THE DIARY OF AN OBSESSIVE TWITCHER

Up to 82 Species - rare Geese help swell the pot

2011-01-02T23:12:00.002Z

SUNDAY 2 JANUARY

A much brighter day than of late but several degrees cooler. In fact, there was a slight frost overnight. It remained bright all day, with very light winds - in fact very pleasant all round.

I spent today 'mopping up' on a few local Year-ticks and checking out some late December 2010 rarities......Undoubted highlight was a flock of BARNACLE GEESE....

JUBILEE RIVER, TAPLOW (Bucks section between Amerden Lane and Marsh Lane) (park at SU 915 803)

I first checked the grass field SSW of Amerden Lane, where grazing in the field were 25 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese and 120 Atlantic Canada Geese; the 8 Egyptian Geese had all moved on.

The field also held 372 Woodpigeons.

The Amerden Scrapes and river held 6 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Heron, several Sinensis Cormorants, 2 Gadwall, 9 Eurasian Wigeon, 130 Tufted Ducks and numerous Coot, with Ring-necked Parakeet recorded, as well as Jay, Great Tit and 2 Eurasian Skylarks that flew over.

Driving around to Marsh Lane Weir, I soon found the geese. As luck would have it, 15 of the EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE had flown from the field to drink on the river and were affording some exceptional views. This 15 held 5 adults and 10 juveniles.

The other three birds (a pair with a single juvenile) were still feeding amongst the 186-strong Greylag Geese flock SW of the car park in the field. A single adult Bar-headed Goose was also with them.

Checking the Jubilee River from here added 8 Mute Swans (including 5 first-winters), 6 Gadwall, 2 Northern Pochards and a few Moorhens, along with a Grey Wagtail at the weir, 5 more flyover Skylarks, several Fieldfare and 9 Lapwings.

At 1135 hours, a flock of 15 BARNACLE GEESE appeared from the east and attempted to land with the Greylags. They circled the field twice but then headed off SSE towards Dorney Rowing Lakes before veering east and following the Jubilee River course along. They circled Dorney Wetlands briefly before eventually flying off SW over Dorney Common. I am assuming that they are part of the huge displacement of Continental Barnacle Geese currently being undertaken in Southern England, with flocks of over 100 birds appearing at various localities along the South Coast, from East Sussex to Dorset and South Devon. They were calling constantly as they were flying around. The only non-naturalised birds in the area is the flock at Eversley GP.

DORNEY WETLANDS (BUCKS/BERKS)

A further 460 Tufted Ducks were click-counted on the section of Jubilee River between Marsh Lane and the weir to the west of Moores Lane, along with 6 Shoveler, 50+ Eurasian Wigeon, a single Common Teal, 25 Mute Swans and an island filled with 104 Lapwing. Meadow Pipit and Redwing were both new for the year.

East and west of Moores Lane, i recorded 3 female SMEWS but no drake.

BURNHAM BEECHES NNR (BUCKS)

Although largely frozen, I was most surprised to find all of the resident MANDARIN DUCKS present on the Upper Pond - a total of 25 birds (15 adult drakes).

The adjacent woodland yielded Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Jay, Wren, Robin, Great Tit and Blue Tit.

BURTLEY WOOD (BUCKS) (A355) (SU 950 884)

A Red Kite was repeatedly swooping down to feed on a dead cock Common Pheasant on the southbound verge of the A355.

SPRINGFIELD QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (BUCKS)
(permit access only)

All of the water was frozen and much of the rubbish largely covered. Not one gull was to be seen so I made to by click-counting the corvids - a staggering 334 Carrion Crows present, either feeding on the rubbish or roosting in the trees surrounding the pits. A total of 13 Red Kites were seen, along with Skylark, Pied Wagtail and Song Thrush.

BEACONSFIELD HOUSEHOLD WASTE AND RECYCLING CENTRE (BUCKS) (SU 967 893)

I was surprised to see tipping being carried out on a Sunday and from the entrance to the site, careful scrutiny could be made of the large number of birds taking advantage.

Again, corvid numbers were impressive, with a further 424 Carrion Crows click-counted, along with 44 Red Kites scavenging and 100 Common Starlings.

The gull flock comprised at least 2,400 individuals - the bulk of them Black-headed. Not a single Common Gull to be seen but 430 Herring Gulls (including a surprising number of Argenteus - perhaps 50%), 73 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 53 Great Black-backed Gulls (including a few first-winters).

PENN WOOD (BUCKS)

Well what a difference a few days make. Penn Wood today was very unproductive - no Woodcock, Bullfinch, redpolls or Hawfinch - in fact very little and hardly worth the effort - 7 Jays, Nuthatch, 4 Goldcrests and a Muntjac.

Nearby, where the Penn Bottom lane joins the main A413 east of Hazlemere, 2 Redwings were feeding on the verge - the first I have seen locally this year (since the snow, numbers of this species have diminished in the Amersham District).

MOP END (BUCKS)

More Corvid counting - this time Jackdaws - 302 of them feeding in a field 300 yards east of Mop End Farm.

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

Still virtually frozen over apart from a small section at the west end. Remarkably though, worth the visit, as two adult drake MANDARIN DUCKS were present - a scarce species in the locale. Just 8 Coots remained, with the gull roost on the ice harbouring 76 Black-headed Gulls and 8 adult Common Gulls. An adult Mute Swan was standing isolated in one of the neighbouring fields with 2 Red Kites roosting in a dead tree by the access roundabout.

FULLER'S HILL, CHESHAM (BUCKS) - 3 Long-tailed Tits in a roadside hedgerow

SILK MILL WAY PARK, TRING (HERTS) (SP 926 926)

A group of 4 Moorhens were feeding on the grass by the stream.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(with David Bilcock & Roy Hargreaves)

A late afternoon visit. Not much change from yesterday although wildfowl click-counting revealed the presence of 317 Common Teal, 239 Wigeon and 134 Northern Pochard; 12 Mute Swans remain as do a single Little Grebe, just 4 Great Crested Grebes and 8 NORTHERN PINTAILS (4 adult drakes).

A redhead GOOSANDER was on the ice-free section by the hide (Ian Williams had seen two earlier in the day) and the gull roost produced over 1,600 Black-headed, 96+ Common and 4 Lesser Black-backs. David did superb in picking out a standing roosting adult winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL - presumably the same bird last seen in early December.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(with David & Roy, as well as Mike Campbell and Stuart Wilson; at least 12 others were also present)

For the second night running, one of the wintering EURASIAN BITTERNS chose to roost halfway up the hedgerow at the back of the reedbed - almost directly opposite the hide -allowing everybody present an opportunity to see it It remained there into darkness. We also saw the second bird - flying from left to right at the back of the reedbed at 1630 hours.

The resident BARN OWL also put in an appearance - hunting over the rank vegetation east of the sewage farm - and as dusk approached, TAWNY OWLS became very active in the tall trees bordering the compound - two birds at least calling.

Only a single WATER RAIL squealed and there was no sound of any Cetti's Warblers (although Ian had earlier seen the Wilstone individual as well as 54 roosting Corn Buntings).

RED-THROATED DIVER is bird of the day

2011-01-01T19:46:00.001Z

SATURDAY 1 JANUARY (NEW YEARS DAY 2011)

Virtually all of the lying snow has now melted but on the lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, thick ice is still prevalent and many sites are still not ice-free. It was another reasonably mild day though (temperatures reaching 7 degrees C) but very dreary and grey, with rain moving in during the afternoon.

The undoubted highlight of the day was a RED-THROATED DIVER in Bedfordshire, found by Roy Nye.

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

At 0400 hours, two TAWNY OWLS were calling to each other in the tall trees opposite the house, whilst later at 0800 hours, the lawn and feeders yielded Woodpigeon (4), Collared Dove, the continuing Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Jackdaw, House Sparrow (34), Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail (adult male), Goldfinch (1) and Common Magpie.

CHESHAM TOWN CENTRE (BUCKS)

A total of 82 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was still present in Chesham Broadway, continuously commuting between the tall trees behind the Station car park and the Rowan trees in front of Waterstones book shop. On occasions, the birds showed very well and were constantly entertaining the general public as they were walking by. Both Red Kite and Black-headed Gull were overhead.

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

The large lake was still completely frozen but the smaller had just one restricted area of open water. As I scanned its contents, I was amazed to see a redhead GOOSANDER present in amongst the 8 Northern Pochard and 3 Tufted Ducks. This is a very rare bird in the Recording Area and the first for several years. It was showing very well and diving frequently. I telephoned Chris Pontin who lives just across the road from the site and he managed to see it before it was flushed inadvertently by dogwalkers. It lasted all of ten minutes !

A single LITTLE EGRET was also noted (fishing in the shallow stream behind the houses), along with 5 Mute Swans (family party of two adults and three surviving young), 28 Mallard, just 4 Coot, Moorhen, 18 Black-headed Gulls, Wren, Robin, Great Tit and Coal Tit.

A GREY WAGTAIL was feeding on the stream by the entrance whilst the Birches held 46 SISKINS and a few Goldfinches.

CHESHAM SEWAGE FARM (BUCKS)

Up to 184 Black-headed Gulls were present, whilst opposite 75 Rooks were gathered on the grass fields. It is interesting to see how many Rooks are already attending the nests.

Nearby, an adult Mute Swan was surviving at Bois Mill Lake.

LATIMER AREA AND GREAT WATER (BUCKS)

A second LITTLE EGRET was feeding in shallow water just east of Latimer Bridge, with Common Kestrel and Chaffinch noted nearby.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Latimer Village, as were the resident flock of 20 Fan-tailed Doves.

The section of River Chess between Neptune Falls and Latimer Bridge held 2 Mute Swans, 10 Tufted Duck, 10 Northern Pochard, 8 Coot and 2 Wrens, whilst the fully ice-free Great Water held 86 Atlantic Canada Geese, a single GREYLAG GOOSE, a further 13 Mute Swans, 17 GADWALL (a high count for this site), 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Northern Pochard, 34 Coots, Grey Heron, 68 Black-headed Gulls and an adult Common Gull.

The slopes held a pair of Stock Dove and 7 Mistle Thrushes, whilst other species noted included Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and 2 Carrion Crows.

CHESS VALLEY AT CHENIES BOTTOM (BUCKS)

A third wintering LITTLE EGRET was present in its usual area of river by Church Covert whilst the wide section of water just west of the hamlet produced an excellent 4 COMMON TEAL (3 drakes) (another very scarce bird in the locale), a Little Grebe and a Grey Heron. Two Robins were present at Mill Farm Barns but there was no sign of the two Common Stonechats present before the freeze.

HOCKERIDGE WOOD (BUCKS/HERTS)

Sadly, a very freshly killed Badger was lying beside the A 416 almost opposite the entrance to Haresfoot School at SP 882 064.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Met up with my good friend Colin Oram on the jetty and censused the wildfowl present on the four patches of open water. Frustratingly, we could see no sign of the wintering Water Pipit.

Three gorgeous adult drake GOOSANDERS were the highlight, all hauled out of the water and roosting on the Drayton Bank.

The complete roll-call was as follows -:

Great Crested Grebe (just 7 - and no sign of the Little Grebes)
Grey Heron (1)
LITTLE EGRET (1 feeding along the central bank opposite the jetty)
Cormorants (12)
Mute Swan (15 in total, with just 1 first-winter)
Mallard (25)
Gadwall (12)
Common Teal (213)
Eurasian Wigeon (202)
Shoveler (49)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (2 drakes and 2 females in patch by hide)
Tufted Duck (27)
Northern Pochard (84)
Common Goldeneye (1 drake and two females)
GOOSANDER (the 3 drakes)
Coot (394)
Black-headed and Common Gulls
Woodpigeon (66 in adjoining crop fields)
COMMON KINGFISHER (1 fishing from the Drayton Bank)
Pied Wagtail (1)
Common Starling (23 flew over)
Wren (1 in car park)
Yellowhammer (male flew over)

At Wilstone Great Farm nearby, 4 House Sparrows were seen, with 10 more in conifers by the Anglers Retreat in Marsworth.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

Still largely frozen but packed into the one open area of water were 28 Mute Swans (1 first-year), 268 Coot, 11 Moorhen, 22 Tufted Ducks and 18 Northern Pochard.

GROVEBURY PIT (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Following a text from Johnny Lynch, I stopped off at Grovebury where I eventually located both flocks of Atlantic Canada Goose feeding in grass fields between the sand quarry and the Grand Union Canal. A single Greylag Goose was found amongst the 310 birds but I could find no trace of the very wary PINK-FOOTED GOOSE that John had seen earlier. The fields also yielded 2 Common Kestrels.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The last hour or so of daylight (1520-1615 hours) was spent at Stewartby Lake in intermittent rain, partly in accompaniament with Tim Robson and Martin Stevens.

The RED-THROATED DIVER was still present and favouring the sailing club end. It was very mobile and diving constantly and appeared to have somewhat scaly-fringed upperparts indicating a juvenile.

Being ice-free unlike neighbouring Brogborough Lake, large numbers of waterfowl were present at the site, including exceptional numbers of diving duck.......

Great Crested Grebes (127)
Little Grebes (9)
EURASIAN BITTERN (although up to 6 birds were seen during the ice, Tim and I obtained awesome views of a very pale individual wandering out in the open and on top of the Phragmites in the reedbed in the NW corner)
Mute Swan (1)
Mallard, Coot & Moorhen
Eurasian Wigeon (18)
Common Teal (44)
Tufted Duck (772)
*GREATER SCAUP (a first-winter drake with Tufted Ducks to the east of the watchpoint and two adult females in the NW arm to the right)
Northern Pochard (98)
Common Goldeneye (32)
WATER RAIL (2 heard)
A total of 800 gulls roosting, predominantly Black-headed, but including 55 Common, 18 Argenteus Herring, 90+ Scandinavian Herring, 44 Lesser Black-backed and 21 Great Black-backed; also 1 adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL in with them too.
Common Kingfisher (1 by the stream)

Common Pheasant (1 male), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Rook, Fieldfare, Redwing, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Wren, Robin, Long-tailed Tit and Blue Tit

At dusk, 1 PEREGRINE was roosting on top of one of the chimneys.

A Day on the Uists

2010-12-09T13:13:00.002Z

SATURDAY 15 MAY

The day dawned very cold (just 5 degrees C), with a fresh NW wind blowing. We had all had a very good night sleep at Malaclete (North Uist) and breakfast was arranged for about 0900 hours.

Scanning the bay in front of the B & B chalets yielded a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst the Committee Road produced a nice roadside SHORT-EARED OWL hunting.

BALRANALD RSPB, NORTH UIST

A return visit was made to the RSPB reserve at Balranald where around the Information Centre, pure ROCK DOVES were a welcome sight and a couple of TWITE. The star attraction of course is CORNCRAKE and after hearing 5 or more birds calling, we eventually intercepted one showing out in the open by a neighbouring croft. The bird crept out from the safety of some wood piles and began ‘’crex-crex –ing’’ right in front of our two vehicles. Incredible – and such a difficult bird to see ! We were treated to about five minutes of view before he crept back into the undergrowth and disappeared. Chris Morgan obtained the image below.

We then took the sandy track out to the seawatching site at Aird an Runair. The sand-blasted fields were very attractive to a number of bird species including the localised CORN BUNTING but were particularly attractive to ROCK DOVE – at least 70 being recorded. I also discovered a trip of 3 DOTTERELS – two males and a female – this trio affording exceptional views as they fed alongside the track.

AIRD AN RUNAIR, BALRANALD RSPB, NORTH UIST

The bay held 5 or 6 transitional-plumaged GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS offshore (see image below), whilst the expansive sandy bay held a flock of Dunlin and up to 35 Sanderlings, many of which were in full breeding plumage. There were also 3 Common Shelduck and a single PALE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE offshore, as well as numerous Fulmars and Kittiwakes. Several Atlantic Grey Seals were also offshore.

We did a seawatch for about an hour and a half and were highly rewarded – a total of 4 full-spooned adult POMARINE SKUAS flew north (a single bird then three together), 2 ARCTIC SKUAS, a GREAT SKUA, 6 Manx Shearwaters, a WHIMBREL and a Red-throated Diver.

NORTH UIST (OUTER HEBRIDES)

Returning back to the B & B at Sollas for breakfast along the Committee Road we saw a few COMMON RAVENS and 25 European Golden Plovers and many Greenland Wheatears at Balemartin.

Following breakfast, we returned once more to the seawatching, but before that feasting ourselves on more crippling views of CORNCRAKES in the Balranald RSPB car park area.

Back at Aird an Runair, the undoubted highlight was when a single flock of 14 adult LONG-TAILED SKUAS came through at 1112 hours – a fantastic spectacle. The two hours also produced a further ARCTIC SKUA, 3 Great Skuas, a BLACK GUILLEMOT and a fine male White Wagtail on the beach.

Returning to the Committee Road later, a cracking adult male HEN HARRIER was observed, along with a pair of Common Stonechats and a pale morph ARCTIC SKUA. We also enjoyed some great views of TWITE as we drove around, Chris obtaining the beautiful image below.

Mike Robinson was mad keen on seeing the ‘Northern Eider’ at Stinky Bay on Benbecula, so after eventually giving in, we spent an hour or so trying to locate it. At least 27 Common Eiders were in the vicinity of the pier but nothing could be found of the ‘sailed’ individual. A mass of at least 60 Sanderling were in the bay and on the neighbouring landfill site, a minimum of 9 COMMON RAVENS could be seen.

Returning in good time back to Lochmaddy Harbour for the ferry, we were able to observe the resident GOLDEN EAGLES from the quayside and a beautiful pair of TWITE. More COMMON RAVENS too.

The return trip to Skye was fairly uneventful, with the usual seabirds encountered including good numbers of ATLANTIC PUFFINS, and once back on the island, Collared Doves in Uig were followed by a visit to Toravaig, where we overlooked Portree Bay and the island of Burray for an hour or more. We did not see the pair of White-tailed Sea Eagles in that time but did note COMMON RAVEN, HOODED CROW, 5+ ROCK DOVES, Goldcrest and REDPOLL-TYPES.

And finally NORTH UIST

2010-12-09T11:58:00.004Z

FRIDAY 14 MAY

Common Eiders: adult drake and female (Chris Morgan)

UIG TO LOCHMADDY FERRY CROSSING

We caught the 1400 hours ferry crossing from Uig, the voyage taking just over two hours. The weather was glorious, with blue skies, bright sunshine and light SW winds. Just as we left Uig Harbour, two breeding-plumaged adult GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS were seen, and in the Minch, 400 or more ARCTIC TERNS, over 100 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, both Common Guillemot and Razorbill, a few Northern Fulmars, Gannets and a total of 13 MANX SHEARWATERS. The latter and Puffin were both year-ticks.

As the ferry approached Lochmaddy Harbour, a GOLDEN EAGLE was hanging in the air over the high mountain. We had arrived on North Uist. It was 1615 hours.

BALRANALD RSPB, NORTH UIST (OUTER HEBRIDES)

After sorting out our overnight accommodation at the Struan Catering Flats on North Uist (£25 per night), we quickly went out to visit Balranald. Sadly, the weather had deteriorated and it was windy – at least 2 CORNCRAKES were calling but as usual we could not see them. A pair of WHOOPER SWANS was nesting on the loch just south of the access track, with a drake Shoveler noted and large numbers of breeding waders including drumming Common Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Common Redshank. Driving back towards the bed & breakfast, four European Golden Plovers were at the roadside.

The view from our Bed & Breakfast on North Uist above (Chris Morgan)

And on to the ISLE OF SKYE

2010-12-09T11:52:00.002Z

FRIDAY 14 MAY

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Harrapol, Isle of Skye, May 2010 (Martin Benson)
One of the most confiding individuals I have ever seen

…….And – at long last – the Skye Bridge – two hours and 120 miles after we left Killiecrankie. How times have changed; we used to have to get a ferry across to the island and then this expensive bridge. The Scottish Parliament eventually waived the toll – making all bridges in Scotland now free to cross.

THE ISLE OF SKYE

BROADFORD BAY, SKYE

It was mid-afternoon when we arrived on Skye – and low tide. We pulled up into the Broadford Bay car park in the town and started scanning. I quickly located the Dunlin flock and then the BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER. The birds were feeding in some shallow rockpools about 50 yards from the car park and were affording excellent views. All of the salient field characters could be seen and for the next half an hour or more, the bird was kept under observation. Although I have seen this Scandinavian breeding species in Scotland before, I have never seen one on the West Coast and certainly never on Skye. It also represented my 274th species of the year. It was feeding frantically with 40 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plovers. The bay also held a flock of 23 PALE-BELLIED BRENT GEESE (including a single ringed bird), 3 Northern Wheatears and 2 Common Cuckoos.

ISLE OF SKYE

Excellent views were obtained of the resident pair of GOLDEN EAGLES over the cliff-face, the adult male showing particularly well. He flew short distances along the cliff, landing on the grassy slopes.

PORTREE HARBOUR, ISLE OF SKYE

Scanning across Portree Harbour from the garage on the main road, we were lucky to pick up one of the resident adult WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLES. It was soaring over the eyrie cliff.

UIG HARBOUR, ISLE OF SKYE

Whilst David, Mike and I went to sort out the ferry payment, the others scanned the harbour, where several Common Eiders, 6 BLACK GUILLEMOTS and 2 Common Terns were seen.

WOOD WARBLERS and PIED FLYCATCHERS

2010-12-09T11:48:00.001Z

FRIDAY 14 MAY

KILLIECRANKIE WOODS (PERTH & KINROSS)

Another favoured location and a return to form following our abortive visit in May 2009. This time we had no trouble at all in locating PIED FLYCATCHERS – two singing males advertising their presence and inspecting the nestboxes. Some great prolonged views were obtained and very close by, also in the Birches and Oaks, was a beautiful trilling (and body quivering) singing male WOOD WARBLER. Both species were new to my Year List and cracking views were obtained of both. A singing male GARDEN WARBLER was also nearby, with Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Common Blackbird and Dunnock also added to the trip list.

It was very difficult to get a view of the Wood Warbler at Killiecrankie from above. Chris made do of this image from below.

It was now time to return to the road and this time we were to track the West Coast. Driving the Great Glen along the A82 yielded HOODED CROW around Loch Oich.

BLACK GROUSE on the menu

2010-12-09T11:44:00.003Z

FRIDAY 14 MAY

BRACO MOOR (PERTH & KINROSS)

Braco Moor is one of my favourite locations in the lowlands of Scotland and always supports an excellent selection of moorland breeding species. Driving west along the B827 with the temperature hovering around 6 degrees C, 3 male Willow Warblers were singing from the pinewoods, a pair of Red-legged Partridges were by the roadside and the air was filled with the sound of displaying Meadow Pipits and Eurasian Curlews. Approaching Glenlichorn Farm, both Skylark and Linnet were noted, and then the first of 5 singing male WHINCHATS, between Longside Farm and the next 600 yards of road. These birds were just gorgeous and in fresh breeding attire. A single Northern Wheatear was also noted and the first of many displaying Lapwing.

Braco Moor: in recent years, the section of B827 beyond Langside Farm has been the most productive and this year was no exception. After glancing at a roadside Common Buzzard and a Goldfinch, the first male BLACK GROUSE came in to view – both strutting in the grass about 150 yards away from the south side of the road. These two birds provided fabulous views and as we drove further along, we located a further male.

Meanwhile, 50 or more Common Gulls had returned to the breeding colony on the moor, and a Common Snipe was noted. Three RED GROUSE were soon tracked down, as well as another speciality of the area – the SHORT-EARED OWL. This latter bird perched on a fencepost – and as we drove back towards Braco, our first COMMON CUCKOO of the trip was encountered.

Continuing north from Braco, we took the Muthill road and then the A822 into the Sma’Glen. The scenery here is simply stunning and just north of Newton we discovered a brand new Black-headed Gull colony. At the Newton bridge we also recorded LESSER REDPOLL, whilst 3 Willow Warblers were in full song from the riverside Birch trees. At Corrymuckloch, we recorded 5 cock BLACK GROUSE lekking in a newly planted conifer plantation, followed by a further two younger males, a cracking male RED GROUSE at the roadside and another WHINCHAT. A flock of 6 Atlantic Canada Geese too.

We then drove along GLEN QUAICH from Amulree, another great site for BLACK GROUSE. Looking back towards the hills on the left just beyond the burn and plantations, a further 9 male BLACK GROUSE were located (excellent views obtained), along with good numbers of Lapwing and Curlew, a few Common Redshanks and several Northern Wheatears. The bubbling sounds that the lekking grouse make is just so absorbing and melancholic and the deep blue in their plumage so intense.

In Amulree village, the House Martins were nesting under the eaves of the Lonely Inn Gallery; House Sparrows were also fairly common here.

Just east of Amulree, another lek of 5 male BLACK GROUSE was located in the River B’aan valley, close to ‘Glenfender’ cottage, between Amulree and Milton, with a male RED GROUSE and the first of many Roe Deer in Glen Cochill.

By mid-morning, a total of 24 BLACK GROUSE had been seen – about average for the April and May trips to the region.

After exploring Glen Cochill, we continued on to Pitlochry, where a pair of GOOSANDER were seen on the river.

Rather off schedule, we failed to visit Loch of the Lowes reserve for the first time in perhaps ten tours.

Frustration - as Lothian SPOT SAND is heard but not seen

2010-12-09T11:42:00.000Z

FRIDAY 14 MAY

We picked Mike Robinson up in North Lancashire just before midnight before continuing up the M6 towards Carlisle. The weather had taken a serious turn for the worse and was torrential rain. I decided to take another diversion to Lothian, where a summer-plumaged Spotted Sandpiper had shown up until dusk at North Berwick. It took me about three hours to arrive on site but the rain just did not stop. In fact, at dawn it was still pretty much torrential…..

NORTH BERWICK (LOTHIAN)

After snatching just over an hour’s sleep, I ventured out in the conditions at dawn in an attempt to locate the vagrant. The others at this time chose to stay dry and sheltered in the van. I did a sweep of the rocky harbour but failed to find anything. The rain refused to stop but I was soon joined by the other four and frustratingly, as we walked out to the old coastguards, I inadvertently flushed the Spotted Sandpiper out from the rocks and it flew away calling. This was at 0500 hours and in such poor light conditions and driving rain, I was just not able to latch on to the bird.

An exhaustive search was made of the entire harbour but other than 4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS, a number of Oystercatchers and Turnstones and Common Eiders, nothing more was seen or heard. Offshore were both Fulmar and Gannet.

PORT SETON, EDINBURGH (LOTHIAN)

Our next dip was to be the adult drake Surf Scoter at Port Seton. Despite locating over 500 Common Scoters offshore on the near flat calm sea, the Surfie could not be found, although 50+ VELVET SCOTERS were noteworthy, as well as an adult drake LONG-TAILED DUCK and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers. A couple of Common Terns flew by, as did 8 Barn Swallows.

Driving west along the M8 and continuing north up towards Stirling Services, we eventually joined up with Mike and Chris – both newcomers to LGRE tours. We had planned to meet them at 4am but because of the last minute diversions, it ended up being four hours later. Several Common Swifts were seen as we drove along the motorway.

GREAT REED WARBLER - a stunning performer and a first for DERBYSHIRE

2010-12-08T21:48:00.002Z

Great Reed Warbler, Straw's Bridge Ponds, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, May 2010 (David Hutton)

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS TOUR 13-17 MAY 2010

THURSDAY 13 MAY

That time of year again and the second of my 2010 tours to Northern Scotland. As usual I was joined by Lincolnshire father and son team David and Matthew Roberts, as well as Colin Oram from Piddington. Mike Robinson was to be picked up on route in North Lancashire and the other two (Mike *** and Chris Morgan) were to be met at Stirling Services in Central Scotland. It was to be a four-day trip and we departed Little Chalfont at 1540 hours as there were rarities to see on route……

PIDDINGTON (BUCKS)

We picked up Colin Oram at his house in Piddington village, virtually on the Oxon/Bucks border. Close to his house was a female RED KITE sat precariously on her nest in a tall Poplar.

STRAW’S BRIDGE PONDS, ILKESTON (DERBYSHIRE)

Utilising the daylight hours available, we diverted just off of the northbound M1 near Derby for a FIRST FOR THE COUNTY – a singing male GREAT REED WARBLER that had been discovered a few days earlier. We arrived in good time and after parking the van up, walked the 250 yards or so to the location. Skirting the first pond visible from the car park, we crossed under the railway viaduct and then turned left to the next pool. There was a small patch of reedbed in the NW corner and it was here that the bird had taken up territory. There was a small crowd on site including both Alan and Geoff Clewes.

After an anxious wait, and with the bird only making brief snatches of song, it finally appeared briefly at the bottom of the reedmace at 1850 hours. Over the next ten or so minutes, it then became quite active and eventually gave very good views as it bleated out its loud, penetrating song from low down. It was a large warbler, with a pale-ish brown complexion, a striking supercilium and a bright red gape.

In addition to the Great Reed Warbler, species also noted at Straw’s Bridge Ponds included Mute Swan, Atlantic Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Coot, Song Thrush, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Common Swift, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.

Just before 2000 hours, we continued our journey northwards, linking up with the M61 around Manchester and eventually the M6. For a change, we actually got to Mike’s castle in Beetham, Milnthorpe, before midnight……

2010-12-08T20:29:00.001Z

WEDNESDAY 12 MAY

In any normal year, the 12th May would be traditionally 'Dotterel Day' but with cold northerly winds now almost in their third consecutive week, migrants of this ilk are still being held up much farther south in Europe. In fact, many areas had experienced a frost overnight, particularly in Scotland and Northern England, but even in this area, temperatures once again struggled to 12 degrees C, well below average. It did remain dry though and the combination of wind and sun ensured that the ground was crusted hard in many areas.

After a very successful day in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, yielding three new 2010 birds including SANDERLING and COMMON QUAIL (the latter, one of my earliest ever in Britain), I returned again today, after Jim Gurney found two Turnstones........It was also another good day at Wilstone, with two more Marsh Harriers - the best year on record.

BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(1220-1300 hours)

The two near full breeding-plumaged TURNSTONES were still present this afternoon, feeding together and busily turning over vegetation at the far end of Peacock's Island - my first of the year after missing out on the 7 or so that have already passed through the county in this past week or so.

There was little else of note other than 58+ pairs of nesting Black-headed Gull, 32 Common Terns, the Oystercatcher pair and large numbers of Common Swifts.

DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 GRAVEL WORKINGS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Another belated catch-up bird - COMMON GREENSHANK - was feeding alongside a COMMON SANDPIPER on the southern shore, whilst Lapwing pairs had fledged at least 8 youngsters and Common Redshank and LITTLE RINGED PLOVER were still displaying. A Mallard was with 14 ducklings, whilst the island held 6 Common Terns and 5 nesting pairs of Black-headed Gull. At least 16 Sand Martins were feeding.

CLOPHILL (BEDFORDSHIRE)

A HOBBY flew over the Poplars at the A6/A507 roundabout.

CONQUEST WOOD (BEDFORDSHIRE) (TL 050 415)

A thorough check of the new plantation resulted in the finding of 5 Meadow Pipits (2 breeding pairs and an additional singing male, displaying and pirouetting from the sapling tops) but disappointingly no Tree Pipits. Two singing male Common Whitethroats were on site, as well as two singing male Yellowhammers and a nesting pair of Linnets. At least 15 Common Swifts were winging over the village.

This new reserve is part of the Marston Vale Reclamation Project and has been supported by the local residents and is carefully managed. Pedestrian access only is obtained from Houghton Conquest village opposite Broadway and along the trail adjacent to 'Preachers Place'.(TL 049 416). There is ample parking in the village.

HORTON (BUCKS) (SP 925 194)

Within a mile section of the B 488 just north of Horton village, I located two Common Kestrel pairs, including a pair breeding in a dead Elm.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(joined by Mike Hirst and later by Dave Bilcock, Steve Rodwell and Chaz Jackson)

After hearing that Mike Hirst had discovered yet another MARSH HARRIER at Wilstone - his third this spring - I stopped off there on my route south. Mike's bird - a first-summer male - was showing well over the reedbed, between the hide and the Drayton Bank 'Boatshed Corner', occasionally being attacked by corvids. Whilst watching it through the 'scope, a second MARSH HARRIER flew in to view - a dark first-summer female - and for a while the two birds flew around hunting and scattering wildfowl and Coot. I lost track of the male at around 1610 hours but the female reappeared from the reeds on at least five more occasions and flew around and hunted.. At one stage, she was physically attacked by one of the nesting Grey Herons and had to take evasive action, plunging into the reeds to escape. She kept on showing until 1715 before dropping out of view in the reeds, presumably to roost, and did not reappear. MH joined me later and I was able to show him this additional bird, Wilstone having its best ever spring for this ever-increasing and very successful raptor.

HOBBIES were the other big story with at least 13 flighting back and forwards over the reedbeds and Drayton Bank. They afforded magnificent views from the hide and when not feeding took advantage of the many posts to rest. The majority of birds were adults but there were the odd first-summer with them.

Other raptors included Red Kite and Common Buzzard.

Otherwise, the following were noted:

Great Crested Grebes (8)
Continental Cormorant (9 active nests)
LITTLE EGRET (two birds flew in to roost at 1905 hours)
Mute Swan (the 16 regular birds present joined later by 5 new arrivals)
Greylag Geese (two pairs with goslings, both broods numbering 5)
Gadwall (12)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (pair still present)
Tufted Duck (83)
NORTHERN POCHARD (10 present, including 6 adult drakes and a nasal-banded female from France - pale blue band marked =P - see Dave's image above)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1)
Black-headed Gull (adult winter still loafing just off the bank - presumably suffering botulism - but present for its 13th day; interestingly, a pair nearby constitute the first breeding attempt for the area)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 immatures)
Common Tern (52)
Common Swift (constant passage overhead, numbering at least 330 birds)
European Barn Swallow (64)
House Martin (14)
SAND MARTIN (late passage - at least 53 counted)
YELLOW WAGTAIL (a male flew east at 1905)
Blackcap (male singing by new overflow)

CHESHAM VALE (BUCKS)

Two European Barn Swallows were on the wires by the Black Horse Inn.

2010-12-08T20:08:00.000Z

TUESDAY 11 MAY

A cool NE wind blew for most of the day but it did remain bright. Temperatures reached 12 degrees C..
.
CASTLE MILLS GRAVEL PIT, WILLINGTON (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The star attraction here were my first Bedfordshire SANDERLINGS of the year – two freshly-plumaged individuals showing well on the islands. Other waders noted included 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Redshank.

THURLEIGH AIRFIELD (TL 0745 6018) (BEDFORDSHIRE)

I moved on to Thurleigh Airfield where at 1800 hours, I listened to a COMMON QUAIL calling from a barley field – my first of 2010.

The fields adjacent to the airfield held several YELLOW WAGTAILS, a jangling male CORN BUNTING, several Common Swifts, Stock Doves, a total of at least 11 pairs of Lapwing (several with small chicks) and Skylarks.

Joining Clive Harris overlooking the disused runway, we both searched for the Short-eared Owl that had been seen in this vicinity recently. No joy with this species but we did enjoy views of BARN OWL, the resident pair of EURASIAN CURLEW, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, a splendid male GREY PARTRIDGE, 3 Yellowhammers, a single singing male Willow Warbler and 4 Common Whitethroats.

For the second year running, an ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE.......

2010-11-26T19:07:00.004Z

MONDAY 10 MAY (Week 19)

Allan Stewart picked me up at 0425 hours – a TAWNY OWL was calling from the wood adjacent to my house. We were about to endeavour on a trip to North Lincolnshire, where an ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE had been seen the previous evening. It was a fairly bright day, with temperatures slightly improved than of late – at 12 degrees C.

FRAMPTON MARSH RSPB (NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE)

We arrived on site at 0640 hours. Walking out to the hides was brightened up by several singing male CORN BUNTINGS, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Linnets and after a good 15 minute walk, we eventually pitched up in the East Hide.

There was an excellent selection of bird species on offer but the target bird had not been seen since dawn – and there were about 15 people looking.

Amongst the more common fare were Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Geese, Common Shelduck, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Wigeon (pair), Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Common Swift, Meadow Pipit, Western Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler.

More interesting were 1 Little Egret, 7 DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE, 9 Dunlin, 5 Ruff including some beautiful males, numerous Pied Avocets, Ringed Plovers, 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers, a pair of Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, a winter-plumaged Red Knot, 2 WHIMBREL and my first CURLEW SANDPIPERS of the year – 3 summer-plumaged adults.

Three first-summer LITTLE GULLS were on the main lagoon, along with 2 immature Herring Gulls, 2 male YELLOW WAGTAILS and up to 8 NORTHERN WHEATEARS.

We had been in the hide a good hour scanning around when suddenly I heard a shout – someone had located the ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE. Remarkably, it was in exactly the same place as the evening before, roosting in the grass perhaps 50 yards from the East Hide where we had been sat. It was very difficult to see and was best observed from the footpath.

We gradually worked out the best position from where to observe the bird, in the best light, and we were lucky that it flew and landed much, much closer – perhaps just 50 yards away. The views were excellent allowing all of the salient features to be noted – the very short tail feathers and the little or no white in the trailing edge. The underwing was very rusty, with warm brown on the breast, the creamy-buff throat patch bordered by the black and the reddish base to the bill. It was seen in flight on several occasions and on occasions, running about the ground and flycatching. It was under constant observation from 0750 to 0835 hours.

It represented my 265th species of the year and my first Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire. It also represented only the 4th Oriental Pratincole for Britain -:

1981 Suffolk/Essex Dunwich Beach Pools, first-summer, 22nd June to 8th July; same, moulting to adult, Old Hall Marshes, Essex, about 6th August to about 11th October (British Birds 82: 521; 86: 115-120, plates 20-22; Ibis 133: 218).
1988 Kent Harty, 21st or 22nd June to 3rd September, presumed same, Elmley, 4th, 14th, 25th, 30th September to 3rd October (British Birds 82: 521; Birding World 1: 359-360; Ibis 133: 218).
1993 Norfolk Gimingham, adult, 14th May to 3rd June, same, Weybourne, 3rd, Blakeney Point, 4th, Burnham Norton, 5th to 21st, 13th July to 13th August, Titchwell and Thornham, 14th to 17th (British Birds 87: 522, 523, plates 129-130; Birding World 6: 192-193).
1993 East Sussex Pevensey Levels, 29th to 30th August (British Birds 88: 509) (same as above)
1993 Suffolk Havergate Island, 4, 19th September (British Birds 88: 509).(same individual as above)
2009 West Sussex Pagham Harbour North Wall, 28th-29th May (British Birds 103: 582, plates 273 & 315)
2009 Kent Dungeness, 3rd June (same bird as in West Sussex) (British Birds 103: 582)

As we walked back to the car, we added Common Whitethroat (10+), Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk (male) and Red-legged Partridge (pair) to the day-list, whilst in the Kirton area nearby, Jay, Mistle Thrush, House Sparrow, Greenfinch and Goldfinch were added.

BURNHAM MARKET (NORFOLK)

A pair of MONTAGU’S HARRIERS was showing very well in the usual area. The adult male caught a small Field Vole and then did a food pass to the female.

Marsh Harriers were also in the vicinity, as well as Common Buzzard, Common Whitethroat and a rattling male Lesser Whitethroat..

HOLKHAM FRESHMARSH (NORTH NORFOLK)

Scanning across the marshes from the road yielded Pied Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Common Redshanks, 8+ Egyptian Geese with young, Greylag Geese, numerous Little Egrets, the tree-nesting colony of Cormorants, a female Marsh Harrier, 8 Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Common Shelduck, Common Swifts, House Martins, Common Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat.

CLEY NWT RESERVE (NORTH NORFOLK)

A flock of 98 Dark-bellied Brent Geese was present in the Eye Field.

Meanwhile, North Scrape yielded 4 LITTLE TERNS – my first of the year (267), along with 22 Sandwich Terns, a TEMMINCK’S STINT, 3 Common Sandpipers, Pied Avocets, 2 Ruff, 80 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Terns, Ringed Plovers, Wigeon, Shoveler, an immature Great Black-backed Gull, Sand Martins and a male Northern Wheatear by the pillbox.
SALTHOUSE HEATH (NORTH NORFOLK)

In the area by the crossroads, a singing NIGHTINGALE, 2 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, two Common Whitethroats, Robin and Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit were all recorded.

HOLKHAM FRESHMARSH (NORTH NORFOLK)

A return visit to Holkham resulted in us finally connecting with the long-staying COMMON CRANE. The bird was showing very well at the edge of the pool and was easily visible from the Washington Hide. There was also a male Marsh Harrier in the same area, with a COMMON KINGFISHER at the pool by Meals House, and Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Common Treecreeper along the ride.

GYPSY LANE, TITCHWELL (NORTH NORFOLK)

It has been many years since I last walked down this track to the beach but today our target was a very confiding first-winter RED-NECKED GREBE that had been present in the dyke just east of the footpath for several weeks. The bird was showing very well but was sadly fairly moribund (and consequently died a few days later). It climbed out of the water on one occasion (see Carl Chapman’s image below). Ashley Banwell obtained the other shots. The walk also yielded a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Muntjac Deer, a rattling male Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Common Chiffchaffs and two singing male Willow Warblers.

TITCHWELL MARSH RSPB (NORTH NORFOLK)
(1520-1620 hours)

A pleasant hour spent at the reserve with a total of 49 species recorded

Great Crested Grebe (1 offshore)
Cormorants
Mute Swan and Greylag Geese
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (100+)
Common Shelduck, Mallard and Gadwall
RED-CRESTED POCHARD (2 separate pairs on the freshwater lagoon)
Northern Pochard (2 adult drakes)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (2 drakes)
GARGANEY (drake)
Northern Shovelers
Common Scoters (300+ offshore)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (female)
Common Kestrel
Marsh Harriers (6 over the reedbed)
Common Pheasant and 2 Red-legged Partridges
Moorhen and Coot
Oystercatcher
Grey Plover (5)
Red Knot (6)
Sanderling (50+)
Eurasian Curlew (1)
Bar-tailed Godwit (1)
Lapwing, Common Redshank and Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Common Greenshank (1)
Turnstone (28)
Pied Avocets
Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed & Great Black-backed Gulls.
Common Tern
Little Tern (1)
Common Swift, Sand & House Martins.
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (1 reeling by footpath)
Cetti’s and Western Reed Warblers, Common Chiffchaff
BEARDED TITS (10+ by footpath, with much activity)

HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)

A drake Common Scoter was offshore, along with Northern Fulmars – the 114th species of the day.

LEE VALLEY PARK – HOLYFIELD MARSH (ESSEX)

We drove back from North Norfolk to Essex, where at last light, we located a WOOD SANDPIPER on the most northerly Langridge Pit – my first of the year. A BARN OWL was hunting near Holyfield Farm, whilst Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a male Yellow Wagtail, Little Grebe and 6 adult Egyptian Geese were noted (1 pair accompanying 6 young).

With four new species at this latter site, our final day tally was 118.

GARGANEY at last in Bucks

2010-11-24T20:45:00.001Z

SUNDAY 9 MAY

Continuing cool northerly winds but dry and overcast….

LOW GROUNDS, MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)
(0900-1230 hours)

Thanks to Colin Tubbs, I was finally able to add GARGANEY to my 2010 Buckinghamshire Year List – a female roosting on the grass adjacent to the shallow muddy pool south of the footpath to Low Grounds Farm (accessed from Lower Pond Lane).

The site also yielded a Common Sandpiper, 2 pairs of Common Redshank, Lapwings with young, a female Mallard with 7 ducklings, Egyptian Geese nesting, Greylag Geese nesting and 4 male Pied Wagtails.

Marlow Low Grounds is situated to the SW of Marlow and is an excellent area for waterbirds. There is a muddy scrape which dries out in midsummer.

Northeasterly winds continue

2010-11-18T20:02:00.002Z

SATURDAY 8 MAY

The cool North-easterly winds still blow and again are accompanied by intermittent rain showers. Such conditions continue to ground interesting migrants locally and today was no exception….

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
(0730 hours)

Up and about early but not in the same league as DB and the other Tring regulars – chasing Dave resulted in seeing the 5 COMMON GREENSHANKS that were roosting and feeding on the island in the North Lake and noting the first breeding attempt of Black-headed Gull at the site (a single pair nesting on the island) and 23 pairs of breeding Common Terns (all sadly to be taken by an American Mink later in the week). There were also 22 Tufted Duck on the lake and the COMMON CUCKOO was calling loudly and frequently from Pitstone Fen.

PITSTONE QUARRY, TRING (HERTS)

The local pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS was seen, along with 2 Little Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck and singing Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Very quiet by recent standards although 54 Common Swifts and 116 European Barn Swallows were of note; also 16 Mute Swans, 52 Tufted Duck and a Lapwing over.

TRING SEWAGE FARM (HERTS)

Checking the reedbed behind Marsworth and the sewage farm proper revealed the presence of several CETTI’S WARBLERS, 5+ Western Reed Warblers, a rattling male LESSER WHITETHROAT and a calling male COMMON CUCKOO.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Made a hasty return visit to see a WHIMBREL that had pitched down and was roosting close to the Jetty – it was present until about 0905 hours before flying east (see Dave’s images above). In addition to the 2 HOBBIES flying around, a huge flock of hirundines had built up, with 500 or more Common Swifts present and a Lesser Whitethroat rattling from the hedgerow by the car park. Also new in were 2 adult summer Black-headed Gulls and 4 ARCTIC TERNS..

Dan Forder had seen and photographed a large flock of Whimbrel fly east (see below) but the only birds of interest I noted were a male YELLOW WAGTAIL which eventually flew north at 1235 (image below), 2 drake Northern Pochards and the first Greylag Goose gosling of the year.

Two COMMON RAVENS in heavy wing moult were seen over Wendover Woods but observed from the Wilstone bank.

GALLOWS BRIDGE, RIVER RAY MEADOWS BBOWT (BUCKS)

A pair of EURASIAN CURLEW showing well but nothing else of note

CALVERT BBOWT LAKE (BUCKS)

At least 15 Common Terns on the lake and raft, with 1-2 CETTI’S WARBLERS in front of the hide and both Western Reed and Sedge Warblers singing.

Not that far away and to the north, a LITTLE OWL was sat on a telegraph pole just south of the pylons at Spinney Farmhouse.

LINFORD NATURE RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

A late visit highlighted in the sighting of a BARN OWL and the singing male COMMON NIGHTINGALE and two reeling male GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS nearby. All were in the vicinity of the Fishermen’s car park.

An outstanding day at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits

2010-11-18T19:18:00.001Z

FRIDAY 7 MAY

Those cold NE winds just keep on blowing and today was no different. It did remain dry though and fairly bright. Once again, Steve Blake discovered the first SANDERLINGS in the county this year and after he phoned, I made my way straight there......

TYTTENHANGER MAIN PIT
(1100-1330 hours)

I arrived at Tyttenhanger just after 1100 hours and joined Steve Blake observing from by the conveyor belt in the NE corner of the main pit. All 3 SANDERLINGS were still present and showing well on the extensive sandy spit on the east shore. All three individuals were in transitional plumage - in fact the very white plumage of early spring - with just the first hints of the summer dress coming through on the breast and a few rufous and chestnut feathers coming through on the scapulars and mantle. They kept close together and ran like 'clockwork' across the sand. Just as JT joined us, I watched a particular aggressive and territorial male Ringed Plover chase them off but fortunately they re-landed and could be viewed from the south side of the islands. They represented my 151st species of the year in the county and remained present all day.

No sooner had I left Joan and Steve to find that another rare wader had arrived - this time the first EURASIAN CURLEW of the year. Another grounded migrant, this tired female pitched down at the end of the spit and went to sleep almost immediately and afforded excellent views through the 'scope. Joan had initially found it in flight and I could easily see why she had assumed it was a migrant Whimbrel - it had a particularly short bill. However, on good views, it could be seen to have an obvious white eye-ring, a blank face, no black eye-stripe and no black stripes on the crown and was heavily streaked on the underparts and admixed grey in the dark brown upper wing coverts. It slept for some time but was forced to fly on a couple of occasions, circling the pit. On both occasions, I followed it in the 'scope, and was very surprised to see that its underwing and axillaries were gleaming white and very unlike the grey washed underwing of arquata Eurasian Curlew. It also had an extensive gleaming white rump and upper tail coverts. The white underwing is often associated with orientalis (Eastern Eurasian Curlew), although studying large flocks of passage Curlews at coastal sites in Britain, I have found that this feature is highly variable. Eastern birds generally have very long bills. At 1327 hours, the Curlew took flight and finally flew off west for the last time.

Joined by Steve, JT, Alan Reynolds, Ricky Flesher and a distant Mick Frosdick, I spent a very pleasant hour reaping the delights of a Tyttenhanger 'purple patch' and as Ricky exclaimed that he had a raptor, was delighted to see an adult female MARSH HARRIER appear from the east flying low over the main pit. It was in forceful flight and disturbed all of the birds on the pit and as it cleared the spit area, was harried away by two corvids. It remained on view for a total of four minutes and drifted up high to the NE, eventually disappearing away at 1256 hours. Although its flight feathers were in perfect order, it was missing a couple of tail feathers.

Thinking of passage Ospreys, I then started staring skywards and soon identified Common Kestrel, male Eurasian Sparrowhawk, numerous Common Buzzards, two Red Kites (one of which was a ragged first-summer) and at least 3 HOBBIES. A passage of at least 100 COMMON SWIFTS migrated over to the NE, whilst 54 SAND MARTINS were hunting over the surface of the water.

One of the local OYSTERCATCHERS dropped in briefly for a drink on the spit, with several Lesser Black-backed Gulls through.

There were at least two singing male COMMON WHITETHROATS in the conveyor area

An excellent spot of birdwatching...

My GOSHAWKS are doing just fine

2010-11-18T19:04:00.003Z

THURSDAY 6 MAY

Did very little birding today other than check out a local NORTHERN GOSHAWK nest close to my house. Discreetly concealing myself beneath the Larches, I sat for several hours as both parents visited the nest bringing in food. It was Woodpigeon and Common Blackbird bought in today, whilst on other days, Grey Squirrel has been taken.

Sadly, virtually all Goshawks in my Recording Area get shot and each one of the three nests located in 2008 and 2009 were destroyed. I am praying that this pair succeeds but the young are already becoming very noisy and attracting attention. Utmost secrecy has to surround the breeding location of every pair of Goshawks in Britain and I treasure these birds much in the same way as I safeguard the future of my breeding North American Ruddy Ducks.

Confiding WOODCHAT SHRIKE brightens up a half-day visit to Norfolk

2010-11-18T18:37:00.002Z

First-summer male Woodchat Shrike, Winterton South Dunes, Norfolk, 6 May 2010 (Chris Morgan)

WEDNESDAY 5 MAY

Had a very enjoyable day out in the field with Mick Frosdick. Norfolk was our destination and a long-staying WOODCHAT SHRIKE was our main target bird. The wind remained in the Northeast, it was clear with little cloud and 14 degrees C.

CHISWELL GREEN (HERTFORDSHIRE)

A COMMON CUCKOO flew across the road, close to the M25 junction, at 1045.

WINTERTON SOUTH DUNES (EAST NORFOLK)

From 1300-1330 hours, Mick and I obtained outstanding views of the first-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE in Winterton South Dunes. It was frequenting an area of scattered bushes 250 yards south of the village and was regularly perching out in full view. It represented my 261st species of the year and was beautifully photographed by Chris Morgan.

The Winterton Dune scrub also produced two male LESSER WHITETHROATS, 3 singing male Common Whitethroats, numerous House Sparrows, a European Barn Swallow and a HOLLY BLUE butterfly.

HICKLING BROAD RUSH HILLS SCRAPE (NORFOLK)

Mick and I did the long walk out to the Weavers Bend hide but on arrival, there was no sign of the Wood Sandpipers present recently. What was noted were 2 pairs of Egyptian Geese, Common Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, 2 pairs of Marsh Harriers, 2 pairs of Pied Avocets, 7 Common Redshank, 5 WHIMBREL, 1 Common Tern, a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER reeling by the hide, several Cetti’s Warblers, Sedge and Western Reed Warblers, Willow Warbler and 3+ Peacock butterflies.

SANTON DOWNHAM (NORFOLK BRECKLAND)

TREE PIPITS in recent years are getting harder and harder to come by with the population continuing to seriously decline. In my local area now, they are completely lost, with no breeding birds in Bucks, Beds or Herts and the nearest being the odd singing male in Berkshire. Consequently, adding one to the Yearlist involves a fair bit of effort and today – after chatting to Norman Williams – two pairs were located at a regular site NW of Santon Downham village – two singing males displaying less than 100 yards from each other. Excellent views were obtained.

The same area held a large number of COMMON CROSSBILLS – one flock of at least 30 birds seen in flight. A HOBBY was also an unusual sighting.

FOXHOLE HEATH (SUFFOLK)

Two pairs of STONE CURLEW were visible from the road, as well as 1 pair of Eurasian Curlew and a male NORTHERN WHEATEAR.

SWAFFHAM PRIOR FEN, 0.75 MILES WEST OF REACH (CAMBS)

Officially known as Tubney Farm NT (at TL 554 665), this fabulous new wetland reserve (scrape) providing me with my first TEMMINCK’S STINTS of the year – a trio of birds affording excellent views from the spanking new hide and track adjacent (263)..

The scrapes also held Pied Avocet (3 pairs), Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, GREY PARTRIDGE (pair), Marsh Harrier, Shoveler, Yellow Wagtail, Linnet and CORN BUNTING.

WILLOWS FARM POOL, TYTTENHANGER (HERTS)

Little of note other than a single LITTLE RINGED PLOVER present.

TUESDAY 4 MAY - working from home

2010-11-18T17:54:00.001Z

The day was spent at home working from my study. In the garden at Chaffinch House, I recorded JAY, 2 Goldfinches, a Jackdaw on the birdtable (at 1410), 3 juvenile Common Blackbirds and a Coal Tit.

Another day of local tetrad surveying

2010-11-18T17:44:00.003Z

Buckinghamshire is proving to be one of the strongholds of Firecrest in Britain and I am locating up to 50 singing males per summer in recent years. Mike McKee took these splendid images

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 3 MAY (WEEK 18)

Well, it certainly does not feel like the first week in May. I had to resort again to winter gloves today and throughout, the fresh Northeasterly wind was biting. Temperatures struggled to make double figures but at least it remained largely dry, with just the odd light shower.

With so many rares being 1 or 2 dayers of late, I decided to spend the day locally, catching up on vital survey work. It was a very rewarding day, climaxed with a new colony of FIRECRESTS and at the end by a purring EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE - a very rare sight indeed locally these days........

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

Despite the torrential rain of Sunday, the two early fledged GREAT CRESTED GREBE chicks on the smaller of the two lakes survived and were both huddled snugly on mum's back under the overhanging Willow branches. Four of the Coot nests had also survived with the birds still sitting tight.

The most impressive sight, as with most water bodies inland at the moment, was of the large numbers of EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS hawking over the water - a total of 45 - one of the largest spring gatherings in my area. A total of 5 HOUSE MARTINS was also consorting with them.

Both the singing male WESTERN REED WARBLER and REED BUNTING were still present, in the small reedbeds on the north shore of the larger lake.

The single Mute Swan was still present, whilst a pair of Atlantic Canada Geese were accompanied by a brood of 12 goslings.

LATIMER HOUSE AND GREAT WATER (BUCKS)

Singing male Blackcaps included one by the parking area at the entrance to the Conference Centre and another in the wood just west of the complex, whilst a pair of Common Starlings was busy gathering food and flying to a nest hole in trees near Neptune Falls.

Just downstream of Neptune Falls, the female Mute Swan was still sitting on eggs, whilst on the main Great Water, 11 birds were present. There were also 22 Tufted Ducks present but no sign of any Little Grebes.

A Red Kite in heavy wing moult glided over whilst a pair of Common Buzzards were nesting in Lane Wood. A pair of LINNETS flew over.

PENN STREET AND WINCHMORE HILL (Tetrad work)

I surveyed the area from Pennstreet Farm, through Priestlands Wood and Tragoe's Plantation east to Coleshill Larches and West Wood and back through Winchmore Hill village.

At the tiny farm reservoir just NE of Pennstreet Farm, 3 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS were perched on the wires and 'singing', whilst the trees bordering the road held 23 active Rook nests.

Priestlands Wood (SU 928 957) held 1 singing COMMON CHIFFCHAFF, 2 singing male Chaffinches and a nesting pair of Mistle Thrush, whilst Tragoe's Plantation (SU 933 957) held an additional singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF, a male Blackcap, a male Greenfinch, a pair of Great and Blue Tits and 2 Long-tailed Tits. The Chiltern Heritage Trail runs through these two woodlands and there was a healthy spread of flowering Bluebells. There were also 4 free-ranging Vulterine Guineafowl in the wood.

On the opposite side of the road, Coleshill Larches, Turner's Wood and West Wood (SU 930 955) held breeding Blue Tit (1 pair), European Robin (2 pairs), Common Blackbird (2 pairs) and Chaffinch (3 pairs), along with a singing male SONG THRUSH and a male Blackcap.

Winchmore Bottom itself yielded two displaying male Greenfinch, a pair of Goldfinch, 3 Wrens and Common Blackbird (5 breeding pairs), whilst the allotments across the road held a nesting pair of Robins and Long-tailed Tits.

PENN WOOD SSSI (BUCKS) (SU 915 960)
(1700-1800 hours)

A detailed survey of all species present was undertaken with Common Chiffchaff, GARDEN WARBLER and FIRECREST being of prime importance. A total of 19 species was recorded -:

TAWNY OWL (4 nestboxes occupied, all with young)
Green Woodpecker (1 yaffling bird)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 nest found in Birches - pair busily feeding young)
Jay (1-2 pairs)
Common Blackbird (3 pairs)
European Robin (5+ pairs)
Wren (5 pairs)
Blackcap (singing male by main drove to Penna, with another in Rhododendron scrub and two further males in southern section)
GARDEN WARBLER (my first in the Recording Area this year, a single well-showing singing male in scrub by a cleared area to the west of the paddock area)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (a total of 7 singing males, with one up at the Goose Pond Gate end, two near the Penna, one 200 yards further west and two more in the Tyler Green Gate area, and another pair breeding)
WILLOW WARBLER (two singing males within yards of each other in Birches along the SE ride - only the 2nd-3rd birds in the Recording Area this spring)
GOLDCREST (3 singing males)
**FIRECREST (a new colony discovered, involving 5 singing males - all along the main ride west of the Penna with three in the Rhododendron tunnel and two more in tall conifers where the tracks all meet and it gets particularly muddy at the west end of the main ride. The birds were very low down in the foliage and showing exceptionally well and in full song and territorial display - fantastic. My first in the Recording Area this year but following the two wintering birds in Beaconsfield and another briefly at Shardeloes Lake)
Long-tailed Tit (2 pairs)
Great Tit (5= pairs)
Blue Tit (8+ pairs)
Coal Tit (at least 1 pair)
Nuthatch (not recorded today but usually present)
Chaffinch (6 pairs)
BULLFINCH (pair nesting in Birches along drove on southern flank)

Nearby, a pair of Pied Wagtails were breeding at the Industrial Estate in Penn Street.

BOXMOOR BRICKWORKS DISUSED PITS (HERTS) (TL 006 028)

In an attempt to add Common Cuckoo and European Turtle Dove to this year's Recording Area list, I made my annual pilgrimage to Bovingdon Green, but neither species was present yet. As usual, COMMON WHITETHROAT was present, with just 1 displaying male.

There were also 3 singing male Blackcaps and 2 singing male Common Chiffchaffs, whilst other species noted included Song Thrush (2 singing males), Common Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit and Great Tit.

Whilst I was failing to find Turtle Dove, Steve Rodwell was watching one..........

TOP SCRUB, IVINGHOE BEACON (BUCKS)
(evening visit)

Joining Steve and Vicky and David Bilcock, all four of us listened intently to the sweet soft purring of a EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE from dense Hawthorn scrub in the Top Scrub at Ivinghoe, 200 yards from the main car park. In the fierce NE wind and above the constant whine of aircraft after aircraft taxi-ing into Luton Airport, it was difficult to hear this distinctive sound of summer and after much searching, we all eventually obtained flight views of the bird.

Top Scrub also held 6 singing male GARDEN WARBLERS and 3 COMMON SWIFTS flew east.

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

The first COMMON SWIFT of the year arrived this evening - circling the house and road at 2030 hours

Despite the rain, a red-letter day at Wilstone - RED-RUMPED SWALLOW !

2010-11-18T17:26:00.002Z

SUNDAY 2 MAY

With continuing NE winds, temperatures remained low (8 degrees C) and to top that, it rained throughout the day, some pulses being very heavy. On a local basis, it was a RED-LETTER DAY…..

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Phew - what an amazing day at the reservoirs.

David Bilcock deservedly discovered a RED-RUMPED SWALLOW on his second early morning walk round of Wilstone, the bird showing well amongst the hordes of newly-arrived House Martins and European Barn Swallows just off the jetty and along the hedgerow of the East Bank. It afforded good views for about a 20 minute period but was generally very difficult to pick out in the large flock of hirundines flighting low over the water in the heavy rain and freezing NE winds. About 25 birders connected during the initial showings and then a further 15 during the next 45 minutes, just before it flew off strongly east at 0932 hours. It was not seen again. It represents only the second Red-rumped Swallow ever recorded at the reservoirs following one on Wilstone on 17 May 1981 and only the NINTH in Hertfordshire (following singles at Aldbury on 11 June 1949, at Hilfield Park Reservoir on 1 October 1966, at Hilfield again on 18 May 1982, at Amwell GP on 5 April 1987, at Hilfield again on 28-29 May 2000, at Hollingson Meads, north of Harlow, on 28-29 May 2002 and at Stocker's Farm on 11 April 2007.

Next off came an OSPREY, initially picked up distantly from Wilstone (Ian Williams et al) at 1557 hours, this bird circled over Tringford Reservoir for some time at low level before drifting off east at 1612 hours - and then flew east over College Lake BBOWT at 1612 - and then yet another MARSH HARRIER - a near adult female - which was either in or above Wilstone reedbed for nearly two hours late afternoon.

And then we had the terns - 116+ Common Terns still in residence, with two passage ARCTICS (present from at least 1000-1900 hours), two BLACK (flew along the line of the Grand Union Canal before flying east) and two LITTLE TERNS (present at around 1600 hours only) - and passage waders (a total of 11 DUNLIN through, including two which lingered during the heaviest spell of rain; a WHIMBREL through, a SANDERLING through and a Ringed Plover - with 2 COMMON SANDPIPERS all day.

Other migrants included two female GREENLAND WHEATEARS and 3 YELLOW WAGTAILS on the East Bank at Wilstone mid-afternoon, with up to 9 HOBBIES still present over the reedbed.

Just looking at my notebook – 0730-0900 hours – the RRS, 80 House Martins, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lapwings over, the 2 Dunlin and a Jay by the Sewage Farm….

1230-1330 hours – the two female Greenland Wheatears and 3 Yellow Wagtails on the East Bank, 2 ARCTIC TERNS and 3 Hobbies.

The RED-RUMPED SWALLOW was my first ever at the reservoirs and my third county record. It was also my first of 2010 and is depicted on the following page by Ian Bennell.

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

Very quiet by comparison to the neighbouring reservoirs with just a drake Shoveler and 10 European Barn Swallows noted. Whilst there, I heard about a Golden Plover species that Franko Maroevic and others were watching at Barnes Wetland Reserve in Central London – it was either a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER or an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. As either would be a London and Year-tick, I set off in hot pursuit with Allan Stewart and Darin Stanley but driving past the Polish War Memorial at Ruislip, we were given the bad news that the bird had flown off strongly west and had been lost to view at 1037 hours.

I then returned to College Lake and my car, where a COMMON CUCKOO was calling loudly from the Fen reserve, the pair of OYSTERCATCHERS were sitting, two baby Lapwing had fledged, 2 Common Redshank were on view, the hirundine flock had increased to 25 Swallows and 14 House Martins and WESTERN REED WARBLERS were singing.

BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Twitched a migrant flock of Arctic Terns but they had moved on – just 8 Common Terns, 250+ Common Swifts, large numbers of House Martin and Swallow and 4+ singing Western Reed Warblers.

FISHER’S GREEN AND 70 ACRES LAKE (HERTS/ESSEX BORDER)

The reason for my visit here late in the day was to secure COMMON NIGHTINGALE for the year in Herts – with at least two heard in the western part of the reserve adjacent to the canal and a further 5 or more in the Essex section, including one showing well not far from the car park and green bridge.

A COMMON CUCKOO was also noted, HOBBY, large numbers of Common Swifts and a crescendo of warbler species singing.

The first day of MAY - HOOPOE and PURPLE HERON delight

2010-11-18T16:40:00.003Z

A return to cooler conditions, with NE winds predominating. I started off locally today before moving on to Kent. An excellent afternoon.

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

Single Great Crested and Little Grebes present, the latter ‘whinnying’, with the resident pair of Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Ducks, 28 Coot, 3 Wren, 3 Goldfinch and a male Blackcap. A female Reed Bunting was the highlight.

DEEP MILL POND, GREAT MISSENDEN (BUCKS)

Little of note other than a drake Tufted Duck and 6 Coots.

DENGE MARSH, DUNGENESS (KENT)

Up to three different adult PURPLE HERONS were seen during the period of observation. The first one was seen from the vantage point overlooking the reedbed at Hookers Pit as it flew along the back and landed in a dyke out of view. I then drove around to Dengemarsh Lane, where with Jerry Warne and others, I enjoyed excellent views of two adults, which both landed in the same area of reedbed and appeared to be displaying to each other. Adrian Kettle visited and obtained these tremendous photographs above and below. It was my first Purple Heron of the year (259).
Two images at top of page: Pair of adult Purple Herons, Denge Marsh, Kent, May 2010 (Adrian Kettle) Both birds displayed and eventually settled down, were observed carrying in sticks, built a nest and eventually fledged a single young in July – the first confirmed successful nesting attempt in Britain

Apart from the Purple Herons, not much else of note was recorded – 100+ European Barn Swallows, large numbers of Common Swifts, a few House Martins, Cetti’s Warblers calling (and seen), Common Whitethroats, Yellow Wagtails and a Corn Bunting.

LENHAM HEATH (KENT)

At Bowley Lane (TQ 896 507), I eventually enjoyed superb views of a HOOPOE feeding in a sheepfield just north of the M20 between 1400 and 1500 hours. It was fairly mobile but once pinned down, showed very well and enabled some great ‘scope views to be obtained as it fed on grubs. Some nice flight views were obtained as well. Marc Heath obtained the excellent image above.

SHUART FARM, RECULVER (NORTH KENT)

After leaving the Hoopoe site, I had driven as far back as Clacket Lane services on the M25 when I took a call informing me of a Woodchat Shrike in North Kent at Chamber’s Wall. I continued to junction 4 and turned around and made my way all of the way back to Shuart Farm at Reculver. It turned out to be a complete waste of time in the event, as after just 40 minutes of viewing, the Woodchat disappeared from view and could never be relocated.

Along with 8 or so local birders, I searched for two hours or more and drew a blank – just Marsh Harriers (a pair), COMMON CUCKOO (excellent perched views), Yellow Wagtails and large numbers of Common Swifts and European Barn Swallows.

The Story So Far - 258 species

2010-08-25T21:34:00.001+01:00

2010 UK Year List - LGRE

1) Little Grebe, Great Water, Bucks, 1 January;
2) Atlantic Great Cormorant (Sinensis), Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
3) Grey Heron, Chesham Fishing Lakes, Bucks, 1 January
4) Little Egret, Chess River Valley, Bucks, 1 January;
5) Mute Swan, Chesham, Bucks, 1 January;
6) Atlantic Canada Goose, Latimer, Bucks, 1 January;
7) Mallard, Chesham, Bucks, 1 January;
8) Gadwall, Shardeloes Lake, Bucks, 1 January;
9) Northern Pochard, Great Water, Bucks, 1 January;
10) Tufted Duck, Great Water, Bucks, 1 January;
11) Red Kite, Chesham, Bucks, 1 January;
12) Common Buzzard, M25 Junction 17, Herts, 1 January;
13) Common Kestrel, M25 Junction 17, Herts, 1 January;
14) Common Pheasant, Old Amersham, Bucks, 1 January;
15) Moorhen, Chenies Bottom, Bucks, 1 January;
16) Eurasian Coot, Great Water, Bucks, 1 January;
17) Lapwing, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
18) Common Redshank, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
19) Common Snipe, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
20) Black-headed Gull, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
21) Common Gull, Shardeloes Lake, Bucks, 1 January;
22) Woodpigeon, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
23) Stock Dove, Latimer Hall, Bucks, 1 January;
24) Eurasian Collared Dove, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
25) Tawny Owl, Brook Wood Penn, Bucks, 1 January;
26) Common Kingfisher, Chenies Bottom, Bucks, 1 January;
27) Ring-necked Parakeet, Stanwell Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
28) Green Woodpecker, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
29) Meadow Pipit, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
30) Pied Wagtail, Stanwell Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
31) Dunnock, Chenies Bottom, Bucks, 1 January;
32) European Robin, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
33) Common Stonechat, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
34) Song Thrush, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
35) Redwing, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
36) Mistle Thrush, Latimer Hall, Bucks, 1 January;
37) Fieldfare, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
38) Common Blackbird, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
39) Goldcrest, Penn Wood, Bucks, 1 January;
40) Great Tit, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
41) Coal Tit, Latimer Hall, Bucks, 1 January;
42) Blue Tit, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
43) Long-tailed Tit, Brook Wood Penn, Bucks, 1 January;
44) Nuthatch, Latimer Hall, Bucks, 1 January;
45) ASIATIC BROWN SHRIKE, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
46) Common Magpie, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
47) Jay, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
48) Jackdaw, Chenies, Bucks, 1 January;
49) Rook, Chesham, Bucks, 1 January;
50) Carrion Crow, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
51) Common Starling, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
52) House Sparrow, Chesham, Bucks, 1 January;
53) Chaffinch, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
54) Goldfinch, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 1 January;
55) Greenfinch, Latimer, Bucks, 1 January;
56) Bullfinch, Old Amersham, Bucks, 1 January
57) Green Sandpiper, East Hyde, Beds, 2 January
58) Common Teal, East Hyde, Beds, 2 January
59) Eurasian Sparrowhawk, East Hyde, Beds, 2 January;
60) Wren, East Hyde, Beds, 2 January;
61) Grey Wagtail, East Hyde, Beds, 2 January;
62) Great Northern Diver (2), Brogborough Lake, Beds, 2 January;
63) Great Crested Grebe, Brogborough Lake, Beds, 2 January;
64) Red-crested Pochard, Brogborough Lake, Beds, 2 January;
65) Greater Scaup, Brogborough Lake, Beds, 2 January;
66) Common Goldeneye, Brogborough Lake, Beds, 2 January;
67) Lesser Black-backed Gull, Brogborough Lake, Beds, 2 January;
68) Greylag Goose, Newport Pagnell, Bucks, 2 January;
69) Goosander, River Ouse at Newport Pagnell, Bucks, 2 January;
70) Wigeon, Newport Pagnell GP, Bucks, 2 January;
71) Yellowhammer, Little Linford Wood, Bucks, 2 January;
72) Common Treecreeper, Little Linford Wood, Bucks, 2 January;
73) Marsh Tit, Little Linford Wood, Bucks, 2 January;
74) RING-NECKED DUCK, Foxcote Reservoir, Bucks, 2 January;
75) Shoveler, Foxcote Reservoir, Bucks, 2 January;
76) European Herring Gull, Wilstone Reservoir, Herts, 2 January;
77) Cetti’s Warbler, Marsworth Reservoir, Herts, 2 January;
78) Reed Bunting, Marsworth Reservoir, Herts, 2 January;
79) Corn Bunting, Marsworth Reservoir, Herts, 2 January;
80) Water Rail, Marsworth Reservoir, Herts, 2 January;
81) European Golden Plover, Marsworth Reservoir, Herts, 2 January;
82) Eurasian Bittern, Marsworth Reservoir, Herts, 2 January
83) Peregrine, Aylesbury County Hall, Bucks, 3 January;
84) Whooper Swan, Nlackthorn Water Meadows, Oxon, 3 January;
85) Bewick’s Swan, Blackthorn Water Meadows, Oxon, 3 January;
86) Ruff (2), Blackthorn Water Meadows, Oxon, 3 January;
87) Great Black-backed Gull, Blackthorn Meadows, Oxon, 3 January;
88) Little Owl, A12 Billericay, Essex, 3 January;
89) Linnet, Abberton Reservoir, Essex, 3 January;
90) Smew (3 drakes), Abberton Reservoir, Essex, 3 January;
91) Woodcock, Marks Tey, Essex, 3 January;
92) Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Newport Pagnell, North Bucks, 4 January;
93) GREAT WHITE EGRET (2 birds), Pitsford Reservoir, Northamptonshire, 4 January;
94) Barn Owl, Linford NR, North Bucks, 4 January;
95) Pintail, Ibsley Water, Hampshire, 5 January;
96) Black-tailed Godwit, Ibsley Water, Hampshire, 5 January;
97) Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
98) Common Shelduck, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
99) Oystercatcher, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
100) Pied Avocet, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
101) Spotted Redshank, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
102) Eurasian Curlew, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
103) Bar-tailed Godwit, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
104) Grey Plover, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
105) Dunlin, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
106) Rock Pipit, Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, 5 January;
107) Eurasian Skylark, Wallingford, Oxon, 6 January;
108) Jack Snipe, East Hyde, Herts, 8 January;
109) Grey Partridge, Lilley Manor Farm, Herts, 8 January;
110) Great Spotted Woodpecker, Penn Wood, Bucks, 9 January;
111) Common Crossbill, Penn Wood, Bucks, 9 January;
112) Lesser Redpoll, Penn Wood, Bucks, 9 January;
113) Brambling (83), Penn Wood, Bucks, 9 January;
114) Ruddy Duck, Stocker’s Lake, Herts, 10 January;
115) Mandarin Duck, Flitwick Sewage Treatment Works, Beds, 10 January;
116) Glaucous Gull (juvenile), Calvert Sailing Lake, Bucks, 10 January;
118) Caspian Gull (adult), Calvert Sailing Lake, Bucks, 10 January;
119) Yellow-legged Gull, Calvert Sailing Lake, Bucks, 10 January;
120) Common Chiffchaff, River Colne at Broadwater Sailing Club, Herts, 11 January;
121) Siberian Chiffchaff, River Colne at Broadwater Sailing Club, Herts, 11 January;
122) Siskin, Stockers Lake, Herts, 11 January;
123) Tree Sparrow, Tyttenhanger Farm, Herts, 11 January;
124) Red-legged Partridge, Tyttenhanger Farm, Herts, 11 January;
125) Egyptian Goose, Burnham Beeches NNR, Bucks, 13 January;
126) Pink-footed Goose, Radwell GP, Beds, 17 January;
127) Taiga Bean Goose (3), Radwell GP, Beds, 17 January;
128) Velvet Scoter (2 immature drakes), Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, 17 January;
129) Red-breasted Merganser, William Girling Reservoir, London, 18 January;
130) Black-necked Grebe (24), William Girling Reservoir, London, 18 January
131) Black-throated Diver, William Girling Reservoir, London, 18 January;
132) Common Raven, Lewes, East Sussex, 21 January;
133) Tundra Bean Goose (7), Aston, Oxfordshire, 22 January;
134) ROSE-COLOURED STARLING, Forest Hill, Oxfordshire, 23 January;
135) BLACK-THROATED THRUSH, Newholm village, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
136) Red-throated Diver, Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
137) Northern Gannet, Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
138) Northern Fulmar, Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
139) Common Guillemot, Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
140) European Shag, Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
141) Turnstone, Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
142) Common Eider, Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
143) Long-tailed Duck (3), Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
144) Common Scoter, Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
145) Purple Sandpiper (24), Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
146) Ringed Plover, Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
147) Red Knot, Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
148) Razorbill, Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, 24 January;
149) Pale-bellied Brent Goose (22), Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, 24 January;
150) Long-eared Owl (5), Bedfordshire, 25 January;
151) Slavonian Grebe, Rainham Marsh RSPB, London, 25 January;
152) RED-BREASTED GOOSE, Wallasea Island Wetland, Essex, 25 January;
153) Black Brant, Wallasea Island Wetland, Essex, 25 January;
154) Common Greenshank, Wallasea Island Wetland, Essex, 25 January;
155) Mediterranean Gull (3), Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 26 January;
156) RING-BILLED GULL, Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex, 29 January;
157) Northern Grey Shrike, Chislehampton, Oxfordshire, 29 January;
158) Water Pipit, Staines Moor, Middlesex, 30 January;
159) Common Sandpiper, Staines Reservoirs, Middlesex, 31 January;
160) Firecrest, Pryor’s Wood, Stevenage, Herts, 31 January;
161) Merlin, Sandon Area, Herts, 3 February;
162) Hooded Crow, Swinford, County Galway, EIRE, 6 February;
A835 Braemore Junction, Sutherland, 17 March;
163) Black Guillemot, Ballynakill Harbour, County Galway, EIRE, 6 February;
164) THAYER’S GULL, Ross Beach, County Galway, EIRE, 6 February;
165) Red-billed Chough, Fanad Head, County Donegal, EIRE, 7 February;
166) SMALL CANADA GOOSE (RICHARDSON’S), Raghley, County Sligo, EIRE, 7 February;
167) Green-winged Teal, Budds Farm Sewage Works, Hampshire, 11 February;
168) Marsh Harrier, Grove Ferry, Kent, 14 February;
169) Sanderling, Leysdown-on-Sea, Sheppey, Kent, 14 February;
170) Hen Harrier, Grove Ferry, Kent, 14 February;
171) DUSKY WARBLER, Lockwood Reservoir, London/Essex, 15 February;
172) Golden Pheasant, Barnham, Suffolk, 16 February;
173) Willow Tit, Thetford, Norfolk, 16 February;
174) Northern Goshawk, Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk, 16 February;
175) Hawfinch, Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk, 16 February;
176) Red-necked Grebe, Whitlingham Great Broad, Norfolk, 16 February;
177) Bohemian Waxwing (18), Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk, 16 February;
178) Rough-legged Buzzard, Thorpe Marshes, Norfolk, 16 February;
179) Snow Bunting, Salthouse Beach, Norfolk, 16 February;
180) COMMON CRANE, Southease, East Sussex, 18 February
181) GREATER SNOW GOOSE, Holme, Norfolk, 24 February;
182) Bearded Tit, Tirchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 24 February;
183) Twite (40), Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 24 February;
184) Mealy Redpoll, Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 24 February;
185) Shore Lark (16), Holkham Gap, Norfolk, 24 February;
186) Black Redstart, West Runton, Norfolk, 24 February;
187) Short-eared Owl, Haddiscoe Island, Norfolk, 24 February;
188) Kittiwake, Sennen Cove, Cornwall, 28 February;
189) CATTLE EGRET (2 birds), Sennen Penrose Farm, Cornwall, 28 February;
190) Blackcap, Morrab Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall, 28 February;
191) LESSER SCAUP, Colliford Lake, Cornwall, 28 February;
192) Eurasian Spoonbill (5), River Lynher, Cornwall, 28 February;
193) LITTLE BUNTING, Sconner, River Lynher, Cornwall, 28 February;
194) Dipper, Buckfastleigh, Devon, 1 March;
195) Cirl Bunting (5), Broadsands Beach car park, Devon, 1 March;
196) SURF SCOTER, Dawlish Warren, Devon, 1 March;
197) Woodlark, Exminster village, Devon, 1 March;
198) Whimbrel, River Otter, Buddleigh Salterton, Devon, 1 March;
199) Dartford Warbler, Aylesbeare Common, Devon, 1 March;
200) Garganey, Amwell NR, Herts, 4 March;
201) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hockley Woods, Essex, 6 March;
202) BUFFLEHEAD, Langton Herring, Dorset, 7 March;
203) BLACK KITE, Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys, 7 March;
204) BONAPARTE’S GULL River Taff, Cardiff Bay, Glamorgan, 10 March;
205) AMERICAN WIGEON, Caerlaverock WWT, D & G, 16 March;
206) Greenland White-fronted Goose (166 birds), Loch Ken, 16 March;
207) Black Grouse, Tulloch Moor, Speyside, 17 March;
208) Capercaillie, Anagach Woods, Grantown-on-Spey, Speyside, 17 March;
209) Crested Tit, Loch an Eilean, Speyside, 17 March;
210) Golden Eagle, Gruinard, Highland, 18 March;
211) Rock Dove, Laide & Achgarve villages, Gruinard, Highland, 18 March;
212) KING EIDER, Roseisle, Burghead Bay, Moray, 18 March;
213) Scottish Parrot Crossbill, Abernethy Forest, Speyside, 19 March;
214) Red Grouse, Tomintoul, Speyside, 19 March;
215) Ptarmigan, Glenshee, Aberdeenshire, 19 March;
216) Iceland Gull, Ayr, Ayrshire, 19 March;
217) Sand Martin, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 20 March;
218) EURASIAN HOOPOE, Langton Herring, Dorset, 20 March;
219) GLOSSY IBIS (3), Ham Walls RSPB, Somerset, 20 March;
220) Northern Wheatear, Ivinghoe Hills NR, Bucks, 21 March;
221) European Barn Swallow, College Lake BBOWT, Bucks, 22 March;
222) Stone Curlew, Foxhole Heath, Suffolk, 24 March;
223) ALPINE SWIFT, Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk, 24 March;
224) Little Ringed Plover, Little Marlow GP, Bucks, 26 March;
225) Willow Warbler, Little Marlow GP, Bucks, 26 March;
226) Ring Ouzel, Blows Downs, Bedfordshire, 26 March;
227) White Wagtail, Octogon Farm, Willington, Bedfordshire, 26 March;
228) Common Tern, Startop’s End Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 27 March;
229) PENDULINE TIT (3), Dungeness ARC, Kent, 27 March;
230) Sandwich Tern, Dungeness Beach, Kent, 27 March;
231) TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL, The Lodge RSPB, Sandy, Bedfordshire, 28 March;
232) PALLID SWIFT, Kessingland, Suffolk, 28 March;
233) LESSER KESTREL, Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, 28 March;
234) Yellow Wagtail, Willows Farm Pool, Tyttenhanger, Herts, 30 March;
235) House Martin, Little Marlow GP, Bucks, 30 March;
236) KENTISH PLOVER, Shellness, Kent, 3 April;
237) FERRUGINOUS DUCK, Holmethorpe Sand Pits, Surrey, 4 April;
238) Common Redstart, Batford, Herts, 6 April;
239) Osprey, Stewartby, Bedfordshire, 7 April;
240) Arctic Tern, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 7 April;
241) BLACK-WINGED STILT, Rainham Marsh RSPB, London, 8 April;
242) Sedge Warbler, Stockers Lake, Herts, 9 April;
243) LADY AMHERST’S PHEASANT, Greensand Ridge, Bedfordshire, 11 April;
244) Common Whitethroat, College Lake BBOWT, Bucks, 12 April;
245) Little Gull (3), Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 12 April;
245) Western Reed Warbler, Amwell NR, Herts, 14 April;
246) Lesser Whitethroat, Croxley Common Moor, Herts, 16 April;
247) Hobby, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, 20 April;
248) Common Swift, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, 20 April;
249) Grasshopper Warbler, Marsworth Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 21 April;
250) Whinchat, Marsh Boldon, Oxfordshire, 21 April;
251) Common Nightingale, Willington Pits, Bedfordshire, 21 April;
252) European Turtle Dove, Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross, Herts, 23 April
253) WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT, Welney WWT, Norfolk, 24 April;
253b) Continental Limosa Black-tailed Godwit, Welney WWT, Norfolk, 24 April’
254) Black Tern, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Herts, 25 April;
255) Garden Warbler, Ivinghoe Hills NR, Bucks, 25 April;
256) Dotterel (9), Preston Candover, Hampshire, 27 April;
257) Common Cuckoo, Linford NR, North Bucks, 28 April;
258) IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF, Walderslade Woods, Kent, 30 April

IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF in North Kent

2010-08-25T21:28:00.003+01:00

The Kent male photographed by Marc Heath

FRIDAY 30 APRIL

Another warm day, with clear skies and light SW winds. Also another day out with Mick Frosdick. Our target bird today – an IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF in North Kent….

WALDERSLADE (NORTH KENT)

We arrived on site at 1030 hours and after a 300 yard walk through the woodland belt to the clearing on the other side, walked out into warm late morning sunshine to find the bird – a singing male IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF – showing well. It was singing fairly repeatedly not that far away from two male Common Chiffchaff territories and was a classic rendition of the song uttered by birds in NW spain. In terms of appearance, it was pretty much standard, with pale orange-brown leg colour, largely yellow plumage colouration, yellow supercilium, yellow thighs and pale bill. The diagnostic Wood Warbler-like call note was uttered on several occasions but it did mimic Common Chiffchaff on occasions, although not exactly and in a rather subdued fashion. There was some yellow on the underwing coverts, with a green rump and rather dark lores.

The Walderslade singing male Iberian Chiffchaff in North Kent, superbly photographed by Ian Hardy. Note the yellow in the supercilium, in the underparts and along the flanks, and the extensive pink on the lower mandible. The pale legs are not obvious in these two shots.

RAINHAM MARSH RSPB (LONDON/ESSEX)

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was visible on the River Thames, whilst the reserve held Common Tern, many Common Swifts, House Martins, Sand Martins and two singing male Common Whitethroats.

BATFORD (HERTS)

No sign of Darin’s Whinchat but 18 Common Swifts, Green Woodpecker, a Common Whitethroat and 2 rattling male Lesser Whitethroats.

NORTON GREEN (HERTS)

Made up for my earlier dip by connecting with two gorgeous male WHINCHATS feeding on the common land at Norton Green. They were associating with a flock of brightly plumaged GREENLAND WHEATEARS – 14 in total. A male Common Whitethroat was in song.

Walking down the lane towards the Common, mainly in the task of seeing GARDEN WARBLER (a male was quickly seen), I found a singing male Western Reed Warbler in reeds around the small pond opposite Oakapple Cottage,

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

The Great Crested Grebes were still attending the two young, whilst two Coot nests were active and a Mallard was with 8 ducklings. Four House Martins were overhead, with a male Reed Bunting in song and the first WESTERN REED WARBLERS back on territory.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

A Song Thrush was in full song in the entrance wood whilst the reedbed held Western Reed Warblers and at least 1 Cetti’s Warbler. Common Swifts numbered 138 birds, with 63 House Martins and 106 Barn Swallows.

On the breeding front, 16 Great Crested Grebes entertained two active nests and the female Red-crested Pochard was accompanying 7 ducklings (Vicky Duxbury had initially seen 9 on 28 April).

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

A late evening visit resulted in 12 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Mute Swans, 3 drake Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 5 Northern Pochard, 3 Greylag Geese, 8 HOBBIES, 114 Common Terns, 70 House Martins and 243 Common Swifts.

I was chatting with both Steve Rodwell and Dave Bilcock at the top of the steps when a BAR-TAILED GODWIT appeared at 1928 hours and flew strongly north overhead. It was probably a female as it had no evidence of reddish colouration. An excellent record.

So that was it – April 2010 over and a further 23 species added to my Year List. Many migrants were now ‘under the belt’ and the graph below illustrates my progress through the first four months of the year. The respective totals being 160, 193, 235 and 258.

ROE DEER in village

2010-08-25T20:30:00.000+01:00

THURSDAY 29 APRIL

A first record for me in the village was of two stag ROE DEER rutting at 0800 hours in the cereal fields alongside the Latimer Road.

Bucks TREE SPARROW at last.......and COMMON CUCKOO

2010-08-25T19:08:00.001+01:00

WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL

Another glorious day and with freshening SSW/SSE winds, superb for scarcities arriving, particularly on the coasts. The southerly element in the wind rather than yesterday's westerly really made it feel warm and very pleasant and with long spells of sunshine following a particularly grey morning, it was a particularly rewarding day.

I concentrated on local survey work for much of the morning before venturing north into North Bucks and later Bedfordshire. The highlight of the day was the locating of a TREE SPARROW colony, as well as finally nailing COMMON CUCKOO and some mega-views of reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLER..........

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

House Sparrows are now feeding nestlings whilst the early nesting pair of Common Blackbirds is feeding its sole surviving youngster. Green-veined White butterflies in the garden, as well as 2 Goldfinches still visiting the Nyger.

Nearby, House Sparrows are also nesting at three other households in my road and another pair is utilising the ivy at 102 Elizabeth Avenue.

In Chenies Avenue, nesting birds included a pair of Goldfinches and a pair of Long-tailed Tits.

At dusk, two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew south to roost at 2015 hours.

WEST WOOD, LITTLE CHALFONT (from SU 996 982 to TQ 004 983)

This section of mainly coniferous woodland held three pairs of nesting Common Blackbirds and two singing male Chaffinches, as well as 3 pair of Wren and two of European Robin.

WALK WOOD, STONY LANE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS) (TQ 007 984)

More deciduous than coniferous trees and therefore more productive for breeding species - highlight was the finding of a COMMON BUZZARD active nest, with two different singing male BLACKCAPS, 2 pairs of Long-tailed Tit (a pair by the Stony Lane car park and another by the clearing further east), a singing male SONG THRUSH, single singing male Chaffinch and Wren and nesting Common Blackbird (2 pairs), Blue Tit (1 pair) and Common Magpie. The sunlit glades in the wood were carpeted with large numbers of flowering Bluebells.

In the grass field adjacent (east of Stony Lane), two different singing male EURASIAN SKYLARKS were present, whilst in the clearing between Walk Wood and Coney Wood, firstly a female and then a singing male YELLOWHAMMER were recorded.

CONEY WOOD, CHENIES MANOR HOUSE (BUCKS) (TQ 013 985)

Breeding birds included Common Blackbird (1 pair), Wren (3 pairs), Great Tit (1 pair), Long-tailed Tit (1 pair) and European Robin (1 pair).

CHENIES BOTTOM, CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS) (TQ 014 987)

A total of 5 Coots was present on the wider section of Chess west of the village bridge whilst the pair of Greenfinch were still present around Mill Farm House. One pair of GOLDCRESTS remain in the tall firs in the garden immediately west of Chenies Place.

FROGMORE MEADOWS NR AREA, CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS) (TQ 021 988)

A pair of SONG THRUSHES was busy feeding young at the extreme south end of Limeshill Wood, with a pair of STOCK DOVE and a single Jay also noted in the wood. Again, the wood was heavily carpeted in flowering Bluebells.

A singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF was in the scrub bordering the footpath, as was a male Blackcap, whilst the Recording Area's first COMMON WHITETHROAT of the year was a displaying male in the hedgerow that borders the reserve.

THE BOARDWALK AREA, CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)

From the Water Vole Viewpoint (TQ 023 988) to Valley Farm (TQ 027 992) and the Crestyl Watercress Farm (TQ 028 989), the highlight was a crippling LITTLE OWL that Carmel located. The bird sat just 15 yards away in a Willow beside the boardwalk and afforded outstanding views for several minutes before it undulated away and landed in a neighbouring pollarded Willow.

The pair of COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were still present around the Watchpoint, along with a singing male Blackcap, a Dunnock and two singing male Wrens, whilst nearby a pair of Long-tailed Tits was nesting.

At Valley Farm, a pair of EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS was on territory.

MOUNT WOOD (WESTERN SECTION) (BUCKS) (TQ 025 985)

A party of 6 Common Magpies was feeding together on the grassy sloping field above Holloway Lane, with a NUTHATCH calling from the laneside trees.

CHENIES VILLAGE (BUCKS) (TQ 017 983)

The village held a singing male Mistle Thrush and Blackcap and male GOLDCREST at 'The Lodge' by the green. Two different male Dunnocks were in song, with two pairs of Eurasian Collared Dove and a pair of Goldfinch by the horse paddocks.

HALSEY'S WOOD AND FOOTPATH DOWN FROM AMERSHAM ROAD (BUCKS) (TQ 017 973)

Halsey's Wood held Green Woodpecker, Common Blackbird (1 pair), Great Tit (1 pair), Long-tailed Tit (nesting pair), Dunnock (nesting pair) and a singing male Blackcap whilst the hedgerow bordering the footpath yielded a singing male YELLOWHAMMER.

