SUNDAY 13 FEBRUARY
The wind veered to the SE today but temperatures still held up. Although the rain held off until late morning, it then moved in and continued into darkness, somewhat hampering viewing.
The milder weather experienced over the weekend certainly spurned on some of the earlier migrants, with a marked arrival of OYSTERCATCHERS in our region, some more RINGED PLOVERS, COMMON SHELDUCKS, many FIELDFARES and numerous gulls reorienting northwards........
CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
Still 3 LESSER REDPOLLS on my garden Nyger seed feeders.
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
Three GREAT CRESTED GREBES now in residence, with a displaying pair on the smaller lake and the more winter plumaged bird on the larger lake; also 9 Tufted Duck and 3 Northern Pochards
LOWNDES PARK LAKE, CHESHAM (BUCKS)
All 4 Chesham adult Mute Swans now on the one small lake.
PITSTONE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE (HERTS)
A single RINGED PLOVER was back on the scrapes and showing well.
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
A single OYSTERCATCHER was roosting on the island in the deep pit, the first to be recorded in the county this year. The adult female GOOSANDER from Tring Reservoirs was showing very well on the main marsh and viewable from the information centre.
Also 2 Mute Swans, 15 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 13 Pochard, 35 Tufted Duck and 20 Lapwings.
IVINGHOE ASTON (BUCKS) (SP 950 185)
I spent an hour or more exploring the fields either side of Grove Farm (SP 945 180) mainly with the idea of finding Grey Partridge but that failed in its quest. A lot of farmland birds were seen though......
4 Common Pheasants and a flock of 433 Woodpigeons feeding in the sheltered fields to the left of the driveway, an astounding 730 FIELDFARES in one flock on the opposite side of the road, plus 440 Common Starlings and just 8 Redwings and Great Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Robin, Common Buzzard, 8 Goldfinch, 140 Jackdaw, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Goldcrest.
This is an account of the personal observations of Lee G R Evans (LGRE) in his home county of Buckinghamshire. It also hosts all sightings of interest within the county but only those considered authentic by the author. I am extremely grateful for any images of local birds as well as of any information relating to birds within the boundaries - contact me anytime on 07881 906629 or email LGREUK400@aol.com.