December 2011

Raptor numbers in the Greys farm area continued to grow early in the month, with at least three Short-eared Owls (I saw two of them) and a "ringtail" Hen Harrier (my first local bird since 2009) seen on the first. By the 4th three Hen Harriers (all ringtails) and at least three Short-eared Owls were being regularly reported in the area and there were unconfirmed reports of Merlin and (remarkably) Lesser-spotted Woodpecker in the Therfield area. I was lucky enough to have been given a tour of Greys farm in late summer: the farmer is a keen conservationist and has many areas of wild flowers (intended to provide winter food for finches and buntings), other areas of ground cover and some thick hedges. Raptors have obviously taken a liking to his farm as well, although the large numbers of Grey and Red-legged Partridges in the area may go some way to explain the presence of Hen Harriers! Many Red Kites were also present in the Therfield / Sandon area: I saw four on the 4th. I spent the morning of the 6th going up and down the Icknield Way between Royston and Therfield and the late afternoon in the Church Hill / Fox Covert area, seeing three Hen Harriers (all ringtails; one probably a juvenile) and two Short-eared Owls. Also of note were flocks of up to 194 Lapwing and 105 Golden Plover (Greys Farm area), 30 Fieldfares and a small flock of Corn Buntings near the hospital. A total of 51 Grey Partridge was recorded along the Icknield Way. It was pleasant to note that quite a few birdwatchers from other parts of the county and beyond visited the Royston area looking for raptors during the period that the owls were showing, although from their reports on the Herts. Bird Club web site it appears that some of them assumed that Therfield Heath covers a huge area, extending right up to the village of Therfield, and there were unfortunately a number of incidents of trespassing on private land. Two Tree Sparrows were still at Hatchpen on the 12th and at least three Hen Harriers were seen (several sightings) from the Icknield Way between Therfield and Therfield Heath: one seen near the hospital was less than half a mile from my home. The Lapwing flock at Greys Farm had grown to 450 (my highest ever local count), with 35 Golden Plover and at least 200 Starlings adding to the numbers. Four Red Kites were seen in Therfield and several sightings of Sparrowhawks, Buzzards and Kestrels added to a raptor bonanza! Finding unexpectedly that I had a free afternoon on the 17th I followed the Icknield Way path up towards Therfield looking for raptors and was extremely fortunate to bump into a bird-watching friend (David Hatton) who had just found a Great Grey Shrike (presumably the bird that was at Therfield in November) on Greys Farm, which gave clear (albeit distant) views for a few minutes.....a Hertfordshire "first" for me. At least two Short-eared Owls and a Hen Harrier were still in the area and I also saw a Red Kite and several Common Buzzards as well as Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, making this a splendid afternoon for raptors. The Great Grey Shrike was still present when I next visited Therfield Heath on the 20th, showing well fleetingly before it then led me a merry dance along the Icknield Way between Wicker Hall and the top of the old rifle range as I attempted (unsuccessfully) to photograph it before it disappeared, only to reappear 70 minutes later in a tree about 1.5 miles away just off the Therfield Road near Duckpuddle Bush! A Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl also put in appearances and a Little Owl was calling as I returned at dusk. A local walk on the 24th produced an excellent 49 recorded species, including my "regular" two Tree Sparrows (this time at Hatchpen grainstore) and a treecreeper in Reed village. On my final walk of an exceptionally busy and outstanding month, to Therfield and back along the Icknield Way on the 30th, I recorded my (long overdue) first local Peregrine from the Icknield Way as well as a record (for myself) flock of 84 Corn Buntings between Greys Farm and Wicker Hall.

The Peregrine brought the total of bird sightings within two miles of my home to 78, beating last year's "record" by one. The full list of birds is as follows: Blackbird, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Common Buzzard, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Greenfinch, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Grey Heron, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Red Kite, Lapwing, Skylark, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, House Martin, Moorhen, Nuthatch, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge, Peregrine, Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Meadow Pipit, Golden Plover, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Common Sandpiper, Great Grey Shrike, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Yellowhammer. 

