Two CORMORANTS in the Valley

WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY

A very wet morning but considerably milder than of late, with temperatures recovering to 14 degrees C by mid-afternoon - spring is on the way! The drizzle did eventually clear at about 1300 hours but grey cloud prevailed throughout.

I managed to clean up on Dunlin and Water Pipit today and evidenced hints of migration......

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Many LESSER REDPOLL now visiting the feeders including some bright adult males, with a pair of Greenfinches present for at least an hour this morning.

CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

Still 3 LITTLE EGRETS in evidence, with 2 feeding with the horse in Mill Farm Water Meadows; also 3 Stock Doves. A juvenile CORMORANT is at Bois Mill Pond with an adult-type roosting in the dead tree just east of Latimer Bridge

LOWNDES PARK LAKE, CHESHAM (BUCKS)

All 5 adult Mute Swans still present

Lowndes Lake MUTE SWANS increased to 5 today

There were 5 Mute Swans on Lowndes Lake this morning, the most I have ever seen there. Meanwhile, at least 7 LESSER REDPOLLS were feeding in my garden.

MUTE SWANS in Chesham

SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY

After having spent virtually all week 'wardening' a certain vagrant Turtle Dove, I concentrated my efforts on Hertfordshire today, trying to catch up on a few birds I was still missing.....

Sadly, the weather was very poor, with cold SE winds bringing dank, misty weather with very poor visibility.

CHESHAM (BUCKS)

A total of 8 Mute Swans now back in Chesham, with two pairs on Lowndes Park Lake, a pair on Bois Mill Pond and 3 birds (regular pair and one of last year's young) at Waterside.

Just outside area: TREE SPARROW at Maple Cross

A single TREE SPARROW was feeding on track with House Sparrows and Chaffinches near farm cottages at Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross (at approx TQ 033 929) at 09:30 this morning (per HBC)

More garden REDPOLLS

Stuart and Lesley Wilson have also attracted LESSER REDPOLLS to their Little Chalfont garden feeders, whilst they also have 6 SISKINS, a BRAMBLING (the first since December 2010) and up to 60 Goldfinches.

LESSER REDPOLLS on the up

LESSER REDPOLLS on my Nyger increased to 5 today - arguing and fighting for position with the Goldfinches

GREAT CRESTED GREBES back on Fishing Lakes

SUNDAY 13 FEBRUARY

The wind veered to the SE today but temperatures still held up. Although the rain held off until late morning, it then moved in and continued into darkness, somewhat hampering viewing.

The milder weather experienced over the weekend certainly spurned on some of the earlier migrants, with a marked arrival of OYSTERCATCHERS in our region, some more RINGED PLOVERS, COMMON SHELDUCKS, many FIELDFARES and numerous gulls reorienting northwards........

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Still 3 LESSER REDPOLLS on my garden Nyger seed feeders.

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

Three GREAT CRESTED GREBES now in residence, with a displaying pair on the smaller lake and the more winter plumaged bird on the larger lake; also 9 Tufted Duck and 3 Northern Pochards

LOWNDES PARK LAKE, CHESHAM (BUCKS)

All 4 Chesham adult Mute Swans now on the one small lake.

LESSER REDPOLLS

Two LESSER REDPOLLS present on the Nyger Feeders until at least 1030 hours and a COAL TIT visiting the fat balls on a regular basis.

A single LITTLE EGRET in the stream adjacent to Bois Mill Pond

LESSER REDPOLL in garden - first for 2011

WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Two LESSER REDPOLLS joined the 10 or so Goldfinches feeding on the Nyger feeders this morning - the first in the garden this year. One was a nice male.

BARN OWLat Greenstreet Farm

Stuart Wilson saw a BARN OWL hunting over fields just north of Greenstreet Farm at 1430 hours on Saturday afternoon - the first record this year

Just outside the area

WEDNESDAY 2 FEBRUARY

Back to grey and overcast skies again but a lot milder than of late with a switch to westerly winds.

I wanted to track down the Iceland Gull today so I spent a lot of time grilling the local landfill flocks; as I suspected, it was at Springfield Farm.........

BEACONSFIELD HOUSEHOLD WASTE AND LANDFILL SITE (BUCKS)

First off I visited Hedgerley where to my amazement, not a single gull was in attendance. No shortage of Red Kites though with 27 counted, along with 294 Jackdaws and 57 Common Starlings. Lorries were dumping rubbish but it was having no affect on the gulls. The reason was - was that they were all at Springfield Farm.....

