HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR WILDLIFE REPORT 2010 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR WILDLIFE REPORT FOR 2010 CONTENTS Introduction 2 List of contributors 2 Review of 2010 Peter Delaloye 3 HMWT Hilfield Diary Rob Hopkins 4 Birds – systematic list Mark McManus and Peter Delaloye 5 Birds – year-by-year review Bob Cripps 28 Ringing report Peter Delaloye 34 Butterflies Steve Murray 39 Dragonflies Steve Murray 43 Mammals Bob Cripps 46 Reptiles and amphibians Bob Cripps 47 Bat Survey Richard Gowing 48 Moths Rachel Terry 51 Planting of Phragmites along the Peter Delaloye 61 north bank Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust 62 1 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 INTRODUCTION Hilfield Park Reservoir is a Local Nature Reserve in the ownership of Veolia Water (previously the Three Valleys Water Services PLC.) It was established as a nature reserve in 1969, after an agreement between the company and Hertfordshire County Council, with management undertaken by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT). The water surface covers about 46 hectares (115 acres) at top level and is surrounded by 32 hectares (80 acres) of land consisting of woodland and rough grassland with oak and bramble scrub. The storage capacity of the reservoir is approximately 600 million gallons. This is the twentieth report, continuing to encourage a wider interest in the site and the recording of its wildlife. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this report. Special thanks are due to Stephen Murray, Bob Cripps, Mark McManus, Richard Gowing, Rachel Terry, Rob Hopkins and Jack Fearnside without whom it would not have been possible to prepare this report. Also Tony Blake for the use of his excellent photographs. We would like to thank PC Philip Tuck and the Hertfordshire Constabulary for their help in regularly checking the reserve during the breeding season. All future records of any aspect of natural history relating to the reserve would be gratefully received. I would also like to take this opportunity to request that both authors and the report itself are acknowledged fully, following part or complete use of this report as reference. Peter Delaloye HMWT Volunteer Warden LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS We are grateful to the following for submitting records. All records have been submitted to the county recorder. M. Beatley P. Delaloye P. McManus E. Stainthorpe I. Bennell E. Edwards M. McManus R. Terry T. Blake J. Fearnside M. Murphy J. Thompson D. Chandler R. Gowing S. Murray G. Wild K. Cramer E. Inzani P. Peretti R. Cripps H. Inzani C. Rossor J. Daker V. Inzani M. Rossor 2 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 REVIEW OF 2010 Our thanks go to Richard Gowing for organising our first bat survey on May 4th. Our thanks also to Jackie Wedd and Hazel Makepeace of the Herts and Middlesex and London Bat Groups for bringing their equipment and expertise. Nine species and a further probable was the surprising result of their visit. Our thanks also to Rob Hopkins for his efforts on the reserve and in particular with reference to the circular path and tern raft maintenance. Birding highlights included the first Raven for the reserve. Also the first Spotted Redshank since 1997 and the first Tree Pipit since 2001. The ringing group had a successful year with a total of 1377 birds ringed and one new species, a Canada Goose. The Lesser Emperor Dragonfly was again recorded. Ruddy Darter and Azure Damselfly were recorded after being missed in 2009. Finally but by no means least, Rachel Terry found 12 moths new to the Hilfield Reserve including the micro moth Mompha bradleyi a species only recorded at three other sites in Hertfordshire. Peter Delaloye HMWT Volunteer Warden 3 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust ROB HOPKINS HILFIELD DIARY 2010 February 23 Coppicing willow along South Bank, adjacent to viewing hide March 17 Tern raft maintenance May.12 Cut path around reserve June 9 Built reed guards June 11 Mowed circular path June 12 Planted reed rootballs October 13 Felled trees to clear bank in north shore reed bank October 20 Cut path and adjacent scrub and bramble with flail collector supplied by Practicality Brown November 25 Clearance of bankside scrub and trees from in front of viewing platform with the Green Team. Rob Hopkins HMWT Nature Reserves Officer (South) The reservoir in a frozen state on 10 January 2010. 4 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 BIRDS OF HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR 2010 MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor One pair bred. They were seen nest building on March 28th and seven cygnets were seen on May 19th. A dead adult was found on September 8th, possibly killed by another adult. Maximum monthly counts (adults + juveniles): Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 6 4 8 7+2 4+2 4+7 4+5 4+5 5+5 4+8 2+5 2+5 GREY LAG GOOSE Answer answer In January 17 were present from the 9th until the 13th, 16 from the 14th until the 17th and then just one remained until the end of the month. Two were present on February 21st. In March one was present from the 1st until the 11th and seen again on the 16th, 27th and 30th. One was present on July 20th and one was present from September 19th until the 21st and one again on November 18th and one flew over on December 31st. GREATER CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Three pairs bred. The first brood of two surviving goslings was noted on May 19th, the second brood on the 22nd and the third in June. Maximum monthly counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 91 24 12 8 27 109 108 24 126 91 52 42 5 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus An adult was present on November 25th. SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna Five records this year. In January one on the 3rd and four on the 19th. In February one on the 16th and five late afternoon on the 17th and finally at the end of the year one on December 19th. MANDARIN Aix galericulata A good count of four records this year with two on April 19th, a female-type bird on July 26th and again a female type was present on August 14th and lastly a male on October 9th. WIGEON Anas penelope In March just two birds present by the 21st and a single bird was present on April 19th. In August three were seen on the 15th with 27 present by the end of the month. Maximum monthly counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 135 75 20 – – – – – 30 83 94 121 GADWALL Anas strepera A pair were seen mating on May 30th and a brood of ducklings fledged on June 26th. A second pair then fledged a brood of six on July 14th with five juveniles still present on August 1st. NOTE: Last years report should have read a brood of 11 on June 13th and not a brood of 13 on July 13th. Maximum monthly counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 56 38 20 36 18 17 31 9 25 70 73 142 6 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 TEAL Anas crecca In January two on the 2nd, five on 19th, four on 20th, two on 21st and five again on 28th, in February four on 23rd and two on 27th, in March a male on 5th, a pair on 7th and a male again on the 13th and 29th. Two pairs were present from April 5th until the 17th. In August a single bird was present on the 27th, with two on the 30th and one again on the 31st. In September two on the 8th, one on the 19th and eight on the 26th. Six were present on October 17th. In November up to nine birds on six dates, 22 on the 18th, 23 on the 28th and 18 on the 22nd and 10 on the 28th. In December three on the 30th and one on two other dates. Maximum monthly counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 5 4 2 4 – – – 1 8 6 23 3 MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos Nine broods this year. The first brood was noted on April 15th with two more on the 17th. Four more broods were noted in May and two more in June. Maximum monthly counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 24 7 15 17 26 17 14 21 10 4 8 17 PINTAIL Anas acuta A single record of a female or immature bird present on September 25th. SHOVELER Anas clypeata Ten were present on April 10th. A pair was seen on May 5th and five were seen on June 30th and one on July 31st. Maximum monthly counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 12 2 4 10 2 5 1 18 36 22 26 14 RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina A male and two females were present on November 29th. POCHARD Aythya farina A female was present on May 5th. Monthly maximum counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 25 12 17 5 1 23 138 195 16 15 37 51 7 Hilfield Park Reservoir Wildlife Report 2010 TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula One brood of two ducklings fledged on July 18th with the two well grown juveniles still present on August 15th.