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



Thursday 31 December 2009

WHITE-FRONT still present

Robert Norris is currently (1249 hours) watching the EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE still in same field {north east of Newport Pagnell}. Today opposite the childcare nursery building.

Tuesday 29 December 2009

EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in MK

28 December: Rob Norris has had a EURASIAN WHITE FRONTED GOOSE today at Newport Pagnall , opposite the old shell garage with Greylag Geese.

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Vast numbers of wildfowl at FOXCOTE

20 December: I had expected that large areas of the reservoir would be frozen, but there were just a few small patches of ice to the left and right of the hide, and close to the dam. Most of the ducks were congregated around the edges, in some cases deep in the vegetation, so I am sure that my count underestimated the numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Mallard. Nevertheless there were 731 Eurasin Wigeon, 218 Teal, 87 Mallard, 29 Shoveler but strangely, a lower than normal count of 300 Coot and just 7 Gadwall. Also the drake RING-NECKED DUCK was still present showing well to the left of hide before relocating to the far side of reservoir, as well as 7 Common Goldeneye, 2 drake Goosander, 2 female-type Ruddy Duck, 15 Mute Swan, 70 Canada Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 47 Tufted Duck, 21 Pochard, 16 Cormorant, 7 Great Crested Grebe and just 3 Moorhen. Two groups of Lapwing (total 44) flew through during my WEBS count but didn't stop and there were low numbers of Common and Black-headed Gull (Bill Parker)

....and displaced EURASIAN CURLEW

Seth Chapman on a fleeting visit from far up north had a EURASIAN CURLEW flying alongside the island at Willen Lake this afternoon (19 December)

Displaced RUFF

19 December: A flock of 5 RUFF were on the bund at Linford NR for a while this morning, before flying off after being disturbed by a Sparrowhawk. An Egyptian Goose was also on the bund, and a Water Rail walked past Near Hide on ice. (Ted Reed). The same party of Ruff had earlier (18 December) visited Willen Lake North Basin.

Willen in the snow

19 December: Quick look at Willen Lake this morning, where the north basin was half frozen, but the south lake was ice free - 2m 1f Red-crested Pochard, 3m 4f Goosander, 21 Common Goldeneye & 31 Great Crested Grebe on the south lake, plus 7 Common Snipe on north, and a Golden Plover flew over north (Rob Hill)

PINTAILS at Little Marlow

On 18 December, there were 4 NORTHERN PINTAIL at Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow (Alan Stevens). That same day, the long-staying GREAT WHITE EGRET was still present in the stream just east of Little Missenden. It roosted at Deep Mill Pond.

Sunday 13 December 2009

MARSH HARRIER surprise at Calvert

Calvert BBOWT Lake; Yesterday morning gulls settled at North end by reeds when they all erupted into air, ducks and Grebes swam out from reeds and suspected a Bittern could be about. Did Bittern watch tonight but got something totally unexpected. Gulls again settled near reeds and flew up in panic. I Quickly scanned for Bittern in flight, and got a big pair of brown wings over the reedbed but they were attached to a female/imm MARSH HARRIER!!!

It did three low circuits over the reedbed areas then lost to view in far left corner; it either dropped into reeds to roost or carried on North. it was mobbed by a Carrion Crow and a Red Kite. This was at 1500 hours. Got some chronic record shots on compact camera with no zoom. This our 1st ever Winter record of one here. Also female Goldeneye/ 141 G.B.B gulls (Tim Watts)

CASPIAN GULL roosted at Willen this evening

A decent sized gull roost at Willen this evening included 1 3rd-winter CASPIAN GULL, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and 68 Great B-b Gulls, plus c120 Herring Gulls.Also on the south basin, 2m 1f Goosander and 22 Goldeneye. On the north basin 2m 1f Red-crested Pochard (Rob Hill)

Large flock of COMMON CROSSBILLS in Dipple Wood

13/12 : 20 COMMON CROSSBILLS : Springfield Quarry. feeding on Larch in Dipple Wood (next to footpath). (Peter Stevens)

Drake GOOSANDER briefly at Little Marlow GP

12/12 : GOOSANDER : Little Marlow GP. A drake present for at least 20 minutes before it was seen to fly off west. This species is scarce at this site (Jim Rose)

Saturday in North Bucks

As well as the continuing good wildfowl numbers at Willen, there were also pretty good numbers at Linford this evening, including the male Pintail seen this morning, 350+ Wigeon, 120+ Teal, 100+ Tuftie, 24 Shoveler, 1f Goldeneye and 49 Mute Swan.

At Manor Farm this morning, 1pr Goosander and 1 Green Sand, plus 180 Redwing & 45 Fieldfare (Rob Hill)

Thursday 3 December 2009

Willen Lake Today

A visit this morning with the local RSPB group found 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS (two drakes and a female) north of the island, and a Common Snipe in reeds to the left of the hide, as well as the usual selection of birds on the north lake. The adjacent South lake held two drake GOOSANDER and at least 2 Common Goldeneye towards southern shore (Tony Garner)

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Tongwell SCAUPS

The long-staying pair of GREATER SCAUP are still present on Tongwell Lake