Flycatching Mandarins

Mandarin Duck Aix sponsa was high on the wanted list of bird-watching friend Len Tolhurst visiting from Australia. With this in mind we visited Swiss Gardens (map ref. TL146446) on 3 June 2003. On the north bank of the ornamental lake we found a sleeping male Mandarin, which sadly remained in this comatose state throughout our stay so we were unable to fully appreciate his beautiful plumes.

Later, at the east end of the pond, we came across a female Mandarin accompanied by five downy young, each about ¼ (one quarter) adult size. In the still and muggy conditions there were large numbers of midges (sorry I am not an entomologist, so cannot be more precise) low over the surface of the pond. While the female Mandarin swam sedately across the pond, all five ducklings were actively feeding on these midges, snapping at those flying close and stretching their necks to reach those slightly further away. Occasionally, the ducklings would rush across the water leaving quite a wake, then jump clear to ‘flycatch’ a passing insect. This behaviour continued for the ten plus minutes we were on the bank of the lake and was delightful to watch – the ducklings really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I cannot recall seeing any waterfowl behaving in this way before.

Swiss Gardens has recently been a regular site for this species according to observations listed on the BedsBirds email group (BedsBirds@yahoogroups.com) and I had seen a pair there on New Year’s Day 2003. There were no records from this site in 2000 (Brind 2001) and only one winter record in 2001 (Brind 2002). The latest Bedfordshire atlas only records ‘probable breeding’ for this tetrad (Dazley & Trodd 1994). Is this the first confirmed breeding for this site?

Brind, R. (ed). 2001. The Bedfordshire Bird Report 2000. The Bedfordshire Natuarlist. 55(2):10.
Brind, R. (ed). 2002. The Bedfordshire Bird Report 2001. The Bedfordshire Natuarlist. 56(2):12.
Dazley & P.Trodd. 1994.

Blue Tit Parus caerulus Behaviour

We did not put up our new nest box until 30 March 2003. A bit late in the season, but better late than never, we hoped. So, we were surprised but very pleased when within a week a pair of Blue Tits had begun visiting the nest box regularly. These visits were generally brief, with one bird (we were not certain if it was the male or female) perching at the circular entrance hole, looking into and occasionally entering the nest box. After a while we noticed that the dark brown wood-stain around the nest box entrance hole had been chipped away. Closer observation over the next couple of days revealed that one of the birds would perch at the nest box entrance and peck at the surrounds until the bare wood was revealed. Occasionally, the Blue Tit would perch in the entrance and peck at the inner edge of the hole. This behaviour continued for the next three days, with the pale scar slowly increasing in size, until it was approximately double the size of the entrance hole. We think only one bird was involved in this behaviour, but cannot be sure. The other bird of the pair was usually perched in a nearby lavender bush.

I have checked other nest boxes currently occupied by Blue Tits, nest box photographs from a variety of sources (????) and television footage (Gardener’s World) and have not seen similar scarring on any of the nest boxes. Male Blue Tits are reported to tap around the entrance of a nesting hollow when trying to entice a female (BWP) but I can find no reference to such extensive “re-decoration” of the nest entrance.

During nest building in the nest box, the Blue Tits paid frequent visits to the window frames of both our and our neighbours’ houses, most frequently to the upstairs windows but occasionally downstairs too. We could not determine what the birds were collecting or eating when we observed them through binoculars. We could not see any insects when we made a close inspection of our kitchen window frame where the Blue Tits had been seen and decided they were probably collecting spiders webs for nest building.

This nest box lid was difficult to remove, so we kept our investigations of the nest box contents to a minimum. The nest was complete when we looked on 8 May 2003. By 23 May 2003, the adults were paying frequent visits to the nest box suggesting the young had hatched. We heard the young for the first time on 27 May 2003. Following the hot dry spell at the end of May, all adult activity had ceased. When we checked the nest box on 1 Jun 2003 it contained one dead chick and one unhatched egg.

New Year’s Day, 2003

Wet?! Looking out the window at 05:30 was like looking through a waterfall, so it was back to bed for a while. By 06:00 the rain seemed to have eased somewhat and my sons Andrew, Matthew and I decided to take our chances. While getting breakfast and loading provisions (and two teenage boys require a lot of provisions) the only sound was the drumming of rain on the conservatory roof. The local Robins that have been singing by the light of the street lamps in the recent mild conditions, were ominously quiet. Once again we wondered if we would not be better off back in bed. By 06:30 we were ready and decided to brave the elements for our ‘New Year’s Day Birdwatch’ where we try to see as many species as possible within 10 km of home.

