MERLIN and MED GULL

A walk with the dog near my home at Flackwell Heath produced a local patchtick in the form of a MERLIN! It flew across some horse paddocks and was soon out of sight heading west, being pursued by several finches. Other than that very much as expected with Skylarks singing, several pairs of Lapwings displaying, as were two Buzzards, one of which is a very white individual which has been here all winter.

At Little Marlow GP this evening the star bird was an adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL in the midst of the huge flock of Common Gulls (c 4000). Less Black-headed Gulls this week (c 1000) and only small numbers of Lesser BBGulls and Herring Gulls. Only 2 Shelduck seen plus 7 Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff (singing). The Jackdaw roost is still pretty big but maybe down on previous weeks. About 40 Fieldfare flew over heading south at dusk. A count of the nests on the main island is now getting difficult due to the leaves appearing on the trees but my best estimate is c10 Herons nest and c20 Cormorant nests. (Jim Rose)

BLACK-TAILED GODWITS drop in this evening

Rob Hill discovered 4 freshly-arrived BLACK-TAILED GODWITS this evening, at the new mecca that is Manor Farm scrapes, Milton Keynes (per Simon Nichols)

More COMMON RAVENS

Willen North No sign of Geoffs Willen Curlew @ 13:35 , but the Little Egret , 2 Oystercatchers and 4 Goosanders remain

Minor road btw A509 and Sherington a pair of COMMON RAVENS were an unexpected highlight , both perched high in a distant tree , hopefully a sign of potential breeding in the valley.

Otherwise very quiet around the Ravenstone area with only 2 GREY PARTRIDGES and 3 Buzzards brightening up the hour (Simon Nichols)

EURASIAN CURLEW at WILLEN LAKE

There was a EURASIAN CURLEW on the spit at Willen North Lake this morning, still present at midday. Also 2 frisky Oystercatchers, 2 pairs of Goosander and a Little Egret (Geoff Dawes)

In an attempt to mop up some late Bucks year ticks , i headed out in the hope of waders .....

Furzton Lake 11 Great Crested Grebes and now 3 Occupied Grey Heron nests were the highlights

Willen lake South 3 GOOSANDERS (2 Males) , 15+ Wigeon still, 1 Snipe , 2 OYSTERCATCHERS , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER , 2 Common Gulls

Broughton Grounds Ironically , whilst looking for Robs Ringed plover , the only bird on the flattened area was a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER , it stayed for about 2 minutes , before it headed off high East / south east. no sign of any ringed plovers , at least 5 pairs of Lapwings looking interested in the crop fields to the south of Broughton Grounds lane but no sign of any partridges (Simon Nichols)

CURLEWS near Cheddington

A very pleasant walk this afternoon along the canal between Cheddington and Horton Wharf turned up a few good birds:

1 COMMON RAVEN over Horton Wharf;
1 Red Kite;
3 EURASIAN CURLEWS flew north over Horton Wharf;
5+ Buzzard;
and 4, maybe 5 Lapwings indulging in territorial behaviour in a few of the surrounding fields.

Rob Hill

BRAMBLINGS IN MARLOW BOTTOM

Marlow Bottom: Having had 1-2 male BRAMBLING in the garden over the last few weeks, a further flock of 6 moved through today, making at least 8 (6m, 2f). This was followed by a Common Chiffchaff, my first of the year from the garden (Adam Bassett)

17 MARCH

The 2 Ringed Plovers remain at the seaside that is Broughton Grounds. Plus the flock of Fieldfares remains (Paul Moon).

Nik Maynard called from Ravenstone STW to advise a PEREGRINE was overhead and heading towards Stoke Goldington.

