BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BIRDING

WHOOPER SWAN at Calvert

2012-02-09T22:06:00.000Z

Heavy snow is falling in Little Chalfont as I write this email, about two inches so far adding to last Saturday's remaining snow. Tomorrow morning will be fun

Anyway, apparently there was an adult WHOOPER SWAN at Calvert this evening, along with at least 1 roosting ICELAND GULL

In South Bucks, 2 SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFFS were again reported at Eton Wick

BEARDED TITS

2012-02-09T19:46:00.001Z

Amazingly, the scene this lunchtime was almost a mirror image of yesterday along the stream - the 10 or so Reed Buntings still present, the 3 Cetti' s (one of which afforded me my best ever views of the species), 6 Common Chiffchaffs and (for me at least) 1 of the SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFFS (Mike McKee and Renton were still on site when I left so may have found more).

Also, along the stream, a Water Rail called, and a gorgeous pair of Grey Wags performed. On the Jubilee River, the drake Goosander was still near the weir and we had 2 BEARDED TITS (one seen another heard), with a possible third, in the reeds near the picnic benches (the original Bittern bed) which is back in Bucks of course (Brian Clews)

Freezing conditions continue to produce birds

2012-02-08T19:10:00.001Z

WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY

With a northeasterly wind increasing, the weather got even colder today. It was absolutely freezing out in the field, and encrusted ice suggests that bird populations are really struggling to survive the harsh conditions.

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

The Fieldfare flock increased to 14 this morning, feasting on the fallen apples.

MILLFIELDS ALLOTMENTS, CHESHAM WATERSIDE (BUCKS)

No sign of the 3 Water Rails but a COMMON SNIPE was unexpected, with 3 Moorhens also seen. A Blue Tit was visiting the unfrozen greenery by the river, as were 4 Long-tailed Tits.

THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Marsworth and Tringford Reservoirs are completely frozen over, with an increasing section of Startop's End now open and three separate ice-free patches on Wilstone. Numbers of birds in general were well down because of the ice but a redhead SMEW was a nice bonus and the first of the year.......

A COMMON TREECREEPER was in full song as I entered the MARSWORTH WOOD but there was no sign of the Bittern others had seen earlier. All 5 Grey Herons were absent also

The increasingly open patch on STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR was heaving with activity and at the extreme east end of the water, I was pleased to find a redhead SMEW.

No less than 41 Mute Swans were counted, the most this winter, with 10 first-years among them - 5 Great Crested Grebes, 134 Mallard, 1 drake Gadwall, 18 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 25 Tufted Duck, 103 Pochard, 233 Coot and 14 Moorhens.

Three Robins allowed themselves to be handfed on seeds by the hide and in a sheltered area of weeds on the south bank, 9 Common Blackbirds and 8 Fieldfares were feeding.

For the first time in weeks, I was unable to locate the Snow Bunting on the north shore

The first-winter DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE was with 70 Greylags in the Cemetery Corner field on WILSTONE, whilst the three ice-free patches on the reservoir harboured 13 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 18 Mallard, 149 Wigeon, 135 Teal, 22 Tufted Duck, 47 Pochard and 322 Coot. No Shoveler were seen today.

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

Not an ounce of ice on the main lake and consequently lots of waterbirds - 7 Mute Swans (including 3 first-years), 194 Wigeon, 64 Teal, 46 Gadwall, the usual pair of RED-CRESTED POCHARDS, 54 Tufted Duck, 62 Pochard, 2 female Common Goldeneye and 92 Coot. 13 Lapwing were also present.

KIMBLE WICK (BUCKS)

A covey of 6 GREY PARTRIDGE (3 pairs) was in a crop field half a mile NE of Stockwell Lane along Kimblewick Road at SP 797 071.

ETON WICK (SOUTH BUCKS)

A site literally on the county boundary with Berkshire and accessed from the B 3026 at the east end of Dorney Common at SU 943 786. A stream runs north to the Jubilee River and is a known haunt of wintering chiffchaffs. In fact on Sunday, Dave Carter located a Siberian Chiffchaff at the site, with Chris Heard locating a second individual yesterday

It was probably too late in the day by the time I arrived at 1600 hours. Although I easily located 6 COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS in the Phragmites 110 yards north along the stream, I could not find the two Siberians. I was amazed at the hive of activity in the short reeds, with 2 CETTI'S WARBLERS putting on a good show, 8 Reed Buntings, 3 Wrens, 3 Grey Wagtails, 3 Pied Wagtails and 6 Long-tailed Tits all taking advantage of the conditions created by the warmer water. A Grey Heron was also fishing and 5 Common Teal were particularly approachable.

As dusk approached, it was clear I was beneath the flight line of RING-NECKED PARAKEETS - no less than 165 flying east towards Staines to roost.

Today's snippets

2012-02-07T18:34:00.003Z

A juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow, today, with 2 BITTERNS still at Weston Turville Reservoir.

Two TREE SPARROWS in a Mursley garden were an excellent record, the only others in the county being a small wintering flock at Little Linford Wood. The WILLOW TIT remains at Linford NR, at the Woodland Hide.

A red letter day in the Amersham Recording Area (LGRE DIARY NOTES 6 FEBRUARY 2012)

2012-02-06T19:38:00.000Z

MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY

Following Saturday night's heavy snow, a rapid thaw is now in process and throughout the day, the four to six inches of lying snow has been turning to slush. In fact, it felt quite mild, with temperatures at one point climbing to 4 degrees. It was very misty and for a while, it rained a little. Towards nightfall, the skies cleared and it does now look as though a frost will form.

With so much snow about, I took the opportunity to have a good look around my immediate Recording Area, the first time I have put such effort in this year. It turned out to be very rewarding, amongst the many highlights being a Common Crossbill, flock of Lesser Redpolls, big flock of Mandarins, 3 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Snipe and so on. A red letter day in other words.........

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

Shardeloes lake was virtually completely frozen over with just one tiny patch of ice-free water. Despite that, a mass of birds were packed in on it, including 82 Coots, 5 first-year Mute Swans, a drake Northern Pochard, 5 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 3 Little Grebes and best of all, 11 MANDARIN DUCKS. The latter comprised of 6 drakes and 5 females. Several gulls were roosting on the ice including an adult Lesser Black-backed and 5 adult, 2 first-winter Common Gulls.

Also noted were Green Woodpecker, a hooting Tawny Owl, Coal Tit, Red Kite, Song Thrush and 2 Common Treecreepers.

In OLD AMERSHAM nearby, over 100 Fieldfares were in hedgerows along School Lane

PENN WOOD (BUCKS)

Had a concerted effort in the snow to locate Woodcock but failed in my quest. A big bonus however was a nice adult male COMMON CROSSBILL - a rare species locally - whilst a party of 20 LESSER REDPOLLS showed very well in a stand of Silver Birches. One of them was a very brightly plumaged pink male.

More ordinary fare noted included 2 Jays, Coal Tit, 5 Great Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 4 Nuthatches, Wren, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (a lot of drumming activity going on), 12 Redwing and 3 Chaffinches.

THE CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

Walked a major portion of the valley, west as far as Bois Mill and east to Crestyl Cressbeds. The heavy snow had certainly forced a lot of birds into the valley.

On the Chess just east of Chenies Bottom bridge, no less than 8 LITTLE EGRETS were feeding together with a Grey Heron, whilst a female Grey Wagtail flew overhead.

LATIMER GREAT WATER was largely frozen but within the ice-free area was 9 Mute Swans (2 first-years), 165 Atlantic Canada Geese, 10 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 47 Coot and 11 Moorhen. To the south of the lake, 4 LAPWINGS were walking bewildered about a snow white field. A single sub-adult Sinensis Cormorant was perched at the top of a tree to the west.

In trees by the hall were 4 Mistle Thrushes, 8 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings and a Song Thrush.

A further 8 LAPWINGS were in a field with horses to the north of Mill Farm Water Meadow, taking advantage of the soil exposed by the feeding animals. A Green Woodpecker took advantage too.

At FROGMORE MEADOW, I was very surprised to locate 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS on the Chess, both flying around noisily as I inadvertently flushed them. A further 2 LITTLE EGRETS were seen from the Water Vole Watchpoint, as well as 19 Mallard, 9 COMMON TEAL, 2 Little Grebes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

CRESTYL WATERCRESS BEDS were unfrozen and full of birds with the aforementioned TEAL coming and going, 2 Mute Swans, 14 Moorhens, a single LAPWING, yet another GREEN SANDPIPER, 3 COMMON SNIPES, a Grey Wagtail, 2 MEADOW PIPITS and a male Yellowhammer.

A deep guttural cronking call overhead immediately alerted me to a COMMON RAVEN, the bird flying across from Chenies village direction and heading off toward Limeshill Wood. Although JT had seen this bird twice since November 2011, this was the first time I had connected - the possibility being that it was one of the surviving pair that bred in the valley in 2009.

A Grey Heron landed in a tree east of VALLEY FARM and immediately sparked off panic amongst the LITTLE OWL colony. Once the resident pair in the heron's chosen roost tree started complaining loudly, it set off the rest, with eventually 5 different individuals alarming.

Limeshill Wood also produced 2 Nuthatches and 2 Jays.

Just as I was walking back on the boardwalk, I was alerted to a local pager message........

HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Just under 20 minutes later, I had joined Hilfield patch worker Steve Murray. Steve had discovered two GREATER SCAUP - a species I had failed to see in the county in 2011. Once by the jetty, I located them immediately - a fine adult pair, the drake with his resplendent green head, golden-orange eye, gleaming white flanks, lightly vermiculated grey mantle and black-nailed sky-blue bill and the female with her extensive white forehead blaze, fat rounded head, dark brown head and breast, pale cheek patch, subtly grey vermiculated back and grey sides. There was also a hint of a pale ring around the neck base and a fat spatulate bill, greyer in colour.

They were a spotless pair and a delight to watch, both Steve and I being treated to good views as they gradually swam closer inshore. Once fully 'scauped', I started to pan round and incredibly soon realised that there were actually SIX GREATER SCAUPS on the reservoir and not just two - four adult drakes, a first-winter drake and the adult female. A real treat and tantamount proof of what the weather is doing with the movements of waterbirds.

At around the same time, I watched 4 NORTHERN PINTAILS arrive (three drakes and a female), with the duck logcall also including 107 Pochard, 81 Tufted Duck, 5 Rufous Daniels, 6 Gadwall and 11 Wigeon.

The dusk gull roost was very impressive with well over 4,500 Black-headed Gulls present, as well as 150+ Herring Gulls, 350 Common Gulls, 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a single adult Great Black-backed Gull. Other birds taking advantage of the ice-free water included 35 Great Crested Grebe and 6 Little Grebe

College Lake and Weston Turville Reservoir today

2012-02-05T22:13:00.001Z

Highlight of a visit to College Lake this afternoon were 3 Dunlin on themain lake. Two were feeding together on the west shore, with the other oneon the east shore and in flight a couple of times.On the water were 5 Goldeneye, the 2 Red-crested Pochards and good numbersof the usual species.

Called into Weston Turville for the last hour or so of light and was pleasedto see a Chinese Water Deer in the cleared area, followed shortly afterwardsby a Bittern in flight over the far left corner, viewed from the hide at1702hrs. A few minutes later I was joined by John Mason and at around 5.30pmanother Bittern flew out from the closer area of reeds in front of the hideand disappeared behind the clump of willows at the far side of the reedbed.At least 2 Little Egrets came into roost and 4+ Water Rails were calling (Rob Andrews)

Three Year Ticks - Common Shelduck, BRENT GOOSE and SNOW BUNTING

2012-02-04T19:50:00.003Z

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY (LGRE DIARY NOTES)

Another very hard frost with temperatures overnight dropping to -7 degrees. Consequently, many water bodies are now totally frozen over. It was another freezing but bright day but cloud encroached from the west and as darkness fell, snow began to fall (the first real snow of this winter). By 1900 hours, two inches was laying in my garden.

THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Ice was the name of the day and very little of all four Tring reservoirs was unfrozen. Both Tringford and Marsworth were completely frozen over and consequently, most wildfowl and water birds were concentrated in small patches of open water on both Wilstone and Startop's End............

At STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, 35 Mute Swans were amongst the birds crammed into the small ice-free area, along with 9 Shovelers, 25 Tufted Ducks, 5 Great Crested Grebes and 272 Coots

At least 15 House Sparrows were by Startop's Farm and 8 Goldfinches, whilst in the NE corner in the Bucks section, the first-winter male SNOW BUNTING was keeping close company with 2 Pied Wagtails

The first-winter DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE was also in Bucks, the first time this winter it has been so. It was with 71 Greylag Geese and 83 Canada Geese 400 yards SSE of College Farm at SP 927 143 (in the second field along the lane).

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

Due to the Tring Reservoirs being largely frozen over and the fact that the deep BBOWT pit rarely freezes, exceptional numbers of wildfowl were present.

Although the highlight for me was the single COMMON SHELDUCK, numbers included 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 43 Mallard, 53 Gadwall, 122 Common Teal, 223 Eurasian Wigeon, 173 Tufted Duck, 213 Northern Pochard and 5 female Common Goldeneyes.

DAGNALL (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The corvids present here were having a field day with a freshly dead sheep laying in the field. The two resident COMMON RAVENS were in attendance and giving orders but also busy rebuilding/repairing their nest or simply making a new nest, frequently gathering material and taking it back to a pine.

Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 40 Fieldfares were also noted.

STEWARTBY LAKE AND ENVIRONS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

It seemed like all of Bedfordshire's finest were at Stewartby and the Millenium Park today and for good reason - a plethora of birds were on offer, due to the Arctic conditions

The main attraction had been an adult winter LITTLE GULL that Paul Wright had found and had later been seen by Neil, Peter Smith and others. It quickly moved from the main lake to the sewage works compound but whilst I was on site, had somehow managed to give us all the slip by disappearing westwards with a group of Black-headed Gulls.

Next up was Paul's BITTERN, showing regally in the sunshine at the fore of the reedbed in the NW corner. Looking across from the west shore, it was just left of the two light green buoys when I espied it, but as the morning drew on, it disappeared back into the reed fringe.

Over in the Millenium Park on MILLBROOK PILLINGE PIT, Lol, Bob, Roy Nye, Tony Hukin and I observed an adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL in the throng of small gulls present on the pit. It was just starting to get a blackish ear-covert patch and an orange tip to the bill. There was an incredible number of Common Gulls roosting on the pit - I click-counted 342 - along with 3 Herring Gulls and 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

The female COMMON SCOTER was still present in the SW corner of the pit, along with the 3 redhead SMEW, 162 Common Teal, 54 Wigeon, 6 Mute Swans (family party, 3 first-years) and 3 Little Grebes.

Returning back to the main lake at Stewartby, following another sighting of the Little Gull, scanning across produced 23 Little Grebes, 32 Great Crested Grebes and 22 Tufted Ducks, whilst the inlet in the NW corner yielded Common Snipe, WATER RAIL and a nice COMMON KINGFISHER.

Shortly after chatting to Steve Blain on the phone, mostly about Pintails and some exceptional flocks of them, no less than 44 NORTHERN PINTAILS and 4 EGYPTIAN GEESE flew overhead, the latter coming down on the Sailing Club green and remaining long enough for Bob, Lol and others to connect.

Forty of the PINTAIL flock made landfall on the Pillinge Pit, with 15 dapper drakes amongst them (Mark Thomas had seen 56 over Willington and 8 remained at Radwell).

Peter Smith also saw Common Redshank and the overwintering COMMON SANDPIPER at Stewartby but frustratingly I didn't hear about them until later.

MOGGERHANGER (BEDS)

The 'Corn Bunting fields' held 11 Common Magpies, a Common Buzzard and 170 Fieldfares but no Corn Buntings !

Nearby, a pair of GREY PARTRIDGES were half a mile west of the village and another 6 were seen beside the B658 south of BROOK END NE of Greensands Fishery.

DEREK WHITE'S AND BROOM GP (BEDS)

Steve Blain had seen 2 Shelduck and 3 Dunlin at Derek White's earlier but nothing of note was there when I visited in the afternoon but GYPSY LANE WEST LAKE retained the redhead SMEW and PEACOCK'S LAKE the single COMMON SHELDUCK, as well as 21 Mute Swans in one small area of open water

THE WIXAMS (BEDS)

Still 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS and 2 COMMON STONECHATS present but no Barn Owl or Merlin

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Returned to Marsworth late afternoon and enjoyed captivating views of up to 3 different EURASIAN BITTERNS, including 2 'scrapping' on the SW corner and one showing very well just standing forlorn and cold on the solid ice. The birds were very popular throughout the day with many observers obtaining photographs (see a nice selection above)

Two WATER RAILS were surviving the weather and were risking being caught by the no less than 7 Grey Herons standing on the ice, whilst the CORN BUNTING roost numbered 89 birds; a group of 18 Moorhens were together on Startop's

Alarmingly, many youngsters were risking life and limb by walking out on to the ice - some walking out over 40 yards. Total madness

Calvert Sailing Lake this evening

2012-02-03T17:39:00.000Z

Warren Claydon has seen the juvenile KUMLIEN'S GULL I found earlier in the week this evening, as well as at least 3 additional ICELAND GULLS (the 2nd-winter and two juveniles) and the regular first-winter CASPIAN GULL

Furthermore, Hedgerley Tip still has a juvenile GLAUCOUS, a 2nd-winter ICELAND and as many as 7 different CASPIAN GULLS visiting

Today's Highlights

2012-01-29T21:44:00.002Z

At Hedgerley Tip where I found an excellent selection of rare gulls last week, Steve Rodwell, Chris Hazell and others connected with both the juvenile GLAUCOUS and 2nd-winter ICELAND there today, as well as 3 different CASPIAN GULLS.

