Cuckoo - 22.5.26

I was helping do a job at KGV playing fields in Watford when just before 10am as I was walking to the van I heard the distant song of a Cuckoo coming from the direction of Hampermill Lake. This is my first in the Watford area for 10-15 years. It was from this site many many years ago I had one singing on and off for 2 days in August! 

Firecrests - 30.4-16.5.26

In Oxhey Park whilst getting it ready for green flag judging I picked up a Firecrest in Oxhey Dell followed by another by the Deacons Hill side a couple of days later.

I then had one as it headed through the yard at Cassiobury which was possibly a different bird to the one my friend and colleague Nick Harris found at the Rickmansworth Road end of the park while he was out running.  I did hear that bird the following day to my sighting.

Then yesterday I was out looking at houses in Chipperfield and had one in the garden of one of the houses and another in the churchyard by the common.

Patch Weekender - 25/26.4.26

After a years hiatus it was again the Hertfordshire patch weekend challenge. This year I joined Matt and George Moreton and at 5am we were at Wilstone waiting for it to get light. But before it had we heard Tawny Owls calling from the cemetery corner area. This was a patch tick for myself. Soon after George picked out 3 Shelduck as they circled the reservoir.

We then walked around the reservoir where I added year ticks of Lesser Whitethroat and Swift and by cemetery corner the unmistakable call of a Cuckoo.

When we reached the jetty we finally laid eyes on the Lesser Scaup and with it a bumper 18 points!

Lesser Scaup

When walking along the canal path near Marsworth Reservoir we bumped into a kayaker who was scared to head any further due to a territorial Mute Swan and as we turned around to look at the Swan we all clapped eyes on a female Marsh Harrier as it headed towards Bulbourne! An unexpected bonus. We ended the day on 82 species and the Sunday only added 1 more species to the total which was a fly through Ringed Plover.

Those 18 points eventually won us the competition even though we saw 8 species less than the team with the biggest number of species.

Roll on next year.

Cassiobury - 24.4.26

The day of judging meant going around the park making it look as good as possible. While I was litter picking the nature reserve I finally came across my first Reed Warbler for the park. In fact I ended up hearing 3 different birds! It was a year to the day since I’d found the Wood Warbler behind the yard so I wonder what warbler I’ll find next year? Rüppell’s anyone!

Also seen were a female Kestrel, Kingfisher and 2 Whitethroat.

Cassiobury - 14.4.26

Whilst prepping Cassiobury Common ready for green flag judging I heard the song of a Garden Warbler which was my first park record for many a year. It sang for a few minutes before vanishing.

Herts Tick! - 13.4.26

The kids had been off school for the 2 week Easter holidays but with an inset day for them but not for my teacher wife meant they stayed the night at their nans in Watford so after work I picked them up and shot up to Wilstone and joined Ian Williams near the outflows where I got onto the Lesser Scaup and his tufty mate as he’d finally done the right thing and headed into Herts. It became the 4th county record and my 1st. 

Lesser Scaup

Herts 1st at Tyttenhanger which was just the 12th for GB was a few years before I started county listing, the 2nd a female I dipped at Wilstone as it was almost dark when I got there from work and the 3rd at Stockers Lake picked the day I was looking for somewhere to live so today’s bird was a long awaited bird.

A Common Tern and Yellow Wagtail were year firsts and as I approached the car park a group of 6 Oystercatchers flew over becoming the biggest flock I’ve seen in the county.

Wilstone + College Lake - 4.4.26

With news of a potential patch tick albeit it in the wrong county I headed up to Wilstone first until College Lake opened. On the way up the A41 at Bourne End my first Swallow of the year flew over followed a few at Wilstone. Sand Martin also made the year list as did 2 Little Ringed Plover from the hide.

Little Ringed Plover

Once it was 10am it was time to head to College Lake. After a short walk I joined a couple of familiar faces and got onto the patch tick. A fine drake Lesser Scaup that had seemingly paired up with a female Tufted Duck. This was the first record for Buckinghamshire and upon checking Google maps I found it was about 250 feet from the Herts border. Yet another so close and yet so far. 

