Friday, 27 February 2009
MEADOW PIPITS IN ABUNDANCE
A total of 27 MEADOW PIPITS was on wires, with another 12 lower down the grassy slope, at Hill Farm (SP 972 008) in Chessmount today (Chris)
WARMEST DAY OF THE YEAR SO FAR
A lot of bird song today, from the likes of Great Tit, Robin, Song Thrush and Coal Tit (Mike Lawrence Photography)
FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY
The warmest day of the early spring/late winter so far, with temperatures peaking at 15 degrees C. Dry and partly sunny, with a fresh westerly wind.
RIGNALL WOOD AND ROAD, NW of GREAT MISSENDEN (BUCKS)
Following a call from Mike Collard, I headed over to join Rose, Dave Parmenter and he in a search for 2 'Stone Curlews' reported by a farmer as he ploughed his field at SP 881 017, just south of Rignall Wood. There was no sign of the birds but 2 Mistle Thrushes, 8 Common Buzzards and 12 RED KITES were located, the raptors all to the north of Rignall Road, particularly in the Great Hampden area.
GREAT MISSENDEN AREA
ROOKERIES: a total of 3 occupied nests in tall trees by Missenden Abbey (SP 897 009) and 9 more near Missenden Hospital west of the A413 at SU 904 998.
Bank's Pond (at SP 903 000) yielded a pair of Mute Swans, 4 Coot and 14 Moorhen, whilst a GREY WAGTAIL was displaying from roofs on the opposite side of the road.
HYDE HEATH (BUCKS)
I then surveyed the Bank Lane and Keepers Lane loop, with good numbers of Jackdaws (60+), 2 sparring cock Common Pheasants just NE of the railway cutting at SU 924 994 and in the large grass field at SP 925 995, 6 Magpies, a pair of Carrion Crows and a flock of 270 Woodpigeons.
The large garden there held a singing male Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing and a singing Common Chaffinch.
Just on the outskirts of Hyde Heath village (at SU 928 996), the garden of 'The Old Forge' produced another singing male Song Thrush and single singing Great and Blue Tits, whilst in Bray's Lane in Hyde Heath proper, HOUSE SPARROWS were significant in their presence, with at least 15 birds in gardens thereabouts.
Bray's Wood held two separate singing male European Robins and two more Great Tits, whilst in trees by the railway cutting on Keeper's Lane (at SU 933 992), a singing COAL TIT was noteworthy, male Common Blackbird and a further singing male Song Thrush.
SHARDELOES LAKE (SU 943 980)
GADWALLS were again the order of the day with a new record of 83 birds counted, all swimming in pairs and squabbling groups of drakes on the main lake.
The three first-winter Mute Swans were still present (along with the adult pair), with 31 Canada Geese, just 1 of the adult GREAT CRESTED GREBES, 4 Little Grebes, 37 Tufted Duck, just 2 Pochard and 82 Coots.
Stock Doves were in display, with a singing male COMMON TREECREEPER (in small trees bordering the lake), Nuthatch, a pair of Goldfinch and a pair of Long-tailed Tits.
Of 52 ROOKS present, the rookery now consisted of 16 active nests.
OLD AMERSHAM
A total of 46 Western Jackdaws was counted on chimneys along the High Street.
The warmest day of the early spring/late winter so far, with temperatures peaking at 15 degrees C. Dry and partly sunny, with a fresh westerly wind.
RIGNALL WOOD AND ROAD, NW of GREAT MISSENDEN (BUCKS)
Following a call from Mike Collard, I headed over to join Rose, Dave Parmenter and he in a search for 2 'Stone Curlews' reported by a farmer as he ploughed his field at SP 881 017, just south of Rignall Wood. There was no sign of the birds but 2 Mistle Thrushes, 8 Common Buzzards and 12 RED KITES were located, the raptors all to the north of Rignall Road, particularly in the Great Hampden area.
GREAT MISSENDEN AREA
ROOKERIES: a total of 3 occupied nests in tall trees by Missenden Abbey (SP 897 009) and 9 more near Missenden Hospital west of the A413 at SU 904 998.
