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24th July
Hobby seen hawking Swifts over my house in Patricia Gardens BS - at approx 1730hrs. Dave Sampson
21st July
spellbrook - Grey Wagtail on pub grounds, Spotted Flycatcher still c. 25 yards north-east of rail crossing, kingfisher from wallbury/wash footbridge also Buzzard over north with Hobby giving it a hard time. This is my first spellbrook Hobby of 2008 in complete contrast to the regular sightings during the last few summers. no sign of Grasshopper Warbler again today tho - Graeme J Smith
20th July
SAL (05:10-05:50am) - 2 Little Grebes (pair at nest), 2 Teal, 182 Mallard (inc brood of 5 day-old young), 11ad+11juv Tufted Ducks (no sign of 3rd brood present last week), 1f Sparrowhawk, 1m Kestrel, 1ad Hobby, 3 Common Sandpipers, 10 Swifts, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Jays, 6 Linnets
SLRS (06:10-07:00am) - 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Teal, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 6ad+2juv Lapwings, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 1ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2ad Common Terns, 3 Stock Doves, 2juv Green Woodpeckers, 3juv Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 30 Sand Martins (S), 6 House Martins, 2ad+3juv Yellow Wagtails, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs
Coploe Hill (07:45-09:30am) - 4 Cormorants (S), 1 Grey Heron (N), 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Common Buzzards, f Grey Partridge (with young chicks), 1 s/p Golden Plover (SW), 45 Lapwings (N), 1 Whimbrel (SW at 08:10am), 17 Black-headed Gulls (W), 2ad Herring Gulls (W), 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (W/SW), 1ad Sandwich Tern (S calling at 07:53am), 65 Swifts (S), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Sand Martins (S), 1 Mistle Thrush (N), 3 Lesser Whitethroats - Stephen Patmore
Hatfield Forest - Crossbill in Beggarshall Coppice (TL531203) this morning. - Jan Hein van Steenis
19th July
Bush End Church - Turtle Dove still singing from grounds - Graeme J. Smith
18th July
Newton - Barn Owl - Mick East
17th July
Trims Green - Corn Bunting 2 still singing, Buzzard regular this year for first time, today seen again returning to the same area in Mathams Wood - Graeme J. Smith
Little Hormead - Tawny Owl - Mick East
Newport - five Whimbrel flew S low over my garden at 07:40 this morning. - Stephen Patmore
SLRS (17:00-17:30)- 1 Cormorant (S), 7 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 BH Gull (Ads), Yellow Wagtail heard, 1 juv Whitethroat, The partial albino juvenile Moorhen still present on the South end of the Scrape amongst the Juncus. Mike Harris
16th July
Michaels Mead Pond - single Common Tern still fishing regularly. On departure always heads in direction of Thorley Wash. still 3 singing Reed Warblers.
Hayter, Spellbrook (West) - Bullfinches on second brood, the single surviving Green Woodpecker Juv giving absurdly close views on the entrance lawn, Kestrels very vocal around suspected nest site again today, Harlequin ladybirds now unavoidable - Graeme J. Smith
14th July
Vantorts Recreation Park in Sawbridgeworth. - 8.20am one Spotted Flycatcher making sallies for insects from Cherry Tree - Steve Butler
SLRS (17:30-18:00) - 3 Cormorant (S), 9 Canada Goose, 1 LBB Gull (2nd Sum), 3 BH Gull, 6 Lapwing (includes two of the brood), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, 10 House Martin, 1 Swallow (singing) - Mike Harris
13th July
SLRS (08:40-09:10) - 1 Cormorant, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Lapwing, 1 Ad BH Gull, 1 Common Tern 1 Partial albino juvenile Moorhen. Amazing looking creature with blotchy white flanks and an inverted 'V' on the mantle.
SAL (09:25-10:15) - 1 Common Sandpiper, Plus all the usual suspects.
In one brief sunny spell a few Insects became apparent. - 3 Large White, 30 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet, 1 Essex/Small Skipper, 1M B T Skimmer.
Allens Green - 60+ Swift drifting South at 10:30. - Mike Harris
12th July
SAL (07:05-07:50) - 4 Little Grebe, 4 Tufted Duck (+ broods of 4 & 6), 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Swift, 5 Swallow, 1 House Martin , 50+ Sand Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Pied Wagtail, 6+ Reed Warbler (3 singing males and 3 fledged juvs), 2 Chiffchaff still singing.
