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TheThe BirdsBirds ofof Herefordshire 20122012

HerefordshireHerefordshire Ornithological ClubClub Annual Report Annual Report 92277 HOC Annual Report 2012 COVER_Layout 1 22/08/2014 14:32 Page 2

Herefordshire Ornithological Club Founded 1950 Registered Charity No.1068608

President Keith Mason Vice President Peter Eldridge Vice President Nick Smith Officers Chairman Gareth Morgan Vice Chairman Gerald Wells Secretary Tom Weale Treasurer Jim Wilkinson Recorder Steve Coney Annual Report Editor Hilary Jones HOC News Editor Nicky Davies Meetings Secretary Gerald Parker Conservation Liaison Officer Brian Willder

Education Officer Vacant Strategy Officer Vacant Publicity Officer Susanna Grunsell

Other Committee Members John Pullen; Chris Robinson; Dave Coker

Cover picture: A rare Cream-coloured Courser arrived at Bradnor Hill Golf Course in May Picture: Mick Colquhoun

2 elcome to the 2012 edition of Birds of Herefordshire, our W62nd annual report. And hasn’t it been an amazing year for rarities! We’ve had another Lesser Yel- lowlegs, a Little Bunting, a Pectoral Sandpiper, an as- sortment of other scarcities...and then there was the Cream Coloured Courser. It posed happily on Bradnor Hill Golf Course for twitchers from all over the country and it even made the national news on TV and in the papers. Now there’s a coup. Paul Downes, whose wife Christina saw it first, has written about the event on Page 14. It’s also been a year of hard work for Nick Smith and the Atlas compilers, but it’s really coming into focus now. See Nick’s report on Page 7. And we are happy to include this year again an annual report of the Garden Birdwatch scheme after a hiatus following the sad deaths of Ifor and Elaine Evans. Our thanks go to Ian and Natalie Buttriss for taking on this task. There are some addenda from earlier reports to be noted and on Pages 8 and 9 accounts are presented for the past two years, 2011 and 2012 – because the 2011 Annual Report contained the 2010 accounts by mistake. My apologies for this. As usual I must thank Tony Eveleigh, John Pullen and Gerald Wells for all their hard work compiling and proof-reading; the writers who produced the Systematic List; County Recorder Steve Coney; and Gerald Parker for his wonderful drawings.

Hilary Jones

Above, Wren, and left, a pair of Starling. All drawings by Gerald Parker 3 Contents Chairman’s Report & Obituaries ...... Page 5 Harefordshire Bird Atlas Update 2012...... Page 7 HOC Accounts...... Page 8 Field meetings 2012 ...... Page 10 Weather Report...... Page 11 Par for the Courser in Herefordshire ...... Page 13 County Bird List 2012...... Page 16 Herefordshire County Rarities...... Page 18 Accepted Rarities 2012 ...... Page 19 The Systematic List 2012...... Pages 21–71 Colour Plates ...... Pages 49–56 Addenda ...... Page 72 Observers 2012...... Page 72 Summer & Winter Migrants...... Page 75 Bird Ringing on Herefordshire 2012...... Page 77-92 HNT Nestbox Recording Scheme 2012...... Page 93-101 Garden Birdwatch Report 2012...... Page 101 Alphabetical Index to the Systematic List...... Page 102 Interesting Ornithological Sites...... Page 103 Sites Map ...... Back Page

ISBN 978-0-9554157-8-4 Vol 6 Number 12 Edited by Hilary Jones; published 2014 Price £5 (UK post free)

4 Chairman’s Report for 2012 OUR Committee has continued to work effectively on behalf of the membership throughout the year. Among the highlights are the continuation of the work of the Atlas of The Birds of Herefordshire by a team ably led by Vice President YNick, supported by numerous hard working club members and others. Other notable work has been done by Hilary Jones, who edits the Annual Report, and her team; Nicky Davies, who produces the Newsletter, and everyone who has contributed; Ian and Natalie Buttriss, who assemble the Garden Birdwatch every quarter from all the records which you send in; Steve Coney, who processes all the thousands of records submitted throughout the year; Gerald Parker and Keith & Chris Mason, who have organised all the field and indoor meetings. The Birds of Herefordshire Vice President Nick Smith and his team are nearing completion of this multi-year task. The constant effort of surveying all the tetrads came to an end after five years, and work continued on the production of the Atlas, with the aim of publishing the book in the autumn of 2014. A majority of members of the Club participated in the collection of data and the preparation of the Atlas. Congratulations to everyone involved. Meetings The quality of indoor meetings continued to attract high attendance levels, in particular the Dr Walker Lecture, entitled “Wonderful Wildlife of Wales”, given by Iolo Williams in Bartestree Village Hall. Field meetings ranged far and wide, both sides of the border, giving members the op- portunity to visit locations they may not otherwise have explored, in the company of knowledgeable enthusiasts. The annual weekend away, ably arranged by Chris and Pam Bartlett, encompassed Sea- houses and the Farne Islands and proved as interesting and exciting as ever. Newsletter and Website After forty years as Editor of HOC News, Peter Gardner – and Joan – have decided to pass the task on to a younger member. Our thanks go to them for their consistently re- freshing output and every good wish for a long and peaceful “retirement”. From within the Club’s ranks we are fortunate to have found a willing volunteer successor, Nicky Davies, whose expertise will become apparent in future editions of the News. Our Webmaster, William Marler, has devoted seven long years to maintaining the website, and is standing down, leaving a fully functioning site for his successor. Thank you William. His work will be handled by a small expert team until such time as a suitable candidate is identified. HOC Records Even though most members have worked towards collecting data for the Atlas, numer- 5 ous other records have been sent to the County Recorder, Steve Coney, throughout the year. In every edition of the News you will find details of sightings. For the newer members especially, and for all members generally, this mass of information is a major reason for belonging to HOC. Keep up the good work. Even if you are less mobile than you would prefer, you can still be an active contributor by joining the Garden Birdwatch team, managed by Ian and Natalie Buttriss. No record is insignificant. In addition to all the Atlas work, members have been actively recording data for the Woodpeckers and Winter Thrushes Surveys. General news The Club purchased 10 locally made Barn Owl boxes for installation on farmland and premises. Our friendly association with Herefordshire Nature Trust continues, and we support each other whenever and wherever circumstances allow. There was general excitement when the first Cream Coloured Courser seen in the County for most of a century spent some time on Bradnor Hill. This surpassed the Osprey using a fishing lake as a larder, but if you saw either or both you have a good story to tell. Individual members have given specific advice to external bodies on Peregrine nest boxes, farm surveys, planning applications, Starling roosts, plant health and other related matters. Dave Coker has scanned all extant Annual Reports and has made a DVD containing all the information. This is a labour of love, and we are all grateful to him for devoting so much of his time to this project. As ever, my thanks to all members for their support throughout the year. Please maintain this enthusiasm and keep bringing positive new ideas to your committee so that the Club maintains its freshness and attracts new, and younger, members. Gareth Morgan Obituaries Peter McDougall Peter McDougall died on 27 January. He joined the HOC in the late 1950s and was a committee member in the early 1960s. He was a schoolmaster at Burley Gate but moved to Hexham, Northumberland in 1967, but he kept up his membership of the Club and kept in touch with us. Dr Dan Thomas Dr Dan Thomas died on 13 February. He retired to Hereford in the early 1990s and he and his wife Jacky joined the HOC until 2004 when his health began to deteriorate. Dr David Wells Long-standing HOC member Dr David Wells died on 27 May. He was a retired auction- eer and a keen fisherman. 6 The Herefordshire Bird Atlas Update 2012 THIS concludes the fifth and final year of all the Atlas fieldwork that has involved so many of us visiting those last few 2km tetrad squares and also following up under- recorded tetrads where breeding evidence was low. This work was organised by Chris Robinson and a band of roving recorders visiting those squares as part of the HOC field meetings. With others helping elsewhere it means that we achieved nearly perfect coverage over both winter and breeding seasons, and with the final closing date of October this year for submission of all records. The BTO were then asked to collate all our Herefordshire Atlas records at the end of the year. Further work on validation of all records will happen in 2013. We have amassed well over 160,000 Atlas-generated records via the BTO Atlas project and are going to consider the benefit of adding HOC annual records to the Atlas dataset in 2013. The Atlas steering group met twice this year to help programme the future tasks of combining all this work into a book ready for publication in 2014. An editorial team of five has been formed to develop and undertake the day-to-day tasks of overseeing this massive job led by our editor Mervyn Davies. This will mean developing ideas for the front cover, species writing, species mapping using DMap software, photographs, example formats, and design work. We have appointed Fogg Associates based in Man- chester to help with the professional design of the book. We also require a printer, and six companies were asked to quote towards the end of the year for the work of publishing the book. In the meantime, consideration was given to sponsorships to help with the cost of the project, which has been updated by the end of the year to a predicted overall sum of over 20k. This sum will be partly matched by HOC approved funds for the project, but we will require additional money to meet any shortfall. A sponsorship plan will be developed in early 2013. The Atlas steering group would like to thank all those willing volunteer field recorders who have collected the atlas data over the past five years. Their patience and the many hours of work they have put in will surely be rewarded with the eventual publication of the Atlas. Nick Smith, Steering Group Chairman

House Sparrows Drawing: Gerald Parker

7 HOC Accounts Income & Expenditure for the year ended 30 November 2011 2010 2011 £ £ £ INCOME £ £ £ 4,589 Subscriptions 4,326 1,000 Annual Report Sponsorship - 799 Income from Meetings 943 470 Sale of Surplus Equipment 502 97 Sale of Publications 70 310 Donations 199 1,003 Gift Aid Refund 961 914 Grant for Recorder Project - 2 Other Income 25 749 Bank Interest (gross) 980 330 Members Weekend Away - Income 200 -330 - Members Weekend Away - Expenditure -200 - 9,933 8,006 EXPENDITURE 912 2008 Annual Report 978 1,435 Printing & Stationery 1,055 702 Postage & Telephone 873 594 Publicity Expenses 240 673 Meeting Expenses 767 - Travelling Expenses 23 14 Purchases/Repairs to Hide 168 500 Insurance 518 38 Gifts & Subscriptions 58 1,086 Computer Equipment (Including Recorder Project) - 496 Computer Software & Website 595 6,450 5,275 3,483 Surplus 2010/2011 2,731 20,547 General Funds as at 1st December 2010 12,980 3,483 Add: Surplus 2010/2011 2,731 1,950 Writeback of Annual Report Provisions 2008-10 - 25,980 General Funds as at 30th November 2011 15,711 -13,000 Less: Additional Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 11,400 Add: Special Funds carried forward 11,400 £24,380 Total Accumulated Funds as at 30th Nov 2011 £27,111 Represented by:- 35,000 Standard Life Bonds/Principality Bldg. Soc. Bond 40,000 5,149 Standard Life Notice A/C 4,234 2,231 HSBC:- Current Account 877 42,380 45,111 3,000 Less:- Provision for Annual Reports 2009-11 3,000 1,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 2011 - 6,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 2013 7,000 8,000 18,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 2014 8,000 18,000 £24,380 £27,111 M J Wilkinson Treasurer Auditor’s Certificate I have examined the above Income and Expenditure Account together with the relevant spreadsheets and vouchers, and have obtained all the information and explanations necessary. I certify that the above account presents a true and fair view of the financial position of the Herefordshire Ornithological Club as at 30th November 2011. E.C. Aplin FCA, FCMA 10 January 2012 8 HOC Accounts Income & Expenditure for the year ended 30 November 2012 2011 2012 £ £ £ INCOME £ £ £ 4,326 Subscriptions 4,198 943 Income from Meetings 1,188 502 Sale of Surplus Equipment - 70 Sale of Publications 115 199 Donations 231 961 Gift Aid Refund 970 25 Other Income 50 980 Bank Interest (gross) 1,064 200 Members Weekend Away - Income 225 -200 - Members Weekend Away - Expenditure -225 - 8,006 7,816 EXPENDITURE 978 2009 Annual Report 957 1,055 Printing & Stationery 840 873 Postage & Telephone 717 240 Publicity Expenses 360 767 Meeting Expenses 533 23 Travelling Expenses 18 168 Repairs to Hide/Purchases 69 518 Insurance 545 58 Gifts/Subscriptions 38 595 Computer Software & Website 210 5,275 4,287 2,731 Surplus 2011/2012 3,529 12,980 General Funds as at 1st December 2011 15,711 2,731 Add: Surplus 2011/2012 3,529 15,711 General Funds as at 30th November 2012 19,240 - Less: Additional Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas -1,000 11,400 Add: Special Funds carried forward 11,400 £27,111 Total Accumulated Funds as at 30th Nov 2012 £29,640 Represented by:- 40,000 Principality Bldg. Soc. Bond 30,978 4,234 Standard Life A/C / Monmouthshire Bldg. Soc. 15,000 877 HSBC:- Current Account 2,662 45,111 48,640 3,000 Less:- Provision for Annual Reports 2010-12 3,000 7,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 2013 8,000 8,000 18,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 2014 8,000 19,000 £27,111 £29,640 M J Wilkinson Treasurer Auditor’s Certificate I have examined the above Income and Expenditure Account together with the relevant spreadsheets and vouchers, and have obtained all the information and explanations necessary. I certify that the above account presents a true and fair view of the financial position of the Herefordshire Ornithological Club as at 30th November 2012. E.C. Aplin FCA, FCMA 29 December 2012 9 2012 Meetings

Field meetings DATE ...... VENUE...... LEADER Jan 7 ...... Hill Farm, Castle Frome...... Brian Wilder Jan 26 ...... Mynydd Illtud & Llangorse Lake ...... John Pullen & Geoff Davies Feb 16 ...... Forest of Dean...... Tony Eveleigh Mar 3...... Haugh Wood & Hampton Bishop ...... Terry Foxton Mar 21...... Wyre Forest ...... John Pullen Apr 14 ...... Eastnor Area ...... Richard Davies Apr 28 ...... Olchon Valley...... Gerald Parker May 6 ...... Bringsty Common – Dawn Chorus Meeting...... Tom & Jennifer Weale May 10 .....Highnam Wood ...... Nick Smith May 27 ...... Fownhope Area ...... Nick Smith Jun 8-11.....Northumbria weekend ...... Chris Bartlett Jun 19...... Garway/Skenfrith Walking Festival ...... Chris & Phil Williams Jun 23...... Atlas Field Meeting Bodenham ...... Gerald Parker & Chris Robinson Jun 27...... Atlas Field Meeting Dilwyn ...... Gerald Parker & Chris Robinson Jul 7...... Atlas Field Meeting Pembridge ...... Gerald Parker & Chris Robinson Aug 16...... Brampton Abbotts...... Chris Bartlett Sep 8 ...... Newport Wetlands...... Tony Eveleigh Oct 13...... Tregaron Bog...... Peter Smith Nov 7...... Hereford City Walk ...... Terry Foxton Nov 21...... Hollybush Area...... Gerald Wells Dec 9 ...... Queenswood & Wellington GP ...... Phil & Chris Williams

Indoor meetings DATE ...... TOPIC...... SPEAKER Jan 12 ...... Journey in to Spain ...... Chris & Keith Mason Feb 9 ...... Wonderful Wildlife of Wales (Dr Walker Memorial Lecture) Iolo Williams Mar 9...... AGM & Members’ Evening ...... Keith Mason Sep 13 ...... Isles of Scilly ...... Terry Bond 11 Oct...... Springtime in the Rockies ...... Brayton Holt Nov 8...... Honey Buzzards...... Steve Roberts Dec 13 ...... Bird Life of Antarctica ...... David Fletcher 10 Weather Report 2012 January For the first two weeks there was a below average rainfall of 40mm and the temperature was mainly around 10C, although there were two spells of frost and colder weather later on 12 to 16 and 26 to 31.The American Wigeon remained at Bodenham Lake along with a Dark-bellied Brent Goose. A Bittern appeared on 14 at Wellington GP and 4 Whooper Swans fed along the River Wye.

February The severe cold weather continued until 11, many ponds remaining frozen with 9 nights of frost reaching -6C on 10. A total rainfall of 20mm was well below 50% of the long term average. Great Grey Shrikes were at High Vinnals and Shobdon, up to 8 Hawfinches were seen feeding in Coneygree Wood and a Jack Snipe was present at Wellington GP.

March A much dryer month than usual, with only 12.5mm of rain, 20% of the long term average. It was the driest March since 1958. Rain was only recorded on 6 days with a greater number of hours of sunshine for the month than usual. Towards the end of the month some migrants were present: a Wheatear on Hatterall Hill on 24, a Swallow at Ledbury on 21 and both Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing at Garway River Monnow by 24.

April A very wet month with a total rainfall of 105.5mm, nearly double the long term average. It was the highest April rainfall since 1930, so that migrants delayed their arrival by up to three weeks; it also caused rivers to flood, washing away Mallard and Swans’ nests. A Pectoral Sandpiper was present at Brockhall GP from 21 to 23, there were 3 Black Terns at Wellington GP on 30 and a second summer Mediterranean Gull there on 1.

May There was a near average rainfall of 65mm, with the end of the month being mainly hot and sunny – the temperature reached 23C from 25 to 30. This month the County was visited by a number of rarities and semi rarities: a Cream-coloured Courser was on Brad- nor Hill from 20 to 23, a Red-throated Pipit at Bodenham on 7, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Hereford Quarry on 20, 4 Common Scoters at Bodenham Lake on 19, a Honey Buzzard at Wellington GP on 23 and a Sanderling there on 14 and Wood Sandpipers were at at Brockhall GP on 13 and 19.

June This was the wettest June on record, with 158mm of rain, double the long term average, with only 7 dry days recorded. The continuous wet weather made breeding difficult, especially for small birds searching for insects among the leaves. A summer plumaged 11 Spotted Redshank was at Brockhall GP and Arctic Terns at Hartleton Lakes and Welling- ton GP.

July The weather continued wet and cool with a total rainfall of 91mm, well above the long term average. The only hot sunny period was from 20 to 29. Some passerines departed early and failed Arctic breeders also returned early. A Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Dunlin were seen at Brockhall GP. A Long-eared Owl was flushed at Breinton during an Atlas survey.

August Again, this was a wet month with rain recorded on 20 days, 84mm being the total rainfall. A Garganey was at Brockhall GP from 14 to 19 and another at Wellington GP on 25, a Black Tern was at Wellington on 14 and a Ring-necked Parakeet was present for most of the month around Adforton.

September The beginning of the month was sunny with very little rainfall, but from 23 when 20mm fell it rained daily, producing a total rainfall 50% of the long term average. An Osprey was present at Andy’s Fishery, Pencoyd Lake from 2 to 11 and juvenile Black Terns were seen at Wellington GP and Hartleton Lake. Also 105 Meadow Pipits were recorded moving south in an hour on 25 at Garway.

October October was an unsettled month with a series of deep Atlantic depressions. There were only 6 dry days and an above average rainfall total of 92mm. One night’s frost was recorded on 26; even so winter migrants began to appear and Whooper Swans were at Wellington on 30 and Common Scoters there on 10. Another unusual visitor was a Siber- ian Stonechat at Wellington on 27.

November November weather continued to be dominated by strong south-westerly winds and depressions giving a total rainfall of 134mm, double the long term average. This was in- terspersed with the occasional dry day and night-time frost, giving 7 nights of frost in all. A Great White Egret was discovered at Brockhall GP on 25 and remained to the end of the month, and another rarity, a Little Bunting, was present from 7 to 8 at Kingsland. The Waxwing irruption reached Herefordshire on 11 with 4 birds at Elton.

December This was another very wet month with a total rainfall of 152mm and a short dry spell from 5 to 12 with nights of frost. The Great White Egret remained, the Waxwing irruption spread through the County and a Mistle Thrush was heard singing at Garway on 3. 12 Par for the Courser in Herefordshire

PAUL DOWNES tells of the day he – or rather, his wife – spotted the County’s most exciting rarity in years...

‘Strange bird, yellow underneath, wings like a Lapwing’...Paul’s first picture of the Cream-coloured Courser on Bradnor Hill EREFORDSHIRE doesn’t spring to mind as the rarity capital of the world in many birders’ minds. And they’d be right. However, May 20 this year was completely Hdifferent. Earlier in the day I’d diverted my wife, 37 weeks pregnant with first child, and her sister Emily to a small private pool where a Lesser Yellowlegs was found, unusually the second spring record in five years in Herefordshire. This national rarity from across the Atlantic normally would be bird of the year in the county, but as it turned out it wasn’t even bird of the day! Now I thought this was a good move; she’s only been birding two years and building up her county list at a good pace. Nevertheless, because of this she missed the agility section of her weekly dog training, the fun bit with the jumping, running through tunnels and leaping through fire. All that was left was the obedience section, walking slowly and “sit, stay” – you know the drill. Christina arrived home 6.30pm, later than anticipated but no problem. “We’ve just had a walk on Bradnor Hill to give the dogs some proper exercise” she said, “as you made us miss agility”. Then she continued: “there was a strange bird up there, yellow underneath, but had wings like a Lapwing, flushed up from the bracken and landed a short distance away”. I racked my brains but had no idea what she had seen, trying everything from Wood- 13 The twitchers were out in force and the Courser seemed to enjoy the attention! Mick Colquhoun cock to Mistle Thrush. How big? between Blackbird and pigeon came the answer, maybe a male Dotterel, with a weak orange breast, trips regularly stop here in May? We decided to have a look for it, not holding out too much hope, whatever it was. We arrived on Bradnor Hill, home of England’s highest 18 hole golf course at 1300 feet, and started the slow waddle up towards the trig point; beautiful views can be had of the surrounding countryside to the Black Mountains, Brecon Beacons, Radnor Forest, the Forest of Dean, Malverns and Shropshire Hills. On reaching the elevated mound looking west along the 10th fairway towards the famous Hergest Ridge, I scanned the birds feeding on the short grass. Skylark, Wheatear, another Skylark...Cream-coloured Courser! Several expletives later, calling Christina over and explaining to her what she had found, we watched in amazement as it trotted past stopping and starting in typical fash- ion, cursing that we had no camera and the best bird I’d ever found (OK, Christina found) was a mere 20 feet away, flashing its stunning black and white head stripes and blue grey crown. Although I’d never seen one before, it’s one of those birds you see in the books and admire, neat buff plumage, long pale grey legs, thin downcurved bill, posturing like an elegant vase on chopsticks. A short flight revealed its black primaries and underwings; now the “Lapwing” reference made sense. I made a few choice phone calls to get some witnesses and hopefully a picture or two. Within an hour I had been joined by six colleagues, although by this time the bird had 14 moved to the bracken slope below the 8th fairway to roost. We made contact with the greenkeeper to clear access and warn him what might descend when news was released. Thankfully it remained next day, showing well. I visited again with Christina on Mon- day evening and the little show-off was performing laps of honour to the assembled pho- tographers and birders present, from all parts: Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Cumbria, Newcastle among those mentioned that day. Internet blogs later revealed some had made the journey from Shetland and even the famous twitcher Lee Evans, who was bringing a tour group back from Scotland on the Monday, diverted across country for this. The bird remained until 23rd May when at around 11.40am a golfball landed just a little too close and the bird took off, spiralled up and then headed west into Radnorshire airspace, less than a mile away. The golfers also appear to have enjoyed hosting this charming little wader, with reports of them interrupting rounds to go and have a look through a scope. My thanks to everyone at Kington Golf Club for their help and assistance over the three days the twitch was on. The Cream-coloured Courser breeds from the Canary Islands east across the northern Sahara, through the Middle East to Pakistan. It remains a great rarity in the British Isles and has become rarer in the last four decades. It was the first mainland record since one in Essex in 1984, only the third in Britain since 1969, the other was on the Scillies in 2004 and the first ever spring record in Britain. It coincided with a few records in Spain earlier in the spring and one was photographed in Brittany, France in June, I wonder if it was our bird heading back south? A day when two national rarities were discovered in Herefordshire, surely a first, and probably the best diversion I’ve ever created.

