SATURDAY 5 JULY
A lot of rain today, although the
temperatures still held up.....
At LATIMER GREAT WATER, the GREAT CRESTED
GREBE is still present, along with a single Mute Swan, 16 Atlantic Canada Geese,
15 Tufted Duck, Red Kite, Green Woodpecker and 20+ House Martins. On the
periphery, large numbers of Marbled Whites and Ringlets in the
fields.
Walking east from NEPTUNES WATERFALL, the
CHESS held both pairs of Mute Swans (with 1 pair now accompanying a single
cygnet), Little Grebe, Grey Heron, 2 Sinensis Cormorant and 9 Tufted
Duck, while Coot numbered 6 pairs (with 2 broods of 3 & 2) and Moorhens were
building a new nest underneath the bridge. No fewer than 6 Wren were noted, with
4 Linnets and a singing male YELLOWHAMMER between Latimer Village and Church
Covert. Large numbers of Banded Demoiselles were to be found by the
river.
One of three pairs of Coot on this stretch of the River Chess
Moorhens building a new nest
Male Chaffinch looking a bit scruffy
Banded Demoiselles abound
A pair of Linnets just east of Latimer Bridge
CHURCH COVERT held male Common Whitethroat,
Dunnock, Greenfinch and 2 visiting House Sparrows, while LATIMER VILLAGE yielded
a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A total of 9 active House Martin nests remain on the
Station House.
A Common Kestrel was hovering over LODGE
LANE (LITTLE CHALFONT) - a species becoming increasingly scarce around
here.
FULMER LAKE remains in pristine condition
with the marshland to the east producing a MANDARIN DUCK (my first here) and a
pair of COMMON TEAL in suitable breeding habitat and the main lake, 7 Egyptian
Geese (family party), 18 Tufted Duck (including 7 ducklings), 65 Coot, 45 Canada
Geese, 2 Little Egret and 2 Grey Heron. Other species encountered included 2
Ring-necked Parakeets, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush (singing male),
Bullfinch (male), Greenfinch, Dunnock, Blackcap, Red Kite and Green
Woodpecker.
Mandarin Duck - my first at the site
A pair of Common Teal in suitable breeding habitat
Nearby, GERRARDS CROSS LAKE yielded Grey
Heron, 10 Mallard, 5 Coot and 3 Moorhen, with 2 Stock Doves, Great Spotted
Woodpecker, 3 Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Goldfinch in the surrounding habitat.
Most unusual was an adult COMMON TERN flying high to the Southwest.
Stock Dove
