YELLOWHAMMER bonanza

FRIDAY 30 DECEMBER

The rain arrived earlier than forecast but was fairly light in the main, whilst temperatures remained very mild reaching 13 degrees C

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

Very quiet with just 44 Coot, pair of Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, sub-adult Scandinavian Herring Gull, adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 70 Fieldfare and 1 Siskin noted

OLD AMERSHAM (BUCKS)

Did a comprehensive search of the Old Amersham area and was delighted to find a wintering flock of 125 YELLOWHAMMERS in stubble NE of School Lane at SU 950 982 (see map above). There were also 48 SKYLARKS in the field and a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches

Ostler's Wood and the plantation to the edge of Hervines Park held at least 85 Common Pheasants, 8 Red Kites and a Common Buzzard, whilst School Lane yielded 3 Goldcrests, 65 Fieldfare and 45 Redwing.

The Old Amersham population of Western Jackdaws numbered 60, many already paired up on chimney stacks.

CHENIES BOTTOM (BUCKS)

The resident pair of Mute Swans and 5 COMMON TEAL (4 drakes) on the lake

CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

All 3 LITTLE EGRETS noted

GOLDEN PLOVER flock

THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER

A touch or so colder today with the temperature reaching just 9 degrees C. Very overcast but dry and with an increasing westerly wind

With a visit to Tring in the offing, I took the opportunity to survey the waterbodies of the Aylesbury Area..........

CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

Three LITTLE EGRETS today just east of Bois Mill - and 1 Cormorant on the fishing lake there.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

There was no sign of Roy's colour-ringed BLACK-TAILED GODWIT when I arrived at the Drayton Hide late morning - it had presumably moved on

The water level was increasing further with the inlet pipe by the car park in full pump mode. As a consequence, wildfowl numbers were much recovered, although Great Crested Grebe and Mute Swan numbers were very low

The sole remaining Little Grebe was noted, 8 Great Crested Grebes, just 5 Mute Swans, 256 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 375 Teal, 44 Shoveler, 107 Pochard, 73 Tufted Duck, 7 COMMON GOLDENEYES (including 2 adult drakes), 760 Coot, 45 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 32 Lapwings.

The Linnet flock by the hide now numbers 52 birds and Pied Wagtails remain at a high 17.

The Cemetery Corner geese flock has increased to 83 birds, including 71 Greylag, 10 Atlantic Canada and the ever-present first-winter DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR (HERTS)

The first-winter male SNOW BUNTING was still performing well along the north shore, Chris Holtby obtaining a large number of images.

Otherwise, 12 Mute Swans (including 3 unringed first-years), 7 Atlantic Canada Geese, 46 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes and a single Little Grebe were present.

Very little on TRINGFORD RESERVOIR other than 2 Mute Swans, 5 Grey Heron, 22 Teal and 2 drake Shoveler and even less on MARSWORTH with 4 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Teal and 21 Shovelers.

WESTON TURVILLE RESERVOIR (BUCKS)

Popped in at 1300 hours and was very surprised to find the Wilstone family party of 4 BEWICK'S SWANS being chased around by the resident pair of Mute Swans along the reedbed western side of the reservoir. The cob Mute repeatedly harried the two juvenile Bewick's, causing them to fly and circle.

Very quiet otherwise with just 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Moorhens, 2 drake Tufted Ducks and 1 drake Shoveler (up to 32 of the latter species had been present recently). Not one Coot.

THE WENDOVER ARM OF THE CANAL (GREEN PARK TO WENDOVER TOWN)

A single Little Grebe, 20 Mallard, 10 Coot and 11 Moorhens for my troubles - and a male Siskin.

BROUGHTON POOLS (BUCKS)

On the West Pool, a pair of Mute Swans, pair of Teal, 4 Moorhen and 1 Grey Heron, whilst on the Trout Pools, 14 Mallard, 5 Shoveler (2 drakes), 70 Canada Geese, 2 Moorhens and another Grey Heron. The neighbouring field held 14 Common Magpies.

