Leisurely Hemel year listing adds an easy PEREGRINE

Whilst cleaning the car this morning (the afternoon for eveyone else) at Baylie Lane, Highfield I added the following to my 2012 Hemel Year List...

8) ROBIN
9) HOUSE SPARROW
10) COLLARED DOVE
11) SPARROWHAWK - Male over mobbed by BH.Gull & C.Crow
Then, whilst on an evening cycle to get some fresh air & start the post Christmas detox I added...

12) GOLDFINCH - Boxmoor nr. K2
13) MAGPIE - Boxmoor nr. K2
14) STARLING - Boxmoor nr. K2
15) WREN - Boxmoor nr. K2
16) GREENFINCH - Boxmoor nr. K2
17) MISTLE THRUSH - Boxmoor nr. K2
18) MUTE SWAN - Canal b/w Apsley & Bennetts End
19) BLACKBIRD - Canal nr. Kings Langley Fishery
20) FIELDFARE - Canal nr. Kings Langley Fishery
21) GREY HERON - Kings Langley Fishery
22) TUFTED DUCK - c.10, Kings Langley Fishery
23) COOT - Kings Langley Fishery
24) BLUE TIT - Canal nr. Kings Langley Fishery
25) CHAFFINCH - Canal nr. Kings Langley Fishery
26) JAY - New Plantation
27) JACKDAW - Abbots Hill / New Plantation
28) SONG THRUSH - Abbots Hill / New Plantation
29) REDWING - many going to roost, Abbots Hill / New Plantation
30) LONG-TAILED TIT - Abbots Hill / New Plantation
31) GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER - Abbots Hill / New Plantation
32) DUNNOCK - Abbots Hill / New Plantation
33) BULLFINCH - c.2, Abbots Hill / New Plantation

Notable were the numbers of REDWINGS & FIELDFARES going to roost around Abbots Hill / New Plantation, tens & tens likely to of amounted to c.40 of each.
Whilst stopping off at my office in Corner Hall on the way back I managed to kick off my 2012 Work List after dark by adding a REDWING that I heard go over.

Then I made a little extra effort for the year list to add...

34) PEREGRINE - the usual Ringed Adult Female roosting on the BT building near the 'Magic' or Plough Roundabout, Town Center, 17.55

Shortly after I saw the usual c.50cm PIKE in its favoured spot below the weir at The Water Gardens near Bank Court.

On my way out to dinner I saw a small RED FOX run across Catsdell, Highfield, most likely the very vocal one of recent. And again, later on, I heard it uttering its five bark call over & over well into the night around Baylie Lane, which I had also heard very early in the morning too. Occasionally if I listen I can hear another Fox at distance responding to the call with its own.

The 2012 Hemel Year List begins. On your marks, get set... no.

After a heavy night of excess, & waking at the Holiday Inn, still under the influence, I was in no fit state to ID any continental LBJs today, in fact the closest I got was el PJs & a chicken, ssp. rustica, from Domino's.

On leaving the hotel in a daze I did manage to use my beergogglenoculars to kick off my Hemel 2012 Year list with an amazing start...

1) 2 (or was it 1?) WOODPIGEON
2) a CARRION CROW

Then whilst collecting my pizza I added the following at the Water Gardens in the town center...

3) BLACK-HEADED GULL
4) MALLARD
5) ATLANTIC CANADA GOOSE
6) FERAL PIGEON
7) MOORHEN

And that's as far as my New Year's Day birding goes.

Later that evening & into the night the RED FOX which has been calling almost every night over the last week or so from gardens around Baylie Lane & Queensway, Highfield, was very vocal once again, usually calling a quick series of five barks & occasionally uttering their usual 'sheiking howl'.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So I've dabbled a bit in birding blogging over the last few months of 2011, I've learnt what takes up too much time & isn't neccessary, & what I should do to keep things concise & clear, & so I will be going for a slightly more simple approach from now on.

I'm back on it & will do the best I can to keep this space up-to-date, full of info, & filled images.

I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year. Good luck for 2012, just get out, look up & expect the unexpected, be it in birding or otherwise...

