WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE
Another very hot day with afternoon temperatures reaching as high as 25 degrees C. Just a light easterly breeze and clear skies until mid afternoon.
CHESHAM WATERSIDE (BUCKS) (SP 976 000)
A superb single spike BEE ORCHID was discovered today on an area of open ground adjacent to a nettle bed whilst a BARN SWALLOW nest containing five hungry youngsters was found in a barn nearby - one of only four nesting pairs I have noted in the Recording Area this year (LGRE and Chris Pontin)
HODD'S WOOD MEADOW, LOWER BOIS (SP 963 004)
The meadow housed at least 6 spikes of PYRAMMIDAL ORCHIDS whilst the orchard opposite held a pair of BULLFINCHES - a scarce bird in the area.
Breeding was confirmed at the site of COMMON BUZZARD, SONG THRUSH (single juvenile noted), Common Blackbird and Great Tit whilst an excellent selection of butterflies included MARBLED WHITE, DARK GREEN FRITILLARY, several Ringlets, numerous Meadow Browns and a COMMA.
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES
After getting their first nest washed out recently, the pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBES on the larger lake have now abandoned their second nest - presumably because it was in full view and very vulnerable to predation. A single male was still fishing on the smaller lake.
Tufted Ducks numbered 14 and a pair of Coot was feeding three tiny young.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Garden Birds
Singing male BLACKCAP and singing male GREENFINCH in garden this morning (at Chaffinch House). Also, Common Blackbirds now feeding third brood of the year. House Sparrow numbers remaining stable at around 28 birds daily.
COMMON SWIFTS active again with 9 birds wheeling around noisily.
COMMON SWIFTS active again with 9 birds wheeling around noisily.
Friday, 19 June 2009
BARN SWALLOW success
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Chesham Fishing Lakes
THURSDAY 18 JUNE
A fine day but quite blustery, with moderate cloud cover and slightly below average temperatures. Dry.
I decided to concentrate on European Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher today and after a huge amount of effort managed just one of the former and none of the latter. I must thank Richard Bashford and Matt Burgess for their help with potential locations. Five singing Lesser Whitethroats were unexpected.
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (2 pairs still; the pair on the larger lake was washed out during the torrential rain and was busy rebuilding a nest just 20 feet from the bank.
Mallard (female with 6 ducklings)
Tufted Duck (10)
Coot (2 pairs with 2 young on large lake; another pair with 3 well grown young on small lake)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (male)
Wren (4 singing males)
WESTERN REED WARBLER (3 singing males in reedbeds on larger lake)
Blackcap (singing male)
Common Chiffchaff (2 singing males)
A fine day but quite blustery, with moderate cloud cover and slightly below average temperatures. Dry.
I decided to concentrate on European Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher today and after a huge amount of effort managed just one of the former and none of the latter. I must thank Richard Bashford and Matt Burgess for their help with potential locations. Five singing Lesser Whitethroats were unexpected.
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (2 pairs still; the pair on the larger lake was washed out during the torrential rain and was busy rebuilding a nest just 20 feet from the bank.
Mallard (female with 6 ducklings)
Tufted Duck (10)
Coot (2 pairs with 2 young on large lake; another pair with 3 well grown young on small lake)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (male)
Wren (4 singing males)
WESTERN REED WARBLER (3 singing males in reedbeds on larger lake)
Blackcap (singing male)
Common Chiffchaff (2 singing males)
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
TURTLE DOVE still on territory
The singing male EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE remains on territory at Bovingdon Green (several observers) whilst the second EDIBLE DORMOUSE of the year entered a Chesham Waterside outbuilding overnight.
Monday, 15 June 2009
More Survey Results
MONDAY 15 JUNE
A day of downpours and hot weather. Highlights of my survey work today was successful breeding of Marsh Tit, Barn Swallow and Little Owl and the finding of some additional singing Firecrests.
MILL FARM WATER MEADOWS and FROGMORE MEADOW NR (TQ 018 986)
Another opportunity to census this interesting area, In the adjacent meadow west of Frogmore Meadow NR, the orchids were in full flower, with an impressive 89 spikes of SOUTHERN MARSH and 16 of COMMON SPOTTED (see Chris's photographs on my web-blog). Butterflies included Large Skipper and Meadow Brown, whilst dragonflies included Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) and large numbers of Banded Demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens).
Grey Heron (adult and two juveniles standing in grass field above Mill Farm Flats; presumably birds dispersed from the heronry at Stocker's Lake)
Mallard (female with four well-grown young)
Coot (pair nesting on river at Frogmore Meadow)
Common Pheasant (1 female, 1 male)
Common Kestrel (adult male)
Stock Dove (pair)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
LITTLE OWL - a recently fledged juvenile was sat on the wires overhanging Flaunden Road, just south of Wallace's Wood.
