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



Monday 1 November 2010

Late GARGANEY still at Foxcote

The GARGANEY was still present this morning, 1st Nov. along the far side to the right of the hide below the feeder. It was not seen in flight. Although a distant view I think it is a female due to its pale face, distinct pale supercillium and pale buff breast.

The scaup type thingy was also present but it looks to me like a hybrid. It had dirty-white under-tail coverts mottled with dark grey, fairly uniform light brown flanks with a warmer brown area to the rear. The back was dark greyish brown with at some angles paler grey feathers on the upper back. The breast was warm brown as was the head but with a paler forehead. The white areas either side of the bill base were a creamy-white. The eye was dark with no hint of yellow iris. The head shape was good for Greater Scaup in being rounded and slightly flattish on the crown and with no hint of a crest. The bill was broad and pale-blueish grey with an indistinct smudgy nail.It did little but sleep and popped its head up once and was on the water below the gate on the far bank to the right of the hide.

No sign of the Northern Pintail nor of the RND. Two male and one female Goldeneye present along with two Green Sandpipers, several hundred Wigeon and a gathering of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, etc. (Ken Earnshaw)