Wintering BITTERNS are back

There were two EURASIAN BITTERNS at Weston Turville Res' this evening, best viewed from the Susan Cowdy hide. One was already being watched by Richard Billyard when I arrived, then at c3.50 another one flew across the water from near the sailing club and landed on the far side opposite the hide,only about 6 metres from the other one. After a while both birds climbed about 5 feet up and were showing quite well in the gloom. Always magic birds to see (Rob Andrews)

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER and SMEW still at Caldecotte

Enjoyable morning round the lake.Highlights were;

Great Northern Diver still on the north lake.
Smew still on south lake.
Three Goosander now, south lake. 1 male, two female.
Big flock of Siskin, south lake.

Keith O'Hague

Wilstone Bewick's Swans relocate to Weston Turville this afternoon

THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER

A touch or so colder today with the temperature reaching just 9 degrees C. Very overcast but dry and with an increasing westerly wind

With a visit to Tring in the offing, I took the opportunity to survey the waterbodies of the Aylesbury Area..........

CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

Three LITTLE EGRETS today just east of Bois Mill - and 1 Cormorant on the fishing lake there.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

There was no sign of Roy's colour-ringed BLACK-TAILED GODWIT when I arrived at the Drayton Hide late morning - it had presumably moved on

The water level was increasing further with the inlet pipe by the car park in full pump mode. As a consequence, wildfowl numbers were much recovered, although Great Crested Grebe and Mute Swan numbers were very low

The sole remaining Little Grebe was noted, 8 Great Crested Grebes, just 5 Mute Swans, 256 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 375 Teal, 44 Shoveler, 107 Pochard, 73 Tufted Duck, 7 COMMON GOLDENEYES (including 2 adult drakes), 760 Coot, 45 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 32 Lapwings.

The Linnet flock by the hide now numbers 52 birds and Pied Wagtails remain at a high 17.

The Cemetery Corner geese flock has increased to 83 birds, including 71 Greylag, 10 Atlantic Canada and the ever-present first-winter DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

The first-winter male SNOW BUNTING was still performing well along the north shore, Chris Holtby obtaining a large number of images.

Otherwise, 12 Mute Swans (including 3 unringed first-years), 7 Atlantic Canada Geese, 46 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes and a single Little Grebe were present.

Very little on TRINGFORD RESERVOIR other than 2 Mute Swans, 5 Grey Heron, 22 Teal and 2 drake Shoveler and even less on MARSWORTH with 4 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Teal and 21 Shovelers.

WESTON TURVILLE RESERVOIR (BUCKS)

Popped in at 1300 hours and was very surprised to find the Wilstone family party of 4 BEWICK'S SWANS being chased around by the resident pair of Mute Swans along the reedbed western side of the reservoir. The cob Mute repeatedly harried the two juvenile Bewick's, causing them to fly and circle.

Very quiet otherwise with just 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Moorhens, 2 drake Tufted Ducks and 1 drake Shoveler (up to 32 of the latter species had been present recently). Not one Coot.

THE WENDOVER ARM OF THE CANAL (GREEN PARK TO WENDOVER TOWN)

A single Little Grebe, 20 Mallard, 10 Coot and 11 Moorhens for my troubles - and a male Siskin.

BROUGHTON POOLS (BUCKS)

On the West Pool, a pair of Mute Swans, pair of Teal, 4 Moorhen and 1 Grey Heron, whilst on the Trout Pools, 14 Mallard, 5 Shoveler (2 drakes), 70 Canada Geese, 2 Moorhens and another Grey Heron. The neighbouring field held 14 Common Magpies.

WATERMEAD LAKE, NORTH AYLESBURY (BUCKS)

A full inventory recorded 10 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mute Swans (including 1 first-year), 1 Canada Goose, 124 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, just 6 Coot and 4 Moorhens.

CHESHAM BOIS (BUCKS)

A small party of 13 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS was in the field opposite Green Park in Copperkins Lane.

Waterbirds Survey Part 2 - LGRE

TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER

The mild theme to the weather continued today with temperatures hovering around 11 degrees C. It remained dry throughout but was very overcast

Visited South Bucks today in an attempt to further census water bodies in the region.......

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 993 863)

Single Grey Heron and Mute Swan, 12 Atlantic Canada Geese and 13 Eurasian Wigeon, with the woodland tract supporting Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrests and 14 Fieldfares.

