Recording Area Annual Totals

97 Species in 2013, 99 in 2012, 94 in 2011, 108 species were recorded in 2010;



Monday, 15 March 2010

Lesser Spots, Firecrests and Badgers

SUNDAY 14 MARCH

The warmest day of the year so far with afternoon temperatures reaching 14 degrees C. A moderate westerly wind and dry and bright. More and more migrants arriving on the South Coast, particularly Northern Wheatears, White Wagtails and Black Redstarts; several Ospreys too.

I went 'peckering' today, as well as chasing up a few more local species.

CHURCH WOOD RSPB, HEDGERLEY (SOUTH BUCKS)

A male LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER was drumming and calling from the woodland, 150 yards west of the hut. A pair bred at this site last summer, fledging three young in June. There are two main trees it was favouring to feed, both completely 'potholed'.

At least 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also noted, along with Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 5 Common Buzzards, frequent overflying Red Kites, 4 Nuthatch, 2 singing male Common Treecreeper, 7 Redwing, 1 SISKIN and 2 Jays.

Resident birds included Dunnock (1 singing male), European Robin (5), Common Blackbird (3 males), Chaffinch (2 singing males, plus 5 feeding birds), Goldfinch, Wren (4), Coal Tit (singing male), Blue Tit (9), Great Tit (6) and Long-tailed Tit. House Sparrows were present in the village.

FULMER LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS)

The 36 Eurasian Wigeon were still present on the main lake, along with 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Northern Pochard and 8 Coot, whilst the marsh held 7 Shoveler. No Garganey as yet and Common Teal seem to have departed.

CLIVEDEN HOUSE GROUNDS (SOUTH BUCKS)

The warmer weather was certainly conducive to FIRECREST with 3 separate birds (two singing males and a female) seen very easily in the shrubs and Holly trees backing on to the Cliveden Housing complex along Green Drive at SU 913 843. I enjoyed fabulous views as the males dropped down from the canopy to investigate. My first of the year.

The area also yielded Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper (singing male) and Coal Tit (singing male).

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

GREAT CRESTED GREBES included a pair on each lake, whilst the larger of the two lakes held just 10 Coot, a drake Pochard and 8 Tufted Duck.

The singing male Goldcrest was still present in the ivy along the riverside walk (with a female nearby), with Grey Wagtail, a male Coal Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tits and a displaying Greenfinch also noted. Chris Pontin noted a singing male BLACKCAP earlier in the day.

Driving back along the A404 between Chorleywood and Little Chalfont, two different BADGERS were seen in two minutes (at 2329 and 2331 hours) - one near the Garden Centre at TQ 024 977 and another closer to my village at TQ 007 978.

Goshawks fail to perform, despite excellent weather conditions

SATURDAY 13 MARCH

A beautiful day, with temperatures reaching 9.5 degrees C. Spent the entire day in Buckinghamshire, attempting to clean up on a few species I was still missing from the year, with a few brief forays in to Herts during the morning.

WALK WOOD. STONY LANE (LITTLE CHALFONT) (SOUTH BUCKS)

In ideal weather conditions, did a 2-hour stint looking for the resident pair of Northern Goshawks but no joy. A male EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK was seen, along with at least 8 COMMON BUZZARDS and 3 RED KITES.

A flock of 10 SISKINS flew over Walk Wood, whilst resident species included Stock Dove (2 birds), Chaffinch (2 singing males on territory), Blue Tit (3 singing males), Wren (singing male), European Robin (1), Common Blackbird (1), Goldfinch, Dunnock (2 singing males), Long-tailed Tit (4) and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The fields to the west of Chenies Farm held a singing male EURASIAN SKYLARK - the first local bird of the year.

CHILTERN HILLS GOLF COURSE, CHORLEYWOOD (under construction) (HERTS)

Two more singing male EURASIAN SKYLARKS either side of Green Street, a flock of 186 Woodpigeons and a Linnet over.

LODGE LANE FIELDS, LITTLE CHALFONT (SOUTH BUCKS)

A total of 5 House Sparrows in the gardens along Lodge Lane (TQ 005 965) and 3 Greenfinches by Lodge Farm.

Friday, 12 March 2010

SISKIN flock

FRIDAY 12 MARCH

Although the wind veered to the north today, it felt much more warmer than of late, and was a very pleasant and bright day. Temperatures managed to climb to 8 degrees C.