During 2002, we had moved 25 km (15 miles) north from Codicote in the depths of darkest Hertfordshire to the Bedfordshire village of Henlow. Our new home range stretched 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 plan was to drive west past various plantations and woods on the greensand ridge hoping to pick up some owls, and any other birds that might be moving, before reaching Clophill at first light where we would walk around the Cainhoe sand pit. From there we intended to head for Swiss Gardens, stopping at likely spots en route for any farmland and woodland birds, then visiting Broom sand pits before heading home for lunch. No plans were made for the afternoon when we hoped to pick up any species still missing from our list. Our aim was to at least match the 68 species we had seen on New Year’s Day 2002 within 10 Km of Codicote, Hertfordshire.

As we pulled out of Henlow, the windscreen wipers were working overtime. Nothing else was stirring, not too surprising this early on New Year’s Day. Brief stops at Stockbridge Farm and Clifton cricket club failed to get our list started and all we heard was the wind and the rain. Our next stop was the car park nestled among the coniferous trees on the north side of Stanford Plantation and here we got lucky with a Tawny Owl calling, our first bird of the new year at 06:49 (some 44 minutes later than our first bird last year). Rabbits were numerous on the verge and Wood Pigeons disturbed from their roosts in small roadside trees as we drove towards Ireland. On the sheltered north side of Keepers Warren, a Tawny Owl flew across the road and when we stopped the car two more were heard calling. The sky was beginning to lighten, but it was still raining as we drove through Haynes where we heard Robin, Pheasant and Blackbird. Between Haynes and Clophill, a Kestrel moved from telegraph pole to telegraph pole as we slowly followed it. Carrion Crow was the only other species we saw along this stretch.

We reached Clophill at 08:00, donned our wet-weather gear and set off along the footpath towards Cainhoe sand pits. The rain had abated (a bit) but it was still a grey and murky day. As the light and weather slowly, very slowly, improved birds were becoming active. We heard Great Tits from a village garden, Redwings flying over and, more distantly, a honking flock of Canada Geese was on the move. Magpies, Jackdaws and Chaffinches fed on the ground in the horse paddocks behind the houses while a flock of Siskins (estimated at 100+) fed in the alders growing alongside the River Flit. Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings drifted over on the wind, like us heading towards the sand pits. By now the rain had stopped and I was no longer wiping the drops from my glasses every 5 minutes. A Wren burst into song as we crossed the swiftly flowing Flit on the narrow footbridge and then we had our first view of the pits; the nearest bordered with steep sand cliffs. This first pit was largely devoid of bird life but there was a solitary Great Crested Grebe in its breeding finery, a few Coot and a lone Cormorant glided in, to land on the water. Many of the gulls and Lapwings we had seen earlier had congregated on a marshy area between this first pit and another further east. We counted 300 Lapwings plus 3 Gadwall (our 20th species at 08:31) and c.30 Mallard. We followed the footpath that is routed along the western ‘cliffs’ to get a better view of the marshy area and eastern pit. A mixed flock of Skylark and Starlings were feeding on the open expanse of ploughed field. At the southern end of the pits, the mound of a ruined motte and bailey gives views over the whole complex. In scrub at the base of the mound, we saw our first Blue Tits while a mixed thrush flock feeding on the sheep-cropped sward included Fieldfare and Song Thrush. Herring and Common Gulls were found among the Black-headed Gulls on the marshy area where there was also a flock of 12 Wigeon and 22 Teal feeding on the shallows. There were many more waterfowl on the eastern pit, including rafts of Tufted Duck, among which were a few Pochard. As we turned to head back to the car we faced another wintry squall of rain and did not enjoy our trudge back towards the village. We did hear Meadow Pipits calling and see them perching on the wire fence but they were not much more than blurred shapes through my rain-spotted specs. A brief detour to the small sewage farm produced 4 Pied Wagtails and our first Moorhen of the day plus a noisy flock of Long-tailed Tits and a quieter Dunnock in the riverside scrub. In the village we saw Collared Doves and our first House Sparrows (39th Species at 10:05), but we were intent on reaching the comfort of the car and did not linger.

From Clophill we retraced our route of earlier, seeing Greenfinch visiting a feeder, a flock of Rooks in a stubble field and a Jay flying across the road. To the north of Keepers Warren, Andrew spotted a Buzzard on the ground. When we stopped the car for a better look it lumbered into the air and landed on a nearby telegraph pole. For a while the rain had again stopped and we took the chance to again venture out of the car. A flock of 50+ Fieldfare flew across the road and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into a roadside oak. Nearby a male Kestrel, looking very wet and bedraggled, perched on a dead snag – trying to dry out in the weak wintry sun – we knew how he felt! On the edge of a stubble field we found a covey of Red-legged Partridge and among a mixed flock of Chaffinches and Greenfinches were a few Yellow Hammers.