November 2011

After a prolonged absence from Royston due to holiday, I returned to find that a Great Grey Shrike had been present in the local area (near Kelshall) in my absence. A local walk in very mild, sunny weather on the 20th produced a (presumably over-wintering) male Blackcap in Royston and small numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares in the fields: plenty of berries were left in the hedgerows. Short-eared Owls were reported nearby at Deadman's Hill (Sandon) on the 19th and 20th, but my visit on the 21st drew a blank. An afternoon walk up the Icknield Way on the 24th produced at least 35 Grey Partridges in several coveys and a large flock of Lapwings, but no raptors other than the "usual suspects" (Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard). I finally caught up with Short-eared Owls on the 28th when I had cracking views of one hunting near Wicker Hall. I then saw another, or possibly the same bird, at the other end of The Heath at Church Hill an hour and a half later. In between these sightings Alan Beale had seen two Short-eared Owls at Grays Farm! A "there and back" walk to Wisbridge Farm on the 30th produced an impressive 44 bird species recorded. Two Tree Sparrows were back at Hatchpen, where there was an impressive flock of 75 skylarks, and at least eight Bullfinches were seen including five being pursued by a Sparrowhawk (I think they escaped!). Two butterflies (one of them a Red Admiral) were seen on the wing.

October 2011

Five Wheatears were feeding on the golf course on either side of the Therfield Road on the morning of the 3rd: at least five Chiffchaffs were in Fox Covert on the same morning. A walk on the 7th produced five Golden Plover (4+1) flying over the Icknield Way (my first local sighting of this species in 2011), a Red Kite (and several Buzzard) along the ridge between Therfield and Reed, three Wheatears at Hatchpen and a very late Yellow Wagtail as I passed through Newsells Stud Farm. A single House Martin and several Chiffchaffs (most heard only) were the only other remaining summer visitors that I could detect. Skylarks were everywhere: I must have seen at least 200 during my walk. Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral butterflies were still on the wing, despite much cooler weather. The first Redwings were heard over-flying Royston on the evening of the 11th. Coveys of Grey Partridge were seen close to my home near Half Moon Plantation and also off the Icknield Way on the 19th. Tawny and Little Owls in the area were quite vocal in October and a Tawny Owl was seen not far from my home on the 19th. A walk on the 21st produced plenty of the "usual suspects", including a flock of 20+ Corn Buntings on the Icknield Way just north of Therfield, lots of Yellowhammers and Linnets, at least three Red Kites as well as may Kestrels and Buzzards. Water birds were in very short supply, with many local ponds having dried up completely in the continuing drought.

September 2011

At least five spotted flycatchers, a greater spotted woodpecker and a nuthatch were busily looking for food in a single beech tree in Fox Covert (viewed from the top of Church Hill) on the 1st. A walk on the 2nd produced little of interest, although four species of dragonfly (Emperor, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter) were active at Reed End pond. In the early evening at least 16 rather late Swifts (Scandinavian birds?) were screaming as they passed slowly over my house. A Clouded Yellow butterfly (the first seen locally this year) was reported on the Rifle Range on the 9th. A visit to this area of The Heath on the morning of the 11th produced at least 8 and possibly as many as 12 Spotted Flycatchers hawking insects in the line of trees standing to the west of the Rifle Range, together with Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and a good variety of tits and finches whilst 20 or so House Martins chased insects above them (at one point a flycather was seen chasing a martin for several seconds!). On the 19th a Marsh Harrier was hunting at Hatchpen Farm, possibly looking for some of the many hundreds (thousands?) of Red-legged Partridges that have been recently released there. At least 34 Corn Buntings were seen in three groups close to the pond and a Yellow Wagtail flew over. Visible migration of both Swallows and Meadow Pipits in a southerly direction was evident throughout my walk. At Reed End pond several Common Darter dragonflies were holding territories and a Stoat was seen there. On the 22nd a flock of 9 Bullfinches (including juveniles) was seen just off The Heath and a Common Lizard was basking at the bottom of Church Hill. Small numbers of Comma and Red Admiral butterflies were still on the wing, but the butterfly season was essentially over. A visit to Wisbridge Farm on the morning of the 27th produced at least three Marsh Tits in two different woods, at least four Nuthatches and a very vocal Tawny Owl (a second Tawny Owl was heard from my garden in the afternoon of an exceptionally hot day). A pale Buzzard with a lot of white in the tail at Hatchpen encouraged thoughts of possible Rough-legged Buzzard, but the bird was later identified as an atypically-marked Common Buzzard. A Red Kite was seen at Hatchpen on the 27th and a Wheatear was there on the 28th.