Bank's Pond (at SP 903 000) yielded a pair of Mute Swans, 4 Coot and 14 Moorhen, whilst a GREY WAGTAIL was displaying from roofs on the opposite side of the road.
HYDE HEATH (BUCKS)
I then surveyed the Bank Lane and Keepers Lane loop, with good numbers of Jackdaws (60+), 2 sparring cock Common Pheasants just NE of the railway cutting at SU 924 994 and in the large grass field at SP 925 995, 6 Magpies, a pair of Carrion Crows and a flock of 270 Woodpigeons.
The large garden there held a singing male Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing and a singing Common Chaffinch.
Just on the outskirts of Hyde Heath village (at SU 928 996), the garden of 'The Old Forge' produced another singing male Song Thrush and single singing Great and Blue Tits, whilst in Bray's Lane in Hyde Heath proper, HOUSE SPARROWS were significant in their presence, with at least 15 birds in gardens thereabouts.
Bray's Wood held two separate singing male European Robins and two more Great Tits, whilst in trees by the railway cutting on Keeper's Lane (at SU 933 992), a singing COAL TIT was noteworthy, male Common Blackbird and a further singing male Song Thrush.
SHARDELOES LAKE (SU 943 980)
GADWALLS were again the order of the day with a new record of 83 birds counted, all swimming in pairs and squabbling groups of drakes on the main lake.
The three first-winter Mute Swans were still present (along with the adult pair), with 31 Canada Geese, just 1 of the adult GREAT CRESTED GREBES, 4 Little Grebes, 37 Tufted Duck, just 2 Pochard and 82 Coots.
Stock Doves were in display, with a singing male COMMON TREECREEPER (in small trees bordering the lake), Nuthatch, a pair of Goldfinch and a pair of Long-tailed Tits.
Of 52 ROOKS present, the rookery now consisted of 16 active nests.
OLD AMERSHAM
A total of 46 Western Jackdaws was counted on chimneys along the High Street.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Now 2 Great Crested Grebes in Chesham
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES
2 GREAT CRESTED GREBES (one each lake), 9 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Goldcrest, 6 SISKINS in alders of upper lake or drinking from path puddle, 1 Green Woodpecker (Roger Bibby)
2 GREAT CRESTED GREBES (one each lake), 9 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Goldcrest, 6 SISKINS in alders of upper lake or drinking from path puddle, 1 Green Woodpecker (Roger Bibby)
Monday, 23 February 2009
GADWALLS AND GREAT CRESTED GREBES
Great Crested Grebes (Mike Lawrence)
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY
The mild weather continued despite a cool NW wind. There was much spring bird activity in the air, with display, aggression, singing and nest-building all being witnessed.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)
Spurned on by Rob Andrews visit of yesterday, I was very pleased to see the large numbers of duck I first witnessed two weeks back still remaining on the main part of the lake.
Most impressive was my largest-ever local count of GADWALL - 76 birds - and equal to that achieved by RDA on 22nd. I was also very pleased to see the returning pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBES, which nested successfully in July 2008, rearing three young.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (adult pair, both in full breeding plumage)
Little Grebe (5+, whinnying heard)
Mute Swans (5 - the 2 adults and 3 first-winters; the cob was busy chasing one of the immatures all around the lake)
Canada Geese (14)
Mallard (8)
GADWALL (a record 76 present, mostly in pairs but some gathering of drakes in display)
Tufted Duck (46)
Northern Pochard (5)
Coot (103)
Black-headed Gulls (77)
RED KITES (4 swooping down over the Sheep field)
Carrion Crow (pair feeding on dung piles)
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (1 still present)
Grey Heron (1)
Mute Swans (2 adults on pit, with 4 birds including 2 first-winters on the adjacent river)
Tufted Duck (7)
Pochard (11)
Coot (29)
Goldcrest (3)
Long-tailed Tit (pair)
WATERCRESS COTTAGE LOOP TRAIL
Grey Heron (1)
Tufted Duck (5 on the lake)
Common Kestrel (female prospecting a nesting tree)
COMMON KINGFISHER (1 patrolling a stream and showing very well)
Robin (3), Great Tit, Wren and Chaffinch all in song.
