Another stag ROE DEER

Following the death of a stag on the A404 about a month ago, I was most surprised today to find a nice healthy mature stag ROE DEER closeby at Wyburn Wood, Chenies, feeding in stubble just south of the wood at TQ 023 978. These are my first ever records of this species in the District


Birdwise, it proved very quiet today

Garden Birds

Three juvenile COMMON BLACKBIRDS in the garden this morning and SONG THRUSH and COAL TIT

COMMON SWIFTS swarming over Shardeloes Lake in autumnal weather

WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST


An unseasonal fast-moving depression tracked east across the country today bringing quite strong S/SE winds. It was also accompanied by a few short sharp showers. Clearly associated with this front were large numbers of terns, including Sandwich, Arctic, Black and Little - the latter appearing in an unprecedented number in Buckinghamshire..........

SPADE OAK GRAVEL PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)

Not long after 1315 hours, Adam Bassett phoned me to say that a 'flock' of LITTLE TERNS had flown in, numbering at least 15 birds. Within minutes I was in the car and on the way. By the time I arrived some 17 minutes later, the figure had been revised to 19 (nineteen) - the largest single flock ever recorded in the county and certainly the largest inland flock that I have ever witnessed. The flock were showing very well and roosting on the spit - David Ferguson managing to photograph the entire group. It consisted of two very fresh juveniles, 13 yellow-billed adults and 4 wholly black-billed individuals which I couldn't decide whether they were adult winters or first-summers). They afforded superb views from the vegetated spit on the west bank and remained present until at least 1400 hours, often hunting in a pack at the east end.

I also discovered two very fresh juvenile LITTLE GULLS surface-feeding at the east end, whilst 17 Common Terns were present and a juvenile MEDITERRANEAN GULL amongst the spit-roosting Black-headed Gulls. Although the number of larger gulls on site was small, the roost did include 5 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS.

A COMMON GREENSHANK was also present, along with the female Egyptian Goose and surviving young and 5 Shoveler. Grey Wagtail, Common Kingfisher and 3 Nuthatches were also encountered.

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Acting upon a call from Jeff Bailey, I headed north to Tring Reservoirs to check a windswept Startop's End Reservoir. Along with David Bilcock, we all logged 5 BLACK TERNS and a juvenile ARCTIC TERN. One of the adult BLACKS was still in very good 'nick' whilst two were fresh juveniles. No less than 15 Common Terns were present too - along with 8 COMMON SWIFTS. All 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes were still surviving and being fed.

On neighbouring MARSWORTH RESERVOIR, another pair of Great Crested Grebes were attending a single youngster, with a juvenile Sparrowhawk seen and Mute Swan orange 681 remaining present with his partner.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

All 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes were alive, well and growing although there was no sign of either father. A single Little Grebe was also noted, whilst baby/juvenile Coots numbered 17. Green Woodpecker and juvenile Common Buzzard were also noted whilst migrants included 21 COMMON SWIFTS, 1 House Martin, 8 Common Chiffchaffs and the 9 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS.

Elsewhere in the county, Rob Norris had a single juvenile BLACK TERN at Willen Lake South Basin

And the nesting BARN SWALLOWS

Shardeloes Lake this summer: a selection of my recent images

Local Mega: PURPLE EMPEROR at Old Amersham

Two days ago, a PURPLE EMPEROR was seen in Old Amersham Crematorium car park, nectaring on flowers there (per Don Stone) - the first record within the Amersham area of this rare butterfly

GREAT CRESTED GREBES continuing to do well

TUESDAY 7 AUGUST


Another pretty warm day with a few sharp showers and a continuing light SW wind.....

CHAFFINCH HOUSE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)

Some passage overhead with 5 COMMON SWIFTS and 40 House Martins noted

CHESHAM POW WOW LAKE (BUCKS)

All four Mute Swans still, a female Gadwall, a single juvenile Coot and 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS; marked out all of the orchids with canes for protection

SPADE OAK PIT, LITTLE MARLOW (SOUTH BUCKS)

My fourth Bucks BLACK-NECKED GREBE of the year involved a dusky juvenile showing very well in the SW corner of the lake, loosely associating with Tufted Ducks

A lot of COMMON KINGFISHER activity, an eclipse Shoveler but not much else of note

A single well grown Great Crested Grebe chick with parent, single Mute Swan, 55 Greylag Geese (including numerous young), 7 Egyptian Geese (including a female with 3 young, one of which was leucistic), 23 Tufted Ducks, 197 Lapwing, a roosting flock of 97 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 7 Argenteus Herring Gulls, 26 Common Terns (including 3 juveniles, one of which still being fed on the raft) and a feeding flock of 209 Common Starlings.

SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)

Great Crested Grebes continuing to do very well with one pair feeding a well-growing single youngster and the second pair shielding 3 very tiny youngsters.

Both adult Mute Swans again, a female GADWALL with 5 well grown young, a female MANDARIN DUCK, good numbers of baby and juvenile Coots and a Grey Heron.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER numbers have risen slightly with now 9 birds present, most likely two separate family parties as mostly juveniles. A single House Martin overhead and a Common Treecreeper