After a quiet few weeks of mild and sometimes wet and windy weather the daily searching has paid off!  A visit yesterday evening, saw me scanning the huge flocks of Skylarks mixed with Meadow Pipits and large flocks of Linnets.  I was almost done but as I scanned yet another group of Skylarks another smaller, more rusty-coloured bird was also moving along with them, very much in their slow, low-to-the-ground style, but clearly not them.

On the first good view as the bird appeared from behind the furrows of soil I knew I had a LAPLAND BUNTING!  The usual panic then ensued as I tried to fit my scope-phone adaptor to my scope, relocate the bird and start videoing!  All of this I did but, need I say typically, as I pressed record everything flew off.  I have a short clip of video with blurred soil and some fuzzy flying birds!  I'd like to say the header photo is of the bird but it is one I took in Cornwall last year of a far more obliging bird.

I watched the sub-flock of around 30 Skylarks fly across the track and away - at one point I thought I could hear a call reminiscent of a Lapland Bunting but wasn't sure.  Either way, it disappeared and a 5-hour search this morning from first light was unsuccessful.  I shall continue to search, as I'm sure others will as, if accepted by the rarities panel, this will be a first for Hertfordshire (rather surprisingly).  An inland Lapland Bunting on the deck is a rare thing so re-locating it would be a very popular outcome.

Searching for the bunting did reveal a few other birds including at least 2 Corn Buntings with the flock of Skylarks, 6 Grey Partridge and 4 Crossbills.  Two males and a female of the latter species perched up in the tree by the ruin giving excellent views before flying over to the puddles on the track to drink.  They were only there briefly before they headed towards Symondshyde Great Wood where there is no doubt a resident flock this autumn .

In other news, the site has been fairly quiet but highlights included a male Brambling with the finch flock along the track on 16th-18th October.  Two Crossbills circled the site on 26th Oct and the juvenile Merlin was seen again in flight.

A drop in temperatures (albeit short-lived) on 23rd Oct saw 6 Green Sandpipers roost and Teal numbers increased to over 40 birds.  The Teal were also joined by an immature male Wigeon on various dates along with a few Shoveler.

Work at the site continues apace with land drainage completed in many sections and the worked areas quickly tilled and seeded by the farmers.  Attention has now turned to the main pit which is sadly being drained and exactly how much of that will be left remains to be seen.  'Enjoying it while it lasts' is the order of the day and the site is still playing host to a great variety of birds as the ground continues to be worked.

The month of June finished quietly as expected with much of the focus on resident breeding birds.

​The first Little Ringed Plover chicks (just 2) appeared on 17th from a nest that appeared initially to have been abandoned.  However, not so, and the heatwave may have accounted for the parent birds spending more time than usual off the eggs.

To date, just one chick survives but another nest nearby will hopefully fledge soon.  The parent birds are remarkably tenacious with the the fledged chicks' nest just metres away from quarry traffic digger tracks and the second nest on a beach frequently disturbed by bored youths and other visitors.

The latter part of June also saw a fair few Yellow Wagtail juveniles appear with at least 3 broods noted if not several more.  Another potential breeder - Corn Buntings - have also remained on site with at least 2 if not 3 birds favouring the middle pool area.

Up to 5 Green Sandpipers remained on site joined by a Common Sandpiper on 17th that was seen again on 27th & 29th.  The only other birds of note were 2 adult Grey Partridge seen on 14th and a lone Teal (an eclipse male) on 27th signalling the seasonal shift and joined by another on 30th.

July opened with a sense of autumn passage with a high count of at least 16 Little Ringed Plovers on site including 3 full-grown juveniles.  Undoubtedly part of a post-breeding dispersal with numbers returning to the usual 5-6 birds over the next few days.

Green Sandpiper numbers have stayed at up to 5 birds but it is hoped that among them might be a Wood Sandpiper soon!  A Hobby was seen on 4th along with the site's first Red-veined Darters (2) noted by visiting County Recorder for odonata species, Roy Woodward.

Along with the arrival of the Crossbills other birds seemed to be on the move too with 2 juvenile Stonechats appearing at the site.  Their appearance is in line with previous years and are likely to represent dispersing juveniles rather than locally bred birds.  A good passage of over 100 Swifts and 50 Swallows east was also noted and the Linnet flock increased from about 30 birds to well over 100.

The stage is set for Autumn passage so let's hope it's more exciting than the rather quiet Spring we've had!