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.  

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.

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

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.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

Steve Carter and I conducted a late morning visit to the reserve with conditions dry but cold with little wind if any. As the work party were busy conducting their duties around the clubhouse we decided to head off towards the Long Hedge briefly visiting the Teal and Lynsters hides along the way. Species encountered of any significance as follows:-
Little Grebe (3), Great Cormorant (1 on the clubhouse lake), Red Kite (1over), Common Buzzard (1over), Ring-necked Parakeet (10 briefly at the clubhouse feeding station), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1 at the clubhouse feeding station), Blackcap (female in the long hedge), Redwing (15 over heading north), Eurasian Jay (2 feasting on nuts at the clubhouse feeding station), Eurasian Siskin (c10 at the alder plantation).

                                                                     Eurasian Jay

                                                              Ring-necked Parakeet

                                                                 Eurasian Siskin

         

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

A morning visit in wet but mild conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (2), Great-crested Grebe (1 Lynsters G.P), Great Cormorant (2 Lynsters G.P), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (1 plus several colour ringed at Lynsters Farm), Greylag Goose (4 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (21 Lynsters Farm), Eurasian Wigeon (12 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (16), Common Teal (3), Mallard (32), Northern Shoveler (3), Common Pochard (2), Tufted Duck (18), Red Kite (1), Common Moorhen (6), Eurasian Coot (33), Black-headed Gull (2 over), Feral Rock Dove (116 Lynsters Farm), Stock Dove (24 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon (5), Collared Dove (2), Green Woodpecker (2), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (7 Lynsters Farm), Meadow Pipit (2 Lynsters Farm), Wren (1), European Robin (3), Common Blackbird (4), Song Thrush (3), Redwing (1), Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie (4), Western Jackdaw (c50 Lynsters Farm), Rook (8 Lynsters Farm), Carrion Crow (2), Common Starling (1), House Sparrow (singing male at Maple Lodge Close), Common Chaffinch (23), European Goldfinch (6), Eurasian Siskin (c50), Lesser Redpoll (1).

After several months of drought the marsh in front of Rotunda Hide is finally in flood.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

A late afternoon visit in sunny, cold conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (4), Grey Heron (1 Lynsters Gravel Pit), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (24 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (33 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (16), Common Teal (3), Mallard (13), Northern Shoveler (5), Tufted Duck (9), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Common Moorhen (12), Eurasian Coot (29), Black-headed Gull (11 Lynsters Farm), Herring Gull (7 over), Woodpigeon (8), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Grey Wagtail (1 over), Pied Wagtail (2 Lynsters Farm), Wren (4), Dunnock (2), European Robin (5), Common Blackbird (5), Goldcrest (4), Long-tailed Tit (2), Blue Tit (4), Great Tit (6), Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie (2), Western Jackdaw (c100 over), Rook (2 over), Carrion Crow (2), Common Starling (1), Common Chaffinch (2).

                                                       Great-spotted Woodpecker (male).

                                          Eurasian Jay.

                                                           Ring-necked Parakeet.