Dave Parmenter had a female LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER in Hillmott's Farm Wood, Hedgerley, and both Ted & Mike Wallen saw the 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS at Gallows Bridge and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls and a CASPIAN GULL on Calvert Sailing Lake.

A probable DUSKY WARBLER was also seen again by the pools at Hedgerley Landfill, but this area is strictly private and dangerous to access

ICELAND and MED GULL roost on SPADE OAK

2012-01-28T21:18:00.000Z

I actually made it down to my first gull roost at LMGP this year this afternoon. I was hoping that the Hedgerley ICELAND GULL might come in and indeed at 4:30pm a 2w Iceland Gull came in to roost, which is presumably this bird. Viewing from the west bank it was at the back of the spit and was on view for about 20 minutes, but unfortunately managed to get lost in the throng before Alan S appeared, though I expect it probably roosts here quite regularly. An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was seen earlier, but could not be found whilst I was there (Adam Bassett)

ICELAND GULLS, GOOSANDERS, SEO and COMMON CROSSBILLS

2012-01-28T20:05:00.000Z

SATURDAY 28 JANUARY (LGRE DIARY NOTES)

A rather grey start and very cold. The wind turned northerly, pegging temperatures right back but the light conditions improved later, with some bright periods. I spent most of the day birding Buckinghamshire........

First off, yet another dead Badger - this one on the A355 Amersham Road just north of Beaconsfield by Birchen Spring SU 952 922

CHURCH WOOD RSPB, HEDGERLEY (BUCKS)
(0800-1000 hours)

Put in a long stint at prime time and in calm conditions but no sight nor sound of the male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen here yesterday; in fact, no woodpeckers whatsoever....

I did see the following though - 2 Nuthatches, 3 Common Treecreepers, 15 Redwing, Great, Blue & Long-tailed Tits, Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, 2 Bullfinches, Greenfinch, 15 SISKINS, 2 singing male Song Thrushes and Grey Squirrels.

HILLMOTT'S WOOD, HEDGERLEY (BUCKS)

Highlight here was undoubtedly the COMMON CROSSBILL flock - 15 birds including 9 adult males in both deciduous and conifer trees to the west of the road. The flock were very vocal and easy to see, especially if walking along the public footpath that leads through the wood to the pines.

Also noted were 4 SISKINS, several LESSER REDPOLLS, 2 Jays, 8 Red Kites including a very confiding bird perched in a dead tree in the wood, Wren, Long-tailed, Blue & Great Tits, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Common Treecreepers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Buzzard and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.

HOGBACK WOOD, BEACONSFIELD (BUCKS)

No sign of any Firecrests this morning but Great Spotted Woodpecker, 90 Woodpigeons, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 50 Redwings and Green Woodpecker

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

The pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBES on the smaller lake are the earliest back I have ever known in my Recording Area. Chris Pontin first recorded them over a week ago. The male is in full breeding plumage.

Coots numbered 16 and Tufted Duck 19, whilst a party of 20 SISKINS was feeding in the Alders. A Green Woodpecker was 'yaffling' from neighbouring trees

HIGH SCRUBS, NEAR TRING (HERTS)

At Kiln Farm (SP 929 086), a Mistle Thrush flew across the road

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Since my visit yesterday, overnight had seen a few changes: two LITTLE EGRETS were roosting with 4 Grey Herons on the Drayton Bank, 2 Little Grebes were present, Great Crested Grebes had increased to 13, 5 Mute Swans were present, Northern Pochard had increased to an impressive 164 and a Grey Wagtail flew over. Best of all though, I finally connected with the cracking adult drake GOOSANDER that has been present for a while.

On the nearby Dry Canal and Wendover Arm, I was quite surprised to see a pair of Mute Swans still accompanying 5 of their last year's young - all harmoniously feeding together as a kind couple walking their dog threw them a whole container worth of food pellets. Six Coots were also present on this stretch of the canal (by Bridge 5 at Drayton Beauchamp).

The farmland here also produced 2 Yellowhammers and 4 Eurasian Skylarks.

BROUGHTON TROUT POOLS (BUCKS)

The pools hosted a single Great Crested Grebe and 4 Shovelers but the adjacent sedge beds were still very dry and consequently harboured no snipes of any species.

WOTTON UNDERWOOD LAKE (BUCKS)
(permit access only)

Wildfowl numbers included 5 Mute Swans, 397 Atlantic Canada Geese, 4 Common Teal, 2 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 22 Tufted Duck, 10 Wigeon, 3 Northern Pochard and 11 GOOSANDERS (including three adult drakes).

CALVERT BBOWT LAKE (BUCKS)

Made two separate visits this afternoon. Viewing from the first hide, noted 4 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorants, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Little Grebe and 28 Coots. Checking the late afternoon pre-roost with Steve Rodwell and Warren Claydon, counted 24 Great Black-backed Gulls from the second hide, along with 125 Herring Gulls (largely argentatus), just 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 19 Common Gulls and about 300 Black-headed Gulls.

Went away and in the meantime, SR and WC located an ICELAND GULL. I returned with Graham Smith towards dusk and quickly located two different immature ICELAND GULLS from the first hide within a mammoth roost (the gulls had been forced on to the BBOWT by shooting). One Iceland Gull was a quite pale, dark-eyed and blue-based billed 2nd-winter-type whilst the other was a dark biscuit coloured juvenile - so dark that it suggested kumlieni but without seeing detail in the primaries in poor light, not possible to ascertain with any degree of confidence

Nearby at EDGCOTT, Graham and I witnessed a superb murmuration of at least 5,000 Common Starlings - flying round and round prior to roosting.

GALLOWS BRIDGE (BUCKS)

Two COMMON RAVENS were seen in the usual hide field whilst at dusk (1700 hours), a SHORT-EARED OWL appeared over the field adjacent to the access road (thanks to Rod Scaife for directions).

ICELAND GULLS

2012-01-27T22:17:00.001Z

The 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL remains at Hedgerley Landfill this afternoon whilst another roosted again at Calvert Sailing Lakes

A tour of North Bucks and North Beds

2012-01-24T19:48:00.001Z

TUESDAY 24 JANUARY

What a day. Rain, rain and even more rain. It started shortly after first light and then became very heavy for two hours or more before turning into drizzle - and then continuing on and off for the rest of the day. Visibility was often awful - down to 75 yards on occasions - and keeping optics clear was a major obstacle to overcome.

Anyway, I risked the conditions and spent the day trying to find some target birds, namely the long-staying Great White Egret, Pintail, Willow Tit, Red-crested Pochard and a few other species. I was half successful.....

CHESHAM ROAD, HYDE LANE (BUCKS)

Following up on some sightings by Don Stone and Dave Cleal of last week whilst I was away, I was particularly pleased, despite the attrocious weather conditions, to find the wintering flock of plovers east of Little Hundridge Lane (in SP 92 01). The birds are commuting between the large ploughed field immediately east of the lane and the grass fields west of Hundridge Manor and are in numbers not recorded in my area since at least 1987. The LAPWING flock numbers 112 birds whilst the EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (in two distinct groups) total an astonishing 658 birds. This is an exceptional record, with both species being particularly scarce in my Recording Area. Full marks to Don for locating them.

Two Common Buzzards and 2 Red Kites were also present in the area.

WADDESDON (BUCKS)

Checked out a report of a pair of Ruddy Ducks and found that they were captive birds, the same lake also housing a drake Common Eider and a Coscoroba Swan. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest were of interest.

Nearby, just east of Haybinders House, a dead Badger was besides the A41 at SP 730 175

FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)

My first visit to this site this year and in heavy rain and viewing from the hide, highlight was a dapper adult drake PINTAIL to the left of the hide - my first in the county this year

Other wildfowl included an exceptional 185 Common Teal, with just 28 Eurasian Wigeon, 28 Tufted Duck, 8 Northern Pochard and 8 Common Goldeneye (2 adult drakes), whilst other species present included just 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Atlantic Canada Geese, 108 Coot, 34 Lapwing and a female Reed Bunting.

Just east of the reservoir, 20 noisy House Sparrows were in the garden of Cobblestone, Leckhampstead (SP 728 373

MANOR FARM WORKINGS (NORTH BUCKS) (SP 805 420)

Pride of place went to the 6 GOOSANDERS (3 adult drakes, 3 adult females), with 41 Lapwings and 8 Common Gulls roosting on the islands.

LINFORD NATURE RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

No sign, in an exhaustive search (and in improving weather conditions) of the wintering adult Great White Egret but 5 Grey Herons prospecting and repairing nests on the island, 44 Mute Swans, 65 Common Teal, 85 Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 28 Tufted Duck and 11 Northern Pochard.

Bumped into Rose & Mike Collard and Dave Parmenter and shortly later enjoyed excellent views of the apparent WILLOW TIT and 2 MARSH TITS at the Woodland Hide, very frequently visiting the freshly restocked feeders and birdtable. A Jay was also noted.

Visited both WILLEN LAKES and GAYHURST QUARRY (NORTH BUCKS LOCATIONS) but very little of note - 12 Common Goldeneye at the former and Stock Dove, 1 Little Egret, c300 Greylag Geese, 106 Mute Swans, 136 Mallard, 35 Wigeon, 20 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Green Woodpecker and a single Rob Norris at the latter. Again, no sign of the Great White Egret.

At STOKE GOLDINGTON nearby, still no Tree Sparrows - a species still to be recorded in Bucks in 2012. The feeders were fully topped up but just Chaffinch, Greenfinch (8) and Great and Blue Tits were visiting them. A Mistle Thrush was also in the village.

EMBERTON LAKES (NORTH BUCKS)

I checked the two lakes visible from the A 509, with 6 GOOSANDERS (2 adult drakes), 4 Mute Swans, 15 Tufted Duck, 24 Coot and 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS being noted.

Nearby, at Olney Water Meadows, there was no sign of the 22 Barnacle Geese seen recently - just 80 Atlantic Canada Geese.

HARROLD-ODELL COUNTRY PARK (NORTH BEDFORDSHIRE) (SP 960 573)

Being in North Bucks, I decided to spend the remaining hours of daylight in North Bedfordshire, with the sole aim of finding Red-crested Pochard and Pintail......

Harrold-Odell lake was full of wildfowl including no less than 126 Mute Swans (including orange-ringed adults numbers '387' and '392'), 91 Atlantic Canada Geese, 89 Wigeon, 48 Mallard, 38 Gadwall, 44 Tufted Duck and 7 Great Crested Grebes. Highlight was another pair of GOOSANDERS. No Red-crested Pochards though.

RADWELL GRAVEL PITS (NORTH BEDFORDSHIRE)

On the Viaduct Pit at the west end (TL 004 587), I did not find the two drake Pintails of last Sunday but did find 2 adult drake RED-CRESTED POCHARDS. Feasting on the beet thrown out for them at the SW end were 3 EGYPTIAN GEESE, 2 Bar-headed Geese and a large number of Wigeon and Teal, whilst Mute Swan numbers here peaked at 36, with 73 on neighbouring Pit 5 and 15 more on additional pits. A few Shoveler were also seen.

KEMPSTON (BEDS)

The rain returned in the late afternoon so I decided to give up but was pleased to see a LITTLE EGRET on the roadside pits as I drove along the Kempston Bypass.

Neighboring rares in Oxfordshire and a gull-feast at Hedgerley

2012-01-23T20:26:00.000Z

MONDAY 23 JANUARY

The fierce Northwesterly wind had dropped overnight and had moderated down to little more than a force 3. It was still cold though and very grey and overcast........

Having survived my eight days ''Round Britain Tour'' and feeling over the moon at connecting with my first-ever Little Auk in Buckinghamshire, I spent part of today birding in Oxfordshire, where two ''first-rate rarities'' were on offer in the form of a GREY PHALAROPE and an overwintering TEMMINCK'S STINT. On the way back, I stopped off to survey the landfill gulls at Hedgerley..........

FARMOOR RESERVOIRS (OXFORDSHIRE)

The GREY PHALAROPE present since Friday was showing exceptionally well on Farmoor I, favouring the east bank and literally the section adjacent to the main car park. It was continuously covering a 200 yard stretch of reservoir, culminating in reaching the feather flotsam washing up against the 'pier'. It would then fly back and follow the same routine over and over again. the views were exceptional - down to just 10 yards - and an assortment of photographers were having a field day.

the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER was also present on Farmoor I, as well as 25 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Little Grebes, whilst neighbouring Farmoor II held just 4 Common Goldeneye (2 drakes) and 15 Tufted Ducks; Cormorant, Coot and Pied Wagtail were recorded also

RUSHY COMMON NATURE RESERVE, COGGES LANE (OXFORDSHIRE)

With Tar Lakes, this nature reserve is a 30 hectare site incorporating three lakes that are being managed by Smiths Bletchington for the benefit of wildlife. It is situated on Cogges Lane, accessed from the east end of Witney.

An unseasonal TEMMINCK'S STINT has been present here since its discovery on Saturday and today was showing well on the narrow strips of emergent vegetation at the north end of the lake. It was often bullied by a much larger male Pied Wagtail and was the only wader to be found at the site.

Also seen were Great Crested and Little Grebes, 8 Cormorant, 1 Common Shelduck, 59 Wigeon, 13 Common Teal, 11 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, 6 Northern Pochard, Coot, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Treecreeper, 5 Redwing and 8 Long-tailed Tits.

NEW MILL, WITNEY (OXFORDSHIRE)

What was presumably last winter's returning DIPPER was showing exceptionally well this afternoon on the River Windrush just downstream of the mill at New Mill, about 1.5 miles west of Witney.

HEDGERLEY LANDFILL (SOUTH BUCKS)

This last week, refuse is being dumped at the west end of the landfill and this area can easily be overlooked from the isolated conifer plantation, 250 yards south of the M40 and adjacent to the footpath that runs down the western flank of the council site.

I pitched up at about 1400 hours to find several thousand gulls present - in fact over 4,500 birds. As they were feeding over the newly arrived rubbish, the views were very good and many birds were flighting to an adjacent sandy ridge to roost and preen. Most impressive was the presence of no less than 147 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS - a scarce species in my area.

I 'scoped back and forth and eventually located a selection of rare birds amongst the throng; a juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was quickly followed by a very white, pale-based billed 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL, whilst of three different adult-type CASPIAN GULLS present was a green-ringed individual, presumably of Polish origin. There were also a large number of Herring Gulls present, many adult Argenteus now completely white-hooded in appearance, with 1,400 or more present including over half that number being juveniles. Perhaps just 20% were streak-hooded northern Argentatus. There were very few Lesser Black-backed Gulls present - just 37 - and not one Common Gull.

Just 3 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS were picked out - two first-winters and a third-winter - with the rest of the throng being made up of about 2,900 Black-headed Gulls.

Other scavenging species included 57 Red Kites and an array of corvids whilst 5 Linnets, 15 Chaffinches, 17 Pied Wagtails, Fieldfare and my first Bucks Meadow Pipit of the year was noted

Chris Hazell drove down and joined me at about 1600 hours and caught the tail-end of the flock before they were all frightened away from the tip by loud bird-scarers. He managed to see the Iceland Gull but everything else scattered

North Bucks birding today

2012-01-23T19:41:00.000Z

The Little Auk's rather predictable demise meant that I had a day to wander around north Bucks, which I did, managing to see a few half decent birds.

At Foxcote, very little of note, other than 4 Pintail (3m 1f) and 15 Goldeneye. Seems to be fewer Wigeon here than in previous years.

At Backwood, I finally caught up with the CROSSBILLS, 10 of which were around Woburn GC clubhouse, with a further two near the game strip. The Chaffinch flock was very flighty, but there was at least 1 BRAMBLING amongst them. Also c25 Siskin.

At Emberton, 16 Goosander (10m 6f) were a splendid sight on such a small lake. Much better than seeing them at a distance on a choppy Willen south.

At Linford, the WILLOW TIT was showing well from the woodland hide, along with 2 Marsh Tits. The GREAT WHITE EGRET was seen today by others on site, and the usual pre-roost of Fieldfares contained about 350 birds. Best of all, a BITTERN flew across the lake at 4.45pm and went to roost at the edge of the reeds on the north shore, visible from the near hide.

The bund at Linford looks great at the moment, with all the vegetation cleared. Alan and the FoHESC have done an excellent job. Now all it needs is to be made twice as big! There were lots of ducks on site, especially Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Pochard. No Shoveler though.

