Talk:Recent

From Bsbg

Revision as of 16:25, 12 July 2009

home[[http://www.btinternet.com/~bsbirdgroup/

9th July Little Hallingbury Page 2 of today’s Herts and Essex Observer Tufted Duck breeding successfully (8 young in picture) in Wright’s Green - David Arch

8th July Harps Farm – Yellowhammer, Skylark Beggar’s Hall – House Martin and Barn Swallow Hatfield Forest lake – the female mallard had lost her white chested young - David Arch

7th July Bush End – no sign of Turtle Dove Harcamlow Way Lake – only Moorhen on the water, Swallow and Swift above Hatfield Park Lake – only Tufted Duck (1) and Mallard (3) seen Hatfield Forest Lake – Common Tern young in flight with adults A dozen fallow deer including one fawn and one black hind - David Arch

6th July Spellbrook Lock Two Mute Swans sitting on bank apparently not trying to nest again. Young seen of Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Moorhen. Single Common Tern flew through. Banded Demoiselle on main river - David Arch

5th July St Michael’s Country Park, St James, Mathams Wood, Blounts, Morris, Bursteads, Green Lane and Fishing Lake Country Park – Four Common Terns and two Black-headed Gulls Before black barns – Jay, Whitethroat, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Swallow, Linnet, Greenfinch Mathams Wood – Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Chaffinch Blounts – Wood Pigeon only Morris – adult Lapwing calling from ground and then in flight Cattle but no Yellow Wagtail 160 Starling over Lysander to just south of Hayter direction followed by 40 more Bursteads Lake – Grey Heron and Moorhen Bursteads and rear lake – 60 Rooks Green Lane – young of Yellowhammer, Linnet, Dunnock, Whitethroat, Great Tit, chaffinch and probably Bullfinch Fishing Lake – Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck and Mallard but long distance denied me full details - David Arch

4th July Beggar’s Hall lake Apparently two broods of Grey Lag with only two adults. Five and one. Smallest was either last or first and was constantly calling gently. On departure the seven did a fly round after a noisy start. Otherwise only Moorhen on the water. The banks held Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting and at least two pairs of Whitethroat. House Martins at the house and Barn Swallows at the barn - David Arch

Tilekiln Green Lake Grey Heron. Group of Canada Geese and probably one juvenile. Mallards had already retreated to the duck house - David Arch

3rd July Hatfield Forest Buzzard buzzing Jackdaw on arrival and Little Owls active on departure. On the Lake a pair of Great Crested Grebe and one young at Shell House end. And apparently one adult and one young at marsh end. Two Tern “chicks” on raft. No sign of Mute Swan or recent Coot or Moorhen young. Two single Mallard young with their mothers – one pair white chested Three Grey Lag young still Two Canada Geese young of the year with almost 30 guards - David Arch

2nd July Stansted Airport Lagoons Sedge warbler in brook at Pinckneys on arrival Grey Heron scared off by others Tufted Duck with 10 young and various adults at least 14 Two Little Grebe adults but no young seen Two adult Lapwing One juvenile LRP One Pied Wagtail Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting as normal - David Arch

2nd July Manuden – nothing special to report David Arch

1st July Stocking Pelham – three separate records of Turtle Dove - David Arch.

22nd June

River Stort south of SLRS - Ring Necked Parrakeet Bird see flying between railway and river along path nr Cormorant tree location, seen by a workmate cycling in this morning - Kevin Hanrahan

20th June

Male Bullfinch at Rivers Hospital - Mike Franklin

19th June

Hatfield Forest - Common Tern (4), 2 Adults and 2 chicks on Tern Raft - Chris Swan

17th June

SAL - Turtle Dove, Also 1 LRP - Colin Wills

15th June

Red Kite over Bishop's Stortford Town Centre at 9.15 a.m. - observed soaring high over the town for about 5 minutes, then continued south (possibly following course of the Stort Navigation channel). Dave Sampson

Stansted Airport Lagoons - Male yellow wagtail, male LRP, 15 Tufted Ducks. - Colin Wills

14th June

Little Hadham - 1 red kite, low over Nags Head, 1 f sparrowhawk, 3 gsw, 5 chiffchaff, 2 blackcaps, 5 linnets, 1 GBBG adult, 1Herring gull 2nd year - Jono Forgham

13th June

SAL (07:40-09:05) - 1 Little Grebe, 1 Mute Swan, 42 Mallard (+ 3x broods), 1M Gadwall (eclipse), 2 GARGANEY (a pair, settled and feeding well), 4 Tufted Duck (MMF + injured F), 1 HOBBY (came in and took a small passerine in a cloud of feathers on impact!), 16 Coot (two birds on nests), 1 Ad B H Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove (unusual here), 10 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 1M Swallow, 7 House Martin, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1M Grey Wagtail, 1M Garden Warbler, Reed Warblers singing, 1M Willow Warbler, 2 Jay, 1M Yellowhammer, 4 Reed Bunting (2MM, plus pair visiting nest site and removing faecal sac)