Our next stop was the deciduous woodland at Swiss Gardens, alongside the Shuttleworth Collection. As we got out of the car, a pair of Mistle Thrushes flew over and perched in the top-most branches of a bare tree. Goldcrests were fairly numerous in the undergrowth of the woods where Robins sang, Blackbirds foraged in the damp leaf-litter and Grey Squirrels were only our second mammal of the day. At the small ornamental lake we were treated to a double bonus. First, a pair of Mandarin Ducks, (50th species at 11:27), were swimming close to the bank, remaining under the over-hanging branches. While we were marvelling at the splendour of the male with his strange orange sail-like plumes, we heard a high-pitched whistle and two Kingfishers streaked low across the water, coming to a stop and perching a mere 10 m from where we were standing. They gave us ample time for a good look before they both flashed away down the length of the lake. Two bonus birds and the highlight of the day for all of us. Our visit to Swiss Gardens ended with a Tree-creeper spiralling up the trunk of an oak tree.

En route to Broom sand pits, we were detained by bird activity in the plantation beside the Old Warden- Southill road. Most of the birds turned out to be Goldcrests, but including a few Coal Tits. While searching through the Goldcrests, we heard the distant calls of a Nuthatch and Andrew spotted a Sparrowhawk soaring high overhead. When we eventually reached Broom, a charm of 12 Goldfinches was feeding on the dead-heads of some teasels and thistles and a Grey Wagtail flew over to land on the roof of the big house. There were few birds on the wash-out pit, but on the more over-grown pits to the east we saw Snipe and Mute Swan, before the rain returned and prompted us to dash for the car. It was time for lunch we decided. On the way back to Henlow, we saw a flock of Greylag Geese by the landscaped pond just north of Broom, a few Feral Pigeons among the 60 Collared Doves perched on overhead wires near in Stanford and a Heron, hunched up against the weather, standing in a flooded field near Clifton cricket club. We were well satisfied with our morning total of 62 species given the inclement weather and that we were not yet familiar with our new home range.

Over lunch of delicious home-made tomato soup and home-baked bread-rolls the weather deteriorated and by the time we came to go out again it was raining heavily. Still, accompanied this time by Brian Bond, venture out we did. A flock of Golden Plover was seen north of Caldecott but nothing else was added to our list. We drove around for another hour but with no sign of the weather improving gave it up as a bad job at 15:30. This was the first time we had finished our New Year’s Day birdwatch before dark.

On our first New Year’s Day in Bedfordshire we had recorded 63 species of which the undoubted highlight was the Mandarin Ducks and Kingfishers at Swiss Gardens. There were several species we had expected to see including Stock Dove, Little Owl and Green Woodpecker. With the exception of Wigeon, I had recorded all species on previous NYD birdwatches around Codicote, Hertfordshire. Given better (at least drier) weather we hope to improve on our total next New Year’s Day.

Astonbury Wood Bird Survey: Autumn 2002

I have now been visiting Astonbury Wood for over a year recording all birds seen or heard in order to make comparisons with Richard Gazzard’s earlier study (Astonbury Wood Newsletter No. 9, March 1999) and to make specific notes of any birds using glades within the wood and any species using Long Meadow. My visits were at roughly fortnightly intervals, depending on weather and other commitments and were mostly made early in the morning as that is when the birds are most active. On each visit I kept a log of all species recorded. At each of nine recording points (7 in the woods and 2 in Long Meadow) I also counted all species seen or heard in a 5-minute recording period. Each visit lasted between 2-3 hours, usually depending on the time I had available, i.e. should I really be in work by now!

The bird survey got under way on the last Sunday of October 2001, the weekend the clocks went back. The following seasonal account of birds recorded in Astonbury Wood begins in December 2001. Some of my earlier observations have already appeared in ‘The Bluebell’ but are repeated here for completeness.

Winter: December 2001 – February 2002
By early December all the leaves have gone from the deciduous trees making it easier to observe mixed flocks of tits and finches that rove through the tree tops and other species that fly over the wood. Blue Tits and Great Tits were recorded throughout the woodland, although more numerous in the deciduous trees, while Coal Tits and Goldcrests were more likely to be found in the stands of coniferous trees. Nuthatches and Treecreepers were occasionally associated with these flocks, but not as frequently as I had expected. Winter thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare, were largely absent from the wood, there being few berry bearing trees and shrubs, but were occasionally recorded flying over. Small flocks, often accompanied by Blackbirds and Song Thrushes were sometimes found in the hawthorn bushes bordering Stevenage Brook and Long Meadow, but disappointingly were never recorded feeding in the meadow itself. Up to three Woodcock wintered to the south-east of the main pond; their cryptic plumage is such that they were only seen when flushed as I moved between recording points. A feature of this season is the movement of gulls following the line of Stevenage Brook. All five common species of gull, Greater Black-back, Herring, Lesser Black-back, Common and Black-headed were noted although the latter was by far the most numerous.