THE WHITELANDS, HILLAS AND CARPENTER'S WOOD COMPLEX (BUCKS) (TQ 016 965)

A full inventory revealed the presence of 38 birds of just eight different species and a substantial active Badger's sett in Hillas Wood. Most impressive were 5 singing male SONG THRUSHES, with a nesting pair of Stock Dove. Present were Green Woodpecker (yaffling male), Great Spotted Woodpecker (nesting pair), Wren (4 pairs), European Robin (3 pairs), Great Tit (1 pair) and Blue Tit (6 pairs). Not one warbler was recorded, nor Nuthatch or Common Blackbird, and considering the size of the woodland, a very poor overall yield..

OLD HANGING WOOD (BUCKS) (TQ 010 975)

This wood is situated immediately north of the Metropolitan railway and lies to the south of the Amersham road and is half a mile east of Little Chalfont village. A full inventory today revealed a nesting pair of COMMON BUZZARDS along with European Robin (2 pairs), Common Blackbird (1 pair), Long-tailed Tit (2 pairs), Great Tit (3 pairs), Blue Tit (5 pairs) and Wren (4 pairs).

A pair of YELLOWHAMMER was in the hedgerow bordering the Amersham road, with a further singing male in the scattered trees in the hedgerow running north on the north side of the road.

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

The pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBES on the smaller of the two lakes has two fledged, small stripy young, sheltering on the back of the mother. They fledged on Saturday and are one of the earliest nesting pairs I have known. The other pair were still present on the larger lake whilst nearby, a pair of European Barn Swallows have returned to McMinn's Yard.

LINFORD NR (NORTH BUCKS)

After finishing off local survey work, I decided to drive north to explore the far north of the county and to try and fill in a few missing gaps in my 2010 Bucks Year List. Linford is renown for its variety of warblers and today was no exception. In the warm sunshine of the early afternoon, 10 species of warbler were recorded including a reeling male GRASSHOPPER WARBLER showing well at the edge of the field bordering the hedgerow 100 yards from the main car park, a rattling male LESSER WHITETHROAT close to the car park, at least 9 singing male WESTERN REED WARBLERS, 7 singing male SEDGE WARBLERS, 4 Blackcaps, 6 singing male GARDEN WARBLERS, a single male COMMON WHITETHROAT, 2 male WILLOW WARBLERS and 3 singing male Common Chiffchaffs.

There were also a male Song Thrush, male Greenfinch, pair of Long-tailed Tits and several Reed Buntings, whilst the lake yielded 4 Common Terns, 8 House Martins, several Barn Swallows and 5 active LITTLE EGRET nests.

There was an excellent crop of butterflies including Small and Green-veined Whites, 9 Orange-Tips, 17 Peacock and 33 Speckled Woods.

STOKE GOLDINGTON VILLAGE (NORTH BUCKS) (SP 835 490)

Following up recent sightings, I was absolutely delighted to find a colony of TREE SPARROWS in the village, lying just south of the county boundary with Northamptonshire. These birds were my first in the county this year and were on territory along Dag Lane. Eight birds were noted in total with a pair territorial in an ivy-covered tree 60 yards south of the church and the remainder in and around the garden of number 6 that borders the village (utilising the peanut feeder and the nestboxes) at SP 834 491.

The footpath south of Church Lane and the church also yielded several European Barn Swallows and supported Common Starling (1 pair), Goldfinch and Greenfinch. House Sparrows were nesting at Church Farm.

CASTLETHORPE AREA (NORTH BUCKS)

Flushed with success, I decided to explore the Castlethorpe area in the hope of locating more Tree Sparrows but despite an exhaustive search, failed in my quest. The only birds of note were Yellowhammers, several singing male COMMON WHITETHROATS and a pair of Red-legged Partridges at New Buildings Farm.

Sadly, a dead Badger was near Longland's Wood at SP 830 469.

HAVERSHAM WEIR AND LINFORD RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

I returned to Linford after receiving a call from Paul Moon that he had heard a COMMON CUCKOO - a species I was really struggling with this year. Following his directions, I quickly located the bird - a calling male - in Willows and trees bordering the north side of the reserve.

At Haversham Weir (SP 839 437), two COMMON SANDPIPERS were present, whilst in this vicinity and the north side of the reserve, 36 Mute Swans, COMMON SWIFT, 9 House Martins, 3 further male WESTERN REED WARBLERS, 2 SEDGE and 2 CETTI'S WARBLERS.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDS)

In 'Scrapyard Corner', Jim Gurney's EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVES were still present today, with the beautiful purring male affording excellent views as it perched on the telegraph wires viewable from the raised mounds. The area in which this pair has once again taken up territory is fully protected from disturbance and an extremely suitable site for breeding.

A male LESSER WHITETHROAT was 'rattling' nearby.

MARSTON VALE MILLENIUM PARK (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The drake GARGANEY remains present on Lagoon 9 whilst up to 11 HOBBIES were overflying the Poplars and railway of Rookery Pit and a male COMMON CUCKOO flew from the allotments to Lagoon 4. A few COMMON SWIFTS were overhead, along with an overall increase in HOUSE MARTINS, whilst one of the 9 reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS on the reserve afforded exceptional views to Neil Wright and myself in the vicinity of the pylon. A wealth of other warblers present included 2 of the 8 CETTI'S WARBLERS and Western Reed, Sedge and Willow.

BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDS)

Neil and I visited Brogborough late afternoon and were surprised to see how well the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER was showing at the west end of the lake from the viewpoint. The reason soon became apparent - the bird was in serious distress. It had somehow swallowed a fishing line and had it entangled around its beak, green weed hanging from it. It repeatedly attempted to wash it off but obviously failed and after dipping its head in the water for a long period, eventually settled down and tried to rest. It closed its eyes and rested for 45 minutes or more whilst Darren Oakley-Martin very kindly tried to raise the RSPCA for a rescue. The RSPCA could not command a rescue boat unfortunately, certainly not until tomorrow morning, and we had to reluctantly leave the bird. It did perk up later and started fishing and diving but was always unsuccessful. It did seem quite strong.

The non-breeding flock of 21 Great Crested Grebes was still present and another calling male COMMON CUCKOO was recorded.

As I drove back towards home, a dead BARN OWL was lying in the central carriageway of the southbound M1 at Junction 10 - the Luton Airport turnoff.

DOTTEREL tripping........

2010-08-25T19:04:00.001+01:00

TUESDAY 27 APRIL

Delivered some prestige cars today along the South Coast. Driving back, stopped off in Hampshire for a trip of DOTTEREL........

PRESTON CANDOVER (HAMPSHIRE)

A trip of 9 DOTTERELS - Was very lucky to see these birds with Steve Mansfield today and from what I could ascertain, SIX birds were FEMALES, with 5 in full plumage and one in transitional, whilst the remaining three were males. They were feeding and resting in a bean field east of Preston Candover village on the south side of the road to Bradley at SU 620 418.

Adult Dotterels partially moult into breeding plumage between early March and mid May with the complete moult attained by the time they breed from the last week of May. During this spring period, a variable number of new feathers come through in the crown, on the mantle, in the scapulars, across the wing-coverts and tertials and of course the chest feathers.

Juveniles retain their old feathers much longer and many in June still appear to be largely in non-breeding plumage - some juveniles replace a few breast and belly feathers but the flight feathers remain very worn, bleached and abraded.

A female Northern Wheatear was also present in the field

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

The highlight of this evening's visit was a female MARSH HARRIER flying back and forth over the Wilstone reedbed at 1930 hours - my first in the county this year - along with 10 Mute Swans (6 first-summers), a female Common Teal, two drake and a pair of Shoveler, 7 Northern Pochard, 82 Common Terns and 15 Common Swifts.

Wasted trip to Essex

2010-08-25T18:39:00.002+01:00

MONDAY 26 APRIL (WEEK 17)

Grey skies prevailed with a fresh SW wind blowing, whilst temperatures struggled to reach 14 degrees C. An abortive trip for a putative male Red-backed Shrike wasted the morning......

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

The loft House Sparrows now have chirping young in the nest.

BUTTSBURY BURN (ESSEX)

Mick Frosdick and I drove over to near Chelmsford where a male Red-backed Shrike had been reported early morning. It was most likely a singing male Common Whitethroat.

The abortive trip produced several singing male Common Whitethroats in the river valley, a few Blackcaps and a typically elusive reeling male GRASSHOPPER WARBLER.

WILLOWS FARM POOL, TYTTENHANGER (HERTS)

The female Ruddy Shelduck and Common Shelduck were both present, along with a Little Ringed Plover and a single Ringed Plover on the main birding pit.

LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Two Green-veined White butterflies visited the garden, whilst a stroll along Elizabeth Avenue revealed the presence of breeding House Sparrows at number 102, breeding Goldfinches nearby and male Greenfinch and 4 Long-tailed Tits in Chenies Avenue.

In the vicinity of Stoney Lane, a single EURASIAN SKYLARK was in full song, as well as 2 Chaffinches, Common Blackbird and a male Blackcap.

In Walk Wood, large numbers of Bluebells were in flower, whilst Long-tailed Tit (2 pairs), Song Thrush (singing male), Wren, Chaffinch, Common Blackbird (2 pairs), Blue Tit (pair), Common Magpie, Common Buzzard and Yellowhammer (pair) were all recorded. A further Skylark was in song in the field behind.

CHENIES BOTTOM (BUCKS)

Moving on to Chenies Bottom hamlet, the woodland bordering Greathouse Farm yielded Long-tailed Tit (pair), Common Blackbird, Blue Tit, European Robin (singing male) and Wren (3 males), whilst the Chess produced 4 Coots and Mill Farm House a singing male Greenfinch.

FROGMORE MEADOWS (BUCKS)

A pair of Song Thrush were feeding young in the nest in the wooded area whilst the main meadow held singing Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap and COMMON WHITETHROAT (my first locally this year). A pair of Stock Doves was also present, as well as Jay, whilst the woodland here was also carpeted in Bluebells.

At the Water Vole Watchpoint, further Common Chiffchaffs were encountered, as well as Wren, Dunnock. Blackcap and Long-tailed Tit and as we ventured further along the wooden boardwalk, Carmel espied a beautiful LITTLE OWL perched low in a riverine shrub affording the most crippling of views. It sat there for a full five minutes before flying off - awesome.

At Valley Farm, Barn Swallows were in attendance, and as we walked back towards Chenies village, 6 Common Magpies, Nuthatch, male Mistle Thrush and Blackcap were noted. A singing male Goldcrest was in the front garden Yew of The Lodge by the village green.

I then walked from the village towards Carpenter's Wood recording more Dunnocks (4 including a nesting pair), Goldfinch (2 pairs), Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, male Blackcap, a singing male Yellowhammer and a Green Woodpecker.

CARPENTER'S, HILLAS AND WHITELANDS WOOD, CHORLEYWOOD (HERTS)

Did a full inventory of the site but it was poor - 5 singing male Song Thrushes, Green Woodpecker, 6 pairs of Blue Tit, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit and a pair of Stock Dove; there was also an active Badger's sett.

RAILWAY WOOD, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Railway Wood yielded Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Common Buzzard, whilst yet another singing male Yellowhammer was noted in the cereal fields. Walking back to the A404, Long-tailed and Blue Tits were nesting in the hedgerow and trees by the footpath and by the road itself, a pair of Yellowhammers were breeding in the hedge there.

As I walked home, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the village at 8.15pm.

BLACK TERNS and the North Bucks BEWICK'S SWAN moves to Beds

2010-08-25T16:52:00.003+01:00

The juvenile BEWICK'S SWAN which had moved from Gayhurst to Broom (Steve Blain) and today's two BLACK TERNS at Wilstone (David Bilcock)

SUNDAY 25 APRIL

Heavy rain fell all morning before it cleared away leaving a hot dry afternoon with temperatures climbing to 22 degrees C. It was a busy day on the local birding front.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

A brilliant day for tern passage with a whopping 125 Common Terns on view and two summer-plumaged adult BLACK TERNS - my first of the year and the only two all year at Wilstone (254).

There were also 150 Common Swifts present over the reservoir, with 3 HOBBIES perched in Black Poplars near the hide, 3 Common Buzzards, a Common Sandpiper and in the private gardens in Drayton Beauchamp, 3 Common Chiffchaff, a singing Goldcrest, Blackcaps, an Orange Tip butterfly and a WEASEL.

IVINGHOE BEACON (BUCKS)

A very quick visit to Top Scrub where GARDEN WARBLER was added to the Year List (255)

BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Moving NE into Bedfordshire, Brogborough Lake produced 6 Common Terns, 27 Great Crested Grebes (in one large raft) and a host of singing warblers including Sedge, Blackcap, Willow and Common Chiffchaff. Two Black Terns had flown east just before I arrived........

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Arriving at 1540 hours, UI was very pleased to intercept the two breeding-plumaged BLACK TERNS - loosely flying around the centre with 10 Common Terns. A single HOBBY was feeding distantly over the Rookery Poplars.

BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Teamed up briefly with Mike Ilett where the juvenile BEWICK'S SWAN I had previously seen at Gayhurst in North Bucks was now with 29 Mute Swans at Broom Peacock's Lake (see Steve Blain's images above). There was also Oystercatcher, 18 Common Terns and Sand Martin.

DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT, JUST NORTH OF BIGGLESWADE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

My first Beds DUNLIN of the year - 3 adults in summer plumage - along with Oystercatcher, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, Lapwing and 8 Common Terns.

HORTON (BUCKS)

A flock of 125 Linnets in setaside fields just north of the village.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)

A repeat visit in the evening - Warren Claydon was just departing. New in during the afternoon were 26 ARCTIC TERNS with at least 183 terns present in total. There were also an impressive 125 Barn Swallows whilst the male WOOD WARBLER was again singing from the private ornamental lake in Drayton Beauchamp.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

Two LITTLE GULLS were present towards dusk - an adult winter and a first-year - as well as 13 Common Terns.

My first BLUETHROAT in a few years

2010-08-25T16:05:00.002+01:00

The exceptionally long-staying WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT by the Lyle Hide at Welney WWT (Craig Shaw). The bird was still present in mid August.

SATURDAY 24 APRIL

A dry day with southerly winds, although temperatures dropped sharply in the evening.

WELNEY WWT (NORFOLK)

(1800-2030 hours) A rare afternoon out with Frossy (aka Mick Frosdick). Had seen very little of him in a long time so it was great to catch up and share a few fond memories. Our target bird was a beautiful male WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT that had taken up territory close to two of the hides north of the main centre. The bird had been singing and showing well in the first three hours of daylight and being highly crepuscular in their actions, I wholly expected the same to be repeated tonight. It didn’t unfortunately though, and along with five or six other observers, we really struggled to get on to it. It was skulking in a sheltered ditch (the wind had freshened up quite a bit) and if it hadn’t been for the very sharp eye-sight of Kester’s father Ian Wilson, I doubt whether we would have seen it at all. Ian managed to locate the bird very late on actually sleeping (roosting) in the ditch and I was able to get my ‘scope on it and obtain full frame (but obscured) views of it up until dusk. It barely did anything other than occasionally open its eyes when I pished lightly.

An adult WHOOPER SWAN was still present on the reserve, whilst up to 4 pairs of Limosa EUROPEAN BLACK-TAILED GODWITS were in full display over the Washes. – my first of the year. A few Common Snipe were drumming whilst Avocet, Common Redshank, Oystercatcher, Marsh Harrier (female), House Martins, 8 Yellow Wagtails and both Sedge and Western Reed Warblers were seen. A BARN OWL also flew along the river.

The Arlington Reservoir BONAPARTE'S GULL

2010-08-25T15:38:00.003+01:00

My second BONAPARTE'S GULL in Sussex and at the very same site as the first (same bird!) - excellently photographed by David Cooper

RED-RUMPED SWALLOW dip

2010-08-19T22:05:00.003+01:00

I managed to miss this delightful bird today - here depicted in full glory by Marc Heath. Frustratingly, it had been present several days.

FRIDAY 23 APRIL

A beautiful day - light winds, dry, blue sky and warm sunshine.

FISHER'S GREEN 70 ACRES LAKE (HERTS/ESSEX)

COMMON NIGHTINGALES were the target bird and a total of 6 was recorded - the most confiding the singing male in the scrub by the main car park. At least two were singing from what is now considered Hertfordshire.

The reserve was also highly productive for warblers with a cacophony of sound - Western Reed Warblers, Cetti's, Sedge (14+), Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Whilst in the car park, I received news of a Red-rumped Swallow in East Kent that had been present for the past three days and suppressed. It was still showing so I set off in pursuit.........

MINSTER SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, NEAR RAMSGATE (EAST KENT)

It was an 83 mile drive to Minster and just as I pulled up at the manual railway crossing with Bo Beolens, we discovered that the barriers were not working. We eventually raised them physically and drove the last mile to the treatment works.

A local guy was on site and informed us that the swallow had last been seen at 1216 hours. It was now 1315 and for the next three hours, there was no sign of it. Every now and again, a small wave of European Barn Swallows dropped down sufficiently to be seen but the Red-rumped was no longer with them. Two House Martins were in the area, along with a male Yellow Wagtail, rattling male Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Western Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler and Common Buzzard, whilst butterflies were represented by Green-veined White, Orange Tip and Peacock.

CROXLEY COMMON MOOR (HERTS)

Later in the evening, I saw my first WHINCHAT of the year - a dapper male in the middle of the moor, as well as 2 Common Whitethroats..

WOODOAKS FARM, MAPLE CROSS (HERTS)

The first-summer male BLACK REDSTART was showing well by the last barn but the real surprise bonus was a EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE in the orchard - the first I have ever seen at this site and my first of the year.

LODGE LANE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

A Red Fox was sunning itself

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

GREAT CRESTED GREBES had successfully bred, with a pair with two small young on the smaller of the two lakes. Another pair were on the larger lake. There were also 11 Tufted Ducks and a few Swallows flying around.

BONAPARTE'S GULL performs well

2010-08-11T23:55:00.000+01:00

THURSDAY 22 APRIL

A very frosty start to the early morning followed by a glorious sunny day. Whilst chatting to Chris Pontin in the McMinn's Yard in Chesham, 2 RING-NECKED PARAKEETS noisily passed over at 0720 hours.....

ARLINGTON RESERVOIR (EAST SUSSEX)

At 1100 hours, the adult BONAPARTE'S GULL in full breeding plumage was showing extremely well along the west shore with 8 Black-headed Gulls. Its smaller size, all-dark bill and bubblegum-pink legs were diagnostic.

The adjacent scrub harboured both Lesser and Common Whitethroat and Common Chiffchaff, with Western Reed Warblers in the reedbed fringe and 3 Shoveler, 1 Common Tern and House Martins over the reservoir.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

An evening visit between 1900 and 2000 hours yielded a first-summer female MARSH HARRIER quartering back and forth over the reedbed, whilst 5 Shoveler, a drake Pochard, 5 Common Sandpipers, an adult Common Gull, 46 Common Terns and 6 COMMON SWIFTS were noted.

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

After rescuing a few wayward straying Sheep (escaped after careless walkers had left the gate open), I made contact with 22 WHEATEARS feeding on the slope SE of the Beacon. At least 5 of these were brightly marked GREENLAND WHEATEARS.

GROPPERS at last but still no Cuckoo

2010-08-04T16:30:00.001+01:00

WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL

Another light frost overnight and another day of cool NW winds, although these slackened off to almost nothing by dusk. Clear and blue throughout, with bright sunshine, temperatures climbing to 13 degrees C.

It was another bumper day locally, particularly for scarce waders, with the larger species battling their way into the wind. On the downside, I dipped another Marsh Harrier, but on the positive, bagged a nice PIED AVOCET......

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(0700-0800 hours)

Failed to meet the dawn commitments with Roy and Dave B so hence missed the Whimbrel that roosted overnight on Wilstone and flew off strongly east at 0618 hours (and most likely relocated further NE in Bedfordshire).

However, just as I drove over the canal bridge from Tring, Ben Miller texted to say that he had just found another LITTLE GULL, this time on Marsworth. Within minutes I was watching it and yet again, another individual in a very confusing state of plumage. It had a patchy black head and all dark bill, pale grey underwings with some dark mottling on the underwing coverts and all white upperwings, so presumably an adult in transitional plumage or a near adult. It also had the salmon-pink flush to the underparts and as it showed well, it flew between both the Bucks and Herts sections of the reservoir.

Acting on news provided by Warren Claydon and Steve Rodwell, I was extremely pleased to finally connect with a reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - my first of the year. The bird was showing extremely well perched high on top of grasses in the rough field adjoining the sewage works and sang from 0720 until at least 0755 hours.

The number of SEDGE WARBLERS in the Marsworth Reedbeds had also greatly increased with a minimum of 11 singing males, whilst CETTI'S WARBLERS numbered 3, a 'new' singing male WILLOW WARBLER was located (by the sewage works) and two singing male COMMON WHITETHROATS had arrived, again both in the vicinity of the works.

The only other birds of note were a pair of Shoveler on the Sewage Farm lagoon and a Common Redshank that flew over west calling (whilst Ben saw the first-year Little Ringed Plover that had earlier been roosting on Wilstone jetty)..

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

As Ben had checked College Lake, I gave it a miss and headed straight for the Chiltern escarpment. It was freezing up there and although the sun was shining, the fresh NW wind kept activity by migrants to a minimum. Just 1 female NORTHERN WHEATEAR remained present on the SE Beacon Hill slope and a single LESSER REDPOLL flew east. Five male COMMON WHITETHROATS were still between the S bend and the penultimate Beacon peak but best of all was a crippling male GRASSHOPPER WARBLER reeling from a small bush left (west) of the main track up to the trig point, on the upper reaches of the SW slope. The bird was singing right out in the open with its throat and head reverberating with the strange action of its reeling and its beak wide open. It was still singing at 0820 hours.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)

A party of 4 House Sparrows was in the hedgerow opposite the farm shop. I was joined by Jim Middleton at the top of the steps (he had been on site early enough to witness the Whimbrel) and over the next half hour recorded 1 LITTLE GULL (the relocating bird from Marsworth), an impressive 6 COMMON SANDPIPERS on the algae bunds, 15 Common Terns and the Common Redshank I had seen earlier now roosting on the East reservoir bank.

Other migrants included 1 COMMON SWIFT, 242+ SAND MARTINS, 22 HOUSE MARTINS, 58 Swallows and a singing male Blackcap in trees opposite the car park.

More familiar species noted included -:

Great Crested Grebes (12)
Grey Heron (25 active nests on the Drayton Bank)
Continental Cormorant (9 active nests in the two main trees on the Drayton Bank)
Mute Swan (just 2 present, both apparent cobs)
Gadwall (19)
Shoveler (5)
Tufted Duck (127)
Northern Pochard (3 drakes)
Coot (64 counted, with several pairs actively nest-building)

Mistle Thrush (pair gathering food on the bank by the car park)

A41 (BUCKS) - Sadly, yet another dead Badger, this one lying on the southbound carriageway near Tinker's Lodge at SP 956 095

LODGE LANE FIELDS, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

I was just about to undertake survey work around my village when I took a call from Oxfordshire - Phil Barnett had just discovered a HOOPOE. I managed to locate a single YELLOWHAMMER, a singing male Dunnock and a single EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOW east of Burton's Wood before moving on....

MARSH BALDON AREA (OXFORDSHIRE)

Whilst on route for Henry Mayer Gross's old stomping grounds, a further dead Badger was seen - on the westbound M40 at SU 855 911.

I met up with finder Phil Barnett late morning and together we explored and searched the Toot Baldon and Marsh Baldon in the hope of relocating the Hoopoe but never did - in fact, it was not seen again all day.

Far and away the highlight was a migrant flock of chats in a pea field just west of Gotham Farm, including 15 NORTHERN WHEATEARS and a gorgeous male WHINCHAT - my first of the year. We also recorded 4 male YELLOW WAGTAILS, a singing Common Chiffchaff and several European Barn Swallows whilst resident birds included Common Kestrel, Linnet and Song Thrush. Butterflies included Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.

THE STEWARTBY BRICK-PITS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

After speaking to Lol Carman, I decided to spend the afternoon in Bedfordshire, where several county year-ticks lay in wait. At one site near Stewartby, a mid-afternoon visit yielded a migrant WHIMBREL, a COMMON SANDPIPER and a breeding-plumaged adult BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. The Whimbrel flew off north at 1510 hours and no doubt relocated to the neighbouring Kempston Hardwick complex, after initially landing in Rookery, whilst the godwit was an interesting individual, with an extensively orange bill and black tip similar to European but with other features suggestive of islandica.

Also noted were 2 pairs of Little Grebe, nesting pairs of Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and Common Redshank and migrant YELLOW WAGTAIL (2 males) and WHITE WAGTAIL.

WILLINGTON COMPLEX (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(1530-1630 hours)

With Lol now on a roll, I was playing catch up, and with a visit to Willington Cycle Track later in the afternoon, I was to add yet another new bird for the year - a singing male COMMON NIGHTINGALE. Although there had already been two singing birds in the Sandy area, this was the first Beds songster I had heard of and being freshly arrived, with scanter vegetation, it was there for the taking. Despite it being in the heat of the afternoon, and with walkers and cyclists ambling by, the bird was in full song. It was commuting between the flowering bramble and several more isolated bushes and was performing extremely well, favouring the scrubby patch just south of the cycleway almost in line with the pool to the left of the track and 300 yards west of the main entrance.

The scrub was alive with singing warblers, including 15 Blackcaps, several Common Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a COMMON WHITETHROAT and 2 LESSER WHITETHROATS, whilst nearby, the planned scrape area yielded a remarkable feeding flock of 27 YELLOW WAGTAILS and WESTERN REED WARBLERS in the neighbouring patch of Phragmites.

MARSTON VALE MILLENIUM PARK (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Tried to see all 3 Grasshopper Warblers but failed to even hear any and had similar success with Common Cuckoo. A CETTI'S WARBLER by Lagoon 9 was notable, along with 3 singing male WILLOW WARBLERS.

COOPER'S HILL, AMPTHILL (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Again, drew a complete blank on Common Cuckoo, and no sign of the singing male Firecrest either. WILLOW WARBLERS were again very evident, with 6 singing males.

........Just as I was skirting Stewartby, Steve Rodwell 'phoned to say that a female MARSH HARRIER was lingering at Wilstone. Frustratingly, I was stuck in the traffic of the A 421 roadworks, but after taking the back route through Lidlington, Flitwick and Toddington, made good headway. Dave Bilcock phoned to say that the bird was showing again at 1840 hours, quartering the reedbed, and I had high hopes. However, just as I entered Wilstone village, the harrier chose that minute to continue its migration, and charged off high to the north. I had missed it by literally minutes.........

Then, just as I was about to drive into the Wilstone car park, Simon Nichols texted to say that Kevin Duncan had just found a PIED AVOCET at Dorney and I was on the move again.....

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (SOUTH BUCKS)

It was 29 miles driving from Tring to Dorney and I arrived on site at 1956 hours. The PIED AVOCET - a fine adult - was still present on the Seasonal Pool and standing in shallow water, occasionally dipping its upturned bill into the water. The first this year in the Three Counties, I was very pleased to connect. It remained until at least 2015 hours, despite the constant fighting of a pair of Common Shelduck

Another nail-biting end to a challenging and quite exhausting day

Early SWIFTS and HOBBIES

2010-08-04T16:23:00.002+01:00

TUESDAY 20 APRIL

There was a light frost overnight as the wind switched to the Northwest and freshened during the morning. It remained clear and bright but felt particularly cold in the wind.

It was another good day in terms of migration with more fresh arrivals. I managed two year-ticks - HOBBY and COMMON SWIFT but still failed to find either Grasshopper Warbler or Common Cuckoo. In stark contrast to yesterday, most of the Ring Ouzels had moved on overnight......

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

Following an early morning call from Dave Bilcock, I was able to connect with the 3 DUNLIN at 0900 hours. They were still feeding on the island on the main lake and involved one adult in transitional plumage and two still largely in winter plumage (see Dave's images above).

There was also a smart adult male WHITE WAGTAIL in the NE corner of the marsh but otherwise, it was the breeding waders which were significant.

In addition to the two lingering COMMON SNIPE, it was great to finally see that the OYSTERCATCHERS have finally settled down to breed with one bird sat on a nest on the larger of the two Eastern islands. At least 7 pairs of Lapwing were nesting, with one pair with fledged young, with 4-6 Common Redshanks also present.

Wildfowl included the two adult Mute Swans, 3 Greylag Geese and single pairs of both Common Teal and Northern Shoveler.

I failed to hear or see the Common Cuckoo, my best being a singing male WILLOW WARBLER.

ALDBURY NOWERS/NORTHFIELD ROAD PADDOCKS (HERTS)

Two different male LESSER WHITETHROATS were 'rattling' away, with one in the hedgerow 250 yards south of Northfield Grange at SP 947 133 and another SW of Northfield Road at SP 949 128.

The woodland on the Aldbury Nowers escarpment held 2 singing male Blackcaps and a single Common Chiffchaff, whilst 2 Stock Dove, Nuthatch, Robin and Common Blackbird were also recorded. There was one European Barn Swallow quartering the fields and at least one pair of Eurasian Skylarks in the paddock fields.

PITSTONE QUARRY (HERTS)

A third OYSTERCATCHER was present in the quarry, additional to the nesting pair at College.

CHURCH END VILLAGE (BUCKS) (SP 944 150)

Despite the sunshine, it must be still too early for Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, with only Peacocks seen and a single Speckled Wood in the coppice.

I was pleased to see the resident population of HOUSE SPARROWS holding up - with 6 pairs in total, with the nucleus around Grace Cottage - as well as one pair of Eurasian Collared Dove, 3 pair of Chaffinch and 3 pairs of nesting Common Blackbird.

The coppice area held a male BULLFINCH, single singing male WILLOW WARBLER, Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap and Great Tit, whilst the main common held at least one singing male Eurasian Skylark.

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

At the bottom of Inkombe Hole slope, Dave Bilcock and I recorded 33 PASQUE FLOWER spikes (including 16 in full flower) but little in the way of migrants. A male Sparrowhawk drifted over and 3 Sand Martins flew north.

Elsewhere along the escarpment, there was a fall of COMMON WHITETHROATS, with 5 singing males between the S-bend and the Beacon, a LESSER WHITETHROAT showing well on the Steps Hill slope and at least 6 singing male WILLOW WARBLERS (between Top Scrub and the S-bend). The 5 NORTHERN WHEATEARS remained in situ, favouring the SE slope below the Beacon and including two very bright individuals, most likely Greenland-types.

A very bright pipit that appeared to have a long hind-claw and was skulking about in the grass eventually turned out to be a Meadow Pipit.

