Maple Lodge Nature Reserve late afternoon

A late afternoon visit with improving weather conditions provided the following species of interest:-
Greenshank (1 from rotunda hide), Green Sandpiper (2 from rotunda hide), Water Rail (1 calling from phragmites), Kingfisher (2 from teal hide), Blackcap (4), Chiffchaff (2), Goldcrest (1), Goldfinch (2 feeding at long hedge meadow). At Lynsters Farm 39 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose and c50 Jackdaw were all noted from Lynsters Hide while at Lynsters Gravel Pit a single Common Tern put in a brief appearance.
From Long Hedge Hide Peter Baker briefly observed a drake Mandarin before it retreated into dense foliage.
Mammals;
Rabbit, Muntjac (female noted in the flooded plantation). 
 

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

A very brief late afternoon visit provided the following species of note:-
Green Woodpecker (adult on cricket pitch), Greenshank (1 feeding in shallows from sanctuary hide), Green Sandpiper (3 feeding in shallows from sanctuary hide), Reed Warbler (1 in phragmites from sanctuary hide).

Woodoaks Farm and Heronsgate

An afternoon visit to Woodoaks Farm making my way through Ladywalk Wood and onto the Heronsgate side of the farm produced the following species of note:-
Woodoaks Farm
Kestrel (1), Little Owl (1 in old orchard), Ring-necked Parakeet (7), Green Woodpecker (adult and juv in paddock below old orchard), Chiffchaff (2), Goldcrest (1), Goldfinch (10 feeding on thistle below old orchard).
Heronsgate between Long Lane and Shepherds Lane
Common Buzzard (1), Red Kite (1), Kestrel (female), Green Woodpecker (2 juvs), House Martin (5), Northern Wheatear (1), Yellowhammer (2).

                                         Northern Wheatear at Heronsgate.

                                           Common Buzzard at Heronsgate.

Autumn arrives at Maple Lodge

An early evening visit provided the following species of note:-   
Ring-necked Parakeet (4), Kingfisher (2 from Shell Hide), Water Rail (1 calling from the reed bed).
Earlier in the day Greenshank and Green Sandpipers were reported but this evening the marsh was quiet in their absence. At Lynsters Farm 17 Greylag Geese, 32 Magpie and c30 Jackdaw were all observed from Lynsters Hide.

Below are several autumnal photos taken this evening at the reserve:-

                                          Buckthorn Rhamnus catharticus

                                          Dog-Rose hips Rosa canina

                                                       Elder Sambucus nigra

                                          Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus

                                                        Hawthorn Crategus monogyna

                                           Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium

                                                       Lords-And-Ladies Arum maculatum

                                                       Teasel Dipsacus fullonum

                                          Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

Maple Lodge early morning

An early morning visit to avoid the predicted heavy rain provided the following species of note:-
Little Grebe (8), Green Sandpiper (3 from rotunda hide), Kingfisher (1), Swallow (10 over briefly), Reed Warbler (pair still present feeding young from rotunda hide), Chiffchaff (4), Jay (2).
There was no sigh this morning of the 3 Greenshank that Joan Thompson noted yesterday.
At Lynsters Gravel Pit 2 pairs of Great-crested Grebe and a single pair of Moorhen were present with young.


 

Tawny Owl at Maple Lodge

As I sit at my computer desk with my windows open I can hear the distinctive call of a male Tawny Owl coming from the reserve. Steve Carter had 2 birds calling the previous evening so its good to know that these nocturnal predators are still about.

Old Lady at Maple Lodge

Last evening while conducting a brief visit to the reserve I discovered an Old Lady inside Rotunda Hide!
I'm not talking about the mother-in-law or an opportunist tramp but infact a large dark brown moth with a very broad forewing. I think this might be the first sighting of this species at the reserve since 1984.

