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



Tuesday 26 March 2013

Still feels like I am birding in the Arctic

TUESDAY 26 MARCH


Well today was a bit of a shell-shock. I returned from a sun-drenched Tel Aviv basking in 37 degrees F to a clear, frosty Buckinghamshire at below freezing - exceptional for this late in March in the UK. Snow too was laying, particularly on the Chiltern Hills, and the strong, raw easterly wind blowing throughout the day made it feel several degrees lower.

Anyhow, arranged to meet Graham Smith in PUMP LANE NORTH, MARLOW, where we enjoyed views of a nice male NORTHERN WHEATEAR in the field opposite the scrap metal merchants - 46 late Fieldfares and a single Redwing were also in the vicinity.

Graham then drove home to get warmed up whilst I drove to DORNEY ROWING LAKES to get colder - much, much colder. Fortunately, most of the action was north of the 275m marker, with the grass field to the west producing 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, a flock of 9 DUNLINS, 4 Meadow Pipits and another nice male NORTHERN WHEATEAR. As I walked down to the first bridge, I flushed two SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPITS out from the closest shingle edge, darting out then in and calling.