Wilstone Reservoir - 9.10.12

After being told by my doctor yesterday that he was signing me off for another fortnight (which just happens to lead into my 2 weeks annual leave from work!!) to recover from my slipped disc, the thought of being cooped up staring out of the window again filled me with misery. So as myself and Carey were cat sitting at her mums in Chesham I decided to get up with her and while she went to work I headed over to Wilstone for a bit of very leisurely birding. I must have been a funny sight trying to get my walking boots on which took over 5 minutes but in that time my first Lesser Redpoll and Redwings (10) of the Autumn flew over. Eventually I was ready and started my stroll to the hide. 2 Siskins flew over the new outflow as did 3 Meadow Pipits. A Grey Wagtail flew in infront of me but just as I was going to get a photo it flew off. 6 Swallows then headed South. I reached the hide and sat down with a sigh of relief though that relief was short lived sitting on a plank of wood! From the hide a group of 29 Golden Plovers were in with the Lapwings. The number slowly grew with additional arriving birds and by the time I left there were 55 present. Another Lesser Redpoll flew over, 3 Little Egrets were on view and a Snipe flew around before landing out of view to the right of the hide. Just before I left 2 large thrushes flew high in from the East and my first Fieldfares of the Autumn were onto my list. 3 Bullfinch were seen in flight while walking through the woods and then back to my car and home and straight onto the sofa!

Whilst i'm on i'll put out an appeal that should some rare birds turn up and you have a spare seat going that can fit a 6ft cripple in then please let me know as 20 minutes driving is enough for me at the moment!! Thanks.

Chipperfield - 7.10.12

Very kindly my mum had invited myself and Carey for Sunday dinner and whilst walking to the car 2 Siskin flew over. My first of the Autumn and first for my fledgling Chipperfield/garden list.

Raven-ing It Up! - 4.10.12

Due to my dodgy back i'm still off work and spending too much time in the flat but just before lunch I heard a Raven call through the open window and on closer inspection I picked it up heading SW towards the common. I got my bins out and had a better look only to be amazed that another 5 joined it and now all 6 birds were in my field of view! After a minute or so they disappeared behind houses. On checking my records its my second biggest count of Raven in a day after seeing 7 in Wales while dipping a Blue Rock Thrush a couple of years ago (but in one's and two's) so 6 together is my largest group.

Chipperfield - 3.10.12

A small and quick passage of Swallows flew South over the garden totalling 31 birds.

Chipperfield - 1.10.12

Whilst going round the flat closing the curtains I spotted a Sparrowhawk perched up on the fence of next doors garden. Looking through bins it was a lovely female. I tried a digi-binned shot but it was just too dark for my camera.

Wilstone Reservoir - 25.9.12



Firstly my apologies for the lack of posts. The reason is that i've been off work since last Tuesday after according to the doctor most likely slipping a disc in my lower back which has severly restricted things like moving and walking!! Having only spent less than 7 hours outside of the flat in a week the walls were closing in too much and there is only so much daytime telly you can watch so I thought sod it i'm going out. As the weather was dry for a change I headed over to Wilstone Reservoir where after the slowest walk i've ever made to the hide I finally had good views of the Great White Egret that was now on it's thrid day of residence. It showed very well and closer than my only other Herts GWE which was way back in 2003 (on the hottest day ever recorded in the UK) also at Wilstone. 3 Little Egrets and a Ringed Plover were the other noteworthy birds. After about 20 minutes I was starting to ache so off I went back to the car and home again where a Red Kite over the car on the A41 became my 300th in the UK!

Cassiobury Park - 18.9.12

At least 10 Jay were in the park including 8 circling high over trees by the croquet lawn first thing. Not something i've seen them do before. 4 Swallow headed SW with a Meadow Pipit soon after. A Chiffchaff was by the yard as was a Sparrowhawk that was soon mobbed by Jackdaws and Starlings.

Cassiobury Park - 17.9.12

A good start to the day was had with 18 Meadow Pipits flying over followed by 2 Grey Wagtails over the paddling pools. But then it went quiet!

BAILLON'S CRAKE!! - 16.9.12

After dipping last weekend and hearing that it had showed well first thing yesterday I decided to give it another go. So 3.30am and I was up and out by 4am! I arrived on site just before 5am and waited for a few minutes for the wardens to open up. A brisk walk in the dark down to the hide and I managed to grab a seat and waited for it to get light enough to see anything! Just after 6am the shout went up that it was showing but dopey old me was looking in the wrong place until I gained my barings and got onto my first ever BAILLON'S CRAKE (year tick number 200) as it crept around in the reeds just infront of the hide. For the next 5 minutes we all watched this tiny bird before it disappeared back into the reeds and at the time of writing (12pm) hasn't been seen since! Unfortunately theres no accompanying photo as my poor little camera couldn't cope with the lack of light even though viewing through my scope it was clear and light. A big thank you must go to all the reserve staff who have given up their last 2 weekends to allow us to stand a chance of seeing this bird. Bring on the Autumn MEGAS!!

Family day out - 15.9.12

As my dad, step mum and sister had come down from Norfolk for the weekend the whole family went out for the day. First stop was Tring museum where we looked at all the stuffed birds and animals followed by a game of football in Verulamium park in St.Albans as my son wanted to see how good his grandad was as he used to play for Watford FC! While at the park I noted a Red Kite, Buzzard, 30+ House Martin and around 10 Swallow but the best was saved till last when a Yellow Wagtail flew over the car park.