DORNEY LAKE 6/11 Scoping down the north side of the return lake from behind the barriers produced 4 Green Sandpipers. They were a long way down but kept flying at intervals which confirmed ID. Also a Grey Wagtail. From the Thames path, the reserve lake was deserted, not a bird showing. However the return walk produced a stunning Kingfisher from the Bucks bank that darted across the river on my approach. This is the first one I've seen on this stretch.
As I approached the car, Ring Necked Parakeets started to fly over in groups, all heading noisily NE I counted 188 visually but there were more that I could hear out of sight, so probably circa 250 (Dave Cleal)
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Thursday, 5 November 2009
GREATER SCAUPS and OSPREY
The pair of GREATER SCAUPS are still present at Tongwell Lake today as is the long-staying OSPREY in the Chess Valley
RED-NECKED GREBE still present
Neill Foster and I spent some time at Foxcote Reservoir, mid morning, and saw the drake RING-NECKED DUCK heading into the hidden corner, also pair of PINTAIL and female Goldeneye plus usual range of other Duck.
Visited Calvert on the way home and watched the RED-NECKED GREBE on the BBOWT Lake from the second hide (John Gearing)
Visited Calvert on the way home and watched the RED-NECKED GREBE on the BBOWT Lake from the second hide (John Gearing)
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
RED-NECKED GREBE new in at Calvert this afternoon
WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER
A glorious day weatherwise, dawning bright and clear and then predominantly blue skies and sunshine throughout. The wind though was a cool WNW with temperatures struggling to reach 8 degrees C. Surely not winter already! Despite the beautiful conditions though, birding was rather uneventful, until of course I took that call from Tim.......
LITTLE CHALFONT
WOODPIGEONS were once again the order of the day with over 2,314 birds flying south/SW over the village during the morning - with some single flocks numbering over 600 birds.
Experimenting with the chicken carcasses, 3 RED KITES showed an interest and after several poor attempts they eventually plucked up courage and swooped right down on to the lawn to retrieve pieces of meat. There was much arguing going on. Two birds were juveniles.
CALVERT BBOWT/SAILING LAKE
Calvert supremo Tim Watts contacted me mid afternoon to say that he had located a RED-NECKED GREBE - a first for the year and an excellent county bird. Wasting no time, I battled my way through the Aylesbury school run and after successfully surviving the hazardous rat-run between Berryfields Junction and Edgcott, eventually arrived at Calvert at 1633 hours.
The juvenile/first-winter RED-NECKED GREBE was still present, preening its neck and breast feathers, in amongst a few Mallard along the southern shore (in fact towards the SE corner) of the Sailing Lake at SP 677 248. It smartened itself up before tucking its head under its wing to roost and was still sleeping when both Tim and I left it. It still had remnants of the dark striping on the rear crown and ear-coverts indicating that it was a first-winter and had a dark crown, some russet-brown on the fore-neck and an extensively bright yellow bill. It was also markedly smaller than a single Great Crested Grebe nearby. It was the 35th individual to be recorded in the county (see detail below).
I then moved round to the BBOWT Lake where I click-counted and surveyed the large numbers of gulls in the roost showing exceptionally well from the second hide. A total of 2,458 birds logged between 1650 and 1710 including 29 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1,988 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 83 Herring Gulls (including a larger proportion of Scandinavian Argentatus), 11 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (7 adults, 1 3rd-winter, 2 2nd-winters and a juvenile), a single well-marked first-winter and very white-headed CASPIAN GULL, 11 Common Gulls and 335 Black-headed Gulls. Additional to this were at least 3,500 birds already roosting on the Sailing Lake including 6 Great Black-backeds and 2,000 or more Lesser Black-backs.
RED-NECKED GREBES IN BUCKS 1900 ONWARDS
The Red-necked Grebe is a rare visitor to the county with perhaps one record every five years on average, although at one stage it appeared almost annually. Prior to 1900 there was one record - a bird shot at Saunderton on 10 October 1848. There have been at least 35 recorded since 1974.