Spring: March 2002 – May 2002
This is an exciting season for the bird-watcher. Resident birds begin to take up territories and advertise their presence with song, a few winter visitors are still hanging around and the summer migrants begin to arrive, slowly at first and the as conditions become more favourable, in large numbers. By early March the snowdrops and primroses were in flower and some trees were beginning to come into leaf. Despite early morning frosts all the common resident species were in song, Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and Green Woodpeckers yodelling. A Chiff-chaff, calling at the southern end of the wood on 19 March 2002 was the first summer migrant. By the end of March both Blue Tit and Jackdaw had been seen carrying nesting material into tree hollows. By mid-April the number of singing Chiff-chaffs had risen to six, which were joined by several warbling Blackcaps and the occasional Swallow overhead. A pair of Canada Geese took up residence on the main pond, raising hopes that they might breed, but nothing seemed to come of it. By mid-May the floor of the wood was a sea of bluebells and most of the trees were in full leaf making it quite dark under the canopy and restricting the lines of sight. Most records would now be heard rather than seen. I only heard one Cuckoo, on 11 May 2002. I had hoped the wintering Woodcock might stay and breed but I had no sightings after 7 February 2002 and no roding birds were noted on my one evening visit in May.

Summer: June 2002 – August 2002
As the birds’ breeding season advances, the song that filled the wood, particularly at first light, is replaced by the many, varied and much more difficult to identify, squawks, cheeps and ticks of young birds demanding to be fed. The young of eight species (Moorhen, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest and Jackdaw) were observed while a further 16 species probably bred in the wood. Moorhen nested on each of the ponds, one pair on each I think, hatching at least twelve young. At the end of June, a family of Goldcrests, the young fledged and out of the nest were seen at the north end of the wood. By mid-July much of the breeding season is over and the wood is a much quieter place as the adult birds become shy and retiring while they moult their old and worn feathers and replace them with new. At this time, some visits produced very few observations. During August some of the summer visitors begin to depart and the last Swifts were seen.

Most of my survey work takes place early in the morning, with only a couple of evening visits and so is not conducted at the best time of day to record butterflies. However, I have seen ten species: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

Autumn: September 2002 – November 2002
As the birds finish their moult and the leaves begin to fall from the trees, the birds become easier to see. The autumn fruits are attractive to a wide variety of species. Normally insectivorous species, such as Blackcap and Chiff-chaff build up their body weight by gorging on elder berries, which also seem to be a favourite of Wood Pigeons. The summer migrants continue to leave and flocks of House Martin were recorded over the wood regularly during this period, usually in the company of Swallows. Other species also seem to be on the move; three Grey Wagtails and several Pied Wagtails appeared along Stevenage Brook. The last of the summer migrants was seen in early October. The gales of late October caused much damage, bringing down many trees and branches but on the positive side may have created more hollows for hole-nesting species. The first winter visitors were seen on 2 November 2002 when a mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare, plus a few Blackbirds and Song Thrushes was recorded feeding on the heavy haw crop in the bushes alongside Stevenage Brook. This hedgerow also provides a ‘main road’ for foraging flocks of tits including, on most autumn visits, up to 15 Long-tailed Tits accompanied by at least four Blue Tits and four Great Tits and on two occasions by a single Marsh Tit. Sadly, the Woodcock did not return to their wintering area in the east of the wood.

Conclusion
Seven species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further four species (Wren and Dunnock, Blackbird and Great Tit) have been seen on all visits bar one. Conversely, six species were only recorded on one visit (Greater Black-backed Gull, Tawny Owl, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll). Wood Pigeon was the most numerous species, closely followed by Jackdaw and Robin.

Most surprising observation was a Harris Hawk first recorded on 22 February 2002 and then again on 19 March 2002. This distinctive North American bird of prey was assumed to have escaped from a falconry. At the same time there were reports of this species from Amwell gravel pits (near Ware, Hertfordshire) and somewhere in Bedfordshire (possibly relating to the same bird?).

The woodland glades with low shrubbery, mostly brambles were better for birds than those lacking ground cover, other than leaf litter, where no birds were recorded. Many of the smaller woodland species, e.g. Blackcap, Wren and Dunnock favoured the areas with dense undergrowth. However, the open areas of the glade do make observations easier as they allow unobstructed views into the tree canopy.