Hatfield Forest - 300 Jackdaw (2 roadside flocks in crops, 200 + 100)
Hatfield Heath - 60 Lapwing (N)
SLRS (08:05-08:30) - 4 Lapwing (FG), 1 LBB Gull (3rd Sum W), 4 BH Gull, 15 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail (pair 'alarming' in crops over the railway) - Mike Harris
Coploe Hill - single Whimbrel heading SW over at 15:35. Stephen Patmore
11th July
SAL - 3ad+11juv Tufted Duck, 1ad Hobby, 1f Kestrel, 2 Lapwings, 1 Common Sandpiper, 30 Swifts, 40 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Pied Wagtails, 10+ Reed Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers
Y'day, a single Common Sandpiper (per Colin Wills). - Stephen Patmore
Stortford Park Farm - 87 Swift over South at dusk, little owl - Graeme J. Smith
10th July
SLRS - Black-tailed Godwit 3, Yellow Wagtails vocal in the fields E of the railway line - John Slee also Mike Harris
Hayter Factory, spellbrook (west) - Little Owl 1, sitting in tree at main car park. My first work record since starting here in Oct. '02 - Graeme J. Smith
9th July
SAL - c.120 Sand Martins - Colin Wills
8th July
Thorley Wash - no sign of Grasshopper Warblers at 1130 hrs
Wallbury Weir - Adult Common Sandpiper, a first for my Spellbrook list at 11:15 hrs! - Graeme J. Smith
SLRS (17:00-18:00) - 2 Cormorant (S), New Mallard brood (4Y), 1M Teal, 4 Canada Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk (prob F), 2 BH Gull (Ad + juv), 8 Lapwing (5FG + 3Y), 2 Swift (S), 0 (3) Swallow, 3 (40+) House Martin, 15+ (1) Sand Martin, 6+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail (pair both carrying food in crop field south of the access track), 5 Goldfinch.
Both Meadow Brown and Ringlet flying in small numbers. - Mike Harris
SAL (17:15-18:00) - 4ad Little Grebe, 4f Tufted Duck + two broods of 6 young, 1juv Little Ringed Plover, 1ad Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpipers, 45 Swifts (NW), 1 Kingfisher, 130+ Sand Martins (mostly juvs - no Swallows or House Martins present), 1 Meadow Pipit, 1juv Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtails (inc agitated pair at northern end, suggesting young may have fledged?), 13 Pied Wagtails, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Buntings
Ugley Green - 1 Spotted Flycatcher (carrying food)
Newport SW - 1ad+1juv Kingfisher, 30+ Swallows, 2 Grey Wagtails
Audley End - 3 Cormorants, 3ad Mute Swan, 23 Canada Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese, 14ad+10juv Tufted Ducks
Coploe Hill (18:50-20:40) - - No sign of yesterday's Quail. , 1 Grey Heron (N), 3 Common Buzzards, 7 Lapwings (S), 13 Black-headed Gulls (S), 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (S), 1 Great Black-backed Gull - 3rd Yr (S), 150+ Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 720 Jackdaws (N - roost movement), 245 Rooks (N - roost movement), 35 Starlings, 1m Reed Bunting - Stephen Patmore
7th July
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler still singing despite rain at 05:35
200 yards East of Thorley Church - male Yellow Wagtail again
Spellbrook lane (east) - Spotted Flycatcher 1, c. 25 yards north-east of rail crossing - Graeme J. Smith
SLRS - 1M Teal, 1 LRP, 5 FG Lapwing (chicks hopefully undercover?), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ad LBBG (Marauding), 1 Ad BHG - Mike Harris
Coploe Hill - Quail this evening - calling pretty persistently from the fields W of (and below) the hill from c.19:15 - 20:25. Nearby, a second singing Quail in fields just E of the minor road between Strethall and Chrishall, and just S of the Ickleton turn, at c.20:40. - Stephen Patmore
6th July
SAL (08:30-09:30)- 5 Little Grebe (4Ads, 1 juv), 3 Tufted Duck (All Females, one with brood of 6 ducklings), 1 LBB Gull (3rd Sum W), 2 BH Gulls (S), 2 Lapwing, 1 LR Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 GS Woodpecker, 40+ Swift, 30 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail (juv), 10+ Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit (S - first of Autumn!), 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Whitethroat (inclu first juv), 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Bullfinch, 13 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet
20 Meadow Brown, 10 Ringlet
11 Emerald Damselfly (8M, 2F, 1T), 6 Common Blue Damselfly (5M, 1T), 4 Blue tailed Damselfly (5M, 1T), 2 Black tailed Skimmer (1M, 1T)
Quite a few Deer prints in the soft muddy edges
SLRS (09:45-10:15)- 1M Teal, 2 Gadwall (pair in eclipse), 1F Tufted Duck, 1 Ad LBB Gull(hasseling Flapper chicks), 1 Ad BH Gull, 2 LR Plover (per John Slee), 3 Lapwing (and brood), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Black tailed Godwit (Summer plumage islandica) - Mike harris
5th July
SAL (07:30-08:30) - 2 Little Grebe, 1 Hobby, 5 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 LBB Gull (3rdSum), 11 BH Gull (Ads drifting S in small groups), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Swift, 1 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, 10+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff (Family party), 1 Goldfinch, 6 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer
SLRS (08:45-09-15)- 1 Cormorant (in Corm tree), 4 Canada Geese, Coot brood of three chicks, 20 Moorhen (juvs everywhere now), 1 Ad Water Rail, 3 Lapwing (+ 3 Chicks - growing well), 1 Ad LR Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 11 BH Gull (Ads drifting South, several dropping in to bathe and feed) 2 Swift, 2 House Martin, 1M Reed Bunting, 1M Yellowhammer, - Mike & Anita Harris
4th July
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler - Graeme J. Smith
3rd July
SAL - 6 Little Grebes, 3 (1m) Tufted Duck, 2ad Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Lapwings, 3 Green Sands 4 Common Sands, 5+ Sand Martins, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (pr feeding young at nest), 2juv Willow Warblers - Also 2 Grass Snakes. - Stephen Patmore
2nd July
Newport - 3 Crossbills flying SE over at c.08:00am this morning; also a single Crossbill heard calling at 05:50am on Sunday morning. - Stephen Patmore
SAL - Ruddy Duck, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, Common Tern - Colin Wills
SLRS - Yellow Wagtail, a Sand Martin - John Slee
1st July
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, still singing 30-40 yards NNW of Thorley Wash/Wallbury footbridge at 0640-0700. no sign of second bird today - Graeme J. Smith
30th June
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, still singing persistently 30-40 yards NNW of Thorley Wash/Wallbury footbridge (0850-0945 hrs) a second bird on the south side occasionally heard - Graeme J. Smith
29th June
SAL (17:30-18:30) - 1 Little Grebe on nest (thats the most exposed nest i think i've ever seen!), 80 Mallard (includes all broods), 7 Tufted Duck (3pr + injured F), 20 Coot, 2 LRP (juvs), 3 Lapwing (juvs), 1 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 10 Swift, 50+ Sand Martin (mainly juvs), 5+ L T Tit (brood), 1 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Pied Wagtail (mainly juvs), 3 Reed Warbler (singing males), 2 Whitethroat (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 11 Goldfinch, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting - Mike Harris
28th June
Latton Park (14:00-16:00) - 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 10 Skylark (on the Common), 1 Lesser Whitethroat (carrying food into a bramble bush), 3 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest (heard), 15 L T Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 20 Coal Tit, 15 Blue Tit, 10 Great Tit, 3 Jay
The huge mixed Tit flock of 60+ birds, mainly juveniles, had a surprisingly high percentage of Coal Tits.
2 spikes of Bee Orchids (past their best) were growing by the entrance to the woods behind the (Ex) Little Chef.