1 Painted Lady, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath

1 Common Blue Damselfly

SLRS (09:20-10:45) - 2 Cormorant (Corm tree), 8 Lapwing (including a juvenile - locally bred?), 1 B H Gull (1st S), 1 G S Woodpecker, 50 Swift (over Sawbridgeworth in distance), 2MM Skylark, 2MM Whitethroat (+F with food), 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied - Mike Harris

8th June

Twyford Lock: 2 recently fledged Swallows being attended by both parents (presumably nested at nearby stables), 3 Bee Orchids in paddock between Roly Croke bridge and the lock, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. Two Grey Wagtails very actively collecting food and looks like fresh nest on lock gates but failed to see any chicks or recently fledged birds.

Thorley Wash area: Common Tern carrying fish, Grasshopper Warbler (reeling 100 yds N of white bridge), Sparrowhawk, Hobby and Kestrel plus usual assortment of Common Whitethroat (5+), Sedge Warbler (3+), Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Blackcap. Banded Demoiselle and Red-eyed Damselfly.

Spellbrook Lock: Grey Wagtail on nest

Tony Moverley

7th June

SLRS - LRP 2, Lapwing 6 in total, Yellow Wagtail 1 calling, Pied Wagtail 9 many juvs - John Slee

SAL (16:20-17:35) - 1 Little Grebe, , 1 Mute Swan, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Tern, 1 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Skylark (one carrying a faecal sac), 5 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet - Mike Harris

6th June

SAL (07:25-08:08) - 62 Mallard, 2 Gadwall (MF), 6 Tufted Duck (InjF,Pr,MMF), 12 Coot (but incomplete count), 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Woodpecker, c.10 Swallow, c.10 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, 6 Skylark (one carrying food), 1F Grey Wagtail (pumping station at north end - first record for a while), Family party of Long tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Black Rabbit

SLRS (08:25-08:50) - 2 Cormorant (1E, 1 in corm tree), 1 Mallard!!!, 6 Lapwing (4Ads on Scrape, 2 in field East of layby), 2 Little Ringed Plover (being harrassed by the Lapwings), 1 Swallow, 1M Skylark, 7 Pied Wagtail (family party), 12 Starling (mainly juvs), 1 Goldfinch, 1M Yellowhammer, Mike Harris

Manuden - Buzzard x2; Little Owl x1; Sparrowhawk x1, Neighbour also reported Red Kite during week - Mark Pegrum

3rd June

Hockerill School, B/S - Two Spotted Flycatchers in courtship dispay just inside school grounds down Manor Road (corrected from original post which stated that one SP was feeding a recently fledged bird)- Tony Moverley

31st May

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard X 4 also 1 Red Kite PM

Nino Wood 3X Common Buzzard - Mick East

Hollingson Meads / Pye Corner - Hobby. Two birds hunting and feeding together , headed east allong the river ,also 20+ banded demoiselle seemingly fighting over every piece of emergent growth on th river. - Laurence Drummond

Hockerill School, Galloway Road, Windhill - all had Swifts screaming low over, maybe as indication of nesting activity - David Arch

Furneux Pelham - no sign of reported Quail per Hugh Coe. Skylark and Yellowhammer present.

Stocking Pelham - Turtle Dove by church

Upwick to Farnham Road - Yellowhammer and Goldfinch

Farnham Road - Yellowhammer - David Arch

30th May

SAL (07:25-08:05)- 1 Mute Swan, 54 Mallard (+ 1 brood), 5 Tufted Duck (2pr + injured F), 16 Coot, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Stock Dove, 4 Swift, 5 House Martin (collecting mud from Small lagoon), 5 Reed Warbler (singing males), 2 Blackcap (ditto), 1 Whitethroat (ditto), 2 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Jay, 2 Goldfinch, 5 Reed Bunting (2pr + M), 3 Yellowhammer (pr + M)

3 Common Blue (MMF), 1 Small Heath, 6 Burnet Companion, 1M Common Blue Damselfly

SLRS (08:25-08:45) - 1 Cormorant (Corm tree), 4 Mallard (All F's with three broods), 8 Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Swift (drinking from pool), 8 House Martin (collecting mud from scrape), 1M Skylark, 1M Yellow Wagtail, 1M Whitethroat, 1M Chiffchaff, 3 Yellowhammer

2 Painted Ladies (and two seen near HF on the drive from SAL), 1 White (sp.) - Mike Harris

28th May

Sawbridgeworth - Turtle Dove inthicket north east of old orchard behind Rivers hospital. Pair on wires above thicket,one bird droped into bushes , Male (presumed) then spent the next 30 mins in gliding & spiraling display flight,always returning to the same perch to purr also heard lesser whitethroat and willow warbler - Laurence Drummond