The mild weather continued despite a cool NW wind. There was much spring bird activity in the air, with display, aggression, singing and nest-building all being witnessed.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)
Spurned on by Rob Andrews visit of yesterday, I was very pleased to see the large numbers of duck I first witnessed two weeks back still remaining on the main part of the lake.
Most impressive was my largest-ever local count of GADWALL - 76 birds - and equal to that achieved by RDA on 22nd. I was also very pleased to see the returning pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBES, which nested successfully in July 2008, rearing three young.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (adult pair, both in full breeding plumage)
Little Grebe (5+, whinnying heard)
Mute Swans (5 - the 2 adults and 3 first-winters; the cob was busy chasing one of the immatures all around the lake)
Canada Geese (14)
Mallard (8)
GADWALL (a record 76 present, mostly in pairs but some gathering of drakes in display)
Tufted Duck (46)
Northern Pochard (5)
Coot (103)
Black-headed Gulls (77)
RED KITES (4 swooping down over the Sheep field)
Carrion Crow (pair feeding on dung piles)
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (1 still present)
Grey Heron (1)
Mute Swans (2 adults on pit, with 4 birds including 2 first-winters on the adjacent river)
Tufted Duck (7)
Pochard (11)
Coot (29)
Goldcrest (3)
Long-tailed Tit (pair)
WATERCRESS COTTAGE LOOP TRAIL
Grey Heron (1)
Tufted Duck (5 on the lake)
Common Kestrel (female prospecting a nesting tree)
COMMON KINGFISHER (1 patrolling a stream and showing very well)
Robin (3), Great Tit, Wren and Chaffinch all in song.
Record Count of Gadwall
I was amazed by the number of wildfowl on SHARDELOES LAKE today. Actually had towork for my WEBs counts for a change!
The most impressive was 74 Gadwall, mostly in pairs, with lots of calling and displaying going on. This is by far the highest number I've seen here and it looks likely a few pairs will stay to breed.
Other counts were 36 Tufted Ducks, 98 Coot, 6 Pochard (4m), 7 Little Grebes and a pair of MANDARIN. Also the GREAT CRESTED GREBE has been joined by another bird and they were swimming in tandem for much of the time, although no displaying noted. Just two first winter Mute Swans were with the adults today. One of the adults was trying to chase one of the juveniles away though so they may both be pushed off soon.
Also around were 4 Red Kites and a Buzzard.
ROB ANDREWS
Friday, 20 February 2009
SPRING HAS ARRIVED
CHESS RIVER VALLEY
Just 2 LITTLE EGRETS were noted in the valley today, both east of Latimer Bridge.
There was much increased nesting behaviour, with over 50 Rooks attending the Rookery and many male Song Thrushes in full song. A cackle of 18 Magpies was in McMinn's Yard.
Just 2 LITTLE EGRETS were noted in the valley today, both east of Latimer Bridge.
There was much increased nesting behaviour, with over 50 Rooks attending the Rookery and many male Song Thrushes in full song. A cackle of 18 Magpies was in McMinn's Yard.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
ICELAND GULL PROVES TO BE A BAD DIP
THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY
Another mild day, with some brief bright periods and very light winds. Predominantly cloudy.
ANDREW HILL LANE, HEDGERLEY
Chasing up on a flock of finches seen near Mount Pleasant Farm yesterday morning, I completely drew a blank - not a small bird was seen. Raptors were in evidence, with many RED KITES sitting around (including some with yellow wing-tags) and 5 COMMON BUZZARDS in the air.
I was just about to visit Church Wood RSPB when I took a call from Mike Collard. Dave Ferguson had just discovered a white-winged gull in Hedgerley Landfill (at 1145 hours).
