Marlow BAR-WITS

Just to flesh the record a bit – paltry in comparison to College Lake though!

Following a large passage of Barwits along the south coast yesterday, I felt optimistic of finding some locally today so was at LMGP at the ridiculous time of 5:40am. There was obviously nothing new in here, except for 2 Green Sandpipers feeding on the back of the spit. At 5:55am, I noted 4 high flying waders flying NE over the middle of the pit – the Barwits I had been hoping for! Luckily, they whiffled down to the sand spit by the island revealing 2 females, a full summer plumaged male and a transitional male. One of the females flew off immediately, but the other three remained. They never looked very settled, but were still there at 7am when I had to leave. Having seen the College lake passage, I wonder what I missed by leaving then!

Adam Bassett

A trawl of North Bucks sites this afternoon - Simon Nichols

A few visits to a number of North Bucks sites this afternoon -:

Stony Stratford: 1 Little Egret , 2 Oystercatchers (first attempt at nesting seems to have failed as the pair were prospecting a new nest site) 1 Lapwing, 1 Blackcap, 2 Common Terns.

Linford Reserve: 3 COMMON SANDPIPERS, 4 Little Egrets, 1 LRP, 1 House Martin, 2 HOBBY's , hunting over the paddocks, 1 GRASSHOPPER WARBLER reeling very close to the road along the approach road , 6 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Garden Warblers, 7 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Ducks

Newport Pagnell gravel extraction pits: At least 10 Lapwing pairs with quite a few fledged young , 4 LRP , 5 Linnets , 1 Blackcap

Willen Lake North: 3 Common Terns , 2 Lapwings

Wilen Lake South: 70+ Common Terns , 4 Black Headed Gulls

A big BAR-WIT day

A flock of 4 BAR-TAILED GODWITS flew into Little Marlow Gravel Pits at 5:55am, with 3 remaining until 7am at least when I left. Also 2 Green Sandpipers were new in. A Common Cuckoo calling in the wood flew off west (Adam Bassett)

Meanwhile, a major passage of BAR-TAILED GODWITS was felt at Tring Reservoirs, with College Lake attracting 7 of these, a cracking male stopping and feeding on the main marsh throughout the rest of the day (Dave Bilcock et al). Dave counted a total of 80 birds move east in total.

Waders on the move

With a notable passage of Barwits this morning from London and various Beds sites, I made a quick check of LMGP and Dorney Lake from 9:30am to 11am (probably too late!).

LMGP – just the regular 2 LRPs, but 6 Shelduck, with 4 flying in from the SE at 9:45am to join the regular pair.

Dorney Lake – a single COMMON GREENSHANK on the Reserve Pool and 1-2 LRPs at the start of the return lake. At 11am a familiar tew tew tew call near the Seasonal Pool made me think the earlier Greenshank was flying, but a flock of 4 descended from quite a height and had obviously just arrived. They flew into the Seasonal Pool. I could not see the single bird on the RP on my return, so this may have joined the arriving flock. Also 2 Shelduck, 2 Common Terns, 2 Swifts over and c40 House Martins with a few Swallows and sand Martins.

Adam Bassett

NIGHTINGALE at Stowe

A singing COMMON NIGHTINGALE still present last night 500m north of Stowe Castle-giving occasional short bursts of song (Phil Tizzard)

First ARCTIC TERN

1 at Willen south this evening with c30 Common Tern.

Also 1 RP, 1 LRP & 2 Common Sand on north (Rob Hill)

GROPPER still present at Weston Turville Reservoir

After a very brief and cold look at Wilstone with nothing of note seen I decided to head for Weston Turville and a nice warm hide!

The magic of reedbeds at this time of the year was in full flow with warblers in full song all over the place. The Gropper was still present but the cold weather was probably keeping the reeling to short bursts. In contrast Sedge Warblers were going mad trying to out-sing eachother and plenty of Reed Warblers were further into the main reedbed.

A Common Sandpiper flew across the water and landed on one of the fishing platforms and c70 Swallows were over the water (Rob Andrews)