Rob Hill

Yippee - first RUDDY DUCKS in Bucks for two years

2012-01-23T17:45:00.001Z

ICELAND GULL this evening

2012-01-11T21:45:00.001Z

Steve Rodwell and Warren Claydon saw an ICELAND GULL in the Calvert roost this evening

GOOSANDERS in West Bucks

2012-01-08T18:57:00.001Z

I saw 11 GOOSANDERS this morning, 5 males and 6 females. Michael Hunt has reported 11 also, but 8 males and 3 females. Mine were not in Stowe Gardens, but on a small lake behind Stowe Castle, so possibly a different group. This suggests that there are at least 14 in the area (8 males, and 6 females)and maybe as many as 22 (Phil Tizzard)

North Bucks today

2012-01-06T19:16:00.001Z

Broughton Grounds early today, 23 Grey Partridge (coveys of 17 and 6 ), 8 Red-legged Partridge, 100 plus Linnets, 50 plus Skylarks,

Willen lunchtime,Cettis Warbler, NW corner of North Lake, Common Redshank, on spit, Water Rail, in front of Hide, Little Egret,on island, 6 Common Snipe, left of Hide, Drake Goosander, South Lake, 5 Goldeneye,

South Lake, Pinkie the Pinkfoot near Bandstand and an injured near adult Yellow-legged Gull feeding with the ducks near the mini-golf park.

Rob Norris

NEW YEARS DAY BIRDING 2012 - LGRE DIARY NOTES

2012-01-01T19:58:00.001Z

NEW YEARS DAY - 01 JANUARY 2012

A considerably mild start to the year with temperatures reaching 13 degrees C. The day was mainly overcast with light rain for a time.

A total of 234 species was recorded in Britain and Ireland today, following last year's record total of 453 - a New Forest Dark-eyed Junco of 24 & 30 December being a belated addition.

As I had been partying for most of the night, my birding today was restricted to just local. I didn't start until 0930 hours so reaching 72 species by nightfall was reasonable I suppose (including 64 species in Bucks and 55 in Herts)..........

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

In the vicinity of the garden first thing noted House Sparrow (30), Common Magpie (2), Carrion Crow, Common Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Blue Tit

CHENIES BOTTOM (CHESS VALLEY) (BUCKS)

All 4 COMMON TEAL were still present on the lake (3 drakes), along with the Little Grebe and 2 Mute Swans. A pair of GREY WAGTAILS was on the river, whilst Mallard, Robin, Wren, Moorhen and Jackdaw were also seen. The first of several singing male Song Thrushes of the day was noted whilst a further pair of Mute Swans was on the Chess by Church Covert.

At LATIMER, a flock of 116 Atlantic Canada Geese was in the fields

BOIS MILL POND added a further pair of Mute Swans, as well as the regular adult Continental Cormorant (sinensis) perched aloft the island tree; Long-tailed Tits were by the brook

A quick circuit from WATERCRESS COTTAGE around to CHESHAM FISHING LAKES yielded 3 more singing male Song Thrushes, Dunnock, Wren, 4 Robins, Rooks (inspecting the nests), 14 Redwing, Grey Heron and 3 Red Kites. The lakes held 4 Mute Swans (2 first-years), 1 Canada Goose, 37 Mallard, 16 Tufted Ducks, 10 Coot, 6 Moorhens and 73 Black-headed Gulls, the latter commuting to the sewage works.

OLD AMERSHAM (BUCKS)

I had a quick check of the large stubble field in School Lane where the flock of wintering YELLOWHAMMERS were still present - 70 seen with little effort; also Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Common Pheasant

SHARDELOES LAKE was pretty dire, mainly because of serious disturbance from New Year ramblers, but it was nice to see all 8 Mute Swans together, before the cob clears them all off this spring. Up to 50 Fieldfares were also still in the area.

THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)

No New Years Day is complete for me without a visit to my main local patch and it gave me an excuse to do my first January count of the year as well as connecting with the major rares still left over from yesterday. Other than the wintering Water Pipit and a visiting Peregrine, it was a clean sheet.

I met up with my very good friend Darrel Bryant at Startop's and we birded the reservoirs together; I also saw both Roy and Ian as well as over 25 other regulars and visitors.

At STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, the most celebrated local bird of 2011 was still present - the first-winter male SNOW BUNTING. Today it was showing as well as ever and was frequenting the north shoreline by the steps in the NW corner. Three Pied Wagtails were also in this vicinity.

Waterbird-wise we had 1 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 11 Mute Swans (3 first-years), 27 Atlantic Canada Geese (marked arrival of this species), 93 Mallard, 17 Wigeon, 15 Common Teal, 42 Gadwall, 53 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 289 Coot and 13 Moorhens.

A scan of the roosting Black-headed Gull flock on the mud and islands produced the wintering adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL (just before it flew off west at 1030 hours) and 3 adult Common Gulls.

TRINGFORD RESERVOIR was pretty scant - the usual 2 Mute Swans, 54 Coot and a few ducks. By the fisherman's car park, 35 Fieldfares were flying down to the field to feed.

A small crowd of observers were standing on the causeway overlooking MARSWORTH RESERVOIR reedbed and thanks to Roy, I was able to see both JACK and COMMON SNIPE huddled in a roost up against the reedbed (the mud is rapidly disappearing). Most unexpectedly, 2 JACK SNIPES was present - both violently 'bobbing' - as well as 3 COMMON SNIPES.

The reservoir held 5 Great Crested Grebes and 33 Shoveler, with both Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker and 2 Grey Wagtails in the area.

Although we (and everybody else it seems) failed to locate the wintering Water Pipit, it was pleasing to find that the first-winter DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE had survived into the New Year - still mixing with the 73 Greylag Geese and 29 Atlantic Canada Geese in the roadside fields to the east of the reservoir.

A half-hearted check of the water harboured 8 Great Crested Grebes, the continuing Little Grebe, just 5 Mute Swans, 240 Wigeon, 330 Common Teal, 53 Shoveler, 77 Tufted Duck, 97 Pochard and best of all, the 7 COMMON GOLDENEYES in one group (two adult drakes).

Additional fare included a single LITTLE EGRET, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Common Blackbirds in the Orchard area and the flock of 54 Linnets by the Drayton Hide

WENDOVER FOREST (BUCKS)

Moving on to Wendover Hale, it was very nice to bump into Simon Gardner's wife Lynsey and her friend and putting a face to those that kindly tipped me off about the COMMON CROSSBILL flock. Being limited in time today, I stayed around just long enough to see a single flock of 16 birds - all still favouring the cone crop in the stand of conifers by the turnaround, seemingly 700 yards from the access gate at Forestry Cottages. An adult male put on a great show for us, perched out in the open at the top of the tree for 15 minutes or more. John Foster got some nice shots (see above).

I was also very pleased to find a MARSH TIT by the Forestry Cottages, whilst Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, 9 Coal Tits, Great Tit and 7 Goldcrests were also noted.

AYLESBURY TOWN CENTRE (BUCKS)

Following up from Mike Wallen's post, both resident pair of PEREGRINES were showing well at the Council Buildings and displaying.

WADDESDON (BUCKS)

At least 25 House Sparrows counted in the hamlet, with 2 Collared Doves and 6 Red Kites also.

UPPER RAY MEADOWS RESERVE, GALLOWS BRIDGE (BUCKS)

Spent over 90 minutes searching for both Hen Harrier and Merlin but to no avail - only raptors being seen were Common Kestrel, 3 Common Buzzards and 8 Red Kites.

COMMON RAVENS were good value as usual with at least 8 individuals seen, as well as 12 Stock Doves in one flock, a flyover flock of 125 European Golden Plovers, numerous Common Starling and Fieldfare and 23 Eurasian Skylarks.

LINNETS were fairly abundant with a single flock numbering 190 birds.

CALVERT BBOWT LAKE (BUCKS)

Being a Sunday and the landfill closed, gull numbers were pretty low. Despite that, there was still a good variety, including a probable adult CASPIAN GULL, 2 adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 132 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 31 Herring Gulls (predominantly Argentatus) and an adult Common Gull. Most surprising was the number of laridophiles on site including Ian Lewington, Warren Claydon, Steve Rodwell and Jon Holt.

In addition to the pre-roosting gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Cormorant, 26 Mallard, 27 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 3 Pochard and 32 Coot were counted.

CALDECOTTE LAKES (NORTH BUCKS)

Continuing north and east, I eventually reached Caldecotte Lakes. The long-staying juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER that I had initially found at Stewartby Lake in November was still present and showing well from the bypass. It was at the northern end of the South Lake.

There was an impressive gull roost here, including 7 adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS, whilst waterbirds counted included 28 Great Crested Grebes (largest number in Bucks?), 23 Mute Swans, 18 Canada Geese and 54 roosting Cormorants; also 128 Coot and 22 Tufted Ducks.

WILLEN LAKES (NORTH BUCKS)

Thanks to Simon Nichols, I was able to make a hasty retreat to Willen North Basin where I quickly connected with the beautiful adult drake SMEW - presumably the bird from Caldecotte and present for five days. It was swimming with dabbling ducks to the east of the spit.

With light fading fast, I undertook a full count of both the North and South Basins resulting in totals of just 21 Great Crested Grebes, 58 roosting Cormorants, an impressive 144 Mute Swans (including 133 on the South Basin), 70 Canada Geese, 28 Greylag Geese, 86 Mallard, 40 Gadwall, 66 Teal, 193 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, just 38 Tufted Duck, 17 Pochard, 8 Common Goldeneye, NO Goosander, 517 Coot and 397 Lapwings.

LINFORD LAKES (NORTH BUCKS)

As dusk approached, I visited Linford in the hope of counting the egrets roosting. As it was, I arrived too late and they had all disappeared into thick cover. Interestingly, Linford's Great White Egret was intercepted by Neil Wright at Brogborough Lake this morning, constituting the very FIRST record for Bedfordshire. It remained on view for just 3 minutes before heading back in the direction of Milton Keynes.

I counted 54 Mute Swans on Linford but did not see a single Barn or Short-eared Owl along Swans Way as darkness fell......

Wintering BITTERNS are back

2011-12-30T18:20:00.001Z

There were two EURASIAN BITTERNS at Weston Turville Res' this evening, best viewed from the Susan Cowdy hide. One was already being watched by Richard Billyard when I arrived, then at c3.50 another one flew across the water from near the sailing club and landed on the far side opposite the hide,only about 6 metres from the other one. After a while both birds climbed about 5 feet up and were showing quite well in the gloom. Always magic birds to see (Rob Andrews)

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER and SMEW still at Caldecotte

2011-12-30T13:44:00.000Z

Enjoyable morning round the lake.Highlights were;

Great Northern Diver still on the north lake.
Smew still on south lake.
Three Goosander now, south lake. 1 male, two female.
Big flock of Siskin, south lake.

Keith O'Hague

Wilstone Bewick's Swans relocate to Weston Turville this afternoon

2011-12-29T15:48:00.002Z

THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER

A touch or so colder today with the temperature reaching just 9 degrees C. Very overcast but dry and with an increasing westerly wind

With a visit to Tring in the offing, I took the opportunity to survey the waterbodies of the Aylesbury Area..........

CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

Three LITTLE EGRETS today just east of Bois Mill - and 1 Cormorant on the fishing lake there.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

There was no sign of Roy's colour-ringed BLACK-TAILED GODWIT when I arrived at the Drayton Hide late morning - it had presumably moved on

The water level was increasing further with the inlet pipe by the car park in full pump mode. As a consequence, wildfowl numbers were much recovered, although Great Crested Grebe and Mute Swan numbers were very low

The sole remaining Little Grebe was noted, 8 Great Crested Grebes, just 5 Mute Swans, 256 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 375 Teal, 44 Shoveler, 107 Pochard, 73 Tufted Duck, 7 COMMON GOLDENEYES (including 2 adult drakes), 760 Coot, 45 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 32 Lapwings.

The Linnet flock by the hide now numbers 52 birds and Pied Wagtails remain at a high 17.

The Cemetery Corner geese flock has increased to 83 birds, including 71 Greylag, 10 Atlantic Canada and the ever-present first-winter DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

The first-winter male SNOW BUNTING was still performing well along the north shore, Chris Holtby obtaining a large number of images.

Otherwise, 12 Mute Swans (including 3 unringed first-years), 7 Atlantic Canada Geese, 46 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes and a single Little Grebe were present.

Very little on TRINGFORD RESERVOIR other than 2 Mute Swans, 5 Grey Heron, 22 Teal and 2 drake Shoveler and even less on MARSWORTH with 4 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Teal and 21 Shovelers.

WESTON TURVILLE RESERVOIR (BUCKS)

Popped in at 1300 hours and was very surprised to find the Wilstone family party of 4 BEWICK'S SWANS being chased around by the resident pair of Mute Swans along the reedbed western side of the reservoir. The cob Mute repeatedly harried the two juvenile Bewick's, causing them to fly and circle.

Very quiet otherwise with just 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Moorhens, 2 drake Tufted Ducks and 1 drake Shoveler (up to 32 of the latter species had been present recently). Not one Coot.

THE WENDOVER ARM OF THE CANAL (GREEN PARK TO WENDOVER TOWN)

A single Little Grebe, 20 Mallard, 10 Coot and 11 Moorhens for my troubles - and a male Siskin.

BROUGHTON POOLS (BUCKS)

On the West Pool, a pair of Mute Swans, pair of Teal, 4 Moorhen and 1 Grey Heron, whilst on the Trout Pools, 14 Mallard, 5 Shoveler (2 drakes), 70 Canada Geese, 2 Moorhens and another Grey Heron. The neighbouring field held 14 Common Magpies.

WATERMEAD LAKE, NORTH AYLESBURY (BUCKS)

A full inventory recorded 10 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mute Swans (including 1 first-year), 1 Canada Goose, 124 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, just 6 Coot and 4 Moorhens.

CHESHAM BOIS (BUCKS)

A small party of 13 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS was in the field opposite Green Park in Copperkins Lane.

Waterbirds Survey Part 2 - LGRE

2011-12-27T17:01:00.001Z

TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER

The mild theme to the weather continued today with temperatures hovering around 11 degrees C. It remained dry throughout but was very overcast

Visited South Bucks today in an attempt to further census water bodies in the region.......

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 993 863)

Single Grey Heron and Mute Swan, 12 Atlantic Canada Geese and 13 Eurasian Wigeon, with the woodland tract supporting Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrests and 14 Fieldfares.

UPTON FARM, BLACK PARK ROAD (TQ 004 835)

Pair of Egyptian Geese in roadside field

BLACK PARK COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 008 832)

By far the most productive site in the county for MANDARIN DUCK with a total of 37 birds present at the north end (including 19 drakes); also 4 Mute Swans (2 first-winters), 4 Atlantic Canada Geese, 24 Mallard, 36 Coot and 8 Moorhens

ROWLEY LAKE (TQ 003 826)

This Harrow Angling Society water held just 2 Coot and a female Common Teal, the surrounding woodland yielding 55 Redwing and 8 Long-tailed Tits.

GEORGE GREEN VILLAGE (SOUTH BUCKS)

No fewer than 26 House Sparrows present in the thick hedgerow adjoining George Green Road at TQ 003 812

LANGLEY PARK LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 007 813)

The lake held a pair of Egyptian Geese, 46 Mallard, 7 Coot and 4 Moorhens, whilst the parkland 14 Ring-necked Parakeets, Green Woodpecker and displaying Stock Doves.

THORNEY COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS)

A reasonable number of diving duck for a change with 70 Tufted Duck and 42 Northern Pochard present, along with 5 Mute Swans (3 first-winters), 7 Gadwall, 10 Coot and 2 Great Crested Grebes. A single Little Egret was feeding in the brook

OLD SLADE PIT (SOUTH BUCKS)

A large gravel pit holding wintering waterbirds including 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swans (all first-winter), 4 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck and 12 Coot

FARLOWS LAKE, IVER HEATH (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 044 807)

A large gravel pit complex devoted to angling with 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Canada Geese, 6 Mallard, 11 Tufted Ducks, 20 Coot, 8 Moorhen and 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS noted; also 2 SISKINS in Alders.

GERRARDS CROSS COMMON PONDS (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 998 887 & SU 999 883)

The North Pond remains dry whilst the South harboured just the resident pair of Moorhens.

PENN VILLAGE POND (SU 907 937)

A total of 58 Mallard and 2 Moorhens

PENNHOUSE GROVE (SU 923 947)

A total of 28 RED KITES roosted this evening

PENN WOOD (SOUTH BUCKS)

The Holly tree roost at SU 917 954 held an incredible 370 GREENFINCHES this afternoon, the highest number in many years, whilst the bracken held 7 roosting WOODCOCKS

2011-12-27T10:59:00.001Z

An excellent morning going round the lake.

Juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on the north lake, diving around by the buoy marked number 4
Female GOOSANDER on the north lake, with drake on the south lake, in front of houses, near the rowing club.
Male SMEW, south lake, at the far end.
And a few Siskin on the south lake.

Just a few of the highlights from 40 different birds seen this morning (Keith O'Hague)

Winter Waterbird Surveying

2011-12-21T18:00:00.001Z

WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER

Well what topsy turvy weather ! The first official day of winter sees temperatures hit a balmy 13 degrees C, with a tropical airflow bringing damp, drizzly conditions before it finally cleared from the west.

As it was 21 December today and the Winter Solstice, I reserved the day for waterbird surveying, covering the Thames Basin waterbodies in the south of the county. Diving duck numbers were disappointingly low.

