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 23 February 2016

Mega: apparent BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER in North Bucks mid-February

I spent a couple of hours in MK today walking the Emerson Valley either side of
the old Shenley Rd footbridge and also the Loughton brook from north of Bradwell
Abbey to Lodge Lake. No luck. The Emerson has more falls over stones/rocks than
the Loughton but is very narrow, the Laughton is much wider and quite quick in
places though only had a couple of places that looked good for Dipper. At the
main site where water ran quickly over rocks just south of the railway tunnel, I
chanced upon two ladies carrying long lens cameras and it transpired that they
were the photographers referred to by Andy in a previous mail. Sarah showed me
the rock that she had seen the Dipper on - it had flown north to the tunnel a
couple of times and returned to these rocks and she hadn't seen it since ( was
out looking for Kingfisher today). She told me where she had posted her slightly
long range shot here:

http://365project.org/pixiemac/more-365/2016-02-13

This is dated the 13th, so I assume this is when she saw it, she also referred
to another man who had seen it and told her what it was.

A more coordinated search might well achieve success. It was very quiet today
with few people about.

Adam Bassett

Saturday 6 February 2016

Drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK for its third day in North Bucks

A drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK is present for its third day at Caldecotte South Lake to the SW of Milton Keynes. The bird is at the extreme southern end and is showing well from either of the two observation 'screens' in the nature reserve section of the lake. The bird appears to be fully-winged but like all individuals of this species in the UK, its origin is unknown and most likely suspect........