SAL (07:30-08:30) - 14 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant (S), 51 Mallard, 1 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 28 Tufted Duck, 20 Coot, 4 LBB Gull (W, all juvs), 28 BH Gull (W, all juvs), 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 GS Woodpecker, 3 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 6+ Reed Warbler (inclu one juv not fully fledged, being fed by adult), 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff singing), 4 Phyllosc's (spp.), 4 Goldfinch, 4 Reed Bunting,

2 Small White, 1 Brown Argus, 11 Meadow Brown, 1M Black tailed Skimmer, 10 Common Blue Damselfly

SLRS (08:50-09:15)- 5 Mallard (S), 1 Kestrel, 18 Moorhen, 2 Lapwing, 33 BH Gull (32 Ads, 1 juv. In complete contrast to the SAL birds), 1 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet -
Mike Harris

24th August

Trims Green (1000 - 1115 hrs) - Black-Headed Gull 37 (20 1st winters), Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 (1 1st win, 1 ad, 4 sub-ad), Canada Goose 16, Greylag 1, goldfinch c.15, House Sparrow 7, GREENFINCH 150-200 coming down to the north west edge of the borage field TL 450 188, Jackdaw c.20, Rook c.100

Stortford Park Farm - Spotted Flycatcher 3, Grey Partridge 3 calling on west side, LBBG 13 south - GJS

SLRS (18:00-18:20)- 1 Cormorant (In Corm tree), 1 Sparrowhawk, 24 Moorhen, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 16 Swallow (7,2,1,2,2,2), 85 House Martin (5,14,13,3,9,9,11,5,16), 5 Jackdaw, 2 Chiffchaff - Mike Harris

Patmore Heath - Swift 1, 4 later at Cheshunt. - Mick East

23rd August

Hatfield Forest - Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap 1 still singing, Chiffchaff 2, Painted Lady, Canada Goose 44

Stortford Park Farm - Spotted Flycatcher 3, Chiffchaff 5, 2 Tawny Owl feathers at pond, Little Owl pellets at usual roundabout, Yellowhammer 5 on west side, Linnet 0 on west side! - GJS

SAL (07:50-08:50) - 2 Cormorant, 11 Little Grebe, 40 Mallard, 1 Teal, 31 Tufted Duck, 28 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper (juv), 1 DUNLIN (Ad still with black breast patch, came in calling, circled but not seen to land), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 14 House Martin, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Phyllosc (spp.), 10 Long tailed Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting

1 Muntjac, 11 Meadow Brown

SLRS (09:05-09:40) - 1 Cormorant, 2 Kestrel, 20 Moorhen, 15 BH Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, 9 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Lesser 'throat, 4 Chiffchaff (inclu 2 singing males), 1 Phyllosc (sp.), 7 Jackdaw (S), 2 Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer (juvs)

1 Meadow Brown

Several Robins in song at both sites, indicating establishing Winter territories? - Mike Harris

22nd August

Hatfield Forest - Goshawk 2 south, adult + Juv (prob both female)

Stortford Park Farm (east edge pond at dusk)- Spotted Flycatcher 7 prefering the only tree that overhangs both pond and fence GJS

Patmore Heath - Spotted flycatcher in garden - Mick East

Stortford Park Farm - Spotted Flycatcher (3) Showing well between 3.00 and 3.30 p.m. before being spooked by dog walkers and flying off towards B/S College pavilion.- Chris Swan

21st August

Stortford Park Farm - Spotted Flycatcher 3 - still favouring trees overhanging pond GJS

20th August

Stortford Park Farm - Spotted Flycatcher 3 around pond on east edge of grounds. i'm sure these birds are just passing through as last year... no sightings previously, Willow Warbler c.5, Moorhen has been hiding a 3rd chick! Tawny Owl feather from below big dead tree next to pond GJS

SAL - 6 Little Grebes, 1juv Shelduck, 3f/juv Teal, 36 Mallard, 34 Tufted Ducks, 1f Ruddy Duck, 32 Coot (inc 3 juvs), 1 Ringed Plover (through), 1juv Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Black-headed Gulls (N), 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (S), 1ad Common Tern, 10 Sand Martins, 15 House Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtails, 19 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Jays, 15 Goldfinches , 3 Reed Buntings - Stephen Patmore

SAL - Ruddy Duck, Shelduck and Greenshank - David Arch

19th August

SAL today (Per Colin Wills): - 1juv Shelduck, 1juv Greenshank, 3 Common Sands

Coploe Hill - 2juv, 2nd summer & adult) Yellow-legged Gulls. - Stephen Patmore

18th August

Hobby, very low over Town centre this morning at 8.25am. 10+ Swifts over Thorley Park area approx 11.00am. - Dave Sampson

trims green blounts farm - Linnet c.25, Greenfinch 18 (mostly juvs), swallow 15+ locals, lesser whitethroat 1 (carrying food) morris farm/rhino fisheries entrance - stockdove 5, black-headed gull 52, lesser black-backed gull 32 (28 on fields and 4 over south-west), YELLOW-LEGGED GULL 1 ADULT, kestrel 1, whitethroat 1, goldfinch 12+, linnet c.20, corn bunting 1 (hanging around Morris Farm entrance gate but no song today), yellow wagtail 2, WHEATEAR 1 (on the black pile for a few seconds), house sparrow c20 beside new farm buildings is a site record for me - cows went out at 1335 hrs so it might be better for yellow wags tomorrow - Graeme J. Smith

SAL - 1juv Shelduck, 1juv Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers - Colin Wills

17th August

Coploe Hill (08:00-10:40am & 16:45-18:45pm) - 4 Cormorants (W), 2 Grey Herons (W), 7 Mallard, 1 SHOVELER (with Mallards over distant farm reservoir), 2 anas sp (W), 1juv RED KITE (yesterday's bird present all morning), 3 (f +2juv) Sparrowhawks, 7+ Common Buzzards, 3 Hobby, 2 Golden Plover (W), 19 Lapwings, 173 (82,91) Black-headed Gulls (W), 286 (184, 102) Lesser Black-backed Gulls (S/SW), 4 (juv & 3x 3rd-summer) Yellow-legged Gulls (S), 5 Herring Gulls (S), 1 Turtle Dove (S), 9 (71, 28) Swifts (S/W), 9 (6,3) Sand Martins (W), 231 (164, 67) Swallows (S/W), 342 (295, 47)House Martins (S/W), 2 pipit sp (S) - both probably Tree Pipits, 3 Grey Wagtails (W), 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 100+ Starlings, 2 Bullfinches

Strethall Road - 1juv Turtle Dove, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 40+ Linnets, 20+ Corn Buntings

Strethall - 1juv MARSH HARRIER (v. distantly viewed from Coploe @ 18:10)

Ugley Green - 1 Hobby

Newport - 4(2ad+2juv) Common Buzzards, 1f Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby, 81 Black-headed Gulls (W), 1 Common Gull (W), 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (W), 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Marsh Tits, 160 Jackdaws, 12+ Bullfinches

Audley End - 1 Greylag Goose, 140 Canada Geese, 5 Barnacle Geese, 1f+8juv Tufted Ducks (-new brood), 10+ Sand Martins, 30+ Swallows - Stephen Patmore

Stortford Park Farm (west)- for an hour this evening. Hobby 2 over staking wood, Kestrel 1, lesser black backed gull 7 south east, Grey Heron 1 south, Stockdove 2 - west, little owl feather left below one favoured perch, linnet 1(only), yellowhammer 0 (first no-show in ages!) - Graeme J. Smith

In a spell of just over an hour this afternoon (3.30pm to 4.40 pm)watching the skies over the house from my garden in Bishops Stortford, I saw at least 14 Swifts, and numerous waves of Swallows (alternate waves of adults followed by juveniles) and House Martins (mostly juveniles). Also no raptors. - Dave Sampson

Trims Green (08:00-09:00) - 1 Grey Heron (S), 7 Mallard (2S, 5W), 1 Kestrel, 3 Lapwing (S), 1 Ad GBB Gull (W), 5 LBB Gull (4Ads, 1 juv), 1 Ad Common Gull, 157 BH Gull, 30 Jackdaw, 20 Carrion Crow, 3 Rook, 40 Starling, 14 Swallow (S), 1 Pied Wagtail (S), 2 Goldfinch, 20 House Sparrow

Sawbridgeworth - 2 Swift (W) over with 5 House Martins at 10:16 this morning. - Mike Harris

16th August

Trimm's Green area. - juvenile Marsh Harrier quartering the big field where the Allen's Green road meets the Hadham Road. When I left (7:45) it was sat in the field LBB Gull 50 (exactly) near Tharbies. Yellow Wagtail 25 at Blount's Farm, Hobby 2 over Allen's Green, Greylag Goose c20 flew in to near the fishing pond, Linnet - a few around the farm, Corvids - hundreds in the ploughed field near Tharbies - mixed. - John Slee

SAL (07:00-08:00)- 9 Little Grebe (min), 18 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 22 Coot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 LBB Gull (Ad NW), 1 BH Gull, 29 Sand Martin, 3 House Martin, 2 Skylark, 4 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 9 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Phylloscs (spp),
2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer,

SLRS (08:20-09:00) - 12 Canada Geese (S @ 0850), 16 Moorhen, 13 BH Gull, 8 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Swallow, 41 House Martin (S in 30 mins), 15 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail (Ad M), 3 Starling, 1 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer - Mike Harris

Newport (06:00-07:20am)- 1 Golden Plover (SW), 1 Little Owl, 5 Swifts (S), 6 Sand Martins (S), 16 Swallows (S), 50 House Martins, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 40 Linnets.

Strethall Road - 1 Wheatear

Chrishall Grange - 400+ Jackdaws, 600+ Rooks, 100+ Starlings.

Coploe Hill (07:45-11:00am) - 5 Cormorants (W), 4 Grey Herons (1S, 3W), 1juv RED KITE (untagged - present all morning to SW of Viewpoint), 4 (ad f & 3juv) MARSH HARRIERS , 1f Sparrowhawk, 7+ Common Buzzards, 9+ Kestrels, 2 Hobby, 1 Lapwing, 6 Black-headed Gulls (S), 559 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (S/SW), 5ad Herring Gulls (S), 3 (2juv+near ad) Yellow-legged Gulls (S/SW), 1 Turtle Dove, 98 Swifts (S), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (W), 2 Sand Martins (S), 67 Swallows (S), 80 House Martins, 1 TREE PIPIT (low S over pit at 09:50am), 1 REDSTART (in hedge S of pit early morning only), 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 50+ Greenfinches, 150+ Linnets, 2 Bullfinches, 2 CROSSBILLS (flew SW at 08:10am) - Stephen Patmore

Harlow Town - Hobby chasing lone Swift over Harlow Town centre this afternoon. - Mike Franklin

15th August

Little Hadham - Much Hadham - wood warbler viewed briefly in large ash tree half way
between the Hadhams - Jono Forgham

SAL - 4ad+9juv Little Grebes, 2 (1m) Gadwall, 25 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 House Martins, 3 Grey Wagtails, 17 Reed Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 11 Willow Warblers, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (at S End), 1 Coal Tit, 3 Reed Buntings

Also, a male Red-veined Darter holding territory on the road east of the 'Big Pit'. - Stephen Patmore

Woodpigeon remains in garden this morning - all the signs of Sparrowhawk at work

Blackcap in gardens this morning - quite a few calling at the Forest yesterday but not mentioned

Lagoons this morning were (broadly) as yesterday plus Kestrel over. D & M A

14th August

Rushy Meads - tit flock crossing the stort included 22 blue tits and 57 long-tailed tits

Bullfinch 11 (12) today - noted in all locations i visited today! 1pr spellbrook, 2 times along the stort (totaling 5 birds), 1pr honeysuckle close, and 2 [or 3] birds on stort park farm

Stortford Park Farm - IMM male sparrowhawk present for last few days - GJSmith

Almost as soon as we said that (!) a female (Blackbird) turned up this morning sunning itself. And there was a male at the (SAL) lagoons this morning as well.

SAL 1130 to 1230
30 Tufted Duck. Older little Grebes had dispersed into the reeds now flooded by extra water into their left hand home only. Three small Little Grebe doing well. Kingfisher. Reed Bunting. At least a dozen Reed Warbler. Willow Warbler. Bullfinch, Goldfinch a plenty including juveniles. House Martins through in three groups or one going round? Sand Martin. Some Swallows. Two Common Sandpiper. Two Grey Wagtail. Two Pied Wagtail.

Hatfield Forest 1235 to 1330
Three young Green Woodpeckers, 3 young Whitethroats, 2 young Grebes, 3 youngish Moorhens, Mallard with 5 young. Plenty of Swallows and House Martins, Nuthatch. Grey Lags and Canadas separate. 4 adult Grebes. Kingfisher. No Tufted Duck. No Turtle Dove. DA

13th August

We have yet to have a Blackbird in the garden this month. D & M A

SLRS (18:15-18:30)- 1 Cormorant (S), 6 Mallard, 7 Lapwing, 40 BH Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Pied Wagtail - Mike Harris

12th August

Albury - Swift 10+ passing through - Mick East

11th August

Manuden and Rickling Green - Red Kite at 13.15 this afternoon - Andy Goodey

Trims Green - Linnet 100+ , Yellow Wagtail 5, corn Bunting 2 (0655-0705)

Rushy Mead - Blue tits and Great Tits using feeding station, moorhen, long-tailed tit, Coal Tit 4+, Wren singing, jay 2, Treecreeper 1 (0627-0645)

Stortford Park Farm (West)- Yellowhammer 3, Linnet 4 (0605-0645)

Hayter, spellbrook (west) - Grey Wagtail 1 on factory roof for the last week, Coal Tit c.6, Bullfinch 3, Great-Spotted Woodpecker 1 juvenile, Goldfinch 20+, Chiffchaff 1 singing, Green Woodpecker 1 juvenile, NO local Swallows! - Graeme J Smith.