BEACONSFIELD SERVICES LAKE (BUCKS) (SU 953 888)

Deadly - just a pair of Mallard for my efforts

CASTLEMAN'S FARM POND, WOOBURN COMMON (SU 923 877)

Very flooded but just 2 Moorhens and 4 Mallard present

BURNHAM BEECHES NNR (BUCKS)

At the Middle Pond (SU 950 847), just 7 MANDARIN DUCKS present (4 drakes), 25 Mallards and 2 Moorhens. The Upper Pond was devoid of any birds and the Swilly Pond was totally dried up.

East Burnham Common held at least 270 Redwings, a cacophony of loud repertoire coming from the trees as they assembled in the canopy. Nuthatch, 3 Common Treecreepers, Jay and Coal Tit also noted, and 35 Fieldfares.

TAPLOW LAKE (BUCKS) (SU 910 810)

An inventory logged 22 Mute Swans (including 1 first-winter), 58 Coot, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Gadwall and 9 Tufted Ducks.

THE JUBILEE RIVER (BUCKS) (SECTION BETWEEN AMERDEN BRIDGE AND MARSH LANE WEIR)

1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Mute Swans, 12 Atlantic Canada Geese, 13 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 12 Coot and 6 Moorhens

SECTION BETWEEN MARSH LANE WEIR AND JUST EAST OF LAKE END ROAD (BUCKS)

Still no sign of the drake Ferruginous Duck, present for at least the past 7 winters but 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebes, 38 Atlantic Canada Geese, 25 Mallard, 37 Tufted Duck and 18 Coot.

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (BUCKS)

Just 9 Tufted Ducks were counted on the isolated lake to the east of Dorney Rowing Lakes with just 1 further bird on the West Lake. Other species counted included 118 Atlantic Canada Geese, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 36 Mute Swans (plus an additional family party of 6 on the neighbouring river), 8 Cormorants and a single female Pochard.

SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS) (SU 880 875)

Highlight was the presence of 206 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 731 Lapwings on the spit.....

Otherwise, just 5 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Heron (already repairing nests), 78 Cormorants, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag Geese, 7 Egyptian Geese, 22 Mallard, 37 Teal, 72 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 96 Tufted Duck, 29 Pochard and just 6 Coot

WESTHORPE FARM WINDSURFING PITS, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS) (SU 872 870)

A massive gull roost, including good numbers of large white-headed gulls. Waterbirds included 5 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 6 Moorhen and 26 Coot.

Sunday Highlights - 18 December

2011-12-18T12:27:00.001Z

Only news is from the north of the county where the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains present at Caldecotte Lakes and 10 GOOSANDER (7 drakes) are in Emberton Park

Recent News

2011-12-15T20:52:00.002Z

In addition to the SNOW BUNTING at Startop's End Reservoir, Tring, mentioned above, the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains at Caldecotte Lake (see Ben Andrew's superb offerings above) and at least two ringtail HEN HARRIERS at Gallows Bridge.

At Calvert Sailing Lake, a juvenile ICELAND GULL roosted last night, with at least 3 CASPIAN GULLS in the roost.

SNOW BUNTING walks over border

2011-12-15T20:03:00.002Z

The first-winter male SNOW BUNTING that has been present at Startop's End Reservoir since Monday walked over the border into the NE corner of the reservoir and on to the beach literally in front of the main car park. John Foster was able to get these smashing images.

DIVER still present

2011-12-13T18:17:00.000Z

Sunny start, cold, poured with rain, then the sun came out again.

A good morning, the highlights being,

Great Northern Diver still on the north lake.
Kingfisher, north lake.
Big flock of Lapwing flying overhead.
Jay, north lake.
Female Goosander, north lake.
Sparrowhawk flying overhead.
Five Little Grebe, south lake.
Eight Siskin around Monellan Grove car park.
Pair of Bullfinch, around Monellan Grove car park.
Nine Reed Buntings, by the footbridge, at the car park.

Per Keith

After the storms, nothing new is found.........

2011-12-09T20:32:00.002Z

At Gallows Bridge Farm, still 3 HEN HARRIERS in attendance and at Caldecotte Lakes, the long-staying juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still surviving.........

Gallows Bridge Farm

2011-12-07T16:54:00.003Z

The light was superb today, which made up for the bitterly cold, strong NW winds! As I stepped out of the car in the car park, one of the juvenile HEN HARRIERS was quartering the field overlooked by the hides. It came up fairly close and then flew over the path leading to the hides, and into the opposite field. I think it then circled back round and proceeded to sit in what I presume was a sheltered, sunny position, in the furthest north corner of the hide field, for the next hour (see images above)

Next up was a male Peregrine, which sat in the middle of the hide field for a good 15 minutes doing nothing very much. It then flew to the fence running along the southwest edge of the hide field. The second HEN HARRIER was active along the opposite hedge line, giving great views from the 2nd hide along. It would fly very slowly and gently before going up, over the hedge and dropping down out of sight into the field beyond. Just the one showing of a Red Kite in the 2 hours I was there, although I'd seen 5 along the A41 between there and Aylesbury.

A flock of at least 12 Fieldfare came through. A Common Kestrel sat in a tree as I walked to the hide. There were also Skylarks and Goldfinches, and obviously 100s of Golden Plover and Lapwings. The latter two species would frequently be spooked up into large swirling flocks seen beyond the hedge line (Lucy Flower Birding & Photography).

December lingering rarities

2011-12-06T19:06:00.002Z

In North Bucks, both the Linford Lake GREAT WHITE EGRET and the Caldecotte Lakes juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER are still present, and at Gallows Bridge Farm, up to 3 HEN HARRIERS still present.

Local News for Saturday

2011-12-03T18:31:00.003Z

At Gallows Bridge Reserve, still at least 3 HEN HARRIERS in attendance and 13 COMMON RAVENS whilst at nearby Calvert Lakes, two CASPIAN GULLS (1st winter and adult) roosted (Warren Claydon/Tim Watts).

In North Bucks, the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains at Caldecotte Lakes

DIVER still present

2011-11-29T17:28:00.000Z

The juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER remains at Caldecotte South Lake

Late SWALLOW

2011-11-29T16:38:00.002Z

A SWALLOW was reported from Gallows Bridge Reserve today, along with the two HEN HARRIERS - adult female and juvenile

DIVER still present

2011-11-28T22:46:00.002Z

The juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER is still present at Caldecotte Lakes today (see Ken Earnshaw's outstanding shots above)

Gallows Bridge continues to reap rewards.....

2011-11-28T18:39:00.001Z

MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER (LGRE DIARY NOTES)

The day dawned with a ground frost, only the second so far this autumn. This was followed by a beautiful day, although the wind soon freshened up from the west and cloud rolled in. By dusk, temperatures had recovered to an unseasonal 13 degrees C.......

THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)

The reservoirs are at the lowest end of November levels that I can ever remember, with even all three smaller reservoirs incredibly low (Startop's End in particular). I took the opportunity of undertaking a full wildfowl census with the calm conditions, with most noticeable the massive increase in Northern Pochard numbers. The full inventory is listed below - 55 species -:

Great Crested Grebe (31 including 11 on Wilstone, 5 on Tringford, 12 on Startop's and 3 on Marsworth)
Little Grebe (3 still on Wilstone and 1 on Startop's)
Cormorant (20 roosting on Wilstone, with 8 on Tringford and 11 on Startop's; ringed 'CAU' Carbo was roosting on Tringford)
Grey Heron (just 2 on Wilstone, 2 on Tringford and 2 on Marsworth)
Mute Swan (just 38 birds - all adult type - including 34 on Wilstone, 2 on Tringford and 2 on Startop's; additionally, an adult was freshly dead on the spit, perhaps killed by Fox)
Whooper Swan (both adults present but one bird appeared to be in distress and reluctant to move - both sitting on the mud by the jetty)
**BEWICK'S SWAN (the Wilstone family party of 4 birds still present but particularly mobile today - flying east from the Drayton Lagoon at 1003 only to return shortly later and then landed near to the hide)
Greylag Goose (67 in the fields to the east of Wilstone Reservoir)
Atlantic Canada Goose (7)
**DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE (the long-staying juvenile was on the bund mid-morning and drinking from the edge of Wilstone Reservoir)
*COMMON SHELDUCK (a drake was by the hide on Wilstone) *Interestingly, David Kramer had one at Priory Country Park, Bedford, this morning.
Mallard (162 including 57 on Wilstone, 93 on Startop's and 12 on Marsworth)
GADWALL (major increase with 66 birds counted, including 24 on Wilstone, 6 on Tringford and 36 on Startop's)
*NORTHERN PINTAIL (just 1 drake on Wilstone)
Northern Shoveler (total of 118 counted, including 86 on Wilstone, 10 on Startop's and 22 on Wilstone)
Eurasian Wigeon (nothing like the numbers that once wintered at the reservoirs but 233 on Wilstone and 22 on Startop's)
Common Teal (327 counted: 216 on Wilstone, with 34 on Tringford, 73 on Startop's and 4 on Marsworth)
Northern Pochard (249 birds, mostly drakes: major increase with 137 on Wilstone and 112 on Startop's)
RED-CRESTED POCHARD (the female remains on Wilstone and 4 birds - a female, a first-winter and 2 adult drakes - on Startop's)
Tufted Duck (very poor numbers noted at 104 comprising just 36 on Wilstone, with 16 on Tringford and 52 on Startop's)
COMMON GOLDENEYE (two female-types on Wilstone)
Smew (no sign of yesterday's redhead on Wilstone)
Red Kite (1 west of Wilstone)
Common Kestrel (1 by Tringford Reservoir)
Common Pheasant (6 males walking out on the vegetation at Wilstone)
Moorhen (full census undertaken with 66 birds recorded: 32 on Wilstone, 14 on Tringford, 14 on Startop's and 6 on Tringford)
Common Coot (all click-counted revealing a total of 950 including a decrease to 622 on Wilstone, 52 on Tringford and 276 on Startop's)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (just 6 present on Wilstone)
Lapwing (17 on Wilstone and 3 on Startop's)
*DUNLIN (a full winter-plumaged bird on the mud at Startop's)
*GREEN SANDPIPER (the wintering singleton still present on the mud at Tringford)
Black-headed Gull (114 on Wilstone, 76 on Startop's and 51 on Marsworth)
Common Gull (7 on Wilstone)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult on Tringford)

Woodpigeon (massive decrease in numbers with a flock of 200 in cereal crops near Marsworth village)
Collared Dove (2 in Wilstone village and 16 in Marsworth)
**WATER PIPIT (the wintering bird on Wilstone showing very well today in the small bay north of the jetty)
Meadow Pipit (8 on the vegetated fringes of Wilstone)
Pied Wagtail (good numbers around including 21 on Wilstone, 2 on Tringford and 4 on Startop's)
Grey Wagtail (singles on Wilstone and Marsworth)
Wren (Marsworth Wood and Wilstone)
Dunnock (3 birds noted along Watery Lane)
Robin (5 noted - on Wilstone and Marsworth)
Song Thrush (a number of singing males including singles by the hide and in the East Poplars on Wilstone and 2 at Startop's/Marsworth)
Fieldfare (about 40 on the eastern flank of Wilstone)
Common Blackbird (5 present in the former orchard adjacent to the Black Poplars on Wilstone's East Bank)
Blue Tit (3 in Marsworth Reedbed)
Long-tailed Tit (party of 11 birds on Wilstone)
Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook and Jackdaw all noted
Common Starling (34 in fields around Wilstone)
House Sparrow (as usual, only birds a flock of 16 by Startop Farm)
Chaffinch (1 in Marsworth Wood)
LINNET (a flock of 17 feeding on the Wilstone mud with the Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails by the jetty)
BULLFINCH (1 in Watery Lane, Marsworth)
Reed Bunting (1 in Marsworth Reedbed)

AYLESBURY COUNTY HALL (BUCKS)

The female PEREGRINE was sat on the platform at midday

THE UPPER RAY MEADOWS BBOWT RESERVE AT GALLOWS BRIDGE FARM (BUCKS)

Present from 1230-1300 hours, joined Ken & Sally Earnshaw, Mike Habberfield and his wife and Dave Parmenter in the main car park at Gallows Bridge and enjoyed some real quality birding.....

The two regular HEN HARRIERS - the initial adult female and the small bright juvenile - were both present and showing well - the juvenile on view virtually all of the time. The latter was patrolling the rough field to the west of the main reserve field, as well as the right hand hedgerow, and approached to within 75 yards at one stage whilst the adult kept to the cereal field on the north side of the hedgerow. The second-winter male showed up briefly just after I left (per KE)

Other raptors present included Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and 5 Common Kestrels whilst up to 12 COMMON RAVEN present in the main field was bizarre. They all eventually flew off towards Waddesdon. The increase in this species in our region is nothing short of remarkable.

A flock of 35 Linnets and 7 Skylarks was also to be seen and a male Bullfinch on teasels by the entrance track

Nearby, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were showing well near Westcott

Talking of the latter, I returned early afternoon to a site in central Bedfordshire where I and another local observer were treated once more to an incredible display by up to 10 hunting SHORT-EARED OWLS. These birds have been present for just over a week now but are wintering on land earmarked for an astonishing 5,000 new homes ! A further 4 individuals are also present in the Brogborough area - by far the most I have ever seen in the county at one time and testament to the numbers currently wintering in Britain following the exceptional breeding season. The two female-type MERLINS were also still around.

A single Little Egret was south of the Kempston Bypass on the larger pit.

Sunday Roundup

2011-11-27T20:59:00.002Z

In North Bucks today, Paul Saynor watched the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER at Caldecotte Lakes fly from North Lake over road bridge to South Lake with a fish in its beak at about 11-30am and later saw 3 Little Egrest at reserve end of South Lake.

The GREAT WHITE EGRET was again at Linford whilst at Gallows Bridge Farm Upper Ray Meadows Reserve, an adult male HEN HARRIER joined the adult female and juvenile wintering there.

Today's News - GWE, GND and two HEN HARRIERS

2011-11-26T14:32:00.003Z

The juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER was still present at Caldecotte Lake today until at least 10.30, covering huge areas of both the North and South lakes; it can literally disappear in front of your eyes; 6 Siskin over and 2 Little Egrets also (per Mike Wallen) (see Malcolm Stewart's superb images above)

Nearby, the wintering GREAT WHITE EGRET is still present at Linford NR and in the west of the county, Warren Claydon has confirmed the presence of two HEN HARRIERS at Gallows Bridge Farm, the original adult female that Warren and I both saw and the juvenile that has been present for a couple of weeks now

DIVER still present

2011-11-24T20:40:00.002Z

The juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER is still present at Caldecotte Lake North, but ranging quite widely

BRENT GOOSE at Marlow

2011-11-24T20:16:00.000Z

Not a great deal of interest today except for a Dark-bellied Brent Goose on the spit along with a Bar-headed Goose, 5 Egyptian Geese and some 100 or so Golden Plover (Ken Earnshaw)

First-winter WILLOW TIT at Linford NR Woodland Hide Feeding Station

2011-11-21T11:36:00.001Z

As I reported last week, I spent 45 minutes on site at The Woodland Hide and enjoyed excellent views of at least 3 black-capped tits - two very obvious and vocal Marsh Tits and another bird showing many characteristics of a WILLOW TIT. The nasal calls it was giving were very typical of Willow Tit and identical to those given by Willow Tits I have most recently looked at in the Thet Valley, Norfolk Breckland. I did have reservations over the paucity of the pale wing panels but as Richard Broughton has published, this feature is variable and the fact that this bird is most likely a first-winter, perhaps has a bearing on it.

Although Richard clearly has opposing views on this, and I certainly have no concrete evidence to back up my claims, I do have reservations over the appearance of these 'non-classic' individuals and I do worry that as the species becomes more and more outnumbered by Marsh Tits that peripheral birds are not hybridising. In Top Scrub at Ivinghoe Beacon for years we had breeding Willow and Marsh Tits side-by-side and they were very easy to differentiate. In April and May, the loud repetitive song of the Willow Tit was truly diagnostic and enlivened the scrub. At one time, Willow Tit was the commoner species, with as many as 8 territories along the ridge. Towards the end though, when numbers suddenly declined dramatically and Marsh Tits became to dominate, the vocalisations and appearance of the last remaining Willow Tits was not so clear-cut and they seemed to show mixed characters and much overlapping of features.

If we are to take vocalisations as the positive feature, then there is no doubt that the current bird wintering at the feeding station at HESC (Linford Lakes) is a WILLOW TIT. Although I have not recorded Willow Tits in Little Linford Wood since the last breeding pair in the 1990's, the species does still occur not far away across the border in Northamptonshire, in surprisingly good numbers. In 2010, there were 48 reports from 20 separate localities, with 6 individuals being trapped and ringed at Stanford Reservoir (on the Leicestershire border) between January and October. These 20 locations being Ravensthorpe Reservoir, Boddington Reservoir, Pitsford Reservoir, Stanwick GP, Storton's GP Northampton, Daventry CP, Burgh Hill, East Carlton CP, Weedon, Nobottle Wood, Fineshade Wood, Salcey Forest, Badby Wood, Glyn Davies Wood, Blueberry Farm Maidwell, Draughton, Maidwell Dale and Creston Capes (per Bob Bullock, Northamptonshire County Records).From this list, Salcey Forest is of the most relevant, virtually straddling the county border, and easily where this latest first-winter may have straggled from (Lee G R Evans)

Ageing of HEN HARRIERS respective to Gallows Bridge Farm

2011-11-20T16:12:00.000Z

Discussing Hen Harrier ageing with Warren Claydon this afternoon, I decided to write this short piece. Warren and I had seen a Hen Harrier at Gallows Bridge Farm on 6 and 7 November 2011 which we both considered to be an adult female on field views. Subsequently, there has been much discussion as to the ageing of this bird, and it remains a real possibility that more than one bird is involved in the sightings. Over the past few days, some reasonable images have appeared of the bird present this weekend, allowing some comparable discussions to take place

http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/bucks/show_photo.asp?photo_id=1788

The above image by Rod Scarfe is taken of a HEN HARRIER recently at Gallows Bridge Farm; it clearly shows a JUVENILE FEMALE.......

Critical features to consider when ageing Hen Harriers are the eye colour, saturation and colour of the underparts and the wing patterning.

The image here http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/bucks/show_photo.asp?photo_id=1787 taken by Tim Watts, shows a bird with FIVE obvious fingered primaries, ruling out Pallid Harrier

The eye colour appears to be uniform dark brown, both adult male and females having a pale yellow iris, whilst the facial disc pattern is clearly of a juvenile, with the dark brown circumnavigating the paler eye crescents and being bordered behind by a thin pale collar.

Juvenile Hen Harriers possess an orange-brown ground colour to the underparts whereas second-winters and adult females are invariably whitish in terms of basal colour. Juveniles generally show a contrast between the darker breast and the paler belly and the streaks on the underparts gradually become narrower from the breast towards the belly, with the undertail-coverts uniformly paler.

The adult females have the underparts boldly striped dark brown and essentially (and critically) have BARRED greater coverts and secondaries in the upperwing. Juveniles have a more uniformly patterned upperwing pattern.

A very confiding GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

2011-11-18T22:14:00.001Z

FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER

A much cooler day than of late with SSE winds pegging temperatures back. A dry day though, and fairly bright......

CALDECOTTE LAKES (NORTH BUCKS)

The juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER was still showing very well today, frequenting the extreme NE corner of Caldecotte North Lake. It was diving almost continuously and also ventured out on to the main lake. As both Simon and Ben have already expressed, the bird is particularly photogenic, and swims within 30 feet of the boardwalk.

DIRECTIONS: From the A5, take the H10 Bletcham Way eastwards. Just after the Brewer's Fayre pub, take first right on to Monellan Grove. Within a few yards, turn left on to Caldecotte Lane and then left again on to Wadesmill Lane. This road takes you under the Walton Park underpass and after about 150 yards turn left in to Chase Avenue. Continue on until Redcote Manor cul-de-sac appears on your left and park sensibly as you come across the bay.

This was the first time I had ever visited this particular part of the lake and I was impressed by the number of waterbirds present - 6 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Mute Swans (2 first-winters), 38 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 28 Coot, 1 Grey Heron and a COMMON KINGFISHER.....

Allan Stewart and I then checked Caldecotte South Lake where a further 8 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Mute Swans (including family party of 6) and 83 Coot were noted.

LINFORD NATURE RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

Following up on a report, Allan and I visited the Woodland Hide at Linford Reserve. In the 45 minutes that we were present, a procession of Great and Blue Tits visited the two feeders consistently. There were also 3 black-capped tits visiting throughout, including two pale cutting-edged MARSH TITS and what appeared to be a WILLOW TIT. All three birds were typically vocal, the apparent Willow Tit making the nasal call most frequently associated with that species. It was also very bull-necked in appearance, with the black extending slightly further back on to the hindneck, the white cheeks contrasting with the warmth of the head and the sides and flanks very richly coloured. The black bib was more extensive and patchy and the crown colour more drab and plain. The wing panel however was very ill-defined and difficult to see.

The Woodland Hide also yielded 4 Bullfinches, 30 Fieldfares, 28 Redwings and 2 Song Thrushes, whilst Black Horse Lake held 9 Great Crested Grebes and Linford Lake 14 Little Grebe (all in one flock), 54 Mute Swans and 62 Common Teal on the pool by the Swans Way.

STOKE GOLDINGTON, GAYHURST MANOR AND LITTLE LINFORD AREA (NORTH BUCKS)

We had a good look round for Tree Sparrows but failed to locate any and likewise failed in our quest to locate the Great White Egret......

However, driving down the track towards Gayhurst Manor, we were surprised to find a COMMON RAVEN 'guarding' the road and gathering horse hair in its beak. Surely it was not nesting already. Anyway, as we approached, it cronked a couple of times and then flew off in the direction of this spring's nest. The same pony fields yielded 40 Meadow Pipits and 15 Pied Wagtails.

Little Linford Wood was devoid of any maize crop and consequently any Tree Sparrows or farmland birds but 5 Fieldfare were noted.

At SP 850 440, the large lake to the west of the M1 held 42 Mute Swans.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Nothing new had arrived - in fact the adult Eurasian White-front had departed.

The juvenile DARK-BELLIED BRENT was still in the usual field adjacent to Rushy Meadow, the family party of 4 BEWICK'S SWANS in the isolated pool in the NW corner by the Black Poplars and 3 Little Grebes, 65 Greylag Geese, 2 drake PINTAIL, the female RED-CRESTED POCHARD and 5 COMMON GOLDENEYE on the main reservoir.

BEECH FARM FIELDS, FORMER HATFIELD AERODROME SITE (HERTS)

A splendid performance by up to 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS at dusk, including 3 typically pale individuals and a single darker bird. Also no less than 6,500 Jackdaws flew noisily in to roost - this being one of the largest roosts of this species in Britain

HEN HARRIER still at Gallows Bridge

2011-11-18T20:51:00.001Z

Gallows Bridge NR - Fri 18 Nov 11.30-14.30

My first visit to this NR. Target birds were Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl. Good views of the long-staying adult female HEN HARRIER, white rump prominent as it hunted over the hedgerows harrassed constantly by Carrion Crows. No sign of the Short-eared Owl.

Good sized flocks of Golden Plover (150), Lapwing (100+) and Starlings (200+) which could only be seen from the hide when spooked from their feeding fields by the numerous Red Kites, Kestrels and Hen Harrier. Also flocks of Linnets (50) and Fieldfares (30), 2 Herons over and occasional Skylarks. 4 Red-legged Partridges and 3 Cock Pheasants (Sally Douglas).

North Bucks GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present

2011-11-17T19:15:00.001Z

Juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present between 08.30 and 09.00. In the basin on the eastern edge of the north lake of Caldecott (access from Redcote Manor, Walton Park). It did a lap of the fringe of the basin before settling in the southern section. Surfaces for about 5 seconds, then disappears and reappears some distance away (Peter Barnes)

More on the GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

2011-11-16T16:15:00.002Z

After a tip off from Dick at 14.47 that Cliff Dell had a Diver species on the north lake , I dashed over from Tilbrook and at 15:00 was stood next to Cliff watching a fantastic GREAT NORTHERN DIVER at c 30 yds range - Ben Miller and Dick joining us shortly afterwards (the former fortuitously driving along the M1 on his way home); it is in the North Eastern Arm ranging from that bay to the other side (south) of the island , it is diving frequently, often spending a minute under the water only to surface a distance away , stay up for 10 seconds and dive again , it appears to be a juvenile. Ben Miller is onsite and obtaining images.

The best place to view is from the boardwalk along the edge of Redcote Manor ( Road ) which is actually in the Walton Park area of Caldecotte http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=caldecotte&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x487654ab27e3728b:0xdc89dd69b75a8705,Caldecotte,+Milton+Keynes&gl=uk&ei=ItnDTpzxMMPJswbCkrz2Cw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=2&ved=0CCcQ8gEwAQand

zoom in under the area of Walton Park It is the 17th record for Bucks following birds in 2006 and 2009 at Calvert. Great find by Cliff in a woefully under watched area of Caldecotte lake hopefully it will still be there in the morning ! (Simon Nichols)

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER in North Bucks

2011-11-16T16:12:00.000Z

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER at Caldecotte North , viewable from the Bandstand at 15.05 found by Cliff Dell and confirmed by Simon Nichols, Ben Miller and Dick Bodily

HEN HARRIER at Gallows Bridge Farm

2011-11-13T21:55:00.003Z

John Foster photographed this HEN HARRIER - an apparent adult female - at Gallows Bridge Upper Ray Meadows Reserve today

Roosting LITTLE EGRETS continue to break records in North Bucks - 43 this evening

2011-11-13T21:47:00.001Z

Rob Hill and I did a coordinated roost count @ Linford this evening 15.30 -16.40

One of the SHORT EARED OWLS was hunting the Paddocks as we drove past , along Swans Way

We set up counting position opp Tern Island , 2 LITTLE EGRETS (LE) were already in residence and a further 5 were roosting in the trees at the east edge along with the GREAT WHITE EGRET , within minutes another 4 had flown in (1 + 2 + 1 ) then at 15:50 an incredible flock of 30 birds headed in from the same direction as last night , along the river from Haversham and Bradwell ! ! Most of the flock dropped into the main lake and began washing and preening , then at 16.00 a single bird flew in making 42 birds onsite , at about 16.10 the GWE and 1 LE left towards Bradwell !? There was another 1 at 16.15 (previous bird returning) and then the GWE flew in at 16.20 , this time straight into the roost trees , almost immediately most of the onsite LE started to make their flight to the roost trees , there was another LE in at 16.21 to make an incredible 43 Little Egrets into roost ...... There were no more new arrivals in the next 20 minutes (Simon Nichols)

Bumper number of SHORT-EARED OWLS

2011-11-13T17:21:00.002Z

Tim Watts had 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS towards dusk at Gallows Bridge and another at nearby Westcott

Today's Highlights

2011-11-13T17:17:00.002Z

In North Bucks, the GREAT WHITE EGRET remains at Linford NR, whilst 2 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE were seen at Gayhurst Pits briefly early morning (Rob Hill).

The adult female HEN HARRIER is still at Gallows Bridge and in South Bucks, the SLAVONIAN GREBE remains at Spade Oak NR, Little Marlow

A herd of 10 BEWICK'S SWANS flew west over College Lake BBOWT at 0945 hours

Today's Highlights

2011-11-09T20:17:00.002Z

In addition to the aforementioned Spade Oak SLAVONIAN GREBE and the 4 WAXWINGS at Ivinghoe Beacon, Wally Smith noted 2-3 FIRECRESTS in Hogback Wood, Beaconsfield, and the adult female HEN HARRIER remains at Upper Ray Meadows, Gallows Bridge.

WAXWINGS on the Hills

2011-11-09T18:42:00.001Z

I was very pleasantly surprised by the arrival of 4 WAXWINGS whilst out birding this morning. They arrived from the East and alighted on the tall trees close to the car park. They moved from tree to tree for about 5 minutes before flying off West. However, as I walked down towards the S-bend, I saw them circle back round and onto Steps Hill. They were in the area for at least 20 minutes. I managed the record shots above.

It was also nice to see a couple of Nuthatches in the area (Lucy Flowers)

SLAV GREBE still present

2011-11-09T18:33:00.001Z

Got back home late last night after a (mistimed) long weekend 'Up North' with the parents, so first light found me at LMGP praying the SLAVONIAN GREBE was still in residence. News of a bird at Queen Mother Resr this morning had me worried it had moved on, but eventually it appeared in the North East section of the pit, and then showed very well, including a period of preening among the Tufted Duck flock. I moved into the area and started my Bucks list in early 2003 - I really didn't think it would take eight years to see a Slav Grebe in the county!!

Interestingly, there is another new Slav Grebe nearby at Brogborough this morning, with Purple Sand at Draycote, Velvet Scoter at Gratham Water, RB Meg in Beds, and a bit of a movement of Brent Geese thrown in as well... A good day to be out looking, there is more to be found (Ben Miller).

No Snow Bunting but HEN HARRIERS compensate

2011-11-07T21:39:00.000Z

MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER - LGRE DIARY NOTES

Well I felt pretty depressed last night. After showing well for about four hours yesterday, the Ivinghoe Beacon Snow Bunting decided to go awol just as I rolled up on site yesterday afternoon, and despite searching for the next 90 minutes with the two young Perfect brothers, the bird was nowhere to be found - it had presumably moved on due to the pressure of dogwalkers and Sunday strollers. Two drab first-winter RING OUZELS in neighbouring scrub were scant compensation.......

Well today dawned grey and drizzly and with the wind still in the east (it had veered from NE to SSE) I returned first thing to the Hills.....

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

I was faced with thick fog early morning but despite that, there was enough visibility at the Beacon trig point to see that the Snow Bunting was not there. In fact it was dead, just 1 Song Thrush and 3 Goldcrests

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Very little change since my last visit of about a week ago, although the water level had risen slightly...

The EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER flock had risen dramatically - from around 180 to 411 - but otherwise it was standard fare.......

The 4 Little Grebes, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 36 Mute Swans, the 2 adult Whooper Swans, 62 Greylag Geese, just 78 Wigeon, 113 Common Teal, 42 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 1 drake PINTAIL, 44 Pochard, just 27 Tufted Duck and 10 Meadow Pipits

UPPER RAY MEADOWS, GALLOWS BRIDGE (WEST BUCKS)

Following up on Warren's message, I arrived at Gallows Bridge reserve at 1000 hours and departed at just after 1100 hours. In that hour, Warren's HEN HARRIER was intermittently in view, occasionally sitting on top of the hedgerow but generally hunting up and down over the large weedy fields that border the northern perimeter of the reserve. It was constantly harassed by Carrion Crows and to escape their attacks, repeatedly had to resort to sitting on the ground or hedgerow. In flight, it showed five splayed primary 'fingers' and not four and hence quickly eliminated Pallid Harrier, of which there is an unprecedented influx at present. It was also very pale on the underparts, with the saturated breast streaking on a whitish background, and exhibited clear pale covert patches on each upperwing. It appeared to be an adult female. The broad white rump was clearly seen and the strongly barred uppertail. It was also a heavy bird in flight, with broad-based wings.

A single COMMON RAVEN was also in the vicinity, as well as Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard, whilst a flock of 125 European Golden Plover wheeled overhead and spooked farmland birds included 36 Skylarks and 260 Common Starlings.

The Hen Harrier could be seen from either the first hide or the main car park

CALVERT SAILING LAKE (BUCKS)

The long-staying juvenile COMMON SCOTER was still present, closely hugging the NW bank of reeds

KNOTTING GREEN (NORTH BEDFORDSHIRE)

Thanks to Steve Blain, I drove as far north as I could go in Bedfordshire and spent the entire afternoon in a damp and bleak landscape of Knotting Green. Light conditions were very poor as mizzle drifted in and out of the valley, whilst underfoot was wet and muddy. I stood at the derelict barn about half a mile south of the road from 1300 hours but it was not until three hours later that I succeeded in my goal - the ringtail HEN HARRIER finally appearing at 1605 hours. The bird appeared high from the south and dropped down into the valley and began hunting over the densely scattered small bushes behind the line of taller trees. At one point, it flushed a female Common Pheasant, and chased it briefly, before dropping down presumably to roost after about ten minutes of flight. It was a very dark chocolate-brown individual on the upperparts and was boldly and very heavily streaked on the underparts. There was little contrast in the wing coverts, with the white rump patch broad and conspicuous and the ringtail characteristically rimmed buff. These features all suggested a juvenile.........I was delighted, after dipping Neil Wright's bird on three occasions, I had at last connected and the long trip and stakeout had been well worthwhile

In all of the time that I was present at the site, there was little else to keep one occupied - no Great Grey Shrike, Short-eared or Barn Owls just 4 Bullfinch, 18 Greenfinch, 3 Reed Buntings, male Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 5 Song Thrush, 30 Redwing and about 100 Fieldfare

OTTERS at Linford

2011-11-07T20:56:00.000Z

At Linford Sunday morning 2 Marsh Tits woodland hide, 21 Little Grebe in various groups on main lake. Best of all met Rob Hill when walking to Far hide, he told me he had just seen 2 OTTERS. After 10 minutes i saw a large wake under the water near the far bank, an OTTER surfaced with a fish then vanished into the reeds (Mal McGar)

Sunday SNOW BUNTING on Beacon

2011-11-07T20:53:00.003Z

Iain Malin and Dave Hutchinson discovered this very confiding SNOW BUNTING at the summit of Ivinghoe Beacon at 0930 hours on Sunday morning. It remained on view until early afternoon before becoming more and more mobile as more and more Sunday strollers appeared - some great images from Dave Hutchinson

SLAV still present - and GREENSHANK finally secured on Year List

2011-11-05T18:42:00.001Z

SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER - LGRE DIARY NOTES

A switch overnight in the wind direction. Although slack at first light, a Northeasterly set in during the day, eventually clearing away the thick fog encountered in much of Hertfordshire.........

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)

I returned in much better light conditions to Spade Oak, where the SLAVONIAN GREBE was still present fishing close to the main island. It was fairly elusive, and diving frequently, but on one occasion swam away from the island and headed once more to the Willows in the SE corner of the pit. On closer views, the redness of the eye was apparent, although the lack of a clear demarcation line on the crown and a pale tip to the bill suggested a young bird. Although obviously a small grebe when compared to the Great Crested Grebes, the stark contrast between the gleaming white underparts and the black upperparts ruled out Black-necked Grebe, as well as the flatter crown (no central peak) and the heavier and straighter bill. It was also longer and thicker-necked, and much whiter in the neck.

