Birds of Bishop’s Stortford and District
2000 to 2008 on-line report
2009 to be added as final part of 10 year report from 2000 to 2009
194 bird species seen in the local area of TL 41, TL42, TL51 and TL52 since 1st January 2000 and to date.
2 bird species will be added having been seen again in 2009 but not since last century.
39 bird species have not seen since before 1st January 2000. The details are given at the end of this report.
7 all-time new species to the local area added in the second half of the ten year sequence

1 species added in 2005 - Raven

1 species added in 2006 – White Stork,

2 species added in 2007 – Montagu’s Harrier, Little Gull,

3 species added in 2008 – Great White Egret, Pallid Swift, Woodlark

Part 1 Little Grebe to Ruddy Duck

Part 2 Honey Buzzard to Crane

Part 3 Oystercatcher to Common Sandpiper

Part 4 Skuas, Gulls and Terns

Part 5 Pigeons to Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Part 6 Woodlark to Mistle Thrush

Part 7 Cetti’s Warbler to Treecreeper

Part 8 Golden Oriole to Corn Bunting

Part 1 Little Grebe to Ruddy Duck

Little Grebe
In the winter Little Grebe are present in some numbers on the River Stort, mainly to the south of the town. Breeding on the river took place until 1997 by which time Stansted Airport Lagoons had become the local stronghold for Little Grebe. There are successful broods at some of the smaller ponds. Little Grebe are rarely if ever seen at Hatfield Forest Lake.

Great Crested Grebe
The breeding stronghold for this species has been Hatfield Forest Lake since about 1979. In some years the Lake holds more than one pair. In some years more than one brood is raised in a season. Some years there is also successful breeding at the nearby fishing lake at Beggar’s Hall. It seems that many of the local birds move elsewhere for much of the winter. Great Crested Grebes are rarely if ever seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons.

Black-necked Grebe
The first local record was of one adult in winter plumage at Stansted Airport Lagoons from 3rd to 10th October 1999. The second local record was submitted in September 2005 when two birds were observed at Stansted Airport Lagoons. There have been no records since.

Cormorant
There is no evidence of local breeding but these birds are an increasingly frequent sight locally. Cormorants have a distinctive flight outline and are often seen in flight. Hatfield Forest Lake is probably the most likely location for this bird to be seen on the ground. There was a roost of over 30 birds at the Lake on 15th November 2002 when the immature Shag was also present and 30 in September 2005. A figure of this size has not been reported since. Records of single or a small number of birds are more likely than reports of larger groups of birds. Not much is known about the relations between Cormorants and the management of the increasing number of fishing lakes in the local area.

Shag
A single immature bird was reported from Hatfield Forest Lake on 14th and 15th November 2002. There have been no records since.

Great White Egret (New local record in 2008)
The first local record for this species was at Tednambury Marsh on 7th November 2008.

Little Egret
Although Little Egret was first recorded in England in 1826 the first breeding took place in Dorset in 1995. Records for the local area began in 1999 with one at the Lagoons at Stansted Airport. The nearest local breeding site is thought to be linked to the Grey Heron nests at the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve at Amwell. There are just a few local records in most years. In 2005 an injured juvenile was found in Parsonage Lane, Bishop’s Stortford and was taken into care. The records in 2008 started with a flyover at Hockerill on 11th June and continued with a juvenile bird that was at Stansted Airport Lagoons from 25th to 31st July and ended with one bird that was present there on 24th December.

Grey Heron
Although Grey Heron are seen in flight somewhere locally on most days, even in Bishop’s Stortford – there must be a productive food source from unprotected garden ponds – there is no evidence of local breeding. There are some non-breeding strongholds at fishing lakes that also have islands. The nearest heronries are thought to be at Waltham Abbey and Amwell and as far as is known the mature local birds may breed there.
White Stork (New local record in 2006)
The only local record in the ten year period is of one bird in flight on 17th April 2006 over the Trims Green and Allen’s Green areas. There have been no records since.

Mute Swan
Mute Swans can be seen throughout the year locally in small numbers. Breeding has taken place at Hatfield Forest Lake and at Spellbrook and elsewhere on the River Stort where the birds judge that they have the necessary favourable conditions. Young birds now seem to be less likely to reach
maturity locally because of the urban nature of the area and because of some wanton destruction by humans. Before the present development in the middle of the town the nest most likely to be successful was located in full public view and without any defences and while adjacent to the water was virtually part of a car park. It remains to be seen whether this environmental clock can be turned back.

Black Swan
There was a feral bird in the area in 2003 and 2004 when it was reported from Hatfield Forest Lake and the Lagoons at Stansted Airport.

Whooper Swan
Only records of these wild swans in flight have been reported for the local area. Fourteen birds were reported over Dane Park on 19th November 2001. Two birds were seen flying high over Sawbridgeworth on 12th January 2005. There were no local records of wild swans either in flight or on the ground in 2008. The wait for a resting bird locally may have been worthwhile as a note about two birds at Stansted Airport Lagoons in October 2009 has been received before this text could be posted.

Greylag Goose
Breeding has been reported since the summer of 2004. The water that seems most favoured is the fishing lake at Beggar’s Hall on the western edge of Hatfield Forest. These birds are part of a self sustaining feral population that are present throughout the year – these geese do not migrate each summer to arctic breeding grounds. Although numbers are rising the species has yet to have reached the nuisance numbers of Canada Geese – see below.

Canada Goose
In the 1990s the feral Canada Goose was, as it were, declared a pest locally as it presented a safety hazard to flying operations at Stansted Airport. Large flocks of more than a hundred had to be dispersed. The bird club advised airport personnel on some aspects of this task and numbers locally are now considered to be within manageable levels. It is understood that licences are still held that permit action to restrict breeding numbers.

Barnacle Goose
Six birds were present on Hatfield Forest Lake on 8th September 2008.

Egyptian Goose
There are a number of records of Egyptian Goose as a feral species. The first record was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 2nd June 1987. A female bird was present there for five minutes on 12th May 2002 before flying off. At Hatfield Forest Lake a single bird was seen on 30th September 2007. There were no records in 2008.

Ruddy Shelduck
Although there were records before 2000 it was not until 2007 that birds of this species were again seen. Two birds were present during part of the second winter of 2007. Ducks and geese and waders often move between the waters at Stansted Airport Lagoons and Hatfield Forest Lake. These birds were seen at both sites. A first winter male was noted from 3rd November to 4th December and an adult female joined it from 30th November.

Shelduck
Birds of this species are reported from the two expected waters: Hatfield Forest Lake and Stansted Airport Lagoons. The maximum number has been five at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 26th April 2004. A young bird was hatched in 2005 and raised at the lagoons. On occasion, juveniles have also been seen in subsequent years. However, breeding opportunities have been fewer since the most recent road building and associated work around the lagoons and it is not known how far away any breeding site might be.

Mandarin
It is known that these birds are held in local wildfowl collections. There is a famous feral stronghold fairly close by at Connaught Water in Chingford. From time to time birds are seen in different places. There are probably one or two quiet corners of the local area where Mandarin breed on a regular basis with some local support and pride and celebrity. The nine birds reported from St John Pelham on 29th November 2008 may be a part of such a group. In 2008 a drake Mandarin was present at Hatfield Forest Lake from 30th January to 2nd February.

Wigeon
It would be very unusual to see large numbers of Wigeon grazing in winter in these inland areas. Six were at Mathams Pit on 4th January 2004. In 2008 the only records came from Sheering Lower Road Scrape between 8th to 22nd April when at most “several” were present.

Gadwall
The population of this species may be overtaking Mallard in some other areas as the most frequently seen duck. The evidence for Bishop’s Stortford is that as Mallard has such a breeding stronghold with ideal conditions at Stansted Airport lagoons any upsurge in Gadwall numbers is not likely to match Mallard numbers. There may be a change in the next ten years. For the present, although Gadwall are present in every month of the year breeding records of Gadwall are still unusual and as with all bird matters should be reported on the club’s Yahoo email group and the club’s Wiki system that can be found at www.btinternet.com/~bsbirdgroup although a Google or other search engine request could also assist.

