Tring Reservoirs and Stockers Lake 06.01.23

 Early start to Tring. First stop was Tescos for a coffee on the outskirts of Tring where a flock of Siskins were feeding in half light at 7.45am on Alder cones in the car park.

Off to Wilstone, the largest of the reservoirs and and a wander around the the hide. Light slowly got better but we knew birds would be distant so had left the cameras in the car. Usual fare: Shovelers, Teal, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Pochards, Greylags, Canada geese, Cormorants and Lapwings. Upon leaving the hide, great views of a Goldcrest. Rick had a Med gull which wasn't seen again as we checked all the Black headed gulls

Further around we stopped to scan the far bank, a Green sandpiper was our only wader of the day (apart from the 100's of Lapwings.) A check on the trees here but just a Blue tit. Back to the car and a drive around to Startops, Marsworth and Tringford Reservoirs.

Nothing noteworthy on Startops, 2 pairs of very distant Goldeneye on Marsworth and 4 Little egrets, several Grey herons and a Great white egret at Tringford.

From here, back to Tescos for another coffee and then a walk around the entire perimeter of Stocker's Lake near Rickmansworth. Rose ringed parakeets were ubiquitous, shovelers a plenty, Long tailed tits everywhere, more Grey herons and a Water rail heard from the footpath.

Good numbers of Great crested grebe, before a trip back to the car and home for 4.30pm with a good trip along the M25.

Species List:

1. Great crested grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Grey heron
4. Little egret
5. Great white egret
6. Mute swan
7. Greylag goose
8. Canada goose
9. Mallard
10. Gadwall
11. Wigeon
12. Teal
13. Shoveler
14. Tufted duck
15. Goldeneye
16. Red kite
17. Common buzzard
18. Sparrowhawk
19. Red legged partridge
20. Water rail (heard)
21. Moorhen
22. Coot
23. Lapwing
24. Green sandpiper
25. Black headed gull
26. Common gull
27. Herring gull
28. Lesser black backed gull
29. Mediterranean Gull
30. Wood pigeon
31. Collared dove
32. Rose ringed parakeet
33. Pied wagtail
34. Goldcrest
35. Robin
36. Wren
37. Blackbird
38. Redwing
39. Long tailed tit
40. Great tit
41. Blue tit
42. Chaffinch
43. Goldfinch
44. Linnet
45. Siskin
46. House sparrow
47. Starling
48. Jay (heard)
49. Magpie
50. Carrion crow
51. Rook
52. Jackdaw.    In total, 10 year listers.

Hybrid drake mallard x ?

Drake Pochard

Grey heron

Shoveler drake

Siskin

Grey squirrel

Great crested grebe

Mute swan