 With work and being away I've got a bit behind so a brief summary of late August and early September highlights below. Late August18th August - the site's first Black-tailed Godwit of the year finally made an appearance, with another 2 joining it on 20th. 19th August - the Barnacle Goose was present again with the Canada Geese flock and then again on 24th. 22nd August - the site's first Spotted Flychatcher since Sep 2021 was found near the horse paddocks and then another bird by the long drainage pit on 30th. 23rd August - a juv-type Marsh Harrier was seen and a Sedge Warbler was present in the main weedy area. At least 7 Yellow Wagtails were recorded as well. 24th August - the first 3 Meadow Pipits of the autumn appeared in the evening, coming down to drink and bathe at the edge of the main pit. A Common Snipe was also feeding at the water's edge and Stonechat numbers rose to 4 on site. Five Swifts were also likely some of the last to be seen this year at the site. 27th August - a Wood Sandpiper was found in the long drainage ditch with a high count of 5 Green Sandpipers and 3 Common Sandpipers. The 4th record of the species this year. A Wheatear was also present and found the next day too. 30th August - a Whinchat was on the new fence along the main track. 31st August - a Mandarin was present on the main pit - perhaps the last for a while? Whinchat on 30th August Early September4th September - a juvenile Little Ringed Plover was probably the last for the year. At least 10 Chiffchaffs were seen feeding in the willows over the long drainage pit water - an area that's proving very attractive to passage birds. 7th September - the arrival of a juvenile Little Stint along with a Ringed Plover brought welcome interest to the site with the stint a site year tick. The Barnacle Goose made an appearance along with a Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat feeding in the long drainage pit. 8th September - 3 Whinchat were found and rose to at least 4 birds on 12th Sep. These birds continue to be present on the site along with up to 6 Stonechat. 13th September - while Yellow Wagtail numbers were at 7 again, Meadow Pipit numbers had risen to at least 40 birds on site. Swallow & House Martin passage is now a continual feature of the site along with the odd Sand Martin.
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 Despite the restoration of much of the site 2024 proved to be another very good year for birds at Stanborough Gravel Pits with 131 species recorded, just one shy of the total for the previous year. In all, 5 new species were added to the site list taking the all-time total to 156*. First to be added were the 9 Brent Geese that appeared at the site on 11th March and later in the day a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen by one lucky observer - another new record for the site. The day proved exceptionally good and can be read about here. April saw the addition of a Sandwich Tern - seen by just a few observers - and then a Spoonbill in July seen by just one observer. The final, and somewhat expected, addition came in December with the arrival of a 3rd winter Caspian Gull that then stayed to almost the year end.  The 3rd winter Caspian Gull In addition a number of escapes provided added interest in the form of a White Stork ringed at the Knepp Estate in Sussex. On 16th May a pale-morph Lesser Snow Goose joined the goose flock and tempted thoughts that it might possibly be genuinely wild. However, without a ring to prove it one way or the other, it is most likely a roving bird from a feral flock elsewhere. The White Stork (photo from off-site) & the Snow Goose Aside from the new additions, 2024 also held some real highlights on the wader front with the freshly scraped areas clearly proving attractive to migrant waders. The 3rd May saw the site's second Avocet, 3-4 Little Stints on 21st & 22nd May, and both Spring and Autumn Wood Sandpipers. Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Grey Plover and Sanderling also put in a good showing with a very smart summer plumaged Grey Plover from 15th-16th May.  Grey Plover Other highlights in 2024 included more records of Pintail than in previous years and many more records of Marsh Harriers with up to 3 different individuals visiting the site throughout the year. The presence of these birds begs the question as to whether they will attempt to breed in the near future - either at the site or in the St Albans area. An Osprey on 5th April was the only record for the year while up to 4 Scandinavian Rock Pipits were on site from 11th-13th March. A Black Redstart on 9th November was a welcome late autumn visitor too. Osprey & Black Redstart While no evidence was found of breeding Lapwing this year, Little Ringed Plovers did breed successfully with at least 3 pairs raising a brood. The site continues to be the main breeding site in Herts for this rare British breeding bird. Little Ringed Plover numbers peaked at 17 on 23rd June and the last birds seen on site were on 15th August. A lingering pair of Ringed Plovers gave hope that this former Herts breeding species might consider staying but they eventually left by the second week in June. Other notable breeders at the site included Mandarin Ducks (although numbers were down on the previous year) and both Little and Barn Owls. Sand Martins are likely to have bred but in small numbers while a pair of Corn Bunting may also have bred. A number of birds recorded in 2023 were not seen in 2024 - some less surprisingly than others. Garganey, Whimbrel and Ruff were surprise absences while Bewick's Swan and Turnstone less so. The removal of the large scrubby area as part of the gravel pits restoration work meant that Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler were not recorded on site - a real