There were frequent squabbles between the Courser and the local Meadow Pipits Kev Joynes 15 County Bird List 2012 THE numbers in brackets after certain species indicate the number of accepted sightings in the County and is only included if there are twenty or fewer records. Mute Swan Black-throated Diver (4) Coot Bewick’s Swan Great Northern Diver (9) Crane (5) Whooper Swan Fulmar (1) Little Bustard (1) Bean Goose (4) Manx Shearwater Oystercatcher Pink-footed Goose Storm Petrel (5) Black-winged Stilt (1) White-fronted Goose Leach’s Petrel (9) Avocet (3) Greylag Goose Gannet (14) Stone-Curlew (3) Canada Goose Cormorant Cream-coloured Courser (2) Barnacle Goose Shag (6) Collared Pratincole (2) Brent Goose (14) Bittern Little Ringed Plover Egyptian Goose (6) Night Heron (3) Ringed Plover Ruddy Shelduck (2) Cattle Egret (1) Killdeer (1) Shelduck Little Egret Dotterel (12) Mandarin Great White Egret (1) Golden Plover Wigeon Grey Heron Grey Plover (15) American Wigeon (2) Purple Heron (1) Lapwing Gadwall White Stork (6) Knot Teal Glossy Ibis (3) Sanderling Green-winged Teal (1) Little Grebe Little Stint Mallard Great Crested Grebe Temminck’s Stint (4) Pintail Red-necked Grebe (5) Pectoral Sandpiper (2) Garganey Slavonian Grebe (8) Curlew Sandpiper (8) Shoveler Black-necked Grebe (15) Dunlin Red-crested Pochard (9) Honey Buzzard Ruff Pochard Black Kite (1) Jack Snipe Ring-necked Duck (2) Red Kite Snipe Ferruginous Duck (1) White-tailed Eagle (1) Great Snipe (2) Tufted Duck Marsh Harrier (6) Woodcock Scaup Hen Harrier Black-tailed Godwit Eider (2) Montagu’s Harrier (3) Bar-tailed Godwit (18) Long-tailed Duck (3) Goshawk Whimbrel Common Scoter Sparrowhawk Curlew Velvet Scoter (2) Buzzard Common Sandpiper Goldeneye Rough-legged Buzzard (2) Green Sandpiper Smew Spotted Eagle (1) Spotted Redshank (9) Red-breasted Merganser (19) Osprey Greenshank Goosander Kestrel Lesser Yellowlegs (2) Ruddy Duck Red-footed Falcon (1) Wood Sandpiper Red Grouse Merlin Redshank Black Grouse Hobby Turnstone (14) Red-legged Partridge Peregrine Red-necked Phalarope (1) Grey Partridge Water Rail Grey Phalarope (20) Quail Spotted Crake Pomarine Skua (1) Pheasant Corncrake Arctic Skua (2) Red-throated Diver (5) Moorhen Great Skua (3) 16 Sabine’s Gull (1) Red-backed Shrike Fieldfare Kittiwake Great Grey Shrike Song Thrush Black-headed Gull Magpie Redwing Little Gull (20) Jay Mistle Thrush Mediterranean Gull Nutcracker (2) Spotted Flycatcher Common Gull Jackdaw Robin Ring-billed Gull (3) Rook Nightingale Lesser Black-backed Gull Carrion Crow Pied Flycatcher Herring Gull Hooded Crow (19) Black Redstart Yellow-legged Gull Raven Redstart Caspian Gull (3) Goldcrest Whinchat Iceland Gull (3) Firecrest Siberian Stonechat (1) Great Black-backed Gull Blue Tit Stonechat Little Tern (5) Great Tit Wheatear Whiskered Tern (1) Coal Tit Desert Wheatear (1) Black Tern Willow Tit Dunnock Cabot’s Tern (1) Marsh Tit House Sparrow Sandwich Tern (1) Woodlark Tree Sparrow Common Tern Skylark Yellow / Blue-headed Arctic Tern Sand Martin Wagtail Little Auk (2) Swallow Grey Wagtail Puffin (2) House Martin Pied / White Wagtail Feral Pigeon Red-rumped Swallow (2) Tawny Pipit (1) Stock Dove Cetti’s Warbler (4) Tree Pipit Woodpigeon Long-tailed Tit Meadow Pipit Collared Dove Yellow–browed Warbler (1) Turtle Dove Wood Warbler Red-throated Pipit (1) Ring-necked Parakeet (13) Chiffchaff Rock Pipit (2) Cuckoo Willow Warbler Water Pipit (12) Barn Owl Blackcap Chaffinch Little Owl Garden Warbler Brambling Tawny Owl Lesser Whitethroat Greenfinch Long-eared Owl Whitethroat Goldfinch Short-eared Owl Dartford Warbler (2) Siskin Nightjar Grasshopper Warbler Linnet Swift Melodious Warbler (2) Twite Alpine Swift (1) Sedge Warbler Lesser Redpoll Kingfisher Marsh Warbler Common Redpoll (16) Bee-eater (3) Reed Warbler Crossbill Roller (1) Waxwing Bullfinch Hoopoe Nuthatch Hawfinch Wryneck Treecreeper Snow Bunting (13) Green Woodpecker Wren Yellowhammer Great Spotted Wood- Starling Cirl Bunting pecker Rose-coloured Starling (4) Little Bunting (1) Lesser Spotted Wood- Dipper Reed Bunting pecker Ring Ouzel Corn Bunting Golden Oriole Blackbird Ovenbird (1) 17 Herefordshire County Rarities The following species require field-notes and supportive description before being considered for inclusion in the HOC Annual Report (unless the sighting is agreed by five or more observers for County rarities): all national rarities (to be forwarded to the British Birds Rarities Committee, for assessment); all unusual races (except White Wagtail, in the spring); all “out of season” migrants; the following rare county species: Geese (Bean, Pink-footed, Brent and Egyptian) Ruddy Shelduck Honey Buzzard Alpine Swift American Wigeon Black Kite Bee-eater Green-winged Teal White-tailed Eagle Wryneck Garganey (except All Harriers Golden Oriole breeding male) Rough-legged Buzzard All Shrikes Red-crested Pochard Golden Eagle Chough Ring-necked Duck Red-footed Falcon Hooded Crow Ferruginous Duck Spotted Crake Firecrest Scaup Corncrake Crested Tit Eider Crane Bearded Tit Long-tailed Duck Waders (All except All Scoters Oystercatcher, Little Larks (except Skylark) Red-breasted Merganser Ringed Plover, Ringed Red-rumped Swallow Red Grouse (except on Plover, Golden Plover, Warblers (Cetti’s, Black Mountains) Lapwing, Dunlin, Jack Greenish, Pallas’s, Ptarmigan Snipe, Snipe, Woodcock, Yellow-browed, Radde’s, Black Grouse Black-tailed Godwit, Dusky, Barred, Dartford, Capercaillie Whimbrel (if heard), Subalpine, Icterine, Quail (if not heard) Curlew, Common Melodious, Aquatic, Golden Pheasant Sandpiper, Green Marsh) Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Sandpiper, Greenshank Rose-coloured Starling All Divers and Redshank) Ring Ouzel (Not Black Fulmar All Skuas Mountains) All Shearwaters Gulls (Sabine’s, Nightingale (if not heard) All Petrels Kittiwake, Little, Bluethroat Gannet Mediterranean, Ring- Red-breasted Flycatcher Shag billed, Yellow-legged, Black Redstart Bittern Caspian, Iceland and Pipits (except Tree and Night Heron Glaucous) Cattle Egret Terns (except Black and Meadow) Great White Egret Common) Finches (Serin, Twite, Purple Heron All Auks Common Redpoll, and White Stork Ring-necked Parakeet Common Rosefinch) Spoonbill Owls (Long-eared and Buntings (All except Grebes (all except Little Short-eared) Yellowhammer and Reed and Great Crested) Nightjar Bunting) 18 Accepted Rarities 2012 Great Grey Shrike at Haye Park Wood in Jan (Brian Hickling) Pink-footed Goose at Trippleton on 7 Jan (P & T Downes) Bittern at Wellington GP on 14 Jan (T, P & C Downes NC Pegler SP Coney) Short-eared Owl at Bromsash on 14 Jan (AH Eveleigh) Great Grey Shrike at High Vinnals on 24 Feb (Barbara Daniels) Great Grey Shrike at Shobdon golfcourse on 28 Feb (Trevor Freeston) Knot adult winter at Brockhall GP on 9 Mar (NC Pegler) Firecrest singing male in the west of the County on 25 Mar (T Wall) Pink-footed Goose at Wellington GP on 28 March (AH Eveleigh) Mediterranean Gull second summer at Wellington GP on 1 Apr (GS Bilbao) Firecrest a pair in the west of the County on 6 Apr (PH Downes Mrs C Downes) Pink-footed Goose at Berrington Hall Pool on 7 April (T & V Cooke) Pectoral Sandpiper adult at Brockhall GP on 21 Apr (P & T Downes) 2 x Whimbrel at Hereford Quarry on 21 April (AH Eveleigh A Marchant) Whimbrel at Brockhall GP on 22 April (NC Pegler) 5 x Whimbrel on Lower Lugg meadows on 6 May (PH Downes) Whimbrel at Brockhall G P on 15 May (NC Pegler) Red-throated Pipit at Bodenham on 7 May (S Klasan) Long-eared Owl at Bodenham on 10 May (S Klasan) Wood Sandpiper at Brockhall GP on 13 May (AH Eveleigh) Sanderling at Wellington GP on 14 May (GS Bilbao) Cetti’s Warbler on the River Wye at Clifford on 16 May (JL Russell) Firecrest at Staunton Park on 17 May (P Jennings) Wood Sandpiper at Brockhall GP on 19 May (NC Pegler) Common Scoter adult male, adult female, plus 2 immature males at Boden- ham Lake on 19 May (P & T Downes) Lesser Yellowlegs at Hereford Quarry on 20 May (SP Coney) Cream-coloured Courser at Bradnor Hill on 20 May (Mrs C Downes PH 19 Downes) Honey Buzzard at Wellington GP on 23 May (GS Bilbao) Turnstone summer male at Brockhall GP on 26 May (NC Pegler) Short-eared Owl at Honeymoor Common in Jun (Brian Davis) 4 x White Storks at King George V playing-fields on 3 June (Annie Cook) 2 x Arctic Terns at Hartleton Lakes on 5 Jun (AH Eveleigh) Arctic Tern at Hartleton Lakes on 8 Jun (AH Eveleigh) Arctic Tern at Wellington GP on 26 Jun (PG Bradley) Spotted Redshank adult summer at Brockhall GP on 27 Jun (NC Pegler) Ring-necked Parakeet at Adforton from July to September (J Voysey) Wood Sandpiper at Brockhall GP on 2 Jul (SP Coney) Red-breasted Merganser eclipse male at Brockhall GP on 2 July (NC Pegler) Long-eared Owl at Upper Breinton on 5 July (K Venus) Garganey juvenile at Brockhall GP on 14 Aug (NC Pegler) Arctic Tern at Hereford Quarry on 17 Aug (SP Coney) Garganey juvenile at Wellington GP on 25 Aug (P & T Downes) 3 x Garganey juveniles at Hereford Quarry on 1 Sep (AH Eveleigh A Marchant) Manx Shearwater mortally wounded at Wellington Heath on 10 Sept (Ian Mackie) Ruff at Wellington GP on 5 Oct (NC Pegler) Common Scoter 5 male and 4 female at Wellington GP on 10 Oct (NC Pe- gler) Ring Ouzel at Bradnor Hill on 13 Oct (PH Downes) Siberian Stonechat first winter female at Wellington GP on 27 Oct (P & T Downes) Hen Harrier male at Harewood End on 5 Nov (A Buttriss) Little Bunting at Kingsland on 7 Nov (NS Morris) Slavonian Grebe at Wellington GP on 17 Nov (P &T Downes NC Pegler) Great White Egret at Brockhall GP on 25 Nov (NC Pegler SP Coney) 20 The Systematic List 2012 Introduction: The Systematic List is a summary of the records submitted to the Club, or extracted from other sources, detailing all species encountered in Herefordshire over the course of the year. Increasingly, we face an electronic future and recently the Club has attempted to encourage members to submit their bird records to the County Recorder in spreadsheet form as this helps enormously in their processing and collation. Contributors are urged to follow the instructions on the HOC website for submission of records (http://www.herefordshirebirds.org/HOC/Records.html), but for those who wish to continue to submit paper records, these too can be converted to spreadsheet form with help from willing hands. There is always room for improvement in the submission of annual records so that the Club’s Annual Reports will have enhanced scientific value and it is hoped in future that this can be achieved with better guidelines and greater use of electronic sources of information. The sequence of species listed, species names, and the taxonomy follows the online version of the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) British List (17 February 2012 update) (BOU 2012). The English common or vernacular name from the British List is given first, followed by the scientific name. Where the agreed IOC international English name (Gill & Donsker 2010) and the vernacular name differ, the IOC English name is shown in brackets. An alphabetical index (p 102) of common names is provided to assist the reader to locate species. In addition to the brief phrase describing the occurrence and status of each species, the national (UK) status of those species which are of conservation concern: Birds of Conservation Concern 3 (BoCC3), (Eaton et al., 2009) is given in terms of their Red or Amber listings. Gerald Wells lReferences: BOU (2012) British List: http://www.bou.org.uk/thebritishlist/British-List-2012-01- 15.pdf Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G., Musgrove, A.J., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J., Gib- bons, D.W., Evans, A. & Gregory, R.D. (2009). Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds, 102: 296–341. Gill, F. & Donsker, D. (eds) (2010). IOC World Bird List (version 2.5). Available at: http://www.worldbirdnames.org [http://www.worldbirdnames.org/updates/archives/english-names-updates/] Records for 2012 Abbreviations: GP: Gravel Pits; IE: Industrial Estate; NR: Nature Reserve; juv: juvenile; f: female; ff: females; m: male; mm: males; pr: pair; prs: pairs; - : no records received Mute Swan Cygnus olor Common resident breeder and common winter visitor Records: 235 records from 59 sites The highest counts were: 100 at Wellington GP on 2 Jan (including orange V47 ringed 21 at Much Wenlock rescue centre); 175 at R Wye Ballingham on 2 Jan; 80 at Letton Lakes on 15 Jan; 85 on a rape field at R Wye Foy on 12 Feb; 75 at R Wye Hoarwithy on 17 Apr; 70 at Wellington GP on 1 Jul; 72 at R Wye Fownhope on 29 Nov; 80 at R Wye Holme Lacy on 1 Dec; and 119 at Hole-in-the-Wall on 9 Dec. Breeding was confirmed at 13 sites: 1 pr with 6 juvs at Berrington Hall Pool; 1 pr at Brockhall GP; 3 adults with 7 juvs at R Wye Castleton and Winforton; 1 pr with 6 juvs at Hartleton Lakes; 1 pr with 7 juvs (4 only survived) at Mill Farm; 1 pr with 7 juvs at Oxhouse Farm Shobdon; 1 pr at R Wye Turners Boat; 1 pr with 4 juvs at Tyberton Pools; 2 prs with 1 and 3 juvs at Wellington GP; 1 pr at R Wye Bredwardine ; 1 pr (nest waterlogged) at R Wye Bunch of Carrots; 1 pr at R Wye Hampton Bishop and 1 pr at R Wye Holme Lacy. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Scarce winter visitor and rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 13 records from 6 sites Records were: 4 adults at Marsh Farm on 2 Jan; 4 adults at Brockhall GP on 6 and 7 Jan; 1 at R Wye Clifford on 10 Jan; 2 adults at Brockhall GP on 14 Jan; 5 adults at Clifford on 26 Jan; 5 adults at Willersley on 28 Jan; 1 flying towards the lakes at Shobdon on 3 Oct; 12 on new workings at Wellington GP on 30 and 31 Oct; 1 adult on roadside pit at Wellington GP on 10 Nov and 2 adults at R Wye-Clifford on 9 and 15 Dec. Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus Rare winter visitor and rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 16 records from 3 sites Records were: 1 flying with Canada Goose flock at Trippleton on 7 Jan (P&T Downes); 1 adult at Wellington GP on 28 Mar (AH Eveleigh); 1 adult there on 30 and 31 Mar and on 1 and 6 April; 1 at Berrington Hall Pool on 7 Apr (T&V Cooke) a different bird from the one at Wellington GP; 1 adult at Wellington GP on 7, 19 20, 21, 22, and 28 Apr; 1 adult at Wellington GP on 1 and 6 May and 1 at Berrington Hall Pool in May. White-fronted Goose (Greater White-fronted Goose) Anser albifrons Scarce winter visitor and rare passage migrant Records: 1 record One at Wellington GP on 15 Mar. Greylag Goose Anser anser Rare resident introduced breeder and scarce winter visitor BCC listed: Amber Records: 108 records from 19 sites Records were: 1 at Wellington GP on 1 Jan; 14 at Berrington Hall Pool in Jan; 1 at Brockhall GP on 12 and 15 Jan; 1 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 15 Jan; 1 at R Wye Mon- nington on 17 Jan; 1 at Wellington GP on 25 Jan; 2 at Berrington Hall Pool in Feb; at Wellington GP 1 on 4 Feb, 17 on 5 Feb, 14 on 7 Feb, 21 on 8 Feb, 12 on 9 Feb, 11 on 11 and 12 Feb; 5 at Tyberton pools on 14 Feb; 2 at Wellington GP on 3 and 4 Mar; 4 at 22 Berrington Hall Pool on 11 Mar; 1 at Wellington GP on 10, 11 and 17 Mar; 4 at Brockhall GP on 20 Mar; 1 at Kenchester Pools on 20 Mar; 1 at Brockhall GP on 21 Mar; at Wellington GP, 2 on 23 Mar, 1 on 25 Mar, 6 on 28 Mar; 1 at Hereford Quarry on 28 Mar; at Wellington GP, 2 on 30 Mar, 6 on 31 Mar; 2 at Bodenham Lake in Apr; 4 at Berrington Hall Pool in Apr; 1 pr at Wellington GP 1 Apr; 9 at Brockhall GP on 3 Apr; 4 at Brockhall GP on 6 Apr; 3 at Wellington GP on 6 Apr; 3 at Stocklow on 6 Apr; at Wellington GP, 4 on 7 Apr, 11 on 8 Apr, 7 on 9 Apr; 4 at Letton Lakes on 14 Apr; 1 m at R Wye Bredwardine on 19 Apr (paired with a Canada); 5 at Wellington GP on 19 Apr and 2 there on 21 Apr; 1 at Brockhall GP on 21 Apr; 2 at Stocklow Manor on 21 Apr; 3 at Wellington GP on 22 Apr; 4 at Brockhall GP on 22 Apr (White F6K. Ringed as pullis on 7 Jul 2011at Parkend Pond); 1 pr at Berrington Hall Pool in May; 2 at Springfield Clifford on 3 May; 1 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 5 May; 2 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 5 May; 1 at R Wye-Bredwardine on 5 May (with a pair of Canadas); 3 at Wellington GP on 5 May; 1 pr at Fishpool Cottage on 9 May; 3 at Staunton Park on 15 May; 3 at Staunton Green on 15 May; 1 at Bodenham Lake on 16 May; 1 at Brockhall GP on 26 May; 1 at Wellington GP on 30 May; 1 at R Wye Brid- stow bridge on 31 May; 1 at Bodenham Lake in Jun. At Wellington GP, 1 on 2 Jun, 2 on 9 Jun, 3 on 12 Jun, 2 on 13 and 23 Jun, 1 on 1 Jul, 3 on 8 Jul, 4 on 14 and 15 Jul; 1 at Brockhall GP on 5 Aug; 6 at Wellington GP on 10 Aug, 4 there on 11 Aug; 4 at Brockhall GP on 11 Aug; At Wellington GP, 5 on 14 Aug, 6 on 17 Aug, 3 on 18 Aug, 6 on 19 Aug, 5 on 23 and 24 Aug, 3 on 25 Aug, 6 on 26 Aug, 5 on 27 Aug, 2 on 1 Sep; 2 at Brockhall GP on 9 Sep; 1 at Wellington GP on 22 Sep; 1 at Brockhall GP on 23 and 27 Sep; 1 at Brockhall GP in Oct. 3 at Brockhall GP on 7 and 17 Oct; 1 at Wellington GP on 26 Oct; 1 at Brockhall GP on 1 and 18 Nov; 2 at Wellington GP on 25 Nov; 2 at Berrington Hall Pool in Dec; At Wellington GP, 3 on 1 Dec, 2 on 2 Dec, 1 on 4 Dec, 2 on 6 Dec, 3 on 8 Dec, 8 on 9 Dec; 1 at Bodenham Lake on 18 Dec; 1 at Wellington GP on 23 Dec and 3 there on 27 Dec. Breeding was confirmed at Berrington Hall Pool 1 pr with 1 juv in May. Canada Goose Branta canadensis Common resident introduced breeder Records: 202 records from 52 sites The highest counts were: 150 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 7 Jan; 1000 at Brockhall GP on 19 Jan; 200 at R Wye Moccas on 7 Feb; 141 at Bodenham Lake in Aug; 326 at Wellington GP on 24 Aug; 110 at Milton Cross on 6 Sep (on wheat stubble); 132 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 29 Sep; 200 at Shobdon IE on 3 Oct; 274 at Lower Moccas on 1 Dec and 119 at Hartleton Lake on 5 Dec. Breeding was confirmed at 13 sites: 10 prs at Brockhall GP; 5 juvs at Berrington Hall Pool; 14 adults and 4 juvs at Wellington GP; 24 adults at Hartleton Lakes; 1 pr with 4 juvs at Tyberton Pools; 1 pr at Weston Farm Bredwardine; 1 pr at R Wye Bredwar- dine; 1 pr with 5 juvs at Burton Court; 2 juvs at Yazor; 2 prs and 9 juvs at Tyberton ; 4 adults and 6 juvs (one brood) at Walford Tumulus; 1 pr at Wilmaston Farm and 1 pr 23 with 4 juvs plus an adult at Burtons Lane. Lesser Canada Goose Branta canadensis minima Vagrant of unknown origin Records: 3 records from 1 site One at Brockhall GP on 8 and 15 Jan, also 1 on 18 Feb. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Rare resident introduced breeder and rare winter visitor BCC listed: Amber Records: 56 records from 9 sites Sightings were: 6 at Wellington GP on 4 Jan; 1 at R Wye Foy on 6 Jan (with Canada Geese); 6 at Wellington GP on 7 Jan; 2 at Brockhall GP on 8 Jan; 6 at Wellington GP on 14 Jan; 2 at Brockhall GP on 15 Jan; 1 at Hartleton Lakes on 22 Jan; 6 at Welling- ton GP on 28 and 29 Jan; 2 at Brockhall GP on 4 Jan; 6 at Wellington GP on 4, 5, 7 and 9 Feb; 2 at Brockhall GP on 15 and 18 Feb; 6 at Bodenham Lake on 3 and 4 March; 2 at Brockhall GP on 4,8,14 and 17 Mar; 1 at Monkton Earthworks pond on 17 Mar (paired with Canada Goose); 2 at Kenchester Pools on 20 Mar; 2 at Brockhall GP on 21 Mar; 8 at Wellington GP on 24 Mar; 10 at Brockhall GP on 24 Mar; 6 at Boden- ham Lake on 25 Mar; 2 at Brockhall GP on 1 Apr and 2 there on 8 Apr; 1 at Boden- ham Lake on 27 May; 2 at Wellington GP on 10 Jun; 4 at Brockhall GP on 30 Jun; 1 at Hole-in-the-Wall on 1 Jul; 2 at Brockhall GP on 2 Jul; 4 at Bodenham Lake in Jul; 2 at Wellington GP on 10 Aug; at Wellington GP, 4 on 11, 14, 17 and 18 Aug, 8 on 23 Aug, 6 on 24 Aug, 2 on 25 Aug, 4 on 26 Aug; 1 at Hampton Bishop on 29 Sep; 2 at Brock- hall GP on 7 and 17 Oct; 6 at Wellington GP on 17 Nov and 4 there on 1 Dec; 4 at Bo- denham Lake on 2 Dec; at Wellington GP, 4 on 4 Dec, 6 on 5 Dec, 4 on 8 and 9 Dec. Brent Goose (Brant Goose) Branta bernicla Rare winter visitor and rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 2 records from 1 site The individual (1st winter) recorded in 2011 (14th County record) was still present at Bodenham Lake on 1 and 4 Jan. Shelduck (Common Shelduck) Tadorna tadorna Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 37 records from 8 sites Sightings were: 1 at Wellington GP on 16 Jan; 6 at Brockhall GP on 7 Feb; 1 at Springfield Clifford on 8 Feb; 5 at Wellington GP on 12 Feb; 2 at Hereford Quarry on 14 Feb; 3 at Letton Lakes on 9 Mar; 1m at Brockhall GP on 20 Mar; 2 at Wellington GP on 21 Mar; 1m at Brockhall GP on 22 Mar, 1m 1f there on 24 and 25 Mar; 1 pr at Wellington GP on 30 and 31 Mar; 1m at Brockhall GP on 31 Mar, 1 pr there on 1 Apr; 2 at Wellington GP on 1 Apr; 2 at Letton Lakes on 14 Apr; 2 at Brockhall GP on 21 Apr; 5m at Wellington GP on 7 May; 1pr at Brockhall GP on 13 May (18:00 to 18:20 then flew east) 14 and 15 May; 2 at Letton Lakes on 15 May; 1 pr at Brockhall GP on 19 May; 1 pr at Brockhall GP on 26 and 30 May; 2 at Brockhall GP on 6 Jun; 1m at Brockhall GP on 9 and 23 Jun, 1 pr there on 24 Jun; 1 pr at the Glyn in Jun; 1m and 24 2ff at Wellington GP on 9 Dec; 1 pr at Leominster by-pass on 22 and 23 Dec (on floodwater by old Leominster road) and 3 at Wergins Bridge on 31 Dec. Mandarin Aix galericulata Scarce introduced breeder Records: 68 records from 49 sites Sightings were: 8 at R Wye Foy on 6 Jan; 1pr at Bodenham Lake on 10 and 16 Jan; 2 at Backney Bridge on 28 Jan; 20 at Sellack Boat on 5 Feb; 1 at R Wye Holme Lacy on 17 Feb; 3mm and 4ff at Phocle Green on 19 Feb; 1m at R Wye Old Bridge on 28 Feb; 1pr at R Monnow Llancillo on 3 Mar; 6 at R Wye Caradoc on 8 Mar; 2 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 20 and 27 Mar; 1 at Bodenham on 27 Mar; 2 at R Wye Holme Lacy on 30 Mar; 1m at Hole-in-the-Wall on 1 Apr; 7 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 2 Apr; 1pr at R Monnow Ruthin Mill on 2 Apr; 1pr plus 2mm at R Monnow Tregate Bridge on 2 Apr; 2 at R Wye Broomy Hill on 2 Apr; 1pr at R Wye Capler on 8 Apr; 1 at Belmont Golf Course on 12 Apr; 1m at R Monnow Llancillo on 13 Apr; 1pr at Wilmaston Farm on 24 Apr; 2 mm at Hole-in-the-Wall on 28 Apr; 1m at Lower Shen- more on 7 May; 1m at Walford Tumulus on 7 May; 2 at Mowley Wood on 8 May; 1pr at Horseway Head (on R Arrow) on 8 May; 3 at R Wye Holme Lacy on 16 May; 8 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 18 May; 1m at R Monnow Clodock on 18 May; 1m at R Lugg Hampton Bishop on 26 May; 17 at R Wye Holme Lacy on 30 May; 3mm and 1f at R Wye Ballingham on 4 Jun; 1f at Craswall on 12 Jun; 1 at R Wye Belmont on 15 Jul; 1f at R Wye Ballingham on 1 Aug; 1 at R Wye Coppet Hill on 12 Aug; 2 at R Wye/R Lugg confluence on 25 Aug; 3 at R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 13 Sep; 1pr at R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 16 Sep; 20 at Rudhall Court on 1 Oct; 11 at Dadnor Court on 1 Oct; 1pr at Ballingham on 12 Oct; 1 at Canwood Farm on 23 Oct; 1 R Monnow Ruthin Mill on 28 Oct; 6 at Sellack on 29 Nov; 1 at Hereford Quarry on 16 Dec; 2mm and 1f at Huntington Court Farm on 17 Dec; and 2 at Warners Farm on 24 Dec. Breeding was confirmed at 1 site: Wilmaston Farm. Wigeon (Eurasian Wigeon) Anas penelope Very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 143 records from 14 sites Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 101 11 6 - - - - - 1 14 7 88 Lake Brockhall 120 80 28 1 - - - - 11 30 50 97 GP Wellington 7 58 46 1 - - - - 11 29 100 102 GP Hereford 15 72 24 - - - - - 13 - 14 85 Quarry Letton Lakes 22 1 1 ------18 25 American Wigeon Anas americana Vagrant from North America Records: 6 records from 1 site The individual f (2nd County record) recorded at Bodenham Lake in 2011 remained there on 1, 2, 20, 21, and 28 Jan; also on 15 Feb. it returned after the site was ice- locked. Gadwall Anas strepera Scarce resident breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 101 records from 9 sites Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP - - 5 3 2 5 - - 2 - - - Wellington 9 18 5 6 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 4 GP Hartleton 6 2 6 4 2 4* 22* - - - 2 - Lakes Hereford 4 - 2 ------Quarry Lower Fox------15 2 hall Lake Titley Pool 2 ------* Includes juvs Evidence of breeding came from from one site: 1 pr with 2 juvs at Hartleton on 22 Jun; 1 pr with 9 juvs on 2 Jul and 3 prs with 10, 4 and 2 juvs on 3 Jul. Teal (Eurasian Teal) Anas crecca Very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 164 records from 23 sites Monthly maxima for main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 30 - 6 5 - - - 2 - 7 - 45 Lake Brockhall GP 68 30 30 8 - 1 1 9 22 20 30 100 Wellington 51 54 29 7 - - 1 1 25 20 30 120 GP Hartleton 5 8 6 ------2 6 Lakes Letton Lakes 1 125 ------15 25 Hereford 92 110 29 11 - - - - 7 1 28 88 Quarry 26 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 226 records from 56 sites Monthly maxima from main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington 49 6 11 8 10 - 8 24 2 3 2 - Hall Pools Bodenham 53 10 42 10 6 11 23 10 53 39 26 36 Lake R Wye Castleton & 15 - - 10 9 - 12* 7 2 4 - - Winforton Brockhall GP 64 48 30 22* 39* 22 22 52 30 50 50 60 Wellington 152 318 41 18* - - - 286 355 50 300 433 GP Hartleton 119 84 24 35 17 40* 100 165* 142 18 - 76 Lakes ` Letton Lakes 22 38 20 11 9 64 8 26 86 32 59 8 Hereford 54 55 46 14 9 16 14 11 19 42 24 102 Quarry R Wye – Bunch of - - - - - 6* 15 17* 34 10 5 - Carrots * Includes juvs Breeding recorded from 12 sites: R Wye Castleton and Winforton, Shobdon Court, Brockhall GP, Wellington GP, Hartleton Lakes, Turners Boat, R Lugg Hampton Bishop, Pudleston, R Wye Bunch of Carrots, Stapleton Castle Court, Walford Tumulus and Moor Court. Pintail (Northern Pintail) Anas acuta Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 21 records from 5 sites Sightings were: 1m 3ff at Wellington GP on 1 Jan; 1m and 3ff at Brockhall GP on 7 Jan, 3mm and 5ff there on 8 Jan; at Wellington GP, 1 on 16 Jan, 2mm on 21 Jan, 2mm and 1f on 5 Feb; 4 at Sellack Boat on 5 Feb; at Wellington GP, 1m and 3ff on 7 Feb, 3 on 8 Feb, 1m on 9, 11 and 12 Feb; 1 at Letton Lakes on 9 Mar; 1pr at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 7 Apr; at Wellington GP, 1 on 3 Oct, 2 on 26 Oct, 1m on 26 Nov, 1imm m on 29 Nov, 1imm m on 1 Dec, 7 on 5 Dec and 3mm and 3ff on 29 Dec. Garganey Anas querquedula Rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 8 records from 3 sites 27 Sightings were: 1 juv at Brockhall GP on 14 August (NC Pegler) also on 15, 16, 17 and 19 Aug; 1 juv on the new workings at Wellington GP on 25 Aug (P&T Downes) also on 26 Aug and 3 at Hereford Quarry, disturbed from pit nearest to the A4103 and flew east on 1 Sep (AH Eveleigh A Marchant). Shoveler (Northern Shoveler) Anas clypeata Scarce summer visitor, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 59 records from 6 sites Monthly maxima for all sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Titley Pool 5 ------Kenchester - - 3 ------Pools Brockhall GP 4 4 2 2 2 - - 3 - - - - Wellington 2 6 22 - - - 1 - 12 19 10 31 GP Shenmore - 3 ------Pool Hereford - - 2 2 ------Quarry

