TUESDAY 12 APRIL - LGRE DIARY NOTES
Well, following a number of April days breaking all previous records to 1892, cooler NW winds set in overnight bringing a much fresher feel to the weather. In fact, temperatures returned to near normal at this time of year, ranging between 8 and 11 degrees C. It did remain fine and dry however.
After an abortive attempt at the Arundel WWT Little Crake all day yesterday, I decided to concentrate closer to home today and birded the Three Counties. It was a very productive day.......
LINFORD LAKES (or HESC as it is now officially known) (NORTH BUCKS)
No luck with the reeling Grasshopper Warbler here too (wrong time of day) but numerous singing warblers present including 7 Blackcaps, 3 Common Chiffchaff and 2 WILLOW WARBLERS along with a Common Treecreeper, Jay and several butterflies including Large White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and my first two Commas of the year.
A drake and two female RED-CRESTED POCHARD were on the main lake to the right of the bund, with 8 Common Teal, 6 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler (4 drakes), 1 Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Barn Swallow and a pair of Coots nesting. The heronry was in full swing with two juvenile Grey Herons already fledged and 10 chicks being fed and two Little Egrets still sitting.
WILLEN LAKE NORTH BASIN (NORTH BUCKS)
Some 5 Little Egrets were present, with the spit and environs yielding several Lapwings, a pair of OYSTERCATCHER, a GREEN SANDPIPER and 3 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, and 6 Common Terns roosting. Lingering wildfowl included 4 Common Teal and a drake Shoveler, whilst the reedbed in the SW corner harboured an early singing male WESTERN REED WARBLER.
UPPER RAY MEADOWS, GALLOWS BRIDGE FARM (BUCKS)
Joined Warren Claydon and Tim Watts on a late afternoon visit but did not locate the two transitional-plumaged SPOTTED REDSHANKS that had been present earlier in the day (Mick A'Court) and yesterday evening. There was a very impressive 7 EURASIAN CURLEWS still present (much aerial display being undertaken), a single EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER on the main reserve field, 1 Barn Swallow and a beautiful male YELLOW WAGTAIL briefly on the scrape. Some 40 Linnets were in the area, a male Yellowhammer and a COMMON RAVEN flew over with a full crop, incidentally being joined by two more as it flew high towards Brill.
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.