1st sign of spring

A pleasant wander around the west and then south of the parish gave views of plenty of the regular birds. However, the 1st chiffchaff of the year was seen and heard near Westland Green.

1st chiffchaff of the year

chiffchaff

A little further on a pair of treecreepers were found on an old oak, constantly calling to each other. Overhead 1 of 8 buzzards seen was also busy calling.

treecreeper

treecreeper

Near the golf club on Chapel Lane a red kite was circling on thermals along with 3 common buzzards and a sparrow hawk.

red kite over Ash Valley G.C.

All in all, over 30 bird species seen, finishing off with the rather strange sight of 2 mandarin duck wandering around a sheep field. These headed off south down the River Ash. In trees around this point were 50+ starlings and 25+ fieldfare. A little further on, a check of the local rookery showed that 20 nests are occupied this year. Plenty of corvids about.

Mandarin

mandarin

mandarin flypast



Little Hadham rookery

Barn Owl

This afternoon I received an email letting me know that lesser redpolls and siskins were feeding at a garden feeder in nearby Wellpond Green. Mandy and Anton kindly permitted me to pop up to get a few photos, but, as is often the case, the birds failed to show whilst I was present. Good cup of tea, though.
However, on the way home I noticed a white patch in an old oak tree and sure enough, it was a barn owl. Few photos here as it headed off hunting. All taken in fading light. Hopefully, the finches will reappear for a photo session tomorrow.

Anglesey Abbey

A Good Friday visit to a very busy Anglesey Abbey. The gardens were wonderful and I suspect worth a visit in May for breeding passerines. On the wander around the spectacular winter gardens a sparrow hawk, great and blue tits were heard. A great spotted woodpecker was drumming and calling whilst goldcrests and long tailed tits were heard in the many well established conifers. The quarry lake held just one moorhen and blackbirds and song thrushes enjoyed the ground covering vegetation and bamboo stands. Several empty nests were seen, especially in the large wisteria and espaliered pyrus that were attached to the Abbey itself.

Monday morning wander

My usual Monday morning check around the parish. Today, from town to home via Bury Green and Clinton's Farm. Cold wind and light snow underfoot with poor light conditions. Very little about and what there was present reminded me of December, not late March. Fieldfare and redwing were still visible, albeit in small numbers. Dunnock, house sparrow, wood pigeon, blue and great tit were fairly ubiquitous whilst at the River Ash at Hadham Ford long tailed tit, robin, chaffinch and more house sparrows were sheltering in the hedge. A common buzzard around Bury Green, and both great spotted and green woodpecker. However, no chiffchaff or hoped for wheatear. 2 kestrels were seen, one near Cradle End, Plantings Wood whilst the other on Hoecroft Lane at the top of Ford Hill. In the lane here, evidence of a new badger sett being dug, with the sandy soil tipped all over the lane.

blue tit

moorhen

ice breaking mallard

great spotted woodpecker

View of Little Hadham at The Ford

robin

house sparrow

Cold wander

A short walk, in freezing conditions today. The barn owl was in its usual place and 2 tufted duck and a solitary coot were recorded. A few blackbirds, collared doves, corvids and wood pigeons completed the list. With a (hopefully) change in the weather this week, before another forecasted cold snap next weekend, it is time to get out and start checking higher ground for ring ouzels and wheatear. Both species now recorded on the south coast, so a few days and they will be making their way through Hertfordshire. Photo here of the barn owl, hunched up from the cold.

New moth for the garden

2 Grey Shoulder-knot

Grey Shoulder-knot

A visit to the moth trap this morning gave views of 4 March moths roosting on the sheet. However, of more interest were 2 Grey Shoulder-knot moths that were inside the trap. Amoth that hibernates and can be found through Autumn and then re-emerging in March and April. These are the moths that will lay the eggs for the next generation that will appear in Autumn. They normally hibernate in cracks in trees, especially oaks but can also be found tucked away in corners of garden sheds. This is my first record of this species in the garden; species number 254.

