Happy New Year everyone!

New Year's Day saw a Herts Bird Challenge to see who could find the most species on New Year's Day and kick-start those year lists.  Sadly the weather was terrible so few ventured into the field and yours truly, being perhaps the most lunatic of all, found the most birds!  No prizes but just the confirmation that time spent in the field, regardless of the weather, can produce a good variety of birds.

Before the rain set in I managed to find 2 of the 3 the long-staying Great White Egrets at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits along with a brief appearance by an adult Yellow-legged Gull.  The usual species were present including a squealing Water Rail so with 45 species under my belt I headed to Stanborough Gravel Pits.

Again, the usual highlights were present including Wigeon, Stonechat & Green Sandpipers.  A lingering Lesser Redpoll was also a welcome New Year addition.  The real highlight was a single Golden Plover that battled low against the driving wind and rain taking my day total (and year total) to 65.  My nice new notebook was already soaked through with the elastic strap detached from the soggy paper.

A quick visit to Frogmore Lakes on the edge of St Albans got me lovely eye-level views of about 30 Siskins all feeding on alders in the rain.  I finished at Verulamium Park, hoping that the Yellow-browed Warbler might reappear but instead had to settle for Egyptian and Greylag Geese, Peregrines on the Abbey, a Mistle Thrush, and fly-by Kingfisher.  My New Year total finished on 75 species and I went home to dry out!

The next day, I added a Great Spotted Woodpecker and caught up with the juvenile Marsh Harrier at Coursers Gravel Pits.  2025 was off to a good start with 77 species on year list and most importantly on the Five Miles from Home 2025 List!  Now, to focus on my 'other patch' with a trip to The Lizard in Cornwall.

I hate to say it, but I had the first ‘whiff’ of autumn today.  Today is 23rd June!!
I’m not sure exactly what it was.  Maybe…
 
…the movement of small flocks of tits through the apple trees in the garden
      …the calls of young Goldcrests on the move
          …the news that a returning male Redstart was found this morning on the Herts border
             …a slight damp in the air, despite the warmth
 
Of course, summer is still to come…at least I really hope it is…but certain sights and sounds trigger seasonal feelings, and they are not altogether inaccurate.  After all, the return passage of waders is underway with Green Sandpipers reappearing at the local gravel pits along with a lone Redshank.  Lapwing numbers are increasing although new broods of chicks are still appearing.  Gull numbers are growing and today the first juvenile Black-headed Gull joined the growing numbers of adults at the local pits.
 
And yet our butterflies are hardly out yet and the Ragwort not quite in bloom.  Summer still has plenty to bring forth and yet, in the background, the quiet recession back to winter has begun!  I love it and for me there is no sadness, only anticipation.  Change brings the unexpected and while it would on occasion feel good to be in a forever-summer, the long days would grow dull and I don’t mean meteorologically!

Small & Large Skipper Butterflies - signs that summer still has plenty to give!