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 21 December 2011

Winter Waterbird Surveying

WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER

Well what topsy turvy weather ! The first official day of winter sees temperatures hit a balmy 13 degrees C, with a tropical airflow bringing damp, drizzly conditions before it finally cleared from the west.

As it was 21 December today and the Winter Solstice, I reserved the day for waterbird surveying, covering the Thames Basin waterbodies in the south of the county. Diving duck numbers were disappointingly low.

BEACONSFIELD SERVICES LAKE (BUCKS) (SU 953 888)

Deadly - just a pair of Mallard for my efforts

CASTLEMAN'S FARM POND, WOOBURN COMMON (SU 923 877)

Very flooded but just 2 Moorhens and 4 Mallard present

BURNHAM BEECHES NNR (BUCKS)

At the Middle Pond (SU 950 847), just 7 MANDARIN DUCKS present (4 drakes), 25 Mallards and 2 Moorhens. The Upper Pond was devoid of any birds and the Swilly Pond was totally dried up.

East Burnham Common held at least 270 Redwings, a cacophony of loud repertoire coming from the trees as they assembled in the canopy. Nuthatch, 3 Common Treecreepers, Jay and Coal Tit also noted, and 35 Fieldfares.

TAPLOW LAKE (BUCKS) (SU 910 810)

An inventory logged 22 Mute Swans (including 1 first-winter), 58 Coot, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Gadwall and 9 Tufted Ducks.

THE JUBILEE RIVER (BUCKS) (SECTION BETWEEN AMERDEN BRIDGE AND MARSH LANE WEIR)

1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Mute Swans, 12 Atlantic Canada Geese, 13 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 12 Coot and 6 Moorhens

SECTION BETWEEN MARSH LANE WEIR AND JUST EAST OF LAKE END ROAD (BUCKS)

Still no sign of the drake Ferruginous Duck, present for at least the past 7 winters but 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebes, 38 Atlantic Canada Geese, 25 Mallard, 37 Tufted Duck and 18 Coot.

DORNEY ROWING LAKES (BUCKS)

Just 9 Tufted Ducks were counted on the isolated lake to the east of Dorney Rowing Lakes with just 1 further bird on the West Lake. Other species counted included 118 Atlantic Canada Geese, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 36 Mute Swans (plus an additional family party of 6 on the neighbouring river), 8 Cormorants and a single female Pochard.

SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS) (SU 880 875)

Highlight was the presence of 206 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 731 Lapwings on the spit.....

Otherwise, just 5 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Heron (already repairing nests), 78 Cormorants, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag Geese, 7 Egyptian Geese, 22 Mallard, 37 Teal, 72 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 96 Tufted Duck, 29 Pochard and just 6 Coot

WESTHORPE FARM WINDSURFING PITS, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS) (SU 872 870)

A massive gull roost, including good numbers of large white-headed gulls. Waterbirds included 5 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 6 Moorhen and 26 Coot.