The water level was particularly high on the pit, with the perimeter trail quite muddy with the recent heavy rains. Also recorded were the following species -:

Great Crested Grebe (21)
Cormorant (54 on the island)
Grey Heron (7)
Greylag Geese (132 including a leucistic bird)
Egyptian Geese (pair)
COMMON SHELDUCK (pair)
Mallard (31)
Common Teal (76)
Wigeon (19)
Gadwall (3)
Shoveler (17)
Tufted Duck (168)
Northern Pochard (23)
Coot (26)
Lapwing (217)
Common Gull (4)
Common Kingfisher (2)
Grey Wagtail (3)
Mistle Thrush (4)

WALLINGTON TURN (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Joined Ray Hooper, Mike Ilett, Brendan Glynn and Chris Stone at the former Quail site and spent two hours searching for Alan Reynold's Merlin. Once again, we drew a blank and once again, the Sparrowhawk was sat in the fields, and 2 Common Buzzards. The covey of 14 GREY PARTRIDGE were still present, along with 32 Red-legged Partridge, as well as 2 European Golden Plovers, 38 Skylark and a flock of 400 Common Starlings. The aforementioned observers all saw the Kelshall GREAT GREY SHRIKE at Coombe Road later too.

GAYHURST PITS (NORTH BUCKS)

After failing to find Stuart Warren's female Black Redstart in East Road, Langford, I headed up to North Bucks where at long last, thanks to Rob Norris, I finally connected with a COMMON GREENSHANK in the county this year. Pretty pathetic I know, but despite Wilstone getting bumper numbers this autumn, Buckinghamshire in general has had relatively few. Anyhow, this bird which has been present for at least a month was still feeding along the muddy edge at the extreme east end of the pit to the right (east) of the footpath. The long-staying adult GREAT WHITE EGRET was also still present on the shallow pit just east of Motorway Pit.

LINFORD NATURE RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

A mid-afternoon visit to Swan's Way yielded just 12 Little Egrets in the roosting Willows and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS flying high over the rough ground by the ruins. Both birds were being constantly disturbed by a myriad of dogwalkers, joggers and walkers - dogs running all over the site and flushing them up out of the grass.

CALVERT SAILING LAKE AND BBOWT RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

Late afternoon saw me arrive at Calvert and after a 20 minute search, I eventually located the COMMON SCOTER that has been present for several days. The presence of dusky white underparts (belly) confirmed my suspicions that it was a JUVENILE, although I was surprised by the amount of contrast in the cheek patches. The bill was all dark. Warren had warned me how elusive it was and I eventually found it hugging the NW bank close to the reeds.

The Sailing Lake also held 11 Great Crested Grebes (including a very young, still begging juvenile), 5 Mute Swans (3 young), a pair of Wigeon, 3 Gadwall and 12 Tufted Duck, with a CETTI'S WARBLER vocal in the scrub.

The neighbouring BBOWT Reserve held 3 more Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Mute Swans, Grey Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch and 8 Goldcrests with the reedbed harbouring 13 roosting Reed Buntings and eventually 370 Common Starlings.

It was a sizeable gull roost on the Sailing lake and by 1633 hours, I had click-counted a total of 3,148 large white-headed gulls. These comprised of no less than 2,760 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (predominantly adults), just 44 Great Black-backed Gulls (just 6 first-years), 326 Herring Gulls (including at least 25% Argentatus), 14 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (12 adults, 1 2nd-winter and 1 first-winter) and 4 different CASPIAN GULLS (a lovely adult in full winter plumage, a sub-adult (4th/5th winter-type), a 2nd-winter and a first-winter). In addition were two adult-type 'hooded' Lesser Black-backed Gulls closely resembling Azorean Atlantic Gulls.

Calvert this evening

2011-11-04T20:48:00.001Z

Warren Claydon had two immature CASPIAN GULLS in the roost this evening, as well as the long-staying juvenile COMMON SCOTER on the Sailing Lake

Local Mega - SLAVONIAN GREBE at Marlow

2011-11-04T20:46:00.000Z

FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Some long-needed rain at last - buckets of it. Throughout the morning and overnight, southerly winds bought heavy showers leading to some localised flooding. Still very mild though.........

SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW GP (SOUTH BUCKS)

After a plea for help from David Ferguson, I and others went down to Spade Oak to check out the small grebe that DF had discovered. Alan Stephens, Mike Wallen and others arrived there first however and confirmed the birds identity as a winter-plumaged SLAVONIAN GREBE. I watched the bird until dusk, favouring the east end of the pit.

Two GREEN SANDPIPERS were also present, a Common Snipe, 8 roosting Little Egrets and 21 Great Crested Grebes...

SLAVONIAN GREBE is a rare visitor to Buckinghamshire with just 62 previous records, the most recent being in November 2002 -:

There were just 8 records (of 9 birds) prior to 1973 -

1) One shot at Great Marlow in the 1860's;
2) Two shot at Weston Turville Reservoirs between 1874 and 1880;
4) One present at WTR from 29 January to 10 February 1924;
5) One present at WTR from 6 February to 6 March 1937;
6) One at Bletchley Station Pond on 14 February 1937;
7) One at Foxcote Reservoir on 29 November 1964;
8) Another at Foxcote Reservoir from 31 August to 1 September 1969;
9) An adult in full breeding plumage at WTR from 18-21 May 1972.

10) One was seen at Linford GP on 16 & 26 December 1973;
11) One was on floodwater near Great Linford GP on 24 November 1974;
12) One remained at Willen Lake from 21-30 January 1977;
13) One remained at Hyde Lane GP from 5-9 March 1978;
14) Two were at Calvert on 27 January 1979;
16) One remained at Tongwell Lake from 18 February until 5 April 1979;
17) One was on the River Ouse at Tyringham Bridge on 25 February 1979;
18) One was noted at Willen Lake on 14 February 1979;
19) One appeared at Willen Lake on 8 November 1980;
20) One was at Calvert on 4 January 1981;
21) One was at Hyde Lane on 7 November 1982 and was possibly that present at Haversham from 27 November to 4 December 1982;
22) One remained at Willen lake from 5-28 November 1983;
23) No less than a flock of 4 appeared at Caldecott Lake on 13 November 1984;
27) One was at Linford GP on 13 December 1986;
28) A wide ranging bird of Milton Keynes Waters from 28 February to 8 April 1987, being seen mainly at New Bradwell but also at Haversham and Linford NR on at least one date and at Willen lake on 18-21 March;
29) Another bird at Willen from 19 November until 8 December 1987;
30) One in breeding plumage at Willen on 16 April 1988;
31) Two birds at Willen on 9 November 1988;
33) One remained at Caldecott Lake from 15 December 1988 until 3 March 1989 and was presumably the same bird that reappeared on 29 November 1989 and was last seen on 29 March 1990;

1990-1999

34) An early individual at Foxcote Reservoir on 19 September 1990;
35) One was at Emberton Lakes on 17-19 February 1991;
36) One was at Willen on 26 February 1991;
37) One appeared at Willen on 26 October 1991;
38) One was at Foxcote from 30 September to 2 October 1992;
39) One visited Caldecotte Lakes on 14 October 1992;
40) One was seen in the Bucks section of Startop's End Reservoir on 29 October 1992;
41) One remained at Caldecotte Lakes from 11-14 January 1993;
42) One remained on the Blue Lagoon at Bletchley from 14 January until 4 February 1994;
43) One visited Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow, on 6 January 1995;
44) One remained intermittently on Tongwell Lake from 3 February until 12 March 1995, visiting Linford Lakes from 4-10 March;
45) One was at Foxcote on 12 November 1995;
46) One visited Emberton Lakes on 17-18 March 1996;
47) One remained at Spade Oak from 1-23 December 1996;
48) One was at Thorney CP from 15-31 December 1996;
49) A first-winter visited Willen on 23 December 1996;
50) One was observed on the River Thames at Boveney Lock on 11 January 1997;
51) One was present at Willen from 17-20 December 1997;
52) One visited Thorney CP on 20 December 1997;
53) One remained on Dorney Lake from 11 January until 1 February 1998;
54) One was seen at Linford on 19 November and 5-6 December 1998;
55) One was at WTR on 14 November 1998;
56) A party of 3 birds was discovered at Linford on 31 January 1999, with one remaining until 13 February.

2000 and beyond

59) An adult in transitional plumage at Willen on 31 March 2001;
60) One at the Jubilee River near Slough on 21 November 2001;
61) One at Caldecotte Lake on 2 February 2002;
62) One at Newport Pagnell on 11 November 2002;

North Bucks today - GREENSHANK and SHORT-EARED OWL

2011-11-04T19:39:00.001Z

The COMMON GREENSHANK remains at Gayhurst Quarry today, ranging between Fishing and Spinney Pits - now present 3 weeks. At Linford tonight there were 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS again. One in the fields around Swans Way and the other mainly in the rough area between the Canal and the new housing estate.

The canal bridge is an excellent place to stand as you can look in both directions. Access from the end of Weavers Way in the new estate, reached from the traffic lights by where Wolverton Road meets the V7 Saxon Street (Rob Norris).

Exceptionally late COMMON QUAIL at Rowsham

2011-11-03T20:49:00.002Z

No, I kid you not, I haven't gone totally crazy !
Unbelievably one was accidentally flushed from under a bush/ hedge in Rowsham at about 10.20 this morning.
I was out walking the dog, who is a bit of a 'retriever' when she clearly smelt something under the edge of a hedge, she went around the back of this bit of hedge as I tried to pull her back thinking she was going for a Rabbit. A bird then flushed and broke out of the bush/ longish grass. My initial thought was a Redwing, seeing a brown bird with a strongly marked face pattern. It then came out within perhaps 4 ft of me and immediately turned away from me before rising and going over the 25ft hedge. As it did this it called, not its usual clear call but perhaps a quieter version, but definately 'bubbly'. The view of it was simply breathtaking, albeit for probably only 5 seconds. There is no doubt of the identification.

What on earth is one doing here in November ? I suppose its most likely a 'reverse' migrant and has arrived here on these strong Southerly winds.

Whichever way it was a stunning sight and an amazing record.

I have searched the adjacent field without success but it really is a needle in a haystack now.
Also 300 Fieldfare present (Mike Wallen)

COMMON SCOTER at Calvert

2011-10-30T00:35:00.001+01:00

A juvenile COMMON SCOTER was present at Calvert BBOWT Lake this evening (Tim Watts)

GREAT WHITE EGRET still

2011-10-30T00:30:00.001+01:00

The GREAT WHITE EGRET was back on Motorway Pit this lunchtime amongst the Greylags on the Tern Island.

Also a Greenshank on Fishing Pit - the bird seen by Mr Coppock a fortnight ago ? Otherwise little of note other than a Lesser Redpoll in the Goldfinch flock on the feeders of the last house (Robert)

A phenomenal morning on the hills - WOODPIGEON passage in full swing

2011-10-30T00:16:00.001+01:00

SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER

When Carmel and I walked home last night after a night out, the seeping sound of REDWINGS flying overhead clearly indicated that migration was in full swing. As such, I was out early on the Hills in anticipation..........

There was a bank of very clear weather to the north of the Chiltern Hills but south of there, it was thick cloud with a fairly strong SW wind. It had been very calm but cloudy overnight - following on from a gloriously fine day - ideal conditions for grounding migrants.

IVINGHOE HILLS (BUCKS)

I positioned myself on the lower knoll shortly after 0745 hours and remained on the escarpment until 1045 hours. Passage was occurring from the outset. WOODPIGEONS were the order of the day and they were absolutely pouring through. Initially, flocks were coming in low over Gallows Hill but after a while, the main migration concentrated further to the east, with the passage continuing into the Gade Valley. A grand total of 2,747 birds was counted, with the biggest single flock of 490 birds (18 + 174 + 3 + 115 + 41 + 8 + 19 + 41 + 95 + 159 + 130 + 255 + 8 + 28 + 75 + 7 + 67 + 490 + 35 + 302 + 117 + 33 + 215 + 168 + 144). The passage continued throughout. A total of 42 STOCK DOVES was identified amongst the flocks.

Two SHORT-EARED OWLS passed over high to the west at 0815, both being mobbed by Jackdaws for a while, whilst two different WOODLARKS flew south calling - low to the contour. At 0937 hours, an immature/female MERLIN appeared over Gallows Hill and followed the line of the hills, departing west from the higher knoll just SE of the Beacon trig point.

At 0935 hours, a massive flock of 440 FIELDFARES made landfall in the Beeches from the east; they paused very briefly before continuing on, disappearing to the west over Top Scrub and Steps Hill - a further 23 (in two flocks of 5 and 18) were later seen

REDWINGS were far scarcer with just 13 noted, with just 1 dark-billed Continental Blackbird and three separate first-year RING OUZELS - all continuing westward (the latter located by their characteristic chacking call-note).

Weirdly, 2 Cormorants (an adult and juvenile) flew south over the trig, whilst the remaining species identified included -:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Jay (1)
Skylark (57)
Dunnock, presumably continental (arrived from the east)
Chaffinch (strong southerly passage - 159 birds in total)
Bullfinch (6)
BRAMBLING (3)
REDPOLL species, indeterminate (7)
Yellowhammer (24 west)
CORN BUNTING (3) - presumably local birds
Common Starling (224 in total, the largest flock being of 45 birds - all migrating directly west)

KING'S WOOD, AMPTHILL (BEDFORDSHIRE) (TL 046 400)

Following a conversation with Neil Wright, I decided to travel north to Bedfordshire, just on the offchance that the recent Hen Harrier might still be around. Neil had found a FIRECREST so I decided to follow his directions and have a look. As it was, the flock of birds contained two FIRECRESTS - both birds showing very well in the ivy scrub fairly low down in the canopy. They were amongst a group of 8 Goldcrests, a Common Treecreeper, a Nuthatch and 10 Blue Tits - the flock being fairly mobile. The area also produced quite a few Fieldfares.

DIRECTIONS: From Ampthill town centre, drive north on the Bedford road and as you leave the town at the top of the hill, turn right on to the concrete drive to Houghton House. Drive to the end of the road and park by the houses and then continue past the pumping station and aerials to the last house and pond. Continue to the entrance to the wood and take the right hand footpath leading north and parallel to the edge of the wood. Continue for a further 300 yards and just 70 yards before the metal gate - the flock is in this area

Still no Rock Pipit but CROSSBILL and SHORT-EARED OWL; also new record count of LITTLE EGRETS in North Bucks

2011-10-28T18:59:00.001+01:00

FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER

What a fabulous day. From start to finish, winds were light and variable, with clear blue skies and bright, warm sunshine. Difficult to believe it was the end of October

I put in a full day today trying to catch up with some Buckinghamshire Yearticks. Frustratingly, didn't bother with Calvert, where the Red-necked Grebe remains present......

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (SOUTH BUCKS)

Despite an exhaustive search, no sign of yesterday's Scandinavian Rock Pipit between the 500 and 750 metre markers, just 18 Meadow Pipits, 15 Skylarks and a first-winter COMMON KINGFISHER. Dave Cleal had also photographed a littoralis at the same site on 11 October.

WOOLMAN'S WOOD, HEDSOR (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 915 845)

I met up with Dave Cleal in Branch Lane, at the north end of Woolman's Wood. We then spent the next 40 minutes in the wood, made up of deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as much Holly and other shrub understorey. This was the first time I had ever birded this wood and I was very impressed with the results.

The highlight was COMMON CROSSBILL - four birds, two males and two females, showing well at the top of the Douglas Firs, extracting pine seeds from the cones. Two birds also flew overhead but may have been the same birds.

BULLFINCHES were also very much in evidence in the wood with at least 6 seen/heard and as expected FIRECREST - at least two birds being heard. A SISKIN flew over.

Other species noted included Red Kite, Jay, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush (1), Coal Tit (4), Nuthatch (3) and Goldcrest (12+). A Red Admiral and a late Speckled Wood were also noted.

TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Wilstone Reservoir did not yield either Water Pipit or the 3 Scandinavian Rock Pipits - just 4 Meadow Pipits. New in was a single DUNLIN on the main bund, whilst EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS numbered 206, a COMMON SNIPE was roosting, NORTHERN PINTAIL had increased to 9 (5 drakes) and both Jay and BLACKCAP were noted in the East Hedgerow. Counts included 4 Little Grebe, 9 Great Crested Grebe and 39 Mute Swans (including the colour-ringed family from the Grand Union Canal).

At Startop's End Reservoir, just 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS remained (2 drakes), with 16 Great Crested Grebes, 56 Eurasian Wigeon and 2 Common Gulls (adult and first-winter) also sighted.

Tringford Reservoir was the lowest I had seen it since the early 1980's and consequently it harboured 4 Little Egrets, a GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 Mute Swans, 62 Common Teal and 25 Shoveler.

THE IVINGHOE HILLS (BUCKS)

No sign of the Ring Ouzel seen earlier by the Beacon summit and no sign of a juvenile Hen Harrier seen quartering the fields below Gallows Hill for 45 minutes before I arrived; it had drifted off east

GREAT LINFORD LAKES (NORTH BUCKS)

Late afternoon saw me observing what must be a new county record of roosting LITTLE EGRETS - no less than 29 of them crammed into the Willows of the two islands at the north end. Certainly well exceeds my previous highest total of 17. The adult GREAT WHITE EGRET was also with them and showing very well - initially on the main bund before moving to a Willow housing two Little Egrets. The three birds had an altercation, with the Great White stabbing out at the two Little Egrets.

