Dawn Chorus Walk 30th April 2006

Nineteen early risers met at Steps Hill, Ivinghoe at 06.00 hours, in the drizzling rain for the dawn chorus walk led by our friend & expert on bird song John Wyatt.

We walked through the scrub of Steps Hill listening to Linnet, Common & Lesser Whitethroat, Songthrush, Blackcap & Garden Warbler although most birds remained elusive. We continued through the scrub past Incombe Hole, and into Crawley Wood, part of the Ashridge Estate. We saw many of the usual woodland birds plus a Tawny Owl seen by our vigilant Group Leader and one other member.

We return to our vehicles cold & damp to continue to Startops Reservoir for a deserved breakfast at Bluebells café.

After breakfast the party was reduced to just ten people. We looked over Startops Reservoir and saw Swifts, Swallows, and Sand & House Martins. A Sparrowhawk was seen on top of the aviary in the garden of the Anglers Retreat public house, spooking the birds inside. Also Arctic & Common terns plus a grey Wagtail were seen.

We then set off to Wilstone Reservoir where we saw all the expected ducks including a Ruddy Duck who had not gone to Spain. Many terns were flying, there were four Hobbies over the reed beds plus Little Ringed Plovers nesting on the shingle bank.

The weather certainly improved after breakfast and on the whole turned out to be an enjoyable morning bird watching.

Our thanks again must go to John who heard and identified many birds that we may have otherwise missed.

Dave Jones

List of Birds Seen/Heard

Key

SH = Steps Hill/Ashridge Tr = Tring Reservoirs (Startops/Wilstone)

* Heard only

Seen = 58, Heard only = 7 Total No = 65

Great Crested Grebe (Tr)
Great Cormorant (Tr)
Grey Heron (Tr)
Mute Swan (Tr)
Greylag Goose (Tr)
Canada Goose (Tr)
Barnacle Goose (Tr-1)
Mallard (Tr)
Gadwall (Tr)
Shovelor (Tr)
Pochard (Tr)
Tufted Duck (Tr)
Ruddy Duck (Tr)
Sparrowhawk (Tr-1)
Hobby (SH-1/Tr-4)
Pheasant(SH-2)
Moorhen (Tr)
Coot (Tr)
Little Ringed Plover (Tr-5)
Black-Headed Gull (Tr-2)
Common Gull (Tr-1)
Arctic Tern (Tr-3)
Woodpigeon (SH)
Collared Dove (Tr-3)
Great Tit (SH/Tr)
Marsh Tit (SH-1)
Treecreeper (SH-3)
Magpie (Tr-1)
Jay (SH-3)
Jackdaw (SH)
Starling (SH-3)
Chaffinch (SH-Tr)

Tawny Owl (SH-1)
Common Swift (Tr-15+)
Green Woodpecker (SH-3)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (SH-1)
*Skylark (SH-1)
Sand Martin (Tr)
House Martin (Tr)
Swallow (Tr)
*Tree Pipit (SH-1)
Pied Wagtail (Tr-3)
Grey Wagtail (Tr-1)
Wren (SH/Tr)
Dunnock (SH/Tr)
Robin (SH/Tr)
Song Thrush (SH-3)
Blackcap (SH-6)
*Lesser Whitethroat (SH-1/Tr-1)
*Whitethoat (SH-2)
Sedge Warbler (Tr-1)
Chicffchaff (SH-2)
Willow Warbler (SH)
*Firecrest (SH-1)
Blue Tit (SH/Tr)
Linnet (SH-2)
Goldfinch (Tr-2)
*Bullfinch (Tr-1)
Yellowhammer (SH-1)
Carrion Crow(SH/Tr)
House Sparrow (Tr-5)