Margaret’s Merlin

A Merlin is a small, dashing falcon. Margaret is Australian. Margaret was on a brief visit to the UK. Margaret is a birder. Margaret had never seen a Merlin. Driving past Broom Gravel Pits, en route to the RSPB HQ at Sandy to look for the Dartford Warbler that was temporarily in residence, a Meadow Pipit flew fast and low across the road in front of the car, hotly pursued by a small falcon. Merlin! Almost of its own volition, the car veered across the road and into the handily placed and vacant lay-by before those in the back realised what was happening. Margaret, in the front, was trying to get out of the car before it had come to a complete stop but was persuaded to stay in her seat while a lorry thundered past. When the view cleared the chase was still on. The Meadow Pipit climbed and dived, twisted and turned and jinked this way and that across the field but could not shake the Merlin from its tail. As the aerobatic display continued the pipit climbed vertically, followed by the Merlin, and then dived for the hedge. The pursuit which must have lasted about three minutes from when the birds first flew in front of the car came to a sudden end when the Merlin struck as the pipit sought the safety of the hedge. The Merlin flew north over the field carrying its prey and was eventually lost to view amongst (or against) the belt of trees. Margaret reckoned it was the best raptor chase she had ever seen.

Margaret is Australian. Margaret was on a brief visit to the UK. Margaret is a birder. Margaret has now seen the small, dashing falcon that is a Merlin.

New Year’s Day, 2004 : The Tenth Anniversary

Ten years ago, on 1 January 1994, Phil Whittington and I (accompanied for half the day by Jenny, Andrew & Matthew and Brian Bond) set out from Caerlaverock WWT reserve to tour the Dumfries & Galloway countryside with the aim of seeing as many species as possible. We recorded 60+ species starting with Whooper Swan and Barnacle Goose on the reserve, Goosanders on the River Nith in Dumfires, waders at Southerness Point, White-fronted Geese at Loch Ken and finishing the day with a Dipper as dusk fell. We had had a good days birding but covered a lot of miles. That was the start of my New Year’s Day (NYD) big birdwatch, which has now become something of a tradition. I now limit myself to an area within 10 km of home (wherever that may be) both to reduce the distance travelled and to maximise birding time. In the intervening years I have spent five NYDs around Codicote, Hertfordshire, England, three around Altona, Victoria, Australia and last year, for the first time, around Henlow, Bedfordshire, England. Fittingly for the 10th anniversary of that first NYD big birdwatch, Phil Whittington was back in the UK, having forsaken summer in South Africa where he now works on gulls for winter here, and did not need much encouragement to join Andrew, my eldest son and I. Our aim was to better the 62 species we had recorded on NYD 2003, our first in Henlow.

Our still relatively new home range within 10 km Henlow, stretches from the chalk downland of the Chilterns, rising to 183 m at Telegraph Hill in the south across the flood plain of the River Ivel and its tributary the Hiz to the greensand ridge in the north from which Sandy, HQ of the RSPB takes its name. The A6 trunk road between Luton and Bedford forms the western boundary while the eastern border is a line on the map passing through the village of Ashwell. Three towns, Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock, all in Hertfordshire, occupy the south-eastern quadrant while the smaller towns of Stotfold and Biggleswade lie on the route of the A1 which runs north-south across the area. The larger towns of Luton and Bedford lie outside our range, to the SW and NW respectively.

Our early morning plans were scuppered when we woke at 05:30 to wind and driving rain. Start of play was delayed until 06:30 as we opted for an extra hour in bed. When we resurfaced the wind had dropped and rain eased. It was almost light by the time we had breakfasted and the first birds were recorded, Carrion Crow, Blackbird and Robin as we loaded the car with the necessary provisions. At 07:28, it was already too late for any owls and my latest ever start on a NYD birdwatch. Thankfully, the rain had all but stopped as we threaded our way through the lanes west of Henlow heading towards Clophill and the Cainhoe sand-pits. Rabbits were plentiful on the roadside verges. In the vain hope of a late-calling owl we pulled in at Stanford forestry plantation but only heard Redwings flying over head and a distant Mallard. Back on the road a Sparrowhawk flew fast and low into the plantation. Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws were seen en route to Ireland, where Andrew spotted a Buzzard feeding on the ground. Also seen near here were Pheasants, Rooks, a small flock of six Fieldfare and some winter-plumaged Black-headed Gulls. Near Haynes we came across our first covey of Partridge. Standing still within 10 m of they road, they allowed us a close view and proved to be Chukar, lacking the necklace of their red-legged cousins. A garden feeder attracted a Great Tit and as we approached Clophill we saw Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Collared Dove (our 20th species at 08:20).