WATERMEAD LAKE, NORTH AYLESBURY (BUCKS)

A full inventory recorded 10 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mute Swans (including 1 first-year), 1 Canada Goose, 124 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, just 6 Coot and 4 Moorhens.

CHESHAM BOIS (BUCKS)

A small party of 13 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS was in the field opposite Green Park in Copperkins Lane.

Massive GREENFINCH roost in Penn Wood

TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER (LGRE DIARY NOTES)

The mild theme to the weather continued today with temperatures hovering around 11 degrees C. It remained dry throughout but was very overcast

Visited South Bucks today in an attempt to further census water bodies in the region.......

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 993 863)

Single Grey Heron and Mute Swan, 12 Atlantic Canada Geese and 13 Eurasian Wigeon, with the woodland tract supporting Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrests and 14 Fieldfares.

UPTON FARM, BLACK PARK ROAD (TQ 004 835)

Pair of Egyptian Geese in roadside field

BLACK PARK COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 008 832)

By far the most productive site in the county for MANDARIN DUCK with a total of 37 birds present at the north end (including 19 drakes); also 4 Mute Swans (2 first-winters), 4 Atlantic Canada Geese, 24 Mallard, 36 Coot and 8 Moorhens

ROWLEY LAKE (TQ 003 826)

This Harrow Angling Society water held just 2 Coot and a female Common Teal, the surrounding woodland yielding 55 Redwing and 8 Long-tailed Tits.

GEORGE GREEN VILLAGE (SOUTH BUCKS)

No fewer than 26 House Sparrows present in the thick hedgerow adjoining George Green Road at TQ 003 812

LANGLEY PARK LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 007 813)

The lake held a pair of Egyptian Geese, 46 Mallard, 7 Coot and 4 Moorhens, whilst the parkland 14 Ring-necked Parakeets, Green Woodpecker and displaying Stock Doves.

THORNEY COUNTRY PARK (SOUTH BUCKS)

A reasonable number of diving duck for a change with 70 Tufted Duck and 42 Northern Pochard present, along with 5 Mute Swans (3 first-winters), 7 Gadwall, 10 Coot and 2 Great Crested Grebes. A single Little Egret was feeding in the brook

OLD SLADE PIT (SOUTH BUCKS)

A large gravel pit holding wintering waterbirds including 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swans (all first-winter), 4 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck and 12 Coot

FARLOWS LAKE, IVER HEATH (SOUTH BUCKS) (TQ 044 807)

A large gravel pit complex devoted to angling with 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Canada Geese, 6 Mallard, 11 Tufted Ducks, 20 Coot, 8 Moorhen and 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS noted; also 2 SISKINS in Alders.

GERRARDS CROSS COMMON PONDS (SOUTH BUCKS) (SU 998 887 & SU 999 883)

The North Pond remains dry whilst the South harboured just the resident pair of Moorhens.

PENN VILLAGE POND (SU 907 937)

A total of 58 Mallard and 2 Moorhens

PENNHOUSE GROVE (SU 923 947)

A total of 28 RED KITES roosted this evening

PENN WOOD (SOUTH BUCKS)

The Holly tree roost at SU 917 954 held an incredible 370 GREENFINCHES this afternoon, the highest number in many years, whilst the bracken held 7 roosting WOODCOCKS

Festive Season Highlights

Chris Pontin was out and about yesterday, noting 4 Little Egrets on the stream in Holloway Lane (and Common Kingfisher), with 5 Common Buzzards, 2 Red Kites and a Sparrowhawk over the Hill Farm fields

WOODPIGEON movement

CHRISTMAS EVE

A return to colder conditions again, with a raw NW wind blowing. After heavy overnight rain, today was dry...........

