Local Wildlife Sightings December 2024

 I was on holiday until the 4th and didn't get out until the 6th, when my walk around the villages produced 44 species recorded (39 seen). Highlights were arguably a pair of Green Woodpeckers (seeing any locally has been difficult in the last couple of years), a Raven and two Herring Gulls just up the road at the Newsells Stud Farm. The regular two pairs of Coot were at the two ends of Phillup's Lake. A new female Tufted Duck was present, together with 20 Mallard.

The weekend saw a storm pass over Royston, with what I reckon were severe gale force winds overnight on the 7/8th that necessitated emergency repairs in the dark to the (new!) fence to prevent panels being lost. Rainfall passed 30 inches for only the second time since I started keeping records in 1991 and the drizzle in the following, gloomy week was sufficient for a new rainfall record to be established - hardly a surprise after such a wet year. Coming back from town at dusk on the 9th I saw a Tawny Owl fly into the Green Walk Plantation close to the house: an unusual sighting at this time of year.

On the 13th a walk along the Icknield Way, east of Royston, produced at least 34 species, including a Stonechat near the Heydon Grange golf course and no fewer than three Sparrowhawks, one carrying prey (a Blackbird?). I say 'at least 34' because I'm never too sure how many gull species I have seen - in particular, were any Yellow-legged or Caspian Gulls in amongst the Herring Gulls? The normally huge gathering at Heydon Pig Farm had been disturbed, but there were plenty to see along the way including around 200 (mainly) Common Gulls following the plough. As usual, I photographed those gulls that were close enough to the track to (hopefully) identify later. One of my images (below) showed an adult gull with many of the characteristics of Caspian Gull ('gimlet' dark eye, long, thin bill with markings only on the lower mandible, very clean-looking). Is it too small, though, and is the back too dark? Gull identification can be tricky and frustrating, but also fun at times, even for a non-expert. Hopefully I'll keep learning.........

Possible Caspian Gull (on the Ground, 2nd from Right) with other Gulls, near Royston, 13 December

On my way back from Fishers Green on the 15th (see my UK blog) I popped in to Amwell to see the resident female Smew, which was (distantly) feeding when viewed from the Gladwin Hide. Also present were one male and at least two female Goldeneye and an uncommon visitor to Hertfordshire, a Great Black-backed Gull.

'Record Shot' of Female Smew, Amwell GP, 15 December

UK Wildlife Sightings December 2024

 I made visits to Fishers Green lakes in Essex, part of the Lee Valley complex of nature reserves, on the 11th and the 15th. The first visit was to do a reconnaissance visit for the trip that I was leading for the RSPB Local Group on the 15th, and was carried out in the ultimate of dull, gloomy weather. Highlights were sightings of a Water Rail and three Goosander, the latter having likely strayed over the Hertfordshire border from their usual site on Ashley Lake. Thankfully, the weather was better for the Local Group visit on the 15th and we saw Kingfisher, Peregrine and the 'Fishers Green Black Swan', as well as the ubiquitous Water Rail, which was seen from the rather splendid new hide that has been tagged on to the Bittern Hide (where I saw my first ever Bittern, but that's another story). 

Blue Tit at the Bittern Hide Feeding Station, Fishers Green, 15 December

Male Goosander, Fishers Green, 11 December

Bird Watching Trip to The Gambia, 21 November to 4 December

I escaped the gloom of the English winter for the sun and heat of The Gambia on my first overseas bird watching trip (with Naturetrek) since Japan in January 2023. The Gambia is a very small West African country, surrounded by Senegal except for its small Atlantic coastline. Situated 14 degrees north of the equator, and on the same latitude as the UK (so no need to change the clocks and no jetlag), it has become popular with Europeans wanting beach holidays in guaranteed sunshine. However, for many reasons The Gambia is also one of the world's 'go to' places for bird watchers. It is small and compact and the great variety of habitats hold a huge number of different bird species, with 250+ expected on this 11 night holiday. The main geological feature of this long, thin country is the huge Gambia River, which winds its way right across the country before entering The Atlantic. The dominant (90%) religion is Islam, with the remainder of the people being Christian. The Gambia is a relatively poor country and its economy relies heavily on tourism.

