Saturday, 7 January 2017
Thursday, 8 December 2016
An arrival of WINTER THRUSHES and the first EURASIAN WIGEON in the area in a very long time
THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER
Although the temperature reached 11.5 degrees
centigrade today in the Chess Valley, the area seems to be experiencing an
influx of winter thrushes, with a lot being noted this morning. This follows
several nights of movement, with a lot of calling Redwings being heard overhead
in the foggy conditions of late.
My first stop today was at SHARDELOES LAKE,
where the highlight was undoubtedly a first-winter drake EURASIAN WIGEON, the
first record for the site for a number of years (and the first in the Amersham
Recording Area this year). The lake also held 66 Coot, 20 Mallard, 18 Gadwall
and 7 Tufted Duck (4 drakes) but still no sign of a single Northern Pochard this
winter! Otherwise, interest was provided by 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2
Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, a SISKIN, 4 Bullfinch, 4 Common Blackbird, 23
Redwing and at least 35 Fieldfares.....
At CHENIES BOTTOM, a single Little Grebe and 3
Mute Swans were west of the bridge, with 35 Redwing and 8 Fieldfare overhead
moving west. A Little Egret was by Mill Farm Meadow, but there was no sign of
the recent Common Stonechat there. Two different Song Thrush were seen, along
with more berry-feeding Blackbird, Fieldfare & Redwing by FROGMORE
MEADOW.
The local breeding pair of COMMON RAVEN flew
west across VALLEY FARM PADDOCKS, SARRATT BOTTOM, where over 175 Jackdaw were
flocking, 5+ Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Bullfinch and Goldcrest were also noted.
LITTLE EGRET numbers have been very low this winter in the Chess Valley so it
was pleasing to see 3 individuals frequenting CRESTYL CRESSBED. A single Meadow
Pipit flew over, with COMMON KINGFISHER and Common Kestrel also
noted.
At least 40 Redwing were feeding on berries in
CHENIES VILLAGE as I passed through
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Confiding GREY HERON at Waterside
THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER
This very confiding first-winter Grey Heron was
fishing blissfully unaware of commuters at CHESHAM WATERSIDE this morning, while
the resident pair of Mute Swan still have their single surviving cygnet from
this summer with them......
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
EGYPTIAN GOOSE at Shardeloes, with 35 LINNET over
Shardeloes Lake sightings: 27th September
2016
Most unexpected was a single EGYPTIAN GOOSE on
the cricket ground - a rare visitor in this area. The bird was showing very well
and seemingly unconcerned by onlookers. The cricket pitch also harboured an
exceptionally large flock of migrant alba wagtails, 43 Pieds in all. I could not
locate any of the recent Yellow Wagtails with them, but there was a juvenile
Grey Wagtail.
At the main lake, there were 8 Little Grebes, 5
Great Crested Grebes, a single adult Mute Swan, 25 Mallard, 26 Gadwall, just 2
Tufted Ducks and 54 Coot, while the gull roost held 28 Black-headed and a single
adult Common. An exceptional gathering of 36 Stock Dove was noted, while
Woodpigeon numbers were at a high 80, with Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Mistle
Thrush, a vocal Common Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest. Most noteworthy was a flock
of 35 LINNET that went over - a scarce bird at this locale
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