WHIMBREL still

Tonight at Dorney Lake I could only see a single WHIMBREL (present for the 4th day) feeding in the grass behind the Reserve Pool viewed from the middle bridge. The second could easily be hidden but since arriving they have always been only a few feet apart. So perhaps it has finally departed.

The only other birds to note were 7 Egyptian Geese and a Oystercatcher feeding around the Seasonal Pool. Still all present at 20:20 (Kevin Duncan)

More reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS

3 GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS reeling away in Back Wood this morning, 2 of which were in the scrubby area (next to the horse paddocks) which was completely cleared a couple of years ago. However, now it looks pretty good again, with long grass, gorse and bramble.

Not much else of note, but there were reasonable numbers of Willow Warbler, and plenty of Blackcap singing too (Rob Hill)

NORTH BUCKS ROUND-UP - ROB HILL

A few bits and pieces from north Bucks today.

Newton Blossomville STW: 2 COMMON RAVEN over west, circling low, cronking away - excellent!; also 2 Marsh Tits

Olney Meadows: no sign of Gropper, but 1 HOBBY performing well

Ravenstone STW: 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1m Grey Wag

Tyringham Bridge: 2 Common Tern

Linford: 1pr Eurasian Wigeon, 1 LRP, 1 Cuckoo

Also quite a few Common Whitethroats about, looks like they've finally arrived in numbers; plus smaller numbers of Lesser 'throat, but still present at every site I visited. A couple of Garden Warblers were at Linford, where thankfully Reed Warbler numbers are up (if only to 3!). Sadly, Linford is still the only site I've heard Cuckoo (Rob Hill)

Dorney WHIMBRELS still present - 3rd day

Still the 2 WHIMBREL in the weedy grass above the 500 mtr mark happily feeding away. 19 COMMON SWIFTS over them for a while. 1 LRP playing hide and seek on the reserve pool. Two Common Buzzards circling above the swifts. A couple of Redshank and 4 Common Terns (Dave Cleal)

LITTLE MARLOW today

A brief visit at midday found:

1 Common Sandpiper - on spit
1 Hobby - perched at the top a willow on the northern side
4 Swifts - flew through
Plenty of Swallows, Sand and House Martins low over the water
10+ Common Terns

Adam Bassett

Heavy rain forces down large ARCTIC TERN flock

A magnificent flock of 53 ARCTIC TERNS have just dropped (17:05) into Calvert BBOWT (Tim Watts)

Two WHIMBRELS at Dorney - present for their second day

MONDAY 27 APRIL

A broad front moved in from the south overnight bringing light SSW winds and moderate rain throughout the day (until 1630 hours at least). Temperatures during the rain struggled to rise above 8 degrees centigrade.

IVINGHOE HILLS NR

Finally, after several attempts, managed to succeed in seeing RING OUZEL on the Buckinghamshire hills this spring. During a visit from 0800-0930 hours, two RING OUZEL were showing well intermittently - a pristine adult male and a much duller first-summer male. They were both favouring the left hand (west) slope of Inkombe Hole and were feeding just above the tree-line and were clearly visible (and affording good 'scope views) from the second gate/stile at the wood end of the Hole.

A single LESSER REDPOLL also flew over, whilst singing warblers were well represented with 8+ Willows in Top Scrub, 3 different COMMON WHITETHROATS, 1 Common Chiffchaff and 4 Blackcaps (Francis Buckle also had a singing GARDEN WARBLER). A Green Woodpecker was also seen.

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (SOUTH BUCKS)

Despite Dave Ferguson seeing them fly west at 1115 hours, both WHIMBRELS were still present when I visited the site in heavy rain at 1200-1215. They had returned to the Sheep Field and were feeding voraciously in line with the 500m marker. They had been discovered yesterday (Dave Cleal)

Two Common Shelduck were also present, along with 30 House Martins

News from the North - 26 April

There is a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER reeling at Olney Meadows just to the left of the pond; also there were 4 Northern Wheatears earlier at CMK , including a cracking male Greenland bird (Rob Hill)

My meagre efforts involve nothing at Willen North, other then 2 Whitethroats; 2 CUCKOOS and a HOBBY at Linford , 30+ Barnacle Geese at Emberton Park , including at least 8 birds sitting , 1 GARDEN WARBLER there also.

A freshly dead Common Tern was a sad find at Furzton (Simon Nichols)

BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Dorney Rowing Lakes

The walk down to the Seasonal Pool only produced a party of 9 Swallows heading directly west followed by a few singles and I sent Kevin a text berating my luck. Almost immediately I then spied a lone wader further up the return lake at 1500 mts. Assuming it to be a Whimbrel I got closer to confirm and was met with the sight of a BAR-TAILED GODWIT. It was moulting into summer plumage so wasn't as gaudy as the last individual I saw here and infact melted perfectly into the background at times. I'll put a couple of pics up. It seemed to fly off as I was trying for better photos. I didn't see it go and no call was made, so it might not have gone far.

As I walked back a COMMON GREENSHANK was on the Seasonal Pool after a couple of minutes it flew to the Reserve Pool (Colour ringed Red on the left below the joint and I think red above the joint on the right,but not too sure).

I then had an Oystercatcher fly over me and land on the Causeway before it flew to the Seasonal Pool.(see pic)Several more Swallows through, 4 Common Terns in 2 pairs and a Redshank (Dave Cleal)

COMMON SWIFTS arrive in MK

Very little at Linford this morning, just 1 Common Sand, 2 LRP, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Garden Warblers singing.

At Willen, 6 COMMON SWIFTS were my first of the year, plus 2 Common Sand, 1 each of LRP & RP, 1m Pochard, 14 Common Terns, and c100 Sand Martins (Rob Hill)

LITTLE MARLOW SPADE OAK PIT - 25 APRIL

Early Morning

1 Little Egret
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Whitethroats
1 Garden Warbler
2 Shelduck
2 Grey Wagtails
c60 Swallows
35 Sand Martins
4 L.R.Plovers

(Alan Stevens)

25 APRIL SIGHTINGS - MID-MORNING UPDATE

There is a BAR TAILED GODWIT at Dorney Lake at 1500M (Kevin Duncan) and 5 ARCTIC TERN have just dropped into Calvert (Tim Watts)

8 Barn Swallows and 1 Sand Martin at Furzton

Willen has 1 Ringed Plover , 1 LRP , 1 Common Sand , 6 COMMON SWIFTS and 70 Sand Martins 1 Common Sandpiper at Manor Farm and Linford respectively

SHORT-EARED OWL at Stowe this evening

A distant bird being harried by a corvid caught my eye and at first glance I thought it was a Barn Owl. However when I got the 'scope on it I could see that it was not a Barn Owl but a SHORT-EARED OWL. It dropped out of sight and didn't reappear, so I jumped in the car and drove to where it appeared to have gone down. Fortunately I judged it right and as I squeezed through a gap in the hedge I could see it sitting on a fence post 100m away. I watched it through the 'scope for about 20 seconds, before it took off and started quartering the ground along the fence line. It then turned and flew back and over a ridge and I lost it and unfortunately wasn't able to re-locate it. I will obviously look out for it tomorrow, but I suspect it was moving through--it was heading north when I last saw it--though I am not sure whether SEO's migrate at night??

Interestingly it was not far from Bycell Farm where a Hen Harrier was seen recently-perhaps this is the new owl and raptor hot-spot!

More importantly for me, a great addition to the garden list!! (Phil Tizzard)

Passage picking up at DORNEY ROWING LAKES

This morning at Dorney Lake the first bird of the day was a female NORTHERN WHEATEAR at the start end of the causeway. Nothing seen then till the Seasonal Pool (1250M). On the Pool were 2 COMMON GREENSHANK which were very flighty; they then flew off high to the East.

Further along towards the clubhouse another female NORTHERN WHEATEAR and a Common Sandpiper flew from the edge of the Return Lake.

On my return back to the car I spotted the WHIMBREL on the edge of the Reserve Pool. It then flew onto the grass and started feeding.

