Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

Although the thaw is well under way the water at the reserve remains frozen with little seen in the way of waterfowl. At the Clubhouse feeding station several Moorhen squabbled over the small amounts of seed  that was discarded from the feeders above. At least 3 Siskin were observed feeding on a small Alder with a male briefly visiting the seed feeder. Suddenly there was a commotion and a female Sparrowhawk swept past scattering all the passerines. A few moments later she returned and settled briefly on an Alder before making a second sortie past the feeders but was again unsuccessful in her hunt.

        

Sparrowhawk (female) at the Clubhouse  feeding station.

 

Chess Valley, Scotsbridge Mill

Steve Carter and I visited Scotsbridge Mill and we were surprised to find the River Chess had frozen over. In my life time I have never seen the Chess freeze over and we later discovered that temperatures here dropped to -14 overnight. The temperature during our visit was a balmy -6!
Species of interest observed as follows;
Little Egret (2), Teal (12), Common Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Water Rail (6), Common Snipe (5), Meadow Pipit (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Reed Bunting (2).

                                          Common Snipe.

                                          Water Rail.

                                                       River Chess (frozen).

                                          Sparrowhawk.

While updating my blog I have just had 4 Reed Bunting visit my garden feeding station.

More Waxwing

Rickmansworth
At the junction of Northway and Station Road 4 Waxwing were observed in trees adjacent the flats.
Maple Cross
While driving along Hornhill Road I noted 5 Waxwing feeding in Hawthorn.

                                                       Waxwings at Northway, Rickmansworth.

                                                        Waxwing at Hornhill Road, Maple Cross.

Waxwing fest at Maple Cross

While out at Bury & Stockers Lake I received a call from friend and fellow birder Steve Carter who had relocated the flock of Waxwing at Oakhill Close, Maple Cross. When I arrived the birds were busily feeding on berries in a garden but were easily spooked by traffic. The flock dispersed and eventually relocated nearby with a total of 108 birds eventually counted. I believe this to possibly be the biggest flock ever recorded at Maple Cross. Other species observed included 2 Red Kite, a single Buzzard being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crow, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush feeding on Yew berries, a male and female Blackcap feeding among the Waxwings, Redwing, Fieldlfare and a hunting Sparrowhawk that flushed the Waxwings from their feeding site.

                                             

                                         

                                          Waxwings at Maple Cross.

                                          Red Kite over Maple Cross.

                              Common Buzzard being mobbed by one of two Carrion Crow.

                                          Blackcap (male).

Bury Lake & Stockers Lake

I made an early morning visit to Bury Lake & Stockers Lake to conduct wetland bird survey counts. On arriving I found both lakes to be frozen with an area of open water at Bury Lake and 2 smaller areas of open water at Stockers Lake holding concentrations of waterfowl.
Count as follows;
Little Grebe (1), Great-crested Grebe (4), Cormorant (18), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (46), Canada Goose (133), Wigeon (30), Gadwall (32), Teal (4), Mallard (49), Shoveler Duck (100), Pochard (26), Tufted Duck (229), Red-crested Pochard (6 inc 4 drake), Smew (2 male), Goldeneye (6), Moorhen (19), Coot (396), Lapwing (51), Black-headed Gull (60), Common Gull (2), Herring Gull (1), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Kingfisher (3), Ring-necked Parakeet (5), Green Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit (2), Great Tit, Treecreeper (1), Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin (c100), Reed Bunting (2).

                                          Smew at Bury Lake.

                                          Goldeneye at Bury Lake.

                                          Mallard on ice at Bury Lake.

Maple Lodge in the snow

Steve Carter and I headed off to the reserve in heavy snow where we spent a couple of hours at the Clubhouse Hide. Below is a photographic record of some of the species encountered.

                                          Pheasant (hen).

                                          Pheasant (cock and hen).

                                          Ring-necked Parakeet.

                                          Long-tailed Tit.

                                          Robin.

                                          Fox.

                                          Fox on the run.

                                          Are you looking at me?

Waxwings arrive in Mill End

A total of 21 Waxwing were present throughout the day at the south end of Chiltern Drive where it meets Shepherds Lane in Mill End. A very mobile flock actively feeding on many varieties of berries. This area still holds a good crop so I expect the birds to remain for a few more days at least!


A couple of record shots of the Waxwing flock present at the Chiltern Drive/Shepherds Lane junction this afternoon.