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)
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
BLACK KITE in the north of the county
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)
Friday, 26 August 2011
BLACK TERN arrival
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.
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.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Marlow today
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...
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...
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
More REDSTARTS and WHINCHATS
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
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
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
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