Eastern Crowned Warbler - 30.10.11

Well it looks like it's all kicking off on Birdforum about the access to Hilfield Reservoir and to be honest I can't even be bothered to go into it again.

Anyway, I recieved a call telling me that the ringers had trapped a Yellow-Browed Warbler which would have been the 5th for the county, but it's my weekend with my "birds are boring" 8 year old son and the in-laws had arrived from Kent so I had no chance to go straight away. Then just after noon the MEGA alert went off and to my amazement it read Mega - Herts - Eastern Crowned Warbler at Hilfield Res!! I eventually arrived on site at 3.30pm and wandered up the West side of the res. But the bird (as yet) wasn't seen again. All I noted in the hour I was there was 3 Goldcrest, Fieldfare and a single phyllosc warbler that flew past but wasn't seen again before dark. Fingers crossed it's still there tomorrow.

Autumnwatch - 28.10.11

On last years BBC Autumnwatch programme Nick Baker was ridiculed by Chris Packham over his failure to see a Waxwing. So after the massive influx last winter and the fact that Mr.Baker was on this Fridays episode I sent a message via Facebook asking whether Nick had finally seen a Waxwing. Martin Hughes-Games read out my name but was rudely interupted by Micheala Strachan before Chris read out my question and got the answer yes from Nick! My 15 minutes of fame perhaps? Or 15 seconds more like it!

Cassiobury Park - 28.10.11

Just 4 species of note today with singles of Meadow Pipit and Lesser Redpoll, 3 Skylark and 19 Canada Geese.

Cassiobury Park - 27.10.11

A very quiet day with just a Lesser Redpoll and a handfull if Siskins being of note.

Cassiobury Park - 26.10.11

Pretty much the same today as recent days. 2 Meadow Pipits flew over along with a Skylark and 7 Siskin and 2 Grey Wagtails, Kingfisher and a Little Egret were on the river.

Cassiobury Park - 25.10.11

The day started with a Bullfinch in trees in the council yard but annoyingly I only heard it. 9 Siskin, 11 Redwing, 2 Skylark, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a flock of 30+ RN Parakeets were also seen and 2 Goldcrest were in the Whippendell Woods car park.

Cassiobury Park - 24.10.11

A hectic first hour in the park saw 4 Skylarks, 14 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing, 15 Siskin and c.30 RN Parakeets over. Another 19 Redwings flew over just after 9am but the star bird flew North around 9.30am when a Red Kite flew over the cafe being mobbed by Starlings and Carrion Crows.

Cassiobury Park - 20.10.11

A rather quiet day to start with 16+ Siskin, 30+ Goldfinch in a flock by the paddling pools and about 3 Pied Wagtails around the park but at 2.30pm I looked up to see 1 then 2 Buzzards soaring over the park towards the town centre.

Cassiobury Park - 19.10.11

As soon as I got to work this morning 8 Cormorants flew over and other flyovers through the day were 2 Fieldfare, 14 Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Skylark, 7 Redwing, 30 Goldfinch and a Little Egret (over the meadow). Also around the meadow was a Water Rail squealing and on the paddling pools 2 juv LBB Gulls and a Common Gull.

Cassiobury Park - 18.10.11

The Little Egret was back on the river though i'd had a report of it from when I was on holiday. In the nature reserve a female Bullfinch showed briefly and 2 Skylarks flew over. 25 RN Parakeets flew in this morning aswell as 2 Sparrowhawks. A Mistle Thrush was heard singing briefly by the canal which is about 2 weeks earlier than has been the last few years.