The juvenile BEWICK'S SWAN which had moved from Gayhurst to Broom (Steve Blain) and today's two BLACK TERNS at Wilstone (David Bilcock)
SUNDAY 25 APRIL
Heavy rain fell all morning before it cleared away leaving a hot dry afternoon with temperatures climbing to 22 degrees C. It was a busy day on the local birding front.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
A brilliant day for tern passage with a whopping 125 Common Terns on view and two summer-plumaged adult BLACK TERNS - my first of the year and the only two all year at Wilstone (254).
There were also 150 Common Swifts present over the reservoir, with 3 HOBBIES perched in Black Poplars near the hide, 3 Common Buzzards, a Common Sandpiper and in the private gardens in Drayton Beauchamp, 3 Common Chiffchaff, a singing Goldcrest, Blackcaps, an Orange Tip butterfly and a WEASEL.
IVINGHOE BEACON (BUCKS)
A very quick visit to Top Scrub where GARDEN WARBLER was added to the Year List (255)
BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Moving NE into Bedfordshire, Brogborough Lake produced 6 Common Terns, 27 Great Crested Grebes (in one large raft) and a host of singing warblers including Sedge, Blackcap, Willow and Common Chiffchaff. Two Black Terns had flown east just before I arrived........
STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Arriving at 1540 hours, UI was very pleased to intercept the two breeding-plumaged BLACK TERNS - loosely flying around the centre with 10 Common Terns. A single HOBBY was feeding distantly over the Rookery Poplars.
BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Teamed up briefly with Mike Ilett where the juvenile BEWICK'S SWAN I had previously seen at Gayhurst in North Bucks was now with 29 Mute Swans at Broom Peacock's Lake (see Steve Blain's images above). There was also Oystercatcher, 18 Common Terns and Sand Martin.
DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT, JUST NORTH OF BIGGLESWADE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
My first Beds DUNLIN of the year - 3 adults in summer plumage - along with Oystercatcher, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, Lapwing and 8 Common Terns.
HORTON (BUCKS)
A flock of 125 Linnets in setaside fields just north of the village.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)
A repeat visit in the evening - Warren Claydon was just departing. New in during the afternoon were 26 ARCTIC TERNS with at least 183 terns present in total. There were also an impressive 125 Barn Swallows whilst the male WOOD WARBLER was again singing from the private ornamental lake in Drayton Beauchamp.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)
Two LITTLE GULLS were present towards dusk - an adult winter and a first-year - as well as 13 Common Terns.
Heavy rain fell all morning before it cleared away leaving a hot dry afternoon with temperatures climbing to 22 degrees C. It was a busy day on the local birding front.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
A brilliant day for tern passage with a whopping 125 Common Terns on view and two summer-plumaged adult BLACK TERNS - my first of the year and the only two all year at Wilstone (254).
There were also 150 Common Swifts present over the reservoir, with 3 HOBBIES perched in Black Poplars near the hide, 3 Common Buzzards, a Common Sandpiper and in the private gardens in Drayton Beauchamp, 3 Common Chiffchaff, a singing Goldcrest, Blackcaps, an Orange Tip butterfly and a WEASEL.
IVINGHOE BEACON (BUCKS)
A very quick visit to Top Scrub where GARDEN WARBLER was added to the Year List (255)
BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Moving NE into Bedfordshire, Brogborough Lake produced 6 Common Terns, 27 Great Crested Grebes (in one large raft) and a host of singing warblers including Sedge, Blackcap, Willow and Common Chiffchaff. Two Black Terns had flown east just before I arrived........
STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Arriving at 1540 hours, UI was very pleased to intercept the two breeding-plumaged BLACK TERNS - loosely flying around the centre with 10 Common Terns. A single HOBBY was feeding distantly over the Rookery Poplars.
BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Teamed up briefly with Mike Ilett where the juvenile BEWICK'S SWAN I had previously seen at Gayhurst in North Bucks was now with 29 Mute Swans at Broom Peacock's Lake (see Steve Blain's images above). There was also Oystercatcher, 18 Common Terns and Sand Martin.
DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT, JUST NORTH OF BIGGLESWADE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
My first Beds DUNLIN of the year - 3 adults in summer plumage - along with Oystercatcher, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, Lapwing and 8 Common Terns.
HORTON (BUCKS)
A flock of 125 Linnets in setaside fields just north of the village.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)
A repeat visit in the evening - Warren Claydon was just departing. New in during the afternoon were 26 ARCTIC TERNS with at least 183 terns present in total. There were also an impressive 125 Barn Swallows whilst the male WOOD WARBLER was again singing from the private ornamental lake in Drayton Beauchamp.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)
Two LITTLE GULLS were present towards dusk - an adult winter and a first-year - as well as 13 Common Terns.
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