2 Large White, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 35 Meadow Brown, 40 Speckled Wood, 10 Ringlet 6 Small/Essex Skipper
5 Large Red Damselfly, 3 Azure Damselfly, 1 TM Black Tailed Skimmer
If anyone wants to visit the Woods, you should be aware that the 'Forest Way' has been renamed the 'Stort Valley Way' on the Footpath signs.- Mike Harris
27th June
Bishops Stortford - Red Kite high over the High School going towards Motorway. - Mike Franklin
SLRS (17:00-18:00)- 4 Canada Geese (F + 3Y), Many Mallard broods, 2 Prs Coot (+ young), 6 Moorhen (inclu 2 well grown juvs), 10 Lapwing (7Ads + 3Y), 1 Ad LBBG, 10 Swift, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 25 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail (juv), 6 Pied Wagtail (Min), 3 Linnet, 1M Reed Bunting (Still singing away!) - Mike Harris
26th June
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, still singing 30-40 yards NNW of Thorley Wash/Wallbury footbridge - Graeme J. Smith
25th June
Trimms Green - Lapwing 4 (flew west into the distance from Blounts farm), Yellow Wagtail 2 (male and juv) opposite entrance to Morris farm - Graeme J. Smith
24th June
Quinbury Farm - Quail singing north of Braughing at Hay Street from the footpath at Quinbury Farm TL398264 - Birdguides
Patient End - Little Owl
Patmore Heath - Goldcrest - Mick East
SAL - 2m Teal, 116 Mallard, 19 Tufted Ducks, 6 (2ad+4juv) Little Ringed Plovers, 15 Lapwings, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Stock Doves, 10+ Swift, 20+ Sand Martins, 10+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows, 3 Grey Wagtails, 20+ Pied Wagtails (mostly juvs) - Stephen Patmore
22nd June
Hatfield Heath (07:55) - 2MM Peacock
SAL (08:05-08:55) - 2 Little Grebe (Wader lagoon), 3 New Mallard broods (fantastic season for them - 11, 8 & 8), 3 Tufted Duck (Pr + 1S), Still no Coot or Moorhen broods, 4 L R Plover (all juveniles - bred nearby?), 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Swift, 10 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, 3 Skylark 10+ Pied Wagtail (mainly juveniles), 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler (singing males on the Wader lagoon - where have they come from? First records for SAL this year for me) All the usual suspects still in song, Willow W, Reed W, Whitethroat, Garden W, Chiffchaff etc.
SLRS (09:15-0945)- 1 Cormorant (making futile attempts to land on Corm tree!), 1F Shoveler, 1F Canada +3Y, Pr Lapwing + 2 fluffy young (Yes! They did breed!), 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 House Martin , 1 Sand Martin, 1 Sedge Warbler (singing in Juncus - where did he come from too? First for SLRS for me this year), Family of Whitethroats, 2 YellowWagtail (Males in territorial dispute over the track East of the Railway)
1 Grass Snake curled up on path. It must have been cold because it allowed me to touch it before it slithered off.
1 Stoat ran across Sheering Lower Road South of the Marsh. - Mike Harris
21st June
Stort Valley - Common Tern, Pair of Common Terns between Spellbrook & Tednambury excellent views all afternoon. (Tern also seen regularly near new footbridge at Rivermill Chinese early mornings c5am) Also Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, 3 Curlews over flying north/nw c 1630 21/06. Garden Warbler between spellbrook & wallbury - keith watts
20th June
Thorley Wash, Bishops Stortford: - grasshopper warbler, still singing 30-40 yards NNW of thorley wash/wallbury footbridge. can be heard from bridge so no need to venture out into the nettles. - graeme j smith
Stort - Grasshopper Warbler, Singing 30 yds NW of bridge 44 (Wallbury) c 11.30am 20/06, but not heard on next visit c 5pm Saturday 21/06 - keith watts
19th June
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler singing 30 yards North-West of Wallbury/Wash footbridge 0630-0645 hrs
Trimms Green - grey partridge (this bird looked as if it was sitting on eggs, staying very still and refusing to move despite close proximity), common buzzard 1, kestrel 1, yellow wagtail - disappeared when grass was cut at the north-west gate at blounts farm - Graeme J. Smith
