More Local Surveying

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.

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.

BARN SWALLOW success

Two baby BARN SWALLOWS have fledged from a nest in Chenies and were being fed at Frogmore Meadow nearby. A further pair was still feeding young in a nest in the new horse shed by the road.

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)

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.

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)

TURTLE DOVE still present

Although just outside Tring, its on my way to work and as EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVES are tough birds to see locally now I stopped off at Bovingdon early this morning. The Turtle dove was still present sat in a bare tree occasionally calling. I managed this record shot of it (Dave Bilcock).

Local Mega - singing EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE

Just as it looked as though the spring passage was over, new arrivals are still taking place

Most thrilling and following on from the first at Calvert BBOWT this year (per Jon Holt), the first EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE in my recording area for many years was discovered by Dave Hutchinson yesterday morning. I quickly made my way over and enjoyed excellent views of the bird late afternoon, the bird singing from an open perch.

The dove is at the overgrown brickwork site (Boxmoor Trust land now) at Bovingdon Green (at TL 005 028). Park on Shantock Hall Lane and follow the footpath NE for 250 yards to the gate. There is an entrance to the land here and the Turtle Dove was 'singing' from the tall trees literally in line with Gilbert Motors.

There were also 2 male GARDEN WARBLERS singing, at least 4 COMMON WHITETHROATS (including a pair feeding young), a singing male Common Chiffchaff, pair of Linnets, 2 singing male Song Thrushes and a family party of Great Tits.

Following a text from Dan Forder, I then went to meet up with Dave Bilcock and Pitstone Hill.

During an hour in the evening (1930-2030 hours) in balmy flat calm conditions, three calling male COMMON QUAIL was heard in the large barley field opposite the main car park at SP 957 150 and west of Down Farm, all well spaced apart and calling very infrequently.

There was also a gathering of 23 Fallow Deer in the field, a certain Sue Rowe, good numbers of singing Eurasian Skylarks, at least 12 Meadow Pipits feeding young, 4 Linnets and at least 5 CORN BUNTINGS (again, some adults carrying in food).

Nearby at Great Seabrook (SP 930 166), I recorded an adult HOBBY.

Close to home, an adult TAWNY OWL carrying food flew across the bottom end of Bell Lane at 1020 hours.

It has been an excellent year for local FIRECRESTS, with 5 different singing males in Wendover Forest, a pair successfully breeding near Bison Hill and at least four different singing males in Ashridge Forest.

FROGMORE MEADOWS

In the meadow adjacent to the reserve, large numbers of COMMON SPOTTED and SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHIDS are now flowering (see pictures above).

On the bird front, 2 singing GARDEN WARBLERS, 1 Blackcap, 4+ COMMON WHITETHROATS and 2 Common Chiffchaffs, with COMMON KINGFISHER by the river (Chris)

More Surveying - HOBBY nesting, GARDEN WARBLERS and COMMON CUCKOO found, more COMMON WHITEHROATS and two new drake BLUEBILLS

FRIDAY 12 JUNE

Fairly cloudy but a warm day, with light winds and some long sunny periods. I took advantage of a quiet day to do some more local surveying work. Highlights included nesting HOBBIES, 2 'new' bluebills, several COMMON WHITETHROATS and my first Amersham area COMMON CUCKOO and GARDEN WARBLERS of the year.

TQ 01 98 (CHENIES VILLAGE/CHENIES BOTTOM)

CHENIES VILLAGE (censused all village area north of A404)

Woodpigeon (2 pairs)
European Collared Dove (2 pairs)
Common Swift (1 overhead)
Pied Wagtail (1 juvenile)
Eurasian Skylark (singing male south of the A404)
Dunnock (1 singing male)
Wren (2 singing males)
European Robin (7 territories, with 3 pairs feeding young)
Common Blackbird (8 pairs)
Song Thrush (male in song)
Blackcap (3 singing males, with 2 by the Van Hage Garden Centre Overflow car park)
Blue Tit (3 family groups)
Coal Tit (singing male near church)
Great Tit (1 juvenile)
Magpie (pair)
Western Jackdaw (2 pairs nesting in the chimneys of the 'Old Village Shop')
Common Starlings (5 fledged juveniles)
House Sparrows (population of 16 birds, nesting under eaves of house '48')
Chaffinch (6 pairs)
Common Greenfinch (2 singing males, with one in trees by Chenies & Latimer Cricket Club ground and another in trees behind the Bedford Aems)

