A new site bird & Autumn arrives early!

As I was putting the finishing touches to my last post catching up with Spring sightings so the first returning birds of Autumn appeared at the pits!

Regular as clockwork, 3 Green Sandpipers appeared on the middle pool on the evening of 19th June and a number of birds have been seen on and off since.  Another anticipated arrival was a juvenile Stonechat on 28th June - a few days earlier than usual but one of two birds noted in the county recently.

Record shot of the juvenile Stonechat on 28th June taken by Richard Gardner

A real surprise then came on 30th June with a very early  Whinchat - a smart male sat up in the main weedy area next to the dried-up main lagoon.  The last June records in Herts were from 2018 and were probably lingering Spring birds while this record seems more likely a returning migrant. 

The Whinchat on 30th June

A new bird for the site!

Today Alan Gardiner found a QUAIL calling form the field along the track. A new species for the site (#165) and one that seems to be having a good year in the country with several records across Herts too.  I nipped out at lunchtime and soon heard it calling about 10 yards off the track but, as usual, heard not seen.  Hopefully it will hang around as a long-expected bird at the site and one that I have been keeping an ear out over the last few weeks knowing there are a few around.  See if you can pick it up calling inbetween the Skylark song in this video!

Two Hobbies were also present and a noisy 'cronking' Raven. Elsewhere on site the sole remaining Little Ringed Plover chick survives and is almost full-grown. Another adult may be on a nest but chicks have yet to appear.  The first fledged Yellow Wagtails are also out and about - more to come no doubt.

The Little Ringed Plover chick and adult parent & 2 of the juvenile Yellow Wagtails.

The Barn Owl family continue to delight too with the parent birds taking it in turns to keep lookout.

In non-bird news, a number of Fallow Deer have been enjoying the tall cover vegetation of the weedy area next to the dried up lagoon. A single Roe Deer has also been with them - always a scarcity in this part of Herts. On my wanderings I also encountered at least one Essex Skipper - my first record for the site and one of many on the wing at the moment.

A fleeing Fallow Deer & an Essex Skipper on 30th June

Sadly the farmer has seen fit to strim between all the newly planted tree whips - an unnecessary exercise as the area would naturally scrub up if left and produce a far better ecosystem in the long-run. This is on the back of weed-killing too - all in the height of the breeding season when nesting and feeding areas like these are critical. What hope is there for nature if this is how we treat our 'green' areas?!