UPTON FARM, BLACK PARK ROAD (TQ 004 835)

Pair of Egyptian Geese in roadside field

BLACK PARK COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 008 832)

By far the most productive site in the county for MANDARIN DUCK with a total of 37 birds present at the north end (including 19 drakes); also 4 Mute Swans (2 first-winters), 4 Atlantic Canada Geese, 24 Mallard, 36 Coot and 8 Moorhens

ROWLEY LAKE (TQ 003 826)

This Harrow Angling Society water held just 2 Coot and a female Common Teal, the surrounding woodland yielding 55 Redwing and 8 Long-tailed Tits.

GEORGE GREEN VILLAGE (SOUTH BUCKS)

No fewer than 26 House Sparrows present in the thick hedgerow adjoining George Green Road at TQ 003 812

LANGLEY PARK LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 007 813)

The lake held a pair of Egyptian Geese, 46 Mallard, 7 Coot and 4 Moorhens, whilst the parkland 14 Ring-necked Parakeets, Green Woodpecker and displaying Stock Doves.

THORNEY COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS)

A reasonable number of diving duck for a change with 70 Tufted Duck and 42 Northern Pochard present, along with 5 Mute Swans (3 first-winters), 7 Gadwall, 10 Coot and 2 Great Crested Grebes. A single Little Egret was feeding in the brook

OLD SLADE PIT (SOUTH BUCKS)

A large gravel pit holding wintering waterbirds including 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swans (all first-winter), 4 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck and 12 Coot

FARLOWS LAKE, IVER HEATH (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 044 807)

A large gravel pit complex devoted to angling with 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Canada Geese, 6 Mallard, 11 Tufted Ducks, 20 Coot, 8 Moorhen and 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS noted; also 2 SISKINS in Alders.

GERRARDS CROSS COMMON PONDS (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 998 887 & SU 999 883)

The North Pond remains dry whilst the South harboured just the resident pair of Moorhens.

PENN VILLAGE POND (SU 907 937)

A total of 58 Mallard and 2 Moorhens

PENNHOUSE GROVE (SU 923 947)

A total of 28 RED KITES roosted this evening

PENN WOOD (SOUTH BUCKS)

The Holly tree roost at SU 917 954 held an incredible 370 GREENFINCHES this afternoon, the highest number in many years, whilst the bracken held 7 roosting WOODCOCKS

An excellent morning going round the lake.

Juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on the north lake, diving around by the buoy marked number 4
Female GOOSANDER on the north lake, with drake on the south lake, in front of houses, near the rowing club.
Male SMEW, south lake, at the far end.
And a few Siskin on the south lake.

Just a few of the highlights from 40 different birds seen this morning (Keith O'Hague)

Winter Waterbird Surveying

WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER

Well what topsy turvy weather ! The first official day of winter sees temperatures hit a balmy 13 degrees C, with a tropical airflow bringing damp, drizzly conditions before it finally cleared from the west.

As it was 21 December today and the Winter Solstice, I reserved the day for waterbird surveying, covering the Thames Basin waterbodies in the south of the county. Diving duck numbers were disappointingly low.

BEACONSFIELD SERVICES LAKE (BUCKS) (SU 953 888)

Deadly - just a pair of Mallard for my efforts

CASTLEMAN'S FARM POND, WOOBURN COMMON (SU 923 877)

Very flooded but just 2 Moorhens and 4 Mallard present

BURNHAM BEECHES NNR (BUCKS)

At the Middle Pond (SU 950 847), just 7 MANDARIN DUCKS present (4 drakes), 25 Mallards and 2 Moorhens. The Upper Pond was devoid of any birds and the Swilly Pond was totally dried up.

East Burnham Common held at least 270 Redwings, a cacophony of loud repertoire coming from the trees as they assembled in the canopy. Nuthatch, 3 Common Treecreepers, Jay and Coal Tit also noted, and 35 Fieldfares.

TAPLOW LAKE (BUCKS) (SU 910 810)

An inventory logged 22 Mute Swans (including 1 first-winter), 58 Coot, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Gadwall and 9 Tufted Ducks.

THE JUBILEE RIVER (BUCKS) (SECTION BETWEEN AMERDEN BRIDGE AND MARSH LANE WEIR)

1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Mute Swans, 12 Atlantic Canada Geese, 13 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 12 Coot and 6 Moorhens

SECTION BETWEEN MARSH LANE WEIR AND JUST EAST OF LAKE END ROAD (BUCKS)

Still no sign of the drake Ferruginous Duck, present for at least the past 7 winters but 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebes, 38 Atlantic Canada Geese, 25 Mallard, 37 Tufted Duck and 18 Coot.