24th May

Thorley Park Road. B/S - Tawny Owl heard calling at 2am. Tony Moverley

SAL (06:50-07:30) - 1 Grey Heron, 30 Mallard (+ 5x broods), 2 Tufted Duck (pr), 14 Coot (7 pr), 4 Lapwing (2 pr), 1 Little Ringed Plover (display seen), 2 Stock Dove (pr), 4 Swift, 7 Reed Warbler , (singing males), 1 Blackcap (ditto), 2 Garden Warbler (ditto), 3 Whitethroat (ditto), 2 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer

1 Black Rabbit

SLRS (07:45-08:15)- 1 Cormorant (Corm tree), 11 Mallard (+ 2x broods), 4 Prs Lapwing (lots of display and noise, but nothing to show for it yet!), 6 Stock Dove, 1 G S Woodpecker, (1 possible Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - one distant call but did not repeat), 4 Swift, 1 Swallow, 1 Skylark, 2 Yellow Wagtail (both males on wires east of scrape), 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Whitethroat (singing males), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 1 Goldfinch, Pr Linnet, 1M Yellowhammer - Mike Harris

Therfield (BBS site) - Red Kite - Mark Pegrum

23rd May

West of Gilston Church - Spotted Flycatcher in garden - Mike Harris

Spellbrook Lock - Grey Wagtail, Nightingale - Mark Pegrum

21st May

Spellbrook - Spotted Flycatcher 4 (Pair at Wallbury, 1) Grasshopper Warbler 3 - the southern most bird has now moved North, singing from around (but not in) the large bramble patch... half way along the east-west path on Thorley Wash, Buzzard vs male Kestrel

Birchanger Wd - 2 male Yellowhammers collecting caterpillars in the North-east section of the cut-off Northern portion of the wood

Grange Paddocks - male Sparrowhawk over - Graeme J. Smith

20th May

Spellbrook Lock - Spotted Flycatcher, Hobby flew over, and another Hobby seen over Pig Lane later in the evening - Stephen Patmore

Spellbrook (west) - Reed Warbler 1 singing on Hayter land - Graeme J. Smith

19th May

Trims Green - Corn Bunting 1

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler 3 (2 north from the east-west path, 1 south)

Hayter, Spellbrook (west) - Spotted Flycatcher 1 - Graeme J. Smith

17th May

Birchanger Wood - NE corner - Wood Warbler, Heard about 6.00 in the evening. First of all a hesitant partial song, then bursting into the full shivering trill. Sang for about 2 mins, but could not be seen.- Dave Hill

16th May

SAL (05:55-06:25)- 24 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck (2pr), 11 Coot, 1 Swift, 1 Swallow, 7 Reed Warbler(singing males), 1 Blackcap (ditto), 2 Garden Warbler (ditto), 1 Whitethroat (ditto), 3 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 2 Reed Bunting (ditto)

Bush End Church - Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, a Cuckoo and a Green Woodpecker.

SLRS (06:46-07:08) - 24 Mallard (+ 2 well grown broods), 2 Gadwall (pr), 6 Lapwing, 2 Skylark, 1M Pied Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet

Trims Green Area (08:00-08:50) -1 Yellow Wagtail (heard only), 1M Lesser Whitethroat (singing at TL467166), 1M Corn Bunting (singing at the entrance to Lysander Park TL469175), 1M Reed Bunting (singing at TL466168) - Mike Harris

14th May

Stansted Airport Lagoons - Common Sandpiper 4 (1 on large lag and 3 more on the long one), Sand and House Martins, swifts, swallows with 4 reed Warbler, Single Lapwing over North

Bush End - 2 singing Turtle Dove at the same time, Cuckoo 1, Buzzard in trees 300 yards ENE of Bush end junction

Hatfield Forest - Cuckoo - another 2 (one less than 100 yards NE of the lake) - Graeme J. Smith

SAL (3 visits)- 2(1m) Teal, 5 Common Sandpipers, 8 Reed Warblers, 1m Garden Warbler

Hatfield Forest - 2(1m) Teal, 3 Common Terns, 1 HAWFINCH (calling over entrance track at 06:55am)

Long Border Road - 1 PEREGRINE (last week's bird again), 1 Hobby, 1 BLACK TERN (flew SE at 08:30am) 1 Wheatear - Stephen Patmore

Hatfield Forest - Turtle Dove (1), Common Tern (2) on small Tern Raft., Mute Swan (1) on nest on large Tern Raft. Greylag Goose (2 + 3 goslings). Cuckoo (2), one in woodland to east of Bush End Church, one in Forest NE of lake.Chiffchaff (3). Willow Warbler (1). Whitethroat (4). - Chris Swan

13th May

SAL - 10 Avocets at 17:30 - Stephen Patmore

11th May

Stort Valley south of Spellbrook Lock - Nightingale - Steve Butler

10th May

Stortford Park Farm - Whinchat favouring patch of brambles on the North-West edge - Graeme J. Smith

