 species were added including Stock Dove and Grey Wagtail taking the year list to 51.

2014

My plan was to head to Devon and Dorset and clear up a few of the good things down there but due to the continuing crappy weather and the fact I was still in bed at 10.30 meant that wasn't going to happen! I stared out of the living room window and the first bird of the year was a Red Kite. Just after noon I'd had enough and donned the waterproofs and headed for Hilfield Reservoir. This year I have chosen to do the Patchwork Challenge and luckily for me Hilfield scrapes in at just under the 3km square patch limit. Half way around to the hide I was beginning to think I should have stayed indoors as I shielded my eyes from the driving rain. I sat in the hide and for the last couple of hours of daylight scanned through all the birds and noted them down. An adult Great Black-Backed Gull was one of only five gulls on the water and was a patch first for me. 2 Black-Necked Grebe were a nice bird for the list. Soon after I was joined by Steve Murray and between us we tried to find the day before's Kittiwake but unfortunately it wasn't seen though Steve did find a nice 2nd Winter Mediterranean Gull just before it got too dark. The day ended on 35 species.

Missed Mega's 2013

Here is a depressing list of Mega rarities that turned up last year which if I'd been in the right place at the right time I'd have seen. But I didn't!

1. Forster's Tern
2. American Coot
3. American Herring Gull
4. Black-Browed Albatross
5. Pine Grosbeak
6. Baikal Teal
7. Harlequin Duck
8. Rock Thrush
9. White-Throated Needletail
10. Ascension Frigatebird
11. Bridled Tern
12. Swinhoe's Petrel
13. Fea's Petrel
14. Bulwers Petrel
15. Yelkouan Shearwater
16. Little Shearwater
17. Red-Billed Tropicbird
18. Black + White Warbler
19. Elegant Tern
20. Great Snipe
21. Wilson's Warbler
22. Eastern Kingbird
23. White's Thrush
24. Sykes Warbler
25. Isabelline Wheatear
26. Hudsonian Whimbrel
27. Thick-Billed Warbler
28. Cedar Waxwing
29. Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler
30. Ovenbird
31. Siberian Rubythroat
32. Cape May Warbler
33. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
34. Myrtle Warbler
35. Mourning Dove
36. Hermit Thrush
37. Lesser Kestrel
38. Orphean Warbler
39. Yellow-Breasted Bunting
40. Ivory Gull

If I'd seen all of those my UK list would be 467!