May 2013

  

WE NEED YOUR SIGHTINGS PLEASE 

So that they can be shared with our other members and help to give a fuller record of what we have.

You can send them by e-mail here. Photographs are welcome.

Sun May 19 Tringford: 4 Hobby (Lucy Flower)
Sun May 19 Marsworth: Osprey overhead also seen over Wilstone. (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen/ Ian Williams and others TRYG) c180 Swift, Cetti's Warbler singing (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC)

Hobby perched at Startopsend by Roy McDonald

Sat May 18 Startopsend: Hobby (Roy McDonald)

Sat May 18 Wilstone: c60 Swift, Red Kite. (Callum Peel HBC)

Sat May 18 Startopsend: 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Red -crested Pochard, c120 Swift, 2 Hobby, Kingfisher (Callum Peel HBC)

Sat May 18 Tringford: 8 Hobby, Kingfisher (Callum Peel HBC)

Lesser Black Backed Gull taking a Swift at Startops by Roy McDonald

Fri May 17 Startopsend: 1000+ swift returned (mostly absent yesterday) with some House Martin and Barn Swallow. (Peter Brazier)

Swift being ringed by Johne Taylor from the Tring Ringing Group 

Fri 17 May Wilstone: Male Pintail near the hide. (Roy Hargreaves) 6 Hobby (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Fri 17 May Marsworth: Male Yellow Wagtail, 4 Red-crested Pochard, Oystercatcher & Cetti's Warbler. (Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 16 May Wilstone: 6 Hobby over reed bed , Oystercatcher (Chris Hoggan)
Thu 16 May Startopsend: Garden Warbler in the bushes by the Startops overflow. I also found a Spotted Flycatcher (Roy Hargreaves) 
Wed 15 May Wilstone: 55 Swift, Yellow Wagtail (Lee G R Evans)

Wed 15 May Startopsend: 2 Redshank, Common Sandpiper and 4 Red-crested Pochard (Mike Wallen)
Wed 15 May Startopsend: Numerous Swift still this evening, at least 3 Hobby and a Redshank. (Peter Brazier) 3+ Yellow Wagtail in Startops farm paddocks (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 15 May Wilstone: Sanderling, one briefly this morning (Roy Hargreaves)

Tue 14 May Marsworth: 2 Sedge Warblers (Michael Stallwood)

Hobby over Startopsend by Michael Stallwood

Tue 14 May Startopsend: An uncountable number of Swift, probably in the thousands. 5 Hobby feeding over too. (Peter Brazier)

The Spectacular Swift Show at Startops by Peter Brazier

Mon 13 May Startopsend: I have never seen so many Swifts at one time. My estimate of 200 is probably an underestimate, the sky seemed full of them, quite an amazing sight plus 4 Hobby hawking insects close to the bank. (M H Stallwood BBC)
Sun 12 May Wilstone: 4 Hobbies, Female and Male Cuckoo, good numbers of Reed and Sedge warblers present in the reedbed, Female Willow warbler and an adult female Firecrest (Johne Taylor)

Adult Female Firecrest by Johne Taylor (Tring Ringing Group)

Sun 12 May Startopsend: 5 Hobby (Johne Taylor)

Sun 12 May Marsworth: Cuckoo calling, Cetti's Warbler singing. (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC)
Sun 12 May Startopsend: 2 Yellow wagtail, c500 swift, 2 Red-crested Pochard, Hobby. (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC)
Sat 11 May Wilstone: Male Whinchat by the dry canal with Mistle Thrush, 2 Yellowhammer, 4 Linnets and 2 Common Whitethroats (Lee Evans)
Sat 11 May Startopsend:  4 Hobbies over the water. 2 Male and 2 Female Red-crested Pochards (Rob Andrews)

Red-crested Pochard on Marsworth Reservoir by Peter Brazier

Sat 11 May Wilstone: Whinchat in Rushy Meadow (Ian WIlliams)
Fri 10 May Startopsend: Hobby (pair) feeding over the reservoir. (Peter Brazier)

Hobby over Startopsend by Peter Brazier

Thu 9 May Startopsend: Common Sandpiper, 50+ Swift (G Hinton HBC). Wilstone: Hobby, Red Kite (Ernest Leahy HBC)
Wed 8 May Wilstone: Greylag and Atlantic Canada Geese were now accompanying young. A single LITTLE EGRET was roosting on the west shore, whilst migrants included 140 Common Swifts and 60 House Martins. Not much else of note other than a singing male Mistle Thrush (Lee Evans)

Wed 8 May Startopsend: Held large numbers of Common Swift (130 at least), along with 33 Tufted Duck, 13 Greylag Geese, 16 Coot, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 30 Common Terns and the pair of Red-crested Pochard, the female acting as though she had a nest on one of the rafts. (Lee Evans)

Wed 8 May Marsworth: A single breeding-plumaged BLACK TERN was showing well, often roosting for long periods on the bunds, it was associating with up to 33 Common Terns. Several Western Reed Warblers were singing from the reedbed at the west end (Af Nasir had yet another Osprey fly over mid afternoon). (Lee Evans)

Common and Black Tern on Marsworth by Lee Evans

Wed 8 May Startopsend: Black Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (Jeff Bailey HBC)

Wed 8 May Marsworth: Black Tern with at least half a dozen Arctics amongst the Commons (Joel Lund BBYG)
Sun 5 May Startopsend:, 4 Red-crested Pochard, 3 males, 1 female, 60 Swift, Approx., 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Sandpiper. (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC)
Sun 5 May Marsworth:  Raven (over). (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC)
Fri 3 May Wilstone: early am: 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull with a 2nd-winter Herring Gull, Greenshank, 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull, plus f Wheatear on the hedge up to Dry Canal (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 3 May Startopsend: 18 Common Tern, 4 Red-crested Pochard, 2 pairs (Mike Wallen HBC)


For other bird sightings in the area please visit Herts Bird Club. for whom we than for many of the sightings listed here.
Please visit Lee Evans' website Birding Tring Reservoirs which looks at the reservoirs and other local sites, including the surrounding hills. 

For information about other wildlife see Hertfordshire Natural History Society.

(Abbreviations: HBC Herts Bird Club, BBC Bucks Bird Club, BBYG Bucksbirders Yahoo Group, HBYG Hertsbirding Yahoo Group, BTRYG BirdingTringReservoirs Yahoo Group, TWTW is FoTR's Tring Water Treatment Works site.) 

And, please note that unless a reported sighting is clearly a mistake, we try to post them without too much delay. Therefore many of these sightings are unchecked. Please bear this in mind when checking sightings above and if appropriate, please send further corroborative records or any other information you may have.