9th May

SLRS - Wheatear 1f in Field just E of the layby, Yellow Wagtail 1 on the wires by the railway - John Slee

8th May

1 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 (1m) Teal, Mallard (broods of 4, 4 & 6), 7 (4m) Tufted Duck, 2 (m/f) Kestrel, 1 PEREGRINE (flew over Long Border Road from directions of SAL @ 11:50am), 2 Common Sandpipers, 60 Swifts, 4 Sand Martins, 10 House Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3m Reed Warblers, 3m Willow Warblers - Stephen Patmore

River Stort - 200m S of Spellbrook lock - Nightingale, heard singing at 0840 in thicket near small bridge. Also Common Sandpiper flushed at Rushy Mead and Grey Wagtail at Southmill Lock - Steve Butler

SAL - 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Reed Warblers - Colin Wills:

7th May

Hare Street - Turtle Dove pair north of Village - Mick East

4th May

Thorley Park Road, B/S - The 'Park Lane' swifts have returned for their usual brief summer visit - two birds seen late afternoon - Tony Moverley

Hatfield Forest (09:10-10:32) - 4 Garden Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Cormorant (SW), Pr Gadwall, 1F Teal, 11 Tufted Duck, Pr Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, 8 Swallow (N), 1 House Martin (N), 9 MistleThrush, 14 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch , Pr Reed Bunting - Mike Harris

3rd May

Mathams Wood area - 2 Yellow Wagtails in rape field north of track joining Moor Hall to Mathams Wood. Lesser Whitethroat on the edge of the wood. Two more YWs in the rape field west of Blounts Farm, plus 4 Swifts - Tony Moverley

Trims Green - 1 Swift N, 1M Yellow wagtail (in cereal W of Blounts), 1M Corn Bunting (singing from wires in usual place - at last!)

Nimney Wood - 1 Red Kite soaring eastwards, Also Buzzard and Sparrowhawk - Mike Harris

2nd May

Thorley Wash - 2 Buzzards over the wash were joined by 2 others as they drifted north; also a pair of Cuckoos (at last!) observed in nuptials (some ropey photos);a definite purring Turtle Dove heard briefly (but could not be located; at least one reeling Grasshopper Warbler at usual site giving ropey views from a thicket; at least 9 Common Whitethroats singing and 6 Sedge - but no Garden Warbler as yet - Dave Sampson

SAL (08:15-09:25) - 1 LittleGrebe, 2 Grey-Lag goose (in from NW, circled and left SE), 17 Mallard (+ brood of 6), 2 Teal (pr), 1F Tufted Duck, 12 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Swift, 1 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 1 Skylark, 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Reed Warbler (singing males), 1 Garden Warbler (ditto), 3 Blackcap (ditto), 4 Whitethroat (ditto), 2 Lesser Whitethroat (ditto), 1 Jay, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Reed Bunting (3M, 1F), 1M Yellowhammer

1 Peacock - but a bit early in the day for Butterflys.

SLRS (09:40-10:15) - 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan (both sub-ads), 1 Grey-Lag Goose, 2 Canada Goose, 11 Mallard (+ 5x broods), 1M Gadwall, 5 Coot (min), 1Ad LBB Gull, 7 Lapwing (but from 5 pairs I believe), 1M Cuckoo, 1 Swallow, 1 Skylark, 5 Whitethroat (singing males), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 2 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer

1 Small White, 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoishell, 1 Speckled Wood

Sawbridgeworth Marsh (16:20-17:00) - 3 Mallard (MM, F + 11 ducklings on stream), 1 Kestrel, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoo (both males calling against each other), 1 Swallow, 3 Reed Wabler (singing males), 4 Sedge Warbler (ditto), 3 Whitethroat (ditto), 1F Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 2 Reed Bunting (ditto)

5 Orange Tip (2M,3F), 1 Small White, 2 White (spp.), 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoishell - Mike Harris

1st May

Lords Avenue, BS - 2 Hobby over this afternoon slowly heading south.- Andrew Palmer

28th April

St Michaels Mead lake - Two Common Tern fishing this morning, plus 1 male Bullfinch - Tony Moverley

Trims Green - male Yellow Wagtail still vocal around Blount's Farm Stone pile opposite entrance to paintballing at Mathams Wood, increase in Whitethroat along Sacombe ash Lane with six males noted compared to last weeks single - Graeme J. Smith

SAL - 1 Little Grebe, 2 broods Mallard (4 & 5), 5 (2m) Tufted Ducks, 2 Common Buzzards, 1f Kestrel, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwings (m&f - the local breeding pair), 2 BAR-TAILED GODWITS (m&f), 13 Sand Martins, 3 House Martins, 1 Meadow Pipit (probable nester), 2m Reed Warbler, 5m Lesser Whitethroats, 3m Whitethroats, 3m Blackcaps, 2m Willow Warblers, 3m Reed Buntings - Stephen Patmore

