Patch 2016 - The pond and back to Nursery Wood

juvenile Mute Swan making a rare appearance at the pond.

Back to the bridge, turn east through a bush and follow the path up toward the railway. The land rises and from here you can look north towards the housing estate of Lower Sheering/Sawbridgeworth. Immediately north is what was formerly an ordinary pasture. In 2006 the drain keeping the field dry was blocked with the intention of creating a pool for shooting wildfowl, and a shallow flood formed in the South western corner. We had a purple wader patch in 2007 and into 2008, but the field and surrounds has become overgrown. The pond usually dries out in summer but is full during the winter periods, and for the last few years has become home to a variety of wildfiowl and associated water-loving birds

There are often a variety of species of duck on the pond. Teal in winter, peaking at 9 in the first half but over 30 on 16 Dec this year, Mallard peaking at 14, Gadwall usually build up in late winter with a maximum of 5 this year but double figures in previous years, Shoveler are occasional with a peak of 5 on 22 Feb. Coot and Moorhen are usually present but rarely reach double figures. Mute Swan occasionally appear – two pairs breed further down the river.

Noteable this year was a pair of Little Grebes that were present in early summer and may well have attempted breeding, but the presence of Lesser-Blacked Backed Gulls from Harlow and the resident Crows make breeding hazardous for any water bird. Otherwise a Water Rail was heard in the first winter period, and Little Egret and Grey Heron are seen here on occasion. The surrounding vegetation also gets birds with Cetti’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, and Whitethroat all present in the breeding season with at least one Reed Bunting pair present.

Shoveler on the pond in early Spring this year.

The rough field by the footpath has regular Yellowhammer (peak of about 30 in January) and Chaffinch in the hedges (also peaked at 30 on the patch in mid Jan), and Meadow Pipit in the field in winter.

Occasionally I walk up beyond the railway line following the footpath onto farmland.. The main noteable sighting this year was a Hobby perched on the ground here for 10 minutes – the only decent view on the patch this year.

We’ve nearly finished. Just time to return back to the footbridge, head north then almost immediately turn left along a path that skirts a very wet field. Frequent Goldcrest, tit flocks, and Whitethroat in summer here, and Jays which may be seen anywhere on the walk are slightly more common here. A Barn Owl flew through late one day in December.

The path leads into Nursery Wood, a small but mature woodland in the Eastern corner of the Park. It was possible to stand in a spot in June and see three nest-holes in action; Nuthatch, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, and a honey-bee nest. Tree Creeper are occasionally present here too.

juvenile Starlings in Nursery Wood in June. Not a common bird on the patch.

That just about finishes the walk. Just time to sit on the bench by the gate and look back over the park and add some species to the list. I had a pair of Greylag Goose fly over on 19th April, the only patch Lapwing on 1st April, and the only Patch Snipe on 24th October (there are probably Snipe round the pond and possibly Jack Snipe but there seems little point in disturbing them).

So that’s the walk complete. Next I’ll do a round up of some of the features of the patch not covered in the last few posts.

Patch 2016 - Feakes Lock

Carrying on down river we get to Feakes Lock. This area is the nexus of a number of types of habitat, and forms a small oasis of lowland heaven in mid summer. The river/canal itself has a small tributary just below it, and this area is overgrown with bushes and trees. Beyond is a rough pasture used for horses and rearing pheasants. There is a single large tree on the corner – The Cormorant Tree, so called because it is the single most reliable spot for this species. Opposite the lock is a couple of small rough wet fields with some patches of reeds, and beyond them is the wooded fringe of the grounds of Pishiobury House. Meanwhile behind is an overgrown corner of a field, the field itself, rising toward the railway line, as fringed by a ditch with a few willows and bushes along it.

Cormorant Tree just below the Lock

This is my favourite spot on the walk. From here there are Cetti’s Warblers in the reeds and river edge, Grey Wagtail is a feature during summer together with a large number of warblers.  In winter there are thrushes and finches. The wooded corner of the field held a mixed flock of finches during February/March this year, up to 30 Linnets, 20 Goldfinches, a Bullfinch or two and up to 5 Lesser Redpoll, no doubt part of the mini-invasion around this time. There are often Chaffinches, Yellowhammers, the odd Reed Bunting, Song Thrush and Dunnock here too. Further up in the field was a pair of Stonechat on 22nd October with the female seen again on 2nd November. In summer this area is alive with Whitethroats in the field and Blackcaps in the hedges. This area also hosted a Little Owl, seen occasionally hiding in bushes over the summer period but not in either of the winter periods.

Buzzards may be seen anywhere on the walk, but the back of Pishiobury is a favourite spot.

Finally mention should be made of this year's star bird, Black Redstart, on 12th April. First seen in a tree in the field on the Herts side of the lock, it spent about ten minutes hopping around on a log.

Little Owl being shy and bashful.

