23rd June

I had an early morning visit to the park mainly to see how the owls were doing. I then headed off to Suffolk and Lakenheath Fen on my way home I shot over to Kite country. All in all it was an enjoyable days birding.

Regent’s Park

Yellow-legged Gull: An adult was on the main lake.

Kestrel: The pair in area 32 had a bad year, managing to fledge one youngster. Today it was present in Willows running alongside the path in the Wetland Pen. 

Little Owl: The pair and at least 2 owlets were seen.

Reed Warbler: Three males were singing.

Chiffchaff: Two males were singing.

Common Crossbill: One flew SW at 6.00am.

Little Owl female; I was on foot today, which made it harder to approach the birds. It was best to locate them from a distance and then move a little closer and let her come towards me.

The owlets were hard to see, as they hid in the Chestnut trees

 

Lakenheath Fen

Bittern: one was seen and heard.

Marsh Harrier: there was several pairs seen, with one family interacting with three young.

Hobby: one was seen perched.

Cuckoo: four birds were seen and heard singing and calling.

Golden Oriole: one male and a female were seen, with another male being heard.

Bearded Tit: there were several family groups flitting about in the reed beds.

Cetti’s Warbler: one was heard.

Grasshopper Warbler: one bird was reeling in vegetation close to the path.

6 other species of Warbler were seen.

Bearded Tit male

On route in the Baldock to Royston area the species below were seen.

Yellow Hammer

Corn Bunting

Yellow Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Then a quick sprint over to the Chilterns and the Kites, luckily for me the sun still kept on showing itself, making the journey worth while.

Common Buzzard, was the first bird to come close and then came the Red Kites.