An early flight from Gatwick meant that we were established at a hotel close to the sea in time to do some bird watching from a bridge over a small tidal channel, just a few hundred yards from the hotel (where, due to a problem with another wildlife company that will remain nameless, I was without a room for several hours and had to lug a very heavy rucksack around with me) and this provided what for me was the photographic highlight of the holiday, with perfect light and plenty of exposed mud allowing some good photographs of many waders and other water birds, some new to me, with around 45 species seen during a 90 minute visit. We were very lucky with the tide, because on all subsequent visits to the bridge little or no mud was exposed and much smaller numbers of birds were seen.

Senegal Thick-knee, The Gambia, 22 November

We stayed at the hotel for three nights, with the following two days providing a huge variety of birds. On both days I saw more than 100 species, and I missed quite a few! It was breathless stuff and, whilst at home I may be considered an 'expert' when leading walks for my RSPB group, here I was very much in the 'novice' category, and on several occasions needed the help of the leader, Chris, or the guide, Tamba, to get my binoculars on to the birds.

After leaving the hotel we headed east into the interior, following the river and spending one night at the Tendaba camp and then three nights at the Bansang camp, still further up river, which involved an interesting ferry crossing. The camps were, as expected, pretty basic with no hot water at Bansang, but air conditioning (necessary, as daytime temperatures reached 37C) was available throughout. Bird watching was consistently intensive, with frequent stops on the road as interesting species were spotted, necessitating clambering in and out of a rather cramped minibus. A fellow client, James, was becoming our ace bird finder, with one of his discoveries (a male Painted Snipe) becoming one of the birds of the holiday. For me, there were so many new species seen that the only way of assessing their rarity was by listening to how many times Chris uttered the words "Oh, my God" after they had been found. It is difficult for me to choose a favourite bird of the holiday, but the Red-throated Bee-eaters (image) were exceedingly pretty.

Red-throated Bee-eater, The Gambia, 26 November

Whilst the emphasis of the holiday was firmly on birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians were not ignored. Monkeys included Green Vervet (seen on several occasions), Guinea Baboons (seen by the roadside), Patas Monkeys and (my favourite) West African Red Colobus. Striped Ground Squirrels were seen regularly, but the mammals of the holiday were two Fire-footed Rope Squirrels, which neither Chris nor Tamba had seen before. A mongoose was seen by some and Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bats as well as Mauritian Tomb Bats made up the supporting cast. Hippopotami, Jackals and Hyenas eluded us whilst the only 'big cat', the Leopard, is so rare in The Gambia that our chances of seeing it were practically nil.

West African Red Colobus Monkey, 28 November

Skinks, agamas and lizards were regularly seen, with enormous Nile Monitor Lizards being encountered on both our boat trips along the river and its side channels. West African Crocodiles were only encountered once before the penultimate day, when we had lunch at a river camp in the Marakissa region. The owner, a lovely lady whose daughter is a Hollywood actress, called three largish crocodiles out of a nearby lake, allowing us to see the large bodies that were joined to the friendly looking heads that had been bobbing about in the water when we arrived. They're just big pussy cats really!

The Crocodile Lady with her Pets, 2 December

The Gambia is a great place to go to see butterflies, with a list of  around 250 species. There wasn't much time for butterfly photography on this trip, although I did manage to snap a few species around the hotel towards the end of the holiday, and when we were out and about looking for (but not finding) birds. The commonest butterfly by far was the African Caper White, which was similar in size and pattern to our Marbled White. This species reached almost plague proportions in and around the hotel on the first night of the trip and was ever-present throughout the holiday. I reckon that I photographed 15-20 species, but it will be some time before I identify them all. The photo below is of one of the prettier ones.

Gambian Butterfly, 24 November

Dragonflies, mainly of the 'darter' type, were also much in evidence, with some having exotically patterned wings. Only a handful of different species were found, which I will try to identify later.

