tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715312700654007262024-02-18T19:12:31.268-08:00Calvert BirdingCalvert Birding details all bird and mammalian sightings in the Recording Area, encompassing Calvert Lakes BBOWT Reserve, Foxcote Reservoir, Hillesden Scrapes, Quainton Hills and the farmland areas of west-central Buckinghamshire. It also features sightings from Aylesbury and Broughton Trout PoolsLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-8612857784301405462011-03-19T11:12:00.000-07:002011-03-19T11:13:18.811-07:00BLACK-NECKED GREBE lingers onGallows Bridge; 2 Curlew/ c200 Golden plover in adjacent crop field/2 Sand Martins over flood pool briefly<br /><br />Calvert; Black necked Grebe still on the sailing lake.<br /><br />Hillesden; 3 Redshank/ 4 Snipe/ 2 Little Egret/ 8 lapwing/ 2 Oystercatcher/2 Meadow Pipit/ 5 Shoveler/8 Teal/ Skylarks singing (per Tim Watts)<br /><br />Last night, 2 adult MEDITERRANEAN GULLS and an immature ICELAND GULL roostedLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-54569452722599170792011-02-26T10:11:00.001-08:002011-02-26T10:11:33.115-08:00SHRIKE still presentSee <a href="http://buckinghamshirebirding.blogspot.com/2011/02/hillesden-northern-grey-shrike-todays.html">http://buckinghamshirebirding.blogspot.com/2011/02/hillesden-northern-grey-shrike-todays.html</a>Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-9245278131990135192011-02-25T10:29:00.000-08:002011-02-25T10:31:20.935-08:00NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE at Hillesden<strong><span style="color:#009900;">HILLESDEN (BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />Thanks to Richard Broughton and his call to BirdGuides, I was able to enjoy views of my first <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE</span></strong> in Buckinghamshire for a few years this afternoon. I relocated the bird at 1540 hours, where it was showing exceptionally well on the short hedgerow leading east from Manor Farm and bordering a track that led back to Church Hill Farm at SP 678 284. It was an adult bird and was hunting from the hedgerow, every now and again dropping down on the ground to feed.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS<br /></span></strong><br />Park in the new car park by Hillesden Church End at SP 686 287 and then follow the Cross Bucks Way footpath SW across the first field. The track is incredibly muddy so wellingtons are essential. After 300 yards, the track crosses a small wooden bridge over the brook and then continues through another field. At the start of the next field, there is a stile, and it was from here that I was able to savour some superb views of the bird, looking left towards the low hedgerow.<br /><br />At neighbouring Hillesden Pools, I noted 3 different OYSTERCATCHERS (one a distinct pair), 6 Lapwing, 5 Northern Pochard, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swans, 4 Greylag Geese and 2 Common Teal; a Siskin flew over calling and in Church End hamlet, had two different singing male Goldcrests - one in the Old School Garden and another in the fir by the postbox. A Robin was in full song in The Old Vicarage garden.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">UPPER RAY MEADOWS, GALLOWS BRIDGE FARM (BUCKS)<br /><br /></span></strong>Very, very poor this evening in the dank conditions - just 53 Eurasian Wigeon (no drake American with them yet) and 44 Common Teal.<br /><br />Lee G R EvansLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-1708967274581992302011-02-09T12:18:00.000-08:002011-02-09T12:19:16.904-08:00GLAUC roosts for 3rd consecutive night - LGRE<strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">CALVERT SAILING LAKE (NORTH BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />I joined Warren Claydon and Steve Rodwell at Calvert to have a thorough check of the roosting gulls. Arriving at 1600 hours, we watched until 1745 hours when it got dark, the 13,000 or so roosting gulls at that time still being joined by line after line of birds flighting in from the landfill.<br /><br />Highlight (certainly for me) was the juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL roosting for its third consecutive night, arriving at 1722 hours this evening. The regular first-winter CASPIAN GULL also roosted (seen by Steve only) as did one of the adults (WC) and as did a single adult winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL (LGRE). Other than that, 7 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS were identified in the BBOWT pre-roost (6 adults and a first-winter) whilst estimated totals of other species included 5,000+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls (including numerous intermedius now) and 6,000 Black-headed Gulls with 115+ Common Gulls, 235 Herring Gulls (far fewer Argentatus now) and 151 Great Black-backed Gulls.<br /><br />One adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was dyed dark green on the throat and upper breast whilst a Scandinavian Herring Gull with almost all white primaries was again present.<br /><br />The BLACK-NECKED GREBE was still present, with a redhead GOOSANDER on the BBOWT Lake, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Gadwall, 1 Pochard, a drake Wigeon and 25 Lapwings all noted.Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-27125073105895878552011-02-03T10:50:00.000-08:002011-02-03T10:51:05.417-08:00BLACK-NECKED GREBE still presentSailing lake; <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> still hugging South bank.<br /><br />BBOWT Lake; 2 Common Ravenscronking over lake/ 1 Bittern seen in flight/ 25 Pochard.<br /><br />Tim WattsLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-74490352534913520382011-01-21T10:26:00.000-08:002011-01-21T10:28:54.783-08:00GREBE still presentDid the gull roost with Warren Claydon and amongst the biggest roost of the Winter.<br /><br />Warren spotted a 3rd W <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">ICELAND GULL</span></strong> on the BBOWT Lake. It has white primaries, very light grey mantle, small amount retained immature plumage and dull yellow bill; viewed at very long range. At least one adult <strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">CASPIAN GULL</span></strong> still present.<br /><br />We Looked for the Iceland Gull on main sailing roost but couldn't spot it amongst the huge roost in bad light.<br /><br />Also redhead Goosander, 1-2 Bitterns seen in flight and <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> still on sailinglake by reedbed on East bank (per Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-81025127069609177382011-01-16T11:03:00.000-08:002011-01-16T11:12:18.471-08:00BLACK-NECKED GREBE still present<strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert Area</span></strong>; a Black-headed Gull was present with a mantle so pale grey it appears white at distance/Sailing Lake <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> moved to sheltered bay in S/W corner.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Gallows bridge farm</span></strong>; Long watch; for first two hours very little seen with only c300Lapwing and c50 Golden Plover in the air at stages. 12 0'clock it brightened up for short period, PEREGRINE appeared and put up c 2,000 Lapwing/c150 GoldenPlover, 2-3,000 gulls, Starling and Fieldfare flocks.<br /><br />Larger female sat in meadow preening, then although too distant to hear could see it calling up to the sky. Lapwings went up again and the smaller male Peregrine was high above them. It singled one out in chase, got above it stooped and just missed it, climbed again stooped and hit, caught it and carried off and landed in field to North of main meadow. Only small flocks of Teal/Wigeon seen in flight today, don't think the Peregrines went over the hidden wet fields where they are hanging out (Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-38962576527014596662011-01-15T10:07:00.000-08:002011-01-15T10:09:43.707-08:00Large influx of PINTAILS; BLACK-NECKED GREBE still present<strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert BBOWT</span></strong>; 8 <strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">PINTAILS</span></strong>, 5 drakes, presumably from Otmoor. At least 2 BITTERNS still present.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert sailing lake</span></strong>; <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> still feeding off point of reedbed on East bank.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Hillesden</span></strong>; 147 Greylag Geese / 26 Mute Swans<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#999900;">Gallows bridge farm</span></strong>; Adult female PEREGRINE sat in field and young <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">MERLIN</span></strong> still<br /><br />Tim WattsLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-39832316072891583452011-01-10T11:26:00.000-08:002011-01-10T11:28:00.805-08:00BLACK-NECKED GREBE still present but no White-fronts or Ruff<strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">MONDAY 10 JANUARY<br /></span></strong><br />As the day wore on, a warm front approached from the west bringing heavy cloud and strong southerly winds, eventually pushing the temperature to over 10 degrees C. The wind was quite hindering and affected any small bird sightings. I spent the day in Buckinghamshire and after a lot of effort added 7 new birds for the Bucks year - Common Snipe, PEREGRINE, Linnet, BLACK-NECKED GREBE, Bullfinch, Common Goldeneye and BITTERN.<br /> <br />A Red Kite was by the Aylesbury Bypass, with two more over Waddesdon, but there was no sign of the 29 Waxwings opposite the Shanks car recycling yard on Griffin Lane when I drove by.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">WOODHAM INDUSTRY (BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />Up to 140 Redwing and 50 Fieldfare were in fields east of Waddesdon but an extensive search of Woodham Industry produced just 5 COMMON SNIPES. I once recorded 17 Jack Snipes at this site in its hey-day.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">UPPER RAY MEADOWS, GALLOWS BRIDGE FARM (BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />The two resident <strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">PEREGRINES </span></strong>were sitting in the large grass meadow visible from the hides - perhaps the resident pair from Aylesbury (which I still have not seen this year despite scanning every time I pass). Every now and again they got up and had a fly around, 'playing' and spooking the large wildfowl flock.