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



Sunday 29 June 2014

COMMON TEAL in perfect breeding habitat

Whilst undertaking further tetrad survey work in the county, I came across 5 COMMON TEAL in perfect breeding territory. The birds were all acting rather sheepishly, so could well be breeding...




Friday 27 June 2014

Well the cat's out of the bag...


Yes, this is Buckinghamshire's first EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR for many a year - and churring from a suitable piece of habitat for at least its seventh consecutive night.....



problem is, parking is restricted to just a couple of cars, and as one of them is often this one - its owner present again tonight with his wife, as well as with the Bird Report editor and his son - there is likely to be NOWHERE to park off-road. If you would like to see this bird, it is best to contact one of the Bucks Bird Club Committee - they seem to be offering out the invitations......


parking is very restricted - room for just two cars - three at a squeeze


Tuesday 24 June 2014

SUPPRESSORS - that's what they are

They were all there this evening - happy to watch a very rare local bird safe in the knowledge that most 'ordinary' county birdwatchers didn't know about it - yes Mike Collard, Graham Smith, Dave Parmenter, Dave Cleal - all enjoying good views of a local mega. I photographed all four of them on site - and Graham Smith, happy to total up all of the species recorded during the year on the Bucks email group, somehow forgot to add this one he is suppressing - a bit like the recent singing male Woodlark on Stoke Common and the pair of Montagu's Harriers in the west of the county. Talk about hypocrites. And you guessed it - once again that name 'Lee Evans' comes up in every conversation - MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T GET TO HEAR ABOUT IT. Rob Andrews being one of the ringleaders sends an email around especially inviting those that he can trust to suppress it - around 30 on the Special Invitations List it seems - and present for its third day, no surprise that those involved with running the BBC website have all tail-tailed it down there secretly. Well, be sure, I shall fully document all of those that make the pilgrimage during its period of internment. This is the mentality of a lot involved with the Bucks Bird Club - get to hear about something submitted to the website, then sit on it, but pop around and see it yourself and invite a few of your cronies around. Exactly what one of the bird report editors did with the Wilstone Savi's Warbler, informing people as they arrived ''Whatever you do, don't tell Evans - he will broadcast it to all and sundry - we are a select clique you know''. Wouldn't be so bad if any of them ever found anything, but they rarely do - but seem to think they have the stamp of authority on every record. There's no way I would ever support their clique and hence why I no longer submit a single thing to their website - all just hypocrites. And they had the cheek to try and flog me a copy of their dire avifauna for 20-odd quid - now remaindered at just £3.

So if you want to know what they are suppressing from you, email them directly - and maybe you can become part of the 'elite' club.

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Shardeloes MUTE SWAN family reduces from 8 to 5 cygnets









Just 5 cygnets remain from the original 8 while Moorhens have bred successfully

ORCHIDS abound





Common Spotted Orchids seemingly everywhere at the moment in the Chilterns


A very jaded Dingy Skipper


Large Skippers now on the wing


and Meadow Browns









BIRD'S NEST ORCHIDS




















A total of 28 BIRD'S NEST ORCHIDS and 5 WHITE HELLEBORINE this June on the very steep slope of Pulpit Hill

ADONIS BLUES on the wing

I recorded 9 ADONIS BLUES in the usual meadow at RADNAGE CHURCH this week, along with 50+ Common Blue, 30 Small Blue, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 20 Meadow Brown and 2 Large Skippers; also family party of COMMON RAVENS.


































A family party of 4 tumbling Common Ravens