BEARDED TITS perform well in South Bucks whilst first migrant MEADOW PIPITS arrive

FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY

Following a phenomenal two days of warm summery weather where temperatures have reached an incredible 17 degrees C, the first migrants have started arriving into Britain, including a Stone Curlew, several Garganeys, Reed Buntings and the first Northern Wheatears........Today, even Bucks saw its first, with Curlews and Meadow Pipits arriving......

THE JUBILEE RIVER, DORNEY WETLANDS (BUCKS SECTION)

Following a timely tip-off from Pete Hutchins, I arrived at Dorney Wetlands at 1100 hours. Parking up in Lake End Road car park, I walked the 200 yards along the southern bridleway to the reedbed. The section of reedbed west of the two picnic tables is claimed by Buckinghamshire County Council and checking from the scrubby bank, the reedy water-filled ditch immediately produced a Water Rail, one very noisy CETTI'S WARBLER and 8 Reed Buntings. Pishing very softly, I soon coaxed out the two male BEARDED TITS and was able to get snatches of good views every now and then. The two birds were keeping to the ground, at the very base of the reeds, and were very elusive in general. They called only very occasionally and kept loyal to one small area of reedbed. I phoned the news out to RBA and within a short time was joined by local birder Jim Reid.

The birds moved further west into the slimmer section of reedbed and then returned back eastwards, being intercepted as they entered a section of sedges. I then enjoyed my best views in over an hour as the two males crept along the outside edge of the reeds in the bright sunlight, in the area of flattened reeds immediately north of the middle bench.

A flock of 26 Fieldfares was also noted, as well as 5 Linnets.

CASTLEMAN'S FARM AND ENVIRONS (SU 925 878)

I met up with Dave Cleal and checked out MILL WOOD (SU 920 883) for Woodcock. Despite an exhausted search, none was found unfortunately. However, on walking back to Lillyfee Farm across a large grass field, we came across a flock of 6 Skylarks and 26 migrant Meadow Pipits. Red Kites were everywhere too, many in display mode in the warm conditions.

At Castleman's Farm, no less than 18 EGYPTIAN GEESE were present, with another pair nearby on the M40 BEACONSFIELD SERVICES LAKE.

STOKE COMMON (BUCKS)

A further 5 migrant Meadow Pipits were encountered but nothing else of interest

LODGE LANE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

The fields to the west of Lodge Lane held 44 Jackdaws and a singing Skylark whilst the properties and gardens yielded 25 House Sparrows