HEDGERLEY TIP
I raced round to the A40 and wasted nearly ten minutes trying to find David's parked-up Fiat. Eventually pin-pointing his position, it then transpired that he had walked to the site from home. I charged down the muddy footpath leading along the west side of the landfill site and soon found Dave - every single gull (all 400 of them) had just flown off SW perhaps heading for Little Marlow. They had all been washing and bathing on the newly created drainage basin about 200 yards south of the London Road and Dave had managed to get some good video footage of the bird and some good photographs. I looked at them on his small screen and said to him that the bird was not a Glaucous Gull but was very interesting (I couldn't see the detail I needed to clinch the identification).
Dave later sent me his images: the bird was a first-year ICELAND GULL, most likely the individual seen recently in the London area.
Some 30 RED KITES were in attendance at the landfill but not a single gull was in sight.
PENN WOOD
Penn Wood (176 hectares, 436 acres) is one of the largest ancient woodlands in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a wood which is known to have existed since 1600 and has many different varieties of native broad-leaved trees, shrubs and plants. Following its acquisition by the Woodland Trust in April 1999, the wood now consists of a mosaic of ancient semi-natural woodland with plantations of mixed broadleaf and conifer, and heath grassland and scrub. One veteran Oak tree, the remains of an ancient collapsed Beech tree and a scattering of trees over 200 years old can be found across the site.
Although early in the season, I carried out a transect survey of the wood today, particularly with the mild weather in mind. It was very poor with birdlife particularly spartan - 1 singing Coal Tit, 1 singing male Chaffinch, 5 European Robins, 2 Dunnocks and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers was all that was noted.
MOP END FARM (SU 924 972)
93 Rooks feeding on the plough, with 2 RED KITES overhead, a single male Common Kestrel by the farm and single singing Eurasian Skylark and Great Tit.
Another mild day, with some brief bright periods and very light winds. Predominantly cloudy.
ANDREW HILL LANE, HEDGERLEY
Chasing up on a flock of finches seen near Mount Pleasant Farm yesterday morning, I completely drew a blank - not a small bird was seen. Raptors were in evidence, with many RED KITES sitting around (including some with yellow wing-tags) and 5 COMMON BUZZARDS in the air.
I was just about to visit Church Wood RSPB when I took a call from Mike Collard. Dave Ferguson had just discovered a white-winged gull in Hedgerley Landfill (at 1145 hours).
HEDGERLEY TIP
I raced round to the A40 and wasted nearly ten minutes trying to find David's parked-up Fiat. Eventually pin-pointing his position, it then transpired that he had walked to the site from home. I charged down the muddy footpath leading along the west side of the landfill site and soon found Dave - every single gull (all 400 of them) had just flown off SW perhaps heading for Little Marlow. They had all been washing and bathing on the newly created drainage basin about 200 yards south of the London Road and Dave had managed to get some good video footage of the bird and some good photographs. I looked at them on his small screen and said to him that the bird was not a Glaucous Gull but was very interesting (I couldn't see the detail I needed to clinch the identification).
Dave later sent me his images: the bird was a first-year ICELAND GULL, most likely the individual seen recently in the London area.
Some 30 RED KITES were in attendance at the landfill but not a single gull was in sight.
PENN WOOD
Penn Wood (176 hectares, 436 acres) is one of the largest ancient woodlands in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a wood which is known to have existed since 1600 and has many different varieties of native broad-leaved trees, shrubs and plants. Following its acquisition by the Woodland Trust in April 1999, the wood now consists of a mosaic of ancient semi-natural woodland with plantations of mixed broadleaf and conifer, and heath grassland and scrub. One veteran Oak tree, the remains of an ancient collapsed Beech tree and a scattering of trees over 200 years old can be found across the site.
Although early in the season, I carried out a transect survey of the wood today, particularly with the mild weather in mind. It was very poor with birdlife particularly spartan - 1 singing Coal Tit, 1 singing male Chaffinch, 5 European Robins, 2 Dunnocks and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers was all that was noted.
MOP END FARM (SU 924 972)
93 Rooks feeding on the plough, with 2 RED KITES overhead, a single male Common Kestrel by the farm and single singing Eurasian Skylark and Great Tit.
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