 We returned to our hotel, having spent a further night at Tendaba camp, for the final three nights. The bird list continued to swell, reaching a final total (I think) of 284, of which I saw all but ten. I was a relatively quiet part of a very lively group, who all got on very well. Indeed, Tamba said at our final dinner that we were the best group that he had ever guided, and I think that he meant it sincerely! For my part I had one or two health and other issues to deal with on my return and, partly as a result, I never slept well. By the end of the holiday I was completely exhausted, so I'm very grateful to everyone in the group for helping to lift my spirits during the daytime, as well as the people and fauna of The Gambia for making this such a memorable visit.

 

Local Wildlife Sightings November 2024

 Late October saw a dramatic change in our weather. It actually stopped raining! As I write, on 10 November, we haven't seen any meaningful rain (just some drizzle) since 21 October, nearly three weeks ago. This represents, by some distance, the driest period for well over a year. That is the good news. The bad news is that the weather has been DULL. The sun was last seen on the afternoon of 30 October and since then, barring the occasional glimpse of blue sky through the gloom, Royston seems to have been living in perpetual dusk. Sunshine is promised for tomorrow, but for now we live on in the longest period of gloom that I can recall.

I had to go in to Stevenage on the 4th and took the opportunity to visit the Fairlands Valley Lakes, hoping to see the hybrid Caspian Gull 'X307', which is a regular winter visitor. There was no joy there, but plenty of gulls and other water birds were on display and I spent a pleasant 30 minutes photographing them and other birds. At one point a Common Gull found a potential food item (I'm not sure what it was - possibly some discarded rubbish) and was chased around the main lake by other gulls before dropping it. A Black-headed Gull picked it up and was immediately pursued by the Common Gull. I think that this is just a little game that the gulls play, without necessarily being interested in eating whatever they find!

Common Gull with Food (?) being chased by an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull, Fairlands Valley Lakes, 4 November

Cormorant at Fairlands Valley Lakes, 4 November

On the 5th it was time for another walk around the villages. By now, all the summer visitors and passage migrants had gone (no Chiffchaffs recorded), but winter visitors had arrived and I saw my first Fieldfares of the autumn in the Therfield area. Finches and buntings were much in evidence, particularly in the Therfield area where I estimate that around 450 Linnets (two very large flocks and a few smaller ones) were seen, as were an estimated 70 Yellowhammers and 25 Chaffinches, the last almost certainly migrants from Northern Europe, as I've hardly seen any locally in the spring or summer. Phillup's Lake harboured another unusual female Tufted Duck, with a strange head shape and no tuft. Perhaps I keep finding anomalies with these birds because, with them appearing on my local patch, I study them more carefully than I would (say) the large numbers that occur on lakes elsewhere in Hertfordshire. Two Ravens flew across the Icknield Way, but the biggest surprise on my walk was to hear the familiar raucous calls of at least one Ring-necked Parakeet on the far (south) side of Therfield - a new record for me in my local area, although they have been recorded by others before (and were recorded in Royston on the same day). Was this/these bird(s) a pioneer of an invasion, or just wildly off course? Time will tell.

Female Tufted Duck with an unusual Head Shape, Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 5 November

Toadstool Photographed near Therfield, 5 November

A morning and early afternoon walk on the 8th, eastwards along the Icknield Way from the main A505 layby to Heydon Pig Farm and back, produced nearly 40 bird species recorded, including a flock of 24 Corn Buntings and more Fieldfares. A huge flock of gulls (the vast majority Lesser Black-backed) was loafing at the pig farm (image of some below). I couldn't pick out any rarities. I have mentioned before that a gull expert told me that all the larger gulls pass through our area as they head to or from warmer climes in the winter and that they do not over-winter here. I beg to differ, as there are hundreds of gulls at Heydon Pig Farm throughout the winter. Perhaps the recent warmer winters have encouraged these gulls to over-winter in the UK, rather than heading further south.

Just some of the Gulls loafing at Heydon Pig Farm, 8 November. A Little Egret (Centre Foreground) and a few Mallard Ducks (Foreground) can also be seen.

Fieldfares and Corn Buntings near Flint Cross, 8 November

The sun finally reappeared late on the 10th and showed off and on for the rest of the month. I started feeding the birds in the garden again in late October, using an expensive squirrel-proof feeder that actually worked! Now the squirrels just hang around underneath the feeder, alongside the pigeons (feral birds and one or two Stock Doves have reappeared), waiting for food to drop down. The feeder (which is filled with sunflower hearts and dominated by Goldfinches and Greenfinches, together with one or two Chaffinches) proved very popular during the dull days, with birds fighting to get to the four slots, but less so when the sun appeared. Robins, Wrens, Blue Tits and Great Tits were much in evidence and on the 20th I had a visit from two Song Thrushes, the first time that I've seen more than one in the garden. A very noisy (and close) Tawny Owl was heard outside on the evening of the 17th, after the first significant rain of the month. Coincidentally (or not) one or two Common Frogs were seen after dark in the back garden, enticed out by the rain and still looking for food when they should have been hibernating!

Away from the garden, a Stonechat was seen in Therfield on the 10th, my first local sighting for several months. A 'cold snap' from the 19th, accompanied by wintry sunshine, enticed me out to do another walk round the villages on the 20th. November seems to be a good month locally for both quality and quantity of birds: I've found and/or seen Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared and Long-eared Owls, Hen Harriers and Great Grey Shrikes in the halcyon days of past Novembers. Nothing particularly exciting happened on this walk, but I did see a Grey Wagtail at Hatchpen Farm (a first for this site) and a male Common Pochard at Phillup's Lake, with the lake also housing a Tufted Duck, a Little Grebe and two pairs of Coot, which are now resident on the lake. A total of 47 species recorded (44 seen) was my best for some time.

Fieldfare, Therfield, 20 November

Male Common Pochard, Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 20 November

I was on holiday in The Gambia (West Africa) from the 21st I'll attach a brief trip report in mid December.

UK Wildlife Sightings November 2024

 I spent an afternoon at RSPB Lakenheath Fen on the 1st, looking for Water Pipits and Common Cranes. A single Water Pipit was heard, but not seen, near the Joist Fen viewpoint. Also seen were three Whooper Swans, four Great White Egrets and at least two Marsh Harriers on a quiet day.

 

Two Whooper Swans and a Great White Egret on Washland, Lakenheath Fen, 1 November

My quest for cranes continued on the 6th, when I drove up to Willow Tree Fen, north of Peterborough, where Common Cranes had been regularly seen coming in to roost. I hadn't been to Willow Tree Fen for about 15 years and was surprised to find that, whereas before I had been able to walk out onto the fen, I was now restricted to a car park with a viewpoint looking out over the fen. However, that was all that I needed as 25 Common Cranes came in to roost at dusk, with several Marsh Harriers (including a leucistic individual) and seven Cattle Egrets also seen from the viewpoint.

Record shot of some of the 25 Common Cranes that roosted at Willow Tree Fen on 6 November

Staines Reservoirs have proved a happy hunting ground over the years, and particularly last winter when I had great views of some of our rarer grebes and divers. News of a Lapland Bunting on the causeway between the north and south reservoirs enticed me to visit again. I arrived on the 7th to find the bunting hopping on the causeway almost at the feet of the assembled birdwatchers (I suspect that somebody had put food down for it here). I knelt and waited as it came towards me, getting so close that I couldn't focus my camera on it! My images don't do justice to this characterful little bird, which is still present at the site as I write this on the 9th. Further along the causeway I counted five Black-necked Grebes on the South Basin. It is unusual not to see this species here during the winter months and they are sometimes joined by Slavonian Grebes.