BERKHAMSTEAD COMMON (HERTS)

At the north end, in the Harding's Rookery area, Coal Tit, singing Common Treecreeper and Nuthatch were noted, whilst further south, a circuituous walk between the War Memorial, up the west side of the golf course and out west to farmland NW of Well Farm failed to yield any Cuckoo, Tree Pipit or Garden Warbler.

The highlight was 6 different singing male WILLOW WARBLERS, along with 4 male Blackcaps, 2 male Common Chiffchaffs, a pair of Jays, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Song Thrush, a pair of Yellowhammer and an Orange Tip butterfly. Two Stock Doves were feeding in the chicken pen by Well Farm

Nearby, in trees north and west of the castle remains, the Rookery held 23 active nests.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

An early afternoon visit with DB yielded our first HOBBY of the year - a bird giving a fine show flying back and forth over the reedbed and moving as far west as the hide. Mike Campbell and Peter Leigh had first discovered it at 1300 hours.

Common Tern numbers had increased to 18 birds.

BUCKLAND VILLAGE AND MEADOWS NORTH TO MONKS COURT (BUCKS)

There was no sign of yesterday's European Golden Plover flock but a single Lapwing was in one of the meadows immediately beyond the A41 bridge. This area also yielded a singing male COMMON WHITETHROAT and 4 Linnets whilst the village itself held a population of some 35 HOUSE SPARROWS.

WENDOVER FOREST (HALTON WOOD) (BUCKS)

I spent a long period from early afternoon surveying the extensive conifer woodlands for crests. At the Hale end, a total of 5 singing male FIRECRESTS was located and 8 GOLDCRESTS, with a hooting TAWNY OWL, 3 singing male Coal Tits, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, the 3 male Common Chiffchaffs, Song Thrush and pair of Long-tailed Tits also recorded. A Comma butterfly was seen, along with 3 Peacocks.

In the small triangular coppice west of the A413 just south of the Wendover Bypass, the Rookery at SP 873 064 held 31 active nests.

BARN AND HALE WOODS, THE RIDGEWAY WALK (BUCKS)

I then surveyed the southern escarpment of forest along the Ridgeway, from Boswell's Farm (SP 880 065) through Barn Wood to the north end of Hale Wood (SP 894 072) - a 2.5 mile section of forest. This yielded a further 4 singing male FIRECRESTS and 3 GOLDCRESTS, along with Common Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Robin and male Blackcap. Most unexpected was another HOBBY - a bird flying high over the ridge above Barn Wood at 1620 hours - one of my earliest ever in Bucks.

Whilst walking back, DB texted to inform me that Jonathon Nasir had just located a male Common Redstart at Miswell Farm......

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(evening visit from 1700) (with JN, DB, MCa, and later SR and Warren Claydon)

Mike Campbell and Dave were already on site when I arrived at Miswell Farm shortly after 1700 hours but after scouring the hedgerows and fenceposts north of the 'caravan field', there was no further sign of the adult male Common Redstart.

Not only that, Jon's purple patch continued, as an Osprey being trailed by a Red Kite and Common Buzzard flew over him shortly later, and quickly drifted off NNE as it skirted the reservoir.

I drove around to the main car park and was surprised to see the number of 'new' birds that had arrived during the afternoon, including a summer-plumaged pink-breasted 2nd-summer LITTLE GULL, a minimum of 28 COMMON TERNS (Charlie Jackson counted 33 later) and a huge arrival of hirundines including no less than 320 SAND MARTINS, a massive 43 HOUSE MARTINS and 70 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS, and with them 3 COMMON SWIFTS - my first of the year.

There were also 2 COMMON SANDPIPERS present, 2 LAPWING flew west, a female Mallard was accompanying three ducklings and several Red Kites were overhead, whilst a YELLOW WAGTAIL flew east, as well as 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Later towards dusk, CJ enjoyed excellent views of a WHIMBREL which settled briefly on the East Bank before being flushed by a dogwalker.

RING OUZEL passage reaches a dramatic peak whilst London HOOPOE rounds off an eventful day

2010-08-03T22:54:00.007+01:00

Hoopoe (March Heath), Black Redstart (Steve Blake) and Little Gull images (Simon West)

MONDAY 19 APRIL

The fine weather continued, although several degrees down on yesterday's high point of 19 degrees C. Winds remained light but frequently touched SE and as cloud increased during the day, the first rain for some time fell in the Chilterns just prior to dark.

Today was exceptional for RING OUZELS with many seen, along with more BLACK REDSTARTS and late on - a performing HOOPOE..........

IVINGHOE HILLS (BUCKS)

Diverting away from Wilstone, realising that the Whimbrel had flown off east, my first port of call was the Ivinghoe escarpment, where some 3 RING OUZELS remained present (2 males just east of the fenceline just SE of the Beacon and a female on the southern slope of Inkombe Hole) and 5 NORTHERN WHEATEARS remained from last week. There was nothing new to be seen so I moved east....

THE WHIPSNADE DOWNS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

It soon became apparent that RING OUZELS were to be the order of the day, with a single male feeding with the Red-necked Wallabies and small Patagonian Deer just south of the White Lion ('scoped from the B 4506 Dunstable Road at SP 995 169), three more (male and two females) in the gully just above the Stone Curlew field just south of the European Bison pen (at SP 998 183) and a further 3 (two males and a female) on Bison Hill, SSE of Icknield Farm - the latter all visible from the B 4506 Dagnall Road.

TOTTERNHOE KNOLLS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

No sign of any Dingy or Grizzled Skippers on the chalk face but a female RING OUZEL 'chakking' from scrub by the steps from the car park.

BLOWS DOWNS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Following a call from Lol Carman, Blows Downs were to be my next destination, where a female BLACK REDSTART had just been found - an individual of which I had missed there last week. Following Lol's excellent directions to the T, I eventually located it, showing well on the fenceposts and small bushes in the vicinity of the pallet/gate in the eastern half of the paddocks. I called over to John Temple who was also present and he managed to see it too. It remained faithful to this one spot and was still present when I departed mid-morning.

In the paddock bordering the hedgerow (again, in the eastern paddocks), an impressive 5 RING OUZELS was present (three males and two females), all showing well feeding out in the open on the grass. There were also up to 9 Common Blackbirds present in the paddocks (several gathering food so obviously feeding young) as well as a Song Thrush, whilst on the Caddington Slopes, a singing male Common Whitethroat and pair of Bullfinches was in the vicinity of the second pylon.

BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

After chatting with MJP and RB, I then decided to head NE to Broom, where in the company of Mark Thomas and his extended family, enjoyed a stunning adult male RUFF in full finery feeding with a Ringed Plover and Common Redshanks along the western shoreline. This was my first in the county this year (and perhaps one of the three birds I dipped in North Bucks last night) and was rich ginger on the head, black on the underparts, with bright orange legs. This really was a dapper bird.

Up to 5 Common Terns were present on Peacock's Lake, with a YELLOW WAGTAIL over and a male WILLOW WARBLER singing from perimeter bushes.

THE LODGE RSPB, SANDY (BEDS)

A long search revealed nothing more than a flock of 11 continuing COMMON CROSSBILLS and single singing WILLOW WARBLER and COMMON CHIFFCHAFF. Common Buzzards (up to 6 in all) were flighting high above the newly created heathland areas.

DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Day-ticked SCB but saw little more - the 2 COMMON SHELDUCK and pair of COMMON TERN were noteworthy.

TYTTENHANGER GP (HERTS)
(1300-1410 hours)

Instead of covering Norton Green which I had planned to do, I had to rush down to Tyttenhanger, where Steve Blake had discovered another BLACK REDSTART......

Parking by the Bailiff's Office and mobile canteen, I quickly came upon (at last) my first Herts COMMON WHITETHROAT of the year - a singing male in bushes and scrub by the conveyor belt and Fishing Pit. I was also delighted to see my first ORANGE-TIP butterflies - 3 of them flying around the small wood at the entrance.

The BLACK REDSTART - an adult male moulting towards full summer finery - was present in the fenceline bordering the paddocks situated 500 yards east of Tyttenhanger Farm and the Woodyard and was showing very well in the afternoon sunshine. It was commuting between the scattered Oak trees, a tree-stump, some flowering blossom bushes and the fence wire and was ranging along a 200 yard stretch. Steve Blake managed the record shot above. Another male COMMON WHITETHROAT was sharing this same area, whilst two pairs of TREE SPARROWS was nesting, with a male Muntjac Deer feeding out in full view. A few Peacock Butterflies were also noted.

The main pit held a pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, a pair of OYSTERCATCHERS and 6 Common Redshank, with up to 10 pairs of Lapwing in adjoining fields and singing male WILLOW WARBLER and several Blackcaps.

Shortly after I departed, yet another male Ring Ouzel was found - most probably the male that had visited Croxley Common Moor earlier in the day.

MARKYATE VILLAGE (HERTS)

At least 16 pairs of HOUSE SPARROWS were located in the village, as well as 8 nesting pairs of Common Blackbird. Nearby, the nesting pair of PEREGRINES were utilising their usual crevice.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)
(1530-1610 hours)

A party of 3 adult-type LITTLE GULLS, two with full black hoods, was showing well commuting between the green algae bunds directly out from the car park and the surface area out from the jetty. There had been 6 birds present earlier in the afternoon. Interestingly, one of the birds had black peppering in the primary feathers suggesting immaturity, but had a full black hood and typically dark underwing. Two birds also had a beautiful pink wash to the underparts. Simon West obtained the excellent images above. They were loosely associating with 8 Black-headed Gulls.

The 16 COMMON TERNS from yesterday evening remained, whilst new for me was the COMMON SANDPIPER feeding out on the bunds.

Some 8 Shoveler remain, a male YELLOW WAGTAIL flew through and hirundines included 42 Sand Martins and 5 European Barn Swallows.

At STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, the 4 Great Crested Grebes, 11 Mute Swan and 27 Tufted Ducks were present, with 5 Barn Swallows patrolling the north bank, whilst MARSWORTH RESERVOIR held 11 Great crested Grebes, 5 Shovelers, a drake Northern Pochard and 2 more Mute Swans. A further 9 Mute Swans was on the adjacent Grand Union Canal.

The horse paddocks held 1 male YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 adult male WHITE WAGTAIL and 5 Pied Wagtails, with a GREY WAGTAIL by the canal locks and the Marsworth Canal Reedbed holding a singing male SEDGE WARBLER. A further SEDGE WARBLER was in the reedbed wood, where also the first singing male WESTERN REED WARBLER of the year was present (easily audible from the footpath close to the overflow). The male Blackcap and male Common Chiffchaff of the past week or so were both still present and a very noisy CETTI'S WARBLER was by the Sewage Farm.

Overhead of Marsworth were 6 Common Terns, 25 Sand Martin and 7 Barn Swallows.

KING GEORGE V RESERVOIR (LONDON/ESSEX)

Well the day was almost over but with confirmation from Paul Whiteman of a North London HOOPOE, I utilised the last couple of hours with a visit there........

I arrived on site shortly after 1830 hours and was immediately updated by Roy Woodward as to the behaviour of the bird. After leaving the east bank of the KGV Reservoir, it had flown to a neighbouring area of fields and had been lost from view. A small crowd had gathered, including Roy, Jan Hein, Lol Boldini, Jonathan Lethbridge and Paul Whiteman, and after spreading out along the A 112 opposite Yardley Lane, I relocated the bird as it flew up from the grassy field and disappeared over the hedge and landed on the lawn of the aptly-named Sewardstone Evangelical Church. As HOOPOES always do, it fed on the vicar's lawn for a few minutes before flying again and entering the air-space of a small housing estate and flats. As Alan Stewart, Paul W and I walked into the cul-de-sac, the HOOPOE flew over us and went back towards the church grounds and then went to ground for a while.

It eventually reappeared and then flew 200 yards eventually to settle in front of some barns just east of the reservoir, where 11 of us enjoyed the best show of the evening as the bird fed out on the track and in the field (see Roy's image above). The bird was constantly alert and nervous, raising its crest at every sound, and after just a very short while, flew back south and returned once more to the church grounds. In fact, this is where it roosted just prior to dusk.

A hugely enjoyable and eventful day

A quiet local day dipping RUFFS

2010-08-03T21:47:00.002+01:00

SUNDAY 17 APRIL

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

A singing male BLACKCAP close to the garden and my first BRIMSTONE butterfly of the year.

HILLESDEN VILLAGE AND RESERVE SCRAPES (BUCKS)

At least 40 House Sparrows noted in and around the village but at the reserve, a search from the hide failed to locate any of Tim Watt’s 3 Ruff (see his excellent images above). I did see a pair of Oystercatchers, pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, 6 Common Redshank, 8 Lapwings, a drake Shoveler, 2 drake Common Teal and both Willow Warbler and Common Chiffchaff in the House grounds.

TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTS)

Little of note other than 4 Shoveler, 14 Common Terns and 5 Sand Martins on Wilstone, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 7 Mute Swans on Startop’s End Reservoir and 9 Shoveler, 2 singing CETTI’S WARBLERS and a SEDGE WARBLER on Marsworth Reservoir..

First LESSER WHITETHROAT of the year but best of all - breeding and singing WATER RAILS

2010-07-25T23:22:00.002+01:00

A beautiful male Northern Wheatear (Craig Holden)

FRIDAY 16 APRIL

With the wind still blowing from the Northeast, most of the day was fairly cool. From about midday onwards, the pressure started to build and the cloud cover dissipated, leaving clear blue skies and long spells of sunshine. Towards evening, the wind slackened right off, making it very pleasant.

I spent the day mopping up a few local year-ticks, the highlight being my first LESSER WHITETHROAT of the year, some nice adult LITTLE GULLS and more ARCTIC TERNS.........

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
(with Chris Pontin)

At last, my first WILLOW WARBLER of the year in the Amersham Recording Area - a singing male showing well in Willows at the west end of the larger lake. Chris had seen one last week which had sang briefly at the back of McMinn's whilst Kevin Holt had seen an equally brief songster in Penn Wood earlier this week.

A singing male Common Chiffchaff was still present, whilst Blackcaps had increased to two singing males, with at least one female present.

Most unusual was the sight of 4 COMMON RAVENS together at 1130 hours - all having a noisy argument and tussle high above the valley. Again, as other Ravens I have observed this week, they were in heavy wing moult, and eventually all four birds flew high NE towards Berkhamstead.

RED KITES were equally active and abundant with at least 7 in the valley skies, as well as 4 Common Buzzards.

Both pairs of Great Crested Grebe were still present, the nest on the smaller lake still intact, with a Coot now sat on another nest just three yards away. Five Tufted Duck were present (with an additional 13 on Bois Mill Pond).

EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS numbered 7, with two singing Wrens, 3 Goldfinch and a displaying male Greenfinch also noted.

CROXLEY GREEN COMMON (HERTS)
(1200-1245 hours)

Joined Mick Frosdick and Geoff Lapworth on the Moor and finally added LESSER WHITETHROAT to my 2010 Year List - a fairly showy rattling male in a restricted area of bushes adjacent to the canal just north of the small concrete bridge over the river (248). I failed to find Geoff's Common Whitethroat though - the cold wind and grey conditions keeping the bird down and quiet.

Up to 6 Blackcaps were noted however, along with 3 singing male WILLOW WARBLERS, and a pair of GREY WAGTAILS were in the vicinity of the lock gates.

Also noted were 1 Mute Swan, 4 Coots, Green Woodpecker, 1 Barn Swallow, Robin (pair nesting), Long-tailed Tit (5), Greenfinch and Reed Bunting.

WITHY BEDS LNR, MOOR LANE (HERTS)

A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have been seen at this site fairly frequently in recent times but this afternoon Mick and I could only locate the regular male Nuthatch.

Most impressive was the male WATER RAIL by the boardwalk - in full 'song' and rarely heard during the day.

Two pairs of Stock Dove were noted, 2 Jays, Mistle Thrush (singing male), Song Thrush, Common Blackbird (male in song), Ring-necked Parakeet (4), Wren (2 singing males), Long-tailed Tits (pair), Blue Tit (pair feeding young), Great Tit (singing male), Blackcap (singing male) and Common Chiffchaff (2 singing males).

Two SAND MARTINS flew quickly north at 1310.

BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDS)

I ventured north into Bedfordshire where, mid-afternoon, the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER was showing very well at the west end and three adult breeding-plumaged LITTLE GULLS were with 4 Black-headed Gulls. A congregation of 26 Great Crested Grebes was huddled together in the NW corner and two male Blackcaps were in full song by the Watchpoint.

MILLENIUM PARK, MARSTON VALE (BEDS)

The drake GARGANEY was still showing very well on Lagoon 9, loosely consorting with a pair of Gadwall, with my first Beds singing SEDGE WARBLER nearby and two singing male Willow Warblers in scrub near the main gate.

BUTTERMILK WOOD (BEDS)

Although nesting Common Crossbills had been located at another site, none was seen in the Charle Wood or Buttermilk Wood areas. In fact, the woodlands were remarkably quiet, with no warblers singing and just Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, 3 Goldfinch and 3 singing male Coal Tits noted. A new clearing inside Buttermilk yielded several Peacock butterflies in the afternoon sunshine.

THE IVINGHOE AND PITSTONE HILLS (BUCKS)

With the weather clearing up and the cold NE wind starting to abate, I walked the entire escarpment from Aldbury Nowers, across Pitstone Hill, past Steps Hill and across the Beacon Hill slopes to Gallows Hill. It was virtually birdless and my only highlight was the 3 male NORTHERN WHEATEARS on Beacon Hill, just south of the trig point.

There was no sign of the two male Ring Ouzels present early morning, nor of the male that had been showing well in Inkombe Hole much earlier (per Dave Bilcock).

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)

At 1800 hours, I stopped off at Wilstone, where Jeff Bailey and Steve Rodwell were chatting, and Ben Miller was just leaving. The main point of interest were yet another group of 4 ARCTIC TERNS - commuting between the algae bunds and the jetty - and consorting with 3 Common Terns. Interestingly, at least two of the Arctic Terns had a blackish tip to the bill, but overall the bills were slimmer, shorter and deeper red and when perched, the much shorter legs were apparent. The underparts of all four birds were also much greyer than on the accompanying Common Terns and in flight, the wings were much more rakish and particularly contrasting on the underwing. The tail streamers were only fully developed on one individual and in general, there were no discernible differences in this feature with the 3 Common Terns.

Duck included 18 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler and 11 Northern Pochard, whilst 35 Sand Martin were overhead.

A walk along the Dry Canal produced a flyover GREEN SANDPIPER and a single Yellowhammer but there was no sign of the Lesser Whitethroat that Roy Hargreaves had seen and heard earlier in the day

WHIMBREL and ARCTIC TERNS but no Gropper

2010-07-25T22:56:00.006+01:00

WHIMBREL and ARCTIC TERNS (Dave Bilcock)

THURSDAY 15 APRIL

A cool NE wind blew for most of the day.

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

This WHIMBREL, superbly captured on film by David Bilcock, spent most of the afternoon and evening on the bund at College Lake BBOWT. Fortunately I managed to get down in the evening and watched it take flight at 1900 hours, call several times and then fly off strongly east into Hertfordshire.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

An evening visit with Steve Rodwell and others, mainly in the guise of searching for the Grasshopper Warbler that had been present earlier. We could not find the warbler despite staying until 2017 hours but did record 3 LITTLE EGRETS at roost, a drake MANDARIN DUCK that flew over the trees (my first reservoir record this year), 5 Common Terns, 4 ARCTIC TERNS, 42 Sand Martins, a singing CETTI’S WARBLER, a singing male WILLOW WARBLER and a singing male Goldcrest.

Still no Bucks Grey Partridge but RING OUZEL falls for Herts........

2010-07-21T00:14:00.001+01:00

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL

That cold Northeasterly wind keeps blowing, keeping migration to a minimum and preventing many small birds from singing. It remained dry but was grey and overcast up until early afternoon. For me, it was another day birding locally......

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Dave Bilcock had seen a single Arctic Tern early morning but there was no sign of it several hours later when I visited - just 5 Common Terns still.

In fact, Wilstone was very quiet, with 8 Great Crested Grebes, 25 active Grey Heron nests, 3 Common Teal still, 18 Shoveler, 8 immature Black-headed Gulls, 15 European Barn Swallows and a migrant male YELLOW WAGTAIL.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

A pair of Great Crested Grebes was building a nest on one of the green algae bunds, with 6 Mute Swans, 35 Tufted Ducks and 17 Coot counted. There was a total of 164 hirundines grounded by the grey conditions, including 151 SAND MARTINS and 13 Barn Swallows.

In windy conditions, I still failed to find any Sedge Warblers in the Marsworth reedbeds, even though at least one male is present.

WINGRAVE AREA (BUCKS)

In an attempt to nail Grey Partridge for my Bucks Year List, I spent some considerable time searching the farmland to the east of Wingrave, either side of the Leighton Road and east as far as the Mentmore Cross Roads (SP 890 205).

In the sheep fields to the west of Upper Wingbury Farm (SP 875 198), I located two COMMON RAVENS, both birds in wing moult, with one quite heavy. They were feeding in the fields and later flew off east calling loudly, in the direction of Mentmore Park.

There were two Common Buzzards in this area, as well as 1 RED KITE, whilst Common Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 14 Common Starlings were also noted.

Very pleasing was the locating of four nesting pairs of LAPWING in the fields, although disconcerting was an obvious Carrion Crow nest at the top of an isolated tree (most likely designed to fledge at the same time as the baby Lapwings).

Chaffinches were quite numerous, whilst a pair of Long-tailed Tits were nesting in the roadside hedgerow just NE of Wingrave.

Alas, no Grey Partridge were located.....

WINGRAVE VILLAGE (BUCKS)

I took advantage of my visit to fully survey the breeding birds of Wingrave village, with the following results -:

Moorhen (pair on the tiny village pond)
Eurasian Collared Dove (8+ birds noted)
Dunnock (1 singing male)
European Robin (a bare minimum of 7 breeding pairs)
Common Blackbird (7 nesting pairs)
Common Starling (3+ pairs, with a singing male at 119 Winslow Road)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (a singing male in Willows in Lower End at the south end of the village)
*HOUSE SPARROWS (the real success story, with 5 pairs at the north end and a further 3 at the south end and two more in the ivy on the Rose & Crown public house)
Greenfinch (2 displaying males)
Jackdaw (3 pairs nesting on chimneys, with 2 on Winslow Road and another on Nup End Lane)

LONG MARSTON AREA (HERTS)

Next off, I surveyed the ROOKERIES between Wingrave and Long Marston, with 10 active nests opposite Boarscroft (at SP 882 175) and 68 active nests in the Common Alder trees opposite Betlow Farm entrance at SP 885 165.

A dead Badger was just south of Whitwell Farm (SP 881 170) at SP 883 168, whilst the farmhouse itself held 2 further pairs of breeding HOUSE SPARROWS and 2 Red-legged Partridges and a male Pied Wagtail on the plough opposite.

Just south of Beeching House, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush and Great Tit were all recorded.

In Long Marston village, another 8 pairs of HOUSE SPARROW was located, including pairs by the Primary School and several on houses 9-15, and 5 pairs of Eurasian Collared Doves.

OVING AREA (NORTH BUCKS)

Utilising the information kindly provided by John Hale, I then tried the Oving area for Grey Partridge but despite following John's detailed notes to the line, I completely failed in my quest to locate any. Hearing of a Herts Ring Ouzel on site then diverted my attention..........

NORTON GREEN (HERTFORDSHIRE)

It was 43 miles between Oving and Norton Green and I finally arrived on site mid afternoon. Just four birders were on site and most were leaving, having had brief flight views of the bird. Fortunately, Alan Reynolds was on site, and kindly helped out with further searching, whilst Tony Heuking was to join us a short time later. When Alan had seen it earlier, it had been favouring the thick scrub and hedgerow along the eastern flank of the former landfill and had disappeared deep within. All three of us spread out and carried out a sweep of the site north to the traveller's site.

Apart from four Common Blackbirds, 2 Red-legged Partridges and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, nothing was found. Just as we were about to finish the sweep however, Alan and Tony flushed the RING OUZEL as it was hiding in a small bramble literally by one of the main tracks. It flew a few yards and landed again and then flew in a wide arc, back over us and landed in a fallen tree, some 150 yards away. At last, we were able to get good views of the bird, albeit it through the 'scope. It was a first-summer male and sat 'chacking' in the branches for the next 25 minutes, acting extremely wary throughout and refusing to move. All three of us hid behind a flowering bush and eventually the bird flew to the open plateau in the middle of the terrain and fed on the ground. These afforded the best and most closest views. Within a short while though, it was on the move again, and flew back to the area it seems to favour, the valley scrub about 75 yards in from the southern entrance (TL 228 235). This is only the second Ring Ouzel recorded in the county this year and after I left at 1645 hours, Darrell Bryant saw it later feeding with Fieldfares in the evening.

Note: access the location from Bessemer Drive

AMWELL NR (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(1730-1900 hours)

It was a very pleasant evening at Amwell, with clearing skies and the cool NE wind abating somewhat. Despite that, the male Grasshopper Warbler present for three days did not start reeling prior to 1930 hours.

The following species were recorded -:

Great Crested Grebe (6)
Continental Cormorant (9 active nests on the smaller island)
Mute Swan (3)
Gadwall (48)
Common Teal (10)
Shoveler (12)
Tufted Duck (52)
Northern Pochard (5)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (1 on the muddy spit in front of the watchpoint)
Common Redshank (4)
COMMON SNIPE (1)
Argenteus Herring Gull (2 adults south)
European Barn Swallow (1)
*WESTERN REED WARBLER (2 singing males in the reedbed close to the boardwalk near the White Hide, my first of the year)
SEDGE WARBLER (6 singing males in all, including one on the pit to the west of the railway)
CETTI'S WARBLERS (4 singing birds including excellent views of a showy individual best viewed from the upper deck of James Hide)
Blackcap (2 singing males)
Common Chiffchaff (1 singing male)
Common Treecreeper (singing male)
Linnet (1 flew north)

Another great day with more migrant RING OUZELS, BLACK REDSTARTS and an adult KITTIWAKE

2010-07-20T23:49:00.001+01:00

TUESDAY 13 APRIL

The biting NE wind continues, pegging temperatures right back and making birding extremely unpleasant at times. Great once in the shelter but freshening towards evening and bringing increased cloud cover.

Once again, more birds were deposited on the highest hills by the conditions, particularly RING OUZELS, but 2 BLACK REDSTARTS made for a change and a (BLACK-LEGGED) KITTIWAKE was the main prize..........

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)
(0900-1230 hours)

More RING OUZELS arrived overnight so my first port of call was once again the Ivinghoe complex. Viewing from the shelter of the scrub just east of the S-bend and close to the kissing gate, I soon located 5 different male RING OUZELS which were flying out from a dense area of scrub to feed out in the open literally yards out from the wire fence and just 150 yards south of the trig point at Ivinghoe Beacon. One male in particular was very confiding and repeatedly came out whilst the others were more elusive and skulking and eventually flew up further to feed on the grass much closer to the trig point.

After a while I was joined by Eaton Bray birder Richard Woodhead, and after he had enjoyed good views of the single male through my 'scope, we decided to explore further. As we searched either side of the ridge, I watched all of the ouzels fly east, 'chakking' loudly as they went, and appearing to alight on the main slope SE of the peak and above the sheep pens and fields.

A male COMMON WHITETHROAT was singing from scrub just 100 yards east of the peak and after enjoying a good view of that and of more migrant WILLOW WARBLERS (there had been a major fall of this species today involving at least 17 individuals), I suddenly came upon another small passerine hopping on and off the wire fence as the track heads east towards Gallows Hill. I quickly intercepted it in the 'scope and was delighted to find that it was a female BLACK REDSTART - my first in the county this year. It was showing very well, just flitting to and fro from the fenceline on to the main track. I quickly contacted RBA and Dave Bilcock, and finally raised Steve Rodwell.

Beacon Hill was then found to be housing two different BLACK REDSTARTS, as shortly later Richard and I located a second bird - this time a first-summer male - just 80 yards further east along the footpath. The five male RING OUZELS had also chosen to relocate to the south-facing slope above the sheep pens but due to the constant pressure of walkers, eventually flew further east and disappeared, leaving just one bird in the area of the 'Mushroom Hawthorn'. Both BLACK REDSTARTS were very similar in appearance, although the young male had much more warmth (brown) in the upperwings and was deeper grey on the upperparts. Neither bird had any white panel in the wing. Dave Bilcock obtained an excellent selection of images of the female (see above).

With news on the pager, birders took no delay in arriving, and after Mike Campbell and Steve Rodwell pitched up, quite a crowd gathered - and within 20 minutes, twice as many than had turned up for last week's Dartford Warbler ! Ring Ouzels really do have that special attraction.

We were all treated to an excellent display by both species and a further search of the area yielded nothing more than a flyover LESSER REDPOLL - it was time for me to retreat and after a follow-up call from Mark Thomas, it was Peacocks Lake at Broom that was to be my next destination......

BROOM GP (PEACOCK'S LAKE) - BEDFORDSHIRE
(1220-1235 hours)

Joining Mark Thomas at 1220 hours, I was very pleased to find that the summer-plumaged adult (BLACK-LEGGED) KITTIWAKE was still present, sat on the water just west of one of the smaller islands. It was a graceful, sleek gull with a pure white rounded head, tiny beady black eye and lime-green bill. It sat for a while, occasionally stretching its wings, before being 'mobbed' by the nesting Black-headed Gulls and forcing it to take flight. Again a very graceful bird, with neat, well-defined and strikingly contrasting jet-black outer primary tips, a pure white tail and rump and short, dark legs. For a brief period we lost it, but then Mark relocated it much closer and again it sat on the water. MT had seen an adult Kittiwake earlier in the morning at Broom, along with a single Arctic Tern, but both birds had flown off strongly northeast. It is unknown whether the original bird returned or if this was a second bird but in any event, it was still present when Mark and I departed at 1235.

The adult WHOOPER SWAN was still consorting with 15 Mute Swans to the west of the main lake in the cereal crop whilst the only other bird of note was a singing male WILLOW WARBLER.

MILLBROOK (BEDS)

To the west of Ampthill Park and NW of Westminster Fishing Lake, the three male RING OUZELS were still present in the fields and paddocks north of Warren Farm and the Alpaca Farm at approximately TL 017 385. They were still favouring the hedgerow bordering the fields and were commuting between there and the evergreen trees surrounding the farm buildings. As on my previous visit on Sunday (when four males were present), the trio were very elusive, disappearing for long periods, but occasionally showed well, in the retreat of the hedgerow, feeding in the leaf litter. The west end of the park also held several singing male Blackcaps.

TYTTENHANGER MAIN PIT (HERTS)

There was no sign of David Booth's single Black-tailed Godwit at 1500 hours, the main sand workings yielding 10 Shoveler, 8 Common Teal, a Common Redshank, 5 Common Gulls (adult and 4 first-summers), 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Sand Martins and 2 TREE SPARROWS (by the Feeding Station).