SAL - 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Teal, new brood of 3 Little Grebe - Chris Dee

10th August

Rushy Mead - Swift over - Mick East, Greame J Smith et al

Tednambury - 4 Swifts at 2030 hrs
Male Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, 1 Magpie and 2 Crows. Moorhen and Wood Pigeons. D & M A

9th August

SAL (08:00-08:50) - 8 Little Grebe (4ads + 4 juvs), 41 Mallard, 3 Teal, 38 Tufted Duck, 19 Coot, 7 B H Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, 5 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin (Ad), 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Phylloscs (sppp), 4 Bullfinch, 6 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer

A few of the hardier insects along the path, braving the cool sou'westerly.

1 Large White, 1M Common Blue, 31 Meadow Brown, 3 Gatekeeper, 4 Six spot Burnet,
3 Black tailed Skimmer (2MM, 1TM), 3 Common Blue Damsel

SLRS (09:10-09:40) - 2 Mallard, 22 Moorhen, 2 Kestrel, 7 B H Gull, 9 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Swallow, 13 House Martin, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail (In crops), 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldfinch

3 Meadow Brown, 2 Gatekeeper, Mike Harris

7th August

Carrion Crow and Blue Tit at Stansted Road.
Racing Pigeons over.
No swifts to 1030 - DA

Trims Green - no cattle (from the lay-by) but a couple of yellow wags in flight and calling.
6 Swallows passing through ahead of rain at about 1800 - DA

Trims Green - Yellow Wagtail 28. the cows were all moved. now all in field south-east of entrances.. wagtails following suit - GJSmith

6th August

Hayter, Spellbrook (west)- Swallow 85 (48 on wires and another 37 feeding over adjacent field)- GJSmith

Sunningdale Cl, BS - Hobby 1 hunting over north at 1745 hrs. this is only my second in BS this year - GJSmith

SLRS (17:45-18:15) - 8 Mallard, 34 Moorhen, 11 Lapwing, 1 Ad LBB Gull (S, wing moult commenced), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Swallow, 2 House Martin - Mike Harris

5th August

Trims Green - Buzzard 3 locals - GJSmith

Trims Green - 15 Yellow Wagtail at feet of cattle at 0930 - DA

SAL - adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL present this afternoon (per Colin Wills), 1ad Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin (flew through), 1juv Greenshank, 1juv Redshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 110 Black-headed Gulls (95% juvs), 1 Kingfisher, 30+ Sand Martins, 50+ Swallows, 4 Grey Wagtails, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Stephen Patmore

4th August

Trims Green - Yellow wagtail 9 (8 juveniles) around the cows feet - GJSmith

SAL - 1f Teal, 1f Kestrel, 1juv Redshank, 4 Green Sandpipers, 8 Common Sandpipers, 4 Black-headed Gulls (W), 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Grey Wagtails, 20 House Martins, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 8 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Coal Tit, 4juv Bullfinches, 5 Yellowhammers - Stephen Patmore

SLRS (18:15-18:50)- 5 Mallard, 2 Teal (juvs), 31 Moorhen, 9 Lapwing, 12 BH Gull, 2 Common Gull (Ad and Juv), 2 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Swift (S), 11 Swallow (S), 23 House Martin (S), 8 Magpie , 2 Goldfinch - Mike Harris

3rd August

SLRS (11:30-12:00) - 1 Mallard (!), 23 Moorhen, 10 Lapwing, 9 BH Gull, 1 Ad LBB Gull (NW), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1M Pied Wagtail, 3 Whitethroat - Mike Harris

Stansted Airport Lagoons (15:45-17:00)- 2ad+6juv Little Grebes, 18 Canada Geese, 1m Gadwall, 91 Mallard, 8f+32juv Tufted Ducks, 1 Hobby, 25 Coot, 2ad Dunlin (both still in summer-plumage), 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpipers, 23 Black-headed Gulls (W), 5ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls (W), 1 Stock Dove, 40 Swifts (W), 2 Kingfishers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 105 Swallows (W), 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtails, 17 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings

Coploe Hill (17:30-18:45)- 1 Hobby, 370 Lapwings, 233 Black-headed Gulls (W), 13 Common Gulls (W), 521 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (W/ some loafing), 3 (ad+2 1s) Yellow-legged Gulls, 23 Herring Gulls, 4ad Great Black-backed Gulls, 160 Swifts (S), 30 Swallows (S), 130 House Martins, 550 Starlings (feeding on ploughed fields) - Stephen Patmore

1st August

SAL - 2ad+6juv Little Grebe, 2 Shoveler, 7ad+32juv Tufted Ducks, 1 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpipers, 5 Common Sandpipers, 34 Black-headed Gulls (W), 10 Common Gulls (W), 5 Herring Gulls (W), 2 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warblers - Stephen Patmore, David Arch also present. Colin Wills visited early afternoon.

31st July

SAL- 1juv LITTLE EGRET (per CW), 2 (m&f) Shoveler, 1ad Little Ringed Plover (per CW), 9 Lapwing - W, 3 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpipers, 6 Common Sandpipers, 1S MEDITERRANEAN GULL flew SW with Black-headed Gulls @ 18:10, 72 Black-headed Gulls (SW), 2ad Common Gulls (SW), 1juv Herring Gull, 1ad Lesser Black-backed Gull (SW), 2 Swifts, 15 Swallows, 3 Grey Wagtails, 1ad Sedge Warbler, 10+ Reed Warblers, 1ad Lesser Whitethroat, 15+ Willow Warblers - Stephen Patmore & Colin Wills(CW)

30th July

Trims Green - Yellow Wagtail 4 (male feeding young), Red-Legged Partridge 1, Corn Bunting 3 singing, yellowhammer 4+, Mistle Thrush 1 west - Graeme J. Smith

SAL - juv Little Egret (presumably same bird as last week), Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper -Colin Wills

29th July

SAL - 75 Mallard, 2 (ad m & ad f) Shoveler, 22 Coot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1juv Herring Gull (W), 1 Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wagtails - Stephen Patmore

Great Hadham Golf Club - Kingfisher using pond at entrance

Trims Green - Black-headed gull 7 over SW (5 were juvs), Grey Heron 1 SW, Yellowhammer 3 males still singing, Corn Bunting 1 singing, Lesser Black-Backed Gull 1 SW, Linnet 36+, Yellow Wagtail 2 (1 male) - Graeme J. Smith

Beggars Hall from 1800 - House Martins around the farm and over the water, Swallows still visiting their nest sites and over the water, Plenty of Magpies, 2 Moorhen and 2 young,
1 Grebe and 1 young, Grey Lags long gone - eg flock of 20 flew into HFL on Friday evening
Crow, Bullfinch 1 at the lake, Greenfinch 4 at the lake and farm, Chaffinch in the forest, Wren, House Sparrows, Song Thrush, - David Arch

28th July

SAL - 32 young Tufted Duck in five groups with six adults, 8 young Little Grebe with 2 adults, 49 Mallard on right hand pond with another and 5 young, 7 (Mallard) on wader pool but no waders, 13 Coot, Moorhen including two young behaving like rails on the beach, 3 Yellowhammer, one or two House Martin and 3 Swallow, 2 Common Snipe - one left and one right, 2 Common Sandpiper, both right, Reed Bunting 2, Reed Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Black-headed Gull, also 1, Wood Pigeons, Collared Dove on Takeley Street. - David Arch

27th July

Thorley Park Road, B/s - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard several times over the space of an hour or so this morning in neighbouring garden (but frustratingly not seen!). Tony Moverley

Bishops Stortford - Starlings roosting in a tree in the town centre just imitated a Little Owl.They also do a Green Woodpecker.Unless there really is an Owl and GWP in there with them!! - Mike Franklin

SAL - 3ad+6juv Little Grebes, 1f Gadwall, 3 Teal, 124 Mallard, 1juv Shoveler, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3juv Black-headed Gulls, 2ad Common Gulls (S), 1 Kingfisher, 6 Swifts, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 House Martins, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtails, 2juv Sedge Warblers (first passage birds of autumn), 35 Reed Warblers , 2 Whitethroats (feeding in reedbed!), 10 Willow Warblers, 3prs Bullfinches (all with young), 3 Reed Buntings, - Stephen Patmore

25th July

SLRS - 8:15-8:45 Green Sandpiper - 2 took off and flew W whilst I was there. Teal 3, Moorhen 19
BH Gull 20 - John Slee

SAL - 2ad+4juv Little Grebe (pair with 3 small chicks & 1 large juv), 1juv LITTLE EGRET (on dragonfly pool), 1f Shoveler, 11ad+32juv Tufted Ducks (broods of 5,5,6,8+8), 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe
1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Herring Gulls (W), 20+ Swifts, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 20+ House Martins, 4 Grey Wagtails, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Garden Warbler, 7 Willow Warblers, Also excellent numbers of insects this afternoon, including my first (10+) Small Red-eyed Damselflies of the year. - Stephen Patmore

24th July

Hobby seen hawking Swifts over my house in Patricia Gardens BS - at approx 1730hrs.
Dave Sampson

Little Hormead - Grey Partridge X 2 Young - Mick East

SAL - A female Shoveler & two Common Sandpipers this afternoon - Colin Wills

23th July

SLRS - 2 Spotted Flycatchers - an adult and a recently fledged juvenile - active and noisy in the Willows along the river. 76th species in this area for me this year. Also a Willow Chiff with a ring, on the scrape: a pair of teal, 6 Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove - John Slee

22nd July

SAL - 2ad+5juv Little Grebes (1 large juv & brood of 4 newly hatched chicks), 11ad+34juv Tufted Duck (broods of 4, 5, 7, 8 & 10 - the 10 recently hatched chick with two females so may have involved two 'combined' broods), 1f Kestrel, 2ad Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Common Sandpipers, 135 Black-headed Gulls, 45 Swifts (NE in tight group), 20+ House Martins, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Reed Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Linnets - Stephen Patmore

Patmore Heath - Goshawk slowly past - Mick East

21st July

Spellbrook - Grey Wagtail on pub grounds, Spotted Flycatcher still c. 25 yards north-east of rail crossing, kingfisher from wallbury/wash footbridge also Buzzard over north with Hobby giving it a hard time. This is my first spellbrook Hobby of 2008 in complete contrast to the regular sightings during the last few summers. no sign of Grasshopper Warbler again today tho - Graeme J Smith

SAL - 1 Hobby, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpipers - Colin Wills:

20th July

SAL (05:10-05:50am) - 2 Little Grebes (pair at nest), 2 Teal, 182 Mallard (inc brood of 5 day-old young), 11ad+11juv Tufted Ducks (no sign of 3rd brood present last week), 1f Sparrowhawk, 1m Kestrel, 1ad Hobby, 3 Common Sandpipers, 10 Swifts, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Jays, 6 Linnets

SLRS (06:10-07:00am) - 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Teal, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 6ad+2juv Lapwings, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 1ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2ad Common Terns, 3 Stock Doves, 2juv Green Woodpeckers, 3juv Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 30 Sand Martins (S), 6 House Martins, 2ad+3juv Yellow Wagtails, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs

Coploe Hill (07:45-09:30am) - 4 Cormorants (S), 1 Grey Heron (N), 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Common Buzzards, f Grey Partridge (with young chicks), 1 s/p Golden Plover (SW), 45 Lapwings (N), 1 Whimbrel (SW at 08:10am), 17 Black-headed Gulls (W), 2ad Herring Gulls (W), 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (W/SW), 1ad Sandwich Tern (S calling at 07:53am), 65 Swifts (S), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Sand Martins (S), 1 Mistle Thrush (N), 3 Lesser Whitethroats - Stephen Patmore

Hatfield Forest - Crossbill in Beggarshall Coppice (TL531203) this morning. - Jan Hein van Steenis

19th July

Bush End Church - Turtle Dove still singing from grounds - Graeme J. Smith

18th July

Newton - Barn Owl - Mick East

17th July

Trims Green - Corn Bunting 2 still singing, Buzzard regular this year for first time, today seen again returning to the same area in Mathams Wood - Graeme J. Smith

Little Hormead - Tawny Owl - Mick East

Newport - five Whimbrel flew S low over my garden at 07:40 this morning. - Stephen Patmore

SLRS (17:00-17:30)- 1 Cormorant (S), 7 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 BH Gull (Ads), Yellow Wagtail heard, 1 juv Whitethroat, The partial albino juvenile Moorhen still present on the South end of the Scrape amongst the Juncus. Mike Harris

16th July

Michaels Mead Pond - single Common Tern still fishing regularly. On departure always heads in direction of Thorley Wash. still 3 singing Reed Warblers.

Hayter, Spellbrook (West) - Bullfinches on second brood, the single surviving Green Woodpecker Juv giving absurdly close views on the entrance lawn, Kestrels very vocal around suspected nest site again today, Harlequin ladybirds now unavoidable - Graeme J. Smith

14th July

Vantorts Recreation Park in Sawbridgeworth. - 8.20am one Spotted Flycatcher making sallies for
insects from Cherry Tree - Steve Butler

SLRS (17:30-18:00) - 3 Cormorant (S), 9 Canada Goose, 1 LBB Gull (2nd Sum), 3 BH Gull, 6 Lapwing (includes two of the brood), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 GS Woodpecker, 10 House Martin, 1 Swallow (singing) - Mike Harris

13th July

SLRS (08:40-09:10) - 1 Cormorant, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Lapwing, 1 Ad BH Gull, 1 Common Tern
1 Partial albino juvenile Moorhen. Amazing looking creature with blotchy white flanks and an inverted 'V' on the mantle.

SAL (09:25-10:15) - 1 Common Sandpiper, Plus all the usual suspects.

In one brief sunny spell a few Insects became apparent. - 3 Large White, 30 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet, 1 Essex/Small Skipper, 1M B T Skimmer.

Allens Green - 60+ Swift drifting South at 10:30. - Mike Harris

12th July

SAL (07:05-07:50) - 4 Little Grebe, 4 Tufted Duck (+ broods of 4 & 6), 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Swift, 5 Swallow, 1 House Martin , 50+ Sand Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Pied Wagtail, 6+ Reed Warbler (3 singing males and 3 fledged juvs), 2 Chiffchaff still singing.