<br /><br />A single LINNET flew over the hide whilst at the far west end of the reserve, the flooded fields held 668 Lapwing, 261 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 550+ Common Starlings, 538 Eurasian Wigeon, 230 Common Teal and 2 Gadwall. At least two Common Kestrels were resident but there was no sign of the wintering Merlin.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">CALVERT SAILING LAKE (MID-BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />The winter-plumaged <strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> was showing very well in the vicinity of the pink buoy, close to the reedbed fringe on the eastern shore (present for its 3rd day), with 3 Little Grebes, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck and an adult drake Common Goldeneye also present. A flyover male Bullfinch was a bonus bird and my first of the year.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">CALVERT BBOWT RESERVE (MID-BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />Very windy with all of the birds at the far south end of the lake - comprising just 66 Tufted Ducks and 58 Coots. Nothing of interest in the pre-roosting gulls.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">SINGLEBOROUGH (NORTH BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />A flock of 13 Lapwing was in fields south of the A 421 east of its junction with the B 4033 at The Common, along with 40 Fieldfares and a Common Kestrel.<br /><br />Milton Keynes and its environs was a complete wash-out and almost a birdless zone. I could find no sight nor sound of the 200 or so Waxwings around the shopping complex at Bletchley, Willen Lake was very blowy, again a complete blank with the Tree Sparrows and Marsh Tits at Dairy Barn/Little Linford Wood and no Common Stonechats west of Olney.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">CALVERT BBOWT (MID-BUCKS)<br /></span></strong><br />I drove back to Calvert for dusk - just 1 <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">EURASIAN BITTERN</span></strong> coming in to roost in front of the first hide (at 1640 hours). Interestingly, this bird flew in high from the west and had presumably been feeding on the Sailing Lake. It roosted in the reedbed in the vicinity of the lone tree.<br /><br />Some 65 Redwings also roosted<br /><br />Again, nothing of interest could be found in the gull roost. However, an alarming number of Argenteus Herring Gulls are now in full breeding plumage.Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-59754558312692956842011-01-09T10:48:00.000-08:002011-01-09T10:49:42.430-08:00Another highly productive day<strong><span style="color:#009900;">Aylesbury</span></strong>; fantastic views of the <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">WAXWINGS</span></strong> coming and going outside Shanks, most I counted was 57.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Gallows Bridge Farm</span></strong>: 1st visit late morning; 4 <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE</span></strong> still present but in fairly long observation period only c 200 Lapwing seen and not much else. Suspected still lots of birds at far end but a no show from Peregrines meant they stayed put.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert Sailing Lake</span></strong>; <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> still present and Neil, an angler, keeps reporting seeing <strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">BITTERNS</span></strong> on the sailing lake.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Gallows Bridge Farm</span></strong>: 2nd visit 3:30- 4:50 with Warren Claydon, this was much, much better. Two PEREGRINES on show most of visit, on size presumed male and female, hunting, resting on pylons, on ground and in tree. At one stage both on ground quite close together. These birds terrorised the bottom end putting up what we estimate c 1,000 Lapwing, c600 mixed Wigeon/Teal flock, c1,000 Starling, 2-300 Fieldfare. Warren spotted a fem/imm <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">MERLIN</span></strong>; it flashed across main meadow then preened for a long while on cut hedge. The duck flocks only went up twice and after the 2 Peregines on ground took flight,we suspect they were hunting as a pair and this was enough to put the ducks up. No Owls seen but looks a good bet (Tim Watts Birding)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-23540527413591063272011-01-08T14:35:00.000-08:002011-01-08T14:36:51.549-08:00CASPIAN GULLS in roostAn adult and first-winter <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">CASPIAN GULL</span></strong> roosted this evening, along with several YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (Warren Claydon)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-47083872233040911622011-01-08T11:21:00.000-08:002011-01-08T11:22:18.463-08:00BITTERNS and BLACK-NECKED GREBE still presentThree <strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">BITTERNS</span></strong> arrived in the reedbed to the right of the top hide, one after the other, between 4:15 and 4:45. All three showed well as they posed up on the reeds in a neat line by the water's edge (John O'Dwyer).