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, 16 August 2016

Record-breaking SANDWICH TERN flock in Little Marlow

At around 10 o'clock this morning, Mike Mayall came upon a flock of SANDWICH TERNS at Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow - all roosting at the end of the spit with Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls. On a brief scan, Mike could count 11 but when I arrived 17 minutes later after a quick text from Alan Stephens, Jim Rose and he had actually counted 13 - the largest single flock to have ever been recorded in Buckinghamshire. Exceptionally, they remained throughout the day, even when Alan returned this evening to check. At least six individuals were ringed, including one adult with red over blue, indicating a bird trapped in 2010 at Sands of Forvie NNR, the Ythan Estuary colony. What with an adult Gannet yesterday (present for 20 minutes around lunchtime at Dorney Rowing Lakes - Dave Cleal/Jim Rose), what will tomorrow bring......