Pochard (Common Pochard) Aythya ferina Very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 89 records from 6 sites Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 4 ------1 Lake Brockhall GP 14 14 6 - - 1 - - - 1 2 1 Wellington 15 24 5 3 2 1 1 2 1 8 10 9 GP Hereford 2 11 7 ------Quarry

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Uncommon resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 169 records from 30 sites 28 Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 30 7 32 32 8 7 14 8 4 1 - 6 Lake Titley Pool 45 - - 6 2 ------88 Brockhall GP 25 35 35 29 12 16 - 1 20 16 14 10 Wellington 98 145 72 42 23 45 99* 128 114 16 - 134 GP Hartleton - - 1 - 5 6 4 - - - 3 - Lakes Letton Lakes 1 - 32 3 - 1 ------Hereford 37 46 42 35 11 9 2* 8* 18 11 12 31 Quarry *includes juvs Breeding was recorded at 6 sites: Shobdon Court Lakes, Wellington GP, Little Berrington, Garway, Hereford Quarry and R Wye Bunch of Carrots. Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Rare winter visitor and rare passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 4 records from 2 sites Sightings were: 1 adult m 1 adult f plus 2 immature mm at Bodenham Lake on 19 May (P&T Downes) also on 20 and 21 May and 5 mm and 4 ff at Wellington GP on 10 Oct (NC Pegler). Goldeneye (Common Goldeneye) Bucephala clangula Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 71 records from 6 sites Monthly maxima from all sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 10 9 10 4 - - - - - 2 10 13 Lake R Wye Sink - 5 ------Green Brockhall GP ------3 - Wellington 9 13 10 2 - - - - - 1 7 7 GP Bodenham - - 4 ------Hereford - 4 ------Quarry 29 Smew Mergellus albellus Rare winter visitor and rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 5 records from 3 sites Sightings were: 1 “redhead” at Wellington GP on 3 Feb on a small ice free area on the new workings; 1f at Hereford Quarry on 11 and 12 Feb; 1 “redhead” at Wellington GP on 12 Feb and 1f at Brockhall GP on 14 Feb. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Rare winter visitor and rare passage migrant Records: 1 record The sighting was: 1 eclipse male at Brockhall GP on 2 Jul (NC Pegler), the 19th County record. Goosander (Common Merganser) Mergus merganser Uncommon resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 154 records from 47 sites Monthly maxima from the main recorded sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP 60 100 1 - - 1 - - 26 24 36 35 Hartleton 10 10 ------10 Lake Wellington 12 11 3 1 - - - - 2 1 5 9 GP R Wye - 15 ------3 2 Bartonsham R Wye Bunch - 2 2 9* 8 10* 11* 30 25 - 3 - of Carrots R Wye Castle- ton & - - - 8 2 - - - 2 1 - - Winforton * Includes juvs Breeding was recorded at 7 sites: Lower Lugg Meadows, R Wye Bredwardine, R Wye Bunch of Carrots, R Wye Rotherwas, R Monnow, R Wye Ballingham and Leint- wardine Fishery. Red Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan) Lagopus lagopus Scarce resident breeder BCC listed: Amber Records: 5 records from 3 sites The sightings were: six at Hatterall Hill on 13 Feb and 4 on 24 Mar; 1 at Upper Blaen on 14 Feb and 2 at Black Hill on 14 Feb and 3 on 31 Jul. Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Common introduced breeding resident 30 Records: 31 records from 18 sites Groups of 20 or greater were noted on a number of winter and autumn dates: 39 pass- ing slowly through a garden adjoining pasture at Bridge End Farm on 21 Jan; 47 at Milton Cross on 14 Oct, 80 there on the 16 Oct, 22 on 17 Nov and 21 on 24 Nov; 47 on newly sown winter wheat at Staunton Green on 26 Oct; 20 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 27 Oct and 20 at Bridge End Farm on 8 Dec. Twenty-five released birds were noted at Wapley Hill in Feb. Display behaviour was recorded among 6 birds at Staunton-on- Arrow on 18 Feb. Single prs were reported at Garway Common on 10 and 12 Apr, at Shobdon in Apr and at Horseway Head on 11 May. Remaining records were distributed largely through the spring and winter months. Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Uncommon resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 8 records from 4 sites Most records were of probable released stock: 10 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 1 Jan, 3 there on 15 Jan, 15 on 21 Jan and 2mm on 26 Feb (believed to originate from releases on the Downton estate in 2011); 5 at Chances Pitch on 14 Jan and 3 on 5 Feb (released from South Hyde Farm Mathon) and 3 at South Hyde Farm in Jan. Five were also noted at Colwall Green on 14 Jan. Quail (Common Quail) Coturnix coturnix Rare to scarce migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 4 records from 3 sites The earliest date was a single bird calling at Tow Tree Lane on 24 May, also heard on 25 May and the latest a male calling at Brampton Bryan from a barley field on 13 June. Again in a barley field, the only other record was of 1 at Bishopstone on 28 May. Pheasant (Common Pheasant) Phasianus colchicus Abundant introduced resident breeder Records: 99 records from 39 sites The records almost certainly reflect that few observers regularly include this abundant species in their site visit lists. At the 8 sites (Hereford Quarry, Berrington Hall Pool, R Wye Castleton and Winforton, Merbach Hill, Letton Lakes, Credenhill Park Wood, Copper Beeches Close and Queenswood Dinmore) from which records were received on at least one day in each of 5-11 months of the year, numbers recorded were mainly in single figures, but 15 were noted at Letton Lakes on 13 Jan and 13 on 10 Nov. A greater number, 65, was recorded only at Stockley Cross on 31 Dec. Apart from a maximum of 12 at Stapleton Castle Court in Jan and 10 at Wapley Hill in Jan and Mar, monthly maxima, where recorded, were invariably less than 10. Remaining records from widespread sites were of single figure counts. Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Storm- blown BCC listed: Amber Records: 1 record from 1 site A moribund individual was found in brambles on 10 Sep in a field at Wellington Heath and died shortly after (I Mackie). 31 Cormorant (Great Cormorant) Phalacrocorax carbo Non-breeding common resident and very common winter visitor Records: 162 records from 34 sites Monthly maxima for those sites recorded in 4 or more months of the year: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington - - 9 3 - - 1 - - - 23 - Hall Pool Bodenham 67 31 40 9 5 10 12 18 26 36 14 40 Lake Brockhall GP 20 - - - - 4 - 15 1 - 30 20 R Wye Castle- ton & 5 - - - 1 - 2 1 2 2 - - Winforton Hartleton ------1 1 - 3 4 Lakes Hereford 5 2 4 1 - 1 - 3 4 5 3 2 Quarry Letton Lakes 3 21 13 - 1 - - - - - 3 2 R Wye Bunch - 1 - - - 1 1 1 2 - 4 - of Carrots Wellington GP 25 24 9 2 9 - 25 25 90 75 30 8 Records of 10 or more birds at other sites: 14 flying SW at Stocklow on 23 Oct; 16 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 30 Oct and 21 on 6 Nov; 18 at Stocklow Manor on 30 Oct and 20 on 4 Dec. Bittern (Eurasian Bittern) Botaurus stellaris Very rare winter visitor and very rare passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 1 record A singleton was at Wellington GP on 14 Jan (T, P & C Downes NC Pegler SP Coney). Little Egret Egretta garzetta Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 36 records from 7 sites Most records (25) were perhaps inevitably, from the well monitored site of Wellington GP. There were records from this site in Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov; all of single adults, apart from 2 on 31 Oct. In most months with multiple records some clus- tering of dates suggested possible recurrence of the same individual bird at the site. Other records of more than one bird were: 8 at Garway Common flying towards St Weonards on 6 May; 2 at Brockley Meadows on 2 and 30 Dec; 2 at Graham’s Cottage Bridge on 8 Dec and 2 on flood water at Criftin Ford Bridge on 15 Dec. Singletons were also noted at: Criftin Ford Bridge on 1 Jan and 4 and 30 Dec; Turners Boat on 17 May; and at Hereford Quarry on 14 Oct (flying over) and 18 Nov. Great White Egret (Great Egret) Ardea Alba Vagrant from Europe Records: 21 records from 2 sites 32 These records are probably of the same bird, first observed at Brockhall GP at 07.45 hrs on 25 Nov (NC Pegler et al.). This is the 1st County record. There were further records of one bird on the consecutive days (26-28 Nov) at this site and then again on 2 Dec. Interestingly, a Great White Egret was first recorded at Wellington GP on 30 Nov and subsequently on 1, 2 and 4-9 Dec and then 22-30 Dec. The timing of the oc- currences at both Wellington GP and Brockhall GP on 2 Dec allow a perfectly plausi- ble flight time for a return of the bird from Wellington GP to Brockhall GP. Observations at Wellington GP on 9 Dec suggest that the bird did not roost at the site. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Uncommon resident breeder Records: 192 records from 48 sites This represents a 40% increase in records and 23% more sites recorded compared to 2011, reflecting an increased effort in the last year of the County Atlas field work. Breeding was recorded at 7 sites. Eight prs were at Berrington Hall Pool on 11 and 26 Mar (this was considered an incomplete count as there was restricted access to the site because of blue-green algal growth in the period) and 23 birds and 19 nests in Apr. Five prs were at Leach Pool on 23 Mar; a maximum of 5 prs at Buckton heronry on 13 Apr, with 3 prs and 1 juv there on 22 Apr; 41 prs at Bumper Pool Weston Farm on 20 Mar and a maximum of 5 prs at Eccleswall Court on 13 Mar and 16 Apr and 8 nests on 16 Apr. Breeding was also recorded at Pool Plantation Knill on 27 Feb and at We- ston Farm Bredwardine with 4 birds there on 19 Apr. Records were received for all months of the year and at non-breeding sites visited in more than six months of the year, maxima were: 2 at Hartleton Lakes in Jan, May, Aug and on 5 Dec; 4 at Hereford Quarry on 24 Feb and 6 Oct; 8 at Letton Lakes on 9 Mar; 3 at R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 17 Jun; 2 at Brockhall GP on 5 Jul and in Aug; an adult with 4 juvs at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 10 Sep; 3 at Bodenham Lake in Oct and 8 at Wellington GP on 24 Nov. At the remaining 33 sites 1-2 adults were noted, except for 6 at Letton Lake brook feeding on stranded dace on 18 Mar and 3 at Springfield Clifford on 1 May. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Vagrant from Europe Records: 1 record Four were noted at King George V playing fields Hereford on 3 Jun (Annie Cook). This was the 6th County record. These birds were tracked across several counties, including Gloucestershire and Gwent. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Uncommon resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 72 records from 21 sites Breeding was recorded at a single site: an adult with 1 juv at Wellington GP on 5 Sep. Most records were of single birds and predominantly in winter, peaking at 14 records in Jan. Maxima were: 4 at Bodenham Lake on 1, 3 and 4 Jan; 6 at R Wye Hampton 33 Bishop on 27 Jan and 4 at Wellington GP on 6 Oct. Records were also received from Wellington GP in Jan and Feb and Jul-Dec. Other sites recording singles on multiple occasions were: Berrington Hall Pool, Bodenham Lake, Brockhall GP, Hereford Quarry and R Wye Bunch of Carrots. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Scarce resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 124 records from 9 sites Breeding evidence was obtained from 3 sites: one pr with nest at Wellington GP on 4 Aug and a pr with 2 juvs on the new workings there on 25 Aug, with subsequent sightings of a pr with a maximum of 3 juvs noted on 5 dates Aug-Oct, the last on 10 Oct. A pr at Hartleton Lakes, first noted on 14 May, had a nest and 1 egg on 23 May, a single juv on 22 Jun and 2 juvs on 29 May. A pr recorded at Hereford Quarry on 4 dates from 20 May to 6 Jul was unsuccessful, deserting a nest flooded on 23 June. Monthly maxima for the more frequently monitored sites: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 2 - 2 2 - - 1 1 1 - - - Lake Brockhall GP 2 1 2 - 3 2 3 3 1 2 3 - Wellington 10 8 13 7 5 15 17 20* 28* 7 20 13 GP Hartleton - 1 2 1 2 4* 2 2 - - - - Lakes Hereford 2 2 3 3 3 2 3 2 1 1 - - Quarry * maxima includes juvs Other records were: 2 at Eastnor Park on 29 Jan and 8 May; and singles at R Wye Old Bridge on 13 Mar; Lower Lugg Meadows on 6 May and Letton Lakes on 12 May. Slavonian Grebe (Horned Grebe) Podiceps auritus Very rare winter visitor and very rare passage migrant Records: 1 record One flew from the roadside pit at Wellington GP late afternoon on 17 Nov (P &T Downes NC Pegler). This is the 8th county record. Honey-buzzard (European Honey Buzzard) Pernis apivorus Extinct breeder and rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 1 record One was noted briefly perched in dead tree on the new workings at Wellington GP on 23 May (GS Bilbao). Red Kite Milvus milvus Rare resident breeder, scarce winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber 34 Records: 164 records from 106 sites The number of annual records of this species continues to increase. The sites at which it is recorded are widespread, but concentrated in the north and west of the county in summer and winter. There were records in all months, most in the period Mar-Oct, with 44 in winter (Nov-Feb). Total records by month: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 10 8 15 17 36 15 5 3 16 13 10 16 Single prs were noted at 2 sites; at one of which breeding was known to be unsuccessful. Although over 80% of records were of single birds there were: 3 adults and 3 juvs at Criftin Ford Bridge on 1 Jan and 5 there on 15 Jan; 5 at Bradnor Hill on 13 Oct and 8 adults at Brandon Villa on 2 Dec. A single with a wing tag was seen at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 28 Jan. Mobbing of individuals by Carrion Crow, Raven or Buzzard was associated with 5 records.

Hen Harrier (Hen Harrier/Northern Harrier) Circus cyaneus Scarce winter visitor and scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 1 record A single male was noted flying south-west at Harewood End on 5 Nov (A Buttriss).

Goshawk (Northern Goshawk) Accipiter gentilis Resident and introduced uncommon breeder Records: 28 records from 23 sites There were records in all months except Aug and Sep. All records were of single birds except for 3 at Doctor’s Wood and at Llanrothal on 24 Mar. There were no records of breeding.

Sparrowhawk (Eurasian Sparrowhawk) Accipiter nisus Common resident breeder Records: 157 records from 77 sites All records were of widely distributed single m or f adults apart from: 2 at Holmer in Jan-Mar; 3 at Wellington GP on 1 Apr and 2 there on 27 Oct and 18 Nov; 2 at Boden- ham Lake on 30 Apr; 2 at Credenhill Park Wood in Apr and a juv at Wellington GP on 17 Aug. There were no confirmed breeding records, but single prs were noted at Mun- stone Road, Apr-Jun and at Brockhall GP on 1 Apr. Identified prey species pursued and/or caught included Woodpigeon, Starling, Blackbird, House Sparrow and Goldfinch.

Buzzard (Common Buzzard) Buteo buteo Abundant resident breeder Records: 260 records from 87 sites Sightings were widespread throughout the year. Evidence of breeding included: a pr at Wellington GP on 25 Mar; 1 pr at Acton Beauchamp on 13 Jun; 1 pr at Bromesberrow 35 on 25 Jun; 1 juv at Stretton Sugwas on 28 Jun; 1 pr with 2 juv at St Mary’s Park in Jun; 1 adult with 1 juv at Dormington on 12 July; 2 juvs at R Wye Castleton and Win- forton on 7 Aug; juvs heard at Breinton on 9 Aug and 1 adult with 1 juv at Fownhope on 4 Sep. Breeding activity was also noted at Credenhill Park Wood in Jun and Aug and at Copper Beeches Close, Jul-Sep. Display behaviour was seen among 6 birds at Yazor Wood on 20 Mar. Maximum counts at sites recording 10 or more birds were: 35 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 7 Jan; 25 at High Vinnals on 25 Feb; 12 at Coneygree Wood on 26 Feb; 10 at Gar- way Common on 20 Mar; 25 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 31 Mar; 20 at Hergest Gardens on 1 Apr; 12 at Red Daren on 14 Apr;15 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 5 May; 12 at Wellington GP on 13 May; 18 at Hereford Quarry on 6 Oct; 15 at Brad- nor Hill on 13 Oct; 20 at Byton on 14 Oct and 10 at Kinsham on 14 Nov.

Osprey (Western Osprey) Pandion haliaetus Uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 22 records from 14 sites Single birds were recorded at: The Bage Farm Madley on 5 Apr; R Wye Hoarwithy on 5 and 6 Apr; Staunton-on-Arrow on 6 Apr (drifted north over Stocklow); Stocklow Manor on 6 Apr; Wellington GP on 6 Apr (and flew north), 13 May and 3 Aug; R Wye Bredwardine on 7 Apr and 15 Sep; Elton on 10 Apr; Ledbury on 3 May (and flew north-east); R Wye Symonds Yat on 18 May; Weobley (flying north-east) and Dilwyn on 19 May; R Wye Sellack Boat on 3 Sep and Andy’s Fishery Pencoyd, where an adult was recorded on 6 occasions over 9 days (2-11 Sep). Given the dates and geo- graphical locations it seems probable that these records may represent the movements of at most 7 birds.

Kestrel (Common Kestrel) Falco tinnunculus Common resident breeder BCC listed: Amber Records: 167 records from 87 sites Breeding evidence comprised: a pr mating at Hereford Quarry on 28 Jan and a pr observed there on 6 May; an adult feeding a juv at Eastnor Park on 7 Jun; an adult carrying food at Upper Hardwick on 7 July and a pr at Wyatt Road Withington on 20 Jul. Prs were also observed at Hampton Bishop on 29 Sep and Upper Lugg Meadows on 1 Oct. Also recorded were 4 and 3 adults at Hereford Quarry on 11 Mar and 20 May respectively and 2 immature at Shobdon IE on 10 Nov. Most remaining records were of single adults, but 18 records noted 2 adults.