Tonight there was a third COMMON GREENSHANK of the day on the Seasonal Pool. This one was colour ringed. Unfortunately the distance and light conditions weren't right to see the colours. There was one ring on the left leg and two on the right, all above the knee. It is the fourth colour ringed bird seen at Dorney Lake. The Whimbrel was still present around the Reserve Pool feeding in the grass (Kevin Duncan)

Late JACK SNIPE

A late JACK SNIPE was in the south east corner of the Spadeoak Pit (Little Marlow) - to the left of peg 33 - this evening (Alan Stevens)

LITTLE MARLOW GP today

An adult LITTLE GULL, Common Sandpiper, HOBBY and Common Whitethroat were today's highlights at Little Marlow (Dave Parmenter)

Twitchable WHIMBRELS

From 1330 until 1640 hours at least, 2 WHIMBRELS afforded excellent views in a stubble field east of Rowsham (Mike Wallen). Unfortunately, both birds had departed by 1700 hours (LGRE) Mike Wallen obtained these outstanding shots.

Another RING OUZEL at Manor Farm

Its seems Friday is RING OUZEL day at Manor Farm.

Following on from last weeks bird, another was found this morning on the shingle bank and gravel road south of the main body of water. Again like last weeks bird a stunning male, it flew over the south central field literally a couple of feet over my head giving great views. It was fairly flighty and was last seen around 7:30ish in the field south of the farm building (between farm and Old Wolverton Road), unfortunately I had to head for work but it may still be there in the hills and hollows, a field most of us usually overlook.

Earlier, from my arrival till 7:00, two EURASIAN CURLEW were in 'Godwit Corner' they circled lake and headed in a Linfordly direction. Also in this corner one RP and one LRP and a single Common Sandpiper.

Three Terns, probably Commons, were resting on the signs emerging from the water and the Shelduck pair are still present.(Chris Gleadell)

WHITE STORK again

A WHITE STORK was circling high over the Chiltern Brewery at Terrick on the B4009 NW of Wendover at 3 pm. It may have spiralled down into fields in angle between this road and the railway line north of brewery. Take care - difficult to park along this fast, busy road (Richard Birch)

This bird has now been seen in the area four times - yesterday it overflew Wilstone Reservoir at Tring (Jack O'Neill) and last weekend it flew over the A41 near Broughton. Earlier, it had flown over Bison Hill, Whipsnade (Clive Harris)

ARCTIC TERNS at Furzton Lake

2 ARCTIC TERNS spent a whole minute at Furzton this morning before heading off east , thats twice the number of Commons at the site so far this year! (Simon Nichols)

LECKHAMPSTEAD WOODS

A walk around these woods 06:45-09:00 today yielded amongst others:
5 Grasshoppper Warblers singing
13 Willow Warblers singing
11 Chiffchaffs singing
4 Marsh Tits
1 WILLOW TIT
4 Cuckoos
4 Blackcaps
3 Garden Warblers

Ken Earnshaw

COMMON RAVENS

Through an open door , a gentle yet rather loud "Kwrrark" made me go outside and look up into the Buzzard corridor .... I saw a pair , no less , of COMMON RAVEN. Fingering the thermals on a splendid spring morning , they headed along the hillside from Rectory Farm, Gt' Brickhill towards Stockgrove ....... they popped back at lunch time too , then headed off to Lt Brickhill way . Charlie Blake

News from the North today

Almost identical at Linford this evening,

The HOBBY appeared at 8.05pm and was still performing when it was almost too dark to see.

Also 1 Cuckoo, 2 LRP, 1 Oyc, 2 Little Egret,1 pr Wigeon and the Barn Owl.

I also visited Ravenstone STW earlier in the day (lunchtime) - 2 Grey Partridge, 2 female Wheatear and Grey Wagtail.

At Emberton Park even earlier,2 Common Tern (Rob Norris)

OSPREY present for its second day in the Chess Valley - third individual this year

WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL

Another fabulously glorious summer's day, with temperatures reaching 21 degrees centigrade. Clear, bright and sunny throughout.

Took a call at 1500 hours from Mike Collard to say that the OSPREY that I had seen early yesterday morning was back at Chenies Bottom again. I rushed down there and five minutes later joined local nature lover Alison Etherington at the bridge. I scanned the Mill Farm Water Meadows and high over the River Chess, overflying Sarratt Bottom (Hertfordshire) was the OSPREY.

It slowly started drifting back westwards and after seven minutes had returned to the section of Chess immediately north of Chenies Place. As yesterday morning, it started hovering and for the next 20 minutes, it drifted back and forth over the water meadow. On one occasion, it plunged rapidly down to the river and submerged itself in the water, resurfacing with nothing.

