YEARLISTING IN 2016

Compared to most recent years, when for example I recorded 165 species in the county in 2011, 187 in 2012 and 173 in 2013, this has been a particularly poor one with just 157 species recorded by mid December - one of my worst years on record

YEARLISTING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

It's all over - 2012 has come to an end. I managed a total of 187 out of the 198 species recorded all told in Buckinghamshire - 94% of the total - probably my highest-ever annual tally.

The current record is 191 species achieved in 2006 and held jointly by both Rob Hill and Simon Nichols



Saturday, 30 January 2010

BLACK REDSTART in Aylesbury


A male BLACK REDSTART was discovered this morning in Aylesbury, favouring the gardens and parking area of 49-47 Buckingham Road (accessed from Lucky Lane) - the first of this species in Buckinghamshire this year.

Friday, 29 January 2010

Walton Balancing Lakes BITTERN

Since the discovery of a BITTERN at Walton Balancing Lake, I've been meaning to head down after work as it's only about 2 minutes away. However, since then I've had to work overtime for every daylight hour - it's a busy time!

Finally today I got off work at 4 and was in two minds whether to go or not. I decided I still had 45 minutes of daylight or so (Spring is finally on the way) so I headed down. I stood for about 10 minutes watching the Magpies come in to roost - about 45 or more - and small brown birds drop into the reedbed. Just then a noise made me look out over the reeds and there was the a large brown bird rather clumsily rising from the reeds. My bins on quickdraw around my neck I got a view for about 2 or 3 seconds - unmistakably a BITTERN!

So my first [brief] encounter with a bittern and what a fantastic feeling! (Mac)

North Bucks CROSSBILLS

A pair of COMMON CROSSBILLS were showing well,feeding in the Larch trees by Woburn Golf Club this lunchtime. They obviously like these trees because this is where I saw them in November.

There was no sign of the Walton Balancing Lakes Bittern between 4 and 5 tonight but at least 50 Magpies in the roost (Rob Norris)

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

LITTLE OWL surprise record at Willen

Most unexpected bird this morning was a Little Owl, present at the North End of the North Lake near the inlet. Only found because it was being mobbed by every small bird for miles.

A Cettis Warbler showed very well in the reeds right out in front of the Hide, a Common Redshank was on the scrape and there were 3 Goosander by the island.

In Alders along the top of the South Lake were 7 Lesser Redpoll. 2 female Red-crested Pochard were just off the Bandstand. There were at least 18 Common Goldeneye on the South Lake and there were a flock of around 60 Siskin in Alders in the grounds of Unisys in the South East corner (Rob Norris)

43 county MANDARIN DUCKS accounted for.....and a bounty full of COMMON CROSSBILLS




WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY

Up until early afternoon, it was freezing, with a raw wind keeping temperatures below 3 degrees C. Then, as the afternoon progressed, a 'warm front' crossed the region bringing overcast conditions and light rain, and a rise of four degrees.

I spent the day local, primarily with the aim of censusing the Mandarin Duck population in South Bucks.

BURNHAM BEECHES NR (BUCKS)

The woodland held Nuthatch, 2 Coal Tits, Jay and Long-tailed Tits, with the Upper Lake harbouring an excellent count of 30 MANDARIN DUCKS (exactly 15 pairs), now that the ice has melted.

BLACK PARK COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS)

The main lake held a total of 13 MANDARIN DUCKS (7 drakes), along with 2 adult Mute Swans, 66 Mallard, 9 Northern Pochard, 11 Tufted Duck and 36 Coots.

Just NW of the car park, in the Larches and Conifers, Geoff Young, his brother and I enjoyed fabulous views of a marvellous flock of finches, including 29 COMMON CROSSBILLS (including 16 males), 37 SISKIN, 12 LESSER REDPOLL and 3 Goldfinch. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk shot through the canopy and panicked the birds in all directions.

Two GOLDCREST were also encountered, as well as 2 Jays, 2 Fieldfares and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS)

An excellent crop of wildfowl on the main lake just SW of Low Farm, including 14 Atlantic Canada Geese, 4 Gadwall (2 pairs), 30 Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 1 Common Teal and 4 Tufted Ducks, along with 1 Moorhen and 2 Coot, whilst the gull roost held a single adult Great Black-backed Gull, a single adult argenteus Herring Gull and 57 Common Gulls. There was also a flock of 30 Redwing present.

CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)

Again, no sign of the Great White Egret in a very extensive search but 7 LITTLE EGRETS seen, with 1 in the stream by Bois Mill Lake, 2 around Latimer Bridge, 2 by Chenies Bottom Bridge with one fishing on the river inside Mill Farm House garden and a 7th at the Crestyl Watercress Beds.

A GREEN SANDPIPER was also showing well for a second day at the Watercress Beds, the first COMMON SNIPE of the year also being seen by JT yesterday.

Mute Swans (6 adults on the river at Chenies Bottom, with another adult at Latimer Bridge, a territorial pair on Bois Mill Lake and a further adult close to the cressbed)
Grey Heron (2)
COMMON TEAL (2 at Church Covert LNR - the only reliable site for this species in the valley)
Mallard (4 at Church Covert LNR)
Red Kite (1)
Common Kestrel (1 hunting over Mill Farm Meadow)
Moorhen (8 at the Watercress Bed)
WATER RAIL (1 in Church Covert)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 at the orchid reserve)
Green Woodpecker (1 at Church Covert)
Wren (2)
Common Blackbird (6 in the hedgerow bordering the cressbed)
Redwing (just 1 noted - in Church Covert)
Common Magpie (9 together at Church Covert)
Long-tailed Tit (7)

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Today's News




In North Bucks, the drake RING-NECKED DUCK was seen at Foxcote, the juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL pre-roosted on the BBOWT Lake at Calvert and the two adult WHOOPERS were again at Blackthorn Meadows, just 100 yards over the border in Oxfordshire.

A flock of 29 COMMON CROSSBILLS remain in Black Park.

Blackthorn Whooper images by kind courtesy of Adam Hartley

Monday, 25 January 2010

Birding in the Brickhills

This lunchtime there were 2 BRAMBLINGS, both female on the side of the road near to Bow Brickhill Church.

A notable flock of 36 Lesser Redpolls were feeding in a Silver Birch near to the Giant Redwoods on the track down to the pond, with another 3 near to the Golf Clubhouse.Lots of Coal Tits around with several Goldcrest a couple of Treecreepers and Nuthatch seen (Rob Norris)