August 2011

More and more gulls were seen in the Royston area as ploughed fields started to dot the landscape at the beginning of the month. Two large coveys of Grey Partridge (31 in all) were seen off the Icknield Way south of Royston on the 5th: some of the birds were juveniles. Young Buzzards were making begging calls at three breeding sites in the area. Returning Wheatears were reported back on The Heath on the 12th. A Marsh Harrier was again seen off the Icknield Way, near Wimsey Hall Plantation, on the evening of the 16th. A long walk on the 17th produced little of interest, bar four Red Kites and at least three Yellow Wagtails at Wisbridge Farm. A badly injured Polecat seen near the hospital on the 22nd was my first ever sighting of this species, alive or dead. This highly secretive, strictly nocturnal mammal is rarely seen, although its presence has been reported in the Sandon area recently. The polecat appeared to have been shot: the RSPCA was called out to deal with the animal (thanks, Alan), which was unable to move but was hissing and baring its teeth. Also seen on a walk across The Heath were five Spotted Flycatchers (including a family group), four Wheatears heading south, a pair of Bullfinches, 11 Grey Partridge (including chicks), four Corn Buntings (Thrift Farm) and a Yellow Wagtail. Coming back down the Icknield Way at least 14 raptors (11 Common Buzzards, two Red Kites and a Marsh Harrier) were taking an interest in the ongoing harvesting operations. A notable feature of the walk was the number of Southern and Migrant Hawker dragonflies seen on the wing in several places, well away from water, emphasising the migratory instincts of these insects. On the 30th four coveys of Grey Partridge containing at least 44 individuals were flushed along the Icknield Way between Therfield and Royston.

July 2011

On the 1st an evening walk in search of owls and Quail produced the goods when I found a family of Tawny Owls near The Grange (now part of Newsells Stud Farm): my first local sighting for two years and the first confirmation of breeding by this species in the area for several years. Nearby, seven Fallow Deer were noted. Lapwings at Hatchpen were angrily mobbing a Buzzard, suggesting that they had young which were still to fledge. Seven Cormorants passed over, heading WNW. Chalkhill Blue and Gatekeeper Butterflies, traditionally the last of "our" butterfly species to make an appearance on The Heath, were present in good numbers on the 5th, when several Essex Skippers were on the wing and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was also seen. Another evening walk on the 8th was productive: a "first-summer" (i.e. one year old) male Marsh Harrier was hunting just off the Icknield Way on Gray's Farm and a little further to the south a Quail could be heard calling intermittently at dusk. Several Grey Partridge were calling and a Little Owl was heard in Green Walk Plantation, at the bottom of my road, as I made my way back. On the following morning I found "fresh" second brood Small Copper and Brown Argus butterflies at Fox Farm: the Small Copper was my first local sighting of the year and my 24th species for the Royston area. A long walk on the morning of the 11th produced 47 bird species seen and/or heard. Whilst (unsuccessfully) monitoring woodland at Wisbridge Farm for butterflies, such as Purple Hairstreak, which are not found in Royston I noted a pair of Marsh Tits, strongly suggesting that this species is resident in the area, and a family of Nuthatches. Whilst photographing my first Painted Lady butterfly of the year nearby I heard snatches of the distinctive reeling song of a Grasshopper Warbler although (as is often the case with this species) the bird did not reveal itself. In the course of the walk I saw an amazing 21 species of butterfly. Three male Emperor Dragonflies were also noted, disputing the rights to Reed End pond, and another Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen and photographed on The Heath. Amazing numbers (thousands?) of Chalkhill Blue butterflies were on The Heath by the middle of the month: this is the best summer for this species since 2006 and individuals that had "lost their way" were seen as far afield as Royston Hospital. A Southern Hawker dragonfly was seen on the Icknield Way on the 24th, when White-letter Hairstreak butterflies were still on the wing. A walk on the 27th produced five species of raptor including Hobby over Hatchpen Farm and a Marsh Harrier (possibly the same bird seen on the 8th) east of the Icknield Way, just north of Therfield. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Mardleybury Manor and a party of at least 70 Swifts was hawking insects at Reed End. An Emperor Dragonfly was still active at Reed End pond and another Southern Hawker was seen a little further down the Icknield Way.

