Rough-legged Buzzard at Therfield

Rather distant and sat on the ground a long time before flying (I’d expected it to be the bird but needed it to fly before being sure). The pale Common Buzzard (along with four others) was also in the same field. My initial reaction when it was reported was that this was the bird, but no, a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard it was.

Lots of Golden Plover (300+). Slightly less Lapwing (220+). Also lots of Thrushes, mostly Fieldfare (c.400?) and Redwing (c.200?).

Therfield
27 November 2015 12:00 - 13:30
Overcast 12C 16SW
Buzzard, Rough-legged Buzzard, Kestrel, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Skylark, Starling, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Rabbit

Humpback Whale

Winterton for the Humpback Whale that’s been lingering offshore for the last few days, apparently feeding on Mackeral (look for the Gannets to find the Whale!) Almost certainly the same individual that’s been returning for its third year now, and the one I dipped on two years ago. This year I saw it, for five minutes as I arrived mid-morning, and it wasn’t seen by myself for the rest of the day, so pretty lucky. Spent the rest of the day watching seabirds re-orientate themselves after two days of storms. It was superb: Highlights were: Cory’s Shearwater south at midday. At least seven Little Auks. Slavonian Grebe. Two Purple Sandpiers. Three Scaup.

Winterton
22 November 2015
Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Scaup, Eider, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver, Cory's Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Slavonian Grebe, Sanderling, Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper, Little Auk, Guillemot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Grey Seal, Humpback Whale

Fowlmere

First proper cold weather this winter. Thought Fowlmere may be promising after a Peregrine went over the house and a Cormorant was seen flying over Foxton. Two Chiffchaffs wasn’t too bad I suppose.

Fowlmere
20 November 2015 Patchy cloud 8C 14W
Teal, Shoveler, Pheasant, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit (heard), Great Tit (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock (heard), Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet (heard), Bullfinch

Amwell and Therfield

A funny day. Awoke to find that a Great Skua was at Wilstone Reservoir after last night’s very strong winds. Splashed some water over my face and was on the road but unfortunately it flew when I’d got to around Hatfield (I wouldn’t have made it even if I’d managed to leave immediately). So I turned left rather than right and went to Amwell. Nothing doing really apart from a late Common Darter and possible Comma Butterfly.

I then carried on to Therfield. It was difficult in the strong wind, but I did find a couple of roosting Long-eared Owls and snapped a quick photo before they flew.

Amwell
15 November 2015 09:34 - 11:22
Patchy cloud 14C 21SW
Greater Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird (heard), Redwing, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Meadow Pipit (heard), Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Rabbit, Common Darter

Therfield
15 November 2015 11:58 - 14:48
Patchy cloud 14C 21SW
Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Long-eared Owl, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing (heard), Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Meadow Pipit (heard), Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Rabbit, Brown Hare, Red Fox

Yellow-legged Gulls and Hen Harrier

Went to Therfield Heath late morning where there had been several reports of a Hen Harrier and Long and Short-eared Owls. Wasn’t too hopeful as it was drizzling with a strong wind. Late afternoon in calm conditions would probably be more favourable but thought I’d give it a go.

On the way, along Foxton Road, I noticed a flock of gulls. I pulled over and scanned them, finding three adult Yellow-legged Gulls amongst around two hundred Lesser Blacked-backed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. One was colour-ringed red on the right leg (I think – it was difficult to tell as it was only visible when it flew).

Therfield was hard work. I found three Red Kites quite easily amongst a number of Buzzards (one quite pale) and another adult Yellow-legged Gull. This was the only light grey backed large Gull in the flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with smaller Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. It’s interesting to note the proportion of Yellow-legged to Herring on these inland fields. Any large pale-backed Gull it seems has a chance of being a Yellow-legged which seem to associate a lot more with Lesser Black-backed. Also there seems to be a very high proportion of adults to younger birds, particularly 1st/2nd calendar year birds.

Apart from Gulls, quite a few Yellowhammers were seen and a decent flock of Goldfinches on Teasel, but no Owls or the Harrier. I gave up and decided to drive the various lanes around the area. At one layby I found the Ringtail Hen Harrier quartering a field about a mile West of Therfield, near Kelshaw. So not too bad after all.

 

Therfield
08 November 2015 11:45 - 15:30
Overcast with occasional very light rain 16C 17SW
Pheasant, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing (heard), Mistle Thrush, Robin (heard), Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer