BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BIRDING: Walton Balancing Lakes BITTERN

Friday, 29 January 2010

Walton Balancing Lakes BITTERN

Since the discovery of a BITTERN at Walton Balancing Lake, I've been meaning to head down after work as it's only about 2 minutes away. However, since then I've had to work overtime for every daylight hour - it's a busy time!

Finally today I got off work at 4 and was in two minds whether to go or not. I decided I still had 45 minutes of daylight or so (Spring is finally on the way) so I headed down. I stood for about 10 minutes watching the Magpies come in to roost - about 45 or more - and small brown birds drop into the reedbed. Just then a noise made me look out over the reeds and there was the a large brown bird rather clumsily rising from the reeds. My bins on quickdraw around my neck I got a view for about 2 or 3 seconds - unmistakably a BITTERN!

So my first [brief] encounter with a bittern and what a fantastic feeling! (Mac)

My 2011 Bucks Year List

164) BEWICK'S SWAN (4), Weston Turville Reservoir, 29 December
163) SNOW BUNTING, Startop's End Reservoir, 15 December
162) WILLOW TIT, Linford Nature Reserve (Woodland Hide), 18 November
161) GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (juvenile), Caldecotte Lake North, 18 November
160) HEN HARRIER (adult female), River Ray Meadows, Gallows Bridge Farm, 7 November
159) Common Greenshank, Gayhurst Pits, 5 November
158) SLAVONIAN GREBE, Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow, 4 November
157) MERLIN, Ivinghoe Hills, 29 October
156) WOODLARK, Ivinghoe Hills, 29 October
155) SHORT-EARED OWL, Great Linford Lakes Swans Way, 28 October
154) COMMON CROSSBILL (4), Hedsor, 28 October
153) COMMON SCOTER, College Lake BBOWT, 16 October
152) COMMON STONECHAT (male), Lodge Hill, 29 September
151) SANDWICH TERN (adult), Spade Oak Pit, 19 September
150) GREAT WHITE EGRET, Linford Reserve, 3 September
149) LITTLE TERN (4 juveniles), Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow, 23 August
148) PIED FLYCATCHER, Shardeloes Lake, 01 August
147) WHINCHAT, Springfield Farm Quarry, Beaconsfield, 25 July
146) COMMON REDSTART, Steps Hill, 15 July
145) Little Owl, Burnham village, 17 June
144) Hobby, Fulmer Lake, 3 June
143) SANDERLING, Pitstone Quarry, 30 May
142) Grasshopper Warbler, Linford NR, 19 May
141) HOOPOE, Gibbons Farm, Halsey's Green, 15 May
140) SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Caldecott Lake, 12 May
139) Common Swift, Little Chalfont, 12 May
138) TREE PIPIT, Ivinghoe Hills, 29 April
137) BAR-TAILED GODWIT, College Lake BBOWT, 29 April
136) Common Sandpiper, College Lake, 26 April
135) Common Cuckoo, College Lake, 26 April
134) Garden Warbler, Taplow Lake, 25 April
133) Lesser Whitethroat, Taplow Lake, 25 April
132) WOOD WARBLER, Ashridge Forest, 22 April
GREENLAND WHEATEAR (pair), Ivinghoe Beacon Sheepfields, 20 April
131) BLACK TERN, Startop's End Reservoir, 20 April
130) WOODCOCK, Ringshall, 19 April
