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



Sunday 22 August 2010

OSPREY drifts over Marlow Bottom garden

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get out into the field at all over the weekend to check local sites, so my birding was restricted to the back garden when time allowed. Highlights were:

Saturday 21st:
Hobby south at 11:15am
Raven low west, cronking at 2:30pm
Hobby (adult) south at 7pm

Sunday 22nd:
Willow Warbler, 5+ through in the morning
Blackcap, juv through am
Marsh Tit, 2 in the morning
Hobby (adult) north 3:40pm.

Best bird, and a hoped for garden tick, came at 3:20pm. A high flying raptor moving in a steady SSW direction is always worth a look, as it suggests a migrating bird rather than a local Common Buzzard or Red Kite. The bins revealed an obvious OSPREY in steady glide. The long wings, long hand and spread fingers together with a shortish square cut tail were diagnostic. The white body and throat were also obvious. Lack of obvious black greater coverts below suggest a juvenile, but the bird was fairly high, so I cannot be certain. The bird only gave an occasional shallow flap, but otherwise was in constant glide. It actually flew directly overhead and at this stage the wings could be seen to be held forward at the carpals in typical gliding posture. All this happened in about 30 seconds, so I always wonder what I am missing when not looking up!

Adam Bassett