2008:
Fri 15 Aug Wilstone: p.m. 6 Black-tailed Godwits (Icelanic race - arrived at 0715 left 1915), 27 Cormorants (Sinensis race - 4 pairs bred this year fledging 9 young), 67 Mute Swans, F Manderin Duck, M Eurasian Wigeon, 7 Common Teal, 20+ Gadwall, 2 Red-crested Pochards (1 M 1 juv), 7 Northern Pochard, Marsh Harrier (juvenile drifted high south over the reservoirs 1722-1732), 7 Common Buzzards, 2 Red Kites, 3 Hobbies, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper (adult), 2 Dunlins (juvs), 14 Common Terns (up to 5 on reservoir and up to 12 high overhead), Common Kingfisher (Lee Evans); plus 5 Swifts (Joan Thompson)
Thu 14 Aug Wilstone: Garganey, 3 Red-crested Pochards, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper (Roy Hargreaves); Whimbrel present 1115 to 1530 (Richard Birch & others); plus mid-p.m. 16 Great Crested Grebes, 71 Mute Swans, eclipse M Eurasian Wigeon, 29 Gadwalls, 7 Common Teal, 8 Northern Pochard, the 3 Red-crested Pochards, 2 M Ruddy Ducks, 2 injured Moorhens just left of hide - one with a broken wing (briefly bothered by a Hobby) and another with a broken leg, 317 Lapwings, but worryingly just 9 were juveniles, Common Kingfisher by hide, 2 Green Sandpipers, 6 Common Terns including the two juveniles, 2 Hobbies, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Common Swifts, 62 Sand Martins, 47+ House Martins and late p.m. 2 Dunlin, 29 Red Knot over but didn't land (Lee Evans)
Wed 13 Aug Wilstone: Garganey still present to left of hide, Green Sandpiper in creek by hide (Roy Hargreaves); plus eclipse M Eurasian Wigeon, - eclipse drake still present, 13 Northern Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 7 Common Teal, 8 Northern Pochard, all 3 Red-crested Pochards still present, 2 F Ruddy Ducks, 2 Green Sandpipers, juvenile Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Terns, Common Buzzard over, 47+ Common Terns, 45 House Martins, 27 Sand Martins, 13 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Common Chiffchaffs, Red Kite over Wilstone Cemetery and a huge flock of corvids flushed from a field bordering the north bank of the reservoir: 298 Jackdaws and 109 Rooks (Lee Evans)
Tue 12 Aug Wilstone: Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (briefly only!), the Gargeny had moved to the far bay from the hide, Redshank (David Bilcock); plus 17 Great Crested Grebes including a juvenile, 69 Mute Swans, eclipse drake Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 7 Common Teal, 3 Northern Shoveler, 8 Northern Pochard, 2 Red-crested Pochards, 3 Ruddy Ducks (all M), 74 Moorhens (including 11 juveniles), 211 Lapwing, juvenile Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Terns (including 2 juveniles), juvenile Hobby (which successfully caught a Sand Martin in flight, flying with the bird in its talons to the Poplars by the hide), Common Kingfisher, 31 House Martins, 8 Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Tue 12 Aug Marsworth: The adult female Red-crested Pochard was still consorting with 64 Mallards (Lee Evans)
Tue 12 Aug Startopsend: Adult Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Terns (Lee Evans)
Tue 12 Aug Tringford: 2 Manderin Ducks (Steve Rodwell)
Mon 11 Aug Wilstone: 3 Red Kites in the air at once, 2 Buzzard, 1 Hobby and Sparrowhawk (Joan Thompson); plus Gargeny still present (David Bilcock); plus 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 150+ Lapwings (Keith Evans)
Mon 11 Aug Marsworth: Red Crested Pochard - a different bird to the 3 on Wilstone (Joan Thompson); 2 Water Rails calling (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 10 Aug Wilstone: Adult Peregrine from hide as it made several passes at the waders and wildfowl present (earlier seen by Mike Illet to strike and injure a Moorhen), the Gargeny was feeding on the mud to the left of the hide (David Bilcock); plus late a.m. 5 Whimbrel (all juveniles - from 1015 to 1050), 1 Dunlin, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Grey Heron, 21 Sinensis Cormorants, 71 Mute Swans, 17 Gadwall, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 7 Common Teal, 10+ Northern Shoveler, 87 Tufted Duck, 5 Northern Pochard, 3 Red-crested Pochards, Eurasian Sparrowhawk - at least one juvenile still 'crying' from Poplars, 1 adult Hobby, 167 Lapwings, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers (both juveniles), 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Terns, 9 Common Swifts, 10 Sand Martins, 56 House Martins, 3 Common Chiffchaffs behind hide including one in song (Lee Evans)
Sat 9 Aug Wilstone: juvenile Mediterannean Gull amongst the roosting gulls on the exposed bank from the hide and occasionally feeding with the Black-headed Gulls to the right of the hide (David Bilcock/Warren Claydon); plus late p.m. 16 Great Crested Grebe, Manderin Duck (female still present), Eurasian Wigeon (eclipse drake newly arrived - first this autumn), 4 Common Teal, 16 Gadwall, 13 Northern Shoveler (large increase overnight), 7 Northern Pochard, 3 Red Crested Pochard (the resident eclipse drake has been joined by two new eclipse birds - seems likely they are the adult female and single juvenile present in early July), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (juveniles still being fed in Poplars near hide), 4 Hobbies, 799 Coots, 293 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 232 Black-headed Gulls, Mediterranean Gull still present, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Common Terns still present, Great Spotted Woodpecker (near car park), 26 Common Swifts, 27 Sand Martins, 62 House Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail (juvenile - first this autumn), 2 Common Chiffchaffs, 173 Common Starlings on wires south of dry canal plus 25 over reservoir (Lee Evans)
Fri 8 Aug Wilstone: Gargeny early a.m. near Cemerty corner, 2 Redshanks over (Roy Hargreaves); late p.m. - juvenile Little Ringed Plover on the shore between the old and new overflow, before being pushed onto the mud opposite, Gargeny had returned (David Bilcock); plus 1 juvenile Little Gull, 1 juvenile Hobby, 1 adult Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe (Steve Rodwell); plus 16 Great Crested Grebes, 8 adult Little Grebes (3 adults near Cemetery Corner and 2 adults with 3 juveniles by central causeway), 69 Mute Swans, 4 Greylag Geese (juveniles), 17 Gadwall, 6 Common Teal, 7 Northern Shovelers, 158 Tufted Duck, 7 Northern Pochard, Red-crested Pochard (eclipse drake still present), 4 Ruddy Ducks (2 pairs), Red Kite (adult in heavy wing moult flying SW), 200+ Lapwing, 5 Common Terns still present, 2 Collared Doves, 3 Barn Swallows, Robin family group (by car park), 2+ Sedge Warblers, 7+ European Reed Warbler in reeds, 1 Common Starling, 1 Chaffinch (Lee Evans)