129) Common Whitethroat, Chess Valley, 17 April
128) Barn Owl, Astwood, 18 April
127) Western Reed Warbler, Willen Lake North Basin, 12 April
126) Common Tern, Linford Lakes, 12 April
125) House Martin (5), Chesham Fishing Lakes, 05 April
124) COMMON CRANE (adult), Upper Ray Meadows, 04 April
123) Willow Warbler, Ivinghoe Hills, 04 April
122) Yellow Wagtail, Marsworth Paddocks, 02 April
121) European Barn Swallow, Startop's, 02 April
120) Blackcap, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 01 April
119) Sand Martin, Spade Oak Pit, 01 April
118) Little Ringed Plover, Spade Oak Pit, 01 April
117) GREY PARTRIDGE, Slapton, 30 March
116) RING OUZEL, Ivinghoe Beacon, 30 March
115) LITTLE GULL, Startop's End Reservoir, Tring, 30 March
114) RUFF, College Lake BBOWT, 23 March
113) GREY PLOVER, Dorney Rowing Lakes, 18 March
112) WOODCOCK, Milton Keynes, 18 March
111) Common Chiffchaff, Willen Lake, 18 March
110) Cetti's Warbler, Willen Lake, 18 March
109) Red-crested Pochard, Willen Lake, 18 March
108) Green Sandpiper, Willen Lake North Basin, 18 March
107) PIED AVOCET, Willen Lake North Basin, 18 March
106) Common Redshank, Pitstone Quarry, 14 March
105) NORTHERN WHEATEAR, Ivinghoe Beacon, 13 March
104) Meadow Pipit, Ivinghoe Beacon, 13 March
103) NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, Manor Farm, Hillesden, 25 February
102) Ringed Plover, Pitstone Industrial Estate, 21 February
101) DUNLIN, Upper Ray Meadows, 21 February
100) EURASIAN CURLEW (5 birds), Upper Ray Meadows, Gallows Bridge Farm, 21 February
99) Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Marlow, 21 February
98) BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, Little Marlow GP, 21 February
97) Oystercatcher, College Lake BBOWT, 13/2
96) GLAUCOUS GULL, Calvert Sailing Lake, 9 February
95) TREE SPARROW, Stoke Goldington Village, 4 February
94) MEDITERRANEAN GULL (adult), Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow, 2 February
93) Common Treecreeper (5), RSPB Church Wood, Hedgerley, 2 February
92) Red-legged Partridge, Hedgerley Lane, 2 February
91) ICELAND GULL, Spade Oak GP, Little Marlow, 1 February
90) BRAMBLING (8), Penn Wood, 1 February
89) Lesser Redpoll, Hyde Heath, 1 February
88) CORN BUNTING (83 birds), Ivinghoe Beacon (SP 915 131), 30/1
87) CASPIAN GULL (5 birds), Calvert Lakes, 26/1
86) YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (17 adults), Calvert Lakes, 26/1
85) NORTHERN PINTAIL, Foxcote Reservoir, 26/1
84) COMMON RAVEN, Woodham Industry, 26/1
83) Reed Bunting, Woodham Industry, 26/1
82) Water Rail, Shardeloes Lake, 26/1
81) Common Kingfisher, Shardeloes Lake, 26/1
80) Marsh Tit, Wallace's Wood, Chenies Bottom, 26/1
79) Common Shelduck, Dorney Seasonal Pool, 21/1
78) FIRECREST (3), Hogback Wood, Beaconsfield, 21/1
77) Egyptian Goose, New Denham, 20/1
76) SMEW (3 birds), College Lake, 20/1
75) EURASIAN BITTERN, Calvert BBOWT, 10/1
74) Bullfinch, Calvert BBOWT, 10/1
73) Common Goldeneye, Calvert Sailing Lake, 10/1