I had contacted Dave Bilcock and Simon Nichols in the interim, as well as Rare Bird Alert, and at 1530 it flew and sat at the top of one of the tall trees in Chenies Place garden (interestingly, Alison had seen the bird early this morning, from 0715-0745, when at one stage it perched aloft the conifer in Dodd's Mill garden). Fortunately Dave arrived whilst the bird was still in the tree, as did Jeff Bailey (who had been watching it independently from the Chess Valley Walk from 1500 hours).

The four of us watched in awe as it suddenly took flight from its perch and made a beeline for the river. At considerable speed it hit the water and within a short space of time, resurfaced with a large fish in its talons. At this point, a Common Buzzard and male Common Kestrel took an interest and chased the Osprey. The latter spiralled slowly upward and then began thermalling, circling the meadows for some 15 minutes before drifting off eastwards towards Sarrattmill Bridge. During this time, it traversed back and forth from Hertfordshire to Buckinghamshire. DB kept with the bird following it with his 'scope and after a long time in the air presumably searching for a suitable place in which to devour his prize, it slowly started to drift back towards Chenies Bottom. Suddenly at 1608 hours, it spied somewhere suitable and like a bullet, swept back its wings and dived down in to Limeshill Wood (Herts) (TQ 022 993).

In all, the bird was on view for a period of an hour and eight minutes, offering us all some magnificent views. JT arrived shortly later, closely followed by IW and MCo, but I have not heard if the bird reappeared.

Another major coo was the presence of two singing male COMMON WHITETHROATS - another rare visitor in my parish. One male was on the Mill Farm Water Meadows and another by Church Covert reserve to the west.

Two BARN SWALLOWS flew west, as did a single HOUSE MARTIN, whilst 6 different COMMON BUZZARDS were sighted and 3 Grey Herons.

A beautiful male GREY WAGTAIL was by the bridge, with a pair of Long-tailed Tits nestbuilding in Dodd's Mill garden and several House Sparrows in the hedgerows in the hamlet.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE OSPREY

Leave the M25 at Junction 18 and follow NW through Chorleywood towards Amersham. After just over two miles, take Latimer Road (signposted Chesham) on the right. Drive carefully through Chenies village and as you traverse the sharp bends and drop down the incline, veer off right safely at the bottom. Continue down for 50 yards and park sensibly and courteously at the side of the road. The Osprey moves between the area just to the west of the bridge and over the meadows and river to the right.

First COMMON GREENSHANK of year

Early evening Dave Cleal found a COMMON GREENSHANK feeding on the Seasonal Pool at Dorney Lake. It was still present at 19:50. Also present a Common Sandpiper along the Return Lake.

LITTLE MARLOW today

The biggest surprise was a single and very smart FIELDFARE which was feeding close to the railway on the meadows. On the sand spit was a single Dunlin almost in summer plumage. Also present were three Snipe and a few pairs of Teal. Three Common Terns were chasing each other, so maybe returning birds from last year? (Jim Rose)

First COMMON NIGHTINGALE of year

The COMMON NIGHTINGALE at Willen Lake North was singing when I arrived at 21.00 to the left of the hide (initially discovered by Bob Fowles mid afternoon). Also a COMMON SANDPIPER calling in flight on the lake

On the south lake the adult LITTLE GULL roosted with 7 Black Headed Gulls, 15 Common Terns were on the pedalos (Simon Nichols)

EARLY MORNING IVINGHOE HILLS

Early this morning there was a singing migrant GRASSHOPPER WARBLER on Steps Hill, it showed well occasionally, clearly newly arrived, it looked tired and even closed its eyes a few times !

A TREE PIPIT flew over too (Mike Wallen)

CMK Saturday afternoon

A very quick visit to CMK this afternoon turned up a very smart male NORTHERN WHEATEAR flycatching from the cable drums

Also a pair of Blackcaps at "Warbler Bridge" on Furzton today (Simon Nichols)

WHIMBRELS at DORNEY ALL DAY - KEVIN DUNCAN

SATURDAY 18 APRIL

It was all quiet at Dorney Lake this morning when I left at 07:30. Just a single Redshank, pair of Shelduck and 2 male Northern Wheatear on the causeway recorded from my second site of the day. Wasn't until I got home at 11:00 that I saw Simon's email about '2 WHIMBREL at Dorney Lake'.