Thu 7 Aug Wilstone: 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, several sightings of Hobbys (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 6 Aug Wilstone: 4 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits all adults still retaining full breeding plumage, 314 Lapwings, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 72 Mute Swans, 2 Common Teals, 4 Northern Shovelers, 78 Tufted Ducks, 7 Northern Pochard (inc 1 juvenile), Red-crested Pochard (eclipse drake still present), F Manderin Duck, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 729 Coot, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull over, 6 Common Terns still remaining, Eurasian Sparrowhawk - family party (2+ juvs) in Poplars near hide, 1 Red Kite overhead at 1215, 115 House Martins, 10 Sand Martins, 4 Common Starling over (Lee Evans); plus 2 juvenile Shellducks early a.m. (David Bilcock); plus adult Oystercatcher a.m. (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 6 Aug Marsworth: adult pair Mute Swans & 2 cygnets, 8 Coots (Lee Evans)
Wed 6 Aug Startopsend: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Coot, 3 adult Common Terns (Lee Evans)
Wed 6 Aug Tringford: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 34 Coot (Lee Evans)
Tue 5 Aug Wilstone: Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, juvenile Little Egret and a single Green Sandpiper (Roy Hargreaves); plus 2 Dunlin over late p.m. (Steve Rodwell)
Mon 4 Aug Wilstone: a.m. - the male Red-crested Pochard, 1 Black tern & 1 Ringed Plover (Roy Hargreaves); p.m. - Raven, 1 Dunlin, evening - 5 Green Sandpipers, 5 Common Sandpipers (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 3 Aug Wilstone: 2 Black-tailed Godwits (to right of hide), 2 Common Sandpipers (David Bilcock); plus 73 Mute Swans, 2 eclipse Northern Shovelers, 97 Tufted Ducks, eclipse M Red-crested Pochard, 3 Ruddy Ducks (2 adult drakes & a female), 2 Green Sandpipers, Sparrowhawk, 133 Black-headed Gull, a moulting adult Black Tern (at app 11.36), 2 Common Swifts, 93 House Martins (Lee Evans)
Sat 2 Aug Wilstone: 2 Black-tailed Godwits in front of hide (both adult islandica's moulting out of breeding plumage, Dunlin in breeding plumage roosting amongst the gulls (David Bilcock and others); plus 17 Great Crested Grebes, 65 Mute Swans, 2 Common Teal, 22 Gadwall, 8 Northern Pochards including 2 juveniles, eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard still present, 6 Ruddy Ducks (bred this year, with two females fledging 5 and 2 young respectively), 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 202 Black-headed Gulls including 37 juveniles, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Common Terns still present, 24 House Martins, 4 Common Chiffchaffs, Sparrowhawk (Lee Evans)
Fri 1 Aug Wilstone: 2 Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, Hobby (J Bailey HBC)
Thu 31 Jul Wilstone: 8 Black Terns dropped in before 7.00am (stayed for about 30 minutes without settling) and a Spotted Redshank was on the mud to the left of the hide, but soon left (Ian Willioams/Roy Hargreaves); 3 Little Terns & 4 Black Terns (BN HBC, Mike Wallen); plus 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Green Sandpipers (Mike Collard); plus 2 Turnstones (Steve Rodwell); otherwise: 69 Mute Swans including 1 first-summer, 1 F Common Teal, 17 Gadwall, 2 Northern Shoveler, 157 Tufted Ducks, 12 Northern Pochard including the two juveniles (both fledged at the site), eclipse M Red-crested Pochard still present, 6 Ruddy Ducks (3 adult drakes, 2 females and an immature drake), 141 Lapwing, 2 adult Ruddy Turnstones, 96 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Gulls (flew NW), 1 juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Common Terns still present, 1 Stock Dove over, Great Spotted Woodpecker - in Poplars by car park, 2 juv Grey Wagtails, 37 House Martins (Lee Evans)
Tue 29 Jul Wilstone: a.m. Eclipse M Red-crested Pochard still with the Tufted Ducks, adult summer Little Gull flying around among the Common Terns and one Common Sandpiper (Roy Hargreaves); evening 2 moulting adult Black Terns (both roosting on the algae-bunds), 19 Great Crested Grebes, 2 juvenile Grey Herons still in nest, 26 Sinensis Cormorants, 69 adult Mute Swans, juvenile Mandarin Duck, 17 Gadwall, 115 Tufted Ducks, 16 Northern Pochard (including 2 well-grown juveniles), eclipse M Red-crested Pochard, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 136 Lapwings, 2 Common Sandpipers, 109 Black-headed Gulls roosting (including 21 juveniles), 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in pre-roost gathering (including 1 juvenile, a 2nd-summer & 3 adults), 13 Common Terns, 75 Common Swifts, 8+ Pied Wagtails on island (including 7 juveniles), 27 House Martins (Lee Evans)
Tue 29 Jul Startopsend: 8 Barn Swallows at Startop Farm (Lee Evans)
Mon 28 Jul Wilstone: Eclipse M Red-crested Pochard, Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper (Heard) plus a Raven flying over calling at 6am (Roy Hargreaves)
Sat 26 Jul Wilstone: 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard from hide, Pair Stock Dove behind hide, 1 Hobby high over far side from bank near car park, Kingfisher fishing from tree in centre, from jetty, plus Whitethroat, Yellowhammer along canal (Graham Shortt)
Fri 25 Jul Wilstone: Eclipse male Red-crested Pochard still present and a Greenshank on the mud to the left of the hide (Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 24 Jul Wilstone: Juvenile Mediterranean Gull with Black Headed Gulls (Roy Hargreaves); A single Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper (David Bilcock)
Tue 22 Jul Wilstone: 21 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Cormorants, 74 Mute Swans, 13 Gadwall, adult F Gargeny roosting on spit, 2 Northern Shovelers (both eclipse birds), 104 Tufted Ducks including some early, well grown and self-sufficient juveniles, 6 Northern Pochard (2 M 4F - no young noted), eclipse M Red-crested Pochard, 3M 1F Ruddy Ducks, Red Kite, 777 European Coots including 49 juveniles, 47 Moorhens including 17 juveniles, Common Sandpiper, 151 Lapwings including 9 juveniles (and 1 dead), 44 Black-headed Gulls including 1 juvenile, 18 Common Terns including 11 juveniles, 2 juvenile Grey Wagtails, juvenile Common Chiffchaff, vocal family of Spotted Flycatchers (Lee Evans with David Bilcock/Roy Hargreaves)
Mon 21 Jul Wilstone: pair of Blackcaps, Garden Warbler & Goldcrest feeding with flock of about 10 Long-Tailed Tits in hedgerow besides path on east side of reservoir (Geoff Young); 2 Common Sandpipers in front of the hide, plus a flock of sixteen Curlew flying over (Roy Hargreaves)
Sun 20 Jul Wilstone: Eclipse M Red-crested Pochard, F Mandarin on rocks forming spit from reed bed to islands, 1M 1F Pochard, a few hundred Sand Martins over water & adjacent fields with scatterings of House Martins & a Swallow, Oystercatcher on jetty, c60 Lapwings above reservoir then C25 on rocks in middle later, pair of Ruddy Duck. at least 1 Hobby, Bullfinch heard, plus possible (but unlikely) 1st winter White Wagtail; c4 Grey Wagtails and c5 Pied Wagtails (Dan & Steve Forder)