Large GOLDFINCH Charm

Whilst working at my office in Corner Hall today...
21 REDWINGS flew over SW towards Boxmoor at 9.40am.
C.30 GOLDFINCHES landed in the Alders bordering B&Q briefly - I wonder if this is the small local flock growing as nearby flocks join, as has happened in previous winters.
A RED KITE floated low over the rooftops & off towards Bennetts End at 2.40pm.

LITTLE EGRET Going to Roost Again

In the morning the usual LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was stood on the roof of the Scout Group HQ on Queensway.
At about 8.50am a GREY WAGTAIL was at the Water Gardens just downstream of the Market Square.
Near to Hemel, on the edge of St. Albans, a RED KITE was circling low over the road, near the junction of Hemel Hempstead Road (A4147) & Potters Crouch Lane, at about 1.40pm & 2.50pm when I passed on a two hour driving lesson.
At 4.05pm a LITTLE EGRET flew to roost S over my office in Corner Hall.

As I walked home through the town, a BROWN RAT ran across the path infront of me opposite TK Maxx. It ran from below the ATM on the wall where there is nowhere to hide, to the river bank.
At about 6.25pm, the same PIKE as yesterday was sitting motionless in the shallows, at the Water Gardens opposite Bank Court. This time about half way across the river.

Later that night I heard REDWINGS flying over Highfield near Queesway again.

A Day of RAPTORS, Including Odd Colour-Ringed BUZZARD

Whilst walking to work this morning...

A GREY WAGTAIL was calling loudly at West Herts College where Queesway (B457) crosses the river Gade.

The Grey Wag's alarm call alerted me to a Male SPARROWHAWK sat in the autumn leaves on the grass river bank, only 10m from me - it would have been a perfect picture but once it knew I'd noticed it it flew into a tree.

A GREY WAGTAIL was about in the Water Gardens between the Police Station & the Market Square.

I counted 85 CANADA GEESE in total at the Water Gardens, but no Mute Swans.

The Female PEREGRINE was still at her roost on the BT building - even though the light was still bad I thought I'd take a snap.



The ringed female Peregrine at her roost on the BT building

Whilst working at my office in Corner Hall...

A SPARROWHAWK was circling as I arrived.

A Juvenile COMMON GULL flew S.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew S.

At 10.00am a SISKIN flew over calling.

A SKYLARK called as it flew over.

At 10.40 I heard a SISKIN call again.

C.10 GOLDFINCHES were back & forth - the charm seems to be growing.

A Female CHAFFINCH was accompanying the Goldfiches in the Alders bordering B&Q - surprisingly I se Chaffinches very rarely at the offices.

At 10.50 a JAY flew N towards town whilst calling - another bird seen rarely here.

At 11.35 a Female KESTREL circled for a few minutes - only the second I've ever had here.

At 1.05 another SISKIN flew over calling.

As I walked home at dark, at about 6.15pm, there was a 40-50cm long PIKE at the Water Gardens, sitting still in the shallows under the weir, up close to the bank, opposite Bank Court.

A bit later on I could hear one or two REDWINGS flying over Highfield near Queensway.

Most noteworthy today though was the following...

At 12.15, 2 BUZZARDS were soaring over Corner Hall together for a few minutes, slowly drifting E. I then noticed that one of the birds had a colour-ring on it's left leg, so I tried to get a photo to record it. Due to the height they were flying, & shooting at an angle through double glazing, the pictures aren't great, but do just about show that the ring is green.

This bird also had quite distinctive plumage, along with angled trailing edges to the wings & tail, giving it a slightly odd appearance, almost like a small Eagle.

The Buzzard accompanying it, whilst looking more 'normal' in it's structure, did seem to share similar markings on the wings & tail to the ringed bird, if just a bit paler. This leads me to think these birds could be related.

I couldn't make out any rings on this bird but couldn't help but notice its incredibly pale, almost white, tail, with only a hint of russet where the terminal band would be.

I'll see if I can get any info about the bird & will post it here as soon as I do, if I do.

Two Buzzards soaring together over Corner Hall

The odd Buzzard with a green colour-ring

Close up of the Buzzard's green colour-ring

PEREGRINE & PIED WAGS Roost, as Four FOXES Fight at Night

I left work at about 11.30pm & walked home to the Mum-in-law's via Dominos Pizza. I thought it would be rude not to use the 'Any pizza. Any size. £7.99.' voucher that had been posted at work. Whilst ambling back to Highfield...