Lesser Scaup

Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler were also added to the year list and a Curlew that flew over the north end of the reserve was only my 3rd in the area.

Back To Norfolk - 29.3.26

I again joined Brendon this time back to Norfolk. Our first stop was Baldock model aircraft to look for Wheatears that’d been present for the week but they’d gone but great views of Corn Bunting were nice to see.

A quick stop at Cavenham Heath produced 2 Stone Curlew then it was on to Santon Downham where we walked along the river path. Good numbers of Redpoll (at least 30) including some nice pink males, 2 pairs of Mandarin and year ticks of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer were noted. After a while we joined a small group of birders and quite quickly got onto a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a few Crossbill and a nice Marsh Tit.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

We then headed to Horsey Gap where after a stroll through the dunes to the north of the car park where we met some departing birders telling us that the Glaucous Gull had gone but the Iceland Gull was still about. After a few minutes I picked it out with other gulls in amongst the seals. This was my first since 2018.

Out at sea were 30+ Red-throated Diver and most surprising of all a summer plumaged Black-throated Diver that was some way off but eventually took flight as it headed south.

Iceland Gull

Once back at the car park we told some new arrivals of where to go and they reciprocated telling us of 2 Cranes in a field just south of Horsey Windmill. We found them quickly at the far side of the field and as we headed for home I noted a Great White Egret on the other side of the road.

East Anglia - 19-20.2.26

As it was half term week we decided to take a quick family break to go and see my dad in Norfolk. As there was a good bird to see near Lowestoft we went up the A12 instead of our usual route up. We arrived in Lowestoft to a strong cold wind and drizzle which made seeing my target impossible as it turned out but in the hour or so I was there I did hear my 5th Hume’s Warbler calling on 3 occasions but sadly never laid eyes on it.

Before heading to my dad’s we had to wait an hour to get into our hotel so we parked up at Gorleston-on-Sea staring out into the sea. I wandered down to the cafe to get us some hot chocolate and noted at least 20 Mediterranean Gulls of various ages.

The next morning we headed north to my dad’s but not before stopping at Breydon Water for a scan! 8 year ticks were added including decent numbers of Avocet and Pintail.

At Hemsby the kids had a play on the beach whilst I added Ringed Plover and Gannet and lastly we popped in to see the seals at Horsey Gap and from here I had 3 Eider and a raft of c.50 Common Scoter.

Hampshire - 25.1.26

Killdeer

I joined Brendon Fagan for a trip down south and our first stop was a new site for me. Ripley Farm Reservoir had held a drake Baikal Teal a few years ago but this time it held something from the other side of the planet in the shape of a Killdeer. It was almost 20 years since I’d seen my one and only in the UK with one at Blakeney Freshmarsh. It showed well on the far bank of the small reservoir though occasionally disappearing behind some furrows.

Also on the water was an adult Little Gull which I failed to see last year.

Little Gull

After our fill of these two we headed down the road to the village of Avon where after a bit of a wait we finally saw our intended target when Brendon picked out the big lump of a White-tailed Eagle as it headed south. It was one of the Isle of Wight introduction birds but it’s good enough for the year list!

White-tailed Eagle

News of a Red-necked Grebe at Hythe marina saw us heading over but upon arrival a strong wind and heavy showers made looking for it tricky and as such we didn’t see it. I did however find a Great Northern Diver so it wasn’t a total loss.

Great-tailed Grackle

Our final stop was in the village of Holbury where after a short wait staring into a small front garden out popped a cracking male Great-tailed Grackle. It’d first been seen on the coast but had moved inland after a couple of days. It was a wild bird from America but as they’re not known as a long distance migrant and it most likely arrived on a boat docking at Southampton it isn’t tickable though if I’d not seen them before in America it would’ve been a world tick but not a UK tick!