18th June
Norfolk Way, Bishop's Stortford - an adult Common Tern (with food) was observed flying over Norfolk Way approx 09.00 hrs - a somewhat unusual occurrence in Town; rather suggests there is a lake nearby with a breeding pair on it (surely too far way from the Hatfield Forest ternery). Dave Sampson
16th June
Amwell NR - wood sandpiper (from new white hide until 1528hrs only), green sandpiper, cettis warbler, 2 spotted flycatcher - per RBA
15th June
Thorley Park - Red Kite Adult Red Kite seen over Thorley Park about 11.30am - flying in a westerly direction. Don't think it is the same bird as the 'unusually plumaged etc' bird seen at Sheering recently (see Stort Valley Wild site) as it didn't seem as 'tatty'as that individual and the plumage colours looked 'normal'. - Dave Sampson
Farnham Road Herts - Common Buzzard
Nino Wood area - Common Buzzard - Mick East
SAL (09:20-10:10) - 1 G C Grebe, 2 Little Grebe (Small lag), 65 Mallard (30 ads, 35 juvs), 3 Teal (MMF), 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 35 Swift, 10+ Sand Martin, 2 Skylark, 3 Reed Warbler (singing males), 2 Whitethroat (ditto), 3 Willow Warbler (ditto) , 1 Pr Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer
6 Black tailed Skimmer (5M 1F), 2 Common Blue D/Fly, 5 Common Blue Butterfly (all males), 1 Meadow Brown - Mike Harris
SLRS (10:30-11:30) - 3 Cormorant (all in Corm tree), 1F Canada and her three hybrid young looking more like Canada's now!), 1 Kestrel, 3 Ad Lapwing, 1 Herring Gull (2nd Sum), 1 Green Woodpecker,1 G S Woodpecker , 2 Prs Whitethroat carrying food (one at South end and one at Railway crossing) 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler (JS), 1M Reed Bunting, - Mike Harris John Slee and Kevin Hanrahan
Debden Park - single Crossbill flew SW over am Also, two Common Terns, and at a site nearby, a day-hunting Barn Owl at a potential nest site. - Stephen Patmore
14th June
Patient End - Little Owl - Mick East
13th June
Furneax Pelham - Little Owl
Barley North - Barn Owl 06:00 - Mick East
11th June
Bishop's Stortford (Hockerill area) - 1020 am. Fleeting glimpse of 3 'Egret' type heading North (all white - legs well projected).- Ian Gray
8th June
Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard X3 - Mick East
7th June
SAL (16:30-17:30)
4 L Grebe (pr on small lagoon and calling birds on the other lagoons, so possible three pairs now) 21 Mallard (plus 5 broods - 11,7,4,4,4 - all well grown apart from one brood of 4 day olds), 1M Teal, 24 Tufted Duck, 12 Swift, 4 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Reed Warbler singing) 2 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto)
SLRS (17:45-18:05) - 30 Mallard ( + several broods - impossible to count now), 1F Canada ( + dubious offspring), 6 Coot ( + 2 broods), 2 Lapwing (Both Adults and probably both Males) - Mike Harris
6th June
Stortford park farm - little owl at roundabout - Graeme J. Smith
4th June
between mathams pit and the black barn - grey partridge 2
trimms green - yellow wagtail male still singing from same spot
hayter, spellbrook - jay (young bird seen two days in a row at suspected nest site is my first ever confirmed breeding record!) - Graeme J Smith
1st June
Newport - 1f Marsh Harrier (over meadows NW of the village @ 06:20am), 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all 1S, N), 30+ Sand Martins, 20+ House Martins (over Sewage Works in early showers), 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1m Reed Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (pair from last week at entrance to Sewage Works),Yesterday, a single tardy male Wheatear on Coploe Hill the only bird of note. - Stephen Patmore
Hatfield Forest Lake - Great Crested Grebe 6 young at least 6 young on the lake, looked like two pairs had bred. Common Tern sitting on raft. presume on eggs? - Pete Duxon
Sawbridgeworth Marsh (16:15-16:45)
A few singing Warblers despite the overcast conditions.
3 Reed Warbler 3 Sedge Warbler 1 Garden Warbler 2 Whitethroat 1 Chiffchaff Also two pairs of Reed Buntings, one pair feeding young.