Teal
Winter records focus at Hatfield Forest Lake and the Lagoons at Stansted Airport. It might be that individuals are seen at both sites. When Teal and waterfowl of many species are disturbed at one place they have the option of checking out whether it is safer for the moment to rest and feed at the other. If neither was satisfactory for some reason they would move elsewhere. Despite this, there could be several dozen Teal in winter at the various local waters at peak times. Breeding has yet to be reported although some birds do over-summer. In 2008 two juvenile birds were reported from Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 4th August.

Mallard
After the main breeding period at the Stansted Airport Lagoons there can be counts of over 200 birds. Unfortunately much less breeding success seems to be achieved by the many pairs at Hatfield Forest Lake and the young birds hatched there seem destined to be an essential part of the food chain.

Feral Mallard
For some surveys bird watchers are asked to separate out the birds that do not appear to be of fully wild origin. These are often larger, have some white feathers, have white chests or other non-standard colour patterns even though they might retain the familiar curly tails. At some stage with feral mallards there has been inter-breeding with domestic ducks.

Pintail
Fewer Pintail have been seen locally in the past ten years. Only three birds were seen in the six years from 2001 to 2007. There were no local records in 2008.

Garganey
There was a male at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 7th June 2002. In 2008 there was a male bird at Sheering Lower Road Scrape from 8th to 16th April.

Shoveler
Apart from one record on 28th January, records of Shoveler in 2008 were made between 16th April and 20th September. There were no records in the second winter and no records of young from local breeding, although juveniles have been seen. Before 2000 there were breeding records from Maymeads Marsh in Harlow in the 1980s. In 2008 records were received from Sheering Lower Road Scrape and Stansted Airport Lagoons. The only record from Hatfield Forest Lake was on 31st August when five were seen. This was the maximum number reported in the year and was matched by a report of five from Stansted Airport Lagoons on 7th September.

Red-crested Pochard
A female was reported from Hatfield Forest Lake from November 2001 to February 2002. A pair was reported there on 7th and 8th November 2006. There were no records of this feral species in 2008.

Pochard
This species arrives for winter at Hatfield Forest Lake in a pattern of dates that has not changed for many years. November to March is the main period and numbers tend to peak in January. A dozen males swimming together can be one of the highlights of a winter visit to some local waters. There are no records of these birds breeding locally.

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck can be numerous “almost-residents” at Hatfield Forest Lake in the late winter and early summer although as measured by the absence of young on the water they do not breed there. Tufted Duck may breed at some of the smaller local waters and they certainly seem to produce large numbers of young birds at the Lagoons at Stansted Airport where survival rates seem good to observers. It may well be that Tufted Duck have recognised the problems caused by all of the predators at Hatfield Forest and have responded by breeding elsewhere when the birds judge there appear to be satisfactory food sources and generally fewer hazards.

Scaup
Just a few birds have been seen locally in recent years. No Lesser Scaup have been reported in the local area.
The second record (after one on 31st October 1992) was made at the Lagoons at Stansted Airport with a female on 22nd January 2000. The third record was in the same year with a first summer female on 9th and 10th April 2000. The fourth and fifth records were made in the second winter of
2006 when two females were seen in December with one staying until 7th January 2007 when it moved to Hatfield Forest Lake and remained until 9th March 2007. There were no records in 2008.

Goldeneye
Single females were reported from Stansted Airport Lagoons on 22nd January 2000 and 20th February 2000. There have been no subsequent records.

Smew
Two birds have been reported since 1st January 2000. Both birds were at Hatfield Forest Lake. A first year male was present on 22nd and 23rd January 2004 and a female was present from 25th December 2005 to 4th January 2006. There were no local records in 2007 or 2008.

Goosander
Hatfield Forest Lake held a single bird on 7th March 2004 and 25th December 2005 and there were records of up to five birds between 12th November and 4th December 2007. At the Lagoons of Stansted Airport there was a single female on 26th December 2006 and a single male on 1st January 2007. There were no records in 2008.

Ruddy Duck
Small numbers of Ruddy Duck have been seen on local waters. In the earlier years covered by this report a pair was reported at the lagoons at Stansted Airport for two months in the summer of 2002 without any indication of breeding. A single bird was reported at the same location in June 2005. Since that date birds can still be seen despite an official cull that must be having some effect given the large government sponsored budget that is involved. In 2008 there was a record of one bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 2nd July and of another on 19th and 20th August.

Part 2 – Honey Buzzard to Crane

Honey Buzzard
Despite notable general invasions of Honey Buzzards into England in September 2000 and September 2008 there have been only five records for the local area. The first local bird was seen 25th September 2000 at Patmore Heath. There was a second 2000 bird at Bloodhound’s Wood on 27th September. Although Patmore Heath saw a second record on 24th September 2006 the general influx in 2008 brought just two further records: a dark phase bird was seen at the airport at Long Border Road on 15th September and another bird was seen at Thorley Wash on 27th September 2008.

Black Kite
The first local record since before 1st January 2000 was on 16th May 2008 along the A120 road. A bird seen on 2nd July 1988 at Gilston was accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee and was the first record for Hertfordshire.

Red Kite
There are now at least half a dozen reports each year between February and September following the various introduction schemes. There is speculation about why there are no records between October and January and further speculation about whether breeding takes place in the local area. No doubt patient fieldwork will start to provide some clues to the answers to these questions.

Marsh Harrier
The first record since before 2000 did not occur until what was regarded as a wandering individual was seen at Matham’s Wood on 2nd September 2005. The third record was also at Matham’s Wood. This was on 7th September 2006. The fourth record was a bird seen flying over Perry Green on 28th April 2007. There were no records in 2008.

Hen Harrier
There have been three winter records of wandering individuals since 1st January 2000. In 2003 one was at Wickham Hall on 22nd January. There were no further records until 2007 when there were two records. One was reported on 21st February at Stansted Airport. Because there are two winter periods in each calendar year this report refers to the months before spring as the first winter period and the months after autumn as the second winter of the year. The other 2007 record was in the second winter period on 4th November at Stortford Park Farm. There were no records in 2008.

Montagu’s Harrier (New local record in 2007)
The first records for the local area came in the spring and summer of 2007. One was seen at Horse Cross on 28th April and the other one was at Allen’s Green on 11th August 2007. In 2008 a harrier of this species was present for three days at Stansted Airport from 14th May.

Goshawk
Although there has been speculation on the extent of breeding in the local area nothing has yet been verified. Most records had been in the first four months of the year with just one record in June 2004 and another in October 2007. In 2008 the six records had a more general spread of dates: There were three records from Patmore Heath. These were of single birds seen on 8th April, 26th April and 22nd July. On 16th May there was a possible Goshawk over Birchanger Services at junction 8 of the M11. On 22nd August an adult and a juvenile were seen in Hatfield Forest. The final sighting in 2008 was on 10th December, also in Hatfield Forest.

Sparrowhawk
This is a resident and widespread breeding bird.

Buzzard
This species is now established as a resident and is an increasingly common breeding bird. No Rough-legged Buzzards have been reported from the local area.

Osprey
Sometimes local observers are fortunate enough to see this reintroduced species on either spring or autumn passage. One bird was at Patmore Heath on 11th May 2001. There was another spring record from Farnham in 2006 when on 26th April a bird tried to plunder a pond and got into a tangle and had to be treated by a local vet. The story was that the bird was none the worse and was released at Rutland Water.
Autumn records also started in 2001. That year there was a bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 19th August. Since then the records received have all been in September. In 2003 on 13th September a bird was seen at Sawbridgeworth Marsh. In 2004 on 4th September an Osprey was seen over Sawbridgeworth Cricket Ground. In 2008 a bird of this species was present at Trims Green from 13th to 16th September.

Kestrel
This is a resident and widespread breeding bird.

Red-footed Falcon
There has been just one record for the local area. This was an adult male drifting south towards Hatfield Forest from Stansted Airport Lagoons on 27th May 2001. Although 2008 was a year when many birds of this species were seen, including at Seventy Acres Lake in the Lea Valley, there were no local records.

Merlin
There are a number of reports of this species in the local area each winter, generally from open farmland. In general there have been no records for the four months from May to August. In 2008 the last date of the first winter period was 24th March at Sawbridgeworth Marsh and first date of the second winter was 2nd September at Little Hadham.

Hobby
As a summer visitor Hobby come to breed and can be seen for about five months from May to September. Juveniles are seen later in the year. A family party with three young birds at Stortford Park Farm in 2009 leaves little doubt that breeding in the local area is not an isolated occurrence.

