Recording Area Annual Totals

97 Species in 2013, 99 in 2012, 94 in 2011, 108 species were recorded in 2010;



Monday 30 July 2012

This summer's local ORCHIDS







Common Spotted and Heath Spotted Orchids photographed by Chris Pontin

Saturday 28 July 2012

BEE ORCHID at Pow Wow

Chris Pontin and I had a nice single BEE ORCHID at Pow Wow Lake, Chesham, with 1 GREAT CRESTED GREBE still frequenting the larger of the two fishing lakes

Late nesters faring better

At SHARDELOES LAKE, some of the later nesters are seemingly doing ok, perhaps spurned on by this past week of dry and very warm summery weather......


Both pairs of GREAT CRESTED GREBE have fledged young - one pair with a single two-week old and the other with two small stripy young, whilst a single juvenile LITTLE GREBE was being fed. A female TUFTED DUCK was protecting 8 small ducklings whilst Coots included 16 young with 4 nests still active (nests still being sat on after being rebuilt on higher platforms).

A pair of GADWALL was also present, 28 Mallard, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 6 Long-tailed Tits

At least 7 post-breeding SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were around the lakeside bushes

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Pyrammidal Orchids

At the former Pow Wow site, Chris Pontin and I had 5 Pyrammidal Orchid spikes this afternoon, as well as Southern Marsh Orchids; also the pair of Mute Swans have two cygnets and at least one baby Coot is being fed.

At McMinn's, Barn Swallow nests number at least 6 this year, with two more broods currently being fed

Sunday 22 July 2012

Summer has arrived

SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS remain at Shardeloes Lake and Estate, Lee Common, Chesham and in Old Amersham, whilst COMMON CROSSBILLS continue to be seen in good numbers.

After appearing to have departed several weeks back, Common Swifts have made a comeback with 6 again screaming and wheeling high over my house.

JT came down to the Chess last night but I don't know if she was successful - WATER VOLES now giving a good show though but all of the rare orchids have gone over now

Great to see temperatures improving - up to 72 degrees F for a while this afternoon

Three dead Badgers on the A404 in Chenies, all within 100 yards of each other.

Friday 13 July 2012

WHINCHAT still at Beaconsfield

FRIDAY 13 MAY


So far so good. No rain for six hours at least, although it did rain all night. Quite warm too, and occasionally sunny
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (SOUTH BUCKS)

Finally got a chance to check out Springfield Quarry, where Peter Stevens, Dave Cleal, Mike & Rose Collard and David Ferguson had all seen the WHINCHAT in the past two days. Yesterday's rain had worked in my favour and the bird - a very heavily moulted male and presumably a failed breeder - was still showing well on the great selection of weeds and wild flowers growing alongside the former footpath running across the site, just east of Lillyfee's Studio. An unusual midsummer record, although this site annually produces passage Whinchats in double figures.

I was also very pleased to see 2 juvenile COMMON RAVENS around the site, as well as a single flock of 63 STOCK DOVES, 1 moulting adult Lapwing, breeding Linnets and a family party of Common Whitethroats. Also several hundred Meadow Brown butterflies and a few Small Skippers and Small Heaths.
Drastic though was the collapse in numbers of nesting Sand Martins - from a colony last year of several hundred to just 9 active nests this year.

ALSO JUST OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN HAYES...........

A gorgeous adult male RED-BACKED SHRIKE continues for a third day at Lake Farm Country Park, keeping faithful to a small area of bushes about 100 yards east of the car park. Park by the A437 at TQ 087 804. This is a bird rich haven surrounded by Heathrow development harbouring over 30 breeding pairs of Common Whitethroats, 6 pairs of Meadow Pipit and 5 pairs of Reed Bunting

BULLFINCHES still present - and WHINCHAT at Springfield Quarry

Since they discovered the Sunflower Hearts earlier in the week, my pair of BULLFINCHES have been present daily and spending 50 minutes at a time on the birdtable I have devoted to feeding them specifically. Despite there being a lot of optional food, they just insist on eating these white seeds.


Despite the weather, the BARN SWALLOWS are doing very well, with four nests still occupied, two of which now on their third broods. Soon there will be 25 or more lined up on the wires prior to their southward migration in September

Peter Stevens and Dave Cleal have had a male WHINCHAT on Wednesday and Thursday at Springfield Quarry, Beaconsfield

Sunday 8 July 2012

BULLFINCHES still present


Both BULLFINCHES still here today, along with 3 Goldfinches. Not so much heavy rain though today.

Friday 6 July 2012

BULLFINCHES in the Chaffinch House garden


Bullfinch is an extremely rare visitor to my Little Chalfont garden so I was absolutely delighted to find a pair spend all morning with me today, feeding on white Sunflower Hearts on the bird tables. What a fabulously beautiful bird they are

Thursday 5 July 2012

SWALLOWS on third brood

Some good news for a change. BARN SWALLOWS at Chesham McMinn's are now on their third brrod with at least three active nests

Don Stone had a flock of 49 LAPWINGS recently near Pednor illustrating post-breeding movement already

One pair of Common Swifts in Little Chalfont have fledged three young