Croxley Common Moor - 18.4.10

A quick walk round with my son Tom mainly looking for Lesser Whitethroat was sucessful within 3 minutes of arrival with a singing male. The best bird though was just as we were walking back to the car when a female Wheatear flew up from infront of us. Another year tick. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were also singing but no Whitethroats were seen or heard.

Watford - 16.4.10

Whilst working up on the bank on Cassio Road I popped into a bush for a pee and there above my head was a female Whitethroat!! My first of the year.

Cassiobury Park - 15.4.10

A day in the park was only brightened up by actually seeing a Blackcap! 1 of 3 singing males. A Chiffchaff was also singing and a few Ring-Necked Parakeets were flying around.

Cassiobury Park - 12.4.10

As of today and because of general lack of time and decent birds this blog will now only be updated as and when a good bird (in my eyes anyway) is seen!

Today I had a Buzzard over the car park being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows and 3 Grey Herons overhead (tho probably the same bird). A Blackcap was singing in the meadow.

Amwell NR + Rye Meads RSPB - 10.4.10

Rubbish photos of the Ringed Plover, Willow Warbler, White Wagtail, Lapwing and Shelduck at Amwell NR!!

Making the most of the good weather I went to Amwell NR in the hope of some year ticks. Thankfully at least 2 were forth coming with 3+ Willow Warblers singing away and 2 House Martins that flew over the viewpoint. Other goodies were a Little Egret, 5 Goldeneyes, 4+ Chiffchaffs, Ringed Plover, Shelduck, at least 3 Buzzards and a couple of singing Cetti's Warblers.

After a quick bite to eat I went to Rye Meads RSPB reserve for the first time in ages. A Little Egret was on view from the Lapwing hide and my first Sedge Warbler was scratchily singing.

Just a Chiffy - 9.4.10

A singing Chiffchaff at Oxhey bowls club was the only bird of note all day.

Watford + HPR - 8.4.10

Another day in vicarage Road cemetary but with the better weather it was a morning of raptors. Firstly a Sparrowhawk flew over mobbed by a Carrion Crow then later a Buzzard flew over also being mobbed but by Lesser Black-Backed and Herring Gulls. Yesterdays Redwing was still present.

After work I popped into Hilfield Reservoir but was rewarded with only a Little-Ringed Plover (same bird as last week?), a Grey Wagtail, another Buzzard and 8 Swallows.

Viacarage Road Cemetary - 7.4.10

The highlight today was a late Redwing just before lunch. A drake Mallard flew East over just after lunch and a Goldcrest was singing near the chapel.

Cassiobury park - 6.4.10

A day cutting the sports areas was interspersed with 3 Pied Wagtails on the tennis courts, a possible but distant Swallow over the cricket square and my first Peacock butterfly of the year in the afternoon.

Super Suffolk - 5.4.10

1 of the Purple Sandpipers.

After staying the night in Gorleston-on-Sea and then popping in for a cuppa at my dads house we left and headed for home with a planned hour or so in Southwold. But as we were passing Lowestoft I thought it'd be rude not to pop to Ness Point where after a quick wait I managed to pick out 6 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks along with 12+ Turnstone. 2 other birders joined me and told me they had just had a Slavonian Grebe in Lowestoft Harbour so I had a quick look and was surprised to see it was nearly in summer plumage. Unfortunately i'd left my camera in the car for the sandpipers and so got a pic on my camera phone and the grebe wouldn't stop diving for long enough to get a pic!

A Little Egret was seen on Town Marshes in Southwold.