Peregrine
These birds are resident in England but they are not known to breed in the local area. A few records are received each year between May and November. In 2008 there were records of single birds on four dates. In September at Trims Green and the adjacent parts of the town a bird was seen on 15th and 17th September. In November a bird was at Tednambury Marsh on 7th November and there was another sighting at Spellbrook on 12th November.

Red-legged Partridge
This game bird is raised by a number of farmers in the local area and some pairs breed independently.

Grey Partridge
This game bird is raised by a number of farmers in the local area and some pairs breed independently.

Pheasant
This game bird is widespread and locally abundant and a wild population is augmented by breeding for the local shoots. There have been no records of Golden Pheasant in the local area.

Quail
The birds seen locally are wild birds although some escapes cannot be ruled out entirely. The local area does not include the chalk lands to the north where this species is often reported as a summer visitor and breeding there must be considered likely. However, although individuals have been noted from time to time there were no records in the local area in 2008.

Water Rail
This elusive resident is more often heard than seen. The 2008 reports were consistent with those received previously. Records come from the River Stort valley including the Essex Wildlife Trust reserves at Sawbridgeworth Marsh and Rushy Mead. Other sites in the river valley that hold Water Rail include Sheering Lower Road Scrape, Tednambury Marsh and Thorley Wash. Juveniles have been seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons and breeding is reported from the marsh at Hatfield Forest Lake.

Moorhen
This is a common local breeding bird and may be found at even the smallest of neighbourhood ponds and in the surrounding fields. Sometimes, when there a series of broods, the older young can be seen helping to provide food for the newest young.

Coot
The larger waters generally hold a breeding population and birds incubating eggs on their large nests can become a familiar sight.

Crane
This species is not common locally in the recent era. One bird was seen at Birchanger on 9th June 2001 and four years later another bird was observed in a ploughed field opposite Chaldean Farm, Much Hadham. The date was 27th October 2005.
Part 3 Oystercatcher to Common Sandpiper

Oystercatcher
There have been just two occasional records. One bird was heard in the night in the Dane Park area of Bishop’s Stortford on 7th January 2001. There was one bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 19th April 2006. There were no records in 2008.

Avocet
Two birds flew into Stansted Airport Lagoons on 6th August 2000. Although there were earlier records there have been no records since.

Little Ringed Plover
Although reported in England from 1850 as summer visitors these birds were first noted to be breeding only in 1938 when nesting took place in another part of Hertfordshire. Local records over the years are mainly from Stansted Airport Lagoons but some birds have been seen elsewhere including at Bamber’s Green and at Matham’s Pit where breeding was attempted on at least one occasion. In 2008 birds were reported from Stansted Airport Lagoons and Sheering Lower Road Scrape. Also, one bird was reported from Hollingson Mead on the River Stort just north of Harlow on 17th April. This site is just inside what is now defined as the bird group’s local area. Without a bird club in Harlow at present that might be offended by this overlap, coverage by this bird club into Harlow should only assist the search for better understanding of birds present locally.

Ringed Plover
Although not seen every year since 2000 at Stansted Airport Lagoons this site dominates records for this species. There were records from Bamber’s Green in 2005. Two records from the Lagoons were
received in 2008 concerning birds seen on 5th and 20th August. Although juveniles are seen from time to time, including 2009, the club is not aware of the nearest breeding site.

Dotterel
The only local record is of one bird was seen in fields at Green Tye on 11th September 2004. There have been no records since.

Golden Plover
If you walk round local fields or perhaps the towpath by the river, if it is not too muddy, between October and March, you may be fortunate to spot some of these birds on the ground. Sometimes they are with Lapwing and sometimes Rooks. Maybe the more likely first sighting is when Golden Plover are in the air. When they fly with Lapwings the shapes of the two species show very differently – amongst other differences the Lapwing has broad wings that are used slowly and this species has narrow ones that look as though they are working harder. During the years some large flocks have been seen. 1,500 and more were seen at Tednambury Marsh on 14th November 2005. In 2008 1,000 were reported on 15th October in Tetrad TL52R near Bamber’s Green.

Lapwing
These are familiar birds and some nest in the local area. The sites at Sheering Lower Road and Bamber’s Green are examples. These breeding birds may be joined by others that visit this area for the winter. In 2008 three young were seen at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 22nd June. Small numbers of Lapwing can be seen in any month. Large flocks can be seen and although they might be seen from a car window there is no real substitute for arranging a walk in a likely area. The largest local flock reported in 2008 was 200 birds at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 12th February.

Little Stint
It is very unusual to see this species in the local area recently. After a number of records up to 1998 there was no local record until 8th September 2007 when a juvenile was present at Sheering Lower Road Scrape. There was no repeat in 2008.
Temminck’s Stint
Again, it would be very unusual to find this species in the local area. However, the unexpected did happen, and one was seen by an observer at Stansted Airport Lagoons. A summer plumaged individual was present on 11th May 2001.

Dunlin
These birds can occur in large numbers on the coast and not surprisingly a few birds do turn up at inland sites from time to time. Until 2008 all of the records have been of singles. Four singles were seen in 2006 and one in 2007. Mathams Pit and Hatfield Forest Lake have been visited as well as Stansted Airport Lagoons where the birds in 2008 records were seen. There were three sightings. On 25th July and 23rd August a single bird was seen. On the middle date of 3rd August two birds were present.

Ruff
There has been one local record since before 2000. In 2007 a single male was observed at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 21st April.

Jack Snipe
This species is a regular winter visitor but they are hard to see as they are well camouflaged. They also prefer to sit tight and tend not to fly even when watchers are close. Sawbridgeworth Marsh, Stansted Airport Lagoons and St Michael’s Mead Lake in the Southern Country Park in Bishop’s Stortford are the most likely sites in most years. This was again the case in 2008. No records were received between April and November. In the first winter period Sawbridgeworth Marsh claimed up to three birds with an earliest date of 2nd January and continuing to 3rd April. The Lake at the Southern Country Park in Bishop’s Stortford had its first record on 28th March and had another record on 20th April and then a record in the second winter on 6th December. Stansted Airport Lagoons reported one bird on 20th April 2008.

Snipe
All of the local wetland sites will hold this species from time to time. Quite large groups have been noted with more than 60 at Taylor’s End at Stansted Airport in February 2002 thought to be the largest. Observations indicate that some Snipe are present throughout the year but the same bird may not be present in the different seasons as movement does take place as with many other species including Meadow Pipit and Blackbird. The local breeding status continues to be inconclusive although displays have been seen. In 2008 the largest groups noted were 10 at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 27th September and again on 11th October.

Woodcock
These birds are shot for sport in some areas but as far as is known this does not happen locally. In any case the local birds are few and far between. In fairly recent history it was possible to see the roding flight of the Woodcock and walks were organised for this purpose in Hatfield Forest. As the walks there rarely if ever achieved their purpose, they, rather like the walks to hear the now virtually non existent Nightingale, have been discontinued. In 2008 one bird was reported from Little Hadham on 3rd January. An observer visiting High Wych reported one bird on 25th February and there was a report about a bird at Spellbrook on 25th November. In 2008 December was the month for sightings and single birds were reported at Sawbridgeworth Marsh, Rushy Mead and the Stansted Airport Lagoons.

Black-tailed Godwit
The first local record was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 24th July 2004. Three were reported flying low over Hockerill on3rd October 2005. In 2006 there was another bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons. In 2007 single birds were at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 6th and 9th August and at Allen’s Green on 16th September. In 2008 there was one record from Stansted Airport Lagoons on 15th April of two birds flying north east. Three more 2008 records came from Sheering Lower Road Scrape. One bird was seen there on 6th July in full summer plumage, three birds were present on 10th July, and two were seen there on 7th September.

Bar-tailed Godwit
The second local record (the first was in 1997) was when twenty five of these birds were seen flying over Patmore Heath on 29th April 2007. There was no record in 2008.

Whimbrel
The only local record since 2000 is of one bird flying over Stansted Airport Lagoons on 3rd May 2007. There was no record in 2008.

Curlew
Even with the records in the previous century observers have yet to find a Curlew locally on the ground. Following a sighting of a bird in flight over the Stansted Airport Lagoons on 16th January 2000 the only subsequent record was again of birds in flight. Three birds were reported over Spellbrook and Tednambury. The date was 21st June 2008.