SAL (17:15-18:00) - 3 Little Grebe (pair on small lagoon, plus one on Wader lagoon - they are beginning to arrive, albeit slowly), 22 Mallard (+ several broods), Pr Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck (8 pairs + odd male), 14 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 L R Plover, 15 Swift, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Garden/Blackcap (Singing male, uttering phrases from each species, could not get a view to confirm either way)
SLRS (18:15-18:45) - 1M Gadwall (going into eclipse), 1 Hobby (in from East, but in hunting mode) 20 Stock Dove (on Chaff dump), 1F Whitethroat (Collecting food) - Mike Harris
31st May
SAL (07:30-08:05)- 2 Little Grebe (Small lagoon), 1 Cormorant (S), 17 Mallard (+ 4 Broods), 1M Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck (3pr), 8 LBB Gull (N @ 07:49 various ages, but no adults), 6 House Martin (collecting wet mud from track), 2 GreyWagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush (S), 3 Reed Warbler (singing males), 1 Garden Warbler (ditto), 3 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 2 Reed Bunting (ditto), 2 Yellowhammer (ditto)
SLRS (08:20-09:00) - 1 Cormorant (Corm tree), 1M Gadwall, Mixed Goose pair and hybrid young, 1F Kestrel, 1 Lapwing, 2 G S Woodpecker, 15 Swift, 3 Skylark, (No sign of last weeks M Yellow wagtail), 2 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1M Reed Bunting, Pr Yellowhammer (carrying food)
1 Small White (a bit early for Insects generally) - Mike Harris
29th May
Thorley Wash - GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Singing male heard at the southern end of the first fenced enclosure; though very low key song!! Also, a mating pair of Eyed Hawk Moths observed and photographed. - Dave Sampson
Hadham Ford - 2 red kites (circling over to the East of the village, 2 corn buntings (Ash Valley G.C.), treecreeper, bullfinch, common buzzard (with large prey), reed bunting, stock dove, house sparrow, corvids,tits (inc newly fledged LTT's) finches (4sp), hirundines, moorhen and mallard (with 1 week old brood) woodpeckers, (2sp)warblers (3sp) etc etc., - Jono Forgham
27th May
A120 - Common Buzzard X2
Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard - Mick East
25th May
SLRS - 3 Gadwall, The Hybrid Goose pair have refound the third ugly Gosling!, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 30 Barn Swallow, 20 House Martin
SAL - 2 LR Plover, 15 Sand Martin, - Mike Harris
24th May
SAL (06:00-06:45) - 1 Grey Heron, 41 Mallard (+ broods of 11, 2 & 2), 8 Tufted Duck, 14 Coot, 3 Lapwing, 2 L R Plover, 1 Swift (NE), 2 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Skylark (singing males), 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Reed Warbler (singing males), 1 Garden Warbler (ditto), 4 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Reed Bunting (ditto) , 2 Yellowhammer (ditto), 3 Linnet
SLRS (07:00-07:30) - 3 Gadwall (MMF), 2 Canada Goose (S), 1F Canada + 1M Greylag and two hybrid Goslings. 3 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, M Cuckoo, M Whitethroat, M Reed Bunting - Mike Harris
Millennium Wood, Bury Green - bullfinch 2, willow warbler 3+, chiffcaff 3+, blackcap 1, common whitethroat 2, reed bunting 2, green woodpecker 2, great spotted woodpecker 1, great black backed gull 2 north east, 2nd yr herring gull 1 south, linnets 2, swallows 8+, swifts 10+, usual corvids, finches and tits - Jono Forgham
23rd May
Hand Lane - Spotted Flycatcher catching insects at Hand Lane, opposite the entrance to Pishiobury Park carpark this evening at 17:00 - Mike Harris
20th May
Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard - Mick East
Amwell - Great Reed Warbler, James Hide
18th May
Hatfield Forest - Kite sp over - John Slee
SLRS - Breeding: 4 Mallard broods 8 - about a week old, 4 - about 2 weeks old (including Whitey), 4 - day olds, 4 - day olds, 1 Canada brood 3 goslings (3 adult birds too), 1 Coot brood 2 young, Also: Pair Gadwall, 1 Grey Lag, 1 Herring Gull (1st Sum flew N), 2 LBBG (N), 40 Stock Dove (on chaff dump)
Trims Green - 1 Hobby
Blounts Farm - M Kestrel, M Yellow Wagtail, M Pied Wagtail - Mike Harris
Coploe Hill,(15:15-16:15) - 10+ Common Buzzards, 6 Hobby (1 lingering, 2 singles N and party of 3), 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NE), 391 Swifts (N/NE in 1hr), 2m Lesser Whitethroats - Stephen Patmore
17th May
