HEMEL MEGA: 3 GOOSANDERS over Two Waters!

At work at Corner Hall offices today...

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - 1 wandering around AM.
SISKIN - 1 calling 9.50.
3 GOOSANDERS! - I was getting some fresh air & resting my eyes from the computer whilst stood beside the canal at B&Q when I noticed the refection on the surface of 3 largish water birds flying high in a close group. As I looked up I quickly realised these weren't Mallards, or Cormorants, but 3 Goosanders, too high against the white sky to sex but otherwise unmistakable. They were flying in close formation E at 14.30, seemingly following the canal, & for a few moments hesitating as if wanting to land, possibly at Durrant's Hill Fishery (Two Waters / Apsley) but instead continued on out of sight. I was thinking that they could alight at Kings Langley Fishery or the neighbouring Gaywood's Fishery as they were heading that way when five mins later they returned, still following the canal but now heading W, still occasionally looking like coming down to land but ultimately carrying on out of sight once more. Maybe they found Westbrook Mere Fishery or Pixies Mere Fishery (Chaulden / Bourne End)? If I wasn't so busy at work I'd have gone to have a look, but either way I'm happy to have added Goodander to my Hemel Life List, especially after missing the Female that Colin Everett found at Kings Langley Fishery in Dec.'10, the only other record I know of, in fact I think I can count this as a Hemel MEGA!

At The Magic Roundabout...

PEREGRINE - the Ringed Adult Female was on her roost on the BT building when I passed on my way home at 18.20. I hadn't seen her for a while & considered the possibility that she had left the winter roost early as the weather has been so mild recently, but clearly not.

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.

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.

PEREGRINE at Roost but Otherwise Quiet

The skies were quite quiet at work at my office in Corner Hall today, just a couple of PIED WAGTAILS & LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS about.
At B&Q a JAY was moving about the area & 2 MUTE SWANS swam by two anglers pole fishing. I saw them catch 3 fish & miss 3 in as many minutes from about a foot below the surface using maggots & worms, from across the canal these looked like small BREAM.
Nearby the PEREGRINE was at its roost near 'The Magic Roundabout' when I walked home at 9.50pm, visible in the glow of the full moon.

My 1st REDWING of Winter at Corner Hall Offices

[17°C, strong W wind & overcast]

In the morning an Adult Light-backed Larus gull was circling high & blown S by the wind - Common or Herring but couldn't tell from distance & in gales.
A SWAN Sp. flew over quite low being thrown about by the wind - probably just a Mute Swan but it did look very slim & pale-faced much like a Whooper Swan, the possibility of it being a feral Whooper from Tring way could not be discounted.
At 12.25pm my first REDWING of the winter flew low S over my office in Corner Hall.
At about 3.45pm 5 larger THRUSH Sp. appeared from the sky & flew (blew) S with an undulating flight towards Boxmoor / Two Waters - most probably Mistle Thrushes but couldn't rule out Fieldfares.
At 5.00pm an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was hanging on the wind.
Just after 6.00pm, when I passed on my way home, the PEREGRINE was on its roost near the 'magic roundabout'.

Corner Hall Offices

Today whilst working at my office in Corner Hall...

Nearby the PEREGRINE was on its BT building roost just before 9.00am.
A GREAT TIT flew past my office window, this is the first one I have actually seen at the offices as usually I just hear them in the surrounding trees.
A COAL TIT was calling.
A BLUE TIT was about.
LONG-TAILED TITS were calling.
A BUZZARD was 'mewing'.

Later the usual Adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was circling low over Queensway.

Corner Hall Offices

Whilst at work at Corner Hall offices today I noted the following...

Just before 9.00am the PEREGRINE was nearby at it's BT roost.
At 9.20am a SKYLARK flew over E.
2 CHIFFCHAFFS were in bushes across the canal from B&Q, of which one Juv. seemed to be practising singing.
A ROBIN was also "singing" a scratchy song - maybe one of this year's birds.
A GREY WAGTAIL was beside the canal.
2 JAYS were commuting between Two Waters, Corner Hall & Boxmoor.
c.22 HOUSE MARTINS flew over W. (Alot of movement W it seems as I noticed Phil Tizzard reported 160 going W between 7.00am & 8.00am in Stowe, Bucks, & Mike Russell reported yesterday well into the hundreds heading W between 6.45am & 7.45am in Stopsley, Beds.)
A Juv. MUTE SWAN flew S high over.
There was no sign of the Peregrine nearby at its roost at 11.00am when I passed.
At 12.00pm a MEADOW PIPIT flew over.
At 1.30pm a GREY HERON flew over high S.
At 4.15pm, nearby, up to 100 STARLINGS were in a group of smaller flocks wheeling about near the BT building & landing on aerials.
At 16.50pm a Juv. MUTE SWAN was circling - possibly the same individual as earlier.