27th April

SAL - Mallard (3 broods 6, 7 & 9), 2 BAR-TAILED GODWITS, 1 Green Sandpiper, 25 Sand Martins, 40 Swallows, 20 House Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Willow Warblers, 12 Linnets - Stephen Patmore

26th April

SAL - Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Little Ringed Plover 2

Trims Green - male Wheatear at Blounts on stone pile. not seen or heard Corn Bunting in a while - Graeme Smith

Coploe Hill - 70 Corn Buntings, plus 30 Yellowhammers - Stephen Patmore

25th April

SAL (0745-0835) - 1 Cormorant (S), 1 Grey Heron (N), 11 Mallard (with broods of 15 + 7 ducklings), 5 Tufted Duck (3M & 2F, includes injured bird, now on largest lagoon), 14 Coot, 2 w/p BAR-TAILED GODWIT (feeding on lagoon banks), 1 Lapwing, 2 B H Gull (both 1st Sum), 2 Stock Dove, 2 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 2FF WHEATEAR (on centre causeway), 2 Blackcap (singing M's), 3 Whitethroat (ditto), 2 Willow Warbler (ditto), 2 Jay, 1 Goldfinch, Pr Bullfinch, 2MM Reed Bunting

SLRS (0850-0940) - Pr Canada Goose, 11 Mallard (+ 3 broods but no sign of Cayuga brood), 8 Coot (1 on nest), 6 Lapwinp, 1 Skylark, 3 Pied Watail (Pr + M), 2 WHEATEAR (M & F on field east of lay-by), 3 Whitethroat (singing males), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 1M Reed Bunting

Trims/Allens Green (1030-1100) - 2 Grey Partridge (Cow field at Shingle Hall), 3 LBB Gull (S), 5 Swallow (N), 2MM Yellow Wagtail (both Blounts)

1 Brown Hare Large hatch of St.Mark's Flys

Stortford Park Farm, West only (1105-1130) - 1 Green Woodpecker, 1M Whitethroat - Mike Harris

Stortford Park Farm(east side of bypass): - Lesser Whitethroat 1, Linnet 7, Blackcap 1 male, Starling 61, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Green Woodpecker 2 (3), Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 over South-West, Stockdove 1

Stortford Park Farm (west); - Common Whitethroat 2, Garden Warbler, Yellowhammer 3 (2 males), Linnet 4 (2 prs?), Skylark, Sparrowhawk - male over North - Graeme J. Smith

24th April

Trims Green - Yellow Wagtail 1 - singing from the trees at Blounts farm opposite the entrance path to Mathams Wood just after 0700 this morning. After song flew into the rape on the Mathams Wood side of the road.

Buzzard - now daily between Spellbrook, Thorley Church and Mathams Wood with one or two birds seen on five occasions this week but never seemed to be covering any ground. Only 4 kestrel sightings and one sparrowhawk over the same period could start pushing Buzzard to the top of my regular Spellbrook/Trims BoP count. It may not seem like many sightings but these are from my teabreaks and lunchtime only totalling a meagre 40 mins a day. - Graeme J. Smith

Newport - Hobby Newport garden this morning - Stephen Patmore

23rd April

Trims Green - A 2 hour survey for Corn Buntings produced just on singing bird about 200yards SW of Shingle Hall plus 2 Yellow Wagtails near Blounts Farm. Tony Moverley

Spellbrook (west) - Buzzard 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1 my first of the year - Graeme J. Smith

21st April

Patmore Heath - Redpoll on seed feeder, ringed on R leg - Mick East

Thorley Wash from 0520 hrs - Grasshopper Warbler 3 (4), Sedge W 6, Whitethroat 9, Cuckoo 1 in flight - Graeme J. Smith

20th April

Moor Hall - 3 Yellow Wagtails in the rape field north of the track joining Moor Hall with Mathams Wood at noon today. Tony Moverley

Hatfield Forest - Common Tern, Coot pair with 3 young on decoys, Common Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Buzzard, Mute Swans building nest, House Sparrows in many perimeter hedges as usual - David Arch

Trims Gree - R-l Part 2, Linnet 7+ lysander park building roof, Yellowhammer 5, Common Buzzard 1

Spellbrook west: - Swallow 2 resident, Chifchaff 2 mm, Blackcap 3 singing

Orange Tip 3, Large White 2, HOLLY BLUE 1, GVWhite 2, Sml white 1, (white sp. 6), Peacock 1 - Graeme J Smith

Sawbridgeworth Marsh - Reed Bunting (2), Sedge Warbler (5), Whitethroat (1), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (1), Chiffchaff (1), Swallow (1). - Chris Swan

Tednambury Marsh (19:00-20:00) - 3 Cormorants, 1f Mute Swan, 8 Canada Geese, 1 RED KITE 19:05, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Water Rail, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (S), 1 Great Black-backed Gull (N), 4 Swallow, 2 Meadow Pipits (in?), 5m Sedge Warblers, 1m Lesser Whitethroat, 2m Whitethroat, 1m Blackcap, 2m Willow Warblers, 2m Chiffchaffs