72) BLACK-NECKED GREBE, Calvert Sailing Lake, 10/1
71) Linnet, Upper Ray Meadows, 10/1
70) PEREGRINE, Upper Ray Meadows, Gallows Bridge Farm, pair, 10/1
69) Common Snipe, Woodham Industry, 10/1
68) WHOOPER SWAN, Gayhurst Quarry, 8/1
67) European Golden Plover, Broughton Grounds, 8/1
66) Yellowhammer, Shardeloes, 2/1
65) Siskin, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 1/1
64) Greenfinch, Latimer, 1/1
63) Goldfinch, Chaffinch House, 1/1
62) Chaffinch, Chess Valley, 1/1
61) House Sparrow, Chaffinch House, 1/1
60) Common Starling, Chaffinch House, 1/1
59) Carrion Crow, Chess Valley, 1/1
58) Rook, Chess Valley, 1/1
57) Jackdaw, Chaffinch House, 1/1
56) Jay, Chess Valley, 1/1
55) Common Magpie, Chess Valley, 1/1
54) Nuthatch, Latimer, 1/1
53) Long-tailed Tit, Chenies, 4/1
52) Blue Tit, Chaffinch House, 1/1
51) Coal Tit, Little Chalfont, 1/1
50) Great Tit, Chaffinch House, 1/1
49) Goldcrest, Penn Wood, 1/1
48) Common Blackbird, Chaffinch House, 1/1
47) Fieldfare, Chenies, 4/1
46) Mistle Thrush, Latimer, 1/1
45) Redwing, Chenies, 4/1
44) Song Thrush, Chaffinch House, 1/1
43) Robin, Chaffinch House, 1/1
42) Dunnock, Chaffinch House, 1/1
41) BOHEMIAN WAXWING, Chesham Broadway, 1/1
40) Wren, Penn Wood, 1/1
39) Grey Wagtail, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 1/1
38) Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch House, 1/1
37) Eurasian Skylark, Jubilee River, 2/1
36) Great Spotted Woodpecker, Latimer, 1/1
35) Green Woodpecker, Latimer, 1/1
34) Ring-necked Parakeet, Dorney, 2/1
33) Tawny Owl, Chaffinch House, 1/1
32) Collared Dove, Chaffinch House, 1/1
31) Stock Dove, Dorney, 2/1
30) Woodpigeon, Chaffinch House, 1/1
29) Great Black-backed Gull, Hedgerley Tip, 2/1
28) Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hedgerley Tip, 2/1
27) Herring Gull, Beaconsfield Landfill, 2/1
26) Common Gull, Chesham, 1/1
25) Black-headed Gull, Chesham, 1/1
24) Northern Lapwing, Chenies, 4/1
23) Coot, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 1/1
22) Moorhen, Chess Valley, 1/1
21) Common Pheasant, Chess Valley, 1/1
20) Common Kestrel, Chess Valley, 1/1
19) Red Kite, Amersham, 1/1
18) GOOSANDER, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 1/1
17) Tufted Duck, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 1/1
16) Northern Pochard, Chesham Fishing Lakes, 1/1
15) Common Teal, Chenies Bottom, 1/1
14) Eurasian Wigeon, Jubilee River, 2/1
13) Shoveler, Chesham Pow Wow Lake, 3/1
12) Gadwall, Great Water Latimer, 1/1
11) Mallard, Chess Valley, 1/1
Bar-headed Goose, Jubilee River, 2/1
10) Mandarin Duck (25 birds), Burnham Beeches NNR, 2/1
9) Atlantic Canada Goose, Great Water, 1/1
8) Greylag Goose, Jubilee River, 2/1
7) EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (18 birds), Marsh Lane Weir, Jubilee River, 2/1
6) Mute Swan, Chess Valley, 1/1
5) Grey Heron, Chess Valley, 1/1
4) Little Egret, Bois Mill, Chess Valley, 1/1
3) Cormorant, Jubilee River, 2/1
2) Great Crested Grebe, Jubilee River, 2 January
1) Little Grebe, Chess Valley, 1/1

My BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIFE LIST

257) LITTLE AUK, College Lake BBOWT, 22 January 2012
256) HOOPOE, Gibbons Farm, Horsleys Green, 15 May
255) SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Caldecott Lake, 12 May
254) Corn Bunting
253) CIRL BUNTING
252) Yellowhammer
251) LAPLAND BUNTING
250) SNOW BUNTING
249) LITTLE BUNTING
248) Reed Bunting
Escape) Trumpeter Finch
247) TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL
246) COMMON CROSSBILL
245) HAWFINCH
244) Bullfinch
243) Siskin
242) Greenfinch
241) Goldfinch
240) MEALY REDPOLL
239) Lesser Redpoll
238) Linnet
237) Brambling
236) Chaffinch
235) TREE SPARROW
234) House Sparrow
233) GOLDEN ORIOLE
232) Common Starling
231) Common Raven
230) Carrion Crow
229) Rook
228) Jackdaw
227) Jay
226) Common Magpie
225) NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE
224) WOODCHAT SHRIKE
223) RED-BACKED SHRIKE
222) Common Treecreeper
221) Nuthatch
220) BEARDED TIT
219) Long-tailed Tit
218) WILLOW TIT
217) Marsh Tit
216) Blue Tit
215) Coal Tit
214) Great Tit
213) PIED FLYCATCHER
212) Spotted Flycatcher
211) Firecrest
210) Goldcrest
209) YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER
208) SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF
207) Common Chiffchaff
206) WOOD WARBLER
205) Willow Warbler
204) Western Reed Warbler
203) Cetti's Warbler
202) RIVER WARBLER
201) Grasshopper Warbler
200) Sedge Warbler
199) DARTFORD WARBLER
198) Common Whitethroat
197) Lesser Whitethroat
196) Blackcap
195) Garden Warbler
194) RING OUZEL
193) Common Blackbird
192) Fieldfare
191) Mistle Thrush
190) Redwing
189) Song Thrush
188) Common Stonechat
187) WHINCHAT
Greenland Wheatear
186) Northern Wheatear
185) BLACK REDSTART
184) COMMON REDSTART
183) COMMON NIGHTINGALE
182) European Robin
181) Dunnock
180) BOHEMIAN WAXWING
179) Wren
178) Grey Wagtail
Blue-headed Wagtail
177) Yellow Wagtail
176) White Wagtail
175) Pied Wagtail
174) TREE PIPIT
173) Meadow Pipit
172) SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT
171) WATER PIPIT
170) RICHARD'S PIPIT
169) House Martin
168) European Barn Swallow
167) Sand Martin
166) WOODLARK
165) SKYLARK
164) WRYNECK
163) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
162) Great Spotted Woodpecker
161) European Green Woodpecker
160) Ring-necked Parakeet
159) Common Kingfisher
158) Common Swift
157) EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR
156) Little Owl
155) Barn Owl
154) SHORT-EARED OWL
153) LONG-EARED OWL
152) Tawny Owl
151) Common Cuckoo
150) European Turtle Dove
149) Eurasian Collared Dove
148) Woodpigeon
147) Stock Dove
146) WHISKERED TERN
145) WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
144) Black Tern
143) CASPIAN TERN
142) Arctic Tern
141) Common Tern
140) SANDWICH TERN
139) LITTLE TERN
138) ICELAND GULL
137) GLAUCOUS GULL
136) Putative GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL
135) SABINE'S GULL
134) KITTIWAKE
133) LITTLE GULL
132) Great Black-backed Gull
131) Lesser Black-backed Gull
