Woodoaks Farm

A late morning visit in sunny but cold conditions provided the following species:-

Red Kite (3), Common Buzzard (2), Greylag Goose (4 over), Northern Lapwing (60), European Golden Plover (4), Black-headed Gull (154), Common Gull (1), Feral Rock Dove (1), Woodpigeon (23), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Little Owl (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Pied Wagtail (3), Wren (2), Dunnock (3), European Robin (3), Common Stonechat (1), Common Blackbird (5), Fieldfare (4), Eurasian Skylark (4), Meadow Pipit (2), Long-tailed Tit (3), Blue Tit (4), Great Tit (5), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie (10), Western Jackdaw (4), Carrion Crow (2), House Sparrow (1), Common Chaffinch (5).

Below the old orchard a single Little Owl was observed sunning itself in the morning sunshine.

Three of the four European Golden Plover feeding among the winter wheat.

A Red Kite takes to the air after having a brief nap at the manure heap.

A Common Stonechat put in a brief appearance adjacent the footpath.

Cheshunt High Street

This afternoon I made the relatively short drive north to Cheshunt, Herts where a flock of thirty two Bohemian Waxwing have been present for the past two days. Thankfully the birds performed well during my visit and I managed to take some record shots as they fed greedily on berries.

                                        This individual was colour ringed on it's left leg.

I then conducted a brief visit to Amwell NR where a rather obliging Common Pheasant allowed me to take a super close up shot of its head.

Woodoaks Farm

A mid-afternoon visit in mild but windy conditions provided the following species:-

Red Kite (3), Common Buzzard (2), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Common Kestrel (1), European Golden Plover (40 over north), Woodpigeon (6), Collared Dove (1), Black-headed Gull (63), Common Gull (3), Green Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Meadow Pipit (2), Eurasian Skylark (2), Common Stonechat (1), Wren (1), Dunnock (3), European Robin (4), Common Blackbird (4), Fieldfare (50), Redwing (20), Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit (2), Blue Tit (1), Great Tit (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie (9), Western Jackdaw (14), Carrion Crow (4), Common Chaffinch (4), European Goldfinch (1).

A small flock of Golden Plover was observed in flight heading north very high above Ladywalk Wood. We don't get the large wintering flocks of both Northern Lapwing and Golden Plover anymore and this is probably due to the mild winters we now have. Along the main footpath that dissects the farm a single Common Stonechat was busily hunting insects and it even managed to find itself a large grub.

A return to Ruislip Lido

An afternoon visit with Steve Carter provided fantastic views of a single remaining Jack Snipe present again along the southern shoreline. With the winter sun behind us we both managed to take some half decent photo's.

 

09-01-17 Ruislip Lido

An afternoon visit in dull, gloomy conditions provided the following species:-

Great Crested Grebe (2), Mute Swan (14), Canada Goose (25), Common Teal (3), Domestic Mallard (3), Mallard (62), Northern Shoveler (30), Common Pochard (12), Tufted Duck (8), Water Rail (1), Common Moorhen (31), Eurasian Coot (88), Common Buzzard (1), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Jack Snipe (2), Black-headed Gull (88), Common Gull (1), Herring Gull (2), Woodpigeon (10), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Pied Wagtail (2), Dunnock (1), European Robin (6), Common Blackbird (3), Song Thrush (1), Goldcrest (3), Long-tailed Tit (2), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie (2), Western Jackdaw (23), Carrion Crow (4), House Sparrow (6), European Goldfinch (2), Eurasian Siskin (50), Lesser Redpoll (2).

Along the shoreline at the southern end near the boathouse two spectacular Jack Snipe were observed feeding. They both bobbed away in tandem as they fed which was comical in appearance.

08-01-17 Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve

An afternoon visit with fog hanging low over the water provided the following species:-

Little Grebe (4), Great Crested Grebe (5), Great Cormorant (60), Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (5), Mute Swan (3), Greylag Goose (1), Canada Goose (2), Eurasian Wigeon (20), Gadwall (6), Common Teal (5), Hybrid Duck (1), Mallard (14), Northern Shoveler (2), Common Pochard (35), Tufted Duck (240), Common Goldeneye (3), Goosander (male on River Colne), Common Moorhen (13), Eurasian Coot (145), Northern Lapwing (40), Red Kite (1), Black-headed Gull (300), Common Gull (2), Herring Gull (4), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Great Black-backed Gull (6), Woodpigeon (7), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Grey Wagtail (2), Wren (6), Dunnock (4), European Robin (7), Common Blackbird (5), Song Thrush (1), Cetti’s Warbler (2), Common Chiffchaff  (4), Siberian Chiffchaff (1), Goldcrest (9), Long-tailed Tit (17), Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (1), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie (3), Western Jackdaw (5), Carrion Crow (6), European Goldfinch (11).

At the north end of the lake I discovered a Siberian Chiffchaff which was wearing a metal ring on its leg. It busily fed on flying insects from Crack Willows that overhang the River Colne. The plumage of the bird was much paler and more grey looking than the Common Chiffchaff that were also present. The River Colne at this particular location acts as the county boundary and so this bird can be added to both the London and Hertfordshire lists.

                              Siberian Chiffchaff  Phylloscopus collybita tristis.

                                                           Grey Wagtail.

 At the south end of the lake a Cetti's Warbler gave fantastic views as it fed among an area of dogwood that overhangs the river bank. This area is fantastic for insectivores with Goldcrest, Common Chiffchaff  and Tits all observed catching flying insects. This also happens to be where HS2 will eventually cross the River Colne so it's days, I'm very sad to say, are numbered.

                                                    Cetti's Warbler