Fri 18 Jul Wilstone: Eclipse male Red-crested Pochard still present and an adult Dunlin (Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 17 Jul Wilstone: M Ruff, 2 Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, 62 Lapwings, plus: 24 Great Crested Grebe adults, 15 Cormorants (most likely all Sinensis) including some adults, Grey Herons - one nest still containing three well grown young plus 4 further juveniles, 59 Mute Swans including 1 first-year, 9 Canada Geese, 37 Greylag Geese all adults, many Mallards (not counted with several family groups), 9 Gadwall, 1 Common Teal (an eclipse drake), 3 Northern Shoveler (all in eclipse plumage), 44 Tufted Ducks, 5 Northern Pochard, 1 Red-crested Pochard (an eclipse drake by Drayton Bank), 2+ Ruddy Duck, 2 adult Red Kites drifting over, 1 adult Hobby, Moorhen (not counted but numerous juveniles), a high count of 618 Eurasian Coots, 9 Black-headed Gulls including 1 fresh juvenile, 23 Common Terns including 4 juveniles, 215+ Common Swifts, an exceptional July count of 147 Sand Martins (high numbers have been present for 19 days according to RH & SR), 8 House Martins, 15 Barn Swallows including some juveniles, 2 Grey Wagtails both juveniles, 6 Pied Wagtails also juveniles (Lee Evans with others); up to 3 Spot Fly, 15 Lapwing (J Baker HBC)
Thu 17 Jul Marsworth: 3 Great Crested Grebes (including 1 still on nest), Tufted Duck (female with 7 well grown young), Coot and Moorhen (not counted but several young birds of both species noted), Common Tern (3 juveniles), Common Kingfisher and 15 Common Swifts; plus on the Paddock fields adjoining: 33 Canada and 17 Greylag Geese with 2 Greylag Geese accompanied 13 juvenile Canada Geese on the Grand Union Canal (Lee Evans)
Thu 17 Jul Startopsend: Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan (pair with two cygnets), 27 Coot plus 4+ overflying adult Common Terns (Lee Evans)
Thu 17 Jul Tringford: Great Crested Grebe, 4 Grey Herons, Mallard (with 2 young), Tufted Duck (female with 7 small young), 22 Coots, 16 Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Wed 16 Jul Wilstone: Green Sandpiper, Oystercatcher (Steve Rodwell)
Tue 15 Jul Wilstone: 2 Dunlin on the exposed mud in front of the hide (David Bilcock); 12 Dunlin from hide, 11 Hobbies (J Bailey HBC)
Sun 13 Jul Wilstone: Oystercatcher & Cullew over (Steve Rodwell)
Mon 7 Jul Wilstone: 3 Redshanks over, 2 Common Sandpipers near the jetty (Roy Hargreaves)
Sat 5 Jul Startopsend: Little Ringed Plover (David Bilcock)
Sat 5 July Marsworth: Tufted Duck with 7 chicks, Barn Owl over fields behind res. (Steve Rodwell)
Fri 4 Jul Wilstone: Common Sandpiper on rocks in the middle, eclipse M Red-crested Pochard still present (Roy Hargreaves)
Fri 4 July Startopsend: Gadwall with 1 chick and Tufted Duck with 3 chicks (Steve Rodwell)
Fri 4 Jul Tringford: Tufted Duck with 9 chicks (Steve Rodwell)
Thu 3 Jul Wilstone: Eclipse M Red-crested Pochard and an Egyptian Goose (Roy Hargreaves)
Tue 1 Jul Wilstone: Eclipse M Red-crested Pochard and a Redshank (Roy Hargreaves)
Mon 30 Jun Wilstone: Common Buzzard feeding in fields at back of reservoir 15.30, Yellowhammer, singing, on wires nearby (Geoff Young); Oystercatcher and 12 Lapwing flew through during evening (Jonathan Nasir)
Sun 29 Jun Wilstone: 2 Buzzards (observer not recorded HBC)
Sun 29 Jun Tringford: Tufted Duck with 9 ducklings (Lynne Lambert)
Wed 25 Jun Wilstone: Common Sandpiper (Steve Rodwell)
Mon 23 Jun Wilstone: 2 Red Kites over hide end of reservoir (Keith Evans), increased to 5 later! (Lee Evans)
Thu 19 Jun Marsworth: Red Kite over (P Tyler HBC)
Mon 16 Jun Startopsend: F Red-crested Pochard had one chick (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 15 Jun Wilstone: Pochard with brood of 3 young (Steve Rodwell)
Sat 14 Jun Wilstone: Little Egret (observer not recorded HBC)
Tue 10 Jun Tringford: Little Egret (P Tyler HBC)
Mon 9 Jun Wilstone: Icterine Warbler still present (several observers HBC)
Sun 8 Jun Wilstone: Icterine Warbler near Cemetry corner (Roy hargreaves and others); also Black Tern (David Bilcock); plus 2 Spotted Flycatchers (Mike Collard) and pair Blackcaps (Geoff Young) both near cemetry corner
Sun 8 Jun Startopsend: Little Owl on wires (Mike Collard)
Thu 5 Jun Wilstone: Gadwall brood down to 2 (or could only see 2) (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 2 Jun Wilstone: 3 Arctic Terns (1 first summer) (Roy Hargreaves/Dave Bilcock)
Tue 3 Jun Wilstone: Gadwall with brood of 8, just a few days old (Steve Rodwell)
Sat 31 May Wilstone: F Pochard with 8 small chicks and 2 pairs of Shoveler displaying (Rob Andrews)
Sun 25 May Wilstone: Turnstone, 6 Hobbies, Red Kite (J Bailey HBC)
Wed 21 May Wilstone: M Ruddy Duck (J Baker HBC)
Tue 20 May Wilstone: 9 Hobbies (D Girvan HBC)
Sun 18 May Startopsend: The tame male pintail now has a tame female in tow! (Roger Merrison)
Fri 16 Wilstone: Black Tern, 200+ Swifts and 4 Hobbies (Rob Andrews)
Fri 16 May Startopsend: M Pintail (Kitty Thomas); c1,000 Swifts (22 ringed) plus 250 Sand Martins and Swallows using the new reed rafts to rest (Johne Taylor)
Thu 15 Sep Wilstone: M Garganey, 1 Arctic Tern flying over, 1 Common Sandpiper (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 14 May Strtopsend: 100+ Swifts (Ben Miller)
Tue 13 May Wilstone: Spotted Flycatcher feeding from top of bushes in Rushy Meadow, Cuckoo being mobbed by small birds sitting in bush Rushy Meadow, Pair of Egyptian Geese, male displaying (Sally Douglas); Pair Yellow Wagtails (Steve Rodwell); Bee Eater (Stuart Wilson via Roy Hargreaves - no other reports)
Mon 12 May Wilstone: Hobby numbers peaked at 16 just before it got dark (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 11 May Wilstone: Seen on FoTR's Hobbies Walk: 2 Black Terns, 4 or 5 Hobbies, Pair Shovelers, Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Common Terns (possibly nesting), 2 Red Kites (1 over the water), Greylag Geese with 3 chicks, Cuckoo singing, 6+ Pochard, 20+ Tufted Ducks, 1pr Gadwall, plus others, a total of 30 species (Peter Hearn/Keith Evans); plus Hobbies 5+, 24 immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls through, c10 Gadwall, 19 Common Tern, 2 Kingfisher (sev obs HBC)
Sun 11 May Startopsend: Little Owl, esc m Pintail, Kingfisher (sev obs HBC)
Sun 11 May Marsworth: CUckoo, 5 Reed Warbler, 3 Reed Bunt (J Baker HBC)
Sat 10 Mat Wilstone: 4 Black Terns, Arctic Tern (Mike Wallen/David Bilcock)
Sat 10 May Marsworth: Cuckoo (Mike Wallen HBC)
Fri 9 May Wilstone: 7 Black Tern, c20 Common Terns, 1 imm Common Gull through, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Hobby (Mike Wallen); up to 5 Hobbies by evening plus 40 Common Swifts, i Common Sandpiper (Lee Evans); plus, esc m Pintail, 3 Little Grebe, (sev obs HBC)
Thu 8 May Wilstone: 8 Black Terns early a.m. (per Ben Miller)plus 3 Hobbies (E Leahy HBC)
Wed 7 May Wilstone: 35 Black Terns early a.m. (Ben Miller); up to 38 at 19:00, plus 44 Common Swifts 1 pair of displaying Ruddy Ducks, 2 M Northern Pochards (Lee Evans)