SAL (08:00-09:00) - Wader lagoon water level now high again. 21 Mallard (+ broods of 5 & 2), 3 Tufted Duck (MMF), 8 Coot (big decrease in breeding pairs - no Little Grebes either), 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Swift, 10 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 2 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Reed Warbler (all singing males), 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler (all singing males), 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer
SLRS (09:10-09:30) - 2 Cormorant (in Corm tree), 11 Mallard (+ broods of 6 & 3 - includes the white duckling), 1 Canada Goose, 1 Grey lag , 6 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 3 Stock Dove, 1M Cuckoo, 20 Swift 10 House Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat, 50 Starling (Flock made up mostly of 1st brood 'Brown Sqawkers'), 1 Linnet, - Mike Harris
16th May
Henley Herne spring - corn bunting 1 singing just south east of spring c. 0640 hrs - Graeme J Smith
A120 - Black Kite today at around 14:30 flying east along the A120 north of Bishop's Stortford town centre.- Anita Harris
Birchanger Green Services - Goshawk? only a possible seen poorly & fairly briefly from the car but a buzzard-sized stocky, powerful greyish raptor heading directly away over the services. Drove round but couldn't relocate it. - James. A. Hanlon
15th May
Mathams Pit - Common Sandpiper, 10.10am - 10.30am Common Sandpiper, Swallows, Kestrel, Skylarks, Willow Warbler. No sign of tern. -
Amwell - Hobbies, 7 Hobbies, Cettis heard, Reed Warblers, Cuckoo. - Keith Watts
14th May
Stansted Airport - Montagu's harrier (1st sum f) present for 3 days around the runways (per rarebirdalert.com)- James. A. Hanlon
Mathams Pit . A superb summer plumaged Black Tern was seen at Mathams Pit (near Trims Green) from about 11.50 this morning. I viewed it from the (so called) public access immediately before the display saying no public right of way next to the Paint Balling place in Mathams Wood; the lake is perfectly viewable from here, and good views of the bird were had as it whisked constantly back and forth occasionally diving - for about an hour before I left, fully sated! Stephen was already on his way and he was able to view it after me. Presumably it will stay around a while - but no other terns present. Also in the area: Common Buzzard being harried by crows over Mathams Wood (possible breeding suspected as this is the second recent sighting here); a pair of Turtle Doves at Trims Green; 3 Yellow Wags; 2 male Corn Buntings; 2 Grey Partridges. - Dave Sampson
Newport SW - 1 Hobby, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (by railway line)
Matham's Wood - 5m Garden Warblers
Trimm's Green - 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Turtle Doves (1 near Blount's Fm, pair opposite Morris's Fm) 2 Yellow Wagtail
SLRS - 1 Little Ringed Plover (flew through calling)
SAL - 3 Common Sandpipers Also several Four-spotted Chasers and a single male Broad-bodied Chaser on the wing. - Sephen Patmore
Patmore Heath - Cuckoo
Fowlmere Airfield - Barn Owl 00:30 - Mick East
13th May
Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard, Red Kite,(11:03), Sparrowhawk, Mistle Thrush. - Mick East
SAL - 2 Common Sands, 10+ Swallows, 20+ House Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1+m Reed Warbler, 1m Lesser Whitethroat, 2m Garden Warblers - Stephen Patmore
Little Hadham - hobby, 2 bullfinches, 3 robins, 5 yellowhammers, 1 pheasant, 6 common whitethroat, 3 blackcap, 1 lesser whitethraot, 1 wren, 2 greenfinch, 2 chaffinch, 50+ wood pigeons, 20+ rooks, great tits, 2 blue tits, 1 blackbird, 1 song thrush, plus 6 orange tips, 4 small whites, 2 large whites, 3 speckled wood, 1 peacock, plenty of rabbits (hence 3 foot chicken wire fence around my patch), 1 hare, 1 fox cub - Jono Forgham
11th May
Patmore Heath - Hobby
Albury TTV - Common Buzzard X3, Cormorant - Mick East
10th May
Trimm's Green 4:40-5:30 - Yellow Wagtail - 3, Red-Legged Partridge - 3 pairs, Grey Partridge - 1 pair, Corn Bunting - 2 singing, Linnet - 10+, Swallow, Stock Dove 1, Yellowhammer 1,
Allen's Green - Whitethroat 1, Hare 1 - John Slee
Rye Meads - Hobby 7+, Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Turtle Dove 2, Cetti's Warbler,Grasshopper Warbler - Mick East
8th May
Patmore Heath - Pallid Swift heading south - Mick East
7th May
An early start at Thorley Wash failed to produce anything more exciting than a pair of Common Terns .......... and once again no Groppers!! Same at Tednambury. I was out in the field so to speak for 6 hours but had very little to show for it. And I'm STILL without a Yellow Wag so far this year!! - Dave Sampson