CHESS RIVER VALLEY (SOUTH BUCKS)

Two LITTLE EGRETS remain, whilst on Bois Mill Lake today were 13 NORTHERN POCHARD, 4 Tufted Duck and the continuing pair of Mute Swans (LGRE)

In Walk Wood, the 30 or so SISKINS remain for at least their third day (Chris Pontin)

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Displaying LAPWINGS


THURSDAY 11 MARCH

Slightly warmer than of late but hardly spring weather. Still little in the way of migration. Another bright day, and dry.

NEW CHILTERN HILLS GOLF COURSE SITE (SOUTH BUCKS)

The most exciting find today was that of a displaying pair of LAPWINGS on the new workings of the planned Chiltern Hills Golf Course west of Green Lane, between Great Greenstreet Farm and the northern outskirts of Chorleywood (at TQ 025 967) - the 81st species of the year. The area also held a female Common Kestrel and four ROE DEER were grazing at dusk.


CHESS RIVER VALLEY


Three LITTLE EGRETS remain

Monday, 8 March 2010

First CHIFFCHAFF of 2010

MONDAY 8 MARCH

Another glorious morning following an overnight frost. Eventually cloud arrived from the east, although temperatures remained stable at 6 degrees C.

WATERCRESS COTTAGE LOOP, LOWER CHESHAM (BUCKS)

Little Grebe (adult in full breeding finery)
LITTLE EGRETS (2 birds feeding in shallow pool opposite Watercress Cottage)
Grey Heron (1 with the egrets)
Tufted Duck (5 on Pow Wow Lake)
GADWALL (pair still on Pow Wow Lake)
Song Thrush (1)
Wren (1)
Blue Tit (male in song)
Robin (2 singing males)
Long-tailed Tits (pair)
Chaffinch (2 singing males)
RING-NECKED PARAKEET (one present in tall Poplars for five minutes) (per Chris Pontin)

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (male still present on smaller lake)
Mute Swan (adult pair) (pair also returned to Waterside)
Atlantic Canada Goose (pair)
Mallard (12)
Tufted Duck (5)
Coot (8)
Red Kites (2 overhead)
Jackdaws (35 in noisy group, with 5 pairs utilising chimneys on neighbouring houses)
Dunnock (1)
COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (singing male present for its second day - per Chris Pontin - the first in the Recording Area this year)
Goldcrest (1)
Coal Tit (singing male)
Chaffinch (2 singing males)
Greenfinch (singing male)

IVY HOUSE FARM, CHESS VALLEY (BUCKS)

Some 23 ROOK nests are now being utilised and prepared for the coming season, whilst a pair of Long-tailed Tits and 6 House Sparrows were in the hedgerow bordering the farmhouse.

CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)

On Bois Mill Pond, the pair of Mute Swans, 15 Atlantic Canada Geese and a drake Tufted Duck were present, with another Mute Swan just east of Bois Mill, a pair by Latimer Bridge and another by Church Covert Reserve.

SHARDELOES LAKE (SOUTH BUCKS)

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (pair present and in courtship display)
CONTINENTAL CORMORANT (immature fishing)
Mute Swans (adult pair and three of last year's offspring still present)
Atlantic Canada Geese (14)
Mallard (14)
GADWALL (34 present)
Tufted Duck (36 present - highest count this winter)
NORTHERN POCHARD (4 drakes present)
Coot (66)
Moorhen (14)
Red Kite (2)
Common Buzzard (1)
Stock Dove (5)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Song Thrush (singing male on island)
Great Tit (8 together in one noisy group)
Long-tailed Tit (2)
Western Jackdaw (330 in roost; the location of the roost has moved from the Larches in Wheatley Wood to the southern fringe of High Wood)

Thursday, 4 March 2010

LITTLE EGRETS still

Well, after the initial burst of activity in the sunshine, the Goshawks have not performed subsequently (generally because of the weather) but the Continental Cormorant (Bois Mill Lake) and 3 LITTLE EGRETS are all still present.

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

GOSHAWKS taking full advantage of the glorious, spring-like weather

One of the local pairs of NORTHERN GOSHAWK was displaying this morning, making the most of the clear blue skies, sunshine, light winds and temperatures of 10.5 degrees C (per Stuart & Lesley Wilson). From now until the third week of March, both Sparrowhawk and the resident Goshawks will display when weather conditions are suitable.

The local COMMON RAVENS were also very active today.