April 2013

Mon 29 Apr Wilstone: early am: Wood Warbler singing by the hide, summer-plumaged Dunlin (Roy Hargreaves)

Wood Warbler at Wilstone by Peter Brazier

Mon 29 Apr Marsworth: early am: Black Tern with Common Terns (Roy Hargreaves)

Sun 28 Apr Wilstone: early am: Grasshopper Warbler nr. Rushy Meadow (Ian Williams via Roy Hargreaves); am: f Marsh Harrier, many Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, plus Blackcaps,Whitethroat, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings, 2 Cuckoos and several Kites, plus many Swifts (Johne Taylor); 2 Hobby (Charlie Jackson)
Sat 27 Apr Wilstone: early am: Sandwich Tern (briefly), m Whinchat (also briefly), m Blue-headed Wagtail, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 2+ Common Sandpipers, 5+ Swifts with other hirundines, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, several Willow Warblers and numerous Whitethroats (Roy Hargreaves); Blue-headed Wagtail, Sandwich Tern, Whinchat, briefly, 8 Yellow Wagtail (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 27 Apr Startopsend: 18 Yellow Wagtail (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Fri 26 Apr Wilstone: Oystercatcher (Anna Marett/Joan Thompson HBC), Wheatear (Richard Ness HBC), f Whinchat (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Fri 26 Apr Startopsend: 21 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Thu 25 Apr Wilstone: early am: summer-plumaged Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, Cuckoo singing, Lesser Whitethroat along Dry Canal, 2 Wheatears (one nr. Cemetery Corner, one along Dry Canal), Shelduck over, 2 Swifts with the Hirundines (Roy Hargreaves); plus Oystercatcher (Charlie Jackson)
Thu 25 Apr Startopsend: early am: 2 Oystercatchers (very mobile!), 2 Shelduck (Roy Hargreaves) ; late pm: 3 Black Terns (Ben Miller); plus c. 25 Common Terns, Peregrine, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Swifts (Charlie Jackson)
Thu 25 Apr Marsworth: early am: Cuckoo (Roy Hargreaves); plus 2 Swifts with a few Hirundines, Shelduck over, Cetti's Warbler calling, plus reed bed now noisy with Reed Warblers (Charklie Jackson)
Wed 24 Apr Wilstone: late pm:f Redstart in meadow behind the hide (Ian Williams)
Wed 24 Apr Startopsend: 2 Swifts, 6 Red-crested Pochards, Lesser Whitethroat & Cetti's and other Warblers singing (Ben Miller)
Wed 24 Apr Marsworth: 4 Swift, 11 Common Tern (Martin Parr HBC)
Tue 23 Apr Wilstone: early am: Whimbrel over (David Bilcock via Roy Hargreaves), Swift with the hirundines, Cuckoo and Yellow Wagtail over The small ressies were uneventful with two Shelduck on Tringford and a third Shelduck flew over Marsworth and the six Red-crested Pochards (Roy Hargreaves)
Tue 23 Apr Startopsend: early am: 6 Red-crested Pochards (Roy Hargreaves)
Tue 23Aprr Marsworth: early am: Shelduck over (Roy Hargreaves)
Tue 23 Apr Tringford: early am: 2 Shelduck (Roy Hargreaves)
Sun 21 Apr Wilstone: 9 Sedge Warblers, plus Willow Warbelrs ,Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps (Johne Taylor); 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher (Steve Rodwell HBC) 
Sun 21 Apr Marsworth: early am: Sedge Warble, Whitethroat, many Chiffchaff, Cuckoo calling (at 05:30) and reedbed alive with Reed Warbler song (Lynne Lambert); 2 Redshank (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 20 Apr Wilstone: early am: Cuckoo, 1+ Oystercatchers, several Yellow Wagtails over, 2 Buzzards, plus 4 Whitethroats along Dry Canal, 50+ Linnets inadj. fields (Roy Hargreaves)
Sat 20 Apr Startopsend: early am: Oystercatcher (Roy Hargreaves); late pm: good numbers of Yellow Wagtails on banks of res. (Roy Hargreaves); am: 1+ Arctic Tern (Charlie Jackson); 6 Red-crested Pochard (3 pairs), 2 Arctic Tern (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC)
Sat 20 Apr Marsworth: early am: Cetti’s, Reed & Sedge Warblers singing, Whitethroat, Cuckoo heard (Roy Hargreaves); am: plus numerous Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Yellow Wagtail over, 2 Oystercatchers, Water Rail, Kingfisher (Charlie Jackson)
Fri 19 Apr Wilstone: early am: 3 Common Sandpipers, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 100s of Hirundines (Roy Hargreaves); late pm: Barn owl in meadow by hide (Richard Bennett)
Fri 19 Apr Startopsend: early am: 4+ Arctic Terns, 6 or 7 Yellow Wagtails (Roy Hargreaves); 5 Arctic Tern (Mike Wallen HBC)

Artic Tern over Startopsend Reservoir by Dave Hutchinson

Fri 19 Apr Marsworth: early am: Sedge Warblers, reed Warblers & Cetti's Warbler singing, 6 Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 18 Apr Startopsend/Marsworth: mid pm: 2 Arctic Terns, Blue-headed Wagtaill with 8+ Yellow Wagtails (Adam Bassett)
Wed 17 Apr Wilstone: early am: 2 Little Egrets (Roy Hargreaves)
Wed 17 Apr Startopsend: early am: 5 Red-crested Pochard, Little Egret over, Yellow Wagtail nr. paddocks over canal, plus several Arctic Terns mobile over all three smaller reservoir (Roy Hargreaves); mid am: Blue-headed Wagtail, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Arctic Terns (Lucy Flower and others)
Wed 17 Apr Marsworth: mid am: Blue-headed Wagtail (same as Startopsend), White Wagtail, c 6 Yellow Wagtail, Water Pipit (Charlie Jackson)
Wed 17 Apr Tringford: early am: 2 Shelduck (Roy Hargreaves)
Tue 16 Apr Startopsend: 2 Red-crested Pochard, 22 Common Tern, 4 Arctic Tern, 2 Curlew over (Lee Evans); late pm: 7 Arctic Terns (also over Marsworth), 7 Yellow Wagtailsl in hedge across canal, Oystercatcher over (Charlie Jackson), Blue-headed type Wagtail (Steve Rodwell via Charlie Jackson)
Tue 16 Apr Marsworth: 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 16 Common Tern, 4 House Martin, m Red-crested Pochard (Lee Evans); late pm: Kingfisher (Charlie Jackson)
Mon 15 Apr Wilstone: early am: Cuckoo heard, many Hirundines, particularly House Martins (Roy Hargreaves); 9 Willow Warblers,7 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps (Johne Taylor); late pm: 3+ Reed Warblers (Lee Evans)
Mon 15 Apr Startopsend: am: 6 Shelduck (prob. from College Lake) (Charlie Jackson); 18+ Common Tern (Wendy Hatton & Terry Corcoran HBC), Yellow Wagtail (Wendy Hatton HBC)
Mon 15 Apr Marsworth: am: Reed Warbler, 5 Common Terns, c10 Sand Martins, 3 House Martins, 1 Water Rail, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, plus Reed Buntings, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and at least 4 Blackcaps (2 pairs) (Lucy Flower); early pm: 3 Ringed Plover over (Peter Brazier); 3 Common Sandpiper, 5+ House Martin (Wendy Hatton & Terry Corcoran HBC), Cuckoo (Jim Middleton HBC)

