birding mid to late July

Walked to Woodoaks farm where I  met  Paul  Frost  in the orchard I had a brief glimpse of Little Owl.I or we were waiting for other nocturnal visitors.
We had a brief glimpse of  Barney but he did not stay.

Some  two days later Paul  Lewis and I  were at Lake Park in Hayes where a confiding Red backed Shrike gave slightly distant views  for the camera .We met Ephraim Perfect a young birder not a name
to forget and a nice lad to boot.
Returned to Woodoaks again but  alas only the sun going down over Lady Walk Wood.

Sabines gull at last

On  the 4th of July Paul Lewis  and I had a window of 2 hrs to get to  Tring.
On  arrival at Startops res the rape of the Sabine women came to mind but better
still to get to grips with a Sabine's gull gave me pleasure as I had not managed
this bird before, dipping on the Thames some years ago.

So  a lifer a brit tick and a Herts tick all in 2 hours.