Thorley Wash (20:00-20:45) - 3m GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS (2 at southern end, 1 in central section) 1m Sedge Warbler - Stephen Patmore

19th April

Patmore Heath 15:00 - Common Buzzard 1 Redkite 1 - Mick East

Stort Park Farm and woods/fields to NW - Green Woodpecker 1, Buzzard 2 - at least one there on most visits recently, Sparrowhawk 1 male, Blackcap 4, Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 2, 1 Yellow Wagtai1 over NW, Skylark - lots, Yellowhammer - unbeleivably only a single noted - Graeme J Smith

Harps Farm - Skylark, Yellowhammer and Green Woodpecker - David Arch

Spellbrook Lock to Thorley Wash (1415-1540) - 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 RED KITE SE @ 1503, 1M Kestrel, 3 LBB Gull (2Ad, 1 3rdS), 7 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 GS Woodpecker, 6 Swallow (5N, 1 singing M), 3 Whitethroat (all singing M's), 3 Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 1 Goldfinch (N), 3 Reed Bunting (Pr + M)

4 Orange Tip, 7 GV White (inclu joined pr), 1 Small White, 6 White (spp.), 11 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoishell, 1 Comma

Spellbrook Lock to Tednambury Lock (1540-1650) - 2 Cormorant (using a mobile phone mast as a roost!), 7 Canada Goose, 1 Common Buzzard (high NE, migrant?), 10 LBB Gull (9Ads N, 1 1stS E), 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Swallow (N - all appeared to be males), 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Sedge Warbler (singing M), 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Jay, 3 Reed Bunting (all M's)

2 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 3 GV White, 1 Small White, 1 White (sp.), 4 Peacock

1 Grass Snake (about 2' long, swam across river) - Mike Harris

18th April

Hatfield Forest Lake - Tufted Duck 7, Teal 2, GCGrebe 6 min (2 on nests), Greylag 11 - A decent count, Mute, Swan 2, Common Tern 0, Swallow 1 - only a single today!, Tawny Owl - male at females usual spot, female has been heard to call against male but we think that she may be sitting somewhere as she's not been seen in usual roost spot for some time, Blackcap/Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff - plenty, Garden Warbler 0 yet, Common Whitethroat 1 - on edge of overflow carpark close to sheep, Marsh Tit 1 - heard while driving in through wood - GraemeJSmith

SAL (0715-0750) - 1 Mute Swan, 7 Mallard, 1F Tufted Duck (the injured bird now on the smallest lagoon), 14 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Swallow (N), 2 Sand Martin (N), 3 Song Thrush (1E, 2 singing), 3 Willow Warbler (all singing males), 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Jay 3 Goldfinch (singing M + Pr N), 1 Linnet (N), 4 Bullfinch (2 prs), 2 Reed Bunting (pr)

SLRS (0805-0845) - 3 Cormorant (in corm tree), 3 Prs Canada Goose, 1 Pr Grey-lag Goose, 6 Mallard (the F at the South end is down to six ducklings), 1 Pr Shelduck, 2 Prs Lapwing, 3 Coot, 1 Skylark singing), 1 Swallow (N), 1 Willow Warbler (singing)

Rushy Mead (1440-1510) - 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, Pr Long tailed Tit, 2MM Blackcap singing, 1M Chiffchaff singing

1M Brimstone, 1M Orange Tip, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood

Sawbridgeworth Marsh (1515-1625) - 1 Common Buzzard, 2FF Sparrowhawk, 1 G S Woodpecker, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Sedge Warbler (4 singing), 1M Blackcap, 2MM Chiffchaff, 1M Goldfinch, 3 Pr Reed Bunting

1F Brimstone, 3 Small White, 5 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoishell, 1 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood - Mike Harris

Blounts Farm - Yellow Wagtail 1 over, Wheatear 1 m on the Pill box - John Slee

Bollington Hall area - large numbers of Rook and Jackdaw at rubbish dump, two Red-legged Partridge in fields and two Willow Tit.

Spellbrook Lock to Tednambury Lock - Two Grey Wagtail, two Grey Heron - David Arch

17th April

Beggar's Hall Fishing Lake - no Grebes but 2 pairs of Moorhen and also Coot. 6 drake Mallard. Two separate Great Spotted Woodpecker. House Martin back over the house. Reed Bunting, and then the usual Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldfinch and Robin going about their non forest business. Starling and House Sparrow at the old Post Office.

Bush End - Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch 8, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Collared Dove.

Fishing lake east of Bush End on Harcamlow Way - plenty of fish. 7 Grey Lag Geese and two Canada Geese. 2 pairs of Mallard and 2 drakes. Skylark, Swallow, Robin, Great Tit, Chiffchaff and Moorhen.

