There are TEN Red-crested Pochards at Willen Lake today - four drakes and six females (per Rob Hill)
Monday, 30 November 2009
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Foxcote Roost Spectacular
Another terrific show for 4 observers. 5,000 Common Starlings attracted the attention of a single Sparrowhawk and a male PEREGRINE. The latter was actually chased by c 500 Starlings at one point. Eventually about half roosted next to the hide and half in the reeds around the bay next to the wood.
The drake RING-NECKED DUCK was obliging for a change and a drake GOOSANDER looked pretty in the sunshine. Many fewer gulls than last week, but still 1 adult YELLOW-LEGGED (Andy Harding)
The drake RING-NECKED DUCK was obliging for a change and a drake GOOSANDER looked pretty in the sunshine. Many fewer gulls than last week, but still 1 adult YELLOW-LEGGED (Andy Harding)
Thursday, 26 November 2009
The drake RING-NECKED DUCK was again at Foxcote Reservoir this afternoon, amongst good numbers of other duck, which included 13 Common Goldeneye and c45 Shoveler (which is the most I've seen here in years).
A modest gull roost contained nothing of interest, but the Starling roost - c5000 strong - was predictably thrilling to watch. (Rob Hill)
A modest gull roost contained nothing of interest, but the Starling roost - c5000 strong - was predictably thrilling to watch. (Rob Hill)
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Recencies
Very quiet at present, despite the deep Atlantic depressions crossing the region. At Tongwell Lake, the pair of GREATER SCAUP remain, Willen Lake the 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS and in Hogback Wood, Beaconsfield, at least 1 FIRECREST. A pair of GOOSANDER was on Wotton Lakes.
22 November
Ted Reed recorded a first-winter BLACK REDSTART in Hillesden village and a BLACK-TAILED GODWIT on the scrape Sunday morning
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
An Update: Story So Far in 2009
A total of 194 species has been recorded by 15th November 2009
LGRE has seen 170 species (those marked in blue)
1) GREAT NORTHERN DIVER
2) Great Crested Grebe
3) RED-NECKED GREBE
4) Little Grebe
5) BLACK-NECKED GREBE
6) Atlantic Great Cormorant
7) EURASIAN BITTERN
8) LITTLE EGRET
9) Grey Heron
10) WHITE STORK
11) EURASIAN SPOONBILL
12) Mute Swan
13) WHOOPER SWAN
14) EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT*
15) PINK-FOOTED GOOSE*
16) Greylag Goose
17) Atlantic Canada Goose
18) Barnacle Goose
19) DARK-BELLIED BRENT*
20) Common Shelduck
21) RUDDY SHELDUCK*
22) Egyptian Goose
23) Mandarin Duck
24) Mallard
25) Gadwall
26) PINTAIL
27) Shoveler
28) Eurasian Wigeon
29) Common Teal
30) GARGANEY
31) Northern Pochard
32) Red-crested Pochard
33) FERRUGINOUS DUCK
34) GREATER SCAUP
35) Tufted Duck
36) RING-NECKED DUCK
37) COMMON SCOTER
38) LONG-TAILED DUCK
39) Common Goldeneye
40) SMEW
41) Goosander
42) RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
43) RUDDY DUCK
44) OSPREY
45) Red Kite
46) MARSH HARRIER
47) HEN HARRIER
48) Common Buzzard
49) Eurasian Sparrowhawk
50) NORTHERN GOSHAWK
51) Common Kestrel
52) Hobby
53) Peregrine
54) MERLIN
55) Red-legged Partridge
56) Grey Partridge
57) COMMON QUAIL
58) Common Pheasant
59) Water Rail
60) Moorhen
61) Coot
62) COMMON CRANE*
63) Oystercatcher
64) Little Ringed Plover
65) Ringed Plover
66) GREY PLOVER
67) European Golden Plover
68) Lapwing
69) RED KNOT
70) SANDERLING
71) TURNSTONE
72) DUNLIN
73) LITTLE STINT
74) WOOD SANDPIPER
75) Green Sandpiper
76) Common Sandpiper
77) Common Redshank
78) Common Greenshank
79) BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
80) BAR-TAILED GODWIT
81) EURASIAN CURLEW
82) WHIMBREL
83) Woodcock
84) Common Snipe
85) JACK SNIPE
86) RUFF
87) Black-headed Gull
88) Common Gull
89) MEDITERRANEAN GULL
90) Herring Gull
91) Yellow-legged Gull
92) CASPIAN GULL
93) Lesser Black-backed Gull
94) Great Black-backed Gull
95) LITTLE GULL
96) KITTIWAKE
97) ICELAND GULL*
98) (GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL** - record still under review)
99) LITTLE TERN
100) SANDWICH TERN
101) Common Tern
102) ARCTIC TERN
103) BLACK TERN
104) Stock Dove
105) Woodpigeon
106) Collared Dove
107) EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE
108) Common Cuckoo
109) Tawny Owl
110) SHORT-EARED OWL
111) Barn Owl
112) Little Owl
113) Common Swift
114) EURASIAN HOOPOE
115) Common Kingfisher
116) Ring-necked Parakeet
117) Green Woodpecker
118) Great Spotted Woodpecker
119) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
120) Skylark
121) WOODLARK
122) Sand Martin
123) Barn Swallow
124) House Martin
125) WATER PIPIT
126) SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT
127) Meadow Pipit
128) TREE PIPIT
129) Pied Wagtail
130) WHITE WAGTAIL
131) Yellow Wagtail
132) Grey Wagtail
133) Wren
134) BOHEMIAN WAXWING
135) Dunnock
136) Robin
137) COMMON NIGHTINGALE
138) COMMON REDSTART
139) BLACK REDSTART
140) Northern Wheatear
141) COMMON STONECHAT
142) WHINCHAT
143) Song Thrush
144) Redwing
145) Mistle Thrush