Wed 7 May Startopsend: Red-created Pochard (Ben Miller)
Wed 7 May Marsworth: Cuckoo was singing and showing well in the trees behind the reedbed (Ben Miller)
Tue 6 May Wilstone: 53 Black Terns - numbers building all day, 1, pos 2, 1st summer Little Gulls passing through, 1 Redshank (Roy Hargreaves/Sue Rowe and others); Osprey low over water, but flew N via Startopsend (Ian Williams); plus 12 Hobbies flycatching over the reedbeds, 6 House Martins, 1 (Common) Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 M (Northern) Pochard (Lee Evans); plus 69+ Common Terns (HBC)
Tue 6 May Marsworth: 2 M Cuckoos seen and heard near WTW Lagoon (Roger Merrison)
Mon 5 May Wilstone: 8 Black Terns, 2 (dubious) M Pintail, F Wheatear (Roy Hargreaves); plus 2nd summer Little Gull (David Bilcock); Black Terns up to 11 by mid afternoon, also Yellow Wagtail over and a couple of Hobbies (Rob Andrews); plus 2nd-s Mediterranean Gull (?), 24 GBB Gulls (?), 3 Hobby (I Bennell HBC)
Sun 4 May Wilstone: 4 Black Terns (Mike Wallen and others)); plus Turtle Dove, 2 Hobby, c40 Common Tern, 3m Shoveler (sev obs HBC)
Sun 4 May Startopsend: Common Sandpiper (Mike Wallen)
Sat 3 May Wilstone: 2 Common Sandpipers at Wilstone, and the Oystercatcher (David Bilcock); Oystercatcher up to 2 plus 2 Yellow Wagtails, Common Sandpiper, Cettis Warbler (K Hornby HBC); 4 Hobby, Red Kite (E Leahy HBC)
Fri 2 May Startopsend: Common Sandpiper, 200+ Sand Martins with a few House Martins and Swallows (Rob Andrews)
Thu 1 May Startopsend: 30+ House Martins with c50 Swallows & c20 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail (Mike Wallen)
Wed 30 Apr Wilstone: Common Sandpiper (D Pratt HBC); 50+ Swallow, Yellow Wag, Hobby (C Smout HBC)
Wed 30 Apr Marsworth: f RC Pochard, m Ruddy Dk (C Smout HBC)
Tue 29 Apr Wilstone: Black Tern (David Bilcock)
Mon 28 Apr Wilstone: Whimbrel over (observer not recorded HBC)
Sun 27 Apr Wilstone: Good numbers of low flying Swifts (Francis Buckle); Cettis warbler singing, Cuckoo, 2 Common Buzzards, 50+ Swifts, 3 Hobbies, 1 Yellow Wagtail, plus Lesser Whitethoat and 18 + Common Whitethroats on dry canal above (Charlie Jackson); Stone Curlew flew NE calling in evening (observer not recorded HBC); Oystercatcher (Scott Usher)
Sun 27 Apr Marsworth: c45 Swifts (M Wallen HBC)
Sun 27 Apr Startopsend: F Pintail (probably also escape) feeding with Mallards (Rob Andrews)
Sat 26 Apr Wilstone: 1 drake Pintail (probably an escape), 2 Swift, and 3 Red Kite, plus Lesser Whitethroat on dry canal above and other Whitethroats (Jonathan Nasir); Sandwich Tern, Black Tern (per Joan Thompson); plus Turtle Dove, Curlew, Swifts to 20+, 3 Whitethroat, 30+ Common Tern, Sedge Wbr (sev obs HBC)
Sat 26 Apr Marsworth: 2 Little Terns (Stuart Wilson via David Bilcock)
Fri 25 Apr Wilstone: Arctic Tern with other terns (Mike Wallen); plus 44+ Common Tern, Whinchat nr dry canal, Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler in meadow, Garden Warbler, Common Sandpiper, 2 Hobbies, and the escaped M Pintail (sev obs HBC)
Fri 25 Apr Startopsend: White Wagtail, 6 Common Terns (Mike Wallen - also on HBC)
Thu 24 Apr Wilstone: Wood Warbler in wood near NE corner, 2 Swifts, 3 Hobbies, 27 Arctic Terns (David Bilcock/Ben Miller); plus 43 House Martins, 230 Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Wed 23 Apr Wilstone: a.m. Black Tern (David Bilcock via Mike Campbell); p.m. Black Tern, 3 Sandwich Terns, several Arctic Terns, many Common Terns (Joan Thompson + Ben Miller); plus 68 Common Terns, Arctic Terns up to 12, 2 Hobby, 2 Red Kite over, 8 House Martins (Lee Evans plus others)
Mon 21 Apr Wilstone: 2 Hobbies, 2 Little Gulls, 1 Arctic Tern, 80+ Common Terns plus many high flying hirundines, mostly Swallows (Mike Wallen/Francis Buckle); plus 2 House Martins, 25 Barn Swallows, 71 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Common Teal, Sparrowhawk and 3 nesting Cormorants (Lee Evans)
Mon 21 Apr Marsworth: Brambling, 2 Cetti's Warblers singing (Lee Evans)
Mon 21 Apr Startopsend: White Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtails (Mike Wallen); 340 Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Mon 21 Apr WTW Lagoon: Bullfinch, Willow Warbler singing, pair Ruddy Ducks (Lee Evans)
Sun 20 Apr Wilstone: a.m. Cuckoo (Warren Claydon via DB); 6 Little Gulls (Sue Rowe); p.m. 9 Little Gulls, 70+ Common Terns, Arctic Tern (Ben Miller/David Bilcock/Lee Evans); Curlew over (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 20 Apr Marsworth: p.m. Little Gull (Ben Miller)
Sun 20 Apr Startopsend: 7 Little Gulls (Dave Bilcock and others), 10 Yellow Wagtails (Ben Miller)
Sat 19 Apr Wilstone: Whimbrel flying east at 0545; Arctic Tern, 20+ Common Tern (sev obs HBC)
Sat 19 Apr Startopsend: 12 Yellow Wagtails on reservoir banks (David Bilcock)
Fri 18 Apr Wilstone: Pair of Gargeny (David Bilcock/Lee Evans); plus 40+ Common Tern, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 200+ Sand Martins, F Brambling in wood by start of path to hide (sev obs HBC)
Fri 18 Apr Startopsend: 22 Yellow Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail in horse paddocks as before (Joan Thompson)
Fri 18 Apr Tringford: 13 Yellow Wagtails in horse paddocks (Joan Thompson)
Thu 17 Apr Wilstone: 1M Common Goldeneye, 3 Common Scoter (1M 2F) briefly at 0925, 352 Sand Martins, 71 Barn Swallows, 11 House Martins, 1F Marsh Harrier disappeared down into the reeds noisily mobbed by Sand Martins (Lee Evans); and later 42 Common Terns, 2 Hobbies, 1 Common Swift (Lee Evans/Jeff Bailey); plus Arctic Tern, 12 Yellow Wagtails, Red Kite (sev obs HBC)
Thu 17 Apr Tringford: M Gargeny (Lee Evans via Francis Buckle)
Thu 17 Apr Startopsend: Greenshank early a.m., Common Tern (Ben Miller); 1M Gargeny, the F Red-crested Pochard, 296 Sand Martins, 11 House Martins, 27 Barn Swallows plus several singing Blackcaps (Lee Evans)
Thu 17 Apr Marsworth: 7 Yellow Wagtails in horse paddock (Ben Miller); Cetti's Warbler singing from reedbed (Jonathan Nasir); Gargeny tucked into reeds, Sanderling over with c7 waders(presumably Dunlin) & 3 Turnstones over (Ben Miller/Ian Williams); late p.m. 5 Shoveller, 27 Yellow Wagtains in horse paddock (Ben Miller/Lee Evans)
Wed 16 Apr Wilstone: M Ring Ouzel in field is just above the Dry Canal (just west of footpath to Miswell Farm) with a small group of Fieldfare, plus Whitehtroat singing in the hedge, plus Bramblings & Red Kite (Roy Hargreaves); Pied Flycatcher between Wilstone Cemetery Corner and Little Tring (per Ben Miller); 1 Whimbrel flying over from the direction of Marsworth, plus 5 Yellow Wagtails (Steve Rodwell) 33 Common Terns with 1 Arctic Tern (prob. the one seen at Marsworth) 2 first-summer European Herring Gulls, 235 Sand Martins, 3 Barn Swallows (Lee Evans)
