Hatfield Forest 7/12/16

A quick visit to Hatfield Forest

Jay  2
Magpie  3
Redwing  (to many to count but at least 200)
Jackdaws
Tawny Owl  (sitting in split ash tree) see photo

Sawbo Patch Blackbirds

A quick walk round the patch this morning to clear the head after a night out. About 15-20 Blackbirds around the hawthorns by the Stort the most noticeable feature this morning with similar number of Redwings, well above the usual handful of skulking birds on the patch. Otherwise a Cetti's Warbler from the reeds round the pond, a Green Woodpecker, and a Sparrowhawk over

Patch Barn Owl

A scarce opportunity to walk the patch at dusk. Down the Stort to Old Harlow Meads (opposite the back of Pishiobury House) where Barn Owl is practically nailed on. 10 Linnets in the Impenetrable Forest and a Kestrel on the way down. Then standing by the bridge at the N corner a female Sparrowhawk swooped low into the wood, and a Kingfisher belted across the meads. A couple of Meadow Pipits came over, but no Barn Owl. I turned back at 4:15.

Lots of Redwings dropping into roost and a few Blackbirds too. about 200 Jackdaw in a tree disturbed by a Common Buzzard, then cutting across from the three bridges area to the NE corner of Pishiobury Park a Barn Owl came flying across and took up residence in a willow for a couple of minutes. It set out across the boggy field and did that smart turn-and-dive, and wasn't seen again. finally on the year list for the patch-proper, not just on the patch "extension".

Lapwing in there hundreds

Cycling between Trims green and Tharbies farm saw c300 Lapwing , c60 Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit and Kestrel.

Kingfisher at the pub!

Kingfisher in brook along Spellbrook lane east infront of pub.

Golden Plover back at Trim's Green

a flock of c380 Golden Plover at Trim's Green. In the big field south of the Air Memorial (i.e. two fields south). also c200 Lapwing, c200 Starling, and a Common Buzzard.

For some reason my post of 3 Lesser Redpoll in Pishiobury Park on 22nd didn't get posted so here it is again. My first record of this species in the Park, in the hawthorn clump at the south end of the central hedge row in the dip where it meets the E-W hedge row.

03/11/16 Lapwings A120

4.20pm
100 plus Lapwing   in field between Howe Fencing and Standon north of the A120
 1  Buzzard   also sitting in field.