28-04-14 Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

A late afternoon visit provided the following species of interest:-
Little Grebe (pair incubating eggs), Great Crested Grebe (pair nest building), Great Cormorant (2), Eurasian Hobby (2 hawking over at altitude from Rotunda Hide), Black-headed Gull (8 pairs attempting to nest on tern rafts from Shell Hide), Common Swift (2 above Long Hedge), Barn Swallow (1), House Martin (2), Cetti's Warbler (singing male), Reed Warbler (singing male), Mistle Thrush (pair incubating). 

                                                              Mistle Thrush at nest.

                                                           Record shot of Eurasian Hobby.

                                                                    Cetti's Warbler.

                                                        Record shot of Common Swift.

Leucistic Blackbird

A very odd looking male Common Blackbird was present at my garden feeders this evening for several minutes.

 

Life and death at Maple Lodge

An afternoon visit with my eleven year old daughter began at the Clubhouse Hide where a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gull seem to have taken up residence on the tern raft.

We then made our way to the Rotunda Hide where a singing male Cetti's Warbler burst into song while several Common Pochard dabbled in the shallows. Continuing around the reserve we eventually reached Lynsters Hide where we discovered a pair of Greylag Goose present with two goslings on Lynsters Farm.

We then followed the footpath adjacent the Long Hedge where we happened across a small group of young Rabbit. As we drew closer they suddenly bolted except for one individual which on closer inspection looked ill. Under instructions from my daughter I picked it up to place under the hedge but it suddenly had a seizure and shortly after died. I think it may have been attacked by a fox and sustained a broken back.

                                                           Mortally injured Rabbit.

My daughter was somewhat upset so we quickly entered the Long Hedge Hide. Here we discovered a duck Mallard with eight newly hatched ducklings that cheered up my daughter. 

Before returning back to the Clubhouse we briefly visited Shell Hide where we noted a dozen or so nesting Black-headed Gull on the tern rafts that were briefly disturbed by a female Sparrowhawk that passed through very quickly.

26-04-14 Broadwater Gravel Pit

An afternoon visit provided the following species:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose (2 pairs with goslings), Shelduck (1 near gravel workings), Gadwall, Mallard (duck with ducklings on River Colne), Northern Shoveler (3), Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red Kite (1), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (female), Common Buzzard (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull (20+ pairs on tern rafts), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Herring Gull (5), Common Tern (7 on jetty), Arctic Tern (1 on jetty), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove (1), Ring-necked Parakeet (3), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Barn Swallow (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler (2 singing male), Reed Warbler (4 singing male), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Garden Warbler (6 singing male), Blackcap (15 singing male), Common Chiffchaff (5 singing male), Goldcrest (1 singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch.

                                                       Canada Goose (pair with goslings).
 

 

                                                    Green-veined White on Dandelion.

                                                       Green-veined White on Nettle.

                                                         Peacock (very worn individual).

Woodoaks Farm

This afternoon I received a call from Geoff Lapworth who had found a male Whinchat at Woodoaks Farm. It was present on the fence bordering the lower pasture and was very mobile throughout my visit.

Stockers Farm

A brief visit to the flooded field produced the resident pair of Egyptian Goose present with five remaining goslings, 2 Northern Wheatear and a single Yellow Wagtail.
Filming is taking place at the farm with the Stockers Road entrance shut all day next Tuesday. 

                                                   Record shot of the Northern Wheatear.

                                                             Egyptian geese with young.

Croxley Common Moor

A morning visit in bright mild conditions provided the following species:-
Greylag Goose (2 over), Canada Goose (pair), Mallard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Pheasant (cock), Common Moorhen (3 plus pair with young), Eurasian Coot (3), Lesser Black-backed Gull (6), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Northern Wheatear (1), Common Blackbird (7), Song Thrush (5), Sedge Warbler (4), Reed Warbler (2), Common Whitethroat (6), Blackcap (5), Common Chiffchaff (6), Willow Warbler (2), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (c20), Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch (4), European Goldfinch (2), Reed Bunting (2).
While walking the riverside path I met Geoff Lapworth who found the Wheatear and informed me of its presence.