CIRCUIT STARTING FROM HOLLOWAY LANE AT TQ 017 984 EASTING AT THE WEIR AND WATERCRESS FARM AND RETURNING WEST VIA THE CHESS VALLEY WALK TO MILL FARM AND CHENIES BOTTOM - SURVEY AREA INCLUDES FROGMORE MEADOW NR AND MILL FARM WATER MEADOWS

Common Pheasant (1 male)
Common Buzzard (nesting pair in Mount Wood)
Common Kestrel (adult male)
*HOBBY (pair)
Woodpigeon (3 pairs)
Green Woodpecker (in Mount Wood and by boardwalk)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (juvenile by boardwalk and nest found by road)
Wren (7 singing males)
European Robin (8 territories, with 3 pairs feeding young)
Common Blackbird
*COMMON WHITETHROAT (singing male at Frogmore Valley NR at TQ 021 986, with another near weir at TQ 025 989, a pair feeding young by the ford and two further singing males at Mill Farm Water Meadows at TQ 020 987)
Blackcap (singing males in hedgerow by Holloway Lane and on Frogmore NR; female feeding young at two locations)
**GARDEN WARBLERS (2 - singing males in Black Poplar at Frogmore Valley NR and in hedgerow at TQ 021 990. These two birds represented my first in the District this spring)
Common Chiffchaff (1 singing male at Frogmore Valley NR)
Great Tit (3 family parties)
Blue Tit (4 family parties)
Long-tailed Tits (8)
Carrion Crow (nesting pair)
Western Jackdaws (12 feeding on lawn of Chenies Place including several juveniles)
Goldfinch (1)
Chaffinch (3)

Speckled Woods (40+)
Marsh Marigolds (Frogmore NR)

MILL FARM BARNS AND RIVER AT CHENIES BOTTOM (TQ 012 988)

Coot (pair)
Moorhen (1 juvenile)
Tufted Duck (1 drake)
Common Blackbird (2 pairs)
Great Tit (family party)
Goldfinch (pair)

LATIMER BRIDGE (TQ 004 985)

Another singing male COMMON WHITETHROAT on wires just NE of Stoney Lane/Latimer Road crossroads.

GREAT WATER, LATIMER PARK (TQ 000 986)

Little Grebe (2)
Mute Swans (22)
Canada Geese (7 adults; 9 well grown young)
Mallard (3 family groups accompanied by 9, 8 and 5 young respectively)
Tufted Duck (16)
Coot (pair with 2 young by weir)
Common Buzzard (1)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Eurasian Skylark (1 singing male)
HOUSE MARTINS (27; nesting colony at Latimer Park)
Mistle Thrush (4)
Blackcap (singing male)
Chaffinch (singing male)

SHARDELOES LAKE (late evening visit 2100)

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (1 adult)
Canada Geese (37 adults; 14 well grown young)
Mallard (44 young)
Gadwall (2 drakes in eclipse)
Tufted Duck (20)
NORTHERN POCHARD (7 birds out in middle including 5 adult drakes and 2 females)

Green Woodpecker
*COMMON CUCKOO (male calling; my first in the Amersham District this year)

Record for Mic Wells: another dead Badger on the A404 just west of Chorleywood at TQ 026 975

House Sparrows doing well

Just returned from Turkey to find several family parties of HOUSE SPARROW in the garden, ande a further 'new' fledged Common Blackbird.

Chris also discovered the first EDIBLE DORMOUSE of the season (on 10 June)