There were also 95 Cormorants roosting on the bund, with 6 Little Grebes, 21 Mute Swans, 252 Wigeon, 18 Gadwall, 27 Teal and 42 Shoveler being counted.

At 1616 hours, a cracking SHORT-EARED OWL rose up from the rough fields adjacent to Swans Way and affording outstanding views for over 20 minutes as it hunted back and forth - my first of the year.

Recent News

2011-10-27T23:46:00.001+01:00

Dave Cleal had a ROCK PIPIT at Dorney Lakes today, whilst a SHORT-EARED OWL remains for its third day at Linford NR

An excellent day

2011-10-23T19:02:00.001+01:00

The long-staying GREAT WHITE EGRET remains at Linford NR today whilst nearby a drake COMMON SCOTER was on Haversham Pit (Andy Harding).

A RING OUZEL was briefly on Ivinghoe Beacon (Mike Campbell), with the drake COMMON SCOTER still on College Lake BBOWT and a RED-NECKED GREBE on Calvert Sailing Lake

Foxcote WeBS

2011-10-16T22:33:00.000+01:00

The water levels at Foxcote Reservoir are as low as I've seen them for at least a couple of years, but despite this the number of wildfowl is impressive. Doing my monthly WEBS count this afternoon there were 473 wigeon, 461 coot, 427 lapwing, 55 gadwall, 51 mallard, 32 teal, 20 tufted duck, 15 shoveler, 11 mute swan, 8 moorhen, 2 great crested grebe, 2 goldeneye (fem) and 1 greylag goose.

I'm assuming the low numbers of tufted duck, great crested grebe and absence of pochard are due to lower water levels. Despite the abundance of exposed mud, the only wader I could find (except for the roosting lapwing) was a single green sandpiper.

As I left at 17:15, gull numbers were building but I counted 635 black-headed gull, 35 LBB gull and 7 common gull.

Bill Parker

COMMON SCOTER and SHORT-EARED OWL at College Lake BBOWT

2011-10-16T22:21:00.002+01:00

Not a bad day at College Lake today - the adult drake COMMON SCOTER from Wilstone ended up spending most of the day on the main lake, obviously feeding well, and was still there at 5pm. Also, 7 Pintails and good numbers of wigeon, pochard, tufted duck and shoveler. Highlight of the day though was a SHORT-EARED OWL which was actually spotted thermaling at around 250 ft with five buzzards. Personally I have never seen anything like this and for a time doubted my ID skills! Good numbers of fieldfare going through all day, and redwings around the hedgerows around the reserve (Paul Reed)

The COMMON SCOTER was still present at dusk, showing very well in the bay adjacent to the Ogtagonal Hide, whilst the gull roost held 880 birds, including 550 Black-headed, a first-winter MEDITERRANEAN, 5 Common, 17 Herring, 226 Lesser Black-backed and 3 YELLOW-LEGGED (Lee Evans)

GREAT WHITE EGRET still - and 6 WHOOPER SWANS

2011-10-16T22:14:00.001+01:00

At Gayhurst Pits today in North Bucks, a party of 6 wild adult WHOOPER SWANS was present, as well as the long-staying adult GREAT WHITE EGRET

First COMMON GOLDENEYS of the autumn

2011-10-16T22:01:00.000+01:00

Highlight of a walk around Willen this morning were 4 Common Goldeneye. 2 on South Lake and 2 North Lake. Duck numbers starting to build with good numbers of Wigeon, Tufted, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler. 6 Little Grebe on North, but not much else.(Rob Norris)

ARCTIC TERN still - and BRENT GOOSE

2011-10-13T20:34:00.003+01:00

Adam Bassett saw the juvenile ARCTIC TERN at Spade Oak Pit, Marlow, this morning whilst Rod Scalfe discovered a 'BRENT GOOSE' at Calvert BBOWT this afternoon......

Large numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing are also on the move

Late GREENSHANK

2011-10-06T21:28:00.003+01:00

Adam Bassett had a late COMMON GREENSHANK drop in briefly at Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow, this morning, whilst at least 1 first-year Yellow-legged Gull remained in the roost

A single WHINCHAT remained with Common Stonechats just SE of Ivinghoe Beacon

STONECHAT at last, whilst temperatures break new record

2011-09-29T20:04:00.001+01:00

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

What a sweltering day ! With temperatures hitting a high of 28 degrees C mid-afternoon, this was the highest late September temperature recorded since records began. A light SSE breeze was blowing, with wall-to-wall sunshine throughout............

IVINGHOE HILLS NATURE RESERVE (BUCKS)

I did an extensive trawl of the hills, mainly in the hope of seeing the Common Stonechat of the last two days or a late passing Honey Buzzard. As it was, I managed neither, and birding was particularly slow in the steamy conditions.

The highlight was a single FIRECREST in Top Scrub, with 3 British Coal Tits, 4 Goldcrests, 12 Chaffinches, 4 Bullfinch and 30 Meadow Pipits recorded in over three hours

Many late butterflies were on the wing including a newly emerged Brimstone, numerous Peacocks and large numbers of Speckled Woods

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Scorching hot in the early afternoon with most birds sitting out in the shade. All 9 NORTHERN PINTAILS were still present, including one drake starting to look dapper, along with 9 Little Egrets and 2 newly-arrived juvenile Little Grebes.

All 3 HOBBIES were still on site, whilst a migrant juvenile Common Buzzard drifted over being chased by 7 marauding Jackdaws.

The CETTI'S WARBLER was in song from the southern reedbed, and a male Common Chiffchaff in the East Hedge

LODGE HILL FARM AND FIELDS (BUCKS)

Thanks to Warren Claydon, I eventually tracked down a migrant COMMON STONECHAT - a nice male in the top hedgerow along the Ridgeway - my first in the county this year. There were also 6 migrant NORTHERN WHEATEARS present in the recently tilled fields, as well as 2 Yellowhammers and 16 Linnets.

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS)

Not much of note other than 10 Common Teal, a female Tufted Duck and 18 Lapwings.

BLACK TERN at Foxcote

2011-09-25T19:40:00.000+01:00

A juvenile BLACK TERN around all afternoon, 250 Lapwing, 1 Green sandpiper, 1 female Red-crested pochard, about 10 Shoveler and a guesstimated 50 Wigeon which seems early (per Chris Coppock)

GREAT WHITE EGRET still around.........

2011-09-25T19:37:00.000+01:00

Did my usual walk around Gayhurst Quarry this morning. While up at Quarryhall I noticed a large white bird drop down onto the river alongside Fishing Pit. Thought it was too big for Little Egret so I took a walk along the river. After flushing 2 Little Egrets and a Heron I presumed I had been mistaken, but a little further on another bird got up, this time no mistake, a bigger bird with a big yellow bill. GREAT WHITE EGRET - finally a patch tick!

It flew off down river, so guess it is lurking somewhere between Gayhurst Quarry and Lathbury. Unfortunately there is no public access to this area - I have permission as this is where I did my BTO Breeding Bird Survey - but interesting that it is still around.

Elsewhere on site of note, a dozen Teal, 4 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and overhead movement of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Swallow. Also of interest I found a dead Black-headed Gull bearing a Danish ring. Will send off the details and see what comes back (Rob Norris)

Brief SANDWICH TERN - a nice bonus

2011-09-19T20:03:00.001+01:00

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

A pleasant SW breeze blew throughout the day accompanied by long bright periods and warm temperatures. Bird of the day for me was an adult SANDWICH TERN discovered by Adam Bassett.......

SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)

Marlow Bottom birder Adam Bassett 'phoned me at 1035 hours to inform me that he was watching a SANDWICH TERN at Little Marlow. Being the first in the county this year, I jumped into the car and sped down, arriving just before 1100 hours........

Fortunately, Adam was still keeping tabs on the bird and as I walked up to him, I watched it disappear behind the main island. It soon reappeared to the left and over the next ten minutes, flew in and out of view at the far eastern end of the lake. It was a moulting adult and still had a bright yellow tip to its all-dark bill as well as some black on the shaggy crown behind the extensive white forehead. Otherwise, it was very pale and unmarked on the upperparts and gleaming white below, with a very shallow forked white tail. At 1113 hours, the bird appeared right over Adam and I's heads at the west end and flew strongly west over the sewage works compound. It was not seen again.

Also of interest was a juvenile YELLOW-LEGGED GULL roosting amongst the Argenteus Herring Gulls - a very informative individual. Side-by-side with Herring, it was a tad smaller and slightly more elongated but with a steep sloping forehead. It had a much cleaner white head with bold dark brown streaking on the hindcrown. Although the uppertail was still retaining the buff-tipped feathers, the greater part of the tail was extensively dark chocolate-brown, heavily peppered with spotting at the base. The dark bill was heavy and thick but most diagnostic was the patterning of the tertials - plain dark brown with pale buff tip and without the prominent dark notching of the Herring Gulls. It also had more prominent barring on the chest-sides.

Otherwise, a single Bar-headed Goose was with 18 Egyptian Geese, 14 Teal and 238 Lapwings.....

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

This evening, Mike Hirst and Dave Bilcock had a first-winter LITTLE GULL off the car park steps but less than 20 minutes later when Steve and I arrived, it had moved through. It was not to be found on the other reservoirs either.

Another new bird was a juvenile RUFF - showing very well on the mud just left of the jetty. The single juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWIT was also present on Drayton Lagoon, as well as 17 Little Egrets.

Feeding amongst the weed in the rapidly diminishing SE quarter were the 6 recently-arrived eclipse-plumaged NORTHERN PINTAILS, as well as just under 300 Teal, 150 Shoveler and 22 Wigeon; 31 Mute Swans were also still present in the shallows.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

All 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS were present and a COMMON KINGFISHER

GWE still there - and Foxcote

2011-09-18T17:49:00.002+01:00

There was a single moulting summer-plumaged DUNLIN at Foxcote Reservoir this afternoon along the west shore close to where the spit would be if water levels were low enough; also 3 Red-crested Pochars still remain. Not much else of note although wildfowl numbers significantly up on August WEBS count, with 421 Coot, 190 Lapwing, 76 Wigeon, 61 Mallard, 40 Gadwall, 29 Tufted Duck, 18 Mute Swan, 11 Cormorant, 5 Shoveler, 5 Teal and 2 Pochard (Bill Parker)

Meanwhile, the GREAT WHITE EGRET continues its sojourn at Linford Lakes - where also 2 BLACK TERNS were seen this morning

The escaped YELLOW-BREASTED (AXURE) TIT in Naphill

2011-09-18T17:41:00.004+01:00

I thought I would take this opportunity to showcase Francis Buckle's superb images of the bird. Sadly, I was contacted by the owner of the bird - it had escaped from an aviary on 10 August. At that time, it was bearing a coloured plastic ring, but obviously somehow it managed to get rid of it (although you can clearly see where it was on the left leg). I would just like to thank the owners of the cottage where it ha staken up residence for their kind hospitality.

GREAT WHITE EGRET still at Linford

2011-09-17T19:25:00.002+01:00

The adult GREAT WHITE EGRET still remains at Linford Nature Reserve, frequenting the bund

Escaped Azure Tit in Buckinghamshire

2011-09-15T21:48:00.001+01:00

An Azure Tit of presumably captive origin has been visiting a garden peanut feeder in Naphill hamlet, north of High Wycombe (Bucks) for three weeks now. The bird with its prominent yellow underparts, dusky cap and thick dark lores is sadly of the eastern form (flavipectus), often known as Yellow-breasted Tit, and considered by some authorities to be a separate species to Azure Tit. This form is very restricted in range, breeding in the Western Tien Shan and in northern Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is surprisingly common in captivity, even breeding successfully, especially on the near Continent.

I have attached a few of Adrian Kettle's images above on the website - taken today as it visited the feeder about once every 40 minutes.

GREAT WHITE EGRET

2011-09-12T09:28:00.002+01:00

The adult GREAT WHITE EGRET remained in North Bucks at the weekend, being seen at Gayhurst Motorway Pit on Saturday and back on Linford Nature Reserve bund on Sunday.

Elsewhere, there was little of note - an OSPREY, juvenile BLACK TERN and 2 WHINCHATS at College Lake (per Paul Reed). Reports of Arctic Tern at Little Marlow related to 3 juvenile Common Terns - late-brooded on site (per Alan Stevens)

GREY PHALAROPE briefly at Calvert

2011-09-08T22:42:00.001+01:00

Warren Claydon had a GREY PHALAROPE at Calvert Sailing Lake this afternoon but it quickly disappeared from view.

Snippets

2011-09-07T16:35:00.002+01:00

A EURASIAN CURLEW over Stony Stratford Nature Reserve was an unexpected sight today, during a volunteer work party. Also 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper and numerous Sand and House Martins migrating through all morning (per Martin Kincaid)

At Linford NR today, Simon Nichols alerted me to the presence of a juvenile BLACK TERN on Black Horse Lake

GREAT WHITE EGRET still present at Linford

2011-09-04T20:45:00.003+01:00

SUNDAY 4 SEPTEMBER

For the first part of the morning it was dry with leaden skies but just as midday approached, the heavens opened, giving way to just under three hours of torrential rain. As a result, there was localised flooding. Once the front had moved through, it was replaced by much fresher weather from the Northwest and largely clear skies........

SHARDELOES CRICKET GROUND (BUCKS)

The migrant flock of wagtails on the side pitch held 25 Pieds and 2 juvenile YELLOWS - the latter my first in the Recording Area this year (2 had been seen by Ed Griffiths yesterday); also 44 migrant House Martins present in the rain.

CHORLEYWOOD CRICKET GROUND (HERTS)

A total of 12 Pied Wagtails present

LINFORD RESERVE, NEWPORT PAGNELL (NORTH BUCKS)

After the heavy rain had gone through, I decided to revisit Linford to try and get better views of the GREAT WHITE EGRET. Alan had refound it again this afternoon after it had flown off east at 0800 hours this morning. I arrived there at about 1730 hours in bright sunshine and excellent light conditions. The bird was showing very well - just roosting with 2 Grey Herons on the main bund. This time I could see the legs clearly - definitely no signs of any colour rings. In fact, at the upper part of the tibia, the legs were still quite pale. I could also see that the bird possessed long aigrettes, suggesting that it was an adult bird. The bill was bright orange-yellow, with lime green bare skin at the base and around the eye. It was still sat there preening at 1810 hours when I left.

Also present were a pair of Mute Swans with 7 cygnets, 8 Eurasian Wigeon, 7 Gadwall and 133 Lapwing whilst others had seen 2 GARGANEY and a Common Sandpiper.

Just as I was about to leave the perimeter Swans Way, I received a call from Dave Bilcock - there were 20 RED KNOTS at Wilstone Reservoir........

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

In virtually the time it took me to drive from Linford to Wilstone, the RED KNOT flock were present - feeding voraciously on the mud to the right of the Drayton Bank Hide (see Dave's two images above). However, at 1844 hours, Steve Rodwell, Roy Hargreaves and about 7 other local observers watched all 20 birds (all apparent juveniles) suddenly take flight and fly strongly NW into Buckinghamshire. Mike and Ted Wallen who arrived literally just minutes before me only just narrowly missed out whilst I was 9 minutes out of synch - blow it, yet another batch of good local birds missed. You really need to be there every hour of daylight in such conditions !

The Knot flock had been the highlight of a surprisingly quiet weekend at the reservoirs. The juvenile LITTLE STINT was still present whilst the RINGED PLOVER flock had now increased to 15 birds, including several of which showed characters of tundrae - the northern TUNDRA RINGED PLOVER (smaller and darker and much browner in appearance). A single juvenile RUFF and COMMON GREENSHANK were still present, as well as 3 Common Sandpipers, whilst Little Egret were back up to 22 and Mike W picked up a late COMMON SWIFT with the 40 or so Sand Martins and 120 House Martins over the central bank.

A further 6 COMMON SWIFTS were hawking over the causeway at Tringford Reservoir

The weather this week promises to be unsettled and quite changeable and should produce dividends at the reservoirs........

GREAT WHITE EGRET roosts this evening in North Bucks.........

2011-09-03T22:11:00.000+01:00

SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER

Although mostly overcast and cloudy, temperatures climbed to 75 degrees F today. The wind remained in the southwest.....

Following calls from both Simon Nichols and Steve Whitehouse mid-evening, I made my way over to Linford Reserve in North Bucks, where Alan Nelson had located a GREAT WHITE EGRET - presumably the bird from Northants, last reported at Daventry Reservoir.....

LINFORD RESERVE, NEWPORT PAGHELL (NORTH BUCKS)
(Permit Access Only)

After negotiating the 17 miles of northbound M1 roadworks, I eventually reached Linford Reserve, to the north of Milton Keynes, just before 2000 hours. I made my way directly to the north end of the reserve and from Swans Way, a panoramic view allowed me to watch the egrets fly in to roost. The GREAT WHITE EGRET was still skulking in thick Willow vegetation by Near Hide as I arrived but after a short while, and light rapidly failing, it joined 6 Little Egrets to roost in even thicker vegetation at the northern part of the lagoons and not, as I expected, on the usual heronry island. The Great White appeared to be unringed and was easily recognised by its much larger size and orange-yellow bill. The long legs appeared to be dark and trailed well beyond the body and tail in flight unlike the Little Egrets.