The Female PEREGRINE was sat at her roost on the BT building just after 11.30pm.

At the usual spot in the Town Centre, opposite The British Heart Foundation, there were over 100 PIED WAGTAILS silently roosting in the trees with their heads tucked away. In fact, I couldn't actually tell where their heads were! I think they were tucked cosily into their puffed up breast feathers. It felt very surreal to see these usually non-stop, hyperactive, wind-up toy birds sat peacfully motionless all together in such great numbers. It was as if they were in such a deep sleep I could easily just reach up into the tree, take one in my hand, & it would just be 'okay' about it. I attemped a photo but with the leaves still on the trees, & the fact it was pitch black, it was a tad difficult, & I didn't want to disturb them, so I left it. Maybe when the leaves have fallen I will go back & get a record shot of them all & attempt a more accurate count.

As I walked up Queesway a very large RED FOX ran out infront of me near the Jet garage, it crossed the road & disappeared into the bushes. Judging by its size I'd say it was probably a Male. I considered throwing it a slice of my 'Meateor' pizza but it had already slinked off into the shadows.

As I passed the 1st Hemel Hempstead Scout Group HQ I heard what I can only describe as the sound young Simba makes when he 'roars' in The Lion King, a kind of 'meowing' growl. I heard it again along with the skipping of paws on hard ground. I looked into the scout group carpark & garden to see 3 RED FOXES chasing each other around, & what looked like, rough play fighting. They were so carried away that they didn't seem to notice me stood there watching them, leant on the gate. Infact one ran straight towards me, stopped just a few metres away when it saw me, then turned back to continue squabbling. These three looked like young Foxes, I couldn't say I noticed a Vixen & I couldn't make out any white on their tail tips in the dark.

During the 50 minutes I was outside, I must have heard about 20 REDWINGS calling as they flew over in the darkness, most notably in the Town Centre.

I also heard a SONG THRUSH as it passed overhead.

COMMON GULLS, REDPOLLS & KINGFISHER

Whilst working at my office in Corner Hall today...
8 COMMON GULLS of various ages flew over S just after 9.00am.
A SPARROWHAWK was cruised around the rooftops.
A party of LONG-TAILED TITS noisily passed by.
At 12.00pm 3 SISKINS flew over.
At 12.20pm 3 LESSER REDPOLLS flew over.
At 2.25pm a flock of 8 small Finches flew over.
At 4.15pm a Juvenile MUTE SWAN flew over S.

Nearby...
A KINGFISHER was at Two Waters opposite Halfords.
A STOCK DOVE was also flying above the trees there.
A few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were about.
A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER flew from Boxmoor, across Two Waters Road, to Two Waters.
A Male SPARROWHAWK was patrolling Boxmoor.
2 MISTLE THRUSHES were flying around there.
A SONG THRUSH darted from one side of the moor to the other.
Whilst working late, c.5 REDWINGS called as they flew over every now & then in the darkness.

1st Gadebridge Park LITTLE EGRET, & 1st FIELDFARES of Winter

Ablaze with autumn leaves...
The view towards St. Mary's Church, from the football pitches in Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead - 30/10/11

I took a brief walk this afternoon, through Gadebridge Park, to Piccotts End Pools, & back. The dull, grey atmosphere of the day was no match for the vibrant, firey hues of the autumn leaves adorning every tree in sight. Whilst eating my lamb samosa & onion bhaji from the Jet garage I saw...

At Gadebridge Park...
A LITTLE EGRET flew S at treetop height at 1.20pm, following the River Gade towards town - this is the first I've seen here but very much expected at some point.
As the Egret passed 2 SISKINS called as they flew between the treetops.
A RED KITE meandered S through the park, doing it's best to look like a marsh Harrier.
A flock of STARLINGS & possibly some Winter Thrushes were whirling about at the football pitches before settling down near High Street / Piccotts End Road.
A SISKIN was heard once more.
Up to 10 CHAFFINCHES were moving about.
A SONG THRUSH darted along a hedgerow.