Water at Hatfield Park - Nesting Canada Goose, Moorhen and Coot. Two small Mallard young. Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker.

Hatfield Forest Lake - Mute Swan pair at chosen nest site facing bird hide. Grebes of course. Both Woodpeckers, 16 Swallow, 6 Sand Martin and a House Martin. Three Grey Lag and 8 Canada Geese including one with a head much like a Grey Lag. Tufted Duck but no Teal. All the usual corvids. No winter thrushes but at least 5 Mistle Thrushes and many calling/singing Song Thrush. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Stansted Airport lagoons - Common Sandpiper moving between all three lagoons. Mallard with 8 young. Four pairs of Mallard. Drake Gadwall until it flew off. Eight Teal until they flew off. 1 Mute Swan, 17 Coot, few Moorhen. Stock Dove, Blackcap, Wren, Jay. Swallow 5 plus a few Sand Martin later. Skylark, Robin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap. No Grebes. Tufted Duck not found. - David Arch

Sawbridgeworth Marsh - 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from the sedgebeds in the centre of the marsh - Andy Sapsford

16th April

A pair of Sparrowhawks calling over town centre. Blackcap singing in Newtown Road - Mike Franklin

Thorley Lane East - 1 Common Whitethroat - Tony Moverley

14th April -

River Stort at Town Centre - two Mute Swans

Bishop's Stortford - five Cormorants over this morning - David Arch

13th April

Parsonage Lane, - 5 Buzzards(five) rising on a thermal at 1.30 pm - Ellen Franklin

Hatfield Forest Lake - two Mute Swans, three Great Crested Grebes on the water, three Grey Lag Geese on the water, One Canada Goose pair with nest. Plenty of Coot and Moorhen at the moment. - David Arch

River Stort at Spellbrook - two Cormorants paid a short visit - David Arch

12th April

Birchanger Wood - Treecreeper, Sparrowhawk, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff + 1 deer! - Ellen Franklin

Lords Avenue BS - Female Brambling this morning 09.30am - Andrew Palmer

SAL (0850-0920) - 1 Mute Swan, 11 Mallard, 1F Teal, 16 Coot, 2 Skylark (singing M's - distant), 1 Pied Wagtail, 1M Blackcap, 2MM Willow Warbler, 1M Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting (pr + M)

SLRS (0935-1010) - 2 Cormorant (in Corm tree), 6 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 5 Coot, 4 Lapwing, 1 Skylark (singing Male), 4 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2MM Willow Warbler, 1M Reed Bunting

Sawbridgeworth Marsh (1725-1740) - 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 2 Reed Bunting

SLRS(1820-1845) - 5 Canada Geese, F Mallard with eleven ducklings., Pr Shelduck (Scrape tick!) 11 Ad LBB Gull (came in from S, washed and returned - to McDonalds & Burger King?), 5 Lapwing (2prs + challenging M), 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Starling, 8 Goldfinch - Mike Harris

Hatfield Forest Lake - Swallow 15+, House Martin 6 minimum, Cuckoo 2 - Graeme J. Smith

Hatfield Forest Lake - Grey Heron as dusk fell - David Arch

11th April

SLRS - House Martin 30- 40, Swallow 10+, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, male, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, female, then a male, Shelduck, Snipe 3, Reed bunting 2, Gadwall 6, Greenfinch 3, Pied Wagtail 4, Green Woodpecker, Lapwing 5, Kestrel, Cormorant 2 flying 3 in dead tree - Steve and Cliff (SVW)

Hatfield Forest - Cuckoo and Common Tern - per Stort Valley Wild

between Albury End and Albury in field (4 miles NW of Bishop's Stortford) - WHITE STORK at 1540 Hrs - per RBA

Wallbury - single Sedge Warbler at North end

Thorley Wash - Common Whitethroat, one singing from around centre and sometimes crossing the river

Swallow 25 in total today with 19 heading North - Graeme J. Smith

Dane O Coys - Swallow, Green Woodpecker 2, Yellowhammer 3, Goldfinch 5, Pied Wagtail pr, Song Thrush - singing, Chiffchaff. - Mike Ashworth

10th April

Stansted Road - Sparrowhawk over - David Arch

9th April

Cricketfield Lane - Red Kite over woodland to north of cricket field, green woodpecker, pair of bullfinch on feeder. - Mike Ashworth

Much Hadham - Tawny Owl and Buzzard

Little Hadham - young Mallard of the year, nesting Canada Geese Rookery at Bridgefoot with 10 nests - David Arch

8th April

Furneux Pelham - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker over Main Street near Whitebarns Lane

Stocking Pelham - Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, no Buzzard in two hours! Rookery with 10 nests and another with 11 nests

East End - Nesting Canada Geese, Collared Dove

Maggots End - Buzzard, 2 Guinea Fowl in open field - David Arch

7th April

Manuden - Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, 6 Linnet, 12 Fieldfare, 13 Yellowhammer - David Arch