Reed Warbler in the Marsworth Reed Bed by Peter Brazier

Mon 15 Apr Tringford: Wheatear in field nr. end of Wendover Arm (Jim Middleton HBC)
Sun 14 Apr Startopsend: 2 Yellow Wagtail (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC), 2 Red-crested Pochard (Duncan Hilliard HBC)
Sun 14 Apr Marsworth: am: Cetti's Warbler, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff all singing, 2 m Blackcaps, 9 Common Terns (Lucy Flower)
Sat 13 Apr Wilstone: early am: 1+ Common Sandpipers and 3 Common Terns along with Blackcap, Willow Warblers, a good number of Chiffchaffs, 3 Little Egrets and a Nuthatch (Roy Hargreaves); plus 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Terns (Charlie Jackson); White Wagtail (Steve Rodwell via Charlie Jackson also HBC); 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Mandarin, 3 Common Tern, Common Sandpiper (Laurence Drummond HBC)
Sat 13 Apr Startopsend: early am: all three common Hirundines (Swallows, Sand & House Martins), 2+ Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); am: 1 Yellow Wagtail, m Reed Bunting, 40+ Hirundines, a mix of Swallows, Sand & House Martins (Lucy Flower); 6 Common terns (Charlie Jackson)
Sat 13 Apr Marsworth: early am: 4 Common Terns, Cetti's Warbler singing, 2 Water Rails (Roy Hargreaves): am: 3 Water Rails, c15 Hirundines, mostly Swallows with some Sand & House Martins, 2 Common Terns, 2 Common Redshank, plus Great Crested Grebes displaying (Lucy Flower); plus 2 Grey Wagtail (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen HBC), 5 Common Tern (G.Hinton HBC)

Water Rail in the Marsworth Reeds by Peter Brazier

Sat 13 Apr Tringford: early am: pair of Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 12 Apr Wilstone: early am: several Sand Martins with 2+ Swallows and 1 House Martin, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (Roy Hargreaves); 5 male Yellow Wagtails (FrancisBuckle); 2 Red Kite, 2 Common Tern), 7 Yellow Wagtail (Martin Johnson HBC), 8 House Martin, 24 Swallow, 2 Osprey over (one at 1113, one at 0920), 34 Sand Martin (Lee Evans HBC), Peregrine Falcon (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Fri 12 Apr Startopsend: early am: c.20 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 2 (pair) Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); 2 Common Tern, 60 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 15 House Martin, 4 Redshank, Willow Warbler, 2 Water Pipit, 7 Chiffchaff, 90 Sand Martin (Lee Evans HBC), plus Yellow Wagtail (Martin Johnson HBC)
Fri 12 Apr Marsworth: 2 Common Tern, c5 Sand Martin, 3 Water Rail, 2 Redshank, c10 Swallow, c4 House Martin (Lucy Flower HBC), 4 Water Rail (Lee Evans HBC)
Fri 12 Apr Tringford: early am: 4 (two pairs) Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); 6 Red-crested Pochard (Lee Evans HBC)
Thu 11 Apr Wilstone: Water Pipit, a flock of 8+ Swallows and 20+ Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Thu 11 Apr Startopsend: Water Pipit and 5 Red-crested Pochards (3m) (Lee Evans); late pm: 1 Wheatear, 40 various Hirundines, 2 Mandarin (Steve Rodwell via Lee Evans)
Thu 11 Apr Marsworth: Water Rail and 2 Redshank (Lee Evans)
Wed 10 Apr Wilstone: 1 Yellow Wagtail, m Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 28 Sand Martins, 3+ Swallows, 12 Red Kites, 8 Common Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, 2 Mute Swans, 27 Greylag Geese, 70 Wigeon, 88 Shoveler, 116 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 12 Great Crested Grebe and 11 Cormorants, 90+ Black-headed Gulls, 25 Common Gulls and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, m Song Thrush, 4 Linnets through, plus 1+ Yellowhammers along the Dry Canal (Lee Evans); pm: Wheatear, Common Gull, 6+ Swallows, 20+Sand Martin and Kingfisher (Doug Helsby)