MORE WHEATEARS

2 NORTHERN WHEATEARS in Wing on Monday and PEREGRINE hunting Woodpigeons without success this morning (Ian Malins)

CETTI'S WARBLERS CONTINUE TO EXPAND

Alan Nelson has had a minimum of 2 CETTIS WARBLERS at Tongwell Lake, Milton Keynes, over the last couple of days , indicating further colonisation of the Milton Keynes waterways.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

A LITTLE RINGED PLOVER arrived on the spit at Little Marlow GP at 0930 hours on Sunday morning (15 March) (Alan Stevens)

Saturday sightings - Paul Moon

An afternoon around the local area - Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (totals):1 Little Grebe, 3 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 6 Mallard, 1 Teal, 13 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant

Manor Farm, Old Wolverton: 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Snipe, 2 Teal and 1 Little Egret (on the river)

Linford: Common Chiffchaff along the path in, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Snipe, Kingfisher and 3 Little Egret

Ravenstone Mill: 2 Buzzard over

Olney Meadows: 2 Fieldfare, 4 Barnacle Geese, 1 EURASIAN CURLEW and 1 Buzzard

Olney Mill: 1 Grey Wagtail and 59 Barnacle Geese

Willen North: Cettis Warbler, 2 Little Egret into roost, 4 Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander and the drake Red-Crested Pochard again.

Willen South: 1 GOOSANDER, 5 Goldeneye and the Black Swan

Migrants Flight In

With temperatures reaching 15 degrees C, migrants are flooding in, with a general arrival of SAND MARTINS and the first male NORTHERN WHEATEARS (Lodge Hill and at Ivinghoe Beacon).

The third MED GULL in as many days

The star attraction at Little Marlow GP this evening was an adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL although it was hard to see in amongst the c3000 Common and c3000 Black-headed Gulls. Also several hundred Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls. The only waders were c200 Lapwings and 2 Snipe. One Common Chiffchaff heard calling briefly. Ducks included 2 Shelducks and 72 Wigeon (Jim Rose)

RED KNOT STILL PRESENT

FRIDAY 13 MARCH

Continuing mild with light SW winds; occasional light rain but generally overcast

CHESS RIVER VALLEY

Just 1 LITTLE EGRET remains, frequenting the river just east of Bois Mill.

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (0915-1130 hours)

After a very long search, Dave Cleal and I eventually located the RED KNOT that Kevin Duncan had seen on the Reserve Pool at 0730 hours this morning (Kevin had originally found it yesterday morning, where it had been seen up until midday but not thereafter).

It was favouring the east bank of the Reserve Pool with a single Common Redshank and 3 GREEN SANDPIPERS, which unfortunately can only be viewed from the hide. After I located the bird, we watched it from a distance using the 'scopes but to get a more detailed description, we went to the hide and in doing so, flushed all of the waders up and the Knot flew and landed on the overspill pool. Fortunately, in doing so, Adam Bassett who was standing on the causeway was able to see it.

The RED KNOT was in full 'grey' winter plumage, with plain grey crown, nape, mantle and upperwings. It had two striking white covert bars across the wings, one of which - a wingbar - was very obvious in flight. The grey extended on to the shoulders and on to the upper breast, forming a breast-band, with chevron-shaped grey feathers extending along the sides and flanks. It had an obvious white supercilium, dark lores and a rather short, straight, quite thick black bill.

It was a rather odd shape, being rather plump and short-legged, but was clearly larger than a Dunlin or Green Sandpiper but much smaller than the Common Redshank accompanying it. The basal colour of the underparts was gleaming white whilst the short legs were dark olive. In flight it had a light grey rump, very finely barred.

The bird constituted the first Bucks Knot of the year and represented the 131st species recorded thus far in 2009. It is a rare passage migrant to the county with rarely more than three occurrences per year.

In addition to the Knot, the Seasonal Pool and Reserve Pool yielded a single Greylag Goose, a pair of COMMON SHELDUCK, 10 Gadwall, 10 remaining Eurasian Wigeon, 9 Common Teal, 2 Common Redshanks and 11 Pied Wagtails.

Most entertaining were two male Green Woodpeckers arguing on the track in front of us - Dave managed to video the encounter. Initially, when they first met each other on the ground, the two birds repeatedly threatened each other by extending the neck and swaying the head backwards and forwards. This action was slow and rhythmic. They then kept stabbing the bills towards each other, actually touching the tips on numerous occasions as if jousting. At the same time, one bird repeatedly spread its wings wide, revealing its barred underwings, and fanned its tail. This aggression went on for about eight minutes before one of the birds flew off. A third individual was also seen nearby.