146) Fieldfare
147) Common Blackbird
148) RING OUZEL
149) Garden Warbler
150) Blackcap
151) Lesser Whitethroat
152) Common Whitethroat
153) Sedge Warbler
154) Grasshopper Warbler
155) Cetti’s Warbler
156) Western Reed Warbler
157) Willow Warbler
158) Common Chiffchaff
159) Goldcrest
160) FIRECREST
161) Spotted Flycatcher
162) Great Tit
163) Blue Tit
164) Coal Tit
165) Marsh Tit
166) WILLOW TIT
167) Long-tailed Tit
168) Nuthatch
169) Common Treecreeper
170) NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE
171) Magpie
172) Jay
173) Jackdaw
174) Rook
175) Carrion Crow
176) COMMON RAVEN
177) Common Starling
178) House Sparrow
179) TREE SPARROW
180) Chaffinch
181) BRAMBLING
182) Linnet
183) Lesser Redpoll
184) MEALY REDPOLL
185) Goldfinch
186) Greenfinch
187) Siskin
188) Bullfinch
189) HAWFINCH (14/1)
190) COMMON CROSSBILL
191) Reed Bunting
192) Yellowhammer
193) Corn Bunting
194) WRYNECK
194)
LGRE has seen 170 species (those marked in blue)
1) GREAT NORTHERN DIVER
2) Great Crested Grebe
3) RED-NECKED GREBE
4) Little Grebe
5) BLACK-NECKED GREBE
6) Atlantic Great Cormorant
7) EURASIAN BITTERN
8) LITTLE EGRET
9) Grey Heron
10) WHITE STORK
11) EURASIAN SPOONBILL
12) Mute Swan
13) WHOOPER SWAN
14) EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT*
15) PINK-FOOTED GOOSE*
16) Greylag Goose
17) Atlantic Canada Goose
18) Barnacle Goose
19) DARK-BELLIED BRENT*
20) Common Shelduck
21) RUDDY SHELDUCK*
22) Egyptian Goose
23) Mandarin Duck
24) Mallard
25) Gadwall
26) PINTAIL
27) Shoveler
28) Eurasian Wigeon
29) Common Teal
30) GARGANEY
31) Northern Pochard
32) Red-crested Pochard
33) FERRUGINOUS DUCK
34) GREATER SCAUP
35) Tufted Duck
36) RING-NECKED DUCK
37) COMMON SCOTER
38) LONG-TAILED DUCK
39) Common Goldeneye
40) SMEW
41) Goosander
42) RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
43) RUDDY DUCK
44) OSPREY
45) Red Kite
46) MARSH HARRIER
47) HEN HARRIER
48) Common Buzzard
49) Eurasian Sparrowhawk
50) NORTHERN GOSHAWK
51) Common Kestrel
52) Hobby
53) Peregrine
54) MERLIN
55) Red-legged Partridge
56) Grey Partridge
57) COMMON QUAIL
58) Common Pheasant
59) Water Rail
60) Moorhen
61) Coot
62) COMMON CRANE*
63) Oystercatcher
64) Little Ringed Plover
65) Ringed Plover
66) GREY PLOVER
67) European Golden Plover
68) Lapwing
69) RED KNOT
70) SANDERLING
71) TURNSTONE
72) DUNLIN
73) LITTLE STINT
74) WOOD SANDPIPER
75) Green Sandpiper
76) Common Sandpiper
77) Common Redshank
78) Common Greenshank
79) BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
80) BAR-TAILED GODWIT
81) EURASIAN CURLEW
82) WHIMBREL
83) Woodcock
84) Common Snipe
85) JACK SNIPE
86) RUFF
87) Black-headed Gull
88) Common Gull
89) MEDITERRANEAN GULL
90) Herring Gull
91) Yellow-legged Gull
92) CASPIAN GULL
93) Lesser Black-backed Gull
94) Great Black-backed Gull
95) LITTLE GULL
96) KITTIWAKE
97) ICELAND GULL*
98) (GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL** - record still under review)
99) LITTLE TERN
100) SANDWICH TERN
101) Common Tern
102) ARCTIC TERN
103) BLACK TERN
104) Stock Dove
105) Woodpigeon
106) Collared Dove
107) EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE
108) Common Cuckoo
109) Tawny Owl
110) SHORT-EARED OWL
111) Barn Owl
112) Little Owl
113) Common Swift
114) EURASIAN HOOPOE
115) Common Kingfisher
116) Ring-necked Parakeet
117) Green Woodpecker
118) Great Spotted Woodpecker
119) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
120) Skylark
121) WOODLARK
122) Sand Martin
123) Barn Swallow
124) House Martin
125) WATER PIPIT
126) SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT
127) Meadow Pipit
128) TREE PIPIT
129) Pied Wagtail
130) WHITE WAGTAIL
131) Yellow Wagtail
132) Grey Wagtail
133) Wren
134) BOHEMIAN WAXWING
135) Dunnock
136) Robin
137) COMMON NIGHTINGALE
138) COMMON REDSTART
139) BLACK REDSTART
140) Northern Wheatear
141) COMMON STONECHAT
142) WHINCHAT
143) Song Thrush
144) Redwing
145) Mistle Thrush
146) Fieldfare
147) Common Blackbird
148) RING OUZEL
149) Garden Warbler
150) Blackcap
151) Lesser Whitethroat
152) Common Whitethroat
153) Sedge Warbler
154) Grasshopper Warbler
155) Cetti’s Warbler
156) Western Reed Warbler
157) Willow Warbler
158) Common Chiffchaff
159) Goldcrest
160) FIRECREST
161) Spotted Flycatcher
162) Great Tit
163) Blue Tit
164) Coal Tit
165) Marsh Tit
166) WILLOW TIT
167) Long-tailed Tit
168) Nuthatch
169) Common Treecreeper
170) NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE
171) Magpie
172) Jay
173) Jackdaw
174) Rook
175) Carrion Crow
176) COMMON RAVEN
177) Common Starling
178) House Sparrow
179) TREE SPARROW
180) Chaffinch
181) BRAMBLING
182) Linnet
183) Lesser Redpoll
184) MEALY REDPOLL
185) Goldfinch
186) Greenfinch
187) Siskin
188) Bullfinch
189) HAWFINCH (14/1)
190) COMMON CROSSBILL
191) Reed Bunting
192) Yellowhammer
193) Corn Bunting
194) WRYNECK
194)
Monday, 16 November 2009
PINTAIL and EGYPTIAN GOOSE still at Gayhurst
PINTAIL still, Egyptian Goose still, 2 Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, female Blackcap, Marsh Tit and 12 Yellowhammers (Rob Norris).
