Recording Area Annual Totals

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



Saturday, 30 May 2009

BADGER surprise


Carmel and I had to visit Tesco's supermarket in Old Amersham after midnight to stock up on cat food for the next 15 days and for me to buy supplies for the marathon Turkey trip I am about to embark upon.

Much to our surprise at 0056 hours, an adult BADGER ran slowly across London Road East (the A355) just to the east of the superstore and the Chequers public house and progressed to feed on the verge in full view at SU 966 371 before running off up one of the house drives. We are always thrilled to see Badgers in our area and fortunately, despite the high number of road kills, they are still relatively abundant here (Badger image by kind courtesy of S.G.Davis)

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

MUTE SWANS hatch all six eggs











Adult male Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tits and House Martin (Mike Lawrence)
WEDNESDAY 27 MAY 2009

SHARDELOES LAKE

After Graham Smith's concerns last week, I am pleased to announce that all 6 eggs hatched today and Shardeloes can now boast the presence of 6 cygnet Mute Swans, one more than last summer (four of which survived into 2009).

Also noted this evening -:

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (resident pair showing well, swimming together)
Little Grebe (4 adults - 2 pairs, still whinnying)
Canada Geese (6 females with creche of 12 goslings; another female with 5 goslings)
Mallard (4 family parties; 25 ducklings in total)
GADWALL (pair)
Tufted Duck (10 - 5 pairs)
Coot (25 - only 1 small young noted)

COMMON SWIFT (27)
HOUSE MARTINS (5)
Long-tailed Tits (feeding flock of 17 birds, mostly juveniles)

Garden Visitors



Two JACKDAWS visited the bird table this morning, whilst a GREY HERON flew west over Chaffinch House

Monday, 25 May 2009

Breeding Successes - first 'baby' Common Starlings on wing

Eight Goldfinches (including a family party of 5 birds) was noted along Chesham Vale, with 3 COMMON SWIFTS and a RED KITE over Chesham itself.

Common Starlings have successfully bred in Little Chalfont, with at least two juveniles fledged (since 23rd May). A pair of Robins is busily feeding young in my garden.

COMMON SWIFT numbers now up to 15
















The number of COMMON SWIFTS wheeling around in one noisy cluster has now risen to 15 by my house in Little Chalfont. Lincolnshire supremo Graham Catley obtained these brilliant images of the species

Saturday, 23 May 2009

Further Breeding Bird Survey Work in the Recording Area




SATURDAY 23 MAY

CHESHAM AREA (breeding bird survey)

SP 97 00

CHESHAM WATERSIDE

Sadly, after several weeks incubating three eggs, the three Mute Swan cygnets drowned after being swept over the weir; on a more positive note, the Coot pair now have four fledged and growing young.

HILL FARM AND THE GREEN LANE TRAIL (SP 972 009)

Common Buzzard (single)
RED KITE (2 birds, behaviour suggests breeding)
Common Pheasant (1 male)
Woodpigeon (4 nesting pairs; flock of 57 nearby)
European Collared Dove (1-2 pairs nesting at farm)
BARN SWALLOW (1 pair nesting in Hill Farm barns)
Pied Wagtail (pair breeding in barns - feeding young)
COMMON SWIFT (1)
Common Blackbird (3 pairs nesting; male singing again - second brood)
Robin (pair)
Wren (2 singing males)
Dunnock (2 nesting pairs)
Magpie (pair)
Rooks (feeding flock of 62 birds all visiting from nearby Rookery)
Jackdaws (34 with above; 5 active nests on chimney pots in Hill Farm Road)
Chaffinch (2 singing males; additional 3 nesting pairs)
LINNET (2+ birds)
Blue Tit (fledged family of 5)
*YELLOWHAMMER (pair in hedgerow 200 yards east of Hill Farm - very scarce in area)

Large White Butterflies (40+)

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (SP 970 003)

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (pair on larger lake; no sign of recent pair on the smaller lake)
Mallard (2 drakes)
Tufted Duck (5 - 3 drakes)
Coot (15 - 3 small young being fed)
Moorhen (1)
Red Kite (overhead)
Wren (2 singing males)
Dunnock (2 pairs)
Song Thrush (2)
Common Blackbird (3 pairs)
Magpie (1 pair)

*WESTERN REED WARBLER (2 singing males, both in reedbeds on the south side - in SW corner at SP 969 003 and 50 yards along at SP 971 003)
Common Chiffchaff (singing male)
Blackcap (male singing)
Chaffinch (2 singing males)
Goldfinch (1)
Great Tit (fledged family of 5)

Orange Tip




LITTLE CHALFONT




A group of 8 COMMON SWIFTS congregated over my house in the evening

REED WARBLER at Shardeloes Lake

A WESTERN REED WARBLER was at Shardeloes Lake this evening; also 3 GADWALL (2 drakes) (per Graham Smith)