 2024 is almost over and 'man-flu' and heavy misty weather had somewhat subdued the final week of the year. However, a few final highlights were to be had most importantly in the form of an adult Great Black-backed Gull that appeared on 28th Dec at Coursers GPS. Now a really scarce visitor to Herts (less than 10 records this year in the whole of Herts), this sighting becomes #151 for my 2024 Five Miles From Home List and mirrors my only sighting last year on 24th Dec 2023. This also means that my local list hits a new record count with the previous highest total being 150 in 2023! Gulls unsurprisingly have been the focal point for December and Coursers GPs together with the fresh quarry scrape at Stanborough GPs have been the key areas. Both a third winter Caspian Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull have been seen on and off at Stanborough while a smart adult winter Mediterranean Gull appeared at Coursers GPs on 22nd Dec. From left to right: 3rd winter Caspian Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull & adult winter Mediterranean Gull Aside from gulls December has been fairly quite apart from the already-mentioned Yellow-browed Warbler at Verulamium Park in St Albans last seen on Christmas Eve. Sadly it could not be relocated in time for the Herts Bird Club Christmas Count. A few shots of the Yellow-browed Warbler at Verulamium Park on 20th Dec 2024 A single Dunlin sheltering with the Lapwings on 1st Dec at Coursers was the only real wader highlight and up to 3 Great White Egrets have been gracing Tyttenhanger GPs. The wide-ranging immature male Marsh Harrier was also spooking the gulls at Coursers on 28th Dec. Dunlin with the Lapwings at Coursers GPs on 1st & 3 Great White Egrets at Tyttenhanger GPs on 22nd Some video screen-grabs of the immature male Marsh Harrier at Coursers GPs on 28th Dec That's it for 2024 (I think) so Happy New Year one and all! Let's see what 2025 brings...
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 A weekend of family and friends staying over meant that my expectations of getting out birding were quite low. However, the great thing about birds is that they can and do turn up anywhere. A leisurely stroll around Verulamium Park in St Albans with family in tow held no great expectations but the lakeside and riverside habitats always make me keep my radar out for something like a Firecrest.
Pausing to point out the ducks and fish along the river to my 5 year old nephew coincided with some noisy calls from a bird across the river that I knew immediately to be that little Siberian gem - a Yellow-browed Warbler. I had my camera with me but only 2 hands so I enlisted my daughter's help to both video the general area with her phone and play the call on playback on my phone while I fumbled around with my camera. The warbler responded to the calls but never came close enough for a glimpse let alone a photo and instead seemed to move further into the wooded area. Time was up and I had to make sure that neither my nephew or my dog ended up in the water and returned to join the family group. Pleasingly, others were able to locate the warbler the next day and David Hutchinson took the excellent photo of the bird that heads this post. The find was my 3rd local Yellow-browed Warbler this year and follows the big autumn influx across the country. I wonder how many more are waiting to be found? |
Rupert’s BlogHere you'll find my observations and musings on the wildlife I encounter - usually locally but sometimes further afield. Archives
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