130) CASPIAN GULL
129) Yellow-legged Gull
128) Argenteus & Argentatus Herring Gull
127) MEDITERRANEAN GULL
126) RING-BILLED GULL
125) Common Gull
124) Black-headed Gull
123) LONG-TAILED SKUA
122) ARCTIC SKUA
121) POMARINE SKUA
120) GREAT SKUA
119) LESSER YELLOWLEGS
118) PECTORAL SANDPIPER
117) Ruff
116) WILSON'S PHALAROPE
115) RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
114) GREY PHALAROPE
113) JACK SNIPE
112) Common Snipe
111) Woodcock
110) WHIMBREL
109) Eurasian Curlew
108) BAR-TAILED GODWIT
107) Black-tailed Godwit (islandica & limosa)
106) Common Greenshank
105) SPOTTED REDSHANK
104) Common Redshank
103) Common Sandpiper
102) Green Sandpiper
101) WOOD SANDPIPER
100) LITTLE STINT
99) TEMMINCK'S STINT
98) CURLEW SANDPIPER
97) Dunlin
96) TURNSTONE
95) PURPLE SANDPIPER
94) SANDERLING
93) RED KNOT
92) Lapwing
91) AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
90) European Golden Plover
89) GREY PLOVER
88) Ringed Plover
87) Little Ringed Plover
86) STONE CURLEW
85) BLACK-WINGED STILT
84) PIED AVOCET
83) Oystercatcher
82) COMMON CRANE
81) Coot
80) Moorhen
79) SPOTTED CRAKE
78) Water Rail
77) LADY AMHERST'S PHEASANT
76) Common Pheasant
75) COMMON QUAIL
74) Grey Partridge
73) Red-legged Partridge
72) MERLIN
71) Peregrine Falcon
70) Hobby
69) RED-FOOTED FALCON
68) Common Kestrel
67) Northern Goshawk
66) Eurasian Sparrowhawk
65) EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD
64) Common Buzzard
63) WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE
62) MONTAGU'S HARRIER
61) HEN HARRIER
60) MARSH HARRIER
59) Red Kite
58) OSPREY
57) North American Ruddy Duck
56) WHITE-HEADED DUCK
55) RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
54) Goosander
53) SMEW
52) Common Goldeneye
51) LONG-TAILED DUCK
50) COMMON SCOTER
49) COMMON EIDER
48) RING-NECKED DUCK
47) Tufted Duck
46) GREATER SCAUP
45) FERRUGINOUS DUCK
44) Red-crested Pochard
43) Northern Pochard
42) GARGANEY
41) NORTH AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL
40) Common Teal
Escape) Chiloe Wigeon
39) Eurasian Wigeon
38) Northern Shoveler
37) Northern Pintail
36) Gadwall
35) Mallard
Escape) North American Wood Duck
34) Mandarin Duck
Escape) Bar-headed Goose
33) Egyptian Goose
32) RUDDY SHELDUCK
31) Common Shelduck
30) DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE
29) Barnacle Goose (non-naturalised)
Escape) Cackling Canada Goose
28) Atlantic Canada Goose
27) Greylag Goose
26) PINK-FOOTED GOOSE
25) TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE
24) EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
23) BEWICK'S SWAN
22) WHOOPER SWAN
21) Mute Swan
20) EURASIAN SPOONBILL
19) WHITE STORK
18) PURPLE HERON
17) Grey Heron
16) GREAT WHITE EGRET
15) Little Egret
14) CATTLE EGRET
13) EURASIAN BITTERN
12) EUROPEAN SHAG
11) Atlantic Great and Continental Cormorant
10) NORTHERN GANNET
9) LEACH'S PETREL
8) RED-NECKED GREBE
7) Great Crested Grebe
6) Little Grebe
5) BLACK-NECKED GREBE
4) SLAVONIAN GREBE
3) GREAT NORTHERN DIVER
2) BLACK-THROATED DIVER
1) RED-THROATED DIVER