                                           Old Lady Mormo maura 

 

Maple Lodge early evening

With the recent rain water levels at the reserve have risen slightly over the last day or two turning part of the dry marsh near Rotunda Hide back into wet marsh. Consequently on my visit today I noted 2 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper from this area. Teal numbers have risen with 21 observed taking advantage of the improving conditions busily dabbling in the shallows. At Long Hedge warblers were numerous with several Chiffchaff and Blackcap and 2 Garden Warbler all noted.  At the large Oak 2 Jay were busily raiding acorns and from Shell Hide 2 Kingfisher were observed. At Lynsters Farm 36 Greylag Geese and c60 Jackdaw were busily feeding in the cattle field. On returning past the Sluice an adult Grey Wagtail was briefly noted. 

A few more Greenshank shots below:- 

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

A made a brief late afternoon visit to the reserve where the following species were noted :-
Greenshank (2 showing very well from rotunda hide), Green Sandpiper (1 briefly in flight from rotunda hide with 2 reported earlier today), Kingfisher (1), Reed Warbler (pair still feeding young near rotunda hide).
At Lynsters Farm 19 Greylag Geese and 3 Canadian Geese were noted from the Long Hedge. 


A few Greenshank shots taken from Rotunda Hide.

Insomnia pays off

After a terrible nights sleep and wide awake at the crack of dawn there was nothing for it but to head off down to the reserve, and I'm glad I did! From the Sanctuary and Rotunda hides the Greenshank was again observed busily feeding on the marsh and from Teal hide the Green Sandpiper was again noted. Then I visited the Sluice hide where a very close Kingfisher posed for my camera as did a lone Grey Wagtail.
At the Long Hedge a party of warblers moved through with 2 Garden Warbler, 10 Blackcap and 5 Chiffchaff all noted in a ten minute period. Then on to the Shell hide where 79 Black-headed Gull sat in the shallow water. Among them was an oddity, smaller with a shorter, dark bill and shorter dark legs and more grey-brown over-all appearance, a juvenile Little Gull. I managed to take a couple of record shots before something spooked the gull flock and the Little Gull disappeared over the Long Hedge heading towards Lynsters Farm.

                                          Greenshank

                                          Kingfisher

                                           Little Gull

                                           Grey Wagtail


 

Maple Lodge evening update

At Maple Lodge this evening I again noted the Greenshank from the Sanctuary and Rotunda hides and at Teal hide I rediscovered the Green Sandpiper feeding along a stony island.

Whinchat at Heronsgate

An early afternoon walk to Heronsgate via Woodoaks Farm produced a single Whinchat. The bird was present on a barbed wire fence and was observed dropping to the floor to catch insects before returning to the fence post. Nearby a pair of Kestrel hunted overhead. On returning back to Woodoaks Farm 2 Red Kite put in a brief appearance and at the old orchard a single Little Owl and c50 Collared Dove were noted.

                                          Whinchat

                                           Red Kite at Woodoaks Farm

Maple Lodge evening update

A late afternoon/early evening visit produced the following species of interest:-
Greenshank (viewed from both rotunda and teal hide as it fed in the shallows), Water Rail (2 heard calling briefly in vicinity of rotunda hide), Kingfisher (1 from shell hide), Swift (5 over long hedge briefly), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Reed Warbler (2 from sanctuary hide), Garden Warbler (1 feeding on elderberry in long hedge), Chiffchaff (4), Jay (2).
I could not find the Green Sandpiper this evening and yesterday's Cetti's Warbler hasn't shown at all today.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

A brief early evening visit to the reserve provided the following species of note:-
Little Grebe (4 adults, 2 fully fledged young plus pair with young), Greenshank (1 from rotunda hide), Green Sandpiper (1 from teal hide), Black-headed Gull (48 on cricket pitch), Common Gull (1 on cricket pitch), Kingfisher (1 from shell hide), Chiffchaff (1 in long hedge).
A fox was flushed twice from the Long Hedge and with the amount of dung present along the path it is obviously a favoured hunting area.
Earlier in the day there were a couple of reports of a singing male Cetti's Warbler from the Long Hedge but all was quiet this evening.

                                          Green Sandpiper from Teal Hide.   

Waders remain at Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

I made another evening visit to the reserve where I again noted the single Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper from the Teal Hide. From Shell Hide a pair of Kingfisher were observed for several minutes chasing each other around the reserve while at the north end of Lynsters Farm 19 Greylag Geese grazed.

                                           Greenshank.