<br /><br />On the opposite side of the road, the <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> was present for its second day (Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-38608453322329491402011-01-07T09:42:00.001-08:002011-01-07T09:42:35.624-08:00BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Calvert Sailing Lakes<strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert sailing lake</span></strong>; <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BLACK-NECKED GREBE</span></strong> feeding mostly just off tip of the golden reedbed on clubhut bank. I had scanned lake four times with bins, then scope and didn't spot it; only on my final scan did I find it. For brief period it swam closer into bay by jetty. Technically sailing club area is for members only but they are very welcoming to birders and if they are sailing/working someone will always let you in to have a look at any interesting bird on site.<br /><br />Spent two hours in 1st hide on BBOWT and no Bittern sightings, I'm sure they're still there but maybe spending lot of time feeding up in the recently thawed reedbeds (Tim Watts).Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-77340127478673455652011-01-04T10:04:00.000-08:002011-01-04T10:07:56.734-08:00Wintering BITTERNS<strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert BBOWT</span></strong>; <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BITTERNS</span></strong> 2-3 January 2011 - Yesterday a definite 3 , probably 4 on site. 1 flew from North corner to inside left bed, at same time Chris Botterel spotted another 2 fighting on opposite bank at far end. I had started attempted count with 1 in small isolated bed opposite hide and kept close eye on that bed, very unlikely it got out without being spotted so hence probable 4th individual.<br /><br />Today (Bank Holiday Monday); same sort of thing but numerous flights to various beds made it hard to say for sure how many. Again definitely 3 but probably 4. None walked out in open at close range but both inside beds had one in there, one did walk along edge but just within reeds. Bittern with 'white flank' stripe seen.<br /><br />Every single small reedbed being used at some stage and they are also occasionally feeding out in open on opposite bank on the low flattened green sedge-type reeds.<br /><br />Count of 230 Coot is 4-5 times normal number (Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-68829751484857111362010-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:002010-12-11T10:07:29.104-08:00Three BITTERNS on site and male MERLIN at Gallows Bridge<strong><span style="color:#009900;">CALVERT BBOWT LAKE</span></strong>; Tonight 5 of us located a definite 3 <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BITTERNS</span></strong> in roost spots - 1 in far end reedbed opposite 2nd hide, 2nd in right hand inside bed and a 3rd in left hand inside bed. The 3rd one climbed reeds at late time of 4:20 but gave by far the best views, sitting right on top of reeds. During the week regulars report daylight flight views to various reedbeds over whole lake and croaking calls heard, all big pointers to there being multiple birds on site.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">GALLOWS BRIDGE FARM</span></strong>, earlier; male <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">MERLIN</span></strong> on cut hedge then overflew car park, then after finches on adjacent fields, used undulating flight briefly just before tailgating a finch/ 5 Golden Plover in main meadow, 100 mts from hides (Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-37517949521643130602010-12-04T10:25:00.000-08:002010-12-04T10:27:05.173-08:00WHOOPER SWAN still presentGallows bridge farm; Eurasian Curlew calling over main meadow flew over heading West/ 12 Tree Sparrows/ fem Peregrine on pylons/ 2 Raven/ c 120 Skylark/c60 Linnet/ c40 Chaffinch.<br /><br />Hillesden; adult Whooper Swan with Mutes on Brassica crop in traditional Wintering fields, at valley bottom by brook/ c 120 Linnet<br /><br />Calvert; visited twice; 39 Wigeon/4 Teal/ fem Shoveler. Bittern flew across lake at 4:15, it came from one of reedbeds opp 1st hide and flew into hidden corner to left of hide. Most strange it's using a different roost spot each night, possibly being hassled by predators? Tim Watts BirdingLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-18183107953349841272010-11-27T09:22:00.000-08:002010-11-27T09:25:36.999-08:00Impressive flock of TREE SPARROWS at Gallows Bridge<strong><span style="color:#009900;">Gallows Bridge Farm</span></strong>; At one point made it 23 <strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">TREE SPARROWS</span></strong>, most of time c10 /Large fem PEREGRINE hunting at far end of main meadow put up 2 Snipe and chased them, for 4th time seen it rest in open on meadow after atttacks/ c 60 Golden Plover+c50 Lapwing flew over heading West. Saw c40 Goldies flying South earlier from my Whitchurch garden.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Calvert</span></strong>; Redhead <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">SMEW</span></strong> still present on sailing lake but can be very hard to spot; also drake Mandarin; 3 Teal on BBOWT lake.