Linford JACK SNIPE
Ted Reed discovered a JACK SNIPE feeding on the bund at Linford NR on Sunday 15 November
Saturday, 14 November 2009
RED-CRESTED POCHARDS at Marlow
Just time to visit Little Marlow GP before dark. The four RED-CRESTED POCHARD were still present along the west bank. I managed a few photos but I think the photos that Dave Ferguson has already uploaded are probably better. A female Goldeneye was in amongst the same flock of Tufted as the RCPs.
Overall there were thousands of birds present with maybe 2000+ Black-headed Gulls, 1000+ Jackdaws and a good mixture of 100s of Geese and Ducks. A few Redwings were flying around as was a Grey Wagtail. (Jim Rose)
Overall there were thousands of birds present with maybe 2000+ Black-headed Gulls, 1000+ Jackdaws and a good mixture of 100s of Geese and Ducks. A few Redwings were flying around as was a Grey Wagtail. (Jim Rose)
High winds and heavy rain displace a GREAT NORTHERN DIVER to Calvert
SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER
A very deep area of low pressure passed over the area today bringing near gale force SSW winds and more heavy rain, occasionally torrential. There was little respite from the conditions all day and mid afternoon saw the arrival of a windswept juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER at Calvert BBOWT
CHESS RIVER VALLEY
Thankfully the juvenile OSPREY survived the conditions and was seen several times this afternoon, flying between the Pumping Station and Chenies Bottom. It was not seen to successfully fish however.
The adult male BLACK REDSTART also remains at Valley Farm, with a male COMMON STONECHAT in the paddocks thereabouts.
Five LITTLE EGRETS remain in the area.
TRING RESERVOIRS
David Bilcock discovered an adult winter BLACK-NECKED GREBE early morning, the first record there this year. I rolled up at Wilstone at 1045 hours and dodging the heavy showers and braving the gusty wind, managed to relocate the bird, diving frequently just offshore of the central bund. It was sheltering from the wind in the small bay just east of the Drayton Bank but later moved much closer to the jetty and was still present when I left early afternoon. Roy, Mike Campbell and Charlie Jackson had all seen it before I arrived.
Also on WILSTONE RESERVOIR
Great Crested Grebe (14)
Little Grebe (2)
Mute Swan (35 including 7 first-winters)
Greylag Geese (4)
Common Teal (198 including 101 in the SE quadrant)
Gadwall (19)
Eurasian Wigeon (256)
Shoveler (87)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (single female feeding by the old boathouse inlet)
Tufted Duck (117)
Pochard (14)
*PEREGRINE (single scattering the plover flock on several occasions eventually drifting off north)
Coot (529+ including 324 in one feeding flock near the hide)
Lapwing (212)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (502)
Common Snipe (8)
Herring Gull (2 first-winters on bund)
Meadow Pipits (14 on the mud)
Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell did the late afternoon gull roost and discovered a 'new' 2nd-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL (see image above) and 2 Herring Gulls.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR
Water level has risen dramatically with the 'mud' in the SW corner attracting large numbers of feeding wildfowl including 7 Mute Swans (2 additional adults on Tringford), 57 Greylag Geese, 61 Mallard and 31 Common Teal.
On the main reservoir were 2 Little Grebes, 6 Gadwall, 33 Tufted Ducks, 16 Pochard and 127 Coot.
A Goldcrest was in ivy close to the road bend.
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT
Little Grebe (1)
Mute Swans (39 present including 3 first-winters)
Mallard x Red-crested Pochard hybrid
Gadwall (36)
Eurasian Wigeon (38)
Shoveler (1 drake)
Pochard (14)
Tufted Duck (27)
*RUDDY DUCK (2 female-types)
CALVERT BBOWT
Took a call from Warren Claydon at around 1430 hours; he had just located a GREAT NORTHERN DIVER on the main BBOWT Lake at Calvert. Frustratingly I was 43 miles away by that time but with two hours of light left, I decided to give it a go.
It was about 1515 hours when I arrived and Warren, Tim Watts and local birder Colin Oreton were still watching the bird from the Second Hide. It was showing very well, perhaps at 100 yards, and was a juvenile, with characteristic pale barring and pale edgings on the mantle and back. It was gleaming white on the breast with much blacker feathering on the hindneck, nape and crown and had the typical 'bump' on the crown preceding the steep forehead. It had a thick neck with a large pale grey bill. The dark feathering at the base of the neck characteristically formed a half collar.
It was surprisingly on view for much of the time, diving fairly infrequently, but did then become more active and moved back towards the back of the lake. It remained until dusk.
There was a large gull roost on the BBOWT, including at least 1,839 Black-headed Gulls, just 3 Common Gulls, 139+ Herring Gulls (including a predominate number of argenteus adults), at least 9 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (5 adults, 2 2nd-winters and 2 first-winters), 700+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and just 5 Great Black-backed Gulls.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
The species is a rare visitor to the county with just 15 previous records, mostly between November and January. Todays bird represents the fourth for Calvert.
1) The first record involved a bird in the Ford area on 3 December 1774;
2) A juvenile was captured alive in a ditch at Chequers Court on 9 May 1850;
3) One was apparently seen in Chesham in November or December 1859;
4) One was 'obtained' on the River Thames at Marlow in November or December 1865;
5) One was obtained at Temple Island near Henley-on-Thames in 1865;
6) A juvenile was shot at Calvert Brick Pits on 11 November 1944;
7) A juvenile crash-landed in a field adjacent to Foxcote Reservoir on 4 November 1964. It was taken into care and later released but was found dead two days later;
8) One was at Iver GP on 17 January 1965;
9) One was found dead near Willen village in February 1971;
10) A juvenile appeared at Linford GP on 12 November 1972;
11) After a 14-year gap, a juvenile was present at Taplow Fishing Lake from 12 December 1986 until 11 January 1987 (photographed by Mike Wallen and published on page 18 of the 1986 BBR);
12) One was found at Willen Lake on the South Basin during the gull roost vigil on 16 December 1994. It was present for just the first half hour of daylight on 17 December;
13) An adult moulting out of breeding plumage visited Calvert Sailing Lake on 27-28 November 1997 but flew off west when visibility improved on its second day;
14) A juvenile remained present at Caldecotte Lake from 23 December 1997 until 6 January 1998;
15) A juvenile was found late afternoon on Calvert Sailing Lake on 28 November 2006. It was present for just a short time the next morning before flying off east.