Hatfield Forest - 300 Jackdaw (2 roadside flocks in crops, 200 + 100)

Hatfield Heath - 60 Lapwing (N)

SLRS (08:05-08:30) - 4 Lapwing (FG), 1 LBB Gull (3rd Sum W), 4 BH Gull, 15 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail (pair 'alarming' in crops over the railway) - Mike Harris

Coploe Hill - single Whimbrel heading SW over at 15:35. Stephen Patmore

11th July

SAL - 3ad+11juv Tufted Duck, 1ad Hobby, 1f Kestrel, 2 Lapwings, 1 Common Sandpiper, 30 Swifts, 40 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Pied Wagtails, 10+ Reed Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers

Y'day, a single Common Sandpiper (per Colin Wills). - Stephen Patmore

Stortford Park Farm - 87 Swift over South at dusk, little owl - Graeme J. Smith

10th July

SLRS - Black-tailed Godwit 3, Yellow Wagtails vocal in the fields E of the railway line - John Slee also Mike Harris

Hayter Factory, spellbrook (west) - Little Owl 1, sitting in tree at main car park. My first work record since starting here in Oct. '02 - Graeme J. Smith

9th July

SAL - c.120 Sand Martins - Colin Wills

8th July

Thorley Wash - no sign of Grasshopper Warblers at 1130 hrs

Wallbury Weir - Adult Common Sandpiper, a first for my Spellbrook list at 11:15 hrs! - Graeme J. Smith

SLRS (17:00-18:00) - 2 Cormorant (S), New Mallard brood (4Y), 1M Teal, 4 Canada Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk (prob F), 2 BH Gull (Ad + juv), 8 Lapwing (5FG + 3Y), 2 Swift (S), 0 (3) Swallow, 3 (40+) House Martin, 15+ (1) Sand Martin, 6+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail (pair both carrying food in crop field south of the access track), 5 Goldfinch.

Both Meadow Brown and Ringlet flying in small numbers. - Mike Harris

SAL (17:15-18:00) - 4ad Little Grebe, 4f Tufted Duck + two broods of 6 young, 1juv Little Ringed Plover, 1ad Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpipers, 45 Swifts (NW), 1 Kingfisher, 130+ Sand Martins (mostly juvs - no Swallows or House Martins present), 1 Meadow Pipit, 1juv Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtails (inc agitated pair at northern end, suggesting young may have fledged?), 13 Pied Wagtails, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Buntings

Ugley Green - 1 Spotted Flycatcher (carrying food)

Newport SW - 1ad+1juv Kingfisher, 30+ Swallows, 2 Grey Wagtails

Audley End - 3 Cormorants, 3ad Mute Swan, 23 Canada Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese, 14ad+10juv Tufted Ducks

Coploe Hill (18:50-20:40) - - No sign of yesterday's Quail. , 1 Grey Heron (N), 3 Common Buzzards,
7 Lapwings (S), 13 Black-headed Gulls (S), 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (S), 1 Great Black-backed Gull - 3rd Yr (S), 150+ Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 720 Jackdaws (N - roost movement), 245 Rooks (N - roost movement), 35 Starlings, 1m Reed Bunting - Stephen Patmore

7th July

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler still singing despite rain at 05:35

200 yards East of Thorley Church - male Yellow Wagtail again

Spellbrook lane (east) - Spotted Flycatcher 1, c. 25 yards north-east of rail crossing - Graeme J. Smith

SLRS - 1M Teal, 1 LRP, 5 FG Lapwing (chicks hopefully undercover?), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ad LBBG (Marauding), 1 Ad BHG - Mike Harris

Coploe Hill - Quail this evening - calling pretty persistently from the fields W of (and below) the hill from c.19:15 - 20:25. Nearby, a second singing Quail in fields just E of the minor road between Strethall and Chrishall, and just S of the Ickleton turn, at c.20:40. - Stephen Patmore

6th July

SAL (08:30-09:30)- 5 Little Grebe (4Ads, 1 juv), 3 Tufted Duck (All Females, one with brood of 6 ducklings), 1 LBB Gull (3rd Sum W), 2 BH Gulls (S), 2 Lapwing, 1 LR Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 GS Woodpecker, 40+ Swift, 30 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail (juv), 10+ Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit (S - first of Autumn!), 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Whitethroat (inclu first juv), 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Bullfinch, 13 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet

20 Meadow Brown, 10 Ringlet

11 Emerald Damselfly (8M, 2F, 1T), 6 Common Blue Damselfly (5M, 1T), 4 Blue tailed Damselfly (5M, 1T), 2 Black tailed Skimmer (1M, 1T)

Quite a few Deer prints in the soft muddy edges

SLRS (09:45-10:15)- 1M Teal, 2 Gadwall (pair in eclipse), 1F Tufted Duck, 1 Ad LBB Gull(hasseling Flapper chicks), 1 Ad BH Gull, 2 LR Plover (per John Slee), 3 Lapwing (and brood), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Black tailed Godwit (Summer plumage islandica) - Mike harris

5th July

SAL (07:30-08:30) - 2 Little Grebe, 1 Hobby, 5 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 LBB Gull (3rdSum), 11 BH Gull (Ads drifting S in small groups), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Swift, 1 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, 10+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff (Family party), 1 Goldfinch, 6 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer

SLRS (08:45-09-15)- 1 Cormorant (in Corm tree), 4 Canada Geese, Coot brood of three chicks, 20 Moorhen (juvs everywhere now), 1 Ad Water Rail, 3 Lapwing (+ 3 Chicks - growing well), 1 Ad LR Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 11 BH Gull (Ads drifting South, several dropping in to bathe and feed)
2 Swift, 2 House Martin, 1M Reed Bunting, 1M Yellowhammer, - Mike & Anita Harris

4th July

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler - Graeme J. Smith

3rd July

SAL - 6 Little Grebes, 3 (1m) Tufted Duck, 2ad Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Lapwings, 3 Green Sands
4 Common Sands, 5+ Sand Martins, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (pr feeding young at nest), 2juv Willow Warblers - Also 2 Grass Snakes. - Stephen Patmore

2nd July

Newport - 3 Crossbills flying SE over at c.08:00am this morning; also a single Crossbill heard calling at 05:50am on Sunday morning. - Stephen Patmore

SAL - Ruddy Duck, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, Common Tern - Colin Wills

SLRS - Yellow Wagtail, a Sand Martin - John Slee

1st July

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, still singing 30-40 yards NNW of Thorley Wash/Wallbury footbridge at 0640-0700. no sign of second bird today - Graeme J. Smith

30th June

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, still singing persistently 30-40 yards NNW of Thorley Wash/Wallbury footbridge (0850-0945 hrs) a second bird on the south side occasionally heard - Graeme J. Smith

29th June

SAL (17:30-18:30) - 1 Little Grebe on nest (thats the most exposed nest i think i've ever seen!),
80 Mallard (includes all broods), 7 Tufted Duck (3pr + injured F), 20 Coot, 2 LRP (juvs), 3 Lapwing (juvs), 1 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 10 Swift, 50+ Sand Martin (mainly juvs), 5+ L T Tit (brood), 1 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Pied Wagtail (mainly juvs), 3 Reed Warbler (singing males), 2 Whitethroat (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 11 Goldfinch, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting - Mike Harris

28th June

Latton Park (14:00-16:00) - 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 10 Skylark (on the Common), 1 Lesser Whitethroat (carrying food into a bramble bush), 3 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest (heard), 15 L T Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 20 Coal Tit, 15 Blue Tit, 10 Great Tit, 3 Jay

The huge mixed Tit flock of 60+ birds, mainly juveniles, had a surprisingly high percentage of Coal Tits.

2 spikes of Bee Orchids (past their best) were growing by the entrance to the woods behind the (Ex) Little Chef.

2 Large White, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 35 Meadow Brown, 40 Speckled Wood, 10 Ringlet
6 Small/Essex Skipper

5 Large Red Damselfly, 3 Azure Damselfly, 1 TM Black Tailed Skimmer

If anyone wants to visit the Woods, you should be aware that the 'Forest Way' has been renamed the 'Stort Valley Way' on the Footpath signs.- Mike Harris

27th June

Bishops Stortford - Red Kite high over the High School going towards Motorway. - Mike Franklin

SLRS (17:00-18:00)- 4 Canada Geese (F + 3Y), Many Mallard broods, 2 Prs Coot (+ young), 6 Moorhen (inclu 2 well grown juvs), 10 Lapwing (7Ads + 3Y), 1 Ad LBBG, 10 Swift, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 25 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail (juv), 6 Pied Wagtail (Min), 3 Linnet, 1M Reed Bunting (Still singing away!) - Mike Harris

26th June

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, still singing 30-40 yards NNW of Thorley Wash/Wallbury footbridge - Graeme J. Smith

25th June

Trimms Green - Lapwing 4 (flew west into the distance from Blounts farm), Yellow Wagtail 2 (male and juv) opposite entrance to Morris farm - Graeme J. Smith

24th June

Quinbury Farm - Quail singing north of Braughing at Hay Street from the footpath at Quinbury Farm TL398264 - Birdguides

Patient End - Little Owl

Patmore Heath - Goldcrest - Mick East

SAL - 2m Teal, 116 Mallard, 19 Tufted Ducks, 6 (2ad+4juv) Little Ringed Plovers, 15 Lapwings,
1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Stock Doves, 10+ Swift, 20+ Sand Martins, 10+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows, 3 Grey Wagtails, 20+ Pied Wagtails (mostly juvs) - Stephen Patmore

22nd June

Hatfield Heath (07:55) - 2MM Peacock

SAL (08:05-08:55) - 2 Little Grebe (Wader lagoon), 3 New Mallard broods (fantastic season for them - 11, 8 & 8), 3 Tufted Duck (Pr + 1S), Still no Coot or Moorhen broods, 4 L R Plover (all juveniles - bred nearby?), 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Swift, 10 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, 3 Skylark
10+ Pied Wagtail (mainly juveniles), 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler (singing males on the Wader lagoon - where have they come from? First records for SAL this year for me) All the usual suspects still in song, Willow W, Reed W, Whitethroat, Garden W, Chiffchaff etc.

SLRS (09:15-0945)- 1 Cormorant (making futile attempts to land on Corm tree!), 1F Shoveler, 1F Canada +3Y, Pr Lapwing + 2 fluffy young (Yes! They did breed!), 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 House Martin , 1 Sand Martin, 1 Sedge Warbler (singing in Juncus - where did he come from too? First for SLRS for me this year), Family of Whitethroats, 2 YellowWagtail (Males in territorial dispute over the track East of the Railway)

1 Grass Snake curled up on path. It must have been cold because it allowed me to touch it before it slithered off.

1 Stoat ran across Sheering Lower Road South of the Marsh. - Mike Harris

21st June

Stort Valley - Common Tern, Pair of Common Terns between Spellbrook & Tednambury excellent views all afternoon. (Tern also seen regularly near new footbridge at Rivermill Chinese early mornings c5am) Also Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, 3 Curlews over flying north/nw c 1630 21/06. Garden Warbler between spellbrook & wallbury - keith watts

20th June

Thorley Wash, Bishops Stortford: - grasshopper warbler, still singing 30-40 yards NNW of thorley wash/wallbury footbridge. can be heard from bridge so no need to venture out into the nettles. - graeme j smith

Stort - Grasshopper Warbler, Singing 30 yds NW of bridge 44 (Wallbury) c 11.30am 20/06, but not heard on next visit c 5pm Saturday 21/06 - keith watts

19th June

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler singing 30 yards North-West of Wallbury/Wash footbridge 0630-0645 hrs

Trimms Green - grey partridge (this bird looked as if it was sitting on eggs, staying very still and refusing to move despite close proximity), common buzzard 1, kestrel 1, yellow wagtail - disappeared when grass was cut at the north-west gate at blounts farm - Graeme J. Smith

18th June

Norfolk Way, Bishop's Stortford - an adult Common Tern (with food) was observed flying over Norfolk Way approx 09.00 hrs - a somewhat unusual occurrence in Town; rather suggests there is a lake nearby with a breeding pair on it (surely too far way from the Hatfield Forest ternery).
Dave Sampson

16th June

Amwell NR - wood sandpiper (from new white hide until 1528hrs only), green sandpiper, cettis warbler, 2 spotted flycatcher - per RBA

15th June

Thorley Park - Red Kite Adult Red Kite seen over Thorley Park about 11.30am - flying in a westerly direction. Don't think it is the same bird as the 'unusually plumaged etc' bird seen at Sheering recently (see Stort Valley Wild site) as it didn't seem as 'tatty'as that individual and the plumage colours looked 'normal'. - Dave Sampson

Farnham Road Herts - Common Buzzard

Nino Wood area - Common Buzzard - Mick East

SAL (09:20-10:10) - 1 G C Grebe, 2 Little Grebe (Small lag), 65 Mallard (30 ads, 35 juvs), 3 Teal (MMF), 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 35 Swift, 10+ Sand Martin, 2 Skylark, 3 Reed Warbler (singing males), 2 Whitethroat (ditto), 3 Willow Warbler (ditto) , 1 Pr Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer

6 Black tailed Skimmer (5M 1F), 2 Common Blue D/Fly, 5 Common Blue Butterfly (all males), 1 Meadow Brown - Mike Harris

SLRS (10:30-11:30) - 3 Cormorant (all in Corm tree), 1F Canada and her three hybrid young looking more like Canada's now!), 1 Kestrel, 3 Ad Lapwing, 1 Herring Gull (2nd Sum), 1 Green Woodpecker,1 G S Woodpecker , 2 Prs Whitethroat carrying food (one at South end and one at Railway crossing) 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler (JS), 1M Reed Bunting, - Mike Harris John Slee and Kevin Hanrahan

Debden Park - single Crossbill flew SW over am Also, two Common Terns, and at a site nearby, a day-hunting Barn Owl at a potential nest site. - Stephen Patmore

14th June

Patient End - Little Owl - Mick East

13th June

Furneax Pelham - Little Owl

Barley North - Barn Owl 06:00 - Mick East

11th June

Bishop's Stortford (Hockerill area) - 1020 am. Fleeting glimpse of 3 'Egret' type heading North (all white - legs well projected).- Ian Gray

8th June

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard X3 - Mick East

7th June

SAL (16:30-17:30)

4 L Grebe (pr on small lagoon and calling birds on the other lagoons, so possible three pairs now)
21 Mallard (plus 5 broods - 11,7,4,4,4 - all well grown apart from one brood of 4 day olds), 1M Teal, 24 Tufted Duck, 12 Swift, 4 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Reed Warbler singing)
2 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto)

SLRS (17:45-18:05) - 30 Mallard ( + several broods - impossible to count now), 1F Canada ( + dubious offspring), 6 Coot ( + 2 broods), 2 Lapwing (Both Adults and probably both Males) - Mike Harris

6th June

Stortford park farm - little owl at roundabout - Graeme J. Smith

4th June

between mathams pit and the black barn - grey partridge 2

trimms green - yellow wagtail male still singing from same spot

hayter, spellbrook - jay (young bird seen two days in a row at suspected nest site is my first ever confirmed breeding record!) - Graeme J Smith

1st June

Newport - 1f Marsh Harrier (over meadows NW of the village @ 06:20am), 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all 1S, N), 30+ Sand Martins, 20+ House Martins (over Sewage Works in early showers), 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1m Reed Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (pair from last week at entrance to Sewage Works),Yesterday, a single tardy male Wheatear on Coploe Hill the only bird of note. - Stephen Patmore

Hatfield Forest Lake - Great Crested Grebe 6 young at least 6 young on the lake, looked like two pairs had bred. Common Tern sitting on raft. presume on eggs? - Pete Duxon

Sawbridgeworth Marsh (16:15-16:45)

A few singing Warblers despite the overcast conditions.