Spotted Redshank
There has been no record since the adult in full summer plumage at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 18th June 2000.

Redshank
Rather more records are received for this wader species than for most of the others but they are still not common. Records are received from most of the local wetland sites. In 2008 single birds were observed at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 6th January, 12th January and 12th July, with 2 juveniles present on 4th and 5th August. Elsewhere, 2 birds were flying over Hatfield Forest Lake on 7th September. Juveniles have been reported from Stansted Airport Lagoons in 2009 but local breeding has yet to be claimed as newly fledged young have yet to be seen.

Greenshank
On balance there have probably been almost as many small numbers of records compared to Redshank. Juveniles have been reported from some of the wetland locations but local breeding is not expected. The only records in 2008 were from Stansted Airport Lagoons, where a single bird was seen on 5th August and a single juvenile was seen on 18th, 19th and 20th August.

Green Sandpiper
The RSPB teaching reserve at Rye Meads in the Lea Valley is considered to be a local stronghold for this species. In 2008 Green Sandpiper was recorded about twenty times in the local area around Bishop’s Stortford. Birds were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on various dates between July and October, with a maximum count of 4 birds on 4th August. Additional records came from Sheering Lower Road Scrape, where 1 to 2 birds were present on various dates in July.

Wood Sandpiper
Three reports have been received for the years from 2000. Patmore Heath was the site of the first record on 23rd April 2002. Hatfield Forest Lake followed on 18th July 2004. The third record came from Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 20th August 2007. There were no records in 2008.

Common Sandpiper
Regular locations for these birds to be seen on passage to and from their breeding grounds between April and September are Stansted Airport Lagoons, Mathams Pit and Sheering Lower Road Scrape. There are also some records from the River Stort. 2008 was probably a representative year with over forty records between 20th April and 17th September. The maximum count was eight birds at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 4th August. Mathams Pit reported one bird on 15th May. Thorley Wash contributed the record on the latest date of the year: a single bird on 17th September.

Part 4 Skuas, Gulls and Terns

Arctic Skua
The first and so far only record is of a dark phase bird seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 6th September 2000.

Mediterranean Gull
The first recent record for the local area was a bird seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 27th January 2001. The second record was an adult seen at the Lagoons on 2nd December 2005. In 2008 three further records were received. On 31st July and 5th August a bird of this species was seen at “the lagoons”. On 7th September the record of a bird seen at Sheering Lower Road Scrape brought the local tally to five in nine years.

Little Gull (New local record in 2007)
The first record for the local area was seen on 14th July 2007 at Stansted Airport Lagoons. In 2008 there was a second record when a Little Gull was seen at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 26th and 27th January.

Black-headed Gull
Birds of this species can be seen during most of the year with greater numbers in the winter. No work has been conclusive about where the nearest breeding site would be. The maximum number observed in 2008 was the 652 birds that flew SSW over Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 18th December

Common Gull
From records in the past few years the least likely months to see Common Gulls in the local area are May and June. In 2008 there were no local records between 2nd April and 27th July. With maximum numbers recorded between November and March, the Common Gull may be seen in flocks of 20 to 100 and occasionally 200 plus on suitable agricultural land and local playing fields. The maximum count during 2008 was 206 birds observed at Tednambury Marsh on 25th January.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
These birds can be seen in small numbers throughout the year. In the Stort valley there is a regular daily movement north in the morning with a return south in the afternoon. Flight times are adjusted according to the season to keep in daylight hours as far as possible. The maximum number in 2008 was 62 birds observed flying SSW over Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 18th December. Urban nesting in tetrad TL41K in Harlow has been confirmed for 2008 and 2009.

Herring Gull
These birds can be seen in most months of the year. In 2008 the only month without a record was June. However, urban nesting in tetrad TL41K in Harlow has been confirmed for 2008 and 2009.

Yellow-legged Gull
Seen first in the local area in 1999 this species has been recorded in each year since 2005 there was one record in 2008. This concerned a bird at Trims Green on 18th August.

Caspian Gull
The only record from the local area was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 24th July 2006. There was no report in 2008.

Great Black-backed Gull
There were about twenty records of this species in the local area in 2008. The observations were made in all months of the year except April, June and July. This species is usually observed in very small numbers either on arable land or flying over. A report of four birds at Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 12th January was the maximum for the year.

Sandwich Tern
The first record for the local area since 2001 was on 29th July 2007 when a bird flew SE over Hatfield Forest Lake. There was no record in 2008.

Common Tern
In 2008 there was a further successful breeding pair at Hatfield Forest Lake where the National Trust had reinstalled a tern raft and has now added a second one. Common Tern may be seen regularly in the area in all months from April to August and sometimes these dates are extended a little. Most records come from the wetlands but individual birds, sometimes carrying fish, can also be seen flying over urban gardens. In the Lea Valley there is a major breeding group at the Amwell Reserve of the Herts and Middlesex Trust and there is another breeding site at the RSPB reserve at Rye Meads where camcorder views are broadcast and can be seen over the internet from your armchair at home.

Black Tern
The first record for the local area since 2000 was a bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 18th July 2002. In 2008 a Black Tern was observed at Mathams Pit on 14th May.

Part 5 – Pigeons to Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Feral Pigeon
The Feral Pigeon may be seen in Bishop’s Stortford town centre, usually around the flour mill, with smaller flocks on local fields. As many as 22 feral pigeons can be seen at the main bird sites in Sawbridgeworth.

Stock Dove
The Stock Dove may be easily overlooked and under-recorded even though it is a resident and breeding bird. Birds are reported from many of the tetrads in the Bird Atlas survey work. The largest flock recorded in 2008 was 40 on a chaff dump at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 18th May.

Woodpigeon
The Woodpigeon is widespread as a breeding bird throughout the area in both urban and rural locations. Not surprisingly the larger numbers are seen away from private gardens and large winter flocks are observed. 650 birds were counted at Spellbrook on 9th October 2008. A flock at Hadham Ford on 1st November was estimated to contain at least 5,000 birds. There were 250 at Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 30th December.

Collared Dove
As part of its move from the Balkans this species was first found in England in 1955 in Norfolk where a pair nested. The Collared Dove is now abundant and widespread and a familiar bird of many private gardens and roof tops. However, the local pairs do form into larger groups and a notable
post-breeding flock in 2008 was 164 birds was observed and counted at Trims Green on 17th September.

Turtle Dove
It is hoped that these birds are breeding in places bird watchers have yet to reach. Observations from only four locations were reported in 2008 and although other places will hold these birds they seem not to have been on the club “radar”. On 29th April there was a report from Stocking Pelham of Turtle Dove in that area. On 4th May a bird was reported at the Rivers Nursery in Sawbridgeworth with further reports of a pair displaying there on 28th May. Three birds were seen at Trims Green on 14th May. There have been no confirmed breeding records in 2008 although territorial behaviour was observed near Bush End church from mid May to mid June and a bird was present there until at least 19th July. Breeding will no doubt be moved from possible to probable and then confirmed in the local area in due course but much fieldwork may be required.

Ring-necked Parakeet
These birds were introduced into Surrey in 1971 and in some places have become plentiful. Although the local area is not one where these birds have become well established there are records of one or two birds from time to time. In 2008 the first sighting was at tetrad TL42F in Hadham Ford where a single bird was seen on 21st February. On 29th February a bird was seen at Vantorts Park in Sawbridgeworth. Single birds were observed in a private garden in Bishop’s Stortford on 4th May and at Sawbridgeworth Station on 10th September.

Cuckoo
The number of observations is decreasing but the Cuckoo may still be found in locations including Hatfield Forest, Sawbridgeworth Marsh, Thorley Wash and the adjacent River Stort Valley. Other places where reports have been received include Patmore Heath and farmland to the west and north west of Bishop’s Stortford. There have been no records from the local area of young cuckoos being fed by the host birds.

Barn Owl
Like the other owls that breed locally this is a bird that often guarantees a good turn out of watchers when birds are reported in a particular area via the club website and email group. The twenty or so records sent in during 2008 were fewer than in some years but often birds are reported more than once and so these figures can be misleading. The lock on the River Stort at Little Hallingbury and the adjacent Tednambury Marsh can often be a good vantage point.