June 2011

A spotted flycatcher was hawking insects in the grounds of Royston Hospital on the 2nd. Nearby, a family of long-tailed tits was seen and photographed, a young Chiffchaff was being fed by its parents and young Blackcaps were also seen, all indicative of a good breeding season for small songbirds despite the drought. An eventful walk on the 11th started with a sighting of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers on the edge of my estate (still present at the month's end) and continued with sightings of a Little Owl and a recently-fledged Corn Bunting on the way up to Reed. Meadow Brown and Large Skipper butterflies were plentiful and a large hawker dragonfly (presumably an Emperor) was seen in flight near Reed End pond, where the resident Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies were observed mating: shortly afterwards the female laid several eggs. In Therfield I noted a family of five Buzzards; this early fledging was a mild surprise, but was trumped by my observation of a recently-fledged Red Kite at the same site in Therfield where at least two kites fledged in 2010! As with so many of nature's events this spring, fledging of raptors is occurring 2-3 weeks early. After a quiet period (as usual) in the first half of June, new butterfly emergences came thick and fast, with Marbled Whites, Large and Small Skippers, fresh Commas and Ringlets all on the wing by the 23rd, when the first White-letter Hairstreak (WLH) butterflies from the recently discovered colony on the Icknield Way were seen flying around the tops of Elm trees and saplings. A further WLH was observed about 400 metres south of the main colony, suggesting that other colonies are yet to be discovered in the vicinity, and later in the week Alan Beale, the area recorder, found a WLH at the opposite side of The Heath at the top of Church Hill! Also on the 23rd both treecreeper and nuthatch were observed amongst a mixed flock of small birds in Fox Covert and a couple of Stoats were seen playing at the bottom of Church Hill. Wild Thyme was flowering right across The Heath. An Essex Skipper seen and photographed on the 30th was my 20th butterfly species seen on The Heath and surrounding area this year.

May 2011

A very long walk, taking in Wisbridge Farm in addition to Reed, Therfield and Therfield Heath, on the 3rd produced an impressive 52 species (48 seen), with five singing Corn Buntings, two female Wheatears and three Yellow Wagtails at Hatchpen and several Red Kites, some missing primary feathers, along the ridge between Reed and Therfield. The first Small Heath butterflies of the year were on the wing on The Heath. I rescued a recently-fledged Song Thrush from imminent demise at the claws of the next door cat on the 5th, when large numbers of Swifts were back over the town centre and four House Martins were observed hawking flies over "The Ridings" estate. Several White Helleborine orchids were noted in Fox Covert on the 6th, when a Garden Warbler was still singing at the bottom of Church Hill. I observed my first local dragonflies of the year at (almost dry) Reed End pond on the 13th, with a pair of freshly-emerged Broad-bodied Chasers taking pride of place alongside several Azure and Large Red Damselflies. Pairs of Yellow Wagtails were seen both at Hatchpen and off the Icknield Way south of Therfield, along with several Red Kites. Five Corn Buntings were on territory at Hatchpen, together with one behind Royston Hospital, but the very restricted (to Wheatears!) passage of spring migrants appeared to be over and, with birdsong already falling away, there was a feeling of early June rather than the middle of May to the bone-dry countryside. Up to two female Marsh Harriers (young adults or failed breeders?) were reported in the Kelshall area from the 15th although I was unable to locate them on the 18th. I did, however, find a Spotted Flycatcher "singing" in woodland on the opposite side of the Therfield Road to Fox Covert on the same morning. This is a regular spot for Spotted Flycatchers and the date is about right for their arrival. This bird "completes the set" of regular breeders in the area: would it be too much to ask for something a little different now? Red Kites were very active in the area; Brown Argus butterflies were seen at the bottom of Church Hill and an Azure Damselfly was nearby, possibly having come from Grays Farm pond. A Hobby was chasing hirundines at the Barkway end of Wisbridge Farm on the 29th. A Grey Wagtail just off The Heath on the 31st was a local "first" for me and nearby a bold little Lapwing chick was a surprise find as I had not expected the local Lapwings to have any breeding success, given the dry weather and baked ground. I counted 12 adult Lapwings, some displaying, in the same field. At least three Red Kites were noted at the west end of The Heath and a Nuthatch was observed with a bill full of food in Fox Covert. Two noisy Spotted Flycatchers were present here and I also noted my first Large Skipper butterfly of the summer and a very early Common Spotted Orchid.

