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 19 November 2010

Just back from surveying 2 tetrads for the Birds of Bucks / BTO Atlas around Gawcott, Preston Bissett and Hillesden.

Undoubted highlight was a SHORT-EARED OWL between Hillesden and Preston Bissett (approximately SP 671 289); it was in a hedge by the public footpath. I'm not sure who was more startled it or me when I came face to face with it only about 15m away. Needless to say it flew off and headed South, being mobbed by crows. That area seems quiet, so may have been around a while and worth keeping an eye out if you are in the area. Despite being fairly ordinary farmland at first glance there were plenty of other birds today around including; good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing, flock of about 60 Linnet, Little Owl, lots of Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting. In total 43 species in one tetrad and 36 in the other.

If you have not signed up to do a survey, there are still some good tetrads left and this is the last year of the survey so your last chance. You never know what might turn up! (Go to the BTO Atlas site here: http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/ or contact John Gearing john_gearing@hotmail.com ) - Neil Fletcher