Little Owl
These birds were introduced into Kent and other places in Victorian times – 1879 is the date given by the British Trust for Ornithology. There were about thirty records from the area during 2008. The Thorley birds at Obrey Way were not so prominent in 2008 and the Hatfield Forest birds were not using such prominent places to sit either. However, the Little Owl at Stortford Park Farm that featured in the photographic section of the Blue Book probably again provided the best photo-opportunities of the year. Birds were also reported from Tednambury Marsh and Little Canfield.

Tawny Owl
Many observers have taken the view that these birds may not be as numerous as they once were and certainly their night time calls do not seem to be heard as much in areas of housing as they once were. It will not be as simple as being to do with us all sleeping more soundly. There were about
twenty records during 2008 from various locations and birds at Hatfield Forest were certainly reported the most.

Long-eared Owl
There were no records in 2008 although there were records in 2007 from Thorley Wash, Little Hallingbury and Much Hadham.

Short-eared Owl
There were no records in 2008 although there was a report on 26th April 2006 from Stortford Park Farm.

Nightjar
These birds have only been recorded once in the local area since 1st January 2000. This was at Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 12th May 2001. There have been no recent records from there or from Hatfield Forest. 2008 was another year without a record and even the most optimistic members are not holding their breath.

Swift
The Swift remains a fairly common sight overhead during the summer months in the Bishop’s Stortford area. There are several breeding sites in the town where suitable buildings remain. Larger flocks were seen during 2008 including more than 60 drifting south at Allen’s Green on 13th July.

Pallid Swift (New local record in 2008)
One was observed heading south on 8th May 2008 at Patmore Heath.

Kingfisher
There were about forty records during 2008. These were mainly from the River Stort valley, Hatfield Forest and Stansted Airport Lagoons and may not involve many individual birds.

Hoopoe
There were five records before 2000. The first bird reported after 1st January 2000 was seen in Oaklands Park, Bishop’s Stortford on 23rd April 2003. There was a long-staying bird in Bishop’s Stortford from 23rd April to 18th May 2007. Quite a few people still count themselves lucky after admiring that one; the seventh local record. No bird was found locally in 2008 and many people are looking forward to the next one being found. These include the dog walkers and pram pushers on Grange Paddocks who could usually advise visitors from far and wide which pitch the bird was seen most recently on and what its habits were.

Wryneck
No records in 2008. With the records from Henham on 31st August 2000 and from Farnham in September 2002 now becoming rather ancient it is to be hoped that another Wryneck might be found locally before too long.

Green Woodpecker
When these birds give their characteristic yaffle many people can put a name to the call. Only about 130 records were submitted in 2008 but these birds can be seen in many areas, including many gardens – especially if the bird thinks that ants will be on the menu.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is recorded from all suitable woodland habitats throughout the area and in addition this species is frequently observed in gardens where it visits bird tables and peanut feeders.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
There were just a handful of records submitted in 2008. These birds are elusive and hard to get a good view of, let alone find where they might be nesting. The 2008 records come from three locations outside of residential areas. These are Wallbury on 3rd January, Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 6th March, 3rd April and 7th December and Twyford Lock on 27th September. There was a Manuden record on 11th January and a Bishop’s Stortford garden record on 27th July in the same area that has held this species before.

Part 6 Woodlark to Mistle Thrush

Woodlark (New local record in 2008)
On 8th November 2008 a bird of this species was seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons.

Skylark
This is a breeding bird that can be heard singing while flying over fields; sometimes battling to be heard against traffic noise from the motorway. As with many local bird species the different seasons may bring extra birds here from elsewhere and it may be that our breeding birds do not stay here all of the year. Indeed, no Skylarks were reported in 2008 for most of November and December.

Sand Martin
These birds return to us from their winter quarters during either the last days of March or in early April. No breeding colony has yet been found in the local area but there are a number of birds seen throughout the summer so there is likely to be a base somewhere close. In 2008 the first sightings were on 5th April and the last birds were seen on 22nd November.

Swallow
These birds are common summer visitors and there are many places for them to breed. They have a more formal name in some places of Barn Swallow and this seems appropriate for this local area. In 2008 the first and last dates were 16th March and 28th September.

Red-rumped Swallow.
The first bird of this species was seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 4th June 1999. The only bird of this species seen since the turn of the present century was at Hollingson Mead near Harlow on 28th and 29th May 2002. No follow up was claimed in 2008 and at the time of writing no repeat has yet happened in the summer of 2009 either.

House Martin
These birds are common summer visitors and nest under the eaves of houses. In 2008 the first and last dates were 5th April and 22nd September.

Tree Pipit
There are now three records for the local area since the turn of the present century. Following the first bird in flight at St James Thorley on 2nd September 2005 and the second in flight at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 15th August 2007 a 2008 bird was seen at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 13th September. Although it was first seen in flight the bird obligingly landed in an oak tree and waited while it was studied through the telescope by two grateful finders.

Meadow Pipit
Records for the local area are reported in all months of the year, but May 2008 was nearly missed as only one bird was reported. This is a species that features prominently in reports on visible migration watches as birds travel across the country. Although juvenile birds are seen locally there are no reports of adults feeding young birds or of recently fledged birds.

Rock Pipit
A bird of this species was reported from Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 11th October. Because of a record on 24th March 1967 at Bishop’s Stortford Sewage Farm this bird is not regarded as the first local record although it is the first this century.

Yellow Wagtail
These birds are summer visitors and some breed locally.

Blue-headed Wagtail
From time to time Wagtails of this form are reported. Since January 2000 there have been two records. There was a 2006 record from Trims Green on 24th April and also a 2007 record on 18th April from Tednambury Marsh. There was to be no repeat in 2008.

Grey Wagtail
These birds are resident locally and some of their breeding sites along the River Stort mean that walkers will often pass close by these brightly coloured birds.

Pied Wagtail
These birds are resident locally and they are more numerous than the Grey Wagtail. Many of them choose to live and breed in built up areas and their wagging tails and sharp calls are familiar sights. At the end of the cricket season about eleven of these birds often choose to spend some time on cricket squares.

White Wagtail
Each year some Wagtails on passage are reported to be of this form. In 2008 just one White Wagtail was reported on the spring passage – on 10th April at Stansted Airport Lagoons. The autumn passage as measured by the birds seen in our local area started on 20th September and finished on 25th October with almost all of the records being from “the lagoons”.

Waxwing
In the ten years from 2000 to 2009 Waxwings have failed to appear in the local area only in four years: 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2008. In 2000 two birds were seen in Hatfield Forest on 29th December. In 2003 the lorry parking area at Birchanger Green Services and the car park at Bishop’s Stortford Railway Station were favoured. In 2004 attention turned to superstores in Harlow. Tesco’s car park on Edinburgh Way was chosen in 2004. In 2005 the favour switched to Tesco’s at Church Langley. On 9th February 2007 Waxwings were back at the railway station in Bishop’s Stortford. However, the berry trees that were the attraction there have since been removed. Although absent in 2008 this report is being written after the 2009 invasion of Waxwing to gardens at Stortford Hall Park in Bishop’s Stortford.

Wren
Wrens are common throughout the local area and are a feature of many gardens.

Dunnock
Dunnocks are common throughout the local area and are a feature of many gardens.

Robin
Robins are common throughout the local area and are a feature of many gardens.

Nightingale
The only records of Nightingale in the new century were from Hatfield Forest between 11th April and 2nd June 2002. No records have been received since then.

Black Redstart
The three records received in 2007 were the first for the local area. The 2007 birds were at Summercroft School near Parsonage Lane on 7th February, Long Border Road at Stansted Airport on 30th March and at Wickham Hall on 6th September. In 2008 a pair has been resident airside at Stansted Airport. With the pair still present in 2009 it is considered that breeding is probable.

Redstart
In 2000 an immature bird was seen at Lindsey Close in Bishop’s Stortford on 8th August and an immature bird was also seen at the Stansted Airport Lagoons on 28th August. In 2001 another immature bird was seen at the Lagoons; this time on 27th August. In 2005 a female bird was seen on the Hertfordshire bank of the River Stort on 17th April. In 2006 a male bird was seen in Mathams Wood on 26th April and a female or immature was seen at Thorley on 11th September. In 2007 there was a female at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 17th August. There were no sightings in 2008.