Long Meadow was a disappointment. Observations of birds feeding in the meadow were few and far between. Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker and Magpie were recorded feeding in the field while two immature Herons were seen standing beside a flooded area (after heavy rain in November 2002). Blackbirds and Robins were occasionally seen at the meadow’s edges. I had hoped to see flocks of starlings and, possibly some winter thrushes feeding in the grassland but none were. This possibly suggests that the soil invertebrate fauna may be impoverished something that might possibly be improved by grazing stock on the meadow?

Kingfishers were only seen along Stevenage Brook on two occasions (10 November 2001 and 22 February 2002). Despite a careful search along Stevenage Brook, where it passes through Long Meadow, I could find no evidence of Kingfishers nesting. Indeed, none have been recorded during the spring and summer months.

In 29 visits to Astonbury Wood I have recorded 63 species of birds (listed below) including 45 of the species seen by Richard Gazzard in his earlier study; the exceptions are Lapwing, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler. A couple of species I hoped to record but did not were Hawfinch (apparently not recorded in Astonbury Wood since 1998) and Spotted Flycatcher.

Species List
Cormorant F
Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard
Harris Hawk
Sparrowhawk M
Kestrel P
Pheasant
Moorhen C
Woodcock W
Common Gull F
Black-headed Gull F
Herring Gull F
Lesser Black-backed Gull F
Great Black-backed Gull F
Wood Pigeon P
Stock Dove M
Collared Dove
Little Owl P
Tawny Owl P
Cuckoo S
Swift F
Kingfisher W
Green Woodpecker P
Great Spotted Woodpecker P
Skylark
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Swallow SF
House Martin SF
Wren C
Dunnock P
Robin C
Blackbird C
Fieldfare W
Song Thrush P
Redwing W
Mistle Thrush M
Blackcap SP
Lesser Whitethroat SM
Chiff-chaff SP
Goldcrest C
Long-tailed Tit P
Marsh Tit M
Coal Tit P
Blue Tit C
Great Tit C
Nuthatch M
Treecreeper M
Jay P
Magpie P
Jackdaw C
Rook
Carrion Crow P
Starling M
Chaffinch P
Greenfinch M
Goldfinch
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Yellow Hammer

Key:
C = Confirmed Breeding;
F = Flying over only;
M = Might be Breeding
P = Probably Breeding
S = Summer Visitor;
W = Winter Visitor;

Astonbury Wood Bird Survey: Summer 2002

With the school summer holidays upon us, the birds’ breeding season is almost over. The bird song that filled the wood, particularly at first light, has now been replaced by the many, varied and much more difficult to identify, squawks, cheeps and ticks of young birds demanding to be fed.

I have now made 20 visits to Astonbury Wood and have recorded 58 species including 44 of the species seen by Richard Gazzard in his earlier study; the exceptions are Lapwing, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler and House Martin. Nine species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further two species (Wren and Dunnock) have been seen on all visits bar one. Five species (Cuckoo, Swift, Swallow, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat), all summer visitors, have been added to the list since I last wrote in the newsletter. Wood Pigeon has become the most numerous species, closely followed by Jackdaw and Chaffinch. Movements of gulls, following the line of Stevenage Brook, cease over the summer months but as autumn progresses their numbers will pick up again. There have been no further sightings of the Harris Hawk although one, probably the same one, was seen over Amwell gravel pits during the summer.

Making fortnightly visits has not been as productive as I had hoped where finding birds’ nests has been concerned. I have only confirmed breeding for three species: Moorhens nested on both small ponds at the north end of the wood while both Blue Tit and Jackdaw were seen visiting tree hollows. However, breeding is suspected for a further 22 species, including Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chaffinch. Recently fledged young of Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Carrion Crow have all been seen, strongly suggesting that they nested in the wood. Despite a careful search along Stevenage Brook, where it passes through Long Meadow, I could find no evidence of Kingfishers nesting. Indeed, none have been recorded during the spring and summer months. If anyone has any bird breeding records for the wood, please forward them to me so I can include them in my report.

Long Meadow remains disappointing for birds. I have added only two further records, both of a pair of Carrion Crows, in the meadow. Birds are regularly seen and heard in the hedge alongside the brook and at the woods edge but none seem to feed in the field.

