Herts Bird Club: BARN OWL at Buncefield / Leverstock Green

G. Hinton reported a BARN OWL at M1 Junction 8, Buncefield / Leverstock Green at 04.14 this morning - the same area that I saw one on the 7th of July at 01.10.

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The STONECHAT at Westbrook Hay, plus COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLIES & another new KINGFISHER in the Bulbourne valley...

http://boxmoornature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/week-37-migrant-stonechat-sibling-king.html

12+ COMMON SNIPE, 4 LITTLE EGRETS, 2 REED BUNTINGS & GREY WAGTAIL at flood meadow N of Hemel Garden Centre, Great Gaddesden.

12+ COMMON SNIPE, 4 LITTLE EGRETS (one colour-ringed Orange top/left leg, Yellow top/right leg - not possible to read rings at 350m range & low light), 2 REED BUNTINGS & GREY WAGTAIL at flood meadow N of Hemel Garden Centre, Great Gaddesden.

GREY WAGTAIL wagging its tail, at Great Gaddesden

Male STONECHAT at flood meadow N of Hemel Garden Centre, Great Gaddesden.

HEMEL MEGA: JACK SNIPE & 2 COMMON SNIPE at flood meadow N of Hemel Garden Centre, Great Gaddesden.

JACK SNIPE & 2 COMMON SNIPE at flood meadow N of Hemel Garden Centre, Great Gaddesden. Jack Snipe flushed with MEADOW PIPIT flock, circled once, then landed out of sight again - earliest date recorded locally.

JACK SNIPE at Great Gaddesden - composite of record shots in flight.

Also seen...

2 LITTLE EGRETS
3 GREY HERONS
2 TEAL
GADWALL
2 GREY WAGTAILS
C.10 MEADOW PIPITS
REED BUNTING
RED KITE
Possible WATER RAIL called once

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Male STONECHAT through E following hedgerow at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

Male STONECHAT through E following hedgerow at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End - different bird to previous (particularly stunning black & orange Male with extensive white collar) & appeared to be just passing through, seen from field across road, flying in from W, bounding along length of hedgrow E until out of sight. Represents a probable 5 individuals seen in this area over the past couple of weeks!


Also seen...

MEADOW PIPIT at Water End

BEEFSTEAK FUNGUS & the Dellfield Hay Cut at Westbrook Hay, plus a new KINGFISHER at the Bulbourne Moors...

http://boxmoornature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/week-36-new-kingfisher-menu-of-oak.html

2 STONECHATS (1M, 1F) & 7 GREY PARTRIDGES around Nettleden Road, Water End.

2 STONECHATS, 1 Male & 1 Female, at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

7 GREY PARTRIDGES, including 2 small young juveniles, feeding on ploughed field below Highpark Wood in rain.

Male STONECHAT in drizzle at Water End / Nettleden 

ROBIN sheltering from drizzle...

ROBIN sheltering from drizzle at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

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C.50 HOUSE MARTINS over Corner Hall, 17.00

RAVEN over Highpark Wood, Water End

Young Male STONECHAT around layby at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

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HEMEL MEGA: 1+ TREE SPARROW at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

At least 1 TREE SPARROW in the hedgerow around the layby at the horse paddock at the W end of Nettleden Road. Given away by call then glimpsed flying E along hedge, later 1 seen feeding on ground in paddock out in the open briefly & heard from hedge on & off over next half hour or so. I can't recall even seeing a House Sparrow here so this was a very pleasant surprise - the first record for the Hemel area in a very very long time!

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HEMEL MEGA: 3+ STONECHATS (2+ M, 1 F) at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End.

3+ STONECHATS (2+ Male & 1 Female) at horse paddock at W end of Nettleden Road, Water End. Mainly seen around fence-lines at S (top) end of paddock.

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BUFF-TIP MOTH Caterpillars at Roughdown Common, plus HORNET, TAWNY & LITTLE OWLS, & EDIBLE DORMICE, at Westbrook Hay...

http://boxmoornature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/week-35-gentle-giant-furry-cats-edible.html

EDIBLE DORMOUSE (Glis glis) & TAWNY OWL calling at Valley Green, Woodhall Farm

EDIBLE DORMOUSE (Glis glis) & TAWNY OWL calling at Valley Green, Woodhall Farm - rather late in the year to be hearing Edible Dormice calling but the mild weather may have kept them out longer & this one seemed upset by the presence of the Tawny Owl.

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CRANEFLIES, MIGRANT HAWKER DRAGONFLY at Gadespring Cress Beds, DYER'S MAZEGILL FUNGUS, CHICKEN OF THE WOODS & COMMON PUFFBALL FUNGI at Westbrook Hay, & COMMA BUTTERFLY at Roughdown Common...

http://boxmoornature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/week-34-early-autumn-moon-shrooms.html

HORSE CHESTNUT MINING MOTHS, CHICKEN OF THE WOODS FUNGUS at Westbrook Hay, plus TAR SPOT FUNGUS & refinding the BROWN ARGUS BUTTERFLIES, at Bovingdon Brickworks...

http://boxmoornature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/week-33-mining-growths-another-argus.html

HEMEL MEGA: Lucy Flower has confirmed an amazing new total of 14 BROWN ARGUS BUTTERFLIES at Bovingdon Brickworks...

HEMEL MEGA: Updated total of 13+ BROWN ARGUS BUTTERFLIES at Bovingdon Brickworks...

http://boxmoornature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/week-32-brown-argus-extra-whos-who.html