RING-NECKED PARAKEET over S & LITTLE OWL at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET over S & LITTLE OWL calling over back at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End - the parakeet being a bird I didn't really think possible see at this site!

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RING-NECKED PARAKEET calling in dark at Two Waters from trees between river & Durrants Hill Fishery

My 1st GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER at Corner Hall Offices

[29°C & clear blue sky]

A boisterous Pied Wagtail on office roofs at Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead.

One PIED WAGTAIL of yesterday was about again, being very noisy at times, often singing. It's a very boisterous bird, at one point aggressively chasing one of 3 GOLDFINCHES away from 'its' rooftop.

In the morning a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER flew over the roof opposite my window & between the office buildings - my first, & most unexpected, at this location.

A BLUE TIT & a GREAT TIT were both about.

A SMALL TORTOISESHELL Butterfly flew past my window.

At 10.25 a SISKIN flew over - only my second bird this winter & a repeat of yesterday.

I could hear some odd calls now & then that I presume could possibly be a RING-NECKED PARAKEET.

Yesterday's group of CANADA GEESE on the canal at B&Q had increased to 8 birds.

At 11.40 a MEADOW PIPIT flew over.

A BUZZARD was gliding over from town towards Two Waters.

Some GREENFINCHES flew over.

In the afternoon a LINNET (the first I've actually seen here) was twittering atop a tree bordering B&Q where a flock of 9 GOLDFINCHES & a BLUE TIT were feeding, before flying off E.

Herts Bird Club: Lee Evans saw a RING-NECKED PARAKEET fly over Hemel town today.

I noticed that Lee Evans had seen a RING-NECKED PARAKEET fly over Hemel town today. This would back up my thoughts that the call I heard at Corner Hall offices recently (see > HERE <) could be one of these noisy green arrows. I've been anticipating their return this autumn for some while.

? Mystery Call at Corner Hall

On leaving work at about 6.50pm I heard a call a few times that I have heard a couple of times before here, at this time of year a previous year, & in the afternoon. I looked up straight away but my view towards the call was obscured by the offices. The best way I can think to describe it is that each call sounds like an individual note of a Green Woodpecker's 'yaffle' & slightly reminiscent of a Jackdaw's 'jack' call but less 'snappy' & more 'sqwarky'. My suspicions are that it is a RING-NECKED PARAKEET, which I do see in Hemel in the Autumn occasionally, I have heard them make a Green Woodpecker-like sound before, & there is likely favoured habitat nearby to my office. I'll just have to keep my eyes & ears peeled to nail it next time & get it on my work list.