Continued appalling weather 28.02.10

With the A120 awash, the footpaths streams and any agricultural land a quagmire, I have not managed too many forays out recently. A trip to Broxbourne Woods for the reported hawfinches was non successful despite an hour of searching and listening and so I have resorted to photos of the moon! Good moon last night (27th Feb) as I listened for owls. 1 tawny and 2 little owls heard.

I received a report from a village resident of a rough legged buzzard moving through Little Hadham air space, so need to be vigilant in buzzard watching over the next few days. Reported to have been seen heading towards Sawbridgeworth and with the aerodrome around Trimm's Green already holding a peregrine and merlin recently it is possible that it could be around Matham's Wood near Green Tye.

Now booked 28th March for a dawn chorus walk. All welcome, meeting at L.H. Village Hall at 5.45 am and finishing around 9ish. Please let me know if you intend on coming so we don't go without you. Note: clocks go forward this day!!

North of the A120 19.02.10

A walk back from the town gave up views of most of the regulars. With sunny periods, the light was good but the temperature still low. 2 buzzards were seen over the lagoons east of Hadham Hall. The lagoons themselves offered just the 2 feral duck and the 3 mute swans that have taken up winter residence. A grey heron was also near the lagoon, shown here.

A solitary herring gull lazed across the fields and several coot, moorhen and mallards were observed on the Hadham Hall ponds. A song thrush was witnessed along the footpath behind the school where also the 3rd buzzard of the walk was recorded.

Photos depict the grey heron, mute swan, singing robin, buzzard and a view across the full lagoon, looking south to Cradle End. Finally, a surprise in the sky, a chinook helicopter!

Trip to Lisbon

A 5 day trip to Lisbon (7th - 11th) was most relaxing and enjoyable. Although not a birding trip, in the process of wandering around places such as the estuary, botanical gardens and local parks, plus a trip across the River Tejo to Montijo and Alcochete, several species were seen. Turnstones and whimbrels were spotted along the river with hundreds of yellow legged gulls. Ring necked parakeets and (presumed) monk parakeets flew in the parks whilst a bus trip across some 19th century salt pans gave views of black winged stilt. Blackcaps, willow warblers and chiffchaffs were in the parks and a single sardinian warbler was first heard and then seen in Parque Eduardo VI. Black shouldered kites and cattle egrets were witnessed from the bus near Alcochete where also swallows and house martins were already busy refurbishing last years nests. Good to see these summer birds so early in the year, making it feel like summer. That is, until we got off the plane at Gatwick into -1C !
Butterflies were also evident, with red admirals and an unidentified fritillary both seen in the botanical gardens.
Soon to be attached are some general views from around the city, including the symmetrical patterns of Parque Eduardo, looking down to the city centre and the river.

13.02.10 Unusual sight

On a walk back from town, via Cradle End, Green Street and Muggin's Wood I came across a most unusual sight. This was in the form of a kingfisher flying along the ditch in Green Street. Not a place I have associated with this species. My 5th record of this bird within the parish. Far too quick for a photo, unfortunately.

Also on offer was a nuthatch in the large oak tree on Brick Kiln Hill, a black headed gull heading north, several fieldfare and redwings and a solitary long tailed tit.

Snowdrops were in evidence along Green Street, shown here, but nothingelse to encourage me into thinking it is yet spring.

Another attachment shows a collared dove on lines, also in Green Street.

5.2.10 Ridge and Ash Valley

The first day of 2010 where the temperature crawled into double figures. Consequently a lot more bird activity in the mid afternoon. A little owl at its usual roost, too far away for a photo was a highlight along with a total of 6 common buzzards. A pair were involved in high courtship flights, shown here. Several redwing and fieldfare were recorded as well as goldfinch and chaffinch. A solitary black headed gull headed north, passing a southerly herring gull. In all 26 species recorded in bright light and a pleasing blue sky. Other photos show a singing robin and the fast flowing River Ash.

2.02.10 Walk north of the village.

A very quiet day, with little to note apart from the usual suspects. A search for the previously mentioned stonechats didn't produce a sighting. Maybe moved on during the cold snap. Very few birds were braving the early moring cold air apart from the usual corvids, tits and finches. Several redwing and a flock of 9 fieldfare were noted.

Garden surprise 30.01.10

Being in the garden before dusk gave the opportunity to watch a grey heron. It settled on the chapel roof but was off as soon as I appeared with my camera. A pleasant photo in the evening light. Also recorded was a female sparrow hawk gliding north over the Ash valley.