SPRINGFIELD FARM LANDFILL (SOUTH BUCKS)
(Permit Access only)

Just under 8,000 gulls were present on Springfield, with many of the larger white-headed gulls roosting on the steep banks overlooking the deep rubbish-strewn pans. I spent over an hour working my way through the throng (1200-1300 hours), the 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL that I had seen yesterday at Spade Oak showing well throughout.

An incredible 4,500 Black-headed Gulls were present but I just could not find a single Mediterranean Gull with them nor incredibly a single Common Gull (Common Gulls just so not like landfill sites). Just under 2,700 birds were Herring (2,696), with the greater percentage now European birds (Argenteus) with perhaps only 35% now Scandinavian Argentatus (although many adults now have clean white heads too). Lesser Black-backed Gulls were not in the sort of numbers present at Calvert Landfill last week with just 650 estimated, whilst Great Black-backed Gulls weighed in at 131 birds, mainly full adults. I was very pleased to see over 50% of the Herring Gulls being juveniles, suggesting an excellent winter survival rate.

Red Kites were everywhere as usual, with 54 the peak count at any one given time, whilst a mixed flock of 400 corvids was made up largely of Jackdaw, with just a few Rook and Carrion Crow.

A Eurasian Skylark was in full song whilst 3 Linnets overflew the area.

CASTLEMAN'S FARM, WOOBURN COMMON (SOUTH BUCKS)

The tiny pond on Green Common Lane opposite the farm (SU 923 877) harboured 20 Mallards and 4 Moorhens whilst the animal paddocks to the south of the road yielded 7 Goldfinch, 15 Chaffinch, 12 House Sparrows and 230 Common Starlings.

In the small section of wood at the bottom of Ship Hill (at its junction with Green Common Lane), a Nuthatch was seen.

HEDGERLEY LANE (SOUTH BUCKS)

The fields to the north of Slade Farm (SU 969 873) had recently been tilled and consequently had attracted quite a few birds including 121 Lapwings, 25 Common Pheasants and 14 Red-legged Partridges - the latter my first in the county this year.

Neighbouring Hillmott's Farm Wood was very quiet and nigh on birdless with Robin, Great Tit, Redwing, Common Blackbird and Great Spotted Woodpecker all that was recorded.

RSPB CHURCH WOOD HEDGERLEY (SOUTH BUCKS)

This site still remains the most reliable site for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Buckinghamshire with a pair breeding and fledging young in both 2009 and 2010. None was to be found today however although a circuituous walk right round did produce 3 Jays, 3 Nuthatches, 5 COMMON TREECREEPERS (affording some very excellent views), 5 Goldcrests, 15 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush (including a male in full song), Great Tit, Coal Tit, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 2 SISKIN and 1 LESSER REDPOLL.

Just down from the RSPB shed, volunteers have created some excellent drinking pools for birds and a new marshy area at the bottom of the valley.

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 994 863)

Waterbirds present included 1 Sinensis Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan, 27 Atlantic Canada Geese, 30 Mallard, 10 Gadwall, 6 Common Teal, 18 Tufted Duck, 7 Northern Pochard, 32 Coot and 7 Moorhen, with the woodland strip harbouring Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Song Thrush (singing male), Common Blackbird, Robin and Great Tit. A Red Kite was drifting overhead.

SPADE OAK GP, LITTLE MARLOW (BUCKS)
(with David Gantzel and friend)

Much as yesterday afternoon, with both COMMON SHELDUCK, 3 EGYPTIAN GEESE, 157 Wigeon, 23 Teal, 16 Pochard and 21 Great Crested Grebes all again present; Lapwing numbers had increased to 302 but it was the roosting gulls I had come to sift through.

I watched the roost from 1530-1615 hours during which time the Iceland Gull did not come in; most pleasing however was the presence of a single adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL that was sat with the Black-headed Gulls on the water at the east end. It was still in full winter plumage with no black yet developing on the head other than just around the eye and ear-coverts but did have a well-developed bright red bill. Common Gulls were far more numerous than on last night with 400 counted.

MARLOW LOW GROUNDS (SOUTH BUCKS)

Hoping to see a reliable Barn Owl, I set off for the Low Grounds. I waited until dark (1717 hours) but no sign - not really sure exactly where to look. The pools held 3 Mute Swans, 8 Egyptian Geese and 6 Common Teal.