Red Kite over Rushy Meadow by Peter Brazier

Wed 10 Apr Startopsend: 4 Redshank, 2 Water Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 8 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 5 Great Crested Grebes,7 Wigeon, Mistle Thrush (Lee Evans)
Tue 9 Apr Wilstone: Water Pipit, Common Tern (Roy Hargreaves); Little Gull (Steve Rodwell via Rob Andrews); am: 31 Common Gulls through, 1 House Martin, 83 Shoveler (Lee Evans)
Tue 9 Apr Startopsend: Water Pipit (Roy Hargreaves); 2 Water Pipits, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, 4 Sand Martins, Swallow, 6 Red-crested Pochards, 2 Redshank, 9 Wigeon, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Pied Wagtails and 4 Chiffchaffs (Lee Evans)
Tue 9 Apr Startopsend/Marsworth: several Sand Martins and Swallows, 2 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull (Peter Brazier)
Tue 9 Apr Marsworth: 3 Mute Swans (1 on adjacent canal), 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Common Tern, plus Dunnock, Chaffinch and singing m Great Tit (Lee Evans)
Tue 9 Apr Tringford: m Siskin, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swans (Lee Evans)
Mon 8 Apr Wilstone: Water Pipit, Rock Pipit (Roy Hargreaves); adult Mediterranean Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock/Steve Rodwell via Lee Evans)
Mon 8 Apr Startopsend: Water Pipit (Roy Hargreaves); 2 Water Pipits, 4 Grey Wagtails, several Pied Wagtails, 1 Redshank (Lucy Flower)
Mon 8 Apr Marsworth: Water Rail, Swallow, 2-3 Kingfishers, singing Chiffchaff (Lucy Flower)
Sun 7 Apr Wilstone: 40 Redwings (Lee Evans); Rock Pipit (briefly) and 2 Sand Martins (David Bilcock/Steve Rodwell via Lee Evans)
Sun 7 Apr Marsworth: 2 Kingfishers, Chiffchaff, 6 Redwing, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Water Rail, Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush (M Holt) 
Sat 6 Apr Wilstone: Water Pipit, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Nuthatches, Little Ringed Plover heard but not seen, 2 Chiffchaffs singing (Roy Hargreaves); 2 Kittiwakes and a Meiterannean Gull through (Steve Rodwell via Roy Hargreaves); plus 38 Common Gulls, 216 Black-headed Gulls, 85 Fieldfares and 5 singing male Chaffinches (Lee Evans)
Sat 6 Apr Startops: 2 Redshank and 6 Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); plus 16 Coot, 15 Wigeon, 89 Tufted Duck, 3 Northern Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Common Gull and 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Sand Martin, plus on adjacent Canal: a Grey Heron and 2 colour-ringed Mute Swans (4ACO and 4ACK) (Lee Evans)
Sat 6 Apr Marsworth: Cetti’s Warbler singing, Water Rai, plus 2 Golden Plover seen distantly – probably over College Lake (Roy Hargreaves); plus 9 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with 2 Water Rails, 2 (pair) Kingfishers, a singing m Reed Bunting , Chiffchaff (Lee Evans)
Sat 6 Apr Tringford: Sand Martin, 6 Red-crested Pochards (Roy Hargreaves); plus 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swans and 40 Coot (Lee Evans)
Fri 5 Apr Wilstone: Water Pipit, 1st-winter Mediterannean Gull, 3 Little Egrets, a moulting Golden Plover (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 5 Apr Startopsend: had 3 Redshank and a pair of Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); plus Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail (initially seen on Marsworth), 5+ Pied Wagtails and a Redshank (Lucy Flower)
Fri 5 Apr Marsworth: had a male Goosander and a pair of Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 5 Apr Tringford: had a male Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); Sand Martin and 6 Red-crested Pochards (Lucy Flower)
Wed 3 Apr Marsworth: m Goosander (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Wed 3 Apr Tringford: Sand Martin (Gordon Gentry HBC)
Tue 2 Apr Wilstone: early am: Water Pipit, 5 Little Egrets (Roy Hargreaves); Woodcock (P Barritt HBC), Mediterranean Gull (1st-winter) in gull roost (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Tue 2 Apr Startopsend: early am: 6 Red-crested Pochard (from Tringford), 2 Redshank (poss. from College Lake (Roy Hargreaves); Rock Pipit (Phil Harrison HBC), Wheatear, Water Pipit (Lucy Flower HBC), 2 Grey Wagtail (Kevin Taylor HBC)
Tue 2 Apr Marsworth: early am: m Goosander, Cetti’s Warbler singings (Roy Hargreaves)
Mon 1 Apr Wilstone: am: 3 Dunlin, m Goosander, Sand Martin (Steve Rodwell/David Bilcock via Lee Evans); early pm: Raven, m Greenfinch (Lee Evans)
Mon 1 Apr Startopsend: pm: Water Pipit (Lee Evans)Water Rail in reeds (Derek Holt HBC)
Mon 1 Apr Marsworth: 2 Mistle Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Wheatear (Derek Holt HBC)
Mon 1 Apr Tringford: Sand Martin (prob from Wilstone), 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Red-crested Pochard (Lee Evans); 6 Red-crested Pochard, 3m 3f (Derek Holt HBC)


For other bird sightings in the area please visit Herts Bird Club. for whom we than for many of the sightings listed here.
Please visit Lee Evans' website Birding Tring Reservoirs which looks at the reservoirs and other local sites, including the surrounding hills. 

For information about other wildlife see Hertfordshire Natural History Society.

(Abbreviations: HBC Herts Bird Club, BBC Bucks Bird Club, BBYG Bucksbirders Yahoo Group, HBYG Hertsbirding Yahoo Group, BTRYG BirdingTringReservoirs Yahoo Group, TWTW is FoTR's Tring Water Treatment Works site.) 

And, please note that unless a reported sighting is clearly a mistake, we try to post them without too much delay. Therefore many of these sightings are unchecked. Please bear this in mind when checking sightings above and if appropriate, please send further corroborative records or any other information you may have.