Checked the local sites and very little going on - most surprising was a strong westerly Woodpigeon movement, totalling 104 birds

No sign of any Little Egrets in the Chess Valley, but both resident pairs of Mute Swans were in situ at Bois Mill Pond and Chenies Bottom and Rooks were visible in many areas

A fine day

Birding restricted to Chaffinch House today, as venturing outside was freezing, despite the fine conditions. A lot of activity at the birdtables today and a full time job keeping them stocked. Up to 6 Woodpigeons, 16 Collared Doves, 2 Jays, 25 Common Starlings, 32 House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Robins, 5 Dunnocks, 8 Goldfinches, 7 Common Blackbirds and an unknown number of visiting Great and Blue Tits.

SHARDELOES unfrozen

FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER

Although winter is not officially declared until four days from now - on 20th December - it certainly felt like it today. In fact, today saw the first actual lying snow of this 'winter' after an hour or so of snowfall this morning. The strong NW wind that came in its wake was very biting indeed, even though the skies cleared and the sun shone brightly..........

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

Well at least all of the ice of my last visit had gone - and wildfowl and Coot numbers were recovering...

Nothing weather related on show but amongst the roll-call were 2 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Herons, all 8 Mute Swans (the 6 youngsters all looking well), 8 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, a pair of SHOVELER, 8 Tufted Duck and 75 Coot, whilst additional species included 1 WATER RAIL, an adult HERRING GULL, Song Thrush, a female BULLFINCH, 3 Wrens, 3 wintering Robins, 6 Great Tits, 2 Jays and a flock of 16 SISKINS in Alder trees by the river.

DEEP MILL POND (BUCKS)

Water level very low but birds present included Little Grebe, 2 Mallard, 1 Coot and 2 Moorhens

First snow of winter

Although winter has not 'officially' arrived (20 December is the date), snow fell for the first time this season this morning, giving a complete thin covering here at Chaffinch House and elsewhere in the Chiltern Region. It soon melted but as a result, activity in the garden has been busy, with a Jay, up to 7 Common Blackbirds, 32 House Sparrows and 6 Goldfinches

In the Chess Valley, we still have 8 LITTLE EGRETS favouring the ditches just east of Bois Mill but no subsequent sign's of Chris Pontin's Waterside Water Rail

Cold weather sees upsurge in LITTLE EGRET numbers in Chess Valley

No less than 12 LITTLE EGRETS arrived in the Chess Valley today including 9 together in ditches east of Bois Mill and singles at Pow Wow, Church Covert and Crestyl Watercress Bed. The two adult Sinensis Cormorants were again on Bois Mill Fishing Lake and 2 Mute Swans and 2 Common Kingfishers on Pow Wow

Birding the CHESS VALLEY today; winter arrives at Shardeloes Lake with ice cover

SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER (LGRE DIARY NOTES)

Winter has now arrived in the Chilterns region with yet another hard frost overnight, freezing up some of the smaller lakes in the area for the first time this December. The day was cold, clear but bright.

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

A BULLFINCH here was a rare sight Also unusual were 3 Common Buzzards in the village, later being seen on Stanley Hill.

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

With a hard frost overnight coupled with a full bright moon, Shardeloes Lake was virtually completely frozen over. Very few waterbirds present - just 12 Coot, 3 female Tufted Ducks and 15 Common Gulls amongst the Black-headeds.

A party of 8 Goldfinches was in the Alders by the river, 7 Long-tailed Tits, a wintering Pied Wagtail, 3 Fieldfares, 9 Woodpigeons over and 3 Red Kites circling the lake.

CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

At Granary Pool, Chenies Bottom, the 2 resident Mute Swans and single Little Grebe were present, with 2 LITTLE EGRETS at nearby Church Covert, another in the large tree below Chenies Place and an additional two just east of Bois Mill.

At Neptune Falls, the Atlantic Canada Goose flock there numbered 74 with a further 62 nearby on Great Water. The latter site also yielded Little Grebe, 36 Coot, 25 Tufted Duck, a single Pochard and 16 Mute Swans (including a single first-winter). The grounds of Latimer Place added Yellowhammer, a pair of Mistle Thrushes and 4 Greenfinches whilst 230 Jackdaws were feeding to the west in a ploughed field.

