Highlights today (Tuesday 20 January)
included this female BLACKCAP in my CHAFFINCH HOUSE garden in LITTLE CHALFONT -
only the second winter record since 1987! Also 2 Bullfinches still visiting and
the first 2 House Sparrows this year
Thanks to my good friend Don Stone, was able
to add COMMON STONECHAT shortly later - a pair showing well in setaside adjacent
to AMERSHAM ROAD in BEACONSFIELD (at SU 947 906); also a flock of 33 Meadow
Pipits there
In RONALD ROAD, BEACONSFIELD opposite, a
healthy population of at least 16 House Sparrows in gardens
Then, thanks to some very helpful advice
from Adam Bassett, added 4 GREY PARTRIDGES - attracted to food at EMMETT'S FARM
GAME CROP FIELDS in LITTLE MARLOW. A very attrictive area to birds with 4
Red-legged Partridges also noted, as well as 14 Stock Dove, 190 Fieldfare, 2
Song Thrush, 4 Greenfinch, 12 Chaffinch, 8 Red Kite and a further 20 House
Sparrows around the FARM SHOP.
At SPADE OAK PIT nearby, 4 COMMON SHELDUCK
on site, as well as a single injured Egyptian Goose, both Australian Black
Swans, 6 Greylag Geese, 211 Teal, 126 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 72 Gadwall, 54
Pochard, an impressive 224 Tufted Duck, 46 Coot, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 38
Lapwing, 256 Black-headed Gull and 7 Redwing, whilst both Grey Heron and
Sinensis Cormorant were both already nesting and displaying on the
island.
Just south of MAIDENHEAD, BRAY LAKE held an
incredible 452 Tufted Ducks, with 2 hybrid Tufted Duck/Pochards with them and
the drake RING-NECKED DUCK pictured below. At least 90 Pochard, as well as 15
Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 3 Great Crested Grebe and 8 Redwing