The yaffle of a distant Green Woodpecker, the song of a Dunnock and calls of Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Coal Tit were heard as we followed the narrow footpath between the houses towards Cainhoe sand pits. Carrion Crows and Moorhen fed in the horse paddocks and the second Sparrowhawk of the day, a male, soared overhead. The pit nearest Clophill, held few birds, as usual, but we did record our first Coot and Tufted Duck. On the further pit were more wildfowl, including Wigeon, Pochard, Gadwall plus winter-plumaged Great Crested Grebe. On the low-lying swampy area between the two pits was a gathering of gulls including Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, a single Great Black-backed Gull and a small party of Lapwing. Closer scrutiny of the marshy area revealed up to 50 Teal feeding and snoozing but no Snipe. While checking out the water birds a Meadow Pipit had flown over, identified by call, and a Wren was heard. Some Greylag Geese were feeding on the northern shore of the pit. Heading back to Clophill, a single Skylark flew across the open expanse of field to the west of the pits. A Cormorant had appeared on the first pit and a Heron stood sentinel on the bank (had we missed him on the way out?). Near the footbridge over the fast-flowing River Flit we heard and then saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the top of an alder tree and a Goldfinch flying over. We followed a flock of Long-tailed Tits along a hedgerow back into the village (48th species at 10:03).

It was still grey and murky as we left Clophill but at least we had not had to contend with the wintry squalls of last year. A Jay was seen in a garden on the edge of Rowney Warren while nearby were a flock of 120 Fieldfare and a covey of Red-legged Partridges. Along Old Rowney Lane, a female Kestrel was perched low in an oak tree and several small flocks of Golden Plover flew over most heading northwards. On a set-aside field near Abbey Farm were a flock of c.30 Chaffinches that included at least a couple of Yellow Hammers. Phil managed to get us onto a Stock Dove flying away and we heard a Mistle Thrush. It had now started raining and we thought we might be in for a repeat of last years wash-out. Undeterred, we stopped at Southill Lake where we peered through gaps in the trees to see if there were any waterbirds. Nothing new for the list (7 Great Crested Grebes and c.20 Pochards) but we heard a Goldcrest and saw a Grey Squirrel. A final scan along the south shore of the lake turned a white plastic bag into a Little Egret (57th species at 11:30), probably the biggest surprise of the day. From Southill, we retraced our steps to the deciduous woodland of Swiss Gardens. No new woodland birds were seen but the small pond held a pair of Mandarin and a pair of Shoveler. The third Sparrowhawk of the day flew over. Phil was of the opinion that we should have started the day at Swiss Gardens, to have more chance of picking up those elusive woodland species, such as Treecreeper and Nuthatch. We headed home for lunch via Jordan’s and Langford Mills without adding anything new, so finished the morning on 59 species.

Over lunch of the now traditional delicious home-made tomato soup and home-baked bread-rolls we kept an eye on the garden recording, Greenfinch, Starling, Great Tit, House Sparrow and Chaffinch on the feeders. A Wood Pigeon and two female Blackbirds fed on cotoneaster berries where Jenny had earlier seen a Song Thrush (we did not see one all day!). In contrast to last year the weather after lunch slowly improved. Accompanied by Matthew and Brian Bond we set out for Broom sand pits, counting a flock of 57 Redwing on the Pyghtles, Henlow’s sports ground. At Broom we quickly added Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, winter-plumaged Dabchick and the long-staying sub-adult male Scaup but struggled to find anything else. Phil thought he might have heard a Treecreeper near the moat house, but we could not locate it. The highlight of the day was watching a flock of 100+ Golden Plover wheeling over the pits, with the weak late-afternoon wintry sun catching and flashing on their white underwings. We rounded off the day with a repeat visit to Swiss Gardens where we stayed until dark in the hope of an owl and were rewarded with the hoot of a Tawny Owl, our last bird and 65th species of the day.

Our second NYD in Bedfordshire had been blessed with better weather than NYD2003 and we recorded a couple more species. We had stayed within Bedfordshire, mostly to the north and west of Henlow and driven 42 miles. Four species, Little Egret, Scaup, Redshank and Chukar (if the latter can be counted) were recorded for the first time on a NYD big birdwatch in southern England. As usual there were several species we had hoped/expected to see including Grey Partridge, Snipe, Little Owl, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Reed Bunting. As I get to know my home range better, hopefully some of these species will appear on future NYD lists.