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
Friday, 20 August 2010
Monday, 16 August 2010
Hirundines on the move
Fairly quiet at a local level apart from a good passage of EUROPEAN BARN SWALLOWS on Sunday
My garden has been alive with juvenile Blue and Great Tits, with 2 Long-tailed Tits on Saturday, with a Eurasian Sparrowhawk over White Lion Road on Sunday
My garden has been alive with juvenile Blue and Great Tits, with 2 Long-tailed Tits on Saturday, with a Eurasian Sparrowhawk over White Lion Road on Sunday
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Bushes alive with warblers and flycatchers at Shardeloes
WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST
A return to pleasant weather, with a wedge of increasing high pressure pushing temperatures back up to the low 70's. Winds were light west or northwest, with patchy cloud giving way to clear blue skies.
CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
Two LINNETS flew over the garden mid morning, whilst the number of Goldfinches visiting the Nyger seed increased to 6, including a juvenile. House Sparrow numbers peaked at 35.
FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS)
The single Common Teal remained present, as did the single Mute Swan, female Tufted Duck, 44 Coot, 9 Moorhen and Lapwing, whilst the surrounding woodland and fields yielded HOBBY, Nuthatch, both Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch and Robin. A Common Buzzard was in full tumbling display in the warm afternoon sunshine.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
Warblers and flycatchers were everywhere and frenziedly flashing backwards and forwards from the Willows and Sallows at the west end of the lake, including 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 8 Common Chiffchaffs, 5 juvenile WILLOW WARBLERS and 9 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS.
The lake held the 5 Mute Swans, the juvenile MANDARIN DUCK, a drake Gadwall, a female Northern Pochard, all 4 Great Crested Grebes, 112 Coot, a Common Kingfisher and 15 Long-tailed Tits. The Mandarin was 'flycatching' - snapping out with an extended neck at the many insects passing by.
A return to pleasant weather, with a wedge of increasing high pressure pushing temperatures back up to the low 70's. Winds were light west or northwest, with patchy cloud giving way to clear blue skies.
CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
Two LINNETS flew over the garden mid morning, whilst the number of Goldfinches visiting the Nyger seed increased to 6, including a juvenile. House Sparrow numbers peaked at 35.
FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS)
The single Common Teal remained present, as did the single Mute Swan, female Tufted Duck, 44 Coot, 9 Moorhen and Lapwing, whilst the surrounding woodland and fields yielded HOBBY, Nuthatch, both Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch and Robin. A Common Buzzard was in full tumbling display in the warm afternoon sunshine.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
Warblers and flycatchers were everywhere and frenziedly flashing backwards and forwards from the Willows and Sallows at the west end of the lake, including 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 8 Common Chiffchaffs, 5 juvenile WILLOW WARBLERS and 9 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS.
The lake held the 5 Mute Swans, the juvenile MANDARIN DUCK, a drake Gadwall, a female Northern Pochard, all 4 Great Crested Grebes, 112 Coot, a Common Kingfisher and 15 Long-tailed Tits. The Mandarin was 'flycatching' - snapping out with an extended neck at the many insects passing by.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
GREEN SANDPIPER downed by lightning storm
Spotted Flycatcher (Mike Knott)
WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST
Following a short, sharp shower mid morning, early afternoon saw a lightning storm pass across the Chilterns. Much cooler conditions arrived from the North West and bright periods were few and far between.
I was hoping the rain would bring down a few birds and it did - the first LESSER WHITETHROATS of the year in my Recording Area as well as an unexpected passage GREEN SANDPIPER......
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
(midday through to 1410 hours)
Two LESSER WHITETHROATS were 'taccing' in the Sallow and Willow scrub at the far weat end of the lake, representing the first record of this species in the Amersham District this year. The Willow and Sallows also produced one continuing juvenile SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, a singing WILLOW WARBLER and 5 Common Chiffchaffs.
Most unexpected was a passage migrant GREEN SANDPIPER that dropped in during a deluge of rain coincident with a lightning storm. It landed on a minute patch of mud along the footpath shore and then flew off calling loudly when the heavy rain stopped. This is my first record of this species at the lake.
Also noted were 4 GREAT CRESTED GREBES today (the resident pair, a further adult and the first-winter), 2 Little Grebes, 4 Mute Swans (the 3 first-summers and an additional bird much further up the Misbourne by Kennel Farm), 2 Grey Heron, 7 GADWALL, 113 Coot and an adult Black-headed Gull.