At Piccotts End Pools...
A KESTREL flew towards the pools from the village & one was heard calling later on.
A Male SPARROWHAWK did its best Merlin impression as it purposefully sped low across the grass.
2+ RED KITES were constantly patrolling the area.
2+ BUZZARDS were about all of the time, one making a high-speed vertical stoop, from great height, at one of the Kites.
2 LITTLE EGRETS were mobile.
A GREY HERON flew in.
2+ STOCK DOVES were often back & forth.
One or two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were about.
9 LINNETS were twittering about most of the time.
A GREENFINCH oddly repeated just a 'peuuw' call, which had me guessing for a few minutes until I could find it.
Quite a few CHAFFINCHES were around the gate to the green.
C.10 FIELDFARES were feeding in the hedge near the gate & moving about the area - a bit late but my first of the winter.
A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER few across the pools.
A GREEN WOODPECKER called.
Atleast 1 GREY WAGTAIL was about.
2+ PIED WAGTAILS were resting on the wires between feeding on the field behind the pools.
A single MEADOW PIPIT flew over S.
Most surprisingly, over the field on Piccotts End Road & Dodds Lane, a SKYLARK was in full song & performing its display flight at great height for all of the hour I was at the pools!
No sign of the Juvenile Peregrine of recent.

Common Buzzard - Piccotts End Pools, Hemel Hempstead - 30/10/11

On my way back to Highfield...
At 3.50pm a Female SPARROWHAWK was on the hunt around the Old Town & Queensway, circling low over the rooftops whilst the crowds had already started to gather below for the Old Town 'Halloween Night'.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, which I presume was the usual Queesway bird, was hanging around low over the takeaways opposite West Herts College, upsetting the Feral Pigeons.

Queensway LESSER BLACK-BACK Still in Residence

The usual adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was stood atop it's favourite rooftop again on Queesway this morning.
A COAL TIT was vocal most of the morning around my Mother-in-law-to-be's house near Queensway, in Highfield.
A REDWING also flew over.

KINGFISHER Makes Up for No Kingfisher

Whilst working at my office in Corner Hall today it was very quiet. But nearby...
14 CANADA GEESE were on the canal at B&Q with the regular 2 MUTE SWANS.
One or two REDWINGS, 3 BLACKBIRDS & atleast 1 SONG THRUSH were feeding on the Yew tree beside the old Two Waters Road in Two Waters.
GOLDCRESTS were very vocal near the entrance to the Council Gardening Depot.
After only just walking past the K2 Balti House, & considering going in for a bottle of Kingfisher & takeaway, I heard that unmistakeable 'pee- peep' from the river, a real KINGFISHER darting out of sight between the Willows.

Market GREY WAG

A GREY WAGTAIL was at the Water Gardens, in the Town Centre today, opposite the Market Square.

100 Strong PIED WAG Roost Still Exists in Town

Whilst walking back from Bovingdon Market this afternoon a SISKIN flew over Boxmoor Golf Club in Felden.

Atleast 1 KINGFISHER was fishing along the stretches of canal & stream either side of the Old Fishery Lane bridge in Chaulden / Boxmoor.

A GREY HERON was hunting in the stream at the pool opposite the house there.

A GREY WAGTAIL also visited the pool.

A single COOT was in the stream with MOORHENS.

An increase to 18 CANADA GEESE were on the canal at Boxmoor above the lock W of B&Q.

In the Town Centre, as it was getting dark at about 4.50pm, it was fantastic to see the spectacle of atleast 100 PIED WAGTAILS noisily going to roost in the trees in the middle of the shopping area as the market workers were packing up. The favoured trees are outside The British Heart Foundation, near Bank Court, & opposite the N entrance to the Marlowes Shopping Centre. I have seen the Wagtails going to roost here in past years but I'm generally not around the town centre at this time in the evening & haven't seen them in the past couple of winters. It's certainly good to know the roost exists.

BUZZARDS & KITE at Treetop Height

At 1.45pm, for 5 minutes, a RED KITE & 2 BUZZARDS circled together low over Corner Hall.
Just before dark 2 MUTE SWANS flew S over B&Q, possibly the two regular Adults from opposite the Honda dealership.