Promised to take my daughter shopping so could not go back for a few hours. Five hours later I was heading back to Dorney Lake! I did not expect the Whimbrel to be still there. On a sunny Sunday, hundreds of people visit, walkers,cyclists and roller bladers.I was on the causeway by 16:30. Scanned the 250m marker and to my surprise the 2 Whimbrel were still there by the edge of the Return Lake. Further along at the 500m marker was a feeding Common Sandpiper. Walking along to the Seasonal Pool (1250m) I counted 3 Redshank present.

Returning to the Whimbrel at 17:15 they had moved up onto the grass and were feeding amongst the Canada Geese and Sheep (Kevin Duncan)

SATURDAY UPDATE

Two male and a female NORTHERN WHEATEAR were at College Lake (Joan Thompson)

At Linford this evening, 1 HOBBY performing it's usual superb aerial acrobatics in front of the hide. Definitely one of my favourite birds! Also 1 Cuckoo, 2 LRP, 1 Oyc, 4 Little Egret, 2 Goldeneye (1f, 1st-w m), 1pr Wigeon and the Barn Owl.

Earlier at Ravenstone STW, 1m Wheatear & 1 Yellow Wagtail (Rob Hill)

ARCTIC TERNS and LITTLE GULL drop in

There are a minimum of 4 ARCTIC TERNS amongst 30+ Common Terns at Willen Lake this evening (per Rob Hill). There is also an adult LITTLE GULL there ! These have dropped in since 18 00 when there were only 7 Common Terns on the south and 9 on the north. Earlier the 2 LRP were mating on the spit !

A repeat visit to Furzton this afternoon turned up a male COMMON WHITETHROAT in the same set of brambles that the first CETTI'S WARBLER for the site continued to belt out its presence (Simon Nichols)

More WHIMBREL at Marlow - 17 APRIL

This Evening (17 April), a party of 5 WHIMBREL came in from the west at 8-05 and landed on the spit; single DUNLIN still there also (Alan Stevens)

The Story So Far................in Buckinghamshire

A total of 160 species has been recorded by 17th April 2009
LGRE has seen 132 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) OSPREY
35) Red Kite
36) MARSH HARRIER
37) HEN HARRIER
38) Common Buzzard
39) Eurasian Sparrowhawk
40) NORTHERN GOSHAWK
41) Common Kestrel
42) Peregrine
43) MERLIN
44) Red-legged Partridge
45) Grey Partridge
46) Common Pheasant
47) Water Rail
48) Moorhen
49) Coot
50) Oystercatcher
51) Little Ringed Plover
52) Ringed Plover
53) European Golden Plover
54) Lapwing
55) RED KNOT
56) DUNLIN
57) GREEN SANDPIPER
58) COMMON SANDPIPER
59) Common Redshank
60) BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
61) EURASIAN CURLEW
62) WHIMBREL
63) Woodcock
64) Common Snipe
65) JACK SNIPE
66) RUFF
67) Black-headed Gull
68) Common Gull
69) MEDITERRANEAN GULL
70) Herring Gull
71) Yellow-legged Gull
72) CASPIAN GULL
73) Lesser Black-backed Gull
74) Great Black-backed Gull
75) LITTLE GULL
76) KITTIWAKE
77) ICELAND GULL*
78) SANDWICH TERN
79) Common Tern
80) ARCTIC TERN
81) Stock Dove
82) Woodpigeon
83) Collared Dove
84) Common Cuckoo
85) Tawny Owl
86) SHORT-EARED OWL
87) Barn Owl
88) Little Owl
89) Common Kingfisher
90) Ring-necked Parakeet
91) Green Woodpecker
92) Great Spotted Woodpecker
93) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
94) Skylark
95) Sand Martin
96) Barn Swallow
97) House Martin
98) WATER PIPIT
99) Meadow Pipit
100) Pied Wagtail
101) WHITE WAGTAIL
102) Yellow Wagtail
103) Grey Wagtail
104) Wren
105) BOHEMIAN WAXWING
106) Dunnock
107) Robin
108) COMMON REDSTART
109) Northern Wheatear
110) COMMON STONECHAT
111) Song Thrush
112) Redwing
113) Mistle Thrush
114) Fieldfare
115) Common Blackbird
116) RING OUZEL
117) Garden Warbler
118) Blackcap
119) Lesser Whitethroat
120) Common Whitethroat
121) Sedge Warbler
122) Grasshopper Warbler
123) Cetti’s Warbler
124) Western Reed Warbler
125) Willow Warbler
126) Common Chiffchaff
127) Goldcrest
128) FIRECREST
129) Great Tit
130) Blue Tit
131) Coal Tit
132) Marsh Tit
133) WILLOW TIT
134) Long-tailed Tit
135) Nuthatch
136) Common Treecreeper
137) NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE
138) Magpie
139) Jay
140) Jackdaw
141) Rook
142) Carrion Crow
143) COMMON RAVEN
144) Common Starling
145) House Sparrow
146) TREE SPARROW
147) Chaffinch
148) BRAMBLING
149) Linnet
150) Lesser Redpoll
151) MEALY REDPOLL
152) Goldfinch
153) Greenfinch
154) Siskin
155) Bullfinch
156) HAWFINCH (14/1)
157) Reed Bunting
158) Yellowhammer
159) Corn Bunting
160) BLACK REDSTART

