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 15 March 2010

Saturday Tour of the County - Lee G R Evans

SATURDAY 13 MARCH

A beautiful day, with temperatures reaching 9.5 degrees C. Spent the entire day in Buckinghamshire, attempting to clean up on a few species I was still missing from the year, with a few brief forays in to Herts during the morning.

WALK WOOD. STONY LANE (LITTLE CHALFONT) (SOUTH BUCKS)

In ideal weather conditions, did a 2-hour stint looking for the resident pair of Northern Goshawks but no joy. A male EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK was seen, along with at least 8 COMMON BUZZARDS and 3 RED KITES.

A flock of 10 SISKINS flew over Walk Wood, whilst resident species included Stock Dove (2 birds), Chaffinch (2 singing males on territory), Blue Tit (3 singing males), Wren (singing male), European Robin (1), Common Blackbird (1), Goldfinch, Dunnock (2 singing males), Long-tailed Tit (4) and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The fields to the west of Chenies Farm held a singing male EURASIAN SKYLARK - the first local bird of the year.

CHILTERN HILLS GOLF COURSE, CHORLEYWOOD (under construction) (HERTS)

Two more singing male EURASIAN SKYLARKS either side of Green Street, a flock of 186 Woodpigeons and a Linnet over.

LODGE LANE FIELDS, LITTLE CHALFONT (SOUTH BUCKS)

A total of 5 House Sparrows in the gardens along Lodge Lane (TQ 005 965) and 3 Greenfinches by Lodge Farm.

TYTTENHANGER GP (HERTS)

(1052) Thanks to Steve Blake, finally connected with my first Herts OYSTERCATCHER of the spring (113), the bird showing well on the grassy edge near the sunken causeway at the west end of the Fishing Pit, just down from Willows Farm.

The main pit held a pair of COMMON SHELDUCK and 4 Shoveler (3 drakes)

ROOKERY COUNTS

A total of 7 nests north of the A414 near Sopwell (Herts), with another 18 north of the M10 near Windridge Farm, Chiswell Green (TL 128 056) and 7 within the Whipsnade Wildlife Park complex at TL 000 174.

BISON HILL, WHIPSNADE (BEDS)

A RED KITE was loafing over the main slope.

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)

A full inventory of the site yielded 3 Great Crested Grebes (including a displaying pair), 1 adult Mute Swan, 8 Atlantic Canada Geese, 10 Mallard, NO Gadwall, 1 drake Shoveler, 24 Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Common Teal, 43 Tufted Duck and 16 Northern Pochard. There were also 22 Coot counted.

Waders were represented by 9 Lapwing (including a pair on each island on the main marsh and 5 roosting on the bund), a single COMMON REDSHANK and a pair of OYSTERCATCHERS (feeding on the turf of the North Bank).

The only other species of note was a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk.

PITSTONE QUARRY (BUCKS)

Water back to usual level with species noted including 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 12 Coot, 12 Tufted Duck and 15 Lapwing. Roosting gulls included 189 Black-headed and 15 Common.

MARSWORTH VILLAGE (HERTS)

Up to 8 pairs of Eurasian Collared Dove in the village, and 11 Common Starlings.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Despite the weather, not a true migrant in sight. Wildfowl numbers were well down with just 8 Great Crested Grebe, 2 adult Mute Swans, 17 Gadwall, 8 Common Teal, 75 Eurasian Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 118 Tufted Duck, 29 Northern Pochard and 195 Coot counted. A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYE remained off of the jetty, with a Red Kite drifting south.

Nesting was already underway by Grey Heron (6 active nests) and Continental Cormorant (5 active nests).

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

An impressive 124 Northern Shoveler feeding, with 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Geese, 16 Atlantic Canada Geese, 2 Coot, 5 Tufted Ducks and 6 Northern Pochard present. A male Common Blackbird was in full song.