Lee G R Evans
A very deep area of low pressure passed over the area today bringing near gale force SSW winds and more heavy rain, occasionally torrential. There was little respite from the conditions all day and mid afternoon saw the arrival of a windswept juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER at Calvert BBOWT
CHESS RIVER VALLEY
Thankfully the juvenile OSPREY survived the conditions and was seen several times this afternoon, flying between the Pumping Station and Chenies Bottom. It was not seen to successfully fish however.
The adult male BLACK REDSTART also remains at Valley Farm, with a male COMMON STONECHAT in the paddocks thereabouts.
Five LITTLE EGRETS remain in the area.
TRING RESERVOIRS
David Bilcock discovered an adult winter BLACK-NECKED GREBE early morning, the first record there this year. I rolled up at Wilstone at 1045 hours and dodging the heavy showers and braving the gusty wind, managed to relocate the bird, diving frequently just offshore of the central bund. It was sheltering from the wind in the small bay just east of the Drayton Bank but later moved much closer to the jetty and was still present when I left early afternoon. Roy, Mike Campbell and Charlie Jackson had all seen it before I arrived.
Also on WILSTONE RESERVOIR
Great Crested Grebe (14)
Little Grebe (2)
Mute Swan (35 including 7 first-winters)
Greylag Geese (4)
Common Teal (198 including 101 in the SE quadrant)
Gadwall (19)
Eurasian Wigeon (256)
Shoveler (87)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (single female feeding by the old boathouse inlet)
Tufted Duck (117)
Pochard (14)
*PEREGRINE (single scattering the plover flock on several occasions eventually drifting off north)
Coot (529+ including 324 in one feeding flock near the hide)
Lapwing (212)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (502)
Common Snipe (8)
Herring Gull (2 first-winters on bund)
Meadow Pipits (14 on the mud)
Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell did the late afternoon gull roost and discovered a 'new' 2nd-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL (see image above) and 2 Herring Gulls.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR
Water level has risen dramatically with the 'mud' in the SW corner attracting large numbers of feeding wildfowl including 7 Mute Swans (2 additional adults on Tringford), 57 Greylag Geese, 61 Mallard and 31 Common Teal.
On the main reservoir were 2 Little Grebes, 6 Gadwall, 33 Tufted Ducks, 16 Pochard and 127 Coot.
A Goldcrest was in ivy close to the road bend.
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT
Little Grebe (1)
Mute Swans (39 present including 3 first-winters)
Mallard x Red-crested Pochard hybrid
Gadwall (36)
Eurasian Wigeon (38)
Shoveler (1 drake)
Pochard (14)
Tufted Duck (27)
*RUDDY DUCK (2 female-types)
CALVERT BBOWT
Took a call from Warren Claydon at around 1430 hours; he had just located a GREAT NORTHERN DIVER on the main BBOWT Lake at Calvert. Frustratingly I was 43 miles away by that time but with two hours of light left, I decided to give it a go.
It was about 1515 hours when I arrived and Warren, Tim Watts and local birder Colin Oreton were still watching the bird from the Second Hide. It was showing very well, perhaps at 100 yards, and was a juvenile, with characteristic pale barring and pale edgings on the mantle and back. It was gleaming white on the breast with much blacker feathering on the hindneck, nape and crown and had the typical 'bump' on the crown preceding the steep forehead. It had a thick neck with a large pale grey bill. The dark feathering at the base of the neck characteristically formed a half collar.
It was surprisingly on view for much of the time, diving fairly infrequently, but did then become more active and moved back towards the back of the lake. It remained until dusk.
There was a large gull roost on the BBOWT, including at least 1,839 Black-headed Gulls, just 3 Common Gulls, 139+ Herring Gulls (including a predominate number of argenteus adults), at least 9 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (5 adults, 2 2nd-winters and 2 first-winters), 700+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and just 5 Great Black-backed Gulls.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
The species is a rare visitor to the county with just 15 previous records, mostly between November and January. Todays bird represents the fourth for Calvert.
1) The first record involved a bird in the Ford area on 3 December 1774;
2) A juvenile was captured alive in a ditch at Chequers Court on 9 May 1850;
3) One was apparently seen in Chesham in November or December 1859;
4) One was 'obtained' on the River Thames at Marlow in November or December 1865;
5) One was obtained at Temple Island near Henley-on-Thames in 1865;
6) A juvenile was shot at Calvert Brick Pits on 11 November 1944;
7) A juvenile crash-landed in a field adjacent to Foxcote Reservoir on 4 November 1964. It was taken into care and later released but was found dead two days later;
8) One was at Iver GP on 17 January 1965;
9) One was found dead near Willen village in February 1971;
10) A juvenile appeared at Linford GP on 12 November 1972;
11) After a 14-year gap, a juvenile was present at Taplow Fishing Lake from 12 December 1986 until 11 January 1987 (photographed by Mike Wallen and published on page 18 of the 1986 BBR);
12) One was found at Willen Lake on the South Basin during the gull roost vigil on 16 December 1994. It was present for just the first half hour of daylight on 17 December;
13) An adult moulting out of breeding plumage visited Calvert Sailing Lake on 27-28 November 1997 but flew off west when visibility improved on its second day;
14) A juvenile remained present at Caldecotte Lake from 23 December 1997 until 6 January 1998;
15) A juvenile was found late afternoon on Calvert Sailing Lake on 28 November 2006. It was present for just a short time the next morning before flying off east.
Lee G R Evans
Friday, 13 November 2009
Friday the 13th - floods order of the day
At Tongwell Lake, the pair of GREATER SCAUP remain, whilst at Foxcote, the drake RING-NECKED DUCK is still in winter residence.