Wed 16 Apr Marsworth: Arctic Tern over, White Wagtail, 10 Yellow Wagtails the horse paddock, 2 Reed Warbers & 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Terns (per Ben Miller) plus 6 Whimbrel in the paddocks (Lee Evans via Ben Miller) Yellow wagtails peaked at 13, 10 Bramblings (Jonathan Nasir), Sedge and Reed Warblers, singing Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Terns, 1 Arctic Tern, pair Grey Wagtails, 6 singing M Reed Buntings present, 5 singing M Blackcaps and 3 Shoveler and the resident pair of Ruddy Duck (Lee Evans)
Wed 16 Apr Startopsend: Red-crested Pochard (Ben Miller/Lee Evans)
Tues 15 Apr Wilstone: 2 male Pintails, 4 Yellow Wagtails plus1 Chinese Water Deer (Steve Rodwell); Plus 20+ Common Terns (Roger Merrison); Firecrest singing in woodland on SE corner of reservoir (cemetery side) (P Thrush HBC)
Tues 15 Apr Marsworth: 14 Yellow Wagtails including 1 male Blue-headed Wagtail (Steve Rodwell); Plus Sedge Warbler calling from reeds by sluice, 3+ Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps (Roger Merrison)
Mon 14 Apr Wilstone: 18 Common Terns and 200+ Sand Martins (Charlie Jackson); 2M Pintail, 2 Hobbies, 2 Buzzard (D Girvan HBC)
Mon 14 Apr Marsworth/Startopsend: 1M Redstart moving along the hedge on the far side of the canal, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 2 male White Wagtails and c20 Pied Wags in the Horse fields, 3 Sedge Warblers singing with one seen well, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing and 3M Blackcaps, 100+ Sand Martins, 20+ Swallows, 4 House Martins, 1 Kingfisher plus the M Red-crested Pochard and 2 (feral?) Whooper Swans; ; Plus 2 or 3 Bramblings near overflow, 7 Common Terns; plus the Terrapin (Several Observers)
Sun 13 Apr Wilstone: 13 Common Terns, 1 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 White Wagtails, c200 Golden Plovers plus a further 40 later in the evening (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 13 Apr Marsworth: 2 Common Terns, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Red- crested Pochard (Roger Payne); 13 Yellow Wagtails, 3M White Wagtails and c30 Pied Wagtails, all in paddock beside canal (David Bilcock)
Sat 12 Apr Marsworth: Common Sandpiper (David Bilcock); 4 Yellow Wagtails in paddock over canal (Lynne Lambert)
Fri 11 Apr Wilstone: Great White Egret present briefly around 07:00 (Roy Hargreaves, Sue Rowe, David Bilcock); Osprey, plus c30 Golden Plovers (Steve Rodwell); plus Osprey over heading east at 2pm, Osprey over heading north at 7pm (obs not rec HBC)
Fri 11 Apr Marsworth: 5 Brambling, Great White Egret, plus 1calling Cetti's Warbler, 3 Common Terns, 1 Redwing, 2 singing Blackcaps, 2 singing Willow Warblers, 1 Kingfisher (Jonathan Nasir)
Thu 10 Apr Wilstone: White Wagtail (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 9 April Wilstone: Curlew over at 19:15 (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 9 Apr Marsworth: Water Rail, 3 singing Willow Warblers, 1 calling Cetti's Warbler (Jonathan Nasir)
Tue 8 Apr Wilstone: c150 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow (fairly high) with 3 Buzzards (Richard Birch); Goldeneye, Pochard, Firecrest behind hide, 6 Snipe in front of hide, 1M 1F Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, all in woodland (Rob Clarke); plus Red Kite over, 1 Common Tern, 1M (Common) Goldeneye, 1F (Eurasian) Wigeon, 29 Shoveler, several Ruddy Ducks and 7 (Common) Snipe, the F (Northern) Wheatear still present on jetty, 15+ House Martins, 306 Sand Martins, 38 (Barn) Swallows, 1 singing Chiffchaff (Lee Evans); 2 Swifts flying high, northwards over fields north of Reservoir - yes they definitely were swifts (Keith & Chris Evans)
Tue 8 Apr Marsworth: Willow warbler singing from hedge alongside water works, (tame) Red Crested Pochard pair still there -seen mating yesterday, plus Terrapin basking at edge of reeds by sluice. (really!) (Roger Merison); numerous Sand Martins and Swallows, 1 Yellow Wagtail in the paddocks with 2 White Wagtails associating with the Pieds, plus 4 Grey Wagtails, 2 Common Terns flew through (Jonathan Nasir); plus 7 Chiffchaffs, 3M Blackcaps, 1F Ruddy Duck (Lee Evans)
Tue 8 Apr Startopsend: Buzzard hunting over the back fields, the pair of Red-crested Pochards plus 1 Common Sandpiper (Jonathan Nasir); plus Swallow (M Wallen HBC)
Mon 7 Apr Wilstone: 1F Wheatear on the jetty, 200+ Sand Martins, a handfull of Swallows and a Sparrowhawk (Charlie Jackson); Marsh Harrier reportedly seen over the reed bed (noted by David Bilcock - with several sightings on HBC); plus Blackcap, Common Buzzard (sev obs HBC)
Sun 6 Apr Wilstone: 434 Sand Martins, many roosting on the small pontoons, 9 (Barn) Swaloows, 2 House Martins, plus 1F (Northern) Wheatear, 1F Linnet on the reservoir bank, and 10 Fieldfares in fields to east, plus 7 (Eurasian) Wigeon and 4 Common Goldeneye (1 drake), with 3 Grey Wagtails, a singing Common Chiffchaff (NE corner) and a Mistle Thrush (Lee Evans)
Sun 6 Apr Marsworth: 1M Ruddy Duck, 1F Northern Pochard plus 3 singing M Common Chiffchaffs (Lee Evans)
Sun 6 Apr Startopsend: 106 Sand Martins, 24 (Barn) Swallows, plus the pair of Red-crested Pochards (Lee Evans)
Sat 5 Apr Wilstone: Kittewake early a.m. plus c80 Sand Martins with a few Swallows and a Chinese Water Deer in field (Roy Hargreaves)
Sat 5 Apr Marsworth: Common Sandpiper, Blackcap, Kingfisher - all early a.m. (Charlie Jackson)
Fri 4 Apr Wilstone: M Brambling in the trees by Cemetery Corner (Roy Hargreaves)
Thu 3 Apr Wilstone: 2M Blackcaps, 3 Common Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard, Little Owl (Charlie Jackson); c80 Sand martin, c6 Swallows and 2 pairs of Goldeneye, plus 2 Kingfishers (from HBC) (Mike Wallen)
Thu 3 Apr Marsworth: 3M Yellow Wagtails in the paddocks by the canal this evening, Cetti's Warbler heard briefly (Steve Rodwell)
Thu 3 Apr Startopsend: 1 singing Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 (Barn) Swallows, 1F Sparrowhawk and the 2 (dubious) Red-crested Pochards (Charlie Jackson)
Tue 1 Apr Wilstone: 2 House Martins in amongst 71 Sand Martins and 2 (Barn) Swallows, 8 Common Gulls, plus 63 Shoveler, 38 Gadwall, 18 Eurasian Wigeon, 11 Common Teal, 14 Northern Pochard and 2 adult drake Common Goldeneyes, 2 adult intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Lee Evans); 3M 3F Goldeneyes late p.m. (Rob Andrews); Common Tern (BN HBC)
Mon 31 Mar Wilstone: 2 Common Terns, 7 Goldeneyes (3M 4F), 2 Cormorants nesting (Lee Evans)
Sun 30 Mar Tringford: Osprey over (via Nick Goss; also reported on HBC and seen at Dancer's End by Steve Rodwwell); also Bewick's Swan (reported by D Pratt, but as yet unconfirmed) HBC
Sun 30 Mar Wilstone: Common Tern, adult Peregrine over heading towards Wilstone village (via Ben Miller); Oystercatcher on one of the tern rafts a.m., Blackcap in wood behind reedbed (Sue Rowe); plus Barn Owl later (Steve Rodwell)
Sun 30 Mar Startopsend: pair of Red-crested Pochards, c.30 Sand Martins including 1 House Martin (Ben Miller)
Sat 29 Mar Wilstone: adult Little Gull (Joan Thompson); House Martin seen with Sand Martins, but gull roost appears to have finished although good numbers of Common Gulls were constantly passing through (David Bilcock)