Merlin Falco columbarius Rare resident breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 7 records from 6 sites All records were of single birds: at Homend Park (2 records on 7 Jan); Criftin Ford Bridge on 15 Jan; Leinthall Earls on 29 Feb; Bradnor Hill on 8 Sep; a juv f at Stockley Cross on 25 Nov; a f at Lyde Arundel on 29 Nov and a f at Pipe and Lyde on 14 Dec. 36 Hobby (Eurasian Hobby) Falco subbuteo Scarce migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant Records: 96 records from 58 sites The number of records is a further 65% increase on the substantial increase of 2011. Breeding evidence was obtained from 2 sites: an adult with a juv at one site and a pr at another site. Sightings were mostly of singles except 3 at Wellington GP on 13 May, with 13 other records there of 2 birds, and 4 at Bodenham Lake on 16 May. The earliest record was 1 at Lawton Cross on 29 April and the latest was at Adforton on 27 Sep. Peregrine (Peregrine Falcon) Falco peregrinus Scarce resident breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant Records: 96 records from 41 sites Breeding evidence was obtained from 5 sites, at 2 of which adults with juvs were noted and at one it was determined that breeding was unsuccessful. All other records were of singles apart for: 2 at Red Daren on 14 Apr; at Stockley Cross on 9 Oct and at Hereford Cathedral on 5 Dec. Prey species killed or pursued included Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Fieldfare and, perhaps most interestingly, Woodcock. Ev- idence of this last species being taken was found on Hereford Cathedral on 5 Dec. Twenty-two sightings relate to the centre of Hereford city where, mainly in autumn and winter months, adults were noted on All Saints church and Hereford Cathedral. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant. Has bred Records: 38 records from 10 sites Most records were of ones and twos in the two winter periods but 3 were recorded at Wellington GP on 2 Dec and birds were recorded here in Aug and Sep. Other records were from: Hartleton Lakes, Bodenham Lake, Gamber Meadows, R Wye Hampton Bishop, Hereford Quarry, Llanwarne, Lower Foxall Lake, Sellack Boat and Shobdon Court Lakes. Moorhen (Common Moorhen) Gallinula chloropus Common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 98 records from 31 sites. Breeding was confirmed at: Aylestone Park, Ballingham, Upper Eggleton, Fownhope, Gamber Meadows, Hartleton Lakes, Hereford City, Hereford Quarry and Wellington GP. Breeding pairs were noted with up to 4 juvs. Monthly maxima at major sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington 1 - 1 2 - - 1 1 2 - - - Pool Bodenham 8 4 4 1 1 - 1 2 2 1 3 4 Lake Wellington GP 4 - 4 4 - - - 6 2 2 3 - Hartleton 6 7 7 7 3 6 3 6 4 - - 6 Lakes 37 There were also maxima of 6 at Aylestone Park, 8 at Lower Foxall Lake, 10 at Nether- ton Farm, 5 at Shenmore and 14 at Titley NR. Coot (Eurasian Coot) Fulica atra Common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 120 records from 24 sites. There was a small increase in the number of records received this year and a significant increase over earlier years. Breeding was confirmed at: Brockhall GP, Kenchester Pools, Pudlestone, Shobdon Court and Wellington GP. Monthly maxima at major sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 13 30 12 2 1 1 3 27 20 2 3 2 Brockhall GP 57 26 13 10 13 10 15 12 30 40 47 40 Hereford 17 4 4 3 3 8 7 10 43 20 5 8 Quarry Titley NR 115 - - 5 4 ------56 Wellington 139 134 88 12 16 - 50 104 68 7 15 - GP Oystercatcher (Eurasian Oystercatcher) Haematopus ostralegus Rare breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 118 records from 9 sites The earliest returning birds were recorded at Brockhall GP on 14 Feb. Breeding was, remarkably, recorded at Brockhall GP on 17 Feb, but the only record of juvs at this site was on 6 Jun. There were 8 adults there by the end of Mar and 3 prs were recorded breeding during May and Jun. Only ones and twos were recorded at Wellington GP with breeding confirmed on 14 Apr with a nest on the main lake. The last sighting of the year was at Wellington GP on 27 Sep. They were also recorded at: Hereford Quarry, Bodenham Lake, R Wye Clifford, R Wye Castleton/Winforton, R Wye Turners Boat, R Wye Bunch of Carrots and Kenchester Pools. Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor Vagrant from SE Europe Records: 3 from 1 site. This was the 2nd County record and was seen at Bradnor Hill on 20 May (Mrs C Downes PH Downes). The bird remained until 23 May and was well observed and photographed by many people from all parts of the UK. This species is resident in Morocco and along the North African coast into Syria and Saudi Arabia. It is accidental throughout Europe as far north as the Scandinavian countries. From a distance the species appears sandy but on closer inspection the pale grey-blue rear crown, white supercillium and the black eye-stripe become visible. The bill tip is de-curved. Juveniles have a less obvious head pattern with mottled breast and upper parts. 38 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Uncommon migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant Records: 77 records from 6 sites The earliest record was of 1 at Brockhall on 17 Mar and the latest record was 4 at Wellington GP and 2 at Hereford Quarry on 21 Jul. At Brockhall GP there were up to 7 individuals on 26 Apr and breeding was confirmed on 29Apr. There were 3 juvs on 10 Jun and 6 ads with 1 juv on 2 Jul. At Here- ford Quarry there was a pr with a juv on 21 Jul. Wellington GP numbers peaked at 10 on 20 Apr and there was a pr with 3 juvs on 14 Jul. There were 4 adults at R Wye Castleton/Winforton on 12 Apr; sightings also came from Bodenham Marsh and Lower Vedifer. Ringed Plover (Common Ringed Plover) Charadrius hiaticula Scarce winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 18 records from 4 sites. There were 4 at Brockhall GP on 21 Apr and 2 ads from19 May until 2 Jun. A juv was recorded there in Sep but there was no confirmation of breeding. Birds were also recorded at Wellington GP, Hereford Quarry and there were 12 at Bodenham Marsh on a flooded field on 7 May. Golden Plover (European Golden Plover) Pluvialis apricaria Common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 18 records from 9 sites. The latest record during the first winter period was of 60 at Hergest Ridge on 18 Mar and the first record during the second winter period was 1 at Stockley Cross on 12 Oct. At Bradnor Hill 45 were noted on 8 Jan with 300 there on 16 Jan and 150 on 3 Mar. In the second winter period 180 were recorded at Bradnor Hill on 4 Nov with 130 circling and 15 on the ground at the same site on 18 Dec. At Wellington GP small numbers were noted with Lapwing. Other records came from: Broad Oak, Cotmore Farm, Milton Cross, Sogeley Farm, Stockley Manor and Stockley Cross. Lapwing (Northern Lapwing) Vanellus vanellus Uncommon resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 159 records from 48 sites. Breeding was confirmed at: Castle Frome, Chilstone Farm Madley, Ludstock, Rowle- stone and Wellington GP, with 4 juvs there in May. Monthly maxima at major sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham 3 1 4 - - - 6 10 1 - 13 70 Lake Wellington 320 400 8 4 2 2 50 120 84 30 130 250 GP Hereford - - 19 5 1 - - 4 - 33 - 68 Quarry 39 Other notable flocks were: 70 at Preston Wynne on 13 Feb; 65 at Broad Oak on 14 Feb; 80 at Golden Cross on 19 Nov, 100 on 4 Dec and 65 on 15 Dec; 93 at Milton Cross on 24 Nov and 121 on 8 Dec and 60 at Leominster By-pass on 16 Dec.

Knot (Red Knot) Calidris canutus Rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 1 record An adult winter was seen at Brockhall GP on 9 Mar (N Pegler).

Sanderling Calidris alba Rare passage migrant Records:1 record A single adult was at Wellington GP on 14 May (GS Bilbao).

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Vagrant from N America Records: 3 records from 1 site. This 2nd County record was of a single adult at Brockhall GP on 21 Apr (PH & T Downes). The bird remained until 23 Apr and was observed by at least 14 people.

Dunlin Calidris alpina Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 31 records from 3 sites Most records were of ones and twos from the gravel pit sites. The earliest record was of 2 at Wellington GP on 1 Feb. There were 4 at Brockhall GP on 17 Feb and 1 was noted at Bodenham Marsh on 7 May.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax Rare passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 1 record A single bird was noted at Wellington GP on 5 Oct (NC Pegler).

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 6 records from 4 sites Ones and twos were noted in both winter periods at Brockhall GP, R Wye Bunch of Carrots, Hereford Quarry and Wellington GP. The latest record during the first winter period was of one bird seen at Wellington GP on 26 Feb and the earliest during the second winter period was two at Brockhall GP on 10 Nov.

Snipe (Common Snipe) Gallinago gallinago Common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 105 records from 21 sites This is an increase in the number of records and sites reported compared to 2011. 40 Monthly maxima at the major sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham - - 1 - - - 1 5 8 3 20 - Lake Hereford 2 5 4 - - - - - 1 - 3 6 Quarry Letton 1 17 17 2 - - - - 8 2 20 74 Lakes Wellington 4 10 2 1 - - - 9 6 15 26 50 GP There were also 74 at Staunton Common on 13 Dec. Woodcock (Eurasian Woodcock) Scolopax rusticola Uncommon resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 18 records from 18 sites All records were of ones and twos. There were no breeding records this year but rod- ing was noted at Bircher Common, High Vinnals and Wigmore Rolls. There were no sightings in July, August or September. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 2 records from 2 sites Sightings were one at Wellington GP on 21 Jul and one at Brockhall GP on 16 Oct. Whimbrel (Whimbrel) Numenius phaeopus Scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 4 records from 3 sites Records were: 2 at Hereford Quarry on 21 Apr (AH Eveleigh A Marchant); 1 at Brockhall GP on 22 Apr (NC Peglar); 5 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 6 May (PH Downes) and 1 at Brockhall GP on 15 May (NC Pegler). Curlew (Eurasian Curlew) Numenius arquata Uncommon resident breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 72 records from 24 sites Most records were of ones and twos except for: 5 at Wellington GP on 2 Mar; 8 at Brockhall GP on 9 Mar; 10 at Hereford Quarry on 11 Mar; 5 at R Wye Bunch of Car- rots on 14 Mar and 10 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 22 Apr. Breeding was confirmed at: Allensmore, R Wye Bunch of Carrots, R Wye Dinedor, Kenchester Pools, Letton Lakes and Lower Lugg Meadows. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Uncommon migrant breeder, very rare winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber 41 Records: 93 records from 16 sites. Although most records were of ones and twos there was a maximum of 5 at Brockhall GP on 28 Apr and on 7 Jul. There were also: 5 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 14 Apr and on 18 Aug; 8 at Wellington GP on 28 Apr and 3 at Hereford Quarry on 18 Aug. Other records came from 12 locations including: Backney, Mordiford and Shen- more. The earliest record was at Wellington GP on 6 Apr and latest record was of one also at Wellington GP on 5 Oct. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 99 records from 22 sites The records from Brockhall GP show birds present in every month of the year except May, with a maximum of 8 on 25 Jul and 5 on 6 Aug. Other records included: Amber- ley Court, Clifford, Holme Lacy, Priors Frome, Trippleton and Twyford. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Very rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 5 records A summer adult was recorded at Brockhall GP on 27 Jun and remained until 1 Jul. This is the 9th County record (NC Pegler). Greenshank (Common Greenshank) Tringa nebularia Uncommon passage migrant Records: 6 records from 3 sites Passage birds were recorded at: Brockhall GP, Bodenham and Wellington GP. The latter site had three there during Feb. The earliest record was one at Brockhall GP on 6 May and the latest record was of three seen briefly at Wellington GP on 25 Aug. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Vagrant from N America Records:1 record from 1 site The 2nd County record was of a single adult recorded at Hereford Quarry on 20 May (SP Coney et al). Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 3 records from 1 site Records were: 1 summer adult at Brockhall GP on 13 May (AH Eveleigh); 1 summer adult at Brockhall GP on 19 May (NC Pegler) and 1 also at Brockhall GP on 2 Jul (SP Coney). Redshank (Common Redshank) Tringa totanus Rare breeder, uncommon winter visitor BCC listed: Amber 42 Records: 15 records from 4 sites At Brockhall GP there were 2 birds on 17 Mar and 3 briefly on 3 Jul. Singles were noted at Wellington GP, R Wye Hampton Bishop and Greencourt Farm. Turnstone (Ruddy Turnstone) Arenaria interpres Very rare passage migrant BCC listed Amber Records: 3 records from 1 site. The 14th County record was of a single summer m at Brockhall GP on 26 May (NC Pegler). The bird remained for 3 days. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Very common winter visitor. Has bred in colonies BCC listed: Amber Records: 114 records from 20 sites First winter period: flocks were much smaller than in 2011 but they were seen across the full period this year: 120 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 8 Jan; 300 at Hereford Quarry on 8 Jan; 100 at Bartonsham Farm on 5 Feb; 215 at Wellington GP on 19 Feb, 200 on 20 Mar and 120 on 1 Apr; 150 at Kenchester Pools on 26 Feb and 200 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 31 Mar. Summer period: records from 8 sites with small flocks at three: 30 at Lower Lugg Mead- ows on 2 Jun; 30 at Wellington GP on 21 Jul and 37 at Brockhall GP in Aug. The only confirmed breeding was 10 birds at 3 occupied nests at Bower Farm Lake on 28 May. Second winter period: only two sites had flocks greater than 200; Wellington GP had numbers of over 200 from Oct to Dec with 1000 roosting on 29 Dec and 450 at Ross sewage-works Wilton on 19 Nov. Smaller numbers were reported from seven other sites.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Rare winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 2 records from 2 sites A single 2nd summer bird was seen at Wellington GP on the 1 Apr (G S Bilbao) and a single juv was seen at Brockhall GP on 1 Sep (P & T Downes).

Common Gull (Mew Gull) Larus canus Common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 34 records from 19 sites Approximately the same number of records as 2011, although the number of sites has doubled. First winter period: flocks of 60 or more birds – 150 at Tidnor Mill on 8 Jan; 140 at Whitchurch on 13 Jan; 60 at How Caple on 19 Feb and 200 at Bromsash on 14 Apr. Summer period: the only record was of 3 at Wharton Farm on 30 Jul. Second winter period: flocks of 10 or more – 10 to 15 roosting at Wellington GP during Oct and Nov; 96 to 300 at Gamber Meadows during Oct and Nov; 10 on flood water at Upper and Lower Lugg Meadows on 24 Nov and 60 at Holme Lacy on 1 Dec. 43 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Uncommon resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 150 records from 41 sites First winter period: flocks of 45 or more – 150 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 8 Jan; 400 at Tidnor Mill on 8 Jan; 120 at Ballingham on 12 Feb; 50 at Brockhall GP on 21 Mar; 60 at Wellington GP on 25 Mar; 77 at Dinedor on 15 Apr and 45 at Widemarsh Common on 26 Apr. Summer period: flocks of 50 or more – 200 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 6 May; 80 at Hereford Quarry on 13 May; 200 to 400 at Wellington GP regularly between May and Aug; 50 at Sink Green on 1 Jun; 50 at Brockhall GP on 17 Jun and 140 at Castleton and Winforton Wye on 26 Jul. Second winter period: flocks of 50 or more birds – 1250 at Shobdon Airfield on 6 Sep; 80 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 10 Sep; 1100 at Stocklow Manor on 14 Sep; 600 adults and 500 juvs at Staunton on Arrow, also on 14 Sep; 120 to 200 at R Wye Bunch of Carrots in Sep; 131 at Hereford Quarry on 29 Sep; 500 to 3000 at Wellington GP between Sep and Dec, the largest flocks roosting in Oct; 65 at Stockley Cross on 12 Oct; 640 at Stocklow on 13 Oct following plough, harrow and drill; 650 at Kingsland on 19 Oct; 50 at Brockhall GP on 10 Nov; 50 at Ballingham on 29 Nov and 300 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 1 Dec. Herring Gull (European Herring Gull) Larus argentatus Rare resident breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 87 records from 32 sites Compared with 2011 there is a slight reduction in the number of records but just over double the number of sites. First winter period: most records were of between 1 and 5 birds of various ages. Small flocks were: 20 by Leominster by-pass on 8 Jan; 20 at Hereford sewage-works on 12 Feb; 80 at R Wye Ballingham on 12 Feb and 20 at Bromsash on 14 Apr. Summer period: most reports were of 1 or 2 birds. Exceptions were: 3 to 21 birds of varying ages during May to Aug at Wellington GP; between 5 and 35 at Lower Lugg Meadows in May; 3 at Springfield Clifford on 9 May and 8 at Sellack Boat on 21 May. Second winter period: records came from 12 sites. Flocks of 10 plus: 60 at R Wye Holme Lacy on 12 Sep; 10 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 21 Sep; 32 at Burton Farm on 1 Oct; 20 at R Wye Bullingham on 29 Nov; 10 to 25 at Wellington GP during Nov and Dec and 10 on flood water at Upper Lugg Meadows on 24 Nov. An adult and a 3rd winter of the Scandinavian form roosted at Wellington GP on 10 Nov. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Rare winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 20 records from 2 sites 44 First winter period: all records from Wellington GP. 1x3rd summer on 7 Apr and 1x2nd summer on 8 and 9 Apr. Summer period: 6 records received, again all from Wellington GP. 1x1st summer on 2 and 9 Jun; 1x2nd summer on 23 Jun; 1x3rd summer on 21 Jul; 1 juv on 18 Aug and 1x2nd winter on 19 Aug. Second winter period: except for 1 adult at Lower Lugg Meadows on 1 Dec all other records were from Wellington GP; a single adult on 4 days in Oct; 1x1st winter on 27 Oct; 2 adults on 3 Nov; 2 adults with 1x1st winter on 10 and 17 Nov; 2 adults on 27 Dec and 1 adults with 2x2nd winters on 29 Dec. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Scarce winter visitor and scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 6 records from 6 sites Records increased this year to around those of 2010 following the low numbers in 2011. Records were: 1 at Brockhall GP on 7 Jan; 1 at Merbach Hill on 24 Mar; 1 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 6 May; 1 juv flew southwest with Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Stocklow Manor on 29 Jul; 2 on flood water at Winforton on 26 Dec and 3 with 2 im- matures at Shobdon IE on 31 Dec. Black Tern Chlidonias niger Scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 12 records from 3 sites Records were: 1 crossing the road near flood water by Leominster by-pass on 30 Apr; 3 summer adults at Wellington GP on 30 Apr; 1 adult moulting into winter plumage at Wellington GP on 14 Aug; 1 juv at Wellington GP on each day between 5 and 12 Sep and 1 juv at Hartleton Lakes on 7 and 8 Sep. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 5 records from 3 sites This year all records were of single birds: 1 at Hereford Quarry on 23 May; 1 at Welling- ton GP on 29 May; 1 juv at Wellington GP on 25 Jun and 27 Aug and 1 at Brockhall GP on 27 Jun. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 4 records from 3 sites Records were: 2 at Hartleton Lakes on 5 Jun and 1 on 8 Jun (AH Eveleigh); 1 at Welling- ton GP on 26 Jun (PG Bradley) and 1 at Hereford Quarry flying north to south through the site on 17 Aug (S Coney). Feral Pigeon (Common Pigeon) Columba livia Very common resident breeder Records: 10 records from 6 sites The only large flocks seen were: 50 at Hereford Cathedral on 2 Jan; 100 in High Town on 13 Jan; 80 in Leominster on 14 Jan and 50 in High Town on 2 Mar. There were no confirmed breeding records this year. 45 Stock Dove Columba oenas Abundant resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 171 records from 62 sites There was an increase in records but a reduction in sites this year, with reports for every month which were well spread across the County. Higher counts were: 32 at Ivycroft on 15 Apr; 25 at Berrington Hall Pool in Sep; between 32 and 128 at Stockley Cross from Oct to Dec; between 32 and 61 at Staunton on Arrow from Oct to Dec; 40 at Gamber Meadow on 16 Oct and 60 at Wellington GP on 27 Dec. There was only one report of confirmed breeding with 3 prs at Pencoyd on 7 and 8 Jan. Woodpigeon (Common Wood Pigeon) Columba palumbus Abundant resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 221 records from 65 sites Earlier in the year there were flocks of between 200 and 300 seen at 6 sites: 200 at Staunton on Arrow on 1 Jan; 300 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 15 Jan; 300 at Stocklow on 26 Jan; 250 at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 27 Jan; 300 at Wapley Hill on 31 Jan and 200 at Woodfield Cottage on 3 Feb. There were three reports of confirmed breeding: 5 prs at Stapleton Castle Court between Jan and Mar; 7 at Credenhill Park Wood in Jun and 1 pr with 1 juv in nest in garden at Wolf Cottage on 25 Aug. Collared Dove (Eurasian Collared Dove) Streptopelia decaocto Common resident breeder Records: 66 records from 30 sites The largest flocks recorded were; 55 at Stocklow Manor on 23 Jan and 22 at Eccleswall Court on 11 Dec. Confirmed breeding reports were down to two: 1 pr nesting in a garden at Garway Common in Apr and 2 at Bishopstone on 17 May. Turtle Dove (European Turtle Dove) Streptopelia turtur Scarce migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 4 records from 2 sites This year only single birds were either seen or heard and there were no confirmed records of breeding. At Shobdon Hill Wood 1 was heard on 10 May, 1m seen on 12 May and 1 heard on 29 May and finally 1 seen at Willey on 26 Jul. Ring-necked Parakeet (Rose-ringed Parakeet) Psittacula krameri Very rare passage migrant of introduced origins Records: 1 record A single was resident at Adforton from Jul to Sep (J Voysey) – the 13th County record. Cuckoo (Common Cuckoo) Cuculus canorus Uncommon migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 114 records from 75 sites The earliest report was of 1 at Garway Hill on 2 Apr and the last was 1 juv at Bringsty Common on 25 Aug, in a garden with Dunnock host parents. There were 10 records of more than 1 bird but it is good to note that there were 2 records of confirmed breeding: at Stretton Grandison on 12 Jun and at Bringsty Common on 25 Aug. 46 Barn Owl (Western Barn Owl) Tyto alba Uncommon resident breeder and uncommon winter visitor BCC listed: Amber Records: 82 records from 64 sites Despite the large increase in the number of records received in 2010, records were still fewer than those received in 2008. There were 8 records of more than 1 bird. Breeding was confirmed at 5 sites: 1 pr at Builth Farm on 24 Apr; 1 pr at Nunnington Court Farm on 1 Jun; 1 pr at Eardisland on 12 and 13 Jun; 1 pr at Linton produced 4 fledged young from the first brood in Jun also 2 fledged young from their second brood in Aug and lastly 1 pr at New House Farm Eggleton on 18 Aug. Little Owl Athene noctua Uncommon resident breeder Records: 72 records from 28 sites This was a large increase in the number of records and sites, which were widespread across the County. There were 13 records of 2 or more birds and 2 sites where confirmed breeding was recorded: 3 juvs at Wellington GP on 14 and 15 Jul and 2 juvs on 21 Jul and 2 prs at Withington on 27 Jul. Tawny Owl Strix aluco Common resident breeder Records: 79 records from 57 sites Numbers recorded were the highest since 2007. There were 12 records of 2 or more birds. Confirmed breeding was recorded at 8 sites: 1 pr at Stapleton Castle Court between 1 Jan and 31 Mar; at Newhouse Farm Moccas on 4 May; 1 pr with 1 juv all calling at Stockley Cross in May; 1 with 1 juv at Oaker Coppice on 7 May; 1 juv at Bircher Com- mon in May and 1 pr with 1 juv calling in Jun; 1 pr with 1 juv calling at High Vinnals in Jun; 1 pr with 1 fluffy juv in horse-chestnut tree at Shobdon Court in Jun and 1 juv at Breinton on 25 Jul. Unfortunately there were 2 reports of dead birds: 1 by the railway line at Hayward Lodge on 10 Jan and 1 on platform one at Hereford Railway Station on 17 Dec. Long-eared Owl Asio otus Rare resident breeder and uncommon winter visitor Records: 2 records from 2 sites Contact calls from a single bird were heard at Bodenham on 10 May (S Klasan) and 1 was seen at Upper Breinton on 5 Jul (K Venus). The last record in the County was in 2009. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Scarce winter visitor and scarce passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 2 records from 2 sites A single bird was seen flying south after being mobbed by a Buzzard at Bromsash on 14 Jan (AH Eveleigh) and a single bird was seen at Honeymoor Common in Jun (B Davis). Swift (Common Swift) Apus apus Common migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber 47 Records: 181 records from 77 sites It is pleasing to report a significant increase this year in the number of records received. The earliest records were of 1 at R Wye Hampton Bishop and 2 at Brockhall GP on 24 Apr, the latest records were 1 juv at Clehonger and 7 birds at Hartleton Lakes on 8 Sep. Flocks of 50 or more were: 70 at Bodenham Lake on 10 May, 50 on 19 May and 100 on 31 May; 80 at Brockhall GP in May; 4 records of between 50 and 100 from May to Jul at Wellington GP and 88 at Stocklow Manor on 1 May. Breeding was confirmed at 7 sites: 4 prs in eaves at Pontilla on 18 Jun; 12 birds at Kington on 18 Jun; 2 prs at Ivy Cottage Kinsham on 17 Jul; 1 pr with juvs at nest at Ty Coch Farm on 26 Jul; 14 birds all left having raised only 1 juv at Stocklow on 27 Jul; 12 prs at Trefoil Cottage during May to Jul and 1 ad with 1 juv at Leighton Court on 31 Jul. Kingfisher (Common Kingfisher) Alcedo atthis Common resident breeder and uncommon winter visitor BCC listed: Amber Records: 113 records from 42 sites It is encouraging to have another year with an increase in the number of records and sites. Most records were of single birds; however 2 or more birds were seen at 9 sites. Breeding was confirmed at Hartleton Lakes in Jun and the R Lugg at Mordiford Bridge on 25 Jun where a bird was seen carrying a large fish into undergrowth on the river bank. Green Woodpecker (European Green Woodpecker) Picus viridis Common resident breeder BCC listed: Amber Records: 252 records from 131 sites There was an approximate increase of 40% in the number of records with a 50% increase in the number of sites compared to last year. In Upper Colwall a 1st winter f was caught and ringed on 6 Jan and an immature f on 5 Feb. Confirmed breeding was recorded at: Pipe-cum-Lyde on 23 and 24 Jun; Rock Farm, Lea on 30 Jun; Bishopstone on 15 Jul; Hereford Quarry on 28 Jul; Stoke Prior on 28 Jul; Burghill in Jul; Brockhall GP in Jul and Aug; Ballingham 17 to 19 Aug and Howle Hill in Aug. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Very common resident breeder Records: 546 records from 303 sites This year showed a good increase in the number of records and sites with county-wide coverage. There was a dramatic increase in the number of reports of confirmed breeding from an average of 10 over the past 10 years to 64 this year. It is pleasing to note that breeding was well spread across the County. More than 2 birds were recorded at 52 sites, a large increase over last year. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor Uncommon resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 60 records from 46 sites For the fourth year running there is an increase in the number of records and sites. Most records were of single birds. There were no confirmed reports of breeding although an immature bird was seen at 1 site and a pr at another. 48 A Turnstone in summer plumage at Brockhall Gravel Pits Nick Pegler

