MARBLED WHITES are everywhere

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