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



Sunday 19 July 2009

Another day of heavy downpours and strong SW winds

SUNDAY 19 JULY

A day of heavy downpours and strong SW winds. Bird of the day was a remarkable July SANDERLING occurrence - sadly I missed it.

SPADE OAK GP, LITTLE MARLOW GP (early afternoon)

During the morning Alan Stephens had seen a SANDERLING on the spit but despite an extensive search, I could not locate it.

Great Crested Grebes (3)
Sinensis Cormorants (24)
EGYPTIAN GEESE (female with single gosling on spit, with 13 others nearby)
Gadwall (2)
Tufted Duck (15)
Pochard (2)
Coot (pair with 4 very small young)
Lapwing (342 on spit)
*DUNLIN (adult summer on spit)
OYSTERCATCHER (adult on spit)

Roosting gulls on spit included 258 Black-headed (3 juveniles), 11 British Herring, 5 YELLOW-LEGGED (3 adults, 2 2nd-summers) and 37 Lesser Black-backed. Most unusual was a single 2nd-summer COMMON GULL.

Common Tern (21 including 9 juveniles)

Common Kingfisher (much activity involving at least 3 birds)
Stock Doves (3 feeding on spit)
Common Starlings (140 feeding on spit)

SHARDELOES LAKE
Two LITTLE EGRETS were the highlight as well as the first SAND MARTIN of the year in the district

Great Crested Grebe (two adults but no sign of female and young)
Little Grebe (2 adults and 1 juvenile)
Grey Heron (2 juveniles)
*LITTLE EGRETS (2 - an adult and a juvenile - initially feeding in the shallows by the island and then later feeding on the rushy edge at the far west end of the lake. These represent my first record at this location and my earliest autumn arrivals in my district. Dave Ferguson also saw both birds independently.
Mute Swans (nesting pair with their five cygnets)
Mallard (32)
GADWALL (pair at western end)
Tufted Duck (6)
Coot (73)

Red Kite (2)
Green Woodpecker (juvenile)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Common Swifts (36)
House Martins (large increase in heavy downpour involving at least 56 birds)
SAND MARTIN (1 with the above - first record in the Recording Area this year - 103rd species of 2009)
GREY WAGTAIL (adult and juvenile)