3 Reed Warbler
3 Sedge Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
2 Whitethroat
1 Chiffchaff
Also two pairs of Reed Buntings, one pair feeding young.

SAL (17:15-18:00) - 3 Little Grebe (pair on small lagoon, plus one on Wader lagoon - they are beginning to arrive, albeit slowly), 22 Mallard (+ several broods), Pr Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck (8 pairs + odd male), 14 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 L R Plover, 15 Swift, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Garden/Blackcap (Singing male, uttering phrases from each species, could not get a view to confirm either way)

SLRS (18:15-18:45) - 1M Gadwall (going into eclipse), 1 Hobby (in from East, but in hunting mode)
20 Stock Dove (on Chaff dump), 1F Whitethroat (Collecting food) - Mike Harris

31st May

SAL (07:30-08:05)- 2 Little Grebe (Small lagoon), 1 Cormorant (S), 17 Mallard (+ 4 Broods), 1M Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck (3pr), 8 LBB Gull (N @ 07:49 various ages, but no adults), 6 House Martin (collecting wet mud from track), 2 GreyWagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush (S), 3 Reed Warbler (singing males), 1 Garden Warbler (ditto), 3 Willow Warbler (ditto), 1 Chiffchaff (ditto), 2 Reed Bunting (ditto), 2 Yellowhammer (ditto)

SLRS (08:20-09:00) - 1 Cormorant (Corm tree), 1M Gadwall, Mixed Goose pair and hybrid young, 1F Kestrel, 1 Lapwing, 2 G S Woodpecker, 15 Swift, 3 Skylark, (No sign of last weeks M Yellow wagtail), 2 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1M Reed Bunting, Pr Yellowhammer (carrying food)

1 Small White (a bit early for Insects generally) - Mike Harris

29th May

Thorley Wash - GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Singing male heard at the southern end of the first fenced enclosure; though very low key song!! Also, a mating pair of Eyed Hawk Moths observed and photographed. - Dave Sampson

Hadham Ford - 2 red kites (circling over to the East of the village, 2 corn buntings (Ash Valley G.C.), treecreeper, bullfinch, common buzzard (with large prey), reed bunting, stock dove, house sparrow, corvids,tits (inc newly fledged LTT's) finches (4sp), hirundines, moorhen and mallard (with 1 week old brood) woodpeckers, (2sp)warblers (3sp) etc etc., - Jono Forgham

27th May

A120 - Common Buzzard X2

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard - Mick East

25th May

SLRS - 3 Gadwall, The Hybrid Goose pair have refound the third ugly Gosling!, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 30 Barn Swallow, 20 House Martin

SAL - 2 LR Plover, 15 Sand Martin, - Mike Harris

24th May

SAL (06:00-06:45) - 1 Grey Heron, 41 Mallard (+ broods of 11, 2 & 2), 8 Tufted Duck, 14 Coot, 3 Lapwing, 2 L R Plover, 1 Swift (NE), 2 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Skylark (singing males), 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Reed Warbler (singing males), 1 Garden Warbler (ditto), 4 Willow Warbler (ditto),
1 Reed Bunting (ditto) , 2 Yellowhammer (ditto), 3 Linnet

SLRS (07:00-07:30) - 3 Gadwall (MMF), 2 Canada Goose (S), 1F Canada + 1M Greylag and two hybrid Goslings. 3 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, M Cuckoo, M Whitethroat, M Reed Bunting - Mike Harris

Millennium Wood, Bury Green - bullfinch 2, willow warbler 3+, chiffcaff 3+, blackcap 1, common whitethroat 2, reed bunting 2, green woodpecker 2,
great spotted woodpecker 1, great black backed gull 2 north east, 2nd yr herring gull 1 south, linnets 2, swallows 8+, swifts 10+, usual corvids, finches and tits - Jono Forgham

23rd May

Hand Lane - Spotted Flycatcher catching insects at Hand Lane, opposite the entrance to Pishiobury Park carpark this evening at 17:00 - Mike Harris

20th May

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard - Mick East

Amwell - Great Reed Warbler, James Hide

18th May

Hatfield Forest - Kite sp over - John Slee

SLRS - Breeding: 4 Mallard broods 8 - about a week old, 4 - about 2 weeks old (including Whitey), 4 - day olds, 4 - day olds, 1 Canada brood 3 goslings (3 adult birds too), 1 Coot brood 2 young, Also: Pair Gadwall, 1 Grey Lag, 1 Herring Gull (1st Sum flew N), 2 LBBG (N), 40 Stock Dove (on chaff dump)

Trims Green - 1 Hobby

Blounts Farm - M Kestrel, M Yellow Wagtail, M Pied Wagtail - Mike Harris

Coploe Hill,(15:15-16:15) - 10+ Common Buzzards, 6 Hobby (1 lingering, 2 singles N and party of 3), 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NE), 391 Swifts (N/NE in 1hr), 2m Lesser Whitethroats - Stephen Patmore

17th May

SAL (08:00-09:00) - Wader lagoon water level now high again. 21 Mallard (+ broods of 5 & 2), 3 Tufted Duck (MMF), 8 Coot (big decrease in breeding pairs - no Little Grebes either), 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Swift, 10 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 2 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Reed Warbler (all singing males), 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler (all singing males), 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer

SLRS (09:10-09:30) - 2 Cormorant (in Corm tree), 11 Mallard (+ broods of 6 & 3 - includes the white duckling), 1 Canada Goose, 1 Grey lag , 6 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 3 Stock Dove, 1M Cuckoo, 20 Swift
10 House Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat, 50 Starling (Flock made up mostly of 1st brood 'Brown Sqawkers'), 1 Linnet, - Mike Harris

16th May

Henley Herne spring - corn bunting 1 singing just south east of spring c. 0640 hrs - Graeme J Smith

A120 - Black Kite today at around 14:30 flying east along the A120 north of Bishop's Stortford town centre.- Anita Harris

Birchanger Green Services - Goshawk? only a possible seen poorly & fairly briefly from the car but a buzzard-sized stocky, powerful greyish raptor heading directly away over the services. Drove round but couldn't relocate it. - James. A. Hanlon

15th May

Mathams Pit - Common Sandpiper, 10.10am - 10.30am Common Sandpiper, Swallows, Kestrel, Skylarks, Willow Warbler. No sign of tern. -

Amwell - Hobbies, 7 Hobbies, Cettis heard, Reed Warblers, Cuckoo. - Keith Watts

14th May

Stansted Airport - Montagu's harrier (1st sum f) present for 3 days around the runways (per rarebirdalert.com)- James. A. Hanlon

Mathams Pit . A superb summer plumaged Black Tern was seen at Mathams Pit (near Trims Green) from about 11.50 this morning. I viewed it from the (so called) public access immediately before the display saying no public right of way next to the Paint Balling place in Mathams Wood; the lake is perfectly viewable from here, and good views of the bird were had as it whisked constantly back and forth occasionally diving - for about an hour before I left, fully sated! Stephen was already on his way and he was able to view it after me. Presumably it will stay around a while - but no other terns present. Also in the area: Common Buzzard being harried by crows over Mathams Wood (possible breeding suspected as this is the second recent sighting here); a pair of Turtle Doves at Trims Green; 3 Yellow Wags; 2 male Corn Buntings; 2 Grey Partridges. - Dave Sampson

Newport SW - 1 Hobby, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (by railway line)

Matham's Wood - 5m Garden Warblers

Trimm's Green - 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Turtle Doves (1 near Blount's Fm, pair opposite Morris's Fm)
2 Yellow Wagtail

SLRS - 1 Little Ringed Plover (flew through calling)

SAL - 3 Common Sandpipers Also several Four-spotted Chasers and a single male Broad-bodied Chaser on the wing. - Sephen Patmore

Patmore Heath - Cuckoo

Fowlmere Airfield - Barn Owl 00:30 - Mick East

13th May

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard, Red Kite,(11:03), Sparrowhawk, Mistle Thrush. - Mick East

SAL - 2 Common Sands, 10+ Swallows, 20+ House Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1+m Reed Warbler, 1m Lesser Whitethroat, 2m Garden Warblers - Stephen Patmore

Little Hadham - hobby, 2 bullfinches, 3 robins, 5 yellowhammers, 1 pheasant, 6 common whitethroat, 3 blackcap, 1 lesser whitethraot, 1 wren, 2 greenfinch, 2 chaffinch, 50+ wood pigeons, 20+ rooks, great tits, 2 blue tits, 1 blackbird, 1 song thrush, plus 6 orange tips, 4 small whites, 2 large whites, 3 speckled wood, 1 peacock, plenty of rabbits (hence 3 foot chicken wire fence around my patch), 1 hare, 1 fox cub - Jono Forgham

11th May

Patmore Heath - Hobby

Albury TTV - Common Buzzard X3, Cormorant - Mick East

10th May

Trimm's Green 4:40-5:30 - Yellow Wagtail - 3, Red-Legged Partridge - 3 pairs, Grey Partridge - 1 pair, Corn Bunting - 2 singing, Linnet - 10+, Swallow, Stock Dove 1, Yellowhammer 1,

Allen's Green - Whitethroat 1, Hare 1 - John Slee

Rye Meads - Hobby 7+, Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Turtle Dove 2, Cetti's Warbler,Grasshopper Warbler - Mick East

8th May

Patmore Heath - Pallid Swift heading south - Mick East

7th May

An early start at Thorley Wash failed to produce anything more exciting than a pair of Common Terns .......... and once again no Groppers!! Same at Tednambury. I was out in the field so to speak for 6 hours but had very little to show for it. And I'm STILL without a Yellow Wag so far this year!! - Dave Sampson

Little Hadham - lesser whitethroat, 2 green woodpeckers, 3 common whitethroat, 1 blackcap, 2 yellowhammers, assorted tits and finches, 2 dunnock, 2 robin, 2 blackbird., Also:7 orange tips, 2 peacocks, 5 speckled wood, 3 swifts over on 8th - Jono Forgham

5th May

Thorley Wash - A garden Warbler; a Blackcap; several C.Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers;several Chiffs and a couple of Wiilow Warblers; a Cuckoo; a Kestrel; a Water Rail screamed; a pair of Linnets (surprisingly uncommon here); several Reed Buntings. Butterflies represented by several Orange Tips; a few Green-veined Whites and Small White; a Holly Blue (my first for the year); and a Peacock or two. - Dave Sampson

Sawbridgeworth church tower - 8 swifts screaming around tower last night about 8.30pm - Jono Forgham

SLRS - Sedge Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, Blackcap, and over in the fields by Pishiobury Park/Bonks Hill a Lesser Whitethroat singing from the top of a hawthorn bush, a Garden Warbler in the next hedgerow, and Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing loudly. Otherwise a Greylag with 4 Canada Goose, 3 Gadwall, Swifts, and a Skylark.- John Slee

Debden Park Lake - 1 Little Egret (flew off W at 05:15am)

Coploe Hill - 1m Marsh Harrier (lingering mid-morning), 11+ Common Buzzards, 3+ Hobby, 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (N), 55 Swallows (N), 4 Yellow Wagtails

Chrishall Grange area - 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1m Reed Warbler

Howe Wood, Strethall - 2 Hobby

Newport - 1 Hobby (N) - Stephen Patmore

Thorley Wash, spellbrook (north): - • kestrel 2 (M+F both hunting seperately), Great black backed gull 3 - over north, cuckoo 1 - male on east side of river, swallow 4 - checking out the buildings west (across the road) from the wash, sedge warbler 9 (1 north edge of wallbury, 3 south wash, 3 north wash + 2 more just south of wallbury), whitethroat 12 - minimum. seemingly everwhere! garden warbler 2 (1 singing 50 yards south-east of the railway foot-crossing and another 30 yards south from wallbury footbridge on the herts side) blackcap 6 (5 males, 1 female), chiffchaff 4(5), willow warbler 4, treecreeper 2 - essex side of river, north of Wallbury, linnet 2 - flew out from the trees at the foot-crossing and put down on the grass c.60 yards south-west. - Graeme J Smith

4th May

Bishop's Stortford - Ring-necked Parakeet in my garden for about 30 seconds this evening (approx 6.30 pm; seemed fairly flighty. - Dave Sampson

Thorley - common buzzard 1 - soaring over - Graeme J Smith

Grass marsh opposite SLRS scrape - Whitethroats erupting all over - Kevin Hanrahan

3rd May

Bishop’s Stortford - Three Swifts seen over my house this morning - Tony Moverley

Patmore Heath - House Martins checking Nest sites, Swift 2, Cuckoo - Mick East

Hatfield Forest - Marsh Harrier 1 2nd year male flying north - Jan Hein van Steenis

