YEARLISTING IN 2016

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

YEARLISTING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

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

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



Tuesday 11 May 2010

Twitching rare waders at the new Gallows Bridge reserve

Please note, if you happen to twitch interesting birds reported at the new Gallows Bridge reserve (River Ray Meadows), it is best to try and find out where they actually are on the reserve before going. I made two abortive and expensive trips for Grey Plover because I naturally assumed that they were with the waders on the access drive pools, where other species were feeding. However, this is not the case, the Grey Plovers were actually on a pool at the far western reaches of the reserve which has no official access and can only be viewed very distantly from the new hide accessed along the trail from the main parking area. There is a nice pool here with muddy edges which is very attractive to waders but due to the nature of the slant in the field, the long grass which harbours many nesting species makes it difficult for viewing.


The new reserve is situated just NW of the A41 and Grendon Underwood/Calvert turning at SP 668 188 and may be accessed from the gate 250 yards along Grendon Underwood road. The track leads down to a car parking area from where one can walk to the hides.