Spanking male RING OUZEL at Manor Farm

This beautiful male RING OUZEL was still present at Manor Farm at 1715 hours, where it was favouring the shingle bank on the south side of the main water, gradually edging towards the west end (see Chris Gleadell's - the finder - superb images above and on his Manor Farm blog site at :http://manorfarmbirding.blogspot.com/

Also noted were up to 12 YELLOW WAGTAILS, a male WHITE WAGTAIL, 2 NORTHERN WHEATEARS, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 GREEN SANDPIPERS and the pair of COMMON SHELDUCK (Chris Gleadell)

ROUND-UP OF TODAY'S NEWS

A male RING OUZEL at Manor Farm was the bird of the day (Chris Gleadell et al).

ARCTIC TERNS included 3 at Little Marlow GP and 2 at Willen Lake, with a first-year LITTLE GULL at Willen and a single DUNLIN on the spit at Little Marlow (Alan Stevens, Adam Bassett, Rob Hill et al).

SNIPPETS FROM TODAY

There was an ARCTIC TERN on Calvert Sailing lake this afternoon , per Gareth Leese.

12 Common Terns on Willen South with 200+ Hirundines

1 LRP and 1 male Shoveler on Willen North

(Simon Nichols)

MANOR FARM today

MANOR FARM

As well as the Summer plumaged DUNLIN

2 Oystercatcher
3+ Green Sandpiper
2 Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
3+ Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
2 Shelduck
Little Egret

and a Cuckoo heard but not seen at Haversham end (Rob Norris)

Today's Gleanings

The WATER PIPIT is still present at Manor Farm (Chris Gleadell) whilst a male GRASSHOPPER WARBLER was reeling in Jenzels Square, Bedgrove Estate, Aylesbury, this morning (Peter Humber).

LINFORD THIS MORNING

An early morning visit to Linford NR revealed nothing decent had been put down by the storm, but there was some small compensation, with my first CUCKOO and LESSER WHITETHROAT of the year.

Also 8 Common Tern, 1 Western Reed Warbler singing, at least 2 Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Common Sand, 3 LRP, 1pr Wigeon and 2 Siskin (Rob Hill)

GOOD FRIDAY BIRDING - LGRE

GOOD FRIDAY (10 APRIL 2009)

A day of Southerly winds but showery and mainly overcast.

CENTRAL MILTON KEYNES (NORTH BUCKS)

After 'dipping out' on the first BLACK REDSTART in CMK in early March, I was very pleased to get a second chance. Rob Hill had located a female earlier in the morning at the site (located opposite the Argos Warehouse at SP 846 382) and it was still showing when Neil Fletcher and I arrived at 1330 hours. It was a female-type and was perching on obvious fenceposts and machinery within the works compound.

I also saw a male NORTHERN WHEATEAR on mounds adjacent (Neil saw three)

MANOR FARM PITS (NORTH BUCKS) (SP 805 421)
(Easily accessed off of the main Old Wolverton road and just over a mile from the A5; park at the main entrance to the Manor Farm business complex and walk north to the Country Park trail currently under construction)

I was looking forward to visiting this site as all the hype surrounding it surely was exaggeration - but it wasn't. This new complex of gravel extraction and shallow scrapes on the River Great Ouse valley certainly is the 'real deal' and a fantastic magnet for migrating birds. The main pool is in excellent shape and the surrounding areas (whilst wet and fresh) are certainly attractive for migrant passerines.