KITE & Kodak CARRION CROWS

Whilst working at my office in Corner Hall today...

4 BLUE TITS passed through between the offices heading W.
A COAL TIT was calling.
A Female SPARROWHAWK circled towards Two Waters Road.
Some HOUSE SPARROWS were about near the NE corner of the offices near Corner Hall road - even though these birds seem resident at the cottages here I very rarely see them from the office complex. Nearby, 9+ CARRION CROWS were on top of, & flying around the old Kodak Tower, now Image apartments.
A PIED WAGTAIL was occasionallu about.
At 2.10pm a RED KITE circled low over the rooftops then gradally moved N low over the town centre.
A BROWN RAT was out in the open nearby, along the canal near B&Q.
At 3.10pm a COMMON GULL flew over.
At 4.00pm 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS drifted over & one called loudly in typical 'seaside style'.

1st COMMON GULLS of Winter, & Crazy CARRION CROW Count

At my Mother-in-law-to-be's house in Highfield, near Queensway, I was awoken by LONG-TAILED TITS, a GOLDCREST & a DUNNOCK.

At The Queens Square (Adeyfield Shops) this afternoon...

I counted 17 CARRION CROWS at once, including the 9 usual more tame individuals.
An Adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.
2 Adult COMMON GULLS were wheeling about low over the road - the first of the winter.

At Keen's Field (King's Field) in Adeyfield, a BUZZARD was circling high up.

Near the Link Road a BUZZARD was gliding from Grovehill towards Piccotts End Village.

Wickes BULLFINCHES

At the back of the Industrial Estate near the Wickes depot, on Punch Bowl Lane, this afternoon...

A SKYLARK flew over.
2+ BUZZARDS were about.
2 BULLFINCHES were in the hedge bordering the depot, one was calling.
A Female SPARROWHAWK sat in a tree in the middle of a field, upsetting the increasing number of WOOD PIGEONS.
2 MALLARDS flew N.
One or two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were about.

At the reservoir on Cherry Tree Lane, close to Woodhall Farm...

A Male PHEASANT kept making me jump as it exploded from cover.
A SPARROWHAWK stealthily slipped between the trees along the lane.
An unsettled REDWING was moving about.
2 MALLARDS appeared to fly to the reservoir as it got dark.

HEMEL MEGA: WOODLARK Calling over Corner Hall!

Whilst working at my office in Corner hall today I recorded the following...

A DUNNOCK calling.
A ROBIN singing.
A PIED WAGTAIL.
A MEADOW PIPIT flew over.
3 GOLDFINCHES.
At 10.15am a REDWING flew over low S.
At 10.20am 2 SKYLARKS flew over SW.
A GREENFINCH was about.
At 12.40pm atleast 1 SISKIN called as it flew over.
At 1.30pm another SISKIN flew over calling.
At 2.00pm a SKYLARK flew over.
At 3.40pm another SKYLARK flew over.
At 4.50pm a CORMORANT flew over S.

The best bird today came at 2.10pm, when I heard the flutey 'tuud-luee' call of a WOODLARK flying over, & as I jumped up to put my head out of the window I heard it twice more. I had my ear 'tuned-in' as I'd been listening to recordings of larks over the weekend as, one; I'd just come back from Portugal & was double checking the larks I had seen there. And two; I'd been revising the calls of good birds that may fly over on migration anyway. This is my first record for Hemel, & I don't expect to get one again any time soon. As I logged in to my email to report it I saw that others had also been seen & heard today at Ivinghoe Beacon in Bucks, & The Lodge heath & The Pinnacle, in Sandy, Beds. Must just be a good day for them.

Here is a recording of a Woodlark call, like the one i heard...

In case you are wondering, the reason I get to see & hear so many birds flying over from my office is this... I'm high-up(ish) in the third storey, there are windows along the length of the office for a wide view, the windows are always open & it's a quiet area so I can hear outside well, the river & canal are both nearby which birds seem to follow, it faces N so if I hear a bird during Autumn migration it is usually still flying towards me as I look out, & the view from my chair is pretty much completely, unobscured sky. Think, a 3 storey Tower 42.

