BRAMBLINGS

TUESDAY 6 MARCH

Although the day started overcast, grey and cold, it soon brightened up and temperatures eventually recovered to 10 degrees C

BALDWIN'S WOOD AND CHENIES BOTTOM (HERTS/BEDS)

Four COMMON CROSSBILLS were still present in the well-stocked coniferous trees in Baldwin's Wood, along with Coal Tit, 8 Goldcrests, 2 Jays, 11 SISKINS and 3 calling Tawny Owls

Five Little Egrets were on the Chess, with 1 Little Grebe, 5 COMMON TEAL, male Pied Wagtail, pair of Grey Wagtail and singing male Greenfinch.

A first-year Mute Swan had collided with overhead wires and died.

Basking in the sunshine were a pair of LITTLE OWLS in a pollarded Willow

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

The GREAT CRESTED GREBE pair were back once more on the smaller lake with an unpaired male on the larger lake; also 4 Mute Swans (2 first-years), 14 Tufted Duck, 1 female Northern Pochard and 3 pairs of Reed Buntings.

CHESHAM WATERSIDE MILLFIELDS ALLOTMENTS (BUCKS)

No less than 4 WATER RAILS were taking advantage of the shallow water, ideal feeding conditions for them; 4 Moorhens were also in the vicinity

PENN STREET (BUCKS)

A total of 17 active nests in the Rookery at SU 926 954, with a Stock Dove nearby

PENN WOOD (BUCKS)

A TAWNY OWL was making the most of the afternoon sun whilst roosting finches included 2 LESSER REDPOLL, a female BULLFINCH, 194 Greenfinches (in the Holly Roost) and 76 BRAMBLINGS (Rhododendron Penna Roost), many of the latter now in full spring plumage and wheezing nasally and loudly.