A Spotted Red- shank in summer plumage at Brockhall in July Nick Pegler

Pectoral Sandpiper at Brockhall Gravel Pits Phil Parsons

49 Two rarities: above, a Little Bunting at Kingsland on 7-8 November Christina Downes

Right, a Siberian Stonechat at Wellington Gravel Pits on 27 October Paul Downe

Below, female Blackcaps at Gorsley Terry Hancock

50 A young Cuckoo at Wellington Gravel Pits on 5 August Nick Pegler

A Wood Sandpiper at Brockhall Gravel Pits Phil Parsons

51 This group of Waxwings was digiscoped in Bobblestock, Hereford, by Gerald Wells, He used a hand-held Canon S100 compact through a Leica 77 with X32 WA eyepiece

52 An Osprey soars over Andy’s fishing lake at Pencoyd. It spent two weeks there before starting its migration to Africa Mick Colquhoun

This Great White Egret, seen first at Brockhall GP and later at Wellington GP, was the first recorded in the County. It stayed at Wellington for the winter Mick Colquhoun

53 Above: A Sparrowhawk with its latest kill, a Woodpigeon, in Kingsacre Road, Hereford Nick Pegler

Sparrowhawk at Gorsley Terry Hancock 54 A Jay at Gorsley Terry Hancock

A Pied Flycatcher at Wapley Hill Fort Phil Parsons

55 An American Wigeon at Bodenham Lake Mick Colquhoun

Two visitors to the conifers at Gorsley: left, a male Siskin; below, a Goldcrest Terry Hancock

56 Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Scarce winter visitor and scarce passage migrant Records: 7 records from 4 sites. The records were: One at Haye Park Woods in Jan (B Hickling); 1 at High Vinnals on 24, 25 and 26 Feb, also on 11 and 25 Mar (B Daniels) and 1 at Shobdon Golf Course on 28 Feb (T Freeston). Magpie (Eurasian Magpie) Pica pica Abundant resident breeder Records: 149 records from 45 sites. Breeding records received were from: Bishopstone, Yazor Brook, Monkland, Garway Hill, Gamber Meadows, Rowlstone and Hereford Quarry. Large groups were: 20 at Brockhall GP on 7 Apr and 10 at Brockhall GP on 30 Apr. Jay (Eurasian Jay) Garrulus glandarius Common resident breeder and common winter visitor Records: 128 records from 45 sites. Only one breeding record was received, from Hereford Quarry on 23 Jun. Largest numbers were: 7 at Coneygree Wood on 24 Mar and 15 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 20 Oct. Jackdaw (Western Jackdaw) Corvus monedula Abundant resident breeder and very common winter visitor Records: 119 records from 49 sites. Breeding records were received from: Sellack on 8 Apr; Berrington Hall Pool on 12 May and Weir Garden Kenchester on 23 May. Largest flocks were: 200 at Broad Oak in Mar; 250 at Milton Cross on 31 Aug; 380 at Staunton Park on 14 Sep; 150 at Sellack on 29 Nov; 1500 seen flying to a roost at Moreton-on-Lugg on 27 Dec and 200 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 30 Dec. Rook Corvus frugilegus Abundant resident breeder and very common winter visitor Records: 87 records from 43 sites. Breeding records received were: 47 prs at Weir Garden Kenchester on 2 Jan; 15 prs at Kinnersley on 20 Mar; 11 prs at Weston Farm Bredwardine on 19 Apr; Burton Court on 8 May; 37 prs at Old Pike on 16 Jul and 90 prs at St Weonards on 16 Jul. Large numbers were: 140 at Llangrove on 18 Jan; 250 at Woodfield Cottages on 3 Feb and 150 at Hampton Bishop on 23 Aug. Carrion Crow Corvus corone Abundant resident breeder Records: 179 records from 43 sites. Two breeding records were received from: Stapleton Castle Court on 31 Mar and Dinedor on 7 Apr. Large flocks were: 60 at Brockhall GP on 29 Mar; 18 at Hereford Quarry on 16 Oct and 20 at R Wye Ballingham on 29 Nov. 57 Raven (Northern Raven) Corvus corax Common resident breeder and common winter visitor Records: 194 from 90 sites This was an increase in the number of records received compared to 2011. Breeding records were: Coneygree Wood on 11 Mar; Putson Coppice on 24 Mar; Gul- let Quarry fledged young on 12 Apr; Monkland on 8 May; 2 prs in the Olchon Valley on 12 May and Walford Tumulus on 15 May. The largest numbers were: 20 at High Vinnals on 15 Jan; 15 at Criftin Ford Bridge and 11 at British Camp, both on 12 Jul and 20 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 20 Oct and 27 Oct. Goldcrest Regulus regulus Abundant resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 130 records from 64 sites. Breeding records were received from: Marstow Green, Rowlestone, Weir Gardens Kenchester, Kings Pyon and Bredwardine. Largest numbers were all from Haugh Wood: 34 on 14 May; 39 on 14 Aug and 50 on 5 Sep. Firecrest (Common Firecrest) Regulus ignicapilla Rare passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 9 records from 2 sites. These include the 18th, 19th and 20th County records. The earliest record was of a singing male in the west of the county on 25 Mar (T Wall). A pair were first seen on 6 Apr (PH Downes Mrs C Downes). There were two breeding records from the same location: 2 prs on 20 May (P Jen- nings) and 1 pr on 26 May (P & T Downes). A bird was also seen at Staunton Park on 17 May (P Jennings). Blue Tit (Eurasian Blue Tit) Cyanistes caeruleus Abundant resident breeder Records: 212 records from 71 sites. Breeding records received were: 2 broods in a nest box at Quarry Road Hereford from Mar to May; Wellington GP on 28 Mar; Weir Garden Kenchester on 9 May; Bishop- stone on 20 May; Moccas Park on 28 May; Bishopstone on 1 Jun; Springfield Clifford on 3 Jun; The Birches Shobdon on 3 Jun; Shobdon Court on 12 Jun; Copper Beeches Close and Hereford Quarry both on 23 Jun. Large flocks were: 20 at Shirlheath on 18 Jan; 12 at Ledbury on 3 Feb; 23 at Gamber Meadows on 25 Feb and 19 at Breinton on 24 Sep. Great Tit Parus major Abundant resident breeder Records: 176 records from 59 sites. Breeding records were received from: R Wye Clifford on 17 May; Moccas Park on 28 May; Credenhill Park Wood on 12 Jun; Hereford Quarry on 23 Jun; The Birches 58 Shobdon and Horseway Head in Jun. The only large group was 14 at Breinton on 24 Sep. Coal Tit Periparus ater Very common resident breeder and uncommon winter visitor Records: 94 records from 45 sites. One breeding record was received from Credenhill Park Wood in Jun. The largest groups were: 50 at High Vinnalls on 15 Jan also 20 at the same location on 25 Feb and 20 at Bircher Common in Jan and Feb. Willow Tit Poecile montana Uncommon resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 22 records from 13 sites. No breeding records were received. Records for the largest numbers were: 6 at Haye Park Woods on 15 Jan and 12 at High Vinnals on 25 Feb. Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Common resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 75 records from 38 sites. One breeding record was received of 3 juvs at Coldborough Park on 1 Jul. Largest groups were: 8 at Bircher Common on 12 Jan; 5 at Haugh Wood on 14 Feb; 6 at Coneygree Wood on 23 Feb and 5 at Joan’s Hill Farm on 5 Mar. Skylark (Eurasian Skylark) Alauda arvensis Abundant resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 162 records from 65 sites. Breeding records were received from: Bridstow on 3 May; Olchon Valley on 11 May; Brockhall GP on 23 Jun and Bircher Common in Jun. The largest flocks were: 120 at Sellack Boat on 5 Feb; 90 at Stocklow Manor on 8 Feb and 120 passage birds at Stockley Cross on 7 Oct. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Common migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 79 records from 22 sites. The earliest sighting was 1 at R Wye Castleton/Winforton on 7 Mar and the last sighting was 1 at Brockhall GP on 29 Sep. Breeding records were received from: R Wye Bredwardine on 9 Apr; R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 16 May, 27 May and 12 Aug and R Wye Wilton on 5 Sep. Largest flocks were: 120 at R Wye Castleton/Winforton on 31 Mar; 110 at Hereford Quarry on 17 Apr and 100 at Bodenham Lake on 19 May. There were 50 on 16 May at the river bank at R Wye Bunch of Carrots that had been occupied by the Bee-eaters in 2005. Swallow (Barn Swallow) Hirundo rustica Abundant migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber 59 Records: 184 records from79 sites. The earliest sighting was 1 at Walford Leintwardine on 5 Mar and the latest sighting was 4 at Hoarwithy Church on 9 Oct. Breeding records were: 3 prs at Little Blackhill Farm on 18 Jun; 3 juvs at Bishopstone on 28 Jun; Copper Beeches Close on 1 Jul; 4 juvs at Docklow Manor on 11 Jul; Nichol- son Farm in Jul; Bredwardine on 2 Aug; 2 prs at Willersley on 3 Aug and Crossington Farm on 6 Aug. Largest numbers reported were: 400 at Bodenham Lake on 30 Apr; 330 at Stocklow Manor on 1 May & 540 on 21 Sep; 500 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 4 May and 500 at The Marsh Leominster put up by a Hobby on 3 Sep. House Martin (Common House Martin) Delichon urbicum Very common migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 130 records from 59 sites. The earliest sighting was of 4 at Hereford City on 31 Mar and the last sighting was of 5 at Hoarwithy Church on 9 Oct. Breeding records were received from: Bridgend Farm, Ockeridge Farm, Moccas Park, Bredwardine, Letton, Hoarwithy, Burghill, Stretton Sugwas, Shobdon, Copper Beeches Close, Hoarwithy Church and 2 broods fledged at Hurdle Hall Cottages. Largest flocks were: 100 at Brockhall GP on 19 May and 19 Aug; 125 at Bridge End Farm on 23 Aug; 500 put up by a Hobby at The Marsh Leominster on 3 Sep; 200 at Cre- denhill on 8 Sep; 200 at Wellington GP on 23 Sep; 100 at R Wye Bunch of Carrots also on 23 Sep and 100 at Hope Mansell on 25 Sep. Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti Very rare passage migrant Records:1 record A bird was at Clifford besides the R Wye singing from a large bramble-patch at SO235456 on 16 May. This is the 4th County record. (JL Russell) Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Common resident breeder and very common winter visitor Records:155 records from 61 sites Sightings were recorded for each month of the year and were widespread apart from the eastern area of the county where few records were received. Breeding was confirmed at 6 sites: Wellington GP, Monkland, Kings Pyon, Hereford Quarry, Lower Burton and Stretton Farm. The larger counts were: 30 at Lugg Meadows on 2 Aug; 20 juvs at Weir Garden Ken- chester on 14 Aug; 25 at R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 19 Aug; 20 at Letton Lakes on 1 Sep; 21 at Berrington Hall in Oct; 21 at Gamber Meadows on 16 Oct; 30 at Wellington GP on 24 Nov and 30 at Monnington-on-Wye on 6 Dec. Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records:22 records from 14 sites 60 The earliest record was a bird singing at Barnett Wood Wigmore on 21 Apr and the last record for the year was at Haugh Wood on 4 Jun. The number of records received showed a good increase from the previous three years. Breeding was not confirmed at any locations this year. Of interest 1 bird was singing at Castle Green Hereford all morning on 3 May. The larger counts were: 3 males singing at Barnett Wood on 21 Apr; 4 males singing at Park Wood on 20 May; 7 males singing at Moccas Park on 28 May and 6 males singing at Nash Wood on 1 Jun. Chiffchaff (Common Chiffchaff) Phylloscopus collybita Very common migrant breeder, uncommon winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 204 records from 86 sites Before the main arrival in Mar/Apr sightings in Jan/Feb were: Staunton-on-Arrow, Brampton Abbots, Newton Coppice, Ross-on-Wye Sewage Works, Sutton St Nicholas, 2 at Hereford Sewage Works, Wellington GP and Lower Lugg Meadows. Breeding was confirmed at: Brockhall GP, Hartleton Lakes, Hereford Quarry, Dilwyn, Credenhill Park Wood, Marstow and Canon Pyon. Larger counts were: 13 at Bircher Common in March; 13 at Queens Wood Dinmore on 1 Apr; 58 in Haugh Wood area on 6 Apr; 11 at Letton Lakes on 14 Apr; 28 at Back- bury Hill on 20 Apr and 12 at R Wye Sink Green on 25 Aug. The last record received for the year was of one bird seen at Wellington GP on 1 Dec. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Abundant migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records:141 records from 59 sites The first record of the year was a bird singing at R Wye Hampton Bishop on 2 Apr and the last sighting was at Mawfield Farm on 29 Sep. Breeding was confirmed at Bircher Common and Hereford Quarry. Records were received from throughout the County. The larger counts were: 12 at Wellington GP on 11 Apr; 11 at Garway Hill on 13 Apr; 15 at Climbing Jack Common on 15 Apr; 14 at Haugh Wood on 30 Apr; 16 at Malvern Hills on 5 May and 20 at The Darrens on 28 May. Blackcap (Eurasian Blackcap) Sylvia atricapilla Very common migrant breeder, uncommon winter visitor and common passage migrant Records:166 records from 79 sites Records were received for each month of the year with the exception of November. For the first winter period two birds were seen at Whitchurch on 13 Jan plus 4 other records for January and the last sighting for the year was a female at Bishopstone on 30 Dec together with 7 other records received for Dec. Breeding was confirmed at: Hartleton Lakes, Garway and Shobdon Court. Larger counts were: 10 at Brockhall GP on 21 Apr; 11 at Queens Wood Dinmore on 1 May and 10 at Wellington GP on 9 Sep. 61 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant Records: 59 records from 36 sites The first record for the year was a bird singing at Wellington GP on 17 Apr and the last sighting was at Cagebrook Bridge on 22 Sep. No breeding records were received for the year. The larger counts were: 4 singing males at Shobdon Hill Wood on 12 May; 8 at Back- bury Hill on 13 May; 5 singing at Hereford Quarry on 20 May; 4 singing males at Wellington GP on 27 May; 8 at Haugh Wood on 28 May and 5 at Merbach Hill on 2 Jun. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant Records: 48 records from 24 sites The first record received was of a bird singing at Wellington GP on 11 Apr and the last sighting was at Hereford Quarry on 6 Oct, a late record. Records were received from all areas of the County. Breeding was confirmed at one location, Hereford Quarry. Small groups seen were: 3 mm at Wellington GP on 28 Apr and 4 at Brockhall GP on 9 Sep. Whitethroat (Common Whitethroat) Sylvia communis Very common migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 117 records from 58 sites The first sightings for the year were: 1 at Eastnor Park and 1 at Shobdon on 20 Apr and the last was a juv at R Wye Holme Lacy on 21 Sep. Breeding was confirmed at 10 locations: Hereford Quarry, Wellington GP, Gamber Meadows, Letton Lakes, Monkland, Bredwardine, Mansell Lacy, Tyberton, Bishop- stone and R Wye Bunch of Carrots. The larger counts were: 24 at Gamber Meadows on 9 May; 10 mm at Wellington GP on 12 May; 7 at Holme Lacy on 16 May; 7 at Sellack on 7 Jul and 8 at Hereford Quarry on 4 Aug. Grasshopper Warbler (Common Grasshopper Warbler) Locustella naevia Rare migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 6 records from 4 sites There were single birds seen at 4 sites: the first was a bird singing at Haugh Wood on 23 Apr; followed by 1 at Eardisley on 24 Apr; then 1 at Tow Tree Lane Hereford from 8 May until 13 May, but intermittently seen and finally, the last record for the year was 1 at Bosbury on 17 Jun which was seen in a pollarded willow north of the church. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant Records: 31 records from 10 sites The first record received was of a bird singing at Wellington GP on 14 Apr and the last 62 sighting for the year was at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 7 Aug. There were no breeding records confirmed for the year. Larger counts were: 4 at Letton Lakes on 12 May; 7 at Wellington GP on 24 May and 3 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 26 Jul. A juvenile was seen at Stocklow Manor on 2 Aug. Reed Warbler (Eurasian Reed Warbler) Acrocephalus scirpaceus Uncommon migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant Records: 23 records from 5 sites The first sighting was at Wellington GP on 17 Apr and the last was there also on 22 Sep. Breeding was confirmed at: Berrington Hall Pool, Wellington GP, Lugg Meadows, Pencoyd, Hereford Quarry and Park Pool Shobdon. The larger counts for the year were: 4 at Berrington Hall Pool during May-Jun and 10 singing males at Wellington GP on 2 Jun. Birds were singing at Wellington GP from 12 May to at least 23 Jun. Waxwing (Bohemian Waxwing) Bombycilla garrulas Scarce winter visitor and scarce passage migrant Records: 65 records from 39 sites 2012 was a very good influx year for Waxwings in Herefordshire, where most records were from urban areas, namely, Ledbury, Hereford, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye. The birds were feeding on berries from ornamental trees when available. The first birds seen were 4 at Elton on 11 Nov and the last record was of 3 birds at Wal- ford Leintwardwine on 30 Dec. Larger counts were: 110 at Kempton Avenue Bobblestock Hereford on 30 Nov; 39 at Barons Cross Road Leominster on 1 Dec; 50 at Aldi Superstore Hereford on 7 Dec; 50 at Hereford Art College on 7 Dec; 30 at Credenhill on 7 Dec; 37 at New Mills Way Led- bury on 12 Dec and 29 at Overross Services Ross-on-Wye on 25 Dec. Nuthatch (Eurasian Nuthatch) Sitta europaea Common resident breeder Records:125 records from 49 sites Breeding was confirmed at: Shobdon, Bodenham, Garway, Dilwyn, Tyberton, Rowl- stone, Credenhill Park Wood, Mary Knoll, Weir Garden Kenchester, Much Dew- church and Perton. Large counts were: 5 at Wapley Hill in Mar; 13 at Haugh Wood on 5 Sep; 8 at Queens Wood Dinmore on 1 Oct and 8 at Bircher Common in Nov. Treecreeper (Eurasian Treecreeper) Certhia familiaris Very common resident breeder Records:100 records from 50 sites Breeding was confirmed at: Garway Hill, Gamber Meadows, Rowlstone and Creden- hill Park Wood. Large counts were: 4 near Kington on 31 Mar; 3 at Sellack Boat on 19 Jun; 1 adult 63 with 4 juvs at Rowlstone on 25 Jul and 1 adult with 3 juvs at Garway Hill on 30 Jul. Wren (Eurasian Wren) Troglodytes troglodytes Abundant resident breeder Records: 220 records from 56 sites Seventy more records were received this year compared to last year. Breeding was recorded at: Letton, Bridge Sollers, Park Wood and Oaker Wood. Higher counts were: 30 at Backbury Hill on 20 Apr; 35 at Haugh Woods on 8 May; 29 at Holme Lacy on 30 May and 25 in the Gamber Meadows on 26 June. Starling (Common Starling) Sturnus vulgaris Very common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 155 records from 74 sites The number of records received showed an increase of 50% from 20 more sites. Breeding was confirmed from: Bircher Common, Yazor, Monkland and Weston Beg- gard. Larger flocks reported were: 2,000 at Holmer on 2 and 10 Feb; 2,000 at Welling- ton GP between 13 Oct and 9 Dec, reaching a maximum of 6,000 on 17 Nov; 2,000 on Hergest Ridge on 11 Nov and 2,000 roosting in trees at Tidnor House Farm on 29 Dec. A report from Central Avenue, Hereford was received of a Carrion Crow carrying off a juv Starling being pursued and mobbed by its parents on 15 May. Dipper (White-throated Dipper) Cinclus cinclus Common resident breeder Records: 50 records from 45 sites Although the number of sites remained the same as last year the number of reports received was far fewer. Breeding was confirmed mostly from 15 sites on or near the R Monnow, also from Old Mill Farm, Buckton Bridge and Kington. Most sightings were of ones or twos except for 3 on the R Teme at Bringwood Forest on 2 Feb and 4 at Leint- wardine on 28 Apr. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Rare migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 3 records from 2 sites The sightings were: 4 at Red Daren on 14 Apr; 1 at Bradnor Hill on 13 Oct (PH Downes) and 1 at the Darens on 26 Oct. Again this year there was no evidence of breeding. Blackbird (Common Blackbird) Turdus merula Abundant resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 257 records from 67 sites Sixty more records were received this year from nine more sites. Larger counts were: 60 feeding on fallen apples at Upper Colwell on 4 Feb; 37 feeding on hawthorn berries on Garway hill on 20 Oct and 60 at Lyonshall on 3 Dec. Other large flocks of 30 were seen at: Bircher Common, Bradnor Hill, Queenswood, Dinmore and Stockton Manor. Breeding was confirmed at: Tillington Rd, Credenhill Park Wood, Copper Beeches Close, 64 Hurdle Hill Cottages and Shobdon. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 133 records from 66 sites For the 1st winter period there was no large count and for the 2nd winter period the larger counts were: 1,200 at Lyonshall on 3 Dec; 1,000 at Wellington GP on 9 Dec; 1,400 at Staunton on Arrow and 1,400 at Stockley Cross, both on 15 Dec. This was when the weather was extremely cold. The latest record of the first winter period was from Mer- bach Hill on 24 Apr and the earliest record was for the 2nd winter period from Bishop- stone and Bishon Farm on 23 Oct. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Abundant resident breeder, common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 209 records from 86 sites There was an increase in the number of records received and the number of sites, pro- viding a more comprehensive understanding of the distribution in the County. Breeding was confirmed at: Kerne Bridge, Stapleton Castle Court, Bishopstone, Credenhill Wood, Garway Common, Moccas Park, Shobdon Court, Tillington Road and Shirlheath. Larger numbers were: 10 at Sellack Boat on 8 Feb;17 at Haugh Woods on 12 Jun and 19 there on 19 Jun; 10 at Stockley Cross on 9 Oct and 20 at Wellington GP on 28 Oct. Redwing Turdus iliacus Very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 82 records from 40 sites The latest record for the 1st winter period was from Hereford Quarry on 17 Mar and the earliest record from the 2nd winter period was from Mawfield Farm on 29 Sep. Larger flocks from the 1st winter period were: 100 at Upper Colwell on 4 Feb and 100 at Spring- field Road on 8 Feb and from the 2nd winter period were: 100 at Kingstone on 10 Oct; 130 at Stockley Cross on 23 Oct; 100 at Merbach on 28 Oct; 100 at Lower Foxhall Lake on 4 Nov and 200 at Wellington GP on 18 Nov. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Very common resident breeder BCC listed: Amber Records: 168 records from 78 sites There was an increase in the number of sightings, although fewer breeding records were received, these coming only from: Garway Hill, Shirlheath, Cusop Hill and Hereford Quarry. The larger counts were: 20 at Hereford Quarry on 2 June; 10 at Castleton on 26 Jul and 24 at Cusop Hill on 27 Jul. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 87 records from 53 sites Forty more records were received this year compared to last year. The earliest record was from Monkland and Shirlheath on 8 May and the last record was from Shirlheath 65 and Hartleton Lakes on 21 Sep. Breeding was confirmed at: Hartleton Lakes, Cusop Dingle, Brewardine, Norton Wood, Eaton Bishop, Yazor, Breinton, Badnage Wood, Lower Broxwood, Wolfe Cottage and Moor Court Farm. Larger numbers were: 3 pairs at Hartleton Lakes during Jun; 6 at Stocklow Manor on 12 July and 5 at Mousecastle Wood on 20 Jul. Robin (European Robin) Erithacus rubecula Abundant resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 213 records from 65 sites Breeding was confirmed at: Bircher Common, Tillington Road, Wellington GP, Creden- hill Park, Hereford Quarry, Copper Beeches Close, Weston Beggard and Lower Burton. The larger numbers were: 40+ monthly from Haugh Woods, the largest count at this location was 59 on 28 May; 52 at Holme Lacey on 4 Oct and 42 at Hampton Bishop on 18 Oct. Nightingale (Common Nightingale) Luscinia megarhynchos Scarce migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 1 record The only record received was of one at Bromyard Downs on 26 Jun. Pied Flycatcher (European Pied Flycatcher) Ficedula hypoleuca Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 16 records from 12 sites The earliest record was from Pencoyd on 18 Apr and the last record from Breinton on 9 Aug. Larger numbers were: 3 at Crow Wood on 5 May and 4 in the Olchon Valley on 11 May. Breeding records were received; please see the Herefordshire Nature Trust Nest Box Recording Scheme Report (Page 93) Redstart (Common Redstart) Phoenicurus phoenicurus Common migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 127 records from 66 sites The numbers of records received were much higher than last year, with the earliest from Backney on 6 Apr and the last from Hampton Bishop on 13 Sep. Breeding records were received from: Garway Hill, the Olchon Valley, Brockhall GP, Letton Lakes, Hereford Quarry, Moccas Park and Stretton Farm; additional breeding records are shown in the Herefordshire Nature Trust Nest Box Recording Scheme Report (Page 93). Higher counts were: 9 in the Olchon Valley on 11 May; 6 at Eastnor on 12 May; 10 at Moccas Park on 26 May, 5 on Garway Hill on 27 May and 16 at Longtown on 28 May. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Scarce migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 4 records from 4 sites The records were: 1 at Bradnor Hill on 6 May; 1 at Eardisley on 6 May; 1 at Wellington GP on 8 May and 1 at Bircher Common on 26 August. Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus Very rare passage migrant 66 Records: 1 record A record of a first winter f at Wellington GP on 27 Oct is the 1st County Record (PH & T Downes). Stonechat (European Stonechat) Saxicola rubicola Uncommon resident breeder, common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant Records: 18 records from 9 sites No breeding records were received but 5 were seen on Hergest Ridge on 11 Nov and all other records were of ones or twos. Wheatear (Northern Wheatear) Oenanthe oenanthe Common migrant breeder and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 47 records from 20 sites No breeding records were received and most sightings were away from the known breeding grounds in the Olchon Valley, Hergest Ridge and Bradnor Hill. The earliest record was from Bradnor Hill on 30 Mar and the latest from Brockhall GP on 13 Oct. The larger counts were: 7 at the Red Daren on 14 Apr; 7 on Hergest Ridge on 15 Apr and 7 on Bradnor Hill on 6 May. Greenland Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa Scarce passage migrant Records: 5 records from 4 sites The records were: 3 at Brockhall GP on 28 Apr; 1 at the Warren on 7 May; 1 at Stocklow Manor on 15 May and 5 at Wellington GP on 28 May and 2 on 30 May. Dunnock Prunella modularis Abundant resident breeder BCC listed: Amber Records: 128 records from 46 sites Two confirmed breeding records were received: Tillington Road on 30 Apr and Bishop- stone on 28 Jun. A count of 15 birds was noted at Gamber Meadows on 25 Feb. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Very common resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 122 records from 59 sites Six breeding records were received: Tillington Road on 30 Apr; Ivy Cottage Kinsham on 5 May; Copper Beeches Close on 30 Jun; Stretton Sugwas on 5 Aug and Tillington Road on 19 Aug. Flocks were recorded of 150 birds at Kinsham on 31 Aug, 60 at Hurstly and 70 in a garden at Bromsash on 4 Oct. Tree Sparrow (Eurasian Tree Sparrow) Passer montanus Uncommon resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 35 records from 12 sites One breeding record was confirmed at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 5 Aug, when a breeding pair with young in nest was noted. Two flocks of 20 were recorded at Brampton Bryan on 29 Jul and R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 8 Sep. Tree Sparrows were recorded regularly at Ivington during the 67 winter on feeders. Yellow Wagtail (Western Yellow Wagtail) Motacilla flava flavissima Uncommon migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 79 records from 24 sites No breeding was recorded although 2 adults and 5 juvs were found at Hereford Quarry on 4 Aug. Earliest sightings: a single m at Wellington GP on 6 Apr and 2mm and 1f at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 12 Apr. The last sighting was a juv at Hartleton Lakes on 5 Oct. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Common resident breeder BCC listed: Amber Records: 65 records from 34 sites Breeding was confirmed on the R Monnow at Cloddock in Apr and at Walterstone on 12 Jun. One garden record came from Coughton Forge on 5 Sep. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Abundant resident breeder, common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 135 records from 46 sites There were 14 breeding records from 10 sites: Bridgend Farm on 18 Mar and a second brood on 1 May occupying an old Swallow nest; Weston Beggard on 29 May; Hartleton Lakes on 12 Jun; Pencombe on 23 Jun; Hereford Quarry on 23 Jun; Monkland on 30 Jun; Marstow on 1 Jul; Dilwyn on 7 Jul; Dormington on 12 Jul and Bridge Sollars on 27 Jul. A flock of 27 were at Ledbury Rugby Ground on 27 Jul. White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Uncommon passage migrant Records: 10 records from 5 sites The earliest was a single male at Wellington GP on 28 Mar and the latest, another single male, at Brockhall GP on 28 Apr. The other three sites were: Bromsash, Hereford Quarry and R Wye Castleton and Winforton. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Uncommon migrant breeder and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 43 records from 14 sites Breeding records were received from: Credenhill Park Woods on 12 Jun and Olchon Valley on 25 Jun. Six singing males were recorded in Haugh Wood on 10 Apr. The earliest record was in Haugh Wood on 10 Apr and the last sighting was at Stocklow Manor on 7 Sep. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 100 records from 29 sites Two breeding records were received from: Bradnor Hill on 10 Jun and Garway Hill on 68 30 Jun. There were two large flock records: 110 birds on passage at Stocklow on 9 Sep and 105 birds at Garway on 25 Sep. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Very rare passage migrant Records: 1 record This was the 1st record for the County of this scarce passage migrant moving to its Arctic tundra breeding grounds, (recorded by Steve Klasan) foraging in a flooded field at Bodenham on 7 May. Chaffinch (Common Chaffinch) Fringilla coelebs Abundant resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant Records: 171 records from 66 sites Eight breeding records were received from: R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 16 May; Moccas Park on 28 May; Dormington on 29 May; Garway on 23 Jun; Creden- hill in Jun; Yazor on 28 Jul and Willersley on 3 Aug. There were 200 birds at Wapley Hill in Jan and 300 birds at the same site in Feb. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant Records: 50 records from 27 sites. The latest record for the first winter period was from The Birches, Shobdon on 27 Apr and the earliest for the second winter period was at Bircher Common and Stockley Cross on 25 Oct. The largest flocks were: 20 at Bircher Common on 18 Feb and 20 at Haugh Wood on 3 Mar. Greenfinch (European Greenfinch) Chloris chloris Very common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant Records: 107 from 51 sites Breeding was recorded at 5 locations: Upper Shenmore on 7 Mar; Copper Beeches Close on 1 Jul; Wellington GP on 7 Jul; Bredwardine on 2 Aug and Letton on 3 Aug. A large flock of 80 was noted at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 10 Sep and a flock of 200 was seen going to roost at Hartleton Lakes on 10 Dec. Goldfinch (European Goldfinch) Carduelis carduelis Common resident breeder and very common winter visitor Records: 152 records from 65 sites Breeding was recorded at 6 locations: Gamber Meadows on 7 Jul; Weston Beggard on 12 Jul; Kings Pyon on 30 Jul; Kenchester on 1 Aug; Bredwardine on 2 Aug and Hartleton Lakes on 12 Aug. A flock of 100 was noted at Staunton-on-Arrow on 12 Jan. Siskin (Eurasian Siskin) Carduelis spinus Uncommon resident breeder, very common winter visitor and common passage migrant 69 Records: 110 records from 53 sites Breeding was recorded at: Garway Common on 2 May and on Garway Hill on 30 July. Large counts were: 180 at Staunton-on-Arrow on 12 Jan; 200 at High Vinnals on 15 Jan and 210 at Wapley Hill on 1 Feb. Linnet (Common Linnet) Carduelis cannabina Common resident breeder, very common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 133 records from 64 sites Breeding was recorded from 4 locations: Wellington GP on 7 Jul; Hurdle Hall Cottage on 13 Jul; Letton Lakes on 26 Jul and Kings Pyon on 24 Aug. Large flocks were at: 200 at Shobdon on 15 Jan; 200 at Wellington GP on 22 Sep; 400 at Rudhall on 1 Oct and 500 at Leominster Enterprise Park on 17 Nov. Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret Common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 79 records from 46 sites For the first winter period the latest recorded were 3 birds seen at The Birches Shob- don on 29 Apr. For the second winter period the earliest record was at Hereford Quarry on 6 Oct. A large flock of 100 birds was seen in a garden at Gorsley on 2 Feb. Crossbill (Red Crossbill) Loxia curvirostra Scarce breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant. Prone to irruption Records: 38 records from 21 sites No breeding was recorded although the species was recorded in every month except Dec. A consistent population was noted in the Wapley Hill and Stocklow Manor area during Jul. Bullfinch (Eurasian Bullfinch) Pyrrhula pyrrhula Common resident breeder and common winter visitor BCC listed: Amber Records: 173 records from 74 sites Breeding was confirmed at: Kern Bridge with 1 adult and 2 juv on 1 July and Rowl- stone with 1 adult and 2 juvs on 25 Jul. A juv was noted feeding on rowan berries at Wolf Cottage on 24 Aug and pairs were noted in 18 various locations. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Rare resident breeder, uncommon winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Red Records: 31 records from 7 sites No breeding was confirmed although 2 males were displaying in Coneygree Wood on 13 Apr. There were 19 records from Coneygree Wood between 8 Feb and 12 May. Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Abundant resident breeder and very common winter visitor BCC listed: Red Records: 128 records from 55 sites Breeding records were: 2 juvs at Pencombe on 23 Jun; adult carrying food at Dilwyn 70 on 7 Jul; Wyatt Road Withington on 20 Jul and 2 juvs at Bridge Sollars on 27 Jul. A seed trial plot held between 40 and 60 at Hill Farm Castle Frome during Jan and Feb and a flock of 80 was counted at Criftin Ford Bridge on 20 Oct. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Very rare passage migrant Records: 2 records from 1 site This bird, a 1st for the County, was recorded in Kingsland Court Garden on the 7 and 8 Nov (NS Morris et al). Reed Bunting (Common Reed Bunting) Emberiza schoeniclus Common resident breeder, common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BCC listed: Amber Records: 91 records from 33 sites Breeding was confirmed as follows: a male carrying food at Bodenham Lake on 19 May; 4 adults and 2 juvs at Gamber Meadows on 11 July; Berrington Hall Pool in Jun and Hereford Quarry on 21 Jul. Twenty birds were seen at Wellington GP on 7 and 24 Apr. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Rare resident breeder BCC listed: Red Records: 1 record A single bird was seen feeding on seed in a garden at Bromsash on 17 May. Exotica & Escapes Reeves Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii Records:1 record A male was seen at Wallbrook Wood Little Birch on 30 Mar. Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Records: 2 records from 1 site One was seen at Backbury Hill Woolhope on 20 Apr and 13 May. Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae Records: 1 record One was seen at Tow Tree Lane Hereford on 11 Nov. Black Swan Cygnus atratus Records: 3 records from 1 site One was seen at R Wye Clifford on 9, 15 and 26 Dec. Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus Records: 1 record One was seen at Hartleton Lakes on 28 Jan with Canada Geese. Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Records: 1 record A male was seen at Bumper Pool Weston Farm on 20 Mar. 71 Addenda 2008 Systematic List: After close examination by the HOC rarities committee of photographs recently submitted, the bird previously identified as a Goshawk, reported as a sighting on 8 June 2008 by W J Marler, has now been confirmed as a Hen Harrier. This query was recently initiated by W J Marler himself. This record is the only sighting of Hen Harrier for the year 2008. 2011 Systematic List: The 11th County record for 4 male Dotterel seen at Bradnor Hill on 4 May should have read 4 males and 2 females. 2011 photographs: The photograph of a Blue-headed Wagtail, considered to be a “Chan- nel” hybrid, which stated that the photographer was unknown was actually taken by the bird finder himself, N Telfer. Observers 2012 Miles Adjinkya Frank Bennett Linda Butterworth Miss E R Coney Hilary Allen G S Bilbao A Buttriss S P Coney Mrs J Allen G & M Bilbao I Buttriss Annie Cook Sandra Allen R F Birchenough Mrs N Buttriss Frederick Cook Sophie Allen Harriet Birchley John Caiger H R A Cook Jane Allport John Birkinshaw Lynette Cain T C Cooke J Allsopp S Blake Emma Caldwell T & V Cooke Miss J Andrews Edward Blatchford Bob Canning T Coombs Dame Margaret Ian Bloom P Cannings Elaine Corbin Anstee D G Boddington Jane Carter Marion Cox Amy Archer L Bolton Neil Causer Jenny Creek Ms J Arnsby P Bone Dawn Cawton Nick Cronin R Ashman D J Bowker Ann Chadwick David & Melinda David Aston J J Bowker Douglas Chalmers Crook Roger Attwood Carol Bracebridge C Chapman Ronald Crow Mark Baggot P & F Bradley N Chapman G Cundale Peter Baines P G Bradley John Checketts Ian Cunningham Beck Baker M T Breaks C R Cheesman Mrs B Daniels Roger Baldwin Isabel Bright Robert Chitham Robert Danks Dawn Balmer P Bristow David Churchill Steve Davey Bridget Banks Tom Brooke Julie Clark Alison Davies Patricia Lesley Banks Bernice Brooks G Clarkson Dawn Davies Jenny Barnes C Brooks Phyl Clayton Geoffrey Davies Richard & Jane Bar- Isabel & Ken Brooks Peter Clee J C Davies ton Annabelle Brown CLUB OUTING Mrs J M Davies Brenda Bashford G D Brown I Clucas Lynette Davies Julie Bernard Elaine Brown Mrs M Clucas M H Davies A J Beasley Heather Brown Linda Coates Miss N Davies Peter Beasley Jeremy Browne David Coker P Davies David Beavan Jeneke & Colin Ann Cole R Davies Sheila Bell Bryant Edward Coleman G M Davis Ms Faith Bellamy Claire Buckland Jim & Brenda Collins John & Anne Davis Julie Bendall Babs Bufton Miss R J Collins A Dawson Magan Benjamin Mrs F S Burge Richard Collins John Denyar Mrs Bennett I Burgess M Collis Mrs Denyar D Bennett Paul Burridge M Colquhoun Wref Digings 72 Frieda Di Marco James Gale Freda Hirst D Lovelace J A Dix Sue Gardner Mr Holman N Marriner Gary Dixon P G Garner Brian Holmes David Le Mesurier T Dixon Mrs J Gaye Robert Holland Miss E La Monica Mrs C Downes Michelle Gerrard C Holt Ian Leverton Mrs E A Downes Pat Gilbert N Hopkinson Charlotte Lewis P H Downes Margaret Gillanders R Horton Marina Lewis P & T Downes S Gillings Geoff Houghton Michael Lewis T W Downes Una Gillman Amy Howard Pat & Michael Lewis I Draycott Lisa Gladwin Anne Hughes Sue Lewis John Drinkwater Mrs L Gobey Graham Hughes Mr Liddel Jannette Durrance David Goodfellow Ifor Hughes Hannah Llewellyn- M Eade Patricia Gore Jenny Hughes Jones M A Eaton I Gough T Hulme Rosemary Lloyd Paula Eckerton Brigit Graham Ewan Hunt Boyan Love Carl Edwards M G Grant Tony Hunt Garth Lowe Mr & Mrs Eggerton Mary Green R Husbands Eddie Luxton P J Eldridge R V Green Wendy Huxley-Marko John MacNaughton Ann Ellis Judy Greenwell Peter Huyton B Maggs D England Mrs R Gregory Hilary Jones Karen Mainwaring R England W H Gregory Innes Jones I G Main Jean A H Eveleigh J M Gribble Jennifer Jones Maluchat Donald Evans Sheila Grieg John Jones Elena Maos Lee Evans Francesca Griffiths June Jones A Marchant M Evans George Griffiths Mairion Jones A R Marfell Ms S Evans Lawrence Griffiths Marie Jones W J Marler G W Ewart T Griffiths Rob Jones N Marriner T Eyles Ms S Grunsell Rosemary Jones Alan Marshall M Fairley G Guthrie T A Jones Ann Marshall Mrs Farcome A C Gutteridge Wendy Jones J P Martin Keith Farnes Janet Gwinnett Clint Joseph Robert Martin Lyndsay Farr A Hale K V Joynes K & C Mason Maxine Farr A R Hallam Beryl Kemp Sylvia Mason Mary Fennah Mrs Ham J Kedward Alan Matthews Mrs J Fields T A Hancock Bob Kerr P & L Matthews N Fincham Nigel Hand Kevin Kimber Heidi Maxted Norman & Denise Duncan Handley R & P King Mrs May Fincham David Harding Sue King Louise McCall Mandy Fincher C A Hardinge G King-Salter I McCulloch Valerie Fitch Sara Harris S Klasan Bill McGinley Sandra Fletcher Keith Harrison Lorraine Knights Donald McGlashon John Flower R Hart Lizzie Knock Steve McHugh Derek Fors A Hartley Rachel Langley J Mclellan Anna Forster D Hayes Carol Langstaff Ann Mead Tony Fox Mrs C M Hemming C & L Lankester Paul Meanwell A T Foxton R F W Hemming Michael Latchem Carol Merrick Jan & Michael Foyle I C Herbert David Latham R G Miller Ann Franklin Bruce Herriot Sandra Lawrence Susie & Leslie T Freeston H R Hesketh Mrs F Leathart Mitchell Paul Friend D Hewitt Mr Ledbrook Val Moody Robert Fuller Martin Hewitt Mrs R Ledlie Alan Morgan John Furnival Brian Hickling Jo Lee G Morgan R Fussell Val Hicks Rod Lees G & U Morgan Nick Gabrielides Charlotte Hingston Nikki Legge N S Morris 73 Trevor Morris Michelle Price Peter Spicer P Venvil Yvonne Mortimer Tim Price Alison Stephenson Victoria Vernalls Ken Mulberry Val Price Chris Steventon R Vernon D Mullin David Priday Alan Stokes J Voysey Vicki Murray Derek Pritchard Clive L Stokes Tom Wall T Nellist David Provis Linda Stokes Margaret Wallace Margaret Nelson J R Pullen M Stokes Lynn Warner Michael Nelson M D Pullen Sue Stokes Audrey Warren Laura Newnham S Pullen Sue Strachan B Watkins S Nickols Therese Quarrell Graham Stratford Jean Watkins Jude Norcott Mrs V Quinn B Stretch Mrs Watkins David Norsworthy Espen Quinto-Ash- Paul Styles S E Watkins Barbara Nurse man P A Sullivan W Watson S Nuthall John Quinton-Adams D Sutcliffe T Weale James Oslar Mary Redding R W Swift Chris & Tricia Webb Mrs S M T Page Tony Reeve J A Sykes D Webb J R W Paige Helen Richardson Vera Symonds Gill Webb David Parker John Richardson K Talbot John Weeks G R Parker Miss F Riddell Jacci Taylor G A H Wells C Parr David Riley M Taylor Ian Wells Lyndsay Parr David Roberts Maggie Taylor Welsh Kite Trust P Parsons Elizabeth Roberts P Taylor Leslie Whiles P & J Parsons S C Roberts Mrs S J Taylor Bert & Joan White Douglas Parry Stephen Roberts Marenna Taylor-Johns James White John Temple C J Peacock C M Robinson Valerie Whittaker A R Pearce John Robinson Kathryn Terry B Wildey N C Pegler Miss M L Robinson A Thomas J Wilkinson N & L Pegler Grenville Rollings Angela Thomas J & A Wilkinson John Penford Nigel Rollings C B Thomas Lesley Wilkinson M J Penford Hilary Rosankiewicz L P Thomas B C Willder J Penrice I Rose Norma Thomas Chris Williams Jane Penyton R W Roseveare Olivia Thompson Mrs D Williams Helen Perrett Alan Rudland John Tilby Jonathan Perry J L Russell David Tilford Mrs K Williams A L Phillips V & A Russell Graham Tingle Marl Williams B Phillips Adam Sayce L Tomlinson Maureen Williams Derek J Phillips Barry Sayer Lesley Tonks M J Williams I Phillipson Daphne Sayers Julian Treadwell Sharon Williams M Pittaway Chris Scarratt D Trump Sue Williams Sean Pittaway Sid Silk D Trenam Tom & Angie A Pocock Mrs Simpson R Tushingham Williams D Pointon Lysbeth Sleath C E Tudge Teresa Williamson S Potter A L Smith Brendan Tuer Chris & Phil Wilson G J Poulton Brian Smith Chris & Charles Tune Frank Wood John Powell Dave Smith J S Tuppler David Woodhouse John R Powell John Smith Jack Tupper Susie Woodruff Joyce Powell Les Smith Eric Turner Chris Wolland Mark Powell Paul A Smith Geraldine Turner Ms K Wollen Michael Powell P J Smith Bob Tushingham P Woollen R Powell Sarah Smith Geoff Tutt C Worlock Carole Preece Stuart Smith S J Tyler Carole Worswick Anne Price Chris South Graham Uney Ms J Wynne-Jones Carol Price Jean South Estelle Van Warmelo Sally Yeshin Gavin Price Mrs Sheila Spence Ken Venus John Young 74 Summer & Winter Migrants 2012 Summer Migrants – Earliest and Latest Dates Earliest Latest in Species Location Location in 2012 2012 Garganey - - 01 Sep Hereford Quarry Tow Tree Lane Quail 24 May 13 Jun Brampton Bryan Hereford Hoarwithy & Osprey 05 Apr 11 Sep Pencoyd Madley Hobby 29 Apr Lawton Cross 27 Sep Adforton Hereford Quarry & Little Ringed Plover 17 Mar Brockhall GP 21 Jul Wellington GP Common Sandpiper 06 Apr Wellington GP 05 Oct Wellington GP Greenshank 06 May Bodenham 25 Aug Wellington GP Shobdon Hill Turtle Dove 10 May 26 Jul Willey Wood Cuckoo 02 Apr Garway Hill 25 Aug Bringsty Common Brockhall GP & Clehonger & Swift 24 Apr R Wye Hampton 08 Sep Hartleton Lakes Bishop R Wye Castleton Sand Martin 07 Mar 29 Sep Brockhall GP & Winforton Walford Swallow 05 Mar 09 Oct Hoarwithy Church Leintwardine House Martin 31 Mar Hereford City 09 Oct Hoarwithy Church Barnett Wood Wood Warbler 21 Apr 04 Jun Haugh Wood Wigmore R Wye Hampton Willow Warbler 02 Apr 29 Sep Mawfield Farm Bishop Garden Warbler 17 Apr Wellington GP 22 Sep Cagebrook Bridge Lesser Whitethroat 11 Apr Wellington GP 06 Oct Hereford Quarry Eastnor Park & Whitethroat 20 Apr 21 Sep R Wye Holme Lacy Shobdon Grasshopper Warbler 23 Apr Haugh Wood 17 Jun Bosbury R Wye Castleton & Sedge Warbler 14 Apr Wellington GP 07 Aug Winforton Reed Warbler 17 Apr Wellington GP 22 Sep Wellington GP Ring Ouzel 14 Apr Red Daren 26 Oct The Darens 75 Earliest Latest in Species Location Location in 2012 2012 Monkland & Hartleton Lakes & Spotted Flycatcher 08 May 21 Sep Shirlheath Shirlheath Pied Flycatcher 18 Apr Pencoyd 09 Aug Breinton R Wye Hampton Redstart 06 Apr Backney 13 Sep Bishop Bradnor Hill & Whinchat 06 May 26 Aug Bircher Common Eardisley Wheatear 30 Mar Bradnor Hill 13 Oct Brockhall GP Yellow Wagtail 06 Apr Wellington GP 05 Oct Hartleton Lakes Tree Pipit 10 Apr Haugh Wood 07 Sep Stocklow Manor Winter Migrants – Latest and Earliest Dates 1st 2nd Winter Winter Species Location Location Period Period in in 2012 2012 Bewick’s Swan - - - - Whooper Swan 28 Jan Willersley 03 Oct Shobdon