Fri 28 Mar Wilstone: 2M 3F Goldeneye, 1 Shellduck plus handful Sand Martins (Rob Andrews)
Fri 28 Mar Marsworth: 4 Swallows (Michael Burbidge)
Thu 27 Mar Wilstone: c.150 Golden Plover landed near Puttenham (Steve Rodwell); Barn Owl over cornfield behind HBC
Wed 26 Mar Wilstone: 10 Black-tailed Godwits brifly early a.m. (Dave Bilcock); 3 Curlews overflew noon (Steve Rodwell); Osprey over HBC
Tue 25 Mar Wilstone: second winter Mediterranean Gull present again in gull roost (David Bilcock)
Mon 24 Mar Wilstone: 2 Black-necked Grebes, c115 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow, 2 Greater Black-backed Gulls, 3 Goldeneye HBC
Mon 24 Mar Startopsend: Peregrine over towards Little Tring; F Goldeneye, 60+ Sand Martin, Swallow, 2 singing Chiffchaff (I Bennell) HBC
Mon 24 Mar Marsworth: 4 Swallows with the Sand Martins (Roger Merrison); Cetti's Warbler heard from reedbed (I Bennell) HBC
Sun 23 Mar Wilstone: second winter Mediterranean Gull still present in gull roost (David Bilcock) also HBC
Sat 22 Mar Wilstone: second winter Mediterranean Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock)
Fri 21 Mar Wilstone: Little Gull passed through before 07.00 (David Bilcock); Black-necked Grebes still present, Swallow with Sand Martins, pair Goldeneye, pair Buzzard (Don Otter): plus further Goldeneye, M Pintail, Chiffchaff (ringed), Kingfisher, 4 Little Grebes - one of which tried to swallow a fish which appeared to be just a bit smaller than the Grebe itself, but it gave up after 5 minutes! (Mike Collard)
Thu 20 Mar Wilstone: 3 (Barn) Swallows and 115 Sand Martind (Lee Evans)
Thu 20 Mar Startopsend: 9 Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Red-crested Pochards (Lee Evans)
Wed 19 Mar Wilstone: 2 Black-necked Grebes at still present, plus 1w Little Gull and Wheatear still on Jetty (Ben Miller); 20 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow, 8 Goldeneye (4 pairs, with males displaying), 1 Black-necked Grebe, 50+ Fieldfare in tall poplars at back, 2 Grey Wagtails (Lynne & Colin Lambert); plus 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull, 4 Swallows (Mike Collard); plus 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 White Wagtail (Adam Hartley)
Wed 19 Mar Startopsend: a.m. (Barn) Swallow, Kingfisher (Ben Miller); noon 2 Swallows, app 50 Sand Martins (Roger Merrison); pair Red Crested pochard by hide, 100 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows (Ben Miller - reported by Dick Bodily); plus 4 Reed Buntings, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail (BN) HBC
Wed 19 Mar Marsworth: all in wood near reed bed: 5 Chiffchaff, 2M Reed Bunting, 2M Grey Wagtail, app 20 (+) Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker flew from poplars over res. (Roger Merrison)
Tue 18 Mar Wiltsone: 2 snipe in front of hide, Red kite over Wilstone cemetery, 2nd kite over pumping station area at the same time (Howard Clarke); the 2 Black-necked Grebes showing well, plus Wheatear on the jetty, 1 m Stonechat near the dung heaps, 3 Common Chiffchaff (2 by hide and 1 in trees near jetty, 1 White Wagtail on left hand bank, Little Owl and over 50 Sand Martins. 30 plus Fieldfares, 2 male and 2 female Goldeneye (Charlie Jackson)
Tue 18 Mar Marsworth/Startopsend: 2 (Barn) Swallows amongst approx 50 Sand Martins, 5 Chiffchaff in wood by entrance and along causeway, Buzzard flew into ivy covered tree by waterworks, Red Kite and Sparrowhawk flying over waterworks, 6 Fieldfare over, 1m Reed Bunting, 1 Treecreeper, 6 Pied Wagtails (Roger Merrison); Red kite over horse field twixt Manor House Farm and Marsworth, Kingfisher on fallen tree in water behind cottage at lock 42 (Howard Clarke); down to 1 Swallow & 10+ Sand Martins at Startopsend by p.m. (Geoff Young)
Mon 17 Mar Wilstone: 2 Black Necked Grebes (several observers), Northern Wheatear near Jetty, ; female Stonechat by Rushy Meadow and about 40 Sand Martins increasing to over 50 p.m. (Roy Hargreaves/Roger Merrison) plus adult male White Wagtail in with 14 Pied Wagtails in fields down from Cemetery Corner, 18 Great Crested Grebes, 156 Eurasian Wigeon, 38 Common Teal, 36 Gadwall, 15 Northern Pochard and 108 Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Ducks, 1m 2f Common Goldeneye, a flock of 270 Common Starlings and 1 Red Kite early p.m. (Lee Evans)
Mon 17 Mar Startopsend: 37 Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Mon 17 Mar Marsworth: 3 Chiff Chaffs singing (Lee Evans)
Mon 17 Mar WTW Lagoon: 2 Ruddy Ducks, kettle of 6 Buzzards overhead (Lee Evans)
Sun 16 Mar Wilstone: At around 08.00, 24 Sand Martins flying really near the water surface, plus 30 Goldfinches in the sheltered elder bushes of the dry canal at Bridge 4 (Sue Rowe); By evening, Sand Martins increased to 41, plus a first-winter Great Black-backed Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock); 3 Goldeneye HBC
Sat 15 Mar Wilstone: 7 Sand Martins (Charlie Jackson)
Fri 14 Mar Wilstone: male Stonechat still by Cemetery Track, male White Wagtail on the bank (Roy Hargreaves); adult Little Gull, 4 Common Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff, pair of Manderin Duck (Charlie Jackson); Ringed Plover on bank next to steps HBC
Thu 13 Mar Wilstone: 2 Whooper Swans had returned (so looks like they are the Wardown Park pair) (David Bilcock)
Thu 13 Mar Marsworth: Bittern still present in reedbed (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 12 Mar Wilstone: adult Kittiwake flying west over reservoir at 06:45, briefly flirted with settling on the water before flying off into Bucks; plus 2nd winter Medeterranean Gull in gull roose (Roy Hargreaves/David Bilcock)
Tue 11 Mar Wilstone: 2 Long-tailed Tits, f Goldcrest (Mike Collard/Geoff Young); Kingfisher, Water Rail, Ruddy Duck (Geoff Young); First winter Mediterannean Gull in gull roost (Steve Rodwell)
Mon 10 Mar Wilstone: 111 Northern Shoveler, 302 remaining Eurasian Wigeon, adult drake Ruddy Duck, Water Rail, 6 Long-tailed Tits, a single f Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaffs (1 bird in full song) and the m Firecrest (Lee Evans); 4 Goldeneye (1male, 3fe) (Rob Andrews)
Sun 9 Mar Wilstone: m Firecrest (David Bilcock)
Sun 9 Mar Marsworth: Barn Owl, Bittern (at 18.45), plus a few bats (Dave Lee)
Sat 8 Mar Wilstone: 2 Stonechats near the dung heap at Cemetery corner, 1 Little Owl flying between trees in the paddock the other side of the
road from the car park, 2 Sand Martins high over the reservoir plus 2 Little Owls in the hedge near the heap of soil at the end of the
canal at Little Tring (Sue Rowe); Second winter Mediterannean Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock); Red Kite HBC
Sat 8 Mar Marsworth: 2 Water Rails calling (Ben Miller)
Fri 7 Mar Wilstone: Adult pair of Whooper Swans (whether or not these are the returning pair from Wardown Park, Luton, or the Calvert pair on the move is unknown - only time will tell), 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in gull roost (Lee Evans)