At the opposite end of the county, the two male FIRECRESTS are still present in Hogback Wood on the west side of Beaconsfield
At the opposite end of the county, the two male FIRECRESTS are still present in Hogback Wood on the west side of Beaconsfield
Thursday, 12 November 2009
OSPREY continues to draw the crowds
Mike Collard captured these excellent images of the Chess Valley juvenile OSPREY that I first discovered on 21 October. The bird has now established a well rehearsed routine of roosting between 1100 and 1400 hours on this dead tree just opposite Sarratt Bottom village and adjacent to the Crestyl Water Cress Bed Farm. The bird is marked on its left leg by a dark blue ring inscribed with the white letters ''MB'' and was ringed in Northern Scotland this summer.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
New Images of the Foxcote regularly returning drake RING-NECKED DUCK
Paul Boult obtained these new images today of our resident county rare - the adult drake RING-NECKED DUCK that has returned for three successive winters to Foxcote Reservoir
Farmoor Reservoir today
FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)
Observations by Paul Boult
On on near the water, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull (33), Mallard, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Shoveler, Northern Pochard, Tufted Duck. *RING-NECKED DUCK (the adult drake was still present showing well in front of hide and is coming out of eclipse plumage); COMMON GOLDENEYE (5 present, 2 adult drakes, a first-winter drake and 2 female); Grey Wagtail.
In Farmland near Reservoir, Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jay, 2 COMMON RAVEN (heard then seen flying away both still calling), Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Robin, Wren, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, Chaffinch
Observations by Paul Boult
On on near the water, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull (33), Mallard, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Shoveler, Northern Pochard, Tufted Duck. *RING-NECKED DUCK (the adult drake was still present showing well in front of hide and is coming out of eclipse plumage); COMMON GOLDENEYE (5 present, 2 adult drakes, a first-winter drake and 2 female); Grey Wagtail.
In Farmland near Reservoir, Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jay, 2 COMMON RAVEN (heard then seen flying away both still calling), Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Robin, Wren, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, Chaffinch
OSPREY remains on the River Chess
The juvenile OSPREY remains present this morning, hunting Brown Trout (Salmo trutta fario) in the shallower sections of the River Chess. It fished as far west as Latimer Bridge before returning back eastwards and continued back towards the Cress Beds and Sarratt Bottom (Lee G R Evans)
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
North Bucks male MERLIN 9/11
A brief late afternoon visit as the sun went down and the first real bird of note for quite a while at Manor Farm.
An almost slate grey male MERLIN, along the edge of Back Brook then along the fenceline by the Ouse, stopping for a moment to perch on one of the pollarded willow stumps was a very welcome site.
Water levels low in the new area but still increasing elsewhere. The sites gradually getting back to what it was in early spring, we live in hope.Only other birds of note were a pair of Green Sandpiper and a single Little Egret over. Chris Gleadell
http://manorfarmbirding.blogspot.com/
An almost slate grey male MERLIN, along the edge of Back Brook then along the fenceline by the Ouse, stopping for a moment to perch on one of the pollarded willow stumps was a very welcome site.
Water levels low in the new area but still increasing elsewhere. The sites gradually getting back to what it was in early spring, we live in hope.Only other birds of note were a pair of Green Sandpiper and a single Little Egret over. Chris Gleadell
http://manorfarmbirding.blogspot.com/
Foxcote Reservoir 7/11
Playing to a packed FOXCOTE RESERVOIR hide this evening we had a 4.20 PEREGRINE disturbing the building starling roost. The bird did a few passes of the reservoir and was followed seconds later by a Sparrowhawk doing the same thing. A probable second Sparrowhawk hit on the starling some 10 minutes later and treated us to seeing a kill; a male Sparrowhawk landing in the field before flying away with its dinner seconds later. A COMMON RAVEN passed over and continued distant calling when all left the hide at around 16.50.
Starlings (-1) roosted in front of the hide.
The drake RING-NECKED DUCK was still present and Andy Harding counted the Cormorant roost at 64 birds. By Foxcote standards, an impressive evening (Richard Goodlad)
Starlings (-1) roosted in front of the hide.
The drake RING-NECKED DUCK was still present and Andy Harding counted the Cormorant roost at 64 birds. By Foxcote standards, an impressive evening (Richard Goodlad)
Belated early November report - SHORT-EARED OWL over Aylesbury
02/11 08:45 : SHORT-EARED OWL : Aylesbury SP 139 804. Seen flying quite high over Bearbrook school, being followed by a Crow - it drifted eastwards over Aylesbury. (David Maunder)
Large flock of RED-CRESTED POCHARDS - 6/11 - and record roosting county flock of LITTLE EGRETS
At Linford this evening (6/11), 7 Red-crested Pochard (2 ad m, 1 eclipse m & 4f), plus 24 Little Egret in the roost - a new record. The egrets began by pre-roosting on Tern Island, then one by one moved to their roost proper within the reserve.
Earlier at Tongwell the pair of GREATER SCAUP still present at the north end.
At Ravenstone STW, 9 Grey Partridge. (Rob Hill)
Earlier at Tongwell the pair of GREATER SCAUP still present at the north end.
At Ravenstone STW, 9 Grey Partridge. (Rob Hill)
GREEN SANDPIPERS wintering at Dorney Lake
DORNEY LAKE 6/11 Scoping down the north side of the return lake from behind the barriers produced 4 Green Sandpipers. They were a long way down but kept flying at intervals which confirmed ID. Also a Grey Wagtail. From the Thames path, the reserve lake was deserted, not a bird showing. However the return walk produced a stunning Kingfisher from the Bucks bank that darted across the river on my approach. This is the first one I've seen on this stretch.
As I approached the car, Ring Necked Parakeets started to fly over in groups, all heading noisily NE I counted 188 visually but there were more that I could hear out of sight, so probably circa 250 (Dave Cleal)
As I approached the car, Ring Necked Parakeets started to fly over in groups, all heading noisily NE I counted 188 visually but there were more that I could hear out of sight, so probably circa 250 (Dave Cleal)
Thursday, 5 November 2009
GREATER SCAUPS and OSPREY
The pair of GREATER SCAUPS are still present at Tongwell Lake today as is the long-staying OSPREY in the Chess Valley
RED-NECKED GREBE still present
Neill Foster and I spent some time at Foxcote Reservoir, mid morning, and saw the drake RING-NECKED DUCK heading into the hidden corner, also pair of PINTAIL and female Goldeneye plus usual range of other Duck.