PEREGRINE & HOUSE MARTINS

This morning I noticed a trickle of groups of HOUSE MARTINS passing my Corner Hall office S, some feeding around the rooftops before heading on their way, Lee Evans was just N of me at 'The Magic Roundabout' & counted c.240 passing through in this direction (via Herts Bird Club).

The Female PEREGRINE was at its BT roost when I passed just after 6.00pm & Lee had also seen it there in the morning (via Herts Bird Club).

Lee also saw 7 YELLOW WAGTAILS go S over Hemel today & 2 GREY WAGTAILS (via Herts Bird Club).

PEREGRINE Returns to Winter Roost

I had a text from Jim Middleton at 6.45pm saying that the PEREGRINE Falcon that has wintered on the BT building next to 'The Magic Roundabout' for the last 2 winters was back. Luckily I was in a car pulling onto the the roundabout (officially called The Plough Roundabout) at that moment, so I looked up at the 4 uprights on the N face of the building to see her sat at her usual roost, clearly visible even from the furthest mini roundabout closest the Kodak Tower. It was great to see that the ringed female had returned for a 3rd winter & this is the earliest recorded date that she has arrived at her winter residence.

Nice one Jim & thank you for the text.

I  will keep this blog updated with her activities over the coming months.

LOCATION:

The winter Peregrine roost is on the BT building next to 'The Magic Roundabout' or Plough Roundabout, on the E side. Not to be confused with the Kodak Tower (now 'Image' apartments) which is on the opposite side of the roundabout.

Below is an interactive map of where the Peregrine roost is, where to view it from, where to park, & which way to walk between the spots.
The 6 Figure OS Grid Ref. for the general area is TL 055 063, the 10 Figure OS Grid Ref. for the precise location of the roost is TL 05582 06377. You can use the interactive map > HERE < to find the location by Grid Ref, simply add the grid reference to the search to the left.
If you plan on using a SatNav to visit the site the postcode is HP2 4XD.
I'd say the best place to park without annoying residents or shop owners is at B&Q (HP3 9XX)  just down the road at Corner Hall, off of Lawn Lane from the E, or Two Waters Road from the W.
The roost area is on the N side of the building, facing on to the A414 dual carriageway, also called St. Albans Road. There is a section of the building that protrudes towards the main road which appears to be an internal staircase / lift shaft. On the front of this 'tower' are 4 beige uprights & there is a ledge linking the left-hand two, & another linking the right-hand two, just down from the top of the uprights. This is the Peregrine's pad.

The Pergrine is most often seen either in the morning until about 9.00am, or in the afternoon / evening usually after 4.00pm, sometimes returning to roost with a kill.

The Peregrine's favoured perches seem to be the top of the uprights 3rd & 4th from the left when alert, sat near the front looking down over the town, or the 1st & 2nd uprights from the left, when sat puffed up & resting, hidden at the back.

An interactive map of the Peregrine roost site.

View The BT Peregrine location guide on a larger map > HERE <.

In previous years I have seen the Peregrine leave the roost & travel NE away from the town & have heard records of one flying over the industrial estate & another frequently hunting Golden Plovers in the Redbournbury area, so it is possible that this is where it may spend the day on the hunt. I have also seen it flying from the Boxmoor direction though & even flying between the offices in Corner Hall, where I work.

I hope any Hemel birders that haven't yet seen her yet get a chance to this winter, don't miss the opportunity to see this rare & beautiful addition to our town.

For more information about this bird from winters '09/'10 & '10/'11, & to see photos I took at the time, visit the Hertfordshire Birding blog by Lee G R Evans.
Go straight to the posts about this bird by clicking > HERE < & > HERE <.

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