Pink-footed Goose 06 May Wellington GP - -

Wigeon 08 Apr Wellington GP 01 Sep Wellington GP Teal 29 Apr Brockhall GP 10 Jun Stocklow Manor R Wye Hampton Pintail 07 Apr 03 Oct Wellington GP Bishop Pochard 01 May Wellington GP 10 Jun Brockhall GP Bodenham Lake Goldeneye 08 Apr 07 Oct Wellington GP & Wellington GP Golden Plover 18 Mar Hergest Ridge 12 Oct Stocklow Jack Snipe 26 Feb Wellington GP 10 Nov Brockhall GP Great Grey Shrike 25 Mar High Vinnals - - Waxwing - - 11 Nov Elton Bishopstone & Bis- Fieldfare 24 Apr Merbach Hill 23 Oct hon Farm Redwing 17 Mar Hereford Quarry 29 Sep Mawfield Farm The Birches Bircher Common Brambling 27 Apr 25 Oct Shobdon & Stockley Cross 76 Bird Ringing in Herefordshire 2012 his is a summary of birds ringed in Herefordshire in 2012 as part of the national Bird Ringing Scheme, together with brief details of significant recoveries of birds previouslyT ringed in the County and of “controls” in Herefordshire of birds ringed outside its borders. Ringing provides information of growing value to science, conservation and government on bird movements, migration, survival, longevity, breeding success and habitat use, among other aspects. More details on the Ringing Scheme, its objectives, methods and results (including The Migration Atlas) can be found on the British Trust for Ornithology website at http://www.bto.org (look under Volunteer Surveys or Core Surveys). Ringing totals Species Adults Pulli (nestlings/chicks) Total ringed Mute Swan 5 5 Mallard 1 1 Red Kite 5 5 Goshawk 10 10 Sparrowhawk 6 6 Kestrel 1 4 5 Hobby 5 5 Woodpigeon 4 4 Cuckoo 2 2 Kingfisher 2 2 Green Woodpecker 4 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 24 24 Magpie 1 1 Jay 18 18 Goldcrest 43 43 Blue Tit 639 20 659 Great Tit 346 16 362 Coal Tit 43 43 Willow Tit 2 2 Marsh Tit 11 11 Swallow 10 10 House Martin 4 4 Long-tailed Tit 86 86 Wood Warbler 1 1 Chiffchaff 444 444 Willow Warbler 148 148 Blackcap 291 5 296 Garden Warbler 29 29 Lesser Whitethroat 11 11 77 Species Adults Pulli (nestlings/chicks) Total ringed Whitethroat 10 5 15 Sedge Warbler 15 15 Reed Warbler 82 2 84 Nuthatch 15 9 24 Treecreeper 23 23 Wren 55 55 Starling 1 1 Dipper 13 146 159 Blackbird 278 19 297 Fieldfare 8 8 Song Thrush 32 3 35 Redwing 79 79 Mistle Thrush 24 24 Spotted Flycatcher 36 36 Robin 209 209 Redstart 29 38 67 Pied Flycatcher 73 552 625 Dunnock 63 63 House Sparrow 29 29 Grey Wagtail 24 24 Pied Wagtail 47 6 53 Tree Pipit 1 1 Chaffinch 73 73 Greenfinch 75 75 Goldfinch 133 133 Siskin 45 45 Linnet 9 9 Redpoll 56 56 Bullfinch 20 20 Yellowhammer 3 3 Reed Bunting 13 13 Grand Totals (60 species) 3725 869 4594 CES: Part of this ringing was undertaken at Much Marcle as part of the BTO’s Con- stant Effort Sites (CES) Scheme to provide data on changes in population size and breeding success and on adult survival rates for 24 species of common songbird. Each year we operate the same “mist nets” (special nets for catching birds safely) in the same locations and over a standard length of time in each session, every 10-11 days through the breeding season from the beginning of May to the end of August. Thus the annual catching effort is constant, and variations in numbers of birds caught should be related 78 to actual changes in the avian population. Some Constant Effort sites were very adversely affected by the higher than average rainfall, especially in July. An advantage of the Much Marcle site is that it is designed and operated to be very wet most of the time, so even significant amounts of extra water do not seriously affect either the vegetation (and hence food for the birds) or our ability to operate the ringing (although we do not catch during actual rainfall). Accordingly our operations in 2012 were not seriously disrupted. Highlights of the Much Marcle ringing in 2012 included: lA total of 1286 individual birds were captured, of 37 different species; 1168 of these birds were unringed when caught, while 117 were ‘retraps’ of birds we had ringed at the site in earlier years, and one was a bird that had been ringed elsewhere (see the Redstart Y190109 below). lWarblers generally staged a recovery in numbers compared to 2011, with Chiffchaff in particular at an all-time high of 342 individuals caught, of which 309 were birds hatched in 2012. Sylvia warblers also did well: we caught 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 7 Garden Warblers and 144 Blackcaps (a total for that species exceeded only in 2002). National results for 2012 (see below) echoed the high numbers of Chif- fchaffs and Blackcaps. lFirst captures at the site of three species: Green Woodpecker (3 individuals), Wood Warbler and Coal Tit. lThree Great Spotted Woodpeckers (but no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker). l122 Reed Warblers (slightly down on 2011), of which 62 were hatched in 2012 (including two ringed as nestlings), and 39 were retraps from earlier years. One of the nestlings was subsequently caught at the site after fledging and before departing on migration to Africa for the winter. l113 Willow Warblers, showing something of a recovery after the low numbers the previous year. l8 Swallows, the first ones caught at the site since 2007; 29 Pied Wagtails, the most ever caught here in one year of this species; 11 Goldcrests and 27 Spotted Flycatchers, by far the highest numbers of those species at the site. lOnly 4 Greenfinches, a dramatic drop after 2011’s highest total ever. lBut on the plus side we had 6 more Siskins after last year’s first capture of this species. National trends: (paraphrasing the report in CES News No. 26, www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u17/downloads/ringing-surveys/CES/CESNews/cesnews26_2013.pdf), Black- cap and Chiffchaff were both recorded in the highest numbers since the scheme began in 1983, although survival rates were not significantly higher than average. There has been a consistent, long-term increase in the abundance of both species: CES ringers now handle double the number of Blackcaps and more than four times as many Chiffchaffs as they did in the mid-1980s. The productivity in 2012 of both short- and long-distance migrants was uniformly poor. Seven of the eight migrant warblers monitored by CES (Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler) experienced significant reductions in productivity compared to the five-year average, and all eight 79 (including Lesser Whitethroat) exhibited the lowest productivity since CES began. Low temperatures and heavy rain reduced both the abundance and accessibility of many in- vertebrates, particularly the caterpillars and flying insects on which these species feed, so food is likely to have been in short supply. The majority of warblers also build open- cup nests, so eggs and chicks may have become chilled during wet spells, reducing fledg- ling numbers. Adult tit abundance in 2012 was similar to that recorded over recent years, as were survival rates over the 2011/12 winter, none of which differed significantly from the five-year mean. Like the migrants, however, tits had a disastrous breeding season, with three of the four species exhibiting significant declines in juvenile:adult ratios of between 31% and 44%. Results for Blue and Great Tit were much lower than those recorded by the Nest Record Scheme (13% and 18% respectively), which is again suggestive of high post-fledging mortality rates. Most passerine species have the capacity to produce large numbers of offspring per season, potentially allowing them to recover rapidly from years where productivity or survival is much lower than average. Reduced competition between individuals when density is low also leads to higher survival, helping to buffer populations from decline. What is of concern, however, is the role of the jet stream in recent climatic events. Meteorologists are currently unsure what the effect of a warming climate and the melt- ing of the polar icecaps will have on the trajectory of the jet stream in future. If the shift southwards becomes permanent then weather conditions during British summers will become more unsettled, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events such as the heavy rainfall of 2012. How this impacts our avifauna remains to be seen but BTO vol- unteers will continue to monitor any changes. RAS: Some ringing of Pied Flycatchers formed part of the BTO’s Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) Project, for estimating survival of species that cannot be monitored so effectively by other ringing projects such as CES. More details and national results of this survey can also be found on the BTO website (and see under Pied Flycatcher in the Recoveries and Controls section). Nest Record Scheme (NRS): The ringing of nestlings often also generates complete nest histories which are submitted to the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme, enabling monitoring of nest success and productivity of nesting birds. Quoting from NRS News No. 29 (www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u15/downloads/publications/nest_record_news/nrn29.pdf), the unusually warm conditions in February and March resulted in many of the early resident breeders, including Tawny Owl, Song Thrush and Long-tailed Tit, commencing nesting significantly earlier than the five-year average. In contrast, long-distance migrants travelling northwards from their African wintering quarters the following month had to contend with a succession of severe weather systems across Europe and were greeted by cold, wet weather when they finally returned to their breeding grounds. As a result, laying dates of six such species (Swallow, Redstart, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Pied Flycatcher) were significantly delayed relative to the average for the preceding five years. Laying dates of short- distance migrants Blackcap and Chiffchaff, which winter in the Mediterranean and 80 therefore return to breed earlier, were no later than average. Feedback from lepidopterists suggests that 2012 was a very poor year for moths, and species that rely heavily on caterpillars as a source of food for their nestlings experienced a sharp drop in productivity. The average number of fledglings produced per breeding attempt for both Blue and Great Tit was significantly below average, the latter experi- encing the second worst season on record. This poor performance was influenced by small clutches and high failure rates during incubation, as well as by a reduction in brood sizes, suggesting that adults were in poor condition when breeding commenced. The number of Chaffinch fledglings per nest was at its lowest level since records began in 1966, by some margin. Losses during incubation were high and heavy rainfall may have had a direct impact, wetting the eggs when the female left the nest to feed. Exceptionally high levels of rainfall directly impacted on those species whose nests are vulnerable to flooding. Increased river flow may also have contributed to the increase in failure rates of Dipper nests during incubation. The results of the preliminary NRS analyses are broadly consistent with those for breeding success from the CES Scheme (see above). However, there are some species (Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler) for which CES records a much more marked reduction in productivity during 2012. This difference suggests that young birds may have continued to struggle after leaving the nest, their lack of experience and relatively poor- quality plumage making it much harder for them to cope with extreme weather conditions, leading to a drop in survival rates post-fledging. Recoveries and controls This section gives details of birds ringed or subsequently encountered in Herefordshire and felt to be of particular interest. Similar information for the whole of the country is given in the annual report on Bird Ringing in Britain and Ireland included in the journal Ringing & Migration (BTO). The recoveries are arranged by species, with the ringing information on the first line and one or more subsequent recoveries below. The symbols and conventions used are as follows: Age when ringed (and when recaptured if still alive); mostly determined by careful examination of condition and pattern of plumage (the details vary from species to species). Standard terms as follows (with Euring “age codes” used by ringers in parentheses): Nestling: Ringed as a chick, typically in or close to the nest (Euring age code 1) Juvenile: Caught in the calendar year of hatching, not yet completed “post-juvenile” moult (this is a first moult, typically partial, undertaken a few months after leaving the nest to replace plumage grown during the nestling phase) (Euring aged code 3J) 1st-year: Caught in the calendar year of hatching, after post-juvenile moult (Euring age code 3) Full-grown: Year of hatching not determined: bird has reached full size, but could have hatched in current or an earlier year (Euring age code 2) 2nd-year: Caught in the calendar year after year of hatching (Euring age code 5) Adult: Caught after the year of hatching, when precise age can no longer be determined (all pertinent plumage features have been moulted) (Euring age codes 4, 6, 8 etc) Sex: M = Male, F = Female 81 Circumstances of recovery – mostly self-explanatory, but in particular Caught alive: Caught and released by a ringer, some distance from the site of ringing (in most cases more than 5 km) Recaptured: Caught and released by a ringer at the site of original ringing For recoveries involving movement over a significant distance details are given of the time elapsed in days between ringing and recovery, the distance between ringing and recovery site, and the compass bearing of the recovery site from the ringing site. Elapsed time is stated as calendar years, months and days, for ease of reading; these years may contain 365 or 366 days (leap years), which should be borne in mind when making precise age comparisons. l “Much Marcle” refers to the Constant Effort Site discussed above, at grid reference SO6533. Mute Swan

Stratford-on-Avon, X2984 Adult – F 09-03-2000 Warwickshire

Little Berrington, nr Found dead 01-07-2012 Bodenham

Canada Goose Llangorse Lake, 5246774 Adult 29-06-2008 Powys Attenborough Nature Alive – ring 2y 4m 14-11-2010 Reserve, Notting- 175 km NE read 16d hamshire Alive – Wellington Gravel 4y 1m colour rings 17-08-2012 43 km ENE Pits, Hereford 19d seen Llangorse Lake, 5246838 Adult 29-06-2008 Powys Freshly Rushock, near 4y 3m 20-10-2012 38 km NNE dead (shot) Kington 21d Llangorse Lake, 5257776 Adult 04-07-2010 Powys Freshly Breinton Common, 1y 8m dead (leg 22-03-2012 36 km ENE Hereford 18d only) These three recoveries add to four last year, showing a recurrent movement of Canada Geese from Llangorse Lake to our county.

82 Mallard Slimbridge, GC38088 Adult M 11-07-2007 Glos.

Freshly dead near Withing- 4y 6m 21-01-2012 43 km NNW (domestic ton, Hereford 10d animal)

Slimbridge, GR28343 1st-year M 31-12-2011 Glos. Freshly near Sutton St 0y 8m dead 05-09-2012 Nicholas, 44 km NNW 5d (shot) Hereford Lesser Black-backed Gull near Stretton Sugwas (land- GG76016 Adult 11-09-1990 fill site), Hereford

Mandal, Alive (ring 11y 9m 58°2’ N 16-06-2002 Vest-Agder, 928 km read) 5d 7°27’ E Norway

Mandal, 15y 9m 58°1’ N “ 28-06-2006 931 km Norway 17d 7°31’ E

Brennevins- myra, Mandal, 21y 9m “ 14-06-2012 931 km NE Norway 58°1’ 3d N 7°30’ E

Only intermittent sightings of this bird, but it has lived to a respectable age. The current longevity record for Lesser Black-backed Gull is just short of 35 years. Herring Gull Ellington Road Landfill, near GN77800 Adult 10-03-2005 Ellington, Northumber- land Alive Checkley, 6y 10m (colour 11-01-2012 358 km SSW Woolhope 1d rings seen) 83 Blue Tit X258442 Juvenile 14-06-2009 Much Marcle Recaptured 30-08-2009 Much Marcle “ – F 04-06-2010 Much Marcle “ 09-05-2011 Much Marcle “ 08-09-2012 Much Marcle 3y 2m 25d X808504 Juvenile 16-08-2009 Much Marcle Recaptured 04-06-2010 Much Marcle – F “ 20-05-2012 Much Marcle “ 14-10-2012 Much Marcle 3y 1m 28d X808542 1st-year M 30-08-2009 Much Marcle Recaptured 21-03-2010 Much Marcle “ 28-08-2010 Much Marcle “ 04-06-2011 Much Marcle “ 20-05-2012 Much Marcle 2y 8m 20d In addition, at Much Marcle 6 birds were retrapped from among those ringed in 2010, and another 6 from 2011. Marsh Tit

Queenswood, X983962 Full-grown 06-02-2010 Hope under Din- more, Leominster

Caught Hope under Din- 10-12-2012 2y 10m 4d 2 km N alive more No significant distance involved, but nice to see a small bird surviving an appreciable time. Although the maximum recorded age in UK is just over 10 years, the typical lifespan for Marsh Tits is 2 years. Sand Martin

X698908 Juvenile 10-07-2009 Backney Common

Caught Chelmarsh Reser- 29-03-2012 2y 8m 19d 63 km NNE alive voir, Bridgnorth

84 Long-tailed Tit

BXD055 Juvenile 20-05-2007 Much Marcle

Recaptured 28-07-2007 Much Marcle Recaptured – 09-06-2008 Much Marcle M “ 28-05-2011 Much Marcle

“ 14-10-2012 Much Marcle 5y 4m 24d

DBV536 Juvenile 22-07-2009 Much Marcle

Recaptured 12-06-2010 Much Marcle

“ 28-05-2011 Much Marcle

“ 14-10-2012 Much Marcle 3y 2m 22d

In addition at Much Marcle we recaught 7 birds that had been ringed there in 2011. Chiffchaff

At Much Marcle in 2010 we ringed a total of 260 Chiffchaffs that we could tell (by close examination of their plumage) had hatched in that year; in 2011 we ringed another 228 birds that had hatched that year. Three of the 2010 birds reappeared at the site in 2012: DCL279, DPD367 and DPD389. Six of the 2011 birds, nos. DRN363, DRN406, DRN409, DRN422, DRN428 and ECC548 likewise came back to the site this year, having spent the winter in Africa. A seventh 2011 bird, DRN304, ringed as an adult (i.e. it hatched no later than 2010) also returned this year. Blackcap Hope under L943634 Adult M 22-08-2011 Dinmore, Leominster Great Freshly dead 19-05-2012 Malvern, 0y 8m 27d 28 km ESE Worcs D089647 1st-year M 08-09-2012 Much Marcle Grimley, Caught alive 22-09-2012 0y 0m 14d 32 km NE Worcs The Much Marcle Blackcap data can be summarised by tabulating for all the birds caught this year how many were ringed this year or in each preceding year (the first column shows the total captures this year): 85 Total - 2012 2012 2011 2010 144 140 3 1 Reed Warbler V377176 1st-year 19-08-2006 Much Marcle Recaptured 26-08-2006 Much Marcle Recaptured – M 28-06-2007 Much Marcle “ 23-05-2009 Much Marcle “ 16-08-2009 Much Marcle “ 28-05-2011 Much Marcle “ 15-07-2012 Much Marcle 5y 10m 26d V488537 Adult – M 18-07-2007 Much Marcle Recaptured 11-08-2007 Much Marcle “ 15-06-2008 Much Marcle “ 07-07-2008 Much Marcle “ 10-05-2009 Much Marcle “ 22-07-2009 Much Marcle “ 04-06-2010 Much Marcle “ 09-08-2010 Much Marcle “ 02-06-2012 Much Marcle 4y 10m 15d V488609 1st-year 11-08-2007 Much Marcle Recaptured – F 06-08-2008 Much Marcle “ 14-06-2009 Much Marcle “ 27-06-2010 Much Marcle “ 25-07-2012 Much Marcle 4y 11m 14d These (and some more recent) Reed Warbler capture histories for Much Marcle are summarised below, showing the years in which each bird was encountered and the interval between first ringing (indicated by N) and most recent recapture. Other ringing sites have similar sets of records. The maximum recorded age for British ringed Reed Warblers is just under 13 years. 86 Ring No 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Interval V377176 M N X X X X 5 yrs 331 days V488537 M N X X X X 4 yrs 320 days V488609 F N X X X X 4 yrs 349 days X258968 F N X X X 3 yrs 17 days X808119 M N X 2 yrs 365 days The last bird listed here had not previously been recaptured following ringing, at which time its plumage indicated that it had hatched in that year. Another way of summarising the Much Marcle data is to tabulate for all the birds caught this year how many were ringed this year or in each preceding year (the first column shows the total captures this year): Total - 2012 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 122 83 11 23 2 – 2 1 Wren DBV942 Juvenile 16-08-2009 Much Marcle Recaptured 06-10-2012 Much Marcle 3y 1m 20d Blackbird LA95756 Juvenile 24-06-2008 Much Marcle Recaptured – M 22-09-2012 Much Marcle 4y 2m 29d LB61356 Juvenile – F 14-06-2009 Much Marcle Recaptured 21-07-2012 Much Marcle 3y 1m 7d LB61378 Juvenile – M 04-07-2009 Much Marcle Recaptured 16-08-2009 Much Marcle “ 21-08-2012 Much Marcle 3y 1m 17d LB61402 Juvenile – M 30-08-2009 Much Marcle “ 13-05-2012 Much Marcle 2y 8m 13d Although the individuals involved are different, this is an intriguingly similar pattern of captures to 2011, with significant gaps between dates of ringing and of subsequent recapture. Another way of summarising the Much Marcle data is to tabulate for all the birds caught this year how many were ringed this year or in each preceding year (the first column shows the total captures this year): Total - 2012 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 80 61 10 5 3 1 87 Robin L618474 Juvenile 04-06-2011 Much Marcle Caught 03-04-2012 Putley, Ledbury 0y 9m 30d 4 km N alive Redstart Crow Wood, Turna- 2nd-year X760896 18-06-2011 stone, Peterchurch M (box 41) Recap- Crow Wood (box 09-06-2012 0y 11m 22d tured 14) Crow Wood, Turna- Y190109 Nestling 09-06-2012 stone, Peterchurch (box 21) Caught 28-08-2012 Much Marcle 0y 2m 19d 31 km E alive X760896 is an example of a Redstart returning to breed in the same wood in successive years. Y190109 was ringed as part of the ongoing nest box monitoring at Crow Wood, by a member of the team which operates the Much Marcle Constant Effort site, who was also present when the bird was caught again. It had presumably completed its “post-juvenile” (partial) moult in the general area of Crow Wood, and was probably just setting out on its first journey to its winter quarters in Africa. Pied Flycatcher Newcastle, Shrop- L104940 Nestling 04-06-2010 shire Yatton Court, Adult – F 16-05-2012 Aymestrey, 1y 11m 12d 25 km SE Leominster L651173 Nestling 28-05-2011 Wigmore Rolls Caught Mary Knoll, near 12-06-2012 1y 0m 15d 10 km ENE alive – M Ludlow (box 100) L651177 Nestling 28-05-2011 Wigmore Rolls Shobdon Hill Adult – F 29-05-2012 1y 0m 1d 6 km S Wood, Leominster L833591 Nestling 06-06-2011 Bridges, Shropshire Yatton Court, Adult – F 21-05-2012 0y 11m 15d 30 km S Aymestrey R541998 Adult 23.05.2008 Brilley Green Whitney Wood- Caught 02.06.2010 alive – F Sawmills (box TP1) Recap- tured 21-05-2012 Brilley Green 3y 11m 29d 88 Kensley, Forest of T020417 Nestling 28-05-2011 Dean, Gloucestershire Moccas Park, Bredwar- Adult – F 16-05-2012 dine 0y 11m 18d 40 km NW T600470 Nestling 03-06-2008 Mansel Lacy (box 11) Recap- tured – M 04-06-2012 Mansel Lacy (box 40) 4y 0m 1d T600488 Nestling 03-06-2008 Mansel Lacy (box 39) Recap- tured – M 12-06-2012 Mansel Lacy (box 47) 4y 0m 9d Whitney Court, Whit- T601000 Adult – F 05-06-2009 ney-on-Wye (box 12A) Recap- tured – M 28-05-2011 Whitney Court (box 18) Whitney Court (box “ 19-05-2012 12A) 2y 11m 14d V202626 Nestling 09-06-2007 Llancillo Caught Nagshead, Parkend, alive - M 03-06-2008 Gloucester “ 28-05-2009 Nagshead “ 31-05-2010 Nagshead “ 19-05-2011 Nagshead “ 04-06-2012 Nagshead 4y 11m 26d 30 km SE V202969 Nestling 30-05-2010 Upper Bryn, Longtown ` Caught Crow Wood, Turnas- alive – F 19-05-2012 tone (box 27) 1y 11m 19d 6 km N Shobdon Hill Wood, V209081 Nestling 09-06-2008 Leominster Caught The Wrekin, alive - M 11-06-2012 Wellington, Telford 4y 0m 2d 51 km NNE Yatton Court, V209397 Nestling 30-05-2010 Aymestrey Whitney Sawmills, Caught 02-06-2012 Whitney-on-Wye (box 2y 0m 3d 24 km SW alive – F TP1) V209899 Nestling 04-07-2011 Yatton Court Caught The Wrekin, alive – F 11-06-2012 Wellington, Telford 0y 11m 7d 48 km NNE Moccas Park, V209904 Nestling 05-06-2010 Bredwardine Caught alive – F 19-05-2012 Llangorse Lake, Powys 1y 11m 14d 27 km SW 89 V209974 Nestling 02-06-2011 Moccas Park Caught Paradise Farm, 27-05-2012 0y 11m 25d 23 km NNW alive – F Presteigne, Powys V209982 Nestling 02-06-2011 Moccas Park Caught Cwm Clydach, 23-05-2012 0y 11m 21d 75 km WSW alive – F Swansea Llangorse Lake, V748474 Nestling 08-06-2009 Powys Caught Crow Wood, Turnas- 29-05-2012 2y 11m 21d 23 km ENE alive – F tone, Peterchurch 2nd-year Whitney Sawmills, X760053 13-06-2009 M Whitney-on-Wye Recap- Whitney Sawmills 02-06-2010 tured (box TP1) Whitney Sawmills “ 24-05-2011 (box Z) Whitney Sawmills “ 02-06-2012 2y 11m 20d (box TP1) X760254 Nestling 02-06-2010 Mansel Lacy (box 69) Recap- 29-06-2011 Mansel Lacy (box 47) tured - M “ 06-06-2012 Mansel Lacy (box 59) 2y 0m 4d X760261 Adult M 02-06-2010 Mansel Lacy (box 69) Recap- 24-05-2011 Mansel Lacy (box 78) tured “ 12-06-2012 Mansel Lacy (box 83) 2y 0m 10d near Rhos-y-Meirch, Y148001 Nestling 06-06-2011 Knighton, Powys Caught 12-06-2012 Mansel Lacy (box 47) 1y 0m 6d 29 km SSE alive – F X760261 was paired in both 2010 and 2011 with the same bird (V209311), but mated with a different (not previously ringed) female this year; his previous mate was not caught this year. His son X760254, hatched in 2010, has now returned to breed in the same wood for two successive years. Much of this Pied Flycatcher ringing contributes data to the BTO’s RAS survey mentioned above, the principal output of which is survival data for adult birds. The results for Pied Flycatcher show a broadly stable survival rate (mean value 0.47) over the last 30 years, in other words, on average, one bird in two survives from one year to the next.