Trimms green - Grey partridge 1, Yellow Wagtail 7 (6 at morris farm, 1 tharbies), meadow pipit 3, stockdove 7 - east, lesser whitethroat - singing at tharbies - Graeme J Smith

2nd May

north of Much Hadham - Sparrowhawk, Lesser Black-backs (5), 2 Mallard and 2 Canada Goose - all over Swallow, Whitethroat and Blackcaps galore, Cuckoo, GSW, Yellowhammer and a galore number of Dunnock and Skylark all round. 2 Muntjac, Rabbit, Hare - David Arch

Thorley Wash - Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cuckoo, GSW, Green woodpecker, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Long tailed Tit, Water Rail - Mick & Brenda East

1st May

Common Buzzard seen soaring over/near my house (Thorley) approx 10.30 a.m.
Dave Sampson

Hadham walk (5.00 - 7.30pm) - 2 tawny owls conversing across a field little owl (on wires opposite entrance to Ash Valley G.C.), swallow 1, common whitethroat 3, chiffchaff 4, blackcap 2,
RLP 2, grey heron 1 (south)- Jono Forgham

Trims Green area (tetrad TL41T) - Hobby flying south. Plus 5 Yellow Wagtails, good numbers of Yellowhammer, Linnet & Skylark noted & a pair of Little Grebe seen on Tharbies pond.- Tony Moverley

Chrishall/Coploe - 1ad f Marsh Harrier, 1imm m Hen Harrier (same 1CY bird as Tuesday), 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Meadow Pipits (late passage birds), 9 Yellow Wagtails, 1m Nightingale (singing), 2m & 4f Greenland Wheatears - Stephen Patmore
30th April

Sawbridgeworth Station - Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler singing from near the N end of the
platform. With regular Blackcap and Chiffchaff - John Slee

Chrishall/Coploe - 8prs Grey Partridge, 1m Corn Buntings - Stephen Patmore

29th April

Stocking Pelham - Purring Turtle Dove; plus two Swallows prospecting around newly constructed stables. - Tony Moverley

Chrishall/Coploe - 1imm m Hen Harrier (1CY), 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1m Grasshopper Warbler (singing from a a tiny stunted hedge adjacent to a bean field!), 4m Lesser Whitethroats - Stephen Patmore

28th April

Spellbrook - 2 swift north over today (1555hrs) 10 mins before small thunderstorm. after the rain stopped (1610 hrs) c.15 swallows + c.40 house martins passed slowly over (also north)

1817 hrs at Honeysuckle close... one more swift circling directly over house. - Graeme J Smith

27th April

Coploe Hill - 1 ringtail MONTAGU'S HARRIER, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Hobby, 3 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 7 House Martins, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4m Lesser Whitethroats

Chrishall Grange - 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1f Wheatear, 4m Lesser Whitethroats, 1m Garden Warbler - Stephen Patmore

26th April

Newport - 1 RED KITE (untagged individual lingering over SW side of village c.13:40), 1f MARSH HARRIER (flew NW at 11:35am), 7 Common Buzzards, 4 Hobby (single S at 11:30am, group of 3 SW at c.12:30), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Turtle Dove (flew N at 07:00am), 10 Yellow Wagtails, 2m Wheatears (both apparent Greenland birds), 2m Sedge Warblers, 18m Whitethroats, 21m Blackcaps, 7m Willow Warblers

Coploe Hill - 8 Greylag Geese (N), 7+ Common Buzzards, 1 Hobby (S), 15 Swallows (N), 5 House Martins, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 7 (2m+5f) Wheatears (sev. apparent Greenland birds), 2m Lesser Whitethroats, 3m Whitethroats, 4m Blackcaps

Catmere End - 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1m Lesser Whitethroat, 4m Whitethroats

Rook End SW - 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail

Debden area - 4 Common Buzzards, 3 House Martins, 2m Lesser Whitethroats, 1m Whitethroat, 7m Blackcaps, 3m Willow Warblers

Debden Park Lake - 2 Shelduck

Audley End - 1 Barnacle Goose - Stephen Patmore

Patmore Heath BBS - Mallard, Goshawk, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen 3, Cuckoo,Green Woodpecker 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 3, Skylark 4, Swallow 4 , Pied/White Wagtail 1, Song Thrush 3, Mistle Thrush 3, Lesser Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 3, House Sparrow 11 - Mick East

Widford Ridge - 1 Kestrel, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Swallow,

F Brimstone, 3 Small White, 1 Peacock

SLRS - 1 Grey Heron, 8 Gadwall, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lapwing, 2 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer

M Brimstone, M Orange Tip, 1 Peacock - Mike Harris

25th April

Spellbrook Marsh(the Wash) - GRASSHOPPER WARBLER 1 - SINGING, whitethroat 5, sedge warbler 4

Trimms Green - Corn bunting 1 - singing - Graeme J Smith

Moor Hall, B/S - 2 Grey Patridge just west of Thorley Church, together with Yellowhammer (2), Linnet (2), Reed Bunting (1) and Common Whitethroat (1). - Tony Moverley

24th April

Trimms Green - yellow wagtail 1 at 0715 hrs - Graeme J Smith

Little Hadham - Cuckoo, willow warbler called from the hawthorn - chiffchaff 2 , common whitethroat 1, green woodpecker 2, blackcap 3, peacock butterfly 1, - Jono Forgham

Mathams Wood - Common Buzzard One seen over Mathams Wood, near Moor Farm - Dave Sampson

Coploe Hill - 3 Greylag Geese (S), 1 BRENT GOOSE (flew SE at 06:25am), 1 Common Buzzard, 1m Peregrine (flew S at 06:40am), 1 Turtle Dove (S), 6 Swallows (N), 3 House Martins (N), 3 Yellow Wagtails (N), 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat

Hatfield Forest Lake - 8ad+2juv Great Crested Grebes, 2 Greylag Geese, 1m Cuckoo, 10+ Sand Martins
30+ Swallows, 5 House Martins - Stephen Patmore

23rd April

Great Hadam golf club - Lesser whitethroat 1 singing at at 0715 - Graeme J Smith

SLRS - Male Shoveler, another brood of baby ducks, a Coot seemingly on a nest, Sedge Warbler. 2 male Blackcaps, Willow Warbler singing. - John Slee

River Stort at back of Beckingham Palace - 2 Common Terns quartering river at 10 feet and flew off toward SLRS on my approach, - Kevin Hanrahan

SAL - 2 Little Grebe, 13 Mallard, 13 Tufted Duck (only 4 females), 16 Coot, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Skylark, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin (N), 2 L T Tit, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting (singing males)

1 Peacock Butterfly

SLRS - 17 Mallard (one female with brood of 5 day olds, 8 Gadwall, 1M Shoveler, 1 Canada Goose, 6 Coot, 3 Lapwing, 1 Swallow, 2 House Sparrow!, Mike Harris

22nd April

Little Hadham - Ring Ouzel, herring gull 1 north, yellowhammer 25+, linnet 7, chiffchaff 7, blackcap 9 singing males, plus 3 females, marsh tit 1, swallow 4, nuthatch 1, fieldfares 7!(late?), common whitethroat 1 (1st of the year)

Plus peacock 12+, orange tip 3, brimstone males 3, small white 2

SLRS - wigeon 2, gadwall 7, mallard ducklings now down to 3, a terrapin sitting on a tree stump just before the lock gates where the river flows to the right by the house. Red and yellow stripes on its neck. - Jono Forgham

Thorley Wash - Common Whitethroat 3;

Tednambury - Sedge Warbler 2; Common Whitethroat 1; Lesser Whitethroat 1; Little Owl (in an oak in field near Sawbridgeworth Reserve. Alas, no Cuckoos.

Little Canfield - 4 Wheatear (incl 1 m) in fields near Little Canfield Church.
Dave Sampson

21st April

Bury Lodge - RED KITE flying SE towards airport at 17:10

Newport SW - 1ad Hobby, 15+ Sand Martins, 30+ Swallows, 4 House Martins, 1m BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL (feeding on filter tanks), 3m Yellow Wagtail, 2m Blackcap - Stephen Patmore

SAL - 12 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 1M Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Canada's, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 L B B Gull (E), 2 Skylark (singing), 1 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler,. 1 Chiffchaff
3 Yellowhammer - Mike Harris

SLRS/River Stort/Pishiobury - Whitethroat (1st of season), Sedge Warbler (" " "), Blackcap (3 singing but none sighted), Chiffchaff (several singing), Grey Heron, Kestrel (F), Wigeon (Pair have returned to SLRS) - Steve Butler

20th April

SAL (07:50-08:40) - 1 Little Grebe, 12 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 18 Coot, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1Skylark, 2 GreyWagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing), 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer

1 Little Owl on Telegraph pole just south of entrance to the Forest.

SLRS (09:00-09:30) - 9 Mallard (+ brood of three ducklings - loss of ten so far), 5 Gadwall, 10 Coot, 1M Cuckoo (pristine), 2 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Magpie (chaff dump), 3 Yellowhammer

Sawbridgeworth Marsh (09:35-10:00) - 1 Water Rail, 3 Sedge Warbler (singing), Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 10 Reed Bunting (5 pairs)

Nazeing GP from Meadgate Lane - Sandwich Tern with the flock of Common Tern's (12) this morning. And although this site is in Essex, the circuit the Sandwich is taking around the two pits, it enters Herts as it crosses the River Lea. It did this twice in half an hour.
Also Cuckoo calling here.- Mike Harris

SLRS & surround 10.15 - 11.30 - Chiffchaff 6 singing 1 silent but good obs, Wren, Robins, Great Peckers 3, Reed Bunting, Blackcap (m) good obs, Treecreeper (called by Dave), Willow Warbler (h), Grn Pecker 2, several Coot, Moorhen & Mallard on scrape also Widgeon & Gadwall, Swallows (c 10), Blue tits & Great tits all over, One of each seen at nest holes, Blackbirds all over, Woodpigeon all over, Collard doves, Jay, LINNIT (f) with nest material, good obs, Bullfinch pair over (s), LBBG 7 over, Pied wagtail, Songthrush 2, House Sparrow, Lone Cormorant in cormorant tree, Chaffinch, Green finch 2 - Kevin Hanrahan - John Slee

Whinchat at Little Canfield Tip this afternoon - in the field by the church, also three Wheatears there

Coploe Hill - 2 Common Buzzards, 16 Swallows (N), 1m Wheatear, 2m Whitethroat, 1m Lesser Whitethroat, 1m Willow Warbler, 35 Linnets - Stephen Patmore

St Michaels Mead pond - sedge warbler 1, jack snipe 1 - only giving a brief view as it flew over the 'dividers' in the middle, water rail - only heard, tufted duck - usual resident male, willow warbler 2, blackcap 1, chiffchaff 1

Oriole way - sparrowhawk. male over - Greaeme J. Smith

Westland Green 2.00 - 3.15pm - bullfinch 4 (2 pairs), skylarks 8+, yellowhammer 5, long tailed tit 4, swallow 1, mistle thrush 2 - - Jono Forgham

19th April

Little Hadham - chiffchaff 4+, blackcap 1 male, linnets 20+, yellowhammers 15+, Little owl 1
reed buntings 3+ - Jono Forgham

18th April

Moor Hall/Mathams Wood - 1 Swallow (flying East), 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Linnet & 2 Yellowhammer - Tony Moverley

17th April

Coploe Hill,(06:00-07:45am) - 1 Cormorant (E),1 Grey Heron (NE), 1 Greylag Goose (N), 1 Golden Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers (grounded, then flew E), 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NE/E), 4 Herring Gulls (NE/E), 1 Swallow (N), 15 Meadow Pipits (N/NW), 1 alba Wagtail (N), 1m TREE PIPIT (singing on ridge early morning), 1f RING OUZEL (in hedge S of viewpoint), 94 Fieldfares, 7 Redwings (N), 1m Whitethroat, 3m Blackcaps, 1m Willow Warbler, 20 Linnets - Stephen Patmore

Hollingson's Mead - 4 G C Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan (on nest), 2 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 1M Kestrel, 2 Lapwing (1 on nest), 1 L R Plover (heard), 9 L B B Gull (all adults bathing, retired to Harlow's northern Industrial estates), 1 B H Gull (1st Sum), 10 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 1M Grey Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Blackcap (all males), 1 Willow Warbler (singing), 3 Chiffchaff (all singing) - Mike Harris

Spellbrook - Wallbury - Thorley church - Michaels Mead pond - Swallow 1 - just south of thorley church. feeding over fields, Yellow wagtail 3 - 100 yards north of Thorley church, treecreeper 3 - Wllbury, chiffchaff - everywhere, Willow warblers - still not as many as chiff's, Blackcap - there were 4 singing males on the wallbury edge of the river (only got 2 last week), Michaels mead pond: over an hour in wait for JS with no sightings - Greaeme J. Smith

Stort Valley - Buzzard, Buzzard flying between Kecksy's & Tednambury. GS Woodpecker, N of Spellbrook Lock. Kingfisher, S of Pig Lane. - Keith Watts

St Michaels Mead Lake - Little Grebe, Little Grebe in the reeds (0830) - no signs of snipe nor rail. Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Swallows, GS Woodpeckers - Keith Watts

16th April

Patmore Heath - Goldcrest

Patmore Heath north - Common Buzzard

Little Hormead 06:45 - Tawny Owl - Mick East

Mathams Pit - 1 Little Grebe, 4 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck (5M, 2F), 2 Coot, 4 Ad LB B Gulls, 1 Swallow

Mathams Wood - 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff

Trims Green - 20 Stock Dove, 5 Linnet, 1 Corn Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer

Tharbies Farm - 1M Kestrel, 2 Swallow, - Mike Harris

Coploe Hill - 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Common Buzzards, 17 Golden Plovers, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NE), 2ad Great Black-backed Gulls (NE), 5 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail (N), 1 Grey Wagtail, 75 Fieldfares, 1m Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 25 Linnets - Stephen Patmore