1) The first record in modern times was of a first-winter at Weston Turville Reservoir from 9-26 November 1974 providing me with one of my first ever opportunities to study this scarce grebe at close quarters.
2) In February 1979, there was a major influx of Red-necked Grebes throughout central Britain following severe weather in the Baltic and this resulted in four individuals reaching Buckinghamshire. There were two first-winters at Willen Lake on 14 February;
1979-1985: Data Incomplete (Reports missing)
6) 1987 was another extraordinary year with an unprecedented seven occurrences, including the first to ever oversummer in the county - singles at Willen Lake on 1 January, the Blue Lagoon, Bletchley, from 16-27 January, at Newton Longville Brickpits from 18-28 January, at Randall's Farm in the Little Marlow GP complex on 24 January, on the River Thames at Bourne End from 31 January to 2 February and an adult largely in breeding plumage at Willen Lake on 22-24 March. This latter bird then moved to Haversham on 26 March and New Bradwell from 31 March to 9 April and was most likely the full summer-plumaged adult that loafed with non-breeding Great Crested Grebes at Caldecotte Lake from 6 June until 19 August and again from 7-27 September. A further bird was at Newton Longville on 2 December;
13) An adult in full breeding plumage visited Willen Lake on 9 April 1989;
14) One remained at Calvert from 5-20 February 1990;
15) A first-winter was present at Little Marlow Spade Oak Pit on 24-25 December 1990;
16) Two arrived in late 1991 with a first-winter present on Caldecotte Lake from 26 November to 11 December, with a second bird present from 6-10 December;
18) A first-winter remained at Caldecotte Lake from 22 November 1994 until 19 April 1995 and was seen next day (20 April) on Willen Lake;
19) 1996 was another exceptional year with no less than five recorded including an unprecedented three together: the first of three different birds arrived at Caldecotte Lake on 7 February, followed by another on 22 February and a third on 26 February. Two remained until 28 February with one to 27 March. What was presumed to have been one of these three was present on Willen Lake from 14-21 February and another at Linford NR from 9 March until 2 April. A bird which was wintering on the River Thames on the Berks/Bucks border straddled across to the Taplow Court side on 17 and 24 March with a further arrival at Weston Turville Reservoir on 22 March;
24) One visited Marlow GP on 7 April 1997;
25) A first-winter remained at Calvert from 23 October 1997 until 24 April 1998, by which time it had acquired full summer attire;
26) One was seen at Taplow on 22 December 1998;
27) A long-staying bird remained at Thorney CP from 2 January until 10 April 1999;
28) A juvenile was at Calvert from 16-19 October 1999;
29) An adult remained at Willen Lake from 4 February until 26 April 2001 (see photo in 2001 BBR Report);
30) An adult in almost full breeding plumage visited Calvert Lake on 24 March 2001;
31) One appeared briefly in the gull roost at Willen South Basin on 10 November 2002;
32) One was present briefly at Calvert Lake on 19 March 2005;
33) A wide-ranging first-winter in North Bucks visited New Bradwell Lake on 26-27 February 2006 before moving to Haversham Lake on 3-4 March and Willen Lake from 14 March until at least 1 May (see photo in 2006 BBR Report);
A glorious day weatherwise, dawning bright and clear and then predominantly blue skies and sunshine throughout. The wind though was a cool WNW with temperatures struggling to reach 8 degrees C. Surely not winter already! Despite the beautiful conditions though, birding was rather uneventful, until of course I took that call from Tim.......
LITTLE CHALFONT
WOODPIGEONS were once again the order of the day with over 2,314 birds flying south/SW over the village during the morning - with some single flocks numbering over 600 birds.
Experimenting with the chicken carcasses, 3 RED KITES showed an interest and after several poor attempts they eventually plucked up courage and swooped right down on to the lawn to retrieve pieces of meat. There was much arguing going on. Two birds were juveniles.