6th April

Thorley Street - Wheatear in arable field (Grid ref: TL481189) bounded by Thorley Street to the E, St James Way to the S and Obrey Way to the W - 4pm on top of footpath marker post. - Tony Moverley

SLRS - Gadwall 15, Teal 2 (pair), Lapwing 2, LBBG 4, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed tit, Blackcap

Trim's Green - Sparrowhawk 1f, Yellowhammer c15, Stock Dove 10 - John Slee

5th April

Hatfield Forest (0745-0905) - 6 G C Grebe (2 on nests), 2 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 5 Grey Lag Goose (1 on nest), 6 Canada Goose, 35 Mallard, 2 Teal (pr), 6 Coot, 32 Golden Plover (N @ 0916 as I left the forest southwards), 2 Herring Gull (E, Ad + 2nd S), 1 Tawny Owl (usual spot), 5 Green Woodpecker, 7 G S Woodpecker, 3 Wren (singing - only?), 7 Song Thrush (5 singing males), 1 Redwing, 11 Mistle Thrush (5 singing + 3 other pairs), 2 Blackcap (singing males), 1 Willow Warbler (singing from top of Silver Birch, East side of Reedbed), 5 Chiffchaff (singing males), 4 Long tailed Tit (2prs), 2 Nuthatch (pr), 6 Goldfinch (pr + charm of 4), 2 Greenfinch (displaying males - only?), 4 Bullfinch (2prs), 2 Reed Bunting (pr), 1M Yellowhammer (south of carpark entrance)

Good numbers of the Common birds singing, Blackbird, Dunnock & Chaffinch. Notable 'no shows' (silent) included Marsh & Coal Tit, Treecreeper and Starling.

SLRS (0925-0950) - 1 Grey Lag Goose, 2 Canada Goose, 6 Mallard, 24 Gadwall, 7 Coot, 3 Snipe (encouraging?), 1M Lapwing, 1 Goldfinch (NE), 2MM Yellowhammers (singing either side of the Layby), 2 Reed Bunting (pr) - Mike Harris

Stansted Road - singing separately in various tree and bush tops at the same time. Siskin, Dunnock, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Chaffinch. Collared Dove just sitting. Jackdaw squabbling over chimney pots - David Arch

4th April

Trims & Allens Greens (1140-1200)- 2 Grey Partridge , 1 Golden Plover (coming into full Summer plumage), 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellowhammer

SAL (1215-1300) - 13 Mallard, 20 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 19 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff (singing), 2 Jay, 1 Linnet

SLRS (1315-1345) - 10 Mallard, 33 Gadwall (still in big numbers here?), 6 Coot, 1F Kestrel, 1 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff (singing)

1M Brimstone, 1 Small White, 1 White (sp. - GV?), 1 Peacock

There were also 2MM Brimstone and 1 Green veined White at Hatfield Heath in a brief stop. - Mike Harris

3rd April

Trims Green + surrounding land from 0700 Hrs - Mist very thick this morning YELLOW WAGTAIL 3 - One flew up from close to the road at Lysander Park entrance and flew low over my head heading east. A pair grounded amongst Mipits left east along trims South field just off Sacombs Ash Lane but were close to the ground and didn't look to be going anywhere, Corn Bunting 1, Yellowhammer singing all around, three large flock of linnet plus a few straglers totalling around 130 birds, grounded mipit all around with numerous birds on fences, trees etc. REED BUNTING 9 two sang the whole time they were within ear-shot. This is easily my highest site count as i've only had a handfull on this ground in the last 5 years, Hares 7, Pied Wagtail 13 feeding on the flooded NE edge of trims North Field. Tufted Duck 11(12) on fishing lake closest to Thorley Church, Greylag 2 heading towards Michaels Mead Pond over Moor Hall Barn, Swallow 1 - resting for a moment on wires next to Moor Hall Barn - Graeme J. Smith

Little Hadham area - 2 drake Mandarin, Buzzard - David Arch

2nd April

Merck, Sharp and Dohme, Harlow at river - male Blackcap singing; also Treecreeper - David Arch

SAL - 20 Teal, 3 Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, no Little Grebe - David Arch

Twyford Lock - Swallow seen at Twyford Lock approx 12.40pm. David Sampson

Start Hill roundabout - Red Kite seen calling over at 1400 hrs - Ellen Franklin

1st April

Pig Lane - 3 Chiffchaff calling along the river approx 100 yards from road - Mike Franklin

Wallbury at 0610 Hrs - Chiffchaff 4, BLACKCAP 1, Treecreeper 2

Tednambury Marsh - Greylag 1, Chiffchaff 1

Trims Green - Buzzard 3 seen at lunch (all three again over wood at 1610 Hrs), Kestrel 2, SWALLOW 1 over North at 1615 Hrs, many single calling Meadow Pipit passing over on high ground mostly heading E or NE - Graeme J. Smith