Black Redstart

One of the Lesser Redpolls

Looking north over the rough farmland  

Patch 2016 - The River

On leaving the Impenetrable Forest we head down towards the river. The river is, for the length of the patch, a canal which is frequented by canal boats. The river also has a path alongside it with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists, so never a dull moment along here and I frequently find myself discussing the birds of the area with passers by.

small area of mature woodland by the Stort

The Stort in winter ...

... and the Stort in summer.

The path down passes down some open woodland or alternatively cut back up slightly toward Sawbridgeworth and pass through some very old trees. The tall tree by the boardwalk often has a Cuckoo calling from it, and one was seen on a few occasions this year passing through the patch calling. The Cuckoo was first seen on 11th May and then not after the end of the month. I have never seen young Cuckoos on the patch and assume they do not breed, though previous years have seen two birds here.

A surprise visitor this year to this area was a male Turtle Dove singing in the cuckoo tree on 21st May. Sadly it didn’t hang around, and presumably the same bird was seen at Sawbridgeworth Marsh a mile north later that day.

Turtle Dove in the Cuckoo tree 21st May

The stretch along the river has many bushes and is a good area for warblers. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, and Whitethroat are all common along here although sadly Grasshopper Warblers no long breed here. In autumn small groups of chiffs are frequently found in the Willows, with 5 Willow Warblers being seen on 5th August. A Reed Warbler singing from a bush was a surprise on 7th May, although this species nests further north up the Stort at a number of places. 

Further down the river we get to the three bridges area. The first two bridges are over overflow streams with a wet field between them, and then there is the Horse field just before the bridge over the canal. One year Lapwing tried to nest here but they were constantly fighting off crows and eventually lost the battle.

boggy field between the river and the park

The Horse field has many crows, up to 10 Magpies, and often a selection of Jackdaws, Crows, and Rooks. There was a White Wagtail on 12th April. This field also became the sight of some goose action in Spring. Two pairs of Canada Geese appeared briefly, looking as though they were contemplating nesting. They soon wisely disappeared. And an unexpected bird for the list came with a pair of Egyptian Geese here briefly on 7th May, no doubt venturing from the flock a few miles down river at Roydon. In the first winter period a Little Egret was often seen here

Little Egret in the horse field. Note the boggy line in the field behind, often hosting ducks.

The horse filed in early summer with Pishiobury House in the background.

It is often useful to pause here and look up to the Park. There is often a good number of the three black corvids (including a small rookery near Pishiobury Houise), Wood Pigeons with a few Stock Doves in the trees, and a Green Woodpecker regularly on the field. The first Swifts of the year were 5 seen here on 1st May moving north through the park, and a movement of 30 north over the park on 24th July was counted from here.

typical crow-filled tree by the park.

At the back of the horse field is a small dip and in March this flooded resulting in a number of water birds being seen here. A pair of Wigeon and 2 male Shoveler on 16th March, a Green Sandpiper on 4th and 7th April, with Gadwall also seen here. Grey Herons are also often seen in this area.

The river itself has had occasional Kingfisher along here, a single Common Tern on 20th June. Mallard, and Moorhen are regular on the river, with an occasional Little Grebe or Coot. Grey Wagtail occurs along here regularly.

So that's the river to the bridge. Next stop Feakes Lock.

At last. Patch Little Owl

My patch is some wildlife-friendly fields by a river, with overgrown hedgerows, some tall trees, and crops left in the field. I've frequently walked the patch thinking surely, surely, there must be a Little Owl here. And back in 2007 I did hear one at dusk, but since then ... nothing.

Until today! Boing, boing, in bounding flight across the field like a weird mechanical toy, flew a Little Owl. It perched in a small tree giving excellent views for about ten minutes before I moved on. Where has this thing been hiding? Have I just been overlooking it? I think not, as on the return part of my walk I found it again in a tree, quite easy to see on a scan, so maybe its just moved in. Welcome!

Elsewhere the pond is slowly turning into a mini Minsmere. Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler were heard here last month, and today a Kingfisher of all things sat in a bush looking for prey. There were 7 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, and 4 Teal, and a pair of Coots are now nesting. No sign of the Little Grebes that have been seen here on occasion, but there was a Grey Heron in the reeds.

On the Herts side of the river there is a distant field with a dip that has become flooded. It needs a telescope to see properly, and no doubt will become dry and overgrown, but today there was a Green Sandpiper, a Shoveler, a Gadwall and a few each of Teal and Moorhen. Last month this held a male Wigeon for a day too.

Elsewhere on the walk a few lingering Linnet, four singing Chiffchaffs, 2 Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipits, and a male Kestrel.

More Local

A couple of walks out the door between deluges. Some sizeable mixed flocks of warblers, tits, and finches around at the moment. Highlights:

25th - 2 Bullfinch at least with one very chatty juv. Lesser Whitethroat, lots of Whitethroats and Blackcaps, Willow Warblers including 1 singing, Spotted Flycatcher, First Skylark of the autumn flushed from a field, Nuthatch heard from the park.

