Maple Lodge Close

A much milder morning with periods of sunshine and virtually no wind.
Early this morning there was a brief period of shooting activity at Lynsters Farm where c20 Wigeon were flushed and observed heading north.
At my garden feeding station 3 Reed Bunting had returned (1 male & 2 female) and were accompanied by a male House Sparrow.

Maple Lodge Close

With the cold conditions continuing, my garden feeding station has been extremely busy this morning, species of note as follows;
Dunnock (3), Robin (2), Blackbird (several feeding on apples with an aggressive female chasing off the male birds), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay (2), Magpie, Starling, Chaffinch (5), Greenfinch, Reed Bunting (3).
 

Bury Lake, Stockers Lake and Stockers Farm

I decided to brave the cold, wintry conditions and headed off to the Gravel Pits of Rickmansworth. Ice coverage was extensive with concentrations of waterfowl present in the few areas of open water. 
Bury Lake
Wigeon (23), Red-crested Pochard (8 including 5 drake), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Mistle Thrush (1).
Stockers Lake
Shoveler Duck (a feeding raft of c70), Goldeneye (6 including 2 drake), Lapwing (15  at rest on the ice), Common Snipe (1 over heading east), Kingfisher (1 along the River Colne),  Treecreeper (2 calling birds),  Siskin (c50 feeding in Alders), Greenfinch (male feeding on Dog Rose seeds), Reed Bunting (4).
Stockers Farm
Lapwing (3), House Sparrow (c30 in Hawthorn hedge).

Late in the morning, while in Rickmansworth Town Centre I noted a calling Marsh Tit from a Silver Birch adjacent the Council Offices located at North Way.

                                          Blackbird at Stockers Lake.

                                          Robin at Stockers Lake.

Maple Cross and West Hyde

An afternoon visit to the Gravel Pits of Maple Cross and West Hyde produced the following species of interest;
Troy Mill G.P
Little Egret (1), Teal (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (5), Dunlin (adult in winter plumage observed sitting on large crack willow log before flying off), Green Woodpecker (1).
North Troy G.P (Helicon G.P)
Siskin (c30 feeding in Alder).
Pynesfield North G.P
Wigeon (37), Great-spotted Woodpecker (female).
Lynsters Farm
Canada Goose (40 grazing), Wigeon (61 grazing).  

Earlier in the day while driving along the A412 I spotted 2 Red Kite circling above the fields behind Woodland Road.


 
 

Woodoaks Farm

A late afternoon visit to Woodoaks Farm produced the following species of note;
Cormorant (6 over briefly before landing at Stockers Lake), Lapwing (30 on grass field behind the manure pile), Common Snipe (1 flushed from upper pasture above old orchard), Meadow Pipit (1), Blackbird (10 feeding on hawthorn at old orchard), Fieldfare (4 at old orchard), Goldcrest (2 at ladywalk wood) Jay (1).  

Maple Cross morning update

A pair of Goosander were briefly observed in flight above Maple Lodge Close heading north.

Early morning at Maple Cross

Another cold, windy day although this part of Hertfordshire has at least missed any significant snowfall.
Looking out towards the playing field this morning I noted a single Red Kite as it moved West.
A pair of Mistle Thrush and a single Common Gull briefly passed by and were later followed by at least 10 Redwing.