The view from my office seat at work in Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead - proving to be a great VizMigging spot

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FROG Trap!

Female Common Frog trapped in water filled planter in garden, Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead, 13/10/11
(taken with mobile phone)

At my parents house in Betjeman Way, Gadebridge this evening, my Mum said she'd seen 2 COMMON FROGS along the path around the side of the house, one under the bins, & one in an unused planter full of rain water, so I went to have a look in the dark using the light on my mobile. There was no sign of any frogs near the bins, but sure enough there was a very pretty female frog in the water-filled plant pot, looking a little tired. She had a lovely red to orange iridescence on the upper parts, lime green on her lower sides & thighs, & a distinctive pattern of a few dark spots on her back, so I should be able to reconise her if she turns up again.

Female Common Frog trapped in water filled planter in garden, Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead, 13/10/11
(taken with mobile phone)

Now there is a problem for the frogs that get into this planter... it fills up with natural rainwater, attracts insects, is inhabited with MOSQUITO Larvae, Snails collect on the sides, & it stays cool in the shade. Perfect for frogs you may say... well yes it is, & frogs seem to end up in there all the time, seemingly finding it irresistible, sensing it & being drawn to it from afar, then jumping in, despite not being able to see inside as the sides are 50cm high. This is part of the problem, you see, once a frog is in there it loves it, but when it wants to get out... it can't. The rim of the planter curves inwards & down meaning that when a frog tries to climb out of the sides it is stopped by the edge of the pot curving back over its head. A frog can obviously jump out of the planter, but only from the middle of the water, which only gives them a small area to jump from. This & the fact they seem to prefer to climb out means that I suspect they stay in the pot for much longer than they choose to & it takes them alot of attempts & energy to eventually get out. For this reason I decided I would take this frog out of the planter & release it back into the top of the garden, on the grass near the bushes, & not far from next-door's pond. It seemed happy to be picked up from the water in my hands, then sat in the grass very calmly, before hopping off into the foliage.

Female Common Frog released into garden, Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead, 13/10/11
(taken with mobile phone)

Now I need to find something suitable to put in the planter for the frogs to climb out on in the future, off to rummage in the garage...

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1st SONG THRUSH & HERRING GULLS at Corner Hall Offices

So far today whilst working at my office in Corner Hall...

2 DUNNOCKS were vocal in the morning, 1 calling loudly & another singing quietly - I haven't had them here in a while.
At 9.15 a SKYLARK flew over.
I heard a GREENFINCH throughout the day.
I heard 3 ROBINS, 1 singing & 1 'ticking' which I presume are the regular birds, then another singing further away.
A COAL TIT was singing it's whole repetoir of calls.
Some GOLDFINCHES were about.
At 9.50am a party of 13 LONG-TAILED TITS flew NE over my office towards Lawn Lane.
A SKYLARK flew over as the L-T Tits were passing.
I heard a GOLDCREST briefly.
At 10.10am 2 HERRING GULLS, an Adult & a Juvenile, circled high over & drifted S - these really aren't seen very often in Hemel.
At 10.35am a REDWING flew over.
At 11.00am a SONG THRUSH flew over highish, heading S whilst calling - my first one seen here at the offices & on my work list.
At 11.05am a SISKIN flew over calling.
At 11.10am I heard a SISKIN again.
At 11.30am a MEADOW PIPIT flew over.
The 8 CANADA GEESE were on the canal at B&Q again - I noticed that one of the fully adult birds is smaller with a shorter, stockier neck & slightly paler flanks, baring a slight resemblance to a LESSER CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis parvipes). I'll try to refind it to get a photo at some point.
2 MUTE SWANS flew from Boxmoor to Two Waters.
The regular 2 MUTE SWANS were at the river Gade opposite the Honda garage.
A PIED WAGTAIL was around all day, at one point singing.
At 2.21pm a CORMORANT flew over N towards town.
I heard some CHAFFINCHES pass nearby.
At 3.05pm 2 PIED WAGTAILS flew N towards town.
At 3.15pm what appeared to be c.21 REDWINGS flew NE towards Lawn Lane.
At 3.45pm a SKYLARK flew over.