Superb bird walk

lesser redpoll

lesser redpoll

1 of 7 meadow pipits

spot the little owl

ploughed field warming up.

After the fog had lifted I ventured out in good temperatures and a clear blue sky. Plenty of bird song and after 400 yards from the house I had little owl, great spotted woodpecker and the regular tits and finches. In all, 40 species for the walk which, when you consider that my village list for 2013 is only 60, it shows what a lot of birds were about. Highlight was undoubtedly a solitary lesser redpoll seen on the edge of Queer Wood, with a few linnets. Only the 3rd parish record for this bird. Soon after a mandarin flew over, diving down into a flooded area of an inaccessible coppice. Treecreeper, nuthatch, 7 meadow pipits and goldcrest were also registered. A bullfinch was heard, as was a tawny owl. 3 common buzzards overhead as I wandered back home down Chapel Lane. A most relaxing wander.

Late afternoon wander

Goldfinch roost, late afternoon

goldfinch

pair of tufties, Hadham Hall lagoon.

 

Having heard of 2 suspected shoveler seen heading over Stortford and maybe in the direction of Hadham Hall lagoon, I thought it worth a quick check. Squally and cold conditions didn't make the wander too pleasant. However, a good flock of goldfinches were seen roosting at Hadham Hall whilst at the lagoon 4 tufted duck (2 pairs) and the resident little grebe were all I got. Good number of mixed gull flocks were heading south down the Ash Valley, probably to the gull roost at Amwell. Poor weather conditions have scuppered my plans for a good walk today, so shall plan an early morning wander tomorrow.

A new moth species for the year

March moth (Alsophila aescularia)

A visit to the garden trap this morning, in blustery and very wet condtions, was a success in as much as two moths were roosting inside. Firstly, a March moth as shown above. Secondly, an equally common moth, a hebrew character. This was the first of the year for the garden and will now probably be found in the trap every night through until the end of May. Hopefully, with the weather coming from the south and west there may be an increase in night time temperatures and therefore a wider selection of spring time moths.

Hebrew character (Orthosia gothica)

Year lister and uncommon bird

This morning, a walk to the car gave views of a solitary lapwing heading south over the house. Only 3rd parish record for this uncommon Hadham bird. First sighting since 2009.

2 yellowhammers

Later, a walk to Much Hadham to pick up the car after some repairs. A barn owl was noted at 4pm, hunting over fields to the south of the parish whilst also of interest 2 of the regular mandarin flock flew over fields. First sighting of this bird in 2013. Due to perpetual rain, no photos taken. Also, a flock of 12+ yellowhammers was good to record. Let's hope some stay to breed as this area is well populated with these buntings all winter, but only a few stay to sing and build a territory.

North side of the parish

A walk from Hadham Hall to town and then a bus ride back. Glorious weather, clear blue sky, light smattering of snow and reasonable temperatures. A fox was seen running for cover over fields whilst at the lagoon the resident barn owl was present along with 6 tufted duck (4 drakes) and 2 little grebes. A great spotted woodpecker was drumming as a song thrush flew through Newspring Wood. Skylarks were in both good number and good voice and a reed bunting (male) was seen briefly on the footpath to Hadham Lodge. Yellowhammers, robins, blackbirds and wrens were singing, so all in all, a wonderful walk.

Little Hadham Wander 13.03.13

A wander back along footpaths from the town to home this morning. Great light, slight breeze and freezing temperatures. Not too much on show, with a kestrel seen hunting over Brick Kiln Hill, a green woodpecker in Millfield Lane and usual tits, finches, corvids and dunnocks. A check on the River Ash in the village gave views of the pair of mallards that seem to have taken up residence but no sign of the recent grey wagtail. A bullfinch was heard near Plantings Wood whilst skylarks called from the sky and robins from the hedgerow. Although not many birds, a most pleasant wander.

male kestrel

Dunnock at The Ford

Mallards on the River Ash

Village pub, the Nags Head!

Footpath security