Visited Calvert on the way home and watched the RED-NECKED GREBE on the BBOWT Lake from the second hide (John Gearing)
Visited Calvert on the way home and watched the RED-NECKED GREBE on the BBOWT Lake from the second hide (John Gearing)
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
RED-NECKED GREBE new in at Calvert this afternoon
WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER
A glorious day weatherwise, dawning bright and clear and then predominantly blue skies and sunshine throughout. The wind though was a cool WNW with temperatures struggling to reach 8 degrees C. Surely not winter already! Despite the beautiful conditions though, birding was rather uneventful, until of course I took that call from Tim.......
LITTLE CHALFONT
WOODPIGEONS were once again the order of the day with over 2,314 birds flying south/SW over the village during the morning - with some single flocks numbering over 600 birds.
Experimenting with the chicken carcasses, 3 RED KITES showed an interest and after several poor attempts they eventually plucked up courage and swooped right down on to the lawn to retrieve pieces of meat. There was much arguing going on. Two birds were juveniles.
CALVERT BBOWT/SAILING LAKE
Calvert supremo Tim Watts contacted me mid afternoon to say that he had located a RED-NECKED GREBE - a first for the year and an excellent county bird. Wasting no time, I battled my way through the Aylesbury school run and after successfully surviving the hazardous rat-run between Berryfields Junction and Edgcott, eventually arrived at Calvert at 1633 hours.
The juvenile/first-winter RED-NECKED GREBE was still present, preening its neck and breast feathers, in amongst a few Mallard along the southern shore (in fact towards the SE corner) of the Sailing Lake at SP 677 248. It smartened itself up before tucking its head under its wing to roost and was still sleeping when both Tim and I left it. It still had remnants of the dark striping on the rear crown and ear-coverts indicating that it was a first-winter and had a dark crown, some russet-brown on the fore-neck and an extensively bright yellow bill. It was also markedly smaller than a single Great Crested Grebe nearby. It was the 35th individual to be recorded in the county (see detail below).
I then moved round to the BBOWT Lake where I click-counted and surveyed the large numbers of gulls in the roost showing exceptionally well from the second hide. A total of 2,458 birds logged between 1650 and 1710 including 29 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1,988 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 83 Herring Gulls (including a larger proportion of Scandinavian Argentatus), 11 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (7 adults, 1 3rd-winter, 2 2nd-winters and a juvenile), a single well-marked first-winter and very white-headed CASPIAN GULL, 11 Common Gulls and 335 Black-headed Gulls. Additional to this were at least 3,500 birds already roosting on the Sailing Lake including 6 Great Black-backeds and 2,000 or more Lesser Black-backs.
RED-NECKED GREBES IN BUCKS 1900 ONWARDS
The Red-necked Grebe is a rare visitor to the county with perhaps one record every five years on average, although at one stage it appeared almost annually. Prior to 1900 there was one record - a bird shot at Saunderton on 10 October 1848. There have been at least 35 recorded since 1974.
1) The first record in modern times was of a first-winter at Weston Turville Reservoir from 9-26 November 1974 providing me with one of my first ever opportunities to study this scarce grebe at close quarters.
2) In February 1979, there was a major influx of Red-necked Grebes throughout central Britain following severe weather in the Baltic and this resulted in four individuals reaching Buckinghamshire. There were two first-winters at Willen Lake on 14 February;
1979-1985: Data Incomplete (Reports missing)
6) 1987 was another extraordinary year with an unprecedented seven occurrences, including the first to ever oversummer in the county - singles at Willen Lake on 1 January, the Blue Lagoon, Bletchley, from 16-27 January, at Newton Longville Brickpits from 18-28 January, at Randall's Farm in the Little Marlow GP complex on 24 January, on the River Thames at Bourne End from 31 January to 2 February and an adult largely in breeding plumage at Willen Lake on 22-24 March. This latter bird then moved to Haversham on 26 March and New Bradwell from 31 March to 9 April and was most likely the full summer-plumaged adult that loafed with non-breeding Great Crested Grebes at Caldecotte Lake from 6 June until 19 August and again from 7-27 September. A further bird was at Newton Longville on 2 December;
13) An adult in full breeding plumage visited Willen Lake on 9 April 1989;
14) One remained at Calvert from 5-20 February 1990;
15) A first-winter was present at Little Marlow Spade Oak Pit on 24-25 December 1990;
16) Two arrived in late 1991 with a first-winter present on Caldecotte Lake from 26 November to 11 December, with a second bird present from 6-10 December;
18) A first-winter remained at Caldecotte Lake from 22 November 1994 until 19 April 1995 and was seen next day (20 April) on Willen Lake;
19) 1996 was another exceptional year with no less than five recorded including an unprecedented three together: the first of three different birds arrived at Caldecotte Lake on 7 February, followed by another on 22 February and a third on 26 February. Two remained until 28 February with one to 27 March. What was presumed to have been one of these three was present on Willen Lake from 14-21 February and another at Linford NR from 9 March until 2 April. A bird which was wintering on the River Thames on the Berks/Bucks border straddled across to the Taplow Court side on 17 and 24 March with a further arrival at Weston Turville Reservoir on 22 March;
24) One visited Marlow GP on 7 April 1997;
25) A first-winter remained at Calvert from 23 October 1997 until 24 April 1998, by which time it had acquired full summer attire;
26) One was seen at Taplow on 22 December 1998;
27) A long-staying bird remained at Thorney CP from 2 January until 10 April 1999;
28) A juvenile was at Calvert from 16-19 October 1999;
29) An adult remained at Willen Lake from 4 February until 26 April 2001 (see photo in 2001 BBR Report);
30) An adult in almost full breeding plumage visited Calvert Lake on 24 March 2001;
31) One appeared briefly in the gull roost at Willen South Basin on 10 November 2002;
32) One was present briefly at Calvert Lake on 19 March 2005;
33) A wide-ranging first-winter in North Bucks visited New Bradwell Lake on 26-27 February 2006 before moving to Haversham Lake on 3-4 March and Willen Lake from 14 March until at least 1 May (see photo in 2006 BBR Report);
A glorious day weatherwise, dawning bright and clear and then predominantly blue skies and sunshine throughout. The wind though was a cool WNW with temperatures struggling to reach 8 degrees C. Surely not winter already! Despite the beautiful conditions though, birding was rather uneventful, until of course I took that call from Tim.......