Fri 7 Mar Marsworth: Kingfisher on branch above overflow twixt Startops/Marsworth, Common Buzzard soaring (then settled on tree behind Tringford) Kestrel soon mobbed and saw buzzard off, Sparrowhawk flying over small wood aross road from sewage works, scared off be what sounded like shotgun (Howard Clarke); 52 Corn Buntings, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Sparrowhawks hunting the far hedgerow, 11 Northern Pochard, the 2 Barn Owls and at 1834, with very little light left, 2 Bitterns flew out of the reedbed and spent the next ten minutes or more flying and circling high over the reservoir, 'barking' loudly every 30 seconds; plus a Pipistrelle (Lee Evans);
Thu 6 Mar Wilstone: Redshank on bank near jetty, 2 Sand Martins (David Bilcock)
Thu 6 Mar Marsworth: At dusk, Bittern (possibly 2), 2 Barn Owls quartering the fields behind the reed bed, a Common Buzzard flying home to roost, a couple of Water Rails 'squealing' from the reeds, and a flock of 20+ Corn Buntings, plus a few Bat spp. flying around catching insects (Jonathan Nasir)
Thu 6 Mar Startopsend: Common Buzzard soaring over reservoir banks a.m. (Keith Evans)
Wed 5 Mar Marsworth: 82 Corn Buntings going to roost & 2 Sand Martins (Lee Evans)
Wed 5 Mar Wilstone: 2 Sand Martins (Mike Campbell); Little Owl - hunting from the dead Willow (in the field opposite the jetty), Red Kite - soaring over Drayton Beauchamp, 2 Skylarks in fields behind hide & also a Sparrowhawk flying in front of hide (Geoff Young); 2 Goosanders this evening , but they only did one circuit of the reservoir before flying off (David Bilcock)
Good numbers of gulls roosting again tonight but nothing of note
Tues 4 Mar Wilstone: Adult Mediterranean Gull in gull roost, Little Owl (Charlie Jackson)
Tues 4 Mar Marsworth: 82 Corn Buntings flew in to roost, along with 6 Reed Buntings, 9 Fieldfares and 2 Sand Martins (the earliest ever in Hertfordshire) plus 2 Sparrowhawks quartering the reedbed at dusk, and the regular pair of Grey Wagtails, Common Kingfisher, 2 drake Shoveler, a female Pochard, a pair of Common Kestrels, a Common Snipe and 7 Great Crested Grebes, plus 1 Bittern (Lee Evans)
Mon 3 Mar Wilstone: Adult Mediterannean Gull in gull roost (David Bilcock)
Mon 3 Mar Marsworth: Bittern flew over to Bucks part of reedbed, plus 2 Barn Owls (Rob Andrews and others); 2 Sand Martins (hopefully finding some insects and a safe roost in the reedbed with the Corn buntings) and later, the Bittern, a Barn Owl and a late roosting Buzzard (Francis Buckle and others)
Sun 2 Mar Wilstone: Adult Mediterannean Gull in gull roost (Mike Collard)
Sun 2 Mar Marsworth: 2 Bitterns (at around 18.05) and earlier, 100 Corn Buntings, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, plus a few (probably) Pipestrelle batsre over the reservoir (Mike Collard)
Fri 29 Feb Wilstone: 3 Mediterannean Gulls, in breeding plumage, in amongst gull roost (David Bilcock)
Thu 28 Feb Wilstone: Male Stonechat still present (see below), 18 Great Crested Grebes (4 pairs in dancing display), 31 Mute Swans, 60 Greylag Geese (59 on the field), 486 Eurasian Wigeon, 43 Northern Shoveler, 88 Gadwall, 102 Common Teal, 29 Northern Pochard, 122 Tufted Ducks and best of all, two adult drake and an adult female Common Goldeneye. In the Grey Heronry, 17 nests are now occupied, including 10 in the 'big' tree, 5 in one of the smaller ones along the Drayton Causeway and two single nests in that same line (Lee Evans)
Thu 28 Feb Tringford: 2 Great Crested Grebes, 24 Mute Swans, 24 Common Teal and 32 Tufted Ducks were counted and at Startopsend Reservoir, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 59 Tufted Duck, 16 Northern Pochard and another pair of Common Goldeneyes were encountered. Two Kingfishers were noisily displaying on the stream between Startopsend and Marsworth, whilst 3 territorial male Goldcrests were in full song in the small wood there (Lee Evans)
Thu 28 Feb Marsworth: 13 Fieldfare flighting to roost in the Poplars and in the reedbed, 109 Corn Buntings came in to roost (in groups of 31, 8 & 70) and 6 Reed Buntings (two males in song), with a pair of Grey Wagtails (male adorning his summer black throat), 4 squealing Water Rails and 6 Northern Shovelers. Our wintering Bittern put on a spectacular performance as it jostled with reed stems in order to create its platform bed just in from the edge of the reeds, just behind the first obvious promontory (Lee Evans plus David Bilcock and others)
Wed 27 Feb Wilstone: Oystercatcher on bank at around 12.00 (Steve Rodwell); Pair of Stonechats still along wire fence near Cemetry corner (Mike Campbell); 6 Goldeneye, Pintail, m Ruddy Duck (D Girvan) HBC
Wed 27 Feb Marsworth: Bittern flying over reedbed at app. 17.05 (Sue Rowe)
Tue 26 Feb Marsworth: 2 Bitterns, both on far bank at app. 17.30 - 18.00. also 56 Corn Buntings (Steve Rodwell & Charlie Jackson)
Tue 26 Feb Wilstone: Pair of Stonechats by the Cemetery Track and Buzzard in field above the dry canal (Roy Hargreaves)
Mon 25 Feb Wilstone: 2 Goldeneye, Pintail, Water Rail, Buzzard (D Girvan) HBC
Sun 24 Feb Marsworth: Bittern flew into reeds (Paul Dancer) and went to roost along the far bank of the reservoir around 17.50, plus 1 Daubenton's Bat (Steve Rodwell)
Sat 23 Feb Wilstone: A M Stonechat has joined the female flitting between the fence and the dung clamp along the trackway near Wilstone
cemetery (Sue Rowe); Oystercatcher circled for 10 mins (earlier at Startops) (I Williams) HBC
Sat 23 Feb Startopsend: Oystercatcher (David Bilcock)
Sat 23 Feb Marsworth: Bittern showed very well from 5.40-6.00 pm, plus a Barn Owl flying around the field behind the reservoir (Steve Rodwell)
Wed 20 Feb Wilstone: F Stonechat on fence by the cemetery corner with loads of winter thrushes and starlings in that arable field, along with about
54 Greylags (Sue Rowe)
Mon 18 Feb Wilstone: 38 Great Crested Grebes (many pairs now in 'dancing' display), 4 Little Grebes (again, whinnying display heard), 17 Grey Herons, 124 Gadwall, 604 Eurasian Wigeon (notable decrease), 3 Northern Pintails in SE corner (2 drakes and a female), 103 Common Teal, 41 Shoveler, 175 Tufted Ducks, 68 Northern Pochard, 2 Common Goldeneyes (adult male and female) and Ruddy Duck (present), plus a sizeable gull roost, with 998+ Black-headed Gulls and 54 Common Gulls and the regular adult Mediterranean Gull (now bearing much of its summer hood and summer bill), and one tree on the north bank held 19 Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrushes and 4 Goldfinch. (Lee Evans); 3M 10+F Ruddy Duck, 3M 1F Pintail, 1M 1F Goldeneye, 6 Little Grebe, 1 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard, 1 Bittern in reeds to right of hide (also reported by David Bilcock) 1 Kingfisher, 1 Snipe, plus 10+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Lapwing, in adjacent sheep field (Roger Merrison).
