Common Spotted and Heath Spotted Orchids photographed by Chris Pontin
Monday, 30 July 2012
Saturday, 28 July 2012
BEE ORCHID at Pow Wow
Chris Pontin and I had a nice single BEE ORCHID at Pow Wow Lake, Chesham, with 1 GREAT CRESTED GREBE still frequenting the larger of the two fishing lakes
Late nesters faring better
At SHARDELOES LAKE, some of the later nesters are seemingly doing ok, perhaps spurned on by this past week of dry and very warm summery weather......
Both pairs of GREAT CRESTED GREBE have fledged young - one pair with a single two-week old and the other with two small stripy young, whilst a single juvenile LITTLE GREBE was being fed. A female TUFTED DUCK was protecting 8 small ducklings whilst Coots included 16 young with 4 nests still active (nests still being sat on after being rebuilt on higher platforms).
A pair of GADWALL was also present, 28 Mallard, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 6 Long-tailed Tits
At least 7 post-breeding SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were around the lakeside bushes
Both pairs of GREAT CRESTED GREBE have fledged young - one pair with a single two-week old and the other with two small stripy young, whilst a single juvenile LITTLE GREBE was being fed. A female TUFTED DUCK was protecting 8 small ducklings whilst Coots included 16 young with 4 nests still active (nests still being sat on after being rebuilt on higher platforms).
A pair of GADWALL was also present, 28 Mallard, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 6 Long-tailed Tits
At least 7 post-breeding SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were around the lakeside bushes
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Pyrammidal Orchids
At the former Pow Wow site, Chris Pontin and I had 5 Pyrammidal Orchid spikes this afternoon, as well as Southern Marsh Orchids; also the pair of Mute Swans have two cygnets and at least one baby Coot is being fed.
At McMinn's, Barn Swallow nests number at least 6 this year, with two more broods currently being fed
At McMinn's, Barn Swallow nests number at least 6 this year, with two more broods currently being fed
Sunday, 22 July 2012
Summer has arrived
SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS remain at Shardeloes Lake and Estate, Lee Common, Chesham and in Old Amersham, whilst COMMON CROSSBILLS continue to be seen in good numbers.
After appearing to have departed several weeks back, Common Swifts have made a comeback with 6 again screaming and wheeling high over my house.
JT came down to the Chess last night but I don't know if she was successful - WATER VOLES now giving a good show though but all of the rare orchids have gone over now
Great to see temperatures improving - up to 72 degrees F for a while this afternoon
Three dead Badgers on the A404 in Chenies, all within 100 yards of each other.
After appearing to have departed several weeks back, Common Swifts have made a comeback with 6 again screaming and wheeling high over my house.
JT came down to the Chess last night but I don't know if she was successful - WATER VOLES now giving a good show though but all of the rare orchids have gone over now
Great to see temperatures improving - up to 72 degrees F for a while this afternoon
Three dead Badgers on the A404 in Chenies, all within 100 yards of each other.
Friday, 13 July 2012
WHINCHAT still at Beaconsfield
FRIDAY 13 MAY
So far so good. No rain for six hours at least, although it did rain all night. Quite warm too, and occasionally sunny
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (SOUTH BUCKS)
Finally got a chance to check out Springfield Quarry, where Peter Stevens, Dave Cleal, Mike & Rose Collard and David Ferguson had all seen the WHINCHAT in the past two days. Yesterday's rain had worked in my favour and the bird - a very heavily moulted male and presumably a failed breeder - was still showing well on the great selection of weeds and wild flowers growing alongside the former footpath running across the site, just east of Lillyfee's Studio. An unusual midsummer record, although this site annually produces passage Whinchats in double figures.
I was also very pleased to see 2 juvenile COMMON RAVENS around the site, as well as a single flock of 63 STOCK DOVES, 1 moulting adult Lapwing, breeding Linnets and a family party of Common Whitethroats. Also several hundred Meadow Brown butterflies and a few Small Skippers and Small Heaths.