LITTLE CHALFONT
WOODPIGEONS were once again the order of the day with over 2,314 birds flying south/SW over the village during the morning - with some single flocks numbering over 600 birds.
Experimenting with the chicken carcasses, 3 RED KITES showed an interest and after several poor attempts they eventually plucked up courage and swooped right down on to the lawn to retrieve pieces of meat. There was much arguing going on. Two birds were juveniles.
CALVERT BBOWT/SAILING LAKE
Calvert supremo Tim Watts contacted me mid afternoon to say that he had located a RED-NECKED GREBE - a first for the year and an excellent county bird. Wasting no time, I battled my way through the Aylesbury school run and after successfully surviving the hazardous rat-run between Berryfields Junction and Edgcott, eventually arrived at Calvert at 1633 hours.
The juvenile/first-winter RED-NECKED GREBE was still present, preening its neck and breast feathers, in amongst a few Mallard along the southern shore (in fact towards the SE corner) of the Sailing Lake at SP 677 248. It smartened itself up before tucking its head under its wing to roost and was still sleeping when both Tim and I left it. It still had remnants of the dark striping on the rear crown and ear-coverts indicating that it was a first-winter and had a dark crown, some russet-brown on the fore-neck and an extensively bright yellow bill. It was also markedly smaller than a single Great Crested Grebe nearby. It was the 35th individual to be recorded in the county (see detail below).
I then moved round to the BBOWT Lake where I click-counted and surveyed the large numbers of gulls in the roost showing exceptionally well from the second hide. A total of 2,458 birds logged between 1650 and 1710 including 29 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1,988 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 83 Herring Gulls (including a larger proportion of Scandinavian Argentatus), 11 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (7 adults, 1 3rd-winter, 2 2nd-winters and a juvenile), a single well-marked first-winter and very white-headed CASPIAN GULL, 11 Common Gulls and 335 Black-headed Gulls. Additional to this were at least 3,500 birds already roosting on the Sailing Lake including 6 Great Black-backeds and 2,000 or more Lesser Black-backs.
RED-NECKED GREBES IN BUCKS 1900 ONWARDS
The Red-necked Grebe is a rare visitor to the county with perhaps one record every five years on average, although at one stage it appeared almost annually. Prior to 1900 there was one record - a bird shot at Saunderton on 10 October 1848. There have been at least 35 recorded since 1974.
1) The first record in modern times was of a first-winter at Weston Turville Reservoir from 9-26 November 1974 providing me with one of my first ever opportunities to study this scarce grebe at close quarters.
2) In February 1979, there was a major influx of Red-necked Grebes throughout central Britain following severe weather in the Baltic and this resulted in four individuals reaching Buckinghamshire. There were two first-winters at Willen Lake on 14 February;
1979-1985: Data Incomplete (Reports missing)
6) 1987 was another extraordinary year with an unprecedented seven occurrences, including the first to ever oversummer in the county - singles at Willen Lake on 1 January, the Blue Lagoon, Bletchley, from 16-27 January, at Newton Longville Brickpits from 18-28 January, at Randall's Farm in the Little Marlow GP complex on 24 January, on the River Thames at Bourne End from 31 January to 2 February and an adult largely in breeding plumage at Willen Lake on 22-24 March. This latter bird then moved to Haversham on 26 March and New Bradwell from 31 March to 9 April and was most likely the full summer-plumaged adult that loafed with non-breeding Great Crested Grebes at Caldecotte Lake from 6 June until 19 August and again from 7-27 September. A further bird was at Newton Longville on 2 December;
13) An adult in full breeding plumage visited Willen Lake on 9 April 1989;
14) One remained at Calvert from 5-20 February 1990;
15) A first-winter was present at Little Marlow Spade Oak Pit on 24-25 December 1990;
16) Two arrived in late 1991 with a first-winter present on Caldecotte Lake from 26 November to 11 December, with a second bird present from 6-10 December;
18) A first-winter remained at Caldecotte Lake from 22 November 1994 until 19 April 1995 and was seen next day (20 April) on Willen Lake;
19) 1996 was another exceptional year with no less than five recorded including an unprecedented three together: the first of three different birds arrived at Caldecotte Lake on 7 February, followed by another on 22 February and a third on 26 February. Two remained until 28 February with one to 27 March. What was presumed to have been one of these three was present on Willen Lake from 14-21 February and another at Linford NR from 9 March until 2 April. A bird which was wintering on the River Thames on the Berks/Bucks border straddled across to the Taplow Court side on 17 and 24 March with a further arrival at Weston Turville Reservoir on 22 March;
24) One visited Marlow GP on 7 April 1997;
25) A first-winter remained at Calvert from 23 October 1997 until 24 April 1998, by which time it had acquired full summer attire;
26) One was seen at Taplow on 22 December 1998;
27) A long-staying bird remained at Thorney CP from 2 January until 10 April 1999;
28) A juvenile was at Calvert from 16-19 October 1999;
29) An adult remained at Willen Lake from 4 February until 26 April 2001 (see photo in 2001 BBR Report);
30) An adult in almost full breeding plumage visited Calvert Lake on 24 March 2001;
31) One appeared briefly in the gull roost at Willen South Basin on 10 November 2002;
32) One was present briefly at Calvert Lake on 19 March 2005;
33) A wide-ranging first-winter in North Bucks visited New Bradwell Lake on 26-27 February 2006 before moving to Haversham Lake on 3-4 March and Willen Lake from 14 March until at least 1 May (see photo in 2006 BBR Report);
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Gayhurst
This afternoon the juvenile PINTAIL was still present. It is now starting to develop the plumage of a male bird. Also a Green Sandpiper was on the fishing Pit.
Other birds seen were an Egyptian Goose in the large Greylag flock, Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe and a Grey Wagtail.
