TUESDAY 31 AUGUST
High pressure dominated today with clear blue skies and light NNE winds - perfect conditions in fact for migrating Common and European Honey Buzzards. It also turned very warm in the sunshine and on the East and South coasts, many Scandinavian drift migrants began to appear.......
CHESS RIVER VALLEY AND CHORLEYWOOD (BUCKS/HERTS)
The single LITTLE EGRET was again in the stream east of Bois Mill, with a female Common Pheasant feeding in Mill Farm Water Meadows.
Most significant was a feeding flock of 37 wagtails on the Clement Dane School Playing Fields late afternoon, including a male YELLOW WAGTAIL (the first recorded this year in my District), 8 WHITE WAGTAILS and 28 Pied Wagtails. A single female Linnet was also feeding with them
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Sunday, 29 August 2010
LAPWING and Partridge surprise
I stopped off opposite the entrance to Chenies Manor this evening after seeing 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls feeding in the recently tilled field - the highest number recorded in the area this autumn. As I scanned the field further, I came across 34 roosting LAPWINGS and a family party of 5 RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGES. The field also looks great for chats and Yellow Wagtails so watch this space !
Friday, 27 August 2010
High hopes for grounded migrants did not get borne out
FRIDAY 27 AUGUST
With a light NE breeze blowing all night, coupled with overnight rain, I had high expectations for today. Once the rain cleared, it gave way to much drier conditions and blue sky and a ridge of high pressure prevailed for the rest of the daylight hours.
I spent all morning and afternoon searching my immediate local area for drift migrants - largely Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler - but failed to find any. Spotted Flycatchers were the highlight.......
CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
Up to 3 Red Kites were repeatedly present today, drifting back and forth.over the garden.
LATIMER PLACE AND GREAT WATER (BUCKS)
A mobile and noisy tit flock moving quickly through the Latimer Conference Centre gardens included 5 Common Chiffchaff, a juvenile Willow Warbler and a Goldcrest in its numbers.
I was then alerted to a loud commotion taking place by 5 Jays and a Common Magpie. I went over to investigate and found a TAWNY OWL roosting against the tree trunk in a tall ivy-covered tree. It afforded crippling views and as I approached, the mobbing birds moved off and left it in peace.
Large numbers of hirundines were hawking over Great Water, including 36 House Martins, 20 Barn Swallows and 4 SAND MARTINS (scarce here), whilst the lake itself held 12 Mute Swans and 7 Tufted Ducks.
Both juvenile Common Buzzards in Lane Wood were very noisily following the parents around, whilst a further 6 Goldcrests were accompanying a Long-tailed Tit flock.
THE CHESS VALLEY FROM LATIMER BRIDGE TO CRESTYL CRESS BEDS (BUCKS)
An immature Continental Cormorant (sinensis) stood in the dead tree at Latimer Bridge for at least 90 minutes and along the Chess in this vicinity was a further 25 feeding House Martins. A Common Whitethroat was also present by the river.
At Church Covert, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Common Chiffchaffs, 10 Woodpigeons and a charm of 11 Goldfinches were noted, with a male Common Pheasant, 48 Jackdaws and 2 Carrion Crows nearby. Another two young Common Buzzards were screaming from the wood thereabouts.
As I walked down towards a very sodden Mill Farm Meadow, Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch were encountered and at Frogmore Meadow, one juvenile Common Kestrel, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker and more Long-tailed Tits were seen. The small wood by Frogmore produced both Nuthatch and Common Treecreeper, along with a Blackcap, whilst at the Water Vole Watchpoint, a family party of 7 Mute Swans were encountered (one of the adults bearing a white ring inscribed 'T2L'.).
At the Crestyl Cressbeds, a further Nuthatch and 5 House Martins were noted, with Valley Farm hosting 5 House Sparrows,Red Kite, Stock Dove, 4 Pied Wagtails and another Goldcrest. The biggest surprise was 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS hunting from the wire fence to the west of the farm - the first to be recorded in the valley this year.
Once the sun had come out, good numbers of COMMON BLUE butterflies appeared and in Latimer village, both Wren and 3 Greenfinches were recorded.
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
The first-winter Great Crested Grebe remained from yesterday, with 8 Tufted Ducks, 3 Common Chiffchaffs and a juvenile Blackcap noted.
WATERSIDE, CHESHAM (BUCKS)
As I drove along the bottom road towards Chesham, I came upon the 5 Mute Swans in the middle of the road (the resident pair with their three offspring). I parked up and spent the next 25 minutes slowly walking the entire family back up to the footbridge, from where I could easily force them back into the river. Road users looked on bemused as I escorted all five birds waddling clumsily along the High Street. They had been forced to do so because of the waterfall.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
Surely there had to be a Pied Flycatcher here? But no, there wasn't! Instead, still 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS in the Sallows at the far west end of the lake, and 5 Common Chiffchaffs.
