 2025 wrapped upRather than write a lengthy review of 2025 I thought I'd simply summarise in a paragraph or two... Despite misgivings about the future of the site at the start of the year, 2025 proved to be one of, if not the, best years on record with 134 species recorded over the whole year - 3 up on last year. An additional 7 new species were added over the course of the year taking the all-time total to 163 species. March saw the addition of a smart summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe followed on 13th April by a distant Purple Heron part of an influx into the country that week. An overdue Crossbill became the first known record for the site on 6th July with many more arriving later in the year. September saw the addition of a stunning male Redstart on 14th followed by the discovery of a Dartford Warbler on 21st - one of several that appeared in the County from autumn onwards. The year saved the best to last however with a Pectoral Sandpiper found on 1st October that lingered a few days and then a Lapland Bunting on 4th November. If accepted, the latter would be a first for the County. The year also saw the addition of two new 'escapees' that fall short of truly wild status: an Alexandrine Parakeet on 13th Jan and a Bar-headed Goose on 21st May. Both very smart birds and worthy of note regardless of their status. 2026 here we go...but first a rant!Once again the New Year presents a very different site from that of January 2025. Much of the worked gravel areas and open water have gone with just 3 key pools remaining. These are also subject to reduction by pumping and still their future remains uncertain. Elsewhere most of the land has been returned to arable/sheep-grazing fields, divided up by new fencing and presumably eventually hedgerow planting. All of this means that it is likely that the site will not be as attractive to birds as it once was but while areas continue to be disturbed and worked there is hope. Whether Little Ringed Plovers and Sand Martins will still find areas to nest in remains to be seen but based on other restored sites around St Albans it seems unlikely. As well as the so-called 'restoration' work another dynamic seems to be at play. The latest tool in the developer's arsenal - Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits - have meant that areas such as Stanborough GPs may well form part of a 'BNG Habitat Bank'. Developers elsewhere (anywhere!) can purchase 'offsite' BNG units thereby fulfilling their obligations to increase biodiversity. They must be able to demonstrate a minimum 10% uplift in biodiversity (not much really) so to make it even easier it is best if the banked habitat is degraded first so its low biodiversity can be quickly and cheaply 'upgraded'. The lower the biodiversity the higher the value to a prospective developer looking to offset the destruction elsewhere caused by their development. Such cynical calculations may well be the justification for the degrading of Stanborough GPs witnessed over the last few years, rather than the embracing of its already excellent biodiversity. Perhaps the ray of hope is that, in time, the biodiversity of the site will be uplifted, but I suspect in a very 'managed' way producing a shadow biodiversity, a poor imitation of a truly re-wilded state. Some hope may also be held in the identification of the site in the new Local Nature Recovery Strategy as ear-marked for wetland habitats. Only time will tell but history is not encouraging on this front and I, for one, struggle to feel too optimistic! And so to the birds... Adult Yellow-legged Gull on 10th Jan Many of the birds present at the end of 2025 are still on site, including at least one Jack Snipe and some Common Snipe too. Three Wigeon appeared on 10th and rose to 7 on 12th. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was a nice find in the gull flock on 10th and was followed by a first-winter bird on 16th. The same day also saw the French-ringed Great Black-backed Gull first seen at Coursers GPs further south join the gulls in the sheep field. A species that was not recorded at Stanborough last year and in generally very scarce in the County. The 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull & the Great Black-backed Gull ringed in northern France in May 2024. Another highlight of the New Year so far has been the continuing presence of Crossbills in Symondshyde Great Wood. With good numbers still present in the woods it means they occasionally venture into Stanborough GPs boundaries with a flyover flock of at least 10 on 13th and at least 3 birds in trees bordering the site on 16th. As they gather to leave for their breeding grounds I'm sure there'll be more records for the site too.  Male Crossbill atop a pine bordering the site on 16th Jan At least 2 Barn Owls are in the box while a Green Sandpiper has been frequenting the site as has a Little Grebe. Other site faithfuls include up to 5 pairs of Stonechat over the whole site and a flock of c.100 Lapwing roosting on the workings. As yet Golden Plover are yet to appear in any numbers but this seems true of other regular sites too. A family party of 3 Mute Swans has been visiting regularly and, while wildfowl numbers are almost non-existent, a flock of at least 60 Teal were present on the middle pool on 16th.