Lapland Bunting, Staines Reservoirs, 7 November

Lapland Bunting, Staines Reservoirs, 7 November

Three Black-necked Grebes, Staines Reservoirs, 7 November

On the 12th I made another visit to the North Norfolk coast, spending time at Thornham Harbour before moving on to Titchwell. Once again I had a glimpse of a Water Pipit as it flew in front of the Parrinder Hide, uttering its distinctive, sharp, one note call. Several Meadow Pipits were also around. One pipit seen from the Parrinder Hide had a very distinctive eye ring, which didn't fit with any pipit species! I've included a somewhat pixellated photo of the bird below (it was a long way away). I assume that the bird is a Meadow Pipit. Fourteen wader species, including Ruff, were seen on the day.

(Meadow?) Pipit (nearest bird) with Conspicuous Eye Ring, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 12 November

Eleven Little Egrets, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 12 November

Sanderling on Titchwell Beach, 12 November

An RSPB coach trip on the 17th saw us spending the day at Rutland Water (Egleton Reserve). Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Cattle Egret, Kingfisher and Scaup were amongst the species seen. Several Great Egrets were present on the reserve and two appeared to be courting, walking close together with bills pointing to the sky - behaviour that I haven't seen before. I took some photos at an angle through glass, which didn't come out at all well, so I'll include a more conventional image below.

Great Egret, Rutland Water (Egleton Reserve), 17 November

Blue Tit near the Feeding Station, Rutland Water (Egleton), 17 November

I left the UK on the 22nd for a wildlife holiday in The Gambia (West Africa). I will get back to writing my blog posts when I've recovered, in mid December.

 

Local Wildlife Sightings October 2024

 Many places to the west of Royston experienced their wettest ever September. However, for Royston (or, more particularly, my garden) September 1995 was slightly wetter - how disappointing! However, the elements hadn't finished and on the 1st well over an inch of rain fell. If September had had 31 days, it would have been the wettest month since I started recording in 1992! The impact of this horribly wet year on our wildlife has been very negative, and it was clear after all the rain that my macro lens would be of little use until next spring.

I eventually got out on the 4th, the second of two miraculously sunny days, walking up the Icknield Way (west of Royston) and later doing a 'there and back' section of the Icknield Way to the east of Royston. I didn't get as far as the Heydon Pig Farm, but saw plenty of gulls on recently ploughed fields along the way. Corn Buntings were starting to flock just over the Cambridgeshire border - I counted 13 on telegraph wires, with possibly more very distant birds. Red Admirals were the dominant butterfly, although I did see a single Meadow Brown near the house.

Gulls (Three Species) in flight near Royston, 4 October

There has been a big influx of Yellow-browed Warblers, blown by easterly winds, into the country this autumn. Whilst most have stayed on or near the east coast, at least three have been sighted in Hertfordshire. I was (ambitiously) hoping to record one on my local patch this year, but was unlucky. However, I did notice lots of Chiffchaffs on all my walks until well into October, including birds on two separate dates in the back garden. More and more of these birds are wintering in the UK as our winters become milder. Last winter, one was present on The Heath. I wonder whether any will stay locally again.

 I finally put my macro lens away for the winter after the 4th, but not before snapping an intriguing little fly near Royston Hospital. It appeared to have something in its mouth - a much smaller insect, perhaps? I couldn't identify it using 'Brock' - I must get an insect identification App (if one exists) or find a helpful web site.

Mystery Fly, Royston, 4 October

In an effort to retain a veneer of fitness and lose some weight, I have been going on my 8-9 mile 'round the villages' walk roughly once a fortnight this autumn. It is interesting to compare October's walks on the 8th and 23rd. On both walks I recorded 40 species of bird (37 seen). Whilst around 15 Chiffchaffs (including three together along the Icknield Way) were recorded on the 8th, just three were recorded on the 23rd - a sure sign that these birds were mainly passing through on migration. Four House Martins were seen over Therfield village on the 8th, but by the 23rd no summer visitors (other than the Chiffchaffs) were recorded. However, some Redwings were feeding on berries in Reed village on the later date and a flock of about 90 Golden Plovers (my first local sighting of the year) flew over the Icknield Way. A couple of Common Gulls, seen on the 23rd, were the only other sign of winter visitors on either date.