I spent a couple of hours tasting the avian delights of this new site and working out the best ways in which to observe it. The following species were seen, the highlight being a migrant LITTLE GULL.

Mute Swans (10 including 5 first-years)
COMMON SHELDUCK (pair)
Common Teal (pair)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (1+)
*GREEN SANDPIPERS (4)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1) (my first county bird of the year)
Common Snipe (2)
Black-headed Gulls (3)
**LITTLE GULL (an adult in winter plumage arrived from the west at 1427 and was then pursued by the Black-headed Gulls and chased off whilst I was on the phone to Simon and flew strongly and high SE along the river valley at 1430).

Sand Martin (3)
Barn Swallow (6)
Meadow Pipit (2)
**WATER PIPIT (a bird in transitional plumage was frequenting the rain-sodden shallow pools to the east of the main pit. It was typically mobile and flew up calling several times, disappearing to a hidden extraction pool at the NE of the site)
*WHITE WAGTAIL (male on the eastern edge of the pit and on the bunds)
*YELLOW WAGTAIL (3 gaudy males on the bunds)
*NORTHERN WHEATEAR (highly mobile male on bunds)
Goldfinch (8)

LINFORD NR (NORTH BUCKS) (1520-1620 hours)

By the time I got to Linford, it was 12 degrees C with almost constant rain (occasionally heavy)

Thanks to a timely call from Simon, I was able to connect with the transitionally plumaged adult ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWIT feeding voraciously on the bund vegetation - my first of the year in Bucks.

There was also a single Ringed Plover on the bund and a male YELLOW WAGTAIL.

The heronry contained 14 Grey Heron nests, whilst 3 LITTLE EGRETS were noted and 10 Common Teal. Due to the inclement conditions, I was unable to locate Rob Hill's two singing Sedge Warblers from earlier in the day, although both Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap were still singing.

THIRD BLACK REDSTART of year for CMK

Following a phone call from Simon Nichols, I went up to CMK yesterday, and saw the BLACK REDSTART at c1820. I was able to confirm his suspicions that this was in fact a THIRD bird, different from the other two. Having checked my rather limited references, I can summarize the three birds thus: Bird 1 - a scruffy "female-type", which I thought was a probably 1st-su male, due to a darker, blacker tinge to the face and the upper breast, contrasting with the slightly browner mantle and lower belly; wings blackish with pale buff edges to the tertials forming a diffuse, but visible wing-panel. Bird 2 - a fairly standard female, with again blackish wings (no wing panel) contrasting with the sooty grey (i.e no hint of black) concolorous upperparts. Bird 3 - a splendid full adult male in almost every respect, with dark grey upperparts, almost black around the face, throat and upper belly, that lovely vivid red tail, but with dark brown wings, which provided a prominent contrast with the body. There was no white wing panel, or indeed any hint of white edges to the secondaries and tertials, as one would expect of adult males. Now, Black Redstarts are in fresh plumage in autumn, and acquire their spring finery through abrasion rather than moult. But if that's the case, then surely there's an abberation with the adult male, as the wing feathers showed no sign of maturity, in contrast to the rest of the bird.I'm probably missing something rather obvious, but comments welcome please! (Rob Hill)

BLACK REDSTART in Central Milton Keynes

A BLACK REDSTART is still at CMK this morning (Monday 13th), also 2-3 Northern Wheatears (per Chris James)

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NORTH - BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Three Northern Wheatears and a flyover CURLEW were the highlights of a Manor Farm visit this morning (Rob Hill) (the WATER PIPIT was still there yesterday) whilst a DUNLIN was at Linford bund early morning (Nik Maynard)

LINFORD - SUNDAY MORNING

Nik Maynard has had a SANDWICH TERN at Linford NR this morning , on and off from 0715-0900 hours; also present were 6 Common Terns. Earlier, he recorded a EURASIAN CURLEW flying over Willen Lake North Basin.