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (BUCKS)

Just 9 Tufted Ducks were counted on the isolated lake to the east of Dorney Rowing Lakes with just 1 further bird on the West Lake. Other species counted included 118 Atlantic Canada Geese, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 36 Mute Swans (plus an additional family party of 6 on the neighbouring river), 8 Cormorants and a single female Pochard.

SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS) (SU 880 875)

Highlight was the presence of 206 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 731 Lapwings on the spit.....

Otherwise, just 5 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Heron (already repairing nests), 78 Cormorants, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag Geese, 7 Egyptian Geese, 22 Mallard, 37 Teal, 72 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 96 Tufted Duck, 29 Pochard and just 6 Coot

WESTHORPE FARM WINDSURFING PITS, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS) (SU 872 870)

A massive gull roost, including good numbers of large white-headed gulls. Waterbirds included 5 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 6 Moorhen and 26 Coot.

Sunday Highlights - 18 December

Only news is from the north of the county where the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains present at Caldecotte Lakes and 10 GOOSANDER (7 drakes) are in Emberton Park

Recent News

In addition to the SNOW BUNTING at Startop's End Reservoir, Tring, mentioned above, the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains at Caldecotte Lake (see Ben Andrew's superb offerings above) and at least two ringtail HEN HARRIERS at Gallows Bridge.

At Calvert Sailing Lake, a juvenile ICELAND GULL roosted last night, with at least 3 CASPIAN GULLS in the roost.

SNOW BUNTING walks over border

The first-winter male SNOW BUNTING that has been present at Startop's End Reservoir since Monday walked over the border into the NE corner of the reservoir and on to the beach literally in front of the main car park. John Foster was able to get these smashing images.

DIVER still present

Sunny start, cold, poured with rain, then the sun came out again.

A good morning, the highlights being,

Great Northern Diver still on the north lake.
Kingfisher, north lake.
Big flock of Lapwing flying overhead.
Jay, north lake.
Female Goosander, north lake.
Sparrowhawk flying overhead.
Five Little Grebe, south lake.
Eight Siskin around Monellan Grove car park.
Pair of Bullfinch, around Monellan Grove car park.
Nine Reed Buntings, by the footbridge, at the car park.

Per Keith

After the storms, nothing new is found.........

At Gallows Bridge Farm, still 3 HEN HARRIERS in attendance and at Caldecotte Lakes, the long-staying juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still surviving.........

Gallows Bridge Farm

The light was superb today, which made up for the bitterly cold, strong NW winds! As I stepped out of the car in the car park, one of the juvenile HEN HARRIERS was quartering the field overlooked by the hides. It came up fairly close and then flew over the path leading to the hides, and into the opposite field. I think it then circled back round and proceeded to sit in what I presume was a sheltered, sunny position, in the furthest north corner of the hide field, for the next hour (see images above)

Next up was a male Peregrine, which sat in the middle of the hide field for a good 15 minutes doing nothing very much. It then flew to the fence running along the southwest edge of the hide field. The second HEN HARRIER was active along the opposite hedge line, giving great views from the 2nd hide along. It would fly very slowly and gently before going up, over the hedge and dropping down out of sight into the field beyond. Just the one showing of a Red Kite in the 2 hours I was there, although I'd seen 5 along the A41 between there and Aylesbury.

A flock of at least 12 Fieldfare came through. A Common Kestrel sat in a tree as I walked to the hide. There were also Skylarks and Goldfinches, and obviously 100s of Golden Plover and Lapwings. The latter two species would frequently be spooked up into large swirling flocks seen beyond the hedge line (Lucy Flower Birding & Photography).

December lingering rarities

In North Bucks, both the Linford Lake GREAT WHITE EGRET and the Caldecotte Lakes juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER are still present, and at Gallows Bridge Farm, up to 3 HEN HARRIERS still present.

Local News for Saturday

At Gallows Bridge Reserve, still at least 3 HEN HARRIERS in attendance and 13 COMMON RAVENS whilst at nearby Calvert Lakes, two CASPIAN GULLS (1st winter and adult) roosted (Warren Claydon/Tim Watts).

In North Bucks, the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains at Caldecotte Lakes