March 2013

Sun 31 Mar Wilstone: early am: Water Pipit, 3 Little Egrets (Roy Hargreaves), plus 2 (pair) Grey Partridge in field north of Wilstone Cemetery (Ian Williams via Roy Hargreaves); 2 Yellow Wagtails over, Peregrine over (Steve Rodwel via Lee Evans), Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, 2 m Reed Buntings, 214 Northern Pochard, 152 Wigeon, 276 Tufted Duck, 46 Shoveler and 2 f Common Goldeneye, 12 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Mute Swans, plus 9 Red Kites, 8 Common Buzzards overhead, 2+ Skylarks singing, plus Chinese Water Deer (Lee Evans), plus 2 m Yellowhammers nr. Dry Canal and 2 Nuthatches nr. Cemetery corner woodland (Ian Williams via Lee Evans); 8 Common Snipe, 3 Little Egret (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 31 Mar Startopsend: early am: 4 (two pairs) Red-crested Pochard, Wheatear (Roy Hargreaves); Water Pipit (Clifford Smout HBC)
Sun 31 Mar Tringford: early am: 2 (pair) Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); 6 Red-crested Pochard, 3 pairs (Clifford Smout HBC)
Sat 30 Mar Wilstone: early am: Water Pipit, Oystercatcher (Roy Hargreaves); Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter in gull roost, 2 Oystercatcher, Barn Owl (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 30 Mar Startopsend: early am: 3 Oystercatchers (Roy Hargreaves); Water Pipit (Chris Holtby HBC)
Sat 30 Mar Marsworth: early am: m Goosander (Roy Hargreaves)
Sat 30 Mar Tringford: early am: 6 Red-crested Pochards (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 29 Mar Wilstone: early pm: Bittern flew from behind right hand side hide deep into the reedbed in the corner of res. on R of hide (Steve Torpey via Lee Evans); Water Pipit (Laurence Drummond HBC), Raven (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Fri 29 Mar Startopsend: early am: Water Pipit, Red-crested Pochard, Buzzard over, Lesser Black-backed Gull squabbling with Black-headed Gulls, Mistle Thrush, 1+ Pied Wagtail (Michael Nott); Water Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, m Wheatear (Ian Bennell HBC)
Fri 29 Mar Marsworth: early am: 2 (pair) Reed Buntings, 2+ Water Rails squealing (Michael Nott)
Thu 28 Mar Wilstone: early am: Bittern, 2 f Goldeneye (Roy Hagreaves)
Thu 28 Mar Startopsend: early am: Water Pipit, 6 Red-crested Pochard (3 pairs), Wheatear (Roy Hargreaves); Wheatear (Peter Brazier)
Thu 28 Mar Marsworth: early am: 2 m Goosander, singing Cetti’s Warbler and 2+ Water Rails (Roy Hargreaves)
Wed 27 Mar Wilstone: 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans, 36 Shoveler, 78 Pochard, 303 Tufted Duck, 11+ Cormorants, 4+ Grey Herons (Lee Evans)
Wed 27 Mar Startopsend: Water Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails, 28 Coot, 3 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Northern Pochard, 12 Mallard, 15 Wigeon, 67 Tufted Duck and 2 Great Crested Grebe,2 (pair) Greylag Geese, m Wheatear, 34 Redwing, 4 Moorhen, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 m Grey Wagtail, plus singing m Chaffinch and 7 House Sparrows nr. Startops Farm (Lee Evans)
Wed 27 Mar Marsworth: 2 m Goosanders, 6 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 6 Tufted Duck, 9 Great Crested Grebs, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Water Rails, singing m Reed Bunting (Lee Evans)
Wed 27 Mar Tringford: 2 Mute Swans, 22 Coot, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 24 Tufted Duck, 10 Teal, 1 Pochard and 15 Mallard, plus 2 Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest in hedgerow (Lee Evans)
Tue 26 Mar Wilstone: early am: Little Egret, 2 Red Kites (Roy Hargreaves)
Tue 26 Mar Startopsend: early am: Wheatear, Water Pipit, m Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); 2 Mistle Thrush (Colin Griffiths HBC)
Tue 26 Mar Marsworth: early am: 2 m Goosander, Shelduck over, 3 Water Rails (Rob Andrews)
Tue 26 Mar Tringford: early am: 2 (pair) + Red-crested Pochard, Black-tailed Godwit over (Roy Hargreaves)
Mon 25 Mar Wilstone: early am: Little Egret, plus Barn Owl nr. Wilstone Cemetery, 3 Lesser Redpolls disused Canal (Roy Hargreaves)
Mon 25 Mar Startopsend: early am: adult-winter Little Gull with Black-headed Gulls, m Mandarin over, m Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves); pm: Wheatear (David Hutchinson); 2 Wheatear (Jeff Bailey HBC), Redshank, Water Pipit (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Mon 25 Mar Marsworth: m Goosander (Steve Rodwell HBC) 
Mon 25 Mar Tringford: early am: Shelduck (Roy Hargreaves); 45 Redwing, Treecreeper (G.Hinton HBC)
Sun 24 Mar Wilstone: 2 Marsh Harrier (m&f), 7 Common Snipe (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 24 Mar Startopsend: Wheatear (Roy Hargreaves); plus 2 Water pipits, or a Water and a Rock Pipit (Mike Wallen); f Blackcap, Grey Wagtail and Wheatear (Marie Hillier & Colin Garment)
Sat 23 Mar Startopsend: Wheatear (Rob Andrews); 2 Wheatear (Duncan Hilliard HBC)
Sat 23 Mar Startopsend/Marsworth: late am/early pm: Marsh Harrier drifting over from College Lake (Rob Andrews via Ben Miller)
Fri 22 Mar Wilstone: Marsh Harrier over reedbed (Mike Cambell via Ben Miller)
Thu 21 Mar Wilstone: 16 Fieldfare, 2 Red Kite (Andrew Steele HBC)
Thu 21 Mar Startopsend: Grey Wagtail, 10 Redwing, 4 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Red Kite, Water Pipit (Andrew Steele HBC)
Tue 19 Mar Startopsend: Water Pipit, Rock Pipit (Lucy Flower/Adam Bassett); 3 Red-crested Pochards (2 f 1 m) (Adam Bassett)
Tue 19 Mar Marsworth: Rock Pipit (relocated to Startopsend) (Lucy Flower); Water Rail heard (Lucy Flower HBC)
Mon 18 Mar Wilstone: 4 Goldeneye (inc 1 m) (Ian Bennell HBC) 
Mon 18 Mar Startopsend: Chiffchaff, Water Pipit, 5 Red-crested Pochards, 2 Grey Wagtail (Lucy Flower)
Sun 17 Mar Wilstone: early am: Water Pipit, 2 or 3 Little Egrets, 3 Goldeneye, plus Siskin over (Roy Hargreaves); am: Chiffchaff and Woodcock in reedbed, plus c30 Fieldfare (Johne Taylor); Barn Owl towards Startopsend (Steve Rodwell) 
Sun 17 Mar Startopsend: early am: 5 Red-crested Pochard (3 m) (Roy Hargreaves); winter-plumaged Sandwich Tern through (David Bilcock via Roy Hargreaves)
Sun 17 Mar Tringford: early am: 1 m Red-crested Pochard (Roy Hargreaves)
Sat 16 Mar Wilstone: Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter in roost (Rose Collard HBC)
Sat 16 Mar Startopend: Grey Wagtail, Red Kite (Lucy Flower HBC)
Sat 16 Mar Tringford: 3 Red-crested Pochard (2 m) (Lucy Flower HBC)
Fri 15 Mar Wilstone: early am: Kittewake (Ben Miller/Roy Hargreaves); late pm: 2 winter-plumaged adult Kittiwakes in gull roost (David Bilcock via Roy Hargreaves)
Fr1 15 Mar Startopsend: early am: Water Pipit (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 15 Mar Tringford: early am: 5 Red-crested Pochards (Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 14 Mar Startopsend: Water Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail (Lucy Flower HBC); early am: Dunlin, 2 Common Redshanks (David Bilcock BTR)
Thu 14 Mar Marsworth: Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler (Lucy Flower HBC)
Wed 13 Mar Wilstone: Mediterranean Gull, adult insummer plumage in roost at 4pm (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Wed 13 Mar Marsworth: Bittern, in reed bed from 17.30 close to the footpath (Richard Ness HBC)
Tue 12 Mar Startopsend: Dunlin (Steve Rodwell HBC) 
Sun 10 Mar Wilstone: late pm: adult Kittiwake and a full breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock with others)
Sun 10 Mar Startopsend: Water Pipit (along W edge) (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Sun 10 Mar Marsworth: Shelduck (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 10 Mar Tringford: 6 Red-crested Pochard (3 m) (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Sat 9 Mar Wilstone: early am: 10 Pintail, Water Pipit (David Bilcock); late pm: large numberof gulls (c 1,200) in gull roost inc. adult Kittiwake and 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, 1 second-winter) (Lee Evans/David Bilcock); plus 46 Common Gulls, 43 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls (a first-year and a fourth-year), and two Common Starling flocks totalling some 330 birds flying E (Lee Evans BTR)
Sat 9 Mar Startopsend: am: Water Pipit (another or possibly the same as seen at Wilstone) (David Bilcock)
Sat 9 Mar Marsworth: early am: Little Gull (second-winter), Mediterranean Gull (adult) (Steve Rodewell/David Bilcock)
Wed 6 Mar Tringford: 6 Red-crested Pochard (3 prs.) (Chris Young/Lee Evans HBC), m Shelduck (Lee Evans HBC); plus 3 Mute Swans and 4 Great Crested Grebes (Lee Evans BTR)
Sun 3 Mar Wilstone: 6 Goldeneye, 3 Little Egret (Steve Rodwell HBC), early am: Ruff (m in winter plummage) (Ian Williams HBC)
Sun 3 Mar Startopsend: Water Pipit (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 3 Mar Marsworth: Bittern (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 3 Mar Tringford: Shelduck, Grey Wagtail (Lucy Flower HBC), 6 Red-crested Pochard (3 m) (Lucy Flower/Lee Evans HBC), f Smew (Lee Evans/Ian Williams HBC); plus 8 Red-crested Pochards (Lee Evans BTR)
Sat 2 Mar Wilstone: mid am: Peregrine over (Ian Williams HBC); 300+ lapwing flock raised from fields prob. by Peregrine (Ian Williams)
Sat 2 Mar Tringford: am: Shelduck, 8 Red-crested Pochard (4 m), Peregrine over towards Wilstone (Ian Williams)


For other bird sightings in the area please visit Herts Bird Club. for whom we than for many of the sightings listed here.
Please visit Lee Evans' website Birding Tring Reservoirs which looks at the reservoirs and other local sites, including the surrounding hills. 