Mon 18 Feb Marsworth: 123 Corn Buntings flew in to roost, with 4 Water Rail squealing, the regular marauding Eurasian Sparrowhawk at dusk, 35 Fieldfares and 27 Shovele and most unusually a Common Buzzard, flying north to roost at 1755 hours (almost dark) (Lee Evans)
Sun 17 Feb Wilstone: 2 Bitterns in reeds to right of hide, Mediterranean Gull in gull roost, almost in breeding plumage (David Bilcock)
Fri 15 Feb Wilstone: 2 male Pintail, plus big flock of winter thrushes and starlings on the pasture near Miswell farm (Sue Rowe)
Thu 14 Feb Marsworth: The Bittern briefly flew across the back of the reedbed at 5.36pm (Steve Rodwell)
Tue 12 Feb Marsworth: Barn Owl over reedbed (Johne Taylor); 140 + Corn Buntings, 2 Water Rail calling, 35 Fieldfare, 2 Grey Wagtails and a bat - a small one so possibly a Pipistrelle (Lynne Lambert)
Tue 12 Feb Wilstone: 2nd Winter Mediterranean Gull still present in gull roost (David Bilcock)
Mon 11 Feb Wilstone: 2 Goldeneye, 2 Red-crested Pochard (D Girvan) HBC
Sun 10 Feb Wilstone: Water Rail, Snipe & Ruddy Dk from hide (P Tyler) HBC
Sat 9 Feb Wilstone: Cettis Warbler showing very well by hide, also 4 Goldeneye (2m) (I Williams) HBC
Thu 7 Feb Wilstone: 3 newly-arrived immature/female Common Shellduck, 17 Great Crested Grebes, 44 Mute Swans, 80 Greylag Geese, 798 Eurasian Wigeon, 52 Gadwall, 24 Mallard, 33 Shoveler, 23 Teal, 99 Northern Pochard, 137 Tufted Ducks, a drake Common Goldeneye, 2 adult drake Ruddy Ducks and 242 Coots, plus 22 Grey Herons with 11 nests now actively being used. And Cetti's Warbler heard by Mike Frosdick (Lee Evans); Barn Owl over fields betweew reservoir & Drayton Beauchamp Manor (observer not recorded) HBC
Thu 7 Feb Marsworth: 7 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Pochard, 3 Shoveler and 14 Coot, plus the Bittern, which flew into its favoured area of reeds at 17.31), 4 squealling Water Rails (1 seen well), Grey wagtail and 36 Fieldfares. And 23 Corn Buntings flew in (although 100 or more had roosted earlier) (Lee Evans)
Thu 7 Feb Tringford: 21 Mute Swans (including 4 first-winters), 49 Mallard, 17 Teal, 2 Tufted Ducks and 2 Great Crested Grebes, whilst Startopsend Reservoir, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 37 Coot, 44 Tufted Ducks, 10 Mallard and 17 Northern Pochards (Lee Evans)
Wed 6 Feb Startopsend: Second winter Mediterranean Gull - in evening; then flew off with Black-headed Gulls towards Wilstone (Peter Daltry)
Tue 5 Feb Wilstone: In the gull roost were 2 Mediterranean Gulls (the adult winter and 2nd-winter) amongst 806 Black-headed Gulls (of which 15 were fully chocolate brown-headed), plus 87 Common Gulls (including 11 first-winters) and 1 graellsii Lesser Black-backed Gull (Lee Evans)
Mon 4 Feb Wilstone: 5 Snipe in front of hide, 4 Common gulls amongst large Black-headed Gull flock, 1m 1f Goldeneyes, 1m Ruddy duck (may have been females too) (Phillip Walker)
Sat 2 Feb Wilstone: Bittern disturbed in the reedbed (Mick A'Court, reported by Lynne Lambert)
Sun 27 Jan: Marsworth: Bittern, flushed in reedbed (Mick A'Court, reported by Lynne Lambert)
Sun 27 Jan Wilstone: 8 Snipe, 1 Water Rail in front of hide, plus 1m 3f Goldeneye, 60+ Lapwing, Kingfisher (Keith Evans)
Sat 26 Jan Wilstone: 7 snipe in front of hide, also 2 goldeneye (Robin Pearson)
Fri 25 Jan Marsworth: A census of the Corn Bunting roost recorded a total of 159 birds (the initial 9 at 1603 hours, the largest single flock of 43 birds, with the last 3 at 1644).The highest roost count last winter was 178 birds, so this represents a shortfall of just over 10%. Also the resident pair of Eurasian Sparrowhawks were busy scattering roosting birds at the back of the reedbed, and a Common Buzzard spiralled up high from the sewage farm unusually late at 1640. Common Kestrels were hovering for last minute offerings over the back, and flyover finches from the Bulbourne direction included 3 Bramblings. Roosting Fieldfares numbered just 7 and Redwing 1, whilst an active flock of Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit moved quickly through (Lee Evans)
Wed 16 Jan Wilstone: 2 Goldeneye, 2 Kingfisher, Snipe, 6+ Long-tailed Tit, 50+ Lapwing, 20+ Shoveler, 50+ Wigeon (P Tyler) HBC
Mon 14 Jan Tringford: 134 Gadwall, 42 Common Teal, 22 Pochards and 65 Mute Swans, 10 Stock Doves (attracted to the grain), plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and aRobin in full song (Lee Evans)
Mon 14 Jan Startopsend: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 26 Tufted Ducks plus a female Tufted Duck x Scaup hybrid (with an extensive white blaze to its forehead, a broad, flat head but with a tuft, golden-yellow eye, chocolate-brown overall body plumage but with extensive grey sides and foreflanks on its right side only - the blue bill was tipped with a broad black 'nail' extending on to the flange) (Lee Evans)
Mon 14 Jan Wilstone: Red Kite & flew off towards Tring (Keith Evans); 2 Snipe in front of hide (Howard Clarke); 122 Northern Pochard, 898 Eurasian Wigeon, 22 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gadwall (Lee Evans)
Sun 13 Jan Wilstone: 3f Goldneye, Egyptian Geese, 3 Chiffchaff (M Collard) HBC
Thu 9 Jan Wilstone: Red Kite over, Kingfisher (P Griffin) HBC
Wed 8 Jan Tringford: 3 Egyptian Geese (Lee Evans)
Wed 8 Jan Startopsend: 11 Pochard and 2 Teal (Lee Evans)
Sun 6 Jan Marsworth: Bittern Roost Watch day: c120 Corn Buntings going to roost and (yes) 1 Bittern (sadly after most visitors had left) (Keith Evans, Johne Taylor and others); Earlier, Woodcock (Warren Claydon (reported by LL))
Sun 6 Jan Wilstone: Mediterranean Gull in Black-headed Gull roost (reported by several Tring birders)
Wed 2 Jan Wilstone: Gull roost contained 2 adult Common Gulls and 1adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; 2 Common Snipes in front of the hide and 2 female Common Goldeneye (Lee Evans): 2 Red Kite over (observer not recorded) HBC
Wed 2 Jan Marsworth: Bittern, Buzzard (observer not recorded) HBC
Tue 1 Jan Wilstone: 37 Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebe, 37 Mute Swans (8 first-winters), 615 Eurasian Wigeon, 124 Common Teal, 41 Shoveler, 62 Tufted Ducks, 38 Pochard, 2 pairs of Northern Pintail, a female Red-crested Pochard, 6 Ruddy Ducks and a Little Owl. At 1530, along with Dave Bilcock, Roy Hargreaves, Ian Williams, Francis Buckle and JT, I finally connected with the 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull in the Black-head roost (Lee Evans)
Tue 1 Jan Marsworth: Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, 2 squealing Water Rails, Goldcrest, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawks, a whistling Common Kingfisher, 33 Fieldfares and a single Corn Bunting. Best of all however was our single wintering Common Bittern (Lee Evans)
Note: HBC indicates sightings taken from Herts Bird Club website.
Back to Homepage