SLRS - Garganey 1m asleep at the top (N) end best viewed from the S end.Wigeon pair on the far bank. Shoveler 1m, Gadwall, Mallard, , Swallow c5, Lapwing 1

Muntjac 2 on the far side of ths scrape, then later screaming from near the allotments. - John Slee

15th April

Trimms Green 07:20 - Yellow Wagtail 1 male - Greaeme J. Smith

SLRS - 1 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant (S), 12 Mallard (+ brood, now down to 6) Also drake Aylesbury type and drake Cayuga type, both paired with female Mallards. Who left the farmyard gate open? 9 Gadwall, 1 GARGANEY (M), 1 Kestrel, 10 Coot, 2 Lapwing, 1 WHIMBREL (N calling at 18:00),1 Ad Herring Gull (SSW), 1 Ad L B B Gull (NE), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 3 Sand Martin
15 Swallow (minimum count, birds continually passing through, could probably double this figure), 1 House Martin, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff - Mike Harris & Stephen Patmore

SAL - 1ad Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 3 (2m) Tufted Ducks, 1ad Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwits (flew NE @ 17:25pm), 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bullfinch - Stephen Patmore

Little Hormead 19:20 - Tawny Owl

Pheasant Hall - Barn Owl 22:50 - Mick East

14th April

Little Hormead 06:40 - Tawny Owl

Furneux Pelham W 06:30 - Barn Owl

Flint Cross South 22:20 - Barn Owl

Barley North 22:33 - Barn Owl

Barkway North 22:38 - Barn Owl

Barkway South 22:42 - Barn Owl

Hare Street North 22:52 - Barn Owl - Mick East

GT.Plantings Wood and Little Plantings Wood - Common Buzzard A Buzzard was seen soaring over Gt.Planting Wood (along the A120 towards Little Hadham); a few hours later another sighting (presumably the same individual)at adjoining Little Planting Wood. - Dave Sampson

13th April

SAL (08:15-09:15) - 2 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Mallard, 4 Tufted (1F,3M), 18 Coot, 1 Common Snipe, 4 B H Gull, 2 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Willow Warbler (all singing males), 4 Chiffchaff (ditto), 3 Jay ,6 Reed Bunting (3 pairs), 1 Yellowhammer

SLRS (09:25-10:00) - 6 Mallard (+ brood of ducklings), 9 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon (pair), 1 GARGANEY (M), 8 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 4 Ad L B B Gulls (N), 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 G S Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler (singing), - Mike Harris

Coploe Hill,(09:20-11:30am) - 1 Red Kite (circling N of Hill at c.10:30am before gaining height and moving NE), c.17 Common Buzzards, 5 Black-headed Gulls (W), 1ad Herring Gull (S), 3ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NE), 2 Sand Martins (N), 74 Meadow Pipits (N/NE), 1 Yellow Wagtail (N), 3 alba Wagtails (N), 42 Fieldfares (flock on fields), 1 Redwing (E), 1m Blackcap, 16 Goldfinches (N), 1 Reed Bunting, - Stephen Patmore

12th April

Hudshill Wood - Common Buzzard

Patmore Heath North - Common Buzzard X2 - Mick East

Hatfield Forest Lake - Great Crested Grebe 8 on lake, one had stripey headed baby hitching a ride. Naff picture on thequacksoflife.blogspot.com. Swallows over lake. Willow Warblers singing - Pete Duxon

St Michaels Mead pond - Jack Snipe - Greaeme J. Smith

SLRS - Sparrowhawk 1f, 2m Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Lapwing, 2 Jay, 1 Meadow Pipit N, 2 Swallow
through, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammers, 8 Gadwall on the pond. - John Slee

11th April

Little Hormead 06:45 - Tawny Owl - Mick East

10th April

St Michaels Mead Pond 16:10-16:30 - Jack Snipe 3 (2 left south)- Greaeme J. Smith

St Michaels Mead Pond - Water Rail at 09:10am but no sign of Jack Snipe. Tony Moverley

Church Lane (off Obrey Way) B/S - 5 Bullfinch feeding on blossom (3 females & 2 males). Tony Moverley

St Michaels Mead Pond 06:10 - Jack Snipe - Graeme J. Smith

Little Hormead 06:40 - Tawny Owl - Mick East

Sawbridgeworth - 2 Blackcaps in bushes in front of my house. - Kevin Hanrahan

SAL - 2 Little Grebe, 9 Mallard, 9 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 14 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Snipe, 1 L B B Gull (Distant!), 1 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, 1 Alba wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Long tailed Tit, 2 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting , 2 Yellowhammer - Stephen Patmore & Mike Harris

Mathams Wood and Thorley Wash - Willow Warblers with a Corn Bunting on farm buildings at Trims Green - Dave Sampson

9th April

Amwell (AM) - 1M Shelduck (S), Pr Teal, 4 Common Buzzard, 3 L R Plover, 6 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 3 B H Gull, 1 Swallow (N), 35 Sand Martin (N) (4, 3, 2, 2, 15, 9), 2 Blackcap (MM), 1 Cetti's (M), 1 Willow Warbler (M), 3+ Chiffchaff - Mike Harris

8th April

SLRS 17:10 - 2 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 12+ Mallard (+ a brood of 13 ducklings), 14 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 1M GARGANEY, 6 Coot, 3 Lapwing, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 2 Swallow, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1M Willow Warbler, 2+ Chiffchaff (2 singers and a silent bird after the singing had ceased) - Mike Harris

Patmore Heath 16:20 - Red Kite in from north and then out to the east, Goshawk in & out E, Common Buzzard, Cormarant X2.

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Wheatear, Meadow Pipit on pile.

Upwick Common - Marsh Tit X2 - Mick East

7th April

Patmore Heath - Reed Bunting M, Mistle Thrush X2 - Mick East

6th April

Coploe Hill - juvenile/1w Iceland Gull flew North amongst a light passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at 12:55pm - Stephen Patmore

Hatfield Forest Lake - 1 House Martin with 1 Swallow and 1 Sand Martin. Also 50 Fieldfares.

Sawbridgeworth - 1 House Martin over my house l . Whilst watching this, a male Sparrowhawk went over and plunged claws first towards the Queen's Head. - John Slee

Moorfield Spring (Herts) - Common Buzzard X2 mating.

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard X2, Siskin 1F - Mick East

5th April

Amwell NR - common buzzard 1 (over east), water rail 1, redshank 4, sand martin c.200 - in 3 huge 'swarms' (c.90, c.60, c.50), swallow 4(+), house martin 10(+), sedge warbler 1, cetti's warbler 3, blackcap 1, chiffchaff 6, willow warbler 3 - Graeme J. Smith

Cut Throat Lane south - Common Buzzard

Patient End - Barn Swallow

Hole Spring Wood - Common Buzzard

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Siskin 1M 1F - Mick East

SLRS - Gadwall c6, Lapwing 3 - 2 on the scrape and one on the field E of Feakes Lock, LBB 3 N over allotments. Green Woodpecker 1, GSW 1, Stock Dove 3, Chiffchaff 4 singing birds at least
Blackcap 1 singing male by the allotments, Sand Martin 7 over scrape on return journey, Swallow. total of 8 through, Wheatear 1m in same field as Lapwing, Reed Bunting 1m, Bullfinch pair near Feakes Lock, Wren total of 6 seen - John Slee and Kevin Hanrahan

At the Feeders were a very obliging female Siskin and a pair of Nuthatch along with the more usual fayre. 2 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff singing, Great/Blue/Coal & Long tailed Tits, 3 Treecreeper (including 2 singing birds.A pair of Blue Tits were taking nesting material in to one of the 'Bat boxes' near the Centre - that's going to be one interesting maiden flight for the Offspring! - Mike Harris

4th April

Moorfield Spring (Herts) - Common Buzzard

Stacey's Gorse (Albury South) - Common Buzzard

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard - Mick East

Trimms green - 1 corn bunting

Spellbrook (west) - lapwing 1 north, chiffchaff 2, blackcap 1, goldcrest with nesting material

Wallbury - chiffchaff 5 (3 east side, 2 west), blackcap 2, kestrel 1, willow warbler 1, also butterflies: 1 peacock, 1 female brimstone - Graeme J. Smith

3rd April

Upwick Road (Essex end) - 5 Meadow Pipits

Foxearth Wood (A10 vets) - Common Buzzard

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard X2 - Mick East

12 Male Chiffchaffs between Southmill Lock and Spellbrook (incl 3 at Walbury); 1 male Blackcap (Walbury); 1 Singing Skylark over the Wash; 2 Sparrowhawks (Rushy Mead and Thorley Wash). Also 3 species of butterfly - Brimstone; Small Tort; Comma. - Dave Sampson

Bishop's Stortford. Hockerill area garden. - Blackcap (M) (present since 20th March) now joined by female. Siskin (M). Peacock butterfly (1). - Ian Gray

Harlow Mill Station - Swallow, a male flying East - Mike Harris

Sawbridgeworth Marsh (17:30-19:30) - 1 Cormorant (up & down River), 1 Grey Heron, 3-5 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, c.50 Golden Plover (Over Trims Green area), 1 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 1 L S Woodpecker (poor view, flew into Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff (singing, - Mike Harris, Chris Dee and Stephen Patmore.

2nd April

Upwick Road (Essex end) - 4 Meadow Pipits, 5 Jay, Bullfinch 1m also Common Buzzard over Moorfield Spring (Herts)- Mick East

SLRS - 6 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 12 Coot, 3 Lapwing (with a fourth bird displaying south of the Chaff dump field), 8 Stock Dove, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 1 Brambling (under bushes near Chaff dump)

Pishiobury Park - Grey Heron, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Chiffchaff (5 singing and 1 silent), 2 Jay, 2 Goldfinch , 20+ Greenfinch, 1 Brambling (north end of Osiers)

Rivers/Orchards - 1 Ad Common Gull (N), 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff (2 singing and 1 silent), 14 Linnet - Mike Harris

1st April

River Stort Spellbrook north - Kingfisher, Chiffchaffs 7+ singing, Willow Warbler, Great-spotted woodpecker, Wren, Mallard, Moorhen. Large number of the old Poplars cut down and re-planted on Essex bank, may be interesting later in the year. - Mick East

31st March

Thorley Park garden - 2 Siskin - Chris Dee

Sawbo Marsh - 2 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Water Rail, a mere 4 Meadow Pipits roosted - Chris Dee

Patmore Heath - Siskin 1m 1f, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff singing - Mick East

30th March

Obrey Way, B/S - Chiffchaff heard singing - Tony Moverley

Patmore Heath - Common Buzzard X 4 2m 2f one pair displaying - Mick East

SAL(11:15-12:15) - 6 Little Grebe, 11 Mallard (5 pair + 1M), 5 Teal (2 pair + 1M), 2 Gadwall pair), 3 Tufted Duck (pair + 1M) The female was the resident injured bird. Buzzard (sp.) Probably Common, 1 Pheasant, 16 Coot (8 pairs), 2 Common Snipe, 5 Green Woodpecker, 3 Skylark (singing),
8 Meadow Pipit (N), 2-3 Redwing, 28 Fieldfare, 2 Long tailed Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 1-2 Greenfinch,
2-3 Chaffinch, 2 Reed Bunting (singing), 2 Yellowhammer

Allens Green (12:30-13:00) - 1M Kestrel, 5+ Fieldfare, 2+ Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, Several Skylark singing 1M Brimstone - Mike Harris

Coploe Hill,(09:00-12:00) - female Goshawk with a couple of Buzzards at 11:25am and slowly headed W towards Chrishall Grange and out of view. 3 Cormorants (NW), 2 Greylag Geese (E), 5 Sparrowhawks
15+ Common Buzzards (min count of birds in air at once), 6 Kestrels (inc the resident tail-less female), 2prs Grey Partridge, 600+ Golden Plovers, 6prs Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper (W calling), 6 Black-headed Gulls (W), 2 Common Gulls (NW), 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NW), 6 Herring Gulls (NW), 4 Great Black-backed Gulls (NW), 125 Meadow Pipits (NW), 1 Sand Martin (S), 1m White Wagtail (W), 3 alba Wagtails (NW), 1m Wheatear, 495 Fieldfares (parties of 45, 220 & 230 - all leisurely NW), 2 Redwing (N), 1 Goldcrest, 33 Goldfinches (N), 24 Greenfinches (N), 6 Linnets (N)
13 Corn Buntings, Buzzards all over the place today - including those from Coploe, my daily total is of well over 30 birds! - Stephen Patmore

29th March

Thorley Park Road, B/S - One Siskin visiting niger seed feeder in rear garden - Tony Moverley

Allen's Green - Starlings 350+ 'doing the swarm' also 20c Fieldfare - Mick East

28th March

Mathams Wood - chiffchaff 3, buzzard 1, reed bunt 1

Micheals Mead Pond - jack snipe 2, water rail 1 (all out in the open) - Graeme J Smith

Patmore Heath - Reed Bunting male - Mick East

27th March

Patmore Heath - Siskin 1 M 1 F, Common Buzzard X 2, Sparrowhawk

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat 1 M 1 F.- Mick East

Extended walk Hadham east and north - magpie 3, jackdaw 200+, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, blackbirds, starlings, greenfinch,long tailed tit, robin, wren (all many), LBBG 1, common buzzard 1 (over East Wood), redwing 75+ (Hoecroft Lane), Fieldfare 50+ scattered near Green Street, cormorant 1, chiffchaff 1, herring gull 1, pheasant 5+, sparrow hawk 1, grey partridge 2, house sparrow 25+ (Hadham Ford), linnet 56 on wires (between East Wod and Tescos), yellowhammer 15+, corvids (plenty), wood pigeon (numerous), dunnock 4, marsh tit 1 (calling near Green Street), skylark 11+, green wodpecker 4, GSW 1 (drumming in East Wood), LTT 12, pied wagtail 2 (Hadham Ford horse field) - Jono Forgham

25th March

Patmore Heath - Siskin 1 M

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat 3 M 1 F, Reed Bunting 2 M

