egret

egret

Monday 31 December 2012

End of year birding at Stockers Farm & Stockers Lake

A late morning visit in light drizzle provided the following species:-
Stockers Farm:-
Snow Goose (1 of presumed captive origin), Canada Goose (193), Wigeon (23), all feeding on the flooded field.
Stockers Lake:-
Little Egret (1), Red-crested Pochard (drake), Goldeneye (13 including 2 male), Smew (male observed from the Kingfisher Hide), Red Kite (1), Lapwing (21), Nuthatch (1calling near Kingfisher Hide). 

 

Monday 17 December 2012

Stockers West, Stockers Farm & Stockers Lake

As the light was good with plenty of sunshine, Steve Carter and I decided to bird the Stockers Lake area in hope of photographing something interesting. With reports yesterday of possible Black Kite over Rickmansworth and a Cattle Egret at Latimer we were hopeful of finding our own rarity!
We first stopped off at Stockers West (inns lake) where yesterdays male Goosander remained. Steve managed a few flight shots as it departed after being spooked by a wary Cormorant. We then drove to the pumping station at Stockers Farm Road and walked the track passing the flooded field. Here dozens of Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and several Lapwing fed on Earthworms as nearby on the old Crack Willow a Little Owl surveyed its territory.We then walked the causeway at Stockers noting common waterfowl before continuing along the river and rejoining the lakeside path to the east. At the flooded Alder wood dozens of Siskins fed and were accompanied by a single Lesser Redpoll..
We then headed off back to the farm where we photographed a very obliging Redwing before calling it a day.  

Sunday 16 December 2012

Stockers Lake, Bury Lake & Stockers Farm

A late morning visit to conduct a wetland bird survey produced the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe (4), Great Cormorant (27), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (15), Canada Goose (34), Gadwall (13), Mallard (64), Domestic Mallard (2), Northern Shoveler (42), Common Pochard (31), Tufted Duck (213), Common Goldeneye (13), Red Kite (2), Common Moorhen (10), Eurasian Coot (287), Northern Lapwing (24), Black-headed Gull (178), Common Gull (8), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2), Herring Gull (2), Woodpigeon (6), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Green Woodpecker (1 stockers farm), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren (6), Dunnock (1), European Robin (8), Common Blackbird (5), Fieldfare (5 stockers farm), Redwing (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Common Magpie (9), Western Jackdaw (3 over), Carrion Crow (3), Common Starling (7 stockers farm), House Sparrow (4 stockers farm), Common Chaffinch (8), Eurasian Siskin (6).
At Stockers West, now commonly known as Inns Lake, a wonderful male Goosander performed well.

                                    On the River Colne a Grey Heron had caught a Brown Rat.







                                                       European Robin at Stockers Lake.

                                                      Drake Goldeneye at Stockers Lake.




Sunday 9 December 2012

Broadwater Gravel Pit


An afternoon visit in mild conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great-crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron (3), Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon (10), Gadwall, Common Teal (13), Mallard, Northern Pintail (female over briefly), Northern Shoveler (22), Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (7), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Common Kestrel (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Rock Dove (2), Woodpigeon (9), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock (2), European Robin (3), Common Blackbird (7), Fieldfare (7), Song Thrush (1), Common Chiffchaff (7), Goldcrest (3), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (2 over briefly), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll (2), European Goldfinch (2), Eurasian Siskin (c50), Eurasian Bullfinch.



                                                          Common Chiffchaff

Sunday 2 December 2012

Barn Owl at London Heathrow

While driving adjacent runway 27 left with work colleague Andrew Malcolm at 01:20 GMT we happened across a wonderful Barn Owl hunting along the verge. The bird stopped to rest briefly on a sign before continuing to hunt.

A poor record shot of the Barn Owl resting on a runway sign taken by Andrew Malcolm.