Drastic though was the collapse in numbers of nesting Sand Martins - from a colony last year of several hundred to just 9 active nests this year.
ALSO JUST OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN HAYES...........
A gorgeous adult male RED-BACKED SHRIKE continues for a third day at Lake Farm Country Park, keeping faithful to a small area of bushes about 100 yards east of the car park. Park by the A437 at TQ 087 804. This is a bird rich haven surrounded by Heathrow development harbouring over 30 breeding pairs of Common Whitethroats, 6 pairs of Meadow Pipit and 5 pairs of Reed Bunting
So far so good. No rain for six hours at least, although it did rain all night. Quite warm too, and occasionally sunny
SPRINGFIELD FARM QUARRY, BEACONSFIELD (SOUTH BUCKS)
Finally got a chance to check out Springfield Quarry, where Peter Stevens, Dave Cleal, Mike & Rose Collard and David Ferguson had all seen the WHINCHAT in the past two days. Yesterday's rain had worked in my favour and the bird - a very heavily moulted male and presumably a failed breeder - was still showing well on the great selection of weeds and wild flowers growing alongside the former footpath running across the site, just east of Lillyfee's Studio. An unusual midsummer record, although this site annually produces passage Whinchats in double figures.
I was also very pleased to see 2 juvenile COMMON RAVENS around the site, as well as a single flock of 63 STOCK DOVES, 1 moulting adult Lapwing, breeding Linnets and a family party of Common Whitethroats. Also several hundred Meadow Brown butterflies and a few Small Skippers and Small Heaths.
Drastic though was the collapse in numbers of nesting Sand Martins - from a colony last year of several hundred to just 9 active nests this year.
ALSO JUST OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN HAYES...........
A gorgeous adult male RED-BACKED SHRIKE continues for a third day at Lake Farm Country Park, keeping faithful to a small area of bushes about 100 yards east of the car park. Park by the A437 at TQ 087 804. This is a bird rich haven surrounded by Heathrow development harbouring over 30 breeding pairs of Common Whitethroats, 6 pairs of Meadow Pipit and 5 pairs of Reed Bunting
BULLFINCHES still present - and WHINCHAT at Springfield Quarry
Since they discovered the Sunflower Hearts earlier in the week, my pair of BULLFINCHES have been present daily and spending 50 minutes at a time on the birdtable I have devoted to feeding them specifically. Despite there being a lot of optional food, they just insist on eating these white seeds.
Despite the weather, the BARN SWALLOWS are doing very well, with four nests still occupied, two of which now on their third broods. Soon there will be 25 or more lined up on the wires prior to their southward migration in September
Peter Stevens and Dave Cleal have had a male WHINCHAT on Wednesday and Thursday at Springfield Quarry, Beaconsfield
Despite the weather, the BARN SWALLOWS are doing very well, with four nests still occupied, two of which now on their third broods. Soon there will be 25 or more lined up on the wires prior to their southward migration in September
Peter Stevens and Dave Cleal have had a male WHINCHAT on Wednesday and Thursday at Springfield Quarry, Beaconsfield
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Friday, 6 July 2012
BULLFINCHES in the Chaffinch House garden
Bullfinch is an extremely rare visitor to my Little Chalfont garden so I was absolutely delighted to find a pair spend all morning with me today, feeding on white Sunflower Hearts on the bird tables. What a fabulously beautiful bird they are
Thursday, 5 July 2012
SWALLOWS on third brood
Some good news for a change. BARN SWALLOWS at Chesham McMinn's are now on their third brrod with at least three active nests
Don Stone had a flock of 49 LAPWINGS recently near Pednor illustrating post-breeding movement already
One pair of Common Swifts in Little Chalfont have fledged three young
Don Stone had a flock of 49 LAPWINGS recently near Pednor illustrating post-breeding movement already
One pair of Common Swifts in Little Chalfont have fledged three young
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