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 20 June 2011

Exceptionally early jpassage COMMON REDSTART in North Bucks

I decided to try and upgrade some breeding records for SP63 tetrad this morning and succeeded with the first target, finding a Common Chiffchaff with food for young, but I was surprised and pleased to come across two or three pairs of YELLOW WAGTAILS, clearly breeding in a bean field (female with food). Interesting how birds seem to congregate--at the same spot there was a male Reed Bunting singing in the beans, a female Yellowhammer with food and several pairs of Linnets.

Found a new Little Owl location and a male Beautiful Demoiselle near Biddlesden Park. Also discovered one of the perils of roaming--following a poorly marked footpath I ended up on the wrong side of a fence and was attacked by four dogs! Not too good on canine ID but the largest one on his hind legs was taller than me!! Discovered I can still be pretty agile as I vaulted a fence to escape.

Returned home for lunch and sitting on my patio I heard an insistent 'wheet wheet' call. I put it down as possibly an odd Chaffinch, but went to investigate anyway since it wasn't quite right. I'm glad I did because it turned out to be a female COMMON REDSTART. It moved off fairly quickly, so I assume perhaps a failed breeding bird on the move? (I did have a juvenile here for a few days in 2001, which I suspected might have been raised locally, but I don't think today's occurrence is significant).Phil Tizzard