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



Friday 22 January 2010

A round up of North Bucks - Rob Norris

I visited a few sites this morning:

Manor Farm: 3 LITTLE EGRETS were in the field on the other side of the river from the Haversham end before I even got out of the car. The first pit you reach from this end held 7 Pochard and a GREEN SANDPIPER. I also saw the same or another GS further up the river on the way back. The main pit held nothing more exciting than a few Mallard, Wigeon and Teal. Up towards the west end after the metal gate I followed the line of pollarded Willows and accidently flushed a LITTLE OWL and then 50 yards further on a BARN OWL - the latter gave excellent views as it flew right around the main lake persued by a few Black headed Gulls.

Gayhurst Fishing Lakes (near the Church). The numerous alder trees around the lakes contained about 8 SISKINS, including some some smart black capped males, feeding with Goldfinches.

Olney Meadows: I was pleased to see the pair of COMMON STONECHAT that had been present since before Christmas had survived the cold snap and were feeding around the pond area.

Olney Mill: Two flocks of Canada Geese were the only things of note. However the flock of around 20 about 400 yards from the Mill contained the regular SMALL CANADA GOOSE, and the other flock of 73 near the Mill contained a very interesting Goose. Smaller than a Barnacle Goose. Cute face like a Barnacle with a smallish beak, the white on it's head starts just under the chin and goes to just above the beak, i.e. more than a Canada and less than a Barnacle. The body was brownish like the Canadas it was with. The main thing that stood out about it though was it's size -it's tiny! I wonder if it is a hybrid between a Barnacle and the Small Race Canada.