For information about other wildlife see Hertfordshire Natural History Society.

(Abbreviations: HBC Herts Bird Club, BBC Bucks Bird Club, BBYG Bucksbirders Yahoo Group, HBYG Hertsbirding Yahoo Group, BTRYG BirdingTringReservoirs Yahoo Group, TWTW is FoTR's Tring Water Treatment Works site.) 

And, please note that unless a reported sighting is clearly a mistake, we try to post them without too much delay. Therefore many of these sightings are unchecked. Please bear this in mind when checking sightings above and if appropriate, please send further corroborative records or any other information you may have.

February 2013

Tue 26 Feb Tringford: Shelduck, 7 Red-crested Pochard (4 m) (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Mon 25 Feb Startopsend: Water Pipit (Lee Evans BTR)
Mon 25 Feb Tringford: f Smew, Shellduck, 3Red-crested Pochard (Lee Evans BTR)
Sun 24 Feb Wilstone: Little Egret (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 23 Feb Tringford: 9 Red-crested Pochard (5 m 4 f) (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Wed 20 Feb TWTW: Water Rail (J Taylor HBC)
Tue 19 Feb Wilstone: Water Pipit, Water Rail and 2 Pied Wagtails, plus in woodland & fields up to dry canal: Jay, Blue and Great Tits, Bullfinch, 8 Chaffinch and 45 Fieldfare (Lee Evans); Grey Wagtail, 3 f-type Goldeneyes (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Tue 19 Feb Tringford: 5 Red-crested Pochards (3 m 2 f), f Smew, 58 Common Teal, plus m Song Thrush singing, numerous Rooks re-building nests, a charm of 12 Goldfinches was adjacent gardens (Lee Evans)
Mon 18 Feb Wilstone: 2 (pair) Pintail (Ian Williams via Lee Evans); f (redhead) Goosander, 5 f Common Goldeneye, 53 Shoveler (Lee Evans); Mediterranean Gull in gull roost (almost in breeding plumage) (David Bilcock)
Mon 18 Feb Startopsend: Grey Wagtail (Nick Goss HBC)
Mon 18 Feb Marsworth: late pm: adult Whooper Swan over, Kingfisher, 118 Corn Buntings to roost, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe and 22 Northern Pochard, c 5 Water Rails squealing, Barn Owl hunting over the back field, Bittern (Lee Evans with Steve Rodwell and others); Woodcock (Steve Rodwell HBC) 
Sat 16 Feb Wilstone: late pm: Mediterranean gull in gull roost, f Goosander (David Bilcock); plus Golden Plover (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 16 Feb Tringford: f Smew, 5 Red-crested Pochard (3 m 2 f) (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Fri 15 Feb Wilstone: late pm: Mediterranean gull in gull roost (David Bilcock)
Fri 15 Feb Tringford: 5 Red-crested Pochard (3 m 2 f), f Smew (Chris Young HBC)
Sun 10 Feb Wilstone: early am: 3 Little Egrets (David Bilcock); 3 f Goldeneye (David Hutchinson); f Goosander (Johne Taylor); plus 4 Goldeneye (Steve Rodwell HBC); 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull (David Bilcock BTR)
Sun 10 Feb Marsworth: 5 Red-crested Pochards, at least 2 Bitterns (Lee Evans BTR)
Sun 10 Feb Tringford: f Smew, 5 Red-crested Pochard (3m 2f) (David Hutchinson)
Sat 9 Feb Wilstone: am: m Ring-necked Duck hybrid (showing classic grey flanks with white at front and obvious white sub terminal band to bill but head shape all wrong and slight tuft points towards a Tufted Duck cross) (David Bilcock)
Fri 8 Feb Wilstone: Water Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Marsh Tit, 2+ Goldeneye (both f) (Martin Johnson HBC), m Goosander (Derek Girvan HBC)
Fri 8 Feb Marsworth: late pm: 65 Corn Buntings to roost, c13 Water Rails, Kingfisher plus a large flock of Wood Pigeons (Mike Nott)
Thu 7 Feb Wilstone: late am: Water Pipit nr.jetty (Wendy Hatton HBC)
Wed 6 Feb Wilstone: Mediterranean Gull in roost (Steve Rodwell HBC), 70 Fieldfare in field behind jetty, Water Pipit nr. jetty, Goosander, 4 Goldeneye (all f), 2 Red Kite (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Sun 3 Feb Wilstone: early am: Bittern in reedbed, Water Rail (Johne Taylor); f Goosander, Redpoll (David Hutchinson); late pm: Bittern (David Bilcock); 2 Marsh Tit (one seen one heard in woods on N corner), Grey Wagtail nr. reeds in N corner (Tony Birch HBC)
Sat 2 Feb Marsworth: late pm: 3 Bitterns (David Bilcock)
Fri 1 Feb Wilstone: 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 8 Greylag Geese, 19 Mallard, 213 Wigeon, 52 Teal, 14 Gadwall, 66 Shoveler, 173 Tufted Duck, 191 Pochard, 5 Common Goldeneye (1 m), 1 Little Grebe and 215 Coot, plus in gull roost: just over 3,000 Black-headed Gulls, 76 Common Gulls, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Mediterranean Gull(Lee Evans)
Fri 1 Feb Startopsend: 54 Greylag Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 11 Mallard, 73 Tufted Duck, 15 Pochard and 193 Coot (Lee Evans) 
Fri 1 Feb Marsworth: 1 Little Grebe, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 1 m Pochard and 5 Red-crested Pochards, plus in woodland: 2 Blue Tits, a singing Robin and Blackbird, and late pm: 3 Bitterns, Barn Owl, 4 Water Rails (Lee Evans)
Fri 1 Feb Tringford: f Smew, 8 Cormorants, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Common Teal, 6 Gadwall, 12 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck, 8 Moorhen and 86 Coot (Lee Evans)


For other bird sightings in the area please visit Herts Bird Club. for whom we than for many of the sightings listed here.
Please visit Lee Evans' website Birding Tring Reservoirs which looks at the reservoirs and other local sites, including the surrounding hills. 

For information about other wildlife see Hertfordshire Natural History Society.

(Abbreviations: HBC Herts Bird Club, BBC Bucks Bird Club, BBYG Bucksbirders Yahoo Group, HBYG Hertsbirding Yahoo Group, BTRYG BirdingTringReservoirs Yahoo Group, TWTW is FoTR's Tring Water Treatment Works site.) 