Most of my survey work takes place early in the morning, with only a couple of evening visits so far and so is not conducted at the best time of day to record butterflies. So far I have seen ten species: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

Astonbury Wood Bird Survey: Easter 2002

Since meeting Simon Smith at a Codicote village cricket match late last summer, I have been visiting Astonbury Wood about once a fortnight (depending on the weather and other commitments) to conduct a bird survey. The main aim of the survey was simply to record all birds seen or heard in order to make comparisons with Richard Gazzard’s earlier study (Astonbury Wood Newsletter No. 9, March 1999). Other aims were to make specific notes of any birds using glades within the wood and any species using Long Meadow.

Following a couple of preliminary visits to get my bearings and locate my recording points, I began my survey as the clocks went back on the last Sunday of October 2001. On each visit I kept a log of all species recorded. At each of nine recording points (7 in the woods and 2 in Long Meadow) I also counted all species seen or heard in a 5-minute recording period. I have now made 12-visits and so far have recorded 52 species. Of these, six species (Cormorant and five species of gull) have only been recorded flying over the wood and a further seven species (Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Tit, Starling and Yellow Hammer) have only been recorded on one visit. Ten species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further two species (Wren and Dunnock) have been recorded on every visit bar one. The most numerous species so far have been Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw and Chaffinch. Some species have probably been under recorded e.g. large numbers of Wood Pigeons are disturbed when walking through the woods, but relatively few seen during the count periods.

There have been some interesting sightings: at least three Woodcock wintered to the south-east of the large pond; both Tawny Owl and Little Owl have been recorded and owl pellets are regularly found under the tall cypress(?) trees alongside the main track; Kingfishers have been watched fishing along Stevenage brook on a couple of occasions. However, the most surprising sighting has been a Harris Hawk, a distinctive, buzzard-sized North and central American bird of prey that appears all dark except for a large white patch at the base of the tail and white tips to the tail feathers. Closer views show that the thighs, under and upperwing coverts are a rich chestnut. Although no jesses were seen on this bird, it is assumed to have escaped from a falconry.

The weather can have a great effect on the number of birds recorded. Most are recorded on fine, calm days. On windy days, most birds will be found on the sheltered side of the woods. Traffic noise, from the Stevenage - Hertford (A602) road, can be bad at recording points on the south and west side of the woods making it difficult to hear the birds.

The woodland glades with low shrubbery, mostly brambles are better for birds than the clearings lacking ground cover where no birds have been recorded. Long Meadow has been especially disappointing with only three records of birds in the field, a Green Woodpecker possibly feeding at an ant nest, two Carrion Crows and two Magpies also seen on the ground. Birds forage along the hedgerows on either side of the meadow, with Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings all seen feeding on haws but few seem to use the field.

In his earlier study, Richard Gazzard recorded seven species which I have not yet seen at the woods, although with the exception of Lapwing these were all summer migrants. With the clocks going forward over the Easter weekend and the days getting longer, signs of spring are much in evidence; Primroses are in flower, most of the trees are in leaf while the resident species’ breeding season is already under way. Robins, Blackbirds and Chaffinches have been singing for a few weeks and Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been heard drumming while Blue Tits and Jackdaws have been prospecting likely looking holes. Chiff-Chaffs, usually the earliest of the summer visitors have already been heard and over the next few weeks will be joined by other warblers. It will be a good time to go down to the woods.

It was cold, very cold : New Year’s Day, 2002

It was cold, very cold. On new year’s eve, temperatures had dropped to -5^oC and overnight had fallen even further. By 05:30 our part of the world was blanketed in a hard, white frost, the rooves of Newtown and the cars parked along the street gleaming in the light of a full moon. Andrew, my eldest son and I, were up and about this early for our, now traditional, ‘New year’s day Big Day Birdwatch’ where we try and see as many species as possible within 10 km of home.

Home is the village of Codicote in north Hertfordshire. The towns of Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage lie within 10 km while Hitchin, Luton, Harpenden, St Albans, Hatfield and Hertford lie to the north, west and south of my home range. Despite this urbanisation, and the proximity of London (only 30 miles to the south), it is a surprisingly rural with some pleasant scenery. Three small rivers, the Lea, Mimram and Beane flow NW - SE across the area separated by low rolling hills, none higher than 200 m. Much of the higher land is given over to arable farming, with wheat and barley being the major crops grown in large fields from which the hedges have been removed. In recent years oil seed rape has become an important crop. In the depths of winter, these fields are largely bare, or with only small shoots of winter-sown grain showing through the soil. The hedges remain in the valleys where there is more pasture for grazing. Some flood meadows remain. A feature of the area are the watercress beds, some still operating commercially, others in disrepair and yet others now local nature reserves. There are numerous small woodlands, although few are natural, with plantations of both deciduous and coniferous trees.