27th - A Hobby at last! Spectacular views of one with prey in its feet. As often with this species, the House Martins alerted me to its presence. Whinchat 1 in the same place as lat Octobers Stonechat (just up from Feakes Lock). A few Willow Warblers, c30 Linnet, 3 Common Buzzard.

A spectacular plant in the middle of a field. So Large it went off the top of the photo.

There were no birds in this field. Not one. Picture taken to show the fluffy clouds zipping across between downpours.

August in South Sawbo

The usual figure of 8 circuit round South Sawbo, in warm afternoon sunshine after the deluges of the last couple of days. The last weeks of summer are ebbing away. Head-high vegetation all over the uncultivated areas, fields all cut or ploughed. Birds were scarce, again preumably quietly stoking up carbs for winter or migration.

After spectacular beginnnings in 2007-8, SLRS has settled into a pattern as an overgrown shallow pond. There is generally too much vegetation for waders to be happy, and the main bird interest is winter wildfowl. Today, however, there was water over half the pond, and a Green Sandpiper was warily picking its way along the edge.The first for the year for what was a regular species at this spot.

I took a shortcut across the field and in so doing stumbled across a whole series of ants nests. I accidentally stumbled into one taking a side out, exposing a mass of grubs.I think these are black ants but honestly have no expertise in this area.

many apologies little ants ...

other noteable birds were c30 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer, juvenile Green Woodpecker, and 2 Common Buzzards. As is usual a few frustrations - distant circling birds may have been hobbies but I made the cardinbal mistake of taking my eyes off them and then being unable to find them again not once but twice, and a sharp call from a bean field may have been a Yellow Wagtail which would have been a first for this area this year. Finally a shrill series of calls was, courtesy of Xeno-Canto, probably a juvenile Sparrowhawk.

Finally a couple of Commas confirmed that the butterfly I saw last week was not one of these.

A dash out in the rain yesterday to twitch Little Stint at Amwell. I took a photo. I'm working on getting the Panasonic P60 to take decent shots down a Kowa 883. Measurements have been taken, emails have been sent. Fingers crossed you will not have to suffer many more of these.

First day of the new Birding Year

Pishiobury Park 1st March

So, a new birding year! I walked round the periphery of Pishiobury Park trying to note every bird I saw. The results are below. On the Eastern edge of the Park at the bottom of the hill is a boggy wood with many Willows and Alders called, I believe, the Osier bed.

Great-Spotted Woodpecker 1
Wood Pigeon uncounted – a few tens
Stock Dove – 4
Magpie – 7 (of which 2 were seen in the Osier bed - 2 ob)
Jackdaw – 1 ob
Carrion Crow – 4 (2 ob)
Nuthatch – 1 heard at the N end
Blackbird - 3
Redwing – c20 ob
Robin – 11 (2 ob)
Wren - 2
Great Tit – 6 (2 ob)
Long-tailed tit - 4
Blue Tit – 10 (1 ob)
Chaffinch – 7 (3 ob)
Goldfinch – 5 (1 ob)
Siskin – 7ob
Greenfinch - 7
House Sparrow - 8
Goldcrest - 1

The most notable sighting to my eyes is the 11 Robins. Mostly these were singing birds, so it may be say 10 pairs in the park.

Other birds seen were 29 Teal and a male Shoveler on the Scrape, and 3 Common Buzzard soaring over a distant wood near Churchgate Street. And a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was out.

It was warm and bright. Blossom was emerging and spring seems to be poised to arrive. I feel the lists compiled today, at the point when bird populations are at their lowest and local birds are starting to contemplate breeding, serves as a baseline. I’m more than happy to have started my new year today.

Can we have our birds back please?

The snow and continental freeze has brought all sorts of unusual birds to nearby areas, including a few Short-Eared Owls just east of the area . Sadly nothing here today. I took a trudge round the Stort valley south of Sawbo with camera to record what few birds there are. Can we have our missing birds back please?

The scrape is full (good!) but frozen (bad!). A couple of Snipe burst out of ditches. Lots of Wood Pigeons, Rooks and Jackdaws. But some noticeable absences; no Yellowhammers or Reed Buntings, the Kestrels have absconded, temporarily I hope. There were a couple of Meadow Pipits. The Fieldfares that have invaded the area were flying manically around. There were a few Song Thrushes around - I'm not sure if they are immigrants or just our normal birds being a bit more obvious.

On Sunday there was a flock of 70 Lapwing over the park. I thought I heard one today, but in the turned out to be just a bronchitic Fieldfare.

The river has half frozen. There were a couple of strange holes. Like giant spiders have crashed through the ice. Perhaps they will emerge in the spring to savage the area.

Still, its just about the end of this birding year, and the new one will start soon, so perhaps its appropriate that the patch is fairly barren at the moment.

End of the year? What? Well it is according to my calendar. I'll post on that soon.