Nearby, Willows Farm Pool at 1522 hours held the female Ruddy Shelduck, the pair of OYSTERCATCHERS and a cracking adult male WHITE WAGTAIL

LITTLE GULLS and RING OUZELS

2010-07-13T23:38:00.004+01:00

Today's Little Gulls at Wilstone (Dave Bilcock) and Ring Ouzels on the Hills (Dave Bilcock/Sally Douglas)

MONDAY 12 APRIL

Well, spring 2010 was certainly short-lived, with cold winds blasting in from the Northeast making it feel freezing. It remained dry though, and fairly bright. Temperatures reached a high of just 11 degrees C, in stark contrast to Scotland, where Aviemore continues to bask in up to 20 degrees C, and even Wick reached 17 degrees. As expected, the biting winds misplaced LITTLE GULLS and RING OUZELS..........

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)
(0830-1100 hours; with Steve Rodwell, Peter Leigh & Chris, and later with Francis Buckle & Dave Cleal)

The two male RING OUZELS first found yesterday morning (Mike Wallen et al) were showing very well this morning and keeping very faithful to one particular area, just SW of the Ivinghoe Beacon trig point. They were actually feeding just east of the Beacon Road at SP 957 167 but were best observed from the penultimate peak just north, and sitting in the lee of the SW slope, it was actually quite pleasant and settled. The two birds were showing very well at sporadic intervals, appearing from the scrub to perch in the open on the leafless trees and the Hawthorn, as well as feeding on the sward of grassy slope (in fact, the 'Duke of Burgundy Cutting' in reality. One was a fabulous adult male, with gleaming white half moon, black upperparts and bright yellow bill, whilst the other was a much drabber and noisier first-summer male - Dave Bilcock obtaining at least one good image of the former - see above). Although they were disturbed fairly frequently by cyclists and walkers alike, the two birds did remain faithful to this one area, but the presence of a nesting pair of Common Blackbirds eventually took its toll. When I returned later in the afternoon to show Francis, just one male was seen in flight and they were no longer visiting the grass to feed. There has been a minimum of 7 Ring Ouzels at the site in the past week but these have been the most reliable and easiest to see by far.

The walk up to the Beacon also produced 2 singing male WILLOW WARBLERS and a singing male Common Chiffchaff, whilst there was also a singing male COMMON WHITETHROAT (Dave Cleal) and two male NORTHERN WHEATEARS (Steve Rodwell). Meadow Pipits were fairly numerous, along with Linnets, and a male Bullfinch was in bushes by the main car park.

DAGNALL (BEDS/HERTS)

The resident pair of COMMON RAVENS were showing very well, the male calling loudly from an exposed branch in the vicinity of the nest and the female (now fairly heavily worn) visiting nearby fields and returning with large crops of food for the growing four youngsters.

A Peacock butterfly was also seen but the pair of resident Little Owls were sheltering out of view from the cold wind.

TUNNEL WAY SCRAPES, PITSTONE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE (HERTS)

Both pairs of RINGED and LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS were present, both now nesting.

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

There were no small plovers, Common Sandpiper or Dunlin present but waders were represented by up to 8 Common Redshank and 9 nesting pairs of Lapwing (1 on the west island, 5 on the east, 1 on the NE and two to the north of the main lake).

One Little Grebe was present, a pair of Shoveler, 18 Tufted Duck and at least 8 Atlantic Canada Geese, whilst migrants included a singing male WILLOW WARBLER and my first COMMON WHITETHROAT of the year - a singing male to the north of the main lake (244).

PITSTONE QUARRY (BUCKS/HERTS border)

There was a fall of BLACKCAPS in the NW corner, involving up to 6 individuals - mostly singing males, with a singing male Common Chiffchaff nearby.

The quarry lake was fairly quiet, with 6 Little Grebes present, pair of Tufted Duck, 4 Coots, the pair of OYSTERCATCHERS (still not nesting) and two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

THE SMALLER RESERVOIRS, TRING (HERTS)

With a fierce and freezing NE wind, birdlife was scant and poorly represented, with 3 Shoveler on Marsworth and 8 European Barn Swallows on Startop's End being the highlights (the weekend had seen the first calling male Common Cuckoo - per Lynne Lambert).

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)

(midday-1230 hours) With Steve Rodwell, Mike Campbell, Peter Leigh, Chris and Francis Buckle, recorded my first (and that of the reservoirs') LITTLE GULLS of the year - a winter-plumaged adult, a transitional adult and a well-marked second-summer - all drifting around between the jetty and the Drayton Bank with 9 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Common Terns (245).
Wildfowl included 3 Common Teal (including 1 drake), 19 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, a drake Pochard and 172 Tufted Ducks, whilst 10 Great Crested Grebes were noted (some pairs in active dancing display). A Coot killed by fishing line at least four days ago lie just off of the car park steps.

Aerial migrants were few and far between, with just a handful of Sand Martins and 3 European Barn Swallows.

WIGGINTON BOTTOM (HERTS)

Surveying both Roundhill Wood and The Flats (SP 94 08), an area of extensive firwoods, new plantations and scrub, the following species were encountered -:

Although no Woodlarks were found (a pair bred successfully here in 2006), the area produced Moorhen (on the pond at SP 939 085), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush (singing male), Song Thrush (singing male), Wren (3 singing males), European Robin (nesting pair), BLACKCAP (2 singing males), COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (4 singing males, plus a female), GOLDCREST (2+ pairs), Blue Tit and COAL TIT (5 singing males).

HILL FARM (HADDEN'S PLANTATION) (SP 957 064)

More survey work but with little to be found in this extensive coniferous wood and area of barren farmland - 1 singing Eurasian Skylark, singing Song Thrush and male Blackcap and a pair of Chaffinch.

CHESHAM VALE (BUCKS)

Five Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew north, all bar one adult immatures.

CHESHAM (BUCKS)

After being flooded out a couple of weeks back, the pair of Waterside Mute Swans have relocated and the female is now sitting on a new nest. There is still a pair on Lowndes Park Lake and another on Bois Mill Pond. GREY WAGTAILS are now nesting at McMinn's.

PENN WOOD (BUCKS)

Once again, Kevin Holt and I surveyed the roosting BRAMBLINGS, of which numbers are now dwindling. A total of just 63 birds flew in to roost in the Holly this evening, with the first 5 arriving at 1812 and 25 or more still waiting to drop down at 1915. Although none of the males was in full breeding plumage, several were not far off and in beautiful attire.

Greenfinches numbered 44, whilst Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted. A TAWNY OWL was showing well at the entrance to its nestbox.

Nearby, 5 RED KITES roosted again

Our LADY AMHERST just clings on

2010-07-13T22:57:00.003+01:00

SUNDAY 11 APRIL

A rather grey day with fresh Northeasterly winds

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(with Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell)

Highlight of a brief visit was a pair of COMMON SHELDUCK feeding over the far side close to the reedbed - they represented my first at the reservoirs this year.

Otherwise, pretty uneventful, with a drake Common Teal, two pairs of Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, 4 Black-headed Gulls, a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Common Terns and 150+ Sand Martins.

WARREN FARM, MILLBROOK (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Martin Palmer and Steve Blain had just departed the site happy with their views but when arrived, the afternoon sun was setting and the hedgerow all four male RING OUZELS had been showing was now in shadow. With a little bit of searching, I eventually tracked all four birds down - they had moved a short way north to the garden of Warren Farm and were hopping down from the conifers to feed on the grass.

BEDFORDSHIRE GREENSAND RIDGE

I took the opportunity to visit the last remaining stronghold of the LADY AMHERST'S PHEASANT and was very pleased to find the continuing existence of 3 adult males - the same number (and same birds presumably) as I had recorded in April 2009. They started their echoing calls across the valley from 1930 hours and continued for the next half hour. My first bat of the year - a Pipistrelle - was also seen.

Just three adult males survive in Britain, remnants of the once flourishing non-naturalised population in Bedfordshire. Gary Thoburn obtained these magnificent images of what is a truly beautiful bird. It really is a sad tale – and soon the species will be no more.

One of my favourite all-time birds and a species very close to my heart. I have such dear memories of when this species was common and flocks of 21 or more were in fields by my Flitwick home of that time. My eyes water at the thoughts of how much joy this species bought to the 800 or so people I took to my special feeding station visits in the 1980’s and early 1990’s – I will cherish them forever.

A majestic bird but a reintroduction

2010-07-01T22:11:00.003+01:00

The female Great Bustard at Otmoor - R28 from Salisbury Plain - photographed by Roger Wyatt

SATURDAY 10 APRIL

High pressure still firmly in charge and again another warm day, the warmest this year to date (64 degrees F). Mostly clear skies but towards evening, an easterly breeze set in, bringing patchy cloud.

Due to a snapped cam belt, was out of action for the majority of the day, but this evening ventured over to Otmoor RSPB, where the Salisbury Plain GREAT BUSTARD was still present and showing very well.......

OTMOOR RSPB (OXFORDSHIRE)
(1600-1800 hours)

Although the bird had visited the 'Big Otmoor Field' much earlier in the day and had flown north and had then been seen again early afternoon, I relocated the GREAT BUSTARD this evening to the SSE of Oddington village, at SP 555 145. It was associating with a single Australian Black Swan and up to 18 Mute Swans and was showing very well from the footpath that runs SSW along the New River Ray cut (from Oddington village, take the footpath out to the concrete bridge after 120 yards and then turn right for 250 yards to view from the gate). It sat down for a while and rested, and was very aware of dangers around it, cowering when an aircraft went over. It was a third year and appeared to be a female and was wing-tagged - a RED tag with the numerics '87' if placed on upside down, or '28' if read from the side (perhaps David Waters would be kind enough to send me the history of this individual, first released in 2008). It was finding plenty to eat in the field, taking numerous grubs, as well as eating blades of fresh grass like the swans.

The reserve itself held Garganey, reeling Grasshopper Warbler, male Common Redstart, Black-tailed Godwit and other migrants (per Roger Wyatt) whilst I personally saw 3+ singing male Willow Warblers, a European Barn Swallow and 2-3 pairs of displaying Eurasian Curlew.

Young male BADGERS seem to be getting run over and killed all over the roads at the moment and I saw yet another one today on the eastbound M40 just adjacent to Sundage Wood at SU 821 920.

Disaster strikes for BLACK-NECKED GREBE

2010-07-01T21:45:00.002+01:00

Martin Parr obtained these images of Tyttenhanger's BLACK-NECKED GREBE. You can clearly see the damage. Sadly, the bird died a couple of days later.

FRIDAY 9 APRIL

Another beautiful, warm spring day, continuing the theme of yesterday. Little in the way of visible passage but more and more summer visitors arriving, particularly warblers. Temperatures again reached 59 degrees F, with long spells of sunshine and clear blue skies.

STOCKERS LAKE (HERTS)

Thanks to JT, finally connected with my first SEDGE WARBLER of the year (243). It was a very skulking individual, and quite mobile, and was working its way through the reed sections on the south side of the causeway. It was singing quite frequently.

There were also 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS on show (a pair on the boating lake and an adult drake on the main lake) and 83 Tufted Duck.

A male Blackcap was showing well by the footbridge and two different Common Chiffchaffs

TYTTENHANGER GP (HERTS)

Joan prompted me to get over to Tyttenhanger as soon as possible. Martin Parr had just phoned with some very concerning news. The summer-plumaged BLACK-NECKED GREBE that Steve Blake had relocated this morning on the Fishing Lake appeared to be badly injured and concern for its welfare was being aired. It took me about 15 minutes to be on site, and a further 20 minutes to find the bird. It had been roosting out of the water on the bank but a flurry of kind-hearted fishermen directed me to where they had seen it go and after a few brief glimpses, I eventually tracked it down 75 yards east of the causeway on the north bank.

It was in a sorry state indeed, with one of its wings completely ripped from its socket and twisted back round and left hanging. It had presumably collided with the overhead pylons whilst trying to depart overnight and then crash-landed either on the lake or in surrounding vegetation. Nevertheless, it seemed very perky and alert, was diving frequently, catching numerous small fish and taking insects from the surface. With the aid of the fishermen on the bank, I borrowed a landing net and attempted to catch the bird. I scooped it into the net, had a quick look at its wing injury and was very pleased to see the bird dive swiftly and escape underwater. It was certainly not on its last legs but its injury was very serious and beyond any sensible repair. I phoned several people I knew that cared for wild birds, including staff at the RSPB, and it was generally agreed that it was a lost cause, and best left to nature.

Being such a gorgeous bird in full breeding plumage, I felt naturally devastated, but seeing it diving and successfully eeking out a living, I felt it best to let it live out its remaining days in the wild, rather than having to be put to sleep by the RSPCA. A tragic ending but the first time I have ever been so close to this tiny and most delicate species - and a species I am particularly fond of, which share many similarities, habits and breeding locations of my other favourite - the outlawed North American Ruddy Duck.

The grebe was also in very close company with an early brood of 10 duckling Mallards, whilst the only other species of note were a singing male WILLOW WARBLER and 6 Linnets.

WENDOVER FOREST (HALE END)
(1500-1700 hours)

In remarkably warm conditions, Steve Rodwell and I spent a long period studying and listening to a singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF in Willows and shrubs close to the Buddleia clearing. This was no ordinary chiffchaff however in terms of vocalisation as it repeatedly threw into its repertoire, one note which I only associate with Iberian Chiffchaff (brehmii/ibericus). In fact, when Steve and Vicky first found it, it gave all four loud notes that ibericus frequently finishes its song off with. Later, it reverted to more typical collybita conversation, and showed field characteristics akin to that species.

The woodland yielded three further singing male Common Chiffchaffs, 1-2 male WILLOW WARBLERS, 2 male Blackcaps, 5+ Goldcrests, a LESSER REDPOLL and several Coal Tits, as well as several Peacock butterflies (Steve had also seen a TREE PIPIT briefly, two pairs of MARSH TITS and two singing FIRECRESTS).

BLACK-WINGED STILT - species 241

2010-06-30T11:22:00.004+01:00

Male Black-winged Stilt, Rainham Marshes RSPB (Simon West)

THURSDAY 8 APRIL

High pressure is now firmly in charge and with it came the warmest day of the year so far. Clear blue skies predominated, along with warm sunshine, with afternoon temperatures reaching just under 60 degrees fahrenheit. Winds were very light with a touch of southwesterly.

As is often the case with clear conditions, visible migration was stifled and in stark contrast to yesterday, few birds of note appeared. Bird of the day was undoubtedly the male BLACK-WINGED STILT which had relocated from the Isle of Wight to Essex.....

RAINHAM MARSHES RSPB (LONDON/ESSEX)
(1050 hours)

The RSPB's flagship reserve at Rainham continues to attract rare birds and proved once again today that it is one of the most productive locations that there is and after Alpine Swift, Hoopoe and Ring Ouzel last week, Peter Hale this morning pulled a cracking adult male BLACK-WINGED STILT out of the hat. The bird was showing exceptionally well in the closest corner of Purfleet Scrape to the information centre and performed all day, delighting several hundred admirers.

I managed to get down late morning, about two hours after Peter first identified it, and thanks to Joan Thompson and Mick Frosdick, enjoyed excellent 'scope views of it as it fed actively in the shallow water. It was an adult male, with a slight pink flush to the underparts, extensive black on its crown and jet-black upperwings and mantle. The hindneck was mainly white but was peppered lightly with black flecking, whilst the forehead was extensively white. The red in the eye was particularly noticeable.

It was presumably the same male that had spent the day at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight two days ago on 6 April.

Many birders were arriving whilst I was on site and I noticed Howard Joliffe and Nick Green amongst them. As I was leaving, the crowd had swelled to 40 or more. Of course, Howard Vaughan was on site and being extremely helpful and informative. Another great day for Rainham.

CROXLEY COMMON MOOR LNR(HERTS)

In surprisingly warm conditions, a circuit of this site of Special Scientific Interest yielded two singing male WILLOW WARBLERS, a singing Common Chiffchaff, a pair of BLACKCAPS, Green Woodpecker and 3 Greenfinches. No Common Whitethroat though.

THE WITHEY BEDS LNR (HERTS)

Again, no sign of the singing Common Whitethroat seen earlier. The tiny reserve held a singing Common Chiffchaff, a singing male Nuthatch, a singing male Bullfinch, Great Tit, Song Thrush and nesting pairs of Ring-necked Parakeet and Jay, as well as my first butterflies of the year - 3 Commas, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock.

Sadly, a dead BARN OWL was lying on the central reservation of the westbound A41, just SW of Berkhamstead.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR (HERTS)

Marsworth Reedbed Wood held Great Spotted Woodpecker, a pair of Bullfinch, two singing male BLACKCAPS and an increase to at least 5 COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS. Both adult pair Mistle Thrushes were busy gathering food in the main field, and the male WILLOW WARBLER was still singing along the causeway. A single Song Thrush was also seen.

Up to 5 COMMON TERNS were on the reservoir, whilst the horse paddocks revealed the presence of no less than 8 YELLOW WAGTAILS (SR later had 9) and 2 adult male WHITE WAGTAILS.

STEPS HILL AND INKOMBE HOLE, IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

Three RING OUZEL remained from much earlier in the day - two males and a female - moving between the southern flank of Inkombe Hole and the Steps Hill slope in line with the stile. Typically, they were very elusive, and repeatedly disturbed by dogwalkers, joggers and walkers.

WILLOW WARBLERS had increased to 5 singing males in the area, with 2 Red Kites and 2 Song Thrushes also noted. A late REDWING arrived late evening.

As dusk approached, the fields around Down Farm attracted at least 107 FALLOW DEER out to feed, as well as several Red Foxes.

CHESHAM VALE (BUCKS)

The Rookery at the south end of the Vale wood held at least 35 active nests, with 130 Jackdaws roosting.

A Red Letter Day - weather grounds a number of rare birds in the Three Counties Region

2010-06-30T09:43:00.002+01:00

WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL

Phew - what a day ! I struggled to keep up. It really was one of those exceptional days and migrating birds kept grounding all through the day. After the wind swung round from SE to northerly early morning, I just knew it was going to be good. Add to that the fact that it was murky, with poor visibility, and then later with intermittent rain, it was typical fall conditions. Whilst organising my gear, I heard both a singing male EURASIAN SKYLARK and GOLDCREST - both new for the garden this year.

Deciding to set out early, mainly with two target birds in mind - Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat - I had barely set foot on Croxley Common Moor than Steve Rodwell rang to say that he was watching a DARTFORD WARBLER on Steps Hill. I could barely believe it and having only ever seen one in the Tring Recording Area before (also at Ivinghoe) and not seeing one in the county since the small breeding population became extinct two years ago, I immediately ran back for the car. Steve not surprisingly was very excited and as I ran back, I asked him to stick with it until I arrived..............

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

It took me 27 minutes to get from Croxley to Steps and a further three minutes to find Steve. He was still gazing at the hedgerow that borders the main footpath at the top of Inkombe Hole and had literally only just heard the bird again, after losing it for over 15 minutes. I walked slowly towards him and as I did, the DARTFORD WARBLER made its diagnostic and scolding churr. It had moved to the end of the hedgerow and then flown out. I crossed the stile and then walked parallel with the hedgerow, lightly 'churring' back to the bird. It immediately responded and sat up in full view in some very low bramble 25 yards out from the hedge. I carried on lightly 'pishing' and this kept the bird preoccupied and it carried on showing at just a few feet range. It was a crippling bird and a beautiful adult male to boot. It was in fresh spring plumage and although the upperwings had a brownish hue to them, the underparts were very deeply marked vinous-red and this extended from the rear flanks to the chin and throat, the latter lightly specked with white. The orbital eye ring was bright red and not orange as in first-year males, whilst the forehead, crown, nape, mantle, rump and uppertail were uniform bluish-grey. The fine bill was distinctly pale on the lower mandible and the legs and feet orange-straw. Responding back to me, it intermittently burst into a quiet, scratchy, sub-song, and when out of view, would utter its harsh 'churr' enabling us to keep on it.

It then flew back into the hedgerow and after I had completed writing my field-notes, Stuart Wilson arrived on site. I lightly 'pished' again and the bird flew to the top of the hedge and just perched there for several minutes in full unobscured view. This was such a stunning bird.

It then got bored of me and sank deep down into the thick vegetation and started to skulk away. It flew to the far end of the hedge and then entered the top plantation at the top of Steps Hill. It quickly moved along the edge of this wood and then found the impenetrable patch of dense gorse, partly in flower. It was still calling occasionally and just prior to Mike Campbell racing up, the three of us enjoyed our last prolonged good view of the bird as it jerkily bobbed and cocked its long tail in the gorse and then fluttered away in weak flight.

It then disappeared into the thick gorse and made its way further down the slope. All in all I had enjoyed views over a period of just under an hour and as Mike was joined by Ian Williams, the two of them and Steve had a couple more glimpses before the bird flew much further down the side of Steps Hill slope and disappeared (to the north of Inkombe Hole).

This was a truly exceptional find and an outstanding one. The only previous record in the area was 12 years ago and Buckinghamshire's second - a first-winter which remained on Steps Hill from 25 November until 6 December 1998 and was seen again on 9 January 1999.

Whilst watching the Dartford, a noisy COMMON RAVEN flew low across Inkombe Hole, whilst Top Scrub held a pair of Bullfinch, 3 singing male BLACKCAPS, 3 singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS and a Song Thrush. Several Linnets also flew over, whilst a singing male WILLOW WARBLER was on the lower slope.

As I reached the car park, I heard the familiar 'jipping' sound of COMMON CROSSBILL - and three birds (two males and a female) flew over heading directly north.

DOWN FARM AREA, ALDBURY (HERTS)

At least 6 Yellowhammers were gathered in the field north of the farm, with 7 or more Eurasian Skylarks present in the cereal field on the opposite side of the road - 4 males in song display. A small group of 4 CORN BUNTINGS was in an adjoining stubble field, with both Meadow Pipit and Linnet also present, 3 Stock Doves and a Red Kite over Pitstone Hill.

HOW END (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Following a conversation with Lol Carman, I drove north to Bedfordshire, initially in search of Garganey. However, just as I got to the Stewartby area, my attention was diverted to an OSPREY, which John Temple had seen carrying a fish over Rookery Pit and Lol and Bob Chalkley had intercepted in a field to the south of the minor road between Millbrook and How End. Lol had last seen it flying east across the B 530 and had had to leave to drive back to Luton. Fortuitously, the bird, still carrying a huge Pike (Esox lucius) landed on a telegraph pole just 100 yards east of the B 530 and just 100 yards SE of the Chequers Public House at TL 032 402 and remained there. I pulled up minutes later and joined Clive Harris, already on site and 'scoping through a gap in the hedgerow. The bird was standing on its prized fish and was being hounded by a gang of marauding Rooks. The views were exceptional and I could clearly see that the feathered tarsi were unringed and that the bird was an adult. It seemed very settled and after a while I departed, informing all and sundry that it was still present and twitchable. It represented my first of the year (239). I drove away at 1225, the bird apparently flying less than half an hour later.

STEWARTBY AREA (BEDFORDSHIRE)

On one of the brick pits, highlights included a pair of roosting NORTHERN PINTAIL, a pair of Common Teal, 16 Tufted Duck, 3 Northern Pochard, 5 Little Grebe, 5 pairs of nesting Lapwing, 4 Common Redshanks, single pairs of both Ringed and LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 1 European Barn Swallow and 3 Linnet.

In Stewartby village, one tree held 6 ROOK nests, whilst a census of the A 421 ROOKERIES found 63 NE of Green Lane (at cTL 010 434), 66 around the Stewartby Lake layby at TL 003 427 and a further 23 nests in Brogborough at SP 962 380.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

At 1230 hours, the pair of COMMON SCOTER were sleeping in the vicinity of orange buoy 'C' (MJP and TP arrived shortly later and joined me)

MARSTON VALE MILLENIUM PARK (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The drake GARGANEY was with 6 Gadwall on the reed-fringed lake close to the entrance, whilst an EGYPTIAN GOOSE (presumably that from Wilstone Reservoir) was on the long, thin lake adjacent to the access road. A single WILLOW WARBLER was singing from the Willows adjacent.

BROOM PEACOCKS LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The adult WHOOPER SWAN was still present and showing well with Mute Swans in fields east of the A 6001, whilst the main lake held a further drake GARGANEY (showing well, feeding on its own in the SW corner), 4 Common Teal, 5 Northern Shoveler, 2 Oystercatchers, a single COMMON TERN (my first in Beds this year), 85 Black-headed Gulls, 48 Sand Martins and 11 European Barn Swallows.

BIGGLESWADE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

At the northern 'Sainsbury's' A1 roundabout, a further 23 ROOK nests were counted (at TL 183 452).

THE LODGE, SANDY RSPB (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Spent a couple of hours mid-afternoon on the 'new' heath, where a very noisy flock of 46 COMMON CROSSBILLS was ever-present, but in light rain and heavy cloud there was no sign of my target bird. Neither was there any sign whatsoever of the female Two-barred Crossbill.

At least two male LESSER REDPOLLS were in display flight near the pond, and a male Common Chiffchaff was in full song.

IVEL EXTRACTIONS (AKA DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT)

Two GREEN SANDPIPERS accompanied a pair of Common Redshanks, whilst migrants included a male YELLOW WAGTAIL and two male WHITE WAGTAILS (1545 hours)

WILLOWS FARM POOL, TYTTENHANGER (HERTS)

The two adult Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits that Mick Frosdick discovered earlier had departed to the north at 1320 and represented the first of the Herts year. During my late afternoon visit, the pool held the drake Common Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, the pair of Oystercatchers and male Pied Wagtail.

STEPS HILL, IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKS)

A return visit at 1800 hours soon yielded the three male RING OUZELS discovered earlier by Don Otter. They were showing well on the grassy slope at the north end of Steps, close to the footpath leading down from the S-bend at cSP 958 162.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (HERTS)

Mid-evening, Roy Hargreaves and I located the two adult ARCTIC TERNS that SR and others had seen earlier, feeding amongst 6 COMMON TERNS mainly in the area of water out from the jetty. They represented my first of the year and were earlier than average.

The gloomy conditions (overcast skies with intermittent rain and fresh northerly winds) also grounded large numbers of hirundines, including 186+ SAND MARTINS and 33 European Barn Swallows. There were also 12 Shoveler close to the Drayton Hide, whilst 5 late FIELDFARES were in the tall Poplars.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR AND PADDOCKS

The paddock wagtail flock numbered 38, including 35 Pieds, a well-marked adult male WHITE and two gaudy male YELLOWS. A high count of 15 Great Crested Grebes was on Marsworth, with a pair of Carrion Crows nesting in the main car park.

All in all, a very enjoyable and highly productive day, but did I get Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat? - No! Tomorrow maybe.

MEXICAN HOUSE FINCH relocated

2010-06-27T13:55:00.001+01:00

The yellow variant Land's End Mexican House Finch has relocated to South Devon, where it has been singing from the roof of a house by the village green in East Prawle (from 0730-1230 hours at least). Whether the bird is an escape or a ship-assisted vagrant is still open to conjecture

Some real jewels in the crown - BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, a cracking male COMMON REDSTART and an unseasonal BEWICK'S SWAN

2010-06-23T08:53:00.002+01:00

TUESDAY 6 APRIL

A bright and breezy day with some warm spells of sunshine pushing temperatures up to 57 degrees F. Although the wind was initially SW, it veered during the day to a cooler SE.

It was an excellent day for incoming migrants, with good numbers of Osprey, Tree Pipit, Common Redstart, Common Tern, Garganey and Yellow Wagtails arriving, along with the odd male Pied Flycatcher and Common Cuckoo, as well as some 'new' vagrants, most notably a Black-winged Stilt on the Isle of Wight. On a local basis, it was also a very productive day, a flock of WAXWINGS being the main highlight............

THE CHESS RIVER VALLEY, FROM MILL FARM HOUSE TO SARRATT BOTTOM (BUCKS/HERTS)
(0800-1000 hours)

A full inventory of resident and migrant birds was carried out with 38 species recorded. No Blackcaps or Willow Warblers noted, although Chris Pontin recorded the first of the latter in the Recording Area this year at McMinn's Yard in Chesham today -:

CONTINENTAL CORMORANT (a subadult roosting on the 'Osprey branch' by Crestyl Watercress Beds)
Grey Heron (1 on the Chess by the cressbeds)
LITTLE EGRET (1 still present, feeding on the Chess in front of Chenies Place)
Mute Swan (4 non-breeding subadults by Mill Farm House, with a pair nearby in front of Chenies Place - the cob still frequenting the back garden of Woodside House)
Australian Black Swan (a pinioned bird just outside of the Chess in front of Sarratt Bottom village - recently released)
Atlantic Canada Goose (3 separate pairs on the Chess adjacent to Sarratt Bottom village, with one pair actively nest-building)
Mallard (5 pairs)
Red Kite (1 lingering over Wallace's Wood Larch plantation)
Common Buzzard (1 in Mount Wood)
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (pair just west of Valley Farm)
Common Pheasant (2 males in paddocks west of Valley Farm)
Moorhen (4 pairs)
Eurasian Coot (3 pairs on Chess)
Black-headed Gull (2 flew west along valley)
Woodpigeon (40+ noted)
European Green Woodpecker (3 yaffling birds noted, with one by Chenies Place and two in Mount Wood)
European Barn Swallow (pair by Valley Farm)
Wren (2 singing males in Chenies Bottom gardens, with two more by the boardwalk near Valley Farm, 3 in Sarratt Bottom and a male along Holloway Lane)
Dunnock (2 singing males in Sarratt Bottom)
European Robin (2+ pairs in Chenies Bottom, another opposite Frogmore Meadows, 2 pairs near Valley Farm, at least 3 pairs in Sarratt Bottom and 2+ pairs in Mount Wood)
Song Thrush (singing males in Wallace's Wood, opposite Frogmore Meadows, in Sarratt Bottom (3), 2 within 30 yards of each other in Mount Wood and 2 more along Holloway Lane)
*REDWING (6 late migrants in trees and scrub by the Crestyl Watercress Beds - flew off east)
Mistle Thrush (1 flew across valley towards Chenies village)
Common Blackbird (3 nesting pairs in Chenies Bottom, with another pair near the Water Vole watchpoint and another by the cressbed, at least 4 pairs in Sarratt Bottom, 1+ pairs in Mount Wood and two further birds along Holloway Lane)
*COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (6: singing males in scrub opposite Frogmore Meadows, by the Water Vole watchpoint [also female here, by the boardwalk], by the river on the south flank of Frogmore Meadows and two different birds either end of Sarratt Bottom)
GOLDCREST (pair nesting in tall evergreens in garden of Woodside House)
Great Tit (a pair prospecting a nest-site by Mill Farm House, with a pair in Limeshill Wood, 3 pairs in Mount Wood and another near Holloway Lane)
Blue Tit (a party of 3 birds by the cressbeds, with another pair in Mount Wood and in the top wood by Holloway Lane)
Long-tailed Tit (single pairs in Sarratt Bottom and near the buildings of the cressbeds)
Nuthatch (singing birds by the decoy lake in Mount Wood and at the west end of that wood)
Common Treecreeper (a pair in Mount Wood)
Common Magpie (3 pairs)
Jay (1 in the bushes and trees alongside the Crestyl Watercress Bed)
Jackdaw (15+, including a pair breeding in a dead tree in Mount Wood)
Carrion Crow (8+)
House Sparrow (a pair in Chenies Bottom)
Chaffinch (3 pairs in Chenies Bottom, with the same in Sarratt Bottom and another in Mount Wood)
Goldfinch (pair around Mill Farm House and party of 5 birds in Valley Farm area)
Greenfinch (2 singing males in Chenies Bottom)

Grey Squirrels (18+)

LATIMER HOUSE GROUNDS AND GREAT WATER (CHESS VALLEY)

The grounds held 5 Woodpigeons, Common Magpie, singing male Great Tit and Greenfinch and a Mistle Thrush, with a singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF nearby in bushes alongside the track to Neptune Falls, with a young male Common Kestrel in the same area and Great Water yielding 13 Mute Swans, 35 Tufted Ducks (including 18 drakes) and 12 Coot.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1230-1310 hours)

The singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF was still in the tall Poplars of Reedbed Wood, with the two different CETTI'S WARBLERS in the reedbed, the male BLACKCAP still and the singing male WILLOW WARBLER first found by Chaz Jackson still in trees and ivy just at the start of the causeway. Two male REED BUNTINGS were singing and in parachute display in the reedbed.