Whinchat
The four birds seen in 2008 were a good average in terms of volume and location compared to the preceding years. A bird was at Tednambury on 28th April 2007 and a bird at Little Canfield on 20th April 2008 were the only spring records in those years. Generally, more birds are seen on the autumn passage. The autumn birds in 2008 were in the Trims Green/Thorley area on 9th August and one and sometimes two were seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons between 19th and 22nd September.

Stonechat
Compared to previous years the breeding season gap when these wintering birds were absent in 2008 was rather longer than usual. There were no Stonechat sightings in 2008 between 27th March and 22nd September. Favoured wintering locations include Thorley Wash, Stortford Park and the Farnham to Upwick road.
Wheatear In 2008 there was a broadly equal spread between the numbers of birds seen in the spring and autumn passages. The earliest spring record was at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 5th April with
another bird near Farnham on 8th April. Little Canfield held Wheatear briefly on 20th and 22nd April. As part of the autumn passage Trims Green had a series of sightings between 18th August and 26th September. There was one bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 9th September and maybe the returning bird at Little Canfield on 19th September.

Ring Ouzel
One bird was seen in 2008 and this represents only the third year out of the last nine when these birds have been seen. Before the house building on Thorley these birds were likely to be seen every year. In 2005 a bird was seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 23rd October. In 2007 there were two April records. On 26th April a bird was seen on Long Border Road at Stansted Airport. The next day, on the 27th April, a bird was seen near Bush End Church. The 2008 record was on 22nd April at Little Hadham.

Blackbird
Blackbirds are common throughout the local area and are a feature of many gardens.

Fieldfare
These large winter thrushes are absent between April and October when they return to the north, to Scandinavia, to breed. In 2008 the final departure date was at Little Hadham on 22nd April and the first birds were seen returning on 18th October to both Sawbridgeworth Marsh and Biggins Farm.

Song Thrush
Song Thrushes are relatively common throughout the local area and are a feature of many gardens. It seems to be the case that when a householder thinks that all hope is lost and these birds will never return the Song Thrush will reappear fairly promptly.

Redwing
These winter thrushes are smaller than Fieldfare and they could get confused with Song Thrush. Their dates in 2008 were 30th March for last departure – this time from Stansted Airport – but from the lagoons and not the terminal building - with a return on 22nd September to the Rushy Mead nature reserve on the River Stort just south of Bishop’s Stortford.

Mistle Thrush
This is a large resident and breeding member of the thrush family. In winter it can be confused with Fieldfare. They can be seen defending yew berries from other birds.

Part 7 – Cetti’s Warbler to Treecreeper

Cetti’s Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler is present throughout the year and is now a locally resident and breeding warbler. The first record of Cetti’s Warbler in England was in Hampshire in 1961. The first breeding record was in Kent in 1972. There were three local reports, not in the breeding season, and these were in the second winter of 2008. These follow the first three records for the local area that took nearly thirty years to accumulate. The first local record was at Spellbrook in 1979 where a male bird remained for about two weeks from 18th June. The area around Hatfield Forest Lake was the place chosen by a second bird for two days on 29th and 30th August 1981. The third record was of a bird singing at Tednambury Marsh at dusk on 21st December 2007. All of the three 2008 records were in November and December. Single birds were recorded at the Tednambury Marsh roost counts on 7th November, 14th November and 24th December.

Grasshopper Warbler
The Grasshopper Warbler has a high frequency reeling call and without it birdwatchers would not have their main resource for locating these birds when they return to this country for the summer. In the Stort valley between Thorley Wash and Sawbridgeworth Marsh, the calls can be heard from the towpath. In 2007 the first and last dates were 18th April to 30th June. In 2008 the first and last dates were 25th April to 7th July. It may be that as the birds were staying for some time there could have been local breeding but this can only be an assumption until more facts can be demonstrated by studies in the field.

Sedge Warbler
The Sedge Warbler migrates to this country for the summer breeding season and looks for suitable habitats in bushes as well as sedge adjacent to water. Apart from the sites in the Stort Valley close to the river reports have come from the lake in Southern Country Park and Stansted Airport Lagoons.

Reed Warbler
The Reed Warbler travels from Africa to breed in the local area. As well as the main sites with reeds in the Stort Valley there is a strong population at Stansted Airport Lagoons. Other sites that reported Reed Warbler in 2008 are the Southern Country Park and the marsh at Hatfield Forest. These sites hold only small populations with no more than two or three singing males and these may not always remain long enough for breeding to take place.

Lesser Whitethroat
Fortunately, the Lesser Whitethroat is less common than the Whitethroat that is sometimes known as the Common Whitethroat. As with all warblers that arrive here to breed in the summer both species travel between England and Africa. In 2008 the first record for Lesser Whitethroat was 20th April with a last record on 18th September.

Whitethroat
In 2008 the first record for Whitethroat in the local area was 21st April with a last record on 14th September.

Garden Warbler
In 2008 the earliest noted arrival date was 5th May and some birds were still here until 19th September.

Blackcap
Although in the main the Blackcap is a summer visitor there are some birds that are present in the local area in winter. In 2008 some birds were reported in the period from October to January. It is understood that these will have been birds that move here from the continent to benefit from our milder winters. The summer birds travel between England and Africa on the more traditional migration routes. In 2008 Blackcap were recorded as summer visitors from 3rd April and they stayed until about 22nd September.

Wood Warbler
In 2008 there was one record from Little Hadham where a Wood Warbler was noted on 15th August. This was the third local record. The first were from Birchanger Wood in 1985 and 1987. The only previous record since 1st January 2000 was one bird calling in Mathams Wood on the evening of 25th April 2005.

Chiffchaff
Although, as for Blackcap, the Chiffchaff is primarily a summer visitor there are some birds that are present in the local area in other months. In 2008 there were records in the first winter period from 12th January and two reports in October in the second winter period. The first summer arrivals were reported from 3rd April and final departures on 27th September.

Willow Warbler
These summer visitors are found in all suitable wooded and bushy areas. In 2008 they were present from 1st April until 24th September.

Goldcrest
Although in 2008 there were no records in July, August and the first part of September these birds are considered to be resident and breeding. The gap is probably the result of a series of oversights rather than something significant and previously undiscovered.

Firecrest
There have been just two records since 1st January 2000. One bird was seen in Hatfield Forest on 4th November 2007. In 2008 there was a garden record from Bishop’s Stortford on 21st October when a large winter tit flock was being studied through binoculars.

Spotted Flycatcher
In 2008 there were no birds seen until 23rd May and the final sighting was on 19th September. These dates are fairly typical. Although it is considered that fewer birds are being seen in public places this is one species, probably of many, where nesting in private gardens is not broadcast and the sample of gardens known by observers is very small. Breeding tends to take place in groups of gardens rather than just one favoured garden. Thus nesting may not be reported and so continues without coming to the attention of bird watchers. Some examples of this are known and it is to be hoped that as a conclusion the optimism of this view, in terms of more pairs being present than can be seen, is not mis-placed.

Pied Flycatcher
The only records since 1st January 2000 are from Farnham on 23rd April 2003 and from Patmore Heath on 4th September 2005. There were no records in 2008.

Long-tailed Tit
This common resident can produce large families and just occasionally when an observer finds themselves in the right place many young birds can come past noisily when moving along a hedgerow and feeding at every opportunity. There are often young warblers and other species in the same groups. Rather like birds seen at migration hotspots the movement can be rapid and the opportunity for identification and counting, especially if birds double back, needs to be regarded as both an art and a science.

Marsh Tit
The Marsh Tit is found in small numbers in many woodland areas. The bird watch on a Sunday morning in May in Hatfield Forest is an opportunity for a concerted count of this species in one of the best bird watching locations in the Herts and Essex borders. In 2008, although only two birds were recorded on 18th May 2008, this represented two of probably about ten territories where the species was reported in the local area. Birds were reported in the Forest between 22nd September and 28th December with four Marsh Tits reported around Christmas. Elsewhere birds were reported at Manuden on 11th January, at Elsenham on 23rd February, Spellbrook on two dates in March, Latton Park on 28th June and there was a series of reports from territories in the Hadhams between January and October.

Willow Tit
The Willow Tit is now found in much smaller numbers than the Marsh Tit, which it closely resembles. In 2008 there were no records in the local parts of either county. This is the first year recently when there have been no reported sightings.

Coal Tit
The Coal Tit is not as numerous as the Blue Tit and the Great Tit but is frequently found in woodlands and in residential areas with mature conifers. Outside of the breeding season these birds often join winter tit flocks and the birds can also be found in gardens and at bird feeders.