My 2010 Bucks Year List - Lee G R Evans

141) Common Swift 28/4
140) Common Sandpiper Linford 28/4
139) Common Cuckoo Linford 28/4
138) TREE SPARROW (8) Stoke Goldington 28/4
137) Western Reed Warbler 28/4
136) Garden Warbler Ivinghoe Top Scrub 25/4
135) PIED AVOCET Dorney Lakes 21/4
134) Sedge Warbler Marsworth 21/4
133) LITTLE GULL Marsworth Res 21/4
132) Hobby Ridgeway Walk, Wendover 20/4
131) GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Ivinghoe Beacon 20/4
130) Lesser Whitethroat Aldbury Nowers 20/4
129) Ringed Plover
128) WHIMBREL College Lake 15/4
127) BLACK REDSTART (2) Ivinghoe Beacon 13/4
126) Common Whitethroat 12/4
125) RING OUZEL 9/4
124) Common Tern Marsworth Res 8/4
123) Yellow Wagtail Marswoth Paddocks 7/4
122) COMMON RAVEN Steps Hill 7/4
121) DARTFORD WARBLER Steps Hill 7/4
120) BOHEMIAN WAXWING (6) Cliveden NT 6/4
119) SANDWICH TERN Marsworth Reservoir 3/4
118) White Wagtail Manor Farm 2/4
117) Dunlin Linford NR 26/3
116) Willow Warbler Spade Oak 26/3
115) Common Chiffchaff Spade Oak 26/3
114) Little Ringed Plover Spade Oak 26/3
113) Blackcap Chesham 30/3
112) MEDITERRANEAN GULL (4 birds - Spade Oak Pit) 30/3
111) House Martin Spade Oak Pit 30/3
110) Sand Martin College Lake 22/3
109) Northern Wheatear Ivinghoe Beacon 21/3
108) Barn Swallow College Lake 22/3
107) Common Shelduck Dorney Pools 14/3
106) FIRECREST Cliveden 14/3
105) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Church Wood RSPB 14/3
104) Barnacle Goose Olney Mill 13/3
103) EURASIAN CURLEW River Ray Meadows 13/3
102) Common Redshank College Lake 13/3
101) Oystercatcher Willen Lake 9/3
100) CETTI'S WARBLER Jubilee River 2/3
99) DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Taplow 2/3
98) Red-legged Partridge
97) Egyptian Goose
96) CORN BUNTING
95) Yellowhammer
94) Reed Bunting
93) COMMON CROSSBILL
92) Bullfinch
91) Siskin
90) Greenfinch
89) Goldfinch
88) Lesser Redpoll
87) Linnet
86) BRAMBLING
85) Chaffinch
84) House Sparrow
83) Common Starling
82) Carrion Crow
81) Rook
80) Jackdaw
79) Jay
78) Common Magpie
77) Common Treecreeper
76) Nuthatch
75) Long-tailed Tit
74) Marsh Tit
73) Blue Tit
72) Coal Tit
71) Great Tit
70) Goldcrest
69) Common Blackbird
68) Fieldfare
67) Mistle Thrush
66) Redwing
65) Song Thrush
64) European Robin
63) Dunnock
62) Winter Wren
61) Grey Wagtail
60) Pied Wagtail
59) Meadow Pipit
58) Eurasian Skylark
57) Great Spotted Woodpecker
56) Green Woodpecker
55) Ring-necked Parakeet
54) Common Kingfisher
53) Little Owl
52) Barn Owl
51) Tawny Owl
50) Eurasian Collared Dove
49) Woodpigeon
48) Stock Dove
47) GLAUCOUS GULL
46) Great Black-backed Gull
45) Lesser Black-backed Gull
44) Yellow-legged Gull
43) CASPIAN GULL
42) Herring Gull
41) Common Gull
40) Black-headed Gull
39) JACK SNIPE
38) Common Snipe
37) Green Sandpiper
36) Lapwing
35) European Golden Plover
34) Coot
33) Moorhen
32) Water Rail
31) Common Pheasant
30) PEREGRINE
29) Common Kestrel
28) Eurasian Sparrowhawk
27) Common Buzzard
26) Red Kite
25) Goosander
24) SMEW
23) Common Goldeneye
22) RING-NECKED DUCK 2/1
21) Tufted Duck
20) Red-crested Pochard
19) Northern Pochard
18) Common Teal
17) Eurasian Wigeon
16) Shoveler
15) Gadwall
14) Mallard
13) Mandarin Duck
12) Atlantic Canada Goose
11) Greylag Goose
10) EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 4/1
9) BEWICK'S SWAN 2/1
8) WHOOPER SWAN 2/1
7) Mute Swan
6) Grey Heron
5) Little Egret 1/1
4) Eurasian Bittern 2/1
3) Continental Cormorant
2) Great Crested Grebe
1) Little Grebe

YEARLISTING IN 2016

YEARLISTING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Friday, 29 January 2010

Walton Balancing Lakes BITTERN

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BIRD REPORTS FOR SALE

My 2011 Bucks Year List

My BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIFE LIST

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My 2010 Bucks Year List - Lee G R Evans

Please report your Sightings Here via email LGREUK400@aol.com or phone/text 07881 906629

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