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Hillesden</span></strong>; the adult <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">WHOOPER SWAN</span></strong> again in crop field to South of pools with 2 Mutes/ c 60 Greenfinch/c 80 Linnet on set a side strips/ Pools frozen over (Tim Watts Birding)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-44270533343344698072010-11-25T10:31:00.000-08:002010-11-25T10:33:05.012-08:00BITTERN at CalvertCalvert BBOWT - late afternoon; Huge gull pre-roost contained 9 Y.L.Gulls and 1 ad Caspian Gull. Waders are scarce here in Spring let alone Winter but flock of 4 Common Redshank flew low over water couple of times then flew towards sailing lake. Later a pair of Goosanders flew in, again headed to other lake. Big increase in Herrings and G.B.B gulls late on from tip.<br /><br />Icing on cake was a <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">BITTERN</span></strong> climbing to roost at 16:08 in right hand reedbed from the 1st hide - think this is earliest ever had one here. Jolting reeds put me onto it but then wasn't hard to see. It wasn't on their usual favoured area of reed edge against deepwater but in middle of bed, made lot of commotion climbing then spent rest of time stretching neck up and looking all around.Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-4103332769285243732010-11-13T08:17:00.000-08:002010-11-13T08:18:33.564-08:00Hillesden WHOOPER SWAN still present - Tim WattsCalvert; Little Grebe / Grey Wagtail<br /><br />Foxcote; 3 Goldeneye/ 1 Green Sandpiper<br /><br />Hillesden; adult Whooper Swan still with Greylag flock in crop field/ 7 new Mute Swans/ 2 Meadow Pipit<br /><br />Gallows bridge farm; 2 hr watch; c 200 Golden Plover in flight once/ c120 Linnet/3 Raven,Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-89480273350444579332010-11-01T02:07:00.000-07:002010-11-01T02:08:36.124-07:00WHOOPER SWAN and TREE SPARROWS30 October - Calvert; noticeable influx of Blackbirds in scrub/ 2 Goldcrests/3 Jays<br /><br />Hillesden; adult <strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">WHOOPER SWAN</span></strong> on main pool veiwable from the track, it looked settled, feeding with Mutes.<br /><br />Gallows bridge farm; c400 Golden Plover/c 500 Lapwing in flight over adjacent crop fields. 5 <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">TREE SPARROWS</span></strong> on cut hedge by car park breifly also Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, House Sparrows on same hedge (Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-89602097970069209032010-09-12T12:46:00.000-07:002010-09-12T12:47:45.460-07:00QUAINTON HILLS todayAll birds found on the tops, lower slopes empty: 3 <strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">COMMON REDSTARTS</span></strong> / 10+ Common Chiffchaff/ c 150 Meadow Pipit, 60 in flock on ground in aerial field, 40 feeding at same time on S/E slope, 20 top of N slope and groups of 4-6 seeming to pass overhead for 3 hrs/<br /><br />Abnormal numbers of Blue Tits on tops - migrants perhaps?/Sparrowhawk chasing Green Woodpecker, it missed!!<br /><br />No Wheatears for first time in a while, but had 1 yesterday (Tim Watts)Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-36622392624756629782010-08-17T00:38:00.000-07:002010-08-17T00:41:23.613-07:00QUAINTON HILLS - first WHINCHAT of autumnFollowing the first two WHINCHATS at Gallows Bridge on Sunday, one appeared on Quainton Hills yesterday, along with 4 Wheatears, a Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Yellow Wagtails.<br /><br />Two juvenile MARSH HARRIERS were on the Upper Ray Meadows all weekend, with another at Foxcote, and with the latter very low at present, an excellent run of waders including RUFF, BLACK-TAILED GODWIT and COMMON GREENSHANKLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-89064842851391011002010-07-25T11:27:00.000-07:002010-07-25T11:29:15.010-07:00WOOD SANDPIPER at CalvertA <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">WOOD SANDPIPER</span></strong> is present for a second day at Calvert Landfill, where access is restricted to weekends onlyLee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-29113937336839546072010-07-19T15:43:00.000-07:002010-07-19T15:48:33.299-07:00Calvert news flow dries upSadly, news has been no longer forthcoming from Calvert reserve and its environs and there has been little to report. One of the keen birders of the area, Jon Holt, has now moved away.<br /><br />Not that far away at Foxcote Reservoir, water levels are very low and in recent weeks, a trickle of passage waders have appeared, including two Common Greenshanks and several Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpipers and Common Sandpipers (LGRE)<br /><br />Peregrines have bred again at a site near Aylesbury raising three young, all three birds still being attended by the adults. This is the third out of four years that a pair has nested at this protected site, the adults being ringed birds.Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771531270065400726.post-12543118158736326702010-05-09T16:22:00.000-07:002010-05-09T16:25:08.577-07:00Gallows Bridge starts reaping rewards of being watched.......At Gallows Bridge BBOWT reserve on Saturday, 3 GREY PLOVER, 21 WHIMBREL, 3 COMMON GREENSHANK, 4 Ringed Plover and 2 DUNLIN were seen, the GREY PLOVERS still being present on Sunday.Lee G R Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05193625627020046466noreply@blogger.com0