April 2011

A Little Owl was heard calling repeatedly from the woodland near my house on most nights in the first week of April. Pasque flowers were already blooming on Church Hill on the 1st and Cowslips were starting to appear. I saw my first "local" Swallow of the year at Hatchpen Farm on the 4th: also present there were three Wheatears (two male, one female) and at least 12 Corn Buntings. Willow Warblers were seen at Reed End and at the west end of Therfield Heath on the same day. The very warm weather during the first week of April brought out butterflies in good numbers: lots of Brimstones, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and Holly Blues were seen on a walk across The Heath on the 7th, when I also saw a very early Green-veined White and counted seven Willow Warbler territories. At least two Common Lizards were seen on Church Hill, where the Pasque Flowers were putting on an excellent display. A Blackcap (one of 16 observed across The Heath!) was noted to be including segments of Song Thrush and Garden Warbler cadences in its song. A Cormorant was seen flying ESE across The Heath in the early morning: a typical sighting for this species in the area. I noted my first Yellow Wagtails (at Hatchpen) and Whitethroats (at Wisbridge Farm, between Reed and Barkway) of the year on the 13th: a Nuthatch was calling loudly in woodland at the latter venue. A maximum count of 14 singing Willow Warblers across The Heath was noted on the 15th. There must have been a big influx of Whitethroats over the next 2-3 days, because I counted at least 18 on a walk through the villages on the 19th, when I also heard my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year at Reed End. Orange Tip butterflies were numerous along the hedgerows, although by this time the long spell of dry, warm weather was causing some of the local ponds to dry up. I found two Garden Warblers in their usual spot at the bottom of Church Hill and two Lesser Whitethroats, one at either end of The Heath, during a walk across Therfield Heath on the morning of the 21st. These were again my earliest local records for both warblers, with only Swift and Spotted Flycatcher yet to arrive locally. Willow Warblers were noted nest-building and my umpteenth local Wheatear (a female) was on the golf course west of the Therfield Road. However, I was again unable to locate any of the less common passage migrants (e.g. Ring Ouzel) on the walk.