Otherwise, the lake held 4 Great Crested Grebes (the pair with their single young and the first-winter), 5 Little Grebes, all 5 Mute Swans, 4 Grey Herons, 8 Gadwall (3 drakes), 3 female NORTHERN POCHARDS, Common Kestrel and most interestingly, a WATER RAIL, my first record here in August.
With a light NE breeze blowing all night, coupled with overnight rain, I had high expectations for today. Once the rain cleared, it gave way to much drier conditions and blue sky and a ridge of high pressure prevailed for the rest of the daylight hours.
I spent all morning and afternoon searching my immediate local area for drift migrants - largely Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler - but failed to find any. Spotted Flycatchers were the highlight.......
CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
Up to 3 Red Kites were repeatedly present today, drifting back and forth.over the garden.
LATIMER PLACE AND GREAT WATER (BUCKS)
A mobile and noisy tit flock moving quickly through the Latimer Conference Centre gardens included 5 Common Chiffchaff, a juvenile Willow Warbler and a Goldcrest in its numbers.
I was then alerted to a loud commotion taking place by 5 Jays and a Common Magpie. I went over to investigate and found a TAWNY OWL roosting against the tree trunk in a tall ivy-covered tree. It afforded crippling views and as I approached, the mobbing birds moved off and left it in peace.
Large numbers of hirundines were hawking over Great Water, including 36 House Martins, 20 Barn Swallows and 4 SAND MARTINS (scarce here), whilst the lake itself held 12 Mute Swans and 7 Tufted Ducks.
Both juvenile Common Buzzards in Lane Wood were very noisily following the parents around, whilst a further 6 Goldcrests were accompanying a Long-tailed Tit flock.
THE CHESS VALLEY FROM LATIMER BRIDGE TO CRESTYL CRESS BEDS (BUCKS)
An immature Continental Cormorant (sinensis) stood in the dead tree at Latimer Bridge for at least 90 minutes and along the Chess in this vicinity was a further 25 feeding House Martins. A Common Whitethroat was also present by the river.
At Church Covert, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Common Chiffchaffs, 10 Woodpigeons and a charm of 11 Goldfinches were noted, with a male Common Pheasant, 48 Jackdaws and 2 Carrion Crows nearby. Another two young Common Buzzards were screaming from the wood thereabouts.
As I walked down towards a very sodden Mill Farm Meadow, Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch were encountered and at Frogmore Meadow, one juvenile Common Kestrel, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker and more Long-tailed Tits were seen. The small wood by Frogmore produced both Nuthatch and Common Treecreeper, along with a Blackcap, whilst at the Water Vole Watchpoint, a family party of 7 Mute Swans were encountered (one of the adults bearing a white ring inscribed 'T2L'.).
At the Crestyl Cressbeds, a further Nuthatch and 5 House Martins were noted, with Valley Farm hosting 5 House Sparrows,Red Kite, Stock Dove, 4 Pied Wagtails and another Goldcrest. The biggest surprise was 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS hunting from the wire fence to the west of the farm - the first to be recorded in the valley this year.
Once the sun had come out, good numbers of COMMON BLUE butterflies appeared and in Latimer village, both Wren and 3 Greenfinches were recorded.
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
The first-winter Great Crested Grebe remained from yesterday, with 8 Tufted Ducks, 3 Common Chiffchaffs and a juvenile Blackcap noted.
WATERSIDE, CHESHAM (BUCKS)
As I drove along the bottom road towards Chesham, I came upon the 5 Mute Swans in the middle of the road (the resident pair with their three offspring). I parked up and spent the next 25 minutes slowly walking the entire family back up to the footbridge, from where I could easily force them back into the river. Road users looked on bemused as I escorted all five birds waddling clumsily along the High Street. They had been forced to do so because of the waterfall.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
Surely there had to be a Pied Flycatcher here? But no, there wasn't! Instead, still 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS in the Sallows at the far west end of the lake, and 5 Common Chiffchaffs.
Otherwise, the lake held 4 Great Crested Grebes (the pair with their single young and the first-winter), 5 Little Grebes, all 5 Mute Swans, 4 Grey Herons, 8 Gadwall (3 drakes), 3 female NORTHERN POCHARDS, Common Kestrel and most interestingly, a WATER RAIL, my first record here in August.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Rain in for the day
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
I arrived on site just prior to the band of heavy rain moving in from the west and this in turn pushed down 5 COMMON SWIFTS, 15 House Martins and 2 SAND MARTINS over the lake.