Our planned route was much the same as last year: up early to listen for owls (and anything else) around Rabley Heath and Kimpton while it was still dark, before moving onto Stanborough Lakes, at the southern edge of our home range for first light. From there we would wend our way northwards via Beech Farm, the cress beds in the Mimram valley reaching Hitch Wood at lunch time. The short winter afternoon would be spent trying to fill in any missing gaps.

And so we set out. Covered overnight with newspapers, the car’s windscreen and rear window were frost free (forewarned is forearmed). And it started first time! Wrapped in as many layers as possible and with the heater on full blast, we drove slowly round to Rabley Heath. In the bitterly cold, pre-dawn hours of new year’s day we seemed, not surprisingly, to be the only things up and about. In contrast to last year (windy and very wet) conditions were much better suited to listening for birds but nothing stirred. Too cold, we thought. With a nearly full moon, clear skies and heavy frost, the countryside was lit with an eerie glow but we heard nothing until eventually a Little Owl called at 06:05. Shortly after we made tracks for Kimpton Mill where a Carrion Crow called once, a Moorhen squawked from the cress beds and a Tawny Owl hooted in the distance. Six Mallard were disturbed from the cress beds and flew off up the Mimram valley. En route to Stanborough Lakes, our headlights picked out numerous roadside rabbits, a single Hare and a Tawny Owl perched on a branch overhanging the road.

It was still dark, and still cold, very cold, when we arrived at the lakes on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City (WGC), so we sat in the car with our hands wrapped around a mug of hot coffee. As the sky gradually lightened, in the clear conditions some 20 minutes earlier than last year, we began to see and hear some birds. Wood Pigeons and Magpies flew from their roosts to nearby fields and a Robin fed quietly at the edge of the car park. The peace was shattered by the loud alarm call of a Blackbird as a weasel rushed at the Robin, which fluttered to a nearby bush. The weasel was not deterred and continued its attack, climbing with agility, its movements so fast it was almost impossible to follow in the half-light. The Robin escaped but only just. Prompted by this excitement we left the comfort of the car. Only a little of Stanborough Lakes remained ice free. Crowded into this small patch of open water were 100+ Canada Geese, a few Mute Swans and several Coots but none of the other, hoped for, waterfowl. Three Black-headed Gulls stood on the ice and an adult Grey Heron flew low over the lake making its harsh, croaking call but few small birds were active yet: a Dunnock hopped along the edge of the footpath, a Wren moved through the reeds bordering the R. Lea and the ‘chack’ call of a Fieldfare was heard as it flew over but nothing else was seen until we got to Stanborough reed bed. Here, Reed Buntings were beginning to leave their roost either singly or in small flocks of up to 12 birds. While watching the buntings, a Green Woodpecker flew across the reed bed and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the nearby willow woodland. As it got lighter the birds were becoming more active: a mixed flock of Blue Tits and Great Tits was up and about, a Cormorant and 2 Jackdaws flew over and the raucous call of a Jay was heard. By now we had been out of the car for little over half-an-hour and it was still cold, very cold, so cold that we ached. We decided to head back to the relative warmth of the car, seeing a Common Gull on the ice and two Starlings flying over. Back at the car we had a reviving warm drink, noting a mixed flock of c.20 Siskins and a few Chaffinches feeding in a river side alder, a (presumably feral?) Barnacle Goose among the Canada Geese, a Treecreeper spiralling up the trunks of trees in the car park and a Water Rail delicately picking its way along the river’s edge. It was now 08:30 and we had seen 31 species.

The dearth of ducks on the lakes prompted our first change of plan, we drove through WGC, seeing Collared Dove, to Tewinbury Mill where we hoped the mill pond would be ice-free. It wasn’t, but there was a Dabchick fishing on the river and a Song Thrush feeding on ivy berries. Returning through WGC, we saw Feral Pigeons and Greenfinches feeding on the berries of some ornamental shrubs (where there had been Waxwings in April 2001, but not now).

Our next stop was, Beech Farm on the north side of the disused Hatfield airfield, where we hoped to find some farmland and open country birds. A male Pheasant stalked along a hedgerow and a flock of House Sparrows (38th species at 09:17) flew about the barns. In the reclaimed fields to the south of the farm a flock of 15 Meadow Pipits and Skylarks was put to flight by a marauding male Sparrowhawk while a party of Long-tailed Tits foraged busily along a hedgerow. Small flocks of gulls of all five common species, including Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull flew over all heading west. No new species were seen in the rough grassland that borders the disused airfield, but a Yellow Hammer perched in the hedge as we returned to the farm where a Pied Wagtail was on a barn roof. Beech Farm hosts one of the few remaining Tree Sparrow colonies in Hertfordshire. We managed to miss them last new year, but this time, our patience was rewarded when we found one consorting with the House Sparrows.