The bird remained on view until 2010 hours before dropping down and out of sight. It is the first Great White Egret I have seen in the county since the elusive and erratic wintering individual in the Chess and Misbourne valleys two years ago.

This may represent yet another opportunity to try and get this species on to the Bedfordshire list as it is assumed that some of the Willen/Linford Little Egrets visit Rookery Pit by day to feed. Let's hope this one makes the short hop............

A Tawny Owl was calling loudly as I made my way back to the car in the dark

COMMON REDSTARTS at Manor Farm

2011-08-31T21:42:00.001+01:00

Two birds, one clear cut female, the other poss but may be juvenile. Along the Ridge path from farm buildings to canal, same location that Redstarts have been found in previous three years, still there at dusk (Chris Gleadell)

RAVENS in north of the county

2011-08-31T19:53:00.001+01:00

There were 4 COMMON RAVENS at Wootton most of the morning, today, mainly in the vicinity of the churchyard. Mostly sitting in the local Pine Trees, but every now and then soaring around the area, at one time accompanying a passing Buzzard.Very vocal and upsetting just about every other corvid in the vicinity. It looked like they were two pairs but could well have been the breeding pair and their two young (Rob Norris)

BLACK KITE in the north of the county

2011-08-31T19:51:00.000+01:00

Trish and I have just had excellent views of a BLACK KITE (seen from ca 4.40 - 4.45). It was over the road leading out of Whaddon north (to Calverton). First appeared from the West, circled over us for some time, then drifted off to the West again (general direction of Nash) (Bob Tunnicliffe)

BLACK TERN arrival

2011-08-26T23:40:00.000+01:00

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST - LGRE DIARY NOTES

From early on this morning, the entire Chilterns region was embraced by heavy cloud, bringing rain (often heavy) throughout the day until mid afternoon. The wind was very light and variable, although underlying was a south-eastern element to it. I was expecting quite a lot to turn up today but in the end, it was mainly RUFF and scarcer terns that were located. My best find of the day was a SANDERLING.....

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)

Despite the heavy rain, I joined the Amersham Ornithological Society and both Francis Buckle and Mic Wells at Wilstone mid morning. At first glance, it appeared that nothing new had arrived with the weather - and in fact, yesterday's star bird, the Black-necked Grebe, had disappeared after just one day (see Dave Bilcock's belated images above).

All 4 juvenile RUFFS were still present, the 9 COMMON GREENSHANK, 9 RINGED PLOVERS, the 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, the 2 juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, 4 Common Sandpipers and the GREEN SANDPIPER. Just 8 Common Terns remained, and wildfowl numbers remained constant. The only noticeable increase was in the hirundine numbers (with Sand Martins at 85, House Martin at 130 and Barn Swallow at 65), whilst Steve Rodwell located 4 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS in the meadow behind the hide.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

The first hint of passage came when I located 3 freshly-arrived juvenile RUFFS at 1140 hours on the increasing patch of mud in the SW corner of Startop's - they involved two smaller female Reeves and a larger male (see Dave Bilcock's superb images above). Most surprisingly, and probably as a result of the inclement weather, they remained all afternoon and evening. A Common Sandpiper there was also new in, whilst both juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS dropped in for a while, as well as 8 of the Wilstone Little Egrets. Both adult pair of WHOOPER SWANS were still present too.

I then decided to check the hills for migrants but was very disappointed with my results - virtually nothing. I failed to find any Whinchats, even at Blows Downs or Luton Airport. BLOWS DOWNS PADDOCKS supported just single NORTHERN WHEATEAR, LESSER WHITETHROAT, juvenile Willow Warbler and male Blackcap as migrants and a roving party of 18 Blue Tits.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

By 1430 hours, the rain was still falling, with Stewartby Lake yielding 48 Mute Swans and an arrival of 6 BLACK TERNS (a moulting adult and 5 juveniles).

ROOKERY PIT, STEWARTBY (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Again, fairly lacklustre, with no new waders (the 3 RUFF and a single Common Greenshank) and the lingering juvenile MARSH HARRIER. A Chinese Water Deer was seen but more interesting was a Weasel encounter on the main track not far from Jackdaw Bridge. I had been looking at a Dunnock feeding beneath a bush when it was suddenly 'grabbed' by a Weasel around the neck. The Weasel quickly suffocated it and it fell silent and still. It was then dropped on to the ground before a very peculiar ritual took place. The Weasel repeatedly bounded backwards and forwards seemingly 'dancing' around the corpse before eventually, after about 5 minutes, picking it up and carrying it off into the undergrowth.

BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

At around 1530 hours, I picked up a winter-plumaged SANDERLING feeding on the Washout Pit with a Green Sandpiper. which was still present when I departed the site at 1610 hours (and later when SCB and others arrived on site). Although gleaming white on the underparts and peppered dark grey/black above, it was surprisingly difficult to locate in its 'orange' surroundings and kept 'hiding/crouching' when other birds flew over the site.

Thanks to Jim Gurney and Steve Blain, I was eventually able to locate the juvenile WOOD SANDPIPER that was present for its third day in the vicinity viewing from the western track. The bird was feeding on flotsam along the NE shoreline, immediately north of Peacock's Island on the main Peacock's Lake. It had however been commuting between here and the Washout Pit today.

Other species of note included a Common Sandpiper and 16 Yellow Wagtails.

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)

With reports of both White-winged Black and Whiskered Terns entering the Thames at Rainham Marshes RSPB and realising that this week's Little Terns eventually made it to Marlow, I decided to take a chance and see if either turned up there. After about an hour of negotiating the Friday afternoon traffic, I eventually arrived late afternoon, coinciding with that of other Little Marlow regulars and Dave Cleal. Neither vagrant marsh tern was there but there was a flock of 13 BLACK TERNS, including 3 moulting adults and 10 juveniles.

Northern Pochards had increased to 7, 3 Argenteus Herring Gulls were in the Lesser Black-back roost and Common Kingfisher was seen.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

By evening, the rain had moved through, giving rise to clear blue skies and bright sunshine. Joining Ian Williams by the car parks steps, I was very pleased to see 3 very freshly-plumaged juvenile ARCTIC TERNS that DB and SR had discovered at 1600 hours. All 3 birds were showing very well and were patrolling the east shore back and forth.

There was also an additional REEVE feeding on the main spit - a fifth juvenile present on the reservoir - and making 8 in total with the 3 Startop's birds.

Little Egrets again numbered 18, whilst 15 Pied Wagtails were noted and a Common Kingfisher.

Marlow today

2011-08-24T21:07:00.002+01:00

The four juvenile LITTLE TERNS remained at Spade Oak GP until 0730 hours before flying off east............

Later, Dave Cleal witnessed a major arrival of waders late afternoon, including a TURNSTONE, RUFF, 4 COMMON GREENSHANK and a DUNLIN. All but the Turnstone quickly moved on...

WOOD SANDPIPER at Linford

2011-08-23T19:18:00.002+01:00

A WOOD SANDPIPER was on the bund at Linford NR this evening (Rob Hill)

More REDSTARTS and WHINCHATS

2011-08-23T19:14:00.001+01:00

Warren Claydon had 3 COMMON REDSTARTS at Calvert BBOWT today whilst a male remained at Stowe Castle for a second day. The latter site also held 2 WHINCHATS and another was seen in Prestwood.

LITTLE TERNS forced upriver by heavy rain and increasing easterly winds

2011-08-23T18:35:00.002+01:00

TUESDAY 23 AUGUST

Well, according to leading weatherman Michael Fish, the Chilterns Reigion was supposed to have received thunderstorms and flash flooding from about 2am this morning but it never materialised. Instead, we got a switch in the wind from Northeast to East, overcast conditions and just a little bit of light drizzle......

Expecting a real feast of rarities locally, I was out nice and early but it was all largely to no avail - the reservoirs seemingly not picking up a single new migrant other than a Wheatear. The saviour however was Master Adam Bassett - and his unprecedented arrival of LITTLE TERNS in the South of the county (Buckinghamshire). These birds remained all day to the delight of many........

THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(Several visits during the day, both morning and afternoon)

WILSTONE

Surprisingly nothing new in the way of migrants arrived overnight other than a single NORTHERN WHEATEAR on the North Bank.......

Remaining waders included the 3 juvenile RUFFS and 1 REEVE, the 2 juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS (now located on the SE shore), 3 adult RINGED PLOVERS (perhaps tundriae), Green Sandpiper, 13 COMMON GREENSHANKS and 330 Lapwing, as well as 14 Little Egrets.

The Black Tern had departed and there was little change in wildfowl numbers - 5 Wigeon, 18 Gadwall and a marked increase to 78 Teal.

In the Cemetery Corner field, there were a gathering of 22 Chaffinch and a single Linnet and a migrant juvenile Willow Warbler was working its way along a hedgerow (see image above).

MARSWORTH

Almost birdless - 2 Mute Swans and 2 Great Crested Grebes

STARTOP'S END

The 2 adult WHOOPER SWANS remained, as did 4 Mute Swans, whilst 6 Great Crested Grebes were also counted and 3 Little Egrets were feeding on the mud. RED-CRESTED POCHARDS now numbered 4, comprising of 2 eclipse drakes, a female and a single juvenile. The main Coot flock numbered 194 whilst a pair in the NW corner (one parent being one of the piebald individuals) was feeding two very young chicks.

TRINGFORD

Tringford hosted 9 roosting Grey Herons, just 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Tufted Ducks and a further 70 Coot

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

Just what has happened to College Lake? The water levels are very high and both the marsh and main lake are birdless - just 2 Mute Swans noted.

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)
(Accessed from Church Lane)

After receiving an initial call from Adam Bassett informing me of the presence of no less than 4 LITTLE TERNS at Spade Oak, I waited for his second call before making the move. Little Terns have a knack of staying just short spells of time before moving on but today we were lucky. Although John Edwards got a good headstart on me from Wilstone, I somehow arrived in Church Lane before him and was watching the four birds by midday. They were feeding over the extreme east end of the pit, along with 23 Common Terns, and by walking around the southern perimeter footpath was able to enjoy excellent views of them with local birder Malcolm Parrish. All four individuals were JUVENILE, unusual in itself and the group perhaps representing the highest single flock ever recorded in the county. Their small size was very evident, especially compared with the Common Terns, and their flight action was very evident - very fast with rapid wingbeats. They were also keen on plunge-diving - frequently successful in catching tiny silver fish. Unlike adult birds, all four of these were wholly dark-billed, with a distinct black leading edge to the upperwings and contrasting light grey covert bar and whiter secondaries and primary bases (forming a distinct wedge in flight). All had a very short, heavily forked tail and a gleaming white rump and upper tail. The amount of black on the crown was variable between individuals and some even still had the buffish wash to the forecrown of very young plumage.

Interestingly, Howard Vaughan and others had watched a party of 5 Little Terns fly upriver on the Thames at Rainham Marsh RSPB in Essex early morning and speculating, it is quite feasible that these were the same birds.

Although I left the site at 1306 hours, all four birds were still present at 1600 hours - all in all an exceptional occurrence.....

Other species noted included 14 Great Crested Grebes (including a pair tending two small chicks and a further adult with a single youngster), a single Little Egret, 39 Egyptian Geese, 61 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Northern Pochard, 12 Common Teal, 1 Shoveler, 378 Lapwings, a single COMMON SNIPE and a female Pied Wagtail.

BEACONSFIELD SERVICES LAKE (BUCKS)

Just the adult pair of Egyptian Geese left now and a pair of Moorhen feeding two tiny young.

SECURITY WARNINGS

Whilst at Wilstone this afternoon, I had an altercation with an East European who was illegally 'spinning' with a fishing rod and was attempting to capture a Mute Swan. I asked him what he was up to and he claimed to not understand but after informing him ''no, no, no'', he quickly made off in a white van registration ''T 420 CRV''

I must also inform you all to be extra vigilant when parking - a car was broken into at Marsworth today and Steve Rodwell also had his car window smashed relatively locally on Friday afternoon

A Red Letter Day in the Local Area - LGRE Diary Notes

2011-08-22T21:15:00.000+01:00

MONDAY 22 AUGUST

With a steady SSE breeze blowing and part-cloudy skies, I knew today was going to be special - it had that feel to it. Being bereft of any avian enjoyment since Friday, I was ready for action and committed a day to slogging the local patches - and furthermore Steve Rodwell was back and work and out of play.........

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(0940-1320 hours)

Despite feeling very warm, there was enough dark clouds in the sky to thwart migrating birds over the Chilterns and as usual in such conditions, today the reservoirs acted as a magnet.....

Looking to the skies throughout the morning, it soon became apparent that many raptors were migrating, mostly in a west or SSW direction. Pride of place went to an adult OSPREY that came through late morning, being slowly harassed by corvids as it flew at great height slowly west and then SSW across the reservoir. I picked it up initially over Wilstone village (from the Drayton Bank Hide) and managed to get all other 8 occupants in the hide on to it before it drifted away towards Drayton Beauchamp. Two different juvenile MARSH HARRIERS also came through, neither even pausing to check out the mud or reedbeds, and simply flying from NE to SW and making a beeline for the Wendover escarpment. A steady stream of Red Kite and Common Buzzard was apparent (at least 16 of the former and 11 of the latter, the Common Buzzards of which all were juvenile) with 2 Sparrowhawks (probably of local origin) also seen.

Steve Rodwell's BLACK TERN was also still present and was a pristine juvenile (second day). It frequently settled and joined the ever-growing daytime gull roost on the mud left of the hide, which this morning hosted two different very fresh juvenile MEDITERRANEAN GULLS, 216 Black-headed Gulls and 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 25 Common Terns remained too.

Waders were also exciting with the arrival of 4 RUFFS at 0945 (all juvenile, with three males and one female) - joining a throng of 13 COMMON GREENSHANKS (mostly juvenile), two juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, a single juvenile DUNLIN, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers and 330 Lapwing.

Since my visit last week, there was also a marked increase in wildfowl numbers with Common Teal up to 43, Shoveler to 17, Gadwall to 18, Wigeon to 8 and Northern Pochard to an impressive 30, whilst 14 LITTLE EGRETS were tricking the last few remaining fish in the shallow SE quarter into submission by their continual foot-paddling.

There was a constant procession of hirundines migrating, with over 190 Barn Swallows south during the morning and 85 House Martins, whilst a Common Chiffchaff was in song in the NW corner and a juvenile COAL TIT was in the Poplars just west of the car park.

A Grey Wagtail and 27 Mute Swans were also noted, as were both Chinese Water Deer......

THE IVINGHOE HILLS ICKNIELD WAY ESCARPMENT (BUCKS)

Having great expectations, I walked from the south end of Aldbury Nowers north and east along the Icknield Way to the east end of Gallows Hill - a distance of over 10 miles in total. Was it worth it - yes - as the highlight was a very vocal and stonking fresh male COMMON REDSTART showing very well in the isolated five Hawthorn bushes on the slope above Brook Statnall's Wood at Pitstone Hill, about 350 yards SW along the Icknield Way from the main car park. It was a gorgeous bird - and so showy.

The only other migrants noted, apart from one flock of 24 Barn Swallows, were 2 juvenile NORTHERN WHEATEARS - one on the fenceline just SE of the trig point at the Beacon and another on the fence by the Sheep Pen.

Two Brown Hares were sighted at Gallows Hill, whilst butterflies included a good number of Meadow Brown and Small Heath, 20 Chalkhill Blues and single Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell.

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

As the evening progressed, a thick band of darker cloud cover encroached from the south - a precursor of some seriously wet weather expected overnight. Despite an extensive search, there was no sign of the female Common Redstart - the only migrants apparent being 2 juvenile WILLOW WARBLERS, 5 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, a juvenile Blackcap and a Common Chiffchaff.

Of the residents, the female MANDARIN DUCK was still present - this evening venturing out on the grass to graze.....

Also 7 Little Grebes (4 juveniles) (but again no sign of any GCG's), the Mute Swan family (6 surviving cygnets), now 4 NORTHERN POCHARDS (female and 3 drakes), 3 Tufted Duck, Common Kestrel, pair of Stock Dove, 2 Common Magpies, Nuthatch, 3 Great Tits, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Blue Tits, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 13 Goldfinch and COMMON KINGFISHER

If all goes to plan, tomorrow should be very exciting.........WATCH THIS SPACE

Weekend Summary

2011-08-22T10:11:00.002+01:00

COMMON REDSTARTS continue to be the talking point with at least 3 still at Rowsham, up to 5 on the Ivinghoe Hills Nature Reserve, up to 8 on Quainton Hills and single females at Dorney Lake and Shardeloes Lake.

Warren Claydon had 2 WHINCHATS at Lodge Hill Farm, whilst a HAWFINCH flew over Middle Claydon

Large fall of NORTHERN WHEATEARS in Milton Keynes

2011-08-22T09:32:00.001+01:00

No less than 11 NORTHERN WHEATEARS in car park/parents parking bays of Priory Rise School, Snelshall West, M/Keynes Saturday morning (per Graham Irving)