Otherwise, little of note: the male Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, no sign of any Mute Swans, 11 Atlantic Canada Geese, 2 Mallard, a drake Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 120 Coot, Jay, 3 Grey Herons and a Goldcrest
I arrived on site just prior to the band of heavy rain moving in from the west and this in turn pushed down 5 COMMON SWIFTS, 15 House Martins and 2 SAND MARTINS over the lake.
Otherwise, little of note: the male Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, no sign of any Mute Swans, 11 Atlantic Canada Geese, 2 Mallard, a drake Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 120 Coot, Jay, 3 Grey Herons and a Goldcrest
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
LITTLE EGRET returns and just outside the area, a bagful of passage WHINCHATS
TUESDAY 24 AUGUST
It was a very windy day, with warm SSW winds increasing in gusts to force 6 at times. It did remain dry though, with some long bright periods. Following yesterday's bonanza of sightings, today was rather lean in comparison, with little of new arrivals in the strong winds.
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (SOUTH BUCKS)
(permit access only)
Peter Stevens had been recording WHINCHATS at the site since Saturday morning but despite a lot of hard grafting, I just could not locate them. Today however, I eventually located all SIX juveniles, all feeding together on the raised weed-covered bund just beyond the Lillyfee Studios. They were extremely mobile though and as I walked along towards them, they continuously moved ahead and flew perhaps 35 yards or more each time. This is a site first for me.
The only other migrants recorded were a single COMMON WHITETHROAT and a single YELLOW WAGTAIL, whilst other species noted included 3 Jays, Sparrowhawk, GREEN SANDPIPER, Blue Tit and Skylark.
CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)
The first LITTLE EGRET of the 'autumn' has arrived in the valley, feeding in the shallow tributary just east of Bois Mill. One bird lingered this year in to May and one of the London colonies from where perhaps some of my birds originate really burgeoned in numbers this summer.
At Chesham Fishing Lakes, Chris Pontin noted two Great Crested Grebes present including a juvenile.
It was a very windy day, with warm SSW winds increasing in gusts to force 6 at times. It did remain dry though, with some long bright periods. Following yesterday's bonanza of sightings, today was rather lean in comparison, with little of new arrivals in the strong winds.
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (SOUTH BUCKS)
(permit access only)
Peter Stevens had been recording WHINCHATS at the site since Saturday morning but despite a lot of hard grafting, I just could not locate them. Today however, I eventually located all SIX juveniles, all feeding together on the raised weed-covered bund just beyond the Lillyfee Studios. They were extremely mobile though and as I walked along towards them, they continuously moved ahead and flew perhaps 35 yards or more each time. This is a site first for me.
The only other migrants recorded were a single COMMON WHITETHROAT and a single YELLOW WAGTAIL, whilst other species noted included 3 Jays, Sparrowhawk, GREEN SANDPIPER, Blue Tit and Skylark.
CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)
The first LITTLE EGRET of the 'autumn' has arrived in the valley, feeding in the shallow tributary just east of Bois Mill. One bird lingered this year in to May and one of the London colonies from where perhaps some of my birds originate really burgeoned in numbers this summer.
At Chesham Fishing Lakes, Chris Pontin noted two Great Crested Grebes present including a juvenile.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Just outside the Recording Area - South Beaconsfield
SATURDAY 21 AUGUST
Cloud cover dominated today but a brisk southerly wind kept temperatures warm and muggy
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY (SOUTH BUCKS)
(private site: permit access only)
I spent three hours on site this afternoon searching in vain for the 4 WHINCHATS that had been present in the morning - no sign whatsoever.
The great news is that the two young BARN OWLS have fledged and left the nest hole
Two COMMON RAVENS were seen several times, along with 500+ Jackdaws and an exceptional feeding flock of at least 600 Common Starlings. Also, 14 Eurasian Skylarks were noteworthy.
Few gulls on site this afternoon other than 70 argenteus Herring Gulls, whilst 44 Stock Dove, 29 Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzard, 78 Lapwing, Yellowhammer, 12 Goldfinch and 6 Linnets made up the rest of the Systematic List
Cloud cover dominated today but a brisk southerly wind kept temperatures warm and muggy
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY (SOUTH BUCKS)
(private site: permit access only)
I spent three hours on site this afternoon searching in vain for the 4 WHINCHATS that had been present in the morning - no sign whatsoever.
The great news is that the two young BARN OWLS have fledged and left the nest hole
Two COMMON RAVENS were seen several times, along with 500+ Jackdaws and an exceptional feeding flock of at least 600 Common Starlings. Also, 14 Eurasian Skylarks were noteworthy.
