YEARLISTING IN 2016

Compared to most recent years, when for example I recorded 165 species in the county in 2011, 187 in 2012 and 173 in 2013, this has been a particularly poor one with just 157 species recorded by mid December - one of my worst years on record

YEARLISTING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

It's all over - 2012 has come to an end. I managed a total of 187 out of the 198 species recorded all told in Buckinghamshire - 94% of the total - probably my highest-ever annual tally.

The current record is 191 species achieved in 2006 and held jointly by both Rob Hill and Simon Nichols



Monday 5 January 2009

4 JANUARY 2009

Lots of duck at Caldecotte this morning. The north lake was frozen, but the south lake was frozen only round the edges and in patches, and it was here that most of the duck congregated. Unexpected highlight though was a JACK SNIPE (plus 1 Common Snipe) flushed from the ditch just off the "causeway" car park off Monellan Grove. Back on the water, highlights were 16 GOOSANDER (8m 8f), 1 Goldeneye, and high numbers of Pochard & Tufted Duck. Also plenty of gulls loafing on the ice, including a possible Glaucous/Herring hybrid - basically biscuit brown like a GG, with the two-tone pink based bill, gingery coverts, but alas black primaries. I didn't have my scope, otherwise I'd have studied it further. However, at about 11am, a guy on a motorboat whizzed up and down thel ake (to prepare it for the sailing boats), scattering duck hither and thither, and most of the duck flew off north (Rob Hill)