Common Kestrels had bred with a juvenile begging for food, with Common Buzzard and 6 Red Kites on view and a LITTLE OWL calling loudly.
Three House Martins were clearly migrants, whilst 44 Jackdaws were feeding close to Kennel Farm and 2 family parties of Pied Wagtail (9 birds - 5 juveniles) were feeding on the cricket pitch. Up to 8 Goldfinches were in the area.
Following a short, sharp shower mid morning, early afternoon saw a lightning storm pass across the Chilterns. Much cooler conditions arrived from the North West and bright periods were few and far between.
I was hoping the rain would bring down a few birds and it did - the first LESSER WHITETHROATS of the year in my Recording Area as well as an unexpected passage GREEN SANDPIPER......
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
(midday through to 1410 hours)
Two LESSER WHITETHROATS were 'taccing' in the Sallow and Willow scrub at the far weat end of the lake, representing the first record of this species in the Amersham District this year. The Willow and Sallows also produced one continuing juvenile SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, a singing WILLOW WARBLER and 5 Common Chiffchaffs.
Most unexpected was a passage migrant GREEN SANDPIPER that dropped in during a deluge of rain coincident with a lightning storm. It landed on a minute patch of mud along the footpath shore and then flew off calling loudly when the heavy rain stopped. This is my first record of this species at the lake.
Also noted were 4 GREAT CRESTED GREBES today (the resident pair, a further adult and the first-winter), 2 Little Grebes, 4 Mute Swans (the 3 first-summers and an additional bird much further up the Misbourne by Kennel Farm), 2 Grey Heron, 7 GADWALL, 113 Coot and an adult Black-headed Gull.
Common Kestrels had bred with a juvenile begging for food, with Common Buzzard and 6 Red Kites on view and a LITTLE OWL calling loudly.
Three House Martins were clearly migrants, whilst 44 Jackdaws were feeding close to Kennel Farm and 2 family parties of Pied Wagtail (9 birds - 5 juveniles) were feeding on the cricket pitch. Up to 8 Goldfinches were in the area.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
At last - finally added HOBBY
Red Kites have benefitted from yet another spectacular breeding season in my area of South Buckinghamshire and at present, juveniles can be heard screaming all around. Mike Ilett obtained these outstanding images.
TUESDAY 3 AUGUST
A cloudy day with occasional light spots of rain. Still largely warm, with temperatures average for early August at 68 degrees F. Light NW winds.
The harvesting of the crops is well underway now with fields being cut all around. Likewise, the eerie screaming cries of juvenile Red Kites and Common Buzzards can be heard all along the valley to the backdrop of the whine of the working combines.
Intent on trying to rack the 2010 Amersham Recording Area list up to 100 species, I spent much of the day walking the Chess Valley, hoping for either a Lesser Whitethroat or flyover Yellow Wagtail. The highlight was the finding of 2 HOBBIES - incredibly the first of the year (species 97). In any normal year, Hobbies would be breeding but not this year (3 pairs are just outside the periphery)....
CHESS RIVER VALLEY BETWEEN GREAT WATER AND CRESTYL CRESSBEDS (BUCKS)
At Latimer Great Water, the lake held 16 Mute Swans (including 1 cygnet), 6 Tufted Ducks and 33 Coots, whilst 3 adult Black-headed Gulls flew west and the Latimer Conference Centre grounds yielded Common Buzzard, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Robin.
A family group of 4 Common Magpies intriguingly held 3 individuals showing the bluish skin area behind the eye associated with Mauretanicus birds found in North Africa. All were juveniles and it appeared to be some effect of moult.
Walking down to Neptune Waterfall, a mixed tit flock harboured 5 Great, 3 Blue and 8 Long-taileds, whilst the section of river between the falls and Latimer Bridge yielded 2 Mute Swans, a female Mallard with 5 well grown young, a female Tufted Duck with 3 ducklings (and two other females and a female with three much older young), a single adult Little Grebe and 11 Coots (including 6 juveniles).
Latimer Village had Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 European Barn Swallows and whilst counting the swirling flock of House Martins high above the village (45 in all), I came across 2 HOBBIES taking an active interest in them. In fact, they circled around for the best part of half an hour before finally drifting away over Flaunden Grove. Incredibly, these were the first Hobbies to be recorded in the Amersham Recording Area this year, most years several pairs nesting. Despite exhaustive searching, I did not locate any this summer between Amersham and Beaconsfield nor in the Cholesbury area. A single COMMON SWIFT was also noted.
