Local birding update

What with being laid low by a bad cold and cough and a stretch of bad weather I have not been too far since my last post. This post is a brief overview of some recent short trips just before and after the Christmas holiday period. Firstly, a quick stop in Hertford to make sure the Peregrines were still showing. Flo, the female gave some good views.

Amwell has been fairly quiet but yielded Siskins, Red Crested Pochards and this Treecreeper.

And further out in the Herts countryside, Little Owl. 

Next up was a trip to Wallington, but a very windy day meant it was almost bird less with only one Corn Bunting of note.

Fowlmere was even worse! A few Fieldfare in the field outside and a Kestrel in the grey light. I have never seen it this quiet.

Fishers Green on a sunny day gave good views of the showy Bittern and Gadwall showing some interesting feeding techniques.

A trip to St Albans, and one of the Peregrines posed well on the Cathedral.

Verulamium Lake was mostly frozen but it was fun watching the Coots and Mute Swans.

The Watercress Beds were tricky as the main feeding station was empty. Brief views of Siskin and Bullfinch and the only decent shots I managed were Chaffinch and as a record shot, Lesser Redpoll.

Set aside on the edge of Knebworth held a small flock of Chaffinch and Yellowhammer and also three Grey Partridge in the margins.

Finally, Bramfield. Hawfinches have been in short supply but I did manage one bird high up in one of the favoured trees.

On the positive side, waiting for them allowed some time to photograph the resident Goldcrests.