Few gulls on site this afternoon other than 70 argenteus Herring Gulls, whilst 44 Stock Dove, 29 Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzard, 78 Lapwing, Yellowhammer, 12 Goldfinch and 6 Linnets made up the rest of the Systematic List
Friday, 20 August 2010
New baby GREAT CRESTED GREBE, late COMMON SWIFT and large gull flock just outside boundary
FRIDAY 20 AUGUST
A very warm and muggy southerly wind followed the overnight band of rain and in turn moved on many of the passerine migrants of yesterday as well as an adult male Lesser Grey Shrike in North Norfolk I was all set to go for......
Dave's early morning check of Wilstone revealed nothing more than the continuing BLACK-NECKED GREBE, GARGANEY and two ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWITS so I thought I would try Steps Hill again. However, that was dire and there was little else of note at other sites either........
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
There was no sign of any passage Pied Flycatchers on site following yesterday's bird at Wilstone. The highlight however was a single stripy baby Great Crested Grebe riding on mother's back - the third baby to have been born this year in my Recording Area. It is interesting how late Great Crested Grebes nest now, particularly when you consider some pairs breed as early as March and fledge in May. A new cluster of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS was also present.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (the resident pair have raised a single chick whilst the first-winter from elsewhere also remains. The male carried in a silver fish but it was too large for the baby bird to take.
Little Grebe (a new juvenile on site as well as at least two adults)
Mute Swan (all five birds present as usual)
Gadwall (1) but no other wildfowl noted
Coot (125)
Moorhen (7)
Red Kite (5)
Common Buzzard (2)
COMMON KINGFISHER (heard)
Green Woodpecker (adult and juvenile)
COMMON SWIFT (1 lingering at the west end)
SAND MARTIN (1 - scarce in the area)
House Martin (4)
European Barn Swallow (3 at the cricket field)
WESTERN REED WARBLER (nesting confirmed - family group of four birds at west end)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS (4 birds at the west end of the lake with a 'newly arrived' family of four - the adults feeding two young - at the extreme west end by the fenceline)
Greenfinch (1)
Goldfinch (charm of 9 birds feeding on teasels)
PENN STREET VILLAGE (BUCKS)
A family party of four birds on the village green and two Common Buzzards overhead.
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (BUCKS)
(permit access only)
There were over 700 large white-headed gulls present on the landfill on my arrival including an exceptional number of argenteus Herring Gulls for late August - 413 in all. In amongst them were at least 28 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS and over 300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls including several intermedius. There was also a single adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - rare in August.
Little else of note though apart from 16 Red Kites, 78 Lapwing west and 250 Common Starlings
A very warm and muggy southerly wind followed the overnight band of rain and in turn moved on many of the passerine migrants of yesterday as well as an adult male Lesser Grey Shrike in North Norfolk I was all set to go for......
Dave's early morning check of Wilstone revealed nothing more than the continuing BLACK-NECKED GREBE, GARGANEY and two ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWITS so I thought I would try Steps Hill again. However, that was dire and there was little else of note at other sites either........
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
There was no sign of any passage Pied Flycatchers on site following yesterday's bird at Wilstone. The highlight however was a single stripy baby Great Crested Grebe riding on mother's back - the third baby to have been born this year in my Recording Area. It is interesting how late Great Crested Grebes nest now, particularly when you consider some pairs breed as early as March and fledge in May. A new cluster of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS was also present.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (the resident pair have raised a single chick whilst the first-winter from elsewhere also remains. The male carried in a silver fish but it was too large for the baby bird to take.
Little Grebe (a new juvenile on site as well as at least two adults)
Mute Swan (all five birds present as usual)
Gadwall (1) but no other wildfowl noted
Coot (125)
Moorhen (7)
Red Kite (5)
Common Buzzard (2)
COMMON KINGFISHER (heard)
Green Woodpecker (adult and juvenile)
COMMON SWIFT (1 lingering at the west end)
SAND MARTIN (1 - scarce in the area)
House Martin (4)
European Barn Swallow (3 at the cricket field)
WESTERN REED WARBLER (nesting confirmed - family group of four birds at west end)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS (4 birds at the west end of the lake with a 'newly arrived' family of four - the adults feeding two young - at the extreme west end by the fenceline)
Greenfinch (1)
Goldfinch (charm of 9 birds feeding on teasels)
PENN STREET VILLAGE (BUCKS)
A family party of four birds on the village green and two Common Buzzards overhead.
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (BUCKS)
(permit access only)
There were over 700 large white-headed gulls present on the landfill on my arrival including an exceptional number of argenteus Herring Gulls for late August - 413 in all. In amongst them were at least 28 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS and over 300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls including several intermedius. There was also a single adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - rare in August.
Little else of note though apart from 16 Red Kites, 78 Lapwing west and 250 Common Starlings
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