Blue Tit
Blue Tits remain an abundant bird in the local area. 24 were counted in Hatfield Forest on 18th May 2008.

Great Tit
Great Tits remain an abundant bird in the local area. 39 were counted in Hatfield Forest on 18th May 2008.

Nuthatch
These birds can be seen on a fairly regular basis in wooded areas and their noisy calls are a useful aid to working out where the birds are and how many are present.

Treecreeper
Unlike the Nuthatch the call of the Treecreeper is hard to hear over any significant distance and spotting these birds may involve getting up close and personal while they move along a tree. The best sighting opportunities come when they fly to the foot of the next tree they want to feed from.

Part 8 – Golden Oriole to Corn Bunting

Golden Oriole
The only records in the local area since 1st January 2000 are from Gilston on 28th May 2006 and one in Little Hallingbury on 22nd May 2007. There were no records in 2008.

Great Grey Shrike
About ten years since the previous record in the local area a sighting on 11th December 2008 was reported from Furneaux Pelham.

Jay
This colourful member of the crow family is widely distributed in all wooded areas and is increasingly reported as a garden visitor. Often two birds travel together.

Magpie
This black and white member of the crow family has increased in numbers. On 8th February, 151 Magpies were counted at the roost at Tednambury Marsh.

Jackdaw
Unusually high daytime numbers of Jackdaws can be found at Hatfield Forest and also at rubbish dumps – one at Ugley is a local example. However, the top count of the year for Jackdaw was at the Sawbridgeworth Marsh roost when 582 Jackdaws were counted on 20th January 2008.

Rook
A count of rookeries should become available from the Bird Atlas surveys in due course. 222 Rooks were counted at Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 20th January 2008. A count of 1500 Corvids that will have included Rooks, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows was estimated on 27th September at Sheering Lower Road Scrape.

Carrion Crow
It is likely that these birds are under-reported while the birds going about their normal feeding habits in woodland and even when they are in the open at golf courses and to a lesser extent in field with hedges.

Raven (New local record in 2005)
The only record for Bishop’s Stortford remains the bird frequenting the flour mill in the centre of town in October 2005.

Starling
Although numbers recorded in 2008 appear to be large they do not match the figures given in the Blue Book for the period from 2002 to 2007. The largest roost figure is recorded as 220 at Tednambury Marsh on 7th November. The largest daytime figure was one thousand plus in the big field behind Thorley Church on 18th September. Other notable figures were 300 at Albury Lodge on 29th January and 350 at Allen’s Green on 27th March. Counts of 100 birds were regularly reported from the allotments at TL41Z.

House Sparrow
House Sparrow numbers are in decline as demonstrated in the Blue Book for the period from 2002 to 2007. The figures obtained in 2008 show that while any thoughts of an early extinction are premature the largest gatherings reported in the year were 65 at Much Hadham and 58 in Harlow. Twenty was the best figure from Trims Green. On the other hand no figures were collected systematically for the various groups of birds in urban areas. This is a piece of fieldwork that remains much in need of undertaking.

Tree Sparrow
22nd December 2006 remains the most recent sighting in the local area for Tree Sparrow. That was only one bird at Stocking Wood. There were no confirmed reports in 2008

Chaffinch
This is a widespread species and the two reports of flocks of 160 and 200 in 2008 match the best figures for the six years covered by the Blue Book.

Brambling
The report of 250 birds in a major finch flock at Little Hallingbury on 16th January 2000 remains a figure that may well not now be matched in the ten year period. Most of the records since then have been in single digits. In the light of these figures the eleven reported from Albury Hall on 12th February 2008 is encouraging. Locations reporting Brambling in 2008 included Manuden on 29th January, Albury Hall on 12th February, Birchanger Wood on 15th March and Pishiobury Park on 2nd April - which was the last reported date when the birds left for their breeding territories in the north. The first birds noted on their return in the second winter of 2008 were seen on 10th November in Bishop’s Stortford.

Greenfinch
Peak numbers included 200 at Trims Green on 24th August 2008 and there were some other counts of 70 and 90. The 2008 figures did not involve visits to the sites of the counts of 100 at a Stansted Airport car park detailed in the Blue Book but numbers reported show that there are quite a few Greenfinches around.

Goldfinch
With the remarkable attention now being given to the photography of birds in the local area – an advance reflected not only in the photographic pages included in the Blue Book but also available to readers by clicking through the links on the club website to the blogs of a number of the Club’s important observers and also to the photographic pages of the club’s Yahoo site – it is now often as clear as it could be that resident breeding birds do in fact raise young each year. The Yellow Book that was published prior to the Blue Book asked for better evidence on breeding and as the saying goes: “Would a photograph help?”
The Yellow Book asked in the Goldfinch section for more tangible evidence of breeding. As well as photography the number of reports has increased. Fortunately spreadsheets can help the interpretation of all of this data. But the count of more than 180 Goldfinch at Spellbrook on 21st January rather eclipses any of the figures quoted in the Blue Book. Of course, this may not just tell us about how healthy some bird populations are but also reflects favourably on new improved levels of quality of counting and the amount of recording work that is now reported into the club’s database. This new on-line report seeks to make these details more widely available in some structured way, in addition to the regular study by readers of emails submitted day by day. Without all of these contributions, of course, this largely factual and checkable report would not be possible. The club is grateful. And this can no doubt be said in a wider forum than only in this paragraph about the Goldfinch.

Siskin
Flocks of 20 and 30 in Hatfield Forest in September and November and the top 2008 figure of at least 52 at Rushy Mead on 27th December give evidence that on the face of it the numbers of this winter visitor in 2008 was as substantial as the better years reported in the Blue Book. Ten birds were reported from Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve on 24th March.

Linnet
Because Trims Green as a patch is one of the locations that has significant observer cover we can be clear that the data collected in 2008 that reports less than the 500 plus Linnet flock of 23rd September 2005 is probably a reflection of a smaller number of birds in 2008 and is not a smaller effort by watchers. On 11th August 2008 the Linnet figures came closest, but with only 100 birds. However, with at least 40 record submissions from Hertfordshire locations for this species it is possible also to look at the other areas where Linnets are likely to have had territories in 2008. From reports in April and May it is likely that at the very least nine areas routinely covered had Linnet territories. The Blue Book quoted data from a 2003 survey of hedgerows at Hatfield Forest and Farnham in Essex. This work has not been revisited and is something else that it would be interesting to repeat to obtain an up to date picture.

Lesser Redpoll
The 2008 records for Lesser Redpoll came only from October and December. Because no records came from the breeding season there seems little prospect of reinstating this species to the list of birds likely to be breeding locally. However, it might be fruitful to see whether there might be some private gardens where these birds might be breeding without drawing attention to themselves – rather like the proposition for Spotted Flycatcher.
In 2008 birds were reported from Spellbrook on 10th October, from Little Hadham (6) on 12th October and Spellbrook (4) on 28th October. Three birds were at the Tednambury Marsh roost on 24th December

Mealy Redpoll
There have been three sightings of this species since 1st January 2000. They were all seen within five months in the winter of 2005/06. One bird was at Twyford Lock on 23rd November 2005. Another was in Hatfield Forest on 13th January 2006 and the most recent one was at Cannons Mill Lane on 20th April 2006. There were no records in 2008.

Crossbill
Prior to 2008 there had been five records in the local area. Two were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 29th July 2001. Six were in Thorley as a prolonged garden record for several hours on 27th June 2002. Six were in Hatfield Forest on 25th May 2003 and another six again in the Forest on 16th January 2005. The sixth record was a flyover by 6 birds at the College playing fields on 31st May 2006. In 2008 there were three records. Fifteen birds were reported flying over land in Tetrad TL52A on 29th June. One bird was seen on 25th July flying over Beggar’s Hall and three were seen at Trims Green on 17th September 2008.

Bullfinch
In 2008 there were many records that reflected a wide distribution across the local area. Eight birds were reported from Tetrad TL41Z on 23rd January. More than ten birds were at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 25th February and in Bishop’s Stortford on 14th August and nine were at Stortford Park Farm on 27th December. The final high count was at Hatfield Forest when 14 were reported on 28th December, although it was not clear in the report if these were grouped as a flock.

