Stockers Lake

An afternoon visit in sunny, mild conditions provided the following species:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Black Swan (1), Greylag Goose (2), Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon (c40), Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (3), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (28), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Common Chiffchaff (3), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Nuthatch (1), Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin.
Along the bank of the River Colne I observed 3 Chiffchaff feeding above the water among Crack Willows with at least one individual showing characteristics of the Siberian (tristis) sub-species.

                                                                   Black Swan

                                                     Possible Siberian Chiffchaff

                                                                European Robin



 

Stockers Lake in the fog

A morning visit to Stockers Lake with Steve Carter proved to be a challenging experience due to heavy fog covering the lakes with visibility down to approx 30 feet. We did find a small flock of Siskin feeding amongst the Alders adjacent Stockers House. On the lake an adult Mute Swan was doing its best to chase off an immature bird but it too was struggling to see in the fog. From somewhere out on the lake a few Eurasian Wigeon and a Common Kingfisher called. We soon made our way back to the car and headed off to Rickmansworth for a hot cup of tea. 

23-11-13 Broadwater Gravel Pit Nature Reserve

An early afternoon visit in dry, mild conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret (1), Mute Swan, Greylag Goose (6), Canada Goose (30), Gadwall, Common Teal (5), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (7 inc 3 male), Goosander (4 over north), Red Kite (1), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (62), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (4), Common Chiffchaff (1), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit (16), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (2), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
   

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve

An afternoon visit in dull, cold conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Western Marsh Harrier (1), Common Kestrel (2), Peregrine Falcon (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Golden Plover (c200), Northern Lapwing (c200), Eurasian Curlew (4), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, European Stonechat (1), Common Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (4), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch.
A female Merlin had been observed earlier in the day but unfortunately did not show during my visit.

                                                             European Stonechat
   

                                                            European Goldfinch

                                                            Northern Shoveler

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm/Gravel Pit

An afternoon visit in dull, mild conditions produced the following species:-
Little Grebe (2), Great Cormorant (1), Greylag Goose (70 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (29 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (1 Lynsters Gravel Pit), Eurasian Wigeon (8 Lynsters Gravel Pit), Common Teal (8), Mallard (21), Tufted Duck (5), Red-crested Pochard (5 inc 2 drake Lynsters Gravel Pit), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Osprey (juvenile), Water Rail (1), Common Moorhen (20), Eurasian Coot (15), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull (1 over), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (6 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (10), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (5 on cricket pitch), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (2), Cetti's Warbler (1 singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (2), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
From the Long Hedge Hide I observed the juvenile Osprey as it perched for some time on trees near Shell Hide. Common Magpie and Carrion Crow all mobbed it to start with but eventually lost interest and moved on. Eventually it decided to fish and dived into the water near the new tern raft but was unsuccessful on this occasion and flew off to the north. I then moved on to Rotunda Hide where I noted a single Water Rail as it crept among the reed fringed marsh. 
If you are not already aware Maple Lodge Nature Reserve is a private reserve and is accessible to members only. For membership information please click on the Maple Lodge link which is located in the links column. 

                                                    Grey Wagtail from Rotunda Hide.

                                                    Osprey (record shot in poor light).



 

Stockers Lake & Stockers Farm

An early afternoon visit in dull, mild conditions provided the following species;
Great-crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Black Swan (1), Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon (17), Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red-crested Pochard (11 including 6 drake), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (20), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (15 over briefly), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit (6), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Western Jackdaw (1over), Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin (6), Eurasian Bullfinch (male calling briefly).
From the causeway I also noted a Muntjac Deer swimming from island to island below the Osprey pole.
Stockers Farm
5 Northern Lapwing were present on the wet meadow.

                                                         
                                                                 Red-crested Pochard

 

 

Broadwater Gravel Pit

An early afternoon visit in mild but windy conditions provided the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose (54), Canada Goose (3), Egyptian Goose (2), Eurasian Wigeon (3), Gadwall, Common Teal (8), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (2), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (75), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren, European Robin, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (c20), Carrion Crow, Eurasian Siskin (2). 

                                                       Goldeneye (female with juvenile)