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Birding London trip report, 10
March
Amwell Gravel Pits,
Rye House RSPB Reserve and Fishers Green (Lee Valley Country
Park, Hertfordshire and
Essex), with Sally and John English led by Jack
Fearnside
Itinerary/weather
Jack met Sally and John outside their
hotel near Hyde Park at 7am. We drove north of London to Waltham
Abbey where the late opening of the park gates forced a reversal
of our plans and we went on to Amwell Gravel Pits near Stanstead
Abbots. Here we had breakfast while looking for our first birds
of the day, including a close European Robin and
a drumming
Great Spotted Woodpecker. A
slow walk up the lane towards the pits added many new species
and, after a good look over the main pit where Northern
Lapwings and Common Teals were
showing well, we walked through the scrubby woodland as far as
the River Ash, where a Grey Wagtail was a good
find. On returning to the car we drove to Rye House, a reserve
of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Here we meandered
round the hides adding birds such as Green Sandpiper, Common
Shelduck, Common Snipe and
excellent views of a Eurasian Kingfisher digging its nest hole.
We headed south again to Fishers Green where a look over the
fields at Hayes Hill Farm added to our goose list. The Bittern
hide did not supply the eponymous species but a skulking Water
Rail was a bonus. We walked the track towards Holyfield Pit,
seeing large numbers of Fieldfares gathering for their migration
back to Scandinavia and, in the failing light hearing and seeing
a singing Chiffchaff, evidence that real spring is just around
the corner. We left Fishers Green with five minutes to spare
before the gates closed and Sally and John were back at their
hotel by around 7pm.
57 species were seen or heard during the trip.
The weather was reasonably kind for
us, with a bright start becoming duller through the day. A cold
and quite strong wind made birding in the shelter of hedges,
woodland and hides a benefit.
Species list
Little Grebe Seen well at Amwell,
birds were also present at Rye House and Fishers Green with one
actually feeding in the reedbed outside the (somewhat vandalised)
Pochard Hide.
Great Crested Grebe Distant birds
were at Amwell and a bird in summer plumage was close by at Fishers
Green.
Great Cormorant Good numbers
were resting on the tern rafts of both Amwell and Rye House.
Roosting and nesting birds were in the trees at Holyfield Lake,
Fishers Green.
Grey Heron Flying birds were
noted at Amwell GP.
Mute Swan Common on all waters.
Greylag Goose Large numbers were
feeding in the fields at Hayes Hill Farm.
Canada Goose Common.
Egyptian Goose A pair were feeding
on grassland at Hayes Hill Farm
Gadwall Common on most waters
visited.
Common Teal Close views were
had a various sites where the distinctive white flank stripe
of the male was noted. Now split from the Green-winged Teal of
North America.
Mallard Common.
Northern Shoveler Plenty of birds at most
sites.
Common Pochard Our first were females
at Amwell but we did get good views of males here and at Rye
House and Fishers Green.
Tufted Duck A common duck on
most waters.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Good views
of a female in flight at Amwell with another doing the rounds
at Rye House.
Common Kestrel Singles at Amwell
and near the weir on Holyfield Lake, Fishers Green.
Common Pheasant Seen at all sites
with large numbers on the muck fields at Fishers Green at dusk.
Water Rail A furtive bird showed
fleetingly but well from the Bittern Hide at Fishers Green.
Common Moorhen Common, with large numbers
on fields at Fishers Green.
Eurasian Coot Common on all
waters.
Ringed Plover The first birds
were back for the summer at Amwell Gravel Pit.
Northern Lapwing Our first
was trying to hide behind a stone at Amwell but we eventually
enjoyed good views of displaying birds, flaunting their chestnut
under-tail coverts, at Rye House.
Common Snipe We scoped a secretive
feeding bird from the Moorhen Hide at Rye House. Now separated
from the North American Wilson's Snipe.
Green Sandpiper Two or three
birds were seen well at Rye House where they overwinter.
Black-headed Gull Common throughout
the day.
Common Gull Several were noted
including a small flock resting on the water at Amwell GP.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Birds
were seen in flight on our outward journey and one rested with
the Lapwings at Amwell GP.
Feral Pigeon In London? What
can we say?
Stock
Dove Three in flight over
woodland behind Amwell were the only birds of the day.
Woodpigeon Common, looks good,
tastes good! The perfect bird?
Eurasian Kingfisher As we entered
the Kingfisher Hide at Rye House a male was resting on a close
branch giving perfect views through the scope. We later watched
it entering a hole in the artificial breeding bank and attempting
to dig some more.
Green Woodpecker Two skulking
birds were difficult to see in the woodland at Amwell, but one
on a power line pole showed well and was later seen in flight.
Great Spotted Woodpecker A drumming
male during breakfast at Amwell was scoped on nearby trees.
Sand Martin (Bank Swallow) An
early summer migrant was seen over the watchpoint at Amwell GP.
Grey Wagtail A single bird in
winter plumage showed its yellow coverts well as it fed along
the River Ash near Amwell.
Winter Wren Commonly heard,
and sometimes seen, in most habitats.
Dunnock Many were singing at
various sites.
European Robin Singing and
showing well, Robins were common at all sites.
Common Blackbird Common.
Fieldfare The first sat on top
of a tree at Amwell and large numbers were seen in the farm paddocks
and muck fields (c100) at Fishers Green.
Song Thrush Surprisingly reticent,
we saw a few in flight and one was chased by a Blackbird at Amwell.
Also seen at Fishers Green.
Chiffchaff One of these early
summer migrants was first heard singing, then seen high in some
bushes, in failing light at Fishers Green.
Long-tailed Tit We had good views
of roving parties at many sites.
Blue Tit Common.
Great Tit Common.
Eurasian Jay One heard calling
and one glimpsed flying away from us over the railway tracks
at Amwell.
Common Magpie Seen throughout
the day. Now split from the Black-billed Magpie of North America
(see 45th supplement of the AOU).
Western Jackdaw Large numbers in the
farm fields at Fishers Green.
Carrion Crow Common at all sites,
especially the fields at Hayes Hill Farm.
Common Starling Seen on our
journey and at Amwell.
House Sparrow A few on roofs
near Stanstead Abbots were the only ones noted during the day.
Common Chaffinch Common,
sometimes in good numbers.
European Greenfinch First seen
on bushes along the lane to the railway at Amwell, also present
at Rye House and Fishers Green.
European Goldfinch Seen at
Amwell with one very close bird in the woodland (a male as the
red projected behind the eye).
Eurasian Siskin A few were
feeding around the Alder trees at Amwell, with a couple of males
showing well.
Bullfinch Two pairs were feeding
on Blackthorn buds at the disused railway path at Amwell and
a pair were later seen very well as they fed on the ground in
front of us on our return.
Reed Bunting males and females
were at the feeding site at Amwell where they fed amongst the
hay. Also seen at Rye House.
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