An arrival of WINTER THRUSHES and the first EURASIAN WIGEON in the area in a very long time

THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER

 

Although the temperature reached 11.5 degrees centigrade today in the Chess Valley, the area seems to be experiencing an influx of winter thrushes, with a lot being noted this morning. This follows several nights of movement, with a lot of calling Redwings being heard overhead in the foggy conditions of late.

 

My first stop today was at SHARDELOES LAKE, where the highlight was undoubtedly a first-winter drake EURASIAN WIGEON, the first record for the site for a number of years (and the first in the Amersham Recording Area this year). The lake also held 66 Coot, 20 Mallard, 18 Gadwall and 7 Tufted Duck (4 drakes) but still no sign of a single Northern Pochard this winter! Otherwise, interest was provided by 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, a SISKIN, 4 Bullfinch, 4 Common Blackbird, 23 Redwing and at least 35 Fieldfares.....

 

At CHENIES BOTTOM, a single Little Grebe and 3 Mute Swans were west of the bridge, with 35 Redwing and 8 Fieldfare overhead moving west. A Little Egret was by Mill Farm Meadow, but there was no sign of the recent Common Stonechat there. Two different Song Thrush were seen, along with more berry-feeding Blackbird, Fieldfare & Redwing by FROGMORE MEADOW.

 

The local breeding pair of COMMON RAVEN flew west across VALLEY FARM PADDOCKS, SARRATT BOTTOM, where over 175 Jackdaw were flocking, 5+ Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Bullfinch and Goldcrest were also noted. LITTLE EGRET numbers have been very low this winter in the Chess Valley so it was pleasing to see 3 individuals frequenting CRESTYL CRESSBED. A single Meadow Pipit flew over, with COMMON KINGFISHER and Common Kestrel also noted.

 

At least 40 Redwing were feeding on berries in CHENIES VILLAGE as I passed through

Confiding GREY HERON at Waterside

THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER

 

This very confiding first-winter Grey Heron was fishing blissfully unaware of commuters at CHESHAM WATERSIDE this morning, while the resident pair of Mute Swan still have their single surviving cygnet from this summer with them......

EGYPTIAN GOOSE at Shardeloes, with 35 LINNET over

Shardeloes Lake sightings: 27th September 2016

 

Most unexpected was a single EGYPTIAN GOOSE on the cricket ground - a rare visitor in this area. The bird was showing very well and seemingly unconcerned by onlookers. The cricket pitch also harboured an exceptionally large flock of migrant alba wagtails, 43 Pieds in all. I could not locate any of the recent Yellow Wagtails with them, but there was a juvenile Grey Wagtail.

At the main lake, there were 8 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a single adult Mute Swan, 25 Mallard, 26 Gadwall, just 2 Tufted Ducks and 54 Coot, while the gull roost held 28 Black-headed and a single adult Common. An exceptional gathering of 36 Stock Dove was noted, while Woodpigeon numbers were at a high 80, with Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Mistle Thrush, a vocal Common Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest. Most noteworthy was a flock of 35 LINNET that went over - a scarce bird at this locale

RING-NECKED PARAKEETS reach new high in parish

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

 Up to 9 RING-NECKED PARAKEETS are now visiting the Parish, with the flock arriving from the Chorleywood direction at Chenies early morning and splintering into two groups - one visiting Little Chalfont and the other Chenies Bottom and village. This is the largest number so far. Meanwhile, in my Chaffinch House garden, Goldfinch numbers are increasing to at least 12, a Mistle Thrush flew over (19th), a COMMON RAVEN over on 17th, with a Wren regular and still the odd House Martin going west. The first 2 Meadow Pipits of the autumn flew south on 18th.

GREYLAG GEESE breed for first time in Recording Area

It has been a very busy summer at SHARDELOES LAKE, with a record number of Atlantic Canada Geese breeding (with at least 93 goslings fledged) and for the first time ever, a pair of GREYLAG GEESE raising 4 young. Although it is too early for Tufted Duck youngsters yet, the first female Gadwalls have appeared, accompanied by at least 15 ducklings.

Shardeloes has two Great Crested Grebe nests this summer, seemingly both females being catered for by a single male. One female is still sitting whilst the other has one surviving youngster out of an original two.

At least 77 Common Swifts present over Shardeloes Lake on 27th June - seasonally very unusual.

Spotted Flycatchers have bred for the 9th year in succession, this pair feeding three young in the isolated trees at the far end