To date, the site year list has reached 60 species with plenty more (hopefully) still to come. Late January can see the start of late winter movements as birds get ready to depart - perhaps evidenced today (16th) in the increase in Meadow Pipits on site.
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 Newly hatched Lapwing chick Late May highlightsMay did not finish with a bang but nevertheless did hold some interest with a Cuckoo heard calling on 21st along with the arrival of 2 Common Sandpipers. In line with annual movement of 'suspect' geese a very smart (unringed) Bar-headed Goose appeared on the same day along with a bona-fide ringed Oystercatcher. Originating in central Asia and migrating across the Himalayas at extreme altitudes, it seems inconceivable that a wild Bar-headed Goose should ever make it to the UK. This bird may simply be an escapee from a private collection or perhaps, a partially wild bird living as part of a feral population in the UK. Regardless of its origins it was a very smart bird and first record for the site. It follows the similar Snow Goose record of 2024.  The Bar-headed Goose on 21st May 2025 The Oystercatcher sported a bright blue & yellow leg ring with white letters HE on it. I was then able to identify this as a bird ringed by the Devon & Cornwall Wader Ringing Group on 13th Oct 2021 at Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary in Devon. My sighting constitutes the only sighting away from that site and the first since Feb 2023.  The colour-ringed Oystercatcher on 21st May 2025 It's interesting to see how far this bird has travelled and with some birds being re-sighted in Europe, who knows where it will go next? The full history of the bird can be found here: https://www.dcwrg.org.uk/recoveries/oystercatcher/bird/GBT-FJ28711  The Oystercatcher's ringing history The last Common Sandpiper was seen on 24th May but the next day 2 more Ringed Plovers appeared and another Oystercatcher on 31st May. Another Ringed Plover was also present on 28th May. On 27th May a new brood of Mandarin Ducks appeared - a mother with 10 new ducklings in tow. Lapwing chicks were first seen on 21st with at least 3 Lapwing broods proved by the end of the month. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing on the last day of May and a pair of Egyptian Geese were noted - one of 3 pairs that have frequented the site this Spring. Early June highlightsThe first few weeks of June saw a trickle of waders with more Ringed Plover (2 on 4th & 1 on 10th), 2 more Oystercatchers on 6th and a Dunlin on 2nd. At least 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers continue to display around the site but as yet there has been no evidence of breeding.  2 sleepy Oystercatchers on 6th June Disturbance at critical moments may have not helped the Little Ringed Plovers this year with an unwelcome visit from a walker with 4 off-lead dogs and untimely ploughing by the farmer. There is enough space on site so hopefully pairs will breed successfully in due course.  This Little Ringed Plover looked settled on a nest but sadly the field was ploughed shortly after! On cue with previous years, a Corn Bunting was singing on the wires along the track on 11th and then seen singing at the back of the main weedy area on 13th. Hopefully a mate will be found and breeding will get underway again. Both Mandarin Ducks and Lapwing have continued to be successful with a third brood of Mandarin ducklings appearing on 11th June and a fourth brood of 2 further Lapwing chicks the next day. Of course, as June progresses, thoughts of autumn migration begin to creep in! June is a turning point in the migration calendar and first back are the Green Sandpipers. Almost before we began to expect them, 5 Green Sandpipers arrived on 13th - a very typical date for their return. At least one bird was colour-ringed and studies have shown that they can make the journey from Scandinavia in one non-stop flight! A Hobby was also hunting over the pits on 13th and 2 Grey Partridges were flushed near the ruin. One of the partridges looked very small and could have been a juvenile.  Hobby on 13th June A Meadow Pipit was feeding along the new tree planting area which renewed hopes that there might still be a breeding pair on site - although this was the first bird seen since the dog disturbance.  Meadow Pipit on 13th June Elsewhere around the site insect life has exploded with a good variety of odonata including recently Emperor Dragonflies, Four-spotted Chasers and Black-tailed Skimmers. The first Marbled White butterfly was noted on 13th along with another Painted Lady butterly. Black-tailed Skimmer & Painted Lady butterfly on 13th June
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