TUESDAY 14 JANUARY
A sharp frost overnight leading to some
dangerous driving conditions early on, followed by a glorious day, with sunshine
and clear blue skies.
A little bit of a recovery in the garden
(CHAFFINCH HOUSE) with the first male House Sparrow in a while, 1 Common
Starling, Robin, 2 Great Tits and a succession of Blue Tits at the
feeders.
Following a call from Adam Bassett, I drove
down to meet him at SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW; he had discovered a wintering
flock of CHIFFCHAFFS. Getting to him was the first hurdle - I had never seen
Little Marlow so flooded - at one stage I was wading through over a foot of
water - it was incredible. The footpath between the car park and the railway was
totally submerged. Anyhow, eventually managed to get to him (and Graham Smith),
albeit rather wet, where the small flock of Phylloscopus warblers (5 in
total) was frequenting the trackside vegetation, 100 yards either way of the
railway crossing. The birds were highly mobile and difficult to photograph in
the correct lighting but included one very obvious 'green toned' Common
Chiffchaff, two darker individuals of perhaps an abietinus persuasion
and two very pale, black-billed and black-legged individuals clearly
tristis (Siberian). These latter two were calling quite frequently - a
subdued, very short, piping 'pieu' note - mono in tone and repeated at regular
intervals - and very different to the disyllabic notes being given by the other
three birds. They were very beige in colouration, with greenish remiges in the
upper wing coverts and in the upper tail. I obtained a lot of images in the
couple of hours I was present, a selection of which are reproduced here. A
further colybitta was seen from the usual watchpoint. This immediate
vicinity also held 8 Long-tailed Tits, several Blue and Great Tits and Grey
Wagtail.
These two shots above give a more realistic idea of plumage colouration - very pale and washed out, almost fawn
It was very difficult to actually observe
the main pit but both Grey Heron and Sinensis Cormorant were back
rebuilding nests on the island, 4 Egyptian Geese, 60+ Wigeon, 22 Gadwall and 11
Great Crested Grebe all noted. A pair of Australian Black Swans were at the
north end - the first time I have seen these birds which arrived at the site
last autumn. Quite a few Red Kites overhead and at least one KINGFISHER flying
about.
Hoping to find Linnet, I stopped off at
SPRINGFIELD FARM SAND QUARRY at BEACONSFIELD. Despite a lot of trampsing about,
failed to locate any but did witness a flock of 115 STOCK DOVE - my largest
gathering of the year so far. Also 42 Red Kites in attendance, 6 Common Buzzard,
60 Mallard, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 2 wintering Song Thrush, 175+ Fieldfare, 3
Meadow Pipit and 2 Jay.
43 of a 115-strong flock of Stock Doves today
At neighbouring CASTLEMAN'S FARM POULTRY
FIELDS, 5 Egyptian Geese were accompanying the white hens, with Common Kestrel,
6 Skylark, Common Blackbird, 2 more Meadow Pipit and 18 House Sparrows noted,
the latter in their usual hedgerow just east of the farm. At OVERS FARM, just to
the NW, a nice feeding flock of 47 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing and 8 Common Magpie,
with Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Common Blackbird around the
houses.
I then returned to the CHESS VALLEY hoping
to find Little Owl but despite trying four different sites, failed badly in my
quest. A GREEN SANDPIPER that flew from Mill Farm Meadows to Church Covert was
the biggest surprise, CHENIES BOTTOM producing 2 Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and
Goldcrest.
I spent the last hour of daylight at CRESTYL
CRESSBEDS at SARRATT BOTTOM, where some 15 Moorhen were feeding, a COMMON
KINGFISHER, a single Little Egret and 2 Grey Wagtail. A WATER RAIL crossed the
road in front of me as daylight faded, with 5 Little Egrets flighting to roost
from the Chess to Stockers Lake from 1636 hours (3 at 1636 and further singles
at 1640 & 1644). Other species noted included Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk,
Robin, Song Thrush and Redwing (2), with singles of both Common Buzzard and Red
Kite roosting in Mount Wood
