THURSDAY 9 APRIL
MARSWORTH RESERVOIR (HERTS/BUCKS) (evening visit)
With intermittent rain and strong SW winds during the day, a large number of diurnal migrants had been displaced, with large numbers of hirundines present, including a noticeable increase in BARN SWALLOWS (to 26), 3 HOUSE MARTINS and 83 SAND MARTINS.
The paddock fields on the east side of the Grand Union Canal (in Bucks) yielded a large flock of migrants, including 26 alba-types (of which three were dapper male WHITE WAGTAILS), 6 male YELLOW WAGTAILS and 2 Meadow Pipits. There were also 96 COMMON STARLINGS swarming around the cattle dung mounds.
On the reservoir itself was a lone winter adult Black-headed Gull, 14 Great Crested Grebes, the female Red-crested Pochard, 5 drake Shoveler and the 8 COMMON TERNS I saw earlier on Wilstone.
A Song Thrush was singing loudly from the small 'wood', with single male Goldcrest, 3 Goldfinches, a 'new' WILLOW WARBLER, 3 Chaffinches and a single male Reed Bunting in the reedbed. Two different CETTI'S WARBLERS were in song.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR (with Ian Williams, Mike Campbell & Stuart Wilson)
Roy Hargreaves had discovered a drake GARGANEY shortly after dawn but it had not been seen subsequently. Incoming migrants included a flock of 8 COMMON TERNS (which flew off east to Marsworth early evening), an increase to 204 SAND MARTINS, 9 HOUSE MARTINS and 8 BARN SWALLOWS.
A single drake COMMON GOLDENEYE remained (IW), along with 4 EURASIAN WIGEON, 14 Teal, 5 Shoveler and 15 Gadwall, whilst 3 drake RUDDY DUCKS were in 'bubbling' display.
TRINGFORD RESERVOIR (1800-2000 hours) (16 degrees C)
I relocated the drake GARGANEY at 1800 hours, skulking deep within bankside vegetation on the east side of the reservoir (at SP 919 134). It was feeding in an open channel right at the back of the vegetation and was very difficult to see. There was an active Coot's nest in the vicinity and the male repeatedly chased the Garganey away whenever it approached and on one occasion it sat on an open perch and had a ten-minute preen. I enjoyed some excellent views of it before it emerged itself again in the background. I telephoned Dave and Mike C, and along with Ian W and Stuart, we all had excellent views during the evening. At 1830 hours, the Coot attacked it again and it flew down to the extreme south end where it remained until dusk (per IW).
Tringford also yielded my first successful breeding for 2009 - a female Mallard was accompanying a brood of 12 very tiny ducklings. At least two Coot nests were also active.
There were also a pair of Common Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebes (2 more on Startop's) and singing BLACKCAP and COMMON CHIFFCHAFF.
I also located yet another ROOKERY - 9 active nests in the tall trees at the south end of the reservoir (the Tring area total now rising to 72 pairs).
MARSWORTH RESERVOIR (HERTS/BUCKS) (evening visit)
With intermittent rain and strong SW winds during the day, a large number of diurnal migrants had been displaced, with large numbers of hirundines present, including a noticeable increase in BARN SWALLOWS (to 26), 3 HOUSE MARTINS and 83 SAND MARTINS.
The paddock fields on the east side of the Grand Union Canal (in Bucks) yielded a large flock of migrants, including 26 alba-types (of which three were dapper male WHITE WAGTAILS), 6 male YELLOW WAGTAILS and 2 Meadow Pipits. There were also 96 COMMON STARLINGS swarming around the cattle dung mounds.
On the reservoir itself was a lone winter adult Black-headed Gull, 14 Great Crested Grebes, the female Red-crested Pochard, 5 drake Shoveler and the 8 COMMON TERNS I saw earlier on Wilstone.
A Song Thrush was singing loudly from the small 'wood', with single male Goldcrest, 3 Goldfinches, a 'new' WILLOW WARBLER, 3 Chaffinches and a single male Reed Bunting in the reedbed. Two different CETTI'S WARBLERS were in song.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR (with Ian Williams, Mike Campbell & Stuart Wilson)
Roy Hargreaves had discovered a drake GARGANEY shortly after dawn but it had not been seen subsequently. Incoming migrants included a flock of 8 COMMON TERNS (which flew off east to Marsworth early evening), an increase to 204 SAND MARTINS, 9 HOUSE MARTINS and 8 BARN SWALLOWS.
A single drake COMMON GOLDENEYE remained (IW), along with 4 EURASIAN WIGEON, 14 Teal, 5 Shoveler and 15 Gadwall, whilst 3 drake RUDDY DUCKS were in 'bubbling' display.
TRINGFORD RESERVOIR (1800-2000 hours) (16 degrees C)
I relocated the drake GARGANEY at 1800 hours, skulking deep within bankside vegetation on the east side of the reservoir (at SP 919 134). It was feeding in an open channel right at the back of the vegetation and was very difficult to see. There was an active Coot's nest in the vicinity and the male repeatedly chased the Garganey away whenever it approached and on one occasion it sat on an open perch and had a ten-minute preen. I enjoyed some excellent views of it before it emerged itself again in the background. I telephoned Dave and Mike C, and along with Ian W and Stuart, we all had excellent views during the evening. At 1830 hours, the Coot attacked it again and it flew down to the extreme south end where it remained until dusk (per IW).
Tringford also yielded my first successful breeding for 2009 - a female Mallard was accompanying a brood of 12 very tiny ducklings. At least two Coot nests were also active.
There were also a pair of Common Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebes (2 more on Startop's) and singing BLACKCAP and COMMON CHIFFCHAFF.
I also located yet another ROOKERY - 9 active nests in the tall trees at the south end of the reservoir (the Tring area total now rising to 72 pairs).
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