Duck numbers are now building up with good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler (Robert Norris)
Other birds seen were an Egyptian Goose in the large Greylag flock, Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe and a Grey Wagtail.
Duck numbers are now building up with good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler (Robert Norris)
SCAUPS
The adult pair of GREATER SCAUPS are still present today on Tongwell Lake. Meanwhile, four more Greater Scaup are present in neighbouring Bedfordshire - at Brogborough Lake - so a small influx
Monday, 2 November 2009
First day of November pretty much a washout
NOVEMBER 2009
SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Heavy rain persisted throughout the morning along with blustery WNW winds making birding conditions very unpleasant. It finally cleared early morning with brighter conditions following, although the wind still remained strong. Temperatures struggled to 15 degrees C. Despite an excellent Saturday where rare wildfowl was the main theme and a dapper male Black Redstart attracted the crowds, Sunday was largely a let down for me.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING
There was no sign of Saturday's Common Goldeneye but overnight rain had pushed water levels up attracting large numbers of dabblers to the SW shore - including 6 Mute Swans, 10 Greylag Geese, 143 Mallard, 15 Shoveler and 37 Common Teal whilst the open water held 4 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Gadwall, 43 Tufted Ducks and an impressive 86 Northern Pochards.
TRINGFORD RESERVOIR
Sadly, the road running alongside the reservoir harboured a fresh Badger casualty.
Few birds on Tringford - just 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Common Teal, 8 Gadwall and 6 Northern Pochard.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR
Totally windswept - 3 DUNLIN from the Drayton Bank Hide being the highlight, with the juvenile GREATER SCAUP still feeding on the east shore.
LONG MARSTON (HERTFORDSHIRE)
No sign of yesterday's adult male Black Redstart enjoyed and photographed by many (see blog)
WINGRAVE AREA (BUCKS)
Two adult Moorhens on the village pond at SP 870 192 with 41 Linnets just north of Lower Windmill Hill Farm at SP 872 184.
GROVEBURY SAND QUARRY (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Just outside the Tring Recording Area, 6 DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE were present until at least 0945 hours in driving rain (Johnny Lynch). They were not there when I visited mid afternoon.
TONGWELL LAKE, MILTON KEYNES (NORTH BUCKS)
The pair of GREATER SCAUP were showing very well diving frequently in front of the main island at Tongwell Lake at SP 867 423. Both birds were adults with the drake just moulting out of eclipse with patchy grey in the flanks, light grey vermiculations on the mantle, a black breast, a rich dark green sheen to the head and a pale blue bill with a dark nail restricted to the tip. The adult female had an extensive white blaze, extending on the forehead as well as at the sides of the bill, a similarly patterned bill, flat and broad dark brown head and breast and dark grey vermiculations on the sides, flanks and mantle.
FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)
(with Jenny Wallington; late afternoon)
Great Crested Grebe (7)
Little Grebe (5)
Mute Swans (38 including 6 first-winters)
Gadwall (41)
Eurasian Wigeon (343)
Common Teal (27)
Shoveler (19)
Northern Pochard (23)
Tufted Duck (63)
*RING-NECKED DUCK (the adult drake was still present roosting in the weed-covered section at the north end directly opposite the hide - occasionally lifted its head and still largely in eclipse plumage)
COMMON GOLDENEYES (3 present, my first of the autumn - an adult drake, a first-winter drake and a female)
SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Heavy rain persisted throughout the morning along with blustery WNW winds making birding conditions very unpleasant. It finally cleared early morning with brighter conditions following, although the wind still remained strong. Temperatures struggled to 15 degrees C. Despite an excellent Saturday where rare wildfowl was the main theme and a dapper male Black Redstart attracted the crowds, Sunday was largely a let down for me.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING
There was no sign of Saturday's Common Goldeneye but overnight rain had pushed water levels up attracting large numbers of dabblers to the SW shore - including 6 Mute Swans, 10 Greylag Geese, 143 Mallard, 15 Shoveler and 37 Common Teal whilst the open water held 4 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Gadwall, 43 Tufted Ducks and an impressive 86 Northern Pochards.
TRINGFORD RESERVOIR
Sadly, the road running alongside the reservoir harboured a fresh Badger casualty.
Few birds on Tringford - just 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Common Teal, 8 Gadwall and 6 Northern Pochard.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR
Totally windswept - 3 DUNLIN from the Drayton Bank Hide being the highlight, with the juvenile GREATER SCAUP still feeding on the east shore.
LONG MARSTON (HERTFORDSHIRE)
No sign of yesterday's adult male Black Redstart enjoyed and photographed by many (see blog)
WINGRAVE AREA (BUCKS)
Two adult Moorhens on the village pond at SP 870 192 with 41 Linnets just north of Lower Windmill Hill Farm at SP 872 184.
GROVEBURY SAND QUARRY (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Just outside the Tring Recording Area, 6 DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE were present until at least 0945 hours in driving rain (Johnny Lynch). They were not there when I visited mid afternoon.
TONGWELL LAKE, MILTON KEYNES (NORTH BUCKS)
The pair of GREATER SCAUP were showing very well diving frequently in front of the main island at Tongwell Lake at SP 867 423. Both birds were adults with the drake just moulting out of eclipse with patchy grey in the flanks, light grey vermiculations on the mantle, a black breast, a rich dark green sheen to the head and a pale blue bill with a dark nail restricted to the tip. The adult female had an extensive white blaze, extending on the forehead as well as at the sides of the bill, a similarly patterned bill, flat and broad dark brown head and breast and dark grey vermiculations on the sides, flanks and mantle.
FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)
(with Jenny Wallington; late afternoon)
Great Crested Grebe (7)
Little Grebe (5)
Mute Swans (38 including 6 first-winters)
Gadwall (41)
Eurasian Wigeon (343)
Common Teal (27)
Shoveler (19)
Northern Pochard (23)
Tufted Duck (63)
*RING-NECKED DUCK (the adult drake was still present roosting in the weed-covered section at the north end directly opposite the hide - occasionally lifted its head and still largely in eclipse plumage)
COMMON GOLDENEYES (3 present, my first of the autumn - an adult drake, a first-winter drake and a female)
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