Our Annual Pilgrimage to St Albans Watercress Beds

13th January 2023

It's that time of year for our annual pilgrimage to St Albans Watercress Beds. This amazing Local Nature Reserve is tiny, less than two hectares, and nestles in the heart of St Albans but is beautifully managed and attracts some speciaility birds during the winter months. There are three feeding stations but plenty of adjacent trees and bushes close by, and it is therefore possible to photograph the birds before and after they go to the feeders.

First up was a pair of Chaffinches, although the male was far from showy and stayed for most of the time behind a branch. The female however was obviously more experienced and chose an area with subdued dappled lighting to show off her delicate plumage.

It was also nice to see a handful of Greenfinches after their numbers were decimated by the avian disease Tricomonosis. Still a long way from their previous numbers but at least moving in the right direction.

Goldfinches are now one of our commonest garden birds and used to garden feeders, so not too surprising that they were well represented. Even a small party of Long-tailed Tits put in an appearance.

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was searching for insects high in the canopy and then dropped to head height for some close-ups just 10 yards away, remembering that at the central feeder there is no hide.

The light was not ideal but not often you get to photograph a woodpecker at such close range.

And now for two of the site specialities, the Siskins and Redpolls. Interestingly most of the Siskin photos I took were males..................

......................with this being the only female.

And then there were the Redpolls. Again the first two photos are the only females I managed to photograph.........................

..........................but just look at the males!!!

There were quite a few Siskins feeding on Alder seeds high in the canopy, but of the birds that came down to the feeders the majority were Redpolls and out-numbered the Siskins by at least 3:1, something I've not seen here before

The Kingfisher did pay a fleeting visit and one of the Water Rails was calling but did not put in an appearance today. Perhaps next time.