Little Hadham - lesser whitethroat, 2 green woodpeckers, 3 common whitethroat, 1 blackcap, 2 yellowhammers, assorted tits and finches, 2 dunnock, 2 robin, 2 blackbird., Also:7 orange tips, 2 peacocks, 5 speckled wood, 3 swifts over on 8th - Jono Forgham
5th May
Thorley Wash - A garden Warbler; a Blackcap; several C.Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers;several Chiffs and a couple of Wiilow Warblers; a Cuckoo; a Kestrel; a Water Rail screamed; a pair of Linnets (surprisingly uncommon here); several Reed Buntings. Butterflies represented by several Orange Tips; a few Green-veined Whites and Small White; a Holly Blue (my first for the year); and a Peacock or two. - Dave Sampson
Sawbridgeworth church tower - 8 swifts screaming around tower last night about 8.30pm - Jono Forgham
SLRS - Sedge Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, Blackcap, and over in the fields by Pishiobury Park/Bonks Hill a Lesser Whitethroat singing from the top of a hawthorn bush, a Garden Warbler in the next hedgerow, and Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing loudly. Otherwise a Greylag with 4 Canada Goose, 3 Gadwall, Swifts, and a Skylark.- John Slee
Debden Park Lake - 1 Little Egret (flew off W at 05:15am)
Coploe Hill - 1m Marsh Harrier (lingering mid-morning), 11+ Common Buzzards, 3+ Hobby, 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (N), 55 Swallows (N), 4 Yellow Wagtails
Chrishall Grange area - 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1m Reed Warbler
Howe Wood, Strethall - 2 Hobby
Newport - 1 Hobby (N) - Stephen Patmore
Thorley Wash, spellbrook (north): - • kestrel 2 (M+F both hunting seperately), Great black backed gull 3 - over north, cuckoo 1 - male on east side of river, swallow 4 - checking out the buildings west (across the road) from the wash, sedge warbler 9 (1 north edge of wallbury, 3 south wash, 3 north wash + 2 more just south of wallbury), whitethroat 12 - minimum. seemingly everwhere! garden warbler 2 (1 singing 50 yards south-east of the railway foot-crossing and another 30 yards south from wallbury footbridge on the herts side) blackcap 6 (5 males, 1 female), chiffchaff 4(5), willow warbler 4, treecreeper 2 - essex side of river, north of Wallbury, linnet 2 - flew out from the trees at the foot-crossing and put down on the grass c.60 yards south-west. - Graeme J Smith
4th May
Bishop's Stortford - Ring-necked Parakeet in my garden for about 30 seconds this evening (approx 6.30 pm; seemed fairly flighty. - Dave Sampson
Thorley - common buzzard 1 - soaring over - Graeme J Smith
Grass marsh opposite SLRS scrape - Whitethroats erupting all over - Kevin Hanrahan
3rd May
Bishop’s Stortford - Three Swifts seen over my house this morning - Tony Moverley
Patmore Heath - House Martins checking Nest sites, Swift 2, Cuckoo - Mick East
Hatfield Forest - Marsh Harrier 1 2nd year male flying north - Jan Hein van Steenis
Trimms green - Grey partridge 1, Yellow Wagtail 7 (6 at morris farm, 1 tharbies), meadow pipit 3, stockdove 7 - east, lesser whitethroat - singing at tharbies - Graeme J Smith
2nd May
north of Much Hadham - Sparrowhawk, Lesser Black-backs (5), 2 Mallard and 2 Canada Goose - all over Swallow, Whitethroat and Blackcaps galore, Cuckoo, GSW, Yellowhammer and a galore number of Dunnock and Skylark all round. 2 Muntjac, Rabbit, Hare - David Arch
Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cuckoo, GSW, Green woodpecker, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Long tailed Tit, Water Rail - Mick & Brenda East
1st May
Common Buzzard seen soaring over/near my house (Thorley) approx 10.30 a.m. Dave Sampson
Hadham walk (5.00 - 7.30pm) - 2 tawny owls conversing across a field little owl (on wires opposite entrance to Ash Valley G.C.), swallow 1, common whitethroat 3, chiffchaff 4, blackcap 2, RLP 2, grey heron 1 (south)- Jono Forgham
Trims Green area (tetrad TL41T) - Hobby flying south. Plus 5 Yellow Wagtails, good numbers of Yellowhammer, Linnet & Skylark noted & a pair of Little Grebe seen on Tharbies pond.- Tony Moverley
Chrishall/Coploe - 1ad f Marsh Harrier, 1imm m Hen Harrier (same 1CY bird as Tuesday), 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Meadow Pipits (late passage birds), 9 Yellow Wagtails, 1m Nightingale (singing), 2m & 4f Greenland Wheatears - Stephen Patmore
