Five WHIMBREL present on the main central causeway (bund) from 1018-1050 hours (Dave Bilcock). All five flew off west and into Buckinghamshire. They constitute the first this year at the reservoirs (although both Roy and Dave heard one in May)
SUNDAY 10 AUGUST 2008
(Fresh SW wind, gusting to Force 5 at times; still warm (70 degrees F) with changeable conditions through bright and sunny to overcast with rain)
WILSTONE RESERVOIR (0950-1340 hours)
Today's undoubted highlight was the arrival of 5 WHIMBREL at 1015 hours, I was scanning the skies to the NW of Wilstone after Joan Thompson had rung me to say that three small waders (perhaps Ringed Plovers) had flown over heading that way. As I panned around with bins, I came across 5 'large' waders - and immediately realised that they were WHIMBREL. I did my best verbal impression of their distinctive call and it worked ! All five birds changed direction and headed towards me and from a great height, dropped down, pitched in low across the Poplars and landed safely in front of the Drayton Bank Hide. I ran through the small plantation at great speed to the hide and quickly relocated all five birds sat on the bund, at the edge of the Lapwing and Black-headed Gull flock. They appeared to be a family party, with all five birds having a dark crown and a rather indistinct crown-stripe. Upon closer inspection, all had blackish scapulars, wing-coverts and tertials confirming the fact that they were ALL juveniles, with large, pale spotting contrasting with the dark feather centres on the upperparts. One individual was particularly long-billed (markedly longer than the others) perhaps indicating that it was a female. Then, just as I was trying to get more detail, a male PEREGRINE arrived from behind the hide and scattered all of the birds. The Peregrine quickly took interest in a Feral Pigeon and went off towards the Dry Canal whilst I tried my utmost to call the Whimbrel back. Fortunately, they returned to the bund. I then immediately telephoned Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell to inform them of the flock's arrival and after a period of ten minutes, JT finally got to the hide. JT, after glancing through my 'scope, then very kindly rang Mike Campbell and Warren Claydon.
All five birds then took a well earned rest and cat-napped on the bund. One Lapwing took a distinct dislike to them and kept repeatedly hastling them and waking them. Fortunately, they stood their place and after 15 minutes or more, DB arrived on site, shortly followed by Stuart Wilson, Mike Campbell and Warren Claydon. Dave, as usual, obtained some excellent photographs, providing a permanent record of the event (see above). All five birds then flew off west (and into Buckinghamshire airspace) at 1050 hours, following a disturbance to the spit. They were particularly vocal on departure (a fluty, rapidly-repeated, loud call).
(Fresh SW wind, gusting to Force 5 at times; still warm (70 degrees F) with changeable conditions through bright and sunny to overcast with rain)
WILSTONE RESERVOIR (0950-1340 hours)
Today's undoubted highlight was the arrival of 5 WHIMBREL at 1015 hours, I was scanning the skies to the NW of Wilstone after Joan Thompson had rung me to say that three small waders (perhaps Ringed Plovers) had flown over heading that way. As I panned around with bins, I came across 5 'large' waders - and immediately realised that they were WHIMBREL. I did my best verbal impression of their distinctive call and it worked ! All five birds changed direction and headed towards me and from a great height, dropped down, pitched in low across the Poplars and landed safely in front of the Drayton Bank Hide. I ran through the small plantation at great speed to the hide and quickly relocated all five birds sat on the bund, at the edge of the Lapwing and Black-headed Gull flock. They appeared to be a family party, with all five birds having a dark crown and a rather indistinct crown-stripe. Upon closer inspection, all had blackish scapulars, wing-coverts and tertials confirming the fact that they were ALL juveniles, with large, pale spotting contrasting with the dark feather centres on the upperparts. One individual was particularly long-billed (markedly longer than the others) perhaps indicating that it was a female. Then, just as I was trying to get more detail, a male PEREGRINE arrived from behind the hide and scattered all of the birds. The Peregrine quickly took interest in a Feral Pigeon and went off towards the Dry Canal whilst I tried my utmost to call the Whimbrel back. Fortunately, they returned to the bund. I then immediately telephoned Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell to inform them of the flock's arrival and after a period of ten minutes, JT finally got to the hide. JT, after glancing through my 'scope, then very kindly rang Mike Campbell and Warren Claydon.
All five birds then took a well earned rest and cat-napped on the bund. One Lapwing took a distinct dislike to them and kept repeatedly hastling them and waking them. Fortunately, they stood their place and after 15 minutes or more, DB arrived on site, shortly followed by Stuart Wilson, Mike Campbell and Warren Claydon. Dave, as usual, obtained some excellent photographs, providing a permanent record of the event (see above). All five birds then flew off west (and into Buckinghamshire airspace) at 1050 hours, following a disturbance to the spit. They were particularly vocal on departure (a fluty, rapidly-repeated, loud call).