Chiffchaff, Therfield, 8 October

Long-tailed Tit, Royston, 8 October

Seven species of butterfly, including Comma and Speckled Wood, were seen on the 8th, whilst on the 23rd (a warm day with sunny periods) only Red Admirals (lots) and a single Small White were recorded. The presence of so many Red Admirals, most in good condition, strongly suggests that individuals are hibernating during our mild winters, rather than migrating. The warm, sunny weather of late October also brought out two male Brimstone butterflies in Jubilee Wood on the 24th.

Comma Butterfly, Therfield, 8 October

A Little Grebe was on Phillup's Lake on the 8th, and one was heard there on the 23rd, when four Tufted Ducks were also seen. One of the (female) Tufted Ducks had a large patch of white at the base of the bill. This is not unusual for this species, but it did make me wonder whether it could be the offspring of the presumed Tufted Duck x Scaup hybrid, which was seen here on a couple of occasions last winter - maybe 3/4 Tufted, 1/4 Scaup, perhaps? Just speculation. Hawker and Darter dragonflies were seen here on the 8th, but by the 23rd only a few Common Darters remained. These will continue to fly until we either get the first frosts of the winter (if that ever happens) or the weather becomes too cold for them to fly.

Female Tufted Duck (with a bit of Scaup??), Reed End, 23 October

Multiple Raven sightings were noted on both walks, although I never saw more than two together. With hundreds (possibly thousands) of Red-legged Partridges having once again been released on Hatchpen Farm for shooting, Ravens in this area have another potential food source. I haven't identified any nest sites on my local patch yet, but surely it won't be too long before I do.

Raven in Flight, Reed End, 23 October

Ironically, the last ten days of October produced probably the longest dry spell of the year (if you discount a bit of drizzle), with above average temperatures - if only we had had this weather in the spring! There was a bit of sunshine about, but under high pressure the weather was largely cloudy.

UK Wildlife Sightings, October 2024

 I was back on the North Norfolk coast on the 2nd, researching for an RSPB Local Group trip to Holme NWT (see later), which I would be leading. There wasn't a great deal to see here - a Yellow-browed Warbler had been sighted near the car park before I arrived, but must have moved on. There was lots of activity on the lovely beach, but no rarities. I moved on to RSPB Titchwell Marsh, a few miles down the road, and was rewarded with a brief sighting of a Yellow-browed Warbler there (too dark for photography). Two others were heard at Titchwell. This species has a number of loud, distinctive calls: people usually mention the disyllabic, Coal Tit like call, but these birds were using a loud, single note call - higher pitched than the call of a Chiffchaff (of which there were many). Most of the migrating waders had moved through, but I still saw twelve species, including the Black-winged Stilt 'escape'.

Black-winged Stilt, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 2 October

Great White Egret (one of a pair), RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 2 October

A 'lifer', in the form of an Asian Desert Wheatear, turned up on the Norfolk Coast near Winterton over the weekend of the 5-6th. I was sorely tempted to 'twitch' it on the 7th, but just had too many commitments to go. Unfortunately, the bird left overnight on the 7/8th. As a consolation I decided to visit the same area on the 9th, getting great views of a very tame Hoopoe at North Walsham but missing out on Richard's Pipits at Happisburgh later in the day (they had been reported in the morning but were not subsequently seen). However, as I walked back to the car I did see yet another Yellow-browed Warbler!

Hoopoe, North Walsham, 9 October

Hoopoe, North Walsham, 9 October

A long-awaited return visit with my partner to Spain (this time Bilbao) saw me out of the country for the first time this year, from the 11th to the 15th. Whilst the bird life of other cities has been rich, Bilbao was disappointing. Of course, we weren't (thankfully) there for the birds, which is just as well as I didn't see a single raptor or 'black' crow on the whole trip. Highlights, such as they were, were of Black Redstarts on a coastal walk (Bilbao lies a few miles from the coast), a juvenile Cuckoo and a (possibly wintering) Common Sandpiper. Butterfly sightings included Clouded Yellow (my first of the year) and a smallish fly-by orange species, which I assume was a member of the copper family. A few Dragonflies were also seen, but the only one identified was a Ruddy Darter. I know that this is not the UK, but here are a couple of images from the trip.

