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