Away from the excitement of the Whimbrels, the following species were recorded -:
DUNLIN - 1 seen before my arrival by Mike Ilett, Mike Campbell and Stuart Wilson
Great Crested Grebe - 16 present still
Grey Heron - 6
Sinensis Cormorants - 21
Mute Swan - 71 present
Gadwall - 17
Eurasian Wigeon - eclipse drake still present
Common Teal - 7
Northern Shoveler - 10+
Tufted Duck - 87
Northern Pochard - 5
*RED-CRESTED POCHARD - all 3 still present. It is remarkable how the behaviour of the drake has changed since the other two birds have arrived. He has been with them all of the time and instead of spending most of the day dredging up weed from the reservoir bottom, he is now content sleeping on the bund with them for hours. When all three eventually wake up, they all then take to dabbling with Mallard in the shallow water just off the mud to the left of the hide.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - at least one juvenile still 'crying' from Poplars
PEREGRINE - male (visited reservoir 3 times during morning, Mike Ilett on one occasion witnessing it stooping towards a juvenile Moorhen; presumably the Aylesbury resident).
HOBBY - 1 adult
Lapwing - 167
GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 adult still present (favours the creek at the far side)
COMMON SANDPIPER - 2 juveniles on bund
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 adult
Common Tern - 4 now remaining, including two juveniles
COMMON SWIFTS - 9 arrived
SAND MARTIN - 10+
House Martin - 56+
Common Chiffchaff - 3 behind hide including one in song
Marsworth Village
*HOUSE SPARROWS - 43 counted (including numerous juveniles) in garden of the Angler's Retreat Public House and in trees (coniferous) bordering Watery Lane. This is the only reliable site to see this decreasing species in the area (many thanks to Steve Rodwell for the incentive).
Pitstone Quarry (with Joan Thompson)
Little change I am afraid with the same species encountered as on recent days. Both the juvenile COMMON GREENSHANK and COMMON SANDPIPER were both still present, both Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Grebes and an adult Sinensis Cormorant. Of concern was the fact that only one 'Mandarinling' could be seen with the adult female (however she was roosting in dense vegetation, so the other 5 could have been nearby) and the gull roost contained 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (including two juveniles and a 3rd-summer).
DUNLIN - 1 seen before my arrival by Mike Ilett, Mike Campbell and Stuart Wilson
Great Crested Grebe - 16 present still
Grey Heron - 6
Sinensis Cormorants - 21
Mute Swan - 71 present
Gadwall - 17
Eurasian Wigeon - eclipse drake still present
Common Teal - 7
Northern Shoveler - 10+
Tufted Duck - 87
Northern Pochard - 5
*RED-CRESTED POCHARD - all 3 still present. It is remarkable how the behaviour of the drake has changed since the other two birds have arrived. He has been with them all of the time and instead of spending most of the day dredging up weed from the reservoir bottom, he is now content sleeping on the bund with them for hours. When all three eventually wake up, they all then take to dabbling with Mallard in the shallow water just off the mud to the left of the hide.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - at least one juvenile still 'crying' from Poplars
PEREGRINE - male (visited reservoir 3 times during morning, Mike Ilett on one occasion witnessing it stooping towards a juvenile Moorhen; presumably the Aylesbury resident).
HOBBY - 1 adult
Lapwing - 167
GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 adult still present (favours the creek at the far side)
COMMON SANDPIPER - 2 juveniles on bund
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 adult
Common Tern - 4 now remaining, including two juveniles
COMMON SWIFTS - 9 arrived
SAND MARTIN - 10+
House Martin - 56+
Common Chiffchaff - 3 behind hide including one in song
Marsworth Village
*HOUSE SPARROWS - 43 counted (including numerous juveniles) in garden of the Angler's Retreat Public House and in trees (coniferous) bordering Watery Lane. This is the only reliable site to see this decreasing species in the area (many thanks to Steve Rodwell for the incentive).
Pitstone Quarry (with Joan Thompson)
Little change I am afraid with the same species encountered as on recent days. Both the juvenile COMMON GREENSHANK and COMMON SANDPIPER were both still present, both Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Grebes and an adult Sinensis Cormorant. Of concern was the fact that only one 'Mandarinling' could be seen with the adult female (however she was roosting in dense vegetation, so the other 5 could have been nearby) and the gull roost contained 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (including two juveniles and a 3rd-summer).
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