Hawfinch
Some records are received in most years but usually of only one or two birds. The exception has been the major finch fest on the linseed field in Little Hallingbury in January 2000 that included at least 20 Hawfinch. Although there were no records in 2008 one or two birds were reported on various dates in 2006 and 2007.

Yellowhammer
In 2008 there were counts of more than 30 birds at three of the weekly Tednambury Marsh roost counts and some five counts of 20 or more from other sites. 53 were at Patmore Heath on 10th February, 39 at Albury Hall on 12th February and 40 plus at Hadham Ford on 24th February. Aubrey Buxton reserve held 13 on 24th March. There were 25 plus Yellowhammer at Little Hadham on 22nd April and a count of about 30 at Sheering Lower Road Scrape on 9th November. Twenty birds were at tetrad TL42B on 27th December. Outside of the winter seasons these birds would have dispersed to breeding hedges and the like in the local area.

Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting numbers appear to not be in decline as measured by roost counts at Sawbridgeworth Marsh. With 53 the high mark in 2007 this was exceeded on 18th February 2008 with a count of 58 and a count of 65 on 2nd November. Finding the territories where these birds go to breed can again probably be no more than speculation until more work is done in the breeding season.

Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting were recorded in 2008 at Trims Green between 29th February and 18th August. There have been sightings in 2009 at a similar level that should match the much reduced levels of 2007 when there were thought to be three or four territories in the Allen’s Green and Trims Green areas. Compare these numbers to the position in 1987 when the Sawbridgeworth Marsh roost figures showed 130 birds on 30th March 1987 and at the Hatfield Forest Marsh roost on 24th December 1988 there were 40 birds. However, Corn Buntings were reported from Hadham Ford on 29th May so this area will also need to be watched with interest.
Birds of Bishop’s Stortford and District

Seen only Before 2000 - First Draft of 20th September 2009

41 species of bird seen only before 1st January 2000 in the local areas containing 100 tetrads in the four 10km squares of TL 41, TL42, TL51 and TL52.
Updated sightings will be promoted to the current list at year ends.

2 Species to be promoted to the 2000 to 2009 on-line report and list.
Bewick’s Swan
There were three records before 2000. 35 birds were seen at Spellbrook on 1st January 1979. One was at Patmore Heath on 16th March 1995. One bird of these smaller wild swans was seen to be in a larger flock of wild swans over Dane Park on 19th November 2001. There has now been a January 2009 record.

Curlew Sandpiper
A juvenile was at Stansted Airport lagoons from 16th to 25th September 1988. Two were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 25th August 1991 with one remaining until 30th August. There has now been 2009 record of a bird at Stansted Airport Lagoons in September 2009.

39 Species remaining on the pre 2000 list

Red-necked Grebe
A single bird was seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 21st December 1997.

Slavonian Grebe
Two were at Tednambury Marsh on 17th February 1985.

Fulmar
One bird was at Bishop’s Stortford tip on the Town Meads 30th October 1950

Manx Shearwater
One was found exhausted in Hatfield Forest in September 1979.
Two exhausted birds were found at the M11 Birchanger roundabout in September 1980.

Leach’s Petrel
One bird was wrecked and found dead in Rye Street on 1st November 1952.

Gannet
A single juvenile bird was seen going west on 26th September 1962 at about 150 ft rising to clear power lines across open country near Stocking Wood. The bird had brown/black plumage with a light patch on the underside. This unusual observation was accepted by the Hertfordshire County Bird Recorder.

Bittern
Two records from Maymeads Marsh during freezing conditions between 1985 and 1989.

Black Stork
A bird was seen in flight at Latchmore Bank on 6th June 1983. This bird was accepted as the second record for Essex.

Spoonbill
An immature bird was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 8th April 1993.

Pink-footed Goose
A single bird with Canada Geese at Hatfield Forest Lake on 23rd March 1987

White-fronted Goose
Three birds were present on 28th January 1984 on flooded meadows near Harlow Mill and were subsequently seen going west.

Brent Goose
Three birds of the Dark-bellied race were seen in a field at Wickham Hall on 9th January 1988.

Snow Goose
One immature bird of the blue phase was at Hatfield Forest Lake on 3rd December 1985 but may not have been fully wild.

Ferruginous Duck
A single female was at Hatfield Forest Lake on 28th November 1994.

Common Scoter
Three were reported from Hatfield Forest Lake on 19th October 1986.

Rough-legged Buzzard
One bird was seen flying south of Southmill Lock on 1st November 1988.

Spotted Crake
Birds were heard calling at Maymeads Marsh for a few nights in May 1984 and again in May 1985, but neither remained.

Baillon’s Crake
A single bird was seen on the ground and in flight at close range from a hide at Bishop’s Stortford Sewage Works in February 1968.

Corncrake
One bird calling in Bishop’s Stortford from 2nd to 5th May 1959

Grey Plover
15 birds were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 14th September 1988.
Two were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 23rd September 1990.
Two were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 24th May 1992.

Knot
One bird was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 31st July 1989.

Sanderling
One bird was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 1st June 1991

Pectoral Sandpiper
One bird was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 10th, 11th and 12th September 1989.

Turnstone
Two birds were at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 8th May 1993.

Grey Phalarope
One bird was present for a week at Bishop’s Stortford Sewage Farm at the beginning of October 1950.

Glaucous Gull
One bird was seen at Bishop’s Stortford rubbish tip on 5th and 6th January 1957.

Kittiwake
A single adult bird was seen at Harlow Mill on 24th January 1988.

Little Tern
One was reported at Bishop’s Stortford fishing pool on 27th April 1981.
Another was at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 14th May 1990.

Little Auk
One was found alive at Patmore Hall on 21st November 1986.
One was found dead under power lines at Manuden on 5th November 1987.

Water Pipit
One bird was at Bishop’s Stortford Sewage Farm from late 1975 until March 1976. Six birds had been ringed at this site in prior to this.
One bird was seen with Meadow Pipits at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 1st January 1995.

Red-backed Shrike
These birds nested locally both before and after the Second World War but only before 1950.

Bluethroat
One record received concerning a dead bird of the White-spotted form found in a garden in Spellbrook on 29th April 1978.

Bearded Tit
Four to five birds spent the winter at Sawbridgeworth Marsh between 16th October 1977 and 18th January 1978. About the same number of birds were at Hatfield Forest Marsh from 5th October 1983 to 18th February 1984.
There were various records from then until 1991, including from Stansted watercress beds.
A single male bird was seen in Sawbridgeworth Marsh on 3rd February 1991.

Hooded Crow
After the Second World War there were only two records at Bishop’s Stortford Sewage Farm. These were in October 1952.
There were other local records in 1971 at Hollingson Meads and then in 1985 at High Wych.

Rose-coloured Starling
One bird was recorded at Much Hadham on 25th October 1952

Twite
One record of three birds on 2nd February 1940 during the Second World War at Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club.
Three birds were reported from Bishop’s Stortford Sewage Farm on 22nd November 1981

Serin
A male was reported on 26th May 1982 in the Stort Valley. The record was accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee and was the third record for Hertfordshire.

Two-barred Crossbill
One bird was shot at Tharbies on 11th January 1890.

Cirl Bunting
The most recent record was of a male near Twyford Mill on 11th November 1951. One bird was seen at Farnham on 9th March 1947. Breeding was attempted in Bishop’s Stortford in 1938.

Da, 20.09.2009
Bishop’s Stortford Bird Group

List of Observers (44)

David Arch
Milly Arch
David Avis
Steve Butler
Charmaine Cooper
Chris Dee
Tim Dobson
L. Drummond
Pete Duxon
Brenda East
Mike East
Jonathan Forgham
Ellen Franklin
Mike Franklin
Andy Goodey
Ian Gray
James A Hanlon
Kevin Hanrahan
Anita Harris
Mike Harris
Greg Hyde
Melvyn Kirby
John McLaughlin
Craig Messenger
Mary Moverley
Tony Moverley
Stephen Ormondroyd
Stephen Patmore
Mark Pegrum
Rupert Pyrah
Michael Rimmell
John Rivoire
Ian Rose
Alan Rutland
David Sampson
John Slee
Graeme J. Smith
Summercroft Bird Club
Chris Swan
Jan Hein van Steenis
D E N Vaughan
Keith Watts
Colin Wills
S D Wood
David Arch, 15th October 2009