CALVERT BBOWT/SAILING LAKE
Calvert supremo Tim Watts contacted me mid afternoon to say that he had located a RED-NECKED GREBE - a first for the year and an excellent county bird. Wasting no time, I battled my way through the Aylesbury school run and after successfully surviving the hazardous rat-run between Berryfields Junction and Edgcott, eventually arrived at Calvert at 1633 hours.
The juvenile/first-winter RED-NECKED GREBE was still present, preening its neck and breast feathers, in amongst a few Mallard along the southern shore (in fact towards the SE corner) of the Sailing Lake at SP 677 248. It smartened itself up before tucking its head under its wing to roost and was still sleeping when both Tim and I left it. It still had remnants of the dark striping on the rear crown and ear-coverts indicating that it was a first-winter and had a dark crown, some russet-brown on the fore-neck and an extensively bright yellow bill. It was also markedly smaller than a single Great Crested Grebe nearby. It was the 35th individual to be recorded in the county (see detail below).
I then moved round to the BBOWT Lake where I click-counted and surveyed the large numbers of gulls in the roost showing exceptionally well from the second hide. A total of 2,458 birds logged between 1650 and 1710 including 29 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1,988 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 83 Herring Gulls (including a larger proportion of Scandinavian Argentatus), 11 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (7 adults, 1 3rd-winter, 2 2nd-winters and a juvenile), a single well-marked first-winter and very white-headed CASPIAN GULL, 11 Common Gulls and 335 Black-headed Gulls. Additional to this were at least 3,500 birds already roosting on the Sailing Lake including 6 Great Black-backeds and 2,000 or more Lesser Black-backs.
RED-NECKED GREBES IN BUCKS 1900 ONWARDS
The Red-necked Grebe is a rare visitor to the county with perhaps one record every five years on average, although at one stage it appeared almost annually. Prior to 1900 there was one record - a bird shot at Saunderton on 10 October 1848. There have been at least 35 recorded since 1974.
1) The first record in modern times was of a first-winter at Weston Turville Reservoir from 9-26 November 1974 providing me with one of my first ever opportunities to study this scarce grebe at close quarters.
2) In February 1979, there was a major influx of Red-necked Grebes throughout central Britain following severe weather in the Baltic and this resulted in four individuals reaching Buckinghamshire. There were two first-winters at Willen Lake on 14 February;
1979-1985: Data Incomplete (Reports missing)
6) 1987 was another extraordinary year with an unprecedented seven occurrences, including the first to ever oversummer in the county - singles at Willen Lake on 1 January, the Blue Lagoon, Bletchley, from 16-27 January, at Newton Longville Brickpits from 18-28 January, at Randall's Farm in the Little Marlow GP complex on 24 January, on the River Thames at Bourne End from 31 January to 2 February and an adult largely in breeding plumage at Willen Lake on 22-24 March. This latter bird then moved to Haversham on 26 March and New Bradwell from 31 March to 9 April and was most likely the full summer-plumaged adult that loafed with non-breeding Great Crested Grebes at Caldecotte Lake from 6 June until 19 August and again from 7-27 September. A further bird was at Newton Longville on 2 December;
13) An adult in full breeding plumage visited Willen Lake on 9 April 1989;
14) One remained at Calvert from 5-20 February 1990;
15) A first-winter was present at Little Marlow Spade Oak Pit on 24-25 December 1990;
16) Two arrived in late 1991 with a first-winter present on Caldecotte Lake from 26 November to 11 December, with a second bird present from 6-10 December;
18) A first-winter remained at Caldecotte Lake from 22 November 1994 until 19 April 1995 and was seen next day (20 April) on Willen Lake;
