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



Friday 20 March 2015

Another ICELAND GULL

Warren Claydon had an adult ICELAND GULL drop into CALVERT SAILING LAKE very late this evening, only the second record this year following a juvenile Tim Watts had on BBOWT in February.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

8 species of wader at MANOR FARM and wow, how good is it looking!

17/3

Made a visit to MANOR FARM in Old Wolverton this evening and the site is looking brilliant. I recorded 8 wader species with 85 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Common Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Snipe, the continuing male RUFF and a BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (see images below). Also present were 5 GOOSANDER (2 drakes), Little Egret, 18 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 35 Fieldfare, 8 Linnet, Green Woodpecker, 18 Pied Wagtails and a singing Common Treecreeper
























Monday 16 March 2015

Male RUFF present for second day at Manor Farm - one of 9 species of wader present

Interesting walk around the whole site this afternoon.

Male RUFF - just starting to develop black on it's breast,

Winter plumaged Dunlin, associating with a .....

Ringed Plover,
2 Oystercatchers,
At least 2 Common Redshank,
at least 8 Snipe - probably more hidden in the undergrowth,
8 Golden Plover flew around for a while but departed West,
Lots of Lapwings.

Other good birds included,

Barn Owl - hunting at West End,
Grey Partridge - first I've seen here,
Pair Goosander,
Grey Wagtail near the viaduct.

Robert Norris Birding

Saturday 14 March 2015

Colour-ringed GREAT WHITE EGRET at Spade Oak

The undoubted highlight of today was the finding of Spade Oak's first-ever GREAT WHITE EGRET - a colour-ringed adult on the spit from at least 3-5pm........








Monday 2 March 2015

Plenty of STONECHATS but still no Corn Buntings

Spent all afternoon searching for Corn Buntings in the county but despite searching all of the usual Downland sites NW of West Wycombe, failed dismally. The highlight was at least 7 COMMON STONECHATS at Lodge Hill, along with good numbers of Skylarks, 8 Linnets in Saunderton, a migrant flock of 170 Common Gulls, a few small flocks of Fieldfare and lots and lots of Red Kites......






























Four EURASIAN CURLEW were back at GALLOWS BRIDGE BBOWT, with large numbers of Teal & Wigeon on the Far Flood - male PEREGRINE at AYLESBURY COUNTY HALL