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



Wednesday 12 August 2009

Male WHINCHAT at Ivinghoe

WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST

IVINGHOE HILLS NR (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)
(1335-1426 hours)

Although the wind was freshening from the WNW, the hills below and south of the beacon were sheltered, and perched on the fenceline the car park side of the sheep pens was a migrant male WHINCHAT - my first in the county this year. It barely moved in the 15 minutes or so I watched it and dropped just briefly from the fence to some weeds adjacent.

Otherwise, the hills were very spartan, with hardly anything of note. Inkombe Hole failed to yield any Common Redstarts and Top Scrub only offered up two juvenile Common Chiffchaffs.

WESTON TURVILLE RESERVOIR (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)

Surprisingly quiet; I did the entire circuit and recorded few species

Mute Swans (breeding pair with two cygnets - a third cygnet died)
Tufted Duck (2 females)
Coot (11 including 3 juveniles)
Western Reed Warbler (just 8 noted in the reedbed, mainly juveniles)
Common Chiffchaff (11 mainly juveniles)
REED BUNTING (successful breeding; two juveniles by boardwalk)

(Lee Evans)