Spotted Flycatcher at Woodoaks Farm

While conducting a brief late morning tour of the farm I noted a single Spotted Flycatcher at the south end of the old orchard. I watched for several minutes as it launched itself at flying insects before returning to the same perch. Other species observed included 2 Little Owl, c20 Goldfinch and single Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Kestrel.

Evening visit to Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

An evening visit to the reserve provided the following species of note:-
Green Sandpiper (2 from teal hide), Greenshank (1 from teal hide), Kingfisher (1 from rotunda hide), Swift (5 feeding briefly above the paddock), Sand Martin (4 feeding briefly above the paddock), Chiffchaff (2), Blackcap (1). At the Long Hedge I observed a stag Muntjac foraging under the large oak before it caught my scent and ran for cover.   

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

A late morning visit to the reserve provided the following species of note:-
Cormorant (2), Grey Heron (6), Little Egret (3 on clubhouse lake), Canada Goose (8 from shell hide), Greenshank (1 feeding in shallows from shell hide), Green Sandpiper (2 from shell hide), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Kingfisher (1 briefly in flight from shell hide), Blackcap (1), Chiffchaff (2). At Lynsters Farm a total of 23 Greylag Geese were present feeding among the long grasses.
 

Woodoaks Farm

A late morning visit in glorious sunshine and a light breeze provided the following species of note:-
Hobby (1 over old orchard briefly before hawking insects above ladywalk wood), Red Kite (1), Little Owl (pair with 2 fledged young in old orchard), Ring-necked Parakeet (1 over), Green Woodpecker (adult with 2 juvs in old orchard), Chiffchaff (2), Goldfinch (7), Yellowhammer (female).
Speaking to Chris the farm hand he informed me that a Wheatear had been present along the footpath passing the manure pile since last Wednesday, alas it did not show for me today.

An afternoon at Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

After recovering from my earlier excitement at Tring I conducted an afternoon visit to Maple Lodge Nature Reserve where I bumped into Chris Sharp. From the Teal Hide we observed a total of 5 Green Sandpiper all busily feeding on the exposed mud as a Hobby hawked overhead. Later 2 Kingfisher put in a brief appearance from Long Hedge Hide and on leaving 2 Green Woodpecker were noted feeding on ants at the cricket pitch.
A full species count as follows;
Little Grebe (2 pairs with young with a further pair noted), Great-crested Grebe (2 pairs with fledged young at lynsters lake viewed from lynsters hide), Grey Heron (3), Mute Swan (2), Canada Goose (2), Gadwall (2), Teal (10), Mallard (40), Shoveler Duck (10), Pochard (duck with brood of young on the clubhouse lake), Tufted Duck (3 duck with broods of young), Sparrowhawk (1), Hobby (1), Moorhen (10 plus pair with recently hatched young below the sluice hide), Coot (18), Green Sandpiper (5), Black-headed Gull (13), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 over), Herring Gull (1 over), Common Tern (1), Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon (10), Kingfisher (2), Green Woodpecker (2), Great-spotted Woodpecker (male at clubhouse feeders), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Reed Warbler (1 briefly from shell hide), Chiffchaff (2 at long hedge), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Rook (1 over briefly), Carrion Crow, Chaffinch (4), Greenfinch (2), Goldfinch (1 feeding on thistle below long hedge).
Butterflies;
Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Small White.

                                          Green Sandpiper.
   

Wader delight at Tring

Today Steve Carter and I made a brief late morning visit to Wilstone Reservoir, Tring where water levels have dropped dramatically producing ideal conditions for waders. We made our way to the hide where we met Steve Rodwell and Lee Evans and from here we viewed the following;
Spotted Redshank (1 immature), Greenshank (6), Black-tailed Godwit (6) and c200 Lapwing. Thanks must go to Steve Rodwell who allowed us views through his scope after I left mine in the car! On returning back to the car we had brief overhead views of an adult and immature Hobby.