Influx of NORTHERN WHEATEARS

This evening (Saturday 11 April) there were 4 NORTHERN WHEATEARS at Dorney Rowing Lakes. 3 males at the 500m marker and a single male at the 1500M marker (Kevin Duncan)

MANOR FARM - SATURDAY 11 APRIL

Rob Hill has seen at least 1 , possibly 2 WATER PIPITS at Manor Farm , at least 15 Yellow Wagtails and a minimum of 3 WHITE WAGTAILS (per Simon Nichols)

ONGOING WORK AT COLLEGE LAKE

A couple of weeks back BBOWT invited the Bucks Bird Club along to College Lake to mark the end of phase 1 of developments there: I went as BBC rep and thought you'd all appreciate a quick update on what I learned:Phase 1, toilet block and new `Barn' for use as classroom and interim visitor centre is complete.Phase 2, the new visitor centre will begin construction this month. College Lake will NOT close during construction. This is an impressive `eco' building which will form an entrance from the carpark (some drawings are in the Barn). Incidentally College Lake will be open Bank Holiday Mondays this year…The water level: pumping from Marsh to Lake is about to start (may already have started). As to overall level – well, it is higher than expert predicted maximum. Reeds have been planted along the lakeside of the bund as a wave protection and new habitat. 3 new `Dexter' cows are coming to replace the hairy cows. So those of you whao have been chased by the highlanders are now quite safe! There will be a path along the road up from the canal; British Waterways at some point will put in a footbridge which connects via bridlepath. There'd then be safe foot access alongside (outside)a new hedge and fence. (Unofficially I hear that the intended clearing work for the path didn't go as intended – contractors seem to have cleared, not laid, existing hedging). Anyway, most of the work is now done and the cleared bits should now start re-generating. I realise that many birders like to see things stay the same (I'm usually one of them) but I think the development will turn out a positive thing. I'll be expanding on this in the BBC bulletin – would like to hear your views. regards (Ed Griffiths)

DORNEY WETLANDS 10-11 APRIL

At Dorney Lake this morning the first Mallard ducklings were swimming around the pontoons at the start end of the main rowing lake. On the causeway there were 5 migrant Ringed Plovers. These were later flushed by vehicles setting up for a charity walk/run. Yesterdays male NORTHERN WHEATEAR was near the sheep pen at 500M. On the Reserve Pool a pair of Common Shelduck with 3 Redshank and a Green Sandpiper. The Seasonal Pool still had a few Teal, Gadwall, a single male Shoveler and a second Green Sandpiper. (Kevin Duncan)

Another BLACK REDSTART in CMK

Rob Hill discovered a female BLACK REDSTART in CMK this morning, along with two male NORTHERN WHEATEARS.

He also had 2 SEDGE WARBLERS along Swans Way , Linford

MANOR FARM this evening

THURSDAY 9 APRIL

A look at Manor Farm this evening failed to turn up the Water Pipit from earlier, but ample compensation was had in the form of an OSPREY, which flew north at c7.20pm, circled Cosgrove lakes a couple of times before continuing its journey.

Other birds were 5 Green Sand, 2 LRP, 1m WHITE WAGTAIL, 3-4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Oycs, a couple of Snipe, 3 Shelduck, 1f Goosander, 1m Wheatear, a few Swallow, and c45 Sand Martins which passed through east (Rob Hill)

Very late SHORT-EARED OWL

THURSDAY 9 APRIL

At approx 18:00 1 SHORT-EARED OWL flew over the minor road to Quainton (at Berryfields) heading towards the smaller field where the workman have made the track across. Still viewable from the A41 lay-by (John Hale)

WATER PIPIT at MANOR FARM

THURSDAY 9 APRIL

There is a WATER PIPIT (suspected earlier by Chris G) at MANOR FARM , its in transitional plumage. There are also 4+ Meadow Pipits , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Male WHITE WAGTAILS , 3 Pied Wags , 1 Green Sand , 2 LRP.

It took me 25 minutes to find the Water Pipit and then showed for about a minute , so its not exactly showy ! (Simon Nichols)

First COMMON TERN of the year

SUNDAY 5 APRIL

LITTLE MARLOW GP

1 COMMON TERN - a very early record
COMMON RAVENS (2)
Willow Warblers (2)
The Ruddy Shelduck was back on the spit this morning
2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS

(Alan Stephens)