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
