Documenting surprising sightings, fascinating findings, & exciting encounters, with birds, wildlife, & other nature,
around Hemel Hempstead...

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NEW SOCIAL MEDIA, & BLOG COMING SOON


Regular visitors will have noticed a decrease in posts to the HEMEL NATURE
blog - this is because I have been living & working out of the area, & due to the job my time out
& about with nature in Hemel is limited. I am working on a new blog to come soon & hope that the work that has gone into HEMEL NATURE will prove useful & interesting to those still visiting it.


In the mean time you can follow me at my new accounts on the following social media platforms...

Instagram @DanFWildlife > https://www.Instagram.com/DanFWildlife

Twitter @DanFWildlife > https://Twitter.com/DanFWildlife

Facebook I am still building on but you can still follow me none-the-less
by 'Likeing' the @DanFWildlife Page > https://www.Facebook.com/DanFWildlife

Many thanks for your support,

Dan.

Sunday 30 September 2012

8+ MEADOW PIPITS at Water End


GADWALL at Water End


2 LESSER REDPOLLS at Water End


Juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON circling low at Water End


1st Winter HERRING GULL SW over Nettleden Road, Water End


7 RED KITES in fields & air around Highpark Wood N of Nettleden Road, Water End


CHIFFCHAFF at Piccotts End Pools


2 MEADOW PIPITS at Piccotts End Pools


C40 LINNETS at Piccotts End Pools


MEADOW PIPIT at Piccotts End Pools


2 LITTLE EGRETS at Piccotts End Pools


LITTLE EGRET at Piccotts End Pools


SISKIN at Piccotts End


Sunday 23 September 2012

NEARBY: GREAT WHITE EGRET at Wilstone Res & Juv GANNET found dead at Startops Res

Both at Tring Reservoirs, a GREAT WHITE EGRET is in the reedbed, viewable from the hide at Wilstone Reservoir, & a Juvenile GANNET was unfortunately found dead on the bank near the steps at Startops End Reservoir this morning.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

2 GREY WAGTAILS at Water Gardens opp. Premier Inn


New PEREGRINE stuck on KD Tower in June!


I've just noticed a very interesting post on the RSPB Community website. A user called 'Falcon?' photographed a different PEREGRINE to our wintering Female, stuck on a terrace on the KD (Kodak) Tower in June! Apparently it crash landed onto Falcon?'s terrace & took ten minutes to work out it could not fly off through the glass barrier. When it did finally fly off it left behind the prey it had caught, a fledgling Thrush.

PEREGRINE on terrace on KD Tower, Hemel Hempstead.
© 'Falcon?'

PEREGRINE on terrace on KD Tower, Hemel Hempstead.
Lack of 'Pink CX' ring on right leg differentiates this bird from our regular wintering Female,
who's Winter roost is funnily enough just out of shot to the right.
© 'Falcon?'

Great to hear of another PEREGRINE in Hemel, especially in the summer months, & funny how this is so close to the Winter roost of our regular bird, in fact the roost is only just out of shot to the right. With these two PEREGRINES, the semi-regular SAKER HYBRID Type, & a  GYR/SAKER HYBRID Type being seen in the immediate area within the year, PLUS the Male PEREGRINE I saw at Piccotts End Pools last Winter, Hemel Hempstead is becomming a bit of an urban Peregrine hotspot!

The original post on the RSPB Community website can be viewed > HERE <.



Monday 17 September 2012

Hemel PEREGRINE returns early to Winter roost

The colour-ringed Female PEREGRINE is already back at her Winter roost on the 'old BT building', near the 'Magic Roundabout'. This will be her 4th Winter at this site & this is the earliest recorded return date for this regular bird.

For directions to view the PEREGRINE at its Winter roost click > HERE <.

Friday 7 September 2012

GREYLAG GOOSE at Water Gardens opp. Market Sq.


Escaped INDIAN RUNNER DUCK (Mallard) on Canal at B&Q, Corner Hall

Been around since about April.

GREY WAGTAIL at Corner Hall opp. Honda garage


NUTHATCH at Gadebridge Park


LITTLE EGRET at Piccots End Pools


LITTLE GREBE at Piccotts End Pools


2 GREY WAGTAILS at Piccotts End Pools

+ 4 PIED WAGTAILS

2 MEADOW PIPITS at Piccotts End Pools


Making an effort & keeping it simple.

With no time for birding for a while I've decided to create some time, even if it means waking up before the the birds do, 3 hours sleep should be plenty!

I've managed to set up a network of emails too that means I can post my sightings straight away to almost everywhere I want to in one email, so now I have no excuse for not writing up my records online.

I'm excited to get back out there...