YEARLISTING IN 2016

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

YEARLISTING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

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

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



Monday 25 May 2009

PAINTED LADIES and SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS

With the wife I visited Hughenden Manor today and saw 4 painted Ladies in the walled garden. 2 of them appeared very faded and worn whereas the other 2 were pristine. We then visited my friends place at Rockwell End where we were treated to a constant flow of Painted Ladies across his garden well over a hundred in just over an hour. (There were comments about the invasion on Springwatch this evening, the bit after the main show).

Also sat watching a Spotted Flycatcher (which breed on his property); he also has a Barn owl visiting his outbuildings and though he has only seen one at a time it has been visiting a nest box on the adjacent property.He also has breeding swallows, though not as many pairs as last year (possibly due to the spot chosen by the Barn Owl to roost during the day).

Sitting on his patio with a nice beer it was possible to watch the comings and goings of a dozen species all breeding on or adjacent to his property with Red Kites overhead and Yellowhammer just down the lane. Encouraging to see Blue Tits able to provide a constant flow of food with visits to the nest box timed regularily under a minute. (Dave Cleal)