And, please note that unless a reported sighting is clearly a mistake, we try to post them without too much delay. Therefore many of these sightings are unchecked. Please bear this in mind when checking sightings above and if appropriate, please send further corroborative records or any other information you may have.

January 2013

Sun 27 Jan Wilstone: Little Egret (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 27 Jan Tringford: f Smew (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 26 Jan Startopsend: Water Pipit (Nick Goss/Jill Goss HBC), 5 Goldeneye (inc 1 m) (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 26 Jan Marsworth: 2 Bittern (at 5.00pm, one roosting half way up reeds 15 metres from path, second flying low at back before plunging into reeds, 80 + Corn Buntings to roost in reeds (Alan Corner HBC), Kingfisher (Nick Goss/Jill Goss HBC), 3 Water Rail (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Mon 21 Jan Marsworth: 2 Bittern, Barn Owl (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sun 20 Jan Wilstone: Woodcock (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Sat 19 Jan Marsworth: Barn Owl behind reedbed (Derek Holt HBC), 17 Waxwing over (Rob Andrews HBC)
Sat 19 Jan Tringford: 2 Lesser Redpoll with 50+ Siskins, Woodcock, f Smew (Rob Andrews HBC)
Sat 19 Jan Wilstone: Mediterranean Gull (first-winter) in gull roost (Steve Rodwell HBC)
Wed 16 Jan Marsworth: Kingfisher on reeds (I Batten HBC)
Tue 15 Jan Marsworth: late pm: 2 Bittern, Barn Owl, 4 Water Rail, 229 Corn Bunting (Lee Evans & HBC)
Mon 14 Jan Marsworth: Bittern (flew from reeds near cut area on S side at dusk and landed in usual area on E side), 5+ Water Rail (with others calling), Kingfisher, Egyptian Goose (flew in after dusk), 205 Corn Bunting to roost at 16.30hrs (Rob Andrews HBC)
Sun 13 Jan Wilstone: Water Pipit (David Hutchinson)
Fri 11 Jan Wilstone: Water Pipit (near jetty), 2 Kingfisher, Little Egret (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Fri 11 Jan Marsworth: late pm: Bittern (climbing on reeds), Barn Owl (over field behind reedbed), 90 Corn Bunting (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Thu 10 Jan Wilstone: am: Water Pipit (between jetty and N corner), Marsh Tit nr. Cemetery corner (Roger Prue)
Wed 9 Jan Marsworth: late pm: c50 Corn Bunting to roost in the reedbed, Barn Owl, Bittern perched up in the reeds (Lucy Flower with Peter Brazier & Roy Hargreaves); Barn Owl (hunting over field nr. sewage farm), 4 Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, 140 Corn Bunting to roost in reedbed (Lee Evans HBC)
Tue 8 Jan Marsworth: late pm: 2 (pair) Little Grebe, plus 1 small Bat, possibly a Pipistrelle (Lee Evans)
Mon 7 Jan Marsworth: late pm: 1 Bittern (very briefly!) (Mic Wells via Francis Buckle); c 50 Corn Buntings, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Grebe, 1 m Sparrowhawk, 1 Barn Owl (Francis Buckle & others)
Sun 6 Jan Wilstone: early am: Large flock of Fieldfare and a sizable Redwing roost (Johne Taylor); am: Lesser Redpoll & Oystercatcher over dry canal , 5 Red-legged Partridge in fields behind res., 2 Nuthatch and 2 Marsh Tits on track nr. Cemetery corner (Ian Williams); plus Kingfisher (Gary Hinton HBC)
Sun 6 Jan Marsworth: late pm: 2 Bitterns, c150 Corn Buntings (Paul Reed with Steve Rodwell, David Bilcock & Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 6 Jan Tringford: f Smew (Bill George)
Thu 6 Jan TWTW: 6 Bullfinch (Bill George)
Sat 5 Jan Wilstone: am: Water Pipit, Chiffchaff, Marsh Tit and Tree Creeper, m Goldeneye (Francis Buckle); Little Egret in field behind res. with Jackdaws, Kingfisher, Goldcrest (Julie Pomfret)
Fri 4 Jan Wilstone: Water Pipit (feeding on bank between car park & jetty) (Simon West HBC)
Fri 4 Jan Tringford: f Smew (Mike Ilett / Simon West HBC)
Mon 3 Jan Marsworth: 2 Woodcock (Bill George) 
Thu 3 Jan Tringford: f Smew (redhead) (Steve Blake HBC)
Wed 2 Jan Wilstone: 3 Goldeneye (2 m), Water Pipit, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans, 321 Teal, 101 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 348 Wigeon, 153 Tufted Duck, 132 Northern Pochard and 174 Coot (Lee Evans) 
Wed 2 Jan Startopsend: 5 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 22 Mallard, 8 Wigeon, 1 m Shoveler, 63 Tufted Duck and 324 Coot (Lee Evans)
Wed 2 Jan Marsworth: 4 Great Crested Grebes, 23 Mallard, 7 Shoveler, 6 Moorhens, 1 Coot, with 29 Black-headed Gulls roosting on the bunds, plus in horse paddocks opposite: 4 Mistle Thrushes, Kestrel and 2 Pied Wagtails, plus a flock of large gulls over of 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (an adult and 2nd-winter), 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 6 Herring Gulls (Lee Evans)
Wed 2 Jan Tringford: f Smew, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Grey Herons, 24 Cormorants, 2 Mute Swans, 4 Mallard, 12 Gadwall, 78 Common Teal, 63 Tufted Duck, 52 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye (2 m), 96 Coo, plus in surrounding woodland: 8+ Blackbirds, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, 48 Jackdaw, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, 16 Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, 15 Siskins, Waxwing (Lee Evans)
Wed 2 Jan TWTW: 8 Gadwall and 12 Wigeon (Lee Evans)
Tue 1 Jan Wilstone: am: Water Pipit, 2 Pintail; late pm: 3 Bewick's Swans (2 adults and a juvenile) briefly, ad. Mediterranean Gull and 2 Herring Gulls in gull roost (David Bilcock)
Tue 1 Jan Marsworth: late pm: Cettis Warbler calling (no bitterns yet) (David Bilcock)
Tue 1 Jan Tringford: f Smew (Mike Wallen & David Bilcock))


For other bird sightings in the area please visit Herts Bird Club. for whom we than for many of the sightings listed here.
Please visit Lee Evans' website Birding Tring Reservoirs which looks at the reservoirs and other local sites, including the surrounding hills. 

For information about other wildlife see Hertfordshire Natural History Society.

(Abbreviations: HBC Herts Bird Club, BBC Bucks Bird Club, BBYG Bucksbirders Yahoo Group, HBYG Hertsbirding Yahoo Group, BTRYG BirdingTringReservoirs Yahoo Group, TWTW is FoTR's Tring Water Treatment Works site.) 

