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



Wednesday 3 November 2010

WHOOPER SWAN still present

Foxcote; Adam' Bassetts probable fem Greater Scaup is still there. Viewed at long range in poor light but looked pretty good for true Scaup fem/imm to me. Aythya duck with rounded head, bigger than Coots, mantle dark brown, flanks rusty brown, cream patches at base of bill and cream ear patch. Bill looked wide with think smallish nail? Splash preened very vigorously on it's own, gave impression of powerful duck. Certainly not one of the female Tufty Scaup lookalikes that we get at Calvert and here but guess closer views needed to say for sure.We need an expert to have a look!!

Hillesden; adult WHOOPER SWAN still with Greylag Goose flock feeding in crop field to right of pools / 18 Wigeon/3 Little Grebe

Calvert; quick look at early part of gull pre-roost- 1 ad Y.L.Gull and 3rd W presumed Y.L.G, say presumed cos it's head shape and eye, jizz look strange to me!!

Gallows bridge farm; quiet start but livened up when 2 Sparrowhawks hunted stubble field next to cark park and then spotted a Peregrine sat in main meadow! Peregrine powered off and put everything up, seen again in high speed chase low over meadow; didn't see it make a kill but landed to rest/roost on Pylon by A41. Also seen, c 400 Lapwing but not a single Golden Plover/ c400 Starling/c 60 Linnet/c80 ducks put up, mostly Mallard but c 20 Teal and 3 other slimline ducks (Tim Watts)