19) 1996 was another exceptional year with no less than five recorded including an unprecedented three together: the first of three different birds arrived at Caldecotte Lake on 7 February, followed by another on 22 February and a third on 26 February. Two remained until 28 February with one to 27 March. What was presumed to have been one of these three was present on Willen Lake from 14-21 February and another at Linford NR from 9 March until 2 April. A bird which was wintering on the River Thames on the Berks/Bucks border straddled across to the Taplow Court side on 17 and 24 March with a further arrival at Weston Turville Reservoir on 22 March;
24) One visited Marlow GP on 7 April 1997;
25) A first-winter remained at Calvert from 23 October 1997 until 24 April 1998, by which time it had acquired full summer attire;
26) One was seen at Taplow on 22 December 1998;
27) A long-staying bird remained at Thorney CP from 2 January until 10 April 1999;
28) A juvenile was at Calvert from 16-19 October 1999;
29) An adult remained at Willen Lake from 4 February until 26 April 2001 (see photo in 2001 BBR Report);
30) An adult in almost full breeding plumage visited Calvert Lake on 24 March 2001;
31) One appeared briefly in the gull roost at Willen South Basin on 10 November 2002;
32) One was present briefly at Calvert Lake on 19 March 2005;
33) A wide-ranging first-winter in North Bucks visited New Bradwell Lake on 26-27 February 2006 before moving to Haversham Lake on 3-4 March and Willen Lake from 14 March until at least 1 May (see photo in 2006 BBR Report);
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Gayhurst
This afternoon the juvenile PINTAIL was still present. It is now starting to develop the plumage of a male bird. Also a Green Sandpiper was on the fishing Pit.
Other birds seen were an Egyptian Goose in the large Greylag flock, Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe and a Grey Wagtail.
Duck numbers are now building up with good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler (Robert Norris)
Other birds seen were an Egyptian Goose in the large Greylag flock, Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe and a Grey Wagtail.
Duck numbers are now building up with good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler (Robert Norris)
SCAUPS
The adult pair of GREATER SCAUPS are still present today on Tongwell Lake. Meanwhile, four more Greater Scaup are present in neighbouring Bedfordshire - at Brogborough Lake - so a small influx
Monday, 2 November 2009
First day of November pretty much a washout
NOVEMBER 2009
SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Heavy rain persisted throughout the morning along with blustery WNW winds making birding conditions very unpleasant. It finally cleared early morning with brighter conditions following, although the wind still remained strong. Temperatures struggled to 15 degrees C. Despite an excellent Saturday where rare wildfowl was the main theme and a dapper male Black Redstart attracted the crowds, Sunday was largely a let down for me.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING
There was no sign of Saturday's Common Goldeneye but overnight rain had pushed water levels up attracting large numbers of dabblers to the SW shore - including 6 Mute Swans, 10 Greylag Geese, 143 Mallard, 15 Shoveler and 37 Common Teal whilst the open water held 4 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Gadwall, 43 Tufted Ducks and an impressive 86 Northern Pochards.
TRINGFORD RESERVOIR
Sadly, the road running alongside the reservoir harboured a fresh Badger casualty.
Few birds on Tringford - just 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Common Teal, 8 Gadwall and 6 Northern Pochard.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR
Totally windswept - 3 DUNLIN from the Drayton Bank Hide being the highlight, with the juvenile GREATER SCAUP still feeding on the east shore.
LONG MARSTON (HERTFORDSHIRE)
No sign of yesterday's adult male Black Redstart enjoyed and photographed by many (see blog)
WINGRAVE AREA (BUCKS)
Two adult Moorhens on the village pond at SP 870 192 with 41 Linnets just north of Lower Windmill Hill Farm at SP 872 184.
GROVEBURY SAND QUARRY (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Just outside the Tring Recording Area, 6 DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE were present until at least 0945 hours in driving rain (Johnny Lynch). They were not there when I visited mid afternoon.