Moving on and away from the grazing cattle by Latimer Bridge, the walk east to Church Covert turned up Greenfinch, Grey Heron, a male Common Pheasant and two pairs of Coot with young, whilst Church Covert held a Common Chiffchaff and I flushed an unidentified dark warbler up and away from sedges by the river. A number of BANDED DEMOISELLES were on the reeds by the side of the Chess.
With a backdrop of whining combine harvesters, the eerie cries of baby Red Kites and Common Buzzards echoed from the direction of Baldwin's Wood and once again I can report a tremendous breeding season for both species (the Chilterns population now fast approaching a staggering 900 birds) (see Mike Ilett's superb images above).
For the second year in succession, Mill Farm Meadow has hosted breeding Common Kestrels and this year just two juveniles have fledged (both waiting to be fed by the parents on the dead tree). Down by the river, a family party of 6 Greenfinches was drinking, whilst nearby where the horses had been grazing, a pair of Linnets and a family group of Pied Wagtails (two juveniles) were feeding. Five European Barn Swallows were circling overhead.
At Frogmore Meadows, both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were encountered, with three juvenile Green seen in total. At the neighbouring Water Vole Watchpoint, a juvenile Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and a family group of 4 Atlantic Canada Geese was noted.
In the paddocks adjoining Valley Farm, an adult LITTLE OWL was feeding three fledged juveniles on the parched ground, clumsily bouncing about and snatching at passing butterflies and damselflies. The same fields held Green Woodpecker and a female Pied Wagtail busily gathering food and at the ford next door to the Crestyl Water Cress Farm, Dunnock and Common Whitethroat were in the tall weedy field.
As I walked along Holloway Lane back towards Chenies Village, I was enthralled by a family party of 5 BULLFINCHES feeding on Crab Apples in the hedgerow. The sounds being uttered by the juveniles was oddly reminiscent of the squeaky calls made by the juvenile Coots. A Song Thrush and juvenile Chaffinch were also seen.
A cloudy day with occasional light spots of rain. Still largely warm, with temperatures average for early August at 68 degrees F. Light NW winds.
The harvesting of the crops is well underway now with fields being cut all around. Likewise, the eerie screaming cries of juvenile Red Kites and Common Buzzards can be heard all along the valley to the backdrop of the whine of the working combines.
Intent on trying to rack the 2010 Amersham Recording Area list up to 100 species, I spent much of the day walking the Chess Valley, hoping for either a Lesser Whitethroat or flyover Yellow Wagtail. The highlight was the finding of 2 HOBBIES - incredibly the first of the year (species 97). In any normal year, Hobbies would be breeding but not this year (3 pairs are just outside the periphery)....
CHESS RIVER VALLEY BETWEEN GREAT WATER AND CRESTYL CRESSBEDS (BUCKS)
At Latimer Great Water, the lake held 16 Mute Swans (including 1 cygnet), 6 Tufted Ducks and 33 Coots, whilst 3 adult Black-headed Gulls flew west and the Latimer Conference Centre grounds yielded Common Buzzard, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Robin.
A family group of 4 Common Magpies intriguingly held 3 individuals showing the bluish skin area behind the eye associated with Mauretanicus birds found in North Africa. All were juveniles and it appeared to be some effect of moult.
Walking down to Neptune Waterfall, a mixed tit flock harboured 5 Great, 3 Blue and 8 Long-taileds, whilst the section of river between the falls and Latimer Bridge yielded 2 Mute Swans, a female Mallard with 5 well grown young, a female Tufted Duck with 3 ducklings (and two other females and a female with three much older young), a single adult Little Grebe and 11 Coots (including 6 juveniles).
Latimer Village had Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 European Barn Swallows and whilst counting the swirling flock of House Martins high above the village (45 in all), I came across 2 HOBBIES taking an active interest in them. In fact, they circled around for the best part of half an hour before finally drifting away over Flaunden Grove. Incredibly, these were the first Hobbies to be recorded in the Amersham Recording Area this year, most years several pairs nesting. Despite exhaustive searching, I did not locate any this summer between Amersham and Beaconsfield nor in the Cholesbury area. A single COMMON SWIFT was also noted.