Frith Wood (at SU 993 000) held 20 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings and a female Bullfinch, whilst Chesham Fishing Lakes harboured 3 first-year Mute Swans, 1 Atlantic Canada Goose, 33 Mallard, 20 Tufted Duck, 2 drake Northern Pochard, 8 Coot but no Great Crested Grebe. Walking the River Chess as far as The Pheasant public house added another adult Mute Swan, 15 Mallard and 2 singing Goldcrests.

On the stretch of water at Chesham Moor (SP 964 007), a WATER RAIL continues to show very well for at least a second day (found by Chris and his wife and the dog).

LOWNDES PARK, CHESHAM (BUCKS) (DECEMBER COUNT)

The full inventory included 4 Muscovy, 22 Atlantic Canada Geese and 75 Mallard-types, as well as 2 Moorhens and a Common Kestrel flying over.

I then moved on to TRING RESERVOIRS to undertake my first DECEMBER COUNT of the year......

TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)

A full waterbird inventory was carried out on all four reservoirs before I did the Marsworth bunting roost. Although the water level on all four reservoirs is still very low, that on Startop's End is unprecedented in my birding career. No Water Rails were recorded on Marsworth which was unusual and equally concerning was the demise of the Starling roost.

Great Crested Grebe (32 counted with 11 on Wilstone, 3 on Tringford, 9 on Startop's and 9 on Marsworth)
Little Grebe (just 1 noted - on Startop's)
Cormorant (32 roosting on Wilstone, with an adult fishing on Marsworth)
Grey Heron (just 1 on Tringford and 2 adults fishing on Marsworth)
No sign of any Bitterns yet
Mute Swan (24 on Wilstone, including the two orange-ringed first-years from the Canal - numbers 32 and 33 - plus 2 adults on Tringford and 7 on Startop's)
No sign of the two Whooper Swans
**BEWICK'S SWAN (the family party still present in the cut-off lagoon, the first example of wintering in over a decade)
Greylag Geese (all 67 still present on Wilstone)
Atlantic Canada Goose (all 7 still present on Wilstone)
**DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE (the juvenile continues its unprecedented stay and still favouring the grassy field by Rushy Meadow. Longest-staying county bird ever)
Mallard (jusr 16 on Wilstone, 96 on Startop's and 17 on Marsworth)
Gadwall (44 counted, with 40 on Startop's and just 4 on Wilstone)
No Pintail seen
Northern Shoveler (massive decrease with just 24 on Wilstone, 2 drakes on Startop's and 27 on Marsworth)
Eurasian Wigeon (marked decline in numbers with just 85 on Wilstone and 36 on Startop's)
Common Teal (295 with 230 on Wilstone, 24 on Startop's, 30 on Tringford and 11 on Marsworth)
Northern Pochard (134 on Wilstone and just 1 drake on Startop's)
RED-CRESTED POCHARD (two females on Wilstone and a pair on Startop's)
Tufted Duck (a very poor 83 in total with 54 on Wilstone, 6 on Tringford and 23 on Startop's)
COMMON GOLDENEYE (all 5 female-types still present on Wilstone)
Common Pheasant (23 around the margins of Wilstone)
Coot (881 logged with 531 on Wilstone, 288 on Startop's and 62 on Tringford)
Moorhen (47 counted on Wilstone)
No Water Rails noted, nor Lapwing
Grey Wagtail (2 on Marsworth)
Redwing (2 on Marsworth)
Fieldfare (7 on Masrworth)
Mistle Thrush (1 on Marsworth)
Common Magpie (1 on Marworth)
Common Starling (just 3 came in to roost at Marsworth reedbed - pathetic!)
Chaffinch (7 singletons flighting to roost over Marworth)
Linnet (flock of 21 still around margins of Wilstone)
Goldfinch (8 on Marsworth)
REED BUNTING (just 5 came in to roost at Marsworth)
**CORN BUNTING (147 roosted in total in Marworth Reedbed with the first 54 arriving at 1530 hours followed by 14, 2, 15, 1, 8, 1, 50 and 2 in the next half hour; I am pleased to say that numbers have remained stable since last winter)