 

Minsmere

A visit to the RSPB Minsmere Reserve in Suffolk provided the following species;
Little Grebe (8), Great-crested Grebe (pair with young), Cormorant (12), Bittern (1), Grey Heron (2), Little Egret (2), Mute Swan (pair with 5 cygnets), Greylag Goose (2), Barnacle Goose (18 including several fledged young), Canada Goose (19), Shelduck (5), Cape Shelduck (escaped female), Teal (6), Mallard, Pintail (eclipse male), Shoveler Duck (3), Pochard, Tufted Duck, Ferruginous Duck (female on pool behind south hide), Marsh Harrier (3), Sparrowhawk (hunting sand martins), Common Kestrel, Hobby (1 hunting hirundines), Pheasant (hen with young), Water Rail (calling from reeds behind south hide), Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher (2), Ruff (1), Avocet (11), Lapwing (3), Dunlin (1), Black-tailed Godwit (36), Common Redshank (3), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern (3 from east hide), Common Tern (1), Feral Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, Pied Wagtail (2), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (2), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit (2), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.
Mammals;
Red Deer (2 hind with a single fawn), Rabbit.
Butterflies;
Grayling, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood.
Dragonflies;
Ruddy Darter

                                          Cape Shelduck

                                                     Red Deer

                                          Red Deer (fawn).

                                          Grayling on Buddleia.

                                          Ruddy Darter (female).

                                          Ruddy Darter (male).

Broadwater Gravel Pit, Harefield

I made a short hop across the county border to Broadwater Gravel Pit in Harefield where the following species were observed;
Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant (several pairs with young at nest), Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose (44), Domestic Greylag Goose (1 on river colne),  Canada Goose (93), Egyptian Goose (5), Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen,  Coot, Lapwing (3), Black-headed Gull (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (c40 including juvs), Herring Gull (1), Common Tern (26 including juvs), Feral Rock Dove (1 over briefly), Woodpigeon, Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Sand Martin (10), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Reed Warbler (2), Blackcap (adult plus 2 juvs), Chiffchaff (6), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay (1), Carrion Crow (3), Chaffinch, Greenfinch.
Butterflies;
Small White, Red Admiral.
Reptiles;
Grass Snake (1).

HS2 Proposed Project
Below is a poster that is present in one of the hides explaining how this so called green project will impact on our countryside. Part of the proposed route will pass through the Broadwater Lake Reserve as it heads north through London, Herts and Bucks towards Birmingham. Apparently high speed trains traveling over 200mph will pass by every 15 minutes.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

An afternoon visit in wet, mild conditions provided the following species of interest;
Cormorant (1 fishing the clubhouse lake), Grey Heron (4), Little Egret (3 feeding among the shallows from teal hide), Teal (11 from long hedge hide), Shoveler Duck (3 from long hedge hide), Tufted Duck (female with 4 ducklings from sluice hide), Green Sandpiper (2 from teal hide), Common Tern (2 from teal hide), Kingfisher (1 from shell hide). At Lynsters Farm Greylag Goose (11) and Canada Goose (8) were busily feeding among the long grass.  

01-08-11 Durlston Country Park

Another morning visit through the Country Park via Townsend Nature Reserve & Jack Baiss Meadow in warm mild conditions produced the following species;
Fulmar (2), Gannet (7), Shag (12), Cormorant (1), Common Scoter (1), Peregrine (2 attacked Jackdaws several times before heading out to sea), Kestrel (1 over gully), Pheasant (cock), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull (5), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2), Great-black-backed Gull (3), Feral Rock Dove (14), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove (3), Swift (8), Green Woodpecker (adult and juv), Great-spotted Woodpecker (female on telegraph post at Anvil Point Lighthouse), Swallow (16), Rock Pipit (2), Black Redstart (2 immature at Tilly Whim), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat (male and 2 juvs), Blackbird, Grasshopper Warbler (jack Baiss Meadow), Common Whitethroat (5), Blackcap (adult and juv), Chiffchaff (3), Willlow Warbler (3), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw (c30), Rook (1), Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch (2 plus juv), Linnet (pair), Bullfinch (4), Yellowhammer (1).
Butterflies;
Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Wall Brown, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Grayling.

                                           Grasshopper Warbler at Jack Baiss Meadow.

                                           Peregrine attacking Jackdaw.

                                          Jackdaw.

                                          Fulmar.

                                           Wall Brown.