Clapgate just north of Nino Wood - Common Buzzard X 2 - Mick East

Plashes Wood (A10)- Common Buzzard on post by road - Brenda East

Spellbrook (west)- treecreeper 1, coal tit 2, marsh tit 1 - Graeme J Smith

24th March

Sawbridgeworth Marsh - 1 Imm MERLIN Flew East at 17:10, 1 Cormorant (S), 2 Grey Heron (N), 1 Mute Swan (N), 12 Mallard (max 6 in air together), 1F Sparrowhawk (W), 1M Kestrel (E), 5 Pheasant (in)
2 Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 7 B H Gull (4E, 3S), 6 Common Gull (4S, 2E), 3 Herring Gull (E), 3 L B B Gull (W), 1Ad G B B Gull (E), 2 Stock Dove, 660 Wood Pigeon (Roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 2 Green Woodpecker, 96 Meadow Pipit (in - a sharp increase - Spring passage), 24 Redwing (1N, 23S), 43 Fieldfare (13E, 30 in), 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Long tailed Tit (2 pairs), 1 Jay, 237 Jackdaw (S), 1 Starling (NE), 3 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch (W), 79 Greenfinch (NNE to roost - a sharp increase - Spring passage), 42 Reed Bunting (in), 1M Yellowhammer (singing at North end of Marsh). - Mike Harris

Folly Gorse - Common Buzzard mobbed by 2 Carrion Crow

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat 1 Male 2 Female

Patmore Heath - Siskin 2 Male 1 Female

23rd March

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat 3 Male 2 Female

Albury (South) - Fieldfare 300+ in field south of village hall - Mick East

SLRS - BHG (c 10) coots (c 8) Mallard pairs, GSW drumming, Starlings sitting it out (c 75) 5 Yellowhammer on chaffdump, Chaffinchs, Dunnocks, Robins, Magpies, Pheasant (h) many Wood pigeon in trees all over, LTT (h) Great Tit 3, Moorhen 2, Redwing 2, Corvids about but no calls.- Kevin Hanrahan

22nd March

Hatfield Forest Lake - great crested grebe 12, tufted duck 11, gadwall 13, teal 7, canada goose c.15, bullfinch 2, great spotted woodpecker 1, green woodpecker 2, mistle thrush 2, coal tit 1, nuthatch 1, redwing c.15 - Graeme J Smith

21st March

Ash Valley to Much Hadham and then back along the river to Hadham Ford.- 300+ golden plover in
bean field. LBBG 2 north,Herring gull 2 north, Black headed gull 1 north, kestrel 2 (1 female with very pale head), skylarks 4, yellowhammers 3, Green woodpecker 2, stock dove 1, pied wagtail 1. - Jono Forgham

SLRS - Gadwall 22 today plus a White-Cheeked Pintail. Treecreeper, 4 Lapwing, c30 Stock Dove over the chaff-dump field, singing Chiffchaff and still a few Fieldfares and Redwings - John Slee

18th March

Spellbrook West - Marsh Tit 1 - Graeme J Smith

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat 3 male 1 Female - Mick East

17th March

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat male - Mick East

16th March

Farnham - Upwick Road (Essex end) - Stonechat male - Mick East

15th March

SLRS - Cormorant 3 in the Cormorant tree, Mute Swan 6 juveniles/immature I various stages of greyness NE, Greylag Goose 1 over, Gadwall 9!, Teal 5, Mallard 4, Kestrel 1, Moorhen 6, Coot 4, Lapwing 4 – 2 pairs calling over the scrape, BHG 3, Common Gull 1, Stock Dove 5, Wood Pigeon c50+, Collared Dove 3, GSW 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Wren 2, Dunnock 5, Robin 4, Blackbird 7, Fieldfare 1, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 5, Stonechat 1 in the scrape field, Chiffchaff 1 singing – just a few snatches of song, Blue tit 1, Great tit 2, Jay 1, Magpie 7, Jackdaw 4, Crow c5, Starling 15, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 4, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 7, Bullfinch 3, Reed Bunting 2m. - John Slee

Rush Green (nr. Baker's End) - 7 Common Buzzards at 13:40 today. Three obvious pairs at height and a single bird lower down. - Mike Harris

Birchanger Wood - Brambling 1 in birches with Goldfinches

South of Farnham Green - Buzzard (2), Stonechat (f) Along the road from Stortford to Upwick

Lower Sheering - Sparrowhawk 1 over the village - Jan Hein van Steenis

Patmore Heath - Siskin Male on Niger - Mick East

14th March

Thorley Park Road, B/S - 2 Siskin on niger seed feeder. - Tony Moverley

10th March

Trimms Green - golden plover c.70, fieldfare 80+ - Graeme j Smith

9th March

Little Hadham south east walk (9.30 - 11.00) - common buzzard 2, linnet 2 (new sp for 2008), green woodpecker 3, GSW drumming, skylarks several
yellowhammer lots, mallards 3 pairs on River Ash, moorhens 2

south west walk (2.00 - 3.30pm) - bullfinches 3, jays 2, magpies 7, wood pigeons 500+, yellowhammers 6, green woodpeckers 4, goldfinch party of 9 - Jono Forgham

Hatfielf Forest Lake - great crested grebe 7, bullfinch 7, jay 6(7), gadwall 15+, tufted duck 10, green woodpecker 3, tawny owl 1 - in exactly the same place i've seen him before. roosting on the north-west marshy side (photo on blog later), redwing c.200 into trees from east side of forest - Graeme j Smith

Sawbridgeworth 15:30. - c50 Golden Plover circling south of West Road - Mike Harris

SLRS 9:30-10:30 - : 5 Snipe, 3 Lapwing, 4 Coot (the first for me here this year), 15 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, a GSW drumming loudly next to the river at the boat yard. - John Slee

8th March

Thorley Park Road, B/S - 1 male Reed Bunting in rear garden. Mary Moverley

Little Hadham Round of golf at Ash Valley Club:(8.30 - 1.00) - kestrel 1, skylarks 15+, green woodpecker 2, fieldfare 7, yellowhammers 5, rooks and jackdaws frequently joined me in the rough and out of bounds areas! - Jono Forgham

7th March

Little Hormead - Grey Partridge X3

Wyddial - Grey Partridge X2 - Mick East

6th March

Thorley Wash - 4 Little Grebe and 1 Stonechat - still good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing around. Tony Moverley

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost(16:08-17:50) - 3 Cormorant (2S, 1N), 1 Grey Heron (S), 3 Mallard (MMF),
3 Pheasant (in), 48 Golden Plover (20W, 28 circling in East), 1 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 20 B H Gull (SSW), 12 Common Gull (SSW),1 2ndW G B B Gull (SSW),15 Stock Dove (2 prs displaying, 9 and two singletons to roost), 1860 Wood Pigeon (Roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood),2 Green Woodpecker,
1 G S Woodpecker, 1 L S Woodpecker (Flew from Spill Timbers to Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 4 Meadow Pipit, 63 Redwing (61S, 2 in), 25 Fieldfare (in), 1 Magpie, 162 Jackdaw (S), 1 Starling (S), 1M Chaffinch, 1M Goldfinch (singing), 43 Greenfinch (22NE, 21SW!!! The NE birds were double the height of the birds moving in the opposite direction.. Confusing or what?), 34 Reed Bunting, Absolute minmum figure. Two recalcitrant male birds, one singing and the other answering with "siu" all evening, did not help in counting the in-coming birds!) - Mike Harris

5th March

Thorley Park Road, B/S - 2 Siskin (male & female) on niger seed feeder - Tony Moverley

4th March

Patmore Heath - Siskin M+F - Mick East

3rd March

Great Hyde Hall - Two Common Buzzards soaring and 70 Rooks in a ploughed field up West road - John Slee

1st March

Little Hadham - Grove Wood - grey wagtail 1 at the Ford by the Nags Head, kestrel 1, corvids 100's, sparrow hawk 1, meadow pipits 15, redwing 7, coal tit 1, yellwhammer 9, skylark 2 - Jono Forgham

29th February

Trimms Green - Corn Bunting using tree nearest the entrance to the fishing pits at 0715 hrs - Graeme Smith

Vantorts Park, Sawbridgeworth - 1 Ring Necked Parakeet flew south of Vantorts Park playing field at 8.15am this morning. - Steve Butler

Albury End - Red Kite - Brenda East

Central Harlow TL40P Tetrad of breeding bird survey - 1 Grey wagtail, 10 Siskins, 8 Redwings, 25 Mallards, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Moorhen, 2 Coots, 150 Woodpigeon, 30 Collared Dove, 6 Wren, 6Dunnock, 15 Robin, 24 Blackbirds, 5Long Tailed Tits, 39 Blue Tits, 21 great Tits, 23 Magpies, 57 Starlings, 58 House Sparrows, -- Craig Messenger

26th February

Standon - Barn Owl - Brenda East

25th February

tetrad count Manor of Groves at High Wych - Woodcock, Kestrel 4, Pheasant 7, Moorhen 4, Woodcock, Common Gull 2, Stock Dove 6, Woodpigeon c40, Collared Dove 3, Green Woodpecker 1, GSW 1, Skylark 5, Pied Wagtail 1, Wren 4, Dunnock 6, Robin 4, Blackbird 12, Fieldfare 4, Song Thrush 1, Mistle Thrush 1, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 7, Great Tit7, Magpie 3, Rook 25, Carrion Crow c40, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 7, Greenfinch 5, Goldfinch 2, Bullfinch 3, Yellowhammer 5 - John Slee

SLRS - 11 Bullfinches in a single bush by the allotments, Grey Heron 1, Cormorant 2, Canada Goose 2, Lapwing 5, Common Gull 1, BH Gull c30, Moorhen c5, Stock Dove – 3 in a field and a few in the roost., Green Woodpecker 1, Starling 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Jackdaw hundreds, Rook 2, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 12, Dunnock 2, Meadow Pipit 5 flying round late then into trees/rushes for the roost., Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch c5, Yellowhammer c10 - John Slee & Steve Butler

24th February

Hadham Ford south - stonechat 1, common buzzard 1, yellowhammers 40+, reed buntings 5, green woodpeckers 6, GSW 1, LBBG 1, skylarks 12+ all singing., goldcrest several heard in conifers., kestrel 1, mistle thrush 1 - Jono Forgham

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost - 2 Cormorant (1N, 1S), 1 Grey Heron (in), 6 Mallard (2E, 2S, 2 in), 1 Common Buzzard (W, with extremley full crop!), 9 Pheasant (in - highest count of winter), 9 Golden Plover (W), 1 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 17 B H Gull (SSW), 26 Common Gull (25SSW, 1N), 4 L B B Gull (1SSW, 1N, 2 SE), 3 Stock Dove, ca.500 Wood Pigeon (only 290 in, but flock in Kecksy's Bridge Wood lifted at one point and a minimum of 500 birds showed. It would appear their feeding grounds have shifted to the West of the Marsh at present, so counting them in, with any accuracy, is an impossibility), 4 Collared Dove (S), 2 Green Woodpecker, 20 Meadow Pipit (in), 1 Song Thrush (singing), 1 Redwing (in), 15 Fieldfare (in), 2 Long tailed Tit, 211 Jackdaw (S), 18 Carrion Crow (9S, 5N, 2W, 2E) , 3 Starling (1W, 2NE), 2 Chaffinch (pair - male singing), 2 Goldfinch (pair - male singing), 23 Greenfinch (NNE), 43 Reed Bunting (42 in, 1 singing) - Mike Harris

23rd February

Little Hadham South - yellowhammer 1, wood pigeons 37, corvid flocks, 400+, green woodpecker 1, tawny owls 4, little owl 1, probably 2 maybe 3! surprisingly mobile, pheasants, plenty calling, kestrel 2 at nest site, usual tits, finches, turdus and robins. - Jono Forgham

Elsenham ,Down Farm South - TL52 H , Buzzard 3 sightings, 2 + Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Nuthatch,Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, flock circa 350+ Fieldfare/Redwing and starlings. Plus Mistle Thrush/Blue, Great,Marsh and LT Tits. - Michael Rimmell

22nd February

Newport SW - Water Pipit feeding with Pied Wagtails on the northernmost filter bed. Also a single Chiffchaff in the usual area. - Stephen Patmore

18th February

Sawbridgeworth Marsh(15:45-17:50) - 1 Cormorant (S), 1 Grey Heron (S), 16 Mallard (6N, 6S, 4E) Some duplication unavoidable!, 3 Pheasant, 3 Water Rail, 165 Golden Plover (E), 1 Snipe (S), 99 B H Gull (SSW), 3 Common Gull (SSW), 1 L B B Gull (N), 6 Larus spp. (SSW), 1 Stock Dove, 1130 Wood Pigeon (Roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 12 Meadow Pipit (in), 1 Song Thrush singing, 27 Fieldfare (in), 1 Chiffchaff, 4+ Long tailed Tit, 4 Magpie, 2 Jay, 267 Jackdaw (S), 101 Rook (S), 5 Chaffinch (4N, 1 singing), 21 Greenfinch (17N, 2E, 1W, 1S), 58 Reed Bunting (in, although 1 bird singing throughout) - Mike Harris

Stort Park Farm650 - 1715 - Pair of Stonechats present along with several calling Yellowhammers and a flock of c70 Golden Plover flying high South of SPF. - Steve Butler

17th February

Elsenham - Golden Plover 110 flying around in between Elsenham and Henham

Sawbridgeworth - Common Buzzard 1 along Stort west of Sawbridgeworth marsh

Manuden - Grey Partridge 2, near Bentfield Bower

Uppend - Common Buzzard 1 (in the direction of Pelham) - Jan Hein van Steenis

SAL & Hatfield Forest - SAL - Large Flock of Fieldfare on Ploughed field next to Pinkneys. Also 1 or 2 Redwing and a Mistle Thrush,Reed Bunting (1), Jay (2), Jackdaw (over), LT Tit, Green & GS Woodpecker, Snipe 1 Flushed from main Lagoon and another 2 from Furthest Lagoon. Lapwing flock flying west. Teal took off from Far Lagoon

Hatfield Forest(Woodside Green side) - Redwing (Large flock), Song Thrush, Green & GS Woodpecker, Bullfinch (pair), Lots of Jackdaw as usual, Jay, Nuthatch plus a selection of common Tits and Finches. 2 Muntjac Deer

