Friday 2 January 2009

COMMON SANDPIPER ON ICE IS STAR SURPRISE




This COMMON SANDPIPER was an unusual arrival this morning at a very frozen College Lake (David Bilcock). Unfortunately it didn't linger too long, particularly when the newly furnished reserve opened its doors to over 200 visitors.

1 JANUARY 2009 (NEW YEARS DAY)

UPPER WENDOVERDEAN FARM (SP 880 049)

In the slurry field immediately opposite Cobblershill Lane and Berryhill Farm & Nursery, another superb selection of birds: SPARROWHAWK (male perched on hedge), 47 LAPWING, 500+ Woodpigeons, 30 STOCK DOVE, 55 FIELDFARE, 25 YELLOWHAMMER, 211 Common Starlings, 100+ Chaffinches but no Skylarks.

NW of WENDOVER

215 Rooks feeding in field at SP 883 107

DRAYTON BEAUCHAMP

A dead Chinese Water Deer at the crossroads at SP 895 129

COLLEGE LAKE (1330)

No sign of the Common Sandpiper seen earlier, nor of 2 Woodcocks

Mute Swans (9+)
Eurasian Wigeon (50+)
Gadwall
Shoveler (8)
Tufted Duck
Pochard
*RED-CRESTED POCHARD - adult drake and two females on main lake
*COMMON GOLDENEYES - 2 females on main lake
Coot (81+)
COMMON SNIPE (2)
BULLFINCH (pair)

BROUGHTON TROUT POOLS

COMMON KINGFISHER showing very well by Canal
COMMON SNIPE (4)

ADDITIONAL SIGHTINGS TODAY
The LITTLE EGRET was in the creek next to the hide first thing this morning (Roy Hargreaves).
Probably the most noteworthy record was the sighting of 12 adult and one 1st winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Wilstone first thing. Eight adults and the 1st winter then flew off east with a Herring Gull and leaving adults, which remained in company with a few LBB Gulls and departed later so that all were gone by 8:45. I have never seen this many GBBG at Tring Reservoirs and they were not in the roost the previous evening so must have dropped in very early this morning or after David Bilcock left Wilstone the previous evening (Roy Hargreaves).
There was also a female COMMON STONECHAT on the trees and bushes next to the Wendover Arm of the canal above the horse paddocks at Tringford (Roy Hargreaves).
Highlights from around Tring today (David Bilcock):

Steps Hill - 2 WOODCOCKS in the Top Scrub area as well as 2 MARSH TITS and a single COMMON STONECHAT along the fence line from the sheep pens.

College Lake - COMMON SANDPIPER was unexpected on the marsh which eventually flew off to the main lake, where 3 RC Pochards were amongst the ducks present.

Wilstone - LITTLE EGRET roosting along Drayton bank this afternoon but no sign of any Med gulls in the roost.

Marsworth - EURASIAN BITTERN roosting in Bucks section, in reed bed nearest the canal.

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