March 2011

A walk across Therfield Heath on the 2nd revealed the extent of the scrub clearance that has been going on, sanctioned by the conservators. The result is a "cleaner, tidier, sanitised" Heath, no doubt better for dog walkers and easier for golfers to find their lost balls, but far less attractive to wildlife. Habitat for some of the locally rare breeding birds (Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and Garden Warblers to name but a few) has gone, as indeed will have many colonies of butterflies. Still, that's progress for you..... Just off the Heath I noted a flock of 13 Corn Buntings and several Reed Buntings. On the 4th I watched a Sparrowhawk displaying over the woodland at the bottom of my road and a subsequent walk provided a record count of Tree Sparrows (11) at Hatchpen Farm, where two Red Kites were also loitering. Lapwings were seen in small to medium sized flocks along the ridge between Reed and Therfield and one was seen mobbing a passing Red Kite, suggesting that territories were already being established. A huge flock of around 500 gulls at Hatchpen included a solitary Lesser Black-backed Gull, my first local sighting of the species this year. Two Wheatears were found on Therfield Heath on the 11th: the first sightings in Hertfordshire this year! I saw and photographed them the following day and they were still present in the same area (the top of the Rifle Range) on the 14th, when I made a detour from my normal walk through the villages of Reed and Therfield. On the walk I managed to see 46 species and heard three more: a record count for any time of year and doubly impressive for March! Amongst the species seen were around 50 Lapwings at various sites including several that were displaying and (again) one that mobbed one of the many Red Kites that I saw along the ridge between Reed and Therfield. Three Corn Buntings were singing and apparently establishing territories at Hatchpen and a fourth was seen on the outskirts of Royston. Several Grey Partridge were seen, including two that I flushed on the rifle range as I tried to get close enough to the Wheatears to take more photographs! My first local butterflies (Brimstones) were seen on The Heath on the 12th. Garden "ticks" came in the form of Jay (first ever) and Stock Dove (first of the year) on the 17th. Three Red Kites drifted over my house heading for the town centre on the morning of the 23rd, when the first Chiffchaffs of the year were singing in local woodland. Later in the day a pair of Nuthatches were seen excavating a potential nest hole in Fox Covert: an exciting development, considering that I only saw Nuthatches in the area for the first time last year! Lots of Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were active in the unusually warm and settled weather. A Siskin flew over my garden on the 25th and later in the day I noted a pair of Canada Geese (local rarity!) and a Heron at Hatchpen Pond. A flock of 9 Corn Buntings was nearby. I had good views of a Green Sandpiper, two Sand Martins and a Cettis Warbler (the latter a "local" first) on an early morning visit to RSPB Fowlmere in Cambridgeshire (less than five miles from where I live as the crow flies) on the 26th. The continuing high pressure over Europe was clearly facilitating the early arrival of migrant birds: a Willow Warbler on Therfield Heath on the 28th was my earliest ever sighting. Also present in the area on the 28th was quite a "fall" of Blackcaps (I saw at least six, all males) and several Chiffchaffs were heard close to my home. A Corn Bunting was in full voice behind the hospital.

February 2011

A singing Marsh Tit was seen at Wisbridge Farm between Reed and Barkway on the 1st. A nuthatch was still present in Fox Covert on the 3rd, having presumably survived the winter there. A Red Kite was also seen at Fox Covert and there was a report of an aerial battle nearby between two pairs of birds, suggesting that territories were being (re)established. A Corn Bunting seen at Hatchpen Farm on the 9th was my first of the year, whilst a Grey Heron seen in flight near Fox Farm was a bit of a surprise. On the same walk I saw 16 Grey Partridge (mainly pairs, no coveys) in the Therfield area and a flock of about 145 Fieldfare. I had a pleasant surprise when I looked out of the kitchen window on the 16th to see a pair of Siskins on my bird feeders: these were the first Siskins that I had seen in the garden (or indeed in the local area) since green netting for peanuts was all the rage in the early 1990s! I have a couple of Alder trees in the garden, which may have attracted the birds down. A walk later on the same day produced a wing-tagged Red Kite and 22 Grey Partridges in the Therfield area, where I also saw my first local Lapwings of the year, a flock of 76. At least six Red Kites were in the Sandon area on the 24th and several Skylarks were establishing territories on Therfield Heath on the 25th.

January 2011

 A Red Kite was seen within a few minutes of setting off on my first "Local Patch" walk of the New Year, on the 3rd. Flocks of 150+ Fieldfares and 100+ Redwings were seen between Therfield and Reed End. A Muntjac Deer was seen in woodland at the bottom of my road. By the middle of the month Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Great Tits and Robins were all singing merrily and Chaffinches were starting to tune up. I once again saw 3 Tree Sparrows at Hatchpen Farm on a walk on the 20th, when Little Owls and Red Kites were both also noted in two locations and good numbers of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings were prominent.