Moving on and away from the grazing cattle by Latimer Bridge, the walk east to Church Covert turned up Greenfinch, Grey Heron, a male Common Pheasant and two pairs of Coot with young, whilst Church Covert held a Common Chiffchaff and I flushed an unidentified dark warbler up and away from sedges by the river. A number of BANDED DEMOISELLES were on the reeds by the side of the Chess.
With a backdrop of whining combine harvesters, the eerie cries of baby Red Kites and Common Buzzards echoed from the direction of Baldwin's Wood and once again I can report a tremendous breeding season for both species (the Chilterns population now fast approaching a staggering 900 birds) (see Mike Ilett's superb images above).
For the second year in succession, Mill Farm Meadow has hosted breeding Common Kestrels and this year just two juveniles have fledged (both waiting to be fed by the parents on the dead tree). Down by the river, a family party of 6 Greenfinches was drinking, whilst nearby where the horses had been grazing, a pair of Linnets and a family group of Pied Wagtails (two juveniles) were feeding. Five European Barn Swallows were circling overhead.
At Frogmore Meadows, both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were encountered, with three juvenile Green seen in total. At the neighbouring Water Vole Watchpoint, a juvenile Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and a family group of 4 Atlantic Canada Geese was noted.
In the paddocks adjoining Valley Farm, an adult LITTLE OWL was feeding three fledged juveniles on the parched ground, clumsily bouncing about and snatching at passing butterflies and damselflies. The same fields held Green Woodpecker and a female Pied Wagtail busily gathering food and at the ford next door to the Crestyl Water Cress Farm, Dunnock and Common Whitethroat were in the tall weedy field.
As I walked along Holloway Lane back towards Chenies Village, I was enthralled by a family party of 5 BULLFINCHES feeding on Crab Apples in the hedgerow. The sounds being uttered by the juveniles was oddly reminiscent of the squeaky calls made by the juvenile Coots. A Song Thrush and juvenile Chaffinch were also seen.
Monday, 2 August 2010
First reasonable fall of early autumn passage migrants - and first SEDGE WARBLER
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
An evening visit in the hope of a Hobby. Calm conditions and an abundance of insect life saw the first real arrival of passage migrants to the lake including the first SEDGE WARBLER of the year in the Recording Area.........
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (3 birds still present, one of which is a first-winter)
Grey Heron (3 fishing in the shallows around the island)
Mute Swan (all 5 birds present - the resident pair and the three young from last summer)
MANDARIN DUCK (juvenile swam from the west end to the island)
GADWALL (5 noted)
Tufted Duck (female with 4 growing duicklings)
Coot (90+)
Moorhen (9+)
Red Kite (2 juveniles hanging around the cricket field)
Common Kestrel (1)
Stock Dove (2)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Grey Wagtail (1 at the waterfall)
European Barn Swallow (5 flycatching low over the surface)
Wren
Common Blackbird (3)
Song Thrush (1)
Mistle Thrush (6)
SEDGE WARBLER (fresh juvenile showing well in the Sallows)
Common Chiffchaff (at least 25 present in the Sallows - mainly juveniles)
WILLOW WARBLER (5 bright juveniles present in the Sallows)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (adult and two juveniles flycatching from the Sallows at the west end of the lake)
Blue Tit (6)
Long-tailed Tit (12)
Carrion Crow (4)
An evening visit in the hope of a Hobby. Calm conditions and an abundance of insect life saw the first real arrival of passage migrants to the lake including the first SEDGE WARBLER of the year in the Recording Area.........
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (3 birds still present, one of which is a first-winter)
Grey Heron (3 fishing in the shallows around the island)
Mute Swan (all 5 birds present - the resident pair and the three young from last summer)
MANDARIN DUCK (juvenile swam from the west end to the island)
GADWALL (5 noted)
Tufted Duck (female with 4 growing duicklings)
Coot (90+)
Moorhen (9+)
Red Kite (2 juveniles hanging around the cricket field)
Common Kestrel (1)
Stock Dove (2)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Grey Wagtail (1 at the waterfall)
European Barn Swallow (5 flycatching low over the surface)
Wren
Common Blackbird (3)
Song Thrush (1)
Mistle Thrush (6)
SEDGE WARBLER (fresh juvenile showing well in the Sallows)
Common Chiffchaff (at least 25 present in the Sallows - mainly juveniles)
WILLOW WARBLER (5 bright juveniles present in the Sallows)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (adult and two juveniles flycatching from the Sallows at the west end of the lake)
Blue Tit (6)
Long-tailed Tit (12)
Carrion Crow (4)
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