TRINGFORD RESERVOIR (HERTS)

Just south of the reservoir, a flock of 103 non-naturalised geese were grazing, including 54 Greylag and 49 Atlantic Canadas. The reservoir was very quiet with just 2 Mute Swans, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 Northern Pochard and 14 Coot present. The Rookery in the wood to the south held 15 active nests.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Wildfowl included 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mute Swan, 19 Tufted Duck, 29 Northern Pochard and 71 Coot.

TRING AREA (HERTS)

Checked out the local Rookeries with 27 active nests in the tall trees at New Mill (opposite Massey House at SP 926 124) and 8 in Pendley Manor Grounds.

FLEET MARSTON, WEST OF AYLESBURY (BUCKS)

Last winter's owl fields north of the A41 all now completely ploughed but RED KITES (4+) still in area.

WADDESDON PARK (BUCKS)

Just east of Waddesdon and in trees south of the A41, 12 active Rook nests at SP 754 167.

GALLOWSBRIDGE FARM/RIVER RAY MEADOWS (BUCKS)

After much searching, eventually located a pair of EURASIAN CURLEW, showing very well on the new reserve pools west of the Edgcott road at SP 670 198 (my first of the year). There were also 8 Common Teal nearby.

At the west end of Grendon Underwood village, 13 House Sparrows were present by the farm buildings at SP 676 209. There were several RED KITES between here and Calvert.

CALVERT BBOWT LAKE

Very quiet, with the only bird of note being the drake leucistic Gadwall (photographed by Tim Watts above). There were 4 Gadwall in total, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 25 Tufted Ducks, whilst migrant Lesser Black-backed Gulls included 1,297 (mainly full breeding-plumaged adults).

GAWCOTT (BUCKS)

Just south of Gawcott in trees by Spinney Farmhouse, 38 more active Rook nests (SP 685 314)

FOXCOTE RESERVOIR (NORTH BUCKS)

A further 9 active Rook nests in Wellmore, Maids Moreton (SP 709 352)

(1530-1600 hours) Checking the main reservoir with Dave Horton, I eventually located the adult drake RING-NECKED DUCK in with Northern Pochard and Tufted Duck in the extreme NW corner visible only from the far end of the dam at SP 707 367. It was moving in and out of the reeds and was distant.

Otherwise, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mute Swan, 18 Northern Pochard, 83 Tufted Duck and 8 COMMON GOLDENEYE (4 adult drakes) present.

Not that far away, at Cranley Oak, and in trees south of the A422, 33 active Rook nests.

LINFORD NR (NORTH BUCKS)

The heronry held 13 active Grey Heron nests but rather surprisingly no Little Egret nests.

A single redhead SMEW was a nice bonus, whilst other wildfowl included 6 Mute Swans, 10 Great Crested Grebes and 18 Shoveler; 3 very noisy OYSTERCATCHERS were chasing each other around.

HANSLOPE AREA (NORTH BUCKS)

Returned to various sites searching for Tree Sparrows but once again drew a complete blank. FIELDFARES were the order of the day with 85 near Tathall End and 265 by Bullington End Farm. A huge flock of 750 Woodpigeons was feeding on cereal crops SW of Hoo Wood NE of Little Linford, whilst 10 more Rook nests were being actively used in trees just west of the B526 in Gayhurst at SP 847 468.

OLNEY MEADOWS (NORTH BUCKS)

In fields just north of the River Great Ouse were a pair of feeding EURASIAN CURLEW, whilst 2 BARNACLE GEESE were with Atlantic Canada Geese.

At nearby Cowpers Alcove north of Weston Underwood village, again no sign of Grey Partridge, but 6 Brown Hares boxing.

On the east side of the A605 at SP 893 507 and SE of Olney, 44 non-naturalised BARNACLE GEESE were feeding, along with the single Cackling Canada Goose with the Atlantic Canadas.

WILLEN LAKE SOUTH BASIN (NORTH BUCKS)

Sadly, joined Rob Hill too late. Just prior to my arrival, he had seen both first-winter Mediterranean Gull and Caspian Gull in the roost, but had lost them in the fading light. Up to 3,000 Black-headed Gulls were in the roost.