Before Christmas, I had seen flocks of plovers beside the Sandridge–Wheathampstead road on my way to and from work so that is where we headed next, hoping that the cold snap, it was still cold, very cold, had not forced them to move on. Luck was with us and just outside Sandridge we found a flock of 25 Lapwings and a bit further north a flock of c.50 Golden Plover (50th species at 10:48), a species I had not recorded on previous New Year’s Day big days.

A feature of the Mimram valley is its watercress beds. Only a few are still operating commercially while others are now nature reserves. Water cress requires running water, so even in the coldest conditions (and it was still cold, very cold) they tend to remain ice free and, as such, attractive to birds unable to use frozen wetlands. From Sandridge, we drove north via Wheathampstead, where we saw a party of Rooks, to the Mimram valley and Kimpton Mill where there is both a commercial water cress nursery and some disused beds maintained as an unofficial nature reserve. Here, we flushed up to six Snipe which called as they flew off, circled high before coming back to land at the far end of the cress beds. When Andrew and I went in different directions, I was fortunate to see a flash of blue. Sadly Andrew missed our only Kingfisher of the day (and the only species not seen by both of us), a reversal of the situation a couple of years ago. The cress beds still had one more good bird: a snipe which flushed almost at my feet was noticeably smaller than those seen earlier, did not call, did not rise as high and dropped back to the ground less than 20 m away. When subsequently seen, it was positively identified as a Jack Snipe; the best views I have ever had of this species. A Goldcrest working its way along the hedgerow sent us on our way feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

From Kimpton Mill, we continued northwards slowly heading towards Hitch Wood for the woodland species that had eluded us so far. Regular stops to search likely looking fields added Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove and Red-legged Partridge to our lists.

Hitch Wood, a large mixed woodland, was to be our last stop of the morning. In previous years we had been lucky enough to find Woodcock, but this year the bracken in their favoured clearing was heavily encrusted with ice, it was still cold, very cold, and the ground was rock hard. While searching for the Woodcock, a Nuthatch was heard and then a mewing call caused us to look up, just in time to see two Buzzards (60th species at 12:30) drifting over. When we returned to the UK from PNG in 1991, Buzzards were scarce winter visitors to this area of north Hertfordshire. In the intervening years their numbers have steadily grown and they are now year round residents. Even so, this was the first time we had seen them on new year’s day. Having all but given up hope of finding a Woodcock, we were pleasantly surprised to flush one on the edge of the clearing where the ground, somewhat protected by overhanging trees, was frost free. Coal Tit, in a mixed tit and goldcrest flock, was our last new bird of the day before we headed home for lunch (13:10-13:45).

Full of a delicious home-made tomato soup mopped up with home-made bread rolls (thank you, Jenny), Andrew and I, now accompanied by my younger son, Matthew, and Brian Bond headed out for an afternoon’s birding. It was now a glorious winter’s day, sunny, clear and calm but still cold, very cold. First, we returned to Kimpton Mill as we had forgotten to check the mill pond this morning. Expecting it to be completely frozen over, we were surprised to find some open water and a female Tufted Duck. Two Water Rails were seen feeding on the nearby, ice-free cress beds. We also re-visited the mill pond at Tewinbury Mill but that remained ice bound and no birds were seen.

On the outskirts of Digswell, Andrew spotted a perched Kestrel. As I was driving, I missed it and so had to loop back round the roundabouts to add it to my list. In the minor lanes behind Welwyn a female Bullfinch flew across the road. Following news broadcast on the Hertfordshire Bird Club web page (http://www.hertsbirdclub.org.uk/index.html) our next stop was Waterend where a mixed flock of finches had been reported. We parked near the ford and took a footpath that followed the R. Lea upstream (west). The finch flock proved easy to find, feeding in a set-aside field just north of the river. The flock comprised c.20 Chaffinches, 52+ Linnet and at least 1 (a winter-plumaged male) Brambling. Returning to the car, we disturbed a Redwing (68th species at 15:20) that had been foraging in frost-free leaf-litter beneath a holly bush. This was the only one we recorded all day and assumed the others must have moved on to less cold climes.

With half-an-hours daylight left, we decided to return to Beech Farm in the hope we might see some hunting owls. By this time I think we had used up all our luck so the Redwing was our last new bird of the day. Between 13:45 and 17:05 we had only added six species, but at least we had beaten last year’s total (even if only by one)! As the light faded so the warming effects of the suns rays disappeared and the temperature began to drop again. It was cold, very cold.