CLIVEDEN PINETUM

Dave and I then visited Cliveden National Trust Woodland, where in the Douglas Firs and mixture of Holly and Ivy clad trees, we located FIVE different male FIRECRESTS, all in a 300 yard section of woodland. Two males were located adjacent to the track near the tennis courts, whilst three more were together not far from the crossroads on Green Lane. Much display was in action, with some full song being heard.

Other woodland species recorded included Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper (2 singing males), Coal, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Song Thrush (3) and SISKIN (2).

At nearby LITTLEWORTH COMMON, 30 REDWING were noted.

PITSTONE INDUSTRIAL CENTRE POOLS

There was no sign of the two Ringed Plovers just 6 migrant Pied Wagtails.

COLLEGE LAKE

Again very quiet, with all 3 Oystercatchers absent, 5 Lapwings, 4 COMMON REDSHANKS (my first in the area this year), 2 Common Teal, 9 Shoveler, Pochard and 2 adult Mute Swans.

PITSTONE QUARRY

An adult Great Crested Grebe was present (perhaps last year's breeder) and 6 Little Grebes.

Weston Turville Reservoir today

Quick visit before work this morning - no real surprises but of note

:7 Great Crested Grebes (incl pair dancing)
2 Water Rails calling
1 Cettis Warbler singing in reeds in front of hides
2 Jays
1 Mistle Thrush - carrying nesting material
1 Lapwing flying over
2 Grey Wagtails - on jetty together by boat house
6 Goldcrests
4 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Reed Buntings
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Nick Mariner

In the increasingly sizeable gull flock loafing at Manor Farm, there was this morning, 1 1st-w MEDITERRANEAN GULL (a rather faded bird), and a smart 1st-w CASPIAN GULL, plus 8ad LBBG's and 1ad Herring Gull. Also 1 Green Sandpiper.

Earlier at Linford, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL still (Rob Hill)

GREY PLOVER ALSO AT DORNEY

I can add to the list a second Common Redshank that was feeding in the same pool as the Knot. The wintering Redshank was in its usual position around the 1000M marker on the Return Lake. Whilst walking down the causeway when I arrived a GREY PLOVER flew over, heading west towards Bray Lake(Berks). I didn't find the Knot until walking back to the car, so must have just arrived. I didn't see the LRP which was the first of the year and my target bird for the past few days (Kevin Duncan)

WILLOW TITS STILL CLINGING ON

2 GREEN SANDPIPERS at Manor Farm this morning.

Yesterday, 2 WILLOW TITS at Leckhampstead Woods, plus a Lesser Redpoll in song flight, and a minimum of 7 MARSH TITS (which perhaps doesn't bode well for the Willows which are clinging on there!) (Rob Hill)

THREE NEW BIRDS FOR THE YEAR INCLUDING A VAGRANT RED KNOT

Three new species for the year were recorded today forwarding the total to 133 species - SAND MARTIN, LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and RED KNOT.

Following Kevin Duncan's text this morning I managed distant views of the RED KNOT mid-morning as it fed along the back of the reserve pool. Also there was a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS keeping close company. 4 Common Snipe, a Common Redshank & 2 Lapwing.

Over 200 Common Gulls were resting on the south bank of the return lake. Duck numbers were good with 4 COMMON SHELDUCK, 10 Gadwall, 10 Wigeon, 12 Teal & 41 Tufted Duck on the arboretum pond. Over 30 Pied Wagtails, a dozen Meadow Pipits and a pair of Grey Wagtails on the Causeway and a pair of Mistle Thrushes and 30 Redwings were on the track to the hide with a very vocal Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees by the river (Dave Cleal)

A SAND MARTIN was seen over Willen Lake this morning (Rob Norris) - the first of the year in the county.

Three Juvenile ICELAND GULLS roosted this evening at Calvert

After 2 fruitless recent gull watches, tried Calvert BBOWT pre-roost again but too many overflying to sailing lake so moved to watch there. Eventually found THREE first-year ICELAND GULLS, all very pale, almost white plumaged birds. The first one was found at 6:05pm, then another 2 shortly after. Kept checking positions of the 3 and roost nicely spaced side on and settled and without doubt 3. First time ever found or seen 3 white winged gulls at same time. None of these three was the dark plumaged juvenile seen last week so definitely FOUR separate birds recently.

