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



Tuesday, 16 August 2016

GREAT WHITE EGRET still present at Floodplain Forest Local Nature Reserve

You may well ask where but Floodplain Forest Local Nature Reserve is the new name given to the site formerly known as Manor Farm Workings at Old Wolverton. Anyhow, I took a trip up there this afternoon after Ted had seen the bird early morning and there it was - showing well up the west end and feeding in tow with a Little Egret and Grey Heron. I sat down and waited quietly and over the course of an hour was treated to some remarkable views. Here are my photographic results........































































Record-breaking SANDWICH TERN flock in Little Marlow

At around 10 o'clock this morning, Mike Mayall came upon a flock of SANDWICH TERNS at Spade Oak Pit, Little Marlow - all roosting at the end of the spit with Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls. On a brief scan, Mike could count 11 but when I arrived 17 minutes later after a quick text from Alan Stephens, Jim Rose and he had actually counted 13 - the largest single flock to have ever been recorded in Buckinghamshire. Exceptionally, they remained throughout the day, even when Alan returned this evening to check. At least six individuals were ringed, including one adult with red over blue, indicating a bird trapped in 2010 at Sands of Forvie NNR, the Ythan Estuary colony. What with an adult Gannet yesterday (present for 20 minutes around lunchtime at Dorney Rowing Lakes - Dave Cleal/Jim Rose), what will tomorrow bring......

















Thursday, 11 August 2016

Negative on GWE but juvenile RUFF at College

There has been no subsequent sightings of the Great White Egret seen at Manor Farm landscaped gravel pits on Tuesday, although a juvenile RUFF today becomes the latest passage wader to appear at College Lake BBOWT, following the 11 or so Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits over the past month there.