TONGWELL LAKE, MILTON KEYNES (NORTH BUCKS)
The pair of GREATER SCAUP were showing very well diving frequently in front of the main island at Tongwell Lake at SP 867 423. Both birds were adults with the drake just moulting out of eclipse with patchy grey in the flanks, light grey vermiculations on the mantle, a black breast, a rich dark green sheen to the head and a pale blue bill with a dark nail restricted to the tip. The adult female had an extensive white blaze, extending on the forehead as well as at the sides of the bill, a similarly patterned bill, flat and broad dark brown head and breast and dark grey vermiculations on the sides, flanks and mantle.
FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)
(with Jenny Wallington; late afternoon)
Great Crested Grebe (7)
Little Grebe (5)
Mute Swans (38 including 6 first-winters)
Gadwall (41)
Eurasian Wigeon (343)
Common Teal (27)
Shoveler (19)
Northern Pochard (23)
Tufted Duck (63)
*RING-NECKED DUCK (the adult drake was still present roosting in the weed-covered section at the north end directly opposite the hide - occasionally lifted its head and still largely in eclipse plumage)
COMMON GOLDENEYES (3 present, my first of the autumn - an adult drake, a first-winter drake and a female)
SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Heavy rain persisted throughout the morning along with blustery WNW winds making birding conditions very unpleasant. It finally cleared early morning with brighter conditions following, although the wind still remained strong. Temperatures struggled to 15 degrees C. Despite an excellent Saturday where rare wildfowl was the main theme and a dapper male Black Redstart attracted the crowds, Sunday was largely a let down for me.
STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING
There was no sign of Saturday's Common Goldeneye but overnight rain had pushed water levels up attracting large numbers of dabblers to the SW shore - including 6 Mute Swans, 10 Greylag Geese, 143 Mallard, 15 Shoveler and 37 Common Teal whilst the open water held 4 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Gadwall, 43 Tufted Ducks and an impressive 86 Northern Pochards.
TRINGFORD RESERVOIR
Sadly, the road running alongside the reservoir harboured a fresh Badger casualty.
Few birds on Tringford - just 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Common Teal, 8 Gadwall and 6 Northern Pochard.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR
Totally windswept - 3 DUNLIN from the Drayton Bank Hide being the highlight, with the juvenile GREATER SCAUP still feeding on the east shore.
LONG MARSTON (HERTFORDSHIRE)
No sign of yesterday's adult male Black Redstart enjoyed and photographed by many (see blog)
WINGRAVE AREA (BUCKS)
Two adult Moorhens on the village pond at SP 870 192 with 41 Linnets just north of Lower Windmill Hill Farm at SP 872 184.
GROVEBURY SAND QUARRY (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Just outside the Tring Recording Area, 6 DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE were present until at least 0945 hours in driving rain (Johnny Lynch). They were not there when I visited mid afternoon.
TONGWELL LAKE, MILTON KEYNES (NORTH BUCKS)
The pair of GREATER SCAUP were showing very well diving frequently in front of the main island at Tongwell Lake at SP 867 423. Both birds were adults with the drake just moulting out of eclipse with patchy grey in the flanks, light grey vermiculations on the mantle, a black breast, a rich dark green sheen to the head and a pale blue bill with a dark nail restricted to the tip. The adult female had an extensive white blaze, extending on the forehead as well as at the sides of the bill, a similarly patterned bill, flat and broad dark brown head and breast and dark grey vermiculations on the sides, flanks and mantle.
FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)
(with Jenny Wallington; late afternoon)
Great Crested Grebe (7)
Little Grebe (5)
Mute Swans (38 including 6 first-winters)
Gadwall (41)
Eurasian Wigeon (343)
Common Teal (27)
Shoveler (19)
Northern Pochard (23)
Tufted Duck (63)
*RING-NECKED DUCK (the adult drake was still present roosting in the weed-covered section at the north end directly opposite the hide - occasionally lifted its head and still largely in eclipse plumage)
COMMON GOLDENEYES (3 present, my first of the autumn - an adult drake, a first-winter drake and a female)
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