There was a month gap before these birds appeared so I reckon juvenile seen month or so ago was another. Roost intensively watched but that one not seen again, so reckon we've had FIVE birds.

Earlier on BBOWT, 4 male Shoveler and Mink seen swimming from under 2nd hide (Tim Watts)

EMBERTON BARNACLES

The grand total of 69 Barnacle Geese were at Emberton Park, on the grass by the sailing club this morning. Also 6 Goosander (3 male, 3 female) near the Hide (Robert)

MED GULL AT MARLOW

A near full breeding-plumaged adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Little Marlow Gravel Pits this afternoon. It arrived at 16:55 E of the spit and bathed and then tried to lose itself in the throng of gulls on the spit. It had a slightly uneven head moult, a couple of white flecks near the eye on the left and slightly more on the right. There was an abundance of Common Gulls, predominantly adults (Adam Bassett)

BERRYFIELDS OWLS STILL IN RESIDENCE

Two SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting either side of gated road tonight at 1720 viewable from A41 layby, one owl coming within 30 yards of layby giving good views hunting, also having a good disagreement with a crow over who's airspace it was (Martin Ansley)

ICELAND GULL at WILLEN

Simon Nichols and I had a juvenile ICELAND GULL appear late on in the Willen gull roost tonight. Like several birds that seem to be about the country at the moment, this was a fairly dark individual, with an almost entirely black bill. Also 6 Yellow-legged Gulls (3ad, 2 2nd-w & 1 1st-w), 6 Goosander (2m 4f), and a Buzzard flew over south (Rob Hill)

THE STORY SO FAR.........

A total of 130 species has been recorded by 4th March 2009
LGRE has seen 114 species (those marked in blue)

1) Great Crested Grebe
2) Little Grebe
3) Atlantic Great Cormorant
4) EURASIAN BITTERN
5) LITTLE EGRET
6) Grey Heron
7) Mute Swan
8) WHOOPER SWAN
9) EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT*
10) PINK-FOOTED GOOSE*
11) Greylag Goose
12) Atlantic Canada Goose
13) Barnacle Goose
14) DARK-BELLIED BRENT*
15) Common Shelduck
16) Ruddy Shelduck*
17) Egyptian Goose
18) Mandarin Duck
19) Mallard
20) Gadwall
21) PINTAIL
22) Shoveler
23) Eurasian Wigeon
24) Common Teal
25) Northern Pochard
26) Red-crested Pochard
27) GREATER SCAUP
28) Tufted Duck
29) RING-NECKED DUCK
30) Common Goldeneye
31) SMEW
32) Goosander
33) RUDDY DUCK
34) Red Kite
35) Common Buzzard
36) Eurasian Sparrowhawk
37) NORTHERN GOSHAWK
38) Common Kestrel
39) Peregrine
40) MERLIN
41) Red-legged Partridge
42) Grey Partridge
43) Common Pheasant
44) Water Rail
45) Moorhen
46) Coot
47) Oystercatcher
48) Ringed Plover
49) European Golden Plover
50) Lapwing
51) DUNLIN
52) GREEN SANDPIPER
53) COMMON SANDPIPER
54) Common Redshank
55) BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
56) EURASIAN CURLEW
57) Woodcock
58) Common Snipe
59) JACK SNIPE
60) RUFF
61) Black-headed Gull
62) Common Gull
63) MEDITERRANEAN GULL
64) Herring Gull
65) Yellow-legged Gull
66) CASPIAN GULL
67) Lesser Black-backed Gull
68) Great Black-backed Gull
69) ICELAND GULL*
70) Stock Dove
71) Woodpigeon
72) Collared Dove
73) Tawny Owl
74) SHORT-EARED OWL
75) Barn Owl
76) Little Owl
77) Common Kingfisher
78) Ring-necked Parakeet
79) Green Woodpecker
80) Great Spotted Woodpecker
81) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
82) Skylark
83) Meadow Pipit
84) Pied Wagtail
85) Grey Wagtail
86) Wren
87) BOHEMIAN WAXWING
88) Dunnock
89) Robin
90) COMMON STONECHAT
91) Song Thrush
92) Redwing
93) Mistle Thrush
94) Fieldfare
95) Common Blackbird
96) Blackcap
97) Cetti’s Warbler
98) Common Chiffchaff
99) Goldcrest
100) FIRECREST
101) Great Tit
102) Blue Tit
103) Coal Tit
104) Marsh Tit
105) Long-tailed Tit
106) Nuthatch
107) Common Treecreeper
108) NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE
109) Magpie
110) Jay
111) Jackdaw
112) Rook
113) Carrion Crow
114) COMMON RAVEN
115) Common Starling
116) House Sparrow
117) TREE SPARROW
118) Chaffinch
119) BRAMBLING
120) Linnet
121) Lesser Redpoll
122) MEALY REDPOLL
123) Goldfinch
124) Greenfinch
125) Siskin
126) Bullfinch
127) HAWFINCH (14/1)
128) Reed Bunting
129) Yellowhammer
130) Corn Bunting
131)