16th February

Stortford Park Farm 14:45-15:15- Merlin - female on field around 150 yards north west of stonechats, standing on small mound Still present 15:45-16:15- Graeme J Smith

15th February

Chapel Lane towards Westland - treecreeper (2), nuthatch, stock dove, 400+ mixed corvids, 300+ wood pigeons, 25 fieldfare, 15 redwing, green woodpecker, GSW, kestrel, mistle thrush (3), moorhen 3, usual tits and finches a plenty - Jono Forgham

14th February

Little Hadham - golden plover 11 (circling low before departing westerly and gaining height)Presume on migration, grey heron 1, green woodpecker 3, GSW 1, song thrush 1, kestrel 3 separate males, goldfinch 20+, moorhen 3, wood pigeon flock (800+), Plus 1 muntjac, 2 hares, - Jono Forgham

13th February

St. Michael's Mead lake - Water Rail heard - Tony Moverley

12th February

SLRS - c.200 Lapwing circling and descending at 5.15pm - Mike Harris

Spellbrook West - Common Buzzard - over south at 1515 -

Wallbury - Nuthatch looking like their third year on the patch... using same hole as last year- Graeme J Smith

TTV Albury Hall - Siskin 9, Brambling 11, Yellowhammer 39 -Mick East

10th February

Stortford Park Farm - Common Buzzard 1 - west, sparrowhawk 1 - female hunting the farm, linnet 60-70 on south west edge (west of bypass), no stonechats noted today - Graeme J Smith

TTV Patmore Heath - Linnet 5, Yellowhammer 53, Reed Bunting 7 - Mick East

9th February

Rye Meads - Common Buzzard X 4 then X2 - Mick East

8th February

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost - 11 Mallard (4N, 3S, 2E, 2 in), 1 Common Buzzard (sitting in tall Willows at North end of Marsh, sloped off unseen, late evening), 1F Sparrowhawk (W),2 Common Snipe, 2 LBBG (S), 6 Stock Dove (incuding local pair, in prolonged display flights, at North end of marsh), 1360 Wood Pigeon (Roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 1 Collared Dove (N), 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 G S Woodpecker (3S, 1W), 7 Meadow Pipit (in), 3 Redwing (S), 20 Fieldfare (in), 2 Song Thrush (singing), 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Magpie, 2 Jay, 406 Jackdaw (236S, 20N and 150 roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 8 Rook (S), 1 Goldfinch (S), 2 Chaffinch (S), 13 Greenfinch (3N, 1S, 3W, 2SW, 4in), 41 Reed Bunting (in)- Mike Harris

Tednambury Marsh Roost, - 1 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant (S), 2ad Mute Swans, 14 Mallard, 1f Kestrel, 6 Water Rails (5 on marsh, 1 South of Tednambury Lock), 511 Black-headed Gulls (SW), 45 Common Gulls (SW), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (SW), 2 Herring Gulls (W), 6 Stock Doves,
515 Woodpigeons, 1 Collared Dove (S), 2 Green Woodpeckers, 59 Meadow Pipits (in) - very high count inc. flock of 32 in from the N, 2 Stonechat (m & f - South of Tednambury Lock), 42 Fieldfares (14W, 10S, 16in), 17 Redwings (16W, 1 in), 1 Marsh Tit (singing), 2 Jays, 151 Magpies (in), 323 Jackdaws (303SW, 20in!), 31 Rooks (SW), 1 Chaffinch (S), 6 Greenfinch (S), 3 Goldfinch (S), 5 Siskins (S), 33 Yellowhammers (in), 7 Reed Buntings (in), - Stephen Patmore

Furneux Pelham W - Barn Owl 06:30 - Mick East

6th February

Furneux Pelham NW - Barn Owl 17:30 - Mick East

4th February

SLRS - Little Grebe 1 on river – my first for this stretch, Cormorant 1, Moorhen 7, Mallard 3, BHG – several around, and 13 over S at 4pm, Green Woodpecker 1, GSW 1, Kestrel 1m, Wren 2, Mistle Thrush 1, Song Thrush 2 singing, Blackbird 5, Fieldfare c10, Redwing 3, Stonechat - pair at top end, Crow c10, Jackdaw c10, Rook 7 S at 4:20 heading for roost. , Wood Pigeon total of 100?, Starling c10, Magpie 12, Chaffinch c10, Greenfinch 13, Dunnock 5, Robin 1, Blue tit 1 - John Slee

3rd February

Little Hadham south east - 1 common buzzard, 1 adult lbbg, 14 BHG, 1 2nd cy herring gull, 1 reed bunting, 1 green woodpecker, usual tits and finches - Jono Forgham

Stort Park Farm and fields/woods west of Bishops Way - Goldfinch, Fieldfare , Redwing (2) (then mixed flock with Fieldfare), Siskin (1) (feeding in Alders alongside Bishops Way), Common Buzzard (loped over heading east), Large party of Long Tailed Tit, Stock Dove (1) - Steve Butler Kevin Hanrahan

2nd February

Hudshill - Common Buzzard

Albury Lodge - Fieldfare 250+ - Mick East

Stort park farm - Merlin chasing linnets. Stonechat 2. Golden plover 33. - Graeme J Smith

SLRS/Pishiobury Park - Great Tit, Starling, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing (mixed flock with above), Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove (4), Collared Dove, Bullfinch (pair), Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Mallard, Black Headed Gull (C85), Common Gull (15), Long Tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Grey Heron, Robin, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Highlight was a Stoat attempting and eventually succeeding in dragging, a fully grown Rabbit, in to cover alongside a small path alongside the railway track. - Steve Butler

SAL - coot, moorhen, tufted duck, blue tit, greenfinch, robin, green woodpecker, corvids, teal, and not a lot else. Cut our loses and headed for Hatfield Forest lake. Added gadwall and had a superb fly past by c40 teal which eventually landed on the lake. No sign of the mandarin, but BHG, common gull, female bullfinch. Flock of redwing near carpark showed well. Total species count in the region of 35 - Summercroft Bird Club

Hatfield Forest Lake - Mandarin Duck one male. also sheduck and usual suspects. - Pete Duxon

Allen’s Green on sat lunchtime. - Fieldfare – one flock of 84 south of Allen’s Green, one flock of 100 + 25 Redwing at Trimm’s Green – road from Allen’s Green Golden Plover – one flock by road N from Allen’s Green, one flock of 130 just S of Matham’s Wood - John Slee

St. Michael's Mead lake NW end - Water Rail heard at the inlet sluice, flushed a Snipe (sp.) as I approached the metal barrier. Flew off into the sun - Tony Moverley

1st February

SLRS and surround 13.45-14.30 - 2 pairs of Stonechat at far North end of scrape,53 BHG,5 Moorhen,5 Jackdaw,2 Green woodpeckers,Great tits all over,4 Carrion Crow,Jay over (s),many Mallard pairs, Through woods had Bullfinch(m),Chaffinch all over,Blue tits,(c 15) Redwing,7 Wood pigeon, 2 Wrens, LTT through, and finally stood under a Great Spotted Woodpecker boring a fresh hole. - Kevin Hanrahan

Trims Greem - Male stonechat in layby at 1605 - Graeme J Smith

31st January

Trimms Green layby - Golden plover 16, hares 3 @ 1320 hrs- Graeme J Smith

30th January

Hatfield forest lake - Mandarin 1, shellduck 2, kingfisher 1, stock dove 1 singing - Graeme J Smith

Little Hadham - Woodcock Flushed from garden last night (10.00pm) - Jono Forgham

29th January

Farnham - Upwick Road Essex End - Fieldfare 200+, Starling 150+

Albury Lodge - Starling 300+ sitting on wires - Mick East

SLRS - Stonechat 1 - male at pheasant hopper, meadow pipit 21, teal 2 south - Graeme J Smith

Hazel End Woods - Common Buzzard 1 pair soaring over woods, but relatively low in clear sunny conditions, later joined by a third, all three drifting towards Manuden/Bentfield Green. - Alan Rutland

Manuden School & Butt Lane - Brambling; Siskin Male Brambling on feeders in school wildlife area (seen on RSPB visit) - Siskin on garden feeders in Butt Lane, Manuden - Mark Pegrum

28th January

SLRS - Shoveler 2 male - a first for me here. Stock Dove - a flock of 34 flew over. Snipe - 1 on the boggy field where the trees have just been cut. Bullfinch m, Reed Bunting 1f in the rough field by Springhall Lane. Blue tit - flock of 8 + many more throughout. - John Slee

River Stort (near railway car park) - 2 Siskin in the riverside alder trees. - Tony Moverley

Obrey way, BS - Little owl @ 1815 hrs on usual telegraph pole. first i've seen one here in months - Graeme J Smith

27th January

Sheering Lower Road Scrape - 1st winter Little Gull - John Slee

Stort Park Farm - Stonechats still in area - Graeme J Smith

Little Hadham - Common Buzzard viewed over Chapel Lane being mobbed by jackdaws. Also: green woodpecker 4, GSW 1, goldcrest 2, marsh tit 2, skylark 2, lapwing 6 - Jono Forgham

26th January

SLRS - 1st winter Little Gull this morning. With c30 BH Gulls. On the scrape and on the field E of the railway line, then around lunchtime drifted off north with the BH Gulls. - John Slee

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost (15:00-17:00) - 8 Mallard (6N, 2S), 1 Common Buzzard (W), 3 Pheasant (MFF in), 1 Water Rail, 140 Golden Plover (10, 100, 30) All circling in distance over Trims Green area. 2 Common Snipe (including strange black breasted bird, seen twice in flight), 3 Jack Snipe All feeding within 20' of each other), 163 B H Gull (SSW), 36 Common Gull (SSW), 2 Herring Gull (SSW), 3 L B B Gull (2SSW, 1 NW), 17 Stock Dove Roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 1500 Wood Pigeon (ditto), 1 Collared Dove (N) 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 18 Meadow Pipit (in),
5 Redwing (S), 84 Fieldfare (19S, 65 in), 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Long tailed Tit, 6 Magpie, 2 Jay, 325 Jackdaw (68N, 257S), 11 Rook (S), 15 Starling (8W, 7S), 1 Chaffinch (SW), 13 Goldfinch (4E, 3S, 6W), 6 Greenfinch (N), 33 Reed Bunting (in), 2 Yellowhammer (in)- Mike Harris

25th January

Spellbrook - Goldfinch birds gathering to roost now exceeding 180 birds (usually at hayter entrance from 1600 onwards) - Graeme J Smith

Tednambury Marsh, (15:00-17:00) - 2 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron (S), 3 Mute Swans (2ad, 1imm), 8 Mallard, 2 Water Rails, 113 Golden Plover (SW),
352 Black-headed Gulls (SW), 206 Common Gulls (SW), 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (SW), 4 Herring Gulls (SW), 26 Stock Doves (S), 1 Little Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Meadow Pipits (in), 1f Stonechat, 122 Fieldfares (in), 4 Redwings (S), 1 Treecreeper, 2 Jays, 106 Magpies (in - minimum count of birds in from the W/SW - highest count this winter), 312 Jackdaws (SW), 117 Rooks (SW), 11 Starlings (W), 1 Brambling (N), 8 Greenfinches (S), 4 Goldfinches (S), 4 Siskins, 29 Yellowhammers (in) - Stephen Patmore

21st January

Sawbridgeworth surgary lawn - Sparrowhawk (m) He came very fast 2feet off the ground over the lawn and through the tall hedge to put up half a dozen Wood pigeon on the car park. Strike was unsuccessful. - Kevin Hanrahan

20th January

Sawbridgeworth - 26 Golden Plover SW over 09:05 - Mike Harris

Audley End Mansion - Barnacle Geese x 4 of them by river. Also two Little Grebes and a Black swan with Mallards and Canada Geese - Pete Duxon

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost (14:50-16:50) - 9 Mallard (N), 1M Sparrowhawk (Roosted in Spill Timbers Wood), 2 Kestrel (M&F), 3 Pheasant (MMF - in), 2 Water Rail, 170 B H Gull (SSW), 13 Common Gull (SSW), 12 Herring Gull (SSW), 5 L B B Gull (SSW), 3 G B B Gull (SSW), 7 Stock Dove (Roosted in Kecksy's Bridge Wood), 1695 Wood Pigeon (ditto), 2 Green Woodpecker, 16 Meadow Pipit (in), 7 Redwing, 188 Fieldfare (87S, 6E, 95 in), 4 Magpie, 582 Jackdaw (S), 222 Rook (S), 6 Carrion Crow (W), 6 Starling (2NE, 4W), 10 Chaffinch (6S, 4W), 20 Greenfinch (18N, 2S), 27 Reed Bunting in) 3 Yellowhammer (N), Significant increases in Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw and Rook, suggest excellent feeding opportunities nearby.

A very small dead Fawn (sp.) in the North-east corner. Presumably a recent Fox kill. - Mike Harris

Area covered included River Stort towpath, Three Forests Way towards M11 and around Quickbury Farm then on to Sawbridgeworth Marsh ENT Reserve although it was way too wet to venture very far in. Then return along towpath to Vantorts Estate - Mute Swan 3, Mallard 21, Pheasant 1, Cormorant 4,Sparrowhawk 1 (Hunting high over Stort), Moorhen 3, BH Gull 3, Herring Gull 5, Stock Dove 7 (Quickbury Farm), Wood Pigeon 154, Collared Dove 8, Gt Spotted Woodpecker 2, Grey Wagtail 1 (Sheering Mill Lock), Pied Wagtail 1, Wren 5, Dunnock 1, Robin 15, Blackbird 18, Fieldfare 28, Redwing (c200), Blue Tit 15, Great Tit 11, Treecreeper (pair in Hyde Hall wood), Jay 1, Magpie 5, Jackdaw 3, Carrion Crow 18, Starling 49, House Sparrow 8, Chaffinch 11, Greenfinch 3, Goldfinch 17, Bullfinch 5 (flock near allotments at Southbrook), Yellowhammer 7 (Party on barn roof at Quickbury Farm) - Steve Butler

Plashes