The Chess Valley and its birds today

MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER

Heralding a week of somewhat wintry weather, I decided to do a full survey of the bird species currently residing in the Chess Valley. Other than Siskins and a few small groups of Redwing, there was no real hint of what is about to hit the country. It was another very overcast and grey day, with the wind in the North East and temperatures struggling to make double figures. Interestingly, the Chess had changed its course just east of Latimer Bridge and carved itself a new route.

THE CHESS VALLEY (SOUTH BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)

I checked the section between the Chesham Sewage Farm east to the Crestyl Cressbeds at Sarratt. A total of 493 birds of 44 species was recorded -:

Little Grebe (1 on Great Water with a further 3 together just west of Chenies Bottom)
Grey Heron (2 noted including the first-year still feeding by the roadside just east of Bell Lane on Latimer Road)
LITTLE EGRET (the 4 wintering birds present - 1 east of Bois Mill, 2 in the region of Church Covert and another at the cressbed)
Mute Swan (19 in total including 3 on Bois Mill Pond - including a first-winter in the stream - 15 on Great Water and 1 by Chenies Bottom)
Atlantic Canada Geese (115 on Great Water)
Mallard (6 at Chenies Bottom)
Tufted Duck (23 on Great Water)
Common Buzzard (3)
Red Kite (1)
Common Kestrel (1 male)
Common Pheasant (3 males)
Moorhen (14 at Great Water and a further 13 in or around the cressbeds)
Coot (44 on Great Water)
Black-headed Gull (2 adults by Chenies Bottom)
Common Gull (adult flew over)

Woodpigeon (40 or so; very small numbers overall)
Eurasian Collared Dove (pair in Chenies Bottom)
COMMON KINGFISHER (1 on the river just west of the cressbeds)
Green Woodpecker (3)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Meadow Pipit (1 near Latimer Hall)
Pied Wagtail (2 by Latimer Hall)
Grey Wagtail (3)
Wren (8)
Dunnock (1 in song by the orchid reserve with 6 in total noted)
European Robin (15 in the valley, mainly close to the gardens)
*COMMON STONECHAT (the two wintering birds - pair- still present in Mill Farm meadow)
Song Thrush (2 in Church Covert and another nearer the cressbeds)
REDWING (5 by Latimer Hall and a further 7 elsewhere)
Mistle Thrush (3 by Latimer Hall)
Common Blackbird (10 including 5 in one hedgerow by the orchid reserve)
GOLDCREST (1 by Church Covert and 2 more in firs by the cressbed)
Great Tit (2 at Latimer Hall)
Blue Tit (5 at Latimer Hall and another at Ivy House)
Long-tailed Tit (8 near Church Covert)
Common Magpie (6 together)
Jay (3 - well scattered)
Jackdaw (55)
Carrion Crow (4)
Chaffinch (3 in Chenies Bottom village)
Goldfinch (25 by Latimer Hall)
Greenfinch (4)
SISKIN ( 3 birds by Latimer Hall)
Bullfinch (pair by orchid reserve as usual)