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.
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.