And, please note that unless a reported sighting is clearly a mistake, we try to post them without too much delay. Therefore many of these sightings are unchecked. Please bear this in mind when checking sightings above and if appropriate, please send further corroborative records or any other information you may have.

December 2012

Sun 30 Dec Wilstone: Kittewake in gull roost,Water Pipit (David Bilcock via Lee Evans)
Sun 30 Dec Tringford: f Smew (David Bilcock via Lee Evans)
Sat 29 Dec Wilstone: Mediterranean Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock via Lee Evans)
Sat 29 Dec Marsworth: late pm: Barn owl showing over fields behind res. (Peter Leigh)
Fri 28 Dec Wilstone: 3 Goldeneye, Snipe, many Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Pochard, fewer Coot, 2 Grey Heron (Keith Evans)
Fri 28 Dec Tringford: f Smew (Warren Claydon via Keith Evans)
Thu 27 Dec Wilstone: Water Pipit (Francis Buckle); plus 5 Goldeneye (Samuel Perfect HBC)
Thu 27 Dec Tringford: f Smew (Samuel Perfect HBC)
Wed 26 Dec Wilstone: 2 Red Kite, 5 Goldeneye (inc. 2 m), 4 Common Snipe, Little Egret (Jeff Bailey HBC), Marsh Tit (Tony Birch HBC)
Sun 23 Dec Wilstone: 5+ Goldeneyes (inc. 1 M), plus significant increase in no. of Pochard (David Bilcock)
Sun 23 Dec Startopsend: am: f (redhead) Smew (David Bilcock)
Sat 22 Dec Wilstone: f (redhead) Smew (Lee Evans)
Fri 21 Dec Wilstone: pm: 3+ f Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebes and 2 Grey Wagtails (Lucy Flower); f Smew, 3 Common Snipe (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Wed 19 Dec Wilstone: 5 Red Kite (Jono Forgham HBC)
Mon 17 Dec Wilstone: f Smew (found by Steve Rodwell), 9 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Mute Swans, 137 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 122 Wigeon, 58 Shoveler, 158 Tufted Duck, 120 Pochard, 6 Common Goldeneye (1 m), 202 Coot, 46 Lapwing, plus 85 Fieldfare and 71 Starlings in field, 2 Long-tailed Tits nr. car park, plus a Mistle Thrush in cemetery churchyard (Lee Evans); late pm: f Smew (David Hutchinson)
Mon 17 Dec Startopsend: 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 71 Mallard, 22 Wigeon, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 417 Coot (Lee Evans)
Mon 17 Dec Marsworth: 2 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 46 Greylag Geese, 6 Mallard, 11 Shoveler and 8 Moorhens (Lee Evans)
Mon 17 Dec Tringford: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Cormorants, 2 Mutes (inc the '682' ringed bird), 11 Gadwall, 55 Teal, 15 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 87 Coot, 6 Moorhen, plus 6 Goldfinches and 1 Song Thrush nr. Tringford Farm (Lee Evans)
Sun 16 Dec TWTW: 10 Bullfinch nr. hide (Bill George)
Tue 11 Dec Wilstone: Water Pipit, 2f Goldeneye (Jeff Bailey HBC)
Sun 9 Dec Wilstone: from Tring Ringing Group: Woodcock present, plus Lesser Redpolls, a good number of Goldfinches and a 'new' Marsh Tit (Johne Taylor)
Sun 2 Dec Wilstone: 2 Nuthatches in woods nr. Cemetery corner (inc. one ringed, prob. one ringed there in July per Johne Taylor), plus 2 Redpoll along disused canal (David Hutchinson); from Tring Ringing Group: 8 Lesser Redpolls and 2 Redwings (Johne Taylor); 5 or 6 Goldeneye (inc im), Marsh Tit, Jay and 2 Nuthatches nr. Cemerery corner,plus another Marsh Tit on the path up to the dry cana (Roger Prue)
Sat 1 Dec Wilstone: 4 Great Crested Grebes, 127 Coot, 22 Mute Swans, 32 Mallard, 323 Common Teal, 12 Gadwall, 371 Eurasian Wigeon, 107 Tufted Duck, 38 Northern Pochard, 6 Shoveler, 6 Common Goldeneye (5 f 1 m) , f Goosander, 17 Cormorant roosting, 4 Common Snipe, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Fieldfare and 3 Redwings, plus 14 Blackbirds along the footpath beneath the Black Poplars on route to the Drayton bank Hide (Lee Evans)
Sat 1 Dec Startopsend: 376 Coot, 33 Mallard, 38 Eurasian Wigeon, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 f Northern Pochard and 8 Great Crested Grebes (Lee Evans)
Sat 1 Dec Marsworth: 90 Shoveler, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mallard, 1 f Tufted Duck, 4 Moorhens, plus Stock Dove, Fieldfare and Lesser Redpoll over (Lee Evans); late pm: c200 Starlings to roost, 1 Reed Bunting, 20 Pied Wagtails and 58 Corn Buntings, plus Tawny Owl hooting, 3 Water Rails squeeling, Cetti's Warbler chipping, Wren singing, c 3 Sparrowhawks marauding the Starlings, Kingfisher & 2 Grey Wagtail (Lee Evans)
Sat 1 Dec Tringford: Mute Swan (ringed '682', originally ringed at Tringford on 08/04/2010, previously seen in St Albans (info. from Mike Reed via Lee Evans); 2 Great Crested Grebe, 134 Coot, 2 Mute Swans (including orange 682), 11 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 27 Gadwall, 51 Common Teal, 37 Tufted Duck and 48 Northern Pochard, plus in wood and fields and hedgerows: 6 Goldfinches, 16 Long-tailed Tits (in two groups), 1 Goldcrest, 5 Siskins, 4 Blackbirds, 6 Blue Tits, 3 Wrens, 3 Magpies, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Great Tits, 2 Dunnocks, 6 Robins, 21 Woodpigeon, 12 Jackdaws, Great Spotted Woodpecke, Song Thrush, 25 Rooks (Lee Evans)


For other bird sightings in the area please visit Herts Bird Club. for whom we than for many of the sightings listed here.
Please visit Lee Evans' website Birding Tring Reservoirs which looks at the reservoirs and other local sites, including the surrounding hills. 

For information about other wildlife see Hertfordshire Natural History Society.

(Abbreviations: HBC Herts Bird Club, BBC Bucks Bird Club, BBYG Bucksbirders Yahoo Group, HBYG Hertsbirding Yahoo Group, BTRYG BirdingTringReservoirs Yahoo Group, TWTW is FoTR's Tring Water Treatment Works site.) 

And, please note that unless a reported sighting is clearly a mistake, we try to post them without too much delay. Therefore many of these sightings are unchecked. Please bear this in mind when checking sightings above and if appropriate, please send further corroborative records or any other information you may have.