Pied Wagtail (male)
BARN SWALLOW (successful breeding, with a pair feeding young in one of the new horse sheds and another pair two fledged young on a dead tree by the horse-jumping field.
HOUSE MARTIN (3 pairs breeding on Chenies Place, a new development and presumably birds from the nearby colony at Latimer Place)
COMMON WHITETHROAT (2 singing males still on Mill Farm Water Meadow and a pair at Frogmore.
GARDEN WARBLER (3 singing males in the hedgerow bordering Frogmore Meadow)
Long-tailed Tits (feeding party of post-breeding birds - 18 in total)
Western Jackdaws (at least 14 fledged young being fed by adults on the lawn of Chenies Place)
BULLFINCH (family group of four birds)
Goldfinch (pair in Chenies Bottom)
BALDWIN'S WOOD/FLAUNDEN GROVE (TQ 010 994)
An extensive tract of mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland extending from Mill Farm in the east to Latimer in the west and extending north as 'Long Wood' to Flaunden. This was my first extensive and detailed survey of the site. The adjacent River Chess is now in its fullest flow for many years, enriching the entire valley.
Muntjac (5)
BADGER (several setts)
Rabbits (56+)
Grey Squirrel (6)
Robin (5 territories)
Wren (11 territories)
Common Blackbird (4 singing males; 12 fledged independent young)
Song Thrush (1 singing male)
Blackcap (singing male)
Goldcrest (3 singing males)
*FIRECREST (at least 2 singing males)
Long-tailed Tit (family group of 16 birds)
COAL TIT (2 singing males)
MARSH TIT (successful breeding - pair with 2+ young in Baldwin's Wood)
Common Treecreeper (singing male)
Chaffinch (7 singing males)
Rooks (82 in fields along Flaunden Bottom; several young being fed)
Jay (nesting pair)
Magpies (pair with 3 young)
Specked Woods (40+)
Comma (one very well worn specimen)
A day of downpours and hot weather. Highlights of my survey work today was successful breeding of Marsh Tit, Barn Swallow and Little Owl and the finding of some additional singing Firecrests.
MILL FARM WATER MEADOWS and FROGMORE MEADOW NR (TQ 018 986)
Another opportunity to census this interesting area, In the adjacent meadow west of Frogmore Meadow NR, the orchids were in full flower, with an impressive 89 spikes of SOUTHERN MARSH and 16 of COMMON SPOTTED (see Chris's photographs on my web-blog). Butterflies included Large Skipper and Meadow Brown, whilst dragonflies included Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) and large numbers of Banded Demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens).
Grey Heron (adult and two juveniles standing in grass field above Mill Farm Flats; presumably birds dispersed from the heronry at Stocker's Lake)
Mallard (female with four well-grown young)
Coot (pair nesting on river at Frogmore Meadow)
Common Pheasant (1 female, 1 male)
Common Kestrel (adult male)
Stock Dove (pair)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
LITTLE OWL - a recently fledged juvenile was sat on the wires overhanging Flaunden Road, just south of Wallace's Wood.
Pied Wagtail (male)
BARN SWALLOW (successful breeding, with a pair feeding young in one of the new horse sheds and another pair two fledged young on a dead tree by the horse-jumping field.
HOUSE MARTIN (3 pairs breeding on Chenies Place, a new development and presumably birds from the nearby colony at Latimer Place)
COMMON WHITETHROAT (2 singing males still on Mill Farm Water Meadow and a pair at Frogmore.
GARDEN WARBLER (3 singing males in the hedgerow bordering Frogmore Meadow)
Long-tailed Tits (feeding party of post-breeding birds - 18 in total)
Western Jackdaws (at least 14 fledged young being fed by adults on the lawn of Chenies Place)
BULLFINCH (family group of four birds)
Goldfinch (pair in Chenies Bottom)
BALDWIN'S WOOD/FLAUNDEN GROVE (TQ 010 994)
An extensive tract of mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland extending from Mill Farm in the east to Latimer in the west and extending north as 'Long Wood' to Flaunden. This was my first extensive and detailed survey of the site. The adjacent River Chess is now in its fullest flow for many years, enriching the entire valley.
Muntjac (5)
BADGER (several setts)
Rabbits (56+)
Grey Squirrel (6)
Robin (5 territories)
Wren (11 territories)
Common Blackbird (4 singing males; 12 fledged independent young)
Song Thrush (1 singing male)
Blackcap (singing male)
Goldcrest (3 singing males)
*FIRECREST (at least 2 singing males)
Long-tailed Tit (family group of 16 birds)
COAL TIT (2 singing males)
MARSH TIT (successful breeding - pair with 2+ young in Baldwin's Wood)
Common Treecreeper (singing male)
Chaffinch (7 singing males)
Rooks (82 in fields along Flaunden Bottom; several young being fed)
Jay (nesting pair)
Magpies (pair with 3 young)
Specked Woods (40+)
Comma (one very well worn specimen)
TURTLE DOVE still present
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