loss as at least 2 of those species bred in 2023. Common misses included Bullfinch, Brambling and Garden Warbler while Water Pipit and Tree Sparrow absences were less surprising. Looking ahead to 2025...So what will 2025 hold? The site restoration work is scheduled to continue in the Spring and it is unclear how the site will eventually look. It is hoped that bodies of water will remain with attractive margins for birds. As to the longer term management of the site, that is unclear. Without any management successional growth would stifle the site and remove the scraped areas attractive to birds such as waders, not least the breeding Little Ringed Plovers. Disturbance is also a concern, not just from quarry work but also from increased shooting by the local farmer. The sighting of a fleeing fox before a fox-hunting group with horses and hounds was also a worrying development. Only time will tell but the site remains a fantastic opportunity to create a nature reserve should the landowner and land-managers be so minded. It also functions as an important flood-management system, storing water that would otherwise put pressure on the river and drainage system. The site awaits a vision and hopefully, when there is one, it will recognise the high-value of the site for birds and wider nature.  An unwelcome sight at Stanborough Gravel Pits on 5th Dec 2024 Bird-wise, hopefully 2025 will deliver the same excitement of the last few years. Some notable holes in the site list exist such as Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Hawfinch and Crossbill among others. Will 2025 see these added? We shall have to wait and see...! *Attentive readers will note that this is one down on the previous published total as Ruddy Shelduck was removed from the list as a species not yet accepted on to the official Herts List. The status of Ruddy Shelduck in the UK is currently under review by the BOU (British Ornithologists Union) but the outcome of that review is still pending. Instead, the species must be relegated to the "Escapes & Introductions" category as a non-wild bird.
 A memorable day at Stanborough Gravel Pits that delivered some fantastic birds including 2 new species for the site! For weeks the large, wet, muddy scraped area adjacent to the main pit had been looking perfect to attract something of interest and on 11th March it finally did. On that particular day I was picking up my son from Heathrow following his travels abroad so ignored the regular ping alerts on my phone. However, as we drove home, I couldn't help but notice the words 'Stanborough' and 'Brent Geese' on the screen. I then explained to my family that on our return I would have to go out immediately but would be back as soon as possible to complete the family reunion! I got to the pits by 11.30am and immediately got on the small group of 9 Brent Geese looking very at home on the muddy scrape, feeding and chasing each other about in typical Spring fashion. A new addition to the site list at #153 but more was to come... The news of 2 Curlew drew me back to the site after lunch and indeed, there they were, with the Brent Geese. In addition, a couple of Dunlin and 3 Redshank had also dropped in making it clear that a proper movement of birds was underway. A summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit was seen flying around by some and was then present on site the next day. The Brent Geese flew north along with the Curlew around 3.30pm and were later seen at Broom GPs in Bedfordshire.  2 Curlew on 11th March 2024 With quite a few birders on site it was inevitable that more would be found and indeed one lucky observer saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the hedgerow trees along Coopers Green Lane. Unfortunately no-one else spotted it but nevertheless another site tick taking the list to 154. And still there was more to come - a White Wagtail was on site and, as the day drew to a close, a Scandinavian Rock Pipit was found at the far end of the long pits.  Scandinavian Rock Pipit on 11th March 2024 The pipit concluded a remarkable day when I felt I had to pinch myself to check I was in Herts and not somewhere else like Frampton RSPB in Lincs! By the end of the day the site list had grown to 154 species and the site year list to 96. The next day, while the Dunlin and a single Redshank lingered, four Rock Pipits were found on site feeding together! The birds were always distant but included two birds transitioning into their beautiful pale summer plumage (see the rather distant 'record shots' below).  Pintails on 28th February 2024 At last it feels like Spring may actually be here and visiting the gravel pits comes with an air of expectancy as to what might have turned up! A particularly wet day on 22nd February saw the arrival of 4 Dunlin at the edge of the smaller pool along the track. No doubt pushed down by the rain they spent the day by the pool but were gone the next day. With them arrived the first Mandarin Ducks of the year with 2 males chasing a female bird around on the same pool. A single Dunlin was also present on 6th March.  Mandarin Ducks on 22nd February 2024 Easterly winds then delivered the first White Wagtail of the year on 26th February before bringing 3 pairs of Pintail on 28th February. Pintail are scarce in Herts away from Tring Reservoirs so to have 6 of these beautiful ducks felt very special. A single female was also present later at the site on 7th March.  Female Pintail on 7th March 2024 More easterly winds helped bring more waders and the first Redshank of the year appeared on 5th March typically staying for just the day. A Black-tailed Godwit was also seen flying high over the site on 7th March - a wader that we should see more of as the Spring progresses! |
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