Yellow-legged Gull on the Guggenheim Building, Bilbao, 12 October

Female Speckled Wood Butterfly, Bilbao, 14 October

The RSPB Local Group trip to Holme NWT in Norfolk on the 20th went off surprisingly well, considering that 'Storm Ashley' was passing through the region. There was some squally rain and strong southerly winds were blowing, but the sun came out in the afternoon, in time for our return journey. I missed out on a Red-necked Grebe (needed for my year list and seen by a few), but did see (from the coastal path) the moulting juvenile male Scaup, which was on Broadwater (part of the 'rival' NOA reserve). Waders included two Greenshank, one on the reserve and the other at Thornham Harbour. Several Cattle Egrets were in fields towards Thornham. Between us we recorded 83 species (78 seen), including a 'booming' Bittern!

Greenshank, Thornham Harbour, 20 October

Juvenile Male Scaup, Holme, 20 October

My love for the North Norfolk coast knows no bounds, and I was back there two days later, spending a long afternoon at RSPB Titchwell Marsh and again trying out my new zoom lens. I saw the (apparently) resident Snow Bunting (my first of the year) and had a very brief view of a Water Pipit as it flew in front of the Parrinder Hide, calling. Spoonbills, Great White Egrets and 14 wader species were seen.

Bar-tailed Godwit, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 22 October

Chinese Water Deer on the Freshmarsh (it put up all the Birds!), RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 22 October

Golden Plovers, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 22 October

Snow Bunting on the Beach, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 22 October

On the 30th I nipped up to Broom Gravel Pits (Bedfordshire) to see a male Green-winged Teal (an American duck, which is their equivalent of our common Teal), which was reported there on and off towards the end of October and the beginning of November. The bird was somewhat distant and kept disappearing below a low bank, but I eventually managed to get a 'record shot' photo of the bird, before it disappeared for good.

Record Shot of Male Green-winged Teal, Broom Gravel Pits, 30 October

Local Wildlife Sightings September 2024

 After a dry August (the first 'dry' month for nearly a year), September started unsettled, with a few rain showers and very variable temperatures, which peaked at 28C on the 1st. Royston is in one of the driest areas of the country, and this was emphasised as we missed torrential rain to the south in the first week and the constant battering of wind and rain that was endured in north-west Britain at the end of August and early September.

September sees bird migration through the country, as passerines head south towards warmer climes. Whinchats and Wheatears were reported locally in the first week, but no rarities were recorded. I was still busy photographing invertebrates, so relied on bird calls more than sightings during this period, although I did see at least three Spotted Flycatchers sallying forth from dead trees in Fox Covert to catch insects. Were these the family of birds that I saw in June and July or others passing through? I'll never know. Chiffchaffs were everywhere, sometimes appearing in parties of up to four individuals, but no Willow Warblers were heard or seen. A Raven was heard over Fox Covert on the 3rd, whilst a Green Woodpecker called nearby, the first time I've heard this species on The Heath for well over a year. A Bullfinch was heard near Royston Hospital on the 8th.

Blue butterflies became much harder to find in September, although several tatty Common Blues, a couple of Brown Arguses and a single male Chalkhill Blue were seen on the north side of Church Hill, mainly feeding on late-flowering Devil's-bit Scabious, on the 6th. No second generation Adonis Blues were seen at any time to the west of the Therfield Road: it seems very likely that this colony has, sadly, died out. Second generation Holly Blues have been few and far between this year. Perhaps the parasitic wasp (Listrodomus nycthemerus) that attacks their larvae had a successful season: these two species exist in equilibrium. The two butterflies that have done very well throughout the summer on The Heath, Meadow Brown and Small Heath, were still much in evidence: I must have seen about 50 of the former, many in good condition, on the 6th.

