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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. 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?
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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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.
Stock
Dove — Three in flight over
woodland behind Amwell were the only birds of the day.