90 Dunnock X808115 Adult 22-07-2009 Much Marcle Recap- tured - M 10-07-2011 Much Marcle “ 13-05-2012 Much Marcle 2y 9m 21d Pied Wagtail Y309755 1st-year 19-11-2011 Hereford Dead 08-04-2012 Burghill, Hereford 0y 4m 20d 4 km Chaffinch Queenswood, V820808 1st-year F 06-01-2008 Hope under Din- more, Leominster Caught Hope under alive 25-02-2012 Dinmore 4y 1m 19d 2 km Greenfinch 1st-year Hope under TJ03742 M 28-04-2012 Dinmore Freshly dead (cat) 28-06-2012 Hereford 0y 2m 0d 13 km S Goldfinch 1st-year Coulston, near L176745 M 03-01-2011 Westbury, Wilts Queenswood, Caught 15-01-2012 Hope under Din- 1y 0m 12d 107 km NNW alive more, Leominster 2nd-year X258106 F 27-07-2008 Much Marcle Recap- tured 01-07-2012 Much Marcle 3y 11m 4d Siskin Hope under Y310481 1st-year F 12-02-2012 Dinmore Freshly Slattadale, High- dead 25-06-2012 land Region 0y 4m 13d 639 km NNW Hope under Y310585 1st-year F 12-03-2011 Dinmore Oak Tree Farm, Dead 14-07-2012 Holsworthy, Devon 0y 2m 23d 190 km SW 2nd-year Hope under L943329 F 12-03-2011 Dinmore Caught alive 06-03-2012 Wibrin, Belgium 0y 11m 23d 630 km ESE More examples of the well-known itinerant behaviour of this species, all movements taking place in less than a year. 91 Lesser Redpoll Queenswood, Y088046 1st-year 13-11-2011 Hope under Dinmore Hope under 2nd-year 05-02-2012 Dinmore “ 08-02-2012 “ 0y 2m 25d 2 km N Full- Hope under Y628664 grown F 14-10-2012 Dinmore Caught Pett Level, alive 28-10-2012 Sussex 0y 0m 14d 274 km ESE Another species known for extensive movements – Y628664 went to Sussex in no more than 14 days. Reed Bunting Adult – L049093 M 21-03-2010 Much Marcle Recap- tured 28-05-2011 Much Marcle “ 02-10-2011 Much Marcle “ 01-09-2012 Much Marcle 2y 5m 11d L049105 Adult – F 03-04-2010 Much Marcle Recap- tured 15-05-2011 Much Marcle “ 14-10-2012 Much Marcle 2y 6m 11d

The following ringers contributed information for this summary – we appreciate their assistance: Dominic Ash; Dr David Boddington; Felicity Burge; Roger Clay; David Coker; Tony Cross; Dr Graham Geen (Llancillo Ringing Group); Mervyn Greening (Much Marcle CES); John Hodson (Wychavon Ringing Group); Rob Husbands; Paul Leafe; Alan Marchant; John & Ros Matthews; Andrew Ramsay; Dr Stephanie Tyler; Ken Venus and Francesca Sotti. If you ringed birds in Herefordshire but your name is missing from this list, please ac- cept apologies for the oversight and contact me ([email protected]) or the Report editor to ensure inclusion of your totals for future years. If any reader is interested in participating in ringing activities in the county, please feel free to contact me.

David Coker 92 Herefordshire Nature Trust Nestbox Recording Scheme 2012 Coordinator: Beryl Harding

Non-HNT Reserve Sites

Coppett Hill, Welsh Bicknor Recorders Mike Thompson & Chris Crane (20 boxes: Occupation 55%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 3 8 5 5 62.5% Great Tit 4 17 16 16 94.1% Tit species 3 12 7 7 58.3% Nuthatch 1 5 5 5 100%

Mary Knoll Recorder Dave Coker (92 conventional boxes + 1 owl & 2 tree creeper types: Occupation 57.6% Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 28 242 206 183 75.6% Great Tit 12 105 101 83 79.0% Nuthatch 3 20 11 9 45.0% Pied Flycatcher 10 65 57 29 44.6% In the Pied Flycatcher results of the 10 nests many young died before fledging but most of the parents were ringed or re-trapped for the records. One pair changed mates this year. Merryhill, Mansell Lacy Recorder Dave Coker (102 boxes: Occupation 46.0%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 25 230 132 87 37.8% Great Tit 11 83 68 44 53.0% Marsh Tit 1 6 - - 1 box failed Tit Species 1 11 10 10 90.9% Wren (1 box only) 2 12 7 7 58.3% Nuthatch 1 7 - - Box failed 66.6%; 2 Pied Flycatcher 6 36 31 24 boxes failed For the Pied Flycatchers - of the 4 boxes with fledging results the parents were ringed or re-trapped. With the Blue Tits 12 boxes failed to complete fledging but 13 were successful.. 93 Moccas Park Recorder Alan Marchant (70 boxes: Occupation 44.2%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 5 18+ 17+ 14+ 77.7% Great Tit 6 23+ 25+ 21+ 91.3% Pied Flycatcher 17 78+ 72+ 70+ 89.7% Not all nests were reached in time to clearly record the eggs to fledged ratios. Mr Marchant has been recording this site for 40 years and we are very grateful for such long-standing records which are of great value.

St Wulstan’s Wood, Welsh Newton Recorder Sue Parkinson (18 conventional boxes + 3 other types: Occupation 83.3%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 6 32 13 5 15.6% Great Tit 4 21 10 5 23.8% Nuthatch 5 26 15 8 30.8% The Nuthatches usually have 95-100% success so this lower result repeats is typical of many poor results this year. Shobdon Hill Wood Recorder Dr D. Boddington (41 boxes: Occupation 51.2%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 7 51 51 41 80.4% Great Tit 3 24 24 7 29.2% 69.3% Pied Flycatcher 11 62 53 43 (Most ringed) Of the 11 boxes taken up by Pied Flycatchers, 3 had some scarce nesting material only with no further nest making. ‘The Leathers’, Aymestrey Recorder Rodd Symondson (31 boxes: Occupation 61.3%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 8 45 43 43 95.5% Great Tit 3 21 17 17 80.9% Redstart 1 6 6 6 100% 80.4% Not Pied Flycatcher 7 51 45 41 all ringed 94 Tidnor Wood Orchard Recorder Felicity Burge (29 boxes: Occupation 82.7%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 13 113+ 105 98 86.7% ? Not all eggs Great Tit 10 24+ 47 42 counted Tit species 1 5 5 5 100% In one box a Blue Tit parent was found on a floating soggy nest of dirty wet eggs. This material was removed & the base drilled for drainage. The parents then made a fresh nest around the original eggs raising all six successfully.

Wellington Wood Recorder Felicity Burge (20 boxes: Occupation 90%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 11 116+ 103 98 84.4% Great Tit 6 40+ 40 40 100% Nuthatch 1 7 6 5 71.4%

Whitman’s Hill, Storridge Recorder Janet Parry (12 boxes: Occupation 66.6%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 4 26? 29 13 50.0% Great Tit 4 24 15 10 41.6% 5 of the 6 dormouse boxes on site were used by Blue Tits and yielded 29 fully fledged young. Some predation of hatchlings – by squirrels, or stoats?

Whitney Court (Wood & Sawmills) Recorders Dave Bennett & Dave Coker (71 boxes on the 2 sites: Occupation 52.1%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 19 147 55+ 50+ 34.0% Great Tit 4 35 35 24 68.6% 50.5% All Pied Flycatcher 13 93 83 47 ringed Tit species 1 2 ? ? Failed 10 ringed or re-trapped Flycatchers had been previously ringed at either Sawmills or the Woodland site from the last two-three years. One nestling had been ringed in 2010 at Yatton Court, Aymestrey. 95 Yatton Court Recorder David Boddington (17 boxes: Occupation 35.3%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 2 10 8 8 80.0% Great Tit 2 14 11 11 78.6% 100% All Pied Flycatcher 2 13 13 13 ringed

Yoke Wood Recorder Felicity Burge (16 boxes: Occupation 56.2%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 5 35 31 28 80.0% Great Tit 4 29 23 15 51.7% HNT Reserve Sites Brilley Dingle Recorder Rod Symondson (17 boxes: Occupation 76.4%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 1 ? ? ? ? Great Tit 7 36+ 35+ 35+ 97.2% 83.3% Not Pied Flycatcher 5 30+ 30+ 25 all ringed Poor weather made it often inadvisable to count or ring young on some visits. Clifford Common Recorder David Smith (15 boxes: Occupation 73.3%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 5 31 19 14 45.2% Great Tit 6 31 26 19 61.3% No Marsh Tits this year. The Blue Tits were greatly affected by the poor weather.

Coughton Marsh, Nr. Ross Recorder Pete Barley (21 boxes: Occupation 42.8%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 2 16 6 6 37.5% Great Tit 6 40 38 28 70.0% Tit species 1 0 0 0 Failed Most chicks seem to have died in the cold at the end of May. As usual dormouse boxes were used by birds but not included in these results. 96 Court Wood Recorder Felicity Burge (20 boxes: Occupation 75%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue tit 7 64 50 32 50.0% Great Tit 5 17+ 14 10 58.8% 35.7% Pied Flycatcher 2 14 10 5 ? ringed Tit species 1 5 3 0 Failed

Crampton Lower Wood Recorder Graham Wren (8 boxes: Occupation 87.5%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 3 23 20 12 52.2% Great Tit 3 15 7 4 26.6% Nuthatch 1 6 6 6 100% 27 May – some young Blue & Great Tits were found dead in nests but fully feathered so presumably the parents had been killed or finally abandoned the struggle.

Crow Wood, Turnastone Recorder Dave Coker (42 boxes: Occupation 59.5%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 9 93 65 40 43.0% Great Tit 6 46 42 37 80.4% 100% for 2 Redstart 3 13 13 13 boxes 60.4% Pied Flycatcher 7 48 44 29 1 box predated Of the six boxes of Pied Flycatchers, the adults were re-trapped and recorded as mostly from Crow Wood in previous years but one was from Longtown as a nestling in 2010. One Redstart was ringed on 9th June at Crow Wood as nestling and later recaptured 28th August at Much Marcle.

Lea & Pagets Wood Recorder David Phelps (36 boxes: Occupation 44.4%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 8 50 23 22 44.0% Great Tit 8 37 21 16 43.3% 97 Leaping Stocks Recorder John Sumner (23 boxes: Occupation 78.2%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 8 51 36 26 51.0% Great Tit 8 31 31 20 64.5% Nuthatch 2 ? ? 2 100% The Recorder was unable to always access the nests during April due to poor weather or not wishing to disturb sitting birds. Very unusually, in one box a Great Tit raised 4 young by 16th May and then started a second brood with 5 eggs on 23rd May, which were presumed fledged by 12th June.

Miners Rest, Doward Recorder Graham Wren (15 boxes: Occupation 73.3%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 5 25 19 0 0% Great Tit 5 37 15 3 8.1% Nuthatch 1 6 0 0 0%

Mowley Wood, Staunton on Arrow Recorder Rod Symondson (6 boxes: Occupation 83.3%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 4 23+ 23+ 18 78.2% Great Tit 1 6 6 6 100%

Nupend Recorder Leslie Smith (20 boxes: Occupation 80%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 10 79 65 44 55.7 Great Tit 6 38 17 17 44.7%

White Rocks, Doward Recorder Sarah Thomas (25 boxes: Occupation 68%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 10 66 62 57 86.4% Great Tit 5 42 41 39 92.8% Nuthatch 2 8 8 8 100% 98 Woodside, Doward Recorder Barrie Jones (18 boxes: Occupation 88.8%) Species Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success Blue Tit 8 30 21 12 40.0% Great Tit 6 30 21 12 40.0% Nuthatch 2 10 8 7 70.0% Several trees had been cut down consequently losing 9 boxes. Overall results for 2012 Results for last the last nine years are as follows:

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

Sites recorded 26 26 29 30 29 33 30 27 29

Boxes available 805 820 818 939 961 943 983 825 766

Boxes used 478 521 510 508 519 639 578 510 467

% Used 59.3 63.5 62.3 54.1 54.0 67.8 58.7 61.8 60.9

Fewer boxes were taken up this year – partly because a few had been lost with tree felling and also some Flycatchers were heard calling but failed to mate or make complete nests. Species Results for 2012 compared with 2011: Species Sites Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged Success % 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 Pied Fly- 11 9 87 75 543 477 438 425 354 304 65.2 63.7 catcher Blue Tit 26 26 252 210 1,925 1,613 1,623 1200 1,309 948 68.0 58.7 Great 26 26 144 141 985 852 775 735 594 574 60.3 67.4 Tit Nuthatch 8 9 20 11 65 65 56 37 53 27 81.5 41.5 Redstart 3 1 5 1 19 6 19 6 12 6 63.1 100 Marsh 1 1 1 1 8 6 7 0 5 0 62.5 Fail Tit Wren 0 1 0 2 0 12 0 7 0 7 0 58.3 Tit - 6 - 8 - 35 - 25 - 22 - 62.9 species* 99 * It is not always possible to identify the adult when sitting and within the darker con- fines of the box. As can be seen from the above, the number of nests made has been fewer this year and the reduced number of eggs laid is striking - even more so is the reduction in chicks that finally fledged. Some failures were seen to be due to predation but after the warmest, driest and sunniest March on record, April followed giving a complete contrast, being the wettest since records began in 1910 and the coldest since 1989. This poor weather continued into May, also the wettest on record, and with June continuing in the same vein. Consequently, many hatchlings were found dead before fledging as the parents could not cope with keeping them both warm and sufficiently well fed. Comparative annual success rate in fledging for the various species: 2012 2011 2010 2009 Species Sites Success Sites Success Sites Success Sites Success Pied Flycatcher 9 63.7% 11 65.2% 12 74.9% 13 67.2% Blue Tit 26 58.7% 26 68.0% 28 61.7% 29 73.1% Great Tit 26 67.3% 26 60.3% 28 72.9% 30 75.3% Marsh Tit 1 Failed 1 62.5% 3 37.5% - - Coal Tit - - - - 1 100% 1 100% Nuthatch 9 56.7% 8 81.5% 7 89.7% 7 87.9% Redstart 3 ? 3 ? 3 51.6% 4 80.0% Wren 1 58.3% ------Tit species 6 62.9% ------Wren nests are difficult to record for accurate results so they are no longer included unless the recorder wishes to do so. The Blue Tits have fared badly and also the Nuthatches which usually manage to raise most of their brood. Pied Flycatcher only Results [2001– no recording due to Foot & Mouth restric- tions.] Year Sites Nests Eggs Fledged Success 2000 24 140 669 494 73.8% 2002 14 96 685 263 38.4% 2003 14 109 708 376 53.1% 2004 14 89 620 443 71.4% 2005 14 85 574 423 73.7% 2006 16 88 520 503 96.7% 2007 12 107 636 263 41.4% 2008 13 81 582 367 63.0% 2009 13 93 525 353 67.2% 2010 12 82 539 404 74.9% 2011 11 87 543 354 65.2% 2012 9 75 477 425 89.1% 100 The number of sites continue to drop steadily and fewer nests were completed this year but the overall success rate was not too bad compared with some previous years. General Summary As usual our thanks go to the recorders who visit their rounds regularly during April and May to obtain these results. Regular visits this year were hampered by the continuous wet weather. Also, it must have been very disheartening to find so many broods failed after a promising start. Our thanks also go to the ringers who keep the detailed records, which are fed into the BTO. This task requires careful timing to both ring the young before departure and to catch the parents to check previous ringing. The ringers also visit more than one site, which is even more time-consuming. Garden Birdwatch Report 2012 Records in 2012 were received from an average of 33 gardens per quarter. During the year over 12,911 records were received (see methods below). Notable records for quarter two were Archie Buttriss (Pencoyd) and Guy Poulton and Sue Evans (Moreton Eye) both with 48 species. Unusual species found in the gardens during the year included Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear, Barn Owl, Greylag Goose, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Corn Bunting and Lesser Redpoll. Top Ten species seen per quarter: 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 1st House Sparrow House Sparrow House Sparrow House Sparrow 2nd Starling House Martin Starling Starling 3rd Blue Tit Blue Tit Blue Tit Goldfinch 4th Goldfinch Starling Goldfinch Long-tailed Tit 5th Blackbird Goldfinch Blackbird Blue Tit 6th Chaffinch Blackbird Chaffinch Blackbird 7th Woodpigeon Great Tit Woodpigeon Greenfinch 8th Greenfinch Woodpigeon Greenfinch Collared Dove 9th Long-tailed Tit Greenfinch Long-tailed Tit Chaffinch 10th Great Tit Chaffinch Great Tit Great Tit Methods: These results have been extracted from the records sent each quarter using a standard form. The form lists the species, and recorders are asked to quantify how many of each species are seen each week in the garden at any one time. The largest number recorded for each species from the 13 weeks is then transferred to an overall results sheet – the largest numbers are what are being classed as ‘records’. In reality, the total number of records, and therefore volunteer effort, is much greater when the ‘lower number’ weeks are taken into account. Since the survey was taken over by Ian and Natalie Buttriss after the death of Ifor and Elaine Evans, participant numbers initially went down, but gardens being surveyed are slowly starting to increase again. Forms are sent and returned by email or via post upon supply of a SAE. Ian & Natalie Buttriss [email protected] 101 Alphabetical Index to the Systematic List American Wigeon ...... 26 Hawfinch...... 70 Ringed Plover...... 39 Arctic Tern ...... 45 Hen Harrier...... 35 Ring-necked Parakeet ...... 46 Barn Owl ...... 47 Herring Gull ...... 44 Robin...... 66 Barnacle Goose ...... 24 Hobby...... 37 Rook ...... 57 Bittern ...... 32 Honey Buzzard...... 34 Black Tern ...... 45 House Martin...... 60 Ruff...... 40 Blackbird...... 64 House Sparrow...... 67 Sand Martin...... 59 Blackcap...... 61 Jack Snipe...... 40 Scandinavian Herring Gull...... 44 Black-headed Gull...... 43 Jackdaw...... 57 Sanderling ...... 40 Black-tailed Godwit ...... 41 Jay ...... 57 Sedge Warbler ...... 62 Blue Tit...... 58 Kestrel ...... 36 Shelduck...... 24 Brambling...... 69 Kingfisher...... 48 Short-eared Owl ...... 47 Brent Goose...... 24 Knot...... 40 Bullfinch...... 70 Lapwing...... 39 Shoveler...... 28 Buzzard ...... 35 Lesser Black-backed Gull ...... 44 Siberian Stonechat...... 66 Canada Goose...... 23 Lesser Canada Goose ...... 24 Siskin...... 69 Carrion Crow...... 57 Lesser Redpoll...... 70 Skylark ...... 59 Cetti’s Warbler...... 60 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ...... 48 Slavonian Grebe...... 34 Chaffinch...... 69 Lesser Whitethroat ...... 62 Smew...... 30 Chiffchaff ...... 61 Lesser Yellowlegs...... 42 Snipe...... 40 Coal Tit...... 59 Linnet ...... 70 Collared Dove ...... 46 Little Bunting ...... 71 Song Thrush ...... 65 Common Gull...... 43 Little Egret ...... 32 Sparrowhawk...... 35 Common Sandpiper...... 41 Little Grebe ...... 33 Spotted Flycatcher...... 65 Common Scoter...... 29 Little Owl ...... 47 Spotted Redshank...... 42 Common Tern...... 45 Little Ringed Plover ...... 39 Starling ...... 64 Coot...... 38 Long-eared Owl ...... 47 Stock Dove...... 46 Cormorant ...... 32 Long-tailed Tit ...... 60 Stonechat...... 67 Corn Bunting...... 71 Magpie...... 57 Cream-coloured Courser ...... 38 Mallard ...... 27 Swallow...... 59 Crossbill ...... 70 Mandarin ...... 25 Swift ...... 47 Cuckoo ...... 46 Manx Shearwater ...... 31 Tawny Owl ...... 47 Curlew...... 41 Marsh Tit ...... 59 Teal...... 26 Dipper...... 64 Meadow Pipit ...... 68 Tree Pipit ...... 68 Dunlin...... 40 Mediterranean Gull ...... 43 Tree Sparrow ...... 67 Dunnock ...... 67 Merlin...... 36 Treecreeper...... 63 Feral Pigeon ...... 45 Mistle Thrush ...... 65 Fieldfare ...... 65 Moorhen ...... 37 Tufted Duck...... 28 Firecrest...... 58 Mute Swan ...... 21 Turnstone...... 43 Gadwall ...... 26 Nightingale...... 66 Turtle Dove ...... 46 Garden Warbler ...... 62 Nuthatch ...... 63 Water Rail...... 37 Garganey ...... 27 Osprey ...... 36 Waxwing...... 63 Goldcrest ...... 58 Oystercatcher...... 38 Wheatear ...... 67 Golden Plover...... 39 Pectoral Sandpiper ...... 40 Whimbrel...... 41 Goldeneye ...... 29 Peregrine ...... 37 Goldfinch...... 69 Pheasant...... 31 Whinchat ...... 66 Goosander ...... 30 Pied Flycatcher...... 66 White Stork ...... 33 Goshawk...... 35 Pied Wagtail ...... 68 White Wagtail...... 68 Grasshopper Warbler...... 62 Pink-footed Goose...... 22 Whitethroat ...... 62 Great Black-backed Gull...... 45 Pintail ...... 27 White-fronted Goose...... 22 Great Crested Grebe...... 34 Pochard...... 28 Whooper Swan...... 22 Great Grey Shrike ...... 57 Quail...... 31 Great Spotted Woodpecker...... 48 Raven...... 58 Wigeon ...... 25 Great Tit ...... 58 Red Grouse...... 30 Willow Tit ...... 59 Great White Egret...... 32 Red Kite ...... 34 Willow Warbler ...... 61 Green Sandpiper...... 42 Red-breasted Merganser...... 30 Wood Sandpiper ...... 42 Green Woodpecker...... 48 Red-legged Partridge ...... 30 Wood Warbler...... 60 Greenfinch...... 69 Red-throated Pipit ...... 69 Woodcock...... 41 Greenland Wheatear...... 67 Redshank...... 42 Woodpigeon ...... 46 Greenshank ...... 42 Redstart ...... 66 Grey Heron...... 33 Redwing ...... 65 Wren ...... 64 Grey Partridge ...... 31 Reed Bunting...... 71 Yellow Wagtail ...... 68 Grey Wagtail...... 68 Reed Warbler...... 63 Yellowhammer ...... 70 Greylag Goose...... 22 Ring Ouzel ...... 64 Yellow-legged Gull ...... 44 102 92277 HOC Annual Report 2012 COVER_Layout 1 22/08/2014 14:32 Page 3

Interesting Ornithological Sites in Herefordshire Abbreviations: PRW = Public footpaths; NE: = Natural England; HNT: Herefordshire Nature Trust; NNR = National Nature Reserve; NT: National Trust; NGR = National Grid Reference Key Location NGR Type of habitat Access 1 Berrington Hall S0510638 Lake, wood & farmland National Trust 2 Bircher Common S0460670 Common & woodland Public access 3 Bodenham Lake S0527511 Lake & Wetland Public access 4 Bradnor Hill NT S0282584 Hill & common Road and PRW 5 Bringsty Common S0702550 Common & woodland Public access 6 Brockhampton NT S0684549 Farmland, woods, parkland National Trust & PRW 7 Brockhall Gravel Pit S0451423 Gravel pits PRW 8 Bromsash S0643241 Farmland Road & PRW 9 Castle Pool, Hereford City S0513397 Pool Road & PRW 10 Credenhill Park Wood S0454441 Woodland Public access 11 Coneygree Wood, Ledbury S0718375 Woodland Public access 12 Coppett Hill S0573178 Common & woodland Public access 13 Croft Ambrey Fort S0445667 Hill Fort & woodland National trust & PRW 14 Croft Castle S0451657 Parkland & woodland National Trust & PRW 15 Downton Gorge NNR S0444743 River & woodland Natural England 16 Eastnor Deer park S0745378 Parkland PRW 17 Ewyas Harold Common S0385300 Common Public access 18 Frith Wood S0718395 Woodland Public access 19 Garway Hill S0437251 Common Public access 20 Harley’s Mountain S0345690 Open farmland & Hill Public footpaths 21 Hartleton Lakes S0652254 Lakes PRW 22 Haugh Wood S0593365 Woodland Public access 23 Holme Lacy, River Wye S0567347 River & farmland PRW 24 Hergest Ridge S0255562 HNT& common Public access 25 HighVinnals S0472731 Woodland Public access 26 Kenchester Pools S0432427 Farmland & pools Road & PRW 27 Leominster By-pass S0505585 Farmland & River Road and PRW 28 Letton Lakes S0354477 Farmland & wetland PRW 29 Lugg Meadows S0532418 Farmland & wetland PRW 30 Mary Knoll Valley S0497718 Woodland Public access 31 Mathon Gravel Pits S0739454 Gravel pits PRW 32 Merbach Hill S0304447 Common & woodland PRW 33 Midsummer Hill & Hollybush S0760375 Hill & woodland Public access 34 Milton Cross & Shobdon Ind Est S0382606 Farmland & Industrial est Road only 35 Moccas Deer Park NNR S0344431 Parkland Road or Natural England 36 Newton Coppice S0485377 Woodland Public access 37 Olchon Valley S0288317 Farmland RW 38 Queens Wood Country Park S0506514 Woodland Public access 39 Red Daren and Black Daren S0297300 Moorland Public access 40 Sellack, River Wye S0565277 River & farmland PRW 41 Shobdon Court Pools S0401626 Lake, woods, farmland PRW 42 Sink Green, River Wye S0545376 River & farmland PRW 43 Sutton Walls Fort S0525464 Fort & farmland PRW 44 Titley Pool HNT S0324594 Pool & wetland Public access 45 Wapley Hill S0358623 Woodland Public access 46 Wellington Gravel Pits S0509480 Gravel pits PRW 47 Welsh Newton Common S0515175 Common & woodland Public access 48 Wigmore Rolls S0397688 Woodland Public access 49 Wilton, River Wye S0590242 Farmland & river PRW 50 Winforton River Wye S0293462 Farmland & river PRW 103 92277 HOC Annual Report 2012 COVER_Layout 1 22/08/2014 14:32 Page 4

For key to numbered sites, see inside cover. Please rememberFor key to the numbered Birdwatchers’ sites, Code see inside concerning cover. access Please on remember theland Birdwatchers’ and disturbance Code concerningof birds access on land and disturbance of birds