During September, my photographic interest turns towards grasshoppers, bush-crickets and spiders, all of which become far more evident as other insects disappear. I have only ever been able to find two species of grasshopper, Field Grasshopper and Meadow Grasshopper, on The Heath, whereas five species of Bush-cricket have been identified locally. This year Dark Bush-crickets and a single Roesel's Bush-cricket were the only ones seen on The Heath at the time of writing, although I am hopeful of finding more. Lots of Orb-web and female Wasp Spiders were seen, with Wasp Spiders particularly abundant at the bottom of Church Hill, where the specimens shown below were photographed.

Meadow Grasshopper, Church Hill, 3 September

Female Wasp Spider, Church Hill, 3 September

Female Wasp Spider on her Web, Church Hill, 6 September

During September I went on two long 'round the villages walks, on the 11th and the 25th, either side of a week's holiday with my partner (14-21st). These walks are largely aimed at improving my fitness (I'm still putting on weight), but of course I am always on the lookout for birds and invertebrates. Co-incidentally, I saw 38 bird species on each walk. The star bird on the first walk was Willow Warbler (two sightings, ID by call), my first local sightings of the year of a species that used to breed in good numbers in the Royston area but is now only seen as an occasional passage migrant. At least two Ravens were flushed from a dead tree at Reed End (Therfield) and five species of water bird, including two Little Grebes, were seen at Phillup's Lake. On the second walk I saw no fewer than five Ravens in the same dead tree at Reed End: is this a family group or a place for Ravens to socialise? Two Ravens, presumably different birds, were seen earlier heading north as I was walking up the Icknield Way. A single Wheatear was seen near the 'Raven Tree'. Five Tufted Ducks (four females) were on Phillup's Lake, but there was no sign of Little Grebes on this occasion. My biggest shock came on the way back through Newsells Stud Farm, when I saw my first local Green Woodpecker for two years! I have heard them 'yaffling' on many occasions this year (more so than in 2023), but they had always been 'in the next field' or 'just over the hill' - the latter a bit like me, I guess.

Gulls Following the Plough, Therfield, 11 September

Five Ravens in a Dead Tree, Reed End, 25 September

Tufted Ducks at Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 25 September

Lovely weather on the 13th prompted me to look at both ends of The Heath for invertebrates. Large numbers of Ivy Bees were taking nectar from Ivy flowers, both off and on The Heath, being joined from time to time by other bumble bees, Honey Bees, hoverflies and Red Admiral butterflies. A few rather jaded Common Blue butterflies were seen at both ends of The Heath and it was reassuring to see, in addition to 6-8 male Adonis Blues on Lankester Hill, a single female. Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies were still on the wing. These were all in an area where the vegetation had been machine-cut last year whilst this year a swathe of vegetation lower down the hill has been cut. Vegetation on both sides of Church Hill was cut later in September. This will hopefully do the job that Rabbits are supposed to do (but there are too few to do it) and sheep are now not allowed to do (apparently due to dog attacks), encouraging the growth of wild flowers and the vegetation that supports Therfield Heath's special invertebrates. This was, apparently, a very expensive job, but well done to all concerned for doing it.

Common Darter, Therfield Heath, 13 September

Ivy Bee on Ivy Plant, Royston, 13 September

Red Admiral Nectaring on Ivy, Royston, 13 September

This proved to be probably my last productive visit of the year to The Heath to photograph invertebrates. Having arrived back from holiday on the 21st (and found a Speckled Bush-cricket and a Hawthorn Shield Bug in the garden), the following week produced dull weather with frequent rain. On the few occasions when the sun shone, the only butterflies seen were the 'cabbage whites' and a few Red Admirals and Meadow Browns. Migrant Hawker dragonflies were still active and I saw a few Dock Bugs (on Dock leaves, of course) and grasshoppers. Craneflies were very common and a few hoverflies were still buzzing around, but it looks like the end of September will be the time to put my macro lens away for another year.