Following the long, hot, dry summer, September brought more familiar weather with westerly winds and low pressure systems that fringed our area, producing small amounts of rain. High pressure to the south kept pushing up into the south east, producing some very warm, but not hot, days. There were reasonable amounts of sunshine, but nothing like the hours that we had had during the summer.
Wader migration through the country continued into early September. Reports of a rare Ferruginous Duck at Wilstone Reservoir prompted me to visit for a third time in a few weeks on the 2nd, giving me the chance to add more wader species to my Hertfordshire year list. Ruff, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper were seen at the jetty end. Five Ringed or Little Ringed Plovers were on the spit that points out from the island towards the jetty. At distance, I couldn't decide on which species they were, but when I walked round to the other end of the reservoir (near the hide) more (or the same) plovers were roosting on the mud and at least two of these were Ringed Plovers, probably on the way south from Scandinavia. These were much darker than the Ringed Plovers that I saw on the beach at Titchwell (see my September UK blog) , but nevertheless they were definitely Ringed Plovers!
Ruff, Wilstone Reservoir, 2 September
Two Barnacle Geese (feral birds, of course) were on the spit at Wilstone. People were looking for the Ferruginous Duck in that area and eventually it appeared, swam about for a bit and then clambered back on to the spit. A poor record shot of the bird, showing the characteristic white patch near the tail, is included below.
Ferruginous Duck (Bird on the Left) with Mallard, Wilstone Reservoir, 2 September
Barnacle Geese (with Pochard and Cormorants), Wilstone Reservoir, 2 September
The first half of September is often a good time to catch up with migrating warblers and Common Redstarts passing through the area. However, although a few were recorded elsewhere in Hertfordshire, I couldn't find any locally. A warbler subsong, heard from deep within a bush near The Heath, reminded me of Reed Warbler, but I eventually decided that it was just a Blackcap tuning up. I made an unsuccessful attempt to see a Red-backed Shrike in Bedford (Priory Park) on the 10th, but generally bird watching was pretty quiet. My monthly trip to Scales Park (Meesden) on the 9th produced nothing better than a couple of noisy Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Little Grebes (seven counted) were much in evidence at Phillup's Lake, also on the 9th, with at least four juveniles, probably from two different broods, seen. All bar one were fully grown and would soon be unrecognisable from the adults. Moorhen, Coot and Mallard were the only other species seen.
Juvenile Little Grebe (fully grown), Phillup's Lake, 9 September
Unusually, more dragonflies (particularly Common Darters) were seen locally in September than had been seen earlier in the summer. A mating pair was seen at Phillup's Lake on the 9th, where a few Common Blue Damselflies were still on the wing.
Common Blue Damselfly, Phillup's Lake, 9 September
Butterfly numbers were lower than usual at this time of year, probably because they had burnt themselves out in a few days of hot weather after emerging during the summer months. A few Adonis Blues were still on the wing in September, most being on Lankester Hill, when I visited The Heath on 10th. Church Hill, at the other end of The Heath, was much quieter. Brown Argus butterflies (which only live for a few days, but seem to emerge over a much longer period than most butterflies), Common Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Small / Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Peacock butterflies were all seen in the first half of the month but in small numbers. A single Clouded Yellow was seen not far from the house on the 7th.
Male Brown Argus Butterfly (Wings open) with a Female (Wings Closed), Royston, 7 September
Ivy Bees were, as usual, very active in September, feeding on flowering Ivy. Before flying off they seem to clean themselves (?) whilst resting on nearby leaves, as was the case for the individual in the image below.
Ivy Bee on Ivy Leaf, Royston, 10 September
Other invertebrates were in limited supply, although I did come across a sawfly with red legs, Tenthredo atra, close to the house (image below). Although this is, apparently, a common and widespread species, I don't remember seeing it locally before.
Sawfly, Tenthredo atra, Royston, 10 September
