Turner Court Bird show

On RSPB birdwatch morning I spotted 2 less than usual inhabitants in the big fern tree next door - as well as pigeons and crows obviously ... 

Goldcrest in the fern

Coal Tit too

Pallas's Dip but good year ticks

I have been starved of birding for the last week due to a project go live - living out of a hotel, late nights with work and parties!
Friday allowed a cheeky trip to Moor Green Lakes to attempt to see the rare warbler. A very fleeting view of what could have been, but can't count that as a tick.
This trip produced a massive 9 years ticks !
Lots of goldcrests to start, and then LONG TAILED TIT, a hunting BARN OWL, JAY, a single
MEADOW PIPIT on the river bank, a single EGYPTIAN GOOSE, a pair of calling GREY WAGTAILS, a single COAL TIT while looking for the warbler, a TREECREEPER and 3 GOOSANDER on one of the lakes.
Year tick total up to #77

Note: My lumix camera does NOT operate in freezing conditions! The button to take pictires fails to work. The only way to use it is by plugging in the remote shutter button!
Hence the lack of pictures recently, it just dont work...

College Lake visit

A quick stop off back from Bledlow Ridge (where I saw Red Legged Partridge) produced RED CRESTED POCHARD, GREENFINCH, SNIPE and REED BUNTING
Year total to #68

Marsworth Bittern

On the way back from Therfield I stopped off at Marsworth in the freezing cold... after about hour and hour of standing in semi shelter from the cold wind, and just before my bits froze solid I spotted the Bittern. 

Bittern at Marsworth 

Also clocked up KINGFISHER and CORN BUNTING in the old oak tree before going to roost in the reeds by the entrance from unofficial car park

Year list up to #64

Therfield Year Tick Fest

A trip to Harpenden for an MRI scan on Saturday morning , so after a juicy fry up I continued on to Royston primarily looking for the GGS. No luck on that front, however a hatful of year ticks including COMMON BUZZARD, REDWING, LINNET, LAPWING, YELLOWHAMMER , MISTLE THRUSH, GOLDEN PLOVER, COMMON GULL, GREY PARTRIDGE and RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE.
Bringing the year list to #62

Grey Partridge at Therfield

Tring Year Ticks

A Thursday morning visit to Wilstone on a very murky morning produced a single WREN from the hide , and on the walk back to the car a single PIED WAGTAIL on the edge of the reservoir.

Fielfare on a miserable day

Friday at dusk I went to Marsworth where Peter, Ian, Mike and others were on the BITTERN. I only had nikon binos in the car - as this was not a planned trip (flat viewing had thrown me out what is one to do??) so had views of the back of the roosting bird.

Waxwings in Bucks

The alert came in coming back from Calvert that WAXWING were at College Lake.
Some record shots near to the front of the reserve
#47 for 2013

Waxwing at College Lake

Calvert Lifer - Caspian Gull #263

A trip to Calvert BBOWT this morning - very dull day and muddy.
I squelched around some of the lake - after a stop at the first hide where black-headed gulls and tufted duck were aplenty.
Then  I went to the second hide parallel with the road for a better view at the gull roost area - amongst the HERRING GULL, and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL was the reported CASPIAN GULL - very 'clean' looking bird, slightly smaller than the herring gulls around it and with a clean face with dark eye and slight orange tip to the bill.
Record shot below - but in the weather and distance a low quality output
#263 Lifer - first for 2013.

Caspian Gull at Calvert BBOWT Lake

Latimer and Tring birding

Third attempt to see the GREAT WHITE EGRET- I found it in a big grassy field , and after wellies on could get quite close along a footpath to get the shot below.

Then headed to Tring and with a little help saw and pictured the red head SMEW

Great White Egret in the Chenies

Smew at Tringford Ressie

Tring 2013 - Let the Year List begin!

A visit before work to all 4 ressies in super speedy time (1 hour ish) - clocked up 25 species, the highlights being WATER PIPIT at Wilstone and a SPARROWHAWK at Startops end.
Year total a massive #26!

Wilstone Water Pipit by the Jetty