Large YELLOWHAMMER flock in Hyde Heath; LESSER REDPOLLS in area and immature ICELAND GULL just outside area

TUESDAY 1 FEBRUARY

An odd day weatherwise; initially an overnight frost followed by damp, drizzly conditions but then clearing to give way to a cold, clear evening.

Today, I concentrated on South Buckinghamshire - eventually tracking down three local Year-ticks - LESSER REDPOLL, BRAMBLING and ICELAND GULL..........

HYDE HEATH (BUCKS)

Thanks to a tip-off from Paul Keene, I was quickly able to locate LESSER REDPOLL. At least three birds, including a brightly-marked adult male, was visiting Paul's nyger feeders and when spooked, sat up in full view in the trees bordering Brays Green Lane.

More exciting was a very impressive wintering flock of YELLOWHAMMER - 53 in all - in the stubble field immediately north of Bray's Wood and bordering Keeper's Lane at SU 933 997 - the highest recorded flock in my Recording Area this winter. Associating with them were 41 Chaffinches, whilst 8 Greenfinch were also noted.

Paul's garden also yielded Nuthatch, 3 Siskins and Blue Tits, whilst 80 Woodpigeons were roosting in Bray's Wood.

PENN WOOD WOODLAND TRUST RESERVE (BUCKS)

Comprehensively surveyed the entire reserve and no sign whatsoever of the 3 Hawfinches Chris Hazell and I saw at the end of last year. I did manage to locate the LESSER REDPOLL flock though - enjoying great views of a feeding flock of 16 in Birches and then 3 brief flyovers (no sign of the huge flock though).

At least 70 Redwings were in the wood, as well as 15 Fieldfares, with 3 Coal Tits, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tits, Wren and 10 Goldcrests recorded. I also saw a single Common Buzzard, 6 Jays, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Carrion Crow.

From about 1500 hours, the Greenfinch roost in the Holly started gathering pace and I was highly delighted to count 84 birds over the next half hour, clearly indicating that this Penn Wood population is holding up well despite the serious disease which is affecting this species in Britain and causing alarming declines. A total of 8 BRAMBLINGS roosted with them.

PENN VILLAGE POND (SU 907 937) AND TYLERS GREEN FIELDS (SU 908 942)

Two Brown Hares were gracing the field just west of Pugh's Wood (Tylers Green) whilst the Village Pond held 2 Moorhens and 43 Mallard (27 drakes and 16 females).

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW GP (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 880 875)

John Gaites and an Ealing birder whose name escapes me had seen the immature ICELAND GULL on at least three occasions before I pitched up (from 1515 hours) but it had been flushed along with all of the other large gulls just before Chris Heard and I arrived and had flown east. Anyway, I kept eagerly 'scoping as large gulls began returning from the direction of Springfield Quarry and eventually picked it up at very long range at around 1645 hours. It was soon lost in the melee as large numbers of birds began to return but John Edwards latched on to it and we were then able to watch it on the deck as it roosted in the roost on the ice. It remained there until at least 1725 hours (CDRH).

From what we could ascertain on plumage, it was a 2nd-winter bird and was an easy bird to pick out. It retained a primarily dark eye and the extensive dark tip to the pale 'greenish' bill but was quite extensively grey on the mantle. The flight feathers were still largely immature, with creamy-biscuit primaries and darker biscuit-brown chequered tertials and coverts. It was a small individual, identical in size to the numerous argenteus Herring Gulls standing alongside it, and had a rounded head, a short tail, long wings and relatively short pink legs emphasising the deep-breasted profile and tapered appearance.

A quick survey of the gull roost revealed the presence of 15 Great Black-backed Gulls, just 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 149 Herring Gulls (including at least 25 Scandinavian argentatus), 213 Common Gulls and 437 Black-headed Gulls.

And the rest..........

Great Crested Grebe (21)
Continental Sinensis Cormorant (84 present on island with a minimum 18 nests now occupied)
Grey Heron (4 nests occupied on island)
LITTLE EGRET (2)
Mute Swan (2)
Egyptian Goose (3)
COMMON SHELDUCK (pair)
Mallard (24)
Common Teal (23)
Eurasian Wigeon (157)
Shoveler (7)
Gadwall (10)
Tufted Duck (76)
Northern Pochard (14)
Coot (32)
Moorhen (14)
Red Kite (2)
Lapwing (37 on spit)
Ring-necked Parakeet (3)
Grey Wagtail (2)
Siskin (1)