GARDEN REDPOLLS

Since the turn of the year, up to 15 redpolls have been visiting a birdwatcher's garden in Speen village, feeding regularly on the feeder.

The flock includes one particularly well-marked MEALY REDPOLL as well as at least four others, less well marked, including a male and several first-winters. The palest individual is depicted above, courtesy of Mike Collard.

The birds are still present today (per SRN, MW) after being seen well on Sunday (MC, BAM, et al) and Monday (MC, DP, LGRE).

WILLEN TODAY

1m Red-crested Pochard at Willen north this morning. Also 1 first-winter CASPIAN GULL in advanced moult, Cettis Warbler singing, 5 Goosander and 1 Common Redshank (Rob Hill)

WILLEN ROOST

At the Willen Lake gull roost this evening, 4ad & 1 2nd-w Yellow-legged Gull, 330+ Lesser B-b Gull but still no white-wingers.

Also 3m 3f GOOSANDER and an impressive 43 COMMON GOLDENEYE (Rob Hill)

BITTERN still at Willen

A quick stop off at the STW car park this evening (17:24) produced 1 BITTERN high up in the reeds, directly opposite me. It didn't look very happy with it's roosting platform/reeds and thus took flight and flew to it's left and dropped back into the reeds closer to the Peace Pagoda and out of view.

First thing this morning 3 Little Egrets on the scrape, had increased to 5 by lunch time but were back down to 3 this evening.

Heronry looking busy with at least a dozen birds (Paul Moon)

2 SHORT-EARED OWLS and 1 BARN OWL remain along Swans Way at Linford NR.

On the reserve 2 Oystercatcthers, 3 Goldeneye, Little egret, 2 Snipe.

The PEREGRINES remain in Aylesbury, this weeks prey included another Lapwing and Golden Plover (Mike Wallen)

SUNDAY GOSHAWK

The female NORTHERN GOSHAWK was at Little Marlow this morning (Sunday 1 March) for a few minutes at 10-20 then flew north.

A huge number of gull on the spit this evening included 3,000 Common Gulls
65 Magpies went to roost in the trees on the spit (Alan Stevens)

FIRST FIRECREST BACK ON TERRITORY

FIRECREST (BOB DUCKHOUSE)

Had great views of a male FIRECREST this afternoon singing away in the area of last years second pair at Taplow. Its calls were answered a couple of times by a second bird nearby. I had been worried that some clearance of Cherry Laurel bushes nearby might put them off. Hopefully this year we will establish the full extant of this colony. (Dave Cleal)

HAWFINCH ON SATURDAY IN MILTON KEYNES

At 10.25 I was heading out of my estate , Shenley Brook End , Milton Keynes, when I noticed a large finch bound over the top of me and land in the scrubby area along Cressey Ave, suspecting it was a goodie, I parked up , got my bins , and there it was , a Female HAWFINCH sat at the top of one of the trees , I immediately drove back round to my house to secure the all important 'from my house list' but after about a minute of view it dropped out of view ! Amazing ! Mirrors the winter record of 5 birds 2 years ago (Simon Nichols, Saturday 28 March).