Twelve Great Crested Grebes were on the reservoir, with just 4 Pied Wagtails in the horse paddocks and a male Grey Wagtail by the lock.

The neighbouring Grand Union Canal held 10 Mute Swans, including 3 first-summers, whilst Startop's End Reservoir held just 35 Tufted Ducks of note.

My proposed visit to Wilstone Reservoir was immediately interrupted by a very important call from Dave Cleal. He had just discovered 6 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.................

CLIVEDEN NT ESTATE (SOUTH BUCKS)

After being away in Highland Scotland when two birds gave themselves up in Milton Keynes, I was delighted to get another chance at connecting with BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Bucks. But in April, this was unchartered territory......

I raced over to Cliveden, where DC had very kindly agreed to keep with the migrant flock of birds. By 1340 hours I had joined him and there feeding on the Mistletoe berries were all six birds - five adults and a first-winter. Dave had done exceptionally well in locating them, feeding high in the canopy and often out of view in the tall trees situated at the junction of the Green Drive and the Dukes Statue at SU 913 845. Excellent 'scope views were obtained, with Dave firing off a number of record shots (see above). They remained present until at least 1443 hours and were particularly rewarding, often pairing up and feeding each other and clearly thinking of spring in Scandinavia. Quite where they had migrated from to get here is unknown, but possibly from Spain or France where they had spent the winter.

Cliveden Estate of course is reknown for its FIRECRESTS and today Dave and I saw additional birds, one pair already nesting and busily carrying nest material. At least 9 singing males have now been located this spring, including 3 in the usual area along Green Drive, and along with these, three additional birds afforded Dave, I and numerous other interested members of public some exceptionally close views. The latter trio were feeding in low introduced Laurel and nesting in an exotic species of Fir.

Newly arrived were at least 4 singing male BLACKCAPS and 1 singing Common Chiffchaff, whilst residents noted included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, Red Kite and Coal Tit.

BATFORD B653 PADDOCKS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Following up on Darin Stanley's text message, I was delighted to connect at 1540 hours with the stunning male COMMON REDSTART that he had once again discovered earlier in the afternoon during his lunch hour - his 5th individual in fact. The bird was showing well in the 'usual hedgerow' visible from the layby, and was darting out for insects and frequently perching out in full view on the wire fence. It represented my first for the year both nationally and locally. It was virtually in pristine spring plumage and may well be an individual male that annually stops off here as it stages its return migration. Alan Reynolds, Jim Rudland, Dave Calder and Simon West were also present, Simon obtaining the image published above. A male Sparrowhawk also drifted over.

Nearby, 5 LITTLE EGRETS were showing well on the stream at East Hyde at 1600 hours.

GAYHURST QUARRY AND FIELDS (NORTH BUCKS)

As I had not had the opportunity in the interim period to visit Gayhurst Quarry and Rob Norris' BEWICK'S SWAN, I made a special effort and arrived early evening. With directive help from Rob and later Simon Nichols, I searched in vain the fields to the north of the river, clocking eventually 118 non-breeding Mute Swans. The target bird was just nowhere to be seen and with one last call to SN, I made one last scan of the main fishing pit to the east of the main track. I noticed a single swan shuffling around INSIDE a so-called camouflaged hide close to the pit edge and incredibly (as well as bizarrely) it was it - a rather odd-plumaged first-summer BEWICK'S SWAN.

I guess it was inside the hide as grain had been liberally scattered about but as I approached, it walked out, went to the pit, swam out from the edge and then flew to the neighbouring field. What struck me was its incredibly Whooper Swan-like bill, with a long sloping bill and extensive dull yellow at the base. I was confused, but its relatively short neck and small size alongside Mute confirmed bewickii, and on enquiries with Slimbridge WWT, discovered that first-years can look surprisingly long-billed and yellow (Killian Mullarney also confirmed this with his fine artwork in the Collins Bird Guide, page 39). The bird had extensive grey on the neck and head, dark smoky patches on the upperparts and wings and dark on the breast. It was my third Bewick's Swan of the year in Bucks but my first ever April sighting.

The pit also held a female GOOSANDER and 30 lingering EURASIAN WIGEON, whilst the small wood yielded a single singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF.

PENN WOOD (TYLERS END GATE) (SOUTH BUCKS)

I always get excited at this time of year when the BRAMBLING numbers at Penn Wood reach a spring peak as birds from across Iberia and southern Britain migrate back north and stage for up to two weeks at this site. Kevin Holt has been daily censusing the roost since Friday, with respective counts of 253 on 3rd, 69 on 4th, 63 on 5th and 165+ this evening. Frustratingly, I arrived just a little too late but still managed 119 birds before they dropped out of view in the Holly to roost. The birds were 'wheezing' loudly and many were adult males in full breeding attire. Simply awesome.

The Greenfinch roost numbered about 60 in total, with Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch also noted. Kevin had also recorded 6 singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS on territory.

Nearby, 7 Red Kites were assembling in a communal roost at dusk.

Bank Holiday Monday dip-out

2010-06-14T23:57:00.003+01:00

Truly gripping shots of the Chafford Hundred Alpine Swift - by the time I got my act into gear, the bird was for the off - wind direction changed and increased and a front approached......

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 5 APRIL

A day of strong SW winds and temperatures of 13 degrees C

BLEDLOW RIDGE (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)

Excellent numbers of Rook and Red Kite, as well as a Nuthatch calling.

CHAFFORD HUNDRED GORGE NATURE RESERVE (ESSEX)

An Alpine Swift (photographed supremely by Steven Arlow above) had been present all weekend and today. I arrived on site shortly after 1600 hours to be told that the bird had just flown off and lo and behold was intercepted by Howard Vaughan and others as it paused briefly over Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve, about 5 miles as the swift flies to the west. I joined Adrian Webb, wifey and baby but despite a long vigil at the gorge, the bird never returned. Trust me to wait so long before going...

There was little to compensate - Common Kestrel, Green Woodpecker and Common Chiffchaff

EASTER SUNDAY addition - FERRUGINOUS DUCK (237)

2010-06-14T23:41:00.003+01:00

EASTER SUNDAY 4 APRIL

HOLMETHORPE MOORS POOL NATURE RESERVE (SURREY)

After failing in my quest at Chew Valley Lake in March 2010, I was more than pleased to get this much closer opportunity of adding FERRUGINOUS DUCK to my year list. The bird – a female – was showing well at the back of the shallow pool late afternoon, although spent most of its time asleep and did not stray away from the cover of the overhanging vegetation at the back. It was present for just this one afternoon only and was not reported again. The site also hosted 6 Shovelers and a few Gadwall and Tufted Ducks. It represented my 237th species of the year.

Local birder Graham James obtained the selection of record shots of the bird that I have published on the following page – page 273 (above in the case of this blogsite).

PENN WOOD (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)

A roost-time visit yielded just 2 female BRAMBLINGS in the Holly at 1910 hours, and 60 Greenfinches (Kevin Holt had counted 253 yesterday evening and 67+ earlier tonight). At Pennstreet Farm nearby, 17 Rook nests were active.

KENTISH PLOVER delight

2010-06-08T11:37:00.003+01:00

Female or first-summer Kentish Plover, Shellness Point, Sheppey, North Kent, 3 April 2010 (Simon Knight)

SATURDAY 3 APRIL

A day of SW winds and heavy cloud which cleared later to give way to clear skies.

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Highlight of the day was a SANDWICH TERN which was flying back and forth between the east (Bucks) end of the reservoir and the reedbed end. The bird was showing very well and was under constant observation from 1300-1335 hours. The yellow tip to the bill was obvious, whilst the white trailing edge to the secondaries was apparent, a white rump and a single dark feather in the upper tail.

Whilst observing, a flock of 43 COMMON GULLS flew east, with other birds of note including 12 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Common Chiffchaff and two different singing CETTI’S WARBLERS.

On neighbouring STARTOP’S END RESERVOIR, the drake Red-crested Pochard was still present, whilst by the sewage works, a male Eurasian Skylark was in song and a male Blackcap.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR

The EGYPTIAN GOOSE was still present with Canada and Greylag Geese in the fields in Cemetery Corner, with a pair of Eurasian Wigeon still present on the reservoir, a drake Common Teal, 20 Gadwall, 154 Tufted Ducks, 5 Northern Pochard, 2 Mute Swans, 7 Black-headed Gulls, a first-summer COMMON GULL, 15 Sand Martins, a male and female YELLOW WAGTAIL and a singing Common Chiffchaff in the Poplar Wood on the East Bank.

GROVEBURY SAND PIT (BEDFORDSHIRE)

I met up with Grovebury patchworker Johnny Lynch who had seen a cracking male Common Redstart not long before I arrived. We both had an extensive search of the hedgerow but it appeared that the bird had moved straight through.

The main pit held 5 remaining GOOSANDER (including 2 adult drakes) and a pair of Common Teal, whilst in the damp field adjoining, a pair of EURASIAN CURLEW were showing well – my first in Beds this year. A YELLOW WAGTAIL flew over calling, whilst European barn Swallow and Common Chiffchaff were also noted.

SHELLNESS POINT, ISLE OF SHEPPEY (NORTH KENT)

During late afternoon, a female KENTISH PLOVER was discovered in North Kent and knowing how difficult this species is to connect with in Britain on an annual basis, I decided that this bird was worth the effort, being only 96 miles away. I met up with Joan Thompson at Chorleywood and drove down to Sheppey to coincide with the evening high tide.

I had not visited Shellness Point since the fine Terek Sandpiper there but the rough access track had changed little since that time. I eventually managed to dodge all of the deep craters and arrived in the car park with my exhaust still intact. It was a fairly muddy walk out to the blockhouse watchpoint but on arrival at 1730 hours, the female KP was still present and showing well in the high tide roost of birds all pitched up high on the shingle ridge – including over 350 Oystercatchers, 15 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin and a single Sanderling.

The KENTISH PLOVER was a female or first-summer, being typically much smaller than the accompanying Ringed Plovers, very white on the underparts, paler sandy-brown upperparts and with a broken, narrow breast-band. It also had a shorter tail, longer wings, a somewhat squat appearance and a slim, all-dark bill.

The Kentish Plover was rudely awoken from its roost by a Ringed Plover and shortly later, a proportion of the smaller waders flew a short way north to feed on the first mud being uncovered by the receding tide. This enabled us (JT and myself, photographer Geoff Cox and eight other Kent local birders) to obtain some excellent views of the bird and for the next half an hour, it fed busily on the receding tideline and affording views down to 30 yards. On closer inspection, the bird was seen to be ringed on its right leg. We departed at 1810 hours.

Nothing new but a pleasant selection of passerine migrants

2010-04-02T23:01:00.004+01:00

Todays YELLOW WAGTAIL at Tyttenhanger (John Fordham)

GOOD FRIDAY - 2 APRIL

Continuing cold, with fresh westerly winds which veered slightly more SSW towards late afternoon. Some hefty showers throughout the morning and a belt of rain which was pushed quickly through and cleared by mid afternoon.

Another good day in terms of migration and although nothing new appeared in terms of variety, some good counts continued of those species arriving, particularly hirundines.

DENHAM PLACE (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 037 871)

A LITTLE EGRET was fishing on this part of the Misbourne and was showing well from the A412 bridge.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(morning visit; with Steve Rodwell)

The EGYPTIAN GOOSE was still present, initially on the main reservoir and then later back in the field with 38 Greylag Geese to the east of the reservoir. An adult Mute Swan also joined the flock briefly.

There were 9 Black-headed Gulls present and during the day, both Steve and Ben recorded some good Common Gull passage.

Hirundines were once again well represented, with 156 present up until midday, including 72 European Barn Swallows, 83 Sand Martins and 1 HOUSE MARTIN, whilst the east bank, in between walkers, attracted 4 Pied Wagtails, a first-summer male WHITE WAGTAIL and 3 passage Reed Buntings.

COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were singing from just south of East Poplar Wood and from trees behind the reedbed near Cemetery Corner, whilst a singing male WILLOW WARBLER (my first in Herts this year) was present in the hedgerow in the SE corner of the reservoir.

A pair of Common Buzzards was displaying over the hide and a male LINNET flew west.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

At midday, Startop's End held 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans and the adult drake Red-crested Pochard, with migrants represented by 48 European Barn Swallows, 28 Sand Martins, 2 HOUSE MARTINS and a cracking male WHITE WAGTAIL on the algae bunds.

TYTTENHANGER GP (HERTS)

An early afternoon visit yielded a selection of migrants, including a feeding flock of 47 European Barn Swallows over the cut-off lake, a cracking adult male YELLOW WAGTAIL at the edge of the shingle edge of the track across the cut-off lake and a male NORTHERN WHEATEAR for its second day in the sheep field up near the top gate.

An impressive 10 TREE SPARROWS was feeding in the flattened maize field, in the shelter of the hedgerow with Yellowhammers, Dunnocks and Reed Buntings, with the pair of Common Shelduck on the main pit, a drake Shoveler, 6 Common Redshank and 56 migrant Common Gulls, predominantly immatures. A Common Chiffchaff was in full song in the wood behind the conveyor belt.

BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

I then decided to venture north in to Bedfordshire to mop up a few common migrants I was still missing from that county for the year and at Broom Peacocks Lake in high winds and rain, species noted included 19 Mute Swans, 2 Common Teal, 5 Shoveler, a pair of Oystercatchers (118), LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, Ringed Plover, 8 Common Redshanks and 14 European Barn Swallows.

PRIORY COUNTRY PARK (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The band of heavy rain eventually cleared away to the east and on the main lake at Priory, over 200 hirundines were present, including 170 Sand Martins, 40 Barn Swallows and 1 HOUSE MARTIN. The Finger Lakes were relatively quiet, with just one Common Chiffchaff singing.

PEGSDON HILLS (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(1530-1630 hours)

Once the rain had cleared, the sky cleared and cloud was replaced by some clearer blue skies. In fact, it was quite warm as I climbed up towards the summit of Deacon Hill. Andy Grimsey had visited this morning and as I followed his very helpful directions, I quickly located the RING OUZEL that may have been present for the best part of a week. The bird was favouring a sheltered part of the 'terraced' slopes below the summit, about 100 yards to the south of the obvious wooden fence slatting in the lower hedge line, and was showing well, feeding on the ground. It was a first-summer male, with restricted yellow in the bill and brown tones to the wing coverts and general plumage. It was my second of the year, both birds being in Bedfordshire.

Just a short way further north along the hedgerow was a lingering migrant flock of 73 FIELDFARES, many of which were now in fresh summer plumage.

The only other species noted were 3 Greenfinch.

WILLINGTON GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Following up on information kindly provided by Mark Thomas, a walk along the new gravel track through the sheep fields east of the gravel pit complex yielded a migrant flock of birds at the edge of the fishing pits, including 9 Pied Wagtails, 5 Reed Buntings, 11 Meadow Pipits and my first 2 Beds YELLOW WAGTAILS of the year - a male and female. There was also a female NORTHERN WHEATEAR nearby on some earth mounds, whilst 100+ non-naturalised Barnacle Geese were still feeding in the fields and 6 Great Crested Grebes were on the fishing pit.

BEDFORD BYPASS PITS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

As I drove west across the currently being constructed southern bypass around Bedford, one of the pits to the south of the road held a pair of OYSTERCATCHERS.

STEWARTBY (BEDS)

I made a point of censusing the A421 ROOKERIES straddling the trunk route, with an impressive 152 active nests, including 63 east of Green Lane, 66 adjacent to the layby and a further 23 to the west of Brogborough village.

MANOR FARM WORKINGS, OLD WOLVERTON (NORTH BUCKS)
(1720-1808 hours)

These workings are looking tremendous at present and will surely pull in many migrants throughout April and May. This evening, highlights of my visit included 6 GOOSANDER (1 adult drake), 4 Gadwall, 8 Common Teal, Little Egret, a pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, 4 GREEN SANDPIPERS, 3 Barn Swallows, an impressive 42 Pied Wagtails, 1 first-summer male WHITE WAGTAIL, 10 FIELDFARE and 3 Linnets. Surprisingly, there were no Yellow Wagtails present.

The site is best accessed north off of the V5 Great Monks Street.

Drat - I was hoping for a Rustic Bunting

2010-03-31T21:41:00.002+01:00

Whilst working this morning, a REED BUNTING visited the garden for a period of time, feeding with House Sparrows on the seed lying on the ground. It was the first garden record for some time.

Winter returns with a vengeance and a deluge of hirundines

2010-03-31T21:19:00.002+01:00

The male YELLOW WAGTAIL and female RUDDY SHELDUCK at Willows Farm Pool (Ian Bennell)

WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH

Heavy snow and blizzards caused chaos in Scotland, NW England and in North Wales and heralded British Summertime ! We did not get snow in the south but we did get some hefty sleet showers. The temperature hovered between 3 and 5 degrees C all day, with the wind gusting up to gale force and from a Northwesterly direction. In such conditions, my hopes were high for a Kittiwake or Sandwich Tern, but in the end it was mainly hirundines which caused most excitement, with large numbers being grounded by the rain and cloud. Wagtails too seemed to be affected. I managed two more additions to my 2010 Hertfordshire List - BLACKCAP and HOUSE MARTIN.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1230-1300 hours and again towards dusk)

Although I failed to locate the single EGYPTIAN GOOSE at lunchtime, it was showing well this evening in the grass field immediately east of the reservoir at dusk - my first for the site this year. It was roosting amongst the 48 Greylag Geese in the field.

Other wildfowl included 1 adult Mute Swan, 3 remaining Eurasian Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 28 Shoveler, 157 Tufted Duck, 15 Northern Pochard and the immature male COMMON GOLDENEYE, whilst 8 Great Crested Grebes, 15+ Grey Herons and a single first-summer Black-headed Gull were also present.

Despite the bitter NW wind, diurnal migrants had arrived on the East Bank, with a fine near-adult male YELLOW WAGTAIL (Steve Rodwell and Chaz Jackson had two later), 4 Pied Wagtails (SR and CJ had two male WHITE WAGTAILS later) and a male Reed Bunting, whilst hirundine passage included a bumper arrival of 68 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS, 127 SAND MARTINS and my first Tring and Herts HOUSE MARTIN of the year.

THE SMALLER RESERVOIRS (HERTS)

Great Crested Grebe (8 on Marsworth, with 3 on Startop's End and 1 on Tringford)
Mute Swan (2 adults on Tringford)
Tufted Duck (8 on Tringford)
Northern Pochard (5 on Tringford)
Red-crested Pochard (drake still on Startop's End)
Green Woodpecker (yaffling bird in Marsworth Reedbed Wood)
SAND MARTINS (28 on Tringford, with 4 on Marsworth)
EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOW (19 on Tringford, with 15 on Marsworth)
Pied Wagtail (8 feeding along the main causeway)
Mistle Thrush (1 in flight appeared to be carrying food)
CETTI'S WARBLER (a ringed individual showing well in scrub near the overflow)
*BLACKCAP (my first Herts bird of the year despite a record number of wintering individuals, this male singing and showing well in low scrub in Marsworth Reedbed Wood)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (a singing male by the road near the road junction by the wood carvery shop and at least two others in the Poplars of Marsworth Reedbed Wood)

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
(1349 hours)

Fairly quiet apart from a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER on the east island in the marsh and 2 Barn Swallows.

On the East Island, 5 Lapwings were sat on nests, with another on the smaller island, with 2 Common Snipes on there, the two OYSTERCATCHERS on the island on the main lake, a single Black-headed Gull and 8 migrant Pied Wagtails.

WILLOWS FARM POOL, TYTTENHANGER (HERTS)
(1500 hours)

The female Ruddy Shelduck was still present, along with the pair of Gadwall, pair of OYSTERCATCHERS, pair of Common Redshanks and single LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR (HERTS)
(1540-1630 hours)

Great Crested Grebe (6)
Little Grebe (2)
*BLACK-NECKED GREBE (8 now present, virtually all in full breeding plumage now)
Shoveler (single drake)
Tufted Duck (33)

Migrants included 146 hirundines, including 91 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS, 54 Sand Martins and a single HOUSE MARTIN, with a COMMON CHIFFCHAFF singing at the east end.

A large passage flock of birds on neighbouring ELSTREE AERODROME included 86 Meadow Pipits and 8 Pied Wagtails.

ALDENHAM RESERVOIR (HERTS)

Surprisingly no hirundines present and the only passage birds of note being 3 REDWINGS.

A pair of Mute Swans was nesting, whilst 16 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Gadwall, 22 Tufted Duck and 6 Northern Pochard were seen

Despite the appalling weather, another productive day

2010-03-30T22:51:00.003+01:00

Bird of the day - a splendid male YELLOW WAGTAIL (Mike Lawrence). The Year List has now grown to 235 species

TUESDAY 30 MARCH

Talk about a topsy-turvy day in terms of weather. When I first started birding mid morning, the wind was in the west and the temperature was 9.5 degrees C. It was raining intermittently and activity was rather scant. Around lunchtime/early afternoon however, the wind switched to the SSW, the sun came out and temperatures recovered to 13.5 degrees C. Then, darkening clouds brought heavier rain, and between 1500 and 1900 hours, the temperature plummeted to a freezing 5 degrees C and the wind veered to a strong NNW.

Despite the conditions, I had a great day locally, with some nice finds and new additions - particularly Yellow Wagtail and House Martin - both firsts for the year.

THE WATERCRESS COTTAGE LOOP TRAIL, CHESHAM (BUCKS)

I did a full inventory of the lower Chesham area, walking the trail from Watercress Cottage (SU 975 999), past the former Pow Wow Lake (SP 972 003), around the Chesham Fishing Lakes (SP 972 003), across to Hill Farm (SP 973 008) and back down to Milk Hall (SP 976 002).

GREAT CRESTED GREBES (both pairs present, the pair on the smaller lake now nesting)
CONTINENTAL CORMORANT (a near adult circled the fishing lakes)
Little Egret (none seen, looks as if the wintering population has now departed)
Mute Swan (single adult on Pow Wow Lake, the Waterside pair now deserted after heavy rain, a pair on Bois Mill Lake - not nesting - and three others east to Latimer Bridge)
Atlantic Canada Geese (pair on Pow Wow Lake, with 24 on Bois Mill Pond)
Mallard (5 drakes on the river, with 14 on the Fishing Lakes)
GADWALL (pair still present on Pow Wow Lake)
Tufted Duck (drake on Pow Wow Lake, with 16 - 9 drakes and 7 females - on the Fishing Lake)
Red Kite (3 in Hill Farm area)
Common Buzzard (nest found in Chessmount - SP 974 006)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (female circling overhead of the valley)
Common Pheasant (2 males near Hill Farm)
Moorhen (9 birds in total)
Coot (9 on the larger of the two Fishing Lakes, one with an injured left leg, with 6 on the smaller)
Woodpigeon (large feeding flocks in the Hill Farm area, one of 45 and the other of 322)
Eurasian Collared Dove (pair at Hill Farm)
*SAND MARTIN (1 high over the Fishing Lakes, the first in the Recording Area this year)
*EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOW (pair hawking high above the Alders and Poplars by the Fishing Lake and a 'singing' male around the larger barn by Hill Farm - the first in the Recording Area this year)
Pied Wagtail (an adult male by the Pow Wow building)
Wren (2 singing males by Watercress Cottage, with another by the Fishing Lakes and 1 by Hill Farm)
Dunnock (pair displaying by Watercress Cottage, with two further singing males nearby, and further males in scrub by Cannon Mill Avenue and Hill Farm)
European Robin (just 1 singing male by the Fishing Lakes)
Song Thrush (1 in garden of cottage at corner of Holloway Lane)
Mistle Thrush (pair nesting in Chessmount Wood)
Common Blackbird (male by Watercress Cottage, with another in gardens on Cannon Mill Avenue)
*BLACKCAP (a singing male showing well by the smaller Fishing Lake, present in the area for over two weeks)
*COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (a marked arrival with two singing males within 40 yards of each other in scrub behind McMinn's Yard and a further male present along the Riverside Walk just beyond the Fishing Lakes)
GOLDCREST (a pair present in the tall evergreen in the garden of 85 Latimer Road, the male singing frequently)
Great Tit (singing males by Watercress Cottage, the Fishing Lakes and the Riverside Walk and 2 at the feeders by Milk Hall)
Blue Tit (singing males by McMinn's Yard and Fishing Lakes with 7 at the feeders by Milk Hall)
Long-tailed Tit (pair along the Riverside Walk)
Common Magpie (pair nesting in the tall Evergreen in garden of 85 Latimer Road)
Western Jackdaw (nesting colony in terrace chimneys opposite Fishing Lakes involving 13 pairs, with a further pair on the chimney stack of Watercress Cottage)
Rook (the Rookery above Ivy House Farm now has 21 active nests)
Carrion Crow (1 by Hill Farm)
Common Starling (1 on chimneys in Latimer Road)
House Sparrow (2 pairs in scrub behind Cannon Mill Avenue)
Chaffinch (5 singing males/pairs in the Fishing Lakes/Riverside Walk area, with another by Hill Farm)
LINNET (2 birds flew over the barns at Hill Farm)
Goldfinch (5 birds noted)
Greenfinch (displaying male in gardens along Latimer Road)
YELLOWHAMMER (2 singing males in hedgerows by Hill Farm)

BADGERS (the sett along the bridleway near Hill Farm was active)
MUNTJAC (a stag was feeding by Watercress Cottage)

TYTTENHANGER GP AREA INCORPORATING WILLOWS FARM (HERTS)
(1200-1338 hours)

By the time I had got to Tyttenhanger, the wind had freshened from the SSW and the sun had started to peep its way through the clouds. The temperature started nudging 13.5 degrees C and it became quite pleasant.

Steve Blake had earlier discovered a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (a Herts Year tick for me and only the second occurrence this year) on the main pit which I was keen to see. I 'scoped across to the mud and located 8 COMMON REDSHANKS and 7 COMMON SNIPE and then a 'ringed plover'. The latter was clearly a RINGED PLOVER so I phoned Steve to query his sighting. He was adamant, so we agreed to meet up at the opposite side. A single COMMON SHELDUCK was also present on the pit.

Making a rendezvous with SB by the conveyor belt, he pointed out the plover that he had found and it was a different bird to that at the opposite end of the sandy spit and a fine adult LITTLE RINGED PLOVER - my first of the year in Herts (120). A party of 8 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS also passed through.

We then went back to WILLOWS FARM POOL (1240 hours), where the female Ruddy Shelduck, a pair of OYSTERCATCHER, a pair of Common Redshank and 2 adult male Pied Wagtails were present. Feeding along the left hand flank were a stonking male YELLOW WAGTAIL (234/121) and a first-summer male WHITE WAGTAIL (122). The latter was soon chased off by one of the male Pied Wagtails.

Returning to the site much later (at 1520), the OYSTERCATCHER pair were still present, along with a pair of Common Shelduck, pair of Gadwall and pair of Shoveler.

Following up on further information of Steve's, I was highly delighted to connect with my first NORTHERN WHEATEAR of the Herts year - a female - perching on the fragments of maize left over in the field behind Tyttenhanger Farm (123). The flattened maize field behind the feeding station hedgerow also yielded 15 Yellowhammers, 12 Reed Buntings and at least 3 TREE SPARROWS.

VERULAMIUM PARK LAKE, ST ALBANS (HERTS) (TL 141 069)
(Best accessed from Abbey Mill Lane car park)

'A LAST CHANCE TO SEE'

The main reason I visited this site today was to enjoy and study the drake NORTH AMERICAN RUDDY DUCK that had been present here for the past three weeks or more, perhaps one of the last opportunities to see this enigmatic and charming species in the county following the murderous government campaign to try and eradicate it. The bird was showing exceptionally well and I took the opportunity to show many of the general public the wonders of it. Ironically, it was showing best from just yards in front of the RSPB sponsored information caravan (sadly not being manned today).

I also took the opportunity to do a full inventory of the site with the following results -:

Grey Heron (10 active nests on the main island)
Mute Swan (17 in all, including 11 first-summers and an adult pair on the Model Boating Lake)
Mallard-types (96 in all)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (pair roosting on the smaller island)
Tufted Duck (8)
Coot (96 on the main pond and a further 8 on the neighbouring River Ver - two nests within 20 yards of each other on the Ver, another on the Model Boating lake, 2 on the smaller island and another on the main island)
Moorhen (11)
Black-headed Gull (adult and two first-summers)
Feral Pigeon (25)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming male)
Nuthatch (calling male)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (singing male in trees near church)
Mistle Thrush (singing male)
Coal Tit (singing male by lake)
Wren (singing male)

SE of WELWYN GARDEN CITY (HERTS)

Depressingly, three dead BADGERS within half a mile of each other on the eastbound carriageway of the A414, all SW of Cole Green and east of the roundabout - presumably all related to the Tewinbury population.

HERTINGFORDBURY LAKE NR (TL 300 124)

There was no sign of Saturday's non-naturalised Barnacle Goose with the Atlantic Canada Geese but a pair of Great Crested Grebes were busy nest-building on the island, 3 Shoveler were present, 13 Tufted Duck and 8 Coots.

KING'S MEADS NR, HERTFORD (HERTS) (TL 347 130)

My visit here frustratingly coincided with persistent rain and some blustery winds so no sign of Simon Knott's early singing Sedge Warbler - the only individual in the county so far. The only migrants present were 2 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS, a SAND MARTIN and a singing male COMMON CHIFFCHAFF in scrub by the entrance gate.

Wildfowl included two lingering EURASIAN WIGEON (a pair), 22 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler and 5 Northern Pochard, with a pair of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls on posts and the marshes NW of the flyover yielding 5+ Lapwings, two pairs of Common Redshank and 2 Common Snipes.

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)
(1730 until dusk)

I was to spend the rest of the day at Little Marlow, where I could not believe the change in temperature. Whilst driving from Herts to South Bucks, the wind had switched from SSW to NNW and the temperature had plummeted from 13.5 to a mere 5 degrees C - an astounding fluctuation in one day.

The overcast conditions and intermittent rain had grounded 33 hirundines, including 23 EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS, 7 SAND MARTINS and 3 HOUSE MARTINS - the latter my first of the year and the first in the county (235).

However, it was to the migrant gull flock that most concentration was asked for, and with Alan Stevens, we located FOUR different MEDITERRANEAN GULLS in the roost this evening, one of the largest single groups I have ever recorded in Bucks. The records involved two full breeding-plumaged adults and two near-identical second-summer birds, the latter with orange-red bills and a slight dark bar, dark pigmentation in the primary tips and full black hoods and contrasting white eye crescents. The first immature flew in at 1830 hours, followed seconds later by the first adult, then a second immature at 1835 and the final adult at 1856. All remained until dusk, after initially bathing and drinking on arrival, and disappeared out of view in the Common Gull throng.

Click-counting COMMON GULLS revealed the presence of at least 898 birds, with 6 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 15 Argenteus Herring Gulls, predominantly immatures.

Otherwise, species noted included the pair of COMMON SHELDUCK, 22 remaining Eurasian Wigeon, a pair of Common Teal, a drake Shoveler, 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, 5 Lapwing and 1-2 COMMON KINGFISHERS (constantly flying to and fro from the main island where they are nesting)

Rain moves in as Garganeys move out

2010-03-29T23:48:00.001+01:00

MONDAY 29 MARCH

A band of rain moved steadily up from the south leaving a dark, dull and very gloomy day. Although not heavy rain, it was enough to stifle any sort of migration.

Being otherwise occupied by a certain Mediterranean Kestrel and Swifts over Sunday, I was unable to get to Marlow, where a pair of Garganey had spent the day. As suspected, they departed overnight.

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Reloaded the garden feeders, with two Goldfinch on the Nyger and 25 House Sparrows present all day. Two RED KITES overhead for some time.

SPADE OAK GP, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)

No sign of yesterday's pair of Garganey but 3 Mute Swans, pair of COMMON SHELDUCK, 8 Shoveler, 22 Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Northern Pochard, 5 Lapwing, 1 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 39 Common Gulls, 1 near-adult Argenteus Herring Gull, 8 Red Kites, 1 Common Buzzard and Common Kingfisher. Two singing COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS remained in the NW corner.

SHARDELOES LAKE AND MISBOURNE VALLEY (BUCKS)

No sign of the Great Crested Grebe pair but two Dabchick new in and together.
Grey Herons (two - an adult and first-year)
Dramatic fall in wildfowl numbers with just 4 Gadwall and 16 Tufted Duck remaining and cob Mute Swan 'pushing around' his three offspring from 2009.
Coot (just 46)
Common Kestrel - female and male seen in area
Stock Dove calling
GREY WAGTAIL (male by lake, briefly in song)
Song Thrush (2 singing males)
REDWING (8 by Misbourne)
Wren (6 different territories)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (2 - singing males at the west end of the lake in Sallows and another by the Misbourne 250 yards further west)
Blue Tit (much activity, with perhaps 10 birds noted)
Goldfinch (5)
REED BUNTING (singing male in reed vegetation 250 yards west along the Misbourne from the lake)

Phew - What a Day ! TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL, 4 ALPINE SWIFTS, a PALLID SWIFT and an awesome adult male LESSER KESTREL

2010-03-29T23:29:00.006+01:00

The stunning adult male LESSER KESTREL at Minsmere (Alan Shearman)

And those taken by Dave Horton

Jan Hein Steenis' images of the LK

A uique opportunity and image - both Kessingland ALPINE and PALLID SWIFTS together (Rebecca Nason)

My first-ever Bedfordshire TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL (Mike Lawrence)

SUNDAY 28 MARCH

Having had to work all night (at a 50th birthday party in Chesham), I snatched two hours of sleep before rising at 0800 hours. Meanwhile, British Summertime had kicked in and I had already lost an hour. The day had dawned quite overcast, and a fresh wind had set in - temperatures were hovering around 13 degrees C.

Today was actually one of those days you dream about, being an avid birder. I had initially set forth for Bedfordshire, where I was to get a fine new county bird, and ended up in Suffolk, where all expectations were surpassed........

THE LODGE, SANDY RSPB (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(0900-1230 hours)

Whilst waiting for the Penduline Tits to appear at Dungeness ARC on Saturday afternoon, I received several calls and texts from Bedfordshire, where Alan Crofts and Mike Lawrence had seen and photographed a female TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL at the reserve main pond between 1215 and 1445 hours. This was an astounding record, particularly with the lack of any individuals of this species in Britain all winter, and knowing the variability and extent of wing-barred crossbills, I made further enquiries as to the bird's appearance. Meanwhile, local birders such as Steve Blain and Jim Gurney rushed down to the hide, and at 1545 hours, the bird flew in again to drink and others witnessed it too. There seemed absolutely no doubt about the identification and as I drove home, three of Mike's images were texted to my phone and I was well and truly gripped.

Bleary-eyed and knackered, I staggered out of bed and made my way over to The Lodge, turning up in the entrance car park just after 0900 hours. Darren Oakley-Martin, Mike Ilett and a hideful of others had already had excellent views of the bird from 0630 hours and had left. As I approached the hide, Bob Chalkley, Roy Nye, Peter Smith and Lol Carman were just leaving and exclaimed that the bird had not been seen for several hours and the flock were not coming in to drink because of all of the noise and movement around the hide. After a short while of waiting and a view of 30+ distant Crossbill flying around, I too realised it was very unlikely.

I spoke to both Paul Wright and Steve Blain who had both had success in viewing the flock on the main heath, east of the Fort, so I decided to explore. No sooner had we walked in the direction of the shop than the entire flock of Crossbills landed in a nearby stand of conifers and after quickly setting up the 'scope, Dave Holman and I quickly latched on to our quarry. The female TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL was in amongst a flock of 34 COMMON CROSSBILLS and was feeding fairly close to the top of the tree. Despite being so well-marked, it was difficult to keep on, as it kept dropping down and out of view, and was lost for long periods. Thankfully, the flock remained in the area for a good half-hour and after a lot of effort, I and others managed to get a large proportion of the 90-strong crowd on to it.

The flock then flew to some deciduous trees nearby, where the TBC sat out in full view at the very top of the tree for a few seconds. This was a great view but frustratingly brief. They also very briefly flew down to the ground (presumably where there was lying water) and for another brief period, I obtained some superb views of the TBC as it perched on the bracken. I was also pleased to be able to follow it in flight for some time, as the flock wheeled around for several minutes.

There was remarkable frenzy in cone-feeding, with the majority of the crossbills actively taking pine cones from the branches and extracting the seeds. Cones were dropping everywhere. Quite what the TBC was doing I do not know, as their much smaller and slimmer bill is better designed for Larches.

The flock then flew to a further stand of trees further back, much better viewed from the Perimeter Trail north from the shop. By this time, the crowd had swelled to at least 100, and over the next hour, many more views were obtained of the bird as it moved within the flock. My best count was of 34 COMMON CROSSBILLS, whilst others reported 43.

The TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL was a classic, being structurally different from the Common Crossbills in its noticeably smaller size and slimmer body and smaller bill with a marked cross-over at the tip. On both wings, it had a double white wing-bar and very obvious white tips to the tertials - importantly, the feathers were all PURE WHITE and not buff-toned or greyish-white as in wing-barred crossbills. The tips of the greater coverts were extensive, suggesting an adult, whilst other significant features included the grey cast to the hindcrown and nape and the very dark centres (almost blackish) to the upperpart feathers, particularly those on the mantle and scapulars.

This was a very unexpected addition to my Bedfordshire List and represented my 255th county species - it was also my first of the year - 231. Being such a rare bird, particularly in an inland county, it was hugely popular, with some 470 or so visitors during the day and another sizeable number the next day (Monday). I was pleased to see most of the county regulars at the site, including those aforementioned plus Keith Owen, Andy Plumb, MJP, Dave Ball and Tim Robson, along with many birders from neighbouring counties, including Jake & Ruth Ward, Barry Reed and Bill Last.

Two-barred Crossbill is a species which has only been reported in the county on one previous occasion, during an apparent crossbill irruption year in 1890. Steele-Elliott in 1904 listed a flock that was found in one of the fir plantations at Ampthill on 3 January 1890 by three Bedford schoolboys. Five were apparently 'secured' by catapult but one of these escaped and H.W.Finlayson had considered that the flock had initially contained at least 20 birds. In support of this claim, it must be stressed that Autumn 1889 did see a huge influx of Common Crossbills and four Two-barred Crossbills had been recorded with them (proven specimens).

Alan Crofts and Mike Lawrence obtained an absolutely staggering selection of stunning images of the bird and several are reproduced here. An awesome record.

Other birds noted at the reserve included my first Beds LESSER REDPOLL and EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOW of the year, and 50+ FIELDFARES, whilst a male Northern Goshawk was present for its 5th day and a singing male Firecrest was discovered (per MJP).

KESSINGLAND (SUFFOLK)

Whilst watching the TBC, I was repeatedly reminded that a PALLID SWIFT was on view in Suffolk. Matt Deans was there, watching it and providing me with frequent updates. As Alan Stewart had not seen this species, we agreed to rendezvous in Baldock town, and after driving the 124 miles in under two hours, arrived in Kessingland at 1445 hours.

The PALLID SWIFT and its companion ALPINE SWIFT were wheeling low over the caravan park and eastern part of the town and showing very well. The PALLID was obviously very smaller and much like a Common Swift in general view. On closer inspection with the 'scope, it could clearly be seen to be much paler, with an almost milky-tea complexion to the upperparts in bright sunlight, a prominent white throat, a striking 'beady eye' contrast with the head and a two-toned underwing. The tail fork was typically shallow and its undercarriage paler barred, with quite rounded wing-tips in profile. Occasionally, the paler greater covert area could be noted, contrasting with the much darker outer hand of the wing. Rebecca Nason managed to obtain an image depicting both birds together and that I have published above.

After half an hour of almost constant observation, we decided to move on. Whilst scanning skyward, a presumably passage sub-adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK drifted high overhead, slowly migrating south along the coast. With such a double-bill, birders were everywhere, including numerous faces seen earlier at Sandy, including DJH and Christine Stean, Stuart Elsom & Jill, Barry Reed, Bill Last and others, and a great number of local Suffolk and Norfolk birders.

Matt Deans very kindly escorted Alan and I to the Sewage Works where we were delighted to see 4 WHITE WAGTAILS (3 adult male and a first-summer male) in with the 30 or so Pied Wagtails feeding on the pans, 1-2 Grey Wagtails, several Common Chiffchaffs and a stunning male FIRECREST in song.

LOWESTOFT (SUFFOLK)

Being the greedy birder that I am, I could not resist the two ALPINE SWIFTS that had been present along the main promenade over recent days. They had been flying up and down the main promenade between the CEFAS Laboratories complex and the Claremont Pier and were both still present when we arrived at 1600 hours. As shoppers and walkers were going about their usual Saturday business, two Alpine Swifts were flying overhead at just literally a few yards range, perhaps catching insects disturbed by the activity. They were absolutely awesome and like all larger swifts, highly entertaining to watch and follow and unpredictable in their actions.

As we were about to try and photograph them, Andy Clifton and Matt Mulvey suddenly came dashing towards us shouting ''Have you looked at your pager?'' - ''LESSER KESTREL at Minsmere''. I could not believe our luck - just 12 miles from a mega-rarity. Wasting no time at all, we raced back to the CEFAS building where our car was parked and retrieving my mobile, realised I had three missed calls, two from Alan Davies. I phoned him back and he informed me that he was watching a male LESSER KESTREL at just 65-100 yards just 200 yards from the main Minsmere car park. Gripping or what!

We were in a dilemma as we were almost completely out of fuel but there was simply no time to waste. We risked it and at Blythburgh, turned SW towards Westleton.........

MINSMERE RSPB RESERVE (SUFFOLK)

Taking a short cut, to save both fuel and time, we approached Minsmere reserve from the north along the access track just after 1640. Passing the famous Great Bustard field on our right, I noticed a Kestrel out of the corner of my eye and seeing two cars and standing birders on the right, I shouted for Alan to stop. I jumped out of the car and the two guys exclaimed that the Lesser Kestrel had been inadvertently flushed and was flying our way. I latched on to the bird immediately and realised it was a stunning adult male. It was flying slowly and attempting to land on a fencepost so I dashed back to the car and grabbed my 'scope. It was simply crippling and as I followed it, a female Common Kestrel came in to view and started chasing it. The two birds started altercating and clearly the female won out, forcing the LK to continue flying and eventually, after several unsuccessful attempts at landing, forced it over the trees and out across Westleton Walks. It had been on view for just three minutes (1643-1646).

We raced over to where it had flown but there was nothing and real pandemonium ensued. The access road very quickly jammed up with the vast hordes of arriving twitchers and after the initial panic and realisation that it had been lost, birders started spreading out and searching.

Whilst scanning the horizons, yet another ALPINE SWIFT was located - by Craig Fulcher - our fourth individual of the afternoon - the bird flying very distantly over the reserve.

Some time went by before suddenly a shout went up that the bird had been relocated at Scott's Hall Covert, and as nobody other than reserve residents knew where that was, it was Wacky Races all over again. Eventually, I worked out where that was, and dumping the car at the side of the road, ran quickly down the footpath out on to Westleton Heath. In fact, as it turned out, it was a long run - 600 yards in total - and already some 170 birders were in position.

The adult male LESSER KESTREL was feeding at the edge of the Covert at approximately TM 463 685, and was flying short distances between gorse clumps and the remains of a dead Elder. It was very distant but at least perching - and was an incredibly beautiful bird to boot. Whilst it was still sunny, it was still feeding but as the light faded, it became more inactive and went through into the slight valley and started searching for food (by hovering!) behind a tall Oak tree. It then became much more difficult to see and showed only tantalizingly briefly. Many newcomers struggled to get on to it. It then dropped on to the ground and disappeared. At 1845 hours, it reappeared in flight, and flew directly into a dark, dense Holm Oak and roosted. By dusk, over 330 birders had connected, but 100 or more had to leave disappointed.

This had been the climax of an unprecedented March day's birding in Britain. My second ever authenticated LESSER KESTREL on home soil, following the 2002 Scilly immature male. It was an adult male, with elongated central tail feathers, plain chestnut mantle and inner wing-coverts, dark outer wings and a narrow blue panel of upperwing feathers on the inner secondaries and median coverts. The head was powder-keg blue, with no dark moustachial stripe, with a rich buff wash to the underparts and light spotting on the breast and flanks. In flight, the underwing flashed gleaming white - this truly was an elegant raptor.

When with the female Common Kestrel, it was seen to be more sleek, with shorter wings and tail, and flew with much quicker wingbeats. The wings were quite pointed in shape.

There have been just a handful of records of this predominantly Mediterranean species since 1950, although 10 were collected between 1867 and 1926. Of those considered authenticated, a first-summer male was at St Ives Island, Cornwall, on 30 May 1968, at Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire, briefly on 4 June 1979, a male on Fair Isle on 23 June 1987, a male found dead in a farm outbuilding near Dover, Kent, on 20 April 1989 and a male over Hampstead Heath, London, on 31 May 1992. Most recently, a first-summer male was on St Mary's, Scilly, from 13-21 May 2002.

Thanks to a massive nestbox scheme in southern France and Spain, this once endangered small falcon has now dramatically increased in numbers and between late February and early April, wintering birds return from wintering grounds in Senegal and The Gambia. This Suffolk occurrence fits neatly into this pattern and is presumably an overshooting male caught up in the same weather conditions that have misplaced the Pallid and Alpine Swifts. Now wouldn't another twitchable Crag Martin cap it all !

PENDULINE TITS at last

2010-03-29T20:51:00.003+01:00

PENDULINE TITS (photographed by Robin Fenner and David Walker/http://www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk and the Startop's End COMMON TERN (David Bilcock)

SATURDAY 28 MARCH

Grey and overcast with cold NW winds, keeping afternoon temperatures down to 11 degrees C. Birded locally in the morning before setting off for East Kent where at very long last, finally connected with a highly sought-after bird - PENDULINE TIT.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(1034 hours)

An early COMMON TERN was a very nice bonus, roosting in the dismal weather on the newly positioned and refurbished algae bunds. My first of the year and excellently photographed by David Bilcock (see above). (228)

The drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD was also utilising the bunds and was asleep on them, whilst grounded migrants included a single EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOW and 15 SAND MARTINS.

BLOWS DOWNS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

A quick scan of the Paddocks revealed the presence of a smart male NORTHERN WHEATEAR.

DUNGENESS RSPB RESERVE (EAST KENT)

After David Walker and other reserve staff had enjoyed excellent views of the PENDULINE TITS late morning, I decided to chance my arm and drove down for the afternoon.

I got down shortly after 1400 hours, to be informed that the trio had all flown off early afternoon. Knowing full well that PENDULINE TIT twitching is a mug's game, I set in for the long haul and marched out the 75 yards west of the Hanson Hide to the rich area of bulrush at the far end of the Willow Trail. I then waited, and waited, and waited, intermittently being joined by just two other birders.

I had a brief reprieve when I went into the hide, the ARC Pit yielding a fine drake GARGANEY, some 88 Shoveler (perhaps migrants), 12 Gadwall, 5 Common Teal, numerous Common Shelducks and 10 Common Goldeneyes.

Returning to the Bulrush clump for another stint, and listening to the 3-4 CETTI'S WARBLERS noisily chipping and bursting into song, I suddenly spotted three tiny birds flying in from the east. Yippee, it was the 3 PENDULINE TITS which had spent all winter in the area ! They quickly latched on to the heads and from 1605-1635 hours at least, afforded excellent views at just 60 yards range. At least one bird was ringed and two at least were males. I was just so pleased at finally connecting with these skulking reed-dwellers, over 20 hours this year being spent in their pursuit.....and 950 miles !

I was mystified by the lack of interest in them, just six observers appearing during the period. They were still on view when I departed, busy pulling the fluff out from the bulrush heads and eeking out the small seeds and grubs. I had reached 229 and just one species to go to reach my end of March target.

Across the road at the RSPB reserve, I walked out from the Visitor Centre to the New Excavations and Denge Marsh Flood. Although I failed to locate the Great White Egret, I did see the winter-plumaged SLAVONIAN GREBE and the breeding-plumaged BLACK-NECKED GREBE. Even more delightful was the sight of at least 6 RUDDY DUCKS, whilst both Little and Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Wigeon, Lapwing and Curlew were also seen.

Hookers Pit held a female Marsh Harrier and numerous calling Cetti's Warblers, but there was no sight or sound of the Sedge Warbler singing earlier in the day.

A further male Marsh harrier was seen quartering over the ARC Pit.

DUNGENESS POINT (EAST KENT)

A brief seawatch at 1740 hours provided me with my first SANDWICH TERNS of the year - 8 flying west - 230 - along with several Gannets, large numbers of Common Gulls and 13 Great Crested Grebes on the sea.

EING OUZEL tops the bill in a day of incoming migrants

2010-03-29T20:19:00.001+01:00

FRIDAY 26 MARCH

During the morning, the wind was mainly SW with temperatures reaching 11 degrees C, but as the day progressed, it swung round to the NW pegging temperatures back down to 8 degrees. It also brought with it some hefty rain showers.

Today was my first real opportunity to catch up with some local birding and with this in mind I targeted the many migrants now flooding in to the country and immediate Three Counties area. Most peculiar was the complete lack of hirundines today. The highlight was a superb adult male RING OUZEL and a very dapper WATER PIPIT.

CHURCH WOOD RSPB, HEDGERLEY (SOUTH BUCKS)
(0730-0900 hours)

There was no sign this morning of the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers but I did see 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a single Green Woodpecker. There was much drumming activity going on.

Common Treecreepers and Nuthatches were both vocalising again, whilst 2 male Coal Tits were in song, a male Song Thrush and 5 different male Chaffinches.

Once again, I failed to locate the Northern Goshawks nearby.

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)
(0918-1015 hours)

I carried out a full inventory of the site and walked the entire circuit of the lake. Three species were new to my Bucks Year List - LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, Common Chiffchaff and WILLOW WARBLER. A total of 44 species was noted.

Great Crested Grebe (10 present, mostly all paired up)
Continental Cormorant (25 active nests on the island, many in one tree)
Grey Heron (14 nests on the main island and another 5 on the small island just 45 yards out from the west bank)
Mute Swan (3)
Greylag Goose (15)
Atlantic Canada Goose (22)
COMMON SHELDUCK (2 pairs roosting on the spit)
EGYPTIAN GOOSE (12 present and much display and territorial behaviour being acted out)
Mallard (17)
Gadwall (12)
Northern Shoveler (17)
Eurasian Wigeon (32 lingering)
Common Teal (8)
Tufted Duck (14)
Red Kite (3 overhead)
Moorhen (12)
Coot (27)
Lapwing (14 on the spit)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (my first of the year showing well on the nearside of the spit - 224)
Black-headed Gull (48)
Common Gull (78 including two second-winters showing characteristics similar to those shown by a popular bird in Leicestershire)
Argenteus Herring Gull (24 including 1 summer adult, 3 second-years and 20 juveniles)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (3 adults)

Woodpigeon (16, already nesting)
Ring-necked Parakeet (2 in Poplars)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 in garden)
Pied Wagtail (pair on spit)
Wren (8 territories)
Dunnock (3)
European Robin (several already pair-bonded with 12 noted in total)
REDWING (single migrant in bushes at east end)
Common Blackbird (5)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (2 singing males in NW corner and two migrants in Railway Hedgerow)
WILLOW WARBLER (my first of the year - a singing male in the SE corner - 225)
Great Tit (3)
Blue Tit (7)
Long-tailed Tit (5)
Common Treecreeper (singing male in wood on north bank)
Common Magpie (pair building nest)
Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Rook (all noted flying overhead)
Chaffinch (6 singing males)
Goldfinch (5)

BLOWS DOWNS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

(early afternoon) A cracking adult male RING OUZEL, found shortly after dawn by Lol Carman, was still present, commuting between the grassy slope and scrub just west of the main pit and 45 yards from the gate. This is a fairly early date for a local bird and much earlier than average. My 226th species of the year. Frustratingly, I departed the site not knowing about the trio of Northern Wheatears present on the Paddock Slope - a species I have still to see in Beds this year.

OCTAGON FARM, WILLINGTON GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Following in Tony P, Lol and Bob's footsteps, I arrived at Octagon Farm at around 1330 hours. Recent rains had flooded much of the gravel car parking area and had created two fantastic scrapes 75 yards east of the main raised bank, attracting an excellent selection of birds. The star bird, and at my 5th attempt this year, was the long-staying and overwintering WATER PIPIT, now in its full summer finery, with grey head and nape, contrasting white supercilium and pinkish-buff upper breast. It was showing very well consorting with the alba wagtail flock and on one occasion, flew to the pool and bathed.

The Alba Wagtail flock numbered 31 birds, amongst them being a dapper male WHITE WAGTAIL - my first of the year (227) - as well as 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 adult male Reed Buntings. Despite the heavy rain shower, a charm of 6 Goldfinches flew in also to drink and bathe !

Waders present included 4 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS and 6 RINGED PLOVERS (my first Beds birds of the year) and two Common Redshanks.

An adult male PEREGRINE was nearby

BROGBOROUGH LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Just after 1520 hours, a heavy rain shower pushed away to the east, allowing me to 'scope from the Watchpoint. Both long-staying juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS were still present and showing well (pushed up to the west end by windsurfers) as well as 8 lingering Common Goldeneye (including a first-year drake and an adult drake). My first Beds COMMON CHIFFCHAFF of the year was singing from the scrub.

LINFORD NATURE RESERVE (NORTH BUCKS)

Thanks to Simon Nichols and Paul Moon, I was able to add this year's first Buckinghamshire DUNLIN to my Year List - a winter-plumaged bird feeding with two Common Snipe on the first sections of the bund now starting to emerge as the water level drops significantly. Other migrants included a flock of 136 FIELDFARES.

On the breeding front, 13 active Grey Heron nests were now being utilised.................

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Surprisingly devoid of any hirundines or migrants. Most impressive were the TUFTED DUCK numbers - 257 in all - the highest number this year. There were also 9 remaining Eurasian Wigeon, 18 Gadwall, 8 Common Teal, 16 Northern Shoveler and 29 Northern Pochard. Just 6 Great Crested Grebes were apparent, whilst 61 Greylag Geese were on the field east of the reservoir.

In the far distance over Northfield Road and Bulbourne were a flock of 107 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

The adult drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD was busily dredging up weed from the bottom of the reservoir whilst other wildfowl present included a pair of Mute Swans (with 3 more on the adjacent canal), 2 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Tufted Duck and a drake Pochard.

No migrants were present but 2 Grey Wagtails and 43 Pied Wagtails roosted on the rafts.

PITSTONE QUARRY (HERTS)

Very deep with no muddy islands - 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Grebes and 5 Tufted Ducks present. Nothing nearby on the Pitstone Industrial Estate pools.

On the trail of the ALPINE SWIFT

2010-03-27T00:13:00.006Z

Images from today, all taken by Mark Stirland and all at Hunstanton - Turnstones, Common Chiffchaff and of course the stunning ALPINE SWIFT

On The Trail of the Alpine Swift - WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH

The mid theme continued with the southerly winds inducing temperatures of 14 degrees C. After a rather grey start, the skies eventually cleared to give way to a really typical spring day and at Hunstanton in the afternoon, the temperature actually climbed to 17.5 degrees C.

Tuesday 23 March had seen two Alpine Swifts give themselves up in North Norfolk and both had performed until late in the day indicating that they had almost certainly roosted. After still recovering after my London and Berkshire near-misses this year, today I felt was an ideal opportunity to maybe rectify the situation.

After writing until 2am Tuesday, I seriously struggled to raise myself early on Wednesday and as it was, I did not actually get away until 5am. This was to prove fatal, as right on cue, the Cromer overnighter disappeared at 0730 hours, well before the time I could have arrived. At the opposite end of the county, the Hunstanton bird flew from its roost at 0830.........

FOXHOLE HEATH (SUFFOLK)

A noisy STONE CURLEW was loudly wailing from a crop field opposite the heath and affording excellent views. It was my first of the year (222).

A pair of Eurasian Curlew was also on territory, and 2 Mistle Thrushes were feeding.

HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)
(0900-1027 hours)

After missing out on the Cromer Alpine Swift, I decided to try my luck with the Hunstanton bird, but after spending 90 minutes in the area, I decided that the warm SW winds had moved it on its way. After all, there was much evidence of diurnal migration at the cliffs. Meadow Pipits were constantly passing overhead, and passage migrants included 3 SAND MARTINS through to the west and 2 Linnets.

COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were very conspicuous on the clifftop with at least 4 in the spartan top scrub, whilst on the cliffs below, 15 occupied Northern Fulmar nest were located.

There was a major arrival of Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the shoreline, with 270 counted, with 3 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, and a further congregation of 37 Fulmars. Turnstones in small groups were showing very well on the grass by the lighthouse.

REDWELL MARSH, HOLME (NORTH NORFOLK)

A Ring Ouzel had been seen here earlier but on my brief visit, just a single Black-tailed Godwit was on the marsh.

TITCHWELL RSPB (NORTH NORFOLK)

Most surprising was a TREE SPARROW frequently visiting the feeders by the Information Centre - my first in the county this year and a scarce bird these days. A few House Sparrows were also visiting, along with many Chaffinches and the odd Great and Blue Tit.

A female RUDDY DUCK was on the new marsh to the left of the main track less than 100 yards along, whilst wildfowl on the Freshwater Lagoon included 3 Pintail and small numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Common Shelduck.

At least 1 Marsh harrier was back on territory, with 2 RUFF on the lagoon, as well as 28 Pied Avocets.

The reedbed supported several BEARDED TITS (2 seen) and 1-2 calling CETTI'S WARBLERS. At least 2 Common Chiffchaffs were singing from the Willows.

BURNHAM NORTON (NORTH NORFOLK)

Both Neil Alford and his close friend Neil Stocks were on site and they had spied both Spoonbill and Merlin. I scored neither but did see 2 Marsh Harriers altercating with a PEREGRINE over the reeds, Little Egret, 15 Pied Avocets, 2 Mistle Thrushes and another Common Chiffchaff.

HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)

Admitting defeat on Alpine Swifts for the day, I decided to drive south towards my home county where the 5th-ever North American Green-winged Teal had been discovered at Linford Reserve by Paul Moon. I got down to about Lakenheath when Neil Alford 'phoned to say that he had just been watching an Alpine Swift at Hunstanton over the pine belt by Old Hunstanton at 1338 hours. I could hardly believe my ears but I had to go back.

I turned around at Barton Mills roundabout and made the 44 miles back to the site. Neil had seen the bird just once more before leaving for King's Lynn to drop NS at the railway station. There was a small crowd gathered at the clifftop car park upon my return (very different to the morning when there were just 5 of us searching) including both Mark and John Stirland from Nottingham who had photographed it.

At 1445 hours, the ALPINE SWIFT loomed high in the sky (223), distantly flying over the golf course - relief !

Over the next 30 minutes, it was to drift in much closer, eventually wheeling back and forth over our heads and making a circuit of the cliffs, lighthouse and conifer belt. It was an excellent bird, with quite labouring flight and deep wingbeats, Mark eventually acquiring an excellent selection of images (see above). Soon, Neil Alford reappeared on site, as well as Les Holiwell and others.

I was terribly excited at finally catching up with this aerial vagrant, so much so that I made a terrible mistake when leaving........

Charging south for the Linford Teal, I finally realised that I had left my 'scope and tripod on site as I reached Downham Market and after frantically trying to contact Mark and his dad, Les and others that I had seen there, eventually spoke with Will Soar who confirmed that Trevor Davies and Mike Sidwell had intercepted it. Thank God the Alpine Swift lingered in the car park.........

As it was, I ran out of time for the Teal - traffic on the new Bedford-M1 bypass project put paid to that

A damp, dreary and all-round dismal day

2010-03-26T23:19:00.001Z

TUESDAY 23 MARCH

A dismal day with light rain or drizzle all day. The LITTLE EGRET on the River Misbourne just west of Higher Denham was the only bird of note I saw all day. Jim Middleton obtained this excellent image.